TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Affairs---------- ----------------2-31

2. Sports--------------------------------------32-46
3. States In News---------------------------47-59
4. Books & Authors------------------------60-60
5. Obituaries In News---------------------61-62
6. Science & Technology-----------------63-74
7. Appointments & Resignations------75-84
8. Surveys------------------------------------85-88
9. Banking & Economy----------------- 89-101
10. Summits & Conferences- ------- 101-111
11. Awards & Honours ---------------111-118
12. International Affairs -------------118-131
13. Important Days--------------------131-138

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 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
NHPC, SECI, Railtel, and SJVN Gain Navratna Status
➢ Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has granted the navratna status to
four more state-owned public enterprises –
✓ Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd
✓ Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd
✓ Railtel Corporation of India Ltd
✓ National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd
➢ The number of navratna firms have increased to 25 as a result, from 21 earlier. Navratna status
provides more financial autonomy to the entities. Railtel Corporation of India Ltd
➢ RailTel was formed as a PSU fully owned by Railways in Sept, 2000 Solar Energy
Corporation of India Ltd.
➢ It was set up on 20th September 2011 to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar
Mission (NSM) National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.
➢ It was incorporated in 1975 with the objective of developing hydroelectric power in the country.
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd.
➢ It was incorporated in 1988 as Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, a joint venture between the
Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Government issues notification for 1st set of rules under Telecom Act 2023, known as
‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’
➢ The first set of rules under the Telecom Act 2023, known as
‘Digital Bharat Nidhi,’ has come into effect.
➢ The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) will replace the erstwhile Universal
Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
➢ The notification further mentions that the Digital Bharat Nidhi will fund
schemes and projects aimed at providing targeted access to telecommunication services for
underserved groups in society.
➢ Payments received for DBN will first be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.
➢ They will then be credited to the DBN by the central government
➢ The central government will appoint an “administrator” of the DBN through a gazette notification.
➢ This person will select “DBN implementers” for executing schemes and projects.
➢ The DBN administrator must create a digital portal to enable DBN implementers and other
stakeholders to provide services, report and monitor schemes and projects
Indian Army Launches Project NAMAN: SPARSHEnabled Service Centres Nationwide
➢ The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, in presence
of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff.
➢ Project NAMAN is centred around the implementation of the SPARSH
(System for Pension Administration Raksha), digital pension system,
which streamlines pension related processes for Defence Pensioners, addressing the critical need
for accessible facilitation points for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country

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➢ The project involves the establishment of reception and facilitation centers dedicated to Army
Veterans, Pensioners, War Widows, offering SPARSHenabled pension services, Government to
Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to Consumer (B2C) services, all at a single, convenient
location.
➢ First international flight to take off from Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport on
November 16
➢ from Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport to Kuala Lumpur The airport was
inaugurated by PM Modi on June 21, 2023.
➢ Veer Savarkar International Airport, also known as Port Blair Airport, is a customs airport located
2 km (1.2 mi) south of Port Blair.
President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court of
India
➢ The new flag and the insignia, symbolizing justice & democracy, were
conceptualised by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.
➢ The flag features the Ashok Chakra, the Inconic Supreme Court building and
the book of the Constitution.
About Supreme Court
➢ Article 124 of the Constitution states that “There shall be a Supreme Court of India.”
➢ The Supreme Court came into existence on January 26, 1950, with the coming into force of the
Constitution.
➢ On January, 28, 1950, two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme
Court was inaugurated.
➢ The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated the present building of the Supreme
Court of India on August 4, 1958.
National Institute of Fashion Technology organizing CHHAAP-NIFT@Dilli Haat
➢ The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) along with the
Ministry of Textiles is organizing CHHAAP-NIFT@Dilli Haat from
2nd to 15th September 2024 at Dilli Haat INA, New Delhi.
➢ The event has been named Chhaap- Impressions of an indelible stamp
of India’s handloom and craft traditions.
➢ The event showcases the NIFT Craft Cluster Initiative, highlighting the creative collaboration
between NIFT students, alumni, and artisans.
➢ Chhaap-NIFT@Dilli Haat is a testament to the institute’s unwavering dedication to showcasing
the best of fashion and Indian craftsmanship.
✓ Ministry of Textiles:
✓ Officeholder: Giriraj Singh (Minister)
✓ Headquarters: Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.
Union Cabinet approves 309-km rail line between Mumbai, Indore
➢ The Union Cabinet has approved a 309-km rail line project between Mumbai and Indore at
a total cost of ₹18,036 crore. The project is expected to be completed by 2028-29.

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➢ Apart from connecting commercial hubs Mumbai and Indore through the shortest rail route,
would connect the unconnected areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh passing through two
districts of Maharashtra and four Districts of Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The project is result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity
➢ The project will promote tourism in the region by providing a shorter route between the western
and southwestern parts of the country and Central India.
✓ Ministry of Railways:
✓ Minister of Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw
✓ Minister of State, Railways: V. Somanna , Ravneet Singh Bittu
✓ Chairman and CEO of Railway Board: Satish Kumar
Cabinet approves seven major schemes for improving farmers’ lives and livelihoods
with total outlay of Rs 14,235 crore Crore
➢ Digital Agriculture Mission: The initiative will employ tools such as artificial intelligence (AI),
big data, and geospatial technologies to revolutionise agricultural practices.
The Mission has a total outlay of Rs 2,817 crores.
Key components of the mission include:
✓ The Agri Stack, a comprehensive digital repository of agricultural data;
✓ The Farmers Registry and Village Land Maps Registry, which will create
a digital record of landholdings and farmers; and
✓ The Krishi Decision Support System, which will assist in crop monitoring and decision-making.
✓ Additionally, the mission aims to enhance market connectivity by directly linking farmers with
buyers, thereby reducing the influence of middlemen.
➢ Crop science for food and nutritional security: with a total outlay of Rs 3,979 crore.
✓ The initiative will prepare farmers for climate resilience and provide for food security by 2047.
✓ It emphasises strengthening agricultural research and education, with a particular focus on
genetic improvement and resource management for food, fodder, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial
crops.
Strengthening Agricultural Education, Management and Social Sciences: with a total outlay of Rs
2,291 Crore
✓ This initiative aligns with the New Education Policy 2020 and seeks to equip the next generation
of agriculture students and researchers with the skills needed to address contemporary
challenges.
Sustainable livestock health and production: with a total outlay of Rs 1,702 crore, the decision
aims to Increase farmers income from livestock and dairy.
✓ It comprises animal health management, veterinary education, dairy production, and technology
development. It also focusses on the genetic improvement of livestock breeds and the promotion
of efficient production practices.
Sustainable development of Horticulture: with a total outlay of Rs 1129 crore the measure is
aimed at increasing farmers’ income from horticulture plants.
✓ This scheme will support the development of tropical, subtropical, temperate, root, tuber, and
bulbous crops, as well as commercial and medicinal plants.

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Strengthening of Krishi Vigyan Kendra: outlay of Rs 1,202 crore These centers play a crucial role
in disseminating knowledge and best practices to farmers across the country.
✓ KVKs will ensure that farmers have access to the latest agricultural techniques and innovations.
➢ Natural Resource Management: with an outlay of Rs 1,115 Cr - focused on the sustainable
management of natural resources.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management,
Amritsar, is conducting a five-day Management Development Programme
➢ The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management
Amritsar (IIM Amritsar), is conducting a five-day residential Management Development
Programme (MDP) from 2nd to 6th September 2024.
➢ The program involves Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati
Raj Institutions (PRIs) from across ten States: Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. These participants are attending the training at IIM Amritsar.
➢ The primary goal of this program is to strengthen the leadership, manage-
ment and governance skills of Panchayat Representatives &Functionaries.
✓ Ministry of Panchayati Raj:
✓ Minister : Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh
✓ Headquarters: New Delhi; Founded: 27 May 2004
SC constitutes committee headed by former HC judge Justice Nawab Singh for grievant
farmers
➢ The Supreme Court constituted a committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana High
Court judge Justice Nawab Singh to amicably resolve the grievances of protesting farmers at
the Shambhu border between the States of Punjab and Haryana.
➢ The committee is to convene its first meeting within a week.
➢ A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order
in a petition filed by the State of Haryana against an order of the Punjab and
Haryana High Court to remove the blockade at the Shambhu border (which
was erected by Haryana to prevent the protesters from marching to Delhi).
Centre notifies constitution of 23rd Law Commission
➢ The Union Ministry of Law and Justice released a notification announcing the establishment
of the 23rd Law Commission of India for a period of three years (from 1st September, 2024
to 31st August, 2027).
➢ Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of Law and Justice (Independent Charge)
✓ The 23rd Law Commission will comprise of:
✓ a full-time Chairperson;
✓ four full-time members (including Member-Secretary);
✓ Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as an ex-officio member;
✓ Secretary, legislative department as an ex-officio member;
✓ and not more than five part-time members.

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➢ Serving Supreme Court and High Court Judges will be chairperson and members of the Law
Commission.
➢ About Law Commission of India:
➢ It is a non-statutory body and is an executive body - constituted by a notification of the
Government of India, Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs with a definite term of
reference
➢ To carry out research in the field of law and the Commission makes recommendations to the
Government (in the form of Reports) as per its terms of reference.
➢ History of Law Commission in India
➢ The first such Commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833under the
Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay
➢ The Indian Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Contract Act, the Indian Evidence Act, the Transfer
of Property Act. etc. are products of the first four Law Commissions.
➢ The Government of India established the first Law Commission in 1955.
Agriculture Minister launched AgriSURE Fund, Krishi Nivesh Portal
➢ Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister, Shri Shivraj
Singh Chouhan launched AgriSURE Fund & Krishi Nivesh Portal at PUSA, New Delhi.
➢ Krishi Nivesh Portal will cater to diverse stakeholders, including farmers,
entrepreneurs, and industries, by providing easy access to information
regarding various Central and state government schemes.
➢ A Blended capital fund of ₹750 crore with SEBI Registered Category II,
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), contributions from the Government of
India is ₹250 crore, NABARD is ₹250 crore, and ₹250 crore is being mobilized from banks,
insurance companies, and private investors.
eShram achieves over 30 crore registrations in last 3 years
➢ The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) launched the eShram portal on 26th August 2021.
➢ In the short span of three years since its launch, eShram has registered more than 30 crore
unorganised workers, showcasing its rapid and widespread adoption among the unorganised
workers.
➢ The eShram portal as a "One-Stop-Solution" for Country’s unorganised workers
➢ As part of the ‘eShram - One Stop Solution’ project, Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE)
has been working to integrate major schemes like
✓ Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY),
✓ Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY),
✓ Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY),
✓ Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi),
✓ Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),
✓ Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G), Ration Card scheme etc.
➢ for the benefit of the unorganised workers.
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development launches Rashtriya Poshan
Maah 2024 in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh

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➢ Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, launched the
Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on 1st September,2024.
➢ Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Thakur said that this campaign, started in 2018 under the
leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has played a crucial role in
fighting malnutrition across the country, especially in tribal areas.
➢ She urged all citizens to actively participate in this Rashtriya Poshan Maah
2024 and play their important role in securing the future of their children
and contributing to the creation of a healthy, prosperous, and powerful India.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launches Notary Portal
➢ Union Minister for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, launched the new
Notary Portal in New Delhi.
➢ Addressing the occasion, Mr. Meghwal hailed the launch of the dedicated
Notary Portal as an important step forward towards providing a paperless,
faceless, and efficient system—a step towards the goal of digital India.
➢ The Notary Portal provides an online interface between the notaries and the government for
various services like submission of applications for appointment as notaries, issuance and renewal
of Certificates of Practice, change of practice area, and submission of annual returns.
➢ With the launch of the Notary Portal, the Central Notaries will not be required to submit
applications and requests in physical mode.
➢ They can submit applications online, monitor their progress, and download digitally signed
Certificates of Practice from their Digilocker accounts.
“VISHANU YUDDH ABHYAS”: A Mock Drill on Pandemic Preparedness conducted under
National One Health Mission
➢ Under the aegis of National One Health Mission (NOHM), a comprehensive national mock drill,
"Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas" (Virus War Exercise), was conducted in Ajmer district of Rajasthan state,
from August 27 to August 31, 2024 to assess zoonotic pandemic preparedness
➢ This first-of-its kind exercise aimed to evaluate the readiness and response of
the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) composed of experts
from human health, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors.
PM Narendra Modi virtually addresses first International Solar Festival
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the two-day first International
Solar Festival through video conferencing, being held in New Delhi.
➢ India’s solar energy capacity has increased 32-fold in the last 10 years,
and this speed and scale will help the country achieve 500 gigaatt non-fossil
capacity by 2030. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental
organization that was launched in 2015
➢ By the Prime Minister of India and the President of France, at the United Nations Climate Change
Conference held in Paris.
➢ The idea for the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiativewas put forth by India in 2018.
➢ All member states of the United Nationsare eligible to join the ISA.
➢ Headquarter: National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, India.

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Centre extends ceasefire with Naga insurgency group NSCN-K (Nikki faction) for
another year
➢ The Union government on September 5 extended the ceasefire agreement
with Niki Sumi-led National Socialist Council of Nagaland(K) insurgency
group for another year, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) announced.
➢ The ceasefire agreement between Government of India and National Socialist Council of
Nagaland(K)/Niki group has been extended for a period of one year.
➢ It was decided to extend the ceasefire agreement for a period of one year with effect from
September 8, 2024 to September 7, 2025.
➢ The ceasefire agreement was first signed on September 6, 2021.
Global Textiles Expo ‘Bharat Tex 2025’ to held from February 14th to 17th next year
➢ The Global Textiles Expo—Bharat Tex 2025 will be held from February 14th to 17th next year at
Bharat Mandapam in the national capital and at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
➢ Being organised by a consortium of Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs)
and supported by the Ministry of Textiles.
➢ Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said that the Expo focusses on the vision of 5F
(Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign).
Information and Broadcasting Ministry organised Khel Utsav 2024
➢ The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has organised Khel Utsav 2024 from the 27th to
the 30th of August at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
➢ In its maiden edition, the Ministry organised tournaments in four sports: cricket, hockey,
badminton, and table tennis.
➢ A ceremony for distribution of Major Dhyan Chand trophies was held on 4th September, 2024 at
PIB Conference hall, Shastri Bhawan. The trophy distribution ceremony was graced by Secretary,
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Sh. Sanjay Jaju and other senior officials of the Ministry.
About Dhyan Chand
➢ He was known for his extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring feats, in
addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936,
during an era where India dominated field hockey.
➢ Known as The Wizard or The Magician of hockey
➢ He was born in Allahabad on 29 August 1905
➢ His birth anniversary is celebrated as National Sports Day every year
NCGG achieves a significant milestone
➢ The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) commenced its 1st
Advanced Leadership Development Programme on Public Policy and
Governance specifically designed for Latin American and Caribbean
nations.
➢ This two-week program is being organized from 2nd to 13th September 2024
bringing 22 Civil Servants from 10 countries, including Civil Servants from Argentina, Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Suriname.

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Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog inaugurates National Conference on
“Universal Access to Healthcare: Digital Solutions” in New Delhi
➢ A strong primary healthcare system is of high priority to reduce the
healthcare burden in later ages: Dr V K Paul.
➢ “Digital solutions should be within the ambit of rights and inclusivity,
must create an ecosystem of ease of living, and enhance quality of life”
➢ Union Government replicating success of CoWIN and Arogya Setu through the Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission: Union Health Secretary.
➢ Digital technologies hold tremendous promise for leapfrogging to achieve the goal of universal
healthcare: Shri Bharat Lal
➢ The day-long conference, organised by NHRC in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation and
supported by the NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, brings together
practitioners, government officials, leading experts, innovators and policy makers in the field of
healthcare and digital healthcare technology to explore the way forward for universal access to
affordable and quality healthcare services especially for people living in rural, remote and hilly
areas.
Union Health Ministry approves introduction of new shorter and more efficacious
treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB in India
➢ The BPaLM regimen, which consists four-drug combination – Bedaquiline, Pretomanid,
Linezolid and Moxifloxacin, has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker
treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure.
➢ While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe
side effects, BPaLM regimen can cure the drug-resistant TB in just six months
with high treatment success rate.
➢ Under vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to rid the country of TB by 2025.
➢ The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), previously known as Revised National
Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), aims to strategically reduce TB burden in India by
2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals.
➢ This vision was first articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Delhi End TB Summit in
March 2018.
78th Meeting of Network Planning Group under PM GatiShakti evaluates 18 road
projects
➢ The 78th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM GatiShakti initiative
was convened in New Delhi, chaired by Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur.
➢ The meeting focused on evaluating eighteen crucial road infrastructure
projects proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
➢ These projects, across various states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar,
align with the principles of integrated planning outlined in the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan
(NMP).

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International ISO tag for Sonbhadra Police Line
➢ It is now the first police line in Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) to receive the ISO-
9001:2015 certification from International Organisation for Standardization.
➢ This certification recognizes Sonbhadra Police Line’s excellence in
management, training, services, and facilities.
➢ The Commissionerate Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) has set a precedent
as Uttar Pradesh’s first ISO-9001:2015 certified Commissionerate.
I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Named by TIME Magazine as one of most influential
People in Technology and AI
➢ Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has been named by TIME Magazine,
as one of the most influential people in the field of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
➢ Mr Vaishnaw’s name figures under the “Shapers” category of the list.
➢ The Magazine writes, under his leadership, India is hoping to become one of
the top five countries for semiconductor manufacturing in the next five years.
➢ TIME Magazine also highlighted that the Indian educational system is catching up to produce the
specialised workforce needed for cutting-edge AI and semiconductor development.
➢ The list also includes several prominent figures including Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, Microsoft
CEO, Satya Nadella, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and Infosys co-
founder Nandan Nilekani for their significant contributions to AI and technology.
Vice-President presides as Chief Guest at the International Literacy day Celebrations at
Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi
➢ The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy, in collaboration with
UNESCO, celebrated International Literacy Day 2024. The theme of this year’s event,
“Promoting Literacy through Multilingualism,” highlighted the critical role of linguistic diversity in
improving literacy levels across India’s diverse communities.
➢ He urged all States and Union Territories to fully embrace the ULLAS initiative and work
tirelessly towards achieving total literacy by 2030.
➢ He congratulated the UT of Ladakh on achieving full literacy (over 97%).
➢ Time for us to be in mission mode with commitment and passion to ensure
100% literacy at the earliest.
➢ ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, was launched during the programme,
which captured the journey, milestones, and success stories of the program.
➢ ULLAS- Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
PM Modi to Inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 at India Expo Mart, Greater
Noida, on September 11.
➢ The conference, running from September 11 to 13, is themed “Shaping the Semiconductor
Future.”
➢ It aims to highlight India’s semiconductor strategy and its goal of becoming a
global hub for the industry. The event will feature over 250 exhibitors and 150
speakers, including top leaders from global semiconductor companies.

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Defence Ministry Signs ₹26,000 Crore Contract with HAL for 240 AL-31FP Aero
Engines
➢ The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹26,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) for 240 AL-31FP aero engines for Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft.
➢ The engines will be produced by HAL's Koraput Division and will enhance the operational
capability of the Sukhoi30MKI fleet.
➢ HAL will supply 30 engines annually, with delivery of all 240 engines expected
over the next eight years.
➢ This contract supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by involving India’s defence
manufacturing ecosystem, including MSMEs and both public and private industries.
Amit Shah to Address Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s Inaugural Foundation
Day
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the first Foundation Day of the Indian Cyber
Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi.
➢ Key initiatives being launched include the web-based module Samanvaya for cybercrime data
management, the Cyber Commandos program for specialized cybersecurity personnel, and the
Suspect Registry for fraud risk management.
➢ The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) will also be dedicated to the nation.
Established in October 2018, the I4C coordinates efforts among banks, telecom
providers, and law enforcement to combat cybercrime.
US to partner with India’s Semiconductor Mission for sustainable global value chain
➢ The US will partner with India’s Semiconductor Mission to enhance the global semiconductor
ecosystem under the ITSI Fund from the CHIPS Act of 2022.
➢ This collaboration aims to build a more resilient and sustainable semiconductor value chain. Kurt
Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, highlighted this partnership as a key
strategic initiative and noted the alignment between the US and India.
➢ The effort reflects the deepening ties and mutual benefits anticipated from
expanding India’s semiconductor industry.
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurates Digi Yatra facility at nine more airports
➢ On September 9, 2024, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu
inaugurated the Digi Yatra facility at Visakhapatnam International Airport.
➢ This launch also extended the service to nine additional airports, including Coimbatore,
Dabolim, Indore, Bagdogra, Ranchi, Patna, Raipur, and Bhubaneshwar.
➢ Digi Yatra simplifies the airport process by eliminating the need for boarding
passes and ID proofs, reducing the time needed for passenger entry from 15
seconds to just 5 seconds.
➢ The app has been downloaded by over 55 lakh users, and more than 3 crore passengers have used
the service.
➢ The initiative started in December 2022 at New Delhi, Varanasi, and Bengaluru airports. With
the recent additions, Digi Yatra is now available at 24 airports across India.

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➢ The contactless and paperless system of Digi Yatra proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic,
supporting sustainability efforts and reducing paper use.
Cabinet approves ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’
➢ Aim: To enhance India's ability to predict and respond to extreme weather
events and the impacts of climate change.
➢ The mission will be primarily implemented by three key institutions under
the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) -- the India Meteorological Department,
the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather
Forecasting. Cabinet approves PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme
➢ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the “PM-
eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme” for procurement and operation of e-
buses by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) with an outlay of Rs. 3,435.33 crore.
➢ This scheme will support deployment of more than 38,000 electric buses (e-Buses) from FY
2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
Cabinet approves PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme
➢ The scheme will support the operation of e-buses for a period of up to
12 years from the date of deployment.
➢ This initiative seeks to facilitate adoption of e-buses by encouraging private
sector participation.
➢ The scheme will provide benefits to all Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) present in
State/UTs who opt for the scheme.
IBC organized 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave
➢ The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Vivekananda International Foundation
(VIF) commenced the 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave on the theme
“Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance and Sustainable Development”.
➢ The event commenced by Mr. Gurumurthy, Chairman VIF, Ven Jangchuk
Choeden, Secretary General, IBC, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF who were
joined by three-time Grammy awardee Shri Ricky Kej.
Quality Council of India (QCI) approves National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad as a
Certification Body for type certification of drones
➢ This is as part of the certification scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
➢ The Certification Scheme for UAS is to ensure compliance with applicable
national and international standards.
➢ This initiative is aligned with the government’s vision to position India as a
global hub for drone technology and to support sectors such as agriculture,
healthcare, logistics, and infrastructure with safe and certified drone solutions.
➢ National Test House is a premier testing and quality assurance institution under the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

12
Union Cabinet Approves ₹70,125 Crore for PMGSY-IV Road Scheme
➢ The Union Cabinet approved implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV from
2024-25 to 2028-29
➢ The central share is Rs 49,087.50 crore and the state share is Rs 21,037.50 crore.
➢ All-weather roads measuring 62,500 km will be provided to unconnected habitations.
➢ construction and upgrading of bridges on the new roads
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
✓ It started as a100 % centrally sponsored schemelaunched in theyear 2000
to provideall-weather rural road connectivity to eligible rural habitations.
✓ Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
✓ Funding Pattern: The funding pattern was revised to a 60:40 ratio between
Centre and State in 2015-16, and a 90:10 ratio for Northeastern States and
Himalayan States.
✓ PMGSY I (2000)
✓ PMGSY-II (2013)
✓ PMGSY-III (2019)
Cabinet approves ₹5 lakh health insurance for senior citizens above 70 years
irrespective of income
➢ Under the flagship scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-
JAY).
➢ The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under the AB PM-JAY.
➢ The senior citizens of the age 70 and above belonging to families already covered under the AB
PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do
not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70).
➢ Senior citizens of the age 70 and above who are already availing benefits of other public health
insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen
Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force
(CAPF)may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY.
➢ It has been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above who are under
private health insurance policies orEmployees’ State Insurance scheme will be
eligible to avail benefits under the AB PM-JAY.
India to be the Exclusive Partner for European Hydrogen Week in November 2024
➢ India has been announced as the exclusive partner for the European
Hydrogen Week, set to take place in November 2024.
➢ This announcement was made on the second day of the International
Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024), held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
➢ The partnership underscores India’s commitment to aligning with EU green regulations to
enhance its export potential in the green hydrogen sector.
➢ The EU session chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India with
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe focused on the role of green hydrogen as a crucial
component in global decarbonization efforts.

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Port Blair to be renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram
➢ The Centre has renamed Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, to 'Shri Vijaya Puram' to "free the nation from colonial imprints".
➢ Port Blair is the entry point for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
➢ The city was named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British colonial navy
official of the East India Company.
➢ The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire.
➢ "It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji
and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an
independent nation.
Rangeen Machhli mobile app
➢ Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan
Singh launched the 'Rangeen Machhli' mobile app at ICAR-Central Institute
of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar.
➢ Developed by: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA)
has developed a mobile app 'Rangeen Machhli'.
➢ Developed with support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
➢ Aim: for providing crucial information about ornamental fisheries to fish farmers and
aquarium shop owners.
➢ The app offers multilingual information on ornamental fish species in eight Indian languages.
PM Modi chairs first governing board meeting of ANRF
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the first governing board meeting
of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in New Delhi.
➢ The newly established ANRF, created by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act 2023.
➢ Aim: to foster a strengthened research ecosystem across the country.
MP tops among states in AYUSH with maximum PHCs
➢ Madhya Pradesh has topped in the country among states for having AYUSH
facilities at 328 primary health centres in the state’s urban areas.
➢ According to the report ‘Health Dynamics of India – Infrastructure and Human
Resources’, released recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India, Madhya Pradesh also ranks second in the number of district hospitals
with 52, led by Uttar Pradesh with 125 and Delhi on third place with 40.
➢ MP is also third in terms of tribal pockets, where there are AYUSH doctors available at 228
primary and community health centres.
➢ Odisha ranks first with 296 AYUSH doctors and Chhattisgarh is second with 279.
➢ Madhya Pradesh has been among the first six states in India to have significantly increased the
number of sub-health centres in rural areas since 2005.
➢ It also ranks seventh among the ten States with the highest number of primary health centers.
➢ The state is also among the top six for the number of community health centres, with a total of 332
out of 5,491 nationwide.

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➢ According to the report, Madhya Pradesh is among the top three states in terms of the number of
sub-divisional hospitals.
Piyush Goyal, launched the ‘Jan Sunwai portal’
➢ Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, launched the ‘Jan
Sunwayi portal’, which is an online platform of the department of commerce,
designed to streamline communication between stakeholders and authorities.
➢ “This portal will provide a significant boost to the existing commerce and business sector since
people will not have to visit our offices with their grievances. They can file it with us online
through this portal.
➢ The minister also inaugurated another portal for the Export Trade Guarantee Corporation (ECGC).
This portal will allow MSME sectors to avail 90% insurance cover for credit limit up to Rs 80 crore.
➢ This step will not only enhance entrepreneurship in the country but will also promote ease of
doing business.
India’s first non-suburban metro, ‘Vande Metro train’ to connect Gujarat’s Kutch
district with Ahmedabad
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off Vande Metro, the country’s
first non-suburban metro train service between Bhuj and Ahmedabad.
➢ In India, non-suburban train servicescover long distances, while suburban train
services are for short distances, generally up to 150 kilometers.Suburban trains are used to help
passengers move quickly within cities, suburbs, and extended suburbs.
PM Modi Announces Adoption of Delhi Declaration on Civil Aviation
➢ The 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded
with the adoption of Delhi Declaration.
➢ Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, in collaboration with the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), successfully hosted the
conference at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 11th to 12th September.
➢ Delhi Declaration - a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing regional cooperation,
addressing emerging challenges, and fostering sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector.
➢ In India, 15% of the pilots are women which is more than the global average of 5% and we have
issued an advisory to further increase this number.
➢ India is set to achieve its goal of having 350-400 airports by 2047.
Mission Mausam Unveiled: A 2,000 Crore initiative to Enhance India’s Weather and
Climate Forecasting by 2026
➢ The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised a national-level press
inetarction on Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan in New Delhi.
➢ The Union Cabinet has approved Mission Mausam on September 11,
2024, with a budget outlay of 2,000 crores over two years, is an ambitious initiative of the
Government of India. It aims to make India ‘Weather Ready’ and ‘Climate Smart’.
➢ The objectives of the proposed “Mission Mausam” includes:
✓ Develop Cutting Edge Weather Surveillance Technologies & Systems

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 ✓ Implement Higher resolution atmospheric observations with better temporal and spatial
sampling/coverage
✓ Implement Next-generation radars, and satellites with advanced instrument payloads
✓ Implement High-Performance Computers (HPC).
➢ The mission aims to establish 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), 60 Radio Sonde/Radio Wind
(RS/RW) stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 Wind Profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 Urban testbed, 1
Process testbed, 1 Ocean Research station and 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations with upper
air observation.
Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launches the ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’
website in New Delhi
➢ Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon'ble Union Minister for Communications and
Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has launched the official
website for the much-anticipated Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav.
➢ The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, to be held from December 6th to 8th, 2024,
at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, is set to be a landmark celebration.
➢ The festival draws inspiration from the eight Northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—collectively known as the
"Ashtalakshmi," representing eight forms of prosperity.
➢ The website, www.ashtalakshmimahotsav.com, will serve as a one-stop resource for event
updates, schedules, and participation details, ensuring seamless engagement for attendees from
across the country.
Members of Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka celebrate Thiru Onam
➢ The Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka is celebrating Thiru Onam.
➢ Thiru Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala, symbolizing prosperity, secularism, and harmony.
➢ Celebrations include traditional Pookkalam (flower decorations) and
Onam Sadya (feast) at various homes.
➢ The festival features traditional attire such as Kasavu sarees and Mundu.
➢ It commemorates the homecoming of the legendary ruler, King Mahabali,
and highlights Kerala’s unique customs, traditions, and cuisine.
PM Modi to to inaugurate 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 4th RE-INVEST
Global Industrial Meet at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
➢ He will also flag off the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro
connecting Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and GIFT City.
➢ Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth over
₹8,000 crore, including the first Vande Bharat Metro train between Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
➢ The RE-INVEST meet, organized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will
showcase India’s progress in renewable energy.
➢ The three-day event will feature over 40 sessions and attract around 25,000 delegates from 140
countries.

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India launches Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to Typhoon Yagi
affected countries.
➢ India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance
to countries affected by Typhoon Yagi: Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
➢ The operation involves sending urgent relief materials to these countries,
which are experiencing severe floods from the typhoon.
➢ External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reported that 10 tonnes of aid, including dry rations,
clothing, and medicines, were sent to Myanmar aboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.
➢ A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is delivering 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and
10 tonnes to Laos, including gensets, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets,
blankets, and sleeping bags.
➢ Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
efforts under its ‘Act East Policy’.
DPIIT to launch BHASKAR platform for startups
➢ The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
will launch a digital platform called BHASKAR.
➢ BHASKAR, which stands for Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry,
aims to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem.
➢ The platform is designed to centralize, streamline, and enhance collaboration among startups,
investors, mentors, and other key stakeholders.
➢ The initiative aligns with the Government’s vision to position India as a global leader in innovation
and entrepreneurship.
➢ BHASKAR will facilitate seamless interaction and bridge gaps between various sectors within the
entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Prime Minister releases 1st installment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin to
beneficiaries
➢ Prime Minister Modi released the first installment of Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana-Gramin in Jharkhand.
➢ ₹32 crore was digitally transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, and
sanction letters for 32,000 houses were distributed.
➢ A housewarming ceremony was held for 46,000 newly constructed houses.
➢ Modi announced plans to construct two crore additional houses in the next
five years, with a focus on Tribal, Deprived, Dalit, Divyang, and Women beneficiaries.
➢ He stated that PM Awas Yojana will boost local activities and job opportunities.
Doordarshan to complete 65 glorious years
➢ Doordarshan will celebrate its 65th anniversary on September 15, 2024.
➢ Established in 1959, it began as part of All India Radio and became a separate
department on April 1, 1976, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
➢ It is now one of the two divisions of Prasar Bharati, India's autonomous public service
broadcaster.

17
➢ Doordarshan operates 35 satellite channels, including six All India channels, 22 Regional (24×7)
channels, six Regional (non-24×7) channels, and one International channel.
➢ It has a network of 59 transmitters and provides services via DD DTH service “DD Free Dish” from
Todapur, Delhi.
Piyush Goyal launches Jan Sunwayi Portal to address grievances pertaining to trade
and industry
➢ Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, who is also the
North Mumbai MP, launched the ‘Jan Sunwayi portal’.
➢ an online platform of the department of commerce, designed to streamline
communication between stakeholders and authorities.
➢ The portal will provide a direct channel for grievances pertaining to trade
and industry-related issues
IB Ministry institutes new section for young filmmakers in IFFI 2024
➢ 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 is to be held in
Goa from 20th to 28th November 2024.
➢ Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instituted a new section –
"Best Debut Indian Film Section 2024".
Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates 'Samvidhan Mandir' at 433 ITIs in Maharashtra
➢ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar virtually inaugurated Constitution temple’
(Samvidhan Mandir) at 433 Industrial Training Institutes across Maharashtra
➢ To educate students about the importance and sanctity of the Constitution.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates 8th India Water Week
➢ President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 8th India Water Week at
Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
➢ She emphasized the need for a people’s movement for water conservation,
improved management, and distribution.
➢ President Murmu highlighted the relevance of ancient water management practices and their
modern application.
➢ The Jal Jeevan Mission has improved water distribution, with 78% of rural areas now having water
connections.
➢ Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil urged for stronger cooperation and partnerships to address the
water crisis and reported that over 15 crore rural households have been given tap water
connections.
➢ The event features around 4,000 delegates, including 200 foreign delegates from 40 countries, and
over 100 exhibitors and startups showcasing water sector innovations.
Govt to start Swacchata Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024 across country today
➢ Swacchata Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024 starts today and runs until October 2nd.
➢ Theme: Swabhav Swachhata-Sanskaar Swacchta.
➢ Activities: Mega cleanliness drives at tourist sites, public buildings, commercial areas, water
bodies, zoos, sanctuaries, and public toilets.

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➢ Key Pillars:
➢ Cleanliness Target Units (CTU) Shramdaan activities.
➢ Swachhata Mein Jan Bhaagidari (public participation in cleanliness).
➢ SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir (safety camps for sanitation workers).
PM launches Odisha govt’s flagship initiative Subhadra Scheme
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Odisha's Subhadra Yojana and released the first
installment for nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin.
➢ The Subhadra Yojana, a women-centric initiative, will provide 50,000
rupees over five years to eligible women aged 21 to 60.
➢ The scheme aims to cover over one crore women, with 1,250 crore
rupees transferred to 25 lakh 11 women.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to Launch NPS-Vatsalya Scheme for child savings
➢ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the NPS-Vatsalya scheme
on September 18 in New Delhi.
➢ Ms Sitharaman will also launch an online platform for subscribing to NPS
Vatsalya, release of scheme brochure, and distribute Permanent Retirement
Account Number (PRAN) cards to new minor subscribers.
➢ NPS-Vatsalya, a plan for contributions by parents and guardians for minors, will be introduced.
Upon reaching the age of majority, the plan can be seamlessly converted into a regular NPS
account.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj to participate as a partner Ministry in the 8th India Water
Week
➢ The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is participating as a Partner Ministry in the
8th India Water Week and Exhibition, scheduled to be held from 17th to
20th September 2024 at Bharat Mandapa, New Delhi.
➢ The theme, “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and
Management”, aligns with the commitment of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to advancing
sustainable water practices in rural India for which it is promoting Water-sufficient Villages as
part of its endeavour on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals through targeted
Panchayat Development Plans by way of convergence of resources.
“Accessibility Standards” module in E-Cinepramaan successfully deployed
➢ The “Accessibility Standards” module in E-Cinepramaan has been successfully deployed as per
the scheduled timeline i.e. 15th September 2024. The applicants may now
apply/submit their films with the required accessibility features for the
hearing and visually impaired, as specified in the guidelines.
➢ These guidelines apply to those feature films certified by the Central Board
of Film Certification (CBFC) for public exhibition in cinema halls/movie
theaters for commercial purposes.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates 4th Global Renewable Energy
Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

19
➢ The 3-day summit honours the important contributors to India's remarkable achievement of
over 200 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity. Shri Modi also took a walkthrough
of the exhibition showcasing cutting-edge innovations from public and private
sector companies, start-ups, and major industry players.
➢ India's diversity, scale, capacity, potential and performance are all unique and
pave the way for Indian solutions for global applications. “Not just India, the whole world
believes that India is the best bet of the 21st century”, exclaimed the Prime Minister.
➢ The 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) is poised to
highlight India's impressive progress in renewable energy manufacturing and deployment. It will
feature a two-and-a-half-day conference attracting delegates from around the world.
Emperium targets Rs 775 cr revenue from Yamuna nagar, Gurugram projects
➢ Realty firm Emperium Pvt Ltd will develop a 40-acre township project in
Yamunanagar and a housing project in Gurugram over the next three
years with an estimated revenue potential of Rs 775 crore.
➢ Since its inception, Emperium has delivered 1.7 million square feet of residential spaces,
completing 1,320 units in Panipat City alone, with a total revenue of Rs 341 crore.
➢ It will develop a luxury residential project PREMIO in Gurugram and a 40-acre township project
EMPERIUM RESORTICO in Yamunanagar.
Around 5 lakh 56 thousand FIR’s registered under new criminal laws
➢ A total of 556,000 FIRs have been registered under the new criminal laws in India.
➢ The laws include Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023;
and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which came into effect on July 1, 2023.
➢ FIRs were registered between July 1 and September 3, 2023.
➢ Over 800,000 officers have been trained on these laws through regular
training sessions and webinars.
➢ Training has been conducted by the Bureau of Police Research and
Development and the National Forensic Sciences University.
➢ A mobile and web application named 'NCRB SANKALAN of Criminal Laws' has been launched to
assist users in navigating the new laws.
BlueKraft Digital Foundation launches Viksit Bharat Fellowship programme to
encourage writing & creative talents
➢ BlueKraft Digital Foundation launched the Viksit Bharat Fellowship programme to
empower creative talents across various domains.
➢ The programme offers 25 fellowships in three tiers: Associate (Rs 75,000/month), Senior (Rs
1,25,000/month), and Distinguished (Rs 2,00,000/month) for a
duration of one year.
➢ The fellowship aims to document India's diverse journeys through various
formats, including non-fiction books, research papers, and children's literature.
➢ Fellows will receive mentorship from experts and access to exclusive resources
to enhance their work.

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National Symposium ‘Exercise AIKYA’ on Disaster Management to Begin in Chennai
➢ A two-day national symposium titled Exercise AIKYA will begin in Chennai, organized by the
National Disaster Management Authority and the Army Southern Command.
➢ The primary aim is to enhance disaster preparedness and foster collaboration among key
stakeholders.
➢ Participants will include representatives from Railways, transport, civil aviation, health,
environment, and disaster management authorities, as well as the Indian Army.
➢ The symposium will address contemporary issues such as tsunamis, landslides,
floods, forest fires, and cyclones, focusing on prevention strategies.
➢ There will be a focus on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and strategic
planning in disaster management during the exercise.
EAM Jaishankar Releases India-Romania Commemorative Stamps
➢ External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar released the India-Romania
joint commemorative stamps in Delhi.
➢ The event was attended by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and
Romanian Ambassador to India, Daniela-Mariana Sezonov.
➢ Dr. Jaishankar stated that the stamps reflect the deep bonds of friendship
and cooperation between India and Romania.
➢ The stamps commemorate the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
➢ The release was highlighted in a social media post by Dr. Jaishankar, emphasizing its significance.
Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan
➢ The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved Pradhan Mantri
Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan with total outlay of Rs.79,156 crore
(Central Share: Rs.56,333 crore and State Share: Rs. 22,823 crore).
➢ The scheme has been launched to improve the socio-economic condition
of the country's tribal majority villages and aspirational districts.
➢ Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman proposed the scheme in her
2024-25 Union Budget speech.
➢ This will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people as announced
in the Budget Speech 2024-25. It will cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks spread across all tribal
majority villages across 30 States / UTs. The duration of the PMJUGA scheme is five years.
➢ According to the 2011 census, the tribal population in the country was 10.45 crore.
'One Nation, One Election' cleared by Union Cabinet
➢ The Union Cabinet accepted a report by a high-level committee headed by
former President Ramnath Kovind on holding simultaneous elections for
Parliament, state assemblies, and local bodies.
➢ The recommendations of the ‘One Nation One Election’ committee, which
also has union home minister Amit Shah as member, will be implemented in two phases.
➢ Simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in the first phase and elections for local
bodies like panchayats and municipal bodies within 100 days of the general election in the second
phase.

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➢ It also recommended a common electoral roll, which would need coordination between the
Election Commission of India (ECI) and the state election commissions.
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Second Edition of Inclusion
Conclave
➢ Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment,
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Second Edition of Inclusion Conclave
organised by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India in New Delhi.
➢ The 2nd edition of the Inclusion Conclave was held on the sidelines of 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, held on September 17-18, 2024.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA):
✓ Headquarters: New Delhi
✓ Founded: 24 November 2005
✓ Chairman: Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
✓ Director General: Ashish Bhargava, IAS
President Droupadi Murmu to address centenary celebration of the ICAR in Ranchi
➢ The President will attend the centenary celebration of ICAR-National
Institute of Secondary Agriculture in Namkum, Ranchi.
➢ Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren will also be present.
PM Narendra Modi to visit Maharashtra and participate in National ‘PM Vishwakarma’
Program
➢ PM Narendra Modi will visit Wardha, Maharashtra, for the National ‘PM Vishwakarma’
Program, marking one year of progress under the scheme.
➢ He will release certificates and loans to PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries and
distribute credit to 18 beneficiaries across different trades.
➢ A commemorative stamp will be unveiled to honor artisans' contributions
under PM Vishwakarma.
➢ Modi will lay the foundation stone for the 1,000-acre PM MITRA Park in Amravati to boost India’s
textile manufacturing and exports.
➢ The “Acharya Chanakya Skill Development Centre” scheme will provide free skill training to
150,000 youths annually in Maharashtra.
Government approves continuation of Pradhan Mantri Annadata AaySanraks Han Abhiyan
(PM-AASHA) scheme
➢ The government has converged the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund
(PSF) schemes under PM-AASHA to serve farmers and consumers more effectively.
➢ The total financial outlay will be Rs 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance
Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
➢ PM-AASHA scheme was launched in 2018 to provide better prices to farmers.
➢ Aimed to control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.

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➢ The procurement will cover 25 per cent of national production, enabling states to buy more of
these crops to ensure farmers receive fair prices and to prevent distress sales.
Cabinet Approves ‘Bio-RIDE’ Scheme for Biotechnology Advancement
➢ The Union Cabinet approved the Biotechnology Research Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme to support
cutting-edge research and development in biotechnology.
➢ The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme
Bio-RIDE is Rs 9,197 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period
from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
➢ The scheme merges two existing programs — Biotechnology Research and
Development (R&D) and Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED)— and introduces
a new component called ‘Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry.’
➢ This initiative aims to foster innovation, strengthen bio-entrepreneurship, and elevate India’s
global position in bio-manufacturing and biotechnology.
Amit Shah launches 'White Revolution 2.0' to boost Indian dairy sector
➢ Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled 'White Revolution 2.0', a comprehensive initiative
aimed at empowering women farmers and creating job opportunities.
➢ Under the initiative, the govt aims to increase milk procurement by dairy
cooperative societies by 50 per cent over the next five years
➢ Focus on four key areas: -
➢ 1. Empowering women farmers
➢ 2.Enhancing local milk production
➢ 3. Strengthening dairy infrastructure
➢ 4. Boosting dairy exports
➢ The Ministry also launched the RuPay Kisan credit cards for dairy farmers and the installation of
micro - ATMs at dairy cooperative societies
➢ The minister has announced the nationwide expansion of the cooperation among cooperatives
initiative, which was successfully piloted in Gujarat
➢ The program will provide interest free cash credit to dairy farmers through Rupay kisan credit
cards and distribute Micro ATMs to Dairy cooperative societies
National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation to be established in Mumbai
➢ The Union cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Centre of
Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and
Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) in Mumbai as a not-for-profit company.
➢ This will be named as the ‘Indian Institute for Immersive Creators’ (IIIC).
‘Veer Abdul Hameed’ and ‘National War Memorial’ (NWM) included in the NCERT
curriculum
➢ To inculcate the values of patriotism among school children, a poem titled ‘National War
Memorial’ (NWM) and chapter titled ‘Veer Abdul Hameed’ has been included in the NCERT
curriculum of Class VI from this year.

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➢ Abdul Hameed made the supreme sacrifice fighting for the country during
the India-Pakistan war of 1965.
➢ He was awarded Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, posthumously.
➢ Abdul Hamid was born on 01 Jul 1933 to Sakina Begum and Mohmammad
Usman in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh.
➢ National War Memorial was inaugurated in February 2019 and built over a 40-acre area close
to India Gate in New Delhi.
India and Brazil review existing collaboration in energy sector
➢ India and Brazil reviewed their collaboration in the energy sector, focusing on
sustainable fuels and biofuels during a meeting between Petroleum Minister
Hardeep Singh Puri and Brazilian Minister Alexandre Silveira.
➢ Both countries emphasized enhancing trade and investment opportunities for Indian companies in
Brazil and reiterated their commitment as founding members of the Global Biofuels Alliance,
highlighting biofuels' role in environmental sustainability and socioeconomic growth.
➢ They discussed potential cooperation in producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and planned to
co-host an India-Brazil Clean Cooking Ministerial Meeting in February 2025 to explore global
access to clean cooking solutions.
Expansion of health scheme aims to benefit 6 cr. senior citizens says Health Minister
➢ The government will expand the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to
include all individuals aged 70 and above, benefiting six crore senior citizens with free
health insurance of up to five lakh rupees, set to be implemented next month.
➢ The U-WIN Portal will fully digitize vaccination services, providing complete
vaccination records for pregnant women and children from birth to 17 years
under the Universal Immunization Programme.
➢ A new, shorter treatment regimen for tuberculosis under the National TB
Elimination Programme will reduce treatment duration from 9-12 months
to just 6 months, along with the installation of portable BHISHM Cubes at
25 AIIMS for emergency care and the use of drones for medical services at fifteen institutes.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaches Uzbekistan to attend 9th Annual Meeting
of Board of Governors of AIIB
➢ Nirmala Sitharaman is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the 9th Annual Meeting of the Board of
Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), scheduled.
➢ India, as the second-largest shareholder of AIIB, will engage in multilateral
discussions on key global development issues.
➢ Sitharaman will sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty with Uzbekistan to enhance long-term
economic cooperation and is set to meet with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, along with holding
bilateral talks with counterparts from Uzbekistan, Qatar, China, and the AIIB President.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to inaugurate second edition of UP International
Trade Show on Sept 25
➢ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will inaugurate the second edition of Uttar Pradesh
International Trade Show (UPITS) in Gautam Buddha Nagar.

24
➢ The five-day trade show will conclude on 29th September.
➢ The event will showcase the trade and culture of Uttar Pradesh. It will also
highlight Vietnam as the partner country. The first edition of UPITS was
inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu last year.
MoHUA Transforms 25% of CTUs into Clean Spaces Under Swachhta Hi Seva Campaign
➢ The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has transformed 25% of identified
Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) into clean spaces under the Swachhta Hi
Seva campaign, targeting over 5 lakh neglected areas across India.
➢ More than 3 crore citizens have participated in voluntary cleanliness drives,
with initiatives actively underway in over 4 lakh locations nationwide.
➢ This effort is part of the two-week Swachhta Hi Seva campaign, running from September 17 to
October 2, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban.
Govt to Install 1 Lakh EV Charging Stations Nationwide by 2030: Union Power Minister
➢ The government plans to install 1 lakh electric vehicle charging stations across India by
2030, with 34,000 currently operational.
➢ Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN),
electricity has been provided to over 83,000 of the targeted 1,24,000 particularly
vulnerable tribal households, with plans to electrify the remaining 41,000 soon.
➢ The peak power demand is expected to reach 425 Gigawatts by 2030, prompting the development
of a National Electricity Plan, which will be launched shortly.
Govt to Install 1 Lakh 4G Mobile Towers by 2025
➢ The government aims to install 1 lakh 4G mobile towers by mid-2025,
with 36,574 already completed. India has also achieved the fastest 5G
rollout globally, with around 4.5 lakh 5G base stations installed.
➢ Currently, 97% of urban areas and 80% of the population are covered
by the 4G network, and India is now the 6th country to establish its own 4G stack production.
➢ The number of mobile connections has increased from 90 crore to 117 crore in the last decade,
while internet connectivity has expanded from 25 crore to nearly 95 crore people, highlighting the
government's focus on connectivity and digital infrastructure.
➢ The Department of Posts launched the successful Dak Chaupal initiative, conducting over 15,000
Chaupals to deliver government services in rural areas and onboarded more than 3,400 new
exporters under the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra initiative.
India to start exporting locomotives in 2025
➢ For the first-time, India is set to export locomotives to a global customer.
➢ Wabtec Locomotive, which is a joint venture between Indian Railways
and Wabtec, will manufacture locomotives at its Marhowra plant in Bihar,
and start exports to an African customer in 2025.
➢ The project is of strategic importance as it positions India as a global
locomotive manufacturing hub and aligns with the “Make in India” and “Make for the World”
initiatives under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision.

25
➢ Established in 2018, the plant has been delivering 100 locomotives annually to the Indian railways
utilising the local supplier base from across India. It has thus far added 650 locomotives to the
railways fleet.
➢ In May this year, US-based Wabtec Corporation started a new manufacturing campus in Rohtak
with an investment of Rs 150 crore.
India India’s first cancer multi-omics data portal unveiled
➢ Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) launches the country's first
Comprehensive Cancer Multi-Omics Data Portal.
➢ This platform provides open access to detailed genomic, RNA, and
protein profiles of breast cancer patients, with clinical data integrated
to aid the development of personalized cancer treatments tailored to Indian patients.
➢ Currently, the platform consists of data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand to
over 500 patients in the coming year.
➢ This data is freely accessible to the global research community under India's PRIDE (Promotion of
Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) guidelines, which promote ethical sharing and
collaboration in cancer research.
ASOSAI 16th General Assembly Started in New Delhi
➢ 16th assembly of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
(ASOSAI) held in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the
16th Assembly of ASOSAI on September 24, 2024.
➢ The assembly, hosted by the CAG of India, will run from September 24-27, 2024.
➢ A notable aspect of this year’s assembly is the assumption of the ASOSAI chair by the Comptroller
and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, for the term 2024-2027.
India Signs Agreement to Protect Marine Biodiversity on High Seas at UNGA
➢ India signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement at the United
Nations General Assembly to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas.
➢ External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India in this international
pact, which aims to ensure sustainable conservation and use of marine life
beyond national territorial waters, covering about two-thirds of the oceans.
➢ The agreement, which took nearly 20 years to finalize, prohibits destructive
fishing practices and pollution.
➢ It stipulates that countries cannot claim sovereign rights over marine resources in these areas and
promotes equitable sharing of benefits derived from those resources.
➢ India's participation in the agreement was approved by the Cabinet in July.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Siachen Base Camp
➢ President Droupadi Murmu visited Siachen Base Camp in Ladakh,
interacting with soldiers and officers stationed at the Siachen Glacier.
➢ She praised the bravery of soldiers and expressed gratitude to their families
for their sacrifices in extreme climatic conditions.
➢ During her visit, she paid tribute to martyrs at the Siachen Base War Memorial in a wreath-laying
ceremony.

26
➢ President Murmu is the third Indian president to visit Siachen, following former Presidents A. P. J.
Abdul Kalam and Ram Nath Kovind.
➢ The Siachen Glacier, part of the Karakoram Range, is the world’s highest military-occupied region,
secured by the Indian Army since April 1984 under Operation Meghdoot.
Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh launches ‘Paridhi 24x25’ web portal
➢ Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh in the presence of Union Minister of State for External
Affairs & Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, launched India-specific fashion trend book, “Paridhi
24x25” a bilingual web portal of VisioNxt and the AI Taxonomy e-book on 5th September 2024.
➢ The event saw participation from more than 150 industry leaders from fashion, textiles and retail
as well as notable craftsmen and weavers from various craft clusters. VisioNxt
has produced 60+ micro trend reports, 10+ close-to-season trend reports, 3+
research papers, and the first ever AI Taxonomy book of Indian wear categories
to date. VisioNxt is India’s first-ever initiative that combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
Emotional Intelligence (EI) to generate fashion trend insights and forecasts. This report is
available in Hindi and English through the VisioNxt bilingual portal (www.visionxt.in).
➢ The much-anticipated National Institute of Fashion Technology’s (NIFT) Begusarai Extension
Centre was officially inaugurated by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh.
➢ During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NIFT and National
Skill Development Council (NSDC) in the presence of the Shri Giriraj Singh.
Mankidia Community Becomes 6th Pvtg to Get Habitat Rights
➢ Recently, the Mankidia community was formally provided habitat rights under the legal sanction
of the scheduled tribes under the Forest Rights Act, of 2006.
➢ Mankidia is the second PVTG to get habitat rights in the state, while the district
-level committees (DLCs) have approved for the other four communities.
➢ So far, Paudi Bhuyans (the first PVTG to receive habitat rights title in
Odisha), Juangs, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saora and Dongria Kondh were the
five PVTGs that have been approved for getting habitat rights under FRA.
➢ With these, Odisha became the leading state in the country to approve
the habitat rights of six PVTGs — the maximum in the country.
➢ Chhattisgarh has provided habitat rights to two tribal communities (Kamar and Baiga), Madhya
Pradesh (Baiga) and Maharashtra (Maria Gond).
➢ About Mankidia community:
❑ The Mankidia are a semi-nomadic hunter/gatherer community.
❑ Traditionally skilled in rope making, catching, and hunting of monkeys.
❑ Location: Mayurbhanj (Northern Plateau Zone).
❑ Language: Austro-Asiatic / Munda.
Centre declares eco-sensitive zone around Gir Protected Area
➢ In a significant conservation effort, the Union Government has issued a preliminary notification
declaring 1.84 lakh hectares surrounding the Gir Protected Area as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
➢ Currently, the area within 10 km of the outer boundary of the Gir Protected Area is considered ESZ
as per the Supreme Court’s order and Central guidelines, Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister
Mulubhai Bera stated in a release.

27
➢ The ESZ will extend from 2.78 km to 9.50 km around the sanctuary, covering
parts of Junagadh, Amreli, and Gir Somnath districts in Gujarat.
➢ The newly designated ESZ encompasses 196 villages, 17 river corridors, and
four key lion movement corridors.
To Combat Air Pollution “Dust Free Drive” Launched in Delhi
➢ Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Shri. L. G. Saxena launched the Dust Free
Drive across the cities to combat the Air Pollution.
➢ This step looks to be important ahead of the tough and harsh air pollution
in the winter in the Capital of Country.
Ministry of Tourism Unveils Paryatan Mitra and Didi Initiative
➢ On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism launched
“Paryatan Mitra” and “Paryatan Didi,” a responsible tourism initiative
aimed at improving tourist experiences across India.
➢ The initiative focuses on empowering local communities, especially women
and youth, to serve as ambassadors and storytellers of their destinations, enhancing hospitality,
cleanliness, and sustainability.
Oxygen Bird Park Set To Be Inaugurated By Shri. Nitin Gadkari
➢ Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Shri. Nitin Gadkari Ji, set to
inaugurate Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) on the Nagpur-
Hyderabad National highway 44 in Nagpur, in state of Maharashtra.
President Inaugurates the 8th Kala Mahotsav
➢ President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 8th Bhartiya Kala Mahotsav, focussed on the
North-Eastern states, on 28 September 2024 at the Rashtrapati Nilayam, Secunderabad,
Telangana. The eight-day-long Bhartiya Kala Mahotsav will be open to the public from 29
September to 6 October 2024.
➢ It is being organised by the Union Ministry for Development of the North
Eastern Region in association with the Union Ministry of Culture.
➢ The Mahotsav will showcase the art, culture, crafts, and culinary diversity
of the North-Eastern states.
➢ Rashtrapati Nilayam is President's winter retreat, which was constructed
by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1860.
Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development to grace
closing ceremony of 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 at Ranchi
➢ The closing ceremony of 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 was held on
30th September, 2024 at Shaurya Sabhagaar, Ranchi.
➢ The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (1st-30th September, 2024), focused on
Anaemia, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding, and Poshan Bhi
Padhai Bhi, along with Technology for better governance.
➢ The month-long campaign also emphasised on ‘Environmental Sustainability’ through the Ek Ped
Maa Ke Naam initiative in which plantation was encouraged across all Anganwadi centres.

28
➢ Convergence with Ministries/ Departments has always been the core of Jan Andolans since
nation’s first nutrition-centric Jan Andolans started in 2018, as it helps reaching out to a variety of
audience especially the grassroots.
➢ An exhibition showcasing aspects of Mission Poshan 2.0 will also be organised by the State Govt of
Jharkhand at the venue.
MoS Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel to inaugurate National Workshop on
People’s Plan Campaign 2024 – Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas Abhiyan
➢ Ministry of Panchayati Raj is gearing up to launch this year’s edition of the
People’s Plan Campaign on 2nd October 2024, with a National Workshop
scheduled for 30th September 2024 to build momentum in the lead-up to the campaign
➢ Workshop aims at orienting the officials, Elected Representatives, faculties/ trainers of Panchayat
Raj and other stakeholders of Panchayats about strategies, approaches and roadmap regarding the
preparation and uploading of Panchayat Development Plans
➢ Around 400 participants expected to attend the workshop from Union Ministries/ Departments,
States/UTs, State Panchayati Raj Department
➢ In view of the vast reach of the ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’ Abhiyan, covering nearly 65% – 68%
of India’s population, its success is vital in realizing the goals of holistic rural development and
national progress during the Amrit Kaal.
10 Years of Make in India
➢ Launched on September 25, 2014, by PM Modi, the "Make in India" initiative
marked a pivotal shift in India's economic strategy.
➢ On completion of 10 years of ‘Make in India’ initiative, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in his 114th episode of the monthly radio programme ‘Maan Ki Baat’ on
Sunday urged the people to buy locally made products during festivals.
➢ He also invited the creator community to showcase their talent and strengthen the ‘Create in India’
movement.
➢ He also said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ shows people like positive stories and inspiring examples. “This
episode today is going to make me emotional. It is flooding me with a lot of memories.
➢ The reason is that this journey of ours in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is completing 10 years. ‘Mann Ki Baat’
started on the day of Vijayadashami on October 3, a decade ago”
India Launches Women In Space Leadership Programme To Boost Gender Equality
➢ The Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with the
British Council, has launched the Women in Space Leadership Programme
(WiSLP) as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).
➢ This programme is designed to encourage more women to take leadership
roles in the field of space sciences and aims to create a more inclusive
environment for women in scientific research and innovation.
About Department of Science and Technology (DST):
➢ Formed: May 3, 1971; 53 years ago
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Minister responsible: Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology

29
 Portfolios of the Union Council
of Ministers

Prime Minister and also in-charge of:

Shri Narendra Modi Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions;
Department of Atomic Energy;
Department of Space;
All important policy issues; and
All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister.
Cabinet Ministers
1 Shri Raj Nath Singh Minister of Defence.
2 Shri Amit Shah Minister of Home Affairs; and
Minister of Cooperation.
3 Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
4 Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Minister of Health and Family Welfare; and
Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
5 Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Minister of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare; and
Minister of Rural Development.
6 Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Minister of Finance; and
Minister of Corporate Affairs.
7 Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Minister of External Affairs.
8 Shri Manohar Lal Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs; and
Minister of Power.
9 Shri H. D. Kumaraswamy Minister of Heavy Industries; and
Minister of Steel.
10 Shri Piyush Goyal Minister of Commerce and Industry.
11 Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Minister of Education.
12 Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi Minister of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises.
13 Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Minister of Panchayati Raj; and
Lalan Singh Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying.
14 Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
15 Dr. Virendra Kumar Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment.
16 Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu Minister of Civil Aviation.

30
17 Shri Pralhad Joshi Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution; and
Minister of New and Renewable Energy.

18 Shri Jual Oram Minister of Tribal Affairs.

19 Shri Giriraj Singh Minister of Textiles.
20 Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Minister of Railways;
Minister of Information and Broadcasting; and
Minister of Electronics and Information
Technology.

21 Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Minister of Communications; and

Minister of Development of North Eastern
Region.

22 Shri Bhupender Yadav Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change.

23 Shri Gajendra Singh Minister of Culture; and

Shekhawat Minister of Tourism.

24 Smt. Annpurna Devi Minister of Women and Child Development

25 Shri Kiren Rijiju Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; and
Minister of Minority Affairs.

26 Shri Hardeep Singh Puri Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas

27 Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Minister of Labour and Employment; and
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

28 Shri G. Kishan Reddy Minister of Coal; and

Minister of Mines.

29 Shri Chirag Paswan Minister of Food Processing Industries.

30 Shri C R Patil Minister of Jal Shakti.

31
 SPORTS
Paralympic Games: Indian shooter Rubina Francis won bronze in
women’s 10 meter air pistol SH1 final
➢ Indian shooter Rubina Francis won a bronze medal on 31 August in the
Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 Event at the Paralympics in Paris.
➢ This was India's fourth medal in shooting and fifth overall at the Paris Paralympics.
➢ She scored a total of 211.1 to finish third in the eight-woman final. Earlier, she had qualified for
the final at seventh spot in the qualification round.
NorthEast United win maiden Durand Cup title
➢ Defeated defending Mohun Bagan Super Giant, at the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba
Bharati Krirangan), Kolkata
➢ Durand Cup - Asia’s oldest football tournament
➢ Gurmeet Singh won Golden Glove
➢ Noah Sadaoui (6 goals) won the Golden Boot
➢ Jithin M.S was awarded the Man of the Tournament
Himanshi Tokas clinches silver medal at Asian Cadet Judo Championships in Women
63 kg event
➢ At the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea, India’s
Himanshi Tokas clinched the Silver medal in the Women’s 63- kilogram event
➢ 19-year-old Himanshi is a Khelo Bharat athlete. 4. India secures 4 medals
including one gold at Deaf Shooting Championship in Germany
➢ At the Deaf Shooting Championship in Hanover, Germany, India secured a
total of four medals including one gold, two silver, and one bronze. Anuya
Prasad won gold in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event.
➢ Abhinav Deshwal earned silver in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol, while the trio of Abhinav Deshwal,
Shubham Vashist, and Chetan Sapkal also clinched silver in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol Team event.
➢ Additionally, Shubham Vashist won bronze in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol.
➢ A total of 69 athletes from 16 countries competed for the medals.
INS Satavahana honours Olympian Jyothi Yarraji
➢ INS Satavahana, under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, felicitated Olympian
Jyothi Yarraji, who hails from Visakhapatnam.
➢ For her groundbreaking achievement of being India’s first woman Olympic hurdler.
Sumit Antil won gold in the men’s javelin throw F64 event
➢ Sumit began with a throw of 69.11m to break his own Paralympic Games record of 68.55m from
Tokyo 2020. He bettered the mark again with an attempt of 70.59m in the next round.
➢ Sumit Antil defended his gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw F64 category at
Paris Paralympics with a throw of 70.59m, bettering his own Paralympic Games
record, at the Stade de France in Paris.

32
Sheetal Devi-Rakesh Kumar win bronze medal in mixed team compound open archery
➢ The Indian duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar staged a remarkable comeback after the
heartbreak in the semifinals to claim the bronze medal with a 156-155 win over Italy's Eleonora
Sarti and Matteo Bonacina in mixed team compound archery competition at Paralympics.
➢ It is only the second time that India has won a medal in Paralympics in archery.
➢ Harvinder Singh bagged an individual bronze at the Tokyo edition of the Games three years ago.
➢ The Indian pair also equaled the Paralympic record of 156 in the process.
➢ Sheetal Devi, at 17, became India’s youngestParalympic medalist history.
She was the only female armless archer at Paris 2024.
➢ She was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder leading to
underdeveloped limbs. This is India’s second para archery medal after Harvinder Singh won
bronze in Tokyo 2020 men's individual recurve open event.
Dhanush breaks world records as India sweeps men's air rifle event at Deaf Shooting
Worlds, in Germany
➢ India's Srikanth Dhanush won the gold medal in Men’s 10m Air Rifle
with a new world record of 251.7 rings.
➢ Recently, Anuya Prasad had won gold in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event
Nithya Sre Sivan wins para badminton bronze medal at Paris Paralympics
➢ Nithya Sre Sivan won the bronze medal for India in the newly introduced
women’s singles badminton SH6 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
➢ The 19-year-old Nithya comfortably beat Indonesia’s Rina Marlina 21-14
21-6 to sign off on a winning note in her maiden appearance at the Games.
Ajeet Singh clinches silver medal, Sundar Singh Gurjar winsbronze in JavelinatParis
2024 Paralympics.
➢ India’s Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar won the silver and bronze medals,
respectively, in the men’s javelin throw F46 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
➢ Ajeet Singh's throw of the night which measured 65.62m at the Stade de France.
Sundar Singh Gurjar was in second position after his fourth throw landed at 64.96m but was
pushed down to third after Ajeet Singh’s late comeback.
Vithya Ramraj breaks P. T. Usha’s three-decade-old 400m hurdles record
➢ Vithya Ramraj broke the the women’s 400m hurdles record at the
63rd National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru
➢ Vithya (56.23s) erased the meet record set by P.T. Usha (56.80s) in 1985.
Luis Suarez announced retirement from international football
➢ The 37-year-old fought back tears as he confirmed the World Cup qualifier
against Paraguay will be his last appearance for his country.
➢ The former Liverpool and Barcelona forward is Uruguay's all-time leading
scorer with 69 goals in 142 appearances, having made his debut against
Colombia in February 2007.

33
World champion Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India won the silver medal in the men’s
shot put F46 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
➢ The Paris 2024 Paralympics witnessed a remarkable performance by India’s Sachin Sarjerao
Khilari, who secured a silver medal in the men’s shot put F46 event.
➢ Sachin Khilari, the 34-year-old world champion, showcased his exceptional
skills by setting a new Asian record of 16.32 meters on his second attempt.
This stellar performance secured him the coveted silver medal, cementing
his status as one of the top para-athletes in his category.
Sharath and Manika to lead Indian team at Asian championships
➢ A. Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead the Indian men’s and
women’s teams respectively in the 27th Asian table tennis
championships, scheduledin Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 7 to 13.
➢ The championships will witness the participation of the continent’s top
players, and the selection committee has named the squad accordingly
to compete on this grand stage, a release from Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) .
Rahul Dravid set to be appointed Rajasthan Royals head coach for IPL 2025
➢ Rahul Dravid, the masterminded behind India's T20 World Cup triumph,
is set to take over Rajasthan Royals' head coach role in the IPL 2025.
➢ Dravid, who is currently on a short career-break since India's victory at
Barbados in June, will soon start working with the franchise on important
issues such as player retention ahead of the auction later this year.
➢ Kumar Sangakkara, who has held the position of Director of Cricket for the Royals since 2021, will
maintain his role and is expected to be more involved with the Barbados Royals (CPL) and Paarl
Royals (SA20).
Harvinder Singh creates history by becoming first-ever Indian archer to win
Paralympic gold medal
➢ Harvinder Singh, a paralympic archer from Haryana, has etched his name
in Indian history by becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal
in the men's recurve event at the Paralympics.
➢ Tokyo Games bronze-winner Harvinder Singh became the first Indian
Paralympian archer to clinch gold after beating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland in the Men's Individual
Recurve Open final at the Paris Paralympics.
➢ Harvinder made history by winning India's first-ever archery medal -- a bronze -- at the Tokyo
Paralympics 2020
Dharambir bags gold as Pranav Soorma takes in silver in club throw F51
➢ Dharambir and Pranav Soorma won gold and silver respectively in
the men’s club throw F51 category.
➢ Dharambir's win marks India’s first-ever gold medal in the Men’s Club Throw
F51 event at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. The 35-year-old athlete from
Sonipat registered the victory with a throw of 34.92 metres in his fifth attempt.

34
➢ Pranav Soorma secured gold in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year.
Kapil Parmar clinches India’s first ever Paralympic medal in Judo
➢ Kapil Parmar clinched a bronze in the Para Judo Men’s J1-660 Kilograms by
beating Elielton de Oliveira of Brazil 10-0 via an Ippon.
➢ Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Diamond League final
➢ Paris Olympics silver medalist Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the Diamond League final after
finishing in top six.
➢ The two-day event will be held in Brussels on September 13 and 14.
Praveen Kumar clinches India's 6th gold medal at 2024 Paris Paralympic in men's high
jump T64
➢ India's Praveen Kumar clinched the gold medal in the men's high jump
T64 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
➢ Clearing a height of 2.08 meters, the 21-year-old athlete from Noida not only
secured his position at the top of the podium but also celebrated his second
consecutive Paralympic medal following his silver in the Tokyo 2021 games.
Wrestler Jyoti Berwal wins gold medal in U20 World Championships
➢ Jyoti Berwal clinched a gold medal in the women’s 76 kg freestyle category
at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
➢ Indian grapplers won two more medals in the same category.
➢ Komal in 59 kg and Sristhi in 68 kg bagged bronze medals.
India’s Table Tennis Icon Sharath Kamal Named ITTF Foundation Ambassador
➢ During the 11th day of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season five at the Jawaharlal Nehru
Indoor Stadium.
➢ Sharath Kamal, India’s ace paddler, was named the first Indian ambassador of the
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Foundation.
Sharath Kamal
➢ Five-time Olympian
➢ Male flag-bearer for India at the recent Paris Olympics

35
Moeen Ali Announces Retirement from International Cricket
➢ Moeen Ali, the versatile England all-rounder, has officially announced his retirement from
international cricket after being overlooked for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia.
➢ Making his debut for the England cricket team in 2014, Moeen Ali went on to
represent England in 68 Tests,138 ODIs, and 92 T20Is over the years. During
his 10-year career, he scored 6,678 runs, including 8 centuries, 28 half-centuries,
and took 366 wickets for the Three Lions.
Syria wins the 4th Intercontinental Cup Men’s Football Tournament
➢ Syria defeated India 3-0 in the last round-robin match to win the 4th Intercontinental Cup
men’s football championship. India, the defending champions, could not score a single goal in
the match.
➢ The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, presented the winners' trophy to Syrian captain
Mahmoud Al-Mawas, also named the Syed Abdul Rahim Player of the Tournament.
➢ The best player of the tournament is given the Syed Abdul Rahim trophy.
➢ The All India Football Federation organised the 4th Intercontinental Cup football
championship from 3 to 9 September 2024 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli
Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana.
US Open Tennis: Jannik Sinner wins second Grand Slam victory
➢ Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam of the year by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
in the US Open final.
➢ The US Open 2024 final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz was held at
Flushing Meadows, New York, United States.
➢ This victory makes Sinner the first Italian man to win the US Open.
➢ It is his 55th match win and sixth title of the season.
Indian boxer Deepali Thapa becomes 1st ever Asian Schoolgirl Champion
➢ Deepali Thapa became the first-ever Asian Schoolgirl Champion in boxing, competing in the 33
kg weight category in Al Ain, UAE.
➢ India secured seven female titles at the Asian Championships.
➢ Bhoomi won the 35 kg category by defeating Kazakhstan’s Assel Jalimbekova.
➢ Nischal Sharma claimed the 37 kg title against Ukraine’s Maria Matsiura.
➢ Rakhi triumphed in the 43 kg category over Ukraine’s Veronika Holub.
➢ Naitik won the 52 kg title against Kazakhstan’s Arina Orazymbet.
➢ Trushana Vinayak Mohite secured the 67 kg title, defeating Ukraine’s Anna Hornostal.
➢ Gurseerat Kaur clinched the last of the 15 titles in the schoolgirls’ category.
➢ Indian Boxing Success: The performances highlight India’s strong presence and success in
➢ schoolgirl boxing at the Asian level.

36
Paris Paralympics to Conclude with Spectacular Closing Ceremony at Stade de France
Tonight
➢ Gold medalists Harvinder Singh and Preethi Pal will carry India’s flag.
➢ The 18th Summer Paralympics will be held in Los Angeles, the United States of America in 2028.
➢ India achieved its best-ever performance, winning 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals.
➢ Notable athletes like Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara, and Pramod Bhagat played key roles in this
historic success, highlighting the improved support for para-athletes in India.
Serial no. Para-Athletes Sport Event Medal

1 Avani Lakhera Shooting Women's 10m air rifle standing Gold

SH1
2 Nitesh Kumar Badminton Men’s singles SL3 class Gold
3 Sumit Antil Athletics Javelin throw F64 Gold
4 Harvinder Singh Archery Men's individual recurve open Gold
5. Dharambir Athletics Men’s club throw F51 class Gold
6 Praveen Kumar Athletics Men’s high jump T 64 Gold
7. Navdeep Singh Athletics Men's javelin throw F41 Gold
8 Manish Narwal Shooting Men's 10m air pistol SH1 Silver
9 Nishad Kumar Athletics Men's high jump T47 Silver
10 Yogesh Kathuniya Athletics Men's discus throw F56 Silver
11 Thulasimathi Badminton Women’s singles SU5 Silver
Murugesan
12 Suhas Yathiraj Badminton Men’s singles SL4 Silver
13 Sharad Kumar Athletics Men's high jump T63 Silver
14 Ajeet Singh Athletics Men's javelin throw F46 Silver
15 Sachin Khilari Athletics Men's shot put F46 Silver
16 Pranav Soorma Athletics Men’s club throw F51 class Silver
17 Mona Agarwal Shooting Women's 10m air rifle standing Bronze
SH1
18 Preethi Pal Athletics Women's 100m T35 Bronze
19 Rubina Francis Shooting Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 Bronze
20 Preethi Pal Athletics Women's 200m T35 Bronze
21 Manisha Ramadass Badminton Women’s singles SU5 Bronze
22 Rakesh Kumar / Archery Mixed team compound open Bronze
Sheetal Devi
23 Nithya Sre Sivan Badminton Women's singles SH6 Bronze
24 Deepthi Jeevanji Athletics Women's 400m T20 Bronze
25 Mariyappan Athletics Men's high jump T63 Bronze
Thangavelu
26 Sundar Singh Gurjar Athletics Men's javelin throw F46 Bronze
27 Kapil Parmar Judo Men’s Judo -60kg J1 Class Bronze
28 Hokato Hotozhe Sema Athletics Men’s shot put F57 Bronze
29 Simran Athletics Women's 200m T12 Bronze

37
45th FIDE Chess Olympiad
➢ The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad will begin today in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
➢ The 12-day biennial event will feature over 1,800 players, with 193 national teams
registered in the open section and 181 teams competing in the women’s section.
➢ Tech Mahindra a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to
enterprises across industries, announced its association with the 45th Chess Olympiad by FIDE.
➢ This will be the first time since 1926 that the world’s biggest multi-national chess tournament
returns to Budapest.
Yogasana has been officially included as a demonstration sport in the
upcoming 2026 Asian Games
➢ India's ancient sport, yogasana was included as a demonstration event at the
2026 Asian Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
➢ The 2026 Asian Games, also known as 20th Asian Games and Aichi-Nagoya
2026, will be a multi-sport event from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
Manipur’s T.G. English School Wins Junior Boys Title of 63rd Subroto Cup
➢ The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, a premier inter-school
football competition, celebrated its 63rd edition in 2024 in New Delhi.
➢ Participation from school teams representing India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and
Sri Lanka in the U-17 Boys category
➢ Winner - Manipur’s T.G. English School clinched the Junior Boys title of the 63rd Subroto Cup
International Football Tournament, defeating Meghalaya’s Myngken Christian Higher
Secondary School.
➢ It is one of the oldest tournaments in Asia.
➢ Named in memory of Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee
➢ 1960: First edition held in New Delhi
➢ Initially: Organized by the Durand Football Tournament Committee (known for managing the
Durand Cup, India’s oldest club-level football tournament)
➢ 1994 onwards: Air Force Sports Control Board took over the responsibility
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first football player to score 900 goals
➢ Cristiano Ronaldo became the first football player to score 900career goals
during a UEFA Nations League match against Croatia on September 6, 2024
➢ Ronaldo scored his 900th goal from a cross by Nuno Mendes, surpassing his
closest rival, Lionel Messi, who has 838 goals.
➢ Pele , with 762 goals, is ranked third behind Ronaldo and Messi in terms of career goals
Indians shine in Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship
➢ Indian chess players showcased remarkable talent at the Commonwealth
Rapid Chess Championship, winning three medals.
➢ Grandmaster Mitraba Guha clinched gold, GM Panneerselvam Iniyan
took silver, and GM Laxman Rajaram secured bronze.

38
➢ Among the 14 Indian participants, all finished within the top 30, with notable performances from
Shyaam Nikhil P, Sayantan Das, and Hari Madhavan NB.
Chess Olympiad: Indian Men’s team scores victory over Azerbaijan; Women’s team
defeats Kazakhstan
➢ In the 45th Chess Olympiad, the Indian men’s team won 3-1 against Azerbaijan,
and the women’s team defeated Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5 in round five.
➢ In the open section, Gukesh won against GM Aydin Suleymanli, Arjun Erigaisi
secured his fifth consecutive win against GM Rauf Mamedov, Praggnanandhaa
drew with Nijat Abasov, and Vidit Gujrathi also drew his game.
➢ In the women’s section, GM Harika Dronavalli lost to IM Bibisara Assaubayeva, GM R. Vaishali won
against IM Meruert Kamalidenova, IM Vantika Agrawal defeated WIM Alua Nurman, and IM Divya
Deshmukh drew her game against WIM Xeniya Balabayeva.
Neeraj Chopra finishes second at Diamond League Final in Brussels
➢ Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished second at the Diamond
League Final in Brussels with a throw of 87.86 meters.
➢ Neeraj missed the top spot by just 1 cm, with Anderson Peters of Paris
winning with a throw of 87.87 meters.
➢ Julian Weber from Germany secured third place with a best throw of 85.97 meters.
➢ Neeraj Chopra is the runner-up in the Diamond League for the second consecutive year; he was
also the runner-up in 2023, losing to Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya calls on retired sportspersons to apply for RESET
programme
➢ Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has urged retired sportspersons to
apply for the new Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training (RESET) Programme.
➢ The RESET Programme is designed to recognize and empower retired
athletes, enabling them to contribute to the sports ecosystem.
➢ It aims to bridge the generational gap by leveraging the skills and
experience of retired athletes to support young sports talents.
➢ The programme is open to retired athletes aged 20 to 50 years who
have won international medals, participated in international events, or have achieved recognition
at the national or state level.
First senior International Badminton title for Anmol Kharb
➢ Anmol Kharb, a 17-year-old Indian badminton player, won the women’s
singles title at the Belgian International 2024.
➢ The event took place in Leuven, Belgium.
➢ Kharb defeated Denmark’s Amalie Schulz with scores of 24-22, 12-21, 21-10 in the final.
➢ She secured the title despite entering the main draw through the qualifiers and being unseeded.
4th South Asian Junior Athletics Championship concludes, India at Top
➢ India topped the South Asian Junior Athletics meet with a total of 48 medals: 21 gold, 22
silver, and 5 bronze.

39
➢ India topped the South Asian Junior Athletics meet with a total of
48 medals: 21 gold, 22 silver, and 5 bronze.
➢ Sri Lanka finished second with 9 gold, 9 silver, and 17 bronze medals.
➢ Bangladesh came in third with 3 bronze medals.
➢ In the men’s 4x100m relay, Sri Lanka set a meet record of 40.28 seconds, anchored by W. Merone
Julian.
Notable individual performances:
➢ R. Indusara Vidushan (Sri Lanka) set a new meet record of 21.33 seconds in the 200m.
➢ G. Lesandu Arthavidu (Sri Lanka) set a new meet record of 2.17 meters in the high jump.
➢ Unnathi Aiyappa (India) set a new meet record of 23.91 seconds in the women’s 200m.
➢ Deepika (India) set a new meet record of 54.98 meters in the women’s javelin throw.
➢ India’s women’s 4x100m relay team set a new meet record with a time of 45.08 seconds.
India Wins 16 Medals & Medallions of Excellence at World Skills 2024
➢ India has won 16 medals and Medallions of Excellence at World Skills 2024
in Lyon, France. The accolades include four Bronze in Patisserie and
Confectionery, Industry 4.0, Hotel Reception and Renewable Energy.
➢ In addition to that the Indian delegation earned 12 medallions of Excellence,
a testament to their exceptional skills and consistent performance across various trades.
➢ Ashwitha Police who contested in Patisserie and confectionery also won the Best of Nation Award
becoming the most outstanding competitor from Team India.
Santosh Kashyap appointed new head coach of Indian women's football team
➢ Santosh Kashyap, a former national player, will be the new head coach of the Indian national
women’s football team, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) announced recently,
➢ Kashyap, aged 58, will immediately take charge of the Blue Tigresses
with India starting a preparation camp for the SAFF Women's Champ-
ionship 2024, to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal next month.
➢ Priya P. V., the head coach for the India U-17 women’s team from 2022,
will be the new assistant coach while Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar will be the goalkeeping coach.
➢ Kashyap’s football managerial career has included stints at several I-League clubs like Air India,
Mohun Bagan AC, Aizawl FC, Salgaocar FC and ONGC. He has also served as an assistant coach at
two Indian Super League clubs - North East United (2015) and Odisha FC (2023-24).
➢ During his playing days, Kashyap was a Federation Cup runner-up with Mahindra United in 1993
and won the bronze medal at the 1989 South Asian Games with the Indian men’s football team.
About All-India Football Federation (AIFF):
✓ Headquarters: New Delhi
✓ President: Kalyan Chaubey
India beat China to win 2024 Asian Champions Trophy
➢ The Indian hockey team won Asian Champions trophy crown as they defeated China 1-0 on
September 17, 2024, at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbui, China.
➢ India retained the trophy for the second consecutive edition after its triumph in 2023.

40
➢ India had previously achieved back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2018.
➢ Pakistan defeated Korea 5-2 to claim the third spot in the tournament.
➢ About Hockey India:
✓ Headquarters: New Delhi
✓ President: Dilip Tirkey
Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage bags ICC Men's Player of the Month for August
➢ Dunith Wellalage from Sri Lanka won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2024.
➢ He is the second Sri Lankan player to receive this award in 2024, reflecting
the rise of Sri Lankan cricket.
➢ Wellalage’s all-round performance was crucial in Sri Lanka's ODI series
victory over India, their first win in a bilateral ODI series against India since 1997.
➢ He scored 108 runs and took 7 wickets during the series, with highlights including a career-best
score of 67* and bowling figures of 5/27.
➢ Additionally, Harshita Samarawickrama won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for
August 2024, marking a successful month for Sri Lankan cricket.
Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games
➢ Glasgow, Scotland's capital, has agreed to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games
after the original host, Victoria of Australia, declined due to the rising cost.
➢ As a result, the Victorian government had to pay a compensation of 380 million
Australian dollars (approx. USD 256 M) to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
➢ Glasgow has previously successfully hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
➢ Close to 5,000 athletes from 71 nations competed in 18 sports at the 2014 Games in the Scottish
city. The budget was 575.6 million pounds, with 90 million spent on security.
➢ The total budget for the 2026 Games is expected to be about 114 million pounds.
Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker appointed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways’ new Brand Ambassador
➢ The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has appointed double Olympic medalist
shooter Manu Bhaker as its Brand Ambassador.
➢ This announcement was made by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the 4th Harnessing
of the Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation event in Chennai on September 17, 2024.
➢ The event celebrated women achievers, particularly those with backgrounds in
marine and other sectors, recognizing their contributions to nation-building.
➢ Honorees included notable figures like Sonali Banerjee (first female marine
engineer), Lt Commander Vartika Joshi (first woman captain of INSV Tarini),
and Paralympic medalists Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass.
➢ Manu Bhaker, from Jhajjar, Haryana, is the youngest Indian shooter to win an ISSF World Cup
medal and made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning two medals, including the first-
ever Olympic medal for an Indian woman shooter.
About Manu Bhaker
➢ Manu Bhaker, from Jhajjar, Haryana, is the daughter of a Marine Engineer.

41
➢ She is the youngest Indian shooter to win an ISSF World Cup medal.
➢ At age 16, she won gold in the 10-meter air pistol event at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
➢ At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.
➢ She is the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, securing bronze in
both the 10-meter air pistol and mixed team events.
ICC announces equal prize money for men's and women’s cricket
➢ The International Cricket Council announced equal prize money for men and women in World
Cups, starting with next month’s women’s T20 showpiece, the purse for which has been hiked by a
staggering 225 per cent to USD 7.95 million.
➢ The winners of the women’s T20 World Cup will walk away with USD 2.34 million from this fund,
a 134 per cent increase on the USD one million awarded to Australian
women when they clinched the title in South Africa in 2023.
➢ Men’s T20 World Cup champions India had received USD 2.45 million
in cash prize earlier this year.
➢ “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be the first ICC event where
women will receive the same prize money as their male counterparts.
➢ “This move is in line with the ICC’s strategy to prioritise the women’s game and accelerate its
growth by 2032.
Hockey Punjab crowned as the champions of 14th Hockey India Junior
Men National Championship 2024
➢ Punjab defeated Uttar Pradesh in the Final of the 14th Hockey India Junior
Men National Championship 2024 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium.
➢ Sukhwinder Singh (5’), Jarman Singh (33’) and Jobanpreet Singh (39’) scored for Hockey Punjab.
➢ Ajeet Yadav (31’) Suraj Pal (48’) and Akash Pal (54’) scored one goal each for Uttar Pradesh
Hockey.
➢ Hockey Haryana defeated Hockey Karnataka 5-0 to steal the third place on the podium.
Ponting appointed Punjab Kings head coach
➢ Australian great Ricky Ponting was appointed head coach of Punjab Kings, replacing
compatriot Trevor Bayliss in the under-performing IPL franchise
➢ Ricky Ponting has been named the Head Coach of Punjab Kings for the 2025 season and beyond.
➢ He Coached Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, leading them to
one championship and four playoff appearances.
➢ He Guided Washington Freedom to a title in the 2024 MLC season.
➢ Head of Strategy for Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL since 2021.
Jasprit Bumrah Fifth Fastest to Take 400 International Wickets for India
➢ Jasprit Bumrah became the 10th Indian bowler to reach the 400-wicket milestone for the
country during the first Test of the two-match series between India and Bangladesh at the MA
Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

42
➢ Bumrah hence is the sixth Indian pacer to reach the milestone and is in fact the
fifth-fastest among Indian bowlers to do so.
➢ Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud became Bumrah's 400th victim at the highest level.
➢ Fastest to 400 wickets for India in international cricket (by innings):
1. 216 – R Ashwin 2. 220 – Kapil Dev
3. 224 – Mohammed Shami 4. 226 – Anil Kumble
5. 227 – Jasprit Bumrah
Oscar Piastri Claims Maiden Victory at Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024
➢ Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured his first Formula 1 victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
➢ He narrowly beating Charles Leclerc.
➢ The race, held at the Baku City Circuit.
FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2024:

India’s Dhanush Loganathan Wins Bronze in Men’s 55kg at IWF

Junior World Championships 2024
➢ Dhanush Loganathan won a bronze medal in the men's 55kg event at the
IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships 2024 in Leon, Spain,
lifting a total of 231kg (107kg snatch + 124kg clean and jerk).
➢ He also secured a bronze in the snatch category but finished 13th in clean and jerk, while
Vietnam's K Duong won gold with 253kg and Japan's Kotaro Tomari took silver with 247kg.
➢ The Indian contingent at the championships includes three men and six women, with Payal and
Panchami Sonowal competing but not winning medals.
India A won the Duleep Trophy 2024 title
➢ India A won the 61st edition of Duleep Trophy 2024 title after beating India C in the final on
September 22, 2024 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
➢ The cricket tournament was played by four teams, India A, B, C and D,
unlike recent years which were played in zonal format.
➢ South Zone was the defending champion.
➢ It was named after former cricketer Duleepsinhji.
➢ Duleep Trophy is a domestic First-Class Cricket competition played in India since 1961-62.

43
Lando Norris Triumphs in Thrilling Singapore Grand Prix 2024
➢ Lando Norris is a British and Belgian racing driver, currently competing
under the British flag in Formula One for McLaren.
➢ 2nd Max Verstappen (Red Bull) & 3rd Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
➢ Lando Norris of McLaren secured his third career victory in Formula 1.
Anmol Kharb bags her second title by winning the Polish International 2024
➢ Anmol defeated Milena Schnider of Switzerland in the final of the Polish
International Badminton Championships on 21 September 2024.
➢ During her entire campaign in the Polish International, Anmol did not lose
a single set.
➢ Anmol Kharb won her first senior international title on 14 September 2024 by
winning the Belgian International Badminton Championships singles title.
➢ Anmol hails from Faridabad, Haryana.
India Post to release picture postcards featuring Paris Paralympics medal winners
➢ The set, that consists of 28 postcards featuring gold, silver, and bronze medallists,
is set to be released on Sep 25 by India Post at the General Post Office in Bengaluru
➢ The set is an initiative of the Postcrossing Society of India.
Carlos Alcaraz clinches Laver Cup for Team Europe
➢ Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame Taylor Fritz 6-2,
7-5 as Team Europe rallied to beat Team World 13-11 and win the Laver Cup.
➢ Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
Jeevan-Vijay pair wins Hangzhou Open 2024
➢ Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won the Hangzhou
Open 2024 Tennis Championships doubles event.
➢ They defeated the German pair of Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens.
➢ Marin Cilic of Croatia won the men’s singles titles.
➢ The Hangzhou Open is a men's tennis tournament to be played on outdoor hard courts.
➢ In 2024, it was inaugural edition and was played in Hangzhou, China, from 18 to 24 September
2024.
➢ Both, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth, hail from Chennai.
Nazira Banoo wins Gold in 1st Khelo India Women’s Taekwondo League
➢ Nazira Banoo, an athlete from Lato village in Kargil, UT Ladakh, won a gold
medal in the individual Poomsae under-30 category at the 1st Khelo India
Women’s Taekwondo League Phase 1 held in Vadodara, Gujarat.
➢ The event was organized by the Taekwondo Federation of India in
collaboration with Khelo India, under the Union Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs.
➢ In addition to Nazira’s success, two other athletes from Ladakh, Latifa Batool and Asiya Banoo,
also participated in the tournament, delivering exceptional performances and showcasing the
strength of Taekwondo athletes from the region.

44
Kamal Chawla clinches Gold in IBSF World 6 Red Snooker Championship
➢ Indian veteran Kamal Chawla won his first IBSF World 6-Red title, defeating
Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal 6-2 in the final in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
➢ This victory marks a significant turnaround for Chawla, who was the
runner-up in the 2017 edition of the tournament.
➢ India secured three bronze medals through Malkeet Singh, Vidya Pillai, and Keerthana Pandian.
➢ In the women’s category, Vidya Pillai finished with a bronze medal after losing in the semifinals to
Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee with a score of 2-4.
➢ This achievement highlights India's strong performance in the IBSF World 6-Red Championship.
Rishab Pant clinches 6th position among top 10 Test batting rankings
➢ Rishabh Pant has re-entered the top 10 Test batting rankings, moving to sixth
place after a strong performance against Bangladesh, earning 731 rating points.
➢ His resurgence follows a long gap in form, highlighted by his impactful second
innings in the match.
➢ Yashasvi Jaiswal is ranked fifth with 751 points, also contributing to India’s
success with a half-century in the same match.
➢ Indian captain Rohit Sharma remains in the top 10 but has slipped to tenth place with 716
points after scoring under 10 runs in both innings against Bangladesh.
David Miller becomes 6th player to feature in 500 T20 matches
➢ David Miller, the South African middle-order batter, reached a significant
milestone by playing his 500th T20 match.
➢ He became only the sixth player in the history of the format to achieve this
feat. Miller's landmark appearance came during his team, Barbados Royals’,
Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
➢ Across 500 T20s, Miller has scored 10,678 runs at an average of 34.89, with
a strike rate of over 137.
➢ The players that having played most matches in T20s are:
1. West Indies legend Kieron Pollard (684 matches),
2. Dwayne Bravo (582 matches), - West Indies
3. Pakistan batter Shoaib Malik (542 matches),
4. Windies all-rounders Sunil Narine (525 matches) &
5. Andre Russell (523 matches) - West Indies.
Indian shooters win two team gold medals at Junior World Championship in Peru
➢ Indian shooters began their ISSF Junior World Championship (Rifle/Pistol
/Shotgun) campaign in Peru on a good note, winning team gold in men’s
and women's 10m air pistol events.
➢ The junior men's trio of Umesh Choudhary, Pradhyumn Singh and Mukesh
Nelavalli topped the men's team competition in 10m air pistol with a tally of 1726 points.
➢ They finished 10 points ahead of second-placed Romania, while Italy took bronze with a score of
1707.

45
Sri Lanka board set to extend Sanath Jayasurya's contract as head coach
➢ Sanath Jayasuriya is poised to have his contract as the head coach of the
Sri Lanka men's cricket team extended for another year, following a
successful interim period marked by notable victories.
➢ Since taking over in early July, Jayasuriya has led the team to a series win
against India in ODIs, a Test victory at The Oval, and another Test win in
Galle against New Zealand.
➢ Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had advertised for a permanent head coach following Chris
Silverwood's departure in late June.
Five more Khelo India Centres to be opened in 5 districts of Odisha
➢ At least five new Khelo India Centres (KICs) under a central scheme will be
opened in five districts of Odisha in three disciplines.
➢ The new KICs will be opened in Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh and Deogarh
districts.
➢ While the Khelo India Basketball centre will be opened at the Government Queen of the Mission
High School in Ganjam district, the Khelo India Kho-Kho centres will be opened at Government
SVT High School and RK Government School in the Gajapati and Jharsuguda districts,
respectively.
➢ The centre for football will be opened at Teleibani PS High School and Narayana Government High
School in the Deoghar and Nayagarh districts, respectively.
BCCI inaugurates National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru
➢ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inaugurated the new
National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
➢ Spanning over 40 acres of land near Kempegowda International
Airport in Bengaluru, the new academy features a total of three
world-class grounds and 86 pitches, including both indoor and outdoor areas, highlighting its
capacity to provide comprehensive training facilities.
➢ This world-class facility will now be called the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
➢ The previous facility was operating out of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium premises since its
establishment in 2000.
Dhanush won Bronze at World Weightlifting Championship 2024
➢ 17-year-old Dhanush Loganathan wins bronze at IWF Junior World
Weightlifting Championships 2024 in Leon, Spain.
➢ First-ever medal for an Indian male athlete in Junior Weightlifting
World Championships.
➢ He Competed in men's 55kg category, lifting a total of 231kg (107kg snatch + 124kg clean
and jerk).
➢ Won bronze in both total lift and snatch categories. He finished 13th in clean and jerk. Competed
in Group B, facing competitors with higher entry weights.

46
 STATES IN NEWS
CPCRI to release flavoured ready to drink coconut beverage from September
➢ Central Plantation Crops and Research Institute (CPCRI) is under the
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Kasaragod, Kerala.
➢ The product is named ‘Kalpa Bliz’ will be released at the World Coconut
Day function at the institute.
➢ Two climate resilient coconut varieties -- Kalpa Suvarna and Kalpa Shatabdi
-- released by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 11, 2024 – boon
to drought affected regions of Kerala and Karnataka.
➢ Kalpa Ratna, a drought tolerant multi-purpose variety of coconut suitable for
tender nut, copra and sap production. Kalpa Vajra, a root (wilt) disease tolerant variety.
CM plans Buddhist tourist circuit in Telangana under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme
➢ Telangana government plans to develop a Buddhist tourism circuit in Telangana by setting up an
International Buddha Museum in Buddhavanam and link it to the Buddha statue
in Hussainsagar along with the historical sites in Phanigiri and Nelakondapalli.
➢ To attract Buddhists from all over the country. The state has recently sent a
Detailed Project Report to the Centre for the development of Buddhavanam
as part of the Swadeshi Darshan 2.0 scheme announced by the Central government.
Kerala faces a new health challenge: A deadly Leptospirosis outbreak
➢ Reported 121 confirmed deaths, with an additional 102 suspected cases.
➢ Leptospirosis, also known as “rat fever”, is caused by a type of bacteria
‘leptospira’ in the urine of animal carriers, particularly rats.
➢ If a person is exposed to soil or water contaminated with an infected animal's urine, bacteria can
enter their body through skin breaks, making people in flooded areas especially vulnerable.
➢ The disease is also known for a high mortality rate.
➢ Common symptoms : Fever, muscle pain (myalgia) and headaches
UP Govt to Build Vedic-3D Museum in Varanasi
➢ Uttar Pradesh government will construct a Vedic-3D museum in PM Modi’s parliamentary
constituency Varanasi at the main building of the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
➢ The state of the art museum will be dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature.
➢ The museum will showcase the evolution of Vedic literature as well as contributions of Indian
sages and serve as a platform to revive the tradition of ‘Shastrartha’ (spiritual discourse).
About Uttar Pradesh:
❑ Capital: Lucknow
❑ Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
❑ Governor: Anandiben Patel
Two-Day Maiden Joint Commanders Conference in Lucknow
➢ The first Joint Commanders' Conference (JCC) is set to take place at the Headquarters
Central Command, Lucknow from 04-05 September 2024.

47
➢ Theme - 'Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces
➢ Inauguration by - Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
➢ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will speak to the commanders from
the Army, the Air Force and the Navy
➢ It will provide an opportunity for the Commanders to review modernization plans of the Armed
Forces and discuss ways to improve the nation’s defence capability through jointness & enhanced
synergy among the three Services.
CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 3-day Armed Forces Festival in Lucknow
➢ Armed forces festival, showcasing latest weapon systems and equipment of Army, Navy and
Airforce, to be held from September 3 to 5 in Lucknow Cantonment.
About Uttar Pradesh:
❑ Capital: Lucknow
❑ Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
❑ Governor: Anandiben Patel
Maharashtra CM inaugurates 27th National Conference on e-Governance; ONDC
receives Gold Award
➢ The Government of Maharashtra hosted the 27th Edition of the NCeG in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
➢ The theme - “Viksit Bharat: Secure and Sustainable e-Service Delivery.”
➢ The Conference is Organised every year by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public
Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) and respective State Government hosting the annual event.
➢ The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has been awarded the Gold
Award under the category "Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing
Citizen-Centric Services" in the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG)
during the 27th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG).
➢ The objective of the award is to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-
Governance initiatives and to encourage innovation in successful e-Governance solution.
Aparajita bill: Anti-rape bill passed in West Bengal Assembly
➢ The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West
Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024
➢ Proposed to amend the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
laws and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 in their application to the state
to make punishment for rape and child abuse more stringent.
➢ The bill needs the Governor C V Ananda Bose and President's assent to become law.
The proposed legislation:
✓ Seeks capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions
result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.
✓ Stipulates a life sentence without parole for those convicted of rape and gang rape.
✓ Includes a provision for time-bound and faster trial in rape cases.

48
➢ Criminal procedure code and Indian penal code fall under concurrent list
➢ Any amendments made by the state that impose penalties differing from those outlined in the new
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) must receive
presidential approval as stipulated by Article 254(2) of the Constitution.
About West Bengal:
❑ Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee
❑ Capital: Kolkata Governor: C. V. Ananda Bose
Nambike Nakshe, system for building plan approval launched in Bengaluru
➢ The ‘Nambike Nakshe’ system, under which provisional plan approvals for
buildings up to 4,000 sq ft can be taken from an authorised architect.
➢ The new scheme, which is designed to simplify the process for obtaining
building plan approvals for plots up to 4,000 sq ft (50x80 ft) within Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.
➢ Once this provisional plan is obtained, it can be uploaded online for final approval by the BBMP.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates Vishwashanti Buddha Vihar in Maharashtra's
Latur
➢ President Droupadi Murmu today inaugurated and dedicated the
Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir Latur district.
➢ She also installed a statue of Gautama Buddha inside the vihara
and paid tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by offering flowers at his statue.
➢ The event included a traditional Buddha worship ceremony.
➢ The newly inaugurated Buddha Vihara in Udgir is a replica of the Buddha Vihara in Kalburgi,
Karnataka.
➢ It is situated on a 15-hectare site and features a meditation centre that can accommodate 1,200
followers.
➢ The main entrance to the vihara, inspired by the Sanchi Stupa in Bihar, has been designed to
provide an impressive entryway to the premises.
Punjab Assembly passes Bill to control spread of illegal colonies
➢ The Punjab State Assembly passed the Punjab Apartment and Property
Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024
➢ Aims to overcome problems faced by the public in registration of their
plots and check the development of unauthorised colonies.
➢ Its provisions state that if someone has brought plot from a coloniser before July 31, 2024, and has
transferred advance payment, they can get their registry done without No Objection certificate
(NOC) till November 2.
➢ If any person or promoter or his agent registered under this Act fails to comply with the relevant
provision of the law, he/she shall be punished with :
✓ Imprisonment for a minimum term of 5 years which may extend to 10 years
✓ With minimum fine of₹25 lakh, which may extend to₹5 crore

49
Himachal Pradesh Govt passes Bill under anti-defection law
➢ The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of
Members) Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced by Chief Minister
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu .
➢ Aims to deter and discourage MLAs from defecting parties by discontinuing their pension.
➢ According to the bill, “A person shall not be entitled to a pension under the Act if he has been
disqualified at any point of time under the tenth schedule of the Constitution (antidefection law).”
ANTI-DEFECTION LAW
➢ The Anti-Defection Law (ADL) was added to the Constitution in 1985 as part of the 52nd
Amendment Act and is outlined in the Tenth Schedule
➢ It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the
Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
About Himachal Pradesh:
❑ Chief minister: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
❑ Governor: Shiv Pratap Shukla
Madhya Pradesh Government Unveils Brindavan Gram Scheme and Gita Bhavan
Project
➢ The Madhya Pradesh government, under the leadership of CM Mohan
Yadav, has approved a groundbreaking scheme named ‘Brindavan Gram’.
➢ This initiative aims to transform selected gram panchayats into model
villages, focusing on cow protection and rural development.
➢ Each chosen village will establish a gaushala (cow shed) to promote cow welfare and protection.
The scheme aims to increase rural milk production, boosting farmers' incomes.
➢ Roof-top solar policies will be implemented to promote clean energy in these villages.
➢ In a parallel initiative, 'Gita Bhavan' centers will be established in every urban area of Madhya
Pradesh to spread spiritual knowledge, focusing on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Lord
Krishna, along with other spiritual texts.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy inaugurates 4th edition of
Intercontinental Football Cup tournament in Hyderabad
➢ Organised by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), the football
tournament features teams from India, Mauritius, and Syria.
First-of-its-kind Active Mobility Centre of Excellence to be set up in Bengaluru
➢ A one-of-a-kind Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Active Mobility in India
will be set up in Bengaluru by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Sustainable Transportation Lab (IST Lab.) and Urban Morph.
➢ The centre will work on research, plans, collaborations, and monitoring
and evaluation of human-powered transportation modes :
➢ like walking and cycling towards making the cities solve efficiencies in transportation.
➢ It will also include modes and methodologies that make our public spaces offer equity in mobility
to gender, age, economic strata and disabilities

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10-day Onam festivities started with Atham
➢ In Kerala, Atham is being celebrated marking the beginning of the tenday Onam festivities.
➢ It is a harvest festival, celebrated in thebeginning of the month of Chingam,
the first month of the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham).
➢ The Onam lastsfrom four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day,
Thiruonamare the most important of all.
➢ On thefourth day of Onam festival, artists paint their bodies like tigers with stripes
of yellow, red and black and dance to the rhythm of traditional percussion instruments such as
thakil, udukku and chenda. - Pulikkali (Tiger Dance) is one among thefolk art forms of Kerala.
➢ Another key feature is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa.
➢ Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullalare two graceful dances performed by women on Onam.
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh top ease of doing business reformers’ ranking
➢ Kerala, followed by Andhra Pradesh, were ranked as the top performers by the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP)
➢ Kerala was the top performer, followed byAndhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Tripura, andUttar Pradesh.
➢ Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh,Telangana, Punjab, and Puducherry
were ranked the worst performers, the ranking showed.
➢ Assam Cabinet decides to implement Justice Biplab Sarma committee recommendations on Clause
6 of Assam Accord
➢ The Assam government has decided to implement most of the recommendations of the Justice
Biplab Sarma Committee report appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to apply Clause
6 of the Assam Accord by April 15, 2024.
➢ Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 57 of the 67 recommendations of the committee
headed by Justice (retired) Biplab Sarma would be implemented.
What is the Assam Accord?
➢ Signed in 1985, the Assam Accord was an agreement to address the issue of illegal immigration in
Assam.
➢ It states that all foreigners who came to Assam after March 24, 1971, must be deported.
➢ Clause 6 of the Accord focuses on safeguarding the rights and identity of Assamese people through
constitutional, legislative, and administrative measures.
What is the Biplab Sarma Commission?
➢ The Justice Biplab Sarma Commission was set up to speed up the implementation of Clause 6.
➢ Its goal was to explore legal and policy changes to protect Assamese culture and identity.
➢ Set up in 2019, the commission led by Justice Biplab Sarma also looked into police reforms to
improve accountability and public trust in Assam's law enforcement.
Rajasthan approves 33% quota for women in police force
➢ The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan approved 33%
reservation for women in the police force by deciding to amend the State
Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989.

51
Odisha Unveils India’s First Silicon Carbide Facility
➢ Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently led the groundbreaking ceremony for
India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility.
➢ This major project, developed by RIR Power Electronics Limited, is being set up
at EMC Park in Info Valley, Bhubaneswar, with a significant investment of Rs
620 crore.
➢ This new facility is a major step forward for both India and Odisha in the global
power electronics market.
➢ It is part of a bigger plan to make Odisha a central hub for semiconductor production,
promoting new ideas and boosting the state’s economy.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 73rd All India Police Wrestling Cluster
➢ UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the 73rd All India Police Wrestling Cluster tournament in
Lucknow.
➢ The tournament, running from September 9 to 13, features 34 police teams from across Central,
State, and Union Territories.
➢ Adityanath highlighted the police forces' unified goal of safeguarding India and
noted that Uttar Pradesh has implemented a sports action plan, with over 500
medal-winning athletes recruited into the UP Police. Director General of SSB
Daljit Singh Chaudhary and DGP UP Prashant Kumar were also present.
‘One Village, One Ganpati’ Initiative
➢ Maharashtra's ‘One Village, One Ganpati’ initiative promotes unity by having a single communal
Ganpati idol per village.
➢ Thousands of villages across the state, including 305 in Hingoli and 804 in
Nashik, are participating, reflecting the festival's original unifying spirit
Odisha CM Majhi launches 'CM-KISAN Yojana'Read
➢ On September 8, 2024, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, with Union Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan present, launched the 'CM-KISAN Yojana' during the Nuakhai festival in Sambalpur,
Odisha.
➢ The scheme will provide ₹925 crore in financial assistance to 46 lakh small
and marginal farmers not covered under the PM-KISAN scheme.
➢ Eligible farmers will receive ₹4,000 in two phases: ₹2,000 on Nuakhai and
the remaining ₹2,000 on Akshaya Tritiya.
➢ The initiative aims to support landless farmers excluded from existing programs and enhance
their financial stability.
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiatives in Gujarat
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan
Bhagidari’ Initiative in Surat, Gujarat.
➢ The program is a collaboration between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the
Government of Gujarat, focus on water conservation & community participation.

52
➢ The initiative aims to construct around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state.
➢ This initiative is based on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain scheme of the Union Jal Shakti
Ministry.
➢ About Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Scheme:
❖ Jal Shakti Abhiyan Launched in 2019.
❖ It was launched in 1592 blocks of 256 water-stressed districts of the country.
❖ This was renamed as Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain in 2021 and expanded across India to
promote water conservation awareness among the masses.
9th Edition of 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.
Nature festival Karam starts with great pomp in Jharkhand
➢ Also known as ‘Karma’, is held on the11th day of a full moon (Purnima) of the
Hindu month of Bhadrapad
➢ The tribals worship the Karam tree on the occasion and pray to Mother
Nature to ensure a rich harvest in the kharif season after the sowing season ends.
➢ This festival also reflects the bonding between brothers and sisters. The festival is also known as
Karma as it inspires people to do good deeds in life
Ayodhya top tourist destination in U.P. with 11 crore visitors
➢ The state tourism department reported that around 33 crore tourists
visited the state in the first half of the year.
➢ Ayodhya emerged as the top tourist destination, attracting 10.99 crore
visitors, including 2,851 foreigners.
➢ Ayodhya surpassed Varanasi, with 11 crore tourists compared to Varanasi's 4.61 crore in
the first six months of 2024.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy launched new MSME Policy- 2024
➢ Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the MSME Policy-2024
to address six key challenges faced by MSMEs. The policy includes an
investment of 4,000 crore rupees over five years.
➢ The launch took place in Hyderabad, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu
Bhatti Vikramarka and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu. The Chief Minister praised former PM PV
Narasimha Rao for liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation (LPG) policies.
➢ The new policy aims to create industrial opportunities for Dalits and women while promoting
MSMEs. He highlighted a gap between education and jobs, citing a shortage of skilled workers.

53
➢ Discussions with TATA will focus on upgrading Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with a 2,400
crore rupee investment.
President Murmu Graces Safai Mitra Sammelan in Ujjain
➢ President Droupadi Murmu attended the Safai Mitra Sammelan in Ujjain,
Madhya Pradesh, on 19 September 2024.
➢ The Safai Mitra Sammelan was organised as part of the fortnightly
Swachhata Hi Seva—2024 campaign launched by the government of India.
➢ This year's campaign focuses on facilitating and honouring sanitation workers -Safai Mitra’s
contribution to the Swacch Bharat Mission.
➢ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar inaugurated the campaign at a function held at the Paramveer
Peeru Singh Government Senior Secondary School in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, on 17
September 2024.
➢ The Swachhata Hi Seva—2024 campaign will run from 17 September to 2 October 2024.
➢ The theme of this year's Swachhata Hi Seva - 2024 campaign is ‘Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar
Swachhata’.
19th Divya Kala Mela unveiled in Visakhapatnam
➢ The 19th edition of the Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated in Visakhapatnam by the Hon.
Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri S. Abdul Nazeer, alongside dignitaries like Dr. Virendra
Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, and other MPs.
➢ The event provided concessional loans of ₹40 lakh to 10 Divyang
beneficiaries under NDFDC schemes and distributed assistive devices
with the support of CSR partners such as HPCL, GAIL India, and IOCL.
➢ The fair showcased vibrant products from 100 Divyang artisans across 20 states/UTs, including
handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery, and packaged foods. It aims to support the “Vocal for Local”
initiative and promote financial independence among Divyang entrepreneurs.
Maharashtra Government Approves Renaming Pune International Airport
➢ The Maharashtra government has approved a proposal to rename Pune
airport as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport.
➢ Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj was born in Lohegaon, where Pune
International Airport is located.
➢ Sant Tukaram Maharaj, also known simply as Tukaram, was a revered
17th-century Hindu saint and poet from Maharashtra.
➢ Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj propagated Bhagwat Dharma through the Warkari community.
➢ Maharashtra:
✓ Capital: Mumbai; Chief minister: Eknath Shinde; Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
Manipur govt imposes ban on hunting and trade of Amur Falcons
➢ The Manipur government has imposed a prohibition on hunting, capturing,
killing, and trading of Amur falcons in Tamenglong district, requiring residents
to surrender their air guns to local authorities until the end of November.

54
➢ Amur falcons, important to the local ecosystem, migrate from breeding grounds in Siberia and
Northern China to Manipur around mid-October before continuing to Africa.
➢ The species is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and previous radio-tagging
efforts in 2018 and 2019 aimed to study their migration and conserve wildlife.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launches ‘Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalp’
project
➢ ‘Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalp’ is a Rs.530 crore water supply project funded by the
Asian Development Bank (ADB).
➢ Aim: to upgrade drinking water infrastructure in 12 cities.
➢ The project, expected to be completed in three years.
➢ It will address water needs for over 75,000 families across the state.
Asian Development Bank (ADB): ADB Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
➢ Founded: 19 December 1966 ; President: Masatsugu Asakawa
India's first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant to come up in Pune
➢ India’s first of its kind CO2-to-Methanol pilot plant with an overall capacity of 1.4 Tons Per Day
(TPD) was unveiled virtually by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and
Technology (DST), Government of India, at Thermax Limited premises in Pune, Maharashtra.
➢ This pioneering project, supported by DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of
India is to be implemented in collaboration with the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Delhi and Thermax Limited, Pune, under Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) mode, with an overall cost of approx. Rs. 31 crores.
➢ The plant aims to advance Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)
technologies, aligning with India’s climate goals from COP 26.
Second edition of UP international trade show kicks off in Greater Noida
➢ Vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar will open the second edition of the Uttar Pradesh
International Trade Show (UPITS) at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
➢ Jointly organized by the Uttar Pradesh government and India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML).
➢ Vietnam has been highlighted as the partner country for this year’s edition.
➢ The focus sectors for this year’s event include agriculture, e-commerce,
electronics, fisheries, handloom, textile, horticulture, leather industry,
ODOP, retail, sports, tourism, toy, MSMEs, and Khadi.
➢ The five-day event will showcase products & services manufactured in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
➢ It will also put on display the culture, cuisine and food craft of Uttar Pradesh.
➢ The key objective of the Trade Show is to connect the manufacturers from State of Uttar Pradesh
with Overseas Buyers.
India-US to set world's 1st multi-chip fab unit for Security
➢ India and the US will set up a new semiconductor fabrication plant, called ‘Shakti,’ which will be
one of the world’s first multi material fabs dedicated to national security.
➢ The facility is likely to come up by 2025 in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh and it will be
situated next to the under-construction Jewar International Airport.

55
➢ During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States from 21-23 September 2024,
the historic agreement was signed between him and American President Joe Biden on
semiconductors.
Mana Village Selected for Landmark Tribal Development Scheme
➢ Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, a groundbreaking initiative by the Central
Government of India, has chosen Mana village in the Joshimath block of Chamoli district
for implementation.
➢ Mana is home to the Bhotiya tribes.
➢ The financial commitment to this initiative is substantial, with a total
budget of Rs 79,156 crore allocated for its implementation.
➢ Central: Rs 56,333 crore & State: Rs 22,823 crore.
➢ This will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people as announced
in the Budget Speech 2024-25. It will cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks spread across all tribal
majority villages across 30 States / UTs.
➢ The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan adopts a holistic approach to tribal
development, focusing on several key areas:
➢ 1. Social Infrastructure: Improving basic amenities and community facilities
➢ 2. Healthcare: Enhancing access to quality medical services
➢ 3. Education: Boosting educational opportunities and facilities
➢ 4. Economic Opportunities: Creating avenues for sustainable livelihoods
NIMAS team scales new peak, names it after 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso
➢ A 15-member expedition team from the National Institute of Mountaineering
and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) has successfully scaled an unnamed and
previously unclimbed peak which has an altitude of 20,942 feet.
➢ The summit, located in the Gorichen range of the Arunachal Pradesh
Himalayas, has been named ‘Tsangyang Gyatso Peak’ in honour of the
sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, who was born in the Mon Tawang region in 1682.
➢ Under the leadership of Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, director of the National Institute of
Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS), the team embarked on a 15-day expedition
through some of the region’s most challenging terrain.
➢ NIMAS, headquartered in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, operates under the Ministry of Defence.
AFSPA extended in parts of Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh for six more months
➢ The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in certain districts of Arunachal Pradesh
and Nagaland for another six months with effect from October 1.
➢ AFSPA has been extended for another six months in Tirap, Changlang, and
Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh as well as areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai,
Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, bordering Assam.
➢ AFSPA was extended in eight districts — Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire,
Noklak, Phek, and Peren — and 21 police station areas in five other districts of Nagaland, which
has a total of 16 districts.

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➢ Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA):
❑ The AFSPA empowers the Army, para-military, and other security forces to arrest a person
without a warrant, enter or search premises without a warrant, along with some other actions.
❑ The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Ordinance came into force on May 22,
1958.
❑ It was adopted by the Indian parliament on September 11, 1958.
Arunachal Pradesh Govt signs MoU to extend cashless treatment to CMAAY
beneficiaries
➢ The Arunachal Pradesh Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delhi's
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences for extending cashless treatment up to
₹5Lakh to the beneficiaries of the State's Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana.
About Arunachal Pradesh: Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
❑ Governor: Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik; Capital: Itanagar
Poumai Naga Tribe in Manipur Enacts Strict Rules and Bans Hunting for Wildlife
Conservation
➢ Poumai Naga Tribe of Manipur bans hunting.
➢ The Poumai Naga tribe of Purul village in Manipur’s Senapati district has
taken a significant step towards wildlife conservation by banning hunting,
trapping, and killing of wild animals and birds within their territory.
➢ The Poumai Naga tribe, with a population of around 7000, has adopted these measures to protect
their forests and wildlife in accordance with the Manipur Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
➢ The Poumai Naga tribe is an indigenous ethnic group primarily residing in the Senapati district of
Manipur and parts of Nagaland.
➢ Christianity is the dominant religion in the Poumai Community.
Pune to host 20th Divya Kala Mela
➢ Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr.
Virendra Kumar, on 28 September 2024.
➢ The event is scheduled to take place from September 28 to October 6, 2024.
➢ The mela will feature close to 100 Divyang artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs
from over 20 states and Union Territories.
➢ Divya Kala Mela are organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(Divyangjan) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Jivitputrika Festival ((Jitiya Vrat)) 2024
➢ Jivitputrika Vrat, commonly known as Jitiya Vrat, is a significant festival dedicated to the well-
being and prosperity of children, observed primarily by mothers.
➢ Jivitputrika, or Jitiya Vrat, is a Hindu festival mainly observed in northern
& eastern part of India especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal.
➢ Mothers fast for three days for the well-being and long life of their children.
➢ At least 46 people, including 37 children, drowned while taking holy dip in rivers and ponds in
several Bihar districts during the 'Jivitputrika' festival.

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 Governors
State Governor
Andhra Pradesh Shri Justice (Retd.) S. Abdul Nazeer
Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM,
Arunachal Pradesh
UYSM, YSM (Retired)
Assam Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya
Bihar Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Chhattisgarh Shri Ramen Deka
Goa Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
Gujarat Shri Acharya Dev Vrat
Haryana Shri Bandaru Dattatraya
Himachal Pradesh Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla
Jharkhand Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar
Karnataka Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot
Kerala Shri Arif Mohammed Khan
Madhya Pradesh Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Maharashtra Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan
Manipur Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya (Additional Charge)
Meghalaya Shri C H Vijayashankar
Mizoram Shri Indra Sena Reddy Nallu (Additional Charge)
Nagaland Shri La. Ganesan
Odisha Shri Raghubar Das
Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria
Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde
Sikkim Shri Om Prakash Mathur
Tamil Nadu Shri R. N. Ravi
Telangana Shri Jishnu Dev Varma
Tripura Shri Indra Sena Reddy Nallu
Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel
Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM
Uttarakhand
(Retd.)
West Bengal Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose

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 Chief Ministers
State Chief Minister
Andhra Pradesh Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu
Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu
Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma
Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar
Chhattisgarh Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
Delhi (NCT) Ms. Atishi Marlena
Goa Shri Pramod Sawant
Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel
Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini
Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren
Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah
Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan
Madhya Pradesh Shri Mohan Yadav
Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde
Manipur Shri N. Biren Singh
Meghalaya Shri Conrad Kongkal Sangma
Mizoram Shri PU Lalduhoma
Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio
Odisha Shri Mohan Charan Majhi
Puducherry (UT) Shri N. Rangaswamy
Punjab Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann
Rajasthan Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma
Sikkim Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay)
Tamil Nadu Shri M. K. Stalin
Telangana Shri A Revanth Reddy
Tripura Dr. Manik Saha
Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Aditya Nath
Uttarakhand Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami
West Bengal Km. Mamata Banerjee

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 BOOKS & AUTHORS
A Book Titled, From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy by
Kuldeep Gupta
➢ "From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy", penned by renowned
energy expert Kuldeep Gupta, offers readers a compelling narrative that
intertwines personal experience with global energy challenges.
Somanath releases coffee-table book on ISRO brought out by The Hindu
➢ Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, S. Somanath, released a
coffee-table book brought out by The Hindu Group of Publications, ISRO:
Exploring New Frontiers - To The Moon, The Sun & Beyond.
➢ The book curated by T.S. Subramanian
Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi releases the book, ‘The Heart and Art of Teaching’
➢ Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi released
the book — ‘The Heart and Art of Teaching’ —
➢ Authored by B. Purushothaman, founder of Everwin Group of Schools, at
Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai.
Launch of the book, “Sri Rama in Tamilagam: An Inseparable Bond”
➢ launch of the book, Sri Rama in Tamilagam: An Inseparable Bond, authored
by D.K. Hari and D.K. Hema Hari, at the Raj Bhavan.
➢ Launched by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi.
CM Dhami released the book "Khaki Mein Sthitpragya" written by former DGP Anil
Raturi
➢ Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book "Khaki Mein
Sthitpragya" written by former Uttarakhand Director General of Police
Anil Raturi at the IRDT auditorium located at Survey Chowk, Dehradun.
➢ Anil Raturi has written this book based on his memoirs and experience as an IPS officer.
➢ The book highlights the challenges of maintaining peace and law and order and the importance of
patience and strong will in poice service.
This Land We Call Home
➢ A book that covers family history, issues like conversions and societal prejudices
along with major contemporary developments in India with great candour
making it an exceptionally interesting read.
➢ “This Land We Call Home”, we find its young author, Nusrat Jafri, living in domestic bliss and
basking in professional success as a filmmaker of repute and a writer but one who is deeply
disturbed by developments in the country since 2014 when the BJP first came to power nationally.

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 OBITUARIES IN NEWS
Film scholar Aruna Vasudev, ‘Mother of Asian Cinema’, passes away at 88
➢ An eminent Indian film scholar, critic, festival curator and painter.
➢ Her honours included the Officier des Arts et des Lettres, France’s highest
cultural award, and the first Satyajit Ray Memorial Award by FIPRESCI India.
➢ She founded NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema),
➢ She co-authored the books - Being & Becoming, the Cinemas of Asia
Tennis Legend Luis Ayala Passes Away at 91
➢ Luis Ayala, one of Chile’s most celebrated athletes, passed away at the age of 91.
➢ Played in two French Open finals, he won 46 singles titles in his career.
➢ He was a finalist at Roland Garros in 1958 and 1960.
Eminent English teacher, translator K. Chellappan is no more
➢ Eminent English professor K. Chellappan, who won the Sahitya Akademi award for his
translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Gora into Tamil, passed away in Chennai, aged 88.
➢ Fondly known as K.C. in academic circles, K. Chellappan won the Sahitya Akademi
award for translation in 2020.
Mangey Khan, the 48-year-old lead vocalist and harmonium player of the Rajasthani
Sufi folk group Barmer Boys, passed away
➢ The Manganiyars area Muslim community of folk musicians from the
Thar Desert region of India and Pakistan.
➢ They live in the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India, and
the districts of Tharparkar and Sanghar in Sindh, Pakistan.
Polarising ex-Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori dies at 86
➢ Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori, who spent 16 years in prison for crimes against
humanity, died at the age of 86.
➢ Fujimori, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was released from prison on
humanitarian grounds in December, two-thirds of the way through a
25-year sentence for crimes against humanity during his rule.
❑ Capital: Lima; Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN)
Veteran CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passes away
➢ Veteran politician and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram
Yechury passed away at the age of 72.
➢ In recent times,Yechury emerged as the most popular face of his party despite
CPI(M)'s shrinking inluence.
➢ In 1984, he joined the Central Committee of the CPI(M).

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Pravin Gordhan, South African Anti-Apartheid Activist, Dies at 75.
➢ Pravin Gordhan, a prominent Indian-origin South African politician and
anti-apartheid activist, passed away.
➢ In 2010, Gordhan received the Pravasi Bhartiya Award, India’s highest
honour for overseas Indians.
First Muslim IAS officer from J&K Mohd Shafi Pandit passes away
➢ Pandit was the first Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify the civil
services examinations in 1969.
➢ His final assignment with the government was as the head of autonomous
Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.
➢ He also played a key role in rolling out of the Mandal Commission report as
he was the joint secretary in the Government of India in 1992.
Veteran writer Manorama Bhat passes away
➢ Manorama M Bhat (92), wife of senior lawyer and Yakshagana artiste the late Muliya
Mahabala Bhat, passed away.
➢ Manorama Bhat was a revolutionary, renowned litterateur, storyteller, and Akashavani artiste.
➢ Manorama was one of the founding members of the Karavali Writers and
Readers Association and later served as its president.
➢ Manorama Bhat was the recipient of several awards, including the Attimabbe
Foundation Literary Award, the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award,
and the Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, among others.
Former ITBP DG Gautam Kaul dies at 83
➢ Former ITBP director general Gautam Kaul has passed away at the age of 83.
➢ A retired IPS officer from the 1965 batch.
➢ Kaul served as ITBP DG from 1998 to 2001.
Dame Maggie Smith, A Legendary Actress Passes at 89
➢ Dame Maggie Smith, the celebrated British actress renowned for her roles in Harry Potter
and Downton Abbey, has passed away at the age of 89.
➢ Dame Maggie Smith was best known to contemporary audiences for
two particularly memorable roles:
▪ Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series
▪ The sharp-tongued Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey
▪ However, her illustrious career extended far beyond these recent portrayals, spanning
more than six decades.
PM Modi Condoles Demise of Padma Shri Awardee Organic Farmer, Pappammal
➢ Pappammal, who passed away at 109, was a pioneering organic farmer and a
social leader in Tamil Nadu.
➢ Padma Shri in 2021.

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 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Google DeepMind Launches AI Project ‘Morni’ for 125 Indian Languages
➢ Google DeepMind’s India unit is taking on an ambitious challenge with a project called
Morni, known as the Multimodal Representation for India (Morni)
➢ aiming to develop an AI model that understands and represents 125 Indian languages and
dialects.
➢ To solve the problem of not having enough language data, Google has launched Project Vaani, in
collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and ARTPARK (Artificial Intelligence &
Robotics Technology Park) in 2022.
➢ The project is now in its second phase.
➢ The project is focused on gathering speech data from across the country, making
it available as open-source material.
ChatGPT Hits 200 Million Weekly Users
➢ The AI research company OpenAI created ChatGPT and launched it in November 2022.
➢ OpenAI was founded in 2015 by a group of entrepreneurs and researchers, including
Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
Reliance Jio Introduces Jio Brain AI Suite
➢ Reliance Jio is developing a suite of tools and applications that span the entire artificial
intelligence (AI) lifecycle called ‘JioBrain’
➢ It enables accelerated adoption of AI across Jio and drives faster decisions, more
accurate predictions, and a better understanding of customer needs.
1st foreign university in India under UGC
➢ The Centre granted permission to the UK-based University of Southampton to establish a
campus in Gurugram, Delhi-NCR.
➢ The University of Southampton, which is among the top 100 universities in the
QS World University Rankings
➢ The first academic session is likely to begin in July 2025, and the campus will hire
faculty from both India and abroad.
➢ The University of Southampton will become the first international university to set up a campus in
India under the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational
Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023, notified in November last year.
➢ The regulations, which allow top 500 foreign universities to set up campuses in India, were
prepared in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
IIM Lucknow establishes Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology
➢ In partnership with Microsoft India, IIM Lucknow will establish three outreach centers
across Uttar Pradesh to promote and nurture blockchain-based innovation.
➢ The proposed regions for these centers are Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Greater
Noida/Meerut.

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IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi opens in UAE capital
➢ Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, officially
inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus, UAE.
➢ The inaugural batch has 52 students in undergraduate (UG) courses in Computer
Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering.
➢ The first international campus of India’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in the UAE
capital.
Alpex Solar announces plan to double PV module capacity to 2.4 GW by FY26
➢ A greenfield project of 1.2 GW solar PV modules capacity will be installed in the company's
newly acquired land parcel at Kosi Kotwan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.
➢ The company will also explore a foray into solar cell manufacturing in the range of gigawatt
capacity.
➢ The new project will be funded through internal accruals and loans.
➢ Once the new line is set up, the company expects a capacity of 2.4 GW by FY2026,
enabling it to meet the growing demand in India and other key global markets.
World’s Largest Low-Carbon Hydrogen Facility to Be Built in Texas through ADNOC-
ExxonMobil Partnership
➢ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and ExxonMobil (an American multinational oil
and gas corporation) to develop the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen facility.
➢ The facility will convert U.S.-produced natural gas into virtually carbon-free hydrogen (remove
approximately 98% of the associated CO2 emissions).
➢ The facility is expected to produce up to 1 billion cubic feet of low-carbon hydrogen
daily, making it the largest of its kind globally
Saturn’s rings will briefly ‘disappear’ in March 2025
➢ Saturn, which is tilted at an angle of 26.73 degrees, takes about 29.4 Earth years to complete a
single orbit of the Sun.
➢ This means that for half of a Saturn year (roughly 15 years),
➢ The gas giant is tilted towards the Sun, and for the other half it is tilted away from it.
➢ Its rings too are tilted at the same angle, and as the planet revolves, they appear
to change their orientation when viewed from Earth.
➢ Every 13 to 15 years, the edge of Saturn’s rings aligns directly with Earth.
➢ This is what will happen in March 2025 when only the edges of the ring will be visible from our
planet. Since Saturn’s rings are very thin — just tens of metres thick in most places — at this
position, they will reflect very little light, essentially making them invisible.
➢ This phenomenon last occurred in 2009.
Indian Navy's P8I on its first-ever deployment in Europe to take part in 'Exercise
Varuna’
➢ A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy has reached France to participate in 'Exercise Varuna' with the
French Navy.

64
➢ The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval 'Exercise Varuna', scheduled from Sep 2 to 4 in the
Mediterranean Sea, will include advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy
and interoperability between the two navies.
➢ The Indian Navy's P8I aircraft touched down at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube,
France, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe.
➢ This deployment comes 63 years after the Indian Navy's Alize aircraft, operating from the erstwhile
INS Vikrant, last flew at Hyeres Airbase
Taiwan Plans Major Stinger Missile Purchase from US
➢ The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence plans to buy over 1,000 additional Stinger
missiles to boost its defence capabilities amid growing concerns about China's military activities.
➢ The FIM-92 Stinger is aman-portable surface-to-air missile system(MANPADS) that was designed
and manufactured by the American Defense Industry.
Historical Purchases
In the past, Taiwan has made several purchases of Stinger missiles:
❑ 2015: The navy bought 250 Stinger missiles.
❑ 2019: The army ordered another 250 missiles.
Oil-rich UAE completes Arab world’s first nuclear plant
➢ The United Arab Emirates has successfully completed the Arab world's first nuclear power
plant, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
(ENEC) .
➢ The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated in Al Dhafra.
➢ It is also a major step towards achieving the country's goal of covering half of its
electricity needs with renewable energy by 2050
India successfully carries out launch of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile
➢ India has carried out a successful launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4,
from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha.
➢ India successfully tested the new-generation nuclear-capable Agni-Prime ballistic missile from
the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
➢ It met all the trial objectives, validating its reliable performance. Strategic Forces
Command (SFC), along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), had conducted that successful flight test.
➢ The Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear weapons-capable surface-to-surface ballistic
missiles developed by India.
AIIMS Delhi to Launch Dedicated Tobacco Cessation Clinic
➢ AIIMS Delhi will launch a Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC) in New Delhi
➢ To tackle the public health issue of tobacco use in India.
➢ The clinic, a joint effort of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre
(NDDTC) and the Department of Pulmonary, Critical, and Sleep Medicine, aims to assist
individuals with tobacco addiction.

65
➢ AIIMS Director Professor M Srinivas emphasized that the TCC is part of the Tobacco-Free AIIMS
initiative and will contribute to creating a healthier environment.
India-USA joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas-2024
➢ The 20th edition of the annual India-US Joint military exercise code-named Yudh Abhyas 2024
commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan .
➢ The 2024 Yudh Abhays will be conducted from 9-22 Sept 2024.
➢ The exercise aims to enhance joint military capabilities for counter-terrorism operations in a semi-
desert environment under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
➢ Yudh Abhyas has been conducted annually since 2004, alternating between
India and the USA.
➢ This year’s exercise features a significant expansion in scope and complexity,
involving 600 personnel from each side.
About US:
❑ Capital: Washington, D.C., Currency: US Dollar
❑ 46th President: Joe Biden
Indian Navy launches Anti-Submarine Warfare vessels Malpe and Mulki at Cochin
Shipyard
➢ The Indian Navy launched two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow water crafts, named
Malpe and Mulki, at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kochi.
➢ These vessels are the fourth and fifth ships of the Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water
Craft project, initiated by a contract between the Indian Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard
Ltd. on April 30, 2019.
➢ The project supports India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative, aiming to reduce
reliance on foreign defense imports.
➢ Over 80% of the materials used in these ships are indigenous, highlighting
India’s growing capabilities in domestic defense manufacturing.
China’s Geespace Successfully Launches 10 Satellites
➢ On Sept 6, 2024, Geespace, a company backed by Chinese automaker Geely, launched 10 low Earth
orbit (LEO) satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre.
➢ This launch brings the total number of satellites in its constellation to 30, achieving 90% global
coverage with 24- hour communication services.
➢ Geespace, established by Geely Technology Group in 2018, aims to create a satellite network akin to
SpaceX's Starlink, with a planned constellation of nearly 6,000 LEO satellites
to provide global broadband.
➢ This launch is part of the initial phase of Geespace’s project, which includes
deploying 72 satellites by the end of 2025 to serve over 200 million users worldwide.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated IDAX-24 in Jodhpur

The Indian Air Force is conducting one of its largest multinational air exercises, Tarang Shakti-24, in Jodhpur.

66
➢ On the sidelines of the event, the lAF also hosted the India Defence Aviation Exposition (IDAX-
24) which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
➢ Scheduled from September 12-14
➢ The event will provide an opportunity for the Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs)
and Indian audience to witness, experience and interact with participants from the
Indian aviation industry, including DPSUs, DRDO, private industries (Tier-I, Il, III) and topnotch
startups. (IANS).
NASA to send $5 billion Europa Clipper in October
➢ NASA is preparing for the launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft on October 10.
➢ This $5 billion mission will explore one of Jupiter’s largest moons, Europa.
➢ Europa is slightly smaller than the earth’s moon, with a surface made of ice.
➢ Beneath its icy shell, Europa likely harbor's a saltwater ocean, which scientists
expect contains over twice as much water as all the oceans here on Earth combined.
➢ With Europa Clipper, scientists want to investigate whether Europa’s ocean could be a suitable
habitat for extraterrestrial life.
India- Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najah V
➢ The Indian Army contingent departed for the 5th edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise
AL NAJAH.
➢ To be conducted from 13th to 26th September 2024.
➢ At Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.
➢ Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India
and Oman.
➢ Last edition was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
➢ Undertake counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The
exercise will focus on operations in the Desert environment.
Gensol Matrix to set up India's first green hydrogen valley project in Pune
➢ Gensol Engineering Limited and Matrix Gas & Renewables Limited have announced a
partnership to develop India’s first Green Hydrogen Valley in Pune, Maharashtra.
➢ The project will supply green hydrogen to the specialty chemical industry around
the clock for the next 20 years.
DRDO & Indian Navy successfully flight tests ‘Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air
Missile’ (VL SRSAM)
➢ Launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur , off the coast of
Odisha.
➢ The missile is designed to defend navy ships against low flying, high speed anti ship
cruise missiles, drones, and similar threats.
Russia launches largest naval drill The “Ocean 2024”
➢ Russia has launched its largest naval drill in decades

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➢ The “Ocean 2024”, will be held simultaneously in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans,
as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas from September 10 -16
➢ The exercises will involve more than 400 battleships, submarines, and support
vessels from the auxiliary fleet, along with over 120 aircraft and more than 90,000 personnel.
➢ China is also participating in the drills, contributing four vessels and 15 aircraft from the People’s
Liberation Army.
➢ Representatives from 15 other nations were invited to observe the drills.
SpaceX launches all-civilian crew for first private spacewalk
➢ A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida, carrying 4 civilians into orbit to attempt the
world’s first private spacewalk
➢ The five day mission, known as Polaris Dawn, is the first of three testing and
development missions under the Polaris Program, which will be jointly executed
by Isaacman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
➢ The first ever spacewalk was carried out on March 18, 1965, by the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei
Leonov.
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn returns to Earth after first private spacewalk
➢ SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission made history with the first-ever commercial spacewalk, led by
tech billionaire Jared Isaacman.
➢ The mission launched on September 10, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
➢ The spacecraft reached a peak altitude of 1,400 km (870 miles), surpassing the
International Space Station.
➢ The spacewalk occurred on September 12, 2024, with Jared Isaacman and
his crew performing tasks outside the spacecraft.
➢ The Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida on September 15, 2024.
➢ The crew included Jared Isaacman, Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis, and Scott Poteet.
➢ Experiments conducted included inter-satellite communication and a violin performance by Gillis
➢ transmitted to Earth.
➢ Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions in the Polaris Program, a collaboration between Isaacman
and SpaceX.
➢ The mission signifies a new era in commercial spaceflight and private space exploration.
Typhoon Bebinca hits Shanghai, strongest storm since 1949
➢ Typhoon Bebinca struck Shanghai on September 16, 2024, becoming the strongest storm to hit
the city since 1949.
➢ The typhoon made landfall at 7:30 am local time with wind speeds up to
151 km/h (94 mph).
➢ Shanghai's 25 million residents were advised to stay at home, and about 9,000
people were evacuated from Chongming District.

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DRDO successfully conducts first phase of field firing trials of Indian light tank
‘Zorawar’
➢ It is an indigenously designed and developed Light Tank, expected to be inducted into the Indian
Army by the year 2027
➢ The 25-tonne Zorawar tank, developed by DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research & Development
Establishment (CVRDE) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T).
➢ It was named after a military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria who led the
military expedition to Kailash- Mansarovar during the Sino-Sikh War in 1841.
Democratic Republic of the Congo will launch its first phase of Mpox vaccination
campaign on Oct 2
➢ The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will begin its Mpox vaccination
campaign on October 2, 2024.
➢ The campaign will run until October 11, 2024, with over 265,000 doses
received from international partners.
➢ Procurement of 3,000 doses for children is progressing.
➢ The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification
list for Mpox.
➢ The vaccine is for immunization against smallpox, Mpox, and related orthopoxvirus infections for
adults 18 and older.
➢ DRC has reported 21,813 suspected Mpox cases and 716 deaths since the beginning of 2024.
➢ The country accounts for about 90% of Mpox cases in Africa.
Cabinet gave approval for CHANDRAYAAN 4 Mission
➢ The Union Cabinet approved the Chandrayaan 4 mission on September 18, 2024, to collect lunar
samples and return them to Earth.
➢ The mission aims to join the ranks of the U.S., Russia, and China, who have successfully brought
lunar soil back to Earth.
➢ ISRO will lead the Chandrayaan 4 mission with a budget of ₹2,104.06 crore, to be
completed in 36 months, focusing on indigenous technology development.
➢ The ultimate goal is to land an Indian astronaut on the lunar surface by 2040,
paving the way for future human missions to the Moon.
➢ India's space ambitions include a mission to Venus, a functional Indian Space Station ( Bharatiya
Antariksh Station) by 2035, and addressing global competition from China and the U.S. in lunar
exploration.
Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joins Western Fleet of Indian Navy on 20
September 2024
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commissioned INS Vikrant to the Navy on September 2, 2022,
and it achieved full operational status in November 2023. It has finally joined the Navy's Western
Fleet on the high seas on 20 September 2024.
➢ With this, the Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, on its
western front.

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➢ INS Vikrant was designed by Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by
Cochin Shipyard Limited.
➢ Vikrant can operate an air wing of 30 aircraft comprising MiG-29K fighter jets,
Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenous Advanced
Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft (Navy).
➢ Specifications: Length: 262.5m; Width: 61.6m; Displacement: approximately 43,000 Ton,
Maximum speed: 28 Knots; Endurance: 7,500 Nautical Miles.
CMFRI unit designated seaweed research centre of excellence
➢ CMFRI has been designated as the Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation by the
Department of Fisheries, with the Mandapam Regional Centre in Tamil Nadu
as the hub for research and training.
➢ The initiative aims to promote sustainable seaweed farming practices and
enhance India’s role in the global seaweed industry.
➢ Training programs will be provided to farmers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to
encourage seaweed cultivation and improve techniques.
➢ A seed bank will be established to maintain genetic diversity of indigenous seaweed species and
ensure a supply of high quality seedlings.
➢ The Centre will conduct environmental assessments and engage in international collaboration for
knowledge exchange, viewing seaweed farming as a key opportunity for economic growth and
coastal livelihoods.
India launches AI-powered trademark search tool and Saarthi chatbot
➢ Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched AI-driven tools, including a Trademark Search
Technology and the IP Saarthi Chatbot, to enhance intellectual property (IP) management in
India.
➢ The AI and Machine Learning-based trademark search tool aims to expedite
trademark searches and improve the approval process for applications,
potentially resolving disputes more efficiently.
➢ The government has reduced patent fees by 80% for startups, women entrepreneurs, MSMEs,
individuals, and academic institutions to encourage innovation and participation in the IP
ecosystem.
➢ The IP Saarthi Chatbot provides real-time support to users navigating trademark and patent
applications, simplifying the process, especially for first-time applicants.
➢ These initiatives align with the vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047, positioning
India as a leader in modern IP management through technology and innovation.
Supermassive Black Hole Jets recorded extend vast distances
➢ Astronomers have recently discovered two enormous beams of energy, called jets, coming from a
supermassive black hole in a galaxy about 7.5 billion light-years away.
➢ These jets are the biggest ever found, stretching an incredible 23 million light
years across space, approximately 140 times the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy.
➢ The researchers have nicknamed these two jets ‘Porphyrion.’

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India- USA joint Military Exercise YUDH ABHYAS -2024 commences IN Rajasthan
➢ The 20th edition of the India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas-2024 began at the
Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
➢ The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9th to 22nd September 2024.
Exercise YUDH ABHYAS has been held annually since 2004, alternating between
India and the USA.
➢ The primary aim of Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 is to enhance the joint military capabilities of
India and the USA in counter-terrorism operations, focusing on operations in a semi-desert
environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
Govt to Install 1 Lakh 4G Mobile Towers by 2025
➢ The government aims to install 1 lakh 4G mobile towers by mid-2025, with 36,574 already
completed. India has also achieved the fastest 5G rollout globally, with around 4.5 lakh 5G base
stations installed.
➢ Currently, 97% of urban areas and 80% of the population are covered by the 4G
network, and India is now the 6th country to establish its own 4G stack production.
➢ The number of mobile connections has increased from 90 crore to 117 crore in
the last decade, while internet connectivity has expanded from 25 crore to
nearly 95 crore people, highlighting the government's focus on connectivity and digital
infrastructure.
➢ The Department of Posts launched the successful Dak Chaupal initiative, conducting over 15,000
Chaupals to deliver government services in rural areas and onboarded more than 3,400 new
exporters under the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra initiative.
Russian cosmonauts break record for longest ISS flight
➢ Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub have set a new record for the longest
single mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), surpassing the
previous record held by cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev,
➢ Dmitry Petelin, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio, who spent 370 days
onboard from September 2022 to September 2023.
➢ Kononenko and Chub arrived at the ISS on September 15, 2023, via the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft
and are scheduled to return to Earth on the Soyuz MS-25 on September 23, 2024, totalling 374
days in space.
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams takes command of International Space
Station
➢ Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has assumed command of the International Space
Station (ISS) for the second time.
➢ Williams received command from Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko during a ceremony
onboard the ISS.
➢ They traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner space shuttle on June 5 for a
planned 8-day mission, which was extended to February 2025 due to a technical
malfunction.

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First Case of Clade 1B M-Pox Variant Detected in Kerala
➢ Called clade 1b, the new variant is highly-transmissible
➢ It is aviral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
➢ Thefirst human case of mpox was recorded in 1970in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC).
➢ There aretwo known types (clades) of mpox virus— one that originated in Central Africa (Clade
I) and one that originated in West Africa (Clade II).
Iran unveils new powerful suicide drone ‘Shahed-136B’
➢ The Iranian Armed Forces unveiled a new class of single use ‘kamikaze’ drone, the Shahed
136B, which promises to revolutionise the country’s ability to launch very low-
cost long-range precision strikes.
➢ The Shahed-136B drone is an upgraded version of the Shahed-136, with new
features and an operational range of 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles).
➢ The Shahed-136B is the new one-way attack drone which is also known as a 'kamikaze' drone.
➢ Iran also launched "Jihad" ballistic missile, which is a solid-fuel missile with an operational range
of 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles).
❑ Capital: Tehran Currency: Iranian Rial
❑ President: Masoud Pezeshkian
Ministry of Power inaugurated CSIRT-Power facility
➢ The Union Minister of Power (MoP) Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the Computer Security
Incident Response Team Power (CSIRT-Power) at Northern Regional Power Committee in
New Delhi.
➢ CSIRT-Power is equipped with advanced infrastructure and cybersecurity
tools to address emerging threats.
➢ Its goal is to strengthen cybersecurity resilience in India's power sector through
a coordinated approach.
➢ It is set up under the Central Electricity Authority, with CERT-In leading efforts to manage
incidents and cybersecurity activities in the power sector.
➢ CSIRT is a group of IT professionals for responding to and preventing cybersecurity incidents
within the power sector.
Shankh Air, UP's first scheduled airline gets green light from aviation ministry
➢ India's newest airline, Shankh Air, has received approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry to
operate in the country.
➢ It plans to begin operations using a fleet of Boeing 737-800NGs, the new-generation model.
➢ The airline will be based in Uttar Pradesh, with hubs in Lucknow and Noida, and
will focus on both inter and intra state routes to major cities.
➢ Founders and Management: Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma
➢ The No Objection Certificate (NOC) to operate will be valid for three years.
➢ Shankh Air's launch is expected to improve connectivity in regions with limited flight options,
boosting regional mobility across India.

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Indian Navy launches second edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition
➢ The Indian Navy is all set to launch its second Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition on 2 October
2024.
➢ The Navik Sagar Parikrama is being conducted by the Indian Naval Sailing Association, based
at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, and Ocean Sailing Node, Goa, under the Southern Naval
Command of the Indian Navy.
➢ Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini would sail on this challenging expedition with
two courageous women officers – Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A on 02 Oct 24.
➢ It is expected to cover 21,600 nautical miles (around 40,000 km), navigating high
seas, extreme weather conditions, and three great capes.
➢ It will pass through the three great Capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good
Hope.
➢ The INSV Tarini will use only wind power to sail around the world.
➢ The Indian Navy launched its first Navika Sagar Parikrama in 2017.
➢ Lt Commander Vartika Joshi commanded the first Navika Sagar Parikrama
China's Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches 8 satellites from sea
➢ China launched a Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket from the waters near the city of Haiyang in
east China's Shandong Province, placing eight satellites into planned orbit.
➢ The commercial rocket blasted off with carrying Tianyi-41 and other satellites. The Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center carried out this offshore launch.
➢ Smart Dragon-3 commercial carrier rocket is developed by the China Academy of
Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology
Corporation.
❑ China: Capital: Beijing; Currency: Chinese Yuan
❑ President: Xi Jinping
PM Modi launched 3 indigenous Param Rudra supercomputers
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated three Param Rudra supercomputers and
High Performance Computing (HPC) systems for weather and climate research.
➢ The state-of-the-art facility, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(C-DAC).
➢ Param Rudra, named after the fierce avatar of Lord Shiva, is designed to tackle complex
computational challenges across various scientific and engineering domains.
➢ Three Param Rudra supercomputers have been developed at Rs 130 crores,
indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission.
➢ The three supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to
support cutting-edge scientific research.
➢ He also inaugurated ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’, a HighPerformance Computing (HPC) system tailored
for weather and climate research, and interacted with scientists and researchers involved in the
development of the infrastructure.

73
Russia downs more than 100 Ukrainian drones in one of the largest barrages of the war
➢ More than 100 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia on Sunday, officials said, sparking a
wildfire and setting an apartment block alight in one of the largest barrages seen
over Russian skies since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
➢ Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that it had shot down 125 drones overnight
across seven regions. The southwestern region of Volgograd came under
particularly heavy fire, with 67 Ukrainian drones reportedly downed by Russian air defenses.
Bharat 6G Alliance
➢ Recently, the union telecom minister has initiated a meeting with the seven working groups of the
Bharat 6G Alliance, signaling the future arrival of 6G in India.
➢ It is a collaborative platform which aims to achieve universal and affordable
connectivity, promote indigenous technology, and establish India as a global
leader in the telecom sector.
➢ This platform consists of public and private companies, academia, research institutions, and
standards development organizations, aims to lead the development and deployment of 6G
technology in India.
➢ Aim: To bring together Indian startups, companies, and the manufacturing ecosystem to
establish consortia that drive the design, development and deployment of 6G technologies in
India.
Women in Space Leadership Programme Initiative Launches by DST
➢ The Department of Science and technology (DST) in India with the collaboration
with the British Council launches the initiative of “A Women in Space Leadership”
(WiSLP) as a part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).
Earth’s New Mini Moon: Asteroid 2024 PT5 to Orbit for Two Months
➢ Earth is set to welcome a temporary “mini-moon” in the form of a small asteroid named 2024
PT5, which will orbit our planet from September 29 to November 25, 2024.
➢ Discovered by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (Atlas) on
August 7, 2024, these asteroid measures approximately 33 feet wide and
originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, a region filled with various space rocks.
➢ While it cannot be observed with the naked eye or typical telescopes, professional astronomers will
be able to capture images of this tiny object moving rapidly across the night sky.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from ISS
➢ NASA and SpaceX launch ‘Crew-9 mission’ to rescue Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore,
stranded at ISS.
➢ NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov
took off on 28 September 2024 from Cape Canaveral, Florida to bring back
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore.
➢ The Dragon spacecraft, operated by SpaceX, is set to arrive at the ISS on 29 September 2024.
➢ Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS)
since June 6, 2024, due to complications with their original spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner.

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 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh takes over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
➢ Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force
in New Delhi. After the assumption of his new appointment, he paid homage to the bravehearts
who gave the supreme sacrifice by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.
➢ Air Marshal Tejinder is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was
commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987.
➢ He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes Over As Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central
Air Command
➢ Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal,
assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air
Command on September 1.
➢ Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of IAF on December 6, 1986.
➢ He is succeeding Air Marshal RGK Kapoor.
IAS officer Amrit Lal Meena appointed as new Chief Secretary of Bihar
➢ senior IAS officer Amrit Lal Meena was appointed the new Chief Secretary of the
Bihar state.
➢ Mr. Meena, a 1989 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer was recently repatriated to his
original cadre.
➢ Earlier Mr. Meena was secretary in the Ministry of Coal during his central deputation.
➢ He has succeeded outgoing Chief Secretary Brijesh Mehrotra, who got superannuation.
IAS officer Dharmendra appointed as Delhi’s new chief secretary
➢ The central government appointed IAS officer Dharmendra as the new chief secretary of New
Delhi
➢ Dharmendra is a 1989-batch IAS officer who will replace Naresh Kumar, a 1987-
batch IAS officer. Kumar's extension ended on August 31.
➢ Dharmendra is currently the chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.
Jarken Gamlin sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh’s new Chief Information Commissioner
➢ Major General Jarken Gamlin (Retd) has been sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh Chief
Information Commissioner (SCIC).
➢ He was administered the ‘Oath of Affirmation’ by Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd) in
Itanagar.
➢ CIC is a statutory body constituted under section 12 of theRight to Information Act, 2005.
➢ Similar to CIC, SIC is also a statutory body constituted under section 15 of the Right to
Information Act, 2005.
➢ The main objectives of CIC and SIC are to receive and inquire into complaints from any citizen
(Section 18 of the RTI Act, 2005).

75
V Satish Kumar, director (marketing) at IOC, given additional charge as Chairman of
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
➢ V Satish Kumar took over as the chairman of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation's
largest oil firm.
➢ Kumar, who is director (marketing) at IOC, was given additional charge of chairman following
delays in finding a full-time chairman.
➢ He will concurrently serve as chairman while continuing in his role as Director
(Marketing), a position he has held since October 2021
➢ He also held the additional charge of Director (Finance) for one year from October 2022, a
period characterised by geopolitical tensions due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Philips appoints Bharath Sesha as new managing director for India
➢ Dutch multinational conglomerate Philips has appointed Bharath Sesha as Managing
Director for India, starting September 1.
➢ Bharath will lead Philips' growth strategy in India and oversee the healthcare business
based in Gurugram, an official press release issued by the company read.
➢ Additionally, he will also manage Philips’ operations across several key locations in India.
➢ He succeeds Daniel Mazon, who has moved to a global role at the Philips headquarters in the
Netherlands.
E-commerce major Meesho appoints Mohit Rajani as chief product officer
➢ E-commerce major Meesho has announced the appointment of Mohit Rajani as chief product
officer (CPO) to oversee the product management, design, and analytics teams.
➢ Rajani has previously been associated with Meta, Google, and Carta.
➢ A month ago, the platform appointed four independent directors to strengthen its
board. The marquee names included Kalpana Morparia (JPMorgan veteran),
Hari S Bhartia (former President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)), Surojit Chatterjee,
and Rohit Bhagat.
L’Oreal Paris Announces Alia Bhatt as New Global Brand Ambassador
➢ French cosmetics giant L’Oreal Paris has made a significant announcement, revealing that
it has signed Alia Bhatt, one of Bollywood’s most prominent actresses, as its newest
global brand ambassador.
➢ Bhatt joins the brand's diverse roster of L'Oreal brand ambassadors like Viola Davis, Jane Fonda,
Eva Longoria, Kendall Jenner, Elle Fanning, Camila Cabello, and many others.
Ajay Ratra Joins Indian Cricket Selection Committee
➢ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a significant announcement, reshaping the
landscape of Indian cricket’s selection process. Former India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra
has been appointed as a selector for the men’s cricket team, marking a new era in the
national team’s selection committee.

76
Luis Suarez announced retirement from international football
➢ The 37-year-old fought back tears as he confirmed the World Cup qualifier against
Paraguay will be his last appearance for his country.
➢ The former Liverpool and Barcelona forward is Uruguay's all-time leading scorer with 69
goals in 142 appearances, having made his debut against Colombia in February 2007.
Rahul Dravid set to be appointed Rajasthan Royals head coach for IPL 2025
➢ Rahul Dravid, the masterminded behind India's T20 World Cup triumph, is set to take over
Rajasthan Royals' head coach role in the IPL 2025.
➢ Dravid, who is currently on a short career-break since India's victory at Barbados in June,
will soon start working with the franchise on important issues such as player retention
ahead of the auction later this year.
➢ Kumar Sangakkara, who has held the position of Director of Cricket for the Royals since 2021,
will maintain his role and is expected to be more involved with the Barbados Royals (CPL) and Paarl
Royals (SA20).
Michel Barnier is new French Prime Minister
➢ President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the new prime minister
➢ Barnier takes over from the outgoing PM Gabriel Attal, who continued to serve even
as the caretaker prime minister post the election results.
❑ Capital: Paris Currency: Euro
Senior IAS officer Manish Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new chief secretary of
Arunachal Pradesh
➢ Senior IAS officer Manish Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new chief secretary of
Arunachal Pradesh
➢ The Union Home Affairs Ministry issued a notification appointing Mr. Gupta, a 1991
batch IAS officer, as the new chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect,
replacing incumbent chief secretary Dharmendra, who has been transferred to the national capital.
India’s Table Tennis Icon Sharath Kamal Named ITTF Foundation Ambassador
➢ During the 11th day of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season five at the Jawaharlal Nehru
Indoor Stadium.
➢ Sharath Kamal, India’s ace paddler, was named the first Indian ambassador of the International
Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Foundation.
Sharath Kamal
❑ Five-time Olympian
❑ Male flag-bearer for India at the recent Paris Olympics
CDSL Secures SEBI Approval for Nehal Vora’s Appointment as MD & CEO

➢ Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) has announced a crucial step in its leadership
transition.

77
➢ The company has received the green light from the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) for the appointment of Nehal Vora as its Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer (MD & CEO).
➢ He has been serving as the MD & CEO since September 24, 2019. This reappointment,
therefore, represents a vote of confidence in his leadership and the strategic direction he has set for
the company over the past five years.
Arun Goel Appointed as India’s Ambassador to Croatia
➢ Arun Goel has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Croatia, succeeding Raj Kumar
Srivastava.
➢ The Ministry of External Affairs announced his new role on September 7, 2024. Goel,
a retired 1985-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, previously served as the
Election Commissioner of India from November 21, 2022, to March 9, 2024.
Tuhin Kanta Pandey Appointed as New Finance Secretary
➢ The Indian government has appointed Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer from the
Odisha cadre, as the new Finance Secretary.
➢ An officer of 1987 batch Odisha Cadre, Mr Pandey is currently serving in Finance
Ministry as Secretary in charge of two key domains, the Departments of Public
Enterprises (DPE), and Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM).
Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected as Algerian President for 5 year term
➢ Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected president with 94.7 percent vote
➢ Tebboune was elected for a second five-year term.
➢ President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was first elected as the President of Algeria in
2019, which was boycotted by the opposition.
❑ About Algerian: Capital: Algiers Currency: Algerian Dinar
❑ President : Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Amit Shah Re-Elected as Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Official Language
➢ Home Minister Amit Shah has been unanimously re-elected as Chairperson of the
Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.
➢ He stated that the goal is for all government systems to operate in Indian languages
by 2047.
➢ The Department of Official Language is developing software for automatic translation
of all Eighth Schedule languages.
➢ The committee was reconstituted in a meeting held today in New Delhi following the formation of
the new government. Shah previously chaired the committee from 2019 to 2024.
Randhir Singh becomes first Indian to head Olympic Council of Asia

Randhir Singh has become the first Indian to be elected as the president of the Olympic Council of
Asia.

78
➢ At the 44th General Assembly of the OCA, Randhir Singh was the sole eligible candidate for the
president's role and was unanimously elected.
➢ His term as president will span from 2024 to 2028.
➢ Previously acting president of the OCA since 2021; succeeded Sheikh Ahmad Al-
Fahad Al-Sabah.
➢ Randhir Singh is a veteran sports administrator with extensive experience in Indian and Asian
sports organizations.
Subrata Mondal appointed as new MD & CEO of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance
➢ Subrata Mondal has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company Limited, effective September 9, 2024.
➢ He replaced H O Suri, who has been serving as the MD & CEO of ITGI since October 2021
➢ He has been with the company since 2001 and brings over 36 years of experience
in the insurance industry to his new role.
➢ IFFCO Tokio is a joint venture between Indian Farmers Fertilisers Co-operative
(IFFCO) and Tokio Marine Group, with a 51:49 ownership split.
RS Sharma appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of ONDC
➢ The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) announced the appointment of RS Sharma as
the non-executive chairperson of ONDC.
➢ The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Sharma led many digital initiatives,
including as the Director General and Mission Director of UIDAI, as the Chairman
of TRAI, and as the CEO of the National Health Authority, and as the Chief Secretary
for the Government of Jharkhand. He has also been a member of the ONDC Advisory Council and
the ONDC Technology and Strategy Review Council.
R. Ravindra appointed as India's next Ambassador to Iceland
➢ The Ministry of External Affairs has recently mandated senior IFS officer Mr. R Ravindra to
take charge as India’s next Ambassador to Iceland.
➢ Mr. Ravindra, a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as
India’s Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations and is expected to
take up the new assignment shortly.
➢ Diplomat R Ravindra joined India’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations (UN) in
New York in September 2020. Before that, he was posted as Joint Secretary (Central and West
Africa) in the MEA in New Delhi.
Swati Vijay Kulkarni appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Algeria
➢ Dr. Swati Vijay Kulkarni , presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the
next Ambassador of India to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
➢ She is presently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
➢ She is an Indian foreign service officer officer of the 1995 batch.
About Algeria:
❑ Capital – Algiers Currency – Algerian dinar
❑ President- Abdelmadjid Tebboune

79
Jafar Hassan appointed as new PM of Jordan
➢ Jordan's King Abdullah II has appointed Jafar Hassan as the kingdom's new
prime minister following a parliamentary election.
➢ Jafar Hassan, now head of King Abdullah's office and a former planning minister,
replaces outgoing PM Bisher Khasawneh
About Jordan:
❑ Capital City: Amman Currency : Jordanian Dinar
Senior IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad appointed as the Director General of Sashastra
Seema Bal (SSB)
➢ He is a 1989 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Odisha cadre and is presently working
as Special Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
➢ The vacancy necessitated after SSB chief Daljit Singh Chaudhary was appointed
as the DG of Border Security Force (BSF) on August 28,
➢ The SSB guards the country’s frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan.
➢ The Directorate General of SSB, is located in New Delhi, India
Atishi becomes Arvind Kejriwal's successor, to take oath as Delhi CM
➢ Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tendered his resignation to Lieutenant
Governor V K Saxena on 17 September 2024.
➢ Atishi , who replaces Kejriwal as the new Delhi CM, is the third woman and
youngest to occupy the position.
➢ Sheila Dikshit was Delhi's longest serving CM, who held the office for 15 years from 1998 to 2013,
while Sushma Swaraj's tenure lasted 52 days in 1998.
Manu Bhaker appointed brand ambassador for Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
➢ Double Olympic medal winner Manu Bhaker was appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
➢ The appointment of Manu Bhaker as the Brand Ambassador of the Ministry of
Ports, Shipping & Waterways was announced by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
➢ The shooting ace, Bhaker , who won bronze medals in shooting in the recent Summer Olympics
held at Paris.
Amazon India appoints Samir Kumar as new country manager
➢ Amazon has announced that Samir Kumar, a 25 year veteran of the company, will assume the
role of head of its India consumer business.
➢ Kumar will take over the new role starting October
➢ This leadership change follows the resignation of Manish Tiwary , who had led
Amazon India for over eight
➢ Kumar’s new role will complement his current responsibilities of overseeing Amazon’s consumer
businesses in West Asia, South Africa, and Türkiye

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IPS officer Anurag Garg takes over as new NCB Director General
➢ Anurag Garg, an IPS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as the new director general of
the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
➢ Garg is currently working as an Additional DG in the Border Security Force (BSF)
➢ The post of NCB head is currently being held in an additional capacity by CRPF DG
Anish Dayal Singh following the retirement of incumbent S N Pradhan in August.
IDFC First Bank re appoints V. Vaidyanathan as MD & CEO
➢ IDFC First Bank has announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for the
re appointment of V. Vaidyanathan as the managing director and chief executive officer (MD &
CEO) of the bank.
➢ The re appointment will be effective from 19 December 2024 and it will extend
for a period of three years, concluding on 18 December 2027.
About: IDFC First Bank:
❑ Founded : October 2015 Headquarters : Mumbai
Shashi Tharoor To Head Standing Committee on External Affairs
➢ Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will head the Standing Committee on External Affairs.
➢ Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will lead the Parliamentary
panel on Agriculture.
➢ Two time Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka will head the panel on Rural
Development.
➢ Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh will head the Standing Committee on Education.
➢ The Congress party proposed its leadership selections for the four parliamentary panels it is
entitled to head.
Ponting appointed Punjab Kings head coach
➢ Australian great Ricky Ponting was appointed head coach of Punjab Kings, replacing
compatriot Trevor Bayliss in the under performing IPL franchise
➢ Ricky Ponting has been named the Head Coach of Punjab Kings for the 2025 season and beyond.
➢ He Coached Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, leading them to one
championship and four playoff appearances.
➢ He Guided Washington Freedom to a title in the 2024 MLC season.
➢ Head of Strategy for Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL since 2021.
Shriram Finance Welcomes Cricket Legend Rahul Dravid as Brand Ambassador
➢ Shriram Finance Ltd., the flagship company of the Shriram Group, announced the onboarding of
former Captain and Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Rahul Dravid, as their Brand
Ambassador.
➢ This partnership unites two iconic entities renowned for their trust and reliability.
➢ YS Chakravarti, Managing Director and CEO, Shriram Finance.

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Anura Kumar Dissanayake sworn in as ninth President of Sri Lanka
➢ Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected as Sri Lanka's ninth President.
➢ Received 5.74 million votes; Sajith Premadasa received 4.53 million votes.
➢ Leads the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party.
➢ Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned after the election.
ABOUT Sri Lanka:
❑ Capitals: Colombo Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
Golden Bullet Appointed Manu Bhaker as Brand Ambassador
➢ Golden Bullet Appointed Manu Bhaker as Brand Ambassador.
➢ Since 1963, Industrial Tools Corporation, the creator of Golden Bullet, has been
a key player in power tools, hand tools, and accessories.
➢ Also, Manu Bhaker appointed brand ambassador for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Roombr Digital Classroom; onboards Rahul Dravid as Brand Ambassador
➢ Roombr announced Rahul Dravid as Roombr Digital Classroom’s brand ambassador.
➢ Roombr, a Bangalore-based bootstrapped Class Tech startup, has launched Roombr Digital
Classroom, a patented digital classroom solution.
➢ It is developed in collaboration with Intel and Texas Instruments.
➢ Aims to transform the learning environment nationwide, with an ambitious goal
of reaching 1 million classrooms by 2026.
➢ Also, Shriram Finance, the flagship company of the Shriram Group, announced Rahul Dravid, as its
brand ambassador
Air Marshal AP Singh appointed as next IAF chief
➢ Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force
(IAF). He is a fighter pilot and is presently the Vice Chief of the IAF.
➢ During his flying career, he was also tasked with test-flying the indigenous Tejas fighter jet.
➢ He is scheduled to take over on September 30, when the present incumbent Air Chief
Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari superannuates.
➢ Incidentally, Air Marshal Singh is fourth officer from the Sikh community to lead the IAF.
➢ In the past, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh
and Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa have been from Sikh Community.
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong Appointed as First Director of Global Climate 'Loss and Damage'
Fund
➢ Ibrahima Cheikh Diong has been appointed as the first director of the Fund for Responding to
Loss and Damage, aimed at assisting countries affected by climate-driven disasters.
➢ The fund, created in 2022 and now based in the Philippines, has $800m pledged
from the COP28 climate summit for disbursement to affected countries.
➢ The fund addresses contentious issues in U.N. climate talks, specifically providing
support for catastrophic losses due to climate impacts, while navigating concerns
from wealthier nations about potential compensation for emissions.

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Harini Amarasuriya sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
➢ The 54-year-old National People's Power (NPP) leader was sworn in by newly elected President
Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 24 September 2024.
➢ She became the first woman leader to hold the post of PM since Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 2000.
➢ Notably Dr. Amarasuriya is the third woman Prime Minister of the island after Sirimavo
Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga.
❑ Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
❑ President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake
❑ Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
Kumar Tuhin appointed as next Ambassador of India to Netherlands
➢ Kumar Tuhin, presently Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, has been
appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
➢ He is a 1991 batch IFS officer.
➢ Since December 2021, Tuhin has been leading the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
He was the Ambassador to Hungary from November 2018 to November 2021 and the High
Commissioner to Namibia between June 2015 and October 2018.
❑ Capital: Amsterdam
❑ Currency: The euro
❑ Prime Minister: Dick Schoof
KVS Manian takes charge as MD & CEO of Federal Bank
➢ KVS Manian has taken over as the new Managing Director & CEO of Federal bank effective
September 23, 2024.
➢ He succeeded Shyam Srinivasan, who retired after successfully leading the bank since 2010.
➢ Federal Bank Limited is a major Indian commercial bank in the private sector
headquartered at Aluva Kerala.
➢ Tagline of Federal Bank: Your Perfect Banking Partner.
Federal Bank:
❑ Headquarters: Aluva Founded: 23 April 1931
Alok Ranjan Appointed NCRB Chief
➢ Alok Ranjan, a 1991-batch IPS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as
the Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
➢ His tenure will last until his retirement on June 30, 2026.
➢ Ranjan replaces his batchmate Vivek Gogia, who has been repatriated to the
AGMUT cadre.
➢ Also, Amit Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, will serve as Director of
the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad.
➢ Garg’s tenure extends up to his superannuation on October 31, 2027.
Kalikesh Singh Deo Elected National Rifle Association of India president
➢ Kalikesh, a former MP from Odisha, was taking care of NRAI as senior vice-president after the

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 resignation of Raninder Singh last year
➢ Last year, the Sports Ministry had issued a directive that heads of national sports federations
(NSFs) cannot hold office for more than 12 years
➢ National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was founded in 1951 with a view to
promote and popularize the shooting sports in India.
➢ 1st President of National Rifle Association of India – G V Mavlankar
➢ 1st Secretary General of National Rifle Association of India – K G Prabhu
Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik Appointed New ISI Chief
➢ Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the new Director General of Pakistan’s
spy agency – Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
➢ Lt Gen Malik, currently serving as an adjutant general at the General Headquarters
in Rawalpindi, will assume his new role on September 30, replacing the current
DG Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum.
➢ Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was appointed as the DG ISI in 2021 by former prime minister Imran
Khan.
Justice Suresh Kumar Kait Becomes New ChiefJustice of MP High Court
➢ Justice Suresh Kumar Kait was sworn in as the 28th Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High
Court, with Governor Mangubhai Patel administering the oath. The ceremony took place at the
Sandipani Auditorium, Raj Bhavan, in Bhopal.
➢ Before his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court by President
Draoupadi Murmu, Justice Suresh Kumar Kait was a judge of the Delhi High Court.
➢ He replaced the acting Chief Justice, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.
➢ Justice Kait hails from the Kaithal district in Haryana.
➢ He has served as a judge since April 12, 2013. Prior to this appointment, he served in
the Delhi High Court from October 12, 2018, and in the Telangana High Court from April 12, 2016,
to October 11, 2018
Shigeru Ishiba Set to Become Japan’s Next Prime Minister
➢ Shigeru Ishiba, former defence minister, is poised to become Japan’s next prime minister after
winning the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership vote.
➢ Ishiba will succeed Fumio Kishida, who stepped down following scandals that
damaged his tenure.
➢ With the LDP holding a majority in the lower house, Ishiba’s path to the role is
effectively secured.
➢ He edged out economic security minister Sanae Takaichi by a narrow margin of 21 votes in the
leadership race.
❑ Capital: Tokyo Currency: Japanese Yen

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 SURVEYS
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh top ease of doing business reformers’ ranking
➢ Kerala, followed by Andhra Pradesh, were ranked as the top performers by
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the Business Reforms Action
Plan (BRAP).
e Kerala was the top performer, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.
➢ Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Puducherry were ranked
the worst performers, the ranking showed.
India overtakes China in MSCI's Emerging Markets Investable Market Index
➢ Morgan Stanley reported that India has now surpassed China to become the
largest weighting in the MSCI Emerging Market Investable Market Index (EMIMI)
where India’s weightage was 22.27 per cent as compared to 21.58 per cent of China.
➢ Key factors contributing to this positive trend include a 47 per cent increase in
foreign direct investment (FDI) in the early part of 2024, decreasing Brent crude
prices, and substantial foreign portfolio investment (FPI) in Indian debt markets.
➢ According to analysts' estimates post this rejig in the index, Indian Equities could witness inflows
of about 4 to 4.5 billion dollars.
Switzerland Is No. 1 in the World: According to 2024 Best Countries Report
➢ Switzerland has placed first in the Best Countries Ranking 2024 for the third year in a row,
while India ranks at 33, three spots below last year.
➢ The Best Countries Ranking 2024 Published by US News & World Report.
➢ The survey ranks 89 countries on the basis of their global perception using
10 differentially weighted sub-rankings such as adventure, agility, heritage,
entrepreneurship, quality of life, cultural purpose and more.
Top 5 rankings:
1. Switzerland
2. Japan
3. United States of America
4. Canada
5. Australia
India emerges as second-largest global 5G smartphone market, overtakes US
➢ According to a new report from Counterpoint Research, India has emerged
as the world’s second-largest market for 5G smartphones, trailing only
behind China.
➢ Brands like Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, especially in the budget segment,
have been key to this growth.

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➢ China maintains the leading position with a 32 per cent share of the global 5G smartphone market,
while India holds 13 per cent. The US has fallen to third place with a 10 per cent market share.
➢ Globally, Apple leads in 5G handset shipments with over 25 per cent of the market.
India emerges as the largest plastic polluter globally
➢ India is the largest contributor to plastic waste globally, generating
9.3 million tons annually, significantly more than other populous countries.
➢ Ineffective waste management is a major issue, with nearly two thirds of
plastic pollution originating from uncollected and poorly disposed waste
due to inadequate waste collection services.
1) India: 9.3 million metric tonnes annually.
2) Nigeria: 3.5 million metric tonnes annually.
3) Indonesia: 3.4 million metric tonnes annually.
4) China: 2.8 million metric tonnes annually.
5) Russia: ranked fifth in terms of absolute plastic emissions.
Adani Group honoured in TIME's World's Best Companies of 2024
➢ The Adani Group has been featured in TIME magazine’s prestigious ‘World’s Best Companies of
2024’ list.
➢ The list was prepared in collaboration with Statista, a global industry ranking
and statistics portal.
➢ The ‘World’s Best Companies 2024’ list, is based on a rigorous analysis across
three key dimensions
employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability (ESG).
1) Employee Satisfaction: Surveys conducted in over 50 countries with around 170,000 participants
assessed companies based on direct and indirect recommendations, work conditions, salary,
equality, and overall company image.
2) Revenue Growth: Companies with revenues exceeding US$100 million in 2023 and demonstrated
growth from 2021 to 2023 were evaluated.
3) Sustainability (ESG): Companies were assessed based on standardized ESG KPIs from Statista’s
ESG Database and targeted research.
➢ Notably , eight out of eleven listed Adani portfolio companies were considered in this evaluation,
reflecting a comprehensive performance across the group. The other three listed companies are
subsidiaries of these eight companies.
India jumps to Tier 1 in Global Cybersecurity Index 2024
➢ Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 released by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU).
➢ The ‘ GCI 2024' used a new five-tier analysis, a shift that allows a greater focus
on each country's advances with cybersecurity commitments.
➢ The report placed 46 countries in Tier 1, the highest of the five tiers, reserved
for "role modelling“ countries that demonstrate a strong commitment in all five
cybersecurity pillars.

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JSW MG Motor ranks highest in dealer satisfaction, says Fada survey
➢ Scoring well on factors like marketing, product and after sales, JSW MG Motor
has topped the dealer satisfaction survey (DSS) 2024, followed by
Mahindra & Mahindra and Hyundai.
➢ The survey was conducted by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations
(FADA). Hyundai, which was the topper last year, dropped to the third place
this year.
➢ Six major factors such as marketing, product, sales and order planning, after
sales, training, as well as business viability and policy were analysed in the
survey to churn out these rankings.
HCLTech tops TIME's World's Best Companies 2024 list among Indian firms
➢ Indian IT firm HCLTech has been named the no.1 India headquartered company in
TIME magazine's World's Best Companies 2024 list.
➢ Also secured a place in the global top 10 list within the Professional Services
category.
➢ The companies are identified on the parameters of employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and
sustainability.
➢ The list consists of 1000 companies among which 22 this year are Indian-born.
➢ The highest-ranking company among the top 15 Indian firms to be listed was HCLTech at 112,
followed by Infosys and Wipro at 119 and 134, respectively. While the Adani group ranked at 736,
Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries ranked higher at 646 on TIME magazine's list.
TCS ranked the most valuable brand in Kantar’s BrandZ report
➢ Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was ranked the most valuable brand for the
third year in a row with a brand value of $49.7 billion, according to the latest
Kantar BrandZ report.
➢ HDFC Bank ($38.3 billion), Airtel ($29.9 billion), Infosys ($25.3 billion) and State Bank of India ($18
billion) were ranked among the top five in the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands Report
2024.
➢ ICICI Bank, Jio, Asian Paints, HCL Tech and LIC also featured in the top ten rankings.
India becomes 3rd largest power in Asia power index, surpasses Japan
➢ India is the most powerful nation in Asia after the United States and China,
according to
Australian think tank Lowy Institute.
➢ In the 2024 edition of Lowy’s ‘Asia Power Index’ (API), India overtook Japan
to arrive at the third position in Asia with a score of 39.1 out of 100.
➢ The API has ranked Australia as the fifth most powerful nation in Asia.
➢ Even as India’s ranking has increased, the overall power score in the API has decreased during
2018-23.

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➢ The report notes that while India’s diplomatic score has increased, economic links in the region
remains weak.
The QS Global MBA and Business Master’s Rankings 2025
➢ Three Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad have
figured in world’s top 100 for their MBA courses, according to QS rankings.
➢ The three IIMs are IIM Bangalore (48), IIM Ahmedabad(53) and IIM Calcutta(59).
➢ Also, the three B-schools have been ranked among top 50 for employability.
➢ 14 Indian full-time MBA programmes have secured a spot in QS’ global list for
2025, including three new entries.
➢ Stanford School of Business in the US continues to be at the top spot among B-schools for the fifth
consecutive year.
➢ The QS Global MBA and Business Master’s Rankings 2025 spans 58 countries and territories,
analysing the world’s 340 best global MBAs.
India climbs to 39th rank in the Global Innovation Index 2024
➢ India has ranked 39th out of 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index
(GII) 2024, according to a report by the Geneva-based World Intellectual
Property Organization.
➢ This marks an improvement from last year, when the country was ranked 40th.
➢ The improvement in the GII ranking is attributed to India’s knowledge capital, a dynamic start-up
ecosystem, and the remarkable contributions of both public and private research organizations.
➢ According to WIPO's Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, the world’s most innovative economies
include Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile,
China, Türkiye, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the fastest climbers over the past decade.

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 BANKING & ECONOMY
Coal Production till August in FY 2024 25 Reaches 384 MT
➢ The Ministry of Coal has achieved significant growth in overall coal production,
reaching 384.08 million tonnes up to August 2024 in FY 2024-25, compared to
360.71 MT during the same period in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 6.48%.
➢ The production of Coal India Limited (CIL) rose to 290.39 MT during the period
of April to August 2024 marking a growth of 3.17% as compared to 281.46 MT during the
corresponding period of last period.
➢ Coal production from captive and other entities also demonstrated remarkable growth, reaching
68.99 MT from April to August 2024—a substantial increase of 30.56% compared to 52.84
MT in the same period of the previous year.
World Bank raises India's growth forecast to 7% for FY25
➢ The World Bank projects India's growth rate to stay strong at 7% for 2024-25,
as noted in the India Development Update.
➢ The revised estimate exceeds the bank's June projection of 6.6%.
➢ The report highlights that while the economy remains resilient, achieving
the ambitious goal of $1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 will require strategic
diversification and deeper integration into global value chains.
About World Bank:
❖ Established: in 1944
❖ Headquaters: Washington, D.C., United States
❖ President: Ajay Banga
Mastercard Launches Payment Passkey Service in India
➢ Mastercard has globally debuted its Payment Passkey Service in India, aiming
to enhance online shopping security and convenience.
➢ Unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, this service, initially piloted
with Indian payment leaders like Juspay, Razorpay, and PayU.
➢ Along with banks such as Axis Bank, leverages biometric authentication— replacing traditional
passwords and OTPs with more secure fingerprint or facial recognition methods.
➢ The service addresses the sharp 300% increase in online fraud cases in India over the past two
years by offering a frictionless, tokenized payment process, ensuring that payment details remain
secure.
RIL Becomes India’s First Company to Surpass Rs 10 Lakh Crore in Annual Revenue
➢ Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) became the first Indian company to
surpass ₹10 lakh crore in annual revenue for FY 2023-24.
➢ For the financial year 2023-24, Reliance achieved a record consolidated
turnover of ₹10,00,122 crore USD 119.9 billion), with a net profit of ₹79,020 crore (USD 9.5 billion).

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➢ RIL’s exports reached ₹2,99,832 crore (USD 35.9 billion), representing 8.2% of India’s total
merchandise exports.
EPS pensioners to get pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere in India from
January 1, 2025
➢ The proposal for a Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the
Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 has been approved by the Union
Minister of Labour and Employment and the Chairperson of the EPF’s
Central Board of Trustees.
➢ This system will enable EPS pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank, branch, or location
in India starting from January 1, 2025.
What is Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS)?
➢ The CPPS represents a significant shift by providing a national-level centralized system that allows
pension payout through any bank or branch in India.
Who will it benefit?
➢ The Centralized Pension Payment System is estimated to benefit over 78 lakh EPFO EPS pensioners.
By leveraging advanced IT and financial technology, pensioners will have a more efficient, seamless,
and user-friendly experience. For retirees who relocate to their hometown after retirement, this
would be a huge relief.
Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund launches Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Index Fund
➢ Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund (MOMF) has launched its new fund offer (NFO), the Motilal Oswal
Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Index Fund.
➢ This open-ended index fund aims to capture the performance of high-momentum s
tocks within the Nifty 500 index.
➢ This would be India’s first 500 Momentum 50 Index fund.
➢ The new fund by MOAMC will track the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Total Return Index.
➢ The fund will offer exposure to stocks that are in the highest momentum across the large, mid, and small-
cap segments of the Nifty 500 index.
CapitaLand to double India investments, targeting $14.8 billion by 2028
➢ Singapore-based real estate conglomerate CapitaLand Investment (CLI)
has announced plans to double its investments in the country to over
$14.8 billion by 2028.
➢ The announcement was shared by Singapore's envoy to India, Simon Wong,
on the social media platform X, garnering attention and praise for the move.
➢ CapitaLand, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of operations in India, is positioning itself to
tap into India's projected growth trajectory.
➢ The company's Group CEO, Lee Chee Koon, highlighted the significance of India as a strategic
market.

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Confident of crossing $10 bn export target for technical textiles by 2030
➢ Confident that India’s technical textile industry will cross the target of
$10 bn set for 2030. This was stated by Union Minister of Textiles,
Shri Giriraj Singh during the inauguration of the international conference-
cum-exhibition titled ‘Viksit Bharat- Technical Textiles for Sustainable
Growth & Development’ in New Delhi.
➢ The Union Minister emphasized the increasing consumption and importance of man-made fibres
and technical textiles in all spaces of life, at both a global and domestic level.
➢ Shri Singh also launched the Compendium of the National Technical Textiles Mission and also
awarded confirmation certificates to 11 approved Start-Ups under NTTM.
RBI imposes penalties on Housing and Urban Development Corporation, 2 others
➢ The Reserve Bank has imposed penalties on three entities, including
Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd, for non-compliance
with certain provisions of directions on 'non-banking financial company –
housing finance company’.
➢ A penalty of Rs 3.5 lakh has been imposed on Housing and Urban Development Corporation
Limited.
➢ RBI said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Godrej Housing.
➢ The Reserve Bank of India has also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Aadhar Housing
Finance Ltd.
➢ This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of
Section 52A of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.
About National Housing Bank (NHB):
❖ Established: 9 July 1988 Headquarters: New Delhi
Forex reserves jump $2.3 billion to fresh record of $683.9 billion
➢ India's forex reserves jumped by $2.299 billion to a new high of
$683.987 billion for the week ended on August 30, according to the
RBI data released.
➢ In the previous reporting week, the forex reserves had jumped by
$7.023 billion to a high of $681.688 billion.
➢ Foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by
$1.485 billion to $599.037 billion.
Kotak General Insurance rebrands As Zurich Kotak General Insurance
➢ Kotak General Insurance has rebranded itself as Zurich Kotak General
Insurance after Zurich Insurance Group acquired a 70% stake in the company.
➢ Zurich Insurance Group’s purchase of a 70% stake in Kotak General Insurance, valued at
approximately US$670 million, underscores the growing attractiveness of India’s insurance
market to global players.

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Education loans to remain among fastest growing segments for NBFCs: Crisil
➢ Education loans, primarily those to fund courses overseas, will continue to be among the fastest
growing segments for non-banking financial companies
(NBFCs) because of rising demand for higher education, said Crisil Ratings.
➢ Their assets under management (AUM) is expected to grow at a healthy clip
of 40-45 per cent to cross Rs 60,000 crore this fiscal, as per the rating agency.
➢ The assets under management (AUM) is the market value of the investments managed by the
entities.
➢ After robust growth of over 80 per cent and 70 per cent in fiscals 2023 and 2024, respectively,
NBFCs' education loan assets under management (AUM) rose to Rs 43,000 crore as on March 31,
2024.
NIIF gets CCI's approval to acquire additional stake in Ather Energy
➢ The Competition Commission of India has approved the National Investment
and Infrastructure Fund's (NIIF) proposal to acquire an additional stake in
Ather Energy.
➢ The acquirer (India-Japan Fund) proposes to acquire certain Series G
Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Ather," the egulator said in an order.
➢ India-Japan Fund (IJF) is a fund managed by NIIF. The fund focuses on investing in environmental
sustainability, and low-carbon emission strategies and promoting investments by Japanese
companies in India.
➢ The transaction will help IJF further its goals by creating value for the broader market for electric
two-wheelers, clean mobility transport solutions, and technology-led last-mile transport vehicles.
Canara Bank issues $300 million in 5-year bonds through IFSC banking unit
➢ Canara Bank, a public-sector institution, announced that it has successfully priced $300 million in
5-year bonds.
➢ These bonds were issued under its USD 3 billion Medium-Term Note (MTN)
through its IFSC Banking Unit.
➢ The 5-year bond is priced at T+125 basis points, with a semi-annual coupon
rate of 4.896 per cent and a maturity date of September 11, 2029.
➢ The proceeds from the bonds will be used by the issuer’s IFSC/GIFT banking unit for general
corporate purposes.
SBI Foundation’s Asha Scholarship Program
➢ SBI Foundation has launched the 3rd edition of its flagship Asha Scholarship
Program, through which 10,000 meritorious students from underprivileged
backgrounds nationwide will receive financial support.
➢ Students from Class 6 to the postgraduate level can avail of scholarships ranging from ₹15,000 to
₹20,00,000.
➢ Additionally, students belonging to the SC and ST categories intending to move outside the country
for higher studies can avail the benefits of the ‘Study Abroad’ scheme.

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RBL Bank launches fuel credit card with IOCL
➢ RBL Bank has launched the 'Xtra Credit Card' in partnership with Indian Oil
Corporation, offering customers up to 8.5% savings on fuel purchases.
➢ The bank expects a moderate growth of 12-15% in its credit card portfolio this
fiscal year. The card will be issued via the Mastercard network and offers
significant fuel points for every ₹100 spent.
Star Health Insurance launches India's first insurance policy in Braille
➢ Star Health Insurance has introduced the 'Special Care Gold' policy in Braille
to provide tailored coverage for individuals with 40% or more disability,
including physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, ensuring they can
independently manage their health and finances.
➢ The company also launched a diversity and financial inclusivity initiative,
aiming to empower the 34 million visually impaired individuals in India by offering training and job
opportunities to become health insurance agents, in collaboration with the National Association of
the Blind.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on Axis Bank and HDFC Bank
➢ Axis Bank fined ₹1.91 crore for issues with interest rates, KYC, and collateral-
free agricultural loans.
➢ HDFC Bank fined ₹1 crore for exceeding promotional gift limits and KYC
violations.
➢ Axis Bank had problems with incorrect customer IDs, ineligible accounts, and improper collateral in
agricultural loans.
➢ HDFC Bank's issues included offering excessive insurance premiums and failing to adhere to
customer contact time restrictions.
➢ RBI emphasized that penalties are for regulatory non compliance, not the validity of transactions.
Axis Bank: HDFC BANK:
❖ Tag Line: BadhtiKa Naam Zindagi Tagline of the Bank: We Understand Your World
❖ MD and CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary MD & CEO of the Bank :SashidharJagdishan
❖ Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra Headquarters: Mumbai
Union Bank of India becomes 1st major bank to become signatory of PCAF
➢ Union Bank of India has become the first major bank to sign the Partnership
for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF).
➢ PCAF is a global initiative that standardizes the assessment and disclosure of
greenhouse gas emissions associated with loans and investments.
➢ This move aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s draft guidelines, which mandate stricter climate
risk reporting for banks.
➢ The RBI’s draft guidelines, issued in February 2024, require banks to disclose information on
governance, strategy, risk management, and climate-related metrics and targets.

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Union Bank of India:
❖ HQ: Mumbai Tagline: Good People to Bank With
❖ MD & CEO: Ms. A. Manimekhalai
ONDC launches Saarthi App to help businesses build multilingual buyer platforms
➢ The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has announced the launch of 'Saarthi', a
reference application which has been designed to assist businesses in
creating customised multilingual buyer apps.
➢ Co-developed with Bhashini, an AI-driven language translation tool.
➢ The Saarthi app will offer advanced multilingual features for a more
inclusive digital commerce experience to ONDC participants.
➢ The application initially supports 5 languages- Hindi, English, Marathi, Bangla, Tamil, it plans to
scale up to all 22 languages provided by Bhashini.
➢ MD and CEO of ONDC MD & CEO: T Koshy
➢ Digital India Bhashini Division CEO: Amitabh Nag
DICGC introduces ‘Daava Soochak’ for depositors to track claim status
➢ The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) has
introduced an online tool, ‘Daava Soochak’, to help depositors track the status
of their claims.
➢ The tool allows depositors of failed banks to monitor their claim progress by entering their
registered mobile numbers on the DICGC website.
➢ Initially, it will cover banks under All-Inclusive Directions (AID) from April 1, 2024, onwards.
➢ DICGC, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ensures reimbursement of insured deposits
up to Rs 5 lakh per depositor. Currently, 97.8% of all deposit accounts in India are fully protected
under this scheme.
➢ In 2023-24, the DICGC settled claims amounting to Rs 1,432 crore for liquidated banks and those
under AID, while recovering Rs 900.73 crore, mostly from liquidated and transferee banks.
➢ As of March 2024, 1,997 banks are registered with DICGC for deposit insurance, including 140
commercial banks and 1,857 cooperative banks.
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 Unified payments Interface (UPI), allowing people to transfer
Rs 5lakh in a single transaction.
➢ The enhancement of the limit for tax payments through UPI from Rs 1 lakh to
Rs 5 lakh per transaction.
➢ Acquiring entities must ensure that the classification of their merchants within MCC 9311 strictly
adheres to the tax payments only.
➢ The RBI’s draft guidelines, issued in February 2024, require banks to disclose information on
governance, strategy, risk management, and climate-related metrics and targets.

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➢ Merchants shall ensure UPI as a payment mode is enabled for the increased limit for the tax
payments category.
➢ 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.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on three non banking
financial companies(NBFCs)
➢ The RBI notifications highlighted that these penalties, issued between September 3
and September 11, 2024, were levied on Hewlett Packard Financial Services
(India) Private Limited, SMFG India Credit Company Limited, and Muthoot
Vehicle & Asset Finance Limited.
➢ RBI imposed a penalty of ₹10,40,000 on Hewlett Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited.
➢ The penalty was levied due to non compliance with the 'Know Your Customer (KYC)' guidelines and
other directives applicable to systemically important non deposit taking NBFCs.
➢ SMFG India Credit Company Limited (formerly known as Fullerton India Credit Company Limited)
was fined ₹23,10,000 for violating RBI's Information Technology (IT) and cybersecurity
➢ Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance Limited was penalized ₹7,90,000 for failing to comply with RBI's
liquidity risk management framework and other relevant guidelines.
India’s forex reserves rise $5.25 billion to new peak of $689.24 billion
➢ India's forex reserves jumped $5.248 billion to a new all time high of $689.235
billion for the week ended September 6.
➢ The overall kitty had jumped by $2.299 billion to a record $683.987 billion for
the previous reporting week.
➢ Gold reserves increased by $129 million to $61.988 billion during the week, the
RBI said.
➢ The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $4 million to $18.472 billion, the apex bank said.
➢ India's reserve position with the IMF was up by $9 million to $4.631 billion in the reporting week.
Banks, FIs to invest Rs 32.5 trillion in renewable energy by 2030
➢ Leading renewable energy (RE) project developers, manufacturing companies,
banks, and financial institutions committed close to $386 billion or around
Rs 32.45 trillion to the development of RE projects by 2030.
➢ This commitment was made at the inaugural ceremony of the 4th RE-Invest Summit hosted by the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
➢ India’s renewable energy capacity addition has grown by 175 percent and renewable energy
generation has grown by 86 percent since 2014.
Axis Bank expands wealth management services across 15 new cities
➢ Axis Bank said its private banking business Burgundy Private will expand its wealth management

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➢ services to 15 new cities, increasing its presence to 42 locations across India.
➢ With this strategic move, Burgundy Private will now offer its bespoke wealth
management services tailored to the unique needs of discerning clients in India’s
rapidly evolving Tier 2 markets.
Emperium targets Rs 775 cr revenue from Yamuna nagar, Gurugram projects
➢ Realty firm Emperium Pvt Ltd will develop a 40-acre township project in Yamunanagar and a
housing project in Gurugram over the next three years with an estimated revenue potential of Rs
775 crore.
➢ Since its inception, Emperium has delivered 1.7 million square feet of
residential spaces, completing 1,320 units in Panipat City alone, with a total
revenue of Rs 341 crore.
➢ It will develop a luxury residential project PREMIO in Gurugram and a 40-acre township project
EMPERIUM RESORTICO in Yamunanagar.
Bank of Baroda launches GenAI-powered Aditi, GyanSahay.AI
➢ Bank of Baroda (BoB) has introduced ‘Aditi’, a GenAI-powered virtual relationship manager, to
enhance the digital customer service experience.
➢ These human-like interface presented in the form of digital avatars, offer
conversational banking across a range of services.
➢ “Available on the bank’s web portal, the capability supports audio, video
and chat-based assistance ensuring 24x7 banking services with multilingual
support. This service is being gradually rolled out to banks existing customers
through an enrollment process available on the bank’s website.”
➢ In addition, BoB has also launched a GenAI-enabled knowledge management platform,
‘GyanSahay.AI’ for its employees.
➢ “Trained in the bank’s product policies and processes, this platform provides employees with
instant and accurate answers, enabling them to seamlessly handle customer queries and access key
operational details more efficiently.
➢ It aids employees to work smarter and faster, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and
service delivery.
About Bank of Baroda:
❑ Headquarters: Alkapuri, Vadodara (Gujarat) Managing Director and CEO: Debadatta Chand
PhonePe tops 50% UPI market share by value in August
➢ Walmart-owned PhonePe clocked in 7.23 billion UPI transactions worth
Rs 10.33 lakh crore during August, which translated to a leading market
share of 48.4% by volume and 50.1% by value, according to the latest data
from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
➢ In July, PhonePe’s market share by volume stood at 48.3% and that by transaction value was at
49.8%.

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➢ Google Pay continues to remain at the second spot with a market share of 37.3% by volume and
36% by value, while Paytm’s market share by volume slipped to 7.2% in August from 7.8% a month
ago. In terms of value, Paytm’s market share came down to 5.5% from 5.9% in July.
➢ Sachin Bansal’s Navi surpassed Amazon Pay in terms of transaction volume, while Y- Combinator-
backed FamPay surpassed ICICI Bank.
➢ As per the latest data, Navi registered 88.71 million UPI transactions, while Amazon Pay recorded
70.72 million.
➢ However, in terms of transaction value, Amazon Pay recorded Rs 7,744 crore, higher than Rs 4.651
crore on Navi.
About PhonePe:
❑ Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Executive Officer: Sameer Nigam
❑ Ritesh Pai as CEO of its International Payments business.
LIC raises stake in Pharma Biocon to 5.02% from 4.98%
➢ Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has increased its stake in pharma firm Biocon to 5.02 per cent.
➢ Earlier, LIC had 4.98 per cent stake in the pharma company.
➢ "Life Insurance Corporation of India has increased its shareholding in equity
shares of Biocon Ltd from 5,98,14,429 to 6,03,14,429 i.e, 4.982 per cent to
5.023 per cent of the paid-up capital.
Swiggy has launched a new initiative "Project Next" for its delivery partners
➢ Online food ordering company Swiggy has launched a new initiative that will
help its delivery partners build a career in sales and also grow Swiggy’s
restaurant network.
➢ Called 'Project Next', it is the latest programme under the "Swiggy Skills"
initiative with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.
➢ By transitioning qualified delivery partners into the role of sales executives, Project Next aims to
enhance restaurant expansion and offer delivery partners a career advancement.
➢ With Project Next, delivery partners will be responsible for onboarding and managing Swiggy’s
growing restaurant network, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
➢ "This unique program helps delivery partners transition from "blue collar" to "white collar"
workers.“
Windfall Tax on Crude Petroleum Slashed to Zero
➢ The Indian government has reduced the windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil to zero.
➢ The windfall tax, also known as Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED), is
adjusted every two weeks based on average oil prices.
➢ The last revision on August 31 had set the windfall tax on crude at Rs 1,850
per tonne, while the SAED on diesel, petrol, and jet fuel exports remained at nil.
➢ The new rates take effect from September 18.
Jana Small Finance Bank launches “Liquid Plus” FD at 6.75% interest rate

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Jana Small Finance Bank has launched a new "Liquid Plus" fixed deposit
offering, providing an interest rate of 6.75% per annum for tenures ranging
from 7 to 180 days.
➢ This rate applies to a minimum deposit of ₹10 lakhs for retail deposits
up to ₹3 crores, and for bulk deposits between ₹3 crores and ₹200 rores per customer.
➢ The initiative aims to cater to customers looking for effective ways to manage surplus funds
through short-term deposits.
About Jana Small Finance Bank:
❑ Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka MD & CEO: Ajay Kanwal
India to become third-largest economy by 2030-31, says S&P Global
➢ India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030-31,
as per S&P Global India. The country is forecast to grow at an annual rate
of 6.7 per cent.
➢ India emerged as the fastest-growing large economy, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth at
the rate of 8.2 per cent in the financial year (FY) 2024, surpassing the government's earlier estimate
of 7.3 per cent.
➢ S&P Global expects India’s real GDP to grow 6.8 per cent in the current fiscal year, moderating from
a high base in fiscal 2023-24.
AU Small Finance Bank ties up with Niva Bupa health insurance co. Ltd
➢ AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) announced its partnership with Niva Bupa Health
Insurance Company (Niva Bupa) to offer health insurance products to AU SFB’s
customers.
➢ Building on Niva Bupa's existing relationship with Fincare Small Finance Bank (now merged with
AU SFB), this collaboration introduces a refreshed business proposition, further enhancing the
bank's customer offerings.
➢ Through this partnership, Niva Bupa's extensive range of retail as well as group health insurance
products, encompassing health, personal accident and critical illness plans across the 2,414
touchpoints in India.
➢ Aimed to enable AU SFB to create affordable and transparent value proposition through technology
and service modules.
➢ Leveraging Niva Bupa's network of 210 physical branches across 22 states and 4 union territories,
along with AU SFB's distribution reach across India, both entities will collaborate to provide
personalized and customer first health insurance solutions.
RBI lifts restrictions on the gold loan business of IIIFL Finance
➢ In a major relief to IIFL Finance Ltd, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
removed restrictions on the company’s gold finance business.
➢ The restrictions, imposed on March 4, 2024.
➢ The RBI's decision is effective immediately and allows the company to resume the sanctioning,

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 disbursal, assignment, securitisation, and sale of gold loans in compliance with all relevant laws and
regulations.
YES BANK and Paisabazaar Launch Feature-rich 'PaisaSave' Cashback Credit Card
➢ Paisabazaar, India's leading online marketplace for consumer credit and free credit score platform,
has partnered with YES BANK, India's sixth largest private sector bank, to
unveil their co-branded credit card - YES BANK Paisabazaar PaisaSave
Credit Card.
➢ It is designed to reward frequent shoppers by offering substantial cashback
on everyday purchases, both online and offline, making it a must-have for the
value-conscious customers.
➢ The card has no joining fee, and the annual fee of INR 499 can be waived off from the second year if
users meet the spending threshold of INR 1.2 lakh per annum in the preceding year, making the
PaisaSave Credit Card highly cost-effective for regular shoppers.
Key features of the PaisaSave Credit Card include:
➢ Cashback of 3% on online purchases across popular platforms including Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart,
Nykaa, Swiggy, Zomato, Tata Cliq, Ajio, among others.
➢ After reaching a monthly cashback limit of INR 5,000 on online transactions, users will continue to
earn 1.5% cashback on further online purchases
➢ Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all offline purchases, including in-store transactions.
➢ Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% at all fuel stations.
Digital payment transaction volume grew to nearly 19,000 in FY 2023-24
➢ The Ministry of Finance reported that digital payment transaction volume reached nearly ₹19,000
crore in FY 2023-24, up from over ₹2,000 crore in FY 2017-18.
➢ The volume of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions increased by over
₹13,000 crore, with UPI transaction value hitting ₹200 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
➢ UPI is currently facilitating live transactions in seven countries: UAE, Singapore,
Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius.
Axis Finance, IDBI Bank & IDBI Trusteeship withdraw their petitions against Zee Sony
merger at NCLAT
➢ Axis Finance, IDBI Bank and IDBI Trusteeship Services have withdrawn
their petitions before the appellate tribunal NCLAT filed against the NCLT
order approving the merger of Zee Entertainment with Sony Pictures
Networks India.
➢ The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) allowed the withdrawal of the petitions
noting that the NCLT earlier this month had already recalled its earlier order of August 10, 2023,
approving the merger of Zee Entertainment with Sony Pictures Networks India
➢ While approving the merger, NCLT in its order had dismissed some applications moved by financial
institutions opposing the move, including IDBI Trusteeship, IDBI Bank, Axis Finance, JC Flowers
Asset Reconstruction Co, and IMAX Corp.

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➢ NCLAT bench comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member Barun Mitra.
About Axis Bank: About HDFC Bank:
❑ Headquarters: Mumbai Headquarters: Mumbai
❑ CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan (27 Oct 2020)
❑ Founded: 3 December 1993, Ahmedabad Founded: August 1994
PayU Unveils Industry First Biometric Authentication Solution for Card Payments
➢ PayU, one of India's leading digital financial services providers, has introduced an industry first
biometric authentication solution for card payments Flash Pay.
➢ Flash Pay leverages advanced device based biometric technology, such as
fingerprint or facial recognition, to authenticate payments swiftly and securely.
With transactions completed in under 10 seconds, customers no longer need to
rely on traditional OTP based authentication.
Bajaj now third most valued finance group
➢ Bajaj Group has emerged as the third-largest financial group
in the country by mcap, behind the HDFC and ICICI groups.
➢ Surpassing the SBI Group.
➢ The high profitability of Bajaj Group's financial arms (Bajaj
FinServ, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Housing Finance) has fueled
its rise.
ADB projects India's growth at 7% for FY24
➢ In its September edition of the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) latest report,
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected India’s economic growth at
7% for the financial year 2024 and 7.2% for FY2025, stating that the country’s economy remains
strong.
➢ Consumer inflation is expected to rise to 4.7% in FY2024 due to higher food prices, despite an
increase in agricultural output.
➢ India’s current account deficit is forecast to be 1.0% of GDP in FY2024 and 1.2% in FY2025, down
from the previous estimate of 1.7% for both years.
➢ This reduction is attributed to improved exports, lower imports, and strong remittance inflows.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
❑ Headquarters of ADB: Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
❑ Members: 68 members President: Masatsugu Asakawa
Bank of Baroda Unveils Co-Branded Travel Debit Card in Collaboration with EaseMyTrip
➢ Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading public sector banks, has partnered with
EaseMyTrip.com, a prominent online travel platform, to launch the Bank of
Baroda EaseMyTrip Co-branded Travel Debit Card.
➢ This is the first co-branded travel debit card introduced by a public sector bank,
tailored specifically for frequent travelers, entertainment lovers, and shopping enthusiasts.

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➢ The card offers an array of exclusive benefits across travel bookings, hotel stays, OTT streaming
platforms, and popular e-commerce sites, ensuring that users enjoy year round savings with no
minimum order value.
➢ From discounts on flights and hotel bookings to complimentary premium memberships, the card is
designed to redefine customer experience.
Bank of Baroda:
❑ Headquarters: Alkapuri, Vadodara, Gujarat Founded: 20 July 1908
❑ MD & CEO: Debadatta Chand
RBI@90 Inter Institution Cricket Tournament
➢ To mark the 90th year of its establishment, Reserve Bank of India hosted
RBI@90 Inter Institutional Cricket Tournament at Jaipur, Rajasthan from
September 21-28, 2024.
➢ Teams with Indian players having experience of playing at International and National level
participated in the tournament. The tournament was played in the twenty over format.
➢ The event commenced with Opening Ceremony and Exhibition Match on September 21, 2024.
Finals of the tournament was played on September 28, 2024 between SPJ Cargo and Bank of Baroda
at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
➢ Bank of Baroda won the toss and scored 157 runs. SPJ Cargo chased the target to win the
tournament.
For Seamless Market Access SEBI Launches FPI Outreach Cell
➢ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched a
dedicated Foreign Portfolio Investor Outreach Cell as part of the Alternative Investment
Fund and Foreign Portfolio Investors Department (AFD).
➢ This cell will focus on direct engagement with Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), and supporting
them in accessing the Indian securities market seamlessly.

SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

India-U.S. defence acceleration ecosystem summit to be held at Stanford University
➢ The third edition of the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem
(INDUS-X) Summit will be held at the Stanford University in California
in september, during which top defence leaderships from the two country.
➢ The INDUS-X summit will bring together top policymakers from Washington
and New Delhi to strengthen advanced technology partnerships in defence innovation.
➢ The Summit will link Indian and American leaders in defence innovation from startups, venture
capital, academia, accelerators, and industry, with opportunities for co-production and investments
in both nations.
➢ INDUS-X was launched in June 2023 to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence
industrial cooperation between Indian and the U.S. governments, businesses,
accelerators/incubators, investors, and academia.

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➢ Themed around “harnessing investment opportunities to enhance cross-border defence
innovation ecosystems”.
Two-Day Maiden Joint Commanders Conference in Lucknow
➢ The first Joint Commanders' Conference (JCC) is set to take place at the
Headquarters Central Command, Lucknow from 04-05 September 2024.
➢ Theme – ‘Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces’.
➢ Inaugurated by - Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
➢ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will speak to the commanders from the Army, the Air Force and the
Navy
➢ It will provide an opportunity for the Commanders to review modernization plans of the Armed
Forces and discuss ways to improve the nation’s defence capability through jointness & enhanced
synergy among the three Services.
Maharashtra CM inaugurates 27th National Conference on e-Governance; ONDC receives
Gold Award
➢ The Government of Maharashtra hosted the 27th Edition of the NCeG in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
➢ The theme - “Viksit Bharat: Secure and Sustainable e-Service Delivery.”
➢ The Conference is Organised every year by the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and respective State Government
hosting the annual event.
➢ The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has been awarded the Gold Award under the
category "Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen-Centric Services" in the
National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) during the 27th National Conference on e-Governance
(NCeG).
➢ The objective of the award is to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-
Governance initiatives and to encourage innovation in successful e-Governance solution.
ASOSAI 16th General Assembly Started in New Delhi
➢ 16th assembly of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
(ASOSAI) held in New Delhi.
➢ President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 16th Assembly of ASOSAI on
September 24, 2024.
➢ The assembly, hosted by the CAG of India, will run from September 24-27, 2024.
➢ A notable aspect of this year’s assembly is the assumption of the ASOSAI chair by the Comptroller
and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, for the term 2024-2027.
RBI organizes conference on Governance in Small Finance Banks in Bengaluru
➢ The Reserve Bank of India had organized a day long conference for the Directors
of Small Finance Banks, SFBs in Bengaluru.
➢ The theme of the conference was ‘Governance in SFBs – Driving Sustainable
Growth and Stability’.

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➢ Delivering the keynote address, RBI Deputy Governor Mr. Swaminathan J. encouraged the Directors
to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating emerging risks
India to hold 2nd edition of International Conference on Green Hydrogen from Sept 11-
13
➢ India will hold the second edition of the International Conference on Green
Hydrogen from 11th to 13th September in New Delhi.
➢ New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi announced this while
addressing the curtain- raiser event.
➢ He highlighted the crucial role of Green Hydrogen in driving India and other developed nations
towards a clean and green energy transition.
➢ He added that the goal of this three-day event is to deepen our understanding of the green
hydrogen landscape and foster connections with global scientific communities and industries.
ICG Participates in the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting
➢ Indian Coast Guard (ICG) participated in the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting
(HACGAM) from September 03 to 04, 2024 at Incheon, South Korea.
➢ On the sidelines of the HACGAM, the 12th annual bilateral meeting between
ICG and the Korea Coast Guard was also held on September 04, 2024, under
the provisions of the MoU signed between the two agencies in March 2006.
➢ The meeting focused on augmenting operational-level interaction and capacity
building in the areas of maritime search & rescue, pollution response and law enforcement.
➢ HACGAM primarily focuses on fostering cooperation between the Coast Guards of the member
Asian states to ensure and promote safe, secure & clean seas in the region.
➢ It is an independent forum with 23-member Coast Guard Agencies and also two associate members
in the form of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against
Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
610th meeting of Central Board of Directors of RBI held in Mumbai
➢ The 610th meeting of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank
of India was held in Mumbai under the Chairmanship of Shri Shakti kanta
Das, Governor.
➢ The Board reviewed the global and domestic economic scenario and outlook, including associated
challenges. The Board also reviewed various areas of operations of the Reserve Bank of India
including the functioning of Local Boards and activities of select Central Office Departments.
Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog inaugurates National Conference on
“Universal Access to Healthcare: Digital Solutions” in New Delhi
➢ A strong primary healthcare system is of high priority to reduce the healthcare
burden in later ages: Dr V K Paul.
➢ “Digital solutions should be within the ambit of rights and inclusivity, must
create an ecosystem of ease of living, and enhance quality of life.”

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➢ Union Government replicating success of CoWIN and Arogya Setu through the Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission: Union Health Secretary.
➢ Digital technologies hold tremendous promise for leapfrogging to achieve the goal of universal
healthcare: Shri Bharat Lal.
➢ The day-long conference, organised by NHRC in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation and
supported by the NITI Aayog and the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, brings together practitioners, government officials, leading experts,
innovators and policy makers in the field of healthcare and digital healthcare technology to explore
the way forward for universal access to affordable and quality healthcare services especially for
people living in rural, remote and hilly areas.
78th Meeting of Network Planning Group under PM GatiShakti evaluates 18 road
projects
➢ The 78th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM
GatiShakti initiative was convened in New Delhi, chaired by Additional
Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Rajeev Singh
Thakur.
➢ The meeting focused on evaluating eighteen crucial road infrastructure
projects proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
➢ These projects, across various states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar, align with the principles of integrated
planning outlined in the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting 2024 Convened in Sochi, Russia
➢ The second and final Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting under
Russian Presidency was held in Sochi, Russia.
➢ The Indian delegation led by Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Labour & Employment participated in the deliberations of
draft Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting declaration which
will be adopted during Labour and Employment Ministers' meeting scheduled to be held on 9-10
September 2024.
➢ The EWG meeting focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration. The deliberations at the
Employment Working Group Meeting began with delegates carrying forward outcomes from the
previous meetings.
➢ The priority areas for the discussions were strategies for life-long learning, vocational guidance,
modernisation of employment services, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, and social
support mechanism.
➢ Apart from representatives of member states i.e Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the
representatives of new member states i.e. UAE, Egypt, Iran and representatives of International
Labour Organization (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA) also made
suggestions on the priority issues.
➢ Indian delegation emphasized the need for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce to meet the
demands of changing world of work.

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Quad Summit to be held in Biden’s hometown on Sept 21 after India, US swap hosting
duties
➢ India and the United States have “swapped” hosting the Quad Summit so as
to allow U.S. President Joseph Biden to hold the Summit with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from his hometown of Delaware, said sources,
confirming that the summit will be held later this month in the United States rather than India.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Addresses 44th General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia
➢ Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya,
addressed the 44th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at Bharat
Mandapam in New Delhi.
➢ Dr. Mandaviya informed the delegates about the various initiatives
undertaken by the Government of India in the last 0 years to promote sports
excellence and foster a strong sporting culture across the country.
➢ He emphasized the pivotal role of Government programs like ‘Khelo India,’ ‘Target Olympic
Podium Scheme (TOPS),’ and ‘Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action
(ASMITA)’ in elevating sports standards nationwide.
➢ Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced India’s bid for the 2030 Youth Olympics.
India to Host 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
➢ India will host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
from September 11 to 12 in New Delhi.
➢ The conference will focus on regional aviation growth and sustainability.
➢ India aims to become a major hub for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, cargo
operations, and strengthen its position as the third-largest domestic aviation market.
➢ Key initiatives include developing new greenfield airports and implementing policies like UDAN to
boost regional air connectivity.
PM Modi to Inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 at India
Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on September 11.
➢ The conference, running from September 11 to 13, is themed “Shaping the
Semiconductor Future.”
➢ It aims to highlight India’s semiconductor strategy and its goal of becoming a
global hub for the industry. The event will feature over 250 exhibitors and 150 speakers, including
top leaders from global semiconductor companies.
First ever India-GCC Ministerial meeting held in Riyadh
➢ The first India -GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Ministerial Meeting for
Strategic Dialogue was on 9 September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.
➢ It was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Sheikh
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar, who is the current GCC President.

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➢ All GCC foreign ministers and Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi attended the meeting.
➢ A Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, focusing on collaboration in areas such as health,
trade, security, agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, and culture.
➢ The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the
UAE.
➢ Around 8.9 million Indians live and work in these countries.
➢ In 2023-24, trade between India and the GCC was USD 161.59 billion, with India’s exports at USD
56.3 billion and imports at USD 105.3 billion.
➢ GCC countries are also crucial to India's energy security due to their significant oil and gas reserves.
79th Session of the UN General Assembly
➢ The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially opened, at the UN headquarters in
New York.
➢ Marking a historic moment as Palestine was given a seat next to UN member states.
➢ Palestine is not a full member of the 193 member UN body.
➢ The session, led by new President Philemon Yang, will focus on resolving global
conflicts and addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change.
➢ "Summit of the Future" which bring together world leaders together in New York will take place at
UN Headquarters on September 22-23.
➢ UN Secretary-General: António Guterres.
IBC organized 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave
➢ The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Vivekananda
International Foundation (VIF) commenced the 2nd International Buddhist
Media Conclave on the theme “Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance
and Sustainable Development”.
➢ The event commenced by Mr. Gurumurthy, Chairman VIF, Ven Jangchuk Choeden, Secretary
General, IBC, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF who were joined by three-time Grammy awardee Shri
Ricky Kej.
G7 Ministers Meeting on Culture held in Naples, Italy
➢ Arunish Chawla emphasized culture as a dynamic force for growth at the G7
Ministers meeting on Culture in Naples, Italy.
➢ Recognizing culture as a standalone goal in the post 2030 Sustainable
Development Agenda signifies a paradigm shift in development perspectives.
➢ Meeting attendees included cultural leaders from the G7 nations and the African Union.
➢ India’s partnership with the African Union strengthens economic, cultural, and strategic ties.
➢ The Naples Statement focuses on using culture as a driver for sustainable development in Africa
and globally.
About Italy:
❑ Capital: Rome Currency: Euro.
❑ Prime minister: Giorgia Meloni President: Sergio Mattarella

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PM Modi to inaugurate 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 4th RE-INVEST Global
Industrial Meet at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
➢ He will also flag off the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro connecting
Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and GIFT City.
➢ Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹8,000 crore, including
the first Vande Bharat Metro train between Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
➢ The RE-INVEST meet, organized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will
showcase India’s progress in renewable energy.
➢ The three-day event will feature over 40 sessions and attract around 25,000 delegates from 140
countries.
Fourth edition of Global Bio-India 2024 successfully concluded
➢ The fourth edition of Global Bio-India 2024 concluded successfully,
highlighting India’s advancements in biotechnology.
➢ The event, held from September 12-14, 2024, in New Delhi, focused on
‘Biotech Innovation’ and ‘Bio manufacturing’.
➢ Indian biotech startups unveiled 11 new products, showcasing emerging talent in biosciences.
➢ The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Second edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2024 to begin in New Delhi
➢ The second Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2024 begins in New Delhi.
➢ The four-day conference will start with an inaugural address by the Chief of
Naval Staff, reviewing past six months' activities and future milestones.
➢ The conference will address geopolitical dynamics, regional challenges,
and maritime security, especially in West Asia.
➢ Discussions will include responses to threats from drones and missiles and ongoing Naval projects
focused on indigenization and Aatmanirbharta by 2047.
➢ Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
India-United States bilateral 2+2 Inter-sessional meeting
➢ India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 Inter sessional meeting in
New Delhi on September 16, 2024.
➢ It was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Americas) Mr. Nagaraj Naidu and
Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Mr. Vishwesh Negi from India,
alongside US officials Mr. Donald Lu and Mr. Jedidiah P. Royal.
➢ Discussions covered strategic cooperation, defense, technology collaboration, space cooperation,
resilient supply chains, clean energy, maritime domain awareness, and development cooperation.
➢ The meeting also included exchanges on regional and international issues.
➢ This intersessional laid the groundwork for the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue to enhance the
India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

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India to Host COP9 Bureau & Fund Approval Committee Meetings
➢ India 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 in New Delhi.
➢ As Vice-Chairperson of the COP9 Bureau, India has taken the lead in organizing
the two- day high-level gatherings, which will bring together key decision-makers and dignitaries
from across the world.
➢ The purpose of this Convention, within the framework of the strategy and programme of activities
of UNESCO in the area of physical education and sport, is to promote the prevention of and the fight
against doping in sport, with a view to its elimination.
➢ The meetings will see participation from distinguished delegates representing countries such as
France, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Singapore, Netherlands, Türkiye, UAE, and Zambia.
PM Modi to attend 4th Quad Summit in USA
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a three-day visit to the US beginning September 21, 2024,
to attend the annual Quad Summit and address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN General
Assembly.
➢ US President Joe Biden will host the fourth ‘Quad Leaders’ Summit’ in
Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21, 2024.
➢ Besides PM Modi and President Biden, it will be attended by Australian Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
➢ It was India’s turn to host the Quad Summit. But following a request from Washington, India agreed
to host the Summit next year.
➢ Prime Minister Modi will also address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General
Assembly in New York on September 23, 2024.
➢ The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.
➢ Note: The Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an informal grouping of four countries —
Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
World Food India 2024 Commences Today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
➢ World Food India 2024 started in New Delhi, lasting four days.
➢ Participation includes over 90 countries, 26 Indian states and UTs, and 18
Central Ministries.
➢ Focus on innovation, technology, and sustainability in food processing.
➢ Key ministers attending: Prahlad Joshi, Chirag Paswan, and Ravneet Singh Bittu.
➢ Japan is the partner country; Vietnam and Iran are focus countries.
➢ A high-level CEO roundtable will be co-chaired by Piyush Goyal and Chirag Paswan. The Global Food
Regulators Summit, hosted by FSSAI, coincides with the event.
India to host 2nd edition of Global Food Regulators Summit (GFRS)
➢ Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda unveils logo and brochures of Global Food Regulators
Summit 2024.

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➢ India will host the second edition of Global Food Regulators Summit
during September 19-21 in the national capital, where delegates of more
than 70 countries will brainstorm on key regulations.
➢ The summit is being organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of the Union Health and Family Welfare ministry.
➢ “The summit is focused on enhancing regional collaboration in the standard-setting process within
the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
➢ This will provide a dedicated platform for Asian countries to discuss food safety, trade, and
regulatory challenges unique to the region.”
➢ The first edition of this summit was held in July 2023 in India as a co-branded event of G20.
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Second Edition of Inclusion
Conclave
➢ Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment,
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Second Edition of Inclusion
Conclave organised by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), India in
New Delhi.
➢ The 2nd edition of the Inclusion Conclave was held on the sidelines of 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, held on September 17-18, 2024.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA):
❑ Headquarters: New Delhi Founded: 24 November 2005
❑ Chairman: Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Director General: Ashish Bhargava, IAS
Union Minister Piyush Goyal will be on two-day visit to Laos for 21st Asian-India and 12th East
Asia Summits
➢ Union Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting Laos to attend the 21st ASEAN-India
Economic Ministers’ Meeting and the 12th East Asia Summit Economic
Ministers’ Meeting.
➢ He will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from Laos, Korea, Malaysia,
Switzerland, and Myanmar, as well as meet the ASEAN Secretary General and the President of ERIA.
➢ The minister will engage with the Indian diaspora in Laos and meet a visiting industry delegation
from India and ASEAN.
Prime Minister attends the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 6th Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware on
September 21, 2024, hosted by US President Joe Biden and also attended by
H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Australia and Japan.
➢ The Quad made major announcements such as the "Quad Cancer Moonshot"
and the " Maitri Maritime Initiative", which aim to promote the well being, security,
and development of the Indo Pacific region.
➢ The Quad welcomed the hosting of the next summit by India in 2025 and adopted the 'Quad

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 Wilmington Declaration’, which is important to advance the Quad agenda.
PM Modi engages in bilateral meetings with leaders from Ukraine, Armenia & Vietnam
at UNGA Summit
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukraine President Volodymyr
Zelensky at the UNGA's Summit of the Future in New York, and also held
discussions with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Holy See
Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
➢ Modi had a bilateral meeting with Vietnam President To Lam, focusing on strengthening
cooperation and discussing regional and global issues, while reaffirming the cultural ties between
India and Vietnam.
➢ The Prime Minister expressed solidarity with Vietnam regarding the impacts of Typhoon Yagi and
was thanked by the Vietnamese President for India's humanitarian assistance provided under
Operation Sadbhav.
10th World FZO Congress Begins in Dubai
➢ The 10th annual World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) Congress has
commenced in Dubai from September 23rd to 25th, focusing on the theme
"Zones and the Shifting Global Economic Structures Unlocking New
Investment Avenues.“
➢ The event features over 35 prominent speakers and sessions addressing trends, technologies, and
challenges in the free zones sector, including a strategic session on "The Future Role of AI and New
Technologies in Global Trade 2.0."
➢ The congress aims to connect global stakeholders, with participation from over 100 countries,
including more than 2,000 business leaders and officials, providing Indian businesses with
opportunities for networking and investment exploration.
Nirmala Sitharaman to attend 9th AIIB annual meet in Uzbekistan
➢ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on
the sidelines of the 9th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of AIIB in Samarkand.
➢ During the meeting they discussed on ways to strengthen bilateral ties including in the area of
fintech, renewable energy and climate action.
➢ Under the theme "Building Resilient Infrastructure for All”.
➢ India is the second largest shareholder of the bank.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):
❑ AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to improve economic and social outcomes in Asia.
❑ Headquarters: Beijing, China.
❑ Began its operations in January 2016.
❑ India is a Founding Member of AIIB.
❑ Membership: AIIB has 105 members. China is the AIIB’s largest shareholder with a 26.5% voting
share. India is the second-largest, with 7.5%, followed by Russia
❑ President: Jin Liqun

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LS Speaker Om Birla addresses 10th CPA India Region Conference
➢ Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA) India Region Conference, focusing on digitisation of
legislative assemblies, capacity building, and sustainable development.
➢ The conference emphasized making legislative bodies more active in reaching the benefits of
sustainable and inclusive development to the last person and achieving "one nation, one digital
platform" through complete digitisation of state assemblies.

AWARDS & HONOURS

INS Satavahana honours Olympian Jyothi Yarraji
➢ INS Satavahana, under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, felicitated
Olympian Jyothi Yarraji, who hails from Visakhapatnam.
➢ For her groundbreaking achievement of being India’s first woman Olympic
hurdler.
FICCI HonoursAyushmann Khurrana and Neeraj Chopra as Youth Icons of India
➢ The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) recently organized its
prestigious Young Leaders Awards in New Delhi, bringing together a diverse array of talented
individuals from various fields.
➢ The ceremony was graced by two outstanding personalities who
received the coveted FICCI Young Leaders Youth Icon award:
❖ Ayushmann Khurrana: Bollywood superstar and versatile actor.
❖ Neeraj Chopra: Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw
➢ The awards were presented by distinguished FICCI representatives:
❖ Shashwat Goenka: President of FICCI Young Leaders Forum and Vice President of RP – Sanjiv
Goenka Group
❖ Aishwarya Bansal: President of FICCI Young Leaders Delhi NCR Chapter.
MahaGovernor honoursSeshampattiSri T. Sivalingamwith Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan
Lifetime Achievement Award
➢ Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan honoured veteran Nadaswaram
exponent Seshampatti Sri T. Sivalingam with the Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan
Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nadaswara Thiruvizha programme in
Mumbai.
➢ The programme was organized by the Sri ShanmukhanandaFine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha.
➢ Seshampatti T. Sivalingam is one of the top artists of the Nadhaswaram in the field of Carnatic
music with an illustrious career spanning more than half a century.
President Emmanuel Macron Awarded Olympic Order in Gold for Paris 2024 Success
➢ President Emmanuel Macron of France was awarded the Olympic Order in gold. This
prestigious distinction was bestowed upon him by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in

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 recognition of his unwavering support for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
➢ His commitment to the Olympic ideals championed by Pierre de Coubertin.
➢ Presented by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.
➢ Emmanuel Macron was elected President of France in 2017, he immediately threw his full support
behind Paris’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games.
Nirmala Sitharaman hails Japanese anime director Miyazaki on winning Ramon Magsaysay
Award
➢ Nirmala Sitharaman hails Japanese anime director Miyazaki on winning Ramon Magsaysay
Award.
➢ Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, considered one of the greatest animators
and directors, has won the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award. His masterpieces
“My Neighbour Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service”.
➢ The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in 1957, stands as one of the most prestigious honors
in Asia.
➢ It was created in the memory of Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Philippines.
➢ The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Manila in November 2024.
Wokha SAATHI gets Gold Award and National Awards for e-Governance Scheme 2023-
2024
➢ Wokha District Administration’s innovative initiative, Wokha SAATHI (Smart
AI-based Assistant for Timely Help & Interface) WhatsApp Chatbot, has
been awarded the prestigious “Gold Award” in the National Awards for
e-Governance Scheme 2023-2024 at the 27th National Conference on e-Governance held in
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
➢ It is the first time an initiative from Nagaland state received a Gold Award for its exemplary
contribution to e-Governance.
➢ Wokha SAATHI WhatsApp Chatbot enables proactive Information Education Campaigns (IEC)
through two-way communication between the government and citizens on a 24×7 basis.
President Droupadi Murmu presented National Teachers Award 2024 to 82 teachers in
New Delhi
➢ The awards are presented on September 5 each year on the birth anniversary
of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
➢ Only regular Teachers and Heads of Schools with minimum ten years of
services are eligible for these awards.
➢ Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of ₹50,000 and a silver medal.
Women and Child Development Ministry Wins 2024 e-Governance Gold for Poshan
Tracker
➢ The Ministry of Women and Child Development has won the National Award for
eGovernance 2024 (Gold) for its Poshan Tracker initiative.
➢ Mission Poshan 2.0 has made remarkable progress in tracking the growth of millions

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 of young lives (children of 0-6 years of age), through its Monthly.
➢ Growth Monitoring initiative Poshan Tracker POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) was
launched by the government on March 8, 2018.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan
Lal Sharma presented Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024
➢ Nine best performing NCAP cities awarded on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for
Blue Skies which is also celebrated as Swachh Vayu Diwas.
➢ Swachh Vayu SurvekshanAwards: Best performing NCAP cities were awarded under three
categories:
➢ Category-1 (Population over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, Agra.
➢ Category-2 (Population 3-10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, Jhansi.
➢ Category-3 (Population under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, Nalagarh. Municipal
Commissioners received cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.
Prasanthi Ram wins Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction
➢ An Indian-origin lecturer Prasanthi Ram at Nanyang Technological University has won the Singapore
Literature Prize for English fiction for her short story – ‘Nine Yard Sarees’.
➢ Prasanthi Ram, debut work was published in late 2023.
➢ The short story cycle is about generations of a Tamil Brahmin family dispersed
across Singapore, Sydney, New York and Connecticut.
Singapore Literature Prize 2024 winners:
➢ English-lang fiction - Prasanthi Ram for Nine Yard Sarees: A Short Story Cycle.
➢ English poetry - Yong Shu Hoong, Anatomy of A Wave.
➢ Best English creative non-fiction - Indian-origin artist Shubigi Rao, whose ‘Pulp III: An Intimate
Inventory of The Banished Book’ (2022).
Vir Das becomes first Indian to host International Emmy Awards
➢ Indian stand up comedian and actor Vir Das is set to host the 2024 International
Emmys, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in November.
➢ Das was earlier nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for his special Vir Das: For India and
won in 2023 for his Netflix special Landing.
➢ The Emmy Awards are the most renowned accolades given to television and emerging media
performances.
NMDC Ltd Honored with Rajbhasha Kirti Award 2023-2024
➢ NMDC Ltd honored with Rajbhasha Kirti Award 2023-2024, in the category of
Undertakings situated in “C” region.
➢ The award was presented at the Hindi Diwas Function 2024 and Fourth Akhil Bhartiya
Rajbhasha Sammelan organized by the Official Language Department, Ministry of Home Affairs in
New Delhi.
➢ NMDC Ltd was recognized with the second prize for the effective implementation of the official
language policy.

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Indian women’s contributions across UAE honoured at Indian Women Dubai Awards
2024
➢ The Indian Women Dubai Awards 2024 were held at Taj Exotica, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
➢ The event recognized the achievements of Indian women in the UAE across
fields such as technology, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and the arts.
➢ Over 30 awards were presented to honor women’s contributions and impact.
➢ Mrs. Vandana Sudhir, wife of Indian Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir, emphasized
self-care and personal growth, highlighting Indian Women in Dubai (IWD) as a supportive platform.
➢ Bollywood actress Sameera Reddy, the guest of honor, spoke about authenticity and the importance
of women supporting each other.
➢ The event featured a fashion show blending traditional Indian and modern styles and a qawwali
performance by the Divyang Children.
➢ Ms. Reema Mahajan, founder of Indian Women Dubai (IWD), hosted the ceremony and advocated
for continued support and empowerment of women.
RINL Wins CII-GBC National Energy Leader Award for Sixth Consecutive Year
➢ Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), also known as Vizag Steel, bagged the
prestigious National Energy Leader Award from the Confederation of Indian
Industry – Green Business Centre (CII-GBC).
➢ RINL has also achieved the “Excellent Energy Efficient Unit Award” for an impressive
8th consecutive year.
India Wins 16 Medals & Medallions of Excellence at World Skills 2024
➢ India has won 16 medals and Medallions of Excellence at World Skills 2024 in Lyon, France.
➢ The accolades include four Bronze in Patisserie and Confectionery, Industry 4.0, Hotel Reception
and Renewable Energy.
➢ In addition to that the Indian delegation earned 12 medallions of Excellence, a
testament to their exceptional skills and consistent performance across various
trades.
➢ Ashwitha Police who contested in Patisserie and confectionery also won the Best of Nation Award
becoming the most outstanding competitor from Team India.
Aishwarya Rai wins best actress award at SIIMA 2024
➢ At the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2024, Aishwarya Rai Bachhan received
the Best Actress (critics) Award for her role in Maniratnam’s epic “Ponniyin Selvan 2”.
➢ Ponniyin Selvan directed by Maniratnam, based on a novel and filmed on the
daily life of the Chola Empire.
➢ Tamil novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ by Kalki Krishnamoorthy.
➢ SIIMA 2024 award ceremony was held in Dubai on 15 September 2024.
Dhruvi Patel wins Miss India Worldwide 2024
➢ Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information System student from the USA, has been declared the winner

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 of Miss India Worldwide 2024, the longest running Indian pageant outside of India.
➢ Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname was declared the first runner-up, while Malvika
Sharma from the Netherlands was adjudged the second runner-up in the same race.
➢ In the Mrs category, SuAnn Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago was the winner, with
Sneha Nambiar the first and Pawandip Kaur from the United Kingdom the
second-runner up.
➢ In the Teen category, Sierra Suret from Guadeloupe was crowned Miss Teen India Worldwide.
➢ Shreya Singh from the Netherlands and Shradha Tedjoe from Suriname were declared the first and
second runners-up.
➢ The beauty pageant is organised by New York-based India Festival Committee and is headed by
Indian-Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran.
➢ The crown is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year.
Magnus Carlsen, Judit Polgar felicitated at FIDE 100 Awards
➢ Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Judit Polgar (Hungary) were felicitated with
the best male and female player awards respectively at the FIDE 100 Awards
ceremony in Hungary.
➢ Polgar , who retired in August 2014, was the first woman in the FIDE ranking
from 1989 to 2015. She won gold medals at the 1988 and 1990 World Chess Olympiads as a
member of the Hungarian women's team.
➢ Carlsen has held the title of world champion four times from 2013 to 2023.
➢ FIDE is an acronym for the French phrase Fédération Internationale des Échecs , which translates
to the International Chess Federation in English.
Kiran Rao's ‘ Laapataa Ladies' is India's official entry for the 97th Oscar Awards
➢ The Hindi comedy film ‘Laapataa Ladies’, has been chosen to be India’s official entry for the
International Feature Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards 2025
(popularly known as the Oscars).
➢ It was produced by Amir Khan and directed by Kiran Rao.
➢ The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on 2nd March 2025 in Los
Angeles, United States of America.
➢ Last year, the superhit Malayalam film “2018: Everyone's a Hero” was India’s official entry for the
96th Oscar Award 2024.
➢ Laapataa Ladies was chosen by a 13 member jury of the Film Federation of India, headed by
renowned Assamese Director Jahnu Barua.
➢ Only three Indian films, Mother India (1958), Salaam Bombay (1989), and Lagaaan (2001), have
made the final list of Oscar nominees. None of the Indian films has won the Best International
Feature Film category award at the Oscars.
Odisha swimmer Pratyasa Ray to get Ekalabya Puraskar 2024
➢ Emerging swimmer Pratyasa Ray has been selected for the 32nd Ekalabya
Puraskar 2024 of Odisha for her achievements in swimming.

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➢ Ray will be awarded a cash prize of ₹7 lakh— an increase from the previous ₹5 lakh, along with a
citation.
➢ Sprinter Dondapati Mrutyum Jayaram and badminton player Tanvi Patri will also be honoured
with citations and cash prizes of Rs. 1.5 lakh each at the ceremony.
➢ Ray secured six medals - four gold, one silver and a bronze - in the Khelo India University Games in
Guwahati in February this year.
➢ Ekalabya Puraskar was instituted by charitable body IMPaCT (Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust
(IMPaCT) in 1993.
➢ The award is given every year to young sportspersons of Odisha in recognition of their outstanding
performance in the preceding two years.
President presents National Florence Nightingale Awards to Nurses at Rashtrapati
Bhavan
➢ A total of 15 nurses received the award for their exceptional commitment to duty
and community service.
➢ Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Anupriya Patel were also present at the event.
➢ The award was established in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to recognize
outstanding nursing professionals.
➢ The awards are given in categories including Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife,
Registered Nurses and Midwife, and Registered Lady Visitor.
➢ Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal.

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Vinod Bachchan Receives Global Prestige Award at UK Parliament
➢ Renowned Bollywood producer Vinod Bachchan received the prestigious Global Prestige Award
at the House of Lords, UK Parliament, recognizing his significant contributions to the Indian film
industry.
➢ The ceremony was hosted by Lord Bellamy KC and Lord Rami Ranger CBE, a
notable Member of Parliament.
➢ Bachchan, known for producing hits such as Tanu Weds Manu, Zila Ghaziabad,
Ginny Weds Sunny, and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana.
➢ He was honored for his influential role in bringing Indian cinema to global audiences.
ICC bestows Lifetime Achievement Award to Deepak C. Mehta
➢ Visionary industrialist and leader Deepak C Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of Deepak
Nitrite Limited, has been conferred the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian
Chemical Council (ICC) at the 59th ICC Annual Awards Function in Mumbai.
➢ This distinguished accolade recognizes Mehta’s remarkable and sustained
contribution to India’s chemical manufacturing sector over several decades.
➢ The award was presented by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, a
globally renowned scientist and researcher in polymer science and engineering, in the presence of
eminent corporate leaders and academicians from across the country. Also present was Dr.
Aniruddha Pandit, Vice Chancellor, ICT, Mumbai.
Aru Wins Best Tourism Villages Award 2024
➢ Union Ministry of Tourism has announced Aru village, part of Pahalgam
in Anantnag, as one of the winners of prestigious ‘Best Tourism Villages of
India’ award.
➢ In the second edition of the competition, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 States
and Union Territories.
➢ After a rigorous evaluation process, 36 villages were selected as winners across eight categories.
➢ Aru village was declared Best Tourism Village in the “Adventure Tourism Category”.
➢ Recently, it has been noted for its unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and community-
based tourism initiatives.
➢ The announcement was made on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
Legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty to be honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke award
➢ Legendary Actor Mithun Chakraborty will be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke
Award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony next month.
➢ Announcing this, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said,
from the streets of Kolkata to Cinematic Heights, Mithun Da’s remarkable
cinematic journey inspires generations.
➢ He said, the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury decided for this top award in Indian cinema for Mr
Chakraborty for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema.

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IIFA Awards 2024 announced
➢ The 24th edition of International Indian Film Academy Awards (also known as the IIFA
Awards) were presented in Abu Dhabi on 29 September 2024.
Winners:
❖ Best Film – Animal
❖ Best Actor – Shah Rukh Khan, Jawan
❖ Best Actress – Rani Mukerji, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway
❖ Best Director – Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail
❖ Best Supporting Actor – Anil Kapoor, Animal
❖ Best Supporting Actress – Shabana Azmi, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
❖ Best Actor in Negative Role – Bobby Deol, Animal
❖ Best Story – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
❖ Best Story (Adapted) – 12th Fail
❖ Best Music – Animal
❖ Best Lyrics – Siddharth-Garima, “Satranga” from Animal
❖ Best Singer – Male – Bhupinder Babbal, “Arjan Vailly” from Animal
❖ Best Singer – Female – Shilpa Rao, “Chaleya”
❖ Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema – Jayantilal Gada, Hema Malini
❖ Achievement on completing 25 years in cinema – Karan Johar.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Qatar Becomes First Gulf State in U.S. Visa Waiver Programme
➢ Recently, Qatar became the first Gulf country to enter the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).
➢ The US Department of State and Homeland Security jointly announced Qatar’s
inclusion in the program.
➢ They commended Doha for meeting strict security requirements, highlighting the
strengthening of strategic partnerships between the two nations.
➢ After Brunei, The Gulf state of Qatar has become the second Muslim-majority country to be
included in the US Visa Waiver Programme.
➢ Qatar is the 42nd member of the visa waiver program, with nations added in
frequently.
➢ Croatia was added in 2021 and Israel joined last year (2023).
➢ Only about 320,000 Qatari citizens holding valid passports are eligible for the program, despite
Qatar's total population exceeding 3 million.
➢ From 1st October, US citizens will also be able to visit Qatar without a visa for up to 90 days.
Qatar:
❑ Capital: Doha Currency: Qatari Riyal
❑ Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

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India-U.S. defence acceleration ecosystem summit to be held at Stanford University
➢ The third edition of the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit will be
held at the Stanford University in California in september, during which top defence leaderships
from the two country.
➢ The INDUS-X summit will bring together top policymakers from Washington and New Delhi to
strengthen advanced technology partnerships in defence innovation.
➢ The Summit will link Indian and American leaders in defence innovation from startups,
venture capital, academia, accelerators, and industry, with opportunities for
co-production and investments in both nations.
➢ INDUS-X was launched in June 2023 to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence
industrial cooperation between Indian and the U.S. governments, businesses,
accelerators/incubators, investors, and academia.
➢ themed around “harnessing investment opportunities to enhance cross-border defence innovation
ecosystems”.
UAE Visa Amnesty program
➢ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government's two-month visa amnesty program began on
September 1 and will run until October 30, 2024
➢ It will give an opportunity for individuals residing illegally in the country to either
regularize their residency status or leave without incurring penalties.
➢ However, the amnesty does not apply to those who entered the country illegally.
Swedish firm URBS ties up with Bootes to bring investment, tech to India
➢ Swedish system integrator URBS and Bootes have teamed up to bring Nordic investment and
technology to India's infrastructure and real estate projects.
➢ The collaboration aims to accelerate decarbonisation with green financing and advanced
technologies. Both companies will execute projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore in the coming years.
➢ This collaboration will accelerate decarbonisation by facilitating Nordic green financing for
verified net-zero projects in India and introducing proven technologies for maximum
efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
➢ In December 2023, Bootes and URBS jointly launched Cooling-As-A-Service to
reduce India's energy costs by up to 50 per cent and reduce carbon emissions.
PM Modi arrives in Brunei, the first leg of two-nation visit
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was looking forward to strong ties with Brunei,
especially in boosting commercial and cultural linkages, as he arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan,
on the first leg of his two-nation trip during which he will hold talks with the country’s
top leadership.
➢ Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit, said
he was looking forward to his meetings with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other members of
the royal family to advance the historical relationship to new heights.
About Brunei:
➢ Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Currency: Brunei Dollar

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WWF-India Launches Vulture Count 2024 to Safeguard Nature’s Critical Clean-Up Crew
➢ WWF-India launched the “Vulture Count 2024” project from September 7 to October 6, 2024.
➢ This initiative aligns with International Vulture Awareness Day.
➢ The project aims to count and assess the vulture population in India.
➢ It focuses particularly on critically endangered vulture species.
➢ The project also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of vultures in ecosystems.
About WWF-India:
❑ World Wide Fund for Nature-India
❑ Established as a Charitable Trust in 1969
❑ WWF-India Secretariat is an autonomous office based in New Delhi.
❑ WWF International is located at Gland in Switzerland
South Africa announces TTOS scheme to boost tourism from India
➢ South Africa has announced a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) with an initial focus
on the tourist markets of India and China.
➢ To be implemented from January 2025.
➢ The aim of the scheme is to reform the visa system and is expected to increase
jobs in the tourism sector.
➢ Through TTOS, vetted and approved tour operators from the two countries will be invited to
register with the Department.
➢ The Department will for the very first time process group applications from Indian and Chinese
tourists travelling with approved operators.
About SOUTH AFRICA:
❑ Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
❑ President: Cyril Ramaphosa
❑ currency: South African rand (ZAR)
IMF mission starts fifth review of Ukraine program as Kyiv reshuffles government
➢ An International Monetary Fund mission began work on the fifth review of its $15.6 billion
lending Programme to Ukraine amid a major wartime government reshuffle.
➢ The IMF is a key international lender to Kyiv and its four-year Programme is a crucial part of a
bigger global economic support package to the country, which is gearing up for a third winter trying
to fend off Russia's full-scale invasion.
➢ Kyiv is spending about 60% of its total budget to fund its army and relies heavily on financial
support from its Western partners to pay pensions and wages to public sector employees and
finance social and humanitarian spending.
About the IMF
❑ International Monetary Fund
❑ 190-member countries
❑ Headquarters in Washington, D.C
❑ Established on 27 December 1945
❑ Managing Director (MD): Kristalina Georgieva

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PM Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with his Singaporean counterpart
Lawrence Wong
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong
➢ The two countries signed four MoUs aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two
countries.
➢ The agreements focus on key areas including semiconductor cluster development
and the cultivation of talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
➢ The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held
in Singapore in August 2024.
➢ Also covered the celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025.
Singapore
Capital : Singapore Currency: Singapore dollar (S$)
Algeria is the newest member of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)
➢ Algeria has been approved for membership in the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).
➢ NDB is aimed at offering an alternative to international financial institutions like the World Bank
and IMF.
➢ It has welcomed several country as new members, including Egypt, the United Arab
Emirates, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
➢ NDB, formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank
established by the BRICS countries(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
➢ The Bank formerly came into existence as a legal entity in 2015.
➢ Headquarters: Shanghai, China
➢ Membership in NDB is open to any member of the United Nations.
UAE, India Sign MoU to Strengthen Public Sector Audit Cooperation
➢ The Comptroller and Auditor General of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the UAE Accountability Authority
➢ Aim is to promote cooperation between the two supreme audit institutions and
improve methodologies in the field of public sector audit.
➢ Humaid Obaid Khalifa Obaid Abushibs - President of the UAE Accountability Authority,
➢ The Comptroller and Auditor General of India - Girish Chandra Murmu
BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting 2024 Convened in Sochi,Russia
➢ The second and final Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting under Russian Presidency
was held in Sochi, Russia.
➢ The Indian delegation led by Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour &
Employment participated in the deliberations of draft Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting
declaration which will be adopted during Labour and Employment Ministers' meeting scheduled to
be held on 9-10 September 2024.
➢ The EWG meeting focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration. The deliberations at the
Employment Working Group Meeting began with delegates carrying forward outcomes from the
previous meetings.

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➢ The priority areas for the discussions were strategies for life-long learning, vocational guidance,
modernization of employment services, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, and social
support mechanism.
➢ Apart from representatives of member states i.e Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa, the representatives of new member states i.e. UAE, Egypt, Iran
and representatives of International Labour Organization (ILO) and International
Social Security Association (ISSA) also made suggestions on the priority issues.
➢ Indian delegation emphasized the need for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce to meet the
demands of changing world of work.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince meets PM Narendra Modi in Delhi
➢ Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on September 8 on his first official
visit to India.
➢ He kick-started a two-day maiden visit to India to boost bilateral ties on a range of
areas,including energy and connectivity, amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
As India and U.S. agree to swap turns, Biden to host Quad Summit at his home State
➢ India and the United States have “swapped” hosting the Quad Summit so as to allow U.S.
President Joseph Biden to hold the Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from
His hometown of Delaware, said sources, confirming that the summit will be held later
this month in the United States rather than India.
Nepal Becomes 101st Member of International Solar Alliance
➢ Nepal has become the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance-ISA as a full
member.
➢ The Ministry of External Affairs said that Nepal handed over its Instrument of Ratification to the ISA
in New Delhi today.
The Instrument of Ratification was exchanged during a meeting between Nepal’s Charge d’ affairs Dr.
Surendra Thapa and Joint Secretary (ED&MER) in the External Affairs Ministry, Abhishek Singh
ABOUT NEPAL:
❑ Capital: Kathmandu Currency: Nepalese Rupee
❑ PM: KP Sharma Oli
About International Solar Alliance (ISA):
❑ HQ: Haryana, India
❑ Director General: Dr Ajay Mathur
Nepal Celebrates 111th Birth Anniversary of B P Koirala with Nationwide Events
➢ The 111th birth anniversary of BP Koirala, Nepal's first elected Prime Minister, is being
celebrated today.
➢ BP Koirala founded the Nepali National Congress in 1946 AD during his exile in
India to challenge the autocratic Rana regime.
➢ He became Home Minister in the Rana-Congress government after the 2007 revolution and was

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 elected Prime Minister in the 2015 general elections.
➢ Besides his political career, BP Koirala was a prolific writer with over 18 literary works, including
novels like ‘Tin Ghumti’ and ‘Sumnima’.
Australia to legislate minimum age for social media to protect children
➢ Australia will introduce legislation to set a minimum age for social media to enhance child safety.
➢ Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated this measure is to support parents and protect children
online. This move comes in response to concerns from parents about the right age for children to
use social media.
➢ A national poll found that two-thirds of parents are worried about excessive
screen time and social media use among children, making these top health
concerns for this year. The legislation will be presented in the current term of the
Australian parliament.
➢ Although the exact minimum age is not yet set, it is expected to be between 14 and 16 years, with
Albanese favoring a 16-year limit.
About Australia:
❑ PM: Anthony Albanese Capital: Canberra
❑ Currency: Australian Dollar
First ever India-GCC Ministerial meeting held in Riyadh
➢ The first India -GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue was
on 9 September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.
➢ It was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.Jaishankar and Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar, who is the current GCC President.
➢ All GCC foreign ministers and Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi attended the
meeting.
➢ A Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, focusing on collaboration in areas such as health,
trade, security, agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, and culture.
➢ The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the
UAE.
➢ Around 8.9 million Indians live and work in these countries.
➢ In 2023-24, trade between India and the GCC was USD 161.59 billion, with
India’s exports at USD 56.3 billion and imports at USD 105.3 billion.
➢ GCC countries are also crucial to India's energy security due to their significant oil and gas reserves.
79th Session of the UN General Assembly
➢ The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially opened, at the UN headquarters
in New York.
➢ Marking a historic moment as Palestine was given a seat next to UN member states.
➢ Palestine is not a full member of the 193 member UN body.
➢ The session, led by new President Philemon Yang, will focus on resolving global
conflicts and addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change.

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➢ "Summit of the Future" which bring together world leaders together in New York will take place at
UN Headquarters on September 22-23.
❑ UN Secretary-General: António Guterres
India sends Humanitarian Assistance to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
➢ India has agreed to send food grains to these countries suffering from a food deficit due to the
severe drought caused by adverse weather conditions caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
➢ El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean along the coast of Peru.
➢ India will provide 1000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice to Malawi and Zimbabwe each.
➢ India will also provide 2500 MT of maize to Zambia, and the first consignment, 1300 MT, has been
dispatched.
➢ All the consignments to these African countries have been sent from the JNPT
Nhava Sheva port, Mumbai.
➢ This assistance embodies India's principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam', the spirit
of South-South Cooperation and our unwavering commitment towards Africa.
India to be the Exclusive Partner for European Hydrogen Week in November 2024
➢ India has been announced as the exclusive partner for the European Hydrogen Week, set to take
place in November 2024.
➢ This announcement was made on the second day of the International Conference
on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024), held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
➢ The partnership underscores India’s commitment to aligning with EU green
regulations to enhance its export potential in the green hydrogen sector.
➢ The EU session chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India
with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe focused on the role of green hydrogen as a
crucial component in global decarbonization efforts
Mexico became the world's first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels
➢ The reform was approved with 86 votes in favour and 41 against, garnering the two thirds majority
needed to amend the constitution in an upper chamber dominated by the ruling Morena party and
its allies.
➢ Around 1,600 judges will have to stand for election in 2025 or 2027.
➢ In some countries, such as the US, some state judges are elected, and in others, such as in Bolivia, high
level judges are elected.“
Recent News About Mexico:
❖ In June 2024, Sheinbaum won the Mexican general election in a landslide.
❖ She will be the first female president of Mexico and the first president from a predominantly Jewish
❖ background. She will take office on 1 October 2024.
Mexico:
❑ Capital : The Mexico City
❑ Currency : Mexican Peso
❑ President : Andrés Manuel López Obrador

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PM Modi to inaugurate 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 4th RE-INVEST Global
Industrial Meet at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
➢ He will also flag off the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro connecting
Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and GIFT City.
➢ Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth over,
₹8,000 crore including the first Vande Bharat Metro train between Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
➢ The RE-INVEST meet, organized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will showcase
India’s progress in renewable energy.
➢ The three-day event will feature over 40 sessions and attract around 25,000 delegates from 140
countries.
India launches Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to Typhoon Yagi
affected countries
➢ India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to
countries affected by Typhoon Yagi: Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
➢ The operation involves sending urgent relief materials to these countries, which
are experiencing severe floods from the typhoon.
➢ External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reported that 10 tonnes of aid, including dry rations,
clothing, and medicines, were sent to Myanmar aboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.
➢ A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is delivering 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and 10
tonnes to Laos, including gensets, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets,
and sleeping bags.
➢ Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
efforts under its ‘Act East Policy’.
Members of Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka celebrate Thiru Onam
➢ Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka is celebrating Thiru Onam.
➢ Thiru Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala, symbolizing prosperity, secularism,
and harmony.
➢ Celebrations include traditional Pookkalam (flower decorations) and Onam Sadya (feast) at various
homes.
➢ The festival features traditional attire such as Kasavu sarees and Mundu.
➢ It commemorates the homecoming of the legendary ruler, King Mahabali, and highlights Kerala’s
unique customs, traditions, and cuisine.
Cambodia's Angkor Wat named most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia
➢ Cambodia’s Angkor Wat has been recognized as the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site
in Asia by Times Travel, as recently announced by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
➢ Located in the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, Angkor Wat is a prominent temple
within a 401 square kilometre park featuring 91 ancient temples built between the 9th and 13th
centuries.

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➢ The UNESCO World Heritage site list includes notable landmarks such as:
❖ India : Taj Mahal and Hampi
❖ China : Great Wall
❖ Myanmar : Ancient city of Bagan
❖ Indonesia : Borobudur
❖ Vietnam : Ha Long Bay
❖ Japan : Historic Monuments of Kyoto
❖ Jordan : Petra
❖ Philippines : Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras
About Cambodia:
❑ Capital: Phnom Penh Currency : Cambodian Riel
India and US Explore Enhanced Energy Cooperation
➢ India and the US have agreed to explore ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across
the energy value chain for a just and orderly energy transition, as Union Minister Hardeep Singh
Puri met Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt
➢ This agreement emerged at the 52nd Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Houston.
➢ The two leaders discussed expanding collaboration between their nations’
institutions and companies, focusing on advancing both conventional and renewable
energy sectors.
➢ He also met Honeywell Chairman and CEO Vimal Kapur and held engaging discussions on the role
of innovation and new technologies in low carbon solutions.
India United States bilateral 2+2 Inter sessional meeting
➢ India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 Inter sessional meeting in New Delhi on September
16, 2024.
➢ It was co chaired by Joint Secretary (Americas) Mr. Nagaraj Naidu and Joint Secretary
(International Cooperation) Mr. Vishwesh Negi from India, alongside US officials
Mr. Donald Lu and Mr. Jedidiah P. Royal.
➢ Discussions covered strategic cooperation, defense, technology collaboration, space cooperation,
resilient supply chains, clean energy, maritime domain awareness, and development cooperation.
➢ The meeting also included exchanges on regional and international issues.
➢ This intersessional laid the groundwork for the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue to enhance the
India US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
Iran’s president names first Sunni governor in 45 years
➢ Masoud Pezeshkian , nominated a member of the Sunni Muslim minority to be governor of Kurdistan
province.
➢ Arash Zerehtan was appointed head of the western state.
➢ He is the first Sunni to be made a regional governor in the predominantly Shiite
country since the earliest days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
➢ Arash Zerehtan , 48, served as a member of parliament for the city of Paveh between 2020 and 2024.

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World Food India 2024 Commences Today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
➢ World Food India 2024 starts in New Delhi, lasting four days. Participation includes over 90
countries, 26 Indian states and UTs, and 18 Central Ministries.
➢ Focus on innovation, technology, and sustainability in food processing.
➢ Key ministers attending: Prahlad Joshi, Chirag Paswan, and Ravneet Singh Bittu
➢ Japan is the partner country; Vietnam and Iran are focus countries.
➢ A high level CEO roundtable will be co chaired by Piyush Goyal and Chirag Paswan. The Global Food
Regulators Summit, hosted by FSSAI, coincides with the event.
Jordon becomes first Leprosy free nation in the world
➢ The World Health Organization (WHO), on 19 September 2024, declared Jordan as the first
country in the world to eliminate leprosy, marking a significant milestone in global public health
efforts.
➢ According to WHO, Jordan has not reported any autochthonous cases of leprosy for over two decades.
➢ Recent news: Jordan's King Abdullah II has appointed Jafar Hassan as the kingdom's new prime
minister following a parliamentary election.
About WHO:
❑ Headquarters : Geneva,
❑ WHO Director General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Govt to spend Rs 31,000 crore to fence 1,643 km India-Myanmar border
➢ The entire 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition
and narcotics, will be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah said fencing work had been completed in 30 km
of the border, which he termed the root cause of the ethnic violence in Manipur.
➢ About 10 km of fencing has already been completed near Moreh and work is
underway to fence another 21 km of the border in other areas of Manipur.
➢ The India-Myanmar border passes through Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
Ukraine bans govt and military officials from using Telegram on state-issued devices
➢ Ukraine has prohibited government and military officials from using the Telegram
messaging app on state-issued devices due to concerns about Russian surveillance.
➢ Ukrainians are still allowed to use Telegram on personal devices, despite the
restrictions.
➢ Telegram is widely used in Ukraine, with 75% of the population using it for communication and
72% considering it a key source of information.
India and Brazil review existing collaboration in energy sector
➢ India and Brazil reviewed their collaboration in the energy sector, focusing on sustainable fuels and
biofuels during a meeting between Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Brazilian
Minister Alexandre Silveira.

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➢ Both countries emphasized enhancing trade and investment opportunities for
Indian companies in Brazil and reiterated their commitment as founding
members of the Global Biofuels Alliance, highlighting biofuels' role in
environmental sustainability and socioeconomic growth.
➢ They discussed potential cooperation in producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and planned to co-
host an India-Brazil Clean Cooking Ministerial Meeting in February 2025 to explore global access to
clean cooking solutions.
United States of America returns 297 antiquities to India
➢ On the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States, the US side
facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India.
➢ Since 2016, the US Government has facilitated the return of a large number of trafficked or stolen
antiquities. 10 antiquities were returned during PM’s visit to USA in June 2016; 157 antiquities
during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last
year.
➢ The total number of cultural artefacts returned from US to India since 2016 stands at 578.
About United States:
❑ Capital: Washington, D.C.
❑ Currency: The United States dollar
❑ President: Joe Biden
Zimbabwe plans to cull (kill) 200 elephants amid drought
➢ This tough decision comes because the country’s elephant population is too large for the
environment to support, and there is an urgent need to provide food for people.
➢ Zimbabwe has over 84,000 elephants, but the land can only comfortably support around 45,000.
This means there are far too many elephants, leading to problems for both wildlife and people.
➢ The decision follows Namibia's recent move to cull elephants and other wildlife to address food
insecurity worsened by a prolonged drought.
➢ These culls have faced strong criticism from animal rights advocates and conservationists.
About Zimbabwe:
❑ Capital: Harare
❑ Currency: Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
❑ President: Emmerson Mnangagwa
Piyush Goyal inaugurates Invest India’s Singapore Office
➢ Office inauguration comes after India’s Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced setting
up of an Invest India office in Singapore during his visit to the country on September 4th & 5th, 2024.
➢ The Singapore Office is Invest India’s first overseas office.
➢ "Singapore is a key strategic partner for India, and this office marks a new chapter in our efforts to
strengthen economic cooperation with Singapore and the broader ASEAN region
About Singapore:
❑ Capital: Singapore, City Currency: Singapore dollar
❑ Prime Minister: Lawrence Wong President: Tharman Shanmugaratnam

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PM Modi engages in bilateral meetings with leaders from Ukraine, Armenia & Vietnam at
UNGA Summit
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UNGA's
Summit of the Future in New York, and also held discussions with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan and Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
➢ Modi had a bilateral meeting with Vietnam President To Lam, focusing on
strengthening cooperation and discussing regional and global issues, while
reaffirming the cultural ties between India and Vietnam.
➢ The Prime Minister expressed solidarity with Vietnam regarding the impacts of Typhoon Yagi and
was thanked by the Vietnamese President for India's humanitarian assistance provided under
Operation Sadbhav.
10th World FZO Congress Begins in Dubai
➢ The 10th annual World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) Congress has commenced in Dubai
from September 23rd to 25th, focusing on the theme "Zones and the Shifting Global Economic
Structures – Unlocking New Investment Avenues."
➢ The event features over 35 prominent speakers and sessions addressing trends,
technologies, and challenges in the free zones sector, including a strategic
session on "The Future Role of AI and New Technologies in Global Trade 2.0."
➢ The congress aims to connect global stakeholders, with participation from over 100 countries,
including more than 2,000 business leaders and officials, providing Indian businesses with
opportunities for networking and investment exploration.
❑ Capital: Abu Dhabi Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
❑ Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
❑ President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
FSSAI and Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture signed MoU to enhance food safety cooperation
➢ The MoU was signed by FSSAI CEO G. Kamala Vardhana Rao and Brazil's Agriculture Minister Carlos
Henrique Baqueta Fávaro.
➢ This signing occurred at the Global Food Regulators Summit in New Delhi.
➢ The agreement focuses on joint projects and technical collaboration to improve
food safety standards.
➢ Improved food safety standards can positively affect agricultural financing and export activities in the
banking sector.
ABOUT FSSAI:
❑ Founder: Anbumani Ramadoss Founded: 5 September 2008
❑ Headquarters: New Delhi Jurisdiction: India
❑ Parent Regulatory authority:Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Taiwan recognises same-sex marriages between Chinese, Taiwanese
➢ Taiwan has officially recognized same-sex marriage between Taiwanese and Chinese partners,
marking a

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 significant advancement in (LGBTQ) LGBTQ rights, following the historic legalization of same-sex
marriage in 2019.
➢ Taiwan has long been at the forefront of Asia's emerging LGBTQ rights movement,
and in 2019 became the first in the region to legalise marriage equality.
About Taiwan:
❑ Capital: Taipei City Currency: New Taiwan dollar
❑ President: Lai Ching-te
India becomes 3rd largest power in Asia power index, surpasses Japan
➢ India is the most powerful nation in Asia after the United States and China, according to
Australian think tank Lowy Institute.
➢ In the 2024 edition of Lowy’s ‘Asia Power Index’ (API), India overtook Japan to arrive at the third
position in Asia with a score of 39.1 out of 100.
➢ The API has ranked Australia as the fifth most powerful nation in Asia.
➢ Even as India’s ranking has increased, the overall power score in the API has
decreased during 2018-23.
➢ The report notes that while India’s diplomatic score has increased, economic links in the region
remains weak.
Nirmala Sitharaman to attend 9th AIIB annual meet in Uzbekistan
➢ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the
sidelines of the 9th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of AIIB in Samarkand.
➢ During the meeting they discussed on ways to strengthen bilateral ties including in the area of fintech,
renewable energy and climate action.
➢ Under the theme "Building Resilient Infrastructure for All”
➢ India is the second largest shareholder of the bank
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):
❑ AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to improve economic and social outcomes in Asia.
❑ Headquarters: Beijing, China.
❑ Began its operations in January 2016.
❑ India is a Founding Member of AIIB.
❑ Membership: AIIB has 105 members. China is the AIIB’s largest shareholder with a 26.5% voting
share. India is the second-largest, with 7.5%, followed by Russia
❑ President: Jin Liqun
India-US to set world's 1st multi-chip fab unit for Security
➢ India and the US will set up a new semiconductor fabrication plant, called ‘Shakti,’which will be one
of the world’s first multi material fabs dedicated to national security.
➢ The facility is likely to come up by 2025 in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh and it will be
situated next to the under-construction Jewar International Airport.
➢ During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States from 21-23 September 2024, the
historic agreement was signed between him and American President Joe Biden on semiconductors.

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India and Uzbekistan Sign Bilateral Investment Treaty in Tashkent
➢ India and Uzbekistan have signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) aimed at boosting investor
confidence and enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations.
➢ The treaty was formalized by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Uzbekistan’s
Deputy Prime Minister Khodjayev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich in Tashkent.
➢ This BIT assures protection for investors from both countries, providing a
minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination while facilitating dispute
resolution through arbitration.
❑ Capital: Tashkent Currency: Som
❑ Prime Minister: Abdulla Aripov

IMPORTANT DAYS
National Nutrition Week: 1-7 September
➢ It aims to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition for health and well-
being.
➢ 2024 theme: "Nutritious Diets for Everyone."
➢ First observed in India in 1982.
World Coconut Day: 2nd September
➢ To raise awareness about the numerous advantages of coconuts worldwide.
➢ Theme - "Coconut for a Circular Economy: Building Partnership for
Maximum Value"
➢ The day also marks the founding of the Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC)
➢ First celebrated on September 2nd, 2009.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Celebrates 7th Foundation Day
➢ It was launched on September 01, 2018.
➢ IIPB is a division of India Post that is under the ownership of the Department
of Post, under the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India.
About IPPB:
❖ Headquaters: New Delhi
❖ MD: R. Viswesvaran
Skyscraper Day - 3rd September
➢ September 3rd is designated as Skyscraper Day to commemorate the birth of American architect
Louis H. Sullivan, who is widely recognised as the “father of skyscrapers.”
➢ In modernist architecture, Sullivan was an important figure who promoted the
design principle of "form follows function."
➢ In 2024, Skyscraper Day serves as a reminder of the innovation, creativity, and
technological advancements that have made these architectural giants possible.

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5th September - Teachers' Day (India)
➢ Marks the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
➢ A renowned scholar and philosopher, born on September 5, 1888 in Thiruttani, present-day
Tamil Nadu.
➢ First vice president of India from 1952 to 1962.
➢ The second President of India from1962 to 1967.
➢ Bharat Ratna in1954.
➢ He was the first individual to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi fellowship,
the highest distinction in 1968.
➢ The first Teachers’ Day was observed in 1962.
5th September - International Day of Charity
➢ To commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of
Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
➢ Mother Teresa died on September 5th 1997.
➢ In 1928 came to India, where she devoted herself to helping the destitute.
➢ In 1948 she became an Indian citizen and founded the order of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkota
(Calcutta) in 1950.
Hartalika Teej 2024
➢ In 2024, Hartalika Teej Vrat will be celebrated on September 6.
➢ The name “Hartalika” comes from two Sanskrit words: “Harat,” meaning
abduction, and “Aalika,” meaning a female friend. According to mythology,
Goddess Parvati deeply desired to marry Lord Shiva.
World Duchenne Awareness Day 2024
➢ Recognizing the significance of DMD as one of the most common pediatric
genetic rare diseases, the United Nations General Assembly has designated
September 7th as World Duchenne Awareness Day.
➢ This observance will be officially recognized as a United Nations Day starting in
2024.
International Day of Police Cooperation 2024
➢ On September 7, the world observes the International Day of Police Cooperation,
recognizing the crucial role of law enforcement in global security.
➢ The International Day of Police Cooperation was officially designated by the
United Nations General Assembly through a resolution adopted on December 16, 2022.
➢ The choice of September 7 as the date for this observance is significant, as it coincides with the
centenary of INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization).
Brazilian Independence Day - 7 September
➢ Brazil Independence Day is a national holiday that is observed in Brazil every year on September
7.

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➢ Independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the
Algarves back on September 7, 1822.
About Brazil:
❖ Capital: Brasília Currency: Real (R$) (BRL)
❖ President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
International Day of Clean - Air for Blue Skies - 7 September
➢ Theme: Invest in #CleanAirNow.
➢ On November 26, 2019, the Second Committee of the 74th session of the United
Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 7 September as the
“International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.”
Parshuyan Parv - 7 September
➢ Paryushan Parv is a key Jain festival celebrated from August 31 to September 7.
➢ Paryushan Parv is a significant festival in Jainism, observed by both
Digambara and Shwetambar communities.
➢ It is a time for deep reflection, repentance, and redemption for Jains.
➢ The eight-day event focuses on spiritual cleansing through fasting, prayer, and meditation.
8 September - International Literacy Day
➢ International Literacy Day is observed on 8 September every year to make
people aware of the importance of literacy which no doubt is a matter of
dignity and human rights.
➢ Established by UNESCO in 1967, this day has grown into a global movement,
drawing attention to the challenges of illiteracy and advocating for accessible education for all.
➢ The theme for International Literacy Day 2024 is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for
Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
International Day to Protect Education from Attack
➢ The 5th Observance of the UN International Day to Protect Education
from Attack is set to take place on September 9, 2024, in Doha, Qatar.
➢ This crucial event will be held at the QNCC Auditorium 3, featuring a High-Level Panel led by Her
Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and UN SDG
Advocate.
World Suicide Prevention Day
➢ 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). WSPD is organized
by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).
➢ The triennial theme for WSPD for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on
Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation".
➢ This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open
conversations to prevent suicides.

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National Forest Martyrs Day
➢ National Forest Martyrs Day is observed annually on September 11 in India.
➢ The day is dedicated to honouring the brave souls who sacrificed their lives
protecting the country's forests, wildlife, and biodiversity.
12th September: International Day of South-South Cooperation
➢ The United Nations International Day of South-South Cooperation is
celebrated annually on September 12.
➢ 2024 theme: “A better tomorrow through South-South Cooperation”.
➢ It provides an opportunity for member states to reaffirm the value and benefits of South-South
cooperation.
14 September Hindi Diwas
➢ This day marks the anniversary of the Constituent Assembly of India’s decision
to adopt Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the
Republic of India on September 14, 1949.
➢ The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953.
➢ Constitution of India does not give any language the status of national language, Hindi in Devanagari
script is the official language of the central government and the Union as per Article 343.
➢ World Hindi Day is observed on January 10 to commemorate the first World Hindi Conference held
in January 1975 at Nagpur, Maharashtra. The first World Hindi Day was celebrated in 2006.
September 15 : Engineer’s Day
➢ The National Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year
across the country to mark the birth anniversary of M Visvesvaraya. The day is
observed to honour the contributions made by Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya in
the field of science and technology. In addition to India, Engineer’s Day is also
observed in Sri Lanka and Tanzania on September 15.
➢ In 1968, the Government of India declared Sir M Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineers’ Day.
Since then, this day has been marked to recognise and acknowledge all engineers who have
contributed and still do so to build a modern and developed India.
16 September - Malaysia Day
➢ Malaysia Day is celebrated on 16 September and is also known as
'Hari Malaysia'. On 16 September 1963.
➢ 2024 theme: "Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka"
September - 16 World Ozone Day
➢ Commemorating the date, in 1987, on which the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed.
➢ Proclaimed in 1994 by the United Nations General Assembly.
➢ Theme: Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action.

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What is the Montreal Protocol?
➢ It is an international treaty that aimed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-
depleting substances, primarily chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
➢ These substances were commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol propellants.
17 September World Patient Safety Day
➢ World Patient Safety Day, observed annually on 17 September, aims to
raise global awareness about patient safety and call for solidarity and united
action by all countries and international partners to reduce patient harm.
➢ Theme for World Patient Safety Day 2024: Focus on improving diagnosis for patient safety.
➢ Slogan: “Get it right, make it safe!”
Semptembr 18 – World Bamboo Day
➢ World Bamboo Day is observed on September 18 every year to raise awareness about bamboo
worldwide.
➢ The theme for World Bamboo Day 2024 is "Next Generation Bamboo:
Solution, Innovation, and Design.
➢ It was officially established by the World Bamboo organization at the 8th
World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.
➢ World Bamboo Organization: It was set up at the 1992 International Bamboo Congress in Japan.
19 September - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
➢ International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a parody holiday annually held
on September 19.
➢ Celebrated for the first time in 1995, the fun holiday encourages people
to talk and dress like the sea plunderers of yesteryears.
September 20 - “World Cleanup Day”
➢ Inaugural “World Cleanup Day” observed on September 20, 2024.
➢ On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy- eighth session,
unanimously adopted resolution to declare 20th September as
World Cleanup Day.
➢ Host city for year 2024: Tromsø, Norway
➢ Theme 2024: “Arctic Cities and Marine Litter”
September 21st - International Red Panda Day
➢ International Red Panda Day for year 2024 observed on September 21st.
➢ Every year, the third Saturday of September is dedicated to this endangered
species.
➢ The day was launched by the Red Panda Network in 2010.
➢ The red panda is listed as ‘endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s
(IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

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➢ Red Pandas are adorable creatures that reside in the Eastern Himalayas region of the world. This
includes places like China, Nepal, and Bhutan.
21st September - International Day of Peace
➢ The International Day of Peace is observed annually on September 21 to
promote peace and celebrate the power of global solidarity for a peaceful and
sustainable world.
➢ Also known as World Peace Day.
➢ 202T Theme: 'Cultivating a Culture of Peace’.
➢ The day marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the
Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace in 2024.
21st September - World Alzheimer's Day
➢ World Alzheimer's Day is observed annually on September 21st to raise
awareness about Alzheimer's disease and dementia, promote understanding,
and combat the stigma surrounding these conditions.
➢ Theme: "Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer’s”.
➢ Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) celebrated the organization's tenth anniversary by
introducing World Alzheimer's Day for the first time in 1994.
September 22nd - World Rivers Day
➢ World Rivers Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September every year to increase public
awareness about rivers and to encourage their conservation.
➢ World Rivers Day for year 2024 celebrated on September 22nd.
➢ The first World Rivers Day was observed in 2005.
➢ The proposal for such a celebration was initiated by renowned Canadian river
advocate Mark Angelo.
➢ Theme for year 2024: "Waterways of Life".
September 22nd World Rhino Day
➢ World Rhino Day is celebrated on 22nd September.
➢ The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the five endangered rhino
species: White Rhino, Black Rhino, Greater One Horned, Javan rhino, and
Sumatran Rhino.
➢ Rhinos are categorized as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List.
Sign Language Day 2024
➢ The UN General Assembly celebrates the International Day of Sign
Languages is observed annually on September 23 globally to celebrate the
richness of sign language culture and highlight the preservation and promotion
of the linguistic identity of all deaf people.
➢ This year’s theme “Sign up for Sign Language Rights” encourages global support for the legal

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 recognition of national sign languages.
September 24 - National Service Scheme (NSS) Day
➢ Celebrates the launch of the NSS program.
➢ The NSS was launched on September 24, 1969, during the birth centenary
year of Mahatma Gandhi.
➢ The NSS motto is “Not Me But You”
➢ NSS is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
➢ It provides an opportunity to the student youth of the 11th & 12th Class of schools and student youth
of colleges and University level of India to take part in various Government led community service
activities & programmes.
World Pharmacists Day on 25 September
➢ World Pharmacists Day, organized by the International Pharmaceutical
Federation (FIP), a WHO partner, is a day to recognize and celebrate the
crucial role that pharmacists play in building healthier communities
everywhere.
➢ Theme :“Pharmacists : Meeting global health needs.”
➢ It was adopted by the FIP Council in 2009.
September - 25 Antyodaya Diwas ’
➢ Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on September 25, which commemorates the birth
anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
➢ The term Antyodaya means “the rise of the last person in society.”
➢ First celebrated on September 25, 2014, marking the 98th birth anniversary
of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
➢ Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was born on September 25, 1916, in Mathura,
Uttar Pradesh, and his life was dedicated to the service of the nation and the upliftment of the
marginalized.
September 26 - World Maritime Day
➢ World Maritime Day is celebrated annually on the last Thursday of September,
and in 2024, it falls on September 26.
➢ This year’s theme for World Maritime Day, “Navigating the future: Safety first!”
September 26, 2024 - International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
➢ The United Nations (UN)'s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear
Weapons is annually observed across the globe on 26th September.
September 26 - World Environmental Health Day
➢ World Environmental Health Day 2024 falls on September 26 every year.
➢ 2024 theme: “Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities through
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”

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World Tourism Day 2024
➢ World Tourism Day (WTD) is commemorated each year on 27 September, celebrates the
significance of tourism in fostering cultural exchange, economic growth,
and international understanding.
➢ The theme for World Tourism Day 2024 is “Tourism and Peace.”
➢ World Tourism Day, established in 1980 by the UNWTO.
➢ The date, September 27, was chosen to commemorate the adoption of UNWTO statutes in
1975.
September 28th - World Rabies Day
➢ World Rabies Day is observed on September 28th.
➢ The first rabies vaccine was created by the French scientist and
microbiologist Louis Pasteur. His death, on 28 September 1895, is the
justification for why 28 September is marked every year as World Rabies Day.
➢ World Rabies Day was founded by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control in 2007 and later
promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
➢ Theme for year 2024: 'Breaking Rabies Boundaries'.
28th September - The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI)
➢ The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is observed on 28th
September.
➢ The day highlights the importance of providing equal access to information for
all individuals.
➢ The day was officially established by UNESCO on November 17, 2015.
➢ Ghana is the host country for year 2024 celebrations.
➢ Theme 2024: "Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public
Sector.“
29 September - World Heart Day
➢ World Heart Day is observed on September 29th.
➢ The day was first observed on September 24, 2000.
➢ The event was initially held on the last Sunday of September until 2011.
➢ In 2012, the date was changed to September 29.
➢ The theme for year 2024 is “Use Heart for Action.”
International Translation Day 2024
➢ Every year on September 30, International Translation Day is observed to
honour the invaluable contributions of translators and language specialists
worldwide.
➢ 2024 theme: “Translation, an Art Worth Protecting: Moral and Material Rights for Indigenous
Languages.”

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