05th December, 2024

1. India, Kuwait to Launch Joint Commission for Enhanced Cooperation
2. From Freedom Fighter to Namibia’s First Female President
3. Adani Defence Delivers 2nd Drishti-10 Drone to Indian Navy for Maritime Security
4. India Wins 5th Junior Hockey Asia Cup, Beats Pakistan 5-3
5. Morgan Stanley Cuts India’s FY25 GDP Growth to 6.3%
6. World Soil Day 2024: Understanding Its Importance and Combating Soil Degradation
7. SEBI Fines Reliance Securities ₹9 Lakh for Rule Violations
8. Australian Davis Cup Icon Neale Fraser Passes Away at 91
9. US Approves $1.17 Billion Deal for Indian Navy Chopper Equipment
10. Centre Launches eMaap Portal for Fair Trade and Consumer Protection
11. Amazon Boosts AI with Nova Foundation Models
12. NSIC Pays Record Dividend of Rs. 37.97 Crore for FY 2023-24
13. India Intensifies Efforts to Reduce Snakebite Deaths by 2030
14. International Volunteer Day 2024: Date, History and Theme
15. Devendra Fadnavis to Become Maharashtra CM for the Third Term
16. India Welcomes Its 57th Tiger Reserve: Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh
17. Brigadier Raj Manchanda: The ‘Old Fox’ of Indian Squash Passes Away at 80
18. Maria Victoria Juan Wins Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024

National News

1. India and Kuwait Establish Joint Commission for Cooperation
   • What:
     • India and Kuwait have set up a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers to review and monitor the entire range of bilateral relations between India and Kuwait.
   • Tell me more:
     • The decision was made during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya.
     • The two ministers discussed various areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, energy, food security, and cultural ties.
     • New working groups will be formed under the JCC in sectors such as education, technology, agriculture, security, and culture.
     • This initiative aims to enhance existing cooperation in hydrocarbons, health, and consular matters.
       Source: BS
2. India Develops National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap)
   • What:
     • The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, is creating the National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap) to unify State Legal Metrology Departments and their portals.
   • Why:
     • This initiative aims to streamline processes for issuing licenses, conducting verifications, and managing enforcement and compliance in legal metrology.
   • Tell me more:
     • eMaap will create a centralized database, reducing the need for stakeholders to register on multiple state portals.
     • The portal will simplify procedures like issuing, renewing, and amending licenses, as well as handling verification of weighing and measuring instruments.

3. India Declares Snakebite a Notifiable Disease
   • What:
     • India has officially declared snakebite as a notifiable disease to help reduce its health burden.
   • Why:
     • This declaration aims to improve monitoring, reporting, and response to snakebite incidents, which contribute to nearly 50% of global snakebite deaths.
   • Tell me more:
     • Some states, like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have already made snakebites notifiable.
     • The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to reduce global snakebite deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.

Knowledge Nuggets
o In March 2024, National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India was launched.

[/et_pb_code]

Source: NIE

State News

1. India Notifies Ratapani Tiger Reserve as 57th Tiger Reserve
   • The Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has been officially declared as the 57th tiger reserve in India.
   • It is the eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Others are Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, Satpura, and Veerangana Durgavati.
     Source: PIB

Banking and Economy

1. Bharat NCX Launched by Rashtriya Raksha University
   • What
     • Recently, the Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024) was inaugurated at a significant ceremony organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to strengthen India’s cybersecurity resilience.
     • Bharat NCX is developed by Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).
   • Why
     • It aims to strengthening India’s cyber defense by training professionals, enhancing leadership skills for managing high-pressure national crises, and fostering collaboration among government, industry, and startups.
   • Tell me more
     • The exercise includes cyber defense training, live cyberattack simulations, and collaboration for government and industry stakeholders
     • A Strategic Decision-Making Exercise will involve senior management simulating responses to national cyber crises.
     • The CISO’s Conclave will feature discussions and insights from cybersecurity leaders across sectors.
     • The Bharat Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition will showcase innovative solutions from Indian startups, promoting national cybersecurity efforts.
       Source: PIB
2. SEBI Penalizes Reliance Securities for Market Norm Violations
   • What:
     • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has fined Reliance Securities ₹9 lakh for violating market norms and stock broker rules.
   • Why:
     • The penalty was imposed following a thematic inspection of Reliance Securities’ accounts and records, conducted to ensure compliance with stock broker regulations.
   • Tell me more:
     • The inspection took place from April 2022 to December 2023 and revealed multiple violations, including inadequate systems for recording client orders and discrepancies in terminal locations.
     • Reliance Securities admitted to some lapses but claimed corrective measures were taken, such as deactivating terminals used by unapproved personnel.
     • SEBI emphasized that compliance must be maintained at all times, and corrective actions after the fact do not excuse past violations.

3. Amazon Unveils New AI Foundation Models for Enhanced Shopping
   • What:
     • Amazon has launched new foundation models called Amazon Nova, designed to improve generative AI applications for product research and recommendations.
   • Why:
     • The initiative aims to simplify the shopping experience by leveraging AI to provide better guidance and product suggestions across various categories.
   • Tell me more:
     • Amazon Nova can process text, images, and videos, allowing users to understand multimedia content and generate new videos.
     • The models include several versions:
       • Amazon Nova Micro: A text-only model with low latency.
       • Amazon Nova Lite: A multimodal model for fast processing of images, videos, and text.
       • Amazon Nova Pro: A versatile model balancing accuracy, speed, and cost.
       • Amazon Nova Premier: A model for complex reasoning tasks, available in Q1 2025.
       • Amazon Nova Canvas: An image generation model.
       • Amazon Nova Reel: A video generation model.

4. NSIC Pays Record Dividend to Government of India
   • What:
     • The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) has paid a dividend of ₹37.97 crore to the Government of India for the financial year 2023-24.
   • Tell me more:
     • The dividend was presented by NSIC’s Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, to Union Minister Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi and MoS Sushri Shobha Karandlaje.
     • NSIC reported a revenue from operations of ₹3,273 crore for 2023-24, marking an 18.16% growth.
     • The Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year was ₹126.56 crore, which is a 14.55% increase compared to the previous year.
     • This is the highest dividend ever paid by NSIC.
       Source: pib

GDP Forecasts

1. Morgan Stanley Cuts India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.3%
   • What:
     • Morgan Stanley has revised India’s GDP growth projection for the current fiscal year to 6.3%, down from the previous estimate of 6.7%.
   • Why:
     • The adjustment follows a slowdown in India’s GDP, which dropped to 5.4% year-on-year in the July-September quarter of 2024, marking the lowest growth since March 2023.
   • Tell me more:
     • The Indian economy’s slowdown was attributed to declines in private consumption and capital expenditure, although private consumption grew by 6%.
     • The services sector showed resilience with a growth rate of 7.1%, while the industrial sector grew by only 3.9%.
     • Morgan Stanley remains optimistic about the second half of FY25, projecting a rebound in growth due to factors like increased government spending and improved rural demand.
       Source: ET

Defence News

1. Adani Defence Delivers Second Surveillance Drone to Indian Navy
   • What:
     • Adani Defence and Aerospace has delivered a second Drishti-10 Starliner surveillance drone to the Indian Navy.
   • Why:
     • This delivery enhances India’s maritime capabilities to monitor shipping routes and reduce piracy risks.
   • Tell me more:
     • The Drishti-10 is an advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a flight endurance of 36 hours and a payload capacity of 450 kg.
     • It is certified for all-weather operations and can fly in both segregated and unsegregated airspace.
     • The drone provides persistent multi-payload capabilities and supports Satcom-based operations, improving situational awareness for the Indian Navy.

2. US Approves $1.17 Billion Sale of Helicopter Equipment to India
   • What:
     • The United States has approved the sale of advanced equipment and support systems worth $1.17 billion for India’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
   • Why:
     • This sale aims to enhance India’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and bolster its defense preparedness.
   • Tell me more:
     • The package includes communication systems, advanced sensors, external fuel tanks, and support services like training and technical support.
     • The principal contractor for this deal will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.
     • The MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission naval helicopter designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

Source: ET

Awards

1. Nurse Maria Victoria Juan Wins Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award
   • What:
     • Nurse Maria Victoria Juan from the Philippines has been awarded the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024, which includes a prize of ₹2 crore.
   • Why:
     • The award recognizes the dedication and significant contributions of nurses to healthcare, highlighting their essential role in society.
   • Tell me more:
     • Maria Juan is a consultant at the Philippines Army Health Services and holds the rank of Colonel in the Reserve Force.
     • She initiated the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, improving survival rates for casualties.
     • The award is in its third edition and was presented to her among over 78,000 nurses from 202 countries.

Source: TOI

Important Days

1. World Soil Day – December 5
   • Theme: Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage
     Source: UN
2. International Volunteer Day – December 5
   Source: UN

Sports

1. India Wins Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 Against Pakistan
   • What:
     • The Indian hockey team won the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024, defeating Pakistan 5-3 in the final held in Muscat, Oman.
   • Why:
     • This victory marks India’s fifth title in the history of the Junior Asia Cup, showcasing their dominance in junior international hockey.
   • Tell me more:
     • Araijeet Singh Hundal was the standout player, scoring four goals for India, while Dilraj Singh added another.
       Source: BS

Appointments

1. Namibia Elects First Female President: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
   • Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been elected as Namibia’s first female president.
     Source: BBC
2. Maharashtra’s New CM
   • Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister for the third time.
     Source: ET

Miscellaneous

1. Neale Fraser, Australian Tennis Legend, Passes Away at 91
   • What:
     • Neale Fraser, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion and former Davis Cup captain of Australia, has died at the age of 91.
   • Tell me more:
     • He won Wimbledon in 1960 and multiple titles at the U.S. Open in 1959 and 1960.
     • Fraser was a key player in helping Australia secure four Davis Cup titles and served as the national team captain for over two decades.
     • He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 and received the Philippe Chatrier Award in 2008 for his contributions to tennis.
       Source: NIE
2. Brig Raj Manchanda, Renowned Indian Squash Player, Passes Away
   • Brig Raj Manchanda, a six-time National squash champion and Arjuna Awardee, passed away in Delhi at the age of 80.
   • He achieved fourth place at the 1984 Asian Championships in Jordan and won six consecutive National singles championships from 1977 to 1982.
   • Two squash courts have been named after him at the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy.
     Source: TH

Start Quiz of 05th December 2024 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 05th December 2024 on Desktop