Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC - 14th September 2023

 

National News 

1. NGEL partners with Nayara Energy for green hydrogen production

• State-run NTPC Green Energy (NGEL) has signed an MoU with Nayara Energy to explore opportunities in the green hydrogen and green energy space.
• The MoU envisages collaborating and producing green hydrogen for Nayara Energy’s captive usage, accelerating decarbonization and catalyzing reduction in carbon footprint. 
• This collaboration is in line with NTPC’s initiatives to develop hydrogen projects in India and aligns with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• NTPC plans to install 60 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity by 2032 and is currently working on a pipeline of more than 20 GW, out of which over 3 GW is operational capacity. 
• Nayara Energy owns India’s second-largest single-site refinery at Vadinar, Gujarat with a capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The company has over 6,000 operational retail outlets spread across India. 

Recent MoU 

• Google Cloud partners with MeitY to train government officials 
• India Post and Shiprocket partner to strengthen e-commerce export 
• Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and IIT-Guwahati sign pact to develop green carbon from bamboo dust 
• NITI Aayog and UNDP sign MoU on fast-tracking SDGs 
• AICTE partnered with Jio Institute for faculty development programme

2. Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated International Conference on Dam Safety 

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the International Conference on Dam Safety at Jaipur in Rajasthan. 
• Professionals from across the nation and about fifteen countries are expected to participate in the conference.
• There are over six thousand dams in India and it is ranked third globally in terms of large dams. Approximately 80 percent of these dams are over 25 years of age. 
• The conference aims to provide a major platform for experts to come together and debate cutting-edge topics in dam safety and management. 
• Dams have been essential to civilization’s development, and have played a multifaceted role in meeting the increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and flood protection

3. President launched Ayushman Bhav Campaign

• President Droupadi Murmu has launched Ayushman Bhav campaign aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring healthcare for all. 
• She launched the campaign of the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry through video conferencing from Raj Bhawan in Gandhinagar. 
• The Ayushman Bhav campaign is a comprehensive nationwide healthcare initiative that aims to provide saturation coverage of healthcare services, reaching every village and town in the country. 
• The campaign will be implemented during the Seva Pakhwada (Service Fortnight) from 17th September (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Birthday) to 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti). 
• The campaign embodies a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach. It unites government sectors, civil society organizations and communities under a common mission to ensure that every individual receives essential health services without any disparity or exclusion. 
• The Ayushman Bhav campaign is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Gram Panchayats in coordination with the Department of Health, other government departments, and local elected bodies in rural and urban areas. 
• The campaign has three components, Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres and Community Health Centres and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat. 

President Murmu in News 

• President Murmu confers ‘National Teachers’ Award for 2023 on 75 teachers 
• President Murmu unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and ‘Gandhi Vatika’ in New Delhi 
• President Murmu launches advanced frigate Vindhyagiri in banks of Hooghly River, Kolkata 
• President Murmu inaugurated unique ‘Festival of Libraries 2023’ in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. 
• President Murmu inaugurates new Jharkhand High Court building

4. 4th G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting begins in Varanasi

• The 4th G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting began at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to finalize the 2023 G20 Sustainable Finance Report. 
• The two-day meeting under India’s G20 Presidency brings together over 80 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and International Organizations. Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Areas on market development and approaches to align investments to sustainability goals. 
• SFWG aims to scale up private and public sustainable finance, accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Recent Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting

• 1st G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting – Guwahati, Assam (2 – 3 February 2023)
• 2nd G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting – Udaipur, Rajasthan (21 -23 March 2023) 
• 3rd G20 Sustainable Finane Working Group Meeting – Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu (19- 21 June 2023) 

5. High Court stays CID proceedings 93-yea against TDP chief till September 18 

• Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy at the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday restrained the A.P. Crime Investigation Department (CID) from taking former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in custody in 'skill development' project scam' case till September 18 (Monday). 
• This directive was in response to a petition filed by Mr. Naidu seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him, and also the remand order issued by Vijayawada ACB Court on September 10. 
• The court directed the ACB Court not to hear the petition filed by the CID to obtain Mr. Naidu's custody was up until September 18 and adjourned the case for further hearings to September 19. The petition is scheduled to be heard on September 13. 
• In his quashed petition, Mr. Naidu said he was implicated as accused no. 37 in the FIR for the alleged offenses are punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act). He said that his name had initially not been figured in the FIR, but was added subsequently. 
• Mr. Naidu pointed out that his name had come into the picture in 2022 after an Accordingly, the High accused gave a statement about the alleged swindling of funds of the A.P. State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) through companies. some 
• APSSDC and Siemens Industry Software India Pvt. charged. Ltd. (SIEMENS) signed an MoU in 2017 for establishing Centres of Excellence, technical skill development institutions, and skill development centers in pursuance of G.O. Ms. No.4, he said. 
• Therefore, APSSDC Chairman K. Ajay Reddy's GROW complaint was against SIE- of evidence that MENS, DesignTech, and Wedn other companies, and Jud there "is absolutely no mention of my name and role," Mr. Naidu said. 
• He further stated that the CID "suddenly felt on September 8, 2023, that his arrest was necessary." Nas sole aim of the State was to implicate me in a false craft mini case with politically motives, Mr. Naidu 
• The High Court also posted Mr. Naidu's petition for bail in the Amaravathi Inner Ring Road case for hearing to September 19.

6. Transfer of personal data under the UN treaty will be under Domestic Laws: India 

• As United Nations member states negotiate a treaty to counter cybercrime, India has made suggestions at the international forum that the transfer of "personal data" under the The convention will be done in accordance with the country's domestic laws and not other applicable international laws. 
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act enacted by Parliament in August says that personal data can be processed "in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India or security of the state" for "fulfilling any obligation under the law".
• Act that came into force on August 12 after the president of India required firms to disclose to users the identity of other firms to which their data would be entrusted for processing, but they are explicitly exempt from disclosing or sharing such data in case of lawful interception of data. 
• The Union Home Ministry recently reviewed the draft of the UN CyberCrime Convention to discuss the necessary changes in the existing system if this convention is signed and ratified by India. convention, which has been at the negotiating table for the past three years is expected to be ratified at the UN General Assembly, receiving assent in 2024. 
• In the sixth session of the "Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes", India asked for the deletion of a clause encouraging state parties to "establish multilateral arrangements" to transfer personal data.
• India also agreed to the clause that state parties may transfer personal data to a third country only with the prior written authorization of the original transferring party. 

International News

7. Death toll due to floods caused by Hurricane Daniel in Libya exceeds five thousand 

• At least 5300 people are feared dead due to floods caused by Hurricane Daniel in Libya, more than 10 thousand people are still missing, at least 30,000 people will be displaced. A quarter of Libya's eastern city of Derna was destroyed after a dam broke due to the storm. 
• The storm was named by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (Greece). More than 1500 bodies have been recovered in Derna alone. There is a possibility of the death toll increasing further. Bridges over the Derna River linking the eastern and western parts of the city also collapsed, according to the UN migration agency. 
• Meanwhile, aid has started reaching Libya from various countries including Egypt. America, Germany, Iran, Italy, Qatar, and Turkey have also informed about sending aid material. Meanwhile, rescue efforts are being hampered by the political situation in Libya. 
• Hurricane Daniel, which hit the Mediterranean Sea last week, also caused damage to Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. Meteorologists have also issued warnings of this storm in western parts of Egypt. 
• According to scientists, climate change is the major reason for this storm. He has also warned that water turning into vapor during summer could lead to more such storms. 
• Much of Derna was built by Italy when Libya was under Italian occupation in the first half of the 20th century. The city was a hotbed of extremist groups in the years of chaos that followed a The NATO-backed uprising that overthrew and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi in 2011.

8. Tesla to source $2 bn in auto parts from Indian firms in 2023' 

• Tesla is likely to ramp up its sourcing from India this year to a little under $2 billion and while the government is keen to attract in- vestors like the Texas-based electric automobile player, it will frame a policy for the sector that does not favor a single player, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.  
• Last year, Tesla bought $1 billion of components from Indian companies like yours, I have the list of companies who supplied to Tesla. This year, that target is nearly $1.7 or $1.9 billion is what they men- tioned," Mr. Goyal told members of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) at their annual session. The minister added that other auto players had also evinced interest in investing in India.

9. Sarbananda Sonowal participated Eastern Economic Forum in Russia

• Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has represented India at the eighth Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. 
• The objective of the meeting is to maintain strong ties and foster strategic, trade, and logistical cooperation across various sectors.
• Sonowal expressed confidence that his visit will catalyze the efforts to develop an alternative trade route between Vladivostok and Chennai.
• The Eastern Maritime Corridor is aimed at reducing cargo transit times between the two nations.

10. NATO’s Largest Military Exercise Since The Cold War: “Steadfast Defender” 

• NATO member countries are gearing up to conduct their most extensive military exercise since the Cold War era. Set to commence in the spring of the following year, this ambitious undertaking is aimed at simulating various military scenarios, with a primary focus on defense against a hypothetical adversary resembling a Russian-led coalition known as Occasus. 
• This expansive military exercise is expected to encompass a multitude of elements, showcasing NATO’s commitment to readiness and collective defense. 
• The overarching objective of this exercise, codenamed “Steadfast Defender,” is to refine NATO’s transformation from a crisis response organization into a robust war-fighting alliance. The scenario envisages repelling a hypothetical Russian-led attack on a NATO member state.

11. JAF chief takes delivery of first C-295 transport aircraft in Spain 

• Marking a major revamp of its transport fleet, the Indian Air Force on Wednesday received the first C-295 MW transport air- craft from Airbus. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari formally received symbolic keys to the first aircraft at the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain. The 56 C-295 aircraft will replace the aging Avro aircraft.
• "It's a momentous day for us, the IAF in particular and the nation as a whole, to be receiving the first air- craft which marks the be- ginning of a new era... where we will be manufacturing a military aircraft in India," the IAF chief said while speaking to press persons on the sidelines of the handover ceremony. 
• Under the contract, 16 aircraft will come in fly-away condition from Seville while 40 will be manufactured by Airbus jointly with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL). Work is underway to set up the final assembly line (FAL) at Vadodara in Gujarat and the first aircraft manufactured in India will be delivered in September 2026, as reported by The Hindu earlier. 
• "Today, Airbus handed over the first C295 for India in fly-away condition. It comes in transport configuration, equipped with an Indian electronic warfare suite, and will replace the Indian Air Force's aging Avro-748 fleet. In the next few days, a joint IAF-Airbus crew will fly the aircraft from Seville to Delhi," Airbus Defence and Space said in a statement. 
• In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a 22,000-crore deal with Airbus and Space S.A Spain for the procurement of 56 C-295 MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF. 
• The first 16 C295s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025, Airbus said.
• "C-295 aircraft deal is valued at around $2.5 billion, and it will significantly impact bilateral relations as well as economic ties between India and Spain," Indian envoy in Spain Dinesh K. Patnaik told PTI at the ceremony. 
• Jean-Brice Dumont, AirBus's Head of Military Air Systems, noted that it was only two years ago that the contract was signed with India, the largest order in the history of the C-295.
• Indigenous radar warning receiver and missile approach warning systems made by Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and countermeasure dispensing sys- tem made by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) have been certified and installed on the first aircraft.
• Production of components for the aircraft to be made in India has already started in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad and these parts will be shipped to Vadodara FAL, which is expected to be operational by November 2024.
• The 56th and final air- craft is expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031, the statement said. 
• The C-295, with a carrying capacity of nine tonnes, can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, air-drop cargo, be used for medical evacuation and take off and land on short and unpaved runways, according to Airbus.JAF chief takes delivery of first C-295 transport aircraft in Spain 
• Marking a major revamp of its transport fleet, the Indian Air Force on Wednesday received the first C-295 MW transport air- craft from Airbus. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari formally received symbolic keys to the first aircraft at the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain. The 56 C-295 aircraft will replace the aging Avro aircraft. 
• "It's a momentous day for us, the IAF in particular and the nation as a whole, to be receiving the first air- craft which marks the be- ginning of a new era... where we will be manufacturing a military aircraft in India," the IAF chief said while speaking to press persons on the sidelines of the handover ceremony. 
• Under the contract, 16 air- craft will come in fly-away condition from Seville while 40 will be manufactured by Airbus jointly with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL). Work is underway to set up the final assembly line (FAL) at Vadodara in Gujarat and the first aircraft manufactured in India will be delivered in September 2026, as reported by The Hindu earlier. 
• "Today, Airbus handed over the first C295 for India in fly-away condition. It comes in transport configuration, equipped with an Indian electronic warfare suite, and will replace the Indian Air Force's aging Avro-748 fleet. In the next few days, a joint IAF-Airbus crew will fly the aircraft from Seville to Delhi," Airbus Defence and Space said in a statement. 
• In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a 22,000-crore deal with Airbus and Space S.A Spain for procurement of 56 C-295 MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF. 
• The first 16 C295s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025, Airbus said. 
• "C-295 aircraft deal is valued at around $2.5 billion, and it will significantly impact bilateral relations as well as economic ties between India and Spain," Indian envoy in Spain Dinesh K. Patnaik told PTI at the ceremony. 
• Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus's Head of Military Air Systems, noted that it was only two years ago that the contract was signed with India, the largest order in the history of the C-295. 
• Indigenous radar warning receiver and missile approach warning systems made by Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and countermeasure dispensing system made by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) have been certified and installed on the first aircraft. 
• Production of components for the aircraft to be made in India has already started in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad and these parts will be shipped to Vadodara FAL, which is expected to be operational by November 2024. 
• The 56th and final aircraft is expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031, the statement said. 
• The C-295, with a carrying capacity of nine tonnes, can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, air-drop cargo, be used for medical evacuation, and take off and land on short and unpaved runways, according to Airbus.

12. UN Women Releases Progress Report ‘Gender Snapshot 2023’ on Sustainable Development Goals 

• UN Women and UN DESA have released the latest report in the annual series “The Gender Snapshot 2023”, jointly produced by UN Women and UN DESA. 'It highlights the grim reality surrounding progress towards achieving gender equality by 2030, as set by the United Nations.' 
• Halfway through 2030, progress on SDG 5 – gender equality – has clearly derailed, with only two Goal 5 indicators “close to target” and no SDG 5 indicators at the “target met or almost met” level. 
• If current trends continue, more than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030, and one in four will experience moderate or severe food insecurity. 
• Increasing insecurity due to human-induced climate change could worsen this outlook, as more than 236 million women and girls would be food-insecure under a worst-case climate scenario. 
• The gender gap in positions of power and leadership remains deep, and at the current rate of progress, the next generation of women will still spend an average of 2.3 hours more per day on unpaid care and domestic work than men. 
• No country is on track to eliminate intimate partner violence, and women's share of workplace management positions will remain below parity even by 2050. Reasonable progress has been made in girls' education, but completion rates remain below the universal mark. 
• In July 2010, the UN General Assembly created UN Women, the UN Unit for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to address such challenges.

13. India and Russia discuss ways of boosting maritime ties 

• India and Russia on Wednesday discussed ways of widening maritime cooperation. 
• They discussed the possibility of exploring the use of new transport corridors such as the Northern Sea Route as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai. They agreed that Indian seafarers would be trained in polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute.

State news

14. According to ADR report, Kerala has the highest number of criminal cases against MPs

• According to a latest report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), 306 (40%) of the 763 Members of Parliament (MPs) have declared criminal cases against themselves.
• Kerala (73%) tops the list of MPs declaring criminal cases in their self-sworn affidavits, followed by Bihar, Maharashtra and Telangana. 
• Bihar (50%) has the highest percentage of MPs with serious criminal cases, followed by Telangana (9%), Kerala (10%), Maharashtra (34%) and Uttar Pradesh (37%). Key facts 
• All India Trinamool Congress has the highest percentage of MPs who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The data has been extracted from the affidavits filed by MPs before contesting their last elections. 
• About 194 (25%) MPs have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.
• If we look at party-wise figures, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 139 (36%) out of 385 MPs, 
• Congress has 43 (53%) out of 81 MPs,
• Trinamool has 14 (39%) out of 36 MPs. 
• According to the affidavit submitted, 32 MPs have declared cases of 'attempt to murder' (IPC section 307). 21 sitting MPs have declared cases related to crimes against women. Of them, 4 MPs have declared cases related to rape (IPC section 376).
• The average assets per MP of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is ₹38.33 crore. Telangana (24 MPs) has the highest average wealth of MPs with an average asset of ₹262.26 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh (36 MPs) with an average asset of ₹150.76 crore and Punjab (20 MPs) with an average asset of ₹88.94 crore.

15. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Lays Foundation Stone Of Saragarhi Memorial In Ferozpur 

• Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann made a significant announcement that marks a profound tribute to the valiant Sikh warriors who gave their lives in the historic Battle of Saragarhi. A state-of-the-art monument, dedicated to commemorating the martyrdom of 21 brave Sikh soldiers, will grace the landscape of Ferozepur, with an ambitious timeline of completion within six months. 
• In addition to the Saragarhi memorial, Chief Minister Mann unveiled his vision of developing Ferozepur district as a prominent tourism hub in the state. This district holds historical significance, housing not only the Saragarhi memorial but also the Hussainiwala Memorial, where renowned freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev, and Shaheed Rajguru were martyred. Chief Minister Mann aspires to showcase these historically significant sites to attract tourists from around the world.

16. State Health Minister Balbir Singh Launches “Mission Intensified Indra Dhanush” 5.0 In Mohali, Punjab

• The State Health Minister of Punjab, Balbir Singh, inaugurated “Mission Intensified Indra Dhanush” 5.0. The launch took place at Dr. BR Ambedkar Medical College in Mohali, Punjab. This mission, initially scheduled for August but delayed due to flooding in the state, aims to provide vaccination against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD). 
• The mission intends to cover pregnant women who have received partial vaccination or remain unvaccinated. Additionally, it seeks to reach out to children aged 0-5 years who may have missed their vaccinations. 
• Over the course of the mission, a total of 6156 vaccination sessions will be organized throughout the state of Punjab. The vaccination teams will focus their efforts on reaching remote areas, especially brick kilns and places where migratory laborers reside. Identification and vaccination of individuals in these areas will be a top priority.

17. Odisha govt approves nine industrial projects worth over Rs 1 lakh cr 

• The Odisha government has approved nine industrial projects involving a cumulative investment of Rs 1,01,804 crore. 
• The projects are expected to create employment for over 28,000 people. 
• The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the investment projects during its meeting. 
• These projects will be set up in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Paradeep, Bhadrak, Ganjam, and Koraput districts. 
• The projects include a 5-integrated steel plant by JSW Stee, a pellet plant by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, a cement grinding unit by Shree Cement Ltd, and others. 
• In the steel sector, the government has approved the proposal of JSW Utkal Steel Limited to enhance the capacity of its proposed integrated steel plant at Jatadhar in Jagatsinghpur district from 12 MTPA (million ton per annum) to 24 MTPA with an investment of Rs 75,000 crore. 
• The HLCA has also approved the proposal of Jindal Ferrous Limited to establish a 2.35 MTPA carbon steel plant at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district, with an investment of Rs 3,449 crore. 
• Similarly, a Rs 1,500 crore investment proposal by MSP Metallics Ltd to expand its unit at Marakuta in Jharsuguda also got the nod of the state government. 

About Odisha

• Capital – Bhubaneswar 
• Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik 
• Governor – Ganeshi Lal 

18. Transgender Pride Walk held for the first time in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 

• Nearly 1,000 people took part in the first-ever Transgender Pride Walk in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to raise awareness about the poor treatment and conditions of trans people. It included performances by children rescued from beggary. Attendees from various disadvantaged groups also showed their solidarity.
• Led by LGBTQ members, a Pride Walk was organized to sensitize people about accepting them as they are and to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September. 
• The walk was organized by UP- based Adashiv Transgender Foundation, a transgender rights group. The Trans Pride Walk started from Ambedkar Park and ended at 1090 intersection in Lucknow. 
• The rally saw attendees dressed in colorful attire, displaying their pride and their fashion equally. In the programme, dance and short drama were presented by children rescued from begging. 
• Apart from members of the trans community, members of many other marginalized groups also walked under the rainbow balloon, and came to show their solidarity with the issue, including acid attack victims, sex workers, members of the transgender community and others.

19. Ancient terracotta figurines found at a megalithic period, dolmen site near Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada 

• Recent archaeological explorations at the megalithic dolmen site at Muddu Konaje near Moodabidri in Karnataka, Dakshina Kannada have found unique terracotta figurines in various states of preservation along with bone and iron fragments. 
• According to T. Murugeshi, retired associate professor of the department of ancient history and archeology at Mulki Sundar Rama Shetty College, Shirva in Udupi district, the idols were dated to 800-700 BCE. 
• Of the eight idols found, two were of cows, one of a mother goddess, two peacocks, one of a horse, one hand of the mother goddess and an unknown object. The megalithic site at Mudu Konaje was discovered and reported by historian and researcher Pundikai Ganapayya Bhat in the 1980s. 
• Mr Murugeshi said it was the largest megalithic dolmen site consisting of nine dolmens on the slope of a stone hill. But only two dolmens are safe, and the rest of the tombs are ruined. 
• The Megalithic culture in India is known for its various types of burials and the use of iron. Dolmen is one of them. Below the dolmen, huge stone slabs known as orthostats were erected in clockwise order. 
• The terracotta figurines found in the megalithic context at Mudu Konaje are a rare discovery in India. Cow breeds found in dolmens help determine the chronology of the dolmens. 
• Terracottas found in megalithic cemeteries provide a solid foundation for the study of ghost cult or divine worship in coastal Karnataka. Likenesses of cow bovines or cow goddesses were in the Malampuzha megalithic terracotta sculptures of Kerala and Egypt.

Banking and Financial News

20. NABARD partners with UNDP to boost data-driven innovations

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have signed a MoU to co-create data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to support smallholder farmers.
• Under the MoU, the organizations will work to improve lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by sharing open-source data for product development, transfer of technology and supporting the framing of agrarian policies.
• The partnership aims at enhancing and disseminating collaborative digital public goods like DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture). 
• DiCRA provides open access to key geospatial datasets pertinent to climate-resilient agriculture. 
• DiCRA, which is curated by UNDP and partner organizations to inform public about investments in agriculture, already provides intelligence on climate resilience for 50 million hectares of farmland across the country. 

Recent MoU in Banking Sector

• IREDA signed MoU with the Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda to co-finance renewable energy (RE) projects.
• astercard partners with KredX to Make B2B Payments Rewarding for Vendors 
• Indian Bank partners with OneCard to launch mobile-first, premium credit card 
• REC signs USD 100 million Loan Agreement with EXIM Bank 
• IREDA signs MoU with IIFCL to finance renewable energy projects

21. HSBC India became the first foreign bank in India to launch ‘ONDC in a Box’ 

• Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) India has launched ‘ONDC in a Box’, a one-stop-shop proposition for corporates towards seamless enablement on ONDC.
• With this launch, HSBC India became the first foreign bank in India to offer an ONDC-enabled proposition. 
• The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to build an open, interoperable network on which buyers and sellers can transact without needing to be present on the same platform. 
• ONDC aims at fostering an inclusive, competitive, and open network, amplifying its impact across the business spectrum. 
• Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector 
• AU Small Finance launches Zenith Metal credit card 
• SBI Card adds new features to AURUM super premium credit card 
• SBI Card launched new credit card Simply SAVE Merchant SBI Card for MSMEs to cater shortterm credit needs 
• Bank of Baroda enables UPI ATM facility at over 6,000 ATMs 
• NPCI launched two conversational payment initiatives ‘Hello UPI’ & ‘Bharat BillPay Connect’

22. DBS Bank unveils metaverse adventure on ‘DBS Better World’ 

• DBS Bank has unveiled its metaverse concept for DBS Better World, a gamified adventure for metaverse use cases. 
• Through DBS Better World, we aim to drive awareness about issues such as food waste and create engagement opportunities.
• This intends to align with the DBS Foundation’s focus on championing social enterprises that bridge gaps within food and agricultural value chains. 

About Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) Bank

• Founded – 1968 
• Headquarters – Singapore 
• Chairman – Peter Seah 
• CEO – Piyush Gupta 
• DBS Bank India’ CEO- Surojit Shome 

23. GQG Partners acquires 5 crore shares of IDFC First Bank via block deal 

• GQG Partners has acquired about 5.1 crore equity shares of IDFC First Bank Ltd’s MD & CEO in a ₹479.50-crore block deal transaction. 
• MD & CEO of IDFC Bank, Vaidyanathan’s shareholding in IDFC FIRST Bank will increase from 0.58% as of June 30, 2023, to 1.04%. 
• The net proceeds of the sale of ₹478.7 crore will be used to subscribe for new shares of the bank through the exercise of options, to pay associated income tax, and to make contributions to specific pre-committed social causes
• Out of the ₹478.7 crore sales proceeds, ₹229 crore would be paid to IDFC First Bank to subscribe to new shares of the bank.
• ₹240.5 crore towards income tax payment for exercising the stock options and ₹9.2 crore towards contribution to pre-committed causes including, the National Association of Blind for skilling and rehabilitation of blind people, contribution to Birla Institute of Technology Scholarship Program where he studied, and contribution to Rukmini Social Trust, and other such social contributions. 
• In December 2018, Capital First merged with IDFC Bank. As part of the Amalgamation Scheme, which IDFC Bank and Capital First jointly agreed upon, these Capital First CMD stock options were converted to IDFC First Bank stock options. 

About IDFC First Bank 

• Founded – October 2015 
• Headquarters – Mumbai 
• MD & CEO – V. Vaidyanathan

24. Bharti AXA Life introduces “Income Laabh” to simplify insurance 

• Bharti AXA Life Insurance has launched a new product “Bharti AXA Life Income Laabh” with an aim to simplify insurance and deliver maximum protection to its consumers. 
• The plan provides financial protection and a steady income stream to consumers. 
• The newly launched plan provides customers with a steady stream of guaranteed income for 10 to 12 years, depending on the policy term they choose. 
• It starts with an initial income pay-out equivalent to 100 percent of the annual premium paid by the policyholder. After 5 years, for those opting for a 10-year policy term, the income increases to 150 percent. Similarly, for a 12-year policy term, the income sees a boost of 200 percent after 6 years. 
• MD & CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance – Parag Raja 

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• SBI Life Insurance launches its very first ‘LifeVerse Studio’ on Meta 
• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launches ICICI Pru GIFT Pro income plan 
• Mastercard launches ALT ID solution for enhanced online payments
• SBI introduces UPI interoperability in Digital Rupee 
• Paytm launches new ‘Soundbox’ that enables card payments 

 

Science and Technology News

25. Amazon’s AWS Partners With ISRO To Enhance AI Capabilities With Cloud Technologies 

• Amazon Web Services (AWS), a major player in the cloud computing industry, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). This collaboration aims to support space-tech innovations through cloud computing, opening up exciting possibilities in the space sector. 
• ISRO, IN-SPACe, and AWS will collaborate to foster and expand the startup community within the space-tech sector. AWS will extend support to eligible space startups through the AWS Activate program, offering tools, resources, and expert technical assistance at no cost. 
• This support aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative space solutions. Additionally, startups will gain access to AWS’s global expertise in building aerospace and satellite solutions through the AWS Space Accelerator program.

26. NASA’s MOXIE Successfully Generates Oxygen On Mars

• The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, commonly referred to as MOXIE, has achieved a remarkable feat by producing a substantial 122 grams of oxygen, a quantity sufficient for sustaining a small dog’s breathing for approximately 10 hours.. This compact device, roughly the size of a microwave, possesses an extraordinary capability: it can convert the tenuous and inhospitable Martian atmosphere into vital, life sustaining oxygen. 
• Since the moment Percy, the Mars Perseverance rover, touched down on the Martian surface, MOXIE has been operating flawlessly. To date, it has generated a remarkable 122 grams of oxygen, averaging an impressive rate of 12 grams per hour. This achievement is more than double NASA’s initial goal for MOXIE, and the oxygen produced boasts an impressive purity level of 98% or better. 17.Scrub Typhus 
• Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a bacterial disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected chiggers, which are tiny larvae that develop into mites. In a surprising development, scrub typhus was detected in North Carolina in July 2023. 
• Scrub typhus can affect individuals of all ages and genders equally. However, certain factors increase the risk of contracting the disease. People are more likely to get scrub typhus if they come into contact with areas where chiggers thrive, such as rural or forested environments with specific conditions. 
• Antibiotics are the most effective treatment for scrub typhus. Early treatment is crucial for a faster recovery. Doxycycline is commonly prescribed, which can be taken orally or administered via intravenous (IV) injection. Children may receive a shorter course of treatment to minimize potential side effects.

Appointment and Resignation News 

27. Joshit Ranjan Sikidar takes over as Director (Finance) of SECI 

• Joshit Ranjan Sikidar has taken over as the Director (Finance) of the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
• Before this appointment, Sikidar was working as Group General Manager (Finance) and the Company Secretary of RITES Ltd. 
• Sikidar is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Cost Accountant and holds an MBA in Finance. 
• The SECI is a Miniratna company. 
• Sikidar has also worked with RITES for more than four years, over 16 years in NSPCL — a joint venture of NTPC & SAIL– and more than nine years in SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant. 
• Recent Appointment 
• MD & CEO Tata Steel – TV Narendran (reappointment) 
• Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway – Shyam Sunder Gupta (replace Mukul Jain) 
• Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications – Neeraj Mittal (replace K Rajaraman) 
• Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology – S Krishnan (replace Alkesh Kumar Sharma) 
• Secretary in the Ministry of Mines – VL Kantha Rao 
• Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs – Umang Narul
• Important day 14 September – Hindi Diwas 
• Indians on 14 September celebrate National ‘Hindi Diwas’. 
• On this day in 1949, the Hindi language was adopted as one of the official languages of the Republic of India. 
• Written in the Devanagari script, the Constitution of India accepted Hindi language as the official language of India on 14 September 1949. And, on 14 September 1953, India celebrated the first Hindi day (Hindi Diwas). 
• About 425 million people speak Hindi as their first language and about 120 million people speak Hindi as their second language.
• The Hindi language is majorly spoken in states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Punjab. In terms of countries, Hindi is also spoken in Mauritius, Nepal, Fuji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago. 
• This day also marks the birthday of the Indian writer Simha who worked tirelessly to make Hindi one of the official languages. 
• The Indian constitution recognizes 22 major languages of India in what is known as “the 8th Schedule” of the Constitution. These include Sanskrit, Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Santali, Sindhi, and Urdu. 
• Originally, only 14 languages were included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution. Bodo, Dogri, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Nepali, Santali, and Sindhi were recognized later.

Obituary News

28. Ian Wilmut, inventor of Dolly the sheep, dies at the age of 79 

• Ian Wilmut, the British embryologist who led the team that cloned the first mammal from an adult cell, known as Dolly the Sheep, has died at the age of 79. 
• Wilmut died on 11 September 2023 at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018. His team at the university's Roslyn Institute for Animal Biosciences has cloned a lamb using the nucleus of an adult sheep cell. 
• It was initially referred to as "6LL3" in academic papers, later named Dolly after singer Dolly Parton. Wilmut was knighted in 2008 and retired from the university in 2012, the Roslin Institute said. 
• A year after Dolly's birth, then-US President Bill Clinton announced a ban on human cloning experiments, banning all cloning research. About six years after birth, the sheep developed an incurable lung tumor and scientists euthanized it.

Ranks and Reports News

29. Centre’s Report Says India Has 150 Elephant Corridors 

• A recent report by the Union Environment Ministry has shed light on the state of elephant corridors in India. According to this comprehensive report titled “Elephant Corridors of India,” the country boasts at least 150 elephant corridors, spread across 15 range-states, and encompassing four major elephant-bearing regions. 
• This is a significant increase from the 88 corridors identified in the 2010 Elephant Task Force report, known as the “Gajah report.” This expanded understanding of elephant corridors signifies the evolving challenges and the growing awareness of the importance of conserving these vital pathways. 
• West Bengal emerges as the frontrunner in this report, with a staggering 26 elephant corridors, accounting for over 17 percent of the total corridors in India. Among the four major elephant-bearing regions in the country, the east-central region tops the list with 52 corridors, followed by the northeast region with 48, and the southern region with 32. In contrast, the northern region has the lowest number of elephant corridors at 18. 

Awards News

30. RITES Ltd Wins ‘Safety Innovation Award 2023 

• RITES Limited has been honoured with the ‘Safety Innovation Award 2023’, under the ‘Construction’ category, for implementing ‘Innovative Safety Management Systems’ in its operations.
• The award was presented to RITES’ officials during the inaugural function of the 20th Safety Convention organized by The Institution of Engineers (India), the largest multidisciplinary professional body of engineers, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi.
• RITES, having multi-sectoral presence, has consistently embraced best safety practices in its operations, exemplifying its commitment to prioritizing safety measures at worksites. RITES remains resolute in its mission to create a safer and more secure infrastructure environment, delivering services that uphold stringent safety protocols, irrespective of geographical or logistical challenges.