Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 25th September 2024

1. Lok Sabha using Al and machine learning: Birla 

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies were put to use to make available House proceedings in regional languages to MPs. Addressing a press conference here after the two-day meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region, Mr. Birla said the Lok Sabha Secretariat was also sharing its expertise in technology with legislatures of States and Union Territories to speed up the process of digitisation. 
• Officials said 18,000 hours of footage of House proceedings since 1992 would be digitised. 
• Mr. Birla said that during the conference, presiding officers of State legislatures also deliberated on the agenda of the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney from November 3 to 8. The CPC has shortlisted eight topics, including support of legislatures to promote LGBTQ+ participation, use of AI in parliamentary proceedings, violence and abuse of parliamentarians, and human trafficking for deliberation by participants. 

2. Unemployment rate has not fallen: labour survey 

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the period between July 2023 and June 2024, released by the Labour Bureau on Monday, reported no major change in the unemployment rate (UR). There is a minor increase in the distribution of workers in agriculture, and the manufacturing sector shows no growth in giving jobs compared with the past years. 

Stagnant unemployment rates 

• The chart shows the unemployment rate of India from 2017 to 2023, which has remained stagnant over the last two years. 
• The participation of women in the workforce has improved. The Centre had faced criticism for the growing unemployment rate and decrease in the number of women in jobs. 
• A release by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said that in rural areas, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 63.7% in 2023- 24, while for urban areas, it increased from 47.6% to 52%. 
• "LFPR for males in India increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.8% in 2023-24 and corresponding increase in LFPR for females was from 23.3% to 41.7%," the release said. 
• The LFPR for Muslim women increased from 15% in 2021-22 to 21.4% in 2023-24. In the case of Hindu women, the participation in the workforce increased from 26.1% in 2021-22 to 33.3% in this year. Similarly, among Sikh and Christian women, the LFPR increased from 19.8% to 26.7% and 34.2% to 38.3%, respectively. 
• In rural areas, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.5% in 2023-24, while for urban areas, it decreased from 7.7% to 5.1%. 
• "UR for male in India decreased from 6.1% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24 and corresponding decrease for females was from 5.6% to 3.2%," the Centre said. The overall unemployment rate is 3.2%, similar to last year. 

Grim picture 

• Experts said the annual survey gave a grim picture of the employment scenario. 
• "Grim situation has become grimmer. The annual report is revealing it," said labour economist Santosh Mehrotra. "There is no improvement in the unemployment scenario, neither in youth unemployment nor in overall unemployment," he said. 
• He said the Centre continued to claim that the LFPR and Worker Population Ratio were increasing. "It is because of the increase in workers in agriculture. This also means that unpaid family labour has also increased and the PLFS counts this unpaid family labour as employment. The participation of workers in agriculture share has gone up for the fourth year in a row. This is shocking," he said. 
• Professor Mehrotra said the increase in workforce in agriculture meant that the process of people looking for non-farm jobs reversed and it had not stopped. 
• As the workers' participation in manufacturing is still 11.4%, he said, the share of manufacturing in providing employment is not increasing. 
• "In 2012, it was 12.8%, and it ever recovered in the last 10 years. The contribution of construction work has gone back to 12%. The sector, which has revived, is not showing any buoyancy," he said. 

3. Army to receive Apache choppers in Dec.; deploy LCH in Ladakh next year 

• After a delay of more than six months, the Army is set to receive the first batch of three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing in December. 
• While the Apaches are for the deserts, the Army is set to deploy the indigenous light combat helicopter (LCH), manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., in Ladakh next year. 
• "The manufacturer has communicated that there have been manufacturing delays due to supply chain issues. The first batch of three Apaches is now set to be delivered in December and the next three a few months after that," a defence source said. As per the original schedule, three helicopters were supposed to be delivered in May and three in July. 
• The issue of delays was taken up with the U.S. at the political level and it was requested to prioritise the deliveries, the source added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was on an official visit to the U.S. in August. 
• On the LCH, a second source said the plan was to deploy them in Ladakh in 2024-25. The Apaches are ideal for countering armour and would be deployed in the deserts, another official said, adding that their capability gets limited in high altitudes due to their operational envelope. The LCH is specifically designed for high-altitude conditions, the official added. 
• In March, the Army Aviation formally raised the 451 Aviation Squadron at Jodhpur that would operate the Apaches. The Apaches would be the second attack helicopters in the Army after the indigenous LCH. 
• India signed a deal with Boeing for six Apaches, for the Army, at a cost of around $800 million in February 2020. As part of the deal, six pilots and 24 technicians were trained by Boeing in the U.S. 
• The Army Aviation, which has for long operated utility helicopters, inducted its first dedicated attack helicopter with the LCH and the first squadron, 351 Army Aviation, was moved to Missamari, Assam in the Eastern sector near the Line of Actual Control in November 2022. 

4. Centre to launch new project on urban poverty alleviation 

• The Union government will soon launch a pro gramme dedicated to urban poverty alleviation, the pilot for which will be set in motion in 25 cities across the country on October 1. These 25 cities include industrial hubs, migrant centres, aspirational districts and port cities. 
• The pilot, which will span three months, with a preparatory phase of one month to ensure effective implementation, will utilise a Test-Learn-Scale approach, the Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. 
• The programme is designed to uplift vulnerable groups within the informal sector, including construction workers, gig workers, waste workers, care workers, domestic workers, and transportation workers, who often face occupational, social, and residential vulnerabilities. 
• Pilot project will be set in motion in 25 cities across the country on October 1
• "The pilot aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing financial assistance, social protection, and access to credit for micro-enterprises," the statement said. 
• Through strategic interventions and a collaborative approach, the proposed programme aims to reshape the livelihood landscape in urban India, ensuring that the benefits of urbanisation are equitably distributed to uplift the most vulnerable sections of society, it added. 
• Suggestions on designing the contours of the programme were given by 28 States and Union Territories at a workshop held on Monday. The workshop was attended by State Mission Directors, Municipal Commissioners, as well as senior Ministry officials. 

5. Good beginning, says India on UNSC reform document 

• India said that a UN summit document for the first time containing a detailed paragraph on Security Council reform is a "good beginning", and New Delhi looks forward eventually to the beginning of text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame to reform the 15-nation body. 
• World leaders on September 22 adopted by consensus the "Pact of the Future". promising to "reform the Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable". 
• UN officials have described the language in the "Pact of the Future" on the long-pending Security Council reforms as "groundbreaking". 
• "I would only point you in the direction of the fact that for the first time, a UN summit document has a detailed paragraph on UN Security Council reform," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in response to a question on how India sees this language on UN Security Council reform in the "Pact of the Future". 
• "So it may not have every single detail in every area that we would imagine or we would like there to be, but I think it's a good beginning," Mr. Misri said. 
• Mr. Misri said that India looks forward "eventually to the beginning of text based negotiations in a fixed time-frame going forward". 
• Mr. Misri was briefing reporters here as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his three-day visit to the U.S. during which he attended the Quad Leaders' Summit in Delaware, held bilateral discussions with President Joe Biden, addressed a mega diaspora event in Long Island, spoke in the UN General Assembly at the 'Summit of the Future', and held bilateral discussions with world leaders. In the "Pact of the Future", world leaders agreed to redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority and, while treating Africa as a special case, improve the representation of the under-represented and unrepresented regions and groups including Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. They agreed to "enlarge" the Security 
• Council to be more representative of the United Nations membership and reflective of the realities of the contemporary world. 

6. FCRA licence of International Cooperative Alliance cancelled

• Union Home Ministry has cancelled the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Registration Act) licence of the International Cooperatives Alliance (ICA) for its alleged violation of rules. 
• ICA is the apex body representing cooperatives worldwide and provides knowledge, expertise and coordinated action in the field. 
• Founded in 1895, ICA is one of the oldest non-governmental organizations and has over 1 billion members. 

7. Centre constitutes committee for formulating framework on Repairability Index in Mobile and Electronics Sector 

• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), GoI, has constituted a committee of experts under the chairmanship of Bharat Khera, to recommend a robust framework for Repairability Index and to empower consumers and promote sustainable practices within the tech industry. 
• The proposed repair ecosystem will include several important components: 
• Comprehensive Repair Information: Consumers will have access to repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and lists of necessary tools and parts. 
• Spare Parts Availability: Easier identification and timely availability of spare parts. 
• Affordable Tools: Cost-effective tools that are safe and easily accessible to consumers. 
• Modular Design: Products will feature components that can be independently accessed for easier repairs. 
• Economic Feasibility: The cost of parts and labor will be kept affordable for consumers. 
• The committee will develop policies, guidelines, and regulations to support the Repairability Index and integrate it into existing consumer protection frameworks. 
• The committee is expected to submit its report, along with the proposed framework for the Repairability Index, by November 15, 2024. 

8. Alok Ranjan appointed as NCRB chief, Amit Garg to head National Police Academy 

• Senior IPS officers Alok Ranjan has been appointed as the Chief of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 
• While, Amit Garg has been appointed as the Chief of Hyderabad-based Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). 
• Ranjan, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director, NCRB for a tenure up to his superannuation on June 30, 2026. 
• He succeeds his service and batchmate Vivek Gogia, who has been repatriated to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre. 
• Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director, of SVPNPA for a term up to his retirement on October 31, 2027. 
• Besides them, Praveer Ranjan has been appointed as Special Director General in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for a tenure of two years. 
• Vitul Kumar, currently ADG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been appointed as Special DG in the same force, till the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2028. 
• R Prasad Meena, at present ADG in the Border Security Force (BSF), has been appointed as Special DG in the force, till the date of his retirement, that is July 31, 2025. 

Recent Appointment

• President of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) – Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (replace Raninder Singh) 
• DG of Narcotics Control Bureau – Anurag Garg (replace Anish Dayal Singh) 
• Head coach of Indian women’s football team – Santosh Kashyap (replace Chaoba Devi) 
• First Pakistani woman Umpire to be nominated to the ICC international panel – Saleema Imtiaz 
• Chief Minister of Delhi – Atishi (Arvind Kejriwal) 
• President of International Hockey Federation – Tayyab Ikram 
• Best Airport at the India Travel Awards – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad 

9. 25 September – World Pharmacist Day 

• World Pharmacist Day is observed every year on September 25 to honour and acknowledge pharmacists for their important contributions to enhancing world health. 
• This special day highlights the essential role pharmacists play in improving people’s lives. 
• Theme 2024 – Pharmacists: Meeting global health need 
• World Pharmacist Day was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2009. The aim was to recognise and promote pharmacists’ contributions to global health. 
• The first official celebration occurred on September 25, 2010, coinciding with FIP’s founding date in 1912. 

10. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services released Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas. 

• Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas will showcase the vast potential of Ocean energy of the Indian EEZ. 
• It will show the potential of the marine meterological and hydrological energy forms. 
• The Atlas was released by the Ministry of Earth Science Secretary M. Ravichandran. 
• This Atlas identifies area with high potential for energy generation. 
• It will also act as a refrence for policymakers, industry and researchers to use energy resources available in the Indian EEZ. 
• INCOIS prepares annual, monthly, and daily energy estimates of ocean energy components . 

11. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth clinched 2024 Hangzhou Open title. 

• India’s Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won the 2024 Hangzhou Open doubles title.
• They defeated Germany’s Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens in the finals. 
• They won the final match by 4-6, 7(7)-6(5), 10-7 at the Hangzhou Olympics Sports Centre. 
• They had defeated British team of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the quarter finals. 
• This is the second ATP title of Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan . He last won the 2017 Chennai Open alongside Rohan Bopanna. 

12. India first multi-omics cancer data portal has been launched. 

• India launched its first comprehensive multi-omics cancer data portal to enhance research and treatment efforts for cancer. 
• Cancer therapies in India have been based on Western datasets . 
• It is the first platform in India to provide data encompassing DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients, integrated with clinical outcomes. 
• The platform includes data from 50 breast cancer patients and this dataset to grow to over 500 patients in the next year. 
• This portal will empower researchers with essential data to propel customized cancer research for better treatment outcomes. 
• In 2019, India reported around 1.2 million new cancer cases and 930,000 deaths. 

13. ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ app has been launched by Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. 

• The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' app is a unique platform where users can plant and dedicate a tree in honour of their mothers. 
• This app not only allows users to contribute towards environmental sustainability but also provides a special way to celebrate their bond with their mother. 
• With its user-friendly interface, people can easily upload pictures of the trees they are planting as a tribute to their mothers. 
• 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' app combines environmental responsibility with a personal touch. 

Key Features and Functionality of the app are given below. 

• Simple App Launch 
• User-Friendly Upload Process 
• Capture and Upload Image 
• Tree Details
• Seamless Submission 
• Location and Timestamp 
• Progress Updates 
• Carbon Credit Tracking 
• Social Media Sharing 

14. Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh inaugurated new Sainik School in Jaipur. 

• Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari was present at the occasion. 
• This new sainik school is part of vision of Government to set up 100 new Sainik Schools pan-India in PPP mode. 
• 45 schools have been approved by Ministry of Defence in collaboration with state governments, NGOs and private schools. 
• 40 of these schools have started operations. Sainik School, Jaipur is one of them. 
• Defence Minister said private sector contribution is growing and 50% of India’s workforce is in the private sector. 

15. The Second edition of UPITS inaugurated in Greater Noida by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 25 September.

• The five-day Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) will conclude on 29 September. 
• The event is being jointly organised by the Uttar Pradesh Government and India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML). 
• The trade show will showcase the business and culture of Uttar Pradesh and will also highlight Vietnam as the partner country. 
• This year's event will focus on agriculture, e-commerce, electronics, fisheries, handloom, textiles, horticulture, leather industry, ODOP, retail, sports, tourism, toys, MSME and Khadi. 
• This year the event is expected to attract 500,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors showcasing their products and so far around 350 buyers from 70 countries have registered. 
• In 2023, the first edition of UPITS was inaugurated by the President Droupadi Murmu. 

16. Sri Lanka’s new president named Harini Amarasuriya as its new prime minister. 

• Anura Kumara Dissanayake is Sri Lanka’s new president. 
• Dissanayake was elected president in the election held on 21 September 2024. 
• In addition to being a college professor, Harini Amarasuriya is a first-time lawmaker. 
• Harini Amarasuriya is the 3rd woman to be appointed to the position of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. 
• Amarasuriya became a parliamentarian in 2020 under Dissanayake’s NPP coalition. 
• After Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the first female prime minister in history, and her daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Amarasuriya is the third woman to hold the position in Sri Lanka. 
• Dissanayake ran as the candidate for the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance. 
• The NPP alliance included his Janatha Vimukhti Peremuna (JVP) party. 

17. International Film Festival (IFFI) 2024 will be held in Goa from 20 th to 28 th November 2024. 

• IFFI 2024 will be 55th edition of International Film Festival (IFFI). 
• Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, held preparation review meeting of IFFI 2024 in Panaji on 24 September 2024. 
• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was founded in 1952, and is one of the film festivals in Asia. 
• The festival is conducted jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the state Government of Goa. 
• IFFI is the only film festival in South Asia that is accredited by International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) of the 44th international festivals in the Competitive Feature Films Category. 
• Since 2004, IFFI has moved to permanent venue at Goa. 

18. On 24 September, the 16th ASOSAI Assembly inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. 

• The 16th Assembly of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Assembly inaugurated by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, in New Delhi. 
• It is being organised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from September 24-27. 
• The four-day Assembly will be followed by a series of discussions on the evolving role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in promoting transparency and accountability. 
• A key highlight of this year’s gathering is the assumption of charge by CAG of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, as President of ASOSAI for the term 2024-2027. 
• The gathering will be attended by over 200 delegates representing 42 countries and international organisations, underlining the diverse and collaborative nature of ASOSAI. 
• Established in 1979 with 11 members, ASOSAI has now grown to 48 SAIs, forming an important regional grouping within the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). 

19. Rising swimming star Pratyaksha Ray selected for the prestigious Eklavya Puraskar 2024. 

• This year, Ray won six medals – four gold, one silver and one bronze – at the Khelo India University Games held in Guwahati in February. 
• The Ekalavya Puraskar Committee, comprising jury members from various fields, unanimously selected Ray for the prestigious award at a meeting. 
• Ray will be given a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh (up from Rs 5 lakh earlier), and a citation at a function to be held later. 
• Sprinter Dondapati Mruthyam Jayaram and badminton player Tanvi Patri will also be honoured for their outstanding performances in various international and national level competitions in their respective fields. 
• Each citation winner will be given a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh (earlier it was ₹1 lakh) along with a citation at the awards ceremony. 

Ekalavya Puraskar: 

• In 1993, the Ekalavya Puraskar was instituted by the charitable organisation IMPaCT and is managed by IMFA, the country's leading ferroalloy producer. 
• It is now considered the most prestigious sports award of Odisha. 
• This award is given every year to the young players of Odisha for their outstanding performance in the last two years. 

20. Government introduced a risk-based model for testing imported medical devices. 

• The government has decided to implement a risk-based strategy to monitor the quality of imported medical devices and Kits. 
• Under this monitoring, the samples will be selected randomly for quality testing. 
• In the case of essential diagnostic kits, the entire shipment will be tested. 
• A comprehensive document has been issued to assist port officers regarding the quality control of imported medical devices. 
• The proposed guidelines introduce a structured three-tier sampling system to improve quality assurance. 
• It includes desktop or visual inspections, field-based tests using Minilab or similar tools, and full laboratory tests. 
• Vaccines, blood products, condoms, and critical diagnostic kits all samples will be sent for testing.

21. Next Generation Launch Vehicle 

• The NGLV is designed to enhance payload capacity threefold compared to the current LVM3. 
• Its cost will be only 1.5 times more. 
• The vehicle will incorporate reusability features, ensuring more affordable access to space and the integration of modular green propulsion systems. 
• The NGLV is engineered to support a maximum payload of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and will include a reusable first stage. 
• Currently, India has achieved self-reliance in launching satellites up to 10 tonnes to LEO and 4 tonnes to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) through operational vehicles like PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV. 

22. State of Rhino Report 2024 

• The 2024 State of Rhino Report was recently released by the International Rhino Foundation. 
• Currently, fewer than 28,000 rhinos remain worldwide across all five species. 
• The Greater One-Horned Rhino population has steadily grown from fewer than 100 animals a century ago to around 4,014 today. 
• It increased by 20% over the last decade. 
• They are found in the Indo-Nepal Terai, northern West Bengal, and Assam. 
• In India, the Greater One-Horned Rhino population stood at 3,262 at the end of 2021. 
• Over 90% of them are in Kaziranga National Park. 
• Rhino’s poaching in Africa increased by 4% from 2022 to 2023. 
• At least 586 African rhinos poached in 2023-one every 15 hours. 

23. India’s First Astronaut to ISS 

• Indian astronaut group captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. 
• This will mark India's first human presence on the International Space Station (ISS).
•  This will be the 2nd travel after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission with the Soviet Union. 
• The Axiom-4 mission is a result of a bilateral initiative between India and US.