Notes:
As per provisional estimates released by National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the July-September quarter (Q2) of the financial year 2022-23 slowed to 6.3 per cent.
The GDP saw a growth of 13.5 per cent in the preceding April-June quarter of 2022-23. It was cut down mainly by the poor performance of manufacturing and mining sectors.

Notes:
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) will enter into force on 29th December, 2022.
The India-Australia ECTA will enhance bilateral trade in goods and services and create new employment opportunities. Under the agreement, duties on 100 percent tariff lines are to be eliminated by Australia.

Notes:
The mountain bush named ‘Rooibos’, which is endemic to South Africa, is used to prepare a red brew with a unique flavour.
The San and Khoi communities were the first to learn the health benefits of rooibos leaves. Today, Rooibos is widely exported commodity sold to over 30 countries.

Notes:
Uttarakhand government has named Prasoon Joshi as the state’s brand ambassador. He is a native of Uttarakhand, is a prominent member of the Indian advertising and media industry.
Earlier this month, the state government bestowed the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman honour for his contributions to art, literature, culture and advertising. His campaigns on malnutrition, polio eradication, women’s empowerment, student suicide and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan have been popular.

Notes:
The Digi Yatra paperless airport entry facility is now functional at three airports in the country, including Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International, Bengaluru and Varanasi airports.
Based on the Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra aims to achieve seamless and contactless processing of passengers at airports. By March 2023, four more cities will be added: Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada.

Notes:
An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III squadron- 840 Sqn (CG), was commissioned by DG VS Pathania at ICG Air Station, Chennai.
The ALH Mk-III helicopters are indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). They feature advanced RADAR, Shakti engines, advanced communication systems, search-and-rescue homer among other equipment for reconnaissance. A total of 16 ALH Mk-III aircraft have been inducted in the Indian Coast Guard in a phased manner.

Notes:
The State Bank of India raised ₹10,000 crore through its maiden infrastructure bond issuance at a coupon rate of 7.51 per cent.
The tenor for the bond is set at 10 years and this is the largest single infra bond sale by any domestic lender. The proceeds of the bond will be utilised to enhance long- term resources for funding infrastructure and affordable housing segment.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the ‘Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities’.
As per the report, many people with disabilities have the risk of premature death, even up to 20 years earlier than others, due to systemic and pervasive health disparities. The report recommends 40 steps for governments to implement in the health sector.

Notes:
Israeli President Isaac Herzog held talks with Bahraini King and Crown Prince during the first trip by an Israeli head of state to the Gulf kingdom.
Isaac Herzog made the trip after the two countries normalised diplomatic relations in the year 2020.

Notes:
‘Technotex 2023’, India’s premier show on Technical Textiles will be held in Mumbai. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry, under National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
This is the largest event of technical textile industry in India, which will be attended by top CEOs, manufacturers, industry peers, purchase managers and suppliers from India and around the globe.