NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi to Lay Foundation Stone for AIIMS Darbhanga on November 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Darbhanga, Bihar, on November 13, 2024, to lay the foundation for the AIIMS Darbhanga project.

The construction of AIIMS Darbhanga is a Rs 1,700 crore initiative to improve healthcare access in north Bihar and neighbouring regions.

The foundation-laying ceremony, or ‘bhumi pujan,’ will be attended by dignitaries including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Darbhanga is set to become Bihar’s second AIIMS facility, enhancing healthcare options alongside the existing AIIMS in Patna.

The project is expected to significantly boost medical infrastructure in northern Bihar, making high-quality super-specialty services more accessible to the region.

Odisha to Roll Out National Education Policy 2020 in Universities

The Odisha government will implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 across all state-run universities and affiliated colleges starting from the current academic year.

The traditional three-year undergraduate courses will be replaced by four-year programs, allowing students to earn a certificate, diploma, degree, or degree with honours after each year of study.

The state has developed a credit-based framework aligned with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, enabling students to earn credits through skill development, internships, community service, and extra-curricular activities like NCC and NSS.

Students can complete their degree within a maximum of seven years, with options for multiple entries and exits from their institution.

NEP 2020 aims to enhance quality, autonomy, and inclusivity within Odisha's higher education system, aligning with national policy goals.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates SATRC-25

The 25th Meeting of SATRC-25 (South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council) was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on 11 November 2024.

The meeting is held annually to discuss and coordinate regulatory and other issues related to the telecommunication and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors common for the regulators of SATRC Members.

The 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council has been organised by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity.

It is being hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in New Delhi from 11 to 13 November 2024.

The meeting is being held in hybrid- both physical and online mode.

The Telecom sector regulators of 9 countries -Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are attending the 25th meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council.

The SATRC-25 provides a platform for telecommunications experts, service providers, industry representatives and international delegates of the region to discuss issues related to telecommunication regulations and policy challenges.

It will discuss and explore opportunities to encourage regional collaboration amongst the telecommunication regulatory bodies.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

First Major Results from Payload on Aditya-L1's Maiden Solar Mission

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru reported the “first significant” results from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload onboard the ADITYA-L1 Mission.

ADITYA-L1 — India’s maiden solar mission launched on September 2, 2023 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to observe the Sun at Lagrangian point L1.

The spacecraft was inserted into its targeted halo orbit on January 6, 2024.

VELC is the primary payload on the ADITYA-L1 mission, developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

It is an internally occulted solar coronagraph that allows simultaneous imaging, spectroscopy, and spectro-polarimetry near the solar limb.

It will observe the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun, and help study solar phenomena such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and the solar wind.

VELC can image the solar corona down to 1.05 times the solar radius, the closest any instrument has imaged the corona.

Russia to Deliver First of Two Missile Frigates

India is set to receive its first of two guided-missile warships built in Russia by the end of November 2024.

The warship is a multi-role frigate with a displacement of almost 4,000 tonnes.

It will be commissioned as INS Tushil by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit in early December.

The second frigate, Tamal, will be handed over early next year.

The frigates are equipped with advanced weapons, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and sensors for various missions.

The delivery of the fourth and fifth squadrons of S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems will be delayed until 2026.

BANKING

LIC of India’s New Endowment Plan Age Limit Reduced

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reduced the upper age limit for purchasing its New Endowment Plan (Plan-914) from 55 years to 50 years, effective October 1, 2024.

LIC’s New Endowment Plan-914 is a participating endowment policy offering a combination of protection and savings.

Minimum entry age is 8 years.

Offers death and maturity benefits, where the death benefit provides a lump sum to the nominee, and the maturity benefit gives a fixed payout upon policy maturity.

LIC updated surrender value norms for its endowment plans and 32 other products and riders, effective October 1, 2024.

Premium rates for most LIC endowment products, excluding Amritbaal Plan, have been increased by an average of 8-10%.

Private insurers have adjusted endowment plan premiums by an average of 6-7%.

The sum assured for LIC’s New Endowment Plan, New Jeevan Anand, and Jeevan Lakshya has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh.

DEFENCE

First Space Exercise ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’

India’s first military exercise to combat space-based threats and protect the country’s space assets, Antariksha Abhyas 2024, began on 11 November 2024 and will be held from 11 to 13 November 2024.

The Indian Space assets mainly consist of over 100 satellites for communication, weather forecasting, earth observation, navigation, scientific research, defence, and the rockets through which these satellites are launched.

The Antariksha Abhyas 2024 was organised by the Defence Space Agency of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

The exercise aims to simulate threats to Indian space assets, such as satellites, from hostile forces and the defences to be mounted by the Indian forces to protect them.

It will test Indian military capabilities to operate in case Indian space-based assets are destroyed.

It will also test India's ability to mount counter-defence measures and destroy enemies' space-based assets.

The Antariksha Abhyas 2024 was inaugurated by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan.

India-Vietnam Joint Military Exercise VINBAX 2024

The 5th Edition of Vietnam Indian Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX 2024” commenced at Ambala,Haryana.

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 04 to 23 November 2024 at Ambala and Chandimandir.

This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi Service level participation for the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.

The Indian Army contingent comprising 47 personnel is being represented by a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers along with personnel from other arms and services.

The Vietnamese contingent of similar strength will be represented by the troops of the Vietnam People's Army.

The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance joint military capability of both sides in employment and deployment of Engineer Company and Medical Teams to undertake engineering tasks as part of United Nation Contingent in Peacekeeping Operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

SPORTS

Tamil Nadu to Likely Host 2025 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup

Tamil Nadu is expected to host the 2025 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in November-December 2025.

According to a high-ranking Government source, Tamil Nadu has submitted a letter of intent to the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), which has approved the proposal.

Discussions with Hockey India are ongoing to finalize the arrangements, including two proposed venues in Chennai and potentially Madurai.

The tournament will feature 24 teams playing a total of 72 matches, requiring two hosting venues to accommodate all games.

Successfully hosting the World Cup would strengthen the role of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and the Government of Tamil Nadu in promoting sports.