News In Short 14-11-2024

Kutumb Prabodhan

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• The Vice President of India emphasized the importance of focusing on ‘Kutumb Prabodhan’ in society.

About

• Kutumb means family and Prabodhan means to get enlightened.
• It means strengthening of families and family values.
• The primary purpose is to instill sanskaras (values) in the younger generation through family bonds.
• The ultimate vision is to create a community / society with common moral conduct and human values.

Source: PIB

SVASTIK Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Initiatives

In News

• In the recent conference, jointly organized by CSIR-NIScPR and Gurugram University highlighted the significance of SVASTIK initiative. 

About SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge)

• Launched by: CSIR-NIScPR (National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research).
• Aim: To bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern science, highlighting the scientific underpinnings of various traditional practices.
• Working: SVASTIK identifies traditional knowledge practices from various fields, including agriculture, medicine, environment, and more.
  • Researchers and experts collaborate to scientifically validate these practices through rigorous research and analysis.
  • The validated knowledge is then communicated to the public through various channels.

Source: PIB

U.S.-India Indian Ocean Dialogue

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• India and the U.S. are set to hold the inaugural U.S.-India Indian Ocean Dialogue,  focused on Indo-Pacific region security.

Background

• In 2015 the India-U.S. issued their Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
• The dialogue focuses on addressing regional security challenges and promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
• Both the nations will participate in the Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) Intersessional to further expand cooperation on technological innovation and production.

Significance of the India-U.S. relationship

• Both India and the U.S. are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) along with Japan and Australia. This partnership strengthens cooperation in areas like maritime security, counterterrorism, and technology sharing.
• Both nations share a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is crucial for maintaining regional stability .
•  The India-U.S. partnership helps counterbalance the growing influence of other powers in the region, particularly China.
• The partnership fosters collaboration in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. 
• Both nations collaborate on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, sharing expertise and technology to build resilience against natural disasters.

Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) Initiative – It focuses on deepening cooperation between India and the U.S. in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, space exploration, and cybersecurity. – It promotes technological innovation and production, ensuring both nations remain at the forefront of cutting-edge research.

Source: TH

Concerns Over Compounded Semaglutide

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• Novo Nordisk, the maker of popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, is pushing for tighter regulations on compounded versions of these drugs, citing safety concerns.

About 

• Wegovy and Ozempic are medications produced by Novo Nordisk, primarily used for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• Both drugs contain semaglutide which helps regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss.
• Both drugs are in high demand due to their effectiveness in managing weight and diabetes, leading some pharmacies to produce compounded versions to meet shortages.

Source: IE

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 

Syllabus: GS 3/ Economy/Environment 

In News 

• The government has distributed 10.3 crore LPG connections through PMUY.

About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• It was launched in 2016 to release deposit free LPG connections in the name of adult women members of poor households across the country.
• It aims to ensure access to clean cooking fuel and protect health by reducing indoor air pollution from traditional fuels.
• Features :The scheme provides a completely free LPG connection, including the first refill and a  stove.
  • The scheme also offers a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year (pro-rated for 5 kg connections) to all PMUY consumers, further easing the  financial burden and promoting clean cooking fuel adoption
• Benefits of LPG: Reduces indoor pollution, improving respiratory health, especially for women and children.
  • Alleviates the burden of gathering firewood, freeing up time for women.
  • Reduces deforestation and environmental degradation by cutting dependency on wood and biomass.
• Progress: As of July 1, 2024, 10.33 crore PMUY connections have been released, with LPG coverage improving from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation.
• Positive Impacts on Rural Life: Shift from solid fuels reduces respiratory issues.
  • Saves time and labor for women, allowing greater economic productivity.
  • Reduces fire hazards, enhancing household safety, especially for women and children.

Source : TH

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) approved 40 audit standards, aligning several with global norms despite objections from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. 

National Financial Reporting Authority

• It is a statutory body constituted in 2018 under the Companies Act, 2013.
• Functions and Duties: 
  • Recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government;
  • Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards;
  • Oversee the quality of service of the professions associated with ensuring compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service;
  • Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary or incidental to the aforesaid functions and duties.

Source: TOI

Uranus

Syllabus: GS 3/Space

Context

• According to a recent study, the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the first and only mission to fly by Uranus in 1986, passed through it when its magnetosphere was unusually compressed by the solar wind.
  •  A magnetosphere is a region of space surrounding a planet where the planet’s magnetic field dominates, creating a protective zone against solar and cosmic particle radiation.

About Planet Uranus

• Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun, and it is the third largest planet in our solar system – about four times wider than Earth.
• It is surrounded by faint rings, and more than two dozen small moons as it rotates at a nearly 90-degree angle from the plane of its orbit. This unique tilt makes Uranus appear to spin on its side. 
• It is a very cold and windy planet that appears blue-green in color due to large amounts of methane, which absorbs red light but allows blues to be reflected back into space.

Do you know? – Uranus was the first planet found with the aid of a telescope. It was discovered in 1781 by astronomer William Herschel, although he originally thought it was either a comet or a star. – It was two years later that the object was universally accepted as a new planet, in part because of observations by astronomer Johann Elert Bode.

Source: TH

Sea Ranching Launched off Vizhinjam Coast

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Twenty-thousand pompano (Trachinotus blochii) fingerlings were deposited in the sea off Vizhinjam as a follow-up to the artificial reef project.

Artificial Reef Project

• The artificial reef project is designed to replenish marine fishery resources and promote sustainable fishing practices under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Artificial reefs, constructed using eco-friendly materials, create complex habitats that attract diverse marine species.
  • The reefs also act as a protective barrier, preventing seabed erosion and mitigating the adverse impacts of natural currents.
• Sea Ranching Initiative: It  involves releasing juvenile fish, known as fingerlings, into the ocean to restock and rejuvenate fish populations. 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) – It was implemented to bring the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India for a period of five years, from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. – The scheme aims to increase fish production to 22 million metric tons by 2024-25.

Source: TH

Exercise ‘Poorvi Prahar’

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News

• The Indian Army is conducting a high-intensity tri-services exercise Poorvi Prahar in the forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh. 

About

• Objective: To hone the combat effectiveness of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in executing Integrated Joint Operations in the challenging mountainous terrain of the region.
• Key Features: Utilization of advanced fighter aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, helicopters, and M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers.
  • Employment of innovative technologies like Swarm Drones and Loitering Munitions.
• Significance: Demonstrates India’s advancements in modern warfare technology.
  • Enhances the country’s ability to execute seamless, multi-domain operations.
  • Reinforces India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.

Source: AIR

Operation Kawach

Syllabus: GS3/ Internal Security & Defence

In News

• The Delhi Police has arrested criminals and drug traffickers under the Operation Kawach. 

About 

• Operation Kawach: Initiated in May 2023, it is a comprehensive initiative launched by the Delhi Police to combat the escalating issue of drug trafficking and abuse in the national capital Delhi.
• Note: Operation Kawach is also an initiative by the Indian Armed Forces aimed at strengthening and securing India’s northeastern front, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. 

Source: IE

Booker Prize 2024 

Syllabus: Miscellaneous 

In News 

• Britain’s Samantha Harvey won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, which she wrote during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
  • The story depicts a single day aboard the International Space Station, capturing the beauty of Earth from space.

About The Booker Prize

• Founding and Scope: Established in the UK in 1969, the Booker Prize initially recognized Commonwealth authors but is now open to writers globally.
• Eligibility: Awarded to the best sustained work of fiction in English, published in the UK and Ireland, regardless of the author’s nationality.
• Judging Criteria: Judges seek a book that resonates with contemporary times and has lasting literary significance.
• Prize Money: Winner: £50,000
  • Shortlisted authors: £2,500 each
• Sponsorship: The prizes are funded by Crankstart.

Source : TH