NATIONAL:
1. ‘Food Animal’ Tag
Why in news - Northeast’s Mithun got ‘food animal’ tag.
Key Points –
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recognised Mithun as a ‘food animal’, starting September 1, 2023.
• It will help farmers and tribal village communities benefit commercially from the sale and processing of Mithun meat.
• It is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
• It is also the state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
2. Statue of Oneness
Why in news – MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated a 108-foot tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Omakareshwar.
Key Points –
• It is dedicated to the 8th-century Advaita Vedanta philosopher.
• He also laid the foundation stone of Ekatm Dham dedicated to the life and philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya.
• Adi Shankaracharya is depicted as 12-year-old Aacharya Shankar because he attained knowledge at this age.
Value Addition –
• Adi Shankaracharya established 4 maths in 4 corners of India –
(a) Badrinath - Jyotir Matha (Garhwal, Uttarakhand).
(b) Sringeri - Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam (Chikmaglur, Karnataka).
(c) Puri - Govardhana Matha (Puri, Odisha).
(d) Dwaraka - Kalika Matha (Dwarka, Gujarat).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Nagorno-Karabakh Surrendered
Why in news - Armenian separatist forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh region surrendered and agreed to a ceasefire.
Key Points –
• The territorial disputes and ethnic conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was going on for 4 decades.
• Lachin Corridor – The only route between the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
• Stepanakert - Karabakh’s main city.
Value Addition –
• Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region that under international law is recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
• Ethnic Armenians who constitute the vast majority of the population reject Azeri rule.
• After the fall of the Soviet Union, ethnic Armenians have been in administrative control of Nagorno-Karabakh, with support from Armenia.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. PM Vishwakarma Scheme
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi launched the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ Scheme in New Delhi on September 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• Aim - to benefit Indian artisans engaged in 18 identified traditional trades.
• Outlay - Rs. 13,000 crores.
• It is a central sector scheme. i.e., fully funded by the Union Government.
• Benefits –
(a) Beneficiaries (Vishwakarmas) will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
(b) Basic and advanced training and toolkit incentive of ₹15,000.
(c) Collateral-free credit support up to Rs 1 lakh (1st tranche) and up to Rs 2 lakh (2nd tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%.
• Nodal ministry - Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs, would provide active support for implementation of the scheme.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. UNCITRAL South Asia Conference 2023
Why in news – India hosted the inaugural United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) South Asia conference in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• It was hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• It was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Dr Justice DY Chandrachud.
• UNCITRAL is described as “the principal legal entity within the United Nations system dedicated to international trade law".
• Secretary of UNCITRAL - Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret.
• UNCITRAL HQ - Vienna, Austria.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. 4th Global Crypto Adoption Index 2023
Why in news – Chainalysis unveiled the 4th annual Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index.
Key Points –
• Top 3 – India (1st), Nigeria (2nd) and Vietnam (3rd).
• India’s score – 1.
• It is made up of 5 sub-indexes.
• The Central & Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO) region dominates the top of the index.
• India falls in CSAO region.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. OTG Ring
Why in news – The NPCI, in collaboration with fintech startup LivQuik, launched ‘OTG Ring’.
Key Points –
• It is a contactless payment wearable ring.
• OTG Ring will allow users to make payments to any Near Field Communication (NFC)-based device.
• The ring is tailored for National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) customers and can be used to make payments at various merchants and transit systems.
• NPCI has partnered with the Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL) to launch EV charging payments.
• NPCI also announced to launch India’s 1st RuPay prepaid forex card (Thomas Cook RuPay Card) for Indians travelling to UAE.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg Portal)
Why in news – Ramesh Chand (Member of NITI Aayog) launched the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg Portal- www.upag.gov.in).
Key Points –
• Developed by - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• It is designed to streamline and enhance data management in the agricultural domain.
• He mentioned that research suggests that a $1 invested in data generated $32 impact.
STATES/UTs:
1. Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana
Why in news – Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched “Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana”
Key Points –
• It aims to provide nutritional supplements to adolescent girls and additional dry food to pregnant women and expecting mothers
• CM also launched the ‘Pada Pushti Yojana’. Under it, children in remote and tribal areas will be provided with high-quality food in their enclaves and villages.
BIHAR:
1. Women’s Reservation Bill
Why in news – Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has supported the Women’s Reservation Bill - Nari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak.
Key Points –
• Bihar showed the way to the Centre for Women’s reservation bill.
• Various initiatives taken by Bihar government for empowerment of women are as follows –
(a) Bihar government in 2006 introduced 50% reservation for women in local bodies. With this, Bihar became the first State in the country where women were given 50% reservation in local bodies and panchayats.
(b) Bihar is the only state where women have been given 35% reservation in government jobs and in the education department the quota is 50%.
(c) With 29,175 personnel, Bihar has the highest number of women in police force in the country.
(d) Bihar has over two lakh women teachers.
(e) Other steps taken by Bihar for women’s empowerment are free bicycles and uniforms for school girls. It proved a game-changer in girl’s education and increased enrolment in schools significantly.
(f) Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana in Bihar provides an incentive of up to Rs 10 lakh given to women entrepreneurs.
(g) 10.45 lakh self-help groups have been formed in the state with which 1 crore 30 lakh women have been associated with these groups.
POINTERS:
• THE DEFENCE Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared proposals to acquire how many Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft - 12.
• Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of which country – Pakistan.
• Who has hoisted the national flag at a ceremonial program at the parade ground in Secunderabad on the occasion of Hyderabad Liberation Day on 17th September 2023 - Amit Shah.
• World Bamboo Day is celebrated on which date - September 18.
• Which ministry has launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative with NSDC and IndusInd Bank - Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Which three West African countries signed a mutual defense pact deal callled the Liptako-Gourma Charter - Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
• Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has collaborated with whom to usher the BvS10 all-terrain vehicle into India under the “Make in India” programme - BAE Systems.
• Scrub typhus, a disease transmitted through the bites of infected chiggers (larval mites), has raised concerns in which state – Odisha.
• Which country has suspended sales of iPhone 12 handsets after tests found breaches of radiation exposure limits – France.
• To promote organic farming, which state has started a pilot project of 'residue-free farming' cultivation of Basmati crop - Punjab.
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