16th September, 2022

1. The first inter-modal digital TIR-based pilot transport was flagged off from India to Iran through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) corridor from Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port), Mumbai.
2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the United Nations Development Programme and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have been implementing the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme since 7 years.
3. MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) and Meta have launched an accelerator programme for the XR technology startups across India.
4. Union Health Minister has announced to launch the Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav – a nationwide voluntary blood donation drive from 17th September to 1st October.
5. Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the inclusion of tribes from Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
6. Tamil Nadu has declared Nanjarayan Tank in Tiruppur district as its 17th bird sanctuary.
7. Indore has signed an MOU with the firm Pataa Navigations to implement a fully digital addressing system, making it the first city in India to do so.
8. Uttar Pradesh has topped in the implementation of Mission Amrit Sarovars by developing a total of 8,462 Amrit Sarovars (lakes) in the state.
9. In 2020, Ministry of Defence has launched the ‘SRIJAN’ portal to promote indigenization by the defence industry.
10. Indian Navy has revived its training area at the Manasbal lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, 33 years after it was closed following the eruption of militancy in the erstwhile state.
11. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has signed an MOU with the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat for strengthening and capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country.
12. 22nd edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit will be held in the historical city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on Sept 15-16.
13. International Water Association (IWA) has organized the World Water Congress and Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
14. Google has acquired Mandiant (cyber-security firm) for $5.4 billion to strengthen the cybersecurity.
15. Mastercard has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Lighthouse MASSIV: a free of charge startup partnership program to support impact tech companies.
16. ICICI Lombard, India’s leading private non-life insurance company, has collaborated with ai, an AI-powered SaaS voice automation platform, to launch a first-of-its-kind AI-powered Digital Voice Agent.
17. SBI has become the third lender in the country to cross the market cap of Rs 5 lakh crore.
18. Indore-based carbon credit developer and supplier EKI Energy Services (EKI) has listed a first-ever plastic project from India with Verra- global accreditation standard.
19. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has mandated banks not to deduct 10% tax at source (TDS) on one-time settlement (OTS) or loan waivers.
20. Upskilling unicorn upGrad Education Pvt. Ltd has bought New Delhi-based learning solutions platform Centum Learning in a share-swap deal.
21. CSC e-Governance India SPV has appointed Sanjay Kumar Rakesh as its managing director.
22. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi is set to become the Attorney General of India for a second time from October 1, 2022.
23. September 14 – Hindi Diwas (Hindi was adopted as the official language of the Union of India on Sept 14, 1949)
24. Union Cabinet has approved the signing for hosting the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
25. “Rajini’s Mantras: Life lessons from one of India’s most-loved superstars” book has been authored by C. Balasubramanian.
26. Naresh Kumar (tennis doyen) has passed away.

National News

1. The first inter-modal digital TIR-based pilot transport was flagged off from India to Iran through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) corridor from Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port), Mumbai.
   • The INSTC is India’s vision and initiative to reduce the time taken for EXIM shipments to reach Russia and Europe, and enter the Central Asian markets.
   • The TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers’ or International Road Transports) system plays an important role in facilitating cross-border trade for improving the regional trade.
   • It helps in facilitation of trade and transport, preventing delays in border crossing operations by minimising the formalities, which decreases the transportation costs.

2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the United Nations Development Programme and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have been implementing the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme since 7 years.
   • The programme provides financial and technical support to projects that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing the lives of local communities.
3. MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) and Meta have launched an accelerator programme for the XR technology startups across India.
   • This initiative, XR (means Extended reality) Startup Program focuses on start-ups working in the field of emerging technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the country.
   • The Accelerator Program will support 40 early-stage start-ups working in XR technologies with a grant of Rs 20 lakhs
   • The XR Startup Program is supported by Meta’s XR Programs and Research Fund worth $50 million.
   • Implementing Agencies –
     • International Institute of Information Technology – Hyderabad Foundation
     • AIC SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI), Sikkim
     • Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC), Ahmedabad
     • Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi
4. Union Health Minister has announced to launch the Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav – a nationwide voluntary blood donation drive from 17th September to 1st October.
   • 1st October is observed as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
   • Union Health Ministry has also launched the E-Rakt Kosh portal where donors can register for blood donation, starting from September 17 onwards. Another option is Arogya Setu App registration where donors can register.
5. Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the inclusion of tribes from Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
   • Hattee community of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district
   • ‘Gonds’ along with its five sub-castes in the Bhadohi (earlier Sant Ravidas Nagar) District of Uttar Pradesh
   • ‘Narikoravan along with the Kurivikkaran’ community from Tamil Nadu
   • ‘Betta-Kuruba’ community from Karnataka
   • 12 caste communities of Chhattisgarh were included in ST

State News

1. Tamil Nadu has declared Nanjarayan Tank in Tiruppur district as its 17th bird sanctuary.
2. Indore has signed an MOU with the firm Pataa Navigations to implement a fully digital addressing system, making it the first city in India to do so.
   • The MoU is signed by Rajat Jain, co-founder of Pataa Navigations, and Rishav Gupta, CEO of Indore Smart City.
   • Pataa has developed patented technology for the system and is working with ISRO to develop a digital addressing system for the nation.
3. Uttar Pradesh has topped in the implementation of Mission Amrit Sarovars by developing a total of 8,462 Amrit Sarovars (lakes) in the state.
   • Madhya Pradesh is ranked at the second position, followed by Jammu and Kashmir at third, Rajasthan at fourth and Tamil Nadu at fifth positions.
   • Within Uttar Pradesh, Lakhimpur Kheri has secured first position by constructing 256 Amrit Sarovars in the state.
   • A total of 20 lakh Amrit Sarovars will be developed in the state, which is the highest in the country.

Defence News

1. In 2020, Ministry of Defence has launched the ‘SRIJAN’ portal to promote indigenization by the defence industry.
   • Technology Development Board has announced to support M/s Ghaziabad Precision Products Private Limited, (GPP) for the development of accessory components of SU-30MK1 Aircraft, valve train components of 1500 HP Battle Tank Engine etc.
   • TDB has approved assistance of ₹5.5 crores out of ₹14.2 crores of the total project cost.
2. Indian Navy has revived its training area at the Manasbal lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, 33 years after it was closed following the eruption of militancy in the erstwhile state.

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has signed an MOU with the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat for strengthening and capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country.
   • Under the MOU, both entities will establish a framework to collaborate in the area of Gram Panchayat Development Planning for Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

International News

1. 22nd edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit will be held in the historical city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on Sept 15-16.
   • The Beijing-headquartered SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc consisting of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
   • Iran is expected to become the latest member of the bloc this year.
   • India will also assume the presidency at the end of the summit until September 2023.
2. International Water Association (IWA) has organized the World Water Congress and Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
   • India released a white paper titled ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ at the Congress.
   • The paper was prepared by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK) and IIT-Bombay.
   • Next Generation Water Action (NGWA) is an international initiative with the ambition to engage young talents from leading universities and innovation hubs before, during and after the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2022.

Banking and Economy

1. Google has acquired Mandiant (cyber-security firm) for $5.4 billion to strengthen the cybersecurity.
2. Mastercard has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Lighthouse MASSIV: a free of charge startup partnership program to support impact tech companies.
   • Since its launch in 2019, Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV has featured scale-ready companies focused on solving global challenges like climate change, poverty, and social and economic exclusion.
3. ICICI Lombard, India’s leading private non-life insurance company, has collaborated with ai, an AI-powered SaaS voice automation platform, to launch a first-of-its-kind AI-powered Digital Voice Agent.
   • Purpose – to help customers seeking the status of their insurance claims for health and motor insurance policies
   • Through natural, human-feeling communication, the Digital Voice Agent will effectively reduce average call handling time, boost call containment rates, and automate customer engagements.
4. SBI has become the third lender in the country to cross the market cap of Rs 5 lakh crore.
   • HDFC Bank holds the first rank in this list with an m-cap of Rs 8.52 trillion, followed by ICICI Bank with Rs 6.40 trillion m-cap.
5. Indore-based carbon credit developer and supplier EKI Energy Services (EKI) has listed a first-ever plastic project from India with Verra- global accreditation standard.
   • This will be the first project to generate International Plastic Credits for collecting and recycling plastic wastes in the country.
6. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has mandated banks not to deduct 10% tax at source (TDS) on one-time settlement (OTS) or loan waivers.
   • The exemption will be available to all public financial institutions, scheduled banks, cooperative banks, rural development banks, state financial corporations, and state industrial investment corporations.
   • Budget 2022-23 had introduced a new section, 194R, in the Income Tax Act, which required TDS at a rate of 10% by any person providing any benefit or perquisite exceeding ₹20,000 in a year to a resident, arising from his business or profession.
7. Upskilling unicorn upGrad Education Pvt. Ltd has bought New Delhi-based learning solutions platform Centum Learning in a share-swap deal.
   • Centum Learning was a wholly owned unit of Bharti Enterprises Ltd, which is also the parent of telecom operator Bharti Airtel.

Appointments

1. CSC e-Governance India SPV has appointed Sanjay Kumar Rakesh as its managing director.
2. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi is set to become the Attorney General of India for a second time from October 1, 2022.
   • Venugopal was the 15th Attorney General of India.

Important Days

1. September 14 – Hindi Diwas (Hindi was adopted as the official language of the Union of India on Sept 14, 1949)
   • January 10 – World Hindi Day

Sports

1. Union Cabinet has approved the signing for hosting the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
   • Venue of the World Cup – Bhubaneshwar, Navi Mumbai and Goa.

Miscellaneous

1. “Rajini’s Mantras: Life lessons from one of India’s most-loved superstars” book has been authored by C. Balasubramanian.
2. Naresh Kumar (tennis doyen) has passed away.

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