Correct Answer :   Bhutan

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Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived here on Sunday (5th Nov 2023) to a red carpet welcome with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar receiving him at the airport, reflecting the importance India has attached to the trip.

Wangchuck's high-profile trip to India comes amid renewed push by Bhutan and China for an early settlement of their decades-old boundary dispute.

New Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for India's security interests, especially in the Doklam tri-junction.


Key Highlights :

* King Wangchuck’s eight-day visit to India began in Guwahati on November 3. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar personally welcomed the Bhutanese monarch at the airport, underscoring India’s commitment to the visit.

* The visit aims to further strengthen the already close bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the strategic partnership that India maintains with Bhutan.

* During his visit, King Wangchuck is scheduled to meet with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, signifying the importance of the discussions to take place.

* The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier expressed that the visit offers an opportunity for both countries to review their extensive bilateral cooperation and to advance their exemplary partnership across various sectors.

China’s Involvement :

* In a noteworthy development, Bhutan reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle during talks with China, as indicated in a Chinese readout.
* This aligns Bhutan’s stance with China’s position on Taiwan, despite Bhutan not having official diplomatic relations with China.
* Bhutan and China agreed to expedite negotiations by implementing a “three-step roadmap” to resolve their border dispute, a move seen as positive progress in their dialogue.


Background :

* The signing of the pact between Bhutan and China followed a 73-day standoff in the Doklam tri-junction in 2017.
* This standoff occurred after China attempted to extend a road in an area that Bhutan claimed as its territory.
* India supported Bhutan’s claim, leading to tensions in the region and fears of a larger conflict between India and China.
* The Doklam tri-junction holds strategic significance, as it is the convergence point of borders between India, Bhutan, and China.
* Any resolution of the border dispute has direct implications for regional security dynamics..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is all set to unveil a progressive initiative "Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign" under its flagship scheme - Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), in partnership with the Ministry's National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). Odisha Urban Academy is the knowledge partner.

This campaign celebrates "Jal Diwali" and commences from, 7th November, 2023. It will continue till 9th November, 2023.

Campaign Aims : To provide a platform for inclusion of women in water governance. They will be given first-hand knowledge about water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in their respective cities. These visits will elucidate the vital procedures involved in delivering clean and safe drinking water to households. Additionally, women will gain insight into water quality testing protocols which ensure that citizens get water of the required quality. The overarching goal of the campaign is to instill a sense of ownership and belonging among women towards water infrastructure.

India has more than 3,000 Water treatment plants, with a designed water treatment capacity of more than 65,000 MLD and operational capacity of more than 55,000 MLD. During the said campaign, women Self Help Groups (SHGs) will visit more than 550 water treatment plants, with a combined operational capacity of more than 20,000 MLD (more than 35% of the country’s total).

The women play a significant role in household water management. By empowering women with knowledge about water treatment processes and infrastructure, MoHUA aims to enhance their ability to ensure access to safe and clean drinking water for their households. The campaign aims to address issues of gender equality by promoting inclusivity and diversity in sectors traditionally dominated by men.

The phase I of "Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign", “Jal Diwali” shall witness participation from all States/ UTs (barring the 5 States under Model Code of Conduct), with an expected participation of more than 15,000 SHG women, nationwide. The focus areas of the campaign include:

* Familiarizing the women with functioning of Water Treatment Plants & water testing facilities
* Promote inclusivity & involvement through souvenirs & articles created by Women SHGs
* Familiarizing & educating the women about AMRUT scheme & its impact on water infrastructure

The anticipated outcomes of the campaign include increased awareness and knowledge on water treatment, sense of ownership and responsibility, promotion of inclusivity, empowerment of SHGs, positive community impact and model for future initiatives.

State and city officials from AMRUT and NULM will be facilitating these visits by identifying WTPs. MoHUA has called upon all State and City officials to actively participate and support this initiative, marking a significant stride towards including women in the vital space of water infrastructure under AMRUT..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Election Commission of India

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has designed in-house software ENCORE for complete Candidate and election management.

* This ENCORE software stands for Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment.

* This provides a seamless facility for Returning Officers to process candidate nomination, affidavit, Voter turnout, counting, results and data management.

* The ENCORE counting application is an end-to-end application for returning officers to digitize the votes polled, tabulate the round-wise data and then take out various statutory reports of counting.

* Another application called ENCORE Scrutiny Application allows Returning Officers to do scrutiny of the nominations filed by the candidates on-line.

* After verification of the nomination the status is marked as Accepted, Rejected or Withdrawn helping the Returning Officer to prepare the final list of contesting candidates and assign the symbols..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   United Nations Environment Programme

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According to Adaptation Gap Report, the money being made available to developing countries for adaptation measures has been declining, and nowhere close to the scale of requirement.

* It is annually published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 2014.

* The aim of the reports is to inform national and international efforts to advance adaptation.

* It provides an update on the global status and progress of the adaptation process across three elements: planning, financing, and implementation.

* It complements the Emissions Gap Report series, and explores the implications of failing to close the emissions gap.

* It is co-produced by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) and the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP)..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Only 2

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The Government is planning to extend the tenure of the Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme till 2025-26.

About Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme :

* It aims to reimburse all embedded State and Central taxes/levies for exports of manufactured goods and garments.

* The RoSCTL scheme was notified by the Ministry of Textiles in 2019. However, the scheme shall be implemented by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

* This scheme has been introduced as a replacement for the previous Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) Scheme, which provided only rebates of state taxes.

* RoSCTL intends to compensate the State and Central Taxes and Levies in addition to the Duty Drawback Scheme on the export of apparel/ garments and made-ups manufactured in India by way of a rebate.

* Importer-Exporter Codes (IECs) are necessary in order to apply for the RoSCTL programme.

* The rebate under the RoSCTL Scheme shall be given to the exporter in the form of duty credit scrips, which will be maintained in the electronic duty credit ledger. The scrips shall be issued electronically on the Customs automated system.

* The duty credit scrips shall be used for payment of customs duties leviable under the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. It cannot be utilized towards the payment of any other taxes, like IGST, Compensation Cess etc., upon the import of goods.

* The duty credit available in an e-scrip shall be transferred at a time for the entire amount in the said e-scrip to another person, and the transfer of the duty credit in part shall not be permitted.

* The value of the goods for calculation of duty credit to be allowed under the Scheme shall be the declared export Free on Board (FOB) value of the said goods or up to 1.5 times the market price of the said goods, whichever is less.

* All exporters of garments/Apparels and made-ups manufactured in India are eligible to take benefit under this scheme except entities/ IECs under the Denied Entity List of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   31st Oct 2023

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Thomas K. Mattingly II, a NASA astronaut who helped bring Apollo 13 home, is dead at 87.

* Mattingly II died on Tuesday (31st Oct 2023), according to a press release from NASA.

* NASA selected him as an astronaut in 1966.

* He served as a support member for astronauts flying Apollo 8 and 11 missions.

* Mattingly, a designated command module pilot for Apollo 13, was removed from the flight due to exposure to measles.

* Although he couldn’t make the flight, the Chicago-born aviator was vital to “successfully bring[ing] home the wounded spacecraft and the crew of Apollo 13 – NASA astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise,” according to NASA.

* Mattingly said when he was in orbit, he had a “palpable fear that if I saw too much, I couldn’t remember.”

* “TK’s contributions have allowed for advancements in our learning beyond that of space,” said a NASA spokesperson. “As a leader in exploratory missions, TK will be remembered for braving the unknown for the sake of our country’s future.”

Correct Answer :   3rd November

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On November 3, the world celebrates the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, a day established by UNESCO during its 41st General Conference in 2022. This occasion provides an opportunity to understand and appreciate Biosphere Reserves (BR) and their significance in preserving the delicate balance between nature and culture.

Biosphere Reserves play a crucial role in the conservation of our planet’s natural and cultural diversity. On the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, we acknowledge the significance of these reserves in striking a balance between human development, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. As we celebrate this day, we reflect on the need to expand and support these designated areas to safeguard our shared heritage for generations to come.


What Are Biosphere Reserves (BR)?

Overview of BR :

* BR is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes that extend across extensive terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination of both.

* Their purpose is to harmonize economic and social development, the preservation of cultural values, and the protection of nature.\BRs are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located.

* Designation Process: These reserves are designated under the intergovernmental Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO following decisions made by the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB ICC).

* Scientific Foundation: The MAB Programme is an intergovernmental scientific initiative striving to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.

* International Recognition: The status of BRs is internationally recognized.

Three Main Zones of a Biosphere Reserve :

Core Areas : Purpose: These are strictly protected zones, playing a pivotal role in the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation.

Buffer Zones : Role: Buffer zones surround or adjoin the core areas and are designated for activities compatible with sound ecological practices. They can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training, and education.

Transition Area : Function: Transition areas are where communities engage in socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.


The Status of Biosphere Reserves in India and Worldwide :

Correct Answer :   November 3

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World Jellyfish Day is celebrated every year on November 3 to raise awareness about jellyfish and their role in the ecosystem.


World Jellyfish Day History :

* History World Jellyfish Day stemmed from enthusiastic marine biologists to put a spotlight on these creatures. Jellyfish have been swimming in our oceans for over 500 million years, making them one of the oldest living creatures on Earth.

* Despite this, their understanding among the general populace remained superficial for a long time, often confined to their stinging nature or their beauty. World Jellyfish Day was introduced reportedly in the year 2014 to shed light on the more profound aspects of these creatures.

World Jellyfish Day Significance 2023 : 

* Significance World Jellyfish Day is significant as Jellyfish help maintain ecological balance in marine populations. The day is aimed at promoting knowledge about the various species of jellyfish, their lifecycle, their role in marine food webs and the potential benefits they offer to humans, such as in medical research and even as sustainable food sources.

* Through World Jellyfish Day, enthusiasts, researchers and educators hope to spark curiosity, respect and a deeper understanding of these ancient, mysterious, and fascinating jellyfishes.

Source : BQ Prime

Correct Answer :   Sarbananda Sonowal

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Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal will launch the domestic sailing of the first International Cruise Liner ‘COSTA SERENA’ in India at Mumbai 3rd Nov 2023.

* At the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit 2023 organised by the Ministry, discussions revolved around reaching the target of 50 million cruise passengers in India by 2047.

* Costa Cruises is expected to carry approximately 45,000 passengers in its next 2 months voyages.

* Such cruise initiatives are part of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, launched on Prime Minister's appeal to the middle class to prefer domestic tourism over international..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Education

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The Election Commission of India signed (2nd Nov 2023) a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Ministry of Education to bring electoral literacy into classrooms across the country.

The MoU outlines the development of institutional framework that seeks to embed electoral literacy in schools and colleges. It also includes structured curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that will help prepare new voters for greater electoral participation in democracy.

Key features of the MoU include systematic inclusion of voter education and electoral literacy in the curriculum from classes 6th to 12th in all schools.

* Under the MoU, NCERT will include material on electoral literacy in school textbooks and advise state education boards to follow the same.

* Various activities will be held to promote voter awareness among students, ensuring their registration and participation as voters.

* A robust mechanism will be developed to meet ECI's ambitious target of handing over Voter ID card to every student who attains the age of 18 years.

* The MoU also aims to expand ECI's flagship systematic voter education and electoral participation in schools and colleges.

* Its objective is to encourage universal and enlightened participation of prospective voters in elections..

Source : AIR