Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th April 2024

 

National News 

1. First batch of 64 Indian workers from Haryana and UP sent to Israel under G2G agreement 

• Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, announced that the first batch of 64 Indian workers from Haryana and UP have left for Israel under the Government-to
• Government (G2G) agreement. India and Israel on November 3, 2023 signed an agreement on "facilitating temporary employment of Indian workers" in two sectors - construction and home-based care. 
• Israel announced plans to recruit thousands of workers from India and other countries, primarily to replace Palestinian workers whose work permits were revoked after clashes with Hamas erupted last October. NSDC is a public limited company set up by the Ministry of Finance under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and provides skill development and vocational training to Indian workers. 
• NSDC has been part of programs organized in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for interviewing and screening workers willing to work in Israel. Earlier this year, an effort to recruit more than 10,000 Indian construction workers to Israel began at Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana. 
• During the weekly press briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underlined that around 18,000 Indian workers currently reside in Israel. 
• In recent months hundreds of workers from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have tested for jobs in Israel's construction sector in masonry, carpentry, tiling and barbending. The jobs after this offer a monthly salary of ₹137,000. Workers must pay for their travel and transfers, and also pay taxes, a Social Security insurance fee, and a monthly health insurance fee. 

International News 

2. WHO unveils AI-based digital health enabler ‘S.A.R.A.H.’ 

• Focusing on 'My Health, My Right', the World Health Organization has launched S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter prototype powered by Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). 
• SARAH is a smart AI processing assistant for health that represents the development of AI-powered health information avatars using new language models and cuttingedge technology. 
• It can engage users 24 hours a day on multiple health topics in 8 languages on any device. It has been trained to provide information on key health topics including healthy habits and mental health. 
• S.A.R.A.H., also known as SARA, has the potential to help people develop a better understanding of the risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. 
• She can help people access the latest information about quitting tobacco, staying active, eating a healthy diet, and de-stressing, among other things. This technology is supported by Soul Machines Biological AI. 

3.The 19th SCO Security Council meeting was held under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan. 

• The 19th annual meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan from 2 to 3 April 2024. On 29 March 2023, India chaired the 18th meeting of the Security Council Secretaries of SCO member states in New Delhi. 
• The Indian delegation was led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. He also met President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the current chair of the SCO. 
• President Tokayev advocated the adoption of a cooperation program to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2025–2027 and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024–2029. 
• NSA Ajit Doval strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Moscow, Russia and highlighted the threat of terrorism in the region. On Afghanistan, Doval said that India has legitimate security and economic interests. 

4.Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 

• It was established on June 15, 2001, replacing the Shanghai Five organization. Its founding members are: China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. 
• The 9 permanent members are: China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, India (joined in 2017), Pakistan (joined in 2017), and Iran (joined in 2023). 3 observer members: Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia. Its headquarters is in Beijing, China. 

State News 

5. PRL Ahmedabad-led team discovers ozone on Jupiter's moon Callisto 

• An international team of scientists, including from India, has discovered strong evidence indicating the presence of ozone on Jupiter's moon Callisto, shedding light on the complex chemical processes occurring on icy celestial bodies in the Solar System. 
• The study was published in the March 2024 issue of the journal Icarus. It outlines the researchers' investigation into the chemical evolution of "SO2 astrochemical ice", an ice composed primarily of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. 
• R. of the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Division of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Scientists under the leadership of Ramachandran are investigating the chemical evolution of sulfur. 
• In addition to ozone, the researchers observed an unknown band in the absorption spectrum – similar to that seen on Ganymede in 1996 – which points to a common molecular source in their surface structure or chemical processes. 
• This sheds light on the chemical processes and composition on Callisto's surface. By analyzing data from UV absorption spectra of irradiated ice samples, the team was able to identify a specific signature indicating the formation of ozone. 
• After Saturn, Jupiter has the most moons in the Solar System. Callisto is one of the largest moons of Jupiter and the third largest moon in the Solar System after Ganymede and Titan. 

Ozone 

• Ozone on Earth works to block ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Its two components, called ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-C, have wavelengths of 290–320 nanometers and 100–280 nanometers, respectively, which can damage DNA, trigger mutations, and cause skin damage in humans. It can increase the risk of cancer and cataracts. 
• The ozone molecule is made up of three oxygen atoms bonded together. The ozone layer, found in the lower part of Earth's stratosphere, about 15–35 km above the ground, acts as a shield. 

Banking News 

6.RBI to enable UPI for cash deposit 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has pro- posed to enable the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for cash deposits con sidering the app's popular ity and convenience. 
• RBI Governor Shakti-kanta Das, while making a statement on developmen tal and regulatory policies, said, "Given the popularity and acceptance of UPI, and also the benefits seen from the availability of UPI for card-less cash withdrawal at ATMs, it is now proposed to facilitate cash deposit facility through the use of UPI." 
• Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) deployed by banks enhance customer convenience while reducing cash-handling load on bank branches. The facility of cash deposit is presently available only through the use of debit cards. 
• The Governor said operfollo investors Pis) registered with SEBI are permit ted to invest in SorB under different routes available for investment by FPIS in securities. government The RBI also decided to introduce a mobile app for national instructions on enabling UPI for cash de posit facility will be lsstied shortly. 
• In another measure, to facilitate wider non-resident participation in Sove reign Green Bonds (SGrBs), the RBI decided to permit eligible foreign investors in the International Financial Services Centre also to invest in such bonds. 
• A scheme for Investment and trading in SGrBs by eligible foreign investors in IFSC is being notified separately in consultation with the Government and the IFSC Authority. 
• At present, foreign portits Retail Direct scheme, introduced in November 2021. The scheme gives access to individual investors to maintain gilt accounts with RBI and invest in government securities. The scheme enables investors to buy securities in primary auctions and buy/sell securities through the NDS-OM platform. 

7. RBI kept the repo rate unchanged for the seventh consecutive time 

• The Reserve Bank of India has not made any change in the repo rate for the seventh consecutive time. Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the bi-monthly monetary policy on 5 April 2024. He said, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent. 
• The Governor said, real GDP growth for 2024-25 is estimated at 7.0 percent, while in the first quarter it will be 7.1 percent; at 6.9 percent in the second quarter; at 7.0 percent in the third quarter; And it will remain at 7.0 percent in the fourth quarter also. 
• Assuming a normal monsoon, CPI inflation for 2024-25 is estimated at 4.5 per cent, Mr Das said. He said that even though inflation has come down significantly, it remains above the target of 4 percent given by the government. 
• The RBI Governor informed that India's foreign exchange reserves reached the highest level of US$ 645.6 billion as of March 29, 2024. 

Key Rates: 

• Repo Rate: 6.5% – Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country lends money to commercial banks in case of shortage of funds. Here the central bank buys securities. 
• Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 6.25% - SDF is a liquidity window through which RBI will give banks the option to retain excess liquidity. 
• It differs from the reverse repo facility as it does not require banks to provide collateral while depositing funds. 
• Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 6.75% - MSF is a window for scheduled banks to borrow overnight from the RBI in an emergency situation when interbank liquidity is completely exhausted. 
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): 4.50% - Under CRR, commercial banks are required to maintain a certain minimum amount as deposits (NDTL) with the central bank. 
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): 18.00% - SLR is the minimum percentage of deposits that a commercial bank must maintain in the form of liquid cash, gold or other securities. 

Ranks & Reports News 

8. Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian included in the top-10 in Forbes' 38th list of world billionaires. 

• According to Forbes' 38th annual World Billionaires List 2024, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian to make it to the top-10 in the list. 
• At the top is Bernard Arnault and family, owners of French luxury giant LVMH. At 37, Zerodha cofounder Nikhil Kamath is the youngest Indian billionaire in the Forbes list. 
• According to Forbes report, there are 2,781 billionaires from 77 countries in the world. The combined wealth of billionaires was $14.2 trillion, an increase of $2 trillion from 2023. 
• Countries with the highest number of billionaires - United States of America at first place with 813 billionaires, China at second place with 406 billionaires, India at third place with 200 billionaires and Germany at fourth place with 132 billionaires. 

World's top billionaires 

• Bernard Arnault and family (France): $233 billion 
• Elon Musk (USA): $195 billion 
• Jeff Bezos (USA): $194 billion 
• Mark Zuckerberg (USA): $177 billion 
• Larry Ellison (USA): $114 billion 

Top billionaires of indian 

• Mukesh Ambani: $116 billion (9th globally) 
• Gautam Adani: $84 billion (17th globally) 
• Shiv Nadar: $36.9 billion (39th globally) 
• Savitri Jindal and family: $33.5 billion (46th globally) 
• Dilip Shanghvi: $26.7 billion (69th globally) 

9. According to the World AntiDoping Agency, India is the top dope violating country in the world. 

• According to the 2022 testing data released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), India ranks first among the countries with the highest percentage of dope offenders. 
• The total collected samples of Indians were 4,064 (urine, blood and athlete biological passport combined). 127 Indian athletes were caught using banned substances, which is 3.26% of the sample size. 
• The samples were tested at the National Anti-Doping Laboratory (NDTL) located at the JLN Stadium here. In sports, doping refers to the use of banned performance enhancing drugs by athletes to gain an unfair advantage. 
• The figure was based on failed drug trials among those countries, with more than 2000 samples tested by their respective testing laboratories. South Africa ranks second on the list with 80 dope failures – 2.04% out of 4,169 samples tested. 
• The number of doping violations in India is higher than some major sporting countries such as Russia (85), United States (84), Italy (73) and France (72). In the '10-Year Global Study of Positive Doping Cases by Minors' report released by WADA in January 2024, India was ranked second worst in the world. Russia tops this list while China is at third place. 
• The majority of samples from athletes collected by WADA during this period were from China. It collected 19,228 samples from Chinese athletes of which only 33 or 0.2% tested positive. 

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 

• The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an international independent agency formed and funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the world's governments. Its headquarters is in Montreal, Canada. 

Miscellaneous News 

10.Rakhigarhi findings in NCERT books; think in Venikus Narmada Dam references dropped 

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has proposed that findings from the DINA analysis of skeletal remains unearthed at the archaeological site of Rakhiperke in Haryana be added to the Clans 12 history textbook, är also proposed that refenetices to how the Narmada Dam project adversely affected tribal people and drove them to greater destination be dropped from the sociology textbook. 
• These are among the latest set of revisions in school textbooks proposed by the NCERT 
• In the sociology test- book for Class 12, the NCERT has dropped the sentence "That Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are social groups specially marked by poverty, powerlessness and social stigma." 
• In a major addition to the chapter "Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation" in the Class 12 history textbook Themes in India History Part-1, the NCERT has stat ed that the study of ancient DNA from archaeological 
• Inbider to study genetic history of Planes Pams was-extracted sources in Rakhigarhi suggests that the genetic froces of the Harappans go back to 30,000 BC. The DNA of the Harappans has contnued till today and a majority of the south Asian population appears to be their descendants. 
• Due to trade and cultural contacts of the Harappans with distant regions there is a mixture of genes in small quantity. The continuity without any break in genetic history as well as cultural history rules our large-scale immigration of the so-called Aryans," the test reads. 
• The revised text adds that the research also indicates that people coming from the bordering areas and distant regions were absorbed in Indian society. "At no stage, the genetic history of the Indians was either discontinued or broken. As the Harappans started moving towards Tram and Central Asia, their gemes also grandmilly spread in those regions," it.
• In order to study the gemestic history of the Harap pans, DNA was extracted from the skeletal remains excavated at Rakhigarhi This research was carried out by Deccan College Deemed University, Pune in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and the Harvard Medical College. 
• The analysis of the data was interpreted by some as that the Harappans were the indigenous people of this region. The same team of researchers also recon- structed 3D features of the Harappan people. 
• The NCERT stated that the reconstructed facial features of the Hararna and female, sloowonmalla bile similarity with the modera population of Ba ryana and that the study has indicated continuity for 5.000 years in this region In an article for The hindu, archaeologist Madit Trivedi had argued that "the DNA of this person mre with contributions coming from very ancient ancestry shared with train milan populations and that from Andamanese or South-East Asians in the deep past of her ancestry media coverage has stressed her indigeneity and not the fact that her genetic admixture makes ome rethink the social geographies which the data groups her with, which are significantly more westerly than the limits of present- day India" 
• On page 85 of the Class 12 sociology textbook Indian Society, the NCERT said the sentence "Projects such as the Sardar Sarowar dam on the river Narmada in western India and the Polavaram dam on the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh displace hundreds of thousands of adivasis, driving them to greater destitute 
• It has also dropped one mention about the Narmada project, la chapter three, the sentence "The coming of grecate property land has also adversely affected tribals, whose community-based forms of collective ownership were placed at a disadvantage in the new system.
• The most recent such example is the series of dams being built on the Narmada, where most of the costs and benefits seem to flow disproportionately to different communities and regions'' will now read, "The coming of private property in land has also adversely affected tribals, whose community-based forms of collective ownership were placed at a disadvantage." 
• "Projects such as the Sardar Sarovardum on the thier Narmada in western dia and the Polkavarum dam am the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh dieplaced hundreds of thousands of Hies from their original hallitans” 
• The NCERT has dropped references to the Babri Masjid demolition from its political science textbooks and given added emphasis on the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple