TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16.11.2024

1. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL SPACE FOR WAGE PROTECTION

• Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve working conditions for foreign workers through digital platforms:
• Focus on Wage Protection and Secure Working Conditions and other labor rights violations.
• Vision 2030 Alignment:Saudi Arabia’s plan aims to diversify the economy and modernize various sectors, including labor practices. Attracting and retaining a skilled foreign workforce.
• Musaned Platform:This digital platform is central to the new labor reforms:
• Contract Transparency, Real-Time Updates to workers, Linkage with Insurance and Benefits and,Accessibilityfor workers from specific countries in Africa and Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. 
• Benefits for Workers and Employers: Worker Protection
• Addressing Illegal Immigration
• Stable Working Environment

2. ECONOMY

TOMATOES STOE FRESH FEARS OF FOOD INFLATION SPIKE

• Resurgence of food inflation concerns, driven primarily by a sharp increase in tomato prices
• Food Inflation:The increase in the price of food items over a period. It’s a crucial component of overall inflation, significantly impacting household budgets, especially for lower-income groups.
• Vegetable Inflation:A subset of food inflation, focusing specifically on the price rise of vegetables.
• Supply and Demand Dynamics:Reduced tomato arrivalsin wholesale markets (“mandis”) due to excess rainfallconstrict supply. Simultaneously, festive demand increases, pushing prices upwards. This classic supply-demand mismatch fuels inflation.
• Impact on Consumers:Rising tomato prices, a staple in Indian cuisine, directly impact household budgets.
• Government Intervention:The central government’s intervention, selling tomatoes at a subsidized rate, aims to stabilize prices and provide relief to consumers.
• Role of Intermediaries:The “possible role of market intermediaries.” This alludes to potential price manipulationor hoardingby actors in the supply chain, exacerbating the price increase. This requires further investigation and regulatory oversight.
• Seasonal Factors:Excess rainfalldisrupting supply is a seasonal factor affecting vegetable prices. Such factors can contribute to short-term price volatility.
• Year-on-Year Comparison:The 233% jumpin July (compared to June) and subsequent easing in August, followed by the recent surge, demonstrates the volatility of tomato prices. The year-on-year figure of 36% for overall vegetable inflation provides a broader context of price trends

3. SOCIAL ISSUES

HOOCH TRAGEDY

• Hooch refers to illicitly distilled alcohol, often made in unregulated and unsafe conditions. The term ‘hooch’ originates from the Hoochinoo tribe in Alaska, known for brewing homemade liquor. Hooch is popular in India due to several reasons:
• Low Cost of Production:It is cheaper to produce than legally manufactured alcohol, making it accessible to low-income groups.
• Easy Availability of Precursors:It’s typically made with low-quality ingredients, often using dangerous additives to increase potency or mimic the effects of legally produced alcohol.
• These additives can include methanol, battery acid, or even embalming fluid, making hooch extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
• The production process often lacks quality control and hygiene, further increasing health risks. Lack of Regulation:Inadequate enforcement of laws allows illegal production to thrive.
• To curb the issue of hooch, the government can implement several measures:
• Strict Enforcement of Prohibition Laws:Strengthening the legal framework and ensuring stringent penalties for offenders can deter illegal production.
• Destruction of Illicit Liquor Production Units:Regular raids and destruction of illegal distilleries can disrupt the supply chain.
• Public Awareness Campaigns:Educating the public about the dangers of consuming hooch can reduce demand.
• Alternative Livelihood Programs:Providing alternative employment opportunities for those involved in hooch production can prevent them from returning to illegal activities. Successful examples include:
• Gujarat’s Prohibition Policy:The state has seen a reduction in hooch related incidents due to strict enforcement and community involvement.
• Tamil Nadu’s Special Task Force:The task force has effectively dismantled several illegal distilleries, leading to a decrease in hooch consumption.

4. BILATERAL

INDIA’S SDG FOCUS AND ITS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

• The G20 Summit, SDG Summit, and Summit of the Future all emphasize accelerating progress towards the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This necessitates an examination of India’s human development progress. Human Development Index (HDI):
• India’s HDI:0.644 (2022), placing India in the “medium human development” category (rank 134 out of 193 countries).
• Progress:48.4% increase in HDI value since 1990, but slower progress compared to some neighboring countries during 2015-2022, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Key areas for improvement:Life expectancy, education, and income per capita. Gender Development Index (GDI):
• Gender gap:India has a significant gender gap in HDI achievements, with a large disparity between male and female HDI values.
• Labor force participation:A substantial gap exists in LFPR between men (76.1%) and women (28.3%), though the female LFPR has seen improvement between 2017-18 and 2022-23. A significant rural-urban divide persists in female LFPR. 
• Other gender disparities:Likely present in areas like education, health, and economic opportunities. Income Inequality:
• High income concentration:The richest 1% in India hold a disproportionately large share of income (21.7%), exceeding regional and global averages.
• Implications:Exacerbates inequality and hinders inclusive development. Challenges and Recommendations:
• Addressing gender disparities:Promoting female education, employment, and economic empowerment. Further research is needed to address the rural-urban divide in female LFPR.
• Reducing income inequality:Implementing policies to promote more equitable distribution of wealth and resources. 
• Investing in human capital:Improving health, education, and skill development to enhance human capabilities.
• Strengthening social safety nets:Protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring access to basic services.
• Promoting inclusive growth:Creating economic opportunities for all segments of society.

5. ENVIRONMENT

MINING IN RISHIKESH ILLEGAL : NGT

• Illegal Mining in Rishikesh near Triveni Ghat
• Illegality of mining:The NGT’s observation that mining is being carried out illegally, citing a Supreme Court ruling.
• Role of District Magistrate:The NGT’s note on the District Magistrate allowing mining in an “illegal manner” raises questions about administrative oversight and potential corruption.
• Environmental impact:Mining near Triveni Ghat, a religiously significant site on the Ganga, poses a threat to the river’s ecology and water quality.
• NGT’s actions:Issuing a restraint order against the contractor, sending notices to relevant government bodies, and directing them to file replies. This demonstrates the NGT’s proactive approach in addressing environmental violations.

ONE LINER

1. The Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai is established through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with a collaboration between the Minstry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Tata IIS
2. The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has recently announced the integration of the UMANG app with DigiLocker – India’s Digital Wallet

BANKING

1. National Press Day’ is celebrated   every year on 16 November in India .
2. Sri Lanka’s ruling National People’s Power has won a big victory by securing a two-thirds majority in the Parliament. The leftist alliance has won 159 seats in the 225-member House. 
3. On the occasion of ‘ Dev Deepawali’ (Dev Deepawali 2024) on the evening of 15 November in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, a record 17 lakh earthen lamps were lit on various ghats. Apart from this, four lakh diyas were also lit around the city of Kashi.
4. India, Nepal and Bangladesh have succeeded in commissioning the first power transmission line of up to 40 MW from Nepal to Bangladesh using ‘ GRID -INDIA’.
5. India defeated  South Africa by 135 runs in the fourth and final T-20 match played at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.