CURRENT AFFAIRS 10 December, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 10 December, 2024

1. INDIA SKILLS REPORT 2025 –

• The India Skills Report 2025, published by Wheebox and other notable organisations, reveals that Kerala has a 71% employability rate, placing it fifth among states of India
• The report surveyed 6.50 lakh youths across India and found that 54.81% of respondents possess the necessary skills for employment. Kerala’s figures stand out, especially among younger job seekers.

2. ABATHSAHAYESHWARAR TEMPLE WINS UNESCO AWARD FOR HERITAGE RESTORATION –

• The Abathsahayeshwarar Temple in Thukkatchi, a 1,300-year-old Chola dynasty structure in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district, has gained international recognition by UNESCO’s 2023 Award of Distinction for its exceptional conservation efforts.
• The temple was constructed by Kings Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola and featured five prakarams or enclosures. The village was known as Vikrama Chozheeswaram and Kulothunga Chola Nallur. Kulothunga Chola established the idol for Aadhi Sarabeshwarar.
• The temple houses many deities, including Soundaryanayaki Ambal and Ashtabhuja Durga Parameshwari.

3. INDIA ACHIEVES TOTAL FERTILITY RATE OF 2.0 –

• India has reached a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.0, which aligns with the goals of the National Population Policy 2000 and the National Health Policy 2017 and the TFR target was set at 2.1. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, announced this in the Rajya Sabha.
• The government has launched various initiatives under the Family Planning Programme, which aim to provide effective contraceptive methods. They include condoms, oral contraceptive pills, emergency contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUCDs), and sterilisation options.
• Recent introductions to contraceptive options include the Antara injectable contraceptive and the Chhaya Centchroman pill. These new methods enhance choices for family planning.

4. MAHA KUMBH 2025 TO FEATURE WORLD’S LARGEST AI-POWERED HEADCOUNT –

• The Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025 will be a monumental occasion at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and is expected to draw between 40 and 45 crore devotees.
• Attendees will gather at the sacred ‘Triveni Sangam’, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge. The Uttar Pradesh government aims to implement the world’s largest AI-powered headcount for this event.

5. UNESCO ALERTS: RISING OCEAN TEMPERATURES THREATEN MARINE LIFE –

• A recent UNESCO report marks the risks faced by fish species in tropical and subtropical regions.
• If greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels, temperatures may rise by 4.4°C by the century’s end, termed SSP 8.5, which could push many fish species beyond their heat tolerance limits.