Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 10th September 2024

INDIAsize Initiative:

The government will soon roll out the much-awaited ‘INDIAsize’ initiative, the Union Textiles Minister said recently.

• INDIAsize Initiative is an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles which aims to establish standardized measurements designed to better suit Indian body types.
• Presently, international and domestic brands available in India use measurements from the US or the UK for garments, having ‘small’, ‘medium’ and ‘large’ sizes.
• However, Western body types differ from Indians in terms of height, weight, or specific measurements of body parts.
• It fails to account for the diversity in Indian body types, leading to frequent fitting issues and consumer dissatisfaction.
• The Ministry of Textiles sanctioned the INDIAsize project to develop standard body sizes for the Indian apparel sector to address the prevailing disparities and inconsistencies in provided fits.
• The project entails gathering anthropometric data pan India from more than 25000 (Twenty-Five Thousand) male and female persons between the age group of 15 years and 65 years using human safe 3D whole body scanning technology.
• The created body size chart will help national and international retailers and manufacturers to produce goods which are best suited for Indian body types and create a balance between demand and supply of well fitted garments.
• Once rolled out, INDIAsize will serve as a benchmark for Indian and international fashion brands selling in the country.

NIDHI Programme:

The Union Minister of Science and Technology virtually inaugurated 8 new NIDHI i-TBIs across India along with a new DST-NIDHI Website at IIT Delhi celebrating 8 years of the Department of Science and Technology’s initiative (DST-NIDHI).

• The National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program was launched in 2016.
• It is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship division, Department of Science & Technology.
• Aim is to nurture start-ups through scouting, supporting and scaling innovations.
• Various departments and ministries of the central government, state governments, academic and R&D institutions, mentors, financial institutions, angel investors, venture capitalists and private sectors.
• It is funded by the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB).
• The NIDHI- PRAYAS(Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups) program at Proof-of-Concept level provides mentoring and financial support to innovator for converting their ideas into prototypes.
• The NIDHI Entrepreneurs-In-Residence(EIR) Program provides fellowships to the students opting for entrepreneurship.
• The NIDHI Seed Support Programprovisions availability of early-stage seed support funding to startups and the NIDHI Accelerator program speeds up the investment readiness of the startups.
• The NIDHI program has been helpful in creating state-of-the-art infrastructure for incubating startups in technology sectors through Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and Centres of Excellence (CoE).
• NIDHI Accelerator:An accelerator is typically a 3-6 months fast track structured program helping ideas get accelerated to the next orbit.

i-Technology Business Incubators (i-TBIs):

• i-TBIs (Inclusive TBI) is a three-year duration initiative supported by DST for educational institutions that are likely to foster innovation and entrepreneurship culture among the students, faculties, entrepreneurs and nearby communities.

Goods Trade Barometer:

Indian merchandise exports could likely improve in the second half of the year, as the World Trade Organization (WTO) Goods Trade Barometer indicated an upturn in global trade volume.

• Goods Trade Barometer was formerly known as the World Trade Outlook Indicator.
• It is developed by the World Trade Organization and provides “real-time” information on trends in world trade.
• It is a leading indicator that signals changes in world trade growth two to three months ahead of merchandise trade volume statistics.
• It combines a variety of trade-related component indices into a single composite index that highlights turning points in world merchandise trade and provides an indication of its likely trajectory in the near future.
• A reading of 100 indicates trade expansion in line with recent trends. Readings greater than 100 suggest above-trend growth while readings below 100 indicate below-trend growth.
• This Barometer is updated on a quarterly basis.
• The current value of the WTO Goods Trade Barometer, an early indicator of the trajectory of merchandise trade volume, stands at 103—above both the quarterly trade volume index and the baseline value of 100.
• This suggests that merchandise trade has been picking up in the third quarter of 2024.

First Legally Binding AI treaty : Council Of Europe

The first legally binding AI treaty, signed by the US, EU, and UK, prioritizes human rights and democracy, adopting a risk-based approach to AI regulation across public and private sectors.

• The Framework Convention on AI by the Council of Europe aims to mitigate AI threats to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
• Unlike the EU AI Act, it ensures AI lifecycle activities align with these principles.

Key Features of the AI Treaty:

• Regulates AI systems based on risk levels throughout their lifecycle.
• Ensures AI systems uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
• Covers AI use in both public and private sectors globally.
• Signatories are responsible for harmful and discriminatory AI outcomes.
• Victims of AI-related rights violations are guaranteed legal protection.
• AI systems must not undermine democratic institutions or judicial independence.
• Involves commitments from nations beyond Europe for a united global AI standard.
• Relies on monitoring for compliance rather than fines or penalties.

WHO Global Framework For Pathogen Origins:

WHO Launches First Global Framework For Understanding the Origins Of New Or Re-Emerging Pathogens

• It is Developed by SAGO (Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens)
• Established by WHO in 2021; consists of global independent experts
• Key Principles is to Aligns with International Health Regulations (IHR) and One Health approach
• IHR is a legally binding framework for global health responses
• One Health integrates human, animal, and ecosystem health

Indian-Americans featured in TIME 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024:

TIME Magazine’s ‘TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024’ list celebrates 15 Indian or Indian-origin individuals, showcasing their contributions to the AI landscape.

Jannik Sinner Beats Taylor Fritz to Win 2024 US Open:

Jannik Sinner, the world’s No. 1 tennis player, clinched his second Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, defeating Taylor Fritz in a thrilling final. This victory marked a remarkable comeback for Sinner, who faced significant challenges leading up to the tournament.

SBI Foundation Launches 3rd Edition of Asha Scholarship Program:

The State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation has unveiled the third edition of its flagship initiative, the SBI Asha Scholarship Programme. This ambitious program aims to support 10,000 talented students from underprivileged backgrounds across India, offering substantial financial assistance to help them pursue their educational dreams.

State Mission Director for the National Health Mission:

Dr. Vinay Goyal has officially assumed the role of State Mission Director for the National Health Mission (NHM). He succeeds K. Jeevan Babu, who has moved to the Kerala Water Authority as Managing Director.

India’s Ambassador to Croatia:

Arun Goel has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Croatia, succeeding Raj Kumar Srivastava. The Ministry of External Affairs announced his new role on September 7, 2024. Goel, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, previously served as the Election Commissioner of India from November 21, 2022, to March 9, 2024.