Rank and Reports News

FSSAI’s State Food Safety Index 2023-24: Kerala, TN, & J&K Emerged as Top Performers

• Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu & Kashmir have been recognized as the top performers in the 6th edition of the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2023-24 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Kerala has topped the SFSI for the second consecutive year with a score of 73.75 out of 100.
• The SFSI 2023-24 was unveiled by Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda during the inaugural session of the 2nd Global Food Regulators Summit (GFRS 2024) held in New Delhi.
• FSSAI Chairperson is Apurva Chandra, and its headquarters are located in New Delhi. The organization was established in 2008.

Science and Technology News

CERT-In & SISA Launches First of its kind ANAB-Accredited CSPAI Program

• On September 23, 2024, CERT-In, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with SISA Information Security Private Limited, launched the Certified Security Professional for Artificial Intelligence (CSPAI) program.
• This program is the first ANAB-accredited AI security certification.
• The initiative was launched by Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-In, and Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO of SISA, at a ceremony in Bengaluru.
• The program aims to equip security professionals with the knowledge to integrate AI into business applications while ensuring secure practices.

Rank and Reports News

7th NSSO Annual PLFS: Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged at 3.2% in July 2023 to June 2024

• The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) released the 7th Annual Report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July 2023 to June 2024.
• The Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above remained unchanged at 3.2%.
• The UR for males aged 15 years and above decreased marginally from 3.3% to 3.2%, while the UR for females increased from 2.9% to 3.2%.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above increased from 57.9% to 60.1%, and the Worker Population Rate (WPR) increased from 56.0% to 58.2%.

Banking and Finance News

iBUS Network Secures USD 34 Million from IFC for Global Expansion

• Bengaluru-based iBUS Network and Infrastructure Private Limited secured an investment of Rs 280 crore (USD 34 million) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a minority stake in the company.
• This investment will help iBUS strengthen its market position and expand both domestically and globally.
• IFC’s expertise will assist iBUS in scaling its operations and entering new markets, focusing on solutions like in-building connectivity and managed Wi-Fi services.
• This is IFC’s first Infrastructure technology (Infratech) investment in the Asia-Pacific region, aligning with its focus on improving digital connectivity.

Banking and Finance News

S&P retains India’s Growth Forecast at 6.8% for FY25

• S&P Global Ratings has maintained India’s GDP growth forecast at 6.8% for the fiscal year 2024-2025 (FY25) and 6.9% for FY26.
• The Indian economy grew by 8.2% in FY24, and for FY27 and FY28, India’s GDP growth is expected to be 7%.
• The report anticipates that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might cut interest rates in October 2024 as part of its inflation control measures.
• Inflation is projected at 4.5% for FY25, 4.6% for FY26 and FY27, and 4.1% for FY28, with the RBI’s inflation target set at 4% with a tolerance band of +/- 2%.

Awards and Recognitions News

FFI Announced Kiran Rao’s Laapata Ladies as India’s Official Entry to Oscars 2025

• The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapata Ladies’ as India’s official entry for the “Best International Feature Film” category at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025).
• The film was selected by a 13-member jury of FFI headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua.
• ‘Laapata Ladies’ was chosen among 29 films, including 12 Hindi films, 6 Tamil, and 4 Malayalam films.
• The film is produced by Aamir Khan and Jio Studios and is based on Biplab Goswami’s Two Brides.

Awards and Recognitions News

Gujarat’s Rhea Singha Crowned Miss Universe India 2024

• Rhea Singha from Gujarat was crowned Miss Universe India 2024 at a pageant held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• She was crowned by Bollywood actress and Miss Universe India 2015, Urvashi Rautela.
• Rhea will represent India at the 73rd Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico in November 2024.
• The judging panel included Nikhil Anand, Urvashi Rautela, Nguyen Quynh, Rian Fernandes, and Rajeev Shrivastava.

Appointments and Resignations News

ACC Approved Various Appointments of IPS Officers: Alok Ranjan & Amit Garg Appointed Director of NCRB & SVPNPA

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointments of Senior IPS officers Alok Ranjan as Director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) and Amit Garg as Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA).
• Alok Ranjan will serve until his superannuation on June 30, 2026, replacing Vivek Gogia.
• Amit Garg will serve until his retirement on October 31, 2027.
• The ACC also approved appointments of various IPS officers in CISF, CRPF, and BSF.

Science and Technology News

China’s Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches 8 satellites from Sea

• On September 24, 2024, China launched the Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) carrier rocket from a sea platform near Haiyang in Shandong Province.
• The launch placed eight satellites into planned orbit and was carried out by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
• This was China’s 44th launch of 2024 and the 4th flight mission for the SD-3 carrier rocket series.
• The Smart Dragon-3 is a commercial carrier rocket developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

Science and Technology News

Russian Soyuz Capsule Successfully Brings Back 3 Crew Members from ISS

• On September 23, 2024, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-25 successfully brought back three crew members from the International Space Station (ISS).
• The crew included Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson.
• The spacecraft safely landed near Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.
• Oleg Kononenko set a new world record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, surpassing 1,111 days over five missions.

Defence News

DRDO Transfers High-Altitude Sustenance Technologies to Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd

• On September 21, 2024, the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) handed over high-altitude sustenance technologies to the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).
• The transfer took place during an orientation workshop at PGCIL’s regional headquarters in Jammu.
• The technologies are aimed at preparing employees for the challenging conditions of the 5000 MW Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project in Ladakh.
• DIPAS is renowned for its high-altitude research and has developed solutions for the Indian Army in the Himalayan region.

Books and Authors News

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Released a Book Titled “Khaki Mein Sthitapragya”

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched a book titled “Khaki Mein Sthitapragya-Ek IPS Adhikari ki Smiritiyan avam Anubhav” in Dehradun.
• The book is authored by Anil Raturi, former Director General of Police (DGP), Uttarakhand, and published by Winsar Publishing Co.
• The book compiles the author’s memories and experiences as an IPS officer.
• The title “Sthitapragya” refers to maintaining equanimity in both success and failure.

Books and Authors News

TN Governor R.N.Ravi Released the Book ‘Sri Rama in Tamilagam – An Inseparable Bond’ by Dr. D.K.Hari & Dr. D.K.Hema Hari

• Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.Ravi released the book ‘Sri Rama in Tamilagam – An Inseparable Bond’ authored by Dr. D.K.Hari and Dr. D.K.Hema Hari.
• The book was released at a function organized at Bharathiar Mandapam, Raj Bhavan, Chennai.
• The book is published by Rare Publications and is available in English, Hindi, and Tamil.
• It emphasizes Tamilagam as the Karmabhoomi of Sri Rama, highlighting key events of the Ramayana that occurred in Tamilagam.

Important Days News

World Rose Day for Cancer Patients 2024 – September 22

• World Rose Day, also known as the Day for the Welfare of Cancer Patients, is observed annually on September 22 to raise awareness about cancer.
• The day aims to honor the strength and courage of those battling cancer, bringing happiness, support, and hope to patients and their caregivers.
• The origin of World Rose Day is credited to Melinda Rose Hathaway, a 12-year-old Canadian girl diagnosed with Askin’s Tumor in 1994.
• Melinda Rose passed away on September 15, 1996, leaving behind a legacy of love and strength.

Important Days News

International Day of Sign Languages 2024 – September 23

• The United Nations’ International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is observed annually on September 23 to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people.
• IDSL 2024 is celebrated as part of the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) 2024 from September 23 to 29.
• The theme for IDSL 2024 is “Sign up for Sign Language Rights.”
• The first IDSL was observed on September 23, 2018, as part of the International Week of the Deaf.