19th December, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
India's Ranking in the Travel and Tourism Development Index

• According to the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024 report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), India is ranked 39th among 119 countries. In the previous index published in 2021, India was ranked 54th. However, due to a revision in the WEF's methodology, India's 2021 rank was adjusted to 38th place.
• The Ministry of Tourism under the schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan’, ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ provides financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various tourism destinations in the country. The details of projects sanctioned under these schemes are annexed.
• As per information received, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched India’s official portal for Medical Value Travel (MVT), which is the Advantage Healthcare India portal. It is a “One-Stop” portal developed for the facilitation of information for those who want to avail medical treatment in India from abroad.

Madhya Pradesh Welcomes 10th International Forest Fair

• The 10th International Forest Fair, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, commenced on December 17, 2024, and will run until December 23. This fair focuses on promoting sustainable forest practices, empowering local communities, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in the forestry sector. The event provides a platform for government officials, traders, producers, scientists, and policymakers to engage in meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange.
• “Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce.”
• Focuses on empowering women in the forestry sector, where 50% of the workforce is made up of women managing minor forest produce.

▶ Join our WhatsApp Channel: Click Here ▶ Join our Telegram Channel: Click Here

▶ Follow our YouTube Channel: Click Here ▶ Follow our Instagram Page: Click Here

INTERNATIONAL
Japan and India Collaborate to Address Space Debris

• Japan and India have joined forces to tackle the growing challenge of space debris, marking a significant collaboration in the space sector. This partnership, centered around laser technology and space debris removal, also extends to lunar exploration, showcasing their commitment to joint space efforts.
• Beyond space debris, the two nations are also cooperating on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, planned for 2026, to explore the Moon’s polar regions. This collaboration further extends to Indian companies working with Japan’s ispace on lunar missions.
• Japan’s satellite data solutions are also helping India’s disaster management and agriculture sectors. This partnership aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative, with future collaborations potentially focusing on manufacturing and local production enhancement.

ECONOMY
India Emerges as 3rd Largest Exporter in Smartphone Market

• India’s ascent from the 23rd position in global smartphone exports in 2019 to securing the 3rd spot in 2024 marks a monumental achievement in its manufacturing and export capabilities. With smartphone exports crossing ₹20,000 crore in November 2024, this growth highlights India’s success in leveraging government initiatives and a robust domestic production ecosystem.
• India’s smartphone exports increased by 92% in November 2024 compared to the same month last year.
• Exports in November 2024 reached ₹20,395 crore, a sharp rise from ₹10,634 crore in November 2023.
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Aimed to boost local manufacturing and reduce import dependency.
• PLI targets for 2024-25 include exporting 70-75% of the total production value.
• Support for domestic and international companies to establish manufacturing units in India.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Nano-plastics identified as emerging agents in spread of antibiotic resistance

• Nanoplastics derived from single-use plastic bottles (SUPBs) contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR), shows a new study, underscoring an unrecognized public health risk.
• The joint threats of plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance are growing concerns. Nanoplastics and microorganisms coexist in diverse environments, including the human gut.
• This problem led scientists from Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), to trace how plastic nanoparticles could impact bacteria.
• Recognizing the central role of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the gut microbiota, the team investigated whether nano-plastics could transform beneficial bacteria into carriers of AR genes and pose a risk to human gut microbiome health.
• They utilized the used plastic water bottles to synthesise environmentally relevant nanoplastics particles as these polyethylene terephthalate bottle-derived nanoplastics (PBNPs) better represent the actual pollutant nanoplastics generated due to dumping of single use plastic bottles and containers.
• The scientists demonstrated that PBNPs can facilitate the cross-species gene transfer from E. coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus, a significant bacteria found in human gut microbiota, through a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT), particularly through outer membrane vesicle (OMV) secretion in bacteria.
• According to the researchers there are two novel mechanisms through which PBNPs facilitate AR gene transfer. One of them is through direct transformation pathway in which PBNPs act as physical carriers, transporting AR plasmids across bacterial membranes and promoting direct gene transfer between bacteria. The other one is through OMV-Induced Transfer Pathway in which PBNPs induce oxidative stress and damage to bacterial surfaces, which makes stress response genes pro-active and triggers an increase in outer membrane vesicle (OMV) secretion. These OMVs, loaded with AR genes, become potent vectors for gene transfer across bacterial species, thus facilitating the spread of AR genes even among unrelated bacteria. This reveals an important and previously overlooked dimension of nanoplastics' effects on microbial communities.

Published date : 19 Dec 2024 06:21PM