Current Affairs

Notes:
International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report titled ‘Coal 2022: Analysis and Forecast to 2025’. As per the report, the global coal demand is set to increase to an all-time high in 2022, mainly driven by coal power growth in India, the European Union (EU) and to a smaller extent by China.
The largest increases in coal burn are forecast for China, India and Southeast Asia. The global coal use is set to rise by 1.2% in 2022, surpassing 8 billion tonnes in a single year for the first time.

Notes:
XPoSat (X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first polarimetry mission. It is currently being built by ISRO and Raman Research Institute.
According to ISRO, “XPoSat will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions” and will carry two payloads. It is only the world’s second polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.

Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi approved a unique package of innovative schemes for farmers with a total outlay of Rs.3,70,128 crore.
The CCEA approved continuation of Urea Subsidy Scheme to ensure constant availability of urea to the farmers at the same price of Rs 242/ 45 kg bag excluding taxes and neem coating charges. Rs. 1451 crore approved for Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to exemplify model of wealth from waste.

Notes:
INS Kirpan is the indigenously built Khukri class missile corvette, which will be handed over to Vietnam People’s Navy. The vessel commenced its final journey from Visakhapatnam, which on arrival at Vietnam shall be handed over to Vietnam People’s Navy.
This is the first time India has presented such a vessel to a friendly foreign country, aligning with India’s vision of global unity and regional security.

Notes:
The Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) being built near Nagpur, Maharashtra under the ambitious PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan has been named the Nagpur MMLP. It will be the first such freight transit hub in the state, developed under public-private partnership by National Highways Logistics Management Ltd. Spanning 150 acres with rail & road connectivity, the Rs. 673 crore project aims to boost logistical infrastructure.

Notes:
BRI 1335-0417 is the name of the galaxy showing a spiral structure in its early developing phase, located over 12 billion light years from Earth. Analysis of gas flow patterns inside BRI 1335-0417 enabled documentation of a phenomenon similar to ‘seismic waves’, a first for early galaxies. Researchers compare its rotating disc comprising stars, gas and dust to ripples formed when a stone is thrown into a pond. Study of this exceptionally distant spiral aims to advance comprehension of mechanisms driving rapid star formation in early cosmic epochs.

Notes:
India and Mauritania held their 1st Foreign Office Consultations in Nouakchott, discussing bilateral, regional, and global issues. Talks covered political cooperation, economic partnership, and cultural exchanges. Bilateral trade surged to $378 million in 2022-23 from $108 million in 2021-22. India’s Resident Mission, opened in June 2021, has bolstered relations. The meeting highlighted the enduring friendship and collaboration between the two nations.

Notes:
The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) initiated the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 following the conclusion of the FAME-II on March 31, 2024. EMPS aims to expedite the adoption of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, fostering green mobility and EV manufacturing. With a tenure of four months from April 1 to July 31, 2024, EMPS offers subsidies and requires OEM registration and vehicle approval by MHI to avail incentives.

Notes:
Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) have signed an MoU for technical collaboration on Critical Minerals. Led by Shri Sadashiv Samantaray and Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, the agreement aims at leveraging CSIR-IMMT’s expertise for various projects including metallurgical test plans, process flowsheets, and technology selection. The partnership will also foster joint research and scientific exchange. Shri Sridhar Patra, CMD of NALCO & Chairman of KABIL, hailed the collaboration as pivotal for India’s mineral security and technological advancement.

Notes:
Scientists at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea are pioneering “meaty rice,” injecting beef cells into rice grains coated with fish gelatine. This innovative food technology aims to offer a sustainable protein source without animal agriculture’s ethical concerns. The rice’s porous structure facilitates cell growth over 11 days in a Petri dish. Meaty rice promises a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional beef production, potentially revolutionizing global food sustainability practices.