Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC - 6th September 2023

National News 

1. WHO releases 'Gujarat Declaration' on traditional medicine. 

• The "Gujarat Declaration" is a document that the World Health Organization (WHO) announced as the result of the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in 2023. The declaration reiterated international commitment to traditional, alternative, and integrative medicine, biodiversity, and indigenous knowledge. 
• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of AYUSH co-hosted the first Global Summit on Traditional Medicine from August 17–18, 2023, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 
• According to a release from the Ministry of AYUSH, the declaration reiterated international commitment to traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine, biodiversity, and Indigenous knowledge. 
• In order to better understand, assess, and, where necessary, apply more holistic, context-specific, complex, and individualized approaches to everyone's health and well-being, the WHO emphasized the necessity for the application of rigorous scientific methodologies. 
• To assist in the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and all health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Gujarat Manifesto advocates for stepping up efforts to further apply evidence-based TCIM (Traditional Complementary Integrative Medicine) therapies and practices.

World Health Organization (WHO) 

• To assist in the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and all health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Gujarat Manifesto advocates for stepping up efforts to further apply evidence-based TCIM (Traditional Complementary Integrative Medicine) therapies and practices. 

2. G20 in the News (Note: India currently holds the G20 presidency) 

• Mojitendra Singh opens the S20 Conference in Uttar Pradesh.
• The G20-sponsored S20 Conference was opened by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh at the Noida campus of Amity University in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Amity has established a global standard for education. The entire nation of India is extremely proud of its G20 presidency. 
• Clean Energy for a Greener Future, Universal Holistic Health, Science for Society and Culture, and Media's Role in Science and Culture are some of the subjects it tackles. 
• Disruptive science, often known as transformative science, is the conference's theme. Bengaluru, Karnataka will host the G20 One Health Workshop (29–31 August 2023) 
• Gandhinagar, Gujarat will host the second G20 Chief Scientific Adviser's Meeting on August 28, 2023. 
• 25–27 August 2023: New Delhi will host the B20 Summit.
• Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh will host the fourth G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) from August 23 to 26. 
• Jaipur, Rajasthan will host the 4th G20 Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting (August 21–22, 2023) 

3. The conference "Pilot Green Hydrogen in India" was held in advance 

• Ahead of the highly anticipated G20 summit, an important conference focusing on Green Hydrogen Pilot Projects in India’ was held in New Delhi on September 5. 
• Organized by NTPC Limited, a leading Indian public sector company, this one-day event showcases a series of notable green hydrogen initiatives, combining the efforts of various entities in the public and private sectors. 
• The main goal of this conference is to absorb information and encourage open dialogue among industry pioneers. Participants are encouraged to share their achievements and challenges, fostering a spirit of collaboration among early adopters of green hydrogen technology. Opening of the 10th Conference of Ministers of Law and Justice of SCO countries.

4. 10th meeting of the ministers of law and justice of the SCO countries 

• The 10th meeting of the ministers of law and justice of the SCO countries was held via video conference, during which a number of important initiatives and cooperation efforts were discussed. 
• Attorney General of India Arjun Ram Meghwal reiterated India's commitment to the SCO Charter based on principles such as mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and mutual benefit. He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India as a global friend and emphasized the importance of trust in government policies and practices. 
• The Government of India recognizes the need for the legal and judicial system to evolve in parallel with changing social realities. Minister Meghwal highlighted recent initiatives to replace colonial-era laws, such as the Indian Penal Code (1860), the Indian Evidence Act (1872), and the Code of Criminal Procedure (1898). These alternatives draw on traditional legal knowledge while meeting the needs of modern India. 

5. Center signs MoU with Adobe to help children learn AI 

• The Union Ministry of Education has partnered with software giant Adobe to promote creative expression and digital literacy among students and teachers through the use of Adobe Express, an application innovation developed by Adobe.
• As part of this program, Adobe is committed to providing free access to Adobe Express Premiums for schools nationwide. This access allows students to unleash their creativity and provides a user-friendly platform for teachers to foster digital literacy and creative skills. of students.
• Additionally, Adobe will create professional development opportunities for 500,000 teachers. These training programs will equip teachers with the skills needed to effectively use Adobe Express and the ability to create digital learning content. Those who complete the training will receive the prestigious Adobe Creative Educators Certificate, recognizing their commitment to improving the learning experience for their students. 

6. Bharat replaced India in the G20 Presidential invitation

• Instead of the usual words "President of India", the invitation card has the words "President Bharat". 
• The opposition questioned the reasons for the change, while ministers and the ruling party leaders welcomed the move. 
• BJP national secretary Sambit Patra posted about Prime Minister Bharat. 
• Opposition leaders believe that switching to 'Bharat' instead of India in communication is a way to prevent INDIA from being identified by the country's name. 
• The Constitution clearly states that 'India i.e. Bharat is a Union of States', so why is a change It's necessary,' said a senior Union minister. The bloc of INDIAN parties has tried to rebuild - reduce the country's identity to their alliance, which is not good, and therefore the use of the name 'Bharat' is a decolonizing nomenclature just to get rid of this country's name. Shortened exercises are necessary," the minister declared. 

7. SC reserves judgment on petitions under Article 370 

• The petitioners are represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Kapil Sibal and Gopal Subramanium, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, and Gopal Sankaranarayanan said the Union had used a brute majority in the Assembly and issued a series of executive orders through the President to divide the union. a formal state in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. They called it an attack on federalism and a fraud on the Constitution. 
• The petitioners have argued that Article 370 is permanent from the dissolution of the J&K Constituent Assembly in 1957 after framing the State Constitution. Mr. Sibal said Article 368 (the right of the National Assembly to amend the Constitution) does not apply to Article 370. 
• The Constitution Bench, also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant, said they will focus on the series of plots leading to the abrogation of Article 370. A series of Events that the judiciary will consider will begin with the Governor's dissolution of the Legislative Council State of Jammu and Kashmir. under Article 53 (2) of the J&K Charter on November 21, 2018. Indo-Pacific map and China on agenda as Prime Minister leaves Jakarta 

International News 

8. Vanuatu's Parliament elects Sato Kilman as Prime Minister 

• Vanuatu's parliament elected Sato Kilman as the country's new prime minister after a court upheld a vote of no confidence in his predecessor, who sought closer ties with US allies in the context of Sino-American competition in the Pacific Islands. Kilman is a former prime minister and leader of the People's Progressive Party, was elected prime minister 27/23 in a secret ballot of lawmakers. 
• Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, of which 16 are inhabited. The largest islands are Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo, Aneityum and Atom. 

State News

9. Himachal CM started SABAL Yojna to help Divyang kids

• Mukhya Mantri Sporting Abilities, Rebuilding Aspirations and Livelihood Scheme (SABAL) was introduced by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu from his Nadaun assembly district in Hamirpur district. 
• In order to ensure a bright future for children with special needs, this program will provide them with specialized care in over 400 schools located in the districts of Hamirpur, Solan, and Shimla. 
• Meanwhile, the Chief Minister unveiled 'Abhyas Himachal' and 'Shiksha Sahayata' chatbots, accessible through the Swift Chat app, which provides simplicity of use akin to WhatsApp and are supported by conversational AI. 
• Students will be able to review classes at their convenience and from any location using these chatbots on their mobile devices. This facility offers educational movies that may be used by both students and teachers to improve the learning and teaching experience in the classroom. The format is based on quizzes. 
• "Sampark Science TV Programme," developed by the Chief Minister to turn regular TVs into Smart TVs was also introduced. The goal of this innovation is to improve the school experience for kids, particularly in areas like maths and English. 

Concerning Himachal Pradesh 

• Shimla (summer), Dharamshala (winter), as the capital 
• Shiv Pratap Shukla is the governor, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu is the chief minister, and Mukesh Agnihotri is the deputy chief minister. 

10. Tourist Smart Cards' are now being sold by the Delhi Metro at a few Metro stations. 

• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has begun offering 'Tourist Smart Cards' for purchase at a few of its Metro stations at designated kiosks. 
• These Smart Cards, which will be available until the 13th of this month, have been introduced to help G20 delegates and other guests who may want to see Delhi's top tourist attractions as soon as they arrive. 
• Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, New Delhi, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, ITO, and Supreme Court metro stations are among the 36 locations where these cards would be offered at designated kiosks. 
• The "Tourist Smart Cards" will be offered on the Metro network in two categories: cards with a One-day validity and cards with a three-day validity. 
• For 200 rupees, a tourist smart card with a one-day validity will be offered. The price of the card with a three-day validity is 500 rupees. A 50 rupee refundable security deposit is also included in this sum.
• These Tourist Smart Cards offer visitors unlimited rides in addition to allowing them to easily travel throughout the whole network from the first train to the last train service of the day.
• Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Akshardham Temple, and Kalkaji Temple, to name a few, are just a few of the most popular tourist attractions in the city that are easily accessible by the Delhi Metro, one of the largest metro systems in the world. 

11. Kerala HC seeks to explore the carrying capacity of hill stations 

• Kerala High Court on Tuesday took the opinion of the Union government to assess the carrying capacity of the Himalayan states for a similar exercise in the hill stations of Kerala when the House Idukki district collector Sheeba George informed the court that as many as 326 encroachment lands have been identified in Munnar. 
• The Collector showed a photograph of encroachments at the hill station in front of the divisional chair of a petition by One Earth, One Life, an NGO. 
• The court also sought the opinion of the state government on the petitioner's application for the appointment of a special officer to counter encroachment. He also considered the possibility of forming a special task force to expel the invaders. However, the petitioner pointed out that a working A group of the Ministry of Finance is working to resolve such cases. 
• The Collector informed me that this will be done in cases where it is necessary to initiate action. In other cases where an investigation is not necessary, a decision will be made within two months after giving the parties involved an opportunity to be heard. 
• The court asked the officials if there were any cases when construction activities were progressing without paying attention to the stop records of the authorities. The Chamber said a report on these cases will be submitted within fifteen days. 
• The Collector informed the Adjudication Panel comprising Judge A. Muhamed Mustaque and Shofba Annama Eapen, whose arrest records village officials have been instructed to strictly enforce 
• The assistance of the district police chief is required to execute the arrest report. 8. The Court expressed its displeasure at the statements made by some leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxists) against the District Chief and Amicus Curiae in this case. 

12. The Editors Guild was shocked by Manipur CM's statement calling for the file to be closed 

• The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday urged the Manipur government to close the cases registered by the state police against the chairman and members of the investigation team, saying its report on media coverage of the clashes. the behavior of the media in such a sensitive situation. 
• Expressed concern over the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the EGI Chairman and members of the investigation team who visited Manipur to study and document media coverage of media outlets on ethnic clashes in the state Guild, in a statement, said it was shocked by the "threatening statements of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in response to the report".
• Many Association representatives said they had received several representations from civil society as well as the Indian Army, raising concerns that Manipur media was playing a partisan role in the ethnic conflict in the ongoing race between the majority Meitei and Kuki-Chin communities. minority. 

Appointment and Resignation

13. Dharmendra Pradhan begins a three-year cooperation with Meta 

• The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Meta have joined forces for a three-year project called "Education to Entrepreneurship: Empowering a Generation of Students, Educators, and Entrepreneurs" in New Delhi. 
• AICTE, CBSE, and NIESBUD all received three letters of intent from Meta. 
• The project was started in support of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's goal of making India a global hub for skilled labor and strengthening our Amrit Peedhi. 
• Over the next three years, Meta will provide access to digital marketing expertise of five lakh entrepreneurs as part of their cooperation with NIESBUD. 
• IREDA and IIFCL entered into an agreement to fund renewable energy projects. 
• India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) to finance renewable energy projects, India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) have signed a memorandum of understanding. 
• The MoU will give IREDA and IIFCL the authority to participate in loan syndication, co-lending, and co-originating for all types of renewable energy projects, including small hydro projects. 
• Over a period of three to four years, both organizations will work to fix interest rates for IREDA borrowings. In accordance with the terms and circumstances of the issue, IIFCL may also be invested in bonds issued by IREDA. 
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) is a PSU under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), and India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) is an entirely owned Government of India company that was established in 2006 to offer sustainable long-term financial support for viable infrastructure projects. 

New MoU in the Banking Sector 

• Truecaller and Razorpay collaborate for rapid checkout
• LIC and Saraswat Cooperative Bank Collaborates to Increase Life Insurance 
• To assist 1 lakh women, Airtel Payments Bank and Frontier Markets collaborated. 
• To accomplish the first eBL transaction, DBS collaborates with Maptrasco. 
• To introduce KCCs and MSME loans, Axis Bank collaborates with the RBI innovation hub. 

14. Lokesh Suji was chosen for a three-year term in the IESF Membership Committee

• Lokesh Suji, director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and vice-president of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), has been chosen by the General Body of the International Esports Federation (IESF) to serve on its membership committee for a three-year term. 
• An Indian has now joined the International Esports Federation's membership committee for the first time thanks to the election. 
• Out of the 70 voting and present members, a majority of 42 member countries voted in favour of Suji's appointment during the most recent Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the IESF on August 28 in Iasi, Romania. 
• He will now use his experience and knowledge to guarantee that the procedure is carried through as a member of the membership committee, helping to secure the future of esports within the IESF. 

Appointment recently 

• VumlunmangVualnam, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Rajesh Nambiar, President of NASSCOM, Debjani Ghosh, and R Madhavan, 
• Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune 
• Former CJI NV Ramana is a member of the Singapore International Mediator Panel. 
• V. L. Kantha Rao will take over as Secretary of the Ministry of Mines in place of Vivek Bharadwaj. 
• Rajesh Malhotra's replacement as the Press Information Bureau's (PIB) principal DG is Manish Desai.
• Ashutosh Dabra is the MD for Falabella, India, while Dr. Vasudha Gupta is the principal DG of Akashvani. 
• Jaya Varma Sinha, the first female CEO and chair of the Railway Board, will succeed Anil Kumar Lahoti. 

15. As the new Additional DG of MNS, Maj Gen Ignatius Delos Flora assumes command

• The Military Nursing Service (MNS) has a new Additional Director General in Maj Gen Ignatius Delos Flora. 
• The General Officer graduated from the Army Hospital Delhi Cantt's School of Nursing, which is Today is known as the Army Hospital (R&R) College of Nursing. 
• Her midwifery training at Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore was finished in 1986 after she was commissioned into the MNS in the year 1985. She continued her education by earning her PCBSc in Nursing from the College of Nursing AFMC Pune in 1995. 
• The General Officer has held numerous important positions in the Armed Forces Medical Services hospitals throughout the course of her remarkable 38-year career, including JDMNS (Trg& HS) Eastern Command, DPM INHS Asvini, Principal Matron AICTS Pune, and Brig MNS at HQ Northern Command. 

16. Shyam Sunder Gupta Takes Charge As Central Railway's Principal Chief Operations Manager 

• Shyam Sunder Gupta took over as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. His appointment follows the superannuation of Mukul Jain, who retired from the position on August 31, 2023. 
• Shyam Sunder Gupta, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, brings with him a wealth of experience spanning various regions and responsibilities within the Indian Railways. Over the years, he has held several key positions across different railway divisions, showcasing his competence and dedication to the service. 
• In 2001, he received the Railway Minister Award, a testament to his outstanding performance and commitment to the railway sector. In 2010, he received the General Manager's Award, cementing his reputation as a railway official of outstanding achievement. He is a gold medalist and the best participant in the 32nd Advanced Management Program organized by the National Indian Railway Academy of Vadodara. 

Important day

17. World Teacher's Day

• Every year on October 5, this day is set aside to commemorate all teachers worldwide. It commemorates the date on which the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation relates to the status of Teachers were adopted back in 1966. Since 1994, World Teachers' Day has been observed. 
• The International Labor Organization (ILO), UNICEF, and Education International (EI) collaboration to create World Teachers' Day. 
• The United States observes Teacher's Day on the first Tuesday in May, Thailand on January 16, Iran on May 2, Turkey on November 24, Malaysia on May 16, and Singapore on September 1. China observes Teacher's Day on September 10 and Russia on October 5. 

Award News 

18. The National Diabetologist of the Year Award went to Dr. Navneet Agrawal

• Dr. Navneet Agrawal, Chief Clinical Officer of BeatO, received the title of "Diabetologist of the Year (National Winner)-2023" in recognition of his outstanding medical work and commitment to the cause of bettering the lives of individuals with diabetes. 
• Dr. Agarwal's steadfast dedication and effort to bettering diabetes management and the lives of lakhs of Indians with the condition are recognized with the award, which is given by ET Healthcare Awards. 
• Chief Clinical Officer at BeatO, a full-stack digital platform for managing and controlling diabetes, is Dr. Navneet Agrawal. 
• He is the team leader in BeatO's complete medical operations and medical affairs department, which includes a distinguished group of physicians, knowledgeable trainers, and dietitians.

Recent Honours 

• Shaktikanta Das, rated A+ by the US-based Global Finance magazine, is the top central banker in the world. 
• Manoj Bubna is the 2023 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year. 
• Oncologist Dr. R Ravi Kannan will get the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, while Satyajit Majumdar will receive the 2023 V. G. Patel Memorial Award. 
• PriyanSain is the 2023 Miss Earth India. 

Science and Technology News

19. The CODE device for improved air quality was created by IIT Jodhpur researchers

• MIT, Indian Institute of Technology For Improved Indoor Air Quality, Jodhpur Researchers have created a Cold-plasma Detergent Environment (CODE) device. 
• The CODE gadget uses less energy, kills bacteria, viruses, and moulds, collects dust and pollen, and also eliminates odours.
• The device has undergone thorough testing and has been shown to destroy more than 99.99 percentage of dangerous microorganisms while maintaining healthy indoor air. 
• The World Health Organisation lists air pollution as one of the top 5 dangers for chronic diseases.
• By volume, we eat four times as much air as water and roughly eight times as much air as food. Compared to outdoor air, indoor air frequently has 2–5 times higher pollutants. 
• The idea is based on cold plasma that isn't in equilibrium combined with nanotechnology. The novel CODE gadget creates ideal concentrations of positive ions and negative ions with coldplasma detergent ions in a setting reminiscent of mother nature. 

20. In ISRAC's second act, Aditya-L1 enters a new orbit 

• The second ground exercise of Aditya's L-1 mission to study the sun was successfully conducted by ISRO Command, Tracking and Telemetry Network (ISTRAC), Bangalore. 
• (“ISRAC/ISRO ground stations in Mauritius, Bangalore and Port Blair monitored the satellite during this operation,” the space agency said. 
• The maneuver was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday and the new orbit achieved was 282 km x 40,225 km. Three more exercises are planned, the next one scheduled for about 2:30 a.m. on September 10. 
• After its final maneuver on September 18, Aditya-L1 will undergo a trans-Lagrange1 insertion maneuver, marking the start of its 110-day orbit to its destination around the L1 La-Grange point. Once at point L1, another maneuver will link Aditya-L1 to orbit around L1, a position that balances the gravitational force between the earth and the sun. 
• According to ISRO, a satellite placed in a halo orbit around the L1 point has the great advantage of being able to observe the Sun continuously without occultation or eclipse. 
• This will give greater advantages in observing solar activities and their influence on space weather in real time. 
• Aditya-L1 carries seven scientific payloads indigenously developed by ISRO and national research laboratories, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics Inter-University Literature (IUCAA) from Pune. The center signed a memorandum of understanding with Adobe to train children in the classroom 

Banking News

21. SBI adds UPI compatibility to Digital Rupee 

• The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), also known as Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), has been made interoperable by the State Bank of India (SBI). 
• Users of SBI CBDC will be able to quickly and securely scan any merchant's UPI QR code using the new "eRupee by SBI" application. 
• A major step forward for the bank is the seamless integration of CBDC with UPI, which will increase the acceptability and use of virtual currencies in regular transactions. 
• In addition to the others, State Bank of India (SBI), Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and Canara Bank all accept UPI interoperability. 
• In December 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) began the first phase of the Digital Rupee pilot programme. 

SBI, State Bank of India 

• Founded on July 1st, 1955
• Headquarters location: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Dinesh Kumar Khara serves as chairman. 

New Services in the Banking & Insurance Sector 

• Launch of the Share(dot)Market app by PhonePe for stock trading 
• Bajaj Launch of ULIP fund by Allianz Life with dynamic asset allocation 
• Launch of 'Infinity' Savings Account by Axis Bank. 
• SBI introduces Aadhaar-based social security scheme enrollment 
• With Qatar Airways, IndusInd Bank introduced a multi-branded credit card. 

22. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches Malaviya mission 

• Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education, introduced Malaviya Mission “ Teacher Training Program” at KaushalBhawan in New Delhi as an important step in improving the standard of education in India. 
• This ambitious project, led by the University Grants Commission (UGC), is in partnership with the Ministry of Education, aims to transform faculty capacity building and teacher preparation programs in domestic higher education institutions. 
• Malaviya Mission plans to set up 111 centers across India to ensure comprehensive coverage. These centers will serve as centers for teacher training and professional development, meeting the needs of educators from different regions. The scope of the program is vast, with the goal of enhancing the capacity of 15,00,000 teachers in higher education institutions. 

23. BIS and RBI announce G20 TechSprint 2023 winners 

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced the winners of the G20 TechSprint Challenge 2023 at a prestigious awards ceremony held in Mumbai. 
• The initiative, launched by the RBI in May last year during India's G20 presidency, aims to promote innovative solutions that improve cross-border payments. 
• The G20 TechSprint 2023 winners are: Secretariat Team (UK) Ltd in the fight against financial crime. Team Millicent Labs (UK) to improve liquidity in cross-border payments and Team Knox Networks (USA) to develop a multilateral CBDC platform. 
• Literacy Week aims to encourage mass participation and instil a sense of responsibility in all citizens in achieving complete literacy in India. Various stakeholders including students, teachers, volunteers, government employees and citizens will participate in the campaign. 

Schemes and Committees News 

24. Jal Jeevan Mission crosses milestone of connecting 13 million rural households 

• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has provided tap water to 13 million rural households, marking a remarkable journey since its launch on India's 73rd Independence Day, 15 August 2019. 
• This mission, guided by the principles of speed and scale, has rapidly expanded access to drinking water in rural areas, from 3.23 million households in August 2019 to the current milestone in just 4 years. 
• Several State and Union Territories, including Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, have achieved coverage of 100% tap water. Across the country, 145 districts and 1,86,818 villages reported 100% coverage, highlighting the significant impact of the mission.