Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 December 2023

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. PM Modi proposed to host the COP33 Summit in India in 2028.

• He proposed this during his address at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
• During his COP28 address in Dubai, PM Modi said India’s goal is to reduce emissions intensity by 45% till 2030. 
• He also said India has decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%.
• PM Modi was the only leader who joined the opening plenary along with COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber and UN Climate Change President Simon Steill.

Topic: National Appointments

2. Manisha Padhi has been appointed as the first woman Aide-De-Camp (ADC) of India.

• Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati appointed Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi as ADC from the armed forces at a brief ceremony at the Raj Bhawan in Aizawl.
• Padhi is a 2015-batch Indian Air Force officer. She is the first Indian woman to acquire the post.
• Squadron Leader Padhi formally joined her post and reported to the Governor on 29 November 2023.
• Before this posting, she was posted at Air Force stations in Bidar, Pune and Bhatinda.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

3. India has been ranked 49^th in the 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking.

• The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has released its 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR).
• As per the ranking, India has been kept on the 49th spot among 64 economies.
• India has made significant improvements in cyber security knowledge but lags in technology and future preparedness.
• The WDCR is a comprehensive assessment that shows how countries are navigating the digital landscape amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
• The ranking throws light on crucial elements contributing to a nation's digital prowess.
• The United States remained on the top spot in the ranking. It solidified its position as a “digital nation”.
• Netherlands is in the second spot by jumping four places while Singapore secured third place in the ranking.
• Denmark slipped to fourth position due to a decline in future readiness and technology factors.
• In the Asia-Pacific region, India has descended to the 12th position among 14 countries.

Topic: International News

4. India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council.

• At the recent election, India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council with the highest tally.
• India has been elected in the category of ten countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
• India’s re-election shows the government’s commitment to enhance India's diverse contributions to global maritime operations.
• IMO is the premier body that oversees the maritime sector. It oversees international trade, transport and all maritime activities.
• The 33rd Assembly of IMO is being organized at the IMO Headquarters in London between November 27 and December 6.
• 175 member countries and three associate members are attending the assembly.
• The assembly usually meets once every two years.
• The assembly of IMO is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

5. ‘Loss and damage’ fund has been approved at the COP28 climate summit.

• The loss and damage fund was first announced during COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. It was first suggested by Vanuatu in 1991.
• It is a loss and damage fund to help vulnerable countries fight against the impact of climate change.
• The initial funding is estimated to be $475 million. UAE pledged $100 million, and the European Union promised $275 million.
• $17.5 million will be contributed by the United States and $10 million from Japan.
• The fund will be administered by the World Bank.
• It is a global financial package to ensure the rescue and rehabilitation of countries facing the impact of climate change.
• As per the researchers, 55 impacted countries have suffered a $ 525 billion combined loss due to climate change.
• As per the IPCC, the losses and damages will increase in future as global warming continues to rise.

Topic: Important Days

6. National Pollution Control Day: 2 December

• National Pollution Control Day is observed every year on 2 December.
• “Sustainable Development for a Clean and Healthy Planet” is the theme for this year’s National Pollution Control Day.
• It is observed in the memory of those who lost their lives in the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy that took place on December 2 and 3.
• Around 45 tonnes of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) leaked from an insecticide plant in Bhopal killing thousands of people.
• Every year, people die due to pollution of various kinds.
• Air pollution and water pollution are degrading the earth's environment very rapidly.

Topic: National News

7. Ministry of Jal Shakti organized ‘Jal Itihas Utsav’ at Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal in Mehrauli, Delhi.

• On 1st December 2023, the National Water Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti organized ‘Jal Itihas Utsav’ at Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal situated in Mehrauli, Delhi.
• This event will raise awareness about safeguarding water heritage sites and promote tourism and restoration of such heritage structures.
• “Water Heritage Fortnight” was also celebrated in various districts from 15th November 2023 to 30th November 2023 at 75 ‘Natural Water Heritage Structures’.
• It also marks the successful completion of the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' 2023 nationwide campaign.
• This campaign has been completed with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.
• The restoration work of the Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal in Mehrauli has been completed by the joint effort of various Departments of Central and State Governments.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

8. A new factory of Dixon Technology has been inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Noida.

• This new factory of Dixon Technology will boost the local manufacturing of smartphones.
• Dixon's new manufacturing facility is expected to create five thousand jobs.
• Dixon will invest more than Rs 400 crore ($48.2 million) over three years in this factory.
• It is spread over more than 300,000 square feet and will mainly produce Xiaomi smartphones.
• Xiaomi has partnered with Dixon for smartphone assembly because India is compelling Chinese companies to localize manufacturing to distribution of mobile phones.
• The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme of the government has supported the mobile phone industry in India.
• Uttar Pradesh alone is contributing 60% in the manufacturing of mobile phones.

Topic: Defence

9. India will procure 97 Tejas jets and 156 Prachand choppers.

• India will procure these in over ₹1 lakh-crore deal. Tejas fighter jets cost around ₹65,000 crore.
• Defense Acquisition Council has approved the proposal of the Indian Air Forces to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet.
• Defense Acquisition Council is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) has given in-principle approval to the proposal signaling the government’s willingness to go for a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC II). The IAC II will be built by Cochin Shipyard.
• PM Modi commissioned India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (IAC I) in September.

Topic: Important Days

10. World Computer Literacy Day: 02 December

• World Computer Literacy Day is annually observed on 02 December.
• It was first celebrated in 2001. It was started by NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology), an Indian company, to mark its 20th anniversary.
• The day emphasizes the importance of computer education. It aims to bridge the digital divide.
• The day serves as a global initiative to promote computer literacy and digital skills.

Topic: Personality in News

11. Popular actress and musician R Subbalakshmi Passed Away at the age of 87.

• Veteran actor was known for her immense contribution to Malayalam cinema.
• Subbalakshmi was also a trained singer and started her career as a Carnatic musician.
• She was widely known for her roles in Malayalam films, including popular films such as Kalyanaraman (2002), Pandippa (2005), and Nandanam (2002). She also worked in Telugu and Tamil films.
• She was a former employee of All India Radio and had also worked as a dubbing artist.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

12. The green credits initiative has been launched by PM Modi at COP28.

• The initiative was launched by the PM during his two-day visit to the United Nations climate conference being held in the United Arab Emirates.
• The initiatives aim to encourage the plantations.
• This collaborative initiative is based on the Green Credit program, which was introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in November.
• The Green Credit Program is a "market-based mechanism designed to encourage voluntary environmental actions in a variety of sectors by various stakeholders such as individuals, communities, private sector industries, and companies.
• In its initial phase, the program will focus on water conservation and afforestation.
• The PM also launched another climate initiative for industries.
• The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) is being held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the conference on the first two days, and delivered a national statement highlighting India’s climate actions.
• The Prime Minister also launched another initiative called LeadIT 2.0 at an event co-organized by India and Sweden.
• India and Sweden originally launched the initiative LeadIT 2.0 at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
• It aims to foster collaboration between decision makers, as well as bring together public and private sector companies to help accelerate the industry's transition to net-zero emissions.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

13. Government allowed exports of five food commodities to five countries.

• The government has allowed exports of wheat grain, wheat flour, maida and broken rice to five countries.
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has issued a notification regarding this.
• These food commodities will be exported to Bhutan, Mali, Senegal, Gambia and Indonesia.
• 14 thousand 184 metric tonnes of wheat grain, five thousand 326 metric tonnes of wheat flour, 15 thousand 226 metric tonnes of maida and 48 thousand 804 metric tonnes of broken rice will be exported to Bhutan.
• Five lakh metric tonnes of broken rice will be exported to Senegal.
• Two lakh metric tonnes of broken rice will be exported to Indonesia.
• The export has been permitted through National Cooperative Export Limited.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

14. Amplifi 2.0 portal has been launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched Amplifi 2.0 (Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive and Future-ready urban India) portal.
• This portal will facilitate raw data from Indian cities on a single platform for academics, researchers, and stakeholders to help data-driven policymaking.
• 225 urban local bodies (ULB) have been on-boarded on this portal and data from 150 cities is available on the portal.
• Data from the more than 4,000 Urban Local Bodies will eventually be made available on the portal.
• The data related to total diesel consumption; the number of samples tested for water quality; the average annual expenditure on healthcare; and the total number of people residing in slums will be available on the portal.
• Earlier, data provided by Urban Local Bodies was used by the government to rank cities based on the four indices — the Ease of Living Index, Municipal Performance Index, Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework, and Data Maturity Assessment Framework.
• By 2030, about 60 crore (40% of the population) will live in urban areas of India.
• According to the 2011 Census, urban India contribute 63% to the country’s GDP.