NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. First Indigenous Fuel Cell System
launched on CSIR Foundation Day: The President of
India Ramnath Kovind unveiled the first Indigenous
High-Temperature Fuel Cell System. This system is developed
by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in
partnership with Indian industries under India’s flagship program
named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” on
the occasion of CSIR Foundation Day in New Delhi. The 5.0 kW fuel cell system
generates power in a green manner using methanol / bio-methane, with heat and
water as bi-products for further use; amounting to greater than 70% efficiency,
which otherwise may not be possible by other energy sources.
Note:
Director-General of CSIR: Shekhar C. Mande.
2. DRDO and CUJ sign MoU to set up
Kalam Centre for Science and Technology: Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of
Defence and Central University of Jammu (CUJ) have entered into
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of Kalam Centre
for Science and Technology (KCST) at the university. The main objective of
the MoU is to undertake and facilitate multidisciplinary directed basic and
applied research and technology development in the identified research verticals
namely Computational System Security and Sensors. The centre will be equipped
with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment leading to an increase in
research scholars in these areas.
Note:
Union Minister of Defence: Raj Nath Singh.
Chairman
of DRDO: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy; Headquarters: New Delhi; Founded: 1958.
3. Jharkhand’s
Karmatand block named after Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: The Jharkhand
government has named Jamtara districts Karmatand block as
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar block as a mark of respect on the birth anniversary
of the great social reformer. Now the block will be known as Ishwar
Chandra Vidyasagar prakhand. Jamtaras Karmatand prakhand (block)
was the ‘karma bhumi’ (workplace) of social reformer and a strong
supporter of women’s education Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Note:
Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal
Renaissance ‘Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’ was born on 26th September 1820. He
was a philosopher, academic educator, writer, translator, printer, publisher,
entrepreneur, reformer and philanthropist.
4. National
Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) to be ready by January 2020: The
work on the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) set up to
track any terror suspect and prevent terrorist attacks with real-time data, has
been accelerated. This move comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed
the progress of NATGRID project (worth Rs.3400 crore). NATGRID will start
functioning by January 2020.
Note:
National
Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is a robust intelligence
gathering mechanism related to banking, immigration, individual taxpayers, air
and train travels. The data recovery centre of the NATGRID has been constructed
in Bengaluru, Karnataka and Delhi (headquarter).
5. Goa
govt. bans single-use plastic in its offices from Oct 2: The Goa
Government has decided to ban the usage of single-use
plastic water bottles, glasses, plates from
2nd October 2019 onwards. The state government wants to promote
eco-friendly and re-usable items in the coastal state. Last month, the Goa
Legislative Assembly passed a bill banning manufacture, sale and use of
single-use plastic items and carry bags, with a penalty ranging from Rs 2,500
to Rs. 3 lakh for violators.
6. Dr
Harsh Vardhan launches ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign: Union
Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan has
launched the new TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign. The Union Health
Minister also flagged off a van for the National TB
Prevalence Survey. All twenty-five vans
will be part of the prevalence survey, which shall take 6 months and be carried
out across the country. In April 2018, the government launched the ‘Nikshay
Poshan Yojana’, a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme to provide nutritional
support to TB patients. Under the scheme, TB patients have been
receiving Rs 500 per month for the entire duration of treatment.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. 2nd
'Singapore - India' Hackathon organised at IIT Madras: 2nd
edition of ‘Singapore - India Hackathon’ has been organised
at IIT Madras, Chennai to promote innovation. India-Singapore Hackathon is the
first of its kind joint International hackathon between India and Singapore
during which the selected bright students from India and Singapore. They will
work in collaboration to develop an innovative and
out-of-the-box solution for some of the daunting problems faced by our
societies. This year, the hackathon is focused on quality education, Good
Health and clean energy. 20 teams with 6 team members each is participating in
the hackathon.
2. Mahatma
Gandhi's 80-year-old letter wishing Jews "era of peace" unveiled in
Israel: A short-hand- written letter by Mahatma
Gandhi 80-years-ago has been unveiled for the first time
by the National Library of Israel (NLI). Gandhi Ji was wishing the
"afflicted (Jewish) people" an "era of peace" in the
letter, written on the same day World War II broke out. Gandhi wrote the letter
to Head of the Bombay Zionist Association, A E Shohet, who was trying to enlist
the support of Indian leaders in favour of the movement to establish a national
home for the Jewish people. Written on Rosh Hashana (Jewish new year) on
September 1, 1939, the letter also marked the beginning of the war when Germany
invaded Poland. It also set the stage for the despicable atrocities of the
Holocaust.
3. For the first time, Saudi Arabia to
offer tourist visas: Saudi Arabia will offer tourist visas
for the first time as a measure to expand its economy away from oil. As a part,
it will open applications for online tourist visas to citizens of 49 countries.
Enhancing tourism is a one among the targets in Vision 2030 reform programme of
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. It also launched e-tourist
visa during the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in
Riyadh.
Note:
Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Currency: Saudi riyal
4. World
Rabies Day: 28 September: World Rabies Day is
observed on 28th September (since-2007) across the world
to raise awareness about the rabies disease and its preventable
measures. The day also marks the anniversary
of French chemist and microbiologist Louis
Pasteur's death, who developed the first rabies vaccine. The
World Rabies Day 2019 theme is Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate. This year’s
theme focuses on vaccination, the foundation of all rabies control efforts.
5. International Day for Universal
Access to Information: 28 September: The International
Day for the Universal Access to Information (also known as Access to
Information Day) is a UNESCO recognised day held on 28 September ever year. Theme
2019: “Access to Information: Leaving No One Behind!”. The day was first held
on 28 September 2016.
OTHER
UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Rupa Gurunath appointed as first
woman president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association: Rupa
Gurunath was appointed as the first woman president of Tamil Nadu
Cricket Association (TNCA) at the 87th Annual General Meeting of TNCA held
at Chepauk MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. With this
appointment, she also became the first woman to head a state-level cricket body
in the country. Also Justice K. Kannan, retired judge of Punjab and Haryana
Courts, was appointed as the ombudsman and Justice M. Jeyapaul, retired judge
Madras High Court, was appointed as the ethics officer during the meeting.
Note:
BCCI
President: C.K. Khanna; Headquarter of BCCI: Mumbai.
2. Deepak Punia clinched top spot in
UWW’s rankings- 86 kg category: Indian wrestler
Deepak Punia, aged 20, clinched the top spot in the rankings released by United
World Wrestling (UWW), an international federation for wrestling, in the 86 kg
category with 82 points. He had recently won silver in the World Wrestling
Championships 2019 held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Iran’s Hassan Aliazam Yazdanicharati
was ranked second. In the 65-kg category, Bajrang Punia lost the first spot to
Russia’s Gadzhimurad Rashidov. Latter has a 9-point lead over the former. In
the 57-kg category, Ravi Kumar Dahiya was ranked 5th with 39 points. In the
61-kg category, Rahul Aware was ranked 2nd. In women’s rankings, Vinesh Phogat
jumped to number two in 53kg category. Seema Bisla ranked 3rd in 50 kg category
while Pooja Dhanda is ranked 5th in 59kg, two places behind compatriot Manju
Kumari.
BANKING
AND FINANCE
1. PNB MetLife India Insurance Co.
Ltd. ties-up with Religare Health Insurance: PNB MetLife
India Insurance Co. Ltd. has tied-up with Religare Health
Insurance to offer a product which covers health, death and illness. The
tie-up will offer additional earning opportunity for the life insurer’s
distribution channel partners. The product will be a seamless integration
exercise to ensure that it comes as a single policy to a customer.
AWARDS
AND HONOURS
1. Cochin International Airport wins
award for passenger satisfaction: Airport Council
International has recognised Cochin International Airport
Limited as the best airport in terms of services offered to
passengers. As per the annual Airport Service Quality survey
conducted by the ACI, CIAL was ranked amongst the best airports in
the 5-15 million category in the Asia Pacific region for the year
2018. The award was presented to the authorities of Cochin International
Airport at the second Annual ACI Customer Experience Global
Summit held at Bali, Indonesia. ACI ASQ survey is world-renowned and
established airport service quality benchmarking programme measuring
passengers’ satisfaction.
2. Infosys Bags UN Global Climate
Action Award for ‘Carbon Neutral Now’ Category: IT
major Infosys has received the United Nations Global Climate
Action Award in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category. Infosys is the only
corporate from India to earn the recognition for its efforts to combat climate
change. The announcement of the winners was made after the UN Climate Summit in
New York convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The award will be
presented to Infosys at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Santiago,
Chile (December 2019).
Note:
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Infosys: Salil Parekh.
DEFENCE
1. Air Marshal HS Arora appointed new
IAF Vice Chief: Air Marshal HS Arora has been
appointed as the Vice Chief of Indian Air Force. He will succeed Air
Marshal RKS Bhadauria who will take over as the Chief of Air Staff. Air Marshal
Arora is currently heading the Gandhinagar headquartered South Western Air
Command of the Air Force. He was also deputed as Defence Attache at the Embassy
of India, Bangkok, Thailand from 2006 to 2009. In another re-shuffle, Air
Marshal B Suresh has been appointed as Western Air Commander of the
Air Force, in New Delhi. Suresh will succeed Kargil war hero Air Marshal
Raghunath Nambiar.
OBITUARIES
1.
Owner of the Britannia & Co restaurant, Boman Rashid Kohinoor passes away: Mr
Boman Rashid Kohinoor, senior partner at the iconic Britannia & Co
restaurant (Mumbai) has passed away at the Parsee General Hospital in Mumbai,
Maharashtra due to cardiac arrest. Boman Kohinoor’s father Rashid Kohinoor, a
Zoroastrian immigrant from Iran started this restaurant in the south Mumbai, in
the year 1923.
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