Current Affairs 28 September 2024 By GkSeries

Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 28 September 2024, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.

India has climbed to the 39th position among 133 global economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, as announced by Union Minister Piyush Goyal. India also ranked 1st among 10 economies in the Central and Southern Asian region and led the lower-middle-income economies group. The country was 81st in 2015 and rose to 39th due to its thriving innovation ecosystem, powered by entrepreneurs, startups, and public-private partnerships.

Key Achievements

India ranked 1st in Central & Southern Asia and among lower-middle-income economies, 4th in WIPO’s Science & Technology Cluster Rankings, with cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai in the global top 100 S&T clusters. India also ranked 7th globally in intangible asset intensity.

Global Performance Overview

“In Central and Southern Asia, India (39th) continues to lead, advancing by one spot. The Islamic Republic of Iran (64th, down by two places) follows, with Kazakhstan (78th) in third place. Uzbekistan (83rd) retains its 4th position within the region.”

India’s continued rise is part of a broader innovation trend, with China, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines among the fastest climbers in the last decade. Switzerland, Sweden, the US, Singapore, and the UK remain the world’s top innovators.

Global rankings:

1. Switzerland (Number 1 in 2023)
2. Sweden (2)
3. United States of America (3)
4. Singapore (5)
5. United Kingdom (4)
6. Republic of Korea (10)
7. Finland (6)
8. Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (7)
9. Germany (8)
10. Denmark (9)
11. China (12)
12. France (11)
13. Japan (13)
14. Canada (15)
15. Israel (14)
16. Estonia (16)
17. Austria (18)
18. Hong Kong, China (17)
19. Ireland (22)
20. Luxembourg (21)

Tech Mahindra has signed an MoU with the University of Auckland (UoA) to promote innovation in AI, machine learning (ML), and quantum computing. The collaboration will target sectors like healthcare, banking, financial services, insurance, and government, enhancing industry-academic partnerships to boost graduate employability. Focus areas include spiking neural networks, 1-bit large language models (LLMs), and post-quantum cryptography, particularly in healthcare applications such as drug discovery and personalized digital biomarkers.

Key Technologies and Areas of Focus

AI and ML technologies, including spiking neural networks, 1-bit LLMs, and quantum security, will be central to the collaboration, aiming for innovations in drug discovery and personalized healthcare globally.

Joint Research Initiatives

The partnership will drive joint research between Tech Mahindra and UoA, integrating academic insights with industry use cases for global markets. Generative AI will be introduced to Indigenous communities, and internships will offer hands-on experience in emerging technologies.

Statements from Leadership

Tech Mahindra’s Harshvendra Soin emphasized the potential of AI and quantum computing to revolutionize industries, highlighting the collaboration’s societal benefits. Partha Roop from UoA noted the significance of the partnership in driving AI innovations, particularly for UoA students, who will gain practical exposure through the program.

Impact on Local Capabilities and Academic Collaboration

The collaboration will enhance Tech Mahindra’s presence in New Zealand and contribute to academic thought leadership through research papers and conference participation.

About University of Auckland

As New Zealand’s leading research-led university, UoA serves over 46,000 students with comprehensive programs across eight faculties and two research institutes. It ranks 65th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 1st in New Zealand for graduate employment.

About Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra provides technology consulting and digital solutions across industries, employing over 147,000 professionals in 90+ countries. Recognized for its leadership in sustainable practices, Tech Mahindra is part of the Mahindra Group, one of the largest multinational federations founded in 1945.

The Union Labour Ministry and Amazon have signed an MoU to leverage the National Career Service (NCS) portal for boosting job opportunities in India. The agreement, signed by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, aims to expand job accessibility for the country’s youth by providing diverse employment services through the NCS platform. The partnership highlights the role of advanced technologies like AI in upgrading the portal to offer a more user-friendly experience for job seekers and employers alike.

Key Highlights of the MoU

Duration: The MoU is set for two years.

Recruitment Process: Amazon and its third-party staffing agencies will post job vacancies on the NCS portal and conduct hiring through the platform.

Job Fairs: The collaboration includes organizing job fairs at Model Career Centres (MCCs) for direct interaction between job seekers and Amazon recruitment teams.

Inclusivity: The initiative prioritizes opportunities for women and divyang (persons with disabilities), promoting workforce diversity.

Benefits to Job Seekers

The MoU provides job seekers access to Amazon’s vast array of opportunities in fields such as logistics, technology, and customer service. It ensures local hiring and career advancement while connecting individuals from diverse backgrounds to a global brand.

Benefits to Amazon

Amazon will benefit from seamless access to a diverse talent pool via the NCS portal, including women and persons with disabilities. The Ministry will support Amazon by organizing job fairs and facilitating smooth database integration for efficient recruitment. This collaboration allows Amazon to meet staffing needs while promoting a more inclusive workforce.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the first-ever Joint Ministerial Meeting of the L.69 and C-10 groupings of nations on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Remarks by Jaishankar

First ever summit

• Encouraged by the first-ever Joint Ministerial Meeting of L.69 and C-10 groupings of nations.

Need of reform at UNSC

• The pressing need of comprehensive reform of UNSC (United Nations Security Council) membership in both permanent and non-permanent categories.

Negotiation Process

• Called for Text-Based Negotiations within the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process, aiming for concrete results within a fixed timeframe.

Greater Participation

• The necessity of greater representation of the Global South, particularly underrepresented regions like Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. 

Support

• The ministers expressed their backing for continued dialogue on the representation of cross-regional groups, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

About C10

• The Committee of Ten (C10) is a group of African countries that is part of the African Union (AU). 
• The Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10), dedicated to advancing Education, Science, and Technology, 
• C10 plays a crucial role in promoting education, science, technology, and innovation as key elements in achieving the vision of “the Africa We Want,” as outlined in Agenda 2063.

What is L69?

• It consists of 32 developing nations (including India) from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific (Small Island Developing States).
• It firmly stands for expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of UNSC to better reflect contemporary world realities, and achieve a more accountable, representative, transparent and relevant Security Council.
• It derives its name from the draft document number “L.69”, tabled in 2007-08, which led to the initiation of the Intergovernmental Negotiation (IGN) process.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar stressed the importance of producing substantial results in research and development (R&D), underscoring that contributions must go beyond mere cosmetic efforts. Addressing the 83rd CSIR Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi.

President Remarks

Foundation’s Role

• It is CSIR’s Foundation Day, but it is integrally connected with the firm foundations of Bharat.
• You are firming up those foundations of the most vibrant and functional democracy on the planet. 
• You are firming up the foundations of a nation that is on the rise as never before, and the rise is unstoppable.

Term CSIR and Future

• As “Catalyst for Scientifically Imaginative Rashtra”. 

• He appealed for the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that investments in human resources and institutions are directed towards authentic and impactful research.

Union Minister Remarks

• Jitendra Singh, a Union Minister for State PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, 

Role

• He said, CSIR plays a vital role in making India a global leader in science by promoting women in science, driving economic growth, and ensuring innovations benefit society. 

Vision of Viksit Bharat

• Through its initiatives, CSIR contributes to the Viksit Bharat @2027 vision by fostering indigenization.

National Treasure

• CSIR is a National Treasure for all of us and a true changemaker of our time. 

CSIR breakthroughs

• He congratulated CSIR on its 83rd Foundation Day and in making our country proud in various R&D breakthroughs like green hydrogen technology and agriculture-based start-ups that are changing the lives of farmers and common people. 
• The lavender farming has transformed the landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, making it a hub for Agri-based entrepreneurship.

CSIR Foundation Lecture Day

• Delivered by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman, ISRO. 
• He spoke on the topic of “Team excellence and Indian space odyssey”. 
• He explained how Indian space research grew with team excellence and perseverance for achieving success in all space missions of the country.

About CSIR

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the largest research and development (R&D) organization in India. 
• CSIR has a pan-India presence and has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centers, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units.
• Established: September 1942
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• CSIR is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia visited Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) Bengaluru Campus and inaugurated the 5G O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) Testing lab.

Purpose

The Lab will facilitate development of a complete Indian end to end 5G ecosystem in the areas of core, access, transport, cloud, orchestration and security.

Remarks By Him

• He encouraged the young engineers to continue their zeal and passion to innovate for realizing the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister  towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat”  and  progressing to  “Viksit Bharat 2047”.
• The Minister lauded C-DOT’s collaborative research initiatives including BharatRAN-1 and BharatRAN-2 for the development of O-RAN compliant disaggregated 5G RAN solution capable of operation in the FR1 (Frequency Range)  and FR2 bands for public & private 5G networks. 
• He assured full policy support for facilitating research and innovation in Bengaluru, the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India.

Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia also inaugurates Wireless Center of Excellence at Tejas Networks

Objective

• Seeks to advance research in frontier technologies, standards and architectures that will underpin next-generation mobile networks as they evolve towards 6G and beyond. 
• The Center of Excellence houses state-of-the-art modeling tools and test infrastructure to design, prototype and commercialize innovative wireless products and solutions that will support emerging usage scenarios and applications as envisaged in ITU-R’s IMT-2030 (International Mobile Telecommunications) framework.
• The center currently focuses on contributions in emerging areas such as AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), Terahertz Communications, Sub-band Full Duplex among others.

As of September 2024, there are 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India with the recent inclusion of “Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty from Assam. “The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid, and Somananthpura in Karnataka have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list. This inclusion marks the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and comes just a day after Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan also received this distinguished recognition. The decision to include Santiniketan in the prestigious list was made during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its importance on the global stage.

43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which was established in 1972, recognizes and protects important cultural and natural sites around the world. India has recently added two more sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list, bringing the total number of Indian sites to 42. This makes India the sixth country in the world with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of the 43 Indian sites, 35 are cultural, 7 are natural, and 1 is mixed (both cultural and natural).

In other words, UNESCO has recognized 43 places in India as being of outstanding universal value, worthy of protection for future generations. These sites include ancient temples, forts, palaces, caves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. India’s rich cultural and natural heritage is on display in these sites, which are a must-see for any visitor to the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched three PARAM Rudra supercomputers on September 26, 2024, emphasizing the importance of technological advancements for empowering the underprivileged. Developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) at a cost of ₹130 crore each, these high-performance computing systems are strategically deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata. With a total investment of ₹850 crore in the project, these supercomputers aim to facilitate pioneering scientific research across various disciplines.

Objectives and Applications

The PARAM Rudra supercomputers will support advanced scientific research in diverse fields. For instance, the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will utilize the supercomputers to explore astronomical phenomena such as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Meanwhile, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will focus on enhancing research in material science and atomic physics, and the S N Bose Centre in Kolkata will drive studies in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

Driving Innovation and Self-Reliance

During the launch, Modi highlighted that “no sector can function without technology and computing capability.” He reiterated the goal of achieving self-reliance in high-performance computing, stating that India’s contributions should extend beyond mere bits and bytes to terabytes and petabytes. The initiative represents a significant step towards bolstering India’s computing capabilities and driving innovation in science and technology.

A Missed Visit

Although Modi initially planned to visit Pune for the launch, he had to cancel his trip due to heavy rains in the city. Officials noted that he was also scheduled to flag off a Metro train line and inaugurate development projects worth ₹22,600 crore

India Joins Leadership of Global Anti-Corruption Alliance

India has been elected to the 15-member GlobE Steering Committee, which focuses on combating corruption and asset recovery. This decision was made during a plenary session in Beijing on September 26, 2024, following a multistage voting process. As a member of the Steering Committee, India is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the global anti-corruption agenda, leveraging its experience and expertise in the field.

Background of the GloBE Network

The GlobE Network originated as an initiative from the G-20, supported by India in 2020. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has highlighted that India’s participation will be instrumental in tackling corruption globally.

Political Dynamics in India

In a contrasting political landscape, since 2014, several politicians facing corruption charges have switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). An investigation revealed that out of 25 prominent politicians who made this switch, 23 cases led to a halt in investigations, showcasing a significant disparity in how political affiliations impact legal proceedings. Notably, six politicians moved to the BJP just weeks before the general elections, indicating a strategic shift.

Investigative Findings

The findings illustrate a pattern where Central agencies focus primarily on the Opposition, with 95% of actions taken against political figures being from opposition parties since the NDA came to power in 2014. This trend has led critics to label the BJP’s political maneuvers as a “washing machine,” allowing accused politicians to evade accountability by changing parties.

Recent Developments in Elections

In recent elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been re-elected as the leader of the NDA alliance despite the BJP not securing a majority. With 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, Modi’s party faces the challenge of forming a government with the support of allies, as the NDA collectively holds 283 seats, surpassing the required 272.

Global Reactions

World leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have congratulated Modi on his election victory, emphasizing the strong bilateral relations between India and their respective nations.

Opposition Response

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the opposition INDIA alliance, asserted that the election mandate reflects a decisive rejection of Modi’s governance, vowing to continue the fight against what he termed the BJP’s “fascist rule.”

Shigeru Ishiba Set to Become Japan’s Next Prime Minister

Shigeru Ishiba, former defence minister, is poised to become Japan’s next prime minister after winning the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership vote. Ishiba will succeed Fumio Kishida, who stepped down following scandals that damaged his tenure. With the LDP holding a majority in the lower house, Ishiba’s path to the role is effectively secured. He edged out economic security minister Sanae Takaichi by a narrow margin of 21 votes in the leadership race.

Early Life and Education

Born on February 4, 1957, Shigeru Ishiba grew up in Tottori Prefecture, where his father was a government official and later governor. After studying law at Keio University, Ishiba worked at Mitsui Bank before transitioning to politics in 1983.

Political Career

In 1986, Ishiba became the youngest member of the House of Representatives as a candidate from the LDP. Despite his long affiliation, he often clashed with party views, even defecting to the Japan Renewal Party (1993-1996) before rejoining the LDP. Over his career, he held portfolios including defence minister and minister for revitalizing the local economy. This leadership victory marks his fifth attempt to lead the LDP.

Key Policy Positions

Ishiba aims to address rising inflation, improve wages, and reduce nuclear energy dependence. He also plans to tackle Japan’s low birth rate by expanding support for parents and boosting regional economies. His focus on security issues includes addressing threats from China and North Korea. He advocates a more independent defence policy, proposing Japan lead an “Asian NATO” and seeking greater oversight of US military bases in Japan.

Challenges Ahead

Ishiba must navigate public discontent over rising living costs and Japan’s volatile security environment. He also faces challenges from within the LDP, where his socially progressive stance on issues like allowing married couples to use separate surnames has sparked debate.

US-Japan Relations

Ishiba’s approach to reducing Japan’s reliance on the US for defence may strain ties with Washington. His push for Japan to have a say in the US use of nuclear weapons in Asia and his stance on military bases in Okinawa reflect his broader vision for a more assertive Japan.

Economic and Fiscal Policies

Ishiba has softened his opposition to nuclear power, proposing to keep some reactors operational while supporting renewable energy. As a fiscal conservative, he emphasizes respecting the Bank of Japan’s independence, though he remains cautious about further interest rate hikes.

World Rabies Day, observed annually on September 28th, marks a global effort to raise awareness about rabies prevention and eradication. The year 2024 marks the 18th observance of this important day, highlighting the ongoing battle against one of the world’s oldest known diseases. This article delves into the theme, history, significance, and practical aspects of World Rabies Day 2024.

Theme: “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”

Significance of the Theme

The 2024 theme, “Breaking Rabies Boundaries,” emphasizes the need for progress and moving beyond the status quo in rabies prevention and control. This powerful message serves multiple purposes:

1. Highlighting One Health: The theme underscores that the One Health approach – which recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health – is not exclusive but inclusive. It’s a concept that should be accessible and applicable to everyone, regardless of geographical or socioeconomic boundaries.
2. Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: “Breaking Rabies Boundaries” calls for innovative strategies and collaboration across various sectors and regions. It emphasizes the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health efforts to create a unified front against rabies.
3. Overcoming Barriers: The theme encourages efforts to overcome geographic, socio-economic, and educational barriers that hinder rabies prevention. This includes ensuring widespread vaccination, raising awareness, and improving access to medical care.
4. Transboundary Nature of Rabies: The theme also highlights the fact that rabies itself does not recognize borders or boundaries, emphasizing its nature as a transboundary disease that requires coordinated international efforts.

Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to leverage the National Career Service (NCS) portal, aiming to connect job seekers with career opportunities that match their skills and qualifications. This partnership will help Amazon India and its staffing agencies post job openings, source candidates from the NCS portal, and provide better access to job opportunities across India.

Facilitating Job Opportunities

Through the MoU, job seekers registered on the NCS portal will have access to various job roles across Amazon’s corporate offices and operations network. The collaboration allows Amazon and its staffing agencies to effectively source candidates from NCS’s extensive database, improving recruitment for roles nationwide, including women and persons with disabilities.

Amazon’s Commitment

 Amazon India is the first e-commerce company to partner with the Ministry for the NCS portal. Deepti Varma, VP of HR at Amazon, emphasized the importance of connecting job seekers with open roles and expanding employment opportunities for underserved communities. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour & Employment, highlighted that this collaboration aligns with the vision of creating a one-stop portal for employers and candidates, aiming to unlock new employment opportunities for India’s youth.

Impact on Job Seekers

 With over 87 lakh registered job seekers on the NCS portal in FY 2024, this partnership aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand in the job market, particularly in the fast-growing e-commerce sector. It contributes significantly to addressing hiring challenges and enhancing economic development.

Amazon’s Employment Milestones

 Since its inception in India, Amazon has created over 13 lakh direct and indirect jobs, with over 1.2 lakh employees in various roles. The company also offers seasonal work opportunities, recently announcing over 110,000 roles across cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Chennai, demonstrating its commitment to providing diverse and inclusive employment opportunities nationwide.