NATIONAL:
1. Devas vs Antrix
Why in news - UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) tribunal awarded Devas Multimedia $111 million in compensation.
Key Points –
• Reason - Antrix Corp (commercial arm of ISRO) failed to lease two communication satellites for 12 years to Devas Multimedia.
• The cabinet terminated the agreement due to security reasons in 2011. (deal was signed in 2005).
• A 2022 Indian Supreme Court (SC) order ruled for the liquidation of Devas Multimedia on the fraud charge.
• An award made under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules is binding on all parties to the proceeding.
About UNCITRAL (Hq - Vienna):
• It is the core legal body of the UN system in the field of international trade law.
• It was established in 1966 by UN General Assembly resolution.
• Members are elected for terms of six years.
• Currently, India is a member.
2. Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment (ENCORE)
Why in news – Election Commission of India (ECI) designed in-house software for complete Candidate and election management through ‘ENCORE’.
Key Points –
• It is an end-to-end application for returning officers to digitize the votes polled, tabulate the round-wise data, and then take out various statutory reports of counting.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. India-Bhutan Ties
Why in news – Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived on a week-long visit to India.
Key Points –
• The trip came after China and Bhutan held the 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed an agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the Bhutan-China boundary.
• Wangchuck also visited Assam and Maharashtra during his visit.
Value Addition –
• India and Bhutan established formal diplomatic relations in 1968 based on the “Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation” of 1949 (revised in 2007).
• India-Bhutan border is 699 km (434 m) long.
About Doklam –
• Doklam is an area in Bhutan, lying between China's Chumbi Valley to the north and India's Sikkim state to the west.
• It is also claimed by China.
• It is very close to India’s Siliguri corridor a narrow area connecting the North Eastern States to the rest of India.
• India is concerned about China gaining access to this area.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY)
Why in news – Centre extended Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another 5 years to 2028.
Key Points –
• It was launched on January 1, 2023 to provide free-of-cost food grains for a year under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• PMGKAY is different from the PMGKAY that was launched in 2020 as a pandemic relief measure.
About PMGKAY –
• Aim - To provide rice, wheat, and coarse grains free of cost to families belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories.
• By - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• Benefits - free food to around 80 crores people, ensuring nutrition security, etc.
• It subsumed the two subsidy schemes of the Department of Food & Public Distribution –
(a) Food Subsidy to Food Corporation of India (FCI).
(b) Food Subsidy for Decentralized Procurement (DCP).
2. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
Why in news – The mission has enhanced tap water connection in rural areas from 16% in 2019 to 70% in November 2023.
Key Points –
• Ministry - Ministry of Jal shakti.
• Launched in 2019, as a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Aim - Envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through Functional Household Tap Connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
REPORTS:
1. State of Climate Services Report for 2023
Why in news – It was released World Metrological Organisation (WMO).
Key Points –
• Key findings –
(a) Air pollution is the fourth biggest killer by health risk factor yet only 2% of international climate finance commitments go to tackle it.
(b) 74% of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services provide climate data to health actors, but utilization of these data remains limited.
About WMO (1950) –
• An intergovernmental organization and a specialized agency of the UN.
• 193 Member States. India is a member.
• Other reports –
(a) State of the Global Climate
(b) Air Quality and Climate Bulletin.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Loss and Damage Fund (LDF)
Why in news – Loss and Damage Transitional Committee reached an agreement for the design of a new Loss and Damage Fund (LDF).
Key Points –
• Aim - to assist developing countries vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and associated damage.
• It is designed on the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.
• Loss and damage refer to the negative consequences that arise from the unavoidable risks of climate change like rising sea levels, prolonged heatwaves, etc.
• At the Sharm El-Sheikh climate conference (UNFCCC COP27, 2022), it was decided to set up a dedicated fund for loss and damage.
• The blueprint of LDF will be formally adopted at the COP28 UN climate summit.
• LDF will be administered by the World Bank.
2. Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Why in news – Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) developed a new method for assessing total biodiversity.
Key Points –
• Researchers can assess the total biodiversity by sequencing eDNA of samples such as water, soil, or air.
• This method is a non-destructive and non-invasive biological monitoring method.
• eDNA is DNA shed by all organisms into their surroundings.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Oxygen on Venus
Why in news – Recently, Astronomers have detected clear signs of atomic oxygen in daylight on Venus.
Key Points –
About Venus –
• Mercury and Venus have no moons.
• It is one of the four inner, terrestrial (or rocky) planets.
• It is the only planet named after a female.
• It is the brightest planet (nickname - Evening star).
• Hottest planet (462 °C) in the solar system because of high concentration of carbon dioxide.
• Unlike the other planets in our solar system, Venus and Uranus spin clockwise (east to west) on their axis
• Venus has been called Earth’s twin because of the similarities in their masses, sizes, and densities.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Reservation Bill
Why in news – The state cabinet decided to increase reservation quota from 60% (including 10% to EWS) to 75%.
Key Points –
• The proposed Bill is likely to lay provisions of –
• At present, there had been provision of 50% quota in the states.
• OBC and EBC population in Bihar is 63%.
Value Addition –
• Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India (1992) –
(a) Reservation shall not exceed 50%, moreover, reservation in promotions shall not be allowed.
(b) It emphasized the concept of "social backwardness".
(c) It prescribed 11 indicators to ascertain backwardness.
2. Bihar Caste Survey Highlights
Why in news – Highlights of the Bihar caste survey report were tabled in both Houses of the state.
Key Points –
• More than a third of Bihar’s families live on around Rs 200 a day.
• Only 7% of its population are graduates; and about 96% have no vehicles.
• Bihar is home to about 2.97 crore families, of which more than 94 lakh (34.13%) live on Rs 6,000 or less a month – the cut-off for below poverty line in Bihar.
• Over 14% of the people in the state live in kuchcha houses, of whom about 15% live in huts and another 26% in tin-shed houses.
• 1.22% of Bihar’s people work and 0.39% study outside the state.
POINTERS:
• Indian women's hockey team has won the Asian Champions Trophy title by defeating which country – Japan.
• Air India has entered into interline partnership with which airlines - Airlines Alaska.
• Who has become the first cricketer to be timed out in the history of cricket - Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka).
• Who has taken oath as Chief Information Commissioner - Hiralal Samaria.
• Who has won his first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – Punjab.
• Which company has acquired Mercator Petroleum for Rs 148 crore - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
• In which city has the sixth meeting of India-Malaysia Joint Commission been held - New Delhi.
• Which word has been declared by Collins Dictionary as the Word of the Year 2023 - AI (artificial intelligence).
• Which ministry has launched the “Water for Women, Women for Water” initiative - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Who has made the record of playing the biggest innings for Australia in ODI cricket - Glenn Maxwell.
Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF
Click here to download Current Affairs Hindi PDF