CURRENT AFFAIRS 18 December, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 18 December, 2024

1. MOLDOVA JOINS INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE –

• Moldova has officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA), signalling its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability.
• The ISA Framework Agreement was signed in New Delhi by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi. Moldova’s inclusion comes after Armenia became the 104th full member last month, marking the continued global expansion of the ISA.
• Headquartered in India, ISA unites countries to overcome challenges in solar energy financing, technology, and scalability, aiming to mobilize over USD 1,000 billion in investments by 2030.

2. KISAN KAVACH – BHARAT’S INDIGENOUS ANTI-PESTICIDE BODYSUIT –

• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, unveiled Kisan Kavach, India’s first indigenous anti-pesticide bodysuit.
• Developed by BRIC-inStem, Bangalore, in collaboration with Sepio Health Pvt. Ltd., the suit aims to safeguard farmers from pesticide-induced health risks. The launch aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of leveraging science and technology to empower India’s agricultural community.

3. ISRAEL EXPANDS SETTLEMENTS IN GOLAN HEIGHTS AMID REGIONAL SHIFTS –

• Israel recently approved a settlement expansion plan in the Golan Heights, allocating over $11.13 million to boost population and infrastructure in the region.
• This decision comes amidst rising regional tensions following political changes in Syria, particularly the fall of the Assad regime. Israel aims to double the population in this strategically significant territory.
• The Golan Heights, captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, remains unrecognized as Israeli territory by most of the international community.
• The plateau holds strategic value for defense and water resources. Currently, the region houses about 50,000 residents, including 20,000 Israeli settlers and an equal number of local Druze Arabs and Alawites.

4. PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS RECORD NET PROFIT OF RS 85,520 CRORE IN FIRST HALF FY2024-25 –

• In the first half of FY 2024-25, Public Sector Banks (PSBs), including the State Bank of India (SBI), reported a net profit of ₹85,520 crore, marking an impressive 26% growth compared to ₹67,850 crore during the same period in the previous year.
• This significant achievement underscores the operational efficiency and financial resilience of PSBs, driven by improved asset quality, robust credit monitoring, and enhanced operational efficiency.

5. INS NIRDESHAK: INDIAN NAVY’S NEW SURVEY SHIP COMMISSIONED –

• The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Nirdeshak, a new survey ship, on December 18, 2024, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. This event, with Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth as the Chief Guest, signifies a major leap in India’s naval capabilities.
• The vessel, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, is the second ship under the Survey Vessel (Large) Project. INS Nirdeshak will enhance India’s maritime presence, especially in the Indian Ocean Region, and will continue the legacy of the original Nirdeshak, which served the Navy for 32 years before being decommissioned in 2014.