In Current Affairs for 10 December 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 10 December 2024
Sanjay Malhotra Appointed As New RBI Governor
- Sanjay Malhotra will be the next governor for the Reserve Bank of India. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his name.
- He has been appointed to the post for a period of three years starting from the 11th of this month. Mr. Malhotra will succeed Shaktikant Das.
- The Rajasthan Cadre IAS officer of the 1990 batch, Mr. Malhotra is presently serving as Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. With demonstrated leadership and excellence in his career of over 33 years, Mr. Malhotra has worked in multifarious sectors, including power, finance and taxation, information technology, and mines, among others.
- He has extensive experience in finance and taxation at the state as well as the central government. As a part of his present assignment, he plays an instrumental role in tax policy formulation in respect of direct and indirect taxes.
National Panchayat Awards 2024
- President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Panchayat Awards 2024 on Wednesday at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
- This year, a total of 45 awardees have been selected under various categories, reflecting a wide spectrum of achievements in grassroots governance and community development.
- In the award ceremony, the Panchayati Raj Minister will unveil a booklet titled Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats, which documents the innovative and impactful practices of award-winning panchayats.
- The ministry, in a statement, said that through these awards it aims to inspire other panchayats to adopt best practices and contribute to the holistic development of rural India.
77% Of Earth’s Land Has Become Significantly Drier
- United Nations revealed that over 77 percent of the Earth’s land has become significantly drier in the past 30 years. According to a study by the UN Science-Policy Interface, this alarming trend poses severe threats to global agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity.
- The findings underscore the urgent need for innovative water management and sustainable land-use practices.
- Scientists and environmentalists are calling for immediate action to mitigate the devastating impacts of desertification and climate change.
- The report published today found that Africa lost about 12 percent of its GDP due to increasing aridity between 1990 and 2015. It also estimated that Africa will lose about 16 percent of its GDP, and Asia close to 7 percent, in the next half-decade. It noted that some crops will be particularly at risk.
- For example, maize yields in Kenya are projected to halve by 2050 if current trends continue. Drylands are areas where 90 percent of rainfall is lost to evaporation, leaving only 10 percent for vegetation. According to the report, two-thirds of land globally will store less water by mid-century.
Russia shuts down international network of call centres
- Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said that it has raided and dismantled an international network of call centres involved in mass fraud targeting citizens of several countries, including India.
- According to the FSB, the call centres were part of an international organised crime group that, under the guise of investment transactions, defrauded citizens of the EU, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, India, Japan, and other nations.
- Approximately one lakh people in over 50 countries fell victim to these illegal activities. The FSB reported that the income generated from these activities reached one million dollars per day.
- The agency further said that the heads of the call centres operating in Russia have been identified. They are citizens of Israel, Ukraine, and Georgia. The FSB claimed that the international network of call centres was acting in the interests of former Georgian Defence Minister and founder of the Milton Group, David Kezerashvili, who is reportedly hiding in London.
India Tops Global List For Mobile Malware Attacks
- India has emerged as the global leader in mobile malware attacks, surpassing the United States and Canada. A recent Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 report revealed that India now accounts for 28% of global mobile malware attacks, up from third place last year.
- India now accounts for 28% of global mobile malware attacks, surpassing the US (27.3%) and Canada (15.9%).This surge highlights the increasing vulnerability of Indian businesses and individuals, especially as cyber threats grow with the country’s rapid digital transformation.
- Trojans and phishing attacks targeting the financial sector have seen a significant rise, making cybersecurity a critical need for Indian enterprises.
- India’s leap to the top spot for mobile malware attacks signals a sharp rise in threats, with trojans accounting for nearly half of these attacks.
- The financial sector has become the primary target, with banking malware attacks increasing by 29% and mobile spyware attacks skyrocketing by 111%. Cybercriminals are using phishing tactics, including fake login pages for financial institutions, to steal sensitive user information.
- Phishing attempts targeting mobile banking customers, such as those of HDFC, ICICI, and Axis banks, have increased significantly.
- Cybercriminals are using convincing fake websites to trick users into disclosing critical banking details. Additionally, the Indian Postal Service has become a target for similar scams, utilizing SMS to lure users into providing credit card information through deceptive messaging.
- The report highlights the broader cybersecurity landscape, including a 45% year-on-year rise in IoT malware attacks, driven largely by botnets. Malicious apps are also proliferating on platforms like Google Play, with over 200 harmful applications discovered, posing a direct threat to users worldwide.
- In response, the Zscaler report advocates for the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures, including zero-trust security frameworks, to safeguard both mobile and IoT environments.
- While India now leads in mobile malware attacks, it has reduced its role as a malware origin point, moving from fifth to seventh place in the APAC region.
India’s Billionaire Count Soars To 185
- India has seen a remarkable increase in its billionaire count, reaching 185 in 2024, marking a 20% rise from 153 in 2023. This surge places India third globally, following the US and China.
- The UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report highlights India’s growing wealth, driven by family-led businesses and diverse sectors, including pharma, fintech, and edtech.
- Meanwhile, China’s billionaire numbers dropped from 520 in 2023 to 427 in 2024, owing to economic slowdowns and regulatory changes. The report projects India’s billionaire growth trajectory will continue, resembling China’s growth pattern up until 2020.
- India’s Billionaire Surge: India’s billionaire count has soared by over 20% in the past year, reaching 185 in 2024. This marks a substantial growth in comparison to 153 in 2023 and a 123% increase since 2015. The country’s billionaire wealth also surged 42.1%, totaling $905.6 billion.
- China’s Decline: China’s billionaire count dropped by 93, from 520 in 2023 to 427 in 2024, a direct impact of the country’s economic slowdown. Despite this, China remains in the second spot globally in terms of billionaire count, but its wealth has decreased from $2.1 trillion in 2020 to $1.8 trillion in 2024.
- Globally, billionaire wealth grew by 121% from 2015 to 2024, with the total fortune reaching $14 trillion, up from $6.3 trillion. India’s share in this growth is notable, with the country poised for a further increase in billionaire entrepreneurs in the next decade.
RBI Introduces Secured Overnight Rupee Rate
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the development of the Secured Overnight Rupee Rate (SORR) as a new benchmark for the interest rate derivatives market, based on secured money market transactions like market repo and tri-party repo (TREPS).
- SORR, to be developed with support from Financial Benchmarks India Limited (FBIL), aims to offer a trade-based, robust, and manipulation-resistant benchmark that reflects real market dynamics, unlike the Mumbai Inter-Bank Offer Rate (MIBOR), which relies on polling data.
- The initiative aligns with global best practices, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and signals a shift toward transparency in India’s benchmark-setting methodology.
- MIBOR Overview: MIBOR, in use since 1998, is a polled rate derived by averaging responses from market participants.
- SORR is based on actual secured transactions in the overnight repo market, covering 98% of overnight market activity, ensuring higher reliability and less susceptibility to manipulation.
- Global Alignment: The methodology mirrors SOFR, introduced as an alternative to LIBOR, emphasizing global transparency standards.
India’s FDI Inflows Surpass $1 Trillion
- India has achieved a significant milestone as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows surpass $1 trillion between April 2000 and September 2024, reinforcing its position as a top investment destination.
- With cumulative FDI reaching $1,033.4 billion, including equity, reinvested earnings, and other capital, the country has seen substantial growth, especially post-2014. This surge in investment is a result of favorable government policies, strong economic performance, and key sectors such as services, software, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
- About 25% of India’s FDI inflows came via Mauritius, followed by Singapore (24%) and the US (10%). Other notable investors include the Netherlands, Japan, the UK, and the UAE.
- The sectors attracting the most investment include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading, construction, automobile, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
- Since 2014, India has attracted $667.4 billion in FDI, marking a 119% rise from the previous decade (2004-14). The manufacturing sector alone saw $165.1 billion in equity inflows during this period, reflecting a 69% increase compared to the earlier decade.
- The government’s continuous review of FDI policies and structural reforms, especially in M&A and digital ecosystems, has played a critical role in driving inflows.
- Experts predict that FDI will continue to grow in 2025, driven by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, improved industrial output, and attractive initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
Asia-Pacific Deaf Games
- Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian contingent for clinching 55 medals at the 10th Asia-Pacific Deaf Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- The Indian team, represented by 68 members, including 42 men and 26 women, secured 8 gold, 18 silver, and 29 bronze medals at these games held from the 1st to the 8th of December.
- This was the best-ever performance by an Indian team in the quadrennial tournament since its inaugural edition in 1984.
- Mr. Mandaviya congratulated the Indian team, including the coaches and support staff, during a special interaction at his residence.
- Addressing the Indian deaf team, Mr. Mandaviya highlighted that the country is moving forward in the sports sector. He said that the government is taking many initiatives to improve sports infrastructure, governance, and specialised coaching.
Current Affairs 10 December 2024 Question
- Which Country Tops Global List For Mobile Malware Attacks
A. China
B. USA
C. UK
D. India
ANSWER: D - India’s Billionaire Count Soars To 185 Places India Globally At __
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth
ANSWER: C - What Date Has The UN General Assembly Declared As World Meditation Day
A. December 1
B. December 15
C. December 21
D. December 10
ANSWER: C - Name Of The Public Distribution System (PDS) Supply Chain Optimization Tool
Launched By Government Of India
A. FoodNet
B. Anna Chakra
C. GrainFlow
D. GrainOptimizer
ANSWER: B - Which Country Has Been Chosen To Chair The 68th Session Of The Commission
On Narcotic Drugs
A. China
B. Russia
C. India
D. Australia
ANSWER: C - Mullaperiyar Dam Is Located In Which State
A. Karnataka
B. Kerala
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Maharashtra
ANSWER: B - Angami Tribe Is Primarily Found In Which State
A. Odisha
B. Jharkhand
C. Nagaland
D. Assam
ANSWER: C - Little Gull Bird, Spotted In Delhi-NCR, Is Native To Which Region
A. South America
B. Eurasia
C. Antarctica
D. Australia
ANSWER: B - Which Rocket Was Used To Launch Copernicus Sentinel-1c Satellite
A. Falcon 9
B. Ariane 5
C. PSLV
D. Vega-C
ANSWER: D - Which Indian State Is Set To Launch Maize Flour Branded As ‘Himbhog’
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Punjab
D. Haryana
ANSWER: A - On Which Date Is Armed Forces Flag Day Observed Annually In India
A. December 7
B. December 15
C. January 26
D. August 15
ANSWER: A - Which Organization Won The 3rd PSU Transformation Award For “Innovative
Product Development”
A. NTPC
B. SECI
C. BHEL
D. NHPC
ANSWER: B - Name Of India’s First Indigenous Macrolide Antibiotic
A. Nafithromycin
B. Azithromycin
C. Erythromycin
D. Clarithromycin
ANSWER: A - Who Has Recently Been Appointed As The President Of The Asian Cricket
Council
A. Jay Shah
B. Shammi Silva
C. Cathie Dalton Biga
D. Robert Califf
ANSWER: B - Which Bank Surpassed The 20 Million Credit Card Milestone In India
A. SBI
B. HDFC Bank
C. ICICI Bank
D. Axis Bank
ANSWER: A - How Many Indian Astronauts Were Selected For The Axiom-4 Mission To The
International Space Station
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. One
ANSWER: A - Which Country’s King & Queen Visited India To Discuss Bilateral Cooperation,
Including Hydropower And Connectivity Projects
A. Nepal
B. Bangladesh
C. Bhutan
D. Sri Lanka
ANSWER: C - In Which City Is The Mauryan Archaeological Site Of Kumhrar, Known For The
80-pillar Assembly Hall, Located
A. Varanasi
B. Kolkata
C. Patna
D. Lucknow
ANSWER: C - In Which Year Was The Aircraft Act, Replaced By The Bharatiya Vayuyan
Vidheyak Bill, First Enacted
A. 1934
B. 1947
C. 1950
D. 1962
ANSWER: A - Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary Is Located In Which State
A. Assam
B. Manipur
C. Mizoram
D. Nagaland
ANSWER: A
