Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th November 2024

1. In India, there has been a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023. 

• According to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, the rate is twice the global average decline of 8.3%. 
• India had pledged to achieve the “End TB” targets by 2025. 
• This is five years ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals deadline of 2030. 
• An 80 % reduction has been recorded in the TB incidence rate compared to the 2015 levels. 
• A 90% reduction has been recorded in the TB mortality rate compared to the 2015 levels. 
• The achievements highlight the impact of India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. 

2. Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 has been launched on 6 November by Dr Jitendra Singh. 

• The campaign started on 1st November 2024 and will continue till the 30th November 2024. 
• The campaign is being conducted nationwide by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare across 800 cities and districts. 
• The campaign aims to spread awareness about the benefits of digital life certificates. 
• The campaign will promote digital empowerment of pensioners using face authentication technology. 
• Pensioners need to submit a life certificate annually for the continuation of pension. 
• In 2014, PM Modi launched Jeevan Pramaan, an Aadhar-based scheme for online submission of digital life certificates to simplify the process. 
• The event majorly focuses on promoting Face Authentication Technology. 
• The campaign aims to reach all the pensioners in the remotest corners of the country. 
• The campaign is being carried out in collaboration with Pension Disbursing Banks, India Post Payments Bank, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, Controller General of Defense Accounts, Department of Telecommunications, and Railways. 

3. Real-time tracking for international money transfers has been launched by IDFC FIRST Bank. 

• With this, IDFC FIRST Bank has become the first Indian bank which is offering real-time tracking for money sent abroad. 
• This service is developed in partnership with Swift.
• This service is accessible though the mobile app and internet banking platforms of the bank. 
• With real-time tracking, the bank has empowered customers to monitor their cross-border transactions. 
• The Swift GPI plugin provides customers a way to track their overseas money transfers. 
• The tracker provides real-time updates on the status of funds. 
• It shows whether funds are in transit or have been credited to the recipient bank. 

4. India-Vietnam joint military exercise commences at Ambala 

• The 5th Edition of Vietnam Indian Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX 2024” commenced at Ambala. The exercise will be held from November 4 to 23 at Ambala and Chandimandir. 
• The conduct of VINBAX-2024, as a field training exercise with enhanced scope from previous editions of bilateral exercise, will strengthen mutual confidence, and interoperability and enable sharing of best practices between the Indian Army and Vietnam People’s Army. 
• The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance joint military capability of both sides in employment and deployment of engineer company and medical teams to undertake engineering tasks as part of United Nation Contingent in Peace Keeping Operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. 

Recent Exercise 

• 9th edition of Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 2024 between India and Indonesia – Jakarta 
• 15th edition of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR between India and USA – Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, US. 
• 31st edition of Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) between Singapore and India – Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam 
• 18 edition of Joint Naval Drill ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ between India and Oman – coast off Goa 
• Army’s Sudarshan Chakra Corps of Southern Command is conducting ‘Exercise SWAVLAMBAN SHAKTI’ at Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi. 

5. 550 Asmi Machine pistols inducted into the Northern Command by the Indian Army. 

• Giving a boost to the country's self-reliance initiative, 550 'ASMI' machine pistols have been inducted into the Northern Command by the Indian Army. 
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Colonel Prasad Bansod of the Indian Army collaborated to develop the weapon and is being manufactured by an Indian company in Hyderabad. 
• This India-made weapon underlines the Army's commitment towards the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• The advantage of a bullpup weapon is that the overall length of the weapon can be substantially reduced without reducing the length of the barrel. 
• The ‘Asmi’ machine pistol is specifically designed for close combat and special operations. 
• Its unique semi-bullpup design allows versatile single-handed operation, effectively functioning as both a pistol and a submachine gun.
• This Army is a significant step towards the country's defence manufacturing sector, strengthening the Indian Army's resolve to achieve self-reliance and promote indigenous innovation. 

6. On November 6, a 15-day Jal Utsav launched by NITI Aayog. 

• A 15-day 'Jal Utsav' is being launched by NITI Aayog to create awareness and sensitivity towards water management, conservation and sustainability from 6th November. 
• The campaign follows the vision of PM Modi, who mooted the idea of 'Jal Utsav' on the lines of 'Nadi Utsav' during the 3rd Chief Secretaries Conference held in December 2023. 
• Jal Utsav is being implemented in 20 Aspirational Districts and Blocks from 6th to 24th November. 
• Jal Utsav is being celebrated in partnership with National Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Ministry of Jal Shakti. 
• Being organized in 20 states, the festival envisages community participation in conservation and protection of water resources. 
• It aims to promote efficient use of water in households and instill a sense of responsibility towards water management among utilities and agencies. 
• The initiative enrolls school students in water management activities, empowering them to act as catalysts of change in their families and communities. 
• The fortnight-long celebrations began with a ‘Jal Bandhan’ – in which eminent personalities and local leaders tied a sacred thread on water resources. 
• They also launched “Fact Sheets on Jal Sampada” of their blocks and districts. 

7. Tanushree Pandey has won silver medal at World Soft Tennis Championship. 

• Tanushree Pandey of India won the silver medal in soft tennis at the World Soft Tennis Championship in Jingshan, China. 
• In yesterday's Under 21 Women's Individual Singles final, she lost 3–4 to Chinese Taipei's Chiang Min Yu. 
• Earlier, in semifinal match, Tanushree defeated her Japanese opponent 4-3. 
• She had defeated her Chinese opponent by the same margin in the quarterfinals. 
• The use of soft rubber balls rather than hard yellow ones and a distinct scoring system are two ways that soft tennis differs from lawn tennis. 

8. The "First in the World Challenge" is a new initiative announced by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 

• The goal of the new program is to inspire Indian scientists to develop novel approaches to challenging health issues. 
• According to ICMR, the program aims to promote innovative, out of the box, futuristic concepts, the creation of new knowledge. 
• It also aims to promote the discovery and advancement of ground-breaking health technologies (drugs, treatments, vaccines, diagnostics, interventions, etc.). 
• The technologies must be such that they have never been thought, tested or tried in the world till date. 
• This is a high-risk, high-reward endeavour with potentially unpredictable success rates. 
• A group of researchers (from one institute or from several institutes) or an individual may submit the proposals. 

9. The Ministry of Tourism participated in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London from 5-7 November. 

• It aims to increase inbound tourism to the country and establish the country as a major global tourist destination. 
• India showcased its cultural diversity and tourism offerings at the WTM with a delegation of nearly 50 stakeholders, including state governments, tour operators, airlines, and hoteliers from the Indian travel industry. 
• The highlights of this year's India Pavilion at WTM 2024 were wedding tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism, and 'Mahakumbh'.
• A special mock 'Mandapam' was created at the pavilion to give the look and feel of an Indian wedding. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the 'Chalo India' initiative, aimed at the NRIs to spread awareness about India among their non-Indian friends. 
• Under this initiative, NRIs will invite their non-Indian friends to explore the grandeur of Incredible India.
• The UK is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas with a strong migrant population of around 1.9 million. 
• During 2023, a total of 9.5 million foreign tourists visited India, of which 0.92 million were from the UK, making it the third largest source market for inbound tourists to India. 

10. Harmeet Desai won the dual title at WTT Feeders Caracas in Venezuela. 

• On November 4, Indian table tennis star Harmeet Desai won double titles, winning both the men's singles and mixed doubles events at the WTT Feeders Caracas in Venezuela. 
• In men's singles, Desai defeated France's Jo Seyfried 3–0 in the final to win the single title. 
• In mixed doubles, Desai and his partner Kritika Roy defeated Cuba's Jorge Campos and Daniela Fonseca Carrazana 3-2 in a tough match. 
• This was Kritika Roy's second WTT feeder doubles title, having earlier won the women's doubles title in Cagliari with Yashaswini Ghorpade. 

11. European Space Agency's mission Proba-3 will be launched by India in December. 

• A European Space Agency mission called Proba-3 will be launched by India from the Sriharikota Space Station in December, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said. 
• This mission will study the Sun's faint corona, which lies near the solar periphery.
• On November 5, while addressing the Indian Space Conference 3.0 in New Delhi, the minister highlighted that almost every sector in the country is using space technology. 
• Space technology also promotes the creation of smart cities by providing facilities like navigation, satellite imaging, terrain mapping, etc. 
• The Minister also outlined India's vision to increase its contribution to the global space economy from 2% to 10% in the coming years. 
• Dr Singh also highlighted the upcoming missions of the Indian Space Research Organization such as Gaganyaan, launch of an Indian space station called Bharat Space Station by 2035 and landing of an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. 

12. Odd-Even scheme implemented by Sikkim to reduce traffic congestion in Gangtok. 

• Odd-even traffic has been implemented by the Sikkim government for both private and government vehicles within the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) from November 5. 
• The initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion in Gangtok. 
• The restriction is proposed from Mayfair Fatak to GICI, Zero Point. 
• According to the order, the rule under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 will be applicable from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon and from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm. 
• Government and private vehicles whose registration numbers end in odd and even digits will be allowed to ply on National Highway 10 on odd and even dates respectively. 
• Taxis and government vehicles of Additional Secretary level and above are exempted from this initiative. 
• Ambulances, police vehicles, fire engines, essential services are exempted. 
• The AAP government had first implemented the 'Odd-Even' scheme to control vehicular pollution and reduce rising particulate levels in Delhi. 

13. Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004. 

• A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra gave the verdict against the Allahabad High Court’s decision. 
• This judgement has declared the High Court judgement as “unconstitutional” and violative of the principles of secularism. 
• The Supreme Court also declared that madrasas can't grant degrees of higher education as it is a violation of the University Grants Commission Act. 
• The bench also said that the Uttar Pradesh government have to play a vital role in ensuring that educational standards in madrasas align with modern academic expectations. 
• The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 was declared unconstitutional on March 22, 2024. 

14. Madhya Pradesh government approved 35% reservation for women in all state government services. 

• The Madhya Pradesh government has increased reservation for women in all state government services from 33% to 35%. 
• It is a major step towards women’s empowerment in the state. 
• The state government has also given approval to open 254 new fertiliser sales centres in the state. 
• A 660-megawatt critical thermal power plant will be opened in Sarni by decommissioning the earlier power plant units of a total of 830 MW units. 
• The state government also granted permission to increase the recruitment age of assistant Professors in Medical College to 50 years from 40 years in the state. 

15. Cairn becomes India’s 1st oil & Gas Company to join UNEP’s OGMP 2.0. 

• Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme’s flagship methane reporting and mitigation initiative – Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, making it the first oil and gas producer in India to commit to the effective reduction of methane emissions. 
• OGMP 2.0 established a comprehensive framework that includes best practices for emissions management and a robust reporting system. It emphasises accurate measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of methane emissions to drive reductions effectively. 
• OGMP 2.0 covers over 40 per cent of global oil and gas production empowering companies to improve the quality and accuracy of emissions data for effective methane reduction. 
• Earlier this year, Cairn had announced the fast-tracking of its net zero commitments to 2030. 

16. ONGC, NTPC form joint venture to advance renewable, new energy interests 

• Leading public sector undertakings (PSUs) NTPC Limited and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture company (JVC) to further promote their interests in the renewable and new energy arena. 
• The JVC between the country’s largest power generating company and largest oil and gas producer has been formed through their green energy subsidiaries – NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) and ONGC Green Energy Ltd. 
• The new company will venture into various renewable energy and new energy opportunities including solar and wind energy, both onshore and offshore, and green molecule. Such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and green methanol. 
• It will also focus on new and emerging technologies in the field such as energy storage including both pump and battery storage, e-mobility, carbon credits and green credits. 

17. EAM Jaishankar inaugurates India’s new consulate in Brisbane 

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has inaugurated the new Consulate General of India in Brisbane, underlining that this will contribute to strengthening India’s ties with the Queensland state, promoting trade and serving the diaspora. 
• Queensland is home to almost 100,000 out of the nearly one million people of Indian-origin living in Australia, and India is the state’s second-largest export market. Besides Brisbane, India has consulates in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. 
• The consulate in Brisbane will be headed by consul general Neetu Bhagotia. 

18. UDC presidential candidate Duma Boko declared as 6th president of Botswana 

• Duma Boko, the presidential candidate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was declared Botswana’s sixth president. Botswana’s Chief Justice, Terence Rannowane, announced on national television. 
• According to the southern African country’s electoral law, the polling will determine 61 members of the National Assembly and 609 local councillors, with the party that holds at least 31 parliament seats to be declared as the winner. 
• While the counting is yet to be finalised, UDC has already secured 34 members of the National Assembly, and the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party, got four seats. 

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President 

• President of Vietnam – Luong Cuong 
• President of Indonesia – Prabowo Subianto 
• President of Tunisia – Kais Saied (2nd time) 
• President of Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum (first woman president of nation) 
• PM of Japan – Shigeru Ishiba (replace Fumio Kishida) 

19. Rahul Bhave named as MD and CEO of IFCI 

• FSIB, the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, has recommended Rahul Bhave for the position of Managing Director (MD) and CEO of IFCI Ltd. 
• Bhave is currently the Deputy Managing Director of IFCI. 
• Besides, FSIB has recommended Palash Srivastava for the position of Deputy Managing Director in IIFCL. Recent 

Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• MD and CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB) – Ashok Chandra 
• MD & CEO of Axis Bank – Amitabh Chaudhry (reappointment for 3 years)
• CFO of HSBC Bank – Pam Kaur (first female CFO; replace Georges Elhedery) 
• CEO of JP Morgan Chase Bank India CEO – Pranav Chawda
• Chairperson of the Board of National Pension System (NPS) Trust – Chitra Jayasimha (replace Venkata Rao Yadagani) 

20. SBI appoints Debasish Mishra as Chief General Manager of New Delhi Circle 

• State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed Debasish Mishra as the Chief General Manager of its New Delhi Circle. 
• Mishra has experience across Credit, Operations, Forex, IT, HR, and MSME sectors, both in India and overseas. 
• Mishra, a Certified Financial Planner and Chevening Gurukul Scholar, has been appointed at a crucial time for SBI’s New Delhi Circle. This circle, which includes over 1,700 branches, is focused on strengthening its market position in line with the country’s growth. 
• Currently, SBI operates 17 local head offices, each led by Chief General Managers, who oversee a network of approximately 22,600 branches nationwide. 

21. The International Solar Alliance Announces the Selection of its third Director General 

• The seventh session of the ISA Assembly in progress in New Delhi selected Mr Ashish Khanna from the Republic of India as its third Director General.
• The other office candidates included Mr Wisdom Ahiataku—Togobo from Ghana and Mr Gosaye Mengistie Abayneh from Ethiopia. 
• The Director General of ISA plays a crucial role in supporting the Assembly in advancing the International Solar Alliance mandate. This includes supporting to Member Countries in addressing common challenges and engaging in coordinated action to scale up the deployment of solar energy globally. 
• Dr Ajay Mathur, who has led the Alliance since 2021, will conclude his tenure on 14 March 2025. Under his leadership, the Alliance has achieved significant milestones, including a monumental rise in Member & Signatory Countries tallying at 103 and 17, respectively. 

22. 6 November – International Day For Preventing The Exploitation Of The Environment In War And Armed Conflict 

• International Day For Preventing The Exploitation Of The Environment In War And Armed Conflict is observed every year on 6 November. 
• On May 27, 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted resolution UNEP/EA.2/Res.15, which recognized the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflict, and reaffirmed its strong commitment to the full implementation.