Current Affairs - January 1, 2024 Current Affairs

The New York Times (NYT) has taken legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of unauthorized usage of its copyrighted content for AI model training, notably ChatGPT. This legal dispute highlights the broader debate on intellectual property rights in the generative AI era.

Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top recipient among states, securing ₹22,857.9 crore (14% of the total release) out of the ₹1,67,518.6-crore special assistance (loan) allocated by the Centre under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for capital expenditure/investment in the last four years.

Houthi rebels, suspected in the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto, are believed to be based in Yemen and are engaged in a decade-long civil conflict with Yemen's government.

The recent government decision has increased the interest rate for the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme (SSAS) to 8.2%, marking an adjustment from the previous rate of 8%.

Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Composite Regional Centre (CRC) in Samba-Jammu, marking a crucial step towards skill development, rehabilitation, and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in the region.

Mudiyettu, a significant cultural tradition, hails from the state of Kerala and enacts the mythological battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. It holds UNESCO recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2023 was bestowed upon Naorem Roshibina Devi in recognition of her exceptional performance and contributions to the sport of Wushu over the previous four years. This award highlights her remarkable athletic abilities, sportsmanship, discipline, and leadership qualities within her discipline.

China successfully launched the Long March-11 carrier rocket from waters off Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, placing three satellites in the planned orbit for space science and technological experiments.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the SHRESHTA (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) scheme, targeting educational service gaps in SC-dominant areas. Supporting 2,564 SC students in 142 private schools, the scheme emphasizes high-quality education, socio-economic upliftment, and overall development. Eligible students from SC communities in classes 8th and 10th, with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh, can benefit.

The government aims to collect 50 lakh Digital Life Certificates from Central Government Pensioners by March 2024. This goal is part of the DLC Campaign 2.0, with a focus on super senior pensioners above 80 years of age and a saturation-based approach for ensuring submissions.

IIT Guwahati collaborated with the Assam Government Arohan Scheme to enhance STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) education. The initiative, led by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, focused on career progression for government school students in classes 9th to 12th. The collaboration involved mentoring, exposure trips, and competitions, benefitting over 3300 students, including a significant number of girls.

Sheetal Devi was recognized for her remarkable achievements in Para Archery, showcasing sportsmanship, discipline, and leadership qualities over the past four years, earning her the Arjuna Award in 2023.

Power Minister RK Singh inaugurated Power Grid's Vishram Sadan in Bengaluru, a 2-storey facility with 270 beds and 55 rooms, designed to provide comfort to patients' attendants. This initiative is part of Power Grid's CSR efforts contributing to rural development, education, healthcare, and more, with a total investment of around Rs 1000 crores.

Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, launched an autonomous board aimed at enhancing transparency in the recruitment processes of Public Sector Units within the state.

Dr. Arvind Panagariya, a former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Professor at Columbia University has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The commission's responsibilities include the distribution of tax proceeds, principles governing grants-in-aid to States, and recommendations for improving disaster management financing arrangements under the Disaster Management Act, of 2005. The report is expected by October 31, 2025.