Coal Ministry Amends SHAKTI Policy to Expand Coal Linkage and Promote Market
Transparency
Ministry of Coal has amended the SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal)
Transparently in India) Policy, which allows power plants, including private generators without Power
Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to be granted coal
linkage for a minimum of three months to a
maximum of one year.
Key Points:
- The amendment aims to enhance a more
transparent coal allocation mechanism by
providing the power generated through coal
linkages must be sold through power exchanges
or a transparent bidding process on the Discovery
of Efficient Energy Price (DEEP) portal.
- This amendment is expected to improve the
availability and affordability of coal for power
generation and enhance the overall efficiency of
the sector
- The Ministry of Coal introduced the Coal
Linkage Policy known as Scheme for Harnessing
and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI) in 2017 for the allocation of coal among
thermal power plants transparently and objectively.
- The Policy provides coal linkages to power plants which lack fuel supply agreements (FSAs) through coal
auctions.
About the Ministry of Coal:
Union Minister – Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad, Karnataka)
Minister of State – Danve Raosaheb Dadarao (Jalna, Maharashtra)
India & Bangladesh Navies Undertook 5th CORPAT & Bongosagar 23 in Northern Bay
of Bengal
The 4th edition of the Bilateral Exercise between the Indian Navy(IN) and Bangladesh Navy(BN),
BONGOSAGAR 23, and the 5th edition of
Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) by the two navies
was conducted from 7th to 9th November 20233 in
the Northern Bay of Bengal.
Regular bilateral exercises and coordinated patrols
have strengthened mutual understanding and
cooperation between the two navies.
Bongo Sagar exercise was first conducted in 2019
while 1st edition of IN-BN CORPAT was held in
2018.
Key Points:
- Joint patrolling along the International Maritime
Boundary Line (IMBL) was held between both navies.
- There were Communication drills, surface gun-shoots, and tactical maneuvers conducted during the
exercises
- CORPAT-23 featured the first-ever Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) drills between
the two navies.
- It involved a Search and Rescue scenario at sea, demonstrating joint capabilities in responding to
emergencies.
QS Asia Rankings 2024: India features Highest Number of Universities; China’s Peking
University Tops
On November 8, 2023, the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Ranking: Asia 2024 was
released, showcasing 148 Indian
universities which is 30 more than the last
edition. With this, India now holds the
highest representation in Asia’s higher
education system, surpassing China (133)
and Japan (96).
India has 118 universities in 2023 ranking.
This is the 16th edition of the QS World
University Ranking in this category.
Peking University, Beijing, China has
retained the 1st position in the QS Asia
Ranking 2024, while, Indian Institute of
Technology Bombay (IITB) in Mumbai,
Maharashtra grabbed the top spot in India
with 40th position in the Asia Ranking
About Quacquarelli Symonds (QS):
Chief Executive Officer– Jessica Turner
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
India Ranked 117th among 129 nations in Inclusiveness Index by OBI; New Zealand
Tops
- According to the Inclusiveness Index published by the Othering and
Belonging Institute (OBI) at California University, United States of
America(USA), India was ranked 117th out of 129 countries with an
overall score of 49.24.
- India was ranked 129th in religion inclusiveness, 121st in gender,
108th in disability, 87th in race, 40th in the general population, and
39th in LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or
questioning, Intersex, Asexual).
- The index was topped by New Zealand for the second consecutive year
with an overall score of 82.08.
- It is followed by 2nd place at Portugal (77.6), and the Netherlands
(76.98) in the 3rd place.
About Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI):
About Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI):Director– John A. PowellB
Headquarters– Berkeley, California, US
ADB & GEF Introduce Natural Capital Fund to Foster Environmental Conservation
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) jointly introduced the Natural
Capital Fund (NCF), a concessional fund aimed at backing projects in ADB’s developing member countries
(DMCs). The GEF has committed a USD15 million investment to support the
NCF’s initiatives focused on improving food security and
safeguarding natural capital.
The announcement for the same was made during the Asia-Pacific
Natural Capital Forum held on 7–9 November 2023, co-hosted by
ADB and Stanford University’s Natural Capital Project.
Key Points:
- It is a funding vehicle that accepts and administers contributions
from multiple funding sources, including bilateral and multilateral
organizations.
- NCF plans to co-finance projects alongside ADB and other partners. Financing will be secured through
future incremental income, eco-compensation rewards, and additional operating cash flows of the projects.
About Asian Development Bank:
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
Establishment– 1966
Hindustan Aeronautics incorporates JV With Safran for Helicopter Engines
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and France based Safran Helicopter Engines have decided to set up a
new 50/50 joint venture (JV) company in
Bengaluru, Karnataka to design, develop,
produce, sell, and support helicopter
engines.
This joint venture will be the first engine
design and manufacturing house in India.
The JV was formed with an aim to develop
the adequate propulsion system for the
Indian Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) future
13-ton Indian Multi-Role Helicopter
(IMRH) and its naval version, the Deck
Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH).
Key Points:
- JV is a testament to the strong and
growing relationship between the Indian and French aerospace industries
- It aims to promote cooperation in research, development, production, and maintenance of aerospace
platforms and systems.
- JV is expected to engage and harness the Indian Defence manufacturing ecosystem, thereby contributing
to the realisation of the government’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision.
About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) – R Madhavan
Headquarters – Bengaluru,Karnataka
Established in – 1940
Apolinaris D’Souza Honored With The 19th ‘Kalakar Puraskar’ Award
Apolinaris D’Souza, a prominent Konkani singer, lyricist, and composer, was honored with the 19th
edition of the ‘Kalakar Puraskar‘ award in appreciation of his immense contributions to the field of music
for over 5 decades.
The award was presented by Mandd Sobhann, in association with ‘Carval Ghorane’.
The award was presented during the 263rd Monthly Theatre at Kalaangann, Shakthinagar, Karnataka
Key Points:
- Apolinaris D’Souza has made immense contributions to
Konkani music in Oman and in Mangaluru,
Karnataka.
- He has served as the choir master at Sts. Peter & Paul
Church, Ruwi in Oman for nearly 20 years, and has
judged many music competitions.
- He has produced 9 audio albums of songs and hymns, 2
books of songs and music, and over 250 videos of
Konkani and English hymns for his YouTube channel.
- He is also known for his popular hymns, such as
‘Mondirant Bhitor Sorun‘, ‘Orgam Tuka Somiya‘, ‘Ye Ye Jezu Mogala‘, ‘Undya Vayna Sovem‘,
‘Vetam Vetam Somiyam‘, and ‘Sasnnacho Vishev’.
- He was the first person to organize Konkani Program in Muscat, Omen (in 1976).
- He has also Organized ‘Apoli Night’ in Muscat.
Ashok Leyland is the First OEM to Manufacture LNG Engines
Ashok Leyland becomes the first Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to unveil an in-house
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) engine named as
‘AVTR 1922’ .
Ashok Leyland has delivered first batch of 12 LNGpowered haulage trucks to Mahanagar Gas Limited
in Hosur, Tamil Nadu(TN).
Key Points:
- The AVTR 1922 is a customizable engine powered
by a 6-cylinder H-series ‘Hino’ engine
- The engine is compliant with Bharat Stage Six
(BSVI) Stage II emission standards.
- It is also built on the AVTR platform, which is
India’s first and only fully modular truck platform.
The engine shares many components with Ashok
Leyland’s current diesel trucks engines
- It meets all safety standards and has a full metal
front end for added safety and easier repairs.
About Ashok Leyland:
Ashok Leyland is an Indian multinational commercial vehicle manufacturer; It is owned by the Hinduja
Group Limited.
Managing Director(MD) & Chief
Executive Officer(CEO) – Shenu Agarwal
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Established in – 1948(Established as Ashok Motors; Became Ashok Leyland in 1955)
National Education Day 2023- November 11
- National Education Day is annually observed across India on 11
November to mark the birth anniversary of ‘Bharat Ratna’
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of
independent India
- His immense contribution to the field of education in India is
recognised by celebrating his birthday as National Education Day
across India.
- This day serves to raise awareness about the fundamental right to
education and underscore its supreme importance.
- 11 November 2023 marks the 135th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was born on
11 November 1888, in Mecca (Saudi Arabia)