21st-22nd November, 2023

1. Government has approved USD 360 million in investment in IT hardware sector under the manufacturing incentive scheme.
2. Finance Ministry has notified 7 important changes in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme
3. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has participated in the Investor Forum of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) & Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
4. Assam State Transport Corporation has launched ASTC city cab service and digital payment solution through UPI to revolutionize urban transportation.
5. Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoUs with CSIR, DRDO to make them knowledge partner for Bulk Dugs Park in Lalitpur.
6. Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua has won the title of Miss Universe 2023.
7. Indira Gandhi Price for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2022 has been awarded to Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India as representatives of the COVID-19 warriors in India.
8. India’s Vir Das has won Emmy for Comedy and Ekta Kapoor has won Directorate award at 51st International Emmy Awards event held in New York.
9. BrainAlive co-founder Dr Sujit Roy has won ‘NASA IMPACT Planet Award 2023’ for his outstanding contribution to the Geospatial AI Foundation Model project.
10. Bima Lokpal Day World Prematurity Day 2023
11. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
12. Women Entrepreneurship Day 2023
13. International Men’s Day World Heritage Week
14. World Fisheries Day World Television Day
15. Australian men cricket team has won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s One Day International (ODI) Cricket World Cup 2023 by defeating India in Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
16. Max Verstappen of Red Bull racing has won Las Vegas Grand Prix.
17. WHO and Ministry of Ayush have signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’.
18. Javier Milei has been elected as the new President of Argentina.
19. Central government has appointed Vinay M Tonse as the Managing Director of State Bank of India till November 30, 2025.
20. Luc Frieden has been named as the 23rd Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
21. Former RBI Governor S Venkitaramanan has passed away.

National News

1. Government has approved USD 360 million in investment in IT hardware sector under the manufacturing incentive scheme.
   • Key details–
     • Applications from 27 companies have been approved.
     • Companies are expected to create over 50,000 jobs in IT hardware sector.
     • India has ambitious target to become a leader in global electronics supply chain, with a target of annual output worth USD 300 billion by 2026.
       Source: TOI
2. Finance Ministry has notified 7 important changes in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme
   • Changes in Senior Citizen’s Saving Scheme–
     • Extended Opening Period: The time to open a Senior Citizen’s Savings Scheme (SCSS) account has been extended from 1 month to 3 months for individuals aged above 55 but below 60.
     • Scope of Retirement Benefits: Retirement benefits, such as provident fund dues, gratuity, pension, leave encashment, and more, have been clearly defined for eligibility to invest in SCSS.
     • Spouse’s Eligibility: The spouse of a government employee is now permitted to invest the financial assistance amount in the SCSS.
     • Early Closure Deduction: A 1% deduction on the deposit is applicable if the SCSS account is closed before completing one year of investment.
     • Extension of Account: Account holders can now extend the SCSS account for any number of blocks, each lasting three years. Previously, extension was allowed only once.
     • Interest Rate on Extension: If the SCSS account is extended on maturity, it will earn the interest rate applicable to the scheme on the date of maturity or on the date of the extended maturity.
     • Deposit Withdrawal: The deposit made at the time of opening the account shall be paid after the expiry of five years or after the expiry of each three-year block period if the account is extended.

   
   

3. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has participated in the Investor Forum of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) & Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
   • Hosts-
     • The forum was co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ms. Gina Raimondo and Senior Advisor to the President Mr. Amos Hochstein.

   • Focus area–
     • The discussion centred on collaborative actions and shared priorities to increase private investment in the Indo-Pacific region.

   • Green Transition Fund–
     • Green Transition Fund, aimed at accelerating clean-energy transition projects in India, including investments in solar, energy storage, and e-mobility.
       Source: PIB

State News

1. Assam State Transport Corporation has launched ASTC city cab service and digital payment solution through UPI to revolutionize urban transportation.
   • Cabs can be booked through a dedicated mobile application.
     Source: TOI
2. Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoUs with CSIR, DRDO to make them knowledge partner for Bulk Dugs Park in Lalitpur.
   • Objective–
     • To enhance research and innovation in the medical sector and will further
     • To enable the development of innovative devices through new technology
     • To allow for quick diagnosis of serious illness and ensure proper treatment
   • State government has signed MoU with 43 labs of CSIR and 46 labs of DRDO, where research work will be done to manufacture affordable manufacturing.
     Source: ET

Awards

1. Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua has won the title of Miss Universe 2023.
   Source: TOI
2. Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2022 has been awarded to Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India as representatives of the COVID-19 warriors in India.

3. India’s Vir Das has won Emmy for Comedy and Ekta Kapoor has won Directorate award at 51st International Emmy Awards event held in New York.
   • Winner’s list–

4. BrainAlive co-founder Dr Sujit Roy has won ‘NASA IMPACT Planet Award 2023’ for his outstanding contribution to the Geospatial AI Foundation Model project.
   • About BrainAlive–
     • BrainAlive AI (BAAI) is an AI Engine that leverages data transformation approach to convert raw interaction data into real-time user engagement insights.

Source: The Print

Important Days

1. November 11– Bima Lokpal Day
   Source: ET
2. November 17– World Prematurity Day 2023; Theme– Small Actions BIG IMPACT: Immediate Skin-to-Skin Care for Every Baby, Everywhere.
   Source: efcni
3. November 19– World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims; Theme– Remember. Support. Act.
   Source: WHO
4. November 19– Women Entrepreneurship Day 2023
   Source: wdo
5. November 19– International Men’s Day; Theme– Zero Male Suicide
   Source: inmd.org
6. November 19- November 25– World Heritage Week
   Source: Business Standard
7. November 21– World Fisheries Day; Theme– ‘Celebrating the Wealth of Fisheries and Aquaculture’
   Source: ETV
8. November 21– World Television Day; Theme– Accessibility
   Source: Business Standard

Sports

1. Australian men cricket team has won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s One Day International (ODI) Cricket World Cup 2023 by defeating India in Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
   • About ICC CWC 2023–
     • It was hosted by India 10 venues from 5th October to 19th November 2023.
     • Virat Kohli has broken the record of Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 centuries in ODI by scoring 50th ODI century against New Zealand.
   • Awards in the event–
     • Player of the Tournament– Virat Kohli
     • Player of the match (Finals)- Travis Head (Australia)
     • Highest overall run scorer– Virat Kohli (765 runs)
     • Highest overall wicket taker– Mohammed Shami (24 wickets)

2. Max Verstappen of Red Bull racing has won Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Source: sportsstar

Memorandum of Understanding

1. WHO and Ministry of Ayush have signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’.
   • Objectives–
     • To integrate aspects like standardization, quality, and safety of Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems into the National Health System and to disseminate them at the international level.
     • To preserve the rich heritage of Traditional and Complementary Medicine as well as making it modern, authentic, and global.

   • Timeline–
     • WHO (World Health Organization) and the Ministry of Ayush will jointly complete the work of formulation of the Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34.
     • First phase of project will be completed by- 2023-28

Source: PIB

Appointments

1. Javier Milei has been elected as the new President of Argentina.
   Source: reuters
2. Central government has appointed Vinay M Tonse as the Managing Director of State Bank of India till November 30, 2025.

3. Luc Frieden has been named as the 23rd Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
   Source: reuters

Miscellaneous

1. Former RBI Governor S Venkitaramanan has passed away.
   • He was the 18th RBI Governor who served for a time period of two years from 1990 to 1992.
     Source: livemint

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