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[Virtual Presenter] vii.Health and Infrastructure– 90.5% of children under five in rural areas had registered their birth, and access to improved drinking water sources was 94.9% in rural and 97.5% in urban households. Additionally, 97.1% of rural and 98.9% of urban households had improved latrine facilities. viii.These findings underscore the existing disparities between rural and urban regions while also highlighting positive trends in literacy, digital access, and basic infrastructure improvements across the country. About the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) : Minister of State (Independent Charge, IC)(MoS) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency Gurugram ,Haryana) Monitored Wildlife Populations Decreased by 73% in 50 years: W-W-F report The World Wide Fund for Nature(W-W-F--) released the 15th edition of its biennial assessment ‘2024 Living Planet Report A system in Peril‘ stating that the average size of monitored wildlife populations has decreased by 73% in just 50 years (1970-2020). The W-W-F uses the Living Planet Index (L-P-I--), provided by Z-S-L (Zoological Society of London), to track wildlife population trends, covering nearly 35000 populations of 5495 species from 1970 to 2020. The report emphasizes that urgent action is needed over the next 5 years to address the serious climate and nature crises as the Earth nears critical tipping points that threaten humanity. Highlights: i.The steepest declines in wildlife populations are in Latin America and the Caribbean (95%), Africa (76%), and Asia Pacific (60%). Pollution significantly impacts populations in Asia and the Pacific. ii.The highest decline is reported in freshwater ecosystems (85%), followed by terrestrial (69%) and marine (56%). iii.The major threats to wildlife include habitat loss and degradation due to food systems, followed by over exploitation, invasive species, and disease. iv.In India, populations of three vulture species have drastically declined: the white rumped vulture by 67%,the Indian vulture by 48%, and the slender billed vulture by 89% since 2002. Despite these declines, some wildlife populations in India have stabilized due to government initiatives, effective habitat management, and community engagement. v.India now hosts the largest population of wild tigers globally, with an estimated 3682 tigers as of the All India Tiger Estimation 2022, up from 2967 in 2018. vi.The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recently conducted the first Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (S-P-A-I-), estimating the population at 718 across 70% of their potential range. Key Points: i.Declines in wildlife serve as early indicators of extinction risk and ecosystem health. ii.Potential tipping points like the Amazon rainforest dieback and coral reef die offs could disrupt food security and livelihoods globally. Recent Related News: i.According to International Labour Organisation (I-L-O--)’s report titled “Global Employment Trends (G-E-T--) for Youth 2024: Decent work, brighter futures”, Global Youth Unemployment Rate (Y-U-R--) in 2023 decreased to 13% which represents a 15-year low and a fall from the pre pandemic rate of 13.8% in 2019. Report Errors in the P-D-F ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 198.

[Audio] ii.According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) report "Income Protection and Early Warning Systems: How India is Building Climate Resilience", India lost 33.9 million hectares (ha) of crops due to excess rains and an additional 35 million ha due to drought during 2015 to 2021. About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Carter Roberts Headquarters– Gland, Switzerland Established -1961 129mn Indians Lives in Extreme Poverty in 2024: WB Report The World Bank (WB)'s 'Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report 2024-Pathways Out of the Polycrisis' reveals that India has 129 million citizens living in extreme poverty as they are surviving on less than Rs 180 (USD 2.15) per day. This figure marks a significant decline from 431 million in 1990, yet challenges remain, particularly due to population growth and a high poverty threshold for middle-income countries. India's Scenario: i.Individuals are classified as extremely poor if they earn less than Rs 180 (USD 2.15) daily. ii.On the other hand, the increased poverty threshold of USD 6.85 (around Rs 576) for middle-income countries results in more individuals below this line compared to 1990. iii.Less than 1% of the population aged 15 and above has no formal education, linking education levels directly to poverty rates. iv.Extreme poverty in India is expected to drop below 3% by the end of the decade, indicating a potential decline in India's share of global extreme poverty. v.A significant decrease of 38 million individuals in poverty was noted in 2021 after a surge in previous years, attributed to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita growth. vi.Notably, the extreme poverty rate in South Asia is significantly influenced by India, where fewer than 1% of those aged 15 and above lack formal education. Global Scenario: i.Approximately 700 million people (8.5% of the global population) live on less than USD 2.15 per day. ii.Around 3.5 billion people (44% of the global population) live below the upper middle-income poverty line of USD 6.85 per day, largely unchanged since the 1990s due to population growth. iii.Sub-Saharan Africa, with 16% of the global population, accounts for 67% of those in extreme poverty, with the majority residing in fragile or conflict-affected areas. iv.By 2030, an estimated 622 million people (7.3% of the global population) are expected to live in extreme poverty, with only 69 million projected to escape this status from 2024 to 2030. NABARD Released 2nd All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey NAFIS for 2021-22 On 9th October 2024, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has released the results of its 2nd 'NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) for 2021-22', which provides primary data based on a survey of 1 lakh rural households, covering various economic and financial aspects in the post-COVID period. The key findings of NAFIS 2021-22 provides deep insights.

[Audio] The inaugural NAFIS was conducted by NABARD for the agricultural year (July-June) 2016-17, and was released in August 2018. About NAFIS 2021-22: i.It is a national-level survey conducted by the Department of Economic Analysis & Research (DEAR), NABARD based in Mumbai(Maharashtra). ii.The survey has covered 10,000 village blocks, 710 districts across 28 states and Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. It has covered rural and semi-rural areas of the country including Tier-3 to Tier6 centres (which have a population of less than 50,000) and both agricultural and nonagricultural households. iii.It provides a comprehensive overview of the status of rural population in terms of two different, yet interconnected themes i.e. livelihood and financial inclusion. iv.It also provides detailed information about various other indicators such as: savings, credit, insurance and pension, remittances, and financial literacy. Key Findings of NAFIS 2021-22: i.Increase in Average Monthly Income: The average monthly income of households has witnessed a significant increase of 57.6% over the last 5 years, from Rs 8,059 (in 2016-17) to Rs 12,698 (in 2021-22). This suggests a nominal Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. While, Annual average nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the same period (on a financial year basis) was 9%. The average monthly income of agricultural households was Rs 13,661, slightly more than the average monthly income of households and also more than the average monthly income of non-agricultural households which was Rs 11,438. The survey found that cultivation was the main source of income for agricultural households, accounting for about 1/3rd (33.33%) of their monthly income, followed by government or private services (25%), wage labor (16%), and other enterprises (15%). While for the non-agricultural households, government or private service accounted for 57% of the total income of households, followed by labour which accounted for nearly 26% of the total income. As per the survey, the salaried employment in the government or private sector emerged as the largest source of all households, representing for nearly 37% of their total income. ii.Increase in Average Monthly Expenditure: According to the survey, the average monthly expenditure of rural households has increased significantly in last 5 years from Rs 6,646 (in 2016-17)to Rs 11, 262 (in 2021-22). The agricultural households witnessed a higher consumption expenditure of Rs 11,710 compared to Rs 10,675 for non-agricultural households. The survey highlighted that in some states or UTs like Goa and J&K, the monthly household expenditure was more than Rs 17,000. iii.Increase in Financial Savings: The annual average financial savings of households increased from Rs 9,104 (in 2016-17) to Rs 13,209 (in 2021-22). The survey showed that overall 66% of households reported saving money in 2021-22 as against 50.6% of households in 2016-17. The survey revealed that 71% of agricultural households reported saving money in 2021-22 as against 58% of non-agricultural households. According to the survey, over 70% households in 11 states reported saving money during 2021-22. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com.

[Audio] Uttarakhand (93%) topped among these 11 states in term of savings money followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) (84%) and Jharkhand (83%). While states like Goa (29%), Kerala (35%), Mizoram (35%), Gujarat (37%), Maharashtra (40%), and Tripura (46%) witnessed less than 50% of households reporting savings. iv.Kisan Credit Card (KCC): The KCC has emerged as a prominent tool for promoting financial inclusion in the rural agricultural sector. It showed a significant growth in coverage over the last 5 years. As per the survey, 44% of total agricultural households were found to have a valid KCC. The survey showed that 77% of agricultural households with land holdings greater than 0.4 hectares (ha) or those who had taken any agricultural loans from banks in the last year were reported to have a valid KCC. v.Surge in Insurance Coverage: The percentage of households with minimum one member covered by any type of insurance increased exponentially from 25.5% (in 2016-17) to 80.3% (in 2021-22). 55% of households have vehicle insurance among various types of insurance. Life insurance coverage extended to 24% of households, with agricultural households (26%) having a slightly larger share than non-agricultural households (20%). vi.Pension Coverage: The percentage of households with minimum one member receiving any form of pension (like old age, family, retirement, or disability) increased from 18.9% (in 2016-17) to 23.5% (in 2021-22). 54% of total households with a minimum one member more than the age of 60 years have reported of receiving pension. vii.Financial Literacy: The percentage of respondents showing good financial literacy increased by 17% i.e., from 33.9% (in 2016-17) to 51.3% (in 2021-22). Also, the percentage of respondents showing sound financial behavior such as: managing money effectively, making informed financial decisions, monitoring expenses, and paying bills on time, increased from 56.4% to 72.8% in 2021-22. The survey found that 58% of respondents from rural areas and 66% from semi-urban areas have good financial knowledge. Other Key Findings: i.The survey showed that the share of food in the consumption basket of households decreased from 51% (in 2016-17) to 47% (in 2021-22). ii.The percentage of households who reported to have outstanding debt increased from 47.4% (in 201617) to 52.0% (in 2021-22). The percentage of households who have outstanding loan from any institutional source increased from 60.5% (in 2016-17) to 75.5% (in 2021-22). While, for non-agricultural households it increased from 56.7% (in 2016-17) to 72.7% (in 2021-22). The percentage of agri-households that took loans from non-institutional sources decreased from 30.3% (in 2016-17) to 23.4% (in 2021-22). iii.The survey revealed that the average size of landholding declined from 1.08 hectares (in 2016-17) to 0.74 hectares (in 2021-22). About National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD): NABARD was established under NABARD Act, 1981 and works under the jurisdiction of Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF). It was established in 1982 based on the recommendations of B.Sivaramman Committee. Chairman– Shaji K.V. Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com.

[Audio] IRENA's Report: 2023 was a Record-Breaking Milestone for Solar Power Generation According to the report titled "Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2024" released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 347 GigaWatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity were added to power generation globally in 2023. This marks an increase of 74% compared to 2022. This makes the year 2023 as a record-breaking year for solar power generation. Points to note: i.As per the report, China constituted 63% (216.9 GW) of the new PV capacities added in year 2023. ii.The cumulative contribution of the rest of the top 10 installers i.e. the United States of America (USA), Germany, Brazil, India, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Australia, to new capacities was 83.4 GW. iii.2023 witnessed the largest ever increase in jobs in renewable energy (RE) sector i.e. from 13.7 million (in 2022) to 16.2 million (in 2023). About Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2024: i.It is the 11th edition of the report which is released annually by the IRENA and also the 4th edition developed in partnership with ILO. ii.The report provides a comprehensive analysis of employment trends within the RE sector. iii.It evaluates the global landscape of RE technologies and examines the employment across various countries, including India. iv.The report provides the wider analysis of the socio-economic effects of a renewable energy-based transition such as: job creation, the development of local capacities, participation of women in RE sector, and education and training opportunities. v.The report also consider the impact of renewable energy pathways on jobs, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and overall human welfare, with estimates up to 2050. Key Findings: i.Top 5 countries which generated maximum jobs in RE sector: China (7.4 million jobs), the European Union (EU) (1.8 million); Brazil (1.56 million); Brazil (1.56 million); the USA and India both close to 1 million jobs each. ii.The report highlighted that European countries like: Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands added over 54 GW in solar PV in 2023, which saw an increase of 25% compared to 2022. Also, the USA alone added 25 GW of new capacities in 2023, an increase of 30% compared to the previous year. iii.According to the report, solar PV factories in Southeast Asian region have emerged as an import export hub. Currently, India is the 3rd largest manufacturer after China and Southeast Asian countries. iv.Globally, 7.1 million jobs were created in solar PV in 2023(increased significantly from 4.9 million in 2022), which accounted 44% of the world's total RE workforce. Among the top 10 countries generated employment in solar PV in 2023, 4 are in Asia, 3 are in Europe, 2 in the Americas and 1 in Oceania. The combined employment generated by top 10 countries in solar PV have added up to 6.2 million jobs, accounting nearly 66% of the global total jobs in solar PV. v.China accounted nearly 65% of global PV employment in 2023 i.e. some 4.6 million.

[Audio] ii.The report revealed that number of direct jobs estimated for hydropower sector have decreased from 2.5 million (in 2022) to 2.3 million (in 2023). As per the report, Brazil, China, India, Pakistan and Vietnam were the largest employers in hydropower sector. iii.China emerged as the largest employer in the wind power sector with 7.45 lakh jobs which accounted 52% of global total of jobs in this sector, followed by Europe (3.16 lakh jobs). iv.As per the report, Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) is critical for providing clean, reliable and affordable energy to remote communities. The report has estimated that 3.07 lakh people were directly employed in DRE in 2023 across countries like: India, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Ethiopia. India-Specific: i.The report has estimated that 1.02 million jobs were created in RE in 2023. ii.According to the report, Hydropower has emerged as the largest employer in the RE sector in India. It has generated around 4.53 lakh jobs in hydropower, which accounted 20% of the global total, 2nd after China. iii.India has employed about 3,18,600 people in the solar PV sector, including both on-grid and off-grid systems. The report revealed that 2.38 lakh peopled worked in grid-connected solar PV (an 18% increase from 2022) and around 80,000 people worked in the off-grid solar sector. iv.As per the report, India added 9.7 GW of solar PV capacity in 2023. It has been ranked at 5th position globally for new solar installations and cumulative capacity of India in solar energy, which reached 72.7 GW by the end of 2023. v.The report has projected that India's operational module manufacturing capacity will increase to 58 GW in 2024, from the capacity of 46 GW in 2023. It has also estimated that cell manufacturing capacity of India will increase from 26 GW (in 2023) to 32 GW (in 2024). Thus, making India the world's 2nd largest manufacturer of solar PV after China. vi.The report revealed that India had cumulative installed wind power capacity of 44.7 GW in 2023 and ranked at 4th position globally. India added wind capacity of 2.8 GW in 2023 after the 5 years of slower growth. vii.The wind sector in India provided employment to nearly 52,200 people in 2023, of which 40% in operations and maintenance and 35% in construction and installation. viii.Other RE sectors in India which provided employment in 2023: Liquid Biofuels (35,000); solid biomass (58,000); solar heating and cooling sector (17,000). About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Director-General (DG)- Francesco La Camera Headquarters- Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Established- 2011 About International Labour Organisation (ILO): Director-General (DG) – Gilbert Houngbo Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland Member nations– 187 Established– 1919 NSSO Released PLFS 2023-24 : Highlighting Trends Among Religious Minorities The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the "Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) July 2023- June Report Errors.

[Audio] 2024)", which indicates unemployment rates among India's religious minorities in India increased in 2023-24 (1 July 2023 to 30 June, 2024). While the national average unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2% for the first time in 5 years, joblessness among minorities, particularly Sikhs and Muslims, saw notable increases. Unemployment for all minorities was higher in urban areas compared to the rural side during 2023-24. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by these communities. Note: The PLFS provides valuable estimates of key employment and unemployment indicators, including the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR). Key Findings : i.According to the survey, Sikhs faced the highest unemployment rate among religious minorities, rising from 5.1% in 2022-23 to 5.8% in 2023-24. ii.Similarly, the unemployment rate among Muslims rose from 2.4% to 3.2%, iii.The unemployment rate among Christians rose from 4.5% to 4.7% during the same period. iv.In contrast, the unemployment rate among Hindus saw a slight decline of 0.1 % compared to the previous year. v.The unemployment rate declined for all religious segments in 2023-24 compared to the pre-Covid year of 2019-20. Labour Force Participation Rates (LFPR): i.The MoSPI also reports labor force participation rates (LFPR) which have shown growth across various communities since 2017-18, Muslims and Sikhs still lag behind the national average. ii.While LFPR has increased by over 8% for most religious groups, Muslims and Sikhs have seen more modest improvements. The LFPR among Muslims increased from 31.2% to 38.2%, while Sikhs saw a rise from 36.2% to 44.5%. Christians also experienced growth in their participation rates, climbing from 39.2% to 47.4% during the same period. iii.The overall Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in India rose from 36.9% in 2017-18 to 45.1% in 2023-24. iv.This upward trend in LFPR across different religious communities indicates improving engagement in the labor market, although disparities still exist. Employment Quality and Literacy Rates: i.In the last five years, the share of regular salaried employees declined across religious communities, with Muslims experiencing the largest drop from 21.5% in 2019-20 to 18% in 2023-24. ii.Meanwhile, Muslims' literacy rates rose from 75% in 2019-20 to 77.6% in 2023-24, remaining the lowest compared to substantial increases among Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians. Overall, literacy rate was up from 77.6% in 2019-20 by 2.1% to 79.7% in 2023-24. About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): Minister of State (MoS)(Independent Charge /IC)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram ,Haryana) Worldline Report : UPI Transactions Volume Surged 52% to 78.97 billion in 1H of 2024 According to the Worldline's report titled "India Digital Payments Report for 1H 2024", UPI(Unified Payments Interface) has maintained its dominant position with the total number of transactions grew by 52% Year-on-Year(YoY) in 1st Half of 2024(1H 2024 : from Jan to June), has increased from 51.9 billion(in 1H 2023) to 78.97 billion(in 1H 2024). Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com.

[Audio] The report noted that the surge in UPI transactions, particularly in Person-toMerchant (P2M) transactions, consolidates UPI's status as the preferred option for microtransactions. The value of these UPI transactions increased by 40% from Rs 83.16 trillion (1H 2023) to Rs 116.63 trillion (1H 2024). The report showed that the number of transactions increased significantly from 8.03 billion (January 2023) to 13.9 billion (June 2024) and same trend can be seen in volume of UPI transaction value, which increased from Rs 12.98 trillion (January 2023) to Rs 20.07 trillion (June 2024). Key Findings: i.Increase in Deployment of Point of Sales (PoS): The report showed a significant increase in the payment's infrastructure channels between January 2023 and June 2024, Point of Sales (PoS) terminals increased by 17% to 8.96 million (from 5.06 million in January 2023). Private Sector Banks topped among all banks in India in terms of PoS deployed, with a 80.6% market share , followed by Public Sector Banks (PSBs)accounted for 18.6%; Foreign and Small Finance Banks (SFBs) have a sub-1% market share, while Payment Banks have no terminals deployed at all. Top PoS deployers: As of June 2024, Axis Bank Limited, ICICI Bank Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, State Bank of India (SBI), RBL Bank Limited, Bandhan Bank Limited, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited(KMBL), Yes Bank Limited and Canara Bank, collectively accounted for 95% PoS terminals deployed. Also, the UPI Quick-Response(QR) grew by 39%, from 244.23 million (Jan 2023) to 340 million (June 2024). ii.Decline in Average Ticket Size (ATS): The report mentioned that the Average Ticket Size (ATS) of all UPI transactions decreased by 8%, from Rs 1,603 to Rs 1,478. ATS comprises Person-to-Person (P2P) and P2M transactions. ATS in P2P transactions witnessed a marginal Y-o-Y increase of 1%, from Rs 2,812 to Rs 2,836. While, ATS for P2M transactions decreased by 4%, from Rs 667 to Rs 643. iii.Top UPI Players: As of June 2024, PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm dominate the market, collectively accounting for 94.83% of all transactions by volume against 95.68% a year prior. While, in terms of transaction value, they collectively accounted for 92.21% (in June 2024) compared to 93.65% a year prior. iv.Cards in Circulations: The report noted a growth of 11% in terms of number of cards in circulation. In June 2024, the total number of cards in circulation was 1.451 billion, of which credit cards (103.8 million), debit cards (979.71 million) and prepaid cards (367.5 million). Top 5 issuers of credit cards: HDFC Bank, SBI, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and KMBL. Top 5 issuers of debit cards: SBI, Bank of Baroda (BoB), Canara Bank, Union Bank of India (UBI), HDFC Bank. Private Sector Banks had issued 71% of total credit cards, followed by Public Sector Banks.

[Audio] ii.The report highlighted that Electronic commerce(E-commerce), gaming utilities, government services, and financial services accounted for nearly 81% of the overall transaction volume and 74% of the transaction value. iii.The report noted that online transactions via mobile phone apps saw an increase of 46% in terms of volume. The volume of mobile transactions increased from 52.15 billion (1H 2023) to 76.04 billion (1H 2024). The value of mobile transactions has increased by 36%, from Rs 132.40 trillion (1H 2023) to Rs 179.41 trillion (1H 2024). iv. The number of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags issued has grown by 45% from 64.78million (in January 2023) to 94.56 million(in June 2024). v.As per the report, the volume of Net Banking (NB) transactions has increased by 9% i.e. from 2.13 billion (1H 2023) to 2.31 billion (in 1H 2024). While, the NB transactions in terms of value has increased by 18%, from Rs 469.03 trillion (in 1H 2023) to Rs 553.78 trillion (in 1H 2024). vi.The top 5 States and Union Territories(UT) with the highest number of transactions at physical touch points in 2024 were Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi. About Worldline: Worldline SA is a leading payment technology service provider. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Marc-Henri Desportes CEO of Worldline India- Ramesh Narasimhan Headquarters- Paris, France Established- 1972 NCPCR Report: India has over 11.5 Lakh Children Vulnerable to Child Marriage According to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)'s latest report, over 11.5 lakh children across the 27 states and 7 Union Territories (UTs) of India were found to be "vulnerable" to child marriage in 2023-24. Among these children, mostly girls, were school dropouts or had been irregular or absent from school for long without any intimation to authorities. The report underscored the efforts taken by the NCPCR under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, through partnership with Child Marriage Prohibition officers (CMPOs), district authorities, and other stakeholders. Note: The government has taken various steps to prevent child marriages in India such as family counseling, school reintegration efforts, and coordination with law enforcement agencies. Key Findings: i.As per the report, Uttar Pradesh (UP) with over 5 lakh vulnerable children, topped among the states, followed by Assam with 1.5 lakh children and Madhya Pradesh (MP) has nearly 1 lakh such children. While, UTs like Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands has identified no children vulnerable to child marriage. The report highlighted that many districts did not conduct the exercise, and Goa and Ladakh did not share data. ii.The report mentioned that over 1.2 crore People were reached through the various awareness campaigns against child marriage, with states like: UP, Tamil Nadu (TN), and Andhra Pradesh (AP) are leading in the fight.

[Audio] Key Points: i.In March 2024, a child marriage awareness campaign was launched, which resulted in states mapping over 6 lakh schools covering around 3 lakh villages and blocks across 34 states/UTs. ii.The data collected from the campaign has been sent to states and they were asked to ensure measures to step-up prevention of child marriage. iii.The NCPCR has instructed all states to take various preventive measures which include: mapping of schools to identify children absent for 30 consecutive days without notice and monitoring the school drop outs in coordination with school authorities. iv.The education department of the districts were instructed to prepare the list and shared with the District Magistrate (DM) and the CMPO to identify children from the list who are vulnerable to child marriage. They were also instructed to conduct family counseling and proper inquiry of all such identified children. Recent Related News: Union Minister Annpurna Devi Yadav, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has launched 'Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 or Nutrition Month 24' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is the 7th series of Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyan, celebrating the entire month of September as Poshan Maah. The month-long campaign aims to further intensify efforts to combat malnutrition and promote holistic well being across India About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): It is the statutory body established under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoW&CD). Chairperson- Priyank Kanoongo Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi Established- 2007 Highlights of IEA's World Energy Outlook 2024 The International Energy Agency's (IEA) has released its flagship report titled 'World Energy Outlook (WEO 2024)'. It states that India is on track to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2028. About World Energy Outlook(WEO): The WEO, which has been published as an annual report since 1998. It provides global source of energy analysis and projections. It describes and assesses the biggest trends in energy demand and supply, as well their impact on energy security, emissions and economic development. This year's report primarily focuses upon the increasing risks in the Middle East and enhanced global geopolitical tensions, and identifies a variety of energy security issues that decision makers deal with during the clean energy transitions. The report, based on present policies, projects that the world is set to enter a new energy market context in the coming years, marked by continued geopolitical hazards but also by a relatively abundant supply of multiple fuels and technologies. Theme WEO 2024: i.Energy security in relation to increased risks in the Middle East ii.Prospects for clean energy transitions which are to be accelerated iii.Ever present factor of Uncertainty Scenarios for the future of global energy: 1.Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): This scenario assumes that governments implement the energy.

[Audio] 2.Accelerated Policy Scenario (APS): This scenario assumes that governments implement more ambitious energy policies in order to achieve climate and other goals. 3.Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE): This scenario assumes that global energy-related CO2 emissions reach net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. Highlights of WEO 2024: i.TheWEO 2024 highlighted that the global energy system is weak and heightened by regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions. ii.According to the report, excess supply of oil and natural gas in the latter half of this decade could reduce price pressures and provide opportunities clean energy investments. IEA also expects a relatively abundant supply of various fuels and technologies in the coming years, including oil, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), solar photovoltaic(PV), and batteries. iii.The report emphasized that the world is entering the Age of Electricity, with increased growth in global power demand, especially in China, where solar power generation could exceed the total electricity demand of the United States of America (USA) by the early 2030s. Electric Vehicles(EVs) projected to account for 50% of new car sales by 2030. iv.Though there is progress in clean energy transitions, the report warned that current policies would result in a global temperature rise of 2.4°C by the end of the century, far above the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C. v.Clean energy investments have reached record highs, particularly in solar and wind power. In 2023 alone, over 560 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity was added globally, marking a significant leap towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Global electricity demand: i.Global electricity demand is on track to double by 2050, mainly due to China's large scale energy transition, according to the Carbon Tracker's statement on the IEA's WEO 2024. ii.The report states that while global growth in electricity demand is projected to accelerate to an average of 3.4% from 2024 through 2026. About 85% of the increase in the world's electricity demand through 2026 is expected to come from outside advanced economies – most notably China, India and countries in Southeast Asia. iii.Electricity generation from low-emissions sources comprising renewables, such as solar, wind and hydro, as well as nuclear power – should reduce the role of fossil fuels in providing power for homes and businesses. Low-emissions sources are expected to account for almost half of the world's electricity generation by 2026, up from a share of just under 40% in 2023. iv.Renewables are set to make up more than one-third of total electricity generation by early 2025, overtaking coal and by 2025, nuclear power generation is also projected to reach an all-time high globally due to increased commercial operations in countries like India, China, Japan, Europe and Korea. v.In the IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, a pathway aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, electricity's share in final energy consumption nears 30% in 2030. India faces higher increase in energy demand over next decade : According to the WEO 2024, India is going to face a higher increase in energy demand than any other country over the next.

[Audio] iii.The report showed that by 2035, iron and steel production in India are on track to grow by 70%. The cement output will increase by nearly 55%. The stock of Air Conditioners(AC) is projected to grow by over 4.5 times, leading to electricity demand from air conditioners in 2035 more than Mexico's total expected consumption that year. iv.As per the STEPS segment, the total energy demand in India is set to increase by nearly 35% by 2035 and electricity generation capacity to nearly triple to 1400 Gigawatt (GW). India set to have world's 3rd largest installed battery storage capacity by 2030. Most of this power generation surge will be derived from coal. In 2023, coal met 40% of India's power needs, while it is projected grow to more than 50% by 2035. v.Nearly 60 GW of coal-fired capacity is projected to be added to the net of retirements by 2030. The electricity generation from coal will rise by over 15%. Generation from coal remains over 30% higher than that from solar Photovoltaic cells (PV) due to the lower capacity factor of solar installations. vi.In Announced Pledges Scenario(APS), India's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, clean power generation is nearly 20% higher than in the STEPS by 2035, and India has the world's thirdlargest installed battery storage capacity in place by 2030 to accommodate the rising share of variable renewables. India's clean power generation is nearly 20% higher than in the STEPS by 2035, and has the world's thirdlargest installed battery storage capacity in place by 2030 to accommodate the rising share of variable renewables for the mission to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070. vii.The report also projected that a rapid rise in electric mobility is expected for India, which will lead to oil consumption peaking in the 2030s. Coal use in the industry will also rise in the 2030s as industrial use of electricity and hydrogen rises steadily. By 2035, India's carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions will amount to 2.5 billion tonnes in 2035 which is 25% below the level in the STEPS. About International Energy Agency (IEA): Executive Director(ED) – Fatih Birol Headquarters – Paris, France Founded: 18 November 1974 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS Alexander Dunn Awarded 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Alexander Dunn, a prominent mathematician from Georgia Institute of Technology, the United States of America (USA), has been awarded the 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), a private deemed university in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu (TN). He is recognized for his significant work in analytic number theory, especially his collaboration with Maksym Radziwill in solving the Kummer-Patterson Conjecture, which pertains to bias in cubic Gauss sums. Note: The award will be presented during the International Conference on Number Theory at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur from 20-22 December 2024. Report Errors.

[Audio] About Alexander Dunn: Alexander Dunn has made notable strides in mathematics, particularly in analytic number theory. His work is characterized by its depth and innovation, contributing to solving longstanding problems in the field. About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize: i.SASTRA Ramanujan Prize was established in 2005 by SASTRA University to honour young mathematicians who have made significant contributions to areas influenced by the works of legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. ii.The prize is awarded annually to mathematicians under 32 years of age. iii.The recipient receives a cash award of USD 10,000. In 2023, it was awarded to Ruixiang Zhang, Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, the USA. Hurun India Under-35 List: Isha Ambani, Parita Parekh, Ghazal Alagh among Top Young Entrepreneurs According to the Hurun India's latest inaugural edition of the "2024 Hurun India under 35s", Isha Ambani, non-Executive Director(ED) of Reliance Retail Limited; Parita Parekh, co-founder of Toddle, an online platform for educators; Ghazal Alagh, founder of Mamaearth are among the top young entrepreneurs featured on the list. The list is topped by Ankush Sachdeva (31 years old), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ShareChat and Moj, India's leading social media applications (app). He is also the youngest entrepreneur featured on the list. While, Neetish Sharda (31 years old), Smart works ranked at 2nd position on the list, followed by Akshit Jain, Director of Goldmedal Electricals Private Limited , India's leading manufacturer company of electrical and electronic products, Chaitanya Rathi, co-founder of Bijnis, ranked at 3rd and 4th spot respectively. About 2024 Hurun India under 35s: i.It is the latest compilation which has featured 150 remarkable self-made entrepreneurs in India who are under the age of 35. ii.The list has recognised those entrepreneurs which have minimum business valuation of USD 50 million for 1st-generation leaders and USD 100 million for next-generation leaders. iii.As per the report, 82% (123) of the total entrepreneurs featured on the list are the 1st-generation leaders, with an average age of 33 years. iv.The total entrepreneurs featured on the list are from 41 cities across the country, with Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) are the cities with highest number of entrepreneurs on the list, featuring 29 and 26 business leaders, respectively. v.The list noted that highest number of young entrepreneurs are from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The highest number of young entrepreneurs are from IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu (TN) (13 entrants) followed by IIT Bombay, Maharashtra (11) and both IIT Delhi, Delhi and IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal (WB) with 10 each. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 210.