NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. MOU renew between MEA and Department of Posts for Post Office Passport Seva Kendra Service Enhancement: In a significant development, an MoU was renewed for five years between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts for the continued accessibility of passport services through the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs).Launched in 2017, the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) service has been instrumental in facilitating passport-related services to over 1.52 Crore citizens, particularly in rural and underserved areas, ensuring wider accessibility to passport services for citizens across India.The network of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) has grown significantly over the years, with 442 centres currently operational nationwide.As part of this initiative, the number of Passport Seva Kendra’s is planned to be extended to 600 centres across the country by 2028-29, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience for citizens expanding the annual customer base from 35 lakh to 1 crore over the next five years.
2. Govt launches ‘Anna Chakra’ platform to optimise PDS supply chain: Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has unveiled ‘Anna Chakra’, a groundbreaking supply chain optimization tool for the Public Distribution System (PDS).Developed in partnership with the World Food Programme and IIT-Delhi, the system leverages advanced algorithms to optimize foodgrain movement across the country’s logistics network.The initiative covers 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops and 6,700 warehouses, targeting the country’s food security programme serving 81 crore beneficiaries.Preliminary assessments across 30 states project annual cost savings of Rs 250 crore with a Rs 58-crore reduction in quantity-kilometer metrics.The tool integrates with the Railways’ Freight Operations Information System and the PM Gati Shakti platform, marking a significant technological upgrade.
3. Centre approves ₹50 lakh grants each for 7 startups in technical textiles to boost innovation and sustainability: The Ministry of Textiles has approved the startups in Technical Textiles to boost innovation and sustainability and to foster transformative developments that will shape the industry’s future.Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles Rachna Shah has said this while chairing the 7th meeting of the Empowered Programme Committee of the National Technical Textiles Mission in New Delhi.The National Technical Textiles Mission’s Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles encourages young innovators, scientists, technologists, and startup ventures in the field of Technical Textiles to translate their ideas into commercial products and make India self-reliant.The Empowered Programme Committee has approved 7 startup proposals under the GREAT scheme. The Government is providing a maximum fund support of Rs 50 lakhs per startup.
4. India, ADB sign $50 million loan for climate-resilient water security in Meghalaya: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $50 million loan agreement to strengthen water security in Meghalaya by constructing climate-adaptive water-harvesting systems.The initiative aims to improve access to water, reduce community vulnerability to climate change, and promote sustainable development in the state.The project aligns with the Meghalaya State Water Policy (MSWP) 2019, which seeks to achieve sustainable development, management, and utilisation of the state’s water resources through a participatory approach, reduce vulnerability, and promote integrated water resource management.The project will support the construction of 532 small water storage facilities across 12 districts. These facilities will incorporate climate-resilient designs to capture and manage heavy rainfall and flash floods during monsoon season. The stored water shall improve water security during the dry season.
5. Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra CM for 3rd time: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time.In a ceremony held at the Azad Maidan of Mumbai, Governor C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Devendra Fadnavis.Along with Devendra Fadnavis, two deputy Chief Ministers, Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party, were also sworn in as deputy CM .He succeeded his alliance partner Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra.He was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Maharastra and is the second Brahmin after Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 288 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India & Kuwait sign MoU to set up Joint Commission for Cooperation: India and Kuwait have signed an MoU to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation at the Foreign Minister level to strengthen bilateral ties.The MoU was signed between both countries during Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya’s visit. This was the first visit to India by Abdullah Ali Al Yahya as Kuwait’s Foreign Minister.The agreement outlines the formation of new Joint Working Groups in sectors including trade, investment, education, technology, agriculture, security, and culture, and these groups will operate under the JCC to review and monitor bilateral relations between the two nations.
2. India emerges as Prime Global Target for Mobile Malware Attacks: According to a recently published Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Mobile IoT and OT Threat report, India has emerged as the most targeted country for mobile malware attacks.The Report, published by the cloud security company Zscaler Inc., analysed security attacks by hackers on mobile and IoT/OT from June 2023 to May 2024.28 % of the attacks on mobile phones in the world were reported from India. After India, the United States was second, followed by Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands.In the 2023 report, India was ranked third in the world after the United States and Canada. The United States remains the top target of Internet of Things (IoT) device attacks, followed by Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.Within the Asia Pacific region, India accounted for 66.5% of mobile malware attacks. Within the Asia Pacific region, India was ranked seventh as the origin of the malware. Last year, it was ranked fifth.
3. Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as country’s first female President: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been elected president and will be the country’s first female leader.Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is the current vice president. Her victory will extend SWAPO’s 34 years in power since it led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.She received roughly 57 per cent of valid votes in the presidential race, according to a breakdown given by the Electoral Commission of Namibia. Nandi-Ndaitwah needed to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes to secure a win.She joined SWAPO in the 1960s when it was fighting for independence and has served in numerous senior roles including foreign minister in the democratic era.
4. 5 December – World Soil Day: World Soil Day (WSD) is observed every year on 5 December.Objective – To raise awareness about the critical role soil plays in our lives.Theme 2024 – Soil is LifeWorld Soil Day serves as a global reminder of the need to address soil health challenges. Initiated by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002 and officially endorsed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2014, this observance calls for governments, communities, and individuals to take concrete steps toward sustainable soil management.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. 2nd India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi: The second India and the United Kingdom 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi.The first was held in New Delhi in October 2023, and both countries have agreed to hold their third Dialogue next year in the United Kingdom.The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue is different from the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister Dialogue.The 2+2 Foreign and Defence dialogue is a Senior official-level mechanism for discussing and reviewing all aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister Dialogue is a ministerial-level discussion just below in importance, the summit-level meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom.
SPORTS
1. Pavan Kampelli wins historic maiden Medal at Asian Esports Games: India’s Pavan Kampelli has made history by securing a bronze medal in eFootball at the 2024 Asian Esports Games held in Bangkok. Pavan Kampelli also nicknamed “Mr Tomboy”.Pavan Kampelli won a historic bronze medal for India in the e-football event. He defeated 2022 eFootball World Finals Winner (Mobile), Asgard Azizi of Indonesia, 2-1, to win the bronze medal.Pawan Kampelli won a $ 500 cash prize for his bronze medal win in the Games. Also, for the first time, an Indian has won a medal in an international e-football event.Nattawat Namburee of Team Thailand won the gold medal, and Malaysia’s Ahmad Muhaimin “Minbappe” Abdul Razak won the silver.Esports is becoming popular in the world, where players play games over the internet through electronic devices like mobile phones. gaming consoles etc.The International Olympic Committee will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
2. About Asian Esports Games and Final Medal Tally: The Asian Esports Games was organised by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation and was hosted by the Thailand Esports Federation with support from the Thailand government in Bangkok, ThailandOne hundred seventy-nine athletes from 29 countries from Asia participated in the Asian Esports Games.Thailand topped the medal chart with 2 gold medals.
3. India wins 5th Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup after Defeating Pakistan: The Indian Men’s Junior Hockey team crushed Pakistan 5-3 in the final of the 11th Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 to win the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup title for a record fifth time.The 11th Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 final was played at Muscat, Oman.This was the fifth title win for the India team in the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup. Before their win in the 2024 edition, the Indian team had won the title in 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004.The title win in Muscat was also a promising start to the career of the legendary former Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the Men’s Hockey team coach.
4. About 11th Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024: The 11th edition of the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 was organised by the Asian Hockey Federation, the sports governing body in Asia.
It was hosted by the Oman Hockey Association in Muscat. The tournament was open to players under 21 years of age.Ten teams participated in the tournament and were grouped into A and B
Group A: India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), South Korea and JapanGroup B: Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Oman and India progressed to the final by defeating Malaysia 3-1 in the semifinal, while Pakistan defeated Japan 4-2 in the other semifinals to reach the final.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s external debt rises by $31 bn to $647 bn in 2023: World Bank report: India’s total external debt has increased by $ 31 billion to $ 646.79 billion in 2023, according to World Bank International Debt Report.The report further said that interest payment increased from $ 15.08 billion in 2022 to $ 22.54 billion in 2023.While the long-term debt stocks have risen 7 per cent to $ 498 billion in 2023, short-term debt stocks declined marginally to $ 126.32 billion in 2023.According to the report, external debt stock as percentage of exports was 80 per cent, while debt servicing was 10 per cent of exports in 2023.The World Bank International Debt Report, 2024, further said that net debt inflows during the year worked out to be $ 33.42 billion, while the net equity inflows was higher at $ 46.94 billion in 2023.
2. India’s GDP growth aim for FY25 further slashed to 6.3% by Morgan Stanley: Morgan Stanley has again cut its GDP growth projection for India to 6.3 percent for this fiscal year, down from its earlier estimate of 6.7 per cent.This come days after India’s GDP slowed to a seven quarter low in the July-September quarter. Morgan Stanley had cut India’s growth target for FY25 to 6.7% earlier in November and ahead of the Q2 GDP data.India’s GDP growth slowed to 5.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the July-September quarter of 2024, marking its lowest level since March 2023.This was below the 6.7 per cent growth seen in the previous quarter and also fell short of Morgan Stanley’s forecast of 6.3 per cent, as well as the consensus estimate of 6.5 per cent.
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