National Current Affairs

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved Standard Operating Procedures for introducing Accelerated Degree Programmes and Extended Degree Programmes for undergraduate students. The Accelerated Degree Programme allows students to complete three-year or four-year degrees in a shorter time by earning additional credits per semester. In contrast, the Extended Degree Programme provides flexibility to extend degree completion by up to two semesters with reduced credits per semester.

Students will still earn the same total credits as in the standard-duration programmes, ensuring their degrees are treated equally for employment and academic purposes. Higher Education Institutions will evaluate eligibility through dedicated committees and may allocate up to 10% of sanctioned seats for the Accelerated Programme. Degrees will be awarded based on the opted timeline rather than the standard duration.

India’s mineral production showed strong growth in the first half of FY 2024-25 (April-October), continuing momentum from record levels in FY 2023-24.

• Iron Ore: Accounting for 69% of total mineral production by value, iron ore output rose by 4.1% to 158.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) in April-October 2024, compared to 152.1 MMT in the same period last year.
• Manganese Ore: Production increased by 11.1% to 2.0 MMT.
• Bauxite: Output grew by 11.3%, reaching 13.8 MMT.
• Primary Aluminium: Production rose modestly by 1.2% to 24.46 lakh tonnes (LT).
• Refined Copper: Output saw significant growth of 6%, climbing to 3.00 LT.

India remains a key player globally, ranking as the second-largest Aluminium producer, among the top ten in refined copper, and the fourth-largest iron ore producer. The growth reflects strong domestic demand from sectors such as steel, energy, infrastructure, and automotive, reinforcing India’s economic resilience and its role in the global minerals supply chain.

India has climbed 11 places in the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024), securing the 49th rank globally, as announced on 27 November 2024. Published by the Portulans Institute, the index evaluates 133 economies across four pillars—technology, people, governance, and impact—using 54 variables. India’s score improved significantly from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024.

India leads globally in several indicators:

• 1st place: AI scientific publications, AI talent concentration, and ICT services exports.
• 2nd place: FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions and mobile broadband internet traffic.
• 3rd place: Domestic market scale.
• 4th place: Annual investment in telecommunication services.

Key achievements include:

• Rising teledensity from 75.2% to 84.69% over the past decade.
• Increasing internet subscribers from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore, largely driven by the Digital India initiative.
• Boosting global mobile broadband speed rankings from 118th to 15th, following the launch of 5G in 2022.

India is now focusing on next-gen technologies with the Bharat 6G Vision, aiming to solidify its leadership in telecom innovation.

The 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) concluded on 27 November 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The theme for this year’s fair was “Viksit Bharat at 2047”. An award ceremony was held on the final day, recognizing achievements in various categories:

• Partner States: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh won gold.
• Focus State: Jharkhand secured gold.
• Ministries and Departments: The Ministry of Mines received gold, while the Ayush Ministry earned silver.
• States and UTs: Puducherry won gold, Meghalaya got silver, and Karnataka was awarded bronze.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director of ITPO, shared that over 10 lakh visitors attended the fair. Executive Director Premjit Lal highlighted the fair’s role as a global platform for traders to exchange ideas and grow their businesses. The event saw a significant response from visitors and exhibitors, showcasing diverse regional products.

On 20 November 2024, Prasar Bharati launched its OTT platform, WAVES, during the opening ceremony of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. WAVES combines nostalgia with modern digital trends, featuring iconic shows like Ramayan, Mahabharat, Shaktimaan, and Hum Log.

It offers clean, family-oriented entertainment alongside news, documentaries, and diverse content in over 12 languages and 10+ genres, including regional, women-centric, and animation content. WAVES also streams live events like Prabhu Shriram Lalla Aarti from Ayodhya, Mann ki Baat, and sports events like the US Premier League Cricket Tournament. With 65 live channels, video-on-demand, gaming, radio streaming, and e-commerce integration, WAVES aims to connect audiences with India’s cultural heritage while embracing inclusivity and innovation.

India’s aviation sector achieved a historic milestone on 17 November 2024 (Sunday), with over 505,412 domestic passengers flying in a single day, surpassing the 5 lakh mark for the first time. The Ministry of Civil Aviation celebrated the achievement, describing it as a reflection of India’s growing aviation potential.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu credited this success to key policies such as the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), which was launched in 2017 to improve connectivity to underserved regions, advancements in airport infrastructure, and the adoption of digital technologies. The number of operational airports in India has doubled over the past decade, supporting rapid growth in the sector.

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed K Sanjay Murthy, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch (Andhra Pradesh cadre), as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Murthy, currently the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, will assume the role once he takes charge, replacing Girish Chandra Murmu, who held office since August 8, 2020.

The CAG of India:

• Audits all Union and State government departments, including railways, defense, India Post, and telecommunications.
• Oversees over 1500 public enterprises, 400 non-commercial bodies, and other entities funded by the government.
• Is empowered by Article 148 of the Constitution and governed by the CAG’s Duties, Powers and Conditions Act, 1971.

The office is supported by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD), comprising around 600 managerial officers and a subordinate cadre of approximately 47,000 personnel. The CAG’s mandate extends to inspecting records, transactions, and financial documents to ensure accountability and transparency in public spending.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the flight tests of the Guided Pinaka Weapon System as part of the Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials. According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, these flight tests were conducted across three phases at various field firing ranges.

During the trials, PSQR parameters such as range, accuracy, consistency, and rate of fire in salvo mode for multiple target engagements were thoroughly assessed through extensive testing of rockets. A total of twelve rockets from each production agency were tested using two in-service Pinaka launchers, which had been upgraded by the launcher production agencies.

Dominica has announced it will confer its highest national honor, the Dominica Award of Honour, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This award recognizes his support for Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the donation of 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February 2021, and his contributions to strengthening ties between India and Dominica in healthcare, education, information technology, and sustainable development. The award will be presented by Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton at the India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 19-21, 2024.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed gratitude for Modi’s solidarity, particularly during the global health crisis, and acknowledged Modi’s role in promoting a shared vision of resilience and progress. Prime Minister Modi accepted the award offer, emphasizing India’s commitment to collaborating on global challenges like climate change and regional conflicts alongside Dominica and the Caribbean.

India has entered the top 10 countries globally in Patents, Trademarks, and Industrial Designs, as per the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 report. The report highlights India’s significant growth in intellectual property (IP) activity, showing progress in patent, trademark, and industrial design applications. India ranks sixth globally for patents, with 64,480 applications, more than half from residents.

• 4th in Trademarks (+6.1%) with 90% resident fillings.
• 6th in Patents (+15.7%), driven by 55.2% resident fillings.
• 10th in Industrial Designs (+36.4%), Moving up 1 spot.

The patent office granted 149.4% more patents in 2023 than the previous year, demonstrating a rapidly evolving IP ecosystem. Industrial design applications rose by 36.4%, driven by sectors like Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics, which contributed to nearly half of all design filings.

On 12 November 2024, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first flight test of its Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, using a mobile launcher. The test met all primary mission objectives, with sub-systems performing as expected.

The missile’s performance was monitored by multiple range sensors, including radar, optical tracking, and telemetry systems. Equipped with advanced avionics and software, the LRLACM was developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru, with support from other labs and Indian industries.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 11, 2024, in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath. Key dignitaries, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other Union Cabinet members, attended the event. Justice Khanna, who joined the Supreme Court in 2019, has contributed to significant rulings, such as upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and overturning the electoral bonds scheme.

Beginning his career in 1983 under the Delhi Bar Council, Justice Khanna has expertise in constitutional law, taxation, arbitration, and environmental law. His judicial experience includes appointments at the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, where he handled influential cases.

The ceremony highlighted respect for judicial continuity, with retired Chief Justices and legal figures in attendance. Justice Khanna succeeds former CJI DY Chandrachud, who reflected on his tenure in a heartfelt farewell. Justice Khanna will serve a six-month term, focusing on key national issues, as outlined by the government’s recent appointment notification under Article 124 of the Indian Constitution.

The third edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND, began on November 8 at the Foreign Training Node in Pune and will continue until November 21. This exercise aims to strengthen defense cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Australian armed forces. Started in 2022 in Rajasthan, AUSTRAHIND has become an annual event, alternating between both countries.

This year, the focus is on enhancing joint capabilities for sub-conventional operations in semi-urban and semi-desert environments under a UN mandate. The exercise includes 140 Indian personnel, mainly from the DOGRA Regiment, and 120 Australian soldiers from the 13th Light Horse Regiment. It will be conducted in two phases: combat conditioning/tactical training and a validation phase, featuring counter-terrorism tactics, joint operations, search and destroy missions, and heli-borne operations.

India and Australia’s defense ties also include other exercises like AUSINDEX (maritime) and PITCHBLACK (air force) and regular policy dialogues. The start of AUSTRAHIND follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Australia, further strengthening their diplomatic and strategic relationship.

On November 8, 2024, Union Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced the successful pilot of the new Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS) under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995. Conducted on October 29-30, the pilot disbursed approximately Rs 11 crore to over 49,000 EPS pensioners across Jammu, Srinagar, and Karnal.

The CPPS enables pensioners to receive payments from any bank branch nationwide, eliminating the need for regional transfers and streamlining disbursements. Expected to fully launch by January 2025 as part of EPFO’s Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01), the CPPS will benefit over 78 lakh pensioners, enhancing the EPFO’s modernization and efficiency in pension services.

The second annual Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) commenced in New Delhi on November 8, 2024. This two-day event aims to engage global and Indian think tanks, corporations, public and private sector organizations, non-profits, academicians, and research scholars focused on India’s national security, foreign policy, military history, and heritage.

The festival was inaugurated by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan alongside three Service Chiefs. During the inauguration, Project ‘Shaurya Gatha’ was launched, an initiative by the Department of Military Affairs and the United Service Institution (USI) of India to conserve and promote India’s military heritage through education and tourism.

On November 7, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu visited the Indian Navy’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, marking her first time aboard Navy vessels at sea. After arriving at INS Hansa in Goa, she was greeted by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, with a ceremonial Guard of Honour in her honor. Aboard INS Vikrant, the President observed a series of naval demonstrations, including deck-based fighter operations, missile drills, submarine maneuvers, and a flypast involving over 30 aircraft.

India’s progress in reducing tuberculosis (TB) has gained global recognition, with a 17.7% drop in TB cases from 2015 to 2023. This decline is more than twice the global average of 8.3%, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.

India committed to achieving the United Nations’ “End TB” targets by 2025, five years before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) deadline. This progress reflects the success of India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, which has led to an 80% decrease in TB cases and a 90% reduction in TB deaths since 2015.

The fifth Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 began on November 4, 2024, in Ambala, Haryana. The goal of VINBAX-2024 is to strengthen the joint military abilities of India and Vietnam.

This year’s exercise is special because, for the first time, it includes personnel from both the Army and Air Force of each country. The Indian Army has sent 47 personnel, including a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers and members from other units. VINBAX-2024 will end on November 23.

The 15th India-US joint Special Forces exercise, VAJRA PRAHAR, began on September 2, 2024, at Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA, and will end on September 22. The previous VAJRA PRAHAR was held in December 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. This is the second India-US Army exercise of the year, following YUDH ABHYAS 2024, which took place in Rajasthan in September.

In VAJRA PRAHAR, each country’s contingent includes 45 personnel: Special Forces units from India and Green Berets from the US. The goal is to improve military cooperation, focusing on interoperability, joint operations, and tactical skills in desert and semi-desert environments, with emphasis on physical fitness and joint planning.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, an IAS officer from the 1989 Kerala cadre, became the Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024. He replaced Giridhar Aramane, a 1988 Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer, who retired the day before. Before starting his new role, Mr. Singh paid respects at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

Previously, he was the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He has held various key roles in the Union Government and also served as Secretary for Urban Development and Finance in Kerala.

Ayodhya set two Guinness World Records on October 30, 2024, during Deepotsav. Over 2.5 million diyas were lit on the Saryu River banks, and the most people performed a simultaneous ‘diya’ rotation.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath received the Guinness certificates, joined by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak.

Festivities Highlights:

• The riverbanks and ghats were adorned with diyas, and the night included laser shows, Ram Leela reenactments, a drone show, and fireworks.
• This Deepotsav was especially significant, being the first after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lala at Ayodhya temple.
• A procession led by CM Yogi featured Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, symbolizing their return to Ayodhya.
• Eighteen tableaux showcased key events from Lord Ram’s life, organized by the Information and Tourism Departments.