News In Short 11-12-2024

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

Syllabus: GS1/Personality in News

Context

• Parliamentaries have paid floral tribute to the Chakravarti Rajagopalachari on his Birth Anniversary.

About

• He was often referred to as Rajaji, was a prominent Indian leader, independence activist, and statesman. He was born on December 10, 1878.
• Freedom Struggle: He participated in agitations against the Rowlett Act, the Non-Cooperation movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience Movement. 
• Political Leadership: He was the last Governor-General of India. After Independence, he was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal.
  • After the death of Sardar Patel in 1950, Shri Rajagopalachari was appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs in the Government of India. 
• Literary Contributions: His most popular works include a retelling of the Mahabharata and Ramayana in English, and Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan in Tamil.
• Bharat Ratna: In recognition of his commendable service to the nation, Shri C. Rajagopalachari was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’ in 1954.
  • He was the first to receive the highest civilian award.

Source: PIB

Subramania Bharati

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History, Person in News

Context

• PM Modi paid homage to poet and writer Subramania Bharati on his birth anniversary on December 11.

About Subramania Bharati

• C. Subramania Bharati, known as Mahakavi Bharati (Great Poet), was born in 1882, in Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu. 
• He was a visionary poet, journalist, freedom fighter, and social reformer.

A Poet and Nationalist

• Bharati knew 32 languages, including three foreign languages.
• His famous poems include Kannan Pattu, Nilavum Vanminum Katrum, Panchali Sabatam, and Kuyil Pattu. 
• In 1908, he published Swadesa Geethangal, a collection of 16 patriotic poems.
• He considered Sister Nivedita as his Guru and the personification of Bharat Mata.

Bharati as a Journalist

• He began his journalistic career as a sub-editor at Swadesamitran in 1904.
• In 1906, he launched “India” the Tamil newspaper, advocating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. 
• He edited journals like Vijaya to propagate revolutionary ideas.

Bharati as a Social Reformer

• He opposed the caste system, supported temple entry for Dalits, and championed women’s rights, education, and widow remarriage. 
• He condemned child marriage and dowry, promoting gender equality.

Source: TH

India Skills Report 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• According to the recent “India Skills Report 2025,” nearly 55% of Indian graduates are projected to be globally employable by 2025, an increase from 51.2% in 2024.

About

• The report was prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in collaboration with Wheebox and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Key Findings

• Overall Employability: Management graduates lead with an employability rate of 78%, followed by engineering (71.5%), MCA (71%), and science graduates (58%).
• Regional Insights: Key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are emerging as talent hubs, with cities such as Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai providing a skilled workforce. 
• Gender Disparity: The men’s employability is expected to rise to 53.5% in 2025 from 51.8% in 2024, while women’s employability is projected to decline from 50.9% to 47.5%. 

Source: BS

New RBI Governor Appointed

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister, has approved IAS officer Sanjay Malhotra’s appointment as the next governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
  • He will succeed Shaktikanta Das, whose second three-year term concludes on December 10.

About: RBI Governor

• Appointment: The governor is appointed under the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. 
• Term: The Governor shall hold office for such term not exceeding five years as the Central Government may fix when appointing them, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
• Qualification: The RBI Act, of 1934 does not mention any specific qualification for the governor and people with different educational backgrounds were selected to head the institution. 
• Monetary Policy Committee (MPC): It is headed by the RBI governor, and is entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy interest rate (repo rate) to contain inflation within the specified target level.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – It is the central bank of India whose primary function is to manage and govern the financial system of the country. It was set up on the basis of the Hilton Young Commission recommendations. – The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (II of 1934) provides the statutory basis of the functioning of the Bank, which commenced operations on April 1, 1935.

Source: ET

World Solar Report 2024

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The World Solar Report 2024 was released by the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Key findings

• Rise in Solar Capacity: From 1.22 GW in 2000, the world’s solar capacity has surged to 1,419 GW in 2023, charting a CAGR of about 36%.

• Solar capacity represents three-quarters of all renewable capacity additions globally in 2023.
• Employment: Solar PV sector employed 7.1 million people globally in 2023.

New Solar Technologies

• Quantum Dot Solar Cells: It achieved a record efficiency of 18.1%, enhancing energy capture and enabling atmospheric water harvesting.
• Solar Paver Blocks and BIPV: Integration of solar technology into infrastructure, including transparent solar panels for light transmission and visibility.
• Solar-Powered Phyto-Mining uses plants to extract valuable metals sustainably, powered by solar energy.

Global Market Share

• China: It dominates with 43% of global installed solar capacity.
• Other Major Players: U.S. (10%), Japan, Germany, and India (5-6% each).
• Emerging markets like Brazil, Australia, and Spain each contribute 2%.

Source: TH

UN Champions of the Earth Award 2024

Syllabus: GS3/Environment / Miscellaneous

Context

• The United Nations recognised ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the annual Champions of the Earth award for his seminal work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.

About the Award 

• It was launched in 2005 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The award recognizes outstanding figures from the public and private sector as well as civil society, whose actions have brought about a positive impact and a transformation on the environment.
• The award is presented in five categories – Lifetime Achievement, Policy Leadership, Action and Inspiration, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science & Innovation.
  • Madhav Gadgil has been honoured in the “lifetime achievement” category.
• Past Indian recipients: Narendra Modi (2018), Cochin International Airport (2018) and Afroz Shah (2016).

Do you know? – UNESCO declared the Western Ghats a World Heritage Site in July 2012 and in 2013, the Centre formed a High-Level Working Group led by rocket scientist K Kasturirangan to propose measures for the ecological protection and sustainable development of the region.

Source: TH

PM-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Krishonnati Yojana Schemes

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• The funds are disbursed to the State Governments under PM-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY) schemes.

PM-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) 

• It was initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. 
• The scheme incentivizes States to increase public investment in Agriculture & allied sectors. 
• The PM-RKVY comprises of the following schemes:
  • Soil Health Management
  • Rainfed Area Development 
  • Agro Forestry
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
  • Agricultural Mechanization including Crop Residue Management
  • Per Drop More Crop
  • Crop Diversification Programme
  • RKVY DPR component
  • Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups

Krishonnati Yojana (KY)

• ‘Green Revolution– Krishonnati Yojana’ is an Umbrella Scheme comprising both Central Sector as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Missions. 
• This Umbrella Scheme has the following twelve Schemes/Missions:
  • Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH);
  • National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP);
  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM);
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA);
  • Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE);
  • Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP);
  • Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM);
  • Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPPQ);
  • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Census, Economics and Statistics;
  • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation;
  • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing (ISAM);
  • National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A).

The rationalisation of Various Schemes has been undertaken to:

• To avoid duplication, ensure convergence and provide flexibility to States.
• Focus on emergent challenges of Agriculture – Nutrition security, Sustainability, Climate resilience, value chain development & private sector participation.
• State governments will be able to draw a comprehensive strategic plan suiting their requirements for the agriculture sector.
• Annual Action Plan (AAP) of States can be approved in one go rather than approving individual scheme-wise AAPs.

Source: PIB

PM POSHAN Scheme

Context

• The ‘Material Cost’ has been enhanced Under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme.

About

• Launched: Earlier known as Mid Day Meal programme, it was launched in 1995.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme under which one hot cooked meal is served to 11.70 crore students studying in Balvatika and classes I to VIII, in Government and Government-aided schools. 
• Aim: Providing nutritional support and enhancing school participation of students.
• Material Cost: It is provided for procurement of ingredients required for cooking the meals.

Source: PIB