NATIONAL:
1. Mission Antarctica
Why in news - Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatta flags-in ‘Mission Antarctica’ carried out by a team of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.
Key Points -
• The team enters Asia Book of Records for hoisting 7,500 sq ft & 75 kg National Flag atop Mt Rhenock in Sikkim Himalayas
• Tri-colour displayed over Mount Vinson Peak, the highest peak of South Pole as part of the expedition
• During the flag-in ceremony, the Raksha Rajya Mantri witnessed the final display of 7,500 sq ft National Flag at the Air Force Bal Bharati School in the national capital.
• The event also witnessed the culmination of the mega roadshow ‘Mera Yuva Bharat Yatra’, wherein holy soil and water from the higher reaches of Himalaya (16,000ft) in Sikkim were presented to Shri Ajay Bhatt.
• According to him, Such out-of-the-box initiatives promote adventure & patriotism among the youth.
2. Heartfelt Tributes to Brave Security Personnel Martyred
Why in news - President, PM pays tributes to security personnel who sacrificed their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack.
Key Points:
• Nine people, including eight security personnel, had died in the attack in which all five Pakistan-sponsored terrorists were killed
• On this day in 2001, a five-member suicide squad comprising Lashkar-e- Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists attacked Parliament house, while the Lok Sabha was in session.
• The attack lasted for about 30 minutes, and all the five terrorists were neutralised outside the building itself.
• However, five security personnel of Delhi Police, one woman constable of the CRPF and two security assistants of Parliament Watch and Ward section died preventing the entry of terrorists into Parliament House. A gardener and a photojournalist too lost their lives.
• The case against the four - Mohammed Afzal Guru, Shaukat Hussain, Afsan Guru and SAR Geelani - went on for about a decade, with the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court eventually acquitting two, and upholding the death sentence of one.
• Geelani, a professor in Delhi University, was acquitted for "need of evidence" by the Delhi high court in 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in 2005.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. UAE Consensus
Why in news - After two weeks of intensive negotiations, COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference, concluded today with a landmark agreement to tackle climate change.
Key Points:
• Global Stocktake: Countries agreed on a robust action plan to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius. It includes ambitious emissions reduction targets, increased investments in renewable energy, and measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
• Loss and Damage: For the first time ever, a dedicated fund was established to address the losses and damages experienced by vulnerable countries due to climate change.
• Finance: Over $83 billion in new financial commitments were mobilized to support climate action in developing countries. It includes the launch of Altera, a new public-private investment platform dedicated to climate solutions.
• Sectoral Commitments: Significant progress was made on a number of key sectors, including agriculture, food, health, and energy.
• Private Sector Engagement: Oil and gas companies made ambitious commitments to reduce methane emissions and invest in renewable energy.
• Fossil Fuels: For the first time, the final agreement included language calling for the transitioning out of fossil fuels.
• Inclusivity: The "UAE Consensus" was built on a foundation of inclusivity, with all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, youth, and the Global South, having a voice in the negotiations.
2. National Horse Day
Why in news - National Horse Day is celebrated every December 13.
Key Points:
• It’s a day to remember the economic, historic, and cultural contributions that horses have made.
• Theme: Celebrating Majesty And Contributions Of Horses.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Updated Red List Of Threatened Species
Why in news - International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released an updated Red List of threatened species
Key Points - Around 44,000 are threatened with extinction, which increased by 2000 from last year.
• Saiga, an antelope that have roamed the earth since the last Ice Age, was moved from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened.
• 25% of freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, with at least 17% affected by climate change.
• This is the first global freshwater fish assessment.
• Four freshwater subterranean fish species (found in water bodies under the surface) from Kerala included in list are:
• Endangered: Shaji's Catfish, Abdul kalam's Blind Cave Catfish, Pangio Bhujia
• Vulnerable: Gollum snakehead
Value Addition:
It is a critical indicator of the health of the world's biodiversity.
• Provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and trade, threats, and conservation actions.
• Categories (Decreasing order of risk): Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, and data deficient.
2. Universal Dynamic Cross Linker (UDC)
Why in news - Researchers at IIT Madras, Columbia University and Colorado State developed a sustainable plastic recycling technique known as UDC.
Key Points:
• It avoids the need for deconstruction and reconstruction of plastics and successfully blends usually incompatible plastics.
• It helps to address plastic waste crisis and could potentially revolutionize the plastics recycling industry.
• Resulting up cycled materials can be used and reprocessed through multiple cycles and have enhanced performance over virgin plastics.
ECONOMY:
1. National Disaster Response Fund
Why in news - Centre approves financial assistance of over 338 crore rupees to Gujarat and 634 crore rupees for Himachal Pradesh from National Disaster Response Fund.
Key Points -
• The Home Ministry has also approved an additional financial assistance of around 634 crore rupees from the NDRF to Himachal Pradesh which was severely affected due to natural calamities.
• The Central Government had earlier released the first installment of its share amounting to 584 crore rupees to State Disaster Response Force- SDRF.
• An Inter-Ministerial Central Team for assessment of the damages was also deputed without waiting for the Memorandum from the Himachal Pradesh Government.
• An amount of 200 crore rupees was also released in advance from NDRF in August this year to help Himachal Pradesh in managing the immediate relief operations.
2. Golden Triangle
Why in news - Opium Economy Sees Steady Growth in 2023 Reported United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Key Points -
• Report "Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023: Cultivation, Production, and Implications" assess opium poppy cultivation in Southeast Asia.
• Golden Triangle comprises illicit opium production region covering Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
• Whereas Golden Crescent comprises illicit opium production areas in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Value Addition:
• Myanmar is now world's top opium source after the decline in Afghanistan.
• A targeted assessment also found indications of substantial opium cultivation in Sagaing, along Myanmar's border with India.
POLITY:
1. Bill to Appoint Election Commissioners
Why in news - Rajya Sabha Passes Bill On Appointment Of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
Key Points:
• It will replace the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
• The Bill provides for the appointment, salary, and removal of the CEC and ECS.
• Appointment: CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of
• Prime Minister,
• A Union Cabinet Ministers
• Leader of Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.
• Search Committee: Headed by the Law Minister would propose a panel of names to the selection committee.
• Allowance: Allowances and service conditions of the CEC and ECS would be on par with those of Supreme Court judges.
• Removal: CEC removal should follow the process akin to the removal of Supreme Court judges.
• Also, ECs cannot be removed from office without the CEC's recommendation.
• Protection of CEC and EC: If the CEC and EC give orders during duty, the court cannot take action against them.
2. Article 370 Judgement
Why in news - Declaration of State emergency and subsequent actions of the President should have reasonable nexus: Supreme Court (SC)
Key Points:
• Relying on judgement in S R Bommai case, SC while hearing revocation of Article 370 also held that 'actions of President during a State emergency were open to judicial scrutiny'.
• However, SC also observed that the Court ought not to review every decision made by President during State emergency proclaimed as:
• Most actions taken by President for State's interim governance can be reversed by State Government when it returns to power.
• Legislations enacted by Parliament on behalf of the State Legislature could subsequently be repealed by State Legislature when such emergency ceases to operate.
POINTERS:
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed combination involving acquisition of certain equity shares and special rights in Niva Bupa Health Insurance Limited by: India Business Excellence Fund – IV
• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured a stunning new image of a star that exploded in the :Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A)
• Who has agreed three way alliance has agreed on a budget for 2024, following weeks of negotiations after a court ruling last month threw its finances into disarray? -Chancellor Olaf Scholz's
• Who has been recommended for this year's Arjuna Award by the country's cricket board (BCCI)? - Mohammed Shami
• The Supreme Court ordered transfer of several FIRs related to the ___ scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation and filing of charge sheet. - Bitcoin Cryptocurrency
• Who has also took oaths as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the Chhattisgarh? - Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao
• _, the BJP Legislative Party leader and MLA from Kunkuri seat, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in Raipur. - Vishnu Deo Sai
• The Parliament passed a bill to establish the Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana after a nod from the Rajya Sabha- The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023
• Today Parliament passed a bill to repeal 76 redundant and obsolete laws with the government saying the move is part of its continuing efforts to improve the ease of living and doing business. Name it: - The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit in which country to discuss support for his country's defence against the Russian invasions?- Norway
Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF
Click here to download Current Affairs Hindi PDF