CURRENT AFFAIRS 12 December, 2024
- CENTRE TO INCUBATE 8 NEW SMART CITIES UNDER NEW CITIES SCHEME –
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched a new scheme extending the Smart City Mission, with an allocation of Rs 8,000 crore as a performance-based challenge fund for incubating 8 new cities.
- This initiative aims to manage the rapid urbanization pressures following the success of the Smart Cities Mission. Under this scheme, each state can have only one new city through the allocated fund.
- The selection process included the formation of an Expert Committee to finalize bid parameters and eligibility conditions. A total of 28 proposals from 23 states were received, despite the initial lack of proposals from the North-Eastern States.
- The proposed cities include notable ones like Kopparthay (Andhra Pradesh), Gumin Nagar (Arunachal Pradesh), New MOPA Ayush City (Goa), Aerocity (Kerala), and Thirumazhisai (Tamil Nadu), among others.
- INDIA TO TRIPLE ATOMIC POWER CAPACITY BY 2031 –
- India’s atomic power capacity has seen remarkable growth, nearly doubling from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,081 MW in 2024. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a statement to the Lok Sabha, highlighted that this progress was achieved in just a decade, a milestone that traditionally took over 60 years.
- The government’s push for political leadership and technical expertise has enabled these strides. By 2031-32, India’s atomic power capacity is projected to triple to 22,480 MW, further solidifying the nation’s leadership in nuclear energy.
- FIFA WORLD CUP HOSTS UNVEILED FOR 2030, 2034 –
- FIFA has officially announced the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 Men’s Football World Cups. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament, with additional matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to commemorate the centenary of the competition.
- Saudi Arabia has been chosen to host the 2034 tournament. These decisions were confirmed during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting, with votes cast by FIFA’s 211 member associations. The process has sparked mixed reactions, including support, abstentions, and criticisms of the bidding process.
- KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES 2025 LEH AND GULMARG ANNOUNCED AS HOSTS
- The Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) have emerged as a premier event in India’s sporting calendar, promoting winter sports and identifying talent for international competitions.
- The 2025 edition promises to continue this tradition with thrilling ice and snow events hosted in the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. With a strong emphasis on fostering young talent and promoting winter sports culture, the KIWG serves as a vital platform for aspiring athletes, especially from remote Himalayan regions.
- Ladakh (Ice Events): January 23 to 27, 2025.
- Jammu & Kashmir (Snow Events): February 22 to 25, 2025.
- ADB REVISES INDIA’S GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 6.5% FOR FY25, 7% FOR FY26 –
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.5% from 7% and for FY26 to 7% from 7.2%, citing weaker-than-expected industrial output, subdued public capital spending, and tight monetary policies.
- The slowdown in Q2FY25, where GDP growth fell to 5.4% compared to 6.7% in the previous quarter, has impacted these projections.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also revised its growth forecast for FY25 to 6.6%. Despite challenges, the economy is supported by strong agricultural output, resilience in the services sector, and declining crude oil prices.