Daily Current Affairs and GK | 26 November 2024

Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings

1. India is among the top 10 countries in terms of AI readiness.

• AI is already transforming industries and beginning to reshape economies and is set to profoundly shape the future of economic growth over the next few years.
• However, new research from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has revealed that most economies are not ready for AI-driven disruption.
• On November 23, the study released shows that more than 70% of the economies included in the study score below average in key areas such as ecosystem participation, skills, and R&D.
• BCG’s AI Maturity Matrix offers a comprehensive overview of the AI ​​landscape across 73 economies by focusing on two key aspects.
• First, it assesses each economy’s vulnerability to AI-driven changes such as job displacement and industry-wide productivity gains.
• Second, it evaluates each economy’s preparedness to deal with AI-associated risks while leveraging its potential to stimulate economic growth.
• According to the report, there are six sectors that are most vulnerable to AI-driven transformation: information and communications, high-tech goods, retail, financial services, public services, and automotive manufacturing.
• “Readiness” for AI refers to the economy’s ability to effectively implement and integrate AI.
• The study measures readiness across the six dimensions that make up BCG’s ASPIRE Index: ambition, skills, policy and regulation, investment, research and innovation, and ecosystem.

Topic: Important Days

2. Constitution Day 2024: 26 November

• Every year on 26 November, Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas is celebrated in India.
• It is celebrated to commemorate the Constituent Assembly's adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949.
• India's Constitution is the longest-written constitution of any sovereign country in the world.
• The Constituent Assembly of India enacted the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.
• On November 19, 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced the Government of India's plan to commemorate the 26 November each year as "Constitution Day" in order to promote constitutional principles among citizens.
• Dr. B R Ambedkar, widely known as the Father of the Indian Constitution, was a well-known social reformer, politician, and jurist.
• On August 29, 1947, he was assigned as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee.
• As part of this effort to create awareness about constitutional ideals, the year-long “Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman” campaign has been launched.
• The year 2024 commemorates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, which took place on 26 November 1949 but came into force on 26 January 1950.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Important Days

3. National Milk Day 2024: 26 November

• National Milk Day is observed every year on 26th November in honour of Dr Verghese Kurien, the architect of India's White Revolution.
• This day highlights the crucial role of milk in human nutrition and raises awareness about its health benefits.
• It aims to strengthen the dairy industry by promoting increased production and consumption of milk and its products.
• White Revolution helped India to become the largest milk producer in the world.
• On this occasion, two significant publications- Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS)-2023 and Manual on the Identification of Elite Cows will be released.
• Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh will also confer the prestigious National Gopal Ratna Awards on this occasion.

Topic: State News/ Delhi

4. Delhi government announced a new pension scheme for senior citizens.

• The Delhi government has announced a pension scheme to provide financial aid to residents aged 60 and above.
• An additional 80,000 people are now eligible for the old-age pension in Delhi. The total number of beneficiaries has reached 5.3 lakh.
• The scheme has received more than 10,000 applications.
• Delhi government announced that Rs 2,000 will be provided to individuals aged 60-69 and Rs 2,500 for those aged 70 and above.
• The Delhi government launched a portal for the elderly to apply for pensions.
• An individual with a minimum of 5 years of residence in Delhi before the date of application and an annual income of less than Rs 1,00,000 from all sources is eligible for this scheme.