Daily Current Affairs 13 December, 2024 National Affairs 1. D. Gukesh: World Chess Champion 2. Union Cabinet approves Bills on simultaneous polls Context: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved two Bills related to the implementation of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies. Highlights: Know about: One Nation One Election 3. Zeenat: The Tigress Why in News? A three-year-old tigress, Zeenat, who was shifted from Maharashtra to Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, leaving forest officials worried. The tigress had strayed into Jharkhand and was likely moving towards West Bengal in defiance of conservation plans. Highlights: 4. Disease X Context: “Disease X” is defined by World health organization (WHO) as an unknown organism of potential global pandemic proportions. Key Findings: 5. Indian Air Force Clears Major Defence Contracts Context: Two major defense deals for 100 more K-9 Vajra artillery guns and 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, collectively worth Rs 21,100 crore, have been cleared by the cabinet committee. Highlights: K-9 Vajra Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO name: Flanker-H) 6. India supports UNGA resolution on Gaza Context: With this, India makes its pronouncement as one of the 158 nations supporting the UNGA resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and total ceasefire in Gaza. Key Highlight: What is UNGA? A United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution is a decision or declaration that is voted by all the member states of the United Nations. UNGA resolutions are basically a formal statement that represent the international community’s opinion on a range of global issues. The United Nations (UN) The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that was established in 1945 after World War II to maintain international peace and security. 7. India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) Context: In September 2023, the ambitious transcontinental India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) was announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. Recent Updates on the Corridor: Know more about: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Project Banking/Finance 1. New Sovereign Green Bond (SGrB) Auction Was Successful Context: The ₹5,000 crore auction of the new Sovereign Green Bond (SGrB) of 30-year tenure sailed through on Friday.  Highlights: Know about: Green Bonds Also read: Fund raises through Green Bonds 2. India’s retail inflation and food inflation Context: Food inflation has also eased marginally from 10.9% to 9.04% in November, rural consumers having reported a marginally higher rise of 9.1%, while the urban population recorded an 8.74% increase in food prices. Highlights: Retail inflation Food Inflation Also read: Inflation Agri Business 1. Agrochemical sector to see higher growth: CRISIL Context: Agrochemical sector is set to see a higher growth rate next fiscal on stable domestic demand and recovery in export volumes, said CRISIL Ratings. Key Highlights: The Agrochemical Sector The agrochemical sector is a part of the chemical industry’s life sciences segment, and it involves the production and distribution of fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop yields. Agrochemical Sector includes: Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited, is an Indian analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services and is a subsidiary of American company S&P Global. 2. ISMA asked government for advanced biofuel policies  Context: The Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has urged the government to come out with advanced biofuel policies to take forward the current ethanol blending programme (EBP) beyond 2025.  Key Highlights: The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is a government initiative to increase the amount of ethanol blended with petrol in India:  What is Ethanol blending? What is ethanol? Also Read: India shortens down its target for ethanol blending 3. India’s Steel Ministry defines Green Steel Know about: green steel policy 4. Draft: National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing Context: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has come up with a draft ‘National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing‘ to obtain public comments. Aim of the Policy: One aim of the policy is to liberalize the marketing restrictions while considering all interested parties, which include farmers and consumers. The draft policy calls for conducting trade in agricultural produce under a uniform barrier-free environment pan-India. Key Highlights: Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in India 5. Parliamentary panel moots hike in MGNREGA wages Know about: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ( MGNREGA ) Also read: MGNREGA work demand up 4% as farm sowing ends Facts to Remember 1. RTI award for Kerala Kerala has been recognised as a leader in Kerala has been recognised as a leader in transparency, public accountability and dissemination of information, Chief Information Commissioner Hiralal Samariya said. Right to Information The Right to Information (RTI) is a law in India that gives its citizens the right to access information held by public authorities.