Current Affairs - November 4, 2023 Current Affairs

State GST revenues increased by 12% on average across all states, except Manipur and Himachal Pradesh, where they decreased by 19% and 2%, respectively.

The United States military conducted a Minuteman III missile launch recently, showcasing its nuclear capability. The Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that is part of the US's nuclear triad. The triad is a combination of ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers. The US maintains a nuclear triad to ensure that it has a second-strike capability in the event of a nuclear attack.

Writer and scholar S.K. Vasanthan has been chosen for this year's Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the top prize instituted by the Kerala government in the field of literature. His major works such as Kerala Samskara Charitra Nikhandu and Nammal Nadanna Vazhikal - two works dealing with the cultural history of Kerala and Padinjaran Kavya Mimamsa are notable additions to the body of scholarly literature in Malayalam.

The Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link project is a significant development in the India-Bangladesh relationship. It is expected to significantly boost cross-border trade and connectivity between the two countries. The project will also reduce the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka from 38 hours to around 10 hours. This will make it easier for people to travel between the two countries and will also facilitate the transportation of goods. The inauguration of the Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link project is a welcome step and is expected to further strengthen ties between India and Bangladesh.

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2023 to strengthen educational ties. The MoU was signed by Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UAE Minister of Education Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi. The MoU is the first of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation.

Mohammed Shami became India's leading wicket-taker in World Cup history during the 2023 ODI World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka. He took a five-wicket haul to surpass Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath, who both had 44 wickets each. Shami now has 45 wickets in World Cups.

Kozhikode in Kerala and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh have made it to the prestigious creative cities list of UNESCO for contributions in the fields of literature and music, respectively. The announcement was made by UNESCO on its official website on October 31, which is designated as World Cities Day.

The Rafah border crossing is the only land crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. It is located in the northeastern corner of the Gaza Strip, near the city of Rafah.

Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL Technologies, topped the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023 for the fifth consecutive year. He and his family donated Rs 2,042 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23. Nadar is a renowned philanthropist and has donated generously to various causes, including education, healthcare, and arts and culture.

The Kerala government has challenged its governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, in the Supreme Court over pending bills. The government has alleged that Khan has failed to fulfil his constitutional duties by delaying or withholding assent to bills passed by the state legislature.

ENCORE (Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment) is an in-house software designed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for complete candidate and election management. It provides a seamless facility for Returning Officers to process candidate nominations, affidavits, voter turnout, counting, results and data management. ENCORE is a significant technological advancement in the field of election management, and it has played a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient conduct of elections in India.

Today, there are between 450,000 and half a million Chileans of Palestinian descent, many of whom reside in Santiago, the capital of Chile some 13,220 km away from Jerusalem. Through 150 years and a complex history of integration, persecution, and negotiation of identity, there has emerged a distinct identity of ‘Chilestinian’.

PM2.5 are tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, PM2.5 can travel to all parts of the body, including the pancreas, where insulin is produced. A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2023 found that a 10μg/m3 difference in annual average PM2.5 was associated with a 9-36% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This study was conducted in India, which has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world. The link between type 2 diabetes and air pollution is caused due to the long-term exposure of PM2.5.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second edition of the World Food India 2023 mega food event on November 3, 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi. The event aims to showcase India as the 'food basket of the world' and celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

T. Padmanabhan was awarded the prestigious Kerala Jyothi award by the Kerala government in 2023. This highest civilian honour in the state was awarded to Padmanabhan in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Malayalam literature. Padmanabhan is a renowned writer of novels, short stories, and essays. He is also a translator and a critic. His works have been translated into several languages. Padmanabhan is considered to be one of the most important writers in Malayalam literature today.