• India presented the second tranche of aid of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for the financial year 2022-2023.
• India’s Representative Office in Ramallah said this will support the agency’s core programs and services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services.
• “The Government of India presented USD 2.5 million (second tranche of a total contribution of USD 5 million for the Financial Year 2022-2023) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in support of the Agency’s core programmes and services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services,” Representative Office of India Ramallah said in a statement.

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the naming of the new Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, the State Capital of Arunachal Pradesh as “Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar”.
• In January 2019, the Government of India had given its “in-principle” approval for the construction of the Hollongi Greenfield Airport.
• The airport is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with assistance from the Central Government and the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the naming of the new Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, the State Capital of Arunachal Pradesh as “Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar”.
• In January 2019, the Government of India had given its “in-principle” approval for the construction of the Hollongi Greenfield Airport.
• The airport is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with assistance from the Central Government and the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s second Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya (RAVV) in Puri.
• The Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya has been launched to spread knowledge of the Vedas among people. Rastriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya which is also called the National Model Vedic School.
• Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan is the first such school in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
• In the Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya, students will also get the opportunity to opt for science, english, mathematics, social science, computer science, and agriculture.
• Admissions will be based on merit in the ‘Veda Bhusan’ fourth (class 9), ‘Veda Bhusan’ fifth (class 10), ‘Veda Vibhushan’ first (Class 11), and ‘Veda Vibhushan’ second (class 12).
• The courses will begin in the 2022-23 academic year.
• Four more such schools will come up at Badrinath in Uttrakhand, Sringeri in Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, and Guwahati in Assam.

• OVH Magnetometers are known for their higher accuracy, higher sensitivity, and efficient power consumption.
• The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous research institution under DST, has developed the Magnetometers.
• A team from IIG’s instrumentation division used various spectroscopic tools and theoretical simulations to understand the working.
• They find applications in all magnetic observatories worldwide as well as in international space programs.
• It has so far been imported for such purposes in India.

Benefits of OVH magnetometers

• OVH magnetometers reduce the cost of sampling and sensing experiments essential for geomagnetic sampling.
• It can reduce India’s dependence on commercial OVH magnetometers for performing geomagnetic field measurements.

• Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing Ganga Utsav- The River Festivals 2022 on 4th November 2022 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi in two separate sessions.
• The Ganga Utsav- The River Festivals 2022 is being organized by the collaboration of The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• NMGC will make Ganga Utsav- The River Festivals 2022 more colorful with the active and inspirational participation of multiple stakeholders.
• One of the main objectives of Ganga Utsav 2022 is to celebrate rives and spread awareness of the significance of river rejuvenation across river basins in India.

• “Seema Darshan Project adds a new dimension to the tourism sector. It gives the opportunity to appreciate the resilience of those who live on the borders.
• Prime minister also complimented all those involved in eco-friendly and sustainable development.
• The prime minister also said that from this, the infrastructure creation and circular economy, both will get an impetus.

Seema Darshan Project

• This Seema Darshan has begun on the basis of Wagah Border pattern with a view to observe bravery of BSF Jawans. Only a Wagah border is a border outpost across India-Pakistan borders where both the countries perform drill retreat and people can enjoy observing it.
• The attractions at the border viewing point will be a retreat ceremony by the BSF, fusion band performance, camel show and bird watching.
• Visitors will also be able to watch an exhibition of weapons, a photo gallery and a film on BSF at the newly developed border viewing point by Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL).

About the Floating Financial Literacy Camp

• India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp was conducted as part of the launch of the initiative called “Niveshak Didi” in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.
• It was conducted among local residents around the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar.
• It focused on topics like:
• Various banking and financial products
• Importance of joining the mainstream financial services provided by various regulated entities
• Protection against various types of risks related to investments and frauds.

What is “Niveshak Didi” initiative?

• “Niveshak Didi” initiative is implemented based on the concept of “by the women, for the women”. This concept believes that women in rural regions are more comfortable sharing their queries to other women.

About IPPB

• The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) comes under the aegis of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication. It is fully owned by the central government. This bank was launched on September 1, 2018 to become the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for common man in India.

• A dance drama based on the life of Raja Rammohun Roy, who is called the father of modern Indian society, will be organized in the evening of 5th and 6th November, 2022 at Kartavya Path and India Gate (Central Vista).
• Titled ‘Yugpurush Raja Rammohun Roy’, the program is based on the theme ‘Nari Samman’, which  is being organised  by Raja Ram Mohun Roy Library Foundation.
• A one-year long celebration was launched by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India on May 22, 2022, on the occasion of the 250th birth anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

About Raja Rammohun Roy

• Born on May 22, 1772 in Radhanagar, Bengal, Raja Rammohun Roy played a remarkable role in the religious, social and political reforms of India.
• He was the founder of Brahmo Samaj and always promoted modern and scientific approach.
• He was given the title of Raja by Akbar II, the Mughal emperor. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration, education and religion.
• He was known for his efforts to abolish the practices of satiand child marriage. Roy is considered to be the “Father of the Bengal Renaissance” by many historians.

• A seven-member National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team today visited the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) for physical verification of the self-study report submitted by the university.
• The team, which is headed by Arun K Pujari and includes Santa Ram Joshi, Telagam Chetty Tripura Sundari, Vijaya Bhaskar Raju K, Ajitava Raychaudhuri, Balabhim Biradar and Krishnan Krishnan, is on a three-day visit to the HPU.
• It will evaluate the performance of the university on the basis of curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, e-governance, research and patents, and best teaching practices.
• The team inspected Sanskrit, English, History, Visual Arts, Commerce, Tribal Studies, Journalism, Vocational Studies, Geography, Bio-technology, Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Hindi and Sociology departments. The assessment is based on 70 per cent self-study report and 30 per cent physical evaluation.
• After a drop in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) last year, the HPU management had issued instructions to all the departments to fill the gaps and rectify the shortcomings to improve NAAC grading from A to A+.
• One of the reasons for which the HPU was awarded Grade A was to become the first university in the country in implementing the semester system under Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan. However, the state government and the university has reverted back to the annual examination system, creating several problems for the students and other stakeholders.

Performance criteria

• The team will evaluate the performance on the basis of curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, e-governance, research and patents, etc
• After a drop in the NIRF rank last year, the HPU instructed its departments to rectify gaps to improve grading from A to A+

• A wreath laying ceremony was held by the Indian Army in the honour of Major Somnath, PVC (Posthumous), at Saviours of Kashmir War Memorial located at Srinagar International Airport.
• Major Somnath of the 4th Battalion, the Kumaon Regiment led ‘D’ Company of his battalion at Budgam against the raiders approaching Srinagar from North on November 3, 1947.
• Despite being heavily outnumbered and coming under heavy fire, ‘D’ Company under his leadership foiled the enemy’s advance towards Srinagar airfield during the crucial hours.
• In this decisive battle of 1947, Major Somnath along with one Junior Commissioned Officer and 20 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice, defending the motherland against all odds.
• For his ultimate courage, leadership and dedication, Major Somnath was conferred with the country’s first and highest war time gallantry award – the Param Vir Chakra – posthumously.
• On behalf of Lt General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Colonel Manoram Yadav, Officiating Commandant, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre, laid the wreath at the Saviours of Kashmir War Memorial as a mark of respect to Major Somnath.
• Somnath Sharma was born on January 31, 1923, in a military family.
• He was the native of Dadh village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• His father, Major General (retd) Amarnath Sharma, who headed the Army Medical Corps, set up a charitable dispensary in 1955 in memory of his son.