DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Sept. 30, 2024

India: Third-Largest Ethanol Producer and Consumer

Tags: Reports

India has risen to become the third-largest producer and consumer of ethanol globally, driven by key policy reforms aimed at promoting biofuels and energy sustainability.

An Overview of the News

• Boosting Ethanol Production: The government has introduced various programs, offering financial support to sugarcane farmers and manufacturers to increase ethanol availability.

• Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence: Policies focus on blending ethanol with fuels to cut down reliance on fossil fuels and support rural farmers.

• India Sugar & Bio-Energy Conference (September 2024): Organized by ISMA, the conference gathered policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of sugar and bio-energy sectors.

• "Harmonising Sweet Sustainability": The theme highlighted sustainable practices and teamwork in driving eco-friendly innovations in the sugar and bio-energy industries.

• Focus Areas: Discussions centered around expanding ethanol production, optimizing supply chains, and promoting sustainable farming to align with India's green economy goals.

A new ghost shark species discovered in New Zealand

Tags: Science and Technology International News

New Zealand scientists discovered the Australian narrow-nosed spookfish (Harriotta avia) in the deep waters of the Chatham Rise.

An Overview of the News

• Ghost sharks, also known as chimeras, are cartilaginous fish related to sharks and rays.

• They live in deep ocean waters, making them difficult to study.

• The discovery is significant due to the rarity and limited knowledge about ghost sharks.

• It aids conservation efforts and deepens the understanding of marine biodiversity.

Naming and Distinction:

• The new species was named Harriotta avia in honor of Dr. Finucci's grandmother.

• Genetic testing revealed that the species is unique to the waters around Australia and New Zealand.

India rises in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024

Tags: INDEX

India has risen to 39th place out of 133 countries, showing remarkable progress in innovation. It is recognised as a leader in innovation in Central and Southern Asia.

An Overview of the News

• Ranked first among lower-middle income countries and fourth in the World Intellectual Property Organization's Science and Technology (S&T) cluster rankings.

• Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are listed among the top 100 S&T clusters in the world.

About GII

• The GII, established in 2007 by WIPO, INSEAD and Cornell University, ranks countries based on their innovation potential across 81 factors.

• Switzerland is often a leader due to its heavy investment in R&D.

Shigeru Ishiba: New leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Tags: International News

Shigeru Ishiba won a close contest in an unusual LDP election with nine candidates.

An Overview of the News

• He replaced Fumio Kishida, who resigned amid corruption scandals and economic challenges.

• Ishiba represents reformist views, in contrast to the conservative Sanae Takaichi associated with former PM Shinzo Abe.

• His support for progressive policies, such as female monarchs, has highlighted internal divisions in the LDP.

Public appeal:

• Ishiba's openness to criticise his party and engage with the public has won him support.

• His leadership may lead to early elections to consolidate his position ahead of general elections.

Shigeru Ishiba's background:

• Born in 1959, Ishiba is a former defence minister and a supporter of military reforms.

• Elected to Japan's House of Representatives in 2000, he is known for his expertise in the defense sector and is active on social media.

Kerala tops Urban Governance Index (UGI)

Tags: INDEX

A two-year study by Praja Foundation assessing the governance quality of Indian cities. Kerala ranks first with a score of 59.31, ahead of Odisha's 55.10.

News Overview

• The UGI promotes efficient urban governance and attracts investments for sustainable development.

• Kerala excelled in financial empowerment, scoring 23.22 out of 30, better than Maharashtra (21.15).

• Strong financial management at the local level is a key factor in Kerala's success.

• Kerala is ranked 20th in urban governance empowerment, indicating a need for improvement.

About Kerala

• Capital - Thiruvananthapuram

• Chief minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

• Districts - 14

• Rajya Sabha    - 9 seats

• Lok Sabha - 20 seats