Daily Current Affairs November 21 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

UCO Bank Suspends Online IMPS Transfers Due to Flawed Payments Emergence                                            

• The government-owned UCO Bank has suspended online Immediate Payment System (IMPS) transfers temporarily.
• The suspension was initiated after a technical issue was identified from November 10 to 13, 2023.
• During this period, funds from transactions initiated by customers of other banks were erroneously credited to UCO Bank account holders, while the bank did not actually receive the money.
• UCO Bank has taken a precautionary measure by making the IMPS channel offline.
• The bank is actively working to resolve the issue and restore IMPS services at the earliest.

What does IMPS mean?

• IMPS, is an electronic fund transfer process through which money is sent to the payee/beneficiary account instantly and in real-time.
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) offers this service.

What are the services available under IMPS?

• IMPS offer an instant,24*7 interbank electronic fund transfer service capable of processing person-to-person, person to account and person to merchant remittances via mobile, internet and ATMs.

What is the Daily Transaction Limit of IMPS?

Limit on	Limit amount
Minimum transfer limit	INR 1
Maximum transfer limit	INR 5,00,000
Transaction fee	The smallest transaction cost is INR 5. The most expensive cost is INR 25. However, taxes could also be imposed on the transactions.

About UCO Bank :

• Established : 1943.
• Headquarters : Kolkata, West Bengal
• Founder : G D Birla.
• MD & CEO : Ashwani Kumar
• UCO Bank (formerly United Commercial Bank) is a central public sector bank under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance.

Chennai Metro Rail Collaborates with PhonePe to Facilitate Digital Ticket Purchases                                           

• Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has partnered with PhonePe to introduce digital QR-based ticketing for metro travellers.
• Metro passengers in Chennai now have the option to bypass long queues at metro stations and ticket counters by opting for seamless digital QR-based tickets.

Key Highlights :

• Passengers can book digital QR-based tickets through the PhonePe Switch platform, which also offers the existing 20% discount on the services.
• PhonePe will introduce three services for commuters in phases: booking single journey tickets, return journey tickets, and recharging the smart card on PhonePe Switch.
• In addition to the partnership with Chennai Metro, PhonePe has collaborated with Hyderabad Metro, Mumbai Metro, and Delhi Metro.
• Commuters can obtain e-tickets for up to six people simultaneously from a single device.
• The journey can then commence by scanning the e-tickets at the entry and exit gates of Metro stations.

About CMRL :

• Managing Director : M A Siddique
• The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu built and operates the Chennai Metro.
• The Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
• It is the 4th longest metro system in India.

State Bank of India (SBI) Expands Yono Global App to the United States and Singapore                               

• The State Bank of India (SBI) is set to launch the Yono Global app in Singapore and the United States (US).
• The expansion aims to offer digitised remittance and other financial services to SBI customers in these regions.
• Vidya Krishnan, Deputy MD (IT) of SBI, engaged in discussions with Singapore-based digital platform enablers, local regulators, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for the app’s launch.
• Presently, SBI offers Yono Global services in 9 countries.
• In September 2019, it started with the UK operations.
• SBI is integrating the Yono Global app with PayNow, a digital payment system in Singapore.
• SBI is continuing to invest in Yono Global to offer the best services available, SBI’s deputy MD (IT) Vidya Krishnan stated at the three-day Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF).
• In contests held on testing technologies, Indian-origin Nikhilesh Goel was selected among the winners for the Individual Category.
• Nikhilesh Goel is the Co-founder and Group CEO of Singapore-based Validus Capital, which focuses on leading SMEs in Southeast Asia.

About SBI :

• Established : 1 July 1955
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Chairman : Dinesh Kumar Khara
• CFO : Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Tourism organising International Tourism Mart at Shillong

• The Ministry of Tourism is organising the International Tourism Mart at Shillong in Meghalaya to create awareness about the tourism potential of the North East Region.
• The event is scheduled to be inaugurated by Tourism Minister Kishan Reddy and attended by Tourism Ministers of North Eastern states.
• The three-day event will provide a platform for North Eastern stakeholders to interact with their counterparts from the country and overseas markets.

Key Highlights

• The International Tourism Mart is an annual event held by the Ministry in one of the northeastern states on a rotation basis.
• This event has also been planned as a Green Event by adopting low-carbon options along the lines of the action points formulated by the Environment Ministry for the implementation of Mission LiFE.
• There will be no use of single-use plastic, and a digital and paperless route will be followed as well as a tree plantation drive will be undertaken.
• During the event, the eight North Eastern States would present updates on their new destinations as well as new opportunities in their states.
• Knowledge sessions and panel discussions with panellists from both the government and private sectors would deliberate on the advances and development of connectivity in the region.
• The air connectivity in the North East has increased tremendously in the last few years.
• At present, there are more than 16 airports providing accessibility to tourist destinations in the North East Region.

Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala to inaugurate ‘Global Fisheries Conference India 2023’ on 21st November at Ahmedabad, Gujarat

• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 at Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad.
• The concept has thus taken the shape of a two-day conference from 21st to 22nd November 2023 on the occasion of World Fisheries Day being celebrated globally.
• The Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 was conceptualised by the Department of Fisheries with the aim of devising a way forward for the Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture sector in conjunction with the stakeholders from the fisheries’ value chain.
• The event will kick-start with the inauguration of the Exhibition by Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala and followed by the Inaugural session, Press Conference, International Round table and parallel Technical Sessions, Industry Connect Sessions and G2G/G2B and B2B Bilaterals.
• The exhibition stalls and food mela will be accessible to all visitors and participants throughout the two days, post-inaugural ceremony.

Key Highlights

• Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 is a unique opportunity that is expected to bring together varied stakeholders in one place platform. More than 5000 participants will be hosted during the two days for multiple sessions and engaged in thought-provoking discussions and deliberations. In total a series of ten sessions have been planned for the Technical Sessions and the Industry Connect Sessions. Whilst open forums for Government-to-Government (G2G)/Government-to-Business (G2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B) Bilaterals will be simultaneously held.
• The Technical Sessions have been planned with the objectives of fostering deeper understanding of trending topics in the Fisheries sector pertaining to challenges and opportunities in Inland Aquaculture, Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture, Deep Sea Fishing, sustainable aqua feed, fish health management, innovations & best practices, New and Emerging Technologies etc.
• The Industry Connect Sessions are also planned during event with a focus on bringing together business and industrial organisations in the fisheries sector to share market insights, trends, opportunities and challenges while networking and fostering collaborations/partnerships.
• The G2G/G2B/B2B bilaterals are also being facilitated to entail discussion and dialogues between policy makers, experts and industry for knowledge sharing, networking etc. This is an open format forum for stakeholders to freely explore opportunities for bilateral discussion and deliberations.

Indian patent filings grow faster than others globally

• Global patenting activity soared to new records in 2022, fuelled by Indian and Chinese innovators and powered by increased levels of innovation, entrepreneurship and digitalisation in these countries.
• Patent filings by Indian applicants grew by 31.6% in 2022, extending an 11-year run of growth unmatched by any other country among the top 10 filers, according to WIPO’s (World Intellectual Property Organisation) annual World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) report.
• Innovators from around the world submitted 3.5 million patent applications in 2022, marking a third consecutive year of growth.
• Overall, China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Germany were the countries, with the highest numbers of patent filings in 2022.
• The largest rise in filings was reported from India.
• Switzerland (6.1%), China (3.1%), Austria (2.5%) and the UK (2.5%) also reported robust growth in filings.

About WIPO

• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 14 July 1967
• Head: Daren Tang; Director General

UGC notifies regulations for foreign universities to set up campuses in India

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued regulations for foreign universities to establish and operate campuses in India.
• As per the regulations, foreign universities can collaborate to set up campuses in India, if they meet eligibility criteria individually.
• Foreign universities setting up campuses shall seek prior approval from UGC before starting new courses.
• They should have secured a position within the top 500 in global rankings.
• For setting up more than one campus in India, foreign universities need to make separate applications.
• Foreign university campuses in India will be given the autonomy to recruit faculty and staff as per their recruitment norms.
• Foreign university campuses in India will not be allowed to offer online courses or distance learning.
• Also, the final rules have increased the time period for the standing committee to process applications from 45 days to 60 days.
• The recommendations of the committee should be placed before the UGC in 60 days, as opposed to 45 days in the draft regulations.
• Foreign universities cannot open learning centres, study centres, or franchises that may act as representative offices of the parent entity to undertake promotional activities for their programmes in their home jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction outside India.
• No programmes can be offered online or in Open and Distance Learning modes under these regulations.
• However, lectures in online mode not exceeding 10% of the programme requirements are allowed.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

South Africa Introduces Tax Incentives to Encourage Conservation of Lions and Rhinos                  

• South Africa has implemented its first-ever tax incentives to encourage the preservation of endangered species.

Key Highlights :

• The South African Environment Ministry has entered into Biodiversity Management Agreements (BMAs) with three landowners in Limpopo province.
• These agreements aim to secure the protection of privately-owned lions and rhinos.
• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment collaborated with the Sustainable Finance Coalition and Wilderness Foundations Africa in developing these biodiversity management agreements.
• The agreement allows the owners to deduct all their expenses related to conservation from their taxable income.
• In order to activate the agreements applicants have to sign a management plan of at least a five-year duration with the department.
• The incentive is not limited to lions and rhinos; it may also extend to the preservation of other endangered species like vultures and cycad plants.
• The incentive falls under the category of Threatened Species and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
• Any South African taxpayer, including private landowners, trusts, or companies, can benefit by safeguarding threatened ecosystems or species.
• The incentives are available to individuals and entities across South Africa, emphasizing a nationwide approach to conservation.
• The requirement for a minimum five-year management plan reflects the government’s commitment to encouraging sustained and long-term conservation efforts.
• The initiative highlights the importance of private entities and individuals in contributing to environmental stewardship and biodiversity conservation

About South Africa :

• President : Cyril Ramaphosa
• Capital : Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
• Currency : South African rand

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Amit S Telang Appointed as Indian Ambassador to the Caribbean Community

• Amit S Telang has been appointed as the Indian Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and concurrently as the High Commissioner to the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.
• Presently, Dr Amit S Telang is the High Commissioner of India to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
• In addition, Anil Kumar Rai, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
• India established a formal relationship with CARICOM as a continuation of its diplomatic relations with individual members of CARICOM.
• The Government of India provided funding of US$1.166 million to support information technology and communications infrastructure, computer software, and community studios at the CARICOM Secretariat in 2005–2006.

About Caribbean Community :

• Established : 1973
• Headquarters : Georgetown, Guyana
• Chairman : Roosevelt Skerrit
• Secretary General : Carla Natalie Barnett
• The Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organisation that is a political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) throughout the Americas and Atlantic Ocean.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Army and BRO Set Record with Completion of Bailey Bridge in North Sikkim

• The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps, in collaboration with the Border Roads Organization (BRO), successfully completed the construction of the Bailey Bridge over the Teesta River at Chungthang in North Sikkim.
• Samdup Lepcha, Minister of Roads and Bridges, Government of Sikkim, inaugurated the Bailey Bridge.
• The bridge’s completion reestablished connectivity to flood-affected areas in North Sikkim, which had been cut off since the night of October 3, 2023.
• The Bailey Bridge facilitates uninterrupted movement of vehicles and the provision of relief material to the previously isolated flood-affected areas.
• The 200-foot Bailey Bridge is recognized as an engineering marvel, being the longest and heaviest single-span Bailey bridge.
• The BRO initially constructed the concrete structure, followed by the construction of the bridge by Trishakti sappers, which took about 5 days.
• For this bridging operation, the Engineer troops of Trishakti Corps and BRO along with several heavy earth-moving plants were employed.

About Indian Army :

• Chief of Defence Staff : General Anil Chauhan
• Chief of the Army Staff : General Manoj Pande

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Competition Commission of India (CCI) Clears the Acquisition of Additional Stake in Niva Bupa Health Insurance

• Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of an additional stake in Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company by Bupa Singapore Holdings Pte.
• Bupa Singapore Holdings is a shareholder of Niva Bupa and a subsidiary of international healthcare group The British United Provident Association Ltd (Bupa).
• The transaction relates to the secondary purchase of shares by Bupa Singapore Holdings in the Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company from Fettle Tone LLP.
• After the transaction, the shareholding of Bupa Singapore Holdings will increase to 63% in Niva Bupa Health Insurance.

Key Highlights :

• Niva Bupa Health Insurance provides insurance policies in India, while Fettle Tone LLP is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by private equity firm True North Fund.
• The CCI has cleared the deal under the green channel route.
• Under the green channel route, a transaction which does not raise any risk of an appreciable adverse effect on competition is deemed to be approved on being intimated to the fair-trade regulator.
• In September, True North announced the sale of a 20% holding in Niva Bupa for Rs 2,700 crore.
• The United Kingdom (UK)-headquartered Bupa aims to become a majority shareholder in Niva Bupa Health Insurance through this deal.
• True North had become the majority shareholder in Niva Bupa in 2019 after acquiring a 51% stake from Analjit Singh’s Max India.

About Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (Niva Bupa) :

• Founded : 2008
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• MD & CEO : Krishnan Ramachandran
• Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Ltd. (formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited) is a joint venture between Fettle Tone LLP (an affiliate of True North Fund VI LLP), an Indian private equity firm, and the UK-based healthcare services expert, Bupa Singapore Holdings Pte. Limited.
• The company is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft Introduces AI Chips to Address Growing Demand for Alternatives to Nvidia Among Developers                                

• Microsoft has introduced its first custom-designed artificial intelligence (AI) chips for cloud applications, addressing the demand for alternatives to Nvidia, which currently dominates the AI processor market.

Key Highlights :

• Microsoft’s AI chip offerings include a general-purpose chip called Cobalt, based on Arm designs, and a specialized AI “accelerator” named Maia.
• These chips are set to be deployed in Microsoft’s Azure data centers in the coming year.
• The new processors will support Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, including OpenAI and Copilot, enhancing the capabilities of these services through optimized AI processing.
• While Microsoft’s Azure Maia AI Accelerator has been optimized for AI- and generative AI-specific tasks, its Azure Cobalt CPU (central processing unit) is an Arm-based processor that will cater to general-purpose tasks on Microsoft Cloud.
• Microsoft has reportedly been working on AI chip development since 2019, with the project code-named Athena.
• The AI chip, previously made available for testing to a small group of Microsoft and OpenAI employees, is now officially unveiled.
• ‘Project Maia’ is described by Microsoft as a deep learning framework that engages in chess playing to explore the interaction between humans and AI, showcasing a practical application of AI technology.
• The new AI chips will be integrated into Microsoft’s Azure data centers, indicating a strategic move to enhance AI capabilities within the cloud computing infrastructure.

About Microsoft Corporation :

• Founded : April 4, 1975
• Headquarters : Washington, United States
• Chairman & CEO : Satya Nadella

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

OneWeb, and Jio Satellite get a permit to provide internet services

• Jio Satellite Communications and OneWeb, backed by Bharti Enterprises, have received licenses from the government to provide broadband internet services to end-users using satellite.
• Both companies now have pan-India Internet Service Provider (ISP) licenses, which are essential for delivering internet connectivity through satellite or mobile networks.
• The licences, along with clarity on satellite spectrum allotment, pave the way for the commercial rollout of satellite-based internet services.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has already granted OneWeb and Jio Satellite the global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence that is required to offer satellite-based broadband services in India.
• The ISP licences will allow the firms to provide broadband services now to end users at their homes and offices.
• While Jio Satellite received its ISP license a month back, OneWeb was given the ISP A (national area) and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licences.
• VSAT, with its data transmission capabilities, plays a pivotal role in delivering broadband internet services, especially to homes and offices.
• SAT is a device equipped with an antenna commonly used for transmitting/receiving data, voice, and video signals. It often serves as a connectivity solution for banking/ATM machines in rural areas and provides backhaul connectivity for cellular mobile services.
• Having obtained GMPCS and ISP licences, Jio Satellite and OneWeb are poised to deploy their satellite-based internet services commercially.
• The final step involves clarity on the allotment of the satellite spectrum.
• Reliance Jio Infocomm previewed its satellite-based broadband services, JioSpaceFiber, at the India Mobile Congress on October 27.
• Four of the remotest locations in India have already been connected with JioSpaceFiber including Gir (Gujarat), Korba (Chattisgarh), Nabrangpur (Odissa), and ONGC (Jorhat, Assam).
• Notably, Jeff Bezos-led Amazon and Elon Musk’s Starlink are also eyeing the satellite communications space in India, and have sought a GMPCS license.

‘Femme à la Montre’ Becomes Second Most Expensive Picasso Ever Sold

• Pablo Picasso’s 1932 painting “Femme à la montre” sold for more than $139 million at a Sotheby’s New York auction, making it the most valuable work of art sold globally at an auction this year.
• The nine-digit price made it the second-most-expensive Picasso painting to sell at auction, behind “Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’),” which fetched $179.3 million, including a buyer’s premium, at Christie’s in 2015.
• “Femme à la montre,” which translates from French to “Woman with a Watch,” is a portrait of the artist’s lover Marie-Thérèse Walter seated in a throne-like chair against a blue background.
• “Femme a la Montre” is dated to 1932 and was previously part of the collection belonging to art collector and philanthropist Fisher Landau.
• The painting depicts the artist’s lover and muse Marie-Thérèse Walter.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs signs MoU with Lean Campus Startups (Trust) & WEICI India to empower corporate and women entrepreneurs through various training programmes

• Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and Lean Campus Startups (Trust) & WEICI India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Manesar, Gurugram.
• The signatories to the MoU were Dr. Lata Suresh, representing IICA, and Mr. Umesh Rathod, representing Lean Campus Startups (Founder).
• The collaborative objective of IICA and Lean Campus Startups & WEICI India is to empower both corporate and women entrepreneurs, augmenting their knowledge, skills, and competencies in the effective establishment and management of a diverse workforce.
• In partnership with IICA, LCS will orchestrate programmes for women entrepreneurs and students.
• These programmes could include workshops, training sessions, networking events, and mentorship opportunities aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and leadership among women.

About IICA

• The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) is an institution established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India as an autonomous body to act as a think-tank and a centre of excellence to support the growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach.
• Lean Campus Startups is a brand of Mission Catalyst, a pioneering trust dedicated to shaping the future of India through transformative initiatives in education, skill development, and entrepreneurship.
• Established in the year 2014 with a vision to inspire and empower the youth, Mission Catalyst operates pan India, touching lives and fostering positive change with help of Startups, Corporates & Government.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Australia lifts ICC Men’s Cricket world cup beating India in Ahmedabad; Virat Kohli awarded “Player of the tournament” title

• Australia lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup defeating India by six wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
• Chasing a modest target of 241 runs, Australia completed the task in 43 overs for the loss of four wickets with a gritty century knock of Travis Head, after some initial setbacks.
• He made 137 and was declared Player of the Match.
• Earlier, India managed to post 240 runs in the stipulated 50 overs.

Key Highlights

• The highlight of the Indian innings was half centuries by Virat Kohli and K L Rahul.
• Rahul made 66 while Virat scored 54 runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma also made quick 47.
• Virat Kohli was awarded with the “player of the tournament” title for his exemplary performance.
• He scored a total of 765 runs in 11 innings, the highest-ever runs scored by a batter in a single edition of the World Cup.
• Mohammed Shami finished off as the leading wicket-taker of the World Cup 2023. In seven matches, he scalped 24 wickets.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Australia on their victory. In a social media post, Mr Modi said theirs was a commendable performance through the tournament, which culminated in triumph.
• He also complimented Travis Head for his remarkable game.
• Mr Modi also praised Team India saying its talent and determination through the World Cup was noteworthy. He said the team played with great spirit and brought immense pride to the nation.

The competitive phase of ISSF World Cup Final 2023 begins in Doha, Qatar

• The competitive phase of the ISSF World Cup Final 2023 begins in Doha, Qatar with 10m Air Pistol Men and women events.
• The competition will witness 13 Indian shooters competing for top honours across various shooting disciplines.
• This season finale will showcase the top 15 shooters from this year’s World Cup circuit across 12 shooting events.
• The event, kicked off on November 18th, will conclude on 26th this month.
• India currently holds third position in the World Cup medal standings with three gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
• China is leading the table with seven gold medals while Serbia is on second spot with the same number of golds as India and an additional silver medal.
• Leading the Indian contingent will be Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, a multiple medal-winner at the Asian Games 2022 and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, a former world number one.
• Apart from these two, the team comprises the Paris Olympics 2024 quota holders Mehuli Ghosh, Akhil Sheoran, Sarabjot Singh, Anish Bhanwala, and Asian Games 2022 bronze medalist Ramita Jindal.
• Tokyo Olympian Elavenil Valarivan is another key member of the team.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Sahara Group Founder, Subrata Roy, Passed Away                                          

• The founder of the Sahara Group, Subrata Roy, passed away at the age of 75 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

About Subrata Roy :

• Subrata Roy was born in Araria, Bihar.
• Roy joined Sahara Finance, a struggling company, in 1976, that ran a chit fund and took it over.
• He founded the business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar in 1978.
• Under his leadership, Sahara Group launched the Hindi-language newspaper Rashtriya Sahara.
• In 2000, Sahara TV was launched which was later renamed Sahara One.
• In 2003, Sahara started three weeklies: Sahara Time (English), Sahara Samay (Hindi), and Sahara Aalmi (Urdu).
• In 2004, the Sahara group was termed by Time magazine as “the second largest employer in India after Indian Railways”.
• Under Roy’s leadership, Sahara also sponsored the Indian cricket and hockey teams and owned a Formula One racing team.
• In 2010, Sahara purchased the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in London,and then in 2012 the historic Plaza Hotel and Dream Downtown Hotel in New York City.
• Roy received a Business Icon of the Year award at the Power Brands Hall of Fame Awards in London in 2011.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Television Day: 21st November

• World Television Day 2023 is observed on the 21st of November 2023.
• The theme for the 2023 edition is “Accessibility”.
• In 1927, a 21-year-old inventor by the name of Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the world’s first electronic television.
• Neither of them knew the television would become the emblem for an international day promoting the spread of global information.
• On November 21 and 22 1996, the United Nations held the first World Television Forum.
• UN leaders recognized that television could bring attention to conflicts, raise awareness of threats to peace and security, and sharpen focus on social and economic issues. Television has an undoubted presence and influence on world politics.
• The UN General Assembly decided to name November 21 World Television Day, not to celebrate the object itself, but the symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world that it represents.

Daily CA One- Liner: November 21 

• The Ministry of Tourism is organising the International Tourism Mart at Shillong in Meghalaya to create awareness about the tourism potential of the North East Region.
• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 at Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad.
• Global patenting activity soared to new records in 2022, fuelled by Indian and Chinese innovators and powered by increased levels of innovation, entrepreneurship and digitalisation in these countries.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued regulations for foreign universities to establish and operate campuses in India.
• Jio Satellite Communications and OneWeb, backed by Bharti Enterprises, have received licenses from the government to provide broadband internet services to end-users using satellite.
• Pablo Picasso’s 1932 painting “Femme à la montre” sold for more than $139 million at a Sotheby’s New York auction, making it the most valuable work of art sold globally at an auction this year.
• Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and Lean Campus Startups (Trust) & WEICI India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Manesar, Gurugram.
• The government-owned UCO Bank has suspended online Immediate Payment System (IMPS) transfers temporarily.
• Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has partnered with PhonePe to introduce digital QR-based ticketing for metro travellers.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) is set to launch the Yono Global app in Singapore and the United States (US).
• South Africa has implemented its first-ever tax incentives to encourage the preservation of endangered species.
• Amit S Telang has been appointed as the Indian Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and concurrently as the High Commissioner to the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.
• The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps, in collaboration with the Border Roads Organization (BRO), successfully completed the construction of the Bailey Bridge over the Teesta River at Chungthang in North Sikkim.
• Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of an additional stake in Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company by Bupa Singapore Holdings Pte.
• Microsoft has introduced its first custom-designed artificial intelligence (AI) chips for cloud applications, addressing the demand for alternatives to Nvidia, which currently dominates the AI processor market.
• The founder of the Sahara Group, Subrata Roy, passed away at the age of 75 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Australia lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket world cup defeating India by six wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
• The competitive phase of ISSF World Cup Final 2023 begins in Doha, Qatar with 10m Air Pistol Men and women
• World Television Day 2023 is observed on 21st of November 2023.