UPSC EXAM QUIZ 16.10.2024

Explanation:

• Prime Minister of India attended the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Vientiane, Lao PDR. PM advocated for a development-oriented Indo-Pacific approach over expansionism. Reiterated support for Nalanda University and invited EAS members to the Heads of Higher Education Conclave.
• Addressed global challenges like terrorism, cyber, and maritime threats, and stressed dialogue-based conflict resolution. PM conveyed his wishes to Malaysia on presiding as the new Chair of ASEAN and expressed India’s full support to it. The present chair of ASEAN is Lao PDR.

East Asia Summit

• Establishment: The EAS was established in 2005 as an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led initiative.
• The EAS is the only leader-led forum in the Indo-Pacific that brings together all key partners to discuss political, security and economic issues of strategic importance.
• The idea of an East Asia Grouping was first proposed by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1991.
• The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14th December 2005.

Explanation:

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s Living Planet Report 2024, there has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020). The highest decline was reported in freshwater ecosystems (85%), followed by terrestrial (69%) and marine (56%).

World Wildlife Fund for Nature

• It is the world’s leading conservation organization and works in more than 100 countries.
• It is an international non-governmental organization,established in 1961 and is headquartered at Gland, Switzerland.
• Its mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
• WWF collaborates at every level with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.

Explanation:

• The Education Ministry has launched the registration portal for fifth phase of Yuva Sangam under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative.
• The programme is aimed at deepening connectivity and understanding among youth. Yuva Sangam is primarily for students, NSS/NYKS volunteers, working and self-employed individuals in the age group of 18-30 years.
• The initiative was launched in the year 2023, and is aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes on experiential learning and assimilating the rich cultural diversity of India.
• Under the programme, participants will get an opportunity to interact with youth from different states and union territories, learn about the culture, natural landforms, development sites, and local traditions.

Yuva Sangam Programme

• Yuva Sangam Programme was launched on 31st October 2016 under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, in line with the idea presented by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 31st October 2015. The initiative aims to inculcate a spirit of unity and pride in diversity among the youth of the country. The two main elements of Panch Prana – Strength in Unity and Pride in Heritage are the core part of this initiative.

Explanation:

• 2024 Nobel Economics Prize awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson.
• They have been awarded 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.”
• The award is for his groundbreaking research on how institutions shape prosperity.
• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences praised his work for highlighting the role of strong social institutions in promoting economic growth, reducing inequality and improving the rule of law.
• The award recognizes his contributions to understanding how institutional quality affects global development.
• The economics award was created in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank.
• The award is officially known as the 'Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel'.
• The prestigious award carries a cash prize of 11 million Swedish Krona (US$1.1 million).
• In 2023, Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Economics Prize.
• In 1969, the first winners of this award were Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen.

Explanation:

• On October 15, International Telecommunication Union ITU – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• WTSA-24 is being held from 15 to 24 October 2024.
• The 8th edition of India Mobile Congress 2024 also inaugurated by the Prime Minister during the event.
• WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency for digital technologies. It is held every four years.
• This is the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being held in India and Asia-Pacific. It is an important global event.
• The event will be attended by over 3,000 industry leaders, policy makers and technical experts from over 190 countries representing the telecom, digital and ICT sectors.
• WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide on the future of standards for next-generation critical technologies such as 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, Cyber Security, etc.
• India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase India's innovation ecosystem with leading telecom companies and innovators highlighting advances in quantum technology and the circular economy.
• It will also highlight 6G, 5G use-case showcases, cloud and edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing.