Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2023

Notes:
The Vigilance Awareness Week, 2023 is being observed by the Central Vigilance Commission and all institutions across the country from 30th October till 5th November. This year the theme is – Say no to corruption, commit to the Nation.
Every year Vigilance Awareness Week is observed as an outreach measure to create greater awareness about the importance of integrity and ethics in public life.

Notes:
India surpassed New Zealand with its 59th win to become the second-most successful team in the ODI World Cups, only behind Australia.
Australia holds the record with 73 wins. England equalled Australia (from 1992) for the most defeats by a defending champion in a World Cup edition with its fourth loss in six games, this World Cup.

Notes:
The first district-level study on hypertension in India has identified disparities in healthcare, emphasizing the need for a more targeted approach to address this condition.
It estimated that at least 4.6 million deaths in India can be prevented by 2040 if half of those with the condition manage to keep their blood pressure under control. According to a recent WHO report, 188.3 million people in India suffer from hypertension but only 37% get diagnosed, only 30% start treatment, and only 15% manage to keep their blood pressure under control.

Notes:
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded two toll, operate, and transfer (TOT) bundles, namely 11 and 12, covering a total length of 400 km, for a total of Rs 6,584 crore.
The TOT model is designed to promote private sector involvement in the highway sector, with NHAI periodically awarding contracts for toll collection, operation, and maintenance of different National Highway segments under this arrangement.

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.

Notes:
India and Switzerland launched the Indo-Swiss Innovation Platform. The platform’s launch included an Indo-Swiss Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Dialogue in Bengaluru. The platform began with a pilot project on antimicrobial resistance.
The platform’s launch was intended to deepen bilateral collaboration on innovation and make it more strategic. About 50 experts from Switzerland and India came together to discuss innovative ideas.

Notes:
Three Chinese astronauts, who were in orbit for five months, returned to the Earth. The astronauts were part of the Shenzhou-16 crewed flight mission. They spent their time conducting scientific experiments and carrying out a nearly eight-hour spacewalk.
The mission was the last of 11 missions required to assemble the station. The station is expected to operate for around a decade and run experiments in near-zero gravity. The astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and green onions in the Tiangong space station.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force has successfully operationalized three of its S-400 air defense missile squadrons along its borders with China and Pakistan.
In 2018-19, India agreed with Russia to procure S-400 missiles worth ₹35,000 crore. Out of five squadrons that were to be delivered, three were delivered. Whereas the delivery of the remaining two was hindered due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Notes:
Launched in 2013, the Dutch golden visa initiative was designed to stimulate the economic growth of the Netherlands.  The program required foreign investors to contribute a minimum of €1,250,000 to Dutch businesses.
This program was in line with the goals of several other countries that offer similar investment schemes. However, as of January 2024, the Netherlands will be discontinuing its ‘Golden Visa’ program.

Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 77-kilometer New Bhandu-New Sanand section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.
This infrastructure development will expedite the transportation of goods from ports and manufacturing hubs in the region. This initiative has resulted in the relocation of sixty goods trains that previously utilized passenger rail routes to the freight corridor.