Latest Current Affairs For September, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has approved capital projects of Rs. 2,903.80 crore in 8 States under the scheme entitled ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure for 2021-22’. 

2-As a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav’ and ‘Fit India Movement’, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur flagged off the second edition of Ultimate Ladakh Cycling Challenge. 

3-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set forth a policy of "5Ts" -- Tradition, Technology, Trade, Trusteeship, Talent -- during his meeting with US President Joe Biden for a decade of transformational partnership between New Delhi and Washington, according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. 

4-Himachal Pradesh has been sanctioned a medical devices park, first in north India, by the Central government with the grant-in-aid of Rs 100 crore. 

5-Two commonly used drugs Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have been dropped from the revised clinical guidance for management of adult Covid-19 patients. 

6-Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya presented the ICC (Indian Chemical Council) Annual Awards for the year 2020 in a virtual ceremony. 

7-Indian scientists, for the first time, have developed a thermally stable and cost-effective electronic polymer-based sensor for rapidly detecting nitro-aromatic chemicals used in high-energy explosives. 

8-The 6th Edition of Exercise PEACEFUL MISSION: 2021 of SCO Member States hosted by Russia at the Orenburg Region of South West Russia culminated on 24 September 2021. 

9-Josh, Indias fastest growing and most engaged short-video app, made history on 9th September, 2021 by setting a new Guinness World Records title of creating the largest online video of people saluting the Indian National Anthem. 

10-Varanasi will soon become the first Indian city to use the ropeway services in the public transportation. About 220 cable cars will be available between Cantt railway station (Varanasi Junction) and Godowlia. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Service Scheme Awards for the year 2019-20 in a virtual ceremony. 

2-Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stone of three projects at New Mangalore Port. 

3-The Defence Ministry inked a nearly Rs 20,000 crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space of Spain to procure 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft which will replace Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force. 

4-Kerala, boasting of a high literacy rate and unique literary and cultural tradition, will soon have a museum to showcase the legacy, which is considered to be the first-of-its kind language-literary and cultural museum in the world. 

5-Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga have agreed to promote defence and security cooperation between India and Japan when they met in Washington on the eve of the Quad Summit that brings together the four major democracies of the Indo-Pacific region. 

6-NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station located in the Himalayan State of Sikkim has been conferred with the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by International Hydropower Association (IHA). 

7-Government e Marketplace (GeM) was announced as the winner in the "Best Use of Digital Technology" category at the CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021 (CIPS Awards).

8-Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated and chaired the inaugural session of Aarogya Manthan 3.0 to mark the third anniversary of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme for its three years successful implementation across the country. 

9-G. Kishan Reddy laid the foundation stone for the “Development of Parshuram Kund, Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh.” 

10-The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of shares in Fullerton India Credit Company Limited (FICC/ Target) by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.(SMFG / Acquirer) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. 

11-In a yet another significant push towards Mission Aatmanirbhar Bharat, benefits related to 80 Percent reduced fee for patent filing & prosecution have been extended to Educational institutions as well. 

Western Naval Command Sailing Championship-2021 conducted

Western Naval Command Sailing Championship-2021 has been conducted at Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Mumbai. 

59 personnel from seven teams participated in this championship.

It was conducted in seven different classes of boats: Laser (Standard), Laser (Radial), Laser (Bahiya), Enterprise, Bic-Nova, 29-er, J24. 

Concept of team racing in Enterprise Class and match racing in J24 class of boats was reintroduced to facilitate wider participation. 

North Korea test newly developed hypersonic missile

North Korea has tested newly developed Hwasong-8 type hypersonic missile towards the sea off its east coast, Jagang Province.

The development of the weapon system increases North Korea’s defence capabilities.

Hwasong series missiles use liquid propellant engines. 

This is the first test of a liquid propellant missile in North Korea since November 2017.

Prime Minister of North Korea: Kim Jong-un.

PM Modi launches 35 crop varieties to tackle climate change, malnutrition

PM Narendra Modi has dedicated virtually 35 crop varieties with special traits.

He also dedicated newly constructed campus of National Institute of Biotic Stress Management Raipur to the nation and distributed Green Campus Award to Agricultural Universities.

35 varieties include drought tolerant variety of chickpea, wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeonpea, early maturing soybean, disease resistant varieties of rice and biofortified varieties of wheat, etc.

Govt sets up GoM to rationalise GST rates

Central government has formed 7-member group of ministers (GoM) for proposing a rationalization of tax rates and considering the merger of different tax slabs under GST.

It will be headed by Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj S. Bommai.

Government has formed one more GoM which will look at tapping IT tools to minimize tax evasion and make compliance easier for taxpayers. Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra deputy CM has been made the convenor of this GoM.

11 scientists receive 2021 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes

11 scientists have been felicitated with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize 2021, which is the highest science-tech award in India.

Winners:

Biological Sciences: Amit Singh, Arun Kumar Shukla

Chemical Sciences: Kanishka Biswas, T Govindaraju

Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences: Binoy Kumar Saikia

Engineering Sciences: Debdeep Mukhopadhyay

Maths: Anish Ghosh, Saket Saurabh

Medical Sciences: Jeemon Panniyammakal, Rohit Shrivastava

Physical Sciences: Kanak Saha

Centre extends existing foreign trade policy (FTP) till March 2022

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has further extended Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20, till March 31, 2022.

This is the third extension to FTP policy.

First extension was given on March 31, 2020 for one year till March 2021, due to Covid outbreak and nationwide lockdown and was again extended till September 30, 2021. 

FTP 2015-20 provides guidelines for increasing exports of goods and services as well as generation of employment. 

SEBI approves frameworks for gold exchange and Social Stock Exchange

SEBI has approved frameworks for gold exchange and Social Stock Exchange, along with amendments to delisting framework for equity shares. 

Gold exchange is being set up to trade yellow metal in the form of electronic gold receipts for transparent domestic spot price discovery mechanism.

Instrument representing gold is to be called Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR). 

Under Social Stock Exchange (SSE) creation, it will be used for purpose of fund raising by social entrepreneurs. 

RBI sets WMA Limit for Central Government at Rs. 50,000 crore

RBI has set the limit for Ways and Means Advances (WMA) for the second half of FY 2021-22 (Oct 2021 to March 2022) at Rs 50,000 crores.

RBI may trigger fresh floatation of market loans when the Government of India utilizes 75% of the WMA limit.

Interest rate on WMA/overdraft will be:

For WMA: Repo Rate

For Overdraft: Two percent above the Repo Rate. 

WMAs are short-term advances given by central bank to help states tide over temporary mismatches in their cash flow.

Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan and Judima rice wine from Assam gets GI tag

Home-made rice wine from Assam, Judima and Sojat Mehndi (Henna) from Rajasthan has been awarded geographical indication (GI) tag.

Judima: Local fermented drink made with rice, brewed by Dimasa community in Assam. It is the first traditional brew of northeast to bag GI tag.

Sojat tehsil of Pali district, Rajasthan has suitable geological structure, topography and drainage system, climate, and soil for naturally cultivating the mehndi leave crop.

CAG GC Murmu appointed as external auditor of IAEA

CAG of India, G C Murmu has been appointed as the external auditor of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

His tenure will be valid for six years from 2022 to 2027.

He was selected as the next external auditor of the IAEA at General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna.

IAEA is an international organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.

HQs: Vienna, Austria.

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste: 29 September

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed on September 29 to promote and implement global efforts to resolve the issue of food wastage. 

Theme for 2021: Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet.

29 September is being designated as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste in 2019 by UN General Assembly.

It was first observed in 2020. 

This day steps towards responsible consumption and production as well as zero hunger. 

Union Agriculture Minister launches Amul Honey

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched ‘Amul Honey’, product of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation under active cooperation with National Bee Board.

Launch saw the importance of National Beekeeping and Honey Mission for doubling income of farmers and beekeepers with budget of Rs 500 crores. 

5 large scale Regional Honey Testing Labs and 100 Mini Honey Testing Labs are being set up in India due to the major concern of pure honey. 

World Heart Day: 29th September

World Heart Day (WHD) is observed every year on 29th September to draw people’s attention to heart illness and the range of associated health issues.

Theme of WHD 2021: ‘USE HEART to connect’.

WHD was created by World Heart Federation in 1999 to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

It was originally celebrated on the last Sunday in September till 2011.

Sania Mirza-Shuai Zhang wins 2021 Ostrava Open Women’s Doubles Title

Indo-Chinese duo of Sania Mirza and Shuai Zhang clinched Women’s double’s title at the 2021 Ostrava Open WTA 500 tournament in Czech Republic. 

They won the title by 6-3, 6-2 against Kaitlyn Christian (US) and Erin Routliffe (New Zealand).

This is the 43rd WTA doubles title victory for former World No.1 Sania Mirza. 

2021 Ostrava Open Women’s single title: Anett Kontaveit won her maiden WTA 500 title, after defeating Maria Sakkari in the final by 6–2, 7–5.

NCW launches Training & Capacity Building Program For Women

National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched country-wide training and capacity building program for women in dairy farming to empower rural women and make them financially independent.
NCW is collaborating with agricultural universities for this.
First program under project was organized on ‘Value Added Dairy products’ for women SHG groups at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar in association with Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission.

IGL and SDMC ink MoU to establish Waste to Energy Plant

Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has signed MoU with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to establish waste to energy plant in Delhi to convert Municipal Solid Waste into Compressed Biogas (CBG) for use as fuel for running vehicles.
The agreement was signed as a part of extension of Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme.
SDMC shall provide designated area in Hastsal in West Zone to IGL for setting up Biogas plant and CBG Station.

PM Narendra Modi addresses 76th UNGA in New York

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has addressed 76th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Theme 2021: Building resilience through hope – to recover from Covid-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations.
Over 109 heads of state and government addressed UN General Assembly while around 60 addressed the debate through pre-recorded video statements at the event.

DRDO conducts maiden flight test of Akash Prime Missile off Odisha Coast

DRDO has successfully conducted maiden test flight of new version of Akash Missile named as ‘Akash Prime’ from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy, as compared to the existing Akash System.
Improved version of the missile will also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environments at higher altitudes.
Chairman DRDO: G Satheesh Reddy

England all-rounder Moeen Ali announces retirement from Test cricket

England cricket all-rounder Moeen Ali (34 years) has announced his retirement from Test match career.
He made his debut in Test cricket in 2014 and represented England in 64 Test matches.
He took 195 Test wickets including 5 five-wicket hauls and scored five Test match centuries during his Test career.
He affable all-rounder scored 2914 runs at 28.29 and took 195 wickets at 36.66 with his off-spin.

4th Indo-US Health Dialogue held in New Delhi

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Bharati Pravin Pawar has led Indian delegation at 4th Indo-US Health Dialogue, held in New Delhi.
It is a two-day Dialogue and is a platform to deliberate upon multiple ongoing collaborations in the health sector between the two countries.
Topics for deliberations will include area pertaining to the strengthening of epidemiological research and surveillance and vaccine development.

India claims three silver medals at 2021 Archery World Championships

Team India archers settled for three silver medals at 2021 World Archery Championships held in Yankton, US from 20th to 26th September 2021.
Three silver medals were won in Women’s Compound Individual, Women’s Compound Team and Compound Mixed Team competitions.
Silver Medal won by India:
Women’s Compound Individual: Jyothi Surekha Vennam
Women’s Compound Team: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Muskar Kirar, Priya Gurjar
Compound Mixed Team: Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam

ICRA revise GDP growth of India to 9.00% in FY 2022

Domestic credit rating agency ICRA has revised up gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of India for the financial year 2021-22 (FY22) to 9%.
Earlier, this GDP rate was 8.5%.
RBI expects the economy to grow at 9.5%.
Centre's spending contracted 4.7% in April-July 2021 year-on-year, and stood at 28.8% of 2021-22 Budget Estimates.
ICRA: Gurgaon based credit rating agency, owned by Moody’s Corporation.

Magnus Carlsen appointed as Global Brand Ambassador of Mastercard

Chess player, Magnus Carlsen has been appointed as the Global Brand Ambassador of Mastercard.
This step is part of move by Mastercard for adding chess in its coveted list of sports sponsorship.
It has joined Meltwater Champions Chess Tour as an official partner, in its first sponsorship move into chess.
Norwegian chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joins other competitive players lineup of ambassador like Lionel Messi, Naomi Osaka, Crystal Dunn and Dan Carter.

World Rabies Day: 28th September

World Rabies Day is being observed annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease and take efforts to control rabies.
2021 is the 15th edition of World Rabies Day.
Theme of WRD 2021: Rabies: Facts, not Fear.
The day marks the death anniversary of the French chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

International Day for Universal Access to Information: 28th September

International Day for the Universal Access to Information (Access to Information Day) is observed every year on 28 September to raise awareness about equal, healthy and inclusive knowledge societies.
Initially, it was designated by UNESCO in November 2015 and was first held on 28 September 2016.
It was later proclaimed on 15 October 2019 at 74th UN General Assembly.
Theme 2021: The Right to Know – Building Back Better with Access to Information.

Sweet Cucumber of Nagaland gets geographical indication (GI) tag

Sweet Cucumber from Nagaland has officially been certified by India’s Registrar of Geographical Indications (GI).
It is the 3rd agricultural products (Other two are Tree tomato (tamarillo) and Naga king chilli) and 4th overall to be granted GI tag from Nagaland.
GI tag has been granted under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Naga cucumber are mostly cultivated in Mon, Mokokchung, Peren and Wokha districts.

Food Processing and Housing Ministry launches Seed Capital Module

Ministry of Food Processing Industries, along with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched Seed Capital Module under Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
It was launched on Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) MIS Portal to members of urban SHGs working in food processing sector.
It can be accessed at https://nulm.gov.in/Auth/Login.aspx.
PMFME Scheme is centrally sponsored scheme.

Gurbirpal Singh takes over as Director General of NCC

Lt General Gurbirpal Singh has taken over as the 34th Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC) with effect from September 27, 2021.
He succeeded Tarun Kumar Aich.
He was commissioned into Parachute Regiment in 1987.
He has commanded a Special Forces Battalion in the intense counter-terrorism environment of the Valley Sector in Kashmir and also in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
NCC is the youth wing of Indian Armed Forces.
Headquarters of NCC: New Delhi

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) is ranked among the world's top 500 universities in the prestigious QS Graduate Employability Rankings (GER) 2022, released. 

2-India’s flagship health programme, Ayushman Bharat – the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has completed three years. Around two crore 20 lakh people have been benefited under the scheme launched on this day in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

3-“Exporters Conclave” cum Exhibition inaugurated by Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 

4-National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses Launched by Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Piyush Goyal. 

5-Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated‘Jammu Haat’, a hub of export promotion at Exhibition Ground, Jammu. 

6-Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying signed Memorandum of Understanding with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support India’s livestock sector. 

7-Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health alongside climate change, the World Health Organisation said as it released its new air quality guidelines for the first time since its last global update in 2005. 

8-REC Limited, a public infrastructure finance company under the Ministry of Power and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia are partnering to create an annual, data-based assessment of 79 public and private power distribution companies (DISCOMS) across the country to improve consumer service delivery and ensure reliable electricity supply to consumers. 

9-Bangladesh economy is projected to grow at 6.8 percent for the fiscal year 2022, says the latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

10-The United Nations has announced to release USD 45 million in life-saving support from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund to help prevent Afghanistan's healthcare system from collapse.

11-Former Commissioner of Delhi Police, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, has passed away in Chhattarpur. He was 70. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-In its latest figures released as part of the unemployment rate report by the CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, May-August, 2021), Rajasthan is the most unemployed state after Haryana in terms of overall unemployment. 

2-The 15th India-Nepal combined battalion level military training exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN’ commenced at Pithoragarh (UK) today and will continue till 03 October 2021. 

3-Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Jakarta, Indonesia on 18 Sep 21 to participate in the 3rd edition of Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ with the Indonesian Navy scheduled off the approaches to Sunda Strait from 20 Sep to 22 Sep 21. 

4-Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under Ministry of Consumer Afffairs, Food and Public Distribution entered into a model MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC). 

5-The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves proposed acquisition of 10.4% of equity shareholding of Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones Limited (APSEZ).

6-Deputy Director General of Military Nursing Service Brig S V Saraswati has been bestowed with the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020. 

7-Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated nine leading States/UTs based on the ranking for the year 2020-21 for their impressive performance. This year, among the larger states, Gujarat was the top ranking state, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 

8-India has climbed 2 spots and has been ranked 46th by the World Intellectual Property Organization in the Global Innovation Index 2021 rankings. 

9-The Union Steel Minister, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh launched the Dashboard 2.0 of the Ministry of Steel developed by the NICSI. 

10-TRIBES INDIA VAN DHAN to expand Online marketing in a big way by tying up with Big Basket, MoU Signed between TRIFED and Big Basket. 

11-Fairooz Faizah Beether of Bangladesh has been chosen for the 2021 Changemaker Award for her work promoting good health and well-being by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

12-The government of Bangladesh has given permission to 52 trading organisations to export Hilsa fish to India on the occasion of the Durga Puja. 

13-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has narrowly won parliamentary elections, but it failed to secure a majority. This is Mr Trudeau’s third federal election win. 

14-Veteran Nepali Congress leader Narayan Khadka has been appointed as country's Foreign Minister. 

15-Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced to provide free textbooks to students of class 9th to 12th from next year. 

16-The Ministry of Education has formed the National Steering Committee for the development of National Curriculum Frameworks. The committee will be chaired by former ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan. 

17-Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC on 30th September, 2021. 

18-In yet another recognition of India’s commitment to protect and conserve the pristine coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic management of the resources the globally recognized and the coveted International eco-label "Blue Flag”, has accorded the Blue Flag Certification for 2 new beaches this year –Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry beaches. 

19-Former Hindi Newsreader of All India Radio Ramanuj Prasad Singh passed away in Gurugram. He was 86. 

20-Actor Willie Garson, best known for popular TV series "Sex and the City" and "White Collar", has passed away. He was 57. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The new Chief Minister of Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. 

2-Corporate India handed over an average increment of 8 per cent in 2021, and early estimates reveal that average increment for 2022 is expected to increase to 8.6 per cent in line with a healing economy and improving confidence, according to a Deloitte survey. 

3-Looking to regain lost ground in the credit cards segment, HDFC Bank announced a tie-up with leading payments company Paytm to start selling co-branded plastics before the onset of the festive season. 

4-"The Crown" reigned supreme at this year''s Primetime Emmy Awards as the Netflix series won seven awards, including drama series and outstanding actress in a drama series for Olivia Colman''s outgoing stint as Queen Elizabeth II. 

5-In Russia, the ruling United Russia party of incumbent President Vladimir Putin has retained a majority in parliament after a three-day election. 

6-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to tackle the country’s long-standing “North-South” divide, appointing former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane as chief of a Levelling Up Taskforce. 

7-Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has announced that he will step down as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore after the completion of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. 

8-The jail sentence for the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia in two corruption cases has been suspended for 6 more months. 

9-Odisha comes second in terms of registration in the e-SHRAM portal after Bihar. 

10-Former Chhattisgarh BJP MLA Yudhvir Singh Judev died in Bengaluru. He was 39. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct an air show over the Dal Lake in Srinagar on September 26 as part of the ongoing 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', marking the 75th year of India's Independence. 

2-Renowned actor Anupam Kher has been conferred with an honorary doctorate in Hindu studies by the Hindu University of America.

3-Eminent English author Ruskin Bond, Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla and six others were selected for the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. 

4-The Sikkim government has declared 'Cooper Mahseer' locally named 'Katley' as the state fish, an official of the Fisheries department said.

5-The Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) in Lucknow will start cochlear implantation at its otolaryngology (ENT) department for hearing impaired children aged between one to five years. 

6-Arunachal Pradesh Advocate General Nilay Dutta died in Karnataka's Coorg. He was 68. 

7-Eminent Odia litterateur and journalist Manorama Mohapatra died. She was 87. 

8-In pursuance of the policy of the Modi Government of encouraging faster economic development and connectivity and under the guidance of the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, a new Passenger Terminal Building (I) at ICP Petrapole was inaugurated. 

9-The Najafgarh – Dhansa Bus Stand section on the Grey Line of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puriand the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, via video conferencing. 

10-Ravindra Narayan Ravi was sworn in as the new Governor of Tamil Nadu succeeding Banwarilal Purohit who has been shifted to Punjab. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Centre has extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with PAN by six more months, till March 2022. 

2-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the first prototype train of the Kanpur and Agra Metro projects via video conferencing. 

3-Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission Commemorates 4th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, 2021. 

4-Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Shri Conrad KongkalSangma, jointly launched Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture Project (MeghEA). 

5-The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah planted the 10 millionth sapling at the CRPF Training Center in Nanded, Maharashtra under the 'All India Tree Plantation Campaign-2021' being run by the Central Armed Police Forces. 

6-Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched countrywide free Telemedicine facility to mark “Seva Samarpan Abhiyaan” on the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

7-Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship inaugurated Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kohima under the SANKALP project. 

8-Union Education Minister and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan virtually presented Kaushalacharya Awards 2021 to 41 skill trainers for their exemplary contribution to the skill ecosystem. 

9-TRIFED enters into an MoU with Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FIIT) of IIT-Delhi and M/s Rusicaa Beverages to commercialize Mahua Nutra Beverage in the State of Jharkhand. 

10-Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the US health regulator to market Clindamycin Phosphate Foam, an antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections, in the American market. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Plenary Session of the 21st Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State through video conferencing. 

2-In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, who is the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, released 20 gram Silver Souvenir coin during the 68th meeting of the Shrine Board at Raj Bhavan, Jammu. 

3-Alka Nangia Arora, IDAS (91) has assumed the additional charge of the post of Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD), The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC). 

4-Quality Council of India (QCI) launched the Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award virtually amidst eminent dignitaries from Government & Industry. 

5-Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated many patient-centric facilities at the Safdarjung Hospital. 

6-Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), the leading NBFC in power sector, has successfully issued its maiden Euro 300 million 7-year Euro Bond issuance. 

7-Researchers have developed a technology to produce energy-efficient walling materials using construction and demolition (C&D) waste and alkali-activated binders. 

8-Indian scientists have developed a new sustainable and affordable solution for converting keratin waste such as human hair, wool, and poultry feathers to fertilizers, pet, and animal feeds. 

9-Virat Kohli announced he will step down as India's T20 skipper after the T20 World Cup in UAE but will continue to lead the side in ODIs and Test cricket. 

10-CPI-M Tripura state Secretary and veteran Journalist Gautam Das died in Kolkata. He was 70. 

Anurag Thakur addresses Summit for Information and Democracy

Anurag Thakur has addressed Summit for Information and Democracy, organized at New York. 

Summit was an opportunity to focus defending and promoting access to freedom of opinion and expression, creation of International Observatory and civil society coalition (around 50 NGOs) linked to the Forum. 

International Partnership for Information and Democracy was launched on 26 September 2019 in New York for Multilateralism. It has been signed by 43 States.

Union Minister flags off 2nd Ultimate Ladakh Cycling Challenge at Leh

Union Minister Anurag Thakur has flagged off second edition of Ultimate Ladakh Cycling Challenge at Leh, Ladakh at 11000 feet above the sea level as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav and ‘Fit India Movement’. 

It has been organized by Ladakh police in coordination with Cycling Federation of India.

It is also the part of Fit India Campaign ‘Let’s cycle, let’s stay fit, let’s keep India fit. If the youth is fit, India is fit’.

Lt Governor of Ladakh: Radha Krishna Mathura. 

Union Minister launches DD/AIR Transmitters at Hamboting La in Ladakh

Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has launched 10 KW High Power Transmitters of Doordarshan and All India Radio at Hamboting La near Kargil in Ladakh. 

The transmitters are the highest altitude TV and Radio transmitters in the country, located at the height of 4054 metres above the mean sea level.

Transmitters at Leh are at the altitude of 3501 metres.

Range of the transmitters is over 50 Kms in radius and will cover a population of about 50,000 in Kargil. 

RBI allows lenders to sell fraud loans to Asset Reconstruction Companies

RBI has allowed lenders/banks to transfer of loans that have been classified as fraud by lenders to Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs). 

Stressed loans that are in default for more than 60 days or as NPA are permitted to be transferred to ARCs.

Here are loan figures:

For 2020-21 (FY21): loans worth Rs 1.37 trillion were declared as fraud. 

For 2019-20 (FY20): loans worth Rs 1.81 trillion declared as fraud. 

For 2018-19: loans worth Rs 64,539 crore declared as fraud. 

RBI issues new rules for securitization of standard assets, loan transfer

RBI has issued guidelines regarding Securitization of Standard Assets and loan transfer that will be applicable to all scheduled commercial banks, excluding RRBs, all-India term financial institutions, small finance banks and NBFCs. 

As per the guidelines of RBI, minimum ticket size for issuance of securitization notes will be Rs.1 crore.

Minimum holding period for different categories of loans after which they shall become eligible for transfer has been prescribed in it. 

Anurag Thakur lays foundation stone of ZPEO and PMGSY road

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has laid foundation stone of zonal physical education office (ZPEO) and zonal playfield and inaugurated 1.5 km PMGSY road at Kichpora Kangan. 

PMGSY road was constructed at the cost of Rs 136.67 lakh at Bonibagh Kangan connecting Bonibagh Bala habitation to highway. 

Centre has earmarked Rs 200 crore under PM Development Plan for playfields and indoor stadiums and Rs 33 crore more are approved for synthetic turfs, hockey and football grounds. 

Tourism Ministry launches NIDHI 2.0 and India Tourism Statistics

Ministry of Tourism launched NIDHI 2.0 (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry) and ‘India Tourism Statistics – At a Glance, 2021’ on World Tourism Day (27 September 2021).

Apart from this, Ministry of Tourism will sign MoU with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) to actively promote and support ‘sustainability initiatives’ in the tourism sector of each other.

Noted women’s right activist and author, Kamla Bhasin passes away

Women’s rights activist and noted author, Kamla Bhasin (75 years) passed away battling cancer in Delhi. 

She has authored several books, especially on gender theory and feminism, many of which have been translated into more than 30 languages.

She started working on developmental issues in 1970. 

She was best known for her work with Sangat - A Feminist Network and for her poem Kyunki main ladki hoon, mujhe padhna hai.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam wins silver medal at World Archery Championship

Jyothi Surekha Vennam has won silver medal in the women’s compound event at World Archery Championship, which is being held in Yankton.

Sara Lopez of Colombia bagged the gold medal by defeating Jyothi by 146-144 in the Finals.

Indian mixed pair duo of Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam lost to the Colombian pair in the summit clash as well. 

Jyothi Surekha won two bronze medals at 2011 Asian Archery Championships.

PM Modi launches Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

PM Narendra Modi has launched Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to provide a digital health ID to people that will contain their health records.

Aim: enable access and exchange of longitudinal health records of citizens with their consent. 

Currently, It is being implemented in a pilot phase, since August 2020 in six union territories.

Components: Health ID linked and viewed with mobile application, Healthcare Professionals Registry and Healthcare Facilities Registries.

Lewis Hamilton wins the Russian Grand Prix 2021

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won F1 Russian Grand Prix 2021, winning his 100th Grand Prix title, which was held at at Sochi Autodrom. 

Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) came second, followed by Carlos Sainz (Ferrari-Spain) in the Russian Grand Prix 2021. 

Carlos Sainz got his first podium in Russia.

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) stood at 5th position. 

This was the 15th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.

World Tourism Day: 27th September

World Tourism Day (WTD) is observed every year on September 27 across the globe to raise awareness on the role of tourism within international community and to demonstrate its affect on social, cultural, political, and economic values. 

It was first observed in 1980. 

Theme for WTD 2021: Tourism for Inclusive Growth

This date was chosen by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to commemorate the adoption of Statutes of UNWTO in 1970. 

UNWTO HQs: Madrid, Spain.

BPCL, SBI Card launch co-branded RuPay contactless credit card

Fuel retailer BPCL and SBI Card have launched a co-branded RuPay contactless credit card, offering fuel and other benefits.

The card will provide rewarding fuel savings and other benefits to the customers.

The card will offer 13X reward points on every Rs 100 spent on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps and a 1 per cent fuel surcharge waiver on every transaction up to Rs 4,000, translating to 4.25 per cent value back.

India's first Atal Community Innovation Center has been launched

Atal Community Innovation Center was inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. 

It will be the first center in the whole of India which will be set up by GoI, Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog.

ACIC aims to support and nurture innovative ideas that can take the shape of big ideas and help transform society for a better tomorrow.

This center will benefit the hardworking, passionate and courageous businessmen of Rajasthan. 

NITI Aayog CEO: Amitabh Kant

Bangabandhu-Bapu digital exhibition opens in Dhaka

The Bangabandhu-Bapu digital exhibition was opened for public viewing at the Shilpkala Academy in Dhaka.

The exhibition showcases in a thematic manner the lives of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mahatma Gandhi.

The exhibition has been specially curated by the two governments to commemorate the Mujib Boarsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujib and 150 years of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi as well as the golden jubilee of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations. 

World Pharmacist Day: 25th September

The World Pharmacist Day is observed on  25th September every year to encourage activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.

2021 theme: “Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health“.

The day was designated in 2009 by the FIP Council (International Pharmaceutical Federation or Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique) at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Istanbul.

Amitav Ghosh’s ‘Jungle Nama’ released as audiobook

Amitav Ghosh’s  'Jungle Nama' has now been released as an audiobook with music and voice of US-based Ali Sethi.

This is an exclusive collaboration among three of the most influential figures from the world of arts. 

It is the story of the avaricious rich merchant. Dhona, the poor lad Dukhey, and his mother. 

“Jungle Nama” is a free adaptation of the legend, told entirely in a poyar-like meter of 24 syllable couplets that replicate the cadence of the original.

Antyodaya divas being Observed across India on 25th September

Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated every year on 25th September to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

This year, the Antyodaya Diwas marks the 105th birth anniversary of Upadhyaya.

He was the co-founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) and a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) thinker.

He was born (1916) in Chandrabhan village (now called Deendayal Dham) in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district.

World’s Highest EV Charging Station Inaugurated At Kaza in Himachal Pradesh

The world’s highest electric vehicle charging station (500 ft) has been inaugurated in Kaza village of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.

The electric vehicle charging station is set up at a height of 500 ft.

The objective of this initiative is to check vehicular pollution and promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment in the region.

PM Modi to address UN General Assembly in New York 25th September

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York later this evening.

This will be his 7th address to the General Assembly in person.

Last year it was a virtual address in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic.

The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. 

President: Abdulla Shahid

Headquarters: New York, United States.

India signs Rs. 20,000 cr deal with Tata consortium for 56 aircraft

The Defence Ministry signed a deal worth over Rs 20,000 crore with Airbus Defence and Space of Spain for 56 “C-295” medium transport aircraft.

They will replace the ageing Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force inducted into service in the 1960s.

The C-295 is a multi-role aircraft with several configurations to meet mission requirements. It envisages the total manufacturing of aircraft in India.

Piyush Goyal inaugurates Centre of Excellence in Logistics at NITIE

Union Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal has inaugurated 'Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management' at National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai. It will contribute to cutting edge research, knowledge-building and capacity building in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, through applied research and development activities. It will act as a driving force to train and launch top quality programs to disseminate advanced knowledge.

Foundation stone of Development of Parshuram Kund, AP launched

Union Minister for Tourism has laid the foundation stone for the Development of Parshuram Kund, Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh.

This project was approved by Ministry of Tourism with the cost of Rs 37.88 crores in January 2021.

Components under the scheme: Interventions near the Parking area, Tourist Information Centre, Rain Shelters, Kiosks, interventions near Mela ground, View Points, Souvenir Shops, Water Supply line, Approach Road, Food Court/ Prasadam Centre etc.

Government e-marketplace bags prestigious CIPS Award

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has bagged prestigious ‘Best Use of Digital Technology’ category at CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021 (CIPS Awards).

GeM was shortlisted as a finalist in two additional categories as well, i.e., 'Public Procurement Project of the Year' and 'Best Initiative to Build a Diverse Supply Base'. 

CIPS Awards: It is conducted under Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), London.

CIPS has community across 150 countries.

India, Australia hold Joint Working Group meeting on Coal and Mines

India and Australia held 1st virtual Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Coal and Mines. 

It is a precursor to the upcoming India-Australia Energy Dialogue scheduled to be held in October. 

Meeting focused on Indian and Australian coal resources in present and future scenario.

They also discussed India Australia collaboration on Clean Coal Technology, Surface Coal Gasification, Coal Bed Methane, Technology deployed for fire quenching, etc. 

Piyush Goyal inaugurates Centre of Excellence in Logistics at NITIE

Union Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal has inaugurated 'Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management' at National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai.

It will contribute to cutting edge research, knowledge-building and capacity building in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, through applied research and development activities. 

It will act as a driving force to train and launch top quality programs to disseminate advanced knowledge. 

ICRISAT signs MoU with UNWFP MoU on nutrition and food security

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has signed MoU with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to improve food, nutrition security and livelihoods in India against the impacts of climate change.

WFP and ICRISAT will work jointly to promote research, advocacy, raising awareness on traditional nutritious crops, undertaking food and nutritional security analysis and adaptation strategies, etc.

UNWFP HQs: Rome, Italy

Ministry of Commerce observes Vanijya Saptah from 20 to 26 September

Ministry of Commerce and Industry is observing ‘Vanijya Saptah’ (Trade & Commerce Week) from September 20 to 26, 2021, as a part of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav commemoration.

During Vanijya Saptah, ministry will organize a slew of programmes and events across the country to showcase India as a Rising Economic Force and Green & Swachh SEZs. 

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will also organize exporter conclaves and meets covering 739 districts across India. 

Former Arunachal Governor YS Dadwal passes away

Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Commissioner of Delhi Police, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal (70 years) passed away in Delhi.

He is a 1974-batch IPS officer and served as the 16th police commissioner of Delhi from July 2007 to November 2010.

After retirement, he was appointed as the Director-General of Central Paramilitary Force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in November 2010.

He was appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh in 2016.

PFRDA to observe NPS Diwas on October 1, 2021

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will observe 1st October, 2021 as National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas). 

PFRDA also started pension awareness campaign under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to promote pension and retirement planning for a carefree retirement. 

PFRDA is promoting this campaign on its social media platforms with #npsdiwas. 

PFRDA is the regulatory body under jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance for supervision and regulation of pension. 

Govt sets up India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL)

Govt has set up an asset management company (AMC) named India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL) with paid-up capital of Rs. 80.5 lakh on an authorized capital of Rs 50 crore. 

IDRCL will work in collaboration with National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) to clean up bad loans. 

Shareholders of IDRCL: Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, SBI, UBI, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and IDBI Bank.

IDRCL is a service operational entity.

Bangladesh’s PM Sheikh Hasina confers SDG Progress award

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been conferred with SDG Progress award for steady progress of Bangladesh in achieving SDGs by the UN sponsored Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). 

About SDSN:

It was set up in 2012 under auspices of UN Secretary General.

It led by development economist Jeffery Sachs.

Aim: to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development and specific competitiveness. 

Chetan Bhagat releases cover of his upcoming book ‘400 Days’

Chetan Bhagat will release his new novel titled as ‘400 Days’ on October 08, 2021.

He has released the cover of the book. 

It is the third novel in Keshav-Saurabh series, after ‘The Girl in Room 105’ and ‘One Arranged Murder’.

400 Days is a tale of suspense, human relationships, love, friendship, the crazy world we live in and, above all, a mother’s determination to never give up.

It will be published by Westland Publication.

President Ram Nath Kovind confers National Service Scheme Awards

President, Ram Nath Kovind has virtually conferred National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for 2019-20 from Rashtrapati Bhawan.

It will be given to 42 awardees in three different categories: University/(+2) Councils; NSS Units & their Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers.

The award is given by Department of Youth Affairs.

NSS was launched in 1969 as a Central Sector Scheme, to develop personality and character of youth through voluntary community service.

Odisha to host FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2021

Odisha will host prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021.

The company successfully hosted 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup.

It will be held from 24 November to 5 December 2021. 

It will feature 16 teams: India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.

Odisha is also gearing up to host 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. 

Former AIR Newsreader Ramanuj Prasad Singh passes away

Former Hindi Newsreader of All India Radio Ramanuj Prasad Singh (86 years) passed away in Gurugram. 

He served AIR for 3 decades and became a well-known name among the common people for his news reading for years.

Harmilan Kaur sets national record in 1500m National Open Championship

Punjab's Harmilan Kaur Bains sets a new national record the 1,500 metres on the second day of the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Telangana.

She breaks the record of Sunita Rani. 

Harmilan went undefeated in eight national-level 1,500 metres races since January 2020.

Naresh Kumar from Andhra Pradesh and Delhi's Tarandeep Kaur took the honours as the fastest male and female athlete of the meet by winning the 100 metres dash.

Bangladesh govt to set up e-commerce regulatory body

Bangladesh govt will set up an e-commerce regulatory body to monitor the sector properly.

The step has been taken after major e-commerce company of Bangladesh allegedly cheated consumers worth hundreds of crore. 

Other proposals include formation of a central complaint management cell, mandatory registration, action against schemers and amending the Digital Security Act and Money Laundering Prevention Act.

RBI to conduct open market purchase of Government Securities under GSAP 2.0

RBI will conduct open market purchase of Government Securities under G-Sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0) for an aggregate amount of Rs 15,000 crore. 

Simultaneously, RBI will also sell Government Securities under Open Market Operations (OMO) for an aggregate amount of 15,000 crore rupees on the same day.

RBI has asked eligible participants to submit their bids/offers in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system. 

Former England Footballer Jimmy Greaves Passes Away

Former England professional footballer, Jimmy Greaves (81 years) passed away in Danbury, England. 

He is England's fourth-highest international goal scorer (44 goals), Tottenham Hotspur's highest ever goalscorer (266 goals), highest goal scorer in the history of English top-flight football (357 goals). 

He is also a member of English Football Hall of Fame.

He began his professional career at Chelsea in 1957. 

Leh to host first edition of Himalayan Film Festival

Anurag Thakur will inaugurate first edition of Himalayan Film Festival (THFF) tomorrow at Leh, Ladakh. 

It will be a five days is being held from September 24 to 28.

Ladakh is hosting THFF 2021 as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' for commemorating 75 years of India's Independence.

Inaugural of the festival will witness movie 'Shershah'. 

It is organized by Leh in collaboration with Directorate of Film Festivals under Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

Kailash Satyarthi among four new SDG Advocates appointed by UN

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed four new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates, ahead of 76th UN General Assembly.

Four newly appointed advocates are: Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, STEM activist Valentina Muñoz Rabanal, Microsoft President Brad Smith and K-pop superstars BLACKPINK.

UN now has total 16 SDG Advocates. 

SDG Advocates are prominent leaders, who work to mobilize 17 SDGs by 2030. 

Union Minister flags off dwarf container train from JNPT to Kanpur

Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has virtually flagged off dwarf container train service from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT). 

This is the first consignment of laden dwarf containers from Mumbai-based JNPT port, biggest container port in India.

Consignment was moved by train to Inland Container Depot (ICD) Kanpur.

Dwarf containers they are shorter in size due to which they can be double-stacked, as well as easily run on electrified tracks and will reduce logistics cost. 

Yes bank partners with Visa to offer credit cards

Yes Bank has tied-up with Visa to offer credit cards to its customers, following regulatory ban on Mastercard by RBI.

Visa co-branded cards come with 9 credit card variants covering all segments, consumer cards, business cards, and corporate cards across YES First, YES Premia and YES Prosperity.

Yes Bank has achieved transition to Visa as payment network within a record time of less than 60 days, post the bank imposed on Mastercard.

CEO of Yes Bank: Prashant Kumar.

OECD projects India’s economic growth forecast at 9.7% for FY22

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cut India’s economic growth rate projections by 0.2% to 9.7% for the current financial year (2021-22).

For financial year 2022-23 (FY23), OECD has projected Indian economy to grow by 7.9%, as compared to 8.2% pegged earlier.

Global economy: OECD has projected strong growth rate of 5.7% in 2021 and 4.5% in 2022, as compared to 5.8% and 4.4%, respectively, estimated earlier.

Headquarters: Paris, France.

Union Minister launches National Single Window System for Investors

Piyush Goyal has launched ‘National Single Window System (NSWS)’ for the investors and businesses. 

NSWS: single window portal that will act as a one-stop-shop for investors or entrepreneur, to get approvals and clearances needed.

It shall give freedom from legacy of running to government offices for approvals and registrations needed by investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses in India. 

Currently, portal hosts approvals across 18 Central Departments and 9 States.

Posters of Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled

The posters for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics were released at Beijing Design Week Opening Ceremony to further raise public awareness for Beijing Winter Games scheduled to be held in February 2022. 

Three sets of official posters and 11 promotional pieces featuring elements of winter sports and Chinese culture highlighting Beijing 2022 motto "Together for a Shared Future".

The slogan reflects power of Games to overcome global challenges as a community. 

Bangladeshi Fairooz Faizah Beether gets 2021 Changemaker Award

Bangladesh’s Fairooz Faizah Beether has been chosen for 2021 Changemaker Award for her work promoting good health and well-being. 

Fairooz Faizah: Co-founder of Moner School which is an anonymous online platform active in mental health. 

Changemaker Award: It is a part of Goalkeepers Global Goals award instituted by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals. 

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been chosen for 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award. 

International Day of Sign Languages: 23rd September

International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is being observed annually on 23 September across the world to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen the status about sign languages.

IDSL Theme 2021: We Sign For Human Rights.

The date of 23 September has been chosen to mark IDSL as it commemorates establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf on 23 September 1951.

It was first celebrated in 2018 as a part of the International Week of the Deaf.

Centre signs MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited

Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has signed MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India (CSC) to increase the business opportunities and income of Fair Price Shops by way of delivery of CSC services through interested Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.

CSC has been advised to identify feasible activities like Utility Bill payments, PAN Application, Passport Application, etc. to facilitate the consumer and simultaneously provide additional income to the FPSs.

Ministry of Education forms National Steering Committee for Curriculum

Ministry of Education has formed National Steering Committee for development of National Curriculum Frameworks under K Kasturirangan chairmanship. 

Other members: Mahesh Pant, Govind Prasad Sharma, Najma Akhtar, TV Kattimani, Michel Danino, Milind Kamble, Jagbir Singh, Manjul Bhargava, M K Sridhar, Dhir Jhingran. Shankar Maruwada. 

Committee will develop National Curriculum Frameworks for School Education, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Education, Adult Education.

Telecom Department initiates new reforms with simplifying KYC process

Dept of Telecommunications (DoT) has started implementation of new telecom reforms by simplifying the KYC (Know Your Customer) process. 

DoT implemented three fresh ways:

Aadhaar-based e-KYC: It has been re-introduced for new mobile phone connections.

Self-KYC: Issuance of mobile connection is done via an app/portal-based online process. 

OTP based conversion of connection: It enables a subscriber to convert his mobile connection from prepaid to postpaid and vice-versa. 

National conference on Agriculture for Rabi campaign 2021 held

National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi campaign 2021-22 has been virtually inaugurated. 

Aim: to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop season and fix crop-wise targets for Rabi season in consultation with State Govt, ensure supply of critical inputs and facilitate adoption of innovative technologies with view to enhance production and productivity of crops. 

Special campaign will be launched to increase production of oilseeds in Rabi season. 

ECI organizes National Conference on Accessible Elections

Election Commission of India has organized virtual National Conference on Accessible Elections 2021 to assess present accessibility policies and discuss strategies for addressing barriers to enhance participation in electoral process. 

During conference, crossing Barriers- Accessibility Initiatives 2021 was also launched. 

Braille Language versions of Voter Guide, Letter to new voter and Booklet of 50 motivational songs on voter awareness was also launched. 

Justin Trudeau wins third term as Prime Minister of Canada

Canada PM Justin Trudeau (49 years) has won third term of the 2021 parliamentary elections to serve as the Prime Minister of Canada, after his party won elections on September 20, 2021

His Liberal Party only manage to win minority seats in the election, leading in 155 of 338 seats in the House of Commons, compared with 123 seats for Conservatives under Erin O’Toole

A party needs 170 seats to form a majority in the House of Commons.

Justin Trudeau is in power since 2015

Centre forms panel for India’s sustainable finance road map

Central govt has set up key task force to assess climate and ESG resilience in India’s financial sector and recommend a concrete road map to strengthen India’s sustainable finance architecture.

It will be headed by Economic Affairs Secretary, Ajay Seth. 

The panel will look out at ways to further strengthen the resilience of the country’s financial sector against risks emanating from various climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Kovalam and Eden beaches get Blue Flag Certification

Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry beaches has been globally recognized and coveted International eco-label ‘Blue Flag Certification’. 

Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark (FEE) has also given re-certification for 8 nominated beaches Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda- Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha and Radhanagar- A&N. 

Blue Flag is indication of 100% compliance to 33 stringent criteria. 

World Rhino Day: 22nd September

World Rhino Day is observed on 22nd September every year to celebrates and raise awareness of the need to protect all the five existing species of Rhinoceros. 

Rhino species:

Black Rhino

White Rhino

Greater one-horned Rhino

Sumatran Rhino

Javan Rhinos

The day was first announced by World Wildlife Fund-South Africa in 2010.

It is being observed internationally for the first time in 2011.

Third India-Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ begins

Third edition of India and Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise titled as ‘Samudra Shakti’ began on September 20, 2021 in Sunda Strait, Indonesia. 

It is a 3-day exercise and will culminate on 22 Sep 2021. 

Sunda Strait lies between Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. 

Indian Navy has deployed its 2 frontline warships Shivalik and Kadmatt. 

It will strengthen bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between 2 navies. 

Uttar Pradesh Government to set up ‘Electronic Park’ near Noida

Uttar Pradesh govt has cleared proposal to develop ‘Electronic Park’, along Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area, near Noida to promote electronics industry.

Park is proposed to be developed in 250 acres near Jewar Airport.

It will be built at an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore as well as generate employment for thousands of local youths. 

Companies manufacturing mobile phones, TVs, electronic devices will establish their units in the park.

Iran becomes 9th member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders have agreed to change the membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran from an observer state to a full member state.

After this, Iran becomes the 9th main member of SCO. 

Iran was holding the observer status for the past 15 years. 

The technical and legal process could take up to two years to conclude.

Full member of SCO: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. 

SCO HQs: Beijing, China

FSSAI releases 3rd edition of State Food Safety Index 2020-21

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has released third State Food Safety Index (SFSI) of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs in 2020-21.

Top state in larger states category: Gujarat, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 

Top state in smaller states category: Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur. 

Top UT: Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and New Delhi. 

He also flagged off 19 Mobile Food Testing Van's. 

Air Marshal V R Chaudhari appointed as next Chief of Air Staff

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff (CoAS), with effect from 1st October 2021.

Presently, he is serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.

He will succeed incumbent Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, whose tenure will come to end on September 30, 2021. 

He was the chief of Western Air Comma from August 1, 2020.

He also flew several Air Defence missions during 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.

Power Finance Corp set to be India’s 11th Maharatna CPSE

Power Finance Corp. Ltd (PFC) is set to become the 11th Maharatna central public sector enterprise (CPSE).

Maharatna status will give PFC enhanced powers to undertake mergers and acquisitions

10 Maharatna CPSEs: BHEL, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Coal India Ltd, GAIL (India) Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Indian Oil Corp, NTPC, Oil & Natural Gas Corp., Power Grid Corp. of India, and Steel Authority of India Ltd. There are 14 Navratna and 73 Miniratna CPSEs.

M2P fintech acquires credit card focussed startup Wizi

M2P Fintech, also known as Yap has announced the acquisition of credit card-focussed fintech Wizi for an undisclosed sum.

M2P is an application programming interface (API) infrastructure company that helps businesses roll out their branded products.

Wizi’s proprietary recommendation engine coupled with M2P’s programmable credit card stack will ease the rollout of hyper-personalised credit card offerings in India.

TRIFED signs MoU with Big Basket for promotion and sale of products

Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has signed MoU with Big Basket for promotion and sale of Organics, natural Van Dhan products and TRIFOOD products.

Another MoU of TRIFED with PurtyAgrotech of Jharkhand will promote the art of growing pearls among other tribal entrepreneurs across India and tap the potential of this market.

These two new initiatives will become operational from 2nd October this year.

NCW launches Capacity Building Program For Women

National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched country-wide capacity building and personality development program for women Undergraduate and Post graduate students

For this, NCW is collaborating with Central and State universities for organizing sessions to prepare women students for entering the job market

1st program was launched in collaboration with Central University of Haryana

The course will focus on learning and applying the use of intuitive, logical, etc

M.S. Dhoni named mentor for Indian Men’s Team for T20 World Cup 2021

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named as the Mentor of the Indian cricket Men’s team for ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

T20 world cup will be played in Oman and UAE from October 18 onwards.

Virat Kohli has recently announced to step down as the captain of T20 cricket team after the World Cup.

It will be Dhoni's first stint as a member of the support staff of the Indian cricket team.

Dhoni had previously mentored Jharkhand in domestic tournaments.

Ford Motor to close manufacturing plants in India

Ford Motor has announced to close manufacturing plants in India due to the loss of more than USD 2 billion over the past 10 years.

Ford has two integrated manufacturing facilities in India one at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and another at Sanand, Gujarat.

Manufacturing of vehicles for exports in Sanand, Gujarat will be shut by 2021 and vehicle and engine manufacturing in Chennai will be stopped by 2022.

Ford will now only offer high-end cars via Completely Built-Up (CBU) Route.

SpaceX first all-civilian crew land back safely

SpaceX launched world’s first all-civilian crew into Earth orbit under the mission named as Inspiration-4 by SpaceX`s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 16, 2021 and came back on 19 September

It had 4 member and features no trained astronauts, who spent time in orbit in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, dubbed as Resilience.

Four members: Jared Isaacman (mission commander), Sian Proctor, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski.

HDFC Bank ties up with Paytm to launch co-branded credit cards

HDFC Bank has partnered with Paytm to offer co-branded credit cards on the Visa platform for businesspersons, millennials and merchants.

HDFC-Paytm co-branded credit cards will be launched in October 2021.

The collaboration between HDFC and Paytm is part of the strategies of the HDFC Bank to regain its lost market share in the credit card space due to the ban imposed on it by RBI for eight months as penalty, following several outages in its digital offerings

IRCTC partners with Cordelia Cruises for 1st indigenous luxury cruise liner

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in partnership with Cordelia Cruises has launched India’s first indigenous cruise liner.

It will take the passengers on-boards to tourist destinations like Goa, Diu, Kochi, the Lakshadweep islands and Sri Lanka.

Cruise will have its base from Mumbai, and will sail to the Indian destinations only in Phase I.

Phase II will start from May 2022, whose base will be shifted to Chennai and it will sail to Sri Lanka.

International Week of Deaf People 2021: September 20 to 26

International Week of the Deaf (IWD) is observed every year in the full week ending on the last Sunday of September.

This year, IWD is being observed from September 20 to 26, 2021

Theme of IWD 2021 IWD: Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities

The day is an initiative of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy to commemorate the month when the first World Congress of the WFD was held.

World Day of Deaf 2021: September 26.

R. Raja Rithvik becomes India’s 70th Chess Grandmaster

R Raja Rithvik (17 years) from Warangal has become India’s 70th and newest chess Grandmaster (GM).

He has achieved his third and final norm at First Saturday Chess Tournaments in Budapest, Hungary, to enter the GM club.

Rithvik earned his first GM norm in 2019.

He touched the magical 2500 Elo mark in the fourth round of the tournament after beating Vaclav Finek.

Primetime Emmy Award 2021 has been conferred

The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles to honor best U.S. prime time TV program, as chosen by Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

List of winners:

• Outstanding Drama Series: The Crown
• Outstanding Comedy Series: Ted Lasso
• Outstanding Variety Talk Show: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Outstanding Limited Series: The Queen’s Gambit
• Outstanding Actor (Comedy): Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
• Outstanding Actor (Drama): Josh O’Connor

India ranked 46th in Global Innovation Index 2021

India has been ranked at 46th place in Global Innovation Index (GII) 2021, that captures the innovation ecosystem performance of 132 economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends.

India was ranked 48th in GII 2020

Under the Lower middle-income category group, India has been ranked at the second spot after Vietnam

Released by: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Top performers: Switzerland, Sweden, U.S., U.K. and Republic of Korea.

International Day of Peace: 21 September

International Day of Peace (World Peace Day) is observed every year on 21 September to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire

This day was established by UN General Assembly in 1981 and was formally designated in 2001.

Theme 2021: Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.

United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City) to inaugurate the day.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-U.S. President Joe Biden would host the first-ever in-person Quad summit on September 24 which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga. 

2-Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Stergomena Lawrence Tax as the east African nation's first-ever female Defence Minister. 

3-The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry launched its account on social media platform Telegram as 'PIB Fact Check' to counter fake news. 

4-The wholesale price-based inflation rose marginally to 11.39 per cent in August, mainly due to higher prices of manufactured goods, even as prices of food articles softened. 

5-India and Singapore will link their payment systems—Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow, respectively—to allow users to make instant, low-cost fund transfers on a reciprocal basis. 

6-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said a badminton academy would be set up in Raipur. 

7-Strict action will be taken against those who misbehave with tourists in Rajasthan as the crime will now be included under the category of cognizable offence. 

8-Rev. Cho Yong-gi, whose founding of the biggest South Korean church once stood as a symbol of the post-war growth of Christianity in the country before that achievement was tainted by corruption and scandals, died. He was 85. 

9-India and the United States of America (USA) launched the “Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)”. 

10-England Test skipper Joe Root and Ireland's Eimear Richardson have been voted as the winners of the ICC Players of the Month for August 2021. 

11-Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla jointly launched Sansad TV at the Main Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe. 

12-The Indian Air Force will hold an air show over Dal lake in Srinagar on September 26 that will help motivate the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to join the IAF. 

13-Lieutenant General (retired) Gurmit Singh was sworn in as the new governor of Uttarakhand.

14-The Jharkhand government decided to set up e-FIR police stations in 22 of the state’s 24 districts where online complaints can be lodged. 

15-With an aim to educate visually impaired students about the history of heritage sites, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) released a book titled, ‘Agra Monuments'' in Braille script. 

16-An official ceremony was conducted at Maritime Air Squadron of National Coast Guard, Mauritius for handing over of the Passenger Variant Dornier (PVD). 

17-Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare signs 5 MOUs with private companies for taking forward Digital Agriculture. 

18-Public sector banks, including Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Union Bank of India, received awards from Home Minister Amit Shah for promoting official language Hindi. 

19-Saudi Arabias Ministry of Industry announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pfizer Foundation to manufacture viral and genetic vaccines in the Kingdom. 

20-Yuriy Sedykh, a two-time Olympic champion in the hammer throw has died. He was 66.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Tech honchos like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are among the list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2021 according to TIME's newly published rankings. 

2-Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery) course of the College on 17 September 2021. 

3-Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Defence Offices Complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue. 

4-NITI Aayog launched a report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’. 

5-The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a number of structural and process reforms in the Telecom sector. 

6-The Indian Naval Placement Agency (INPA) and Flipkart today signed an MoU, through which the two entities will explore opportunities for the recruitment naval of veterans at the Flipkart Group. 

7-The highest and most prestigious award in the field of Rajbhasha i.e. “Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar” was presented to National Mineral Development Ltd. (NMDC), under Ministry of Steel during the Rajbhasha Diwas Samaroh in New Delhi . 

8-Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.(RINL) - Vishakhapatnam Steel plant (VSP), under Ministry of Steel is bestowed with ‘Rajbhasha Keerti Puraskar’-FIRST PRIZE for effective implementation of Official Language Hindi for the year 2020-21. 

9-NITI Aayog, with RMI and RMI India’s support, launched Shoonya—an initiative to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry. 

10-Uttar Pradesh has become the first Indian state to inoculate more than nine crore people with Covid vaccines. 

Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party retains majority in Parliamentary poll

In Russia, United Russia party of incumbent President Vladimir Putin has retained a majority in parliament.

However, the party lost around one fifth of its support. 

Over 33 per cent ballots have been counted so far with Putin's party winning over 45% of the votes while its nearest rival Communist Party polled around 22%  of the votes. 

Putin, who has been in power as president or prime minister since 1999, still dominating ahead of the next presidential election in 2024.

Rajnath Singh Launches a book titled Shining Sikh Youth of India

Rajnath Singh launched a book titled 'Shining Sikh Youth of India'.

Book is authored by Dr Prabhleen Singh of Punjabi University.

The book is dedicated to the 400th Parkash Purb of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The book pens down the life stories of India's 200 foremost Sikhs.

This includes the mention of personalities from the education, sports, business, medicine, entertainment, civil services, judiciary, media, social services, IAS, IFS and IRS fraternity.

Sikkim declares 'Katley' as State fish

The Sikkim has declared 'Copper Mahseer' locally named 'Katley' (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis) as the State fish. 

In Sikkim, Katley is found in varied altitudes covering entire state predominantly confined in Teesta and Rangit rivers and their tributaries. 

In the year 1992, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Lucknow had categorized Katley fish as endangered species. 

Later on, in the year 2014 the fish was also categorized as endangered by IUCN.

World Economic Forum to host next annual meeting in Davos in Jan 2022

Next annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos, Switzerland in January 2022.

It will be the first major in-person congregation of the world leaders in almost two years since the deadliest pandemic hit the world.

The theme of the Summit will be the ‘Working Together, Restoring Trust’.

The Annual Meeting 2022 will be the first global leadership event to set the agenda for a sustainable recovery.

Joshna Chinappa Appointed as Brand Ambassador of ASICS

Japanese Sports equipment company Asics has announced Indian squash player Joshna Chinappa as its new brand athlete.

This partnership would further strengthen the company’s commitment, spread awareness about the diverse offerings and magnify the reach of the brand.

Currently ranked as number 10 worldwide, Chinappa is a two-time Asian Championship gold medalist.

In 2014, she was the first Indian to win a gold medal in doubles at the Commonwealth Games.

Ek Pahal Drive Across the Country to encourage mass registration under Tele

As a part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, Department of Justice and NALSA launched the “Ek Pahal” drive across the country.

The initiative will encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.

The medium of Tele Law effectively provides pre-litigation advice / consultation to beneficiaries by Panel Lawyers through a huge network.

This campaign seeks to actualize the aspiration of access to justice for citizens in India.

Eminent theoretical physicist Prof Thanu Padmanabhan passes away

Well-known theoretical physicist and cosmologist Professor Thanu Padmanabhan passed away. 

A distinguished professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Padmanabhan had authored over 300 research papers and several books. 

His research in theoretical physics had the Stanford University name him among the top scientists in the world, with a rank of 24.

Padma Shri Prof Padmanabhan was recently selected for the Kerala Sastra Puraskaram.

India will become 3rd largest importer by 2050: UK report

As per the latest Global Trade Outlook issued by the UK’s Department of International Trade, India will become the world’s 3rd largest importer by 2050. 

With a share of 5.9% of global imports India will right behind China and the US.

At present, India is ranked 8th among largest importing nations with a 2.8% import share.

As per the report it is set to become the fourth largest importer by 2030.

Increasing middle class spending will help the country have a share of 5.9%

Facebook India appoints Rajiv Aggarwal as Head of Public Policy

Facebook India has appointed former Uber executive Rajiv Aggarwal as the Director of Public Policy.

He succeeds Ankhi Das, who quit in October last year.

Aggarwal, in this role, will define and lead important policy development initiatives for Facebook in India on an agenda that covers user safety, data protection and privacy, inclusion and internet governance. 

Aggarwal is an ex-IAS officer and has worked as a DM in nine districts across the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Kotak Mahindra Bank to acquire 9.9% stake in KFin Technologies

Kotak Mahindra Bank agreed to acquire 9.9% stake in KFin Technologies, a leading investor and issuer servicing platform, with at an investment of ₹310 crore.

KFin provides financial technology solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes spanning mutual funds, alternatives, insurance, and pension.

It serves 25 out of the 44 Indian mutual fund AMCs, which have over $148 billion in AUM and 35% market share in equity AUM (up from 27% in March 2019).

Hq: Mumbai

HDFC Bank partners with Paytm to launch co-branded credit cards

HDFC Bank and Paytm announced plans for launching a comprehensive range of credit cards powered by VISA.

In a first-of-its-kind alliance, the partnership aims to provide one of the widest range of offerings across customer segments. 

The credit card will offer, EMIs and Buy Now Pay Later options, with the full suite of products to be on offer. 

The partnership aims to deliver superior value and experience to customers by leveraging off each other’s strengths.

Charanjit Singh Channi sworn-in as 16th chief minister of Punjab

Charanjit Singh Channi took oath as 16th Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab.

Channi became the first individual from the Dalit community in Punjab to take charge of Chief Minister.

The 58-year-old leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Channi is a three-time MLA from Rupnagar's Chamkaur Sahib.

In Amarinder Singh cabinet, Channi had served as the minister of technical education.

National Open Athletics: Harmilan Kaur sets national record in 1500m

Punjab's Harmilan Kaur Bains stole the thunder from the sprinters by breaking Sunita Rani's long-standing national record in the 1,500 metres at the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Hanamkonda in Telangana.

Delhi's K. M. Chanda gamely shadowed Harmilan until the Punjab runner sped away at the bell to win by a sizable margin.

Harmilan, undefeated in eight national-level 1,500 metres races since January 2020.

Captain Amarinder Singh resigns from post of Punjab Chief Minister

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has tendered his resignation letter to the Governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit.

Mr Singh had been in Congress Party for the past 52 years and served as the Chief Minister of Punjab for nine and half years.

His father was the last Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala.

Singh served in the Indian Army from June 1963 to December 1966 after graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

Najafgarh – Dhansa Bus Stand section on the Grey Line of DM inaugurated

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly inaugurated (via video-conference link) Delhi Metro's Najafgarh-Dhansa Bus Stand extension of iGrey Line.

At present, around 740 km Metro line is operational in the country and with the Metro system seeing a massive surge in its network it will be more than 900 km by 2022.

Length between Najafgarh and Dhansa Bus Stand: 1.2 kms

Gauge: Standard Gauge

Colour Code: Grey

Ministry of Law and Justice launches Pan-India Special Campaign

The Ministry of Law and Justice has launched a Pan-India Special Campaign “Ek Pahal Drive” for Justice Delivery at the doorstep.

It was launched in a bid to encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.

The campaign was launched by Department of Justice and NALSA.

This campaign seeks to actualize the aspiration of access to justice for citizens in India.

The highlights of this campaign include the deployment of 185 vehicles to showcase films and documentaries.

International Equal Pay Day: 18th September

The United Nations observes the International Equal Pay Day on September 18 each year to build momentum around the urgent need to address the gender pay gap.

This day draws attention to the gender pay gap-the difference between what a woman earns as compared to a man, for work of equal value. 

The first-ever (IEPD) was celebrated by United Nations in 2020.

Raninder Singh re-elected NRAI president

Seasoned administrator Raninder Singh has been re-elected as the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the fourth term.

Kunwar Sultan Singh was elected unopposed as the secretary-general.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was founded in 1951 with a view to promote and popularize the shooting sports in India.

IRCTC opens new world-class executive lounge at NDLS

IRCTC has started a brand new executive lounge at the New Delhi Railway Station.

It would be operational round the clock providing the passengers with recliners, entertainment rooms, massage chairs, multi-cuisine buffet, wash-n-change facilities, business centre and even massage chairs.

People can avail of the mentioned facilities at a nominal price of Rs 150 plus taxes for the first hour with an additional Rs 99 for every added hour, as per an official.

RN Ravi sworn-in as Governor of Tamil Nadu

Ravindra Narayan Ravi (69-years) was sworn in as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

He succeeded Banwarilal Purohit who has since been shifted to Punjab.

Sanjib Banerjee (Chief Justice of the Madras High Court) administered the oath of office to Ravi at an official ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

The Governors of the states of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at the Central level.

World Bamboo Day being observed 18 September

World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness about the benefits of bamboo promoting its use in everyday products.

The theme for the 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’.

World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) declared the day officially on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.  

Bamboo is a tall, tree-like grass of the family Poaceae. It comprises more than 115 genera and 1,400 species.

Indu Malhotra appointed as DDCA Ombudsman

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) appointed Justice (Retd.) Indu Malhotra (65-years), former judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer for a period of one year.

Malhotra was designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 2007.

She has been appointed amicus curiae by different benches of the Supreme Court in some matters.

The DDCA's general body, headed by its president Rohan Jaitley.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Former union minister and Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes died in Mangaluru. He was 80. 

2-Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. 

3-In Gujarat, the new leader of BJP Legislative Party Bhupendra Patel took oath as the 17th Chief Minister of the state. 

4-On the last day of the Food Processing Week, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, inaugurated the Food Processing Unit of M/s Sahara Frozen Foods established in Morena, Madhya Pradesh. 

5-A total of six states and union territories in the country have achieved the feat of administering the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 100 per cent of their eligible population. 

6-In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated Young achievers with the ‘Kashmir Young Leadership Award’ during the Kashmir Leadership Summit in Srinagar. 

7-State-run Assam Electronics Development Corporation Ltd has appointed tech firm iBus Networks as its exclusive business partner for deploying and operating digital infrastructure on commercial premises. 

8-Daniil Medvedev of Russia lifted his first Grand Slam trophy after beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open men’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. 

9-Samantha Stosur of Australia and Zhang Shuai of China won the US Open women’s doubles final over American teenagers Coco Gauff and Caty McNally at Flushing Meadows. 

10-Former Zimbabwe skipper and wicketkeeper batsman Brendan Taylor has announced to retire from international cricket. 

11-Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has been formally elected unanimously as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a term of three years. 

AIM, along with Dassault Systèmes’ all set to give boost to innovation

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) NITI Aayog has signed Statement of Intent (SoI) with Dassault Systèmes’ all set to give another boost to innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem across the country.

Under this SoI, Dassault Systèmes will support and promote AIM beneficiaries including Atal Tinkering Labs, AIM incubators, Atal Community Innovation Centres, grantees under Atal New India Challenge, Atal Research & Innovation for Small Enterprise (ARISE).

CBIC declares Kushinagar Airport as Customs notified airport.

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has declared Kushinagar Airport of Uttar Pradesh as a Customs notified airport.

It will facilitate international passenger movements including that of Buddhist pilgrims.

Kushinagar is located in Uttar Pradesh and is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana after his death.

15th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers meeting

Fifteenth East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting has been conducted virtually with Krishan Pal Gurjar (Minister of State for Power) with other senior officials from the Indian side.

Theme of the meeting: We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper

Aim: coordinating efforts of ASEAN countries in pursuing the goal of energy security and energy transition that will benefit the people of our region.

Minister provided brief status of Indian energy transition plans, policies, etc

NSO releases All India Debt & Investment Survey

National Statistical Office (NSO) has released All India Debt & Investment Survey.

Number of indebted households: It has risen sharply in rural India with average debt shooting up by 84% between 2012 and 2018, and COVID-19 has likely further doubled all households’ borrowings by 2021.

Rural households’ average debt grew from ₹32,522 in 2012 to ₹59,748 by June 2018, while urban households’ average debt increased by 42% in the same period to little more than ₹1.20 lakh.

Cabinet approves 100% FDI under automatic route in Telecom Sector

Union Cabinet has increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Telecom sector under the automatic route from 49% to 100%.

Govt has approved 9 structural and 5 process reform in Telecom sector.

Definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) has been changed and now all non-telecom revenue will be removed from AGR

Monthly compounding of interest on spectrum usage charges is replaced by annual compounding, with less interest rate based on the formula MCLR + 2%

J&K Lt Governor launches Mission ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’

Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has launched new mission titled as ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’

Aim: to promote door-to-door digital banking and financial services in remote areas of the Union Territory.

Initially, it will be provided in 2,000 remote villages of the UT.

First phase will cover 80 women from SHG of Jammu and Kashmir division to promote financial inclusion within UT’s SHG ecosystem.

Australia partners with UK and US to get nuclear-powered submarine

Australia, UK and US have announced new trilateral security partnership to develop nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.

New alliance is named as AUKUS (Australia, UK, US).

Aim: to further strengthen the existing and strong security cooperation between the three members of the grouping and deepen ties in Indo-Pacific region.

Australia will join elite group of 6 countries (India, US, UK, France, Russia and China) that currently operate nuclear-powered submarines.

Incumbent PM Stefan Yanev to lead Bulgaria to elections

President Rumen Radev has reappointed incumbent caretaker premier Stefan Yanev to lead interim administration until new government is formed.

Bulgaria will hold its third parliamentary elections on November 14, 2021, after inconclusive polls in April and July failed to produce a government

This new interim government will have to submit a national plan to Brussels on how it plans to use more than 6 billion euros from EU's covid recovery fund

Capital of Bulgaria: Sofia

Ministry of Defence constitutes High Level Expert Committee for NCC

Ministry of Defence has constituted 15 member High Level Expert Committee for a comprehensive review of National Cadet Corps (NCC).

Chairperson of the committee: Former MP Baijayant Panda

It will also include Cricketer MS Dhoni and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra as members.

It will suggest measures to empower NCC cadets to contribute more effectively towards nation building

It propose ways for gainful engagement of NCC Alumni for betterment of the organization.

PM Modi features in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People 2021 List

PM Narendra Modi has been named in 2021 Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people list, for the fifth time since coming in power in 2014

List has 6 categories: Icons, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Titans and Innovators

It also includes Mamata Banerjee and Adar Poonawalla.

Globally, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan, and co-founder of Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar were also in the list

QCI launches S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award

Quality Council of India (QCI) has launched Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award.

It is country’s first-of-its- kind Laboratory Excellence Award.

Award has been instituted to promote Laboratory Quality and performance improvement in India.

This award will be open to all currently operational Lab pertaining to Testing, Calibration & Medical.

S. K. Joshi made a significant contribution by serving as President-INSA, DG-CSIR, Director-NPL and Chairman-NABL.

PFC issues India’s first-ever Euro Green Bond

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has successfully issued its maiden Euro 300 million 7-year Euro Bond issuance.

It is the first ever Euro denominated green-bond issuance from India.

It is also the first ever Euro issuance by an Indian NBFC and the first Euro bond issuance from India since 2017

PFC is an Indian financial institution under Ministry of Power.

Chairman & MD of PFC: Ravinder Singh Dhillon

World Patient Safety Day: 17th September

World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is observed every year on 17th September to create a global awareness for patient safety and urge people to show their commitment to make healthcare safer.

It was first observed in 2019 by World Health Organization (WHO).

The day was adopted at 72nd World Health Assembly on 25 May 2019.

Theme for 2021 World Patient Safety Day: ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-British Emma Raducanu beat Leylah Fernandez of Canada to win Women’s Singles title at US Open Tennis. She has become the first British woman to win the title in 53 years. 

2-India's Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji lifted the doubles title at the ATP Cassis Challenger event with a three-set win over Mexican pair of Hans Hach Verdugo and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela. 

3-Noted writer and former secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Aziz Hajini passed away. He was 64. 

4-A two days’ conference of Tourism and Culture Ministers of North Eastern States was held on 13-14th September in Guwahati. 

5-Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has launched ‘Medicines from the Sky’, at Vikarabad in Telangana state. 

6-The Uttar Pradesh government will provide one lakh tablets to skilled workers as part of its Skill Development Mission. 

7-Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is also the chancellor of universities in the state, has appointed Dr Ujwala Shirish Chakradeo as the new vice chancellor (VC) of the SNDT Women's University. 

8-Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched ''iRASTE'', an Artificial Intelligence-powered project, on a pilot basis in Nagpur in Maharashtra with the aim of reducing accidents by 50 per cent. 

9-In a report, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said that 97 percent of Afghans could plunge into poverty by mid 2022. 

10-Morocco's King Mohammed VI has named Aziz Akhanouch of the liberal National Rally of Independents Party, or RNI, as the country's new prime minister and tasked him with forming a government. 

Govt approves PLI scheme for Auto Industry and Drone Industry

Govt has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Auto Industry and Drone Industry to enhance manufacturing capabilities.

It will incentivize emergence of Advanced Automotive Technologies global supply chain in India.

It will help create additional employment for 7.6 lakh people.

The scheme will also provide incentives worth ₹ 26,058 crore for over 5 years.

PLI Scheme for auto sector will bring fresh investments of over ₹42,500 crore in 5 years.

National Mineral Development wins Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar

National Mineral Development under Ministry of Steel has won highest and most prestigious award, Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar during Rajbhasha Diwas Samaroh in New Delhi.

Award was received by Shiva Shanmuganathan, Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) on behalf of NMDC.

NMDC has been winning this award for the last 3 years in a row, which goes on to show its dedication towards the implementation of Hindi as the Official Language.

NITI Aayog to launch report on Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India

NITI Aayog is all set to launch a report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’.

NITI Aayog had constituted an Advisory Committee on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Education in India’ in October 2020.

Report comprises a set of recommendations on various aspects of urban planning like interventions for planning healthy cities, optimum utilization of urban land, ramping up human-resource capacities, strengthening urban governance, building local leadership, etc.

UNCTAD projects Indian economy to expand 7.2% in 2021

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has projected India’s economic growth rate as 7.2% for calendar year 2021 in its Trade and Development report

India’s economic growth rate for calendar year 2022 is projected to be 6.7%, while India’s economy shrank by 7% in Calendar Year 2020.

UNCTAD expects global economy to recovery in 2021, growing at 5.3%.

UNCTAD also expects South-Asia region to expand by 5.8% in 2021.

HQs: Geneva, Switzerland

Lasith Malinga announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga (38 years) has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Prior to this announcement, he took retirement from Test cricket in 2011 and then from the ODIs in 2019.

He played 30 Tests, 226 ODIs and 84 T20Is for Sri Lanka in which he took a total of 546 wickets (101 in Tests, 338 in ODIs and 107 in T20Is) across all formats.

Malinga holds the record for most hat-tricks in international cricket.

IIT Bombay rolls out language translator ‘Project Udaan’

IIT Bombay has launched ‘Project Udaan’ to break the language barrier in education, which hampers the flow of messages.

It is a donation-based project, which can translate scientific and technical content from English to Hindi and all other Indian languages.

The project uses an AI-based translation software ecosystem, to translate engineering textbooks and learning materials, and all main streams of higher learning, in the desired language

Minister Nitin Gadkari launches AI-powered road safety project ‘iRASTE’

Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari has launched an Artificial Intelligence-powered project, titled as ‘iRASTE’ to help reduce road accidents, understand the factors responsible for these events and come up with solutions to mitigate them.

iRASTE: Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology and Engineering

The project is launched jointly by Centre, Intel, INAI, IIIT-Hyderabad, CSIR-CRRI, Mahindra & Mahindra and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

NITI Aayog, RMI, and RMI India launches ‘Shoonya’ Campaign

NITI Aayog, with RMI and RMI India has launched ‘Shoonya Campaign’ to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry.

Aim: To accelerate adoption of electric vehicles in urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about zero-pollution delivery.

As part of campaign, corporate branding and certification programme is being launched to recognize and promote industry’s efforts towards transitioning to EVs for final-mile deliveries

Tata Steel commissions India’s first plant to capture CO2

Tata Steel has commissioned India’s first carbon capture plant that extracts CO₂ directly from the blast furnace gas, at its Jamshedpur Centre.

With this, Tata Steel has become country’s first steel company to adopt such a carbon capture technology.

It can capture 5 tonnes of CO₂ per day (5-tonne per day (TPD)).

The company will reuse the captured CO₂ on site to promote circular carbon economy.

CEO & MD of Tata Steel: T. V. Narendran.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 16 September

International Day for the Preservation for Ozone layer (World Ozone Day) is observed every year on September 16 to spread awareness about the depletion of the Ozone Layer and search for solutions to preserve it.

Theme for 2021 World Ozone Day: Montreal Protocol – keeping us, our food and vaccines cool

UN General Assembly proclaimed this day in 1994 commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

South Korea successfully test submarine-launched ballistic missile

South Korea has successfully tested indigenously developed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

South Korea is the first country without nuclear weapons to develop SLCM missile system.

With this, South Korea joins only a handful of countries to have successfully developed SLBM.

Other countries that have tested or developed SLBMs: United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, North Korea and India, which have typically designed them to carry nuclear weapons.

Ramnath Kovind presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2020

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has conferred National Florence Nightingale Awards 2020 at a virtual ceremony to 51 health care workers and nurses for their selfless dedication and compassion, especially during COVID-19.

The Award was instituted by Indian Government in 1973 and are named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

WHO declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Mid-wife.

2020 also marked 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

Indian Military Contingent participates in SCO Exercise ‘Peaceful Mission’

Indian military contingent comprising of an all arms combined force of 200 personnel is participating in Exercise titled as ‘Peaceful Mission 2021’.

It is a Joint Counter Terrorism Exercise between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

It is being hosted by Russia in Orenburg Region of South West Russia from September 13 to 25, 2021

2021 is the 6th edition of biennial multilateral Exercise.

Headquarters of SCO: Beijing, China.

India to organize first-ever Global Buddhist Conference in November 2021

India is set to host first-ever Global Buddhist Conference in Nava Nalanda Mahavihara campus, in Nalanda, Bihar on November 19 and 20, 2021

It is being organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

It focuses on making India the center of Buddhism, by promoting Buddhist activities.

Theme: Buddhism in Literature

Conference will be conducted at Dharamsala, Gangtok, Sarnath and Telangana in India and overseas in Cambodia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021 launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase- 2 i.e. on 9th September, 2021. 

2-In the series of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations a book exhibition of important and original authentic publications published by ministry of law and justice was inaugurated in the district judge premises of Varanasi. 

3-Cuemath, an online math learning platform, said it has appointed former Swiggy executive Vivek Sunder as its Chief Executive Officer. 

4-IIT Madras has topped the Rankings in the overall category in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). IISc Bengaluru has come second, which is followed by IIT Bombay at the third place in the ranking. 

5-The T20 World Cup is set to be held in the UAE and Oman from 17th of next month to 14th November this year. 

6-Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain for the Indian Air Force. 

7-Cabinet increases Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Rabi crops for marketing season 2022-23. 

8-The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan as additional financing to scale up improvement of rural connectivity to help boost rural economy in the state of Maharashtra. 

9-The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $112 million loan to develop water supply infrastructure and strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery in four towns in the state of Jharkhand. 

10-Amid ongoing Naga peace process, the Centre and the Niki Sumi-led group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) signed a ceasefire agreement for one year, till September 7, 2022. 

11-Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sardardham Bhavan in Ahmedabad and also performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of Sardardham Phase-II Kanya Chhatralaya -- a girls' hostel -- via video conference. 

12-Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar felicitated Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medal winners as well as rest of the Indian Paralympic Contingent tomorrow at 09:30 am in the Convention Hall, Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi. 

13-National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC) under Ministry of Steel launched Global Grace Cancer Run 2021 in Hyderabad. 

14-DRDO hands over air defence missile (MRSAM) System to Indian Air Force in presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 

15-The Minister of State, Jal Shakti Ministry, Prahlad Singh Patel Released SSG 2021 Protocol Document, Dashboard & Mobile App For Citizens.

16-National Mission For Clean Ganga & Naula Foundation Celebrated Himalayan Day 2021 With The Theme ‘Contribution Of Himalayas And Our Responsibilities’. 

17-Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, flagged off indigenously designed and manufactured- Full Span Launching Equipment-Straddle Carrier and Girder Transporter. 

18-India's first Indigenously Designed High Ash Coal Gasification Based Methanol Production Plant at BHEL R&D Centre, Hyderabad. 

19-Leg-spinner Rashid Khan stepped down as Afghanistan T20 captain after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named their team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

20-Lebanon has launched cash cards in support for over 500,000 families who are in need of help amid the current financial and economic crisis. 

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stones for Uttar Pradesh National Law University and new building complex of Allahabad High Court. 

2-Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to establish a chair in the name of Subramanya Bharti ji in Banaras Hindu University. 

3-Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar visited Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu and laid the foundation stone of Gene Bank and Cold Storage facility at Mega Seed Unit. 

4-Former Union Minister Vijay Goel took charge as Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti at a function in Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi, the site of the Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. 

5-Sardar Iqbal Singh Lalpura took charge as the Chairman, National Commission for Minorities in the presence of Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in New Delhi. 

6-Th Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras and the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, inaugurated 7 food processing projects at Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, through video conferencing. 

7-National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC) partners with Grace Cancer Foundation for Freedom Run 2021, as part of its celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

8-Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) successfully launched the ATL Space Challenge 2021 for all school students across the country. 

9-Britain's gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown only by 0.1 per cent monthly in July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. 

10-Hugely popular Malayalam TV star Ramesh Valiyasala has passed away. He was 54. 

Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Former Zimbabwe skipper and wicket-keeper batsman Brendan Taylor (34 years) has announced his retirement from international cricket.

He made this announcement while playing third final ODI match against Ireland.

He made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in 2004.

He has scored 6677 runs from 204 ODI matches and is just 112 short of former Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower's national record of 6786.

Joe Root, Eimear Richardson named ICC Players of the Month for August 2021

England Test skipper Joe Root has been named as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2021.

He scored 507 runs in three Tests against India in August.

He also scored 3 important centuries, including an unbeaten 180* at Lord’s, and MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for batters.

Ireland’s Eimear Richardson has bagged the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for August 2021.

Subramanian Swamy comes out with book on Human Rights and Terrorism

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has launched his new book titled as ‘Human Rights and Terrorism in India’.

The book has shed light on how the combating of terrorism can be harmonized with human and fundamental rights within reasonable restrictions that are permitted by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court

It is the thesis of this study that to deter terror, India as a nation must foster a concept of identity

DBS Bank partners with SWIFT to launch cross-border payment tracking

DBS Bank in partnership with SWIFT Global Payments Innovation (GPI) has launched real-time online tracking for cross-border payments for its corporate clients

It can be availed using bank’s corporate online banking platform ‘DBS IDEAL’

DBS is the first bank in India and Asia-Pacific to offer this service to corporate clients without any additional cost.

It will allow corporates customers to see when a payment is on its way and when it is arriving at the beneficiary.

World Lymphoma Awareness Day: 15 September

World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD) is observed every year on 15th September to raise awareness of lymphoma, an increasingly common form of cancer.

WLAD was initiated in 2004 by Lymphoma Coalition (LC), a non-profit network organization of 83 lymphoma patient groups from 52 countries across the world.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that includes the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.

Sansad TV to be launched today

VP M. Venkaiah Naidu, PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will jointly launch Sansad TV at Main Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe today.

Sansad TV is being formed after merging Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV.

Sansad TV programming will primarily be in 4 categories: functioning of Parliament and democratic institutions, governance- implementation of schemes/policies, history and culture of India and issues/interests/concerns of contemporary nature.

PM Modi lays foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University

PM Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

It is being established in the memory and honor of noted figure, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, who was a great freedom fighter, educationist and social reformer

It will be spread over an area of over 92 acres at Lodha village and Musepur Kareem Jarouli village of Kol tehsil in Aligarh.

It will provide affiliation to 395 colleges of the Aligarh division.

India, Singapore announces linking of UPI and PayNow fast payment systems

RBI and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have announced project to link their respective fast payment systems viz. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow.

It will enable users of each of the two fast payment systems to make fund transfer from India to Singapore and vice versa using UPI and PayNow.

It will made operational by July 2022.

It will foster cross-border interoperability of payments using cards and QR codes, between India and Singapore.

RBI announces opening of Third Cohort under Regulatory Sandbox

RBI has announced the opening of Third Cohort under Regulatory Sandbox (RS) with the theme of ‘MSME Lending’.

It will be kept open from Oct 1 to November 14, 2021.

Prior to this, RBI has launched 2 cohort under regulatory sandbox. These are:

First Cohort: It was launched in November 2019, with the theme as ‘Retail Payments’. Six entities have completed the testing phase of the cohort.

Second Cohort: It was announced in December 2020 with the theme ‘Cross Border Payments’

PM Modi to attend Quad Summit at White House on 24th September

PM Narendra Modi will attend first-ever in-person QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders’ Summit at White House in Washington D.C. on September 24, 2021.

Quad nation: India, Japan, US and Australia.

Aim: To deepen ties and increase cooperation in areas such as combatting COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace.

PM Modi will also address UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 25, 2021.

Susanna Clarke wins Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021

English author Susanna Clarke has won 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her second novel ‘Piranesi’.

Women’s Prize for Fiction: It is one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious literary prizes. It is awarded annually to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English, since 1996.

Piranesi is a mystery about a man living alone in a labyrinthine house.

National Engineer’s Day: 15th September

National Engineer’s Day is observed every year on September 15 to recognise the contribution of engineers in the development of our nation.

The day marks the birth anniversary of India’s engineering pioneer, Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya, who was regarded as the Father of Modern Mysore.

Theme 2021: Engineering for A Healthy Planet- Celebrating the UNESCO Engineering Report.

The day was celebrated for the first time in 1968.

Gurmit Singh sworn-in as the new Governor of Uttarakhand

Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh was sworn as the new Governor of Uttarakhand with effect from 15th September 2021.

His oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court Justice RS Chauhan at Raj Bhawan.

He is a retired Deputy Chief of the Indian Army and is a highly decorated former Army officer

He succeeds Baby Rani Maurya, who resigned three years before completing her tenure.

Chief minister of Uttarakhand: Pushkar Singh Dhami

International Day of Democracy: 15th September

International Day of Democracy is observed every year on 15th September across the world to provide an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

Theme for 2021: Strengthening democratic resilience in the face of future crises

The day was established in 2007 through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly for promoting and upholding the principles of democracy and review the state of democracy in the world.

It was first observed in 2008.

India–Africa Defence Dialogue to be held in 2022

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host Defence Ministers of African Nations in the next India–Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2022.

First-ever India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on February 6, 2020.

Foundation of India–Africa defence relations are based on 2 guiding principles namely ‘SAGAR’, 'Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

TN Assembly passed a bill to dispense NEET exam

Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a Bill to dispense with National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) and allow admission to medical courses based on Class 12 marks, ensuring social justice

The bill has been introduced by Chief Minister M K Stalin based on the recommendation of the high-level committee led by retired judge AK Rajan, which submitted its report in July.

Permanent Exemption Bill for NEET exempts medical aspirants in Tamil Nadu from taking NEET examination.

Paytm Payments Bank launches first FASTag-based Metro parking facility

Paytm Payments Bank has launched India’s first FASTag-based Metro parking facility, in partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Paytm will facilitate the processing of all FASTag-based transactions for cars having valid FASTag sticker, eliminating the hassle of stopping and paying cash at the counter. 

It has enabled UPI-based payment for two-wheelers entering parking site through which car owners will no longer be required to tender cash and parking fee. 

TCS announces largest women recruitment drive 'Rebegin project'

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced one of its largest recruitment drives for hiring women, titled as 'Rebegin project'

The project is aimed at experienced and aspiring women who wish to jump-start their professional journey and make 'The Big Move'

It will benefit women professionals who have taken a career sabbatical due to family or other pressing commitments to help them reassimilate into the corporate culture.

India and US launch Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue

India and USA have launched Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) to strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment.

CAFMD is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April 2021.

It will demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development.

North Korea tested new long-range cruise missile capable of hitting Japan

North Korea has tested new long-range cruise missile, which is capable of hitting Japan

During the test, the missile travelled up to 1,500 kms, suggesting that North Korea is still capable of developing weapons despite food shortages and economic crisis.

It is first long-range cruise missile of Korea that could possibly carry a nuclear warhead

Head of North Korea: Kim Jong-un

Capital of North Korea: Pyongyang

Skyroot Aerospace becomes first Space startup to formally tie-up with ISRO

Hyderabad-based Space technology startup, Skyroot Aerospace has become the first private company to formally enter into an agreement with ISRO to get access of their facilities and expertise for the development and testing of subsystems and systems of space launch vehicles.

Skyroot Aerospace is building Vikram series of rockets to carry small satellites into space.

First launch vehicle in the series, Vikram-1 is scheduled to be launch in 2022.

Chhattisgarh launches ‘Millet Mission’ to become Millet Hub Of India

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has announced to launch ‘Millet Mission’ to provide proper price rate to farmers for minor cereal crops

Other important benefits under Millet Mission to includes input assistance for millet, procurement arrangements, aid farmers in processing of crops, etc.

To implement the mission, the state government has signed a MoU with Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad and collectors of 14 districts of the state.

Haryana adjudged first in installation of solar pumps under PM-KUSUM

Haryana has been ranked as the first state of India in installation of off-grid solar pumps under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahaabhiyaan (PMKUSUM), as per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy data.

The state has installed 14,418 pumps against 15,000 sanctioned pumps for the year 2020-21 with total cost of Rs 520 crore.

PM-KUSUM scheme: It is a centrally-sponsored scheme, that was launched in 2019 with target to install 20 lakh standalone solar pumps.

Veteran Congress leader Oscar Fernandes passes away

Veteran Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister Oscar Fernandes (80 years) passed away due to age related ailments at Yenepoya hospital in Mangalore.

He was the senior Congress leader and served as the Union Cabinet Minister for Transport, Road and Highways and Labour and Employment, in Manmohan Singh’s UPA govt

He was five-time Lok Sabha MP from Udupi in Karanataka.

He also served two terms as a member of the Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Nuakhai harvest festival celebrated in Odisha

Agrarian festival of Western Odisha, named as Nuakhai Juhar has been celebrated with religious fervour and tradition .

It is celebrated the day after the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Nuakhai: Nua means new and khai means food. This means nuakhai is a festival to celebrate newly harvested food by the farmer

It is a crop festival celebrated by people of Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh, to welcome the new rice of the season.

National Hindi Day: 14 September

Hindi Divas or Hindi Day is observed every year on 14 September to celebrate the popularity of Hindi as an official language of India.

14 September is celebrated as Hindi Diwas as it was on this day in 1949, when Constituent Assembly of India had adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of India.

Hindi was adopted under Article 343 of Indian Constitution.

Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar and Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar awards are being given on this day.

Justice M. Venugopal appointed as Acting Chairperson of NCLAT

Justice M. Venugopal has been appointed as the new Acting Chairperson of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) with effect from September 11, 2021

He is a former judge of High Court of Madras and was appointed as Judicial Member of NCLAT on October 23, 2019

This is the third time in a row that an Acting Chairperson is at the helm of the NCLAT, after the retirement of S. J. Mukhopadhaya. 

NCLAT is a tribunal established under Section 410 of Companies Act, 2013.

Daniil Medvedev wins 2021 US Open Tennis Title

Russia professional Tennis player Daniil Medvedev (25 years) has won 2021 US Open men’s singles Tennis Title, after beating Novak Djokovic (Serbia) by 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

This is the maiden Grand Slam title won by Medvedev.

Women’s single winner: Emma Raducanu (Great Britain) defeated Leylah Fernandez (Canada)

Men’s double winner: Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury

Women’s double winner: Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai

Mixed Doubles: Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Indian-origin author Mahmood Mamdani is among four authors from around the world to be shortlisted for the 2021 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding. 

2-Two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC signed young Indian midfielder Ninthoi Meetei for a three-year deal. 

3-Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the annual summit of the five-nation grouping BRICS in the virtual format. 

4-Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed General Wang Haijiang as the new Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command, which oversees the borders with India. 

5-The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Rajnish Kumar as its economic advisor. A former SBI chairman, Rajnish Kumar's tenure in the cabinet rank position is for two years. 

6-TRIFED will be establishing an Atmanirbhar corners in 75 embassies of foreign countries in India. 

7-Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakurinaugurated/dedicated three projects to the nation at Netaji Subhas Dock of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port(SMP), Kolkata. 

8-The bilateral exercise – AUSINDEX between Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy commenced in Australia. 

9-Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of a project to revive historic city of Jeddah. 

10-Michael K. Williams, an actor best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire," has died. He was 54. 

11-President and the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces, Ram Nath Kovind presented the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation at INS Hansa, Goa. 

12-India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was nominated for the ICC 'Player of the Month' award for August following his brilliant performances with both the bat and ball in the ongoing Test series against England. 

13-Germany’s new ambassador to China, who was previously a senior adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, has died at age 54. 

14-After days of consultations, the Taliban have nominated Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as the new head of state. 

15-Iraq has signed a deal worth $27 billion with French oil and gas company Total on four energy projects. 

16-Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL), Ministry of Coal Inaugurates Rs. 2.25 Crore CSR initiatives in Singrauli District As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations Benefitting Thousands of Villagers. 

17-Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates Doppler Weather Radar & Indigenous GPS based Pilot Sonde at IMD, Jammu.

18-Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs laid foundation stone for office building of Income Tax Department at plot No. 4, 5 and 6, Infantry Road, Bengaluru. 

19-Four teachers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were among 44 teachers who were presented national teacher awards by President Ram Nath Kovind on the occasion of Teachers Day. 

20-British singer and actor Sarah Harding died. She was 39. 

UNESCO awards NIOS for innovation in education

National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has bagged King Sejong Literacy Prize, a global recognition from UNESCO for its innovative approach towards education.

The recognition is for educating differently-abled people through technology-enabled inclusive learning material.

The NIOS move has a specific focus on Indian sign language-based content.

NIOS is comes under the ambit on Ministry of Education. 

Billionaire Aziz Akhannouch Appointed as Morocco's New Prime Minister

Billionaire Aziz Akhannouch was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Morocco.

King Mohammed VI has appointed the businessman “head of the government and tasked him with forming a new government.

Akhannouch is the leader of the liberal National Rally of Moroccan Independents (RNI) party which won 102 of parliament’s 395 seats.

He previously served as Morocco's minister of Agriculture from 2007 to 2021 and is the CEO of Akwa Group.

Shivani becomes 1st woman excavation engineer

Shivani Meena, an IIT Jodhpur alumna, has become the first woman excavation engineer to work in an open cast mine at Coal India arm CCL.

She will be posted at CCL's Rajrappa project, one of the important enterprises of the coal mining behemoth. Until now the position belonged to men.

Shivani Meena has joined the Rajrappa project, a mechanized opencast mine in the Rajrappa area of CCL as an excavation engineer.

PM Modi announces Chair at BHU in honour of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati

PM Narendra Modi announced the setting up of chair in memory of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati at Banaras Hindu University for Tamil studies.

The Chair will be established in the faculty of arts at the BHU.

PM Modi made the announcement on the 100th death anniversary of Subramania Bharati. The Tamil poet passed away on 11 September 1921. The great Tamil poet fondly called Mahakavi has a connection with Varanasi. He had obtained his early education from the city.

PM Modi inaugurates Sardardham Bhavan in Ahmedabad

PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sardardham Bhavan through video conferencing at Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

He also laid the foundation stone of Sardardham Phase-II Kanya Chhatralay. 

The Sardardham has been constructed at the cost of 200 crore rupees.

It has modern facilities like a hostel, library, career guidance and training center for boys and girls coming from rural areas and a multipurpose auditorium.

Sardardham Bhavan has been developed by Patidar Samaj.

India, Australia Hold Inaugural ‘Two-Plus-Two Dialogue’

India and Australia began the inaugural two-plus-two dialogue.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held the talks with their Australian counterparts Peter Dutton and Marise Payne.

In the ‘two-plus-two’ talks, the two sides vowed to work towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing increasing Chinese assertiveness.

India holds such talks with Australia, Japan, USA and Russia.

'Medicines from the Sky' project launched to send medicines to PHCC

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has launched the Medicines from the Sky project to send medicines to Primary Health Care Centres using drones.

The project was launched at Vikarabad in Telangana.

The first sortie was carried out by a drone built by SkyAir Mobility for its Consortium partner Blue Dart Express.

‘Medicine from the Sky’ project is an initiative of the Telangana in association with World Economic Forum, NITI Aayog, and HealthNet Global.

Yahoo appoints Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone as new CEO

Jim Lanzone has been appointed as new CEO of Yahoo.

Currently he is the CEO of Tinder.

He will succeed Guru Gowrappan, who has been named Senior Advisor to Apollo’s private equity business.

The move comes around four months after Verizon had announced that it would sell Yahoo to Apollo Management Group for $5 billion.

Prior to his stint as CEO of Tinder, Lanzone had led the digital operations of CBS Corporation as Chief Digital Officer and CEO of CBS Interactive.

Bhanumati Gheewala selected for Florence Nightingale Award

A Gujarat-based nurse Bhanumati Gheewala has been selected for Florence Nightingale Award.

The nurse works at Sir Sayajirao General Hospital in Vadodara.

She has been handling the delivery of COVID-19 positive pregnant women as well as taking care of newborns.

Florence Nightingale Award recognizes exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster.

It also recognizes exemplary service or a pioneering spirit in the areas of public health.

Noted Kashmiri writer Aziz Hajini passes away

Noted writer and former secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Aziz Hajini passed away.

Hajini hailed from Hajin Sonawari area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

He held several positions in academic and literary circles, including as secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and authored several books.

Typhoon Chanthu drenches Taiwan with up to 5 inches of rain

Typhoon Chanthu drenched Taiwan as the storm's center passed the island's east coast, but no injuries were reported.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from flood-prone areas of the east coast county of Hualien.

Chanthu's center was off Taiwan's northeast coast, with winds of 162 kph and gusts up to 198 kph (124 mph), according to the Central Weather Bureau.

Earlier, the storm grazed the island of Luzon in the Philippines, but no flooding or damaged was reported.

DP World signs pact with TN Govt for ₹2,000 cr projects

Global port operator DP World has signed a facilitation MoU with the Tamil Nadu Govt for a slew of projects it is establishing in the State at an investment of ₹2,000 crore

DP World signed an MoU in UAE with the Tamil Nadu in Sep 2019 to invest ₹1,000 crore in establishing a Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ). 

DP World’s FTWZ was inaugurated on July 20, 2021.

These projects are expected to create 4,500 employment opportunities.  

TN Governor: Ravindra Narayan Ravi

British Emma Raducanu wins 2021 Women’s Singles US Open title

Emma Raducanu won Women’s Singles title at 2021 US Open Tennis.

British sensation Emma defeated her Canadian opponent Leylah Fernandez in the summit clash held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

She has become the first British woman to win the title in 53 years.

Raducanu has also become the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Emma Raducanu is the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova, then 17, at Wimbledon in 2004.

MSME Tool Room, Hyderabad bags Patent for Fireworks making Machine

MSME Tool Room Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD), Hyderabad has obtained patent for the invention entitled Automatic Machine for Production of Conical Shaped Fireworks (Anaar) for 20 years

CITD signed an MOU with Standard Fireworks Pvt Ltd (SFPL) for automation processes

As a first project, CITD has taken up for Module-1 for flower pot chemical filling-packing

It  consists of 10 different stations like paper cutting, pasting, chemical filling, etc.

POSHAN Abhiyaan– Sahi Poshan Desh Roshan webinar organised

Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB) and Press Information Bureau (PIB), Chandigarh and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has organised webinar on POSHAN Abhiyaan– Sahi Poshan Desh Roshan.

POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan is Government’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Union Food Minister inaugurates food processing projects at UP, Andhra, TN

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras has inaugurated 7 food processing projects at Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Total cost of these 7 projects: Rs.164.46 crores and a grant in aid of Rs. 27.99 crores has been approved by the Ministry.

Along with this, 3,100 people will get direct and indirect employment, and 16,500 farmers and entrepreneurs will be benefited from these projects.

Centre revises TMA scheme for Specified Agriculture Products

Centre has revised ‘Transport and Marketing Assistance’ (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products.

TMA scheme for Specified Agriculture Products was launched in Feb 2019 to provide assistance for international component of freight and to mitigate disadvantage of higher freight costs of agriculture products by Indians.

Dairy products will also be eligible for assistance.

Rates of assistance have been increased by 50% for exports by sea and by 100% for exports by air.

President appoints new Governors of TN, Uttarakhand, Punjab & Nagaland

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has appointed new governors of Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Nagaland.

New appointed governors are as follows:

• Governor of Uttarakhand: Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (retired deputy chief of Army).
• Governor of Tamil Nadu: R. N. Ravi (former Nagaland governor).
• Governor of Punjab: Banwarilal Purohit (former Governor of Tamil Nadu).
• Governor of Nagaland: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi (incumbent Governor of Assam).

ICICI Lombard ceases to be subsidiary of ICICI Bank

ICICI Lombard General Insurance has ceased to operate as the subsidiary of ICICI Bank, as the shareholding of the ICICI Bank in the company has come down from 51.86% to 48.08%, after the merger of Bharti AXA with ICICI Lombard.

For being a subsidiary, parent company must own at least 50% of the equity in the subsidiary company.

CEO of ICICI Bank: Sandeep Bakhshi.

NPCI launches RuPay credit card stack for bank-sponsored credit card

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in partnership with Fiserv Inc. will launch plug-and-play RuPay credit card stack, ‘nFiNi’

nFiNi: ready stack of services required for fintechs and banks to issue RuPay credit cards and will enable fintech to co-create bank-sponsored credit cards

It is a BaaS (banking-as-a-service) programme.

It will power RuPay cards including National Common Mobility Card by offering access to needed services through NPCI network.

AIM launches Space challenge in collaboration with ISRO & CBSE

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with ISRO and CBSE successfully launched the ATL Space Challenge 2021.

Challenge has been designed for all the school students, mentors and teachers across India, associated with schools having ATL labs but for all the non ATL schools as well.

Students can create a solution on topics: Explore Space, Reach Space, Inhabit Space and Leverage Space

The application can be submitted on the AIM online portal.

India’s first emergency landing strip on highway inaugurated in Rajasthan

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and MoRTH Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated an emergency landing strip at Gandhav Bhakasar section on National Highway-925 in Barmer, Rajasthan for Indian Air Force (IAF) planes

With this, NH-925 has become India’s first national highway to be used for emergency landing of IAF aircraft.

Its landing strip has been developed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) over 3 km stretch at a total cost of Rs 43 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs 13th BRICS Summit

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has virtually chaired 13th BRICS Summit.

Theme: BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus.

Apart from this, India has highlighted 4 priority areas:

Reform of multilateral system

Counter-terrorism cooperation

Using digital and technological tools to achieve SDG

Enhancing P-to-P exchanges

BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Summit concluded with adoption of ‘New Delhi Declaration’.

Sardar Iqbal Singh Lalpura takes charge as Chairman of NCM

Sardar Iqbal Singh Lalpura (IPS officer of Punjab cadre) has taken charge as the Chairman of National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

He replaced Ghayorul Hasan.

Prior to this, he was serving as the national spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party from Punjab.

NCM was set up under National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

NCM shall consist of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Five Members to be nominated by the Central Government

CAG GC Murmu elected as Chairman of ASOSAI

CAG G C Murmu has been elected as the Chairman of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI)  for the period from 2024 to 2027.

India will host 16th Assembly of ASOSAI in 2024.

India will focus on the areas of environmental audit and leveraging emerging technologies for audit.

ASOSAI is one of the Regional Groups of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

ASOSAI was established in 1979.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-President and the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces, Ram Nath Kovind presented the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation at INS Hansa, Goa. 

2-India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was nominated for the ICC 'Player of the Month' award for August following his brilliant performances with both the bat and ball in the ongoing Test series against England. 

3-Germany’s new ambassador to China, who was previously a senior adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, has died at age 54. 

4-After days of consultations, the Taliban have nominated Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as the new head of state. 

5-Iraq has signed a deal worth $27 billion with French oil and gas company Total on four energy projects. 

6-Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL), Ministry of Coal Inaugurates Rs. 2.25 Crore CSR initiatives in Singrauli District As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations Benefitting Thousands of Villagers. 

7-Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates Doppler Weather Radar & Indigenous GPS based Pilot Sonde at IMD, Jammu. 

8-Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs laid foundation stone for office building of Income Tax Department at plot No. 4, 5 and 6, Infantry Road, Bengaluru. 

9-Four teachers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were among 44 teachers who were presented national teacher awards by President Ram Nath Kovind on the occasion of Teachers Day. 

10-British singer and actor Sarah Harding died. She was 39. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. Mumbai teen Ayaan Shankta (12 years) has been named as the 2021 International Young Eco-Hero for his project Conservation and Rehabilitation of Powai Lake.

• He is one of the 25 young environmental activists from across the world honored as 2021 International Young Eco-Hero by Action For Nature (AFN).
• He stood third in the 8-14 age category
• The award recognizes eco-conscious youth aged 8 to 16 who are taking crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems

➤ Important awards and their Recipient :

• Will Eisner Award - Anand Radhakrishnan
• Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar 2020 - Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda 
• Pulitzer Prize 2021 - Megha Rajagopalan
• Nature TTL Photography Awards 2021 - Thomas Vijayan
• India Biodiversity Award 2021 - N.M. Shaji
• Whitley Awards 2021 - Y. Nuklu Phom
• UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2021 - Maria Ressa
• Wild Innovator Award 2021 - Krithi Karanth
• Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021 - Rumana Sinha Sehgal
• International Ranger Award 2021 - Mahinder Giri
• World Food Prize 2021 - Shakuntala Haraksingh

2. International Day to Protect Education from Attack is being observed on 9th September across the world.

• Objective: to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
• It was celebrated for the first time in 2020.
• UN General Assembly proclaimed 9 September as International Day to Protect Education from Attack on 29 May 2020.

➤ Important Days of September:

• World Coconut Day - 2nd Sep
• International Day of Charity - 5 Sep
• International Literacy Day - 8 Sep
• World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) - 10 Sep
• Hindi Diwas - 14 Sep
• Engineer's Day (India) - 15 Sep
• International Day of Democracy - 15 Sep
• World Ozone Day - 16 Sep
• World Bamboo Day - 18 Sep
• International Day of Peace (UN) - 21 Sep
• World Tourism Day -27 Sep
• World Rabies Day - 28 Sep

3. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plans to introduce a law that will make it the world’s first sovereign nation to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.

• This law will mandate Bitcoin to be acceptable as a valid payment by all establishments, except those that do not have the technical wherewithal to do so.
• The move will put the digital currency that does not answer to any government monetary policies on the same footing as the country’s primary currency, United States dollar.

➤ About El Salvador:

• El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America.
• It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean
• Capital - San Salvador
• Currencies - Bitcoin, United States Dollar
• President - Nayib Bukele

4. Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya (64 years) has announced her resignation with effect from 8th September 2021, almost two years before completing her term due to personal reason.

• She was appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand in August 2018, succeeding Krishan Kant Paul.
• Prior to serving as the Governor of Uttarakhand, she served as the mayor of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, from 1995 to 2000.\

➤ List of Some Governors & State:

• Haryana - Shri Bandaru Dattatraya
• Karnataka - Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot
• Madhya Pradesh - Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
• Himachal Pradesh - Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
• Mizoram - Dr. Kambhampati Haribabu

5. PM Narendra Modi has launched Vidyanjali 2.0 portal during the inaugural conclave of 'Shikshak Parv'.

• Vidyanjali 2.0 is an amalgamation of the words Vidya meaning correct knowledge or clarity and Anjali meaning an offering with both hands in Sanskrit language.
• Vidyanjali is an initiative of Ministry of Education to strengthen Schools through community and private sector involvement in schools 
• It will connect schools with varied volunteers from Indian Diaspora

➤ Recent Mobile Apps and Portals Launched by GOI:

• M-Yoga App - The app will be comprised of yoga training videos in different languages for people across the world
• Atmanirbhar Krishi App - The app will provide data to the farmers about actionable agricultural insights and weather alerts
• ‘HIT (Home Isolation Tracking) COVID App’ - To monitor and track the home isolated COVID-19 patients across the state
• Mera Ration' Mobile App - The ‘Mera Ration' mobile app will guide the citizens to locate the nearest fair price shop
• E-Chhawani Portal and Mobile App - To provide online civic services to the residents of Contentment Boards across India
• Udyam Sarathi App - To avail information related to self-employment and job vacancies in industries of the state

MoHUA launches 'Main Bhi Digital 3.0' campaign

Ministry of Housing and urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has launched pilot drive 'Main Bhi Digital 3.0'

It is a special campaign for digital onboarding and training for street vendors under PM SVANidhi scheme across 223 cities in India

PM SVANidhi was launched in 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to facilitates working capital loan of up to ₹10,000 with an interest subsidy @7% on regular repayment.

National Mission for Clean Ganga organised Himalayan Diwas

National Mission for Clean Ganga has organised Himalayan Diwas in association with Naula Foundation.

Himalaya Diwas is observed every year on 9th September.

Himalaya Diwas 2021 theme: Contribution of Himalayas and our responsibilities.

Aim: to conserve Himalayan ecosystem and region.

It was officially declared as Himalaya Day in 2015 by the then Chief Minister.

ADB approves loan to improve water supply infrastructure in Jharkhand

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Govt of India have signed $112 million loan to develop water supply infrastructure and strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery in four towns in the state of Jharkhand.

This is the first project of ADB in Jharkhand.

It will help establish a model for continuous water supply combined with policy reforms for a sustainable operation, providing safe drinking water to urban households.

Govt appoints 10 merchant bankers for managing IPO of LIC

Govt has appointed 10 merchant bankers for managing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which is likely to be launched in January-March quarter 2022

Role of merchant bankers in the case of IPO is of Issue management, Promotional activities, Credit syndication, Project counselling, and Portfolio management, etc.

Name of these merchant bankers: Goldman Sachs (India), Citigroup India,  SBI Capital Market, ICICI Securities, etc.

Hyderabad gets India’s first indigenous Coal Gasification based Plant

India’s first indigenously designed high ash coal gasification based Methanol Production Plant has been inaugurated at BHEL R&D Centre, Hyderabad.

The plant was funded by Department of Science and Technology at the initiative of NITI Aayog, PMO-India and Ministry of Coal.

It can create 0.25 ton per day (TPD) Methanol from high ash Indian coal using 1.2 TPD Fluidized bed gasifier.

Purity of the crude methanol produced is between 98 and 99.5%.

CBDT sets up 3 Boards for Advance Rulings to tax disputes

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has constituted 3 Boards for Advance Rulings (BAR) to ensure faster disposal of cases and avoid income tax disputes

BARs have been made operational from Sep 1, 2021.

Out of the three BARs, two have been set up in Delhi and Mumbai.

Each BAR shall consist of 2 members, each being an officer not below the rank of Chief Commissioner.

It will replace Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR).

Advance rulings of BAR shall not be binding.

Centre forms panel to frame new law for drugs, medical devices

Ministry of health and family welfare has constituted 8-member expert committee for framing new laws for drugs, cosmetics and medical devices.

The new law will replace existing Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 that regulates only import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics

The new Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act will incorporate regulation of medical devices as well

It will be chaired by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr VG Somani.

RBI allows tokenization in Card-on-File services

RBI has allowed two enhancements in card tokenization services. They are as follows:

Device-based tokenization framework will now be applicable to Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) services as well. CoF means that the Credit/Debit card details are stored by merchants for ease of payment.

Card issuers (banks) to offer card tokenization services as Token Service Providers. It shall be done with explicit customer consent requiring Additional Factor of Authentication

Bank of Baroda launches digital banking platform ‘bob World’

Bank of Baroda has launched its digital banking platform named ‘bob World’ to provide all banking services under one roof.

Pilot test of this platform began on August 23, 2021.

It will converge more than 220 services with an all-inclusive and seamless virtual banking experience, encompassing all digital banking services under one roof for the convenience of customers.

MD & CEO of Bank of Baroda: Sanjiv Chadha

Headquarters of BoB: Vadodara

ICRISAT awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize for improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa at Africa Forum for Green Revolution (AGRF)-2021 Summit

ICRISAT: It is a non-profit, non-political public agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

ICRISAT led a collaboration of partners to deliver the Tropical Legumes Project between 2007 and 2019

Jal Shakti Ministry launches Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021

Jal Shakti Ministry has virtually launched Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021 under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II at an event organized by Dept of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

DDWS had commissioned Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

17,475 villages in 698 Districts across India will be covered. 

Direct Observation of sanitation in villages including public places: 30%

Service Level Progress on sanitation: 35%

IIT Madras retains top spot in overall category of NIRF India Ranking 2021

Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has virtually released 6th edition of NIRF India Rankings 2021, that ranks higher educational institutions based on criteria to promote competitive excellence.

• List of Winners
• Overall Winner: IIT Madras
• Best University: IISc Bangalore
• Management: IIM, Ahmedabad
• College: Miranda House, Delhi
• Pharmacy: Jamia Hamdard, Delhi
• Medical: AIIMS, Delhi
• Engineering: IIT, Madras
• Architecture: IIT, Roorkee
• Law: NLSUI, Bengaluru

World Suicide Prevention Day: 10th September

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed every year on 10 September to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides through various activities around the world.

It was first introduced in 2003.

Theme 2021: Creating hope through action.

It is hosted by International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).

V. Vaidyanathan re-appointed as MD & CEO of IDFC First Bank

V. Vaidyanathan has been appointed as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of IDFC First Bank with effect from December 19, 2021.

His appointment is approved by RBI for a further period of three years.

He first took charge as the MD & CEO of IDFC FIRST Bank in December 2018, after the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First.

Headquarters of IDFC First Bank: Mumbai

IDFC FIRST bank received universal banking licence from RBI in July 2015.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Krishna Nagar secured India's second gold medal in badminton at Tokyo Paralympics after notching a thrilling three-game win over Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai in the men's singles SH6 class final. 

2-India’s Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj ended his campaign with a historic silver after going down fighting against top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the men’s singles SL4 class final at the Tokyo Paralympics. 

3-Olympic medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be the brand ambassador of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. 

4-The government's collections from levy of excise duty on petroleum products have jumped 48 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, with the incremental mop-up being 3-times of the repayment liability of legacy oil bonds in the full fiscal. 

5-The initial public offering of WAPCOS is likely to be launched by March end. 

6-Coal India Ltd (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal has launched a new software named “Spectral Enhancement” (SPE). 

7-Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom R&D Centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, observed its 38th Foundation Day celebrations. 

8-The 28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was conducted from 02 to 04 Sep 21. 

9-Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), has laid the foundation stone for first ever Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) in the state of Meghalaya at its office complex at Lapalang, Shillong. 

10-Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur felicitated Paralympics Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mariyyapan T and his coach Raja B in New Delhi. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 annually across the world to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.

• The day was declared by UNESCO on 26 October 1966 during the 14th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
• It was observed for the first time in 1967.
• Theme of 55th International Literacy Day: Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide.

➤ Important Days of September:

• World Coconut Day - 2nd Sep
• International Day of Charity - 5 Sep
• International Literacy Day - 8 Sep
• World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) - 10 Sep
• Hindi Diwas - 14 Sep
• Engineer's Day (India) - 15 Sep
• International Day of Democracy - 15 Sep
• World Ozone Day - 16 Sep
• World Bamboo Day - 18 Sep
• International Day of Peace (UN) - 21 Sep
• World Tourism Day -27 Sep
• World Rabies Day - 28 Sep

2. Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal has been appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20 which is an influential grouping that brings together the world’s major economies.

• He replaced former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu as India’s Sherpa for G20
• G20 Summit is scheduled to take place from 30th to 31st October under Italian Presidency.
• India will be holding the G20 Presidency from 1st December 2022 and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023 for the first time

➤ About G20:

• The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union
• It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
• Founded - 26 September 1999
• Chairman - Mario Draghi (2021)
• G20 2021 Summit Host by Italy
• G20 2022 Summit Host by Indonesia
• G20 2023 Summit Host by India

3. Union Minister Parshottam Rupala has launched National Livestock Mission (NLM) portal to increase effectiveness and ensure transparency in the implementation of scheme.

➤ NLM Portal:

• It is developed by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Dept of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Aim: to enable a customized workflow between State Implementing Agency, lenders and Ministry
• NLM: It was introduced in 2014-15 for sustainable development of livestock sector

➤ About SIDBI:

• Small Industries Development Bank of India is the apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India
• It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India
• Founded - 2 April 1990
• Headquarters - Lucknow
• Chairman & Managing Director - Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann

4. The government has appointed Harsha Bhupendra Bangari as the new Managing Director (MD) of the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank).

• She has been appointed for a period of three years or until further orders of the government
• He will replace the incumbent MD David Rasquinha, who was appointed for five years on July 20, 2014
• Founded - 1 January 1982
• Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra

➤ List of MD and CEO of Banks in India:

• Shanti Lal Jain - Indian Bank
• State Bank of India - Shri Dinesh Kumar Khara
• Bank of Baroda - Shri Debadatta Chand
• Punjab National Bank - S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao
• Axis Bank - Amitabh Chaudhry
• HDFC Bank - Sashidhar Jagdishan

5. The 130th edition of Durand Cup has been kicked off at the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

• 16 teams will be participated in this edition of the oldest club football tournament in Asia while two clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are not participating.
• Mohammedan Sporting Club started their campaign in the tournament with an emphatic win against the Indian Air Force Football team.
• The final match will be held on 3rd October

➤ List of Sports Cups and Trophies:

• Ryder Cup - Golf
• Thomas Cup - Badminton
• Deodhar Trophy  - Cricket
• B. C Roy Trophy - Football (National Junior)
• Nehru Trophy - Boat Race
• Santosh Trophy - Football
• Irani Cup - Cricket

MeitY constituted Task force to improve internet connectivity in Karnataka

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) constituted taskforce consisting of officers of National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Software Technology Parks of India  (STPI) to improve internet connectivity in Karnataka.

They will visit each district and meet people and will also visit State government officials and submit a report to Minister.

Odisha government rolls out e-Receipt 2.0 system for tax payment

Odisha govt has rolled out the revamped electronic receipt called e-Receipt 2.0 system, facilitating new modes of payment of taxes and other dues to the citizens.

It will improve the delivery of services in electronic receipts and disbursement under Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).

This will fulfil the objective of Mo Sarkar by providing service delivery at the doorstep of citizens.

China launches Earth observation satellite that can obtain radioactive data

China has launched 24th Gaofen-series Earth-observation satellite on Long March 4C carrier rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.

Aim: to monitor environmental protection efforts and boost its natural resources surveillance.

It has been developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology based on its SAST3000 satellite platform. 

It is equipped with hyperspectral observational devices tasked with monitoring air, water and environments. 

PM Modi launches Vidyanjali 2.0 portal

PM Narendra Modi has launched Vidyanjali 2.0 portal during the inaugural conclave of 'Shikshak Parv'. 

Vidyanjali 2.0 is an amalgamation of the words Vidya meaning correct knowledge or clarity and Anjali meaning an offering with both hands in Sanskrit language.

Vidyanjali is an initiative of Ministry of Education to strengthen Schools through community and private sector involvement in schools. 

It will connect schools with varied volunteers from Indian Diaspora. 

Jharkhand Assembly passes bill to reserve 75% seats for locals

Jharkhand Assembly has passed ‘The Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates in Private Sector Bill, 2021’ to provide 75% reservation for locals in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of up to ₹40,000.

After this, Jharkhand will become the third State, after Andhra Pradesh and Haryana to pass this law.

As per the bill, every employer shall register such employees receiving gross monthly salary as wages not more than ₹40,000.

Tata to be 1st private Indian firm to make military aircraft

Cabinet Committee of security has approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for Indian Air Force (IAF) and will make 40 aircraft in India within 10 years, while the rest will be delivered by Airbus from Spain.

It will make Tata as the first Indian private sector company to make military transport aircraft for Indian Air Force.

All 56 aircraft will be installed with the indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya resigns

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya (64 years) has announced her resignation with effect from 8th September 2021, almost two years before completing her term due to personal reason.

She was appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand in August 2018, succeeding Krishan Kant Paul.

Prior to serving as the Governor of Uttarakhand, she served as the mayor of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, from 1995 to 2000.

CM of Uttarakhand: Pushkar Singh Dhami

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurates PRANA portal

Bhupender Yadav has launched a portal titled as ‘PRANA’ for regulation of air pollution in 132 cities across India.

PRANA stands for Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities.

It can be accessed at prana.cpcb.gov.in.

It will cover cities that comes under National Clean Air Programme for tracking physical and financial status of city air action plan. 

He also dedicated first functional smog tower of India, installed in Anand Vihar, Delhi

HDFC Bank partners with NSIC to provide credit support to MSMEs

HDFC Bank has signed MoU with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for providing credit support to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME). 

HDFC bank branches will extend support to MSME projects in the areas they are located and to other important industrial sectors.

NSIC is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Government of India Enterprise under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

CEO of HDFC Bank: Sashidhar Jagdishan

Headquarters: Mumbai

El Salvador became 1st country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plans to introduce a law that will make it the world’s first sovereign nation to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.

This law will mandate Bitcoin to be acceptable as a valid payment by all establishments, except those that do not have the technical wherewithal to do so.

The move will put the digital currency that does not answer to any government monetary policies on the same footing as the country’s primary currency, United States dollar.

World's largest plant to capture CO2 from air starts in Iceland

World's largest plant designed to suck carbon dioxide (CO₂) out of the air and turning it into rock started commenced its operation in Iceland.

The plan is named as Orca or orka meaning energy.

It has been developed by Swiss startup Climeworks AG and Icelandic carbon storage firm Carbfix.

It consists of four units, each made up of two metal boxes, similar in appearance to the containers used for maritime transport.

It can suck out up to 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Chandigarh gets India’s tallest air purifier tower

India’s tallest air purification tower has been inaugurated in Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Tower has been installed at the initiative of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) at Transport Chowk, Sector 26, by Pious Air Pvt Limited.

This is the highest air purifier tower of India and covers an area of around 500-metre radius and is 24-metre-high.

It will clean up to 3.88 crore cubic ft of air from the surrounding environment for 5 years without any cost.

Karnataka Bank launches POS device ‘WisePOSGo’ for merchant customers

Karnataka Bank has launched an all-in-one Point-of-Sales (POS) swiping machine titled as ‘WisePOSGo’ for its merchant customers to process business payments.

It has been launched in collaboration with Mswipe Technologies Pvt Ltd

WisePOSGo: compact, lightweight, and user-friendly device, designed keeping in view the specific cost-centric requirements of the bank’s MSME customers.

Apart from processing payments, merchants can also make calls using WisePOSGo swiping machine

International Day to Protect Education from Attack: 9th September

International Day to Protect Education from Attack is being observed on 9th September across the world.

Objective: to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.

It was celebrated for the first time in 2020.

UN General Assembly proclaimed 9 September as International Day to Protect Education from Attack on 29 May 2020.

Ayaan Shankta named as 2021 International Young Eco-Hero

Mumbai teen Ayaan Shankta (12 years) has been named as the 2021 International Young Eco-Hero for his project Conservation and Rehabilitation of Powai Lake.

He is one of the 25 young environmental activists from across the world honoured as 2021 International Young Eco-Hero by Action For Nature (AFN).

He stood third in the 8-14 age category.

The award recognizes eco-conscious youth aged 8 to 16 who are taking crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems.

Chandigarh Railway Station certified five-star ‘Eat Right Station’

The Chandigarh Railway Station(CRS) was awarded a 5 star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.

The certification was awarded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) upon the conclusion of the FSSAI-empanelled third-party audit agency. CRS was selected to upgrade on the pattern of the World Class Railway Station.

The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement- a large-scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.

According to IRSDC, Eat Right India adopts a judicious mix of regulatory, capacity building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is suitable both for the people and the planet.

Important For All Exam 2021:

Lt. Governors & Administrators of Chandigarh: Banwarilal Purohit.

Rajni Kaul, the first News Broadcaster for BBC Hindi passes away

Rajni Kaul who was the first News Broadcaster for BBC Hindi passed away in Faridabad, Haryana. She was 93.

She was not only the first woman to join BBC Hindi as a staff member but she also became the first woman to read a news bulletin in Hindi on the network in 1961. She was well-known for her programme Indradhanush.

Former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju Passes Away

Former Union health secretary Keshav Desiraju has passed away, due to “acute coronary syndrome”. Desiraju was the grandson of former president Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was the 1978 batch IAS officer from the Uttarakhand cadre.

He was known for his contributions to mental health and community healthcare. He was the architect of India’s mental healthcare act of 2017.

International Literacy Day: 08 September

International Literacy Day is observed globally on 8th September every year. The day spread awareness about the importance of literacy for individuals, communities, and societies and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies.

The theme of 55th International Literacy Day is Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide.

The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. It was celebrated for the first time in 1967.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For All Exam 2021:

UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.

UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

Bank of Baroda tops the MeitY Digital Payment Scorecard for 2020-21

Bank of Baroda, announced that the bank has Ranked #1 with a total of 86% marks on the scorecard issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for the month of February and March 2021.

The scorecard ranks 44 banks (Public Sector Banks, Private Banks, Foreign Banks, Payments Banks, Small Finance Banks) on various parameters on the digital business. In the same period last year, BOB was rated “Average” by Meity, which has now been upgraded as “Good”.

Indian biologist Shailendra Singh wins global award in turtle conservation

Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction.

Shailendra Singh was named to lead the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)/ Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India turtle programme.

The award has been bestowed by several global bodies involved in turtle conservation such as Turtle Survival Alliance, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Conservancy, and Turtle Conservation Fund. 

The Behler Turtle Conservation Award was established in 2006 to recognise outstanding achievements, contributions and leadership excellence in international turtle conservation and biology.

Ramesh Narayan to be inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame

Indian advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan will be inducted into the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) Hall of Fame at AdAsia 2021.

The AFAA Hall of Fame sets out to recognise the best of the very best. It’s for those who’ve defined a generation of advertising.

Ramesh has been honoured with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Advertising Association Global Champion Award, the Public Relations Society of India Special Award, the Association of Business Communicators of India Lifetime Achievement Award, and an induction into the Hall of Fame of the India chapter of the IAA.

Namita Gokhale honoured with 7th Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award

Writer Namita Gokhale has been chosen as the recipient of the seventh Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award. She was conferred upon the honour recently in a virtual ceremony.

She is a co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Gokhale also mentors Himalayan Echoes and the Kumaon Festival of Literature and the Arts.

The award was organised by a collective of women professionals from the year 2015, the annual award honours Yamin Hazarika, the first woman from Northeast India to be selected for DANIPS, a federal police service that administered Delhi and the Union Territories in 1977.

Indian Navy’s aviation wing honoured with prestigious President’s Colour award

President Ram Nath Kovind has awarded the President’s Colour to the Indian Naval Aviation at a ceremonial parade held at the INS Hansa base near Panjim in Goa. The president was given the guard of honour by the Indian Navy on the occasion.

The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.

The Indian Navy was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India.

Subsequent recipients of the President’s Colour in the Navy include Southern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, Eastern Fleet, Western Fleet, Submarine Arm, INS Shivaji and the Indian Naval Academy.

Harsha Bhupendra Bangari becomes new MD of EXIM Bank

The government has appointed Harsha Bhupendra Bangari as the new Managing Director (MD) of the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank). Before this Bangari was posted as deputy managing director at EXIM Bank.

She has been appointed for a period of three years or until further orders of the government. He will replace the incumbent MD David Rasquinha, who was appointed for five years on July 20, 2014.

Important For All Exam 2021:

• Export-Import Bank of India  Founded: 1 January 1982;
• Export-Import Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Satish Parekh appointed as International Road Federation India president

Ashoka Buildcon Managing Director and promoter Satish Parekh has taken over as the president of the India Chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF).

The governing council of the International Road Federation unanimously endorsed Satish Parakh as President, IRF-IC. He takes over from Subhmay Gangopadhyay, former director of Central Road Research Institute.

The Geneva-based global road safety body IRF is working for better and safer roads worldwide.

 Important For All Exam 2021:

• International Road Federation Founded: 1948;
• International Road Federation Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Yoshihide Suga to step down as Japan’s prime minister

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year tenure marred by an unpopular COVID-19 response and rapidly dwindling public support.

Suga, who took over after Shinzo Abe resigned last September, citing ill health, has seen his support ratings sink to below 30% as the nation struggles with its worst wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of a general election this year.

Suga’s decision to not run in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) election in September means the party will choose a new leader, who will become prime minister.

Important For All Exam 2021:

• Japan Capital: Tokyo;
• Japan Currency: Japanese yen;

PM Modi inaugurates Shikshak Parv-2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the “Shikshak Parv-2021” and addressed the inaugural conclave through a video conference.

The theme of ‘Shikshak Parv-2021’ is “Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learnings from Schools in India”.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Education, will continue to be celebrated from September 07 to 17, 2021.

The objective of the Shikshak Parv-2021 is to encourage innovative practices to ensure not only continuity of education at all levels but to improve quality, inclusive practices and sustainability in the schools across the country as well.

TRIFED and MEA to set up Atmanirbhar Bharat corners

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is setting up an Atmanirbhar Bharat corner in 75 Indian Missions/ Embassies across the world in the next 3 months.

The first such Atma Nirbhar Bharat corner was successfully inaugurated at Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 15, 2021.

Apart from this, TRIFED will also be establishing Atmanirbhar corners in 75 embassies of foreign countries set up in India.

The 75 countries include Jamaica, Ireland, Turkey, Kenya, Mongolia, Israel, Finland, France, and Canada, Singapore, Russia, the US, Indonesia, Greece and Cyprus among others.

The corner will be an exclusive space to promote GI tagged tribal art and craft products besides natural and organic products.

TRIFED will also be establishing Atmanirbhar corners in 75 embassies of foreign countries in India.

Important For All Exam 2021:

• Minister of Tribal Affairs: Arjun Munda;
• TRIFED was established on the 6th of August 1987.

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Praveen Kumar clinched the silver medal in the men's high jump T64 event of the Paralympics. 

2-India's Avani Lekhara clinched her second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics by winning the bronze in women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (SH1). 

3-Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum and Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit in October. 

4-In a first, in Coal India Ltd. (CIL) under the Ministry of Coal, an innovative Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) at Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) was inaugurated. 

5-The India Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai starting October 1 is set to showcase a resurgent India’s march to becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy in the post-covid world. 

6-The 11th India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) was held, virtually chaired by Indian Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman and the United Kingdom Treasury Chancellor Rishi Sunak. 

7-Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah launched various development projects at Davanagere in Karnataka today at a total cost of Rs. 50 crore. 

8-Union Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries, Krishan Pal Gurjar, today chaired the “Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Energy” under the Chairship of India. 

9-Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) a has been awarded the coveted “Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 BEST Award”. 

10-The National Hydroelctric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, has indigenously renovated & modernized its 180 MW Baira Siul Power Station and commenced commercial operations. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. Pramod Bhagat has won the Men’s Singles SL3 event badminton gold medal match at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

• This is India’s first medal in badminton at the Paralympics Games.
• He defeated Daniell Bethe of Great Britain.
• He is one of the best para-shuttlers of India with 45 international medals under his belt

➤ List of Indian Winner Of Tokyo Paralympics Games:

• Manish Narwal won gold, while Singhraj Adhana won silver in Mixed 50 metre Pistol event at the Tokyo Paralympics.
• Praveen Kumar bagged the silver medal in Men’s High Jump T64 event
• Indian paddler Bhavinaben Patel has claimed historic silver medal at 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo
• Nishad Kumar from India has clinched silver medal in the men’s high jump at Tokyo Paralympics 2020

2. The 28th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) has been concluded.

• It took place from September 2 to 4, 2021.
• SIMBEX-2021 is an annual bilateral maritime exercise and was hosted by Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in the southern fringes of South China Sea.
• Indian Navy was represented by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay, ASW Corvette INS Kiltan and Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora and one P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

➤ List of Naval Exercise of India:

• SLINEX - India & Sri Lanka
• KONKAN - India & United Kingdom
• VARUNA - India & France
• NASEEM-AL-BAHR - India & Oman
• SIMBEX - India & Singapore
• IND-INDO CORPAT - India & Indonesia
• Sahyog HOP TAC - India & Vietnam

➤ About Indian Navy :

• The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces & their primary objective is to safeguard the nation's maritime borders.
• Founded - 1947
• Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) - Admiral Karambir Singh
• Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan war in 1971

3. Cyrus Poncha has been unanimously elected as Vice-President of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF), during the 41st annual general meeting of ASF.

• His tenure will be of 4 years.
• He is current serving as the Secretary-General of Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI).
• David Mui of Hong Kong was elected as President of ASF for 2nd term.
• Fayez Abdullah S.Al-Mutairi of Kuwait and Tae-sook Hee of Korea have been also elected as the Vice-Presidents of ASF.

➤ Some Organization & their Head:

• Indian Olympic Association - Narinder Dhruv Batra
• International Hockey Federation - Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra
• Board of Control for Cricket in India - Sourav Ganguly
• International Hockey Federation - Gyanendro Nigombam
• International Olympic Committee - Thomas Bach
• FIFA - Gianni Infantino

4. Govt of India has signed tripartite peace accord with State government of Assam and five insurgent groups from Karbi Anglong region in Assam, to end decades of violence in the region.

• Peace accord will grant greater autonomy to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and provide protection to the language, culture and identity of the region and reservation to the Karbi people.
• Special development package of Rs 1000 crore will also be released by state and centre government

➤ About Assam:

• Assam is a state in northeastern India known for its wildlife, archaeological sites and tea plantations.
• Capital - Dispur
• Chief minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor - Jagdish Mukhi
• Kaziranga National Park, Dibru - Saikhowa National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park are Major National park in Assam
• Majuli is recognized as the largest river island in the world. It is located on the Brahmaputra river near Jorhat, in Assam

5. International Day of Charity is being observed annually on September 5 to commemorate the death anniversary of Mother Teresa, who had always been engaged in charitable work.

• It was declared by UN General Assembly in 2012
• Aim: to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic and volunteer organizations on the local, national, regional and international level.

➤ Important Days of September:

• World Coconut Day - 2nd Sep
• International Day of Charity - 5 Sep
• International Literacy Day - 8 Sep
• World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) - 10 Sep
• Hindi Diwas - 14 Sep
• Engineer's Day (India) - 15 Sep
• International Day of Democracy - 15 Sep
• World Ozone Day - 16 Sep
• World Bamboo Day - 18 Sep
• International Day of Peace (UN) - 21 Sep
• World Tourism Day -27 Sep
• World Rabies Day - 28 Sep

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Indian Railways’ Chandigarh Railway Station has been awarded a 5- star 'Eat Right Station' certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. 

2-Coal India Limited (CIL) Chairman Pramod Agrawal laid the foundation stone of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited's Rs 285.05 crore first-mile connectivity (FMC) project of Lajkura SILO at Ib valley in Jharsuguda district. 

3-A 200 personnel contingent of Indian Army will participate in Exercise ZAPAD 2021, a Multi Nation exercise being held at Nizhniy, Russia from 03 to 16 September 2021. 

4-The India – Kazakhstan joint military exercise “KAZIND-21” commenced at Training Node Aisha Bibi, Kazakhstan. This is the 5th Edition of Annual bilateral joint exercise of both Armies and will continue till 10th September 2021. 

5-In a glittering ceremony that reflected the whole government approach of PM Modi and saw the participation of his six cabinet colleagues, Union Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal launched the ‘Y-Break’ mobile application at Vigyan Bhawan. 

6-Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first direct Gwalior – Indore flight.

7-Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launch first-ever nation-wide quiz on sports and fitness. 

8-Television actor Sidharth Shukla died in Mumbai. He was 40. 

9-Journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra passed away. He was 66. 

10-Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has died in Srinagar at the age of 92. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. The Indian Army participated in the multi-nation military exercise, 'ZAPAD 2021', at Nizhny in Russia.

• The 14-day-long activity is aimed at enhancing military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations.
• The ZAPAD is one of the theatre level exercises of the Russian Armed Forces and will focus primarily on operations against terrorists. 
• More than a dozen countries from Eurasia and South Asia will also participate in the same exercise

➤ List of Joint Military Exercise :

• DUSTLIK II - India and Uzbekistan
• 16th Yudh Abhyas - India and US
• Exercise Desert Knight-21 - Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force
• SLINEX 2020 - Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy
• SIMBEX-20 - Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
• INDRA - India and Russia

2. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its flagship World Social Protection Report 2020-22.

• The report has revealed that, globally 4.1 bn people are living without any social safety net of any kind.
• As per the report, in 2020, only 46.9% of the global population benefitted from at least one protection under the ambit of social security.
• ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• It is the only tripartite UN agency.
• It has 187 member state.

➤ About International Labour Organisation (ILO):

• The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
• Founded - 1919
• Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
• Parent organization - United Nations
• International Labour Day - 1st May

3. Chandigarh Railway Station becomes the fifth station to get 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.

• The certification was awarded by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• The 5-star rating indicates exemplary efforts by stations to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers.
• Others are: Anand Vihar; Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; Mumbai, Mumbai Central, and Vadodara Railway Station

➤ About FSSAI:

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
• Founded - August 2011
• Headquarters - New Delhi
• Chairperson - Rita Teaotia

4. Manish Narwal won gold, while Singhraj Adhana won silver in Mixed 50 metre Pistol event at the Tokyo Paralympics.

• The 19-year-old Narwal shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the gold
• Shooter Manish Narwal clinched India's third gold at the ongoing Paralympics while compatriot Singhraj Adana bagged the silver in the P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event.
• The gold and silver from the Faridabad duo took India's medal tally to 15 -- 3 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze.

➤ List of Indian Winner Of Tokyo Olympics:

• Praveen Kumar bagged the silver medal in Men’s High Jump T64 event
• Indian paddler Bhavinaben Patel has claimed historic silver medal at 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo
• Nishad Kumar from India has clinched silver medal in the men’s high jump at Tokyo Paralympics 2020
• Neeraj Chopra won the Men's Javelin gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics
• Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya bagged silver medal in 57kg category freestyle final
• P V Sindhu won the bronze medal in the women’s singles match in Tokyo Olympics
• Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has claimed the silver medal in the Women’s 49kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• Indian men's hockey team has defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics
• M. C. Mary Kom and Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh be the country's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics
• Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has been chosen as the flag-bearer for the closing ceremony on August 8

5. Arunachal Pradesh launched two ambitious schemes; ‘AtmaNirbhar Krishi Yojna’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bagwani Yojna’. 

• A total amount of 120 cr – 60 crore rupees for each scheme – has been allocated to the two concerned departments of Agriculture and Horticulture.
• These 2 schemes are unique as these are both based on front-ended subsidies.
• Credit link will be provided to the beneficiaries by SBI, Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank and Arunachal Pradesh Cooperative Apex Bank.

➤ About Arunachal Pradesh :

• Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state in Northeast India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency region, and became a state on 20 February 1987.
• Capital - Itanagar
• Chief minister - Pema Khandu
• Governor -  B. D. Mishra
• Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park are major national parks in Arunachal Pradesh

Food Processing Week: September 06 to 12, 2021

To commemorate 75 years of India’s independence, the Government of India is celebrating the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

As a part of the celebration, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is observing ‘Food Processing Week’ from 6th to 12th September 2021, under which, the Ministry is organizing various programs.

The Ministry launched the ‘Food Processing Week’, 6th September 2021, through an official video on social media platforms.

The success story of the beneficiary of the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, Smt. Radhika Kamat was also published on the Ministry’s website in the ‘Atmanirbhar Enterprises’ series.

Important For All Exam 2021:

• Union Minister of Food Processing Industries: Pashupati Kumar Paras
• Minister of State for Food Processing Industries: Prahlad Singh Patel

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is observed globally on September 07 to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.

It is an UN-recognised day that aims to raise public awareness at all levels (individual, community, corporate and government) that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.

The 2021 theme for the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet” which emphasizes the health aspects of air pollution, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution to hold an International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on December 19, 2019, during its 74th session and invited the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The inaugural edition of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies was held in 2020.

Tamannaah Bhatia unveils her book titled ‘Back to the Roots’

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia launched her book ‘Back to the Roots’. She has co-authored the book with celebrity lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho. The book is based on intensive research and mentions India’s ancient secrets of health and wellness.

All the chapters in ‘Back To the Roots’ are complete with tried-and-tested secrets that have served generations of this country.”

Former Australian pacer Shaun Tait appointed bowling coach of Puducherry

Former Australia pacer Shaun Tait has been roped in as the bowling coach of the Puducherry cricket team, sources in the Cricket Association of Pondicherry.

Tait joins a coaching team that includes head coach Dishant Yagnik and manager and strength and conditioning coach Kalpendra Jha.

The former Australia player had recently been appointed bowling coach of the Afghanistan team for a period of five months.

Tait, who featured in three Tests, 35 ODIs and 21 T20 Internationals for Australia, had also turned out for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL during his playing career.

The pacer had played a significant role in Australia’s World Cup triumph in the West Indies in 2007, claiming 23 wickets.

130th edition of Durand Cup kicks off in Kolkata

The 130th edition of the Durand Cup kicked off at the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan in Kolkata. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee kicked the ball and inaugurated the tournament.

16 teams are playing in this edition of the oldest club football tournament in Asia while two clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are not participating. The final match will be held on 3rd October.

The Durand Cup is a prestigious football tournament. It was first held in 1888, at Dagshai in Himachal Pradesh. This tournament has been named after Mortimer Durand. He was the then Foreign Secretary in charge of India.

India’s first bio-brick based building opened at IIT Hyderabad

India’s first building made of bio-bricks from agro-waste has been inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad. The sample building is made up of bio-bricks supported by a metal framework.

The roof is also made of bio-bricks over PVC sheets to reduce heat. It is part of the Bold Unique Idea Lead Development (BUILD) project to demonstrate the strength and versatility of the material.

A prototype of the guard cabin was designed and set up in the space allocated by IIT-H. It is part of the Bold Unique Idea Lead Development (BUILD) project to demonstrate the strength and versatility of the material.

The sample building is made up of bio-bricks supported by a metal framework. The roof is also made of bio-bricks over PVC sheets to reduce heat. Both inside and outside walls are cement-plastered to protect the bio-bricks from rain.

President Ram Nath Kovind presents National Award for Teachers 2021

National Teachers’ Award 2021 was awarded by President Ram Nath Kovind, September 5, 2021. President Kovind gave the awards to 44 finest teachers in the country for their dedicated contribution.

The award is contributed to those who improve the quality of education for students and also inspire, enrich their lives. This year, the Ministry of Education released the name of 44 teachers, who would be conferred the National Teachers’ Award.

Out of the total 44 teachers, 9 of the awardees are women. Due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, President Kovind addressed the teachers virtually. While highlighting the role and importance of teachers in one’s life, President Kovind expressed his gratitude to all the teachers who received the awards.

The award was also bestowed upon Pramod Kumar Shukla of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Chhattisgarh. It is the second award in a row for an EMRS established under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

IAF chief attends Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 in Hawaii

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria attended a three-day-long Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.

The event themed ”Enduring Cooperation towards Regional Stability” was attended by air chiefs from countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Bhadauria was nominated as the Dean for the symposium. India, the US, Australia, Japan and many other like-minded countries are working towards ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

The symposium saw deliberations through panel discussions, tabletop exercises and keynote addresses on topics ranging from aspects of regional security to cooperation amongst air forces for humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

Equitas Bank appoints Rani Rampal & Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassadors

Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) has roped in Indian women hockey player, Rani Rampal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassadors of the company. The announcement was made during the 5th anniversary of the ESFB on September 5, 2021.

Rampal holds the record for being the youngest player to play in the national hockey team while Mandhana was recognised as the Best Women’s International Cricketer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Important For All Exam 2021:

Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) headquarters: Chennai;

ESFB MD & CEO: Vasudevan P N.

S.L. Tripathy appointed as CMD of United India Insurance

The central government has selected S.L.Tripathy as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of United India Insurance Company Limited.

He is currently General Manager and Director at The New India Assurance Company Limited.

He is appointed as CMD of United India from the date of assumption of charge of the office and up to the date of attaining the age of superannuation.

Important For All Exam 2021:

• United India Insurance Company Limited Headquarters: Chennai
• United India Insurance Company Limited Founded: 18 February 1938
• United India Insurance Company Limited CEO: Shri Girish Radhakrishnan

Former France Footballer Jean-Pierre Adams Passes Away

Former France footballer Jean-Pierre Adams, who had been in a coma for 39 years, has passed away. In 1982, Adams slipped into a coma following a medical error, during his routine knee surgery.

He made a total of 22 appearances for the France National Football Team from 1972–1976. At club level, Adams played as a defender for Paris Saint-Germain, Nîmes and Nice.

Anonymous Myanmar photographer wins major photojournalism award

A Myanmar photographer won the top award at photojournalism's biggest annual festival for his coverage of the troubled nation's pro-democracy protests and bloody military crackdown

The photographer scooped the Visa d'Or for News, the most prestigious award handed out at the "Visa Pour L'Image" festival in Perpignan, southwestern France.

Mikko Takkunen, the Asia photo editor for The New York Times, collected the prize on behalf of the photographer.

Capital: Nay Pyi Taw

Biennial AUSINDEX maritime warfare exercises to commence this week

Australia’s Northern Territory will host the biennial AUSINDEX maritime warfare exercises between the Royal Australian and the Indian navies.

The exercise will be conducted ahead of the two countries holding their first “2+2" Foreign and Defence Ministers meet in New Delhi.

AUSINDEX 21 will provide both the Navies an opportunity to strengthen joint defence capabilities in support of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.

Eight major banks join the account aggregator network

SBI, ICICI, Axis Bank, IDFC Bank, KM Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Federal Bank, have joined the Account Aggregator network.

AA network will enable customers to easily access and share their financial data.

Neo bank Fi has also joined the AA network and is one of the first fintech to join the ecosystem.

This was created through an inter-regulatory decision by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA through and initiative of the FSDC. 

The licence for AAs is issued by the RBI.

Former IOC President Jacques Rogge passes away

Former President of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge passed away.

He served 12 years as president of IOC, from 2001 to 2013 and succeeded by Thomas Bach.

Rogge represented Belgium in rugby and was a world champion in sailing.

He competed in the Finn class at three Olympic Games from 1968 through 1976.

He led the European group of Olympic committees before being elected as the IOC's eighth president in 2001.

India’s 1st dugong conservation reserve to be in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu govt declared 500 sq.km of the biodiversity-rich waters in the Palk Bay as India’s 1st dugong conservation reserve.

The reserve will span the northern part of the Palk Bay from Adiramapattinam to Amapattinam.

According to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimates, only 200-250 Dugongs are left in the wild, of which 150 are found in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu.

It also found Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

PM Modi's approval rating is 70%, highest among 13 global leaders

PM Narendra Modi has an approval rating of 70% which is the highest among 13 global leaders polled in the survey conducted by The Morning Consult.

In the survey, PM Modi is ahead of Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Italian PM Mario Draghi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Joe Biden.

The Morning Consult's graph shown that PM Modi's disapproval rating reached a peak in May when the second wave of the Covid hit the country hard.

Former Union health Secretary Keshav Desiraju passes away

Former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju passed away in Chennai.

He was grandson of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

He was an IAS officer (1978) of Uttarakhand cadre.

He has held many positions with the govt of Uttarakhand and UP and the Government of India and retired as the Union Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs.

After he retired, he was appointed as the chairperson of the governing board of the Population Foundation of India.

LIC picks up nearly 4% stake in BoI through open market transaction

The LIC has picked up nearly 4% equity shares in Bank of India through an Open Market Transaction.

Before the latest acquisition of shares in the bank, LIC held over a 3.17% stake in the state-owned bank.