NATIONAL:
1. Cinema Hall in Kashmir Valley
Why in news – J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated cinema halls in Pulwama and Shopian.
Key Points –
• These are being established at under the UT government’s Mission Youth program.
• Cinema halls in the Kashmir Valley have been shut since the late 1980s.
2. Swachh Sujal Pradesh
Why in news – Andaman and Nicobar Islands become India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh.
Key Points –
• All villages on the A&N Islands have received the Har Ghar Jal certification and have been verified as ODF plus.
• 3 important components of Sujal and Swachh state –
A. Safe and secure drinking water supply and management
B. ODF Plus and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM)
C. Cross-cutting interventions like convergence, IEC, action planning, etc
INTERNATIONAL:
1. EU to Punish Hungary
Why in news – EU executive recommended suspending some 7.5 billion euros in funding for Hungary over corruption.
Key Points –
• It is the first such case under a new sanction meant to better protect the rule of law.
• EU introduced the new financial sanction two years ago in response to the undermining of democracy in Poland and Hungary.
2. Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Conflict
Why in news – The death toll from clashes along Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan border crosses 90.
Key Points –
• Affected areas – Isfara (Tajik city) and Batken (Kyrgyzstan province).
• Tajik exclave, Vorukh, is a key hotspot in recent conflicts.
• Both Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek) and Tajikistan (Dushanbe) are members of Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a Russian-led security bloc.
3. Typhoon Nanmadol
Why in news – Typhoon Nanmadol made landfall in southwestern Japan on Sept 18, 2022.
Key Points –
• Its eyewall arrived near Kagoshima city.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. PM PRANAM
Why in news - Union government intends to launch PM PRANAM to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.
Key Points –
• PM PRANAM - PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management.
• It also aims to bring down the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers.
• Subsidy is estimated to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23 (39% increase), (2021 - Rs 1.62 lakh crore).
• M/o Chemicals and Fertilizers mooted the idea during National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign (Sept 7, 2022).
• It would be financed through the “savings of existing fertiliser subsidy”. (No separate budget)
2. Ambedkar Circuit
Why in news - Union Tourism minister G Kishan Reddy announced a special tourist train to cover the “Ambedkar Circuit”.
Key Points –
• It covers –
A. Mhow (MP) - Ambedkar’s birthplace
B. Nagpur (MH) - where he converted to Buddhism
C. Delhi - where he lived during his last years
D. Dadar - where his body was cremated.
• He inaugurated a 3-day conference of state tourism ministers in Dharamshala.
3. National Logistics Policy
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi unveiled the National Logistics Policy on Sept 17, 2022.
Key Points –
• Aim - to trim the country’s logistics costs from as much as 13-14% of its GDP to a single digit over the next few years.
• The new logistics policy has four critical features –
A. Integration of Digital System (IDS)
B. Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)
C. Ease of Logistics (ELOG)
D. System Improvement Group (SIG).
• Under the IDS, 7 departments are integrated i.e., road transport, railways, customs, aviation and commerce departments.
• Logistics sector economy - $150-billion.
• It would complement the PM Gati Shakti national masterplan initiative.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Eastern Economic Forum (2015)
Why in news – Recently, Russia hosted the 7th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) at Vladivostok.
Key Points –
• PM Modi virtually addressed the forum meet.
• Aim - to encourage foreign investments in Russia’s Far East (RFE) and boost connectivity.
India-Russia Connectivity –
• International North-South Transport Corridor (2000).
• Chennai Vladivostok Maritime Corridor.
• The Northern Sea Route (NSR).
ECONOMY:
1. Net Direct Tax Collection
Why in news – The Finance Ministry said India’s net direct tax collections have crossed ₹7 lakh crore so far (Sept 2022).
Key Points –
• It is 23.33% more than the corresponding period last year.
• Net direct tax collections as on Sept 17 stood at ₹7,00,669 crore (₹5,68,147 crore Sept 17, 2021).
• Top sources - Corporate taxes > Personal income tax > Securities transaction tax (STT).
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Project Cheetah (2009)
Why in news – On Sept 17, 8 Namibian Cheetahs were released in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Key Points –
• Kuno-Palpur had been first declared a sanctuary in 1981 and National Park in 2018.
• Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) is the fastest terrestrial animal on earth.
• IUCN status – vulnerable (African Cheetah), critically endangered (Asiatic Cheetah).
Reintroduction History –
• First solid steps were taken in the 1970s during negotiations with Iran.
• Another attempt to source Iranian Cheetahs was made in 2009 without success.
2. Green Fins Hub
Why in news – The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) recently launched the Green Fins Hub.
Key Points –
• It is the first-ever global marine tourism industry platform.
• It has been developed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with UNEP.
• It would help diving and snorkelling operators to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Knight of the Legion of Honour
Why in news – Prominent Indian industrialist Dr Swati Piramal has been conferred France's top civilian honour.
Key Points –
• She is the vice-chairperson of the Piramal Group (Hq - Mumbai).
• The Legion of Honour is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic.
• Piramal is also a recipient of the Padma Shri.
BIHAR:
1.CoE in NIT Patna
Why in news - Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the Center of Excellence (CoE) at NIT Patna on Sept 18, 2022.
Key Points –
• It has been started in collaboration with Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC).
• 10 more CoE would be set up by TSSC in the coming time.
POINTERS:
• Who will be appointed as the “Attorney General of India” for the second time – Mukul Rohatgi
• Which state government has launched Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Dispensation Centre in Central Jail – Assam
• Who became the first black woman to receive “Emmy Award” twice for Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Zendaya
• Who has been elected as a member of the “Asia Pacific Forum” – Arun Mishra
• Which city has recently hosted the All-India Official Language Conference – Surat
• Former umpire “Asad Rauf” has passed away recently, he belonged to which country – Pakistan
• “Shefali Razdan” of Indian origin has been recently appointed as the ambassador of which country to the Netherlands – USA
• Who has launched Doordarshan and YouTube series “Door Se Namaste” to promote healthy behavior - USAID and UNICEF
• Who has released the book “Muskurate Chand Lamhe Aur Kuch Khamoshiyan” - Manoj Bajpayee
• India and which other country have together launched a whitepaper on “Urban Wastewater Scenario in India” – Denmark