Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 20th December 2024

Human Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM-3):

ISRO has initiated the assembly of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM-3) for Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed flight.

• HLVM-3 is a human-rated version of ISRO’s LVM3 designed for India’s Gaganyaan mission to carry humans to space.
• Aim is to enable safe human spaceflight by incorporating advanced reliability and safety features.
• Features:
  • Three-Stage Design: Combines solid, liquid, and cryogenic stages.
  • Payload Capacity: Carries 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • Height and Weight: 53 meters tall, weighing 640 tonnes.
  • Crew Escape System (CES): Operational until atmospheric flight separation, ensuring astronaut safety.

Romania and Bulgaria Join Schengen Zone:

Bulgaria and Romania will join the European Union’s Schengen zone on 1st January 2025. Both nations, which have been EU members since 2007, will finally be able to join the borderless area, allowing for seamless travel and movement across Europe.

• The Schengen Zone is named after a small village in Luxembourg, where the Schengen Agreement (1985) and Schengen Convention (1990) were signed.
• These agreements abolished internal border checks between participating countries, allowing for free movement of people across most EU states and some non-EU countries.
• The Schengen Area is the world’s biggest area without internal border controls, and now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 EU member states (excluding Cyprus and Ireland), as well as four non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).
• The Schengen Area guarantees free movement for over 425 million EU citizens and non-EU nationals legally residing in or visiting the EU.
• By abolishing internal border checks, it allows seamless travel, living, and working across participating countries.
• A uniform visa policy allows short-term stays of up to 90 days for tourists, business travelers, and other visitors.
• The Schengen Area includes provisions for police cooperation, judicial collaboration, and the Schengen Information System (SIS) to ensure security.
• SIS is the most widely used and largest information sharing system for security and border management in Europe.
• In exceptional circumstances, countries can temporarily reintroduce border controls for security reasons, but they must inform other member states and the European Commission.
• Countries wishing to join the Schengen Area must meet specific criteria, including effective border control, visa issuance, and law enforcement cooperation.

29th Delhi CII Summit:

India’s Union Commerce Minister emphasised on the need for equitable responsibilities in sustainable development during the 29th CII Partnership Summit held in Delhi.

• CII Partnership Summit 2024:
  • Organizer: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Theme (2024): “Partnerships for Progress”.
• Delegates from 61 countries, focusing on sustainability, trade, green technologies, and regional security.
• India advocated for “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) and “polluter pays” principle, holding developed nations accountable for historical environmental damage.
• It criticized the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for harming developing nations’ exports.
• India expressed dissatisfaction with the USD 300 billion climate-finance package at CoP29 at Baku, emphasizing the need for focus on adaptation and finance for the Global South.
• India emphasized strengthening ties with nations like Israel, Italy, and Qatar, advocating technology exchange in climate resilience and wastewater management while promoting trade, sustainability, and regional security.

Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics:

Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) initiates “detailed examination” after official trade figures showed that India’s gold imports in November surged threefold to an all-time high of $14.8 billion compared to the previous year.

• It is the premier organization of Government of India for collection, compilation and dissemination of India’s trade statistics and commercial information.
• The Organization traces its origin to a statistical branch established in the Finance Department of the Government of India way back in 1862.
• Sir William W. Hunter was the first DG of the DGCI & S or the Director General of Statistics as he was designated, back in 1871.
• It is entrusted with the work of collecting, compiling and publishing/disseminating trade statistics and various types of commercial information required by the policy makers, researchers, importers, exporters, traders as well as overseas buyers.
• It is the first large scale data processing organization functioning as a nodal agency for Export & Import data in the country.
• It also compiles and publishes the inland Trade Statistics covering inter-State movements of goods by rail, river and air on yearly basis.
• It is headed by the Director General, an Additional Secretary level officer of Indian Statistical Services (ISS).
• It works under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Headquarter:Kolkata

Kisan Kavach:

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology unveiled Kisan Kavach.

• It is first-of-its-kind anti-pesticide bodysuit designed to protect farmers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure.
• The suit is intended to protect farm labourers from imbibing the pesticides they spray. Several of the common pesticides are potential neurotoxins and detrimental to health.
• It is developed by the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC-inStem), Bangalore, in collaboration with Sepio Health Pvt. Ltd.
• The kit consists of a trouser, pullover, and a face-cover made of ‘oxime fabric’ that can chemically breakdown any of the common pesticides that get sprayed onto cloth or body during spraying operations.
• This prevents chemicals from leaching into the skin. The price per kit is ₹4,000.
• This Kisan Kavach fabric can deactivate pesticides upon contact through nucleophilic mediated hydrolysis, thereby preventing pesticide-induced toxicity and lethality.
• The kit retains its potency in a wide temperature range, under UV-light exposure and was protective even after 150 washes.

Baiga Tribe: Jodhaiya Bai

Jodhaiya Bai, a celebrated Baiga tribal artist and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on December 15, 2024, at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness. Her death was reported from her native Lodha village in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh.The Baiga Tribe is one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). They primarily reside in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Minority Rights Day:

December 18 is celebrated as Minority Rights Day, commemorating the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities (adopted in 1992).The Constitution of India mentions the term “minority” but does not define it.

Moldova Signs International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement:

Moldova has officially signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, furthering its commitment to promoting renewable energy.The ISA was conceptualised on the sidelines of COP21 in Paris in 2015 as a collaborative initiative between India and France.The headquarters of the ISA is located in Gurugram, India. The ISA aims to unite global efforts in combating climate change through the implementation of solar energy solutions.

Wroughton’s Free-Tailed Bat:

Wroughton’s free-tailed bat has been spotted at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)’s Yamuna Biodiversity Park.It is a highly rare species of molossus bat.It is characterised by its large size, huge ears extending beyond the muzzle, and bicoloured velvet fur. It is known to be a powerful flier.

Science and Heritage Research Initiative:

The union minister of Science & Technology said that fusion of traditional knowledge with modern technology could give India’s advantage over others at the celebration of five years of the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI).It is a new programme on Heritage Research.It aims to engage experts from diverse fields for data capture and analysis, to form new collaborations, and provide viable technology, to address cultural heritage related issues.

India Surpasses USD 1 Trillion in FDI:

India has surpassed USD 1 trillion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows since 2000, highlighting its growing appeal as a global investment hub.This milestone is further supported by a 26% rise in FDI to USD 42.1 billion in the first half of the current financial year 2024-25, reflecting the impact of strategic initiatives, policy reforms, and enhanced global competitiveness.

Pollution in Hindon River:

The Hindon River, a rain-fed Yamuna tributary, has turned into a drain of untreated waste, symbolising environmental degradation and endangering communities along its industrial belt in Western Uttar Pradesh.The Hindon River originates from the lower Shivalik ranges in the Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh and flows through the industrial belt of Western Uttar Pradesh, covering 400 km before joining the Yamuna in Noida.The river’s major tributaries include: Kali (West) River and Krishni River.The Hindon River supported agriculture and fisheries in Western Uttar Pradesh. However industrialization and urbanization have destroyed its ecological balance.

Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland:

The Union Home Ministry has reimposed the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland due to rising security concerns over foreign influx from neighboring countries.The decision highlights the government’s renewed focus on monitoring foreign movements and addressing security issues in these sensitive regions.The PAR is a set of regulations established under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, which is aimed at regulating foreign visitors to areas that are considered strategically important or vulnerable to external threats, particularly in the northeastern states and other border regions of India.

India and China held 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives:

India and China held 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs), reaffirming the disengagement agreement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).The talks discussed resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra (KMY), a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, which has been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 and the non-renewal of arrangements by China.India organizes the KMY annually between June and September through the Lipulekh Pass (since 1981) in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass (since 2015) in Sikkim. The KMY is revered by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Bon followers. Hindus believe Lord Shiva resides at the peak, while Jains regard it as Mount Ashtapada, where Rishabhadeva achieved liberation.

Composite License For Insurer:

The central government proposed introducing composite licenses through an amendment to the Insurance Act, 1938, aiming to increase insurance penetration in India and achieve ‘Insurance for All by 2047.A composite license allows insurers to offer life and non-life insurance under a single registration, consolidating operations into one entity.Currently, insurers need to obtain separate licenses for each line of business.

Ganges River Dolphin:

For the first time, Indian wildlife experts successfully tagged a Ganges River dolphin, marking a historic milestone in the conservation of this endangered species.The initiative under Project Dolphin, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.Aim is to track the dolphin’s movement, habitat use, and migratory patterns using advanced satellite-compatible lightweight tags.

Madhya Pradesh Welcomes 10th International Forest Fair:

The 10th International Forest Fair, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, commenced on December 17, 2024, and will run until December 23. This fair focuses on promoting sustainable forest practices, empowering local communities, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in the forestry sector. The event provides a platform for government officials, traders, producers, scientists, and policymakers to engage in meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange.

Net Direct Tax Collection Sees Robust 16.45% Growth to Rs 15.82 Lakh Crore:

The net direct tax collections for the fiscal year 2023-24 have surged by 16.45% to Rs 15.82 lakh crore by December 17, driven primarily by a strong 21% rise in advance tax payments. This growth reflects the government’s improved tax collection mechanism and efforts to bridge the fiscal deficit gap.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Wins Jamsetji Tata Award for Biosciences Leadership:

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, was awarded the prestigious Jamsetji Tata Award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) for her exceptional contributions to the biosciences sector in India. The award recognises her role in leading Biocon to a global position while maintaining an unwavering focus on quality.

34th Vyas Samman 2024:

34th Vyas Samman 2024 for her novel Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary. Published in 2018, the novel delves into cultural conflicts and identity struggles faced by Indian youth in America. Instituted in 1991 by the KK Birla Foundation, the Vyas Samman honors outstanding Hindi literary works from the past decade, offering a cash prize of ₹4 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.

Rama Mohan Rao Amara Appointed as SBI’s New Managing Director:

The Indian government has appointed Rama Mohan Rao Amara as the new Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI) for a period of three years. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and follows a recommendation by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB). Amara takes over the position previously held by CS Setty, who assumed charge as Chairman of SBI in August.