Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 8th November 2024

1. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released the World University Ranking: Asia 2025. 

• A total of 22 universities from India have found a place in the Asia region of the World University Rankings by QS. 
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) has secured the top spot under the Southern Asian category, which includes universities from India and Pakistan. 
• A total of 984 universities have found their place in the list from the Asia region. 
• 6 universities from India have secured positions in the top 100 universities in Asia. 
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) (44th position) clinched the top spot in India. 
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) is in the 48th position, and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) is in the 56th position. 
• National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Islamabad shares the 6th position in the South Asian category. 
• The rankings are based on the scores obtained by the universities on the different parameters. 

2. The second edition of Indian Military Heritage Festival started in New Delhi. 

• Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan inaugurated the festival, along with three Service Chiefs. 
• The two-day festival aims to engage global and Indian think tanks, public and private undertakings, academicians and research scholars focusing on India’s military history and military heritage. 
• Indian Military Heritage Festival is held annually. 
• During the inauguration, Project Shaurya Gatha was also launched. 
• This project is an initiative of the Department of Military Affairs and the United Service Institution (USI) of India. 
• It aims to conserve and promote India’s military heritage through education and tourism. 

3. India to launch tri-services military exercise in eastern sector from November 8. 

• The 10-day-long exercise 'Poorvi Prahaar' will involve Army, Navy, Air Force assets. 
• Air Force bases in Kolkata, Hashimara, Paanagarh, Kalaikunda will be active in the exercise. 
• The Indian Navy’s MARCOS commandos will also actively take part in the exercise. 
• Exercise will showcase synergy between three forces and their combat readiness. 
• The exercise marks a significant shift toward a more proactive defence strategy. 

4. World Radiography Day: 08 November 

• World Radiography Day is observed every year on November 8 to mark the discovery of X-rays. 
• The day also honours the work of radiographers and radiologists for their role in diagnosing medical conditions. 
• In Radiography, radiation is used to create images of the body’s tissues, organs, bones and blood vessels. 
• These are required for patient diagnosis and treatment. 
• The theme for this year’s World Radiography Day is “Radiographers: Seeing the Unseen." 
• This theme highlights how radiographers help find hidden health problems. 
• The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays in 1895 by Professor Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen of the University of Würzburg, Germany. 
• International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists first celebrated World Radiography Day on November 8, 2007. 

5. The government will bring a National Counter Terrorism Policy soon. 

• On 7 November, the two-day ‘Anti-Terrorism Conference-2024’ organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi. 
• The inaugural session of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Conference-2024’ was addressed by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah. 
• During this, the Home Minister also announced that the Home Ministry will soon introduce a National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy to fight terrorism, terrorists and the entire ecosystem that supports them. 
• He said that in the last 10 years, the Government of India has moved forward with a solid strategy against terrorism. 
• He said that India’s slogan of 'zero tolerance against terrorism' has been accepted not only by India but the whole world. 
• In the last 10 years, a strong 'ecosystem' has been created in India to deal with terrorism. 
• Union Home Minister has also felicitated 11 NIA medal winners. 
• In the 75 years since India's independence, 36,468 policemen have made the supreme sacrifice to maintain internal security and protect the borders to maintain the security of the country. 

6. The first integrated check post inaugurated on the India-Bhutan border. 

• Promoting mutual relations between India and Bhutan, the Darranga Immigration Check Post inaugurated by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya in Tamulpur district on 7 November. 
• Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering was also present on this occassion. 
• The Governor termed it as an opportune time for mutual friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, with Assam being the hub of all activities. 
• ICP Darranga is spread over 14.5 acres and is located about 700 metres from the Indo-Bhutan border. 
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including an office complex, parking area, loading and unloading areas, a weighing bridge, a warehouse and residential quarters for officers. 
• The project, developed by the Land Ports Authority of India, also has inspection spaces, a plant quarantine system and parking facilities to ensure efficient operations. 

7. On failure of the resolution plan, the Supreme Court ordered Jet Airways’ liquidation. 

• Takeover bid by Kalrock Capital and Murari Lal Jalan has been rejected. 
• The court determined that the NCLAT's approval of the proposal ignored a Supreme Court ruling from January 2023. 
• The court decided that liquidation was best for employees and lenders. 
• By permitting the adjustment of a Rs 150 crore performance bank guarantee (PBG) against an infusion need of Rs 350 crore from the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC), NCLAT disregarded the Court's January 2023 judgement. 
• The resolution applicant for Jet Airways is Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC).
• Five years after the resolution plan was approved, the Supreme Court observed that the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium had not carried it out.
• Additionally, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, was instructed by the SC bench to proceed with the appointment of a liquidator. 
• The bench comprised of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. 

8. Sultanganj railway station would be renamed after Ajgaibinath Dham. 

• Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary made this announcement recently. 
• Sultanganj railway station is located in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. Ajgaibinath Dham is a revered Hindu shrine. 
• This decision shows commitment of the government to honor the cultural and religious heritage of the region. 
• The municipal council has already passed a proposal for this change in name.
• The proposal would now be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for approval. 
• Ajgaibinath Temple is an ancient site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Sultanganj. 
• It is notable for its intricate carvings and stone inscriptions. 
• The temple of situated along the banks of the holy Ganga River. 

9. Supreme Court restored DRI officers’ powers to recover dues under the Customs Act. 

• The Supreme Court overturned the 2021 verdict and stated that Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers have the authority to issue notices and recover dues under the Customs Act, 1962. 
• The Supreme Court has reviewed the decision of the Canon India Pvt Ltd vs Commissioner of Customs case filed by the customs department in 2021. 
• A circular was issued by the CBEC in 1999 that empowered officers of the DRI to issue notices under Section 28 of the Customs Act. 
• A notification was also issued in 2011 which stated that DRI officers could perform the functions of a “proper officer” under the Customs Act. 
• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is an Indian intelligence agency. 
• It is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency. 

10. 3rLG Ladakh, BD Mishra Inaugurates 4th LG Horse Polo Cup 2024 

• In Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra, inaugurated the 4th LG Horse Polo Cup 2024 at Horse Polo Ground in Goshan Drass. 
• During the event, he also unveiled Ladakh’s first Polo Stadium at Goshan Drass, a landmark facility constructed at a cost of 6.84 crore rupees. 
• This event underscores Ladakh’s dedication to preserving its polo heritage and enhancing sports infrastructure for local talent and tourism alike. 

11. India and Nepal agreed to accelerate water resources and energy cooperation. 

• Nepal and India have agreed to expedite hydropower projects and enhance cooperation in energy, water resources and other key sectors. 
• Nepal's Energy and Water Resources Minister Deepak Khadka was on a visit to India from November 3 to 6. 
• During the visit, both sides agreed to expedite projects including the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project and the Arun III Hydroelectric Project. 
• The Indian Government agreed to move forward with the Pancheshwar Project and the Nepalese side agreed to expedite work related to land acquisition for the Arun III Project being developed by an Indian company. 
• During the meeting, the Indian side agreed to provide necessary assistance to Nepal in providing drinking water and irrigation facilities to the people of the hilly areas of the Himalayan country by installing solar panels. 

12. A proposal made by Australia to ban social media for children under 16. 

• On 7 November, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian Government would introduce legislation to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16. 
• The government is calling it a world-leading package of measures, which could become law by the end of next year. 
• Australia is testing an age-verification system to help prevent children from accessing social media platforms, part of a range of measures that include the strictest controls imposed by any country to date. 
• Albanese cited the dangers to children's physical and mental health caused by excessive use of social media. 
• No jurisdiction has yet tried to use age verification methods such as biometrics or government identification to enforce age limits on social media, two of which are being tested. 
• This year, the legislation will be introduced into the Australian Parliament, and will come into effect 12 months after approval by lawmakers. 
• Children who have parental consent or already have an account will not get any exemptions. 
• Last year, France proposed a ban on social media for children under the age of 15, although users were able to circumvent the ban by obtaining consent from their parents. 

13. Government has doubled penalties for farmers involved in Stubble Burning. 

• The Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change Ministry has doubled penalties for stubble burning. 
• The government has issued the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024. 
• Under the revised rules, farmers with less than two acres of land holding will have to pay Rs 5,000 for stubble burning. It was earlier Rs 2,500. 
• Those with land between two and five acres will be fined Rs 10,000, while farmers with over five acres of land will pay Rs 30,000. 
• The amendment seeks to standardize the penalty structure, taking into account farmers with smaller landholdings. 

14. NHIDCL and AICTE Sign MoU for Internship Program for UG and PG Students 

• National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), a CPSE under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, GoI and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) signed a MoU to provide internship opportunities to Under Graduate (UG)/ Post Graduate (PG) students. 
• NHIDCL also launched an online portal for the Internship Program. The portal was inaugurated in the presence of officials from both NHIDCL and AICTE. 
• This program aims to offer experiential learning opportunities to UG and PG students nationwide specially in the North-Eastern Region, UTs of J&K and Ladakh and A&N Islands. 
• The MoU was signed for a period of five years, outlines the roles and responsibilities of AICTE and NHIDCL. AICTE will provide technical support for the platform, while NHIDCL will oversee programmatic and non-technical support for the programme. 

15. South Africa launches Trusted Tour Operator scheme to boost tourism from India 

• South Africa has introduced a new scheme called the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to boost tourism from India and China. 
• This initiative aims to increase job creation through higher tourist numbers. 
• Indian tourists account for only 3.9 per cent of all international visitors to South Africa – and China for only 1.8 per cent. 
• Research indicates that boosting tourism by only 10 per cent per year can increase annual economic growth by 0.6 per cent and create thousands of new jobs for South Africans,” the department stated. 
• In 2023, over 100 million Chinese tourists travelled abroad, yet only 93,000 visited South Africa. By contrast, Australia attracted over 1.4 million Chinese visitors. 
• Indian tourists currently represent just 3.9% of all international arrivals in South Africa, while Chinese visitors account for 1.8%. The Department of Home Affairs said that even a 10% rise in tourism could improve economic growth by 0.6% and generate thousands of jobs. 

16. Visa appoints Rishi Chhabra as country manager for India 

• Digital payments company Visa named Rishi Chhabra as the country manager for India. 
• Chhabra, who joined Visa in 2023 as VP and head-merchant services and acquiring for India and the South Asia markets, was key to driving the firm’s key merchant, acquirer and cobrand relationships. 
• Before joining Visa, he served as country head-India and Sri Lanka at Fiserv. Previously, he has held leadership positions in organisations like First Data and PayPal, and has worked with JP Morgan, ABN AMRO and General Electric. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• Chief General Manager of SBI for New Delhi Circle – Debasish Mishra 
• MD and CEO of IFCI Ltd. – Rahul Bhave 
• 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) 

17. Zimbabwe launches second satellite to advance space programme 

• Zimbabwe has launched its second satellite, ZIMSAT –2, marking another significant stride in the country’s space programme. 
• In November 2022, the country deployed its inaugural satellite, ZimSat-1. 
• A low earth observation satellite- ZIMSAT-2, was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia in a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe National Geo-Spatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) and Southwest State University in Russia. 
• ZIMSAT-2 is equipped with a high-resolution multispectral camera designed to support various applications, including agriculture, resource exploration, and environmental monitoring.