UPSC Current Affairs - 5th March 2024

Stay ahead in your UPSC preparation with the latest UPSC Current Affairs for 5th March 2024, exclusively brought to you by AvengersofUPSC.in. Our meticulously curated content provides aspiring civil servants with the most relevant and crucial information, ensuring you stay well-informed and ready for success.

France has embedded the right to abortion in its Constitution:

Overwhelming Majority: The decision, supported by 780 votes in favor and 72 against, was made during a special joint session of the two houses of parliament at Versailles Palace, just outside Paris.
Constitutional Amendment: The right to abortion is now enshrined in Article 34 of the French constitution, emphasizing that "the law determines the conditions in which a woman has the guaranteed freedom to have recourse to an abortion."
Protection of Reproductive Rights: This move is a significant stride toward safeguarding women's reproductive rights, emphasizing their freedom to make decisions about their own reproductive health and bodily autonomy.
Legal History: While abortion has been legally permitted in France since the 1974 law, this constitutional amendment further fortifies the protection of this right, making it less susceptible to changes by future governments or legal challenges.
Widespread Support: Approximately 80% of the French population supports the legality of abortion, reflecting a broad consensus on the importance of women's reproductive rights.
Activist Response: Women's rights activists in central Paris celebrated the decision, with cheers and applause as the Eiffel Tower displayed the message "MyBodyMyChoice" in the background.
Global Influence: The decision may have been influenced, in part, by the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to reverse the Roe v. Wade ruling, prompting French activists to advocate for explicit constitutional protection of the right to abortion in response.

"Chakshu" a digital platform developed to counteract fraudulent calls and messages

In a noteworthy effort to safeguard citizens from financial fraud, the Indian government has introduced a digital platform named Chakshu. Crafted by the Department of Telecommunication, this platform empowers individuals to report instances of fraudulent calls and text messages, establishing a resilient defense against anonymous criminals leveraging technology to deceive and defraud people of their finances.

What is Chakshu:

Chakshu simplifies the reporting process for fraudulent calls and messages, facilitating easier citizen action against criminal activities.
The platform initiates a re-verification process upon receiving a report, leading to disconnection if the number fails verification, ensuring swift action against fraudsters and minimizing financial losses.
Real-time intelligence sharing is a key feature of Chakshu, promoting collaboration among telecom companies, law enforcement agencies, banks, financial institutions, social media platforms, and identity document authorities.
Chakshu addresses the rising instances of fraud, particularly those involving impersonation of bank or government officials to extract personal and financial information.
The platform serves as an information exchange hub, providing comprehensive data on telecom resource misuse and enabling targeted actions against fraudulent activities.
Chakshu integrates with Sanchar Saathi, acting as a backend repository for citizen-initiated requests, including tracking or blocking lost mobile phones and reporting identity theft.
Sanchar Saathi has been successful in tracing over 700,000 mobile phones, detecting 6.7 million suspicious communication attempts, and saving individuals ₹1,000 crore in potential losses.
The launch of Chakshu underscores the Department of Telecommunication's commitment to empowering citizens and fostering a secure digital ecosystem.

Tiger Woods Receives Prestigious Bob Jones Award from USGA

Renowned golfer Tiger Woods has been honoured with the esteemed Bob Jones Award, the highest accolade presented by the United States Golf Association (USGA). This recognition is attributed to his outstanding on-course accomplishments, coupled with a commendable dedication to the traditions and integrity of the game

Highest Honor: Tiger Woods awarded the Bob Jones Award by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the most esteemed accolade recognizing sportsmanship and character in golf.
On-Course Achievements: Recognized for his remarkable on-course accomplishments as a 15-time major champion and nine-time USGA champion, redefining modern golf.
Character and Tradition: Woods acknowledged for his commitment to the traditions and integrity of the game, displaying qualities of tenacity, mental strength, and perseverance.
Bob Jones Award Overview: The award, established in 1955, symbolizes the USGA's highest recognition for sportsmanship and distinguished character beyond championships.
Memorializing Bobby Jones: The award pays tribute to amateur golf great Bobby Jones, co-founder of the Masters Tournament and winner of 13 majors, including a Grand Slam in 1930.
Past Recipients: Woods joins a prestigious list of past recipients, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and other golf legends.
Recognition Ceremony: The 2024 Bob Jones Award will be presented to Woods on June 12th during the U.S. Open Tournament week at Pinehurst Resort’s Course No. 2 in North Carolina.
Championship Pedigree: Woods, with 15 major triumphs, ranks second only to Nicklaus; highlights include the 'Tiger Slam' and three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs and U.S. Amateurs from 1991-93.
Dominance in USGA: Woods' USGA victories include three U.S. Open wins in 2000, 2002, and 2008, showcasing his legendary dominance.

Moody's Upgrades India's GDP Growth Outlook for 2024.

Moody's, a leading global credit rating agency, has adjusted its 2024 GDP growth projection for India, raising it from 6.1% to 6.8%. This revision mirrors a positive outlook on the nation's economy, supported by strong manufacturing activity and significant infrastructure investments, both domestically and globally.

Moody's Growth Revision: Moody’s revised India's 2024 growth estimate upward from 6.1% to 6.8%, citing stronger-than-expected economic data in 2023 and emphasizing India’s resilience amid global challenges.
Fastest-Growing Economy: Moody’s anticipates India to maintain its position as the fastest-growing economy among G-20 nations over the forecast horizon, reflecting optimism about the country's economic trajectory.
Robust Q3 FY24 Performance: India's economy exhibited remarkable growth in the December quarter (Q3 FY24), expanding by 8.4%, surpassing expectations and dispelling concerns of a potential slowdown. Key sectors contributing to this performance include manufacturing, electricity, and construction.
Revised GDP Estimates: The Government of India's statistics ministry raised the GDP growth estimate for FY24 to 7.6%, up from the initial 7.3% projection. This aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s GDP growth estimate of 7%, while the International Monetary Fund forecasts a slightly lower growth rate of 6.7%.
Contributing Factors to Growth: Moody’s identified government capital spending and robust manufacturing activity as significant contributors to India’s economic growth in 2023. Policy continuity post-election and sustained infrastructure development are expected to further support this growth.
Private Industrial Capital Spending: While private industrial capital spending has been slow, Moody’s foresees an increase driven by supply chain diversification benefits and positive investor response to the government's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme aimed at boosting key manufacturing industries.
Improving Private Investment Outlook: Rising capacity utilization, robust credit growth, and positive business sentiment indicate an improving outlook for private investment in India,

Semiconductor Research Centre for Global Excellence

The Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology, and Jal Shakti, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, recently revealed plans for the creation of the 'Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre.' This state-of-the-art institution is expected to find its home at the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, as announced during the All India Research Scholars Summit – 2024.

Key Points for UPSC Current Affairs

Global Standard Institution: The Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre is envisioned as a global standard institution, fostering partnerships with academia, government, private sectors, and startups. Initially co-located with Semiconductor Complex Ltd, it holds the potential to evolve into an independent semiconductor research organization in the future.
International Collaboration: The center aims to compete and collaborate with renowned international institutions, positioning itself as a principal hub for semiconductor research in the coming decade.
Ecosystem of Collaboration: The research centre will establish a robust ecosystem of collaboration with leading universities and colleges in India. Focus areas include materials, physics, science, transistors, devices, packaging, and system innovation.
Semiconductors in Global Focus: The heightened global interest in semiconductors is attributed to the accelerated digitization post-Covid, impacting various aspects of lives, economies, enterprises, and governments.
India's Semiconductor Progress: Since 2022, India has demonstrated significant strides in developing a thriving semiconductor ecosystem. Proposals from global semiconductor giants like Tower Semiconductor, Power chip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, and Micron indicate the country's progress in the industry.
Budget Allocation for Research and Innovation: The Indian government, in the Budget for 2024-25, allocated ₹1-lakh crore to the 'Research and Innovation Fund.' This interest-free grant spanning 50 years aims to catalyse innovation and research through an industry-academia partnership model.

UPSC Current Affairs - 5th March 2024