29th November, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Centre Receives 28 Proposals from 23 States for New City Development

• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has received 28 proposals from 23 states for the development of new cities, as part of the central government’s initiative to meet the growing demand for urban expansion. This marks a significant step in fulfilling the commitment made in February 2021 to develop eight new cities.
• The proposals are under scrutiny, with a focus on ensuring quality and adherence to eligibility criteria set by the 15th Finance Commission.
• In line with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the central government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore for the development of eight new cities across different states. Each city will receive Rs 1,000 crore. States are eligible to propose only one city each, and the proposals are being reviewed by an expert committee formed for finalizing bid parameters.

Cybercrime Surge in Top States: Govt’s 13-Pronged Strategy

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revealed that Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have emerged as the top states registering the highest number of cybercrime cases in the last three years, with Telangana leading the pack.
• The Central Government has implemented a 13-pronged strategy to curb cybercrimes, aiming to strengthen the detection, investigation, and prosecution of these crimes. Between 2020 and 2022, Telangana recorded 30,596 cybercrime cases, Karnataka registered 31,433, and Maharashtra saw 19,307 incidents.
• The government has launched several initiatives to tackle the rising tide of cybercrimes. One of the key programs is the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (launched in 2021), which allows immediate reporting of financial frauds. This system has helped save over Rs 3,431 crore across more than 9.94 lakh complaints. Additionally, a toll-free helpline (1930) has been set up to assist citizens in lodging online complaints.

IIT Guwahati to Host Nation’s Largest Science Festival

• The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2024, India’s largest science celebration, will take place at IIT Guwahati, Assam, from November 30 to December 3, 2024.
• Organized under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) as the coordinating body, IISF promotes science-society engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• For the first time, this mega event is being hosted in North East India.
• The theme, “Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub,” aligns with the government’s vision of merging science, technology, and industrial growth to establish India as a global manufacturing leader.

INTERNATIONAL
India and Bosnia & Herzegovina Strengthen Ties at 4th Foreign Office Consultations

• India and Bosnia & Herzegovina held the 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Sarajevo, led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe) from India, and Tarik Bukvic, Head of the Department for Asia and Africa from Bosnia. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral political ties, trade and investment, scientific collaboration, cultural relations, and enhancing people-to-people connections through student and youth exchanges.
• Both sides reviewed developments in their respective regions and addressed global issues, including multilateral cooperation through BRICS, the UN, EU, and NAM. The consultations are part of a broader effort to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2025 and deepen multi-faceted relations.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
India Tests K-4 Missile from INS Arighaat

• India has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing the K-4 nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 3,500 km from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. This test strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence and places the nation among the select few capable of launching nuclear missiles from land, air, and sea.
• India joins a select group of nations capable of deploying nuclear missiles from land, air, and undersea.
• India has test-fired a range of missiles in recent years to enhance overall military capabilities.
• Over 10 days ago, India successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha.
• India’s increased focus on military capabilities is in response to China’s growing military assertiveness.