21st September, 2023

1. Udaan Bhawan, an Integrated Office Complex at Delhi’s Safdarjung Airport was inaugurated by Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
2. Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare launched the Kisan Rin Portal, WINDS portal, and a door-to-door KCC campaign.
3. The Lok Sabha passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Bill) for providing one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
4. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana’ for the welfare of the labour force of the state.
5. Tamil Nadu has signed an agreement with the British Council for two-way student mobility, capacity building, research and transnational education.
6. Assam government has announced to launch Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbharshil Asom Abhiyan scheme.
7. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has entered into an initial agreement with the Bank of Maharashtra to finance renewable energy projects.
8. Bharti AXA Life Insurance has launched a New Fund Offering (NFO) called the Emerging Equity Fund.
9. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed a steering committee to oversee the creation of its Bima Sugam platform.
10. The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a digital facility for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) to easily open NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts, including both savings and current accounts, through SBI’s YONO platform.
11. As per a new analysis by UNICEF and the World Bank, approximately 333 million children worldwide, or 1 in 6 children, live in extreme poverty.
12. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reduced India’s GDP projection for fiscal 2022-2023 from 6.4% to 6.3%.
13. The 2nd edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation (NIIO) Seminar, titled “Swavlamban 2023”, is scheduled for October 4-5, 2023, in New Delhi.
14. Indian Army has inducted 600 indigenously manufactured self-neutralizing anti-tank mines known as “Vibhav” into its arsenal.
15. Defence Ministry has approved the procurement of ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles for the Indian Army.
16. Indian Army organized the inaugural “General SF Rodrigues Memorial Lecture” at the Manekshaw Centre to commemorate the 90th birthday of Late General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Governor of Punjab.
17. September 18 – World Water Monitoring Day
18. September 18-24 – International Week of Deaf People; Theme – A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!
19. September 23 – International Day of Sign Languages; Theme – Sign languages unite us!
20. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spanish motorsports racing driver) won the Singapore Grand Prix 2023.
21. Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain have been named India’s flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony scheduled to take place on September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
22. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed New York, Dallas and Florida as the three venues for the USA-leg of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2024.
23. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the IIT-Bombay signed an MoU to improve food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and livelihoods in India.
24. RBI has approved the re-appointment of HDFC Bank’s managing director Sashidhar Jagdishan for a period of three years with effect from October 27.
25. Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Chairman of R.K. Swamy Hansa Group, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the year 2023-2024.
26. N. Neela, the younger of the Sikkil Sisters, acclaimed flautists in the field of classical Carnatic music, passed away.
27. Renowned Indian American writer and documentary filmmaker Gita Mehta passed away

National News

1. Udaan Bhawan, an Integrated Office Complex at Delhi’s Safdarjung Airport was inaugurated by Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
   • The building is designed with sustainability features, GRIHA-5 rated, and it is eco-friendly.
   • The project cost was approximately Rs. 374.98 Crore.
   • An e-wallet facility was also launched. It will allow registered users to process fees for various regulatory approvals.
   • The e-wallet will be particularly useful for processing of fees for various regulatory approvals in the Bharatkosh portal and act as a prepaid wallet that would enable registered users to add funds in advance.
   • Initially, only NEFT/RTGS mode will be allowed for adding funds. The users would also be able to generate receipt and challan instantly.

2. Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare launched the Kisan Rin Portal, WINDS portal, and a door-to-door KCC campaign.
   • Kisan Rin Portal – It is a digital platform that offers a comprehensive view of farmer data, scheme utilisation progress, loan disbursement specifics, and interest subvention claims to increase seamless integration with banks for more effective and efficient agriculture credit.
   • WINDS portal – Weather Information Network Data Systems was launched in July 2023. It provides a comprehensive manual to various agricultural entities to make well-informed decisions.
   • The door-to-door KCC campaign will extend the benefits of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to non-KCC holder beneficiaries of the central scheme PM-KISAN.
     Source: BS
3. The Lok Sabha passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Bill) for providing one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
   • This is the One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Constitution Amendment Bill 2023.
     Source: The Hindu

State News

1. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana’ for the welfare of the labour force of the state.
   • Under the scheme, maternity benefit for families of workers has been enhanced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000; natural death compensation from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakhs and accidental death compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
   • To encourage sports amongst the children of workers, the scheme will have cash incentives of Rs 15,000 for Gold, Rs 10,000 for Silver, and Rs 8,000 for Bronze in any state-level tournament or competition.
   • For those excelling at the national level, Rs 30,000 for Gold, Rs 20,000 for Silver, and Rs 15,000 for bronze will be provided under the scheme.
     Source: NoA
2. Tamil Nadu has signed an agreement with the British Council for two-way student mobility, capacity building, research and transnational education.
   • The collaboration is facilitated through Going Global Partnerships (GGP), with seven Tamil Nadu universities partnering with nine UK universities.
   • Going Global Partnerships programme of British Council promotes collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning and transnational education in higher education institutions between India and the UK.
     Source: The Hindu and British Council
3. Assam government has announced to launch Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbharshil Asom Abhiyan scheme.
   • The scheme will provide a financial assistance for Rs. 2 lakh each to two lakh youth in a bid to make them self-reliant.
     Source: ET

Banking and Economy

1. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has entered into an initial agreement with the Bank of Maharashtra to finance renewable energy projects.
   • This collaboration aims to promote co-lending and loan syndication for various renewable energy projects across India.

2. Bharti AXA Life Insurance has launched a New Fund Offering (NFO) called the Emerging Equity Fund.
   • The Emerging Equity Fund is the company’s first mid-cap fund, aimed at providing long-term capital appreciation through investments in mid-cap companies.
   • Customers can access this fund through three of Bharti AXA Life’s ULIP Plans: Bharti AXA Life Wealth Pro, Bharti AXA Life Grow Wealth, and Bharti AXA Life Wealth Maximizer.
   • Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a joint venture between Bharti and AXA, with a 51% stake held by Bharti and a 49% stake held by AXA.
     Source: LiveMint
3. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed a steering committee to oversee the creation of its Bima Sugam platform.
   • This platform aims to provide a centralized marketplace for various insurance-related services, including policy purchase, claim settlement, insurance advice, and grievance redressal.
   • It will serve as a one-stop-shop for insurance companies, agents, brokers, banks, and aggregators, offering easy access to insurance-related services.
   • IRDAI has set a new deadline of July 2024 for the Bima Sugam project to go live after changing the deadline twice.
   • Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) has been appointed as the legal counsel for the project, responsible for incorporating a not-for-profit company that will own the Bima Sugam platform.
     Source: IE
4. The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a digital facility for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) to easily open NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts, including both savings and current accounts, through SBI’s YONO platform.
   • This service is specifically designed for the new customers to make the account opening process convenient and efficient.
     Source: LiveMint

Reports and Indices

1. As per a new analysis by UNICEF and the World Bank, approximately 333 million children worldwide, or 1 in 6 children, live in extreme poverty.
   • This extreme child poverty is defined as living on less than US $2.15 a day.
   • While there has been progress in reducing the number of children in extreme poverty from 383 million to 333 million (a 13% decrease) between 2013 and 2022, the economic impact of COVID-19 reversed the trend.
   • Target – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of ending extreme child poverty by 2030
   • Globally, over 50% of the extreme poor are children, even though they make up only one-third of the global population.
     Source: UNICEF

GDP Forecasts

1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reduced India’s GDP projection for fiscal 2022-2023 from 6.4% to 6.3%.
   • 2023-24 – 6.7%
     Source: LiveMint

Defence News

1. The 2nd edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation (NIIO) Seminar, titled “Swavlamban 2023”, is scheduled for October 4-5, 2023, in New Delhi.
   • The event will showcase 75 prototypes and feature live demonstrations of promising technologies. The Indian Navy is committed to developing at least 75 technologies or products.

2. Indian Army has inducted 600 indigenously manufactured self-neutralizing anti-tank mines known as “Vibhav” into its arsenal.
   • These mines are designed to provide mobility kill capability against all types of enemy armoured vehicles.
   • Developer – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
     Source: TOI

3. Defence Ministry has approved the procurement of ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles for the Indian Army.
   • The ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles have a range of 150-500 km and will be equipped with conventional warheads for tactical roles.
   • ‘Pralay’ is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
   • The advanced missile has been developed in a way to be able to defeat interceptor missiles. It can change its path after covering a certain range in midair.
     Source: ET

4. Indian Army organized the inaugural “General SF Rodrigues Memorial Lecture” at the Manekshaw Centre to commemorate the 90th birthday of Late General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Governor of Punjab.
   • The lecture was attended by General Manoj Pande, the current Chief of the Army Staff, and other senior serving and veteran officers of the Indian Army
     Source: PIB

Important Days

1. September 18 – World Water Monitoring Day
2. September 18-24 – International Week of Deaf People; Theme – A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!
   • Day-wise themes –

3. September 23 – International Day of Sign Languages; Theme – Sign languages unite us!
   • According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide.
   • More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.
     Source: UN

Sports

1. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spanish motorsports racing driver) won the Singapore Grand Prix 2023.
   Source: The Guardian
2. Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain have been named India’s flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony scheduled to take place on September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
   • The 19th edition of the Asian Games is set to commence on September 23.
     Source: ToI
3. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed New York, Dallas and Florida as the three venues for the USA-leg of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2024.
   • Broward County (Florida), Grand Prairie (Dallas) and Eisenhower Park (New York) will be the three stadiums hosting the matches in the US.
   • This is the first time the tournament will be played in the USA, and they will co-host it with the West Indies.
     Source: IE

Memorandum of Understanding

1. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the IIT-Bombay signed an MoU to improve food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and livelihoods in India.
   • The agreement includes –
   • Establishing a knowledge management system
   • Developing ecosystems for technology and innovations to support government food safety net programs
   • Creating real-time monitoring systems and dashboards using administrative data sets to generate evidence on food and nutrition security
   • Conducting a micro study to understand how climate change affects food security, nutrition, and livelihoods of vulnerable households
     Source: NoA

Appointments

1. RBI has approved the re-appointment of HDFC Bank’s managing director Sashidhar Jagdishan for a period of three years with effect from October 27.
   Source: ET
2. Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Chairman of R.K. Swamy Hansa Group, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the year 2023-2024.

Source: ABC and The Hindu

Miscellaneous

1. Neela, the younger of the Sikkil Sisters, acclaimed flautists in the field of classical Carnatic music, passed away.
   • A flautist is a person who plays the flute.
     Source: NoA
2. Renowned Indian American writer and documentary filmmaker Gita Mehta passed away.
   • Mehta was a journalist and documentary filmmaker who covered war and conflict, including the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971.
     Source: The Hindu

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