Current affairs 29 November 2024

Indian ranked 49th in the Network Readiness Index 2024.

• India improved its rank to 49th in 2024 from 60th in 2023.
• India secured 1st rank in AI scientific publications, AI talent concentration & ICT services exports parameters.
• India ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income economies after Vietnam.
• 1st: USA
• 2nd: Singapore
• 3rd: Finland
• 4th: Sweden
• 5th: South Korea
• The report is based on 4 pillars: Technology, People, Governance & Impact.

India’s Milk Production Rises to 239.3 Million Tonnes in 2023-24.

• Milk production increased by 4% to 239.3 million tonnes, with per capita availability rising to 471 grams/day.
• National Milk Day 2024 marked this growth, with significant gains in milk production from indigenous (44.76%) and exotic cattle (8%).
• Egg production rose by 3.17% to 142.77 billion, while meat production increased by 4.95% to 10.25 metric tonnes.

India’s First Green Hydrogen Fuelling Station Inaugurated in Ladakh.

• Amara Raja Infra completed India's first green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh, Ladakh, for NTPC Ltd., inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal.
• Produces 80kg of green hydrogen daily, enabling emission-free transport with 5 hydrogen fuel cell buses.
• Supports the National Hydrogen Energy Mission as a precursor to large-scale hydrogen mobility projects.

IIT Kanpur Develops "Anālakṣhya" Stealth Technology.

• IIT Kanpur unveiled the Anālakṣhya Meta-Material Surface Cloaking System (MSCS), enabling near-invisibility of combat systems like tanks and aircraft to radar.
• Efficacy: Tested from 2019 to 2024, the tech shows high performance across diverse conditions and is 90% indigenously sourced.
• Commercialization: Licensed to Meta Tattva Systems for industrial production and deployment.

Classical musician Retnam awarded Singapore's highest arts accolade.

• Ghanavenothan Retnam, a classical musician, has been awarded Singapore's prestigious Cultural Medallion for his contribution to Indian music.
• He is the first Indian classical musician to receive the honor, recognized for his 40-year advocacy of Indian classical music.
• Retnam, a master of the bansuri (Indian flute), founded Singapore's first Carnatic flute ensemble in 2019.