WEEKLY SEPTEMBER CURRENT AFFAIRS(8th-14th)
 

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF

 

22nd India-France Naval Exercise VARUNA

  • Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar, an Indian Navy frontline stealth frigate, commanded by Captain MR Harish, visited Toulon, France from 29 August to 01 September 2024, and later participated in the 22nd edition of Exercise VARUNA from 02 to 04 September 2024 in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Significance of Exercise VARUNA:Exercise VARUNA began in 2001 and has become the backbone of India-France naval relations, significantly enhancing interoperability and the exchange of best practices.

 

Agni-4 Ballistic Missile

  • India successfully launched the Agni-4 ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.
  • The test was conducted under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
  • The Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed by India.

Agni-4 Specifications:

  • The Agni-4 is a long-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometres.
  • It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The launch validated all operational and technical parameters.

 

R.R Appoints Rahul Dravid as Head Coach

  • The Rajasthan Royals, owned by Royals Sports Group, has announced the appointment of Rahul Dravid as their new Head Coach on a multi-year contract.

Key Details

  • Previous Involvement:
    • Rahul Dravid, who previously served as captain and coach for the Royals from 2011 to 2015, will now return in a new role.
    • Dravid initially began his coaching career with the Royals in 2014, transitioning from captain to mentor.
  • Current Role:

As Head Coach, Dravid will work closely with Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals' Director of Cricket, to implement and execute the franchise's cricketing strategy

 

22nd India-France Naval Exercise VARUNA

  • Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar, an Indian Navy frontline stealth frigate, commanded by Captain MR Harish, visited Toulon, France from 29 August to 01 September 2024, and later participated in the 22nd edition of Exercise VARUNA from 02 to 04 September 2024 in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Significance of Exercise VARUNA:Exercise VARUNA began in 2001 and has become the backbone of India-France naval relations, significantly enhancing interoperability and the exchange of best practices.

 

Agni-4 Ballistic Missile

  • India successfully launched the Agni-4 ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.
  • The test was conducted under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
  • The Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed by India.

Agni-4 Specifications:

  • The Agni-4 is a long-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometres.
  • It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The launch validated all operational and technical parameters.

 

R.R Appoints Rahul Dravid as Head Coach

  • The Rajasthan Royals, owned by Royals Sports Group, has announced the appointment of Rahul Dravid as their new Head Coach on a multi-year contract.

Key Details

  • Previous Involvement:
    • Rahul Dravid, who previously served as captain and coach for the Royals from 2011 to 2015, will now return in a new role.
    • Dravid initially began his coaching career with the Royals in 2014, transitioning from captain to mentor.
  • Current Role:

As Head Coach, Dravid will work closely with Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals' Director of Cricket, to implement and execute the franchise's cricketing strategy

 

Flag-Bearers at Paris 2024 Paralympics Closing Ceremony

  • India will be represented by archer Harvinder Singh and sprinter Preethi Pal as the flag-bearers at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, scheduled.

Achievements of Harvinder Singh and Preethi Pal

Harvinder Singh:

  • Historic Victory: At 33, Harvinder Singh made history by becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. He secured this win by defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve final.

Preethi Pal:

  • Bronze Medals: At just 23, Preethi Pal achieved bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m races in the T35 category at Paris 2024. She is the first Indian athlete to win a track medal at the Paralympics.

Previous Flag-Bearers

Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav were the flag-bearers for India at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics

 

World Physical Therapy Day 2024: September 8

  • Every year 8th of September is observed as World Physical Therapy Day.
  • This day is celebrated on the 8th of September because in 1951 on this date World Physical Therapy was founded.
  • This day represents the unity of the global physiotherapy community.
  • The theme for World Physical Therapy Day 2024 is "Low back pain (LBP) and the role of physiotherapy in its management and prevention."

 

World Literacy Day 2024: September 8

  • Since 1967, World Literacy Day or International Literacy Day is observed each year on the 8th of September.
  • The theme for International Literacy Day 2024 is 'Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.”
  • This day was declared by The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation or UNESCO on 26th October 1966.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to promote international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
  • Goal: To build peace through these fields by fostering understanding and cooperation among nations.
  • Founded: 16th November 1945.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
  • Formation: Established in the aftermath of World War II to promote peace and security through educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation.

Main Areas: Education, Science, Culture, Communication and Information

 

International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2024

  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 74/275 on 28th May 2020, establishing September 9 as International Day.
  • Venue: Doha, Qatar with the support of 62 countries
  • It is a reminder that education is a fundamental human right and a call to action to protect schools and educational institutions from attack.
  • Most Affected Countries: Ukraine, Palestine, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar
  • Between 2022 and 2023, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack reported around 6,000 attacks on students, educators, schools, and higher education institutions.

 

Amit Shah releases documentary on Mumbai Samachar’s 200-year journey

  • Event: Release of the "200 Not Out" documentary celebrating 200 years of the newspaper Mumbai Samachar.
  • Date: September 8, 2024
  • Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Chief Guest: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah
  • Other Dignitaries: Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde

Significance of Mumbai Samachar:

  • Celebrated for its 200-year history, Mumbai Samachar is the oldest newspaper in Asia and the third oldest in the world.
  • Known for its credibility and neutrality, it has maintained its journalistic integrity without aligning with any ideology.

The newspaper has covered important historical events such as the 1857 Revolution, the formation of Congress, and various movements led by Indian freedom fighters

 

India's First 'Grain ATM' to Enhance Food Security  

  • The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Odisha launched India’s first around-the-clock grain dispensing machine, the 'Grain ATM,' also known as 'Annapurti' (Hindi for fulfiller of food), in the state capital Bhubaneswar.
  • The machine was inaugurated by Krushna Chandra Patra, Odisha Minister of Food Supplies, Consumer Welfare, Science and Technology, with Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director for WFP in India, present.
  • Odisha is the first state in India to provide round-the-clock access to the PDS, enhancing convenience and efficiency.

About World Food Programme :

  • Established : 19 December 1961
  • Headquarters : Rome, Italy

Executive Director : Cindy McCain

 

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024

    • The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, also known as Swachh Vayu Diwas, was observed on September 7, 2024, in
  • Host: Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board

Dignitaries Present:

  • Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav
  • Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma
  • Minister of State for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Shri Sanjay Sharma
  • Union Minister of State Urban Development and Local Self Government, Shri Jhabar Singh Kharra

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards

  • Award Categories and Winners:
  • Category-1 (Population over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra.
  • Category-2 (Population between 3 and 10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi.

Category-3 (Population under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh.

 

Indians shine in TIME100 most influential people in AI 2024

Featured Indians on the List

TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 "Most Influential People in AI 2024," released, includes 15 prominent Indian or Indian-origin individuals. Key names featured are:

  • Ashwini Vaishnaw: Union Information Technology Minister of India.
  • Nandan Nilekani: Co-founder of Infosys.
  • Anil Kapoor: Renowned Indian actor.
  • Sundar Pichai: CEO of Google.

Satya Nadella: CEO of Microsoft.

 

Former Election Commissioner: New Ambassador to Croatia

  • Arun Goel has been appointed as India's next ambassador to Croatia, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

About Croatia :

  • President : Zoran Milanović
  • Prime Minister : Andrej Plenković
  • Capital : Zagreb
  • Currency : Euro

 

England all-rounder Moeen Ali retires from international cricket

  • Moeen Ali, at 37 years old, decided to retire from international cricket after recognizing that he was no longer in consideration for England's future assignments.
  • He felt it was time for the next generation to take over and acknowledged the team's need to rebuild ahead of upcoming tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

 

Paris Paralympics 2024 takeaways: India’s historic run of 29 medals

Medal Haul and Key Takeaways

  • India achieved its best-ever performance at the Paralympics, winning a total of 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze).
  • The tally of 29 medals and 7 gold medals set new records for India, surpassing the previous best of 19 medals and 5 golds from the Tokyo 2020
  • India finished 18th on the medal table, an improvement from 24th place in 2020.

 

Jannik Sinner beats Taylor Fritz to win U.S. Open

  • Jannik Sinner (Italy) defeated American Taylor Fritz to win U.S Open

Jannik Sinner becomes the first Italian man to win the U.S. Open and claims his second Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open earlier this year.

 

World Suicide Prevention Day: 10 September

Background

  • World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD): Observed annually on September 10 since 2003, WSPD was established by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Purpose: To focus global attention on the issue of suicide, reduce stigma, and raise awareness among organizations, governments, and the public about suicide prevention.

Theme for 2024-2026: "Changing the Narrative on Suicide"

 

Two Anti-submarine Warfare Vessels

Why in the News?  

The Indian Navy launched two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) vessels at Cochin Shipyard, marking the fourth and fifth ships in a series of eight. The contract for designing, constructing, and delivering these ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in April 2019, enhancing India's maritime defense capabilities. 

About the Vessels 

  • The vessels will be named INS Malpe and INS Mulki once commissioned. 
  • They are part of the Mahe-class ships, designed to replace the Abhay-class ASW Corvettes. 
  • Length: 78 metres. 
  • Width: 11.36 metres. 
  • Maximum speed: 25 knots. 
  • Endurance: 1,800 nautical miles. 
  • It can conduct low-intensity maritime operations, mine-laying, search and rescue missions. 
  • It is equipped with indigenously developed sonar for underwater surveillance. 
  • Each vessel has an installed propulsion power of about 12 MW.

 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY)

Why in the News?  

  • In 2024, PM-KMY completes five successful years.   

About the Scheme 

  • Launched: 2019 
  • It provides social security to all land-holding Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) in their old age across the country. 
  • This pension scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme and the pension fund is managed by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). 
  • To qualify, farmers make monthly contributions to the pension fund during their working years, with an equal contribution from the Central Government. 
  • Under this scheme, SMF aged between 18 and 40 years can enroll in a pension fund by paying a monthly subscription between Rs 55 and Rs 200 per month until they turn 60. 
  • Once they reach the age of 60, enrolled farmers receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000.  
  • Beneficiary registration is facilitated through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and state governments. 

Under this scheme, Bihar is leading with more than 3.4 lakh registrations while Jharkhand is in second place with more than 2.5 lakh registrations.

 

Randhir Singh becomes Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president

Background:

  • Position: Randhir Singh, a five-time Olympian and sports administrator, has been elected as the President of the OCA.
  • Event: 44th OCA General Assembly in New Delhi.
  • Age: 77 years old.

 

South India secures 40% share in NIRF top 25 rankings for last 5 years

 

  • South Indian institutions have consistently secured a significant portion of the top 25 spots in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) over the past five years.
  • At least 40 percent of the top 25 spots have been occupied by institutions from South Indian states: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • Tamil Nadu’s Leadership:
  • Tamil Nadu has emerged as the leading state among South Indian states, frequently placing the highest number of institutes in the top 25.
  • In the 2024 NIRF rankingsTamil Nadu had six institutions in the top 25, followed by five from Delhi.

Tamil Nadu has averaged 5–6 institutes in the top 25 from 2020 to 2024.

 

Indian Team Tops Medal Tally at World Deaf Shooting Championships

  • India won a total of 21 medals at the second World Deaf Shooting Championships held in Hanover, Germany.
  • The medal tally included 7 gold, 7 silver, and 7 bronze
  • Medal Standings:
  • India topped the medal tally.
  • Ukraine secured second place with 7 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze.
  • Germany finished third with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze.
  • Notable Performances:
  • Mahit Sandhu won gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P).
  • Abhinav Deshwal secured gold in the men’s 25m standard pistol
  • Chetan Hanmant Sapkal won bronze in the same event as Deshwal.
  • Dhanush Srikanth won two gold medals in 10m air rifle individual and mixed events.

Anuya Prasad (women’s 10m air pistol) and Shourya Saini (men’s 50m 3P) also won gold medals for India.

 

Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

  • Established: 10-14 September 1960 at Baghdad Conference. 
  • Founding Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. 
  • Objective 
  • Its main goal was to prevent lowering of the prices of oil.  
  • To bring uniformity in oil production and coordinate petroleum policies to secure prices and returns. 
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria  
  • Members: Algeria, Congo, Gabon (rejoined in 2016), Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Angola Joined in 2007 and withdrew in 2024.  
  • Ecuador suspended its OPEC membership from 1992 until 2007 and then withdrew in 2020. 
  • Publication: World Oil Outlook 
  • The OPEC Fund 
  • Established in 1976 
  • Provides financial aid to developing countries for infrastructure, education and healthcare projects.

 

National Forest Martyrs Day 2024

  • It is observed annually on 11th September in India to honor the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives in defense of the country's forests and wildlife.   
  • Objective: To raise awareness about the importance of forest conservation and the dangers faced by those working to protect natural resources. 
  • The day commemorates the 1730 Khejarli Massacre in Rajasthan, where 363 members of the Bishnoi community, led by Amrita Devi were killed while protecting trees from being felled by the orders of the king. 
  • This date was selected by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2013. 

The theme for 2024 focuses on “Honoring the Sacrifices of those who Defended Forests and Wildlife”.

 

India's 1st Silicon Carbide manufacturing facility to be set up in Odisha

  • Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the ground-breaking ceremony for India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility in Odisha, with an investment of ₹620 crore.
  • The facility will be developed by RIR Power Electronics Limited, a leading company in India’s semiconductor power electronics sector.
  • The facility will be set up at EMC Park, Info valley, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • This project is expected to contribute significantly to India's mission of becoming a self-reliant hub for semiconductor production.

 

IGI world’s 24th best-connected airport rises one spot

  • Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi has moved up to 24th position in the latest global rankings, improving from 25th in 2023, according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG).
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai fell to 44th position, down from 34th last year.

 

Mexico Becomes First Country to Approve Popular Election of Judges

Why In the News?

Mexico became the world’s first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels.

Mexico

  • Capital: The Mexico City
  • Continent: North America
  • Currency: Mexican Peso
  • Political History
  • Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.
  • It currently follows Presidential form of government.
  • Biodiversity: It ranks as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, hosting more than 200,000 different species, which represents around 10% of the world's biodiversity.

Geography

  • It is 14th largest country by area.
  • It has diverse landscapes, from deserts and mountains to tropical rainforests.
  • Its coastlines are on the Pacific Ocean on left and the Gulf of Mexico on Right.

 

Battle of Saragarhi

  • Strategic Importance: Saragarhi was a communication post linking Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), now part of Pakistan.
  • Historical Context: The forts were originally built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British during their control of the region.
  • Defenders: On 12th September 1897, 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment (now 4th Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army), led by Havildar Ishar Singh, defended Saragarhi against an overwhelming force.
  • The Attack: They were pitted against approximately 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribals during an uprising on the rugged frontier.
  • Resistance: Despite being outnumbered, the Sikhs held off the attackers for seven hours, inflicting significant casualties—200 enemies killed and 600 injured.
  • Sacrifice: The entire garrison was killed, but their brave stand delayed the assault on the two forts, giving them critical time to prepare.
  • Posthumous Recognition: All 21 soldiers were awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest award for gallantry at the time.

Result: Although, the battle was won by Afghans but after two days the fort was recaptured by British forces.

 

Tayyab Ikram Set to be Elected Unopposed as FIH President

  • Tayyab Ikram is set to be elected unopposed as the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at its 49th Congress in Muscat, Oman, on November 9.
  • The nominations for FIH elections were submitted by the August 31
  • Ikram is the sole candidate for the president’s post, representing Hong Kong Macau.
  • There is no Indian candidate in the FIH election race.
  • Ikram's Background:
  • Ikram has a long association with hockey, having served as a coach for Pakistan and China.
  • He is a member of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission and has been an Executive Board member of FIH since 2016.
  • On November 5, 2022, he was elected as the 13th President of FIH.

 

Union Cabinet Expands Ayushman Bharat Health Coverage to All Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above

  • In a significant step towards enhancing healthcare access for the elderly, the Union Cabinet has approved the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years or above.

This move is set to benefit approximately 45 million families, encompassing around 60 million senior citizens, providing them with free health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh on a family basis.

 

Y Haragopal appointed as Managing Director of NABCONS  

  • Y Haragopal has been appointed Managing Director of NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
  • He was previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at NABCONS.
  • NABCONS has four Zonal offices in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Guwahati

 

Indian Army Contingent Leaves for India-Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najah V

  • The Indian Army contingent departed for the 5th edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise AL NAJAH.
  • The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 13th to 26th September 2024 at Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.

History :

  • Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman.
  • The 4th edition of the exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.

 

SpaceX Mission Sends All-Civilian Crew on Historic First Private Spacewalk in Orbit    

  • SpaceX launched its daring Polaris Dawn mission, a multiday orbital expedition carrying a four-member civilian crew for the first spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.
  • The Polaris Dawn crew consists of four members: Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, Jared Isaacman, and Sarah Gillis.
  • The launch took place from Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
  • The mission was delayed several times, initially due to a technical issue with the launch tower and then because of weather constraints.

About SpaceX :

  • Founded : March 14, 2002
  • Headquarters : United States
  • CEO : Elon Musk

 

Sanjukta Sethi Receives National Florence Nightingale Award-2024

Sanjukta Sethi, a dedicated nursing officer at the Malkangiri district headquarters hospital (DHH), was honoured with the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award-2024 by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

 

India Retains Top Spot in Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Amid Regulatory Challenges

  • India has maintained its leadership position in global cryptocurrency adoption for the second consecutive year, despite facing stringent regulations and high trading taxes.
  • This insight comes from a recent report by blockchain analytics firmChainalysis.

Top 5 countries:

  1. India
  2. Nigeria
  3. Indonesia
  4. United States
  5. Vietnam

 

BRICS Summit

Why In the News?

Indian NSA Ajit Doval met Russian President Putin at the BRICS NSAs meeting, sharing details of India's discussions with Ukraine on resolving the conflict. Putin proposed a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan.

About BRICS

  • BRICS is an informal group of states comprising the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa (joined in 2010)
  • The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is convened annually.
  • The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
  • Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (2010),
  • New Members: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia all joined BRICS in 2024.
  • First BRICS Ministerial Meeting: 20th September 2006
  • First BRIC Summit: Yekaterinburg, Russia 16 June 2009
  • 15th BRICS Summit: South Africa in Johannesburg 2023
  • 16th BRICS Summit: Kazan, Russia 2024.

 

India Sets New Records at South Asian Junior Athletics Meet

  • Siddharth Choudhary set a new meet record in the men’s shot put event.
  • Pooja established a new record in the women’s high jump with a jump of 1.80m, surpassing the previous record of 1.75m.
  • Notable Performances:

Abinaya Rajarajan won gold in the women’s 100m with a record-breaking time of 11.77 seconds.

 

Hindi Diwas 2024: September 14

  • Every year of 14th September is celebrated as a Hindi Diwas or Hindi day.
  • After India got its independence, in the year of 1949 there were a lot of discussions to make Hindi the official language of India.
  • Then it was decided that 14th September would be observed as Hindi Diwas or Hindi day.
  • In the year of 1953, the first Hindi Diwas was celebrated.
  • This decision is also stated in Article 343 of Chapter 17 of the Constitution of India.
  • It is written as “ The national language of the Union will be Hindi and the script will be Devanagari” in the Constitution of India.

The reason for celebrating Hindi Day on September 14 is, that A Noble and Famous Hindi Literature Vyahar Rajendra Singha was born on 14th September.