IMPORTANT DAYS
Indian Navy Day 2025 celebrated annually on December 4
• Indian Navy Day is celebrated annually on December 4 to honor the achievements and contributions of the Indian Navy.
• The day commemorates "Operation Trident"—a successful attack on Karachi Harbour during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
• The theme for Navy Day 2024 is "Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation."
• A major operational display took place at Blue Flag Beach, Puri, Odisha, marking a historic first for the region.
• The event was graced by President Draupadi Murmu as the chief guest, with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, presiding over the event.
• This Navy Day marked a historic moment by highlighting the maritime heritage of the Odisha coast.
• Over 15 warships, submarines, and 40 aircraft showcased their might during the grand display.
• The event also featured the participation of elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Indian Army personnel.
LEGAL NEWS
A bill to replace the 100-year-old Boiler Act passed by the Rajya Sabha.
• Boilers Bill, 2024: The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 4 December, replacing the 100-year-old Boilers Act, 1923.
• The bill aims to regulate boilers, ensuring the safety of life and property from steam boiler explosions.
• Decriminalization: It seeks to decriminalize seven offenses, promoting ease of doing business and simplifying compliance.
• The bill mandates that only qualified personnel carry out boiler repairs, ensuring worker safety.
• Provisions in the bill aim to benefit MSMEs by reducing regulatory burdens and encouraging boiler safety.
• Penalties for Offenses: Four major offenses related to boiler safety still carry criminal penalties, while others will incur financial penalties.
• Non-criminal offenses will face penalties, handled through executive mechanisms rather than courts.
• The bill consolidates provisions from the old Act into six chapters for better readability and understanding.
STATE NEWS
Ratapani has been declared as the 8th Tiger Reserve area of Madhya Pradesh.
• Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been officially designated as a tiger reserve.
• This makes Ratapani the 8th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh and the 57th in India.
• The core area of the reserve spans 763.8 sq km, with a buffer zone of 507.6 sq km.
• The total area of Ratapani Tiger Reserve is 1271.4 sq km.
• The reserve will focus on enhancing wildlife management in the Ratapani-Bhopal-Sehore region.
• Key conservation activities will include habitat management, eco-tourism, and community involvement.
• Standard protection measures will be implemented to safeguard wildlife in the area.
• This move is aimed at boosting wildlife conservation across the Ratapani Tiger landscape.
Andhra Pradesh government approved IT & GCC Policy 4.0.
• Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved IT & GCC Policy 4.0 to establish Andhra Pradesh as a global knowledge economy hub.
• Co-working and neighbourhood working spaces in major cities like Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada will be established.
• The Textile, Apparel & Garments Policy 4.0 main objective is to attract 10,000 crore rupees in investments and generate employment for two lakh people.
• Maritime Policy 4.0 has been approved to promote port development and shipbuilding clusters.
• The Tourism Policy 2024-29 focuses on temple, eco, adventure, and wellness tourism with public-private partnerships.
• The state cabinet has also approved the Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy.
• It will bring ₹30,000 crore investment and 60,000 jobs will be created through incentives for electric vehicles, and the Real-Time Governance 4.0 initiative.
• The state government also declared December 15 as “Atmarpan Dinotsavam” in honour of Potti Sriramulu and announced plans to develop a museum at his birthplace.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became first female President of Namibia.
• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has become Namibia's first female president.
• She secured over 57% of the votes in the 8th presidential election.
• Panduleni Itula, her closest competitor, received 26% of the vote.
• Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently serving as the Vice President of Namibia.
• She has been a prominent figure in Namibian politics since the country’s independence in 1990.
• Nandi-Ndaitwah is a member of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) party.
• SWAPO also won the National Assembly elections, securing 51 out of 96 seats.
• Her election marks a significant milestone in Namibia's political history.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO launched the PSLV-C59/Proba 3 mission on 04 December 2024.
• ISRO launched the PSLV-C59 mission on December 4, 2024, from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• The mission successfully launched Proba 3 satellites, part of the European Space Agency's space program.
• PSLV-C59 placed the satellites into a highly elliptical orbit.
• The mission was executed under an order from the European Space Agency.
• New Space India Limited, ISRO's commercial arm, handled the mission’s operations.
• Proba 3 satellites will separate into two after reaching their designated orbit.
• The satellites are designed to study the Sun’s corona and its surrounding atmosphere.
• They will also monitor solar wind and space weather for scientific research.
MISCELLANEOUS
Uber has launched Asia’s first water transport service on Dal Lake
• Uber launches Asia's first water transport service on Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir.
• The service, Uber Shikara, offers pre-booked shikara rides via the Uber app for a smooth, hassle-free experience.
• Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India & South Asia, inaugurated the service.
• The initiative starts with seven local shikara operators based at Nehru Park, a scenic island on Dal Lake.
• Uber ensures fair pricing by following government-regulated rates for all rides.
• Each Uber Shikara can accommodate up to four passengers per ride.
• Rides are available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be booked for a total duration of one hour .
• The service mirrors similar offerings launched by Uber in European cities like Venice, Italy.
“Brain Rot” has been selected as Oxford Word of the Year 2024
• "Brain Rot" has been named Oxford Word of the Year 2024, reflecting concerns over social media's impact on mental health.
• It refers to cognitive decline caused by consuming trivial online content.
• The word emerged from a public vote with over 37,000 participants.
• Six words were shortlisted, with "brain rot" being one of them.
• Other shortlisted words include demure, dynamic pricing, lore, romantasy, and slop.
• "Brain rot" highlights the negative effects of excessive exposure to low-quality digital content.
• Oxford University Press classifies it as a noun.
• The term first appeared in Henry David Thoreau's Walden in 1854.