Daily Current Affairs September 27 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

TruCap and HDFC Bank Collaborate for Co-Lending to Support Underserved MSME Borrowers

• TruCap Finance Limited (TRU), a non-banking finance company specializing in gold and business loans, and HDFC Bank have entered into a co-lending partnership.
• TRU will utilize its Lending-as-a-Service (L-a-a-S) model as part of this partnership to deliver quality credit solutions to underserved borrowers.
• The partnership aims to provide MSME business loans and Gold Loans to borrowers, with a particular focus on those located in non-urban or rural areas.

Key Highlights : 

• Industry estimates indicate that the MSME sector has an overall credit demand of Rs 69.3 trillion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%. 
• Less than 15% of this demand is met by formal lending channels.
• TRU, which specialises in MSME lending, focuses on offering affordable credit solutions aimed at propelling the growth of small businesses.
• Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TRU : Rohan Juneja

About HDFC Bank : 

• Founded : 1994
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan.
• Tagline : We Understand Your World

SBI Launches Digital NRE and NRO Account Opening via YONO App

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to effortlessly open Non-Residential External (NRE) and Non- Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts (both savings and current accounts) through its mobile app YONO.
• This service is designed for NTB or ‘new to bank’ customers, providing them with ease and efficiency in the account opening process.

Key Highlights : 

• With the launch of this digital service, NRIs can open their NRE/NRO accounts from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for an in-person visit to India.
• The State Bank of India’s NRI customers can track the application status of their account opening process in real-time every step of the way.
• This initiative fulfils a long-standing demand from NRI customers for a hassle-free way to open and manage their accounts in India.

How to open an NRI/NRO account through YONO?

• Step 1: Download YONO SBI app
• Step 2: Select the option to open an NRE/NRO account
• Step 3: On successful submission customers have two options to submit their KYC through
• Option a) Submit documents at an SBI branch of choice in India
• Option b) – Attest the KYC documents by a Notary, Indian Embassy, High Commission, SBI Foreign Office, Representative Office, Court Magistrate, or Judge and mail them to a centrally designated branch for processing

What is the difference between NRE and NRO?

• An Non-Residential External (NRE) account is a bank account opened in India in the name of an NRI, to park his foreign earnings; whereas, an Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account is opened in India in the name of an NRI, to manage the income earned by him/her in India.

About SBI : 

• Founded : 1955
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Dinesh Kumar Khara
• Tagline : The Banker to Every Indian

RBI Reports ₹16.39 Crore Worth of E-Rupees in Circulation as of March 2023   

• As of March 2023, data from the Reserve Bank of India’s Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy for FY23 indicates that the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as the e-rupee, was in circulation with a total worth of Rs 16.39 crore.
• Out of the total e-rupee circulation, Rs 10.69 crore constituted wholesale CBDC, while Rs 5.70 crore comprised retail CBDC.
• The e-rupee serves as the digital representation of India’s legal tender, mirroring physical currency in various denominations and is distributed to banks.
• Among different denominations, Rs 500 CBDC notes had the highest circulation at Rs 2.71 crore, followed closely by Rs 200 notes at Rs 1.16 crore. Other denominations ranged from 50 paise to Rs 100, accounting for circulation percentages between Rs 0.01 and 0.83 crore.

CBDC Initiatives : 

• The Reserve Bank of India initiated two pilot programs for CBDC.
• The wholesale CBDC pilot, referred to as CBDC (W), began in November 2022, initially focusing on settling secondary market transactions in government securities.
• The retail pilot, known as CBDC (R), was launched in December 2022, within a closed user group comprising participating customers, banks, and merchants.
• The retail e-rupee was initially introduced with 8 public and private sector banks and has since been extended to more banks. It has also been made interoperable with UPI QR codes.
• In September, the RBI announced the successful completion and implementation of UPI interoperability with CBDC.
• The current focus is on increasing the volume of e-rupee transactions, with the aim of escalating daily transactions from approximately 15,000 to 1 million (10 lakh).

India’s Household Savings Hit Lowest Level in 5 Decades During FY23

• According to the data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicates that household savings in India have reached their lowest levels in decades.
• In Financial Year 2023 (FY23), household savings accounted for 5.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
• This is a significant drop from the 7.2% recorded in FY22.
• The annual financial liabilities of households increased to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, compared to 3.8% in FY22.
• Net assets of households in India have witnessed a decline.
• In FY21, these assets stood at Rs 22.8 trillion, but they decreased to Rs 16.96 trillion in FY22 and further dropped to Rs 13.76 trillion in FY23.
• The rate of increase in financial liabilities in FY22 was notably high and the second-highest since Independence, according to RBI data.
• Factors for Decline: The primary factors contributing to the decrease in savings and the rise in borrowing include stagnant or declining household incomes and increasing inflation
• The Finance Ministry has declined reports of distress regarding household savings and its overall impact on the economy.
• It has highlighted that household savings have shown a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.2% between 2013-14 and 2021-22.
• The Households added net financial assets by a lesser magnitude in Financial Year (FY) 23 than in the previous years because they have now started taking loans to buy real assets including homes.
• Additionally, vehicle loans have witnessed double-digit growth since April, 2022.

About Ministry of Finance : 

• Cabinet Minister : Nirmala Sitharaman
• Minister of State : Bhagwat Karad, Pankaj Choudhary

RBI Introduces Data Quality Index for Commercial & Microfinance Segments

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed credit information companies (CICs) to establish a common Data Quality Index (DQI) for both commercial and microfinance segments.
• RBI mandated that CICs should provide the DQIs for Commercial and Microfinance segments to all Credit Institutions (CIs) by March 31, 2024.

About Credit Information Companies (CICs) : 

• CICs collect public data, credit transactions, and payment histories of individuals and companies regarding loans and credit cards, among others.
• Their primary function is to gather data from various sources, such as banks, financial institutions, lenders, and other credit-granting entities, and then compile this data into credit reports.
• CICs in India are regulated by the RBI and governed by the Credit Information Companies Regulation Act, 2005 (CICRA) and other RBI rules and regulations.
• As per Section 15 of the CICRA, every Credit Institution (like banks) is required to be a member of at least one CIC.
• CICs are authorized to seek and obtain information from their member credit institutions.
• At present, 4 credit information companies are given certificates of registration by the RBI.
• These companies are Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL), Equifax Credit Information Services Private Limited, Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Limited and CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited.

About Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) : 

• Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL)- It is the leading credit bureau and CIC licensed by RBI.
• Primary Function: To collect and maintain financial data as provided by the lenders to further generate and provide credit reports and credit scores for its customers.
• It maintains credit files on 600 million individuals and 32 million businesses.
• CIBIL India is part of TransUnion, an American multinational group.
• Hence, credit scores are known in India as the CIBIL Transunion score.
• CIBIL assigns a three-digit numeric summary known as the Credit Score, which reflects an individual’s credit history over the last 36 months.
• The value of Credit Score may range between 300 to 900.
• Lenders can check the CIBIL report and CIBIL Score/CIBIL Rank to evaluate the risk of lending to applicants and accordingly approve or reject new loan/credit card applications.

About RBI : 

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy governors : Mahesh Kumar Jain,M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

EAM S Jaishankar, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres discuss India’s G20 Presidency, global challenges

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed India’s G20 Presidency as well as the situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other global challenges during their meeting in New York.
• UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Dr. Jaishankar stated Mr. Guterres expressed appreciation for India’s cooperation with the UN and its leadership of the G20.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also met President of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis at the UN Headquarters. Dr Jaishankar welcomed the appreciation of the UNGA president on the outcomes of India’s G20 Presidency.
• They also agreed on the importance of reforming multilateralism and giving the Global South its due on crucial issues of our times.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to preside over 31st meeting of Northern Zonal Council

• In Punjab, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will preside over the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Amritsar.
• Northern Zonal Council comprises the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh.
• The meeting is being organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Punjab.
• Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of this meeting.
• The guests will be given a glimpse of rich Punjabi culture.
• The meeting will be attended by the Chief Ministers of the member states along with two senior ministers from each state and the Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of the Union Territories.
• The Chief Secretaries, other senior officers of the State Governments and Union Territories and senior officers of the Central Government will also participate in the meeting.

Issues Discussed:

• This Northern Zonal Council will discuss a wide range of issues in this meeting.
• These issues include Bhakra Beas Management Board, affiliation to Punjab University, road construction work under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana PMGSY, Canal projects, and water sharing, issues related to reorganization of states, development of infrastructure, land acquisition, environmental and forest-related clearance, regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme and other issues of common interest at the regional level.

President Droupadi Murmu in the fourth edition of ISAC 2022   

• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing the two-day India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• President Droupadi Murmu will be felicitating the winners of the 4^th edition of the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022.
• The conclave will witness participation of all 100 smart cities who are leading a paradigm shift in the practice of city development by being at the forefront of urban innovation.
• The event will provide a platform for the cities to showcase their exemplary work done under the Mission to help crystallize the roadmap for future urban transformation in the country.

About The India Smart Cities Award Contest:

• The India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) is organized under the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
• This is one of the important activities initiated under the Mission, where pioneering city strategies, projects and ideas are recognized to award exemplary performance, enable peer-peer learning and disseminate best practices.
• The ISAC recognizes and rewards the cities, projects and innovative ideas that are promoting sustainable development across the 100 smart cities, as well as stimulating inclusive, equitable, safe, healthy and collaborative cities, thus enhancing quality of life for all.
• In the past, the ISAC has witnessed three editions in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
• The fourth edition of the ISAC was launched in April 2022 during the ‘Smart Cities-Smart Urbanization’ event in Surat.
• The ISAC 2022 award had a two-stage submission process consisting of ‘Qualifying Stage’, which involved overall assessment of the city’s performance, and the ‘Proposal Stage’ which required the smart cities to submit their nominations for six award categories as follows:
• Project Awards: 10 different themes,
• Innovation Awards: 2 different themes,
• National/Zonal City Awards,
• State Awards,
• UT Award, and
• Partners Awards, 3 different themes

About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) is a ministry of the Government of India with executive authority over the formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to the housing and urban development in India.
• The Ministry became independent from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in 2004, but was later re-merged with it in 2017
• Formed: 1952
• Responsible Minister: Hardeep Singh Puri

Modified FCRA rules: NGOs to give details of assets created from foreign funds

• The Home Ministry has modified rules pertaining to filing of annual returns by Non-Government Organisations NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act FCRA asking them to provide details of moveable and immovable assets created by them using foreign funds every year.
• The Ministry in a gazette notification stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by section 48 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, the Central Government hereby makes the rules further to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.
• The Ministry made the change in the foreign contribution regulation rules, by inserting two clauses – details of movable assets created out of foreign contribution as on 31st March of financial year and details of immovable assets created out of foreign contribution as on 31st March of financial year in the Form FC-4.
• The Form FC-4 is filled by NGOs granted FCRA licences for filing their annual returns.
• The Home Ministry also decided to extend the validity of FCRA licence of those entities, whose licences were expiring on 30th of this month (September 2023) and renewal was pending till 31st March next year (2024). 
• According to data seen, MHA carried out inspections or audits of 335 NGOs and associations registered or granted prior permission under FCRA between 2019 and 2022 to see if foreign funding rules were being followed by them.
• The government has tightened FCRA compliance by making NGOs accountable for receiving and using foreign funds.
• MHA data shows that NGOs have received foreign funding amounting to ₹55,449 crore in last three years.
• There were 16,301 NGOs in the country with a valid FCRA licence as on July 17 this year and FCRA licences of over 6,600 NGOs have been cancelled in the last five years for violation of the law.
• Overall, FCRA licences of 20,693 NGOs have been cancelled till date.
• The FCRA Act, which was amended in September 2020, barred public servants from receiving foreign funding and made Aadhaar mandatory for every office-bearer of the NGOs.
• The new law also states that organisations receiving foreign funds will not be able to use more than 20% of such funds for administrative purposes.
• This limit was hitherto 50%.
• Organisations which may not be directly linked to a political party but engage in political action such as a bandhs, hartal (strike) or rasta roko (road blockade) will be considered to be of political nature, according to new FCRA rules.
• The organisations covered under this category include farmers’ organisations, students or workers’ organisations and caste-based organisations.

Foreign Contribution (regulation) Act, 2010 :

• The Foreign Contribution (regulation) Act, 2010is an act of the Parliament of India, by the 42nd Act of 2010.
• It is a consolidating actwhose scope is to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

About Ministry of Home Affairs :

• The Ministry of Home Affairsor simply the Home Ministry, is a ministry of the Government of India.
• It is mainly responsible for the maintenance of internal securityand domestic policy.
• It is headed by Minister of Home Affairs.
• Formed: 15 August 1947
• Responsible Minister: Amit Shah

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to launch National Policy on R&D and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector          

• Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India will launch the National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector in India.
• In addition to this, the Union Minister will launch the Scheme for the promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP).
• The event will be held at India International Centre by the Department of Pharmaceuticals on September 26, 2023.
• The national policy and scheme will be launched in the presence of Bhagwanth Khuba, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Renewable Energy and Dr V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
• The launch event will be attended by policymakers, experts from the healthcare sector, and representatives from academia, think tanks, industry and media among other sectors. Industry experts, government officials from various departments and other dignitaries will also be invited.
• This gathering aims to highlight India’s drug and pharmaceutical export trend, India’s category-wise export share, the preamble, the need for the policy, its objectives, focus areas of the objectives and monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
• This launch event aims to showcase India’s export trends for drugs and pharmaceuticals as well as export share by category, policy’s preamble and its objectives.
• It will further emphasise areas for those objectives and its monitoring and assessment methodology.

Key Highlights:

• The main objective National Policy on Research and Development in the Pharma-MedTech Sector is to motivate R&D in pharmaceuticals, including traditional medicines & phytopharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• The policy will help India grow the Pharma-MedTech Sector to USD 120-130 Billion over the next decade, which will further increase its contribution to the GDP by about 100 basis points.
• It will improve R&D in pharmaceuticals, including traditional medicines & phytopharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Union Minister SP Singh Baghel Presides Over AIIMS Delhi 68th Foundation Day Celebrations

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has celebrated the 68th Foundation Day on the campus grounds, which was attended by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Professor S P Singh Baghel.
• AIIMS Delhi 68th Foundation Day Celebrations were also attended by Prof. M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi; Prof. Minu Bajpai, Dean, AIIMS New Delhi and Prof Girija Prasad Rath, Registrar, AIIMS New Delhi.
• The Union Health Minister shared that India can currently provide healthcare on par with any developed nation thanks to its highly skilled human resources. The nation is already well-known for its vaccine production skills, pharmaceutical firms, and breakthroughs in the medical technology field.
• On this occasion, Prof. S P Singh Baghel visited the AIIM’s exhibition organized on the theme “AIIMS: Leading India’s Health Care Security”. After this, Dr. V K Paul delivered the Diamond Jubilee Oration on the occasion.
• Dr VK Paul shared the COVID-19 Vaccination Journey, titled the story of “Atmanirbharta” and “Atmavishwas”. India has achieved success in manufacturing both indigenous vaccines and foreign vaccines under technology transfer during the pandemic.

About AIIMS Delhi:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, also known as AIIMS Delhi, is a public medical research universityand hospital in New Delhi, India.
• The institute is governed by the AIIMS Act, 1956 and operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• President: Mansukh Mandaviya
• Established: 1956
• Motto: “The body is indeed the primary instrument of dharma.”

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Extends Ban on New Petrol and Diesel Cars by 5 Years in Net Zero Reset

• Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister (PM), has announced a delay of 5 years in the ban on petrol and diesel cars until 2035.
• The delay is attributed to a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, and Sunak characterized it as a shift toward a more “pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic path.”
• Despite the delay, the UK remains committed to its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

What is Net Zero Emissions?

• ‘Net zero emissions’ refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) production and greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.
• Sunak stated that this modified approach is intended to reduce the financial burden on families who may already be struggling.
• In addition to the delay on the ban of petrol and diesel cars, there is also a delay on the ban of oil and LPG boilers, as well as new coal heating for off-gas-grid homes.
• This ban was originally set to phase out these heating methods by 2026 but has now been extended to 2035.

About UK : 

• Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
• Capital: London
• Currency: Pound sterling

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu Introduces ‘Chief Minister’s Workers Welfare Scheme’

• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Pema Khandu has announced the rollout of a new scheme titled ‘Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana’ for the welfare of the labour force of the state.

Key Highlights :

• Under this scheme, the maternity benefit for families of workers has been increased from 1,000 rupees to 6,000 rupees.
• The compensation for natural death under the scheme has been increased significantly, from 50,000 rupees to 2 lakhs rupees.
• Compensation for accidental death has also been raised, from 1 lakh rupees to 4 lakh rupees.
• The scheme encourages sports participation among the children of workers.
• It provides cash incentives for achievements in state-level tournaments or competitions: 15,000 rupees for Gold, 10,000 rupees for Silver, and 8,000 rupees for Bronze.
• Individuals who perform well at the national level in sports will receive even higher incentives under the scheme: 30,000 rupees for Gold, 20,000 rupees for Silver, and 15,000 rupees for Bronze.

About Arunachal Pradesh : 

• Governor : Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
• Chief minister: Pema Khandu
• Capital : Itanagar
• National Park : Namdapha National Park, Manas National Park, Mouling National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Liberty General Insurance appoints Parag Ved as Director & CEO Designate                    

• Liberty General Insurance, a private general insurance company, has announced the appointment of Parag Ved as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a Director on the board.
• Parag Ved assumes the role of CEO following the retirement of Roopam Asthana, indicating a leadership transition within the organization.
• Prior to joining Liberty General Insurance, Parag Ved served as the President of Consumer Lines at Tata AIG General Insurance, showcasing his extensive experience in the insurance industry.

About  Liberty General Insurance : 

• Founded : 2013
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• It is a joint venture among US property casualty insurer Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Indian private investment fund Enam Securities, and Indian industrial conglomerate DP Jindal Group.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS & HONOURS

Waheeda Rehman to be conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke award

• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that this year’s Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be veteran actress Waheeda Rehman.
• The legendary actor has worked in films such as Guide and Reshma Aur Shera.
• Waheeda made her acting debut with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955). She has featured in many films such as Pyaasa (1957), Guide (1965), Khamoshi (1969), Phagun (1973), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), Rang De Basanti (2006), and Delhi 6 (2009) among many others.
• Last year, it was presented to Asha Parekh.
• Previous recipients of this esteemed award include Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar, Pran, Prithviraj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Manna Dey, and Vinod Khanna (posthumously), among others.

About Dadasaheb Phalke:

• Dadasaheb Phalke, known as the ‘Father of Indian Cinema,‘ directed 27 short films and over 90 full-length movies during his nearly two-decade-long filmmaking career.
• Over two decades after his passing, the Indian government introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards in 1969, honouring individuals for their significant contributions to the arts and cinema.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Army Inducts 600 Indigenously-Manufactured ‘Vibhav’ Anti-Tank Mines

• The Indian Army has inducted 600 indigenously manufactured self-neutralizing anti-tank mines known as “Vibhav.”

About Vibhav : 

• Vibhav is a self-neutralizing anti-tank mine, meaning it has the capability to deactivate itself after a certain period.
• These anti-tank mines were designed and developed entirely within India through a collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Vibhav” is classified as a point-attack anti-tank munition and is specifically designed to immobilize or destroy enemy armored vehicles.
• The production of “Vibhav” mines is being carried out by the Kalyani Group for the Indian Army.
• These mines incorporate integrated explosive, mechanical, and electronic safety features to ensure the safety of operators.
• Vibhav” is equipped with an electronic anti-handling and anti-lift device (EAHALD), which remains active for 120 days after arming.
• The mines have mechanical timers, and after 120 days, they are designed to self-neutralize, reducing the risk of unintended explosions.
• Vibhav” has a storage life of 10 years and does not require special storage conditions.

About Indian Army : 

• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) : GeneralAnil Chauhan
• Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) : GeneralManoj Pande

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA capsule carrying first asteroid samples lands on Earth                                        

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully retrieved its first asteroid samples from deep space, with the capsule parachuting into the Utah desert.
• The asteroid hunting spacecraft OSIRIS-REx was responsible for collecting and delivering the pristine asteroid material.
• The sample capsule was released during a flyby of Earth from a distance of 100,000 km and landed in a remote area of military land approximately 4 hours later.
• After delivering the sample, the mother-ship OSIRIS-REx continued its mission and is currently pursuing the asteroid Apophis, with plans to reach it in 2029.

About OSIRIS-REx : 

• OSIRIS-REx stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer.
• OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s first mission to collect a sample from an asteroid.
• The spacecraft launched in September 2016 and arrived at the near-Earth asteroid Bennu in December 2018.
• In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx briefly touched down on Bennu to collect a sample from the surface.
• The spacecraft logged a total distance of 6.2 billion km (4 billion miles) by the time it returned to Earth.
• The mission aims to provide valuable insights into the early history of our solar system and the potential threat of asteroid impacts on Earth.
• Osiris-Rex was NASA’s 3rd sample return from a deep-space robotic mission.
• The Genesis spacecraft dropped off bits of solar wind in 2004, but the samples were compromised when the parachute failed and the capsule slammed into the ground.
• The Stardust spacecraft successfully delivered comet dust in 2006.
• Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid that is the target of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.
• Japan is the only other country to have successfully brought back asteroid samples through a pair of asteroid missions, collecting about a teaspoon of material.
• Preserved building blocks from the dawn of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago, the samples will help scientists better understand how Earth and life formed.

About NASA : 

• Founded : July 29, 1958
• Headquarters : Washington, D.C, United States
• Administrator : Bill Nelson

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Formula One: Max Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched an easy win at the Japanese Grand Prix to move a step closer to earning his third back-to-back Formula One championship.
• The win at the Suzuka Circuit helped Verstappen in claiming his 13th victory in 16 races so far this season.
• The Japanese Grand Prix, however, did not turn out to be quite a memorable outing for Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez who faced a collision with Lewis Hamilton and conceded a five-second time penalty.
• Max Emilian Verstappen born 30 September 1997, is a Belgian-Dutch racing driver and the 2021 and 2022 Formula One World Champion.
• He competes under the Dutch flagin Formula One with Red Bull Racing. 
• Verstappen’s stellar show at the Japanese Grand Prix guided Red Bull to the constructors’ title for the second year on the trot.
• It was Red Bull’s sixth title since they entered the sport back in 2005.
• They claimed the title with six Grands Prix and three Sprint events still to take place.
• Overall, it was Red Bull’s sixth title. Moreover, Red Bull registered their 15th win out of 16 races in 2023.

Hangzhou Asian Games: India’s Neha Thakur bags silver medal

• Indian sailor Neha Thakur grabbed a silver in girl’s dinghy ILCA-4 event to open the country’s medal count in the sport of the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
• A rising sailor from National Sailing School Bhopal, Neha finished with a total of 32 points but her net score of 27 helped her earn the second spot behind gold medallist Noppassorn Khunboonjan of Thailand.
• Singapore’s Kiera Marie Carlyle settled for a bronze with a net score of 28.
• In sailing, the competitor’s worst score from all the races is subtracted from the total points to determine the net score. The one with the lowest net score is judged the winner.

Who is Neha Thakur?

• Neha, who was born at Amaltaj village in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh comes from a middle-class family. Her father Mukesh Kumar Thakur is a farmer while her mother Reena Thakur is a housewife.
• Last year, Neha won a bronze medal at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi and qualified for the Asian Games.
• Neha took to sailing at a very young age and was identified and groomed by the National Sailing School Bhopal.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Tourism Day 2023:September 27

• World Tourism Dayis celebrated annually on September 27 to promote and raise awareness about the importance of tourism, both economically and socially.
• The theme of “Tourism and Green Investments” reinforces the idea that tourism can be a force for positive change when it aligns with environmental and social sustainability goals.

ABOUT WORLD TOURISM DAY:

• It was established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1980 and has been celebrated every year since then.
• The day serves as an occasion to highlight the significant role tourism plays in fostering cultural exchange, economic growth, and sustainable development.
• It also encourages responsible and sustainable tourism practices to minimize negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

World Environmental Health Day 2023:September 26

• World Environmental Health Day is celebrated every year on 26 September.
• The day is dedicated to create awareness about the impact of environmental health on our overall health and well-being.
• There is a correlation between environmental health and public health. If we live in a healthy environment, our quality of life will also be good and vice versa.
• In fact, environmental health is a branch of public health and the main aim of both is to foster healthy and hygienic communities, which will, in turn, help theenvironment to thrive.
• The careless attitude of human beings towards nature is one of the major reasons behind the deteriorating environmental health. Environmental pollution, global warming, deforestation, ozone layer depletion, and biodiversity losses are some of the basic reasons behind the poor environmental health.
• World Environmental Health Day provides a platform for environmentalists to educate people about the environmental risks and the measures to prevent or control them.

World Environmental Health Day 2023 Theme:

• The theme of World Environmental Health Day 2023 is “Global Environmental Public Health: Standing up to protect everyone’s Health each and every day.”

History of World Environmental Health Day:

• The history of World Environmental Health Day dates back to 2011 when the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared 26 September as the World Environmental Health Day.
• IFEH has been working since a long time to address the challenges and barriers towards maintaining a good environmental health.
• The primary reason behind celebrating the World Environmental Health Day annually is to create awareness and promote a healthy environment for living beings.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Twice elected Italian president Giorgio Napolitano Passed away

• Former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano, Passed away at the age of 98 in Rome, Italy.

About Giorgio Napolitano : 

• Giorgio Napolitano born on 29 June 1925 in Naples, Italy.
• He held the office of the President of Italy for over 9 years and 4 months, making him the longest-serving president in the history of the Italian Republic.
• He served as the President of Italy from 2006 to 2015. 
• He was the first president to be re-elected to the office and served a second term starting in 2013 & stepped down from the post in 2015.
• He was the first and only president in Italy to be reelected to the office.
• He was also the first official from the Italian Communist Party to visit the United States.
• In 2005, he was appointed Senator for Life by former President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Daily CA on Sep 27 : 

• TruCap Finance Limited (TRU), a non-banking finance company specializing in gold and business loans, and HDFC Bank have entered into a co-lending partnership.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to effortlessly open Non-Residential External (NRE) and Non- Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts (both savings and current accounts) through its mobile app YONO.
• As of March 2023, data from the Reserve Bank of India’s Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy for FY23 indicates that the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as the e-rupee, was in circulation with a total worth of Rs 16.39 crore.
• According to the data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicates that household savings in India have reached their lowest levels in decades.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed credit information companies (CICs) to establish a common Data Quality Index (DQI) for both commercial and microfinance segments.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed India’s G20 Presidency as well as the situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other global challenges during their meeting in New York.
• In Punjab, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will preside over the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Amritsar.
• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing the two-day India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The Home Ministry has modified rules pertaining to filing of annual returns by Non-Government Organisations NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act FCRA asking them to provide details of moveable and immovable assets created by them using foreign funds every year.
• Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India will launch the National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector in India.
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has celebrated the 68th Foundation Day on the campus grounds, which was attended by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Professor S P Singh Baghel.
• Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister (PM), has announced a delay of 5 years in the ban on petrol and diesel cars until 2035.
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Pema Khandu has announced the rollout of a new scheme titled ‘Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana’ for the welfare of the labour force of the state.
• Liberty General Insurance, a private general insurance company, has announced the appointment of Parag Ved as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a Director on the board.
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that this year’s Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be veteran actress Waheeda Rehman.
• The Indian Army has inducted 600 indigenously manufactured self-neutralizing anti-tank mines known as “Vibhav.”
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully retrieved its first asteroid samples from deep space, with the capsule parachuting into the Utah desert.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched an easy win at the Japanese Grand Prix to move a step closer to earning his third back-to-back Formula One championship.
• Indian sailor Neha Thakur grabbed a silver in girl’s dinghy ILCA-4 event to open the country’s medal count in the sport of the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
• World Tourism Dayis celebrated annually on September 27 to promote and raise awareness about the importance of tourism, both economically and socially.
• World Environmental Health Day is celebrated every year on 26 September. The day is dedicated to create awareness about the impact of environmental health on our overall health and well-being.
• Former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano, Passed away at the age of 98 in Rome, Italy.