• Maharatna Central PSU Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), under the Ministry of Power, GOI was recently awarded the coveted “Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 BEST Award”
• The central PSU under the Ministry of Power secured the 8th rank among the 71 organizations, from around the world honored by the Association for Talent Development. Thus, POWERGRID became the only Indian PSU to win the award & one of the only two companies in the Top 10. India’s Larsen & Toubro Technology Services, Mumbai bagged the first rank.

ATD BEST Awards:

• Objective: It was to recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of employee talent development, the BEST Awards were introduced in 2003 by the Association for Talent Development.
• The BEST Awards Winners’ Circle comprises small, large private, public, and not-for-profit organizations from around the world that use talent development as a strategic business tool to get results.
• Thus, the 71 organizations honored with the coveted BEST award are driving an impact and solving business challenges through talent development practices in innovative ways.
• About ATD (Association for Talent Development):
• The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is a professional membership organization based in Alexandria, US.
• The organization is the world’s largest association committed to supporting those who develop the knowledge & skills of employees in organizations globally and its BEST Award is the most rigorous and coveted recognition in the talent development industry.

About POWERGRID:

• The BEST Award conferred to POWERGRID by the Association for Talent Development (ATD) has enabled it to cherish international acclaim for its diligent efforts in talent development practices and programs.
• The talent development initiative of the POWERGRID is driven by the POWERGRID Academy of Leadership (PAL).
• PAL is a state-of-the-art Institute of Learning in Management and Technology catering to both domestic and international clients. It organizes training and initiatives for enhancing employee performance, boosting employee productivity, and improving & strengthening company culture.

Bangladeshi scientist, Dr Firdausi Qadri, won the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Who is Dr Firdausi Qadri?

• Dr Qadri is an emeritus scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).
• She is also a laureate of the 2020 L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Award which was presented to her for her advocacy of early diagnoses and global vaccination & her work on understanding and preventing infectious diseases affecting children across developing countries.

When did she started medical research?

She decided early on to pursue a career in medical research. She joined icddr,b in 1988 to focus her research on communicable diseases, immunology, vaccine development and clinical trials.

Challenging assignment

The most difficult assignments before her were in the fight against cholera and typhoid. These two major diseases are prevalent in Bangladesh as well as in Asian and African nations with limited access to adequate water, sanitation, medical treatment and education. Dr Qadri played a key role in development of a more affordable oral cholera vaccine (OCV) as well as typhoid conjugate vaccine (ViTCV) for infants, children and adults.

Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives

This institute was founded by her in 2014. It conducts biomedical research and runs training courses as well as a testing center. The institute has become a hub of scientific activity by local and visiting scientists in Bangladesh.

About Ramon Magsaysay Award

Ramon Magsaysay Award is the highest honour in Asia. It was established in April 1957 and is widely regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Asia. The award is presented to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in eradication of poverty and development of the society in Asia.

Other recipients of award in 2021

Other recipients of award in 2021 are-

1. Mohammad Amjad Saqib from Pakistan
2. Steven Muncy from South-East Asia.

President Ram Nath Kovind will award the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation at a ceremonial parade to be held at INS Hansa, Goa, on September 6.

Key Points

• The ceremony is expected to be attended by the Governor of Goa, Raksha Mantri, Chief Minister of Goa, Chief of the Naval Staff several other civil and military dignitaries.
• A Special Day Cover will be released by the Postal Department.

The President’s Colour  Award:- 

The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation. The Indian Navy was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India. Subsequent recipients of the President’s Colour in the Navy include Southern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, Eastern Fleet, Western Fleet, Submarine Arm, INS Shivaji and the Indian Naval Academy.

Indian Naval Aviation 

Indian Naval Aviation came into being with acquisition of the first Seal and aircraft on 13 Jan 1951 and commissioning of INS Garuda, the first Naval Air Station, on 11 May 1953.

The year 1959 saw the commissioning of Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 550 with 10 Seal and, 10 Firefly and three HT-2 aircraft.

The world witnessed the Carrier arm of Indian Naval Aviation coming of age with the induction of INS Vikrant, the first Aircraft Carrier, in 1957 and integral Sea Hawk and Alize Squadrons subsequently.

The total market value of cryptocurrencies rose above $2 trillion mark last month as Bitcoin continued to climb along with other coins such as Cardano, XRP and Dogecoin.

Key Points

• The total market value of cryptocurrencies rose above the $2 trillion mark last month.
• Bitcoin - the world's largest and most popular cryptocurrency may touch the $100,000-mark by the end of this year
• Presently, the global crypto market cap is $2.29 trillion, registering an increase of 0.04 per cent increase over yesterday, according to data by CoinMarketCap.
• Bitcoin's price surged past the $50,000 mark last month for the first time since May
• Bitcoin has risen by around 81 per cent since hitting a yearly low of $27,700 in January 2021.

What is Crypto Currency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on block chain technology—a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers. A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.

        Key Takeaways

• A cryptocurrency is a form of digital asset based on a network that is distributed across a large number of computers. This decentralized structure allows them to exist outside the control of governments and central authorities.
• The word “cryptocurrency” is derived from the encryption techniques which are used to secure the network.
• Blockchains, which are organizational methods for ensuring the integrity of transactional data, are an essential component of many cryptocurrencies.
• Many experts believe that blockchain and related technology will disrupt many industries, including finance and law. 
• Cryptocurrencies face criticism for a number of reasons, including their use for illegal activities, exchange rate volatility, and vulnerabilities of the infrastructure underlying them. However, they also have been praised for their portability, divisibility, inflation resistance, and transparency.

Types of Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin

Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by an individual or group known by the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto."1 As of August 2021, there were over 18.8 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market cap of around $858.9 billion, with the figure updating frequently. 

Some other crypto currencies are -  Bitcoin , Ethereum, Ripple, Dash, Litecoin , Dogecoin etc.

India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) announced on September 3, 2021 that it has raised Rs 4,000 crore through additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds.

Key Points

• AT1 bonds were raised at a coupon rate of 7.72%.
• It the first such issuance in domestic market after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) notified new rules.
• SBI has AAA credit rating from local credit agencies while the AT1 offering is rated AA+. This is the highest rating in India for such instruments.
• SBI was also the first lender to raise capital through offshore AT1 Bonds in 2016.
• The latest issuance by SBI has encouraged other lenders such as Axis Bank to look after the offshore AT1 bond issue in order to raise about $1 billion.

Axis Bank Bond

Axis Bank will use these proceeds for green and social projects. It has set an initial price guidance of 4.4% for the bonds. Axis Bank became the second Indian lender in 2021 to tap overseas debt markets to raise funds using AT1 Bonds. HDFC Bank also raised $1 billion, recently.

SEBI Rule

SEBI amended the 100-year valuation rule for perpetual bonds, in March 2021. As per new rules, deemed residual maturity period of Basel III AT-1 bonds will be 10 years until March 31, 2022. This period will be increased to 20 and 30 years in subsequent six-month period. According to new rule, from April 2023, residual maturity of AT-1 bonds will become 100 years from the date of issuance of these bonds.

What are AT1 bonds?

AT1 bonds are also called perpetual bonds. They carry no maturity date but are having a call option. The issuer of these bonds may call or redeem the bonds in case it is getting money at a cheaper rate, especially when interest rates are decreasing.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said it has imposed a penalty of ?50 lakh on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank, Mumbai for deficiency in regulatory compliance.
• The RBI has also imposed a penalty ?2 lakh on Akola District Central Co-operative Bank Limited, Akola (Maharashtra) for non-compliance with certain provisions of Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
• The penalty on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd was imposed for non-compliance with directions contained in the Reserve Bank of India (Co-operative Banks - Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016 and specific directions under the Supervisory Action Framework (SAF), RBI said in a statement.
• The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to the bank's financial position as on March 31, 2019, the inspection report pertaining thereto, and examination of all related correspondence revealed that it had offered interest rates on NRE deposits higher than those offered by it on comparable domestic rupee term deposits.

• Axis Bank Ltd. said it had ‘successfully’ priced its $600-million issuance of Sustainable Additional Tier 1 (AT1) notes in the overseas markets at 4.1%, ie, 30 basis points lower than the initial price guidance.
• The dollar-denominated, Basel III compliant AT1 notes offering was subscribed 3.8 times ahead of the final pricing guidance announcement, it said. It is the first dollar-denominated AT1 bond ever by an Indian issuer in a Sustainable format, the bank said in a press statement.
• “This successful transaction, which is also the largest single-tranche USD bond issuance ever for Axis Bank, reflects the faith and confidence that international investors have reposed in the bank’s franchise and robust credit and business model,” said Neeraj Gambhir, group executive & head, Treasury, Markets & Wholesale Banking Products, Axis Bank.
• Axis Bank Limited is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It sells financial services to large and mid-size companies, SMEs and retail businesses. As of 30 June 2016, 30.81% shares are owned by the promoters and the promoter group. 
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry (1 Jan 2019–)
• Founded: 3 December 1993, Ahmedabad
• Subsidiaries: Freecharge, Axis Finance Limited etc.

New Development Bank (NDB) by BRICS group of nations has added United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Bangladesh as the new members on September 2, 2021.

Key Points

This first batch of new members were added to the bank as part of its expansion drive.

New Development Bank

New Development Bank was Launched in 2015 by the BRICS Members- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It was formerly referred as “BRICS development bank”. It is headquartered in Shanghai. The first regional office of the NDB was set up in Johannesburg, South Africa while second regional office was established in 2019 in Brazil, followed by in Russia.

Function of the Bank

The bank mobilises resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the member countries as well as in other developing nations. It complements the existing efforts made by multilateral and regional financial institutions towards global growth and development.

Membership expansion

NDB started it membership expansion and started formal negotiations with prospective members in 2020. Admission of the UAE, Uruguay and Bangladesh as Bank’s first new member countries, was approved after a round of successful negotiations.

NDB’s capital and projects

The Bank has an authorised capital of USD 100 billion. It is open for subscription by members of the United Nations NDB has approved about 80 projects in all of its member countries which amount to portfolio of USD 30 billion. Projects in areas of transport, water & sanitation, digital infrastructure, clean energy, social infrastructure and urban development are within the scope of NDB.

Shanti Lal Jain has assumed charge as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chennai-headquartered Indian Bank from today.

Key Points

• In a career spanning more than 25 years in banking, he handled critical portfolios
• Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of Bank of Baroda since September 2018.
• A Post-graduate in Commerce, and a qualified Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary and CAIIB, Jain joined Allahabad Bank in 1993 in middle management cadre.
• Later, he led team Mumbai as Field General Manager (West) and was responsible for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa operations having business of about ?50,000 crore.
• Earlier to this, he has served in several branches and administrative offices of the Bank, pan India. Prior to joining Allahabad Bank, he worked in various industries for about 6 years.

Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched a new initiative that enables Google Pay users to book fixed deposits (FDs) on Google Pay in just 2 minutes without opening a bank account.

Key Points

• This functionality of booking FDs will be available for Google Pay users who are using the app from Android devices.
• Collaboration between SFB and google way was done ahead of the SFB’s 5th anniversary on September 5th, 2021.
• Under this functionality, principal and interest of the FD will go directly to the Google Pay user’s existing bank account once the FDs are matured.

Equitas SFB’s FD

Equitas SFB’s offers high FD returns as compared to other private lenders or public state lenders. Under RBI Scheduled Commercial Bank, deposits in Equitas are covered through a deposit guarantee up to Rs 5 lakhs per depositor. Customers get returns of up to 6.35% for an FD of one year.

How this will work?

The proceeds will automatically go to Google Pay user’s existing Google Pay linked bank account, on maturity. From the Equitas Bank Spot on Google Pay platform, Google Pay users can track their deposit, add new ones and place order for premature withdrawal.

What will happen on Premature withdrawal?

If a Google Pay user go for premature withdrawal of deposits, proceeds will reach their bank account the same day.

Equitas small finance Bank FD

This small finance bank was founded in 2016 as a microfinance lender. It became a scheduled bank in 2017. It is headquartered in Chennai, and is a subsidiary of holding company Equitas Holdings Ltd.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has increased the allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to India in line with the existing quota of India in the fund.

Highlights

• SDR is an alternate reserve currency which is floated by the IMF.
• SDR can be freely exchanged between the member countries instead of relying on currency of any one particular country.
• IMF has increased India’s SDR quota to 12.57 billion. It is equivalent to $17.86 billion at the latest exchange rate.

Special Drawing Rights (SDR)

SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. It is a potential claim on freely usable currencies of the member countries. SDRs can be exchanged for these currencies among the members. It serves as the unit of account for IMF and other international organizations.

How SDR value is determined?

Currency value of the SDR is calculated by summing the values of SDR basket of currencies in U.S. dollars on the basis of market exchange rates. It is calculated daily (except on IMF holidays or when IMF is closed for business). The valuation basket of SDR is reviewed and adjusted every five years.

SDR basket of currencies

SDR basket comprises of U.S. dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling and Chinese renminbi.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

IMF is an organization comprising of 189 member countries. Each member is having representation on the IMF’s executive board in proportion of their financial importance. Thus, most powerful countries in global economy have the most voting power. IMF was conceived in July 1944 at a UN conference in Bretton Woods, United States.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ?25 lakh on Axis Bank Ltd. for contravention of/non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by it which are contained in the Reserve Bank of India – (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Direction, 2016.

“This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers,” the RBI said.

A scrutiny was carried out by RBI during February 2020 and March 2020 in a customer account maintained with the bank and it was observed that the bank had failed to comply with the directions, RBI said in a release.

It said the bank had failed to monitor/carry out on-going due diligence in that account to ensure that the transactions were consistent with its knowledge about the customer, customer’s business and risk profile.

A notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause why penalty should not be imposed on it and after considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing,” RBI came to the conclusion that the charge of contravention of/non- compliance with the aforesaid RBI directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty, to the extent of non-compliance with the aforesaid direction,” RBI said.

The Reserve Bank of India is India's central bank and regulatory body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for the issue and supply of the Indian rupee and the regulation of the Indian banking system.

Governor: Shaktikanta Das 
Headquarters: Mumbai
Founder: British Raj
Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata

Axis Bank Limited is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It sells financial services to large and mid-size companies, SMEs and retail businesses. As of 30 June 2016, 30.81% shares are owned by the promoters and the promoter group. 
Headquarters: Mumbai
CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry 
Established in -  3 December 1993, Ahmedabad

• Industry credit growth was muted at 1%, RBI data showed
• The non-food credit from banks grew 6.2% in July 2021, compared with 6.4% growth a year earlier, RBI data showed.
• Advances to agriculture and allied activities continued to perform well, registering an accelerated growth of 12.5 against 5.4%, according to RBI data on Sectoral Deployment of Bank Credit — July 2021, released on Tuesday. Growth in credit to industry remained subdued at 1% compared with 0.9% .
• Credit to medium-sized industries registered a robust growth of 71.6%, compared with a contraction of 1.8%. Credit to micro and small industries accelerated to 7.9% from a contraction of 1.8%, while credit to large industries contracted 2.9% from a 1.4% growth. Growth in credit to the services sector slowed to 2.7% from 12.2%, mainly due to deceleration in credit to NBFCs and commercial real estate.
• Personal loans saw accelerated growth of 11.2% compared with 9%, mainly due to faster growth in loans against gold jewellery and in vehicle loans.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has proposed amendments in the liquidation process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in order to bring transparency and to address the difficulties faced by stakeholders, meet evolving requirements and to achieve the objectives of the Code.

New amendments were proposed to further strengthen the regulatory framework of the liquidation process with respect to accountability of liquidator towards stakeholders. Discussion also proposed to provide that if the secured creditors with 60 per cent of the value in secured debt, decide to realise the security interest, this decision will be binding on the other so as to treat all charge holders at same level.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code). It is a key pillar responsible for implementation of the Code that consolidates and amends the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner. It has been tasked to promote the development of, and regulate, the working and practices of, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code provides IBBI statutory powers. The code was passed by Lok Sabha in May 2016. Present whole-time members of the IBBI include Dr. Navrang Saini, Dr. Ms. Mukulita Vijayawargiya and Sh. Sudhakar Shukla.

Shanti Lal Jain assumed charge as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Bank on 1st September 2021. Earlier Bank Of Baroda had announced that Shanti Lal Jain would cease to be its executive director from September 1, due to his appointment as the MD & CEO of Indian Bank for a tenure of 3 years.

With more than 25 years of experience in banking, Jain possesses rich experience in critical portfolios. He joined Allahabad Bank in 1993 in the Middle Management cadre. As a General Manager, he has served as the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer and headed the IT department of the Bank.

about indian bank - 
Indian Bank is an Indian nationalised financial services and banking company. It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of India, established in 1907 and headquartered in Chennai, India.

A premier bank owned by the Government of India the Indian Bank was incorporated in 05 March 1907 as Indian Bank Limited and commenced operations in 15 August 1907 as part of the Swadeshi movement.

Subsidiaries: Allahabad Bank, Indian Bank Singapore  
Founders: S. Rm. M. Ramaswami Chettiar, V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar

The RBI said on Monday the fair value of the share-linked incentives paid to chief executive officers, whole-time directors and other key functionaries by the private banks should be recognised as an expense during the relevant accounting period.

The RBI has also asked all banks, including local area banks, small finance banks and foreign banks to comply with its directions for all share-linked instruments granted after the accounting period ending March 31, 2021.

The central bank had issued guidelines on the compensation of whole-time directors/ chief executive officers/ material risk takers and control function staff in November 2019.

Issuing a clarification in this regard, the RBI said, the fair value should be recognised as expense beginning with the accounting period for which approval has been granted".

The RBI issued the clarification saying "it has been observed" that banks do not recognise grants of the share-linked compensation as an expense in their books of account concurrently.

The Reserve Bank released its quarterly house price index (HPI) (base: 2010-11=100) for Q1:2021-22, based on transaction-level data received from housing registration authorities in ten major cities (viz., Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai). Time series data on all-India and city-wise HPIs are available at the Bank’s Database of Indian Economy (DBIE) portal (https://dbie.rbi.org.in/DBIE/dbie.rbi?site=statistics> Real Sector > Price & Wages > Quarterly).

Highlights:

• All-India HPI recorded 2.0 per cent annual growth (y-o-y) in Q1:2021-22 as compared with 2.7 per cent growth in the previous quarter and 2.8 per cent a year ago; HPI growth varied widely across the cities- it ranged from an expansion of 8.8 per cent (Ahmedabad) to a contraction of (-) 5.1 per cent (Chennai).

• On a sequential (q-o-q) basis, the all-India HPI registered a 0.5 per cent growth in Q1:2021-22; Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kanpur and Lucknow recorded a sequential decline in HPI, whereas it increased in other five cities.

Fintech services provider, PayU, is set to acquire the Indian digital payments provider, BillDesk for $4.7 billion. This will be one among the largest deals in Indian fintech sector.

Highlights

• This announcement was made by the global consumer internet group and one among the largest technology investors worldwide, Prosus NV on August 31, 2021.
• The proposed acquisition will see PayU that operates in more than 20 high-growth markets. It also became one of the leading online payment providers by total payment volume, globally.
• PayU focuses on high-growth markets and operates in three distinct businesses-

1. Payments for domestic and cross border transactions,
2. Credit solutions for consumers and small businesses,
3. Strategic investments in innovative fintech companies like Remitly in the US as well as building a full financial services ecosystem in India.

• Transaction is subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India and it has been built on previous successful acquisitions by PayU in India, including Paysence, CitrusPay, and Wibmo.

Significance of the move

• Now, PayU India and BillDesk will be able to meet changing payments needs of digital consumers, merchants and Government enterprises in India.
• It will also offer state-of-the-art technology to more excluded sections of society. It will also adhere to the regulatory environment in India and deliver a robust consumer protection.

About BillDesk

BillDesk is an Indian online payment gateway company. It is based in Mumbai. It is a financially independent company and is monitored under the Payments and Settlements Systems Act, 2007 which is regulated and supervised by the Reserve Bank of India. It was founded by Indian entrepreneurs viz., M.N. Srinivasu, Ajay Kaushal and Karthik Ganapathy in the year 2000.

• The Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at ?3.21 lakh crore or 21.3% of the budget estimates at the end of July, as per data released by the Controller General of Accounts on Tuesday.
• The deficit figure this fiscal appears better than it did a year earlier, when it had soared to 103.1% of the estimate, mainly on account of a jump in expenditure to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Centre’s total receipts stood at ?6.83 lakh crore or 34.6% of budget estimate (BE) up to July. Total receipts were 10.4% of BE a year earlier. Expenditure was ?10.04 lakh crore or 28.8% of BE. It was 34.7% of BE a year earlier.

• India and China deployed tanks during last year stand-off in Eastern Ladakh
• The Army conducted an exercise with armoured elements in the Super High Altitude Area (SHAA) of Ladakh under the aegis of the Leh based 14 Corps.
• As part of the first phase of disengagement from Pangong Tso in February last, tanks and armoured elements on the South bank were withdrawn along with frontline troops and other equipment.
• After a major reorganisation in 2017, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was all mechanised, a second defence source said. “The terrain here permits use of tanks and mechanised elements as there are lots of plains in Eastern Ladakh,” the source stated, pointing to the possibility of tank battles in this area.
• Over the last decade, India has significantly augmented its infrastructure and deployments in Ladakh. For instance, since 2012, the Army began deploying troops on longer tenures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) instead of loop batallions, which were on six-month short tenures, which meant availability of more acclimatised troops and more patrols in the claim areas. In addition, beginning 2014, India started deploying tank regiments consisting of T-72s in Eastern Ladakh. One tank regiment was deployed in 2014, the second one in 2016 and a third one later, completing the full brigade.
• This comes in the backdrop of the Army’s renewed focus on beefing up armour in high altitude terrain following the deployment of tanks by India and China during the last year stand-off in Eastern Ladakh.
• “Lt Gen PGK Menon, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Fire And Fury Corps reviewed the operational preparedness of Snow Leopard Brigade on Thursday through integrated manoeuvre and live fire exercise in SHAA of Ladakh,” the Defence PRO in Srinagar said on Twitter.
• The Snow Leopard Brigade is located at Nyoma, which is very close to the Chushul range, according to a defence source.
• During the last year stand-off, India and China deployed tanks at SHAA on the South Bank of Pangong Tso (lake) at very close proximity, just few 100 metres apart, with their barrels facing each other.

The Egyptian Armed Forces announced the start of Operation Bright Star 2021 on Thursday. According to a video published by Egyptian army spokesman, Col. Arkan Harb Gharib Abdel Hafez, the joint drills are taking place with the participation of 21 other countries from Sept. 2-17.

Key Points

• Operation Bright Star is the largest set of multinational army maneuvers in the Middle East, which began in 1981 between Egypt and the US. 
• The exercises are usually held in Egypt every two years, but were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• The first such exercises were held in the year 1980 after signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The last Bright Star exercise was conducted in 2018, with 16 participating nations.

Indian Army contingent is set to participate in a two-week multination military exercise called ‘ZAPAD 2021’.

Key Points

• This exercise will begin from September 3, at Nizhny in Russia.
• Exercise will be held with the aim of boosting anti-terror cooperation.

About ZAPAD 2021

• ZAPAD 2021 is a 13-day exercise.
• It will be held between September 3 to September 16.
• More than a dozen nations will take part in the exercise.
• China and Pakistan are also expected to join the exercise as observers.

Indian contingent

According to the defence ministry, a contingent of 200 personnel of the Indian Army will participate.  Naga Battalion group will also be participating in the exercise and will feature an all Arms combined task force. The Indian contingent has gone through a strenuous training schedule which include conventional operations like mechanised, airborne & heliborne, counter-terrorism, combat conditioning and firing.

Aim of the exercise

ZAPAD 2021 exercise will be organised with the aim of enhancing military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations and boosting anti-terror cooperation.

KAZIND-21

A separate exercise called KAZIND-21 also started on September 1, 2020. It is a 13-day military exercise between the militaries of India and Kazakhstan. It commenced at training Node Aisha Bibi, Kazakhstan. This year marked the fifth edition of the annual bilateral exercise between both the armies. 90 personnel from Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army are participating in the exercise.

The Indian Navy signed a contract with the Bharat Limited (BEL) for the supply of the first indigenous comprehensive Naval Anti Drone System (NADS).

Key Facts

• The NADS comprises of both ‘hard kill’ and ‘soft kill’ capabilities.
• Contract was signed in the presence of representatives from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and senior Naval officers in New Delhi on August 31, 2021.
• Indian Navy has also provided consistent support and led in the joint development of anti-drone system with DRDO and BEL.

About Naval Anti Drone System (NADS)

The NADS has been developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL. It is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system that will be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces.

Who Manufactured the system?

• This completely indigenous system was made by multiple units of BEL in Bangaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Machilipatanam together.
• BEL units worked in collaboration with DRDO Labs and the Indian.
• Labs like Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences and Instruments Research & Development Establishment were part of the making of NADS.

Features of NADS

NADS has the capability to detect and jam micro drones. It uses a laser-based kill mechanism in order to terminate targets. It will act as an effective all-encompassing counter the increased drone threat to strategic naval installations. It uses help of radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and radio frequency (RF) detectors in order to detect and jam micro drones.

Use of the NADS

This anti-drone system was first deployed to provide security cover for Republic Day Parade in 2021 as well as during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from Red Fort. It was also deployed in Ahmedabad for the Modi-Trump roadshow.The Indian Navy signed a contract with the Bharat Limited (BEL) for the supply of the first indigenous comprehensive Naval Anti Drone System (NADS).

The Indian Navy on Tuesday (31 August)  sealed a contract with defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the supply of the first indigenously developed Naval Anti Drone System (NADS) said the defence ministry.

The NADS, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by BEL, is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system to be inducted into the Indian armed forces, it said.

Key Points

• The NADS can instantly detect micro drones and uses a laser-based "kill mechanism" to terminate the targets.
• The NADS was first deployed to provide security cover for the Republic Day Parade this year and later during the prime minister's Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
• NADS uses the help of Radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and radio frequency (RF) detectors to detect and jam the micro drones.

Background

• Serious concerns over threats from enemy drones first emerged in June when two drones were used by suspected Pakistan-based terrorists to attack the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Jammu.
• Some explosives were dropped at the airbase using unmanned aerial vehicles that triggered alarm among national security planners.

The Indian and Algerian navies conducted their first ever naval exercise off the coast of Algeria on August 29, 2021.

Highlights

• The exercise reflects increased maritime cooperation among two countries.
• Stealth ship INS Tabar represented India while Algeria was represented by its naval ship ANS Ezager.
• As part of the exercise, activities like communication procedures, coordinated maneuvers, and past steam were carried out between Indian and Algerian warships.
• This naval exercise opened up the possibility for both the navies to understand the concept of mutual operations, enhance interoperability, and increase future interaction and cooperation.

India-Algeria Relations

Both the countries have established diplomatic relationship. Algeria is having an embassy in New Delhi while India set up it in Algiers. They are part of Non aligned movement.  Being a member of African Union, Algeria supports the candidacy of India for a permanent seat in Security Council. Trade between both the countries has increased from US$55 million in 2001 to US$3.4 billion in 2011. Both the countries have also taken steps to increase collaboration in the oil sector.

India’s market in Algeria

Indian car company, Maruti, has a significant market in Algeria. It is the third largest export market for Maruti.

India’s aid to Algeria

India also provided Algeria US $1 million humanitarian aid to help the “victims of the earthquake in Algeria in May 2003. India handed over medicines worth half a million US dollars in April 2004.

Science and technology cooperation

Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Satellite Alsat 2A of Algeria into orbit in July 2010.

India has sent Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, carrying food items and medical assistance teams, to countries in the southern Indian Ocean to deal with Covid-19 pandemic as part of a "Mission Sagar" initiative.

Key Points
The countries including Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles had requested India for assistance in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles along with La Réunion are part of Indian Ocean Commission. India has recently become an observer to the Commission.

This is the first time that a single assistance mission is covering all island countries of the western Indian Ocean in one go — except Sri Lanka, for which a second set of medicines have been airlifted.

Under the Mission, India will
Deploy Medical Assistance Teams in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their Governments deal with Covid emergency and in case of Comoros, with dengue fever also.
Deliver consignments of Covid related essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and about 600 tonnes of food items to Maldives.
In addition, in case of Mauritius, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines is also being sent.
The consignments also include Hydroxychloroquine tablets.                                                                                                                                              SAGAR
Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) was launched in 2015. It is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities.
Further, India seeks to safeguard its national interests and ensure Indian Ocean region to become inclusive, collaborative and respect international law.
The key relevance of SAGAR emerges when seen in conjunction with India’s other policies impacting the maritime domain like Act East Policy, Project Sagarmala, Project Mausam, India as ‘net security provider’, focus on Blue Economy etc.

Dutch tech investment firm Prosus on Tuesday said its subsidiary PayU had agreed to acquire Indian payments gateway BillDesk for $4.7 billion, making this one of the biggest deals in the Indian digital payments sector.

The company said that together, PayU and BillDesk would be able to ‘meet the changing payments needs of digital consumers, merchants and government enterprises in India’ and offer ‘state-of-the-art technology to even more of the excluded sections of society, while ‘delivering robust consumer protection’.

“Prosus N.V., the global consumer Internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world, announced today that an agreement has been reached between PayU and the shareholders of the Indian digital payments provider BillDesk to acquire BillDesk for $4.7 billion,” the company said in a statement.

“We have a long and deep relationship with India, having supported and partnered with some of its most dynamic entrepreneurs and new tech businesses since 2005. We’ve invested close to $6 billion in Indian tech to date, and this deal will see that increase to more than $10 billion,” Bob van Dijk, Group CEO of Prosus, said.

He added that along with classifieds, food delivery, and education technology, payments and fintech was a core segment for Prosus, and India remained its number one investment destination.

PayU has previously acquired firms such as CitrusPay, Paysense and Wibmo in India. BillDesk, which was founded in 2000, is among the leading payments businesses in the country.

“Acquisition of BillDesk will see PayU become one of the leading online payment providers globally, handling a total payment volume (TPV) of $147 billion,” the company added.

According to the FY21 annual report of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the number of transactions for digital retail payments has grown by more than 80% from 24 billion in FY19 to 44 billion in FY21.

Over the next three years, RBI expects more than 200 million new users to adopt digital payments with the average annual transactions per capita rising tenfold from 22 to 220.

“PayU India and BillDesk run complementary businesses within India’s digital payment industry. Together, the two expect to create a financial ecosystem handling four billion transactions annually — four times PayU’s current level in India,” it added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 45th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council on September 17 at Lucknow, the Ministry said late on Wednesday.

The Minister, who chairs the Council, had assured States that a special meeting of the Council would be held to discuss issues related to GST compensation due to them. The agenda for the September 17 meeting could not be ascertained at the time of going to press.

The Goods and Service Tax Act was passed in the Parliament on 29th March 2017 and came into effect on 1st July 2017. In other words,Goods and Service Tax (GST) is levied on the supply of goods and services.

• India must act now to prevent the country from losing $35 trillion in economic potential over the next 50 years due to unmitigated climate change, a new report from the Deloitte Economics Institute has said.
• The report, titled 'India's turning point: How climate action can drive our economic future', also reveals how the country could gain $11 trillion in economic value instead over the same period, by limiting rising global temperatures and realising its potential to 'export decarbonisation' to the world.
• "We have a narrow window of time - the next 10 years - to make the decisions needed to alter the trajectory of climate change. No one is immune to the impact of climate change, but for India this is a window of opportunity to lead the way and show how climate action is not a narrative of cost but one of sustainable economic growth," according to Atul Dhawan, Chairperson, Deloitte India.

Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the 24th meeting of Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

FSDC is an apex-level body that was set by the government of India in order to create a super regulatory body. Its establishment was first recommended by the Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2008. Finally in 2010, Pranab Mukherjee (the then Finance Minister of India) decided to set up this autonomous body to deal with macro prudential and financial regularities of entire financial sector in India. It is not a statutory body. No funds are allocated separately to the council to undertake its activities.

Background

In order to strengthen and institutionalize the mechanism of maintaining financial stability, to enhance inter-regulatory coordination and to promote financial sector development, FSDC was set up as the apex level forum in December 2010.

Function of the FSDC

This council is considered as India’s initiative to be better conditioned in preventing any economic crisis in future.

Members of the council

• Chairperson: Union Finance Minister of India
• Other Members:

1. Governor of Reserve Bank of India
2. Finance Secretary and/ or Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs
3. Secretary of Department of Financial Services
4. Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs
5. Secretary of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
6. Chief Economic Advisor to Ministry of Finance
7. Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India
8. Chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
9. Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
10. Chairman of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
11. Additional Secretary to Ministry of Finance

• Clix Housing Finance Ltd. (Clix HFL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Clix Capital Services Pvt. Ltd., (formerly GE Money Financial Services), has entered into an agreement with India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) to offer mortgage guarantee-backed home loans to salaried and non-salaried persons in the affordable housing segment.
• IMGC has been helping different lenders to foray into this space with minimal risk and helping home buyers to own a home through higher eligibility and lower EMIs.
• Gaurav Pawra, CEO, Clix Housing Finance, said, “With the rising demand in the affordable housing segment, this strategic partnership would support to fulfil the dreams of the first-time homebuyers and enable us to enhance penetration in the low & mid-market segment besides mitigating the credit risk in case of default.”
• Mahesh Misra, CEO, IMGC said,” We are confident that this will be a successful partnership in the months to come. We have a defined execution roadmap with emphasis on driving financial inclusion through this partnership.”
• The arrangement between IMGC and Clix Housing Finance has been designed to address the needs of a wide range of customers through varied housing loan products.
• To manage the risk for mortgage guarantee loans in the Indian market IMGC has tie-ups with more than 18 lenders comprising banks, housing finance companies and NBFCs. It has as guaranteed home loans worth Rs 12,000 crore to more than 60,000 home loan borrowers.
• IMGC is a joint venture of International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, Genworth USA and National Housing Bank.

• But trade deficit widens to four-month high driven by a sharp uptick in gold imports
• India’s merchandise exports in August touched $33.14 billion, 45.17% higher than a year ago and 27.5% over the pre-pandemic level of August 2019, but the trade deficit widened to a four-month high driven by a sharp uptick in gold imports, as per preliminary estimates released on Thursday.
• Merchandise imports during the month grew 51.47% year-on-year to $47 billion, which is also 18% higher than August 2019. The trade deficit widened 69.15% year-on-year to touch $13.87 billion but was just 0.07% higher than the pre-COVID level of 2019.
• “With merchandise imports continuing to scale up, even as exports receded from their all-time high, the trade deficit came in higher than anticipated,” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at rating agency ICRA, expressing concerns about rising gold imports.
• In August 2020, gold imports stood at $3.7 billion, implying an 82.22% jump in imports of the yellow metal last month.
• “Gold imports surged further to a five-month high of $6.7 billion in August 2021 and were responsible for 88% of the rise in the merchandise trade deficit relative to July 2021. Unless a weaker agricultural outlook restrains demand, gold imports may well touch $40 billion in 2021-22,” Ms. Nayar warned.?                                                                                                    Exporters said the steady recovery in global trade was helping their order books but sought urgent attention from the government on the runaway freight rates, rampant container shortages and other policy constraints, including the release of pending benefits under earlier export incentive schemes.
• “The government needs to provide freight support to all exports till March 31, 2022, as freight rates have skyrocketed,” said Dr. A. Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Exporters’ Organisations.
• Apart from augmenting the flow of empty containers to Indian ports, he suggested that the government should establish a regulatory authority to seek justification of freight hikes and imposition of various charges by shipping lines.

• The government has decided to split existing Provident Fund (PF) accounts into two separate accounts in order to operationalise the new tax on PF income arising out of employee contributions exceeding ?2.5 lakh a year.
• The Finance Ministry notified new Income Tax rules to this effect on Tuesday, but experts said this could prove to be an administrative nightmare for the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and a few thousand employers who manage their workers’ EPF savings in-house.
• “For the purpose of calculation of taxable interest…, separate accounts within the provident fund account shall be maintained during the previous year 2021-2022 and all subsequent previous years for taxable contribution and non-taxable contribution made by a person,” according to the Income-Tax (25th Amendment) Rules, 2021.
• Accordingly, all EPF accounts will have to be bifurcated into a taxable and non-taxable contribution account, with the latter including their closing account balance as on March 31, 2021, any contributions made thereafter that are “not included in the taxable contribution account” and annual interest accrued on these two components.

      24.77 crore accounts

• To put that in context, the EPFO had 24.77 crore members with EPF accounts, of which 14.36 crore members had been allotted Unique Account Numbers (UAN) as of March 31, 2020.
• About 5 crore of these members were active contributors into their EPF accounts during 2019-20.
• The calculation of taxable interest for the year shall be computed as the interest accrued during the previous year in the taxable contribution account where all contributions over ?2.5 lakh a year would be parked.
• The same threshold is 5 lakh for PF accounts where employers do not contribute, but most EPF accounts, by definition, usually include matching contributions from employers and employees of 12% of monthly salary.
• This notification ends some of the ambiguity which arose with the introduction of taxation of interest on PF contributions above ?2.5 lakh, noted Shailesh Kumar, partner at Nangia & Co. LLP, adding that segregating the taxable and non-taxable contributions to PF along with the interest on them shall provide some convenience for the calculation of tax liability.

According to the data of Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, economic growth of India accelerated to a record high in the quarter through June 2021.

Highlights

• It reflects a very weak base in 2020, rebound in consumer spending, and improved manufacturing amidst the second wave of Covid cases.
• As per data, the Gross domestic product has increased to 20.1% in the three-month period as compared to contraction of 24.4% in the same quarter in 2020.
• GDP at Constant (2011-12) price in Q1 of 2021-22 was Rs 32.38 lakh crore as compared to Rs 26.95 lakh crore in Q1 of 2020-21.
• Quarterly GVA at Basic Price at Constant (2011-12) Prices for Q1 of 2021-22 was Rs 30.48 lakh crore as compared to Rs 25.66 lakh crore in Q1 of 2020-21 reflecting a growth of 18.8%.
• This is India’s fastest growth since the quarterly data started being released.
• This growth is bit slower than the projection of Reserve Bank of India (21.4%).

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Market value of all final goods and services that are produced within an economy is called as Gross Domestic Product. It is calculated in two ways:

1. Nominal GDP– GDP at the current market prices is called as Nominal GDP. GDP is calculated in accordance with the market prices for the year for which the GDP is calculated.
2. Real GDP– GDP at base year prices is called as real GDP. It is calculated in accordance with the market prices in the base year. It also negates the inflation in goods and services.

In case of high rate of inflation, nominal GDP will be higher than the real GDP. But in case of deflation, real GDP will be e higher than the nominal GDP.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recorded more than 3 billion transactions in August 2021.

Highlights

Highlights :-
According to IBBI, regulatory framework of liquidation process has been improvised on various occasions in last five years in a bid to address the difficulties faced by stakeholders, meet evolving requirements and to achieve the objectives of the Code.
New amendments were proposed to further strengthen the regulatory framework of the liquidation process with respect to accountability of liquidator towards stakeholders.
Discussion paper also proposed to provide that if the secured creditors with 60 per cent of the value in secured debt decide to realise the security interest, this decision will be binding on the other ‘pari-passu’ charge holders.
 IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016
It provides that the liquidator should carry on the business of corporate debtor for its beneficial liquidation and exercise all the powers of its board of directors, managerial personnel as well as the partners. It also provides to comply with applicable laws in behalf of the firm. "It handles the cases using two tribunals like NCLT (National company law tribunal) and Debt recovery tribunal."

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
IBBI is the regulator to look after the insolvency proceedings and entities such as Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPA), Information Utilities in India and Insolvency Professionals (IP). It was established in October 2016. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code provides IBBI statutory powers. The code was passed by Lok Sabha in May 2016. Present whole-time members of the IBBI include Dr. Navrang Saini, Dr. Ms. Mukulita Vijayawargiya and Sh. Sudhakar Shukla.

"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 " .

Finance Ministry extends last date for availing GST amnesty scheme till November 30.

•The Finance Ministry on August 29, 2021, extended the last date to avail the GST amnesty scheme till November 30, 2021. Earlier, the last date to avail of the scheme was August 31, 2021.

•Under the Amnesty scheme, the Central government offers relief to taxpayers by reducing or waiving off the late fee for non-furnishing of GSTR-3B for the tax periods from July 2017 to April 2021, the taxpayers filed their returns by August 31, 2021. This has been extended to November 30, 2021.

•The Finance Ministry also extended the deadline for filing of the application for revocation of cancellation of registration to September 30, 2021. The extension will only be applicable in cases where registrations have been cancelled under Clause (b) or Clause (c) of Sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the CGST Act,

•The Finance Ministry has also extended the deadline for the use of Electronic Verification Code (EVC) instead of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for filing Form GSTR-3B and Form GSTR-1 by companies to October 31, 2021. Earlier, the use of EVC was implemented from April 27, 2021, to August 31, 2021.

• 407 new species, 150 new records documented from the world’s 8th highest ‘mega biodiverse’ country
• India has added 557 new species to its fauna, which includes 407 new species and 150 new records, reveals Animal Discoveries 2020, a document published recently by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The number of faunal species in India has climbed to 1,02,718 species with the discovery of the news species.
• Among the new species, some interesting species discovered in 2020 are Trimeresurus salazar, a new species of green pit viper discovered from Arunachal Pradesh; Lycodon deccanensis, the Deccan wolf snake discovered from Karnataka; and Sphaerotheca Bengaluru, a new species of burrowing frog named after the city of Bengaluru. The list also includes Xyrias anjaalai, a new deep water species of snake eel from Kerala; Glyptothorax giudikyensis, a new species of catfish from Manipur; and Clyster galateansis, a new species of scarab beetles from the Great Nicobar Biosphere.
• Among the new records, Myotis cf. frater, a bat species earlier known from China, Taiwan and Russia, has been reported for the first time from Uttarakhand in India; and Zoothera citrina gibsonhilli, an orange-headed thrush earlier known from southern Myanmar to south Thailand (central Malay peninsula), which was reported for the first time from India based on a collection made from the Narcondam island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Of these 557 species, invertebrates constitute the majority with 486 species, while 71 species belong to vertebrates. Among invertebrates, insects dominated, with 344 species, whereas pisces and reptiles dominated among vertebrates.
• Among the States, the highest number of new species were discovered from Karnataka (66 species), followed by Kerala (51 species). Also in 2020, 46 new species were discovered from Rajasthan and 30 from West Bengal.
• In terms of new records or species recorded in the country for the first time, Arunachal Pradesh had the highest (20 new records). In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 25 new species were discovered and 16 new records documented in 2020.
• Of the 557 new species discovered, scientists and researchers from the ZSI contributed 121 new species and 86 new records in 2020.
• Data analysis of the 2010-2020 decade reveals that a total of 4,112 species — 2,800 new species and 1,312 new records — were added to Indian fauna. It’s also interesting that scientists of the ZSI contributed to 34% (948 species) of the newly described and 68% (898) of the newly recorded species in the last 10 years. The ZSI, which was set up by British zoologist Thomas Nelson Annandale, in 1916, has been publishing Animal Discoveries since 2007.
• Commenting on the publication, Dhriti Banerjee, Director, Zoological Survey of India, said that the discovery and description of a species is a long-drawn process and can take years, from the collection of a specimen to identifying and matching the specimen with other records in repositories, and finally publishing the details in a journal.

The concept of SAMRIDH has been developed on the lines of Silicon Valley based accelerator Y Combinator.

Highlights of SAMRIDH:

• It aims to create a conducive platform to Indian software product startups to  enhance their products and secure investments for scaling their business. The programme is being implemented by MeitY Startup Hub (MSH).

• It will support 300 startups by providing customer connect, investor connect, and international immersion for next three years.

• MeitY will provide seed funds of up to Rs 40 lakh for the selected startups and mentorship.

• The programme aims to boost growth in the startup sector which has seen the emergence of 63 unicorns, and is now the third largest unicorn hub globally with a total valuation of $168 billion.

• A unicorn is a privately held startup valued at over $1 billion.

What is Y Combinator?

• Y Combinator is a startup fund based in Mountain View, California.

• In 2005, Y Combinator developed a new model of startup funding. Twice a year they invest a small amount of money in a large number of startups. The startups move to Silicon Valley for three months, and the YC partners work closely with each company to get them into the best possible shape and refine their pitch to investors. 

• Each batch culminates in Demo Day, when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected audience of investors. 

• Y Combinator has invested in over 3,000 companies including Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Reddit, Instacart, Docker and Gusto. The combined valuation of YC companies is over $300 billion. 

Key Points

• This new platform was developed by World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• It will help to promote a circular system for plastics.
• New platform was launched by British High Commissioner to India, Alexander Ellis.
• It will bring together prominent enterprises on a national level in order to make pledges for the creation of a circular plastics system.

Aim of the pact

• Commitments under the pact are aimed at keeping plastic packaging in the economy and out of natural environment.
• It mentioned 17 businesses including major FMCG brands, manufacturers, retailers and recyclers who have committed with the pact as founding members. Nine businesses have joined as supporting organisations.
• The pact provides for time-bound targets of reducing, innovating and re-imagining plastic packaging.
• It aims to define a list of unnecessary or problematic plastic packaging & items and take measures to address these problems with the help of redesign and innovation, by 2030.
• Under the pact, 100 per cent of plastic packaging will be made reusable or recyclable, 50 per cent of plastic packaging will be effectively recycled and 25 per cent average recycled content will be made across all plastic packaging.

• Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbanand Sonowal while launching the mobile application said it has been developed to give solace to employees experiencing physical issues due to their jobs. Union Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal on Wednesday launched the ‘Yoga-Break’ application for working professionals to de-stress, refresh and re-focus at their workplace to increase their productivity. 
• The event was attended by Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State Science and Technology and Earth Science, Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture and Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State for Ayushand Women and Child Development. Talking about the recognition of Yoga worldwide, Sonowal said, Yoga is now popular world-wide. It has reached almost every part of the globe.
• The launch was a part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a series of events organised by the Union government to celebrate 75th year of India’s Independence. The ministry of Ayush has been allotted one week from August 30 to September 5 for promotion of several activities of Ayush, including the launch of Y-Break app, organising camps for school for Ayush systems, launch of Ashwagandha as prophylactic medicine, and distribution of medicinal plants for farmers and public.
• The Yoga protocol in the application comprises of a few simple yogic practices including Tadasana, Skandha chakra, Ardhachakrasana, Nadishodhana Pranayama and Bhramari Pranayama- Dhyana, the statement said This module was launched in January last year as a pilot project in six major metro cities in coordination with different stakeholders, it said. A total of 15 day’s trial was conducted by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga in collaboration with six leading yoga Institutes of the country, wherein a total 717 participants from different private and government bodies.

The country’s power consumption in August last year stood at 109.21 BU, lower than 111.52 BU in the same month in 2019, as per the data.
India’s power consumption grew 18.6% in August to 129.51 billion units (BU) and remained higher than the pre-COVID level due to improved economic activities amid easing of lockdown curbs by States, according to Power Ministry data.

The country’s power consumption in August last year stood at 109.21 BU, lower than 111.52 BU in the same month in 2019, as per the data.

Experts say the recovery in power demand and consumption in August 2021 is consistent and robust.

They are of the view that the recovery would further improve as many States have eased lockdown restrictions to boost economic activities after the number of new cases declined.

The only fear is that another wave of the pandemic can dampen this recovery in power consumption and demand, they said.

The commercial and industrial power demand and consumption got affected from April onwards this year due to lockdown restrictions imposed by States to contain the deadly second wave of COVID-19.

There are fears of another wave of the pandemic which may result in lockdown restrictions and will impact commercial and industrial demand for power in the country, according to experts.

Peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day stood at 196.24 GW in August, which is 17.1% higher compared to a year ago.

The peak power demand in August 2020 stood at 167.52 GW, lower than 177.52 GW in the same month in 2019, showing the adverse impact of the pandemic on power demand.

The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The lockdown was eased in a phased manner, but it hit the economic and commercial activities and resulted in lower commercial and industrial demand for electricity in the country.

April 2021 saw year-on-year growth of nearly 38.5% in power consumption.

The second wave of COVID-19 started in the middle of April this year and affected the recovery in commercial and industrial power demand as States started imposing restrictions in the latter part of the month.

Power consumption in the country witnessed 6.6% year-on-year growth in May this year at 108.80 BU despite a low base of 102.08 BU in the same month of 2020.

As per the latest data, power consumption in June grew nearly 9% to 114.48 BU, compared to 105.08 BU in the same month last year.

Power consumption in July this year grew nearly 9.4% to 123.72 BU compared to 112.14BU in the same month a year ago.

Power consumption in February this year was recorded at 103.25 BU, compared to 103.81 BU a year ago. In March this year, power consumption grew nearly 22% to 120.63 BU, compared to 98.95 BU in the same month of 2020.

After a gap of six months, power consumption had recorded 4.6% year-on-year growth in September 2020, and 11.6% in October 2020. In November, power consumption growth slowed to 3.12%, mainly due to early onset of winters.

In December, it grew 4.5%, while this was 4.4% higher in January 2021.

• Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce’s (AMCHAM) 29th AGM, Mr. Gadkari also sought investments in the road sector from insurance and pension funds of the U.S.
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on September 2 said the 100 lakh crore-Gatishakti scheme will provide a framework for the National Infrastructure Pipeline programme and make Indian products more competitive by cutting down logistic costs and improving supply chains.
• Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce’s (AMCHAM) 29th AGM, Mr. Gadkari also sought investments in the road sector from insurance and pension funds of the U.S.
• “Our government is soon going to launch the national master plan of thePrime Minister — Gatishakti scheme of more than 100 lakh crore for holistic and integrated infrastructure development in India,” he said.
• The Gatishakti scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15. The initiative is set to be launched this month.
• “The Gatishakti master plan will provide the framework for the NIP programme and is aimed at making Indian products more competitive by cutting down logistic costs and improving supply chains,” the Road Transport and Highways Minister said.
• According to the Minister, infrastructure development will play an important role in India’s aim to become a $5 trillion economy.

The ambitious Draft Regional Plan-2041 (DRP-2041) was discussed by NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) on August 31, 2021. Though, its approval was deferred for now.

Highlights

The DRP-2041 seeks to make National Capital Region (NCR) a smart region by improving connectivity among towns by bringing in bullet trains, helitaxi services, and smart roads to evolve it into an economically prosperous area comprising of citizen-centric harmonious infrastructure.

Multilevel parking complexes

DRP-2041 emphasises on construction of multilevel parking complexes a mandatory requirement for city centres with high rise commercial complexes in order to make the region congestion free. It also recommends to park commercial vehicles at periphery in order to avoid congestion.

Future ready NCR

It recommends to make NCR future ready for sustainable development as the population NCR is expected to grow to around 7 crores by 2031 and 11 crores by 2041.

Area covered under NCRPB

The NCRPB comprises of entire Delhi, eight districts of Uttar Pradesh, 14 districts of Haryana as well as two districts of Rajasthan. It covers an area of about 55,083 square kilometres. According to draft plan 57 per cent of the total areas of NCRPB will be urbanised by 2031 while 67 per cent by 2041.

Superfast trains and helitaxi services

Draft plan emphasises on the necessity of minimising journey times across NCR and limit travel times across the region under 30 minutes by bringing in superfast trains & helitaxi services and under 60 minutes by other trains and two to three hours by car.

Regional expressways

• It recommended to construct two more regional expressways in addition to Eastern and Western Peripheral expressways:

1. Circular regional expressway through Panipat-Shamli-Meerut-Jewar-Nuh-Bhiwadi-Reqari-Jhajjar-Rohtak-Panipat and
2. Circular regional expressway through Karnal-MuzaffarnagarGarh Mukteshwar–Naraura–Aligarh–Mathura–Deeg–Alwar–Mahendragarh–Charkhi Dadri-Bhiwani-Jind- Kaithal-Karnal

• It recommends to construct trauma centres on each national highway, state highway and expressway, comprising of all facilities including a blood bank, at an interval of 50 km or within travel time of one hour.

• The road will reduce 41-km of travel from Leh to Pangong Lake
• A strategically important road, which connects Leh to the Pangong Lake, was inaugurated in Leh on Tuesday by Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who said that the stretch passing through the Kela Pass at 18,600 feet will be the world’s highest motorable way.
• The road, constructed by the 58 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, will reduce 41-km of travel from Leh (Zingral to Tangtse) to the picturesque Pangong Lake crossing the Kela Pass, the Lok Sabha member said.
• "The road, which was inaugurated today, will be the world's highest motorable road for the general public at a height of 18,600 feet. Up till now, the Khardungla Pass was the world's highest motorable road for the general public at a height of 18,380 feet," Mr. Namgyal said.
• The road will play a major role in the future to boost the socio-economic status of local residents, especially of the people of the Lalok region of Ladakh, as it will facilitate tourism.
• "Tourists will be able to see the world's highest motorable road, rare medicinal plants, participate in snow sport activities, see nomadic livestock, lakes and other attractions," Mr. Namgyal said.

• Union AYUSH Ministry launched a Y-Break App from Vigyan Bhawan on August 29, 2021. Highlights It was launched by Union AYUSH minister, Sarbananda Sonowal. On the occasion, several bouquets of activities and campaigns was launched by Ministry of Ayush to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Apart from Y-Break App, a year-long campaigns like cultivation of 
• The Union Ayush Ministry today launched the 'Y-Break' app for working professionals. The app is aimed at helping people at work destress, refresh and refocus through simple yoga asanas that can be done in just five minutes. The app was launched by Union Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal.
• What is y Break App?
• The Y-Break mobile application is a unique five-minute Yoga protocol app, designed especially for working professionals to de-stress, refresh and re-focus at their workplace to increase their productivity, and consists of Asanas, Pranayam and Dhyana.

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, launched the Fit India Mobile Application on the occasion of celebrating second anniversary of Fit India Movement. Highlights Application was launched as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on the occasion of National Sports Day on August ..
• The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur on August 29, 2021, launched Fit India Mobile Application at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi. The app was launched to celebrate the second anniversary of the Fit India Movement and as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The Minister of State, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, Secretary, Sports Ravi Mittal, and Secretary, Youth Affairs, Usha Sharma was also present at the launch of Fit India Mobile App.

• According to finance ministry, Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY),number of bank accounts have increased to 43 crores with total deposits of Rs 1.46 lakh crore.
• Key Highlights The flagship financial inclusion scheme, PMJDY, has completed seven years of implementation.
• This scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Independence 
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), one of the biggest financial inclusion initiatives in the world, was announced by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 15th August 2014 from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, a basic savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner.
   

Airtel board approves up to 21,000 crores rights issue

• The board, which met to consider the company's capital raising plans, cleared rights issue price of 535 per fully paid-up equity share, including a premium of 530 per equity share.
• Telecom operator Bharti Airtel's board on August 29 approved up to 21,000 crores rights issue, according to a regulatory filing.
• The board, which met to consider the company's capital raising plans, cleared rights issue price of 535 per fully paid-up equity share, including a premium of 530 per equity share.
• In a BSE filing, Airtel said that the "board approved the issuance of equity shares of face value of 5 each of the company on rights basis to eligible equity shareholders of the company as on the record date (to be notified later), of an issue size of up to 21,000 crores".
• The rights entitlement ratio entails one equity share for every 14 equity shares held by eligible shareholders as on the record date. The terms of payment of issue price, envisage 25% on application and balance in two more additional calls as may be decided by the Board or committee of the Board based on the company's requirements within an overall time-horizon of 36 months, Airtel said.
• The board has constituted a 'Special Committee of Directors' to decide the other terms and conditions of the issue including issue period and the record date.
• The Board of Directors at the meeting reviewed the industry scenario, business environment, financial and business strategy of the company and approved the the plan to raise further capital, Airtel said.
   

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced a Rs 6 lakh crore ($81 billion) National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) that will look to unlock value in infrastructure assets across sectors ranging from power to road and railways
• The government has identified 160 coal mining assets worth an estimated at ?28,747 crore for monetisation over four years till FY25. "The projects are expected to be implemented over the next 2-3 years," according to the NMP document prepared by Niti Aayog and released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday.
• Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), through which the government aims to raise $81 billion by leasing out state-owned infrastructure assets over the next four years. This will help fund new capital expenditure without pressuring government finances.
• WHAT IS NMP :-
• The NMP comprises a four-year pipeline of the central government's brownfield infrastructure assets.Besides providing visibility to investors, it will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the asset monetisation initiative of the government. The government proposes to raise Rs 6 lakh crore through this measure

• “Tata Steel plans to invest  3,000 crore in the next three years in Jharkhand with expansion of capacities of coal and iron ore mines and downstream value added steel portfolio,” Chanakya Choudhary, vice president – Corporate Services, Tata Steel . Mr. Choudhary said Tata Steel has been in Jharkhand for the past 114 years and it is a home to the steel company.
• The commitment was made at the launch of Jharkhand Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (JIIPP) 2021 here, launched by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

• Mr. Soren said, “You all are part of Jharkhand family. And we want our family to grow further so that the rich identity of the state comes in front of the country and the world.” The Chief Minister said that an upgraded industrial policy has been prepared and it is a matter of pride that Tata Steel has expressed willingness to invest in Jharkhand.
• Eyeing to attract big-ticket investments and make Jharkhand a leading hub for manufacturing of electric vehicles, among others, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday had offered sops and facilities to mega industrial players including Tatas, Vedanta, SAIL, NTPC and Maruti Suzuki.

The Odisha Assembly passed a bill to set up a University of Health Sciences amid uproar by the opposition. At present the medical and paramedical institutions in the state are affiliated to different universities. The state government would now bring them under the University of Health Sciences.

Key Points

According to state health minister Naba Kisore Das, the universities to which the medical and paramedical institutions are affiliated at present are general universities that do not specialise in the study of medical sciences.

He said that all the health examinations will now be conducted through this university from now onwards. The latest technology will be introduced through this university in Odisha.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gave approval to another indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate called CORBEVAX for two clinical trials.

Highlights

• Vaccine maker Biological E received approval to conduct phase two and three clinical trials on children between five to eighteen years of age.
• Department of Biotechnology  (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have supported Biological E’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate of Biological E, right from Preclinical Stage to Phase-III clinical studies.
• vaccine has also received financial assistance under Mission Covid Suraksha and a financial support under COVID-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission, BIRAC.

Corbevax Vaccine

This vaccine is also called as BioE COVID-19 vaccine. This COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been developed by Indian biopharmaceutical firm Biological E. Limited (BioE) in collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston in United States and American company Dynavax Technologies (DVAX). Vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already ordered 300 million doses of Corbevax in June 2021.

Who is funding the vaccine?

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced in April 2021 to fund the expansion of BioE’s manufacturing capabilities in order to produce at least 1 billion doses by end of 2022.

Background

Phase I clinical trial was carried in 360 participants in order to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate. Its phase II trial was concluded in April 2021. Permission to conduct phase III clinical trials was given in April 2021.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches 'AYUSH AAPKE DWAR' campaign from Mumbai. Distributes medicinal plant saplings; calls for Y-Break Protocol

Highlights

• Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal took part in a special programme organised by Mumbai Port Trust as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mohotsav celebrations. 
• Shri Sonowal remembered the sacrifices of freedom fighters and martyrs of India's freedom movement.
• Speaking about the relevance of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav he said, "Through this we will have to make our younger generation aware of the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle"
• He appealed to everyone to practise the Yoga Break Protocol to de-stress, refresh and re-focus on work to increase the productivity of individuals at workplace.
• launched 'AYUSH AAPKE DWAR' campaign from Mumbai by distributing medicinal plant saplings to citizens. This was as part of the National campaign which was launched by AYUSH Ministry today.

Who is Sarbananda?

SonowalSarbananda Sonowal  is an Indian politician from Assam who is the current Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Minister of AYUSH in the Government of India.He is also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. He is a former Chief Minister of Assam and a former MLA in Assam Legislative Assembly. Sonowal earlier served as the Assam state President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2012 to 2014 and again in 2015 to 2016.[

About Ayush

AYUSH is the acronym of the medical systems that are being practiced in India such as Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. These systems are based on definite medical philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established concepts on prevention of diseases and promotion of health.

• Corbevax becomes the third India-made vaccine that may be available for use in children.
• Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Biological E. Limited has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct further trials of its vaccine Corbevax on children and adolescents.
• Following Zycov-D by Zydus Cadilla and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech, Corbevax becomes the third India-made vaccine that may be available for use in children. Zycov-D has already received authorisation for emergency use in children who are over 12 years. Covaxin is being tested in children who are younger and officials have said that the vaccine is likely to be ready by September.
• There are an estimated 44 crore children in India, 12 crore of whom are in the 12-17 years age group. Typically, the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines are first established in adults, following which trials begin in children.
• Corbevax is based on a vaccine technology of a protein antigen, in this case the spike protein, which binds to the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor on the host cell membrane and facilitates virus entry. The body’s own cells then make more copies of this protein that then stimulates the immune system of the body to produce antibodies to protect against a potential, future infection.

Mu Variant’ of the coronavirus was first identified in Colombia in January 2021. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring this variant of interest.

Mu Variant

• Mu variant is scientifically known as B.1.621 and has been classified as a “variant of interest”.
• According to WHO, variant has constellation of mutations indicating a risk of resistance to vaccines.
• Mu has been reported in other South American countries and in Europe, besides Columbia.
• As per WHO, global prevalence of the Mu Variant has declined to 0.1 percent. In Colombia, its prevalence stands at 39 percent.

What are the concerns?

Concerns are raising over the emergence of new virus mutations because infection rates are increasing globally again due to highly transmissible Delta variant. Cases are rising especially among the unvaccinated regions and the regions where covid-19 measures have been relaxed.

Mutation among virus

All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, mutate over time. Most of the mutation has little or no effect on properties of the virus. However, there are certain mutations which can impact the properties of virus, how easily it spreads, severity of the disease, and its resistance to vaccines & drugs.

Variant of concern

WHO has currently designated four Covid-19 variants of concerns. It includes Alpha variant, which is present in 193 countries, as well as Delta variant, which is present in 170 countries. Now, Mu variant was added to the list which is currently being monitored along with four others.

About Mu variant

Mu variant is also known as lineage B.1.621 or VUI-21JUL-1. It was first detected in January 2021 in Colombia. WHO designated it as ‘Variant of interest’ on August 30, 2021. Cases of the Mu variant were reported in South America and Europe. Mu Variant’ of the coronavirus was first identified in Colombia in January 2021. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring this variant of interest.

Recently, a mystery fever was reported from parts of Uttar Pradesh. It claimed about 40 lives, mostly children in one week. This viral fever was identified as Scrub typhus.

Highlights

• Scrub typhus was reported mainly from Firozabad, Agra, Mainpuri, Etah and Kasganj districts of Uttar Pradesh.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the affected region and said a team of experts from King George’s Medical University of Lucknow would probe the deaths of children.
• A team from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was also called to look after the situation.

What is scrub typhus?

Scrub typhus is a re-emerging Rickettsial infection. This vector-borne disease has been earlier reported in India and other South Asian countries. This disease is marked by fever and rashes. It also affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, renal system and gastrointestinal systems. In complicated cases, it could lead to pneumonia, meningo-encephalitis, gastro-intestinal bleeding, acute renal failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Background

This disease has been named “scrub” after the type of vegetation that harbours the vector. Typhus is a Greek word with meaning “fever with stupor” or smoke. This disease took the form of an epidemic during World War II in some countries while during the Second World War, it emerged as the most dreaded disease among soldiers of the Far East. In India, this fever out in an epidemic form during Second World War in Assam and West Bengal.

How does it cause?

Scrub typhus fever is caused by a bacterium called Orientia tsutsugamushi. The name of the bacterium is of Japanese origin. The word “tsutsuga” means illness and “mushi” means insect. This disease spreads through bites of infected chiggers or larval mites. Bite marks are found on the armpit, genitalia or neck.

Singapore has introduced a “Vaccinated Travel Lanes”, for the fully vaccinated travellers.

Highlights

Reopening of international travel in the backdrop of Covid-19 is not going to be a straightforward affair. Countries have been experimenting several concepts in order to allow the movement of passengers between nations such as air bubbles, travel corridors, vaccine passports, and traffic light system. Vaccinated Travel Lane is the new addition to the list.

About Vaccinated Travel Lanes

These lanes are basically an extension of travel corridors. However, these are meant only for fully vaccinated travellers.

Which country introduced it?

Vaccinated Travel Lanes are introduced by Singapore. As of now, Singapore has established it with two jurisdictions viz., Germany and Brunei Darussalam. Thus, Singapore is allowing fully vaccinated passengers from these two countries to arrive for any travel purpose without any quarantine requirements.

How this concept will work?

Singapore will designate specific flights for these lanes to work. Window to apply for Vaccinated Travel lanes opened from September 1 and such flights will run from September 8 onwards. Citizens and permanent residents of Singapore do not need to apply for it in order to travel back home under this mechanism.

Who are the eligible travellers?

In order to apply, travellers are required to be fully vaccinated. Persons will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the full dose of vaccine authorised by WHO for emergency use. It include Covishield vaccine by Serum Institute of India.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has planned to organise and celebrate Thematic POSHAN Maah in September 2021.

About POSHAN Abhiyaan

POSHAN Abhiyaan is the flagship programme of government of India to improve nutritional outcomes for pregnant women, lactating mother, children and adolescent Girls. This mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018. POSHAN stands for “Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition” Abhiyaan. This mission was announced in Budget 2021-2022.

Aim of the Mission

POSHAN Abhiyaan divert the attention of country towards the problem of malnutrition and address it in a mission-mode. This mission focuses on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Poshan 2.0. it seeks to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes in order to develop practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity on disease as well as malnutrition.

Jan Andolan

POSHAN Abhiyaan is a Jan Andolan or People’s Movement. It incorporates inclusive participation of public representatives of local bodies, government department from States or UTs, Public & Private sector and social organizations.

POSHAN Maah

POSHAN Maan is celebrated in the month of September to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation. In the year 2021, as India celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, this month has been subdivided into weekly themes with a focused and assimilated approach to improve holistic nutrition. It will broadly focus on Plantation Drive for POSHAN VATIKA at Gram Panchayats, Anganwadis, School Premises etc. Saplings of nutritious fruit trees, local vegetables and medicinal plants & herbs will be planted as a part of celebration.

Russia issued a warning about the possibility of rise in cases of West Nile Virus  infections this autumn because mild temperatures and heavy precipitation are the favourable circumstances for mosquitos carrying the virus.

Highlights

• More than 80% of West Nile fever cases are registered in the southwest Russia.
• According to the reports, human cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus were increasing in North Dakota region of Russia.
• So far, five people have confirmed cases.

What is West Nile virus?

It is a single-stranded RNA virus causing West Nile fever. Virus is the member of family Flaviviridae, which also comprises the Zika virus, dengue virus, as well as yellow fever virus. This virus is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes and mostly by species of Culex. Primary hosts of the virus are birds. Genetically, the virus is related to the Japanese encephalitis family. Humans and horses both exhibit disease symptoms from this virus. First human case of the disease was reported in 1937 in Uganda and now it is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in continental United States.

Origin of the virus

West Nile virus was originated in Africa. It has now spread to Europe, Asia, and North America. Virus is mostly transmitted by mosquito bites, causing a deadly neurological condition in humans.

When does this disease mostly occur?

Most of the West Nile virus cases occur during mosquito season, starts in the summer and lasts until the fall.

Symptoms of the disease

Majority of people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not exhibit any symptoms. Some infected people develop fever along with symptoms like headache, body aches, joint pains, rash, vomiting or diarrhoea.

The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on August 29, 2021, extended the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights till September 30, 2021, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points

• Director-General of Civil Aviation on Sunday extended the suspension on scheduled international commercial passenger flights till September 30, 2021, said a circular by the office of DGCA.
• Circular from the Office of DGCA stated that the restriction will not be applicable to international all-cargo operations and flights specially approved by DGCA. International scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes approved by DGCA on a case-to-case basis.
• On July 30, 2021, the DGCA had announced the extension of the suspension of international flights to and from India till August 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About DGCA

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is a statutory body of the Indian Central Government to regulate civil aviation in India.
• Formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the DGCA investigates aviation accidents and incidents,maintains all regulations related to aviation and is responsible for issuance of licenses pertaining to aviation like PPL's, SPL's and CPL's in India.
• Arun Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, was appointed as DGCA chief in July 2019. He had held additional charge of the post between May and July 2019 with the retirement of BS Bhullar
• It is headquartered along Sri Aurobindo Marg, opposite Safdarjung Airport, in New Delhi.The Government of India is planning to replace the organisation with a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), modelled on the lines of the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Union AYUSH Ministry launched a Y-Break App from Vigyan Bhawan on August 29, 2021. It was launched by Union AYUSH minister, Sarbananda Sonowal. On the occasion, several bouquets of activities and campaigns was launched by Ministry of Ayush to commemorate Azadika Amrit Mahotsav.

Highlights

• It was launched by Union AYUSH minister, Sarbananda Sonowal.
• On the occasion, several bouquets of activities and campaigns was launched by Ministry of Ayush to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Apart from Y-Break App, a year-long campaigns like cultivation of medicinal plants in farmland, distribution of medicinal plants to households and sensitisation of School & College going students on Ayush systems were launched.
• This week-long activities & campaigns will start from August 30 to September 5.
• These activities will be launched with the aim of reaching to remote areas in India and address all categories of our population viz., children, old people, farmers and corporate.

Activities and Campaigns

Activities launched by AYUSH Ministry comprises of:

• Cultivation of medicinal plants on 75,000 hectares of land to benefit farmers.
• Launch of the Y-Break App.
• Five-minute Yoga protocol for office goers.
• Distribution of Ayush prophylactic medicines, focusing specially on people aged above 60 years age group.
• AyushAapkDwar Programme to take taking medicinal plants to the doorstep of 75 lakh families in the year 2021.
• Series of sensitisation lectures & distribution of IEC material to school and college students
• Webinar on Y-break application.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is a series of events being organised to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of India’s Independence. Events are being organised by government of India and it will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari.

The Shikshak Parv-2021 will be observed from September 5, 2021. PM Modi to address teachers, students on September 7 during Shiksha Parv

Modi will also launch five initiatives on the occasion, including an Indian sign language dictionary of 10,000 words, talking books (audiobooks for visually impaired), school quality assessment and accreditation framework (SQAAF) of CBSE.

Highlights

• During the Shikshak Parv-2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address teachers, students and other stakeholders of the education sector on September 7.
• This event will be celebrated to honour the contribution of teachers.
• On the occasion, PM will launch five initiatives:

1. Indian sign language dictionary of 10,000 words
2. Talking books (audio books for visually impaired)
3. School quality assessment and accreditation framework (SQAAF) of CBSE
4. NISTHA teachers’ training programme for NIPUN Bharat, and
5. Vidyanjali portal to facilitate education volunteers, donors and CSR contributors in development of school.

Shikshak Parv-2021

Shikshak Parv-2021 will be celebrated by Ministry of Education (MoE) from September 5 to 17, 2021. It will be organised to recognise the valuable contributions of teachers and to take National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 ahead.

National Awards to Teachers

President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the National Award to Teachers through a webinar on September 5. For the award this year, an online self-nomination process was followed through a three-tier selection process at district, state and national level. During the event, a documentary film on each of the 44 awardee teachers will also be shown.

History of National Awards

National Awards to Teachers were first established in 1958 in order to recognise excellence and commitment of teachers towards shaping the minds and future of the youth. From the mid-60s onwards, September 5 was selected as a fixed date for the function to commemorate the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (former President of India).

Theme of the webinars

The theme of webinars has been divided into nine sub-themes such as

1. Technology in Education: NDEAR,
2. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: A Prerequisite to Learning

Every year on September 2, the World Coconut Day is celebrated. The day is especially observed in Asian and Pacific nations, which are home to most of the world’s coconut producing areas and production centers.

World Coconut Day is observed by increasing public awareness about the health and commercial benefits of coconut. Coconut is being planted in tropical places for millions of years and has benefited humanity in a variety of ways. The entire globe celebrates one of nature’s healthiest fruits on this day. So, on this World Coconut Day, let’s look at some of the health advantages of coconut.

5 Impressive Benefits of Coconut

• Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera).
• It’s used for its water, milk, oil, and tasty meat.
• Coconuts have been grown in tropical regions for more than 4,500 years but recently increased in popularity for their flavor, culinary uses, and potential health benefits.
• Here are 5 health and nutrition benefits of coconut.

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to celebrate the POSHAN Maah across the nation throughout the month of September . To ensure speedy and intensive outreach, the entire month has been subdivided into weekly themes for a focused and assimilated approach towards improving Holistic Nutrition. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has planned a series of activities throughout the month in tandem with the States and Union Territories. The weekly theme for the activities to be taken up from "1st to 7th September" is – Plantation Activity as “PoshanVatika. The theme for "8th to 15th September" week is Yoga and AYUSH for Nutrition while the theme for the thrd week is- Distribution of ‘Regional Nutrition Kit’ to Anganwadi beneficiaries of High Burdened Districts. The theme for the 4th week "24th to 30 September" has been named as Identification of severely acute malnourished children and distribution of nutritious food.

AIR correspondent reports that The Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition- POSHAN Abhiyaan is the Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the programme from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on 8 March, 2018. Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, the government has announced Mission Poshan 2.0 in Budget 2021-2022. It is as an integrated nutrition support programme, to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.

On August 30, 2000, a comprehensive policy package for the SSI sector was launched, providing significant support to small firms in India. It was subsequently agreed that August 30 would be designated as “SSI Day" by the Ministry.

National Small Industry Day is an annual celebration that recognises the value of small businesses in our society. Every year on August 30, the country celebrates National Small Industry Day. The day is dedicated to encouraging small businesses around the country. This day is observed with the goal of encouraging small businesses and offering job chances to the jobless. In a developing nation like India, a small-scale sector plays an essential part in economic growth. Keeping in view the strategic relevance of the such sectors, special emphasis has been placed on the necessity for its development. As a result, the trend of government policy assistance for the small industry has been beneficial and favourable for the growth of small enterprises.

HISTORY OF THE DAY
On August 30, 2000, a comprehensive policy package for the SSI sector was launched, providing significant support to small firms in India. It was subsequently agreed that August 30 would be designated as “SSI Day" by the Ministry. On August 30, 2001, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries held an SSI (Small Scale Industry) Convention for SSI Entrepreneurs in New Delhi, as well as a presentation of the National Awards function.

The program was divided into three sections: Inauguration, Distribution of National Awards, and an Open House Discussion. The ministry even stated that the Prime Minister’s comprehensive policy package presented in 2019 had addressed the majority of the sector’s requirements.

On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The UN General Assembly on December 21 expressed its deep concern about the increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances across the world.

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances: Theme, History and Significance

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is marked every year on August 30 to honour and pay tribute to people who have faced enforced disappearances. Global organisations UN and Amnesty International observe this day to raise awareness about how enforced disappearance is a crime and should not be used as a tool to deal with situations of conflict. According to the UN, more than 6,000 people were registered as missing in Kosovo since 1999. Hence, the resource centre for missing persons in Kosovo has also been initiated by the UN.

Not only Kosovo, Iran too had reported thousands of political dissidents to be either missing or dead as a result of the 1988 prison massacres across the country. Other countries like Syria, Sri Lanka, Argentina, and Zimbabwe have also reported the same and the number of missing people from these four countries were over 200,000. 

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE
On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The UN General Assembly on December 21 expressed its deep concern about the increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances across the world. The enforced disappearances can be caused by arrest, detention and abduction. Enforced disappearance is used as a strategy to create terror in society.

The day is observed to raise awareness about the suffering of people who are arrested, detained or abducted against their will and governments refuse to disclose the whereabouts of such people. Enforced disappearance is a global problem that is still being practised around the world. It is a serious violation of human rights that is not restricted to a specific region.

Many activists have openly shared their personal stories, at various media or public events, and opened up about victims of enforced disappearances and their impact on their families and communities.

National Small Industry Day is observed every year on August 30, to recognise the value of small businesses existing in India. Every year on August 30, the country celebrates National Small Industry Day. The day is dedicated to encouraging small businesses around the country. This day is observed with the goal of encouraging small businesses and offering job chances to the jobless.

Highlights

• It is an annual celebration dedicated to encouraging small businesses across the country.
• This day is observed with the objective of encouraging small businesses and offering job opportunities to the jobless.

Significance of small-scale sector

Small-scale sector plays key role in economic growth of the developing nation like India. Considering the strategic relevance of these sectors, special emphasis is placed on its development. Thus, the trend of government policy assistance for small industry has been beneficial and favourable for the growth of small-scale enterprises.

Background

Ministry of Small-Scale Industries (SSI) had launched a comprehensive policy package for SSI Sector on August 30, 2000. This policy provides significant support to small firms in India. Ministry subsequently agreed to designate August 30 as “SSI Day”. Ministry held an SSI Convention for SSI Entrepreneurs in New Delhi and presentation of National Awards function on August 30, 2001. This program was divided into three parts viz., Inauguration, Distribution of National Awards, and Open House Discussion.

How this day is significant?

Central government has made several efforts to establish small-scale enterprises across India in order to help people in finding work. This day is marked to emphasise on the importance of small-scale enterprises in creating work opportunities for individuals in rural and urban regions. This is because, small businesses are labour-intensive and units of capital engaged in them retain higher proportion of employment. Furthermore, it helps in equitable allocation of economic power.

The International Day against Nuclear Tests is an event that is held on August 29 each year. The organisers of the event aim to bring about awareness regarding the harmful effects of testing nuclear weapons and calls for an end to such tests.

Highlights

This event is organised with the aim of bringing about awareness regarding the harmful effects of testing nuclear weapons and calls to end such tests.

Year 2021 marked the 12th anniversary of the event.

Background

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established and adopted the International Day against Nuclear Tests in December 2, 2009 in its 64th session. This resolution was initiated by Kazakhstan to mark the 18th anniversary of the closing of USSR-controlled Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in 1991 at Kazakhstan.

First nuclear test

United States Army had conducted the first nuclear test, called Trinity, in a desert site of New Mexico on July 16, 1945. This test empowered United States to drop atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. This event resulted into an estimated 200,000 casualties while the survivors suffered from cancers due to radiation. Nuclear tests by USA and USSR led to the Cold War, that continued till 1991. About 2000 nuclear test explosions were conducted in between 1945 and 1996.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

CTBT was established by UNGA in 1996. It was signed and ratified by 170 nations.15 nations signed the treaty but did not ratify. It was not signed by 11 nations.

Significance of the Day

This day highlights the urgency of ban on all forms of nuclear weapons tests and its use by any country. The signatories of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty pledged to secure peace and security from the threat of nuclear weapons.

On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. 

The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” 
It was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors with a view to commemorating the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29 August 1991.

United States Army had conducted the first nuclear test, called Trinity, in a desert site of New Mexico on July 16, 1945. This test empowered United States to drop atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. This event resulted into an estimated 200,000 casualties while the survivors suffered from cancers due to radiation. Nuclear tests by USA and USSR led to the Cold War, that continued till 1991. About 2000 nuclear test explosions were conducted in between 1945 and 1996.

The main mechanism for eradicating nuclear weapons testing is the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996. To date, 185 countries have signed the treaty and 170 have ratified it. For the Treaty to enter into Force, it must be ratified by those States with significant nuclear capabilities.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed the session of Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on September 3, 2021.

Key Points

• During the session, Prime Minister noted that, India-Russia energy partnership can bring stability in the global energy market. At the same time, International North - South Transport Corridor will bring both the countries closer.
• The plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was held in Vladivostok.

Background

EEF is an international meet, held annually in Vladivostok in order to encourage foreign investments in the resource-rich but underdeveloped Far East region of Russia. Russia has actively engaged India to invest in this region, following which India had announced a $1-billion line of credit for the Far East during EEF 2019.

India-Russia cooperation

• Energy is one of the major pillars of India-Russia strategic partnership. Energy partnership between both the countries can help in bringing stability in the global energy market.
• Both the countries have also been making a Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor. This connectivity project and International North-South (Transport) Corridor will bring both the countries physically closer.
• India’s state-run Mazagon Docks Limited (India’s largest shipyards) will partner with Russian ship-building facility at Zvezda in order to build important commercial ships in the world.
• India and Russia are also partners in space exploration through the Gaganyaan programme.
• Both will also partner in opening the Northern Sea Route for international trade.

Eastern Economic Forum

EEF is an international forum organised each year in Vladivostok, Russia. It is held in a bid to encourage foreign investment in Russian Far East region. It was first held in September 2015, at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. This forum is sponsored by the organizing committee appointed by Roscongress.

• On Thursday, the rupee had settled at 73.06 against the US dollar.
• The Indian rupee inched higher by 2 paise to 73.03 against the US dollar in opening trade on Friday, despite a sustained rally in domestic equities.
• Forex traders said the local unit is trading in a narrow range as strengthening crude oil prices and dollar demand is offsetting the impact of upbeat domestic equities.
• At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 73.05 against the dollar, then surged higher to 73.03, up 3 paise over its previous close.
• Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was down 0.01 per cent at 92.21.
• Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market on Thursday as they purchased shares worth Rs 348.52 crore, as per exchange data.
• On the domestic equity market front, BSE Sensex was trading 251.67 points or 0.44 per cent higher at 58,104.21, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 70.65 points or 0.41 per cent to 17,304.80.
• Meanwhile, global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.01 per cent to USD 73.04 per barrel.
• On the macroeconomic front, India's exports jumped 45.17 per cent to USD 33.14 billion in August on account of healthy growth in segments like engineering, petroleum products, gems and jewellery and chemicals, even as the trade deficit widened to USD 13.87 billion.
• Imports in August rose 51.47 per cent to USD 47.01 billion, as against USD 31.03 billion in the corresponding month of 2020, according to the commerce ministry's provisional data.

Gross Value Added during April to June rose 18.8%: National Statistical Office (NSO)
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 20.1% in the first quarter of 2021-22, compared to the 24.4% contraction recorded in the same quarter a year ago, but economic activity remained well-below pre-pandemic levels thanks to the second wave of COVID-19.

Gross Value Added (GVA) in the economy during the April to June period rose 18.8%, as per the National Statistical Office (NSO), from a 22.2% dip in the first quarter of 2020-21. GVA from agriculture, forestry and fishing, the only sector to grow amid last year’s national lockdown, picked up pace to grow 4.5% in Q1 this year from 3.5% in Q1 2020-21.

Overall GVA in Q1 was still 7.8% lower than the first quarter of 2019-20, at ?30,47,516 crore, while GDP remained 9.2% lower, indicating that the economy still has some way to go before it returns to activity levels prevalent prior to the pandemic.

Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services, whose GVA grew 14.3% in Q1 of 2021-22, compared to a 9.9% fall last year, was the only sector along with Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, to recover beyond the pre-pandemic levels of 2019-20.

The government said the NSO numbers ‘reaffirm’ its prediction of an ‘imminent V-shaped recovery’ made this time last year, and said the 20.1% rise in GDP ‘despite the intense second wave in the months of April-May’ highlights the continued economic recovery.

IIT Madras is in process of developing an online platform called e-Source that will be used to tackle electronic wastes (e-waste).

Key Facts

• E-Source will be used to tackle e-waste by linking stakeholders of the formal and informal economy.
• e-Source will act as an exchange platform to serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
• It will also act as a formal supply chain between several stakeholders, including buyers and sellers.
• This initiative is being headed by Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS).
• According to IGCS team, problem of e-waste can be resolved by connecting buyers and sellers of Used and Waste electronic equipment without compromising their interests.

What is the need of e-Source initiative?

To formalize e-waste handling and management, a novel open-source solution is needed which is data enriched and leveraging the potential of transparency because, e-waste either completely stripped down to get precious metals and other high-value materials or are dumped in landfills, without exploring potential re-use. Such unscientific recycling methods e-waste are harmful for waste handlers as well as environment.

Waste generation

As per a study, world generates 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste annually.  This amount is expected to double in next 16 years. Such waste is pressing issues in India as well. India is the world’s third-largest producer. It generated 38 percent more e-waste in between 2019-2020.

What waste generation in India is a concern?

because, in India, only 5 percent of e-waste is recycled responsibly.

Features of e-Source

A unique feature of e-Source initiative is that, it will deploy a detection system which uses a combination of image processing and natural language processing techniques in order to get product information and upload it to the database. Furthermore, it can be self-certified by means of prescribed standard protocols.

In a bid to increase transparency in the liquidation process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), IBBI has proposed amendments to the regulations.

Highlights

• According to IBBI, regulatory framework of liquidation process has been improvised on various occasions in last five years in a bid to address the difficulties faced by stakeholders, meet evolving requirements and to achieve the objectives of the Code.
• New amendments were proposed to further strengthen the regulatory framework of the liquidation process with respect to accountability of liquidator towards stakeholders.
• Discussion paper also proposed to provide that if the secured creditors with 60 per cent of the value in secured debt decide to realise the security interest, this decision will be binding on the other ‘pari-passu’ charge holders.

 IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016

It provides that the liquidator should carry on the business of corporate debtor for its beneficial liquidation and exercise all the powers of its board of directors, managerial personnel as well as the partners. It also provides to comply with applicable laws in behalf of the firm.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

IBBI is the regulator to look after the insolvency proceedings and entities such as Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPA), Information Utilities in India and Insolvency Professionals (IP). It was established in October 2016. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code provides IBBI statutory powers. The code was passed by Lok Sabha in May 2016. Present whole-time members of the IBBI include Dr. Navrang Saini, Dr. Ms. Mukulita Vijayawargiya and Sh. Sudhakar Shukla.

• The ministry had in June, extended the deadline for making payments under the scheme till August 31.
• The government on Sunday extended by a month the deadline for making payments under the direct tax dispute resolution scheme Vivad Se Vishwas till September 30.

• The scheme provides for settlement of disputed tax, interest, penalty or fees in relation to an assessment or reassessment order on payment of 100% of the disputed tax and 25% of the disputed penalty or interest or fee. The taxpayer is granted immunity from levy of interest, penalty and institution of any proceeding for prosecution for any offence under the Income Tax Act in respect of matters covered in the declaration.
• In a statement, the finance ministry said, "Considering the difficulties being faced in issuing and amending Form no 3, which is a prerequisite for making payment by the declarant under Vivad se Vishwas Act, it has been decided to extend the last date of payment of the amount (without any additional amount) to September 30, 2021".

State-owned Coal India Ltd. (CIL) has started the pilot project to replace Diesel with LNG on September 1, 2021.

Highlights

• According to CIL, it started the process of retrofitting LNG kits in its dumpers, the big trucks that are engaged in transportation of coal.
• This move will help CIL to save around Rs 500 crore annually.
• This pilot project will also help in reducing its carbon footprint.

Significance of the move

This move is significant because, CIL (world’s largest coal miner) uses more than 4 lakh kilolitres of diesel per annum which amounts to the annual expense of Rs 3,500 crores. Operations of the dumpers will be significantly cheaper and cleaner because of LNG. LNG will replace the use of diesel by 30% to 40% and in turn reduce the fuel cost by 15%.

Background

CIL has taken up the pilot project for retrofitting LPG kits in the two 100 tonne dumpers, in association with GAIL (India) Ltd. and BEML Ltd. Both of the dumpers are working at CIL subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL). For this project, CIL signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GAIL and BEML on August 31, 2021.

How this kit will work?

Once the LNG kit is retrofitted and tested successfully, both the dumpers will be able to run on dual fuel systems, that is, on LNG as well as Diesel.

Coal India Limited (CIL)

CIL is government-owned coal mining and refining corporation, under the ownership of Ministry of Coal. It is headquartered in Kolkata. It is the largest coal-producing company worldwide and a Maharatna public sector undertaking. CIL is also the fifth largest employer in India.

One industry that has grown in recent years is Ayurveda.The push during the pandemic intensified the trend witnessed over the past few years. The budget for the ayush ministry increased five times between 2014-15 and 2021-22, while the total budget grew only twice during the period.

Key Points

• Dabur India reported over 50% growth in its ayurveda business during the June quarter.
• A recent Kantar report estimated that the immunity segment, including products such as chyawanprash, honey and herbal tea, saw 38% year-on-year growth in 2020-21 in urban India.
•  The Indian government also played an extensive role in promoting the ayurveda economy, valued at ?30,000 crore, according to Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimates.
• Export data suggests that the appeal of ayurveda during the pandemic was not just limited to India, with ayurveda shipments growing even when other exports were declining. The five biggest importers were the US, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Russia and France, accounting for 42% of the total ayurvedic exports from India.

Central banks in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa launched a Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) Scheme on August 2, 2021.

Key Points

• CBDC scheme is a cross border payments trial that uses different central bank digital currencies (CBDC) in order to assess if this allows transactions to be settled in a cheap and easy manner.
• Many governments and central banks across the world are exploring the use of CBDCs.
• CBDCs are digital forms of existing currencies.
• Countries like China, are trialling retail-focused CBDCs that have been designed to replicate cash in circulation.
• Other countries are considering to use wholesale CBDCs in order to improve the internal workings of financial systems.
• Most of the projects are still in early stages and are domestically focused. But, the developing global rules and frameworks on how CBDCs can be used internationally is complicated technically.
• A separate BIS-led project to explore CBDCs for cross-border payments is also in process which involve central banks from China, Hong Kong, the UAE And

Aim of the latest CBDC project

The latest CBDC project was launched by stated countries with the aim of developing prototype shared platforms for cross-border transactions by using multiple CBDCs.

Significance of the platform

These new platforms would enable the financial institutions to transact directly with each other across CBDCs. It will eliminate the requirement for intermediaries and reduce the time and cost of transactions. The initiative, will also explore different technical, governance and operating designs. It will also publish its results in early 2022. This platform will also leapfrog the legacy payment arrangements and serve as the foundation for more efficient international settlement platform.

Central bank digital currency (CBDC)

CBDC is the virtual format of a fiat currency in a particular nation or region. It is an electronic record or digital token of official currency. This currency is issued and regulated by its monetary authority.

The Texas law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before most women know they’re pregnant.

A deeply divided Supreme Court is allowing a Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in force, for now stripping most women of the right to an abortion in the nation’s second-largest state.

The court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion providers and others that sought to block enforcement of the law that went into effect Wednesday. But the justices also suggested that Wednesday's order likely isn't the last word on whether the law can stand because other challenges to it can still be brought.

It is the strictest law against abortion rights in the United States since the high court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 and part of a broader push by Republicans nationwide to impose new restrictions on abortion. At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.

Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court's three liberal justices: Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Elena Kagan. Each of the four dissenting justices wrote separate statements underscoring their disagreement with the majority.

China landed a Mars rover in May in its first-ever mission to the planet, becoming the second country after the United States to do so. NASA's most advanced rover, Perseverance, landed on the planet in February.
China has developed a prototype miniature helicopter for surveillance work on future Mars missions, according to its space science agency, following the historic landing of a robotic rover on the Red Planet a few months ago.
The prototype is similar in appearance to the robotic helicopter Ingenuity, developed by NASA for its Perseverance mission this year, according to a photograph posted on the website of China's National Space Science Center on Wednesday.

The agency said the helicopter could be a tool for China's follow-up exploration on Mars, but it did not give details.

China landed a Mars rover in May in its first-ever mission to the planet, becoming the second country after the United States to do so. NASA's most advanced rover, Perseverance, landed on the planet in February.

From the NASA rover, Ingenuity made its inaugural flight in April, rising about 3 metres (10 feet) above the surface, in humankind's first successful deployment of a powered aircraft in a world other than Earth.
The challenge for the 1.8 kg (4 pound) Ingenuity is the planet's thin atmosphere, which is just 1% as dense as Earth's.

To compensate for the lack of aerodynamic lift, NASA engineers equipped Ingenuity with rotor blades that are larger -1.2 metres (4 feet) tip to tip - and spin more rapidly than would be needed on Earth for an aircraft of its size.

The shipments on a newly-launched railway line under the China-Myanmar New Passage from the Myanmar border to the key commercial hub of Chengdu in western China has started.

China-Myanmar New Passage

• The passage provides China a new road-rail transportation channel to the Indian Ocean, were delivered last week, state media reported on Tuesday.
• The transport corridor involves a sea-road-rail link.
• It connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar and China, and is currently the most convenient land and sea channel linking the Indian Ocean with southwest China.
• Goods from Singapore reached Yangon Port, arriving by ship through the Andaman Sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean, and were then transported by road to Lincang on the Chinese side of the Myanmar-China border in Yunnan province.
• The new railway line that runs from the border town of Lincang to Chengdu, a key trade hub in western China, completes the corridor.

Why does India need to be watchful?

Ans: Fragility at India-Myanmar Border

• From the perspective of security, India’s border with Myanmar has historically presented serious security challenges.
• Chinese troops had used the Myanmar route to threaten India’s the North-eastern States prior to the 1962 war.
• In the run-up to the India-China war of 1962, Chinese troops had commissioned local muleteers in Northern Myanmar to facilitate the movement of troops and war logistics to challenge India’s Northeast.

Way forward

• The work on infrastructure projects in India’s the Northeastern States needs to be expedited to ensure speedy mobilization of India’s own troops to face different contingencies.
• Monitoring of developments including deployment of space assets to ensure that India is not caught unaware would be desirable.
• Most importantly, India on its part needs to substantially step up its own game in Myanmar and proactively engage Myanmar in the realm of the infras

8th Meeting of Agricultural Experts of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Countries was hosted by India on August 31, 2021.

Highlights

• Meeting was attended by Agricultural Ministries from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Thailand.
• During this meet, Chairman highlighted the UN Food System Summit 2021 and transformational aspects that are happening across agriculture and food systems globally.
• He asked to enhance engagement and deepen cooperation amongst BIMSTEC Member States in the field of agriculture and allied sectors by encouraging exchange of students, experts, knowledge and germplasm.
• He further stressed on addressing biosafety and biosecurity concerns and promoting digital agriculture and trade of technologies in order to develop resilient agriculture, food systems & value chains.
• BIMSTEC Member States also appreciated greater engagement of India in offering six slots of scholarships for Master and PhD programmes in agriculture and other initiatives for capacity development & training.

About BIMSTEC

BIMSTEC was founded in 1997 with the objective of pursuing mutual trade, connectivity & cultural, technical & economic development in the region. It earlier included six sectors viz., technology, trade, energy, transport, fisheries, and tourism. Sectors were later expanded to 14 areas of cooperation. Agriculture is one among the 14 sectors.

Significance of BIMSTEC

It provides a unique link between South and South-East Asia. Five countries viz., India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are from South Asia while two countries viz., Myanmar and Thailand are from South-East Asia.

Background

1st meeting of the BIMSTEC agriculture Ministers was held on July 12, 2019 in Myanmar. During the meeting, a stronger agricultural cooperation was reiterated among BIMSTEC countries. This cooperation has become more significant amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation and its impacts on the food system.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), its Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal, met the head of the Taliban’s political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, on August 31, 2021.

Highlights

• With this meeting, the Government of India has softened its stance on the Taliban.
• Indian security officials and diplomats already understood to have engaged with Taliban representatives for several months.
• This meeting was held on the request of Taliban, because Taliban leaders have been keen to receive acceptability.
• During the meeting, discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals who were stranded in Afghanistan.
• India’s only concern was that “Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for any anti-Indian activities and terrorism”.
• During the meeting, Taliban leader assured the Indian Ambassador that all issues will be positively addressed.

Stranded Indians in Afghanistan

140 Indians and members of the Sikh minority are still remaining in Kabul. India has transported 565 people, including 112 Afghan nationals to Delhi, so far. This numbers have been far lower as compared to countries like the U.S. US has evacuated 1,22,000 people, including about 1,00,000 Afghan nationals.

Issue with Haqqani group

This meeting was held after India was recalibrating its earlier position on the Taliban as a terrorist group, as the Taliban militants took control of Afghanistan on August 15. In particular, India has had concerns regarding the Haqqani group, which is a part of the Taliban as well as Taliban Deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, who carried the attacks on the Indian Embassy in 2008-2009. Further, it is believed that the Taliban is a proxy of Pakistan.

The United Nations marked the first-ever International Day for People of African Descent on August 31, 2021 to celebrate the enormous contributions of African diaspora in field of human endeavour.

Background

UN General Assembly had adopted the resolution to establish the International Day for people of African Descent in December 2020. Resolution also recalled two similar UN initiatives namely, 2001 “World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance” that was held in Durban, South Africa as well as the “declaration of International Decade for People of African Descent” which will run till 2024.

Objective of the day

UNGA established this day with the objective of promoting greater recognition and respect for diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent towards the development of societies. The day also seeks to promote respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Why this day is significant?

The day is significant in the light of increasing momentum towards ending racism, twenty years after the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Furthermore, in Latin America, there are about 134 million people of African heritage and they suffer poverty, lack of access to basic services and inequality. In Brazil, overall poverty rate is 11.5 percent while poverty among people of African descent is 25.5 percent.

UN’s work towards ending racism

1. Slave Route Project– This project is run by the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). It encourages open and honest conversation related to slavery.
2. An initiative by UN Population Fund focuses on expanding opportunities for young people of African descent.
3. UN human rights office launched the “Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice & Equality” in order to tackle systemic racism, ensure accountability, and deliver justice.

The resolution was adopted after 13 Council members voted in favour, while permanent members Russia and China abstained from the voting. The United Nations Security Council, under the current Presidency of India, on Monday, August 30, 2021, adopted a resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, demanding that the war-torn country not be used to threaten or attack any nation or shelter terrorists.

Highlights

• The resolution demanded that the war-torn country, Afghanistan, not be used to threaten or attack any nation or shelter terrorists.
• Resolution was put forward by the US, UK and France.
• It was adopted with the votes of 13 Council members in favour.
• Permanent members Russia and China abstained from the voting.

Taliban in Afghanistan

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. They captured the country two weeks before the United States was set to complete its troop withdrawal, ending the longest war in US history. This seizing also forced Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to flee to the United Arab Emirates.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

UNSC is one among the six principal organs of the United Nations. It is charged with ensuring international peace and security. It also recommends on the admission of new UN members to general assembly and approves any changes in the UN Charter. Some of its power include- establishment of peacekeeping operations, enactment of international sanctions, and authorization of military action. UNSC is the only UN body that can issue binding resolutions on member states.

When it was created?

UNSC was created after World War II to address failings of the League of Nations in maintaining peace across the world.

Member of UNSC

UNSC comprises of fifteen members, out of which five are permanent viz, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Permanent members can use their veto power on substantive resolution. Remaining ten members are elected on a regional basis and serve for a term of two years. Presidency of the body rotates monthly among its members.

The United States announced the end of its 20-year-old war in Afghanistan before the deadline of August 31, 2021.

Highlights

• This announcement was made after the last American military flight flew out of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul before the August 31 deadline.
• America announced the formal end of America’s longest war, just before the 20th anniversary of the September 9/11, in which Al Qaeda terrorists hit the twin towers in New York.
• The 9/11 terrorist strike had forced the US to enter Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban rule who had provided safe havens to the Al Qaeda leadership.
• The Taliban rule was overthrown and replaced by US-backed Afghans. They then ruled the country for 20 years. In last 20 years several during general elections were held.
• US-backed Afghan rule was overthrown by the Taliban again on August 15 when the president Ashraf Ghani fled the country and 3,00,000 Afghan armed forces troops, who were trained by United States, gave up without any fight.
• The Taliban is now ruling Afghanistan and it welcomed the departure of the US troops from the country.

War in Afghanistan

It was a conflict, took place from 2001 to 2021, in Afghanistan. The war started with the invasion that led to the United States and its allies to topple the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan so that they could deny al-Qaeda a safe base of operations in Afghanistan. War was officially fought by allied NATO & Afghan Armed Forces against Taliban insurgents. The Taliban defeated the Afghanistan Army after majority of NATO forces left the country. This was the longest war in the history of United States.

• The New Development Bank (NDB) -- established by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015 -- has enrolled Bangladesh as a new member.
• NDB's board of governors authorised the bank to conduct formal negotiations with prospective members in late 2020. After a round of successful negotiations, NDB is extending its global outreach with the announcement of Bangladesh, UAE and Uruguay as the first countries admitted into the Bank.
• "We are delighted to welcome Bangladesh, one of the world's fastest growing economies, into the NDB. Bangladesh joining us in the year it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence is an important milestone," said Marcos Troyjo, President of NDB, in a statement today.
• "Membership of Bangladesh to NDB has paved way for a new partnership at a momentous time of 50th anniversary of our independence. Membership in the NDB is an important step forward in meeting the development vision of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina," said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
• Bangladesh looks forward to working closely with NDB to build together a prosperous and equitable world for the next generation as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said.
• Bangladesh will have, in NDB, a new platform to foster cooperation in infrastructure and sustainable development with BRICS and upcoming new members. Membership to NDB becomes effective once the admitted country completes its domestic processes and deposits the instrument of accession.
• The New Development Bank, formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states. According to the Agreement on the NDB, "the Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments." 
• Headquarters location: Shanghai, China
• President: Marcos Prado Troyjo
• Founder: BRICS
• Founded: 15 July 2014, Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil
• Legal status: Treaty

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sharply increased its allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to India, in line with the country's existing quota in the fund.

Keypoints

•  IMF has increased India's SDR quota to 12.57 billion, which is equivalent to $17.86 billion at the latest exchange rate, on August 23.
• The total SDR holdings of India now stand at SDR 13.66 billion (equivalent to around $19.41 billion at the latest exchange rate).
• This increase in SDR holdings will be reflected in the foreign exchange reserves (FER) data that will be published for the week ended August 27, 2021, the RBI said.

What is SDR?

SDR is an alternate reserve currency floated by the IMF, which the member countries can freely exchange between themselves instead of relying on currency of any one particular country.

About IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 190 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Its Headquarters is in Washington, DC, United States.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting today constituted a Committee to review the existing guidelines of Journalist Welfare Scheme and make appropriate recommendations for changes to the guidelines. 

Key Points 

• The committee will be headed by Prasar Bharati Board Member Ashok Kumar Tandon.
• The committee will have nine Members from different print and electronics media and an Additional Director General of PIB as members. Director (IP) in the Ministry will be Convener of the committee.
• It will examine the need for revision of quantum of ex-gratia payment in death as well as other cases under Journalist Welfare Scheme.
• The committee will look into the aspect of differentiation or parity between accredited and non-accredited journalists for availing benefits under the scheme.
• It will revise and broad-basing the definition of working journalist for the purpose of the Scheme keeping in view the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Condition Code-2010 as well as Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code ) Rules, 2021.
• The committee will submit its recommendation within two months. Press Information Bureau will provide secretarial assistance for convening the meeting of committee.

In the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 2 December 2009, declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. 

The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” 

It was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors with a view to commemorating the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29 August 1991.

United States Army had conducted the first nuclear test, called Trinity, in a desert site of New Mexico on July 16, 1945. This test empowered United States to drop atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. This event resulted into an estimated 200,000 casualties while the survivors suffered from cancers due to radiation. Nuclear tests by USA and USSR led to the Cold War, that continued till 1991. About 2000 nuclear test explosions were conducted in between 1945 and 1996.

The main mechanism for eradicating nuclear weapons testing is the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996. To date, 185 countries have signed the treaty and 170 have ratified it. For the Treaty to enter into Force, it must be ratified by those States with significant nuclear capabilities.

• The board of directors of the company at its meeting held on September 1, 2021 had accepted the request of Dilip Gaur, the incumbent MD for an early retirement
• Aditya Birla Group flagship firm Grasim Industries Ltd has appointed Hari Krishna Agarwal as its Managing Director with effect from December 1, 2021, following request for early retirement by incumbent Dilip Gaur, according to a regulatory filing by the company.
• The board of directors of the company at its meeting held on September 1, 2021 had accepted the request of Mr. Gaur for an early retirement.
• Accordingly, "Mr. Gaur will cease to be Managing Director and Key Managerial Personnel as well as Member of the Board of Directors of the company with effect from the close of business hours of November 30, 2021," the filing added.
• Earlier in February this year, the board had approved the reappointment of Mr. Gaur as MD for a period of one year with effect from April 1, 2021.
• Mr. Gaur had joined the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) in 2004 after spending 24 years at Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
• The company further said its board has approved appointment of Mr. Agarwal, "as the Managing Director and Key Managerial Personnel" for a period of two years with effect from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2023 subject to approval of shareholders.
• Mr. Agarwal is a veteran of ABG, having been part of it for close to four decades. During this period, he has held different roles in cement, chemicals and pulp and fibre businesses before taking on his current role as Business Head, Pulp & Fibre, the filing said.

The actor, best known for his role in the long running TV show ‘Balika Vadhu,’ died of a heart attack
Popular television and film actor Sidharth Shukla, best known for his role in the long running TV show “Balika Vadhu”, died on Thursday, an official at the Cooper Hospital in Mumbai said. He was 40.
He is survived by his mother and two sisters.

“He was brought dead to the hospital some time ago,” the senior Cooper Hospital official said.

Shukla began his career in showbiz as a model and made his acting debut with a lead role in the television show “Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na”. He later appeared on shows such as “Jaane Pehchaane Se... Ye Ajnabbi”, “Love U Zindagi” but became a household name with “Balika Vadhu”.

He also participated in reality shows, including “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6”, “Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7” and “Bigg Boss 13”.

In 2014, Shukla made his Bollywood debut with the Karan Johar-produced “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania” where he had a supporting role.

Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha, who authored several popular books including Madhukari (Honey Gatherer), died of post-Covid complications after cardiac arrest at a private hospital on Sunday night. He was 85. Guha had contracted Covid-19 in April and was hospitalised for 33 days.

Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha, who authored several popular books including Madhukari (Honey Gatherer) died of post-Covid complications after cardiac arrest at a private hospital on Sunday night. He was 85. Guha had contracted Covid-19 in April and was hospitalised for 33 days.

Born on June 29, 1936 in Kolkata, Guha had spent his childhood in Rangpur and Barisal districts of East Bengal (now Bangladesh). His childhood experiences and travels left a deep imprint on him, which were reflected in his works.

His novels and short stories have been highly acclaimed by critics which helped him win several awards, including the Ananda Purashkar and Sharat Puraskar. He was also a noted classical singer and proficient illustrator.

Besides Madhukari, some of Guha’s notable works include Koeler Kachhe, Sobinoy Nibedon and Baba Howa. He was also popular among children as he was the creator of the fictional character Rijuda, a hunter-turned-conservationist, and his side-kick Rudra. Most of his works focused on the theme of nature and forest.

"The author of Bengali literature, has written notable books, including ‘Koel’, ‘Kojagar’, ‘Madhukari’, ‘Jangalmahal’, ‘Charibeti’ etc."

Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday appointed Dr. Parasaram Pattabhi Kesava Ramacharyulu as the new secretary general of the Upper House of Parliament.

Dr. Parasaram Pattabhi Kesava Ramacharyulu was appointed as Rajya Sabha Secretary General on Tuesday(31 August)

Key Points

• Ramacharyulu has been working as secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat since 2018 and succeeds Desh Dipak Verma, who demitted office after serving for four years.
• As per the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Ramacharyulu is the first ever Upper House employee to have risen to the secretary general’s post. Nine employees have become the secretary general of Lok Sabha so far.
• Born in 1958, Ramacharyulu has about 40 years of experience of handling various aspects of the functioning of Parliament.
• He joined the secretariat in 1983 after serving in the Lok Sabha Secretariat for a year earlier. He served as Special Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Legislature in 2017,” a statement issued by the RS Secretariat said.
• A Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts (Political Science) degree holder, Ramacharyulu was awarded Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) by the Jawaharlal Nehru University for his work on ‘Committee Systems of Indian Parliament and the US Congress: A Comparative Study’ in 2005.

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Senior bureaucrat J B Mohapatra has been appointed the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the Personnel Ministry said in an order Wednesday(1-Sept-2021).

Senior bureaucrat J B Mohapatra has been appointed the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the Personnel Ministry said in an order Wednesday.

Mohapatra, a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer, is currently the member in the board that frames the policy for the Income Tax department.

• ·         Senior bureaucrat J B Mohapatra has been appointed the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
• ·         Mohapatra, is a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer, is currently the member in the board that frames the policy for the Income Tax department.
• ·         The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of J B Mohapatra, as the Chairman of CBDT.
• After the extended tenure of incumbent P C Mody had ended, Mohapatra has been holding the additional charge of CBDT chairman since May 31.

• Less than a month after the Centre renamed Khel Ratna after hockey legend Dhyan Chand, the Assam Cabinet has decided to drop former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from the Orang National Park.
• Situated about 120 km north-east of Guwahati, the 79.28 sq. km Orang is one of Assam’s seven national parks and among the top three rhino habitats. It also has one of the highest density of tigers in the country.
• “The decision to restore the original name of Orang National Park was taken following requests from the Adivasi groups in the State,” government spokesperson Pijush Hazarika said after the Cabinet meeting.
• Orang was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and was upgraded to a national park in 1999. It became the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park during the Congress government headed by Tarun Gogoi.
• The national park was declared a Tiger Reserve by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in March 2016. The area under the Tiger Reserve is 492.46 sq. km.

Kendrapara district of Odisha, that is crisscrossed by rivers, creeks and water inlets, has become the only district in India where all three species of crocodiles viz., salt-water, gharial and mugger are found.

Key Points

• District has also claimed fame for its successful conservation programme launched for salt-water or estuarine crocodiles at the Bhitarkanika National Park.
• The national park comprises of 1,768 estuarine crocodiles and is home to 70 per cent of India’s estuarine crocodiles.
• Now, with the sighting of mugger and gharial crocodiles, all three species of crocodiles are found in the river systems of Kendrapara district.
• Gharial hatchling was rescued from Paika river which is a tributary of Mahanadi on August 29, 2021.
• In 2016, a 14-feet-long mugger was sighted.

Bhitarkanika river systems

Bhitarkanika river systems are home to saltwater crocodiles. On the other hand; Mahanadi River, Brahmani rivers and their tributaries are inhabited by muggers and gharials. Sighting of the crocodiles is significant because conservation of these species (Muggers and Gharials) has not been as successful as that of the estuarine crocodiles.

Bhitarkanika National Park

This larger national park is located in the northeast Kendrapara district of Odisha. It obtained the status of a Ramsar site in 2002. The area the second Ramsar site of Odisha after the Chilika Lake. The Park is surrounded by Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Beach, Marine Sanctuary, separating swamp region as well as mangroves from the Bay of Bengal. Park is home to Saltwater crocodile king cobra, Indian python, black ibis, darters and other species of flora and fauna.

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency over food shortages on August 31, 2021 after private banks in the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.

Highlights

• Sri Lanka is suffering from a hard-hitting economic crisis. Following the crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered emergency regulations to counter the hoarding of sugar, rice and other such essential foods.
• President also named a top army officer as “Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods”.
• This move followed sharp price rises for sugar, rice, onions and potatoes. Price rise was supplemented by long queues outside stores because of shortages of milk powder, cooking gas and kerosene oil.
• Government also increased penalties for food hoarding.
• But shortages of food come as Sri Lanka battles a fierce coronavirus wave, claiming more than 200 lives a day.

Economy of Sri Lanka

Economy of Sri Lanka reduced by a 3.6 percent in 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic. In March 2020, government also banned imports of vehicles and other items like edible oils and turmeric in order to save foreign exchange. Central Bank of Sri Lanka also increased interest rates in order to shore up the local currency.

Foreign Reserves of Sri Lanka

Foreign Reserves of Sri Lanka decreased to $2.8 billion as of July, 2021 from $7.5 billion in November 2019. As per data from bank, rupee has lost 20 percent of its value against the US dollar in the same period.

Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was successful in handling the first wave covid-19 pandemic. However, it failed to handle second and third waves of the pandemic. This resulted into surge in COVID-19 deaths since November 2020. As of August 2021, Sri Lanka has become the country with fourth-largest daily deaths worldwide by population. Other three countries are Georgia, Tunisia, and Malaysia.

• Restrictions may be imposed on freedoms for the interest of the public at large, says counter affidavit in response to two writ petitions
• The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) on Friday told the Madras High Court that it had “lawfully” notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of 2021 to regulate publishers of news and current affairs on digital media and publishers of online curated content on Over the Top (OTT) platforms from publishing “unlawful” content.
• The submission was made in a counter affidavit before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu who were seized of two writ petitions filed by Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, the Digital News Publishers Association, and former Editor of The Hindu Mukund Padmanabhan, challenging the Constitutional validity of the statutory rules that were notified on February 25.
• The counter, served upon senior counsel P.S. Raman and advocate Suhrith Parthasarathy, representing the petitioners, stated that the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution was not absolute and that it was subject to limitations under Articles 19(2) and 19(6), which empower the State to make laws imposing reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right.
• “A common thread that runs across all reasonable restrictions is public interest and it is beyond any pale of doubt that restrictions may be imposed on freedoms for the interest of the public at large. The Rules have been clearly enacted bona fide for the benefit of the public and its intention is to ensure adequate regulation of digital and intermediary platforms,” the counter affidavit read.

World Social Protection Report 2020-22 was released by International Labour Organisation (ILO) on September 1, 2021.

Key Findings of report

• As per report, more than half of the world population are not getting any form of social protection. This trend of no social protection is there even after expansion of social protections amidst the global outbreak of COVID-19.
• Only 47 per cent of the global population had effective access to one social protection benefit, in 2020 while 53 per cent (4.1 billion people) had no protection at all.
• People in Europe and Central Asia are among the best covered population. 84 per cent of populations in Europe and Central Asia are having access to at least one benefit.
• In America, the rate of social protection is 64.3 per cent.
• In Asia, the Pacific and the Arab States, lesser than half of people are covered under protection.
• In Africa, only 17.4 per cent of the people are getting at least one social protection.
• Most children across the globe had no social protection.
• Just one in four children in the world get a social protection benefit.
• 45 per cent of women with new-borns receive cash maternity benefit.
• One in three people with severe disabilities receive disability benefits.
• One in five people worldwide are covered in case they lose their job.

Rich Poor divide

This report examined the impact COVID-19 pandemic on social protection. It found, an additional spending required to ensure minimum social protection for all and reduce the financing gap has increased by 30 per cent since the start of the pandemic. On an average, countries spend approximately 13 per cent of GDP on social protection. However, high-income countries spend 16.4 per cent of GDP on social protection. On the other hand, low-income countries spend just 1.1 per cent.

Social Protection

Social protection comprises of access to healthcare and income security in cases of unemployment, old age, inability to work, and for families with children.

According to a report titled “Protected Areas in Central Africa 2020”, Central Africa can develop itself sustainably if the resources are shared equitably and its environment is protected.

Highlights

• Report was produced under the Central Africa Forest Observatory (OFAC) which is a specialised unit of Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC).
• Central Africa is rich in copper, petroleum, iron, manganese, diamond, cobalt and coltan.
• According to the report, development on the basis of respect for the environment and social equity is the only way to prevent poverty and war.

Economic Growth in Central African Countries

• According to the Macroeconomic forecasts for 2020, central African countries are reporting a growth rate of between –2.5 per cent and –4.3 per cent.
• Decline in oil prices per barrel since late 2018 along with the global health crisis caused by novel coronavirus disease have led to a deteriorating economic situation.
• Thus, governments in this region are boosting oil extraction and diversifying national economies, towards mining and forestry industries.

Concerns with natural ecosystems

Natural ecosystems in central African region have been exposed to: Wildlife poaching, Increase in mining permits, Expansion of transhumant pastoralism, Exploitation of timber & fuel wood, Industrial agriculture & family farming as well as land conflicts.

Protected areas

There are about 206 protected areas in this region that cover 799,000 square kilometres. It accounts for 14.8 per cent of the land area and five per cent of the marine exclusive economic zone in the central African countries.

Steps taken by countries

Countries have been taking several initiatives. 24 African countries have adopted “Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) standards”. EITI initiative was launched with the aim of promoting more inclusive and transparent management of mineral resources by improving the governance systems. EITI has also bringing in transparency in the sector.

According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report, the number of hate crimes in United States increased to highest level in the year 2020.

Highlights

• Crimes reached to highest level in more than a decade and is the result of rise in assaults targeting Black victims and victims of Asian descent.
• 2020 data was submitted to the FBI by around 15,000 law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Key Findings

• The report identified 7,759 hate crimes in 2020. This number has increased by 6 percent as compared to 2019 data and is the highest tally since 2008.
• Number of offences against Black people increased to 2,755 from 1,930.
• Offences against Asians increased to 274 from 158.
• Out of 7,426 hate crime offences, classified as crimes against people, 53.4 percent of the cases were for intimidation, 27.6 percent were for simple assault while 18.1 percent were for aggravated assault.
• Twenty-two murders and 19 rapes were reported to be hate crimes.
• FBI warned that white supremacist groups represent a rising security threat following a deadly January 6 assault on the US Capitol.
• Hate-inspired attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have also increased as a result of then-President Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks blaming China for COVID-19 pandemic.

Stop AAPI Hate

It is a national coalition that gathered data on racially motivated attacks related to the pandemic. It reported 9,081 incidents between March 2020 to June 2021. 4,548 incidents were from 2020 while 4,533 from 2021.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

FBI is the domestic intelligence & security service and a principal federal law enforcement agency of United States. It operates under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice. It also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

• The Delhi High Court has observed that fake currency has propensity to have a disastrous effect on the economy and noted the process of making the notes has reached a level of immaculate sophistication due to which they are indistinguishable from real notes.
• “Circulation of fake currency notes is severely detrimental to the economy and hampers the financial regulation of the country,
• ”Justice Subramonium Prasad said while rejecting the bail plea of a man who was a part of a well-organised syndicate involved in printing, procuring, circulating fake Indian currency notes.
• On December 19, 2019, the Delhi police special cell received information that a Dubai-based Pakistani national was trying to bring fake notes into the country.
• On the basis of investigation, the syndicate and the name of Ahmed have surfaced along with a few other people.
• A raid was conducted here the following day. Ahmed was nabbed by the team with 44,000cr worth of fake currency along with a laptop. Investigation revealed that one Danish Malik used to design the notes in Ahmed’s laptop

• AYUSH AAPKE DWAR campaign was launched by Minister of State for Ayush from Ayush Bhawan by distributing medicinal plants to staff.
• It was launched with the aim of distributing medicinal plant saplings to 75 lakh households in India in one year. These medicinal plants include Ashoka, Tejpatta, Stevia, Ashwagandha, Jatamansi, Giloy/Guduchi, Shatavari, Guggulu, Lemongrass, Tulsi, Sarpagandha, Brahmi, Kalmegh and Amla. About 21 states are participating in launch activities in which more than 2 lakh saplings will be distributed across India.
• The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, also called The Ministry of Ayush. It was set up on November 9, 2014 to develop education, research and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems across India. This ministry was renamed as “Ministry of AYUSH” on April 13, 2021. This ministry includes seven traditional systems of healthcare. It is well known for promoting pseudoscience and quackery by means of unscientific alternative medicine.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, launched the Rural Enterprises Acceleration Programme called ‘Saath’ for Self Help Group (SHG) women on September 1, 2021.

Highlights

• This initiative will help about 48000 SHGs in which about four lakh women are connected, in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Saath initiative will focus on mentoring and market linkages of products that created by these women.
• Government also aims to create 11000 more SHGs in upcoming years.
• This platform will transform the lives of these women and make them independent and strong socially and financially.

Aim of the initiative

This initiative was launched with the aim of transforming the lives of rural women associated with SHGs. It aims to accelerate livelihoods of rural women who are engaged in small works. Small works are those where they do not earn much profit and there is lack of knowledge about marketing, packaging and branding. This initiative is aimed at teaching women all skills and convert their small businesses into Higher Order Enterprises. It seeks to turn women into job-givers and produce further employment.

Training to the women

Under this initiative, workshops will be held for 5000 women initially. Out of 5000, 500 will be selected for intensive training and 100 will be selected for mentoring. Training will be provided to women across ten different sectors like Agriculture, Poultry, Animal Husbandry, handloom, Handicraft etc.

Umeed scheme

Saath initiative was launched in line with the Umeed scheme that enabled women to start their own business.

New Generation Aircraft Hansa Successfully Completes Maiden Flight

Highlights

• Hansa New Generation (NG) aircraft, designed and developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru
• The aircraft flew at an altitude of 4000 ft. and gained a speed of 80 knots before it made a successful landing after about 20 minutes.
• "Captain Amit Dahiya, test pilot, who has flown the maiden flight has expressed his happiness and said that all the flight parameters were found normal and it is a Text Book flight," 
• The unique features of Hansa-NG are a glass cockpit with cabin comfort, high efficient digitally controlled engine, electrically operated flaps, long-endurance, low acquisition, and low operating cost.
• As per the release, CSIR-NAL has already received 72 "Letters of Intents" from various Flying Clubs and the aircraft will be certified within the next 4 months before it gets inducted into service.
• "The flight was monitored in telemetry by senior officers and scientists/engineers from DGCA, CEMILAC, and CSIR-NAL," the release informed.

About CSIR-NAL

National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, established in the year 1959 is the only government aerospace R&D laboratory in the country's civilian sector

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have developed device to conduct microbial experiments in outer space.

Highlights

• This modular, self-contained device can be used to cultivate microorganisms which in turn, enable scientists to carry out biological experiments even in outer space.
• This study was published in Acta Astronautica. Researchers showed how this device can be used to activate and track the growth of a bacterium called Sporosarcina pasteurii for several days with minimal involvement of human.

Significance of the study

This understanding of how these microbes behave in extreme environments will provide valuable insights for human space missions like ‘Gaganyaan’ that is set to be launched in 2022.

Background

Scientists have been exploring the use of lab-on-chip platforms, in recent years, which combine several inputs into a single integrated chip to conduct experiments. However, there are other challenges to design such platforms for outer space as compared to the lab.

About the new device

The new device uses a combination of Light Emitting Diode (LED) and photodiode sensor, which track the bacterial growth by measuring optical density or scattering of light. It is similar to spectrophotometers used in the lab. It also comprises of separate compartments for different experiments. Each compartment or ‘cassette’ have chamber where bacteria and nutrient medium can be mixed to kickstart growth.

How data is collected?

Data from each cassette is collected and stored separately. Three cassettes are clubbed into single cartridge, which consumes less than 1 watt of power. According to researchers, a full payload that could go in a spacecraft will comprise four such cartridge which are capable of carrying 12 independent experiments.

Amazon India announced the launch of Kisan Store. The store was launched by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar on September 2, 2021.

About Kisan Store

• Kisan Store is an online platform that enable farmers of India to get access of more than 8,000 agriculture inputs like farm tools & accessories, seeds, plant protection, nutrition etc.
• These products are listed by small and medium businesses (SMBs).
• Products will be available at competitive prices on Amazon India and will be delivered at the doorstep of farmers.
• These stores comprise of thousands of products listed from over 20 brands.

Language of store

Kisan store will be available in languages like Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam.

Mode of Payment

Farmers can buy products listed on store using digital payments.

Amazon Easy store

Amazon also opened up its network of more than 5,000 Amazon Easy stores for farmers to shop with the help of the store owners. Store owners will help the farmers to browse through the store and identify product they like. They will also help then in creating their Amazon accounts, place orders, and checkout to buy.

Agronomy Services

Amazon also launched its agronomy services for farmers. It will provide farmers with timely advice and enable them to make accurate decisions regarding the actions required for their crops.

Aim of the Kisan Store

Amazon India launched Kisan Store with the aim of introducing machine learning technology for better produce and build a robust supply chain infrastructure.

China developed a prototype miniature helicopter for the purpose of surveillance work on future Mars missions.

• The delivery is the company’s 23rd for NASA in just under a decade.
• A SpaceX shipment of ants, avocados and a human-sized robotic arm rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday.
• The delivery — due to arrive Monday — is the company’s 23rd for NASA in just under a decade.
• A recycled Falcon rocket blasted into the predawn sky from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. After hoisting the Dragon capsule, the first-stage booster landed upright on SpaceX’s newest ocean platform, named “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” SpaceX founder Elon Musk continued his tradition of naming the booster-recovery vessels in tribute to the late science fiction writer Iain Banks and his Culture series.
• The Dragon is carrying more than 4,800 pounds (2,170 kilograms) of supplies and experiments, and fresh food including avocados, lemons and even ice cream for the space station’s seven astronauts.
• The Girl Scouts are sending up ants, brine shrimp and plants as test subjects, while University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists are flying up seeds from mouse-ear cress, a small flowering weed used in genetic research. Samples of concrete, solar cells and other materials also will be subjected to weightlessness.
• A Japanese start-up company’s experimental robotic arm, meanwhile, will attempt to screw items together in its orbital debut and perform other mundane chores normally done by astronauts. The first tests will be done inside the space station. Future models of Gitai Inc.'s robot will venture out into the vacuum of space to practice satellite and other repair jobs, said chief technology officer Toyotaka Kozuki.
• As early as 2025, a squad of these arms could help build lunar bases and mine the moon for precious resources, he added.
• SpaceX had to leave some experiments behind because of delays resulting from COVID-19.
• It was the second launch attempt; Saturday’s try was foiled by stormy weather.
• NASA turned to SpaceX and other U.S. companies to deliver cargo and crews to the space station, once the space shuttle program ended in 2011.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is an American aerospace manufacturer, space transportation services and communications company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. 

Founder: Elon Musk
Founded: 6 May 2002
CEO: Elon Musk (2002)
Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
Subsidiary: Swarm Technologies

Twitter launched a long-promised “Super Follows” feature on September 1, 2021.

Key Facts

• The ‘Super follow’ feature allows creators to sell subscriptions in order to access the special content.
• This feature was launched as Twitter strives to be a preferred online venue for clickable stars and seeks to boost its own income in the manner that it doesn’t clutter the platform up with ads or promotions.
• Influencers such as makeup artists and sports experts will be able to offer “behind the scenes” content, early access or other such perks to their subscribers. For this they can charge a ranging from $3-$10 per month.
• It will also help people to create an extra level of conversation on Twitter in order to interact authentically with their most engaged followers along with earning money.
• Creating content under this feature is for anyone who brings their unique perspectives and personalities to Twitter in a bid to drive the public conversation.

Background

Twitter had been testing this Super Follows feature and it was launched officially with a small group of creators in North America. The option to follow participating creators will be made available to people globally using Twitter on Apple mobile devices soon.

Devices with this feature

The feature will be brought to smartphones powered by Android software as well as to the twitter.com website, reached through browsers.

Transaction fees

Twitter will not take more than three percent of subscriptions as a transaction fee until a creator makes $50,000 at the platform. For amount above $50,000, Twitter’s share will increase to 20 percent. App store fees will be paid by creators selling the subscriptions and it can be as much as 30 percent of transactions

World’s first Plant-based smart air-purifiers called “Ubreathe Life” by the scientists of Indian Institutes of Technology, Ropar & Kanpur, and Faculty of Management Studies of Delhi University.

Highlights

• Ubreathe Life amplifies the air purification process in indoor spaces like schools, hospitals, offices, and homes.
• This product is being developed by Urban Air Laboratory which is a start-up company of IIT Ropar.
• Product is being claimed as world’s first, state-of-the-art ‘Smart Bio-Filter’, which can make breathing fresh.
• It has been incubated at IIT Ropar.
• IIT Ropar is a designated iHub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) by the Department of Science and Technology of government.

How Ubreathe Life works?

The Ubreathe Life technology works by air-purifying natural leafy plant. In it, air of the room interacts with leaves and goes towards soil-root zone where maximum pollutants are purified. Technology used in this product is called as ‘Urban Munnar Effect’ and patent-pending “Breathing Roots”. These technologies amplify the phytoremediation process of the plants.

Phytoremediation Process

It is the process by which plants effectively remove pollutants from the air.

Features of Ubreathe Life

This technology effectively improves indoor air quality by removing particulate, gaseous and biological contaminants. It also increases the oxygen levels in indoor space with the help of specific plants, UV disinfection and a stack of pre-filter, charcoal filter and HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. It also comprises of a centrifugal fan which creates a suction pressure inside the purifier and releases purified air.

South Korean MPs on Tuesday(31-Aug-2021)  passed a law banning Apple and Google from forcing app developers to use the tech giants' payment systems, effectively declaring their lucrative App Store and Play Store monopolies illegal.

Key Points

• The South Korean parliament approved a bill on Tuesday that will ban major app store operators — like Google and Apple — from requiring developers to only use their payment systems to process the sale of digital products and services.
• Those policies usually require developers to pay Google and Apple a commission as high as 30% in every transaction.
• It means that developers will be able to avoid paying commission to Google and Apple by directing users to pay via alternate platforms.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IIT Roorkee has developed an app, in a joint venture, that can predict natural disasters.

Highlights

• App will alert about possible natural calamities in advance.
• Uttarakhand cabinet has also formed an expert committee that will tell us about the quantum of rainfall in each area in order to make arrangements in advance.
• According to minister, Doppler Radar has started functioning at Mukteshwar. Radar will also be installed at Surkanda Devi within 1-1.5 months.
• Third Doppler Radar will be installed in Lansdowne.

Background

The development of the app is in line with the proposal by the Central Government to simplify the disaster parameters of 2011.

Doppler Radar

Doppler Radar is a specialized radar that make use of Doppler effect to produce velocity data about the distant objects.

Doppler effect

When the source and signal are in relative motion to each other, observer witness a change in the frequency. If they move closer, frequency increases and vice versa. This effect is called as Doppler effect.

What is a Radar?

Radar, expanded as Radio Detection and Ranging, is a device that uses electromagnetic waves in the microwaves region in order to detect location, range & direction; altitude; intensity and movement of moving & non-moving objects.

How does a Doppler radar work?

Radars emit a beam of energy, called radio waves, from an antenna. When the radio waves strike an object in the atmosphere, energy scatters in all directions. Some of the energy is reflected directly back to the radar. Larger the object deflects the beam as well as amount of energy that the radar receives in return. Weather forecasting department observes the time required for the beam to be transmitted & returned to the radar and see raindrops in the atmosphere & measure their distance from the radar.

SpaceX launched shipments of ants, avocados, human-sized robotic arm toward the International Space Station on August 29, 2021.

Key Points

• The delivery of shipments is due to arrive on August 30, 2021.
• It will be SpaceX’s 23^rd mission for NASA in a decade.
• The Dragon is carrying more than 2,170 kilograms of supplies and experiments as well fresh food like avocados, lemons and ice cream for seven astronauts of the space station.
• The Girl Scouts have sent ants, brine shrimp and plants as test subjects.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists sent seeds from mouse-ear cress which is a small flowering weed used in genetic research.
• Samples of concrete, solar cells and other materials will be subjected to weightlessness.

Falcon Rocket

Recycled Falcon rocket was blasted into predawn sky from Kennedy Space Center of NASA. The first-stage booster was landed on newest ocean platform called “A Shortfall of Gravitas” of SpaceX, after hoisting the Dragon capsule. The booster-recovery vessel was named so, in tribute to the late science fiction writer Iain Banks and his Culture series.

Robotic arm

Dragon is also carrying a robotic arm by a Japanese start-up company. It will attempt to screw items together in its orbital debut as well as perform other mundane chores that are normally done by astronauts. The first tests will be conducted inside the space station.  According to the company, a squad of these arms could help in building lunar bases and mine the moon for precious resources as early as 2025.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur on August 29, 2021, launched the Fit India mobile app at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi to mark the second anniversary of the Fit India Movement on National Sports Day.

 Key Points

•Sports Minister Thakur paid tributes to Major Dhyan Chand before launching the app.

•The Fit India app is free of cost. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms in English and Hindi with unique features such as fitness score, activity trackers, animated videos, and ‘my plan’ as per the specific needs of individuals.

Fit India App

• Fit India App has been created with the vision of encouraging people to include physical activity and sports in their everyday lives.
• Fit India App is available in 14 Languages for you to choose for from web and 3 from App.
• Provides fitness classes for Yoga, Functional Training, Cross fit, Zumba.
• Trainers, Coaches, Doctors, Physios etc: can list their profiles letting people find them.

Backgrounnd

•Sports Minister Thakur on August 13, 2021, had launched a nationwide program of Fit India Freedom Run 2.0 to celebrate the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav ahead of India’s 75th Independence Day with an aim to encourage people to take up fitness regimes.

•The Fit India Movement was launched on August 29, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a mission to encourage people to make fitness an integral part of their lives.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday distributed cheques to the families of media personnel who died of Covid-19. , Baghel paid his condolences to their families. “The work done by the media fraternity during the pandemic will act as an example to inspire the upcoming generations,” he said.

Key Points

• Financial assistance of more than Rs 90 lakh will be provided to the families of journalists who succumbed to the Covid.
• Under the ‘Patrakar Kalyan Kosh‘ scheme, our government has increased the financial aid given for the disease treatment of journalists from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. 
• . For the Senior journalist of the state, under the scheme ‘Senior journalist Samman Nidhi,’ the monthly pension has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 and also reduced the age from 62 years to 60 years to avail this scheme.

The Centre is set to sign a tripartite “Karbi Peace Accord” on September 4, 2021.

Highlights

• This accord is significant because insurgency by Karbi group has a long history in Assam which is marked by killings, ethnic violence, abductions and taxations since 1980s.
• Karbi is a major ethnic community in Assam and are dotted by several factions and splinters.
• About 200 Karbi terrorists will be present while signing of the agreement. These 200 Karbi terrorists are part of 1,040 terrorists who surrendered before the Assam government in February 2021.

Background

Around 1,040 terrorists from five insurgent groups of Karbi Anglong district ceremonially put down their arms at an event in Guwahati in February, in the presence of then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. This development further bolstered the ‘terrorism-free Assam’ image of present BJP-led government. Surrendered terrorists belong to Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) and Kuki Liberation Front (KLF). They had come to surrender their weapons a year after signing of Bodo Peace Accord to end the long-run violence in Bodoland.

Bodoland Region

Bodoland region is an autonomous territorial region, administered by the Bodoland Territorial Council, which is an elected body. Bodo Accord was first signed in 2003 in a bid to maintain peace in the region. In 2020, it was extended by central government.

How these different outfits originated?

These outfits were originated from the core demand of establishing a separate state. Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) is an autonomous district council, which is protected under Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Karbi National Volunteers and Karbi People’s Force joined together to form United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) in 1990s. UPDS put down arms and signed a tripartite memorandum of settlement, in November 2011, with Centre and Government of Assam in return of enhanced autonomy and special packages for the KAAC.

Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD), Smriti Zubin Irani, chaired the National Conference, 2021. This conference was held on 30th and 31st of August at Kevadia, Gujarat.

Key Points

During the National Conference, ministers discussed deliberated on implementation and governance of schemes and programmes of the ministry, in a better manner, like new initiatives on three key missions: Mission Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti.

Event started on August 31st, 2021, by giving tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at the Statue of Unity by Smriti Irani.

It was followed by planting of nutri-fruit saplings at Mahila Evam Bal Sashaktikaran Van in order to exemplify the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’ as well as to promote plantation of Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens across the country.

During the conference, three key Missions and Global Indices were presented.

Chairpersons of NCPCR and NCW presented their perspectives on child rights and women empowerment.

Mission Poshan 2.0

WCD minister urged all the State governments to participate in the ongoing POSHAN MAAH events and to decide on their own the targets in order to develop Poshan Vatikas. She also requested the States to improve infrastructure of Anganwadi centres and saturate the supply of mobile phones and GMDs during the month.

 Mission Vatsalya

While talking about Mission Vatsalya, WCD minister emphasised on the importance of recent amendments in Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. This amendment will help in improving the accountability of DC/DMs and it will also facilitate into reintegration of vulnerable children into society.

As per a study of July 2021 titled “The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Caste Discrimination and Stunting”, children from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Muslim families are more prone to stunting.

Highlights

• Stunting is a condition where body height is less than the accepted range at a given age.
• Study highlights that, even the socio-economic advantages do not change this correlation between stunting and exclusion.
• This study was conducted with the aim of understanding the impact of caste and socio-economic factors on stunting in children.

Key Findings of the study

• As per the study, marginalised castes including SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), reported a higher prevalence of stunting. This is because of the widespread and entrenched practice of untouchability.
• Stunting was also common among Muslim families, regardless of social status.
• About one-third of all stunted children in the world are there in India. Children in India are much shorter than children in 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Average stunting in India is 36 per cent while that in Sub-Saharan Africa is 31 per cent.

Significance of the study

This study is significant because earlier, emphasis was on conducting the research on links between child malnutrition, poverty and lack of access to resources.

Factors of stunting

CEDA study highlights five critical factors leading to stunting:

1. Lack of access to sanitation
2. Mother’s human capital- that is, her ability to read and the number of years of schooling
3. Mother’s anthropometric status- that is her height and weight
4. Asset differences
5. Intra-household resource allocation

Role of social identity

Child stunting has been associated with poverty because its root cause is chronic malnutrition. But, CEDA study categorised child stunting data into four social categories:

1. Upper Caste Hindus,
2. Upper Caste Muslims,
3. SCs & STs and
4. OBCs

Children from upper Hindu castes reported lower average rate of stunting (26 per cent) while for other categories this number stand at 40 per cent (SC & ST), 36 per cent (OBCs) and 35 per cent (Upper Caste Muslim).

Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to celebrate the POSHAN MAAH throughout the month September starting from September 1, 2021.

Highlights

• This will be celebrated as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Entire month has been subdivided into weekly themes for focused and assimilated approach in order to improve Holistic Nutrition and ensure speedy and intensive outreach.
• Ministry of Women and Child Development has planned several activities for this month in tandem with the States and Union Territories.

Weekly themes under the celebration

• Weekly theme for the activities that will be taken from 1st to 7th September is – Plantation Activity as “PoshanVatika”.
• Theme for the second week of September is Yoga and AYUSH for Nutrition
• Theme for the third week is “Distribution of ‘Regional Nutrition Kit’ to Anganwadi beneficiaries in High Burden Districts”.
• While, the theme for the last week of September has been set as “Identification of severe acute malnourished children and distribution of nutritious food”.

About POSHAN Abhiyaan

POSHAN Abhiyaan stands for Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition. It is a flagship programme of government to improve nutritional outcomes for pregnant women, lactating mothers, children and adolescent Girls. This program was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on March 8, 2018.

POSHAN 2.0

Government announced POSHAN 2.0 programme in Budget 2021-2022 with the focus on aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan. It is as an integrated nutrition support programme that seeks to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes. It focus

POSHAN Abhiyaan is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. 

It was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2018 from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

The POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan directs the attention of the country towards the problem of malnutrition and address it in a mission-mode. 

Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) has been announced in the Budget 2021-2022 as an integrated nutrition support programme, to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.

 In order to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation, every year, the month of September will be celebrated as POSHAN Maah across the country. 

Avani Lekhara has become the 1st Indian women to win two Paralympic medals at a single edition of the Paralympics on September 3, 2021.

Key Points

• Avani Lekhara won a bronze medal in women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (SH1) event.
• She made history with a third-place finish.
• She had become the first Indian woman to win gold in women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH1) event at the ongoing Paralympics.
• made more history on Friday with a third-place finish in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.

Background

In the 1984 Paralympics, Joginder Singh Sodhi had won multiple medals in single edition of the Games. He clinched one silver and two bronze medals.

Avani Lekhara

She is an Indian Paralympian and rifle shooter who won a gold medal in 10m air rifle standing as well as a bronze medal in 50m air rifle standing at 2020 Paralympics. She is currently ranked at World No 5 in Women’s 10m Air Rifle standing SH1. GoSports Foundation has been supporting her through the Para Champions Programme. She became the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Paralympic Games.

Background

She started her shooting in 2015 after getting inspired by former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra.  In 2012, a car accident at the age of 11 left her with complete paraplegia. Then, her father encouraged her to join sports. She was trained in archery but she moved to shooting as she found it to be her true passion. Coach Suma Shirur is the key influence behind her success at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

• Pramod Bhagat wins historic badminton gold in Paralympics
• Manoj Sarkar bagged the bronze, defeating Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in the third place play-off
• Reigning world champion Pramod Bhagat on Saturday claimed a historic gold medal in men's singles SL3 class while Manoj Sarkar bagged the bronze as India stamped their prowess at the Tokyo Paralympics here.
• Bhagat beat Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in the summit clash while Sarkar defeated Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in the third place play-off, with both the Indians winning in straight games, In SL3 classification, athletes with lower limb impairment are allowed to compete.
• With badminton making its debut at the Paralympics this year, Bhagat, the current world No. 1, thus became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the sport.
• The 33-year-old from Bhubaneswar also remains in contention for a bronze medal in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 class.
• Bhagat, who had contracted polio when he was 4 years old, picked up the sports after watching his neighbours play. Initially, he competed against able-bodied players before getting into competitive para badminton in 2006.
• He eventually emerged as one of the best para shuttlers in the country with 45 international medals under his belt, including four world championship gold medals and a gold and a bronze in 2018 Asian Para Games.
• He also had started his career as a badminton coach but took a break in 2019 to focus on Tokyo Paralympics qualification.
• In 2019, he received the Arjuna Award and Biju Patnaik Award for Excellence in Sports in India.

• Even if he loses and wins a silver, the 38-year-old District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) will have scripted history as the first-ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics , History beckons Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj when he steps into the court for the badminton finals at the Paralympics in Tokyo on Sunday with a shot at the gold medal.
• Even if he loses and wins a silver, the 38-year-old District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) will have scripted history as the first-ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics.
• Suhas, currently world No. 3 in SL4 category, has played three matches, including the semifinals on Saturday, in the ongoing Games. He has been at his dominating best against his rivals.
• While it took him less than 20 minutes to sail through the first two matches, Suhas outwitted Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-9 21-15 in 31 minutes in the first semifinal.
• The 2007-batch IAS officer, with a leg impairment, will face top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the final on Sunday.
• “History under making! Suhas L Y, IAS, DM GB Nagar (Noida), UP, India in Men’s singles para-badminton SL4 finals. He beats Indonesia’s S Freddy 2-0 in semifinals. Now will be playing for Gold on September 5.

• The BA (I) student Narwal shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the yellow metal while Adana, who had won the bronze in the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1 event on Tuesday, added a silver to his kitty with an effort of 216.7.
• Indian para-athletes continue to impress at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics as Indians won two more medals on Saturday. 19-year-old shooter Manish Narwal won gold in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event and Singhraj Singh won silver.
• This is India’s third gold at the ongoing Paralympics. The 19-year-old Narwal shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the yellow metal while Adana, who had won the bronze in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event on Tuesday, added a silver to his kitty with an effort of 216.7.
• Russian Olympic Committee’s Sergey Malyshev took home the bronze with an effort of 196.8.
• The ministers from other BRICS countries also highlighted their targets and achievements in the field of energy transition and climate change.

• Armed with the insights on the conditions by Tokyo Olympians, Harvinder Singh wins India’s 13th Paralympic medal and the first in archery.
• Harvinder Singh remembers his focus being drawn away from the 12.2 centimetre 10-point archery target placed 70 metres away. He was at a pre-Paralympic training camp at the SAI campus in Sonipat when Tarundeep Rai and Atanu Das walked in, fresh from their Olympic sojourn. It was a distraction for the 29-year-old, but a welcomed one.
• He got to chatting with the duo, asking them about the conditions he should expect when he competed at the Yumenoshima Park in Tokyo. Those few insights were all he needed to, on Friday, win India’s 13th medal at the ongoing Paralympics.
• Harvinder scored a perfect 10 in the shoot-off to beat South Korea’s Kim Min Su 6-5 to earn bronze in the third-placed playoff.

Lekhara had become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold by claiming the top honours in the 10 m air rifle standing SH1 event.

Trailblazing shooter Avani Lekhara on September 3 became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals by claiming the 50 m rifle 3 Position SH1 bronze to add to an unprecedented gold she had won earlier in the ongoing Games here.

The 19-year-old Lekhara qualified second for the event with a score of 1176, including 51 inner 10s.

In the fiercely contested finals, Lekhara totalled 445.9 to finish ahead of Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik, who let slip her grip on the medal spot with a poor third shot of 9.9 in the elimination.

The Jaipur-based shooter, who sustained spinal cord injuries in a car accident in 2012, had fired a world record equalling total of 249.6, which was also a new Paralympic record.

Joginder Singh Sodhi is the only other Indian to win multiple medals in the same edition of the Games. Sodhi won a silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics. His silver came in shot put, while the two bronze medals were won in discus and javelin throw events.

• Neither Lionel Messi nor Neymar had great performances for their teams.
• Leaders Brazil and second-place Argentina won their away matches in South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday ahead of their superclasico. Neither Lionel Messi nor Neymar had great performances for their teams.
• Brazil topped Chile 1-0 in Santiago in a tense match despite the absence of nine of its England-based players, including five starters, who were not released by their clubs due to COVID-19-related quarantine restrictions.
• The only goal of the match was scored by substitute Everton Ribeiro. Brazil now has 21 points with seven wins after seven matches. Chile is seventh with six points.
• Brazil’s arch rivals Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-1 at the Olimpico Stadium in Caracas. Lautaro Martinez, Joaquin Correa and Angel Correa scored for the visitors. Jeferson Soteldo netted from the spot for the hosts seconds before the final whistle.
• Argentina is second on the table with 15 points. Venezuela is on the bottom of the 10-team round robin with four points.
• This round of South American qualifiers has seen several England-based players not travel due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the British government to countries of the region. Argentina, though, did not lose any of the four it called in.
• The first four teams will automatically qualify to play in Qatar next year. The fifth-place team will take part in an international playoff.

• Devendra Jhajharia won silver in the men's F46 javelin throw event with a personal best effort of 64.35m. Two-time reigning world champion Sundar Singh Gurjar won bronze with a throw of 64.01m. Vinod Kumar's bronze medal in men's discus throw F52 will not stand.
• India's Devendra Jhajharia won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw - F46 final event on Monday at the Tokyo Paralympics with his best throw of 64.35, while Sundar Singh Gurjar won the bronze medal in the same event with his best throw of 64.01. The duo took India's total medal tally at the Paralympics 2020 Games to seven.
• Jhajharia started the event with two average throws of just over 60m mark, but then his third throw went 64.35m, reigniting hopes of a medal. The fourth and fifth throw from the Indian para-athlete were registered as fouls and the final one was registered at 61.23m.
• Sundar, too, started slow but registered a throw above the 64m mark in his fifth attempt to get into the medal contention.
• The third Indian javelin thrower in the final Ajeet Singh finished in the 8th position in the final.
• The F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms, with athletes competing in a standing position.
• The 40-year-old Jhajahria, already India's greatest Paralympian after winning gold medals in the 2004 and 2016 Games, pulled off a new personal best throw of 64.35m for the silver.

South Africa's Dale Steyn announces retirement from all forms of cricket. South African pacer Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Since making his international debut in 2004, He played 93 Tests, 125 ODIs and 47 T20Is.

Key Point

• The veteran pacer, who is fondly known as 'Steyn Gun' among fans for his express pace.
• Steyn had already retired from Tests in August 2019 to prolong his career after a number of injuries.
• He made his first debut in tests in 2004

About Dale Steyn

Dale Willem Steyn is a South African former professional cricketer who played for the South African Cricket Team. He is often regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and the best Test bowler of his generation.

Avani became the first Indian woman to win first gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

This 19-year-old created a record at Paralympics by equalling the world record of Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik.

Cuiping Zhang of China won silver medal with a score of 248.9 while Iryna Shchetnik won the bronze medal with a score of 227.5.

She is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold following swimmer Murlikant Petkar in 1972, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in 2004 & 2016 and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan in 2016.

Avani finished 7th with a score of 621.7 and become the 5th Indian athlete to won a gold medal in the Paralympics Games.

She was born on November 8, 2001. Avani sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2012. She started shooting after reading the autobiography of Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra. She tried hand in different sports with her father’s support but ultimately, she got inclined towards shooting.

Shooter Avani Lekhara wins gold in R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1; becomes first Indian woman to win gold at Paralympics.

Wrestler-turned-javelin thrower Sumit Antil scripted history by winning gold with a world record effort of 68.55m in F64 event on Monday. Earlier in the day, shooter Avani Lekhara also created history as she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. The 19-year-old finished with a world record equalling total of 249.6, which is also a new Paralympic record. Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men's F56 event. The 24-year-old, a B.Com graduate from New Delhi's Kirorimal College, sent the disc to a best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver. Two-time gold-winning javelin throw veteran Devendra Jhajharia clinched a stupendous third Paralympic medal. Sundar Singh Gurjar also chipped in with a bronze, finishing behind Jhajharia in the men's javelin throw F46 final. Stay with Times of India to get all the live updates on Paralympics 2020, India Events at Paralympic Games, Results, Medal Table and more.

Golden day for India at the Paralympics

It was a golden day for India at the Paralympics as they produced as many as 5 medals for the country, including two golds courtesy Avani and Sumit. Shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history as she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. Debutant Sumit smashed his own world record multiple times for the F64 class gold, while veteran Devendra Jhajharia's F46 category silver cemented his status of being India's greatest para-athlete as javelin throwers led the country's track-and-field medal rush at the Paralympics on Monday. Another javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar picked up bronze in Jhajharia's event, while discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya's F56 silver ensured that India made its presence felt across the podium and through the day.

Indian boxers won six gold medals along with nine silver and five bronze medals in the Asian Youth Championship.

Highlights

• In the event, women’s competition was significantly depleted because of pullouts caused by COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
• Preeti Dahiya, Sneha Kumari, Khushi and Neha won the gold medals in the women’s draw.
• Out of 10 women finalists, six made directly to the finals because of small size of their respective draws.
• Dahiya defeated Kazakhstan’s Zuldyz Shayakmetova by 3-2.
• Khushi defeated Dana Diday of Kazakhstan by 3-0 in bouts.
• Bishwamitra Chongtham and Vishal are the gold-winners in the men’s competition.
• Preeti, Khushi, Tanisha Sandhu, Nivedita, Tamanna and Simran won the silver medals in women’s competition.
• Vishvanath Suresh, Vanshaj and Jaydeep Rawat won silver medals in men’s competition.

Background

Five Indian boxers, including one woman, earlier won bronze medals in youth event after they lose in semi-finals. Daksh, Deepak, Abhimanyu and Aman Singh Bisht won the bronze medals. In women’s category, Lashu Yadav won bronze medal.

Last edition of the competitions

Last edition of Asian Youth Championships was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. India had won 12 medals, including five gold. The gold medallists in youth category were awarded with USD 6,000, silver medallists got USD 3,000 while bronze medallists got USD 1,500.  In the junior competition held along with the Championships, India had won eight gold, five silver and six bronze medals.

Asian Youth Athletics Championships

It is a biennial, continental athletics competition held for Asian athletes. It is organised by the Asian Athletics Association. The first championships were held in 2015. It is a youth category event that is held for athletes aged fifteen and seventeen.

Sumit Antil is an Indian paralympian and javelin thrower won a gold medal in men's javelin throw F64 category at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

He was born 6 July 1998 and is from Sonepat in Haryana. He lost his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015. 
Sumit is supported by the GoSports Foundation[5] through the Para Champions Programme.Sumit was introduced to Para athletics by another para athlete, Rajkumar, while he was pursuing his B.Com in Delhi.

Sumit Antil came into Tokyo Paralympics as the world record holder in F64 category of men's javelin throw. He was also ranked world No1. He shattered his old world record in the very first attempt throwing 66.95m. He beat that on his second attempt with a massive effort of 68.08m as he led the field from the start.

He won Silver medal at World Para Athletics Championships, Dubai, 2019 and in the process broke his own world record in the F64 category.

Avani became the first Indian woman to win first gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

This 19-year-old created a record at Paralympics by equalling the world record of Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik.

Avani finished 7th with a score of 621.7 and become the 5th Indian athlete to won a gold medal in the Paralympics Games. 

Cuiping Zhang of China won silver medal with a score of 248.9 while Iryna Shchetnik won the bronze medal with a score of 227.5.

She was born on November 8, 2001. Avani sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2012. She started shooting after reading the autobiography of Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra. She tried hand in different sports with her father’s support but ultimately, she got inclined towards shooting.

She is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold following swimmer Murlikant Petkar in 1972, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in 2004 & 2016 and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan in 2016.

Devendra Jhajharia grabbed silver with a personal best throw of 64.35 in Tokyo 2020 Games. This was also his third medal at Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, Sundar captured bronze with a season-best throw of 62.58.

Devendra Jhajharia is born in 10 June 1981 is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower and is first Indian Paralympics player to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for his country and other at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sundar Singh Gurjar was born on 1 January 1996 in Karauli, Rajasthan. He is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower, shot putter and discus thrower competing in F46 events. He won bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in men's javelin F46 event. He set a world record at the 16th Para Athletics National Championship in Panchkula holding three gold medals in three events. He is also recipient of Arjun Award for Para-athletics.

On August 30, 2021, Shooter Avani Lekhara has won India’s first gold medal in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Key Points

• Avani Lekhara won medal in women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH1) event
• She is a 19-year-old Lekhara and created a record at Paralympics by equalling the world record of Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik.
• Iryna Shchetnik had a record score of 249.6 in 2018.
• Avani became the first Indian woman to win first gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
• Cuiping Zhang of China won silver medal with a score of 248.9 while Iryna Shchetnik won the bronze medal with a score of 227.5.
• Avani finished 7th with a score of 621.7 and become the 5th Indian athlete to won a gold medal in the Paralympics Games.
• She is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold following swimmer Murlikant Petkar in 1972, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in 2004 & 2016 and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan in 2016.

India’s Medal Tally

India has won 19 medals so far across all 11 editions of Tokyo Paralympics Games since 1960. It comprises of 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze.

About Avani Lekhara

Avani Lekhara is an Indian Paralympic athlete of the shooting event. She was born on November 8, 2001. She has been currently ranked at World No. 5 in Women’s 10m Air Rifle standing (SH1). She competed in the 2018 Asian Para Games and has been getting support by GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme. Avani sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2012. She started shooting after reading the autobiography of Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra. She tried hand in different sports with her father’s support but ultimately, she got inclined towards shooting.

• Indian table tennis player Bhavina Patel signed off with a historic silver medal in her maiden Paralympic Games after going down 0-3 to world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the women's singles class 4 final here on August 29.

• The 34-year-old Patel's impressive run at the Games ended with a 7-11 5-11 6-11 loss to Zhou,a two-time gold medallist, in the women's singles summit clash which lasted 19 minutes. 
• In the quarterfinal on Friday, Patel had defeated 2016 Rio Paralympics gold medallist and world number two Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia to assure a medal and script history.
• BHAVINA DEVI IS FROM -  GUJRAT { INDIA }

• He defeated Mongolia's Otgonbayar Tuvshinzaya.
• National champion Rohit Chamoli (48kg) defeated Mongolia's Otgonbayar Tuvshinzaya in an intense final to clinch the gold in the Asian Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai on Sunday.
• Chamoli rallied after losing the opening round to prevail 3-2 in the hard-fought contest.
• Later tonight, Gaurav Saini (70kg) and Bharat Joon (+81kg) will fight for gold medals in the men's competition.
• Muskan (46kg), Vishu Rathee (48kg), Tanu (52kg), Aanchal Saini (57kg), Nikita (60kg), Mahi Raghav (63kg), Rudrika (70kg), Pranjal Yadav (75kg), Sanjana (81kg) and Kirti (+81kg) will be competing in the girls' finals.
• India has already won six bronze medals in the junior event after Devika Ghorpade (50kg), Aarzoo (54kg) and Supriya Rawat (66kg) lost in the girls semi-finals while Ashish (54kg), Anshul (57kg) and Ankush (66kg) also claimed bronze in the boys' event.
• In the last Asian Junior Championships held in 2019 in Fujairah, UAE, India had finished third with 21 medals (six gold, nine silver and six bronze).

Ladakh adopted two endangered species, Snow Lepard and Black Necked Crane, as its State animal and State bird respectively on September 1, 2021.

Key Points

• Ladakh adopted these species two years after it was separate Union created as a separate Union Territory (UT) from the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
• Sonow Leopard and Balck Necked Crane are the designated State animal and State bird respectively from the date of issue of the notification.

Black-Necked Crane

Balck Necked Crane  are scientifically known as Grus nigricollis. It is a medium-sized crane found in Asia. It breeds on the Tibetan Plateau and remote parts of India & Bhutan. The crane is 139 cm long with a wingspan of 235 cm and weighs of 5.5 kg. It is whitish-grey in colour along with a black head, red crown patch, white patch to the rear of eye, black upper neck & legs. Some of its populations are known to make seasonal movements. It is respected in Buddhist traditions and is culturally protected in much of its range. In India, Black-necked crane are only found in Ladakh region. It was the State bird of J&K before it was made a UT in 2019.  It is an endangered species.

Snow leopard

Snow Leopard is scientifically called as Panthera uncia. It is a felid of genus Panthera and is native to the mountain ranges in Central and South Asia. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List as its global population is lesser than 10,000 mature individuals. It is expected to decline by 10% by 2040. Poaching and habitat destruction are the biggest threat to them.

• Sands of time: The giant finds in western Rajasthan are estimated to be 200 million years old
• In a major discovery, footprints of three species of dinosaurs have been found in the Thar desert in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, proving the presence of the giant reptiles in the western part of the State, which formed the seashore to the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic era.
• The footprints, made in the sediment or silt of the seashore, later become permanently stone-like. They belong to three species of dinosaurs — Eubrontes cf. giganteus, Eubrontes glenrosensis and Grallator tenuis. While the giganteus and glenrosensis species have 35 cm footprints, the footprint of the third species was found to be 5.5 cm.
• Virendra Singh Parihar, Assistant Professor, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, a member of the team of palaeontologists that made the discovery recently, told The Hindu on Friday that the footprints were 200 million years old. They were found near Jaisalmer’s Thaiat village.
• The dinosaur species are considered to be of the theropod type, with the distinguishing features of hollow bones and feet with three digits. All the three species, belonging to the early Jurassic period, were carnivorous, said Dr. Parihar.
• Eubrontes could have been 12 to 15 metres long and weighed between 500 kg and 700 kg, while the height of the Grallator is estimated to have been two metres, as much as a human, with a length of up to three metres.
• Careful geological observations enabled the scientists to interpret ancient environments in which the rocks of the footprints, which were once soft sediments, were deposited. Geochemical analyses and calculation of weathering indices showed that the hinterland climate was seasonal to semi-arid during the deposition of the footprints.

• Of the 1,108 applications received for the Delhi government’s teachers’ awards, 122 have been finalised by a panel, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia
• The Delhi government will celebrate Teachers Day on Sunday as ‘Abhar Diwas’ and award 122 teachers who discharged their duties diligently during the COVID-19 pandemic, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on September 4.
• Besides, the new ‘Face of DoE’ (Directorate of Education) awards will be given to two teachers — Raj Kumar and Suman Arora.
• Also, two special awards will be given to Bharti Kalra and Rani Bhardwaj who during the pandemic provided tablet devices to the students and supported them in various ways so that they can continue with their studies, the Deputy CM said.
• He said that of the 1,108 applications received for the Delhi government’s teachers’ awards, 122 have been finalised by a panel.
• Mr. Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said earlier the number of awards were 103 and this year it has been increased.
• The eligibility criteria have been relaxed to bring guest teachers and private tutors under consideration for the award. The norm of 15 years of teaching experience to be considered for the award has been relaxed to three years, he added.
• The recipients will be presented with the awards at a ceremony on Teachers Day on September 5.

• Farmers from across the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and the southern states, will take part in the event.
• A "kisan mahapanchayat" on issues related to farmers, including three new agriculture laws of the Centre, has been convened in this Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district on Sunday.
• The venue for the "mahapanchayat" that would be held under the banner of "Kisan Morcha" would be the government college compound, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said on Friday, adding that farmers from across the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and the southern states, will take part in the event.
• The district administration has stepped up the security measures in view of the event, officials said.

• Directs TN Govt to ensure use of only native breeds
• The Madras High Court has directed the State government to ensure that only native breed of bulls are allowed to participate in Jallikattu. Henceforth, there should be a prohibition on participation of foreign breeds such as Bos Taurus or cross / hybrid breed bulls (Bos Taurus x Bos Indicus).
• Justices N. Kirubakaran (since retired) and P. Velmurugan passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by E. Seshan (71) of Chennai. He had insisted on participation of native bulls alone in events such as Jallikattu, Manjuvirattu, Oormadu, Vadamadu, Vadamanjivirattu and Eruduthu Viduthal.
• Agreeing with the concerns expressed by the petitioner who lamented loss of native species, the judges directed the government to encourage bull owners and farmers to groom native breeds by providing subsidy or incentives to farmers or bull owners who do so. Veterinarians must certify the bulls before participation in Jallikattu, they ordered.
• The court also warned veterinarians of contempt of court proceedings if they falsely certify an imported or cross/hybrid breed as a native breed and if such illegality was brought to the notice of the court. Such veterinarians would also be subjected to departmental proceedings, the court said.
• The Bench also ordered that the government should, as far as possible, avoid artificial insemination of animals since it would deny mating rights of animals and thereby amount to cruelty under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.
• Recalling that hundreds of bulls would get paraded to the Mandaiveli (yards) in each village during Pongal festival, the judges rued that the number had thinned now, and the native bulls were fast disappearing from villages forcing the latter to lose their originality.
• The Bench pointed out that the State government had enacted a legislation in 2017 for conduct of Jallikattu and the primary objective of that legislation was to preserve native breeds such as Pulikulam, Umbalachery, Nattumadu, Malaimadu and Kangeyam.
• Historic high court of Madras, built in 1892, featuring monumental Indo-Saracenic architecture.
• Address: High Ct Rd, Parry's Corner, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600108
• Founded: 15 August 1862, India
• Established: 1862

• Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu said State-level and district-level committees have been constituted for selection of beneficiaries for the schemes.
• “The government has earmarked a subsidy amount of ?60 crore against the newly launched Atma Nirbhar Krishi Yojna (ANKY) in the agriculture sector and another ?60 crore against the Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana (ANBY) in the horticulture sector under the credit linked schemes,” Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Bidol Tayeng said.
• Under both the schemes, end-to-end holistic approach has been made, covering pre-production, production, post-harvest management, processing and marketing to assure appropriate returns to growers and producers in the State.
• The objective of the schemes is to promote credit discipline and encourage banking sector to support ground level agriculture and horticulture activities besides ensuring timely availability of funds.
• The schemes can be availed by any individual farmers as well as self help groups and Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs) and if any, individual farmer avails the scheme within ?1.6 lakh, no collateral or bank guarantee would be required and for self help groups availing the scheme within or up to ?10 lakh, no collateral or bank guarantee would be required.
• The scheme will be distributed across the State and the applicants need to apply at the concerned deputy commissioner office in their respective districts. About ?300 crore investments would be done in the sector, out of which the government subsidy component would be of ?120 crore.
• Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state in Northeast India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency region, and became a state on 20 February 1987. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south.
  National Parks in Arunachal Pradesh
  Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh. ...
  Mouling National Park. ...
  Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
  Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
  Kane Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
  Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
  Sessa Orchid Sanctuary.

Ladakh on Wednesday adopted two endangered species, snow leopard and black-necked crane, as State animal and State bird, two years after it was carved out as a separate Union Territory (UT) from the erstwhile State of J&K.

“The snow leopard (Panther unica) and black-necked crane (Grus nicricollis) shall be the State animal and State bird respectively of the UT of Ladakh from the date of issue of the notification,” reads an order issued by the Lieutenant Administration (LG) of Ladakh.

Black-necked crane, only found in Ladakh region, was the State bird of J&K before August 5, 2019.

“Black-necked crane and snow leopard are two endangered species and the pride of Ladakh,” said Konchok Stanzin, Councillor from the Chushul constituency.

Black-necked cranes, considered loyal couples, are only found in Ladakh’s Changthang region.

Snow leopard, whose numbers are dwindling wordwide, has been categorised as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed an act by which Ladakh became a union territory on 31 October 2019.

• Incentives were announced to the MSMEs as part of the Industrial Development Policy 2020-23
• Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will release financial incentives amounting to ?1,124 crore to textile and spinning mills (?684 crore) and MSMEs (?440 crore) under the ReStart scheme on September 3.
• With this, the incentives disbursed to the MSME sector in the last two years reached nearly ?2,087 crore, according to an official release.
• It said incentives were announced to the MSMEs as part of the Industrial Development Policy 2020-23, and that priority has been attached to hand-holding the MSMEs which make a substantial contribution to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
• The support to textile and spinning mills has been envisaged keeping in view their huge potential for employment generation and the leading position occupied by Andhra Pradesh (AP) in cotton production at the national level.
• Since the YSR Congress came to power, 68 large and mega industries have set up their units in AP and began commercial production with investments aggregating to ?30,175 crore.
• Besides, 62 large and mega projects are under implementation with a total investment of ?36,384 crore, according to the press release.
• Jagan Mohan Reddy. Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy (born 21 December 1972), also known as Y. S. Jagan or Jagan is an Indian politician serving as the 17th and current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh since 2019. He is also the founder and president of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh, launched ‘Innovation Mission Punjab’ (IMPunjab) on September 1, 2021.

Highlights

• IMPunjab is a public-private partnership mission that will bring in global investors and experts to catalyze start-ups.
• This Mission will boost the growth potential of Punjab and create a thriving economy by means of generating jobs and inviting investment.
• It will also mobilise a global pool of ambassadors and partners to attract investment, mentorship and market access.
• It will leverage the strength of Punjabi diaspora and allow them to partake in the renewed growth story of Punjab apart from running focused programmes to encourage entrepreneurship among women.
• Mission will act as a catalyst towards strengthening the growth by rallying all the stakeholders like incubators, academia, investors, startups, progressive farmers, government, sports people, media, industry and corporate.
• It is a unique ‘public-private partnership Project’ that will be championed by private sector and a strong government backing.

Punjab- an entrepreneurial state

Punjab is an entrepreneurial State, having a strong footprint of entrepreneurs worldwide as well as in India. The state has a burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem comprising of 450 start-ups and 20 plus incubators.

Partners in the project

The Department of Agriculture, Industries & Commerce, Mandi Board and Startup Punjab are the partners in this mission. They are providing over Rs. 30 crores in cash and kind. It also includes:

1. Operating expenses for the first three years,
2. 10-year rent-free lease for 12,000 square feet at Kalkat Bhavan and
3. support to start-ups & incubators in Punjab.

Three pillars of Mission

Mission stands on three pillars:

1. Pollinator
2. Create a network of virtual incubators and
3. Organising events like bootcamps, ideathons and pitch days in order to create a vibrant start-up ecosystem.

A road connecting Leh to the Pangong Lake was inaugurated on August 31, 2021 by Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal.

Highlights

• The stretch passing through the Kela Pass at 18,600 feet is the world’s highest motorable way.
• The road was constructed by 58 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army.
• It will reduce the distance between Leh (Zingral to Tangtse) to Pangong Lake crossing the Kela Pass by 41 kms.

Significance of the road

This road will play a significant role in boosting the socio-economic status of local residents, primarily for the people of Lalok region of Ladakh. It will facilitate tourism and tourists will see world’s highest motorable road, rare medicinal plants, participate in snow sport activities etc.

Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake

It is an endorheic lake spreading into eastern Ladakh and West Tibet. It is situated at an elevation of 4,225 m. The lake is 134 km long and divided into five sub lakes namely, Pangong Tso, Rum Tso (twin lakes), Tso Nyak, and Nyak Tso. 50% of the length of overall lake in located in Tibet China while 40% in Ladakh India. 10% of the lake is disputed and is considered as de-facto buffer zone between India and China. This lake is 5 km wide at its broadest point. It freezes completely during winter, despite being saline water.

Is the lake a wetland?

The lake is currently in the process of being identified under Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance and will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the Ramsar convention.

With a view to make metro accessible for transgender passengers, the DMRC has allowed them to use toilets which were till now meant only for disabled commuters, officials said on Sunday.

Transgender commuters who wish to use gender-based toilet as per self-identified gender can also continue to do so, they said.

At present, Delhi Metro has 347 such separate toilets across its stations, a senior official said.

To guide transgenders to these toilets, bilingual signages (English and Hindi both), along with symbols for both categories – 'Persons with Disability' and 'Transgenders' – have been installed adjacent to these toilets.

The provisions of section 22 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, mandates adequate welfare measures for the transgender persons at all public buildings including public toilet facilities

• More than a year after RTI activists were forced to flee for seeking information on the utilisation of Central funds by the Autonomous District Council (ADC) of Senapati district,beneficiaries in another Manipur district are allegedly being threatened for demanding details on how the money for developmental projects has been spent.
• The work agencies and beneficiaries of projects sanctioned under the ADC of Tamenglong district have accused the council’s former Chief Executive Officer Dinganglung Gangmei and Chairman Namsinrei Panmei of misusing 1,802.28 crore received under the 14th Finance Commission of 2017-18.Work agencies are locals chosen by the ADC for executing a range of developmental projects.
• The work agencies and beneficiaries said the authority concerned should be wary of the accused destroying evidence between the period of inquiry and their summoning by the Lokayukta.

Key Points
CM cited a Forbes India report on most surveilled cities across the world.
Forbes India report has ut Delhi on the top with 1,826.6 CCTV cameras per square mile.
Delhi is followed by London with 1,138 cameras per square mile.
Chennai was placed at third place with 609.9 CCTV cameras.
Report placed Mumbai at 18th place with 157.4 CCTV cameras per square mile.
Delhi was ranked at 1 among 150 cities of the world. Delhi has three times more CCTV cameras than Chennai and 11 times more than Mumbai.

CCTV Project
The CCTV project was launched under the larger action plan of government to enhance women safety Delhi. This project was also the main aspects of the manifesto of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020 assembly elections. In the first phase of this project, government installed about 275,000 cameras in city. Currently,
second phase of the project is running under which government has aimed to install 140,000 cameras in city.

• In the meeting, nine agenda items were taken for review, including eight projects and one scheme. Among the eight projects, three projects each were from the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and two projects were from the Ministry of Power.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday chaired a meeting of the 37th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT based multi-modal platform for ‘Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation’, involving the Centre as well as state governments.
• In the meeting, nine agenda items were taken for review, including eight projects and one scheme. Among the eight projects, three projects each were from the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and two projects were from the Ministry of Power.
• The cumulative cost of these eight projects amounts to Rs 1,26,000 crore and encompasses 14 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Delhi.
• The Prime Minister also reviewed the ‘One Nation – One Ration Card’ (ONORC) scheme and asked officials to explore the “multiple utilities of the technological platform developed under the scheme to ensure provision of a wide array of benefits to the citizens”.

• Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar on Thursday chaired a meeting of BRICS ministers of energy, an official statement said. He also launched the BRICS Energy Report 2021, BRICS Energy Technology Report 2021 and BRICS Energy Research Directory 2021.
• "Union Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, chaired the 'Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Energy' under the Chairship of India," the power ministry statement said.
• Energy ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) and delegates attended the virtual meeting. This was the 6th meeting of BRICS energy ministers and a joint communique was adopted.

India is all set to host a key conference on 3 - September as part of the International Climate Summit (ICS) 2020-21 to build a dialogue for India's transition to clean energy. Policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, experts, and scientists from across the globe are going to be a part of the climate summit. Union ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Jitendra Singh, NITI Aayog member Dr VK Saraswat and Sturle Harald Pedersen, chairperson of Greenstat India, Norway are some of the eminent participants.

Key Points

• Dr Ashish Kishore Lele, the director of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), said that the key conference on Friday is especially significant for India and by extension, the rest of the world since it will mark the future mitigation strategies of climate change.
• He stressed the need to adopt these alternative strategies, highlighting the problems that arose due to dependence on conventional fuels.
• Hydrogen power, one such 'alternative' strategy for India's energy signature, has been in the headlines ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech on August 15 announced a 'National Hydrogen Mission'.

A major conference on climate change - COP26 - is also scheduled to take place at Glasgow in Scotland from October 31 to November 12, 2021. COP26 President Alok Sharma said last month that it will be the last chance to ensure global temperature increases don’t exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius - the lower limit of the Paris Agreement.

• Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbanand Sonowal while launching the mobile application said it has been developed to give solace to employees experiencing physical issues due to their jobs. Union Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal on Wednesday launched the ‘Yoga-Break’ application for working professionals to de-stress, refresh and re-focus at their workplace to increase their productivity. 
• The event was attended by Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State Science and Technology and Earth Science, Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture and Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State for Ayushand Women and Child Development. Talking about the recognition of Yoga worldwide, Sonowal said, Yoga is now popular world-wide. It has reached almost every part of the globe.
• The launch was a part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a series of events organised by the Union government to celebrate 75th year of India’s Independence. The ministry of Ayush has been allotted one week from August 30 to September 5 for promotion of several activities of Ayush, including the launch of Y-Break app, organising camps for school for Ayush systems, launch of Ashwagandha as prophylactic medicine, and distribution of medicinal plants for farmers and public.

India has become the first Asian Country to launch a Plastics pact on September 3, 2021.

Key Points

• This new platform was developed by World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• It will help to promote a circular system for plastics.
• New platform was launched by British High Commissioner to India, Alexander Ellis.
• It will bring together prominent enterprises on a national level in order to make pledges for the creation of a circular plastics system.

Aim of the pact

• Commitments under the pact are aimed at keeping plastic packaging in the economy and out of natural environment.
• It mentioned 17 businesses including major FMCG brands, manufacturers, retailers and recyclers who have committed with the pact as founding members. Nine businesses have joined as supporting organisations.
• The pact provides for time-bound targets of reducing, innovating and re-imagining plastic packaging.
• It aims to define a list of unnecessary or problematic plastic packaging & items and take measures to address these problems with the help of redesign and innovation, by 2030.
• Under the pact, 100 per cent of plastic packaging will be made reusable or recyclable, 50 per cent of plastic packaging will be effectively recycled and 25 per cent average recycled content will be made across all plastic packaging.

Plastic waste in India

India generates about 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Out of this, 40 per cent are not collected. In India, half of all plastics production are used in packaging and most of it is single use plastic.

Who provide support to plastic pacts?

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and WRAP fully support the plastic pact in India. They also support plastics pacts in Europe, US, Australia, and Africa.

This is a significant move, as the world’s largest coal miner uses over 4 lakh kilolitres of diesel per annum with an annual expense of over 3,500 crore
State-owned CIL on September 1 said it has begun the process of retrofitting LNG kits in its dumpers — big trucks engaged in transportation of coal, a move that will help the PSU to save around ?500 crore annually.

“In a big push to reduce its carbon footprint, national miner Coal India Ltd. [CIL] has initiated the process of retrofitting Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] kits in its dumpers,” the company said in a statement.
The company in association with GAIL (India) Ltd. and BEML Ltd. has taken up a pilot project for retrofitting LNG kits in its two 100 tonne dumpers working at CIL subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL).

CIL on August 31 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GAIL an BEML to get this pilot project executed.

Once the LNG kit is successfully retrofitted and tested, these dumpers will be able to run on dual fuel systems , both on LNG and Diesel, and their operations will be significantly cheaper and cleaner with use of LNG.

LNG will replace the use of diesel by about 30% to 40% and reduce the fuel cost by about 15%.

“The move will reduce carbon emission significantly and also save around ?500 crore annually if all existing Heavy Earth Moving Machines [HEMMs] including dumpers are retrofitted with LNG kit. Getting rid of diesel pilferages and adulteration are other added advantages,” the company said.

Based on the outcomes of this pilot project, CIL will decide for bulk use of LNG in its HEMMs, especially dumpers.

The company has also planned to buy HEMMs with only LNG engines if this ongoing pilot project is successful. This move will help CIL reduce its carbon footprint drastically and achieve sustainable goals.

Notably, major mining dumper manufacturers worldwide are now switching for manufacturing of dumpers having engines with dual fuel (LNG-Diesel) systems.

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), use of leaded petrol has been eradicated from the globe.

Highlights

• UNEP highlighted, this milestone will prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths and save over USD 2.4 trillion annually for world economies.
• This milestone was achieved century after doctors first issued warnings regarding the toxic effects of leaded petrol, Algeria (last country to use the fuel) exhausted the supplies in July 2021.
• It is a big milestone for global health and environment as well.
• UNEP also warned that, use of fossil fuel must still be drastically reduced, in general, to do away with the frightening effects of climate change.

Background

During 1970s, almost all the gasoline that used to be sold worldwide contained lead. The UNEP launched its campaign called “Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV)” for eradication of ‘leaded petrol’ in 2002. Major economies including United States, China and India had already stopped using fuel in 2002. But, the situation in lower-income countries was critical. Concerns regarding the leaded petrol were first raised in 1924.

Impact of leaded petrol

1. Use of leaded petrol in transport sector is responsible for about quarter of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions. It is set to grow to one third by the year 2050.
2. Leaded petrol causes major health problems like heart disease, stroke and cancer.
3. Leaded petrol also impacts the development of human brain.

Significance of eradication

Eradication of leaded petrol is expected to support realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) like good health & well-being, clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities, climate action and life on land.

Latham’s Snipe shorebird fly non-stop from Japan to Australia twice in a year. The bird takes five days to cover the distance of thousands of kilometres of ocean for their survival.

Highlights

• The migratory shorebird is similar in size to a blackbird.
• It completes the gruelling migration to warmer climes and prepare itself for its return flight and next breeding season.

Latham’s snipe

The bird is also known as Japanese Snipe and is scientifically called as Gallinago hardwickii. It is a medium-sized, long-billed, migratory snipe in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. It is 29–33 cm in length with a wingspan of 50–54 cm. It is 150–230 g in weight.

Features of the bird

The bird is identified as a Gallinago snipe by its cryptically-patterned black, brown, buff and white plumage. However, it is not easy to distinguish from Swinhoe’s and pin-tailed snipe.

Habitat

The bird mainly breeds in Hokkaido in northern Japan and in small proportion in Honshu (eastern Russian mainland).  Historically, it used to breed in Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands. Breeding habitat of the bird in Asia include alpine moorland, rough pasture, young tree plantations, grasslands and cultivated areas.

Migration

They migrate and spend most of their non-breeding season in eastern Australia, where it is the common Gallinago snipe. It has also been recorded on migration in Taiwan, New Guinea and the Philippines. It is a rare straggler to New Zealand.

Status of the bird

This bird is the Least Concern species.  In Australia it was earlier hunted as a gamebird but it is now protected. The bird is listed as “rare” under South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Uttarakhand: Indian Meteorological Department issues orange alert, predicts heavy rain

Key Points

•The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on August 29, 2021, issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand for the next 48 hours. The state has been receiving intermittent rains causing waterlogging and landslides.

•More than 200 roads including 5 National Highways (NH) and 15 state highways have been blocked in Uttarakhand due to heavy rains, stated the Disaster Management Department (DMD).

•IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfalls in Dehradun, Nainital, and Pauri, along with Champawat, Tehri, and Pithoragarh to receive heavy rainfalls.

•On August 27, 2021, Maldevta Sahastradhara Link road got submerged in water with the Asan river overflowing due to heavy rains in Dehradun. The Ranipokhari Rishikesh road was also closed due to the collapse of the bridge over the Asan river.

What is Ornage Alert

Orange alerts are issued as a warning for 6 cm to 20 cm of rains in 24 hours with potential disruption in transport and power supply. Yellow alerts indicate 6 to 11 cm of rainfall in a day that could worsen over coming days. Green alert means no warning.

Indian construction firm, AFCONS, signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure project in Maldives on August 26, 2021.

Key Points

• This project is dubbed as The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
• It will comprise of a 6.74 km-long bridge and causeway link between Male and islands of Villingli, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu.
• Project will be completed by Indian construction giant AFCONS.

Who signed the contract?

Contract for Greater Male Connectivity – Male to Thilafushi Link Project was signed between the Ministry of National Planning, Housing & Infrastructure and AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd.

Funding for the project

India has provided a grant of $100 million and a Line of Credit of $400 million to fund the project.

About GMCP project

GMCP project is a bigger project than the Sinamale Bridge that was built with Chinese assistance. Sinamale Bridge connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule and was completed in the year 2018. GMCP project aims to connect four islands that accounts for half of Maldivian population. It will add dynamism to Maldivian transport and economic activities. It will connect Male with planned international port of Gulhifalhu and an industrial zone at Thilafushi. Project will use renewable energy and will utilise solar power for lighting purposes. GMCP project comprises of:

1. Three navigation bridges of 140 m span across a deep channel between four islands,
2. 41 km of marine viaduct in deep water
3. 32 km of marine viaduct in shallow water or on land
4. 96 km of at-grade roads.

Background

Contract for GMCP project was signed following a bilateral consultation between India and the Maldives. It was under discussion since the visit of External Affairs Minister of India to Male in September 2019.