NATIONAL:
1. New Chickenpox Virus
Why in news – Scientists identified a new variant of the chickenpox-causing virus.
Key Points –
• Identified by – ICMR-National Institute of Virology.
• They found the presence of the Clade 9 variant of varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
• Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox.
• Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV).
• Clade 9 is the most common strain in countries such as Germany, the UK, and USA.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. India - Canada FTA
Why in news – The two countries are learnt to have “paused” their negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Key Points –
• It came after PM Modi expressed concern over “anti-India activities of extremist elements” in Canada with Justin Trudeau at the G20 Summit.
• The talks will resume after political issues are sorted out.
• Ties between the two countries have been strained over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada.
• In 2022, India was Canada’s 10th largest trading partner.
2. Ian Wilmut
Why in news - Ian Wilmut, who led the team that created the first cloned mammal Dolly the Sheep in 1996, died.
Key Points –
• Ian Wilmut is a British embryologist.
• He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018.
• Dolly’s cloning was the first time that scientists were able to make a mature adult cell behave like a cell from a newly fertilized embryo.
• His work was critical to research into treating genetic and degenerative diseases by helping the human body repair damaged tissue.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. USB-C in iPhone15
Why in news - European Union has forced Apple to switch to USB-C in iPhone15.
Key Points –
• Alex Agius Saliba (Malta) spearheaded the EU pushback.
• Apple currently uses its proprietary ‘lightning’ connector.
• In 2020, the EU passed a law mandating that devices with wired charging, including the iPhone, must have a USB-C port by the end of 2024.
• The lack of a single charger in the last decade has piled up to 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year in the EU.
Indian Scenario –
• The government has prescribed two common types of charging ports for mobiles and wearable electronic devices.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified standards for Type-C chargers.
• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs wants companies to make USB-C a standard charging port for all electronic devices by March 2025.
2. Cloud Computing in Space-Tech
Why in news – Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed an MoU with ISRO and IN-SPACe
Key Points –
• Aim – to give space startups, research institutes and students access to cloud technologies.
• Indian Space Policy, 2023 provides for the growth and development of space program using cloud computing, data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. International Conference on Dam Safety
Why in news - Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the conference at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Key Points –
• Themed - Safe & Secure Dams Ensure Nation’s Prosperity.
• He also flagged off the vinyl-wrapped Kamakhya Express from Varanasi station through video conferencing.
• Under the ‘Pani Ki Rail’ initiative (National Water Mission), two trains, the Himsagar Express & Kamakhya Express have been vinyl-wrapped to amplify the message of water conservation.
• Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams at MNIT Jaipur,
Value Addition –
• Dam Safety Act (DSA) was passed in 2021.
• In India there are about 280 dams which are almost 100 years old and out of them, more than 80% are 25 years old.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
Why in news - The Supreme Court on September 14 onboarded its case data on NJDG.
Key Points –
• Developed by - National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• NJDG is a database of orders, judgments and case details of 18,735 District and subordinate Courts and High Courts.
• It is a national repository of data relating to cases instituted, pending and disposed of by the courts across the country.
• It is created as an online platform under the eCourts Project (Centrally Sponsored Scheme).
REPORTS:
1. The Gender Snapshot 2023
Why in news - UN Women and UN DESA released the “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023”.
Key Points –
• It provides a comprehensive analysis of gender equality progress across all 17 SDGs.
• The world is failing to achieve gender equality.
• If current trends continue, more than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030.
• As many as 236 million more women and girls will be food-insecure under a worst-case climate scenario.
• UN DESA - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
2. ADR Report
Why in news – The self-sworn affidavits of 763 sitting MPs out of 776 seats of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were analyzed.
Key Points –
• Analyzed by - the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW).
• 306 (40%) sitting MPs have declared criminal cases against them and 194 (25%) sitting MPs have serious criminal cases.
• Most criminal cases (state wise) (in %) –
• Most criminal cases (party-wise) (in numbers) –
• Average worth of assets per MP - Rs 38.33 crores.
• 53 MPs (7%) are billionaires.
• The total assets of 763 sitting MPs are worth Rs. 29,251 crores.
BIHAR:
1. Cash for Waste Scheme
Why in news – Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) started a Cash for Waste scheme for common people.
Key Points –
• It was started at the recently established Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• People are being paid for their dry waste under a prescribed price list for each item.
• MRF has a capacity of processing 2 tonnes of dry garbage and 1.5 tonne of wet waste per day.
• It has been named Pink MRF as it is run by women workers.
• The MRF has been set up by PMC with the help of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, German institution GIZ.
2. Mukhyamantri Kishori Swasthya Yojana 2023
Why in news – The Bihar Education Department has launched the scheme.
Key Points –
• Benefit - Government to deposit Rs 300 annually for providing free sanitary napkins to female students of Class 7 to 12 of all government schools.
• Aim - to educate young school-going girls from Class 7 to Class 12 about good hygiene practices.
3. Suryakaal Exhibition
Why in news – Suryakāl exhibition at the Bihar Museum Biennale 2023 was inaugurated by Anjani Kumar Singh on September 15.
Key Points –
• It is an art exhibition with the Sun as its central theme.
• It is presented by MentorArt.
• It features the Sun Series paintings by Udayraj Gadnis, accompanied by photographs of Chhath by Shailendra Kumar.
• It explores our relationship with the sun through the three dimensions of Sabhyata, Samaj, and Samay.
• Anjani Kumar Singh is the Director General of Bihar Museum.
4. Mukhyamantri Nischay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojna
Key Points –
• It was launched on October 2, 2016.
• Benefit - unemployed youth (20-25 years of age) who in search of employment, will be given Rs.1000 per month for a maximum period of two years.
• Eligibility – Persons whose educational qualification is inter (12th) passed from a government-recognized institution located in the state but have not received higher education.
• The youths availing self help allowances have to mandatory enroll for training in language (Hindi & English) & Communication skills, basic computer knowledge and soft skills.
• The applicant should not be self-employed.
• The applicant should not have received any kind of allowance/scholarship/student credit card/education loan or any kind of assistance from any other source.
Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF