Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC - 27th January 2024

National News

1.Union govt. makes it clear that Aadhaar card no proof of citizenship, birth date 

• New Aadhaar cards and PDF versions of the identity document have started including a more explicit disclaimer that they are "a proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth", signalling to government departments and other organisations not to use it for those purposes.    
• Aadhaar card has never been proof of citizenship as foreign nationals are also eligible to obtain one if they have been living in India for 180 days. However, different government departments accept it for purposes reserved for citizens or adults.  
• For instance, the Election Commission of India explicitly accepts Aadhaar
• Aadhaar Aam Aadmi Ka Adhikaar The EPFO does not accept Aadhaar as proof of birth date a proof of date of birth for enrolling people to vote. These new clarifications, prominently printed on the document, may challenge such allowances.
• The IDs also include a warning that authenticating them offline needs to be done by scanning the QR code on the reverse side of the document, or by using an XML file issued to residents by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which administers Aadhaar.
• At least one organization has stopped accepting Aadhaar as a proof of date of birth: the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which administers the mandatory retirement fund for salaried employees in India.
• The EPFO issued a circular on January 16, deleting Aadhaar from the list of documents acceptable as a proof of date of birth.
• This invalidity of Aadhaar for use in determining the date of birth and citizenship has been the case for years the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarified in a 2018 memorandum that Aadhaar is "per se… birth", as the date of birth is based on a different document given by applicants.
• A Bombay High Court judgment last year that emphasized this was cited in a December 2023 circular that UIDAI issued, which reminded organizations of the fact. But now the warning is imprinted on the face of all Aadhaar cards and digital copies issued to all Indian residents.
• This new warning initially only mentioned last year that it was not a proof of citizenship, but now clarifies that Aadhaar is not a proof of date of birth too.
• The 12-digit ID is a proof of uniqueness and residence, but different government agencies accept it often on a stand-alone basis for any citizen establishing their identity.

2.Rare golden tiger snapped in Kaziranga

• While the photograph of a golden tiger, shared by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X (formerly Twitter) on National Tourism Day (January 25), has left nature enthusiasts spellbound, the man behind the image feels that the rare encounter in the wild might never happen again.
• Wildlife photographer Gaurav Ramnarayanan from Coimbatore snapped the tiger with the golden coat on a safari in Assam's Kaziranga National Park on January 24.
• "The male adult golden tiger was sighted around 3.30-4 p.m. when I was taking guests from Australia on a safari. Initially, it was around 800 meters away and then it walked towards the safari vehicle, as close as about 80 meters, while moving along its path," said Mr. Ramnarayanan, who runs a travel photography company, The Wildside,
• According to him, more than one tiger with the golden coat is believed to be in Kaziranga, but the exact count is not known.
• The photograph of a golden tiger, said to be taken in 2019, is of a different tiger.
• Professor Uma Ramakrishnan of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, whose team studied the black or pseudo melanistic tigers in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, is conducting a study on the golden phenotype of Kaziranga using scat samples.
• "This tiger looks golden because it has a mutation or a genetic variant.. Basically, tigers have three colors, black, orange, and white. In this tiger, the black color is missing, and it is slightly faded, Even the orange is faded," said Ms. Ramakrishnan.

3.Tamil Nadu honors Alt News Mohammed Zubair for peace efforts

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin handed over the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award, 2024, to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair during the Republic Day celebrations in Chennai on Friday. Governor R.N. Ravi was among the dignitaries present at the celebrations,
• Mr. Zubair, a native of Denkanikottai in Krishna giri district, has been ang lysing, through his portal, the veracity of the news on social media and "his work helps to prevent the occurrence of violence in society
• Likely to be caused by fake news," the citation read. It recalled that in March 2023, a video was rapidly spreading on social media claiming that migrant workers were being attacked in Tamil Nadu.
• 'Preventing violence! "After verifying the authenticity of the video footage, he reported on his All News website that the foot- age was not actually taken in Tamil Nadu and thus stopped the spread of rumors against Tamil Nadu and acted to prevent violence caused by caste, religion, race, and language in Tamil Nadu," it sild,

 

4.Rajasthan Governor announces formation of economic revival task force on Republic Day

• Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday announced the formation of an economic revival task force to prepare a road map for strengthening the State's economy, Mr. Mis hra said in his message on the Republic Day that the task force would help build a robust economic infrastructure for the future and ensure the State's sustainable development.
• Mr. Mishra unfurled the Tricolour at the State-level Republic Day function at Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur. He inspected the parade and gave President's Police Medals to four police officers for their distinguished service, Mr. Mishra said the State government would pave the way for economic growth through the "ease of doing business" model, as it had taken a pledge for socio-economic development of all sections of society by implementing the Antyodaya concept of Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya. The Centre's policy decisions had also encouraged the State to march ahead, he added.
• The Governor said that the nation was witnessing an unprecedented growth under the "visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani were among those who attended the Republic Day function.

International News

5.Maersk Reveals World’s Largest Ship Fueled By Methanol

• In a monumental stride towards sustainability, maritime titan Maersk unveils its latest marvel: the Ane Maersk, a revolutionary container vessel powered by green methanol derived from green hydrogen.
• The Ane Maersk represents a bold leap into a greener future, boasting the title of the world’s largest container vessel fueled by green methanol, a derivative of green hydrogen.
• With an unprecedented capacity to carry 16,000 20ft shipping containers (TEU), the Ane Maersk eclipses its predecessor, the Laura Maersk, by nearly eightfold. This innovative propulsion system heralds a new era of eco-friendly maritime transportation.

6.Alabama Conducts First Nitrogen Gas Execution In US

• In a groundbreaking turn of events, Kenneth Smith, a convicted murderer, has become the first person in the United States to be executed by nitrogen gas.
• The execution, which took place in Alabama, introduces a new method intended to be the most painless and humane alternative to the previously predominant lethal injection.
• This move has positioned Alabama as a trailblazer in adopting nitrogen gas for capital punishment, joining the ranks of only a few states to approve this controversial method.

7.Endless war Russia, Ukraine and NATO should make a practical assessment of the war

•  The crash of a Russian plane with Ukrainian prisoners of war on board has once again shown how delicate the situation between the two countries that have been at war since February 2022 is. Russia says Kyiv downed the plane, which had 65 Ukrainian soldiers, in Belgorod, a Russian border town that has seen repeated Ukrainian shelling in recent months. Kyiv has slammed Russia for spreading propaganda, but has not ruled out its possible role in the downing. The incident comes at a time when Ukraine's troops are struggling to keep up the fight on the front line amid Russia's incremental ad- vances. Russia, which suffered humiliating setbacks in 2022, has since retaken the battlefield momentum. Last year, Ukraine's top general said the counteroffensive, which began in June 2023, aimed at recapturing Russia-held territories in the south and east, had failed. Russia has made territorial gains in the east, capturing Mariinka and making advances towards Avdiivka and Kupiansk. With its huge losses on the battlefield, Ukraine's generals are calling for the mobilization of up to 5,00,000 soldiers which would be hugely unpopular. Worse, the changing mood in Washington has sent an alarming message to Kyiv.
• Volodymyr Zelensky's government has vowed to uncover the truth behind the plane crash. If it has been downed by a Ukrainian missile, it would pose a political challenge to Mr. Zelensky. But a bigger problem he is facing is the future of the war. Until now, he has put up a brave face, saying Ukraine would fight until victory which is, recapturing all the territories Russia has taken. While Russia's annexation of Ukraine regions and its war are a violation of international laws, Ukraine does not seem to have a practical path towards victory. Israel's war on Gaza, which has the Biden administration's full support, has also dis- tracted global attention from Ukraine. If Donald Trump, the U.S. Republican leader, is re-elected in November he has vowed to end the war in days Ukraine could come under heavy pres- sure. The war cannot be sustained without unin- terrupted support from the U.S. and its NATO partners. When pressure increases on the battlefield, what Ukraine is doing is to carry out missile and drone attacks inside Russia. Ukraine's possession of advanced weapons, supplied by the West, has enhanced its fire power. Last week, a fuel export terminal on Russia's Baltic coast came under attack. There is suspicion, deep mistrust and misinformation on both sides, which could lead to more violence and accidents. Russia, Ukraine and NATO-should take a more practical assessment of the progress of the war and be ready for talks, instead of continuing an endless war which is hurting all sides.

8.Jet engine deal with France's will give 100% access to tech’

• Collaborating with France on manufacturing an engine for fifth-generation India's fighter jet and working on its design and development is the subject of ongoing discussions between the two countries, Indian envoy to France Jawed Ashraf has said. The new engine is meant to power the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is being developed.
• Discussions are in progress between Safran and the Defence Research and Development Organisations Aeronautical Development Agency and Gas Turbine Research Establishment on arriving at a set of specifications that complies with the country's future fighter jet requirements, the envoy said at a press conference.
• The subject always features in conversations between French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added. The decision to jointly develop the aero engine was announced during Mr. Modi's visit to France in July 2023. "What we are looking for is not just a transfer of manufacturing technology, which essentially keeps you going with the same crutches that you have been on for the last six decades, but to work in the actual design phase, metallurgical aspects, etc. So, Safran [French multinational firm that works in the aerospace and defense sectors] is fully willing to do it with 100% transfer of technology in design, development, certification, production, so on and so forth," Mr. Ashraf said.
• "But it's obviously a very complex subject, and it has to fit in with the overall future requirements. So, these discussions will continue to take place. And that's also part of the defense industry."
• Meanwhile, the deal with General Electric (GE) is for the manufacturing license of the already operational F-414 engine, which is set to be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The U.S. government has given all approvals for the deal and it is now for the two companies to finalize the commercial agreements, officials said.
• The deal will give India access to several technologies and industrial processes involved in the manufacture of jet engines and Increase the capabilities of both public and private industries in India.
• The F-414 engines are meant to power the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK2, a larger and more capable variant of the LCA currently in service, and the initial version of the AMCA.
• The development of the AMCA is planned in two phases: MKI with the F-414 engine, and Mk2 with a more powerful engine in collaboration with France.
• Very few countries have a proprietary right to jet engine technology and it is a closely guarded secret due to its extreme criticality in modern warfare, India made unsuccessful attempts in the past to develop an engine locally under the now-shelved Kaveri project, which was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 1989.
• Over the course of 30 years before it was shut down, the project saw an expenditure of ₹2,035.56 crore and the development of nine full prototype engines and four core engines.

 

Defence News

9.India will export BrahMos supersonic missile system to Philippines 

• Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Dr Sameer V Kamat said India is all set to start exporting ground systems for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.  
• The DRDO chairman said the first set of BrahMos missile system is expected to reach the Philippines by the end of March. The venture, worth US$375 million, is DRDO's largest ever defense contract with a foreign nation.  
• The deal with the Philippines, signed in January 2022, focuses on the supply of the shore-based antiship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.  
• Products worth about Rs 4.94 lakh crore developed by DRDO have either been inducted or have received AON (Acceptance of Requirement) from DAC (Defence Acquisition Council).  
• Additionally, a mega order for DRDO-developed ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) howitzers is expected to be finalized by the end of March this year.  
• The LCA Mark1A is set to replace the aging MIG series aircraft in the Indian Air Force in the near future. Additionally, planning for LCA Mark 2 is underway, with a target completion date of 2028.  
• BrahMos supersonic cruise missile  
• There is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which is said to have one of the most successful missile programs in the world. The Indian Army has integrated several BrahMos regiments into its arsenal since 2007.  
• It is named after the Brahmaputra River of India and the Moskva River of Russia. The range of BrahMos missile is 290 km. It is the world's fastest cruise missile with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (about three times the speed of sound). It works on the "fire and forget" principle.

10.India-France defense ties take a bigger leap

• India and France have announced a "defence industrial road map" for cooperation on defence production, future collabo ration on "co-design and co-development of mili tary hardware, as well as key agreements on space cooperation, officials said. The road map was part of a
• Number of agreements between the two countries that were sealed during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emma nuel Macron in Jaipur on Thursday, that will also bring some parity with the India US. defense produce tion plan finalized last year.
• However, differences over some of the language on the road map held up a "joint statement" between them for several hours on Friday before it was released. Mr. Macron was in Delhi as part of a short 30-hour visit to India, and was accompanied by a delegation of 40 officials, including his new Minister for Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné, and Ministers of Defence and Culture.
• The two sides also signed a new agreement for a defense-space partnership that will see them collaborate on "space situational awareness", and an MoU on coordinating on satellite launches, along with other agreements on partnerships in energy, digital health, agriculture, and education.
• While the two countries did not announce any progress on negotiations for the big-ticket government-to-government deals on fighter jets, engines and submarines that were announced during Mr. Modi's visit to Paris last July, officials said that at least one joint venture for the local manufacture of civilian helicopters was agreed between Airbus and TАТА.

  

Economy News

11.ICRA Upgrades FY24 Bank Credit Growth Forecast To 15%: Record Incremental Growth Anticipated

• In a positive turn, ICRA has revised its bank credit growth estimates for FY24 upwards to 14.9-15.3%, surpassing the previous projection of 12.8-13.0%.
• The surge is attributed to robust performance in the retail segment and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), according to Anil Gupta, Senior Vice President at ICRA.
• The incremental credit is expected to reach Rs 20.4-20.9 trillion, marking the highest ever in bank credit growth, surpassing the previous high of Rs 18.2 trillion in FY23.

Schemes and Committee News

12.Cabinet Approves Rs 8,500 Crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme For Coal Gasification

• The Union Cabinet, on January 24, 2024, gave the green light to a groundbreaking Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme, allocating Rs 8,500 crores for Coal Gasification Projects.
• This strategic move is a pivotal step towards realizing the government’s ambitious mission to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030.
• The VGF scheme is designed with precision, dividing the funding into three categories. Government-owned companies, spearheading three key projects, are set to receive a substantial grant of Rs 4,050 crores.

Important Day News

13.International Customs Day 2024

• Every year, on January 26, we celebrate International Customs Day, a special day dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the crucial role played by customs agencies worldwide.
• International Customs Day is observed annually on January 26. This tradition dates back to 1953, when the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), now known as the World Customs Organization (WCO), designated this date to honour the work of customs officials.
• The decision was made during a session inaugurated in Brussels, Belgium, with representatives from 17 European countries. Since its renaming in 1994, the WCO has grown to include 182 member states, each committed to international cooperation in customs matters.

14.National Geographic Day 2024

• National Geographic Day 2024 is celebrated on January 27 every year. National Geographic Day is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the rich history and contributions of the National Geographic Society in the fields of geography, natural science, and exploration.
• The National Geographic Society was founded on January 27, 1888, with a mission to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge. Over the years, it has become one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations.
• The society is renowned for its groundbreaking expeditions, research, conservation efforts, and the iconic National Geographic Magazine, which has captivated readers for generations with its stunning photography and in-depth stories about our world.

Award News

15.Indian-origin Ajit Mishra receives Freedom of the City of London Award 

• Ajit Mishra, a prominent lawyer of Indian origin in Britain, was awarded the prestigious "Freedom of the City of London" for his outstanding contribution in the legal and public sectors.  
• Rajesh Mishra, Founder and Chairman, UK India Legal Partnership (UKILP) was honored with the Freedom of the City of London award on January 23.  
• UKILP, founded by Mishra, is a dynamic networking platform that is rapidly gaining recognition as a leading hub for senior lawyers to foster relations between the legal communities of India and the UK.  
• "Freedom of the City of London  
• The prestigious award was nominated by Chris Hayward, policy chair of the Corporation of London, and Shravan Joshi, vicechair of the civic affairs committee.  
• The Freedom of the City of London was established in 1237 as a status for "free men" or "citizens" who were protected by the Charter of the City of London and were not under the control of any feudal lord.  
• Notable recipients of this award include the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom- Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and the first President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. 

Science and technology News

16.ISRO developed second generation disaster warning transmitter ‘DAT-SG’ for fishermen

• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed Second Generation Distress Alert Transponder (DAT-SG) which is an indigenous technological solution to send emergency messages from fishing boats to fishermen at sea.  
• The second generation Distress Alert transmitter (DAT-SG) is based on the original Distress Alert transmitter (DAT) and adds advanced capabilities and features to enhance maritime safety and communications.  
• DAT-SG has the facility to send confirmation of information back to the fishermen who activated the distress alert from the sea. Fishermen can use DAT to send emergency messages when faced with a disaster situation.  
• The first version of DAT became operational in 2010 using which messages are sent via a communications satellite and received at a Central Control Station (INMCC: Indian Mission Control Centre) where warning signals are decoded for identification and location of a fishing vessel.  
• The information received is then forwarded to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) under the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). 
• Using this information, the MRCC coordinates search and rescue operations to rescue fishermen in distress.More than 20,000 DATs are currently in use.  
• DAT-SG has been developed by ISRO which is an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) transmitter based on NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) receiver module.  
• This NavIC receiver module supports position determination as well as broadcast message confirmation called NavIC Messaging Service.  
• The DAT-SG can be connected to a mobile phone using the Bluetooth interface. This allows fishermen to receive messages on their mobile devices.  The Central Control Center (INMCC) uses a web-based network management system called "Sagarmitra". This system maintains a database of registered DAT-SGs. 

17.Chandrayaan helped moon-lander make pinpoint landing, says Japan 

• Japan's space agency has confirmed its moon-lander successfully achieved its pinpoint landing on the moon on January 19.
• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) could not confirm the landing precision on the day after the spacecraft's solar panels failed to produce power. JAXA officials knew the lander had performed a controlled descent because none of its other components appeared to have been damaged.
• However, a JAXA state- ment on Thursday said one of the lander's two main engines failed during its descent. ent.
• As the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down near Shioli crater, Japan became the fifth country to soft-land a robotic instrument on the moon, months after India's Chandrayaan 3 succeeded in August 2023.
• JAXA built SLIM to be light and sent it towards the moon on a loopy path that conserved fuel.
• The gains were to help SLIM on its primary mission: to land within a small 100X100 m patch on the moon.
• So far, spacecraft planning to land on Mars and the moon were allowed to do so within large patches hundreds of meters wide.
• In comparison, SLIM's designated patch is tiny, giving the spacecraft its nickname "moon sniper",
• According to the JAXA statement, SLIM was within 10 m of its designated landing spot until it was 50 m above the surface.
• At this stage, SLIM used maps of the moon's surface in this area acquired by the orbiter of the Chan drayaan-2 mission.
• SLIM's computer overlaid them with images captured by its navigation camera, and used the result to spot obstacles to its descent.
• "[It] is highly likely that the main engine was alrea- dy affected by the loss of function when the second obstacle detection oc- curred," the statement added.
• This is because SLIM's positional accuracy had in- creased from three to four meters during the first ob- stacle detection exercise to 10 m in the second.
• The engine's failure eventually caused SLIM to drift to a spot 55 m east, where it landed.
• Whether this failure is related to the solar panels' inability to generate power is under investigation.

 

18.Before SpaceX's 'X-3 mission', 4 passengers including Turkish astronaut Alper Gezervasi reached International Space Station 

• SpaceX successfully launched the X-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Crew Dragon capsule, named “Freedom,” was launched into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This was the third mission conducted by Houstonbased Axiom Space.  
• This SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule included four astronauts – Commander Michael Lopez-Allegra of the US and Spain, Italian Air Force pilot Walter Viladei, and mission specialists Alper Gezervasi of Turkey and Marcus Wandt of Sweden and the European Space Agency.  
• Axiom has highlighted this mission as “the first pan-European commercial astronaut mission” to the ISS.  The Crew Dragon capsule set out on a 36-hour journey to rendezvous with the ISS, where it is prepared to dock with the Harmony module. 
• The astronauts, following a welcome ceremony, will spend about two weeks conducting microgravity research and experiments on physics, human health and outer space medicine.

Ranks and Reports News

19.World Bank released ‘Global Economic Prospects Report’

• The World Bank has released its Global Economic Outlook Report, according to which the global economy could be affected by the end of the year 2024, which could prove to be the slowest half-decade of gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 30 years.  The global economy is projected to experience the slowest GDP growth in three decades, with a growth rate of 2.4% in 2024.  
• In developing economies, this level is estimated to increase by only 3.9%, which is a decrease of more than one percentage point from the average of the last decade. Growth in low-income countries is estimated at 5.5%, which is lower than initial forecasts.  
• Due to the strengthening of the US economy, the risk of global recession has reduced, as a result of which the global economic situation has improved compared to last year. But increasing geopolitical tensions may raise concerns for the world economy in the future.  
• Key Recommendations  
• To avoid wasting opportunities in the current decade, urgent action is needed to accelerate investment and strengthen the fiscal policy framework.  The report recommends a 'dramatic' increase in investment by developing countries to approximately US$2.4 trillion per year to address climate change and achieve other key global development goals by 2030.  
• Developing economies need to implement a comprehensive policy package, including reforming fiscal and monetary frameworks, expanding cross-border trade and financial flows, improving the investment climate, and strengthening institutional quality.  
• World Bank  
• It was established in 1944 as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the IMF. Later the IBRD became the World Bank.  The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working to create sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.

20.NGO Pratham releases 18th annual status of education report ‘Beyond Basics

• The 18th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, titled ‘Beyond Basics’, was released by NGO Pratham, which discussed the activities undertaken by students, their basic and applied reading and mathematics abilities and digital awareness and skills.  
• ASER is an annual, citizen-led household survey that aims to understand whether children in rural India are enrolled in school and whether they are learning.  
• ASER is conducted every year since 2005 in all rural districts of India. This is the largest citizen-led survey in India.  
• The ASER survey provides representative estimates of the enrollment status of children aged 3-16 years and basic education and arithmetic levels of children aged 5-16 years at the national, state and district levels.  

Headlines  

• Overall, 86.8% of 14–18 year olds are enrolled in some educational institution. Whereas 3.9% of 14 year old and 32.6% of 18 year old children have not enrolled.  
• The majority of students aged 14– 18 are enrolled in the Arts/Humanities stream, with more than half (55.7%) studying in this stream in the eleventh grade or higher.  
• There are fewer women than men (36.3%) in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) stream with only 5.6% taking vocational training or related courses. Vocational training is more prevalent among college level students (16.2%).  
• About 25% of youth cannot read Class 2 level text fluently in their regional language.  More than half struggle with division problems (1 point out of 3 points), with only 43.3% of 14–18 year olds able to solve such problems correctly.  
• Females (76%) performed better than males (70.9%) in reading Standard II level text in their regional language while males excelled in arithmetic and English reading.  
• Only 57.3% were able to read sentences in English and about three-quarters of them were able to understand their meaning.  Nearly 90% of the total youth have a smartphone at home and 43.7% of the males own a smartphone compared to 19.8% of the females.  
• Men generally perform better than women in digital tasks.  
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the need for 'catch-up' programs for the academically backward. 

Miscellaneous News

21.12 specific products of Arunachal Pradesh got GI tag

• Twelve specific products from Arunachal Pradesh have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Along with this, a total of 20 indigenous products of the region have been given GI tag.  
• Major products include Apatani textile, Monpa textile, Nyishi textile, Monpa handmade paper, Adi textile, Singpho Phalap (Singpho tea), Gallo textile, Adi Apong, Dao (sword), Angnyat millet, Marua Apo (Marua millet drink) and Tai Khamti cloth is included.  
• Earlier, Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been received for Yak Churpi (cheese), Khaw Tai (Khamti rice) and Tangsa textile of Arunachal Pradesh. 
• This achievement is a testament to the dedication of the local communities in preserving the traditional and unique products, which reflect the rich social and cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.  

Geographical Indication (GI)  

• Geographical indications are recognized as a part of intellectual property rights (IPR) under Articles 1(2) and 10 of the Paris Convention and Articles 22 to 24 of the TradeRelated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. is also recognized.  
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999, which came into effect on September 15, 2003, to protect such indications.  
• A registered GI is valid for 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.