Correct Answer :   Aditya Birla Health Insurance

---

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited (ABHICL), the health insurance division of Aditya Birla Capital, a prominent and diversified financial services provider in India, has introduced ‘Activ One.’

This streamlined and all-encompassing health insurance plan is designed to offer policyholders personalized solutions, addressing not only their health insurance requirements but also fostering their journey towards optimal well-being.

Packed with cutting-edge features like complete health returns, claim protection, no sub-limits, super reload, and super credit, Activ One stands as ABHICL’s most extensive offering to date. This all-inclusive product provides customers with a singular solution for both their health assurance and health insurance requirements.

Commenting on the launch, Mayank Bathwal, CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said, “Activ One is a result of us being good at listening to our stakeholders - our customers, advisors, distributors, and partners. Based on their inputs and insights, we developed Activ One, which addresses the needs of every consumer - across their different health or life stages, and at stages of battling chronic ailments. With seven variants built into one product, we are offering the Power of One, to all. At ABHI, our vision has always been to incentivize wellness, encouraging policyholders to embrace a healthier lifestyle and holistic well-being. Through Activ One, we want to ensure that our policyholders experience a simplified and comprehensive healthcare solution that is personalized, rewarding, and worry-free."

The key features of the policy include :

100% health returns : Empowers policyholders to reclaim their entire premium by adopting an active and healthy lifestyle.

Claim protection : This feature ensures that policyholders receive coverage for all specified non-medical expenses associated with hospitalization. This encompasses costs for items such as face masks, cotton, gloves, oxygen cylinders, and more.

No sub-limits : There are no restrictions on room rent, ICU charges, specified modern treatments such as robotic surgeries, oral chemotherapy, etc., and more, up to the Sum Insured. This empowers our policyholders to make healthcare decisions based on their needs rather than being constrained by arbitrary limitations.

Super reload : This functionality provides an unlimited refill up to the base sum insured within a policy year, ensuring that policyholders do not exhaust their health insurance coverage.

Super credit : Policyholders can counteract medical inflation as their Sum Insured grows by up to six times by the sixth year of their policy, regardless of claims, without any additional premium payments.

Activ One distinguishes itself through its extensive array of built-in features, encompassing coverage for in-patient hospitalization and pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, extending up to 90 and 180 days, respectively. In a groundbreaking move, the health insurance company now includes coverage for live-in partners (same or opposite sex) under the policy.

Additionally, the policy incorporates chronic care coverage, ensuring Day 1 coverage (zero waiting period) for individuals with seven chronic conditions, including asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and coronary artery disease (PTCA done a year before).

The “HealthReturns" feature empowers policyholders to recover their entire premium, with the potential to earn up to 100 per cent health returns. This accumulation is based on factors such as the Healthy Heart Score, fitness assessment results, and the number of recorded Active Dayz each month. Active Dayz can be earned by engaging in prescribed fitness activities such as walking 10,000 steps or participating in regular exercise and yoga sessions. The funds accrued as HealthReturns can be utilized for renewing premiums, covering non-medical expenses, and managing outpatient costs.

Activ One offers flexibility with no maximum age of entry, and it provides optional coverage for durable equipment, second medical opinions, personal accidents, critical illnesses, and a cancer booster..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Travis Head

---

Australian batter Travis Head, who smashed an explosive century to help Australia win their sixth ICC Cricket World Cup title, has been named as the ICC Men's Player of the Month for November 2023. Head beat tough competition from teammate Glenn Maxwell and India seamer Mohammed Shami to claim the honour.

* Maxwell scored a magnificent double-century against Afghanistan during the World Cup, while Shami had a brilliant run with the ball during the same tournament, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in just seven matches, as per the ICC.

* But it was Head's 220 ODI runs in November--including a half-century and a century - that proved the difference, with the left-hander winning his first Player of the Month award.

* The 29-year-old paid tribute to his teammates for their help in his journey over the last year.

* "It has been an incredible 12 months for the team which it has been a real privilege to be a part of. The way we have navigated a home summer, away trips to India, England, South Africa, India and the World Cup has been a great credit to Pat (Cummins), the players and the staff," Head said as quoted by ICC..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Gemini

---

Alphabet (GOOGL.O) on Wednesday (6th Dec 2023) introduced its most advanced artificial intelligence model, a technology capable of crunching different forms of information such as video, audio and text.

* Called Gemini, the Google owner's highly anticipated AI model is capable of more sophisticated reasoning and understanding information with a greater degree of nuance than Google's prior technology, the company said.

* "This new era of models represents one of the biggest science and engineering efforts we’ve undertaken as a company," Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a blog post.

* Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT roughly a year ago, Google has been racing to produce AI software that rivals what the Microsoft (MSFT.O)-backed company has introduced.

* Google added a portion of the new Gemini model technology to its AI assistant Bard on Wednesday (6th Dec 2023), and said it planned to release its most advanced version of Gemini through Bard early next year.

* Alphabet said it is making three versions of Gemini, each of which is designed to use a different amount of processing power. The most powerful version is designed to run in data centers, and the smallest will run efficiently on mobile devices, the company said.

* Gemini is the largest AI model that the company's Google DeepMind AI unit has helped make, but it is "significantly" cheaper to serve to users than the company's prior, larger models, DeepMind Vice President, Product Eli Collins told reporters.

* "So it's not just more capable, it's also far more efficient," Collins said. The latest model still requires a substantial amount of computing power to train, but Google is improving on its process, he added.

* Alphabet also announced a new generation of its custom-built AI chips, or tensor processing units (TPUs). The Cloud TPU v5p is designed to train large AI models, and is stitched together in pods of 8,960 chips.

* The new version of its customer processors can train large language models nearly three times as fast as prior generations. The new chips are available for developers in "preview" as of Wednesday, the company said..

Source : Reuters

Correct Answer :   6.5%

---

* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent in its monetary review meeting. This is for the fifth time in a row that the MPC has maintained the status quo. Briefing about the Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy in Mumbai this morning, RBI governor Shakitkanta Das said that the Monitory Policy Committee, MPC's has unanimously decided to keep key rates unchanged.

* Mr Das added that consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility rate remains at 6.25 percent and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75 percent. Attributing the declining inflation as reason behind maintain status quo the policy stance, the RBI Governor informed that, real GDP growth projection for the current year 2023-24 has been revised from earlier 6.5 per cent to 7 percent. Real GDP growth for Quarter one of 2024-25 is projected at 6.7 per cent, for Quarter 2 at 6.5 per cent and for Quarter 3 at 6.4 per cent. He added that the risks are evenly balanced.

* The RBI Governor also said that the central bank has proposed to hike the limit of UPI transactions in hospitals and educational institutions from one lakh rupees to 5 lakhs.

* The RBI Governor highlighted that while the global economy is showing signs of slowdown, the Indian economy presents a picture of resilience and momentum. He said that the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Q2 of the current financial year has exceeded all forecasts.

* Shaktikanta Das further said that the fundamentals of the Indian economy remain strong with banks and corporates showing healthier balance sheets; fiscal consolidation on course; external balance remaining eminently manageable; and forex reserves providing cushion against external shocks. He added that these factors, combined with consumer and business optimism, create congenial conditions for sustained growth of the Indian economy.

* The Governor also informed that the MPC has decided by a majority of 5 out of 6 members to remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns to the target, while supporting growth..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Akshata Krishnamurthy

---

Akshata Krishnamurthy is an Indian woman who created history as she became the first person from the country to operate the Mars rover with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States. She shared her achievement on Instagram, saying, "No dream is ever too big or crazy. Believe in yourself, keep those blinkers on and keep working! I promise you'll get there if you work hard."

Akshata is a PhD holder from the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). She is among the few Indians who joined NASA for a full-time opportunity. According to her LinkedIn profile, Akshata is a principal investigator and mission science phase lead at NASA. She has been working at NASA for over five years now.

Akshata shared her inspiring journey on Instagram and how she became the first Indian citizen to operate a rover on Mars and collect samples to bring back to Earth. Akshata's journey began 13 years ago when she came to the United States with a dream to work at NASA and lead science and robotic operations on Earth and Mars. However, she was discouraged from having unrealistic goals as she was a foreign national on a visa. People told her to have a different plan or change her field entirely. However, Akshata blocked those comments and persevered until she reached the goal.

"From getting my PhD at MIT to knocking 100s of doors to get hired full-time at NASA, nothing came easy. Today (7th Dec 2023), I work on multiple cool space missions, including the Perseverance rover collecting samples to bring back to Earth," she wrote.

Since then, the video she posted has garnered over seven lakh views. Her followers hailed her for her achievement and for making the country proud.

"Seriously, this is very impressive and commendable! Folks don't realize how many hardworking and talented individuals are needed in every sector of our workforce to keep advancing society," a user wrote. Another user said, "Women like you are an inspiration to aspiring female youth leaders."

"So inspiring, Dr Krishnamurthy. People like you are an absolute inspiration for the younger ones. Wish you the best of the best in the years to come. Congratulations again," another user commented. A user added, "MIT and NASA? Living the dream. You go girl."..

Source : WIO News

Correct Answer :   Meera Chand

---

Singapore recently bestowed its prestigious Cultural Medallion upon three distinguished individuals, recognizing their artistic excellence and significant contributions to the nation’s rich arts and culture. Among them, Meira Chand, an eighty-one-year-old Indian-origin writer, shares this esteemed accolade with novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid.


Details of the Ceremony :

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the Cultural Medallion to the recipients in a ceremony held at the Istana. The award, the city-state’s highest arts honor, is accompanied by an SGD 80,000 grant for each awardee, supporting their continued artistic endeavors.



Meira Chand: A Literary Trailblazer :

* Multicultural Novelist : Meira Chand, of Swiss-Indian parentage, is renowned for her award-winning novels depicting multicultural societies. Her notable work, ‘The Painted Cage’ (1986), was longlisted for the Booker Prize.

* Historic Recognition : Alongside Lim, Meira Chand is the first English-language female writer to receive the Cultural Medallion since Ho Minfong in 1997.

* Life and Journey : Born in London to a Swiss mother and Indian father, Meira Chand’s literary journey was influenced by her experiences in Japan, where she taught art, and her five years in India, which she describes as a “life-changing experience.” Her writing reflects her exploration of identity and cultural richness.

Cultural Medallion: A Prestigious Honor :

* Establishment : Instituted in 1979 by the late President and then Minister of Culture Ong Teng Cheong, the Cultural Medallion is Singapore’s highest arts accolade.

* Criteria : Awarded to individuals who have demonstrated artistic excellence, made substantial contributions, and shown commitment to enriching Singapore’s arts and culture scene.

* Recognition Across Fields : The award has been bestowed upon 132 artists in diverse fields, including film, literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts.

Correct Answer :   India

---

FIVB ( Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) Men's Volleyball Club World Championship 2023 will commence at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru 6th Dec 2023.

This is the first time that the prestigious tournament will be held in India. The five-day tournament will see six teams compete for the top honours.

Prime Volleyball League Season 2 champions, Ahmedabad Defenders, will become the first Indian team to feature in the competition.

The Defenders qualified for the Club World Championship after winning the Prime Volleyball League earlier this year. Setter Muthusamy Appavu will lead the Defenders.

The top two teams in the group stages will qualify for the semi-finals on December 9, and the final will be played on December 10..


Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers

---

The first of the four large survey vessel ships, Sandhayak, built at Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), was delivered to the Indian Navy on Monday (4th Dec 2023), adding to the capability to collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications. “Sandhayak has an indigenous content of over 80 per cent by cost,” the Ministry of Defence officially stated.

“The primary role of the ship would be full-scale coastal and deep-water Hydrographic Survey of Port/ Harbour approaches and determination of navigational channels/ routes. Zone of operation includes maritime limits up to EEZ/ extended continental shelf,” a MoD statement read.

Besides harvesting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications, the ship in its secondary role will provide limited defence and function as hospital ship during war and emergencies. With a displacement of about 3400 tons and an overall length of 110 meters, Sandhayak is fitted with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment such as Data Acquisition and Processing System, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, DGPS Long range positioning systems, and digital side scan sonar, the Ministry informed.

The ship is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 18 knots as it is powered by two diesel engines. The ship underwent a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea, before delivery to the Indian Navy. The keel for the ship was laid on March 12, 2019, and was launched on December 5, 2021.

“The induction of Sandhayak, despite Covid-19 and other geo-political challenges during its construction, is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of a large number of stakeholders, MSMEs and Indian industry in enhancing the maritime prowess of the nation in the Indian Ocean Region,” the Defence Ministry observed..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Ramkumar Ramanathan

---

Ramkumar Ramanathan of India clinched his 3rd ITF Title by Winning Kalaburagi Open Tennis 2023 in a span of 57 days after beating Austrian David Pichler 6-2, 6-1 in the final of the Kalaburagi Open at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium here on Sunday (3rd Dec 2023).

Ramkumar pocketed the winner’s cheque of US$ 3,200 and 25 ATP points afte winning the one-sided summit clash that lasted just 64 minutes.

“It feels great to win back-to-back titles. My game is coming along good. I did play some of my best tennis in these last two weeks. The courts here didn’t suit my game initially, but I adapted to them very quickly,” said Ramkumar after the victory.

After both the players held their serve for the first five games, Ramkumar made the first dent by breaking David’s serve in the sixth game and never looked back, dishing out some superb winners to capture the rest of the games and win the set 6-2.

Pichler showed the promise of a fightback in the second set when he held his serve losing just a point. However, Ramkumar forced his opponent to commit mistakes and himself came up with a couple of cross-court winners.

The only game Ramkumar struggled to hold his serve was the fifth, where the Indian Davis Cup team member didn’t find answers to Pichler’s down-the-line winners. With two breaks in the fourth and sixth game, Ramkumar signed off with an ace to win the title..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Vaishali Rameshbabu

---

Indian chess player Vaishali Rameshbabu earned her grandmaster title by crossing 2,500 International Chess Federation (FIDE) ranking points at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain on Friday, becoming only third Indian female player to do so.

Earlier having fulfilled three GM norms, Vaishali completed the one final requirement on Friday by attaining the required number of rating points.

She is the third female player to attain the grandmaster title, besides Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. She has now joined the company of over 80 Indian chess players who have been given this title, including legendary Vishwanathan Anand, Humpy, Dronavalli, Dibyendu Barua, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa etc.

Vaishali is also the sister of young 18-year-old chess sensation Praggnanandhaa, making them the first-ever grandmaster siblings pair in the game's history.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin congratulated the duo on their achievement.

"Huge congrats, @chessvaishali, on becoming the third female Grandmaster from India and the first from Tamil Nadu! 2023 has been splendid for you. Alongside your brother @rpragchess, you've made history as the first sister-brother duo to qualify for the #Candidates tournament. Adding to the glory, you are now the first-ever Grandmaster siblings. We're immensely proud of your achievements, and your remarkable journey is an inspiration to aspiring chess enthusiasts and a testament to women's empowerment in our state! #TamilNaduPride@Udhaystalin @ChessbaseIndia @FIDE_chess," tweeted Stalin from his official X (formerly Twitter) handle..

Source : Business Standard