British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Nov 2 that he will attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next week, reversing his previous decision to skip the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh to focus on domestic issues and the economic crisis in the UK.

Sunak took to Twitter to reveal his plans after criticism from climate activists and within the government from Indian-origin COP27 President Alok Sharma, who said it was important for the prime minister to be present to show the UK's commitment to the issue of climate action.

The pressure mounted further as his ex-boss, former prime minister Boris Johnson, confirmed that he would be attending the summit scheduled between November 6 and 18.

Many world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron, are due to go to the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

India's Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav will lead an 18-member delegation at COP 27, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance yet to be confirmed.

The government on  Nov 2 approved Rs 51,875 crore nutrient-based fertilizers subsidy for the second half of the current fiscal.  The decision will enable availability of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers to the farmers during Rabi season of 2022-23 at affordable prices of fertilizers and support the agriculture sector.

Volatility in global prices of fertilizers and raw materials has been primarily absorbed by the Centre. The Cabinet also gave its nod for higher ethanol price derived from different sugarcane-based raw materials under ethanol blended program ((EBP)  for the forthcoming sugar season 2022-23 from December 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023.

The price of ethanol from C-heavy molasses route has been raised from Rs 46.66 per litre to Rs 49.41 per litre. The price of ethanol from B heavy molasses route has been raised from Rs 59.08 per litre to Rs 60.73 per litre, while price of ethanol from sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup route has been raised from Rs 63.45 per litre to Rs 65.61 per litre. 

Amid growing concern over unemployment in the country and shrinking government jobs, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has set up a dedicated cell to facilitate implementation of “Mission Recruitment” in CPSEs.

The dedicated cell has directed the CPSEs concerned to nominate their nodal officers and upload relevant details on designated portal of Department of Personnel & Training, a document from the Department of Public Enterprises showed.

The dedicated cell had a couple of meetings with the nominated nodal officers recently.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched a recruitment drive “Rozgar Mela” for 10 lakh personnel. These recruitments will be done by central ministries and departments themselves and via recruitment agencies like UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Board.

As per reports, the government has sought information pertaining to vacancies from all public sector undertakings and asked them to prepare a road map to fill them at the entry-level as well as at the senior level. It is to be noted that in 2020-21, the number of personnel employed has come down to 13.72 lakh as against 14.72 lakh in 2016-17.

As per the official data, total number of CPSEs operating in the country at the end of FY 21 stood at 255. Out of these 2,556 CPSEs, 177 were making profits and generated a profit of `1.89 lakh crore in FY21.

Earlier this year, the government in parliament had informed there were nearly 8.72 lakh posts vacant in several central government departments as of March 1, 2020. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in October touched 7.7%, up from 6.43% in September. Rural unemployment crossed 8% in October.

Malaysia's AirAsia on  Nov 2 said it has entered into a pact with Air India to sell its remaining stake in budget carrier AirAsia India.

Tata group and the Malaysian entity-owned AirAsia India started flying in June 2014.

In a statement, AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd said it has entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the remaining equity shares held in AirAsia India to Air India. It did not provide any specific details.

AirAsia India was a joint venture between Tata Sons and Air Asia Investment Ltd. Tata Sons had an 83.67 per cent stake and the latter owned a 16.33 per cent shareholding.

In June, the Competition Commission of India approved the proposed acquisition of the entire shareholding of AirAsia India by Air India.

Q1. Name the Election Commission portal which will provide online nomination and affidavit filing options to the candidates ?

1. Gyan Portal
2. Samata Portal
3. Suvidha Portal
4. Namo Portal
5. None of These

Q2. Name the renowned social activist and  and the founder of the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA)  who was passed away on Nov 2 ?

1. Ela Bhatt
2. Anasuya Sarabhai
3. Sushila Nayyar
4. Miraben
5. None of These

Q3. What amount the government has approved as nutrient-based fertilizers subsidy for the second half of the current fiscal ?

1. Rs 41,375 crore
2. Rs 51,875 crore
3. Rs 62,870 crore
4. Rs 75,885 crore
5. None of These

Q4. Name the country which has rejected calls for a compensation fund for migrant workers killed or injured during World Cup preparations, with the country's labour minister calling it a "publicity stunt"?

1. Saudi Arab
2. UAE
3. Kuwait
4. Qatar
5. None of These

Q5. Name the  lead internal Security Force which has for the first time not only promoted its two lady cadre officers (Seema Dhundia and  Annie Abraham) to the rank of Inspector General but have also put them to command two sensitive sectors of the force ?

1. Central Industrial Security Force
2. Indo Tibetan Border Police
3. Border Security Force
4. Central Reserve Police Force
5. None of These

Answers

1---------------------3   Suvidha Portal

2----------------------1  Ela Bhatt

3---------------------2   Rs 51,875 crore

4---------------------4   Qatar

5----------------------4     Central Reserve Police Force 

Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh assumed the command of the Indian Army’s Southern Command as its 50th Army Commander on Nov 1 . He took charge from Lt Gen J S Nain. On taking charge, the General Officer laid a wreath at the War Memorial, Pune in a solemn ceremony to remember the fallen heroes.  

Gujarat is observing state-wide mourning on Nov 2 to pay homage to the victims of the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy.

Flags were flown at half-mast, no official or entertainment event will be held on Nov 2.

This decision to observe the state-wide mourning was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the situation after the tragedy in which over 140 people were killed when the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river collapsed.

AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand will soon assume charge as a minister in the Delhi Cabinet, with President Droupadi Murmu accepting the city government’s recommendation in this regard.

Days after Rajendra Pal Gautam resigned from the Cabinet on October 9 following a row over his presence at a religious conversion event, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said he had recommended the name of Anand, the Patel Nagar MLA, to the lieutenant governor for including him in his ministry.

Gautam was the minister for departments of social welfare, SC and ST, registrar of co-operative societies and gurudwara elections. Anand and his wife Veena joined AAP after its formation in 2011-2012, before which he was associated with the anti-corruption movement in the capital.

Like Gautam, Anand is also from the Jatav community.