Daily Current Affairs
5 December, 2024
International Affairs
1. South Korean President faces impeachment
Context:
South Korea’s parliament has passed a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, an action that could potentially end his presidency.
Key Highlights:
- South Korea’s Parliament Passes Motion to Impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol
- The motion was passed in a plenary session, and a vote on impeachment must be held within 24 to 72 hours.
- The motion is opposed by the ruling People Power Party while the Democratic Party in Opposition will continue pursuing charges of treason and impeachment against Yoon, defence minister, and safety minister.
About Impeachment in India:
Impeachment is the removal of the President from office if he has violated the Constitution. There is a proper procedure given under the Constitution of India, in which Parliament possesses the right to perform this activity. So far, not even a single President of India has been impeached.
What is Impeachment?
- Impeachment refers to the process through which a congress brings a charge against an officer, among whom is the President, for misbehavior.
- It is a serious process and is only carried out in cases where offenses are severe such as:
- Treason.
- Bribery.
- Corruption.
- Abuse of power.
- An infraction of the fundamental rights.
2. Nepal, China sign Belt and Road Initiative framework
Context:
Nepal and China sign the Cooperation Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Key Highlights:
- The agreement is expected to facilitate BRI project implementation.
The deal was signed during the first official visit of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to China. - Oli reflects on his bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang, NPC Chairman Zhang Leji, and President Xi Jinping.
- He expects that the BRI Framework Cooperation would strengthen economic cooperation between Nepal and China.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
- Launched in 2013, the BRI is aimed at enhancing global connectivity and cooperation.
- It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road.
- The Silk Road Economic Belt enhances connectivity, infrastructure, and trade ties in Eurasia.
- The Maritime Silk Road targets maritime connections and cooperation.
National Affairs
1. Kochi to host global conference on sustainable growth in rubber industry
Context:
Rubbercon 2024 is being organized by IRI and IRCO from December 5 to 7 at Le Meridien.
Key Highlights:
- The Indian Rubber Institute to Host Rubbercon 2024
- The event on “Sustainable Development in the Rubber Industry – Challenges and Opportunities” will host 90 oral presentations as well as 18 poster sessions of international experts.
- The ceremony will be inaugurated by Tessy Thomas, former Director of the Agni-IV missile project, and Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, as Special Guest of Honour.
- They focus most the conversations about renewable raw materials, energy-efficient tires and industry alignment with global sustainability goals.
- From the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
- All operational and technical parameters have been established.
- Under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
- It is an Agni series medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles.
- By word ‘Agni‘ derived from Sanskrit, meaning fire.
- Intermediate-range ballistic and surface-to-surface missile designed for ground and sea launch.
- Range of 4000 km, length of 20 m, and payload capacity of 1000 kg.
2. CAG prepares two more audit reports, asks Delhi govt to table all docs
Context:
The and comptroller auditor have produced two more audit reports concerning the actions taken by the government and its departments.
Things to know:
Who is the CAG?
- CAG is an independent authority under the Constitution of India.
- He is the head of the Indian audit & account department and chief Guardian of Public purse.
- The CAG ensures the accountability of the government and public authorities to Parliament and State Legislatures.
- Article 148 refers to the appointment, oath and terms and conditions of service for CAG
- States the accounts of Union and of States between Articles 150 and 151
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 made CAG accountable for both accounting and auditing duties.
- CAG of India: K. Sanjay Murthy
3. NAVY DAY CELEBRATION AT PURI on December 4, 2024
Context:
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu attended the Navy Day celebration and witnessed the Operational Demonstration conducted by the Indian Navy at Puri Beach, Odisha today (December 4, 2024).
4. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture RADAR (NISAR) Mission
Mission Overview:
- NISAR is a joint Earth Science mission of NASA and ISRO.
- It will use the synthetic aperture radar technology to observe changes in the Earth’s surface.
Launch Update:
- The launch, which was earlier scheduled during the first half of 2024, has now been rescheduled for March 2025 due to:
- Corrective actions undertaken for the 12-meter Radar Antenna Reflector that was taken to the USA for fixes and returned to ISRO in October 2024.
- Tests are continuous and adverse conditions prevail during the eclipse season for the deployment of the boom and antenna reflector.
5. The Boilers Bill, 2024
Source: PIB
Context:
The Boilers Bill, 2024, has been recently proposed by the Indian Government and has been placed in Rajya Sabha for consideration and enactment.
About:
The Bill deals with life and property safety; so, Indian Boilers (Amendment) Act, 2007 was revisited and amended in 2007 including inspection and certification by independent third party inspecting authorities. The Act has been reviewed to provisions to frame substantive enabling provisions for the rules and regulations.
Salient Features of the Boilers Bill, 2024
- The Act has been divided into six chapters and provisions have been rearranged chapter-wise.
- Redundant/Obsolete provisions under the Boilers Act, 1923 have been removed and new definitions have been introduced, and new clauses have been introduced.
- Decriminalization provisions for the Boilers Act, 1923 have been incorporated in clauses 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39 & 42, and two new clauses namely, 35(Adjudication) & 36 (Appeals) have been incorporated.
6. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
Context:
Maha Kumbh Mela: World’s Biggest Spiritual Meetis going to be held from January 13 to February 26, in Prayagraj.
Key Highlights:
- In Hindu mythology.
- Takes place every twelve years.
- The places change are Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj.
- In the cities along the Ganges, Shipra, Godavari, and Sarasvati.
- 2025: To take place in Prayagraj.
7. Mission Mausam
Dr. Jitendra Singh’s Inauguration of 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference
Context:
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference.
Key Findings from the conference:
- Singh hailed “Mission Mausam” as a revolutionary program that will transform the way weather forecasting is done in India.
- This initiative is the first in a pan-Indian framework scientifically organized by the Government of India for solutions to climate-related hazards.
- Singh cited that space technology and weather forecasting have been developed in India, highlighting AI, machine learning, and geoinformatics for forecast.
- He extends congratulations to the India Meteorological Department, which has crossed the milestone of 150 years and at the same time pointed out AOMSUC-14 as an opportunity to enhance regional and international collaboration in satellite meteorology.
- He approved the capacity-building initiative in AOMSUC for developing countries to benefit from the developments in satellite meteorology.
Banking/Finance
1. India Employee Pension Scheme
Context:
India Employee Pension Scheme Increase number of pensioners eligible to receive the minimum assured pension at ₹ 1,000 have been up 3 per cent at 3.66 million for FY24 in Employee Pension Scheme.
Key Highlights:
A central government fund amount of ₹ 957 crore for the same in FY24.
- The number of old-age beneficiaries who were awarded government subsidies to access a minimum monthly pension of ₹1,000 increased slightly to 2.06 million in FY24 compared with 2.05 million in FY23.
- The overall population of old-age beneficiaries that was under the EPS increased by 4 percent to 7.85 million.
- The ministry has absorbed any deficiencies in the minimum pension provided.
Agri Business
1. The INROAD project
Context:
Project INROAD completes 1.25 lakh hectare of NR plantations in North-East
Key Highlights:
INROAD Project Completes North-Eastern Natural Rubber Plantation
- The INROAD project, a first-of-its-kind initiative, has completed 125,272 hectares of natural rubber plantation in the North-Eastern States for FY2024-25.
- The project has been supported by members of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), aims to develop 200,000 hectares of rubber plantation in the North-Eastern States and West Bengal.
- Close to 90% of the plantation target has been achieved, with 5.3 crore planting material having been distributed in the last four years.
- Project Aims to lift the economic and social status of 2.5 lakh beneficiaries.
2. India attempts to revive farm reforms, unveils draft policy
Context:
The Centre unveils the draft “National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing“ so that farmers can find their market of choice and secure the highest price for their produce.
Key Highlights:
The policy envisages introducing reforms in agriculture against the backdrop of farmers’ protests demanding the legalization of Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
- The said policy should therefore be constructed to constitute an ecosystem of efficient marketing, with inequalities held through multi-channel marketing and transparency with infrastructure in place as well as innovative digital technology along with agri-value chain-based marketing.
- Open to public feedback until December 10 by the Centre.
- Consultations shall determine how an existing procurement system under MSPs shall be achieved.
- This policy also anticipates a further integration of more numbers of markets – collection centers, aggregation points, private markets, deemed markets, GrAMs, FPO premises, Common Agribusiness Centre and Market Place (CACMP) premises, and APMC markets (mandis) with an eNAM portal.
Source: Business Line
3.Campaign on Paddies Procurement and New Crop Varieties for Punjab
Context:
IIT Kharagpur has been given responsibility by the Centre to study claims that the new hybrid paddy varieties in Punjab yield less rice during harvesting.
Key Findings:
- The government has procured 169 lakh tonnes of paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) in the current kharif marketing season (KMS) 2024-25.
- The period of procurement started on October 1 and continued until November 30.
- The number of public place-temporary yards activated by the State government is 951, and 475 include rice mill-temporary yards for MSP procurement of paddy.
- Around 4800 millers have been registered and provided with paddy by State government agencies for this storage under joint custody and milling.
Source: Business Line
4. CGIAR Launches Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) 2030
Context:
CGIAR Launches Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) 2030 and GSRD will be the first participatory strategy put together by the CGIAR centres, co-led with ICARDA and ICRISAT.
Key Highlights:
- With it, the most arid regions on earth will be converted into farming systems within sustainable food systems.
- He has a science-driven roadmap towards a better life for 2.7 billion people living in drylands, especially in Asia and Africa.
- Dryland agriculture is the heart of global climate adaptation strategies.
- Solutions into solar-powered agrivoltaics, innovative agroforestry and livestock feed practice, soils improvement, desalination solution, as well as breeding technology on crops.
