01st December, 2023

1. Government has launched auction of critical minerals for the first time.
2. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has flagged off luxury cruise vessel ‘Classical Imperial’ in Kerala.
3. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has released book ‘Resilient India: How Modi Transformed India’s Disaster Management Paradigm’ at 6th World Congress on Disaster Management.
4. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has been launched in South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
5. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is hosting 28th meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
6. Life Insurance Corporation has launched a new policy named ‘Jeevan Utsav’ covering individual saving and whole life insurance.
7. SBI Mutual Fund has received RBI approval to buy 9.99% stake in Karur Vysya Bank.
8. Garuda Aerospace has received ‘Second Type’ certificate from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for medium category drones.
9. UNAIDS has released a report titled ‘Let Communities Lead’ ahead of World Aids Day on 1st December.
10. Indian Navy has conducted ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region) outreach initiative between Maritime Heads.
11. Dr VR Lalithambika, senior space scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation has been awarded highest civilian award of France ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’.
12. Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare Anish Bhanwala has won bronze medal in 25 metre rapid fire final at the ISSF World Cup final in Doha.
13. Air Force officer Manisha Padhi has been appointed as India’s first woman Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Mizoram.
14. Nobel Peace Prize winner and Former Secretary of State of United States, Henry Kissinger has passed away.

National News

1. Government has launched auction of critical minerals for the first time.
   • Objectives–
     • To boost the exploration and extraction of critical and strategic minerals
     • To secure a critical-mineral supply chain for India’s energy transition and net-zero-by-2070 target.
   • More about auction–
     • First batch of auctions involves 20 blocks across seven states- Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh and the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
     • Bids are invited only in digital format.
   • Importance of Critical Minerals:
     • Critical minerals are crucial for India’s economic development and national security.
     • The scarcity of these minerals and their concentration in a few countries pose potential supply-chain vulnerabilities.
   • India’s Renewable Energy Goals:
     • India aims to achieve 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

2. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has flagged off luxury cruise vessel ‘Classical Imperial’ in Kerala.
   • The vessel has been inaugurated at the Neo-classic Boat Jetty at Marine Drive.
     Source: The Hindu

3. Union Cabinet has approved Rs 1,261 crore scheme to provide drones to 15,000 progressive women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
   • Tenure of scheme–
     • The scheme will run for two years beginning 2024-25.
   • Subsidy under the scheme–
     • Centre will provide 80% of the cost of the drone and accessories/ancillary charges of up to Rs 8,00,000.
     • Total estimated expenditure of an agricultural drone and its accessories is about Rs 10 lakh.
   • Remuneration–
     • Drone pilot will receive an honorarium of Rs 15,000 and a co-pilot about Rs 10,000.
   • Identification of SHG–
     • SHGs will be identified from the total 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
     • Cluster Level Funds of SHGs can raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy) as a loan under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF).
     • An interest subvention of 3% on the AIF loan will be provided.
   • Drone Procurement:
     • Fertilizer companies will provide around 500 drones.
     • The remaining 14,500 drones will be made available through central assistance in the next two years.
   • Drone Usage:
     • Clusters of 10-15 villages will be formed for the use of drones.
     • Approximately 1,000 hectares of land will be available for drone operation.
     • Emphasis will be given to commercial crops.
       Source: Business Standard
     
     

State News

1. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has released book ‘Resilient India: How Modi Transformed India’s Disaster Management Paradigm’ at 6th World Congress on Disaster Management.
   • Edited and compiled by–
     • Bluekraft Digital Foundation and Modi Story

2. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has been launched in South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
   • About Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra–
     • It is an integral part of the ‘Hamara Sankalp Viksit Bharat campaign’, which focuses on the development of the nation.
     • It involves spreading information about various government schemes to educate citizens about their eligibility, benefits, and how to avail themselves of the services.
   • Objectives–
     • To raise awareness among citizens about the Central Government’s important welfare schemes and programs.
     • To facilitate the delivery of welfare scheme benefits to the intended recipients, ensuring that government initiatives have a positive impact on the lives of citizens.
       Source: PIB

International News

1. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is hosting 28th meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
   • About COP 28–
     • It takes place every year.
     • It is the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.

Source: livemint

Banking and Economy

1. Life Insurance Corporation has launched a new policy named ‘Jeevan Utsav’ covering individual saving and whole life insurance.
   • Key features–
     • Scheme is available for age group– between 90 days and 65 years.
     • Premium paying term– minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 16 years.
     • Guaranteed additions of ₹40 per thousand basic sums assured accumulate annually during the premium paying term.
     • If the life assured survives beyond the premium paying term, the policyholder has the option to select from type of benefits.
   • Types of benefit beyond premium paying term–
     • Option I: Regular Income Benefit:
       • 10% of the basic sum assured is paid at the end of each policy year, starting three to six years after the deferment period.
     • Option II:
       • Flexi Income Benefit: Policyholders can opt for Flexi Income Benefit, allowing them to accumulate and withdraw 10% of the basic sum assured based on the policy’s terms and conditions.
   • LIC offers 5.5% annual compounded interest on Deferred Flexi Income payments.

2. SBI Mutual Fund has received RBI approval to buy 9.99% stake in Karur Vysya Bank.

3. Garuda Aerospace has received ‘Second Type’ certificate from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for medium category drones.

Source: ET

Reports and Indices

1. UNAIDS has released a report titled ‘Let Communities Lead’ ahead of World Aids Day on 1st December.
   • The report was launched in London, United Kingdom at an event hosted by STOPAIDS, a civil society organisation.
   • Key observations–
     • Reports has observed that AIDS can be ended as a public health threat by 2030, but only if communities on the frontlines get the full support they need from governments and donors.
     • It observed that investing in community-led HIV programmes delivers transformational benefits.
     • Despite the clear evidence of community-led impact, community-led responses are unrecognized, under-resourced and in some places even under attack.

Source: unaids

Defence News

1. Indian Navy has conducted ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region) outreach initiative between Maritime Heads.
   • Theme–
     • Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges
   • Objective–
     • To highlight the present and necessary imperative for harmonising and collaborating capacities and capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
   • Participating countries–
     • Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania
       Source: PIB

Awards

1. Dr VR Lalithambika, senior space scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation has been awarded highest civilian award of France ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’.
   • Why She is awarded?
     • For boosting space cooperation between India and France.
     • Dr VR Lalithambika is a specialist in advance launch vehicle technology.
       Source: TOI

Important Days

1. November 30– Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare.
   Source: UN

Sports

1. Anish Bhanwala has won bronze medal in 25 metre rapid fire final at the ISSF World Cup final in Doha.
   • He became the first Indian shooter to win a medal in the event in the World Cup Final.

Source: Indian Express

Appointments

1. Air Force officer Manisha Padhi has been appointed as India’s first woman Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Mizoram.
   • What is Aide-de-Camp?
     • An Aide-De-Camp is a personal assistant or secretary to a person of high rank, including head of state.
       Source: HT

Miscellaneous

1. Nobel Peace Prize winner and Former Secretary of State of United States, Henry Kissinger has passed away.
   • He was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.
   • Books authored by him–
     • The Age of AI
     • On China
     • Diplomacy
     • Years of Upheaval
       Source: bbc

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