Overview of the 54th International Film Festival of India held in GoaThe 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in Goa from 20 to 28th November 2023.

• The 54th IFFI was jointly organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting(MIB) along with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), Government of Goa.

Key Points: 
i.Anurag Thakur, Union Minister, MIB inaugurated the 17th edition of the Film Bazar and VFX and Tech Pavilion, and launched “75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow” challenge during 54th IFFI in Goa.
ii.Renowned Indian actress, Padma Shri Awardee Madhuri Dixit was honoured with the Special Recognition to Bhartiya Cinema award for her outstanding contributions to the Indian film industry.
iii.Michael Douglas career spans more than 50 years. He is best known for his iconic roles in films like Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, The American President, Basic Instinct and many others.

President Droupadi Murmu Confers President’s Colour to Armed Forces Medical College at PuneThe President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the President’s Colour (represented by a flag) to the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) at Pune, Maharashtra.

• To commemorate the AFMC’s platinum jubilee year, the President released a commemorative coin (Rs. 75), a special cover, and a stamp to mark the occasion.
• President Droupadi Murmu also inaugurated the Armed Forces Centre for Computational Medicine, ‘Prajna’.

About the President’s colour:
i.The president’s colour, also known as “Rashtrapati ka Nishaan,” is the highest honour bestowed upon a military unit for its exemplary service, courage, and discipline.
ii.The Indian Navy was the first Indian Armed Force to be awarded the President’s Colour by Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 1951.
iii.The President’s Colour Award ceremony is presided over by the President, who is also the supreme commander (under Article 53 of the Indian Constitution) of the armed forces, or by the respective armed forces head designated by the President for the event.
About the Armed Forces Medical College:
i.The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) was established on May 1, 1948, in Pune by the recommendations of the BC Roy Committee by merging various defence medical organizations.
ii.The college offers training to under-graduate and post-graduate medical and nursing students with assured career prospects in the defence services.

IDFC FIRST Private Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023: DMart’s Radhakishan Damani Tops the listRadhakishan Shivkishan Damani, the founder of Avenue Supermarts Limited (DMart) topped the first edition of ‘India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023’ released by First Private (Private Banking by IDFC First Bank Limited) and Hurun India, with the value of Rs.2.38 lakh crore.

• He is followed by Binny Bansal and Sachin Bansal (founders of Flipkart India Private Limited) with an equity value of Rs. 1.19 lakh crore.
• Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato Media Private Limited, is ranked third with a net worth of Rs 86,835 crore.

i.It is a list of the 200 most valuable companies in India founded after the millennium (year 2000).
ii.It is comprised of 405 founders who are Self-made Entrepreneurs and propelling India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to new heights.
About Hurun India:
Founder – Anas Rahman Junaid
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 2012
About IDFC FIRST Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – V. Vaidyanathan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 2018
Tagline –  Always You First

DAC Approves AoNs for Various Acquisition Proposals worth Rs.2.23 Lakh Crore to Boost Indian Defence SectorThe Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), granted approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for diverse Capital Acquisition Proposals, worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

• Around 98% of the total AoN amount (Rs 2.20 lakh crore) worth acquisition will be sourced from domestic industries.
• This is in line with efforts towards achieving self-reliance in the Indian Defence sector (Aatmanirbharta).

Key Points:
i.DAC has approved the procurement of defence equipment worth Rs.1.5 lakh crores such as 97 new LCA Mk 1A fighter aircraft and the indigenous upgrade of 84 Su-30 MKI combat planes.
ii.To maximise indigenisation, the DAC has accorded approval for a major amendment in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
About Ministry of Defence:
Union Minister– Raj Nath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)

Government of India and Manipur Signs Peace Agreement with UNLF
The Government of India (GoI) and the Manipur Government signed a tripartite Peace Agreement with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), in New Delhi, Delhi to establish permanent peace in the Northeastern region specifically in Manipur. The peace agreement marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement.
The agreement was signed by senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Government of Manipur and representatives of UNLF.

• For the first time, a Valley-based armed group has agreed to return to the mainstream by giving up violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and the laws of the land.
• It also provides an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community.
• A Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules.

Note:

• UNLF, established in 1964, is the oldest and first valley-based armed group in Manipur. It comprises around 400-500 armed rebels, dominated by the majority Meitei community.
• UNLF was formed under the leadership of Areambam Samrendra Singh to achieve independence and a socialist society.

UNICEF Published 2023 Global Snapshot on HIV and AIDS: Progress and Priorities for Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant WomenThe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) published the Global Snapshot on HIV and AIDS: Progress and Priorities for Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women, which provides global statistical and response updates on children, adolescents, and pregnant women.

• As per the publication, nearly 98,000 adolescent girls aged 10-19 were infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2022 – or 1,900 new infections every week, it shows a  significant testing and medication access gaps persist among children and adolescents.
• The report was published ahead of World Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Day 2023 (1 December)

About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director– Catherine M. Russell
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
Established in– 1946

Ujjivan SFB Partners with Water.org to offer Water, Sanitation & Hygiene LoansUjjivan Small Finance Bank Limited (Ujjivan SFB) has partnered with Water.org, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing clean water and sanitation, to offer accessible financing solutions for water and sanitation solutions.
Features of the partnership:
i.Under this partnership, Water.org will assist Ujjivan SFB in identifying areas that require financing for clean water and hygienic sanitation.
ii.Water.org will also provide technical assistance, market assessment, development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material, monitoring and evaluation support.
iii.Ujjivan SFB will offer loans of about Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 to existing as well as new customers to enable them to construct and renovate water and sanitation facilities.
iv.By offering affordable loan over the next 3 years, Ujjivan SFB will provide 65,000 households with access to clean, hygienic sanitization facilities and safe drinking water.
Note: In 2022, Ujjivan SFB has disbursed over 5,000 Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) loans worth Rs 30 crore supporting its customers to construct sanitation facilities in line with Government’s Swachh Bharat Mission.
About Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ittira Davis
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established in – 2017
About Water.org:
Water.org is a global nonprofit organization working to bring water and sanitation to the world.
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Gary White
Headquarters – Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America (USA)
Established in – 2009

Federal Bank, NeML tie-up to Streamline E-Procurement, E-AuctionA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Federal Bank Limited and NCDEX e-Markets Limited (NeML) to strengthen the integration of e-procurement and e-auction systems.

• This partnership will facilitate an advanced e-procurement solution and streamline e-procurement and e-auction systems for Central and State Government organizations.

Signatories:
Indraneel Pandit, Senior Vice President and Zonal Business Head, Federal Bank, CIB (Corporate & Institutional Banking) West, and Dhawal Shah, Chief Operating Officer (COO),  NeML.
Key Points:
i.Under this initiative, farmers’ list crop details on NeML’s platform, with the government purchasing them at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
ii.Federal Bank’s host-to-host integration with NeML’s e-procurement platform will enable a secure payment processing system.
iii.NeML’s eAuction solution offers a price-discovery mechanism, benefiting the Government of India by providing a robust price-discovery mechanism for various commodities

• NeML holds major market share in transparent price discovery across more than 90 commodities.

iv.The other advantages of this partnership includes nationwide participation, enhanced price discovery, cartel prevention, and adaptable bids, end-to-end digital payment execution, a tailored plug-and-play solution, simplified documentation, automated reconciliation on NeML’s portal, customizable payment advice, all without additional charges.
Note:
NeML, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
NeML, formerly NCDEX Spot Exchange-NSPOT, is the leading Indian electronic trading platform.
It was incorporated on October 18, 2006
About Federal Bank:
It was established in 1931 as the Travancore Federal Bank Limited. It was renamed as the Federal Bank Limited in December 1949, and became scheduled commercial bank on July 20, 1970.
Managing Director & CEO– Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters– Aluva,Kochi, Kerala
Tagline– Your Perfect Banking Partner

India GDP growth in Q2FY24 estimates at 7.6%: NSOi.On November 30, 2023, the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the July-September Quarter (Q2) of 2023-24 (Q2FY24), both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices.
ii.India’s Real GDP or GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q2FY24 is projected to grow at 7.6% as compared to 6.2% in Q2FY23. It is estimated to attain a level of  Rs 41.74 lakh crore in Q2FY24 as against Rs 38.78 lakh crore in the Q2FY23.
iii.The State Bank of India (SBI) through its Research ‘Ecowrap’ report has raised its forecast for India’s GDP growth for FY24 to 7% from 6.7%, citing robust Q2FY24 growth at 7.6%, driven by a 13.9% surge in manufacturing and a 13.3% rise in construction.
About the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
MoSPI is the nodal agency for the planned and organized development of the statistical system in India.
Ministers of State (Independent Charge) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurugram Constituency – Haryana)

CSL launches 3 ASW SWC ‘Mahe, Malvan & Mangrol‘ for IN; Delivery of 3rd ACTCM Barge, LSAM 17 Madei.On November 30, 2023, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched the first three ships of the 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) project namely Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mahe, INS Malvan, and INS Mangrol at its Kochi Yard in Kerala for the Indian Navy (IN).
ii.Mahe Class to replace Abhay Class ASW Corvettes, designed for anti-submarine operations, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying Operations including subsurface surveillance..
iii.On November 30, 2023, the 3rd Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17 (Yard 127) has been delivered to IN in the presence of Shankar Mukharjee, INAS (Indian Naval Armament Service), AGM Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Karanja in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This delivery was made for NAD Karanja.
About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar
Headquarters– Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, Delhi

Tata Advanced Systems Partners Satellogic to Develop Local Space Tech Capabilities in India
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a leading aerospace and defence solutions provider, has announced a partnership with Satellogic Inc., a sub-meter resolution Earth Observation(EO) Data collection company, to develop local space technology capabilities in India. This collaboration is a first step in TASL’s satellite strategy.

• Both TASL and Satellogic will collaborate to develop a new satellite design along with developing imagery in India for national defense and commercial applications. For this, TASL is commissioning a Satellites’ Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) in Karnataka.
• Both the companies will also work together to integrate multiple payloads on a single satellite that will generate a diverse range of data over India.
• The project will commence with comprehensive training, knowledge transfer, and local assembly of optical sub-meter resolution EO satellites, the first of which is planned to be launched as TSAT-1A.

World AIDS Day 2023- December 1 The United Nations (UN)’s World Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day is annually observed across the globe on 1 December to raise awareness about AIDS and to unite people across the globe to show support for people living with AIDS and affected by Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV).

• 1 December 2023, marks the 35th anniversary of World AIDS Day,
• The theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is, “Let Communities Lead.”
• UNAIDS, the UN program on HIV/AIDS took the lead in campaigning for World AIDS Day since its creation in 2004.
• The red ribbon has become an internationally recognized symbol of solidarity and support for people living with HIV and for AIDS awareness.

Background:
i.Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first-ever international day for global health.
ii.The concept of World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987, by James W Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
About UNAIDS:
Executive Director– Winnie Byanyima
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Started Operations in 1996

59th Raising Day of the Border Security Force – December 1, 2023The Border Security Force (BSF) of India annually celebrates the BSF Raising Day on 1 December to mark the establishment of BSF, a primary border-guarding organisation of India that came into existence on 1st December 1965.

• 1st December 2023 marks the observance of the 59th Raising Day of BSF.

BSF, also known as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories, is a paramilitary force charged with guarding India’s land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh during peacetime and preventing transnational crime.

Veera Rana takes Additional Charge as Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh
Veera Rana, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was given the additional charge as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh (MP). She became the 2nd woman IAS officer to be elevated to the post of Chief Secretary of MP.

• Nirmala Buch was the 1st woman Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, from 1991 to 1993.

i.Veera Rana succeeds CS Iqbal Singh Bains, who retired on 30 November 2023 after getting 2 six-month extensions.

• He was set to retire on 30 November 2022 but was granted 2 extensions from 1 December 2022 to 31 May 2023 and from 1 June 2023 to 30 November 2023.

ii.Veera Rana is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE). She also holds the Additional Charge of Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Production Commissioner.