NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
CBI raids nationwide against Child Abuse material under Operation Megha Chakra:
CBI
hunts for Child Sexual Abuse Material Online Circulation Cases in 20 States
& UTs. As part of Operation Megha Chakra, the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) searched 56 locations across 20 States and Union
Territories in relation to cases of the internet distribution of child sexual
abuse material. Cloud storage was used to perform searches against sellers of
Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Internet after obtaining input from Interpol
and intelligence gathered during Operation Carbon last year.
In November 2021, the CBI carried out
Operation Carbon, which involved conducting raids at 76 different locations
around the nation and making multiple arrests.
Note: Director General of Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI): Subodh Kumar Jaiswal; Headquarters of Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI): New Delhi
2.
Indian government introduces “Sign Learn” smartphone app: The Center
released the “Sign Learn” smartphone app, a 10,000-word lexicon for Indian Sign
Language (ISL). Pratima Bhoumik, minister of state for social justice and
empowerment, introduced the app. The 10,000-word Indian Sign Language Research
And Training Centre (ISLRTC) lexicon serves as the foundation for Sign Learn.
All the terms in the ISL dictionary can be searched using Hindi or English on
the app, which is accessible in Android and iOS versions. Key Points:
a)
Notably,
on October 6, 2020, ISLRTC and the NCERT signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for the conversion of NCERT textbooks from classes 1 through 12 into
Indian Sign Language (digital format) in order to make the textbooks accessible
to children with hearing impairments.
b)
The
official said, that ISL e-content for class 6 NCERT textbooks was introduced
this year.
c)
A
few volumes from the National Book Trust’s “Veergatha” series had ISL
translations released by the Center as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
d)
ISLRTC
and NCERT collaborated to launch 500 academic words in Indian Sign Language for
the“Sign Learn” smartphone app.
e)
These
academic terms, which are frequently used in history, science, political
science, and mathematics, are utilised at the secondary school level.
3.
Arogya Manthan 2022 launched by Mansukh Mandaviya: Arogya Manthan
2022 event was officially launched by the Union Health Minister in Government
of India, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to commemorate four years since the launch of
the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and one year
since the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). More than 10
crore impoverished people are intended to benefit from the programme, which
offers vulnerable families a five lakh rupee health subsidy each year. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018 announced its debut.
About the Arogya Manthan Event:
a)
This
two-day Arogya Manthan 2022 event covered a total of 12 sessions.
b)
Day
1 of Arogya Manthan 2022 featured a number of sessions on topics like Universal
Health Coverage in India, Promoting Interoperability in Digital Health,
Improving PM-JAY Efficiency, Adoption of Digital Health, Health Technology
Assessment for Evidence-Informed PM-JAY Decisions, and Privacy and Security
Issues Related to Digital Health.
c)
Day
2 feature sessions on Best Practices by States Implementing ABDM, Digital
Health Insurance in India, PM-JAY Best Practices by States, International Best
Practices in Digital Health, Ensuring Access, Affordability, and Quality in
Healthcare through PM-JAY, and Way Forwards for Digital Health in India.
4.
Appointment of Sanjai Kumar as new Chairman & MD of Railtel: As the new Chairman
and Managing Director of RailTel, Sanjai Kumar is in charge. Sanjai Kumar
previously held the position of Director (Network Planning & Marketing/NPM)
at RailTel, along with the added responsibility of Director (Project,
Operations & Maintenance/POM). The University of Allahabad awarded Kumar a
Bachelor of Technology in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering, while
the Management Development Institute in Gurugram awarded him a Post Graduate
Diploma in Management.
5.
Dr. M Srinivas named as new Director of AIIMS Delhi: The dean of
Employees’ State Insurance Company (ESIC) Hospital and Medical College,
Hyderabad, Dr M Srinivas has been appointed the director of New Delhi’s All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), nearly six months after the tenure
of the previous director, Dr Randeep Guleria, formally ended. The appointment
is for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge
of the post, or till attaining the age of 65 years, or until further orders,
whichever is the earliest, according to the order.
Note: AIIMS Delhi Established: 1956; AIIMS
Delhi First Director: B.B Dikshit.
6.
Jagdeep Dhankhar released a book titled “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay – Jeevan
Darshan Aur Samsamyikta”: The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has released
the book titled “Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay – Jeevan Darshan Aur Samsamyikta” (five
volumes) in New Delhi and on this occasion highlighted the importance of Pt
Deendayal’s thoughts in contemporary times. The Vice President appreciated the
efforts of the Chief Editor of the book, Dr Bajrang Lal Gupta and his team for
coming out with these well-researched five volumes on one of the foremost
leaders of modern India. He also thanked Shri Rajnath Singh and Dr Murli
Manohar Joshi for their insightful speeches on the life and work of Pt
Deendayal Upadhyay on the occasion.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Palm oil Alliance formed by 5 South Asian Countries: Edible oil trade
associations from five palm oil importing countries in South Asia – India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, announced the setting up of Asian
Palm Oil Alliance (APOA). The idea is to gain collecting bargaining power and
make imports sustainable. According to the APOA statement, the alliance would
work towards ensuring that palm oil is recognised as a high-quality,
economical, and healthy vegetable oil and to change the negative image of palm
oil. Chaturvedi said that membership of APOA would be further expanded to
include companies or industry bodies associated with production or refining of
palm oil across the continent. The next meeting of APOA is expected to be held
in Indonesia early next year. Key Points:
a)
India’s
annual imports of edible oil is around 13-14 million tonne (MT). Around 8 MT of
palm oil is imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, while other oils, such as
soya and sunflower, come from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia.
b)
Asia
accounts for around 40% of the global palm oil consumption while Europe
accounts for 12% of palm oil trade.
c)
Indonesia
and Malaysia are the biggest palm oil exporters in the world.
d)
India
is the largest importer of palm oil in Asia, accounting for 15% of global
imports, followed by China (9%), Pakistan (4%) and Bangladesh (2%).
2.
World Maritime Day: 29th September: The International Maritime Organization
observed World Maritime Day on the last Thursday of September. This year, it
will be observed on September 29. The day focuses on drawing public attention
to maritime safety and the marine environment. The World Maritime Day 2022
Parallel Event will be organized in Durban, South Africa from 12th to 14th
October 2022. The theme for World Maritime Day 2022 is ‘New technologies for
greener shipping’ – which reflects the need to support a “green transition of
the maritime sector into a sustainable future while leaving no one behind.”
World Maritime Day History: In 1948, an
international conference in Geneva passed a specialized convention that established
the IMO, an agency under the United Nations. It was established to develop and
maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping. World Maritime Day
was celebrated for the first time on March 17, 1978.
Note: International Maritime Organization
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; International Maritime Organization
Founded: 17 March 1958; International Maritime Organization Founder: United
Nations; International Maritime Organization Secretary-General: Kitack Lim.
3.
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste: 29th September: On 29 September
2022, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed
globally. Reducing food loss and waste is of significant importance as it
contributes to the realization of broader improvements to agri-food systems
toward achieving food security, food safety, improving food quality and
delivering on nutritional outcomes. The theme for International Day of
Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2022 is “Stop Food Loss and waste, for the
people, for the planet”.
International Day of Awareness of
Food Loss and Waste History: In 2019, the 74th United Nations General
Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food
Loss and Waste, recognizing the fundamental role that sustainable food
production plays in promoting food security and nutrition. The UN Environment
Program (UNEP) and the Food and Nutrition Organization of the UN (Food and
Agriculture Organization) will work together to support the Day’s observance.
Note: Food and Agriculture Organization
Headquarters: Rome, Italy; Food and Agriculture Organization Founded: 16
October 1945, Québec City, Canada; Food and Agriculture Organization
Director-General: Qu Dongyu.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Jhulan Goswami Retirement: Indian Legend retires from all Formats: The legendary
Women’s Cricketer, Jhulan Goswami announced her retirement from all forms of
the game in a touching farewell statement on September 25. Jhulan played her
last international game at the Lord’s on the 24th, and she went out on a high
note by helping India women defeat England women 3-0 in an ODI series. Jhulan
secured two wickets in her final match for India, which saw them defeat England
by 16 runs while holding them to a 169-run goal. Jhulan Goswami sent a parting
message on social media, expressing her contentment with her lauded career. She
participated in 204 ODI games, claimed 255 wickets, and now holds the record
for most wickets taken in women’s ODI cricket.
2.
2022 Berlin Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge breaks the world record: Eliud Kipchoge
shattered his own world record, with a time of 2:01:09 to win the Berlin
marathon. It’s the second time the Kenyan runner has set the official men’s
world record at the race in the German capital. Kipchoge’s previous best in an
official 42.2km race was 2:01:39 set on the same course in 2018. Ethiopia’s
Tigist Assefa won the women’s race in a course record of 2:15:37, the third
fastest time in history.
Kipchoge has long been dubbed the world’s
best marathon runner. In 2019, he ran a marathon in Vienna in under two hours,
a milestone long thought impossible. The result wasn’t official because he ran
it under laboratory conditions, but the result made him an icon in and outside
the running world.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
S&P retains FY23 growth forecast at 7.3% & OECD at 6.9%: Amid slowing
external demand for Indian goods and services, the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and S&P kept their growth forecasts for
India unchanged at 6.9 per cent and 7.3 per cent, respectively, for FY23 while
highlighting growing downside risks. S&P in its latest outlook for
Asia-Pacific said it saw a strong rebound in India as services consumption
continued to recover and investment grew robustly.
2.
Amazon tie-up with Amp Energy to establish its first solar project in India: Amazon said that
its first solar farm would be located in India. Three solar power plants with a
combined capacity of 420 megawatts (MW) will be built in Rajasthan by the
largest e-commerce company, Amazon. Along with Amp Energy, Amazon has also
contracted to 210 MW and 110 MW projects with ReNew Power and Brookfield
Renewables, respectively. Key Points:
a)
Amp
Energy India, a producer of renewable energy (RE), has signed a power purchase
agreement (PPA) to sell RE to Amazon from a 100 MW solar power facility in
Rajasthan as part of Amazon’s plans for India.
b)
By
the end of 2023, the facility at Bhadia, Rajasthan, will be completely
operational. One gigawatt (GW) of utility size projects are also being
developed by Amp. 1,13,645 tonnes of hazardous CO2 emissions will be reduced
thanks to this solar power facility.
Amazon other plans:
a)
Aside
from Amp Energy, Amazon has also agreed to a 210 MW project with ReNew Power
and a 110 MW project with Brookfield Renewables.
b)
These
solar farms can produce 1,076,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of RE yearly, which is
enough to power more than 360,000 average-sized homes in New Delhi.
c)
Additionally,
23 new solar rooftop projects worth a combined 4.09 MW have been launched by
Amazon for its fulfilment centres spread across 14 Indian cities. As a result,
India now has 41 solar rooftop projects with a combined renewable energy
capacity of 19.7 MW.
Note: Amazon Founder: Jeff Bezos; Amazon
CEO: Andy Jassy
DEFENCE
1.
India’s first avalanche-monitoring radar installed in Sikkim” The Indian Army and
the Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE) have jointly
installed the Avalanche Monitoring Radar, the first of its kind in India, in
north Sikkim. Besides being used for the detection of avalanches, this radar
can also be employed to detect landslides. The avalanche radar was made
operational by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s wing DGRE,
which is involved in forecasting and mitigating of avalanche hazards faced by
the Indian Army in the Himalayan region. About the radar:
a)
The
radar, which can permanently scan the targeted slope for avalanche release and
track its path and its size in case it is triggered, can “see” through snow,
and fog as well as in night, making it an all-weather solution and covers an
area of two sq/km obviating the requirement to place additional instruments in
dangerous avalanche prone areas.
b)
The
radar is also linked to an alarm system enabling automatic control and warning
measures in case an avalanche is triggered. Images and videos of the event are
automatically recorded for future analysis by the experts.
c)
In
an area where frequencies of avalanches are high, the radar will go a long way
in safeguarding the life of troops deployed in hostile terrain and sub-zero
temperatures while at the same time limiting damage to vehicles and equipment
at such snowbound high-altitude area.
Note: Sikkim Capital: Gangtok; Sikkim Chief
Minister: Prem Singh Tamang; Sikkim Governor: Ganga Prasad.
OBITUARIES
1.
Oscar-winning actress Louise Fletcher passes away: An Oscar-winning
actress, Louise Fletcher from the USA has passed away at the age of 88 in
France. She was awarded the Oscar in 1976 for her role as Nurse Ratched in One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). She was also a recipient of the BAFTA
Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She was nominated for two Emmy Awards for her
roles in the television series Picket Fences (1996) and Joan of Arcadia (2004).
Her final role was as Rosie in the Netflix series Girlboss (2017).
Fletcher began her acting career in the late 1950s on episodic TV shows such as Lawman, The Untouchables, and 77 Sunset Strip and lasted for more than sixty years in films and television with a recurring role as the cunning Bajoran religious figure Kai Winn Adami on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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