NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Zanskar celebrates 9th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2024: The 9th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2024 began with remarkable grandeur in the picturesque village of Sani, signifying a landmark event for the region.The festival was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra.This year’s Zanskar Festival is especially significant as it marks the first celebration since Zanskar was officially declared a district. The two-day festival showcases a wide array of cultural performances, reflecting the diverse traditions of the region. Highlights include performances by the Purgi tribes from Kargil, the Shina community of Drass, the Dard-Aryans from Aryan Valley, and the Changpa nomads from Changthang.Cultural teams from Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur, and Uttarakhand are participating, enriching the festival with their unique traditions.
2. President Murmu inaugurates 8th India Water Week: President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated 8th India Water Week 2024.The 8th India Water Week 2024 will start from 17 Sep to 20 Sep in New Delhi.During the four-day event, around four thousand delegates including two hundred foreign delegates from 40 countries will participate. More than one hundred exhibitors and startups will showcase their ideas in the water sector during the exhibition.The event will serve as a global platform to elicit ideas and opinions from global-level decision-makers, researchers, experts, innovators and stakeholders in the field of water resources from across the worldTheme 2024 – Partnership and cooperation for inclusive water development and management.
3. PM Modi launches India’s first ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’ connecting Ahmedabad and Bhuj: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off country’s first Vande Metro, now renamed as Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service, between Bhuj and Ahmedabad.The Ahmedabad-Bhuj Vande Metro service will stop at nine stations and cover the 360-kilometre distance in 5 hours and 45 minutes at a top speed of 110 kilometres per hour.Developed on the same platform as the Vande Bharat Express, the Vande Metro train is a self-propelled train set designed for short-distance inter-city travel. However, unlike Vande Bharat which is a semi-high speed 160 kmph train set, the Vande Metro trains will have a maximum speed limit of 130 kmph.
4. Arvind Kejriwal resigns as Chief Minister, Atishi stakes claim to top post: Aam Aadmi Party legislators in New Delhi have elected State Minister Atishi as the new Chief Minister-designate in place of Arvind Kejriwal.Atishi’s name was proposed by Kejriwal at the meeting of the legislature party, and it was unanimously accepted by the AAP MLAs.Ms Atishi now holds key portfolios in the Delhi government such as Education and Public Works Department.
5. 15 September – National Engineers Day: India celebrates National Engineer’s Day on September 15, commemorating the birth anniversary of engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a pioneer in the field of engineering.The day is observed to honour his contributions to the development of India in the fields of engineering, education and economy.Theme 2024 – Innovating for a Sustainable FutureMokshagundam Visvesvaraya was awarded Bharata Ratna by the Government of India in 1955.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 4th edition of the Global Bio-India 2024 concludes in New Delhi: The fourth edition of Global Bio-India 2024 successfully concluded after showcasing India’s biotech prowess.The three-day event was themed on the potential and opportunities in ‘Biotech Innovation’ and ‘Bio-manufacturing’ and their impact on the bio economy.Theme 2024 – Biotech Innovation’ and ‘Bio-manufacturingIn Global Bio India, the country’s biotech startups unveiled 11 products that showcased the country’s emerging talent in biosciences.The 4th Global Bio-India 2024 was organized by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).South Korea was the partner country at the 4th Global Bio-India 2024.
2. India to host high-level international meetings on anti-doping in sports: India is set to host the 2nd Formal Meeting of the COP9 Bureau and the 3rd Formal Meeting of the Fund Approval Committee under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport on in New Delhi.
As Vice-Chairperson of the COP9 Bureau, India has taken the lead in organizing these high-level gatherings, which will bring together key decision-makers and dignitaries from across the world.
Hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the meetings will see participation from distinguished delegates representing countries such as Azerbaijan, Barbados, Estonia, France, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, The Netherlands, Türkiye, UAE, and Zambia.Senior officials from the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport will also be present, contributing to the discussions in a hybrid format.
3. Iran launches new research satellite Chamran-1 into orbit: Iran successfully launched its Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit, utilising the Qaem-100 rocket developed by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.The launch marks a milestone in Iran’s aerospace program, which has faced scrutiny and criticism from Western nations due to concerns that the technology could be repurposed for ballistic missile development.The Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms, was placed into a 550-kilometer orbit and it is designed to test “hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology”.The Qaem-100 rocket, a solid-fuel, three-stage vehicle, was previously used in January for another successful satellite launch.
4. Jordan’s king appoints Jafar Hassan to serve as PM: Jordan’s King Abdullah II tapped a longtime aide to serve as the kingdom’s new prime minister.Hassan has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Geneva and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. He will replace the outgoing prime minister, Bisher Al-Khasawneh, whose Cabinet resigned on Sunday in the wake of a parliamentary election. Al-Khasawneh has served since October 2020.
5. 17 September – World Patient Safety Day: World Patient Safety Day is an annual observance on September 17th, established by the World Health Organisation (WHO).Objective – To raise global awareness about patient safety, promote actions to enhance safety in healthcare, and encourage stakeholders to unite for safer healthcare practices.Theme 2024 – Improving Diagnosis for Patient SafetyIn 2019, the 72nd World Health Assembly passed a resolution to establish World Patient Safety Day as a global health priority. The WHO began global campaigns each year, focusing on various themes within patient safety, such as safe childbirth, medication safety, and the empowerment of patients and caregivers.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. 4th South Asian Junior Athletics Championship: India at topped the medal tally: The 4th South Asian Junior Athletics Championships was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.India led the Medal tally by winning 48 medals- 21 gold,22 silver and 5 bronze.The Sri Lanka team, which gave a tough fight to the Indians, came second with 35 medals—9 gold, 9 silver, and 17 bronze. Bangladesh came third with three bronze medals. Pakistan and Bhutan failed to win a single medal at the event.The first South Asian Junior Athletics Championships was held in Sri Lanka in November 2007. The second edition was held in Ranchi in November 2013, and the third was held in May 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.All seven countries of the South Asian Athletics Federation (SAFF) -India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal—participated in the 4th South Asian Junior Athletics Championships.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India ranked among Tier 1 countries in Global Cyber Security Index 2024: India has ranked among Tier 1 countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI). It is issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).‘GCI 2024’ has used a five-tier analysis this time. In this, the progress made in cyber security by various countries is tracked.This report places 46 countries in Tier 1, the highest category. These countries have been named “Role Modeling”, which have shown a strong commitment to all important aspects of cyber security.The Global Cyber Security Index 2024 reported that India has performed well in measures such as legal, technical, capacity expansion, and corporations.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UPI users can now send Rs 5 lakh for some transactions: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has increased transaction limits for tax payments using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), allowing people to transfer Rs 5 lakh in a single transaction.While announcing its monetary policy statement on August 2024, RBI announced the enhancement of the limit for tax payments through UPI from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, per transaction.Consumers can now make UPI payments of up to Rs 5 lakh per transaction for the following categories: a) tax payments, b) hospital and educational services, and c) IPOs and government securities.Two additional enhancements were previously introduced through circulars issued in December 2021 and December 2023.
2. Piramal Finance join hands with Digital India’s CSCs to Boost Credit Access for Bharat’s Budget Customers: Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Ltd. (Piramal Finance), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., has collaborated with Digital India’s Common Service Centres (CSCs) to satisfy Bharat’s lending needs by expanding access to formal credit for underserved persons and MSMEs.This agreement successfully disbursed approximately Rs. 100 crore in August 2024 to increase credit availability in semi-urban areas, offering vital financial products such as house and business loans.Using CSC’s wide network of over 6 lakh centres, this project intends to assist budget clients in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, successfully addressing the financial requirements of underserved regions and expanding financial inclusion.Piramal Finance will increase its loan offers via CSCs, focussing on underserved areas to better serve individuals and MSMEs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
3. HDFC Bank’s Parivartan initiative aims to uplift rural communities with sustainable development programmes: The HDFC Bank is set to increase the income of 5 lakh marginal farmers earning less than ₹60,000 annually by 2025, scaling up further its over ₹5,000 crore investments in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the last decade.The bank’s focus on rural development reflects our continued commitment to fostering sustainable growth and uplifting vulnerable communities. Since its inception in 2014, Parivartan has grown into one of India’s largest CSR programmes, active in 28 States and 8 Union Territories.Though following 2013, corporates invested 2 per cent of net profit in the CSR initiative as it has become mandatory due to Section 135 of the Companies Act, Bharucha said his bank started the sustainable livelihood initiative (SLI) way back in 2008, giving affordable credit to people.
4. LIC selects Infosys for NextGen digital insurance platform project: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has selected IT major Infosys to develop its NextGen digital platform.It will be an integrated end-to-end digital insurance solution providing “excellent services to customers, business lifecycle management and operational activities for sales intermediaries and digital front-end platform for branch employees”.The digital platform will be modular, flexible, cloud-native and have platform driven architecture capable of quickly adopting innovative technologies, new products and features.It will form the foundation for building high value business applications such as the customer and sales super apps, portals and digital branch for LIC.
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