Daily Current Affairs and GK | 17 December 2024

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

1. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and the Indian Navy signed an MoU to boost Logistics Education & Research.

• To enhance logistics-related education, research, and training, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara has signed Logistics Education & Researcha Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy.
• The MoU has been signed by the Controller of Logistics in the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Deepak Kapoor, and Vice-Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Professor Manoj Choudhary.
• This MoU represents that Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya caters the education and research needs of all three defence services.
• The MoU will enable Indian Navy officers to pursue academic degrees at GSV, alongside management development programs designed exclusively for them.
• This collaboration will strengthen the Indian Navy’s logistical framework by focusing on supply chain management, multimodal transportation, and sustainability in logistics.
• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is a central university located in Vadodara. It was also known as the National Rail and Transportation Institute.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Credit Guarantee Scheme launched by the Government to facilitate credit access for farmers through e-NWR.

• On December 16, the 'Credit Guarantee Scheme for e-NWR-based Pledge Financing' (CGS-NPF) was launched by the Central Government.
• Under this scheme, farmers will now be able to get loans through their produce.
• The scheme provides a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore to support post-harvest finance to farmers.
• Farmers can avail this finance against electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs) after depositing their commodities in Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)-accredited warehouses.
• The Union Minister said that this scheme is being launched to reduce forced selling by farmers.
• This scheme is a landmark initiative as a guarantee cover for loans taken by farmers/traders against electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWR).
• The launch of this scheme with a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore will enable increasing the post-harvest loan to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in the next 10 years.
• The scheme mainly focuses on small and marginal farmers, women, SC, ST and Divyangjan (PwD) farmers, with a minimum guaranteed fee.
• Apart from this, small traders (MSMEs) and FPOs also benefit under this scheme.
• Loans given to small and marginal farmers up to Rs 75 lakh will have 80 to 85% coverage, and loans given to MSMEs/FPOs/traders up to Rs 200 lakh will have up to 75% coverage.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. An MoU signed by NCERT with an e-commerce platform to ensure affordable and seamless availability of NCERT publications.

• On 16 December, an MoU was signed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) with an e-commerce platform, Flipkart, to ensure the affordable and seamless availability of NCERT publications across the country.
• The signing ceremony was presided over by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stated that this will help in delivering NCERT textbooks to learners' doorsteps, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
• The Google Learning Centre was also inaugurated by the minister to facilitate the capacity building of teachers and educators on digital tools, including AI.
• A state-of-the-art lab has been created for 40 people with adequate computers and networking facilities.
• Along with this, 200 YouTube channels have been created for the simulcast of PMeVIDYA DTH TV Channels.
• The NISTHA Integrated Teacher Training Modules, NISHTHA-ET, Kaushal, and Edu-Leader were also released by the minister.

Topic: State News/Uttarakhand

4. The first yoga policy in India will be implemented in Uttarakhand.

• This information was provided by Chief Minister Dhami at the 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2024.
• Delegates from over 50 nations are taking part in this program, which is being held in Uttarakhand.
• Over 6000 experts are taking part in this program.
• The 'First Yoga Policy' of India will be implemented by the state government, according to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
• By combining yoga and ayurveda on a large scale, the Yoga Policy will be crucial in bringing about a new health revolution.
• In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Dhami urged the Central Government to establish the All India Institute of Ayurveda.
• He claimed that by designating one village as a model AYUSH village in each district, the government is attempting to encourage the cultivation of Ayurvedic herbs.
• According to Pratap Rao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge), the Central Government launched the Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan nationwide on October 29 in an effort to promote Ayurveda.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. In November 2024, India's total exports came to $67.79 billion, a 9.59% increase over November 2023.

• From April to November 2024, merchandise exports came to $284.31 billion, up 2.17% from $278.26 billion in 2023.
• Merchandise exports decreased from $33.75 billion in November 2023 to $32.11 billion in November 2024.
• Exports of non-petroleum goods reached $28.40 billion in November 2024, up 7.75% from $26.36 billion in November 2023.
• Electronic goods, technical items, rice, marine products, and ready-made clothing were major drivers of export growth in November 2024.
• The estimated total imports for November 2024 were $87.63 billion, a 27.47% increase over November 2023.
• An estimated $619.20 billion was spent on imports between April and November of 2024, a 9.55% increase.
• The increase in gold imports caused the merchandise trade imbalance to increase from $27.14 billion to $37.84 billion in November 2024.

Topic: State News/Gujarat

6. Gujarat’s 1^st semiconductor assembly and testing plant inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister in Surat.

• Gujarat’s first semiconductor assembly and testing outsourced plant inaugurated by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil at Surat.
• Gujarat will develop into a global centre for the production of semiconductors, according to Union Minister C.R. Patil.
• The semiconductors are the most crucial raw material for the production of electronics.
• Suthi Semicon of Surat has invested 840 crore rupees to establish a plant at Bagumra, Palsana taluka.
• Three lakh semiconductor chips will be produced daily by the plant.
• This plant has already begun producing electronic chips.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

7. The 10^th International Forest Fair in Bhopal has been inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.

• The 10th International Forest Fair is being held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from 17 December till 23 December.
• The fair will offer a broad forum for discussion amongst collectors, producers, traders, entrepreneurs, scientists, administrators, and policy makers involved in the forest sector.
• Representatives from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Australia are taking part in the fair.
• This year's theme is "Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce".
• The reason for this theme is the fact that half of Madhya Pradesh's minor forest produce management is done by women.
• Approximately 300 stalls are set up at the fair, an

Topic: International News

8. Russia will launch visa-free travel for Indian tourists in 2025.

• In June 2024, Russia and India agreed on a bilateral agreement to ease visa rules.
• Its main aim is to introduce visa-free group tourist exchanges.
• After spring 2025, Indian tourists may be able to visit Russia without a visa.
• Indian travellers became eligible for e-visas to Russia in August 2023. It is processed within four days.
• Most Indian visitors to Russia travel for business or work. More than 60,000 Indians visited Moscow in 2023.
• At present, Russia allows citizens from China and Iran to enter without a visa as part of a visa-free tourist exchange program
• Indian passport holders currently have visa-free access to 62 countries.

Topic: Defence

9. New survey vessel ‘INS Nirdeshak’ has been commissioned into Indian Navy.

• Indian Navy will get its new survey vessel ‘INS Nirdeshak’.
• This survey vessel will provide important information to the Navy about the deep sea.
• It will help in the operation of warships and submarines.
• The Survey Ship Nirdeksha will be inducted into the Navy fleet in Visakhapatnam on December 18.
• This ship has been built with more than 80 percent of indigenous materials.
• GRSE Kolkata has built the survey vessel ‘Nirdeshak’. It weighs 3800 tonnes and is 110 metres long.
• Two diesel engines power it. It is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic survey equipment.
• This boat is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid navigation and support maritime operations.

Topic: International Appointment

10. Former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili became the President of Georgia on 14 December.

• Kavelashvili secured an easy victory in the election as he was the sole candidate on the ballot.
• His win was ensured by the dominance of his Georgian Dream party, which controls the 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017.
• Georgian Dream retained control of parliament in the South Caucasus nation on October 26 in elections that the opposition alleges were rigged with the help of Moscow.
• Pro-Western Salome Zourabichvili has been president since 2018, and her six-year term has ended.

Topic: Sports

11. India clinched the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey championship on 15 December in Muscat, Oman.

• In the title match, the Indian team successfully defended its title by defeating China 3–2 in the penalty shootout.
• Indian goalkeeper Nidhi made three crucial saves during the penalty shootout, while Sakshi Rana, Ishika and Sunita Toppo scored for India in the shootout.
• Hockey India has announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for each player and Rs 1 lakh for each support staff for their efforts and wonderful win.
• India's Deepika Sehrawat was the top scorer of the tournament with 12 goals.
• In 2023, India won its first Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup title by defeating Republic of Korea.

Topic: Geography

12. Mount Semeru erupted in Indonesia’s East Java.

• Mount Semeru, located in Indonesia's East Java province, has erupted.
• A thick layer of white-to-grey ash rose to 1,000 metres into the sky.
• Mount Semeru is one of the active volcanoes in Indonesia.
• A 3-km range around the volcano has been declared a danger zone.
• The government have prohibited residents from engaging in any activities within 500 metres of rivers that are originating from the volcano's slopes.
• Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano also erupted on November 3.
• In May 2024, the Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island in the eastern Indonesian province of North Maluku erupted.
• There are roughly 500 mountains in the Indonesian archipelago.

Topic: Indian Economy

13. For FY 2024–2025, the Centre has disbursed ₹71,889 crore to States.

• This release of funds is based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. 
• Allotted under the post-devolution revenue deficit grant is ₹18,362.25 crore.
• Under the urban local bodies grant, the rural local bodies grant, and the health sector grant, the Finance Ministry has allotted ₹6,845.04 crore, ₹20,847.25 crore, and ₹2,894.01 crore, respectively.
• The grants were ₹1,385.45 crore under the central share of the State Disaster Mitigation Fund and ₹15,823.20 crore under the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund.
• For severe natural disasters in the States, the Centre has set out ₹4,050.93 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund's central aid.
• ₹757.39 crore has been allocated for the modernization and growth of fire services in the states.
• The National Disaster Response Fund's (NDRF) assistance for preparedness and capacity-building funding window has contributed a total of ₹276.81 crore.
• For Chennai's urban flood protection project, the Center has additionally disbursed ₹646.55 crore from the National Disaster protection Fund.