STATE NEWS
JMM leader Hemant Soren sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
• Hemant Soren was sworn in as Jharkhand's 14th Chief Minister on 28 November.
• The oath of office was administered by Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
• This marks Soren’s fourth term as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
• Soren took the oath alone, with a Cabinet expansion planned after the trust vote.
• The JMM-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the recent state assembly elections.
• The alliance won 56 out of 81 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly.
• Soren triumphed over BJP’s Gamlil Hembrom in Barhait by 39,791 votes.
• The government will focus on securing the trust vote in the Assembly before expanding the Cabinet.
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launched different Economic Empowerment Initiatives.
• Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launched multiple economic empowerment initiatives for the state's growth.
• The initiatives aim to boost Nagaland's tourism, transport, agriculture, and entrepreneurship sectors.
• Ura Cabs is a local taxi aggregation platform designed for seamless travel and stable income for taxi operators.
• The launch of Ura Cabs aims to enhance the tourist experience in Nagaland.
• The CM flagged off Nagaland Tourism Connect – Hornbill Edition to promote tourism.
• More than 90 new vehicles were introduced under the Tourism Connect initiative.
• The initiatives also include a Digital Piggery Insurance program to support local farmers.
• These programs are designed to provide opportunities and strengthen local businesses across sectors.
India’s first green hydrogen fuelling station established in Leh.
• Amara Raja Infra has built India's first green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh, Ladakh.
• Union Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the facility.
• The station has an 80kg/day green hydrogen production capacity.
• The project was completed in two years.
• The station will support emission-free transport in Leh and surrounding areas.
• NTPC will launch five hydrogen fuel cell buses in the region.
• This project paves the way for large-scale green hydrogen mobility initiatives.
• It will serve as a model for expanding hydrogen fuelling stations nationwide.
Kerala was selected as the best marine state, and Kollam as the best marine district.
• Kerala was named the best marine state, and Kollam the best marine district in the Union Fisheries Ministry’s awards.
• The awards were presented on World Fisheries Day, recognizing Kerala’s significant contributions to the fisheries sector.
• Kerala’s selection was based on its strong focus on marine fish production and fishermen welfare.
• The state’s innovative schemes for fisher communities and effective implementation of central government programs were key factors.
• The award highlights Kerala’s commitment to sustainable development and the welfare of its fishing communities.
• Kollam’s recognition as the best marine district reflects its achievements in fisheries development.
• The awards celebrate Kerala's efforts in social development and the inclusion of coastal area fishermen.
• These recognitions underscore the state government's focus on transparency and timely scheme implementation.
Three-day National Postal Exhibition BIPEX-2024 began at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, Bihar.
• The three-day National Postal Exhibition BIPEX-2024 began on November 28 at Gyan Bhawan, Patna.
• The event was inaugurated by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, focusing on Bihar’s postal history.
• Arlekar emphasized the importance of preserving and passing on the knowledge contained in postage stamps to future generations.
• He highlighted stamps as key tools for showcasing India’s tradition, culture, and history.
• During the event, Arlekar released two books: Glory of Bihar and Postal Heritage of Bihar, authored by Anil Kumar, Chief Postmaster General of Bihar.
• Over 150 stamp collectors and philatelists are participating in the exhibition.
• The event showcases a collection of over 20,000 stamps, covering various themes.
• BIPEX-2024 celebrates the rich heritage of postal culture in Bihar and promotes philately.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Economic Security Dialogue launched by India and Japan
• India and Japan launched their inaugural Economic Security Dialogue in Tokyo, focusing on strengthening industrial and technological resilience.
• The dialogue involved discussions on strategic trade, technology, and economic security, with experts and senior officials from both nations.
• Co-chaired by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, the meeting also included representatives from key ministries.
• The dialogue was first announced during the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meeting on August 20, 2024, in New Delhi.
• Key topics included enhancing cooperation on economic security policies and fortifying critical infrastructure.
• Both countries emphasized the importance of building resilient supply chains.
• The Japan-India Association, established in 1903, symbolizes the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
AWARDS
2024 OPCW The Hague Award has been conferred to the Indian Chemical Council (ICC).
• The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) received the 2024 OPCW The Hague Award.
• The award was presented during the 29th Session of the Conference of States Parties (CSP) of OPCW.
• Experts and stakeholders from the global chemical industry attended the event.
• This marks the first time a chemical industry body has been honored with the award.
• The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), effective since 1997, has 193 member states.
• OPCW won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts in chemical weapons elimination.
• The OPCW-The Hague Award was established in 2014, in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague.
• The award recognizes individuals and organizations contributing to the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
RANKING AND INDEX
India secured 49th place in the Network Readiness Index 2024.
• India ranked 49th in the Network Readiness Index 2024, improving by 11 places.
• India's score rose from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024.
• The Network Readiness Index 2024 was released by the Portulans Institute, based in Washington, DC.
• India excels in areas like AI, FTTH internet subscriptions, and mobile broadband traffic.
• India topped in “AI scientific publications,” “AI talent concentration,” and “ICT services exports.”
• India ranked second in “FTTH internet subscriptions,” “mobile broadband traffic,” and “international internet bandwidth.”
• The Index evaluates 133 economies based on technology, people, governance, and impact.
• Over the last decade, India’s teledensity improved from 75.2% to 84.69%, with wireless connections reaching 119 crore.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
The book 'Why Bharat Matters' was released by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Dubai.
• Dr. S. Jaishankar released his book Why Bharat Matters on November 28 in Dubai.
• The book was launched at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai, UAE.
• Jaishankar discussed the themes of his book and India’s evolving global role during the event.
• His first book, The India Way, was followed by Why Bharat Matters, reflecting India’s changing societal spirit.
• The use of "Bharat" in the title aims to capture the essence of India's authentic identity.
• The book emphasizes the importance of self-reliance in navigating global challenges and opportunities.
DEFENCE
India-Singapore bilateral exercise AgniWarrior 2024 began.
The India-Singapore bilateral military exercise, AgniWarrior 2024, began on November 28 in Maharashtra.
The exercise is being held at the Deolali Field Firing Range, part of Maharashtra’s Artillery School.
AgniWarrior 2024 aims to strengthen military ties between the artillery units of India and Singapore.
The exercise will focus on exchanging best practices between the Indian Army and Singapore Armed Forces.
A key feature of the exercise is the cultural exchange, fostering closer ties between the two nations.
This exercise follows a visit by Singapore's Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen to India in October.
Dr. Ng Eng Hen co-chaired the 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers' Dialogue with India's Rajnath Singh.
The year 2025 will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, with plans to deepen defense cooperation.