Current Affairs 12 December, 2024

Daily Current Affairs

12 December, 2024

1. Places of Worship Act, 1991

Context:

Multiple parties moved the Supreme Court on the eve of a Special Bench hearing petitions challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which preserves the character of religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947.

Places of Worship Act, 1991

• Passed on August 15, 1947 to “freeze” the status of any place of worship.
• Prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and, therefore, keeps intact its character.
• Disposes of pending litigation with regard to the conversion of the religious character of a place of worship before 15 August, 1947.
• Does not apply to ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites and remains under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Punishment, maximum imprisonment term of three years and fines for violation under this Act.

Read more>>

2. Impeachment of High Court Judge

Context:

The Opposition has started efforts to move an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge.

Impeachment Procedure

• Key Constitutional Provisions
  • Article 124(4): The motion for the proceeding needs to be passed by not less than two-thirds of the majority in both Houses of Parliament, that is Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  • Articles 218 of the Constitution offers the same law to High Court judges as well.
  • It seeks to ensure the independence of the judiciary and keep the bar for removal high enough so as to limit political influences.

• Causes for Impeachment
  • A judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court may be removed from office on the ground of “proven misbehaviour” or of “incapacity.”
  • The grounds for impeachment may include improper use of office, serious offences which affect the integrity of a judge, and violation of provisions of the Constitution.

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UPSC PYQ 2019:

Consider the following statements:

1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (inquiry) Act, 1968.

2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4

3. Novel Gene Therapy: one-time solution for Haemophilia

Context:

Scientists in India have reported success with using gene therapy to treat severe haemophilia A, a rare hereditary condition resulting from a faulty gene which triggers severe, spontaneous, and potentially fatal bleeding episodes.

Key Highlights:

• Hemophilia A is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough factor VIII, a protein that helps blood clot.
• No bleeding incidences were detected after an average 14 months of follow-up evaluation post-gene therapy in a trial led by Alok Srivastava of the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), Christian Medical College at Vellore.
• A one-time therapy is gene therapy and aims to introduce a gene into the body where that would produce enough amount of the clotting factor so that it will not bleed.
• Despite being rare in India, it is home to the second-largest population of patients who had someday 0.4-1 lakh estimates.

4. ILO Social Dialogue Report regarding Workplace Rights

Context:

ILO has released report regarding Workplace Rights.

Highlights:

• The report urges the governments to entrench basic principles and rights in the workplace, such as freedom of association and collective bargaining.
• The report asks member countries to provide labor administrations and social partners with necessary resources and technical capabilities to enhance effective participation within the ‘peak-level social dialogue’ (PLSD).

International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.

• Founded
  • 11 April, 1919
• Headquartered 
  • Geneva, Switzerland
• Director General
  • Gilbert Houngbo
• Member Countries
  • 187 Countries

5. WHO Report – Malaria in Region South-East Asia

Context:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) South East Asia Region contributes about 1.5% of the burden of malaria cases globally and India accounted for about half of all estimated cases in 2023.

Key Highlights of Report:

• This region harbors 1.5% of the global malaria burden, with a 50% share in India, a one-third share with Indonesia.
• Estimated malaria deaths in the region fell by 82.9%, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023.
• Together, India and Indonesia accounted for about 88% of malaria deaths in the region.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)

• Establishment
  • April 7, 1948
• Headquarter
  • Geneva, Switzerland
• Director General
  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• Goal
  • Achieving the highest level of health for all people.
  • Control and develop public health teaching and training; Set international standards for biological products.
  • Promotion of control of epidemic and endemic diseases.

Malaria

• Malaria is a disease caused by Anopheles mosquitoes in vertebrates.
• Causes:
  •  Plasmodium trasmitted to humans by Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Diagnosis:
  • Antigen Detection Test.

6. Olive Ridley turtle and Irrawaddy Dolphin

Context:

• The forest advisory committee of the Centre refused clearance for the Greenfield airport project in Puri, Odisha, citing some environmental issues.

Key Highlights:

• The endangered Olive Ridley turtle nesting site and the threatened Irrawaddy Dolphin are two of the major reasons for the decision of not given clearance.
• The project site at Brahmagiri (Puri) is quite too near to the INS Chilka naval base and to the Central Asian flyway.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

• The second-smallest and most abundant in the Cheloniidae family.
• It is found in warm waters, as well as tropical and subtropical regions, notably within the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Mostly Found
  • Tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
• IUCN status
  • Endangered

Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

• Found In
  • Coastal seas and estuaries of Bay of Bengal and southeast Asia.
  • Concentrated lagoon populations are found in Chilika Lake in Odisha, India and Songkhla Lake in southern Thailand.
• IUCN Status
  • Endangered

7. Google Introduces AI Model ‘Gemini 2.0’

• Google’s premier AI model, Gemini 2.0, has a doubled speed in comparison with its predecessor.
• Features
  • Capable of producing images and audio in multilingual formats and serving in Google search and coding activities.
  • Ability for agents to think, remember, make plans, and perform acts on behalf of the user.

Banking/Finance

1. Asian Development Bank: India Growth Forecast

Context:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday lowered its India growth forecast for the current financial year (FY25) to 6.5 per cent from 7 per cent earlier.

Highlights:

• ADB low downs revised the India growth forecast to 6.5% for FY 25 which previously stood at 7.5%.
• Industries have been reeling under lower industrial output, tighter prudential norms, subdued public capital expenditure, and elevated food prices.

Asian Development Bank

• Established in 1966, on December 19
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development bank that works to improve the quality of life in developing member countries
• Headquarter
  • Philippines.
• President
  • Masatsugu Asakawa
• Members
  • India joined the organization in 1966. Apart from this 69 other countries are also the members.

2. Sustainability-Linked Bond (SLB)

Context:

Sustainability-linked bond (SLBs) deals have fall this year, prompting bankers and investors to question whether the $319 billion market will ever regain favour.

Highlights:

• SLB instruments have raised $37.6 billion for companies and government bodies, representing a 46% decline from the entire year of 2023.
• An SLB issuance has fallen about 90% in the Americas and decreased around 30% in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions.

Sustainability Linked Bond

• A Sustainability-Linked Bond (SLB) is a type of bond that ties the financial or structural characteristics of the bond to the issuer’s achievement of predetermined sustainability objectives.
• Structured around predetermined key performance indicators (KPIs) and sustainability performance targets (SPTs).
• Independent verification of performed KPIs against SPTs should be obtained at least once a year by the issuers.

Agri Business

1. Drone Technology in Pineapple Cultivation

Context:

In an attempt to promote widespread adoption of drone technology, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ernakulam under ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) demonstrated use of drone for nutrient spraying in pineapple fields.

Highlights:

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ernakulam under ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has used drone technology in pineapple nutrient application.
• The technology will saves water, time, labor as well as time, making it quite promising for future pineapple production.
• The drones sprayed NPK foliar-grade fertilizer to 120-days-old pineapples, which would have consumed water as in the range of 250-300 liters for manual spraying.

‘Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

• Extension center of the local agricultural university in agricultural extension.
• Linkage between Indian Council of Agricultural Research and farmers.

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)

• Established in India in the year 1947 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Tagged into the trilogy of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in the year 1967.
• Headquartered at Kochi, State Kerala.
• Aims at creating a strong database on marine fisheries sector.
• Scientific methodologies developed for estimating marine fish landings as well as effort inputs.

2. India shortens down its target for ethanol blending

Context:

India to scale down ethanol blending target to 18% for ESY 2024-25 amid compatibility concerns. 

Highlights:

• The government will now scale down the percentage of ethanol from 20% to 18% for the ethanol supply year 2024-25.
• Most petrol-driven vehicles, except for Bharat Stage-VI, do not support E20 fuel.
• The EBP scheme focuses on blending 20% ethanol with petrol and consumption of E20 fuel in the entire ethanol supply years 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Ethanol blending is the process of mixing ethanol with gasoline to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

• What is ethanol?
  • Ethanol is a renewable biofuel that’s a byproduct of processing sugarcane, rice husk, or maize. It’s also known as ethyl alcohol.

3. UN draft resolution on “Agriculture Development, Food Security, and Nutrition”

Context:

The draft resolution voicing concern about severe food crisis erupting in different world regions, particularly in developing countries and net food importers.

Key Highlights:

• Poverty, inequality, lack of resources, COVID-19, climate change, biodiversity loss, disasters, conflicts, and geopolitical tensions are root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.
• Volatile prices for food are a challenge to poverty and hunger eradication, food security, improved nutrition, and international development goals.
• These include a rise in the prices of food and agricultural inputs, disruption in the supply chain, and higher shipping and transport costs.

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that was established in 1945 after World War II to maintain international peace and security. The UN’s headquarters are located in New York City.

Facts to Remember

1. Indian grandmaster D Gukesh draws Ding Liren in World Chess Championship.

• The Indian Grandmaster, D Gukesh, cannot break through defending champion Ding Liren in the 13th and penultimate game of the World Chess championship.
• The score is tied at 6.56.5, with only a single game remaining up for grabs that could lead to a tiebreak stage.
• Match venue:
  • 25 November and 13 December 2024, in Singapore.

2. Google’s Willow Quantum Computing Chip

• Google has developed a quantum computing chip, Willow, which solved complex computations in under five minutes.
• The breakthrough is a significant step towards practicalizing quantum computing, a field that has been elusive for over a decade.
• Google also demonstrated the ability to reduce quantum computer errors exponentially while using more qubits for scaling up the technology.

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is a multi dimension field which includes aspects of computer science, physics, and mathematics that facilitates quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than traditional computers.

3. Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 World Cup

• Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by Fifa as host of the 2034 men’s football World Cup.
• Portugal & Morocco Get 2030 Edition.