NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Supreme
Court introduces FASTER system: Supreme Court of India has approved an
electronic system named FASTER (Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic
Records). The FASTER system will be used for transferring e-authenticated
copies from courts to prisons. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice N.V.
Ramana, Justice Nageswara Rao and Justice Surya Kant has instructed state
governments, Union territories, prison departments and other authorities
concerned to make arrangements at prisons to accept e-authenticated copies.
Under the FASTER system, courts can send
e-authenticated copies of bail orders, stay orders, interim orders and
proceedings through secured electronic communication to duty officers at
prisons. The apex court was hearing a suo motu case which it took up in July
this year after a news report indicated that inmates at a prison in Agra
continued to be lodged in jail three days after they had been granted bail.
Note: 48th Chief Justice of India (CJI):
Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana; Supreme Court of India Established: 26 January
1950.
2. Naga
Cucumber from Nagaland gets geographical identification tag: Nagaland’s “sweet
cucumber” was awarded a geographical identification (GI) tag as an agricultural
product under provisions of The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration
and Protection) Act, 1999. The cucumber is one of the most important crops in
the Northeast region. Nagaland has the fifth-highest cultivation of this fruit
area-wise and ranks third in production.
About the Naga cucumber: Naga cucumber is
recognised for its sweetness and unique green colour. It is rich in potassium
and has low calories. The cucumber is not the first product from the small
state to receive a vaunted GI tag. Both the regional variants of tree tomato
(tamarillo) and the famed Naga king chilli are also GI tagged.
Note: Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu
Rio; Governor of Nagaland: Jagdish Mukhi.
3. Cyclonic
Storm ‘Gulab’ hits Andra and Odisha: The India Meteorological Department (IMD)
has issued a red alert for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh after the ‘Cyclone Gulab’
made landfall over Northwest and adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal. Cyclone
Gulab was named by Pakistan. The word “Gulab” refers to Rose in English. During the landfall, the wind speed could
hover between 90 kmph and 100 kmph.
The name Gulab is from the list of cyclone
names that is maintained by the World Meteorological Organisation/United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP)
Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC). The panel comprises 13 countries namely, India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, who choose the names of
cyclones in the region.
4. MGR
Railway Station gets powered by solar energy: Dr MG Ramachandran
Central (DRM) or Chennai Central railway station will get 100 per cent of
energy through Solar Energy. The Chennai Central railway station comes under
the South Central Railway (SCR) zone and which is going to become the world’s
largest green railway network. The station will now become the first Indian
Railways station, which will get 100 per cent day energy through solar panels.
About the Station: The solar power
capacity of the station is 1.5 MW and Solar panels are installed on the
shelters of the station. South Central Railways has adopted the concept of
‘energy neutral’ railway stations and become the first Indian Railway zones to
do so. India has targeted to become “net-zero carbon emission” before the year
2030.
5. A
new book title “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav: A new book has
titled “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav. A new book tells
the story of 120 Indian soldiers who put up a valiant fight against the
5,000-strong Chinese military troops in the 1962 Indo-China war, preventing a
possible occupation of the entire Ladakh region. The Battle of Rezang La”,
published under Penguin Random House’s ”Veer” imprint, is written by ex-naval
officer and author Kulpreet Yadav.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
WHO revises air quality norms for first time since 2005: The World Health
Organisation (WHO) has announced a tight revision in its air quality guidelines
(AQG). This is the first revision in the global air quality by WHO since 2005.
In the new guidelines, WHO has lowered the acceptable exposure levels to key
pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide
and particulate matter (PM). Under the new guidelines:
(1) WHO has lowered acceptable thresholds
for several pollutants, including PM 2.5. Now, PM 2.5 concentrations must
remain below 15µg/m³.
(2) According to the new limits, average
annual PM2.5 concentrations should not be higher than 5 micrograms per cubic
meter.
(3) Air pollution kills at least 7 million
people prematurely each year. The revised guidelines encourage countries to
slash fossil fuel emissions.
(4) These guidelines are not legally
binding on countries. The reduced level of air pollution will improve the
health of people.
India Scenario:
(1) India continues to remain one of the
most polluted countries in the world. Air pollution has become the main threat
to health in many countries.
(2) The average concentration of PM2.5 in
2020 in New Delhi was 17 times higher than the recommended levels.
(3) The pollution level is also higher than
the recommended levels in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
2.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak launches space start-up Privateer: Apple’s
co-creator Steve Wozniak has launched a new space start-up called Privateer
Space, bringing potential competition to a field dominated by billionaires Elon
Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Privateer will be represented at the
Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, scheduled
to run from September 14-17 in Hawaii. The global space economy, which has
attracted many top companies such as Tesla and Amazon, involves various
activities such as research and development, space tourism and the utilisation
of space. Bank of America predicts the space economy will have more than
tripled in size by 2030, with a $1.4 trillion market value.
3.
International Day for Universal Access to Information: 28th September: The International Day
for the Universal Access to Information (commonly known as Access to
Information Day) is observed globally on 28th September every year. The
International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021 highlights the
importance of expanding access to information laws, and their implementation
worldwide to build back strong institutions for sustainable development and to
uphold the vision of information as a public good, as well as to strengthen
international cooperation in the field of implementing the right to information
as a fundamental right.
History of the day: On 17 November
2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to
Information. Considering that several civil society organizations and
government bodies in the world have adopted and currently celebrate this
observance, the UN General Assembly also adopted 28 September 2019 as the
International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France;
UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
4.
World Rabies Day: 28th September: World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on
September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and
animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease and take
efforts to control rabies. 2021 is the 15th edition of World Rabies Day. The
theme for the WRD in 2021 is ‘Rabies: Facts, not Fear’. The day also marks the
death anniversary of the French chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur’, who
developed the first rabies vaccine.
Note: Global Alliance for Rabies Executive
Director: Louis Nel; Global Alliance for Rabies Control Founded: 2007; Global
Alliance for Rabies Control Headquarters: Manhattan, Kansas, United States.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Sania Mirza & Zhang Shuai Win Ostrava Open WTA Doubles Title: India’s Sania Mirza
and her Chinese partner Zhang Shuai won the women’s doubles title in the
women’s doubles final at the Ostrava Open in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The
second-seeded Indo-Chinese duo defeated the third seeded pair of American
Kaitlyn Christian and New Zealander Erin Routliffe 6-3 6-2 in the summit clash
in one hour and four minutes. This was Sania’s second final of the season,
following a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Cleveland event in the US last
month with Chirstina Mchale.
2.
England cricketer Moeen Ali announces retirement from Tests: England cricket
all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from the Test match career.
The 34-year-old Ali made his debut in Test cricket in 2014 and represented
England in 64 Test matches. He took 195 Test wickets including 5 five-wicket
hauls and scored five-Test match centuries during his Test career. Moeen,
however, will continue to play limited-overs cricket for England.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI sets WMA Limit for Central Government for at Rs. 50,000 crore: The Reserve bank of
India has set the limit for Ways and Means Advances (WMA) for the second half
of the financial year 2021-22 i.e October 2021 to March 2022 at Rs. 50,000
crore. The Reserve Bank may trigger fresh floatation of market loans when the
Government of India utilises 75 per cent of the WMA limit. The Reserve Bank
retains the flexibility to revise the limit at any time, in consultation with
the Government of India, taking into consideration the prevailing
circumstances.
The interest rate on WMA/overdraft
will be:
(1) For WMA: Repo Rate
(2) For Overdraft: Two per cent above the
Repo Rate
Note: RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das;
Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
NASSCOM: Cryptotech industry can add $184B of economic value in India: The crypto industry
in India has the potential to add $184 billion of economic value, in the form
of investments and cost savings, by 2030, according to a report from the
country’s premier trade body for the tech industry. The report, entitled
“Crypto Industry in India,” was published by the National Association of
Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in conjunction with Binance-owned
crypto exchange WazirX.
The “CryptoTech” industry – companies
involved in trading, payments, remittances, retail and more – is expected to
reach a size of $241 million in India by 2030, and $2.3 billion globally by
2026. The industry currently employs 50,000 people in India, a number which
NASSCOM expects to grow to over 800,000 by the end of the decade.
Note: NASSCOM Chairperson: Rekha M Menon;
NASSCOM Headquarters: New Delhi; NASSCOM Founded: 1 March 1988.
DEFENCE
1.
DRDO conducts successful maiden flight test of Akash Prime Missile: The Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried a successful maiden
test flight of a new version of the Akash Missile named ‘Akash Prime’ from
Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The success of the test flight
demonstrates the competence of DRDO in the design and development of
world-class Missile systems. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned
aerial target mimicking enemy aircraft, in its maiden flight test after
improvements.
In comparison to the existing Akash System,
Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker
for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance
under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes. A modified ground
system of the existing Akash weapon system has been used for the current flight
test. The range stations of ITR comprising Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking
System (EOTS) and Telemetry stations monitored the missile trajectory and
flight parameters.
Note: Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy; DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi; DRDO Established: 1958.
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