Daily Current Affairs and GK | 14 September 2024

Topic: Environment and Ecology

1. Ministry of Environment organized a dialogue on the Montreal Protocol.

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organized a dialogue on the theme “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action”.
• The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement to protect the ozone layer by reducing and consumption of Ozone Depleting substances.
• This event has been organized to mark the 30th World Ozone Day.
• World Ozone Day is observed to protect the ozone layer of the earth, which is essential for life.
• It also highlights the need for ongoing climate action to protect it for future generations.
• The increased use of cooling systems like refrigerators and air conditioners has raised the temperature.
• The temperature rise has affected the Ozone layer and created a vicious cycle.
• India has been a party to the Montreal Protocol since June 1992.
• India has phased out chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, halons, methyl bromide, and methyl chloroform for controlled use.
• Currently, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are being phased out as per the accelerated schedule of the Montreal Protocol.

Topic: Defence

2. High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys worth $52.8 million will be sold by the USA to India.

• The move will enhance India's ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations.
• Sonobuoys are air-launched, expendable, electro-mechanical sensors designed to transmit underwater sounds to a remote processor.
• These antisubmarine warfare (ASW) are capable of being used by airborne ASW warfighters that are both efficient and affordable.
• The proposed sale will enhance India's capability to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations using MH-60R helicopters, improving its ability to deal with current and future threats.
• With an estimated total cost of USD 52.8 million, India had requested to buy AN/SSQ-53O High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys, and AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys.
• This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
• It will help strengthen the U.S.-India strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defense partner.
• The U.S.-India relationship remains an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
• On August 23, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had approved the Foreign Military Sale of Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of US$52.8 million.

Topic: National News

3. 20^th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) meeting has been concluded successfully in Goa.

• During 20^th MSDC meet, over 80 critical issues between the Central Government, States, and Union Territories were resolved.
• At the 20^th MSDC meeting, Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC) was launched.
• Mega shipbuilding park plans across the coastal states were discussed.
• An Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) was also launched.
• It is a policy think tank designed to bring together maritime stakeholders currently operating in silos.
• IIMDRC is to be set up in Mumbai. For the IIMDRC, a MoU was signed between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the India International Arbitration Centre.
• The IIMRDC will offer merit-based and industry-governed solutions to resolve maritime disputes efficiently.
• It will offer merit-based and industry-governed solutions addressing the multi-modal, multi-contract, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-national nature of maritime transactions.
• A highlight of the event was the keel laying ceremony for India’s largest dredger at Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• This is a 12,000 Cu. M. Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD).
• This is constructed in association with IHC Holland.
• This is the first time that India is building a dredger of this size.
• The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, was also discussed by Minister Sonowal.
• With signed Memorandums of Understanding from Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, the NMHC will promote international relationships with 25 nations.
• Agreements with France, Norway, Iran, and Myanmar are in advanced stages.

Topic: Defence

4. The preliminary automotive trials of the Indian Light Tank, Zorawar have been successfully conducted by DRDO.

• In the desert terrain, where field trials were conducted, the Light Tank performed well.
• During the field trials, it effectively achieved every goal that was intended.
• This platform is highly adaptable and can be used in high-altitude environments.
• During the first stage, the tank's ability to fire was closely monitored, and it met the necessary accuracy on pre-identified targets.
• The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment has successfully developed Zorawar.
• The development of various sub-systems was contributed by many Indian industries, including Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
• This demonstrates the power of the nation's domestic defense manufacturing capacities.
• The Zorawar is an Indian light tank. It is designed to have a high power-to-weight ratio.
• It is named for the 19th century General Zorawar Singh.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

5. In terms of states having AYUSH facilities, Madhya Pradesh leads the nation.

• As per the 'Health Dynamics of India - Infrastructure and Human Resources' report, Madhya Pradesh has 52 district hospitals, which places it second in terms of the number of district hospital.
• Delhi is in third place with 40 district hospitals, and Uttar Pradesh leads the ranking with 125 district hospitals.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, recently released the report.
• MP is also third in terms of tribal pockets having AYUSH doctors at 228 primary and community health centres.
• With 296 AYUSH doctors, Odisha is ranked first, followed by Chhattisgarh (279 AYUSH doctors).
• Since 2005, Madhya Pradesh has been one of the six first states in India to substantially expand the number of sub-health centers located in rural areas.
• In addition, it comes in seventh place out of the 10 states with the most primary health centers.
• With 332 community health centers out of 5,491 in the country, Madhya Pradesh is also in the top six states for the number of these facilities.
• The report shows that Madhya Pradesh is one of the top three states with respect to the number of sub-divisional hospitals.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. An MoU signed to increase efficiency and accountability in food grain procurement and distribution.

• On September 13, an MoU was signed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for FY 2024-25 to enhance the efficiency and accountability of foodgrain procurement and distribution.
• The MoU outlines specific performance standards and accountability measures, including performance standards for FCI depots.
• These are aimed at optimising the use of public funds in managing food safety operations.
• The performance standards for FCI depots include depot efficiency parameters such as capacity utilisation, operating losses, safety measures, modernisation and automation of processes at the depots, etc.
• In 1965, FCI was established under the Food Corporations Act, 1964 of the Parliament.
• Its primary duty is to procure, store, handle/transport, distribute and sell food grains.

Topic: National News

7. Sri Vijaya Puram will be the new name of Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to government decision.

• According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government decided to free the country of its colonial heritage.
• According to Union Home Minister, Sri Vijaya Puram represents the nation's successful freedom struggle.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a unique position in the history and freedom struggle of the nation, according to the Union Home Minister.
• The island region that was previously the Chola Empire's naval base is now positioned to provide the vital foundation for our aspirations for growth and strategy.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union territory's capital city is Sri Vijaya Puram.
• The Centre's ₹72,000 crore project for Nicobar Island has made news, raising concerns that it could force the native Shompen tribe to relocate.
• There are 244 Shompens, who are mostly nomadic hunters who live in isolation on Nicobar Island.
• In honour of Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named 21 sizable, unidentified UT islands after recipients of the Param Vir Chakra.
• Additionally, the prime minister announced the model for the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, formerly known as Ross Islands, where a national memorial honouring the late leader will be erected.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Jan Sunwai portal was launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

• The portal's purpose is to support exporters in resolving their problems online and to enable direct, transparent contacts between dealers.
• It consists of various departments, including the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, APEDA, Coffee Board, Spices Board, Rubber Board, and Tea Board.
• Mr. Goyal also inaugurated the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation's redesigned SMILE-ERP facility.
• Mr. Goyal also chaired a meeting of the Board of Trade. The meeting was attended by ministers from 10 states. 
• The discussion included a range of export-related projects from states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. Retail Inflation reached 3.65% in August.

• India's Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation rises to 3.65 per cent in August from 3.6 per cent in July.
• RBI’s retail inflation target is 4 per cent for the medium term.
• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) also rises slightly to 4.83 per cent in July from 4.72 per cent in June.
• National Statistical Office (NSO) also revealed a rise in food inflation, which increased to 5.66 per cent in August from 5.42 per cent in July.
• The prices of cereals (7.31 per cent) and protein-rich items like milk (2.98 per cent), meat & fish (4.30 per cent) decelerated.
• The prices of fuel (-5.31 per cent) contracted during the month.
• As per the NSO, eight of the 23 manufacturing sectors in the IIP contracted in July.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

10. WHO granted the first mpox vaccine approval for Africa.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved using a vaccine against mpox in adults in Africa.
• The pre-qualification of the vaccine by Bavarian Nordic means that donors such as GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF can buy it.
• This first pre-qualification of a vaccine against mpox is an important step towards fighting against this disease.
• As per the WHO, the vaccine can be administered to people aged 18 or above in a two-dose regimen.
• According to the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, 70% of the cases were in Congo, which is the hardest hit by mpox.
• As per the Africa CDS, 107 new deaths and 3160 new cases have been recorded in the past week.
• Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. It has symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. On 13 September, a web portal launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to monitor progress of Special Swachhata Campaign 4.0 Progress.

• This dedicated online web portal (https://scdpm.nic.in/specialcampaign4/) has been launched to monitor the progress of Special Campaign 4.0.
• This was announced during a virtual meeting with Nodal Officers of Special Campaign 4.0, Nodal Officers of Public Grievances, and Appellate Authorities from all 84 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
• It has been decided by the government to run a special campaign from 2nd October to 31st October every year to institutionalize cleanliness and reduce pendency of cases.
• The initial phase will be run from 16 September to 30 September 2024 before Special Campaign 4.0.
• The aim of this special campaign is to institutionalize cleanliness in all the offices of the Government of India with a vision of totality.
• A total of 4,04,776 Swachhata Abhiyan sites were covered in the three special campaigns of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
• Under this, 355 lakh sq. ft. space was freed for proper utilisation and revenue of Rs 1,162 crore was earned from waste disposal.
• During the initial phase, Ministries and Departments will identify pending works in selected categories, mobilise workers at the ground level, finalise campaign sites, review records as well as prepare site management plan and dispose of waste.
• The best practices will be presented during Good Governance Week 2024 from December 19 to 24, 2024.

Topic: Important Days

12. Hindi Diwas 2024: 14 September

• Every year, Hindi Diwas is observed on 14 September.
• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of Indian union (Article 343).
• Since 1953, it was announced to celebrate 14 September every year as Hindi Diwas throughout the country.
• The day also marks the birthday of Beohar Rajendra Simha. He was born on 14 September 1900.
• He played a crucial role in getting Hindi in the Devanagari script approved as an official language of India.
• Hindi is one of the most spoken languages and is spoken by 600 million people globally.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

13. Algeria became a new member of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).

• Algeria’s membership to the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has been approved.
• This was announced by the NDB chief Dilma Roussef at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Algeria has taken an important step towards integrating into the global financial system.
• Algeria is a leading exporter of natural gas in the African continent.
• BRICS New Development Bank (NDB):
  • It was formed in 2015 to mobilise resources for projects in emerging markets and developing countries.
  • Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are the founding members of the BRICS New Development Bank.
  • Its main aim is to offer an alternative to international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

Topic: Banking System

14. NaBFID has been notified by the Centre as a ‘Public Financial Institution’.

• National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has been notified by Corporate Affairs Ministry as a ‘Public Financial Institution’ under Company law.
• With PFI status, NaBFID would gat various benefits under the Company Law, Income Tax law, SARFAESI law etc.
• Under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act 2023, NaBFID was established as a Development Finance Institution (DFI).
• With effect from December 29, 2022, NaBFID had started its commercial operations.
• It was established to aid in the growth of India's long-term non-recourse infrastructure finance.(Source: News on AIR)