Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

♦ Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Cockerill India Limited (JCIL), the Indian arm of the global John Cockerill Group in Mumbai on  29 November 2024.

♦ This MoU aims to leverage the combined strengths of the two companies, including cutting-edge technologies, extensive industry expertise and a shared vision for innovation and sustainability. 

♦ Anil Kumar Tulsiani, Director (Finance), SAIL and Michael Kotas, Managing Director-Metals Division, John Cockerill India Limited signed the MoU. 

♦ The focus areas of this collaboration will be Cold Rolling and Processing for Carbon Steel, Green Steel and Silicon Steel — specifically CRGO (Cold Rolled Grain Oriented) and CRNO (Cold Rolled Non-Oriented) steels. 

National Seed Congress (NSC)

♦ Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan virtually inagurated the 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024 on November 28.

♦ The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.

♦ The three-day Congress, to be held from 28 to 30 November 2024, at the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi. 

Upendra Dwivedi

♦ Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General, Upendra Dwivedi launched an online learning platform for the Indian Army named “Eklavya” on 28 November 2024.

♦ This initiative aligns with the Indian Army propelling itself into the “Decade of Transformation” as envisioned by the COAS and also with Indian Army’s theme for 2024 as the “Year of Technology Absorption.” 

♦ This platform has been hosted on the Army Data Network and features a scalable architecture. This enables Headquarters Army Training Command to seamlessly integrate any number of training establishments of the Indian Army, each capable of hosting an extensive range of courses.

♦ Student officers are permitted to register for multiple courses simultaneously. A total of 96 courses by 17 Category ‘A’ Training Establishments of the Indian Army have already been hosted on the platform.

Hemant Soren

♦ Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren has taken oath as the CM of Jharkhand for the fourth time on 28 November 2024.

♦ Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Soren at the Morabadi Ground, Ranchi. He became the Chief Minister of the state for the first time in the year 2013.

♦ In the recent elections, the JMM-led alliance won victory in the Jharkhand polls by securing 56 of the 81 seats in the state Assembly, while the BJP-led NDA bagged 24 seats.

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat

♦ Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” in New Delhi on 27 November 2024.

♦ As part of the campaign, the Minister also inaugurated the Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal, an innovative online platform that enables citizens to report child marriage incidents, file complaints, and access information about Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) nationwide.

♦ The portal is a significant step in empowering citizens and enforcing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

♦ Child marriages remain widespread in parts of India. The anti-child marriage campaign will focus on seven high-burden states—West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh—and 300 districts where their rates are above the national average.

♦ The aim is to reduce child marriage prevalence to below 5% by 2029. Child marriage rates dropped from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019-21.

National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise Workshop (SAREX-24)

♦ The 11th edition of the Indian Coast Guard’s National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise & Workshop (SAREX-24) was started in Kochi, Kerala on 27 November 2024.

♦ It aims to enhance India’s capabilities in maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations through a collaborative approach involving various national and international stakeholders.

♦ This was conducted under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board from November 27 to 30.

♦ The theme of this exercise is "Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration." 

♦ The exercise is designed not only to evaluate efficiency of operations and coordination with national stakeholders but also to aptly focus on cooperative engagements with the littorals and Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).

Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2024

♦ Union Minister, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh released the annual publication of ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2024’ on the occasion of National Milk Day celebrated in New Delhi on November 26.

♦ Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying prepared this report. 

♦ BAHS releases the estimation of production of Milk, Egg, Meat and wool in the country annually based on the results of Integrated Sample Survey (ISS) which is conducted across the country in three seasons i.e., Summer (March-June), Rainy (July-October) and Winter (November-February).

Milk Production:

♦ The milk production in the country saw an increase of 3.78% during 2023-24 over the estimates of 2022-23.

♦ The report says that the country is estimated to produce 239.30 million tonnes of milk during 2023-24. 

♦ In 2014-15, the milk production was 146.3 million tonnes. In 2022-23, the milk production was 230.58 million tonnes. India is at the top in milk production globally and second in in egg production.

♦ The top five milk producing States during 2023-24 was Uttar Pradesh with a share of 16.21% of total milk production followed by Rajasthan (14.51%), Madhya Pradesh (8.91%), Gujarat (7.65%), and Maharashtra (6.71 %). 

Egg Production:

♦ The total Egg production in the country is estimated as 142.77 billion nos. during 2023-24 and registered a growth of 6.8% growth over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 78.48 billion numbers during 2014-15. Further, the production has increased annually by 3.18% during 2023-24 over 2022-23.

♦ The major contribution in the total Egg production comes from Andhra Pradesh with a share of 17.85 % of total Egg production followed by Tamil Nadu (15.64 %), Telangana (12.88%), West Bengal (11.37%) and Karnataka (6.63 %). 

Meat Production:

♦ The total Meat production in the country is estimated as 10.25 million tonnes during 2023-24 and registered a growth of 4.85 % over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 6.69 million tonnes in 2014-15. Further, the production was increased by 4.95 % in 2023-24 over 2022-23.

♦ It is further stated that the Major contribution in the total meat production comes from West Bengal with 12.62 % share and followed by Uttar Pradesh (12.29%), Maharashtra (11.28 %), Telangana (10.85 %) and Andhra Pradesh (10.41 %).

Wool Production:

♦ The total Wool production in the country is estimated as 33.69 million kg during 2023-24 registered a slight growth of 0.22% over last year. It was 36.76 million kg during 2019-20 and 33.61 million KG in previous year.

♦ The Major contribution in the total Wool production comes from Rajasthan with a share of 47.53% followed by Jammu & Kashmir (23.06%), Gujarat (6.18%), Maharashtra (4.75%) and Himachal Pradesh (4.22%). 

“Ab Koi Bahana Nahi”

♦ Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi launched a national campaign “Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” in New Delhi.

♦ The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Rural Development, which also has support from the United Nations Women (UN Women).

♦ This campaign has started with the aim of eliminating gender-based violence.

ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 25 November 2024. For the first time in its 130-year history, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is hosting its Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly in India. 

♦ It was organized by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in partnership with ICA, the Government of India, and Indian cooperatives such as AMUL and KRIBHCO, the event will run from November 25 to 30.  

♦ The theme of this conference is “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All,” it resonates with the Indian Government’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation). 

♦ Modi also launched the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, centered around the theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World. This initiative highlights the pivotal role of cooperatives in fostering social inclusion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development. 

Shivraj Singh Chouhan

♦ Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated 227 Gender Resource Centres in 13 states under the Nayi Chetna 3.0 campaign on 25 November 2024.

♦ The month-long campaign will run across all states and Union Territories till the 23rd of December. The slogan for this year’s campaign is “Ek Saath, Ek Awaaz, Hinsa Ke Khilaaf.”

♦ It is organized by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission under the aegis of the Rural Development Ministry. The initiative is led by an extensive Self-Help Group network under this mission.

Kiren Rijiju

♦ Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju launched the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 in New Delhi on 23 November 2024.

♦ It featuring key updates such as air travel details, Mina navigation maps, and health advisories for Indian pilgrims. 

♦ Kiren Rijiju launched the app during the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees.

♦ Rijiju highlighted the Haj pilgrimage as India’s largest annual logistical operation abroad and emphasized reforms to enhance the experience, including the removal of discretionary quotas and support for women pilgrims traveling without Mehram. 

♦ The app introduces advanced features like boarding pass details, improved navigation, and health records, building on the success of its predecessor launched in 2024.

♦ Additional reforms include procuring modern accommodations near Haram and deploying upgraded buses for pilgrim travel between Makkah, Madinah, and other regions.

The Assembly polls results in Jharkhand and Maharashtra

♦ The Assembly polls results in Jharkhand and Maharashtra were announced on 23 November 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc stormed back to power in Jharkhand. 

♦ In Maharashtra, the Mahayuti coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party won 234 of the 288 assembly seats, with the BJP securing 132 alone. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 49 seats in the 288-member Assembly.

♦ The majority mark in Maharashtra is 145. Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena has won 57, Ajit Pawar-led NCP has secured 41 in the elections. Congress has won 16, while NCP Sharad Pawar group has bagged 10, Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats and others have won 10 seats.

♦ In Jharkhand, the JMM and its allies secured 56 out of the total 81 assembly seats. The NDA was a distant second, winning 24 seats. Ruling JMM has been victorious in 34 seats, while Congress won 16 seats. RJD bagged four seats. BJP got 21 seats, Others have won six seats. 

Dharmendra Pradhan

♦ Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched a report titled ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’ in New Delhi on 22 November 2024. The report was published by World Bank report that covers six states in India.

♦ The report serves as both a diagnostic and roadmap to providing strategic linkages and convergence between education and the jobs agenda of India. It goes deep into the job landscape of six states - Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan and identifies key priority sectors and roles that offer the highest employment potential for young people graduating from secondary school.

♦ The report is a skills gap analysis that attempts to align trades offered in schools industry-specific needs of the districts where the schools are present.

♦ The study was initiated to reimagine the skill education offered through in-depth primary as well as secondary research in six ‘STARS’ states.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)

♦ Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with H2Global Stiftung to establish a collaborative framework to promote Green Hydrogen initiatives.

♦ SECI is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. This aims to enhance knowledge exchange on market-based mechanisms and foster cooperation between India and importing countries, thereby contributing to the global advancement of the green hydrogen economy. 

♦ The MoU was signed by Sanjay Sharma, Director (Solar), SECI, and Susana Moreira, Executive Director, H2Global.

Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA)

♦ According to the Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA), India's renewable energy capacity is projected to reach 250 GW by March 2026.

♦ This growth will be supported by a robust project pipeline of over 80 GW, following a significant increase in tendering activity during FY24.

♦ ICRA forecasts the installed renewable energy capacity, including large hydroelectric projects, to rise from 201 GW in September 2024 to 250 GW by March 2026. 

♦ ICRA also anticipates that India will require 50 GW of energy storage capacity by 2030, which will be met through a combination of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped storage hydro projects (PSP).

♦ This aligns with India's ambitious target of achieving 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.

K Sanjay Murthy

♦ President Droupadi Murmu appointed K Sanjay Murthy as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on 18 November 2024.

♦ He is an IAS officer of the 1989 batch, belonging to the Andhra Pradesh cadre. Currently, he is serving as the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.

♦ Murthy will replace Girish Chandra Murmu, who was appointed as the CAG in August 2020. 

♦ The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is empowered to audit all union and state government departments, including railways, defence, India post, and telecommunications.

♦ Moreover, the CAG can audit over 1500 public commercial enterprises, over 400 non-commercial autonomous bodies, various bodies and authorities “substantially financed” from union government bodies and local bodies, Panchayati raj institutions.

♦ The CAG is empowered through Article 149 of the Constitution, called the “CAG’s Duties, Powers and Conditions Act in 1971.”

International Trade Fair (IITF)

♦ Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal inaugurated the 43rd edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 14 November 2024.  

♦ The theme of this year’s fair is Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The fair emphasises innovation, sustainability, inclusivity, and good governance as essential pillars for economic growth and social development.

♦ IITF 2024 provides an unparalleled platform to showcase India’s export potential and drive meaningful dialogue among stakeholders committed to this ambitious vision.

♦ The focus state this year is Jharkhand, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the partner states.  This year, 11 countries including China, Egypt, Iran, South Korea,Thailand, Turkey, and UAE are participating in this international fair. 

♦ This fair continue till  27th of November. 

A.P. Budget

♦ Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav presented the budget of Rs.2,94,427.25 crores in the Legislative Assembly on 11 November 2024.

♦ The estimated revenue deficit is Rs.34,743.38 crore and the fiscal deficit is estimated at around Rs.68,742.65 crore.

♦ The revenue expenditure estimated at Rs.2,35,916.99 crore and capital expenditure at Rs.32,712.84 crore.

♦ The government allotted Rs.29,909 crore for school education, Rs.16,739 crore for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Rs.18,421 for health and family welfare for financial year 2024-2025.

Vikram Misri

♦ The government has extended the tenure of foreign secretary Vikram Misri until 14 July 2026. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension beyond the date of his superannuation on November 30. 

♦ Misri is a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. He assumed charge as foreign secretary on 15 July 2024.

♦ Prior to his appointment as the foreign secretary, Misri was deputy national security advisor.

♦ He took the role in the National Security Council Secretariat in January 2022, where he reported to NSA Ajit Doval.

Li Quanhai

♦ Li Quanhai was re-elected as president of World Sailing for a new four-year term at the organisation's Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Singapore on 10 November 2024.

♦ Ozlem Akdurak (TUR), Daniel Belcher (AUS), Tomasz Chamera (POL), Beatriz Gonzalez Luna (MEX), Line Markert (DEN), Josep Pla Maronda (AND) and Cory Sertl (USA) were elected as Vice Presidents and will join the World Sailing Board.

♦ World Sailing was founded in Paris in 1907. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the global governing body for sailing, with 137 member national associations.

♦ The organisation holds leadership elections every four years, and Li first assumed the presidency in November 2020.'

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

♦ Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumder and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Secretary General Indramani Pandey signed an agreement to establish the BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC) in Karnataka's Bengaluru. It aims to strengthen inter-grid connectivity across the region. 

♦ BEC will promote regional cooperation in the sector among India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. 

♦ The BIMSTEC adopted a Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in 2005.

♦ The MoU for establishing the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection has come into force in April 2019.

♦ The BIMSTEC is now working on finalising policies for transmission of electricity and for trade, exchange of electricity and tariff mechanism.

♦ A BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Master Plan is also under discussion within the bloc.
 

According to Counterpoint Research

♦ According to Counterpoint Research, India's smartphone market has emerged as the second largest globally by unit volume and third largest by value in the third quarter of 2024.

♦ In this period, India accounted for 15.5% of global smartphone shipments, trailing only China, which held a 22% share.

♦ The United States followed with a 12% share. By market value, India captured approximately 12.3%, a slight increase from 12.1% in the same quarter the previous year (2023).

♦ China dominated the value segment with a 31% share, while the US secured 19%.

National Legal Services Day

♦ National Legal Services Day is observed every year on November 9 to mark the commencement of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force on the same day in 1995.

♦ This day was established by the Supreme Court as part of its proactive role in promoting access to justice.

♦ The day emphasizes empowering marginalised communities, highlighting the importance of equal access to justice, and advocating that no one should be deprived of legal representation due to economic disadvantages.

Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs)

♦ India gifted two water-jet-propelled Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) to Mozambique as part of its capacity-building engagements with friendly foreign nations of the Indian Ocean Region.

♦ The FICs were transshipped from India by INS Gharial. These water-jet-propelled boats have a top speed of 45 knots and a range of 200 nautical miles at 12 knots. 

♦ They can carry a crew of five personnel and are equipped with machine guns and bullet-resistant cabins. 

♦ The two FICs will significantly aid Mozambique in its efforts to combat maritime terrorism and the ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado province.

Anil Chauhan

♦ Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurated the 2nd edition of the annual Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) in New Delhi on 8 November 2024.

♦ The two-day festival being held on November 08-09, 2024. It aims to engage global and Indian think tanks, corporations, public and private sector undertakings, non-profits, academicians, and research scholars focusing on India’s national security, foreign policy, military history and military heritage.

♦ CDS also launched Project ‘Shaurya Gatha’, an initiative of the Department of Military Affairs and the USI of India, which aims to conserve and promote India’s military heritage through education and tourism.

Worlds first Carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion plant

♦ India’s largest power producer, NTPC unveiled its hydrogen-fuel buses, which are set to operate in Ladakh, on the occasion of the 50th foundation day.

♦ NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh virtually launched the hydrogen-fuel buses.

♦ NTPC also inaugurated the world’s first Carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion plant at its Vindhyachal plant on 8 November 2024. NTPC has been working on Gen-4 ethanol, green urea, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel. 

♦ The company said it had developed and tested ‘first indigenous catalyst’ for Methanol Synthesis and that it had made ‘substantial’ progress with hydrogen, carbon capture, and other innovative technologies.

Shilp Samagam Mela 2024

♦ Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar inagurated the ‘Shilp Samagam Mela 2024’ at Dilli Haat, New Delhi.

♦ The event is being organized by the Corporations under the Ministry - National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCDFC), and National Safai Karmachari Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

♦ Virendra Kumar also launched ‘TULIP’ (Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme). The goal of TULIP is to empower marginalized artisans by providing them with a platform for global exposure and sales of their products through e-marketing. Under the TULIP brand, artisans from Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), sanitation workers, and persons with disabilities will have an e-platform to market their products.

PM Vidyalaxmi scheme

♦ The Union Cabinet has approved the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme on 6 November 2024. This program designed to give financial aid to deserving students so that no one is prevented from pursuing higher education by financial limitations. 

♦ As per the scheme, anybody who gets admission to Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) will be eligible to get collateral-free, guarantor-free loans from banks and financial institutions to cover the full amount of tuition fees and other expenses related to the course.

♦ An outlay of Rs.3,600 crore has been approved for the scheme under which education loans will be facilitated to students securing admissions in the top 860 QHEIs of the country based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). This will cover more than 22 lakh students every year.

MAHASAGAR

♦ The third edition of the high-level virtual interaction MAHASAGAR was conducted by the Indian Navy on 5 November 2024. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi interacted with senior officials from Indian Ocean Region littorals - Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

♦ The interaction theme was ‘Training Cooperation to Mitigate Common Maritime Security Challenges in IOR’. It highlights the present and necessary imperatives for training corporation towards mitigation of common maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

♦ Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR) is the Indian Navy’s flagship outreach for high-level virtual interaction between maritime heads for active security and growth for all in the region. 

Supreme Court

♦ A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court has determined that not all private properties can be taken over by the state under Article 39(b) of the Indian Constitution. The judgment clarified that privately owned properties do not inherently qualify as “material resources of the community” and, therefore, cannot be acquired solely to serve the “common good.” 

♦ Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, authoring the majority opinion, stated that including all private properties as community resources under Article 39(b) would enforce an overly rigid economic model that emphasizes extensive state control over private resources. 

♦ Article 39(b) mandates that the government should direct policies to ensure that “material resources of the community” are distributed to best serve public welfare. However, the court said that states may claim certain private properties in specific cases if they align with this goal.

♦ The verdict, backed by Justices Hrishikesh Roy, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Rajesh Bindal, SC Sharma, and Augustine George Masih, overturned several post-1978 judgments that leaned toward socialist ideals, permitting states to acquire all private properties for the common good. Justice BV Nagarathna issued a partial dissent, while Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia fully disagreed with the majority, providing a separate opinion on all points.

♦ This decision concludes a long-standing case initially filed in 1992 and referred to a nine-judge bench in 2002, which aimed to clarify whether privately owned resources could be included under the term “material resources of the community” for equitable distribution.

FTIIs (Film and Television Institute of India)

♦ FTII’s (Film and Television Institute of India) student film ‘Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know’ has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film Category.

♦ This Kannada language short film directed by FTII student Chidananda S Naik is inspired by Indian folk stories and traditions.

♦ The film had earlier this year (2024) won the first Prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection.

♦ The La Cinef Jury at Cannes had commended the film for its illuminating storytelling and masterful direction.

Central Water Commission (CWC)

♦ According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) report, Glacial lakes and other water bodies across the Himalayan region saw a 10.81% increase in area from 2011 to 2024 due to climate change. 

♦ The total inventory area of glacial lakes within India was 1,962 hectares during the year 2011 which has increased to 2,623 hectares during the year 2024 September. There is a 33.7% increase in area, the report said.

♦ It also identified 67 lakes in India that witnessed an over 40% increase in surface area, placing them in the high-risk category for potential GLOFs.

♦ Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh showed the most notable expansions, signalling a heightened risk of GLOFs and the need for intensified monitoring and disaster preparedness.

♦ Glacial lakes and other water bodies across the Himalayan region saw an overall area increase of 10.81% from 5,33,401 hectares in 2011 to 5,91,108 hectares in 2024 due to climate change, the report said.

VAJRA PRAHAR

♦ The 15th India-US joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR began at Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, US on 2 October 2024.

♦ It will conclude on 22 November. The last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in December 2023. 

♦ The aim of this exercise is to promote military cooperation between India and the US through the enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics. It will enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special Forces Operations in desert and semi desert environment. The exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

♦ This is the second exercise of the year between Indian and the US Army. The previous exercise – YUDH ABHYAS 2024, was conducted in Rajasthan in September 2024.

GARUD SHAKTI 24

The 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 was started at Cijantung, Indonesia on 1 November 2024. This exercise will be concluded on the 12th of November 2024.  The aim of Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures, enhance mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of both armies.  The Exercise is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.