Current Affairs - November 24, 2024 Current Affairs

The United Kingdom is set to relaunch FTA negotiations with India in early 2025, as announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after meeting with Indian PM Modi. This move aims to strengthen bilateral ties and boost economic growth, with the bilateral trade between the two countries currently valued at GBP 42 billion annually. The negotiations, which began in January 2022, will pick up from the progress made in the 14th round of discussions. A successful trade deal is expected to benefit both economies, with India being the fifth-largest economy globally and a crucial trade partner for the UK.

In October 2024, India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) or retail inflation surged to 6.2%, marking the highest inflation rate since August 2023. This increase was primarily driven by a rise in food prices, with food inflation reaching a 15-month high. Despite global inflation easing, India continued to experience persistent price pressures, which were exacerbated by factors like extreme weather events, global price volatility, and rising core inflation. The surge in CPI surpassed the Reserve Bank of India's upper tolerance limit of 6%.

Andhra Pradesh reversed its longstanding two-child policy, citing concerns about a rapidly ageing population and declining fertility rate, which could have serious long-term economic and social consequences. The state's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.5 is below the replacement level of 2.1, raising concerns about a shrinking workforce and labour shortages. This demographic shift highlights the need for a new population policy to address future challenges and harness the potential of India's young population.

A rare peacock with white feathers, affected by leucism, was rescued by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and an NGO. Leucism is a genetic condition causing reduced pigmentation, distinct from albinism. Unlike albinism, leucism doesn't affect skin, eyes, or non-feather pigmentation. The rescued peacock's condition is characterized by pale feathers, while its skin and eyes retain normal pigmentation. This rare sighting highlights the importance of conservation efforts in Tamil Nadu, known for its rich biodiversity and wildlife protection initiatives.

The 2nd India-CARICOM Summit was chaired by the Prime Minister of India in Georgetown, Guyana. This summit marked a key milestone in strengthening relations between India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The event focused on various areas of collaboration such as agriculture, renewable energy, and healthcare, and highlighted India's commitment to furthering ties with CARICOM nations. The summit also underscored the importance of shared goals in capacity building, cultural exchange, and sustainable development within the region.

'AroTrack' is a water-pollutant detecting device developed by scientists at IIT Bombay. It uses bacteria-derived proteins to detect harmful aromatic pollutants like phenol, benzene, and xylenols in water. A key feature of AroTrack is its ability to identify pollutants through a chemical reaction that causes a visible colour change. The device is affordable, portable, and battery-operated, making it ideal for use in rural and low-income areas with limited access to expensive laboratory tests. This innovation is significant in improving water quality monitoring in various regions.

The haka protest was staged in New Zealand by Maori lawmakers in response to the Treaty Principles Bill, which proposes a reinterpretation of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. The protest, involving the traditional Maori dance, was a powerful symbol of the community’s opposition to the bill, as it could dilute the specific rights granted to the Maori people. The haka, historically used in battle, is now a strong cultural expression used to assert unity and strength, particularly in protests related to Maori rights and protections.

Coking coal is crucial for steel production, accounting for 42% of steel production costs, and infrastructure development. India's reliance on imports (85% of its coking coal needs) highlights the need to enhance domestic production. The NITI Aayog's recommendation aligns with global trends, such as the European Union's declaration of coking coal as a critical raw material. Including coking coal in the critical minerals, list will enable policy changes to leverage India's 16.5 billion tonnes of medium coking coal reserves and achieve self-reliance while adhering to Net Zero commitments by 2070.

The 'One Day One Genome' initiative was launched in New Delhi on the 1st foundation day of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC). This initiative aims to showcase India’s microbial diversity by releasing fully annotated bacterial genomes, along with summaries, infographics, and genome data. It focuses on leveraging this data for a better understanding of microbial functions, which could enhance areas like agriculture, human health, and environmental sustainability. The initiative is coordinated by BRIC-NIBMG under the Department of Biotechnology.

Biofloc Technology (BFT) is a sustainable aquaculture technique that uses beneficial bacteria to recycle organic waste in a closed tank system. These bacteria, like Bacillus and Pseudomonas, convert waste into microbial biomass that fish can consume, providing both water quality management and nutrition. This method reduces the need for frequent water changes and external chemicals, making it cost-effective, especially for small-scale farms. It also helps prevent diseases by maintaining a clean environment and reducing the need for antibiotics.