Cl September Topics 2024 PDF

CL SEPTEMBER TOPICS 1. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATION OF DIGITAL BHARAT NIDHI RULES OF 2024 Department of Telecommunication notified the rules under Ministry of Communication Aims to enhance management and implementation of digital bharat nidhi initiative DBN established und...

CL SEPTEMBER TOPICS 1. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATION OF DIGITAL BHARAT NIDHI RULES OF 2024 Department of Telecommunication notified the rules under Ministry of Communication Aims to enhance management and implementation of digital bharat nidhi initiative DBN established under section 24(1) of the telecommunications act 2023 The Universal Service Obligation Fund created under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 has now been replaced by Digital Bharat Nidhi Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia Payments received for dbn will first be credited to consolidated fund of india then transferred to dbn by central govt Funds from the DBN are allocated to provide telecom services in underserved rural, remote and urban ares, support pilot projects and facilitate research and development in telecommunication TRAI- Telecom regulatory authority of india - founded 20th february 1997 -HQ-new delhi -chairperson: Anil Kumar Lahoti -est by TRAI act 1997 -Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal founded in 2000 under TRAI 2. POLYGRAPH TESTS In August, the CBI carried out a second round of polygraph tests on seven people linked to the rape and murder of a resident doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata Deception detection tests (DDTs) are scientific procedures that detect probable deception during interrogation Polygraph Tests: Operate on the assumption that specific physiological responses occur when a person is lying  Measure variables like blood pressure, galvanic skin response, breathing, and pulse rate Use instruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes attached to the suspect Assign numerical values to physiological responses to determine truthfulness Narco-Analysis: Involves injecting a drug called sodium pentothal into the accused Induces a hypnotic or sedated state Based on the assumption that a subject in this state is less inhibited and more likely to reveal information Often referred to as a "truth serum" Supreme Court in Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010): Ruled that DDTs cannot be performed without consent According to Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution,1950 individuals cannot be compelled to testify against themselves, making polygraphy test results inadmissible as evidence in court. Despite a 2010 Supreme Court ruling emphasizing that deception detection tests (DDTs) should only be used with consent and cannot be admitted as direct evidence, these tests remain widely used in India. 3. INDIA SEMI CONDUCTOR MISSION the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the proposal of Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to setup a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat. setup with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore. The capacity of this unit will be 60 Lakh chips per day. Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India was notified on 21.12.2021 with a total outlay of Rs. 76,000 crore.  In February, 2024, three more semiconductor units were approved. Tata Electronics is setting up a semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat and one semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam. CG Power is setting up one semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat cumulative capacity of these units is about 7 crore chips per day. A Semiconductor Chip is a tiny electronic device made of semiconductor material (usually silicon or germanium) which serves as the basic building block of most electronic circuits. Note on nvidia largest semi conductor manufacturer n200 chips cannot be sold to china and shit 4. PM’S VISIT TO BRUNEI DARUSSALAM AND SINGAPORE Brunei-Third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia; fourth-largest liquefied natural gas producer globally. PM visited the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, a symbol of Brunei’s Islamic heritage and is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei. India appreciated Brunei's support in hosting ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand (TTC) Station undescored the importance of peaceful dispute resolution in the South China Sea Diplomatic relations between India and Brunei Darussalam were established in 1984. The Sultan of Brunei-Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Singapore- Singapore gained independence in 1965 MoU was signed to develop a resilient semiconductor supply chain, marking a new area of bilateral cooperation. Singapore's semiconductor industry has been thriving since the 1970s, accounting for approximately 10% of global semiconductor output and 20% of semiconductor equipment production.  India and Singapore have agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’. India has agreed to grant an exemption for exporting non-Basmati white rice to Singapore, addressing Singapore's food security needs. India also announced the upcoming inauguration of the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Singapore, celebrating the legacy of the Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar. India was one of the first countries to recognise Singapore's independence in 1965. Singapore is India's 6th largest trade partner, with a share of 3.2 % of India’s overall trade. Since 2018-19, Singapore has been the largest contributor of FDI into India ISRO has launched several Singaporean satellites, including Singapore's first indigenous built micro-satellite in 2011. PM’s visit to Southeast Asian countries, aligns with India’s broader Act East Policy which seeks to strengthen ties with ASEAN countries and enhance India’s strategic footprint in Southeast Asia. Oil rich country 5. 23RD LAW COMMISSION SET UP Ministry of Law and Justice set up the 23rd Law Commission for a three-year term, from 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2027. In line with the terms of reference of the 22nd Law Commission established in 2020, the new commission was given the task of reviewing existing laws in the context of the Directive Principles of State Policy. Aims include suggesting reforms to align with dpsps, examine impact of globalisation on food security and employment, protect marginalised, enhance judicial administration, reducing delays in justice system non-statutory body established through a notification from the Government of India’s Ministry of Law and Justice  first law commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the chairmanship of Lord Macaulay. It recommended the codification of the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. first Law Commission of Independent India established in 1955 with the then Attorney-General of India, M. C. Setalvad, as its Chairman. 6. FIRST INDIGENOUSLY BUILT MILITARY DRONE Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) has successfully launched the country's first indigenously built combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the FWD 200B. The bomber FWD 200B is classified as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) The FWD 200B is expected to cost just a tenth of imported US drones Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of FWDA achieved the distinction of becoming India’s first company to secure a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification for indigenous UAV technology 7. CENTRE, TRIPURA AND TRIPURA’S NLFT AND ATTF SIGN PEACE PACT Central Government, the state government of Tripura, and two major insurgent groups namely the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) signed a peace agreement to end violence in the state. Over 328 armed cadres from NLFT and ATTF will surrender and reintegrate into society. A special financial package of Rs 250 crore has been approved for the development of Tripura's tribal population. National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was formed in 1989. The objective of the NLFT is to establish an ‘independent’ Tripura through an armed struggle  It was outlawed in April 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and is also proscribed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002. The NLFT split into two groups in February 2001, one headed by Biswamohan Debbarma and the other by Nayanbasi Jamatiya. Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) was founded in 1990. It demands removal of illegal migrants from electoral rolls and implementation of the 1949 Tripura Merger Agreement. It was banned in April 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 8. CENTRE NOTIFIES GALATHEA BAY AS MAJOR PORT The Indian government has officially designated Galathea Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a 'Major Port.' This notification brings the Rs 44,000 crore mega port project under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. project will be developed with central funding and through a public-private partnership (PPP) The port is being developed to handle international container transshipment. India has 12 operational Major Ports controlled by the central government. Non-Major Ports: Around 200 non-major ports are governed by states, with about 65 handling cargo. The rest are used for fishing or passenger ferries. Major Port Authorities Act, 2021: Regulates the operation and planning of Major Ports in India, assigning administration and management to the Boards of Major Port Authorities. As of March 15, 2024, Port Blair is no longer a major port in India. The Indian government declared Port Blair a major port on June 1, 2010, making it the 13th major port in India 9. FIRST LEGALLY BINDING INTERNATIONAL AI TREATY According to the Council of Europe, the first legally binding international treaty on Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be open for signing by the participating nations, including European Union members, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Council of Europe (COE)-est. 1949 and HQ- Strasbourg, France. distinct from the European Union (EU) and consists of 46 member states “The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law”, primarily emphasizes the protection of human rights for individuals impacted by AI systems and operates independently of the EU AI Act. aims to mitigate the risks associated with artificial intelligence The treaty applies to all AI systems except those used in national security or defense, though it still requires that these activities respect international laws and democratic principles. 10. FIRST INTERNATIONAL SOLAR FESTIVAL Recently the first International Solar Festival was organized in New Delhi Bharat Mandapam It was organized from 5 to 6 September The aim of the International Solar Festival is to celebrate the transformative impact of solar energy on communities in the member countries of the International Solar Alliance. International Solar Alliance: Initially conceived as a joint effort by India and France, ISA was conceptualized during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in 2015. With its framework Agreement amended in 2020, all UN member states are eligible to join ISA. The Assembly is the apex decision-making body of ISA  Paraguay became the 100th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on June 26, 2024 11. ARAB WORLD’S FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN UAE The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi is being built by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), was originally due to open in 2017. India and UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation. The deal involves the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) for operation and maintenance of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated in Al Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in UAE. It is the Arab world's first nuclear power plant. Recently, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held bilateral talks with the aim to deepen ties and enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 12. WHO FIRST GLOBAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGINS OF NEW/RE-EMERGING PATHOGENS Developed by: SAGO (Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens). SAGO, established by WHO in 2021, constitutes independent experts from around the world. aligns with the International Health Regulations (IHR) and One Health approach. IHR adopted by WHO in 2005 is an overarching legally binding framework to provide a public health response to the international spread of disease. Aims Curtail rising risk of the emergence of known (such as Ebola, Nipah) and novel pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential (such as novel influenza, SARS-CoV-1).  One Health: Integrates human, animal, and ecosystem health Disease X is a hypothetical pathogen or threat that could trigger a major future pandemic. 13. RESPONSIBLE AI IN THE MILITARY DOMAIN SUMMIT 2024 the summit is hosted by the government of South Korea and is the second edition of the REAIM summit. co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the Republic of Korea REAIM Summit 2024, which is held from 9 to 10 September More than 2,000 people, including government delegations from more than 90 countries, have registered for the Summit most comprehensive and inclusive platform for AI in the military domain with various stakeholders including a government, industry, academia, international organizations and the youth. 14. INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE Central government announced the plan to train and prepare 5,000 ‘Cyber Commandos’ over the next five years to tackle the rising cybercrime threats. This announcement was made during the first Foundation Day celebration of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). I4C is a national-level coordination centre for addressing cybercrime issues. These cyber commandos will be trained in IT infrastructure security, digital forensics, and incident response. Centralised Suspect Registry: It is a centralised database of suspicious bank accounts and related persons.  Samanvaya Platform: It is a one-stop data repository for cybercrime, data sharing, crime mapping, analytics, cooperation, and coordination for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across the country. Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC): It serves as a “war room” to monitor high-priority cybercrime cases involving large financial transactions. In 2023, a total of 1,128,256 cybercrime incidents were reported across India on the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting Management System (CFCFMS), a key component of I4C. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of complaints, while Maharashtra reported the highest amount of fraud 15. INNER LINE PERMIT Inner Line Permit is an official travel document issued by the concerned State Government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period. Nagaland extends Inner Line Permit to three more districts amid influx concerns to manage the entry of non-indigenous people The ILP will now be enforced in Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts step was taken to exempt the entire district from the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Manipur has also been brought under the purview of ILP System. Thus, the entire northeast India has been exempted from CAA except for Sikkim and non-tribal areas in Assam and Tripura. issued under section 2 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 by the governor of Nagaland. makes it mandatory for “every non-indigenous person” who entered the district after November 21, 1979, to obtain an ILP within 90 days. It is based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFR), 1873.  This act was enacted during the British era to protect the British interests from the hill tribals who used to invade the British subjects. 16. PORT BLAIR RENAMED AS SRI VIJAYAPURAM India recently renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar(A&N) Islands, as Sri Vijaya Puram. The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, reflects a break from colonial legacy : The Andaman Islands served as a strategic naval base for the Chola Empire under Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century, who attacked the Srivijaya Empire (present-day Indonesia Port Blair, named after Archibald Blair, a British naval officer a huge cellular jail known as Kaala Paani was established in 1906, housing several freedom fighters, including Veer Damodar Savarkar. On 30th December 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the national flag for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair. 17. GLOBAL CYBER SECURITY INDEX 2024 India has achieved a major milestone in cybersecurity by securing Tier 1 status in the 5th edition of Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The 4th edition of the GCI report was published in 2020. GCI, launched in 2015 by ITU The assessment is based on 5 pillars: Legal Measures, Technical Measures, Organisational Measures, Capacity Development, and Cooperation. Tier 1- Role-modelling (score of 95–100), Tier 2- Advancing (score of 85–95), Tier 3- Establishing (score of 55–85) , Tier 4- Evolving (score of 20–55), Tier 5- Building (score of 0–20).  The GCI 2024 evaluated 194 countries and highlighted threats such as ransomware attacks, breaches in critical industries, system outages, and privacy violations. global average score to 65.7/100 GCI 2024 placed 46 countries in Tier 1, compared to 30 in the previous edition. India scored 98.49/100, an improvement from 97.5 in the 2020 edition due to its robust legal framework like the Information Technology Act (2000), the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023). ITU- It is the United Nations (UN) specialised agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)s. founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and over 900 private-sector entities and academic institutions. ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and over 900 private-sector entities and academic institutions. 18. OPERATION SADHBHAV SENDS AID FOR AFTERMATH OF TYPHOON YAGI India launched Operation “Sadbhav” to provide aid and urgent supplies to Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) within the ASEAN region, in line with its longstanding ‘Act East Policy’. Typhoon Yagi has caused severe damage across Southeast Asia, affecting the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and particularly Vietnam. It is the strongest tropicalcyclone Asia has encountered till September 2024 and the second most powerful globally after Hurricane Beryl (Atlantic Ocean).  It originated as a tropical storm (wind speed upto 63 kmph) in the western Philippine Sea but became Category 5 typhoon with winds of 260 kmph. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes tropical cyclones from Category 1 (119-153 kmph) to Category 5 (252 kmph or higher). Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai, China. It is the strongest storm to hit Shanghai in 75 years. It is rare for Shanghai to get a direct hit from strong typhoons, which tend to make landfall further south in China. 19. POLARIS DAWN MISSION Polaris Dawn mission aims to revolutionise commercial spaceflight with a high-orbit mission and the first-ever private spacewalk by non-professional astronauts. set to be the first non-governmental mission to conduct a spacewalk, reaching an unprecedented altitude of approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) above Earth. SpaceX will provide the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for the mission. The spacecraft will attempt to break the altitude record set by NASA’s Gemini 11 mission in 1966, which reached 1,373 kilometres. mission is spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who previously financed and flew on SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission, the first civilian mission to orbit Earth. The Van Allen Belts consist of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetosphere, which protects the planet from solar storms and cosmic rays. These belts were first identified in 1958 by the American physicist James Van Allen. The spacewalk during Polaris Dawn will expose the crew to higher levels of radiation than those on the ISS. The crew will test laser communications provided by SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network  Isaacman has committed to three Polaris missions in collaboration with SpaceX. The first mission is planned to last five days The third Polaris mission will involve the first crewed test of SpaceX’s reusable Starship spacecraft. 20. AMAZON AND FLIPKART VIOLATED INDIA’S ANTI TRUST LAWS An Indian antitrust investigation has found U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon, and Walmart's Flipkart violated local competition laws by giving preference to select sellers on their shopping The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2020 ordered an investigation into Amazon and Flipkart for allegedly promoting certain sellers with which they had business arrangements and giving priority to certain listings. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh, which is an affiliate of the country's biggest trade body, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Antitrust laws are regulations that aim to promote fair competition in the marketplace by preventing monopolistic practices, price fixing, and other activities that could harm consumers or stifle competition. Competition Act, 2002: In India, antitrust issues are governed by the Competition Act, 2002 and the CCI checks upon monopolistic practices. In 2022, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets for 'anti-competitive practices'. 21. ONE NATION ONE ELECTION Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for simultaneous elections decision came after a high-level committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report on the 'one nation, one election' plan.  The Constitution should be amended to enable simultaneous elections in two bills. Bill 1: Simultaneous elections will be held to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. For this, no ratification by the states will be required for the constitutional amendment. Bill 2: Elections to municipalities and the panchayats will be synchronised with elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies in such a way that local body elections are held within 100 days of the elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. This will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states. The first Bill recommended by the Kovind committee would begin by inserting a new Article 82A into the Constitution. Article 82A will establish the process by which the country will move to a system of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. The committee has suggested the inclusion of a new Article 324A in the Constitution. This new article would empower Parliament to make laws to ensure that municipality and panchayat elections are held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. The Election Commission of India (ECI) can prepare a single electoral roll and election ID in consultation with the State Election Commissions (SEC) for all the three tiers of election. The 21st Law Commission set up in 2018 proposed that simultaneous elections would yield several benefit 22. BHARATIYA ANTARKISH STATION the Union Cabinet approved four space projects to be undertaken by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  Newly approved space projects include Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS) and Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS): BAS will be India's own space station for scientific research. India will launch its own space station by 2028, plans to operationalise it by 2035 and achieve a crewed lunar mission by 2040. Currently, the only two functioning space stations are the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong. Chandrayaan-4: The mission is designed to land on the lunar surface, collect samples, store them in a vacuum container, and bring them back to earth. It will involve spacecraft development, two different Launch Vehicle Mk III launches, deep space network support, and special tests. It will also see docking and undocking — two spacecraft aligning and coming together in orbit — that India hasn’t attempted so far. It will help India become self-sufficient in technologies for manned missions. India plans to send humans to the moon by 2040. Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): It aims to orbit Venus to study the planet's surface, subsurface, atmospheric processes, and the Sun's impact on its atmosphere by probing its thick atmosphere. Studying Venus is important because it is believed to have once been habitable like Earth. The mission is scheduled to launch in March 2028 when Earth and Venus are at their closest. This will be India’s second interplanetary mission, after the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014. Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): The government also approved the development of a next-generation launch vehicle (NGLV). NGLV will offer three times the current payload capacity of the LVM3, at 1.5 times the cost. It is designed to carry up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The Union Cabinet also approved the continuation of the Gaganyaan mission. It will have eight missions, including four needed to build the space station. This will be in addition to the two uncrewed and one crewed missions that have already been approved for the first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission. 23. NEURALINKS BLINDSIGHT IMPLANT Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (fda) granted "breakthrough device" status to Elon Musk's Neuralink's Blindsight. This designation aims to speed up the development and review of innovative medical devices that address severe conditions. Blindsight is an experimental vision-restoring implant. It could help individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve regain vision. offers a possibility of vision for those born blind, as long as their visual cortex remains intact. the device might enable users to perceive wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, such as infrared, ultraviolet, or radar, giving them superhuman-like vision abilities. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk in 2016, focuses on developing brain chip interfaces that could help restore vision, aid in movement, and facilitate communication for patients with disabilities 24. FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE Recently, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released its Mutual Evaluation Report on India, highlighting the country's significant progress in combating illicit finance. The FATF plenary held in Singapore in June 2024 adopted the Mutual Evaluation Report for India, stating that it had achieved "high level of technical compliance" with the requirements of the global money laundering watchdog The FATF had placed India in the "regular follow-up" category, the highest rating category by FATF becoming the only major economy with a federal structure to achieve this status. UK, France and Italy are among the only G-20 countries which have been placed in this category apart from India. 25. INDIA MYANMAR BORDER FENCING  The entire 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics, will be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore The India-Myanmar border passes through Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The Central government has already scrapped the the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows people residing close to the border to venture 16 km into each other's territory without any documents. It was implemented in 2018 as part of India's Act East policy. India ranks as Myanmar's fifth-largest trading partner, registering bilateral trade at USD 1.03 billion in 2021-22. Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project: The project aims to connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project: The project aims to establish a road link between the three nations, with the highway beginning in Moreh in India’s Manipur state, passing through Myanmar, and ending at Mae Sot in Thailand. India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) is aimed at building and promoting closer relations with armies. 26. JORDAN BECOMES THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE LEPROSY The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially verified Jordan as the first country to eliminate leprosy It is also known as Hansen’s disease. It is a chronic infectious disease Spreads through droplets from the nose and mouth during prolonged close contact. Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is highly effective and provided free of charge by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) which still occurs in over 120 countries. It is officially named as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is located at the East Bank of the Jordan River. Borders: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Palestine. Capital: Amman Currency: Jordanian Dinar In 1946, Jordan gained independence as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under King Abdullah I. Current King: Abdullah II 27. BOMBAY HC STRIKES DOWN IT RULES 2023 Recently, The Bombay High Court (HC) struck down the Amended Information Technology Rules, 2023 which empowered the Centre to set up a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify fake, false and misleading information about the government on social media. The FCU is an official body to address and counter the spread of misinformation related to the Indian government. In April 2023, the MeitY established the Fact-Check Unit (FCU) by amending the Information Technology Rules, 2021. In March 2024, the SC issued a stay on the establishment of Fact-Check Unit (FCU) under the Press Information Bureau. 28. INDO PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY India participated in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting, held in Singapore on 6th June 2024 IPEF members signed 3 agreements focused on the Clean Economy, Fair Economy, and the overarching IPEF Agreement. India did not formally sign these agreements as the domestic approval process is still underway. India has taken a leading role in launching a new collaborative effort called a "Cooperative Work Programme" (CWP) that is focused on recovering valuable resources from electronic waste, also known as e-waste urban mining. IPEF Upskilling Initiative: It provides digital skills training, primarily to women and girls, in IPEF partner countries. IPEF was launched on 23rd May 2022 at Tokyo, Japan mprising 14 countries The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement and cooperation among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, economic stability and prosperity in the region. Members: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. IPEF is built on 4 main pillars: (I) fair and resilient trade, (II)supply chain resilience, (III) clean economy (renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions), and (IV) fair economy (tax and anti-corruption policies).  India has joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar I. 29. 6TH QUAD LEADERS SUMMIT Recently, the 6th Quad Summit was held at Delaware in the United States. It was the 4th in-person Quad Leaders' Summit. Quad Health Security Partnership (QHSP): QHSP was launched by Quad in 2023 to enhance health security coordination in the Indo-Pacific region. New initiatives like the Quad Cancer Moonshot, has been announced for treatment of cervical cancer. The United States has pledged over USD 84.5 million to enhance infectious disease prevention and response capabilities across fourteen Indo-Pacific nations. MAITRI: The Quad has introduced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to enhance regional maritime security capabilities. The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) was launched in 2022 to improve maritime security and monitor illegal activities. A first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission is planned for 2025, to enhance interoperability. In 2025, Quad partners intend to hold the inaugural Regional Ports and Transportation Conference in Mumbai. Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a diplomatic partnership among Australia, India, Japan, and the US. The Quad originated in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, where the four nations provided humanitarian assistance. Formally established in 2007 by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the group went dormant due to concerns over China's reactions, particularly after Australia withdrew in 2008. It was revived in 2017 amid shifting regional attitudes toward China's influence, culminating in its first formal summit in 2021. Quad-plus” meetings have included nations like South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam 30. FIDE CHESS OLYMPIAD  The Indian men's and women's chess teams both secured gold medals at the Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary. The Indian men's team won against Slovenia and the Indian women's team triumphed over Azerbaijan. GMs Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu all won as the Indian men wrapped up victory in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad with a statement 3.5-0.5 win over Slovenia. Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev (womens team) Before India, only China and the former Soviet Union had won both men's and women's gold medals in the same Chess Olympiad edition. It is a biennial event The International Chess Federation (FIDE) organises the tournament and selects the host nation. The first Olympiad was unofficial and was held in 1927. About FIDE President: Arkady Dvorkovich Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland initially founded in 1924 in Paris. Motto: Gens Una Sumus (Latin for We are one Family). 31. NEW PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA Left leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake of National People’s Power (NPP) Coalition is elected as new president of Sri Lanka. Mr. Dissanayake was declared as President by Election Commission of Sri Lanka after completed 2nd round of vote. 32. INDIA USA PACT TO SET UP SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION PLANT It will be India's first and world's first multi-material fabrication (fab) plant for national security Fab, to be known as ‘Shakti’, will focus on three essential pillars for modern war fighting — advanced sensing, advanced communications and high voltage power electronics.  objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors. It will get support from India Semiconductor Mission and set up as strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and U.S. Space Force. 33. UN SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE AND THE REFORM IN UN INSTITUTIONS The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, recently addressed the UN Summit of the Future 2024, and called for urgent reforms to outdated UN institutions The Prime Minister of India also participated in the summit. This summit builds on recent UN efforts such as the 2022 UN Environment Stockholm+50 conference and the High Seas Treaty. The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’. The Summit concluded with the adoption of an outcome document - A Pact for the Future, along with two annexes, Global Digital Compact and A Declaration on Future Generations. Pact for the Future: It is aimed at accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement for climate action. Includes commitments to a just transition from fossil fuels and ensuring a sustainable and peaceful future. Introduced the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, advocating for establishment of a multidisciplinary Independent International Scientific Panel on AI within the UN India calls for reforms in the UN and Security Council to ensure relevance, advocating for expanded permanent membership, including itself and African nations. 34. SC DECLARES EVERY FORM OF CHILD PORN ILLEGAL Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that watching or possessing sexually explicit material involving minors is illegal under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. It constitutes a punishable offence under the POCSO Act, 2012 regardless of whether the material is further shared or transmitted.  It overturned a prior ruling by the Madras High Court, which had determined that private viewing of child pornography did not amount to an offence without further distribution. The Supreme Court (SC) has urged the Union government to replace the term "child pornography" with "child sexual exploitative and abuse material" (CSEAM). The SC provided a stricter interpretation of the term “storage of child pornography” under Section 15 of the POCSO Act, 2012. Sections 43 and 44 of the POCSO Act, 2012 require central and state governments, along with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), to promote widespread awareness of the Act. POCSO was enacted in consequence to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992. 35. 100 YEARS OF DICOVERY OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION (HARAPPAN CIVILISATION) 20th September 2024, marked 100 years since the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization, which was announced by archaeologist Sir John Marshall on 20th September 1924. This civilization spans over 2,000 sites across 1.5 million sq. km in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), flourished around 2500 BCE along the Indus River. largest of the four ancient urban civilizations alongside Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. IVC is classified as a Bronze-age civilization due to the discovery of numerous artefacts made from copper-based alloys. Daya Ram Sahni first excavated Harappa in 1921-22, and Rakhal Das Banerji began excavating Mohenjo-daro in 1922. Sir John Marshall, DG of ASI, was responsible for the excavations that led to the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro sites of IVC. 36. MINERAL SECURITY PARTNERSHIP  India is now formally a part of the Minerals Security Finance Network, a US-led initiative aiming to strengthen cooperation among members to secure supply chains for critical minerals. Department on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, involved a pact entered by 14 countries and the European Union. The Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN) is a new initiative that stems from the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a framework established by the US in 2022. India was inducted to the MSP in June 2023. Minerals Security Partnership is an ambitious new US-led partnership to secure supply chains of critical minerals, aimed at reducing dependency on China. 37. LEGALISATION OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN THAILAND thailand's king has signed a marriage equality bill that officially recognizes same-sex unions. Thailand king- Maha Vajiralongkorn The law grants couples adoption and inheritance rights, using gender-neutral terms instead of 'husbands, wives, men, and women. This makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex unions. The right to marry is not expressly recognized either as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution but a statutory right Other countries who legalized the same sex marriage are Taiwan and Nepal. Capital: Bangkok Currency: Thai Baht Political system: Constitutional Monarchy Borders: Laos and Cambodia in the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia in the south, the Andaman Sea and Myanmar in the west and Myanmar in the north. 38. PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR The Israeli Prime Minister intends to control the Philadelphi corridor, including the Rafah crossing after its occupation in the Israel-Hamas war.  Both Egypt and Hamas reject Israeli military presence on the Philadelphi corridor. Philadelphi Corridor: It is a 14 kilometres long strip of land that represents the entirety of the border area between Gaza and Egypt. It includes the Rafah crossing and runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. Under the Camp David peace treaty 1979, a limited number of Egyptian troops were allowed, but no heavy armour was permitted. After the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the corridor was designated a demilitarised border zone. Since 2005, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority were responsible for managing the corridor. It was the only link for Gaza with the outside world not controlled by Israel. Hamas gained control of Gaza in 2007, which led to increased tension and ongoing cross-border smuggling activities. 39. THIRUVALLUVAR CHAIR FOR TAMIL STUDIES AT UNI OF HOUSTON The University of Houston and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies to conduct research on Tamil language, literature and culture at the university. The MoU was signed last year but was renewed for another year at a ceremony held early this week at the University of Houston, between its Chancellor and the President Dr Renu Khator, and Consul General of India in Houston, DC Manjunath. The Chair aims to teach and conduct research on Tamil language, literature and culture at the University of Houston. The establishment of the Chair was welcomed by the leaders in the Joint Declaration issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in June 2023. 40. GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX India has achieved a significant milestone in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) by securing the 39th position among 133 economies World’s most innovative economies:  Switzerland Sweden United States Singapore United Kingdom In a span of nearly a decade, India has made tremendous strides in the GII rankings, rising from the 81st position in 2015 to 39th in 2024. India ranks 4th globally in the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Science & Technology (S&T) Cluster Ranking. Key cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai are listed among the World's Top 100 S&T clusters. GII: Launched: 2007 Released By: INSEAD ( a contraction of "Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires") (a prominent business school) in collaboration with World Business (a British magazine). Technically world intellectual property organisation 41. BIODIVERSITY BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION The Blue Leaders High-Level Event on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction took place in Belgium, encouraging nations to ratify the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty aimed at protecting the high seas from pollution, climate change, and overfishing. The BBNJ treaty commonly referred to as the Treaty of the High Seas was agreed upon in March 2023 for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. High seas-areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the exclusive economic zones of coastal countries. This aligns with the 30x30 target, it is a global commitment to protect at least 30% of the planet for nature by 2030 It was agreed upon at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022 and is included in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. as of September 3, 2024, 91 nations and the EU had signed the Agreement; 8 signatories had also ratified India has signed the agreement. 42. ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT (AFSPA) EXTENDED TO PARTS OF NAGALAND AND ARUNCHAL PRADESH As per latest notification, the AFSPA has been extended to several districts of both Northeast States for six months with effect from October 1 ‘unless withdrawn earlier’ The Union Home Ministry extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months. The AFSPA gives unbridled power to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and ensures protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Union government’s sanction. Both the State and Union governments have the authority to issue notifications regarding AFSPA. For Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, the Ministry periodically issues “disturbed area” notifications. As per the latest notification, the AFSPA has been extended to all parts of eight districts and 21 police station limits in five other districts of Nagaland for another six months. AFSPA was passed in september 1958 A disturbed area is one that is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA. The British colonial government had on 15th August, 1942, promulgated the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance to suppress the Quit India movement. 43. PARAM RUDRA Recently, the Prime Minister virtually launched three PARAM Rudra supercomputers The supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata Pune: The Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) will utilise it to investigate astronomical phenomena like Fast Radio Burst (FRB). A fast radio burst is a bright and brief burst of electromagnetic radiation (light) seen in radio-wave frequencies. Delhi: The Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) will use it to bolster research in material science and atomic physics.  Kolkata: The S N Bose Centre will use it for research in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences. PARAM Rudra supercomputers are part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). In 2015, the National Supercomputing Mission was launched It is a collaboration between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Supercomputers are advanced computing systems designed to handle complex and data-intensive tasks that require significant computational power. India’s first supercomputer was PARAM 8000. Globally, USA has the maximum number of supercomputers and China second PARAM Shivay-the first supercomputer assembled indigenously was installed in IIT (BHU) In 2020, PARAM Siddhi, the High-Performance Computing-Artificial Intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer, achieved global ranking of 62nd in Top 500 most powerful supercomputer systems in the world. 44. JIVITPUTRIKA FESTIVAL Recently, at least 46 people, including 37 children, drowned in rivers and ponds during the 'Jivitputrika' festival in Bihar. Jivitputrika, also known as Jitiya Vrat, is a Hindu festival celebrated mainly in northern and eastern India, particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The festival is observed by mothers who fast for the well-being, long life, and prosperity of their children. The celebration lasts for three days. Nahai-Khai: The festival begins with mothers taking a purifying bath and enjoying a nourishing meal. Fasting Day: The second day is marked by the rigorous fasting ritual. Paaran: The festival concludes on the third day, where the fast is broken with a meal. commemorating the story of King Jimutavahana, who is honored for his sacrifice for the welfare of others. 45. INDIA UZBEKISTAN SIGN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY  Recently, India and Uzbekistan signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to assure appropriate protection for investors from both countries. It assures a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination while offering independent arbitration for dispute resolution. However, both countries have the right to regulate and provide adequate policy space for public interest regulation, without compromising investor protection. India is among the top 10 trade partners of Uzbekistan with bilateral trade USD 756.60 million. Total Indian investments in Uzbekistan amount to USD 61 million. Notable Indian investments are in the field of pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components, and hospitality industry. In 2019, India and Uzbekistan agreed to conduct a feasibility study for negotiating a preferential trade agreement (PTA). The 2nd Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan just hours after signing the Tashkent Declaration, which brought a ceasefire in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. After Uzbekistan's independence, India was one of the first countries to acknowledge its state sovereignty. the first-ever joint military exercise held between India and Uzbekistan was named Dustlik. Capital of Uzbekistan: tashkent Currency: Uzbekistan Som Language: Uzbek President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev 46. IBSA FORUM Trilateral Dialogue Forum of India, Brazil, and South Africa BSA Foreign Ministers declared a United Front against Global Terrorism created in 2003 Formalization – Named under the Brasilia Declaration on 6th June 2003 Aim to Promote closer coordination on global issues among the three large multicultural and multiracial democracies of Asia, South America, and Africa. No headquarters or permanent executive secretariat. Leadership – Operates through Summits of Heads of State and Government. IBSA Fund – Establishment – 2004.  Purpose – Facilitate human development projects to combat poverty and hunger in developing countries. Each IBSA member country is required to contribute $1 million per annum to the fund. Management – Managed by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). IBSAMAR –Joint multinational maritime exercise. Participants – Navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa. The most recent summit was held in New Delhi, India in 2022. 47. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO START USING UPI Trinidad and Tobago is the first Caribbean nation to adopt India’s popular instant payments platform UPI. Countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, France are either connecting to the UPI framework to make it interoperable with their payment systems or using the open source platform to build their own instant payment systems. NPCI International Payments (NIPL) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT) of Trinidad and Tobago to develop an Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-like real-time payments platform for the country Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NPCI International. Trinidad’s capital-Port of Spain Currency: Trinidad & Tobago Dollar Date of Independence: August 31, 1962 Prime minister: Keith Rowley Official language: English UPI: Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016 NPCI's subsidiary-NPCI International Payments (NIPL) 48. ASSASSINATION OF HASSAN NASRALLAH Recently, Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated by israel Hezbollah- the Iran-backed armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.  He was killed in the hezbollah headquarters in Beirut, lebanon Nasrallah remained in charge of Hezbollah for more than 32 years. Nasrallah became Hezbollah’s leader in 1992 after the assassination of Abbas al-Musawi by Israel. Hezbollah was formed in 1982 as a Shia resistance group with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. It was formed during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God”. Israel aimed to expel the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) from Lebanon and succeeded in relocating the PLO to Tunisia and establishing a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Historically marginalized in Lebanon, the Shia community reorganized under Hezbollah Hezbollah’s core purpose is resistance against Israel, with the destruction of Israel stated in its manifesto. Regarded as a terrorist organization by Israel and the U.S., Hezbollah is credited for forcing Israel to end its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000. The last full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah occurred in 2006 after a Hezbollah cross-border raid led to an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. In response to Israel’s retaliation on Gaza, Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. Recently, targeted blasts by Israel killed or severely injured around 3,500 middle-to-senior Hezbollah leaders who used pagers and walkie-talkies for secure communication. The Axis of Resistance is Iran’s term for the groups targeting Israel, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen. The assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah marks the peak of Israel’s campaign against the group's leadership, which began with the killing of Fuad Shukr in July. Israel has also eliminated Hamas's political head, Ismail Haniyeh, and the military commander behind the October 7 attacks, Mohammed Deif, leaving only Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar alive. Lebanon is a country in the Levant region (a region in the eastern Mediterranean Basin) of West Asia. Its capital and largest city is Beirut. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, by Israel to the south, and by the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Cyprus island lies a short distance away from the country's coastline. Pager, Walkie-Talkie Blasts in Lebanon: Recently, several people were killed and hundreds injured in Lebanon following explosions of hand-held radios like walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah at multiple locations At least 20 people were killed and more than 450 were wounded after dozens of walkie-talkies blew up in Lebanon– a day after blasts targeting the pagers of Hezbollah members a dozen people and wounded thousands. These pagers, chosen by Hezbollah to evade detection through cell phones, were covertly modified with Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). Israel's Mossad spy agency planted a small amount of explosives inside 5,000 Taiwan-made pagers ordered by Lebanese group Hezbollah Walkie talkie- Its invention is attributed to Don Hings in 1937 The senior Lebanese security source said the group had ordered 5,000 beepers made by Taiwan-based Gold Apollo