ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT

IAS/KAS/ACF/PSI/VA/AO/PDO
MONTHLY MAGAZINE December-2024
NEWS-INSHORTS
High-Risk Food Category -FSSAI
Asia’s first water transport
service
The 16th of the Conference of the
Parties (COP16)
country's first vertical lift rail
bridge
‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav
The fastest humanoid robot is
STAR-1
PM e-VIDYA initiative
World Bank’s "International Debt
Report 2024
Madhav Gadgil among UNEP’s
2024 ‘Champions of the Earth
• The Major Atmospheric
Cherenkov Experiment (MACE)
telescope was inaugurated in
Hanle, Ladakh.
'Brain Rot' was chosen as the
Oxford Word of the Year 2024
Karnataka/india/international-current affairs
Foresightkas.com 8050709380
502, 2nd Floor, Opposite TTMC Bus stop, Vijayanagar Bengaluru
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI Revision points

December: 2024

• Government scraps windfall tax on petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel

exports
➢ The windfall tax was introduced in July 2022 when the Russia-
Ukraine war and Western sanctions lead to surging crude oil
prices, hugely profiting oil companies
➢ A windfall tax is a type of tax that governments impose on
companies or industries that make unexpectedly high profits,
often due to circumstances beyond their control, such as a sudden
rise in prices or demand

• World's Longest Driverless Metro System

Launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-

• FSSAI classifies packaged drinking water as

'High-Risk Food Category'

➢ These products will now be subject

to mandatory inspections and third-
party audits
➢ High-risk food categories, such as dairy products, meat and poultry,
seafood, eggs, and ready-to-eat foods, require stringent safety
measures due to their higher contamination potential.

• Asia’s first water transport service ‘Uber Shikara’ launched on Dal Lake in
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

• The 16th of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024.

➢ Theme Our Land. Our Future.

 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
• World Soil Day- 5th December Revision points

➢ The day was first recommended by the International Union of Soil

Sciences in 2002, which was supported by the Food and
Agricultural Organisation of the United States (FAO)
➢ UNGA designated December 5, 2014, as the first World Soil Day.

• The New Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, India is the country's first vertical
lift rail bridge
➢ The bridge is 2.07 kilometers long and has a 72-meter vertical lift
section
➢ Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a public sector undertaking under
Indian Railways, built the Pamban Bridge

• Indian hockey team beat Pakistan in finals to win the Men's Hockey Junior
Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman

• Govt launched 'Anna Chakra' platform to optimise PDS supply chain

➢ Developed in partnership with the World Food Programme and IIT-

Delhi
➢ The system leverages advanced algorithms to optimize foodgrain
movement across the country's logistics network

• PM Modi to inaugurate ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’

➢ To showcase the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the eight

northeastern States.
➢ The eight northeastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim — are
often referred to as the ‘Ashtalaxmi’ or eight forms of prosperity.
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
Revision points
• Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet will receive the 2024 Indira
Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development

➢ This policy aligns with the Indian Space Policy 2023, aiming to
integrate private sector participation in space activities

• The fastest humanoid robot is STAR-1:

Chinese humanoid robot developer, Robot
Era, has demonstrated “STAR1,” a
humanoid that is faster than Tesla's
“Optimus” and “Atlas” from Boston
Dynamics.

• PM e-VIDYA initiative : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

launches India’s first sign language DTH channel.

• World Bank’s "International Debt Report 2024" highlights a worsening

debt crisis for developing nations, with 2023 marking the highest debt
servicing levels in two decades, driven by rising interest rates and
economic challenges.

• India has been chosen to Chair the 68th Session of the Commission on
Narcotic Drugs (CND).
➢ CND is the main policy-making body for global drug-related
issues under the UN. It monitors global drug trends, supports
balanced policy-making, and oversees major drug
conventions.
➢ CND operates under the UN Economic and Social Council and
governs the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
➢ This is India's first time chairing the CND, showcasing its
growing leadership and commitment to global issues.

• India’s first "Trackers Dog Squad Training Centre" at Bandipur Tiger Reserve
where Belgian Malinois dogs will be taught to sniff poachers, prevent
wildlife crimes, and tackle human-animal conflict, setting a national
benchmark in conservation efforts.
➢ Karnataka Forest Department has launched this initiative.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bima Sakhi Yojana, an

initiative of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
➢ The scheme is targeted at women aged 18 to 70 who have Revision points
passed class 10 and want to become volunteer insurance agents

• Madhav Gadgil among UNEP’s 2024 ‘Champions of the Earth

➢ The 2024 Champions of the Earth award was given to six

environmental leaders, including Indian ecologist Madhav
Gadgil. The award is given by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
➢ Highest honour that the United Nations confers in the field of
environment for lifetime contributions to ecology and nature
conservation
➢ What is Madhav Gadgil committe: Also nown as the Western
Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), was an environmental
research commission established in 2010 by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests of India

• Gujarati writer Himanshi Indulal Shelat has been selected for the
Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskara 2024
➢ The award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a silver medal, and a
citation.

• The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov

Experiment (MACE) telescope was
inaugurated in Hanle, Ladakh.
Positioned at an altitude of about 4.3
kilometres
➢ Hanle provides an optimal
location for the telescope due to
its high elevation and clear skies,
making it ideal for studying high-
energy gamma rays. MACE is the

➢ Asia’s largest imaging Cherenkov

telescope globally and is a significant advancement in the field of
gamma-ray astronomy

• The Indian Army has successfully installed Optical Fibre connectivity at

Siachen and Daulet Beg Oldie (DBO). Siachen, being the world’s highest
and coldest battlefield, is strategically important due to its location
between Pakistan and China
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
➢ The Nubra River originates from the Siachen Glacier. The Nubra Revision points
River is a tributary of the Shyok River, which then joins the Indus
River

• The Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus, a member of the flavivirus family, is

named after Japan, where the disease was first identified. It primarily
affects rural and agricultural areas across Asia and is transmitted through
Culex mosquitoes.

• The Diplomatic Conference for the adoption of the Design Law Treaty
(DLT) was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This treaty aims to streamline
and harmonize procedures for registering industrial designs globally,
promoting a more predictable and user-friendly environment for
intellectual property protection

• The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has

issued 1.4 million Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to senior citizens aged 70
and above as of 2024. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare access
for vulnerable elderly populations

• Singapore emerged as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment

(FDI) to India in the July-September 2024 quarter, contributing 50% of the
total USD 13.6 billion inflows, which marked a 43% increase compared to
the previous year.

• Donald Trump, the US President-elect, has nominated Kash Patel, an

Indian-American lawyer and investigator, as the next FBI director. Known
for his dedication to exposing corruption and safeguarding justice, Patel is
the second Indian-American to be nominated to Trump's cabinet, after Jay
Bhattacharya, who was chosen to lead the National Institutes of Health
(NIH)

• Arjun Erigaisi has become the second Indian to reach the prestigious 2800
Elo rating in classical chess, joining Viswanathan Anand in this elite
category. Ranked world number four, Arjun is the 16th player in history to
achieve this milestone, as recognized by FIDE

• UNESCO has recognized West Bengal as a leading destination for heritage

tourism due to the state's significant growth in religious, heritage, and tea
tourism.
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
Revision points
• Srinagar has been recognized as a "World Craft City" by the World Crafts
Council (WCC) for its rich 4,000-year-old heritage in craftsmanship,
including shawls, carpets, and papier mache

• Ratapani Tiger Reserve, located near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, has been
designated as India's 57th tiger reserve.

➢ This marks Madhya Pradesh’s 8th tiger reserve

➢ Highest Number of Tiger reserve in India
➢ Karnataka has 5 Tiger reserve

• The term 'Brain Rot' was

chosen as the Oxford Word
of the Year 2024, reflecting
a 230% surge in its usage
between 2023 and 2024.
Defined as "mental
deterioration caused by
overconsumption of trivial
or low-quality online content.

• The 'Nano Bubble Technology' was launched in New Delhi’s National

Zoological Park by Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment, and
Climate, Sh. Kirti Vardhan Singh. This innovative technology aims to clean
and purify water, ensuring the health of aquatic animals by preventing
issues such as foul smells, algae buildup, and discolouration.

• The Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), launched in
February 2024, aims to revolutionize rooftop solar adoption in India. The
scheme targets 10 lakh installations by March 2025 and a milestone of 1
crore installations by March 2027

➢ Rajasthan is the state in India with the largest renewable energy

capacity

• Adani Defence delivered its second Drishti-10 Starliner surveillance drone

to the Indian Navy, marking a major advancement in India’s maritime
security and self-reliance in defence technology. Manufactured at Adani’s
Hyderabad facility, the Drishti-10 drone boasts 36-hour endurance,
advanced ISR capabilities,
➢ It is India's first domestically-developed unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV).
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
Revision points
• World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5 to promote
sustainable soil management and food security. Established by the Food
and Agriculture Organization, it was endorsed in 2013 and first observed
in 2014. The 2024 theme, "Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage,"
emphasizes the importance of accurate soil data for informed decision-
making.

• Veronica Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, has been honoured

with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development
2024. Her work in advancing human rights, promoting peace, and
advocating for gender equality has earned her this prestigious
recognition.

• The GSEC will be Google's second such centre in the Asia Pacific, after
Tokyo, and fifth globally.

➢ Google has signed an agreement with the Telangana government

to establish the Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in
Hyderabad.
➢ This specialized international cybersecurity hub will focus on
advancing cybersecurity capabilities, fostering skill development,
and creating employment opportunities.

• Gorakhpur will host India’s first Integrated Waste Management City-cum-

Learning Centre by September 2025. Situated in Suthni village, Sahjanwa,
the 40-acre facility will process 700 tons of waste daily, transforming dry
and wet waste into charcoal and Bio-CNG.

➢ This initiative is backed by a ₹300 crore investment from NTPC,

reflecting a significant step toward sustainable waste
management and energy generation.

• According to the India Skills Report 2025, Karnataka ranks third in

employability among states in India, with an employability rate of 75%

➢ Maharashtra ranks first with 84% employability, followed by Delhi

(78%), Karnataka (75%)
➢ Released by Wheebox in December 2024, in collaboration with
the following organizations: Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII), Taggd, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and
Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
Revision points
• Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, making
it the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East since Qatar
hosted it in 2022.

• India’s first human gene therapy, developed by CSCR at CMC Vellore,

targets Hemophilia A, a genetic disorder causing blood clotting issues. The
therapy, using lentiviral vectors, successfully reduced the annual bleeding
rates to zero for five participants, eliminating the need for repeated
injections.

• Dommaraju Gukesh became the

youngest chess world champion in 2024
at the age of 18. He defeated the
defending champion, Ding Liren, in a
tough three-week-long match in
Singapore. Gukesh’s victory shattered
the previous record held by Garry
Kasparov, making him the youngest to ever win the World Chess
Championship.

• 21st livestock census at the government veterinary hospital in Radaur,

Haryana. The livestock census, which is conducted every five years, aims
to collect detailed data on domestic animals and poultry through a state-
wide door-to-door survey.

➢ Initiated in 1919, this census plays a crucial role in helping the

government formulate and implement policies for the livestock
sector, making it an essential tool for agricultural development
and planning in the state

• Andhra Pradesh is pioneering India’s first statewide skill census, aiming

to map skill gaps and strengths among its workforce.

➢ Building on the success of a pilot project in Mangalagiri, this

initiative will cover 3.5 crore working-age individuals across 1.8
crore households.
➢ By aligning existing skills with industry demands and addressing
youth unemployment, the census seeks to boost job creation and
economic development.

• world's largest and most detailed high-resolution 3D foetal brain atlas

 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
➢ IIT Madras developed DHARINI, a groundbreaking high-resolution Revision points
3D atlas of the foetal brain. This revolutionary tool maps over 5,000
brain sections and 500 brain regions during the crucial second
trimester of pregnancy

• Arvind Panagariya, the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission,

highlighted concerns regarding the Centre's growing dependence on
cesses and surcharges, which are not shared with states as part of the
divisible pool of revenue.

• India’s first diabetes biobank has been set up in Chennai through a

collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and
the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). The facility is
designed to collect, process, and store biological samples, aiding
advanced research on diabetes causes, variations, and related disorders.

• India has become the first country to define standards for ‘green steel,’
setting an emissions cap of 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel
produced. Along with this, a star-rating system was introduced to classify
steel producers based on their emissions performance

➢ India is the world's second-largest producer of crude steel with a

total production of about 120 million tons per annum (MTPA).

➢ China is the world's largest producer of steel

• The ‘Jalvahak’ scheme was launched to promote long-haul cargo

➢ transportation on major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and

Barak.
➢ The scheme specifically targets cargo owners who transport goods
over 300 km using inland waterways, making it a cost-effective and
environmentally friendly alternative. As part of the launch,
Minister Sonowal flagged off three cargo ships and two barges
from Kolkata's GR Jetty, signalling the commencement of regular
cargo services on National Waterways 1 and 2.
➢ This initiative is expected to reduce road congestion and promote
the efficient use of inland water transport in India.

• The United Kingdom has officially become the 12th member of the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
(CPTPP), making it the first European nation to join the trade bloc.
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
➢ The CPTPP includes key countries like Canada, Japan, Australia, Revision points
and Mexico, among others.
➢ This milestone follows Britain’s exit from the European Union
(Brexit) as it seeks to build new global trade partnerships and
expand its economic influence beyond Europe.

• 'Kisan Kavach,' developed by DBT scientists, is an anti-pesticide suit

designed with oxime fabric that neutralizes common pesticides.
Comprising trousers, pullovers, and face covers, it protects farmers from
neurotoxic pesticide exposure during spraying activities.

➢ Inspired by PPE kits, this innovation prioritizes the health and

safety of agricultural workers, reducing risks associated with
prolonged pesticide contact.

• Uber introduced the ‘Moto Women bike taxi service in Bengaluru as a

pilot program to enhance safety and inclusivity in urban mobility.

➢ This initiative caters exclusively to female riders and drivers,

providing a secure and empowering transportation option

• India marked a significant achievement in wildlife conservation with the

first-ever satellite tagging of a Ganges River Dolphin in Assam. This effort,
conducted by the MoEFCC, Wildlife Institute of India, Assam Forest
Department, and Aaranyak, aims to study the dolphin's habitat and
migration patterns

• China set a new global spacewalk record with two astronauts, Cai Xuzhe
and Song Lingdong, completing a nine-hour extravehicular activity (EVA)
outside the Tiangong space station

• India has ranked 39th in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism
Development Index (TTDI) 2024, marking a significant improvement from
54th place in 2021.

• Masali, located in Gujarat’s

Banaskantha district, is India’s first
border solar village. Situated just 40
kilometres from the Pakistan border,
the village has achieved the
remarkable feat of generating 100%
of its electricity through solar power
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS, VO, AO, ACF, RFO, PSI
• The 2025 Para Athletics World Championships will be hosted in New Revision points
Delhi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

➢ This marks the first time India is hosting this prestigious event,
scheduled from September 26 to October 5, 2025.
➢ Additionally, Delhi will also host the World Para Athletics Grand
Prix earlier in the year, from March 11 to 13, 2025.

• ISRO is set to launch the SpaDeX mission in December 2024 aboard PSLV-
C60, aiming to demonstrate in-space docking technology using two small
spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target).

➢ This achievement will position India as the fourth nation to

master space docking, a critical capability for advanced space
missions.
➢ The mission’s objectives include demonstrating autonomous
rendezvous, docking, and undocking technologies, as well as
power transfer and payload operations.

➢ SpaDeX will play a vital role in advancing ISRO’s future

endeavours, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) and
satellite servicing missions.

• Rwanda declared the end of its first-ever Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)
outbreak after no new cases were reported during a 42-day observation
period. The outbreak, which began on September 27, 2024, resulted in 66
confirmed cases and 15 fatalities. Marburg virus, previously known as
Marburg hemorrhagic fever

• In 2024, India's foreign exchange reserves surpassed $700 billion, making

it the 4th largest globally. This reflects the country’s strong economic
performance and its ability to attract substantial foreign investments over
the past decade.
 ನಮ್ಮ FORESIGHT
KAS/PSI/FDA/AAO/PDO

Year Book -2023 Monthly Current Affairs

Agriculture officer exam preparation Agri warriors- Telegram

Foresightkas.com
foresightkas.com 8050709380
502, 2nd Floor, Opposite TTMC Bus stop, Vijayanagar Bengaluru