Current Context : The Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), launched the Compendium of Regenerative Agriculture.

Aim : to promote sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices.

The compendium outlines five essential principles of regenerative agriculture:

1. Minimizing soil disturbanceto protect soil health.
2. Maximizing crop diversityto enhance resilience and productivity.
3. Maintaining soil coverto reduce erosion and maintain fertility.
4. Keeping living roots year-roundfor continuous nutrient cycling.
5. Integrating livestockto create closed-loop systems and enhance biodiversity.

About Regenerative agriculture

It is a farming and ranching method that aims to improve the health of the soil, water, and biodiversity, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

Current Context : The Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) project was introduced in Himachal Pradesh as part of the Indo-German collaboration.

• Aim : to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.
• Himachal Pradesh was chosen as the first state to pilot this partnership due to its leadership in SDG implementation.

About Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS)

• It is an initiative between India and Germany to advance climate action and sustainable development.

Objectives:

• The GSDP focuses on promoting sustainable growth, addressing climate change, and enhancing green technologies.
• It aims to support the implementation of SDGs, especially in areas such as renewable energy, biodiversity, green mobility, and urban development.

Financial Support:

Germany has committed to contributing at least €10 billion by 2030 to support India in these efforts.

Current Context : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Shimla Circle, inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Week 2024 at the historic Kangra Fort on November 19.

• Objective : Promotes conservation, awareness, and pride in cultural heritage, encouraging public involvement in preserving these sites for future generations.
• The event includes a photo exhibition is showcasing 40 centrally protected monuments in the state, featuring landmarks like Laxmi-Narayan Temple Complex, Masroor Rock-Cut Temples, and Rashtrapati Niwas.

About Kangra Fort:

• Location: Situated near the town of Dharamshala in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Historical Significance: One of the oldest forts in India, believed to date back to around 4th century BC, linked to the Katoch dynasty—one of the world’s oldest surviving royal lineages.
• Cultural Importance: The fort has witnessed several significant events, including battles involving Mughalsand Sikh rulers, and invasions by figures like Mahmud of Ghazni.
• Protected as a monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Current Context : The G20 Summit 2024 was held at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from November 18 to 19, 2024.

Main Themes of the event:

• Global Governance Reform: Discussions on modernizing major international bodies (UN, IMF, World Bank, WTO) to reflect current global challenges.
• Social Inclusion: Initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
• Climate Action and Sustainability: Strategies for energy transitions and fostering a sustainable, greener global economy.

Notable Initiatives:

• Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty: Launched by Brazil, aiming to mobilize international support to reduce hunger and poverty by 2030.

Key Topics:

• Climate change and energy policies, reflecting the urgent climate crisis.
• Addressing international security and peace, particularly conflicts like the Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict.

Presidency Handover: The event will conclude with Brazil handing over the G20 presidency to South Africa, set to lead in 2025.

• India held the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.

About G20

• G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international forum of major economies that collaborate on global economic, financial, and political issues. It consists of 19 countries and the European Union.
• Members : Includes the world’s largest economies such as the United States, China, India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, among others. Collectively, G20 members represent about 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.

Formed in 1999 in response to the financial crises of the late 1990s, aiming to enhance international economic cooperation.

Current Context: Recently SpaceX’s Falcon-9 deployed India’s GSAT-N2 satellite into orbit.

About GSAT-N2 (Geostationary Satellite-20)

• GSAT-N2 (also called GSAT-20) is a communication satellite launched to improve broadband and in-flight connectivity across India.
• Developer: Managed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO.

Launch Details:

• Rocket Used: SpaceX’s Falcon-9.
• Launch Site: Cape Canaveral.
• Significance of Rocket: Falcon-9 was chosen as India’s LVM-3 rocket cannot carry payloads beyond 4,000 kg.

Features:

• Weight: Approximately 4,700 kg.
• Orbit: Placed in a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
• Mission Life: Designed to function for up to 14 years.
• Technology: High throughput Ka-band communication for better data handling.

Coverage: Provides pan-India coverage, including remote regions like the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.​

Current Context : Senior IAS officer K. Sanjay Murthy has been appointed as the next Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

About CAG and it’s related constitutional Provisions

• Article 148: Establishes the CAG as an independent office. The President appoints the CAG, and service conditions and salary are decided by Parliament and charged to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI). The CAG cannot be reappointed in central or state roles after serving.
• Article 149: Outlines the duties and powers of the CAG, as defined by Parliament.
• Article 151: Mandates that CAG reports be submitted to the President, who then presents them to both Houses of Parliament.

Tenure and Removal:

• Governed by the CAG (Duties, Powers, and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971. The CAG serves for a term of 6 years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
• The President can remove the CAG under the same process used for removing a Supreme Court judge.

Celebrated annually on the third Thursday of November.

• Aim : To promote the importance of philosophy and philosophical education, and to encourage academic exchange.
• In 2024 it will be observed on November 21.
• Established by UNESCO, this day highlights the importance of critical thinking, dialogue, and reflection in addressing contemporary challenges.

Observed annually on November 21^st .

• Aim : to promote peace and encourage open communication and conflicts should be resolved through communication rather than the use of force.
• The day was established in 1973 by Brian McCormack, a Ph.D. graduate, and Michael McCormack, in response to the Yom Kippur War to encourage dialogue as a means of conflict resolution.

Current Context : Recently, 24 coastal villages in Odisha (includes Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam, etc,..) were awarded the ‘Tsunami Ready’ recognition after meeting the necessary criteria, including safety drills and awareness campaigns.

About Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme:

• Purpose: This programme, created by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), helps communities become more prepared for tsunamis.
• Aim : to ensure that coastal areas are ready for tsunamis by improving safety, protecting lives, and minimizing property damage.
• Criteria: To be recognized as ‘Tsunami Ready,’ communities must meet 12 key indicators focusing on preparedness, response, and assessment.
• Renewal: Recognition is given for 4 years and can be renewed if the community continues to meet the standards.

Collaboration: It involves local governments, emergency services, scientists, and the public working together to improve tsunami readiness.

Current Context : India and Japan have recently signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) under their Defence Technology Cooperation framework to co-develop the UNICORN mast.

About :

• UNICORN Mast: The UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) is a cutting-edge conical mast designed to improve the stealth characteristics of naval warships. By stacking multiple antennas and covering them with a radome, it reduces the radar cross section (RCS), making ships harder to detect.
• Production : Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will produce the UNICORN mast for the Indian Navy, with support from Japan’s NEC Corporation.​