March 29, 2024 | Daily Current Affairs for APSC/UPSC


India-China Border Talks - March 2024

  • India and China engaged in fresh talks regarding their border issues, particularly focusing on eastern Ladakh.
  • Both sides agreed to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels.
  • The 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place in Beijing on March 27.

India Launches Database for Crimes Against UN Peacekeepers

  • India has launched a new database aimed at recording crimes against UN peacekeepers and monitoring the progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
  • The announcement was made during a high-level meeting of the India-led 'Group of Friends' (GOF) on Tuesday.
  • The database serves as an online repository to empower the Secretariat, Missions, and member states to monitor and address cases of malicious acts against peacekeepers.
  • It is hosted on the Unite Aware platform and is intended to facilitate comprehensive analysis and drive effective strategies for promoting accountability.
  • India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, highlighted India's leadership in advocating for accountability and leading the GOF dedicated to this cause.
  • India sponsored the database and is actively involved in promoting accountability measures.

Group of Friends (GOF)

  • The GOF, launched by India in 2022 during its presidency of the UN Security Council, aims to promote accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers.
  • Co-chaired by India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco, and Nepal, the GOF comprises 40 member states.
  • Meeting Focus:
  • The GOF's second meeting focused on strategies to strengthen legal frameworks against perpetrators of malicious acts targeting peacekeepers.
  • Discussions included supporting measures for ensuring accountability and providing legal frameworks for crimes against peacekeepers.

Global Smartphone Shipments Outlook for 2024

  • Global smartphone shipments are forecasted to rebound modestly by 3% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 1.2 billion units.
  • This growth is attributed to increased demand in both the budget and premium segments.

India's Fiscal Deficit and Core Sector Industries Growth - March 2024

  • India's fiscal deficit for the first 11 months of 2023-24 stood at Rs 15.01 lakh crore, which is 86.5% of the revised annual estimate.
  • The revised annual estimate for the fiscal deficit was Rs 17.35 lakh crore for the full financial year 2023-24.
  • Factors Contributing to Decline:
  • Despite increased government expenditure on infrastructure projects aimed at boosting economic growth, the fiscal deficit decreased.
  • Higher tax receipts and an increase in non-tax revenue were key contributing factors.

Growth in India's Eight Core Industries - February 2024

  • The eight core industries, including sectors like coal, cement, steel, and electricity, witnessed a significant growth of 6.7% in February 2024 compared to the same month of the previous year.
  • These core industries collectively hold a substantial weight of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), providing a reliable indicator of overall industrial growth.

The Assam Tribune Editorial Summary, (March 29, 2024): Food wastage

The United Nations Food Waste Index Report for 2022 reveals alarming statistics regarding global food waste, with approximately 19% of food produced globally wasted, amounting to about 1.05 billion metric tonnes. This occurs against the backdrop of 783 million people facing chronic hunger, highlighting a deepening food crisis.

Key Points from the Report:

  • The amount of food wasted globally is staggering, exacerbating food insecurity and hunger issues worldwide.
  • Food waste contributes significantly to environmental degradation, including land and water resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions, notably methane.
  • Food loss and waste generate 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, ranking third after China and the US.
  • Methane emissions from food waste have contributed around 30% to global warming since pre-industrial times, highlighting the direct link between food waste and climate change.
  • Food waste means less food available for the poorest populations, exacerbating hunger and poverty.
  • Minimising food waste can lead to resource conservation, environmental sustainability, enhanced food security, and better land use practices.
Strategies to Address Food Waste:
  • Collaboration among governments, regional bodies, industry groups, and NGOs is essential to tackle food waste effectively.
  • Public-private partnerships can play a significant role in promoting systemic action.
  • Strengthening the food redistribution system, including donating surplus food to food banks and charities, can significantly reduce food waste.
  • Initiatives like Food Banking Kenya demonstrate successful models of surplus food redistribution to vulnerable populations.
Global vs. Local Perspectives:
  • Food waste is not solely a problem of wealthy nations but a global concern, with per capita household food waste differences between high-income and lower-income countries surprisingly small.
  • In India, with a rapidly growing population and increasing land-use changes, addressing food waste is critical to ensuring future food security and environmental sustainability.
Urgency of Action:
  • Urgent measures, including legislative actions to prohibit the transfer of farmland for non-agricultural purposes, are necessary to address the pressing issue of food waste and its implications on food security and environmental sustainability.


Credit: The Assam Tribune, March 29, 2024.

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