17th December, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Vice President Dhankhar Inaugurates GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior

• The inauguration of the GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior, Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, along with several distinguished dignitaries, marked the opening of this state-of-the-art facility.
• The museum, housed in the historic Victoria Market Building, serves as a hub of knowledge and a tribute to Earth’s geological wonders.
• The event celebrated the fusion of tradition with modern innovation and showcased the significant contributions of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in exploring the nation’s geological resources.
• The museum aims to become a crucial resource for researchers, educators, and geoscience enthusiasts.
• It promotes a deeper understanding of Earth’s processes and their importance in sustainable development.
• The museum reflects GSI’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and supporting India’s development through geological exploration and resource management.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Navy Sign MoU for Logistics Education

• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and the Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance education, research, and training in logistics for the Navy.
• This collaboration is aimed at strengthening the logistics capabilities of the Indian Navy, focusing on key areas like supply chain management, multimodal transportation, and sustainability.
•  This strategic partnership will also align with national initiatives such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and the National Logistics Policy 2022.
• GSV has existing partnerships with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, expanding its support to all three services for education and research in logistics and transportation.

INTERNATIONAL
UK Joins Indo-Pacific Bloc: A Post-Brexit Trade Milestone

• The United Kingdom officially became the first European nation to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This significant move, a result of the UK’s post-Brexit strategy, aims to boost the country’s economy by providing new business opportunities and trade benefits across the Indo-Pacific region.
• The UK’s entry into the bloc was formalized after the ratification of the accession treaty by most CPTPP members, with several more expected to follow.
• The CPTPP is an economic partnership that originally started with 11 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. After the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2016, the remaining countries established the CPTPP, reducing trade barriers on a wide range of goods and services. The bloc accounts for around 15% of global GDP and includes some of the fastest-growing markets globally.

ECONOMY
Centre Earns ₹8,625 Crore via Disinvestment in 2024-25

• The Indian government has so far collected ₹8,625 crore through various minority stake sale disinvestment transactions during the current financial year 2024-25, according to MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. While no specific disinvestment target has been set for FY25, the government continues its policy of strategic disinvestment and privatization, aiming to enhance efficiency and economic potential in sectors where competitive markets have matured.
• Starting 2023-24 (RE), the government discontinued setting separate disinvestment targets.
• For FY25, no estimate or target for disinvestment has been specified.
• The government has given ‘in-principle’ approval for strategic disinvestment in 36 cases of PSEs and/or their subsidiaries, units, joint ventures, and banks.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO Successfully Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine

• ISRO successfully completed a critical milestone with the sea-level hot test of its CE20 cryogenic engine at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This was a crucial step for upcoming space missions and demonstrated the engine’s restart-enabling systems under ambient conditions.
• The CE20 cryogenic engine, developed indigenously by ISRO, plays a vital role in enhancing India’s space exploration capabilities.
• The CE20 cryogenic engine significantly boosts India’s space program by enhancing the thrust and efficiency of rockets, enabling the launch of heavier payloads. This achievement positions ISRO among the few countries—along with the US, France, Russia, China, and Japan—that have developed indigenous cryogenic engines. With a thrust level of 19 tonnes, the CE20 has already powered several successful missions, including Chandrayaan-3, and is being upgraded to a thrust level of 22 tonnes for future missions like Gaganyaan. This progression strengthens India’s self-reliance in space technology and contributes to future missions such as interplanetary exploration and satellite launches.

SPORTS
India Clinches Women’s Junior Asia Cup Title

• The Indian women’s junior hockey team successfully defended their Women’s Junior Asia Cup title by defeating China 3-2 in the final held in Muscat, Oman. India, the previous winners of the 2023 edition, claimed the 10th Women’s Junior Asia Cup in a thrilling penalty shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. With this victory, India qualified for the 2025 FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup in Chile, alongside China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia.
• India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia qualified for the 2025 FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup.
• India defeated Japan 3-1.
• China defeated South Korea 4-1