Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 11th November 2024

National News 

1. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 83rd Indian Roads Congress at Raipur 

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has inaugurated the 83rd session of the Indian Roads Congress at Raipur, Chhatisgarh. 
• The 83rd session of the Indian Road Congress has been organised by the apex body of Indian highway engineers. 
• The main aim of the Indian Road Congress is to formulate Standards, Codes, Specifications, and Manuals related to roads, bridges, and road transport for adoption by central government road agencies to construct and maintain sustainable road infrastructure for the country’s overall development. 
• Based on the recommendation of the Jayakar Committee on Indian Road Development, the Indian Road Congress was constituted in 1934. The Indian Road Congress is the apex body of Highway engineers in the country, with its headquarters in New Delhi. 

2. CDS Gen Anil Chauhan inaugurates 2nd Indian Military Heritage Festival 

• Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has inaugurated the 2nd edition of the annual Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi. 
• The two-day festival aims to engage global and Indian think tanks, corporations, government and private sectors, non-profits, and academics, focusing on India’s national security, foreign policy, and military heritage. 
• General Chauhan also launched Project Shaurya Gatha, which aims to conserve and promote India’s military heritage through education and tourism. He also released key military publications, including Because of This: A History of the Indo-Pak Air War December 1971 by Air Marshal Vikram Singh (Retd), Valour and Honour, and War-Wounded, Disabled Soldiers and Cadets. 

3. Hyderabad to host international poultry expo from November 27 

• The Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) will organise a three-day poultry expo in Hyderabad from November 27. 
• A technical seminar with the theme ‘Unlocking Poultry Potential’ will be held on November 26. 
• Over 400 exhibitors from about 50 countries will take part in the expo. Over 40,000 poultry farmers and others in the ecosystem are expected to participate in the 16th edition of the event. 
• The Knowledge Day event on November 26 will feature sessions on modem poultry production, innovations in feed mills nutrition, and animal health. 
• The seminar provides an exceptional opportunity to learn from the best minds in the industry. 

4. Nirmala Sitharaman launches National MSME Cluster Outreach Programme 

• Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National MSME Cluster Outreach Programme, organised jointly by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). 
• Around 150 MSME Clusters were connected virtually for the launch with senior bank officials being present in each of these Clusters. The programme aims to ensure access to Financial Services and promote the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. 
• The Union Finance Minister also virtually inaugurated six new SIDBI Branches in Karnataka, located at Tumakuru, Raichur, Shivamogga, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru and Vijayapura, thereby expanding SIDBI’s reach and financial assistance to MSMEs in these Clusters. 
• Sitharaman also inaugurated four Nari Shakti Branches of Union Bank of India at Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur and Vishakhapatnam, with the goal of empowering women entrepreneurs and the Learning Centre of Canara Bank at Bagaluru, Bengaluru. 
• The Union Finance Minister set the target for all Scheduled Commercial Banks and NBFCs for providing additional MSME credit of Rs. 1.54 lakh crore in the current financial year. Thus the banks and NBFCs should aim at total credit growth of Rs 5.75 lakh crore, Rs. 6.21 lakh crore and Rs 7 lakh crore to MSMEs in Financial Year 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 respectively. 
• Sitharaman also distributed sanction letters to 11 MSME customers of SIDBI, aggregating to Rs. 25.75 crore and 2 sanction letters to MSME customers of Nari Shakti Branch of Union Bank of India aggregating Rs.11 crore, across various sectors aimed at supporting enterprises from traditional industries to advanced sectors such as aerospace and quantum technology. 

International News 

5. IIT Delhi No. 1 Indian Institute in QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025 

• The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has been ranked as the top Indian educational institution in the latest QS World University Rankings Asia 2025. 
• IIT-Delhi has been ranked 44th best educational institution, while China’s Peking University retained the top spot amongst the list of educational institutions in Asia as per the QS World University Rankings: Asia (2025). 
• Out of the 984 educational institutions included in the ranking, the highest, 162 were from India. IIT Delhi was the highest-ranked Indian institution, with a rank of 44, up from 46 last year. IIT-Delhi was also the highest-ranked educational institution in the South Asian Region. 
• In the South Asian region, among the top 10 institutions, seven are Indian institutions. After IIT-D, IIT-Bombay was second highest, with a rank of 48, and IIT-Madras was third, with a rank of 56. 
• IIT Kharagpur was in fourth place with a rank of 60, followed by the Indian Institute of Science (62), IIT Kanpur (67), and the University of Delhi (81). 
• India has two institutions in the top 50 and seven in the top 100 educational institutions. The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies was the improved Indian institution, with its rank improving from 148 last year to 70 this year. 
• The QS World University Rankings: Asia (2025) ranks 984 educational institutions among 25 South Asian, Central Asian, Eastern Asian and South-East Asian countries. These educational institutions are ranked based on the comparison and preference of the institutions and students. 

6. India ranked 6th in WIPO Global Patent Filings in 2023 

• India has, for the first time, has been ranked 6th in the world for Global Patent Filings in 2023. 
• According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) annual World Intellectual Property Indicators Report 2024, global patent filing increased by 15.7 % in 2023, primarily due to a strong increase in patent filing in India. 
• In 2023, the maximum patent filing was in China (1.64 million), followed by the United States of America (518,364), Japan (414,413), South Korea (287,954), Germany (133,053) and India (64,480). 
• According to the WIPO report, More than 35 lakh patents were filed in 2023 across the world. The number of patents filed in India in 2023 was 64,480. 
• The country’s growth rate in patent filing was 15.7 % compared to 2022. The patent filing in India has shown the 5th consecutive year of a double-digit growth rate. 
• For the first time, India was included in the top 10 countries of the world for three main intellectual property (IP) rights: patents, Industrial design applications, and trademark applications. 
• Patent and industrial design applications more than doubled between 2018 and 2023, and trademark applications increased by 60% 

7. UN Climate Change Conference starts in Azerbaijan 

• The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) kick off in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, aiming to address escalating climate challenges. 
• Leaders from around the world are set to gather in Baku for the event, running until Nov. 22. 
• A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change. 
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a multilateral treaty established in 1992, following the first assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 
• Its main aim is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. 
• Since entering into force in 1994, the UNFCCC has served as the foundation for global climate negotiations, leading to significant agreements like the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. 
• Today, 198 Parties participate in annual meetings to assess progress and forge responses to the climate crisis. 

8. Taliban to attend its maiden UN climate meet 

• The Taliban will attend a U.N. climate conference for the first time since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the country's national environment agency said on Sunday. 
• The conference, known as COP-29, begins on Monday in Azerbaijan and is one of the most important multilateral talks to include the Taliban, who do not have official recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. 

Banking and Financial News

9. ADB approves $200 million for Uttrakhand Livability Improvement Project 

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $200 million loan to finance the Uttarakhand government’s Livability Improvement Project, which aims to upgrade and strengthen its urban infrastructure and make it climate resilient. 
• The Uttarakhand Livebality Improvement Project is implemented by the Government of Uttarakhand and co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank. 
• The total cost of the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project is $465.9 million, of which the State government will provide $74.9 million, the European Investment Bank $191 million, and the ADB $200 million. 
• The Livability Improvement Project seeks to enhance the quality of life and climate resilience by upgrading the state’s water supply, sanitation, drainage, flood management, urban mobility, and other urban services. 

Appointment News

10. Emami MD Agarwal to take over as new FICCI president 

• Emami Limited Vice Chairman and Managing Director Harsha Vardhan Agarwal has been elected as the FICCI president for 2024-25. 
• Agarwal is currently serving as the Senior Vice President of FICCI. 
• He will succeed Mahindra & Mahindra’s Group CEO and Managing Director Anish Shah as the new president at the conclusion of the 97th Annual General Meeting of Ficci, which will be held on November 21. 

Recent Appointment 

• Chairman of Yamaha Motor India Group – Itaru Otani (replace Eishin Chihan) 
• CEO and MD of Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) – Praveena Rai 
• Chairman of Airports Authority of India – Vipin Kumar 
• MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel – Shashwat Sharma (replace Gopal Vittal) effect from 1 Jan 
• DG of ICRISAT – Dr. Himanshu Pathak 

11. China’s Li Quanhai re-elected as World Sailing president 

• Li Quanhai was re-elected as president of World Sailing for a new four-year term at the organization’s Annual General Meeting continuing as the only Chinese president of an Olympic International Sports Federation. 
• Founded in Paris in 1907, World Sailing is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the global governing body for sailing, with 137 member national authorities. 
• The organization holds leadership elections every four years, and Li first assumed the presidency in November 2020. 

Recent Appointment 

• President of FICCI for 2024-25 – Harsha Vardhan Agarwal (replace Anish Shah) 
• Chairman of Yamaha Motor India Group – Itaru Otani (replace Eishin Chihan) 
• CEO and MD of Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) – Praveena Rai 
• Chairman of Airports Authority of India – Vipin Kumar 
•  MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel – Shashwat Sharma (replace Gopal Vittal) effect from 1 Jan 
• DG of ICRISAT – Dr. Himanshu Pathak 

12. Justice Sanjiv Khanna sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India. 

• On November 11, Justice Sanjiv Khanna formally took over as the Chief Justice of India (CJI), with his swearing-in ceremony taking place at Rashtrapati Bhavan. 
• The swearing-in ceremony presided over by President Draupadi Murmu, who administered the oath of office to Justice Khan 
• Justice Khanna replaced Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud, who retired on November 10 after a distinguished tenure. 
• The appointment of the Justice Khanna as the 51st Chief Justice was confirmed through a formal notification by the Government of India. 
• He will serve a term of six months as Chief Justice. 
• In 1983, Justice Khanna started his legal journey as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council. 
• In 2005, Justice Khanna was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court and became a permanent judge by 2006. 
• He was elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019, where he served until his appointment as Chief Justice. 
• H. J. Kania was the first Chief Justice of India. He served as the Chi Justice of India from 1950 to 1951. 

Defence News

13. Theatre Command Level Ex Poorvi Prahar to commerce along China border 

• The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy will jointly commence a command-level tri-service theatre exercise code-named ‘Poorvi Prahar’ along the India-China border. 
• The Poorvi Prahar exercise will be held from 10-18 November 2024. The exercise assumes significance in the Indian government’s effort to set up an integrated theatre command in India. 
• The Poorvi Prahar exercise will take place along the mountainous terrain of the India-China border in the eastern theatre. It will be held from the airfields of Assam in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Tezpur to the valleys and mountains of Arunachal Pradesh along the India-China border. 
• Theatre in the military refers to a specific geographical area, whether in the sea, air, or land. These areas could potentially become areas of conflict or war in the future. 

14. France evaluating India's Pinaka rocket system for its use 

• France has announced plans to replace its M270 Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) rocket systems in service. The French Army has 13 upgraded M270 systems and since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, six systems have been transferred to Ukraine. 
• Armenia first customer Armenia became the first export customer for the indigenously developed Pi- naka with interest expressed by several countries for the system. 
• The Indian Army has four Pinaka regiments in service and six more are on order. 
• The Pinaka Mk1 has a range of 38 km and it can fire a variety of ammunition. Several extended range ammunition are under development. 
• Trials for guided extended range Pinaka rockets are in the final stages which would increase the range to over 75 km. Eventually, the plan is to in- crease the range to 120 km and then to 300 km. 
• While noting that land cooperation is not as visible as the AirForce and Navy cooperation, the visiting officer said what they are looking for is not visibility but for partnership. "Lot of things are converging to strengthen our ties," Brigadier-General Richou stated. 
• The seventh edition of the bilateral Army exercise Shakti was held in Meghalaya in May. He said the next edition of Exercise Shakti would focus on high-altitude warfare. 
• On the focus of the staff talks, he said there were four broad domains in the cooperation capability; education, information and training; equipment; and understanding between the senior leader- ship. 
• On the global geopolitical situation and the discussions over that, he said they spanned various issues and with a reference to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UN- IFIL) said, "France is one of the most important countries, and I have colleagues from the Army, we are standing between Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel and we stay there... international law has to be respected... We are near the Indian position." 
• His remarks come against the backdrop of the recent attacks on the UN- IFIL during the Israeli of- fensive in Lebanon. India has 903 troops under the UNIFIL, while France has 665 troops. 

Sports News

15. Senior National Wrestling Championship set to be held in Bengaluru in December 

• The Karnataka Wrestling Association will host the 2024 Senior National Wrestling Championship in Bengaluru from 6th to 8th December. 
• This prestigious event will showcase India’s top wrestlers, including Olympic Bronze Medalist Aman Sehrawat and U-20 World Champion Antim Panghal, among others. 
• The championship marks a significant moment as it will be held in Karnataka for the first time, aiming to revive the sport’s legacy in the region. 
• The Competitions will span three disciplines: Free Style, Greco Roman Style, and Women’s Wrestling. 

16. Afghanistan's legendary Mohammad Nabi will retire from ODI after Champions Trophy. 

• After the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, Afghanistan legend Mohammad Nabi will be stepping away from the ODI format. 
• Nabi is considered one of Afghanistan's greatest players and made his debut during the country's first ever match in 200 
• Nabi has been part of Afghanistan's first team in Test and T20 Internationa and also captained them from 2013–15. 
• In 165 matches for Afghanistan, Nabi has scored 3549 runs including 2 centuries and 17 half-centuries and taken 171 wickets. 
• In 2019, Nabi had retired from the Test format. 

Important day 

17. 10 November – World Public Transport Day 

• World Public Transport Day is observed annually on November 10, encourages people to embrace public transit options and raise awareness of the significant environmental and social benefits of sustainable transportation. 
• Celebrated globally, this day emphasises the importance of accessible, efficient, and eco-friendly public transport systems for reducing pollution, easing traffic congestion, and enhancing quality of life. 
• Theme 2024 – Connecting Communities, Reducing Emissions