Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 December 2024

Topic: International News

1. South Korean Parliament voted to reject martial law.

• The South Korean Parliament, also known as the National Assembly, has declared the martial law invalid after lawmakers voted to reject it.
• The resolution was passed with 190 of 300 members of the ruling and opposition parties in attendance.
• Since 1980, it is the first time martial law has been declared in South Korea.
• On 3 December, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo imposed martial law in the country.
• When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict the freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and other rights.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. 29^th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit held in New Delhi.

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the 29th CII Partnership Summit 2024 on 2-3 December in New Delhi.
• Since 1995, the CII Partnership Summit has been held every year.
• It is being held by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• 61 participating countries, 30 global speakers, and 11 international ministers have participated in this summit.
• The summit aims to foster productive partnerships and global cooperation, ensuring a shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.
• Many international ministers and leaders and engaged in talks about India’s growth and potential partnerships on the global stage.

Topic: Science and Technology

3. 'Nano Bubble Technology’ has been launched for cleaning and purifying water of the National Zoological Park in Delhi.

• Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change launched 'Nano Bubble Technology' for cleaning and purifying water of the National Zoological Park in Delhi.
• To promote the health of aquatic animals, this technology will be effective in cleaning dirty pond water by eliminating algae and similar growths.
• The goal of this technology is to keep water clean, ensuring the health and well-being of aquatic creatures.
• Clean water prevents foul smells, algae buildup, and discolouration often caused by dirty pond water.

Topic: International News

4. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became first female President of Namibia.

• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) party has won the Namibia’s 8th presidential election.
• She secure over 57% of the votes. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, received 26%.
• Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently serving as vice president.
• She has been a key figure in the politics of Namibia since it gained independence from South Africa in 1990.
• Earlier, SWAPO also won in the National Assembly elections. It won 51 of the 96 elected seats.

Topic: Miscellaneous

5. “Brain Rot” has been selected as Oxford Word of the Year 2024.

• This reflects concerns about impact of social media on mental health.
• It is defined as cognitive decline due to trivial online content.
• After a public vote by more than 37,000 participants, six words were shortlisted.
• Brain Rot is one of them. Other five are demure, dynamic pricing, lore, romantasy, and slop.
• The "brain rot" is being increasingly used to describe the perceived negative effects of excessive consumption of low-quality online content.
• Oxford University Press (OUP) describes Brain Rot as a noun.
• The first recorded use of “brain rot” was in Henry David Thoreau's book Walden in 1854.

Topic: Space and IT

6. ISRO launched the PSLV-C59/Proba 3 mission on 04 December 2024.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C59/Proba 3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• PSLV C59 launched Proba 3 satellites of the European Space Agency into the highly elliptical orbit.
• New Space India Limited has received this order from the European Space Agency.
• New Space India Limited is the commercial arm of ISRO.
• Proba 3 satellites will split into two after reaching the orbit.
• The satellites will study the Sun’s Corona, its surrounding atmosphere, solar wind and space weather.

Topic: Space and IT

7. IN-SPACe has been recognized by NCVET as awarding body to boost vocational training in space sector.

• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) has been officially recognized by National Council for Vocational Education and Training of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as an awarding body.
• The recognition will strengthen the vocational education and training landscape in the space sector.
• The IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency operating under the Department of Space.
• Standardisation and accreditation of specialised training programs will be facilitated by the institution's recognition as an awarding body.
• Through the partnership, the institution will also be able to offer state-of-the-art training in fields including satellite production, agricultural space technology, and launch vehicle mission design.

Topic: State News/ Andhra Pradesh

8. Andhra Pradesh government approved IT & GCC Policy 4.0.

• Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved IT & GCC Policy 4.0 to establish Andhra Pradesh as a global knowledge economy hub.
• Co-working and neighbourhood working spaces in major cities like Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada will be established.
• The Textile, Apparel & Garments Policy 4.0 main objective is to attract 10,000 crore rupees in investments and generate employment for two lakh people.
• Maritime Policy 4.0 has been approved to promote port development and shipbuilding clusters.
• The Tourism Policy 2024-29 focuses on temple, eco, adventure, and wellness tourism with public-private partnerships.
• The state cabinet has also approved the Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy.
• It will bring ₹30,000 crore investment and 60,000 jobs will be created through incentives for electric vehicles, and the Real-Time Governance 4.0 initiative.
• The state government also declared December 15 as “Atmarpan Dinotsavam” in honour of Potti Sriramulu and announced plans to develop a museum at his birthplace.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. Ratapani has been declared as the 8th Tiger Reserve area of ​​Madhya Pradesh.

• The Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been declared a tiger reserve after approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• Ratapani is the 57th Tiger Reserve of India.
• Ratapani Tiger Reserve has a core area of ​​763.8 sq km and has a buffer area of ​​507.6 sq km and a total area of ​​1271.4 sq km.
• This conservation initiative will strengthen wildlife management in the forests of Ratapani, Bhopal Sehore area.
• Standard protection, habitat management, ecotourism, community engagement activities etc shall be adopted in this tiger reserve.
• It will strengthen Wildlife conservation in the Ratapani Tiger landscape.

Topic: State News/ West Bengal

10. West Bengal declared top destination for heritage tourism by UNESCO.

• On December 2, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said UNESCO had declared the state as a top destination for heritage tourism and the sector had generated employment for lakhs of youth.

• Minister of State for Tourism Indranil Sen said a record 2,489 homestays have been opened in the state and 65% of these are located in North Bengal.
• The Chief Minister also said that the Jagannath temple under construction in Digha will soon be opened for devotees.
• The CM also said that a tender has been issued for the construction of a bridge over the Muriganga river at Ganga Sagar Island, where the annual Gangasagar Mela is held.

Topic: Important Days

11. Indian Navy Day 2024: 4 December

• Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December to recognize the achievements and role of the Indian Navy.
• Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day to commemorate "Operation Trident", which was an attack by the Indian Navy on Karachi harbour during the 1971 War.
• The theme of Indian Navy Day in 2024 is "Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation."
• The Indian Navy conducted a grand operational display at the iconic Blue Flag Beach in Puri, Odisha on December 4, 2024 to commemorate Navy Day.
• The event was attended by President of India Draupadi Murmu as the chief guest, and the ceremony was hosted by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
• This is the first Navy Day celebration off the Odisha coast, a historic moment highlighting the maritime heritage of the region.
• Over 15 warships, submarines and 40 aircraft took part in the event, supported by elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Indian Army personnel.

Topic: Miscellaneous

12. Uber has launched Asia’s first water transport service on Dal Lake.

• Asia’s first water transport service, Uber Shikara, was launched on Dal Lake, Jammu, and Kashmir.
• Under this initiative, tourists can now enjoy hassle-free, pre-booked shikara rides through Uber’s ride-hailing app.
• Uber India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh inaugurated this service.
• This service is currently starting with seven local shikara operators. These shikaras will be located at Nehru Park, a scenic island in the heart of Dal Lake.
• Uber ensures fair pricing by adhering to government-regulated rates.
• One Uber Shikara can accommodate up to four passengers and offers one-hour rides daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• It is similar to service launched by Uber at different European locations like Venice, Italy.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy

13. Government has decided to withdraw the windfall tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), crude oil, petrol, and diesel.

• It will be a major relief for oil companies like Reliance Industries and ONGC, which have been bearing the burden of this tax since its imposition in July 2022.
• The removal of the tax is expected to boost profits for these companies.
• As per the notification of the Ministry of Finance, the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on the production of petroleum crude and the export of ATF, petrol, and high-speed diesel will no longer apply.
• The windfall tax is reviewed every 15 days based on fluctuations in global crude oil prices.
• The windfall tax was started to get a portion of the excess revenue earned by oil companies due to soaring global crude prices and higher refining margins.