{"id":34244,"date":"2024-12-24T19:32:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T14:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=34244"},"modified":"2024-12-26T17:37:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T12:07:36","slug":"news-in-short-24-december-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-12-2024\/news-in-short-24-december-2024","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 24-12-2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Lesotho<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 1\/Places&nbsp;<\/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 sent a humanitarian aid consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes to Lesotho to assist with food security and nutritional needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Lesotho<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5d0a0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Lesotho\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-34245\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5d0a0; width:384px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Lesotho.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Geography\u00a0 :<\/strong>It is a country in Southern Africa.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a highland country with plateaus, hills, and mountains. Its highest point is <strong>Thabana Ntlenyana<\/strong> at 3,482 meters.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The capital<\/strong>:\u00a0 Maseru<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>History\u00a0 : <\/strong>Lesotho, initially inhabited by Khoisan hunter-gatherers, was later settled by Bantu and Sotho-Tswana peoples.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a0In 1822, King Moshoeshoe I unified the region, which became a British protectorate in 1843, known as Basutoland.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lesotho gained independence on October 4, 1966, with King Moshoeshoe II as its first sovereign.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Society :\u00a0 <\/strong>The country is predominantly Christian (80%), with 20% following indigenous beliefs.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economy\u00a0 : <\/strong>Lesotho&#8217;s economy is driven by industries such as food, textiles, handicrafts, and subsistence farming.\u00a0<\/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>National Consumer Day &amp; Protection Laws<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 2\/Governance<\/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>On National Consumer Day 2024, the Union Minister will launch several key initiatives aimed at enhancing consumer protection and ensuring consumer rights.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Consumer Day\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In India, National Consumer Day is celebrated annually on<strong> December 24th<\/strong> to commemorate the enactment of the <strong>Consumer Protection Act, 1986, (replaced by Consumer Protection Act 2019) <\/strong>which received the assent of the President on this date.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>2024 National Consumer Day<\/strong> theme is \u201cVirtual Hearings &amp; Digital Access to Consumer Justice,\u201d reflecting the government&#8217;s focus on improving consumer justice through digital platforms like e-filing and virtual hearings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Initiatives and Protection laws\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Launch of Consumer Protection Apps:<\/strong> The &#8216;Jago Grahak Jago App,&#8217; &#8216;Jagriti App,&#8217; and &#8216;Jagriti Dashboard&#8217; will help identify and report &#8220;dark patterns&#8221; in e-commerce, which manipulate consumer behavior.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These tools use AI and will support the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) in resolving consumer disputes efficiently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>e-Mapp Portal<\/strong>: A unified digital platform will integrate state legal metrology portals, easing licensing and verification processes for businesses and enhancing transparency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI-enabled NCH 2.0<\/strong>: The National Consumer Helpline Portal is being upgraded with AI-powered chatbots and multilingual support to offer improved grievance resolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SMART Standards: T<\/strong>he Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will introduce machine-readable standards that are interactive, intelligent, and dynamic, transforming how standards are created and used.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), established in 1997<\/strong>, focuses on consumer protection in India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It implements various laws and regulations, including the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which strengthens consumer rights in the digital era, particularly for online transactions, and established the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to handle false advertisements.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016<\/strong> ensures product quality and safety, and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 governs accurate measurement in commercial transactions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :PIB<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Marburg Virus Disease<\/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>Rwanda has successfully managed its first-ever Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak and officially declared it over.<\/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 disease is named after <strong>Marburg, the German city<\/strong> where scientists became ill with the disease\u2019s first known cases in <strong>1967<\/strong>, while handling<strong> monkeys imported from Uganda.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u00a0 is a<strong> highly contagious virulent disease<\/strong> that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a <strong>fatality ratio of up to 88%.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease and they show similar symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Host and Spread: <\/strong>Marburg\u2019s natural host is a <strong>fruit bat,<\/strong> but it can also infect <strong>primates, pigs and other animals.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Human outbreaks start after a person has contact with an infected animal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symptoms: <\/strong>High fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treatment:<\/strong> There are no vaccines and no proven treatment available for Marburg virus disease.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/africa\/rwanda-declares-end-of-marburg-outbreak-who-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>New National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 2\/Governance&nbsp;<\/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>The President of India appointed retired <strong>Supreme Court Justice V. Ramasubramania<\/strong>n as the Chairperson of the <strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)<\/strong>, filling the vacancy that had existed since June 2024.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u00a0 was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Act was amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Standards: <\/strong>NHRC is in conformity with the<strong> Paris Principles<\/strong>, which were adopted at the first international workshop on national human rights institutions in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Regulation 48\/134 of 20 December 1993.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e6e9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"733\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/New-National-Human-Rights-Commission-NHRC-Chairperson.webp\" alt=\"New-National-Human-Rights-Commission-NHRC-Chairperson\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-34246\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e6e9; width:635px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/New-National-Human-Rights-Commission-NHRC-Chairperson.webp 733w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/New-National-Human-Rights-Commission-NHRC-Chairperson-300x126.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Constitution of NHRC:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Commission consists of a Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Appointments <\/strong>: The Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are appointed by the President of India based on recommendations from a Committee.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This Committee includes the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Home Minister, the leaders of the opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Purpose<\/strong>: NHRC is a reflection of India&#8217;s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NHRC is responsible for promoting human rights awareness at both national and international levels, encouraging stakeholders in human rights literacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know ?<\/strong><br><strong>Definition of Human Rights:<\/strong> Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines human rights as those related to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of individuals, guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants, and enforceable by courts in India.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source&nbsp; :IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chilika Lake<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment and Biodiversity<\/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>Environmentalists and fishermen have strongly opposed the construction of a proposed 4-kilometre bridge over Odisha\u2019s Chilika lake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Chilika Lake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location: <\/strong>Chilika lake, Asia\u2019s largest brackish water lagoon, located in Odisha.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It lies between the deltas of the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers, opening out into the Bay of Bengal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conservation Status: <\/strong>Chilika Lake was designated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in <strong>1981 <\/strong>making it the <strong>first Ramsar Site of India.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The lake is also part of the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, which helps protect its flora and fauna.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ecological Significance: <\/strong>It is home to a diverse avian population, with the 2024 bird census recording 1,137,759 birds of 187 species, including migratory birds.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is also the habitat of the <strong>endangered Irrawaddy dolphins,<\/strong> frequently sighted in the Satapada region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/environment\/proposed-bridge-on-odishas-chilika-lake-faces-opposition-over-environmental-concerns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Spadex Mission\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Space<\/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>The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, developed by ISRO, marks a significant step in advancing India&#8217;s space exploration capabilities. It will be launched on December 30, 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Mission<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Brief:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SpaDeX is designed to test and demonstrate the technology required for docking two spacecraft in orbit. This is a complex maneuver that requires precise control and coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mission involves two spacecraft \u2013 a &#8220;chaser&#8221; (SDX01) that will actively pursue and dock with a &#8220;target&#8221; (SDX02) spacecraft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary: <\/strong>To demonstrate the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two spacecraft in low Earth orbit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secondary: <\/strong>To test technologies like inter-satellite power transfer and composite spacecraft control, which are crucial for future robotic and human spaceflight missions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New Technologies:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Docking Mechanism:<\/strong> SpaDeX will utilize a low-impact androgynous docking system, enabling a safe and secure connection between the two spacecraft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sensor Suite: <\/strong>Advanced sensors, including a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS), will ensure precise and controlled docking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RODP Processor: <\/strong>A GNSS-based system will provide accurate position and velocity data for the spacecraft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ISL Communication: <\/strong>An autonomous inter-satellite link will enable real-time communication and data sharing between the spacecraft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of the SpaDeX Mission<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Technological Milestone: <\/strong>Positions India as the fourth country globally (after the USA, Russia, and China) to develop and demonstrate in-space docking technology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Space Exploration Advancements:<\/strong> Enables critical capabilities for:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chandrayaan-4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Space stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sample return missions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-term interplanetary missions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost-Effective Innovation: <\/strong>Focuses on indigenous and scalable solutions, making advanced space operations more cost-efficient for future missions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Collaboration: <\/strong>Adopts standards similar to the International Docking System (IDS), promoting compatibility for global partnerships in space exploration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India has sent a humanitarian aid consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes to Lesotho to assist with food security and nutritional needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"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-34244","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\/34244","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\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34244"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34309,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34244\/revisions\/34309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}