Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 7th November 2024

1. India’s Services Index reached 58.5 in October. 

• India’s services sector witnessed a robust performance in October. 
• The Services PMI index climbed to 58.5 up from a ten-month low of 57.7 in September 
• This shows a sharp acceleration in business activity. 
• As per the report, input costs increased in October. It has grown at its fastest pace in three months.
• In October, the Indian services sector registered strong expansions in output and consumer demand. 
• The October PMI results indicate strong momentum in India’s service sector. 
• Employment generation hits a 26-month high in the service sector. 
• Around 13 percent of panellists reported job creation, compared to 9 percent in September. 

2. ADB signed a $ 200 million loan agreement to upgrade water supply and other services in Uttarakhand. 

• The government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a Rs 1,680 crore loan agreement to upgrade water supply, sanitation, mobility, and other urban services in Uttarakhand. 
• The agreement will enhance urban services in Uttarakhand to boost livability and sustainability in cities. 
• This project aims to create an urban infrastructure that is resilient to climate and environmental risks such as floods and landslides. 
• It will also help in building the capacity of the state agencies in project management, climate, and disaster-resilient planning. 
• It will enhance transportation, urban mobility, drainage, flood management, and overall public services in Haldwani. 
• The project will improve water supply delivery in four cities: Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar. 

3. Donald Trump won the 2024 US elections. 

• With this win, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US President. 
• A presidential candidate needs 270 votes to win. 
• After Trump's victory in the crucial states, he currently has 277 electoral votes, while Harris has 224. 
• In more than a century, Trump is the first president to win a non-consecutive second term. 
• According to the 20th Amendment of the US Constitution, the swearing-in ceremony of the President always takes place on January 20. 
• So, on January 20th, President-elect Trump will be sworn in. 

4. Mandeep Jangra won WBF's world title. 

• Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra won the World Boxing Federation super featherweight world title in Cayman Islands. 
• On October 6, he defeated Britain's Conor McIntosh by 10–0. 
• With this, Mandeep became the first Indian boxer to become world champion in any pro-boxing competition category. 
• Previously, Mandeep won a silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. 
• He has suffered only one defeat in his professional career so far. 
• He has won 11 of his 12 bouts, seven of which are knockout wins. 

5. Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan joint panel formed for coordination on cheetah project. 

• In view of incidents of cheetahs entering from Madhya Pradesh into the neighbouring state of Rajasthan, a joint corridor management committee of both the states has been formed to work for the conservation of these felines. 
• The panel will also discuss development of suitable areas for future translocation of cheetahs from Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary area of Madhya Pradesh and recommend remedial measures including on pre-increase basis. 
• A joint chairperson of the committee has been appointed the chief wildlife conservator and the principal chief forest conservator of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. 
• As part of India’s cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs were released into enclosures at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on September 17, 2022, followed by an additional twelve cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023. 
• This year, a cheetah from Kuno National Park strayed into Rajasthan twice—first in May to Karoli district and later in December to Baran district and later brought back to the KNP. 
• In the last two years, 17 cheetah cubs were born on Indian soil in KNP. 
• Currently, there are 24 cheetahs including cubs, in KNP. 

6. The semiconductor project approved by UP Cabinet. 

• On 5 November, the Yamuna expressway industrial development authority (Yeida) said that the Uttar Pradesh government’s cabinet has approved a mega project related to semiconductor manufacturing near Noida international airport. 
• The authority will now allocate land for the project. 
• On November 4, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved setting up of semiconductor manufacturing units by Vamsundari (HCL Group) and Tarq (Hiranandani Group) near the airport at Jewar in Lucknow. 
• This paved the way for this mega project, which will boost growth in the region. 
• HCL Group's Vamasundari Investment is expected to invest Rs 3,706 crore to set up the manufacturing unit. 
• The project plans to manufacture 240,000 units of small panel driver ICs and display integrated circuits. 
• Tarq Semiconductor Private Limited will invest Rs 28,440 crore in its unit in this area. 
• Both these projects are supported by the state IT department, and will set up a major semiconductor manufacturing unit. 
• The government will provide a capital subsidy of Rs 7,037 crore to the firm. 

7. Andhra Pradesh CM launches Deepam 2.0 Scheme to provides free Gas Cylinders to Eligible Families 

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has launched the Deepam 2.0 scheme in Edupuram, Ichapuram Mandal, Srikakulam district, as part of the “Super Six Promises” initiative. 
• This program provides free gas cylinders to eligible families, aiming to improve their quality of life. 
• Marking the formal launch of the Deepam 2.0 scheme, the Chief Minister flagged off gas cylinder delivery vehicles and personally handed over the first cylinder to beneficiary Ambati Shantamma. 
• Addressing the public meeting at ‘Praja Vedika,’ he assured that the cost of the gas cylinders would be refunded to all beneficiaries within 48 hours. 
• He further announced that beneficiaries now could take social pensions once every three months. 

About Andhra Pradesh 

• Capital – Amaravati 
• Chief Minister – N Chandrababu Naidu 
• Deputy CM – Pawan Kalyan 
• Governor – Abdul Nazeer 
• Legislative Assembly Seat – 175 

8. ISA hosts the third edition of the High-level Conference on New Technologies for Clean Energy Transition 

• The International Solar Alliance, in a global collaboration with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the Government of India, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Solar Energy Society, organised the third edition of the High-level Conference on New Technologies for Clean Energy Transition. 
• This significant event took place on the sidelines of the Seventh Session of the ISA Assembly in New Delhi uniting stakeholders worldwide. 
• The conference’s overarching goal is to translate dialogue into action. Deep-dive sessions focusing on new-age solar technologies, emerging storage technologies, and unleashing solar’s role in accelerating equitable economic, and social. 
• An added attraction at the inaugural was the launch of the third edition of the World Solar Report series. Launched in 2022, the series provides a concise overview of global advancements, challenges, and trends in solar technology, markets, and investments. 

Key findings from the 2024 edition include: 

• Rise in Solar Capacity. 
• Solar Manufacturing to Exceed Demand with Over 1,100 GW by 2024. 
• Solar Industry Employment Boom. 
• Future Forecasts. 
• Exponential Growth in Energy Investments. 
• The Solar Investment Surge. 
• APAC leads global solar investments. 
• Record-Breaking Solar PV Panel Efficiency. 
• Solar Manufacturing Now Uses 88% Less Silicon per Watt Peak than in 2004. 
• Utility-Scale PV Costs Hitting New Low. 
• The inaugural also witnessed the release of the ‘Readiness Assessment of Green Hydrogen African Countries’ report by ISA and Denmark.

9. U.P. government changed guidelines for the appointment of DGP. 

• Uttar Pradesh has approved guidelines for appointing DGP through a selection committee. 
• The U.P. Cabinet cleared the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024. 
• The main objective is to establish an independent and transparent mechanism for selecting a suitable person for appointment to the DGP post. 
• The selection committee for appointing the new DGP will be headed by a retired High Court judge. 
• This committee will consist of the State Chief Secretary, the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), the Home Department Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, and a retired State DGP. 
• Eligible candidates must have six months of service remaining on the date of creation of the vacancy. The minimum tenure of the DGP will be two years. 
• Currently, the committee to appoint the State DGP is headed by the UPSC Chairperson. 

10. Singapore is ranked as the world’s most powerful passport on the Henley Passport Index. 

• The Henley Passport Index ranks Singapore as the world’s most powerful passport. It has visa-free access to 195 countries. 
• Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain, and France are in the second spot. 
• Indian passport ranks 83rd with visa-free travel to 58 countries. 
• The ranking is based on the number of countries that can be travelled without a visa. 
• Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden are in the third spot with visa-free access to 191 countries. 
• The United States is in the 8th spot with visa-free access to 186 countries. 
• Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan are the least powerful passports in the world. 

11. Cabinet approves infusion of Rs 10,700 crore equity in FCI to strengthen 

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved infusion of equity of 10,700 crore for working capital in financial year 2024-25 in Food Corporation of India (FCI). 
• The decision is aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector and ensuring the welfare of farmers nationwide. This strategic move shows the Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting farmers and fortifying India’s agrarian economy. 
• FCI started its journey in 1964 with authorised capital of Rs. 100 Crores and equity of Rs. 4 Crores. The operations of FCI increased manifolds resulting in increase of authorised capital from Rs. 11,000 crores to Rs. 21,000 crores in February, 2024. 
• The equity of FCI was Rs. 4,496 Crores in Financial Year 2019-20 which increased to Rs. 10,157 Crores in the Financial Year 2023-24. Now, Government of India has approved significant amount of equity of Rs. 10,700 Crores for FCI which will strengthen it financially and will give a big boost to the initiatives taken for its transformation. 
• FCI plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security by procuring food grains at the Minimum Support Price, maintaining strategic food grain stocks, and stabilizing food grain prices in the market. 

12. 21st Edition of India – US Military Cooperation Group meeting held in New Delhi 

• The 21st edition of India – US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. 
• The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including capacity building, training exchanges, defence industrial cooperation and the advancement of joint exercises that bolster preparedness for conventional and hybrid threats. 
• The MCG is a landmark forum aimed at enhancing defence cooperation and fostering strategic and operational defence collaboration between the Armed Forces of both countries. 
• The 21st MCG meeting represents a step forward in advancing the shared objectives of India and US to ensure regional and global security, counter emerging threats and build mutual capabilities. 

13. ISRO set to launch EU’s Proba 3 Sun observation mission in December 2024 

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the European Union’s Proba 3 Sun Observation Mission in December. 
• The two satellites for the Proba-3 mission, aimed at studying the Sun, arrived at Sriharikota to be integrated with ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). 
• The Proba-3 satellite, which arrived in Sriharikota this morning is designed to observe the Sun’s faint corona. This mission marks India’s third launch for the European Union, following support for the Proba-1 and Proba-2 satellites, but stands out due to its focus on solar observation. 
• The two Proba-3 spacecraft will be launched together on a PSLV-XL launcher and placed in a highly elliptical orbit, reaching up to 60,000 km from Earth before descending as close as 600 km.
• This high orbit is essential because the spacecraft will conduct active formation flying for around six hours at maximum altitude, where Earth’s gravitational influence is weaker, reducing the amount of propellant needed for position adjustments.
• Proba-3’s twin satellites will allow continuous observations of the Sun’s faint corona, or outer atmosphere, which typically can only be seen briefly during solar eclipses from Earth. 
• To achieve this, the shadow cast between the two spacecraft must remain precisely aligned, requiring them to autonomously maintain formation with millimeter-level accuracy— the thickness of a fingernail. 
• This launch will mark the first time since the original Proba-1 Earth-observing mission in 2001 that an ESA mission has been launched from India. 

14. 7 November – Infant Protection Day 

• Infant Protection Day is observed every year on November 7. 
• Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of ensuring the safety, health and well-being of infants. 
• Theme 2024 – Protecting Our Future 
• This day serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities that newborns and infants face and the critical role that society plays in safeguarding their future. It encourages parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals and communities to come together and take actions that can reduce infant mortality rates, promote healthy development, and create a safe environment for infants to thrive.