Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 23rd September 2024

 

1. Uttarakhand government approved a bill to make protesters pay for damage to public property. 

• Uttarakhand governor Lieutenant General (Retired) Gurmit Singh gave assent to a bill that would enable full recovery of damages caused to public property during riots or protests. 
• Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Bill was passed by the state assembly in August 2024. 
• It would serve as a strong deterrent for potential offenders who damaged public property during strikes, protest demonstrations or riots. 
• The main aim of the bill is to stop people from damaging public property during riots. 
• Apart from full recovery of the damaged property, a fine of up to Rs 8 lakh will also be imposed upon them. 
• Protestors will have to pay also the expenses of the government staff on riot control measures. 

2. According to CEO Elon Musk, SpaceX plans to send five unmanned Starship missions to Mars in the next two years. 

• Musk had stated earlier this month that the first Starships to Mars would be launched in two years. 
• He now said that the timing for the first crewed missions will depend on success of the uncrewed flights. 
• In four years, crewed missions will be launched if the unmanned missions land safely. 
• Musk stated that crewed missions will be delayed by an additional two years in the case of difficulties. 
• A Starship rocket made a historic landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean in June, surviving a hypersonic return from orbit. 
• NASA earlier this year postponed the Artemis 3 mission, which will use SpaceX's Starship to make the first crewed moon landing in fifty years. 
• According to NASA, it was originally scheduled for late 2025. 

3. ICMR received U.N. award for successes in non-communicable diseases control. 

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has received the 2024 UN Inter-Agency Task Force Award. 
• The ICMR has been recognized for its contributions to the advancement of multi-sectoral efforts aimed at mental health, non-communicable disease prevention and control, and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) connected to NCDs. 
• This honor showcases ICMR's creative work in assistive technology, which develops solutions that are affordable, accessible, and long-lasting. 
• For people in India who suffer from mental health issues and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), these treatments improve their quality of life. 

4. Two new Indian consulates have been announced by PM Modi in Boston and Los Angeles. 

• India will open two new consulates in the US, one in Boston and one in Los Angeles, according to the announcement. 
• The consulates will open in order to accommodate the cities' growing Indian-American population. 
• The population of Indian Americans has been increasing in both cities in recent years. 
• Los Angeles is regarded as the entertainment hub of the US, whereas Boston is thought to be the center of education. 
• The PM declared during the Modi and US event in New York on December 22, 2024, the inauguration of new consulates. 
• In front of an enthusiastic assembly of almost 13,000 Indian Americans at the Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island, PM Modi made the announcement. 

5. The Cancer Moonshot initiative launched by the Quad countries to reduce the burden of cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. 

• On September 22, the United States, Australia, India and Japan launched an unprecedented effort to help end cancer. 
• This initiative is part of a broader set of announcements made at the Quad Leaders Summit. 
• India will contribute $7.5 million for cancer testing, screening and diagnosis in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• India will contribute 40 million vaccines under the Gavi and Quad initiatives. 
• This was one of the several announcements made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US. 
• The Quad Cancer Moonshot aims to enhance cancer care in the Indo-Pacific by strengthening health infrastructure, expanding research collaborations, improving data systems, and boosting support for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and care. 
• Cervical cancer, although preventable through vaccination and treatable if detected early, remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• Each year, 150,000 women in the Indo-Pacific region die from cervical cancer. 
• In 2016, the Cancer Moonshot was launched to accelerate scientific research on cancer. 
• Then-President Barack Obama announced the launch of the program during his State of the Union address on January 12, 2016. 

6. The first-ever tri-services ‘Future Warfare’ course launched by India on 23 September. 

• Under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, the Indian Armed Forces will conduct its first tri-services “Future Warfare” course from September 23-27. 
• Conducted under the leadership of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the course aims to prepare officers for the changing nature of modern warfare.
• The "Future Warfare" course will be conducted irrespective of rank, with officers from the rank of Major General to Major General and their equivalent officers from the Navy and Air Force to be included. 
• The course is designed to familiarise participants with both the operational and technical dimensions of modern conflicts.
• The key focus areas will include the emerging nature of warfare, contact and non-contact encounters, kinetic and non-kinetic operations, and psychological and information warfare. 
• Additionally, the course will also discuss in depth the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and hypersonic weapons, on future battlefields. 

7. The US and India have decided to set up a new plant for semiconductor fabrication. 

• The new semiconductor fabrication plant is focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for applications in green energy, next-generation telecommunications, and national security. 
• A semiconductor fabrication plant is commonly called a fab. It is a factory for semiconductor device fabrication. 
• The goal of the new facility is to produce silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and infrared semiconductors. 
• The US Space Force, Bharat Semi, and 3rdiTech have formed a strategic technology alliance that will facilitate it, along with backing from the India Semiconductor Mission. 
• For the first time ever, the US Military and India have decided to collaborate on these highly valued technologies. 
• The facility becomes the first multi-material fabrication facility for national security in both India and the entire world. 
• It will concentrate on high voltage power electronics, advanced communications, and advanced sensing—the three essential pillars for modern war fighting. 
• Additionally, there is an enormous increase in demand for these three areas from the commercial sectors of green energy, data centres, telecom infrastructure, and railways. 

8. A MoU has been signed between FSSAI and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) of Brazil. 

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and MAPA of Brazil have signed MoU in the area of food safety. 
• On the sidelines of the Global Food Regulators Summit in New Delhi, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro and CEO of FSSAI, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, signed MoU. 
• The MoU is aimed at improving food safety through technical collaboration and joint projects. 
• On the sidelines of the Global Food Regulators Summit, FSSAI also carried out a bilateral meeting with the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA). 
• The meeting concentrated on the implementation protocol of the agreement signed between India and BFDA in March 2024. 
• This Agreement emphasises a shared commitment to improve food safety through facilitating technical cooperation, and streamlining the Food Import Procedure. 

9. India signed the IPEF bloc's agreements on a clean and fair economy. 

• India signed the 14-member IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) bloc's agreements to improve cooperation in the field of a clean and fair economy. 
• These agreements would help to develop, access, and deploy clean energy and climate-friendly technologies. 
• It would catalyze investment and strengthen measures for anti-corruption, tax transparency, etc. 
• India signed and exchanged the first-of-its-kind agreements focused on Clean Economy, Fair Economy and the IPEF Overarching arrangement. 
• The agreement on clean energy will accelerate the efforts of IPEF partners towards energy security, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions mitigation, and capacity building. 
• It will also facilitate investments, project financing, including concessional financing, and joint collaborative projects. 
• India has also signed an IPEF agreement, which is an administrative pact to set up an oversight ministerial-level mechanism. 

10. India won double gold medals in the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest. 

• Both men’s and women's teams won gold medals in the 2024 Chess Olympiad. 
• In the men’s final round, Arjun Erigaisi defeated Jan Subelj of Slovenia. 
• In the women’s section final, the Indian women’s team defeated Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 to clinch the gold. 
• Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Srinath Narayanan were part of the Indian team for the open category. 
• India’s best performances prior to this year have been the bronze medals in 2022 and 2014. 

11. Dhruvi Patel crowned Miss India Worldwide 2024.

• Dhruvi Patel has been declared the winner of Miss India Worldwide 2024, the longest-running Indian pageant held outside India. 
• Dhruvi Patel is a Computer Information Systems student from the US. 
• Dhruvi Patel is an Indian-origin Gujarati family who moved to the US as a child. 
• This event took place in Edison, New Jersey. The pageant has been held for 31 years. 
• The beauty pageant is organized by the New York-based India Festival Committee and is chaired by Indian-Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran. 
• The winners and runners-up from this competition: Category Winner First Runner-Up Second Runner-Up Miss Category Dhruvi Patel Lisa Abdoelhak (Suriname) Malvika Sharma (Netherlands) Mrs Category SuAnn Mouttet (Trinidad and Tobago) Sneha Nambiar Pawandip Kaur (United Kingdom) Teen Category Sierra Suret (Guadeloupe) Shreya Singh (Netherlands) Shradha Tedjoe (Suriname) 

12. PM Narendra Modi will attend the sixth annual Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to USA from 21 to 23 September. 
• Members of the Quad group are expected to discuss a variety of issues ranging from climate change to critical emerging technologies. 
• Ahead of the Quad summit, Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden on 21 September. 
• He is also hold bilateral meetings with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. 
• The Prime Minister's meeting with President Biden provided an opportunity for India and the United States to review and identify new avenues to further deepen the comprehensive global strategic partnership. 
• On September 23, Mr Modi will address the 'Summit of the Future' at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 
• ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’ is the theme of thsi summit. 

13. World Alzheimer's Day: 21 September 

• World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated every year on 21 September. 
• It is observed to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer's disease. 
• German psychiatrist and pathologist, Alois Alzheimer described it for the first time in 1906. 
• Its symptoms are memory-related difficulties, mood swings, and disorientation. 
• It may be inherited genetically or caused by head injuries, depression, and hypertension. 

14. Doval stayed back from PM's U.S. visit to deal with security situation in J&K polls: officials 

• National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval stayed back in India to deal with the security situation arising from the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir election and other "domestic issues", officials said. They dismissed speculation that Mr. Doval dropped out of the visit owing to a summons issued by a New York court, even as the Khalistan issue and allegations from Sikh groups against the government appeared to loom over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three day U.S. visit. 
• The summons, in response to a civil suit filed by Khalistani activist and Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has led to questions over whether the U.S. government was sending a "sharp message" to New Delhi, diplomats said.
• The summons was followed by the introduction of a newly drafted Act against "transnational Repression" that names India in the U.S. Senate, and a meeting between White House and U.S. National Security Council officials and Sikh activists from groups that have campaigned against the Modi government. 
• On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had referred to the suit filed by Mr. Pannun as "completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations" motivated by an "anti-national and subversive" element. 
• The government continues a "high-level investigation" over the allegations levelled by the U.S. Department of Justice over an alleged assassination plot against Mr. Pannun, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had however said. 
• When asked, government sources pointed to previous U.S. court summons issued in cases filed by Mr. Pannun, against then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, and former Minister Kamal Nath over the 1984 Sikh riots cases, and summons against Mr. Modi during his previous visits to the U.S. over the 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim violence. All the summons were "squashed", they said as the U.S. The State Department invoked immunity for serving officials and dignitaries. 
• The government has not commented thus far on the introduction of a bipartisan Bill called the Transnational Repression Reporting Act in the U.S. Congress on September 19 by Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff that says 'transnational repression' or the targeting of diaspora members was on "the rise", particularly from "India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China". 
• The text of the Act specifically details the preliminary investigation results of the Pannun case that accused Indian intelligence of the plot which is yet to be proven in court, and calls for a mandatory briefing by the government on such cases. 

'Dual message' 

• The MEA also did not respond to requests for a comment on the meeting between White House officials and members of Sikh activist groups, the American Sikh Caucus Committee, the Sikh Coalition, and the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund, all of which have been critical of the Modi government and were consulted for the Bill on 'transnational repression'. 
• According to one former diplomat who had served in the U.S., who asked not to be named, the White House move just two days before Mr. Modi landed, sent a "dual message", to the Indian government that this is a matter of concern and a number of U.S. Congresspersons have demanded actions to "hold Indian officials involved in the plot accountable". It was also to send a clear message that there will be consequences for such behaviour. 
• "It is difficult to understand what U.S. hopes to gain from such a provocation," wrote former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Kanwal Sibal about the White House meeting, adding that the "U.S. is encouraging those who are working against India's sovereignty and territorial integrity", calling for a "serious pushback" from India if the White House did not clarify its position. 

15. U.P., Rajasthan, M.P. top in cases of atrocities on Dalits: report 

• Nearly 97.7% of all cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in 2022 were reported from 13 States, with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh recording the highest number of such crimes, according to a new government report. 
• According to the latest report under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, the majority of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STS) were also concentrated in 13 states, which reported 98.91% of all cases in 2022. 
• Of the 51,656 cases registered under the law for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in 2022, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 23.78% of the total cases with 12,287, followed by Rajasthan with 8,651 (16.75%) and Madhya Pradesh with 7,732 (14.97%). Other States with a significant number of cases of atrocities against SCs were Bihar with 6,799 (13.16%), Odisha with 3,576 (6.93%), and Maharashtra. 
• Atrocities on Dalits, tribal people with 2,706 (5.24%). These six States accounted for nearly 81% of the cases. 
• "Thirteen states, cumulatively accounting for 97.7% (51,656) of the total cases (52,866) relating to offences of atrocities against members of SCs, registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in conjunction with the Indian Penal Code, during the year 2022," the report said. 
• Similarly, the majority of cases of atrocities against STs were concentrated in 13 states. Of the 9,735 cases registered under the law for STs, Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number at 2,979 (30.61%), the report said. 
• Rajasthan had the second highest number of cases at 2,498 (25.66%) while Odisha recorded 773 (7.94%). Other States with a significant number of cases included Maharashtra with 691 (7.10%) and Andhra Pradesh with 499 (5.13%). The data also provided insight into the status of investigations and charge-sheeting under the Act. 
• Among the SC-related cases, 60.38% led to chargesheets being filed while 14.78% were concluded with final reports due to reasons such as false claims or lack of evidence. By the end of 2022, investigation was pending in 17,166 cases. 
• For ST-related cases, 63.32% resulted in charge sheets being filed while 14.71% ended with final reports. At the end of the period under review, 2,702 cases involving atrocities against STs were still under investigation. 
• One of the most concerning trends highlighted in the report is the declining conviction rate for cases under the Act. In 2022, the conviction rate dropped to 32.4% from 39.2% in 2020. Moreover, of 498 districts in 14 States, only 194 had established special courts to expedite trials in these cases. 
• The report also identified specific districts particularly prone to atrocities with only 10 States and Union Territories declaring such districts. It emphasised the need for targeted interventions in these districts to curb the caste based violence and ensure stronger protection for vulnerable communities. 
• SC/ST protection cells had been set up in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha. Punjab, 
• Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Puducherry, according to the report. Special police stations for registration of complaints of offences against SCs and STs have been set up by Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. 

16. After Modi's visit, U.S. to return 297 antiquities 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed deep appreciation for U.S. President Joe Biden for promising the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. Mr. Modi is in the U.S. for a three-day visit. 
• "Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties. I am extremely grateful to President Biden and the U.S. Government for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India," Prime Minister Modi posted on X. 
• In July, India and the U.S. signed their first agreement to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and return of antiquarian objects to their place of origin. 
• "The U.S. side has facilitated the return of 297 stolen or trafficked antiquities during the visit of PM @narendramodi to U.S.," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. 

17. Modi gifts an antique silver hand-engraved train model to Biden 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gifted U.S. President Joe Biden an antique silver hand-engraved train model, a rare and extraordinary piece masterfully crafted by artisans from Maharashtra and showcasing the pinnacle of Indian metalworking artistry. 
• The vintage piece involves intricate filigree work and is made of 92.5% silver, the officials said. The creation is a tribute to the steam locomotive era, with "artistic brilliance merging with historical significance". 
• Signifying the robust linkages between India and the U.S., the model has been customised with the inscription of 'Delhi-Delaware' on the sides of the main carriage, and 'Indian Railways' on the sides of the engine in English and Hindi based on the standard format used on passenger trains in India, the officials said.
• "This work not only highlights the artisan's exceptional skill but also serves as a glowing testimony to the long history of Indian Railways and its global influences," they said. 
• Mr. Modi chose a pashmina shawl in a papier mache box as a gift for First Lady Jill Biden, they added. 
• Pashmina shawls are considered the apogee of J&K's rich and fine legacy of hand-crafting. Contemporary designers are incorporating modern sensibilities, experimenting with bolder colours, playful patterns, and even fusion styles. "This ensures the legacy of pashmina remains relevant, captivating hearts across generations and cultures," the officials said. 
• They traditionally come packed in papier mache boxes, which are renowned for their exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. 

18. Bhupendra Yadav launches Clean the Beach Campaign 2024 in Mumbai 

• The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, led the country in this year’s Clean the Beach Campaign on the occasion of the International Coastal Clean-up Day on 21 September 2024. The minister participated in an event to clean the beach at Juhu in Mumbai. 
• The campaign is part of the government of India’s “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” and “Swachh Sagar Abhiyan,” which call for a mass cleanliness and sanitation campaign in the country with public participation. 
• The campaign is being organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Government. The beach cleaning initiative will take place at over 100 beaches across India’s coastal states and union territories. 
• The Ministry of Environment launched a Beach Cleaning Drive in 2018 with the campaign ‘#IamSavingMyBeach’ on World Environment Day, under the theme ‘Beat Plastic.’ Since then, the Ministry has been organizing regular beach cleaning activities with the support of state governments and local bodies. 
• The Clean, the Beach Campaign was undertaken along the beaches of the following States/Union Territories of India: Gujarat, Union Territory of Daman and Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Union Territory Lakshadweep, Union Territory Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and the Union Territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

19. ARIES and BEL collaborate to enhance India’s Space Situational Awareness 

• In a major development for India’s space technology sector, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), GoI, has signed an MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). 
• The partnership aims to develop critical technologies for tracking space objects, particularly near-Earth objects and artificial satellites, as part of India’s growing focus on Space Situational Awareness (SSA). 
• Under the terms of the MoU, ARIES and BEL will leverage advanced image processing techniques and data analytics solutions. These will be supported by observations from ARIES’s cutting-edge telescopes, including the 4m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT). 
• Additionally, the two organizations will collaborate on the development of specialized instruments and laboratories. To further enhance expertise in SSA, ARIES and BEL plan to conduct a series of training workshops focused on capacity building. 
• SSA is crucial for predicting, warning, and avoiding potential collisions between space objects, which is essential for ensuring the safety of satellites and their users. 

20. ADB approves Rs 530 Crore to boost drinking water supply in 12 cities of Tripura 

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide financial assistance of Rs 530 crore to the Tripura government to upgrade the drinking water supply in the state’s 12 cities benefiting around four lakh people. 
• 12 cities, where the ADB-funded ambitious scheme would be implemented include, Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Melaghar, Bishramganj, Khowai, Ranir Bazar, Mohanpur, Dharmanagar, Kailashhar, Kumarghat and Ambassa. Of the 12 cities, seven are district headquarters — Udaipur, Belonia, Bishramganj, Khowai, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar and Ambassa. 
• Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha laid the foundation of the ‘Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalp’ (Chief Minister’s urban development scheme) at a function in southern Tripura’s Gomati district headquarters Udaipur. 
• Under the scheme, a 305 km water pipeline would be laid, 25 deep tubewells, 18 Iron Removal Plant, four water treatment plants and 19 water reservoirs would be constructed. 
• After the completion of the ambitious plan within three years, a major drinking water problem of over 75,000 families in 12 cities in the state would be resolved. 

Recent Loan approved by ADB 

• India and ADB sign $500 million to improve healthcare in Maharashtra 
• India and ADB sign $200 million to improve solid waste management and sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in the country 
• India and ADB sign $200 million to expand metro rail corridors and improve transport connectivity in Nagpur. 
• India and ADB sign $240.5 million to rooftop solar system in India 
• India and ADB sign $170 million to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response 

21. Cabinet gives nod to ₹2,602 crore Wildlife Habitats Development scheme 

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme for the 15th Finance Commission cycle for an overall outlay of ₹2,602.98 crore. 
• The centrally sponsored scheme includes critical components such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant and Development of Wildlife Habitat. 
• The scheme envisages to boost technological interventions in different thematic areas over the current and next financial year in tiger and other wildlife habitats. 
• According to the overally outlay, the Centre allocated ₹1,575 crore for Project Tiger, ₹182.58 crore for Project Elephant and ₹845.4 crore for Development of Wildlife Habitat. 
• Project Tiger currently uses technology such as the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers, Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) mobile application for day-to-day management practices. It is extensively used for collection of field level ecological data during the 5th cycle of the All-India Tiger Estimation in 2022. 
• The Project Dolphin under the Development of Wildlife Habitat component is proposed to be supported by provisioning equipment such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and passive acoustic monitoring devices for enumeration of dolphins as well as their habitat. 
• Project Lion, also under the ambit of the Development of Wildlife Habitat, will be strengthened as per activities envisaged in the document titled “Lion @ 2047: A vision for Amrut Kaal”. 

22. IAEA General Conference Elects Korean Ambassador as Conference President 

• The Republic of Korea’s Permanent Representative has been elected as the President of the IAEA’s 68th General Conference. 
• Sang Wook Ham was appointed as the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna in 2022 after an extensive service with the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
• The General Conference elects a President at the beginning of each annual session, following consultations among Member States before the conference. 
• They hold office for the duration of the conference. Last year the position was held by Thailand’s Vilawan Mangklatanakul. 

Recent Appointment in Foreign 

• First Indian President of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) – Raja Randhir Singh 
• First Female Government Spokesperson of Iran – Fatemeh Mohajerani 
• CEO of Nestlé – Laurent Freixe (replace Mark Schneider) 
• India’s Permanent Representative to UN – Parvathaneni Harish (replace Ruchira Kamboj) 
• CEO of Boeing – Robert “Kelly” Ortberg (replace Dave Calhoun) 

23. Nikhat Zareen, India’s star boxer, joins Telangana Police as DSP 

• Renowned boxer Nikhat Zareen joined the Telangana Police as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Special Police). 
• The two-time world boxing champion submitted her joining report to the Director General of Police, Jitender. 
• A native of Nizamabad district, Nikhat Zareen has an illustrious career in boxing, having won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the Asian Games. She also represented India at the recently concluded Olympics in Paris. 
• Competing in the women’s 50 kg category, she lost to China’s Wu Yu in the pre-quarterfinals. Zareen, who contested as an unseeded boxer, acknowledged that this was the hardest loss she has faced. 

Recent Award 

• Olympic Order in gold – French President Emmanuel Macron 
• Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024 – Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki 
• Best Airport at the India Travel Awards – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad 
• Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2024 – Shaktikanta Das (A+ grade); 2nd year 
• Hilal-e-Imtiaz Award (Pakistan 2ndhighest civilian award) – Arshad Nadeem 

24. Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo elected President of NRAI 

• Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has been elected as the new president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) in a tightly contested election, winning 36-21 over V.K. Dhall. 
• His victory marks a pivotal moment in Indian shooting, as it brings an end to Raninder Singh’s 12-year tenure, which concluded due to National Sports Code restrictions. 
• Kalikesh will serve as president until the next NRAI general body meeting in 2025. 
• During his interim leadership, India made a significant breakthrough at the Paris Olympics, securing three bronze medals and ending a dry spell from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. 

About National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) 

• Founded- 1951 
• Headquarters- New Delhi 
• President- Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (replace Raninder Singh) 

25. Magnus Carlsen, Judit Polgar felicitated at FIDE 100 Awards 

• Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar were felicitated with the best male and female player awards, respectively at the FIDE 100 Awards ceremony in Hungary. 
• Carlsen, ranked world number one, is a part of the Norway team in the ongoing Chess Olympiad 2024. 
• Carlsen has held the No. 1 position in the FIDE world chess rankings since July 1, 2011, trailing only Kasparov in time spent as the highest-rated player in the world. 
• Polgar, on the other hand, announced retirement from competitive chess in 2014. 

26. Jaipur to host 25th edition of IIFA Awards 

• The 25th International Indian Film Academy Awards will be held in Jaipur from March 7 to March 9, 2025.
• The announcement comes in the run-up of the 2024 edition of the awards, set to begin in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, for the third consecutive year from September 27. 
• An MoU was signed between Rajasthan Tourism Department and the IIFA for the silver jubilee celebrations of the IIFA Awards, to be held in the state capital next year.
• IIFA 2025 will promote tourism in Rajasthan, it is for the second time that the event is taking place in India. First such event was held in Mumbai in 2019. 
• The 2025 ceremony will also host the inaugural IIFA Digital Awards that would honour the best performances in digital entertainment, films and OTT content. 

27. Indigenous Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joins Western Naval Fleet 

• The country’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joined the western naval fleet, in a significant enhancement to maritime power in the Arabian Sea. 
• With this, the Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya on its western front. 
• INS Vikrant is designed by Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. 
• INS Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in maritime history of India. 
• The 262.5 m long and 61.6 m wide Vikrant displaces approximately 43,000 T, having a maximum designed speed of 28 Knots with endurance of 7,500 Nautical Miles. 
• The ship has around 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 including women officers and sailors. The carrier is designed with a very high degree of automation for machinery operations, ship navigation and survivability. The carrier is equipped with the latest state of the art equipment and systems. 
• The ship is capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy). 
• Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard. 

28. 21 September – International Day of Peace 

• International Day of Peace is observed every year on 21 September. It is also known as World Peace Day. 
• Established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. 
• Theme 2024 – Cultivating a Culture of Peace. 
• This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. 

29. Relative Economic Performance of Indian States 

• This is authored by EAC-PM member Sanjeev Sanyal, the paper ‘Relative Economic Performance of Indian States: 1960-61 to 2023-24 
• All data used are in current prices and this analysis spans 1960-61 to 2023- 24. 
• West Bengal, which held the third-largest share of national GDP at 10.5% in 1960-61, now accounts for only 5.6% in 2023-24. 
• West Bengal’s per capita income was above the national average in 1960-61 at 127.5%, but its growth failed to keep pace with national trends. 
• As a result, its relative per capita income declined to 83.7% in 2023-24. 
• Southern States have significantly overtaken others after economic liberalization in 1991. 
• The five States - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu - collectively are accounting for approximately 30% of India’s GDP in 2023-24. Per capita income of all southern States became higher than the national average after 1991. 
• Delhi has one of the highest per capita incomes throughout the study period. 
• Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were home to India’s 3 largest industrial clusters in the 1960s.
• Maharashtra showed broadly steady performance throughout, West Bengal’sshare has been in continuous decline. 
• After a decline, Tamil Nadu picked up post-1991. 
• Haryana’s share of India’s GDP now exceeds that of Punjab. 
• Its relative per capita income has reached 176.8 percent, compared to Punjab’s 106.7 percent in 2023-24. 

30. RE-INVEST Expo 2024 

• The 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 
• This is the first time the meet was organised outside Delhi. 
• Banks, Manufacturers and financial institutions committed close to $386 billion or around Rs 32.45 trillion to the development of RE projects by 2030. 
• Gujarat won the maximum number of awards during the event. 
• Gujarat ranked on top under overall renewable energy capacity achieved and overall wind power capacity achieved categories. 
• It was ranked second under overall solar power capacity achieved as Rajasthan pipped Gujarat to be at the top. 
• Other top ranked states under these categories were Rajasthan (bagged two awards), Tamil Nadu (two) and Karnataka (two). 
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand one each under overall hydro power capacity achievers category. 

31. WorldSkills 2024 competition 

• The 47 edition of the competition held from September 10 to 15 in Lyon, France. 
• India secured a bronze medal in hotel reception; a bronze medal in patisserie and confectionery; and a medallion of excellence in cookery. 
• Overall, India won four bronze medals and 12 Medallions of Excellence across skill sets. 
• This Competition is the world's largest vocational education and skills excellence event. 
• It was drawing participants from almost 70 participating countries to compete in various trades and professions.