17th-19th September, 2022

1. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in West Bengal’s Darjeeling has been adjudged the best zoo in the country.
2. Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Narayan Rane chaired the 18th meeting of the National Board of MSME.
3. NITI Aayog has hosted the first anniversary of Shoonya Campaign, which was launched in 2021 to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry.
4. Election Commission of India has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘BLO e-Patrika’ interactive session with the Booth Level Officers at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
5. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will be providing access to all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) on the e-Baal Nidan portal.
6. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening ’ programme for students of classes 1 to 5.
7. Maharashtra government has become the first state to digitise the process of property registrations.
8. Union Cabinet has approved the Value-Added Agriculture Mission (VAAM) of Kerala for doubling farmers’ income in the state.
9. Tamil Nadu government has rolled out the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ for government school students from classes 1 to 5.
10. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has approved a proposal for granting 77% reservation in state government jobs for the members of the SC, ST, backward classes, OBC and economically weaker sections.
11. Border Security Force’s (BSF) first female camel riding squad is ready to be deployed along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
12. NTPC and REC Ltd have signed an MOU with National Sports Development Funds (NSDF) and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with National Sports Development Fund.
13. RattanIndia Enterprises has launched its first anti-drone product ‘Defender’.
14. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has diluted its stake in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals from 6.402% to 4.357%.
15. IBM and Bharti Airtel have partnered to deploy Airtel’s edge computing platform in India, which will include 120 network data centres across 20 cities.
16. Ministry of Finance has issued draft guidelines for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to raise money from capital market through rights issue, private placement with select investors such as large banks and insurance companies, and initial public offerings (IPO).
17. ENGIE (clean energy firm) has collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through its arm Solaire Direct Energy India to train 600 youths in solar module programmes.
18. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chaired the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting in Mumbai.
19. Redington Ltd (information technology solutions provider) has partnered with Google Cloud India for driving distribution and adoption of Google Workspace and Cloud with small and medium businesses.
20. 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index Top 20 has been released by the crypto analysis platform Chainalysis.
21. Fitch has reduced India’s GDP forecast to 7% for FY23 and 6.7% for FY24.
22. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has elected Mr Vinod Aggarwal (MD & CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd) as its new President for 2022-23.
23. National Engineers Day
24. International Day of Democracy
25. Kantar Brandz has released its Most Valuable Indian Brands 2022 report.
26. India has won the SAFF U-17 Championship 2022 by beating Nepal at Race Course Stadium, Columbo, Sri Lanka.
27. Rachael Haynes (Vice-Captain of Australian women’s cricket team) has retired from cricket.
28. Robin Uthappa has announced retirement from cricket.
29. Vinesh Phogat has become the first Indian woman wrestler to win a bronze in 53kg at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Sweden.
30. Roger Federer (Swiss tennis player) has announced his retirement.
31. Pranav Anand has become India’s 76th Grandmaster after crossing 2500 Elo mark during the World Youth Chess Championship in Romania.

National News

1. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in West Bengal’s Darjeeling has been adjudged the best zoo in the country.
   • Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai has secured the second position, followed by the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore, Karnataka, and Kolkata’s Alipore Zoological Garden.
   • The data was released by the Central Zoo Authority.
2. Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Narayan Rane chaired the 18th meeting of the National Board of MSME.
   • During the meeting, he launched a dedicated portal to promote micro, small and medium enterprises in the North-East Region (NER) and Sikkim.
   • Also, the integration of Udyam and National Career Service was announced for providing job opportunities to the aspiring youth in the MSME sector.
   • An MOU was signed between the Ministry of MSME and Common Service Centre for Udyam Registration Portal.
3. NITI Aayog has hosted the first anniversary of Shoonya Campaign, which was launched in 2021 to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry.
   • The campaign aims to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about the benefits of zero-pollution delivery.
4. Election Commission of India has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘BLO e-Patrika’ interactive session with the Booth Level Officers at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
   • January 25 – National Voters’ Day
5. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will be providing access to all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) on the e-Baal Nidan portal.
   • The Commission, to fulfil its mandate and functions under Section 13 of the CPCR Act, 2005 developed an online complaint mechanism ‘E-BaalNidan’ (www.ebaalnidan.nic.in) in 2015.
   • It is an online portal, wherein any person can register a complaint reporting any violation committed against a child and after such registration, the complainant will get a complaint registration number.
6. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening ’ programme for students of classes 1 to 5.
   • This ‘Awakening’ programme is an initiative towards ensuring overall personality development of a child in line with the philosophy of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
   • While implementing NEP 2020, there must be an emphasis on creating value-based educational programmes for classes 9 to 12, in addition to those in classes 1-8.
   • CBSE will institute an advisory framework for encouraging value-based education in all schools from Bal Vatika to Class XII for creating a talent pool ready for challenges of life and committed to national progress and global welfare.
   • Ramakrishna Paramahansa was an Indian Hindu mystic and religious leader who lived in the 19th century Bengal.

State News

1. Maharashtra government has become the first state to digitise the process of property registrations.
   • The state govt has also launched a portal named “Self-Help” for the property registration.
2. Union Cabinet has approved the Value-Added Agriculture Mission (VAAM) of Kerala for doubling farmers’ income in the state.
   • The mission would focus on the production methods, technologies and marketing services that would add value to primary agricultural produce and enhance their marketability.
   • The VAAM will help identify profitable national/international markets for Kerala products by focusing on procurement, standardisation, quality control, branding and labelling.
3. Tamil Nadu government has rolled out the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ for government school students from classes 1 to 5.
4. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has approved a proposal for granting 77% reservation in state government jobs for the members of the SC, ST, backward classes, OBC and economically weaker sections.
   • The state has also hiked the OBC reservation to 27% from the present 14%.

Defence News

1. Border Security Force’s (BSF) first female camel riding squad is ready to be deployed along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
   • The squad will participate for the first time in the BSF Raising Day Parade on 1st December.
   • This Squad will be the first of its kind in the world.

Memorandum of Understanding

1. NTPC and REC Ltd have signed an MOU with National Sports Development Funds (NSDF) and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with National Sports Development Fund.
   • Both entities are PSUs under the Ministry of Power.

Banking and Economy

1. RattanIndia Enterprises has launched its first anti-drone product ‘Defender’.
   • 70% of Defender will be developed indigenously. The manufacturing will take place at Throttle Aerospace’s Bengaluru manufacturing facility.
   • Throttle Aerospace is a subsidiary of RattanIndia Enterprises.
2. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has diluted its stake in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals from 6.402% to 4.357%.
   • GSK Global HQ – UK
   • GSK India HQ – Maharashtra
3. IBM and Bharti Airtel have partnered to deploy Airtel’s edge computing platform in India, which will include 120 network data centres across 20 cities.
   • This platform will help the multiple industries, including manufacturing and automotive, in creating innovative solutions to the clients.
4. Ministry of Finance has issued draft guidelines for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to raise money from capital market through rights issue, private placement with select investors such as large banks and insurance companies, and initial public offerings (IPO).
   • Currently, there are 43 RRBs sponsored by 12 Scheduled Commercial Banks with 21,892 branches across the country.
   • Owners of RRBs –
     • Central Govt – 50%
     • State Govt – 15%
     • Sponsoring Bank – 35%
   • Guidelines –
     • Before issuing new shares in the market, RRBs should consider issuing bonus shares and a Rights Issue to existing shareholders.
     • Eligibility criteria for RRBs which can issue shares –
       • Net worth of at least ₹300 crore in each of the preceding three years
       • Minimum capital to risk-weighted assets ratio above the regulatory requirement of 9% in each of the preceding three years
       • Track record of profitability – pre-tax operating profit of minimum ₹15 crore for at least three out of previous five years, excluding extraordinary times
       • RRBs should have return on equity of minimum 10% in three out of preceding five years
       • Return on assets of minimum 0.5% in three out of preceding five years
5. ENGIE (clean energy firm) has collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through its arm Solaire Direct Energy India to train 600 youths in solar module programmes.
   • The goal of this partnership is to impart the knowledge, skill and necessary training for addressing the niche market of young graduates preparing to enter the employment market.
   • National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) aims to ensure that all of the training programmes are in light with the National Occupation Standards set by the Sector Skill Councils (SSC).
6. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chaired the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting in Mumbai.
   • India’s G20 Presidency will be in 2023.
7. Redington Ltd (information technology solutions provider) has partnered with Google Cloud India for driving distribution and adoption of Google Workspace and Cloud with small and medium businesses.
8. 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index Top 20 has been released by the crypto analysis platform Chainalysis.
   • Top Rank – Vietnam, followed by the Philippines and Ukraine
   • India’s Rank – 4^th (drop of two positions)
   • Parameters – crypto value received at centralized exchanges, retail value received at centralized exchanges, crypto value received from DeFi (decentralized finance) protocols, and peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange trade volume
   • As many as 18 out of the top 20 countries in crypto adoption were emerging markets.

GDP Forecasts

1. Fitch has reduced India’s GDP forecast to 7% for FY23 and 6.7% for FY24.

Appointments

1. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has elected Mr Vinod Aggarwal (MD & CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd) as its new President for 2022-23.

Important Days

1. September 15 –
   • National Engineers Day (birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya- India’s civil engineer)
   • World Lymphoma Awareness Day
2. September 16 – International Day of Democracy

Awards

1. Kantar Brandz has released its Most Valuable Indian Brands 2022 report.
   • Most valuable brand of India – TCS, followed by HDFC Bank
   • HDFC Bank has held the no. 1 position since 2014.

Sports

1. India has won the SAFF U-17 Championship 2022 by beating Nepal at Race Course Stadium, Columbo, Sri Lanka.
2. Rachael Haynes (Vice-Captain of Australian women’s cricket team) has retired from cricket.
3. Robin Uthappa has announced retirement from cricket.
4. Vinesh Phogat has become the first Indian woman wrestler to win a bronze in 53kg at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Sweden.
   • Phogat has, thus, become the first Indian woman wrestler to win two medals at the world wrestling championship. She won her first medal in 2019 edition in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
5. Roger Federer (Swiss tennis player) has announced his retirement.
6. Pranav Anand has become India’s 76th Grandmaster after crossing 2500 Elo mark during the World Youth Chess Championship in Romania.

Start Quiz of 17th-19th September 2022 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 17th-19th September 2022 on Desktop