Current Affairs - National

The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 between the Central Government, the Assam State Government, and leaders of the Assam Movement to address the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh. It sought to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of the Assamese people through various safeguards. Clause 6 of the accord specifically called for the protection and promotion of the indigenous identity of Assam, with legislative and constitutional provisions.

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.