Current Affairs in English – November 17 2022

November 17, 2022

National Events:

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai:

• Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on 16th Nov 2022 announced that 6 new high – tech cities in Hubbali, Dharwad, Mysore, Mangaluru, central Karnataka, and one near Bengaluru, will be built within six months.
• These high – tech cities will promote science and technology and innovative ideas for growth of Karnataka. A startup park near the Bengaluru airport will also be built within six months.

Military commanders Strategic Seminar:

• A two – day Strategic Seminar aimed to prepare the military commanders for future was organised at Srinagar on 15-16 Nov 2022.
• The Seminar was presided over by Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command.
• The seminar also addressed the issues of civil – military jointness in decision – making, the lines of effort encompassing the entire construct of Diplomacy.

DSSC:

• In a first, six women officers have been selected for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College (DSSC).
• It is the only competitive course within the Indian Army that paves the way for appointments to higher formations in the force.
• Completion of the course enables Army personnel for staff appointments to Lt Col rank and also gives them an advantage in promotions to the rank of Colonel.

Assam Millet Mission:

• With a view to expanding and increasing millet cultivation across Assam, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched Assam Millet Mission.
• He also inaugurated six Soil Testing and Quality Control Laboratory at Bongaigaon, Morigaon, Udalguri, Golaghat, Karimganj and Darrang and two knowledge centres at Dhemaji and Titabor virtually at the same programme.

ITM:

• The 3 – day long International Tourism Mart (ITM) began in Mizoram on 17 November 2022. It is the 10th edition of the mart, jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism and the state tourism department.
• It is aimed at highlighting the tourism potential of the North – Eastern region in the domestic and international markets. Also, there will be business – to – business sessions and panel discussions.

National Epilepsy Day: 17th November:

• In India, November 17th is observed every year as National Epilepsy Day to create awareness about epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of brain characterized by recurrent ‘ seizures ‘ or ‘ fits.
• It can affect people at any age. In India, about 10 million people suffer from seizures associated with epilepsy. International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the 2nd Monday of February.

Arvind Virmani:

• Former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Virmani has been appointed as a full – time member of NITI Aayog. Mr Virmani served as the chief economic adviser in the finance ministry (2007-2009).
• He is also the founder – chairman of the non – profit public policy organisation Foundation for Economic Growth and Welfare. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) CEO: Parameswaran lyer.

NAA:

• All GST anti – profiteering complaints would be dealt with by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from 1 Dec 2022 as the extended tenure of the National Anti – profiteering Authority (NAA) ends by the end of November 2022.
• NAA was set up in 2017 to check unfair profiteering activities by registered suppliers. Initially, it was set up for two years till 2019 but was later extended till November 2021.

‘Vikram – S’:

• India’s space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre ( IN – SPACE ) on 16th Nov 2022 authorised the launch of first private sector rocket ‘ Vikram – S ‘.
• It is a suborbital space vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace & it will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO on 18th November. Skyroot was the first startup to sign a MoU with ISRO for launching its rockets.

DCGI:

• The government has extended the term of Dr VG Somani , the Drug Controller General of India ( DCGI ) by 3 more months.
• He was earlier given an extension in August 2022. Dr Somani was appointed as the DCGI for a term of three years on August 14, 2019.
• The DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for ensuring quality drugs supply across the country.

Digital Shakti 4.0:

• National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on 16th November 2022 launched the 4th phase of Digital Shakti Campaign.
• The Digital Shakti 4.0 is focused on making women digitally skilled and aware to stand – up against any illegal / inappropriate activity online.
• Digital Shakti was started by NCW in 2018 to help women across the nation to raise the awareness level on the digital front.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam:

• The one month long Kashi Tamil Sangamam begun on 17 November 2022 in Varanasi. It is being organized as a part of ‘ Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav ‘. Sangamam is scheduled from 17 November, 2022 to 16 December, 2022.
• The program is being organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and Banaras Hindu University is the host institution for the program.

Uttarakhand High Court:

• Uttarakhand Cabinet, in a meeting held on 16th Nov 2022 , gave its in – principle approval to shift Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani. The High Court came into existence in the year 2000 when the State was carved out Pradesh.
• Uttarakhand cabinet also decided to make strict amendments in the conversion law, wherein forced conversion will now be a cognizable offence.

International Events:

CEO Rajiv Kumar:

• Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been invited by the Election Commission of Nepal as an international observer for the forthcoming elections to Nepal’s House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly.
• Elections are scheduled in Nepal on 20 November 2022. Rajiv Kumar will be leading a delegation of ECI officials as State guest in Nepal from 18 November to 22 November, 2022.

Sandhya Devanathan:

• Meta has appointed Sandhya Devanathan as its new top executive for the country. She will transition to her new role as country head of Meta India from 1 January 2023.
• Devanathan currently serves as vice – president of gaming for Meta’s Asia – Pacific (APAC) division.
• She will replace Ajit Mohan. Meta Platforms, Inc, is an American conglomerate based in Menlo Park, California.

British inflation:

• Rising household energy bills and food prices have pushed British inflation to a 41 – year high.
• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has informed that inflation figures show prices have risen 11.1 % in Oct’22, up from 10.1 per cent the previous month.
• The United Kingdom is seeing its highest inflation not seen since October 1981.

Moscow Format Consultations:

• India participated in the fourth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow on 16 November 2022.
• Special Envoys and Senior Officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also participated in the meeting.
• Issues related to Afghanistan including the current humanitarian situation was discussed.

GMC:

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 15th Nov 2022 launched the 1st edition of Global Media Congress (GMC), a platform to boost business connections and foster innovation in the media sector.
• The 3 – day event is being held under the theme of “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”. More than 1,200 media practitioners & experts are participating in it from across the world.

“MALABAR 22”:

• The navies of India, Japan, Australia and the US concluded the 26th edition of the multinational maritime exercise “MALABAR 22” in the seas off Japan on 15th November 2022.
• This edition also marked the 30th anniversary of the exercise and was hosted by the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self – Defense Force). The Indian Navy was represented by Eastern Fleet ships Shivalik and Kamorta.

International Students ‘ Day: 17th November:

• Every year, November 17th is observed as International Students ‘ Day to ensure that every student has access to education.
• The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague after demonstrations against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.
• October 15th is celebrated as World Students ‘ Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Sports Events:

ITTF:

• Star Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal has become the first player from India to get elected in the Athletes ‘ Commission of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
• 8 athletes have been elected from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe & Oceania & will serve in the Commission for 4 years from 2022 to 2026. Sharath has also been selected for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022.

2nd edition of the North East Olympic Games:

• The 2nd edition of the North East Olympic Games concluded on 16th Nov 2022 in Shillong, Meghalaya. Manipur emerged as the overall winner with a total of 240 medals while Assam took the second spot with a total of 203 medals.
• The 1st North East Olympic games were held in Manipur in October 2018. Nagaland will host the next edition of the Northeast Olympic Games.