Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 November 2024

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. 12th edition of the International Tourism Mart has been inaugurated by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

• The 12th edition of the International Tourism Mart at the UNESCO World Heritage site Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has been organized by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
• It has been inaugurated by Union Minister for Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• It will highlight the tourism potential of the North Eastern region for both domestic and international audiences.
• It will act as a vital platform to bring together tourism businesses and entrepreneurs from eight North Eastern States.
• It will foster collaboration and interactions among buyers, sellers, media, and government agencies.
• This event is being held rotationally across these North East states.
• It will highlight the tourism potential of the eight northeastern states.
• Around 400 participants including international and domestic tour operators, hoteliers and homestay owners, and tourism service providers participated in this event.

Topic: Space and IT

2. The government has given ISRO permission to launch its next Venus Orbiting Satellite mission, called Shukrayaan, in 2028.

• As a follow-up to Chandrayaan 3, Chandrayaan 4 will be a joint Indian-Japanese project that aims to land precisely at the Moon's south pole at 90 degrees south latitude.
• It will also carry a much heavier rover, weighing 350 kg, which is 12 times the size of its predecessor.
• The project has not yet received full approval. ISRO is also working on improving its weather and communication systems.
• Advanced sensor and satellite launches as part of the INSAT 4 series are being discussed.
• In addition to putting a satellite in Mars' orbit, ISRO plans to try to land on the planet's surface as part of the Mars mission.
• The introduction of Gaganyaan is scheduled in the next two years.
• It will be an unmanned flight after which a manned flight will be launched.
  Additionally, the government has approved the construction of India's own space station.
• It will feature five modules but be smaller than the ISS.
• India's space station will be operational by 2035, with the first module scheduled for launch in 2028.

Topic: National News

3. The country's milk output increased by 3.78% in 2023–2024 compared to 2022–2023, according to the "Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics – 2024."

• According to the report, the nation is expected to produce 239.30 million tonnes of milk in 2023–2024.
• Over the previous ten years, this represents a compound annual growth of 5.62%.
• The amount of milk produced in 2014–15 was 146.3 million tonnes.
• The amount of milk produced in 2022–2023 was 230.58 million tonnes.
• India is first in the world for milk output and second for egg production.
• Uttar Pradesh leads the nation in milk production, accounting for 16.21% of total milk output, followed by Rajasthan (14.51%).
• The best yearly growth rate in milk production in 2023–24 was 9.76% for West Bengal, followed by 9.04 percent for Jharkhand in 2022–23.
• An estimated 142.77 billion eggs are estimated to be produced overall in 2023–2024, representing a compound annual growth of 6.8% over the previous ten years.
• The production increased by 3.18% per year in 2023–24 compared to 2022–23.
• With 17.85% of the nation's total egg output, Andhra Pradesh leads the pack, followed by Tamil Nadu (15.64%).
• An estimated 10.25 million tonnes of meat is estimated to be produced nationwide in 2023–2024, comprising cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry.
• Over the previous ten years, it saw a compound annual increase of 4.85%.
• With 12.62% of the total meat production, West Bengal leads the list, followed by Uttar Pradesh (12.29%).
• An anticipated 33.69 million kg of wool will be produced nationwide in 2023–2024, a little increase of 0.22% from the previous year.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The India Global Forum’s flagship Middle East & Africa 2024 (ME&A 2024) opened on 25 November in Dubai.

• It united leaders from India, the Middle East, and Africa under the theme ‘Limitless Horizons.’
• With more than 200 speakers and 1,000 attendees, the two-day forum sought to deepen collaborations in important areas like technology, finance, sustainability, and innovation.
• Significant advancements in India-UAE relations, such as the recently signed Bilateral Investment Treaty and a historic Memorandum of Understanding on civil nuclear cooperation, are reflected in the forum's fourth edition.
• In 2023–2024, bilateral commerce between India and the UAE, its third-largest trading partner, totalled $83.65 billion.
• Important worldwide issues including sustainability, digital transformation, and climate change are also covered in IGF ME&A 2024.
• The India Global Forum is an essential venue for showcasing modern India's transforming journey.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. The national campaign 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' launched by the Centre in New Delhi.

• On November 27, the national campaign, Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, launched by Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi in New Delhi.
• The primary agenda of the program is to make India a child marriage free nation.
• During the program, the Minister unveiled the Child Marriage Free India Portal.
• This online platform has been developed to support the campaign's mission to raise awareness, prevent child marriage and effectively report instances of child marriage.
• The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign is being launched inspired by the success of the flagship scheme 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' launched by PM Modi on 22 January 2015.
• It has been helpful in bringing a positive change in the behaviour and attitude of the society towards girl children.
• It will focus on making the country child marriage-free, which is imperative to promote education, skills, enterprise, and entrepreneurship among girls and women in realising the vision of a developed India.
• India has over the years achieved success in reducing child mortality rate, birth sex ratio and promoting the enrolment of girls at all levels.
• However, the evil practice of child marriage still prevails, which is one of the worst forms of human rights violation.
• Despite concerted efforts, even today about 1 in 5 girls is married before the legal age of 18 years.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. The 13th United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM) Asia-Pacific Plenary and Regional Conference is being hosted by India from 26 November.

• This four-day event is being organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 26 to 29 November 2024.
• 90 international delegates from 30 countries as well as 120 delegates from India are participating in the conference.
• Delegates from reputed global organizations such as the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC), and the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) are attending the event.
• The conference will serve as a key platform for exchange of global best practices, emerging geospatial technologies and building of regional strategies to enhance the use of geospatial information for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
• The discussions at the four-day event can help formulate regional strategies and harness the power of geospatial data to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Topic: Defence

7. From November 28 to 29, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will conduct SAREX-24, the largest-ever National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise, in Kochi.

• ICG will host SAREX-24 and the 22nd National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting.
• "Enhancing SAR capabilities through regional collaboration" is the theme of SAREX-24.
• It includes live simulations designed to improve the abilities needed for successful Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.
• Both SAR capabilities and SAR links will be strengthened as a result.
• The exercise would involve more than 40 international observers from partner countries.
• India's contribution to improving operational preparedness and forging closer regional coordination in marine safety will be highlighted during the event.

Topic: National News

8. Over ₹1,115 crore rupees have been approved by the central government for disaster mitigation and capacity building projects for fifteen States.

• This fund has been approved by a High-Level Committee, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• The Committee approved 139 crore rupees each for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and 378 crore rupees for eight North East states.
• Karnataka and Kerala each received 72 crore rupees, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal each received 50 crore rupees, while Maharashtra received 100 crore rupees.
• Another civil defence training and capacity building project, at a total outlay of more than 115 crore rupees, has also been approved by the High-Level Committee for all States and Union Territories.
• The committee previously approved ₹3075.65 crore worth of urban flood risk mitigation projects in seven cities.
• The committee previously approved ₹150 crore worth of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk control projects in four states.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

9. IIT Hyderabad and Nikon India joined hands to launch its first Centre of Excellence (CoE).

• IIT Hyderabad in association with Nikon India has opened its first Centre of Excellence (CoE) at its campus.
• It will offer advanced imaging technologies to trainees, visiting scholars and collaborators across the country.
• It will create an impactful collaboration between IIT Hyderabad researchers and Nikon teams.
• Nikon India is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Nikon Corporation.
• The Centre of Excellence offers a Confocal Microscope System AX R with advanced technology.
• The COE is equipped with the most up-to-date imaging technologies.

Topic: Geography

10. Cyclone Fengal is heading towards Tamil Nadu.

• Cyclone Fengal is the second cyclone in the post-monsoon season to hit the Indian coast after Cyclone Dana.
• Fengal name has been proposed by Saudi Arabia.
• The deep depression over the Northwest Bay of Bengal is moving towards Tamil Nadu.
• It is moving towards north-northwestwards and will intensify further to become a cyclonic storm.
• The cyclones that develop in the North Indian Ocean region (the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea) move towards Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Cloudy and overcast sky conditions have been prevailing over Tamil Nadu and some parts of Karnataka.
• Cold and windy conditions in these regions have kept the temperatures below normal.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. The continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission with a ₹2,750 crore budget till 2028 has been approved by the Union Cabinet.

• The flagship initiative, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), has been approved with an expanded scope of work and an allocated budget of ₹2,750 crore for the period up to March 31, 2028.
• AIM 2.0 is a step towards a Viksit Bharat aimed at expanding, strengthening, and deepening India's already vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• India ranks 39th on the Global Innovation Index and is home to the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world.
• The continuation of AIM will directly contribute to the creation of better jobs, innovative products and high-impact services across sectors.
• AIM 2.0 is designed to strengthen India's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by increasing inputs and improving the quality of outputs.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
  • It was launched in 2016.
  • It is a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Atal Tinkering Labs is a major initiative under Atal Innovation Mission to promote a creative, innovative mindset in schools.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

12. Nayi Chetna 3.0 campaign launched by Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

• On 25th November, the 3rd edition of the National Campaign against Gender-Based Violence ‘Nayi Chetna – Pehal Badlaav Ki’ launched by Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in New Delhi.
• The objectives of Nayi Chetna 3.0 are to raise awareness about gender-based violence, encourage communities to speak out, ensure access to support systems, and empower local institutions to act against violence.
• Mr Chauhan stressed that gender-based violence persists not only in rural areas but also in urban areas.
• He said that the Government will ensure that through our coordinated efforts every woman can live her life with dignity, respect and self-confidence.
• 227 new Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) in 13 states were also inaugurated by Mr Chouhan.
• These centres provide a safe space for victims of gender-based violence to obtain information, report incidents and access legal aid.
• Each GRC serves as a vital link in a support network, where victims can feel validated and empowered to express their experiences.
• Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi launched the #AbKoiBehanAhi campaign at the launch of New Chetna 3.0 highlighting the need for collective action against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
• This one-month campaign is being organized by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development.
• It will run across all Indian states and union territories till 23 December 2024.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

13. India signed the final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty.

• After two decades of negotiations, the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) adopted the landmark Design Law Treaty (DLT).
• India signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. By signing this treaty, India builds on its progress and reaffirms its commitment to fostering inclusive growth.
• The treaty seeks to harmonize the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection, improving the efficiency and accessibility of registration processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• It will now be easier, faster and more affordable for designers the world over to protect their work both at home and abroad.
• This treaty introduces a standardised framework for industrial design registration.
• It will significantly reduce procedural complexities and the administrative burden for applicants.
• Under this treaty, there is now a mechanism to restore rights in case of lapses which will ensure that applicants can recover lost opportunities.

Topic: Banking System

14. IndusInd Bank has collaborated with UNICEF for strengthening climate resilience in five districts.

• Collaboration aims to improve disaster preparedness, government policies and implement climate-responsive systems.
• The names of five districts are Dharashiv (Maharashtra), Begusarai (Bihar), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Baran (Rajasthan) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh).
• It is part of IndusInd Bank’s Holistic Rural Development program (Climate Action section) in Aspirational Districts.
• District-level disaster risk reduction programs will be promoted by the bank in collaboration with UNICEF.
• The CSR Trust for SDGs in India (CTSI) will oversee the program.
• IIT Gandhinagar will create a monitoring and early warning system.
• The Gorakhpur Environment Action Group will focus on training and capacity building for local officials.