Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs September 23&24. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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September 23&24| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

1. On which date is the International Day of Sign Languages celebrated globally?
A) September 20
B) September 21
C) September 22
D) September 23
E) September 24
Answer: D) September 23

  • The International Day of Sign Languages will be celebrated globally on September 23.
  • “A World Where Deaf People Can Sign Anywhere” is the theme of this year’s Sign Language Day 2023.
  • The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of 135 national federations of the deaf, proposed the idea for the day on behalf of the estimated 70 million deaf people around the world.
  • The Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, along with 97 other UN Member States, sponsored Resolution A/RES/72/161, which was unanimously adopted on December 19, 2017.
  • The date of September 23 was chosen to honour the day in 1951 when the WFD was established.
  • In 2018, as part of the International Week of the Deaf, the International Day of Sign Languages was observed for the first time.
  • The International Week of the Deaf, which was first observed in September 1958, has developed into an international movement of deaf unity and coordinated lobbying to bring attention to the problems that deaf people deal with on a daily basis.

Sports – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

2. Who won the F1 Japanese Grand Prix?
A) Lewis Hamilton
B) Sebastian Vettel
C) Max Verstappen
D) Charles Leclerc
E) ValtteriBottas
Answer: C) Max Verstappen

F1 Japanese Grand Prix

  • Track: Suzuka Circuit
Rank Person Car Company Country
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull The Netherlands
2 Lando Norris McLaren UK
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren Australia

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

3. Who recently passed away at the age of 98 and was a former president of Italy?
A) Mario Draghi
B) Silvio Berlusconi
C) Giorgio Napolitano
D) Sergio Mattarella
E) Giuseppe Conte
Answer: C) Giorgio Napolitano

  • Former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano, a onetime communist who helped to steer his country through a debt crisis in 2011, died
  • Napolitano, who served as president from 2006-2015, is the only person to be re-elected to the post.
  • Napolitano began his political career by joining the Italian Communist Party in 1945.
  • He was first elected to Italy’s Chamber of Deputies in 1953 and remained undefeated in every re-election campaign from then until 1996.
  • After the dissolution of the Communist Party, Napolitano, like many others from the PCI, joined the Democratic Party of the Left.
  • After serving as president of the Chamber of Deputies in the early 1990s, Napolitano became Minister of the Interior under center-left Prime Minister Romano Prodi from 1996-1998.
  • He was elected to the European Parliament as a member of the Party of European Socialists in 1999, where he served until 2004
  • Napolitano remained politically active after his presidency. His successor, Sergio Mattarella, is still in the post and is already the second-longest serving president in Italy’s modern history.
  • Napolitano then established a technocrat government led by former European Commissioner Mario Monti.

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

4. Which company announced the launch of the Indus Appstore Developer Platform, inviting Android app developers to register and upload their apps?
A) Google
B) Apple
C) PhonePe
D) Amazon
E) Microsoft
Answer: C) PhonePe

  • PhonePe has announced the launch of the Indus Appstore Developer Platform, inviting Android app developers to register and upload their apps to the “Made-in-India” Indus appstore.
  • This platform offers a localized experience in 12 languages tailored to Indian audiences.
  • The company has kept the app listings free for the first year, post which a nominal annual fee will apply.
  • The Indus Appstore will provide developers with an alternative distribution channel to tap into the Indian Android market. It will also assist them with high-quality user acquisition through multilingual app discovery.
  • Moreover, for start-ups and new app launches, it will have a dedicated platform ‘Launch Pad’ to provide these new apps with better visibility as well as search optimisation.
  • It will also offer several developer tools and features to address the challenges faced by most Android developers, including a dedicated round-the-clock customer support team based in India, the option to list their app in 12 Indian languages besides English and the ability to boost brand awareness via engaging videos.
  • Last year, the company completed the acquisition of mobile platform OSLabs after reaching an amicable settlement with the company’s majority shareholder Affle Global Pte Ltd.
Titbits

PhonePe:

Founded: 2015
CEO: Sameer Nigam
Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra


5. Kamats Restaurants has collaborated with which bank for FASTag registration and recharge services?
A) Axis Bank
B) ICICI Bank
C) HDFC Bank
D) IDFC First Bank
E) State Bank of India (SBI)
Answer: D) IDFC First Bank

  • Kamats Restaurants has collaborated with IDFC First Bank for easy registration and recharge of FASTag at its outlets along the highways in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • Under this partnership, users can now register for a fresh FASTag or recharge their existing FASTag accounts at Kamats outlets
  • There are 137 Kamats Restaurants in Maharashtra and Gujarat, including those in the two cities as well as along the highways.
Titbits

IDFC first bank:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD & CEO: Mr. V. Vaidyanathan
Tagline: Always You First


Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

6. Mahindra Finance acquired a 20% stake in which company for Rs 206 crore?
A) Mahindra Tractors
B) Mahindra Insurance Brokers
C) Mahindra & Mahindra
D) Mahindra Aerospace
E) Mahindra Electric
Answer: B) Mahindra Insurance Brokers

  • Mahindra Finance acquired a 20 per cent stake in Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd (MIBL) for Rs 206.39 crore to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.
  • The company, pursuant to receipt of approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), completed the acquisition of 20,61,856 equity shares of Rs 10 each of MIBL at a price of Rs 1,001 per share
  • Consequently, MIBL has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, with effect from September 22, 2023
Titbits

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited:

Headquarters: Mumbai
Vice Chairman & President: Ramesh Iyer

Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd:

Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman: Rajeev Dubey


Appointments – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

7. Who has been unanimously re-elected as the President of the IVPA (Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association)?
A) Ramesh Gupta
B) Sudhakar Rao Desai
C) Priya Sharma
D) Ashok Patel
E) Nisha Mehta
Answer: B) Sudhakar Rao Desai

  • Sudhakar Rao Desai, Chief Executive Officer of EmamiAgrotech Ltd, has been unanimously re-elected President of the IVPA (Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association) at the 46th annual general meeting of the association.
  • He has previously served as a member of the Organising Committee of Glob Oil, and as a member of the Product Committee of Commodity Exchanges in India.
  • Desai has also held the position of Director at the Bombay Commodity Exchange.
  • Amrendra Mishra, Managing Director of ADM India, and V.K. Jain, Vice-President of Patanjali Foods, have been elected as Vice-Presidents of IVPA.
  • Mishra has over a decade-and-a-half of work experience and is associated with various industry committees, while Jain boasts more than four decades of experience in the oils and oilseed sector.
Titbits

Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association(IVPA):

Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded: 1977
President: Sudhakar Rao Desai


8. Who has been appointed as the Managing Director & CEO of ICICI Lombard?
A) Ramesh Gupta
B) Sanjeev Mantri
C) Priya Sharma
D) Ashok Patel
E) Nisha Mehta
Answer: B) Sanjeev Mantri

  • ICICI Lombard’s Board of Directors have approved the appointment of Sanjeev Mantri, presently Executive Director of the Company, as Managing Director & CEO of the Company with effect from December 1, 2023 or the date of approval from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), whichever is later for the period of five (5) consecutive years or his date of retirement whichever is earlier.
  • He will take over from BhargavDasgupta, who will be officiating his duties until the close of business hours on 30 November 2023.
  • Mantri, in a career spanning nearly three decades, began his career with Bennett Coleman and Company, followed by key leadership positions at BNP Paribas.
  • He has been with the ICICI Group for over 20 years beginning his career with ICICI Bank in 2003, where he led many businesses including Bank’s Small & Medium Enterprises Group and the Rural and Inclusive Banking Group.
  • Mantri joined ICICI Lombard in 2015 as Executive Director spearheading the retail division of the company and since then has been responsible for distribution of products across motor dealership, agency, bancassurance, direct and alternate channels and in charge of strategy, products, analytics, pricing, marketing, and corporate communication verticals of the company.
Titbits

ICICI Lombard General Insurance:

Headquarters:Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD & CEO : BhargavDasgupta
Next MD & CEO: Sanjeev Mantri(from December 1, 2023)


Awards – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

9. Who has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for field research and application for her work in the field of food and nutrition?
A) Dr. Ramesh Sharma
B) Dr.Radha Patel
C) Dr. Swati Nayak
D) Dr. Rajesh Kumar
E) Dr. Anjali Singh
Answer: C) Dr. Swati Nayak

  • Odia scientist Dr Swati Nayak has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for field research and application for her work in the field of food and nutrition.
  • The award, instituted by the World Food Prize Foundation, is named in honour of Nobel Laureate and Green Revolution’s chief architect Dr. Norman E Borlaug.
  • A scientist and South Asia Lead for Seed System and Product Management at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr Nayak was selected for the award for her innovative approach to engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems.
  • She is the third Indian and first Odia to receive the award.
  • She has so far organised more than 10,000 extensive on-farm trials for more than 500 rice varieties, working with thousands of smallholder farmers across diverse ecosystems in Asia and Africa.
  • In Odisha, Nayak and her team formulated a strategy for introducing the drought-tolerant rice variety ‘ShahabhagiDhan’ which remains an integral part of every farm family’s diet and crop rotation.
  • For this, she is referred to by the local communities as ‘BihanaDidi’.

International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

10. In which location will the 19th edition of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS” be conducted?
A) Fort Drum, New York, USA
B) Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA
C) Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA
D) Fort Hood, Texas, USA
E) Fort Bliss, New Mexico, USA
Answer: C) Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA

  • The 19th edition of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS” will be conducted from 25th September to 8th October 2023 in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA.
  • It is an annual exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Army and the United States Army.
  • The previous edition of the Exercise was conducted in Auli, Uttarakhand, India in November 2022.
  • Indian Army contingent comprising of 350 personnel will participate in this edition of the Exercise.
  • The lead battalion from Indian side is affiliated to MARATHA Light Infantry Regiment. 1-24 Infantry Battalion of 1st Brigade Combat Team will participate from the US side.
  • Both sides will practice a series of tactical drills to enhance interoperability in conducting UN peacekeeping operations. Personnel from both sides will also hold detailed discussions to share their experiences and best practices.
  • The theme of the Exercise is ‘Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/ Extreme Climatic Conditions’ under Chapter VII of United Nations mandate.

Indian Army Contingent Leaves For Admm Plus Ewg On Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise 2023 In Russia

  • Indian Army Contingent consisting of 32 personnel from a Battalion affiliated to the RAJPUTANA RIFLES departed for ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023 scheduled to be conducted from 25th to 30th September 2023 in Russia.
  • It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar.
  • It was preceded by Table Top Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.
  • Since 2017, the ADMM Plus meets annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Plus countries.
  • The inaugural ADMM Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam on 12th October 2010.
    This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group will be participating in the exercise.
  • The exercise will comprise of a number of counter terrorism drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a fortified area.
  • The main objective of the exercise is strengthening and promoting regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
  • ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-terrorism 2023 will provide Indian Army with a platform to share their expertise and best practices in counter-terrorism operations besides increasing cooperation between other 12 participating countries. Indian Army looks forward to an enriching professional experience from the exercise.
Titbits

United States of America (USA):

Capital : Washington D.C
Currency :US Dollar
President: Joe Biden


11. Which countries are involved in the joint space venture known as the I2U2 group, aimed at creating a “unique space-based tool” for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs?
A) India, Israel, UAE, and Russia
B) India, Israel, UAE, and China
C) India, Israel, UAE, and France
D) India, Israel, UAE, and the United States
E) India, Israel, UAE, and Japan
Answer: D) India, Israel, UAE, and the United States

  • The I2U2 group of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States announced a new joint space venture that aims to create a “unique space-based tool” for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs.
  • The I2U2 group of nations made the announcement on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
  • The I2U2 grouping consists of India, Israel, UAE and the US.
  • The I2U2 Grouping was conceptualized during the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the four countries held on 18 October 2021
  • I2U2 is aimed to encourage joint investments in six mutually identified areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security
  • I2U2 group launched a website to strengthen the public-private partnership in several sectors and invited private companies from the four member countries to submit their projects to tackle some of the challenges confronting the world.
  • The officials of I2U2 member nations –India Israel, UAE and US– termed the announcement of the digital platform a tangible step that will help in “shaping the sustainable and prosperous future”.
  • I2U2 is also referred to as the West Asian Quad aimed to encourage joint investments between the member states in six mutually identified areas – water, energy, transportation, space, health and Food security

12. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will hold the position of Chair for ASOSAI during which years?
A) 2022 to 2025
B) 2023 to 2026
C) 2024 to 2027
D) 2025 to 2028
E) 2026 to 2029
Answer: C) 2024 to 2027

  • The 59th Governing Board meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) was held in Busan, Republic of Korea from September 20-22.
  • Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and a permanent member of the ASOSAI Governing Board attended the meeting.
  • CAG of India will assume the Chair of ASOSAI from 2024 to 2027 and will also be hosting the 16th ASOSAI Assembly in 2024.
  • The Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) is the Asian Chapter of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
  • It aims to promote understanding and cooperation among member institutions by facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of public audit.
  • Murmu, as the Chair of the Special Committee responsible for establishing this ASOSAI Working Group, presented a comprehensive feasibility study report.
  • The Governing Board unanimously approved the formation of the ASOSAI Working Group on IT Audit and Data Analytics, with the CAG of India appointed to lead this initiative.
  • CAG of India also chairs the Board of Editors of ASOSAI Journal
  • CAG Murmu also visited the Philippines and held bilateral meetings with Gamaliel Asis Cordoba, Chairperson of the Commission of Audit, Philippines, on September 15-16.
  • He also chairs the INTOSAI Working Group on IT Audit (WGITA) and the Compliance Audit Sub-Committee (CAS).
  • Furthermore, the CAG of India is a member of the UN panel of external auditors.
  • His current responsibilities include external audits for the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2020 to 2027, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) from 2020 to 2025, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from 2021 to 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 2022 to 2027, and International Labour Organization (ILO) from 2024 to 2027

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs September 23&24

13. Who inaugurated the upgraded Tezu airport in Arunachal Pradesh?
A) JyotiradityaScindia
B) Narendra Modi
C) Amit Shah
D) Nirmala Sitharaman
E) Rajnath Singh
Answer: A) JyotiradityaScindia

  • Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the newly upgraded Tezu airport in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district.
  • AAI carried out development and upgradation work to make Tezu Airport operational at the request of the State Government. The domestic airport has undergone a transformation with the implementation of infrastructure upgrades worth Rs 170 crore.
  • These developments include the extension of the runway to 1500 meters by 30 meters, the construction of a modern apron capable of accommodating two ATR 72 type aircraft, the establishment of a new terminal building, and the creation of a fire station cum Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower.
  • Tezu Airport was operationalised in 2018 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • The airport is currently connected to Dibrugarh, Imphal, and Guwahati through regular scheduled flights by Alliance Air and Flybig airline.
  • Tezu is a small town situated on the banks of the Lohit River and is the headquarters of the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The city is known for its natural beauty, where there are lush green forests and high hills all around.

14. Who launched the Third Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 77 (LSAM 9) at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh?
A) Admiral Karambir Singh
B) Cmde G Ravi
C) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
D) Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
E) Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Answer: B) Cmde G Ravi

  • The Third Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 77 (LSAM 9) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam), at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (the launch site of M/s SECON)
  • With all major and auxiliary equipment/systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, this barge is a proud flag bearer of the “Make in India” initiatives of the Ministry of Defence.
  • MSME shipyard has already delivered first MCA Barge on 18 Jul 23 and has launched Second Barge on 18 Aug 23.
  • This Barge is being built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years.
  • The availability of MCA Barges will provide impetus to Operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles / ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours
  • Earlier this year, the Second Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 76 (LSAM 8) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam) on August 18 at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (launch site of M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd).
Titbits

Secon Engineering Projects Private Limited:

Headquarters: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
CEO: Dr A JeyaramAlagarsamy


15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off how many Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, covering multiple states?
A) Four
B) Six
C) Eight
D) Nine
E) Eleven
Answer: D) Nine

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off nine Vande Bharat Express trains across 11 states via video conferencing.
  • The launch of these nine trains will connect religious and tourist destinations across 11 states.
  • 25 Vande Bharat trains are running and now nine more have been added.
    • Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express
    • Hyderabad –Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
    • Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express
    • Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express
    • Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express
    • Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express
    • Rourkela-Bhubaneswar – PuriVande Bharat Express
    • Ranchi-Howrah Vande Bharat Express
    • Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express

16. Who launched a scheme in Assam aimed at promoting self-employment and assisting youths in setting up their own ventures?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma
C) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
D) Home Minister Amit Shah
E) Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
Answer: B) Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma

  • In a move to fuel growth through self-employment, Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma launched a scheme to help youths set up their own ventures.
  • Sarma rolled out the Chief Minister’s AtmanirbharAsomAbhijan 2023. He also launched a registration portal for the scheme.
  • Under the programme, financial aid will be given to two lakh youths for creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • the unemployed degree holders in the fields of engineering, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery will be kept in the first category and will be givenRs 5 lakh
  • On the other hand, unemployed postgraduates, general graduates, ITI, polytechnic passouts will be kept in the second category for government assistance of Rs 2 lakh
  • In the first category, out of Rs 5 lakh, the beneficiaries will have to return Rs 2.5 lakh without any interest and the remaining amount will be government assistance
    Similarly, in the second category, Rs 1 lakh will be a government subsidy and the remaining Rs 1 lakh will have to be paid back by the beneficiary without any interest
  • Under the scheme, targeted sectors will be agriculture and horticulture, stationery, poultry, dairy, goat farming, piggery, fisheries, packaging, readymade garments, fabrication, bamboo, rubber, agar and wood-based industries.
  • One member from one family shall be eligible for the scheme and the applicant will be registered with the employment exchange
  • Also, The Assam government approved a Rs 5,197-crore project to modernise the power distribution infrastructure across the state.
  • The project for modernising the power distribution system of Assam will be implemented under the Union government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.
  • It also approved the MukhyaMantriLokSevakArogyaYojana (MMLSAY) for streamlining medical reimbursement procedures for government staffers and pensioners.
  • All medical reimbursement claims will be processed via an online portal of Atal AmritAbhiyan Society. Medical reimbursement under MMLSAY will be done at Central Government Health Insurance Scheme (CGHS) rates
  • The employees can opt for the scheme through monthly premium contributions with the amount determined as per their grade and it will be half of the CGHS rates
  • Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma rolled out the third phase of a scheme to waive microfinance loans availed by women of the state, benefitting over 2.23 lakh borrowers.
  • Under this phase of the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021 (AMFIRS), borrowers whose loan accounts turned into non-performing assets would be offered an outstanding principal balance of up to Rs 25,000.
  • With a total relief cost of Rs 291 crore under this category
  • Altogether 2,22,949 borrowers will benefit from this scheme
  • The AMFIRSM 2021 was divided into three categories. In category I, incentives worth Rs 1,600 crore were provided to 8,72,739 borrowers, while 97,938 women benefitted under the the second phase of the scheme
Titbits

Assam:

Capital : Dispur
CM : HimantaBiswaSarma
Governor : Shri Gulab Chand Kataria


17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the first international cricket stadium in which city of Uttar Pradesh?
A) Lucknow
B) Kanpur
C) Agra
D) Varanasi
E) Allahabad
Answer: D) Varanasi

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in Varanasi.
  • This will be Uttar Pradesh’s third international cricket stadium after Kanpur and Lucknow.
  • PM Modi will also inaugurate 16 newly constructed Atal Residential Schools in the city
    Varanasi’s international cricket stadium will be built on Rs 121 crore land.
  • An approximate Rs 330 crore will be spent on the construction of the cricket stadium
    The stadium will accommodate nearly 30,000 people at a time.
  • The roof covers will be crescent-shaped, floodlights shaped like a trident, patterns resembling bel leaves, and one of the structures shaped like a ‘damru’.
  • Situated near the Ring Road in the Rajatalab area, it is likely to be ready by December 2025,

18. What event is the National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), organizing to celebrate five years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)?
A) SwasthyaSaptah
B) ArogyaMahotsav
C) AyushmanUtsav
D) ArogyaManthan
E) Jan SwasthyaParv
Answer: D) ArogyaManthan

  • The National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is organising ‘ArogyaManthan’ to celebrate five years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
  • The two-day event (25th and 26th September ‘23) at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi will be filled with insightful discussions and deliberations on challenges, trends, and best practices related to the two schemes.
  • ArogyaManthan 2023 is set to be graced by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India who will deliver the keynote address at the Valedictory Session.
  • To mark the celebration of the fifth-year anniversary of implementation of AB PM-JAY and second year anniversary of implementation of ABDM, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State (Health and FW), Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NitiAayog, Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary (Health and FW) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Health Authority (NHA) will grace the occasion.
  • Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State (Health and FW) will be presiding over the inaugural session scheduled on 25th September 2023.
  • Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State (Health and FW) will present her address virtually during the inaugural session.
  • The event will see active participation from other dignitaries, including policymakers from States and Union Territories (UTs), national experts from the healthcare sector along with representatives from academia, think-tanks, industry, and media.
  • Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, launched on 23rd September 2018, has scripted a saga of health, productivity and prosperity.
  • With 5.5 Cr free hospitalizations worth Rs. 69,000 Cr, scheme has not only ensured good health for crores of poor and downtrodden families but has also protected their families from catastrophic healthcare expenditure.
  • The ABDM, launched on 27th September 2021, is a very ambitious scheme of government aimed at creating a digital highway connecting different stakeholders of healthcare ecosystems.
  • Over last 2 years more than 45 Cr Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) have been created. Further, more than 30 Cr health records have been linked to these ABHA accounts. Scheme aims at leveraging digital technologies to strengthen healthcare delivery.
  • Both the flagship healthcare schemes aim to provide accessible, available, affordable and scalable healthcare to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India.

19. Who inaugurated the ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023′ in New Delhi at VigyanBhawan?
A) President Ram NathKovind
B) Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
C) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
D) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
E) Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana
Answer: D) Prime Minister Narendra Modi

  • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023’ at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi.
  • The conference aims to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics of national and international importance, foster exchange of ideas and experiences, and strengthen international cooperation and understanding of legal issues.
  • International Lawyer’s Conference 2023 is being organized by the Bar Council of India on the theme ‘Emerging Challenges in Justice Delivery System’ on 23rd – 24th September, 2023.
  • The conference aims to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics of national and international importance, foster exchange of ideas and experiences, and strengthen international cooperation and understanding of legal issues.
  • The conference, which is being organized for the first time in the country, will discuss topics such as emerging legal trends, challenges in cross-border litigation, legal technology, environmental law etc.
  • The programme witnessed the participation of distinguished judges, legal professionals, and leaders of the global legal fraternity.

20. What department released the sixth edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way forward Monthly Report for States/UTs, providing an overview of the status of e-service delivery across States/UTs?
A) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
B) Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG)
C) Ministry of Home Affairs
D) Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
E) Ministry of Public Grievances and Pensions
Answer: B) Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG)

  • Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the sixth edition of National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way forward Monthly Report for States/UTs, which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
  • The August monthly report sets a baseline for number of e-services and mandatory e-services provided by States/UTs on NeSDA – Way Forward dashboard.
  • It also underlines the saturation of e-services provided through the State’s/UT’s single unified service delivery portal.
  • Moreover, the report assesses and compares the e-services under labour and employment sector and highlights the state-specific opportunities to transition offline services to online platforms

Key highlights of the Report for the month of August, 2023 are as follows:

e-Services:

  • 14,736 e-services are provided across States/UTs, which is an increase of 6.2% (869) services from July Report
  • 1,505 out of 2,016 mandatory e-services (56*36 States/UTs) are available, making saturation at 74.6%
  • Maximum number of e-services (5,502) lie in sector – local governance & utility services
  • 61% i.e., 22 out 36 States/UTs have achieved saturation of mandatory e-services in tourism sector. This is followed by environment sector 53% i.e., 19 out of 36 States/UTs
  • Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Odisha provide 100% of their services through their identified Single Unified Service Delivery Portal i.e., e-UNNAT (1028), e-Sevanam (911) and Odisha One (404), respectively

e-Services in Labour and Employment Sector

  • 1,368 e-services are mapped under labour and employment sector
  • Identified sub-themes of e-services under labour and employment sector are
  • 413 e-services under Industry/Factory
  • 362 e-services under Workers and Labour Acts
  • 297 e-services under Employment related
  • 276 e-services under Labour Scheme Beneficiaries
  • 20 e-services under Other
  • Haryana provides the maximum e-services in the sector (149), which is followed by Tamil Nadu (96) and Jharkhand (89)
  • Out of 26 types of distinct e-services identified under the sector, Haryana (21) provides the maximum types of e-services and is followed by Meghalaya (19)

Best Practices:

  • The Government of Bihar has launched a web-based Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS) which facilitates case management of rescued child labourers
  • The Government of Gujarat has built Anubandham, that allows job seekers and job providers to connect through auto-matching, in a transparent and user-friendly manner
  • The Government of Rajasthan provides the single view of offerings of Rajasthan Single Sign On, Factories and Boilers Inspection Department, and the Government of India’s Ministry of Labour& Employment, on a unified platform
  • The Government of Uttarakhand provides employment opportunity to the unemployed youth in Uttarakhand through RojgarPrayag portal
  • The department has categorised the mentioned e-services into various labour and employment specific sub-themes.

21. Which organization has signed an agreement with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to support and enhance the fintech sector in India?
A) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
B) National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
C) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
D) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
E) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
Answer: C) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

  • The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has inked an agreement with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost the country’s fintech sector.
  • SIDBI and DLAI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect.
  • The MoU aims for collaborations with SIDBI to develop standard protocols to expedite the adoption of digital lending partnerships including alliances between banks and Lending Service Providers (LSPs), co-lending collaborations among others
    SIDBI will also provide resource support to eligible DLAI member NBFCs and also explore Assignment and Securitisation transactions
  • As a part of its business strategy, SIDBI is using digital technology and partnerships to directly reach out to micro enterprises and will explore offering its credit products through the DLAI members
  • Under the agreement, SIDBI and DLAI will explore partnerships for its ”Prayaas” Scheme for informal enterprises, co-lending, GST Sahay, Express loan, green financing, and other direct credit schemes.
Titbits

Digital Lenders Association of India (“DLAI”):

Founded: November 2016
Headquarters: Bangalore, karnataka
CEO: Jatinder Handoo

SIDBI:

Abbreviation: Small Industries Development Bank of India:
Establishment – 2nd April 1990
Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Chairman & Managing Director – SivasubramanianRamann


22. Over the past five years, how much financial support has India provided to UNRWA for the welfare of the Palestinian people?
A) USD 10 million
B) USD 20 million
C) USD 30 million
D) USD 40 million
E) USD 50 million
Answer: C) USD 30 million

  • Reiterating its support for UNRWA, India has enhanced its annual contribution to the agency from USD 1.25 million in 2018 to USD 5 million, and has contributed close to USD 30 million over the last five years, for the welfare of Palestine people
    Dammu Ravi, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (ER) represented India at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Ministerial Meeting.
  • The Agency has been playing a critical role as a provider of development, humanitarian, and social services to the Palestinian refugee community living in Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
  • The Agency’s services also contribute to the overall stability in the region
Titbits

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):

Founded: 8 December 1949
Headquarters: Amman, Jordan
Commissioner-General: Philippe Lazzarini


23. Where will India’s First Lighthouse Festival be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &Waterways and Ayush, Shri SarbanandaSonowal?
A) Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
B) Mumbai, Maharashtra
C) Kochi, Kerala
D) Panjim, Goa
E) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: D) Panjim, Goa

  • The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri SarbanandaSonowal is going to inaugurate India’s First Lighthouse Festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa.
  • The three days festival, beginning 23rd September and ending on 25th September, will be celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country in an effort to transform these historic spots as tourist destinations.
  • The inaugural session will also be attended by the Chief Minister of Goa, PramodSawant, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shri ShripadNaik as well as Tourism Minister of Goa, Shri Rohan Khaunte among others.
  • Shri Sonowal, earlier launched a campaign ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ to transform 75 historic lighthouses into Tourism Spots.
  • The historic lighthouses are being renovated with adequate facilities to act as tourist spots. The festival is logical outcome of this campaign by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) to transform 75 historic lighthouses across India into tourism spots.
  • This is in line with the visionary approach of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to transform India’s distinctive lighthouses into captivating tourism sites.
  • The initiative aims to showcase the rich culture, significance, and allure of these magnificent structures whereby they can propel prospect of tourism and power local economy.
  • India’s first ever Lighthouse Festival will be held at the historic Fort Aguada in Goa from 23rd-25th September, 2023.
  • This would be a three day gala event in carnival style with local artists, dance troupes, food and culinary stalls, music concerts and similar activities to attract common people to Lighthouses.
  • The festival also witness historians, archaeologist, cultural anthropologist and many other people with interest in history, culture and society participate in intriguing discussions around our marine history during this event.
Titbits

Ports, Shipping and Waterways & AYUSH:

Minister: SarbanandaSonowal
Constituency:Rajya Shaba, Assam



Over All Review

Important Days

  • The International Day of Sign Languages will be celebrated globally on September 23.

Sports 

  • Max Verstappen wins the Japanese grand prix.

Obituary

  • Former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano, a onetime communist who helped to steer his country through a debt crisis in 2011, died.

Banking and Finance 

  • PhonePe has announced the launch of the Indus Appstore Developer Platform, inviting Android app developers to register and upload their apps to the “Made-in-India” Indus appstore.
  • Kamats Restaurants has collaborated with IDFC First Bank for easy registration and recharge of FASTag at its outlets along the highways in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Acquisitions and Mergers

  • Mahindra Finance acquired a 20 per cent stake in Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd (MIBL) for Rs 206.39 crore to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

Appointments

  • Sudhakar Rao Desai, Chief Executive Officer of EmamiAgrotech Ltd, has been unanimously re-elected President of the IVPA (Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association) at the 46th annual general meeting of the association.
  • ICICI Lombard’s Board of Directors have approved the appointment of Sanjeev Mantri, presently Executive Director of the Company, as Managing Director & CEO of the Company with effect from December 1, 2023 or the date of approval from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), whichever is later for the period of five (5) consecutive years or his date of retirement whichever is earlier.

Awards 

  • Odia scientist Dr Swati Nayak has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for field research and application for her work in the field of food and nutrition.

International Affairs

  • The 19th edition of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS” will be conducted from 25th September to 8th October 2023 in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA.
  • The I2U2 group of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States announced a new joint space venture that aims to create a “unique space-based tool” for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs.
  • The 59th Governing Board meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) was held in Busan, Republic of Korea from September 20-22.

National Affairs

  • Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the newly upgraded Tezu airport in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district.
  • The Third Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 77 (LSAM 9) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam), at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (the launch site of M/s SECON).
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off nine Vande Bharat Express trains across 11 states via video conferencing.
  • In a move to fuel growth through self-employment, Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma launched a scheme to help youths set up their own ventures.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in Varanasi.
  • The National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is organising ‘ArogyaManthan’ to celebrate five years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
  • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023’ at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi.
  • Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the sixth edition of National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way forward Monthly Report for States/UTs, which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
  • The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has inked an agreement with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost the country’s fintech sector.
  • Reiterating its support for UNRWA, India has enhanced its annual contribution to the agency from USD 1.25 million in 2018 to USD 5 million, and has contributed close to USD 30 million over the last five years, for the welfare of Palestine people.
  • The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri SarbanandaSonowal is going to inaugurate India’s First Lighthouse Festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa.

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