Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 12th August 2024

 

National News 

1. Roshni Nadar Malhotra is India’s most influential woman leader 

• Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies is India’s most influential woman leading a family-owned business, according to the 2024 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Most Valuable Family Businesses report. 
• As the chairperson, she has been instrumental in the company’s growth and success. The Nadar family’s business is valued at a staggering Rs 430,600 crore. 
• Other notable women leaders include Manju D. Gupta of Lupin, Sushila Devi Singhania of JK Cement, Meher Pudumjee of Thermax, Amita Birla of Birlasoft, Leena Gandhi Tewari of USV, Mahima Datla of Biological E, Bina Modi of Godfrey Phillips India, and Jyothy Ramachandran of Jyothy Laboratories. 

2. India’s defence exports soar by 78 percent in first quarter of 2024-25 

• India’s defence exports soared by 78 percent in the first quarter of 2024-25 as compared to the same period last fiscal year. 
• According to the Defence Ministry, defence exports increased to rupees 6,915 crores in the first quarter of 2024-25, compared to ₹3,865 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. 

Science 

3. MEA, NSIL sign MoU to assist launch of Nepalese Munal satellite 

• The Ministry of External Affairs and ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement to grant assistance for launching the Nepal-built Munal satellite. 
• Munal is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under the aegis of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). 
• Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN), a Nepalese space startup, has assisted Nepalese students in the design and fabrication of this satellite. It aims to build a vegetation density database of the earth’s surface. 

About Nepal 

• Capital- Kathmandu 
• Currency- Nepalese rupee 
• President– Ram Chandra Paudel 
• Prime minister– – K.P. Sharma Oli 

4. Strain MCC0200 

• Scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in India discovered a new strain of lactic acid bacteria, dubbed MCC0200.
•  MCC0200 has a strong affinity for intestinal surfaces, which allows it to interact with host cells and promote gut health.
•  In addition, MCC0200 has antioxidant properties, which can help to reduce the oxidative stress-induced damage.
• MCC0200 has the ability to assimilate cholesterol, which could help to lower serum cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

5. Biotechnologists detect difference in use of nitrogen by rice varieties 

• Biotechnologists at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGU) in New Delhi have discovered a wide variation among popular varieties of rice in India in their ability to use nitrogen. This knowledge can be used to develop newer varieties that use less nitrogen and are high-yielding, thus slashing expenditure on imported fertilisers and reducing nitrogen-linked pollution available to it. 
• "Worse, N-fertilisers are the main source of nitrous oxide and ammonia pollution of air and nitrate/ammonium pollution of water, affecting our health, biodiversity, and climate change. Yet, we don't have a ranking of any Indian crop varieties in terms of their NUE for crop improvement by selection or breeding," Dr. Raghuram said. 
• "Cereals consume two- thirds of all urea in India, led by rice. Poor nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) wastes N (nitrogen)-fertilisers worth 1 trillion a year in India and over $170 billion per year globally," N. Raghuram, Professor at GGU and lead author of the paper, said, reporting these findings. 
• Nitrogen use efficiency refers to the yield of a crop relative to the nitrogen (natural and artificial) 
• Nitrogen-use efficiency refers to the yield of a crop relative to the nitrogen, both natural and artificial, available to it.
• The paper was published last week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 
• The NUE of the best varieties were five times as much as the least, the investigation found. However, a high NUE doesn't always mean the highest yields and farmers in India generally prefer varieties with the highest yields. 
• "The focus of Indian agriculture has for a long time been solely to increase yield. This was necessary during the Green Revolution but this also. meant more synthetic fertilisers, more wastage, and pollution. India has tens and thousands of rice varieties but only a few are actually used and studied as part of agricultural research. To find newer crops that have improved NUE and yields, we have to have a wider approach," Dr. Raghuram told The Hindu. 
• The study was co-authored by Ashu Tyagi and Navjyoti Chakraborty, both scientists from the Centre for Sustainable Nitrogen and Nutrient Management, School of Biotechnology, GGU. 
• While some improvements in NUE could be done by improving fertilizer formulations, legume based crop-rotations, and crop management practices, it has now become necessary to lay more stress on improving the crop using biotechnology, the authors said. 

Biotechnologists detect difference in use of nitrogen by rice varieties

•  Biotechnologists at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGU) in New Delhi have discovered a wide variation among popular varieties of rice in India in their ability to use nitrogen. This knowledge can be used to develop newer varieties that use less nitrogen and are high-yielding, thus slashing expenditure on imported fertilisers and reducing nitrogen-linked pollution. 
• "Cereals consume two-thirds of all urea in India, led by rice. Poor nitrogen- use efficiency (NUE) wastes N (nitrogen)-fertilisers worth 1 trillion a year in India and over $170 billion per year globally," N. Raghuram, Professor at GGU and lead author of the paper, said, reporting these findings. 
•  Nitrogen use efficiency refers to the yield of a crop relative to the nitrogen (natural and artificial) available to it. 
•  "Worse, N-fertilisers are the main source of nitrous oxide and ammonia pollution of air and nitrate/ammonium pollution of water, affecting our health, biodiversity, and climate change. Yet, we don't have a ranking of any Indian crop varieties in terms of their NUE for crop improvement by selection or breeding," Dr. Raghuram said. 
•  Nitrogen-use efficiency refers to the yield of a crop relative to the nitrogen, both natural and artificial, available to it. 
•  The NUE of the best varieties were five times as much as the least, the investigation found. However, a high NUE doesn't always mean the highest yields and farmers in India generally prefer varieties with the highest yields. 
• The paper was published last week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 
•  "The focus of Indian agriculture has for a long time been to solely increase yield. This was necessary during the Green Revolution but this also. meant more synthetic fertilisers, more wastage, and pollution. India has tens and thousands of rice varieties but only a few are actually used and studied as part of agricultural research. To find newer crops that have improved NUE and yields, we have to have a wider approach," Dr. Raghuram told The Hindu. 
• The study was co-authored by Ashu Tyagi and Navjyoti Chakraborty, both scientists from the Centre for Sustainable Nitrogen and Nutrient Management, School of Biotechnology, GGU. 
• While some improvements in NUE could be done by improving fertiliser formulations, legume based crop-rotations, and crop management practices, it has now become necessary to lay more stress on improving the crop using biotechnology, the authors said. 

Important day

 6. 12 July – International Youth Day

•  International Youth Day is celebrated every year on August 12. 
• This special occasion celebrates the potential, accomplishments, and contributions of young people around the world. 
• Theme 2024 – From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development. 
• In 1999, the United Nations (UN) declared August 12 to be International Youth Day. The suggestion was recommended to the UN General Assembly by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon on December 17, 1999. 
• The day was first celebrated on August 12, 2000, and from that point forward, the day has been utilized to teach the overall population. 

7. 12 August – World Elephant Day 

• World Elephant Day is an annual international event held on August 12 to promote the conservation and protection of elephants worldwide. 
• Thee 2024 – Personifying prehistoric beauty, theological relevance, and environmental importance 
• The origins of World Elephant Day trace back to 2012, when Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark, along with the support of various conservation organisations, launched this global initiative. 
• They aimed to address the severe threats faced by elephants due to poaching, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict. 

8. Veteran actor Vijay Kadam passes away in Mumbai 

• Veteran actor Vijay Kadam passed away at the age of 67. 
• Kadam acted in several Marathi plays, TV serials, and films. He made his theater debut with the children’s play Raja Bhikari Majhi Topi Chorli. 
• Kadam’s performances in notable plays such as Rathachakra, Gharte Amuche Chant, Vasudev Banthi, and Turtoor were highly appreciated. 
• He also acted in several Marathi serials, including Gotaya, Damini, Partner, Songadaya Bajya, Indradhanushya, and Ghadlayam Bhadlayam, among others. 

Sports news 

9. First-ever Global Women’s Kabaddi League will take place in Haryana.

• The Global Pravasi Women’s Kabaddi League (GPKL) will begin in Haryana in September. 
• Female athletes from over 15 countries will participate in this tournament. 
• It will be organized by the Holistic International Pravasi Sports Association (HIPSA) in partnership with World Kabaddi. 
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between HIPSA and the Government of Haryana to facilitate this initiative. 
• Teams from different countries, including England, Poland, Argentina, Canada, and Italy will participate in this tournament. 

Miscellaneous news 

10. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh proposed a National Geospatial Data Repository.

•  Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh proposes a National Geospatial Data Repository and PPP model while chairing a joint meeting of all the Science Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. 
• The Department of Space, Department of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences will create a unified geospatial interface for utilising industry and start-up ecosystems to create innovative and indigenous products for the welfare of farmers, rural artisans and others. 
• The Unified Web repository of Indian Science and technology will be made live and feedback will be shared with the minister. 
• Dr. Jitendra Singh reviewed the present status of ‘One common portal’ for all kinds of research under dept. Of Biotechnology. 
• Dr Jitendra Singh also reviewed the progress of the proposed “Vigyan Shakti” portal. 
• He also highlighted the Mantra of the sustainable ecosystem based on the pooling of knowledge and resources in collaboration with the non-governmental sectors in PPP mode. 

11.Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 09 August 2024 in Lok Sabha. 

• The bill provides customers an option to increase the number of nominees per bank account from existing one to four. The bill proposes change related to redefining ‘substantial interest’ for directorships. 
• This could increase from the current limit of ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore. 
• The bill also gives more freedom to banks in deciding the how much remuneration is to be paid to statutory auditors. 
• Additionally, it changes the dates on which banks must report for regulatory compliance. 
• It changes the dates from the second and fourth Fridays to the 15th and final day of each month. 
• The Bill proposes to amend the following acts. 
• Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 
• Banking Regulation Act, 1949 
• State Bank of India Act, 1955 
• Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 
• Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 
• The Finance Minister made announcement about the amendments to the Banking Regulation Act during her 2023–24 Budget speech. 

12. National Communications Academy 

• Three training institutes of DoT (Department of Telecommunications) have been merged into a single administrative entity, named ‘National Communications Academy’ (NCA) with immediate effect. 
• They are: o National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), 
• The National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) and o Wireless Monitoring Training & Development Centre (WMTDC). 

PM Modi releases 109 high-yielding seed varieties 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released 109 high-yielding, climateresilient, and biofortified seed varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops, aiming to enhance farm productivity and farmers' income. 
• Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), these varieties span 61 crops, including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. The field crop varieties include cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and fibre crops. For horticulture, the Prime Minister released new varieties of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tubers, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants. 
• Mr. Modi unveiled the seeds at three experimental agriculture plots at Delhi's Pusa Campus. 

Obituary news 

13. On 11 August, former Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh passed away at the age of 95. 

• He served as the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of former UPA Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2004–05. 
• Natwar Singh, a prolific author and historian, began his career as an Indian Foreign Service officer in 1953. 
• He took premature retirement in 1984 from IFS when contested the election from Bharatpur, Rajasthan and became a Lok Sabha MP. 
• He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, after serving as head of the Preparatory Committee for the Non-Aligned Summit in New Delhi in 1983. 
• He was a prolific writer, writing several books including one on Jat ruler of Bharatpur Suraj Mal. 
• In 2014, his autobiography One Life Is Not Enough was published.