Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 24th September 2024

1. Laapata Ladies is India's entry for Oscars 

• Laapataa Ladies, a satirical take on gender dynamics and patriarchy in rural India, is the country's official entry for Oscars 2025, the Film Federation of India announced here on Monday. 
• Directed by Kiran Rao, the Hindi film about two brides getting swapped during a train ride after their wedding in 2001, was chosen from a list of 29 films, including the Cannes winner All We Imagine As Light. 
• The 13-member selection committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua unanimously decided on Laapata Ladies, produced by Aamir Khan and Ms. Rao, for reckoning in the best international film category at the Academy Awards. 

2. 2 Navy officers to sail across the world from Oct. 2 

• Under the second edition of the Navy's Navika Sagar Parikrama, two women officers, Lt. Cdr. Dilna K. and Lt. Cdr. Roopa A., will on October 2 embark on an expedition to circumnavigate the globe aboard the Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini. 
• Over eight months, they will navigate more than 21,600 nautical miles (approximately 40,000 km) without any external assistance, relying solely on wind power, the Navy said. The voyage will be flagged off from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi, in Goa. The Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff, Krishna Swaminathan, described Navika Sagar Parikrama II as a journey of empowerment, innovation, and commitment to India's maritime heritage. 

3. Maharashtra Cabinet okays 24 proposals 

• Ahead of the Assembly election, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Monday approved 24 proposals, including the renaming of Pune International Airport and the formation of separate corporations for economically weaker sections of Brahmin and Rajput communities. It also approved the inclusion of Tilori Kunbi, Tilori Kunbi, and Ti Kunbi sub-castes in the State government's OBC list, a Cabinet note stated. 
• The Cabinet gave the nod to rename Pune International Airport as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport, with a formal proposal to be sent to the Centre. Additionally, it approved the transfer of a 2,000-square metres land parcel in Mumbai's Bandra on lease to cricketer Ajinkya Rahane to develop a sports complex. 

4. India signs agreements on clean and fair economy under Indo-Pacific Economic Framework 

• India has signed the first-of-its-kind agreements focused on a Clean Economy, Fair Economy, and the overarching Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Delaware, USA. 
• These agreements were exchanged under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for prosperity yesterday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to the US for the Quad Summit. 
• The Agreement on Clean Economy intends to promote technical cooperation, workforce development, capacity building, and research collaborations. 
• It will facilitate investments and project financing, including concessional financing, as well as joint collaborative projects, with a particular emphasis on supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 
• The Fair Economy Agreement seeks to create a more transparent and predictable trade and investment environment across the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, the overarching IPEF Agreement aims to establish a high-level political oversight framework at the ministerial level for the various individual IPEF agreements, providing general guidance and goals while aligning with leaders’ vision and mandate for the IPEF. 

About Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) 

• IPEF was launched on 23 May 2022 in Tokyo, Japan, comprising 14 countries – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and USA. 
• The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement and cooperation among partner countries to advance growth and economic stability. 
• The framework is structured around four pillars relating to Trade (Pillar I); Supply Chain Resilience (Pillar II); Clean Economy (Pillar III); and Fair Economy (Pillar IV).
• India has ratified Agreement on Supply Chain Resilience (Pillar II) in February 2024 and has maintained an observer status in Pillar-I. 

5. India and Bhutan Deepen Cooperation on Food Safety and Regulatory Standards 

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted a bilateral meeting with the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) on the sidelines of the Global Food Regulators Summit, at Bharat Mandapam. 
• The meeting focused on the implementation protocol of the “Agreement” signed between India and BFDA on 21 March 2024, during the visit of PM Narendra Modi. 
• This Agreement underscores a mutual commitment to enhance food safety, aligning regulatory frameworks, simplifying the Food Import Procedure and fostering technical collaboration. The Agreement aims to recognize the official control exercised by BFDA over food business operators (FBOs) by the FSSAI. 
• The Agreement further seeks to enhance technical cooperation between FSSAI and BFDA, establishing a functional mechanism to facilitate and develop trade between the two 

Recently India signed MoUs with others countries 

• India, European Union agree to deepen cooperation in Sustainable Water Management 
• FSSAI, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil sign MoU for food safety collaboration 
• India-Denmark Maritime collaboration gathers momentum with focus on Green Shipping, Digitalization, and Sustainable Development 
• Indian Navy and South African Navy sign agreement to enhance submarine rescue support cooperation 
• India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives sign Charter and MoU for establishment of Colombo Security Conclave Secretariat 

6. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality 

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) successfully hosted the National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi. 
• The conclave focused on strengthening gender-responsive community institutions and discussed strategies for advancing gender integration within the DAY-NRLM framework. 
• DAY-NRLM provides a unique opportunity to empower women by addressing structural inequalities and strengthening women’s collectives, voice, and agency. 

7. Mizoram govt introduces Financial Assistance Scheme for Farmers and Small Entrepreneurs 

• The Mizoram government has launched a financial assistance and support programme, ‘Bana Kaih’, for small entrepreneurs and farmers of the state. 
• This scheme aims to provide financial assistance to farmers growing ginger, turmeric, Mizo chilli, and broomsticks. These crops will be purchased through farmer societies established in villages. 
• Under this initiative, the government has set minimum prices for these cash crops. If farmers sell their produce below these rates, they will receive support prices. However, if they manage to sell at higher prices, the government will not intervene. 
• Additionally, paddy unhusked rice will be bought at Rs 30 per kg from Kolasib and Mamit districts. 
• The state government has allocated Rs 200 crore for the scheme’s implementation in 2024-25. An additional Rs 110 crore has been set aside for agricultural assurance in the 2023-24 fiscal year. 

About Mizoram 

• Formation – 20 February 1987 
• Capital – Aizawl 
• Chief Minister – Lalduhoma 
• Governor – Hari Babu Kambhampati 

8. Ayushman Bharat PM-Jay scheme introduced by PM Modi marks six years since launch 

• The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018, celebrated its sixth anniversary. 
• The scheme provides health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care to over 55 crore individuals. 
• Earlier on September 11, the Union Cabinet had approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). 
• AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals to 12.34 crore families. 

9. Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub set new record for longest single mission aboard ISS 

• Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub have set a new record for the longest single mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). 
• Kononenko and Chub broke the previous record for the longest continuous stay in space, which was set by cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio. 
• The three set the previous record last year by spending 370 days aboard the International Space Station. Kononenko and Chub returned to Earth on the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, after spendi a record 374 days in space. 

10. Sangram Singh becomes 1st Indian male wrestler to win MMA fight at Gama International Fighting Championship 

• Indian wrestler Sangram Singh became the first Indian male wrestler to win an MMA (mixed martial arts) fight at the Gama International Fighting Championship Tbilisi in Georgia. 
• Commonwealth heavyweight wrestling champion Sangram won in a 90-second match against the Pakistani opponent, Ali Raza Nasir. 
• Moreover, Sangram also registered the fastest win ever by an Indian fighter in the 93 kg division in the championship. 

11. Lando Norris wins Singapore Grand Prix 

• Formula One title contender Lando Norris led from pole to chequered flag to win the Singapore Grand Prix, narrowing the gap to championship leader Max Verstappen, who was second. 
• It was the McLaren driver’s third career GP win and his first from pole at his sixth attempt. 
• His McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished third to extend their lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ championship. 

Recent 2024 F1 Grand Prix Winner 

• Azerbaijan Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia) 
• Italian Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monaco) 
• Dutch Grand Prix – McLaren’s Lando Norris (British) 
• Hungarian Grand Prix F2 – Kush Maini (India) 
• Belgian Grand Prix – Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton (UK) 
• Hungarian Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia) 
• British Grand Prix – Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton (UK) 
• Austrian Grand Prix – Mercedes’s George Russell (UK) 
• Spanish Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Canadian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Monaco Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monaco) 
• Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Miami Grand Prix – McLaren’s Lando Norris (British) 
• Chinese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Japanese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Australian Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Carlos Saina (Spain) 
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Bahrain Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 

12. 23 September – International Day of Sign Languages 

• The International Day of Sign Languages is an annual event observed on September 23 globally. 
• The day is marked to raise awareness about the rights of the deaf community and other sign language users. 
• Theme 2024 – Sign up for Sign Language Rights 
• The choice of 23 September is the same date that the World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951. The International Day of Sign Languages was first celebrated in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf. 

13. 22 September – World Rhino Day 

• World Rhino Day is celebrated annually on September 22 to raise awareness about the Rhinoceros and the urgent need for their conservation. 
• It serves as a global platform to highlight the critical threats rhinos face, including poaching and habitat loss, while recognizing the efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting these majestic animals. 
• Theme 2024 – Keep the Five Alive 
• The day also emphasizes the importance of preserving rhino populations for ecological balance, cultural heritage, and future generations. It is a call to unite in the fight for rhino conservation worldwide. 
• The Indian rhino is the largest of the three Asian species and shares its single-horn characteristic with the Javan rhino. 

14.Bharatiya Anthariksh Station 

• The union cabinet has approved the building of first unit of the Bharatiya Anatriksh Station by extending the scope of Gaganyaan program. 
• India planned to create an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040. 
• The first module of the country’s space station is to be called Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1). 
• This is set to debut with its inaugural module in 2028. 
• The ISS is operational since 2000 and was a collaborative effort between NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. 
• China’s Tiangong, meaning "Heavenly Palace," began its operations in June 2022. 
• Russia plans to build its own station, the Russian Orbital Station (ROS). 

15. 19 th India Australia Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting in Australia will be attended by Union Minister Piyush Goyal. 

• He will co-chair the meeting with Minister of Trade and Tourism of Australia Don Farrell on 25 September 2024. 
• At the meeting, ways to further elevate bilateral economic engagement will be discussed by both countries. 
• The strong and expanding commercial and investment links between Australia and India would be further strengthened by the visit.
• After the bilateral Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement was finalised, trade and investment connections between Australia and India were strengthened. 
• The visit will foster cross-sector strategic alliances and business-to-business interaction. 
• Union Minister Piyush Goyal also participated virtually at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework meeting. 

16. India’s first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant will be set up in Pune. 

• The foundation stone for India’s first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant was laid at Thermax Limited in Pune, Maharashtra.
• This is a significant step towards advancing carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies. 
• The foundation stone was laid by Abhay Karandikar, Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology (DST). 
• The plant has capacity of 1.4 tons per day (TPD). The project is implemented as a public-private partnership (PPP) between Thermax Limited and IIT-Delhi. 
• The project is having an estimated cost of ₹31 crore and supported by the DST under the Ministry of Science and Technology. 
• The findings from this pilot plant will demonstrate decarbonisation potential in coal-based thermal power sectors. 
• Coal-based thermal power sectors account for 30 per cent of India’s carbon emissions. 

17. EPFO recorded the highest number of net members in July. 

• Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) added a record 19.94 lakh net members in July 2024. 
• It is the highest recorded increase since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. 
• The net member enrolment under EPFO was 16.70 lakh in June 2024. 
• The youth group (18-25 age group) recorded the highest-ever net payroll additions at 8.77 lakh. 
• Around 3.05 lakh new female members joined EPFO in July 2024. 
• In July 2024, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Gujarat’s share was 59.27 per cent of the total net member additions. 
• Maharashtra led among the States/UTs with a contribution of 20.21 per cent of the total new members. 38.91 per cent of net additions came from expert services. 

18. Climate Finance Action Fund will be launched by Azerbaijan. 

• The host country of Climate Conference 2024, Azerbaijan, has decided to launch a new fund to finance climate action in developing countries. 
• The new fund, the “Climate Finance Action Fund” (CFAF), will receive annual contributions from fossil fuel producing countries and companies. 
• The initial fundraising goal is $1 billion, with members committing to annual contributions of a fixed amount or based on production volume. 
• The fund, based in the capital Baku, will target climate projects in developing countries. 
• It will finance the next generation of national climate plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and tackle the consequences of disasters caused by climate change. 
• The CFAF is part of a larger package of proposals that Azerbaijan has prepared to be included in the final outcome of COP29. 
• COP29 is the 29th edition of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 
• The conference is scheduled to be held in the country's capital, Baku, from November 11 to 22. 
• The main agenda of COP29 is to finalise the agreement on climate finance, including the amount of money that developed countries will have to mobilise to help developing countries fight climate change in the post-2025 period. 

19. Computer Security Incident Response Team-POWER facility inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal. 

• On September 23, the Computer Security Incident Response Team-POWER (CSIRT-POWER) facility was inaugurated at the Northern Regional Electricity Board, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi. 
• The CSIRT Power Facility is a vital step in the mission to protect our power infrastructure – one of the most critical components of the national infrastructure. 
• The primary objective of CSIRT-Power is to build and enhance cyber security resilience in the Indian power sector through a structured and coordinated approach. 
• Cyber-attacks have emerged as a serious and growing concern, capable of causing significant disruptions with far-reaching consequences. 
• The power sector, being at the heart of the national infrastructure, is a prime target for such attacks. 
• The existing sub-regional Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) lack the legal authority, resources and skilled professionals required to effectively deal with cyber security incidents. 
• CSIRT-POWER is a proactive response to these challenges. 

20. World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit will be hosted by India in 2025. 

• The World Audiovisual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) will be hosted by the Central Government from February 5 to 9, 2025, to promote the country's media and entertainment industry and enhance its global influence. 
• This will be the first global summit to cover the entire gamut of aspects of the media and entertainment industry. 
• The aim of the WAVES is to become a leading platform that fosters dialogue, business collaboration and innovation within the emerging industry landscape. 
• The summit will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders and innovators to explore opportunities, address challenges, attract business to India and shape the future of the sector. 

21. Pune Airport to be rename as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport. 

• Maharashtra government state cabinet has approved the renaming of Pune Airport as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport. 
• This proposal will be sent to the central government for approval. 
• A Guaranteed Progression Scheme for Children's Homes Observatory staff has been also approved by the state cabinet.
• The government has also decided to add three Kunbi sub-castes to the Other Backward Classes list. 

Sant Tukaram: 

• He was a prominent saint and spiritual poet during the Bhakti movement. 
• He was born in Lohegaon in the 17th century in Dehu village, where Pune International Airport is located. 
• He is best known for his devotional poetry, which is called ‘Abhanga’. 
• He propagated Bhagwat Dharma through the Warkari community. 

22. Indian parliament hosted the 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Conference in New Delhi. 

• A two-day 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference was held in New Delhi. 
• This conference was chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. It was held on 23-24 September. 
• Forty-six Presiding Officers, 25 Speakers and 14 Deputy Speakers of Legislatures from States and Union Territories attended the conference. 
• Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, and accompanying officers also attend the conference. 
• ‘The Role of Legislative Bodies in the Attainment of Sustainable and Inclusive Development’ was the theme of the conference. 
• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region was created in 2004. 
• It has 31 Member Branches, including the Parliament of India and 30 State and Union Territories Legislatures. 
• This is the second time that the CPA India Region Conference was held in New Delhi. 

23. 75 Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs) signed by ISRO, IN-SPACe and NSIL with Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs). 

• On 20 September, five TTAs were signed at IN-SPACe, Bengaluru. 
• The agreements were signed with Anabond Limited, Salvo Industries Private Limited, Micropack Private Limited and Astra Microwave Products Limited. 
• The Center announced space reforms in mid-2020. 
• Following space reforms in India, there have been a significant number of collaborations between ISRO and various-NGEs. 
• The objective of TTA is to provide private players an opportunity to access developed technologies available with ISRO. 
• This will enable them to use space-related technology for commercial applications in space as well as other sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, defence, telecom and cyber security. 
• This initiative is in line with India's space reforms aimed at promoting private sector participation in the space industry. 

24. Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected as the new president of Sri Lanka. 

• Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka's presidential election by securing 42.31 percent of the vote. 
• Dissanayake sworn in takes place at the Presidential Secretariat.
• In the recent election, the voter turnout was 76 percent, with 17 million Sri Lankans eligible to cast their ballots. 
• Sajith Premadasa secured second place with 32.76 percent of the vote. 
• Ranil Wickremesinghe stood in third place with 17.27 percent of the vote. 
• The election was widely seen as a referendum on Wickremesinghe's leadership during Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery. 
• Sri Lanka’s economy remains in a precarious state, despite some improvements since its default in 2022.