CURRENT AFFAIRS 05 November, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 05 November, 2024

1. INDIA SECURES ISA PRESIDENCY AGAIN, ASHISH KHANNA NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL –

• India and France have been re-elected as the president and co-president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), respectively, at the seventh ISA assembly held in New Delhi. During the inaugural day of the assembly, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced that India would continue to hold the presidency until 2026.
• India and France have been re-elected as president and co-president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). India will hold the presidency until 2026.
• Emphasized the transformation of solar energy from vision to reality, highlighting its role in promoting a cleaner and sustainable future.

2. US ELECTION RESULTS 2024 –

• The United States is gearing up for one of the most significant political events of the decade: the 2024 presidential election. Set to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, this high-stakes election has already drawn worldwide attention as Americans prepare to cast their votes for the country’s next leader.
• This election will be a contest between two influential figures: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Both campaigns have intensified, particularly in critical battleground states, making this election one of the most anticipated political events globally.

3. INDIA COMMITS TO 30% PROTECTED AREAS IN UPDATED BIODIVERSITY PLAN –

• India has unveiled its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) during the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, committing to protect at least 30% of its terrestrial, inland water, and coastal marine areas by 2030.
• This ambitious target aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), adopted at the previous conference in 2022, which aims for global protection of 30% of land and ocean areas while restoring degraded ecosystems crucial for providing clean water and air.
• The updated NBSAP outlines 23 national targets mirroring the 23 global goals, emphasizing India’s commitment to conserving its rich biodiversity, which represents 7-8% of the world’s species within only 2.4% of global land area.

4. SIGNIFICANT RISE HIMALAYAN GLACIAL LAKES INCREASE 10.81% FROM 2011 TO 2024 –

• A recent government report indicates that glacial lakes and water bodies in the Himalayan region have experienced a 10.81% increase in area from 2011 to 2024, primarily driven by climate change.
• This expansion raises concerns about the heightened risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The report, accessed by PTI from the Central Water Commission (CWC), highlights that lakes in India have seen an even more significant growth, with a surface area increase of 33.7%.
• The total area of glacial lakes in India grew from 1,962 hectares in 2011 to 2,623 hectares in 2024, marking a 33.7% increase.
• A total of 67 lakes in India experienced over 40% increase in surface area, categorizing them as high-risk for GLOFs.
• The most notable expansions were recorded in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Overall, glacial lakes across the Himalayan region increased from 533,401 hectares in 2011 to 591,108 hectares in 2024.

5. OCTOBER GST COLLECTIONS SURGE BY 8.9% YEAR-ON-YEAR TO REACH RS 1.87 LAKH CRORE –

• Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in October reached Rs 1.87 lakh crore, marking an 8.9% increase year-on-year. This robust collection, based on September sales, represents the second-highest level of monthly GST collections since the indirect tax regime’s inception in July 2017.
• The rise is primarily attributed to stronger domestic transactions, with revenue from imports experiencing slower growth, as detailed by the Ministry of Finance in data released on Friday.
• After a three-year low growth rate in September, October saw an encouraging rebound in gross GST collections. Despite this improvement, the growth rate has not yet returned to the double-digit levels recorded in previous years. The highest GST collection on record was achieved in April 2024, when GST collections peaked at Rs 2.10 lakh crore.