Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 November 2024

Topic: Summit/Conference/Meeting

1. Economic Security Dialogue launched by India and Japan to strengthen industrial and technological resilience.

• On November 27, India and Japan inaugurated their first dialogue on economic security in Tokyo, with a focus on enhancing industrial and technological resilience.
• Strategic trade and technology were discussed in this dialogue, in which senior officials and experts from both the countries were present.
• The meeting was co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, and attended by representatives from key ministries and agencies.
• This dialogue was first announced during the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meeting on August 20, 2024 in New Delhi.
• The discussions highlighted the need for cooperation on economic security policies and to strengthen critical infrastructure and build resilient supply chains.
• The Japan-India Association, established in 1903, is Japan's oldest international friendship organization, symbolizing the enduring bond between the two countries.

Topic: Personality in News

2. South African writer and poet Breyten Breytenbach has passed away at the age of 85.

• He was a staunch opponent of the former white-minority government's apartheid policy of racial oppression.
• He was a renowned writer and a prominent voice in Afrikaans literature, a language evolved from Dutch by white settlers in South Africa.
• He was also a staunch critic of apartheid, the oppressive system enforced against the country's Black majority from 1948 to 1990.
• He was convicted of treason and spent seven years in prison.
• Mr. Breytenbach is best known for his book "Confessions of an Albino Terrorist," in which he describes his imprisonment and the events leading up to it.
• Breyten Breytenbach has been awarded the Hertzog Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for Afrikaans literature, several times for his contributions to poetry, drama, and prose.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

3. Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launched many different Economic Empowerment Initiatives.

• Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launched several state economic empowerment initiatives to improve the state's tourism, transport, agriculture and entrepreneurial sectors.
• It includes Ura Cab, Nagaland Tourism Connect- Hornbill Edition and Digital Piggery Insurance.
• Ura Cabs is a homegrown taxi aggregation platform designed to offer tourists seamless travel experiences and stable income opportunities for local taxi operators.
• He also flagged off the Nagaland Tourism Connect – Hornbill Edition.
• More than 90 new fleets of vehicles were introduced under Nagaland Tourism Connect- Hornbill Edition.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. 2024 OPCW The Hague Award has been conferred to the Indian Chemical Council (ICC).

• During the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), 2024 OPCW The Hague Award was been conferred to the Indian Chemical Council (ICC).
• Parties and experts from the global chemical industry from around were present at this event.
• This is the first time that the Award recognizes the efforts of a chemical industry body.
• The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) came into force in 1997. It has currently 193 members.
• OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
• The OPCW established the ‘OPCW-The Hague Award in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014.
• The Award recognizes individuals and organizations that play a significant role in advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

5. India’s first green hydrogen fuelling station established in Leh.

• Amara Raja Infra has completed the construction of India's first green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh, Ladakh.
• Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal inaugurated this facility.
• The fuelling station project with a capacity of producing GH2 of 80kg per day has been completed in two years.
• The landmark project will enable emission-free transport in and around Leh.
• NTPC will now operationalize five hydrogen fuel cell buses in the region.
• The project would serve as a precursor to large-scale green hydrogen mobility and storage projects.
• It will be useful for studying and deploying multiple hydrogen fuelling stations across the country.

Topic: Important Days

6. Aviation Safety Awareness Week: 25-29 November

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) celebrated Aviation Safety Awareness Week from November 25 to 29.
• It will ensure the industry’s commitment to safety in all aspects of aviation.
• This initiative will be headed by AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar.
• It will foster a culture of safety across airports and Air Navigation Services (ANS) in India.
• Aviation safety is necessary to prevent accidents and incidents in an inherently complex industry.
• India’s civil aviation journey started in 1911 with the first commercial flight between Allahabad and Naini.

Topic: National Appointment

7. On 28 November, JMM leader Hemant Soren sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

• Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Soren at a ceremony.
• Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the fourth time.
• Soren has just taken oath alone and the Cabinet expansion is planned after the government wins the trust vote in the Assembly.
• Recently, the JMM-led alliance won a decisive victory in the state assembly elections, winning 56 out of 81 seats.
• Soren defeated BJP's Gamlil Hembrom in the Barhait assembly seat by a margin of 39,791 votes.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

8. On November 27, the new Cottage and Rural Industries Policy was unveiled by the Gujarat government in Gandhinagar.

• It aims to create more than 12 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities in the sector in the next five years.
• The policy was formally unveiled by Cottage Industries Minister Balwant Singh Rajput and Minister of State for Cottage Industries Jagdish Panchal.
• The new policy aims to develop self-reliant cottage industries in the state by enhancing credit facilities, market access, skills and infrastructure development and to promote and preserve the traditional handicrafts of the state.
• The cumulative output of various boards and government bodies engaged in the sector will increase from the present ₹460 crore to ₹1500 crore.
• The government said it will increase the number of beneficiaries availing loans under various schemes from 35000 to 50000 in the next five years.
• Under the new policy, the amount of loan given to artisans and craftsmen under the Vajpayee Bankable Scheme 2.0 has been increased to ₹25 lakh from the earlier ₹8 lakh.
• Similarly, the amount of loan given under the Dattopant Thengadi Artisan Interest Subsidy Scheme has been increased to ₹3 lakh from the earlier ₹1 lakh.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

9. India secured 49th place in the Network Readiness Index 2024.

• India has moved 11 places in the latest Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024).
• India secured 49th place globally in the Network Readiness Index 2024.
• India’s score has also improved from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024.
• This Index has been released by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational organization based in Washington, DC.
• India leads in several indicators, such as AI, FTTH Internet subscriptions, and mobile broadband internet traffic.
• India secured first position in the “AI scientific publications,” “AI talent concentration,” and “ICT services exports.
• It also secured second place in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions,” “mobile broadband internet traffic within the country,” and “international Internet bandwidth.
• This report assesses 133 economies based on four pillars- technology, people, governance, and impact.
• In the last decade, teledensity has improved from 75.2% to 84.69%, while wireless connections have reached 119 crore.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. In the Union Fisheries Ministry’s Awards, Kerala was selected as the best marine state, and Kollam as the best marine district.

• On the occasion of World Fisheries Day, Kerala has been adjudged the best marine state and Kollam the best marine district in the awards given by the Union Fisheries Ministry.
• The state has been selected for the award in view of its extensive intervention in the fisheries sector.
• Kerala's record growth in marine fish production, unique schemes for the development of fishermen and the fisheries sector, and transparent and timely implementation of schemes launched by the Centre were some of the factors considered for the award.
• The award reflects the State Government's commitment towards sustainable development, welfare of fishermen communities and innovative initiatives.
• These awards are in recognition of the steps taken by the Government for social development and inclusion of poor fishermen in the coastal areas.

Topic: Indian Polity

11. Maithili and Sanskrit versions of the Constitution released by President Murmu.

• Releasing it on November 26, President Draupadi Murmu said the Indian Constitution is a living and progressive document through which we have achieved the goals of social justice and inclusive development.
• Addressing an event to launch the year-long celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, Murmu recalled the contribution of the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly in drafting the document.
• On this occasion, Murmu also released three books on the Constitution.
• Dignitaries from both Houses of Parliament released books titled ‘The Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse’, ‘The Making of the Constitution of India and its Glorious Journey'*, and a booklet dedicated to the Art of Constitution.
• 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.

Topic: International News

12. Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire comes into effect.

• Israel's security cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
• It will pave the way to end the conflict in Lebanon.
• The United States played a key role in this ceasefire deal.
• Under this agreement, Israeli troops will be withdrawn from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to be deployed in the region.
• Lebanon's army will take control near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not build its infrastructure.
• As per the ceasefire deal, the Lebanon army is expected to deploy around 5,000 troops in the southern region.
• United Nations peacekeeping troops, the Lebanese army and a multinational committee will keep a watch and supervise the Hezbollah group.

Topic: Sports

13. Bajrang Punia has been suspended for four years by NADA for refusing a dope test.

• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has suspended Bajrang Punia for four years after he refused to provide a sample for a dope test.
• The suspension bars Bajrang from returning to competitive wrestling for four years.
• NADA said that the suspension period would begin on April 23, 2024.
• Bajrang Punia argued that he had never outright refused to give his sample.
• He said that he only sought clarification from NADA on why expired doping kits had been used during a previous test in December 2023.