Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 3rd September 2024

1. Seventh Rashtriya Poshan Maah launched with a focus on nutrition and well-being 

• The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah was inaugurated at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a strong emphasis on enhancing nutrition awareness and overall well-being across the nation. 
• Annpurna Devi, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, emphasized the need to enhance the health of children and adolescents while combating malnutrition through a lifecycle approach. She outlined the four key pillars of Poshan 2.0– good governance, convergence, capacity building, and community participation– as essential to the program’s success. 
• The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 will focus on key themes including Anaemia, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, Technology for Better Governance, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. 
• Through Mission Poshan 2.0, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is dedicated to combating malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers across the country.” The month-long campaign aims to bolster efforts against malnutrition and promote holistic well-being throughout the nation. 

2. Vistara’s last Flight on November 11 

• Vistara Airlines will cease to operate under its brand name on November 11.
• The airline’s operations will be fully integrated with Air India starting from November 12, marking the culmination of a merger process initiated nearly two years ago. 
• Vistara is a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. However, with Tata Group also owning Air India, the decision to unify the two airlines aims to streamline operations and offer passengers an enhanced travel experience.
• As a part of this merger, Singapore Airlines will acquire a 25.1 per cent stake in the newly consolidated Air India. 
• The transition, approved by Centre, includes the green light for foreign direct investment (FDI) by Singapore Airlines in Air India. 

3. Saudi Arabia will host the 19th Internet Governance Forum in December 

• Saudi Arabia will host the 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from December 15-19, 2024, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. 
• The five-day event is expected to gather over 10,000 participants from 160 countries, including more than 1,000 international speakers. 
• The forum aims to reach consensus among governments, private sector, and non-profit organizations on policies for stronger internet governance worldwide. 
• IGF is a global multistakeholder platform. The event, organized by the UN since 2006, fosters discussions on public policy issues related to the internet, facilitates sharing information, exchanging experience, and working to come up with solutions. 

About Saudi Arabia 

• Capital- Riyadh 
• Currency- Saudi riyal 
• Prime minister- Mohammed bin 
• Salman Al Saud 

4. 15-year-old International Master Mayank Chakraborty wins his 2nd Grand Master Norm in Greece 

• 15-year-old Chess International Master Mayank Chakraborty from Assam has won his second Grand Master Norm in a GM Norm Tournament being conducted in Greece. 
• IM Mayank requires one last norm and to touch the FIDE Rating Point 2500 once to be a Grand Master, in fact the first Grand Master from entire North East India. 
• His present FIDE rating is 2431. He had become International Master this year in April only, and right now he is the player with the highest number of Grand Master Norms and highest rating from the entire North East India. 

5. Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar clinched Archery Mixed Team Bronze 

• India’s Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar clinched the bronze medal in the mixed compound open archery event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
• The duo secured the victory in a nail-biting match against Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina, winning by a single point with a scoreline of 156-155. 
• Sheetal Dev, at 17, became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist in history. She was the only female armless archer at Paris 2024. 
• For 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar, his first Paralympic medal comes after years of consistency at the top level. He is a gold medallist at the Para World Championship and Asian Para Games. 

6. Sumit Antil wins gold in javelin throw F64 

• Star javelin thrower Sumit Antil became the first Indian man and second from the country to defend the title as he won the F64 category gold with Paralympics record of 70.59m at the Paris Games. 
• The 26-year-old world record holder from Sonipat in Haryana bettered his own earlier Paralympic best of 68.55m set in Tokyo while winning the gold three years ago. Antil’s world record stands at 73.29m. 
• Antil has also won gold in the World Para Athletics Championships in 2023 and 2024, besides standing on top of podium in last year’s Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. 

7. 30 crore registrations have been made on the eShram portal in last three years. 

• The eShram portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on August 26, 2021. 
• In the last three years, 30 crore unorganized workers have been registered on the eShram portal.  
• The eSharam portal works as a one-stop solution for all issues related to workers. 
• This initiative aims to provide the benefit of various social security schemes implemented by different ministries and departments for unorganised workers through the eShram Portal. 
• TheeShramportal also spreads awareness about different schemes for unorganized workers.
• The 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), etc. into the eShram Portal for the benefit of the unorganized workers. 

8. The P-8I aircraft of the Indian Navy is in France to take part in the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy. 

• TheP-8Iaircraft of the Indian Navy has landed at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France. 
• This is the first time it has ever been deployed in Europe. 
• This deployment takes place 63 years after the flight of an Indian Naval Alize aircraft, operating from INS Vikrant, at Hyeres Airbase. 
• The India-France bilateral naval Exercise Varuna is being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4.
• Advanced tactical drills will be part of the exercise, highlighting the growing cooperation and interoperability between the navies of France and India. 
• The bilateral naval exercise between the French and Indian Navy was started in 1993. In 2001, it was given the name "Varuna" after that. 
• In order to promote mutual cooperation and maintain good order at sea, the exercise also makes it easier for the two navies to interact at the operational level. 

9. The first Joint Commanders' Conference (JCC) will be held from 04-05 September 2024. 

• The first JCC will take place at the Headquarters Central Command, Lucknow. 
• The theme of the conference is 'Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces'. 
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will attend the conference. 
• The conference will be a platform for carrying out internal 'process reforms' within the armed forces. 
• The convocation will be inaugurated by the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on September 04. I
• t brings together the highest ranking officials from the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense. 
• The two days of discussions will be focused on examining the effects of geopolitical disruptions on a regional and global scale, as well as the pressures that these will probably make on the reforms that the armed services are implementing. 
• The JCC is intended to be established as an essential platform for the highest military leadership in India to exchange concepts, tactics, and best practices. 

10. The procurement of 240 aero-engines approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft of the IAF. 

• OnSeptember2,the proposal approved for the procurement of 240 aero-engines (AL-31FP) for Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Procurement (Indian) category.
• It costs over Rs 26,000 crore, including all taxes and duties. 
• The delivery of these aero-engines will commence after one year and will be completed over a period of eight years. 
• The engines will have over 54% indigenous content, increased due to indigenisation of some key components of the aero-engine. 
• These will be manufactured at HAL's Koraput division. 
• Sukhoi-30 MKI is one of the most powerful and strategically important fleets of the Indian Air Force. 
• The supply of these aero-engines by HAL will meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force fleet, ensuring their uninterrupted operations and strengthening the defence preparedness of the country. 

11. The constitution of the 23rd Law Commission for three-year term sanctioned by President. 

• Theconstitution of the 23rd Law Commission of India sanctioned by President Droupadi Murmu, which will serve from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027. 
• According to the notification issued on September 2, the commission will consist:
• (i) afull-time Chairperson 
• (ii) four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary) 
• (iii) Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, as ex officio Member 
• (iv) Secretary, Legislative Department, as ex officio Member 
• (v)notmorethan five part-time Members 
• The role of the Commission will be to review and recommend legal reforms to improve the Indian legal system. 
• The term of the 22nd Law Commission of India ended on August 31.  
• The Commission has been functioning without a chairperson for several months, and several important reports, including on Uniform Civil Code and holding of simultaneous elections, are still pending. 
• The Law Commission of India's Chairman, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, resigned in March 2024 following a 17-month term in office. 

12. NorthEast United won the Durand Cup 2024 by defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant. 

• NorthEast United FC won the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup by defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant by 4-3 at the Salt Lake Stadium. 
• MohunBaganestablished a two-goal lead in the opening half, but NorthEast fought back after the break. 
• In the penalty shootout, Northeast United turned the tables and secured its maiden Durand Cup crown. 
• Northeast United received INR 60 lakh prize money for winning the tournament, while the runners-up were awarded INR 30 lakh.
• Northeast United's Gurmeet Singh won the Golden Glove title for his incredible goalkeeping. 
• Kerala Blasters forward Noah Sadaoui received the Golden Boot award. 
• The Player of the Tournament award title was awarded to Jithin Madathil. 
• The Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest football tournament. 

13. A tracking initiative ‘Vulture Count 2024’ launched by WWF-India to keep track of nature's ‘sanitation workers.’ 

• WWF-India haslaunched this initiative that involves counting vultures and raising awareness about the critically endangered bird species. 
• This campaign will start from 7 September and will run till 6 October. 
• This initiative has been launched on the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day. 
• Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems, they act as nature's clean-up crew. 
• Byeating carrion, they prevent the spread of diseases that might otherwise affect wildlife, livestock and humans. 
• Their role in feeding on decaying animal carcasses helps in nutrient cycling and maintains ecological balance. 
• TheaimoftheVulture Census 2024 is to address this crisis by systematically monitoring the vulture population. 
• Thecountwill focus on major vulture species, including white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, Indian vulture, bearded vulture, slender-billed vulture, Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon, Egyptian vulture, and cinereous vulture.