Observed on November 14 every year.

• Aim : to raise global awareness of diabetes, a chronic illness affecting millions worldwide.
• Theme : Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.
• Organised by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Current Context : The Paragliding World Cup 2024, held in Bir Billing from November 2-9, saw pilots from over 31 countries is concluded.

• This was the second Paragliding World Cup held in Bir Billing after 2015, highlighting India’s prominence in adventure sports.

Top Performers:

• Men’s Category: Austin Cox (USA) won with 3,742.6 points.
• Women’s Category: Joanna Kocot (Poland) topped with 3,194.7 points, followed by Daria Eltekova (Germany) and Marina Olexina (Brazil).

Indian Nationals: Ranjeet Singh and others like Sushant Thakur, Amit Kumar, and Ashwani Thakur performed well.​

About the Paragliding World Cup

• Organized by the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA), it brings together elite paragliders to compete globally, covering diverse terrains and flight conditions.
• Location: Held in Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh, India – known as the world’s second-highest paragliding site.

Current Context : Nine villages of Solan have been selected under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan of the Central Government.

• The nine selected villages fall in eight gram panchayats of the Nalagarh and Doon Assembly segments.
• These villages are Bairchha, Mastanpur, Gol Jamala, Dhang Nichli, Malpur, Gullerwala, Lehi and Mandhala.

About Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

• Launch: Initiated by PM Narendra Modi on October 2, 2024, for tribal empowerment.
• Coverage: Targets 63,000+ tribal-majority villages across India, focusing on aspirational districts.
• Funding: ₹79,156 crore allocated over five years, involving 17 ministries.

Focus Areas:

• Infrastructure: Provision of pucca houses, tap water, and mobile connectivity.
• Education: Tribal hostels and Eklavya Model Schools to improve enrollment and quality education.
• Healthcare: Mobile medical units in remote villages for accessible healthcare.
• Livelihood: Skill development and marketing support for cottage industries​

Current Context : The five-day historic Shri Renuka Ji fair, began at the sacred Shri Renuka Ji pilgrimage site in Sirmaur district.

• It is celebrated annually for five days from Kartik Shukla Dashami to Purnima.
• Historical Significance : According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Renuka was married to Sage Jamadagni and was the mother of Lord Parshuram. After Renuka’s death, Parshuram is believed to have received divine powers from Lord Shiva, which allowed him to bring his mother back to life. The annual fair symbolizes this “reunion” and honors the bond between mother and son.
• The fair begins with a “Shobha Yatra,” featuring the palanquin of Lord Parshuram, which starts in Dadahu and proceeds to Triveni Ghat, culminating in a symbolic reunion with Goddess Renuka.​​

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated a four-day International Lavi Fair at Rampur Bushahr in Shimla district

About Fair

• Held in Oct-Nov every year at Rampur-Bushahr.
• Word Lavi is derived from word ‘Loe’ meaning a sheet of woolen cloth.
• Historical Significance: Dating back to the 17th century, the Lavi Fair originated under Raja Kehari Singh’s rule as a symbol of Indo-Tibetan trade relations. Rampur was a significant trade center on the ancient Silk Route, connecting Afghanistan, Tibet, and Ladakh.
• The fair is renowned for the sale of woolen garments, dry fruits, and especially the Chamurthi horses—an endangered breed known as the “Ship of the cold desert.” This makes it a vital economic opportunity for local artisans and traders.​​

Current Context : The NAWO-DHAN scheme (New Agriculture Wealth Opportunities Driving Horticulture Agribusiness Networking) is a pilot initiative launched by Kerala’s Agriculture Department.

• Aim : to boost horticulture and agribusiness in the state, specifically by utilizing fallow and underutilized land for high-value crop production.
• Objective: To increase food production and revenue by transforming unutilized cultivable land into high-tech farms for commercial horticulture.
• The scheme promotes horticulture, hydroponics, precision farming, mushroom cultivation, apiculture, and more, to meet Kerala’s vegetable demands and reduce dependency on imports from neighboring states.​​

Current Context : The Poorvi Prahaar Tri-Service Exercise is a major military drill conducted by India from November 8, 2024, for 10 days, involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Objective: To demonstrate operational readiness and enhance inter-service coordination among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, focusing on strengthening defense posture along India’s eastern border.

Involved Forces:

• Indian Army: Infantry Combat units, Artillery Guns, Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
• Indian Air Force (IAF): Su-30MKIs, Rafales, C-130Js, and helicopters operating from air bases in Kolkata, Hashimara, and others.
• Indian Navy: Special Forces like MARCOS commandos.

Current Context : NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) has launched the world’s first CO2-to-methanol plant at its Vindhyachal thermal power plant in Madhya Pradesh.

• Aim : to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to India’s transition to a low-carbon economy by producing methanol, a cleaner fuel alternative
• The plant will convert 20 tonnes of CO2 per day into 10 tonnes of methanol using a catalytic hydrogenation process.

About Methanol (CH3OH)

• Also Known As: Methyl alcohol or wood alcohol.
• Properties: Methanol is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that mixes completely with water. It has an odor similar to ethanol (drinking alcohol).
• Chemical Simplicity: It is the simplest type of alcohol, making it easy to produce and versatile in various industries.

Celebrated annually on November 13.

• Aim : to increase awareness of kindness’s positive impact on personal well-being and society.​
• Theme : Make Kindness the Norm
• It was established in 1998by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of kindness organizations worldwide.​

 Current Context : Thanedhar Gram Panchayat in Shimla has been nominated for the National Panchayat Awards, specifically under the themes of “Clean and Green Village,” “Social Justice and Socially Secured Panchayat,” and “Panchayat with Good Governance”​

Award Categories:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: Recognizes top-performing Gram Panchayats under specific themes related to LSDGs.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: For Panchayats with the highest average scores across all themes.
• Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Acknowledges Panchayats making significant contributions to renewable energy.
• The National Panchayat Awards are conferred by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to recognize exemplary performance by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Aim : to foster a competitive spirit among Panchayats to achieve the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) by 2030.