NATIONAL:
1. India and Bharat
Why in news - There is speculation of an official change in the name of the country from India to Bharat.
Key Points –
• Article 1 of the Constitution uses the two names interchangeably: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
• Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Railways already have Hindi variants with “Bharatiya” in them.
Value Addition –
• “Name and territory of the Union” was taken up for discussion on September 17, 1949 in the Constituent Assembly. (Presented by - Dr B R Ambedkar).
• The Puranas describe Bharata as the land between the “sea in the south and the abode of snow in the north”.
• Bharata is also the name of the ancient king of Bharatas (Rig Vedic tribe).
• Hindustan is derived from ‘Hindu’, the Persian cognate form of the Sanskrit ‘Sindhu’ (Indus).
• The Greeks transliterated the ‘Hindu’ as ‘Indus’.
• By the time of Alexander's invasion (Macedonian king, 326 B.C), ‘India’ had come to be identified with the region beyond the Indus.
• From the late 18th century onwards, British maps increasingly began to use the name ‘India’.
2. Portable Hospital
Why in news – India has built the world’s first portable disaster hospital, called the “Aarogya Maitri Cube”.
Key Points –
• It can be airlifted and assembled into 72 cubes.
• The cubes can support 200 survivors for 48 hours during natural disasters or crises.
• Facilities - Operation theatres, mini-ICUs, Ventilators, Blood test equipment etc.
• It has been developed indigenously under Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).
• It is part of the “Aarogya Maitri” project to provide essential medical supplies to any developing country affected by natural disasters.
3. Deemed University Status
Why in news – Ministry of Education announced Deemed University Status For NCERT.
Key Points –
• It was given on the 63rd Foundation Day of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• NCERT has established a formidable presence in research, actively shaped school education, teacher training, and adult literacy.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Malaviya Mission
Why in news – University Grants Commission launched the Malaviya Mission - Teachers Training Program.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Education.
• Aim –
(a) to provide tailored training programs for teachers.
(b) capacity building of faculty members in higher educational institutions (HEIs).
Value Addition –
• Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) to be renamed as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers’ Training Centre.
• 111 Malaviya Mission centres to build capacities of 15 lakh teachers of HEIs.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 18th G20 Summit 2023
Why in news – The G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023.
Key Points –
• G20 2023 Guests –
(a) Countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE.
(b) International organisations (IOs) - International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
(c) Regional organisations (RO) - African Union (AU), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and ASEAN.
• Regular G20 IOs (who participate every year) - UN, IMF, the World Bank, WHO, WTO, ILO, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and OECD.
• G20 Logo – Earth with the lotus. (7 petals – 7 continents).
• G20 theme - “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth, One Family, One Future” (drawn from the Maha Upanishad).
Value Addition -
• G20 is an informal grouping. It does not have a permanent secretariat or staff.
• G20 decisions do not get implemented automatically.
• The presidency is supported by the “troika” – previous, current and incoming presidencies. (2023 – Indonesia, India, and Brazil).
• G20 Presidency –
(a) The G20 presidency is rotated among its members who (except the EU) are divided into 5 groups.
(b) The presidency rotates from group to group.
(c) Countries in the eligible group negotiate among themselves to determine the group’s presidency.
• The G20 works in 3 major tracks –
(a) Official – Finance Track and the Sherpa Track.
(b) Unofficial – Engagement groups or civil society groups.
2. ‘Green Hydrogen Pilots in India’ Conference
Why in news – "Green Hydrogen Pilots in India" was held in New Delhi, on September 5, 2023.
Key Points –
• It was hosted by NTPC Ltd.
• Electric mobility is not viable for long-distance heavy mobility; hence hydrogen or ammonia is the answer.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Indrajaal
Why in news – Hyderabad-based private sector firm Grene Robotics unveiled Indrajaal.
Key Points –
• It is called the world’s only autonomous wide area, counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS).
• It is claimed to be the world’s only anti-drone system capable of protecting against micro, mini, small, large, and extra-large drones.
• The system has the ability to detect, identify, classify, track, and swiftly neutralize threats in real-time.
• Providing 360-degree protection, Indrajaal can defend areas of up to 4000 square kilometres.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023
Why in news – Satyajit Majumdar received the ‘Dr. V G Patel Memorial Award-2023 on September 6.
Key Points –
• Dr Patel is widely acknowledged as the Father of Entrepreneurship Movement in India.
• Satyajit Majumdar dean of School of Management and Labour Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Microplastics in Clouds
Why in news – Japan researchers find microplastics in clouds for the first time.
Key Points –
• The particles measured between 7.1 and 94.6 micrometers.
• It is thought that the microplastics were carried into the atmosphere with sea spray that condensed into clouds.
• Microplastics could become some of the "seeds" around which cloud droplets condense into raindrops, thereby increasing how much rain clouds release.
SPORTS:
1. Danielle McGahey
Why in news – Danielle McGahey (Canada) is set to become the first transgender woman to feature in international cricket.
Key Points –
• The right-hand batter from Australia, moved to Canada in 2020.
BIHAR:
1. State Education Award 2023
Why in news – Bihar State Education Department honored 20 teachers from the state on September 5, Teachers' Day.
Key Points –
• 3 Teachers of Bihar got National Teacher Award –
(a) Anil Kumar Singh (Adarsh Girls Senior Secondary School, Ramgarh, Kaimur-Bhabua)
(b) Dwijendra Kumar (Middle School Madhuban, Sitamarhi).
(c) Kumari Guddi (High School Singhia Kishanganj, Bihar).
2. Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
Why in news – Bihar industries minister has requested the Union commerce ministry to allocate at least 4 SEZs in Bihar.
Key Points –
• Location - Bodh Gaya, Fatuha, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur.
• Bihar Industries Association (BIA) has also been demanding allocation of the SEZs in the state for fresh investment opportunities.
POINTERS:
• In which country was the sports festival 'Aao Khel Khelo' organized by the Indian Embassy – Nepal.
• According to Competition Commission of India (CCI), Vistara Airlines will be merged into which airline - Air India.
• Which ministry has partnered with META to provide digital and marketing skills to students, teachers and entrepreneurs - the Ministry of Education.
• Which state has filed an FIR against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) for incorrect and biased reports on media coverage of the present crisis in the State – Manipur.
• Which district of Haryana has declared every Tuesday as 'Car Free Day' – Karnal.
• In which city will the Investor Global Summit be organized on December 8-9, 2023 – Dehradun.
• Which state will rehabilitate the people displaced by the construction of Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi in the 1950s – Odisha.
• Who has signed agreement with India Post to simplify cross-border logistics for MSME exporters - Amazon.
• In which city will the 43rd ASEAN Summit be organized from 5 to 7 September – Jakarta.
• Who was the scientist who gave voice to the countdown of Chandrayaan-3, who has passed away - N Valarmathi.
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