Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15 November 2024

Topic: Important Days

1. World Diabetes Day 2024: 14 November

• Every year on 14 November, World Diabetes Day is celebrated.
• The day raises awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue.
• The theme of World Diabetes Day 2024 is ‘Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.’
• It is also observed to mark the birth anniversary of Sir Frederick Banting.
• He discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922.
• In 1991, World Diabetes Day was first celebrated by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization to raise awareness about diabetes.
• In 2006, the United Nations officially recognized World Diabetes Day.
• According to the Indian Council of Medical Research – India Diabetes (ICMR INDIAB) study published in 2023, 10.1 crore people in India are suffering from diabetes.
• In India, several proactive measures have been initiated by the Government to combat diabetes as a part of the comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) under the National Health Mission (NHM).
• Diabetes:
  • It is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin.
  • This leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood.
  • Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Dominica announced to give its highest national honor to Prime Minister Modi.

• The Commonwealth of Dominica has announced that it will confer its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The award will be given for his contribution to the nation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and his role in strengthening ties between India and Dominica.
• Sylvie Berton, President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, will present the award to Prime Minister Modi during the India-CARICOM Summit to be held in Georgetown, Guyana from 19 to 21 November 2024.
• In February 2021, India provided 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Dominica.
• This not only aided the island’s vaccination efforts but also provided Dominica with an opportunity to provide assistance to its Caribbean neighbours in times of crisis.
• The Dominica Award of Honour also recognises India's continued assistance to Dominica in various sectors, including healthcare, education and information technology, under the leadership of Modi.     

Topic: Important Days

3. Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: 15 November

• 15th November is observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in the memory of tribal freedom fighters.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jamui in Bihar to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
• It also marked the start of the 150th Birth Anniversary Year celebrations of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• He also unveiled a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honour of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• PM Modi also inaugurated multiple development projects worth over 6,640 crore rupees for the upliftment of tribal communities and improving infrastructure in rural and remote areas of the region.
• Sri Birsa Munda is revered as Bhagwan by tribal communities across the country.
• Birsa Munda fought bravely against the exploitative system of the British colonial system and led the movement against British oppression.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

4. Mines Ministry signed an MoU with IEA to cooperate on critical minerals.

• The Ministry of Mines inked an agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA) on cooperation in the area of critical minerals.
• It will provide India with access to reliable data, analysis, and policy recommendations in the critical minerals sector and ensure strategic resource management.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an international organization within the framework of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• The MoU with the IEA would also facilitate capacity building and knowledge exchange between India and the IEA member countries.
• The joint research projects, workshops, and training programs carried out under this MoU would foster collaboration and innovation in technology development and extraction techniques.

(Source: PIB)