SEPTEMBER 2ND WEEK CURRENT AFFAIRS ENGLISH MAGAZINE-2024 PDF

 SEPTEMBER 7-14 WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL AFFAIRS International ISO tag for Sonbhadra Police Line It is now the first police line in Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) to receive the ISO- 90...

 SEPTEMBER 7-14 WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL AFFAIRS International ISO tag for Sonbhadra Police Line It is now the first police line in Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) to receive the ISO- 9001:2015 certification from International Organisation for Standardization. This certification recognizes Sonbhadra Police Line’s excellence in management, training, services, and facilities. The Commissionerate Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) has set a precedent as Uttar Pradesh’s first ISO-9001:2015 certified Commissionerate. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Named by TIME Magazine as one of most influential People in Technology and AI Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has been named by TIME Magazine, as one of the most influential people in the field of Technology and Artificial Intelligence. Mr Vaishnaw’s name figures under the “Shapers” category of the list. The Magazine writes, under his leadership, India is hoping to become one of the top five countries for semiconductor manufacturing in the next five years. TIME Magazine also highlighted that the Indian educational system is catching up to produce the specialised workforce needed for cutting-edge AI and semiconductor development. The list also includes several prominent figures including Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and Infosys co- founder Nandan Nilekani for their significant contributions to AI and technology. Vice-President presides as Chief Guest at the International Literacy day Celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy, in collaboration with UNESCO, celebrated International Literacy Day 2024. The theme of this year’s event, “Promoting Literacy through Multilingualism,” highlighted the critical role of linguistic diversity in improving literacy levels across India’s diverse communities. He urged all States and Union Territories to fully embrace the ULLAS initiative and work tirelessly towards achieving total literacy by 2030.He congratulated the UT of Ladakh on achieving full literacy (over 97%). Time for us to be in mission mode with commitment and passion to ensure 100% literacy at the earliest. ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, was launched during the programme, which captured the journey, milestones, and success stories of the program. ULLAS- Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society. PM Modi to Inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on September 11. The conference, running from September 11 to 13, is themed “Shaping the Semiconductor Future.” It aims to highlight India’s semiconductor strategy and its goal of becoming a global hub for the industry. The event will feature over 250 exhibitors and 150 speakers, including top leaders from global semiconductor companies. 1 Defence Ministry Signs ₹26,000 Crore Contract with HAL for 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹26,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 240 AL-31FP aero engines for Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft. The engines will be produced by HAL's Koraput Division and will enhance the operational capability of the Sukhoi30MKI fleet. HAL will supply 30 engines annually, with delivery of all 240 engines expected over the next eight years. This contract supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by involving India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, including MSMEs and both public and private industries. Amit Shah to Address Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s Inaugural Foundation Day Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the first Foundation Day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi. Key initiatives being launched include the web-based module Samanvaya for cybercrime data management, the Cyber Commandos program for specialized cybersecurity personnel, and the Suspect Registry for fraud risk management. The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) will also be dedicated to the nation. Established in October 2018, the I4C coordinates efforts among banks, telecom providers, and law enforcement to combat cybercrime. US to partner with India’s Semiconductor Mission for sustainable global value chain The US will partner with India’s Semiconductor Mission to enhance the global semiconductor ecosystem under the ITSI Fund from the CHIPS Act of 2022. This collaboration aims to build a more resilient and sustainable semiconductor value chain. Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, highlighted this partnership as a key strategic initiative and noted the alignment between the US and India. The effort reflects the deepening ties and mutual benefits anticipated from expanding India’s semiconductor industry. Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurates Digi Yatra facility at nine more airports On September 9, 2024, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated the Digi Yatra facility at Visakhapatnam International Airport. This launch also extended the service to nine additional airports, including Coimbatore, Dabolim, Indore, Bagdogra, Ranchi, Patna, Raipur, and Bhubaneshwar. Digi Yatra simplifies the airport process by eliminating the need for boarding passes and ID proofs, reducing the time needed for passenger entry from 15 seconds to just 5 seconds. The app has been downloaded by over 55 lakh users, and more than 3 crore passengers have used the service. The initiative started in December 2022 at New Delhi, Varanasi, and Bengaluru airports. With the recent additions, Digi Yatra is now available at 24 airports across India. 2  The contactless and paperless system of Digi Yatra proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting sustainability efforts and reducing paper use. Cabinet approves ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ Aim: To enhance India's ability to predict and respond to extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change. The mission will be primarily implemented by three key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) -- the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. Cabinet approves PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the “PM- eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme” for procurement and operation of e- buses by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) with an outlay of Rs. 3,435.33 crore. This scheme will support deployment of more than 38,000 electric buses (e-Buses) from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29. Cabinet approves PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme The scheme will support the operation of e-buses for a period of up to 12 years from the date of deployment. This initiative seeks to facilitate adoption of e-buses by encouraging private sector participation. The scheme will provide benefits to all Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) present in State/UTs who opt for the scheme. IBC organized 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) commenced the 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave on the theme “Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance and Sustainable Development”. The event commenced by Mr. Gurumurthy, Chairman VIF, Ven Jangchuk Choeden, Secretary General, IBC, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF who were joined by three-time Grammy awardee Shri Ricky Kej. Quality Council of India (QCI) approves National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad as a Certification Body for type certification of drones This is as part of the certification scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The Certification Scheme for UAS is to ensure compliance with applicable national and international standards. This initiative is aligned with the government’s vision to position India as a global hub for drone technology and to support sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and infrastructure with safe and certified drone solutions. National Test House is a premier testing and quality assurance institution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. 3 Union Cabinet Approves ₹70,125 Crore for PMGSY-IV Road Scheme The Union Cabinet approved implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV from 2024-25 to 2028-29 The central share is Rs 49,087.50 crore and the state share is Rs 21,037.50 crore. All-weather roads measuring 62,500 km will be provided to unconnected habitations. construction and upgrading of bridges on the new roads Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ✓ It started as a100 % centrally sponsored schemelaunched in theyear 2000 to provideall-weather rural road connectivity to eligible rural habitations. ✓ Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development ✓ Funding Pattern: The funding pattern was revised to a 60:40 ratio between Centre and State in 2015-16, and a 90:10 ratio for Northeastern States and Himalayan States. ✓ PMGSY I (2000) ✓ PMGSY-II (2013) ✓ PMGSY-III (2019) Cabinet approves ₹5 lakh health insurance for senior citizens above 70 years irrespective of income Under the flagship scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM- JAY). The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under the AB PM-JAY. The senior citizens of the age 70 and above belonging to families already covered under the AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70). Senior citizens of the age 70 and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY. It has been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above who are under private health insurance policies orEmployees’ State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under the AB PM-JAY. India to be the Exclusive Partner for European Hydrogen Week in November 2024 India has been announced as the exclusive partner for the European Hydrogen Week, set to take place in November 2024. This announcement was made on the second day of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024), held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The partnership underscores India’s commitment to aligning with EU green regulations to enhance its export potential in the green hydrogen sector. The EU session chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe focused on the role of green hydrogen as a crucial component in global decarbonization efforts. 4 Port Blair to be renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram The Centre has renamed Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to 'Shri Vijaya Puram' to "free the nation from colonial imprints". Port Blair is the entry point for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The city was named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British colonial navy official of the East India Company. The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire. "It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation. Rangeen Machhli mobile app Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched the 'Rangeen Machhli' mobile app at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar. Developed by: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) has developed a mobile app 'Rangeen Machhli'. Developed with support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Aim: for providing crucial information about ornamental fisheries to fish farmers and aquarium shop owners. The app offers multilingual information on ornamental fish species in eight Indian languages. PM Modi chairs first governing board meeting of ANRF Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the first governing board meeting of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in New Delhi. The newly established ANRF, created by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act 2023. Aim: to foster a strengthened research ecosystem across the country. MP tops among states in AYUSH with maximum PHCs Madhya Pradesh has topped in the country among states for having AYUSH facilities at 328 primary health centres in the state’s urban areas. According to the report ‘Health Dynamics of India – Infrastructure and Human Resources’, released recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Madhya Pradesh also ranks second in the number of district hospitals with 52, led by Uttar Pradesh with 125 and Delhi on third place with 40. MP is also third in terms of tribal pockets, where there are AYUSH doctors available at 228 primary and community health centres. Odisha ranks first with 296 AYUSH doctors and Chhattisgarh is second with 279. Madhya Pradesh has been among the first six states in India to have significantly increased the number of sub-health centres in rural areas since 2005. It also ranks seventh among the ten States with the highest number of primary health centers. The state is also among the top six for the number of community health centres, with a total of 332 out of 5,491 nationwide. 5  According to the report, Madhya Pradesh is among the top three states in terms of the number of sub-divisional hospitals. Piyush Goyal, launched the ‘Jan Sunwai portal’ Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, launched the ‘Jan Sunwayi portal’, which is an online platform of the department of commerce, designed to streamline communication between stakeholders and authorities. “This portal will provide a significant boost to the existing commerce and business sector since people will not have to visit our offices with their grievances. They can file it with us online through this portal. The minister also inaugurated another portal for the Export Trade Guarantee Corporation (ECGC). This portal will allow MSME sectors to avail 90% insurance cover for credit limit up to Rs 80 crore. This step will not only enhance entrepreneurship in the country but will also promote ease of doing business. India’s first non-suburban metro, ‘Vande Metro train’ to connect Gujarat’s Kutch district with Ahmedabad Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off Vande Metro, the country’s first non-suburban metro train service between Bhuj and Ahmedabad. In India, non-suburban train servicescover long distances, while suburban train services are for short distances, generally up to 150 kilometers.Suburban trains are used to help passengers move quickly within cities, suburbs, and extended suburbs. PM Modi Announces Adoption of Delhi Declaration on Civil Aviation The 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded with the adoption of Delhi Declaration. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), successfully hosted the conference at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 11th to 12th September. Delhi Declaration - a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, addressing emerging challenges, and fostering sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector. In India, 15% of the pilots are women which is more than the global average of 5% and we have issued an advisory to further increase this number. India is set to achieve its goal of having 350-400 airports by 2047. Mission Mausam Unveiled: A 2,000 Crore initiative to Enhance India’s Weather and Climate Forecasting by 2026 The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised a national-level press inetarction on Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan in New Delhi. The Union Cabinet has approved Mission Mausam on September 11, 2024, with a budget outlay of 2,000 crores over two years, is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India. It aims to make India ‘Weather Ready’ and ‘Climate Smart’. The objectives of the proposed “Mission Mausam” includes: ✓ Develop Cutting Edge Weather Surveillance Technologies & Systems 6  ✓ Implement Higher resolution atmospheric observations with better temporal and spatial sampling/coverage ✓ Implement Next-generation radars, and satellites with advanced instrument payloads ✓ Implement High-Performance Computers (HPC). The mission aims to establish 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), 60 Radio Sonde/Radio Wind (RS/RW) stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 Wind Profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 Urban testbed, 1 Process testbed, 1 Ocean Research station and 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations with upper air observation. Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launches the ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’ website in New Delhi Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon'ble Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has launched the official website for the much-anticipated Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav. The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, to be held from December 6th to 8th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, is set to be a landmark celebration. The festival draws inspiration from the eight Northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—collectively known as the "Ashtalakshmi," representing eight forms of prosperity. The website, www.ashtalakshmimahotsav.com, will serve as a one-stop resource for event updates, schedules, and participation details, ensuring seamless engagement for attendees from across the country. 7  STATES IN NEWS Odisha Unveils India’s First Silicon Carbide Facility Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently led the groundbreaking ceremony for India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility. This major project, developed by RIR Power Electronics Limited, is being set up at EMC Park in Info Valley, Bhubaneswar, with a significant investment of Rs 620 crore. This new facility is a major step forward for both India and Odisha in the global power electronics market. It is part of a bigger plan to make Odisha a central hub for semiconductor production, promoting new ideas and boosting the state’s economy. UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 73rd All India Police Wrestling Cluster UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the 73rd All India Police Wrestling Cluster tournament in Lucknow.The tournament, running from September 9 to 13, features 34 police teams from across Central, State, and Union Territories. Adityanath highlighted the police forces' unified goal of safeguarding India and noted that Uttar Pradesh has implemented a sports action plan, with over 500 medal-winning athletes recruited into the UP Police. Director General of SSB Daljit Singh Chaudhary and DGP UP Prashant Kumar were also present. ‘One Village, One Ganpati’ Initiative Maharashtra's ‘One Village, One Ganpati’ initiative promotes unity by having a single communal Ganpati idol per village. Thousands of villages across the state, including 305 in Hingoli and 804 in Nashik, are participating, reflecting the festival's original unifying spirit Odisha CM Majhi launches 'CM-KISAN Yojana'Read On September 8, 2024, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan present, launched the 'CM-KISAN Yojana' during the Nuakhai festival in Sambalpur, Odisha. The scheme will provide ₹925 crore in financial assistance to 46 lakh small and marginal farmers not covered under the PM-KISAN scheme. Eligible farmers will receive ₹4,000 in two phases: ₹2,000 on Nuakhai and the remaining ₹2,000 on Akshaya Tritiya. The initiative aims to support landless farmers excluded from existing programs and enhance their financial stability. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiatives in Gujarat Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ Initiative in Surat, Gujarat. The program is a collaboration between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Government of Gujarat, focus on water conservation & community participation. 8  The initiative aims to construct around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state. This initiative is based on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain scheme of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry. About Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Scheme: ❖ Jal Shakti Abhiyan Launched in 2019. ❖ It was launched in 1592 blocks of 256 water-stressed districts of the country. ❖ This was renamed as Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain in 2021 and expanded across India to promote water conservation awareness among the masses. 9th Edition of Ladakh Zanskar Festival-2024 The 9th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2024 began with remarkable grandeur in the picturesque village of Sani, signifying a landmark event for the region. The festival was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra. This year’s Zanskar Festival is especially significant as it marks the first celebration since Zanskar was officially declared a district. The two-day festival showcases a wide array of cultural performances, reflecting the diverse traditions of the region. Governors State Governor Andhra Pradesh Shri Justice (Retd.) S. Abdul Nazeer Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, Arunachal Pradesh UYSM, YSM (Retired) Assam Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya Bihar Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Odisha Shri Raghubar Das Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria Chhattisgarh Shri Ramen Deka Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde Goa Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai Sikkim Shri Om Prakash Mathur Gujarat Shri Acharya Dev Vrat Haryana Shri Bandaru Dattatraya Tamil Nadu Shri R. N. Ravi Himachal Pradesh Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla Telangana Shri Jishnu Dev Varma Tripura Shri Indra Sena Reddy Nallu Jharkhand Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar Karnataka Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel Kerala Shri Arif Mohammed Khan Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM Madhya Pradesh Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel Uttarakhand (Retd.) Maharashtra Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan West Bengal Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose Manipur Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya (Additional Charge) Meghalaya Shri C H Vijayashankar Mizoram Dr. Kambhampati Haribabu Nagaland Shri La. Ganesan 9  SPORTS Moeen Ali Announces Retirement from International Cricket Moeen Ali, the versatile England all-rounder, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket after being overlooked for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. Making his debut for the England cricket team in 2014, Moeen Ali went on to represent England in 68 Tests,138 ODIs, and 92 T20Is over the years. During his 10-year career, he scored 6,678 runs, including 8 centuries, 28 half-centuries, and took 366 wickets for the Three Lions. Syria wins the 4th Intercontinental Cup Men’s Football Tournament Syria defeated India 3-0 in the last round-robin match to win the 4th Intercontinental Cup men’s football championship. India, the defending champions, could not score a single goal in the match. The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, presented the winners' trophy to Syrian captain Mahmoud Al-Mawas, also named the Syed Abdul Rahim Player of the Tournament. The best player of the tournament is given the Syed Abdul Rahim trophy. The All India Football Federation organised the 4th Intercontinental Cup football championship from 3 to 9 September 2024 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana. US Open Tennis: Jannik Sinner wins second Grand Slam victory Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam of the year by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in the US Open final. The US Open 2024 final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz was held at Flushing Meadows, New York, United States. This victory makes Sinner the first Italian man to win the US Open. It is his 55th match win and sixth title of the season. Indian boxer Deepali Thapa becomes 1st ever Asian Schoolgirl Champion Deepali Thapa became the first-ever Asian Schoolgirl Champion in boxing, competing in the 33 kg weight category in Al Ain, UAE. India secured seven female titles at the Asian Championships. Bhoomi won the 35 kg category by defeating Kazakhstan’s Assel Jalimbekova. Nischal Sharma claimed the 37 kg title against Ukraine’s Maria Matsiura. Rakhi triumphed in the 43 kg category over Ukraine’s Veronika Holub. Naitik won the 52 kg title against Kazakhstan’s Arina Orazymbet. Trushana Vinayak Mohite secured the 67 kg title, defeating Ukraine’s Anna Hornostal. Gurseerat Kaur clinched the last of the 15 titles in the schoolgirls’ category. Indian Boxing Success: The performances highlight India’s strong presence and success in schoolgirl boxing at the Asian level. 10 Paris Paralympics to Conclude with Spectacular Closing Ceremony at Stade de France Tonight Gold medalists Harvinder Singh and Preethi Pal will carry India’s flag. The 18th Summer Paralympics will be held in Los Angeles, the United States of America in 2028. India achieved its best-ever performance, winning 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals. Notable athletes like Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara, and Pramod Bhagat played key roles in this historic success, highlighting the improved support for para-athletes in India. Serial no. Para-Athletes Sport Event Medal 1 Avani Lakhera Shooting Women's 10m air rifle standing Gold SH1 2 Nitesh Kumar Badminton Men’s singles SL3 class Gold 3 Sumit Antil Athletics Javelin throw F64 Gold 4 Harvinder Singh Archery Men's individual recurve open Gold 5. Dharambir Athletics Men’s club throw F51 class Gold 6 Praveen Kumar Athletics Men’s high jump T 64 Gold 7. Navdeep Singh Athletics Men's javelin throw F41 Gold 8 Manish Narwal Shooting Men's 10m air pistol SH1 Silver 9 Nishad Kumar Athletics Men's high jump T47 Silver 10 Yogesh Kathuniya Athletics Men's discus throw F56 Silver 11 Thulasimathi Badminton Women’s singles SU5 Silver Murugesan 12 Suhas Yathiraj Badminton Men’s singles SL4 Silver 13 Sharad Kumar Athletics Men's high jump T63 Silver 14 Ajeet Singh Athletics Men's javelin throw F46 Silver 15 Sachin Khilari Athletics Men's shot put F46 Silver 16 Pranav Soorma Athletics Men’s club throw F51 class Silver 17 Mona Agarwal Shooting Women's 10m air rifle standing Bronze SH1 18 Preethi Pal Athletics Women's 100m T35 Bronze 19 Rubina Francis Shooting Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 Bronze 20 Preethi Pal Athletics Women's 200m T35 Bronze 21 Manisha Ramadass Badminton Women’s singles SU5 Bronze 22 Rakesh Kumar / Archery Mixed team compound open Bronze Sheetal Devi 23 Nithya Sre Sivan Badminton Women's singles SH6 Bronze 24 Deepthi Jeevanji Athletics Women's 400m T20 Bronze 25 Mariyappan Athletics Men's high jump T63 Bronze Thangavelu 26 Sundar Singh Gurjar Athletics Men's javelin throw F46 Bronze 27 Kapil Parmar Judo Men’s Judo -60kg J1 Class Bronze 28 Hokato Hotozhe Sema Athletics Men’s shot put F57 Bronze 29 Simran Athletics Women's 200m T12 Bronze 11 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad will begin today in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The 12-day biennial event will feature over 1,800 players, with 193 national teams registered in the open section and 181 teams competing in the women’s section. Tech Mahindra a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced its association with the 45th Chess Olympiad by FIDE. This will be the first time since 1926 that the world’s biggest multi-national chess tournament returns to Budapest. Yogasana has been officially included as a demonstration sport in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games India's ancient sport, yogasana was included as a demonstration event at the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The 2026 Asian Games, also known as 20th Asian Games and Aichi-Nagoya 2026, will be a multi-sport event from 19 September to 4 October 2026. Manipur’s T.G. English School Wins Junior Boys Title of 63rd Subroto Cup The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, a premier inter-school football competition, celebrated its 63rd edition in 2024 in New Delhi. Participation from school teams representing India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in the U-17 Boys category Winner - Manipur’s T.G. English School clinched the Junior Boys title of the 63rd Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, defeating Meghalaya’s Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School. It is one of the oldest tournaments in Asia. Named in memory of Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee 1960: First edition held in New Delhi Initially: Organized by the Durand Football Tournament Committee (known for managing the Durand Cup, India’s oldest club-level football tournament) 1994 onwards: Air Force Sports Control Board took over the responsibility Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first football player to score 900 goals Cristiano Ronaldo became the first football player to score 900career goals during a UEFA Nations League match against Croatia on September 6, 2024 Ronaldo scored his 900th goal from a cross by Nuno Mendes, surpassing his closest rival, Lionel Messi, who has 838 goals. Pele , with 762 goals, is ranked third behind Ronaldo and Messi in terms of career goals Indians shine in Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship Indian chess players showcased remarkable talent at the Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship, winning three medals. Grandmaster Mitraba Guha clinched gold, GM Panneerselvam Iniyan took silver, and GM Laxman Rajaram secured bronze. 12  AWARDS & HONOURS Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma presented Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024 Nine best performing NCAP cities awarded on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies which is also celebrated as Swachh Vayu Diwas. Swachh Vayu SurvekshanAwards: Best performing NCAP cities were awarded under three categories: Category-1 (Population over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, Agra. Category-2 (Population 3-10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, Jhansi. Category-3 (Population under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, Nalagarh. Municipal Commissioners received cash prizes, trophies, and certificates. Prasanthi Ram wins Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction An Indian-origin lecturer Prasanthi Ram at Nanyang Technological University has won the Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction for her short story – ‘Nine Yard Sarees’. Prasanthi Ram, debut work was published in late 2023. The short story cycle is about generations of a Tamil Brahmin family dispersed across Singapore, Sydney, New York and Connecticut. Singapore Literature Prize 2024 winners: English-lang fiction - Prasanthi Ram for Nine Yard Sarees: A Short Story Cycle. English poetry - Yong Shu Hoong, Anatomy of A Wave. Best English creative non-fiction - Indian-origin artist Shubigi Rao, whose ‘Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory of The Banished Book’ (2022). Vir Das becomes first Indian to host International Emmy Awards Indian stand up comedian and actor Vir Das is set to host the 2024 International Emmys, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in November. Das was earlier nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for his special Vir Das: For India and won in 2023 for his Netflix special Landing. The Emmy Awards are the most renowned accolades given to television and emerging media performances. President presents National Florence Nightingale Awards to Nurses at Rashtrapati Bhavan A total of 15 nurses received the award for their exceptional commitment to duty and community service. Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Anupriya Patel were also present at the event. The award was established in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to recognize outstanding nursing professionals. 13  The awards are given in categories including Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife, Registered Nurses and Midwife, and Registered Lady Visitor. Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal. SUMMITS & CONFERENCES 79th Session of the UN General Assembly The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially opened, at the UN headquarters in New York. Marking a historic moment as Palestine was given a seat next to UN member states. Palestine is not a full member of the 193 member UN body. The session, led by new President Philemon Yang, will focus on resolving global conflicts and addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change. "Summit of the Future" which bring together world leaders together in New York will take place at UN Headquarters on September 22-23. UN Secretary-General: António Guterres. 14 BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting 2024 Convened in Sochi, Russia The second and final Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting under Russian Presidency was held in Sochi, Russia. The Indian delegation led by Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment participated in the deliberations of draft Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting declaration which will be adopted during Labour and Employment Ministers' meeting scheduled to be held on 9-10 September 2024. The EWG meeting focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration. The deliberations at the Employment Working Group Meeting began with delegates carrying forward outcomes from the previous meetings. The priority areas for the discussions were strategies for life-long learning, vocational guidance, modernisation of employment services, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, and social support mechanism. Apart from representatives of member states i.e Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the representatives of new member states i.e. UAE, Egypt, Iran and representatives of International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA) also made suggestions on the priority issues. Indian delegation emphasized the need for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce to meet the demands of changing world of work. Quad Summit to be held in Biden’s hometown on Sept 21 after India, US swap hosting duties India and the United States have “swapped” hosting the Quad Summit so as to allow U.S. President Joseph Biden to hold the Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from his hometown of Delaware, said sources, confirming that the summit will be held later this month in the United States rather than India. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Addresses 44th General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, addressed the 44th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Dr. Mandaviya informed the delegates about the various initiatives undertaken by the Government of India in the last 0 years to promote sports excellence and foster a strong sporting culture across the country. He emphasized the pivotal role of Government programs like ‘Khelo India,’ ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS),’ and ‘Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action (ASMITA)’ in elevating sports standards nationwide. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced India’s bid for the 2030 Youth Olympics. 15 India to Host 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation India will host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation from September 11 to 12 in New Delhi. The conference will focus on regional aviation growth and sustainability. India aims to become a major hub for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, cargo operations, and strengthen its position as the third-largest domestic aviation market. Key initiatives include developing new greenfield airports and implementing policies like UDAN to boost regional air connectivity. PM Modi to Inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on September 11. The conference, running from September 11 to 13, is themed “Shaping the Semiconductor Future.” It aims to highlight India’s semiconductor strategy and its goal of becoming a global hub for the industry. The event will feature over 250 exhibitors and 150 speakers, including top leaders from global semiconductor companies. First ever India-GCC Ministerial meeting held in Riyadh The first India -GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue was on 9 September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. It was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar, who is the current GCC President. All GCC foreign ministers and Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi attended the meeting. A Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, focusing on collaboration in areas such as health, trade, security, agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, and culture. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE. Around 8.9 million Indians live and work in these countries. In 2023-24, trade between India and the GCC was USD 161.59 billion, with India’s exports at USD 56.3 billion and imports at USD 105.3 billion. GCC countries are also crucial to India's energy security due to their significant oil and gas reserves. IBC organized 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) commenced the 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave on the theme “Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance and Sustainable Development”. The event commenced by Mr. Gurumurthy, Chairman VIF, Ven Jangchuk Choeden, Secretary General, IBC, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF who were joined by three-time Grammy awardee Shri Ricky Kej. 16  BANKING & ECONOMY Education loans to remain among fastest growing segments for NBFCs: Crisil Education loans, primarily those to fund courses overseas, will continue to be among the fastest growing segments for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) because of rising demand for higher education, said Crisil Ratings. Their assets under management (AUM) is expected to grow at a healthy clip of 40-45 per cent to cross Rs 60,000 crore this fiscal, as per the rating agency. The assets under management (AUM) is the market value of the investments managed by the entities. After robust growth of over 80 per cent and 70 per cent in fiscals 2023 and 2024, respectively, NBFCs' education loan assets under management (AUM) rose to Rs 43,000 crore as on March 31, 2024. NIIF gets CCI's approval to acquire additional stake in Ather Energy The Competition Commission of India has approved the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund's (NIIF) proposal to acquire an additional stake in Ather Energy. The acquirer (India-Japan Fund) proposes to acquire certain Series G Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Ather," the egulator said in an order. India-Japan Fund (IJF) is a fund managed by NIIF. The fund focuses on investing in environmental sustainability, and low-carbon emission strategies and promoting investments by Japanese companies in India. The transaction will help IJF further its goals by creating value for the broader market for electric two-wheelers, clean mobility transport solutions, and technology-led last-mile transport vehicles. Canara Bank issues $300 million in 5-year bonds through IFSC banking unit Canara Bank, a public-sector institution, announced that it has successfully priced $300 million in 5-year bonds. These bonds were issued under its USD 3 billion Medium-Term Note (MTN) through its IFSC Banking Unit. The 5-year bond is priced at T+125 basis points, with a semi-annual coupon rate of 4.896 per cent and a maturity date of September 11, 2029. The proceeds from the bonds will be used by the issuer’s IFSC/GIFT banking unit for general corporate purposes. SBI Foundation’s Asha Scholarship Program SBI Foundation has launched the 3rd edition of its flagship Asha Scholarship Program, through which 10,000 meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds nationwide will receive financial support. Students from Class 6 to the postgraduate level can avail of scholarships ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,00,000. 17  Additionally, students belonging to the SC and ST categories intending to move outside the country for higher studies can avail the benefits of the ‘Study Abroad’ scheme. RBL Bank launches fuel credit card with IOCL RBL Bank has launched the 'Xtra Credit Card' in partnership with Indian Oil Corporation, offering customers up to 8.5% savings on fuel purchases. The bank expects a moderate growth of 12-15% in its credit card portfolio this fiscal year. The card will be issued via the Mastercard network and offers significant fuel points for every ₹100 spent. Star Health Insurance launches India's first insurance policy in Braille Star Health Insurance has introduced the 'Special Care Gold' policy in Braille to provide tailored coverage for individuals with 40% or more disability, including physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, ensuring they can independently manage their health and finances. The company also launched a diversity and financial inclusivity initiative, aiming to empower the 34 million visually impaired individuals in India by offering training and job opportunities to become health insurance agents, in collaboration with the National Association of the Blind. RBI imposes monetary penalty on Axis Bank and HDFC Bank Axis Bank fined ₹1.91 crore for issues with interest rates, KYC, and collateral- free agricultural loans. HDFC Bank fined ₹1 crore for exceeding promotional gift limits and KYC violations. Axis Bank had problems with incorrect customer IDs, ineligible accounts, and improper collateral in agricultural loans. HDFC Bank's issues included offering excessive insurance premiums and failing to adhere to customer contact time restrictions. RBI emphasized that penalties are for regulatory non compliance, not the validity of transactions. Axis Bank: HDFC BANK: ❖ Tag Line: BadhtiKa Naam Zindagi Tagline of the Bank: We Understand Your World ❖ MD and CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary MD & CEO of the Bank :SashidharJagdishan ❖ Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra Headquarters: Mumbai Union Bank of India becomes 1st major bank to become signatory of PCAF Union Bank of India has become the first major bank to sign the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). PCAF is a global initiative that standardizes the assessment and disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions associated with loans and investments. This move aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s draft guidelines, which mandate stricter climate risk reporting for banks. 18  The RBI’s draft guidelines, issued in February 2024, require banks to disclose information on governance, strategy, risk management, and climate-related metrics and targets. Union Bank of India: ❖ HQ: Mumbai ❖ Tagline: Good People to Bank With ❖ MD & CEO: Ms. A. Manimekhalai ONDC launches Saarthi App to help businesses build multilingual buyer platforms The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has announced the launch of 'Saarthi', a reference application which has been designed to assist businesses in creating customised multilingual buyer apps. Co-developed with Bhashini, an AI-driven language translation tool. The Saarthi app will offer advanced multilingual features for a more inclusive digital commerce experience to ONDC participants. The application initially supports 5 languages- Hindi, English, Marathi, Bangla, Tamil, it plans to scale up to all 22 languages provided by Bhashini. MD and CEO of ONDC MD & CEO: T Koshy Digital India Bhashini Division CEO: Amitabh Nag DICGC introduces ‘Daava Soochak’ for depositors to track claim status The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) has introduced an online tool, ‘Daava Soochak’, to help depositors track the status of their claims. The tool allows depositors of failed banks to monitor their claim progress by entering their registered mobile numbers on the DICGC website. Initially, it will cover banks under All-Inclusive Directions (AID) from April 1, 2024, onwards. DICGC, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ensures reimbursement of insured deposits up to Rs 5 lakh per depositor. Currently, 97.8% of all deposit accounts in India are fully protected under this scheme. In 2023-24, the DICGC settled claims amounting to Rs 1,432 crore for liquidated banks and those under AID, while recovering Rs 900.73 crore, mostly from liquidated and transferee banks. As of March 2024, 1,997 banks are registered with DICGC for deposit insurance, including 140 commercial banks and 1,857 cooperative banks. UPI users can now send Rs 5 lakh for some transactions The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has increased transaction limits for tax payments using Unified payments Interface (UPI), allowing people to transfer Rs 5lakh in a single transaction. The enhancement of the limit for tax payments through UPI from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. Acquiring entities must ensure that the classification of their merchants within MCC 9311 strictly adheres to the tax payments only. 19  The RBI’s draft guidelines, issued in February 2024, require banks to disclose information on governance, strategy, risk management, and climate-related metrics and targets. Merchants shall ensure UPI as a payment mode is enabled for the increased limit for the tax payments category. Consumers can now make UPI payments of up to Rs 5 lakh per transaction for the following categories: a) Tax payments, b) Hospital and educational services, and c) IPOs and government securities. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on three non banking financial companies(NBFCs) The RBI notifications highlighted that these penalties, issued between September 3 and September 11, 2024, were levied on Hewlett Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, SMFG India Credit Company Limited, and Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance Limited. RBI imposed a penalty of ₹10,40,000 on Hewlett Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited. The penalty was levied due to non compliance with the 'Know Your Customer (KYC)' guidelines and other directives applicable to systemically important non deposit taking NBFCs. SMFG India Credit Company Limited (formerly known as Fullerton India Credit Company Limited) was fined ₹23,10,000 for violating RBI's Information Technology (IT) and cybersecurity Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance Limited was penalized ₹7,90,000 for failing to comply with RBI's liquidity risk management framework and other relevant guidelines. India’s forex reserves rise $5.25 billion to new peak of $689.24 billion India's forex reserves jumped $5.248 billion to a new all time high of $689.235 billion for the week ended September 6. The overall kitty had jumped by $2.299 billion to a record $683.987 billion for the previous reporting week. Gold reserves increased by $129 million to $61.988 billion during the week, the RBI said. The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $4 million to $18.472 billion, the apex bank said. India's reserve position with the IMF was up by $9 million to $4.631 billion in the reporting week. SURVEYS India overtakes China in MSCI's Emerging Markets Investable Market Index Morgan Stanley reported that India has now surpassed China to become the largest weighting in the MSCI Emerging Market Investable Market Index (EMIMI) where India’s weightage was 22.27 per cent as compared to 21.58 per cent of China. Key factors contributing to this positive trend include a 47 per cent increase in 20  foreign direct investment (FDI) in the early part of 2024, decreasing Brent crude prices, and substantial foreign portfolio investment (FPI) in Indian debt markets. According to analysts' estimates post this rejig in the index, Indian Equities could witness inflows of about 4 to 4.5 billion dollars. Switzerland Is No. 1 in the World: According to 2024 Best Countries Report Switzerland has placed first in the Best Countries Ranking 2024 for the third year in a row, while India ranks at 33, three spots below last year. The Best Countries Ranking 2024 Published by US News & World Report. The survey ranks 89 countries on the basis of their global perception using 10 differentially weighted sub-rankings such as adventure, agility, heritage, entrepreneurship, quality of life, cultural purpose and more. Top 5 rankings: 1. Switzerland 2. Japan 3. United States of America 4. Canada 5. Australia India emerges as second-largest global 5G smartphone market, overtakes US According to a new report from Counterpoint Research, India has emerged as the world’s second-largest market for 5G smartphones, trailing only behind China. Brands like Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, especially in the budget segment, have been key to this growth. China maintains the leading position with a 32 per cent share of the global 5G smartphone market, while India holds 13 per cent. The US has fallen to third place with a 10 per cent market share. Globally, Apple leads in 5G handset shipments with over 25 per cent of the market. India emerges as the largest plastic polluter globally India is the largest contributor to plastic waste globally, generating 9.3 million tons annually, significantly more than other populous countries. Ineffective waste management is a major issue, with nearly two thirds of plastic pollution originating from uncollected and poorly disposed waste due to inadequate waste collection services. 1) India: 9.3 million metric tonnes annually. 2) Nigeria: 3.5 million metric tonnes annually. 3) Indonesia: 3.4 million metric tonnes annually. 4) China: 2.8 million metric tonnes annually. 5) Russia: ranked fifth in terms of absolute plastic emissions. Adani Group honoured in TIME's World's Best Companies of 2024 21  The Adani Group has been featured in TIME magazine’s prestigious ‘World’s Best Companies of 2024’ list. The list was prepared in collaboration with Statista, a global industry ranking and statistics portal. The ‘World’s Best Companies 2024’ list, is based on a rigorous analysis across three key dimensions employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability (ESG). 1) Employee Satisfaction: Surveys conducted in over 50 countries with around 170,000 participants assessed companies based on direct and indirect recommendations, work conditions, salary, equality, and overall company image. 2) Revenue Growth: Companies with revenues exceeding US$100 million in 2023 and demonstrated growth from 2021 to 2023 were evaluated. 3) Sustainability (ESG): Companies were assessed based on standardized ESG KPIs from Statista’s ESG Database and targeted research. Notably , eight out of eleven listed Adani portfolio companies were considered in this evaluation, reflecting a comprehensive performance across the group. The other three listed companies are subsidiaries of these eight companies. IMPORTANT DAYS 8 September - International Literacy Day International Literacy Day is observed on 8 September every year to make people aware of the importance of literacy which no doubt is a matter of dignity and human rights. Established by UNESCO in 1967, this day has grown into a global movement, drawing attention to the challenges of illiteracy and advocating for accessible education for all. The theme for International Literacy Day 2024 is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.” International Day to Protect Education from Attack The 5th Observance of the UN International Day to Protect Education from Attack is set to take place on September 9, 2024, in Doha, Qatar. This crucial event will be held at the QNCC Auditorium 3, featuring a High-Level Panel led by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and UN SDG Advocate. World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). WSPD is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). The triennial theme for WSPD for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation". This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. 22 National Forest Martyrs Day National Forest Martyrs Day is observed annually on September 11 in India. The day is dedicated to honouring the brave souls who sacrificed their lives protecting the country's forests, wildlife, and biodiversity. 12th September: International Day of South-South Cooperation The United Nations International Day of South-South Cooperation is celebrated annually on September 12. 2024 theme: “A better tomorrow through South-South Cooperation”. It provides an opportunity for member states to reaffirm the value and benefits of South-South cooperation. 14 September Hindi Diwas This day marks the anniversary of the Constituent Assembly of India’s decision to adopt Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the Republic of India on September 14, 1949. The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953. Constitution of India does not give any language the status of national language, Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the central government and the Union as per Article 343. World Hindi Day is observed on January 10 to commemorate the first World Hindi Conference held in January 1975 at Nagpur, Maharashtra. The first World Hindi Day was celebrated in 2006. September 15 : Engineer’s Day The National Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year across the country to mark the birth anniversary of M Visvesvaraya. The day is observed to honour the contributions made by Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya in the field of science and technology. In addition to India, Engineer’s Day is also observed in Sri Lanka and Tanzania on September 15. In 1968, the Government of India declared Sir M Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineers’ Day. Since then, this day has been marked to recognise and acknowledge all engineers who have contributed and still do so to build a modern and developed India. 15 September - International Day of Democracy Established by the UN General Assembly in 2007, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. First observed in 2008 Theme : Ensuring effective governance of AI at all levels. 23  INTERNATIONAL BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting 2024 Convened in Sochi,Russia The second and final Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting under Russian Presidency was held in Sochi, Russia. The Indian delegation led by Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment participated in the deliberations of draft Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting declaration which will be adopted during Labour and Employment Ministers' meeting scheduled to be held on 9-10 September 2024. The EWG meeting focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration. The deliberations at the Employment Working Group Meeting began with delegates carrying forward outcomes from the previous meetings. The priority areas for the discussions were strategies for life-long learning, vocational guidance, modernization of employment services, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, and social support mechanism. Apart from representatives of member states i.e Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the representatives of new member states i.e. UAE, Egypt, Iran and representatives of International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA) also made suggestions on the priority issues. Indian delegation emphasized the need for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce to meet the demands of changing world of work. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince meets PM Narendra Modi in Delhi Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on September 8 on his first official visit to India. He kick-started a two-day maiden visit to India to boost bilateral ties on a range of areas,including energy and connectivity, amid escalating tensions in West Asia. As India and U.S. agree to swap turns, Biden to host Quad Summit at his home State India and the United States have “swapped” hosting the Quad Summit so as to allow U.S. President Joseph Biden to hold the Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from His hometown of Delaware, said sources, confirming that the summit will be held later this month in the United States rather than India. Nepal Becomes 101st Member of International Solar Alliance Nepal has become the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance-ISA as a full member. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Nepal handed over its Instrument of Ratification to the ISA in New Delhi today. The Instrument of Ratification was exchanged during a meeting between Nepal’s Charge d’ affairs Dr. Surendra Thapa and Joint Secretary (ED&MER) in the External Affairs Ministry, Abhishek Singh ABOUT NEPAL: ❑ Capital: Kathmandu Currency: Nepalese Rupee ❑ PM: KP Sharma Oli 24 About International Solar Alliance (ISA): ❑ HQ: Haryana, India ❑ Director General: Dr Ajay Mathur Nepal Celebrates 111th Birth Anniversary of B P Koirala with Nationwide Events The 111th birth anniversary of BP Koirala, Nepal's first elected Prime Minister, is being celebrated today. BP Koirala founded the Nepali National Congress in 1946 AD during his exile in India to challenge the autocratic Rana regime. He became Home Minister in the Rana-Congress government after the 2007 revolution and was elected Prime Minister in the 2015 general elections. Besides his political career, BP Koirala was a prolific writer with over 18 literary works, including novels like ‘Tin Ghumti’ and ‘Sumnima’. Australia to legislate minimum age for social media to protect children Australia will introduce legislation to set a minimum age for social media to enhance child safety. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated this measure is to support parents and protect children online. This move comes in response to concerns from parents about the right age for children to use social media. A national poll found that two-thirds of parents are worried about excessive screen time and social media use among children, making these top health concerns for this year. The legislation will be presented in the current term of the Australian parliament. Although the exact minimum age is not yet set, it is expected to be between 14 and 16 years, with Albanese favoring a 16-year limit. About Australia: ❑ PM: Anthony Albanese Capital: Canberra ❑ Currency: Australian Dollar First ever India-GCC Ministerial meeting held in Riyadh The first India -GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue was on 9 September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. It was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.Jaishankar and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar, who is the current GCC President. All GCC foreign ministers and Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi attended the meeting. A Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, focusing on collaboration in areas such as health, trade, security, agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, and culture. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE. Around 8.9 million Indians live and work in these countries. In 2023-24, trade between India and the GCC was USD 161.59 billion, with 25  India’s exports at USD 56.3 billion and imports at USD 105.3 billion. GCC countries are also crucial to India's energy security due to their significant oil and gas reserves. 79th Session of the UN General Assembly The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially opened, at the UN headquarters in New York. Marking a historic moment as Palestine was given a seat next to UN member states. Palestine is not a full member of the 193 member UN body. The session, led by new President Philemon Yang, will focus on resolving global conflicts and addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change. "Summit of the Future" which bring together world leaders together in New York will take place at UN Headquarters on September 22-23. ❑ UN Secretary-General: António Guterres India sends Humanitarian Assistance to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe India has agreed to send food grains to these countries suffering from a food deficit due to the severe drought caused by adverse weather conditions caused by the El Nino phenomenon. El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean along the coast of Peru. India will provide 1000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice to Malawi and Zimbabwe each. India will also provide 2500 MT of maize to Zambia, and the first consignment, 1300 MT, has been dispatched. All the consignments to these African countries have been sent from the JNPT Nhava Sheva port, Mumbai. This assistance embodies India's principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam', the spirit of South-South Cooperation and our unwavering commitment towards Africa. India to be the Exclusive Partner for European Hydrogen Week in November 2024 India has been announced as the exclusive partner for the European Hydrogen Week, set to take place in November 2024. This announcement was made on the second day of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024), held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The partnership underscores India’s commitment to aligning with EU green regulations to enhance its export potential in the green hydrogen sector. The EU session chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe focused on the role of green hydrogen as a crucial component in global decarbonization efforts. Mexico became the world's first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels The reform was approved with 86 votes in favour and 41 against, garnering the two thirds majority needed to amend the constitution in an upper chamber dominated by the ruling Morena party and its allies. Around 1,600 judges will have to stand for election in 2025 or 2027. 26  In some countries, such as the US, some state judges are elected, and in others, such as in Bolivia, high level judges are elected.“ Recent News About Mexico: ❖ In June 2024, Sheinbaum won the Mexican general election in a landslide. ❖ She will be the first female president of Mexico and the first president from a predominantly Jewish ❖ background. She will take office on 1 October 2024. Mexico: ❑ Capital : The Mexico City ❑ Currency : Mexican Peso ❑ President : Andrés Manuel López Obrador SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY India successfully carries out launch of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile India has carried out a successful launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha. India successfully tested the new-generation nuclear-capable Agni-Prime ballistic missile from the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. It met all the trial objectives, validating its reliable performance. Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), had conducted that successful flight test. The Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear weapons-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed by India. AIIMS Delhi to Launch Dedicated Tobacco Cessation Clinic AIIMS Delhi will launch a Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC) in New Delhi To tackle the public health issue of tobacco use in India. The clinic, a joint effort of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) and the Department of Pulmonary, Critical, and Sleep Medicine, aims to assist individuals with tobacco addiction. AIIMS Director Professor M Srinivas emphasized that the TCC is part of the Tobacco-Free AIIMS initiative and will contribute to creating a healthier environment. India-USA joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas-2024 The 20th edition of the annual India-US Joint military exercise code-named Yudh Abhyas 2024 commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. The 2024 Yudh Abhays will be conducted from 9-22 Sept 2024. The exercise aims to enhance joint military capabilities for counter-terrorism operations in a semi-desert environment under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Yudh Abhyas has been conducted annually since 2004, alternating between India and the USA. 27  This year’s exercise features a significant expansion in scope and complexity, involving 600 personnel from each side. About US: ❑ Capital: Washington, D.C., Currency: US Dollar ❑ 46th President: Joe Biden Indian Navy launches Anti-Submarine Warfare vessels Malpe and Mulki at Cochin Shipyard The Indian Navy launched two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow water crafts, named Malpe and Mulki, at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kochi. These vessels are the fourth and fifth ships of the Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft project, initiated by a contract between the Indian Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd. on April 30, 2019. The project supports India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign defense imports. Over 80% of the materials used in these ships are indigenous, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in domestic defense manufacturing. China’s Geespace Successfully Launches 10 Satellites On Sept 6, 2024, Geespace, a company backed by Chinese automaker Geely, launched 10 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. This launch brings the total number of satellites in its constellation to 30, achieving 90% global coverage with 24- hour communication services. Geespace, established by Geely Technology Group in 2018, aims to create a satellite network akin to SpaceX's Starlink, with a planned constellation of nearly 6,000 LEO satellites to provide global broadband. This launch is part of the initial phase of Geespace’s project, which includes deploying 72 satellites by the end of 2025 to serve over 200 million users worldwide. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated IDAX-24 in Jodhpur The Indian Air Force is conducting one of its largest multinational air exercises, Tarang Shakti-24, in Jodhpur. On the sidelines of the event, the lAF also hosted the India Defence Aviation Exposition (IDAX-24) which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Scheduled from September 12-14 The event will provide an opportunity for the Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) and Indian audience to witness, experience and interact with participants from the Indian aviation industry, including DPSUs, DRDO, private industries (Tier-I, Il, III) and topnotch startups. (IANS). NASA to send $5 billion Europa Clipper in October NASA is preparing for the launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft on October 10. This $5 billion mission will explore one of Jupiter’s largest moons, Europa 28  Europa is slightly smaller than the earth’s moon, with a surface made of ice. Beneath its icy shell, Europa likely harbor's a saltwater ocean, which scientists expect contains over twice as much water as all the oceans here on Earth combined. With Europa Clipper, scientists want to investigate whether Europa’s ocean could be a suitable habitat for extraterrestrial life. India- Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najah V The Indian Army contingent departed for the 5th edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise AL NAJAH. To be conducted from 13th to 26th September 2024. At Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman. Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman. Last edition was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan. Undertake counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on operations in the Desert environment. Gensol Matrix to set up India's first green hydrogen valley project in Pune Gensol Engineering Limited and Matrix Gas & Renewables Limited have announced a partnership to develop India’s first Green Hydrogen Valley in Pune, Maharashtra. The project will supply green hydrogen to the specialty chemical industry around the clock for the next 20 years. DRDO & Indian Navy successfully flight tests ‘Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile’ (VL SRSAM) Launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur , off the coast of Odisha. The missile is designed to defend navy ships against low flying, high speed anti ship cruise missiles, drones, and similar threats. Russia launches largest naval drill The “Ocean 2024” Russia has launched its largest naval drill in decades The “Ocean 2024”, will be held simultaneously in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas from September 10 -16 The exercises will involve more than 400 battleships, submarines, and support vessels from the auxiliary fleet, along with over 120 aircraft and more than 90,000 personnel. China is also participating in the drills, contributing four vessels and 15 aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army. Representatives from 15 other nations were invited to observe the drills. SpaceX launches all-civilian crew for first private spacewalk A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida, carrying 4 civilians into orbit to attempt the world’s first private spacewalk 29  The five day mission, known as Polaris Dawn, is the first of three testing and development missions under the Polaris Program, which will be jointly executed by Isaacman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The first ever spacewalk was carried out on March 18, 1965, by the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS CDSL Secures SEBI Approval for Nehal Vora’s Appointment as MD & CEO Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) has announced a crucial step in its leadership transition The company has received the green light from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the appointment of Nehal Vora as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO). He has been serving as the MD & CEO since September 24, 2019. This reappointment, therefore, represents a vote of confidence in his leadership and the strategic direction he has set for the company over the past five years. Arun Goel Appointed as India’s Ambassador to Croatia Arun Goel has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Croatia, succeeding Raj Kumar Srivastava. The Ministry of External Affairs announced his new role on September 7, 2024. Goel, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, previously served as the Election Commissioner of India from November 21, 2022, to March 9, 2024. Tuhin Kanta Pandey Appointed as New Finance Secretary The Indian government has appointed Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, as the new Finance Secretary. An officer of 1987 batch Odisha Cadre, Mr Pandey is currently serving in Finance Ministry as Secretary in charge of two key domains, the Departments of Public Enterprises (DPE), and Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected as Algerian President for 5 year term Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected president with 94.7 percent vote Tebboune was elected for a second five-year term. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was first elected as the President of Algeria in 2019, which was boycotted by the opposition. ❑ About Algerian: Capital: Algiers Currency: Algerian Dinar ❑ President : Abdelmadjid Tebboune Amit Shah Re-Elected as Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Official Language Home Minister Amit Shah has been unanimously re-elected as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language. 30  He stated that the goal is for all government systems to operate in Indian languages by 2047. The Department of Official Language is developing software for automatic translation of all Eighth Schedule languages. The committee was reconstituted in a meeting held today in New Delhi following the formation of the new government. Shah previously chaired the committee from 2019 to 2024. Randhir Singh becomes first Indian to head Olympic Council of Asia Randhir Singh has become the first Indian to be elected as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia. At the 44th General Assembly of the OCA, Randhir Singh was the sole eligible candidate for the president's role and was unanimously elected. His term as president will span from 2024 to 2028. Previously acting president of the OCA since 2021; succeeded Sheikh Ahmad Al- Fahad Al-Sabah. Randhir Singh is a veteran sports administrator with extensive experience in Indian and Asian sports organizations. Subrata Mondal appointed as new MD & CEO of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Subrata Mondal has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company Limited, effective September 9, 2024. He replaced H O Suri, who has been serving as the MD & CEO of ITGI since October 2021 He has been with the company since 2001 and brings over 36 years of experience in the insurance industry to his new role. IFFCO Tokio is a joint venture between Indian Farmers Fertilisers Co-operative (IFFCO) and Tokio Marine Group, with a 51:49 ownership split. RS Sharma appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of ONDC The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) announced the appointment of RS Sharma as the non-executive chairperson of ONDC. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Sharma led many digital initiatives, including as the Director General and Mission Director of UIDAI, as the Chairman of TRAI, and as the CEO of the National Health Authority, and as the Chief Secretary for the Government of Jharkhand. He has also been a member of the ONDC Advisory Council and the ONDC Technology and Strategy Review Council. R. Ravindra appointed as India's next Ambassador to Iceland The Ministry of External Affairs has recently mandated senior IFS officer Mr. R Ravindra to take charge as India’s next Ambassador to Iceland. Mr. Ravindra, a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as India’s Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations and is expected to take up the new assignment shortly.. 31  Diplomat R Ravindra joined India’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations (UN) in New York in September 2020. Before that, he was posted as Joint Secretary (Central and West Africa) in the MEA in New Delhi. DEATHS Eminent English teacher, translator K. Chellappan is no more Eminent English professor K. Chellappan, who won the Sahitya Akademi award for his translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Gora into Tamil, passed away in Chennai, aged 88. Fondly known as K.C. in academic circles, K. Chellappan won the Sahitya Akademi award for translation in 2020. Mangey Khan, the 48-year-old lead vocalist and harmonium player of the Rajasthani Sufi folk group Barmer Boys, passed away The Manganiyars area Muslim community of folk musicians from the Thar Desert region of India and Pakistan. They live in the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India, and the districts of Tharparkar and Sanghar in Sindh, Pakistan. Polarising ex-Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori dies at 86 Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori, who spent 16 years in prison for crimes against humanity, died at the age of 86. Fujimori, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was released from prison on humanitarian grounds in December, two-thirds of the way through a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity during his rule. ❑ Capital: Lima; Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN) Veteran CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passes away Veteran politician and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury passed away at the age of 72. In recent times,Yechury emerged as the most popular face of his party despite CPI(M)'s shrinking inluence. In 1984, he joined the Central Committee of the CPI(M). 32