25th November, 2023 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
India becomes Chair of International Sugar Organization (ISO) for 2024
India has assumed the role of Chair for the International Sugar Organization (ISO) in the year 2024, as announced during the 63rd council meeting held at the organization's headquarters in London. This noteworthy appointment underscores India's ascendancy in the global sugar sector, reflecting the nation's growing prominence in this field.

• The Indian government has expressed its vision for the chairmanship, emphasizing a collaborative approach with all member countries. During its leadership in 2024, India aims to garner support and cooperation to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production, and the efficient utilization of by-products.
• As the world's largest consumer and second-largest producer of sugar, India wields considerable influence, accounting for approximately 15% of global sugar consumption and contributing around 20% to global sugar production. Given its pivotal position, India stands out as the ideal nation to lead the ISO, which boasts a membership of about 90 countries and serves as the apex international body for sugar and related products.
• In the Eastern Hemisphere, India holds the market leadership for sugar, complementing Brazil's position in the Western Hemisphere. Notably, India has ascended to the rank of the third-largest global ethanol producer, trailing only the United States and Brazil. This accomplishment underscores India's commitment to green energy and its innovative approach to addressing challenges such as surplus sugar in the domestic market. Furthermore, it positions ethanol production as a strategic tool for reducing fossil fuel imports and aligning with COP 26 targets for India.
• An impressive milestone is the notable increase in ethanol blending percentage in India, rising from 5% in 2019-20 to 12% in 2022-23. Simultaneously, ethanol production has surged from 173 crore litres to over 500 crore litres during the same period, signaling India's dedication to sustainable energy practices and its ability to navigate the complexities of the global sugar market.

Digital India Dialogues with Digital Intermediaries on Deepfakes & IT rules compliance
Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar conducted Digital India Dialogues with Digital Intermediaries addressing Deepfakes and IT rules compliance

• During the Digital India dialogue session, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, emphasized the necessity for a secure and trustworthy internet. He underscored the importance of social media intermediaries being accountable to Digital Nagriks.
• Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concerns regarding deepfake threats, all platforms and intermediaries committed to aligning their community guidelines with IT rules. This alignment specifically targets 11 types of content that may cause harm to users, including Deepfakes.
• The consensus among all platforms and intermediaries is that existing laws and rules, even as discussions about new regulations unfold, already empower them to effectively address deepfakes. Within the next seven days, they have committed to ensuring that all terms, views, and contracts with users explicitly prohibit the creation or dissemination of content falling within the 11 categories outlined in the IT rules.

Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs (Sports) 28 Oct - 3 Nov 2023 Bitbank: Who won the 2023 Formula One Mexico City Grand Prix?

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Bilateral
17th edition of Joint Military Exercise of India and Nepal begins
The 17th edition of the Joint Military Exercise between India and Nepal has commenced.

• A contingent from the Nepal Army, consisting of 334 personnel, has arrived in India to participate in the 17th edition of the Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN. The exercise is scheduled to take place in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, from November 24th to December 7th, 2023. This annual event is conducted alternately in the two countries.
• The Indian Army contingent, led by a Battalion from the KUMAON Regiment, comprises 354 personnel. The Tara Dal Battalion represents the Nepal Army contingent.
• The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under the United Nations Charter on peacekeeping operations. The exercise will specifically focus on the use of drones and counter-drone measures, medical training, aviation aspects, and environmental conservation. These activities aim to elevate operational capabilities, refine combat skills, and strengthen coordination in challenging situations for the troops.
• The exercise provides a platform for soldiers from India and Nepal to exchange ideas and experiences, share best practices, and develop a deeper understanding of each other’s operational procedures.
• SURYA KIRAN underscores the strong bonds of friendship, trust, and common cultural linkages between India and Nepal. It serves as a stage for a productive and fruitful engagement, demonstrating the unwavering commitment of both nations to broader defense cooperation. The exercise seeks to achieve shared security objectives and promote bilateral relations between the two friendly neighbors.

ECONOMY
List of unauthorized forex trading platforms: RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India has expanded its Alert List of unauthorized forex trading platforms by adding 19 additional entities, platforms, and websites.
• Among them is the mobile application 'Gate Trade,' along with 18 other entities such as Admiral Market, BlackBull, Forex4you, PU Prime, and Real Gold Capital Ltd.
• Consequently, the tally of illegal entities on the list has reached 75. These entities lack authorization to engage in forex activities under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and are not permitted to operate electronic trading platforms (ETPs) for forex transactions.
• The RBI emphasizes the importance of public vigilance and recommends verifying the legitimacy of any entity by checking its credentials on the RBI's website. The apex bank regularly updates the List of Authorized Persons and ETPs sanctioned to conduct forex transactions.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Ways to decipher earthquake precursors using space-based observations

• The reflection of earthquake source processes in the ionosphere offers a potential avenue for deciphering earthquake precursors through space-based observations, as indicated by a recent study.
• The study reveals that earthquake processes, even those of smaller magnitudes, leave their imprint on the ionosphere by influencing the amplitudes and periods of coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP). Factors such as geomagnetism and line-of-sight geometry further contribute to these perturbations.
• This groundbreaking insight opens the possibility of observing earthquake source processes from space, facilitating the exploration of earthquake precursors through space-based observations.
• Coseismic vertical movements in the Earth's crust generate acoustic waves (AWs) in the atmosphere. These waves propagate upward, reaching the ionosphere and causing disruptions in the number of electrons along the line of sight connecting ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and satellites.
• These disruptions are termed coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP). Typically occurring within 500–600 km of the seismic source, these near-field CIP have been previously studied assuming point sources with maximum vertical displacements, often modeled as a single acoustic pulse from the surface.
• However, the study highlights that significant earthquakes involve ruptures across multiple fault segments spanning hundreds of kilometers, rendering the single-source assumption inappropriate for such large seismic events.

SPORTS
Anish Bhanwala wins bronze medal at ISSF World Cup Final 2023

• Indian shooter Anish Bhanwala clinched the bronze medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2023 held in Doha, Qatar.
• Competing at the Lusail Shooting Range, Bhanwala secured third place in the final with a score of 27 out of 35.
• This victory marks India's inaugural medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event in the history of the ISSF World Cup Final. The ongoing event encompasses competitions for rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooters and will culminate with team events.

AWARDS
‘Odh’ bags the best film award at the ‘75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ at 54th IFFI
The film 'Odh' has secured the Best Film award in the '75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow' (CMOT) category at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. This captivating short film explores the concerning issue of receding beach lines in Goa, offering a refreshing and thought-provoking perspective.

• As part of the Film Challenge, 75 CMOT participants were organized into five teams, each tasked with creating short films on the theme 'Mission Life' within a tight timeframe of 48 hours.
• The competition, a collaboration between NFDC and Shorts International, also featured workshops and masterclass sessions conducted by eminent figures in world cinema.
• Conceived by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, this initiative aims to foster and support emerging talents across various aspects of filmmaking.
• Launched in 2021 to commemorate the 75th year of India's Independence as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, the initiative is now in its third year.

Published date : 27 Nov 2023 12:30PM