These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares today’s current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.
Scroll down for current affairs of 9th January, 2024.
81st Edition Of The Golden Globe Awards
- The 81st edition of the Golden Globes took place, hosted by comedian and actor Jo Koy, the second Asian host in the awards’ history.
- Lily Gladstone won Best Actress in a Drama, and Cillian Murphy won Best Actor for Oppenheimer.
- Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer won Best Picture.
- Best TV Series – Drama was won by Succession.
- Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy was won by The Bear.
- Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or TV Movie was won by Beef.
- Cinematic and Box Office Achievement went to Barbie.
- Best Original Song winner was “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.
- Ludwig Göransson won Best Original Score for Oppenheimer.
- Cillian Murphy won Best Actor in a Drama for Oppenheimer.
- Emma Stone won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Poor Things.
- Christopher Nolan won Best Director for Oppenheimer.
DCGA Makes Changes In The Policy For Pilots
- Considering the imperative of aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has expanded the weekly and nightly rest periods.
- Simultaneously, adjustments have been made to the maximum flight time, flight duty period, and the number of landings for flight crew.
- The revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations now dictate an augmentation of weekly rest intervals from 36 to 48 hours for the flight crew, ensuring ample time for recovery from cumulative fatigue.
- The definition of the night period has undergone a modification, extending from 0000-0600 hours in the revised regulations, as opposed to the earlier 0000-0500 hours.
- This additional hour during the early morning guarantees adequate rest and aligns the night duty period with the window of circadian low (WOCL) from 0200-0600 hours, representing the time when the circadian body clock cycle is at its lowest alertness level.
- The maximum flight time and flight duty period for operations intruding into the night have been curtailed to 8 hours of flight time and a 10-hour flight duty period, respectively.
- Additionally, the number of landings is now restricted to two, compared to the previous maximum of six landings during night operations.
- All operators are required to submit quarterly fatigue reports, emphasizing a non-punitive and confidential reporting policy.
- The revised FDTL regulation serves as a foundational step toward implementing the new Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) in India.
- FRMS, characterized by a data-driven approach, aims to enhance the monitoring and reporting of flight crew fatigue.
Bilkis Bano Case
- The Supreme Court rejected the Gujarat government’s decision to release 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case.
- A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the Gujarat government didn’t have the authority to grant the release. All 11 convicts, released by the Gujarat government, were set free on August 15, 2022.
- The Bilkis Bano case is a significant incident of gangrape and mass murder during the 2002 Gujarat riots in India.
- Bilkis Bano, a 21-year-old pregnant woman at the time, was sexually assaulted, and her family members were killed in the riots following the Godhra train burning incident.
- Initially overlooked, the case gained attention through Bano’s persistent efforts and her supporters, leading to its reopening and the culprits being brought to justice.
Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) aims to obtain GI tags for an additional 55 products.
- The university, prompted by the agriculture department, is compiling a database for these products from various districts.
- Currently, Bihar has 13 products with GI tags, including Katarni rice, Jardalu mango, Mithila fox nut, Magahi betel leaf, and Shahi litchi.
- The state agriculture department has assigned BAU the task of identifying unique products from each district to promote them nationally and internationally and establish markets for these products.
- The BAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. D R Singh, mentioned that they are forming a special committee to prepare a database for products like Digha mango, Gaya’s anarsa and tilkut, Khagaria’s khoya peda, and Champaran meat, among the 55 identified items.
- GI tags provide intellectual property rights for products linked to specific geographical regions of origin. The identified products include 29 crops, three animal varieties, three fishery varieties, and 20 food products.
Indian toy industry sees A rise
- The Indian toy industry has undergone a significant transformation recently, according to a case study by the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, commissioned by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- Toy imports have dropped by 52%, while toy exports have surged by an impressive 239% compared to the fiscal year 2014-15.
- This positive shift is credited to the government’s continuous efforts over the past six years to create a better manufacturing environment for toys in India.
- The number of manufacturing units has doubled, reducing dependence on imported inputs from 33% to just 12%.
- The gross sales value of the Indian toy industry has consistently grown with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 10%, and there’s been a significant increase in labor productivity.
Global Purple Fest 2024
- In a pioneering endeavor, the International Purple Fest – Goa 2024 emerges as India’s first-ever inclusive festival dedicated to individuals with disabilities.
- The festival, orchestrated by the Office of the State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, and backed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, unfolds as a remarkable showcase of unity and diversity.
- Purple Ambassadors: 22 distinguished ambassadors representing the 21 types of disabilities outlined in the RPwD Act, 2016, and Spinal Cord Injury.
- Purple Anthem ‘Dhumal’: A noteworthy moment featuring Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and revered figures from the Indian Music Industry, emphasizing inclusivity and unity.
- Launch of Initiatives: Unveiling various initiatives by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the Government of Goa.
- With an anticipated global attendance exceeding 8,000 delegates, the International Purple Fest pledges to be a worldwide celebration of diversity, inclusiveness, and empowerment. Stay tuned for updates on this extraordinary journey towards a more inclusive future.
Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956, in news
- The Kerala High Court recently expanded the meaning of the word ‘procure’ in Section 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, to cover customers seeking the services of prostitutes.
- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956 aims to stop the commercialization of vices and the trafficking of females.
- It provides the legal framework for sex work, where engaging in prostitution is recognized, but the act prohibits running brothels.
- The Act doesn’t make sex work illegal, but it considers soliciting people and luring them into sexual activities as illegal.
- According to Section 2, a brothel is defined as any place used for sexual exploitation or abuse for the gain of another person or for the mutual gain of two or more prostitutes.
Svamitva Scheme Wins Awards For Digital Transformation
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj participated in the Innovation Sandbox presentation, winning the 1st Prize for the “Digital Transformation Initiatives in Land Governance through SVAMITVA Scheme” at the Public Policy Dialogues Conclave.
- The Ministry’s efforts in utilizing technology for the SVAMITVA Scheme were recognized with awards such as the Gold Prize in National Awards for e-Governance 2023 and the Gold award at Digitech Conclave 2023.
- SVAMITVA Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, empowers rural communities by employing drone surveys and GIS mapping for accurate demarcation of land parcels.
- The scheme issues SVAMITVA Property Cards, facilitating property monetization, bank loans, and village-level planning, contributing to socio-economic progress in rural areas.
- Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020, the scheme aims for completion by 2024-25, achieving milestones like completing drone surveys in 2.90 lakh villages and preparing 1.66 crore property cards for 1.06 lakh villages.
- Notably, the scheme has already penetrated Haryana, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Goa, generating property cards for all inhabited villages.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the ‘Swachh Mandir (Clean Temple)’ campaign
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the ‘Swachh Mandir (Clean Temple)’ campaign across the country to make pilgrimage sites clean
- PM Modi launched the campaign before the upcoming consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
- In a video on Instagram, PM Modi asked citizens to come together to make Ayodhya the cleanest city in India.
- He encouraged people nationwide to start a cleanliness campaign at smaller pilgrimage sites from Makar Sankranti (January 14) until January 22.
- Speaking to the residents of Ayodhya, PM Modi mentioned that people from across the nation will now visit Ayodhya regularly. Therefore, the residents should promise to make Ramnagari the cleanest city in India.
- Highlighting the inclusive nature of the initiative, PM Modi said Lord Rama belongs to everyone. He emphasized that when Lord Ram is coming, not a single temple or pilgrimage site should be untidy.
- The campaign will involve all elected representatives, including MPs, MLAs, and panchayat representatives. They will work together to ensure the success of the cleanliness drive.
- Party officials are responsible for finding places of worship where the campaign will be launched before the consecration ceremony.
“Inland Waterways Development Council Meeting”
- Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, is set to lead the inaugural Inland Waterways Development Council Meeting in Kolkata.
- During the gathering, Minister Sonowal will introduce innovative initiatives, such as the Harit Nauka – Guidelines for the Environmentally Friendly Transition of Inland Vessels and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047.
- The Ministry has set a goal to increase the current two percent modal share of Inland Water Transportation to five percent, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030.
- The formation of the Inland Waterways Development Council in October of the previous year highlights the government’s dedication to the comprehensive development of inland waterways and the associated Inland Water Transport system, aiming to enhance cargo efficiency, passenger mobility, and river cruise tourism.
Swedish Scientists Develop ‘E-soil
- A remarkable advancement in agricultural technology has originated from the laboratories of Linkoping University in Sweden.
- Researchers have introduced an electrically conductive “soil” designed to promote exceptional crop growth, particularly in barley seedlings, potentially resulting in a 50 percent increase in growth within just 15 days.
- This revolutionary soilless cultivation technique, known as hydroponics, utilizes an advanced root system activated by an innovative cultivation substrate. With hydroponics, the possibility of cultivating food in urban environments under precisely controlled conditions becomes a practical reality.
- In hydroponic cultivation, plants flourish without soil, relying solely on water, nutrients, and a supportive substrate for root attachment. This enclosed system enables water recycling, ensuring precise nutrient delivery to each seedling.
- As a result, hydroponics distinguishes itself from traditional methods with minimal water usage and optimal nutrient retention.
- Furthermore, the vertical cultivation potential of hydroponics, utilizing towering structures, maximizes space efficiency.
- Traditionally, mineral wool serves as the cultivation substrate in hydroponics. However, this non-biodegradable material involves an energy-intensive production process, prompting researchers to explore sustainable alternatives.
- Enter eSoil: a pioneering electronic cultivation substrate crafted from cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, combined with a conductive polymer known as PEDOT.
- While the combination itself is not entirely new, its unprecedented application in plant cultivation and the creation of a plant interface signify a groundbreaking leap forward.
Collaboration in the Hydrocarbon Sector between India and Guyana
- The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given approval for the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Republic of Guyana.
- The objective of the MoU is to encourage cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, encompassing various facets of the value chain.
- Sourcing of Crude Oil: Involving India in the procurement of crude oil from Guyana.
- Exploration and Production (E&P) Sector: Facilitating the involvement of Indian companies in Guyana’s Exploration and Production sector.
- Oil Refining: Collaborating on the refining of crude oil.
- Capacity Building: Introducing initiatives for skill development and capacity building in the hydrocarbon sector.
- Bilateral Trade: Strengthening the bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
- Natural Gas Sector: Cooperating in the exploration and development of natural gas resources.
- Regulatory Policy Framework: Collaborating on the development of a regulatory policy framework in Guyana’s oil & gas sector.
- Clean Energy Partnership: Cooperation in clean energy domains like biofuels and solar energy.
- Anticipated Impact: The execution of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is projected to yield substantial outcomes:
- Diversification of Crude Oil Resources: India seeks to broaden its sources of crude oil through involvement in Guyana’s hydrocarbon sector, bolstering energy and supply security.
- Global Exposure for Indian Enterprises: Collaborating with international oil & gas entities in upstream projects will afford Indian companies valuable global experience.
- This collaborative effort aligns with India’s pursuit of self-reliance in the hydrocarbon sector.
- Implementation and Duration: The MoU will be in effect for an initial five-year term, automatically renewing thereafter on a five-year basis unless either party issues a written notice three months in advance of termination.
India-Maldives Dispute on Social Media
- Last week, a controversy erupted on social media when a minister and other leaders in the Maldives used offensive language against PM Modi following his video post on a beach in Lakshadweep.
- The now-deleted post by Mariyam Shiuna showcased images of PM Modi from his recent Lakshadweep visit. The Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts referred to the Indian prime minister as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel.’
- PM Modi’s visit to the country’s smallest Union Territory, comprising 36 islands, was perceived as an effort to boost tourism on the island.
- In their tweets, the ministers employed disrespectful language against PM Modi, accused India of targeting the Maldives, and asserted that India faces significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism.
- The Maldivian Foreign Ministry acknowledged the “derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals,” clarifying that “these opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives.”
Today’s Current Affairs MCQs/ GK Quiz 9th January 2024
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