General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Safina Hussain

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Safeena Hussain, founder of 'Educate Girls,' has become the first Indian woman to bag the WISE Prize worth 5 lakh USD for mobilising 14 lakh out of school girls in Indian villages to get back to mainstream education. The prize, awarded by the Qatar Foundation at the 11th Edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Summit earlier this week in Doha, is one of the most prestigious awards in education.

"Sixteen years back, when 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' was unheard of, I had decided to set up Educate Girls, an NGO to bring out of school girls back to mainstream education. Even in the 21st century, there are villages in India where goats are considered assets but girls are considered liability," Safeena told PTI in an interview.

"From poverty to patriarchy, there are endless reasons to keep girls out of school or forcing them to drop out without completing their education," Safeena said.

Safeena's fate took a turn when three years later one of her aunts took it upon herself to get her back to studies, ultimately helping her land a seat at London School of Economics. "I then decided that I had to play the same role for girls like me."

Family apathy, lack of motivation, and reluctance from the girls themselves, were the major roadblocks Safeena had to face when she started the mission to educate girls in rural Rajasthan, which has now expanded to Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

Daughter of noted character actor Yusuf Husain, who recently died, and wife to filmmaker Hansal Mehta, Safeena travels to villages extensively where her "team Balika", operating along with field agents, knocks on each door to check if a girl is out of school.

"This mission was very much personal hence the model we executed had to be personal too. From abandoned child brides to young girls being pushed into household work, the girls we have brought back to school have tragic stories but bright futures.

"Right from convincing families, to showing them the way of getting affordable education and enrolling them into the nearest government school, the teams work on each and every factor to ensure these girls are not forced out of school," Safeena Said..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Amazon

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Amazon Prime Video has clinched the Australian broadcasting rights for all International Cricket Council (ICC) events until 2027, marking a sea change in the realm of Australian sports broadcasting. This acquisition signifies an end to the traditional broadcasting arrangement, where Foxtel and Channel Nine had shared the rights for ICC events for a duration of 15 years.


A Shift in Broadcasting Paradigm :

The new deal means the end of free-to-air broadcasting of ICC events in Australia, as cricket enthusiasts will now need to subscribe to Amazon’s service to witness these tournaments. The previous arrangement involved Foxtel sub-licensing rights from Star Sports and then passing on some matches to Channel Nine to comply with Australia’s anti-siphoning laws, which safeguard certain sports broadcasts for free-to-air television.

Clash with Anti-Siphoning Measures :

Interestingly, Cricket Australia does not have a say in the ICC’s broadcast deals. This announcement comes at a time when the government is reasserting anti-siphoning measures, with proposed laws requiring significant sporting events to be offered first to free-to-air services. However, the anti-siphoning list only covers World Cup matches played by Australia in Australia or New Zealand, and none are scheduled there in the next four years.


Amazon’s Expanding Sports Broadcast Portfolio :

Amazon Prime Video’s portfolio in sports broadcasting is expanding, as it also holds global rights for Australian swimming events and airs New Zealand Cricket’s home internationals in India. With this new venture into cricket broadcasting, the internet giant is set to redefine the landscape of sports broadcasting in Australia, providing innovative coverage to cricket fans..

Source : BNN Network

Correct Answer :   Pushkar Singh Dhami

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A book which highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in bringing about a "paradigm shift" in India's disaster management was officially released by Uttarakhand Chief Minister "Pushkar Singh Dhami" in Dehradun on Tuesday (28th Nov 2023).

The book, 'RESILIENT INDIA: How Modi Transformed India's Disaster Management Paradigm', was released at the sixth World Congress on Disaster Management, a statement said.

Edited and compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation and Modi Story, which highlights various facets of Modi's personal and political journey on social media, the book credits him for bringing about a "gigantic shift in India’s disaster management paradigm".

It includes changes in approach to helm different dimensions of disaster management, including resilience, preparedness, capacity building, community participation and disaster risk reduction.

"It is a window to see through the efforts to understand Narendra Modi’s approach towards creating a Resilient India, the journey of India from being vulnerable to more prepared and resilient," the statement said.

During the Morbi dam breach in 1979, which had claimed thousands of lives, Modi, then 29 years of age, led the disaster management activities of the RSS as the organisation's pracharak, it said.

"It was his initial first-hand experience in a disaster-handling exercise. From his experience in Morbi, the comprehensive idea of a resilient nation took root in his mind," it noted, adding that he put his experience into use in handling the aftermath of the Kutch earthquake in 2001 which had claimed more than 13,000 lives.

He first worked as a volunteer and then spearheaded the massive efforts to rebuild and develop Kutch after becoming the chief minister of Gujarat in the same year.


"Gujarat became the first state to enact a law for disaster management - ‘Gujarat State Disaster Management Act 20023’, which became a precursor to a national law in 2005," the statement said.

The book goes into details of Modi's handling of the 2015  Kashmir floods and the Covid outbreak in 2020..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   15%

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The government's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections climbed 15% year-on-year in November to Rs 1.68 lakh crore, the Ministry of Finance said on December 1, 2023.

* At Rs 1.68 lakh crore, the November GST collections is 2% lower than the Rs 1.72 lakh crore collected in October 2023.

* This is the 9th month in a row that the monthly GST collection has come in above the Rs 1.5-lakh-crore mark.

* The latest GST data takes the average monthly collection in 2023-24 to Rs 1.67 lakh crore. Monthly GST collections have risen over the years. From averaging under Rs 1 lakh crore per month in 2017-18 - its first year - collections rose rapidly after the pandemic-hit 20202-21 to average Rs 1.51 lakh crore in 2022-23.

* In November 2023, Central GST was Rs 30,420 crore, State GST was Rs 38,226 crore, Integrated GST was Rs 87,009 crore, and compensation cess was Rs 12,274 crore.

* Further, the government settled Rs 37,878 crore to Central GST and Rs 31,557 crore to State GST from Integrated GST. As a result, the total revenue for the month post settlement was Rs 68,297 crore for the Centre and Rs 69,783 crore for State GST.

* "During the month, the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) are 20% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year," the finance ministry said in a statement.

* While total GST collections in November were marginally lower than that in October, the year-on-year growth of just over 15% is the highest so far in 2023-24. In fact, the YoY increase in GST collections in November is the highest in 11 months.

* As per the 2023-24 Budget, the Centre expects its GST collections to rise by 12% in the current financial year. So far in the first eight months of the year, the gross GST collected amounts to Rs 13.32 lakh crore, which is 11.9% higher from the same period last year.

* The PMI data comes a day after the statistics ministry said the Indian economy grew faster-than-expected at 7.6% in July-September period, with the manufacturing sector growing 13.9% year-on-year.

* According to Pratik Jain, Partner at Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, the upward trend in GST collections is likely to continue for the rest of 2023-24, with audits and investigations playing a role.

* "It's interesting to see that robust growth in GST (compared to last year) is seen in most of the manufacturing states, indicative of uplift in demand and consumption," Jain added..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   9.99%

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval on Wednesday (29th Nov 2023) to SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF) for acquiring up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of Karur Vysya Bank Ltd (KVB).

This move signals a potential strategic a potential strategic investment by SBI MF in the private sector leader. However, there are conditions attached to this approval, including a time constraint and limitations on the aggregate holding.


Conditions and Timelines : The approval comes with certain conditions attached. According to a regulatory filing by the private sector lender, SBI MF must complete the acquisition of major shareholding within one year from the date of the RBI’s letter. Failure to do so within the specified timeframe will result in the automatic cancellation of the approval. This condition sets a clear timeline for the mutual fund to solidify its position within Karur Vysya Bank.


Ownership Limits and Regulatory Compliance : To ensure a balanced and regulated approach, SBI, MF is mandated to maintain its aggregate holding in KVB below 9.99% at all times. Additionally, a safeguard mechanism is in place – if the aggregate holding falls below 5% prior approval from the RBI will be required for any increase to 5% or more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of KVB. These limits and regulatory checks are designed to maintain stability and prevent any undue influence on the bank’s operations.

Strategic Implications : The approval for SBI MF to acquire a significant stake in Karur Vysya Bank indicates a strategic move in the mutual fund’s investment portfolio. This move aligns with broader industry trends where financial institutions are exploring diverse avenues to enhance their market presence and influence.


KVB’s Expansion Amidst Financial Developments : While the regulatory developments unfold, Karur Vysya Bank has simultaneously announced the opening of four new branches. Of these, three are located in Tamil Nadu, strengthening the bank’s presence in its home state and one in Bengaluru. With these additions, the total number of branches operated by KVB has reached 831, showcasing a commitment to expansion amidst ongoing financial developments..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Twinkle Khanna

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Actor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna has announced her new book Welcome to Paradise. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Twinkle shared a picture of herself holding her new book. She also shared snippets from her fourth book, which will be released in November 2023.


Twinkle announces new book :

Sharing the post, she wrote, “Welcome to Paradise, my 4th book, is a collection of stories that explore the depths of heartbreak, relationships, and deception. Some of these characters have lived inside my head for the last five years, and now they are ready to meet all of you (smile emoji). Preorders open tomorrow… Welcome to Paradise.”

Twinkle recently completed her master's degree :

* The announcement comes just over a month after Twinkle completed her master's degree in Fiction Writing from London. She had enrolled for the master's course at the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London, last year.

* Twinkle had shared a video in September on Instagram. A part of her note read, “For younger students, their parents organise logistics. For people at my stage we are the organisers. I applied to five universities, got rejected by one, but got my first choice. Then, I had to do the tough bits: getting my daughter to move, not just schools but countries; arranging my work in a way that I can manage virtually and fly down repeatedly; working on my book, finding a place to live, doctors, plumbers, delivery apps, and making friends in a new city.”..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Gajraj Suraksha

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Gajraj uses an AI-based algorithm, and a network of sensitive optical fibre cables to detect elephants getting close to railway tracks. It warns nearby station masters when it detects an elephant getting within 200 metres of the track, who then warns locomotive pilots in the area.

Over the past decade, about 200 elephants lost their lives due to collisions with trains, posing a significant threat to both wildlife and railway operations.

In a bid to address the rising concern of elephant deaths in train collisions, Indian Railways has rolled out a groundbreaking, indigenously developed new technology called "Gajraj Suraksha", that is aimed at preventing such tragic incidents.

Gajraj Suraksha, which is a kind of Intrusion Detection System or IDS, is based on an AI algorithm and claims to detect 99.5 per cent of potential collisions, providing a much-needed solution to this longstanding issue. What makes this system unique is that it primarily relies on OFCs or Optical Fibre cables for quick transmission of signals.

Union Minister of Railways, "Ashwini Vaishnaw" announced (30th Nov 2023) plans to install these AI-powered systems in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Kerala, certain parts of Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.

How does the Gajraj Suraksha Intrusion Detection System work?

* Gajraj Suraksha senses pressure waves generated by the movement of elephants along the tracks. While explaining how exactly the mechanism works, officials revealed that as elephants move, the optical fibres detect vibrations caused by their footsteps.

* These vibrations trigger signals within the optical fibre network, enabling the system to identify the presence of elephants up to 200 meters ahead of their arrival on the track.

* The OFC-based Intrusion Detection System works by sending alarms to station masters whenever movement is detected along the tracks.

* The network is designed in such a way that it can track the movement of the elephant with great accuracy and report it to nearby station masters. This allows them to promptly inform locomotive drivers in the affected areas.

* This quick communication ensures that trains can be slowed down or stopped, preventing potential collisions with elephants..

Source : First Post

Correct Answer :   Punjab

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Punjab claimed the gold medal after their penalty shootout victory over defending champion Haryana in the final of the 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023.

A total of 27 shots were taken in the shoot-out and sudden death, and Punjab emerged the winner over defending champion Haryana by a 9-8 margin after the teams were tied 2-2 at regulation time. This was Punjab’s fourth title in 13 editions.

There was little to choose between the two teams as both played slow, measured hockey, waiting for the right time to strike.

Towards the end of the first quarter, Punjab’s Sukhjeet Singh rolled one slowly and perfectly for Harjeet Singh to unleash a grand sweep into the net. Haryana fought back through Sanjay, who struck his 13th goal of the tournament with a penalty corner strike that was angled well to the left side of the net in the second quarter.

Punjab captain Harmanpreet Singh did what he does best with a near-perfect penalty corner strike into the left corner of the roof in the third quarter. Haryana made quite a few counter-attacks at the start of the fourth quarter, and it was rewarded soon when an attack from the right resulted in a goal. Sanjay glided one past ‘keeper Krishna Pathak off a short pass from Deepak.

It was neck and neck in sudden death as 17 shots were taken in total. After Dilpreet Singh of Punjab scored, the scoreboard read 8-8. Harmanpreet’s goal was disallowed for it was scored after the whistle was blown.

Then, Abhishek was pushed by the Punjab custodian when he went for the shot, and a stroke was awarded to Haryana. Joginder Singh, who took the stroke, scored. However, it was disallowed as it was deemed to be a ‘tap’ and not a ‘push’.

Simranjeet Singh, who retook the penalty as his first one was deemed an infringement by the ‘keeper, scored much to the joy of Punjab. With a 9-8 lead, it was left to Haryana striker Sanjay to convert and take the match forward, but he hit it wide.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu overcame Karnataka in penalty shootout to claim the bronze medal.


Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Michael Douglas

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Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has been honored with the 'Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement' Award at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The 54th IFFI is being organized in Goa. The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award is an international award instituted by the International Film Festival of India, first presented in 1999. 

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has called upon the Indian Coast Guard to continue working with dedication and professionalism toward bolstering the coastal defences and maritime capabilities of the country.

Inaugurating the 40th Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on (30th Nov 2023), Mr Singh complimented the Indian Coast Guard for ensuring maritime security by being leader in the field of search and rescue and pollution response.

He said, that since its inception, Indian Coast Guard has rendered a yeoman service to the seafarers by ensuring their safety and security in all circumstances. The Minister stressed the need to continue the drive against contraband and drug trafficking.
 
During the conference, the Raksha Mantri was given an overview of the ongoing development projects, operational readiness, and future expansion plans of the Coast Guard by Director General Rakesh Pal. The three-day conference aims at addressing contemporary maritime challenges and fortifying the country’s coastal surveillance mechanisms.