26th November 2024 Current Affairs (Daily GK Update)

National News

National Mission on Natural Farming: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

The Government of India has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) with an allocation of ₹2,481 crore, aiming to promote natural farming across the nation. This scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on November 25, 2024, will target 1 crore farmers and cover around 750,000 hectares of land over the next two years. The initiative integrates various past efforts, including the Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Paddhati and Gobardhan Mission, to promote Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and other locally adapted farming methods.

Cabinet Approves PAN 2.0: Digital Transformation of Taxpayer Services

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PAN 2.0 Project, an upgrade of the current PAN/TAN system, with a financial outlay of ₹1,435 crore. The project aims to streamline and digitize the PAN services, enhancing taxpayer registration and service delivery. PAN 2.0 is a part of the government’s Digital India vision, which focuses on improving the digital infrastructure and making the PAN a common identifier across various government systems.

ICAI Signs MoU with CBSE to Enhance Commerce-Based Skill Courses in BFSI Sector

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to promote commerce-based skill courses, particularly within the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. This collaboration aims to equip students with industry-aligned competencies to enhance their employability and career prospects in accountancy and finance, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional requirements.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches ‘Nayi Chetna’ Campaign Against Gender Violence

The Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the third edition of the national campaign “Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki” in New Delhi on November 25, 2024. This month-long campaign aims to combat gender-based violence across India, focusing on raising awareness, promoting community engagement, and strengthening support systems for victims. 

INTERNATIONAL TOURIST FOOTFALL

The Ministry of Tourism undertakes a variety of promotional activities aimed at showcasing India’s tourism potential to international audiences and encouraging travel to the country. These efforts not only focus on global tourism markets but also include specific initiatives to boost tourism in states like Himachal Pradesh. The Ministry uses multiple platforms and strategies to enhance India’s visibility as a top tourist destination.

Economy News

S&P Global Revises India’s GDP and Inflation Projections

S&P Global Ratings maintained India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 at 6.8% while revising FY26 down to 6.7% from the earlier estimate of 6.9%. The agency also raised its inflation projection for FY25 to 4.6%, reflecting persistent food inflation and supply shocks in agriculture caused by climate factors like changing rainfall patterns and heatwaves. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), mandated to keep inflation at 4% ± 2%, is expected to cut policy rates only once this fiscal year, with the repo rate held steady at 6.5% since February 2023.

Banking News

Canara HSBC Life Unveils OmniGen AI to Transform Underwriting

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched OmniGen AI, a groundbreaking generative AI solution aimed at optimizing risk evaluation in underwriting. This innovative system leverages cutting-edge technology on Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling underwriters to make faster, more precise decisions based on a comprehensive set of data points. By integrating AI-driven models, the company aims to reduce errors, improve consistency, and accelerate policy issuance. This strategic move builds on its commitment to transforming the underwriting process, offering enhanced operational efficiency, and providing a superior customer experience.

Business News

India-EFTA Trade Deal: $100 Billion Investment & Boost to Exports

India has signed a historic Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with four European countries—Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein—forming the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This agreement is expected to provide India access to 99.6% of EFTA’s market, generating $100 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and creating 1 million direct jobs over the next 15 years. With strong commitments from both sides, the deal aims to enhance India’s global market position and reinforce initiatives like “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Confederation of Indian Industry Launches New Strategy Cell

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has established a strategy cell in Coimbatore, with the goal of helping businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, develop sustainable growth strategies and become global players. The initiative aims to support select industries by offering expert guidance, mentorship, and strategic advice to drive long-term economic development. This new venture targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provides them with the tools necessary for scaling up and competing globally.

Appointments News

G. Balasubramanian Appointed as High Commissioner to Maldives

Balasubramanian, a distinguished Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1998 batch, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives. With extensive diplomatic experience spanning key global postings, his appointment underscores India’s strategic emphasis on strengthening its ties with the Maldives, a crucial partner in the Indian Ocean Region. 

India Appoints Dinesh Bhatia as Brazil Ambassador

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Shri Dinesh Bhatia has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Brazil. The Ministry of External Affairs made the announcement on November 25, 2024. A 1992-batch IFS officer, Bhatia brings extensive diplomatic experience, having served in multiple countries and various key roles both in India and abroad.

State News

Delhi Govt Launches Portal for Old-Age Pension Scheme

Delhi government expanded its old-age pension scheme to include an additional 80,000 senior citizens, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 5.3 lakh. AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, addressing a press conference, highlighted the government’s commitment to social welfare and announced the launch of an online portal to make the application process more accessible. The new initiative aims to streamline the pension distribution process and ensure more senior citizens benefit from the scheme.

Schemes News

Cabinet Approves ‘One Nation One Subscription’ Scheme

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, allocating ₹6,000 crore for 2025-2027. This initiative aims to provide seamless access to high-impact scholarly articles and journals for nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across 6,300 government-managed higher education and R&D institutions. This scheme aligns with India’s ViksitBharat@2047 vision, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to foster a research-driven educational ecosystem. Access will be managed digitally through the INFLIBNET platform, under the UGC.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Unveils The TeacherApp

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched The TeacherApp, an innovative digital platform developed by Bharti Airtel Foundation to empower educators with the skills required to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century classrooms.

Ranks & Reports

India’s Rise in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025

India has made great progress in global university rankings, especially in Interdisciplinary Science, as shown in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025. This ranking highlights universities that are leading the way in research and collaboration across different subjects to tackle global challenges like climate change, health issues, and technology developments.

Summits & Conferences

PM Modi Kicks Off Historic Cooperative Conference in India

The Global Cooperative Conference 2024 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event also marked the launch of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Several dignitaries, including Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, attended the event. This conference underscores the importance of cooperatives in global development, especially for rural populations, women, and farmers.

Sports News

14-Time Olympic Medalist Emma McKeon Bids Farewell

Emma McKeon, a legendary figure in the world of competitive swimming, announced her retirement on 25th November, marking the end of an extraordinary career. At 30 years old, McKeon leaves an unparalleled legacy as Australia’s most decorated Olympian, with 14 medals, including six golds, earned across three Summer Olympics. Her historic seven-medal performance at Tokyo 2020 solidified her status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. 

Important Days

Samvidhan Diwas 2024: Celebrating the 75th Constitution Day of India

India celebrates Constitution Day or Samvidhan Diwas annually on November 26, marking the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949. This historic day is a tribute to the values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, which form the bedrock of India’s democracy. In 2024, the nation observes the 75th Constitution Day, honouring the transformative journey and ideals that guide the republic.

National Milk Day 2024: Honouring the Father of the White Revolution

National Milk Day is celebrated every year on November 26 in India to recognize the immense contribution of milk and the dairy industry to the country’s growth. This day marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, also known as the Father of the White Revolution in India. Dr. Kurien’s revolutionary initiatives helped transform India into the largest milk producer in the world. This day is not just a tribute to Dr. Kurien’s legacy, but also a celebration of milk as a vital nutritional resource and an economic powerhouse for rural India.