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Current Affairs – 24 & 25 September 2023

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Kisan e-Mitra: Union MoS Kailash Choudhary Launched AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN SchemeKailash Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), launched “Kisan e-Mitra”, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • The chatbot will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the PM-KISAN scheme, providing farmers with rapid, clear, and easily accessible responses to their inquiries.

Points to note:
i.The MoA&FW successfully integrated the AI chatbots into government schemes. This is the first AI Chatbot integrated with a major Union government flagship scheme.
ii.This initiative is in line with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of leveraging technology for the betterment of farmers’ lives and governance.
About Kisan e-Mitra:
Objective: The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.
Features:
i.The AI Chatbot acts as a comprehensive guide for the beneficiaries, providing them with timely and accurate responses to their queries related to the scheme.
ii.It has been developed and improved with the support of the EKstep Foundation and Bhashini.
iii.In the initial phase, the AI chatbot assists farmers with:

  • Application status queries.
  • Payment details.
  • Ineligibility status.
  • Scheme-related updates.

iv.The AI Chatbot, accessible through the PM KISAN mobile app, is integrated with Bhashini for multilingual support, addressing the linguistic and regional diversity among PM KISAN beneficiaries.

  • Currently, the Chatbot is available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, and Tamil. In a short period, it will be made available in all 22 official languages of India.

Benefits: The AI Chatbot will help in accessing scheme information and resolving grievances.

  • The scope of this service needs to broaden with other related issues like weather information, soil conditions bank payments, and others.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme:
i.The PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to support the financial needs of land-holding farmers in India (with 100% funding from GoI).
ii.The scheme offers an annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000, in 3 equal installments to eligible farmers’ families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and All World Gayatri Pariwar signed MoU for NMBA awarenessOn September 22, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E), and All World Gayatri Pariwar at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi for spreading the message of NMBA among the youth, women, students and the community under the banner of All World Gayatri Pariwar.

  • This MoU is a boost towards achieving the objective of drug sensitized India.
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, MoSJ&E, Dr. Chinmay Pandya, All World Gayatri Pariwar, among others.

Key Points:
i.Alcohol is the most frequently used psychoactive substance in India, followed by Cannabis and Opioids, according to the first comprehensive National Survey on Substance Use conducted by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi.
ii.MoSJ&E is actively combating drug demand through the implementation of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

  • NAPDDR is an umbrella scheme that provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) for various initiatives, including Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill Development, Vocational Training, and support for the livelihood of former drug addicts.

About Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA):
In August 2020, MoSJ&E has formulated and launched NMBA in 272 Districts across 32 State/Union Territories identified as most vulnerable in terms of usage of drugs. Its aim is to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools, among others.
About All World Gayatri Pariwar
Head/Mentor– Dr. Pranav Pandya
Headquarters– Haridwar, Uttarakhand

SIMBEX 2023: Indian Navy Conducts Maritime Exercise with Singapore at South China SeaThe Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participate in the 30th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2023), a joint naval combat exercise, from 21st to 28th September 2023 in the southern parts of the South China Sea off the coast of Singapore.
Two Phases:
SIMBEX 2023 is conducted in two phases including the land phase and the sea phase.
Land Phase:

  • The land phase will include table-top activities and planning meetings.
  • It is held from 21st to 24th September 2023 at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, Singapore.

Sea Phase:

  • The sea phase will see the navies engage in various naval drills, including anti-submarine warfare and live weapon firing.
  • It is held from 25th to 28th September 2023 in the southern reaches of the South China Sea in international waters.
  • The Harbour Phase will witness a wide range of professional interactions, cross-deck visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and sports fixtures, aimed at enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.

Participants: 
i.Indian Navy’s Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, Kamorta-class corvette INS Kavaratti, Sindhughosh class diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft are taking part in this exercise.
ii.The Republic of Singapore Navy’s two Formidable-class frigates Republic of Singapore Ship (RSS) Stalwart and RSS Tenacious, an S-70B naval helicopter, and the Victory-class missile corvette RSS Valour are taking part in this exercise.

  • The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is also participating in the exercise with a Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft and four F-15SG fighter aircraft.

Higlights:
During the opening ceremony, RSN’s Fleet Commander Colonel (COL) Kwan Hon Chuong and India’s Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar unveiled the commemorative logo of its 30th edition of the bilateral exercise.
Note:

  • SIMBEX, first held in 1994, is the longest continuous naval exercise that India has had with any other country.
  • Indian Navy hosted the 29th edition of SIMBEX in October 2022 at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP), India.

Highlights of SIMBEX 2023:
i.The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy will also sign a submarine rescue joint standard operating procedures (JSOP) agreement.
ii.During the shore phase, sailors from both navies will conduct joint planning, professional exchanges, and sporting activities.
iii.During the sea phase, both fleets will perform a series of naval serials in the air, surface, and underwater domains, including gunnery firing, air defence, anti-submarine, communication, and navigation exercises.

  • The exercise will be concluded with a sail-past of participating ships.

UPNEDA and SIDBI Signed MoU to Promote Green Projects A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for solarization of residential units at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and for bio-energy and renewable project financing.

  • The agreement was inked during an event organised in the SIDBI’s Lucknow Office in UP.
  • This MoU will help in promoting solar energy, and encourage innovations for environment friendly projects.

It should be noted that the State Government of UP has nominated Ayodhya to be developed as a Solar City.
Key Points:
i.During the event, emphasis were laid on creating awareness about digital and latest initiatives being undertaken by SIDBI through ‘Promotional campaign for Financing Solar/ Green Projects’ for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
ii.It should be noted that the Central Government is installing solar rooftop panels in 2500 MSMEs, and also targets 30% electrification of vehicles by the year 2030, under the EV30@30 mission.

  • SIDBI is supporting both missions of the Government.

iii.Through this event, information was shared among MSMEs regarding the solar and green projects and direct financing products being offered by SIDBI.
About Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA):
It is an autonomous institution functioning as nodal agency for implementation of various schemes in the state.
Director– Anupam Shukla
Headquarters– Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh
Establishment– 1983
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
It was established under an Act of Parliament in 1990.
Chairman & Managing Director– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Axis Bank launches ‘NEO for Business’ for MSMEs On September 21, 2023, Axis Bank launched ‘NEO for Business’, a distinctive one-stop Transaction Banking platform for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital proposition that supports real, current, and emerging Transaction Banking needs of MSMEs.

  • It has contemporary UX (User Experience)/UI (User Interface) along with bank-grade security features.
  • “NEO for Business” is the latest launch as part of “NEO by Axis Bank” branding.  NEO by Axis Bank is the digital banking proposition for its corporate banking customers/clients.

About NEO for Business:
i.It offers a wide array of Banking and Beyond Banking features such as: Digital self on-boarding, Bulk Payments, GST Compliant Invoicing, Payment Gateway integration, 360° Customer View, End to End Transaction Tracking, Auto Reconciliation, Recurring Collections, Cash Flow Reports, among others.
ii.These features make banking easier for MSMEs, allowing them to do transactions without going to a bank branch.
iii.Axis Bank’s existing Current Account holders can access NEO for Business on mobile through an app or web registration. Initially, it serves sole proprietors and individuals in the MSME sector, with plans to expand to companies, partnerships, and LLPs (Limited Liability Partnership).
About Axis Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 1993 (begun operations in 1994)
Tagline – Badhti ka Naam Zindagi

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) Using UPI on ATMsUtkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (USFBL) launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW)  service with an aim to allow Unified Payment Interface (UPI) enabled cardless cash withdrawal from Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

  • This is in line with notification ‘ICCW at ATMs’ released by  Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in 2022 under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
  • ICCW is also known as UPI-ATM; It enables withdrawal through Quick Response(QR) code.

About ICCW:
i.Card-less cash withdrawal through ATMs is a permitted mode of transaction offered by a few banks in India on an on-us and Off-us  basis.
ii.UPI users can withdraw cash from any participating banks’ ATMs (enabled for UPI-ATM) via UPI mobile application instead of using a physical card.
iii.By scanning single-use dynamic QR code displayed on the ATM screen and authorising the transaction with UPI PIN, a customer can withdraw money from an ATM.
iv.As far as transaction Limits is concerned, customers can enjoy up to two ICCW transactions per day per account, with a withdrawal limit of Rs. 10,000/- per transaction.
Key Features of ICCW:
i.ICCW allows customers to withdraw cash from any ATM, regardless of which bank they use. This is especially convenient for people who have multiple bank accounts.
ii.Since the whole transaction is cardless, the card-related frauds like skimming, cloning etc can be reduced.
iii.The process is considered to be more secured as it uses dynamic QR code for each transaction.
iv.Customers need not carry multiple credit/debit cards.
v.It will be useful for customers who have completed KYC (Know Your Customer) but have not yet received a physical card.
vi.ICCW allows Cash withdrawal  from Multiple UPI-Linked Accounts along with streamlined interaction with ATM Machines.
About Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (USFBL):
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Govind Singh
Headquarters – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Incorporated  in – 2016

Highlights of Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23

The Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23 ,the most prestigious award offered by the Indian government for “achievements in implementing the official language” was presented at the Hindi Diwas Samaroh 2023.This prestigious award ceremony was part of the 3rd  All-India Official Language Conference (Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan) took place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, from September 14-15.

Organized and Presented Annually by: Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Key points:

  • Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare Receives First Prestigious Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23.
  • Power Finance Corporation (PFC) received the prestigious ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ in the ‘A’ category for the year 2022-23. PFC secured the third position in this category.
  • Banking Institutions such as Punjab National Bank,Bank of Baroda,Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) ,Central Bank of India, UCO Bank and Bank of Maharashtra have been recognised in different categories.

India set to Host 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement in 2027 in New Delhi
India won the bid to host the 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement (ICCC) in 2027 in New Delhi, Delhi. The decision was announced during the ongoing 16th ICCC (2023) in Bangkok, Thailand held from 18 to 22 September 2023.
Besides India, other bidders were from Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

  • India’s bid was made by National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM / NCB) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The bid was presented by Dr L P Singh, Director General, NCCBM; Dr S K Chaturvedi, Joint Director, NCB and Dr Shashank Bishnoi, Professor (Civil Engg.), IIT Delhi.
  • The 17th ICCC will offer India a unique opportunity to bring together global leaders, experts, and innovators in the cement sector. India previously hosted the 9th Congress in 1992.
  • The event highlights India’s research and academic expertise in the cement and concrete sector and as the host city New Delhi will showcase its vibrancy with world-class conference facilities, including Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi to the global industry.

About ICCC: The ICCC is regarded as the largest and most prestigious event in the area of Cement and Concrete. These congresses have been held approximately every 4 to 6 years since 1918, serving as a crucial bridge between academia and the cement industry.
Note:

  • NCB, then Cement Research Institute of India (CRI) was founded on 24 December 1962. It is the premier body under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • India’s cement industry, the second-largest in the world, has a low carbon-di-oxide (CO2) footprint and is energy efficient.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Appoints Four New Women Vice-Chairpersons; Panel to Discuss Women’s Reservation BillThe Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons with the eight member panel with 50 percent(4 members) of women parliamentarians with effect from 13th September 2023.

  • For the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) has given equal representation to women members in the panel.The four new women Vice-Chairpersons are: Kanta Kardam(Uttar Pradesh), Sumitra Balmik(Madhya Pradesh),  Mamata Mohanta (Odisha) and Geeta alias Chandraprabha(Uttar Pradesh).

13 Women Vice-chairpersons Panel for a Day to Discuss Women’s Reservation Bill

The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has constituted 13 women Parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons.The panel was reconstituted for a day to discuss the Women’s reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023.

  • The panel of vice-chairpersons was constituted for a day specifically to discuss the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2023. This suggests that the panel was formed temporarily to address this particular legislative matter or session to discuss the bill.

Indian-origin Nihar Malaviya Assumes Permanent CEO of Penguin Random House
Nihar Malaviya, an Indian-origin American publishing executive, has been named permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Penguin Random House, the New York (United States of America, USA)-based international publishing group.

  • Nihar Malaviya has been serving as the interim CEO for 9 months since January 1, 2023.
  • Since his appointment as interim CEO, he has been a member of Bertelsmann’s (the parent company of Penguin Random House) Group Management Committee (GMC).
  • He will succeed Markus Dohle, who left the position following Penguin Random House’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Simon & Schuster in 2022.
  • Prior to his appointment as interim CEO, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Penguin Random House, USA since 2014.
  • He started his career at Bertelsmann in 2001 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Programme. In 2003, he moved within the group, joining Random House, where he excelled in various leadership roles.
  • He also serves on the board of directors of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Yale University Press in the USA. He is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for Strategy Execution.

Note: Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, has been undergoing company-wide reorganization since 2023.

Vivek Bhasin Appointed as 14th Director of BARC
On 15th September 2023, Vivek Bhasin took charge as the 14th Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), India’s premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Prior to this appointment, Vivek was serving as the director of the Nuclear Fuels Group(NFG) of the BARC.

  • He succeds Ajit Kumar Mohanty who was appointed as the Secretary to  Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) under the Prime Minister’s Office(PMO) and Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission in May 2023.
  • Vivek Bhasin joined the Reactor Engineering Division of BARC in 1988. He  is known for his contribution towards  APSARA-U Reactor (operational in BARC) and Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR)(Operational  in Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant, Tamil Nadu)

BARC was founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha in the name Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in 1954. AEET was renamed BARC in 1966.

Delhi LG VK Saxena launches Vigilance Complaint Information Management System Portal
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar (VK) Saxena launches first of its kind Vigilance Complaint Information Management System (VCIMS) portal enabling people to file graft complaints against government employees at anytime from anywhere.

  • Complaints can be related to the vigilance/corruption/demand of bribe.
  • With transparency and secrecy, this portal will monitor complaints and initiate speedy action.
  • This portal requires only one time registration.

Key Points:
i.To ensure that only genuine complaints are filed on the portal, it is mandated for the complainants to submit an e-undertaking so that he/she can be prosecuted under section 182 of IPC ( Indian Penal Code) for giving false information to public servants.
ii.Complaints against corruption received in physical form will not be accepted.
iii.This tool will aid in achieving the goal of zero tolerance to corruption.

Batillipes kalami: New Marine Tardigrade Species Found in TN, Named after Former President A.P.J. Abdul KalamResearchers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) in Cochin, Kerala, have identified a new species of a marine tardigrade, “Batillipes kalami” from intertidal beach sediments of the Mandapam coast in Ramanathapuram (southeast) Tamil Nadu (TN).

  • The new species is named after Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India (2002-2007) and an aerospace scientist, since the discovery was made close to his native place Rameswaram (TN).
  • The research findings have been published in the 18 September 2023 issue of the scientific journal, Zootaxa .

Genus and Species:
i.The new Species ‘Batillipes kalami‘ of the marine tardigrade belongs to the Genus ‘Batillipes‘. It is the 37th species of the genus Batillipes.
ii.Batillipes kalami is the 2nd marine tardigrade to be discovered in Indian waters and the first one from the east coast.

  • “Stygarctus keralensis”, the 1st marine tardigrade species from India was discovered from Vadakara(West Coast) in Kerala in 2021.

iii.It is also the first taxonomically described species belonging to the genus Batillipes from India.
Tardigrades:
i.Marine Tardigrades, often referred to as “water bears”, are eight-legged micro-animals found in the water. They are extremely tiny animals whose size is measured in micrometers.
ii.They are considered to be one of the toughest organisms on earth, having survived all five mass extinctions, and are also the first known animals to survive in space.

  • Tardigrades are semi-aquatic. They can survive in watery as well as terrestrial environments.

Researcher Team:
Vishnudattan N.K. (research scholar) and S. Bijoy Nandan (Professor) from the Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry at Cusat; and Marcus Rubal from the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology at the University of Minho, Portugal.
Features:
i.B. kalami measures an average of 170 micrometers (0.17 mm) in length and around 50 micrometers (0.05 mm) in width. The females are slightly bigger compared to the males.
ii.It is characterised by 4 pairs of legs, which possess sensory spines of varying lengths.
iii.It has a trapezoid-shaped head with sharp-tipped filament-like appendages (cirri) extending from it.
iv.It belongs to the phylum Tardigrada, which comprises more than 1,300 described species. Of them, just 17% are marine species.
v.It can be differentiated from all its congeners by:

  • The presence of unconstricted primary clavae;
  • 2 pairs of lateral body projections between leg II and leg III;
  • Long and blunt-ended lateral body projections between leg III and leg IV;
  • The shape of leg IV sensory organs and the presence of dorsal indentations in its head.

Padma Bhushan Awardee & Bharatanatyam Dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan Passed Away Bharatanatyam Dancer and Padma Bhushan Awardee Saroja Vaidyanathan passed away at the age of 86 due to lymphoma diseases in Delhi.
About Saroja Vaidyanathan:
i.Saroja Vaidyanathan was born on 19 September 1937 in Bellary, Karnataka, and grew up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

  • She was married to Vaidyanathan, an IAS officer from the Bihar cadre.

ii.She established “Ganesha Natyalaya” in Delhi, where she teaches Bharatanatyam, Tamil, Hindi, and Carnatic music.
iii.She served as the president of “Sanskar Bharathi”, a pan-Indian organisation working in the fields of art and literature, for the Delhi Chapter since 2021.
Awards:
i.Saroja Vaidyanathan was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2013 in the Arts category.

  • She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2008 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships (Akademi Ratna) award in 2023.

ii.She is also the recipient of Delhi’s government Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman(1991), Tamil Nadu’s government Kalaimamani title(1999),and the title of Bharata Kalai Sudar, from the Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam.

  • She was also the recipient of Kalidas Samman(2009-10) of the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Books Written:
Saroja Vaidyanathan has authored a number of books on Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, including ‘The Classical Dances of India’, ‘Bharatanatyam – An In-Depth Study’, ‘Carnataka Sangeetham’, and ‘The Science of Bharatanatyam’.

Sonal Goel IAS Unveils Her Book “Nation Calling” for IAS aspirants
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched a book ‘Nation Calling – Holistic Approach for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination’ authored by IAS officer Sonal Goel Resident Commissioner of  Tripura Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • The book was published by UPSC Guide.
  • The book was launched at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, Delhi.
  • The book summarises Sonal Goel’s 15 year experience as an IAS officer which inspires young people to become a bureaucrat.

About Sonal Goel:
Sonal Goel, hailing from Panipat, Haryana, is a 2008 batch IAS officer of Tripura Cadre. She joined the Haryana cadre in July 2016 and served as Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Faridabad(Haryana) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  Smart City Faridabad and Deputy Commissioner district Jhajjar(Haryana).

International Day of Sign Languages 2023- September 23 The United Nations (UN) International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is annually observed across the globe on 23 September to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.

  • The day also aims to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf.

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Current Affairs – 22 September 2023

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C-DOT & CSIR-NPL Signed an Agreement for Development of NavIC Based IST Traceable PRTC for Telecom Sector Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)  and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR)-National Physical laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi, Delhi signed an agreement to develop Indian Standard Time (IST) traceable Primary Reference Time Clock (PRTC) to synchronise all the telecom services with one reference time.

  • The time clock will be based on a regional navigation satellite system called Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).
  • The agreement was signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunication(DoT).
  • The agreement was signed in the presence of Rajkumar Upadhyay, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  C-DOT

: C-DOT is an autonomous telecom Research & Development(R&D) centre under the Department of Telecommunication under the Ministry of Communications.
About Primary Reference Time Clock (PRTC):
i.The device aims to provide direct IST traceability to all the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) within ± 20 nanoseconds.
ii.The device provides several benefits such as reducing the dependency on Global Positioning System (GPS), shifting to NavIC (formerly known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)), Improving digital forensic analysis of transactions along with increased cyber secure networks and reduced call drops.
Why PRTC?
i.Time synchronisation of TSPs and ISPs  is essential for a nation’s cybersecurity, as all financial transactions, stock market trades, and communication are routed through them.
ii.The development of the PRTC is also an important step towards achieving the objective of “One nation One time“.

  • This is because it will ensure that all telecom networks in India are synchronised with the same time source.

About Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme:
TTDF Scheme was launched in 2022 by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the DoT.

  • TTDF Scheme (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications.
  • It brings together academia, startups, research institutes, and industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.

Additional Info:
i.Indian R&D has the potential to develop innovative solutions for the future.
ii.To achieve the goal of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India), the collaboration in areas of mutual interest is needed.
About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajkumar Upadhyay
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1984
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) – National Physical laboratory (NPL):
The National Physics Laboratory(NPL) was the first among the chain of national laboratories to be set up under CSIR.
Director – Venugopal Achanta
Located in – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1950

MSDE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches ‘Skills on Wheels’ with NSDC and IndusInd Bank to Promote SkillingUnion Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and IndusInd Bank.MSDE minister and Shri Om Birla,Speaker, Lok Sabha have jointly launched the initiative during the inauguration of the program ceremony.
Aim:
To equip rural youth, especially women, with key digital skills and make them job and future-ready
About Initiative:
i.This initiative will empower 60,000 youth over a period of 5 years with relevant skills training to improving the livelihood of rural households.
ii.To bring the Skill India Mission to the farthest areas of India, a specially equipped bus with retrofitted tools and resources known as ‘Skills On Wheels’ will travel to remote areas.
iii.It will also spreading awareness at grass root level about free skill training programs.
iv.It will empower youth with industry-relevant skill training, enhancing both theoretical and practical knowledge.

  • It will align candidates’ academic backgrounds, aptitudes, and skill sets with the right courses, thereby bridging the industry’s skill gap and reducing youth unemployment.

About Skill India Mission:

  • Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi launched the Skill India Mission in 2015 in accordance with his vision to help India become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant).
  • This initiative was aimed to create and implement comprehensive skill development training programmes that would help bridge the gap between industry demands and skill requirements.

About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC):
NSDC was set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Government of India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
It is a not-for-profit public limited company under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding to section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
CEO– Ved Mani Tiwari
Establishment– 2008
Headquarters– New delhi, Delhi

Global Report on Hypertension: WHO Released 1st Report on the Impacts of Hypetension & Ways to Stop It The World Health Organization (WHO) released it’s first-ever report on the global impact of hypertension (high Blood Pressure –BP) titled, “Global Report on Hypertension: the race against a silent killer”, along with recommendations on the effective hypertension care to save lives.

  • Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.
  • This comprehensive report features statistics underscoring the consequences of uncontrolled hypertension, ranging from heart attacks, strokes, and premature death to substantial economic loss.

About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director-General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established on- 7 April 1948

ISO and UNDP Partnership to enhance achievement of SDGThe International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Statement of Intent(SoI) to use International Standards as a tool in advancing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

  • The collaboration also aims to develop the first international standard for the SDGs based on UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards and relevant ISO standards.
  • The partnership is in alignment with SDG17 – Partnerships for Goals.

About the partnership:
i.The collaboration will develop a common basis for documentation and certification, making it easier for organizations and companies to align their efforts and document progress toward the SDGs.
ii.The collaboration will design New management standards for the benefit of  businesses and investors.

  • This is to make sustainability and the SDGs as intrinsic part of business instead of being as an add-on element.
  • Better practices in business will lead to better outcomes for business.

About United Nations Development Programme(UNDP):
Administrator – Achim Steiner
Headquarters – New York, United States of America (USA)
Established in – 1966
About International Organization for Standardization (ISO):
President – Ulrika Francke
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Members – 169 national standards bodies.
Established – 1947

RBI: Household Savings fall to 5-decade Low at 5.1% in FY23, RBI Imposes Penalties on Four Cooperative BanksNet financial savings of households declined to a historically low level, reaching 5.1% of GDP in FY23. This marked a notable decrease from the previous fiscal year, where it stood at 7.2% (FY22), as per RBI data.

  • National Financial Switch (NFS) usage was decreased from 11.5% in FY21 to 5.1% in FY23, as per data from RBI’s Flow of Financial Assets and Liabilities of Household released on September 2023.
  • Household financial liabilities saw a substantial increase, rising to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, up from 3.8% in FY22. This indicates that households have increasingly relied on borrowing to meet their consumption needs.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes monetary penalties on four cooperative banks Lalbaug Cooperative Bank Ltd (Gujarat), Cooperative Bank of Mehsana Ltd (Gujarat), Harij Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd (Gujarat),and National Cooperative Bank Ltd (Maharashtra) citing its authority under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, specifically Section 47 A (1) I in conjunction with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – April 1, 1935

ADB lowers India’s GDP projection for FY23 to 6.3%; India Ratings revises India’s FY24 GDP growth to 6.2% The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2023 lowered India’s gross domestic product (GDP) projection by one percentage point for Fiscal 2022-2023 (FY23) to 6.3% from 6.4% (ADO April 2023 estimate).

  • For FY 2023-2024 (FY24), the GDP projection is retained at 6.7%.

India Ratings Revises India’s FY24 GDP Growth Estimates to 6.2%
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) revised India‘s GDP growth estimate for FY24 to 6.2% from 5.9% projected in February 2023. .

  • This increase is due to the sustained government capital expenditure, deleveraged balance sheet of India Inc and banks, and the prospect of a new private corporate capex cycle.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Establishment– 1966

S&P Global raises India’s FY24 Growth Projection to 6.6%
On September 18, 2023, S&P (Standard & Poor’s) Global raised India’s growth prediction for FY24 to 6.6% from 5.9% predicted in August 2023 amid strong growth in the April-June quarter (Q1FY24).

  • In FY25, it will increase at a rate of 6.2% as compared to 6.1% projected in August 2023.

Key Points:
i.India’s inflation rate will grow sharply to 6% in 2023 as compared to 5.1% prediction in August 2023.

  • India’s inflation rate is anticipated to be high, at 5.3% in 2024.
  • Global inflation will reach 5.7% in 2023 and over 4% in 2024.

ii.India’s economic growth momentum was buoyant in Q1FY24, growing at a pace of 7.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), supported by robust growth in domestic demand.
iii..The deceleration of global economic growth will exert pressure on India’s exports.

TCS Partners with BankID BankAxept AS to Enhance Norway’s Financial Infrastructure
Tata Consultancy Services(TCS), a part of the Tata group, has entered a partnership with BankID BankAxept AS, Norway’s national payment and electronic identity system, to set up and manage an operations command center that will enhance the resilience, security, and availability of Norway’s financial infrastructure.

  • BankID is the Norwegian eID verification system, used by more than 90% of the population, banks, government agencies, and commercial enterprises.

i.As part of the agreement, TCS will build and manage a 24×7 operations command center in Oslo, Norway, for all BankID BankAxept AS users and clients.
ii.It will enable immediate responses to any service disruption, security issues, or client requests that are related to Norway’s essential national payments and electronic identity verification systems.
iii.TCS will operate a specialised monitoring platform at the new command center that can predict, respond, and prevent any issues in the value chain from affecting the larger financial services ecosystem.
About Norway:
Prime Minister(PM) – Jonas Gahr Støre
Capital – Oslo
Currency – Norwegian Krone

IAF Tested ‘Type V Heavy Drop System’ from Cargo AircraftThe Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully tested the indigenously developed ‘Type V Heavy Drop System’  from a cargo aircraft which is capable of paradropping  arms, ammunition, and other equipment to inaccessible places/battlefields.

  • The design of this system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
  • The parachute was developed under the ‘Make In India’ initiative.

About Type V Heavy Drop System:
i.The parachute is manufactured by  Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited.
ii.It is a multi-stage parachute system comprises of eight Main canopies, three extractor parachutes and one drogue parachute.
iii.The parachute weighs up to 20 tons.
iv.It has a platform which is made up of a special Aluminium-based metal.
v.The parachute also has electrical, electronic and mechanical systems along with other latching accessories.
Can be used with: 
The Type V Heavy Drop System can be used with the Boeing C-17, Lockheed Martin C-130 and other C-series aircraft.
Additional Info:
i.With this testing, the preparations have been completed for the induction of the Type V Heavy Drop System into the Indian Armed Forces.
About Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE):
The ADRDE is a Research & Development(R&D) laboratory of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).
Director – Manoj Kumar
Headquarters – Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Established in – 1969
About Indian Air Force (IAF)
Chief of the Air Staff – Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1932

GRSE Signed MoUs with Lloyd’s Register & Caterpillar Inc for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry & Medium-Speed EnginesThe Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited signed two non-binding Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign companies during the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Exhibition in London, United Kingdom (UK) which took place from 12th – 15th September 2023 at the Excel in London’s Royal Victoria Dock.

  • These MoUs are in line with India’s commitment to advance innovative green energy technologies and promote sustainable, cost-effective alternative fuels.

GRSE MoU’s with Foreign Companies:
The two non-binding and confidential in nature MoUs

  • With Lloyd’s Register for the development of a hydrogen fuel cell ferry
  • With Caterpillar Inc. for a potential collaboration in the production, sale, and service of medium-speed engines, particularly for the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

Note:

  • GRSE is a Mini Ratna Category 1 Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence.
  • Lloyd’s Register is a 260-year-old company that works towards finding sustainable solutions to maritime transportation.
  • Caterpillar Inc. is an American construction, mining and other engineering equipment manufacturer.

Key Points:
i.GRSE has also entered into a MoU with Goa-based DEMPO Group to construct commercial vessels at its three premier shipyards of DEMPO at DSEPL Goa and Modest Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

  • This represents GRSE’s first venture into commercial shipbuilding following their groundbreaking public-private partnerships in India’s warship-building sector.

ii.The Central Government also plans to build hydrogen-fueled electric vessels, in line with the Global Maritime Green Transitions initiative, in partnership with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Additional info:
i.Munition India Limited(MIL), Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Limited (AW&EIL), Yantra India Limited(YIL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited(BDL) were the other PSU’s that participated in DSEI exhibition.
ii.The Indian Pavilion in the exhibition was inaugurated by Vikram Doraiswami, India’s High Commissioner to the UK on 12th September 2023.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director– Cmde PR Hari, IN Retd
Headquarter– Kolkata, West Bengal

ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 Rio de Janeiro: India Ends Campaign with Two MedalsInternational Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was held from 12th – 19th September 2023. India finished 5th in the medal tally with 2 medals (1 Gold and 1 Silver).

  • The World Cup Rifle/Pistol 2023 Rio de Janeiro was the final stage of the ISSF World Cup for rifle and pistol shooters.

Note:
A total of 16 Indian shooters took part in the ISSF World Cup in Rio.
Medal Tally:

_

_

  • Oceanne Muller of France and Jiale Zhang of China won the silver and bronze medals respectively in the same event.
  • This has been Elavenil’s second individual ISSF World Cup medal since she won the gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event in ISSF World Cup Rio in 2019.

ii.India’s Nischal won the silver medal in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions while Jeanette Hegg Duestad of Norway and Stephanie Laura Scurrah Grundsoee of Denmark won the gold and bronze medals respectively.

  • This event marks Nischal’s  first senior World Cup appearance.

iii.The 19-year-old Nischal created a qualification national record in the Women’s 3 Positions event by shooting a solid 587 in relay one.

  • Previously Anjum Moudgil and Ayushi Podder held qualification national record with a short in relay two.
  • Anjum Moudgil and Ayushi Podder also participated in this event and finished 10th and 35th place respectively.

About ISSF World Cup:

  • The 2023 ISSF World Cup comprised 13 stages including the final of competitions held across various cities in the world.
  • The 2023 ISSF World Cup final will be held from 18th – 26th November 2023.

About the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF): 
ISSF is the governing body of the Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol and shotgun (clay target) disciplines, and of several non-Olympic shooting sports events.
President– Luciano Rossi
Headquarters– Munich, Germany
Established – 1907

MIB Secretary Apurva Chandra released E-Book titled “People’s G20”, on India’s G20 Presidency
Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) unveiled an ebook, titled “People’s G20”, which provides the comprehensive documentation of India‘s journey during its G20 Presidency, in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • The e-book was prepared by research unit of Press Information Bureau(PIB).

The eBook is divided into three parts:

  •  The 1st part focuses on the historic G20 Summit held in New Delhi from 9th -10th September 2023.
  • The 2nd part offers a summary of the meetings conducted by various Working Groups under the Sherpa and Finance Track.
  • The 3rd part presents a captivating photo essay that captures the essence of the Jan-Bhagidari events(awareness events about G20) held across India during India’s presidency.

International Day of Peace 2023- September 21 The United Nations (UN) International Day of Peace also known as “World Peace Day” is annually observed across the globe on 21 September and is dedicated to strengthening the principles of peace both within and among all nations and peoples, advocating for 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

  • The 2023 theme of International Day of Peace (IDP) is, “Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals“.

Background:
i.In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the 3rd Tuesday of September as International Day of Peace. This day coincided with the opening day of the regular annual sessions of the General Assembly.
ii.The first IDP was observed on 21 September 1982 (3rd Tuesday of September 1982).
iii.In 2001, the UNGA declared 21 September of every year as an official date for the IDP. The day will henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

  • During the IDP, the UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities.

iv.The UN Peace bell is rung in the UN headquarters in New York City, the United States of America (USA), to signal the call for global peace.

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023- September 21World Alzheimer’s Day is annually observed across the globe on 21 September to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type of dementia and other forms of dementia.

  • The day also aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, and the importance of timely diagnosis and treatments.
  • World Alzheimer’s Day is observed during the World Alzheimer’s Month.

Background:
i.World Alzheimer’s Day was launched during the opening of ADI’s annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland on 21 September 1994 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ADI.
ii.In 2010, ADI launched the first awareness campaign, “World Alzheimer’s Month”, as a pilot campaign in 12 countries.

  • Since 2012, World Alzheimer’s Month is annually observed during the month of September.

About Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI):
Chief Executive Officer– Paola Barbarino
Headquarters– London, UK
Founded in– 1984

UP Launched Instant Birth Registration for Newborns at Govt Health FacilitiesUttar Pradesh (UP) Government has integrated its Maa Navjaat Tracking app (MaNTrA) with the birth registration system, to enable the immediate issuance of birth registration certificates for newborns at the Government health facilities in UP.

  • This will enhance citizen convenience and eliminate the need for parents to apply separately.
  • With this development, UP has become the first state to implement ‘Suo Motu’ automatic birth registration for government health institutions verified through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.

Partners of the initiative:
The Directorate of Census Operations, Lucknow (UP), has partnered with the UP National Health Mission (NHM-UP), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the Registrar General of India, Delhi, aims to facilitate the generation of automatic birth registration certificates at government facilities.
MaNTrA app:
i.The MaNTrA app, originally developed in UP in collaboration with UNICEF, monitors the quality of services in the labour room and has been successfully deployed in public health facilities in UP.
ii.The seamless integration of the MaNTrA app with the birth registration system is a significant step towards increasing the ‘ease of living’ of a common citizen by creatively using digital technology architecture.
Note: In August 2023, the MaNTrA for Delivery Point Health Facilities, under the NHM-UP, received the “Silver Award” in the “Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation” category of the National Awards for e-Governance Scheme 2023.
Process:
i.The CRS (Office of Registrar General, India) Application Programming Interface (API) retrieves data for 17 fields from the MaNTrA, managed by NHM-UP.
ii.The API is now acting as registrar in all government health institutions up to the primary healthcare level.

  • A total of approximately 2,500 birth certificates have already been issued.

iii.The data is then configured into a birth certificate, digitally signed by the hospital registrar.
Note: The initiative has started in about 1,000 public health facilities, with plans to expand it to every government facility. The objective is to ensure that Automatic Birth Registration Certificates are issued on the spot in each case.
About Uttar Pradesh:
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
Stadiums– Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex (Greater Noida Cricket Stadium, Indoor) and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Sports Stadium (Outdoor)

Startup Odisha Launches Rs 100 Crore Startup Growth Fund
Startup Odisha, an initiative of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME) Department of the Odisha government, launched “Odisha Startup Growth Fund (OSGF)” worth Rs 100 Crore in collaboration with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

  • SIDBI will serve as the fund manager for the new fund and will be responsible for framing the investment strategy and managing the fund’s portfolio.

Odisha Startup Growth Fund operates a Fund-of-Funds vehicle to invest in state startups through a centralized tracking and implementation mechanism.

  • The Odisha government will replenish the fund once Rs 100 crore gets exhausted.
  •  The nature of the investments from the fund will be based on equity and quasi-equity.
  • The fund will invest in startups of Odisha over five years through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Launches Integrated Electricity Consumer Portal
Himachal Pradesh(HP) Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Integrated Electricity Consumer Portal of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) on the occasion of Engineer’s Day on 15th September 2023.

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