Current Affairs November 04th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Income Tax Department’s HARIT Aaykar Initiative to Promote Greenery and Establish Micro forests:

• The Income Tax Department took part in the Special Campaign for Swachhata, a month-long initiative of the Indian government that runs until October 31st, 2022.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on this day (October 31), which is also known as National Unity Day.
• To increase the amount of vegetation and establish micro forests, it was introduced on National Unity Day.
• The Income Tax Department commits to increasing the amount of greenery around its offices and other public locations by planting trees and establishing micro-forests as part of this effort.
• The tree density and biodiversity are maximized in a micro-forest, which is a small, planted forest.
• Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist, developed the Miyawaki method in the 1980s as a way to grow a micro forest on little pieces of land.

UGC suggested celebrating “Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas” on December 11:

• On the occasion of the poet Subramania Bharati’s birth anniversary, the committee has suggested that December 11 be observed as “Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas” or “Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav.”
• After a committee set up by the education ministry last year to promote Indian languages made suggestions, the University Grants Commission wrote to vice-chancellors and principals of all universities and colleges in this respect.
• To promote “linguistic harmony” and foster an environment that is favourable to learning Indian languages, all higher education institutions in India must observe a “Bharatiya Bhasha Divas” on December 11 every year.
• Bharati pioneered modern Tamil poetry and wrote songs to inspire patriotism during the Independence movement.
• The commission also provided universities and colleges with a concept note of the proposal, outlining how they will commemorate the day by holding contests, games, exhibitions, and other events.
• Indian languages have been promoted by the national government.
• It will soon open 22 bhasha kendras (language centres) to promote Indian languages, which are protected by the Constitution’s eighth schedule.

About University Grants Commission:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: D. P. Singh
• Founded: 1956

The Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year is “permacrisis”:

• The Collins Dictionary has selected the word “permacrisis” as its word of the year.
• The phrase refers to a protracted time of unpredictability and uncertainty.
• According to Collins Learning CEO Alex Beecroft, “Permacrisis encapsulates precisely how bad 2022 has been for so many individuals.”
• The word “permacrisis,” which Collins defines as “an extended era of instability and insecurity,” refers to a time when turmoil is constant.
• Collins decided on permacrisis as the word of the year because it “sums up rather simply how dreadful 2022 has been for so many people
• It comes in first place in Collins’ yearly list of the top 10 new or noteworthy words, which is compiled from its 18 billion word database as well as other sources like social media.
• One of the six new terms on the list that CollinsDictionary.com has introduced is “permacrisis.”
• The term “permacrisis” was chosen as Britain’s word of the year in acknowledgement of a terrible 2022, topping competition from the likes of “Kyiv,” “sports washing,” and “partygate.”

The first company in India to receive ResponsibleSteel certification is Tata Steel Jamshedpur:

• Three of Tata Steel’s production sites in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, have achieved ResponsibleSteel accreditation.
• The steelworks, tubes division, and cold rolling mill (Bara) have now obtained accreditation, joining a select club of other steel-producing facilities worldwide.
• This marks a turning point in Tata Steel’s history and advances our sustainability efforts.
• Globally, the steel industry is at a turning point, and we must address the wider effects of how we make and use steel.
• The other sustainability objectives in the standard, such as effective water management, establishing a safe and healthy workplace, protecting labour rights, and interacting with local communities and other stakeholders, must also be fully upheld by certified sites.
• This is a significant accomplishment for Tata Steel and all those involved.

About Tata Steel

• CEO: T. V. Narendran;
• Founded: 25 August 1907, Jamshedpur.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and California agree to collaborate on zero-emission vehicles

• India has entered into a collaboration with the US state of California for research and innovation in the field of zero-emission vehicles to boost the development of its nascent Electrical Vehicle (EV) industry and address climate risks through the California-India ZEV Policy program.
• The Programme will showcase best practices in EV adoption from India on international platforms and unlock strategic dialogues on international climate finance for a ZEV transition.

Key Highlights :

• California has the world’s most advanced zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policies.
• It has an ambitious 100% ZEV mandate by 2035. 
• As part of the collaboration, the University of California, research institute Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, established a new India ZEV Research Centre.
• While ZEV policies have been implemented in various parts of the world, the State of California is probably the only regional government to have the most comprehensive and oldest ZEV policy ecosystem.
• The California-India ZEV Partnership provides a unique opportunity for sub-national policy design as a lever for vehicle electrification.

Note :

• India prepares to host both the Clean Energy Ministerial and the G20 next year in 2023.

About California :

• Capital: Sacramento

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Haryana CM launches ‘CM dashboard’ for live monitoring of departments and ‘CM Uphaar’ portal

• Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launched the “CM dashboard”, a unique IT platform having real-time data of all the departments.
• “Live monitoring of every department at the block, district, and panchayat levels will be done,”
• Shri Khattar also launched a dedicated e-Upphar portal to auction gifts received by him.
• The base bid amount would be fixed and payment would be directly transferred to the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

About CM dashboard :

• The dashboard has been developed in-house with state-of-the-art Business Intelligence software.
• This will enable tracking of methodology and analysis of reports, further helping in the comparison of old and new data.
• The portal will also have information about decisions taken by the administrative wing on major schemes. 

About Haryana :

• Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
• Chief minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
• Capital: Chandigarh
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary

Goa CM Pramod Sawant launches the Purple Fest logo

• Goa Chief Minister Shri Pramod Sawant launched the logo of Purple Fest at a function held in Manohar Parrikar Memorial Hall of Sanjay Centre for Education, Porvorim, Goa.
• Goa would be the first state in India to host India’s first-of-its-kind inclusive festival and assured all kinds of support on his part to make this festival a grand success and as popular as the International Film Festival of India.
• The three-day event is to kick start in January 2023.
• The event was organized by the Office of State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Goa in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Welfare and Entertainment Society of Goa.

About Goa :

• Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
• Chief Minister : Pramod Sawant
• Capital : Panaji (Panjim)
• Airport: Dabolim Airport

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

Bank of India launches special deposit scheme: star super triple seven FD

• The  Bank of India (BoI) launched a special fixed deposit scheme Star Super Triple Seven Fixed Deposit which will offer a 7.25% rate of interest (7.75% for senior citizens) on a deposit for 777 days.

Key Highlights :

• Apart from the special deposit scheme, the Bank of India has raised the interest rate on its existing 555-days fixed deposit scheme to 6.30%. 
• On other maturities from 180 days to less than 5 years, it has raised interest rates by 25 basis points.
• Bank of Baroda has also revised interest rates on “Baroda Advantage Fixed Deposits”.
• Meanwhile, the newly formed digital first Unity Small Finance Bank has launched “Shagun 366, a 1-year fixed deposit scheme that will fetch depositors an interest rate of 7.80%.
• This is a limited-period offer and is available for deposits booked up to November 30, 2022.

About BoI :

• Founded: 7 September 1906
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Atanu Kumar Das
• Tagline: Relationship Beyond Banking

Aegon Life Insurance Unveils iGuarantee Max Savings Plan

• Aegon Life Insurance Company has launched a traditional insurance policy iGuarantee Max Savings Plan that offers savings and life cover.

About iGuarantee Max Savings Plan :

• The policyholder can choose a policy term between 5 and 20 years, depending on their savings goal.
• The minimum monthly contribution for the plan is 500, which can be done online with no paper works, and subscribers could gain higher tax-free returns on their savings.
• The plan would enable families to meet their medium-to-long-term savings goals “affordably” while protecting them against financial shocks in the wake of the policyholder’s sudden death.
• Premium payment options on offer are regular pay (pay throughout the policy term), limited pay (pay for a fixed duration, lower than the policy term), and single pay (pay a lump sum front).
• In the event of the death of the policyholder, if the policy is in force and all due premiums have been paid, an amount equal to the sum assured on death plus accrued guaranteed additions, if any, shall be paid.

About Aegon Life Insurance Company :

• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO: Satishwar Balakrishnan
• It is a joint venture between Dutch Aegon N.V., a multinational insurance, pensions, and asset management company, and The Times Group (also called Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd), one of India’s largest media conglomerates.

Aviva Life Insurance launches Aviva Protection Plus policy

• Aviva Life Insurance company has launched the Aviva Protection Plus, a Non-Linked Non-Participating Individual Life Insurance Savings Plan. 

About Aviva Protection Plus :

• Aviva Protection Plus offers attractive features with the Maturity Benefit of return of premiums, Enriched Protection, and Savings Booster options.
• It ensures that the family is financially secured with a high death sum assured, payable in case of an unfortunate event.
• Additionally, the plan comes with the flexibility of single or regular premium paying terms. 
• Also, one has the option to choose from multiple premium payment frequency modes and avail benefits like life coverage up to 80 years, direct and indirect tax benefits, and rebate on high sum assured

SEBI extends the deadline for rules on direct ETF transactions to May 1, 2023

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the deadline for implementation of the Rs 25 crore-threshold rule for direct Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) transactions with asset management companies to May 1, 2023.
• This is the second time the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has extended the deadline. 
• Initially, the rule was to come into force from July 1, 2022, and the same was extended till November 1, 2022.
• To enhance liquidity in units of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on stock exchange platforms, Sebi decided that direct transactions with Asset Management Companies (AMCs) will be facilitated for investors only when the transaction amount is greater than Rs 25 crore.

SEBI to develop the world’s First system for securing stock exchanges from cyberattacks

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in collaboration with India’s two largest stock exchanges the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange is developing a system to mitigate the risk of cyber attacks.
• The event was organized by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).

About SEBI :

• Established: on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch
• SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, GoI.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund Launches SAHYOG

• Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited and an investment manager to Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, has launched SAHYOG, an initiative to empower its support staff and their families.
• SAHYOG is a first-of-its-kind initiative, by the mutual fund industry, targeted at improving the financial health of support staff through steady, long-term investments.
• MD & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited : Mr. A. Balasubramanian

Bank of Baroda launches two Premium Debit Cards with Visa

• Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading banks, and Visa, the global leader in digital payments, launched two new premium Debit Cards for Bank of Baroda customers 

1. bob World Opulence – a super-premium Visa Infinite Debit Card (Metal Edition)
2. bob World Sapphire – a Visa Signature Debit Card

• PV Sindhu, India’s badminton icon and Bank of Baroda’s brand endorser, unveiled the cards at the launch event.

Key Highlights :

• The two debit card variants come with a best-in-class and powerful rewards proposition exclusively designed for the Bank’s High Networth Individual (HNI) customer segment
• The bob World Sapphire card will come in two sub-variants – bob World Sapphire (Male) and bob World Sapphire (Female), offering customized privileges to customers.

Features & Benefits of BoB World Opulence & BoB World Sapphire :

• Complimentary Airport Pickup and Drop Service
• Airport Lounge Visits
• Complimentary Club Marriott Membership for a year
• Golf Programme: Complimentary sessions at select Golf courses
• Complimentary dining benefits and curated experiences at select hotels
• Room upgrades, late checkouts, and complimentary benefits at select hotels, which are a part of the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection
• Joining Fee for BoB World Opulence: Rs 9,500/– (for the first year)
• Joining Fee for BoB World Sapphire: Rs 750/– (for the first year)

About BoB :

• Founded: 20 July 1908
• Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat, India
• MD & CEO: Sanjiv Chadha

The credit card base of major issuers erodes in Q2 over RBI’s norms

• Credit card issuers saw significant erosion of their card base during the July-September 2022 quarter as the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) norms mandated the deactivation of cards that have been inactive for a year.
• The second quarter of the current financial year saw an outstanding cards-in-force decline by 55 million to 77.7 million.
• HDFC Bank, the largest credit card issuer in the country, saw a net reduction of 1.62 million credit cards in Q2 of FY23, the highest by any card issuer.
• Its cards-in-force dropped to 16.32 million at the end of September from a high of almost 18 million in July 2022.
• Axis Bank was second in the pecking order as it saw a net reduction of over 1.10 million credit cards during this period.
• On the other hand, ICICI Bank lost 409,147 cards during this period (Q2).
• In September 2022 alone, ICICI Bank saw a net reduction of over 620,000
• Among other major players, Canara Bank saw a net reduction of 354,413 cards in Q2.
• YES Bank and Standard Chartered saw a net reduction of 40,567 cards and 104,432 cards, respectively
• However, SBI Card gained during this period as it saw a net addition of 293,368 cards in Q2.
• The impact of RBI norms on the bank was limited because 95% of its portfolio is dominated by fee-based cards.
• Similarly, Kotak Mahindra Bank has seen a net addition of 247,813 cards during this period.
• IDFC First Bank, IndusInd Bank, and RBL Bank saw a net addition of 161,443, 108,334, and 92,545 cards, respectively.
• HDFC Bank’s market share has dropped to 21.01%, down 133 basis points from Q1.
• On the other hand, SBI Card has increased its market share to 19.08%, up 90 bps.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) unveils special FD scheme – Baroda Tiranga Plus Deposit Scheme

• The leading public sector lender Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the “Baroda Tiranga Plus Deposit Scheme”, with higher standard interest rates of up to 7.50% p.a. for 399 days which includes 0.50% p.a. for senior citizens and 0.25% for non-callable deposits.
• The scheme is applicable on retail term deposits below Rs 2 crore.
• BoB has also increased the premium on Non-Callable Retail Term Deposits from 0.15% per annum to 0.25% per annum. 
• Hence, non-callable deposits will now receive 0.25% per annum extra.

About Baroda Tiranga Plus Deposit Scheme :

• The scheme comes with two specific tenors of 444 days and 555 days.
• On callable deposits maturing in 444 days, BoB is now offering an interest rate of 5.75% to the general public and 6.25% for senior citizens whereas on callable deposits maturing in 555 Days will fetch a standard interest rate of 6.00% and 6.505 for senior citizens. 

• On non-callable deposits maturing in 444 days, the bank is offering a standard rate of 6.00% and 6.50% for senior citizens whereas those maturing in 555 days will fetch an interest rate of 6.25% for the general public and 6.75% for senior citizens under the old Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme at Bank of Baroda.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

GST revenue exceeded Rs 1.51 trillion in October, ranking second-highest ever:

• The gross GST revenue collected for October 2022 totalled Rs 1,51,718 crore, making it the second-highest monthly collection in history, according to the ministry of finance.
• Only the revenue in April 2022 is higher in terms of monthly collections, and for the second time, the gross GST collection has surpassed the Rs. 1.50 lakh crore
• The government broke down the October GST collections as follows:
• CGST was 26,039 crore, SGST was 33,396 crore, IGST was 81,778 crore (including 37,297 crores collected on import of goods), and cess was Rs 10,505 crore (including 825 crores collected on import of goods).
• The monthly GST collections have exceeded the 1.4 lakh crore mark for the ninth consecutive month and eight months in a row.
• 3 crore e-way bills were produced in September 2022, a number that was much higher than the 7.7 crores produced in August 2022.

Subsidy for fertilizer doubles as prices rise:

• The Center announced a doubling of the fertilizer subsidy to Rs 2.15 trillion from the planned level for FY23 to protect farmers from the high price increases.
• The decision was made as a result of a recent substantial increase in the costs of urea, DAP, and MoP on the global market.
• They have safeguarded the farmers from such price increases despite growing fertilizer costs globally.
• An additional sum of Rs. 1.10 trillion is being granted to further support our farmers in addition to the Budget’s Rs. 1.05 trillion fertilizer subsidy.
• Data from the fertilizer ministry show that the cost of imported urea has increased from $380 per tonne in April 2021 to $930 per tonne in April 2022, a jump of more than 145%.
• In a similar vein, prices for DAP and MoP increased by 66% and 116%, to $924 per tonne and $590 per tonne, respectively, in April 2022 compared to the same month the previous year.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOUR

Puneeth Rajkumar was posthumously awarded the Karnataka Ratna:

• The Karnataka government presented the late actor with the Karnataka Ratna award.
• Gandhada Gudi, the final film starring the late Kannada Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar, was released on October 28, 2022.
• Puneeth Rajkumar’s wife, Ashwini, accepted the state’s top civilian honour on her husband’s behalf.
• Shiva Rajkumar, Appu’s older brother, was also present.
• With his posthumous distinction, Puneeth Rajkumar became the ninth recipient of the coveted award.
• Renowned actors Junior NTR and Rajnikanth presented the honour, along with Sudha Murthy, chair of the Infosys Foundation.

About Puneeth Rajkumar:

• Puneeth Rajkumar experienced a heart arrest on October 29, 2021, and died at the age of 46. His unexpected death shocked the nation, according to the news.
• The Sandalwood actor made his film debut as a child in Premada Kanike in 1976.
• He was only six months old when he was chosen for this V. Somashekar-directed thriller.
• He began his career as a child artist, and in 1985, his performance in the movie Bettada Hoovu earned him a national honour.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

Report on the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and UTs is released by the MoE:

• The Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2020–21, a thorough review of the school education system in all 50 states and the Union Territories, was released by the Ministry of Education.
• PGI’s main goal is to advance evidence-based policies and draw attention to course correction to guarantee that every student receives a high-quality education.
• In contrast to zero in 2017–18 and four in 2019–20, a total of seven States and UTs—Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh—have achieved Level II (scoring 901–950) in 2020–21.
• The newest entrants to the highest achieved level of any state thus far are Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.
• “States/UTs’ PGI grades and scores for 2020–21 are evidence of the PGI system’s effectiveness.
• The PGI scores broken down by indicator identifies the areas in which a state needs to advance.
• The PGI will display the relative performance of all States and UTs on a consistent scale, encouraging them to perform better and adopt top performers’ practices.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Mr. Vetsa Rama Krishna Gupta takes over the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of BPCL

• Vetsa Rama Krishna Gupta has taken over the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
• He succeeds Arun Kumar Singh, who superannuated on October 31, 2022.
• He will superannuate in June 2031.
• Gupta also holds the additional charge of Director (HR).

Note :

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) becomes the second ‘Maharatna’ oil Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to get an interim head in the absence of a regular appointment.

About Mr. Vetsa Rama Krishna Gupta :

• Gupta has an illustrious career spanning over 24 years at the company, in various Finance roles.
• He was also a Board member in the recently amalgamated companies BORL (Bharat Oman Refineries Limited) & BGRL (Bharat Gas Resources Limited), as well as, MAFFL (Mumbai Aviation Fuel Farm Facility Private Limited).
• He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (1998 batch) and a Bachelor of Commerce. 
• He is also a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
• Currently, he is a Board member of BPRL (Bharat Petro Resources Limited) and Fino Paytech Limited.

About BPCL :

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• BPCL is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. 
• BPCL is India’s second-largest government-owned downstream oil producer

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

Australian Navy ships arrive in Visakhapatnam for ex-Indo-Pacific Endeavour with Indian Navy

• Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac arrived in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP) for Exercise ‘Indo-Pacific Endeavour’ (IPE) 2022 with the Indian Navy.

About IPE :

• Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE), one of Australia’s key regional engagement activities, returns to Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean from September 2022 to November 2022, visiting a record 14 countries in this iteration.
• IPE 2022 will see engagements with the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia
• These engagements are supported by an Australian Defence Force Maritime Task Unit of Royal Australian Navy ships and embarked Army members as well as Royal Australian Air Force air mobility aircraft for fly-in-fly-out engagements, marking a total composition of 1800 personnel, 5 ships, and 11 helicopter
• IPE began in 2017 as an annual activity coordinated by the Australian Defence Force to deliver on the promise of the 2016 Defence White Paper to strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces.

Aim :

• To promote security and stability in Australia’s near region through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training, and capacity building.

About Australia :

• President:  Anthony Albanese
• Capital: Canberra
• Currency: Australian dollar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Google buys artificial intelligence avatar startup ‘Alter’ for $100 mn

• Tech giant Google has acquired Alter, an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar startup that was working on using AI to generate avatars for social media users and brands to express their virtual identity
• According to TechCrunch, Google buys the startup for about $100 million to improve its content game and compete with
• Alter started as Facemoji, a platform that offered plug-and-play technology for helping game and App developers add avatar systems to their Apps.
• Among its investors are Play Ventures, Roosh Ventures, and Twitter, which invested $3 million in the startup.
• Later Facemoji rebranded as Alter.

About Google :

• Founded: September 4, 1998
• Headquarters:  Mountain View, California, U.
• CEO: Sundar Pichai

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

New potentially hazardous asteroid discovered – 2022 AP7

• An international team of astronomers announced the discovery of a 5 kilometre- (0.9 mile) wide asteroid, named 2022 AP7 whose orbit crosses that of Earth, creating a small chance far in the future of a catastrophic collision.
• It was discovered in an area notoriously difficult to spot objects due to the glare from the Sun.
• It was found along with 2 other near-Earth asteroids using a high-tech instrument on the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile that was originally developed to study dark matter.
• The results were published in the scientific journal The Astronomical Journal.
• Some 30,000 asteroids of all sizes including more than 850 larger than a kilometre wide have been catalogued in the vicinity of the Earth, earning them the label “Near Earth Objects” (NEOs).
• None of them threaten Earth for the next 100 years.

ISRO successfully conducts a qualification test of the Cryogenic Engine for the Gaganyaan mission

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the qualification test of the Cryogenic Engine for the Gaganyaan program for 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights :

• This successful long-duration test is a major milestone for the Human Space Programme Gaganyaan. 
• It ensures the reliability and robustness of the cryogenic engine for induction into the human-rated launch vehicle for
• This engine will undergo four more tests for a cumulative duration of 1,810 seconds.
• India’s maiden human space mission “Gaganyaan” will be launched in 2023,
• With this launch, India will become the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission after the USA, Russia, and

About ISRO :

• Established: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
• Chairman: S Somanath
• The ISRO is the national space agency of India, it operates under the Department of Space (DOS).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR

“Nuclearization of Asia,” a new book by French author Rene Naba, is published:

• The new multilingual book “De la Nucléarisation de l’Asie” (Nuclearization of Asia) by French author Rene Naba is available in both French and English
• The book talks about China-connection Pakistan as a source of nuclear threat and emergency.
• At the Geneva Press Club, the book published by Golias was officially
• 35 persons attended in person, and 23 more participated virtually.
• The author of two books on Asia is René Naba.
• The first French-language book on Pakistan’s strategic transformation was published in 2018 and was titled “Pakistan Facing the Challenge of the Post-Western World and Eurasia.”
• Rene Naba is the vice president of the International Center for the Fight Against Terrorism and the former head of the Arab Muslim world in the AFP diplomatic service.

Daily CA on November 4:

• The Income Tax Department took part in the Special Campaign for Swachhata, a month-long initiative of the Indian government that runs until October 31st, 2022.
• On the occasion of the poet Subramania Bharati’s birth anniversary, the committee has suggested that December 11 be observed as “Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas” or “Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav.”
• The Collins Dictionary has selected the word “permacrisis” as its word of the year.
• Three of Tata Steel’s production sites in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, have achieved ResponsibleSteel accreditation.
• The gross GST revenue collected for October 2022 totalled Rs 1,51,718 crore, making it the second-highest monthly collection in history, according to the ministry of finance.
• The Center announced a doubling of the fertilizer subsidy to Rs 2.15 trillion from the planned level for FY23 to protect farmers from the high price increases.
• The Karnataka government presented the late actor with the Karnataka Ratna award.
• The Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2020–21, a thorough review of the school education system in all 50 states and the Union Territories, was released by the Ministry of Education.
• The new multilingual book “De la Nucléarisation de l’Asie”(Nuclearization of Asia) by French author Rene Naba is available in both French and English
• India has entered into a collaboration with the US state of California for research and innovation in the field of zero-emission vehicles to boost the development of its nascent Electrical Vehicle (EV) industry and address climate risks through the California-India ZEV Policy program.
• Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launched the “CM dashboard”, a unique IT platform having real-time data of all the departments.
• Goa Chief Minister Shri Pramod Sawant launched the logo of Purple Fest at a function held in Manohar Parrikar Memorial Hall of Sanjay Centre for Education, Porvorim, Goa.
• The  Bank of India (BoI) launched a special fixed deposit scheme Star Super Triple Seven Fixed Deposit which will offer a 7.25% rate of interest (7.75% for senior citizens) on a deposit for 777 days.
• Aegon Life Insurance Company has launched a traditional insurance policy iGuarantee Max Savings Plan that offers savings and life cover.
• Aviva Life Insurance company has launched the Aviva Protection Plus, a Non-Linked Non-Participating Individual Life Insurance Savings Plan. 
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the deadline for implementation of the Rs 25 crore-threshold rule for direct Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) transactions with asset management companies to May 1, 2023.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in collaboration with India’s two largest stock exchanges the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange is developing a system to mitigate the risk of cyber attacks.
• Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited and an investment manager to Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, has launched SAHYOG, an initiative to empower its support staff and their families.
• Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading banks, and Visa, the global leader in digital payments, launched two new premium Debit Cards for Bank of Baroda customers, bob World Opulence – a super-premium Visa Infinite Debit Card (Metal Edition) & bob World Sapphire – a Visa Signature Debit Card
• Credit card issuers saw significant erosion of their card base during the July-September 2022 quarter as the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) norms mandated the deactivation of cards that have been inactive for a year.
• The leading public sector lender Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the “Baroda Tiranga Plus Deposit Scheme”, with higher standard interest rates of up to 7.50% p.a. for 399 days which includes 0.50% p.a. for senior citizens and 0.25% for non-callable deposits.
• Vetsa Rama Krishna Gupta has taken over the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
• Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac arrived in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP) for Exercise ‘Indo-Pacific Endeavour’ (IPE) 2022 with the Indian Navy.
• Tech giant Google has acquired Alter, an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar startup that was working on using AI to generate avatars for social media users and brands to express their virtual identity
• An international team of astronomers announced the discovery of a 1.5 kilometre- (0.9 mile) wide asteroid, named 2022 AP7 whose orbit crosses that of Earth, creating a small chance far in the future of a catastrophic collision.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the qualification test of the Cryogenic Engine for the Gaganyaan program for 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.