National News

PM Modi’s Visit to Maharashtra on 20 September 2024

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Wardha, Maharashtra on 20th September 2024.
• He participated in the National ‘PM Vishwakarma’ Programme, marking one year of progress under PM Vishwakarma, and released a commemorative stamp.
• PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park at Amravati, Maharashtra.
• He also launched the Acharya Chanakya Kaushalya Vikas Scheme and the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Women Start-Up Scheme.

National News

Union Minister Amit Shah Launched SOPs on “White Revolution 2.0” to Boost Indian Dairy Sector

• On 19th September 2024, Union Minister Amit Shah launched the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on ‘White Revolution 2.0’ during a National Conference in New Delhi.
• The conference highlighted the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Cooperation in the first 100 days of the third term of PM Narendra Modi’s government.
• Amit Shah launched ‘100 days initiatives’ under the theme “Sahkar-se-Samriddhi” to strengthen and expand the cooperative sector, benefiting about 13 crore farmers.
• He also introduced SOPs for the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ initiative and ‘Margdarshika’.

National News

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Completes 6 Years of Successful Implementation

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has completed 6 years since its launch on 23rd September 2018 by PM Narendra Modi in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• AB PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world, offering a cashless health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
• The scheme is fully funded by the Government of India, with costs shared between the Central and State Governments.
• It emerged from the National Health Policy 2017 and has significantly impacted public and private empanelled hospitals in India.

National News

DoA&FW Released the 3rd Advance Estimates FY24 of Area and Production of Various Horticultural Crops

• On 21st September 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare released the 3rd Advance Estimates of the Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops for FY24.
• Total horticulture production in India for FY24 is estimated to be about 353.19 million tonnes, a marginal decrease of 0.65% compared to FY23.
• The area under horticultural crops has expanded to 28.98 million hectares in FY24.
• Key fields like fruits, honey, flowers, plantation crops, spices, and aromatics & medicinal plants are expected to see an increase in production.

Defence News

Indian Army Collaborated with FICCI and Unveiled HIM DRONE-A-THON 2024 & HIMTECH 2024 Events in Ladakh

• The Indian Army hosted ‘HIM DRONE-A-THON 2024’ and ‘HIMTECH 2024’ in collaboration with FICCI at Leh, Ladakh.
• HIM DRONE-A-THON 2024 focused on demonstrating the capabilities of drones in high-altitude areas, bringing together over 20 domestic drone manufacturers.
• HIMTECH 2024 showcased cutting-edge equipment and solutions designed for high-altitude areas.
• The events aimed to enhance the Indian Army’s capabilities in challenging terrains and provided a platform for industry players to explore Business-to-Government engagements.

State News

Madhya Pradesh SEC Conducted India’s 1st Paperless Election

• Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission conducted a paperless voting process for the first time in India during a Panchayat by-election in Ratua Ratanpur village, Bhopal.
• The new system uses thumb impressions and electronic signatures for voter identification, ensuring authenticity and eliminating proxy voting.
• Benefits include real-time data generation, increased accuracy, fewer human resources required, and improved transparency.
• The process aims to computerize the manual parts of the voting process that were previously done on paper.

International News

Jordan Becomes 1st Country Globally to Receive WHO Verification for Eliminating Leprosy

• The World Health Organization officially verified Jordan as the first country in the world to have eliminated leprosy.
• Jordan has not reported any locally transmitted cases of leprosy for over two decades.
• The achievement is a significant step in public health efforts to eliminate leprosy worldwide.
• Jordan’s success is attributed to strong political commitment, collaboration, and effective public health strategies.

Summit and Conference News

India Participates in G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Culture in Naples, Italy

• A special session of the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Culture was held on 21st September 2024 in Naples, Italy.
• The Indian delegation was led by Arunish Chawla, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, along with Joint Secretary Lily Pandeya.
• The Naples Statement on ‘Culture for the sustainable development of Africa and the world’ was signed to promote culture as a driver of sustainable development.
• The meeting emphasized the importance of culture in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.

Science and Technology News

Tata Electronics, TCS to Develop India’s First Domestic Chips by 2026

• Tata Consultancy Services is collaborating with Tata Electronics Private Limited to launch India’s first domestically produced semiconductor chips by 2026.
• Tata Electronics is leading the initiative, with TCS providing expertise in chip design, engineering, and IP-based solutions.
• The semiconductor chips will cater to industries such as automotive, electronics, power, consumer goods, and healthcare.
• This initiative aligns with the India Semiconductor Mission, which has approved the establishment of three semiconductor manufacturing facilities in India.

Appointments and Resignations News

AAP Senior Leader Atishi Sworn-in as 8th CM of Delhi

• Atishi, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, took oath as the 8th Chief Minister of Delhi.
• She was appointed by President Droupadi Murmu, with Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena administering the oath.
• Atishi replaced Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned in September 2024, and is expected to serve a 4-month term with elections scheduled for February 2025.
• The new Council of Ministers includes Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat.

International News

Marxist Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake Sworn-in as 9th President of Sri Lanka

• Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, was sworn in as the 9th President of Sri Lanka on 23rd September 2024.
• He won the 2024 Presidential election, defeating Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
• Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the vote, while Premadasa took 2nd place with 32.76%.
• The election marks the first since the 2022 economic collapse in Sri Lanka.

Appointments and Resignations News

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh Appointed as Next Indian Air Force Chief

• Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff in the Indian Air Force, effective from September 30, 2024.
• He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who is retiring.
• Singh is a qualified flying instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 hours of flying experience.
• He has held key positions such as Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command.

Banking and Finance News

Aditya Birla Capital Gets RBI Nod for Merger with Aditya Birla Finance

• Aditya Birla Capital Limited received approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the amalgamation of Aditya Birla Finance Limited with itself.
• The merger aims to create a large unified Non-Banking Financial Company.
• Aditya Birla Capital will now approach the National Company Law Tribunal to complete the amalgamation process.
• The board approved the merger on 11th March 2024.

Sports News

F1: McLaren’s Lando Norris Won the Singapore GP 2024

• McLaren’s Lando Norris won the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024.
• This marks Norris’ 3rd career win after the Heineken Dutch GP 2024 and Miami GP 2024.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished 2nd, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in 3rd.
• The 2024 Singapore GP was the first-ever Safety Car-free Singapore GP and the first without a yellow flag.

Important Days News

World Rivers Day 2024 – September 22

• World Rivers Day is observed annually on the 4th Sunday of September to raise awareness about the importance of rivers.
• WRD 2024 was observed on 22nd September 2024.
• The day promotes the conservation and sustainable management of rivers worldwide.
• World Rivers Day was established in 2005 following a proposal by Canadian river advocate Mark Angelo.

Important Days News

World Rhino Day 2024 – September 22

• World Rhino Day is observed annually on 22nd September to raise awareness about the conservation of rhinoceroses.
• The day highlights the need to protect all five species of rhinos: Black, White, Greater One-Horned, Sumatran, and Javan.
• World Rhino Day was first initiated by WWF-South Africa in 2010 and expanded globally in 2011.
• The observance aims to address the urgent need for rhino conservation and combat poaching.