News In Short 15-10-2024

China holds Military Drills Near Taiwan

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• China launched military exercises with ships and aircraft near Taiwan, days after the latter observed its 113th National Day.

About Taiwan

• Earlier known as Formosa, Taiwan is a tiny island in the East China Sea off the east coast of China. 
• Much of the world’s global supply chain of semiconductors is reliant on Taiwan.
• Taiwan observes October 10 — “double 10” — as its national day.

• China and Taiwan: Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (RoC), is self-administered and views itself as a sovereign state, while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be “reunified” with the mainland as part of its One China policy.
  • Only 11 countries recognise Taiwan, most are very small, remote island nations. 
  • The rest of the world follows the One China policy, diplomatically acknowledging the Chinese position that there is only one Chinese government.
  • India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan yet, as it follows the One-China policy.

Source: IE

India, Colombia signed Audiovisual Co-Production Agreement

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India & Colombia have signed the Audiovisual Co-Production Agreement.

About

• A co-production is a joint venture between two or more different production companies for the purpose of producing a feature film, television/web show or series and so on.
  • In the case of an international co-production, production companies from different countries (typically two to three) work together for producing content across different media platforms.
• The agreement is expected to benefit producers from both the countries in pooling their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources for the co-production.
  • It will also lead to exchange of art and culture among the two countries.
• Currently, India has co-production treaties with 16 countries, resulting in 29 projects over the last five years.
  • Colombia is the 17th country with which India is signing a Co-Production Agreement.

Source: PIB

PMECRG & MAHA-EV Initiatives

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation announced the launch of the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas -Electric Vehicle (MAHA- EV) Mission.

About

• The PMECRG invites early career researchers to join the country’s transformative journey and contribute to the advancement of India’s scientific excellence and innovation. 
• The MAHA- EV Mission is designed to build a robust research and development ecosystem for Electric Vehicle (EV) components, particularly Battery Cells, Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives (PEMD) and Charging Infrastructure.
• Significance: Both initiatives aim to play a transformative role in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) – Background: ANRF has been established with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023 Act.  – The ANRF aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.  – ANRF will act as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP).  1. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Parliament in 2008 has been subsumed into ANRF.   – The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the administrative Department of NRF. – Governance: NRF is governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines. 1. Ex-officio President of the Board: Prime Minister 2. Ex-officio Vice-Presidents: Union Minister of Science & Technology & Union Minister of Education.

Source: AIR

Nobel Economics Prize 2024 

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The 2024 Economics Nobel prize was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A Robinson “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.” 

About

• The model for explaining the circumstances under which political institutions are formed and changed has three components.
  • The first is a conflict over how resources are allocated and who holds decision-making power in a society (the elite or the masses),
  • The second is that the masses sometimes have the opportunity to exercise power by mobilizing and threatening the ruling elite; power in a society is thus more than the power to make decisions,
  • The third is the commitment problem, which means that the only alternative is for the elite to hand over decision-making power to the populace.

Nobel Economics Prize  – The award is officially known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.  – This prize was established in 1968 by the central bank of Sweden as a memorial to Alfred Nobel. 1. He is a 19th-century Swedish businessman and chemist, is known for inventing dynamite and establishing the five original Nobel Prizes. – The first winners of the economics prize, in 1969, were Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen.

Source: HT

Algeria 

Syllabus: GS 2/IR

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to attend various programmes in Algeria

About Algeria 

• Algeria, officially The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
• It  is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa on the Mediterranean coast.
• It is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya and in the west by morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger

•  Its Arabic name, Al Jazair means the islands.
• Political independence: The country achieved political independence in 1962 after more than a century of colonial period. 
• Economy: The oil and gas sector is the backbone of the economy. The country’s other natural resources include iron ore, phosphates, uranium and lead.
  • Algeria joined OPEC in 1969.
• History: Formerly known as the Kingdom of Numidia, notable kings include Syphax, Massinissa, and Jugurta (2nd-3rd century BC).
  • First commercial oil discovery: Edjelleh in 1956, followed by the Hassi Messaoud oil field in the same year, with production starting in 1958.

Source: Air

National Water Awards 

Syllabus :GS 2/Governance 

In News

• The Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil, announced the winners of the 5th National Water Awards. 

Winners:

• A total of 38 winners were announced across 9 categories:
  • Best State: Odisha (1st), Uttar Pradesh (2nd), Gujarat and Puducherry (joint 3rd).

National Water Awards 

• The National Water Awards were first launched in 2018, with subsequent awards given in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
  • No awards were given in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• For 2023, the awards were launched on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, receiving 686 applications, which were evaluated by a Jury Committee and verified through ground truthing by the Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board.
• Significance: The awards aim to recognize efforts in water management and conservation, promoting public awareness of the importance of water usage practices.
  • The initiative supports the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ (Water Prosperous India).

Source: PIB

11th India Sweden Innovation Day

Syllabus : GS 2/IR

In News

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration between India and Sweden in research and innovation during the 11th India-Sweden Innovation Day. 

About Day

• The theme for 2024 is “Accelerating Green Growth for Inclusive Transition.”
• Research and innovation are central to the India-Sweden partnership, with ongoing collaborations between universities and private sectors.
  • Sweden ranks 2nd among 39 European economies and 2nd globally in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024.
  • India ranked 1st among Central and Southern Asian economies and 39th globally in the Global Innovation Index. 
• The partnership focuses on green technology through initiatives like LeadIT 2.0, targeting low-carbon transitions and sustainable energy.
  • This collaboration aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, particularly in sectors like steel and aviation.
• Venus Mission Collaboration: Sweden has joined ISRO’s Venus Orbiter Mission, providing a key component for the mission.
• International Cooperation: India is actively participating in international mega-science projects, showcasing its capabilities in innovation and R&D.

Source  :PIB

Columbus Day

Syllabus: Miscellaneous 

Context

• The second Monday of October is observed in the United States as Columbus Day.

About

• The day is celebrated to commemorate the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492.
• Legacy: Columbus’ voyages symbolize the Age of Exploration, which led to profound changes in global history.
  • It also ushered in an era of colonization and exploitation that continues to be debated today.

Source: IE