Current Affairs in Short (04-11-2023)

National News

• World Food India 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the second edition of World Food India 2023, a celebration of India’s culinary heritage and global food potential, uniting culture, cuisine, and commerce. The event aims to position India as the ‘food basket of the world’ and coincides with the celebration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
• ECI’s ENCORE Software: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has developed in-house software named ‘ENCORE’ for efficient candidate and election management. It offers a range of features for smooth electoral operations, including candidate nomination, voter turnout tracking, vote counting, and data management.
• 2024 World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly: India is set to host the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) in 2024, a significant event for advancing 5G and 6G networks. It plays a pivotal role in setting global telecommunication standards.
• India Manufacturing Show: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the ‘India Manufacturing Show’ in Bengaluru, emphasizing ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ and showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the importance of small-scale industries in India’s economy.

International News

• Thailand Visa-Free Entry: Thailand announces visa-free entry for citizens of India and Taiwan from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024, to boost tourism, allowing a maximum stay of 30 days without a visa.
• Middle East Attacks: The armed wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, and Hezbollah launched attacks in Israel, marking an escalation in the Middle East. Both groups are considered proxies of Iran.

State News

• Kerala Government vs. Governor: The Kerala Government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Governor’s handling of pending bills, alleging arbitrary actions in withholding bills passed by the State Legislature.
• Kerala’s Religious Tourism: Kerala plans to launch multilingual microsites to promote religious tourism, starting with a focus on Sabarimala Temple in English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu languages.

Defence News

• US Minuteman III Missile Launch: The US military conducted a Minuteman III missile launch to showcase its nuclear capability, highlighting the powerful intercontinental ballistic missile system.

Economy News

• Manufacturing Growth Eases: India’s manufacturing sector experienced a slowdown, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) falling to an eight-month low in October, signaling cost pressures and subdued demand for specific products.
• EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): The European Union’s proposed CBAM raises concerns for Indian manufacturing, with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister criticizing it as “ill-conceived.”

Banking News

• Bank of Baroda Leadership Change: Bank of Baroda appointed Kadgatoor Sheetal Venkatesmurt as the head of digital channels and digital lending following the departure of Akhil Handa, who played a key role in the development of the ‘bob World’ mobile application.

Business News

• Zurich Insurance Stake in Kotak General Insurance: Zurich Insurance Group is set to invest in Kotak General Insurance, acquiring a 51% stake, with the option to increase it to 70% over time. It marks a significant partnership for Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Ranks & Reports News

• Shiv Nadar Tops Philanthropy List: HCLTech founder Shiv Nadar and family top the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023, making substantial donations for the fifth consecutive year.

Summits & Conferences News

• G20 Standards Dialogue: The G20 Standards Dialogue 2023, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, commenced in New Delhi, focusing on ‘Zero Defect Zero Effect’ and the role of standards in a sustainable future.

Agreements News

• India-UAE Educational Cooperation: India and the UAE signed an MoU to strengthen educational ties, facilitating academic collaboration and twinning programs between higher education institutions in both countries.

Awards News

• T. Padmanabhan Receives Kerala Jyothi Award: Eminent writer T. Padmanabhan received the prestigious Kerala Jyothi award for his exceptional contributions to Malayalam literature. Other awards, known as ‘Kerala Puraskarngals,’ were also announced.

Sports News

• Mohammed Shami’s World Cup Record: Mohammed Shami became India’s leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cups, surpassing Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath with 45 wickets.

Miscellaneous News

• Electoral Literacy in School Textbooks: NCERT will introduce electoral literacy content in school textbooks, aiming to address voter apathy among young Indians and promote electoral participation. This initiative will start from classes 6 to 12 and extend to colleges and universities.