Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 12th December 2024

Consumer Confidence Survey:

According to the latest Consumer Confidence Survey of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)Indian consumers’ confidence about general economic situation, employment scenario, their income and spending have weakened.

• It is a survey that indicates how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are regarding their expected financial situation.
• If the consumers are optimistic, spending will be more, whereas if they are not so confident, then their poor consumption pattern may lead to recession
• It is released by the Reserve Bank of India bi-monthly.

Highlights:

• Households displayed somewhat higher optimism on one year ahead outlook for major economic parameters, except prices.
• The future expectations index (FEI) improved by 0.5 points to 121.9 in the latest survey.
• The CCS survey showed that households anticipated higher spending over one year horizon on the back of higher essential as well as non-essential spending
• Consumer confidence for the current period declined marginally owing to weaker sentiments across the survey parameters except household spending.
• The current situation index (CSI) moderated by 0.7 points to 94 in November 2024 from 94.7 in September 2024.

Bluetooth Low Energy Gateway and Node System:

iHub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) launched Bluetooth Low Energy Gateway and Node System.

• Bluetooth Low Energy Gateway and Node System is first-of-its-kind cost-effective system connects Bluetooth-enabled sensors to cloud platforms.
• It enables seamless data transmission, real-time environmental monitoring, and advanced analytics across diverse sectors such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental resilience.

Key Features of the BLE Gateway:

• Offers 4G, WiFi, and LAN compatibility for flexible networking.
• Supports data transmission up to 1 km in line-of-sight (LOS) scenarios.
• Collects and processes data from multiple connected nodes, streamlining analysis and decision-making.
• Providing durability in extreme weather conditions while maintaining a compact and user-friendly form.
• Eliminates the need for extensive wiring, reducing installation costs and supporting remote deployments.
• Delivers energy-efficient performance for prolonged operation.
• Manages over 100+ connected BLE nodes, ideal for large-scale IoT networks.
• Allows remote firmware updates to keep the system up-to-date with minimal manual intervention.
• Fully supports integration with mobile apps, cloud platforms, and diverse sensors for enhanced flexibility.

Champions of the Earth award:

India’s veteran ecologist, Madhav Gadgil has been named as one of the six ‘Champions of the Earth award’ for 2024.

• Champions of the Earth award was established in 2005 and awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It is the UN’s highest environmental honour, recognises trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect people and the planet.
• Every year, UNEP honours individuals and organizations working on innovative and sustainable solutions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
• Champions of the Earth are celebrated in four categories:
  • Policy leadership- Public sector officials leading global or national action for the environment. They shape dialogue, lead commitments and act for the good of the planet.
  • Inspiration and action- Leaders taking bold steps to inspire positive change to protect our world. They lead by example, challenge behavior and inspire millions.
  • Entrepreneurial vision -Visionaries challenging the status quo to build a cleaner future. They build systems, create new technology and spearhead a groundbreaking vision.
  • Science and innovation-Trailblazers pushing the boundaries of technology for profound environmental benefit. They invent possibilities for a more sustainable world.

India Skills Report 2025:

India’s employability among graduates is expected to rise by 7 percent, reaching 54.81 percent in 2025, according to the ‘India Skills Report 2025.’

• It has been prepared by the industry body Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in collaboration with Wheebox (a talent assessment agency) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
• It is based on data from over 6.5 lakh candidates who participated in the Global Employability Test (G.E.T.) across India, alongside insights from over 1,000 corporations across 15 diverse industries.

Highlights of the Report:

• Nearly 55 percent of Indian graduates are expected to be globally employable in 2025, up from 51.2 percent in 2024 (a seven percent increase).
• It notes that management graduates (78 percent) have highest global employability, followed by engineering students (71.5 percent), MCA students (71 percent) and science graduates (58 percent).
• States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are emerging as major hubs for employable talent, while cities such as Pune, Bengaluru and Mumbai are leading the way in providing a skilled workforce.
• Gender analysis shows that the employability rate for men is expected to rise to 5 percent in 2025 from 51.8 percent in 2024.
• Meanwhile, for women, the employability rate is projected to decline to 47.5 percent from 50.9 percent during the same time period.
• In 2025, 50 percent of secondary and tertiary students are expected to receive vocational training, further positioning India as a key player in the global talent market.
• The report further stresses the importance of integrating vocational training with industry needs, particularly in emerging sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, and green energy.

UN Report on Land Degradation:

The United Nations (UN) released its report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands, during COP16 in Riyadh, emphasizing the growing threat of aridity to global agricultural systems.

Key Highlights of the UN Report:

• Affects 40% of Earth’s arable lands (5.7 million sq km) and an additional 7% when soil erosion is considered.
• 77.6% of Earth’s land became permanently drier between 1961-2020.
• Global arid areas may expand by 3.9% by 2040, resulting in significant crop losses:
  • 20 million tonnes of maize
  • 19 million tonnes of rice
  • 8 million tonnes of soybeans
  • 21 million tonnes of wheat
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Up to 22% of crop production may be lost by mid-century.
• Kenya: Maize production could decline by 50% by 2050.
• South Asia and North Africa: Significant declines in rainfed agriculture expected.

Cesses and Surcharges:

Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, 16th Finance Commission, recently termed the grievance of States regarding the Centre’s increasing reliance on cesses and surcharges as a “complicated issue.”Cess and surcharges are levied by the Central government for the purposes of the Union under Article 271 of the Constitution of India.

Ground Level Ozone Pollution:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) highlighted the steps being taken to control Ground Level Ozone Pollution(GLOP) in India.Ground-level ozone (O₃) pollution refers to the excess presence of ozone at the Earth’s surface, which is formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere.Unlike the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant that poses significant health risks and environmental damage.

DHARINI 3D Foetal Brain Atlas:

Researchers at Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a revolutionary tool known as DHARINI, a detailed 3D map of foetal (unborn offspring that develops in the uterus of a mammal) brain, that holds significant implications for understanding brain disorders.DHARINI is the world’s largest and most detailed high-resolution 3D foetal brain atlas, mapping over 5,000 brain sections and 500 brain regions.

Ayush Visa for Medical Value Travel:

The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) highlighted the Ayush Visa, an initiative to promote medical value travel (MVT) for foreigners seeking treatment in India’s traditional medicine systems. Ayush Visa introduced in 2023 with four sub-categories: Ayush Visa (AY-1), Ayush Attendant Visa (AY-2), e-Ayush Visa, and e-Ayush Attendant Visa. Purpose is to allow foreigners to receive treatment through Ayush systems like therapeutic care and wellness in accredited hospitals or wellness centers.

Syria and Middle East Tension:

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria after an 11-day offensive by rebel groups has triggered a geopolitical reshuffle in the Middle East.Assad’s rule, characterized by authoritarianism, ended after sustained pressure from rebel forces led by Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, a former al-Qaeda operative. External supporters like Iran and Russia shifted focus elsewhere, contributing to Assad’s defeat

6th edition of the Capacity Building Program:

The 6th edition of the Capacity Building Program for Sri Lankan Civil Servants commenced at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie.The program hosted 40 mid-career civil servants from Sri Lanka, focusing on governance, policy frameworks, AI in governance, and India’s successful models in public administration. It was established in 2014 by the Government of India as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

Poppy Cultivation:

Manipur recorded a 32.13% decline in poppy cultivation during 2023-24, as per a report by the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MARSAC).Declined from 28,598.91 acres in 2021-22 to 11,288.1 acres in 2023-24. Major districts with eradication operations: Kangpokpi (4,454.4 acres), Ukhrul (3,348 acres), Churachandpur (2,713.8 acres).

AgeXtend:

Researchers at IIIT-Delhi have developed AgeXtend as a tool to efficiently cut down the time taken to identify viable molecules with geroprotectors, or age defying properties.AgeXtend is an Artificial Intelligence-based platform designed to identify compounds with geroprotective (anti-aging) properties.

Dulcibella camanchaca:

The Atacama Trench, among the deepest oceanic regions, reveals unique biodiversity with the discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca, a new predatory amphipod.Found In Atacama Trench, South Pacific Ocean, at a depth of 7,902 meters

World’s First Carbon-14 Diamond Battery:

Scientists from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery.

• It a carbon-14 diamond battery, a strange fusion of radioactive decay, synthetic diamonds and plasma chemistry.
• It uses carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon of half-life of 5,700, because it emits a short-range radiation, quickly absorbed by any solid material.
• It functions similarly to solar panels but instead of using light particles, it captures fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure.
• It can prove particularly helpful in healthcare where it can be used to power pacemakers, hearing aids, and ocular devices. Patients won’t need to replace batteries as the diamond battery can last for years.
• The battery could also be used in extreme environments – both in space and on earth – where it is not practical to replace conventional batteries.
• They can also prove to be of great help in space missions without worrying about the power to replace or charge the power source of spacecrafts.

Saydnaya Military Prison:

The infamous Saydnaya Military Prison near Damascus, often referred to as the “human slaughterhouse,” became a site of unimaginable atrocities under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.Location: Near Damascus, Syria, infamous for severe human rights violations.