Daily GK Update: 15th November 2023

National Affairs

Indian skydiver Shital Mahajan jumped off a helicopter from the height of 21,500 ft in front of the world's highest peak, Mt Everest.
She became the first woman to do so.
Mahajan landed at Kalapatthar peak at an altitude 17,444ft.
Mahajan is a well-known Indian skydiver who holds several skydiving records and is the recipient of the fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri in 2001.

Banking & Finance

Jio Satellite Communications Ltd and Eutelsat OneWeb have been granted the requisite licences to provide satellite internet services in India.
Both companies hold the GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) licence, alongside a pan-India ISP (Internet Service Provider) licence.
As reported by the Financial Express, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocated ISP-A and a VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) licence to OneWeb.

International Affairs

The Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has set a target for its members to adopt 5% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage by 2030 to reduce carbon emissions, signalling demand to fuel producers.
The decision was announced at the association's 67th assembly of presidents, highlighting challenges such as limited SAF availability and cost.
The industry is stressing that our position is feedstock and pathway agnostic.

Banking & Finance

The central government signed a USD 400 million policy-based loan with the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support its urban reform agenda
Aim: To create high-quality urban infrastructure, improve service delivery, and promote efficient governance systems.
Objective: To make cities livable and centres of economic growth through the provisioning of inclusive, resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

International Affairs

Russia has signed a contract to supply Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and allow production of the Igla there under licence.
The Igla-S is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) that can be fired by an individual or crew to bring down an enemy aircraft.
India is the world’s largest arms importer and Russia remains its largest supplier despite the damage to the reputation of its army and weaponry from the war in Ukraine.

Banking & Finance

Federal Bank collaborates with India's Top Seeded Shuttler, H.S. Prannoy.
H.S. Prannoy, is current world number eight and a recipient of the men's singles bronze medal in the recent Asian Games.
MVS Murthy, CMO, Federal Bank, elaborated more on the collaboration, " Work Ethic is the intersection point for Prannoy and Federal Bank.
He represents the passion of India’s Youth to put up the Tri-colour at the topmost pedestal on every given opportunity.

Science & Technology

SpaceX’s next robotic cargo mission to the International Space Station CRS-29 has been take off.
The mission is set to launch on a Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
The CRS-29 mission carries crucial scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, including optical communications equipment and instruments for measuring atmospheric waves
According to NASA the results of this study could help improve bone health here on Earth

Important Dates

Jharkhand is the 28th state of India. It was formed on November 15, 2000 after a long-standing tribal movement for statehood.
Jharkhand was earlier a part of Bihar, more precisely it was then South Bihar.
15th November is the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda who was a part of the tribal movement against the British in the 1870s. He was arrested by the British when he got highly involved in the movement and died in a Ranchi jail in 1900.

Schemes

PM launched Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Development Mission on the occasion of third Janjaatiya Gaurav Diwas in Jharkhand.
He also launch ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ to ensure saturation of flagship govt schemes
Aim: To reach out to people and create awareness and provide benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water and others.

Obituaries

Sahara Group’s visionary founder and chairman, Subrata Roy, breathed his last at the age of 75 in a Mumbai hospital.
The news comes after a prolonged battle with illness, as stated in an official company announcement.
Subrata Roy’s remarkable journey began in 1978 when he initiated Sahara India Pariwar with a mere capital of ₹2,000.
The company’s evolution over the years positioned it as a leader in entrepreneurship, according to information on Sahara’s website.