Current Affairs - National

Horseshoe crabs, ancient marine creatures known for their blue blood, are facing extinction due to habitat loss and human activities along the coastline of Odisha. Conservation efforts are underway to protect them, including tracking their movements and studying their nesting patterns. These crabs, dating back millions of years, are vital to biomedical science due to their blood's unique properties, and they play an important ecological role in their coastal habitat.

The 38th National Games will be held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025, as announced by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The event will bring together athletes from across the country to compete in various sports. The official schedule is awaiting approval from the IOA General Assembly, which will meet in October 2024. This will be a significant event in India's sports calendar, further enhancing Uttarakhand's role as a host for national sporting events.

The MACE Observatory, inaugurated by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is situated in Hanle, Ladakh. It is Asia's largest and the world's highest imaging Cherenkov telescope, constructed indigenously by BARC. This advanced telescope is crucial for cosmic-ray research and the study of high-energy gamma rays, helping to unlock deeper insights into the universe's most energetic events. Additionally, the observatory contributes to both scientific progress and the socio-economic development of the Ladakh region.

India has signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to enhance investor confidence, foster stronger economic ties, and provide a stable investment environment. This treaty reduces the arbitration period for foreign investors from five years to three years and extends protections to shares and bonds, broadening the scope of investments covered. The UAE is India's seventh-largest source of foreign investment and has pledged to invest $75 billion in India's infrastructure development sector.

The Union Health Ministry has doubled the monthly nutrition support for TB patients from ₹500 to ₹1,000 under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY). This initiative aims to support TB patients' nutritional requirements during their treatment. The increase in financial support reflects the government's commitment to eliminating TB by 2025, ahead of the global 2030 target set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India faces a significant health crisis due to TB, with approximately 480,000 deaths annually. The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana plays a crucial role in addressing this issue.