National Education Day 2023 

• National Education Day, observed annually on November 11^th, honours the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.  
• He ardently championed universal primary education, the education of girls, and the implementation of free compulsory education for all children below 14 years old.  
• He played a crucial role in founding renowned educational institutions in India, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). 
• The theme for National Education Day 2023 is "Embracing Innovation." 
• This theme underscores the significance of incorporating innovation in education and the need to promote creative and progressive teaching methods. 

4^th Edition of BONGOSAGAR-23, 5^th Edition of CORPAT Held Between Indian and Bangladesh 

• The Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy conducted the 4^th edition of the Bilateral Exercise, BONGOSAGAR-23, and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in Visakhapatnam. 
• Indian Navy Ships Kuthar, Kiltan and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Dornier participated in the exercise. 
• CORPAT-23 also included the maiden Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief drills held between the two navies. 

ICC Has Suspended Sri Lanka’s Membership   

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket's membership, citing substantial violations of its autonomy and interference from the government.  
• This decision follows the Sri Lankan government's dismissal of the cricket board in response to the national team's unsatisfactory performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. 

REC Signs MoU with RailTel 

• REC (Rural Electrification Corporation) and RailTel Corporation of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), pledging Rs 30,000 crore for a range of infrastructure projects, including telecom, data centres, railway and metro systems, and the KAVACH Train Collision Prevention System. 
• The MoU also delves into the possibility of funding for international initiatives, with a particular emphasis on high-speed rail, metro, IT networks, and upgrades to railway networks.  
• This aligns with RailTel's existing emphasis on infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. 

Venkat Nageswar Chalasani Appointed as New Chief Executive of AMFI 

• The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), a prominent industry body, has appointed Venkat Nageswar Chalasani as its new Chief Executive. 
• Formerly the Deputy Managing Director of the State Bank of India, Chalasani will concentrate on advancing the growth aspects of the mutual fund industry and implementing the AMFI 2.0 strategy. 
• Chalasani has also served as the Chairman of the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) and the Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India (FEDAI).