6 Women Led Startups Won COVID-19 Shri Shakti Challenge Organized by MyGov in Collaboration with UN Women

• Six Women led startups won the COVID-19 Shri Shakti Challenge organized by MyGov in collaboration with United Nation Women. The challenge was hosted on the Innovate platform of MyGov.
• The top 3 winners were Bengaluru-based Resada Lifesciences Private Limited led by Dr P Gayatri Hela, Shimla based iHeal Health Tech Private Limited led by Romita Ghosh and Kerala based Thanmatra Innovations Private Limited led by Dr Anjana Ramkumar and Dr Anushka Ashokan.
• Top 3 Startups identified as 'Promising Solutions' are: Bengaluru-based Seragen BioTherapeutics Private Limited led by Vasanthi Palanivel, Bengaluru-based Empathy Design Labs led by Shivi Kapil, STREAM Minds led by Jaya Parashar and Ankita Parashar.

First Hyperloop Passenger ride successful

• The Virgin Hyperloop that plans to connect Mumbai and Pune in 25 minutes has conducted its first successful passenger ride.
• The test was conducted in Las Vegas.
• The Hyperloop is a new mode of transport that speeds up to 1000 kilometers per hour. The idea was conceived by Tesla and SpaceX in 2012. Virgin Hyperloop is the only one that has developed the transport in India.
• `The IIT Madras recently conducted Hyperloop contest to encourage young engineers of the country in developing the technology.

Atal Innovation Mission-Sirius Programme

• The Atal Innovation Mission-Sirius Innovation Programme was launched for India and Russia school children. The programme aims to develop technological solutions for both India and Russia.
• Around 48 students and 16 educators are to participate in the programme. The innovations developed by the students will be from the field of block chain, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• SIRIUS - SIRIUS is Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station. It is a series of experiments that investigates flight to the moon
• The programme is jointly held between AIM and SIRIUS based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed during PM Modi's visit to Russia in 2018.
• Atal Tinkering Labs - These labs are established in schools spread all over the country. The main objective of Atal Tinkering Labs is to promote creativity in children. It also includes adaptive learning, physical computing and computational thinking. The schemes under Atal Innovation Mission is administered by NITI Aayog.
• The Atal Innovation Mission recently launched Artificial Intelligence Modules in schools in association with National Association of Software and Services (NASSCOM).
• The Council of scientific and Industrial Research have come together to promote innovation by supporting world class startups.

Wildlife Institute of India : High Biodiversity in 49% of Ganges

• The Wildlife Institute of India recently released a survey on the Ganges river. According to the survey, 49% of the river is high on biodiversity.
• The Gangetic Dolphins and Otters in the river have increased in numbers.
• The study was conducted by the WII on behalf of National Mission for Clean Ganga undertaken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The first phase of the survey was held in 2017-19.
• The high Biodiversity zones of the Ganges has been divided into six zones. They are Makdumpur to Narora, Devprayag to Rishikesh, Bhitaura to Ghazipur, Sahibganj to Rajmahal, Chhapra to Kahalgaon and Baharampur to Barackpore.
• Ministry of Shipping renamed to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renamed the Ministry of Shipping to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on November 8, 2020. PM Modi announced the renaming of the ministry at the inaugural virtual event of Ro-Pax terminal at Surat's Hazira.
• He also flagged-off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat in the event.
• This ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha will reduce the distance of 370 km to 90 km by seat route. Also, the journey time is now reduced to 3-4 hours from 10-12 hours earlier.
• Mansukh L Mandaviya is the Union Minister of Shipping which is now Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

First Solar based Integrated Multi Village Water Supply Project inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh

• Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the country's first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Pema Khandu also launched the "Arunachal Jal Sankalp" programme in this event. This is a state government programme to supplement Jal Jeevan Mission
• This water supply project for 39 villages of Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh has been commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.50 crore.
• The project is said to provide drinking water to 17,480 people and is being seen as project that will combine elements of green energy and tourism along with the drinking water.

National Saffron Mission extended to North East

• Saffron Production under the National Saffron Mission that was so far confined to Kashmir is now to be implemented in the North East. The plants are to be transported from Kashmir to Sikkim.
• So far, saffron production was confined to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It was mainly grown in the Pampore region of India. The region is known as "Saffron Bowl of Kashmir" and is the main contributor to saffron production.
• The Gol allocated Rs 373 crore for the mission. However, only Rs 150 crores have been spent.
• NECTAR is North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR). It is an autonomous body under which the pilot project to explore feasibility of growing saffron in the North East region was determined.

FASTags made mandatory to all four wheelers from January 1, 2021

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has made FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers from January 1, 2021.
• The ministry released an official notification regarding this on November 6 and also clarified that it will be applicable to old vehicles also.
• FASTags are the prepaid tags for automatic toll collection. These are usually pasted on the windscreen of the vehicles. FASTags are rechargeable and the amount of toll is automatically deducted once these vehicles pass through the toll centre areas. FASTags work on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
• FASTag will be mandatory for getting new third party insurance. It will be applicable from April 1, 2021.

ECI organized 3 day International Virtual Election Visitors Programme for Foreign Election Management Bodies

• In the context of Bihar Legislative Assembly Election, Election Commission of India (ECI) organized a three-day International Virtual Election Visitors Programme for Foreign Election Management Bodies and Organizations.
• Delegates from around 40 countries along with International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems and Association of World Election Bodies participated in the programme.
• The session was addressed by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.

1st High Court in India to Live-Stream its Court Proceedings on YouTube

• The Gujarat High Court became the first high court to live stream judicial proceedings on YouTube channel.
• This is to increase the access to courts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Model of Anti-Satellite Missile system inaugurated at DRDO

• Defense Minister Raj Nath Singh inaugurated the anti-Satellite Missile System at Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) headquarters, New Delhi.
• The DRDO successfully conducted anti-satellite missile test at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Anti-Satellite Weapon - It is designed to destroy satellites for military purposes. However, no ASAT system has been utilized in warfare so far. The countries that posses the ASAT technologies are India, China, US, Russia. These are the only countries in the world that have demonstrated the technology,
• ASAT Test in India under Mission Shakti – India tested its Anti-Satellite weapon in 2019 under its operation code named "Operation Shakti". The ASAT test used the interceptor, Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mark II to conduct the test.
• Prithvi was a modified anti-ballistic missile. It was developed under Project XSV-1. The test made India the fourth country after US, Russia and China to test the anti-satellite weapon.
• The Target Satellite was Microsat-R. It was built to solve military purpose.

Bangladesh and US launch joint naval exercise 'CARAT Bangladesh 2020

• Bangladesh and US Navies launched the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh-2020 to expand relationships and to broaden maritime awareness between the two sides.
• The sea phase of the exercise will take place in the Bay of Bengal with ships from both countries.
• They are designed to enhance interoperability between the two navies.

Sudan removed from State sponsors of Terrorism List

• Sudan was removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
• Sudan-Israel - After UAE, Bahrain, Sudan became the third country to normalize its relations with Israel in the last two months.
• State Sponsors of Terrorism List - It is a list generated by the United States. The list consists of countries that are repeatedly providing support to international terrorism. International Terrorism is a brand provided by United Nations through resolution process at the General Assembly. For instance, in 2019, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar was designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations. This means that a country helping the terrorist will be put under State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
• The list was first generated in 1979 with Iraq, South Yemen, Libya and Syria. Later Cuba was added in 1982, Ira in 1984, North Korea in 1988 and Sudan in 1993. South Yemen, Libya and Cuba have been removed from the list. North Korea was removed and readded again in 2017
• Therefore, currently, only three countries are on the list. They are North Korea, Iran and Syria.

About Sudan

• Capital - Juba
• PM – Abdalla Hamdok
• Currency - Sudanese Pound

International Stress Awareness Week 2020 → November 2 to 6

• The International Stress Awareness Week is annually celebrated from 2nd November to 6th November to raise awareness on the prevention of stress and to promote the importance of wellbeing of individuals and organizations. The International week was established to focus on stress management.
• The 2020 International Stress Awareness Week provides a platform to highlight the stress and other mental health issues and share the insights on stress management across the globe.
• The Week was created in 2018 following the establishment of National Stress Awareness Day in 1998.

National Stress Awareness Day

• The National Stress Awareness Day was established by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) to identify and reduce the stress factors in life. The day is annually marked on the first Wednesday of November.

The 2020 National stress Awareness Day falls on 4th November 2020.

• The International Stress Management Association - United Kingdom (ISMAUK) has organized the first ever online global stress and wellbeing summit from 2nd November 2020 to 6th November 2020 on account of the International Stress Awareness week.
• International Stress Awareness Week- 2020 November 2 to 6
• Around 19.2% i.e. 1 in 5 adults experienced some form of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 which was around 9.7% i.e. 1 in 10
• 1 in 8 adults develop moderate to severe depression during the pandemic and around 6.2% of the population are experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms.
• Around 84.9% of the adults experiencing some form of depression felt its effects on the wellbeing through stress and anxiety.