Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2023

Notes:
A research endeavor led by Japanese scientists and a team from the Japan Aerospace Space Agency (JAXA), has achieved the successful cultivation of mouse embryos aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
This significant experiment represents a pivotal stride in exploring the potential for human reproduction in the space environment.

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed ‘International Day of Care and Support’ to be observed on 29 October.
This international day seeks to foreground care and support as a cornerstone of sustainable development and accelerator for equality. This year is the first time, the days is observed.

Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) has onboarded Mahendra Singh Dhoni, former Indian cricket team captain, as its brand ambassador.
The country’s largest lender aims to strengthen its connection, especially with the younger population, with the association of the cricket star.

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NASA conducted a sounding rocket mission known as the Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE).
This mission was launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico with the aim of studying a stellar event within the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant that occurred approximately 20,000 years ago.

Notes:
The Indian government has received numerous expressions of interest for the strategic sale of Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL).
IMPCL is currently under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ayush, and the government holds a 98.11% stake in the company. This move is part of the government’s efforts to divest its holdings in certain public sector enterprises.

Notes:
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court issued a directive instructing the Goa government to formally declare a tiger reserve in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and adjoining regions of the state within a three-month period.
Additionally, the court mandated the state to resolve the rights and claims of Scheduled Tribes and other forest inhabitants within a one-year timeframe.

Notes:
According to official data, 70% of rural households in India have been provided tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
This means that 13,47,50,894 households out of the 19,24,26,914 rural households in the country have been provided tap water connections. The Jal Jeevan Mission is an initiative of the Government of India under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The main objective of the project is to provide functional tap connections to each household.

Notes:
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in October 2023 increased by 13.4% to Rs 1,72,003 crore, the second-highest ever. The growth was driven by a rebound in imports.
The GST revenue collection for October 2023 is second highest ever, next only to April 2023. The gross GST for September, collected in October, rose 13% annually to Rs 1,72,003 crore. The growth in India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues bounced back in October with tax collections rising at a 10-month high pace of 13.4%.

Notes:
A new study has found that the body plan of starfish is much more complex and distributed than previously thought, challenging the understanding of their evolution.
Using genetic and molecular tools, the research created a 3D atlas of gene expression in starfish, revealing that the “head” of a starfish is scattered across its body, raising questions about the evolution of these creatures.

Notes:
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture involving Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power, has introduced two pioneering programs: the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and the Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP).
These initiatives seek to transform cooking methods in India and underscore the significance of energy-efficient fans. As part of these programs, EESL aims to promote and implement energy-efficient technologies and practices across the country.