Published on: November 19, 2024
Snippets : 19 NOVEMBER 2024
Snippets : 19 NOVEMBER 2024
- President Droupadi Murmu has appointed K. Sanjay Murthy, a 1989-batch IAS officer, as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. The CAG, as per Article 148 of the Indian Constitution, is appointed by the President, with salary and service conditions determined by Parliament. The CAG is ineligible for further government office and its expenses, including salaries, are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Under Article 149, the CAG’s duties include auditing government accounts, revenues, and expenditures, and reporting to the President and Governors for parliamentary or legislative review. The CAG is also empowered by the CAG Act of 1971, serving a tenure of six years or until the age of 65, with the power to resign or be removed in a manner similar to a Supreme Court judge. Additionally, the CAG plays a crucial role in assisting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by submitting reports on government expenditures and providing expert advice to ensure financial accountability, thus acting as a guide to ensure transparency in public finances.
- Azim Premji University has introduced a new climate data set for India, revealing significant temperature and precipitation changes under varying emission scenarios. By 2057, annual maximum temperatures could rise by 1.5°C under moderate emissions (SSP2-4.5), but this increase may occur a decade earlier under high emissions (SSP5-8.5). Summer maximum temperatures are projected to rise by 1.5°C by 2043 (SSP2-4.5) or as early as 2041 (SSP5-8.5). District-level analysis shows Leh will face the highest temperature changes, with 196 districts experiencing notable increases in summer maximums under moderate scenarios and 249 districts under high emissions. Western India is expected to see higher precipitation than eastern regions, with arid states like Gujarat and Rajasthan projected to experience a 20-50% increase in annual rainfall. Extreme weather risks include dangerously high wet bulb temperatures in 24-25 districts across coastal and Himalayan regions, emphasizing the severe impacts of fossil-fuel-driven scenarios.
- Karnataka’s king cobra, locally called Kaalinga Sarpa, is set to receive the scientific name Ophiophagus kaalinga, marking a milestone in herpetology. Historically, all king cobras across South and Southeast Asia were classified under Ophiophagus hannah by Danish naturalist Theodore Edward Cantor in 1836. However, a decade-long genetic study led by herpetologist Dr. P. Gowri Shankar has identified four distinct king cobra species: the Western Ghats lineage (Kaalinga), Indo-Chinese lineage, Indo-Malaysian lineage, and Luzon Island lineage (Salvatana). Findings, published in the European Journal of Taxonomy (September 2023), highlight Kaalinga’s cultural significance and its distinctiveness, identified through DNA sampling from various countries. The formal naming of Kaalinga and Salvatana will occur on November 22 in Bengaluru. Notably, king cobras, unique among snakes, construct large nests fiercely guarded by females. Their venom, while not the most potent, is lethal enough to kill an elephant. This discovery opens avenues for species-specific anti-venom, a crucial step as none exists in India.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) recommendation to notify the entire Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Mysore district, Karnataka, as a core and critical area of Bandipur Tiger Reserve remains unimplemented. Covering 30.32 sq km, the sanctuary was designated as a wildlife sanctuary on March 9, 1998, and features a rich ecological profile with habitats ranging from open dry deciduous to tropical mixed forests. Situated in Heggadadevanakote Taluk, it is about 60 km from Mysore city, 30 km from Nanjanagud, and lies north of Bandipur National Park, with its western boundary defined by the Nugu reservoir and southern boundary by the Alaganchi State Forest. The area, part of the Western Ghats biogeographic zone, experiences seasonal grassland formation that attracts migrating elephants from Bandipur. However, despite its ecological significance and accessibility, the sanctuary’s proposed upgrade remains pending.
- Dementia India Alliance hosts “Dementia Tech Thinkathon 2024” on Nov 30 at IISc, Bengaluru, seeking innovative tech solutions to enhance quality of life for dementia patients and caregivers, with prize money over ₹2.5 lakh.
- Tyavarekoppa zoo-cum-safari near Shivamogga has welcomed its first-ever critically endangered gharials, with one male and one female brought from Thiruvananthapuram zoological park in Kerala. Under the animal exchange program, the zoo has also acquired lesser rheas, Sun Conures, an Indian Crusted Porcupine, and a striped hyena. Notably, the gharial is more endangered than the tiger, and the zoo’s executive director, Amarakshara M V, emphasizes its significance for education on wild animal conservation. The gharials, measuring four and three meters in length, are of breedable age, sparking hopes for captive breeding. In exchange, the Shivamogga zoo has given the Thiruvananthapuram zoo a Marsh Crocodile, striped-hyenas, Indian Golden Jackal, and Asian Palm Civet. The new additions are expected to be a major attraction, with enclosures already constructed and the gharials now in their specially created pond.
- Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya, a renowned Sanskrit scholar from Ballari, has been selected for the esteemed ‘Kanakashri’ award this year, as announced by Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi. This prestigious honor is part of the Saint Kanakadasa Jayanti celebrations, and Prabhanjanacharya will receive the award from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru. The award includes a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a bust of Kanakadasa, and a citation. Prabhanjanacharya is known for his expertise in the Dvaita school of philosophy and has written extensively on Veda, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata. His notable works include critically editing Sarvamula Granthas, a collection of Sri Madhvacharya’s works, and publishing numerous books on Indian philosophy and Sanskrit. This recognition adds to his impressive list of accolades, including the President’s award of Certificate of Honour in 2005 and the Rajyotsava Award in 2002. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a bust of Kanakadasa and a citation.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s support for Brazil’s initiative to launch a global alliance against hunger and poverty at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing that countries of the Global South have been hardest hit by conflicts and the food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis. Modi highlighted India’s successes, including lifting 250 million people out of poverty in the last decade, and stressed the importance of considering the challenges and priorities of the Global South in discussions. The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, proposed by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aims to raise resources and knowledge for effective public policies and social technologies to reduce hunger and poverty worldwide. Notably, all G20 leaders supported the initiative, except Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Modi also reiterated India’s advocacy for the Global South, highlighting the impacts of global conflicts and the need to reform institutions of global governance
- India’s Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are projected to reach $100 billion and employ 2.5 million professionals by 2030, according to a study by Inductus, with 90% of GCCs operating as multi-functional entities handling tech, operations, and product engineering services. Currently, India hosts 1,700 GCCs generating $64.6 billion in revenue and employing 1.9 million professionals. Engineering, R&D-focused GCCs are growing 1.3 times faster, with 70% of mid-sized corporations viewing Indian GCCs as crucial for strategic innovation. By 2026, 70% of GCCs will integrate advanced AI capabilities, and 80% plan to invest in cybersecurity training and AI-driven threat detection. India’s skilled labor and lower operational costs (30-40% lower than Latin America and Eastern Europe) drive GCC growth.
- The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) launched its second “International Symposium on Financial Inclusion, Digital Innovation, and Sustainability,” a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and academics to explore fintech innovations for underserved communities. Rajesh Bansal, CEO of RBI Innovation Hub, highlighted India’s progress in financial inclusion through digital innovation, citing Aadhaar, AEPS, JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-mobile), UPI, and ULIP as key drivers. The event featured panel discussions on digitalization, financial inclusion, and sustainable business models, with experts sharing insights on revolutionizing access to financial services for marginalized populations.
- Omkar Salvi has been appointed the bowling coach of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru men’s team, the franchise announced
- Telangana’s new Electric Vehicles policy, launched on November 17, aims to reduce air pollution and promote environmental sustainability, particularly in and around Hyderabad. The policy was motivated by concerns over pollution levels, with Hyderabad’s air quality index recorded at 123, significantly better than New Delhi’s 494. To encourage EV adoption, the policy offers 100% exemption from road tax and registration fees for EVs until December 31, 2026, with no cap on eligible vehicles.
- The Cao Bang crocodile newt (Tylototriton koliaensis), a newly discovered species of crocodile newt, was found in Vietnam’s mountainous regions at elevations above 3,300 feet. Adapted to a fluctuating climate with a colder dry season and a warmer rainy season, this medium-sized newt measures about 5 inches in length. It features a stout body with rough, knob-like skin, a large head, and long, slender limbs. The newt’s striking appearance includes a completely black body with bright orange markings on its toes, fingertips, and a central tail stripe, while its underside is dark gray. Breeding occurs during the rainy summer in slow-flowing streams or temporary pools, while winter months see the newts hiding under rocks or in cavities. Crocodile newts, a genus of salamanders found in Asia, are so named for their rough, crocodile-like skin, with species such as the Himalayan crocodile newt (Tylototriton verrucosus) and Emperor newt (Tylototriton shanjing) sharing this characteristic.
- A team of researchers recently discovered a glowing “mystery mollusk” named Bathydevius Caudactylus within the ocean’s midnight zone.
- Recently, twenty-four coastal villages in Odisha were recognized as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO under its international community-based recognition program. The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme aims to build resilient coastal communities through awareness and preparedness strategies to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and property from tsunamis. Communities seeking this recognition must meet all 12 indicators that assess readiness in areas such as assessment, preparedness, and response. Recognition is renewable every four years, emphasizing sustained commitment to preparedness. This voluntary, performance-based initiative fosters collaboration among national and local warning agencies, government authorities, scientists, community leaders, and the public to establish robust tsunami preparedness measures.
