Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 2nd September 2024

1. Mastercard launched its Payment Passkey Service in India. 

• This service has been launched at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai. 
• Mastercard has launched its Payment Passkey Service to make shopping more secure and easier. 
• This service has been introduced in India as a pilot project with some of the nation’s largest payment players, such as Juspay, Razorpay, and PayU. 
• Payment pass keys use device-based biometric authentication methods such as fingerprints or facial scans. 
• Users could use biometric authentication mechanism features on their device—whether it’s a fingerprint, face scan, or PIN to confirm the payment. 
• The payment passkeys will replace passwords and the OTP mechanism, and it will be more secure against fraud and scams. 
• In the last two years, the incidence of fraud cases has surged by nearly 300 per cent in India. 

2. Himanshi Tokas won the silver medal at the Asian Cadet Judo Championships. 

• India’s Himanshi Tokas won the silver medal in the women’s 63-kilogram event at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea. 
• This four-day Judo Championship concluded at the Mungyeong Gymnasium. 
• The Asian Cadet Championships 2024 were held from 29 August to 30 August in the Republic of Korea. 
• 161participants from 16 countries have taken part in this competition. 
• 12 members from India took part in the competition. 

3. At the Paris Paralympics 2024, a history was created by Preeti Pal by winning India's first bronze medal in the women's 200m race on 1 September. 

• The Indian athlete gave India its first medal in 200m by winning bronze in the women's T35 event. 
• Preeti Pal of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh gave India its second Paralympic medal in track, clocking a personal best of 30.01 seconds. 
• With two medals in two events, she became only the seventh Indian to win more than one Paralympic medal. 
• In addition, India's Nishad Kumar won the silver medal in the men's high jump T47 event at the Paris Paralympics. 
• Nishad Kumar had won a silver medal in the same event at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago. 
• Nishad jumped a season's best of 2.04m to finish behind Roderick Townsend of the USA, who also won gold in Tokyo. 

4. Maritime Partnership Exercise conducted by Indian Naval Ship Tabar with Spanish Naval Ship Atalaya. 

• The Indian Navy's frontline frigate, INS Tabar, had arrived in Malaga, Spain, on 25August 2024, on a two-day visit. 
• Subsequently, after departure on 27 August 2024, it conducted Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with Spanish Naval Ship Atalaya in the Mediterranean Sea. 
• India and Spain are working in several areas towards enhancing existing bilateral relations, including in the maritime sector. 
• The conduct of MPX between the Indian Navy and the Spanish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea symbolises the reach and sustainment of the Indian Navy. 
• Itis also an important milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Spain. \
• The MPX included a series of advanced exercises such as Station Keeping, Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAPs), Flying Exercise (FYEX), Steam Past and PHOTOEX serials. 

5. In September, India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem Summit to be held at Stanford University. 

• The third edition of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (Indus-X) Summit will be held at Stanford University in California in early September. 
• During this, top defence leadership of both the countries will discuss on enhancing the cross-border defence innovation ecosystem. 
• FormerSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice is among the key leaders scheduled to address the summit. 
• The summit will be organized by the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) in collaboration with Stanford University's Gordian Knott Center for National Security Innovation and the Hoover Institution on September 9 and 10. 
• The summit will bring together Indian and US leaders in defense innovation across startups, venture capital, academia, accelerators and industry, and provide opportunities for co-production and investment in both countries. 
• The theme of the 3rd Indus-X Summit is "Harnessing investment opportunities to enhance cross-border defence innovation ecosystem." 
• INDUS-X, launched in June 2023, aims to strengthen the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between India and the U.S., involving governments, businesses, accelerators, investors, and academia. 

6. Antihyper Hydrogen-4 

• Antihyperhydrogen-4, Heaviest Antimatter Hypernucleus Ever, was discovered recently. 
• It contains 1 antiproton, 2 antineutrons, 1 anti-Lambda hyperon.
• This antihyperhydrogen-4 decays when it is only a few centimetres away when it is trapped by an anti-Lambda hyperon. 
• The newly discovered antihyperhydrogen-4 was produced at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in the United States. 
• Antiparticle is a subatomic particle that has the same mass as another particle and equal but opposite values of some other properties. 

7. Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. 

• Heisa nalumnus of the National Defence Academy. 
• Hewas commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987. 
• Heisa Category‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4500 hours of flying. 
• Heisa nalumnus of Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College. 
• Hewas given the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022. 

8. The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah was launched at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

• It lays emphasis on improving nutrition awareness and overall well-being across the nation. 
• Prominent figures including Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development attended the event. 
• The day began with a nationwide plantation drive titled “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”. 
• The primary function was held at Mahatma Mandir, where Gujarat's Chief Minister, Bhupendrabhai Patel, gave the keynote speech. 
• Good governance, convergence, capacity building, and community participation are the four main pillars of Poshan 2.0, according to Annpurna Devi, and they are all crucial to the program's success. 
• The main topics of discussion at the 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 will be anaemia, growth monitoring, complementary feeding, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, technology for better governance, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. 
• The month-long campaign seeks to support national efforts to combat malnutrition and promote holistic well-being. 

9. DGTR has recommended anti-dumping duty on aluminium foils imported from China. 

• China's imports of aluminium foil have captured 30 percent of the Indian market despite sufficient domestic capacity. 
• India’s largest aluminium manufacturing company, Hindalco, has raised this request from the government to protect domestic companies.
• Any Country performs anti-dumping investigations to determine whether domestic industries have been harmed due to a surge in cheap imports. 
• The imports of aluminium foils up to 80 microns have forced the domestic industry to reduce its selling price below the cost of production. 
• The aluminium foil is used as a packaging material to preserve edible and food products. 
• There commended duty ranges between $619 per tonne and $873 per tonne. 
• Imports from China have surpassed $60 billion during the first seven months of 2024, which is 10 percent higher than the $55 billion recorded during the same period last year. 

10. 5th Global Fintech Fest held in Mumbai 

• The 5th Global Fintech Fest was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The festival, which started in 2021, aims to establish itself as the premier global conference for the global fintech ecosystem, promote collaboration, and influence the future of the Fintech industry.
• PM Narendra Modi addressed the 5th Global Fintech Festival. 
• Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das and Chairman of Global Fintech Fest (GFF) Kris Gopalakrishnan were also present at the occasion. 
• The Global Fintech Fest is organized by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payment Council of India and the Fintech Convergence Council.
• The Fintech Convergence Council was established in 2018 and represents the various regulated financial service providers and fintech companies. 

11. SJVN, NHPC, RailTel and Solar Energy Corporation of India granted Navratna status by the Government of India. 

• On August 30, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited, NHPC Limited, RailTel Corporation of India Limited, and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited were granted 'Navratna' status by the Narendra Modi government. 
• RailTel Corporation of India has become the 22nd 'Navratna', followed by Solar Energy Corporation of India 23rd, NHPC 24th, and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam 25th 'Navratna' in India. 
• Shimla-based SJVN is a listed company with the following shareholding pattern: 55% stake held by the government of India, 26.85% by the government of Himachal Pradesh, and the remaining 18.15% by the public. 
• NHPC,aFaridabad based company, is under the Ministry of Power. 
• Itis India's largest hydropower development organization, capable of undertaking a range of activities from conceptualization of hydropower projects to their commissioning. 
• RailTel is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Railways. 
• Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) is a nodal agency of the Central Government for auction of renewable energy projects. 

Navratna status: 

• The Government of India grants Navratna status to top-ranked public sector undertakings (PSUs). 
• This status allows organisations to make large investments of up to Rs 1,000 crore without approval from the Centre. 
• These companies have the freedom to invest up to 30% of their total assets within a year, provided it is less than ₹1,000 crore. 
• They canals form joint ventures, tie-ups, and set up subsidiaries abroad.
• For a company to be granted Navratna status, it must already have Miniratna Category I status and be listed under Schedule A of CPSEs. 

12. 50 teachers from schools across India selected for the National Teacher Award 2024 by the Department of School Education and Literacy. 

• The National Teacher Awards will be presented on 5 September 2024. 
• They have been selected by the Department of School Education & Literacy through a rigorous, transparent, and online three-stage selection process, i.e., district, state, and national level. 
• The50selected teachers are from 28 states, 3 union territories, and 6 organisations. 
• Outofthe50selected teachers, 34 are men, 16 women, 2 Divyangs, and 1 working with CWSN. 
• Apartfromthis, 16 teachers from the Higher Education Department and 16 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will also be honored. 
• This award will be given to 82 teachers in a ceremony organized at Vigyan Bhavan on 5 September 2024. 
• The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, organises a national level function every year on 5th September, i.e., Teachers' Day. 
• The National Teacher Awards honour outstanding teachers who, through dedication and excellence, have significantly enhanced the quality of education and have made a positive impact on the lives of their students. 

13. PM Modi addressed the National Conference of District Judiciary. 

• The National Conference of District Judiciary was held on the occasion of 75 years of the Supreme Court. 
• Issues like ease of justice and speed of justice, human resources, and other issues related to the justice system were discussed during the conference. 
• A session on judicial wellness was also organized at this conference. 
• The prime minister said that Rs 800 crore was spent on judicial Infrastructure in the Last 10 years. 
• In the last ten years, 7,500 new court halls in District Court have been built. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged off three Vande Bharat trains on three routes: Meerut-Lucknow, Madurai-Bangalore, and Chennai. 
• The Supreme Court came into existence on 26 January 1950. On 28 January 1950, the Supreme Court was inaugurated. 
• The inauguration was held in the Chamber of Princes in the old Parliament building where the Federal Court of India sat for 12 years from 1937 to 1950. 
• The Supreme Court moved into a newbuilding in 1958. The building is shaped to represent the image of scales of justice. 

14. UP government proposed a new digital media policy. \

• The Uttar Pradesh government’s new digital media policy provides cash rewards to influencers for publishing and popularizing the policies and programs of the state government. 
• Foranti-national posts, it has proposed punishment, ranging from a three-year jail term to a life term. 
• The main objective of the Digital Media Policy 2024 is to spread awareness among the people about the programs and achievements of the government and their benefits. 
• Under this policy, a cash reward of up to Rs eight lakh per month for social media influencers would be provided. 

15. PM Narendra Modi lay the foundation stone of Vadhvan Port in Palghar 

• PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Vadhvan Port in the Palghar district of Maharashtra. 
• He also inaugurated various fisheries projects and distributed transponders and Kisan Credit Cards to fishermen. 
• The cost of this project is around 76,000 crore rupees. It aims to establish a world-class maritime gateway that will boost the country’s trade and economic growth by catering to large container vessels, offering deeper drafts, and accommodating ultra-large cargo ships. 
• Vadhvan Port, located near Dahanu town in Palghar district, will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports and will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, reducing transit times and costs. 
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 218 fisheries projects worth around 1,560 crore rupees, aimed at bolstering the sector’s infrastructure and productivity across the nation. Additionally, the Prime Minister launched the National Rollout of the Vessel Communication and Support System at a cost of around ₹364 crore. 
• Under this project, one lakh transponders will be installed in a phased manner on mechanized and motorized fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and Union Territories. 

16. Visa and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council inked a 3-year partnership of up to $1 million USD 

• The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, for a three-year partnership valued at up to $1 million USD. 
• This initiative, designed to up skill at least 20,000 Indian youth in tourism-relevant skills, was formalized in the presence of Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State, Ministry of Education Government of India. 
• The partnership, which builds upon Visa’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, aims to train youth across 10 States, including Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal to elevate the tourism service experience for tourists. 

17. Kerala tourism presented PATA gold award 2024 

• Kerala Tourism was presented the globally acclaimed Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2024 for its online contest ‘Holiday Heist’ in the Digital Marketing Campaign category, at a function in Bangkok. 
• Tourism Director Sikha Surendran received the award at a function held during PATA Travel Mart 2024, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) in the Thailand capital. 
• The award was presented by Peter Semone, PATA Chair in the presence of Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macao Government Tourism Office and Noor Ahmad Hamid, PATA CEO. 
• Kerala Tourism was the only destination from India to bag the PATA Gold award this year. ‘Holiday Heist’, the month-long ground-breaking campaign was launched in July 2023 to woo tourists through an engaging and thrilling bidding game on the Tourism department’s WhatsApp chatbot Maya.
• It became a phenomenal hit with travellers making uniquely lowest bids for visiting Kerala’s spectacular destinations. The campaign has witnessed over 80,000 bids, 5.2 lakh conversations, 45 million impressions, and 13 million video views. 

18. Indian shooter Rubina Francis won bronze in women’s 10-meter air pistol SH1 final at Paralympic Games 

• In the Paris Paralympic Games, Indian shooter Rubina Francis won bronze in the women’s 10-meter air pistol SH1 final qualification round. 
• Rubina secured India’s fourth medal in shooting at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games. The 25-year-old shooter from Madhya Pradesh scored a total of 211.1 to finish third in the final. 
• On the other hand, Manish Narwal secured a silver medal in the men’s 10-meter air pistol SH1 with a score of 234.9.