The third week of December 2024 brought forth a range of noteworthy developments across environmental policy, international relations, technological advancements, and sports achievements. From Delhi’s year-round ban on firecrackers to India-France collaboration for the world’s largest museum, these updates reflect significant global and national milestones. This week also witnessed progress in ecological conservation, maritime diplomacy, and advancements in healthcare and education. Dive into the highlights to stay informed!
- Delhi govt imposes permanent ban on crackers, Supreme Court informed. The Delhi government, on Thursday, announced a complete ban on all types of firecrackers in the national capital with immediate effect throughout the year, starting from January 1, 2025. According to a government order issued in this regard, the sale, storage, and use of firecrackers will be completely banned. During the hearing on Thursday, the Delhi government informed the apex court about the complete ban on firecrackers amid the increasing air pollution in the city.
- The Air Quality Index is based on measurement of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone (O3), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emissions. Most of the stations on the map are monitoring both PM2.5 and PM10 data, but there are few exceptions where only PM10 is available.
- International relations the Korean conflict is an ongoing conflict based on the division of Korea between North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and South Korea (Republic of Korea), both of which claim to be the sole legitimate government of all of Korea.
- The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram has unveiled an innovative polar sundial at its Space Museum’s ‘Rocket Garden.’
- The sundial combines advanced design with scientific precision to provide Indian Standard Time (IST) and the date. It features a 3D-printed miniature of the Rohini series RH200 sounding rocket serving as the upright element (style) casting the shadow.
- Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is a Government of India scheme for model residential school for Indian tribals (ST, Scheduled Tribes) across India. It is one of the flagship interventions of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and was introduced in the year 1997-98 to ensure tribal students get access to quality education in the remote tribal areas. EMRSs are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India. As per the budget 2018-19, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2023.
- India, France sign pact for world’s largest museum in Delhi. India and France partnered to transform New Delhi’s North and South Blocks into the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum. External affairs minister S Jaishankar highlighted this as a key cultural collaboration and a demonstration of India’s soft power the external affairs minister made these remarks during an event where India’s National Museum and France Museums Development signed an agreement. Under this partnership, the French agency will provide expertise and share best practices to transform the British-era landmarks into a “global cultural landmark,” envisioned as the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum. The event was attended by union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, French ambassador to India Thierry Mathou and union culture secretary Arunish Chawla.
- Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 grants citizenship to people who migrated from Bangladesh to Assam, India: Pre-1966 migrants individuals who entered Assam before January 1, 1966 are considered Indian citizen 1966–1971 migrants Individuals who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971 can apply for citizenship after a 10-year waiting period and registration with the government. They are not allowed to vote during this time post-1971 migrants individuals who entered Assam after March 25, 1971 are considered illegal immigrants and are ineligible for citizenship.
- In a major boost to the cause of ecological conservation, the Supreme Court has asked the Rajasthan government to formally recognise all the sacred groves in the state. These sacred groves are portions of forests that are believed to be sacred by many cultures across the country. The apex court also suggested an identification of traditional communities that have historically protected sacred groves and designate the areas as ‘Community Forest Resource’ under Section 2(a) of the Forest Rights Act.
- All 17,130 police stations across India are now linked through the CCTNS platform. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is a centralized online platform conceptualized under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Launched in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore, it is part of India’s National e-Governance Plan. It aims to establish a comprehensive and integrated system to enhance the efficiency and transparency of police operations at the police station level. Classified as a Mission Mode Project (MMP), the system provides law enforcement with tools for investigation, data analytics, policymaking, and delivering citizen-centric services.
- The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista Gangetica) has been satellite-tagged for the first time by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Rationale the satellite tagging aims to gather critical data on the dolphins’ seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilization, especially in fragmented or disturbed river systems. This information is vital for formulating effective conservation strategies.
- Recently INS Nirdeshak, the second Survey Vessel Large (SVL), was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam’s Naval Dockyard. About: INS Nirdeshak, the second ship of the Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project, has been commissioned to enhance hydrographic surveys navigation, and maritime safety using advanced systems like Multi-Beam Echo Sounders, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). The SVL Project aims to modernize the Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey fleet by replacing the aging Sandhayak class ships. The project comprises four ships; they are Sandhayak Nirdeshak, Ikshak, and Sanshodhak. Indigenous Manufacturing: Built with over 80% indigenous content, the project supports the government’s Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiatives. Maritime Diplomacy and Security: The ship will act as a credible tool for maritime diplomacy, assisting friendly nations in oceanic surveys, which supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region initiative). It enhances India’s leadership in the Indian Ocean Region by improving maritime security.
- Recently, the Opposition parties have decided to submit a notice (under Article 67(b)) to move a motion of no-confidence against the Vice-President who also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The motion of no-confidence with respect to the Rajya Sabha is an informal term and is not mentioned in the Constitution. Pairs of Olive Ridley Sea turtles have begun emerging on the sea waters off Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary along the Odisha coast, marking the commencement of the annual mass nesting of these endangered marine species. The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. These turtles are carnivores and get their name from their olive-coloured carapace. They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. Recently, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the ‘Jalvahak’ scheme to promote inland waterways and cargo movement. Objective: It aims to unlock the trade potential of inland waterways, reduce logistics costs, and alleviate congestion in road and rail networks. It incentivises long-haul cargo movement on National Waterways (NW). Incentives: Provides reimbursements up to 35% of operating expenses for cargo movement on NW 1, 2, and 16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. It encourages hiring of vessels owned by private operators, promoting competition and efficiency.
- In Tamil Nadu, there has been controversy over tungsten mining rights awarded to Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) in Madurai District. Villagers and environmental activists have protested, fearing that the mining will destroy the region’s rich flora. The Ariti biodiversity heritage spot is located near the mining area. The Tamil Nadu government has called for the cancellation of the tungsten mining rights. Tungsten is a mineral that is mined in many countries around the world, including China, Russia, and Canada. In India, tungsten is found in several states, including Karnataka: Has concentrated reserves in the Chitradurga and Mysuru regions. Rajasthan: The Degana mines in the Nagaur district are historically significant for tungsten mining. Andhra Pradesh: Has scheelite deposits in the Srikakulam district.
- The Union Government has approved a Rs 19,744 crore National Green Hydrogen mission that aims to make India a ‘global hub’ for using, producing, and exporting green hydrogen. It is a program to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter of the fuel. The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen. Sub Schemes: Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): It will fund the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and produce green hydrogen. Green Hydrogen Hubs: States and regions capable of supporting large-scale production and/or utilization of hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
- The Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the Eluru District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been accorded National project status by the Central Government of India. Its reservoir back water spreads up to the Dummugudem Anicut (i.e. approx 150 km back from Polavaram dam on the main river side) and approx 115 km on Sabari River side. Thus back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States. It gives a major boost to the tourism sector in Godavari Districts as the reservoir covers the famous Papikonda National Park. Polavaram hydro electric project (HEP) and National Waterway 4 are under construction on the left side of the river. It is located 40 km upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram City and 25 km from Rajahmundry Airport.
- India has set up its first diabetes biobank in Chennai. This partnership between the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation aims to enhance research by providing access to a vast repository of biological samples aimed at facilitating advanced research on diabetes, the variations of the Indian type, and other related disorders, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) has set up the country’s first diabetes biobank.
- Russia wins 13th edition of Admiral’s Cup sailing regatta. KANNUR(KERALA): Russia won the 13th edition of the ‘Admiral’s Cup’ sailing regatta that concluded at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala here. The Russian team consisted of Lt Gorkunov Petr llyich and Cdt Loshichinina Polina Vladislavovna. In a significant move to support the agricultural sector and address rising input costs, the Reserve Bank of India has announced an increase in the limit for collateral-free agricultural loans, including loans for allied activities. The existing loan limit of ₹1.6 lakh per borrower has been raised to ₹2 lakh. This decision acknowledges the impact of inflation and the increasing cost of agricultural inputs on farmers. It aims to provide enhanced financial access to farmers, ensuring they have sufficient resources to meet their operational and developmental needs without the burden of providing collateral.
- The Kumbaya Story: A 28-minute documentary about women’s empowerment, gender, and rural livelihoods in India. The film won the Founder’s Award in the Feature category at the tve Global Sustainability Film Awards. It was also recognized at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards and is Kenya’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars.The history of the song “Kumbaya” The song “Kumbaya” has a complex history, including: Origins: The song may have originated with the Gullah Geechee people of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The first known recording was in 1926 by H. Wylie, a Gullah Geechee man. American folk revival: The song became popular during the American folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, when musicians like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez recorded their own versions. Civil rights movement: The song became associated with the civil rights movement after nonviolent activists sang it during the 1965 Selma-Montgomery march. Student protests: In 1966, student protesters in Indiana changed the lyrics to protest corruption in the city.
- Ded India’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) status under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) on December 11, 2024, effective January 1, 2025. This means that dividend payments from Swiss entities to Indian investors will be taxed at 10% instead of the current 5%. The suspension is due to a 2023 Indian Supreme Court ruling that clarified how the MFN clause should be interpreted. The court ruled that the Indian government must explicitly notify the benefits of the MFN clause under the Income Tax Act, which adds procedural complexity to the treaty. Switzerland views this as a breach of reciprocity and believes that taxpayers in both countries should be treated equally.
- Odisha Masters 2024 badminton: Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar wins men’s singles title; Tanvi Sharma goes down in final. Defending men’s singles champion Sathish Karunakaran, who won the Guwahati Masters title last week, was knocked out in the semi-finals by Tharun Mannepalli.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) released the World Malaria Report 2024 which provides an assessment of the global fight against malaria. The report includes the following findings: Global cases in 2023, there were 263 million cases of malaria, with 94% of cases in the WHO African Region. India’s progress India’s malaria cases and deaths have decreased significantly, with cases dropping 69% from 2017 to 2023 and deaths dropping 68%. India officially left the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024 vulnerable populations. The report highlights the need to focus on reaching populations most vulnerable to malaria, including children under five, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, people with disabilities, and people in remote areas. Climate change and humanitarian emergencies are displacing populations and making them more vulnerable to malaria. The WHO also has a Global Malaria Programme that includes work on surveillance and rapid diagnostic test kits.
