Current affairs 26 November 2024

KIIT University ranked 4th best in India - Times Higher Education 2025.

• Kalinga Inatitute of Industrial Technology-Deemed to be University ranked 4th in India and 92nd globally in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025, showcasing its excellence in interdisciplinary scientific research.
• Notably, only four Indian universities—both private and public—feature among the top 100 universities globally and KIIT is one of them.

Canara HSBC Life launched OmniGen AI for risk evaluation.

• OmniGen AI: A first-of-its-kind Generative AI solution by Canara HSBC Life Insurance, powered by AWS, to optimize underwriting and risk evaluation processes.
• Key Benefits: Reduces underwriting time, minimizes errors, and enhances risk accuracy.
• Future of Risk Assessment: Improves decision-making by analyzing multiple data points, enhancing consistency, supporting manual oversight refinement.

PM Modi Honoured with Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment in absentia by the Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM) at an event in Maryland, USA.
• AIAM Launch: The AIAM, a newly formed NGO, was launched to promote the welfare of Indian American minority communities.

PRASHAD Scheme Supports Pilgrimage Infrastructure Development.

• Ministry of Tourism's PRASHAD Scheme provides financial assistance to State and UTs for developing tourism infrastructure at pre-identified pilgrimage sites and heritage cities.
• 46 projects have been sanctioned, including 3 in Andhra Pradesh, with 29 sites identified for development.
• Proposals are evaluated based on scheme guidelines and consultation with state and UT administrations.

South Africa Declares "National Disaster" Over Food Poisonings.

• Scale of Crisis: Over 890 food-borne illness cases since September 2024, with 23 child fatalities, including six children in October.
• Terbufos Use: Often illegally sold for pest control in townships. Found inside and outside food packets in spaza shops.
• National Disaster Declaration: Provides greater regulatory powers, with the potential for emergency measures to control the crisis.