University Grants Commission proposed ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas’ to be celebrated on Dec 11

The University Grants Commission has written to vice-chancellors and principals of all universities and colleges in this regard following recommendations of a committee constituted last year by the education ministry to promote Indian languages. All higher education institutions in India must observe a ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Divas’ on December 11 every year to create “language harmony” and develop a conducive environment for learning Indian languages.

What is the proposal of the committee?

• The committee has proposed to observe December 11 as ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas’ or ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav’ on the birth anniversary of poet Subramania Bharati, a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry who penned songs to kindle patriotism during the Independence movement.
• The commission also shared a concept note of the proposal with the universities, according to which universities and colleges will organise competitions, games, exhibitions and other activities to mark the day. They will also be felicitating students who know multiple languages or those who can read the scripts of major Indian languages.
• The central government has been making efforts to promote Indian languages. It is soon going to establish 22 bhasha kendras (language centres) to promote Indian languages as enshrined in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

When is Bharatiya Bhasha Divas announced to be celebrated?

7 Indian states & 2 UTs celebrated their formation day on November 1st

On November 1st, Seven of the 28 Indian states and two Union Territories observed their formation day. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab besides the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry were formed on this day, though in different years. Besides 28 states, India has eight Union Territories.

While Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1956, Punjab and Haryana were carved out as separate states in 1966 while Chhattisgarh was granted statehood in 2002. It was the first time in 1956 that several states were formed on linguistic grounds under the State Reorganisation Act. All these states and the Union Territory of Puducherry celebrate their formation days on November.

How many states observed State Foundation Day on 01st November?

Supreme Court Bans Two-Finger Test

The Supreme Court on 31 October, reiterated the ban on the “two-finger test” in rape cases, warning that persons using such tests will be deemed guilty of misconduct. Observing that the test was based on a patriarchal mindset that assumed that sexually active women could not be raped, the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli regretted that such a method of examination was being used even today.

The Two Finger Test is conducted in which case?

Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Steel Plant becomes India’s first to achieve ResponsibleSteel Certification

Tata Steel today placed India on the global decarbonisation and sustainability map with three of its production facilities in Jamshedpur receiving the coveted ResponsibleSteel Certification. The Company’s Steel Works, Tubes Division and Cold Rolling Mill (Bara) in Jamshedpur have joined an exclusive group of steel producing sites around the world to receive the ResponsibleSteel Certification, which also includes some of the other renowned steel manufacturers in the world.

ResponsibleSteel is the steel industry’s first global multi-stakeholder standard and certification initiative that works with steel producers, consumers, and intermediaries towards building a sustainable steel industry by addressing pressing challenges including climate change, diversity, human rights and more.

 T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, said: “This is a historic moment for Tata Steel and an important step in our sustainability journey. Globally, the steel industry is at a critical juncture and the larger impact of how we produce and consume steel needs to be addressed urgently. For Tata Steel, this has always been a very important part of our journey from when we first produced steel in Jamshedpur in 1912. We are honoured to receive the ResponsibleSteel Certification for three of our facilities and will work towards achieving this recognition for all our production sites. I thank the ResponsibleSteel team, the auditors, assurance panel and the team at Tata Steel for their efforts in making this possible.”

Which steel plant in India became the 1st to receive Responsible Steel Site Certification?

DRDO carries out maiden test of Phase-II of ballistic missile defence

India’s DRDO, on November 2, 2022, successfully tested the AD-1 interceptor missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, one of the two interceptor missiles of its Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Phase 2 system. The second interceptor missile, AD-2, is still under development.

According to the PIB release announcing the test, the AD-1 “is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with an indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target.

“The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles and aircraft.

“During the flight test, all the sub-systems performed as per expectations and were validated by the data captured by several range sensors including Radar, Telemetry, and Electro-Optical Tracking stations deployed to capture the flight data,” read the release

 From where did DRDO conduct the flight test of the Ballistic Missile Defence Interceptor?

Goa hosts Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation Asia Pacific Conference

Goa to host three days Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Conference from 1st to 3rd November 2022. In these three days, delegates and exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region and beyond will discuss and collaborate on the key issues that will help shape the future of Asia’s aviation industry.

The CANSO aims to turn the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Global Council’s vision for the skies of 2045 into a reality. The event will be felicitated by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, General Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.), Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, and Road Transport and Highways, Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO, and Rajiv Bansal, Secretary of Civil Aviation.

Which of the following state government has decided to launch a campaign on women’s safety titled ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ (our daughter, our honour)?

Congress launches Bharat Jodo Yatra in Odisha

Congress on Monday launched its Bharat Jodo Yatra’in Odisha to highlight the failure of the BJP government at the Centre and BJD in the state. The Yatra was launched from Indira Gandhi park here by the president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Sarat Pattanayak in the presence of state in-charge A Chella Kumar and several other senior leaders. The leaders paid floral tributes at the statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary before starting the yatra.

On day one, the leaders and workers of the party walked 12 km before halting at Lakheswar temple in Phulnakhara. The yatra will remain cancelled on Tuesday as senior leaders including the OPCC president will be away campaigning for the party’s candidate in the Dhamnagar bypoll.

The leaders and functionaries of the party will visit 25 districts in the state covering 2,250 km in 100 days during the yatra. Pattanayak said the Odisha part of the yatra is being undertaken as part of the party’s national campaign launched by Rahul Gandhi.

The party will draw the attention of people towards various problems faced by the country since the BJP came to power at the Centre. Besides, issues of price rise, growing unemployment, inflation and intolerance prevailing in the country during the last eight year rule of BJP will be raised, he said.

In which state Congress has launched its Bharat Jodo Yatra?

HDFC ERGO launches first-of-its-kind satellite index-based Farm Yield Insurance Policy

HDFC ERGO on Monday announced the launch of a technology backed farm yield insurance policy for farmers.

“This is a first-of-its-kind insurance solution, where a satellite-based index will be used to provide localized farm level coverage. It will provide comprehensive cover across the crop life cycle from sowing to harvesting, basis satellite-based data.” the company said in a press release.

The product is targeted at farmers under corporate/farm input company (FIC) contracts and is valid for food, oilseed, commercial or horticulture crops.

Which insurance company has launched a first-of-its-kind satellite index-based Farm Yield Insurance Policy?

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

The United Nations General Assembly observes 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ (IDEI), since 2013.
The date for IDEI was chosen to commemorate the assassination of two journalists in Mali on November 2, 2013. The day draws attention to impunity, which means culprits going unpunished, to crimes against journalists.

When is the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ observed?

Centre ‘doubles’ fertilizer subsidy as prices see a surge

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) rates for P&K fertilisers for the 2022-23 rabi season.
The government approved a subsidy of Rs 51,875 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the second half of 2022-23. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. The government makes available fertilisers to farmers at subsidised prices through fertiliser manufacturers/importers.

Which Union Ministry is associated with the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme?