Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 30th November 2024) | Current Affairs: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - CLAT PDF Download

India, Bosnia and Herzegovina Hold 4th Foreign Office Consultations

Participants and Leadership

• The fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Bosnia and Herzegovina took place in Sarajevo. 
• The Indian delegation was led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary for Central Europe, while Tarik Bukvic, head of the Department for Asia and Africa in Bosnia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Key Discussion Topics

• The discussions covered a broad spectrum of regional and international issues, with a focus on multilateralism and cooperation in platforms such as BRICS, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement. 
• Both nations also shared insights on developments in their respective regions.

Additional Meetings

• During his visit, Arun Kumar Sahu held discussions with Marko Milisav and Maja Gacic, advisors to the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
• He also had a courtesy meeting with Christian Schmidt, the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Next Round of Consultations

• The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, with the date to be determined later.

Diplomatic Relations Milestone

• India and Bosnia and Herzegovina are set to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.

Areas of Cooperation

• The consultations highlighted various avenues for collaboration, including political, economic, educational, cultural, and scientific sectors. Discussions on regional and global issues further emphasized the commitment to a comprehensive partnership.

Air Pollution from Wildfires Causes Millions of Deaths

Key Findings

A recent study by Australian researchers highlights the alarming global health impacts of air pollution caused by landscape fires, revealing that 1.53 million deaths occur annually due to this issue. The data, spanning from 2000 to 2019, shows that over 90% of these fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries. The regions most affected include sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia.

Health Impacts

The study identifies significant health concerns arising from wildfire-related air pollution:

• Heart disease accounts for approximately 450,000 deaths annually.
• Respiratory diseases contribute to around 220,000 deaths.
• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is responsible for 77.6% of these fatalities.
• Exposure to surface ozone contributes to 22.4% of deaths.

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, driven by climate change, are expected to exacerbate these health risks, underscoring the urgent need for action.

Recommendations for Action

• Researchers stress the importance of high-income countries providing financial and technological support to help vulnerable nations manage these health risks. Collaborative efforts are essential to address the inequality in death rates caused by wildfire-related air pollution and to reduce its overall health impacts.
• Tailored strategies, particularly for regions like sub-Saharan Africa, are vital to improve air quality and health outcomes effectively.

India Inducts Sabal 20 Logistics Drone

India has bolstered its defense capabilities with the Sabal 20 logistics drone, developed by IIT Kanpur in collaboration with UAV technology firm EndureAir. Designed for stealth operations in challenging terrains, it has been deployed by the Indian Army in the Eastern Theatre, covering Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Development and Design

• The Sabal 20 is an electric unmanned helicopter created by EndureAir.
• It features variable pitch technology, allowing it to carry loads of up to 20 kilograms, which is half its weight.
• Inspired by the Chinook helicopter, it uses a tandem rotor design for improved load-carrying efficiency.
• Future upgrades to enhance its capabilities are possible.

Operational Capabilities

• Built for demanding missions, it provides long-range delivery and precision logistics.
• Operates effectively in high-altitude and rugged environments.
• Equipped with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability, enabling operation in confined spaces.
• Maintains low RPM, ensuring reduced noise for stealth operations.

Stealth and Autonomy

• Low noise levels make it ideal for sensitive missions.
• Offers advanced autonomous flight features, enabling operation in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) scenarios.
• Designed for easy control and reliable performance in diverse conditions.

Versatile Applications

• Supports anti-insurgency operations and plays a critical role in humanitarian missions during disasters.
• Enhances logistical support in challenging regions, improving the Indian Army's operational efficiency.

What are Nanozymes?

About Nanozymes

• Nanozymes are synthetic enzymes designed to replicate the functions of natural enzymes.
• While their interactions with small molecules are well-documented, their roles in interacting with larger proteins, such as structural proteins like collagen, remain underexplored.
• Current research is focusing on expanding nanozymes' applications to include these larger biomolecules.

Research at CSIR-CLRI

• Scientists at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), led by Dr. Amit Vernekar, studied nanozymes’ interaction with collagen.
• The team used a manganese-based oxidase nanozyme (MnN) to demonstrate its capability to crosslink collagen molecules.

Crosslinking Process

• Crosslinking links collagen molecules, improving their structural stability.
• The researchers used tannic acid under mild conditions, preserving collagen’s natural structure.
• This method enhanced collagen’s stability and resistance to degradation by enzymes like collagenase.

Artificial Enzyme Design

• A separate study incorporated an active site into MOF-808, a material that mimics natural enzymes’ binding pockets.
• This approach improved control over chemical reactions, though it presented challenges with larger proteins like cytochrome c.

Balancing Reactivity

• Designing artificial enzymes requires balancing desired reactivity with avoiding unwanted side reactions.
• This balance is critical for ensuring the selectivity and efficiency of nanozyme interactions in medical applications.

Expanding Applications

• The research highlights how nanozymes can be applied to structural proteins, expanding their use beyond small molecules.
• This opens pathways for developing biomaterials with enhanced durability and intact structural properties.
• Such advancements hold promise for therapeutic applications and improving the longevity of biomaterials.

Significance

• These findings underscore the importance of careful design in artificial enzyme development.
• They contribute to advancements in biotechnology and medicine, particularly in creating innovative therapeutic materials.

India and Tanzania Enhance Defence Cooperation

India and Tanzania held their third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting on November 26, 2024, in Goa, with the aim of strengthening defence ties between the two nations.

Key Participants

• The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Shri Amitabh Prasad. Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces were present. The Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Shri Bishwadip Dey, also attended.
• The Tanzanian delegation was headed by Land Forces Commander Maj Gen Fadhil Omary Nondo.
• Both nations discussed areas of training partnerships, focusing on service-to-service collaboration. Key areas of focus were the maritime and defence industries, and progress from previous JDCC meetings was reviewed. New strategies for strengthening defence ties were also deliberated.

Delegation Activities

• The Tanzanian delegation visited Goa Shipyard Ltd, gaining insight into India’s shipbuilding capabilities.
• The visit also included a tour of INS Hansa and the National Institute of Hydrography, which highlighted India’s expertise in port development.

Existing Relations

• India and Tanzania share strong, friendly relations supported by capacity-building initiatives.
• The two countries are continually exploring opportunities for deeper cooperation in defence matters.
• A five-year roadmap has been established to guide their defence partnership, with a focus on enhancing collaboration across various defence sectors.

Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Telescope

Gamma Rays

• High-energy electromagnetic waves with shortest wavelength and highest energy in the spectrum.
• Each gamma ray carries energy exceeding 100,000 electron volts (eV).
• Visible light photons, by comparison, range between 1.63 and 3.26 eV.
• Gamma rays are invisible to humans.

Sources of Gamma Rays

• Emitted during cosmic events such as:
  • Pulsars
  • Supernovae
  • Black holes
  • Gamma-ray bursts
• These phenomena release immense gamma radiation into space.

The Earth’s Atmosphere and Gamma Rays

• The atmosphere effectively blocks gamma rays, shielding life on Earth from their harmful effects.
• Due to their high energy, gamma rays can damage cells and DNA.
• To study gamma rays, astronomers rely on space-based observatories or specialized ground-based techniques.

Detecting Gamma Rays on Earth

• Atmospheric interactions: Gamma rays collide with air molecules, creating electron-positron pairs.
• These pairs move faster than light in the air, resulting in detectable radiation.

Cherenkov Radiation

• This radiation arises from high-energy particle interactions in the atmosphere.
• It emits a faint blue-violet light, visible across a large area.
• Its spread creates a broad detection zone, ideal for ground-based observation.

MACE as a Detection Tool

• MACE is an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT), located in Hanle, Ladakh, at an altitude of 4.3 km, making it the world’s highest Cherenkov telescope.
• Features a 21-meter-wide dish, the largest in Asia.
• Captures Cherenkov radiation to analyze high-energy gamma rays.
• Contributes to deeper insights into cosmic phenomena.

WHO Grants Boost Pathogen Genomic Surveillance

The WHO has introduced ten innovative projects under the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to enhance global genomic surveillance of pathogens. These projects aim to address disease threats and are supported by approximately $2 million in funding in the first grant round.

Purpose of the Grants

• Focused on capacity building in low- and middle-income countries.
• Enable the analysis of pathogen genetic codes to track disease spread and severity.
• Data supports public health responses, vaccine development, and treatment strategies.

Key Projects

• Ashoka University, India: Uses DNA barcoding to map antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• American University of Beirut: Studies disease spread in refugee populations via wastewater surveillance.
• Pasteur Institute of Laos: Monitors avian flu in live-bird markets.

Funding Sources

• Hosted by the United Nations Foundation.
• Supported by organizations like:
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • The Rockefeller Foundation
  • Wellcome
• A second round of funding is planned for 2025, signifying ongoing commitment to global health.

Global Participation

• Recipients include institutions in Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Ghana, and more.
• Projects address local health needs while contributing to global disease tracking.
• Highlights from the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the importance of genomic surveillance for responding to health crises.

Empowering Vulnerable Communities

• Focuses on enhancing the capacity of vulnerable communities.
• Critical amid the challenges posed by climate change.
• Provides access to essential tools for effective health responses across all nations.

13th UN GGIM Asia-Pacific Meeting

India is set to host the 13th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM) for the Asia-Pacific region, which will take place from November 26 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This significant event is being organized by the Survey of India (SOI), with the goal of fostering collaboration among member nations in the field of geospatial information.

Event Overview

• The plenary meeting will be held over four days, featuring experts from 30 countries and 91 delegates.
• Additionally, more than 120 Indian experts will participate.
• The event's theme is “Geo-enabling the Data Economy for Sustainable Development”, highlighting the importance of geospatial data in the digital economy.

Focused Sessions

The first daywill focus on:

• Cadastral & Land Management
• Integration of Geospatial & Statistical InformationThese sessions aim to enhance the understanding and application of geospatial data in land management.

Workshops and Seminars

• On day two, the event will feature a regional workshop on: Sustainable operation of the GNSS-CORS network.
• This will be followed by a seminarfocused on: Implementing the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF). These activities are designed to improve practices in geospatial data management.

Importance of Geospatial Data

• Geospatial data plays a critical role in a data-driven economy, supporting decision-making and resource management.
• The plenary meeting will underscore the value of this data in advancing sustainable development goals across the Asia-Pacific region.

Collaboration Among Nations

• The event encourages stronger collaboration between nations, fostering the exchange of expertise in geospatial technologies.
• This cooperation is key to addressing shared challenges and driving regional development.

Center Approves Expansion of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

The Centre has recently expanded the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), designed to enhance community farming assets and improve post-harvest management infrastructure. The original scheme, launched on July 8, 2020, has faced several challenges at the grassroots level.

Crop Wastage in India

India experiences 15-20% crop yield wastage, significantly higher than the 5-15% seen in advanced economies. Enhancing infrastructure is vital to reducing this wastage.

Importance of Agri-Infrastructure
Agri-infrastructure, which includes irrigation, power, and transport, plays a key role in:

• Improving credit access
• Increasing crop yields
• Enabling small farmers to access better markets

However, private investment remains limited due to various challenges.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• The government is encouraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to boost post-harvest management, with a focus on attracting private investment into agricultural infrastructure. 
• The AIF supports such initiatives.

Funding Details
As of November 25, 2024, ₹51,451 crore has been sanctioned under the AIF. The total allocation for the scheme is ₹1 lakh crore.

• 94.22% of loans have been sanctioned by scheduled commercial banks.
• ₹84,669 crore worth of projects have been approved.
• ₹33,724 crore has been disbursed.

Types of Approved Projects
Most of the approved projects focus on:

• Custom hiring centres
• Agri-processing units
• Warehouses
• Sorting and grading units
• Cold storage facilities

Over 47,000 projects (56.2%) have been geo-tagged. However, the ₹2 crore loan limit is restrictive for larger projects, such as cold storage chains. Additionally, the lack of provision for working capital leads to underutilisation of resources. Other challenges include delays in interest subsidies and lack of awareness among bank officials.

Proposed Solutions

To address these challenges, the following solutions have been proposed:

• Increase the loan limit for renewable energy projects to ₹5-10 crore.
• Provide working capital loans at 25% of the project cost to improve project viability.
• Enhance the AIF portal's user-friendliness.
• Offer custom training for bank staff to improve their understanding of the scheme.

With these adjustments, the remaining ₹48,549 crore of the fund could be effectively utilised by March 2026.

SAREX-24: Indian Coast Guard Exercise

Objectives of SAREX-24
The primary aim of SAREX-24 is to improve Mass Rescue Operations (MRO), which will test the coordination among various agencies. Key objectives include:

• Enhancing regional cooperation in search and rescue operations.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of existing rescue protocols.
• Strengthening India’s ability to handle maritime emergencies.

Key Participants

• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh will inaugurate the event.
• The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, S Paramesh, will oversee the activities.
• Participants will include officials from government agencies, ministries, and the armed forces.
• Foreign delegates will also participate, sharing valuable insights and experiences.

Schedule of Activities

• November 28: Table-top exercises, workshops, and seminars will take place to encourage knowledge sharing and collaborative planning.
• November 29: A sea exercise will be conducted off Kochi’s coast, simulating two major emergencies.
• A distressed passenger vessel
• A civil aircraft ditching

Technological Innovations
The sea exercise will demonstrate cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving rescue operations:

• Satellite distress beacons for enhanced communication.
• Drones to deploy life buoys during emergencies.
• Remote-controlled life-saving equipment for more efficient rescues.
  These innovations are designed to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of maritime rescue operations.

Overall, SAREX-24 aims to strengthen India's search and rescue capabilities, improve coordination with national and international stakeholders, and share best practices to enhance response times during maritime emergencies.

Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 Approved

The Union Cabinet has recently approved Atal Innovation Mission 2.0, which will run until March 31, 2028, with a budget of Rs. 2,750 crore. This phase aims to enhance India’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, boosting job creation and global competitiveness.

Background of AIM

• AIM 1.0 introduced foundational programs like Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Incubation Centers, which laid the groundwork for a robust innovation ecosystem. 
• AIM 2.0 will build on these achievements and address existing gaps in the system.

Objectives of AIM 2.0

AIM 2.0 focuses on three core objectives:

• Increase the number of innovators and entrepreneurs in India.
• Improve the success rate of startups.
• Enhance job quality and service delivery.

Key Programs Under AIM 2.0

Two significant programs will broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem:

• Language Inclusive Program of Innovation (LIPI): Supports innovators in 22 official languages.
• Frontier Program: Targets regions like Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, establishing new Atal Tinkering Labs.

Startup Support Initiatives
AIM 2.0 includes four programs to strengthen startup success:

• Human Capital Development Program: Trains professionals to support innovation.
• Deeptech Reactor: Assists deep tech startups.
• State Innovation Mission (SIM): Empowers states to build strong innovation frameworks.
• International Innovation Collaborations: Promotes global partnerships.

Quality Improvement Programs
Two initiatives will focus on enhancing the quality of outputs:

• Industrial Accelerator Program: Engages industries to help scale startups.
• Atal Sectoral Innovation Launchpads (ASIL): Connects startups with central ministries in critical sectors.

M-Pox Remains Global Health Emergency Status: WHO

Current Situation

• M-Pox cases are on the rise, with outbreaks spreading to countries like the UK, Germany, Sweden, and India.
• The outbreak has now been classified as global, with over 46,000 suspected cases reported across Africa this year.
• More than 1,000 suspected deaths have been recorded, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nature of M-Pox

• M-Pox is transmitted through close contact and often presents with flu-like symptoms and sores.
• While many cases are mild, the disease can be more severe, especially in areas with poor healthcare systems.

Clade Ib Variant

• The clade Ib variant of M-Pox, identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has raised concerns due to its heightened risks.
• This variant has been detected in multiple countries, leading to increased alarm among health authorities.

Vaccination Efforts

• The WHO has authorized additional vaccines to help combat M-Pox.
• Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine was approved earlier this year.
• KM Biologics’ vaccine from Japan was added to the emergency-use list in September.
• Despite these approvals, the WHO faces criticism for delays in vaccine distribution.
• A WHO spokesperson stressed the importance of a coordinated global response, urging countries and health organizations to expedite vaccination efforts and raise public awareness to prevent further virus spread.

India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves 2024

Armenia Joins International Solar Alliance

Armenia Becomes the 104th Member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Armenia has officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 104th full member. 
• The Armenian Embassy in India confirmed this significant development, which was formalized through the exchange of official documents between Armenia’s Ambassador to India, Vahagn Afyan, and Abhishek Singh from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Membership Details

• Armenia's membership began on November 15, 2024.
• The country signed the ISA agreement on November 16, 2023, in Yerevan, and it was later ratified by Armenia’s President.

About ISA

• The ISA was founded by India and France to address climate change.
• It advocates for solar energy as a key sustainable solution.

Benefits of Membership:

• Armenia gains access to valuable resources and expertise in solar technology.
• Membership will enhance Armenia’s energy security and support its renewable energy goals.

Future Engagements

• Armenia is expected to actively participate in various ISA projects, including collaborative initiatives and knowledge sharing.
• The country aims to boost its solar energy capacity, focusing on solar innovations and energy-efficient solutions.
• The ISA has rapidly gained global traction as a platform for nations seeking renewable energy solutions, and Armenia's membership highlights the growing global shift towards sustainable energy practices.