Pralhad Joshi launched Anna Chakra and SCAN Portal

• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched ‘Anna Chakra’ and the SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) portal on  December 5, 2024.
• It aimed at modernizing India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) and streamlining subsidy claims under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• Developed to optimize the PDS logistics network, ensuring efficient and seamless movement of food grains across India.
• Created in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT).
• The project aims to reduce transportation distance by 58 crore quintal-kilometres annually, resulting in estimated annual savings of ₹250 crore.
• It covers 30 states, 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs), and approximately 6,700 warehouses, integrated with the Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) and PM Gati Shakti platform.
• SCAN Portal is designed to streamline subsidy claims with a single-window submission system, end-to-end workflow automation.

French Present Government Lost Confidence Votes for First Time in 62 Years

• French Prime Minister Michel Barnier Government faces no-confidence when 331 members vote for it in National Assembly on December 5, 2024.,
• It was the first time since 1958 that such a vote has been accepted.
• The vote was held as EU raises concern over France’s budget deficit.
• Barnier became one of the shortest-serving Prime Ministers in the history of the French 5th Republic, holding the office for 91 days.
• The vote of no-confidence motion was called by the opposition left-wing New Popular Front alliance and the far-right National Rally party.
• The current Constitution does not allow new Legislative Elections which means that any new Government must incorporate numerous political parties.

Investigation Launching into South Korean President’s attempt to impose Martial Law

• South Korean prosecutors have opened an official investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol for his attempt to impose martial law in the country on December 5, 2024.
• Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun are also part of the investigation.
• President Yoon Suk Yeol is under investigation for insurrection, according to media reports.
• Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned following the incident, has been placed under a travel ban.
• South Korean’s opposition Democratic Party introduced a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration.
• If impeachment motion not voted within 72 hours of its introduction, the motion will be discarded, as per South Korean law.

Nepal and China signed for cooperation in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

• Nepal and China signed the BRI Cooperation Framework during PM K P Sharma Oli’s visit to China on  December 5, 2024.
• Its aim to improve connectivity through ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids, and telecommunication transforming Nepal.
• Nepal joined the BRI in 2017, but no projects were executed until the 2024 framework agreement.
• Nepal's Acting Foreign Secretary, Amrit Bahadur Rai, and Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Liu Sushe, signed the agreement.
• The framework replaces "grant" with "investment" and includes "aid and technical assistance".
• Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN) is a major project aligns with Nepal's aspirations.

Global Conference on AI and Energy

• The IEA AI and Energy Conference in Paris aimed to explore the potential of AI in transforming energy systems organized from December 4-5, 2024.
• International Energy Agency was established in 1974, offers data, analysis, and policy recommendations on international energy challenges.
• Data centres, accounting for 1% of global power consumption, can potentially consume 25% of local electricity in regions like Virginia and Ireland.
• IEA has launched an AI-powered chatbot in partnership with Microsoft to assist consumers in understanding the World Energy Outlook report 2024.
• The IEA plans to publish a study in 2025 on AI and Energy, examining its potential and potential challenges in the energy industry.
• Canada plans to collaborate with the IEA during its 2025 G7 Presidency to influence global energy policy through AI.
• The conference, attended by executives from Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, was attended by ministers and officials from 25 nations.

OECD has increased India's Financial Year 2025 Growth Forecast to 6.8%

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.8%, up from 6.7% on  December 5, 2024.
• Key contributors to the forecasted growth include public infrastructure investment, agricultural recovery due to a favourable monsoon, etc.
• India is expected to sustain nearly 7% growth through FY25 and FY26, with investment and rising rural incomes.
• Inflation is projected to ease, providing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) room for monetary policy easing soon.
• Risks to India's growth include a weaker global economic environment, geopolitical tensions, protectionism, etc.
• Despite increased public investment, India has maintained prudent fiscal policies, with a steady decline in government deficits and public debt.

ISRO launched PSLV-C59 Rocket with European Space Agency’s Proba-3 Satellites

• ISRO launched ESA’s Proba-3 mission by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on December 5, 2024.
• PSLV-C59 successfully placed into orbit ESA’s Proba-3 spacecraft about 18 minutes after its launch and was 61st launch mission by the ISRO.
• The Proba-3 mission involves 2 satellites, which fly in close formation to each other and will be 150 mapart, in a format like a solar eclipse.
• In this one craft that is Occulter, blocking the Sun’s light so that the other craft, the Coronagraph can study the solar corona.
• Proba-3 mission is to study the dim corona which is a million times fainter than the Sun.
• Proba-3 will demonstrate Close Formation Flying by performing maneuvers such as rendezvous, resising and retargeting by two aircraft.
• Proba-3 will enable solar scientists to observe the phenomena on the sun for 6 hours per orbit (19 hours 36 minutes).

Sentinel-1C satellite has successfully launched

• Sentinel-1C is from European Copernicus programme comprises 12 families of Sentinel satellites and a third satellite in the Sentinel-1 series launched on December 5, 2024.
• Sentinel satellites is the largest in the Earth observation system globally and collects extensive radar data.
• Sentinel satellite radar data is crucial for disaster management, climate change research, urban planning, and agriculture.
• The Vega-C Rocket, an Italian launch vehicle for small to medium payloads, successfully launched this satellite.
• Sentinel-1C supports environmental monitoring, maritime traffic tracking, scientific research, disaster management, and climate change study.
• Sentinel-1C launch enhances Earth observation capabilities, enhancing monitoring technologies for continued research.

Devendra Fadnavis (Appointment)

• Devendra Fadnavis of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on December 5, 2024.
• Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were also sworn in as deputy Chief Ministers.
• Maharashtra assembly elections came out well for the BJP-Shivsena-NCP alliance that together claimed 230 of the 288 seats.
• The elaborate official ceremonial oaths were administered at one of the largest venues for such an event present in Mumbai, the Azad Maidan.
• Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has sworn in the Chief Minister and the two Deputy Chief Ministers of the State.
• The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Senior Union Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers of the NDA ruled states.

Scottish Sikh artist wins  Turner Prize 2024

• Jasleen Kaur, a Glasgow-born Scottish Sikh artist, won the Turner Prize 2024, one of the most prestigious accolades in contemporary art on  December 5, 2024.
• The Turner Prize 2024 carries a reward of £25000 (approximately ₹26.84 lakh).
• Kaur was awarded for her solo exhibition "Alter Altar" at Tate Britain, which incorporates sculpture, sound, and music.
• The artwork explores personal, political, spiritual, migrant identity, anti-colonialism, and Miri Piri's Sikh philosophy.
• The Turner Prize jury praised her work for its evocative storytelling and ability to connect everyday objects to broader narratives.
• The Turner Prize, established in 1984, honours contemporary British art innovation and is named after JMW Turner.

World Bank approved $188.28 million loan for Maharashtra's backward districts

• The World Bank approved a loan of $188.28 million for Maharashtra to boost economic growth in its underdeveloped districts on  December 5, 2024.
• The loan, provided by International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 15-year maturity period, including a 5-year grace period.
• The project will create the Maha Databank, a data governance framework aimed at addressing development challenges.
• E-Governance enhancements include upgrading digital service portals like MAITRI 2.0 for business and RTS portal for government services.
• It aims to overcome fragmented governance and improve public-private sector collaboration for broad-based development across Maharashtra.

India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan agreement for water security in Meghalaya

• Both parties signed a $50 million loan agreement to support water security and climate change adaptation in Meghalaya on  December 5, 2024.
• The project includes the construction of 532 small water storage facilities in 12 Meghalayan districts for rainwater harvesting.
• It provides for the establishment of 3000 ha of land for irrigation to support the development of agricultural activity.
• Micro-hydropower systems will be installed in three water storage structures to trial both water and energy efficient practices.
• Meghalaya State Water Policy 2019 is on sustainable management of water resources.
• ADB, established in 1966, is an international financial institution providing loans, grants, and technical cooperation for Asia's economic.