Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th September 2024

1. Department of Telecommunications notified rules for Digital Bharat Nidhi. 

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the ‘Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024’. 
• Its main objective is the management and implementation of the ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ initiative. 
• Digital Bharat Nidhi was established under Section 24(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. 
• The Universal Service Obligation Fund has been renamed as ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’. 

Key Provisions of the Rules: 

• The rules outline the powers and responsibilities of the administrator to oversee the implementation and management of the Digital Bharat Nidhi. 
• Digital Bharat Nidhi funds will be directed towards projects for enhancing telecommunication services in underserved and remote regions. 
• The rules specify that projects funded under the DBN must meet at least one of several criteria. 
• The criteria comprise promoting innovation, research, and development; and supporting the commercialization of indigenous technologies. 
• The entity receiving funding from the DBN must share and make available networks/services on an open and non-discriminatory basis. 

2. August 20 will be observed as Sootea Day by the Assam government from next year. 

• Sootea Day to commemorate the region's importance in the freedom movement, will be celebrated on August 20. 
• According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, August 20 is recognised as Sootea Day by the people of Sootea. 
• The Chief Minister visited the Sootea Police Station in the Biswanath District earlier in the day. 
• He paid respects to the courageous people who hoisted the national flag in 1942. 
• He said that onAugust 20, 1942, the people of Sootea, led by the late Biman Chandra Bora, hoisted the national flag at the Sootea police station. 
• According to CM, Sootea has made important contribution to the nation's struggle for freedom. 
• Chief Minister Sarma paid tributes to the bravehearts of Assam who participated in the Quit India Movement. 
• Additionally, CM announced that a history monument will be built by the government at the Sootea police station's historic location. 
• Hedeclared plans to invest Rs 5 crore in the project, which will highlight the rich history of Sootea Police Station and its adjoining areas. 

3. HDFC Bank has launched GIGA.

• GIGA is a complete financial suite of products and services designed for gig workers/ freelancers. 
• GIGA offers a number of customised products and services to address the requirements of freelancers. 
• Under GIGA, aflexible GIGA Savings Account is being offered. 
• This account gives freelancers the option of keeping a quarterly balance (Rs 10,000 for metro/urban and Rs 5,000 for semi-urban/rural accounts). 
• This account gives freelancers the options such as starting their investment journey with a systematic investment plan / fixed deposit / recurring deposit etc. 
• The accountalso comes with a GIGA Business Debit Card offering complimentary personal accidental death cover of up to Rs 10 lakh. 
• Exclusive GIGA Business Credit Card is specifically designed for freelancers and comes with an interest-free credit period of 55 days. 
• Gig workers can secure health insurance from HDFC Ergo for themselves and their families with premiums beginning at just Rs 20 per day. 
• GIGAincludes partnerships with Razorpay and Payoneer, allowing freelancers to take payments from domestic and international clients. 

4. ISA to launch $100 million solar facility, insurance mechanism to accelerate solar power projects 

• TheInternational Solar Alliance (ISA) will launch a $100 million fund, Global Solar Facility, that will help catalysing up to $1.5 billion in funding to expand decentralised solar power capacities across the least developed countries in Africa, where more than 700 million people have no access to electricity. 
• Besides, the international organisation aiming to electrify the global south is also working on creating an insurance mechanism, which will also aid in accelerating funding in poor countries. 
• The festival aims to catalyse global solar adoption by forging partnerships, unlocking innovative financing, deploying cutting-edge technology and boosting capacity in ISA member countries. 
• Aligning businesses, policymakers, and financial institutions, it will serve as a launchpad for collaborations that fast-track the world’s transition to a future powered by affordable, reliable and sustainable solar energy. 

5. UAE and India sign MoU to strengthen public sector audit cooperation 

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India signed an MoU with the UAE Accountability Authority of the United Arab Emirates, Supreme Audit Institution, UAE during a bilateral meeting with the President of UAE Accountability Authority. 
• This MoU is a testament to the shared values and goals of our institutions and reinforces the strong ties between India and the UAE. 
• The MoU aims to foster collaboration between the two Supreme Audit Institutions, focusing on areas such as knowledge exchange, capacity building, and best practices in public sector auditing. By sharing expertise and experiences, both countries seek to strengthen their respective audit methodologies and improve overall governance. 

Recently India signed MoUs with others countries 

• India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives sign Charter and MoU for establishment of Colombo Security Conclave Secretariat 
• India and Ukraine sign agreements in agriculture, medicine, and cultural cooperation 
• India-US ink pact for mutual supply of defence goods & services 
• India-USA join hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs 
• India & Israel join hands for new water technology centre at IIT Madras 

6. The first International Solar Festival organized in Delhi on 5-6 September virtually addressed by PM Narendra Modi. 

• PM said that India's solar power capacity has grown 32-fold in the last 10 years, and this speed and scale will help the country achieve 500 gigatons of non-fossil capacity by 2030. 
• Addressing the two-day first International Solar Festival, PM Modi said that India has taken several big steps in the field of green energy in the last few years and it is the first G-20 country to achieve Paris commitments in renewable energy. 
• The aim of this festival is to highlight and celebrate the transformative power of solar energy and its role in creating new opportunities across the world, paving the way for universal energy access and advancing Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Founded in 2015, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has grown into a giant tree inspiring policy and action, reaching the milestone of 100 member countries in a short time. 
• 19 more countries are ratifying the Framework Agreement to attain full membership in the ISA, which highlights that the growth of this organisation is crucial to the vision of One World, One Sun. 
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an international organization that works with governments to improve energy access and security around the world and promotes solar energy as a sustainable path to transition towards a carbon-neutral future. 

7. PM Modi launched ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative at Surat in Gujarat through video conferencing.

• ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative aligns with the ongoing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign. 
• The initiative aims to mobilise Gujarati residents, local government agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders to put rainwater harvesting structures into place. 
• About24,800 rainwater harvesting structures are being built in Gujarat as part of this program through community collaborations. 
• Long-term water sustainability and improved rainwater harvesting will be madepossible by these recharge structures. 
• The structures constructed as part of this initiative would be essential in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement and highlighting Gujarat's achievements in community-driven water conservation. 
• Gujarat's community-based water conservation program has been a pioneering example in India. 

8. President Murmu approves constitution of 23rd Law Commission for three-year term 

• President Droupadi Murmu has approved the constitution of the 23rd Law Commission of India, with its term set from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027. 
• The commission will include a full-time chairperson, four members, and additional ex-officio and part-time members. The commission’s mandate is to review and recommend legal reforms to enhance the Indian legal system. 
• The 22nd Law Commission’s term ends 31 August 2024. The commission has been functioning without a chairperson for several months, delaying crucial reports, including those on the Uniform Civil Code and simultaneous elections. 
• In March 2024, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, the then Chairman of the Law Commission, resigned after a 17-month tenure. While the report on simultaneous elections is ready, it cannot be submitted to the Law Ministry due to procedural requirements that stipulate the need for a chairperson. 

9. India’s average household spending on food has fallen to less than half for the first time since Independence.

• A working paper titled 'Changes in India's Food Consumption and Policy Implications: A Comprehensive Analysis of Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 and 2011-12’ has been released by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). 
• The paper is a comprehensive analysis of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022–23 and comparison with 2011–12. 
• As per this paper, the share of total household expenditure on food has declined substantially in rural and urban areas across all states and UTs. 
• Among the rural areas, West Bengal registered a consumption expenditure growth of 151 per cent. Tamil Nadu registered a growth of around 214%. 
• Growth forrural households was higher than for urban households. 
• Among food items, the share of expenditure on cereals has declined across rural and urban areas. 
• This paper observed a significant increase in households' average monthly per capita expenditure across rural and urban India across all states and UTs. 

10. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation launched the 'Greatness of Spirit' series. 

• To commemorate the Ramon Magsay say Award presented to Dalai Lama, the President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation launched a seven-volume series titled ‘The Greatness of Spirit: Stories of Love, Courage, and Service’ 
• This series commemorates the 65th anniversary of the award and features narratives that highlight the extraordinary courage and selfless service of 326 individuals and 22 organisations across Asia who have been honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award. 
• Dalai Lamawasoneoftheearliest recipients when he was granted the award in 1959. 
• The Ramon Magsay say Award celebrates the best of humanity, embodying the true essence of 'Greatness of Spirit'. 
• The Ramon Magsay say Award Foundation (RMAF) in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, hosted the Delhi edition of “Celebrating Greatness of Spirit”. 

11. An Agreement signed by India and South Africa on submarine rescue operations. 

• On September 4, an implementation agreement signed by the Indian and South African navies to enhance Submarine Rescue Support Cooperation, ensuring “safety of South African Navy submarine crew in times of distress or accident”.
• Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will provide assistance by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) whenever required, thereby further strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two navies. 
• Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and South African Navy Chief Vice Admiral Monde Lobese signed this agreement. 
• Three members of the South African Navy lost their lives in September 2023 as a result of an incident involving the German submarine SAS Manthatisi, one of the three HDW vessels, off the coast of Cape Town. 
• The Indian Navy had acquired two DSRVs from the UK, which were operationalized in Mumbai in 2018 and in Visakhapatnam the following year. 
• The system can go upto a maximum depth of 650 metre sand can rescue 14 people at a time. It also has a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 

12. Aparna Yadav appointed Vice President of Uttar Pradesh Women Commission. 

• On September 3, the Uttar Pradesh government announced the appointment of officials of the state women's commission, which also included Aparna Yadav, sister-in-law of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. 
• According to an official notification issued by Principal Secretary Leena Johri, Governor Anandiben Patel, exercising her powers, has nominated Babita Chauhan as Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission. 
• While, Aparna Yadav and Charu Chaudhary nominated as Vice-Chairpersons of the Commission for a period of one year or until the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government. 
• Aparna Yadav is the younger daughter-in-law of SP founder and former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. 
• Aparna Yadav contested the 2017 UP Assembly elections from the Lucknow Cantt seat on a SP ticket but was unsuccessful and later joined the BJP in January 2022. 
• To capitalise on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) inflows, the dates for these releases may be limited to the 21st and 25th of a given month. 
• Similarly, in order to take advantage of the inflow of direct tax receipts, bulk expenditure items valued at more than Rs 2,000 crore were scheduled for the second and final fortnight of the quarter. 
• These conditions will no longer be present. 
• An office memorandum dated September 2, 2024, stated that it has been agreed to relax criteria for significant releases beyond Rs 500 crore for all categories of expenditure in the current financial year. 
• This has been done in order to allow the necessary operational flexibility in the execution of the budget. 
• According to the memorandum, financial advisers will examine and set a freeze on the timing of dividend payments and other non-tax receipts from their respective ministries and departments. 
• The memorandum further stated that the dividend payments and buyback considerations will be targeted in the first half of the fiscal year. 

13. MP govt approves ‘Brindavan Gram’ scheme for rural areas 

• The Madhya Pradesh government has approved the ‘Brindavan Gram’ scheme, under which, ‘gaushalas’ and other schemes benefitting the villagers will be established. 
• This scheme is the flagship of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, a formal announcement was made on the occasion of Janmashtami. 
• The selected gram panchayats will be named– ‘Brindavan Gram’. Madhya Pradesh has a total of 313 blocks, and one gram panchayat will be selected from each block. Gaushalas (cow sheds) will be established and milk production will be promoted. 

About Madhya Pradesh 

• Capital– Bhopal 
• Chief Minister– Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan) 
• Deputy CM– Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla 
• Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly– Narendra Singh Tomar 
• Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel 

14. India to hold 2nd edition of International Conference on Green Hydrogen from Sept 11-13 

• India will hold the second edition of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen from 11th to 13th September in New Delhi. 
• The goal of this three-day event is to deepen our understanding of the green hydrogen landscape and foster connections with global scientific communities and industries. 
• India as a whole also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. 
• New and Renewable Energy Minister– Pralhad Joshi 

15. Kapil Parmar wins historic Judo bronze for India at Paralympics 

• At Paris Paralympics 2024 India’s JudoKa Kapil Parmar won bronze medal in Para Judo men’s-60kg J1 category beating Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira . 
• This is the first medal in this event in India’s history of Paralympics. The match ended in just 33 seconds. 
• Parmar produced a superlative performance, dominating his opponent from start to finish to record a 10-0 win in the bronze medal contest. 
• He had earlier lost to S Banitaba Khorram Abadi in the semifinals, beaten 0-10 by his Iranian opponent. 
• Parmar, who won the silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the same category, had earlier beaten Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco 10-0 in the quarterfinals. 
• The J1 class in para judo is for the athletes who suffer from no to very low visual activity. Athletes in this category wear red circles to indicate that they may need guided support before, during and after a contest. 

16. Wrestler Jyoti Berwal wins gold medal in U20 World Championships 

• In wrestling, Jyoti Berwal clinched a gold medal in the women’s 76 kg freestyle category at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. 
• Jyoti defeated Ukraine’s Mariia Orlevych in the final. On her way to the final, Jyoti defeated Mongolian, Chinese, and Turkish opponents. 
• This was India’s second consecutive world U20 title in women’s 76 kg after Priya Malik claimed it in the 2023 edition. 
• Indian grapplers won two more medals in the same category. Komal in 59 kg and Sristhi in 68 kg bagged bronze medals. 

17. 5th September– International Day of Charity 

• TheInternational Day of Charity is a global observance held annually on September 5th. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. 
• The primary objective of this day is to increase awareness and create a shared platform for charity-related activities worldwide. 
• The International Day of Charity was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, in response to a proposal by Hungary. 
• The date of September 5 was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her work in helping the poor and sick. 
• Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that provides care for the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying.