Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 October 2024

Topic: International News

1. India and the US inked a pact to expand and diversify the critical minerals supply chain.

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo participated in the 6th Commercial Dialogue.
• India and the US signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand and diversify the critical minerals supply chain at a bilateral commercial dialogue.
• Both sides also discussed semiconductor supply chains and collaboration in and with third countries.
• The main aim of the MoU is to use the complementary strengths of both countries to ensure greater resilience in the critical minerals sector.
• The focus will be identifying equipment, services, policies, and best practices to facilitate the mutually beneficial commercial development of U.S. and Indian critical minerals exploration.
• In June 2023, India identified a set of 30 critical minerals for its national priorities.
• India has also joined the Minerals Security Partnership.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

2. World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first test to diagnose Mpox.

• The mpox testing in vitro diagnostic (IVD) is called the Alinity m MPXV assay. It is developed by Abbott Molecular Inc.
• The test has been approved for emergency use.
• It will be very crucial in ramping up the testing capabilities in countries battling pox outbreaks.
• The need for fast and accurate mpox testing has increased, especially in regions like Africa.
• Early detection of mpox is important in the timely treatment and management of outbreaks.
• Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus that leads to flu-like symptoms with skin rash and blisters.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Teachers Day 2024: 5 October

• Every year on 5 October, World Teachers' Day or International Teachers’ Day is observed.
• It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers, which sets standards regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers.
• It is also celebrated to recognize the work of teachers, researchers, and professors and to honour teachers for their valuable contributions to society.
• The theme of World Teachers' Day 2024 is "Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education."
• In 1994, UNESCO declared 5 October as World Teachers’ Day.
• The day highlights the importance of quality teachers to guide or motivate students.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. Jal Hi Amrit Yojana was launched by the government and major metro projects were approved.

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, on the 100 days achievements of the Ministry, said that the government has launched the Jal Hi Amrit Yojana in its first 100 days, which aims to promote efficient water management.
• This initiative encourages States and Union Territories (UTs) to efficiently manage sewage treatment plants (STPs), ensuring production of good quality, recyclable treated water.
• Urban local bodies (ULBs) and quasi-government agencies are currently nominating STPs from their respective areas for the scheme.
• The Union Minister informed that as part of the 100-day achievements under AMRUT 2.0, 68 projects worth Rs 3,020 crore and 41 projects worth Rs 3,805 crore, totalling Rs 6,825 crore, will be implemented in 13 states.
• In total, 263 projects worth Rs 9,352 crore will be inaugurated or laid the foundation stone during this period.
• Three metro projects worth Rs 31,000 crore have been approved by the government in its first 100 days.
• These include Bengaluru Metro Phase-3, Thane Internal Ring Road Metro Project, and southward extension of the Pune Metro Rail Project.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. A collaboration announced by Adani and Google to promote clean energy in India.

• A partnership announced by Adani Group and Google with the aim of enhancing their sustainability efforts and contributing to the development of clean energy in India.
• The Adani Group said it will supply renewable energy generated from a new solar-wind hybrid project located in Khavda, Gujarat, which is home to the world's largest renewable energy facility.
• The project is expected to start commercial operations in the third quarter of 2025.
• This collaboration also aligns with Google’s ambitious goal of achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy for its operations worldwide.
• The Google aims to reduce all its combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 50% by 2030.
• In 2019, this initiative was launched by the company.

Topic: Indian Economy

6. The HSBC India Services PMI shows that the growth of the country's services sector has slowed to its lowest level since November 2023.

• According to the survey, the sector's performance is still historically good, but its growth pace has slowed. S&P Global compiles the survey.
• The index value decreased to 57.7 in September from 60.9 in August.
• The PMI values are in the range of 0 to 100.
• A figure that is higher than 50 denotes a rise from the previous month, while one that is lower than 50 denotes a fall.
• A slower rate of growth in new export orders was one issue impeding overall sales growth.
• In 2024, new export orders experienced the slowest rate of growth to date.
• The manufacturing sector in India declined in September for a second consecutive month, according to earlier PMI data.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

7. Independent investigation team has been formed by Supreme Court to probe allegations of use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddu.

• Independent investigation team will probe allegations that the ghee used in the laddus distributed at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was contaminated with animal fat.
• One Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer will be a member of the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT).
• It will also have two officers from the Andhra Pradesh Police, and a senior official from the Food Safety Authority.
• The CBI Director will be in charge of the team's operations.
• The Andhra Pradesh government had previously formed its own team to look into the allegations.
• However, the Supreme Court's intervention resulted in the suspension of the SIT investigation.
• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu.

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development projects worth Rs 56,000 cr in Maharashtra.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a day-long visit to Maharashtra.
• He launched various initiatives related to the agricultural and animal husbandry sectors worth around 23,300 crore rupees.
• He also inaugurates the Banjara Virasat Museum. It presents the rich heritage of the Banjara community.
• He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over 32,800 crore rupees at Thane.
• Prime Minister also released the 18th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
• He also dedicated more than 7,500 projects to the nation under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• He also launched the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and indigenous sex-sorted semen technology.
• He also dedicated five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 megawatts across Maharashtra.
• He also laid the foundation stone of the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. India became the fourth country to have 700 billion dollars in Forex reserves.

• India has become the fourth country to surpass 700 billion US dollars in foreign reserves.
• China, Japan, and Switzerland are the other countries having more than 700 billion dollars in Forex reserves.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves touched a new all-time high of 704.885 billion dollars for the week ending September 27.
• The sharp increase in forex reserves will strengthen India’s ability to tackle global economic uncertainties.
• It will also provide greater stability to its currency in the volatile international markets.
• India’s gold reserves rose 2.184 billion to 65.796 billion dollars.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO - Oilseeds) approved by the Cabinet for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31.

• This is a landmark initiative aimed at boosting domestic oilseeds production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils.
• The mission will be implemented over a seven-year period from 2024-25 to 2030-31 with a financial outlay of Rs 10,103 crore.
• NMEO-Oilseeds aims to promote the production of major oilseed crops like mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower and sesame,
• Along with this, the efficiency of collection and extraction from secondary sources like cotton seeds, rice bran and tree derived oils also has to be increased.
• The mission aims to increase primary oilseeds production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.
• With NMEO-OP (oil palm), the mission aims to increase domestic edible oil production to 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31, meeting about 72% of our estimated domestic requirement.
• To ensure timely availability of quality seeds, the Mission will launch an online 5-year seed plan through the ‘Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI)’ Portal.
• This will help states to establish advance tie-ups with seed producing agencies including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and government or private seed corporations.
• Additionally, over 600 value chain clusters will be developed in 347 specific districts, covering over 10 lakh hectares of area annually.
• The mission aims to increase the area under oilseed cultivation by an additional 40 lakh hectares.
• For this, rice and potato fallow lands will be targeted, inter-cropping will be promoted and crop diversification will be encouraged.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

11. On 3 October, the International Film Festival and Forum on Environment and Wildlife, ‘Vatavaran’ inaugurated in New Delhi.

• The theme of the three-day film festival is "Wetlands for Life", which focuses on awareness and conservation of the wetlands ecosystem.
• Wetlands are very important to India because of their ecological and economic benefits.
• About 6% of Indians directly depend on wetlands for their livelihoods, making their conservation even more important.
• During the film festival, meaningful issues can be discussed and conservation strategies can be prepared.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Corporates/Companies

12. Bharat Electronics and Israel Aerospace Industries formed a joint venture firm.

• Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have announced to form of a joint venture company (JVC) named BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd.
• It will be the single point of contact (SPOC) for extending long-term product support to the medium-range surface-to-air Missile (MRSAM) systems of India's defence forces.
• JVC has been set up to provide both technical and maintenance support.
• MRSAM is an advanced, path-breaking air and missile defence system.
• It has been jointly developed by IAI and DRDO for India's defence forces.

Topic: International News

13. US remained India’s biggest trading partner from January–July 2024.

• Bilateral goods trade has surpassed $72 billion, and Indian exports have grown 9.3% to $48.2 billion.
• During this time, India's top exports to the US were mineral fuels, smartphones, precious and semi-precious stones, apparel and textiles, and pharmaceuticals.
• India’s imports from the US declined from $25.9 billion to $24.6 billion.
• During the first seven months of 2024, there was a 5% decrease.
• India's exports of goods to the US increased significantly between 2018 and 2023, from $54.3 billion to $83.8 billion.
• India's service exports to the United States had a rise of 25.6% during this period, from $28.9 billion in 2018 to $36.3 billion in 2023.
• India's overall exports to the United States increased to $120.1 billion in 2023 from $83.2 billion in 2018.