Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 29th September 2024

1. Pakistan Prime Minister's criticism a travesty: India in UN 

• India on Friday termed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) a "travesty". It said there could be "no compact with terrorism" and warned that acts of terror would be met with consequences."...This assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning a country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade and transnational crime, has had the audacity to attack the world's largest democracy," First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, Bhavika Mangalanandan, said, exercising India's Right of Reply during the UNGA debate. 
• Pakistan coveted Indian territory and had used terror to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Mangalanandan said. 
• Accusing Pakistan of attacking India's financial capital, its marketplaces and pilgrimage routes, she said cross-border terror would "inevitably invite consequences". 
• "A reference has been made to some proposal of Strategic Restraint, there can be no compact with terrorism," she said. 
• In his speech, Mr. Sharif had said Pakistan would respond "most decisively" if India conducted operations across the Line of Control (LoC), accusing the Indian leadership of threatening to cross the LoC and take over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said India had "thought lessly spurned Pakistan's proposals for a mutual strategic restraint regime" in the nuclear context. 
• The Pakistani Prime Minister had accused the government of conducting a "classic settler colonial project" in Jammu & Kashmir, following its reorganisation by the government on August 5, 2019.
• In a segment on Islamophobia, Mr. Sharif had said the "most alarming manifestation of Islamophobia" was the "Hindu supremacist agenda" in India. 
• "It is ridiculous that a nation that committed genocide in 1971 and which persecutes its minorities relentlessly, even now, dare speak about intolerances and phobias," the Indian diplomat said, referring to the war for independence in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). 
• Ms. Mangalanandan said Pakistan's fingerprints were on many global terror incidents and that it had hosted Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (who was killed by U.S. forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011). "We know that Pakistan will seek to counter the truth with more lies. Repetition will change nothing," Ms. Mangalanandan said. 
• In its Right of Reply, Pakistan's response included suggestions that India was conducting "assassinations and attempted murders of political dissidents on North American soil", a reference to the alleged assassination plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in which the accused are Indian citizens. 

2. World Heart Day: 29 September 

• World Heart Day is an international event observed annually on September 29. 
• It is observed to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and promote heart health. 
• From 2024 to 2026, the campaign will focus on the theme "Use Heart for Action”. 
• World Heart Day was started by the World Heart Federation (WHF) in 1999 in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). 
• Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Around 18.6 million deaths occur annually due to cardiovascular diseases. 

3. RBI organized a conference on the governance of small finance banks. 

• A day-long conference for the directors of Small Finance Banks (SFB) has been organized in Bengaluru. 
• The theme of the conference was ‘Governance in SFBs: Driving Sustainable Growth and Stability’. 
• RBI Deputy Governor Mr Swaminathan J to encourage directors to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating emerging risks. 
• He also highlighted the importance of sustainable business models. 
• Technical sessions on the ‘Governance and Assurance Functions’, ‘Business Risk – Regulatory and Supervisory Expectations’ and ‘IT Systems and Cybersecurity’ were also part of this conference. 

4. Ministry of Tourism announces Winners of Best Tourism Villages Competition-2024 

• On the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27 September 2024, the Union Ministry of Tourism has announced the winners of the 2024 Best Tourism Villages Competition. 
• The Ministry introduced the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 to promote tourism in India’s soul (village). 
• The first edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 saw applications from 795 villages. 
• In the second edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 States and UTs, out of which 36 villages were recognized as winners across 8 categories of the Best Tourism Villages competition 2024. 
• The eight categories were Adventure Tourism, Agri Tourism, Community Based Tourism, Craft, Heritage, Responsible Tourism, Spiritual And Wellness and Village Village. 

5. Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) 

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) along the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway-44. 
• Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) is an eco-initiative developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) near Jamtha, along the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway-44. 
• The project, which integrates environmental sustainability and recreational facilities, was formally approved in March 2023 with a development cost of ₹14.31 crores. 
• A key aspect of the park is its focus on sustainability, showcased through its “Oxygen Park” feature 6. Tourism Ministry Launches ‘Paryatan Mitra’ and ‘Paryatan Didi’ on World Tourism Day 
• On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a national responsible tourism initiative titled Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi. 
• The primary aim of this initiative is to elevate the overall experience for tourists in destinations, by having them meet ‘tourist-friendly’ people who are proud Ambassadors and Storytellers for their destination. 
• Under this initiative, special emphasis is being placed on the training of women and youth to enable them develop new tourism products and experiences like heritage walks, food tours, craft tours, nature treks, homestay experiences, and other innovative tourism products based on the potential of the destination. 

7. Amazon partners with Ministry of Labour and Employment to expand job opportunities through NCS portal 

• Ecommerce giant Amazon’s India unit Amazon India has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to leverage the National Career Service (NCS) portal. 
• The partnership is aimed at enhancing job accessibility by allowing Amazon and its staffing agencies to post open job positions on the NCS platform. The MoU initially set for two years. 
• Notably, Amazon is the first e-commerce company to collaborate with the Ministry of Labour and Employment for the NCS portal. 
• The initiative will enable job seekers from across the country to apply for various roles at Amazon and its affiliated agencies. 

8. India elected to GlobE Steering Committee on combating corruption 

• India has been elected to the fifteen-member steering committee of the GlobE Network following a multi-stage voting process during a plenary session in Beijing. 
• The Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) is an initiative launched under the G20 framework to address international corruption and financial crime. 
• India’s election to the steering committee will allow it to actively contribute to global efforts in combating corruption and facilitating asset recovery. 
• The GlobE Network provides a platform for international cooperation, enhancing the ability of member countries to address cross-border corruption and financial crime. 
• India has been a supporter of this initiative since 2020, with the network officially launched on June 3, 2021, during a UN General Assembly Special Session against Corruption (UNGASS). 
• During India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, two key principles for combating corruption were adopted, focusing on the use of the GlobE Network to further global anti-corruption efforts. (ANI) 
• Today, the GlobE Network includes 121 member countries and 219 member authorities. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) serves as the Central Authority for GlobE Network in India, while the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) represent India as member authorities. 

9. Global Innovation Index 2024 – India at 39th; topped by Switzerland 

• India’s ranking in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) has improved to 39, up from 40 in the last edition. 
• India’s ranking has improved by 42 in the last nine years, from 81st in 2015 to 39 in 2024. 
• Switzerland maintained its position as the top-ranked country, while Angola, an African country, was at the bottom. 
• The Global Innovation Index has been published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) every year since 2007. In the 17th edition, 133 countries and the world’s top 100 science and technology clusters were ranked based on innovation performance. 
• The countries are evaluated using around 80 indicators grouped into four parameters: science and innovation investment, technological progress, technology adoption and the socioeconomic impact of innovation.

 

10. Top 10 ranked countries in the 2024 Global Innovation Index 

1. Switzerland 
2. Sweden 
3. United States 
4. United Kingdom 
5. Singapore 
6. Finland 
7. Netherland 
8. Germany 
9. Denmark 
10. South Korea