22nd-24th September, 2023

1. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have signed an agreement under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
2. Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla launched the ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in partnership with NSDC and IndusInd Bank.
3. The World Governments Summit (WGS) Organisation has formed a knowledge partnership with India Global Forum.
4. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has received a 10-year recognition status from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), the highest standard in medical education and accreditation.
5. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) launched a mobile application and web portal for the General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES).
6. The Indian Railways has revised upwards the ex-gratia payments due in case of death or injuries during train travel. The revision is around 10 times of the existing rates.
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched nine new Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, bringing the total number of semi-high-speed trains to 34.
8. Bar Council of India organized the International Lawyer’s Conference 2023 on the theme of ‘Emerging Challenges in the Justice Delivery System’ at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
9. 75% of the total villages in India have achieved ODF Plus status under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
10. The National Health Authority (NHA) organized ‘Arogya Manthan’ to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the second anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
11. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the inaugural edition of the ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ or Indian Lighthouse Festival at Fort Aguada in Panjim, Goa.
12. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations to improve telecom infrastructure in the North-East region of India.
13. The fourth edition of ‘Nadi Utsav’ was organized by the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and the Janapada Sampada Division.
14. Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a system where birth registration certificates for newborns at government health facilities are issued immediately after delivery, eliminating the need for parents to apply separately.
15. Startup Odisha, an initiative of the Government of Odisha, has launched the Odisha Startup Growth Fund (Fund of Funds) with an initial corpus of 100 crores.
16. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the integrated electricity consumer portal of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL), which will allow consumers to pay their bills online.
17. Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has launched the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pusti Yojana for addressing the nutritional needs of pregnant women, girls aged 15 to 19, and malnourished children.
18. A biodiversity knowledge centre named Neelakkurinji has been set up at Adimaly, the entry point of the Munnar hill station.
19. Micron Technology, a US-based chipmaker, has conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for its $2.75 billion assembly, testing, and packaging plant (ATMP) in Sanand, Gujarat.
20. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi.
21. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to use International Standards to address global development challenges.
22. The United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (CAS) was held on September 20, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
23. According to the Reserve Bank of India data, household net financial savings in India have hit a nearly five-decade low at 5.1% of GDP in FY23, down from 7.2% in FY22.
24. The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on four co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
25. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is partnering with BankID BankAxept AS, the provider of Norway’s national payment and electronic identity systems, to establish and manage an operations command centre in Oslo, Norway.
26. WhatsApp Business in India will now allow customers to pay businesses through the app using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) method of their choice.
27. HDFC Bank’s subsidiary HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd has received approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire “aggregate holding” of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in each of the banks namely –
28. The State Bank of India (SBI) has raised approximately Rs 10,000 crore through the issuance of infrastructure bonds with a coupon rate of 7.49%.
29. PhonePe, a digital payment platform in India, has launched its own app store called the Indus Appstore Developer Platform to challenge Google’s Play Store monopoly.
30. The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever report on global hypertension, revealing that roughly four out of five people with hypertension are inadequately treated.
31. A report by the World Health Organization and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations reveals that India’s ultra-processed food sector experienced a compound annual growth rate of 13.37% in retail sales value from 2011 to 2021.
32. Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the sixth edition of National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way forward Monthly Report for States/UTs for August 2023, which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
33. India Ratings and Research has revised its GDP growth estimate for FY24 from 5.9% to 6.2%, due to sustained government capital expenditure, improved corporate and banking sector balance sheets, and the possibility of a new private corporate capital expenditure cycle.
34. S&P Global Market Intelligence also revised its FY24 growth estimate for India to 6.6% from 5.9% due to strong economic growth in Q1FY2024.
35. The Indian Air Force has successfully tested the “Type V Heavy Drop System,” developed at a DRDO facility in Agra.
36. India and Sri Lanka conducted IN-SLN Divex 23 exercise.
37. The Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) pollution-control vessel “Samudra Prahari” conducted a pollution response table-top exercise at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand.
38. The Government of India has introduced a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation called “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar.”
39. Fondly called “Bihana Didi” (Seed Lady) by local communities in Odisha, Indian agricultural scientist Swati Nayak became the third Indian agriculture scientist to win the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023.
40. Every third Saturday of September (September 16) – International Coastal Cleanup Day; Theme – #SeaTheChange
41. September 21 – International Day of Peace; Theme – Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals
42. September 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day; Campaign – Never too early, never too late
43. September 22 – World Rhino Day
44. September 22 – World Rose Day (to create awareness about cancer)
45. September 22 – World Car-Free Day
46. September 23 – International Day of Sign Languages; Theme – “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
47. India finished the ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with two medals (one gold and one silver).
48. Rising wrestling star Antim Panghal secured a bronze medal in the women’s 53 kg category and a Paris Olympics 2024 quota for India at the ongoing World Wrestling Championships 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.
49. Kolkata-based shipbuilding firm, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), signed two significant MoUs during its participation in the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London.
50. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Apurva Chandra, unveiled an e-book titled “People’s G20” in New Delhi, providing a comprehensive overview of India’s G20 Presidency.
51. Noted Hindustani classical vocalist Malini Rajurkar has passed away.
52. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released two comic books in collaboration with iconic comic characters like Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, and Billoo to educate children about elections, voting, and the electoral process.
53. Researchers at the IIT-Madras have created a portable device designed to assess soil and water quality.

National News

1. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have signed an agreement under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
   • Purpose – to develop a NavIC-based Indian Standard Time (IST) traceable Primary Reference Time Clock (PRTC) for the telecom sector
   • This project will reduce dependency on GPS, promote the use of IRNSS/NavIC, enhance digital forensic analysis, improve cyber secure networks, reduce call drops, and synchronize telecom services with IST from CSIR-NPL.
   • The initiative aligns with the goal of “One nation One time” and aims to strengthen India’s self-reliance in technology development.

2. Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla launched the ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in partnership with NSDC and IndusInd Bank.
   • Purpose – to empower 60,000 rural youth over five years by providing them with relevant skills training to improve livelihoods
   • The initiative will travel across aspirational and backward districts, spreading awareness about free skill training programs.
   • The goal is to provide industry-relevant skill training, bridge the gap between industry needs and unemployed youth, and help individuals choose the right courses based on their academic background and skills.

3. The World Governments Summit (WGS) Organisation has formed a knowledge partnership with India Global Forum.
   • The partnership aims to explore the potential and challenges of emerging economies, empower them to build resilient governments, and prepare for future challenges.
   • The collaboration will produce research reports and Op-Eds on WGS’s Knowledge Platform, “Observer,” focusing on key themes like governance, healthcare, economic resilience, and sustainability.

4. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has received a 10-year recognition status from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), the highest standard in medical education and accreditation.
   • This recognition allows Indian medical graduates to practice or pursue post-graduation in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
   • All 706 existing medical colleges in India will become WFME accredited, and new medical colleges established in the next decade will automatically receive this accreditation.
   • The recognition enhances the international reputation of Indian medical schools, promotes academic collaborations, and aligns Indian medical education with global best practices.

Source: IE WFME

5. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) launched a mobile application and web portal for the General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES).
   • The initiative leverages advanced technologies to enhance data accuracy and digital data governance in agriculture, setting the stage for more accurate and real-time monitoring of crop yields.
   • The GCES portal and app automate the data collection and reporting process, addressing issues like reporting delays and ensuring transparency.
   • Key features include comprehensive yield estimation data, geo-referencing, and the ability to upload photos of experimental plots and crops, enhancing transparency and data accuracy.
   • The pilot phase will begin in 12 states in October 2023.
     Source: PIB
6. The Indian Railways has revised upwards the ex-gratia payments due in case of death or injuries during train travel. The revision is around 10 times of the existing rates.
   • Now, the ex-gratia in case of death due to train accident will be ₹500,000, against the previous ₹50,000; while for grievous injuries the payment is ₹250,000. Amount of ex-gratia for simple injury is now ₹50,000.
   • A maximum amount of up to ₹50,000 will paid in cash as an immediate relief for taking care of initial expenses.
     Source: HBL
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched nine new Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, bringing the total number of semi-high-speed trains to 34.
   • The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states — Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
     Source: HT
8. Bar Council of India organized the International Lawyer’s Conference 2023 on the theme of ‘Emerging Challenges in the Justice Delivery System’ at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
   Source: HT
9. 75% of the total villages in India have achieved ODF Plus status under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
   • Over 4.43 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus.
   • States/UTs achieving 100% ODF Plus villages include Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D&N Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura.
   • Among these, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Sikkim have 100% ODF Plus Model villages.
   • Biogas and Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants have been established in various districts, with 729 biogas and 63 CBG plants completed across 279 districts.
   • The GOBARdhan initiative focuses on recovering biodegradable waste and converting it into resources like biogas, CBG, bio-slurry, and bio-fertilizer. A total of 848 functional Biogas/CBG plants have been set up in 307 districts

10. The National Health Authority (NHA) organized ‘Arogya Manthan’ to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the second anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
    • This two-day event is taking place on September 25th and 26th, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
      Source: PIB

    
    
11. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the inaugural edition of the ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ or Indian Lighthouse Festival at Fort Aguada in Panjim, Goa.
    • The festival aims to celebrate India’s rich maritime history by showcasing the stories and heritage of its 75 iconic lighthouses.
      Source: PIB

12. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations to improve telecom infrastructure in the North-East region of India.
    • Recommendations –
      • The Centre should provide budgetary assistance in the form of grants to states, including those in the Northeast, to help village-level government institutions obtain BharatNet connections, procure digital communication devices, and cover monthly usage charges for connectivity.
      • This assistance should be divided into a 25:75 proportion, with 25% allocated for digital communication devices and 75% for connectivity costs to BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd)
    • The average tele-density of India (as of April 2023) stood at 84.46%.
      Source: The Hindu

13. The fourth edition of ‘Nadi Utsav’ was organized by the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and the Janapada Sampada Division.
    • This year’s event will be hosted in Delhi along the banks of River Yamuna.
    • ‘Nadi Utsav’ will have three types of exhibitions. The ‘Sanjhi’ exhibition will be based on 16 Ghats of the country.
    • Apart from this, a photography exhibition related to river civilization and an exhibition of paintings made on rivers by school children of Delhi will also be organized.
      Source: PIB

State News

1. Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a system where birth registration certificates for newborns at government health facilities are issued immediately after delivery, eliminating the need for parents to apply separately.
   • The government integrated its Maa Navjaat Tracking app (MaNTrA) with the birth registration system.
   • Uttar Pradesh is the first state to implement automatic birth registration for government health institutions using the Civil Registration System API.
   • The API extracts data from the MaNTrA app, and this data is used to generate digitally signed birth certificates.
   • The MaNTrA app was developed with UNICEF support to monitor labour room services in public health facilities across the state.
     Source: ET
2. Startup Odisha, an initiative of the Government of Odisha, has launched the Odisha Startup Growth Fund (Fund of Funds) with an initial corpus of 100 crores.
   • The fund is unique as it has a perpetual nature, meaning that when the initial corpus is exhausted, the state government will replenish it, ensuring continuous long-term support for startups.
   • SIDBI will serve as the fund manager for the Odisha Startup Growth Fund.
   • The fund aims to invest Rs. 100 crores over five years through Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) in startups based in Odisha.
   • The goal is to make Odisha a preferred destination for entrepreneurs and foster a vibrant startup ecosystem in the state.
     Source: ET
3. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the integrated electricity consumer portal of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL), which will allow consumers to pay their bills online.
   • Purpose – for promoting digitalization and paperless work environment in the HPSEBL
     Source: Outlook

4. Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has launched the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pusti Yojana for addressing the nutritional needs of pregnant women, girls aged 15 to 19, and malnourished children.
   • The scheme includes provisions for dry food for pregnant women and complete meals for extremely malnourished children.
   • The initiative also introduces the “Pada Pusti” program, providing cooked food to tribal children in inaccessible villages.
   • Odisha was the first state to introduce a nutrition budget in 2020-21, and the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pusti Yojana aims to further strengthen nutritional provisions for women and children.
     Source: NIE

   
   
5. A biodiversity knowledge centre named Neelakkurinji has been set up at Adimaly, the entry point of the Munnar hill station.
   • The centre has been set up by the State Haritha Keralam Mission, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Idukki district panchayat.
   • The houses and household items of the Muthuvan tribal community are an attraction of the centre.
     Source: The Hindu

   
   
6. Micron Technology, a US-based chipmaker, has conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for its $2.75 billion assembly, testing, and packaging plant (ATMP) in Sanand, Gujarat.
   • The project represents the largest investment under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
   • TATA Projects Ltd. has been awarded the contract for the construction of the advanced semiconductor assembly and test plant in Sanand, Gujarat.
     Source: HT and The Hindu

7. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi.
   • The modern international cricket stadium will be developed in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi at a cost of about Rs 450 crores and spread across an area of more than 30 acres.
     Source: PIB

International News

1. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to use International Standards to address global development challenges.
   • They will create the world’s first international standard for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards and relevant ISO standards.
   • This proposed standard holds great significance as it will establish a common foundation for documentation and certification.
   • This will facilitate organizations and companies in aligning their initiatives and tracking their progress towards achieving the SDGs.

2. The United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (CAS) was held on September 20, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
   • It was organized ahead of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (to be held in UAE in November).
   • At the Summit, Germany launched the International Climate Club to decarbonize industrial sectors and promote green growth. It will be co-chaired by Chile.
   • Net-zero targets of countries –
   • Nepal announced a revised target of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2045 instead of 2050
   • Thailand to become Net Zero by 2050
   • Portugal announced a goal to be carbon neutral by 2045, instead of 2050

Banking and Economy

1. According to the Reserve Bank of India data, household net financial savings in India have hit a nearly five-decade low at 5.1% of GDP in FY23, down from 7.2% in FY22.
   • Annual financial liabilities of households rose significantly, increasing by 5.8% of GDP compared to 3.8% in FY22, suggesting that households are increasingly borrowing to meet their consumption needs.
   • The rate of increase in financial liabilities in FY23 was the second highest since Independence, with the highest rate observed in FY07.
   • Net household assets have been declining, from Rs 22.8 trillion in FY21 to Rs 13.76 trillion in FY23.
   • Household debt remains elevated at 37.6% of GDP in FY23, compared to 36.9% in FY22.
     Source: The Wire

2. The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on four co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
   • These banks are — Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank, Vadodara, The Aska Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Bally Cooperative Bank Ltd., Howrah and The Nabapalli Co-operative Bank Ltd., West Bengal.
     Source: LiveMint

3. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is partnering with BankID BankAxept AS, the provider of Norway’s national payment and electronic identity systems, to establish and manage an operations command centre in Oslo, Norway.
   • This centre will provide round-the-clock support to users and clients of BankAxept and BankID.
   • TCS will implement a monitoring framework to address and pre-empt issues related to national payments and electronic identity verification systems.
   • The command centre will facilitate communication with experts and vendors, enabling prompt issue resolution and integration of value-added services from partner ecosystems.
     Source: HBL
4. WhatsApp Business in India will now allow customers to pay businesses through the app using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) method of their choice.
   • The payment options include Pay on WhatsApp, credit/debit cards, net banking, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and more UPI options, with RazorPay and PayU as initial payment partners.
   • This payment feature was previously launched in Singapore and Brazil.
   • WhatsApp Flows, a feature to automate common business processes like booking tickets and filling out forms, will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
   • Meta plans to upskill 10 million traders across India in 11 languages over the next three years.
     Source: The Hindu

5. HDFC Bank’s subsidiary HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd has received approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire “aggregate holding” of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in each of the banks namely –
   • DCB Bank Ltd, Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd, The Federal Bank Ltd, Karur Vysya Bank Ltd. and City Union Bank Ltd.
   • The approval is in line with the Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions, 2023.
     Source: The Hindu

6. The State Bank of India (SBI) has raised approximately Rs 10,000 crore through the issuance of infrastructure bonds with a coupon rate of 7.49%.
   • This marks the fourth issuance of such bonds by the bank.
   • Investors bid for Rs 21,045 crore, more than five times the base issue size of Rs 4,000 crore.
   • The funds raised will be used to support infrastructure and affordable housing projects.
   • SBI has a AAA credit rating for these instruments and aims to encourage other banks to issue longer-tenor bonds with this issuance.
     Source: ET
7. PhonePe, a digital payment platform in India, has launched its own app store called the Indus Appstore Developer Platform to challenge Google’s Play Store monopoly.
   • The app store will offer a localised experience in 12 languages.
     Source: TOI

   
   

Reports and Indices

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever report on global hypertension, revealing that roughly four out of five people with hypertension are inadequately treated.
   • As per the report, scaling up treatment coverage could prevent 76 million deaths between 2023 and 2050.
   • The 2019-2020 National Family Health Survey reported a prevalence of 24% in men and 21% in women in India, up from 19% and 17%, respectively, in the previous round.
     Source: WHO and The Hindu

2. A report by the World Health Organization and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations reveals that India’s ultra-processed food sector experienced a compound annual growth rate of 13.37% in retail sales value from 2011 to 2021.
   • Title of the report – “Growth of ultra-processed foods in India- An analysis of trends, issues and policy recommendations”
   • This rapid growth needs to be addressed through policy interventions to prevent an obesity epidemic similar to those in some Western countries, as ultra-processed foods are considered a key risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, especially among the young.
   • The five popular categories of ultra-processed foods include chocolate and sugar confectionery, salty snacks, beverages, ready-made and convenient foods, and breakfast cereals.

   Recommendations –

   • Existing policies and programs like Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 do not adequately address the issue of overnutrition and unhealthy diet-related diseases.
   • There’s a need to strengthen existing policies and move towards a comprehensive national nutrition policy.
   • Low intake of whole grains is the leading dietary risk factor for the increased prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), mainly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, in India. The report highlights the need for a nutritional transition to a healthier lifestyle.
     Source: DTE

   
   
   
   
3. Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the sixth edition of National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way forward Monthly Report for States/UTs for August 2023, which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
   • Best Practices highlighted in the report –
   • The Government of Bihar has launched a web-based Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS) which facilitates case management of rescued child labourers
   • The Government of Gujarat has built Anubandham, that allows job seekers and job providers to connect through auto-matching, in a transparent and user-friendly manner
   • The Government of Rajasthan provides the single view of offerings of Rajasthan Single Sign on, Factories and Boilers Inspection Department, and the Government of India’s Ministry of Labour & Employment, on a unified platform
   • The Government of Uttarakhand provides employment opportunity to the unemployed youth in Uttarakhand through Rojgar Prayag portal

• Assessment Parameters –

Source: PIB NSeDA

GDP Forecasts

1. India Ratings and Research has revised its GDP growth estimate for FY24 from 5.9% to 6.2%, due to sustained government capital expenditure, improved corporate and banking sector balance sheets, and the possibility of a new private corporate capital expenditure cycle.
   Source: LiveMint
2. S&P Global Market Intelligence also revised its FY24 growth estimate for India to 6.6% from 5.9% due to strong economic growth in Q1FY2024.
   • FY25 – 6.2%
   • Inflation –
   • For 2024, India’s inflation is projected to be as high as 5.3%.
   • Global inflation will be high at 5.7% in 2023 and remain above 4% in 2024.
     Source: ET

   
   

Defence News

1. The Indian Air Force has successfully tested the “Type V Heavy Drop System,” developed at a DRDO facility in Agra.
   • This system is designed to drop arms, ammunition, and equipment weighing up to 20 tons in inaccessible places or battlefields using parachutes.
   • The “Type V Heavy Drop System” was designed and developed at the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra.
   • ADRDE is a pioneer R&D lab of DRDO for the Design and Development of Aerodynamic Decelerators, Aerostat Systems.
   • The system will be manufactured entirely using indigenous resources by Airbornics Defense and Space Pvt Ltd. (a private company for defence and aerospace technologies).
     Source: IE and DRDO
2. India and Sri Lanka conducted IN-SLN Divex 23 exercise.
   • Indian Naval Ship ‘Nireekshak’ participated in the exercise.
     Source: DD

3. The Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) pollution-control vessel “Samudra Prahari” conducted a pollution response table-top exercise at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand.
   • The exercise involved a scenario that tested Thailand’s maritime pollution response contingency plan in collaboration with the ICG.

     Source: PIB

   
   

Awards

1. The Government of India has introduced a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation called “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar.”
   • The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar aims to be one of the highest recognitions in India for achievements in science, technology, and innovation.
   • Eligibility –
   • scientists, technologists, innovators from government or private sector organizations,
   • individuals working outside any organization, and
   • people of Indian origin residing abroad who have made exceptional contributions benefiting Indian communities or society
   • Categories of awards –
   • Vigyan Ratna (VR) award for lifetime achievements and contributions in any field of science and technology
   • Vigyan Shri (VS) award for distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology
   • Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award for young scientists up to 45 years old who have made exceptional contributions in any field of science and technology
   • Vigyan Team (VT) award for teams of three or more scientists, researchers, or innovators who have made exceptional contributions working together in any field of science and technology
   • Domains – Awards will be given in 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, etc.
   • Jury – A Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC), led by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, will evaluate nominations and select awardees.
   • Important Dates – Nominations for these awards will be open from January 14th to February 28th (National Science Day) every year, with the awards announced on May 11th (National Technology Day) and the award ceremony held on August 23rd (National Space Day).
     Source: PIB
2. Fondly called “Bihana Didi” (Seed Lady) by local communities in Odisha, Indian agricultural scientist Swati Nayak became the third Indian agriculture scientist to win the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023.
   • The Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023 is presented by the World Food Prize Foundation in memory of the Nobel awardee Dr Norman Borlaug, for outstanding achievements in international agriculture and food production by individuals under 40.
     Source: HBL

Important Days

1. Every third Saturday of September (September 16) – International Coastal Cleanup Day; Theme – #SeaTheChange
   • India adopted “Every bottle, every straw, every piece of thrash you clean can lead to a cleaner, healthier ocean” as the theme of this day, as part of “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Abhiyan”.
   • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organized beach clean-up drives at 79 locations in 8 coastal states and 4 Union Territories under the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Abhiyan”.
   • The 2033 Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar beach clean-up drives were conducted by five MoES institute—
     • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
     • National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR),
     • National Centre for Ocean and Polar Research (NCPOR),
     • Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), and
     • National Centre for Earth System Sciences (NCESS)

2. September 21 – International Day of Peace; Theme – Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals
   • In 1999, the UNGA adopted the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace.
     Source: UN and UNGA

   
   
3. September 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day; Campaign – Never too early, never too late
   Source: ADI
4. September 22 – World Rhino Day
   Source: TOI
5. September 22 – World Rose Day (to create awareness about cancer)
   Source: The Quint
6. September 22 – World Car-Free Day
   Source: TOI
7. September 23 – International Day of Sign Languages; Theme – “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
   • The 6th Indian Sign Language Competition, 2023 – a national-level competition held for students with hearing disabilities – was organized.
   • A dictionary containing 10,000 ISL terms was also launched.
     Source: PIB

Sports

1. India finished the ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with two medals (one gold and one silver).
   • The gold medal was won by Elavenil Valarivan in the women’s 10m air rifle event by defeating France’s Oceanne Muller.
   • The silver medal was won by Nischal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
     Source: Olympics.com

2. Rising wrestling star Antim Panghal secured a bronze medal in the women’s 53 kg category and a Paris Olympics 2024 quota for India at the ongoing World Wrestling Championships 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.
   Source: TOI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Kolkata-based shipbuilding firm, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), signed two significant MoUs during its participation in the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London.
   • The first MoU was with Lloyd’s Register, a UK maritime services company, to collaborate on developing a hydrogen fuel cell ferry.
   • GRSE is currently working on a zero-emission passenger ferry prototype intended for use in the Hooghly River
   • The second MoU was with Caterpillar Inc., a US-based company, for potential cooperation in producing, selling, and servicing marine engines for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
   • GRSE CMD – PR Hari

   About the DSEI Exhibition –

   • The DSEI Exhibition is a globally significant event connecting armed forces with equipment manufacturers and offers opportunities for companies to attract international customers and build partnerships.
   • Theme of DSEI – “Achieving the Integrated Force”
   • GRSE was one of five Defence Public Sector Undertakings that showcased their technological capabilities at the India Pavilion during the DSEI exhibition.
     Source: TOI and DSEI

   
   

Miscellaneous

1. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Apurva Chandra, unveiled an e-book titled “People’s G20” in New Delhi, providing a comprehensive overview of India’s G20 Presidency.
   • The e-book is divided into three parts –
   • 1st – The first part focuses on the recent G20 Summit held in New Delhi, explaining the structure and operations of the G20 and detailing the initiatives undertaken during India’s Presidency
   • 2nd – The second part summarizes the meetings of various Working Groups under the Sherpa and Finance Track, along with Engagement Group meetings held across India during the past year since India assumed the G20 Chair.
   • 3rd – It presents a photo essay showcasing the Jan-Bhagidari events held throughout India, highlighting the people’s involvement in India’s G20 Presidency
     Source: NoA
2. Noted Hindustani classical vocalist Malini Rajurkar has passed away.
   Source: TOI
3. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released two comic books in collaboration with iconic comic characters like Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, and Billoo to educate children about elections, voting, and the electoral process.
   • The comics, published by Pran Comics, feature 10 short stories on electoral aspects and aim to create awareness about the importance of voting among children.
   • This initiative is part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Program (SVEEP) to promote voter literacy and participation in elections.
     Source: HT
4. Researchers at the IIT-Madras have created a portable device designed to assess soil and water quality.
   • The device, still in testing, would provide farmers with information to make crop choices and timely interventions.
     Source: The Hindu

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