Important Days
International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2021: 18 September
The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. In 2021, the day is being held on 18 September.
The theme of International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2021: “Keep trash in the bin and not in the ocean”. Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that works to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year.
The first International Coastal Cleanup Day was observed in 1986. The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines, and on beaches.
World Water Monitoring Day: 18 September
The World Water Monitoring Day is observed every year on September 18 since 2003 to increase public awareness and involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources around the world.
This day is celebrated to increase public awareness and involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources around the world. World Water Monitoring Day engages people of all ages in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries, and other water bodies. The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water.
The day was established in 2003 by America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global educational outreach program by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. The event is now coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association.
International Equal Pay Day: 18 September
International Equal Pay Day is celebrated on 18 September. The inaugural edition of the day was observed in the year 2020. The day aims to achieve equal pay for work of equal value and break the walls against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe September 18 as International Equal Pay Day, on November 15, 2019, which was introduced by the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC).
International Red Panda Day 2021
The International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is celebrated on the third Saturday of September every year to raise public awareness and support for red panda conservation issues.
In 2021, the IRPD is being observed on 18 September 2021. The day was launched by the Red Panda Network in 2010. The first international red Panda day was celebrated on 18th September 2010.
There are two distinct species of red pandas Ailurus fulgens is commonly known as Himalayan Red Panda and Ailurus fulgens styani commonly known as Chinese Red Panda, these are mostly found in the Eastern Himalayan region and southwestern China.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Red Panda Network Founder: Brian Williams.
- Red Panda Network Headquarters: Eugene, Oregon.
World Bamboo Day: 18 September
World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products.
Bamboos are used for various purposes mainly in East and Southeast Asia. Bamboo is a tall, tree-like grass of the family Poaceae. It comprises more than 115 genera and 1,400 species.
The theme for the 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’. WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- World Bamboo Organization Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium.
- World Bamboo Organization Founded: 2005.
- World Bamboo Organization Executive director: Susanne Lucas.
World Patient Safety Day: 17 September
World Patient Safety Day is observed on September 17 to create a global awareness for patient safety and urge people to show their commitment to making healthcare safer.
The Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety. The theme for 2021 WPSD is ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’.
World Patient Safety Day – established by the World Health Assembly in 2019 through resolution WHA72.6 on “Global action on patient safety” is observed annually on 17 September. It was adopted at the 72nd World Health Assembly on 25 May 2019.
National
India’s 61st Software Technology park center opened in Nagaland
Nagaland’s first and India’s 61st Software Technology Park of India (STPI) center was inaugurated at Kohima. The inauguration of the STPI center in Kohima is a fulfillment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a technology ecosystem in the northeast to create opportunities for future generations in the region.
The MoS urged the need to create real change in the technology ecosystem. In order to create job opportunities, he said, the state government must work towards creating an interconnection of institutions to create awareness about various opportunities available for the youth.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio; Governor of Nagaland: R. N. Ravi.
Cabinet approves 100% FDI under automatic route in Telecom Sector
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a number of structural and process reforms in the Telecom sector, to provide relief to ailing telecom service providers, struggling with high levels of debt.
A total of 9 structural and 5 process reforms have been approved by the Union Cabinet. Some major reforms announced are as follows:
Change in the definition of AGR: The definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) has been changed and now all non-telecom revenue will be removed from AGR.
Rationalized Spectrum Usage Charges: The monthly compounding of interest on spectrum usage charges is replaced by annual compounding and the interest rate will come down, based on the formula MCLR + 2%. Penalties on payment of license fees, spectrum user charges, and all kinds of charges have been completely scrapped.
Four-year Moratorium on dues: Moratorium has been announced on statutory dues of the telecom sector for four years. It will be applicable from October 1, 2021
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): The government has increased the FDI in the Telecom sector under the automatic route from 49% to 100%. Auction calendar fixed: Spectrum auctions will henceforth be held in the last quarter of every financial year.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Minister of Communications: Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Appointments
Alka Nangia Arora appoints as CMD of NSIC
Alka Nangia Arora has been appointed as the Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC). She has taken the additional charge of the post on September 14, 2021.
She is a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) is a Mini Ratna company established in 1955. It falls under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises of India and serves as a nodal agency for several schemes of the Ministry of MSME.
The US, UK, and Australia announce new partnership “AUKUS”
Global Deputy CTO of State Bank of India, Amit Saxena has joined RBI Innovation Hub as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
The Reserve Bank announced that it would set up Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to promote innovation across the financial sector by leveraging on technology and creating an environment that would facilitate and foster innovation.
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub shall create an ecosystem that would focus on promoting access to financial services and products. This will also promote financial inclusion.
Former SC judge Indu Malhotra appointed DDCA Ombudsman
Former Supreme Court judge, Justice (Retired) Indu Malhotra will be the new Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer of Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) for a period of one year was made.
The DDCA’s general body, headed by its president Rohan Jaitley, decided on 65-year-old Justice (Retd) Malhotra’s appointment. In 2007, Malhotra was designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court and she became only the second woman to be designated by the apex court after a gap of three decades.
She has been appointed amicus curiae by different benches of the Supreme Court in some matters. After serving as legal counsel in the Supreme Court for 30 years, she was unanimously recommended for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Schemes and Committees
Cabinet approves Rs 26,058 crore PLI Scheme for Auto and Drone Industry
The Union Cabinet has approved a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for auto, auto-components and drone industries to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities.
The PLI scheme will incentivize the emergence of advanced automotive technologies’ global supply chain in India. Incentives worth Rs. 26,058 crore will be provided to industry over five years, the minister told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
The PLI scheme for automobile and drone industries is part of the overall announcement of PLI schemes for 13 sectors made earlier during the Union Budget 2021-22, with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore.
From the total budget of Rs 26,058 crores, an amount of Rs 25,938 crores has been sanctioned for the automobile industry and Rs 120 crores for the drone industry.
J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha launches ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’
In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has launched a new mission called ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’. The mission was launched at Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Pampore.
He outlined that DIGI-Pay Sakhi has introduced financial inclusion within the UT’s Self Help Group (SHG) ecosystem, creating much-needed financial access points with greater transparency even in the remotest of the areas.
Ranks and Reports
NITI Aayog Launches Report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’
NITI Aayog has launched a report titled ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’ which presents measures to ramp up urban planning capacity in India.
The report was released on September 16, 2021, jointly by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar, CEO Shri Amitabh Kant, and Special Secretary Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao.
The report has made several recommendations that can unblock bottlenecks in the value chain of urban planning capacity in India. Some of them include programmatic Intervention for the Planning of Health, Re-engineering of Urban Governance, Revision of Town and Country Planning Acts.
The report suggests that every city must aspire to become a ‘Healthy City for All’ by 2030.
The report has also recommended a Central Sector Scheme named ‘500 Healthy Cities Programme’, for a period of 5 years. Under this priority cities and towns would be selected jointly by the states and local bodies.
Defense
Defence Ministry constitutes High-Level Expert Committee to review NCC
The Ministry of Defence has constituted a High-Level Expert Committee, for a comprehensive review of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). Former Member of Parliament (MP) Baijayant Panda will be the Chairperson of the Committee.
The 15-member committee will also include Cricketer MS Dhoni and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra as members. Suggest measures to empower NCC cadets to contribute more effectively towards nation building
Propose ways for gainful engagement of NCC Alumni for the betterment of the organization. Recommend best practices of similar international youth organizations for inclusion in the NCC curriculum.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- NCC Founded: 16 April 1948;
- NCC Headquarters: New Delhi.
Indo-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran-XV to begin at Pithoragarh
The 15th edition of Indo–Nepal Joint Military Training Exercise Surya Kiran will be held from September 20, 2021, at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
The previous edition of the Exercise Surya Kiran was conducted in Nepal in 2019. The exercise was called off in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Indian Army and Nepali Army would share their experiences of various counter-insurgency operations, and familiarise themselves with each other’s weapons, equipment, tactics, techniques, and procedures of operating in a counter-insurgency environment in mountainous terrain.
The joint military training will help in improving bilateral relations and further strengthen the traditional friendship between the two nations.
Business
Power Finance Corporation issues India’s first-ever Euro Green Bond
The leading power sector NBFC, Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), successfully issued its maiden Euro Green Bond. The 7-year Euro 300 million Bond has been priced at 1.841 percent.
This Euro Green Bond is the first-ever Euro-denominated Green bond issuance from India. It is also the first-ever Euro issuance by an Indian NBFC. With the issuance, PFC has also forayed into the European market for its international fundraising.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd Headquarters: New Delhi;
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd Founded: 16 July 1986;
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd chairman and managing director: R S Dhillon.
Awards
Ayaan Shankta was named as “2021 International Young Eco-Hero”
A 12-year-old environmental activist from Mumbai, Maharashtra, Ayaan Shankta has been named as “2021 International Young Eco-Hero”.
He won the 3rd prize under the Age Group: 8-14 for his project “Conservation and Rehabilitation of Powai Lake” and became one of the 25 global winners of the Young Eco-Hero Award 2021.
The award presented by “The Action for Nature”, San Francisco-based NGO, recognizes young people (8 to 16 years old) for their environmental achievements.
Obituary
Eminent Kashmiri Writer Aziz Hajini passes away
Noted writer and former secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Aziz Hajini passed away. Hajini, born as Abdul Aziz Parray in north Kashmir’s Bandipora, was appointed Secretary J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages in 2015.
He has over twenty books in Kashmiri to his credit including poetry and criticism. Hajini won the Sahitya Akademi Award (criticism) in 2016 for his book ‘Aane Khane’ written in Kashmiri. He has also won the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award in 2013 for Za Gaz Zameen, Kashmiri translation of Abdul Samad’s Urdu novel Do Gaz Zameen.
Former India player and Mohun Bagan great Bhabani Roy passes away
Former India footballer and Mohun Bagan captain, Bhabani Roy passed away. He was joined Bagan in 1966 and played for the club till 1972. He represented India in the 1969 Merdeka Cup and played in three matches.
Bhabani Roy helped Mohun Bagan win the Rovers Cup in 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1972 (Joint Winner). At the domestic level, he was part of the West Bengal team that won the Santosh Trophy in 1968 and 1971.
2 times Olympic Gold Medalist Yuriy Sedykh passes away
Double Olympic hammer throw gold medallist Yuriy Sedykh, a Ukrainian track and field athlete who represented the Soviet Union until 1991, has passed away.
He set the world record for the hammer throw with a throw of 86.74 meters at the European Championships in Stuttgart in 1986 which is still not broken. He won his first gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and his second gold at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
- Daily Current Affairs in English 11 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 10
- 11 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- 10 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 9
- Daily Current Affairs in English 10 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
