Iift & Xat GK GK Addendum Addendum

IIFT & XAT
GK
ADDENDUM
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IIFT & XAT GK ADDENDU
2021-22
Preface
Dear Future Business Leaders,
This is the continuation of IIFT and XAT (GK Compendium) 2021-22, in this compendium; we have added
current affairs of October 2021 to November 15, 2021. We hope that our sincere efforts will serve you in a better
way to fulfill your aspirations.
All the best!!
Team CL
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Contents
Current Affairs [October-November, 2021].......................................................................1
1.
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Current Affairs [October-November, 2021]
In this section of compendium we have compiled some very important facts from Current and Business news which we
feel are quite relevant from IIFT Examinations 2021-2022 perspective. We believe that this compilation will serve
the intended purpose effectively.
A. National
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission (PM-DHM) via
video-conferencing. The pilot project of National Digital Health Mission had been announced by the
Prime Minister from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15th August, 2020.
• Currently, PM-DHM is being implemented in pilot phase in six Union Territories. The nation-wide
rollout of PM-DHM coincides with National Health Authority celebrating the third anniversary of Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was present on
the occasion.
• PM-DHM Sandbox, created as a part of the Mission, will act as a framework for technology and
product testing that will help organizations, including private players, intending to be a part of
National Digital Health Ecosystem become a Health Information Provider or Health Information
User or efficiently link with building blocks of PM-DHM.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY; also referred to as Ayushman Bharat
National Health Protection Scheme NHPS) is a national public health insurance fund of the Government
of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners in the
country. It was launched in September 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. That minis-
try later established the National Health Authority as an organization to administer the program. It
is a centrally sponsored scheme and is jointly funded by both the union government and the states.
By offering services to 50 crore (500 million) people it is the world’s largest government sponsored
healthcare program. It is providing a cover of Rs.5 lakh (US$7,000) per family per year for medical
treatment in empaneled hospitals, both public and private; offering cashless payment and paperless re-
cordkeeping through the hospital or doctor’s office; using criteria from the Socio Economic and Caste
Census 2011 to determine eligibility for benefits. It covers 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of
post-hospitalisation.
Naga Cucumber from Nagaland gets GI tag
• Nagaland’s “sweet cucumber” was recently awarded a geographical identification (GI) tag as an
agricultural product under provisions of The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act, 1999.
• Naga cucumbers are juicy, soft and sweet and is grown completely organically. They are low in calories
but high in potassium and contain a high level of water & can serve as an alternative to consuming sports
drinks.
Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan gets GI tag
• Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan has received the geographical indication (GI) tag from the government,
a move that helps growers of this product get a premium price as no other producer can use the name to market
similar goods.
• “GI tag for Sojat Mehndi is a win-win for farmers, MSME players, artisans and consumers alike if we can
leverage it to enhance its exports given its herbal cosmetic and medicinal uses.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,
1999 has come into force with effect from 15 September 2003. GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1)
of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as:
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“Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that ter-
ritory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic
origin.” The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those
residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea
became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004–2005. The registration of a geographical indication
is valid for a period of 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
World’s highest electric vehicle charging station sets up in Lahaul Spiti
• The world’s highest electric vehicle charging station was inaugurated in Kaza, Lahaul Spiti. “This
is the first station here. If the station gets a good response, more stations would be set up. Pune-based EV
charging infra startup goEgoNetwork has installed its electric vehicle charging facility at Kaza in
the Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, making it the world’s highest EV charging station.
Assam’s Judima Wine Becomes Northeast India’s First Beverage to Be Awarded GI Tag
• The traditional Judima wine of the Dimasa tribals of Assam and Nagaland has become the first
beverage from northeast India to be awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Dimasa tribals
prepare the wine from sticky rice and certain herbs.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually dedicated to the nation the Central Institute of
Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), located in Rajasthan’s Jaipur. He also laid
the foundation stone of four new medical colleges in Banswara, Sirohi, Hanumangarh and Dausa
districts of Rajasthan.
• These Medical Colleges have been sanctioned under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for
“Establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral hospitals”. Preference to set
up medical colleges is given to underserved, backward and Aspirational Districts. Under three phases of the
Scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved across the nation.
India gets first herbicide-tolerant & non-GM rice varieties
• The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has developed the country’s first-ever non-GM
(genetically modified) herbicide-tolerant rice varieties that can be directly seeded and significantly
save water and labour compared to conventional transplanting.
• The varieties — Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 — contain a mutated acetolactate
synthase (ALS) gene making it possible for farmers to spray Imazethapyr, a broad-spectrum herbicide,
to control weeds.
Hardeep Singh Puri launches seventh consecutive edition of Swachh Survekshan
• Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the seventh consecutive edition
of Swachh Survekshan in New Delhi. It is the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey conducted
by Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. Designed with People First as its driving philosophy, Swachh
Survekshan 2022 is curated towards capturing the initiatives of cities for the overall welfare and well-being of
frontline sanitation workers.
Hardeep Singh Puri is an Indian politician and former civil servant who is currently serving as the Min-
ister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in India. He is a 1974
batch Indian Foreign Service officer who served as the Permanent Representative of India to the Unit-
ed Nations from 2009 to 2013. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2014, and became a Member
of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in November, 2020.
Varanasi to be first Indian city to start ropeway service in Public Transportation
• Varanasi, the PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency, will soon become the first Indian city to use
ropeway services in public transportation. The world’s third and India’s first public transport
ropeway is proposed to be constructed from Cantt Railway Station (Varanasi Junction) to Church
Square (Godauliya) to ease the traffic congestion.
Nation pays homage to Father of the Nation ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ and former PM Lal Bahadur
Shastri on their birth Anniversary
• The Nation pays homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 152nd birth anniversary
and 117th birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2. A series of functions have been
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organized across the country and by Indian Missions abroad. A Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha was organised
at his Samadhi – Raj Ghat in the national capital. Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary is also observed
as the International Day of non-violence.
India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ is conducted in Sri Lanka
• The 8th Edition of India – Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ is being conducted in Sri
Lanka from 4th to 15th of October this year. An all arms contingent of 120 personnel of the Indian
Army will participate in the exercise along with a battalion of the Sri Lankan Army.
• The exercise will involve tactical level operations at sub-unit level in an international counter-
insurgency and counter-terrorism environment and will go a long way in further strengthening the
relationship between both the South Asian Nations.
EC freezes Lok Janshakti Party poll symbol
• The Election Commission has freezed Lok Janshakti Party LJP poll symbol till dispute between
Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras factions is resolved.
• In its order the Commission has barred both factions from using the name of LJP or its symbol bungalow
till the dispute between the rival groups is settled by the poll-body.
Chacha Chaudhary declared as mascot of Namami Gange programme: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• In a bid to bring about a behavioural change amongst children towards Ganga and other rivers in the country,
Chacha Chaudhary has been declared as the mascot of the Namami Gange Programme, the Ministry
of Jal Shakti announced. Chacha Chaudhary is an extremely popular Indian comic character who is
known for his problem-solving skills.
India’s first Pan-India helpline for senior citizens: Elder Line (Toll Free No- 14567)
• Government of India has taken a monumental step towards addressing the challenges and problems the
elderly population face, through country’s first Pan-India toll-free helpline - 14567 – called ‘Elder Line’.
• The helpline provides free information and guidance on pension issues, legal issues, extends
emotional support, and even intervenes on field in cases of abuse, and rescues homeless elderly. Till
date, 17 states have already opened the Elder line and others are in the pipeline to be opened.
Edayur Chilli and Kuttiattoor Mango gets G.I. tag
• Edayur Chilli and Kuttiattoor Mango are the latest to receive the Geographical Indication status
from Kerala.
• Edayur chilli is a local cultivar of Edayur, Athavanad, Marakkara, Irimbiliyam, Kalpakanchery
and Valanchery panchayats in Valanchery block and Moorkanad and Kuruva panchayats in
Angadippuram block of Malappuram district. It has been cultivated in the area for at least 150 years.
Maharashtra’s Famed White Onion Gets Geographical Indication Tag
• The famed white onion of Alibag in Maharashtra’s Raigad district has earned itself a ‘Geographical
Indication’, giving the crop a unique identity and wider markets. They pointed out that Alibag’s
white onion, which has medicinal qualities and is used for the treatment of heart ailments, controlling
cholesterol and creation of insulin, has been mentioned in the official gazette as long back as 1883.
GI tag for 7 indigenous products of Uttarakhand
• Recently, Uttarakhand’s seven indigenous products were given the Geographical Indicators (GI)
tag. To preserve such works and retain cultural significance of commercial products, geographical
indication (GI) tag has been awarded to seven indigenous products from Uttarakhand.
• These include Kumaon’s chyura oil, Munsyari rajma, Bhotia dann (a rug made by Bhotias, a nomadic
community), aipan (traditional art made on special occasions), ringal craft (art of making items by
knitting bamboo strands), copper products and thulma (blankets spun from locally-sourced fabric).
• Besides, the state has also applied for a GI tag for 11 farm products - red rice, Berinag tea, gahat,
mandua, jhangora, burans sarbat, kala bhatt, chaulai/ramdana, Almora lakhori mirch, pahari toor
dal and malta fruit.
India Joins High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
• At a ceremony held between the French and Indian governments on 7th October in New Delhi, India officially
joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries encouraging
the adoption of the global goal to protect 30x30.

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• HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south; European, Latin
American, Africa and Asia countries are among the members. India is the first of the BRICS bloc of major
emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to join the HAC.
• India’s announcement comes in the lead up to a high-level biodiversity meeting, hosted by China.
The virtual meeting to take place October 11-15 will tackle key aspects of the biodiversity treaty to be finalized
in 2022. The global 30x30 goal is currently a centrepiece of the treaty.
Mumbai becomes the first Indian city to join TUMI E-Bus Mission
• Taking a green step forward, Mumbai has logged its name as the first city in India to join the
Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) E-Bus Mission.
• Mumbai has woken up to the urgent call of creating an action plan to mitigate the impact of climate
change and the electrification of public travel has been marked essential to realise the vision. In
this regard, the city administration has deemed it fit to announce Mumbai’s participation in the TUMI E-Bus
Mission. The plan is a strong resolution to work towards reducing the carbon footprints of public transport and
redefine the targets for e-bus induction on city roads.
Geographical Indication Tag for Kanniyakumari clove
• The spices growers of Kanniyakumari have obtained the Geographical Indication Tag for the clove
being grown in the hilly regions of the district as it is known for its rich aromatic oil content.
• Clove, one of the prominent spice crops of the district, is grown on 760 hectares in the densely wooded
areas of Maaraamalai, Blackrock and Velimalai in the Western Ghats of the Veerapuli Reserve
Forests and Mahendragiri.
Balaghat Chinnor rice first agriculture produce in Madhya Pradesh to get GI tag
• As Madhya Pradesh continues to fight a legal battle to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag for
basmati rice (PB1) produced in the state, Chinnor rice produced in Balaghat district has bagged the
GI tag.
• It is expected to go a long way in the revival of the traditional variety of rice beyond basmati. Incidentally,
it is the first GI tag for an agriculture produce of MP. Balaghat happens to be the rice bowl of
Madhya Pradesh which produces the finest variety of indegenious rice in the country.
New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge
• “New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift Railway Sea Bridge”, which is expected to be ready
for use by March 2020. Indian Railways began the construction work on the new 2.05 km Pamban
railway bridge in Mandapam, which will connect Rameswaram to the mainland in Tamil Nadu.
• The new bridge will help the railways to operate trains at higher speed, carry more weight and
increase the volume of traffic between Pamban and Rameswaram. The existing Pamban Rail Bridge,
which connects Rameswaram to mainland India, is 105 years old.
• The more than two-kilometre-long bridge, which is likely to cost Rs. 250 crore, will have a 63-metre
stretch, which will lift up while remaining parallel to the deck to allow access to the ships.
Centre plans major infrastructure push for Buddhist Circuit
• In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the plan is to further develop the sites of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir,
Viashali, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Sankisa and Kapilavastu.
• “Under the Ministry of Tourism’s flagship Swadesh Darshan scheme, multiple projects have been
undertaken in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. These projects
are at different stages of implementation, with the government eyeing a completion deadline of 2022-23 for most
of them”.
Swadesh Darshan, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched in 2014 -15 for integrated development of
theme based tourist circuits in the country. This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes
like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism
provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations
for infrastructure development of circuits. One of the objectives of the scheme is to develop theme-based
tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an inte-
grated manner.

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PM Narendra Modi launched first ever National Infrastructure Masterplan ‘PM Gati Shakti’
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first ever National Infrastructure Masterplan, Pradhan
Mantri Gati Shakti. The Gati Shakti scheme was announced by Mr Modi on Independence Day this
year.
• This will bring together 16 Ministries, including seven core infrastructure sectors, on one platform
to synergise project planning across stakeholder ministries to avoid duplication, expedite clearances
and plug gaps at the right time. The Gati Shakti platform will provide information instantaneously,
allowing for better coordination.
• The plan is aimed at achieving three basic goals - seamless multimodal connectivity to facilitate
easy movement of goods and people, improved prioritisation, optimal usage of resources, timely
creation of capacities, and resolution of issues such as disjointed planning, standardisation and
clearances.
The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that was
launched in 2019. Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling
capacity and reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade. It also aims to have 11 industrial
corridors and two new defence corridors - one in Tamil Nadu and other in Uttar Pradesh. Extending
4G connectivity to all villages is another aim. Adding 17,000 kms to the gas pipeline network is being
planned. It will help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for 2024-25, including
expanding the length of the national highway network to 2 lakh kms, creation of more than 200 new
airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
Thanjavur’s Kalamkari paintings get GI tag
• The traditional Karuppur Kalamkari Painting done using pens, brushes made of bamboo stick,
palm stem, date tree and coconut tree stems, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The
certificate was issued recently by the Geographical Indications Registry based on an application filed by Tamil
Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar).
• The Kalamkari in Thanjavur region is the traditional dye-painted figurative and patterned clothes,
made for temples such as ceiling cloth, umbrella covers, cylindrical hangings and chariot covers.
GI tag for Rataul mango variety of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh
• The Rataul mango, grown in large numbers in Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, received its GI tag.
Interestingly, the tussle for the GI tag has been going on between India and neighboring Pakistan
as the latter also claims proprietorship over this variety of mango. The claims are that the variety was
taken by relatives of the Uttar Pradesh farmers and carried to Pakistan where it is cultivated too
and widely exported to Middle Eastern countries.
• Named after the village Rataul in Baghpat district, the variety of mango has a distinctive smell and
flavour. While the mango is not widely known in other parts of the country, it is a great favourite with the
inhabitants of western Uttar Pradesh.
International Energy Agency invites India to become full-time member
• International Energy Agency (IEA) has invited India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, to
become its full-time member - a proposal if accepted will require New Delhi to raise strategic oil reserves
to 90 days requirement.
• India in March 2017 became an associate member of the Paris-based body which advises industrialised
nations on energy policies. In January this year, IEA members and India agreed to enter into a strategic
partnership, strengthening their collaboration across a range of vital areas including energy security
and clean energy transition.
The IEA was founded in Paris in 1974 by industrialised countries - within the framework of the Organ-
isation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - in response to the oil embargo. According
to IEA, a member country must maintain “crude oil and/or product reserves equivalent to 90 days of
the previous year’s net imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own
them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply.” India’s current strategic
oil reserves equal 9.5 days of its requirement. Also, a member of IEA has to show “a demand restraint
programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%.” India has the fastest-growing energy
market in the world. IEA is made up of 30 member countries and eight associate nations.

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Second phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar to commence on Oct 12
• Indian Navy has participated in the second phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar along
with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy.
• The exercise is conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 12th to 15th of this month. First Phase of the exercise
was conducted in the Philippines Sea. The Indian Navy’s participation includes INS Ranvijay, INS
Satpura and a Submarine.
• The US Navy was represented by the Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson along with two destroyers, USS
Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale. The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force was represented by JS Kaga
and JS Murasame. The Royal Australian Navy was represented by HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Sirius.
New Pragati Maidan to host G-20 summit in 2023
• Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the new Pragati Maidan will host
the G-20 summit in 2023. “PM GatiShakti-National Master Plan will give a push and direction to
various development plans. It will also encourage investments. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the
G-20 summit will be held at Pragati Maidan in 2023 for the first time”.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched PM GatiShakti-National Master Plan for multi-modal
connectivity on Wednesday at Pragati Maidan. During the event, he also inaugurated the new exhibition
complex (Exhibition Halls 2 to 5) at Pragati Maidan. The India International Trade Fair (IITF), the
flagship event of the India Trade Promotion Organisation, will be held in these new exhibition halls
from November 14 to 27.
The G20 (or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments and central bank gover-
nors from 19 countries and the European Union (EU). Founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss policy
pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability, the G20 has expanded its agenda since
2008 and heads of government or heads of state, as well as finance ministers, foreign ministers and think
tanks, have periodically conferred at summits ever since. It seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibili-
ties of any single nation. The G20 members are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Ger-
many, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey,
the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
India, US to raise 100 billion dollar annually to fight climate change
• India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to raising $100 billion annually from public and
private sector sources to help develop the two countries’ efforts to tackle climate change.
• The climate crisis was the first topic of discussion at a meeting of the India-US Economic and Financial
Partnership under the leadership of India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US treasury
secretary Janet Yellen.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on Af-
ghanistan in virtual format
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on
Afghanistan in virtual format at the invitation of the Italian Presidency of the G-20.
• Prime Minister had earlier participated in the SCO - CSTO outreach Summit on Afghanistan.
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, participated in the meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers
on Afghanistan on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• The G20 comprises twenty of the world’s major economies and is an important platform to help build
international consensus and facilitate a coordinated approach between multilateral organizations,
including the UN and its agencies, and global and regional actors to address the worsening humanitarian
crisis in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Pa-
kistan and India to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to
the north, and China to the northeast. It is inhabited by 31.4 million people as of 2020, with 4.6 million
living in the capital and largest city, Kabul. Hibatullah Akhundzada is the third Supreme Commander of
the Taliban and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Abdul Ghani Baradar is the First Vice Emir of the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The afghani is the currency of it. The twenty-year-long war between the
government and the Taliban reached a climax with the 2021 Taliban offensive and the resulting fall of
Kabul which returned the Taliban to power.

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Karuppur kalamkari paintings, Kallakurichi wood carvings get geographical indication (GI) tags
• In Tamil Nadu, the Karuppur kalamkari paintings and the Kallakurichi wood carvings recently
received the geographical indication (GI) tags. Both of these art forms are traditional in nature.
• While the paintings are intricately made on a cotton cloth using pens or brushes made out of
bamboo tree and coconut tree stems, the wood carving is essentially one wherein the craftsmen are
specialised in carving temple-related items and also furniture, using traditional designs.
BSF now has uniform 50 km jurisdiction to arrest, search, seize in border states
• The Centre has empowered the Border Security Force to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make
seizures up to 50 km from India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. Effectively, the move reduces
the BSF jurisdiction in a few states, increases in some others and makes no difference in Rajasthan.
• As per the fresh order, the BSF, which was empowered to take action only up to 15 km in Punjab, West
Bengal and Assam, has now been authorised to spread its reach up to 50 km.
The Border Security Force (BSF) is India’s border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan
and Bangladesh. It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of India, and was raised in the wake
of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965, “for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters
connected there with”. It currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force. BSF has been
termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories. Pankaj Kumar Singh is the current Director
General of BSF.
Amit Shah rechristens island as ‘Mount Manipur’
• Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government has decided to rechristen Mount Harriet Island in
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur in the memory of those who sacrificed their life
for the country from the north-eastern state.
• “Manipur had a significant contribution in resisting the British in the entire Northeast during the
1857 Revolution and also in 1891. Manipur never gave up and the people there continued to fight. Manipur
was the only state that had implemented its own Constitution.
• Manipuri war heroes Yuvraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal were publicly hanged in Fida, Imphal.
The British thought that by hanging them, they had crushed the freedom movement, but it did not happen.
After that Maharaja Kulchandra Dhwaja Singh and 22 freedom fighters were sent to Kala Pani and
they were kept on Mount Harriet. Today in his memory, we would like to honor his contribution by
naming Mount Harriet as Mount Manipur,” Shah said.
Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches Air Quality Early Warning System
• Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has launched Air Quality Early Warning System on the
occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week.
• Dr Singh said that the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has developed a new Decision Support
System and extended the ability of the existing air quality early warning system to have decision-
making capability for air quality management.
Indian Army wins gold medal at Cambrian Patrol Exercise in UK
• The Indian Army won a Gold Medal at the Cambrian Patrol Exercise held in the UK while competing
against 96 teams representing special forces and regiments from around the world. The Gorkha Rifles
Frontier Force represented the Indian Army at the drill held at Brecon, Wales.
• The Indian Army team performed well in harsh terrain and inclement weather. The event is considered
the ultimate test of human endurance and team spirit and is considered the Olympics of Military
Patrolling. These conditions added to the challenges of simulated situations to assess the reaction of the teams
in a combat setting.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh
• The inauguration of the Kushinagar International Airport was marked by the landing of the
inaugural flight at the airport from Colombo in Sri Lanka, carrying Sri lankan delegation of over
hundred Buddhist Monks and dignitaries including the 12-member Holy Relic entourage bringing the Holy
Buddha Relics for Exposition.
• The delegation also comprises of Anunayakas (deputy heads) of all four Nikatas (orders) of Buddhism in Sri
Lanka, Asgiriya, Amarapura, Ramanya, Malwatta as well as five Ministers of the Government of Sri
Lanka led by Cabinet Minister Namal Rajapakshe.

2021-22
• The Kushinagar International Airport has been built at an estimated cost of 260 crore rupees. It will
facilitate domestic and international pilgrims to visit the Mahaparinirvana Sthal of Lord Buddha
and is an endeavour in connecting the Buddhist pilgrimage holy sites around the world.
Cochin airport becomes first in India to start hydropower project
• After becoming the first airport in India to come up through a public-private partnership (PPP) and
the world’s first to operate on solar power, Cochin international airport has added another feather
to its cap by starting a hydropower station.
• The power plant with annual power generation capacity of 14 million units will be commissioned
on November 6 at Arippara near Kozhikode. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate
the Rs 52 crore project.
• The 4.5 MW run-of-the river small hydro project (SHP) was awarded to Cochin International Airport
by the Kerala government’s power department as part of its SHP policy on a Build-Own-Operate-
Transfer (BOOT) basis for a lease period of 30 years.
Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 fol-
lowing the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Kerala has the highest
literacy rate 93.91% in the 2011 census; the highest life expectancy, 77 years; and the highest sex ratio,
1,084 women per 1,000 men. Arif Mohammad Khan is the current Governor of Kerala. Kerala is known
as “God’s own country” and is one of the popular tourist destinations in India. Pinarayi Vijayan is the
current Chief Minister of Kerala, in office since 25 May 2016. As per the census 2011, Haryana has the lowest
child sex ratio i.e.834 per thousand males. Kerala is the largest producer of the rubber in the India.
PM Modi launches PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission in Varanasi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched PM Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission from
Varanasi with a total outlay of 64,180 crore rupees. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
aims to strengthen the critical healthcare network from village to block to the district to the
regional and national level in the next four-five years.
• Mr Modi said, under this Mission, his government will develop the network of treatment and critical
care units in every nook and corner of the country with an aggressive approach. He said it will work to
provide affordable, accessible and cheap holistic health care facilities in the country.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya releases Krishi UDAN 2.0
• Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya released Krishi UDAN 2.0 which lays out the vision of
improving value realization through better integration and optimization of Agri-harvesting and
air transportation.
• The scheme proposes to facilitate and incentivize the movement of Agri-produce by air transportation.
The Minister said Krishi UDAN 2.0 is an example of the government’s collaborative approach towards policymaking.
Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’ dedicated to the Nation
• In a significant boost to the maritime safety and security of the nation, the indigenously built Indian Coast
Guard Ship Sarthak dedicated to the nation at Goa.
• The ship will be based at Porbandar in Gujarat and operate on India’s Western Seaboard under the
Operational and Administrative Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (Northwest). The ship
Sarthak is commanded by Deputy Inspector General MM Syed and has complement of 11 Officers and 110 men.
Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’ dedicated to the Nation
• In a significant boost to the maritime safety and security of the nation, the indigenously built Indian Coast
Guard Ship Sarthak dedicated to the nation at Goa.
• The ship will be based at Porbandar in Gujarat and operate on India’s Western Seaboard under the
Operational and Administrative Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (Northwest). The ship
Sarthak is commanded by Deputy Inspector General MM Syed and has complement of 11 Officers and 110 men.
India, Israel agree to form task force to identify new areas of defence cooperation
• India-Israel Joint Working Group on Bilateral Defence Cooperation has agreed to form a Task Force
to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation.
• The Joint Working Group is the apex body between the Ministry of Defence of India and Israel’s
Ministry of Defence to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of Bilateral Defence
Cooperation.

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Israel is a country in the Middle East, Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world, and is consid-
ered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Both Israel and
the Palestinian Authority claim Jerusalem as their capital, however, neither claim is widely recognized
internationally. Knesset is the unicameral national legislature of Israel. Israeli new shekel is the cur-
rency of Israel. Naftali Bennett is an Israeli politician serving as the 13th and current Prime Minister of
Israel since 13 June 2021. Isaac Herzog is serving as the current president of Israel since 7 July 2021.
Chhattisgarh’s launches India’s first indigenous eco-friendly bicycle ‘Bambooka’
• Chhattisgarh has developed its indigenous bicycle with the brand name “Bambooka”. The special
eco-friendly bi-cycle was developed in the land once known for bloodsheds and Naxalism, the tribal-
dominated region of Bastar. Bambooka signifies its name and is made up of bamboo.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana emerge toppers in governance performance: PAC study
• Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have taken the top three slots, emerging winners among the 18
large states in governance performance, Public Affairs Centre (PAC), a Bengaluru-based nonprofit
think tank, announced. Gujarat ranks fifth, Karnataka seventh and Maharashtra 12th in the ranking.
• Public Affairs Index (PAI 2021), as the study is called, has prepared the list based on scores secured by
the states in governance performance across the pillars of equity, growth and sustainability. The
index is purely evidence-based assessment of the performance of states. It uses central government data
sources for assessing the performance.
• In the index, Sikkim, Goa and Mizoram were emerged as winners among the small states. Puducherry,
Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh emerged as toppers among the union territories.
Kalij Pheasant declared bird of J&K UT
• The Government has declared Kalij Pheasant as the bird of the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir. The Hangul will continue to be the animal of Jammu and Kashmir. The bird is mainly found
in Jammu parts besides Uri in Kashmir.
• The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had the black-necked crane and Kashmir stag as its State
Bird and State Animal respectively. But the black-necked crane is found only in Eastern Ladakh
and the Hangul in Kashmir Valley only.
PM Narendra Modi launches Infrastructure for Resilient Island States on sidelines of climate
summit in Glasgow
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) on sidelines
of climate summit in Glasgow. It is aimed at achieving sustainable development through a systematic
approach to resilient, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• The Prime Minister added that Indian Space Research Organisation will build a special data window
for Small Island Developing States to provide them timely information about cyclones, coral-reef
monitoring and coast-line monitoring. Co-hosted by Australia and UK, the IRIS launch event saw
over 100 attendees. Leaders of SIDS including Fiji, Jamaica and Mauritius also participated in the event.
India, UK launched solar Green Grids Initiative at COP26
• On, 2nd November 2021, the Green Grids Initiative One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) was
launched by the Prime Ministers of India and the UK at the World Leaders’ Summit at COP26 in
Glasgow. The project is the brainchild of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), presided by India,
supported by the UK’s COP26 core team. The idea for the initiative was first introduced by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi during ISA’s first assembly in October 2018 where he asked for connecting solar power supply
across borders.
• The new Global Green Grids Initiative - One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) is an evolution
of ISA’s OSOWOG multilateral drive to foster interconnected solar energy infrastructure at a global
scale.
• The new GGI-OSOWOG is another development in ISA’s trajectory of multilateral efforts that foster
solar energy infrastructure globally. It also represents a flagship coalition between strengthening
the bilateral relationship between India and the UK. This has also been asserted by Dr. Ajay Mathur,
the Director General of ISA, who said that, “the Green Grids Initiative aims to start with a coalition of the
willing, such as two countries that would mutually benefit from the transfer of solar electricity and in time,
lower costs of solar around the world.”

2021-22
Mission Ganga enters Guinness Book of World Records
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga set a Guinness World Record on the first day of the Ganga
Utsav for the highest number of photos of handwritten notes uploaded on Facebook in an hour. The event was
held to raise awareness on Ganga rejuvenation and to expand the reach of the festival.
• Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship
Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective
abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
India hosted Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan
• Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was hosted by India on 10th November. The NSA level
meeting was chaired by NSA Ajit Doval. According to sources there has been an overwhelming response to
India’s invitation. Central Asian countries as well as Russia and Iran have confirmed their participation.
• This is the first time all Central Asian countries, not just Afghanistan’s immediate land neighbours,
are participating in this format. Top security officials of eight countries, including India, Iran and
Russia, called for closer coordination and collective efforts to tackle threats such as terrorism
emanating from Afghanistan and to address a looming humanitarian crisis.
PM Narendra Modi emerges as top global leader with over 70 pct approval ratings
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged at the top of the global leader approval ratings. He sits
at the top of the list with a 70 per cent approval rating. Mr Modi received the maximum approval among
adults across the world. He remains at over 60 per cent in approval ratings since Morning Consult
started collecting data in 2019.
• Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stood at the second place with 66 per cent,
followed by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (58 per cent), Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel (54
per cent) and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (47 per cent). US President Joe Biden lies at the
sixth spot with 44 per cent, Canada’s Justin Trudeau at seventh with 43 per cent while United Kingdom’s
Boris Johnson rounded the top 10 with 40 per cent.
Manipur: ‘Black Rice’ of Kakching Gets GI Tag
• The Black Rice of Kakching has recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag under
agricultural products of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act of 1999.
• Black Rice is famous for its high nutrient value and gluten-free nature along with its use in traditional
medicinal purposes. It is pertinent to note that ‘Black Rice of Kakching’ is the fifth agricultural product
from the Northeastern state which attained the feat.
• The other four crops include – “Sirarakhong Hathei Chilly”, or “Tamenglong Orange”, “Black
Aromatic Rice”, “Kachai Lemon”. A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that
have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Therefore, in order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
Srinagar joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2021 under crafts, folk arts category
• In a major recognition of the crafts and arts of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar has joined the
UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2021, under the crafts and folk arts category.
• The inclusion of Srinagar in the creative city network for the arts and crafts has paved a way for
the city to represent its handicrafts on the global stage through UNESCO.
NITI Aayog announces five top aspirational districts in education sector
• NITI Aayog has announced the top five most improved aspirational districts in the education sector
for the month of September. Bhoopalpalli in Telangana tops the ranking.
• It is followed by Chatra and Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Nuapada in Odisha and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
This is as per NITI Aayog’s delta rankings.
• In the Delta ranking 2021 for September month, Baramulla district in north Kashmir has secured 3rd rank
among aspirational districts, in a significant development. Ranchi and Chatra districts in Jharkhand
were ranked at 1st and 2nd position respectively. Wayanad in Kerala secured 4th and Shrawasti district in UP
secured 5th spot.
Union Cabinet approves restoration and continuation of MPLADS
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the restoration and
continuation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) during the remaining

2021-22
part of Financial Year 2021-22 and up to Financial Year 2025-26 co-terminus with the period of 15th Finance
Commission.
• The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per Member of Parliament (MP) constituency is Rs.5 crore, released in
two instalments of Rs.2.5 crore each, subject to the fulfilment of conditions as per the MPLADS Guidelines.
US becomes part of India-led International Solar Alliance
• The US became the 101st member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an inter-governmental
organisation formed by India and France to accelerate the global adoption of solar power.
• The ISA’s framework, which was first circulated in 2016 to obtain backing from other countries,
emphasises on delivering local benefits to all countries through collaborations. The ISA’s key interventions
focus on enabling activities, risk mitigation and innovative financing instruments to facilitate the
deployment of solar technologies.
6th Edition of Indo France Joint Military Exercise “EX SHAKTI 2021” commenced
• The 6th Edition of Indo France Joint Military Excercise- EX SHAKTI 2021 is being conducted from 15
to 26 November 2021 in Frejus, France. A platoon strength of a Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion is
representing the Indian Army in this bilateral exercise. The French side is being represented by troops
of 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
B. International
Accra named UNESCO World Book Capital 2023
• The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has named Accra (Ghana) as UNESCO World
Book Capital for 2023, following the evaluation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.
• After Guadalajara (Mexico) in 2022, the city of Accra was selected for its strong focus on young
people and their potential to contribute to the culture and wealth of Ghana. Accra’s proposed
programme seeks to use the power of books to engage these young people, as an effective way of skilling up the
next generation.
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and is a specialised
agency of the United Nations (UN). It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Educa-
tion, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustain-
able Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. Political and
economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of
the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intel-
lectual and moral solidarity of humanity. It is headquartered at the World Heritage Centre in Paris, France.
Audrey Azoulay is a French civil servant and politician who has been serving as the Director-General of
the UNESCO since 2017, becoming the second female leader of the organization.
India, UK likely to announce ‘green grid’ at COP26 summit
• India and the UK are likely to announce a joint declaration on “one sun, one world, one grid” — or
OSOWOG, a concept New Delhi has been pushing through its International Solar Alliance — at the
upcoming COP26.
• Both countries have been working towards achieving this concept, and the joint venture will be signed
by energy ministers of the two nations in the presence of the two Prime Ministers. The UN Climate Change
Conference, or COP26, is scheduled to be held between October 31 and November 12 in Scotland.
Tunisia’s President appoints woman as prime minister in first for Arab world
• Tunisian President Kais Saied has appointed Najla Bouden Romdhan as the first female Prime
Minister in Tunisia and the Arab world, two months after he sacked the previous government and seized
wide-ranging executive powers.
• “This is the first time in the history of Tunisia that a woman has led a government,” Saied said as
he met with Romdhan, according to a video from the president’s office. “It is an honor to Tunisia and Tunisian
women.” Romdhan served in the ministry of higher education in 2011, according to Tunisia’s privately
owned Mosaique FM.

2021-22
Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa. Its capital and largest city is Tunis. The dinar is the
currency of Tunisia. In 2011, the Tunisian Revolution, triggered by the lack of freedom and democra-
cy under the 24-year rule of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, overthrew his regime and catalyzed the
broader Arab Spring across the region.
Machu Picchu is now the world’s first carbon neutral tourist destination
• Machu Picchu has become the first international destination to obtain the carbon neutral certificate.
The certification was awarded to the Historic and Natural Sanctuary of Machu Picchu by the Green Initiative,
which is an institution that seeks to promote green and environmentally friendly tourism.
• The Green Initiative positioned Machu Picchu as a global reference in terms of sustainability. As per
the certification, it seeks to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions of the Inca citadel, with the
intention of reducing 45 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2030 and reaching neutrality
in 2050.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sworn in for second five-year term
• Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sworn in for a second five-year term running a country in
the grip of a nearly year-long war. His Prosperity Party was declared the winner of Parliamentary Elections
earlier this year in a vote criticized and at times boycotted by opposition parties.
• However, outside electoral observers described the poll as better run than those in the past. Mr Abiy, the 2019
Nobel Peace Prize winner for restoring ties with neighboring Eritrea and for pursuing sweeping
political reforms, now faces major challenges as war in the Tigray region spreads into other parts
of the country.
Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country in the Horn of Africa, and
is the most populous landlocked country in the world. It shares borders with Eritrea and Djibouti to the
north, Somaliland to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west
and Sudan to the northwest. The national capital and largest city, Addis Ababa. The birr is the unit of
currency in Ethiopia. Sahle-Work Zewde is the current President of Ethiopia since 2018, being the first
woman to hold the office. The Horn of Africa consists of the internationally recognized countries of So-
malia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, as well as the unrecognized country of Somaliland.
Fumio Kishida sworn-in as new Prime Minister of Japan
• Japan’s Parliament elected former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as the Prime Minister. He is
the 100th Prime Minister in the country’s political history. Lawmakers in both chambers of the Diet
voted for the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the main ruling party.
• Sixty-four-year-old Kishida won by a comfortable margin against Yukio Edano, head of the largest
opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Mr Kishida won 311 votes in the Lower House, over 80
more than a majority. He garnered 141 votes in the Upper House, 20 more than a majority.
Russia test-fires hypersonic ‘Tsirkon’ missile for first time
• Russia had successfully test launched a Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile from a submarine
for the first time, a weapon President Vladimir Putin has lauded as part of a new generation of unrivalled
arms systems.
• The defence ministry, which tested firing the Tsirkon missile from a warship in July, said that
the Severodvinsk submarine had fired the missile while deployed in the Barents Sea and had hit its
chosen target. Low-quality video footage released by the ministry showed the missile shooting upwards from
a submarine, its glare lighting up the night sky and illuminating the water’s surface.
• In July, parts of footage showing Russia’s advanced new S-500 surface-to-air missile system appeared to have
been deliberately blurred to make it harder to examine in detail.
Russian film crew in orbit to make first movie in space
• A Russian actor and a film director rocketed to space on a mission to make the world’s first movie
in orbit, a project the Kremlin said will help the nation’s space glory.
• Actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko blasted off for the International Space Station
in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft together with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, a veteran of three space
missions. Their Soyuz MS-19 lifted off from the Russian space launch facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan
and arrived at the station after about 3½ hours.

2021-22
• The trio reported they were feeling fine and spacecraft systems were functioning normally. Peresild and
Klimenko are to film segments of a new movie titled “Challenge,” in which a surgeon played by
Peresild rushes to the space station to save a crew member who needs an urgent operation in orbit.
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth
orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, and the ISS is now the largest human-made body
in low Earth orbit. The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew
members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields. Five
different space agencies representing 15 countries built the $100-billion International Space Station
and continue to operate it today. NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities
(Roscosmos), the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Explo-
ration Agency are the primary space agency partners on the project.
Austria’s Sebastian Kurz steps down over corruption probe to save coalition
• Austria’s conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned to pull his coalition government back
from the brink of collapse after the junior party demanded his head because he has been placed under
investigation on suspicion of corruption.
• Sebastian Kurz is an Austrian politician currently serving as chairman and parliamentary leader of
the Austrian People’s Party (OVP). He was twice chancellor of Austria, initially from December 2017
to May 2019 and then a second time from January 2020 to October 2021. For about four years, Kurz
was the youngest head of government in the world as well as the youngest chancellor in Austrian
history, being first elected into office at age 31.
Austria is a landlocked East Alpine country in the southern part of Central Europe. It is composed of
nine federated states, one of which is Vienna, Austria’s capital and largest city. Alexander Van der Bel-
len is the current President of Austria. Alexander Schallenberg is serving as Chancellor of Austria since
11 October 2021. Euro is the official currency of it.
Abolhassan Banisadr, Iran’s first president after 1979 revolution, dies
• Abolhassan Banisadr, Iran’s first president after the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution who fled
Tehran after being impeached for challenging the growing power of clerics as the nation became a
theocracy, died.
Iran also called Persia is a country in Western Asia and its capital is Tehran. The rial is the curren-
cy of Iran. Hassan Rouhani is the current President and Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei is the current Su-
preme Leader. Ebrahim Raisi is the current President-elect of Iran and will assume office 3 August 2021.
Germany unveils world’s first automated, driverless train
• German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and industrial group Siemens unveiled the world’s first
automated, driverless train in the city of Hamburg, billing it as more punctual and energy efficient than
traditional trains.
• The project, which Siemens and Deutsche Bahn called a “world first”, is part of a 60 million euro
($70 million) modernisation of Hamburg’s rapid urban rail system.
• It would be the first time that a fully automated Hamburg train will run on sharing tracks with other
regular trains. While other cities in Europe, for instance, Paris, already have driverless metros and
the airports often have automated monorail trains plying terminals, those are operated on exclusive
single tracks, according to local German reports.
Germany is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia,
and the most populous member state of the European Union. The nation’s capital and largest city is Berlin,
and its financial centre is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is
serving as the President of Germany since 19 March 2017. Euro is the official currency of it. Angela Dor-
othea Merkel is serving as the chancellor of Germany since 2005.
Indian Army contingent departs for Indo-US Joint Military Exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” in
Alaska
• The 17th edition of the joint military training exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” was conducted at Joint
Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, the United States as part of the ongoing Indo-US Defence
Cooperation. The contingent, comprising of 350 personnel of an Infantry Battalion Group departed on October
14.

2021-22
• The Exercise YudhAbhyas is the largest running joint military training and defense cooperation
endeavour between India and the US. The earlier version of this exercise was held in India at Mahajan
Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan earlier this year in the month of February. This exercise is
a milestone in the growing military cooperation between the two countries.
Global Hunger Index 2021: India slips to 101st spot
• India has slipped to the 101st position among 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021
from its 2020 ranking (94), to be placed behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Eighteen countries,
including China, Brazil and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI score of less than five, the website
of the Global Hunger Index that tracks hunger and malnutrition said.
• With this, only 15 countries — Papua New Guinea (102), Afghanistan (103), Nigeria (103), Congo (105),
Mozambique (106), Sierra Leone (106), Timor-Leste (108), Haiti (109), Liberia (110), Madagascar (111),
Democratic Republic of Congo (112), Chad (113), Central African Republic (114), Yemen (115) and Somalia (116)
— fared worse than India this year.
• The report, prepared jointly by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt
Hunger Hilfe, mentioned the level of hunger in India as “alarming” with its GHI score decelerating
from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8 – 27.5 between 2012 and 2021.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Turkey and two other countries to its ‘grey list.
• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Turkey and two other countries to its ‘grey list.’ The
international organisation deals with monitoring and the setting up of guidelines to combat money
laundering and terrorism financing.
• This adds to Turkey’s troubles as is already in the thick of an economic crisis, with its currency rapidly
devaluing against the dollar. For Turkey, which is joined by Jordan and Mali on the list, its inclusion
means that investors and creditors are less likely to put their money into the country. Pakistan is
also on the list.
• The FATF took two countries — Botswana and Mauritius — out of the grey list. It is because these
countries had made significant progress in addressing the strategic AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/
Combating the Financing of Terrorism) deficiencies identified earlier by the FATF and included in their
respective action plans.
• The first list, ‘Call for action,’ also called the FATF Black List, features countries that the group has
considered non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Currently, this list only contains North Korea and Iran.
• The ‘grey list’ or the ‘Other monitored jurisdictions’ list, on the other hand, features countries where
the FATF trains a bigger lens on the financial goings-on of a country to ensure they are meeting the
recommendation criteria set out by the organisation.
The FATF is an international intergovernmental agency that was founded in 1989 with backing from
the Group of Seven (G7) countries to combat money laundering. The FATF Secretariat is located at
the OECD headquarters in Paris. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, the mandate
of the group was expanded to combat terror financing as well. The Financial Action Task Force com-
prises over 39 member countries including India. Dr. Marcus Pleyer of Germany assumed the position
of President of the FATF on 1 July 2020. He succeeded Xiangmin Liu of the People’s Republic of China.
Northern Ireland Protocol
• During negotiations the EU and UK agreed a Northern Ireland Protocol that there would be no new
checks on goods crossing the border between NI and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). The protocol
was designed to prevent checks along the border between Northern Ireland (in the UK) and the
Republic of Ireland (in the EU), following Brexit.
• But since it came into force at the start of 2021, it has prompted disagreements between the UK and
EU because it has disrupted trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A global first links 13 of Scotland’s UNESCO cities and sites in a digital trail
• Long renowned as the birthplace of literary heroes and authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle and
Muriel Spark, Edinburgh is one of 13 sites in Scotland recognised by UNESCO as a place of international
importance.

2021-22
• Now the city, along with the nearby Forth Bridge connecting it to Fife, will become part of the world’s
first ever UNESCO trail. Designed to help transform Scotland into a world-leading responsible
tourism destination, the digital trail connects together for the first time all of Scotland’s UNESCO world
heritage sites, biospheres, geoparks and cities of culture.
World’s First Desert-Circling Railway “Closed Loop” Expected to Run in 2022
• Heruo Railway, the “last kilometer” of the railway encircling Taklimakan Desert, completed laying
tracks, setting the foundation for operating the world’s first desert-circling railway in 2022.
• The construction of the Heruo Railway began in December 2018. It is designed to connect Hetian
City in Southern Xinjiang and Ruoqiang County in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture.
• Heruo Railway, together with the existing Geku Railway, Kahe Railway, and Southern Xinjiang
Railway, forms a closed railway loop around the Taklimakan Desert.
Konkan Shakti exercise: India, UK begin first-ever joint tri-services exercise
• The maiden bilateral tri-service exercise, Konkan Shakti 21, between the armed forces of India and
the UK culminated in the Arabian Sea on October 27. With the arrival of the UK Carrier Strike Group on
the western coast, India-U.K. ties will gear up for a phase of high profile engagements.
• The Strike Group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth is on a “non-provocative” exercise in the Indo-Pacific
region in what is being interpreted as the biggest British naval deployment since the end of the Cold War.
Luxembourg becomes first European country to legalise cannabis
• In a bid to bring fundamental changes in country’s approach towards recreational drugs, Luxembourg has
become the first country in Europe to legalise growing and consuming cannabis.
• The country’s government announced that from now on, people aged 18 and above will be allowed to
grow a maximum of four cannabis plants per household. Locals will have to use their household
boundary — indoors, outdoors, balcony, terrace or garden — to grow cannabis at home. Nobody will be permitted
to grow the recreational drug in public spaces.
Luxembourg is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and
north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is one of the four of-
ficial capitals of the European Union (together with Brussels, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg) and the seat
of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the highest judicial authority in the EU. Xavier Bettel is a
Luxembourg lawyer and politician who has served as Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 2013. Henri is
the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Euro is it’s official currency of it.
Glasgow to host COP-26 summit from Oct 31
• The UK will host the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference from October 31 to November 12. This
year marks the 26th Conference of Parties (thus the name COP26) and will be held in the Scottish
Event Campus in Glasgow.
• The most critical climate change conference since the Paris Agreement, the 26th UN Climate Change
Conference of the Parties (COP-26) is to be hosted by United Kingdom in Glasgow. At COP-26, public,
social, and private sector leaders will unite to seek solutions, alongside BCG, the exclusive COP-26 consultancy
partner.
• The Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from
parties with more financial resources to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable. Climate finance is
needed for mitigation because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions.
• The Paris Agreement reaffirms the obligations of developed countries, while for the first time also
encouraging voluntary contributions by other parties. Such mobilization of climate finance should
represent a progression beyond previous efforts.
• According to the UNFCCC, COP26 will work towards four goals: 1. Secure global net-zero by
mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. 2. Adapt to protect communities and natural
habitats. 3. Mobilise finance: To deliver on our first two goals, developed countries must make
good on their promise to mobilise at least $100 bn in climate finance per year by 2020. 4. ‘Finalise
the Paris Rulebook’: Leaders will work together to frame a list of detailed rules that will help fulfil the Paris
Agreement.

2021-22
Conference of Parties (COP) comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention
(UNFCCC) which was formed in 1994. The UNFCCC entered into force in 1994, and nearly all of the world’s
nations have now signed on. The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, which marked the
beginning of the international community’s first concerted effort to confront the problem of climate change. Known
also as the Rio Convention, the UNFCCC established a framework for action to stabilise concentrations
of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. It is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement. It is
also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Abu Dhabi gets world’s first Warner Bros. hotel
• The first-ever Warner Bros. hotel in the world is opened in Abu Dhabi. The hotel promises experiences
to visitors with their beloved stories and characters. The hotel will also tell the film’s history and offer
a 360-degree city and sea views. Guests can also enjoy wearing their favorite costumes from Warner Bros.
movies and TV shows.
Developed Countries push 100 billion Dollar climate finance goal target deadline to 2023
• UK which holds the Presidency of the summit published a Climate Finance Delivery Plan to provide
clarity on when and how developed countries will meet the 100 billion Dollar climate finance goal. The new
outlook states that the goal will be met from 2023. This is three years later than what was committed to
by the Developed Countries at the Paris Summit in 2015.
• Developed countries committed to a goal of mobilising jointly 100 billion Dollars a year by 2020 to
address the needs of developing countries, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency
on implementation. The Parties committed to continue delivering on this goal through 2025 at Paris conference.
African Union suspends Sudan after military coup
• The African Union has suspended Sudan from all of its activities until the civilian-led transitional
authority is restored. Abdalla Hamdok was arrested during the coup.
• Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had ordered the dissolution of the government and
declared a state of emergency. Since then, thousands of citizens have mounted protests, chanting “No to
military rule.”
The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent
of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, call-
ing for the establishment of the African Union. The bloc was founded on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, and launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. The intention of the AU was to replace
the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa by 32 signatory
governments; the OAU was disbanded on 9 July 2002. Moussa Faki Mahamat is the current Chairperson of
the African Union Commission.
For the first time in North Macedonia’s 30-year history, a prime minister has resigned
• For the first time in North Macedonia’s 30-year history, a prime minister has resigned. Zoran Zaev
stepped down after a defeat in local elections, plunging North Macedonia into political crisis.
• North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced his resignation following the crushing
defeat of his governing Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, or SDSM, in the second round of the
country’s local elections. Zaev told a news conference at the party headquarters in Skopje “the responsibility for
this outcome is mine and I’m resigning as prime minister and as leader of the Social Democratic Union.”
North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedo-
nia, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states
of Yugoslavia. North Macedonia is a landlocked country bordering with Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the
north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. Skopje is the capital and largest city.
The Macedonian denar is the currency of North Macedonia. Stevo Pendarovski is the current President
of North Macedonia.
World leaders promise to end, reverse deforestation by 2030, in COP26 climate summit’s first
major deal
• More than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26
climate summit’s first major deal. Brazil, where stretches of the Amazon rainforest have been cut
down, was among the signatories. The pledge includes almost $19.2 bn of public and private funds.

2021-22
• Experts welcomed the move, but warned a previous deal in 2014 had failed to slow deforestation at all and
commitments needed to be delivered on. Felling trees contributes to climate change because it depletes
forests that absorb vast amounts of the warming gas CO2. A total of 110, had made the landmark
commitment. The two-week summit in Glasgow is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under
control.
• The countries who have signed the pledge - including Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US and the UK - cover around 85% of the world’s forests.
Some of the funding will go to developing countries to restore damaged land, tackle wildfires and support
indigenous communities.
• Governments of 28 countries also committed to remove deforestation from the global trade of food
and other agricultural products such as palm oil, soya and cocoa.
The Prime Minister of India addressed the COP26 world leaders summit in Glasgow where he made a crit-
ical pitch for climate action and stood for the nations of the developing world as well. India’s Commitments at the
Summit: While delivering his national statement on India’s behalf, the PM presented five commitments
from India towards climate action at COP26. These include: 1. Taking India’s non-fossil fuel energy ca-
pacity to 500 gigawatt(GW) by 2030. 2. Fulfilling 50% of India’s energy requirements through renewable
energy by 2030. 3. Bringing down the carbon intensity of India’s economy by more than 45% by 2030. 4.
Cut down its net projected carbon emission by 1 billion tons from now until 2030. 5. Achieve the target
of net zero carbon emission by 2070.
India retains slot in top 10 on climate performance index; China at 37, US 55
• India has retained its spot in the top 10 best performing countries for the third year in a row in the
global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) released by Germanwatch on the side-lines of the
COP26.
• The report noted that no country performed well enough in all index categories to achieve an
overall very high rating in CCPI. Therefore, once again, the top three places in the overall ranking remain
empty.
Egypt to host COP27 international climate conference next year
• The UN climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow has announced that Egypt was chosen to host
the upcoming session of the conference in 2022 (COP27). Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
declared in September his country’s interest in hosting the COP27 on behalf of the African continent.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 2023 edition of the conference. Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced
that the UAE had won its bid to host the COP28 conference in 2023.
Chilean President impeached over Pandora Papers revelation
• President Sebastian Pinera was impeached by the lower house of Chile’s congress, setting up a trial
in the nation’s Senate over whether to remove him due to allegations he favoured the sale of a family
property while in office.
• The vote to accept the charges got the bare minimum of 78 votes needed in the 155-member Chamber of Deputies
and followed a marathon 20-hour session. Sixty-seven legislators voted against the “constitutional
accusation”, including several members of the opposition. Others abstained or were absent.
Chile is a country in western South America. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the
east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country’s capital and largest city is Santiago, and its national
language is Spanish. The peso is the currency of Chile.
Jonas Gahr Stoere becomes new Prime Minister of Norway
• The new centre-left Cabinet of Norway formally took over power after the newly-elected Prime
Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere presented a centre-left minority government. The new cabinet in Norway was
introduced a day after a deadly bow-and-arrow attack in a small town.
• Emilie Enger Mehl became the youngest Justice Minister of Norway at the age of 28, while the Foreign Minister
portfolio went to another woman- Anniken Scharning Huitfeldt. In Norway, a minority coalition of the
leftwing Labour Party and the rural Centre Party took over after beating the ruling Conservative-
led government in the vote for Parliament in September 2021.

2021-22
Norway is a Nordic country in Northern Europe whose mainland territory comprises the western and
northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Nordic countries, or the Nordics, or Norden (liter-
ally “the North”), are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, which
includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as the auton-
omous countries of the Faroe Islands and Greenland (both part of the Kingdom of Denmark). Oslo is
the capital city of Norway. The krone is the currency of Norway.
C. Business & Economy

India emerges as Dubai’s second biggest trade partner
• Dubai’s biggest trade partner is China, recording 30.7% growth year-on-year with total trade in H1
2020. India has emerged as Dubai’s second biggest trading partner after China with the overall volume
touching 38.5 billion dirham in the first half of 2021.
• According to a Dubai government statement, the emirate had a trade volume of 86.7 billion dirham with
China in H1 (first half) of 2021, followed by India and the U.S. at third position. Trade with India grew
74.5% year-on-year to 67.1 billion dirham from 38.5 billion dirham in H1 2020.
Ranthambore’s 700-year-old Barwara Fort becomes India’s 1st Six Senses hotel
• A 14th century fort in Rajasthan’s famed tiger district Ranthambore has been “sensitively” converted
into a luxury hotel, marking the entry of hospitality major InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG)
wellness and sustainability brand Six Senses into India.
• The original Barwara Fort was constructed in the 14th century by the Chauhans. The 700-year-
old fort’s restoration took more than a decade, incorporating two palaces and as many temples within
the walled fort. Now converted into a hotel, it has 48 one-bedroom suites designed in a contemporary
Rajasthani style. The resort has three restaurants with a bar and lounge, apart from a Six Senses Spa and
fitness centre and two swimming pools, banqueting areas, a lifestyle boutique and a children’s club.
The world’s most powerful passports in 2021
• India’s rank has slipped by six places from last year to 90 on the Henley Passport Index, which
lists the world’s most travel-friendly passports. The Henley Passport Index comes at a time when
countries are easing travel rules for international visitors after almost two years since the onset of
the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The index ranks the passports of countries according to the number of destinations their holders can
visit without a prior visa. The rankings are based on the analysis of data provided by the International
Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Japan and Singapore stood at the top of this year’s list, with their passports holders allowed to travel
visa-free to 192 countries, while South Korea and Germany share the second position. For the third
consecutive year, Japan has secured the top position. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and
Yemen are among the least powerful.
• India, which held the 84th rank last year, fell down to the 90th position, with its passport holders
allowed to travel visa-free to 58 countries. India shares the rank with Tajikistan and Burkina Faso.
IMPS limit raised to Rs 5L from Rs 2L
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the transaction limit in Immediate Payment Service
(IMPS) from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. IMPS offers instant domestic funds transfer facility 24×7 through
banking channels.
• The RBI has also proposed to introduce a framework for retail digital payments in offline mode across
the country. This will further expand the reach of digital payments and open up new opportunities
for individuals and businesses. A scheme to test technologies that enable digital payments even in remote
places where internet connectivity is either absent or barely available was announced in August 2020.
Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) is an instant payment inter-bank electronic funds transfer system
in India. IMPS offers an inter-bank electronic fund transfer service through mobile phones. The service
is available 24x7 throughout the year including bank holidays. NEFT was also made available 24x7
from December 2019. RTGS was also made available 24x7 from 14th December 2020. It is managed by
the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and is built upon the existing National Financial
Switch network. IMPS was publicly launched on 22 November 2010.

2021-22
Rich List: India’s wealthiest self-made entrepreneurs under 40
• IIFL Wealth and Hurun India released the ‘IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 and Under Self-Made Rich
List 2021’ ranking the self-made entrepreneurs of India with a wealth of over Rs 1,000 crore.
• Indian-born businessman and founder of Media.net Divyank Turakhia topped the list with a wealth of
Rs 12,500 crore, followed by co-founders of Browser Stack Nakul Aggarwal and Ritesh Arora with a
wealth of Rs 12,400 crore each.
• 42 of the 45 entrepreneurs reside in India, with Bengaluru having the highest number of IIFL
Wealth Hurun India Rich Listers aged under 40. Software, services, transportation and logistics are the
major contributors of wealth for entrepreneurs under the age of 40.
USA replaces China as world’s biggest Bitcoin miner
• The United States has overtaken China to account for the largest share of the world’s bitcoin
mining, data published by the U.K.’s Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance showed.
• The U.S. has become the world’s epicenter for Bitcoin mining after a crackdown in China effectively
eliminated the practice in the former cradle of the industry.
• China’s share of the power of computers connected to the global bitcoin network, known as the
“hash rate”, fell to zero by July from 44 percent in May, the data showed.
• The United States now accounts for the largest share of mining, some 35.4 percent of the global
hash rate as of end-August, followed by Kazakhstan and Russia, the data showed.
Cryptocurrency is a specific type of virtual currency, which is decentralised and protected by cryp-
tographic encryption techniques. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple are a few notable examples of cryptocur-
rencies. Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone. Bitcoin was in-
troduced in 2009. Bitcoin is based on an open-source protocol and is not issued by any central authority.
The origin of Bitcoin is unclear, as is who founded it. A person, or a group of people, who went by the
identity of Satoshi Nakamoto are said to have conceptualised an accounting system in the aftermath of
the 2008 financial crisis. In 2018, The RBI issued a circular preventing all banks from dealing in cryp-
tocurrencies. This circular was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in May 2020. Recently,
the government has announced to introduce a bill; Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital
Currency Bill, 2021, to create a sovereign digital currency and simultaneously ban all private crypto-
currencies.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump launches ‘TRUTH’ social media platform
• Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched his own social media app, TRUTH Social, that he
said would “stand up to Big Tech” companies such as Twitter and Facebook that have barred him
from their platforms.
• TRUTH Social will be created through a new company formed by a merger of the Trump Media and
Technology Group and a special acquisition company (SPAC), according to a press release distributed
by both organizations.
• The social network, set for a beta launch next month and full rollout in the first quarter of 2022, is
the first of three stages in the company’s plans, followed by a subscription video-on-demand service
called TMTG+ that will feature entertainment, news and podcasts.
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the
45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Kolkata Port introduces long-range marine communication system
• In view of a much needed solution for providing effective long range Marine communication, the Radio over
InternetProtocol (ROIP) System at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMP, Kolkata), was
inaugurated.
• ROIP system is being introduced as a marine communication mode, for the first time in any Major
Indian Port. It shall cover the entire Hugli River Estuary from Kolkata to Sandheads, having base
stations at 4 Locations. With this facility, vessels at Sandheads can be directly communicated via Radio, from
Kolkata, specially during storms and inclement weather.
RBI approves reappointment of Amitabh Chaudhry as MD & CEO of Axis Bank
• The private lender confirmed the appointment and stated that it has received the central bank’s approval for
Chaudhry’s re-appointment for another three-year period, with effect from 1 January, 2022 to December 31, 2024.

2021-22
• Before joining Axis Bank, Chaudhry was the MD and CEO of HDFC Standard Life Insurance
Company and has also served as the head of testing unit of Infosys Technologies Ltd and MD & CEO of Infosys
BPO.
• Axis Bank Limited is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in
Mumbai, Maharashtra. It sells financial services to large and mid-size companies, SMEs and retail businesses.
The Reserve Bank of India was founded on 1 April 1935 to respond to economic troubles after the First
World War. RBI was conceptualised as per the guidelines, working style and outlook presented by Dr. B.
R. Ambedkar in his book titled “The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution” and presented
to the Hilton Young Commission. The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal
Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, also known as the Hilton–Young Commission. In 1969,
the Indira Gandhi-headed government nationalised 14 major commercial banks. Upon Indira Gandhi’s
return to power in 1980, a further six banks were nationalised. The first Governor of the RBI was British
banker Osborn Smith and C.D. Deshmukh was the first Indian Governor of RBI. Shaktikanta Das is the
current Governor of RBI.
Axis Bank is the first Indian private bank to do a term SOFR trade finance deal
• Axis Bank has become the first Indian private sector bank to arrange a term Secured Overnight
Financing Rate (SOFR) linked trade financing deal, joining a select group of banks and financial
institutions globally who have executed similar transactions.
• The transaction was executed for Hindalco Industries Ltd, the world’s largest aluminium company by
revenue, and linked to 90-day SOFR financed by Axis Bank’s GIFT City IBU branch.
Axis Bank Limited is an Indian private sector bank headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It sells
financial services to large and mid-size companies, SMEs and retail businesses. It is the third largest pri-
vate sector bank in India The bank was founded in December 1993 as UTI Bank, opening its registered office
in Ahmedabad and a corporate office in Mumbai. Shikha Sharma was the managing director and CEO of Axis
Bank from 2009 to 2018. Amitabh Chaudhry is the current managing director (MD) and chief executive
officer (CEO) of it.
UCO Bank CEO Atul Kumar Goel appointed chairman of Indian Banks’ Association
• UCO Bank CEO Atul Kumar Goel has been appointed as chairman of the Indian Banks’ Association
(IBA) for 2021-22 succeeding Union Bank of India CEO Rajkiran Rai.
• In the managing committee meeting, IBA members also elected State Bank of India chairman Dinesh
Kumar Khara, Canara Bank CEO L V Prabhakar and IDBI Bank CEO Rakesh Sharma as deputy
chairmen of the IBA.
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), formed on (26 September 1946) as a representative body of manage-
ment of banking in India operating in India - an association of Indian banks and financial institutions
based in Mumbai. With an initial membership representing 22 banks in India in 1946, IBA currently
represents 247 banking companies operating in India. IBA was formed for development, coordination and
strengthening of Indian banking, and assist the member banks in various ways including implementa-
tion of new systems and adoption of standards among the members.
Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes 1st scheduled private sector bank to collect direct, indirect taxes
• Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMBL) has received approval from the government for collection of direct
and indirect taxes, such as income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) etc, through its banking network.
• With this, the bank becomes the first scheduled private sector bank to receive approval after the
announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allowing all banks to participate in
government-related business.
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited is an Indian private sector bank headquartered in Mumbai, Maharash-
tra, India. It offers banking products and financial services for corporate and retail customers in the
areas of personal finance, investment banking, life insurance, and wealth management. As of February
2021, it is the third largest Indian private sector bank by market capitalization, with 1600 branches & 2519 ATMs.
Kamath to be first NaBFID chairman
• The government has appointed veteran banker K V Kamath as the first chairperson of the National
Bank for Financing Infrastructure & Development (NaBFID).

2021-22
• Kamath has been given a three-year term and is expected to play a key role in giving shape to the
new development financial institution (DFI) that will focus on providing long-term funding.
• For the former chief of the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank), life has come a full circle and the
government is keen to tap into his experience in development financing across Asia.
• The NaBFID Act enables the government to guarantee bonds and other debt instruments issued by
the institution. In addition to NaBFID, the finance minister has exhorted the private sector to promote DFIs.
NBFID will be a corporate body with authorised share capital of Rs. 1 lakh crores. Initially, the central
government will own 100% shares of the institution. This share may subsequently be reduced up to 26%.
Financial Objective: To directly or indirectly lend, invest, or attract investments for infrastructure projects lo-
cated entirely or partly in India. Developmental Objective: Includes facilitating the development of the market
for bonds, loans, and derivatives for infrastructure financing. NBFID will work toward financial as well as
developmental objectives.
Starter launches Nasdex, the first Asia-focused decentralized exchange, in India
• Community-driven launchpad, Starter, which supports interoperability of initial DEX offerings (IDO),
has launched the IDO of Nasdex in India.
• Nasdex is an Asia-focused decentralized exchange that offers the ability to trade tokenized equities
on blockchain via minting and trading mechanism that mimics the off-chain economics of the real-
world equity price. An initial DEX offering or IDO refers to the launching of a cryptocurrency on a
decentralized exchange (DEX).
Paytm becomes India’s first platform to accept international remittances directly into digital
wallet
• Paytm Payments Bank has forged a tie-up with Ria Money Transfer, a cross-border money transfer
firm and a business segment of Euronet Worldwide, to help its 333 million customers receive money from
their relatives abroad.
• This partnership makes Paytm the country’s first platform to accept international remittances
directly into a digital wallet. On the other hand, Ria Money became the first money transfer company to
connect with Paytm’s wallet users.
Paytm (“pay through mobile”) is an Indian multinational technology company that specialises in digital
wallet, e-commerce, payment system and financial technology company, based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh,
India. Paytm was founded in August 2010 with an initial investment of $2 million by its founder Vijay
Shekhar Sharma in Noida, a region adjacent to India’s capital New Delhi. It started off as a prepaid mobile
and DTH recharge platform, and later added data card, postpaid mobile and landline bill payments in 2013.
ONGC Videsh first Indian company to hunt for oil, gas in Bangladesh
• ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has started exploration in Bangladesh, becoming the first Indian entity to
hunt for oil and gas in that country.
• The overseas investment arm of state-run ONGC, in consortium with Oil India Ltd, started drilling
the first well in shallow offshore Block SS04 off Maheshkhali Island, about 355 km from Capital
Dhaka, in Chittagong division of Cox’s Bazar district.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is an Indian government-owned crude oil and natural gas
corporation. Its registered office is in New Delhi. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas, Government of India. It is the largest oil and gas exploration and production company in
the country, and produces around 70% of India’s crude oil (equivalent to around 57% of the country’s
total demand) and around 84% of its natural gas. In November 2010, the Government of India conferred
the Maharatna status to ONGC.
Tata Sons wins bid for acquiring national carrier Air India
• Tata Sons will regain control of Air India as it takes over 100 per cent of the government’s stake
in the national carrier, marking the end of a protracted struggle to sell the airline and the first step in the
Centre’s mega privatisation push.
• The Mumbai-based conglomerate placed a winning bid of Rs 18,000 crore, of which Rs 2,700 crore
will be paid in cash and the remaining Rs 15,300 crore will be the absorbed from the over Rs 60,000
crore debt the airline had as of August 31, 2021. The government, in 1953, had taken control of the
airline from the Tata Group, which founded the carrier as Tata Airlines in 1932.

2021-22
• The Tata Group cannot transfer the Air India India brand or logo for five years and thereafter, can
do so only to an Indian entity. The scope of the sale includes 100% of the government’s stake in Air
India and 100% of the airline’s shareholding in low-cost airline Air India Express Ltd and 50% in Air
India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd.
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered at New Delhi. It is owned by Air India Lim-
ited of Talace Private Limited, a Special-Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Tata Sons, and operates a fleet of Airbus
and Boeing aircraft serving 102 domestic and international destinations. Air India is the largest international
carrier out of India with an 18.6% market share. Over 60 international destinations are served by Air India
across four continents. The airline was founded by J. R. D. Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932; Tata himself flew
its first single-engine de Havilland Puss Moth, carrying air mail from Karachi’s Drigh Road Aerodrome
to Bombay’s Juhu aerodrome and later continuing to Madras (currently Chennai). After World War II,
it became a public limited company and was renamed as Air India. On 21 February 1960, it took delivery
of its first Boeing 707 named Gauri Shankar and became the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft
in its fleet. Air India also operates flights to domestic and Asian destinations through its subsidiaries
Alliance Air and Air India Express. Air India’s mascot is the Maharajah (Emperor) and the logo consists
of a flying swan with the wheel of Konark inside it.
Mukesh Ambani to Gautam Adani: Top 10 richest Indians in 2021
• With a net worth of Rs 7,18,000 crore, Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani has retained the title of
being the richest Indian for the 10th consecutive year, a report released by IIFL Wealth and Hurun
India has said.
• Meanwhile, for the first time, both Adani brothers feature in the top 10 richest Indian list 2021. “With
Rs 5,05,900 crore, Gautam Adani, 59, storms into the no. 2 spot, almost quadrupling his wealth
from Rs 1,40,200 cr,” the report says. The top 10 list also features four new faces, including steel magnate
Lakshmi Mittal and Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group.
Mukesh Ambani brings 7-eleven stores to India, first one in Mumbai
• Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, will bring 7-Eleven Inc.’s convenience stores to India, adding to
his burgeoning retail empire in the world’s only billion-people-plus consumer market that’s open to
foreign firms.
• Mr Ambani’s Reliance Retail Ltd. secured the pact just days after troubled supermarket operator Future
Retail Ltd. terminated its own agreement with one of the world’s biggest convenience chains. The first 7-Eleven
store will open in a Mumbai suburb, and will be followed by a further “rapid rollout” starting across
India’s financial hub.
Reliance opens first premium mall ‘Jio World Drive’ in Mumbai
• Reliance Industries’ premium retail unit Jio World Drive announced the opening of its first commercial
centre in Bandra Kurla Complex area of Mumbai.
• The premium mall, Jio World Drive (JWD), is spread across an area of 17.5 acre and it will be Mumbai’s
first rooftop Jio drive-in Theatre which will be operated by PVR. JWD will house only premium
international and Indian brands.
Tesla moving headquarters to Texas from California
• Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk said the electric carmaker plans to move its headquarters from
Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto, California to Austin, Texas, where it is building a massive car and battery
manufacturing complex.
• Tesla joins Oracle, HP and Toyota Motor in moving U.S. headquarters to Texas from California,
which has relatively high taxes and living costs. While Silicon Valley also is a hive of development of new
ideas and companies, Texas is known for cheaper labor and less stringent regulation.
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California,
United States, with plans to move its headquarters to Austin, Texas in the future. Founded in July 2003
by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning as Tesla Motors, the company’s name is a tribute to inventor
and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. In February 2004, via a US$6.5 million investment, X.com co-founder
Elon Musk became the largest shareholder of the company and its chairman. He has served as CEO
since 2008. According to Musk, the purpose of Tesla is to help expedite the move to sustainable transport and
energy, obtained through electric vehicles and solar power.

2021-22
Mukesh Ambani joins Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk in world’s exclusive $100 billion club
• Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest person, joined Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the world’s most exclusive
wealth club with a fortune of at least $100 billion. The chairman of India’s Reliance Industries Ltd.
entered the rarefied group of 11 men as his conglomerate’s stock climbed to a record.
• He’s now worth $100.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after his wealth increased
by $23.8 billion this year. India’s billionaires are some of the largest gainers on the world’s rich list, as
Asia’s best-performing major stock market this year gets a boost from a surge in initial public offerings.
• Earlier, Mukesh Ambani retained his top spot in the 2021 Forbes list of 100 richest Indians in 2021
for the 14th year in a row. His wealth growth can be attributed to RIL’s steady rise in the stock market due
to gains in the telecom, digital and retail businesses.
• Elon Musk topped the list with a net worth of $222 billion. Musk is the founder, CEO, and Chief
Engineer at SpaceX. He is also the CEO, and product architect at Tesla.; SpaceX’s Starlink broadband
will focus on 10 rural Lok Sabha constituencies in India to provide internet services.
GAIL to build India’s largest green hydrogen plant to supplement natural gas production
• State-owned GAIL (India) Ltd will build India’s largest green hydrogen-making plant as it looks to
supplement ‎its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel.
• “For India to achieve the target of raising the share of natural gas in the energy basket to 15 % gas
usage by 2030 from current 6.2 %, gas consumption has to rise three and half times to 600 million
standard cubic meters per day. The plant planned is for 10 MW capacity, the largest announced so far in the
country.
Government accords “Maharatna” status to PFC
• Govt. of India accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to the state-owned Power Finance Corporation Ltd
(PFC), thus giving PFC greater operational and financial autonomy. An order to this effect was issued
by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance.
• Incorporated in 1986, PFC is the largest Infrastructure Finance Company exclusively dedicated to
Power Sector under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power. The grant of ‘Maharatna’ status
to PFC will impart enhanced powers to the PFC Board while taking financial decisions.
• The Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures
and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad, subject
to a ceiling of 15% of the Net Worth of the concerned CPSE, limited to Rs.5,000 crore in one project.
Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (P. F. C.) is an Indian financial institution under the ownership of Min-
istry of Power, Government of India. Established in 1986, it is the financial backbone of Indian Power Sec-
tor. PFC is India’s largest NBFC and also India’s largest infrastructure finance company. Government
has raised status of PFC from ‘Navratna’ to ‘Maharatna’ company on 12 October 2021. The corporation
is headed by the chairman and managing director, who at present is Ravinder Singh Dhillon. It is based
in New Delhi.
Facebook goes Meta
• Facebook is reshuffling its names under a rebranded corporate parent: Meta. Facebook rose to
prominence over the past two decades with some of the world’s most recognisable branding: a big
blue-and-white letter F. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the change, saying he wanted a new brand
and a clearer corporate naming scheme to help focus on what’s next for the internet beyond social
media.
• The rebrand comes as Facebook faces a deluge of news stories and public scrutiny based on
thousands of internal corporate documents obtained by news organizations, including NBC News. The
documents, originating with former Facebook product manager and whistleblower Frances Haugen, reveal
internal employee dissent over the platform’s policies.
• The change was accompanied by a new corporate logo designed like an infinity-shaped symbol that was slightly
askew. Facebook and its other apps, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, will remain but under the
Meta umbrella.
• Together with the app Messenger, Meta will own and control four of the most popular smartphone apps in the
world. The name is a nod to the idea of the “metaverse,” a term for a potential future internet that
emphasizes virtual spaces. Zuckerberg said the metaverse will be the internet’s “next frontier.”

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Zuckerberg, who has a longtime interest in studying classical Greece and Rome, noted that “meta”
is Greek for “beyond.
Meta Platforms, Inc., Meta (formerly Facebook, Inc.),is an American technology conglomerate based
in Menlo Park, California. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his fellow roommates and
students at Harvard College, who were Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and
Chris Hughes, originally as TheFacebook.com—today’s Facebook, a popular global social networking ser-
vice. It is one of the world’s most valuable companies. It is considered one of the Big Five companies in
U.S. information technology, with Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon. Facebook offers other products
and services beyond its social networking platform, including Facebook Messenger, Facebook Watch, and
Facebook Portal. It also has acquired Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, Giphy and Mapillary, and has a
9.9% stake in Jio Platforms.
Indian Oil to set up India’s first mega-scale Maleic Anhydride Plant at Panipat
• Indian Oil Corporation’s Board has given its nod to set up the country’s first mega-scale Maleic
Anhydride Plant to manufacture value-added chemical products at its Panipat Refinery and
Petroleum Complex (PRPC).
• The project — with a capex of ₹3,681 crore will be commissioned in 54 months from stage 1
investment approval. “The project is proposed to have a capacity of 120 KTA (kilo tonnes per annum) of
Maleic Anhydride (MAH) that is used to make speciality products like polyester resins and surface coatings
plasticisers, agrochemicals and lubricant additives”.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) or IndianOil, is an Indian government corporation. It is under
the ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India headquartered in New
Delhi. The government corporation is ranked 212th on the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest
corporations as of 2021.
Microsoft stock becomes world’s most valuable; beating Apple
• Microsoft’s stock becomes world’s most valuable after it’s share rose as much as 1.1% to hit a market
value of 2.46 trillion Dollars blowing past Apple. The drop in Apple Inc.’s shares propelled Microsoft Corp.
to the position of the world’s largest listed company by market capitalization.
• Microsoft’s market cap stood at $2.49 trillion while Apple’s market capitalisation stood at $2.46 trillion, as
reported by CNBC. Microsoft has surpassed Apple’s market cap in previous instances as well. For the first time
since 2010, Microsoft passed Apple’s market cap in 2018 and later in July 2020.
India’s first open air rooftop drive-in theatre opened from November 5
• Reliance Retail said the country’s first open air roof-top theatre, where people can drive in with
their car to watch cinema, opened from November 5 at its premium shopping mall Jio World Drive in
Mumbai. The Jio drive-in theatre, operated by PVR will have a capacity to accomodate 290 cars and it
claims to have the biggest screen in town.
Azim Premji retains top spot as India’s ‘most generous’ billionaire
• Wipro founder Azim Premji has, for a second straight year, emerged as the country’s “most generous”
philanthropist billionaire, as he topped the Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021, ahead of
the likes of Mukesh Ambani, Shiv Nadar, Nandan Nilekani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Gautam Adani, among
others. With a total donation of ₹9713 crore in FY 2021, amounting to ₹27 crore per day, Premji, 76, saw
his contribution increase by nearly a fourth.
• Azim Premji was followed by HCL’s Shiv Nadar who was placed on second position with contributions amounting
to Rs 1,263 crore for upliftment causes. Meanwhile, India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries
came third with Rs 577 crore contribution. Next up is Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla
Group with a donation of Rs 377 crore.
Lava becomes first Indian brand to launch 5G smartphone
• Home-grown mobile phone company Lava International has become the first Indian brand to launch
5G smartphones for domestic consumers.
• The smartphone launched under the brand name ‘Agni’ has been developed by Lava in India and
is getting manufactured at its plant in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. “The purpose of launching Agni is
to give Indian consumers the choice of a made in India 5G smartphone for Indians by an Indian
company.

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Lava International is an Indian multinational electronics company that manufactures smartphones,
laptops, computer hardwares and consumer electronics. It was founded in 2009 as an offshoot of a tele-
communication venture. It is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Lava was founded in 2009
by Hari Om Rai, Sunil Bhalla, Shailendra Nath Rai and Vishal Sehgal.
D. Science & Technology

NASA launches Landsat 9 satellite to boost climate change monitoring
• NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite was successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in
California. The satellite will monitor the Earth’s land surface and provide data to assist in climate
change planning.
• The satellite is performing as expected, NASA said in a statement. It lifted off on a United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 3E, following which the Landsat 9 observatory
successfully separated from the vehicle.
• The launch marks nearly 50 years of Landsat presence in space. The first launch was in 1972 – since
then, a Landsat has always remained in orbit. The Landsat 9 will join previously-launched Landsat 8
to collect images across Earth every eight days.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the executive
branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aero-
nautics and aerospace research. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA in 1958. Sen. Bill Nelson
was sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator on May 3, 2021, tasked with carrying out the Biden-Harris
administration’s vision for the agency.
India successfully flight-tests new version of Akash missile
• A new version of the Akash Missile, Akash Prime was successfully flight tested from Integrated
Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target
mimicking enemy aircrafts, in its maiden flight test after improvements.
• In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active
Radio Frequency seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable
performance under low temperature environments at higher altitudes.
India becomes first country to commercial produce and spray Nano Urea through Drone
• For the first time in the World, India conducted a practical field trial of Drone for Spraying of Nano
Liquid Urea at Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
• The field trial was conducted in the presence of Union Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Mansukh
Mandaviya by IFFCI, which had developed the Nano Urea. The Ministry claimed that India is the first
country in the world that has started commercial production of Nano Urea and is using it on a large
scale.
In June 2021, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) introduced the world’s first Nano
Urea Liquid for farmers across the world. It has been indigenously developed at Nano Biotechnology
Research Centre, Kalol, Gujrat in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Atmanirbhar Krishi. It is a nutri-
ent (liquid) to provide nitrogen to plants as an alternative to the conventional urea. It is developed to
replace conventional urea and it can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50%. It contains
40,000 mg/L of nitrogen in a 500 ml bottle which is equivalent to the impact of nitrogen nutrient provid-
ed by one bag of conventional urea. Conventional urea is effective 30-40% in delivering nitrogen to plants,
while the effectiveness of the Nano Urea Liquid is over 80%. Its effectiveness has been tested in over 11,000
farmers’ fields for 94 crops like rice and wheat. An average 8% increase in yield has been witnessed.
Centre permits 100% FDI in telecom sector
• The Centre informed that it has permitted 100% FDI under automatic route in the telecom services
sector. DPIIT states that a “non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy except
in those sectors/activities which are prohibited.
• However, an entity of a country, which shares land border with India or where the beneficial owner
of an investment into India is situated in or is a citizen of any such country, can invest only under
the Government route.”

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• Till now, only 49 per cent of FDI was allowed through the automatic route and anything beyond that
had to come via the government route. Telcos, including infrastructure providers, will be covered under the
new FDI regime.
PM Narendra Modi launched Indian Space Association
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Indian Space Association (ISpA) via video conferencing. He
also interacted with representatives of the Space Industry on this landmark occasion.
• Indian Space Association is the Premier Industry Association of Space and Satellite companies,
which aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. It will undertake policy advocacy
and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its agencies.
• Echoing the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, ISpA will help in making India self-
reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena. ISpA is represented by
leading home grown and global corporations with advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.
• Its founding members include Larson and Toubro, Nelco, OneWeb, Bharti Airtel, Mapmyindia,
Walchandnagar Industries and Ananth Technology Limited. Other core members include Godrej, Hughes
India, Azista-BST Aerospace Private Limited, BEL, Centum Electronics and Maxar India.
• Mr. Jayant Patil, Whole time Director - Defence & Smart Technologies, is the first Chairman of ISpA
and Mr. Rahul Vatts, Chief Regulatory Officer Bharti Airtel and Director – OneWeb India is the Vice Chairman.
Department of Biotechnology launches country’s first ‘One Health’ consortium
• Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of launched the First ‘One Health’
project of DBT through video conferencing. This programme envisages carrying out surveillance of
important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic as well as transboundary pathogens
in India, including the North-eastern part of the country. Use of existing diagnostic tests and the development
of additional methodologies when required are mandated for the surveillance and for understanding the spread
of emerging diseases.
First nuclear reactor pressure vessel installed at Bangladesh atomic power plant
• Russia’s state-run nuclear power corporation has completed the installation of the reactor pressure
vessel at Bangladesh’s first atomic power plant, marking a significant step forward in the country’s efforts
to develop its nuclear power industry.
• India’s Hindustan Construction Company has bagged a $110 million contract for civil works at the
Rooppur plant in a joint venture with Bangladesh’s MAX Group. The Indian company holds a 40%
share in the joint venture.
Earth receives first radio signals from planet outside of Solar System
• In a major discovery, astronomers have for the first time detected stars that are blasting radio signals
hinting at the presence of hidden planets around them. The signals were picked up using the world’s
most powerful radio antenna, the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) situated in the Netherlands.
• The new technique of spotting hidden planets could hint at the possibility of life in the system, which
remains the biggest question in astronomy. Are we alone? The signals were detected by Dr Benjamin
Pope from the University of Queensland and his colleagues at the Dutch national observatory
ASTRON. The astronomers have been searching for planets using LOFAR.
China sent its first solar exploration satellite into space
• China sent its first solar exploration satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
in northern Shanxi Province. The satellite was launched aboard a Long March-2D rocket and entered
its planned orbit successfully.
• Ten small satellites including an orbital atmospheric density detection experimental satellite and a
commercial meteorological detection constellation experimental satellite were also sent into space
using the same carrier rocket.
NASA launches spacecraft on 12-year mission to probe Jupiter Asteroids
• NASA launched a spacecraft called Lucy on a 12-year mission to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids
for the first time gathering new insights into the solar system’s formation. The Atlas V rocket responsible
for propelling the probe took off from Cape Canaveral.

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• Named after an ancient fossil of a pre-human ancestor, Lucy will become the first solar-powered
spacecraft to venture so far from the Sun, and will observe more asteroids than any probe before it – eight
in all.
• Lucy will also make three Earth flybys for gravity assists, making it the first spacecraft to return to
our planet’s vicinity from the outer solar system.
• Lucy’s first encounter will be in 2025 with asteroid Donaldjohanson in the Main Belt, between Mars
and Jupiter. The asteroid is named after the discoverer of the Lucy fossil.
• Between 2027 and 2033, it will encounter seven Trojan asteroids – five in the swarm that leads Jupiter,
and two in the swarm that trails the gas giant. The largest of them is about 60 miles (95 kilometers) in
diameter.
India successfully test-fires surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-5
• Surface to a surface ballistic missile, Agni-5 was successfully launched from APJ Abdul Kalam
Island in Odisha. Agni-5 is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometers with a very high
degree of accuracy.
• “A successful launch of the Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was carried out on October 27
at approximately from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha,” the ministry said. It uses a three-stage solid-
fuelled engine. The successful launch is in line with India’s policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that
underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.
• This missile uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine and is 17 metre tall and 2 metre wide. This is the
eighth trial of the indigenously developed missile which is capable of carrying 1.5 tonnes of nuclear warheads.
• India has at present in its armoury of Agni series, Agni-1 with 700 km range, Agni-2 with 2,000 km range,
Agni-3 and Agni-4 with with 2,500 km to more than 3500 km range.
A planet orbiting three suns discovered for the first time in distant universe
• The Sun in our solar system fuels everything, and Earth is just at the perfect spot to support life
in the habitable zone, but there is a planet in the distant universe that has not one but three suns.
Astronomers have for the first time discovered a planet that is orbiting three stars in its system.
• Located at a distance of 1300 light-years from Earth, the planet has been identified by astronomers
from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the system GW Ori. Astronomers had so far observed
planets with unitary star systems and dual star systems, however, this is the first such discovery of
a novel phenomenon.
• Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope to analyse
the three observed dust rings around the three stars, which are critical to forming planets.
World Health Organization (WHO) recommends first Anti-Malaria vaccine
• In a historic move, the World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the first anti-malarial vaccine.
WHO said it is recommending the widespread use of malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan
Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission.
• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, the long-awaited malaria vaccine for
children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. He said using this vaccine on
top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year. Malaria remains
a primary cause of childhood illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the WHO.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for
international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency’s governing structure
and principles, states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level
of health”. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with six semi-autonomous regional offices and 150
field offices worldwide. The WHO was established by constitution on 7 April 1948 which is commemorated
as World Health Day. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been serving since 2017 as Director-General of
the World Health Organization. Tedros is the first African in the role, and was endorsed by the African Union.
Before serving as Director-General, he held two high-level positions in the government of Ethiopia:
Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016.
Bharat Biotech to produce world’s first malaria vaccine
• India’s Bharat Biotech will be producing part of the world’s only malaria vaccine that has been
developed by Pharma major GSK, and was recently approved by WHO (World Health Organisation)

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• As part of this partnership, GSK would transfer RTS manufacturing technology to Bharat Biotech
to produce the S antigen component of the malaria vaccine, and the license on all rights pertaining to it.
GSK will retain the production of the adjuvant of the vaccine (AS01E) and will supply it to Bharat
Biotech.
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) is an Indian multinational biotechnology company head-
quartered in Hyderabad, engaged in the drug discovery, drug development, manufacture of vaccines,
bio-therapeutics, pharmaceuticals and health care products. Krishna Ella is the founder and chairman
of Bharat Biotech where he is also a Managing Director.
India’s first Banni buffalo IVF calf born in Gujarat
• India saw the birth of its first IVF calf of a Buffalo breed namely Banni. The calf is born out of 6
Banni IVF pregnancies established at the doorsteps of a farmer Vinay. L. Wala in Gujarat’s Somnath
district.
• The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase
milk production, the official said. Banni buffalo is known for its resilience and higher milk producing
capacity in an arid environment.
• A “Banni” buffalo belonging to a dairy farmer from Dhanej village in Gir Somnath gave birth to an
IVF male calf, in what the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying called the birth of
the first calf of the breed born using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
First planet outside Milky Way Galaxy detected: Saturn-like object is orbiting a black hole
• Objects hanging in the vacuum of the cosmos orbiting a star have been detected throughout the
galaxy, these exoplanets have been a source of enhancing our understanding of the conditions
beyond our solar system.
• Astronomers have now gone a step further and detected the first planet not just beyond the solar system
but beyond the entire stretch of the Milky Way Galaxy. This is the first time that signs of a planet
transiting a star beyond the Milky Way galaxy has been detected.
• The unique discovery was led by Nasa’s Chandra X-ray Observatory that has peaked into the spiral
galaxy Messier 51 (M51), also called the Whirlpool Galaxy.
India launches ‘Climate Equity Monitor’ on first day of COP26
• On the first day of the climate change conference, COP26, India launched an online dashboard
– the ‘Climate Equity Monitor’ for assessing, at the international level, equity in climate action,
inequalities in emissions, energy and resource consumption across the world, and ongoing climate
policies of several countries from the perspective of developing countries.
• The ‘Climate Equity Monitor’ is aimed at monitoring the performance of Annex-I Parties under the
UNFCCC (comprising developed countries) based on the foundational principles of the Climate
Convention, namely equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and
Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).
NASA’s solar probe faces space dust, debris on way to Sun
• NASA’s ambitious Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, studying the Sun at close proximity, is being
bombarded with space dust and debris on its way to the Sun.
• Scientists at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of
Colorado, Boulder and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have
examined collisions between the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft and dust.
Astronaut Wang Yaping becomes first Chinese woman to walk in space
• Astronaut Wang Yaping became the first woman to walk in space after she took part in Shenzhou-13
mission’s first extravehicular activity with mission commander Zhai Zhigang. Shenzhou-13, meaning
“Divine Vessel” in Chinese, is Zhai and Wang’s second space mission and Ye’s first.
• “This marks the first extravehicular activity of the Shenzhou-13 crew, and it is also the first in China’s
space history involving the participation of a woman astronaut,”. Mission commander Zhai is a
former fighter pilot who performed China’s first spacewalk in 2008.

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E. Sports
Virat Kohli becomes first Indian batter to score 10,000 runs in T20 format
• India captain Virat Kohli reached a coveted milestone of 10,000-run mark in all forms of T20 cricket
(international, domestic and franchise) during his side Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL match against
Mumbai Indians.
Sania Mirza-Shuai Zhang win Ostrava Open women’s doubles title
• India’s Tennis veteran, Sania Mirza won the doubles title at the Ostrava Open with her Chinese
partner Shuai Zhang. The final was held at the ČEZ Aréna in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
• This is the first title of this season for Sania Mirza and the 43rd title of her career. Ostrava Open is a
tournament organized for women tennis players. It resurfaced in 2020 to make up for the loss of tournaments
due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Smriti Mandhana becomes first Indian women to score a Test hundred on Australian soil
• In a historic moment in women’s cricket, Smriti Mandhana became first Indian woman to score a Test
hundred on Australian soil.
• Mandhana made 127 off 216 balls with the help of 22 boundaries and a six at the Carrara Oval, and
added an Indian record of 102 runs in Australia for the second wicket with Punam Raut (36), continuing the
good work after putting on 93 with Shafali Verma on a rain-marred opening day.
Dinesh Karthik’s famous last-ball six becomes India’s first sports NFT
• The artwork is a non-fungible token or NFT, and is an animation of that fateful last ball, Karthik’s six,
and the celebration in its aftermath. It features a voice-over by Karthik narrating his thoughts and emotions
while facing up to the last ball and hitting the winning runs.
• In March 2018, India faced Bangladesh in the finals of the Nidahas Trophy; the match turned into a
classic nail-biter with the team needing 5 runs to win off the last ball, and Karthik at the crease.
Anshu Malik scripts history becoming first Indian woman to win silver medal in World Wres-
tling Championships
• Indian grappler Anshu Malik has scripted history as she became the first Indian woman to win a
silver medal in the World Wrestling Championships. Anshu lost to Olympic medallist Helen Maroulis of
the USA 4-1 in the summit clash of women’s 57 kg category at Oslo in Norway.
MS Dhoni becomes first T20 captain to lead in 300 matches
• Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni has become the first captain to lead 300 matches in the
T20 format. Dhoni has been at the helm for Chennai Super Kings, India, Rising Pune Supergiants in
the - IPL, CL T20, Asia Cup, T20 World Cup - and has won every major T20 Trophy in the world.
Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath awarded MCC life membership
• India’s Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath were awarded life membership of the Marylebone
Cricket Club (MCC), joining 16 other cricketers who were given the honour this year. The MCC, based
at Lord’s, is the custodian of cricket laws.
• Harbhajan and Srinath both enjoyed fine international careers. Harbhajan is India’s third-highest
wicket-taker in Tests, with 417 dismissals in 103 Tests and more than 700 plus international wickets across
formats.
Indian GM Iniyan wins chess tournament in Serbia
• Indian Grandmaster P Iniyan emerged winner in the 5th Rujna Zora chess tournament held with
seven points from nine rounds. He had recently won an event in Spain and his performance here enabled
him gain one Elo point. His current FIDE rating is 2556.
Odisha to host junior men’s World Cup Hockey from November 24 to December 5
• Odisha will host the junior men’s World Cup Hockey in coming November. Chief minister Naveen
Patnaik announced this in capital Bhubaneswar. He also unveiled the logo and trophy for the tournament.
• As many as 16 countries will take part in the event that will be held in the Kalinga stadium in
Bhubaneswar from the 24th November 5th December 2021. Odisha had hosted the 2018 men’s hockey
world cup.

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Nagaland to host 56th National Cross Country Championship in January 2022
• Nagaland will be hosting the 56th National Cross Country Championship in January next year.
Nagaland will be hosting the 56th National Cross Country Championship on 15th of January 2022. It will be the
first ever for the state to host such national athletics events.
Hockey India withdraws from 2022 Birmingham CWG, cites Covid concerns
• Hockey India President Gyanandro Ningombam communicated the federation’s decision to Indian
Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra.
• Hockey India reasoned that there is only a 32-day window available between Birmingham Games
(July 28-August 8) and the Hangzhou Asian Games (September 10-25) and it can’t risk sending its
players to the UK which has been one of the worst affected countries by the coronavirus pandemic.
DRS to be used in men’s T20 World Cup for the first time
• For the first time in an ICC men’s T20I tournament the Decision Review System (DRS) will be in use
as the governing body has announced that the system will be available at the T20 World Cup.
• The ICC has also decided to increase the minimum number of overs for delayed and rain-interrupted
matches. During the group stages of the T20 World Cup, each team will need to bat for a minimum
of five overs for the result to be decided by the DLS method. That’s the norm for any T20I currently.
• But for the semi-finals and the final, each team will need to bat for a minimum of 10 overs to effect
a result, as was the norm in the women’s T20 World Cup last year, where it became a major talking
point after the first semi-final, between England and India, was washed out in Sydney, and the
absence of a reserve day saw England eliminated.
Germany becomes first team to qualify for 2022 World Cup
• Germany qualified for the 2022 World Cup by crushing North Macedonia 4-0 away to secure top spot
in qualifying Group J with two games to spare.
India beat Nepal 3-0 to clinch SAFF Championship title for 8th time
• India clinched the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship for eighth time defeating
Nepal 3-0 in Male. India dominated possession in the first-half but they failed to score any goal. Notably, this
is the Indian football team’s first title victory under head coach Igor Stimac. The final was the 12th for
India in 13 editions, which also shows their domination in this regional tournament.
Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders to win its 4th IPL title
• Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to win its fourth IPL title in Dubai. Faf
du Plessis wins the Man of the Match award for smashing a knock of 86 in 59 balls for Chennai.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad has won the Orange Cap for scoring higest run with 635 runs from 16 matches in
this edition of IPL. While Du Plessis finished the campaign as the second-highest run scorer of the the season
with 633 off 16 games.
• The Purple Cap goes to RCB’s Harshal Patel, who has registered 32 wickets in 15 games in this IPL
season. With this, MS Dhoni led Chennai lift the IPL trophy for the fourth time, having previously
won the tournament in 2010, 2011, and 2018.
IPL gets two new teams, RPSG and CVC Capitals win Lucknow, Ahmedabad bids
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that RPSG Ventures Ltd. and Irelia
Company Pte Ltd. (CVC Capital Partners) have won the ownership rights of Lucknow and Ahmedabad
teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• The RPSG Ventures Ltd. were awarded Lucknow as their home base with a winning bid of a whopping
Rs 7,090 crore. CVC Capital Partners took Ahmedabad as its home base with a second-highest bid
of Rs 5,625 crore.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Launches India’s First FIFA Football For Schools Programme
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the FIFA Football for Schools Programme,
which is the first for India. The Chief Minister launched the programme during a ceremony at the
Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) in Bhubaneshwar. The inauguration ceremony was virtually
attended by Dr Nik Gugger, Member of Parliament, Switzerland along with the President of FIFA,
Gianni Infantino.

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Tokyo Olympics Medallists Neeraj Chopra And Lovlina Borgohain Among 12 Sportspersons To
Be Awarded Khel Ratna
• Tokyo 2020 medallists Neeraj Chopra, PR Sreejesh, Lovlina Borgohain and Ravi Kumar Dahiya
were among 12 sportspersons honoured with the country’s highest sporting honour - the Major
Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The other Khel Ratna awardees were Indian men’s hockey team
captain Manpreet Singh, footballer Sunil Chhetri and cricketer Mithali Raj.
• Tokyo Paralympics medallists Avani Lekhara, Pramod Bhagat, Krishna Nagar, Sumit Antil and
Manish Narwal also received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for 2021.
• As many as 35 athletes - including history-making fencer Bhavani Devi, hockey player Vandana
Katariya and Tokyo Paralympics medallist Bhavina Patel and Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan - were
given the Arjuna Award. The awards are generally given on the occasion of National Sports Day -
August 29 (Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary) - but were deferred this year due to the Olympics and
Paralympics.
• Athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair and table tennis coach Subramanian Raman were among those
who received the Dronacharya Award. The National Sports Awards are announced by the Indian Ministry
of Youth Affairs & Sports.
• The Khel Ratna Award, officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (transl.
Major Dhyan Chand Sport Jewel Award), formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in
Sports and Games, is the highest sporting honour of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports.
• The recipient(s) is/are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and is honoured for their
“spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years” at international
level. As of 2020, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh (US$33,000).
• Instituted in 1991–1992, the award was given for the performance by a sportsperson in a year. The
award from 1991-2021 was named after Rajiv Gandhi (1944-1991), former Prime Minister of India.
• The award since August 6, 2021 is named after Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an Indian field hockey
player, widely regarded as one of the greatest field hockey players of all time, who scored more than
1000 goals over a career that spanned over 20 years from 1926 to 1948. The first recipient of the award
was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who was honoured for the performance in the year
1991–92. In 2001, sport shooter Abhinav Bindra, then aged 18, became the youngest recipient of the
award.
Unmukt Chand first Indian to sign BBL contract, joins Melbourne Renegades
• Former U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand is set to become the first Indian cricketer
to play in Australia’s Big Bash League after he signed for Melbourne Renegades for the 2021-2022
season. Chand, a former India A skipper, had never played for the Indian senior team but was part
of three IPL franchises — Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Rashid Khan creates history, becomes youngest bowler to take 400 T20 wickets
• Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan became the youngest bowler to take 400 T20 wickets during his
team’s crucial Super 12 encounter against New Zealand in Dubai. Rashid joined an elite list of cricketers
as he picked up his 400th wicket in the ongoing New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup game.
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev for 37th Masters title in Paris
• World number one Novak Djokovic won a sixth Paris title and record 37th Masters crown beating
2020 champion Daniil Medvedev. The 34-year-old Serbian gained a measure of revenge over his
Russian opponent who dashed his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final in September.
Oinam Bembem Devi becomes first Indian woman footballer to receive Padma Shri Award
• Oinam Bembem Devi became the first Indian woman footballer, and the seventh overall to receive
the prestigious Padma Shri Award. In the process, Bembem joins the elite club of Late Gostho Paul,
Late Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia and current Indian Men’s
National Team captain Sunil Chhetri as Indian Footballers who won the prestigious Padma Shri
Award.

2021-22
Rohit Sharma becomes third cricketer to score 3,000 runs in men’s T20I
• Indian batter Rohit Sharma completed 3000 T20I runs and became the third cricketer in the world
to achieve this feat. Rohit reached the 3000 run mark in the ongoing match against Namibia in ICC men’s T20
World Cup.
• Indian skipper Virat Kohli is at the top of the tally with 3227 runs, which is followed by New Zealand’s
Martin Guptill and India’s Rohit Sharma with 3115 and 3008 runs respectively.
Sunil Chhetri becomes first Indian footballer to receive Khel Ratna Award
• After becoming the first Indian footballer to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award
captain Sunil Chhetri said playing for 19 years is the primary reason why he was named for the prestigious
award.
• Chhetri on 80 goals is currently tied with Lionel Messi at the second place in the goal scorers list
among active footballers at the international level, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading on 115 goals. He
had earlier been conferred with the Padma Shri Award and the Arjuna Award.
F. Awards
Indian environmental law organisation wins Right Livelihood Award
• Delhi-based environmental organisation Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE) has
received the 2021 Right Livelihood Award for its “grassroots approach of empowering vulnerable
communities to protect their livelihoods and claim their right to a clean environment.”
• The award is known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize. Other awardees include Cameroonian women
rights activist Marthe Wandou, Russian environmental activist Vladimir Slivyak, and Canadian
Indigenous rights defender Freda Huson.
Abdulrazak Gurnah wins the 2021 Nobel Prize in literature
• The Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to the novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, for his
“uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the
refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents”. No black African writer has won the prize since
Wole Soyinka in 1986. Gurnah is the first black writer to win since Toni Morrison in 1993.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is a Swedish literature prize that has been awarded annually, since 1901,
to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel,
produced “in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction”. It is one of the five
Nobel Prizes established by the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, which are awarded for outstanding contributions
in chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine. The first Nobel Prize in Literature
was awarded in 1901 to Sully Prudhoe of France. In 2017, the Swedish Academy awarded Kazuo Ishig-
uro the Nobel Prize in Literature. Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian citizen to be awarded Nobel
Prize in Literature for his poem Gitanjali and Mother Teresa is the only woman in the list.
Benjamin List, Briton David MacMillan win Chemistry Nobel Prize for mirror-image molecules
• Two scientists have been awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on building
molecules that are mirror images of one another. German-born Benjamin List and Briton David
MacMillan were announced as the winners at an event in Stockholm.
• Their chemical toolkit has been used for discovering new drugs and making molecules that can capture
light in solar cells. The winners will share the prize money of 10 million Swedish kroner (1,135.54
million US Dollars).
Deepika Padukone becomes first Indian to win Best Actress at Global Achiever’s Award
• Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has become the first Indian artiste to win Global Achiever’s
Award. The list of winners also include renowned personalities like Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos and
Christiano Ronaldo, among others. HBW News, an international publication, reportedly announced the
winners’ list.
Trio win physics Nobel for work that helps understand changing climate
• Japanese-born American Syukuro Manabe, German Klaus Hasselmann and Italian Giorgio Parisi
won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Physics for work that helps understand complex physical systems
such as Earth’s changing climate.

2021-22
• One half of the prize, worth 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.15 million), goes in equal parts to Manabe,
who is 90, and Hasselmann for modelling earth’s climate and reliably predicting global warming. The
other half goes to Parisi for discovering “hidden rules” behind seemingly random movements and
swirls in gases or liquids.
Journalists Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize
• The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa of Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of
Russia for their fight for freedom of expression in their countries.
• The pair were honoured for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for
democracy and lasting peace, said the chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.
Three US-based economists win economics Nobel Prize for work on natural experiments
• A U.S.based Canadian David Card, Israeli-American Joshua Angrist and Dutch-American
Guido Imbens won the Nobel Economics Prize for insights into the labour market and “natural
experiments”.
• The Nobel committee said in a statement that the researchers were honoured for providing “new insights
about the labour market” and showing “what conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn from
natural experiments”.
• Half of the prize went to Card, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley “for his empirical
contributions to labour economics.” Card’s work has focused on labour market effects of minimum wages,
immigration and education.
• The other half went jointly to Angrist, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
and Imbens, a professor at Stanford, “for their methodological contributions to the analysis of
causal relationship.
Meghalaya Environment Minister to Get PETA Award for ‘Vegan Leather’ Initiative
• PETA India has decided to confer on Meghalaya Environment Minister James P K Sangma the
Progressive Business Concept Award for his plans to produce ‘vegan leather’ in the northeastern
state.
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) volunteers in Meghalaya will soon hand over the
award to the minister.
Agri waste-recycling project Takachar named among Prince William’s Earthshot Prize win-
ners
• A Delhi-based entrepreneur’s agricultural waste recycling project was named among the winners
of Prince William’s inaugural Earthshot Prize, dubbed the “Eco Oscars”, at a gala ceremony in London.
• Vidyut Mohan led Takachar was named the winner of the GBP 1 million prize for its cheap technology
innovation to convert crop residues into sellable bio-products in the “clean our air” category.
• It was among five worldwide winners of the prize, created by William, the Duke of Cambridge, to
reward people trying to save the planet.
Tamil film ‘Koozhangal’ is India’s official entry to the Oscars 2022
• Tamil film ‘Koozhangal’, has been announced as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2022. Shaji N.
Karun, the Chairperson of the 15-member Selection Committee, set up by the Film Federation of India.
• Directed by debutant Director P.S. Vinothraj, ‘Koozhangal’ tells the story of an alcoholic father and
his son and their journey to bring back the mother, who has left the home. The film will compete for
the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, in Los Angeles.
Rajinikanth receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award in Delhi
• Superstar Rajinikanth was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at a ceremony to honour
the winners of 67th National Film Awards at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. The superstar received a standing
ovation as he walked on stage to receive the honour from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. Dhanush also
received the National Award in the Best Actor category for Asuran.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest award in the field of cinema. It is presented annually
at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by
the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

2021-22
• The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of
Rs. 1,000,000 (US$13,000). Presented first in 1969, the award was introduced by the Government of
India to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke’s contribution to Indian cinema. Phalke (1870–1944), who
is popularly known as and often regarded as “the father of Indian cinema”, was an Indian filmmaker
who directed India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).
• As of 2021, there have been 51 awardees. Among those, actor Prithviraj Kapoor (1971) and actor Vinod
Khanna (2017) are the only posthumous recipients. The first recipient of the award was actress Devika
Rani, who was honoured at the 17th National Film Awards.
South African author Damon Galgut bags Booker Prize 2021 for his novel ‘The Promise’
• South African author Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel ‘The
Promise’. Galgut, has won the award in his third appearance on the shortlist after making the cut
in 2003 and 2010.
• He follows in the footsteps of other South African winners Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee, and is
the first winner from the country since 1999.
• The Promise is set in Pretoria, where the author grew up, and takes place against the backdrop of
South Africa’s transition out of apartheid. It tells the story of the declining Swart family, who are white
farmers, through four funerals.
In a first, 2 Bangladeshis to be honoured with Padmas
• Bangladeshi career diplomat late Syed Muazzem Ali and veteran museologist Enamul Haq have been honored
India’s highest civilian awards. Syed Muazzem Ali was honored with the third-highest civilian award in India,
Padma Bhushan. Enamul Haq has been nominated for the Padma Shri award.
• Former high commissioner to India Muazzem Ali and 1971 war hero Colonel Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir
will be the first Bangladeshi citizens to be honoured with one of India’s highest civilian awards, the
Padma Shri.
India’s first woman Air Marshal awarded Padma Shri
• Air Marshal Dr Padma Bandopadhyay (Retd.) received the Padma Shri award in the field of medicine at
Rashtrapati Bhavan. India’s first woman Air Marshall received the award by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
Mountaineer Priyanka Mohite gets Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award
• Maharashtra-based mountaineer Priyanka Mohite was bestowed with the prestigious ‘Tenzing
Norgay National Adventure Award 2020’ for her outstanding contribution in the field of land adventure.
• The 28-year-old Mohite, who started out by trekking in Sahyadri ranges in western Maharashtra and
rock-climbing, began summiting mountains from 2010. In her 11-year mountaineering career, she has
scaled the world’s highest peak Mt Everest besides Mt Lhotse and Mt Makalu, among others. In April
this year, Mohite scaled Mt Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain peak in the world, and became the
first Indian woman climber to achieve the feat.
G. Persons & Appointments

LGBT activist Dorottya Redai named in Time’s 100 most-influential people in the world list
• An academic and LGBT activist in Hungary is among the word’s 100 most influential people,
according to Time magazine, for her work on a children’s book that set in motion a debate over human rights in
the Central European country.
• “It’s an honor. Obviously, it feels really rewarding to be one of these amazing 100 people,” Dorottya Redai,
a researcher at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest and activist with the Labrisz Lesbian
Association.
• The magazine included Redai on its annual TIME100 list last month to honor her efforts to advance LGBT
rights in Hungary, where recent moves by the country’s right-wing government have been blasted as an attack
on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Urvashi Rautela becomes first Indian female actress to receive 10 years UAE golden visa
• In the past, many cine stars have been granted the Golden Visa by Dubai including actor Shah Rukh
Khan, actor Sanjay Dutt, actor Suniel Shetty, singer Neha Kakkar, and recently filmmaker Boney
Kapoor. Now, actress Urvashi Rautela has been also granted the same recognition.

2021-22
Kangana Ranaut becomes brand ambassador of UP govt’s ‘one district-one product’ scheme
• The Uttar Pradesh government named actor Kangana Ranaut as the brand ambassador of its
ambitious ‘one district-one product’ programme. The UP government has launched the one district-one
product (ODOP) programme with the aim to create product-specific traditional industrial hubs across
75 districts of the state.
Shree Saini Becomes First Indian-American to Be Crowned Miss World America
• The first Indian-American to win the crown of Miss World America 2021, Shree Saini of Washington
State, is among the most unique pageant winners to be crowned.
• An advocate for heart health, Saini has had a permanent pacemaker since she was 12 and overcame
a major car accident which left her with burns all over her face. But she rarely if ever lets any of that hold
her back or define her.
Indian-Origin politician Anita Anand appointed as Canada’s new Defence Minister
• In Canada, Indian-origin politician Anita Anand was appointed as the new Defence Minister in a
Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, over a month after his Liberal Party returned power
in the snap polls and amid calls for major military reforms.
• Ms. Anand, will replace long-time Defence Minister Indian-origin Harjit Sajjan, whose handling of the
military sexual misconduct crisis has been under criticism. The new Cabinet maintains gender balance and has
38 members, up one person from before the election.
Shaktikanta Das reappointed as RBI Governor for three more years
• The government has approved the reappointment of Shaktikanta Das as Governor of the Reserve
Bank of India for a period of three years.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the reappointment of Mr Das. The re-
appointment will be effective from 10th December this year or until further orders.
Azim Premji retains top spot as India’s ‘most generous’ billionaire
• Indian business tycoon Azim Premji has retained his spot as the top billionaire philanthropist of India for
the second time in a row. According to the Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021, the former Wipro
Chairman donated Rs 9,713 crore or Rs 27 crore a day in FY 2021 making him the top giver in the country. As
per the list, Premji increased his donation by nearly a fourth during the pandemic year.
• Azim Premji was followed by HCL’s Shiv Nadar who was placed on second position with contributions amounting
to Rs 1,263 crore for upliftment causes. Meanwhile, India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries
came third with Rs 577 crore contribution. Next up is Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla
Group with a donation of Rs 377 crore.
• Meanwhile, the second-richest Indian, Gautam Adani has been placed on the eighth spot on the givers’ list with
a donation of Rs 130 crore towards disaster relief. Anil Aggarwal, Chairman of the Vedanta Group is on the
eighth spot on the givers’ list as he contributed Rs 130 crore.
Tamil Nadu teenager Vinisha Umashankar makes a clarion call at COP26
• Vinisha Umashankar, now 15 years old, found her answers in sunlight. A solar powered ironing cart,
which would replace the conventional charcoal ironing box, would power a steam ironing box to do
its job.
• Her innovation brought her laurels from around the world, including the prestigious Children’s Climate
Prize in November 2021. The prize given by the Sweden-based Children’s Climate Foundation is one
of the most significant climate-related awards for young innovators.
• Ms. Umashankar, one of the finalists for the Earthshot Prize, was asked by Prince William, Duke
of Cambridge, to speak her mind on clean energy at a meeting that discussed clean technology and
innovation as part of the 26th U.N.
Kamal Haasan becomes first Indian actor to enter a metaverse
• Kamal Haasan, who just celebrated his 67th birthday, becomes the first Indian celebrity to have a
very own digital avatar himself in a metaverse. The actor, politician, producer and director has announced
his entry into the digital space with the launch of non-fungible token (NFT). With this, he has joined
Indian celebrates like Amitabh Bachchan and Sunny Leone to launch his own collection of the
digital tokens, which will be exclusive to the buyers who invest in it. This also proves the growing craze
regarding NFTs in India as more and more celebrities sign up in the space.

2021-22
President Ram Nath Kovind confers honorary rank of General of Indian Army to Nepal Army
Chief at Rashtrapati Bhavan
• President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the honorary rank of General of Indian Army to Nepal Army
Chief Prabhu Ram Sharma at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane was conferred the rank of Honorary General of the
Nepal Army in November 2020 by the Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
France’s Audrey Azoulay Re-Elected As UNESCO Chief
• The UN cultural agency UNESCO re-elected France’s Audrey Azoulay as its director-general for
a second mandate, with the former French culture minister hailing a new confidence and unity in the
organisation.
• UNESCO had been riven by divisions when Azoulay took office in 2017 with both Israel and the United
States exiting the agency over accusations of anti-Israeli bias.
South Africa’s last apartheid president F. W. de Klerk dies
• F.W. de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South Africa’s last
apartheid president oversaw the end of the country’s white minority rule, has died at the age of 85.
De Klerk died after a battle against cancer at his home in the Fresnaye area of Cape Town.
Samantha becomes first South Indian actress to be invited as a speaker at IFFI
• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is all set to be held in Goa from November 20-28. For
the first time ever, the organisers have roped in a South Indian actress to speak at the event and that
is none other than Samantha. Samantha is the first South Indian actress to be invited as a speaker
at the event.
Justice Ashok Bhushan takes charge as NCLAT Chairperson
• Former Supreme Court judge Justice Ashok Bhushan took over as the chairperson of the National
Company Law Appellate Tribunal. NCLAT has got a permanent head after a gap of almost 20 months
following the retirement of its first Chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya.
H. Books & Authors

Jungle Nama Book by Amitav Ghosh
• Jungle Nama is a book written by Amitav Ghosh and illustrated by New York-based artist Salman
Toor. It is a verse adaptation of the medieval Bengali tale about the forest (Sundarbans) goddess, Bon
Bibi.
400 Days book by Chetan Bhagat
• Bestselling author Chetan Bhagat released the trailer of his upcoming book “400 Days”. The book,
published by Westland, is the third story from the Keshav-Saurabh series after “The Girl in Room 105”
and “One Arranged Murder”. It was released on October 8.
JK Rowling releases Christmas book about ‘being lost and found’ inspired by son’s toy pigs
• Harry Potter author JK Rowling released her first children’s Christmas book, inspired by lockdown
and her son David’s beloved cuddly toy pigs.
• ‘The Christmas Pig’ is a story about “being lost and being found, about loving and being loved, about
what stays with us and what falls away,”.
Actress Divya Dutta’s second book, ‘The Stars in My Sky’
• From her impromptu improvisations on the sets with Irrfan Khan to her non-stop peals of laughter with
Shah Rukh Khan, actress Divya Dutta tells it all in her upcoming book, “The Stars in My Sky: Those
Who Brightened My Film Journey”, slated to be released on October 25.
• In her second book, Dutta recounts her experiences with some of the stalwarts of Bollywood who
played a significant role in her film journey.
Sudha Murty’s new book is a Diwali gift for kids
• One of India’s favourite authors Sudha Murty has a Diwali gift for children – her latest book “The
Sage with Two Horns” in which she tells numerous lesser-known and fascinating stories that have been lost
in the pages of Indian mythology.

2021-22
• This is the fifth and last book of her ‘Unusual Tales from mythology’ series featuring kings and queens,
gods and goddesses, sages and extraordinary men and women of wisdom. It is the follow up to “The Man
from the Egg”, “Serpent’s Revenge”, “The Upside-Down King” and “The Daughter from the Wishing
Tree”.
I. Important Days
World Maritime Day 30 September
• The World Maritime Day 2021 is observed every year on the last Thursday of the month of September
and this year it falls on September 30, 2021.
• This year’s theme is “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”.
International Day of Non-Violence 2 October
• The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi,
leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. On
the International Day of Non-Violence, created by the United Nations in 2007, we look back on the
influence of an Indian activist born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but known the world over as Mahatma
Gandhi. The International Day of Non-Violence honors how Gandhi’s work and legacy has impacted global,
non-violent protest.
International Day of the Girl Child 11 October
• On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly declare October 11 as the International
Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the
world.
• The theme for International Day of the Girl Child 2021 is ‘Digital generation. Our generation’.
World Food Day 2021
• World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on 16 October to
commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
• The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with hunger and food security,
including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. WFP received
the Nobel Prize in Peace for 2020 for their efforts to combat hunger, contribute to peace in conflict
areas, and for playing a leading role in stopping the use of hunger in the form of a weapon for war and conflict.
• The theme for World Food Day this year is “Our actions are our future- Better production, better
nutrition, a better environment and a better life,” as per the official website of FAO.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 17 October
• The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17
October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris,
where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty,
violence and hunger.
• This year’s theme is “Building forward together: Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People
and our Planet.”
United Nations Day 24 October
• United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter
entered into force..
• The theme for this year is “Building Back Together for Peace and Prosperity” for a small audience,
according to social distancing rules.
National Ayurveda Day is celebrated on 2nd November
• The National Ayurveda Day is being observed on 2nd November. The Day is celebrated on Dhanvantari
Jayanti to create awareness about the health benefits of Ayurveda and to promote the Ayurvedic lifestyle.
• The theme of this year Ayurveda day is ‘Ayurveda for Poshan’.
World Radiography Day 2021
• November 8 is observed annually as World Radiography Day to commemorate the discovery of
X-radiation, or X-rays, on November 8, 1895, by German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, who, in
1901, became the inaugural winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for this achievement.

2021-22
• The theme for the 2021 International Day of Radiology is ‘Interventional Radiology – Active care for the
patient’.
National Education Day
• Every year, November 11 is celebrated as National education day, which commemorates the birth
anniversary of independent India’s first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
World Diabetes Day 14 November
• In 2007 General Assembly adopted resolution designating 14 November as World Diabetes Day.
• The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is Access to Diabetes Care.
J. Miscellaneous
India’s newest Tiger Reserve, No. 4 in Chhattisgarh
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved the Chhattisgarh government’s
proposal to declare the combined areas of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla
Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. The new Reserve is located in the northern part of the state,
bordering Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. This will be the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh,
after the Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves.
Maharashtra Becomes First In India to Introduce 10 Year Wildlife Action Plan
• Maharashtra became the first state in the country to release a ‘Wildlife Action Plan’. The course of
action is for 10 years (2021-2030) where the effect of climate change on wildlife and other ecosystems within
the state will be recognised and studied, in order to be prepared to tackle it.
India’s 1st state-owned Wildlife DNA lab to open in Nagpur
• India’s first state government-owned Wildlife DNA analysis laboratory has been inaugurated
at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• Currently there are two central government-owned Wildlife DNA laboratory. These are located at Dehradun
and Hyderabad. The new facility will enable the authorities in Maharashtra to promptly get DNA
reports of animals hit by man-wildlife conflict or menaces such as poaching, which until now, were
sent to laboratories in Hyderabad or Dehradun for testing and authorities had to wait for months to get the
report.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches Indian manned Ocean Mission Samudrayan
• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the Indian manned
Ocean Mission Samudrayan in Chennai. The Minister said that India has joined the elite club of
Nations such as the USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for
carrying out subsea activities.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences is carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such
as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydrothermal sulphides and cobalt crusts located
at a depth between 1000 and 5500 metres.
Lakshadweep to get its first statue – of Mahatma Gandhi
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the first public statue in the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep — that of Mahatma Gandhi. The six-foot-tall bronze statue is installed in Kavaratti
Island.
• “This will be the first ever statue to be unveiled in Lakshadweep islands to commemorate the
contribution of our great freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the cause of India’s independence.
National Tribal Dance Festival held in Raipur
• Indian and international dance groups took part in the National Tribal Dance Festival to take place
in Raipur from October 28.
• The three-day festival, organised under the tourism development plan of the Chhattisgarh
government hosted artists belonging to diverse tribal communities from countries, including Uzbekistan,
Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Syria, Mali, Palestine, and Kingdom of Eswatini.

2021-22
Jammu and Kashmir gets its first ever floating theatre at Dal Lake
• The first-ever open-air floating theatre in Jammu and Kashmir has been launched in the famous Dal
Lake. This theatre aims to attract tourism to the union territory. Kashmir has earned fame on a global
level for its natural beauty and Bollywood filmmakers have called it a ‘photographers paradise’.
• On this occasion, a Shikara rally, adorned with shining lights passed through Nehru Park to Kabootar
Khana with local artists singing and dancing to Kashmiri songs which entertained guests and passersby.
Bollywood film ‘Kashmir ki Kali’ was shown to tourists and residents of the area in the theatre.
Bat Wins New Zealand’s ‘Bird of the Year’ Award
• Pekapeka-tou-roa, a long-tailed bat that is one of New Zealand’s two native land mammals, has won
the country’s Bird of the Year award. However, this had led to a controversy in the country as the title has
been awarded to a native mammal instead of a bird.
• The award hosted by Forest and Bird (an independent conservation organization) is given after
an annual competition. In this unique battle, New Zealanders rank their favourite birds out of the country’s
200-odd native species.
Bangladeshi film ‘No Ground Beneath the Feet’ selected for the international competition sec-
tion of IFFI, Goa
• Bangladeshi film ‘Paayer Tolay Mati Nai’ (No Ground Beneath the Feet) directed by Mohammad
Rabby Mridha has been included in the international competition section of the 52nd International
Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held at Goa between 20-28 November.
• ‘Paayer Tolay Mati Nai’ is Bangladeshi director Mohammad Rabby Mridha’s feature debut. It stars
Mostafa Monwar, Priyam Archi and Dipanita Martin. The film narrates the life story of an ordinary man who
walks through conflicts in his life involving work, family and morality. It tells the story of Saiful who is an
ambulance driver in Dhaka.
Wish you all the very best!
Team CL

2021-22
Registered / Corporate Office:
CL Educate Limited
Registered Office:
Plot - 9A, Sector 27A, Mathura Road, Faridabad, Haryana - 121003
Corporate Office:
A - 45, First Floor, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate,
Near Metro Station, New Delhi - 110044
Contact No. 011-41280800 / 1100
www.careerlauncher.com • www.cleducate.com
2021-22

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All the best!!

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C. Business & Economy

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D. Science & Technology

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G. Persons & Appointments

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H. Books & Authors

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Wish you all the very best!

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