Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 21st October 2024

“Scam se Bacho” Campaign:

Government and Meta join forces for “Scam se Bacho” Campaign to tackle rising online scams.

•  “Scam se Bacho” campaign aim to combat rising online scams and cyber fraud by fostering digital safety and vigilance across India.
• Collaboration between Meta (formerly Facebook) and key government ministries, including:
  • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
  • Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)
  • Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
• Ministry: Led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• Coverage: National initiative, aimed at India’s over 900 million internet users.
• Features:
  • A whole-of-government approach to raising awareness on cyber safety.
  • Focus on educating citizens to prevent cyber threats and scams.
  • Leverages Meta’s global expertise in online safety to empower Indian users.
  • Support from the highest levels of government to align with Digital India’s cybersecurity goals.

Musaned Platform : Digital Platform Created By Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia launches new digital platform to ensure wage protection. It ensures a more secure working condition for foreign workers, including those from India.

• Musaned is a digital platform created by Saudi Arabia to ensure wage protection and improve working conditions for foreign domestic workers.
• It benefits workers from 10 African countries (e.g., Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya) and 9 Asian countries (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Pakistan).
• It Enables workers to check employment contracts.
• It Tracks financial transactions between employers and workers.
  It Can be linked to contract insurance and health benefits.
• Objective is to safeguard workers’ rights, minimize illegal immigration, and meet Vision 2030 goals of providing a stable working environment.
• The platform promotes human rights by ensuring employers fulfill their obligations.

Click-to-Cancel Rule:

The United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will soon implement a “click-to-cancel” rule, which will make it significantly easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions and memberships.

• Companies must allow consumers to cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up, using the same medium (e.g., online, phone).
• Businesses cannot force customers to talk to representatives or add charges for phone cancellations if those were not required for signing up.
• It Applies to “negative option programs” like automatic renewals, where failure to cancel leads to continued billing.

STARS Workshop Of Education Ministry:

The Ministry of Education organized a two-day Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) knowledge-sharing workshop in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

• The workshop aimed to prepare students for future workforce challenges, focusing on the “School-to-Work Transition” and “Strengthening the Assessment System.”
• Under this, the role of the National Education Policy, 2020, National Curriculum Framework (NCF), and National Credit Framework (NCrF) in supporting school-to-work transitions was discussed, with a focus on skill education, multidisciplinary learning, and internships.
• This emphasized the need to enhance current educational assessment models, with a focus on strengthening assessment systems to improve student outcomes and better prepare them for future education.
• It also emphasizes the “3 P approach” to career counselling, which includes Personal interest, Parental guidance, and Possible Opportunities.
• STARS Project was approved by the Cabinet in October 2020, as a centrally sponsored scheme.
• The STARS Project became effective in February 2021, for a period of five years, concluding in the fiscal year 2024-25.
• It is a component of Samagra Shiksha, specifically focusing on aspects of the scheme that directly enhance school education.

INS Samarthak:

Larsen and Toubro recently launched the INS ‘Samarthak’, a multi-purpose vessel for the Indian Navy.

• INS Samarthak is the first of two multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) for the Indian Navy.
• The vessel was designed and constructed in-house by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Shipyard at Kattupalli, aligning to the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and ‘Atmanirbhar Vision’.
• It is a highly specialised, multi-role platform designed to support the development and testing of next-generation weapons and sensors for the Indian Navy.
• It will also perform a variety of other functions, including maritime surveillance, patrolling, launching and recovering surface and aerial targets, providing humanitarian assistance, and combating sea pollution.
• It measures 107 meters in length, 18.6 meters in width, and has a displacement of over 3,750 tonnes.
• The vessel can achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots.

What are Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems?

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry have found that mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific face a two-pronged threat, with bleaching from warm water above and cold-water exposure from below.

• Published in Science of the Total Environment, the study highlights the increasing risks to these reefs’ health and functionality.
• Mesophotic coral ecosystems are found in tropical and subtropical regions at depths between 100 and 490 feet.
• Key organisms in these ecosystems include corals, sponges, and algae, which provide structural habitat.
• These ecosystems may help replenish shallow coral reefs and serve as essential habitats for fish species crucial for spawning, breeding, and feeding.
• Mesophotic corals contain organisms with specialised defences that could lead to the development of natural products for medical use.

World Energy Outlook 2024:

India is poised to face a higher increase in energy demand than any other country over the next decade, according to the World Energy Outlook 2024.

• It is an annual report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
• It is the most authoritative global source of energy analysis and projections.
• It identifies and explores the biggest trends in energy demand and supply, as well as what they mean for energy security, emissions, and economic development.
• Highlights of 2024 Report:
  • Projections based on current policy settings indicate that the world is entering a new energy context, marked by persistent geopolitical hazards but also an abundance of various fuels and technologies.
  • This includes a surplus of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) expected in the second half of the 2020s, alongside a significant increase in manufacturing capacity for key clean energy technologies.
  • The report finds that low-emissions energy sources are set to generate more than half of the world’s electricity by 2030.
  • Meanwhile, demand for coal, oil, and gas is expected to peak by the end of this decade.
  • Global electricity demand growth is projected to accelerate further, adding the equivalent of Japan’s annual electricity consumption to global use each year.
• Highlights Related to India:
  • India is poised to face a higher increase in energy demand than any other country over the next decade, mainly because of its size and the scale of rising demand from all sectors.
  • According to the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), India is on track to add over 12,000 cars daily to its roads over the period to 2035.
  • Built-up space is set to increase by over 1 billion square metres annually. This is larger than the total built space in South Africa.
  • By 2035, iron and steel production is on track to grow by 70%. The cement output is set to rise by nearly 55%.
  • The stock of air conditioners is projected to grow by over 4.5 times, resulting in electricity demand from air conditioners in 2035 more than Mexico’s total expected consumption that year.
  • The total energy demand in India is set to increase by nearly 35% by 2035, and electricity generation capacity nearly tripled to 1400 GW.
  • Coal is set to retain a strong position in the energy mix in India over the next decades, with the country projected to add about 60 gigawatts of new coal-fired power capacity by 2030.
  • Coal-based electricity generation is projected to increase by over 15 per cent.
  • Coal provided 40 percent of the energy used in industries like steel, cement, and manufacturing in 2023. By 2035, coal use in industry is expected to grow by 50 percent.

Employees Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme : Extended

The Centre has decided to extend providing benefits of Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme to all subscribers of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and their family members till further notice.

• EDLI is an insurance scheme that was launched by the Government in 1976.
• This scheme was launched with the objective of providing social security benefits to the employees of the private sector for whom such benefits were not commonly provided by the employer.
• The EDLI scheme is managed and administered by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), and the scheme provides term life insurance cover on the life of the member employee.
• The EDLI scheme covers all organizations registered under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
• This scheme works in combination with the EPF and the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS).
• The extent of the benefit is decided by the last drawn salary of the employee.
• The registered nominee of the EDLI scheme receives a lump-sum payment in the event of the death of the EPF member, during the period of the service.
• The nominee registered in the EDLI is the same as registered in the EPF Scheme.
• Maximum assured benefit up to Rs 7 lakh to be paid to the nominee or legal heir of the EPF member if death occurs while in service.
• Minimum assurance benefit is of Rs 2.5 lakh in case the deceased member was in continuous employment for 12 months prior to his or her death.
• This life insurance benefit being given to the EPFO member is free of cost for the PF/EPF account holders.
• Minimal contribution by employer at 0.5% of employee’s monthly wages, up to wage ceiling of Rs 15,000; no contribution made by employee.
• Auto-enrolment of PF members in the EDLI scheme.
• Benefit directly credited to the bank account of a legal heir or nominee.

Hand-in-Hand Initiative:

The Food And Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Director-General opens the third Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.

• Hand-in-Hand Initiative was launched in 2019, is a flagship of Food And Agricultural Organisation (FAO)
• It prioritizes countries and territories where poverty and hunger are highest, national capacities are limited, or operational difficulties are greatest due to natural or man-made crises.
• It seeks to eradicate poverty (SDG1), end hunger and malnutrition (SDG2), and reduce inequalities (SDG10) by accelerating market-based transformation of agri-food systems to raise incomes, improve nutrition, empower poor and vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to climate change.
• It uses geospatial, biophysical and socio-economic data, as well as advanced analytics to identify territories where agricultural transformation and sustainable management of forest and fisheries have the greatest potential for alleviating poverty and hunger.
• Its area of intervention includes developing value chains for priority commodities, building agro-industries and efficient water management systems, introducing digital services and precision agriculture
• Member countries: 72 countries have joined this Initiative.

African Penguin : Study

A new study by an international team of researchers from South Africa and the United Kingdom has found that artificial nests can enhance the breeding success of African penguins.

• African Penguin has a black stripe and a pattern of unique black spots on its chest, as well as pink glands above its eyes that become pinker as the penguin gets hotter. Males are larger than females and have larger beaks.
• It is usually found within 40 kilometers of the shore, coming onshore to a variety of coastal habitats to breed, molt, and rest.
• This penguin breeds on the African mainland from Hollams Bird Island, Namibia to Bird Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa.
• The species breeds naturally in burrows dug into guano (a natural substance composed of the excrement of birds, bats, and seals), which protects them from the extreme heat of their environment.
• This penguin’s average lifespan in the wild is 20 years.
• It feeds on pelagic schooling fish, particularly sardine and anchovy.
• Conservation status IUCN: Endangered

SARTHI System:

The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) has introduced Solar Assisted Reefer Transportation with Hybrid Controls and Intelligence (SARTHI) system.

• It is an innovative solution to reduce post-harvest losses in perishable food transportation.
• It features dual compartments designed to store fruits and vegetables at different temperatures, addressing their unique storage needs.
• It is an integration of IoT and real-time monitoring.
• The data acquired from the sensors is integrated with IoT (Internet of Things) and sent to the cloud which can be downloaded using a mobile app for getting a real time information about the quality parameters and physiological changes occurring during transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Its sensors measure temperature, humidity, ethylene, and CO2 levels, sending data to a mobile app for quality assessment.
• The system also includes a solar-powered air handling unit that ensures temperature control during halts.

Brown dwarf:

Scientists have puzzled over the object known as Gliese 229B, the first known brown dwarf discovered 30 years ago is actually twins orbiting each other.

• Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars because they’re lighter than stars, but heavier than gas giant planets.
• These objects have a size between that of a giant planet like Jupiter and that of a small star.
• Brown dwarfs accumulate material like a star, not like a planet.
• They can also have clouds made out of precipitates in their atmospheres. However, while we have water clouds on Earth, the clouds on brown dwarfs are much hotter and likely made up of hot silicate particles.
• Thus, they hold onto their lighter elements (hydrogen and helium) more effectively than planets and have a relatively low metal content.
• They do not have enough massfor their cores to burn nuclear fuel and radiate starlight. This is why they are sometimes referred to as “failed stars.”
• The difference between brown dwarfs and stars is that, unlike stars, brown dwarfs do not reach stable luminosities by thermonuclear fusion of normal hydrogen.
• Both stars and brown dwarfs produce energy by fusion of deuterium (a rare isotope of hydrogen) in their first few million years.

Rajkumar Hirani Honoured with National Kishore Kumar Award 2023:

The renowned filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani was conferred with the prestigious National Kishore Kumar Award for the year 2023. The award ceremony took place in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, the birthplace of Kishore Kumar, on the occasion of the 37th death anniversary of the iconic singer. This award, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh Government’s Department of Culture, celebrates artists who have significantly contributed to Indian cinema in various fields, much like Kishore Kumar himself.

Mohanji Receives Prestigious 2024 Humanitarian Award:

In Johannesburg, South Africa, Mohanji, a global humanitarian leader, received a special recognition for his worldwide contributions at the 9th Conscious Companies Awards event. This prestigious annual event honors ethical and visionary leaders whose work fosters conscious leadership, aligns people, profit, and purpose, and promotes a better, more sustainable world.

2024 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):

The 2024 MPI report reveals that 1.1 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty with 455 million in conflict-affected regions where poverty rates are higher and progress is slower. Over half of those in poverty are children, and many lack essential resources like sanitation and nutrition.

FATF Tightens Grey Listing Rules with New Risk-Based Focus:

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has introduced significant changes to its criteria for placing countries on its grey list, aiming to relieve the burden on least developed countries (LDCs) while targeting nations that pose greater risks to the international financial system.

Chiratae Ventures Honors Narayana Murthy with Patrick J. McGovern Awards:

Chiratae Ventures has awarded Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys, with the India Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 2024 Patrick J. McGovern Awards. Shantanu Narayen received the Global Lifetime Achievement Award,and Abhinav Asthana received the Exceptional Entrepreneurial Achievement Award.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Will Inaugurate The Karmayogi Saptah:

On 19th October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Karmayogi Saptah‘ National Learning Week (NLW) aimed at enhancing the individual and organizational capacity of civil servants. This initiative, part of the broader ‘Mission Karmayogi’ launched in September 2020, seeks to foster a future-ready civil service that embodies Indian values while maintaining a global outlook

Emerging Markets Government Bond Index (EMGBI) starting September 2025:

Global index provider FTSE Russell has announced that India’s sovereign bonds will be included in its Emerging Markets Government Bond Index (EMGBI) starting September 2025. This follows similar inclusions by JP Morgan and Bloomberg Index Services, which could potentially attract billions of dollars into India’s local bond market.

India and Colombia Sign Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement:

India and Colombia have signed an Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement on October 15, 2024, to enhance collaboration in the film industries of both nations. This agreement, signed by Dr. L. Murugan, India’s Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, and Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.

Jio Payments Bank Secures Mutual Funds Distribution License from AMFI:

Jio Payments Bank, a subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, has successfully obtained a mutual fund distribution license from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). This Category 1 Execution-only Platform (EOP) license enables Jio Payments Bank to distribute the direct plans of various mutual fund schemes.

NHRC Concludes National Conference, Advocates for Older Persons’ Rights:

On its 31st Foundation Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organized a day-long national conference on the “Rights of Older Persons” at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. During the keynote address, Acting Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani emphasized the invaluable role of elders as the architects of the nation’s history, keepers of cultural heritage

India and Germany Set to Sign Labor Mobility Pact:

India and Germany are set to sign a pact next week to facilitate the movement of workers and recognize skills between the two countries. Through the agreement, skilled professionals here can be easily absorbed by German industry, sources familiar with the development.