Current affairs 12 December 2024

UN Report Highlighted Global Drying Crisis.

• Over 77% of Earth's land became drier in the last 30 years, with drylands expanding by 4.3 million sq km, now covering 40% of Earth's surface.
• Populations in drylands doubled to 2.3 billion, projected to reach 5 billion by 2100 in worst-case scenarios.
• Areas like South Sudan, Tanzania, China, Europe, and parts of India face severe aridification, marking a permanent climate shift.

IIT Madras Completed India’s First Hyperloop Test Track.

• IIT Madras, in collaboration with startup TuTr, completed a 410-meter Hyperloop test track, advancing vacuum-based train technology in India.
• Led by the Avishkar Hyperloop team of 76 students, the project aims to implement two phases: an 11.5 km test track for certification, followed by a 100 km track.
• Inspired by Elon Musk's concept, it marks a milestone in futuristic transport development.

India’s FDI Inflows Surpass $1 Trillion.

• India has crossed the $1 trillion mark in Foreign Direct Investment from April 2000 to September 2024, highlighting robust economic confidence.
• The cumulative includes equity, reinvested earnings, and other capital, with $667.4 billion recorded since 2014—an increase of 119% over the previous decade.
• Major FDI contributors include Mauritius (25%), Singapore (24%), and the U.S. (10%).

India, Russia Set for $4 Billion Advanced Radar System Deal.

• India is preparing to sign a $4 billion deal with Russia for an advanced long-range radar system.
• The radar, part of Russia's Voronezh series, offers surveillance over 8,000 km and aligns with India's Make in India initiative, with 60% of components to be domestically produced.
• Installation is planned for Karnataka, enhancing strategic monitoring and integrating with existing infra.

IIT Ropar's iHub AWaDH Launched Cost-Effective BLE Gateway.

• IIT Ropar's iHub AWaDH launched a cost-effective BLE Gateway under DST's NM-ICPS, supporting real-time monitoring and IoT scalability across sectors like agriculture and logistics.
• Features include long-range communication (1 km LOS), low power consumption & FOTA.
• The gateway integrates seamlessly with cloud platforms & mobile apps.
• AWaDH - Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub.