{"id":30035,"date":"2024-09-26T18:22:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T12:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=30035"},"modified":"2025-07-12T15:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T10:10:29","slug":"news-in-short-26-09-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-09-2024\/news-in-short-26-09-2024","title":{"rendered":"News In Short-26-09-2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Asia Power Index, 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Foreign Affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has become the third most powerful nation in Asia, surpassing Japan in the Asia Power Index.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>USA and China have been ranked at 1st and 2nd place, respectively<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f3f5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"802\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-802x1024.webp\" alt=\"About Asia Power Index\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-30036\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f3f5; width:382px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-802x1024.webp 802w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-235x300.webp 235w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-768x981.webp 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-1202x1536.webp 1202w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/About-Asia-Power-Index-jpg.webp 1470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Asia Power Index<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Launched by:<\/strong> Lowy Institute in 2018.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scope:<\/strong> It is an annual measure that examines power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coverage: <\/strong>The Index evaluates 27 countries across the region, analyzing their ability to shape and respond to their external environment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives: <\/strong>A country&#8217;s overall power score is derived from a weighted average of 8 measures, which are divided into resource-based and influence-based determinants, encompassing 131 individual indicators.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Asia Power Index provides valuable insights into the geopolitical landscape of the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the growing influence of countries like India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: AIR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Clause 6 of the Assam Accord<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Chief Minister of Assam mentioned the implementation of 52 recommendations of the <strong>Justice Biplab Sarma Committee<\/strong> regarding <strong>Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Assam Accord was a <strong>Memorandum of Settlement<\/strong> between the <strong>Union government and the leadership of the All Assam Students\u2019 Union (AASU),<\/strong> which was signed in <strong>1985<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The accord ended the<strong> six-year-long agitation in Assam<\/strong> against the<strong> entry of Bangladeshi migrants<\/strong> into the state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clause 6 of the accord<\/strong> states that \u201cConstitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2019, the Union Home Ministry constituted a committee chaired by retired Assam High Court<strong> Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma<\/strong>, to suggest <strong>ways to implement the clause.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Among the key questions before the committee was a definition of<strong> the Assamese people eligible for the safeguards under Clause 6.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Based on this, the committee made several recommendations for<strong> reservations for Assamese people<\/strong>, including in Parliament, the state Assembly, local bodies, and jobs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/what-is-clause-6-of-assam-accord-which-himanta-said-state-government-will-implement-9588374\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Quality Control Order (QCO) for Medical Textiles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Textiles has introduced a <strong>Quality Control Order<\/strong> for Medical Textiles to enhance Public Health and Safety.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This regulation establishes <strong>stringent quality standards<\/strong> for critical medical textile products, including <strong>sanitary napkins, baby diapers, reusable sanitary pads, and dental bibs.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is aimed at ensuring that these products<strong> consistently meet essential quality benchmarks.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The notified specifications<strong> cover critical performance criteria<\/strong> such as pH levels, hygiene testing, bacterial and fungal bioburden, biocompatibility evaluations, and biodegradability.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a strong emphasis on<strong> testing for phthalate levels<\/strong> in baby diapers, as these chemicals can pose risks to both the users and the environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compliance with these standards will be <strong>legally required<\/strong>, with non-compliance potentially leading to<strong> fines and other penalties.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The implementation of the QCO is part of the government&#8217;s comprehensive strategy to <strong>enhance the quality and safety of essential consumer products.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2058537#:~:text=The%20Quality%20Control%20Order%20(QCO,sanitary%20pads%2C%20and%20dental%20bibs.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Priority Sector Lending<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study by RBI economists reveals that priority sector lending (PSL) improves banks&#8217; asset quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Priority sector lending?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Priority Sector Lending (PSL) is a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiative that <strong>requires banks to lend a certain percentage of their funds <\/strong>to sectors that may not otherwise receive enough credit.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The goal of PSL is to <strong>support the all-round development of the economy<\/strong> by providing credit to sectors that are important for development or have difficulty getting loans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The RBI periodically updates<\/strong> the sectors that are eligible for PSL, as well as the loan limits.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The sectors that are eligible for PSL include: <\/strong>Agriculture, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Export Credit, Education, Housing, Social Infrastructure, Renewable Energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In case, banks fail to meet their PSL targets, they have to deposit the allocated amount to the <strong>Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) <\/strong>established with NABARD and to other funds as decided by the RBI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: ET<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>ADB Raises Inflation Forecast for India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 3\/ Economy<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)<\/strong> forecasts that India\u2019s GDP will grow by 7.0% in FY2024 (ending March 2025) and 7.2% in FY2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Forecast<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inflation Projections: <\/strong>ADB raised India&#8217;s retail inflation forecast for 2024-25 to 4.7%, up from 4.6%, citing elevated food prices.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The forecast for 2025-26 remains unchanged, expecting core inflation to rise as food inflation moderates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monetary Policy Outlook: <\/strong>ADB does not expect an immediate cut in interest rates, contrary to some agencies&#8217; expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by October.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Monetary policy is expected to become less restrictive, but only after food price pressures ease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact of Elevated Food Prices<\/strong>:High food prices, despite increased imports and higher output expectations, have delayed the RBI&#8217;s move towards more accommodative monetary policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GDP Growth Outlook:<\/strong>ADB maintains India&#8217;s GDP growth projection at 7% for 2024-25 and 7.2% for 2025-26.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Industrial and Agricultural Outlook<\/strong>: Industrial growth has slowed due to rising input costs affecting manufacturing margins, though mining and construction saw gains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ADB expects La Ni\u00f1a<\/strong> to boost India&#8217;s agricultural output, particularly for rice, wheat, and sugarcane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Potential Risks: <\/strong>Geopolitical and weather-related shocks may affect global supply chains and agricultural output.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>About Asian Development Bank (ADB)<\/strong><br>&#8211; It was established in 1966 and is a regional development bank that aims to promote a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while focusing on eradicating extreme poverty.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; ADB offers loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to its member countries to support their social and economic development.<br>&#8211; India is a founding member and the fourth-largest shareholder in ADB.<br>&#8211; ADB supports India&#8217;s priorities for climate-resilient and inclusive growth, aligned with its Strategy 2030 and the country partnership strategy (2023\u20132027).<br>&#8211; <strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Manila, Philippines<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source : TH&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Women in Space Leadership Programme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) was launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the British Council.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was launched as part of the <strong>UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The initiative focuses<\/strong> on supporting institutions in <strong>strengthening gender-inclusive practices <\/strong>to foster women\u2019s leadership in space sciences by developing a strategic leadership framework.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implementation of WiSLP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The programme will <strong>aid 250 early career researchers<\/strong> to become better equipped to take up leadership roles and navigate gender biases and associated barriers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The programme is underpinned by three foundational pillars:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Intersectionality or understanding of different aspects of women\u2019s identities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaborative culturally sensitive approaches that respond to opportunities and challenges in India;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using leadership theory from both social science and STEM to support female scientists to become more confident about their leadership abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2058528\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Central Silk Board<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, unveiled a commemorative coin celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of the <strong>Central Silk Board (CSB)<\/strong> at Mysuru.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Central Silk Board<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Central Silk Board (CSB) is a statutory body<\/strong> established in 1948 under an Act of Parliament.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It operates <strong>under the Ministry of Textiles <\/strong>and plays a crucial role in the development of India\u2019s silk industry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The CSB advises the Government of India on all matters concerning <strong>sericulture (silk farming) and the silk industry.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headquarters: <\/strong>&nbsp;Bengaluru, Karnataka<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Silk Production in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is the <strong>2nd largest producer<\/strong> of Silk in the World.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India is the only country<\/strong> in the world that produces all four major varieties of silk \u2013 <strong>Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>South India is the leading silk producing area of the country and is also known for its famous silk weaving enclaves like <strong>Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Arni,<\/strong> etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: PIB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Differential Rotation of the Sun<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 3\/Space&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Astronomers mapped the variation in the Sun&#8217;s chromosphere rotation speed from the equator to the poles using 100 years of data from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data Source and Technique:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) astronomers used solar plages and network features from daily Sun records at 393.3 nm (Calcium K spectral line).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These features allowed them to measure rotation speed even at the poles, unlike sunspots.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 100-year-long data from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory has been digitized, enabling detailed analysis of chromospheric features.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sun&#8217;s Differential Rotation:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Sun rotates at different speeds at different latitudes: the equator rotates faster (25 days) than the poles (35 days).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This differential rotation is key to understanding the solar dynamo, the 11-year solar cycle, and solar magnetic storms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discovery<\/strong>:Differential rotation was first discovered in the 19th century by Carrington, but earlier methods were limited in studying latitudes above 35 degrees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Findings on Rotation Rates:<\/strong>The rotation rate was faster at the equator (13.98 degrees\/day) and slower towards the poles (10.5 degrees\/day at 80 degrees latitude).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both plages and network features showed similar rotation rates, suggesting a common origin possibly rooted deep inside the Sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Plages and Networks:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plages are bright regions in the chromosphere, larger than sunspots, with weaker magnetic fields.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Network cells are slightly larger than sunspots and have weaker magnetic fields, present continuously across the Sun\u2019s surface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of the Study:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is the first time chromospheric network cells have been used to map the Sun\u2019s rotation across its entire surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The findings are crucial for understanding the Sun&#8217;s magnetic field and activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source:PIB&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India has become the third most powerful nation in Asia, surpassing Japan in the Asia Power Index.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30035"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30039,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30035\/revisions\/30039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}