September 2022 by AffairsCloud

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Current Affairs Study PDF – September 2022
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam
Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
CABINET APPROVALS ................................................................................................................................................. 7
PARLIAMENT NEWS ................................................................................................................................................. 18
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ................................................................................................................................. 20
FESTIVAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 36
OTHER NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................ 38
STATE NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 64
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................... 73
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ................................................................................................................................................ 77
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................... 80
INDIAN VISITS ........................................................................................................................................................... 80
FOREIGN VISITS ........................................................................................................................................................ 83
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS............................................................................................................................................ 89
BANKING NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................ 89
RBI IN NEWS .............................................................................................................................................................. 89
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS ........................................................................................................................................ 95
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED................................................................................................................................ 96
BANKING TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 107
OTHER BANK NEWS ............................................................................................................................................... 108
FINANCE NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 121
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 127
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................. 134
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS ........................................................................................................................................... 153
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE .............................................................................................................................. 161
INDEX ............................................................................................................................................................................ 169
RANKING .................................................................................................................................................................. 169
REPORTS .................................................................................................................................................................. 175
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 191
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ............................................................................................................................... 205
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ............................................................................................................................................ 222

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 228
DEFENCE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 237
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 237
TESTING ................................................................................................................................................................... 243
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ......................................................................................................................................... 247
SPORTS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 252
OBITUARY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 271
BOOKS & AUTHORS ....................................................................................................................................................... 278
IMPORTANT DAYS ......................................................................................................................................................... 282
APPS & WEB PORTAL .................................................................................................................................................... 320
ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................................................................. 328

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approvals on August 31, 2022
On August 31, 2022, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi approved the following proposals:
i.Rs 1200cr scheme for disposal of pulsesto states/UTs under discounted procured under discounted rate
ii.Signing of MoU between India and Nepal in the Field of Biodiversity Conservation
i.Cabinet approves Rs 1200cr scheme for disposal of pulses to states/UTs under discounted procured
under discounted rate
CCEA has approved a Rs 1200 crore scheme for disposal of Chana (Pulses) to States and Union Territories
(UTs) at discounted rates which will be utilized for various welfare schemes.
• The disposal will be done from the stock of pulses procured under Price Support Scheme (PSS)
and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF).
• It also approved the enhancement of the ceiling on quantity of procurement under PSS from existing
25% to 40% in respect of Tur, Urad, and Masur.
How will this scheme be implemented?
The States and UTs are offered to lift 15 lakh Metric Ton of Chana at the discount of Rs 8 per kg over the issue
price of the sourcing state on first come first serve basis. The States and UTs will utilize these pulses in their
various welfare schemes including Mid-Day Meal, Public Distribution System, and Integrated Child
Development Programs.
• This will be a one-time dispensation for a period of 12 months or till the complete disposal of 15
lakh MT stock of Chana.
What is PSF & PSS?
PSF:
Established in 2014-15, PSF is any fund created to absorb extreme volatility in selected commodity prices. Such
goods will be procured directly from farmers or farmers’ organisations at the farm gate/mandi, and made
available to consumers at a more affordable price.
• In case of Losses sustained, it will be shared between the Central Government and the states must be
shared in the operations.
PSS:
The Department Of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) implements the PSS for
procurement of oil seeds, pulses and cotton, through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of
India Ltd. (NAFED) which is the Central nodal agency, at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by the
government.
• NAFED undertakes procurement as and when prices fall below the MSP.
• Food Corporation of India (FCI) also takes up procurement of crops under PSS.
Point to be noted:
i.India has witnessed an all-time high production of Chana, especially during the last three years. Government
of India under PSS has made record procurement of Chana during Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 & 2021-22. Due to
this, 30.55 lakh MT of Chana is available with the Government under PSS & PSF. In the coming Rabi season also,
the production of Chana is expected to be good.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Nepal in the Field of Biodiversity Conservation
• The Union Cabinet also approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Government of Nepal on biodiversity conservation.

• The MoU envisages strengthening and enhancing the coordination and cooperation in the field of
forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, climate change, restoration of corridors
and interlinking areas.
• Both sides also share knowledge and best practices.
Key Points:
i.India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world and it is taking several steps to conserve the
wildlife population and biodiversity.
ii.The Indian government has adopted many laws, policy initiatives, and acts to conserve the vast flora and
fauna in the country and across the borders adjoining neighbouring countries.
Recent Related News:
i.Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 1.64 Lakh crore Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) revival package to make
BSNL financially viable.
ii.The Cabinet approved a Bill to amend the Competition Act, 2002, with the aim of reforming the competition
regulation ecosystem. The Competition (Amendment) Bill proposes changes to the governing structure of the
Competition Commission of India (CCI) as well as changes to substantive legal provisions to address the needs
of new age markets.
Cabinet Committee On Security Approves Tejas 2.0 Mega Project

The Tejas Mark-2 (Tejas MK2) fighting jet project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security
(CCS), which is chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, at a cost of more than Rs. 6,500 crore. The
funding is an addition to the Rs 2,500 crore that was previously approved for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL).
• The Tejas Mark-2 (Tejas 2.0) will be an advanced version of Tejas LCA.
• The Tejas Mark-2 project will provide a number of enhancements to the flight and combat skills of
the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
• The Tejas is a single-engine, multi-role supersonic fighter that is extremely agile. It is manufactured
by the state-run HAL.
• Tejas Mark-2 is being designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Aircraft Research
and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Note: Another large-scale project for fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with
stealth features and “supercruise” capabilities will soon be announced after the above Tejas project.
Tejas Mark-2 project
i.The Tejas Mark-2 will have a longer combat range and more capacity to carry weapons with more powerful
GE-414 engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class than the Tejas Mark-1 (GE-404 engines).
• It will have a payload capacity of 4 tonnes, up from 3 tonnes for the current variant.
ii.As the Tejas Mark-1 (13.5 tonne) was intended to replace outdated MiG-21s, the Mark-2 variant (17.5 tonne)
will replace fighters such as the Mirage-2000s, Jaguars, and MiG-29s in the combat fleet of Indian Air Force
(IAF).
• The lightweight Tejas Mark-1 is primarily designed for defence systems.
• The medium-weight Mark-2 fighter will be used for offensive operations into enemy areas and will
have heavy standoff weapons.
• About 30 of the 123 Tejas jets that the IAF originally bought from HAL have been delivered to the
IAF.
• In February 2021, the final Rs. 46,898 crore contract for 73 enhanced Mark-1A fighters and 10
trainers was signed for delivery in the 2024–2028 timeframe.
iv.In addition, a newly created Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which will be a significant
improvement over the current ELTA’s EL/M-2032 multi-mode radar, would be included on the new jet.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
i.The AMCA will weigh around 25-tonne and will be a completely distinct advanced stealth fighter. The IAF will
induct five to seven AMCA squadrons, with production most likely to begin in 2035.
ii.Operational fifth-generation jets at the moment: American F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning-II Joint Strike
Fighter; Chinese Chengdu J-20 & Russian Sukhoi-57.
In July 2022, HAL has concluded a contract with Honeywell Aerospace worth over USD 100 million for the
supply and manufacture of 88 TPE331-12B engines/kits (Honeywell), as well as maintenance and support
services, to power HAL’s indigenous Hindustan Turbo Trainer – 40 (HTT-40), which will be used to train Army,
Navy, and IAF pilots.
Note:
• R Madhavan is the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of HAL.
About Indian Air Force(IAF):
Chief of the Air Staff – Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari
Established – 1932
Motto – Touch The Sky with Glory
Cabinet Approvals on September 7, 2022

On September 7, 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India approved the following
proposals:
i.MoU between India and the UK and Northern Ireland on mutual recognition of academic qualifications
ii.MoU between India’s MoE and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Education
iii.MoU on disaster management between India-Maldives
iv.Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase-II from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad
v.Policy on long term leasing of Railways Land for implementing PM Gati Shakti framework
vi.PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)
Cabinet approves MoU signed on mutual recognition of academic qualifications between India, UK and
Northern Ireland
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between India, the United Kingdom (UK), and Northern Ireland on
mutual recognition of academic qualifications which was signed on April 25, 2022.
• However, the recognition under this will be at par with the qualifications norms of both nations as
approved under national policy, law, rules and regulations.
Key Points:
i.The MoU will promote academic collaboration and student mobility.
ii.It will facilitate periods of study undertaken, documents related to academic degrees/qualifications and
accreditation by educational institutions.
iii.It will also facilitate establishment of Joint/Dual degree courses between Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs). It is one of the objectives under NEP (Nationals Education Policy) 2020 for Intel-nationalization of
Education.
iv.This MoU is not applicable for Professional degrees like Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Para-Medical
Education, Pharmacy, Law, and Architecture.
v.It will promote bilateral exchange of information about educational structure, programs and standards, and
encourage other areas of cooperation in education sector, development of study programs.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and UAE on cooperation in the field of Education
The Cabinet also approved MoU between India’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE)
Ministry of Education to further strengthen the educational collaboration between India and UAE, and to widen
the scope of engagements.
• The MoU will be valid for 5 years, and will supersede the MoU signed between both nations in 2015.
• Both sides can renew the MoU after expiry with mutual consent.

• It should be noted that UAE is a major work destination for Indians.
What is in the MoU?
i.It promotes Exchange of Information Education, Capacity Development of Technical and vocational Education
and Training (TVET) teaching staff, Facilitation of academic collaboration between HEIs of both nations for
offering Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programs.
ii.This MoU will renew educational cooperation, and increase academic mobility between India and UAE.
iii.There will be exchange of information in order to promote mutual recognition of these qualifications.
Background:
The MoU in the field of education was signed in 2015 between India and UAE which expired in 2018. Then in
2019 a new MoU was proposed by UAE, which incorporated changes as per India’s NEP 2020.
Cabinet clears India-Maldives MoU on disaster management
The Cabinet also approved a MoU on cooperation between India and Maldives in the field of disaster
management which was signed between the National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMAs) of the both
nations on August 2, 2022.
• As a part of MoU, an annual disaster management exercise will be held at different locations of India
and Maldives.
Objective:
i.To benefit from the Disaster Management mechanisms of each other
ii.To strengthen the areas of preparedness, response and capacity building in the field of Disaster Management
Features of MoU:
i.A mutual support will be provided during a large scale disaster incident occurred in the territory of India or
Maldives, and in the field of emergency relief, response, humanitarian assistance.
ii.There will be exchange of information, and sharing of best practices of disaster response, mitigation, planning
and preparedness.
• The exchange of information includes Tsunami Advisories, Storm Surge, High Wave Alert, Multi
Hazard vulnerability information, Numerical weather Predication (NWP) products and Extended
Range Forecast (ERF).
• It also include provision of access by Indian side to the Real Time Analysis of Products and
Information Dissemination (RAPID) for visualization of Indian Weather Satellite Data.
iii.The NDMA of both nations will share satellite remote sensing data and expertise of space technology base
applications for effective disaster mitigation.
iv.They will cooperate in the field of advanced information technology, early warning systems, remote sensing,
satellite communication & navigation services.
v.Trainings will be provided to the seniors and rescue personnel of emergency management service.
About Maldives:
Capital- Male
Currency– Maldivian Rufiyaa
Cabinet approves Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase-II from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Rs 1,957.05 crore Kochi metro Rail Phase II of Kochi Metro
Rail Project from JLN (Jawaharlal Nehru) International Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad. It will cover a length
of 11.17 Kms, and 11 stations.
Key Points:
i.The Phase-I in Kochi from Aluva to Petta, covering a length of 25.6 Km with 22 stations is fully operational. Its
estimated completion cost is Rs 5181.79 crore.
ii.The Kochi Metro Phase 1A project of viaduct of 1.80 km between Petta to SN Junction with an approved cost
of Rs 710.93 crore is being implemented as state sector project. iii.Kochi Metro Phase 1 B Project of 1.20 Km
from SN Junction to Thripunithura Terminal is also under construction as state sector project.
iv.Kochi is the most densely populated city in the State of Kerala. Its metropolitan area is estimated to have
population of about 20.8 Lakh in 2013, 25.8 Lakh in 2021 and 33.12 Lakh by the year 2031.

Cabinet approves policy on long term leasing of Railways Land for implementing PM Gati Shakti
framework
The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Railway’s proposal to revise the railways’ land policy to
implement PM Gati Shakti Framework (Cargo related activities, Public utilities & Railway’s exclusive use).
• This approval will allow leasing of railway land for cargo use for longer periods at lower costs. As
per the new policy, the land can be now leased for cargo-related activities for up to 35 years (5
years earlier) at 1.5% of market value of land per annum, down from 6% earlier.
• A comprehensive policy document for the same will be framed and implemented within 90 days.
Public service utilities include electricity, gas, water supply, sewage disposal, urban transport etc.
Key Points:
i.It will enable integrated development of infrastructure and more cargo terminals, thus improving revenues
for the Railways.
ii.The policy also enables usage of railway land to set up solar plants at a nominal cost, and encourages
development of social infrastructure (such as hospitals and schools through Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan) at
an annual fee of Rs 1 per sqm. per annum.
iii.300 cargo terminals will be developed over next five years and about 1.2 lakh employment would be
generated.
iv.The existing entities using railway land for cargo terminals will have the option to switch to the new policy
regime through bidding process.
v.For Optical Fibre Cables and other smaller diameter underground utilities, a one-time fee of Rs 1,000 would
be charged for crossing railway tracks.
Cabinet approves a new centrally sponsored Scheme – PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)
The Cabinet also approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – PM SHRI Schools
(Pradhan Mantri ScHools for Rising India) Yojana under which there will be development and upgradation
of 14,500 schools across India.
• The scheme will be implemented with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a
central share of Rs. 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Click Here for PM SHRI Schools

Union Cabinet approves more castes in STs List; Approves Signing of Guarantees for hosting
FIFA U-17 Womens‘ Football World Cup in India
On September 14, 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi approved
the inclusion of several communities in the Schedule Tribes (STs) list of the Constitution across 5 states, as a
part of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2022.
• The 5 states include, are Himachal Pradesh (HP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh
(UP) and Chhattisgarh.
Communities included in STs List:
i.HP: Granting of tribal status is proposed to the Hatti community living in the Trans-Giri region of HP.
ii.TN: It is proposed the inclusion of ‘Narikoravan’ and ‘Kurivikkaran’ communities in the list of state’s STs.
iii.Karnataka: The Cabinet approved ‘Betta-Kuruba’ as a synonym for the Kadu Kuruba tribe In Karnataka.
iv.Chhattisgarh: The Binjhia community, who were listed as ST in Jharkhand and Odisha but not in
Chhattisgarh, is newly added to the list.The Cabinet also approved synonyms for tribes to 12 existing tribes in
the ST list including Bharia (variations added include Bhumia and Bhuyian), Gadhwa (Gadwa), Dhanwar
(Dhanawar, Dhanuwar), Nagesia (Nagasia, Kisan), and Pondh (Pond), among others.
v.Uttarpradesh – Cabinet also approved a proposal to bring the Gond community residing in 13 districts of
Uttar Pradesh (UP), under the ST list from the Scheduled Caste list. This includes the five subcategories of the
Gond community (Dhuria, Nayak, Ojha, Pathari, and Rajgond).
• The changes were approved for four districts in Uttar Pradesh — Kushinagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar,
Chandauli and Sant Kabir Nagar.
Key Points:
i.After the Bill becomes an Act, the member of the communities newly listed in the revised list of STs will also
be able to utilize benefits meant for STs under the existing schemes of the Government
• Some of the major schemes include Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas Scholarship, National
Fellowship, Top Class Education, Concessional Loans from National Scheduled Tribes Finance and
Development Corporation, Hostels for ST boys and girls etc.
ii.The process to include tribes in the ST list begins with the recommendation from the respective State
governments, which are then sent to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, which reviews and sends them to the Registrar
General of India (RGI) for approval. This is followed by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes’ (NCST)
approval before the list is sent to the Cabinet for a final decision.
Cabinet approves signing of guarantees for hosting FIFA U-17 Womens‘ Football World Cup
The Union Cabinet approved the signing of Guarantees for hosting Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) Under 17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
Notably, the 7th edition FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 is scheduled to be held in India between October
11-30, 2022 in Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), Goa and Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
• It will be the first-ever FIFA women’s competition to be hosted by India. In 2017, India successfully
hosted the FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup India-2017 at six different venues namely New Delhi
(Delhi), Guwahati (Assam), Mumbai, Goa, Kochi (Kerala) and Kolkata (West Bengal).
Financial outlay:
i.Rs 60 crore will be spent for hosting the tournament that will see participation of 16 teams, including India.
ii.Rs 10 crore assistance will be provided to All India Football Federation (AIFF) for Field of play Maintenance,
Stadium power, Energy & Cabling, Stadia & Training Site Branding etc. from the budgetary allocation for the
Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).
About FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
It is a biennial world championship for female players under or upto the age of 17, organized by FIFA. The
event started in 2008 and is held in even-numbered years.
• The 6th edition was held in Uruguay in 2018.
• Spain is the current champion of FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

Cabinet nod for Value-added Agriculture Mission
The Union Cabinet also approved the setting up of Value-Added Agriculture Mission (VAAM) which aims at
doubling farmers’ income in Kerala. The mission envisages the branding of ethnic Kerala foods so that they find
markets in West Asian countries.
About VAAM:
It will be chaired by the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan. The Ministers for Agriculture and Industries
will be vice chairs. The governing body has eight Ministers. Special working groups will be headed by the
Principal Secretary (Agriculture). At the State-level, the VAAM will have a coordinator and a Chief Operating
Officer.
i.For VAAM, the Agriculture department will be supported by other departments, including Industries, Water
Resources and Local Self-government.
ii.The VAAM will help identify profitable national/international markets for Kerala products by focusing on
procurement, standardisation, quality control, branding and labelling.
iii.There will be identification of technologies and mechanisation that aid value-addition and speedier
dissemination of information through a common knowledge platform.
i.The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a contract between India and France to support International
Transport Forum (ITF) activities in the Indian transport sector.
ii.Union Cabinet approved the signing of ‘Audio Visual Co-Production Treaty’ between India and Australia to
promote co-production of films.
What is Value-added agriculture?
Value-added agriculture entails changing a raw agricultural product into something new through packaging,
processing, cooling, drying, extracting or any other type of process that differentiates the product from the
original raw commodity.
About All India Football Federation (AIFF)
• Formed in – 1937
• President – Kalyan Chaubey
• Headquarters – New Delhi,Delhi
Cabinet approvals on September 21, 2022

On September 21, 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi has
approved the following proposals which were detailed by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB):
i.Introduces ULIP, Standardization, Monitoring framework and skill development for Greater Efficiency in
Logistics Services
ii.Modifications in Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in
India
iii.2nd tranche of PLI Scheme on National programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules
NLP introduces ULIP, Standardization, Monitoring framework and skill development for Greater
Efficiency in Logistics Services
Recently, on September 17, 2022, PM Narendra Modi launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP) in Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi) that will act as a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation
matters. Click Here to Read
The Policy sets targets and includes a detailed action plan to achieve them. The targets are:
1. to reduce cost of logistics in India to be comparable to global benchmarks by 2030,
2. improve the Logistics Performance Index ranking, to be among top 25 countries by 2030, and
3. create data driven decision support mechanism for an efficient logistics ecosystem.

Key Points:
i.To ensure the maximum reach of NLP important initiatives under the policy including Unified Logistics
Interface Platform (ULIP), the Ease of Logistics Services platform, e-handbook on Warehousing, training
courses on PM GatiShakti, skill development and logistics on i-Got platform, were also launched.
ii.To monitor the implementation of NLP, it will utilize the existing institutional framework i.e., Empowered
Group of Secretaries (EGoS) created under the PM GatiShakti NMP (National Master Plan) .
• The EGoS will also set up Services Improvement Group (SIG) on the pattern of Network Planning
Group (NPG) for monitoring of parameters pertaining to processes, regulatory and digital
improvements in logistics sector
Cabinet approves modifications in Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display
Manufacturing Ecosystem in India
The Union Cabinet has approved the modifications in the Programme for development of semiconductors and
display manufacturing ecosystem in India. The modifications include the following:
i.Fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passu basis for all technology nodes under Scheme for Setting up
of Semiconductor Fabs in India.
ii.Fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passu basis under Scheme for Setting up of Display Fabs.
iii.Fiscal support of 50% of Capital Expenditure on pari-passu basis under Scheme for Setting up of Compound
Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics /Sensors Fab and Semiconductor ATMP (Assembly Testing Marking and
Packaging)/OSAT (Outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) facilities in India.
• Additionally, target technologies under the Scheme will include Discrete Semiconductor Fabs.
Reason behind Modification:
The Programme for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem has attracted many
global semiconductor players for setting up fabs in India. Now, the above mentioned modifications will
expedite investments in semiconductor and display manufacturing in India.
Background:
An Advisory Committee comprising global experts from industry and academia was constituted to advise India
Semiconductor Mission (ISM) which is the nodal agency for the Programme for development of semiconductors
and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• This Advisory Committee has unanimously recommended uniform support for all technology nodes
of silicon semiconductor fabs / Silicon Photonics / Sensors / Discrete Semiconductor Fabs and
ATMP/OSAT, which has been accepted by the Government.
• This segment constitutes around 50% of the total semiconductor market.
Cabinet approves 2nd tranche of PLI Scheme on National programme on High Efficiency Solar PV
Modules
The Cabinet also approved the 2nd tranche of Rs 19,500-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme on
‘National programme on High Efficiency Solar PV (photovoltaic) Modules’ with an aim to attract Rs 94,000
crore investments in the sector.
Through this, PLI scheme it is expected that about 65GW (Giga Watt) per annum manufacturing capacity of
fully and partially integrated, solar PV modules will be installed in India.
• While 29GW will be under the fully integrated plan, 18GW of solar plants will be integrated from
wafers to modules, and another 18GW of plants integrated over cells and modules.
Aim:
i.To build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India
ii.To reduce import dependence in the area of renewable energy
Key Points:
i.The initiative is expected to reduce import substitution of about Rs 1.37 lakh crore.
ii.The key difference in PLI tranche-I and tranche-II is that the minimum efficiency that was previously
permitted has now been increased by one percentage point.

iii.The PLI that will now be disbursed will be based on local value addition, efficiency and there will be
a tapering factor over 5 years, means after 5 years industries will not be dependent on subsidies and have to
become competitive on their own.
iv.Through this PLI, there will be direct employment of about 1,95,000 and indirect employment of around
7,80,000 persons.
v.Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent selection process.
Why is this scheme significant?
At present all manufacturing in the solar energy sector in India is restricted only to cells and modules. India
currently has no manufacturing of solar wafers and polysilicon. Through this scheme, the government will
boost solar parts manufacturing in all three categories with the bulk of the focus being on producing integrated
units, and the other two being equally divided between wafers-polysilicon and cells-modules.
Point to be noted;
i.The Central government has set a target of 500GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by
2030.
ii.Bids for the first tranche were awarded in November-December 2021 and it was for Rs 4,500 crore with a
total integrated capacity of 8.7 GW.
i.The Union Cabinet approved the ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the Universal Postal
Union (UPU) as contained in the 11th Additional Protocol to the Constitution signed during the 27th Congress
of the Universal Postal Union held at Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 9 to 27 August 2021.
ii.The Union Cabinet approved the “Widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
database to users, besides patent offices”.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency- Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State– Dr. Loganathan Murugan (Constituency- Madhya Pradesh)
Union Cabinet approvals on September 28, 2022

On September 28, 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi has
approved the following proposals which were briefed by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting:
i.Release of additional instalment of DA to Central Government employees and DR to Pensioners, w.e.f July 1,
2022
ii.Extension of PMGKAY for another three months (October 2022-December 2022)
iii.MoU between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each from river Kushiyara
iv.Information about progress under National Health Mission for 2020-21
v.Redevelopment of New Delhi, Ahmedabad and CSMT, Mumbai Railway Stations
Cabinet approves release of additional instalment of DA to Central Government employees and DR to
Pensioners w.e.f. July 2022
The Union Cabinet has approved the release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness
Relief (DR) under 7th Pay Commission @4% to Central Government employees and pensioners respectively
w.e.f. July 1, 2022. It is based on the percentage increase in 12 monthly average of All India Consumer Price
Index for the period ending June, 2022.
• The 4% increase in DA and DR is over the existing rate of 34% of basic pay/pension. Thus, the
effective new rate of DA and DR will be 38%.
• Dearness allowance percentage is reviewed and re-fixed/ increased by the government twice every
year on January 1 and July 1. The next DA/DR hike is due on January 1, 2023.

Financial Implications:
i.The increase in DA to Central Government employees will cost the Central Government an estimated Rs
6,591.36 crore per annum , and Rs.4,394.24 crore for FY23 (i.e. for a period of 8 months from July, 2022 to
February, 2023).
ii.For DR to pensioners, it will cost around Rs 6,261.20 crore per annum and Rs.4,174.12 crore in FY23 (From
July, 2022 to February, 2023).
iii.The combined cost for DA and DR will be Rs 12,852.56 crore per annum; and Rs.8,568.36 crore in FY23
(from July, 2022 to February, 2023).
Centre extends PMGKAY for another 3 months (October 2022-December 2022)
The Union Cabinet has approved the extension for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY-Phase VII) for a further period of 3 months i.e. October to December 2022.
• This decision has been taken to support the poor and vulnerable sections of society for the
forthcoming major festivals like Navratri, Dussehra, Milad-un-nabi, Deepawali, Chhath pooja,
Gurunanak dev Jayanti, Christmas, etc.
• PMGKAY-Phase VII will cost additional Rs 44,762 crore to the Central Government.
About PMGKAY:
This is a food security welfare scheme initiated duringCOVID-19 crisis under which 5 kg of food grain per
person per month is provided free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act
(NFSA) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The overall expenditure of PMGKAY will be about Rs. 3.91 lakh crore for all the phases.
• The total outgo in terms of food grains for PMGKAY Phase VII is likely to be about 122 LMT (Lakh
Metric Tonnes).
• The aggregate allocation of food grain for phases I- VII is about 1121 LMT.
• The Scheme comes under the Department of Food and Public Distribution of the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each
from river Kushiyara
The Union Cabinet has also given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each by India and Bangladesh from
common border river Kushiyara during dry season (1st November to 31st May) for their consumptive water
requirement.
• The MoU was signed on September 6, 2022 between the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Government
of India; and Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Bangladesh.
Key Points:
i.This MoU will enable Government of Assam to withdraw upto 153 cusecs of water during dry season.
ii.A Joint Monitoring Team will be set up by both the countries to monitor the withdrawal of water by each side
during dry season.
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister – Sheikh Hasina Wazed
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi Taka
Union Cabinet informed about progress under National Health Mission for 2020-21
The Union Cabinet informed about the progress under National Health Mission, NHM during FY2020-21
including accelerated decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Under Five
Mortality Rate (U5MR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR).
• There is also progress in respect of various diseases programs like Malaria, Kala-Azar, Dengue,
Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Viral Hepatitis etc.
• The expenditure involved is around Rs 28,000 crore of Central Government share.

Key Achievements:
i.U5MR in India has declined from 49 in 2013 to 36 in 2018 and the percentage annual rate of decline in U5MR
during 2013-2018 has accelerated to 6% from 3.9 % observed during 1990-2012.
• As per Sample Registration System (SRS), in 2020, U5MR has further reduced to 32.
ii.MMR of India has declined by 443 points from 556 per one lakh live births in 1990 to 113 in 2016-18. A
decline of 80% has been achieved in MMR since 1990, which is higher than the global decline of 45%.
• As per SRS 2017-19, MMR has further reduced to 103.
iii.IMR has declined from 80 in 1990 to 32 in the year 2018.
• As per SRS 2020, IMR has further reduced to 28.
iv.TFR in India declined from 2.3 in 2013 to 2.2 in the year 2018.
• As per SRS 2020, SRS has further reduced to 2.
v.The incidence of TB per 1,00,000 population has been reduced from 234 in 2012 to 193 in 2019. The
mortality due to TB per 1,00,000 populations for India also reduced from 42 in 2012 to 33 in 2019.
vi.The percentage of Kala Azar (KA) endemic blocks, achieving the elimination target of < 1 KA case per 10000
population, increased from 74.2% in 2014 to 97.5% in 2020-21.
Click Her for full Data
Key Points:
i.NHM is the implementing agency for the Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package
(ECRP) Phase-I to boost health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention,
detection and management of COVID-19.
ii.ECRP-I is a 100% centrally supported intervention and an amount of over Rs 8,147 crore were allocated to
States and UTs (Union Territories) for the period upto March 31, 2021.
Targets under NHM by 2025
i. To reduce MMR to 90 from 113, reduce IMR to 23 from 32, reduce U5MR to 23 from 36 and sustain TFR to
2.1,
ii. Reduce prevalence of Leprosy to less than one in 10 thousand population and incidence to zero in all
districts.
iii. Annual Malaria incidence to be less than one in 1000 population
iv. Prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity from communicable, non- communicable, injuries and
emerging diseases
v. Reduce household out-of-pocket expenditure on total health care expenditure
vi. Ending the TB epidemic by 2025 from India
Cabinet approves redevelopment of New Delhi, Ahmedabad and CSMT, Mumbai Railway Stations
The Union Cabinet also approved Indian Railways’ proposal for redevelopment of 3 major railway stations with
an approximate total investment of nearly Rs 10,000 Cr.
The stations are:
• New Delhi Railway Station (Delhi)
• Ahmedabad Railway Station (Gujarat)
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The bids will be awarded to developers that quote the lowest amount for redeveloping the stations as per the
design parameters.
Key Points:
i.Work on redevelopment of 199 Stations is going on. Out of these, tenders have been issued for 47 stations.
Work is progressing fast for 32 stations.
ii.In March 2022, the Railways decided to redevelop the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) and Mumbai’s
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) under a Hybrid Built Operate Transfer (BOT) model instead of a
Design, Built, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model that was earlier planned.

PARLIAMENT NEWS
MHA Notifies Rules for Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022: Set to Grant Cops Access
to Biometric Data
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued rules for the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act,
2022, which empowers police and central investigating agencies to collect biometric data on people who have
been convicted, arrested, or detained.
• The law passed by Parliament in April 2022 took effect in August 2022, replacing the Identification
of Prisoners Act of 1920.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which operates under the MHA, is required under the
regulations to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that specifies the devices and equipment that will
be used to collect biometric data.
Background
The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act of 2022 repeals the Identification of Prisoners Act of 1920,
despite the fact that the rules do not specify convicted persons.
The old Act’s purview was restricted to taking fingerprints, footprints, and photographs of convicted prisoners
as well as specific categories of people who were arrested and non-convicted persons on the order of a
Magistrate.
Key Mandates:
i.According to the new rules, measurements of a person may be taken for Act-related purposes by an
authorized user, a skilled measurement-taker, or a certified medical professional.
• The term “measurements” refers to any examination referred to in Sections 53 or 53A of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), including fingerprints, palm prints, foot prints,
photographs, iris and retina scans, physical and biological samples and their analysis, behavioural
indicators like signatures, handwriting, or any other examination.
ii.The rules require the NCRB to specify the format of the measurements, which can be digital or physical.
iii.According to instructions provided by the NCRB, States/Union Territories (UTs) must gather and store the
data in a format that is compatible with the NCRB’s database.
• The rules stipulate that destruction and disposal of records shall be specified in the SOP.
Some of the Rules of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
i.A person charged with violation of any prohibitory order issued under Section 144 or Section 145 or arrested
under Section 151 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) shall not be taken unless such person is charged or
arrested in connection with any other offence punishable.
• Provided that the measurements of a person shall not be taken on the initiation of proceeding under
Section 107 or Section 108 or Section 109 or Section 110 of CrPC unless such person has been
ordered to give security for his good behaviour or maintaining peace.
ii.If any person who is required to allow the measurements to be taken under the Act resists or refuses to allow
the taking of such measurements, the authorized user shall take the measurements in accordance with the
provisions of sections 53 and 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
• The rules suggested invoking sections of the CrPC used in rape or attempted rape cases for those
who refuse to furnish biometric and other details.
iii.The measurements of a person arrested in connection with an offence under Chapter IXA or Chapter X of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) must be taken with the prior written approval of a police official not lower than the
rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
iv.Unauthorized access, distribution, or sharing of data collected under the Act is punishable under the Indian
Penal Code, 1860, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
i.The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government has launched the Village Defence Guards scheme(VDGS) 2022
after the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs which is effective from 15th August 2022.

ii.The aim of the VDGS is to organise a small group of volunteer armed civilians in identified villages along the
borders as well as in in-depth areas of the Jammu division, with a view to instill a sense of self-protection and
ensure the safety and security of such villages, infrastructural installations in and around them, and to check
the trans-border movement.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister – Amit Shah (Gandhi Nagar Constituency, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Nityanand Rai; Ajay Kumar Mishra; Nisith Pramanik
MCA Amends Corporate Social Responsibility Rules

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) amended the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy)
Rules, 2014 in accordance with the authority granted under Section 135 and Subsections (1) and (2) of Section
469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013).
Objective: To calculate the cost of conducting social impact assessments of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) activities and the procedure for handling unspent CSR funds of companies.
These rules may be referred to as the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Amendment
Rules, 2022.
Key Points
i.MCA has also issued a new format for the annual report on CSR activities, which will be included in the board’s
report for the fiscal year beginning on or after April 1, 2020.
ii.It has also modified the way companies calculate the expenditure of conducting an impact assessment.
• It requires the large CSR spenders to conduct an independent impact assessment of their activities.
iii.This enables companies and investors to better target their social investments, understand their impacts,
and develop better CSR initiatives.
• Companies having a CSR budget of Rs. 10 crore or more and all projects with an outlay of Rs. 1 crore
or more are mandated to do such impact assessments.
Significant Provisions of the New CSR Rules
i.According to the CSR rules, companies are required to establish a ‘CSR Committee’ to oversee the
implementation of their CSR obligations if they have any funds in their “Unspent Corporate Social
Responsibility Account.”
• Companies are entitled to keep unspent CSR funds in this designated account, but must utilize them
within three fiscal years.
• The CSR committee will be in charge of its implementation.
ii.According to the new rules, expenditure for social impact assessment that can be included in CSR spending
cannot exceed 2% of total CSR expenditure for the relevant fiscal year or Rs. 50 lakh, whichever is greater.
• Prior to the amendment, the rules only permitted up to 5% of total CSR spending or Rs. 50 lakh,
whichever is less.
iii.Under the new format of the annual report on CSR activities, the composition of the CSR committee requires
companies to provide an executive summary as well as web links to impact assessments of completed CSR
projects.
• Furthermore, it mandates the companies involved to provide information on the CSR amount spent
on current projects as well as those other than ongoing projects.
iv.In addition, the company website must provide information about the composition of the CSR committee, the
CSR policy, and CSR projects that have been authorized by the board.
v.Companies must spend on CSR activities if they have a net worth of at least Rs. 500 crore or a minimum
turnover of Rs. 1,000 crore, or a net profit of Rs. 5 crore or more during the immediately preceding financial
year.
Click here for the official notification of the Amendment of the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014 of the
Companies Act,2013
Click here to read more about CSR in India

i.In August 2022, The Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) announced the winners and honourable mentions of
the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards 2020 in three main categories: Corporate
Awards for Excellence in CSR; CSR Awards for CSR in Aspirational Districts / Difficult Terrains; CSR Awards for
contribution in National Priority Areas.
About Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA):
Union Minister- Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rao Inderjit Singh
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

President of India Launches Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
On 9th September 2022 the President of India, Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB
Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to reinvigorate the mission of Tuberculosis (TB) elimination from the country by 2025.
• During the event, the President also launched the Ni-kshay 2.0 initiative, a portal to provide a
platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment.
Objective:
The objectives of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is to Provide additional patient support to
improve treatment outcomes of TB patients; to bring together all community stakeholders to end TB by 2025
and to leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
About the Ni-kshay 2.0 initiative:
i. The Ni-kshay digital portal will provide a platform for community support for persons with TB.
• Around 5 lakh TB patients are registered in the Nikshay portal, out of which 8.9 lakh active TB
patients have given their consent for adoption.
ii. In Order to become a Nikshay Mitra, the mentor will have to register
on www.nikshay.in or www.tbcindia.gov.in and can choose nutritional, diagnostic, vocational and additional
nutritional supplements support.
• The Nikshay Mitra can choose the duration of support (ranging from 1 year to 3 years) and can also
choose the state, district, block and health facilities.
• This process of becoming Nikshay Mitra will be facilitated by the district TB officer.
Facts:
i.In India, TB causes the largest number of deaths among all other infectious diseases especially among the poor
section of the society.
ii.India has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients of the world, whereas India’s entire population itself
is less than 20 percent of the world’s population.
iii.In 2020, the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was renamed as the National
Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) that aims to eradicate TB by 2025 which is 5 years ahead of
Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Attendees:
The virtual event was attended by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya,
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Governors and Lt. Governors of
states and UTs, representatives from State and District Health Administration, civil society, Non-Government
Organisation (NGOs) and other stakeholders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches National Logistics Policy From New Delhi
On September 17, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi launched the National Logistics
Policy (NLP) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi) that will act as a single point of reference for all logistics and
trade facilitation matters.

• The NLP, in conjunction with the PM-Gati Shakti Programme, Sagarmala and Bharatmala (waterways
and roadways) schemes, the Dedicated Freight
Corridors, etc., can be transformational.
• The draft NLP was released in 2019 but it was
delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Then again in
the Union Budget of 2022-23, it was announced
by the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
Ministry of Finance.
Who has formulated the Policy?
Logistics Division, Department of Commerce, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoCI)
Aim behind Policy:
i.To promote seamless movement of goods across India
ii.To competitiveness of Indian goods in domestic and global markets
India’s Logistic Sector: Current Scenario
i.Currently, Indian logistics market is over $200 billion. It has over 20 government agencies, 40 Partner
Government Agencies, 37 export promotion councils, 500 certifications, more than 10,000 commodities and a
$160-billion market.
ii.It also involves 200 shipping agencies, 36 logistics services, 129 ICDs (Inland Container Depots), 168 CFSs
(Container Freight Stations), 50 IT ecosystems, banks and insurance agencies.
iii.India spends around 13 to 14% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on logistics costs
Policy Targets:
The policy transformational targets to help benchmark its performance. It includes the following:
i.Reducing the cost of logistics from 14-18% of GDP to global best practices of 8% by 2030. It also targets to
reduce logistics cost to 10% of GDP over the next 5 years.
• The United States (US), South Korea, Singapore, and certain European nations have low logistics cost-to-
GDP ratio.
ii.Improving India’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking to be among top 25 countries by 2030 from
44 in 2018.
iii.Creating data-driven Decision Support Systems (DSS) to enable an efficient logistics ecosystem.
iv.Minimization of logistical issues, exports growth, and to benefit small industries and their working
personnel.
Reason behind this NLP:
As mentioned above, the logistics cost in India is high. This policy is the first step in reducing logistics costs to
single digits in India. Efficiency in logistics will also increase India’s exports, boost domestic manufacturing and
make India a more attractive destination for global investors.
• Some states such as Andhra Pradesh (AP), Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh
(HP), Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh
(UP) have already formed their logistics policy. Logistics policies of 13 states are still in the draft stage.
Introduction of Integrated Digital System (IDS):
Under this policy, the Government will introduce Integrated Digital System (IDS) that will integrate 30 systems
belonging to ministries of road transport, railways, customs, aviation, foreign trade, and commerce for faster,
cheaper and safer logistics services.
• All these departments have their own digital data which will be integrated under IDS. This will help
smooth cargo movement.
Key Points:
i.The focus areas of NLP is re-engineering, digitization, and multi-modal transport.
• It will streamline rules, address supply-side constraints, and provides a roadmap to reduce fuel costs,
among others.

ii.The policy also makes way for a framework to set up Multi-modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), which will be
adopted by states and central ministries, and promote seamless transportation of goods.
iii.This policy will ensure quick last mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the
manufacturers, prevent wastage of the agro-products.
Central Government efforts to improve Connectivity:
i.To improve connectivity, the government has been doing systemic infrastructure development through
schemes such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala, Dedicated Freight Corridor.
ii.The total capacity of Indian ports has increased significantly and the average turn-around time of container
vessels has come down from 44 hours to 26 hours.
iii.Utilization of technology is also strengthening the logistic sector like e-Sanchit which enables paperless
export-import trade processes, e-way bill, and FASTag, etc.
iv.Strengthening the logistics sector will not only make it easier to do business, but also to generate substantial
employment and ensure improvement in wages and working
Other Launches:
i.The PM also launched the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) that will bring all the digital services
related to the transportation sector into a single portal,
ii.A new digital platform, Ease of logistics Services or E-Log has also been launched through which industry
associations can take up any issues regarding operations and performance with the government.
i.The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), MoCI has introduced the Paper Import Monitoring System
(PIMS) by amending the import policy of major paper products from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory
registration under PIMS’.
ii.According to MoCI data, India recorded all-time high exports worth USD 7.76 billion with the volume of
13,69,264 MT of seafood in FY 2021-22, despite the several challenges in its major export markets caused by
the Covid-19 pandemic.
About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI):
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Ministers of State– Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh) ; Som Parkash (Hoshiarpur, Punjab)
Israel embassy in India & Khushii Foundation launched women empowerment project ”Saaras”
in Ghaziabad
Israel embassy in India and Khushii Foundation launched a special project “Saaras” to promote women
empowerment, menstrual hygiene and awareness in Arthala, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh(UP). The project was
inaugurated by Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilon.
• The project was launched in collaboration with accredited social health activists (ASHA) workers
from the Ghaziabad health department.
• Naor Gilon along with Anirudh Khaitan President Khushii also inaugurated a center with facilities to
produce eco-friendly cost-effective sanitary napkins. The manufacturing unit was established with
assistance from MASHAV, an Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches ‘First Virtual School’and claims country’s first of its kind
On 31st August 2022, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi launched the First Virtual School’- Delhi
Model Virtual School (DMVS), affiliated with the Delhi Board of School Education and claimed that this school
was a India’s First Virtual School.
• The virtual school system was initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and aims to help
students who are unable to take physical classes.
• National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) denied the above claim and informed that the first
virtual school of the country was already launched by NIOS in August 2021.

Highlights:
i.The virtual school offers online classes, including virtual lectures, recorded and live lectures.
ii.It also provides skills-based courses, training for competitive exams, JEEMain (Joint Entrance
Examination), NEET ( National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and CUET (Central University Entrance Test), in
partnership with Google and Schoolnet India.
iii. The initial phase of this system will be taught to the students in grades 9 to 12. An individual who has
studied up to class 8 and dropped, is in the age group of 13 to 18 years can apply for admission to class 9.
iv.The application for the very first batch has started and any student from India can apply on the
website http://www.dmvs.ac.in.
Indian Railways to launch Vande Bharat 2 upgraded version of Train 18

The Indian Railways will launch an upgraded version of Vande Bharat trains (Train 18) ‘Vande Bharat 2’ from
30th September 2022, to give the best facilities to passengers.
• ‘Vande Bharat 2’ will have better speed (0 to 100 Kmpl speed in just 52 seconds and a maximum speed
of 180 Kmph), reduced weight (lesser weight from 392 tons) and will be powered by Wi-Fi on-demand
and 32-inch LCD TVs, and reclining chairs will now be installed in all classes.
• With 15% more energy efficiency, the ACs will have dust-free clean air cooling with a traction motor to
make the travel more comfortable.
• It will also be equipped with a catalytic ultraviolet (UV) air purification system. The system is a newly
designed Roof Mounted Package Unit (RMPU) for air purification.
• RMPU system was recommended by the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh,
Haryana and Punjab.
• In general, Vande Bharat Express contain a self-propelled engine that can save diesel and reduce
electricity usage by 30%.
Blue Energy Motors launched India’s 1st LNG-Fuelled green truck at Chakan, Pune
On 2nd September 2022, India’s 1st Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Fuelled Green Truck manufacturing plant
has been launched by Blue Energy Motors at Chakan,
Pune,Maharashtra.
• Union Minister of Road Transport and
Highways, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the
launched facility with an installed capacity to
make 10,000 of these trucks annually.
Key Highlights:
i.Blue Energy Motors signed an agreement already
with FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) Industrial, a
brand of Iveco Group, headquartered in Italy, in order to
introduce the 1st LNG powered by FPT industrial
engines which are BS-VI compliant.
ii.The power for the truck was imposed by Iveco FPT, the global powertrain brand of Iveco Group. LNG will be
a great alternative to petrol and diesel at a time when they import more trucks
iii. Blue Energy Motors will produce LNG-fuelled, heavy-duty trucks at the facility with the 5,528 4×2
tractors as the first model to be rolled out of the plant.
iv.The aim of introducing this green truck revolution is to decarbonise the environment by providing an
immediate solution and breaking the barriers to economic returns.
Note: i. The FPT Industrial Engine is the most powerful natural gas engine in the market since it generates
high torque.
v.The Indian Government already making LNG and CNG (Compressed natural gas) from biomass in Maharastra,
Punjab, and Haryana.

MoPSW Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches Multiple Development Projects in Assam
On September 19, 2022, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
(MoPSW) launched multiple projects for the development of Bogibeel region near Dibrugarh in Assam which
include the following:
Foundation stone laid for construction of two floating jetties at Bogibeel and Guijan
The Minister has laid the foundation stone for two floating jetties at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district; and Guijan
in Tinsukia district which will be constructed as state-of-the-art terminals using the most advanced technology.
Construction Company:
They are being constructed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) over the National Waterways 2
(NW-2), the river Brahmaputra.
• The work has been awarded to Coastal Consolidated Structures Pvt. Ltd on an EPC contract mode
(Engineering, Procurement, Construction).
Outlay:
Estimated Rs 8.25 crores
Completion Time:
By February, 2023
Inauguration of Bogibeel Riverfront passenger jetty
The Minister also inaugurated the Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty which is developed by the Northeast
Frontier Railways (NFR) with an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crores. This development is a part of riverfront
development near the Bogibeel bridge.
• There are plans to construct an open platform, a restaurant, 8 bio-toilets and 6 awnings as part of
the riverfront site.The entire structure is constructed over rail columns with angle frame covered by
WPC board floorings.
Points to be noted:
i.India’s longest river cruise service will begin from early next year between Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and
Bogibeel, traversing a distance of more than 4,000 kms via Ganga, Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR), and
Brahmaputra.
ii.A permanent cargo terminal at Bogibeel is also being planned for transport of cargo from the neighbouring
industries like Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymer Limited, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corp etc.
iii.A tourist terminal is also proposed in the vicinity of the Guijan Ghat, located on the banks of the river Lohit.
i.MoPSW has formulated the Sagarmala Young Professional scheme to engage talented, forward-thinking and
dynamic young professionals in various divisions of the MoPSW.
ii.As a part of the save soil movement, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, participated in a tree-planting
event organised at the banks of Brahmaputra in Pandu, Guwahati, Assam
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Assam)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Shripad Yesso Naik (Constituency- North Goa, Goa) , Shantanu Thakur
(Constituency- Bangaon (SC), West Bengal)
Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST): A new I-STEM initiative Launched
On September 5, 2022, a new I-STEM (Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map) initiative
called ‘Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST)’ was launched by Dr. Parvinder Maini,
Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI).
• This program will cater to women with a STEM background and empower them to contribute to the
science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
What is I-STEM?
It is a national web portal for sharing research equipment/facilities and is the umbrella under which many
programs for promoting collaborations in R&D (Research & Development) and technological innovation among

and between academia and industry, especially startups, are underway.
How will the WEST initiative be utilized?
i.Through the WEST initiative, I-STEM will provide a separate platform to scientifically inclined women
researchers, scientists, and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of
science and engineering.
ii.Women can join the WEST program and explore opportunities to become stakeholders in various domains
and pursue careers in R&D at various levels: technicians, technologists, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
iii.There will be Skill Development programs which will provide training for women with S&T backgrounds to
brush up on their abilities. This initiative will also help bring women back into S&T (Science & Technology)
domains after a career break.
iv.The current support being provided to S&T startups by women entrepreneurs by I-STEM will be enhanced.
The access to R&D facilities and R&D software platforms (COMSOL, MATLAB, LABVIEW, AUTOCAD) available
through the I-STEM portal will form a strong support network for women entrepreneurs in S&T.
Key Points:
i.Addition, a digital consortium “Connect Quickly” for online discussion and immediate support has also been
established through the I-STEM WhatsApp and Telegram platforms.
ii.A dedicated team of women will ensure the successful implementation of the WEST initiative.
iii.Click Here for more information about WEST.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launches ‘Swachhta Pakhwada‘ across Ministries of Indian
Railways, MoC, & MeitY
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways has launched ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ across Indian Railways,
Ministry of Communications (MoC), and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in New
Delhi, Delhi. Swachhta Pakhwada will be observed from 16th September 2022 to 30th September 2022.
• Ministry of Railways has extended it suo-moto up to 2nd October 2022. It will culminate with
Mahatma Gandhi’s Jayanti.
• During the inauguration, Swachhta pledge was administered by the Minister to Railway,
Communications and Electronics & Information Technology employees at Headquarters, Divisional
Offices and other related establishments.
• Its focus is Seva, Sushashan and Gareeb Kalyan.
Key Points:
i.The participating ministries in Swachhta Pakhwada will focus on an intensive cleanliness campaign, service
for TB (Tuberculosis) patients and Mega Blood Donation Drive.
ii.For 2022, special focus is on cleanliness and sanitization of stations, trains, tracks, colonies and other railway
establishments, and elimination of plastic waste in Railway premises.
iii.Extensive awareness campaign will be carried out through digital media/public announcement to educate
people about the use of bio-toilets, avoiding single use plastic and observing cleanliness habits.
Release of Annual report on environment sustainability 2020-21:
• The Union Minister also released Annual report on environment sustainability 2020-21 which is a
comprehensive referral document highlighting the steps taken by Indian Railways to promote green
environment and clean energy.
• Also its effort towards net zero emission including energy conservation measures, alternate fuel,
harnessing renewable energy, water conservation, afforestation, green certification of stations, solid
waste management etc.
About Swachhta Pakhwada:
It was started in 2016 with the objective of engaging Government Ministries/Departments in their
jurisdictions. The Ministries observing Swachhata Pakhwara are monitored closely using the online monitoring
system of Swachhata Samiksha where action plans, images, videos related to Swachhata activities are
uploaded and shared.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Unveils DST Dashboard
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), has
launched the Dashboard of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), MoS&T, for nationwide
monitoring and feedback to facilitate successful execution of DST-funded projects, schemes, scholarships, and
fellowships. Click Here to Access The DST Dashboard
• It aims to exchange the best technological strategies between the Centre and the States.
Dashboard of Department of Science & Technology (DST)
i.The DST’s Dashboard is an institutional mechanism for guiding the development, utilization, augmentation,
and monitoring of the statistics and data analysis capabilities of the Department.
• In January 2019, the DST established a similar framework Data Management Cell—with the same
objectives.
ii.The Dashboard will give access to details of schemes and programmes for any group in every State on a real
time basis, and any required remedial actions can be taken immediately.
iii.It includes impact analysis of the schemes and scholarships for Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/
Other Backward Class (OBC) and General Castes by age and gender in order to recommend any required
corrective measures to States.
iv.The DST has granted over Rs 20,000 crore to 2,768 agencies in 35 States/Union Territories (UTs) over the
past five years, and the Dashboard contains every data of this disbursement.
v.The Data & Strategy Units (DSUs) create distinct dashboards for different target groups, and these
dashboards have assisted DST in making evidence-based decisions.
vi.Ministries/Departments were urged to establish a DSU as a central entity to increase their overall data
readiness levels and, in particular, to achieve Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) 5.0 scores by December
2022.
ICAR launches Hackathon 3.0 “KRITAGYA”, national level hackathon to promote speed
breeding for crop improvement
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with its National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)
and Crop Science Division of ICAR organised Hackathon 3.0 “KRITAGYA”, a national-level hackathon‘ on
promoting ‘Speed Breeding for Crop Improvement’. This also aims to encourage greater adoption of
technology-enabled solutions in the field of crop science.
The registration for the event is open till 26 September 2022 https://nahep.icar.gov.in/Kritagya.aspx
About ‘Kritagya Hackathon 3.0:’:
i.The definition of KRITAGYA is: KRI -Krishi meaning Agriculture, TA- Taknik meaning Technology
and GYA- Gyan meaning Knowledge.
• The programme is in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
ii.In this competition, students, faculty and innovators, entrepreneurs from any university/technical institute
across India can apply and participate as a group.
• The participating group shall consist of maximum four participants, with not more than one faculty
and/or more than one innovator or entrepreneur.
• Participating students can collaborate with local start-ups, students from technology institutes and
can win up-to Rs 5 lakh.
iii.It will provide opportunity to students, faculties, entrepreneurs, innovators and others to showcase
innovative approaches and technology solutions to promote innovation for crop improvement.
iv.Hackathon 1.0 & 2.0:
Hackathons 1.0 and 2.0 were organized to promote innovation in farm mechanization and animal science
during the years 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.
• The hackathons were organized by NAHEP in association with Agricultural Engineering and Animal
Science Divisions of ICAR.

About National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP):
ICAR started the NAHEP with the assistance of the World Bank (WB) in November 2017.
Objective: To support participating agricultural universities (AUs) and ICAR in providing more relevant and
higher quality education to the students.
MoRT&H Unveils First Prototype of Drone for Human Organ Transport; DCGI Approves 1st
Intranasal Vaccine for Covid-19
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) Nitin Gadkari unveiled India’s first prototype
of drone transportation of human organs to facilitate quick organ transplant in hospitals.
• Chennai-based MGM Healthcare co-developed a drone technology capable of carrying organs up to
a distance of 20 km initially.
Key highlights:
i.The other projects such as road infrastructure projects like the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a new umbrella
programme for highways sector, will also help in the transportation of organs across India.
ii.Fact – Until now, the MGM Healthcare has treated over 350 ECMO patients which is the highest in India and
the team had also performed over 100 paediatric transplants and over 4,600 interventional cases, free of cost
in association with Aishwarya Trust, ‘Caring for Little Hearts’ and completed over 220 procedures under the
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s scheme.
DCGI Approves India’s First Intranasal Covid-19 Vaccine by Bharat Biotech
On 8th September 2022 Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the Indian drug regulatory authority
approved First intranasal vaccine shot, iNCOVACC (also known as BBV154) by Bharat Biotech Internatinal
Limited against Covid-19 for primary immunisation for the 18-plus population.
Highlights:
i.The vaccine, iNCOVACC can be used as a primary dose for the non-vaccinated and also as a booster dose for
people who had completed vaccination with 2 doses of Covishield or Covaxin.
• Note – More than 86 crore Indians have received 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccines and the third
shot remains low with just about 17 crore population.
ii.This vaccine was developed in partnership with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis,
United States (US) which had designed and developed the recombinant adenoviral vectored constructs and
evaluated them in preclinical studies for efficacy.
iii.Bharat Biotech conducted the preclinical safety evaluation, manufacturing scale up, formulation and delivery
device development along with human clinical trials.
About iNCOVACC:
i.The intranasal vaccine, iNCOVACC produces local antibodies in the upper respiratory tract that reduces the
infection and transmission of Covid-19 with great potential.
ii.The new vaccine enables faster development of variant specific vaccines and also the easy nasal delivery
enables mass immunisation to protect from emerging variants of concern.
iii.This vaccine can be stable at 2-8 degrees Celsius which is easy for storage and distribution.
Note – The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted permission to conduct a phase-3
clinical trial, which will be conducted in almost 9 sites.
DA&FW & FICCI Launches a Joint Initiative to Attract PPP Projects in Agriculture
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), launched
the Project Management Unit (PMU) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Agriculture in New Delhi,
Delhi.
• The PMU is a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW),
MOA&FW, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• It will accelerate large-scale PPP projects in agriculture by harnessing private sector investments and
integrating government schemes and subsidies.

Objective: To increase income levels of small farmers by creating additional value through the provision of
high-quality inputs, technology advancement, market linkages, and value addition.
Key Points:
i.This PMU’s specific goal is to assist states in realizing the full potential of their respective agro-climatic
regions and wide range of agri-products, as well as to aid producers in better integrating with local and export
markets.
ii.The government has taken numerous measures to enhance the agriculture sector, including the
establishment of 10,000 Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO); Agriculture Infrastructure Fund worth Rs. 1
Lakh Crore and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
iii.The MoA&FW’s responsibility will be to communicate the formation of PMU to the States and work with the
State governments to ensure that the proposals are approved in the private sector.
MoHUA launches Swachh Toycathon under the Swachh Amrit Mahotsav

On 26 September 2022, The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Secretary, Manoj Joshi, launched
the Swachh Toycathon under the Swachh Amrit Mahotsav on MyGov portal and released the toolkit. It aims to
explore solutions for use of waste in the creation or manufacturing of toys.
• The Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat is working as a knowledge partner of the
MoHUA, will provide support on aspects of pedagogy and creativity.
The Swachh Toycathon is a national competition for individuals and groups. It is based on three broad themes–
• Fun and learn that seeks ideas for design and early prototype of toys from waste at home, workplace
and surroundings,
• Use and enjoy that seeks ideas for design and models of games and play in the park/open spaces
made from waste,
• New and old that seeks ideas/solutions/working models for circularity in the toy industry.
ECI Releases ‘BLO E-Patrika‘ to Establish Direct Communication with Booth Level Officers
The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a new digital publication, ‘BLO e-Patrika‘, at a first-of-its-
kind direct interactive session with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from across India at the India Habitat Centre in
New Delhi, Delhi.
• The bimonthly “BLO E-Patrika” is being introduced with the goal of ensuring a cascading
information model for a more informed and committed BLO.
• The magazine will be available in English, Hindi and regional languages.
Roles & Responsibilities of BLOs
i.A BLO is a Local Government/Semi-Government official who is familiar with the local electorate and is
typically a voter in the same polling area.
• The institution of BLO was established by the ECI in 2006.
ii.A BLO serves as a ECI representative at the grass-root level and is essential to the roll revision process as well
as the collection of actual field data.
‘BLO E-Patrika’
i.The Patrika serves as a 3-way communication tool, allowing ECI to give instructions at the ground level, share
feedback and success stories, and encourage learning of interstate best practices.
ii.The themes of the e-Patrika will include Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
(VVPAT) training, IT applications, Special Summary Revision, Minimum SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education
and Electoral Participation) Activities at polling booths, Postal Ballot Facilities, Accessible Elections, Electoral
Literacy Clubs, unique voter awareness activities, and National Voters’ Day.
Note: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India – Rajiv Kumar

Tata Motors launched India’s 1st CNG Powered Truck with ADAS
On 5th September 2022, Tata Motors launched India’s 1st Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck in the Medium
& Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. The company had launched 5 CNG-powered trucks in 28 and 19-tonne nodes.
• Tata Motors made an additional launch of advanced Intermediate & Light Commercial Vehicle
(I&LCV) trippers and trucks for the logistics and infrastructure sectors.
• The Trucks were equipped with a collision mitigation system, lane departure warning system and
driver monitoring system.
• Additional safety features offered in the vehicle are Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
MoEFCC, UNDP & TERI come together to launch GEF Small Grants Programme
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) jointly collaborated to launch the “Global
Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP)”.
• The programme provides financial and technical support to projects that conserve and restore the
environment while enhancing the lives of local communities.
• The year 2022 marks the 7th operational phase of the programme.
Objective:
The programme aims to study and work on the themes of biodiversity, climate change and land degradation
through NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).
Key points:
i.Under the programme, grants are provided to NGOs working in particular landscapes.
• Virudhunagar & Ramanathapuram are selected as two districts representing the Indian coastal
region in Tamil Nadu.
ii.TERI hosted a regional inception workshop for various NGOs to give suggestions about the protection of
coastal regions due to climate change.
• It also included a session that discussed the alignment of SGP with state-level policies and
interventions by the State government and private institutions.
iii.In consultation with UNDP and the MoEFCC, SGP will release a request for proposal which will contain
guidelines regarding a working plan of action.
iv.NGOs can choose different levels of grants, the highest is at USD 50,000.
• The applications are reviewed by regional advisory committees before being passed onto the
National Steering Committee.
About Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP):
i.It was launched in 1992, which is also the year of the Rio Earth Summit.The Program is specifically designed
to mobilize bottom-up actions by empowering local civil society organizations, and poor and vulnerable
communities, including women and Indigenous Peoples.
ii.It finances community-led initiatives to address global environmental issues.
iii.It is currently implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF partnership.
MeitY & Meta Partners to Support XR Technology-Based Startups – XR Startup Program

On 13th September 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitYs) startup
hub (MSH) and social media giant Meta (formerly known as Facebook) partnered to launch ‘XR Startup
Program’ to support the growth of extended reality (XR) technology-based startups across India.
• Attendees – The launch event was also attended by Joel Kaplan, the vice president of global policy at
Meta, Facebook India managing director Ajit Mohan and other senior executives from the social
media giant.

About the program:
i.XR Startup Program, focuses on skilling and building technological capabilities for the metaverse and
also includes emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).
ii.This Program is supported by Meta’s XR Programs and Research Fund, a 2-year USD 50 million investment
in programs and external research with industry partners, civil rights groups, governments, nonprofits and
other academic institutions.
Significance:
i.The MSH and Meta together support 40 early-stage startups that are working in the field of XR technologies
with a grant of Rs 20 lakh each.
ii.The program will also encourage early-stage innovators working on XR technology in the field of education,
learning and skills, healthcare, gaming, entertainment, agritech, climate action, tourism and sustainability.
• Initially, 80 innovators will be shortlisted to attend a bootcamp. Among which,16 innovators will be
provided grants of Rs 20 lakh each for upscaling them from Research & Development (R&D) phase
to developing workable products and services.
• It further supports them in developing a minimum viable product or prototypes.
Implementation:
The XR Startup Program will be implemented by 4 institutions, that includes, International Institute of
Information Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana (CIE IIIT-H); AIC SMU Technology Business Incubation
Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI), Rangpo, Sikkim; Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship
Council (GUSEC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, New Delhi.
Central Government approves New CZMP in Karnataka; Laid Foundation worth Rs 3,800 crore
in Mangaluru
On September 2, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation for 8 projects worth
Rs 3,800 crore at Goldfinch city in Mangaluru (Karnataka), and approved the State’s revised Coastal Zone
Management Plan (CZMP).
• Karnataka is the first state in southern India and only the second state (after Goa) in India to get
the CZMP prepared and approved as per the 2019 Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification which
has been approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• This Plan will boost the economy and tourism in the coastal region of Karnataka.
Following are the Rs 3,800 crore projects that were inaugurated/laid by the PM at Goldfinch city in Mangaluru:
i.Project worth over Rs 280 crore for mechanization of Berth No. 14 for handling containers and other cargo,
undertaken by the New Mangalore Port Authority was inaugurated.
• Phase I of the project has been successfully completed, thereby adding over 4.2 MTPA (million
tonnes per annum) to the handling capacity, which will further increase to over 6 MTPA by 2025.
ii.Foundation stone of five projects worth around Rs 1000 crore, undertaken by the Port were laid including
integrated LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and Bulk Liquid POL Facility, equipped with a state-of-the-art
cryogenic LPG storage tank terminal which will be capable of unloading full load VLGC (very large gas carriers)
of 45,000 tonnes in a highly efficient manner.
• The facility will bolster Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the region while reinforcing the
port’s status as one of the top LPG importing ports in the country.
iii.PM also laid the foundation stone of projects for the construction of storage tanks and edible oil refinery,
construction of bitumen storage and allied facilities and construction of bitumen & edible oil storage and allied
facilities.
iv.Foundation stone for the development of the Fishing Harbour at Kulai was also laid, which will facilitate safe
handling of fish catch and enable better prices in the global market.
v.Inaugurated two projects undertaken by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited viz. BS VI
Upgradation Project, and Sea Water Desalination Plant was also done.

• The BS VI Upgradation Project, worth around Rs 1830 crores, will facilitate the production of ultra-
pure environment-friendly BS-VI grade fuel (with sulphur content less than 10 PPM).
• The Sea Water Desalination Plant, set up at a cost of around Rs. 680 crores, will help reduce
dependency on fresh water and ensure a regular supply of hydrocarbons and petrochemicals
throughout the year. Having a capacity of 30 Million Litres per Day (MLD), the Plant converts
seawater into water required for the refinery processes.
Other Central Government approvals for Karnataka to boost its Development:
i.Under Sagar Mala project, 18 projects have been completed and 14 schemes worth Rs 950 crore are approved
by Union Government
ii.The Central Government has given approval for the development of Maajali Port in Karwar at a cost of Rs 350
crore.
iii.Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada scheme, Government has given approval to supply 100 high speed
boats to help deep sea fishing.
iv.The Government is also expanding Mangaluru and Karwar ports.
v.The government has implemented Vidyanidhi scheme for the children of fishermen and it will benefit 2 lakh
children.
vi.The Inland and Fishery Institute will be established in Karwar.
vii.Fishermen will get 5,000 houses under Matsyashraya scheme at a cost of Rs 64 crore.
i.Karnataka is slated to be the first state in India to establish an exclusive Research and Development (R & D)
policy. A Task Force, headed by Professor Ashok S. Shettar, the Vice-Chancellor of KLE Technological University
(KLE Tech), Karnataka, and other officials, has been formed to ensure its effective implementation.
ii.According to the Israel-based StartupBlink’s ‘Global Startup Ecosystem Index (GSEI) 2022’, Bengaluru, the
capital city of Karnataka, has the “strongest startup ecosystem in India” and ranks 8th among the world’s top 10
cities.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister (CM)– Basavaraj Bommai
Festivals – Karnataka Rajyotsava (Celebrates the formation day of the state); Kambala Festival (an annual
buffalo race)
Stadium – Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA) Hockey Stadium (Bengaluru); Srikantadatta Narasimha
Raja Wadeyar Ground (Gangotri Glades Cricket Ground)
PM inaugurates ‘Kartavya Path’ and unveils the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India
Gate
On September 8, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Kartavya Path’, a
redeveloped two kilometre stretch from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan through Vijay Chowk in New Delhi
(Delhi). It was earlier known as Rajpath (Kingsway), which was a ‘symbol of slavery’. Now, the name Kartavya
Path symbolizes ‘public ownership and empowerment’.
• Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited executed the redevelopment of the entire stretch from Vijay
Chowk to India Gate with an outlay of Rs 477 crore.
It should be noted that Kartavya Path is the first of the Rs 13,450-crore Central Vista Projects to be completed.
Under Central Vista Projects, there will be a new Parliament building, new office and residences for the Prime
Minister and Vice-President and new ministry buildings. The North and South Blocks, the secretariat buildings
flanking Rashtrapati Bhavan, will be converted into museums.
Unveiling of statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
PM also unveiled the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose under the canopy at India Gate that during British
rule had a statue of King George V. The statue is also a part of the Central Government’s Central Vista project.
Features:
i.It is a jet-black granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, measuring a total of 28 ft and weighing 65 MT.

• It has been carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT.
ii.It was completed in 26,000 man hours. It is completely hand sculpted using traditional techniques and
modern tools.
• The team of sculptors for executing the statue was led by Arun Yogiraj.
iii.It has been installed in the same place where a hologram statue of Netaji was unveiled earlier this year on
Parakram Diwas (January 23) by PM to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji.
iv.It is one of the tallest, realistic, monolithic, handmade sculptures in India.
v.A 100 feet long truck with 140 wheels was specially designed for this monolithic granite stone to travel the
1665 kms from Khammam in Telangana to New Delhi.
Key Points:
i.A cultural festival by 500 dancers held during the ceremonial inauguration of Kartavya Path, which
demonstrated the spirit of Ek Bharat – Shrestra Bharat & Unity in Diversity.
ii.Around 30 artists performed tribal folk-art forms such as Sambalpuri, Panthi, Kalbelia, Kargam and Drums.
iii.Mangalgaan penned by Padma Bhushan Pt. Shrikrishna Ratanjankarji during 1st Independence Day of India
in 1947 was presented by Pt. SuhasVashi along with a team of singers and musicians.
iv.The unveiling of the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was accompanied to the tune of
Kadam Kadam Badhaye jaa, the traditional INA (Indian National Army) song.
PM addresses inauguration ceremony of ‘Kalam no Carnival’ Book Fair
The PM Narendra Modi also addressed the inauguration ceremony of ‘Kalam no Carnival’ Book Fair organised
by Navbharat Sahitya Mandir in Ahmedabad, Gujarat via video message.
• ‘Kalam no Carnival’ is a huge convention of books in Hindi, English and Gujarati languages.
Other Participants:
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Tourism,
Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, among others.
About Delhi:
Chief Minister– Arvind Kejriwal
Heritage & Monuments– Agrasen ki Baoli, Humayan Tomb, Jantar Mantar
i.PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects of
the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, Dharampur, in Valsad district, Gujarat, through video conferencing.
ii.PM Narendra Modi dedicated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre to the
nation at Mohali, Punjab, with the goal of offering top-notch cancer care to inhabitants of Punjab and
neighbouring States/Union Territories (UTs).
PM Inaugurates IDF WDS 2022 in Greater Noida

On 19th September 2022 the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated International Dairy Federation
World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida in UttarPradesh.
• The IDF WDS 2022 is a four-day-long event
held from 12th to 15th September 2022.
• This is a congregation of global and Indian
dairy stakeholders including industry leaders,
experts, farmers and policy planners.
• Theme – Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood.
Note – The last such Summit was held in India in 1974.
About India Dairy Industry:
i.The Indian dairy industry is based on a cooperative
model that empowers small and marginal dairy farmers,
especially women and is the largest milk-producing
country.

• India’s dairy sector is characterised by ‘production by masses’ more than ‘mass production’.
ii.India is the largest milk producing country which accounts for about 23 percent of global milk, producing
around 210 million tonnes annually empowering more than 8 crore dairy farmers.
iii.The government has taken multiple steps for the betterment of the dairy sector, which has resulted in an
increase of milk production by more than 44 percent in the past 8 years (2014-2022).
Outcome from the summit:
i.The dairy ecosystem is interconnected with certain aspects that includes extra income for the farmers,
empowerment of the poor, swachhta, chemical-free farming, clean energy and care of the cattle.
ii.Schemes like Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Goberdhan Yojna, Digitization of dairy sector and universal
vaccination of cattle along with steps like banning single-use plastic, are some of the powerful mediums of
green and sustainable growth in the villages.
About international Dairy Federation (IDF):
Director General – Caroline Emond
Establishment – 1903
Headquarters – Brussels, Belgium
Bihar CM Inaugurates India’s Longest Rubber Dam on Falgu river – Gayaji Dam
On 15th September 2022, Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar inaugurated India’s longest rubber
dam ‘Gayaji Dam’ on the Falgu (or Phalgu) river, near Vishnupad temple in Gaya, Bihar.
• A steel foot over bridge for the visitors who visit during Pitripaksha Mela was also inaugurated.
About the dam:
i.The newly constructed rubber dam is 411 metres long, 95.5 metres wide and 3 metres high with 17 mm thick
rubber and the water could be stored for about 2 and a half kilometres (km).
• The dam has a bulletproof structure with rubber sheets laid at the bottom that does not allow it to
deteriorate for almost 100 years.
ii.The Dam was constructed by Rubina Company of Austria in collaboration with Nagarjuna Construction
Company of Hyderabad and on the advice of experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee
(Uttarakhand) at an estimated cost of Rs. 324 crore.
iii.Background – The foundation stone for the dam was laid in September 2020 by CM Nitish Kumar.
About Falgu (or Phalgu) River
i.Falgu River originates in the Palamu district of Jharkhand and passes through the holy city of Gaya in Bihar.
ii.This river is about 135 km that originates near Gaya at the confluence of Lilajan River (Jharkhand & Bihar)
and Mohana River (Jharkhand & Bihar) and in the end joins Punpun River, Bihar.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates two-day Arogya Manthan 2022

On September 25-26, 2022, National Health Authority (NHA) organized Arogya Manthan 2022 at The Ashok,
New Delhi (Delhi) to mark the double anniversaries of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• The event celebrated four years of the
implementation of AB PM-JAY, and one year of
the ABDM.
• It was inaugurated by the Union Minister
Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare (MoH&FW).
About AB-PMJAY:
Launched on September 23, 2018 by the Prime Minister
(PM) of India Narendra Modi, PM-JAY is a cashless and
paperless scheme with the aim to provide health cover to more than 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families
of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. It is the world’s largest Government funded health assurance scheme.

• Over 19 crore Ayushman Cards have been made in India in 33 States/UTs (Union Territories), and
more than 24 crore ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers have also been generated.
• The Central Government aims to increase per day making of Ayushman Cards to 10 lakh from the
current rate of 4.5 lakh.
About ABDM:
On February 26, 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the national rollout of the Central Sector Scheme ADBM of
MoH&FW with a budget of Rs 1,600 crores for five years. NHA is the implementing agency of ADBM. ADBM
enables citizens to create their ABHA numbers to which their digital health records can be linked.
• ABDM has crossed the landmark of 1 crore digitally linked health records with over 27 lakh records
linked in a day.
• As on February 24, 2022, 17,33,69,087 ABHA have been created and 10,114 doctors and 17,319
health facilities have been registered in ABDM.
Key Points:
i.The event saw the participation of global and national experts from the healthcare sector along with
representatives from academia, think tanks, industry, and media.
ii.A total of 12 sessions was covered in the event with representatives from international organisations and
ministries like Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health, World Bank, Centre for
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Global Health Payment LLC, United States (US), Health Ministry Mexico,
Ministry of Health, Thailand and Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, Australia along with various
leaders of healthcare and technology in India.
iii.To mark the anniversary of AB- PMJAY, ‘Ayushman Pakhwara’ is already underway in all states
implementing the scheme, from September 15 to 30.
• Under this, 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) are organizing awareness programs, health check-
up camps, and mass drives for Ayushman Card generation for beneficiaries of the scheme.
iv.A Digital Health Expo was also organized wherein leading innovators from public and private sector across
India showcased their digital health solutions.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya awards best performing states for PMJAY and ABDM at Arogya Manthan 2022
Union Health Minister awarded the Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar (Ayushman Excellence Awards) 2022
to felicitate the following:
Category Winner
Top Performing State/UT Andhra Pradesh (AP)
Top Performing District Parvathipuram Manyam, AP
Top Performing Government
Facility District Hospital Dharwad, Karnataka
Kerala, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Manipur, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and
Best Performing States Madhya Pradesh
Best Performing UTs Chandigarh, J&K
The winners of ABDM Hackathon Series Round 1 i.e. Bajaj Finserv Health – Team Excalibur was also
awarded at the ceremony.
Other Launches:
The Union Minister also launched several new initiatives including Health Claims Exchange (HCX), National e-
Rupi Portal and Roadmap for Digitization. The digital versions of Annual Report for NHA, Coffee Table Book and
Best Practices Booklet were also unveiled
Other Participants:
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways; Union Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharati Pravin
Pawar, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr. Vinod Paul, Uttarakhand State Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat
and CEO National Health Authority Dr. R.S. Sharma were also present.

i.NHA, and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deliver an inclusive and
comprehensive health package for transgender people under the AB-PMJAY.
ii.Edelweiss General Insurance(EGI) has partnered with the MoHFW to help create digital health IDs under
ABDM for all in India.
About Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency- Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency- Dindori, Maharashtra)
HAL’s Rocket Engine Manufacturing Facility inaugurated in Karnataka

On 27th September 2022, the state-of-the-art Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF) set
up by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would serve the entire rocket engine production under one roof
for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The facility is set up over an area of 4,500 square metres and houses over 70 hi-tech equipment and
testing facilities for manufacturing cryogenic (CE20) and semi-cryogenic (SE2000) engines of
Indian rockets.
• To establish the facility for manufacturing Cryogenic Engine modules at HAL, Aerospace Division,
ISRO & HAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2013.
CJI U U Lalit inaugurates NALSA’s Centre for Citizen Services in New Delhi
On 13th September 2022, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) centre for citizen services has been
inaugurated by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit at Jaisalmer house in New Delhi.
• NALSA received the space at Jaisalmer House to utilise the establishment of the Legal Assistance
Centre for Citizens, Legal Assistance Centre for NRIs (Non-resident Indian), Training Centre, and
Digital Command Centre for providing legal services across the country.
• NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (Article 39A)
• The purpose of this act is to provide free legal aid to the weaker sections of society and conduct Lok
Adalats for the quick resolution of cases.
• On 9th November 2021, the NALSA office which was placed in Jamnagar House shifted to the
Additional Building Complex of the Supreme Court of India.
FESTIVAL
50th All Manipur Shumang Leela Festival 2021-2022 Began in Imphal
The 50th All Manipur Shumang Leela Festival 2021-2022 began at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen in
Palace Compound in Imphal, Manipur’s capital. During the inaugural ceremony, La Ganesan, Governor of
Manipur, presented medals to the winners of the 49th All Manipur Shumang Leela Festival 2020-21 at the
festival.
• Shumang Leela is a traditional form of theatre in Manipur, which is performed by either all-female
or all-male performers. [Shumang means courtyard and Leela means play].
• In the case of the former, female artists play the male characters, and in the case of the latter, male
artists play the female roles.
Nagaland celebrates the 1st ever Naga Mircha Festival at Kohima

On 9th September 2022, in Nagaland, the 1st ever Naga Mircha (King Chilli) Festival 2022 (1-day festival)
was conducted at Seiyhama village under Kohima and was sponsored by the Department of Horticulture.The
festival was hosted and organised by Seiyhama village Council and Seiyhama Naga Mircha Growers.

• Naga Mircha received the GI (Geographical Indication) certification in 2008 and it was the first
product to receive a GI tag among the 4 GI
products of Nagaland.
• The others three GI products are Naga Tree
Tomato, Chakhesang shawls and Nagaland
“sweet cucumber”.
Note: ‘GI Tagging’ is a specific geographical origin of a
product which possesses qualities due to its geographic
origin.
About Naga Mircha Festival:
i. Naga Mircha is constantly placed on the list of top 5 of
the World’s hottest chillies based on the Scoville heat
units (SHU).
ii. Naga Mircha belongs to the genus Capsicum of the family Solanaceae. It is also called ‘Raja Mircha’, ‘Bhoot
Jolokia’ or ‘Ghost Pepper’.
iii. This Chilli is a native crop of Nagaland, which originally originates from the Zeliangrong area of Nagaland.
iv.Vibeilietuo Kets, President of the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) 11th Northern Angami
(NA) II attended the program as the special guest.
Odisha’s ‘Nua Khai’ Festival celebrated in Western Odisha

‘Nua Khai’ , an agrarian festival, was celebrated on 1st September, 2022, at Western Odisha. It is celebrated
precisely the day after Ganesh Chaturthi and signifies the celebration of newly harvested crops.
• This festival is the most auspicious and important social festival in Western Odisha and the
neighbouring areas of Simdega, Jharkhand and Southern Chhattisgarh.
• The Nua Khai celebration was attended by many guests including the Union Minister of
Education Dharmendra Pradhan (chief guest) who graced the function on the occasion.
About Nua Khai:
i.The founder of Patna State, Raja Ramai Deo started
the ‘Nua Khai’ festival in the 14th Century.
ii.Nua Khai, an annual harvest festival celebrated to
welcome the season’s new crop. It is also referred
as ‘Nuakahi Bhetghat’ or ‘Nuakhai Parab’, which is
celebrated on the 5th day of the lunar fortnight of
Bhadraba (falls in August-September on the lunar
Calendar).
iii. The word ‘Nua’ means ‘New’ and ‘Khai’
means ‘food’, the name itself depicts the celebration of a
crop festival. The first harvested crop will be offered to
the founder Goddess of Western Odisha, Maa Samaleswari.
iv.The symbolisation of this festival is to thank the divine for blessing them with ‘Anna’ or food.
• Onam festival has started from August 30, 2022 and will end on September 8, 2022. It is also
celebrated in order to honour crops and marks the return of King Mahabali in Kerala.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister(CM)- Naveen Patnaik
Governor- Ganeshi Lal
Dance forms- Paika Nrutya; Dhap Dance

OTHER NEWS
PM-SHRI Yojana: PM announces new CSS to Upgrade 14,500 Schools
On September 5, 2022, i.e. on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi
announced a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI)
Yojana under which 14,500 schools will be selected to develop and upgrade across India.
• These schools will be equipped with modern
infrastructure including labs, smart
classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art
room etc. which is inclusive and accessible.
• These schools will also be developed as
green schools with water conservation,
waste recycling, energy-efficient
infrastructure and integration of organic
lifestyle in curriculum.
Aim of PM SHRI Schools:
Qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, creating holistic and well-rounded individuals
equipped with key 21st century skills
Key Points:
i.The selection will be done from the existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/
State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
ii.the cost of implementation is likely to split in the 60:40 ratio among the Union government and the
states/Union. In Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, the contribution of
the Centre can go up to 90 per cent.
iii.PM SHRI Schools will showcase all components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and act as
exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.
iv.Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based
(particularly, in the foundational years) inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based,
flexible and enjoyable.
v.Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding, application of knowledge to real life
situations, and will be competency-based.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities 2022: Thrissur & Nilambur in Kerala and Warangal
in Telangana Become the First Entrants from India
The Indian cities of Nilambur & Thrissur in Kerala and Warangal in Telangana, have earned recognition
from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after becoming India’s
first entrants into the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC).
• The UNESCO GNLC is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and
best practice.
• The UNESCO GNLC has honoured 77 cities from 44 countries in 2022 in recognition of their
outstanding work to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level.The 77 new members
bring the total number of cities within the UNESCO GNLC to 294 in 76 countries
• Other cities that have joined the network are the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Durban in South Africa and
Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates among others.
Highlights of Indian Cities That Have Joined UNESCO GNLC
Thrissur: The Cultural Capital of Kerala
Thrissur, Kerala’s cultural capital, is home to academic and research institutes and is well-known for its gold
and jewellery sectors.

• Leading private sector banks in India, such as Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB), Dhanlaxmi Bank, and
South Indian Bank (SIB), have their headquarters in Thrissur.
Nilambur: A Prominent Ecotourism Destination in Kerala
Nilambur is a popular eco-tourism destination in Kerala. It is distinguished primarily by diverse socioeconomic
trends and a mix of urban and rural populations.
• The majority of the population is reliant on agriculture and related sectors.
The city strives to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) -2 of “zero hunger”
and employment opportunities.
• The city is most renowned for its healthcare facility development.
Warangal: Historic City of Telangana
Warangal is Telangana’s second largest city, next to Hyderabad, the state capital.
• This is the second UNESCO recognition for Telangana, as the 13th-century Great Ramappa Temple in
the erstwhile Warangal district (now in Mulugu district) was designated a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 2021.
• It was Telangana’s first archaeologically significant site to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage
List.
Note:
Some of the most developed cities in UNESCO GNLC: Beijing & Shanghai in China, Hamburg in Germany, Athens
in Greece, Incheon in South Korea, Bristol in England, and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC)
i.The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) was launched by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong
Learning in 2013 with the goal of promoting social cohesion, economic development and sustainability in
urban areas.
ii.As part of its global policy, the UNESCO GNLC adopted a strategy in 2019 to enhance the achievement of all 17
SDGs, which will be put into practice between 2021-23. It specifically aspires to accomplish:
• SDG 4 – ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all’
• SDG 11 – ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’
What is a Learning City?
A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all. According to UNESCO, a learning city is one that:
• Effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher
education
• Revitalizes learning in families and communities
• Facilitates learning for and in the workplace
• Extends the use of modern learning technologies
• Enhances quality and excellence in learning
• Fosters a culture of learning throughout life
In July 2022, India was elected as a State Member of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) of UNESCO’s 2003
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for a period of 2022-2026 i.e. 4 years. India
is also a member of the World Heritage committee of UNESCO (2021-2025).
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
Founded – 1945 (came into force in 1946)
Headquarters – Paris, France
Members – 193 Members & 11 Associate Members

World’s First Intercontinental Carnivore Translocation: Wild Cheetahs Reintroduced in India
Under Project Cheetah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reintroduced wild Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in Kuno National Park,
Madhya Pradesh, as part of “Project Cheetah”, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore
translocation project.
• Of the eight Cheetahs that were introduced in India, five are females and three are males.
Since Cheetahs were proclaimed extinct in Indian forests in 1952, these Cheetahs have been brought from
Namibia (Africa) and are being introduced into India. The very last cheetah was killed in India in 1947.
Background
i.The idea of reintroducing cheetahs was first proposed in
2009 by conservationists working with the Cheetah
Conservation Fund (CCF), an international non-profit
organisation based in Namibia dedicated to protecting the
cheetah in the wild.
ii.In 2020, the Supreme Court of India gave its approval
for the introduction of the African Cheetah and
established an Expert Committee to help National Tiger
Conservation Authority (NTCA) introduce the animal to
India.
iii.In July 2022, India and the Republic of Namibia inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Biodiversity Utilization.
Role of Cheetahs in The Ecosystem
i.The introduction of wild Cheetahs into India will revitalize and diversify the country’s biodiversity and
ecosystem.
ii.Cheetahs will aid in the restoration of open forest and grassland habitats in India.
iii.This will benefit society by conserving biodiversity and improving ecosystem services such as water
security, carbon sequestration, and soil moisture conservation.
iv.This endeavour will also result in increased livelihood options for the local community through eco-
development and ecotourism activities.
Global Recognition of the Cheetahs
i.The Cheetah, widely regarded as the planet’s fastest land animal, is also the least deadly big cat.
ii.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species classifies the
Cheetah as ‘Vulnerable’ species.
iii.It is mostly found in African Savannahs and is reported to have a diminishing existing population of less
than 7,000 individuals.
Outcome of Indian Sustainability & Environmental Protection Initiatives
i.Protected Areas presently cover 5.03% of India’s geographical area, up from 4.90% in 2014.
• This includes a rise of Protected Areas in India from 740 with an area of 1,61,081.62 square kilometres
(km²) in 2014 to the current 981 with an extent of 1,71,921 km².
ii.In the last four years, Forest & Tree Cover has expanded by 16,000 km².
• India is one of the few countries where forest cover is consistently increasing.
iii.In addition, the number of Community Reserves have increased to over 100 in 2019 from only 43 in 2014.
iv.India has 52 Tiger Reserves spanning roughly 75,000 km²across 18 States, accounting for nearly 75% of the
world’s wild tiger population.
• India accomplished its goal of doubling the number of tigers in 2018, four years ahead of its target year
of 2022.
• India’s tiger population grew from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018.
• The Tiger Conservation budget has increased from Rs. 185 crore in 2014 to Rs. 300 crore in 2022.

v.The Asiatic Lion population has steadily increased to 674 individuals, a 28.87% rise (one of the fastest
growth rates so far) from 523 lions in 2015.
vi.India currently has 12,852 Leopards, compared to the previous estimate of 7910 made in 2014, and their
population has grown by more than 60%.
i.In August 2022, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed an MoU with National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA) for transcontinental relocation of ‘Cheetah’ in its historical range in India. Under the project,
8-10 Cheetahs will be flown in from Namibia and South Africa and will be introduced at Kuno National Park,
Madhya Pradesh.
ii.It is a national project involving NTCA, Govt. of India and the State Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP).
NTCA is the nodal agency authorized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
for funding, supervision and hand holding.
About Namibia:
Prime Minister – Dr. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Capital – Windhoek
Currency – Namibian Dollar (NAD)
TN Government issued GO to establish Nanjarayan Tank as 17th Bird Sanctuary

On 13th September 2022, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued a Government Order (GO) to start the 17th
Bird Sanctuary at Nanjarayan tank, in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu.
Nanjarayan tank has been announced as the 17th bird sanctuary of Tamil Nadu on April 2022 and was
allotted Rs 7.5 crore for its development.
• Nanjarayan Tank locally called Sarkar Periyapalayam tank is spread over 125.86.5 hectares of
land which lies at the junction of Tiruppur North and Uthukuli taluks.
• The tank is home to more than 130 bird species and the government was taking a lead in
conservation efforts with more sanctuaries being notified.
• The tank has been visited by migratory bird species. Bar-headed goose, ruddy shelduck, northern
shoveler and many other species native to Central Asia are expected to arrive at the tank by October
2022.
• The GO was issued by the Department of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change and declared
the Nanjarayan tank as the 17th bird sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act. Nanjarayan
tank is named as Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Department of Pharmaceuticals approves the proposal of HP, Gujarat and AP for setting up Bulk Drug
Parks
On September 1, 2022, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F)
granted in-principle approval to the proposals of three states viz. Himachal Pradesh (HP), Gujarat, and Andhra
Pradesh (AP) under the scheme for ‘Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks (BDPs)‘ to support the Bulk Drugs
manufacturing in India.
• The financial assistance to the proposed Bulk Drug Park (BDP) in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh will
be 70% of the project cost of common infrastructure facilities.
• For HP, being Hilly States, financial assistance will be 90% of the project cost.
• Maximum assistance under the scheme for one Bulk Drug Park is limited to Rs.1000 crores.
Area providing by states for BDPs:
As per the proposals submitted by these States, the BDP will be established in 1402.44 acres of land at
Tehsil Haroli, District Una, HP; 2015.02 acres of land at Tehsil Jambusar, District Bharuch, Gujarat; and 2000.45
acres of land at K.P. Puram & Kodhada of Thondagi Mandal of East Godavari District, AP.

About Promotion of BDPs scheme:
i.It was notified in 2020 with an outlay of Rs 3000 crore. It envisages providing assistance to three states for
establishing BDPs; and aims to bring down the cost of manufacturing of bulk drugs by creation of world class
common infrastructure facilities at one place with support from the Central Government.
ii.This scheme will also help industry in meeting the standards of environment at a reduced cost through
innovative methods of the common waste management system.
iii.Under the scheme, proposals were received from 13 States. The Department of Pharmaceuticals was guided
by an Advisory Committee under Chief Executive Officer, NITI (National Institution for Transforming India)
Aayog in the appraisal of the proposals, based on the quantitative and qualitative methodology.
Reason behind this scheme:
India is the major producer of Active Pharma Ingredients (API) or bulk drugs in the world. India exported
Bulk Drugs/ Drug Intermediates (DIs) worth Rs. 33,320 crore in FY22. However, India also imports various
Bulk Drugs/ APIs for producing medicines from various countries. Most of the imports of the Bulk Drug/APIs
are being done because of economic considerations.
Key Points:
i.Indian Pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest in the world by volume.
ii.India exported pharmaceuticals worth Rs. 1,75,040 crore in FY22, including Bulk Drugs/ Drug Intermediates.
iii.Other interventions of the Department, in ensuring domestic manufacturing of the Bulk Drugs,
include, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for domestic manufacturing of DIs and APIs.
• Under this scheme, a total of 51 projects have been approved, out of which, 14 projects have already
been commissioned and started manufacturing of the drugs.
Recent Related News
i.Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, MoC&F launched National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and
Research (NIPER) Research Portal in New Delhi.
ii.On July 21, 2022, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, formally introduced sub three schemes to strengthen
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the pharmaceutical industry under the parent scheme
“Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry” (SPI).
About the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar, Karnataka)
National Technical Textiles Mission Flagship Programme: Ministry of Textiles Clears 23

Strategic Projects Worth Rs. 60 Crore
Under its Flagship Programme ‘National Technical Textiles Mission’ (NTTM), the Ministry of Textiles
approved 23 strategic research projects totalling around Rs. 60 crores in the fields of Specialty Fibres,
Sustainable Textiles, Geotextiles, Mobiltech, and Sports Textiles.
• The projects were approved under the chairmanship of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of
Textiles.
Breakdown of the 23 Approved Research Projects
• 12 Projects – Specialty Fibres with Applications in Agriculture, Smart Textiles, Healthcare, Strategic
Applications and Protective Gears.
• 4 Projects – Sustainable Textiles with Applications in Agriculture & Healthcare Sector.
• 5 projects – Geotextile
• 1 project – Mobiltech
• 1 project – Sportech
Technical textile inputs were contributed by the Member of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming
India) (Science & Technology) and the Principle Scientific Advisor (PSA), as well as line ministries.

Key Focus Areas
The following areas need to be prioritised in order to address the technological divide in the technical textiles
sector:
• Identifying the technical textiles research area
• Interaction with industry and promotional initiatives such as conferences & exhibitions
• A buyer-seller event to promote the usage of technical textiles in India
• To boost exports
‘Make in India’ Completes 8 Years: Annual FDI Doubles to USD 83 Billion

On September 25, 2022, “Make in India”, the flagship programme of the Government of India (GoI),
completed 8 years of pioneering reforms with significant achievements across 27 sectors, including the
strategically important manufacturing and services sectors.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the initiative on September 25, 2014, at Vigyan
Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
Objective: To promote investment, foster innovation, boost skill development, protect intellectual
property, enhance India’s ranking on the Ease of Doing Business index, and create world-class
manufacturing infrastructure in India.
• With this initiative, Indian businesses strive to ensure that their products are “Made in India”
and also “Made for the World,” adhering to global standards of quality.
• It is one of the unique “Vocal for Local” initiatives that promotes Indian manufacturing across
the world.
Make in India: A Major National Programme
Make in India seeks to strengthen India’s manufacturing sector by bringing in investments from across the
world.
• Implementing Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
• It intends to leverage India’s existing talent base, create new job opportunities, and strengthen
the secondary and tertiary sectors, in order to contribute to the growth of the Indian economy.
Under Make in India 2.0, it focuses on 27 sectors, including 15 sectors under the manufacturing sector,
which is coordinated by DPIIT, MoCI, and 12 sectors under the service sector, which is coordinated by the
Department of Commerce, MoCI.
List of 27 Sectors under ‘Make in India’ initiative
Manufacturing Sectors – Coordinated by DPIIT, MoCI
Aerospace and Defence Leather & Footwear
Automotive and Auto Components Food Processing
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Gems and Jewellery
Bio-Technology Shipping
Capital Goods Railways
Textile and Apparels Construction
Chemicals and Petrochemicals New and Renewable Energy
Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM)
Service Sectors – Coordinated by the Department of Commerce, MoCI
Information Technology & Information Technology enabled
Services (IT & ITeS) Legal Services
Tourism and Hospitality Services Communication Services

Construction and Related Engineering
Medical Value Travel Services
Transport and Logistics Services Environmental Services
Accounting and Finance Services Financial Services
Audio Visual Services Education Services
Significance
The GoI has implemented a liberal and transparent policy that makes the majority of sectors available to
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) via the automatic route in order to attract in foreign investments.
i.FDI inflows into India reached USD 45.15 billion in 2014-2015, and have since reached record levels until
2022.
• The period of 2021-22 recorded the highest ever FDI at USD 83.6 billion.
ii.This FDI came from 101 nations and was invested in 31 Indian states/Union Territories (UTs) across 57
sectors.
iii.India is on course to receive USD 100 billion in FDI in the current fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), owing to
recent economic reforms and ease of doing business.
Transformational Initiatives Undertaken by The GoI to Boost Make in India
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
The PLI scheme was introduced in 2020-21 across 14 key manufacturing sectors, as a major boost to the
Make in India initiative.
• The scheme incentivizes domestic manufacturing in strategic growth sectors where India has a
comparative advantage.
• The Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) eco-system is likely to benefit from the
significant gains in employment and production of the PLI Scheme.
Incentive Scheme for Semiconductors
The GoI has launched a USD 10 billion (~Rs. 76,000 Crore) incentive scheme to develop a semiconductor,
display, and design ecosystem in India, in recognition of the significance of semiconductors to the global
economy.
Public Procurement
The ‘Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017’ was also issued in accordance
with Rule 153(iii) of the General Financial Rules 2017 as an enabling provision to support local industry
by giving them preference in public procurement of Goods, Works and Services.
• The policy encourages domestic manufacturers to participate in public procurement operations
over firms that only import to trade or assemble items.
• The policy applies to all Ministries/Departments/attached or subordinate offices/autonomous
bodies administered by the GoI, as well as Government Companies as defined in the Companies
Act.
National Single Window System (NSWS)
The National Single Window System (NSWS), which offers investors a single digital platform for
approvals and clearances, was soft-launched in September 2021 with the aim of improving the ease of
doing business.
• To improve the investor experience, this portal has integrated many existing clearance systems
from various Ministries/Departments of the GoI and State Governments.
Prime Minister’s Gatishakti Programme
The Prime Minister’s Gatishakti programme was launched in 2021 to provide multimodal connectivity to
Indian manufacturing zones.

• It aims to ensure logistical effectiveness in business operations by building infrastructure that
enhances connectivity.
• It also intends to enable faster movement of people and goods, through improved access to
markets, hubs, and opportunities, as well as lower logistics costs.
One-District-One-Product (ODOP) Initiative
The ODOP initiative is another manifestation of the “Make in India” vision, which aims to facilitate the
promotion and production of indigenous products from every district in India.
• Aim: To provide a global platform for artisans and manufacturers of handlooms, handicrafts,
textiles, agricultural, and processed products, while contributing to the socio-economic
progress of diverse regions of India.
India as A Global Toy Manufacturing Hub
The GoI has implemented strategic interventions to strengthen domestic design and manufacturing of
toys. The interventions include:
• Increased Basic Custom Duty from 20% to 60%; Quality Control Order implementation;
mandatory sample testing of imported toys; issuing more than 850 Bureau of Indian Standards
(BIS) licenses to domestic toy manufacturers; development of toy clusters, etc.
A number of promotional initiatives, such as The India Toy Fair 2021, Toycathon 2021, and Toy Business
League 2022, were conducted to promote indigenous toys and promote innovation and cutting-edge
design to meet international standards.
Key Statistics
i.Toy imports dropped by 70% to USD 110 million (Rs. 877.8 crore) in FY21-22.
ii.The industry’s efforts resulted in a toy export of USD 326 million (Rs. 2601.5 crore) in FY21-22, an
increase of more than 61% over the USD 202 million (Rs. 1612 crore) in FY18-19.
iii.Toy exports from India increased by 636% from April – August 2022 compared to the same period in
2013.
In August 2022, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), released
the “Department of Commerce Restructuring Dossier” at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. The
Department of Commerce, MoCI, is being restructured in an effort to prepare India to become a leading
global player in world trade and to attain a USD 2 trillion export target by 2030.
About Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI):
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) – Anupriya Singh Patel ; Som Parkash
CMIE: India’s August unemployment highest in last one year at 8.3%

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd (CMIE), India’s unemployment rate surged
to a one-year high of 8.3% in August 2022 as employment sequentially fell by 2 million to 394.6 million. This is
the highest unemployment rate since August 2021. In July 2022, the unemployment rate was at 6.8% and
employment was 397 million.
• In August the urban unemployment rate shot up to 9.6% and the rural unemployment rate also
increased to 7.7%. Usually, the urban unemployment rate is higher at about 8% than the rural
unemployment rate which is usually around 7%.
• The unemployment rate in rural India rose from 6.1% in July to 7.7% in August and the employment
rate fell from 37.6% to 37.3%.
• In August 2022, Haryana recorded the highest unemployment rate (37.3%) followed by Jammu &
Kashmir(J&K) 32.8%, Rajasthan 31.4%, Jharkhand 17.3% and Tripura 16.3%.

IOCL becomes 1st Oil Marketing Company to produce and market AVGAS 100 LL in India
On 26th September 2022, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, & Housing and
Urban Affairs launched the indigenously developed AVGAS 100 LL., special aviation fuel meant for piston
engine aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), at an event organised at Hindan Airforce Station,
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has become the first Oil Marketing Company to produce and
market AVGAS 100 LL in India.
• IOCL produces AVGAS 100 LL in its flagship refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Note:
• This is in part of the effort of the Indian government to reduce the dependency on imported fuels by
promoting biofuel blending, green hydrogen and electric vehicles.
• At Present, India is importing AVGAS 100 LL from European countries.
Key people:
General (Dr.) V. K.Singh (Retd.) The Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Road Transport and Highways, along
with officials from the Indian Air Force, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG) and Ministry Of Civil
Aviation(MoCA) were present during the launch.
About AVGAS 100 LL.:
i.AVGAS 100 LL, principal grade of Aviation Gasoline, is designed for use in turbo charged reciprocating piston
engines aircrafts, mainly used by Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) and defence forces for training pilots.
ii.It is certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the statutory body of the Government of
India to regulate civil aviation in India.
iii.The AVGAS 100 LL has higher-octane number which provide superior performance quality standards, as
compared to imported grades.
• The Aviation Gas market is expected to grow from the current USD 1.92 billion to USD 2.71 billion by
2029
About Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL):
Chairman- Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Founded-1959
Government of Tripura designed the 1st Bio Villages in India

Tripura was praised for the modified 1st Bio-Village at Daspara in the Sepahijala district., which received
International recognition for designing and setting up the 1st Bio-Village of India, and was hailed by the Deputy
Chief Minister, (Dy CM) Jishnu Dev Varma.
• The Bio-Village has been implemented across 10 villages to modify the lifestyle and livelihood of
over 1000 marginalised people for adaptive behaviour of Nature-based technology which has been
promoted by the Directorate of Bio-Technology.
Key Highlights:
i.The bio-village project aims to ensure total socio-economic development among rural communities by
focusing on both mitigation and adaptation.
ii.This project benefits over 500 households and the Government succeeds in setting up 5 Bio-Villages so far.
Each household draws an economic benefit of Rs. 5,500 per month.
iii. Directorate of Biotechnology, Government of Tripura introduced the concept of Bio-Village in 2018 by
promoting organic farming.
iv.Tripura succeeds by setting up 5 bio-villages by incorporating renewable energy, which aimed to
demonstrate agreeable sustaining technologies.

NITI Aayog declared Haridwar as the best Aspirational District in India
The Holy City of Uttarakhand, Haridwar was declared India’s best Aspirational District by NITI Aayog
(National Institution for Transforming India), the Government of India (GoI). This district secured the 1st rank
in the Basic Infrastructure theme.
• Along with the honour of getting the title ‘India’s Best Aspirational District’, Haridwar will receive an
additional allocation of Rs 3 crores.
• The selection of Haridwar being the best aspirational district was confirmed by Rakesh Ranjan, the
Director of NITI Aayog’s ADP (Aspirational District Program) and sent a letter to SS Sandhu,
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and Haridwar District Collector.
L&T builds India’s 1st 3D Post Office in Bengaluru, Karnataka

India’s 1st 3D printed Post Office will soon come in Halasuru’s Cambridge Layout (plot land owned by the
postal department) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The entire construction is built by Larsen & Toubro
Construction (L&T).
• The construction of the post office in the 1,000-square-feet building three floors from the ground
will cost Rs 25 lakh, reducing the final cost by 25%.
• This 3D-built post office will function the same as a normal post office. The construction will be
completed within 1 month.
India’s 3D house was built by IIT Madras in 2021, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
75 Tribal Districts for focused TB Interventions identified by the Centre

The 75 Tribal Districts were identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) and the Central TB Division of
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) for focused interventions which will run over the next few
months to make those tribal districts TB-free.
• Under the Aashwasan Campaign, TB cases across 174 tribal districts were detected and started
the campaign in January 2022.
• The door-to-door screening has been done in over 68,000 villages. Officially, after a verbal
screening of 1.03 crore people, 3,82,811 people were identified for presumptive TB.
MeitY Approves Rs 500 Crore Pune Electronics Manufacturing Cluster Project

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has approved a Rs. 500 crore Electronics
Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Pune, Maharashtra. The EMC will be built in Pune’s Ranjangaon Phase III on
297 acres of land.
• The project is expected to attract up to Rs. 2,000 crore in investments.
• It would also receive nearly Rs. 208 crore in funding from the Government of India (GoI).
Note: Currently, proposals from Uttarakhand and Telangana are being considered.
Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme
i.On April 1, 2020, the Modified EMC 2.0 Scheme was announced, with the goal of establishing electronics
manufacturing companies to develop a strong ecosystem.
• Objective: To grant funding for the establishment of Common Facility Centres (CFCs) and EMC
projects.
• EMC 2.0 scheme was notified on 1st April 2020 with an implementation period of 8 years. (i.e., up to
March 2028). The scheme is open for receipt of applications till 31st March 2023
ii.To be eligible for EMC 2.0, applicants must commit to a minimum investment of Rs. 300 crore, with financial
support from the GoI limited to a maximum of 50% and a ceiling of Rs. 70 crore per 100 acres of land.
• An advance of 30% of the total is offered to applicant companies, and the remaining 40% is released
when the company utilized the fund allocated as advance and has met certain criteria, like acquiring
a land allocation.

• The MeitY will release the final instalment once the project is completed.
iii.The MeitY will establish a governing council, led by the MeitY secretary, to monitor the progress of the
scheme.
• The council will be made up of specialists from the public and private sectors, and it will be
empowered to make modifications to the scheme guidelines to ensure its successful
implementation.
Digital India Mission: UP Tops in Disposal & Entry of Cases Via E-Prosecution Portal
According to data collected till August 2022, Uttar Pradesh (UP), with 9.12 million cases, holds the top spot in
terms of the number of cases entered and disposed through the E-Prosecution Portal, which is administered
by the Government of India (GoI) as part of its Digital India Mission.
Key Points:
i.In terms of number of the cases entered, Madhya Pradesh (MP) came in second place with 2.31 million cases,
followed by Bihar with 859,000 cases, Gujarat with 487,000 cases, and Chhattisgarh with 383,000 cases.
ii.With around 470,000 entries, UP surpasses all other states in the online case disposal on this portal,
followed by MP with 170,000 cases and Gujarat with 125,000 cases.
iii.According to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), UP also takes the top spot
for convictions for crimes against women, cybercrime cases, convicts found guilty of offences under the Indian
Penal Code (IPC), and illegal firearm seizures.
E-Prosecution Portal
i.The E-Prosecution Portal is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY) and Ministry of Law and Justice.
• It was launched by Indian states in 2020 to support courts and the prosecution system in speeding
criminal trials in heinous crimes.
ii.The portal enables e-communication between the police department and the prosecution directorate under
the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
• The ICJS permits the transfer of data between courts, police, jails, and forensic science laboratories.
iii.Under the system, officials ensure that witnesses are notified through SMS of their court appearance date;
approach the relevant government advocates; and assist in the timely disposal of cases, with the complete case
database tailored to aid prosecution.
IILM University Launches 1st NEP 2020 Compliant Law School in India
Institute of Integrated Learning in Management (IILM) University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh(UP)
launched the first National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) Complaint Law School in India with an aim to
elevate the legal education system of India.
• The IILM Law School, known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, has been launched with the
approval of the UP Government and the recognition of the Bar Council of India (BCI).
• The school also has a Legal Aid and Advice Centre as required by the Constitution of India, the
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and the multiple directives of the Supreme Court of India.
GoI set to rename Delhi’s Rajpath & Central Vista lawns as ‘Kartavya path’
The Government of India(GoI) is set to rename the historic “Rajpath” and “Central Vista lawns” in New Delhi,
Delhi as ‘Kartavya Path’ (Path of Duty). The road and area from the Netaji statue at India Gate to the
Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as the Kartavya path.
• During British rule, Rajpath was known as ‘Kingsway’, named after King George V and following the
independence of India, it was renamed “Rajpath” – Hindi translation of Kingsway.
• The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) convened a special meeting on 7th September 2022 to
discuss the renaming of Rajpath and Central Vista lawns as Kartavyapath.

Fuelflip Energy develops India’s first Air-gas Mixer
Fuelflip Energy is the 1st company to manufacture Air Gas Mixer – a product that is Made in India after the
complete research and development with the use and installation of the Dual Fuel systems for over 6 years.
• Fuelflip Energy is an impact technology startup that aim of Fuelflip is to provide clean air and reduce
the harsh environmental effects of using diesel generators.
• The company had developed the Internet of Things (IoT) to enable the Dual-Fuel conversion system
for Diesel Generators.
• The company has also developed its Retrofit Emission Control Devices (Feve RECD) in a joint
venture to ensure the reduction of Particulate Matter 2.5 from the exhaust emissions of diesel
gensets.
• Various components for the Dual-Fuel system are imported from Italy, Germany and USA. One such
integral part of the system is an Air-gas Mixer which was never before developed in India.
MoEF&CC gives 2-year Extension to Thermal Power Plants on SO2 norms

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has extended the deadlines for Thermal
Power Plants (TPPs) to install pollution control technologies and comply with new SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide)
emission norms.
• The deadline for the power plants within a 10-km radius of Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) and
cities with a population of more than 10 lakh has been extended from December 31, 2022
to December 31, 2024.
• For the power plants in a 10-km radius of critically-polluted areas or non-attainment cities, the
deadline has been pushed from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2025.
• For all other power plants across India, the deadline has been pushed from December 31, 2024
to December 31, 2026.
Key Points:
i.Non-attainment cities are those that have consistently failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 132 such cities.
ii.The power plant units declared to retire before December 31, 2027 will not be required to meet the specified
norms for SO2 emissions in case such plants submit an undertaking to the CPCB and the Central Electricity
Authority (CEA) for exemption on the ground of retirement.
iii.The environment ministry had revised the emission norms for particulate matter (PM), SO2 and the oxides
of nitrogen for TPPs in December 2015, requiring those to install emission control systems by December 2017.
• This is the third time that the deadlines have been pushed in the last five years.
Points to be noted:
i.The major pollutants from coal-fired power plants are the oxides of nitrogen (NOx), SO2 and particulate
matter (PM).
ii.According to the Centre for Science and Environment, the TPPs account for more than 60% of total industrial
emissions of particulate matter, 45% of SO2, 30% of NOx and more than 80% of mercury in India.
iii.These plants are also responsible for 70% of the total freshwater withdrawal by all industries.
India’s first geothermal energy project: ONGC to pump Geothermal Power at 14,000 feet in Ladakh
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is all set to generate electrical energy on a utility scale by tapping
steam gushing from the earth’s bowels at Puga, a distant valley situated at an altitude of over 14,000 feet, off
the street to Chumar, Ladakh on the de-facto border with China.
• This will be India’s first geothermal energy project, and also the world’s highest.
• It will boost Ladakh’s potential to emerge as one of India’s clean energy generators.
Background:
On February 7, 2021, an agreement for establishing the first geothermal Power Project was announced.
Ladakh’s administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and ONGC signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its establishment.

i.On 26 July 2022, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) signed a MoU with Greenko ZeroC Private
Limited (Greenko) in New Delhi, Delhi to jointly pursue opportunities inrenewables, green hydrogen, green
ammonia and other derivatives of green hydrogen.
ii.MoEFCC has made amendments to environmental impact assessment rules, for exempting highway projects
related to defence and strategic importance within 100 km of the Line of Control (LOC) or border from the
requirement of environmental clearance.
About Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC):
Establishment– 1956
CMD– Rajesh Kumar Srivastava (Additional Charge)
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Empowered Committee of NITI Aayog Approves First-Ever Disbursement Under the PLI
Scheme for Large-Scale Electronics Manufacturing
An Empowered Committee chaired by Parameswaran Iyer, CEO of NITI Aayog (National Institution for
Transforming India), has approved 32 beneficiaries under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
scheme for ‘Large-Scale Electronics Manufacturing.’
• It is the first disbursement under any PLI scheme, and 10 of the 32 beneficiaries (5 global and 5
domestic) were approved for mobile manufacturing.
• The proposal for disbursement of incentive was made by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY).
Key Points
i.Padget Electronics Private Limited in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is the first beneficiary approved by the
Empowered Committee.
• It is designated to receive a Rs. 53.28 crore incentive under mobile manufacturing based on its
incremental investment and sales figures for FY 2021-22.
• Padget Electronics Pvt. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dixon Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
ii.By 2025-26, electronics manufacturing is estimated to reach USD 300 billion.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
Union Finance Minister announced an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crores for the PLI Schemes for 13 key sectors in
the Union Budget 2021–22.
• Objective: To make domestic manufacturing globally competitive and to create domestic
Champions in manufacturing.
It intends to provide companies with incentives on increased sales of goods manufactured in India.
PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
i.The PLI scheme for Large-Scale Electronic Manufacturing, with a total outlay of Rs. 38,645 crores, was
approved on April 1, 2020.
• Objective: To increase domestic manufacturing and draw significant investment into the production
of specific electronic components and mobile phones.
ii.The scheme will provide eligible companies with a 4% to 6% incentive on incremental sales (over the base
year).
• It extends to items manufactured in India and covered by target segments for a period of 5 years
following the defined base year.
iii.The scheme certified 16 companies (5 global companies under the category of mobile phones (Invoice Value
Rs. 15,000 and above), 5 domestic companies, and 6 companies under Specified Electronic Components).
iv.First Round of PLI Scheme: Target segment – Mobile Phone & Electronic Component Manufacturing
v. Second Round of the PLI Scheme:
• Target segment – Specified Electronic Components
• Incentives: 5% to 3%

• Base year: 2019-20
• Period: 4 years
The tenure of the PLI Scheme has been extended by one year i.e. from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
In July 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel in India which will be
implemented over FY 2024-25 to FY 2029-30 with a budgetary outlay of Rs 6,322 crore. It aims to promote
manufacturing of such steel grades within India, and to boost the domestic production of Specialty Steel and
attract significant investment for production for the same.
About the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha – Karnataka)
India Witnesses reduction in Pupil-teacher Ratio over last 10 years

According to the annual report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), India has faced an acute shortage of Pupil-Teacher Ratio over the last 10 years.
• The Ministry of Education gave the ratio, that Primary School pupil-teacher ratios came down
to 26.3 in 2020-2021 from 43 in 2010-2011.
• Upper Primary school pupil-teacher reduced to 18.9 in 2020-2021 from 33 in 2010-2011.
• UNESCO’s (3rd edition) state of education report for India 2021, titled ‘No Teacher, No
Class’ focuses on teachers, around 1.1 lakh schools in India are single-teacher entities.
• As per the data, a total of 11.16 lakh teaching positions in schools lie vacant in India (69% are in
rural areas).
Agnikul Cosmos gets patent for Single Piece 3D-printed rocket engine
Agnikul Cosmos, Chennai based space technology start-up secured its first patent for the design and
manufacturing of its Single Piece 3D printed rocket engine. The patent was offered to Agnikul Cosmos under
the Government of India(GoI)’s patent database, for its Agnilet rocket engine, world’s 1st single-piece 3D
printed rocket engine fully designed and manufactured in India.
• Agnilet was designed in such a manner to encapsulate 1000’s of parts into just one piece of hardware
and has zero assembled parts.
Kibithu military station & Road in Arunachal Pradesh named after India’s first CDS Gen Bipin
Rawat
The military camp in Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh and the 22 Km-road stretch from Walong to Kibithu have
been named in honour of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who was killed in a
chopper crash in December 2021.
• The military camp in Kibithu has been renamed as ‘Gen Bipin Rawat military garrison’ and the
road was named as “Gen. Bipin Rawat Marg”. The road was dedicated by Pema Kandu, Chief
Minister(CM) of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Brig D. B. Mishra (Retd), Governor of Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated a gate built in local traditional
architectural style and unveiled a life-size mural of Gen Bipin Rawat.
Indore to Become India’s First ‘Smart City’ with ‘Smart Addresses’

Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP) will become the first smart city with smart addresses after the implementation
of a fully digital addressing system by the Indore Smart City.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Rajat Jain, co-founder of Pataa
Navigations, and Rishav Gupta (IAS), CEO of Indore Smart City for advancing the smart city.

• Pataa is working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a digital
addressing system and it also developed
patented technology for smart city
upgradation.Pataa is a brief and distinctive
code, that will help the user find the
specific geotagged location.
About the MoU:
i.According to the MoU, Pataa app can be used by
everyone and business and also all government
agencies and emergency services including police, fire
department, and ambulance for providing services like
Electronic Know Your Customer (E-KYC) and
geotagging.
ii.Pataa Navigation will integrate with government platforms such as electricity, agriculture, excise, women and
child welfare, and education to provide access to Digital Addressing Systems.
• Pataa will geotag MP Tourism’s all tourist destinations along with bus stops, light poles, public
restrooms, and bus stops and integrate them with websites.
About Pataa App:
i.The Pataa App is a free service that helps in finding a specific geotagged location.
ii.Users of the Pataa Application can upload images of their homes, landmarks and such others along with their
addresses in the full text or the user also has the option to record voice instructions for updates.
• In the future, the user will be able to share a short code instead of entering the full address.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park of Darjeeling became best zoo in India
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal has been recognized as
the best zoo in India. Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai, Tamil Nadu has secured the 2nd position,
followed by the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore, Karnataka.
• A zoo directors conference was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, where the Central Zoo Authority
released the ranking list.
• Darjeeling zoo was given the highest percentage of 83 under evaluation.
• Kolkata’s Alipore Zoological Garden has secured the fourth position.
Key highlights:
The Central Zoo Authority evaluated a total of around 150 zoo under various parameters such as management
& effectiveness and marks were given accordingly.
About Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP):
The PNHZP was established on 14th August 1958 and is internationally recognised for its breeding and
conservation programmes of endangered animal species of the eastern Himalayas.
• The Red Panda is one of the main attractions of PNHZP, besides other animals such as the
Himalayan Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Goral and Himalayan Thar.
Delhi Police become the first police force in India to make forensic probe mandatory
Delhi Police has become the first police force in India to make collection of forensic evidence mandatory in
crimes punishable by more than six years.
i.AIM: To boost the conviction rate and integrate the criminal justice system with forensic science investigation.
ii.The order was created to provide guidelines for the use of forensic tools by all Investigating Officers of the
Delhi Police in offences carrying a sentence of more than six years.
iii.According to the order, each district of the Delhi Police will also have access to one forensic mobile
van, which will be used to provide investigation officers with on-the-spot scientific and forensic support as
needed.

CCRAS Offers Research Fellowship to Support Research Efforts in Ayurveda – SPARK
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), will offer research fellowship to young
undergraduate (UG) students enrolled in recognized ayurveda colleges across India under the ‘Studentship
Program for Ayurveda Research Ken’ (SPARK) initiative.
Key highlights:
i.The SPARK Program will support the innovative ideas of young UG students and will promote evidence based
scientific research in the field of Traditional Medicine.
ii.Interested candidates must submit their research proposals through the SPARK Portal
(www.spark.ccras.nic.in.), which will be evaluated by experts and reviewers.
iii.The selected fellows will be offered a financial support of Rs 50,000 under the fellowship for 100 students
initially.
Note – The CCRAS is currently working on various research and development projects in collaboration with
leading research institutions in Romania, Germany, Israel, USA, Canada and the World Health Organisation
(WHO).
Attendees:
i.This fellowship scheme and the application portal was launched by Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary,
Ministry of Ayush and Vaidya Jayant Yeshwant Deopujari, Chairman, National Commission for Indian System of
Medicine (NCISM).
ii.The launch took place in the presence of Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, Director-cum-Vice Chancellor In-Charge,
National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur and Prof. R.N. Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, Dr. Sulochana Bhatt,
Director, CARI, Bengaluru, Dr. M.M.Rao, Director, CARI, Bhubaneswar and Research Officers of the Instituteat
Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bhubaneswar.
Coal Ministry announced 1.23 billion tonne Coal target by 2024-2025

The Ministry of Coal aims to upgrade coal production to 1.23 billion tonnes (BT) by Financial Year (FY) 2024-
2025 to secure the energy security of the country.
• To support Coal production, Coal India Limited (CIL) has adopted an integrated planning approach
by strengthening evacuation infrastructure.
• CIL plans for 1 billion tonnes of production and seamless transportation of coal to the end users.
• The major Coalfield in Jharkhand State is North Karanpura Coalfield, which falls under the
command of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL). CCL has projected production contribution of about
135 Million tonne by FY25, out of which about 85 MT is likely to be produced from North Karanpura
Coalfield from several Greenfield/brownfield coal mining projects, like Amrapali (25 MT), Magadh
(51 MT), Chandragupta (15 MT), Sanghmitra (20 MT, etc.
IIT-Madras becomes 1st Indian institution to join NY-Based IBM Quantum Network
On 12th September 2022, the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has become
the 1st Indian educational institution to join the New York (NY)-based International Business Machines (IBM)
Quantum Network to promote and advance quantum computing skills development and research in India.
• IIT-M is to join a network total of 180 global members in the IBM Quantum Network.
Key Highlights:
i. The members of IBM Quantum Network include a community of Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, academic
institutions, and research labs. The network includes about 53 academic institutes from across the world.
ii. The Centre for Quantum Information, Communication and Computing (CQuICC) at IIT-M aims to advance
core algorithms in research areas like Quantum Machine Learning, Quantum Optimisation, and Applications
research in Finance.
iii. IIT-M will use IBM Quantum services alongside the open-source Qiskit framework to explore areas like
quantum algorithms, quantum error correction and error mitigation, etc, to advance and enlarge the quantum
computing ecosystem.

iv. IIT-M will receive cloud-based access to IBM’s advanced quantum computing systems and IBM’s quantum
expertise.
• The access helps to explore practical applications and realise wide-ranging benefits of this
technology business and society.
• Joining IBM Quantum Network will provide IIT-M faculty direct access to state-of-the-art quantum
hardware and software.
v. The previous year, IIT-M joined IBM’s quantum education programme to provide IIT-M students and faculty
access to IBM quantum learning resources.
India’s 1st & World’s 3rd University of Forestry to open in Telangana

The Telangana Legislative Assembly and Council has approved the University of forestry (UoF) Act-2022. It will
be India’s 1st & world’s 3rd Forestry university.
• In the World, only Russia and China have forest universities.
• The Forest College & Research Institute (FCRI) will be upgraded as a University by way of
legislation, to nurture it as a world-class institution for Forestry Education, Research, Extension and
Outreach.
Key Highlights:
i.Telangana Government has decided to expand Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), Hyderabad,
Telangana into a full-fledged University of Forestry (UoF). FCRI will be added 18 courses and 300 seats to
upgrade it to UoF.
ii. The 18 additional courses are, PhD courses, diplomas and certificate courses in the streams of Urban
Forestry, Nursery Management, Agro-Forestry, Tribal Livelihood Enhancement, Forest Entrepreneurship,
Climate Smart Forestry, and Forest Parks Management, the note informed.
iii.Upgradation of FCRI as UoF will increase student strength from 360 to 726 and staff strength increase
from 118 to 210.
iv.Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana will be the Chancellor of the University of
Forestry.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister- K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor- Tamilisai Soundararajan
Capital- Hyderabad
India to hold G20 Presidency for 1 year Starting from December 2022
India will assume the Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) for a span of 1 year with effect from December
1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Under G20 Presidency, India expects to host more than 200 G20
meetings across the country, beginning in December 2022.
• India will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on 09 and 10 September 2023.
• The G20 is an intergovernmental forum (IGF) of the world’s major developed and developing
economies which comprises 19 countries and the European Union (EU).
• G20 considers 85% of global Gross domestic product (GDP), 75% of international trade, and two-
thirds of the world population to make a major platform for international economic cooperation.
• Currently, India is a part of the G20 Troika (current, previous and incoming G20 Presidencies)
comprising Indonesia, Italy and India. During our Presidency, India, Indonesia and Brazil would
form the troika.
First Inter-Modal Digital TIR-Based Transport Flags off from India to Iran
The first inter-modal digital Transports Internationaux Routiers’ or International Road Transports (TIR)-
based pilot transport along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) corridor

between India and Iran was flagged off from Nhava Shewa (Jawaharlal Nehru Port), Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
• This aims to facilitate paperless cross-
border transit under customs guarantee of
TIR systems.
About TIR systems:
i.The TIR system plays an important role in
facilitating cross-border trade and transport and
prevents delay in operations by minimising the
transportation costs and other formalities.
ii.According to the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the system will
simplify the movement of national and international
transport by giving access to over 64 TIR operational countries.
• This will also facilitate higher growth of intra-regional and inter-regional trade.
Key highlights:
i.The INSTC aims to reduce the time taken for EXIM (Export-Import) shipments to access the transit hub of
Central Asian markets and reach Russia and Europe.
ii.The commercial transit hub for the Central Asia region will be the Chabahar Port, which was developed with
Indian assistance.
• India is participating in the development of the 1st phase of the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at
Chabahar Port in collaboration with the Iranian government.
NITI Aayog Hosted First Shoonya Forum Commemorating One-Year Anniversary

of Shoonya Campaign
The NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) hosted the first Shoonya Forum in Delhi to
commemorate the first anniversary of Shoonya, India’s zero-pollution e-mobility campaign.
• During the occasion, a report titled “Need for Advanced Chemistry Cell Energy Storage in India
(Part III)” of the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Energy Storage was also
released.
Dignitaries
Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa; Parameswaran Iyer, CEO of NITI Aayog; Abhishek Singh, CEO of MyGov, and others.
Shoonya Campaign
The Shoonya initiative, which aims to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by collaborating with
consumers and industry, was launched by NITI Aayog in September 2021 with the support of Rocky Mountain
Institute (RMI) based in the United States (US) and RMI India.
• The campaign intends to increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in urban delivery and increase
consumer awareness about the advantages of zero-pollution delivery.
Key Points:
i.In India, urban freight vehicles account for 10% of freight transportation-related Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
emissions, and these emissions are expected to rise by 114% by 2030.
ii.EVs generate 15% to 40% less CO2 than Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) and have lower operating costs
even during production.
• As EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, it can significantly improve air quality.
iii.Shoonya will facilitate India’s five-point agenda (Panchamrit) to cut carbon emissions and secure its 2070
climate targets, as outlined at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Conference of the Parties (COP 26).

EKI lists India’s 1st plastic project under Global Accreditation Standard
Indore (Madhya Pradesh)-Based EKI Energy Services (EKI), a leading Carbon credit developer and supplier,
listed a Plastic Project from India under a Global Accreditation Standard. EKI has become the first ever firm to
list a plastic project from India with an aim to generate India’s first-ever international plastic credits.
• The project has been listed under the Plastic Waste Reduction Standard of Verra, a Washington-
(United States) based accreditation.
• The project ensures to recycle Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) waste, PET flakes, and chips and
produce a Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre (RPSF) for later use in the textile industry for
manufacturing garments and other fabric-related utility products.
• The company has listed this plastic project with an ambition to generate India’s First international
plastic credits.
SOVA Android Trojan: New mobile banking malware prowling in Indian cyberspace
A new type of mobile banking malware campaign called SOVA Android Trojan(SOVA – owl in Russian) has now
reached India.This malware encrypts an Android phone for ransom and is hard to uninstall.It has the ability to
harvest user names and passwords via keylogging, stealing cookies and adding false overlays to a range of
famous apps.
• SOVA is essentially a banking malware but is capable of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and
man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
• CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) has issued an advisory for SOVA
malware to be active in India.
• The new Trojan virus was focused on the United States (US), Russia, and Spain. From July 2022 to
the list of targets, it added several other countries which includes India.
• This virus’ 1st version appeared for sale in underground markets in September 2021. After it was
first detected in Indian cyberspace in July, it was found that the virus has been upgraded to
its 5th version.
MCA Revises Definition of Small Companies to Facilitate Ease of Doing Business

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has further revised the definition of “small companies” under
the Companies Act, 2013 by raising the thresholds for paid-up capital from ‘not exceeding Rs. 2 crore’ to ‘not
exceeding Rs. 4 crore’ and turnover from ‘not exceeding Rs. 20 crore’ to ‘not exceeding Rs. 40 crore’.
Criteria Prior to 2021 Old (2021) New (2022)
Paid-Up Capital Rs. 50 lakh Rs. 2 crore Rs. 4 crore
Turnover Rs. 2 crore Rs. 20 crore Rs. 40 crore
• This revision is intended to improve the “Ease of Doing Business” and reduce the compliance burden
on “small companies.”
• It will also allow more companies to qualify under the definition of small companies.
Background
The Companies (Specification of Definitions Details) Rules, 2014 were amended by the MCA and took effect on
April 01, 2021.
• According to it, the definition of “small companies” under the Companies Act, 2013 was amended by
raising the thresholds for paid-up capital from “not exceeding Rs 50 lakh” to “not exceeding Rs 2
crore” and turnover from “not exceeding Rs 2 crore” to “not exceeding Rs 20 crore.”
Note: MCA is in-charge of implementing the Companies Law.
Key Revisions & Their Benefits
The revised definition for small companies includes the following benefits in terms of compliances:
• A cash flow statement is not required as part of a financial statement.
• An advantage of preparing and filing an Abridged Annual Return.

• Mandatory rotation of the auditor is not required.
• An auditor of a small company is not required to report on the adequacy of internal financial
controls and the company’s operational effectiveness in the auditor’s report.
• Only two board meetings can be held per year.
• The company secretary or, in the absence of a company secretary, a director of the company, may
sign the annual return of the company.
• Less penalties apply to small companies.
MCA’s Measures Towards Ease of Doing Business
i.The measures taken by MCA towards ease of doing business and ease of living for corporates include
decriminalisation of various provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
Act, 2008.
ii.Additionally, it has extended fast track mergers to start ups, incentivizing the incorporation of One-Person
Companies (OPCs), etc.
In August 2022, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) approved the amalgamation of Bharat Gas Resources
Limited (BGRL) with its parent company Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Bharat Gas Resources
Limited (BGRL), incorporated in June 2018, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BPCL for handling the Natural Gas
business. The scheme of amalgamation became effective on 16 August 2022
About Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA):
Union Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS)– Rao Inderjit Singh
UP Places First Among States in Trials Pending in Fast-Track Courts

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Law, noted in a letter to the Chief Justices of the High Courts that Uttar
Pradesh (UP) accounts for more than 70% of the 13.81 lakh pending trials in Fast-Track Courts (FTCs) in cases
of heinous crimes against women, children, and senior citizens.
• He also urged them to expedite the process of establishing Fast-Track Special Courts (FTSCs) and
FTCs in their respective states in order to resolve these challenges.
FTSCs were established under a centrally-sponsored scheme for the expedited trial of rape and the Protection
of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases.
Key Statistics:
i.The FTCs of Uttar Pradesh (UP) have more than 9.33 lakh cases pending (tops the list), followed by
Maharashtra with over 1.4 lakh cases, Tamil Nadu with 1.06 lakh cases, West Bengal with 71,260 cases, and
Telangana with 12,538 cases.
• The 14th Finance Commission recommended 1,800 FTCs, however only 896 of them were
operational as of July 31, 2022.
ii.UP also tops the list of states where trials in rape cases and matters under the POCSO Act have yet to be
resolved, with over 60,000 cases pending in the FTSCs.
• It is followed by Maharashtra, which has nearly 43,000 cases pending in the FTSCs, West Bengal
(35,653), Bihar (22,592), Tamil Nadu (20,037), Odisha (19,214), Rajasthan (18,077), Kerala
(14,392), Gujarat (12,347), and Telangana (12,248).
iii.There are currently 3,28,556 cases pending at the FTSCs across 28 states and Union Territories (UTs).
76 start-ups onboarded under the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-Up Challenge’ by MoHUA
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has onboarded 76 start-ups under the ‘India Water Pitch-
Pilot-Scale Start-Up Challenge’ at an event in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The shortlisted start-ups will be provided financial support of up to Rs20 lakh each to work in the
fields of water supply, used water management, water body rejuvenation and groundwater
management etc.

• The start-ups have been shortlisted through AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation) Mission, a challenging process launched in March 2022.
Key Highlights:
i. MoHUA has also launched ‘Startup Gateway’ wherein the start-ups can apply and be shortlisted by the
ministry for financial support.
ii. The Ministry launched a Toolkit for ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’, under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) in 485 cities
in motive of assess cities with respect to the quality of water and the quality of water delivery to the citizens.
iii. At the same event,the competition was organised by MoHUA under ‘Mission Amrit Sarovar’ to spread
awareness among the masses about the conservation of water bodies, the 25 best photographs have been
selected and awarded Rs 10,000 each.
iv. A portal, Urban Waterbody Information System (UWaIS) was also launched with help from National Remote
Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, Telangana. 219 cities have been handed over UWaIS reports of water
bodies during the event.
Centre Announces New Medical Device Rules to Simplify Licensing Procedures

The Union government has notified the Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2022, which stipulates that
all ‘Class A’ medical device manufacturers must register themselves through the “Online System for Medical
Devices,” a designated online platform created for the purpose.
• ‘Class A’ medical devices provide minimal to moderate risk to the patient or user (like surgical
dressings).
Registration of Class A (Non-Sterile and/or Non-Measuring) Medical Devices
i.The manufacturer must provide an undertaking stating that the proposed device is a non-sterile and/or non-
measuring ‘Class A’ medical equipment.
• The manufacturer must self-certify that it meets the standards specified in the Medical Devices
Rules, 2017.
• After furnishing the information on the “Online System for Medical Devices” established for the
purpose, registration number will be generated.
ii.The importer of medical devices must also provide an undertaking confirming that the proposed equipment
is a ‘Class A’ medical device and that it complies with essential safety criteria.
• Importers must provide a self-attested copy of the overseas manufacturing site, establishment, or
plant registration in the country of origin issued by a competent authority.
iii.The licensing authorities may check the records or documents at any time and look into any complaints or
failures with quality or safety.
• If the manufacturer or importer violates these rules, the state or central licensing authority may
revoke or suspend the registration number.
Click here for Official Notification
Background
On September 14, 2022, the reconstituted National Medical Device Promotion Council (NMDPC), under the
Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, held its first meeting, at the Dr.
Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The NMDPC was initially established in 2018 under the Department for Promotion of Industry &
Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• In August 2022, it was reconstituted under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
During the meeting, the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW), MoHFW, has reinforced its
preparedness for the transition to licensing of Class-A and Class-B medical devices, w.e.f. October 01, 2022,
under the Medical Devices Rules 2017.
Note: The Department of Pharmaceuticals will host the National MedTech Expo, 2022, in December 2022 to
highlight the strengths and capabilities of the Indian medical device industry.

Maharashtra cabinet approves naming of Chipi airport after Barrister Nath Pai
The Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde approved to name the Chipi greenfield
airport in Sindhudurg district after a prominent socialist leader, freedom fighter and former Member of
Parliament (MP) Barrister Nath Pai.
• The Chipi Airport was formally inaugurated on March 5, 2019.
• It is located in Vengurla, 27 km away from the Mumbai-Goa highway in the coastal Sindhudurg
district of Maharashtra. Commercial flights started at the airport from October 9, 2021.
• 25 September 2022 marks the birth centenary year of Nath Bapu Pai. He was born on 25 September
1922 in Vengurla, Maharashtra.
• He represented the Rajapur Lok Sabha constituency from 1957 to 1967 as Praja Socialist Party
leader. He was also a votary of Konkan Railway.
India Gets its First Dugong Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu

On 21st September 2022, the Government of Tamil Nadu notified India’s first “Dugong Conservation
Reserve” in the Palk Bay region, covering the coastal waters of Thanjavur and Pudukkottai Districts of Tamil
Nadu with an area of 448 Square Kilometres.
Background:
i.In September 2021 Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) initiated the idea of ‘Dugong Conservation
Reserve’ to be established in Palk Bay region, in order to protect the endangered Dugong species and its
marine habitats in Tamil Nadu.
ii.GoTN had issued orders in G.O.(Ms).No.165, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.5) Department,
dated 21st September 2022 to notify ‘Dugong Conservation Reserve’ in Palk Bay.
Key Points:
i.This decision was taken in consultation with coastal communities including local fishermen.
ii.This notification by the government on the Conservation
reserve would not cause any new restrictions to the
communities and also focuses on participation and
cooperation from the communities living in that habitat.
About Dugong:
i.Dugongs are largest herbivorous marine mammals that
primarily feed on seagrass beds, a major carbon sink of the
ocean.
• The seagrass beds are also the breeding and
feeding grounds for many other fishes and
marine fauna.
ii.Conserving dugongs will help to protect and improve seagrass beds and sequestering more atmospheric
carbon.
iii.They are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 as they are at their verge of
extinction.
• At present, there are around 240 Dugongs in India and a majority of them are found in the Tamil
Nadu Coast (Palk Bay region).
Note – Tamil Nadu has rich marine biodiversity with a long coastline of 1076 km and 14 coastal districts and
is home to several rare and endangered fishes and turtle species.
UP Govt. Approves First Tiger Reserve in Bundelkhand Region

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) cabinet, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved the “first” Tiger Reserve
in the ‘Bundelkhand region’ to promote tiger conservation in UP.

• The cabinet approved the decision to designate Ranipur Tiger Reserve under section 38(v) of the
Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which had
previously been notified as Ranipur Wildlife
Sanctuary in the Chitrakoot district of UP.
This will be UP’s fourth tiger reserve, following Dudhwa
Tiger Reserve in Lakhimpur district, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
in Pilibhit district, and Amangarh Tiger Reserve in Bijnor
district.
Ranipur Tiger Reserve
i.The Ranipur Tiger Reserve area, which is covered by
Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, is home to a
megafauna that includes tigers, leopards, bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkaras, as well as a variety of
avifauna, reptiles, and other mammals.
• It has a total area of 52989.863 hectares (ha) (about 530 sq km), including 29958.863 ha of buffer
area and 23031.00 ha of core area.
ii.The establishment of the Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Bundelkhand will unleash the region’s potential for
ecotourism, generate employment opportunities and enhance the regional economy.
Key Points:
i.The cabinet also resolved to establish the Ranipur Tiger Conservation Foundation and to approve the
necessary positions.
ii.The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has already given its approval to establish the Ranipur
Tiger Reserve.
iii.The Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Banda (UP), around 150 kilometres from the Panna Tiger
Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
DPIIT, and Embassy of the Netherlands formalizes Fast-Track Mechanism; To be executed by

Invest India
On September 27, 2022, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and the
Embassy of the Netherlands officially signed the Joint Statement to formalize the bilateral Fast-Track
Mechanism (FTM) between India and The Netherlands.
• This bilateral FTM will be executed by Invest India, the national investment promotion and
facilitation agency.
Signatories of FTM:
Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT; and Marten van den Berg, Ambassador of The Netherlands to India
Aim of FTM:
To serve as a platform for faster resolution of investment cases of Dutch companies operating in India
Key Points:
i.Under this FTM, the process will be undertaken in close collaboration between DPIIT, respective ministries
and departments, Invest India and the Embassy of The Netherlands.
ii.This will strengthen the bilateral efforts to increase mutual investment activities, and develop business
cooperation between companies in both nations.
Diplomatic relations between India and The Netherlands:
i.The diplomatic relations between India and The Netherlands were formally established in 1947.
ii.According to official Indian statistics, The Netherlands is the 4th largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) in
India.
iii.Between April 2000 and June 2022, the cumulative flow of FDI from The Netherlands to India is about USD
42.3 billion.
iv.In 2021-2022, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to USD 17 billion.

v.India’s exports to The Netherlands consist of mineral fuels and mineral-based products, organic chemicals,
electrical machinery and equipment, aluminium, iron and steel and pharmaceutical products.
GoI Extends the Implementation of EV Battery Safety Norms to December 2022

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India (GoI) has extended the deadline
of 1st October 2022 to December 2022 for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to adopt and comply with the
new regulations on battery safety requirements .
Key points:
i.The new regulations are related to battery cells, battery management systems, onboard chargers, designs of
the battery pack and thermal propagation.
ii.The amendment to EV battery testing standards AIS-156 and AIS-038 (Rev 2) that were to be implemented
from 1st October 2022 will now come into effect in two phases.
• Phase 1 will begin on 1st December 2022 and phase 2 will begin on 31st March 2023.
Expert committee:
MoRTH constituted an expert committee, chaired by Tata Narsingh Rao, Director of the International
Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad to recommend on the
additional safety requirements in the existing battery safety standards notified under Central Motor Vehicles
Rules, 1989.
• This committee was formed after the fire incident reported on EV manufactured by Ola Electric,
Okinawa Autotech and PureEV.
Recommendations:
i.According to the expert committee recommendations, the government issued Amendment 1 to AIS
156, specific requirements for motor vehicles of L category with electric power train and
• L category motor vehicles are those with less than four wheels.
Amendment 2 to AIS 038 (Rev. 2), specific requirements for Electric Power Train of motor vehicles of M
category and N category.
• The N category vehicles – motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which
may also carry persons in addition to the goods.
• M category vehicles -Motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers.
ii.It also recommended that the conformity of production (CoP) for traction batteries used in EVs is mandatory.
BSF to deploy 1st Female Camel Riding Squad along India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan &
Gujarat
The Border Security Force (BSF)’s first female camel riding squad will be deployed along the India-Pakistan
border in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• The Intensive training was provided to the squad at the Bikaner (Rajasthan) Regional Headquarters
of BSF under the supervision of skilled trainers.
• The squad will participate for the first time in the BSF Raising Day Parade on 1st December 2022.
This Squad will be the first of its kind in the world.
India to receive 1st 100% Ethanol & Electric Car

On October 2022, India will receive its 1st Flex-Fuel Vehicle (FFV) which can run on ethanol blended petrol and
battery.In the 2nd week of October, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways will flag off
the car.
• Brazil-based Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) will be used as a model to assess
their reduced carbon emissions performance.
• On 21st September 2022, the 1st 100% ethanol & electric car landed in India at an event hosted by
the sugar industry.

• FFV have engines that can operate on flexible fuel, a combination of petrol and ethanol, producing
up to 100% ethanol.
• According to industry sources, the car which will be used for the research purpose can run on
ethanol blended petrol of up to 100% and on electricity generated during the drive.
Note: So far, only Indian two-wheeler manufacturers have launched flex-fuel bikes.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announces ‘One Week One Lab’ campaign
On 26th September 2022, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra
Singh, who is also the Vice President of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), announced the
‘One Week One Lab’ theme-based campaign in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The campaign aims to showcase the breakthroughs and innovations in each of the 37 CSIR
laboratories/institutes spread across India.
• The announcement was made during the 1st-ever CSIR Leadership Meet attended by the Directors
and Head of Departments of all the 37 CSIR labs.
• CSIR breakthroughs in areas like Drone, Heliborne technology, state of the art Sewage cleaning
machines has opened up huge opportunities for developing meaningful and equal stake partnership
among Research, Academia and Industry.
REC Ltd becomes 12th company to get Maharatna CPSE status

The Government of India (GoI) accorded the status of Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)
to REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited), a Non-Banking Financial Company
(NBFC), specialised in financing for energy sectors.
• REC Ltd became the 12th company to join Maharatna CPSE club.The order was issued by
the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.
Key points:
i.REC Limited was a Navratna company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.
ii.REC Limited can now make investments up to Rs 5,000 crore, or 15% of its web price, in a single mission
after its Maharatna standing.
• It provide financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central/state power
utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector utilities .
Criteria for Maharatna CPSE:
i.A company must be listed on an Indian inventory alternate and have an average annual turnover of over
Rs25,000 crore throughout the earlier three years to be categorised as a Maharatna standing.
ii.It must also have a mean annual web price throughout the earlier three years of greater than Rs 15,000 crore
and a mean web revenue of over Rs 5,000 crore throughout the identical interval.
Additional info:
• The other 11 Maharatna CPSEs of India are Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Bharat Heavy
Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL), Coal India Ltd (CIL), GAIL (India) Ltd,
Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL), Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOC), NTPC Ltd, Oil & Natural Gas Corp.
Ltd (ONGC), Power Grid Corp.(POWERGRID) of India Ltd, and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).
• India has 13 Navratna and 74 Miniratna CPSEs.
About REC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) –Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Established- 1969
Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana

DoPT: OBCs Not in Central List Can Apply Under EWS for Central Government Posts
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
has issued clarifications on how to recruit under the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS).
• According to the DoPT, as long as they meet all other qualifications, individuals of Other Backward
Classes (OBC) communities on the State list but not on the Central list are entitled to apply for posts
and services with the Government of India under the EWS quota criteria.
Key Points:
i.The DoPT has emphasized that individuals who belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST)
will not be eligible to apply for posts with the Central Government, regardless of where they reside (even if the
state of residence does not recognize their community as an SC or ST).
ii.The DoPT has made it clear that EWS vacancies left unfilled for one recruitment year cannot be carried over
to the following year and that further attempts at filling these positions with EWS candidates should be made.
iii.Unfilled vacancies may be filled as unreserved, as long as there is no excess representation in the general
category beyond the number added due to the non-availability of EWS candidates.
• If it results in an excess of representations, it may be diverted to a category where there is a
shortage.
iv.The DoPT also made it clear that “family” does not include grandparents, or any siblings or children above
the age of 18 for the qualification of the EWS criterion.
Click Here to Read the Official DoPT Press Release Regarding EWS Recruitment
MoCI Extends Foreign Trade Policy by 6 Months till March 2023

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) extended the existing Foreign Trade Policy (2015–20) by
another six months till March 2023, w.e.f. October 1, 2022, due to unstable global economic and geo-political
circumstances and currency fluctuations.
• The existing Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) was set to expire on September 30, 2022, after being
extended in April 2022.
The extension has been made, following appeals from leading exporters and Export Promotion Councils to
continue with the current FTP, which has periodically been extended.
Foreign Trade Policy (FTP)
A FTP offers a framework for boosting exports of goods and services as well as creating jobs and adding value
for the nation.
• It focuses on assisting both the manufacturing and service sectors, with a greater emphasis on
enhancing the ease of doing business.
Key Points:
i.The Indian Rupee (INR) has been forced to depreciate more against the USD as a result of inflationary
pressures, outflows of foreign capital, geopolitical tensions in Ukraine, and tightening monetary policy.
• While the INR achieved a new record low of 81.6 against the dollar, the value of the American
currency reached a 22-year high.
ii.The Board of Trade advised the government on policy measures related to the new Foreign Trade Policy
(FTP) (2022-27).
Key Statistics on India’s Trade
i.India’s merchandise exports during April – August 2022 totalled USD 192.59 billion, an increase of 17.12%
over USD 164.44 billion during the same period in 2021.
ii.The amount of goods imported in the first five months of FY23 increased from USD 218.22 billion in the
same time in 2021 to USD 317.81 billion, a growth of 45.64%.
iii.The trade deficit more than doubled to USD 125.22 billion (April-August 2022), up from USD 53.78 billion
in the same period in 2021.

India sets up Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices under DoP
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will set up an Export Promotion Council (EPC) for Medical Devices
to boost export of medical devices in India.
• It will be headquartered in YEIDA, Greater Noida Uttar Pradesh (UP), with regional offices in AMTZ-
Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad in Telangana.
• The EPC for medical devices will be under the administrative control of the Department of
Pharmaceuticals (DoP), which is a part of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• It will be administered by a committee of administration (CoA) that have both the nominated and
elected members from the government and medical device industry.
• It will help exporters in promoting their products in international markets through various
promotional activities including organising and participating international trade fairs, buyers-sellers
meets in line with the foreign trade policy of India.
Note-India currently exports Rs. 23,766 crore (2021-22) of medical devices up from previous year Rs 19,736
crore.
STATE NEWS
Nagaland gets 2nd Railway Station after more than 100 Years
After a gap of more than 100 years(119 years) Nagaland got its 2nd Railway Station on Dhansari-Shokhuvi
railway line at Shokhuvi. The Chief Minister (CM) of Nagaland, Neiphiu Guolhoulie Rio has flagged off the
Donyi Polo Express from Shokhuvi Railway station.
The first railway station of Nagaland is Dimapur Railway Station, inaugurated in 1903.
Key Points:
i.The Donyi Polo Express runs between Guwahati in Assam and Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh every day.
Now the train service has been extended till Shokhuvi, a few Kilometres from Dimapur.
ii.Shoukhuvi railway station is part of the Dimapur-

Zubza Railway project, an alternative train route
for Nagaland and Manipur passengers to Guwahati.
iii. The CM appreciated the officers, engineers, and staff
of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), since the station
was inaugurated on the “Red Letter Day”.
iv.The foundation stone for the 90-km- long broad
gauge route from Dhansiri (Assam) to Zubza (Nagaland)
was laid in 2016 (under progress) and the deadline was
extended from 2020 to 2024.
About Nagaland:
Capital- Kohima
Governor- Jagdish Mukhi
Festivals- Mim Kut Festival; Bushu Festival
Alappuzha declared as 5th fully Digital Banking District in Kerala

Alappuzha has become the 5th fully Digital Banking District in Kerala. This declaration was made by Thomas
Mathew, Regional Director (Kerala and Lakshadweep), Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The project was initiated by the RBI with the support of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) and
respective district administration as part of the Union Government’s Digital India project.

• Thrissur (August 2021), Kottayam (February 2022), Palakkad, and Kasaragod have already become
fully digital banking districts in Kerala. The Kerala Government plans to make the remaining 12
districts fully digital.
Meghalaya CM Launches Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme for Welfare of Farmers

Meghalaya Chief Minister (CM) Conrad K Sangma launched the ambitious flagship programme for the welfare
of farmers, ‘Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme’ under National Livestock Mission (NLM) at Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi
district, Meghalaya.
• Meghalaya acquires 18,000 MT of pork from different States and through the piggery scheme, it
addresses the shortage of pork supply as there is a huge shortfall in supply and demand.
• The government is successfully providing income generation opportunities and economic prosperity
to the farmers through different welfare schemes.
About Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme:
i.The Rural Backyard Piggery scheme was launched on 10th August 2022 in Samanda block in East Garo Hills
district, Meghalaya.
ii.Under this scheme 4 piglets, 3 female and 1 male piglet will be distributed to farmers to promote pig
breeding to provide regular income to farmers.
• This livestock package is worth Rs 25,000 per beneficiary that benefits around 6000 poor and
marginal farmers which thereby increases pork production.
iii.Financial outlay – Under phase 1 of the scheme, the government has outlayed Rs 15.18 crore under which
4 high-yielding improved varieties will be distributed to 6000 families.
• An additional Rs 25 crore will be earmarked to roll out the 2nd phase of the scheme.
Other schemes:
i.The flagship programme ‘Progress’ scheme has been conceptualised by the government that aims to ensure
that the farmers earn a sustainable livelihood through different livestock farming activities such as piggery,
poultry and such others.
ii.Meghalaya Piggery Mission, one of the largest piggery development programmes, will be implemented by
the Meghalaya government to make the state self-sufficient in pork supply.
iii.Zero interest loan is provided for setting up fattening and pig breeding, through which 250 piggery
cooperative societies have availed loans amounting to Rs 43.67 crore until now.
Karnataka Government unveils the Global Startup Challenge “VentuRISE”

On 1 September 2022, the Government of Karnataka launched the Global Startup Challenge “VentuRISE”, to
support the growth stage of startups in manufacturing and sustainability sectors.
• The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE),the largest network of entrepreneurs dedicated to fostering
entrepreneurship, and TiE Bangalore and the Department of Industries and Commerce have
partnered to initiate this global startup challenge.
• Amazon, a well known E-commerce giant is sponsoring the initiative.
• Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Murugesh R Nirani unveiled the logo of VentuRISE.
• “VentuRISE” – is a part of the flagship event Global Investors Meet – “Invest Karnataka 2022″ from
2nd to 4th November 2022 at the Bangalore Palace,Karnataka.
About VentuRISE:
i.The Global Challenge is to provide a platform to showcase the innovative products or solutions of the budding
entrepreneurs to connect with the potential investors.
ii.Karnataka Government aims to promote their state as the preferred location for startups in manufacturing
and sustainability-related sectors through this global challenge.
iii. It helps to attract investors and industry partners to reach and support entrepreneurs’ growth journey.

About Karnataka:
Chief Minister(CM)- Basavaraj Bommai
Governor- Thaawarchand Gehlot
Capital- Bengaluru
Parivar Kalyan Card: Centre Approves UP Family ID Plan

The Central Government through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) granted
permission to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government for the launch of UP Family ID Plan or Parivar Kalyan
Card for its residents.
• After this approval the UP government will issue a family identity card (Parivar Kalyan Card) to map
each family in the state and is expected to launch its portal for application of family IDs in two
weeks.
• The MeitY gave its clearance by using Aadhaar card and ration card for authentication to verify the
details being used in the UP-Family ID Card.
About UP Parivar Kalyan Card scheme (UP Family ID Card Scheme):
i.Under the scheme, the UP government will identify a family unit and its members and also qualify them as
beneficiaries for various government schemes ranging from employment, pensions and housing benefits among
others.
ii.The 12-digit card will help the UP government keep a tap on the government scheme benefits received by a
family.
iii.To understand the opportunities and challenges involved in the implementation of the UP-Family ID Scheme,
the UP government launched a pilot project in Prayagraj, UP.
• Under the pilot project, families within the district were identified based on their ration card data
and beneficiaries for different government schemes were mapped accordingly.
• Under the programme, family units will be allowed to register to receive a 12 Digit Family ID on the
basis of which different persons within the family would be identified to receive benefits under
government schemes.
Note-
Similar schemes were also launched by different state govt in India including ‘Parivar Pehchan Patra’ in
Haryana and ‘Kutumba Card’ in Karnataka.
Senior IAS Officer Paban took charge as Chief Secretary, Assam

On 1st September 2022, Paban Kumar Borthakur, senior IAS officer, took charge as the new Chief
Secretary of Assam.
• Borthakur replaced Jishnu Barua, who retired from service on 31 August 2022. Barua will continue
as the Chairman of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).
• Borthakur, a 1989-batch IAS officer, previously served as the Additional Chief Secretary to the
State Government in the transformation and development, cultural affairs and tourism
departments.
Chhattisgarh formed Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki as 29th District

On 2nd September 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated Mohla-Manpur-
Ambagarh Chowki as the 29th district of Chhattisgarh.
• CM Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to inaugurate the newly formed 30th district ‘Sarangarh-
Bilaigarh’ and the 31st district ‘Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai’.
Key Highlights:
i.In order to reduce the travel distance for the people to reach the Headquarter, the district was engraved from
the Rajnandgaon district by reducing 170 kilometres to 70 kilometres.
ii.The map of the new district was inaugurated as well as development works worth Rs.160 crore were

unveiled by CM Bhupesh Baghel during the grand launch.
About Chhattisgarh:
Governor- Anusuiya Uikey
Dance forms- Pandavani; Jhirliti; Rahas
Dams- Dudhawa Dam; Gangrel Dam
Kiccha Sudeep Appointed Brand Ambassador of Punyakoti Dattu Yojana

The government of Karnataka appointed Kannada actor and director Kiccha Sudeep as the brand ambassador
for its ‘Punyakoti Dattu Yojana’, a cattle adoption scheme.
• The scheme aimed at encouraging adoption by the public for the purpose of rearing cattle in
‘goshalas’ (cow shelters).
i.Kiccha Sudeep will help in publicizing the Punyakoti cattle adoption scheme which is implemented to
promote people’s partnership in cow conservation.
• He is famous for his remarkable roles in films such as ‘Pailwan’, ‘Eega (Makkhi)’, ‘Vikrant Rona’,
‘Sparsha’, ‘Huchcha’ and ‘No 73 Shanthi Nivasa’.
TBI Director Lucy Hayter launches Generation Global Programme in A.P. and Tamil Nadu
United Kingdom(UK) based Tony Blair Institute (TBI) for Global Change and Canadian NGO (non-governmental
organisation) Children Believe partnered and launched a ‘Generation Global Programme’ for schools and
colleges in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, at the Zilla Parishad High School at Ragimanupenta, Andhra
Pradesh.
The programme was launched by TBI for Global Change Director Lucy Hayter.
• The initiative of this programme is aimed at transforming the mindset of school and college students
between the age of 13 and 17 years to make them ‘global citizens’.
• The Generation Global Programme was organised by the Rural Organisation for Poverty Eradication
Services (ROPES) and the students more than 1,000 from Bangarupalem took part in the event.
President Murmu appoints Justice M Duraiswamy as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court
On 5th September 2022, In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of
India, President of India Draupadi Murmu appointed Hon’ble Justice M. Duraiswamy as the acting Chief
Justice of Madras High Court (HC) with effect from 13th September 2022 after the retirement of current Chief
Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari. The appointment was notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ),
Government of India (GoI).
• Duraiswamy started his career as an Advocate in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in
1987.
• He worked under Justice A.S.Venkatachalamoorthy, former Chief justice of the Chhattisgarh High
Court as his Junior.
• Between 1997-2000, Duraiswamy was appointed as Central Government Standing Counsel and
elevated as Additional Judge of the Madras HC in 2009 and finally appointed as a judge in the
Madras HC in 2011.
Odisha Government notifies Rs 270 crore CHHATA Scheme to improve groundwater Table
The Government of Odisha launched ‘Community Harnessing and Harvesting rainwater Artificially from
Terrace to Aquifer’ (CHHATA) Scheme with an investment of Rs 270 crore to implement the rooftop rainwater
harvesting system (RRHS).
The scheme was conceptualised to address the increasing stress on ground water and to improve the depleting
ground water table.

• On 12th August 2022, the State Cabinet led by Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik has approved to
promote RRHS.
• The scheme will be executed by the Directorate of Ground Water Development (GWD) under the
Department of Water Resources (DoWR).
• Odisha Government will spend Rs 51.75 crore of Rs 270 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 52.56 crore each in
the remaining 4 years till 2026-27.
About CHHATA Scheme:
i. The CHHATA Scheme is to be implemented in 29,500 private buildings and 1,925 government buildings
covering 52 water-stressed blocks and 27 urban area of the State.
ii. The target of this scheme has been set to harvest 373.52 crore litres of water in 5 years. Averagely, Rs 54
crore will be spent yearly under CHHATA scheme.
iii. According to the Directorate of GWD, Odisha and Central Groundwater Board (CGWB), South Eastern
Region (SER) in 2020, the yearly groundwater recharge of the entire Odisha is 17.08 billion cubic metre (BCM)
with yearly natural discharge of 1.37 BCM.
iv. Odisha Government will provide a subsidy of 50% (Rs 55,000) of the cost of the RRHS in order to encourage
the public to adopt this scheme in their buildings.
v.According to the guidelines, the person owning a building with roof area less than 200 square metres and not
more than 3 floors in the specified civic bodies are eligible to apply under the scheme.
Note: The monitoring committee of RRHS will be set up at urban local bodies level, which helps to review
progress and submit the report to DoWR and respective District Collectors.
Rajasthan CM Gehlot Launches 100-Day Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme

Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan, launched the “Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme” at
the Ambedkar Bhawan in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to give 100 days of employment per year to families in urban areas.
• The Rajasthan government has allocated Rs. 800 crore for the scheme, which was first announced by
the CM in the state budget for 2022–2023.
• More than 2.25 lakh families have enrolled for urban employment under the scheme, which went into
effect in all urban local bodies on September 9, 2022.
The scheme is modelled after the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Key Features of the Scheme:
i.Projects on environmental protection; water & heritage conservation; garden maintenance; removal of
encroachment of illegal sign boards, hoardings & banners, and sanitation & cleanliness will be carried out
under the scheme.
ii.The scheme is open to individuals between the ages of 18 years to 60 years. Each ward of urban local bodies
will provide employment for at least 50 persons.
iii.A Janaadhar card or its registration slip is necessary to register for the scheme, which can be done at e-
Mitra centres.
iv.Payments will be transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account within 15 days.
v.The scheme includes a provision to handle complaints and conduct social audits.
Other initiatives of Rajasthan Government
• The Chiranjeevi scheme, which offers free medical care to the poor.
• To establish Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools and a scheme to distribute free sanitary napkins
to women.
• The government intends to provide smartphones with three years of free internet access to 1.35 crore
women.

Chhattisgarh Government to launch New scheme to provide Mobile Healthcare Facilities for
Cattle
On 10th September, Bhupesh Baghel, the Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh is set to launch a new
scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Govansh Mobile Chikitsa Yojana’ aiming to deploy Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU)
to provide better health care facilities to cattle.
Initially, every district will get 1 or 2 mobile veterinary units with Veterinarians.
Key Highlights:
i. The Chhattisgarh CM has directed Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain to take all necessary measures to impose the
scheme.
ii. At present, the healthcare service for cattle is given at the government-run veterinary hospitals to give
quality medical facilities to cattle.
iii. It is also provided in ‘gauthans’ which was established under the ‘Suraji Gaon Yojana’.
iv. The government of Chhattisgarh have already imposed ‘Mukhyamantri Slum Swasthya Yojana’ in Urban
and ‘Mukhyamantri Haat-Bazaar Clinic Yojana’ in rural areas to ensure people’s health.
Delhi CM unveiled SoE and Model Schools in TN, Pudhumai Penn scheme also Launched
On September 5, 2022, the Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal unveiled 26 Schools of Excellence
(SoE) and 15 model schools in Tamil Nadu (TN) during a function held at Bharathi Women’s College in Chennai,
TN. These schools are set up by the TN government on the lines of Delhi’s model school.
• TN CM Muthuvel Karunanidhi (M.K.) Stalin was also present on the occasion.
• It should be noted that this was the first visit of Delhi CM to TN as the chief guest for the
inauguration of a State government scheme.
Key Points:
i.In Tamil, SoE is called as ‘Thagaisal Palligal’, and Model School is named as ‘Mathiri Palligal’.
ii.In the initial phase, 26 schools run by Municipal Corporations will be elevated as SoEs at a cost of Rs 171
crore.25 schools run by Municipal Corporations would be elevated as Schools of Excellence in the first phase at
a cost of Rs 171 crore.
iii.Classrooms in SoEs will be modernized and art, literature, music, dance, sports among others would be
promoted among students.
iv.In the next four years, one classroom will be set in every TN school will be converted into ‘Smart Classroom ‘
at a cost of Rs 150 crore
v.On the other hand, model schools help students from government schools enter institutes of eminence to
pursue professional courses in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Medicine).
Pudhumai Penn Thittam launched by TN CM
During the function, the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance scheme titled
‘Pudhumai Penn Thittam (modern women scheme)’ was also launched by the TN CM.
• Under this scheme, girl students, who studied from Class V to Class XII in state government schools
would be paid a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 till they complete their graduation or diploma.
Other Highlights:
i.The CM’s Breakfast Scheme is proposed to be introduced in 112 government- and government-aided
elementary schools (1 to 5 ) in government schools in Palacode block, TN. It aims to cater to the nutritional
deficit, physical growth deficit among students in government schools, who primarily hail from economically
weaker sections of the society.
• The breakfast menu will include wheat rava with vegetable sambar on Mondays; Ragi puttu with
palm jaggery and coconut milk on Tuesdays; Ven Pongal with vegetable sambar on Wednesdays; rice
upma with vegetable sambar on Thursdays; rava kichdi and rava kesari on Fridays.
ii.The TN CM also allocated Rs 25 crore for Bharathi Women’s College for construction of classrooms and
other infrastructure.

i.TN CM launched three Startup Tamil Nadu Regional Hubs in Madurai, Tirunelveli and Erode to enhance the
reach of initiatives of the government to tier-II and tier-III regions.
ii.TN CM launched the Footwear & Leather Products Policy 2022 of TN at the Tamil Nadu Footwear and Leather
Sector Conclave 2022 with the aim of making the state a preferred destination for the manufacturing of
footwear and leather goods in Asia.
About Tamil Nadu (TN):
Governor– Ravindra Narayana Ravi
Tiger Reserves– Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Wetlands– Point Calimere, Kazhuveli, Pallikkaranai
Hamar Beti, Hamar Maan’: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel announces campaign for women
safety
On 23 September 2022, The Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel announced the ‘Hamar Beti-
Hamar Maan’ (Our Daughter Our Pride) campaign for women’s safety and their empowerment in society.
About ‘Hamar Beti-Hamar Maan’ campaign:
i.Under the campaign, the girls will be educated about various necessary subjects, including their legal rights,
good touch-bad touch, and sexual crimes.
ii.Chhattisgarh state Women officers and employees of Chhattisgarh police will communicate, guide, and teach
the girls in schools and colleges about their legal rights, cyber crime, protection from social media crimes and
their rights.
• The women in educational institutes of Chhattisgarh will be trained regarding the usage of the
application developed specifically for women’s safety.
iii.A special team of police will be set up to patrol the girl’s schools, colleges, and other prominent places with
the specific presence of females.
iv.The IG (Inspector General) Range will be responsible for ensuring that the probe in such matters is
completed within a stipulated time and a challan is also presented.
v.A special ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ helpline will be launched and a mobile number will be shared in the
public domain for women and girls to report their complaints or problem regarding any misbehaviour or crime
against them.
About Chhattisgarh:
Governor- Anusuiya Uikey
Chief Minister- Bhupesh Baghel
Festivals- Maati Ti’aar, Parad
Dance- Panthi Dance , Raut Nacha
Chhattisgarh CM Inaugurates 4 New districts and Introduces Various Development

Programmes to them
The Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur and
Sakti as the 32nd and 33rd districts of the state, respectively.
Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur:
The CM inaugurated this district during a function organized at Manendragarh. The district of Manendragarh-
Chirmiri-Bharatpur has been demarcated from Koriya district. He provided development works to the district
worth Rs.200 crore 73 lakhs.
• The 100 bedded hospital of Chirmiri will be converted as a district hospital.
• There will be development of Siddha Baba temple of Manendragarh by tourism department.
• Rs 3 crore each will be allocated for the development of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur.

Sakti District:
The CM inaugurated Shakti district which has been carved out of the Janjgir-Champa district. He provided 309
development works worth Rs.153 crores, along with an additional amount of Rs.3 crore for the development
of district.
• The development works includes 296 works worth Rs 85 crore 20 lakh and 13 works to be
constructed at a cost of Rs 67 crore 85 lakh 99 thousand.
• 105 development works worth Rs.8 crore 73 lakh under the Education Department, among others.
Chhattisgarh CM gifts Rs.540 crore to new district of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh
The CM also announced 46 different development programs worth Rs 540 crore 32 lakh 98 thousand to the
residents of the newly formed district of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh. It should be noted that before the above
mentioned districts, the CM inaugurated Sarangarh-Bilaigarh and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai as the 30th
and 31st districts of the state, respectively.
• Earlier, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki named as the 29th district of the state.
Points to be noted:
i.Sarangarh is the district headquarters of the newly formed district Of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh.
ii.Khairagarh-Chuikhadan-Gandai’ district comes under Durg division.
iii.Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh-Chowki district is carved out of Rajnandgaon district.
Others:
i.For Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, the developmental works include 20 works to be constructed for Rs. 28 crore 3
lakh 1 thousand, and 26 works to be constructed for Rs 512 crores 29 lakh 97 thousand
• There will be 50-seater hostel for Tribal Girls built by the Tribal Development Department under the
Sarangarh development block at the cost of Rs. 1 crore 52 thousand 97 hundred.
ii.For Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, the CM inaugurated 95 development works worth Rs 364 crore 56
lakh during the inaugural programme. He also distributed materials worth Rs 37 lakh 48 thousand to 213
beneficiaries.
iii.For these 3 districts, CM granted development works worth Rs 1037.37 crore.
i.Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru, Karnataka, has signed the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Chhattisgarh Government to set up central India’s largest regional
testing laboratory and testing centre at Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur (Naya Raipur), Chhattisgarh.
ii.Bhupesh Baghel flagged off Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath from Raipur with the aim of spreading legal
awareness among women. The Rath Yatra was flagged off on the occasion of Hareli Tihaar festival (28th July
2022).
About Chhattisgarh:
Governor – Anusuiya Uikey
Festivals– Maati Ti’aar, The First Fruits Festival, Parad
Dance– Panthi Dance, Raut Nacha
Gujarat Govt announces first-ever Cinematic Tourism Policy 2022-2027 in Ahmedabad

The Government of Gujarat announced the first-ever Cinematic Tourism Policy 2022-2027 in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. The policy, effective for 5 years(2022 to 2027), will help in strengthening the film infrastructure in
Gujarat and offer various financial and non-financial incentives for filmmakers.
• Objective- to promote cinematic tourism through the development of film infrastructure and the
creation of attractive opportunities for cinema in Gujarat.
• It will also bring all the service providers associated with filmmaking on one platform and will boost
tourism activities in Gujarat.
• Four Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 1022 crore were signed for investments in
various subjects including filmmaking, studio infrastructure, acting schools in Gujarat in the
presence of Chief Minister(CM) Bhupendra Patel.

• Ajay Devgan’s firm NY Cinemas LLP. also signed MoUs for filmmaking and studio infrastructure and
other facilities in Gujarat.
Maharashtra became first state to digitise property registrations & launches ‘Self Help’ portal
The Government of Maharashtra has initiated the online registration of properties to be sold by realty
developers to digitise the process, which will also involve the usage of Blockchain technology.
• The portal launched for e-registration is called ‘Self Help’, this helps homebuyers to upload their
own template for the agreement, which once approved can be used by the developers for several
such transactions.
• With this, Maharashtra Government becomes the 1st state to enable e-registrations of property.
• Initially, this facility will be enabled for e-registration of agreements of first sale and resale
transactions will not be a part of this.
Key Highlights:
i.The homebuyers of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) approved the e-registration, which has the
option to register their sales agreement online. Currently, over 400 developers in Maharashtra have chosen the
e-registration system.
ii. The reason for introducing blockchain technology is to prevent duplication and tampering of registration
that has taken place on an online platform.
Note: Blockchain technology (a chain of blocks that contain information) is a system of recording information
in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system.
Odisha to get 5G service in first phase of launch: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister for Communication, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw
announced that Odisha will get 5G (5th Generation) telecom service in the first phase of its launch. In the 1st
phase, 13 selected cities across India will get 5G Services.
• 5G services is expected to be 10 times faster than 4G and 30 times faster than that of 3G.
• The amount of radiation it will give forth is 10 times less than the radiation norms set by the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
• He also stated that a 5G lab was developed at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
(Chennai) Tamil Nadu.
Justice T Raja was appointed Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court
On 19 September 2022, Justice T Raja, senior-most Judge of the Madras High Court, was appointed as the
Acting Chief Justice of Madras HC with effect from September 22, 2022. The appointment was notified by
the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• The President of India, under Article 223 of the Constitution of India appointed Justice T Raja to
perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of Madras HC, consequent upon the
superannuation of Justice M. Duraiswamy, Acting Chief Justice of Madras HC on September 21,
2022.
• Justice T. Raja hails from Thenur, Madurai District of Tamil Nadu. He has practised in Madras HC and
the Supreme Court of India. He was appointed as Additional Judge of Madras High Court on March
31, 2009.
UP CM inaugurates intersection named after Lata Mangeshkar in Ayodhya

On the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of singer Lata Mangeshkar (28th September 2022), Yogi
Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP), inaugurated an intersection named after her, ‘Lata
Mangeshkar Chauraha(Chowk)’, in Ayodhya, UP.
• The Union Minister of Tourism (MoT) G Kishan Reddy was also present during the event.

• The intersection at the banks of the Saryu river has been developed at an estimated cost of Rs 7.9
crore.
• A 40-ft-long and 12-metre-high veena weighing 14 tonnes was installed at the intersection. The
giant veena was made by Padma Shri awardee Ram Sutar. The veena has an engraved picture of
Saraswati, the goddess of music.
West Bengal approved for issuing LoI to Adani Group for Tajpur deep Sea Port
On 19 September 2022, the Government of West Bengal (WB) approved a proposal for issuing a Letter of Intent
(LoI) to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Limited for development of a greenfield deep sea port
project at Tajpur (West Bengal).
• The LoI will be issued by the West Bengal Maritime Board (WBMB) to the Adani Group for the
development of the port.
• Adani Group emerged as the highest bidder for the mega project.
Funding:
The project would involve an investment of Rs 25,000 crore.
• The port would entail an investment of Rs 15,000 crore and the related port led infrastructure
development would involve another Rs 10,000 crore.
Key points:
i.The deep sea port project would create around 25,000 jobs directly and more than one lakh jobs indirectly.
ii.The greenfield port will provide quick access to international markets for Bengal-based industries.
iii.It will enhance the connectivity of all the eastern states and the northeast region of India.
• It will also be linked to the industrial and economic corridor from Dunkuni to Raghunathpur, which
is being developed by the West Bengal government.
• The port will improve regional logistics and export efficiency of West Bengal and unlock huge
industrial & economic opportunities.
Salient feature of deep sea port project:
According to the Industry, Commerce & Enterprises Department, Govt. of West Bengal, the main features of the
proposed port are
i.The port will be set up around 5 km from NH (National Highway)-116B and around 170 km from Kolkata
(West Bengal).
ii.The nearest Railway station is Rajnagar at a distance of nearly 8 km.
iii.Deep Draft of 12.1m with 18-km channel and with a tidal support of 3.9m leading to a net 16m draft facility
enabling large capesize vessels of one lakh DWT (Deadweight Tonnage).
GOVT SCHEMES
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana Celebrates 2nd Year Anniversary
On September 10, 2022, Union Minister, Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and
Dairying (MoFAHD), attended the 2nd anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),
which is implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), MoFAHD.
The event held in New Delhi, Delhi, showcased the progress and future action plans of the PMMSY flagship
programme.
• The scheme also envisions the creation of 68 lakh jobs by the end of 2024-25.
Launch of The Booklet On Achievements of PMMSY
A booklet on PMMSY & its achievements, Matsya Sampada: 3rd edition of DoF Newsletter, Tilapia Action Plan as
part of Export Diversification, Scampi Action Plan, National Seed Plan: 2022-2025, and other documents were
also released during the ceremony. [DoF stands for Department of Fisheries, MoFAHD]

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
On September 10, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra (PM) Narendra Modi introduced the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), as part of the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package, coupled with the e-Gopala App, a
comprehensive breed development marketplace and information platform for direct usage by farmers.
• PMMSY is India’s flagship scheme for the focused and sustainable development of the fisheries
sector.
PMMSY is an umbrella scheme with two distinct components: The Central Sector Scheme (CS) and the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
• The CSS Component is further divided into Non-Beneficiary oriented and beneficiary-oriented
subcomponents.
Objective: To bring about a Blue Revolution in India by developing the fisheries sector in a sustainable and
responsible manner.
Main Motto of PMMSY – ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’ in the fisheries sector
Investment – Rs. 20,050 crores (Rs. 12,340 crores for beneficiary-oriented initiatives in marine, inland, and
aquaculture, & Rs. 7,710 crores for fisheries infrastructure) for the comprehensive development of the fisheries
sector, including fishermen welfare.
Period – 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25
Coverage Area – All States/Union Territories (UTs)
Implementing Agency – Department of Fisheries (DoF), MoFAHD
Funding Pattern: PMMSY will be implemented with the following funding pattern:
Central Sector Scheme (CS):
The entire project/unit cost will be funded by the Government of India (GoI) (i.e., 100% GoI funding).
• GoI assistance will be up to 40% of the unit/project cost for the general category and 60% for the
SC/ST/Women category wherever Direct Beneficiary-Oriented activities, i.e., individual or group
activities, are performed by central government institutions, including the National Fisheries
Development Board (NFDB).
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS):
The entire project/unit cost will be shared between the GoI and the State Government for the Non-Beneficiary
Oriented sub-components/activities under the CSS component to be implemented by the States/UTs, as stated
below:
• North Eastern & Himalayan States: 90% Central share and 10% State share.
• Other States: 60% Central share and 40% State share.
• Union Territories (with legislature and without legislature): 100% Central share.
Beneficiary-Oriented activities, i.e., individual/group activities subcomponents/activities under the CSS
component to be implemented by the States/UTs, will be limited to 40% of the project/unit cost for the General
category and 60% of the project/unit cost for SC/ST/Women.
The Center and the States/UTs will share the government’s financial assistance in the following proportions:
• The North Eastern & the Himalayan States: 90% Central share and 10% State share.
• Other States: 60% Central share and 40% State share.
• Union Territories (with legislature and without legislature): 100% Central share (No UT Share).
End Implementing Agencies (EIAs) in PMMSY: The PMMSY would be implemented through the following
agencies:
• Central Government and its entities including National Fisheries
• Development Board
• State/UT Governments and their entities
• State Fisheries Development Boards
• Any other EIAs as decided by Department of Fisheries (DoF)
Accomplishments of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
i.From 2019–20 to 2021–2022, the Fisheries sector had an incredible growth of 14.3%.

ii.Fish production has increased from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 161.87 lakh tonnes (provisional) in
2021-22.
iii.The sector achieved all-time high exports of 13.64 lakh tonnes, reaching Rs 57,587 crores (USD 7.76 billion),
topped by shrimp exports.
• India currently exports fisheries supplies to 123 different nations.
iv.PMMSY has extended insurance coverage to 31.47 lakh farmers from 22 States and 7 UTs in India.
v.The government has made the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) available to fishermen, fish farmers, self-help groups
(SHGs), joint liability groups, women groups, etc. to address the sector’s demands for working capital and
short-term credit.
vi.In 2019, inland fisheries contributed 74% of total fish production, while marine fisheries contributed 26%.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, presided over
the 9th Governing Body Meeting of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), which was held in
New Delhi, Delhi and released a book titled “Super Success Stories from Indian Fisheries” published by NFDB.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAHD):
Union Minister – Parshottam Rupala (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Sanjeev Kumar Balyan; L. Murugan
MSME Ministry Launches Scheme for MSE: Designates ECGC Ltd as Nodal Agency
The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has introduced the “Capacity Building of First
Time MSE Exporters” (CBFTE) component of the International Cooperation (IC) Scheme.
• The scheme is intended to assist Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in marketing their products in
international markets by offering incentives at various phases of the business cycle.
ECGC Ltd as the Implementing Agency
MoMSME designated ECGC Ltd. (Formerly known as Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.) as the
implementing agency of the scheme.
• According to the MOU, MSE exporters who hold the ECGC Small Exporter’s Policy would now be
entitled for reimbursement from the MoMSME.
Key Points:
i.The MoMSME shall release the grant under the scheme to ECGC on a reimbursement basis upon receiving of
the reimbursement claim in the proforma and the supporting documentation as specified by the Ministry.
ii.The ECGC will then transfer the funds received from the MoMSME to the beneficiaries.
iii.The maximum amount that an exporter may be reimbursed in a fiscal year is Rs. 10,000 or actual, whichever
is less.
iv.Eligibility Criteria for Availing the Benefits Under the Scheme:
• Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) with valid Udyam Registration
• The MSE Import Export Code No. cannot be more than 3 years old on the date export shipment.
• Proof of premium payment
• MSE exporters engaged in the manufacturing sector are eligible under the scheme.
On 2nd August 2022, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) celebrated the landmark of
1 crore registrations on its Udyam Portal. On the occasion, the MoMSME signed a MoU with the Ministry of
Tourism (MoT) and National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for sharing Udyam data.
About ECGC Ltd.
ECGC Ltd. (Formerly known as Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.) is fully owned by the
Government of India.
Founded in – 1957
Chairman & Managing Director – Shri. M Senthilnathan
Headquarters – Mumbai,Maharashtra

About Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME):
Union Minister– Narayan Tatu Rane (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
GoI Plans to Roll Out PM-PRANAM Scheme to Reduce Usage of Chemical Fertilizers
The Government of India (GoI) intends to launch the Pradhan Mantri Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for
Agriculture Management Yojana (PM PRANAM) to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers.
• The PM PRANAM Scheme is an initiative to promote using fertilizers in a balanced manner along
with bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers as alternative sources of nutrients.
The programme intends to lower the cost of subsidies for chemical fertilizers, which is projected to rise to Rs
2.25 lakh crore in 2022–23, a 39% increase from Rs 1.62 lakh crore in 2021–22.
Background
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers proposed PM PRANAM, and the details of the proposed scheme
were announced during the National Conference on Agriculture for the Rabi Campaign on September 7, 2022.
Need for Such a Scheme
i.The need for four fertilizers—Urea, DAP (di-ammonium phosphate), MOP (muriate of potash), and NPK
(Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Kalium [Potassium])—increased by 21%, from 528.86 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in
2017–18 to 640.27 LMT in 2021–22.
ii.While the Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of non-urea fertilizers are set by the companies, the farmers
purchase chemical fertilizers at MRPs that are significantly less than their usual supply-and-demand-based
market rates or what it costs to produce/import them.
• To ensure fair prices for these nutrients, GoI pays the difference between the two sums as a flat per-
tonne subsidy money on certain nutrients.
Pradhan Mantri Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana (PM PRANAM)
Functionality of the Scheme
• GoI aims to determine a state’s use of chemical fertilizers in a given year by comparing its average
consumption during the last three years.
• This will be accomplished by using the data on the Integrated Fertilizers Management System
(IFMS) dashboard of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Funding Mechanism
i.The primary objective will be to pass 50 % of subsidy savings as a grant to the state that saves the money.
ii.In order to encourage the use of alternative fertilizers and their production at the village, block, and district
levels, 70% of the grants would be utilized to construct assets.
iii.Farmers, Panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that work to
minimize fertilizer usage and raise awareness will receive the remaining 30% of the total grant.
Budgetary Support Provided by GoI for Fertilizer Subsidies
i.According to official data, the actual expenditure on fertilizer subsidies in 2020-21 was Rs. 1.27 lakh crore.
ii.The GoI budgeted Rs. 79,530 crore in the Union Budget 2021-22, which was increased to Rs. 1.40 lakh crore
in the revised estimates (RE).
• However, the total subsidy for fertilizer in 2021–22 reached Rs. 1.62 lakh crore.
iii.For the current fiscal year (2022-23), the GoI has set aside Rs. 1.05 lakh crore.
• In 2022, the fertilizer subsidy figure is expected to surpass Rs. 2.25 lakh crore.
Other Initiatives by GoI Regarding Fertilizer Subsidies
i.GoI has implemented a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism in fertilizers w.e.f. October 2016 in order to
plug leakage in fertilizer subsidies.
• Under this system, fertilizer companies receive a 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades based on
actual sales made by retailers to beneficiaries.
ii.Furthermore, the GoI updated the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) -1985 with new nutrients such as Nano
Urea & “Bio-Stimulants”.

iii. Initiatives such as the Soil Health Card and neem-coated urea have also been launched.
In August 2022, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has decided to implement the “One Nation One
Fertilizer” initiative by introducing a “Single Brand for Fertilizers and Logo” under the “Pradhan
Mantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP) fertilizer subsidy scheme.
It has issued an order mandating all businesses to sell their products under the single brand name “Bharat” in
order to achieve uniformity in fertilizer brands throughout India. Under the PMBJP scheme, the Central
Government provides fertilizer subsidies on an annual basis.
About Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Bhagwanth Khuba
Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for 2022-23 Launched
On September 23, 2022, the Government of India (GoI) launched a Scheme for Special Assistance to States for
Capital Investment for 2022-23 under which States Governments will get financial assistance in the form of 50-
year interest free loan for capital investment projects.
Key Points:
i.GoI has allocated Rs 3000 crore for Part V (Optical Fibre Cable) of the Scheme. It will be available to States for
capital projects on the OFC network.
ii.On the recommendation of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, the
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has recently approved proposals of 4 States viz. Uttarakhand
(Rs 50 crore), Jharkhand (Rs 84 crore), Haryana (Rs 65 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 156 crore).
Budget announcement of Scheme:
i.Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance while presenting the Union Budget 2022-23
enhanced the outlay for the Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Investment from Rs. 10,000
crore in Budget Estimates (BE) 2021-22 to Rs 15,000 crore in Revised Estimates (RE) 2021-22.
ii.For 2022-23, the allocation is Rs 1 lakh crore to assist the states in catalyzing overall investments in the
economy.
iii.This allocation will be used for PM GatiShakti related and other productive capital investment of the states. It
will also include components for:
• Supplemental funding for priority segments of PM Gram Sadak Yojana, including support for the
states’ share
• Digitization of the economy
• Reforms related to building bylaws, town planning schemes, transit-oriented development, and
transferable development rights
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UNEP & Reef-World Foundation launched ‘Green Fins Hub’ to Encourage Sustainable Marine
Tourism
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), along with Reef-World Foundation, the United
Kingdom (UK) based charity, launched a global digital platform, ‘Green Fins Hub’. It will provide a major boost
to sustainable marine tourism.
• Green Fins Hub is the first ever global marine tourism industry platform.
• It is expected to scale up to reach a potential 30,000 operators worldwide from about 700 operators
across 14 countries.

• Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to
conserve the marine environment.
About ‘Green Fins Hub’:
i.It is a global digital platform which will help diving
and snorkelling operators worldwide to make simple,
cost efficient changes to their daily practices by
utilizing tried and tested solutions.
ii.It will also provide assistance to operators to keep
track of their annual improvements and communicate
with their communities and customers.
It will have two types of Green Fins membership:
• Digital membership will be available to dive,
snorkel and liveaboard operations globally.
• Green Fins Certified Members will continue to be assessed annually and trained in person at their
operation (0-330 point system, with a low score implying low impact of a business on coral reefs).
Additional features of ‘Green Fins Hub’:
Green Fins Community Forum for operators around the world to raise industry needs, discuss environmental
issues and share lessons.
i.Green Fins Solutions Library: it will give access to over 100 proven environmental solutions to common
daily operational challenges.
ii.Action Plan Tracker: Members will receive an annual sustainability action plan with set goals. An advanced
user interface now allows them to track their progress over time.
White Paper highlighting ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ at IWA World Water Congress
& Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark
On September 12, 2022, a Whitepaper on ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ was launched by Union
Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry for Jal Shakti (MoJS), India; Lea Wermelin, Minister of
Environment, Denmark; and Flemming Moller Mortensen, Minister of Development Co-operation, Denmark
along with the Indian Delegation during International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress &
Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• This whitepaper is an outcome of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark
with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management.
Who prepared the whitepaper?
It was prepared by an interdisciplinary team which was formed by the Government of India (GoI) with partners
from Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, MoJS, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Innovation
Centre Denmark (ICDK), and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).
• ICDK is a unit under the Embassy of Denmark and Denmark Technical University (DTU) design.
What is in the Whitepaper?
i.It points out the current status of wastewater treatment in India and potential pathways for future treatment
structures, co-creation and collaborations.
ii.It also highlights some success stories, need for wastewater treatment, scope for improvement and
augmentation in existing infrastructure and technologies, methods for public participatory approach, financing
and co-financing options building capacity via training, etc.
Points to be noted:
i.India has committed investments of more than US $ 140 Billion by 2024 in the water sector.
ii.The GoI has adopted a community centric approach whereby at least 10% funds are contributed by
community in every program while massive investment is from Government.
• This ensures community ownership and participation.

About AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenges in India:
Earlier AIM and ICDK planned and implemented the AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenges in India to
identify innovators from India that can represent and form the Indian participation in the global Next
Generation Water Action (NGWA) program hosted by IWA and Denmark Technical University. Teams working
on India problems were provided mentorship support.
• Following this, the Danish embassy conducted the AIM-ICDK 2.0 water innovation challenge again
with the partnership of AIM, NITI Aayog.
NGWA is an international initiative with the ambition to engage young talents from leading universities and
innovation hubs before, during and after the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2022.
European Parliament: Hungary is no Longer a Full Democracy, Becomes an Electoral Autocracy

On 15th September 2022, The Members of the European Parliament(MEP) declared in a non-binding but
highly symbolic report, that Hungary is no longer a fully functioning democracy.
• The declaration states that Hungary will be
considered a ‘hybrid regime of electoral
autocracy’, in which elections will be held
regularly without following basic
democratic norms.
• The EU resolution received 433 votes in
favour, 123 against and 28 abstentions.
• This is the first time an EU institution has
declared that its member state is not a
proper democracy, an essential
prerequisite to join the European
Union(EU).
Highlights:
i.Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, a French MEP who sits with the Greens, is the rapporteur for the report on
Hungary which examines the developments that have taken place in Hungary since the hemicycle triggered the
Article 7 procedure in 2018.
• Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (EU) is a procedure in the treaties of the EU to suspend
certain rights from a member state.
ii.Every year, Hungary receives over 6 billion EURO in EU funds, most of which support cohesion projects.
iii.Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for budget, has proposed a 70 percent cut in Hungary’s
funding if the government fails to implement the necessary measures to strengthen democratic standards and
effectively fight corruption.
• In September 2022 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had signed a decree to establish an anti-
corruption agency, along with a separate task force with both governmental and non-
governmental delegates.
iv.The European Commission launched in April 2022 is a new system that can freeze a EU member country’s
allocated share of the EU budget, when its financial interests are endangered.
Concern:
The lawmakers raise concern about certain fundamental rights that are under threat due to resolution,
including the electoral system, the independence of judiciary, privacy, freedom of expression, media pluralism,
academic freedom, LGBTIQ rights and the protection of minorities and asylum seekers.
Saudi Arabia beats Russia to become India’s second-largest oil supplier in August 2022
Saudi Arabia became the 2nd-biggest oil supplier to India after a three months gap, overtaking Russia (first is
Iraq). India also became Russia’s second biggest oil purchaser after China.

• India, the world’s 3rd biggest oil importer and consumer, shipped in 8,63,950 barrels per day (bpd)
of crude from Saudi Arabia up from 4.8% from July 2022. India’s oil import from Russia fell 2.4% to
8,55,950 bpd.
• The share of oil imports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in India
also decreased by 59.8%, the lowest in at least 16 years as India cut African imports.
• In August 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the 4th, while Kazakhstan replaced Kuwait to
become 5th-largest oil supplier to India, followed by the United States (USA).
• The data also suggested, due to higher intake of Caspian sea oil, mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia and
Azerbaijan, India’s purchases from Africa and other countries have decreased.
• African oil’s share in August 2022 halved to 4.2% while Latin America’s share fell to 5.3% from
about 7.7%.
World’s first public database on fossil fuels ‘Global Registry of Fossil Fuels’ launched
Carbon Tracker and Global Energy Monitor launched the “Global Registry of Fossil Fuels”, the
world’s first registry of fossil fuel reserves, production and emissions. This is the first ever fully transparent
and public database that tracks fossil fuel production worldwide that tracks its impact on the carbon budget.
• It includes data from over 50,000 oil, gas and coal fields in 89 countries, covering 75% of global reserves,
production and emissions, and is available for public use.
The database also provides information about the availability of coal stock globally.
Kazakhstan renames capital to Astana, Extends Presidential Term to 7 years

The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed constitutional amendments that extended the
nation’s presidential term to 7 years from 5 years, and brought back the old name of the country’s capital to
Astana from the current Nur-Sultan.
• These changes are among political and economic reforms announced by the President after violent
protests in January 2022, killing more than 200 people.
Key Points:
i.The amendment bar any president from running for a second term in office.
ii.It should be noted that Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. Then in 2019, its capital was named
‘Nur-Sultan’ in honour of outgoing President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the nation for 3 decades.
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Highlights of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina visit to India
On September 5-8, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina was on a four-day visit to India
and held bilateral talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi to review and further strengthen the relationship
between both countries.
Key Discussions between both PMs:
i.Both leaders held discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including political and security
cooperation, defence, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy,
development cooperation, cultural and people-to-people links.
ii.They also agreed to collaborate in new areas of cooperation, such as, environment, climate change, cyber
security, ICT, space technology, green energy and blue economy.
iii.The Leaders directed the officials to expedite work to complete all pending developmental works within 150
yards of the Zero Line, including fencing starting with the Tripura sector.

iv.They also agreed to initiate riverine services under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT)
routes 5 & 6 (Dhulian to Rajshahi -extension to Aricha)
and 9 & 10 (Daudkandi to Sonamura).
v.The two Leaders agreed to expedite efforts to
improve bilateral and sub-regional connectivity
through early operationalization of the BBIN
(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicle
Agreement.
vi.Both Leaders looked forward to the early launch of
the jointly-produced film on Bangabandhu (Mujib: the
Making of A Nation).
vii.They also agreed to work towards other initiatives
including operationalisation of “Shadhinota Shorok”- the historic road from Mujib Nagar in Bangladesh to the
India-Bangladesh border in Nadia, West Bengal.
Click Here for Official Joint Statement
India, Bangladesh sign 7 MoUs
During the meeting Seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between India and Bangladesh
in the areas of railways, science and technology, space technology and broadcasting. This includes Two MoUs to
deepen inter-governmental railway co-operation between both nations. The following MoUs were signed in the
presence of both PMs:
Signatory from
MoUs Signed Signatory from India Bangladesh
MoU between Jal Shakti Ministry (India) and Ministry of Kabir Bin Anwar , Senior
Water Resources (Bangladesh) on withdrawal of water Pankaj Kumar, Secretary Secretary, Ministry of
from common border river Kushiyara. of Jal Shakti Ministry Water Resources
MoU between Ministries of Railways of India & Muhammad Imran, High
Bangladesh on training of Bangladesh Railway Vinay Kumar Tripathi , Commissioner of
personnel in India. Chairman, Railway Board Bangladesh to India
MoU between Ministries of Railways of India & Muhammad Imran, High
Bangladesh on collaboration in IT systems such as Vinay Kumar Tripathi, Commissioner of
FOIS* & other IT applications for Bangladesh Railway. Chairman Railway Board Bangladesh to India
MoU between National Judicial Academy-NJA (India)
and Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on training and Vikram K Doraiswami, Md Golam Rabbani,
capacity building programme for Bangladesh Judicial High Commissioner of Registrar General, Supreme
Officers in India. India to Bangladesh Court of Bangladesh
MoU on scientific and technological cooperation
between India’s Council for Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR) and the Bangladesh Council of Dr Shahjahan Mahmood,
Scientific & Industrial Research (BCSIR). Dr N Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR Chairman and CEO of BSCL
S hohrab Hossain, Director
MoU between Prasar Bharti & Bangladesh Television Mayank Kumar Agrawal, General, BTV (Bangladesh
(BTV) on cooperation in broadcasting. CEO, Prasar Bharti Television)
*FOIS is an acronym for Freight Operations Information System
Projects inaugurated/ Unveiled
PMs Narendra Modi, and Sheikh Hasina inaugurated/ /Unveiled the following projects:
i.Unveiling of Unit I of Maitree power plant– The 1320 (660×2) MW super critical coal-fired thermal power
plant is being set up as Indian Development Assistance (IDA) under Concessional Financing Scheme at Rampal,
Khulna in Bangladesh.
• Outlay– Approximately USD 2 billion with USD 1.6 billion as IDA

ii.Inauguration of Rupsha Bridge– The 5.13 km Rupsha rail bridge is a key part of the 64.7 km Khulna-Mongla
Port (Bangladesh) single track broad gauge rail project, connecting for the first time Mongla Port with Khulna
by rail, and thereafter to Central and North Bangladesh and also to the India border at Petrapole and Gede in
West Bengal (WB).
iii.Supply of road construction equipment and machinery– The project consists of supply of road
maintenance and construction equipment and machinery in 25 packages to Bangladesh Road and Highways
Department.
iv.Khulna Darshana railway line link project – It is an upgradation of existing (doubling of Broad Gauge)
infrastructure linking the current cross border rail link at Gede-Darshana to Khulna.
• Outlay– Approximately USD 312.48 million.
v.Parbatipur -Kaunia railway line– It is the conversion of the existing Metre Gauge line to Dual Gauge line
project. It will connect to the existing cross border rail at Birol (Bangladesh)-Radhikapur (West Bengal) and
will enhance bilateral rail connectivity.
• Outlay– Approximately USD 120.41 million
vi.The PM Sheikh Hasina presented the book containing translation of the historic ‘7th March Speech’ of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 23 Indian and 5 languages of other South Asian countries to PM
Narendra Modi.
vii.There is an announcement regarding the offer of 20 broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh Railway on
grant basis.
India and Bangladesh to open North East Border for Trade
Both leaders have decided to open north east border for trade, and transit. This will not only boost
northeastern states in India, but also benefits Bangladesh by providing a gateway to South East Asia.
• India and Bangladesh share 4096 km land border, of which 1880 km is shared with the northeastern
states of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Key Points:
i.PM Sheikh Hasina conferred the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship on 100 students
of class 10 and 100 students of class 12 at a function in New Delhi (Delhi).
• The first ever Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarships was conferred on the
direct descendants of soldiers, officers of Armed Forces of India who were martyred or critically
wounded during the historic Liberation war of 1971.
ii.During the visit, she called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Vice President of India,
Jagdeep Dhankhar.
iii.India’s Union External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Minister of Development of North
Eastern Region Gangapuram Kishan Reddy called on her.
iv.She also addressed a business event, jointly organized by Indian and Bangladesh business communities on
September 7, 2022.
i.On 24th August, State Bank of India (SBI) Bangladesh Country Head of Organisation, Amit Kumar and Dr Binoy
George, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh inked the agreement to re-engage the agent for
managing Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Bangladesh for another 2 years, at a ceremony organised at
IVAC at Jamuna Future Park, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
ii.Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed MoU with the Bangladesh Roads and Highways department in
Dhaka, Bangladesh for an interim set up to facilitate emergency supply of petroleum goods.
About Bangladesh:
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Taka

FOREIGN VISITS
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Visited Australia to Explore Aspects in Education & Skill
Development; Also Visited Bali, Indonesia for G20 Meeting
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship, made a four-day visit to Australia from August 20-23, 2022, to deepen Indo-Australian ties
and to explore the connect, collaborate and cooperate elements of education and skill development.
Spotlight Events During His Visit
Dharmendra Pradhan Co-Chairs 6th Meeting of Australia-India Education Council 2022
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met with his Australian counterpart, His Excellency Jason Clare, and co-
chaired the 6th meeting of the Australia India Education Council (AIEC) 2022 at Western Sydney
University (WSU) in Australia.
• The Ministers decided to make education a major component of the India-Australia Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership at their bilateral meeting.
Key Points:
i.The Australian delegation was invited by Dharmendra Pradhan to attend the 7th AIEC meeting in India in
2023.
ii.On the sidelines of the 6th meeting of AIEC 2022, an announcement was made on the formation of a
working group on transnational education between India and Australia.
• It is intended to foster opportunities for two-way mobility of institutions and to develop a shared
understanding of the regulatory frameworks in India and Australia.
iii.India has established Gati Shakti University (in Vadodara, Gujarat) and Digital Universities (in Kerala and
Rajasthan), through which the two nations can collaborate on developing curriculum and other features.
iv.In Sydney, Australia, he visited TAFE NSF, a leading provider of education and training & the University of
New South Wales (UNSW).
v.Furthermore, he took part in the “VET: Policy Dialogue on Developing Skills for the Future” held at the
Kangan Institute, Docklands, Melbourne in Australia.
Dharmendra Pradhan Took Part in ‘Dialogue with Group of Eight’ In Melbourne, Australia
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held discussions with academic leaders of the top Group of Eight
(Go8) Australian universities, in order to establish successful research partnerships between Australia and
India.
• Addressing the gathering, the Minister underlined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s phrase of ‘Jai
Anusandhan’, which he added to the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan, Jai Vigyan’ on his India’s 76th
Independence Day speech in 2022.
• He also emphasized the need of evidence-based research and the PM’s phrase “Lab-to-Land”
and “Land-to-Lab”, in order to ensure progress, welfare, and well-being of mankind.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Participates in G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting 2022 In Bali,
Indonesia
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the Group of Twenty (G20) 4th Education Working Group
Meeting & Education Ministers’ Meeting 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, from August 31 to September 1, 2022.
• Host of the meeting: Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Republic of
Indonesia.
Dharmendra Pradhan, who represented India as the G20 troika co-chair, delivered the welcome address at
the G-20 Education Ministers’ Meeting under the theme “Recovery, Re-imagine and Rebuild Stronger.”
Genesis of G20 (Group of Twenty)
Following the Asian financial crisis, the G20 was established in 1999 to bring together the Finance Ministers
and Central Bankers of 20 of the major developed and developing nations.

The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia,
South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US.
• The 2022 G20 Presidency – Indonesia
• G20’s current chairman – Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia.
• The 2021 G20 Presidency – Italy
• The 2023 G20 Presidency – India
G20: Ministers Hold Talks to Strengthen Education Cooperation
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conducted bilateral talks with his counterparts from other nations while
attending the G20 4th Education Working Group Meeting and Education Ministers’ Meeting 2022 in Bali,
Indonesia. The Ministers are as follows:
• Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for
Education & Foreign Affairs, Singapore.
• Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and MoS for Entrepreneurship and SME, United
Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Victor Godoy, Minister of Education, Brazil.
• Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel “Blade” NZIMANDE, Minister of Higher Education, Science & Innovation,
the Republic of South Africa.
Strengthening the Education 2030 agenda, he also had a one-on-one interaction with Stefania Giannini,
Assistant Director-General (ADG), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• He also visited the Gusti Bagus Sugriwa University in Bali, as well as the International Institute of
Tourism and Business (Institut Pariwisata dan Bisnis Internasional).
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urges citizens to participate in National Curriculum
Framework survey
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan invited citizens to take part in the National Curriculum
Framework (NCF) Citizen Survey to help create a new curriculum.
• The survey Digital Survey for National Curriculum (DiSaNC) is collecting suggestions and
feedback from the public at large to obtain inputs for formulation of the NCF.
The NCF will play a significant role in achieving Viksit Bharat, in accordance with the National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020 (NEP 2020).
• On July 29, 2020, the Government of India (GoI) unveiled the NEP 2020, which calls for the creation
of a National Curriculum Framework (NCF) to improve the quality of the educational system.
The survey is being conducted in 23 languages, including those listed in the Schedule VIII of the Indian
Constitution.
In July 2022, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) attended the 3rd FMCBG
Meeting 2022 under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in the Finance Track, which officially began as a hybrid event
in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.
i.Host of the 3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting 2022 – Mulyani Indrawati, Finance Minister of Indonesia and Perry
Warjiyo, Governor of Bank Indonesia.
ii.The 4th G20 FMCBG Meeting will be held in October 2022 in Washington DC, USA.
About Republic of Indonesia:
The Indonesian Parliament has passed a law to relocate its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. The new
capital will be called Nusantara.
President – Joko Widodo
Currency – Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

About Australia:
Prime Minister – Anthony Albanese
Capital – Canberra
Currency – Australian dollars (AUD)
Highlights of India’s EAM S. Jaishankar visit to UAE

On August 31-September 2, 2022, Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs
Minister (EAM) visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 14th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM)
and 3rd India-UAE Strategic Dialogue.
About Meetings:
The Indian Union Minister co-chaired both the meetings with Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah
bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both leaders reviewed the entire gamut of comprehensive strategic partnership
between India and UAE and regional and global developments.
Key Highlights from 14th India-UAE JCM
i.Both nations reiterated their commitment to achieve the goal of 100 billion US dollars of bilateral trade in the
next 5 years.
ii.They also noted the possibility of linking instant payment platforms, such as through the United Payment
Interface of India.
iii.The meeting also saw the signing of following two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)
• One MoU was signed between the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the International Fund for
Houbara Conservation for the Conservation of the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican.
• Another MoU was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of UAE
and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the establishment of the India-UAE Cultural
Council Forum.
iv.Both sides emphasized the importance of promoting start-ups and entrepreneurship in different fields such
as fintech, edutech, healthtech, agritech, logistics and supply chains.
• Notably, team consisting of both government and private sector representatives from India and UAE
visited Kenya and Tanzania recently to identify opportunities for joint projects in the health sector
v.They reviewed the ongoing discussions between the two sides in the area of food security, including in the
I2U2 framework.
• I2U2 is the formation of four nations- India, Israel, UAE, and the United States (US).
S Jaishankar visits the first Hindu temple site in Arabian Peninsula
The Indian Minister also visited a Hindu temple ‘Shri Swaminarayan Mandir’ under construction in Abu Dhabi,
UAE. It is the first traditional temple in the Arabian peninsula.
• Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global not-
for-profit Hindu organisation, is constructing the temple, for which land was given by the Crown Prince
of Abu Dhabi, after Narendra Modi’s first visit to the UAE as Prime Minister (PM) of India in 2015.
EAM also met UAE’s Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence and
appreciated his efforts on the cultural front and his support for the Indian diaspora in UAE.
India-UAE Relations:
i.India-UAE Bilateral trade in FY22 was about USD 72 billion.
ii.UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and second largest export destination.
iii.UAE FDI in India currently stands at over USD 12 billion.
iv.The Indian expatriate community is the largest ethnic community in the UAE constituting about 35% of the
country’s population.
v.The UAE is the third-largest export destination of India (after the US and China) with an amount of nearly
USD 16 billion for the year 2020-21.
vi.For the UAE, India is the third-largest trading partner for the year 2020 with an amount of around USD 27.93
billion (non-oil trade).

i.Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved the establishment of an Interim Operational Hub,
its first overseas office in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
ii.AD Ports Group, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(UAE), signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone(SEZ) Limited for strategic joint investments
in end-to-end logistics infrastructure in Tanzania.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Capital– Abu Dhabi
Currency– Dirham
Union MoS&T Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh’s Visit to USA – September 20- 25, 2022
From September 20–25, 2022, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh,Union Minister of State (Independent
Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Earth
Science; MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, paid an
official visit for 5 days to the United States of America (USA).
Dr. Jitendra Singh Addresses Roundtable On “Net Zero Built Environment with Connected
Communities” At Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022
Dr. Jitendra Singh attended the first-ever “Global Clean Energy Action Forum 2022,” a joint convening of
the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM 13) and the 7th Mission Innovation (MI 7) ministerials, which was
held September 21-23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
• He also addressed the forum’s Roundtable on “Net Zero Built Environment with Connected
Communities.”
At the forum, he led a high-level joint Indian ministerial official delegation from the Ministry of Power,
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and MoS&T.
Key Points:
i.During the forum, he urged for significant actions like a worldwide Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to improve Research & Development (R&D), deployment, knowledge, and technology sharing
related to demand-driven solutions to address climate change challenges.
ii.ISRO and NASA are working together to launch a joint radar satellite for Earth observation named NISAR
[NASA -ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar] which willcollect data to tackle the climate crisis.
• ISRO has been receiving Deep Space Network Antenna support from NASA for its Missions such
as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and Chandrayaan-2 mission.
iii.He added that during 2012-22, the MoS&T has invested more than USD 34.3 million to assist R&D and
the deployment of technologies.
• About 78 industries participate in the Building Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Program.
iv.He emphasized that sustainable biofuels are crucial in lowering GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions from
the transportation sector and noted that decarbonizing cities is a complex problem that calls for a holistic
strategy and systemic effectiveness.
India Announces the Launch of The “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries”
During the first roundtable on “Sustainable Bioenergy and Bio-Refineries”, at the Global Clean Energy
Action Forum – the joint convening of 7th Mission Innovation(MI-7) and 13th Clean Energy
Ministerial -2022(CEM 13) of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum 2022, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced
the launch of the “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries”.
• It was created by co-leads and active inputs from Brazil, Canada, the European Commission
(EC), and the United Kingdom (UK).

The Mission aspires to boost worldwide collaboration and funding for energy research, development, and
demonstration (RD&D) over the next five years to launch this goal and unleash a virtuous cycle of public
and private investment.
India’s Commitments in the Energy Landscape
i.India committed to reaching 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030; switching 50% of
its energy needs to renewable sources; reducing its overall expected carbon emissions by one billion tons;
cutting the economy’s carbon intensity by 45% compared to 2005 levels, and achieving net zero emissions
by 2070.
ii.In Panipat, Haryana, a pilot plant with a 10 Tons/day capacity is being built. It will be operational by
December 2022 and will be the first indigenous enzyme production technology.
iii.Additionally, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) intends to provide this indigenous enzyme to a
commercial 100 KL/day 2G ethanol facility that is anticipated to be operational by Q2 2024.
iv.Further, a lignin valorization process is being developed to generate value-added products from waste
lignin.
Previous Initiatives taken by India
• In April 2022, India officially announced “Mission Integrated Bio-refineries,” a major
futuristic PPP (Public Private Participation) mode effort for “Clean Energy,” with the goal of
accelerating Clean Energy solutions through Public-Private Alliances.
• India also announced a funding opportunity for the Hydrogen Valley Platform, a global
initiative.
International Solar Alliance Launches Corporate Advisory Group
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a coalition of 121 nations working to promote economical and
eco-friendly solar energy, has established a corporate advisory group in conjunction with the 13th Clean
Energy Ministerial (CEM 13).
• Pranav R. Mehta, an Indian corporate sector veteran from the solar sector, will serve as the
Chairman of the group.
• Mehta is a Director of the Global Solar Council as well as the founder and chairman of the
National Solar Energy Federation of India.
The advisory group will include representatives from both the corporate and solar industries.
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
ISA is headquartered in India and is also known as the International Agency for Solar Policy and
Application (IASPA).
• It was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 21st Conference of Parties
(COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in
Paris in 2015 and was launched in partnership with then-French President Francois Hollande.
• Since then, it has been joined by 121 “sunshine countries” located between the Tropic of Cancer
and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Objective: To promote the use of solar power throughout the global community, especially in Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and to reduce reliance on fossil
fuels.
NOTE: Ajay Mathur is the Director General of ISA.
India to Host Clean Energy Ministerial in July 2023
During the CEM 13, Dr. Jitendra Singh declared that India will host the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial
(CEM) in July 2023.
• During the event, it hopes to reunite, strengthen, and energize the global community through
engaging, insightful, and practical acts that will lead to the achievement of clean energy goals.

NOTE: The Integrated Biorefineries Mission, which was introduced in New Delhi in April 2022, is co-led by
India and the Netherlands.
India’s Bio economy to Touch USD 150 Billion by 2025
At the “Global Clean Energy Action Forum 2022,” Dr. Jitendra Singh declared that India had created
a Roadmap and Strategy for A Bio-Based Economy that is expected to reach USD 150 billion by 2025.
• This step will facilitate the production of low-carbon bio-based products.
India recently announced the National Hydrogen Energy Mission to make green hydrogen production
cost-competitive.
In August 2022, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), visited Cambodia from August
03-04, 2022, and attended the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIFMM) 2022, an annual event that
reviews the ASEAN- India partnership, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital.
About United States of America (USA)
President – Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Capital – Washington, D.C.
Currency – United States Dollar (USD)
Union Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh’s Visit to Egypt – September 18 -20, 2022
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MOD), made an official visit to Egypt from September 18-20,
2022, during which he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo, Egypt’s capital.
• The purpose of the visit was to strengthen defence collaboration and the unique friendship between
Egypt and India.
• Egypt is strategically significant to India since it is regarded as the gateway to Africa.
India & Egypt Sign MoU to Enhance Defence Cooperation
Union Defence Minister Rajanth Singh held a bilateral meeting and signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with his Egyptian counterpart, General Mohamed Zaki, while on an official visit to Cairo.
Purpose of the MoU: To provide further momentum to enhanced defence cooperation between India and
Egypt.
Key Points:
i.During the bilateral meeting, the two sides agreed to improve the execution of joint exercises and the
exchange of personnel for training, particularly in the field of counter-insurgency.
• They decided to expand military cooperation and focus on joint training, defence co-production, and
equipment maintenance.
ii.Rajnath Singh paid respects at the Tombstone of the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat and the
Unknown Soldier Memorial in Cairo.
iii.He also extended an invitation to General Mohamed Zaki to attend the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and
Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ conclave, scheduled to be held as part of 12th DefExpo in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat in October 2022.
Egypt-India Ties
i.With an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion in Egypt, it is one of the top investment destinations in
the region for India.
ii.The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Egyptian Air Force engaged in a bilateral “Tactical Leadership
Programme” in June 2022 to strengthen defence cooperation between India and Egypt.
iii.The year 2022 commemorates the 75th anniversary of India-Egypt diplomatic relations.
Note: Egypt assumed the incoming Presidency of the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It will be hosted in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in
November 2022.

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS
BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
RBI imposed Monetary Penalty on 8 co-operative banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a Monetary Penalty on 8 co-operative banks for breaching
certain provisions related to ‘income recognition, asset classification, provisioning’ and finance for housing
schemes.
• Rs 55 lakh penalty on the Visakhapatnam Co-operative Bank Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
for lack in regulatory compliances. The highest penalty among all banks was imposed on The
Visakhapatnam Co-operative Bank.
• Rs 10 lakh penalty on Bharat Heavy Electricals Employees’ Co-operative Bank, Kailasapuram,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu; The Darussalam Co-operative Urban Bank, Hyderabad, Telangana;
the Nellore Co-operative Urban Bank Limited, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and Kakinada Co-
operative Town Bank Ltd, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh.
• Rs 5 lakh on the Ottapalam Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd, Palakkad, Kerala and the National
Urban Co-operative Bank Limited, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
• Rs 1 lakh penalty imposed on The Kendrapara Urban Cooperative Bank, Kendrapara, Odisha.
RBI launches pilot project for digitalization of lending under Kisan Credit Card scheme in MP &
TN
On 2nd September 2022, the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has launched the pilot for end-to-end digitalisation of
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) lending. the project was developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in
association with RBI.
• The pilot project will commence in September 2022 in selected districts of Madhya Pradesh(MP)
and Tamil Nadu(TN) with Union Bank of India and Federal Bank, respectively.
• Based on the learnings from the pilot, the project will be expanded to other districts in these two
states and gradually across India.
Key Points:
i.The reason behind this launch is to transform the rural credit delivery system.
ii.The proposed digitalisation of the KCC lending process will make it more efficient, reduce costs for borrowers
and reduce turn around time (TAT) significantly.
iii.The pilot project would entail automation of various processes within banks and integration of their systems
with the service providers,
iv.At present, the process for getting rural finance (financial services offered to rural customers, including
farmers, at all income levels) requires customer to visit a bank branch in-person along with proof of land
ownership and other documents.
RBI issues new guidelines on Digital Lending to Protect Borrowers; Partially devolves 7-year
paper on PDs
On September 2, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued official guidelines to all lenders/regulated
entities (RE), including banks to protect the data of borrowers using digital lending apps from being misused.
• These directions are issued under sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949,
sections 45JA, 45L and 45M of the RBI Act, 1934, sections 30A and 32 of the National Housing Bank
(NHB) Act, 1987, section 6 of the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 and section 11 of the Credit
Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

• For the adequate implementation of processes to ensure that existing digital loans comply with fresh
lending guidelines, RBI has provided a time till November 30, 2022 to REs.
• These new guidelines will be applicable only to existing customers taking fresh loans, and to new
customers getting onboarded from September 2, 2022.
RE covered by RBI for these guidelines:
All commercial banks, Urban Co-Operative Banks (UCBs), State Co-Operative Banks, District Central Co-
Operative Banks; and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs).
Key Points:
i.As per the guidelines, REs cannot store borrowers’ data, apart from some basic information.
• A lender can only store information, such as the name, address, contact details of the customers,
among others, which are needed to process and disburse the loan, and its repayment.
ii.Digital lending apps cannot store the borrower’s biometric information.
iii.The borrower must be provided with an option to give or deny consent for use of specific data, restrict
disclosure to third parties, data retention, revoke consent already granted to collect personal data, and if
required, make the app delete/ forget the data.
iv.Consent of the borrower shall be taken before sharing personal information with any third party, except for
cases where such sharing is required as per statutory or regulatory requirement.
v.The Key Facts Statement (KFS) apart from other necessary information, contain the details of the annual
percentage rate (APR), the recovery mechanism, and the details of the grievance redressal officer designated
specifically to deal with digital lending/fintech related matter, as well as the cooling-off/look-up period.
vi.REs cannot levy any fees, charges, etc., which are not mentioned in the KFS to the borrower at any stage
during the term of the loan.
vii.The information should be sent to the borrowers on their verified email or through SMS on the successful
execution of the loan contract or transaction.
viii.Details of nodal grievance redressal officer must be displayed on the websites of banks, NBFCs, LSPs, DLAs,
and also on the KFS.
ix.According to the provisions of the Credit Information Companies’ (CIC) Regulation Act, 2005, issued by RBI
from time to time, registered entities shall ensure that any lending done through their DLAs and/or DLAs of
LSPs is reported to CICs irrespective of their nature or tenor.
x.A borrower shall be given an explicit option to exit digital loan by paying the principal and the proportionate
APR without any penalty during this period.
• The cooling off period is determined by the Board of the RE. The period so determined shall not be
less than three days for loans having tenor of seven days or more and one day for loans having tenor
of less than seven days.
xi.For borrowers continuing with the loan even after look-up period, pre-payment shall continue to be allowed
as per extant RBI guidelines.
Click Here for full Guidelines
Reason behind these guidelines:
The new guidelines on digital lending come after concerns primarily related to unbridled engagement of third
parties, mis-selling, breach of data privacy, unfair business conduct, charging of exorbitant interest rates, and
unethical recovery practices. RBI has been encouraging innovation in the financial system, and ensuring the
protection of depositors’ and customers’ interests.
RBI partially devolves 7-year paper on PDs
RBI partially devolved the seven-year Government Security (GS) on primary dealers (PDs) to maintain the
normal 5-6 basis points spread between this paper and the 10-year paper.
This was done during the weekly auction on September 2, 2022.

Key Points:
i.At the auction, 7.10% GS 2029 partially devolved on the underwriters, the remaining three papers (6.69 per
cent GS 2024; 7.26 per cent GS 2032; and 6.95 per cent GS 2061) sailed through, with the government raising
the overall notified amount of Rs 33,000 crore.
ii.The RBI devolved about 36% of the notified amount of Rs 7,000 crore, the government wanted to raise via
the seven-year paper.
i.Online payment providers Razorpay, Pine Labs and american payments player Stripe are the 1st players
to receive in-principle approval from Reserve Bank of India for payment aggregator (PA) and Gateway licence.
ii.RBI has allowed all eligible current account transactions including trade transactions with Sri Lanka to
be/may be settled in any permitted currency outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) mechanism with
immediate effect.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Established– 1st April 1935
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors– Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Retail payment products of HDFC Bank, Precision Biometric chosen for Test Phase under RBI’s
Regulatory Sandbox
On September 5, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) selected HDFC Bank (in partnership with Sweden-based
Crunchfish Aktiebolag) and Precision Biometric India Pvt. Ltd for the Test Phase of the ‘On Tap’ application
facility for the theme ‘Retail Payments’ (1st Cohort) under RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox (RS).
• HDFC Bank is selected for its ‘Offline Retail Payments’, while Precision Biometric India Pvt chosen
for its ‘InnaIT Key Solution for Banking’.
• The opening of the ‘On Tap’ application facility for theme ‘Retail Payments’ was announced by RBI in
October 2021.
Products Description:
i.Offline Retail Payments: It enables customers to pay and receive payments in offline mode. It aims to boost
adoption of digital payments in areas of no or low network by enabling transactions without the need to have a
network connection.
ii.InnaIT Key Solution for Banking: It offers a solution enabling biometric tokens which can be used for
secure password less authentication and Additional Factor Authentication (AFA), instead of an OTP (One Time
Password), for logging into internet/ mobile banking. The solution combines Public key infrastructure (PKI)
and Biometric to enhance security and user experience in digital payments space.
RBI also announced the 5th Cohort under RS which will be themed ‘neutral’:
The central bank said the Fifth Cohort under Regulatory Sandbox will be theme neutral.
“Innovative products/services/technologies cutting across various functions in RBI’s regulatory domain would
be eligible to apply. The application window for the same shall be communicated in due course,”.
About RBI Regulatory Sandbox:
i.RBI introduced a Regulatory Sandbox (RS) in 2019 to foster responsible innovation in financial services,
promote efficiency and expand benefits to consumers. It refers to live testing of new products and services
conducted in a controlled environment.
• RS allows regulators, innovators, financial services providers and customers to conduct field tests to
collect evidence on the benefits and risks of new financial innovations while carefully monitoring
and containing risk.
ii.The Previous 4 Cohorts under RS are
• First- Retail Payments
• Second- Cross Border Payments

• Third- MSME lending
• Fourth- Prevention and Mitigation of Financial Frauds
iii.On Tap facility: Based on the experience gained from the 1st and 2nd Cohorts and the feedback from
stakeholders, the ‘Enabling Framework for Regulatory Sandbox’ has been updated to include ‘On Tap’
application facility for themes of closed cohorts.
• An ‘on-tap’ facility would mean the RBI will accept applications and grant license for banks
throughout the year. The policy allows aspirants to apply for universal bank license at any time,
subject to the fulfillment of the set conditions. It is for the first time in post nationalization phase
that there comes such an open bank license policy.
i.On 4th July 2022 HDFC Bank received no objection letter from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) merging HDFC
(Housing Development finance Corporation) Ltd and HDFC Bank. BSE Limited and NSE (National Stock
Exchange) have also issued observation letters for the proposed merger.
ii.Online payment providers Razorpay, Pine Labs and american payments player Stripe are the 1st players to
receive in-principle approval from Reserve Bank of India for payment aggregator (PA) and Gateway licence.
i.The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the RBI Act,
1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to
Mumbai in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the
RBI allows BBPS to process Cross-Border Inbound Remittances

On September 15, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), decided to allow foreign inward remittances received
under the Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA), to be transferred to the KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant
bank account of the biller (beneficiary) through Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), subject to the conditions.
• Thus, it has allowed BBPS to process Cross-Border Inbound Remittances.
• The direction has been issued by RBI under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign
Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
Key Points:
i.Currently, foreign inward remittances received under RDA can be transferred to the KYC compliant
beneficiary bank accounts through electronic mode, such as, NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer), IMPS
(Immediate Payment Service), etc.
ii.RDA is a channel to receive cross-border remittances from overseas jurisdictions. Under this, the Authorised
Category I banks can collaborate with the non-resident Exchange Houses in the FATF (Financial Action Task
Force) compliant countries to open and maintain their Vostro Account.
• It is an account a correspondent bank holds on behalf of another bank.
iii.BBPS is a RBI mandated system which offers integrated and interoperable bill payment services with
certainty, reliability and safety of transactions
RBI lifts Prompt Corrective Action restrictions on Central Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has removed the Central Bank of India from the Prompt Corrective Action
Framework (PCAF) watchlist following its improvement in various parameters.
• RBI has imposed restrictions on the bank to strict lending curbs in June 2017 due to its high net
Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and low Return on Assets.
• This decision has been taken after the board for financial supervision of RBI has reviewed the
performance of the Central Bank of India, the figures of which for the year ended March 31, 2022
adhered the PCA parameters.

Key Points:
i.The Bank also has made a written commitment to the RBI for complying with the norms of minimum
regulatory capital, net non-performing asset (NPA) and leverage ratio on an ongoing basis.
ii.Central Bank of India reported a 14.2% rise in net profit to Rs 234.78 crore in Q1FY23 as compared to Rs
205.58 crore in Q2FY22.
iii.In the Q2FY23, the bank’s gross NPA fell to 14.9% of the gross advances as compared to 15.92% in Q2FY22.
iv.Indian Overseas Bank , UCO Bank and IDBI bank were removed from the watchlist in 2021.
About PCA Framework (PCAF):
Introduced in December 2002, it is a structured early intervention mechanism on the lines of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corp.’s (FDIC) PCA framework. These regulations were later revised in April 2017.
• PCA is applied when banks breach certain regulatory requirements, and disable banks in several
ways from lending freely and force them to operate under a restrictive environment.
• While deciding on removing a bank from PCA, RBI considered both quantitative and qualitative
parameters.
About Central Bank of India:-
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Matam Venkata Rao
Established in – 1911
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
RBI asks Large UCBs to set up Board-approved policy, Compliance Function; India’s banking
System Liquidity faces Deficit after 40 months
On September 19, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) belonging to
tier 3 and tier 4 categories, except UCBs under All Inclusive Directions (AID), to create a Board-approved policy
and compliance function.
• Under this, UCBs with more than Rs 10,000 crore deposits (tier 4 category) mandated to create
same, including the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), by April 1, 2023 while Tier 3
UCBs i.e. those having more than Rs 1,000 crore and up to Rs 10,000 crore deposits are given the
deadline of October 1, 2023.
What should be in the Compliance Policy?
i.The board approved Compliance Policy should provide a clear outline on the implementation of compliance
philosophy, expectations on compliance culture, structure and role of the Compliance Function, the role of the
CCO and the processes for the identification, assessment, monitoring, management and reporting on the
compliance risk.
ii.The framework requires the Senior Management of these UCBs to undertake Compliance Risk Assessment
every year.
iii.The Compliance Function should ensure strict observance of all statutory and regulatory requirements for
the UCBs, including standards of conduct, management of conflict of interest, fair treatment of customers and
providing suitable customer service.
Who is CCO?
The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) is the head of the Compliance Department. His/Her tenure should be at
least 3 years. CCO will directly report to the MD (Managing Director) and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and/or
Board or Board Committee.
• The CCO and Compliance Function will have the authority to communicate with any staff member
and access all records or files required to undertake the entrusted responsibilities with regards to
compliance risks.
What is Compliance risk?
It is the risk of legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss or loss of reputation a UCB may suffer, as a
result of its failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, and codes of conduct, etc., applicable to its activities.
Click Here for Official Notification

India’s banking system liquidity slips into deficit after 40 months
According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI), India’s banking system liquidity has slipped into deficit for the
first time in nearly 40 months.
• On September 20, 2022, RBI infused 218 billion Indian rupees ($2.73 billion) into banking system.
• Overnight rates continue to stay elevated, with one-day call money rate jumping to 5.85%, highest
since July 2019.
i.RBI has temporarily allowed merchants or their Payment Aggregators (PAs)
involved in settlement of transactions where cardholders choose to enter the card details manually to save the
Card-On-File (CoF) data for a maximum duration of “Transaction Date + 4 days” or until the settlement date,
whichever is earlier.
ii.RBI has approved the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to infuse investment of Rs
500 crore in the proposed Rs.2,500 crore rights issue of PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL).The rights
issue process is expected to conclude by December 2022 or latest in the March quarter.
i.The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved
to Mumbai in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the
RBI cancels Solapur-based The Laxmi Co-operative Bank’s licence; Bars MMFSL, Mumbai from
Outsourcing Recovery, Repossession Activities
On September 22, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of Solapur (Maharashtra) based
The Laxmi Co-operative Bank Limited due to its inadequate capital and earning prospects, and its failure to
comply with the requirements of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949.
• The cancellation of its licence means the bank is prohibited from conducting the business of banking
which includes, among other things, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in
Section 5(b) read with Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949 with immediate effect.
Reasons of Cancellations:
i.It does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of the BR
Act, 1949.
ii.It does not comply with the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) (d) and 22(3)(e)
read with Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949.
iii.The bank is unable to pay its present depositors in full, and its continuance is prejudicial to the interests of
its depositors.
Key Points:
i.RBI requested The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra to
issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank.
ii.On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up
to Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
• More than 99% of the depositors will receive the full amount of their deposits.
• As of September 13, 2022, the DICGC has already paid Rs 193.68 crore of the total insured deposits
under the provisions of Section 18A of the DICGC Act, 1961.
RBI bars MMFSL from Outsourcing Recovery, Repossession Activities
RBI, in exercise of its powers under section 45L(1)(b) of the RBI Act, 1934, bars Mahindra & Mahindra
Financial Services Ltd. (MMFSL), Mumbai (Maharashtra) from carrying out any recovery or repossession
activity through outsourcing arrangements, with immediate effect.

• However, it may carry out recovery or repossession activities, through its own employees.
• MMFSL is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
Reason:
This regulatory action follows the incident of the 27-year-old pregnant woman who was crushed to death on
September 15, 2022 in Jharkhand, by a tractor being driven by a recovery agent acting on behalf of MMFSL.
What is outsourcing w.r.t. NBFC?
As per RBI, outsourcing is an NBFC’s use of a third party (either an affiliated entity within a corporate group or
an entity that is external to the corporate group) to perform activities on a continuing basis that would
normally be undertaken by the NBFC itself.
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

Maharashtra Government receives financial assistance from ADB to Set Up Medical Colleges in 12
Districts
In a significant development, the Government of Maharashtra would receive a loan of Rs. 4,000 crore from
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to establish medical colleges in 12 districts of the state that now lack a
single medical college.
• The 12 districts include Jalgaon, Satara, Alibaug, Sindhudurg, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Amravati,
Ratnagiri, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Ambernath, and Nashik Super Speciality Hospital.
Key Points:
i.In this regard, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a meeting of the Medical
Education department, which included ADB representatives.
ii.The state will soon conclude the technical procedures for receiving the funding in stages, with the goal of
completing all of these projects over the next two years.
iii.The financing will also be used to upgrade the existing hospitals and medical colleges.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while
sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
Member Countries – 68 members (49 from Asia and Pacific regions)
ADB Country Director for India – Takeo Konishi
WB Approves USD 150 million Loan for Punjab to Improve Finance & Service Delivery
On 20th September 2022, the World Bank’s (WBs) Board of Executive Directors approved a loan of USD 150
million (nearly Rs 1,200 crores) to Punjab for the management of its financial resources and improved access to
public services.
• The USD 150 million loan has a maturity period of 15 years, including a grace period of 6 months.
Key highlights:
i.The WB would support in strengthening the institutional capabilities of various government departments,
manage fiscal risks and make informed policy choices to support sustainable growth.
ii.The new projects will be launched with the support of WB that helps in the development goals by
strengthening the planning, budgeting and monitoring functions, and leveraging digital technology.
• This also ensures accountability in the public procurement systems and supports wide
implementation of new legal and policy reforms.
iii.The project will pilot 2 initiatives, that includes (i) to introduce a performance-based grants system for
incentivising municipal corporations to improve service delivery and (ii) to demonstrate 24×7 water supply in
select areas in Amritsar and Ludhiana.

• In Order to improve water supply in Punjab’s Amritsar and Ludhiana cities, the Punjab Municipal
Services Impact Project will be jointly implemented by the WB, Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) and the Punjab government at a financial outlay of USD 300 million.
Yes Bank approves sale of Rs 48,000 cr stressed loans to JC Flowers ARC

On 20 September 2022, the Board of Directors of Yes Bank approved the transfer of stressed assets worth Rs
48,000 crore to JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC).
• YES Bank will also pick up a 19.99% stake in the JC Flowers ARC (in single or multiple tranches),
which is subject to regulatory approvals.
• JC Flowers ARC won Yes Bank’s non-performing loan portfolio for Rs11,183 crore in a Swiss
Challenge auction process, after a consortium of Cerberus Capital and Asset Reconstruction
Company of India (ARCIL) withdrew its bid.
• The binding term sheet was signed by the Bank with JCF ARC LLC (Limited Liability Company)and JC
Flowers ARC for a strategic partnership related to the sale of the stressed loan portfolio of the Yes
Bank.
• The JC Flowers ARC will have to pay Rs 1,677 crore within 60 days of Yes Bank formally approving
the offer. It already paid an earnest money deposit of USD 50 million at the time of submitting the
bid.
World Bank Approves USD 350 Million for Gujarat’s Health Sector
The World Bank’s (WB) Executive Board of Directors approved a USD 350 million (over Rs 2,832 crore)
loan to Gujarat to improve the quality and access of its public healthcare services, with a special focus on
adolescent girls and disease surveillance through the Systems Reform Endeavours for Transformed Health
Achievement in Gujarat (SRESTHA-G) Program.
• The USD 350 Million loan sanctioned by the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD), the funding arm of the WB, has a maturity of 18 years including a grace period of 5.5 years.
About SRESTHA-G Program:
i.The SRESTHA-G Program will enable people to access a wide range of high-quality health services including
reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, communicable and non-communicable diseases
(NCDs).
ii.The program focuses on improving the health and nutrition of adolescent girls and boys. This will be
prioritised in 14 districts where more than 70% of adolescent girls are anaemic.
• Around 69% of adolescent girls and 36% of adolescent boys in Gujarat suffer from anaemia.
• Adding to this, 10% of rural and 5% of urban residents in Gujarat suffer from mental health issues.
iii.This Program will also support a population-based screening process through local Accredited Social Health
Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM).
• This programme will also support Gujarat to develop Surveillance systems for early detection of
communicable and non-communicable disease outbreaks.
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

Muthoot Fincorp & IME India Partner to Provide Money Transfer Services to Nepal
Muthoot FinCorp Ltd. has partnered with IME India Pvt. Ltd. (formerly IME Forex India) to extend the scope
of its remittance services in the Indo-Nepal corridor. Muthoot Finance is the only Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) to extend the money transfer services from India to Nepal.
Highlights
i.With the new partnership with IME India, Muthoot FinCorp will be able to provide quick and dependable
service to a larger proportion of the Nepalese diaspora residing in India.
ii.Without opening a bank account in India, Nepali migrants can now instantly transfer money from the 3,600+
Muthoot FinCorp branches to their families in Nepal.

iii.Muthoot FinCorp has been supporting the Nepali population in India with money transfers through its
existing partner, Prabhu Money Transfer Pvt Ltd.
Banking Partners in the Indo-Nepal Remittance Business
i.IDFC First Bank of India and Global IME Bank Ltd. of Nepal are the banking partners facilitating the Indo-
Nepal remittance service.
• About 15% of Nepal’s total remittances are considered to originate from India.
ii.Since 2020, IME India has been in the Indo-Nepal remittance business and is working with the Nepalese
migrant community distributed across India.
• This facility will benefit around 5 million Nepalese migrants.
Note: Goutam Naithani is the CEO of IME India Pvt Ltd.
About Muthoot FinCorp Ltd
CEO – Shaji Varghese
Headquarters – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Suzuki Signs MoU with NDDB for Setting up Two Biogas Plants in Gujarat
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the apex body of dairy cooperatives of India and Suzuki Motors
Corporation(SMC), Japan, signed an agreement to set up two Biogas plants to provide clean energy solutions
and organic fertilisers using Cow Dung in an event that was organised to mark 40 years of Suzuki in India.
• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also attended the event.
• The MoU was signed by NDDB President Minesh Shah and top officials of Suzuki.
Key highlights:
i.Under this agreement, two biogas plants will be constructed in Gujarat for producing clean energy and organic
fertilisers from Cow dung.
ii.Cow dung has emerged as an important component to meet energy demand in the 21st century as many
states are currently buying cow dung from farmers.
• Chhattisgarh is leading in buying cow dung from farmers at the rate of Rs 2 per kg and it is also
planning to set up more than 500 biogas plants.
iii.Many countries around the world including India have promised to ensure the use of green energy after the
stipulated time and the dung based energy fuel model will be the essential green energy component.
BFSL & Snapdeal Partners with NPCI & JCB to Launch Snapdeal BoB JCB RuPay Credit Card
BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BoB)
and Snapdeal in partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Japan’s JCB
International Company Limited (JCB) launched the ‘Snapdeal BoB JCB RuPay Credit Card’.
• The Snapdeal BoB JCB RuPay Credit Card is a co-branded contactless credit card, through which
users will receive up to 5 percent unlimited cashback (20 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent) on
the Snapdeal app and website.
Benefits:
i.Activation of the co-branded credit card is done within 30 days of issuance and the cardholders will be
entitled to shopping benefits on Snapdeal worth up to Rs. 500.
• The card also offers 10 Reward points per Rs. 100 spent on online, grocery and departmental store
spends.
• In addition, the customers will get 4 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent for purchases in all
other categories.
ii.The cardholders will enjoy free Add-On cards for family members, waiver of 1 percent fuel surcharge, easy
Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) options (pre and post purchase), and periodic offers across merchants.
iii.The card can also be used at international merchants and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) through the
extensive JCB global network, the only international payment brand based in Japan.

About BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL):
MD & CEO – Shailendra Singh
Induslnd Bank & ADB Partners to Promote Supply Chain Finance Solutions in India
IndusInd Bank Limited has inked a pact with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a partial
guarantee programme with an initial outlay of USD 70 million (Rs 560 crore), exclusively towards
promoting Supply Chain Financing (SCF) solutions in India.
Key highlights:
i.IndusInd bank has initiated certain strategic efforts, including the launch of new product structures for SCF.
ii.It also offers funds to the entire ecosystem of a corporate entity through holistic SCF solutions, meeting end-
to-end requirements of both corporate and their dealers along with suppliers.
iii.As a part of this collaboration, the IndusInd Bank aims to expand its Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) Portfolio and strengthen its strategies for MSME sector.
Note – It has recently launched a state-of-the-art digital portal for SCF, ‘earlyCredit’ which enables 24×7
seamless processing of SCF transactions for corporates, suppliers and dealers.
• The earlyCredit product is a short-term credit solution which can be availed by small merchants
and the amount is credited to their bank accounts every Friday (weekend) based on the anticipation
of the previous weekend sales.
About IndusInd Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & CEO – Sumant Kathpalia
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
Axis Bank Partners with PayNearby to Boost Bank’s Priority Sector Lending Targets
Axis Bank has partnered with PayNearby Technologies Private Limited, a technology-based company to
boost credit growth in meeting the bank’s priority sector lending (PSL) targets segment.
• All Banks are required to extend 40 percent of their overall lending to priority sectors, which
include loans to agriculture and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sectors.
• In case of a shortfall, banks have to take on loans under this category from other lenders.
About the partnership:
i.Through this partnership, Axis Bank could reach the customers in remote regions and provide banking
solutions digitally.
• This will also simplify banking for retail shop owners and individual customers.
ii.Axis Bank will also leverage PayNearby’s distribution-as-a-Service (DaaS) for providing financial solutions
for both savings and current accounts of the last-mile retailers and customers.
Note – Axis Bank has around 2,100 branches which are classified as Bharat Bank branches.
About PayNearby Technologies Private Limited:
MD & CEO – Anand Kumar Bajaj
About Axis Bank Limited
MD & CEO– Amitabh Chaudhry
Establishment– 1993 (Commenced Operation-1994)
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

SBI & WAARE Collaborate to Finance Projects for Consumers & Channel Partners
The State Bank of India (SBI) and WAAREE Energies Ltd. (WAAREE), India’s largest manufacturer of solar
photovoltaic (PV) panels, has signed an agreement for solar projects.
• It enables WAAREE to obtain unsecured financing for solar projects through SBI’s Surya Shakti
Solar Finance Scheme and to provide working capital for its channel partners through the
Electronic Dealer Finance Scheme (EDFS).
Through the Surya Shakti Solar Fund Scheme, WAAREE aims to use a credit line worth over Rs. 500 crore and
offer loan applicants a digital platform to seamlessly finance solar projects.
Key Points:
i.The Surya Shakti Solar Finance Scheme by SBI aims to offer financing to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(SME) & Business Enterprises & Business Enterprises for the installation of solar rooftop/ground-mounted
grid-connected systems up to 1 megawatt (MW) capacity for captive usage.
• Under the scheme, the highest loan amount is Rs. 4 crore, with a 20% margin, and the repayment
period is 10 years with a six-month moratorium.
ii.This unsecured financing mechanism will be widely used by commercial organisations, enterprises, resorts,
hotels, manufacturing units, and warehouses to assist them in switching to solar energy.
iii.WAAREE has also been acknowledged by The Economic Times as “India’s Best Brand” in the Renewable
Energy (RE) industry.
iv.WAAREE is also listed as the Top Performer in the 2022 Scorecard of PVEL, a globally recognized lab in
photovoltaic testing.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
DBS Collaborates with The Sandbox to Launch DBS Betterworld, Showcasing The Utility of
Metaverse
DBS Bank Limited, Asia’s major financial services firm, has announced its partnership with The Sandbox, a top
decentralised gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, to create ‘DBS BetterWorld’, an
interactive metaverse experience.
• The metaverse virtual environment will allow users to participate in the development of a more
advanced and sustainable world.
Significant Breakthrough for DBS Bank
• With this partnership, DBS Bank becomes the first Singaporean company to join hands with The
Sandbox and the first bank in Singapore to venture into the metaverse.
• This also marks a significant benchmark in DBS Bank’s journey to consistently investigate the
potential of Web 3.0 opportunities to serve its customers and the community at large.
About DBS BetterWorld
i.DBS BetterWorld is intended to be an additional engagement platform for visitors to access The Sandbox and
learn more about current Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) challenges.
ii.In order to encourage its customers to live more sustainably, DBS Bank introduced LiveBetter, a one-stop
digital platform, in October 2021.
• LiveBetter provides the bank customers with easy access to a set of tools that will assist them in
switching to a more sustainable way of life.

iii.In October 2021, DBS Bank became one of the first 100 banks globally and the first Singaporean bank to sign
the United Nations (UN) affiliated Net-Zero Banking Alliance to achieve net-zero financing emissions by 2050
or earlier.
Note:
• Piyush Gupta is the CEO of DBS Bank
HDFC ERGO Partners with Google Cloud to Digitize Insurance Purchasing in India
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited (HDFC ERGO), one of India’s leading insurance companies,
has announced a partnership with Google Cloud to develop a technology platform that will aid in the
digitization of insurance purchasing and servicing in India.
• By 2024, HDFC ERGO intends to be completely migrated to the cloud.
Key Points:
i.With this new technology platform, HDFC ERGO will be able to create innovative product offers, provide
digitally connected customer experiences, build more agile systems, harness data to identify insurance risk,
provide customized insurance products, and adapt to regulatory changes more quickly.
ii.HDFC ERGO will receive support from Google Cloud in the areas of customer experience, Information
Technology (IT) system integration, and data (including analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine
Learning (ML)).
About HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited (HDFC ERGO):
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd. is a joint venture between Housing Development Finance
Corporation Ltd. (HDFC) and ERGO International AG, the primary insurance entity of Munich Re Group of
Germany.
MD & CEO – Ritesh Kumar
Singapore Central Bank, India’s IFSCA signed CA to Pursue Cross-Border FinTech Innovations
A FinTech Co-operation Agreement (CA) was inked between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and
the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to facilitate regulatory collaboration and
partnership in FinTech technology.
• Under this agreement, both entities will utilize their respective Regulatory Sandboxes (RS) to support
experimentation of technology innovations.
• This will include referral of companies to each other’s RS and enable cross-border experiments in both
jurisdictions.
• This CA is on the sidelines of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Supervisory Co-
operation signed between MAS and IFSCA in July 2022.
Key Points:
i.This pact allows sharing of non-supervisory related information and developments on innovation in financial
products and services.
Signatories:
The agreement was signed by the Chief FinTech Officer of MAS, Sopnendu Mohanty, and Chief Technology
Officer of IFSCA, Joseph Joshy, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Minister for Finance, and
Deputy Chairman of MAS, Lawrence Wong; Finance Minister of Gujarat, Kanubhai Desai; Chairperson of
IFSCA, Injeti Srinivas; Chairman of GIFT Company Ltd., Sudhir Mankad, and Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of GIFT Company Ltd., Tapan Ray.
Points to be noted
MAS is Singapore’s central bank and integrated financial regulator.
IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and

financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) in India. It is housed in Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar (Gujarat).
• GIFT-IFSC is the maiden IFSC in India (IFSC).
Click Here for the Official CA
SBI Partners with Remitly for Secure and Easy Remittance to India
State Bank of India (SBI) partnered with Remitly to enable Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to send money
through SBI via Remitly to their family members, using mobile and web applications.
• Through the partnerships, NRIs can now transfer money to 17 Remitly nations.
Key highlights:
i.Remitly receives the remittances from the sender and credits it to the beneficiary accounts in India through
Direct Credit, NEFT/IMPS/RTGS etc.
• Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
• National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
• Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)
ii.The remittances initiated through Remitly may not necessarily be routed through SBI and it may depend on
Remitly internal policy.
iii.Remitly provides superior exchange rates, immediate credits, and no remittance charge depending on the
form and amount of transfers.
About Remitly:
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Matt Oppenheimer
Headquarters – Seattle, Washington D C, United States (US)
Reliance General Insurance Partners with Paytm to Offer Customisable Health Cover
Reliance General Insurance Company Limited has partnered with Paytm to offer Reliance Health Gain
Policy, a customisable health insurance product, through the Paytm application.
• Reliance Health Gain Policy was launched in May 2022.
• The policy aims to enhance insurance penetration among the people of India.
About the policy:
Reliance Health Gain Policy offers 3 plans including Plus, Power and Prime that allow customers to customise
and personalise the policy.
• This policy benefits with around 38 features like double cover, Unlimited reinstatement to restore
the base sum insured, when it reduces, guaranteed cumulative bonus after insurance claim and also
contains features to reduce the waiting period for Pre-Existing Disease from 3 years to 2 years (or
even 1 year).
About the plans:
i.Plus plan – A maximum of 2 adults, (including, self and spouse) and 6 children can be covered.
ii.Power plan – A maximum of 4 adults (including, self, spouse and one set of dependent parents or parents-in-
law) and 6 children can be covered.
iii.Prime plan – A Maximum of 6 adults (including, self, spouse, set of dependent parents and set of parents in
law) along with 6 children can be covered.
Note – Dependent children can be covered from 91 days to 25 years under a floater cover.
RHFL Partners with EGI to Offer Property Insurance Cover to its Customers
Edelweiss General Insurance (EGI) partnered with Repco Home Finance Limited (RHFL) to offer insurance
solutions to all home loan customers of RHFL.
Key highlights:
i.EGI will offer property insurance cover and loan protection cover to RHFL’s customers through their branches
across India.

• It also provides customised, affordable, and convenient insurance solutions to loan borrowers.
ii.The property insurance cover will focus on protecting home against fire and all other natural
calamities and the loan protection cover safeguards the customer’s repayment of loans on an
unforeseen accident.
About Edelweiss General Insurance:
Executive Director and CEO – Shanai Ghosh
About Repco Home Finance Limited (RHFL):
MD & CEO – K Swaminathan
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
SBIF & WWF India Partners for Red Panda Transboundary Conservation
On the occasion of the International Red Panda Day(IRPD), 17th September 2022, The State Bank of India
Foundation (SBIF) and World Wide Fund for Nature – India (WWF India) entered into a partnership to
generate fine-scale information on the Red Panda species at a transboundary level and engage in safeguarding
the habitats of the Red Panda in Khangchendzonga area of Sikkim and West Bengal (Darjeeling & Kalimpong
districts)
• WWF India and SBI Foundation to work
with community members of the two states
to build a voluntary group, the Red Panda
Guardians
• An event was organised at the Himalayan
Zoological Park in Gangtok, Sikkim to
celebrate International Red Panda Day
which is observed every year on
3rd Saturday of September to support Red
Panda conservation.
• Attendees – Sandeep Tambe, Additional
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) / Chief Wildlife Warden(CWLW), Sikkim, and other
senior officers of the Sikkim Government, SBIF, and WWF India were also present at the event.
Key highlights:
i.The event was organised to raise awareness about the endangered species among young visitors.
• This day was also celebrated with the support of the State Education Departments of Sikkim and the
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
ii.A short program was also conducted at Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery, Lava, West Bengal (WB) for the
student monks, students of Lava High School, and Red Panda Guardians.
• The program included presentations and talks on Red Panda conservation, an inter-school quiz
competition, and zoo visits.
Note – The Himalayan Zoological Park is the first of its kind, where animals are kept in their natural habitat.
MoD Signs MoU with BoB and HDFC Bank to Expand the Reach of SPARSH Initiative
On 21st September 2022, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) and HDFC Bank, to onboard
themselves as Common Service Centres (CSC) under the System for Pension Administration –
(RakSHa) (SPARSH) initiative, across more than 14000 branches across India.

• The MoU will onboard more than 7900 branches of BoB and 6300 branches of HDFC Bank as Service
Centres to provide last mile connectivity to pensioners (especially in remote areas) through
SPARSH.
Signatories – The MoU was signed by Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA)-Pensions Sham Dev and senior
executives of Bank of Baroda and HDFC bank, in the presence of Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, Financial
Adviser (Defence Services) Rasika Chaube and Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Avinash Dikshit.
Key highlights:
i.The main objective of this partnership is to include 17 Lakh pensioners, out of 32 lakh defence pensioners on
SPARSH by the end of September, 2022.
• The remaining pensioners will be added to SPARSH at the earliest.
ii.Until now, the total number of pensioners on SPARSH has crossed over 1 million with 11 lakh beneficiaries,
which is about 33 per cent of the total defence pensioners in India.
Access:
i.The CSCs will act as an interface for SPARSH and provide a medium to perform functions including profile
update requests, register grievances and seek redressal, digital annual identification, pensioner data
verification or fetch detailed information regarding their monthly pension.
• Additionally, more than 4.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) will assist the Defence
Pensioners as a part of the CSC Network.
ii.The access to CSCs are provided free of cost to the pensioners and the nominal service charges will be borne
by the DAD.
About SPARSH:
i.SPARSH is a web-based system that processes and credits pensions directly into the bank accounts of defence
pensioners.
• This is administered by the DAD through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions),
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.The SPARSH online portal provides a transparent view of their pension account, from the date of
commencement of pension to the date of cessation of pension due to the last eligible beneficiary.
• SPARSH caters to all the three defence services and its allied organisations.
About Defence Accounts Department (DAD):
DAD is the principal Accounting and Finance entity for the Defence Services that aims at providing responsive
and professional Financial, Audit and Accounting services.
Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) – Avinash Dikshit
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
HDFC Bank & Refinitiv Enter into A Multi-Year Data and Technology Agreement
HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector lender, has inked a multi-year data and technology agreement
with Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) business, to facilitate its digital transformation and
innovation programmes across the whole business in India
Key Points:
i.Under the multi-year agreement, HDFC Bank will gain complete access to Refinitiv’s data and products,
allowing it to realize new customer opportunities and accelerate its innovation drive while lowering total cost.
ii.This will allow for greater innovation and cost reductions across multiple bank divisions, covering wealth
management, capital markets, global markets, risk, compliance, and customer onboarding.
iii.Users of HDFC Bank will also have access to Refinitiv Workspace, which offers tools including real-time
market data, news, and fundamental data.
Note: Thomson Reuters, which owns Reuters News, holds a minority stake in LSEG.

About HDFC Bank Ltd:
MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Tagline – We Understand Your World
TerraPay, NIPL collaborate for Merchant Payments via UPI-enabled QR codes

Cross-border payments company TerraPay headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands has collaborated
with the NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to enable merchants in India with Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) ID to make and accept cross-border payments.
• NIPL is an international arm of National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI).
Key Points:
i.Through this collaboration, customers with active UPI IDs (350 million bank accounts) can transact at QR
(Quick Response) locations enabled by TerraPay globally with the partnership.
ii.This collaboration will boost the usage of UPI apps across different nations, and also enhance the digital drive
for cashless transactions.
iii.The disputes and grievance redressal issues will also reduce as UPI payments and QR transactions are
customer-initiated with a two-factor authentication.
iv.According to Statista, the Person-to-Merchant (P2M) market in India is estimated to reach Rs.84 lakh crore
by FY2025 from around Rs 18 lakh crore in FY19 with Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, etc. among key players.
v.UPI is an instant real-time payments (RTP) system developed by NPCI, and is amongst the most successful
RTP systems globally.
• In August 2022, the UPI transactions volume crossed 6.56 billion.
About NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Ritesh Shukla
HDFC ERGO Partners with HDFC Life to Launch Click2Protect Optima Secure
On 23 September 2022, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd. (HDFC ERGO) partnered with HDFC Life
launched ‘Click2Protect Optima Secure’ to offer all-round protection to customers.
Objective: It is a comprehensive financial protection plan and offers the dual benefits of health and life
insurance.
About ‘Click2Protect Optima Secure’ :
i.Under the health insurance component, customers can avail a sum insured ranging from Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 2
Crore. It will provide un-complicated financial planning for customers by offering the term life insurance with a
minimum sum assured of Rs 50,000.
• This plan also comes with ‘Individual’ and ‘Family Floater’ options.
ii.HDFC ERGO General Insurance will service the health insurance part and life insurance part will be serviced
by HDFC Life.
Additional benefits :
i.Life Insurance Protection: It covers up to 85 years of age. In the floaters policy, the eldest member of the
family is covered.
ii.Attractive Premium Discounts:The plan offers 2.5% loyalty discount for existing HDFC ERGO retail
customers, long term discount of 7.5% and 10% on 2 year and 3 year policies and 10% family discount, if two
or more family members are covered under the same ‘individual’ policy.
iii.Pre and post hospitalization medical expenses: It covers medical expenses for consultations,
investigations and medicines incurred up to 60 days prior and up to 180 days post hospitalization.

• It also provides comprehensive coverage by offering a ‘Lumpsum’ payout on diagnosis of any of the
listed 51 critical Illnesses.
About HDFC Life:
MD &CEO- Vibha Padalkar
Headquarters-Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded- 2000
Yubi partners with SBI to enable Higher Credit Access to Priority Sector
Fintech unicorn Yubi (formerly CredAvenue) has partnered with State Bank of India (SBI), to help in the growth
of the bank’s co-lending portfolio.
• As per the partnership, SBI will be integrated with Yubi Co.Lend, the co-lending platform of Yubi
that provides an end-to-end solution and enables lenders to collaborate with multiple partners with
a quick one-time Application Programming Interface (API) integration.
Key Points:
i.This partnership will facilitate seamless, faster, and higher credit to the priority sector and reduce the
country-wide credit gap.
ii.It is also expected that this collaboration will unlock $1 trillion in capital for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) in
tier 2,3,4 cities, small enterprises, and farmers.
iii.On Yubi Co.Lend, SBI can choose its co-lending partners including NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial
Companies) , HFCs (Housing Finance Companies) or fintechs, and create its co-lending product programme, and
digitally manage operations.
iv.Yubi will also build, manage and monitor SBI’s co-lending portfolio, and ensure all compliance to enhance the
user experience.
Background:
In November 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a co-lending model, under which banks can
provide loans in partnership with NBFCs, HFCs to priority sector borrowers based on a prior agreement. Its
objective is to improve the flow of credit to the unserved and underserved sector of the economy and to make
available funds at a cheaper rate.
What is Priority Sector Lending (PSL)?
PSL provides credit to those sectors which impact large sections of the population, the weaker sections and the
sectors which are employment-intensive such as agriculture, and Micro and Small enterprises (MSEs). This role
is exercised by RBI to banks.
Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Khara
Tagline–The banker to Every Indian
About Yubi:
Founder and CEO– Gaurav Kumar
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
UCO & Yes Bank Partners with Two Russian Banks for Payments
Yes Bank and UCO Bank have partnered with two Russian banks for undertaking businesses with Russia. The
UCO Bank has tied up with Gazprom Bank and the Yes Bank has signed an agreement with Petersburg Social
Commercial Bank (PSCB) of Russia.
Key points:
i.This agreement took place after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed foreign payments through special
vostro accounts.
• Earlier the foreign payments were made in Euro or other foreign currency.

ii.Due to economic sanctions imposed on Russia for its friction with Ukraine, Indian exporters are gaining
opportunity to undertake businesses with Russia.
• The exports from Russia include pharmaceuticals, food articles, telecom equipment and textiles.
Note – During April – July 2022, exports to Russia have declined by around 30 percent to USD714 million.
Samsung India & Axis Bank Launches Co-branded Credit Card

Samsung India partnered with Axis Bank Limited to launch a co-branded Samsung Axis Bank credit card,
powered by a visa platform.
• It offers 10 percent cashback on every purchase and service of all Samsung products round the
year in addition to the existing offers on both Equated Monthly Income (EMI) and non-EMI
transactions. No minimum transaction value.
Benefits:
i.The 10 percent cashback is applicable across offline channels selling Samsung products through Pine Labs and
Benow payment interfaces and online channels through Samsung.com, Samsung Shop App and Flipkart.
• The key merchants include bigbasket, Myntra, Tata 1mg, Urban Company and Zomato.
ii.The credit cards can be used for payments at Samsung service centres, extended warranties and Samsung
Care+ mobile protection plan.
iii.The Edge Reward points are offered on completing the first 3 transactions on the card.
About credit card:
i.The card is available in two variants: Samsung Axis Bank Signature Credit Card and Samsung Axis Bank
Infinite Credit Card.
• The Signature variant cardholders can avail up to Rs. 10,000 cash back annually, with a monthly
cash back limit of Rs. 2,500.
• The Infinite variant cardholders can avail up to Rs. 20,000 cash back annually, with a monthly cash
back limit of Rs. 5,000.
ii.The Signature variant cardholders will get 2,500 points worth Rs. 500, while Infinite variant cardholders will
get 30,000 points worth Rs. 6,000 as a one-time welcome benefit.
iii.Additionally, cardholders will earn Edge Reward Points on spends made outside the Samsung Ecosystem.
iv.This Samsung Axis Bank Credit Card also comes with complimentary airport lounge access, fuel surcharge
waiver, dining offers, and access to a bouquet of offers from Axis Bank and Visa.
About Axis Bank Limited:
MD and CEO – Amitabh Chaudhry
Muthoot Finance ties up with Lulu International Exchange for gold loan repayment
Muthoot Finance Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lulu International Exchange,
United Arab Emirates (UAE) based company, to work as its collection partner. Through this MoU, Muthoot
Finance aims to ease money transfers for over 4 lakh Non-resident Indians(NRIs) in UAE whose relatives have
availed gold loans in India.
• It will provide benefit to customers and their relatives who have availed gold loans by providing
them with a way to pay their gold loan installments at special rates. It offers fast and reliable money
transfer and foreign exchange service powered by a robust network, reputed partners, and high
standards of customer care.
• NRIs can avail the service at any of the 89 branches of Lulu Exchange spread across the UAE. The
loan installments will be settled on a real time basis with a nominal fee charged for the remit service.
• India is the world’s largest recipient of remittances, with the share of remittances from GCC (Gulf
Cooperation Council) countries to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka being the highest.

DBS Bank Collaborates with HDFC ERGO & Atradius to Provide Trade Credit Insurance Solution
On 28th September 2022, DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) collaborated with HDFC ERGO General Insurance
Company Limited and Atradius, a worldwide provider of trade credit insurance, to offer Credit Insurance –
Accounts Receivable solution to Tata Metaliks Ltd (TML), a subsidiary of Tata Steel Limited.
• This deal is amongst the first to offer leverage Trade Credit Insurance.
Key points:
i.This collaboration between DBS, HDFC ERGO and Atradius will enable corporates to transfer the risk of their
account receivables onto an insurer while getting financing against those insured receivables from a bank.
ii.In November 2021, the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI) rolled out the
revised framework of Trade Credit Insurance, allowing the banks to participate in this proposition.
• DBS Bank is one of the first banks in the Indian market to support financial transactions backed by
Trade Credit Insurance.
• This protects the banks from a potential buyer default in case of funded receivables.
About DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL):
DBIL was among the 1st foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated
subsidiary.
Managing Director & CEO – Surojit Shome
BANKING TECHNOLOGY
Open Door: Axis Bank and Square Yards launched a Platform for Hassle-Free Home Buying
Axis Bank and Square Yards have launched a co-branded first-of-its-kind unified platform, a home buyer
ecosystem namely ‘Open Door’. It is an integrated platform that makes the entire process of finding and
purchasing a house a hassle-free and effective process for clients.
• Square Yards is India’s largest integrated Real Estate platform while Axis Bank is India’s third
largest private sector bank.
• Square Yards will utilize Axis Bank’s geographical reach and diversified portfolio of financial
products to enhance homebuyer experience.
Key points:
i.It is a first-of-its-kind unified platform that will handle all consumer inquiries around residential real estate.
ii.It will provide cost-effective end-to-end home purchasing support, exclusive builder inventory access,
seamless home loan processing, and additional services like rental and property management, home furnishing,
and legal and technical services.
iii.The joint offers from Square Yards and Axis Bank on home buying, home loans, and other related property
services will be included in the real estate inventory displayed on the Open Doors platform. It will bring down
the total cost of home ownership.
About Square Yard:
Founder and CEO– Tanuj Shori
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
About Axis Bank:
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer– Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline– Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
HDFC Life Introduces ‘Click2Protect Super’ Term Insurance Policy

HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited (HDFC Life), one of the leading insurance providers in India, has
developed “Click2Protect Super”, a term insurance policy that allows clients to customize their protection
needs and only pay for the benefits/plan options that they have chosen.

• Click2Protect Super is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, pure risk premium/savings life
insurance plan that offers extensive flexibility options.
‘Click2Protect Super’ Term Insurance Policy
The “Click2Protect Super” flexibility options include modifying the life insurance coverage, extending the policy
term, obtaining coverage for accidental death and terminal illness, and so on.
• Customers can select one of three plan options that best suit their needs. They are: Life, Life Plus,
and Life Goal.
i.Life option: This offers customers with life insurance for the coverage term chosen and allows the customer to
enhance the cover amount.
ii.Life Plus option: In addition to life insurance, this option provides protection against accidental death and
terminal illness.
iii.Life Goal option: This option provides optimal coverage by allowing the customer to modify life cover for
the desired term.
About HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited (HDFC Life):
HDFC Life is a joint venture between HDFC Ltd., India’s leading housing finance institution and abrdn
(Mauritius Holdings) 2006 Limited, a global investment company.
MD & CEO – Vibha Padalkar
OTHER BANK NEWS

ADB to fund USD 14 billion for Food Security in Asia-Pacific; Cuts Growth Forecast of Asia and
Pacific to 4.3% from 5.2%
On 27th September 2022, Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced its plan to fund at least USD 14 billion
between 2022 and 2025 in a comprehensive program of support to ease the food crisis in the Asia-Pacific and
to improve long-term food security through strengthening food systems against climate change and
biodiversity loss during the 55th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors being held in Manila, the
Philippines from 26th to 30th September 2022.
• This is the first partial in-person annual meeting of ADB since 2019.
• In this regard, a support program will be initiated to help the 1.1 billion people in the Asia-Pacific
who lack healthy diets due to poverty and soaring food prices.
• Out of the total funding, USD 3.3 billion is earmarked for 2022 and the rest USD 10.7 billion will be
spread over 2023-2025.
What does this support plan envisage?
i.In the long term scenario, it will improve food security by strengthening farming and food supplies to cope
with climate change and loss of biodiversity.
ii.In the short term scenario, support will be targeted and designed to help the most vulnerable, particularly
women.
Key Points:
i.The funding will be utilized in both existing and new projects which cover farming, food production and
distribution, water resources management and social support.
ii.The funding for the aid will come from ADB’s sovereign and private sector operations. It will also use an
additional $5 billion in private sector food security co-financing.
iii.Since the global food crisis of 2007-2008, ADB has provided $2 billion annually in food security investments.
ADB cuts Growth Forecast of Asia and Pacific to 4.3% from 5.2%
The ADB in its ‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2022 Update: Entrepreneurship in the
Digital Age’ has revised down growth forecasts for 2022 for Developing Asia and Pacific to 4.3% from 5.2%
estimated in April 2022.

• It also slashed the growth projection for 2023 to 4.9% from 5.3% projected earlier.
Key Points:
i.The reasons behind this downward revision are challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine war, stronger
than expected monetary tightening in advanced economies, recurrent COVID-19 lockdowns in China, and a
sharp exchange rate depreciation.
ii.An inflation in developing Asia is raised to 4.5% for 2022, up from ADB’s earlier projection of 3.7%.
• The inflation forecast for 2023 is 4%, up from 3.1%.
Growth Forecast w.r.t. India:
i.ADO also lowered its growth forecast for India to 7% for FY23 from 7.2% estimated in July 2022 amid higher-
than-expected inflation and monetary tightening.
• It also cut GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth estimate for FY24 to 7.2% compared to 7.8%
estimated in its supplementary outlook in July.
ii.India’s retail inflation has been at a record 7%, which is above the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) upper
tolerance limits of 4-6% for eight straight months now.
• This is mainly due to higher food prices and pressure from rising global oil and commodity prices.
i.The Government of India (GoI) and the ADB signed a USD 96.3 million (around Rs 769 crores) loan agreement
to provide safe drinking water, improve water supply and sanitation in Himachal Pradesh (HP).
ii.ADB and the Singapore government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote investments
in the Asia and Pacific region and to recognize the importance of private sector finance as well as catalysing
public sector resources for sustainable and inclusive development.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Members– 68 members (49 from Asian and the Pacific and 19 outside)
SEBI Rejigs Reconstructs Panel on Cyber Security; Expands to Six Members

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has restructured its 4 members, high-level panel on cyber
security that suggests measures to safeguard the capital markets from cyber attacks.
• The committee has now expanded to six members, which will be chaired by Navin Kumar Singh,
Director General (DG), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).
Other members in the panel:
• Sanjay Bahl DG, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In);
• H Krishnamurthy, chief research scientist at Indian Institute of Science, (IISC) Bangalore;
• Sandeep Shukla professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering(CSE) in the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur;
• Debdeep Mukhopadhyay, professor at the Department of CSE in IIT Kharagpur; and
• Sugata Gangopadhyay, head of the department (HOD) of CSE at IIT Roorkee.
About the committee:
i.The committee would provide recommendations for the strengthening of processes to audit cyber security
and cyber resilience setups in the Indian securities market.
• In May 2017, SEBI had set up the panel, which was headed by the then whole-time
member Madhabi Puri Buch, who is currently the chairperson of SEBI.
ii.In order to further strengthen cyber security and cyber resilience, this engages in continuous dialogues with
external agencies, such as CERT-In, National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCSC), Department of
Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and leading academic
institutions and organisations.

Functions of the committee:
i.The committee oversees and provides guidance on cyber security initiatives for SEBI as well as the entire
capital market.
ii.It will also advise SEBI in developing and maintaining cyber security and cyber resilience requirements
which are aligned with global best practices and industry standards in accordance with the needs of the Indian
capital market structure.
iii.The committee will study major cyber-attack incidents related to financial markets in domestic as well as
global markets and identify gaps in the existing cyber security and cyber resilience framework.
• It identifies appropriate measures to improve cyber resilience and disaster recovery process in the
Indian securities market.
SEBI gave approval to Helios Capital to launch Mutual Fund business

The Singapore-based company, Helios Capital Management (India) Private Limited Founder & Fund
Manager Samir Arora received capital markets from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to
launch the Mutual Fund (MF) business.
• Helios Capital, the business of portfolio management services applied for a mutual fund license with the
SEBI in 2021.
• Samir Arora trying to enter the Rs 37 trillion (43-player) Indian Mutual Fund industry after quitting
Alliance Capital Mutual Fund, 19 years ago.
• He was the Chief Investment Officer of Alliance Capital’s Indian mutual fund business.
• The company joined with organisations like Zerodha, Samco Securities and Bajaj Finserv which received
SEBIs licence to launch MF operations.
SEBI permits REITs, InvITs to issue Commercial Papers

On September 22, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) permitted Real Estate Investment
Trust (REIT), and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) to issue Commercial Papers (CPs), subject to certain
conditions.
• This decision follows the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) CP Directions in August 2022 which enabled
InvIT and REIT having net worth of at least Rs 100 crore to issue CP.
• CPs is a short-term debt instrument issued by companies to garner funds generally for a time period
up to 1 year.
The notification for REIT was issued by SEBI in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI
Act, 1992 and Regulation 33 of the SEBI (REITs) Regulations, 2014. For InvIT, it was issued by SEBI in exercise
of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992 and Regulation 33 of the SEBI (InvITs)
Regulations, 2014.
Key Points:
i.Both investment vehicles should adhere to the guidelines prescribed by RBI for issuance of CPs.
ii.Both should also abide by the conditions of listing norms prescribed by SEBI under SEBI (Issue and Listing of
Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021 and circulars issued thereunder.
iii.The issuance of listed CPs should be within the overall debt limit permitted under SEBI (REIT) Regulations,
2014 for REITs, and SEBI (InvIT) Regulations, 2014 for InvITs.
iv.REIT comprises a portfolio of commercial real assets, while InvITs comprise a portfolio of infrastructure
assets such as highways, and power transmission assets.
About Commercial Paper (CP):
• It is introduced in India in 1990.
• CPs have a minimum maturity of 7 days and a maximum of up to 1 year from the date of issue.
• It can be issued in denominations of Rs 5 lakh or multiples thereof.

BSE Receives SEBI’s Final Approval to Launch EGR on its Platform
BSE Limited(formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) for introducing the Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) segment on its platform.
• In February 2022, the BSE Limited had received in-principle approval from SEBI after which
several mock trading sessions had been conducted to facilitate trading in EGR.
About Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR):
i.EGR is an electronic receipt issued on the basis of deposit of physical gold in accordance with the regulations
made by SEBI.
• This EGR platform will ensure the quality of gold supplied, efficient price discovery, and
transparency in transacting.
ii.This will cater to all market participants (both buyers and sellers) on the exchange platform including
individual investors and commercial participants along the value chain like importers, banks, refiners, bullion
traders, jewellery manufacturers, and retailers.
iii.EGRs can be held in the regular demat account and the settlement guarantee fund (SGF) protection is also
available to EGR trading.
India & EGR :
i.India is the 2nd largest consumer of gold globally with annual gold demand of approximately 800-900 tonnes.
ii.India currently has trading only in gold derivatives and gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), unlike several
other countries which have spot exchanges for physical trade in gold.
Keynote:
i.Currently, the EGRs are the 3rd gold-linked product to trade on the exchanges while Gold derivatives
(futures and options) and ETFs have already been traded on the exchanges.
ii.Gold EGRs have been classified as securities under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA) and so
the trading, clearing and settlement of EGRs can happen on the exchange platform.
SBI Card Launches Industry’s First CASHBACK SBI Card

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (SBI Card) has announced the launch of the ‘CASHBACK SBI Card’,
the industry’s first and most comprehensive cashback credit card in India, in order to boost online spending.
• The card offers a simple, seamless, and entirely digital sign-up process and is aimed at every
consumer from mass to premium category.
• Consumers can apply for the card through the digital application platform “SBI Card SPRINT” from
anywhere in India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Privileges on CASHBACK SBI Card
i.The first cashback-focused credit card in the industry allows ‘Cashback SBI Card’ customers will earn
unlimited 1% cashback on all spending and consumers to earn 5% cashback on every online spend without any
merchant restrictions (up to a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per monthly statement cycle).
ii.As a special promotion, the contactless card is free for the first year till March 2023.
iii.Within two days of the next statement generation, cashback will be automatically credited to the
corresponding SBI Card account.
iv.A Rs. 999 annual fee reversal is given after spending Rs. 2 lakh or more in a card membership year.
Official Link for More Details about the Features
About SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (SBI Card):
MD & CEO – Rama Mohan Rao Amara
Founded – 1998
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
ESAF SFB Launches ‘Rainbow Account’ For Transgender Community

ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has introduced a “Rainbow Savings Account” specifically for
the transgender community, in an effort to promote a trans-friendly or inclusive labour culture

• It was introduced during the logo launch event for Rainbow Savings Accounts, which was organized
in collaboration with Navodaya Movement.
Note: In 2015, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandated banks to add a specific column for “third gender” on
all of their forms and applications.
Key features of ‘Rainbow Savings Account’
i.The “Rainbow Savings Account” will have a number of features, such as a high interest rate and advanced
debit card capabilities.
ii.Additionally, the account provides a default credit of interest.
About ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB)
MD & CEO – Kadambelil Paul Thomas
Headquarters – Thrissur, Kerala
Tagline – Joy of Banking
HSBC Commits Rs. 125 Crore to Green Causes & Energy Transition Projects in India Over the
Next 5 Years
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), one of the world’s major banking and financial
services organisations headquartered in London, United Kingdom (UK), has committed Rs. 125 crore over the
next five years to promote green initiatives in India as part of its efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate
change.
• The initiatives include wetland protection and energy transition projects.
Significance
As part of the commitment, HSBC has divided the project into two major categories, including energy transition
and nature-based solutions.
i.The nature-based solutions will include initiatives to safeguard and revitalize wetlands, mangroves, and
forests; restore the landscape; and support sustainable agriculture.
ii.The energy transition will comprise renewables and energy efficiency programmes, to assist the shift
towards renewables.
• It will optimize efficiency projects in sectors such as healthcare, dairy cold chain, and for productive
energy use by communities.
Other HSBC Commitments
HSBC will collaborate with the government and expert institutions to improve its learning and develop creative
solutions and possibilities.
i.It has collaborated with the non-profit organizations such as WWF India and the India Resources Trust (WRI
India) to implement projects in eight states.
ii.In Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Assam, it has partnered with civil society organizations (CSO) to
provide integrated clean energy solutions of 300 Kilowatt (kW) at healthcare institutions.
• Additionally, it seeks to produce 500 kW of RE capacity in the Sundarbans in West Bengal and 1,000
kW of new RE-based cold chain infrastructure in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
iii.In order to facilitate exchanging ideas and sharing best practices, HSBC has also launched a dialogue
platform called “CEOs on Sustainability.”
• It aims to bring together policymakers, think tanks, financial institutions, and industry leaders from
the public and private sectors.
Note: Chief Executive Officer of HSBC India – Hitendra Dave
IDFC FIRST Bank Joins the Open Network for Digital Commerce
On 6th September 2022 IDFC FIRST Bank joined the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative
of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI), to enable early adoption of the network among its customers.

Key highlights:
i.The Bank will enable a platform which will help the buyers to discover sellers in the ONDC Network. The bank
has started onboarding small merchants (current account customers) onto a partner app which is registered
with ONDC.
ii.The app will support small merchants to carry out transactions over ONDC’s electronic network and set up
their digital footprint.
iii.ONDC, a section 8 company was set up to democratise e-commerce which will transform e-commerce from
a platform-centric to an open network model that is similar to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for
payments.
About IDFC FIRST Bank:
IDFC FIRST Bank was formed by the merger of erstwhile IDFC Bank and Capital First, a Non-Banking financial
Company (NBFC).
MD & CEO – V. Vaidyanathan
BOI Becomes First PSB to Go Live On New Direct Tax Collection System TIN 2.0
Bank of India (BOI) has become the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to go live with the new Direct Tax Collection
System -Tax Information Network, TIN 2.0. (e-filing).
• TIN 2.0 (e-filing) is the official portal of the Income Tax Department, Ministry of Finance.
Tax Information Network, TIN 2.0 (e-filing)
The TIN 2.0 (e-filing) portal was developed by the Income Tax Department as a Mission Mode Project under the
National E-Governance Plan.
• This portal aims to offer taxpayers a single window access for income tax-related services including
tax payments.
Key Points
i.With this technological integration of BOI on the TIN 2.0 platform, taxpayers will now have a single platform
for tax payment and e-filing of tax returns.
• The procedure is simple and fast and it allows taxpayers to make payments at their convenience.
ii.Taxpayers can now make their direct tax payments at any BOI branch across India, as they accept direct tax
collection via over-the-counter (OTC) mode.
Recent initiative of Bank of India (BOI)
In July 2022, BOI became the first bank to launch a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled digital portal for
enrollment of National Pension System (NPS) in collaboration with K-fintech.
• The digital approach entails scanning QR codes, Aadhar verification with Digilocker, and payment
through UPI.
About Bank of India (BoI):
MD & CEO – Atanu Kumar Das
Tagline – Relationship Beyond Banking
Verite Research Think-Tank: India Emerges as Sri Lanka’s Top Lender in 2022
According to the Verite Research, a Colombo-based independent interdisciplinary think-tank, India has
become Sri Lanka’s biggest lender in 2022, providing a loan of USD 377 million as it faced political crisis and
economic unrest.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the largest multilateral lender to Sri Lanka providing USD
360 million in loans that accounts for 76 percent of total disbursements from January 2022 to
April 2022.

Key highlights:
i.Out of a total disbursement of loans to Sri Lanka amounting to USD 968 million from January 2022 to April
2022, India has contributed USD 377 million, which made India to become the largest bilateral lender of Sri
Lanka.
• According to the Indian High Commission, India has provided roughly USD 4 billion in overall
credit support to Sri Lanka in 2022.
• India also provided a dedicated credit line for fuel imports amounting to USD 700 million in
June 2022.
ii.China was the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka between 2017 and 2021, providing USD 947 million, out
of which USD 809 million were borrowings from the China Development Bank.
iii.Recently, Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached an agreement on a USD 2.9
billion loan facility, which is subject to a debt restructuring agreement between Sri Lanka and its creditors.
HDFC Bank unveils ‘Bank on Wheels’ in Gujarat

The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) Bank introduces its rural banking
business, ‘Bank on Wheels’ in the village of Koteshwar, near Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, as an initiative to offer
banking services in unbanked areas around Ankleshwar.
‘Bank on Wheels’ can go to distant villages positioned 10 – 25 km from the closest department to additional
accessibility.
• The van was flagged by Dhavalkumar R Patel, Taluka Development Officer, Ankleshwar at a
function organised in the Ankleshwar Taluka Panchayat office.
• The bank plans to conduct a series of 3 financial literacy camps at 68 rural branches across Gujarat
which reach both adults and school children from over 136 villages and the material provided by
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The HDFC bank is the 1st bank to translate Financial Literacy Material into the Gujarati language, in
Gujarat.
HDFC Bank Issues India’s First Electronic Bank Guarantee (E-BG); Also signs MoU with Institute
of Economic Growth
HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, has become the first bank in India to issue an Electronic Bank
Guarantee (e-BG), in partnership with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL).
• The introduction of e-BG eliminates the lengthy, paper-based procedure and enables faster
processing, instant delivery, instant verification, and better security.
• The eBG will be issued using the NeSL paperless eStamping Digital Document Execution (DDE)
platform.
Key Points:
i.Physical stamping has been replaced with eStamping, and with eBG, the applicant and beneficiary can
instantly view a bank guarantee on the NeSL portal.
• e-BG will be issued on the NeSL portal through an Application Programming Interface (API) -based
digital workflow.
ii.The bank aims to totally switch over to the eBG platform, to hasten the issuing of BGs to its clients.
iii.It is developed in consultation with the NeSL, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)- Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) committee, and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Note: Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri is the MD & CEO of NeSL.
About Bank Guarantee:
A bank guarantee refers to a promise provided by a bank or any other financial institution that if a certain
borrower fails to pay a loan, then the bank or the financial institution will take care of the losses.

HDFC Bank signs MoU with Institute of Economic Growth
HDFC Bank has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Economic Growth
(IEG) to fund the “HDFC Bank Chair of Banking and Finance”.
• The HDFC Bank chair will conduct research on critical and evolving aspects of banking and finance.
The HDFC Bank chair will be hosted at the IEG campus in New Delhi, Delhi, and the bank will sponsor IEG for
this chair for a period of 5 years, beginning September 1, 2022, with a funding support of Rs. 6.75 crore.
• IEG is regarded as a Center of Excellence (CoE) and among India’s top think tanks for economic and
social development.
The pact was signed in the presence of Atanu Chakraborty, Chairman of HDFC Bank, and Ramesh Chand, NITI
Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) Member & Chairman of IEG.
About HDFC Bank:
MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Tagline – We Understand Your World
Karnataka Bank becomes part of Khajane-II

Karnataka Bank Ltd became part of the Khajane-II (K2), Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) of the
Treasury Department, Government of Karnataka for implementing a Single Nodal Agency (SNA) account system
for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
• Through this interface with K2, The Bank will help in implementing various sponsored schemes for
disbursement of cash benefits to the targeted beneficiaries through direct credit to their bank
accounts in a safe, secure and speedier manner.
• The bank, through its technology and digital led solutions, will continue to assist the Government of
Karnataka for implementing its various initiatives towards welfare of the public.
SBI Joins 5-trillion Market Cap Membership; Stock Surges 26% in 3 Months
State Bank of India (SBI) has joined the Rs 5.03 trillion market capitalization (market cap) for the first
time after its shares reached a record high of Rs 564.45 on the BSE index.
• According to the data from BSE Limited, SBI stood at the 7th position in the overall market cap
ranking, with a market cap of Rs 5.03 trillion.
Key highlights:
i.SBI has become the 3rd lender in India to cross the market cap of Rs 5 trillion.
• HDFC Bank, India’s largest private lender holds 1st position with a market cap of Rs 8.38 trillion
and ICICI Bank holds the 2nd position with a market cap of Rs 6.33 trillion.
ii.In the past 3 months, SBI has outperformed the market by surging 26 percent, as against 13.9 per cent rise in
the BSE Sensex.
Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
Establishment – 1st July 1955
SBI WeCare FD scheme for senior citizens extended till March 31, 2023
The State Bank of India (SBI)’s ‘WECARE’ Senior Citizens’ Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme has extended upto 31st
March 2023.
• In 2022, SBI launched the special FD scheme “SBI WECARE” to secure senior citizens’ income by paying
additional interest on term deposits.
• The scheme is offered for new deposits as well as the renewal of maturing accounts.

• A special “SBI Wecare” Deposit for Senior Citizens introduced in the Retail Term Deposit(TD) segment
wherein an additional premium of 30 bps will be paid to Senior Citizen’s on their retail TD for ‘5 Years
and above’ tenor only.
Period of Deposit– Minimum- 5 years. Maximum- 10 years.
Federal Bank & Union Bank launches pilot for Digitalization of KCC lending in TN & MP
respectively
On September 19, 2022, the Federal Bank launched a pilot for instant Kisan Credit Card (KCC) lending in order
to digitalize rural finance in select districts of Tamil Nadu (TN). The instant KCC was developed by the Reserve
Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It is digital loan scheme.
Key Points:
i.This digital loan scheme will be an easy experience for the farmers as compared to the conventional method of
lending in terms of convenience and turnaround time.
ii.The platform will use e-KYC (Know Your Customer) and eSign, Application Programming Interface (APIs)
developed by the Tamil Nadu E-Governance Agency (TNeGA), and credit history from bureaus to process
loans to farmers in a matter of few minutes.
Earlier this month, RBI announced the pilot for KCC lending in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in September
with Union Bank of India and Federal Bank, respectively, as partner banks and with active cooperation of the
State governments.
Union Bank of India launches end-to-end digitalization of Kisan Credit Card
Union Bank of India (UBI) also launched end-to-end digitalization of KCC product for farmers as part of its
flagship digital transformation project ‘Sambhav’. It was launched by Ms. A Manimekhalai, MD & CEO, UBI in
Harda District of Madhya Pradesh (MP), as Pilot Project.
• This product envisages to make the KCC lending process more efficient and farmer friendly.
• It is also aimed at overcoming the challenges faced by farmers like in-person visit to a bank branch,
submission of land ownership and other documents, and high turn-around time in getting the KCC.
i.UBI has taken the next step in promoting employees’ career trajectories and improving
diversity in banking with Union Prerna 2.0-EmpowerHim, an industry-first and men-focused committee
dedicated to improving the workplace environment.
ii.Federal Bank becomes the First Bank to list its Payment Gateway platform on the Tax Information Network
(TIN) 2.0 platform of the Income Tax Department.
About Union Bank of India:
MD & CEO– A Manimekhalai
Tagline– Good People to Bank with
About Federal Bank:
MD & CEO– Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters– Aluva, Kerala
Tagline– Your Perfect Banking Partner
IDRBT Pioneers the Development of New Low-Cost Financial Network: To Bring Banking to
Remote Places
The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), a unit of the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI), has developed a novel technology that allows people in remote hilly and forest areas without
satellite signal to access banking services.
• IDRBT is the first in the world to build a network based on Long Range Radio (LoRa) technology.

• It is a new dedicated low-cost financial network that banks may use privately to transmit encrypted
texts and make financial transactions.
Long Range Radio (LoRa) Technology: Last Mile Connectivity
• LoRa technology is a wireless modulation technique in the physical layer that enables long-range
communication via chirp spread spectrum.
• It employs dedicated radios, which are not often used in end-user devices, to reduce interference
from other devices.
Key Points
i.Banks can employ LoRa technology as their own dedicated private network rather than relying on a third-
party network, which is currently based on either a satellite link or a cable network (fibre).
• The LoRa financial network can enhance the last mile connectivity of the banking system.
ii.By installing three nodes, a 30-mile connectivity to guarantee bank transactions can be achieved, and it can
be extended by adding more nodes at each 30-mile point.
iii.The LoRa financial network is projected to be 20% less expensive than other network technologies, and has
benefits of nearly minimal maintenance and device portability.
iv.Since LoRa technology has not yet been utilized in financial networks, IDRBT also aspires to obtain a patent
for LoRa-based financial networks.
• LoRa technology is used in some countries for Internet of Things (IoT)-related applications.
About Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT)
• Director of IDRBT – Professor D. Janakiram
• Headquartered in – Hyderabad, Telangana
KMBL Launches Everyday Savings Account; KMBL &IIT-M partners to Launches Kotak IITM
Save Energy Mission
On 20th September 2022, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) launched a one-of-a-kind Everyday Savings
Account (Daily Savings Account), a unique savings account designed to help customers in spending and saving
every day.
• This account comes with a Everyday RuPay Platinum Debit Card.
• With this account, the customers can either make 30 transactions of any value in a month and get
minimum balance charges waived or choose to maintain an average monthly amount of Rs 20,000.
About Everyday RuPay Platinum Debit Card:
i.The debit card will enable customers to avail every day offers on popular brands including Mitra, Swiggy, One
MG, MakeMyTrip, Licious in categories such as groceries, medicines, apparel, food delivery, travel.
• The customers can also avail offers on movies and dining from BookMyShow, EazyDiner along with
surprise rewards.
ii.It offers a higher daily limit of Rs. 3 lakhs within India and abroad for transactions along with higher ATM
withdrawal limits of Rs 1 lakh .
• It also offers free unlimited transactions at Kotak Bank ATMs and 10 free ATM transactions per
month at other bank ATMs.
KMBL Collaborates with IIT-M to Launch Kotak IITM Save Energy Mission
On 20th September 2022, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) and Indian Institute of Technology-
Madras (IIT-M) has announced a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) partnership to launch the ’Kotak
IIT-M Save Energy Mission’.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Kotak IITM Save Energy Mission at the IITM Campus,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 19th September 2022.
• This aims to encourage adoption of various energy conservation measures in the Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

Key highlights:
i.This partnership between KMBL & IIT-M will help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and MSMEs to
reduce waste, save on audit costs and implement energy-saving measures.
ii.Under KMBL’s CSR Project on environment and Sustainable Development, the bank is funding IIT-M to
establish 5 satellite centres across India to promote energy efficiency for MSME.
• IIT-M will be the hub of Save Energy Mission, which will engage with IIT-Bombay, IIT-Gandhinagar,
IIT-Indore, IIT-Ropar to establish 4 satellite centres for carrying out energy efficiency and
performance audits and encouraging adoption of various energy conservation measures in the
Indian MSME sector
iii.The hub at IIT-M would monitor and implement the energy assessment activities across India and the
remaining 4 satellite centres would identify the MSMEs that qualify for industrial energy assessment services
and would also carry out audits and share recommendations for energy saving.
Japan’s MUFG Bank increased the capital by Rs 3,000 crore in India Biz
On 21st September 2022, Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Bank has increased the capital
of its branch in India by Rs 3,000 crore to expand its India business.
As a result of the increased capital, the total capital of MUFG Bank will rise to Rs 5,207 crore.
• MUFG Bank will strengthen its financial base in India and better respond to the diverse financing
needs of its clients through this capital increase.
• The bank has established MUFG Enterprise Solutions India Pvt. Ltd as its global competence centre
in 2020 to support the technology and innovation arm of MUFG.
• In March 2022, MUFG established a USD 300 million fund named MUFG Ganesha Fund to invest
exclusively in seeding Indian start-ups.
• MUFG expanded its presence by opening a branch at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (Gift
City).
MoF Issues Guidelines for RRBs to Raise Resources Through IPOs & Rights Issue
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has released guidelines for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to acquire capital
through rights issues, private placements with chosen investors such as large banks and insurance firms and
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
The RRBs are jointly owned by the Government of India (GoI), the respective State Governments (SGs), and the
Sponsor Banks (SBs), with equity contributions in the ratio of (GoI: SG: SB :: 50:15:35).
• There are currently 43 RRBs with 21,892 branches across India, sponsored by 12 scheduled
commercial banks (SCBs).
• As of March 2022, RRBs have deposits, loans, and advances (net) aggregating Rs. 5,62,538 crore and
Rs. 3,42,479 crore, respectively.
The Guidelines for RRBs
i.Prior to issuing shares to the public via the IPO route, RRBs should consider issuing bonus shares (to reward
existing shareholders who have not been paid dividends and have first claim on the existing reserves) and
a Rights Issue in consultation with merchant bankers and the sponsor bank.
ii.The total value of the issue may ideally be placed through a rights offer with the provision allowing promoter
shareholders to subscribe/renounce the offer.
iii.Large banks and insurance organizations such as Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) may be granted equity
shares.
• Other private insurance firms, pension funds, and mutual funds could be approached to subscribe in
the book building process.

iv.The Department of Financial Service, MoF, may consult with the concerned State Government (SG) if the SG’s
shareholding in the RRB can be decreased below 15% (in accordance with section 69 (b) of the RRBs Act, 1976,
after amendment).
v.RRBs will be listed to provide liquidity, marketability, and visibility, as well as the ability to raise capital in the
future.
Criteria for Selecting RRBs for Capital Raising:
i.Net value of at least Rs. 300 crore in each of the previous three years
ii.Minimum Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) CRAR above the regulatory requirement of 9% in
each of the previous three years
iii.A track record of profitability-pre-tax operating profit of minimum Rs. 15 crore in at least three of the
previous five years, excluding extraordinary times
iv.RRBs should have a minimum return on equity of 10% in three of the previous five years, as well as a
minimum return on assets of 0.5% in three of the previous five years.
v.RRBs must not have any accumulated losses
vi.The should adhere to the Banking Regulation Act of 1949 and the RBI Act of 1935
vii.RRBs should not be under prompt corrective action by RBI/NABARD
In August 2022, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued new guidelines for Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs) and Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) for making investment abroad, under which
overseas investee firms are no longer required to have an Indian connection.
About Ministry of Finance (MoF):
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha – Karnataka)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Pankaj Chaudhary; Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad
UCO Bank Becomes the First Lender to Receive RBI Approval for Rupee Trade
UCO Bank, a Public sector lender, has become the first bank to receive approval from the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) to open a special vostro account with Russian bank ‘Gazprombank’ (Joint Stock Company) for the
settlement of transactions in Indian Rupees (INR).
• Previously, in July 2022, the RBI published a circular enabling trade settlements between India and
other nations, including Sri Lanka and Russia, to be made in Indian rupees (INR).
Key Points
i.Indian importers undertaking the INR trade mechanism will make payments in INR for their purchases
against invoices from international sellers and suppliers.
• These payments must be credited to the special vostro account at the correspondent bank of the
partner country.
ii.The market will establish the exchange rate between the currencies of the two trading partners.
iii.Indian exporters sending goods and services using this mechanism should be paid in INR from balances in
the specified special Vostro account of the partner country’s correspondent bank.
Gazprombank of Russia
Gazprombank, a Russian lender, was established by Gazprom, the world’s largest gas producer and exporter, to
provide banking services to gas industry enterprises.
• It is one of the top three banks in Russia and has been in operation since 1990.
Other Related Fact: The Union government designated UCO Bank as the payment bank for Iranian oil
purchases in 2012. Since 2019, India has stopped purchasing oil from Iran.
About UCO Bank
MD & CEO – Soma Sankara Prasad
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
Tagline – Honours your Trust

Union Bank of India launches Ethical Hacking Lab in Hyderabad
Union Bank of India (UBI) launched the ‘Ethical Hacking Lab’ at the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence
(CCoE) in Hyderabad, Telangana to strengthen the cyber ecosystem in India. The lab was inaugurated by
A. Manimekhalai, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of UBI.
• The aim of the initiative is to build a cyber defence mechanism to safeguard the Bank’s
Information Systems, Digital Assets, Channels etc. against potential cyber threats.
• The initiative will establish multiple cyber security centres to strengthen the Bank’s security
and collaborate with cyber defence industries, Government bodies, etc., for implementing new
technologies.
Federal Bank Launches Facility to Enable Utility Bill Payment for NRI
On 20st September 2022, Federal Bank Limited has partnered with the NPCI Bharat BillPay
Limited (NBBL) and Lulu Financial Group, based in the United Arab Emirates(UAE), to enable Utility Bill
Payment services for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Diaspora in GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council) Region.
• With this, Federal bank and Lulu Financial Group became the first to go live with Bharat BillPay
Cross-Border Bill Payments.
Note – NPCI Bharat Billpay Limited (NBBL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation
of India(NPCI).
Key highlights:
i.This allows NRIs to remit money directly to pay for their utility bills back home through any LuLu Exchange
branch, as well as the digital money transfer app, LuLu Money.
ii.Around 20,000 billers across 20 categories are covered under this cost-effective and convenient option.
Note – Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), permitted foreign inward remittances to be received under
the rupee drawing arrangement (RDA) through BBPS.
About Federal Bank Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters – Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala
Bank of Baroda Launches Festive Campaign ‘Khushiyon ka Tyohaar’

Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched ‘Khushiyon ka Tyohaar’, an annual festive campaign that provides a
range of offers including attractive interest rates on home loans and car loans, in addition to the discount on
processing charges and other benefits.
• In addition to these offers, Customers will also have an opportunity to earn higher interest with
the Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme.
Key points:
i.BoB’s home loans are available at a competitive interest rate beginning at 7.95% per annum (p.a.) with no
processing charges and the car loans are available at a special rate starting from 7.95% p.a. with a concession
of 25 basis points.
• In addition, the customers will also benefit with no prepayment or part payment charges,
concessional processing charges, and longer repayment tenure of 7 years.
• Both existing and new customers are eligible to apply for the loan and can be availed through the
BoB World mobile app, net banking, and the BoB website.
ii.The bank has also launched a digital lending campaign with a range of digital loans such as pre-approved
personal loans, personal loans, auto loans, home loans, education loans, mudra loans, Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) loans, gold loans, and the Baroda Kisan Credit Card (BKCC).
About Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme:
Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme is a special fixed scheme that offers higher interest rates and is available in 2
types of tenor that includes, interest rates of 5.75 % p.a. for 444 days and 6 % p.a. for 555 days.

• This scheme will be available throughout the festive season , from 16th August 2022 to 31st
December 2022.
Features:
The high rate of interest is applicable for domestic term deposits including Non Resident External (NRE)
Account / Non Resident Ordinary (NRO) Account / Senior Citizen & and Non-Callable (Without Premature
Facility) Deposits.
• Senior citizens will earn an additional interest rate of 0.50 % p.a. and the non-callable
deposits above Rs. 15 Lakh will earn an extra 15% p.a.
Mastercard to launch ‘Carbon Calculator’ for Indian consumers

Mastercard will launch its Carbon Calculator feature for Indian customers, which will offer consumers an
estimated carbon footprint every time they purchase something.
• Mastercard Carbon Calculator, launched in 2021, was developed in collaboration with Swedish
fintech Doconomy. It is currently used in over 25 countries.
• Banking partners can embed the tracking tool in their website or mobile apps.
• Carbon Calculator tracker can derive the cumulative effect of carbon footprint across a variety of
spending categories in a month.
• The feature also provides access to insights and data about environmental impact.
FINANCE NEWS
NPCI directs Apps to Stop Charging Platform Fees on BBPS
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has directed the payment apps not to charge a platform
fee for payments on Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) payments.
• One of the largest Unified Payments Interfaces (UPI) is PhonPe in India. The NPCI’s directive came
after the payment platforms started to charge fees on recharges and other payments.
• NPCI released a directive after Paytm started to charge Rs 1 for various bill payments.
• Both Paytm and PhonePe announced their immediate discontinuation of the charging payment fees
on the BBPS. According to PhonePe’s result on its experiment, 98% of the consumers were ready to
pay the fees.
Ombudsman disposed of 32% more Complaints against Insurers in 2021-22

Insurance ombudsman disposed of 32% more complaints i.e. 40,527 complaints against insurance firms in
2021-22 year-on-year across India as compared to 30,596 in 2020-21.
Key Points:
i.Out of the total complaints, the Delhi office alone settled 3,830 complaints in 2021-22, or 9.4% of the all India
figure.
• Of this, almost 30%, or 1,129 complaints, related to health insurance.
ii.The break-up for 2021-22 is not available, complaints relating to health insurance made up a third of the total
number cases disposed of by ombudsmen in 2020-21, a period marked by the first wave of Covid-19.
iii.60% of the complaints resolved by ombudsman in 2021-22 were through conciliation and the remaining
through awards.
iv.81% of the complaints were against private insurers and the rest against LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of
India) and PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) general insurers.
About Insurance Ombudsman:
It is an alternative mode of settling insurance disputes, constituted under rules framed by the Ministry of
Finance in 2017. The other routes include moving consumer courts, which are time consuming and expensive.
No fee is charged for approaching ombudsmen.
i.There are at present 17 Insurance Ombudsman in different locations and any person who has a grievance

against an insurer may make a complaint to the ombudsman.
ii.In order to approach the ombudsman, the complaints must first move the insurer’s grievance cell. If he does
not receive a satisfactory resolution within a month, he can approach the ombudsman concerned.
iii.An Ombudsman can resolve the complaints through conciliation or through an award. The award is binding
only on the insurance company, not the consumers. This means the consumer can challenge the award in court.
Reliance General Insurance & Policybazaar Partners to Launch Reliance Health Gain Policy
Reliance General Insurance has launched Reliance Health Gain Policy, one of its most flexible and popular
products on Policybazaar’s online platform to ensure insurance accessibility for all.
• This policy which was launched in May 2022, ensures freedom for customers to choose and
personalise their health policies as per their requirements.
Key highlights:
i.Reliance Health Gain Policy is available in 3 different plans that includes Plus, Power and Prime along with
certain features to facilitate customisation of policy for each customer.
ii.The policy equips 38 industry-leading features such as, Double Cover that provides twice the amount of
sum insured to be used during the same claim; Unlimited reinstatement to restore the base sum insured
amount as many times as it gets exhausted during a policy year; Guaranteed Cumulative Bonus, that protects
loss of cumulative bonus post claim; the benefit to reduce Pre-Existing disease waiting period from 3 years to 2
or even 1 year.
Note – The non-life insurance penetration in India is about 1 percent of GDP whereas the global
average stands at 4.1 percent.
LIC introduces Non-Participating, Unit Linked New Pension Plus Plan

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has introduced a new Individual Pension Plan namely ‘LIC’s New
Pension Plus (NPP)’ which is non-participating, and Unit Linked. It was launched at Hotel Trident during the
function of Insurance Week Celebration (September 1-7, 2022).
• Its Unique Identity Number (UIN) is 512L347V01.
• The plan will aid in systematic and disciplined savings which can be used as regular income by
purchase of an annuity plan on completion of term.
• As per LIC, the plan is suitable for young individuals to make provision for their retired life.
Features of Plan:
i.It provides pension seekers various investment options which can be selected as per his/her risk-taking
capacity.
• The investment options are Pension Bond Fund, Pension Secured Fund, Pension Balanced Fund,
Pension Growth Fund and Pension Discontinued Fund.
ii.Entry Age
Minimum- 25 years
Maximum- 75 years
iii.Vesting Age
The minimum vesting age or the minimum age at which one may opt to get regular annuity is 35 years and the
maximum is 85 years.
iv.Policy Term
The minimum policy term is 10 years and maximum is 42 years.
v.Premium Payment Frequency
It can be Single or Regular. Under a Regular Premium policy, the Premium is payable over the term of the
policy, as per minimum and maximum limits of policy terms, and vesting age.
• The minimum premium varies with the frequency of payment. For monthly payment, the minimum
premium is Rs 3,000, for quarterly Rs 9,000, for half yearly Rs 16,000 and for yearly payment, the
minimum premium is Rs 30,000.

• There is no cap on maximum premium.
• Each premium is subject to Premium Allocation Charge.
vi.Guaranteed additions offered by LIC are payable as 5% to 15.5% on regular premium, and up to 5% on single
premium. In both cases, these will be added at the end of 6th year, 10th year and every subsequent year from
the 11th year till the end of the policy term.
vii.Insurance Cover
In case of the unfortunate death of a policyholder during the policy term, an amount higher of the fund value
and 105% of the total premium paid (excluding taxes, interest on late payment and charges, if any) will be paid
to the nominee.
viii.Purchase of Annuity Plan
At least 40% of the fund value will be utilized to purchase Annuity Plans from the LIC of India or any other
IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India)-regulated insurance company.
ix.There is an option to extend the accumulation period or deferment period within the same policy, with the
same terms and conditions as in the original policy, subject to conditions
x.The Life Assured can utilize the proceeds of the Policy on Vesting (i.e. at the end of the Policy Term)/on
Surrender/ on Discontinuance as per the Annuitization provision. Partial withdrawal of units allowed after 5
years.
Agribazaar Launches Kisan Safalta Card for Agri Financing

Star Agribazaar Technology Private Limited (Agribazaar), an electronic agri mandi, has launched ‘Agribazaar
Kisan Safalta Card’, a farmer-centric card that supports farmers to meet their pre-harvest and post-harvest
farm requirements and other related expenses.
• The farmers can use the card to avail the financing facility. The funding through this is restricted to
buying farm inputs.
• In phase -1, the card will be available to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and
Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).
About Agribazaar Kisan Safalta Card:
Repayment:
The ‘Agribazaar Kisan Safalta Card’ comes with a 12-month repayment period.
The repayment plan can also be rescheduled, if farmers face any crop damage due to natural calamity or poor
crop yield and can repay their loan after the harvest.
Limits of the card:
i.The limit of the card, the financing scale along with maintenance expenses are determined according to each
farmer’s crop yield.
ii.The card amount can be adjusted for marginal farmers, ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000.
iii.The maximum limit of the card can be increased every year after an annual review based on the recent crop
yield and repayment history of farmers.
About Star Agribazaar Technology Private Limited (Agribazaar):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amith Agarwal
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Lord’s Mark Industries Gets Direct Insurance Broking Licence from IRDAI
Lord’s Mark Insurance Broking Services Private Limited, the insurance division of Lord’s Mark
Industries, has received the direct insurance broking licence from Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI) for selling life and general insurance products.
• The company will penetrate the under-served market segments in tier-2 and tier-3 towns in
addition to metro cities.

Policy King:
i.The company plans to collaborate with leading insurers to launch the insurance products on its platform,
‘Policy King’.
ii.Policy King is a mobile application, through which customers can compare all available insurance offers and
choose the right life insurance, term life insurance, health insurance, motor insurance and others.
• Policy King will function on an innovative operating model based on a conventional insurance
distribution framework as well as a digital customer acquisition and engagement system.
About Lord’s Mark Industries:
MD & CEO – Sachidanand Upadhyay
Headquarters – Thane, Maharashtra
Max Life Launches 3-in-1 market-linked solution – ‘Smart Flexi Protect Solution’
Max Life Insurance Company Limited has launched ‘Smart Flexi Protect Solution’, a three-in-one (3-in-1)
plan that provides health and enhanced life cover, along with market-linked investment returns.
• This is designed for earning individuals, especially for self-employed profiles.
About Smart Flexi Protect Solution:
i.Smart Flexi Protect Solution is a combination of Max Life Flexi Wealth Plus and Max Life Critical Illness
and Disability Secure Rider that offers wealth creation along with comprehensive protection against death,
disability and critical illness.
ii.Max Life Flexi Wealth Plus – Flexi Wealth Plus will help create financial protection with enhanced life cover
plus savings with market-linked returns.
• This plan 5 different investment strategies and 11 funds along with return of mortality charges at
maturity.
iii.Max Life Critical Illness and Disability Secure Rider – The Critical Illness and Disability Secure Rider acts
as a financial net that offers coverage against 64 critical illnesses and total permanent disability.
Other Features:
i.This solution has enhanced death benefit by offering financial protection for the nominees in the event of the
unfortunate demise of the insured.
ii.This also helps policyholders in meeting investment objectives through market-linked returns.
iii.Tax benefits are available as per the prevailing tax laws.
About Max Life Insurance Company Limited:
Max Life Insurance Company Limited is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited and Axis Bank
Limited.
Managing Director (MD) & CEO – Prashant Tripathy
Founded in 2000, Started operations in 2001
Canara HSBC Life Insurance Launches iSelect guaranteed future plan

Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches iSelect Guaranteed Future, an individual, non-linked, non-participating,
savings and protection life insurance plan in digital platform.
• The above product offers two special features such as “Guaranteed Maturity Benefit” and “Boost
your Maturity” under which Guaranteed additions accrue during the last five policy years to
enhance policy’s benefits to the customers..
Highlights:
i.The product, iSelect Guaranteed Future Plan has been customized to cater short term and long term financial
requirements.
ii.They provide multiple options including iAchieve and Flexi iAchieve, iAssure and Flexi iAssure, and Easy
iAchieve.

1.iAchieve and Flexi iAchieve plan – The customers have to pay a premium for a limited period (5 or 7 or 10
years) and get a guaranteed sum assured at maturity.
2.iAssure and Flexi iAssure plan – The customers can pay for a limited period (5 or 7 or 10 years), and get
guaranteed lump sum on maturity including guaranteed income after the premium paying term.
• Eligibility: The maximum entry age for either of the above policies will be 65 years.
• The policy terms can be 10 and 15 years for a 5-year premium payment term; 12 and 14 years for
a 7-year premium paying term, and 15 and 20 years for a 10-year premium paying term.
3.Easy iAchieve – It comes with a single premium payment term along with guaranteed lump sum on maturity.
• The policy term can be 10, 12, 14, 15 or 20 years.
• The maximum age for the Easy iAchieve option is 45 years.
About Canara HSBC Life Insurance:
MD and CEO – Anuj Mathur
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
Nippon Life India Asset Management & DWS Group to launch a European-listed Indian
Government Bond ETF
Nippon Life India Asset Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Life India
Asset Management Ltd and DWS Group has collaborated to provide portfolio management and investment
advisory services to the European-listed Indian Government Bond Exchange Traded Funds (ETF).
Highlights:
i.Under this collaboration, clients of DWG Group will get access to the attractive Indian bond market.
ii.As of August 2022, the market size for securities issued by the Indian government was over USD 1 trillion,
which placed India between corresponding markets in Canada and Spain.
• India ranked second in the emerging markets of local currency (first is China).
iii.Currently Indian rupee-denominated government bonds due to limited liquidity and accessibility are not
included in the flagship indices such as Bloomberg Global-Aggregate or J.P. Morgan Government Bond –
Emerging Markets Global Diversified.
About Fully Accessible Route (FAR):
i.The FAR is a separate channel established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in consultation with the
Government of India(GoI).
ii.Under the FAR, only eligible investors can invest in specified Government securities without any investment
ceilings. The instruments comprise FAR-eligible fixed-rate and zero-coupon bonds.
iii.The relevant index (J.P. Morgan India Government Fully Accessible Route (FAR) Bond index) aims to track
the performance of fixed-rate Indian rupee-denominated Indian government bonds that are made eligible for
investment to non-residents under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR).
ICICI Lombard Introduces Digital Voice Agent to Track Claim Status

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard), one of India’s major private non-life
insurance firms, has partnered with Skit.ai, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Software as a Service (SaaS)
voice automation platform, to launch an AI-powered Digital Voice Agent.
• With this partnership, ICICI Lombard will be able to help consumers seeking the status of their
health and motor insurance claims using an AI-powered Digital Voice Agent.
Key Points:
i.The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems of ICICI Lombard will be integrated with the Skit.ai
Augmented Voice Intelligence Platform to enhance interaction speed, accuracy, and convenience.
ii.The Digital Voice Agent will automate client interactions through intuitive, human-feeling conversation,
reduce the average call handling time, and improve call containment rates.

About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard):
MD & CEO – Bhargav Dasgupta
Founded – 2001
NPCI Introduces UPI Payments Through Rupay Credit Cards

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
payments via credit cards on the RuPay network, potentially expanding the credit market.Debit cards and
bank accounts had previously been used to link UPI, now Rupay credit cards can be linked as well.
Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), unveiled this at the 3rd edition of Global
Fintech Fest 2022 (GFF 2022), along with
• “UPI Lite” for small-value UPI transactions via a wallet-like feature and
• the facility for inward cross-border remittances via the Bharat Bill Pay System (BBPS).
Key Points:
i.To enable offline payments, RuPay credit cards will be linked to a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) or a UPI ID.
• As a result of this linkage, customers will use credit cards more frequently, which will also enable
merchants access to more customers.
ii.The first banks to launch UPI on RuPay credit cards using the BHIM app are Punjab National Bank (PNB),
Union Bank of India (UBI), and Indian Bank. [BHIM stands for Bharat Interface for Money].
iii.Federal Bank (India) and Lulu Exchange (United Arab Emirates) would be the first to accept BBPS cross-
border bill payments.
iv.The UPI Lite feature is also functional with eight banks, including Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Bank,
Kotak Mahindra Bank, PNB, State Bank of India (SBI), UBI, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.
v.Approximately 50% of UPI transactions as of now are under Rs. 200, demonstrating that the network
depends on small-value transactions to function.
Global Fintech Fest 2022 – 3rd edition
The 3rd edition of the Global Fintech Fest 2022 (GFF 2022) is being organized as a hybrid event by the NPCI,
Payment Council of India (PCI), and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) from September 19-22, 2022, at the Jio
World Convention Center in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Theme for GFF 2022 – “Creating A Sustainable Financial World—Global | Inclusive | Green”
National Corporation of India (NPCI)
MD & CEO – Mr. Dilip Asbe
Headquarters – Mumbai,Maharashtra
ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Launches First Auto Index Fund

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched ICICI Prudential Nifty Auto Index Fund, India’s first Auto Index
Fund to replicate the Nifty Auto Index that has grown at over 14% annually since August 2012.
• The Nifty Auto Fund Offer (NFO) opens on 22nd September 2022 and closes on 6th October 2022.
About ICICI Prudential Nifty Auto Index Fund:
i.The Nifty Auto Index is designed to reflect the behaviour and performance of the automobile segment of the
financial market using free float market capitalization method.
ii.This Index comprises 15 listed companies and represents auto-related sectors such as auto ancillaries and
tyres.
iii.As of 30 August 2022, the top 3 stocks in the index were Mahindra & Mahindra with 19.9 percent, Maruti
Suzuki India with 19.2 percent and Tata Motors with 13.4 percent.
About ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund:
Managing Director & CEO – Nimesh Shah

Aditya Birla Launches Savings-Oriented Life Policy With Cash Bonus Benefit
On 22nd September 2022, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (ABSLI), the life insurance
subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), launched a new-age savings solution ABSLI Akshaya Plan, a
non-linked participating individual savings life insurance plan that offers immediate liquidity option through
cash bonus facility.
• The ABSLI Akshaya plan provides the benefit of comprehensive life insurance cover along with a
regular source of income.
About ABSLI Akshaya Plan:
i.Eligibility – The maximum entry age is 55 years, while the minimum entry age is 30 days
ii.Minimum annualised premium is Rs 24,000 and no limit for the maximum annualised premium.
Benefits:
i.Policyholders can choose from multiple premium payment term options ranging from 6 years, 8 years, 10
years, 12 years, and 15 years.
ii.Additionally, a cash bonus would be payable on the death of the life insured or surrender, or maturity,
whichever is earlier will be provided to the policyholders if declared.
• The cash bonus can be withdrawn by the policyholders from the end of the 1st policy year, thereby
providing regular income.
iii.Policyholders can also avail the benefits of the plan on a long-term basis (25 years, 30 years, 35 years, 40
years) or whole life basis (till the age of 85 years or 100 years).
About Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (ABSLI):
Managing Director (MD) & CEO – Kamlesh Rao
Establishment – 2000 (started operations in 2001)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

India overtakes UK to become world’s 5th Biggest Economy
According to Bloomberg, which has cited GDP (Gross Domestic Product) figures from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), India has overtaken the United Kingdom (UK) to become the fifth largest economy in the
world.
• India pushed the UK to the 6th spot in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest
economy. The calculation is based on US dollars.
• The calculations were done using the IMF database and historic exchange rates on the Bloomberg
terminal.
• According to the IMF forecasts, India is overtaking the UK in dollar terms on an annual basis in 2022,
placing India behind the United States, China, Japan and Germany.
Key Points:
i.The size of the Indian economy with regards to ‘nominal’ cash was USD 854.7 billion during the quarter
through March 2021 on an adjusted basis and using the dollar exchange rate on the last day of the relevant
quarter. In contrast, the UK was at USD 814 billion.
ii.UK is witnessing its worst cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation, the highest in four decades—and a potential
recession that is expected to last well into 2024.
iii.The Indian economy, on the other hand, is forecast to grow more than 7% this year.
iv.A decade ago, India ranked 11th among the largest economies, while the UK was 5th.

World Bank downgrades growth for East Asia and Pacific to 3.2% in 2022
According to the World Bank East Asia And The Pacific Economic Update October 2022: Reforms for Recovery,
Growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific (as whole) is projected to slow to 3.2% in 2022 from 7.2% in
2021, before accelerating to 4.6% in 2023.
• The growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific outside of China is forecast to accelerate to 5.3%
in 2022 from 2.6% in 2021.
• The weaker forecast was due mainly to a sharp slowdown in China, caused by its strict zero-COVID
rules that have disrupted industrial production, domestic sales and exports.
• The other reasons for economic slowdown include capital outflows, higher inflation, higher interest
rates and currency depreciations in some East Asia and Pacific countries.
India’s Q1FY23 GDP Data by NSO: Economy grew 13.5%

As per provisional estimates released by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MOSPI), India’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the April-June quarter (Q1) of the ongoing
FY23 rose 13.5%.
• It fastest in the last four quarters on account of better performance by the agriculture and services
sectors.
• Real GDP at constant (2011-12) prices in Q1 2022-23 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 36.85 lakh
crore, as against Rs 32.46 lakh crore in Q1 2021-22, showing a growth of 13.5% as compared to
20.1% in Q1 2021-22
• The GDP for the preceding January-March quarter (Q4) of 2021-22 had witnessed a growth of 4.1%.
Gross Value Added (GVA):
i.The GVA at basic price at constant terms during the June quarter rose 12.7%. The GVA at Basic Price at
Current Prices rose 26.5% in Q1 2022-23.
ii.The GVA of public administration, defence & other services increased 26.3% while that of trade, hotels,
transport, communication & services related to broadcasting climbed 25.7%.
• The construction segment grew 16.8% while electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services
rose 14.7%.
• Agriculture, forestry & fishing segment saw an increase of 4.5%.
Other Highlights:
i.The last time India’s GDP achieved higher annual growth was in April-June 2021, when it was 20.1% higher
than the pandemic-depressed level of a year before.
ii.Central Government fiscal deficit touched 20.5% of the annual target at the end of July FY23 against 21.3% a
year ago, reflecting improvement in public finance.
iii.In actual terms, the fiscal deficit was Rs 3,40,831 crore during the April-July period this financial year.
iv.Retail inflation has been running above the top of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 2-6%
all year and is set to do so for the rest of 2022.
Fitch Ratings Global Economic Outlook-September 2022: India’s FY23 GDP Growth Forecast Cut
to 7% from 7.8%
Fitch Ratings, a global ratings agency, lowered India’s economic growth forecast for fiscal year 2022–23
(FY23), as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 7%, from its June 2022 forecast of 7.8% in its Global
Economic Outlook–September 2022 special report.
• It now forecasts a further slowdown in India’s GDP in FY24, to 6.7 %, compared to its earlier
projection of 7.4 %.
Key Points:
i.The (Indian) economy recovered in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022, growing 13.5% year-on-year, but falling
short of the rating agency’s June 2022 forecast of 18.5% growth.

ii.Seasonally adjusted forecasts show a 3.33% quarter-on-quarter decline in Q2 2022, which contradicts high-
frequency indicators.
Global Growth
i.Fitch now expects global GDP to rise by 2.4 % in 2022, a 0.5 percentage point (pp) down from the June 2022
estimate, and by just 1.7 % in 2023, a 1 pp decrease.
ii.The Eurozone and the United Kingdom (UK) are now predicted to enter a recession later in 2022, while the
United States (US) is expected to have a mild recession in mid-2023.
• The bigger economic forecast cuts have been made to the Eurozone in response to the natural gas
crisis.
Goldman Cuts India’s Growth Forecast; Morgan Stanley Sees Downside Risks
Goldman Sachs decreased India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the full-year 2022 from
7.6% to 7%, in addition to lowering its forecasts for the current fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) by 20 basis points
from 7.2%.
• The research firm cut its growth projections for India downward after the April–June 2022 quarterly
GDP figures fell short of market expectations.
For FY23, Morgan Stanley’s growth projection of 7.2% for FY23 is subject to a 40 basis point downside risk.
Key Points:
i.In the April–June 2022 quarter, India’s real GDP growth climbed by 13.5% year-on-year, underperforming
economists’ projections of 15.2%.
ii.Sequentially, the pace of GDP growth slowed to a quarter-on-quarter expansion of -3.3% after increasing by
0.5% in the January-March 2022 period.
iii.Despite the fact that the primary drivers of domestic demand met Goldman Sachs’ estimates, a huge drop in
inventories and statistical inconsistencies were unexpected.
iv.India’s GDP fell short of forecasts, partially due to slightly weaker-than-expected investment growth and a
greater drag from net exports.
ADB Cuts India’s GDP Growth Forecast for FY23 to 7.0 %

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its September 2022 update of the report titled “Asian Development
Outlook 2022: Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age”, reduced India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth
forecast for fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) to 7% from 7.2 % earlier, quoting higher-than-expected inflation and
monetary tightening.
Key Points:
i.The Indian economy grew 13.5% year-on-year in the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal year 2022 (FY2022, ending
March 31st 2023), indicating robust expansion in services.
ii.However, the GDP growth estimates are lowered from the forecasts of second supplement to Asian
Development Outlook Report 2022 (ADO 2022) to 7.0% for FY2022 (ending in March 2023) and 7.2% for
FY2023 (ending in March 2024).
• In the first supplement to ADO 2022 in July, it reduced the growth forecast for FY23 to 7.2 per cent
and for FY24 to 7.8 per cent.
• Every year, ADB releases the flagship ADO report in April month. It had then projected the Indian
economy to grow at 7.5 per cent in FY23 and 8 per cent in FY24.
iii.This revision has been made due to the possibility that pricing pressures will have a negative impact on
domestic consumption and that low global demand and high oil prices will hinder net exports.
iv.According to the ADO, the Chinese economy would rise by 3.3 % in 2022, lower than the previously
predicted 5.0 %.

S&P Global Ratings: Retains India’s FY23 GDP Growth at 7.3%
S&P Global Ratings, the world’s leading independent credit rating agency, has retained its forecast for India’s
economic growth in the current fiscal year 2022–2023 (FY23) at 7.3%, stating a low impact of the global
slowdown on its domestically-driven economy.
• It had earlier forecasted 7.8% growth for 2022–2023; however, it decreased that to 7.3% in its
Economic Outlook Asia–Pacific Q3 2022 report, citing inflationary pressures.
• It further forecasts 6.5% real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2023–2024, 6.7% in 2024–
2025, and 6.9% in 2025–2026.
Key Points:
i.S&P Global Ratings estimates that inflation will remain over the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper tolerance
level of 6% until the end of 2022.
ii.According to the rating agency, India’s headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation will be 6.8% in FY23.
• Due to increasing food prices, India’s CPI inflation (retail inflation) increased to 7% in August 2022
from 6.71% in July 2022.
• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation remained at 12.41% in August 2022.
iii.India’s real GDP is estimated to reach Rs. 36.85 lakh crore in first quarter (Q1) of FY23, up from Rs. 32.46
lakh crore in Q1 FY21–22, representing a 13.5% growth. Gross Value Added (GVA) rose by 12.7% in Q1FY23.
OECD Economic Outlook: Retains India’s GDP Growth Forecast of 6.9% For FY23, Lower Than RBI’s
Target
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) retained its forecast of 6.9% GDP
growth for India for the current fiscal year FY23 in its “OECD Economic Outlook-Interim Report September
2022.”
• The OECD forecasts growth of 5.7% for FY24.
• It is to be noted that the OECD forecast for India’s economic growth is lower than the RBI’s estimate
of 7.2% for the entire fiscal year FY23.
According to the report, global growth will remain subdued in the second half of 2022 before declining further
in 2023 to just 2.2% annual growth.
Recent Growth Projections of Indian Economy by Other Agencies/Organizations
i.The RBI forecasts 7.2% growth in the Indian economy in FY23. It grew by 13.5% in the April-June quarter of
2022, falling short of the RBI’s 16.2% estimate.
ii.Fitch Ratings cut its growth forecast for FY23 to 7%, down from 7.8% previously.
iii.The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its forecast to 7% from 7.5%.
iv.India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) lowered its projections to 6.9% from 7%.
v.Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the Chief Economist at the State Bank of India (SBI), has reduced India’s full-year GDP
growth forecast to 6.8% for FY23 from 7.5%.
vi.Citigroup Inc. drastically reduced its forecast for India’s growth for FY23 to 6.7% from 8%, and Goldman
Sachs Group Inc. decreased it to 7% from 7.2%.
Moody’s Analytics: Global Economy to Grow at 2.7% In 2022, 2.3% In 2023
Moody’s Analytics, a financial services firm, has reduced its Global Real GDP forecast to 2.7% in 2022 from
4.2% (January 2022), in its report titled “Global Outlook: Global Economy on Edge”, citing increased stagflation
risks globally.
• Global growth is projected to decline to 2.3% in 2023 from the earlier forecast of 3.6%.
Key Concerns
i.The report claims that stagflation risks have escalated globally, although it would take months before getting
materialized.
• Stagflation is characterised by relatively high unemployment and slow economic growth, often
known as economic stagnation, which is also accompanied by an increase in prices (i.e., inflation).

ii.According to the report, the performance of the world’s major economies—the United States, China, Japan,
India, and the five largest economies in Western Europe—Germany, Russia, France, the United Kingdom (UK),
and Italy—remains uneven.
Gurugram (Haryana)-based rating agency ICRA Limited has projected India’s GDP growth to increase a four-
quarter high 13% in Q1 (April-June) FY23 due to low base of Covid 2.0 and robust recovery in contact-intensive
services. The GDP projection was 4.1% in Q4 FY22.
About Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):
Secretary General – Mathias Cormann
ICRA Maintains India’s GDP Forecast for FY23 at 7.2%

The rating agency ICRA Limited (previously Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India
Limited) maintained its projection of 7.2% growth in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fiscal year
2022–23 (FY23) in its most recent report.
The growth will be boosted by a recovery in contact-intensive services due to pent-up demand and a back-
ended pick-up in government and private capital spending, per ICRA (CapEx).
Key Points:
i.While year-over-year (YOY) growth is anticipated to decelerate from the first quarter (Q1) of FY2023 to Q2
FY2023, it is expected to go up compared to pre-COVID-19 levels of FY2020.
ii.The YoY performance of 12 of the 14 non-financial indicators (excluding ports cargo traffic & finished steel
consumption) declined in July-August 2022 compared to Q1 FY2023, owing to the normalisation of the base
following the relaxation of the COVID-19 2.0 wave.
• Only two indicators—non-oil exports and vehicle registrations—showed a YoY decline in July-
August 2022.
iii.According to estimates, India’s real GDP increased by 13.5% in the Q1 FY23, from Rs. 32.46 lakh crore to Rs.
36.85 lakh crore. Gross value added (GVA) increased by 12.7% in Q1 FY23.
Moody’s Slashes India’s GDP Growth Forecast for 2022 To 7.7%

The credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service, in its Global Macro Outlook 2022-23, slashed India’s GDP
(Gross Domestic Product) growth projection for 2022 to 7.7 %. It has also trimmed India’s GDP forecast for the
year 2023 from 5.4 % to 5.2 %.
• Earlier in May 2022, it forecasted that India’s GDP would rise to 8.8% in 2022.
• Rising interest rates, an uneven monsoon, and declining global growth have all been predicted to
have a sequential impact on economic progress.
Key Highlights
i.After declining 6.7 % in 2020 when the pandemic disrupted the nation, the GDP grew by 8.3 % in 2021.
ii.According to provisional estimates issued by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Indian economy grew
by 13.5% year on year in the April-June quarter of 2022, the fastest pace in a year.
• It is 4.10% above the growth recorded in the March quarter of 2022.
iii.Focusing on the manufacturing and service sectors, Moody’s reported that “corporate-sector deleveraging on
business investment” was the reason for the slowdown of India’s economic growth even before the impacts of
COVID-19 appeared.
iv.In terms of inflation, although it dropped slightly to 6.7% in July 2022, it remains above the RBI’s target
range of 2-6.0% for the seventh straight month.
v.According to Moody’s, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would remain focused in 2022 and retain a relatively
tight policy stance in 2023 to prevent domestic inflationary pressures.
• In August 2022, the RBI hiked the policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.4% for the third time.

v.According to the RBI, the inflation rate will stay high until 2023, at 5.8% in the January-March period and
5.0% in April-May.
Ind-Ra Lowers India’s GDP Growth Forecast for FY23 from 7% To 6.9%; India’s CAD Estimated
to Be 3.4% Of GDP in Q1FY23
India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fitch Group, lowered India’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth forecast for fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) by 10 basis points to 6.9% from 7.0%
previously.
Key Points:
i.Despite stronger-than-expected growth in Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and Gross Fixed
Capital Formation (GFCF) in the April-June quarter (Q1 FY23), Ind-Ra anticipates Government Final
Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) to slowdown and net exports (exports-imports) to decrease in FY23.
• It projects quarterly growth of 7.2%, 4%, and 4.1% in Q2 FY23, Q3 FY23, and Q4 FY23, respectively.
ii.With this, Fitch and Ind-Ra join analysts like SBI Economic Research Division “SBI Ecowrap” (6.8%) in
reducing their growth projection.
iii.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) forecasted that growth will decrease to 6.7% from 7.4% in FY24 (2023–24)
as well.
iv.In August 2022, the Government announced that India’s economy grew by 13.5% in Q1 FY23, the fastest in
the last four quarters.
Ind-Ra Estimates India’s CAD Widened to 3.4% Of GDP in Q1FY23
According to Ind-Ra, the Current Account Deficit (CAD) increased from USD 13.4 billion (1.5% of GDP) in the
January-March quarter (Q4 FY22) to USD 28.4 billion (3.4% of GDP) in the April-June quarter (Q1 FY23).
• In terms of GDP share, this would be the highest in 36 quarters, and in terms of absolute value, it
would be the highest in 38 quarters.
Current Account Deficit (CAD)
A CAD is the difference between the amount of money coming in from exports and the amount leaving the
country through imports. A CAD shows that a nation is importing more than it is exporting.
• It implies a higher demand for dollars, which would cause the value of the rupee to decline.
Key Points:
i.India had a surplus of USD 6.6 billion (0.9% of GDP) in the April-June quarter (Q1) of FY22.
ii.According to Ind-Ra, despite reaching a record high of USD 121.2 billion in Q1 FY23, Merchandise
Exports are expected to slow to USD 104.2 billion in Q2 FY23, a 1.40% increase.
iii.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reduced its forecast for Global GDP growth to 3.2% in 2022 from
3.60%, in its July 2022 update to the World Economic Outlook.
iv.Furthermore, the GDP projections for some of India’s major export destinations, including the United States
(US), the Eurozone, and China, have been revised in a downward direction.
Fitch Ratings, a global ratings agency, in its Global Economic Outlook–September 2022 special report, lowered
India’s economic growth forecast for fiscal year 2022–23 (FY23), as measured by GDP to 7%, from its June
2022 forecast of 7.8%.
SBI trims GDP growth forecast to 6.8% for FY23

The State Bank of India (SBI) Chief Economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh, has slashed India’s full-year GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) growth forecast to 6.8% for FY23 from the earlier 7.5%.
• The reason behind this downward revision is statistical adjustments. On the other hand, it expects
growth momentum to increase in the second half of FY23.
• For Q1FY23, the economist had forecasted GDP growth at 15.7%. In the remaining quarters, GDP
growth will be at 6.9% in Q2FY23, further dropping to 4.1% in Q3 followed by a 4% rate in Q4.

Key Points:
i.India’s real GDP growth is at 13.5% which is contracted by 9.6% sequentially, but the seasonally adjusted real
GDP growth series shows a pick-up with higher growth at 5.6% sequentially in Q1 compared to -4.1% in
Q1FY22 and 1.9% in Q4FY22.
ii.India’s nominal GDP growth came at 26.7% from 32.4% in Q1FY22 and 14.9% in Q4FY22.
iii.During Q1 FY23, the manufacturing sector recorded a growth of 4.8% which is down from 49% in Q1FY23.
iv.The growth rate in construction stood at 16.8% in Q1FY23, a drop from 71.3% in Q1FY22.
• Also, mining and quarrying growth declined to 6.5% from 18% in Q1 of FY22.
v.Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) also released the data for Q1FY23, where the economy grew at
13.5%, a decline from 20.1% in Q1FY22.
India’s UAV ecosystem gets World’s Largest Drone Fund investment of up to USD 40 million
Japan-based USD 170 million Drone Fund (DF), one of the world’s largest Venture capital fund that specialises
in supporting the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ecosystem plans to invest up to USD 40 million in Indian
companies operating in the sector.
Japan’s largest drone manufacturer, ACSL ( Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd), has tied up with an
Indian Company, Aerodyne India. Currently, Drone Fund (DF) also has a manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu.
Key Highlights:
i.Soki Ohmae, the DF Co-founder and Managing Partner made a joint venture partnership with Arjun
Aggarwal, Managing Director (MD) of Aerodyne India, to promote make-in India and expressed Japan’s
tremendous faith in Indian Technology.
ii.In order to tackle the issue of battery shortage faced by the drone industry, Aerodyne focused to set up its
own battery manufacturing unit in India.
iii. The Primary focus of DF is to invest in agro drones to increase crop page through scientific methods that
can help drones to enable. The aim of this work is to revolutionise the agriculture method.
Note: Due to Chinese-made-Drone being found to have some security weaknesses, Indian UAVs got this huge
fund.
5 PSLV rockets to build by HAL-L&T Consortium & bags Rs 860 crore deal from NSIL
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) were given Rs 860 crore to
build 5 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs) rockets, the versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India and the
contract has been signed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• This project was announced on 5th
September 2022, at the 7th edition of the
biennial Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX-2022)
which was organised by the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII) in association with
ISRO.
• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), under the
Department of Space (DoS) and ISRO, has
signed a service level agreement with the
industry for production.
Key Highlights:
i. Since 1990, ISRO provides satellite launch services through PSLV carried out more than 52 successful flights
and rockets, and achieved its operational status.
ii. 104 satellites have been injected by PSLV and made a world record in September 2016.
iii. To undertake end-to-end production of PSLV, the HAL-L&T consortium emerged and became the technically
qualified L1 bidder and it was approved by the Government to increase the authorised share capital of NSIL
from Rs 1,000 crore-Rs 7,500 crore.

Note: According to the report, NSIL plans for the release of an entirely-built GSLV-MK III rocket from Indian
industry partners.
Reliance Industries will build the World’s largest Carbon Fibre Plant by 2025 in Gujarat
Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has announced to build of India’s first and
one of the world’s largest Carbon Fibre Plant in Hazira, Gujarat. The plant’s 1st phase will be completed by
2025.
• The plant, based on Acrylonitrile feedstock, will have a capacity of 20,000 Metric Tonnes Per Annum
(MTPA).
• The investment of RIL is Rs 75,000 crore over the next 5 years in RILs Oil-to-Chemical (O2C)
business to expand capacities in existing and new value chains. The value chains are- Polyester value
chain, Vinyl chain, and New Materials.
• He also announced to build one of the world’s largest single-train Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA)
plant of 3 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity at Dahej, Gujarat.
Sachin Bansal’s Navi Technologies gets SEBI nod for IPO, To raise up to Rs 3,350 crore
Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal’s Navi Technologies, a tech-driven financial products and services start-up
received the approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its Rs 3,350 crore Initial
Public Offer (IPO).
• The company filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) to raise Rs 3,350 via an IPO in March
2022.
• According to the DRHP, of the total Rs 3,350 crore that it plans to raise from the public issue, Rs
2,370 crore will be invested in Navi Finserv and Rs 150 crore will be infused into the general
insurance arm. The rest will be used for overall expansion plans.
Note: Founded by Sachin Bansal and Ankit Agarwal in 2018.
Amazon India launches ‘AmazeWIT Circles’ to upskill women in technology

Amazon India launched ‘AmazeWIT Circles’, which is a unique networking and virtual event to educate
women and prepare them for careers in technology.
• AmazeWIT Circles helps women to enhance their skills and provides leadership sessions focusing on
topics ranging from data structures, coding, algorithms etc.
It is designed for software development engineers, which covers topics relevant to technical
upliftment and sustained career development.
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS

IOM-UN Migration signs MOU with CII; CII to adopt over 35,000 TB patients as part of TB
eradication program
On September 16, 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the United Nations (UN)-
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to collaborate on
strengthening the safe migration of Indian citizens.
Signatories:
Sanjay Awasthi, IOM’s Head of Office; and Sougata Roy Choudhary, CII’s Executive Director
Objective:
To create opportunities for these two entities to collaborate on a range of initiatives related to the safe, orderly,
and regular migration of Indian skilled professionals and youth internationally.

Key Points:
i.Under this MoU, IOM will offer a range of opportunities to CII to further its commitment regarding global
migration of skilled professionals.
ii.On the other hand, CII will bring on board its ongoing initiatives around skills training and equipping
professionals for employment opportunities within India and internationally.
iii.IOM is part of the United Nations (UN) as the leading inter-governmental organization promoting humane
and orderly migration for the benefit of all, since 1951. It has 174 member states and a presence in over 100
countries.
CII to adopt over 35,000 TB patients as part of TB eradication program
The CII has decided to adopt over 35,000 tuberculosis (TB) patients by providing nutritional support. In this
regard, it is working closely with Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
• This adoption is a part of the Central Government’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, and to eradicate TB
from India by 2025 through TB Free Workplaces Campaign.
• It has committed over Rs 25 crore for the same.
• CII signed an MoU with the Central TB Division in 2020, to catalyse private sector participation.
i.CII signed MoU with the Nagaland Government to collaborate and unleash the potential of entrepreneurial
talents in Nagaland. The MoU was signed at the Nagaland CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) & Investment
Conclave 2022 in Kohima, Nagaland.
ii.The 17th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Exim Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership was
held in New Delhi, Delhi on July 19-20, 2022 in Hybrid format. It was organized by CII in partnership with
Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI); and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):
President– Sanjiv Bajaj (2022-23)
Director-General– Chandrajit Banerjee
JMC Projects signed contract with Maldives for Hanimaadhoo International Airport Project
On 26 September 2022, JMC Projects (India) Limited signed an agreement with the Government of Maldives for
the Maldives Hanimaadhoo International Airport Project. The estimated contract value is around USD 136
million.
• It is the first ever largest infrastructure project to be undertaken outside of Greater Malé region
signed under concessional credit between Maldives and India.
• It is funded under the USD 800 million concessional Line of Credit (LoC) extended by Government of
India to the Maldives.
• The project is funded through the USD 800 million concessional Line of Credit(LoC) from EXIM Bank
of India signed in 2019.
• The project is scheduled to kick off later in 2022 and will be completed in 2024.
Signatories:
The agreement was signed by Managing Director of Regional Airports, Mohammed Rizvi, on behalf of the
Maldives government and JMC’s Vice-President, KS Reddy, at a ceremony held on September 26, 2022.
About the Project:
i.Under the project, India will build a 2.46 km (kilometre) runway as well as a terminal that can serve 1.3
million people every year.
ii.The project includes major infrastructure and operational upgrades on the airside, landside and building
infrastructure. Facilites required to further expand international flights will also be established.
iii. Hanimaadhoo Airport project includes the 10,230 square metre(m) building including land and seaside
connectivity and passenger facilities.
iv.Under this project, the existing Runway will be extended to 2460 m from the current 1350 m and a total

apron of approximate area of 58,000 Sqm has been designed to cater to operations at the Airport.
The building of the airport will be incorporating Maldivian art and heritage.
Key Points:
i.The development of Hanimaadhoo international airport will also ease the immense pressure on Male’
international airport, and contribute to a more even distribution of the fruits of Maldivian tourism industry.
ii.The Project will transform the economic landscape of the North of Maldives.
About Maldives:
Capital-Malé
President- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Currencies- United States Dollar, Maldivian rufiyaa
ICAO Signs MoU with International Solar Alliance

On September 26, 2022, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the International Solar
Alliance (ISA) headquartered at Haryana, India and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during
the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
Objective of MoU :- to check the growth of CO2 emissions in the aviation sector and also to reduce carbon
emissions.
• The MoU was signed by Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of ICAO, and Mr. Joshua Wycliffe,
Chief of Operations of ISA.
• It was concluded in the presence of Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation of India,
H.E. Monsieur Clement Beaunne, Minister of Transport of France, and Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano,
President of the ICAO Council.
India’s Target:-
• India sets Net Zero Carbon goal in 2070 in COP 26.
• India also set a target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy of which 100 GW will be solar
energy by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030.
Note – Cochin International Airport in India became the world’s first fully Solar powered airport in the world in
2015
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
i.The ISA is a collaborative platform for enhanced deployment of solar energy technology in its member
countries as a means of boosting energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition.
ii.It was conceived by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former French President Francois Hollande on
the occasion of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France in 2015.
iii.Since then, it has been joined by 121 “sunshine countries” as signatory countries lying between the Tropics
of Cancer and Capricorn, as well as 32 partner organizations, including various United Nations (UN)
organizations.
Note: Dr. Ajay Mathur is the Director General of ISA.
About International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):
Secretary General – Juan Carlos Salazar
Headquarters – Montreal, Canada
NHPC inks MoU with PTC India Limited for sale of power to be generated from upcoming West Seti &
Seti River-6 Projects in Nepal
On 30 August 2022, NHPC Limited (formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PTC India Limited (formerly Power Trading Corporation of India
Limited) at NHPC Corporate Office, Faridabad, Haryana for sale of power to be generated from upcoming West
Seti & Seti River-6 Projects in Nepal.

Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Abhay Kumar Singh, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), NHPC and Dr. Rajib K.
Mishra, CMD, PTC India Limited.
Key people:
R.P. Goyal, Director (Finance), Biswajit Basu, Director (Projects), V.R. Shrivastava, Executive Director (SBD&C)
from NHPC and Harish Saran, Executive Director (Commercial & Operations) etc were also present.
About the MoU:
i.Under the agreement, PTC India will purchase the Contracted Capacity from NHPC from the date of
commercial operation of above Projects for onward sale to the State Utilities/Discoms/Bulk Consumers on long
term basis in India and neighbouring countries.
ii.PTC will also endeavour to sell any untied capacity on medium/short term basis or on power exchanges.
Background:-
NHPC signed an MoU with the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR)
and development of West Seti (750 MW) and Seti River 6 (450 MW) projects in Nepal.
• It will invest more than ₹18,000 crore in Nepal to develop the two hydropower projects.
About NHPC Limited:
Founded- 1975
Headquarters-Faridabad, Haryana
CMD- Abhay Kumar Singh
Vitamin Angels India partners with UNICEF India for ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022’; to combat
under-nutrition in India
Vitamin Angels India announced a partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) India for ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022’ (Poshan Maah 2022) to address under-nutrition in
the country.The partnership will extend into the launch of the Poshan Innovation Platform (PIP) in January
2023 with the same aim (to fight with undernutrition).
Aim:
• Under the Government’s Poshan Maah campaign, the partnerships aim to spread nutrition-related
awareness.
• Also to improve the nutritional status of mothers and children under 5 years.
Aim of Poshan Innovation Platform (PIP):
• The PIP aims to develop continuous sandboxing of ideas, mentoring by experts, and seed funding by
the private sector.
• The initiative calls for ideas for innovations around Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition
(MIYCN) interventions from across the country.
About ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022’:
The campaign ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah ’ is annually celebrated in the full month of September (1 to 30) across
India by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), which was launched in 2018.The ‘Rashtriya
Poshan Maah 2022’ is the 5th year of the campaign.
Key Highlights:
i.The activities on nutrition-related awareness are primarily focused on vulnerable communities with low
awareness of nutritional security.
ii. The 5th National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2019-2021) has indicated a slight improvement in
undernutrition indicators, but several other associated factors of deficiencies in children continued to be major
challenges.
AICTE partners with Adobe to Advance Digital Literacy in India

On 31st August 2022, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) signed a partnership agreement
with Adobe to accelerate digital creativity skills across India.

• The agreement was signed in commemoration of 75 years of Independence of India, in the presence
of Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE and Prativa Mohapatra, Vice President & Managing
Director, Adobe India.
Aim
The partnership between AICTE and Adobe aims to empower over 75,000 educators across 10,000 higher
education institutions in India with essential digital creativity skills by 2024 with access to Adobe Express.
Highlights:
i.Under the agreement, Adobe will provide courses and expertise for upskilling educators, and integrate digital
creativity into the curriculum, to prepare students with the essential digital literacy skills.
ii.The program also partnered with the AICTE Training and Learning Academy (ATAL) to provide support for
the professional, creative development of faculty members and students of participating institutes.
iii.Adobe Express is a new web and mobile-based app, with thousands of templates customised for education, it
helps teachers and students to create and share everything from science fair posters to infographics,
presentations, videos etc.
Note: Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of UGC (University Grant Commission), will take charge as the interim
Chairman of AICTE from 1st September 2022.
About All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE):
Founded-1945
India & Madagascar signed MoU on Training of Diplomats

On 12 September 2022, India and Madagascar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the training
of diplomats between India and Madagascar.
The agreement was signed between the Sushma Swaraj
Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) under the Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) of India and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Madagascar.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed between H.E. Richard
Randriamandrato, Foreign Affairs Minister of Madagascar
and Abhay Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Madagascar
during a special ceremony organized at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Republic of Madagascar on 12 September
2022.
Highlights:
i.The agreement helps in enhancing cooperation between India and Madagascar to facilitate better training of
diplomats.
ii.It will also encourage the exchange of information and content of training programmes for diplomats.
About Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS):
i.The Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) is the civil service training institute where Indian
Foreign Service officers are trained.
ii.The institute functions under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
Dean- Sanjiv Ranjan
Located- New Delhi, Delhi
Established in-1986
About Madagascar:
Capital-Antananarivo
Currency-Malagasy ariary
President-Andry Rajoelina

WRI India, AEDA launches Online Geospatial Platform for Assam in Guwahati
On 31 August, 2022, the World Resource institute (WRI) India in partnership with Assam Energy
Development Agency (AEDA) inaugurated an online based, open source, and interactive Geospatial platform
which is referred to as Energy Access Explorer (EAE) for Assam.
• EAE was inaugurated in Guwahati. It helps to visualise the extent of energy access at
Assam’s health, education, and livelihood infrastructures.
Key highlights:
i.The Geospatial platform claims to assist policy-makers, renewable energy industry entrepreneurs,
investors, and researchers from the development sector to expand energy access in the state.
ii.Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) (Government of India) attempted to supply high quality and
dependable energy for rural and concrete areas.
iii. In the past decade, 37.7% of health sub-centres and 41% of schools in rural Assam lack access to reliable
and sustainable power, while Assam made great strides in electricity provisioning to homes.
iv.The Central and State Government of India have identified the necessity to improve liveliness entry to the
nation.
v.The leverage data will be provided by the platform and create a scenario of viability and affordability for
consumers.
Note:
Director of AEDA: Mrinal Krishna Chaudhury.
CEO of WRI: Om Prakash Agarwal
About Assam:
CM: Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
Festival: Bohag Bihu; Kati Bihu
BEL Signs MoU with Smiths Detection for High-Energy Scanning Systems
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Defence public sector undertaking (PSU) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Smiths Detection Group Ltd., a threat detection and security inspection
technologies company, to offer advanced, high-energy scanning systems to the Indian market.
The MoU is for a period of 5 years and can be extended further.
Key highlights:
i.The MoU, signed in line with ‘Make in India’ initiative, will leverage the high-end, technological capabilities of
both the firms to meet India’s security needs.
ii.According to the agreement, BEL will handle front-end requirements in the market, supporting the
localisation of projects whereas Smiths Detection will provide its expertise and screening technology for the
project.
Note – To facilitate the ease of doing business and enhance safety, the Indian government is investing in port
and land border security.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):
Chairman & Managing Director (MD) – Dinesh Kumar Batra
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
PwC partners with Coursera to bridge skill gap in taxation space

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an international professional service firm, has partnered with Coursera,
United States(US) based global learning platform, to address India’s current and future skill gap in the taxation
space.

Objective:
The partnership aims to make future professionals of India job-ready and provide technical abilities and
required skills.
Key points:
i.PwC in collaboration with Coursera will develop two entry-level skilled certificates – GST (Goods and Services
Tax) Tax Executive and Direct Tax Executive. These are aimed at achieving skilling at scale and creating larger
employment alternatives.
ii.The entry-level professional certificates will take around 24 weeks to finish.
• These certificates will offer a foundational understanding of the GST and Direct tax practices
through projects and instructions and equip them with the knowledge required for beginners’ roles
in the field.
iii.These programs will be launched in September 2022 and early 2023.
iv.PwC will also be working with Coursera to ascertain a ‘Tax Academy’, a data hub that will be equipped India’s
taxation professionals.
About Coursera:
Founded-2012
Headquarters-California, United State (US)
CEO-Jeff Maggioncalda
DICV, IIT Madras Incubation Cell partner to accelerate future mobility solutions
On 2 September 2022, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Private Limited (DICV), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG (Daimler Truck) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian
Institute Technology (IIT) Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) to set up a technology epicentre to identify mid
to long-term solutions necessary for the future of Mobility.
• The partnership coined as DICV-IITMIC was inaugurated at the IIT Madras Research Park in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• DICV is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) from the Indian automotive space that has
partnered with an academia like IITMIC for mobility solutions.
Key points:
i.DICV in association with IITMIC will identify, mentor and provide opportunities to Indian technology start-up
companies who will work towards finding futuristic solutions for the mobility space.
Note: under this new initiative, 2 startups, Tutr Hyperloop and Ozone Motors, have been identified.
About DICV-IITMIC:
i.The DICV and IITMIC Incubator will jointly incubate Indian technology start-ups working in the areas of future
mobility.
• They will also co-incubate 10-15 star ups in the areas related to mobility, manufacturing, IoT
(Internet of Things) and sustainability at their incubator
ii.The main focus will be on various aspects including de carbonisation (Electric, Hydrogen), Road safety
(ADAS-based safety technologies), Efficiency (Autonomous, connected vehicles, Data Analytics), Ecosystem
creation (Truck as a Service) and prepare the industry for paradigm shifts in supply chain and logistics,
manufacturing, product development and other allied areas.
iii.DICV-IITMIC will leverage commercial vehicles domain expertise of DICV and academic proficiency of IITMIC
to strengthen the innovation and startup ecosystem across India.
About Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV):
MD & CEO-Satyakam Arya
Headquarters- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Founded- 2009

Codeshare Pact between IndiGo and Virgin Atlantic for Network Expansion
On 31 August 2022 India’s largest airline IndiGo and British carrier Virgin Atlantic signed a new codeshare
agreement to widen the network of the airline. It is IndiGo’s 7th codeshare with Virgin Atlantic.
The Codeshare flights will be available for booking for travel beyond September 27, 2022.
• IndiGo has signed similar agreements with Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air
France, KLM (Netherlands), Qantas (Australia) and American Airlines.
• The initial codeshare destinations in India are Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai.
• The additional codeshare destinations will be Kochi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Pune, Coimbatore,
Nagpur, Vadodara, Indore, and Visakhapatnam.
Airtel partnered with Odisha to offer Bill Payment Solution

Bharti Airtel launched a project in partnership with Tata Power Northern Odisha Distribution Limited
(TPNODL), a joint venture(JV) between Tata Power and the Government of Odisha to offer bill payment
solutions to over 2 million registered customers. The initiative will mobilise the 4,000 banking points of Airtel
Payment Banks (APB) in North Odisha to facilitate bill payment. The customers of TPNOLD need to visit the
store and provide their contact numbers and consumer numbers at the banking point.
• The front-end solutions are managed by Airtel Payments Bank and the back-end connectivity will be
monitored by Airtel IQ. Airtel IQ is the world’s first network-integrated Communication Platform
as a Service (CPaaS) ecosystem.
• TPNODL has facilitated electricity bill payment through various physical avenues like Mo Seba
Kendra, CSC, empowering digital payment options through BBPS, TPNODL Website, and My TATA
POWER App.
GoI Extends Ceasefire Agreement with The NSCN-K Niki Group for Another Year, Until
September 2023
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI), has granted a one-year extension to the
cease-fire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) Niki group, a
split-off faction of the Naga insurgency organisation NSCN, with effect from September 8, 2022, to September 7,
2023.
• The ceasefire agreement between the GoI and the NSCN (K) Niki has been in effect for a year, from
September 2021.
Background
i.The NSCN was formed in 1980 but split into two groups NSCN-K & NSCN-IM in 1988.
• The NSCN-K was founded by Myanmar-based SS Khaplang in 1988 after detaching from NSCN.
• The NSCN-IM was formed by Isak Chishi Swu of Nagaland and Thuingaleng Muivah of Manipur that
called itself NSCN (IM).
ii.The NSCN (K) is commanded by Niki Sumi, against whom the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has
announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for killing 18 Indian Army soldiers in Manipur’s Chandel district in 2015.
Key Points:
i.On August 3, 2015, in the presence of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, MHA signed a framework
agreement with the prominent Naga group NSCN-IM to find a long-term solution.
• The negotiations with the group have so far failed since the GoI has rejected the NSCN- IM’s demand
for a separate Naga flag and constitution.
ii.The GoI has also held peace talks with NSCN breakaway groups in an effort to uphold stability and security in
the region.
iii.The groups that have signed cease-fire agreements include: NSCN- Neopao Konyak/Kitovi (NSCN-NK),
NSCN- Reformation (NSCN-R), NSCN K-Khango, and NSCN (K) Niki.

About Nagaland:
Chief Minister (CM) – Neiphiu Rio
Governor – Prof Jagdish Mukhi
Festivals – Tsukhenyie Festival; Surkenye Festival
Dance – Modse; Agurshikukula
NIESBUD, IIE and ISB signed MoU to offer Entrepreneurial programmes to India’s youth
The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian
Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), autonomous Organisations under the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), individually signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian School
of Business (ISB) to provide world-class management education through entrepreneurial programmes targeted
towards youth, job seekers and budding entrepreneurs.
What is in the MoU?
i.The agreement will enable the development and implementation of two programmes: Business Foundations
& Entrepreneurial Skills and Behavioural Skills Programme by ISB faculty and industry experts.
ii.Under this partnership, NIESBUD and IIE will drive the enrolment of youth, job seekers and entrepreneurs on
the ISB LMS (Learning Management System), across the 2 training programmes. On completion of the courses,
a joint course certificate will be provided to the participants.
iii.The partnership is in line with the vision of creating a holistic environment to support entrepreneurship and
skill development, making India the Skill Capital of the World.
About Training Programmes:
i.The Business Foundations & Entrepreneurial Skills programme–
• Under the programme introduction to microeconomics and macroeconomics and foundational
aspects of business are covered through marketing management, operations management,
competitive strategy, negotiation analysis and basics of finance.
• The entrepreneurial skills are provided through entrepreneurial orientation, understanding the
start-up development pipeline and identifying market needs, problems, and opportunities.
ii.The Behavioural Skills Programme-
• It is aimed at empowering youth with a range of skills and strategies to enhance their personal and
workplace effectiveness.
• The course will include building self-awareness, inculcating growth mindset, effective verbal & non-
verbal communications, presentation & public speaking, art of networking, building personal brand,
art of storytelling, intro to technology etc.
Note-
• NIESBUD is located in Noida, NCR of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
• IIE is located in Guwahati, Assam.
• ISB is located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Indian Army’s Western Command & NTPC Signed PPA for Solar Power
The Indian Army’s Western Command(WC) has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
with NTPC Limited(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited) to
draw 25MW (Megawatt) solar power directly from the National Solar Grid of India for the next 27 years.
• The solar energy for the Western command will be sourced from Sholapur, Maharashtra.
• The PPA was signed at the Command Headquarters in Chandimandir, Haryana between NTPC
officials and officers of Western Command.
Key Points:
i.The deal with NTPC will support the WC to decarbonise around 38% of its energy portfolio and accumulate
substantial savings for the government.
ii.This is also in line with the National Solar Mission of the Indian Government, as it weans off the outdated

coal-based thermal energy that has been provisioned so far. The tariff rate of thermal energy is higher
compared to solar energy.
Karnataka Signs MoU with Dell to Impart Cyber Safety Practices

On 12th September 2022 Karnataka government’s cyber centre of excellence in cyber security CySecK and Dell
Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create enhanced cybersecurity practices
across KN, especially for students.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of the Minister for Higher Education and Information
Technology (IT), Biotechnology (BT) C N Ashwath Narayan at Vikasa Soudha, Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
Key highlights:
i.This MoU will help in imparting cyber security awareness and also practices to students, startups and public
offices. This will also benefit small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
ii.Dell provides learning of cyber safety practices through its interactive courses that would be available both in
Kannada and English.
• Dell also has the objective of contributing to the startup ecosystem through its ‘Ascend’ initiative.
• The Ascend initiative aims to provide a variety of resources and opportunities to contribute, learn,
and discover about the interconnected systems of biodiversity, climate change, chemical pollution,
soil and human health.
iii.This cyber security system is an important part in making Karnataka a USD 300 billion digital economy by
2025.
Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi & UP sign pact for passenger vehicle movement
Haryana, NCT(National Capital Territory)-Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (UP) signed the Status of
Combined Reciprocal Common Transport Agreement (CRCTA) for State Contract Carriage and Stage Carriage
among these governments.
• The status of the agreement was discussed during the a meeting of the Commissioner of Transport
Secretaries/Commissioners of NCR (CoTS) held on 19th September 2022 under the Chairpersonship
of Archana Agrawal, Member Secretary, National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).
• The agreement will ensure seamless movement of passenger vehicles in the NCR.
About CRCTA:
Under CRCTA, There will be single point taxation for all motor cabs/taxis/auto rickshaw; all Stage carriage
buses, all State Transport Undertakings (STUs) of NCR, including city bus services.
It will encourage shifts of traffic from private vehicles to mass public transport vehicles and will help to ease
traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.
Key points of discussion:
i.Inter-state road connectivity among National Capital Region (NCR) states- (Haryana, NCT Delhi, Rajasthan and
UP ) road safety and possibilities of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)/Electric buses in the region were discussed
in the meeting.
ii.The meeting also discussed ensuring vehicle location tracking devices and speed governors in all vehicles
under CRCTA.
• The rules for motor vehicle aggregators for NCR will be compliant with Motor Vehicle Aggregators
Guidelines-2020 of MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways).
iii.The NCR states were requested to compile data on the black spots in the region along with locations of pan-
tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, emergency trauma care centres along MDR, National Highways, State Highways and
Expressways in NCR.

Vedanta & Foxconn sign MoU with Gujarat government for Rs 1.54 Lakh Crore Semiconductor
Unit
On 13th September 2022, Vedanta, an Indian multinational mining company and
Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Government of Gujarat to set up a semiconductor and display FAB (a semiconductor fabrication
plant) manufacturing unit in the state.
• The MoU has been signed to set up a Rs 1.54 lakh crore (USD 19.5 billion) manufacturing unit in
the Coastal State (near the city of Ahmedabad. Gujarat).
• The agreement was signed in the presence of the Union Minister for Railways, Communications,
Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in Gandhinagar.
• The Gujarat government will also extend fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and benefits as outlined
under the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy-2022. Gujarat is the only state to have such a policy
exclusively for the semiconductor industry
Key Highlights:
i. As per the MoU, Vedanta will hold a majority equity stake in the Joint Venture (JV) and Foxconn will be the
minority shareholder.
ii. According to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the venture would create more than 1 lakh job
opportunities.
iii. The Indian government will expand an initial USD 10 billion incentive plan for those investing in
semiconductor manufacturing.
iv. After the International consortium ISMC (Indian Standard Medium Channel) and Singapore-based IGSS
(Interactive Graphical SCADA System) Ventures, Vedanta is the 3rd company to announce a chip plant location
in India.
TDB Extends Support for Indigenous Component Manufacturing in Defence Sector

The Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body under the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) has entered into an agreement with the Ghaziabad Precision Products Private
Limited (GPP), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, to support manufacturing of indigenous components critical to
SUKHOI-30MK1 (SU-30MK1) Aircraft & 1500 HP Battle Tank Engine.
• The agreement emphasizes on “Development through critical machining and inspection process of
accessory components of SU-30MK1 Aircraft—Rotary Pipe Union & Cover respectively, valve train
components of the 1500 HP Battle Tank Engine, and valve train components of Regular BEML
Engines.”
Out of the total project cost of Rs. 14.2 crore, the TDB-DST has approved assistance of Rs. 5.5 crore to support
this public-private initiative in the defence sector.
Key Points:
i.Through this project, GPP aims to set up a facility for the development and supply of critically machined
accessory components of ‘SU-30MK1’ to Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd (HAL).
ii.The valve train components of 1500 HP 12V, 25 Litres capacity diesel engine of Armoured Fighting Vehicle
(AFV) to be developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.
iii.The regular Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) engine has been entrusted to BEML, an Indian Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• As a registered vendor with both HAL and BEML, GPP will take part in the import substitution
process for some of the components through this project.
Government Initiatives in Defence Sector
i.The “SRIJAN” portal was developed by the MoD to support its flagship “Make in India” initiative and to
encourage indigenization in the defence sector.

• The portal has received a total of 19,509 defence products for indigenization that were previously
imported.
ii.From 2018–19 to 2020–21, the import burden has decreased and expenditure on defence procurement from
foreign sources have reduced from 46 % to 36 %.
iii.Furthermore, the value of production for both public and private sector defence companies have climbed
from Rs 79,071 crore to Rs 84,643 crore.
Note: Secretary of TDB – Rajesh Kumar Pathak
Panchayati Raj ministry & IRMA signed MoU to work towards SDGs
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), and the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions across India.
What is in the MoU?
i.The agreement will establish a framework under which MoPR and IRMA will collaborate in the area of Gram
Panchayat Development Planning for Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) through
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
ii.Under the agreement both MoPR and IRMA will work together to find gaps and possible solutions to
overcome gaps in the preparation of model Gram Panchayat Development Plan(GPDP) linkages with LSDGs.
• It will also bring the nine themes of LSDGs to the grassroots by linking with GPDP.
iii.The IRMA will provide inputs to MoPR based on field experience gathered by their students/ interns as and
when required for the policy interventions in LSDGs and other PRI related matters.
About Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR):
Union Minister-Giriraj Singh (Constituency-Begusarai, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS)-Kapil Moreshwar Patil
Mastercard Partners with UNDP on free of charge startup program – Lighthouse MASSIV
Mastercard established a partnership with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) on Mastercard’s Lighthouse MASSIV program, a free startup partnership program that
will help to secure the lives of over 1 billion people by 2025.
• MASSIV stands for Make and Scale Social Impact Vision.
Key highlights:
i.The main aim of the program is to support impact tech companies on their impact measurement and
management and connect them to the UN network and initiatives.
ii.With this initiative, Mastercard and UNDP will focus on sustainability, financial inclusion, and social impact
focused companies which will play a key role in attaining 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Members on the board:
The UNDP representative Stine Kirstein Junge, Private Sector Advisor at UNDP Nordic Office has been added
to the official Lighthouse MASSIV Advisory Board to increase the impact measurement throughout the
program.
• Other representatives on the board are from Swedbank, Danske Bank, VNTRS, and Nordic Impact
Funds.
About the partnership:
i.After this partnership, the startups that are participating will benefit with high quality impact measurement
and management advisory support.
ii.Previously, the impact measurement and management has been a part of the Expert Workshop, a program
element where companies get support on various expertise areas such as geographical expansion, UX design,
marketing, and commercialization.

About Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV:
Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program, which was launched in 2019, has featured many companies that
focused on solving complex global challenges, including climate change, poverty, and social and economic
exclusion.
• The program mainly focuses on the Nordic and Baltic regions, from where 27 impact tech
companies in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia were benefitted.
Meghalaya & Tamil Nadu Signs MoU for Recruitment & Training of Medical Professionals
The Government of Meghalaya (GoM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of
Tamil Nadu (GoTN) for supporting Meghalaya in recruitment and training of medical professionals.
• This is a first-of-its-kind medical partnership between the two Indian states for collaboration on
knowledge sharing, capacity building and improving health service delivery.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Health Secretary, Government of Meghalaya and Dr. P
Senthil Kumar, Principal Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Meghalaya’s Health
Minister James P.K Sangma.
About the MoU:
This MoU is part of Meghalaya’s efforts to improve its health indicators and other health initiatives including
Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme (CM-SMS) under the rescue mission initiative to reduce Maternal
Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) that aims at strengthening and ensuring safe deliveries
in remote areas.
• It has also been initiated as part of the GoM’s Service Delivery Redesign (SDR) that aims in creating
accessible healthcare in remote areas.
Key highlights:
i.The MoU will facilitate training of doctors, especially in remote Community Health Centres(CHCs), to
overcome the shortage of certified and trained medical professionals for several critical functions, including
ultrasonography, obstetrics and anesthesiology.
ii.This aims to provide better antenatal and postpartum care to expecting women and to women after delivery,
particularly at the public health facilities in remote areas.
iii.The MoU plans to upgrade all the CHCs in Meghalaya as First Referral Units (FRUs) by overcoming medical
specialists’ shortages in CHCs. To address this shortage, GoTN will offer training to state doctors.
MoYAS signs MoU with NTPC & REC; 2 PSUs pledge Rs 215 crore to NSDF
On 14th September 2022, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation
Limited, and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) with the 2 Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) pledging Rs
215 crore to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) in New Delhi for the development of sports in
India.
• MoU was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh
Thakur and Union Minister of Power RK Singh, the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC,
Gurdeep Singh, and the CMD of REC, Vivek Kumar Dewangan.
Key Highlights:
i.NTPC contributes Rs 115 crore over the next 5 years to support the Archery discipline in India.
ii.Out of a total of Rs 115 crore, Rs 15 crore will be incurred as a one-time expenditure towards preparations of
field targets, setting up of training centres and equipment like bow and arrow. The remaining Rs 100 crore will
be used as recurring expenditure in five years (Rs 20 crore per year) towards the development of archery.
iii. REC committed an amount of Rs 100 crore over 3 years to support Women’s Hockey, Athletics and Boxing.
iv.The support towards NSDF has come through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate.

v.NTPC is the largest power-generating company in India. Whereas, REC is a Navratna Central PSU under the
Ministry of Power.
vi.NTPC and REC have adopted both sports and athletes. And they will support Grassroots development of
sports, training of identified talent, training of elite talent, coach development, sports science support, advanced
training and more.
Google Cloud & Nasscom partner to skill students for entry-level Cloud jobs
Google Cloud in collaboration with FutureSkills Prime, a Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
(MeitY) and NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) Digital Skilling Initiative, has
launched the first cohort of its computing foundations with the Kubernetes course.
AIM:
The beginner-level course aims to provide an opportunity for the participants to experience cloud computing,
cloud basics, big data and machine learning (ML).
About the course:
i.The course will be offered free to students at higher education Institutions and freshers seeking to skill
themselves on emerging technologies.
ii.It will provide individuals an introduction to cloud computing covering cloud basics, big data etc.
• The course will provide hands-on training through the Google Cloud Skills Boost platform, for
diverse career paths including IT infrastructure, data analytics, and Cloud-native application
development, among others.
iii.After completing the programme, participants will get a course completion certificate along with
industry-recognised skill badges.
Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment,
scaling and management.
Redington India, Google Cloud enter into tie-up for drive distribution
Redington Ltd has partnered with Google Cloud India to drive the distribution and adoption of Google
Workspace and Cloud with small and medium businesses.
i.This partnership aims to address the demand for Google Cloud-based services in India as the public
cloud services market is expected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 24 % and
reach up to USD 13.5 billion by 2026.
ii.The collaboration will help to enhance the procurement and delivery of relevant cloud services in
India.
MOD Signs Contract with BAPL for Dual-Role Surface-To-Surface BrahMos Missile
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) signed a contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL) for the purchase of
additional dual-role capable Surface-to-Surface BrahMos missiles at an approximate cost of Rs.1700 Crore
under the “Buy-Indian” Category, giving more momentum to Aatmanirbharta in the defence sector.
• BAPL enhances the new generation of Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs) with increased range and
dual function capability for land and anti-ship attacks.
Note – The name ‘BrahMos’ signifies the Brahmaputra river in India and the Moskva river in Russia.
Potential Outcomes
• The acquisition of these dual-role capable missiles will greatly improve the operational capability of
fleet assets used by the Indian Navy (IN).
• With the active participation of indigenous industry, this contract will significantly increase
indigenous production of vital weapons systems and ammunition.
About BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.(BAPL)
BAPL was established as a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO),
India, and the Joint Stock Company “Military Industrial Consortium” of “NPO Mashinostroyenia” (NPOM)

[earlier known as Federal State Unitary Enterprise], Russia.The company is in charge of designing, developing,
manufacturing, and marketing the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile.
Established in – 1998
CEO & MD – Shri Atul Dinkar Rane
NCC & UNEP signs MoU to achieve the Universal goal of Clean Water Bodies
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces National Cadet Corps (NCC) to tackle the issue of plastic pollution and
achieve the universal goal of clean water bodies through ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ and ‘Tide Turners Plastic
Challenge programme’.
Aim:
The MoU between NCC and UNEP aims to coordinate and combine efforts to encourage young people to
support clean water bodies.
Signatories : In the presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the MoU was signed between
Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, Director General of NCC and Bishow Parajuli, Resident Representative,
UN World Food Programme.
Key Points:
i.The MoU will be in effect for 3 years and plans to strengthen, develop, and specify their cooperation and
effectiveness to accomplish the shared environmental goals.
ii.The goal of the deal is to promote opportunities for NCC cadets to participate in appropriate national and
international platforms.
iii. ‘Tide Turners Plastic Challenge programme’, a global youth movement to fight plastic pollution around
the globe. It is initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
iv.‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ ,a nationwide campaign launched by the NCC in December 2021.
• The campaign was initially for 1 month to clean sea shores from plastic and other waste material
and create awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
• Later, it was extended as a Pan-India round-the-year campaign to cover rivers and other water
bodies.
• Since the launch of the campaign, over 100 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected from nearly
1,900 locations by more than 12 lakh NCC cadets, alumni and volunteers.
• The ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ is one among the many initiatives taken by the Government, which
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to as ‘Panchamrit’ during the 26th United Nations
Climate Change conference, COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021.
About the National Cadet Corps (NCC):
Director General- Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh
Establishment- 1948
About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director- Inger Andersen
Headquarters- Nairobi, Kenya
Establishment- 1972
ENGIE partners with NSDC to train 600 youth in solar module programmes
On 13th Septemberr 2022, ENGIE, a clean energy firm, through its subsidiary SolaireDirect Energy India Private
Ltd (SEIPL) has collaborated with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to train 600 youths in solar
module programmes. This is a part of ENGIE’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the year 2022-23.
• Under this initiative, NSDC aims to ensure that all of the training programmes are in light with the
Qualification Pack (QP) or National Occupation Standards set by the Sector Skill Councils (SSC).

• The location of the training includes Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh),
Kadappa (Andhra Pradesh) and Bikaner (Rajasthan).
The enrolled candidates will be taught about site surveys, assess customer requirements, and install
civil or mechanical and electrical components, along with handling testing, project commissioning,
and PV (PhotoVoltaic) maintenance.
Airtel & IBM partners for edge computing platform for large firms; sign up Maruti
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) and Bharti Airtel have collaborated to deploy Airtel’s edge
computing platform, which will enable large enterprises across several industries like manufacturing and
automotive to accelerate innovative solutions.
• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, intends to use the edge platform to increase accuracy and efficiency for
quality inspections on the factory floor.
• Airtel’s edge computing platform includes 120 network data centres across 20 cities in India,under
its data center arm Nxtra Digital.
• IBM and Airtel Digital engineering teams will build use cases that leverage Airtel’s 5G connectivity
and IBM’s hybrid cloud capabilities to address the pressing business issues faced by enterprise
clients.
GoI & Assam Govt Signs Tripartite Peace Accord with Eight Tribal Militant Groups
On 15th September 2022 Government of India (GoI) and Assam government signed a tripartite peace
accord with 8 tribal militant groups of Assam, in the presence of Amit Shah, Union Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) for bringing peace in the areas.
• Chief minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the peace accord on behalf of the Assam
government and Amit shah signed on behalf of GoI.
• The accord was signed 10 years after the peace process that started in 2012. The Peace Deal was
considered to be the another milestone to make Northeast region extremism free by 2025.
• A special development package of Rs 1,000 crore will be provided to improve the tribal areas of
Assam.
Militant groups:
The 8 tribal militant groups include Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Adivasi People’s Army (APA), All Adivasi
National Liberation Army (AANLA), Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA) and Santhali Tiger Force (STF)
and the remaining 3 outfits are splinter groups of BCF, AANLA and ACMA.
• These 8 tribal militant groups have been on ceasefire since 2012 and are living in designated camps.
Highlights:
i.All militant groups except the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Kamatapur Liberation
Organization signed peace treaties with the government.
ii.In January 2020, Bodo representatives signed an agreement with GoI and the Assam government to end the
50-year-old Bodo crisis.
iii.In January 2022, at the arms-laying ceremonial function in Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati,
169 insurgents of the United Gorkha People’s Organisation (UGPO) and 77 insurgents of the Tiwa Liberation
Army (TLA) laid down their arms.
• The arms were laid before Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Direct General of Police (DGP)
Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Chief Executive Member of BTR Pramod Boro, CEM TAC Jibon Chandra
Konwar.

Delhi & Punjab Govt. tied up to curb stubble burning through Pusa Bio-decomposer
The Government of Delhi partnered with the Government of Punjab to use Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial
solution which can decompose paddy straw in 15 to 20 days, on 5,000 acres of land to prevent stubble burning.
Stubble burning is a major cause of air pollution in the northern region of India.
• As a part of a pilot project implemented with the help of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(IARI), Pusa biodecomposer will be sprayed over 5000 acres (2023 hectares) on stubble by which
the crop residue gets mixed in the soil in Punjab.
• The Delhi government will use the Pusa bio-decomposer in the outer areas on agricultural land.
• According to the IARI, Punjab had reported 71,304 farm fires between September 15 and November
30 in 2021 and 83,002 farm fires in the corresponding period in 2020.
HPCL & Indian Army collaborated on CSR project: ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’
The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has collaborated with the Indian Army to implement a
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’ to coach and mentor less-privileged girl
students in Kargil. The MoU has been signed between HPCL & Indian Army at Headquarters 14 Corps in Leh.
• The ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’ project aims to prepare 50 girl students for various national-level
engineering and medical entrance examinations.
• The project focuses on empowering poor girls who have few resources and must endure harsh
weather.
• The girl students must go through several procedures, they are screening, preliminary exams, and
interviews, to participate in the Kargil Ignited Minds project.
• Students could improve their knowledge, abilities, and personalities through this project.
Indian FSDL & German DFL signed MoU to Bring World’s Best Practices to Indian Football
The Deutsche Fußball Liga- (DFL– German Football League), the organising body of Bundesliga and Bundesliga
2 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL),
the commercial partner of Indian football and organiser of the Indian Super League.
• Both DFL & FSDL (two entities) will focus on club initiatives, and fan engagement using technology
and also have workshops. The 1st knowledge-sharing workshop took place in Frankfurt, Germany.
• According to MoU, both parties aim to gain ‘valuable insights’ into each region’s respective sporting
cultures.
• The ultimate goal of Football events and experiential marketing activities is to raise awareness and
find new ways to grow a passionate but largely untapped fan base.
• There is another key area called ‘e-Football’, with DFL and FSDL working together in the
development of a structure and commercial model for the e-Indian Super League (eISL).
Note: Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2- A professional association football league in Germany.
NSIC and AMTZ Signed MoU for Cooperation in Health Sector

The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), a Public Sector Enterprise of Ministry of Micro Small
& Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone Limited (AMTZ) have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the healthcare sector.
• The MoU was signed by Gaurang Dixit, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), NSIC and Dr.
Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO), AMTZ in the presence
of Narayan Rane, Union Minister for MSME. B.B. Swain, Secretary (MSME) and other senior officers
were also present.
Through this MoU, NSIC and AMTZ will leverage their expertise and create opportunities for MSMEs in
the health sector to form global alliances to get access to the latest medical technologies and create
skilled manpower.

BPCL Signs MoU with Brazilian Oil Company Petrobras to Diversify Crude Oil Sourcing
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna company which has also featured in Fortune
Global 500 list, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian oil major Petrobras
(Petróleo Brasileiro S.A), to diversify its crude oil sourcing for energy security in India.
• India for the first time, signed a long term crude oil supply agreement with Petrobras.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman BPCL and Caio Paes de Andrade, CEO Petrobras, in
Brazil.
Key highlights:
i.This MoU will strengthen future crude oil trade relations between BPCL & Petrobras and also explore
potential crude import opportunities by BPCL, on a long term basis, especially considering the current
geopolitical situations.
ii.Bharat PetroResources Limited (BPRL), a production subsidiary of BPCL is set to invest USD 1.6 billion
to develop an oil block in Brazil.
• BPRL holds a stake in an ultra-deep water hydrocarbon block in Brazil, owned and operated by
Petrobras.
Additional info:
In July 2022, the Government of India approved to invest an additional USD 1.6 billion in the Brazilian oil
block BM SEAL-11. It is set to start production from 2026-2027.
• Petrobras is the operator of the block with 60% interest and BPRL holds 40% stake in the block.
About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
Chairman & Managing Director (MD) – Arun Kumar Singh
About Petrobras:
CEO – Caio Mário Paes de Andrade
Headquarters – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
C-DOT & IIT Delhi Sign MoU for Cooperation in Emerging Areas of Telecom
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IITD)
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in several areas of telecom, including
Internet of Things (IoT)/ Machine-to-machine (M2M), Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML),
Cyber Security, and 5G & Beyond technologies.
• Aim: To create a framework that fosters a mutually productive framework between academic
institutions and Research and Development (R&D) organizations in order to promote the
development of wholly indigenous telecom solutions.
• C-DOT is the Telecom Technology R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of
Communications.
Key Points:
i.The MoU will serve as an effective forum for the exchange of knowledge and skills among students, faculty,
and researchers from the stage of ideation and conceptualization.
• The fusion of cutting-edge research and academic excellence will increase the value of the nation’s
Intellectual Property (IP) assets.
ii.The platform would serve as a catalyst for transforming unique ideas into market-ready solutions.
iii.C-DOT has been one of the primary participants in the development of indigenous 4G and 5G systems
through collaboration with local industry, academia, and startups.

About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT):
Executive Director – Rajkumar Upadhyay
DEPwD, SCPwD & Amazon Internet signed tripartite MoU to provide skill training for PwDs
On 28 September 2022, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Sector Skill
Council for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD) and Amazon Internet Private Limited signed
a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide skill training and employment opportunities for
persons with disabilities at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Virendra Kumar.
Key points:
i.The tripartite MoU also envisages mobilisation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) for skill training provided
by the DEPwD, designing of job roles for e-commerce sector by SCPwD and providing skill training and hiring of
PwDs.
ii.The agreement will also generate better employment opportunities for PwDs by imparting job specific,
practical and e-commerce skills in the supply chain sector to boost economic growth in india.
Signatories:
DEPwD was represented by Kishor B. Surwade, Deputy Director General, SCPwD by Ravindra Singh, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), and Amazon Internet Private Limited by Shri Akhil Saxena, Vice President, Operations
APAC (Asia-Pacific)/MENA(Middle East & North Africa)/LATAM (Latin America).
Tata Group Airlines signed MoU with CSIR–IIP for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
On 22nd September 2022, the Tata-owned airlines – Air India, AirAsia India and Vistara (Tata SIA Airlines),
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Indian
Institute of Petroleum (CSIR–IIP).
The agreement is to collaborate and work together on the research, development and deployment of
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs).
Key Highlights:
i.The objective of the agreement is that the two sides will work together in many other areas related to
sustainable aviation.
ii.The Tata Group Airlines’ focus will be on Single Reactor HEFA (Hydro processed Esters and Fatty Acids)
Technology for Drop-in liquid Sustainable Aviation and Automotive Fuel (DILSAAF).
iii. The impact of the continued use of petroleum-derived fuel for aviation is tolerable with greenhouse gas and
carbon emissions, a significant concern across the world.
iv.The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from
its operations by 2050 with the aim of the Paris agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
v.According to IATA, with the adoption of SAF, the aviation industry’s net-zero carbon emissions target is
focused on delivering a maximum reduction in emissions at a source of around 65%.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
SAF is a jet fuel created from sustainable resources like forestry, agricultural waste and used cooking oil which
has the potential to reduce emissions by 80%.
• It is a ‘drop-in’ fuel, meaning it can be added with no changes needed to the aircraft.
Note: The contract of the CSIR-IIP is to provide competitive and sustainable technologies and products to meet
the requirements of the ever-growing energy sector and develop capacity and capability in new energy areas
such as bio, hydrogen and solar energy and their innovative combination.

About the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR–IIP):
Director & Chairman- Dr Anjan Ray
Headquarters- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Establishment- 1960
Coromandel International, Chambal Fertilizers & Indian Potash sign MoU with Canada’s
Canpotex to import potash
Coromandel International, Chambal Fertilizers and Indian Potash Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Canpotex, a Canada based company for long term fertilizer availability for the
farmers.
• Canpotex is one of the largest potash suppliers of the world, exporting around 130 LMT (lakh metric
tonne) of product annually.
Key points:
i.Under the agreement Canpotex will supply up to 15 LMT of potash annually for three years.
ii.As India is highly dependent on imports of raw material and fertilizer minerals, the partnership will provide
secured availability of fertilizers and raw materials.
• India meets 100 per cent of its potash requirement through imports. The country imports
approximately 40 LMT MOP annually
iii.The agreement will reduce both supply and price volatility and ensure a stable long-term supply of potash
fertilizer to India.
iv.It will also improve the availability of MOP (Muriate of potash) in India.
• Potash, which is a source of potassium, is used both for direct application as MOP as well as in
combination with ‘Nitrogen (N) and ‘Phosphorus’(P) nutrients in the NPK fertilizers, where K stands
for Potassium.
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

National level committee for drafting National Cooperation Policy Document Constituted;
Chaired by Suresh Prabhu
On September 6, 2022, the Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a 47-
member National level committee for drafting of the National Cooperation Policy Document. It will be under
the Chairmanship of former Union Cabinet Minister, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu.
• This upcoming policy will realize the vision of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’, and will have a holistic
approach from PACS upwards.
The Central government created a new Ministry of Co-operation on July 6, 2021. The vision of this Ministry is
‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ i.e. to achieve overall prosperity in India, and to strengthen cooperatives by bringing
transparency, modernization, and creating competitiveness.
Key Points:
i.The members of the committee from all parts of India and comprises experts of the cooperative sector;
representatives of National / State / District & Primary Cooperative Societies; Secretaries (Cooperation) &
Registrars of Cooperative Societies of States / UTs; and Officers from Central Ministries / Departments.
ii.The existing National Policy on Cooperatives, was formulated in 2002 with the objectives of facilitating all
round development of cooperatives and providing necessary support for their efficient working.
• On the other hand, this new National Cooperation Policy document is being formulated with a view
to fulfilling the mandate given to the new Ministry of Cooperation, and to strengthen the cooperative
movement in India.

• This policy will help cooperatives to realize their potential with appropriate policy, legal and
institutional framework.
iii.Currently, India has around 8.5 lakh co-operative societies with a member base of around 29 crore.
GoI sets up Committee to moderate gas price; headed by Energy Expert Dr Kirit S Parikh
The government of India(GoI) set up a Committee to review the formula to formalise the pricing of gas
produced by companies. The committee, chaired by Energy Expert Dr. Kirit Shantilal Parikh(Kirit S
Parikh), a former Member of the Planning Commission(GoI), will include members from the fertiliser ministry,
as well as gas producers and buyers.
• The committee aims to lower inflation and promote the use of cleaner fuel.
• It will suggest a “fair price to the end consumer”.
About Kirit Parikh committee:
i.The committee will also recommend a market-oriented, transparent and reliable pricing regime for India’s
long-term vision for ensuring a gas-based economy.
ii.The committee’s recommendations will not be reflected in the next 6 months (from October) revision of local
gas prices. Cabinet approval is required for the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.
iv.It will submit its report to the government by the end of September 2022.
Members of the committee:
i.The panel includes representatives of the gas producers association such as ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation) and OIL (Oil India Limited).
• It also has a member from private city gas operators, state gas utility GAIL (India) Limited, a
representative of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and a member from the fertilizer ministry.
Regulation of oil prices in India:
i.In 2014, the government decided to use prices in gas surplus countries to arrive at a formula for locally
produced gas.
• The local gas prices were linked to a formula tied to global benchmarks, including Henry Hub,
Alberta Gas, National Balancing Point (NBP) and Russian Gas with a lag of one quarter.
ii.The rates according to this formula were subdued and at times lower than the cost of production till March
2022 but rose sharply thereafter, reflecting the surge in global rates in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine.
Note
In 2013, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas assigned the task to advise Pricing Methodology for Diesel,
Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene to the Kirit Parekh panel.
Govt forms 5-member committee to Review Marketing Practices of Pharma Companies;

Chaired by VK Paul
The Central Government has formed a 5-member high-level committee to review marketing practices of
pharmaceutical companies in India. It will be chaired by Vinod Kumar (VK) Paul member (health), NITI
(National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog.
• It will also review various other issues pertaining to the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing
Practices (UCPMP), and recommend legally enforceable measures against firms indulging in
malpractices.
• The committee is expected to submit its recommendation within the next three months (90 days).
Members:
S Aparna, secretary, department of pharmaceuticals; Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare (MoH&FW); Nitin Gupta, chairman, central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT); and a joint secretary
(policy) from the department of pharmaceuticals.

Key Points:
i.This panel will recommend to Union Minister Mansukh Mandviya, MoH&FW how all rules, and regulations
pertaining to pharma malpractices can be harmonized as these are under different heads currently.
ii.The formation of the committee follows the reports of pharma companies were spending exorbitant amounts
on promotion and publicity of drugs including anti-fever medicine Dolo 650mg.
iii.Currently, publicity and promotion by pharma companies is supervised under the Uniform Code of
Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), the Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, and also by the
CBDT.
• UCPMP , aims to prevent unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies. It governs the conduct of
pharmaceutical companies in terms of marketing.
• The Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, details professional misconduct by medical
practitioners , including accepting gifts from drug companies and commissions from laboratories.
• The rules under CBDT require pharma companies to file details on how much they spend on
promotion and publicity.
MCA extended the Tenure of Company Law Committee by 1 more year

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) extends Company Law Committee (CLC) by one more year (up to 16th
September 2023). The tenure has already been extended twice in September 2020, and September 2021 which
was originally constituted on 8th September 2019.
• In 2019, the Government set up the 11-member CLC under the Chairmanship of the MCA
Secretary.
• At present,11-member CLC is chaired by corporate affairs secretary Tarun Bajaj.
Key Highlights:
i. CLC recommends various changes which pertain to the issues of the implementation of the Companies Act,
2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act 2008.
ii. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will hear the cases related to the company.
iii. The Companies Act, 2013 has 29 chapters divided into 470 sections in which different parties (related to
the company) can attract penalties, fines, prison, or some serious actions, according to the offence made by an
individual.
iv. LLP Act 2008, benefits the limited liability of a company and the flexibility of a partnership.
RIL Conducted Its 45th Annual General Meeting in 2022

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) held its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 via video
conferencing for the third consecutive year on August 29, 2022, and RIL Chairman & Managing Director
(CMD) Mukesh Ambani made a number of announcements at the event.
• He made an announcement about the investment of Rs. 2 lakh crore during his keynote speech to
support the introduction of 5G services in India.
Reliance Jio to Launch ‘World’s Largest’ 5G Services by October 2022
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (Reliance Jio) plans to launch Jio 5G services “Jio True 5G” by October 2022, as
declared by Mukesh Ambani, RIL’s CMD, at the company’s 45th AGM in 2022.
• The Jio 5G services would first be available in the metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and
Chennai, and will then be phased out to other cities and towns before covering Pan-India by
December 2023.
• The telecom giant has committed Rs. 2 lakh crore to the deployment of 5G services.
Key Points
i.With the introduction of Jio True 5G, Reliance Jio will roll out the latest version of 5G technology, known as
Stand-Alone 5G, which has zero dependency on its 4G network.
• Jio 5G will be the largest and most advanced 5G network in the world.

ii.With Stand-Alone 5G, Jio can offer new and potent services including low latency connection, massive
machine-to-machine communication, 5G voice, Edge Computing & Network Slicing, and metaverse.
• The next-generation network, known as 5G, is seen as essential for developing technologies like self-
driving cars and Artificial Intelligence (AI) around the world.
iii.Jio has indigenously designed a full cloud native, software defined, and digitally managed end-to-end 5G
stack that supports even advanced features like quantum security.
iv.In August 2022, Jio emerged as the highest spender in India’s USD 19 billion 5G spectrum auction, winning
airwaves worth USD 11 billion.
Whatsapp Launches an In-App Shopping Feature with JioMart in India
JioMart, a division of Jio Platforms, an Indian tech firm owned by RIL and WhatsApp, the well-known
messaging service owned by Meta Platforms Inc., based in the United States of America (USA), introduced a
new shopping product in India.
• Meta Platforms invested nearly USD 6 billion in JioMart in early 2020.
The new feature allows first-time JioMart customers in India to shop for products and pay for them directly
within the app.
• Previously, people could browse products on WhatsApp but had to exit the app to complete the
transaction.
JioMart is aiming for a larger share of India’s burgeoning online retail market with Flipkart and Amazon.com
Inc., controlled by Walmart Inc.
Note:
• Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Meta Platforms Inc.
• In 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Meta for USD 22 billion.
Reliance Jio & Qualcomm Collaborate to Develop 5G Solutions
Reliance Jio has teamed with Qualcomm, a chipmaker powerhouse based in California (USA) to provide 5G
solutions in India.
• Qualcomm is a worldwide semiconductor and communications technology company that is also a
significant investor in Jio Platforms.
In order to create an ecosystem that can be used far beyond India, Qualcomm will collaborate with Jio on a 5G
infrastructure that is cloud-native, scalable, and flexible in both mmWave and sub-6GHz.
• Once they are successful in India, Reliance Jio and Qualcomm’s 5G technology will be used in other
parts of the world.
With Jio 4G, JioFiber, and now Jio 5G, India will have access to the best, most affordable digital connectivity
solutions.
Note: Cristiano Amon is the CEO of Qualcomm.
Reliance Retail to Enter the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Market
RIL plans to establish its Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) business in 2022 through its retail venture
Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL).
Objective: To develop and deliver products that meet the daily needs of every Indian at an affordable price.
Reliance Retail will introduce its private-label FMCG brands—Reliance Fresh and Reliance Smart—to the
general trade. These products are currently sold at its supermarkets and hypermarkets.
• The Indian FMCG market is estimated to be worth more than USD 100 billion, and it is dominated by
global corporations such as HUL, Reckitt, P&G, Nestle, and local firms such as Dabur, Emami, and
Marico.
Note: Isha Ambani is the Director of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL).
Reliance Jio AirFiber & Jio Cloud PC Announced
Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio, showcased the new Jio AirFiber and Jio Cloud PC services at the 45th
AGM of RIL in 2022.
• JioAirFiber enables users to access gigabit-speed Internet using wireless networks at their homes
and workplaces.

• The Jio Cloud PC is a virtual PC that is hosted in the cloud and does not require any hardware.
The Jio AirFiber and Jio Cloud PC will both be built on the Jio True 5G mobile network service, which Reliance
Jio has labelled as its fifth-generation service.
Reliance Unveils ‘Ultra-Affordable’ 5G Smartphone in Collaboration with Google
Reliance Jio has announced its collaboration with Alphabet Inc.-owned Google to introduce “ultra-affordable
5G smartphone” in India as part of a USD 25 billion strategy to roll out the next-generation wireless services.
• Jio’s Private 5G stack and other 5G-enabled solutions will be made available to both domestic and
international users by harnessing the cutting-edge capabilities of Google Cloud.
RIL Plans to Switch to Green Hydrogen Production by 2025
RIL is planning to convert from grey hydrogen production to Green Hydrogen production, the clean form of
hydrogen fuel, by 2025. RIL is a major producer of grey hydrogen in the world.
• Furthermore, during the next five years, the company will invest Rs. 75,000 crore in the
petrochemical industry.
To accelerate cost reduction and commercialization of their Pressurized Alkaline Electrolyser technology, RIL
has teamed with climate technology company Stiesdal.
Reliance Industries to Manufacture Battery Packs by 2023
RIL plans to begin manufacturing of battery packs by 2023 and ramp up to a fully integrated 5 gigawatt-hour
(GWh) annual cell-to-pack manufacturing plant by 2024. It will then expand to 50 GWh of annual capacity by
2027.
• To produce safe and dependable batteries with high energy density and quick charging capabilities,
the company is developing an end-to-end battery ecosystem.
• It starts from battery materials to cell manufacturing, leading up to packs and Battery Management
System (BMS).
In July 2022, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced a long-term partnership with Indian Olympic
Association (IOA) to set up the first ever India House at Paris Olympics 2024.
About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):
CMD – Mukesh Ambani
Founder Chairman – Dhirubhai Ambani
MoF Establishes a Six-Member Committee to Boost Investments in Venture Capital/Private

Equity
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has constituted a six-member expert committee chaired by M. Damodaran,
former Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in order to suggest measures to boost
Venture Capital and Private Equity (VC/PE) investments.
Background
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed the formation of an expert committee to examine and
recommend relevant policy measures related to VC/PE investments in the Budget 2022–2023.
Other Members of the Expert Committee:
• G Mahalingam, former Wholetime Member of SEBI and Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)
• D P Nagendra Kumar, former Member, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
• Ashish Verma, former Principal Commissioner of Income Tax
• Poonam Gupta, Director General, National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
• Prabhat Ranjan Acharya, Director, Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM)

Terms of Reference of the Committee
i.To facilitate the process of investing and to promote investment in India
ii.To review issues and regulations, and to offer suggestions to speed up the expansion of alternative capital
participation in the VC/PE sector.
iii.To suggest strategies to increase investment in startups and sunrise sectors.
iv.To suggest future-proof policies and proactive regulatory practices.
Note: In 2021, VC/PE had invested more than Rs 5.5 lakh crore, enhancing one of the greatest start-up and
growth ecosystems in India.
Narayan Rane Chairs 18th meeting of National Board of MSME

Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane, chaired the 18th meeting of
the National Board of MSME (NBMSME) and Minister of State for MSME, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma attended
the meeting.
• The Union Minister inaugurated the portal for the scheme for promotion of MSMEs in North East
Region (NER) and Sikkim.
About the meeting:
i.He launched the integration of Udyam and National Career Service (NCS) portals, which was announced in
Budget 2022.
• This integration of Udyam with NCS creates an opportunity for the MSME sector to have access to
the employable manpower database of NCS.
ii.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of MSME and Common Service
Centre(CSC) on the Udyam Registration Portal.
• The MoU between CSC and Ministry of MSME will support enterprises that are in remote areas in
availing benefits of Government schemes and Priority Sector Lending (PSL).
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh & EAM S Jaishankar Visit Japan for 2nd India-Japan 2+2
Ministerial Meeting 2022
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr. S. Jaishankar made an official
visit to Japan for the 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Foreign Ministerial Meeting 2022 and Defence Ministerial
Meeting 2022 held in Tokyo, Japan, from September 7–10, 2022.
• Both Ministers met with their Japanese counterparts, Mr. HAMADA Yasukazu, Minister of Defense of
Japan, and Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
India and Japan celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2022, and both countries are committed to a
special strategic and global alliance.
INDIA – JAPAN ‘2+2’ DIALOGUE
i.In 2019, the “2+2” dialogue with Japan was launched in an effort to strengthen bilateral security and defence
cooperation and deepen the strategic ties between the two nations.
• The United States (US), Japan, Australia, and Russia are among the few nations with whom India has
“2+2” format ministerial dialogue.
ii.The common principles of democracy, freedom, and respect for the rule of law serve as the bedrock of the
India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
Note:
• Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, visited India in March 2022 for the annual India-Japan
summit in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He announced an investment target of 5 trillion yen (approximately Rs 3,20,000 crore) in India over
the next five years at the summit.

India & Japan Share Responsibility for Ensuring a Free, Open, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific: EAM
Jaishankar
EAM Jaishankar emphasized the joint responsibility of India & Japan in preserving a free, open, and
prosperous Indo-Pacific region during the 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Foreign Ministerial Meeting and Defence
Ministerial Meeting in 2022.
India and Japan strive to ensure it through a number of policies and mechanisms, which include cooperation in
the following forums:
• Quad framework (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States)
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
(ReCAAP)
• Supply Chain Resilience Initiative
Key Points:
i.India and Japan are working together to establish the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the Indo-Pacific
Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, among other
initiatives.
ii.The Ministers also reaffirmed their firm support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality, as well as for the “ASEAN
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)”.
iii.In 2023, India will chair the G20 (Group of Twenty), which would coincide with Japan’s presidency of the G-
7(Group of Seven).
India & Japan Call to Avoid Any Forceful Attempt to Change Status Quo Unilaterally
India & Japan emphasized the need for all nations to seek out peaceful solutions to disputes as global
cooperation is more important than ever to confront security problems.
• The process shall be carried out in line with international law without the threat or use of force, as
well as any attempt to unilaterally modify the status quo.
India & Japan hold inaugural ‘fighter exercise’ between Air Forces of both countries
During bilateral discussions at the 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Foreign Ministerial Meeting in 2022 and Defence
Ministerial Meeting in 2022, both nations decided to hold the first “fighter exercise” between their respective
air forces.
Key Points:
i.Japan has taken part in the multinational exercise MILAN for the first time in March, 2022.
• The exercise witnessed operationalization of the Agreement Concerning the Reciprocal Provision of
Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces.
ii.India and Japan have agreed to continue bilateral and multilateral exercises such as “Dharma Guardian,”
“JIMEX” and “Malabar.”
Click here for the Joint Statement: Second India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting
Hiroshima Day 2022 – August 6 & Nagasaki Day 2022 – August 9
i.Hiroshima Day is observed annually across Globe on 6th August in accordance to the remembrance of the
world’s first atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945, at the end of World War II.
ii.Nagasaki Day is annually observed on August 9th to promote peace among nations and to create awareness
about the devastating results of nuclear weapons. The day is also observed to remember innocent civilians who
lost their lives in the devastation of nuclear blasts during World War II.
About Japan:
Prime Minister – Fumio Kishida
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen (JPY)

MoCI Minister Piyush visited San Francisco and Los Angeles to attend the first IPEF Ministerial
Meeting
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) was on 6-day visit to San Francisco and
Los Angeles of the United States (US) from September 5-10, 2022 to attend the first in-person Indo-Pacific
Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meeting in Los Angeles.
• During the meeting, Indian side agreed to make decisions on different aspects of the frameworks of
IPEF based on national interest.
About IPEF:
The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 at
Tokyo, Japan. The 14 members of the IPEF are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.
• It envisages strengthening economic partnership among participating countries with the objective
of enhancing resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness and competitiveness
in the region.
Meeting with other Ministers:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal held bilateral meetings with his counterparts to discuss ways to boost trade and
investment ties. It includes the following:
i.The Indian minister met Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Los Angeles.
ii.He held a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo where discussions were held to further
deepening of India-US trade and investment ties.
iii.The Minister met US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai where India recommits to its efforts
for a free, open & inclusive Indo-Pacific.
iv.He also met the Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura where
discussions were to expand trade, job growth & areas of mutual interest to give further impetus to India-Japan
economic cooperation.
v.He met Vietnam’s minister of Industry & Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and discussed greater cooperation across
areas of mutual interest.
Piyush Goyal launches US Startup SETU
He also launched an upskilling initiative SETU- Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and
Upskilling programme in San Francisco to connect startups in India to US-based investors.
• SETU will provide mentorship and assistance in various areas, including funding, market access and
commercialization.
• The interaction between the stakeholders will be supported through the mentorship portal under
the Startup India initiative MAARG (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth)
programme, which is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.
Point to be noted:
The US surpassed China to become India’s top trading partner in 2021-22. According to data from MoCI, trade
between the US and India stood at $119.42 billion in 2021-22 as against $80.51 billion in 2020-21.
India attended ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ event as observer in US

On 22nd September 2022, India, as an observer, attended the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) Foreign
Ministers meeting held in New York, United States of America (USA). During the meeting the partners aimed to
support the Pacific region and committed to work considering additional prospective initiatives in areas like
education and infrastructure.
• Six prospective Lines of Effort and initial projects for PBP were discussed, aligned with the thematic
areas of the Forum’s 2050 Strategy.
• Attendees: Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Japan, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua
New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, the United Kingdom(UK),

USA, and Vanuatu, as well as Canada, France, Germany, India, Republic of Korea, the Pacific Islands
Forum, and the European Union in their observing capacity.
• PBP is a 5 nation (UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Japan) “informal mechanism” to support
Pacific islands and boost diplomatic, and economic ties in the region.
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

Visit of PM Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan for the SCO Summit 2022
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 15-16, 2022, to attend
the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2022.
• The summit was chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Dignitaries
Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China;
Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Shehbaz Sharif, PM of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, among other leaders from the Central Asian countries.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
The SCO was established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. The main permanent executive body of the SCO
is its Secretariat, which is headquartered in Beijing, China.
• The SCO now has eight full members, including its six original members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In 2017, Pakistan and India became full members.
• Secretary General of the SCO – Zhang Ming of China
Leaders of SCO Member States Sign Samarkand Declaration 2022
The Samarkand Declaration 2022 was signed by the SCO Heads of State, which contained a decision on the
Comprehensive Action Plan for 2023-2027.
• It is designed to carry out the provisions of the treaty on long-term good neighbourliness, friendship,
and cooperation among SCO member nations.
Some of The Significant Decisions Made at The Summit
i.The decision was made to sign the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Memorandum of Commitment to join the SCO as a
member state.
ii.It was decided to begin the process of admitting the Republic of Belarus into the SCO as a member and to
upgrade the status of the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Republic of Maldives, the
Kingdom of Bahrain & the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to SCO dialogue partners.
iii.Member States acknowledged the outcomes of the international conference commemorating the 10th
anniversary of the adoption of the Joint Plan of Action to implement the United Nations (UN) Global Counter-
Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia (Tashkent, Capital of Uzbekistan, March 2022).
The Summit Took Note of the Following Nominations:
• The nomination of the following countries as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC): The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2025-2026), the Kyrgyz Republic (2027-2028), the
Republic of India (2028-2029), the Republic of Tajikistan (2028-2029), and the Republic of Kazakhstan
(2039-2040).
• The nomination of the following countries for membership of the UNSC: The Kyrgyz Republic (2023–
2025) and the People’s Republic of China (2024–2026).
• The membership of the People’s Republic of China (2024-2026) at the UN Human Rights Council
(UNHRC).
• The Republic of Kazakhstan’s candidacy for President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
for the period 2031-2032.
• The Republic of Tajikistan’s candidacy for membership in the Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations (ECOSOC) for the period 2024-2026.

Click Here to Read More About The “Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of SCO”
SCO Summit 2022: Varanasi Nominated as First-Ever SCO Tourism & Cultural Capital
At the 22nd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the city of Varanasi in
Uttar Pradesh, India, was nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for the years 2022–
2023.
• The Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 approved the criteria for the nomination of the SCO Tourism and
Cultural Capital with the aim of fostering collaboration among the SCO Member States in the areas of
culture and tourism. [Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan.]
A number of events will be held in Varanasi throughout 2022-23 as part of this large cultural outreach
programme, with guests from SCO Member States.
India Assumes Rotating SCO Presidency: To Host SCO Summit in 2023
During the 22nd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State 2022 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, India took over
the rotating presidency of the SCO from Uzbekistan.
• India will hold the presidency of the group for a year, till September 2023.
• The next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in 2023 will be held in India.
Bilateral Meetings held by PM Narendra Modi during SCO Summit 2022 in Samarkand
Narendra Modi, the PM of India, had bilateral meetings with the following leaders during the 22nd meeting of
the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan:
i.PM Narendra Modi met with H.E. Mr. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the first time
since President Raisi took office in 2021
• The development of the Shahid Behesti terminal at Chabahar Port in Iran was discussed by the two
leaders.
ii.PM Narendra Modi also held bilateral discussions with H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the
Republic of Türkiye; Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; &H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
i.In June 2022, PM Narendra Modi visited Germany, to attend the 48th G7 Summit in 2022, which was hosted by
Germany as the current chair of G7 (Group of Seven).
ii.G7 is a grouping of the world’s seven richest nations viz. the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan and the United States (US). Germany previously hosted a G7 summit in 2015 at Schloss Elmau,
Bavaria.
About the Republic of Uzbekistan:
Prime Minister (PM) – Abdulla Aripov
Capital – Tashkent
Currency – Uzbek Som (UZS)
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal formed APOA; Atul Chaturvedi elected as its
Chairman
On September 21, 2022, the 25th Globoil Summit 2022, organized by Tefla’s, was held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh
(UP) which saw the participation of 1,500 attendees from 50 countries. This summit was a congregation of
leading players from the domestic and global edible oil trade and industry.
• During the summit, the apex edible oil industry associations from five major palm oil importing
countries from Asia viz. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have formed an Asian Palm
Oil Alliance (APOA).
• This formation is on the lines of the initiative of the global sustainable agriculture
specialist Solidaridad Network.

Chairman & Headquarter of APOA:
Headquarter– APOA secretariat will be initially managed by The Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India.
Chairman– Atul Chaturvedi, Director of Adani Wilmar Ltd and the President of SEA, was elected as
the first Chairman of the APOA
• The appointment was made during the first General Body Meeting of the APOA.
About APOA:
This is the first time that apex solvent extractors associations have come together as APOA to empower several
Asian countries, for whom palm oil is a source of affordable food and nutrition. It will work globally to ensure
that palm oil is recognized as a high-quality, economical and healthy vegetable oil and to change the negative
perception about palm oil.
i.In the coming year, the membership would be further expanded to include other select companies or industry
organisations operating in the production and/or refining of palm oil in Asia.
ii.APOA is expected to safeguard the economic and business interests of the palm- oil consuming countries.
iii.It will further work towards increasing the consumption of sustainable palm oil in member countries
iv.It will facilitate coordinated efforts of both Asian palm oil producer countries and Palm oil consuming
countries for sustainable palm oil.
v.It will also strengthen Asia’s role in palm oil sustainability disclosure.
APOA meeting with Indonesian Palm Oil Representors:
The APOA members held a meeting with the 10-member delegation from the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry
for Economic Affairs and Indonesia, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), and the Indonesian
Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) Secretariat to explore joint research to scientifically demonstrate the health
benefits of palm oil and also launch joint consumer campaigns in Asian markets.
• The next meeting of APOA is expected to be held in Indonesia early 2023.
Static Points:
i.The Asian markets are responsible for about 40% of global palm oil demand. Europe accounts for about 12%
of the market, and the United States (US) for 2%.
ii.India is the largest importer of Palm oil in the Asian region and accounts for 15% of global imports.
• India imports around 13-13.5 million tonnes of edible oils annually, of which around 8-8.5 million
tonnes (around 63%) is palm oil.
• Of this, 8-8.5 million tonnes of palm oil, almost 45-47% in recent times came from Indonesia and the
remaining from Malaysia.
i.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved ‘Deregulation of Sale of Domestically
Produced Crude Oil’, whereby the Government has decided to cease allocation of crude oil and condensate w.e.f.
October 1, 2022.
ii.Godrej Agrovet signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assam, Manipur and Tripura
state governments for the development and promotion of oil palm cultivation in the region under the National
Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme.
7th Edition of Bengaluru Space Expo 2022 Held in Bengaluru, Karnataka

The 7th biennial international Exhibition and Conference “Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX-2022)” was held
from September 05-07, 2022 at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized it in collaboration with the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO), the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-
SPACe), and the Space Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
The International Conference on Space 2022 was held alongside the exclusive exhibition.

International Conference On Space 2022
Theme: ‘Nurturing the NewSpace in India’
Aim: To provide an ideal platform to Indian and
International space agencies and companies, to
showcase their strength & capabilities in the space
arena; network and explore the opportunities of
partnerships.
• The conference was held
with Australia serving as a Country
Partner, the United Kingdom
(UK) serving as a Focus Country, and
the Netherlands serving as a Guest
Country.
Dignitaries
Somanath, Chairman, ISRO & Secretary, Department of Space; Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe and Dr. D
Radhakrishnan, CMD, NSIL.
Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX)
The CII has been organizing the Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX) in collaboration with ISRO since 2008.
Objectives: To enhance private sector participation in the space sector; to promote India’s space sector
through the Startup Ecosystem, and to foster a scientific mindset among the younger generation.
Six MoUs Signed Between India, Australia at Bengaluru Space Expo 2022
During the Bengaluru Space Expo 2022 (BSX-2022), Australia, one of the major partners in India’s space
programme, inked six separate Australia-India space industry Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to
strengthen their partnership in space technology.
• The Australian Space Agency (ASA) and ISRO have committed to strengthen their partnership by
widening the markets for space technologies in Australia and India in order to create new space
opportunities.
The six MoUs have been signed by the following companies:
i.MoU between: Australia’s Space Machines Company & Ananth Technologies, Bengaluru-based aerospace and
defence manufacturer.
Purpose: Product Integration, Testing, Technology Development and Joint-Space Missions.
ii.MoU between: Australian HEX20 & Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad, Telangana
Purpose: To provide launch services, spacecraft avionics and components for Australian space initiatives.
iii.MoU between: QL Space, Perth (Australia) & Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Purpose: To further develop launch facilities in Australia and support joint mineral exploration missions in
space.
iv.MoU between: QL Space, Perth (Australia) & GalaxEye, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Purpose: To develop a hybrid optic and radar payload to reduce the adverse environmental impact of critical
mineral exploration in Australia and beyond.
v.MoU between: QL Space, Perth (Australia) & SatSure, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Purpose: To build satellite and AI-based solutions to support agriculture, mining and defence industries.
vi.MoU between: Australia’s SABRN Health, Altdata & India’s DCube
Purpose: Development and integration of hardware, sensor technology and software to provide health support
to astronauts.
India to Design, Build Reusable Rocket for Global Market
ISRO intends to design and build a new reusable rocket for the global market in collaboration with industry,
startups, and its commercial subsidiary, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), to considerably reduce the cost of
launching satellites.

Key Points:
i.The development of reusable rocket/launch vehicles has become essential in order to reduce the cost of
launching satellites.
ii.Currently, it costs between USD 10,000 – USD 15,000 to launch a kilogram (kg) of payload into orbit; it is
intended to reduce this cost to USD 5,000 or USD 1,000 per kg.
iii.ISRO has been working on several technologies, including the Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD), to
make it feasible.
Recent related News:
On June 30, 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India’s national space agency, successfully
launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C53 (PSLV-C53), carrying 3 Singaporean satellites: DS-EO,
NeuSAR, and SCOOB-1, into an intended orbit at an altitude of 570 kilometres (km) measured from the equator,
with a low inclination of 10 degrees.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – S. Somanath
IBA: Renewable Energy India Expo to bring Rs 800 crore investment opportunity for biogas
The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) is set to organise the Renewable Energy India(REI) Expo 2022, the 15th
edition of REI Expo, from 28th to 30th September 2022 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The
expo is expected to bring in investment opportunities worth Rs 800 crore for the biogas sector.
• The Bio-Energy Pavilion 2022 is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) ,
NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India), Punjab and Maharashtra Energy
Development Agency (PEDA and MEDA).
• IBA is an industry association comprising operators, manufacturers, and planners of biogas plants.
Highlights: AIBD’s 47th Annual Gathering & 20th AIBD General Conference and Associated
Meetings 2022
On 20th September Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur inaugurated the 47th
Annual Gathering and 20th Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference
(GC) and Associated Meeting 2022 that took place from 19th September, 2022 to 21st September 2022 in
New Delhi.
• India’s Presidency of the prestigious AIBD has been extended for another year and the decision was
unanimously taken by the AIBD member countries at this 2-day GC.
• Currently, Sh. Mayank Kumar Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati and Director
General, Doordarshan is the President of AIBD.
Highlights:
i.Theme of the event is ‘Building a stronger future for broadcasting in the post pandemic era’.
ii.During the event, Union Minister Anurag Thakur presided over the award presentation for 2021 and 2022.
iii.Attendees – The gathering was inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister of State for Information and
Broadcasting (I&B) Dr. L Murugan, Secretary, I&B Shri Apurva Chandra and Director, AIBD Ms Philomena
Gnanapragasam.
Awards:
2021
i.The Appreciation Award for 2021 was conferred on Radio Television Brunei.
ii.The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 was given to Mr Khieu Khanharith, Minister of Information and
Communication, Cambodia.

2022:
i.The Appreciation Award for 2022 was shared by the Ministry of Economy, Civil Service, Communications,
Housing and Community Development, Republic of Fiji and Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
ii.The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 was conferred on Mayank Agarwal, CEO of Prasar Bharati;
Director General of Doordarshan and President of AIBD.
About AIBD annual meeting:
i.The AIBD GC and its Associated Meetings is the annual official gathering which is open to member countries,
affiliates, partners, observers and leading broadcasters.
ii.Government of India’s, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting holds the Full Membership of the AIBD and
Prasar Bharati, public service broadcaster of India utilises the various services of the AIBD.
Note – India has hosted AIBD GC & Associate meetings in the years 1978, 1985, 2003.
About Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD):
AIBD is a regional inter-governmental organisation of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.
President – Mayank Kumar Agrawal
Members – 26 countries as full members; 43 organisations and 52 affiliate members
PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated National Conference of Ministers of EF&CC in Gujarat

On September 23-24, 2022, a National Conference of Ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(EF&CC) held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat which was virtually inaugurated by the Prime Minister (PM) of India
Narendra Modi.
• It is aimed at creating further synergy among the central and state governments on various issues.
The conference had 6 thematic sessions with topics focusing on LiFE, Combating Climate Change (Updating
State Action Plans on Climate Change for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate Impacts);
PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances); Forestry Management; Prevention and
Control of Pollution; Wildlife Management; Plastics and Waste Management.
These are explained as below:
PARIVESH:
An acronym for Pro-Active and Responsive
facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous
Environment Single-window Hub, PARIVESH was
launched in August 2018 to reduce time taken for
granting Environment Clearance (EC) and Forest
Clearance (FC) by combining several policy reforms viz.
total 16 modules and more than 140 key
functionalities.
i.It is a single window platform for administration of all
Green Clearances, and subsequent compliance
management.
ii.Some of the key modules envisaged in PARIVESH are Configurable Admin Module, Decision Support System
(DSS), Know Your Approvals (KYA), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA) Management, Helpdesk Management, Legal Repository, Auditor Mgmt., Entity Ledger, Payment
Gateway.
iii.It will strengthen the Minimum Government Maximum Governance.
iv.Currently the PARIVESH development work is in progress and is planned to be launched by the end of 2022.

Combating Climate Change and Summary of LiFE session.
The second thematic session was on Combating Climate Change and on Summary of Lifestyles for Environment
(LiFE) session. It was presented by Parameswaran Iyer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NITI (National
Institution for Transforming India) Aayog.
i.During the session, the role of Central and State Ministries and Departments of EF&CC was highlighted in
facilitating implementation of Mission LiFE, which is an India-led Global Jan Andolan under which simple
relatable actions across the world can be taken to protect the environment.
ii.The aim of Mission LiFE from 2022 -28 is to mobilize 2/3rd of the India’s Population to become pro-planet
and to partner with at least 80 countries to make it Global Jan-Andolan.
iii.It will initially focus on 75 LiFE actions across 6 priority categories of e-waste, plastic waste, energy saving,
water saving, recycling & reuse, and avoiding food wastage.
Key Points:
i.Updating State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate
Impacts were also discussed during the Conference.
• SAPCC are developed under the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC), an overarching
policy framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation through its National Missions.
• SAPCC is a policy document of the State to reflect the strategies and policies with focus on climate
change mitigation and adaptation in key sectors in the States and Union Territories (UTs).
ii.In August 2022, India has updated its National Determined contributions for 2021-2030. In line with the
NAPCC, all the SAPCC are now being revised to align with the latest scientific insights, as well as with India’s
NDCs under the Paris Agreement.
iii.A motivational session on Lifestyles for Environment was also taken by Sri Sri Ravisankar.
Plastics and Waste Management:
The third thematic session held was on Plastics and Waste Management which highlighted the Plastic Waste
Management Rules 2016, a regulatory framework of management of plastic waste in India, a vision of making
India Single-use Plastic free, and a mission of circular economy.
Key Points:
i.The capacity for processing of wastes viz. solid waste, hazardous waste, bio-medical waste, e-waste, plastic
waste, construction and demolition waste has increased significantly in the last 8 years.
ii.The strategy adopted by the Government to tackle unmanaged and littered plastic waste is premised upon
the following:
• Ban on single use plastic items which have high littering potential and low utility
• Implementation Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on plastic packaging
iii.Implementation of EPR on plastic packaging reduces littered and unmanaged plastic; promotes circular
economy of plastic packaging waste; promotes development of new alternatives to plastics, and leads to
sustainable plastic packaging.
• The EPR framework is implemented through a centralized online portal ensuring ease of doing
business.
Wildlife Management:
A thematic session on Wildlife Management including Bio-Diversity and Conservation of Wetlands Biodiversity
was highlighting India’s biodiversity hotspots, biogeographic zones, 16 forest types, 54733 floral and 103258
faunal species.
• For the proper regulation of these necessary legislation and institutional framework viz., Biological
Diversity Act, 2002, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Union
Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have
been constituted.
i.At present, there are 28 SBBs, 8 UTBCs, 2,76,895 BMCs and 2,67,345 People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
ii.Only 14 States have declared Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS), the remaining 22 states were urged to take
necessary steps and Other Effective- Area Based Conservation Measures (OECM) to declare more such sites.

iii.For the conservation and management of wetlands in India, MoEF&CC undertook a four-point approach
comprising of regulatory frame work, capacity building and outreach, implementation of National Plan for
Conservation of Aquatic ecosystems (NPCA) and subsequent alignment with the Ramsar Convention.
About NPCA:
NPCA guidelines were released in March 2020 which aim at conservation and restoration of wetlands. This
scheme is implemented on a cost sharing basis between the Central Government and respective State
Governments.
• Till 31st March 2022 financial assistance has been provided to 164 wetlands across the country.
Agro-Forestry:
Agro-forestry, farm forestry and trees outside forests in general contribute to the increase in tree cover.
MoEF&CC is also working towards the goal of bringing one third of the area under forests and tree cover.
i.In this regard, it brought out the Accredited Compensatory Afforestation Mechanism under the provisions of
Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 to encourage individuals to raise vegetation on their land and sell it to
persons who need to meet compensatory afforestation targets.
ii.MoEFCC urged all states to adopt National Transit Pass System (NTPS) for inter-state and intra-state
movement of timber and forest produce with an aim to one nation-one pass.
Prevention and Control of Pollution:
Parallel sessions on Prevention and Control of Pollution (with a focus on National Clean Air Programme) were
also held during the conference.
Pledges taken during the Conference:
Following 3 pledges were taken at the concluding session of the two days Conference at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat:
i.To promote the environment friendly lifestyle LiFE in order to tackle the global challenge of the climate
change
ii.To enhance the Forest life, forest protection and green zones.
iii. To preserve wood and related products, to identify the opportunities for agri-commerce, to enable the
policy framework related to scientific infrastructure and to increase the employment and income opportunities
of the farmers, tribal groups and local communities.
Points to be noted:
i.India is committed to achieve net zero target for the year 2070.
ii.As of September 27, 2022, India has got the status of Ramsar site for 75 wetlands.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan
During the conference, MoEF&CC also released the guidelines for ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’
which will rank 131 cities across India for the implementation of City Action Plans prepared as part of National
Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for the reduction of air pollution up to 40% by 2025-26.
• The cities are categorized into three groups based on population. The first group of 47 cities with
population more than 10 lakh, the second group of 44 cities with population between 3 to 10 lakh,
and the third group of 40 cities with population less than 3 lakh.
• The ranking is based on the annual self-assessment of the cities based on the framework provided in
the government portal.
About NCAP:
The NCAP is a long-term strategy that aims to achieve 20-30% reduction in Particulate Matter Concentration by
2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison of the concentration. Specific plans were created for each city.
• These plans include strengthening of monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions,
awareness creation etc.
• Their implementation will be monitored by Committees at Central and State levels.
Other Participants:
Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat; Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC); Minister of State (MoS) Ashwini Kumar Choubey,

MoEF&CC State Forest and Environment Ministers, the concerned State Secretaries, Principal Chief Conservator
of Forests (PCCFs), among others.
i.On August 27, 2022, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav led the Beach Cleaning and Awareness Campaign
alongside Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief
Minister (CM) N. Rangaswamy. The campaign at the Promenade beach was commemorated by schoolchildren
and beach users taking a pledge in English and Tamil titled “I Am Saving My Beach.”
ii.On August 24, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued Battery
Waste Management Rules, 2022 by replacing Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 to ensure
environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha – Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency- Buxar, Bihar)
INDEX
RANKING
India ranks 132 out of 191 in UNDP’s 2021 Human Development Index; Switzerland Tops
As per the report by the United Nations Development
Program’s (UNDP) ‘Human Development Report
2021-22- Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives:
Shaping our Future in a Transforming World’, India
ranked 132nd among 191 countries and territories on
the 2021 Human Development Index (HDI). In the
2020 report, India had ranked 131st among 189
countries and territories.
• India’s latest HDI value is 0.633 which places it
in the medium human development category,
as compared to its value of 0.645 in the 2020
report.
• This decline is due to the fall in life expectancy from 69.7 years to 67.2 years.
• Also, there is a global drop in life expectancy from 72.8 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021.
Toppers:
The index has been topped by Switzerland with 0.962 HDI value. It is followed by Norway (0.961) at 2nd,
and Iceland at 3rd (0.959).
Key Points:
i.India’s neighbouring countries are ranked as- Sri Lanka (73rd), China (79th), Bangladesh (129th), and Bhutan
(127th) Pakistan (161st), Nepal (143rd), and Myanmar (149th).
ii.Around 90% of countries registered a decline in their HDI value in 2020 or in 2021.
iii.India’s expected years of schooling stands at 11.9 years, down from 12.2 years in the 2020 report.
• The mean years of schooling is up at 6.7 years from 6.5 years in the 2020 report.
iv.Although India retained its 132nd position in the Gender Development Index, the female life expectancy
dropped from 71 years in the 2020 report to 68.8 years in the 2021 report.
• The mean years of schooling for females declined from 12.6 to 11.9 years in the corresponding period.
v.India scored 0.123 in the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) with a headcount ratio of 27.9 per cent, with
8.8 per cent population reeling under severe multidimensional poverty.

What is HDI?
It is a measure to track progress on three basic dimensions of human development, a long and healthy life,
access to education, and a decent standard of living. It is calculated using the following four indicators:
1. Life expectancy at birth
2. Mean years of schooling
3. Expected years of schooling
4. Per capita Gross National Income.
i.According to Forbes Asia’s 200 “Best Under A Billion” 2022 Ranking, 24 Indian companies made the list, a
decrease from 26 in 2021. This placed India in fourth place among Asian countries.
ii.According to the ‘UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2022: In Danger’, only half (52%) of children living
with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are on life-saving therapy globally, considerably behind adults,
who receive three quarters (76%) of antiretrovirals.
About United Nations Development Program (UNDP):
Administrator– Achim Steiner
Headquarters– New York, New York, United States
Paris Agreement: India’s Climate Pledges Rank 4th In Terms of Ambition & 5th In Terms of
Compliance
According to a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, India’s updated climate
pledge to the Paris Agreement has been ranked 5th in compliance and 4th in ambition.
• The study includes eight countries, the US,
China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia,
Australia, Brazil—as well as the EU.
While the European Union (EU) claimed the top spot, the
United States (US) was placed bottom in compliance and
second to last in ambition.
Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is a global treaty in which over 200
countries pledged to work together to cut Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) emissions and combat climate change.
Aim: To keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (2°C), preferably 1.5°C, when compared to pre-
industry levels.
During the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021, almost all signatories to the Paris
Agreement updated their climate commitments.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
i.Nations with a high likelihood of meeting their climate pledges or Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDC) were highly ranked in compliance.
• The NDCs, on the other hand, are not legally binding.
ii.Nations with ambitious commitments were given high ambition rankings.
iii.The initiative focuses on practical methods for achieving nearly zero global warming gas emissions.
Key Facts from the Study:
i.According to the study, the EU was considered to be the most credible, ranking first in compliance and
ambition.
ii.In the compliance category, the EU was followed by China, Australia, South Africa, India, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Brazil, and the US.
iii.In terms of ambition, the EU was followed by China, South Africa, India, Australia, Brazil, Russia, the US, and
Saudi Arabia.

Declining Credibility of US
i.The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a new law to combat climate change introduced in August 2022, doesn’t
accomplish much for the US.
• The law allocates USD 369 billion to finance tax breaks for clean energy and electric vehicles,
domestic manufacturing of batteries and solar panels, and pollution reduction.
• With the IRA, the US will be on track to cut emissions by about 40%, which still falls short of the US
commitment of 50% by 2030.
ii.However, the study was completed before the IRA was proposed.
Note:
Lead author of the study: David Victor, Industrial Innovation Professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy,
University of California San Diego (US), & Co-Director, Deep Decarbonization Initiative.
Croatia will become the 20th member of the Eurozone to adopt Euro currency from 1 January 2023, replacing
the current currency Croatian Kuna. In 2015, Lithuania joined the European single-currency regime as the 19th
member.
About the European Union (EU):
The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political union between 27 European countries. It has 3
main institutions: European Parliament, European Council & European Commission.
European Parliament President – Roberta Metsola
European Council President – Charles Michel
European Commission President – Ursula von der Leyen
Fortune India Rich List 2022: Gautam Adani Becomes the Richest in India; Wealth of 142 Billionaires
Worth USD 832 bn
According to Fortune India’s list of ‘India’s Richest’ for 2022, the wealth of 142 billionaires based in India is
collectively worth USD 832 billion (Rs 66.36 trillion).
Highlights:
i.According to Forbes real-time billionaires list, Asia’s richest man Gautam Adani has overtaken Amazon
founder Jeff Bezos to become the 3rd richest person in the world.
• He became India’s richest man with net worth of USD 129.16 billion (Rs. 10.29 trillion)
ii.Meanwhile, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s net worth stands at USD 94 billion
becoming 8th richest in the world and 2nd richest in India.
About the list:
i.The data for the list was collected by the Fortune and Waterfield Advisors, a wealth management firm.
• The firms collected details of listed and unlisted wealth, additional information regarding investments
outside of the listed business such as stakes in other public companies, where the holding is less than 1
percent in the company and in other private entities or start-ups and such others.
ii.The list made is primarily based on the wealth of entrepreneurs of listed firms and for the unlisted
entity, the price-earnings (PE) multiple of the sector’s index was used as a parameter and in their absence, the
PE multiple of the closest-listed company from the same industry was used.
India stands 4th in 3rd Global Crypto Adoption Index 2022; Vietnam top for 2nd Consecutive
Time
As per the Chainalysis, ‘The 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index: Emerging Markets Lead in Grassroots
Adoption, China Remains Active Despite Ban, and Crypto Fundamentals Appear Healthy’, Vietnam is
ranked first in cryptocurrency adoption for the second consecutive year with an overall index ranking of 1.
• India stood at 4th with an index score of 0.663.

• Vietnam is followed by Philippines with an
overall index ranking 2, and overall index
score of 0.753, and Ukraine at 3rd with
overall index score of 0.694.
• It was the 3rd edition of the index.
Assessment:
The report ranks 154 countries on the basis of the
following five sub-indexes:
1. On-chain cryptocurrency value received at
centralized exchanges, weighted by
purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita
2. On-chain retail value received at centralized exchanges, weighted by PPP per capita
3. Peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange trade volume, weighted by PPP per capita and number of internet
users
4. On-chain cryptocurrency value received from DeFi protocols, weighted by PPP per capita
5. On-chain retail value received from DeFi protocols, weighted by PPP per capita
Key Points:
i.Notably, Emerging markets dominate the index out of top 20 ranked countries:
• Ten are lower middle income: Vietnam, Philippines, Ukraine, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Morocco,
Nepal, Kenya, and Indonesia
• Eight are upper middle income: Brazil, Thailand, Russia, China, Turkey, Argentina, Colombia, and
Ecuador
• Two are high income: United States and United Kingdom
ii.Vietnam shows extremely high purchasing power and population-adjusted adoption across centralized, DeFi,
and P2P cryptocurrency tools.
iii.In India, much of the adoption was done by NFT (Non-fungible tokens) marketplaces, such as the Tiger
Global, and Sequoia-backed company FanCraze, which launched in early 2022 to sell cricket-based NFTs.
iv.Users in lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries often rely on cryptocurrency to send remittances,
and preserve their savings in times of fiat currency volatility.
Click Here for Official Index
IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022: Adani & Family tops , Falguni Nayar becomes richest
Indian Women
According to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, Gautam Adani and family has topped with an
estimated wealth of Rs. 10,94,400 crore. His daily wealth creation estimated at Rs. 1,612 crore that showed 116
percent growth as compared with the 2021 list.
• Mukesh Ambani and family has been named as the 2nd richest in India with an estimated wealth
of Rs. 7,94,700 crore and a growth of 11 percent compared with the 2021 list. His daily wealth
creation velocity is Rs. 210 crore.
Top 5 richest people in the list:
Rank Person Wealth estimate
1 Gautam Adani and family Rs. 10,94,400 crore
2 Mukesh Ambani and family Rs. 7,94,700 crore
3 Cyrus Poonawalla and family Rs.2,05,400 crore
4 Shiv Nadar Rs. 1,85,800 crore
5 Radhakishan Damani & family Rs. 1,75,100 crore

Key Points:
i.India has 221 billionaires and Mumbai tops the India
Rich list with 283 individuals, followed by New Delhi
(185) and Bengaluru (89).
ii.The pharmaceuticals, chemical & petrochemicals, IT,
and financial services are some of the key sectors that are
contributing towards wealth creation.
Falguni Nayar Becomes India’s Self-made Richest
Women
Nykaa Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Falguni
Nayar became India’s richest self-made woman by
surpassing Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in net
worth.
• She is also the richest female in India, followed by Rekha Jhunjhunwala of Rare Enterprises.
Key highlights:
i.Falguni Nayar & family’s wealth rose Rs 30,000 crore during 2022 and her cumulative wealth increased 345
percent and stood around Rs 38,700 crore.
ii.In terms of wealth addition, Falguni Nayar stood at the 5th position and was the only female on the list,
following Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani and Cyrus S Poonawalla.
iii.She also stood 2nd in terms of Indians who saw the biggest percentage rise (up 345 per cent) in their wealth
following Ravi Modi of Vedant Fashions(Manyavar), whose wealth rose 376 per cent.
Other Women in the list:

Other prominent women in the top 100 included Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and family on the 34th position,
with a net worth of Rs 37,200 crore; Radha Vembu of Zoho Corp ranked 50th with a fortune of Rs 30,500 crore
and Anu Aga & family are in the 82nd position, with a net worth of Rs 19,700 crore.
India’s Rich Club Grows to 1,103 Crore; Zepto’s Kaivalya makes Debut
According to IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, Kaivalya Vohra, co-founder of Zepto, a Bengaluru -based
grocery delivery application becomes the youngest self-made rich individual.
• The rich list club of 1,103 Indians has increased with 149 new individuals from across 122 cities
who cumulatively accumulated a wealth of Rs 100 trillion.

Biological E’s Mahima Datla Becomes the Richest Woman in Telangana
Mahima Datla and family, promoter of Biological E Limited became the richest woman of both Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh (AP) with a wealth of Rs 8,700 crore and holds 10th position in the IIFL Wealth Hurun India
Rich List 2022.
Highlights:
i.Murali Divi and family, promoters of Divi’s Laboratories holds 1st positin in the overall state list of AP &
Telangana with Rs 56,200 crore wealth followed by B Parthasaradhi Reddy of Hetero in 2nd position with a
wealth of Rs 39,200 crore and M Satyanarayana Reddy of MSN labs in 3rd position with Rs 16,000 crore
wealth.
ii.Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director (MD) of Bharat Biotech International Limited and his
family for the first time figured in the list with estimated wealth of Rs 4,700 crore and holds 18th position in
the list.
Chemical Industry Adds 20 New Faces Among 149 to the Hurun’s Rich List
As per the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, chemicals are the fastest growing industry which added 20
new faces among the list of 149 new additions in the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022.
• These 149 new faces had a cumulative net worth of about Rs. 3,18,200 crore.
Highlights:
i.The pharmaceuticals sector has gained the most number of dollar billionaires with 36 entrepreneurs followed
by Chemicals & Petrochemicals with 23 entrepreneurs and Software & Services with 21 entrepreneurs.
ii.Some of the entrepreneurs in major companies under chemicals and petrochemicals segments in the list
include Hinduja’s SP Hinduja & family at 7th rank with a wealth of Rs. 1,65,000 crore; Asian Paints’ Ashwin
Dani & family at 13th rank with a wealth of Rs. 71,600 crore and such others.
About IIFL Wealth:
MD & CEO – Karan Bhagat
Nikhil Kamath tops ‘IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & Under Self-Made Rich List 2022’, Ola CEO in
2nd spot
On 28 September 2022, Zerodha’s co-founder Nikhil Kamath topped the ‘IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 &
Under Self-Made Rich List 2022’ with a net worth of Rs 17,500 crore.
• Bhavish Agarwal, Co-founder & CEO of Ola
Cabs and Olc Electric, came second (Rs
11,700 crore) and Divyank Turakhia of
Media.net came third place (11,200 crore).
Report highlights:
i.The Hurun India rich list has 53 entrepreneurs under
40 years of age.
The cumulative wealth of the entrants in 40 & Under
Self-made 2022 List increased by 11% in comparison to
2021.
ii.The Co-founder of Confluent, Neha Narkhede (37 year
old) became the youngest self-made woman entrepreneur in India.
iii.The founder of Zepto, Kaivalya Vohra (19 year old) became the youngest self-made entrepreneur on the list.
iv.According to the survey, Bengaluru (14 people) became the most popular place for young wealth creators to
establish a base, followed by New Delhi (8 people) and Mumbai (8 people).
The Top 5 in IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & Under Self-Made Rich List:
Rank Name Net worth in crore Company Age
1 Nikhil Kamath 17,500 Zerodha 36

2 Bhavish Aggarwal 11,700 Ola Electric 37
3 Divyank Turakhia 11,200 Investments 40
4 Nakul Aggarwal 9,900 BrowserStack 37
5 Ritesh Arora 9,900 BrowserStack 38
6 Binny Bansal 8,100 Flipkart 39
Gautam Adani became 3rd Richest Man in billionaires ranking: Bloomberg Billionaires Index
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index( daily ranking index as of 27th September 2022), Gautam
Adani has slipped to the 3rd spot from 2nd with a total net worth of USD 135 Billion(Rs10.98 lakh crore).
Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon, overtook Adani with a net worth of USD 138 billion(Rs11.23 lakh crore).
• Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla Motors, tops the list with a net worth of USD 138
billion (Rs19.93 lakh crore).
• Gautam Adani has lost USD 6.9 billion dollars losing the 3rd spot, while Jeff Bezos gained USD 1.36
billion and secured the 2nd spot.
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani is now placed at 11th place with a net
worth of USD 82.4 billion (Rs6.70 lakh crore).
Forbes’ Real-Time billionaire rankings: Gautam Adani briefly named the 2nd Richest Person In
World
On 16th September 2022, Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire became the 2nd Richest person in World on
Forbes real-time billionaire list by surpassing Bernard Arnault, LVMH (Louis Vuitton) chairman and CEO.
Gautam Adani became the 1st Asian to enter the top 3 on the list. Gautam Adani and his family’s net worth
surged to USD 155.5 billion. According to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, Gautam Adani’s net worth rose
by USD 5.2 billion, a hike of 3.49%.
• The fortune of Bernard Arnault is USD 300 million, which is behind Gautam Adani’s USD 155.2 billion.
• Gautam Adani also overtook Amazon Chairman and founder Jeff Bezos, whose net worth dropped USD
2.3 billion (1.49%) to USD 149.7 billion.
• Another Indian in the top 10 richest people in World on the Forbes list Mukesh Ambani ranked 8th with
a fortune of USD 93.4 billion.
• Tesla founder, Elon Musk remains the richest person with a net worth of USD 273.5 billion.
REPORTS
G20 GDP Growth – Q2 2022 OECD Report: India’s GDP Growth Contracted by 1.4%
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report “G20 GDP Growth-
Second Quarter of 2022”, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) among G20 nations contracted by 1.4% (-
1.4%) quarter on quarter in the second quarter Q2 (June – August) of 2022 when adjusted for seasonality.
• In addition, it was the second-worst performance among the G20 (Group of Twenty) nations, after
only China (-2.6%).
• The G20 GDP contracted by 0.4%(-0.4%) quarter on quarter in the Q2 of 2022.
• India’s GDP also contracted by 1.4%(-1.4%) in the Q1 (March-May) of 2022.
Key Statistics:
i.The highest growth rates in the quarter were in Saudi Arabia (2.2%) and Turkiye (2.1%).
ii.Despite the sharp decrease in the G20’s overall GDP growth rate, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Korea, and
Turkey had better growth in Q2 2022 than in the previous quarter.
iii.In two G20 countries, Mexico and South Africa, GDP was lower in the Q2 of 2022 than it was in the Q4 of
2019, the pre-pandemic levels.
iv.Between Q4 2019 and Q2 2022, Germany did not record any cumulative growth.

Group of Twenty (G20)
The G20 is a strategic forum that brings together the world’s most important developed and emerging
economies.
Members of the G20: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom (UK), the
United States (US), and the European Union (EU). Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.
About Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):
Secretary-General – Mathias Cormann
MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar Releases “Globalise to Localise” Report Exploring USD 300 Billion
in Electronic Production by 2026
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), published a report titled “Globalise to Localise: Exporting at Scale and Deepening the Ecosystem
Are Vital to Higher Domestic Value Addition.”
• The report investigates how India can reach its goals of USD 300 billion in electronics production
and USD 120 billion in exports by 2025–2026.
• It is prepared by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in
collaboration with the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).
Key Inferences from The Report
i.The Globalise to Localise report analyzes the empirical relationship between exports and the share of
domestic value addition in successful nations.
• It discovers that the two variables have a short-term negative correlation but a medium-term
positive connection.
ii.According to the report, China and Vietnam have adopted the motto “first globalise, then localise,” which
indicates that in the beginning, they were focused on reaching a global scale in exports and shifted their focus
to include more local content.
• Therefore, the report suggests a sequential strategy that can put India’s exports on a par with those
of China and Vietnam.
iii.Immediate objectives should be to export at scale to global markets (globalise), and thereafter to increase
the share of local content (localise).
Note: The lead author of the report is Dr. Deepak Mishra, Director & Chief Executive (CE) of ICRIER.
Key Suggestions from The Report
i.The report makes various recommendations for policies and regulations necessary to develop India’s broader
electronics ecosystem. In addition, schemes like Gati Shakti will help boost India’s competitiveness.
ii.The report highlights the urgent need for India to introduce supporting industry development programmes,
organize sourcing fairs, and implement technological upgradation programmes in order to establish a
competitive domestic ecosystem of ancillary suppliers.
Journey of Electronics Sector in India
i.As a result of the government’s initiatives, India has a manufacturing economy worth USD 76 billion and
exports worth USD 16 billion in 2022, with an aim of USD 21 to USD 25 billion in exports in 2023.
• India’s reliance on imported electronics as well as petroleum surged in 2014.
ii.A target of USD 300 billion in manufacturing and USD 120 billion in exports by 2026 has been explicitly
outlined in a strategy that emphasises the broadening and deepening of the electronics ecosystem.
iii.According to ICEA, in the fiscal year 2021–2022 (FY22), India’s exports of electronics exceeded USD 16
billion.
• The sector of electronics has evolved to become India’s 6th-largest export in 2022.
iv.Mobile phones are the single largest component of India’s electronics exports.

• By 2023, they are expected to account for 50 % of total electronics exports.
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)
ICRIER is an autonomous economic policy think tank that has been in operation since 1981.
Goal: To provide rigorous analytical research, objective policy guidance, and extensive networking
opportunities to help Indian policymakers make well-informed decisions.
Director & Chief Executive (CE) of ICRIER – Dr. Deepak Mishra
India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA)
The ICEA is the leading industry body for the mobile and electronics sectors, representing manufacturers,
brand owners, technology providers, Value Added Services (VAS) application & solution providers, distributors,
and retail chains for mobile handsets and electronics.
Goal: To uphold the vision of building Indian manufacturing and design in industries other than mobile
handsets while consolidating the advancements made in the mobile handset and components industry.
Chairman of ICEA – Pankaj Mohindroo
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Digital India Week 2022’, a Digital Expo – Digital Mela, at
Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY). The week will be celebrated from July 4 to July 9, 2022 to showcase the transformation of
India’s digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The theme for Digital India Week
2022- ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’.
About Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rajeev Chandrasekhar
NSO Releases 15th PLFS Quarterly Bulletin [April – June 2022]: UR Falls to 7.6% In April-June
2022
The Unemployment Rate (UR) for people aged 15 and above in urban areas decreased to 7.6% in April-June
2022 from 12.6% in 2021, according to the 15th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Quarterly Bulletin
[April – June 2022] published by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI).
• The recent data, which highlights a declining UR and a better labour force participation rate, indicate
a sustained economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftereffects.
The unforeseen impact of pandemic related restrictions on India from April-June 2021 was a major factor in the
high level of unemployment.
15th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Quarterly Bulletin [April – June 2022]
During the quarter of April-June 2022, a total of 5,721 First Stage Units (FSUs) (Urban Frame Survey (UFS)
blocks) were surveyed across all urban areas in India. A total of 1,73,271 people in urban areas, including
44,660 urban households, were surveyed.
Key Components
i.Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of the persons who are in the
labour force (working/looking for employment/available for work).
• The term “labour force” refers to the population that supplies or offers to supply labour for
economic activities such as manufacturing goods and services, and hence includes both employed
and unemployed individuals.
ii.Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of the population that is employed.
iii.Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of the labour force that is unemployed.
iv.Current Weekly Status (CWS): The CWS of a person is the activity status determined based on the
reference period of the last 7 days preceding the date of the survey.

• A person is considered unemployed under the CWS approach if he/she did not work for at least one
hour on any day of the week but sought or was available for employment for at least one hour on
any day of the period.
Key Inferences from The Survey
i.The UR for persons aged 15 years and above in urban areas was 8.2 % in January-March 2022.
• The UR for urban Females (aged 15 years and above) was also found to have decreased to 9.5 % in
April – June 2022 from 14.3% in the corresponding period of 2021. It was 10.1 % in January-March
2022.
• In urban areas, the UR for Males fell to 7.1% in April–June 2022 from 12.2% in the corresponding
period of 2021. It was 7.7 % in January-March 2022.
ii.The LFPR in CWS in urban areas for persons aged 15 years and above grew to 47.5% in the April–June
quarter of 2022, up from 46.8% in the corresponding quarter of 2021. It was 47.3% in January-March 2022.
iii.The WPR in CWS for those aged 15 years and above in urban areas increased to 43.9% in April–June 2022
from 40.9% during the same period in 2021. It was 43.4% in January-March 2022.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
i.NSO introduced PLFS in April 2017 after realizing the significance of having access to labour force data at
more frequent intervals. It serves the following two purposes:
• To estimate the important employment and unemployment indicators (i.e., UR, LFPR, and WPR) in
the CWS for the urban areas within the short duration of 3 months.
• To annually estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both rural and urban areas
using “Usual Status” (ps+ss) and CWS.
ii.So far, 14 PLFS Quarterly Bulletins have been released, covering the quarters ending December 2018 to
March 2022.
• The current quarterly bulletin is the 15th in the series for the months of April – June 2022.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released a report titled ‘Youth in India
2022’ stating that the population share of the youth has started declining as the share of the elderly is expected
to steadily surge during 2021-2036. The report is based on data given by the Technical Group on Population
Projections (TGPP), which was established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
MoSPI is the nodal agency for the planned and organized development of the statistical system in India.
Ministers of State (Independent Charge) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurugram Constituency – Haryana)
C&W Reports: Beijing Tops; Bengaluru Ranks Second in the Top Technology Hubs List
According to property consultant Cushman & Wakefield report titled, ‘Tech Cities: The Global Intersection of
Talent and Real Estate’, Beijing, China tops the technology hubs list in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and is
followed by Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The report studied around 115 different tech cities across the world and has also identified Chennai,
Hyderabad, and Delhi as the top technology hubs in the APAC region after Beijing.
• 46 top tech markets were identified based on 14 criteria, across Talent, Real Estate, and Business
Environment metrics.
Key points:
i.Between 2017- 2021, Bengaluru stood as one of the largest contributors to office space that leases to
companies on an annual average share of 25 percent to 30 percent pan-India.
ii.The Bengaluru office market contributed 38 – 40 percent (2017- 2021) of annual share towards the tech
sector which is higher than the national average of 35 percent.
• Bengaluru is also known for its largest Grade A office market
iii.Bengaluru leads with 2,30,813 tech jobs created during the year 2021, followed by Chennai with 1,12,781,
Hyderabad with 1,03,032 and Delhi with 89,996 jobs.

Note – Mumbai and Pune also made it to the top-10 list with eighth and ninth position in a list of 14 cities from
the APAC.
UIDAI tops among all Ministries and Departments in resolving Public Grievances during August 2022
According to the Grievance Redressal Index in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public
Grievances (DARPG) monthly report (August 2022), The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
topped amongst all Ministries/Departments for resolving Public Grievances during August 2022.
• UIDAI is the top performer in resolution of cases received through the Centralized Public Grievance
Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
i.UIDAI is equipped with the robust grievance redressal mechanism,comprising UIDAI HQ (Head Quarters)
Divisions, Regional Offices, Technology Centre and engaged Contact Centre partners, which is enabling UIDAI to
resolve around 92% of CRM Grievances within 7 days.
ii.The new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution of UIDAI was designed with advanced features
which provide seamless service delivery to residents.
• The new CRM solution shall have the capability to support multi-channels like Phone Call, Email,
Chatbot, Web Portal, Social Media, Letter and Walk-in through which the grievances can be lodged,
tracked and resolved effectively.
NITI Aayog Releases 4th Progress Report On POSHAN Abhiyaan: MH, AP & GJ Lead in Overall
Implementation at the National-Level in 2020
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) has released the 4th progress report on the POSHAN
(Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan, titled “Preserving Progress on Nutrition
in India: Poshan Abhiyaan in Pandemic Times.”
• Poshan Abhiyaan is the flagship programme of Government of India (GoI).
• The report covers the period from January to December 2020, which mostly coincides with the
active implementation of mission activities.
Maharashtra (MH), Andhra Pradesh (AP), and Gujarat (GJ) are found to be the top three states in terms of total
implementation among larger states at the national level in 2020, followed by Tamil Nadu (TN), Madhya
Pradesh (MP), and Himachal Pradesh (HP).
• The report also highlighted that 12 of the 19 largest states had an implementation score of more
than 70%.
Top 5 Among Larger States
S.No Large States
1 Maharashtra (MH)
2 Andhra Pradesh (AP)
3 Gujarat (GJ)
4 Tamil Nadu (TN)
5 Madhya Pradesh (MP)
Key Facts from The Report:

i.To facilitate for fair comparisons, the report classifies the states and UTs into three categories: large states,
small states, and UTs.
ii.Sikkim performed the best (more than 75%) out of the eight small states, followed by Meghalaya, Tripura,
and Goa.

Top 5 among Smaller States
S.No Small States
1 Sikkim
2 Meghalaya
3 Tripura
4 Goa
5 Nagaland
iii.The top three UTs on the list were Dadra & Nagar Haveli along with Daman & Diu, Chandigarh, and the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, all of which had scores of over 70%.
Top 5 among Union Territories (UTs)
S.No Union Territories (UTs)
1 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
2 Chandigarh
3 Andaman & Nicobar Islands
4 Jammu & Kashmir
5 Lakshadweep
iv.In terms of overall Poshan Abhiyaan implementation, Punjab and Bihar performed the lowest among larger
states.
v.Only 17 States and UTs had more than 75% of children 12-23 months of age fully immunized, while 11 states
and UTs had less than 25% fully immunized children.
vi.Take-home rations (THR) have been distributed to all beneficiaries of the Women and Child Development
(WCD) programme in various States and UTs.
• In contrast, coverage was still inadequate in Bihar, Punjab, Sikkim, and Jammu & Kashmir.
vii.It should be emphasized that less than 50% of the funds allocated for Poshan Abhiyaan have been utilized
overall, across 23 States and UTs.
Key Suggestions from The Report:
i.The report highlighted the importance of accelerating the utilization of Poshan Abhiyaan funds and ensuring
an adequate number of health facilities and supplies.
ii.It proposed strengthening the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and health platforms in order to
increase coverage and raise the quality of essential health and nutrition interventions.
iii.It also recommended carrying out the Convergence Action Plans (CAPs) to ensure that the convergence is
outcome-focused and that actions across sectors benefit the intended beneficiaries.
POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan
POSHAN Abhiyaan (formerly known as the National Nutrition Mission) is a multi-ministerial convergence
mission that seeks to raise national attention to and combat malnutrition in a mission-mode.
Poshan Abhiyaan was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8th March 2018 in Jhunjhunu district of
Rajasthan.
• This programme, which falls under the ICDS umbrella, integrates with other services and
programmes that provide nutrition interventions during the first 1,000-day period.

Objective: To enhance the nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant mothers, lactating mothers, and
adolescents.
Targets of the Mission
• To deliver a high impact package of interventions in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life
• To strengthen the delivery of these interventions through technology and management
• To improve the capacity of frontline workers (FLWs)
• To facilitate cross-sectoral convergence to address the multi-dimensional nature of malnutrition
• To enhance behaviour change and community mobilization
Note:
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) is celebrating the 5th
Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 from September 01-30, 2022.
• Objective: To trigger Poshan Maah through Gram Panchayats as Poshan Panchayats with key focus
on “Mahila aur Swasthya ” and “Bacha aur Shiksha”.
In July 2022, the Central Government think tank, NITI Aayog released its report on digital banks, titled ‘Digital
Banks: A proposal for Licensing and Regulatory Regime for India’ offering a template and roadmap for
licensing and regulatory regime for India. It focuses on avoiding any regulatory or policy arbitrage and offers a
level playing field to incumbents as well as competitors.
About NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India):
CEO – Parameswaran Iyer
Establishment – 1 January 2015
India Likely to Become World’s 6th Largest Insurance Market by 2032; Premiums to Grow at
14% CAGR
According to the ‘Global Economic and Insurance Outlook’ report published by the Swiss Re Institute
(Switzerland), India will emerge as the 6th largest insurance market in the world by 2032, supported by
regulatory push and rapid economic expansion.
• Total insurance premiums in India are predicted to grow by an average of 14% compounded annual
growth rate (CAGR) in nominal local currency terms over the next 10 years, placing the country 6th
largest in terms of total premium volume by 2032, up from 10th largest in 2021.
Note: Jérôme Jean Haegeli is the Group Chief Economist of Swiss Re Group.
Key Inferences from The Report:
Insurance Sector
i.Global growth in life insurance premiums is anticipated to be nearly stable in 2022 and to increase by 1.9% in
real terms in 2023.
ii.By 2032, India’s life insurance market is expected to be the 5th largest in the world.
iii.According to the report, the Indian life insurance market will expand at an exceptional pace of 6.6% (in real
terms) in 2022 and then 7.1% in 2023.
iv.Life insurance premiums in India are expected to surpass USD 100 billion for the first time in 2022, based on
the projected growth rate.
Non-Life Insurance Sector
i.Global non-life premium growth for the insurance market is anticipated to decelerate to 0.8% (in real terms)
in 2022 from 2.6% in 2021.
ii.After a slight contraction in 2020, the non-life insurance market in India resumed growth in 2021, growing by
5.8% (in real terms).
iii.In 2022, growth is predicted to slightly drop down to 4.5%, primarily because of high inflation. However,
between 2023 and 2032, the sector is projected to expand at a CAGR (in real terms) close to 8%.

iv.The COVID-19 pandemic’s systematic changes to India’s non-life insurance market is one of the reasons
pushing the sectoral growth.
• It increased risk awareness, which drove demand for health insurance, pushing it to the biggest LoB
(Line of Business) by premium volume in 2021.
Global Economy
i.As a result of the Russia-Ukraine War, the global economy is on the verge of an inflationary recession, with
policymakers facing an increasingly tough inflation-growth trade-off.
ii.According to the report, India would be the world’s fastest-growing economy in 2022.
• It also projected that global premiums would exceed USD 7 trillion by the end of 2022.
Recent elated News:
According to the latest report tracking the performance of the industry by Benori Knowledge, a new-age
provider of specialised research and analytics solutions, the life insurance penetration rate in India has
increased to 3.2% in December 2021 from 2.8% in December 2019. India is now the 10th largest Life Insurance
market in the world almost at par with the global average of 3.3%. and is ahead of China (at 2.4%) and the
United Kingdom (UK) (at 3%).
About Swiss Re Institute:
Headquarters – Zurich, Switzerland
MoF Releases 28th Edition of Status Report On India’s External Debt 2021-22
The 28th edition of ‘India’s External Debt: A Status Report 2021–22’ has been published by the External
Debt Management Unit (EDMU) under the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF).
• India’s external debt increased to USD 620.7 billion at the End-March 2022, an increase of 8.20%,
from USD 573.7 billion at the End-March 2021.
• The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the trends, composition and debt service of India’s
external debt up to End-March 2022.
Key Data from The Report
i.India’s external debt at the End-March 2022 accounts in US Dollars (USD) of 53.2% and 31.2% (second
largest) of which was reported to be in Indian Rupees (INR).
• 90% of the total external debt was made up of Commercial borrowings (CBs), Non-resident Indian
(NRI) deposits, short-term trade credit, and multilateral loans.
ii.External debt as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined to 19.9% at the End-March 2022, down
from 21.20% at End-March 2021.
iii.At the End-March 2022, the ratio of foreign currency reserves to external debt was 97.8%, down from
100.6% at End-March 2021.
iv.The long-term debt, estimated at USD 499.1 billion, accounted for 80.4% of the total, while the short-term
debt, estimated at USD 121.7 billion, accounted for 19.6% of the total.
• Short-term trade credit was mostly in the form of trade credit (96%), which was used to finance
imports.
v.Due to the increased grant of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during
2021–2022, Sovereign External Debt (SED) stood at USD 130.7 billion by the End-March 2022, an increase of
17.1% over End-March 2021.
vi.At USD 490.0 billion as of the End-March 2022, Non-Sovereign External Debt increased by 6.1% from End-
March 2021.
• About 95% of Non-Sovereign External Debt was made up of CBs, NRI deposits, and short-term trade
credits.
Key Facts
• The report also provides a cross-country assessment of India’s external debt, which remains
sustainable and prudently managed, ranking 23rd globally.

• India’s sustainability was superior to numerous Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
individually as well as the LMICs as a group in terms of various debt vulnerability indicators.
NITI Aayog Report: India’s Truck Market Likely to Grow Over 4-times by 2050
According to a National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog report titled ‘Transforming Trucking
in India: Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment’, India’s trucking market is expected to grow over 4
times by 2050.
Key highlights:
i.Since road freight travel continues to grow, the number of trucks is also expected to rise from 4 million in
2022 to around 17 million trucks by 2050 which is more than quadruple.
ii.Due to the increase in population, the rise of e-commerce and rising income levels, the transport demand
continues to grow and the road freight movement is expected to increase to 9.6 trillion tonnes
Kilometre by 2050.
• The heavy duty trucks (HDTs) and medium duty trucks (MDTs) are responsible for most of the
road transportation that reaches around 70 percent of domestic freight demand.
iii.According to the report, currently, India transports 4.6 billion tons of freight annually, generating a
transport demand of 2.2 trillion ton kilometres at the cost of Rs 9.5 lakh crore.
Solution:
i.As per the report, In India, transportation costs is around 62 percent of overall logistics, accounting for 14
percent of India’s GDP.
ii.Zero-emissions trucks (ZETs), including battery electric trucks (BETs) and fuel cell electric
trucks (FCETs) which have low operating costs and also in line with India’s COP-26 targets in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, would be the solution for such growing transportation demands.
Suggestions to improve ZTE:
i. The report highlighted the government intervention on policy matters to reduce charging costs, including
upfront subsidies, electricity tariffs that remove demand charges and implement Electric Vehicle (EV)-friendly
rate structures, and concessional land for building out ZET charging infrastructure.
ii. Additionally, the report also suggested improving the infrastructure installation process to minimise the
permission and interconnection processing times for charging infrastructure development for reduction in
charging deployment soft costs.
Report by WHO & UNICEF: Globally Half of health care facilities lack basic hygiene services
According to the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) titled “Progress on WASH in health care facilities 2000–2021: special
focus on WASH and infection prevention and control (IPC)”, in 2021, around half of health care facilities across
the world lack basic hygiene services with water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub, where patients receive
care and at toilets in these facilities.
• The report states that around 3.85 billion people across the globe depend on these facilities.
• This also includes the 688 million people who receive care at facilities with no hygiene services at
all.
Note:
• The report was launched at the World Water Week, the annual conference held from 23rd August to
1st September 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden.
• WASH – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Other Key Findings:
i.Globally, 4 in 5 health care facilities, around 78%, had basic water services which mean the water was
available from an improved source on the facility in 2021.
ii.Around 1.7 billion people do not have access to basic water services in their healthcare facility, including 857
million people across the globe who have no water service at their healthcare facility.

Key Points:
i.For the first time, this report has established the global baseline on Hygiene services.
ii.According to WHO and UNICEF, for hygiene, data are now available for 40 counties, which represents 35% of
the world’s population, up from 21 in 2020 and 14 in 2019.
Gist of the report:
i.The report revealed the state of hygiene in health care facilities,
• 68% of health care facilities had hygiene facilities at points of care, and 65% had handwashing
facilities with water and soap in the toilets.
• 51% had both and met the criteria for basic hygiene services.
• 1 in 11 (9%) of health care facilities globally have neither.
ii.The report also highlights that contaminated hands and environments plays a major role in pathogen
transmission in health care facilities and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
ILO Report: Modern Slavery On the Rise; Witnesses 25 % Increase in 5 Years

According to the “Global Estimates of Modern Slavery-Forced Labour and Forced Marriage,” released by
the International Labour Organization (ILO), there were approximately 50 million (49.6 million) people living
in modern slavery on any given day in 2021, up from 40 million in 2016 and a 25% increase over the last 5
years.
• Of these people, 22 million were trapped in forced marriages and nearly 28 million (27.6 million)
were subjected to forced labour. The most vulnerable members of society continue to be women and
children.
The ILO, Walk Free, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed the global and regional
estimates stated in this report.
Key Terminologies
• Modern Slavery refers to a set of specific legal concepts, such as forced labour, concepts related to
forced labour (such as debt bondage, slavery, and slavery like practices and human trafficking), and
forced marriage.
• Forced Marriage refers to instances in which a person is forced to marry without their consent.
Key Statistics: The Wake-up Call
Upper-Middle Income or High-Income countries account for more than half (52%) of all forced labour and a
quarter of all forced marriages.
Forced Labour
i.The number of people who are forced to work has increased by 2.7 million between 2016 and 2021.
ii.Asia and the Pacific countries account for more than half of the global total i.e.,15.1 million labourers.
• This is followed by Europe and Central Asia (4.1 million), Africa (3.8 million), the Americas (3.6
million), and the Arab States (0.9 million).
iii.According to the report, the Arab States have the largest population proportion (5.3 per thousand people),
followed by Europe and Central Asia (4.4 per thousand).
iv.The private sector accounts for 86 % of all instances of forced labour.
Forced Marriage
i.In 2021, there were an estimated 22 million people living in forced marriages on any given day. Between 2016
and 2021, the number of people in forced marriages climbed by 6.6 million.
• Asia and the Pacific account for nearly two-thirds (65%) of all forced marriages, which impact an
estimated 14.2 million people.
• This is followed by 14.5% in Africa (3.2 million) and 10.4% in Europe and Central Asia (2.3 million).
ii.When the population of each region is taken into consideration, the Arab States have the highest rate of
forced marriage (4.8 per thousand population), followed by Asia and the Pacific (3.3 per thousand population).
iii.According to the report, adult migrant workers have a more than threefold risk of being subjected to forced
labour than non-migrant adult workers.

Note: By adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the international community pledged to put an
end to modern slavery among children by 2025 and universally by 2030 (Target 8.7).
In July 2022, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Department of Chemicals and
Petrochemicals (DCPC) and ILO for adopting the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs). Dr. Mansukh
Mandaviya, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Health & Family Welfare chaired a seminar on
‘Safe Use of Chemicals at Workplace’.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Director-General – Guy Ryder (Gilbert F. Houngbo will occupy the office in October 2022.)
Member States – 187
6th NHA Estimates Report: GoI’s Health Expenditure GDP Fell from 1.35% to 1.28%
According to the 6th National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates Report of India for 2018-19 data,
the centre’s share in the total government health expenditure dropped to 34.3 percent in 2018-19 from 40.8
percent in 2017-2018.The government’s health expenditure as a percentage of the GDP fell from 1.35 in 2017-
18 to 1.28 in 2018-2019.
• The report was prepared by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), designated as
National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) in 2014 by Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW).
• It was prepared by using an accounting framework based on the System of Health Accounts, 2011,
developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Health expenditure includes current and capital expenditures incurred by the government, private
sectors and also the external funds.
Highlights of the report:
i.The share of States to government health expenditure has raised up to 7 percent such as 65.7 percent in
2018-19, from 59.2 percent in 2017-2018.
ii.The total health expenditure per capita has been increased by 74 percent since 2013-14, that is Rs. 1042
to Rs 1815 in 2018-19.
• Government’s health expenditure as a percentage of Current Health Expenditure has increased from
23.2% in 2013-14 to 34.5% in 2018-19.
iii.According to the above report,
• government health expenditure in the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country has
increased from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.28% in 2018-19.
• GDP of total health expenditure fell to 3.2 per cent in 2018-19, when compared to 3.3 per cent in the
2017 -18 and 4 per cent in 2013-14.
iv.The social safety net for healthcare expenditure increased to 9.6 per cent in 2018-2019 from 9 percent in
2017-18 and 6 percent in 2013-14.
v.The share of private sector insurance expenditure to total health expenditure has raised to 6.6 percent in
2018-19 as against 5.8 percent in 2017-18.
vi.Primary and secondary care account for more than 80 percent of the current Government Health
Expenditure and showed an increase in their share from 74 percent (2013-14) to 86 percent (2018-19).
• Whereas in the private sector, the share of Primary and secondary care has declined from 82
percent (2013-14) to 70 percent (2018-19).
Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE):
The OOPE are those that are directly made by households or family or an individual at the time of receiving
healthcare. The report also provides a comparison of the per-capita OOPE of India with other countries,
using Global Health Expenditure Database provided by WHO. In the group of 189 countries, India ranks
66th for per capita OOPE.

• OOPE as a percentage of the total health expenditure has declined by 16 points from 64.2 percent to
48.2 percent.
• OOPE as a percentage of the current health expenditure has also declined from 69.1 percent to 53.2
percent.
• Per capita OOPE has decreased by 8 percent between 2013-14 and 2018-19 from Rs. 2366 to Rs.
2155.
India to become 3rd Largest Economy by 2029: SBI Ecowrap Report

As per the report by the State Bank of India (SBI) Research Ecowrap, India is set to become the world’s 3rd
largest economy by 2029. The report was released by SBI’s Economic Research Department (ERD).
• It is likely to surpass Germany in 2027 and Japan by 2029 at the current growth rate.
• The report is authored by Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI.
Key Points:
i.In Q1 FY23, India registered GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth at 13.5%. At this rate India is likely to be
the fastest growing economy in FY23.In August 2022, SBI Ecowrap projected India’s GDP in Q1FY23 at 15.7%.
ii.India’s current share of nominal GDP (in 2022) is 3.5% with $3894 million, as against 2.6% ($2039 mn) in
2014 and is likely to cross 4% in 2027, the current share of Germany in global GDP.
iii.The report suggested updating the IIP (Index of industrial production) basket of India which is currently
composed of 2021 products.
iv.India has already surpassed the size of the United Kingdom (UK) economy in December 2021 to become the
5th largest economy globally.
v.India was at 10th position in 2014, representing a large structural shift since 2014 becoming the 5th largest
economy.
Click Here for Official Report
Kantar BrandZ report: TCS Becomes India’s Most Valuable Brand in 2022
According to the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands 2022 report, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has
emerged as India’s most valuable brand, with a brand value of ~USD 45.5 Billion.
• TCS has replaced HDFC Bank, valued at USD 32.7 billion, which held the 1st position since the Kantar
BrandZ India ranking was launched in 2014. HDFC Bank has ranked number two on the 2022
rankings.
• The report was released by market data and analytics firm Kantar.
From the report:
i.According to the report, the Indian brands have increased their brand value by nearly 35 percent
Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) since 2020.
ii.Infosys (USD 29.2bn) which has rocketed up to no.3 from 12th position, and ICICI Bank (USD 11bn) which
has climbed two places to no.9. State Bank of India (USD 13.6bn) has also risen four places to no.6.
iii.The top 10 companies includes Airtel(No. 4), Asian Paints(No. 5), State Bank of India(SBI)(No. 6), Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC)(No. 7), Kotak Mahindra Bank(No. 8), ICICI Bank(No. 9) and Reliance Jio(No. 10).
• The consumer tech brands in terms of brand values included Flipkart, Byju’s, Swiggy, Nykaa and
Zomato, for their adoption of online channels by Indian consumers.
Highlights:
i.The combined value of India’s top 75 brands is worth USD 393 billion, that is equivalent to 11 percent of
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• The top 10 most valuable Indian brands together contribute to over half of the total value of the
ranking.
ii.There 14 new companies included from over 11 categories including online gaming, education, apparel and
real estate, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the Indian economy.

Credit Suisse Report: Global Wealth Jumps to 9.8% YoY at USD 463.6 trillion in 2021
According to 13th edition of Global Wealth Report 2022 by Credit Suisse,a Switzerland-based investment
bank and financial services firm, India witnessed a 12 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in total household
wealth in FY21.The report also estimates that global wealth totaled USD 463.6 trillion at the end of 2021, a rise
of USD 41.4 trillion (9.8 percent).
• The report also forecasts the number of millionaires in India to more than double from 796,000 in
2021 to 1.6 million in 2026.
From the report:
i.The number of global millionaires will exceed 87 million in 2026 which is an increase of 25 million from 2021.
ii.The United States tops the world millionaire list which houses around 39 percent of global millionaires,
followed by China in 2nd place.
• The US acquires the most household wealth in 2021, followed by China, Canada, India and Australia.
iii.During the period from 2021 till 2026, the number of millionaires in China is expected to grow by 97 percent
and 13 percent in the world’s largest economy, the US.
India:
i.Number of millionaires in India is expected to grow 105 percent to 16.32 lakh between 2021 to 2026 from
7.96 lakh (2021).
• India houses about 1 percent of the world’s millionaires.
ii.Wealth per adult has risen at an average annual rate of 8.8 percent since 2000 and stood at USD 15,535 at the
end of 2021, which is below the global mean.
MoL&E Releases Report on Fourth Round of Quarterly Employment Survey

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E), has released the “Report on
the Fourth Round of Quarterly Employment Survey,” which is a part of the All India Quarterly
Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) conducted by the Labour Bureau, MoL&E.
• The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) Report on the Fourth Round (January–March, 2022)
provides a quarterly analysis of the employment scenario in India as on January 1, 2022.
The Report on QES, which serves as a demand-side survey, will bridge the data gaps on employment in India
along with the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which serves as a supply-side survey.
All India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES)
The objective of AQEES is to provide quarterly estimates of employment and related variables in both
organised and unorganised segments of nine selected sectors, which account for the majority of total
employment in non-farm establishments.
• Nine Selected Sectors: Manufacturing, Construction, Trade, Transport, Education, Health,
Accommodation & Restaurant, Information Technology (IT) / Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
and Financial Services.
The AQEES has two components:
• The “Quarterly Employment Survey (QES)”– relates to the establishments with 10 or more
workers
• The “Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES)”– relates to the establishments with 9 or less
workers.
Quarterly Employment Survey (QES)
The QES was launched in April 2021 as a component of the AQEES in order to collect vital information
regarding employment and related variables in the organized sector of the economy.
• The revised QES was first conducted in the April–June 2021 quarter, replacing older quarterly
employment surveys that were discontinued in July–September 2017.
• Objective: To collect data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operational and
employment status of businesses in the nine key sectors.

According to the first survey, 3.08 crore people were employed between April and June (the reference date for
the first round was April 1, 2021).
• The total employment in the nine selected industries was recorded as 2.37 crore in the sixth
economic census (2013–14).
Key Highlights of The 4th Quarterly Employment Survey Report:
i.During the 4th round of QES (January-March 2022), total employment created by 9 selected non-farm sectors
was 3.18 crore in 5.31 lakh establishments.
• The total workers employed across the 9 sectors has grown from 3.14 crore in October-December
2021 (3rd quarter of 2021–22), 3.10 crore in July–September 2021 (2nd quarter of 2021-22), and
3.08 crore in April–June 2021 (1st quarter of 2021-22).
ii.Of the nine sectors, manufacturing employed the most people (38.5% of the total workforce, or 1.23 crore),
followed by education (21.7%, or 69.04 lakh), IT/BPOs (12.0%, or 38.31 lakh), and health (10.6%, or 33.79
lakh).
• These four sectors accounted for 83 % of the total workers.
iii.Of the total estimated workers, the Trade and Transportation sectors employed 5.3% (16.98 lakh) and 4.2%
(13.26 lakh), respectively.
iv.Between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, the total employment across the 9 sectors increased by 10
lakh.
• About 3.01 %, or 1.5 lakh, of all the establishments had vacancies.
v.According to the survey, the participation of female workers increased marginally from 31.6% in the 3rd
quarter to 31.8% in the 4th quarter.
• Female workers comprised around 52% of the workforce in the Health sector, 44% in Education,
41% in Financial Services, and 36% in IT/BPO.
• There were more self-employed women than self-employed men in the financial services sector.
In August 2022, The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI), in its Working Paper on Compilation of Labour Indicators of the Minimum Set of Gender
Indicators to develop a methodology for compiling three labour indicators, reported that between 2017 and
2020, the proportion of employed people working part-time in the 46–59 years age group across all of India
was greater than 10%, while the proportion was greater than 15% in the above 60 age group.
About Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha – Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rameswar Teli
DPIIT Report: AP Emerges as India’s Top Investment Destination Between Jan-July 2022
According to a report (July 2022) released by the Department for Promotion of Industries and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Andhra Pradesh (AP) has emerged as India’s top
investment destination, attracting a substantial share of investments worth Rs. 40,361 crore between January
– July 2022.
• During this period, India’s actual industrial investment amounted to Rs. 1,71,285 crore.
Of India’s total industrial investments, AP contributed 23.56 %. Odisha came in second with Rs. 36,828 crore.
• Both AP and Odisha accounted for 45% of total investment inflows to India during this period.
Other Notable Achievements of Andhra Pradesh
i.With an emphasis on investments in renewable energy and port-based sectors, the AP government has
designated 29 locations suitable and viable for renewable power projects.
ii.Given that AP has the second longest coastline (972 km) in India, the AP government has begun development
of 3 additional ports and nine fishing harbours, in addition to the six existing ports.
• AP also leads in marine product exports in India.

iii.Andhra Pradesh was chosen for the establishment of a Bulk Drug Park (BDP), making it the only southern
state to receive a BDP.
iv.A Memorandum of Understanding for projects totaling more than Rs. 1.25 lakh crore was exchanged on the
margins of the World Economic Forum 2022 in Davos, Switzerland, securing investments for AP.
v.The AP cabinet has approved proposals for investment worth Rs 1,26,748 crore, which would provide direct
employment for around 40,330 people over the next seven years after the projects are finished.
vi.Despite becoming the leading investment destination, the AP has underperformed in terms of
commencement of commercial production.
• Industrial projects worth Rs. 6,173 crore have started commercial operations out of a total
investment inflow of Rs. 40,361 crore.
i.In July 2022, According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
inflows into India’s Research and Development (R & D) sector hiked to USD 343.64 million in Calendar Year
(C.Y.) 2021, rising 516% from USD 55.77 million in C.Y. 2020.
ii.FDI is permitted in the R&D sector through a 100% automatic route, subject to applicable laws/regulations,
security and other conditionalities.
About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI):
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) – Anupriya Singh Patel; Som Parkash
MoT Report: “India Tourism Statistics 2022” – MH & TN Emerge as Top States with Foreign
Tourist Visits
The Vice-President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, released a report titled “India Tourism Statistics
2022” on World Tourism Day (September 27, 2022) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. According to the
report that was prepared by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT),
• Maharashtra (MH) and Tamil Nadu (TN) had the highest numbers of foreign tourist visits, with
1.26 million and 1.23 million, respectively, in 2021.
• India received 677.63 million domestic tourist visits in 2021, an increase of 11.05% from 610.22
million in 2020.
On this occasion, the VP also unveiled the “GoBeyond: 75 Experiences of North India” e-book and the New
Incredible India Global Promotional Films.
He has presented the "National Tourism Awards 2018-19" to awardees, highlighting the achievements of the
industry in 2018-19. A total of 81 awards were given.
• Uttarakhand was awarded the First Prize (Hall of Fame) under the Comprehensive Development of
Tourism (Rest of India) category. The second and third places were won by Maharashtra and
Telangana, respectively.
‘India Tourism Statistics 2022’ Report
The MoT has prepared the report by compiling the latest data from various sources viz. United Nations World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), States/UTs Tourism Department, Bureau of Immigration (BoI),
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) etc.
Key Highlights of the Report
i.According to the data, the total number of foreign visitors in 2021-22 was 3,18,673, a 23.4% decline from
4,15,859 in 2020-21.
ii.The total number of domestic visitors in 2021-22 was 2,60,46,891, up from 1,31,53,076 in 2020-21,
representing a 98 % growth year on year.
• Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have the most domestic tourists, with 140.65 million and 86.12
million, respectively.
iii.In 2021, India was ranked 54th in the global Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI).

iv.Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India declined to 1.52 million in 2021 from 2.74 million in 2020 due to
COVID-19 restrictions, representing a negative growth of 44.5%.
• The top 15 source markets for FTAs in India in 2021: The United States (US), Bangladesh, the United
Kingdom (UK), Canada, Nepal, Afghanistan, Australia, Germany, Portugal, France, the Maldives, Sri
Lanka, the Russian Federation, Iraq, and the Netherlands.
• These top 15 countries represented approximately 80.91% of the FTAs in India.
v.In 2021, the UAE was the leading source country for Indian National Departures (INDs), followed by the US,
Qatar, Oman, the UK, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
• These top 10 countries made up about 85.93% of all INDs in 2021.
Taj Mahal Most-Visited Ticketed ASI Site for Domestic Tourists in 2021-22
According to the “India Tourism Statistics 2022” Report, the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site designated by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is ranked 1st among the top 10
most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for Domestic Visitors in FY 2021–2022.
• While the Taj Mahal received the most visitors (3.29 million), the Red Fort (1.32 million) and the
Qutub Minar (1.15 million), both UNESCO-recognized sites in Delhi, received the second and third
most visitors.
The Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu (0.14 million visitors) and the Taj Mahal (0.038
million) were the two most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for Foreign Visitors in FY 2021–
22.
Top 5 Most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for ‘Domestic Visitors’ in 2021-22
Place State
1 Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh
2 Red Fort Delhi
3 Qutub Minar Delhi
4 Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram Tamil Nadu
5 Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh
Top 5 Most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for ‘Foreign Visitors’ in 2021-22
Place State
1 Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram Tamil Nadu
2 Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh
3 Tiger headed Rock cut temple & two other monuments, Saluvankuppam Tamil Nadu
4 Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh
5 Gingee Fort Tamil Nadu
Tourism to Contribute USD 250 Billion to GDP by 2030, India to Grow 7-9%
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, presided over a 3-day “National Conference of State
Tourism Ministers” that took place in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, from September 18–20, 2022. (MoT).
• According to projections made at the conference, India’s tourism industry will return to its pre-
pandemic level by mid-2024 and contribute USD 250 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) by 2030.
The “Dharamshala Declaration-2022,” which emphasizes India’s commitment to creating “sustainable and
responsible tourism,” was adopted during the conference and envisions India as a “global leader in the tourism
sector by 2047.”
Key Points:
i.The National Tourism Policy was drafted with a comprehensive vision and strategy to revitalize India’s
tourism industry, with a goal of reaching USD 1 trillion by 2047.

ii.The declaration states that India intends to position itself as a top tourist destination while it Chairs the G-20
Presidency in 2023.
iii.India is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7-9% over the next decade.
Recent Related news:
In July 2022, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (UP), one of India’s holiest cities that showcases the country’s rich
culture and heritage, has been named the first “Cultural & Tourism Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO)” under a new rotating initiative to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among
the member states.
About Ministry of Tourism (MoT):
Union Minister – G. Kishan Reddy (Secunderabad Constituency, Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ajay Bhatt); Shripad Yesso Naik
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

RMAF announced winners of 64th Ramon Magsaysay Award 2022
The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the winner of the 64th
Ramon Magsaysay Award 2022. The 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are Sotheara
Chhim (Cambodia), Bernadette Madrid (Philippines), Tadashi Hattori (Japan) and Gary
Bencheghib (Indonesia).
• The theme of 2022 Awards is “Greatness
of Spirit, Beyond Borders”.
About Ramon Magsaysay Award:
i.The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in 1957,
is Asia’s greatest honour and distinction. The award is
managed by RMAF.
ii.It is named after Ramon Magsaysay, the Seventh
President of the Philippines.
• The award is regarded around the world
as “Asia’s Nobel Prize”.
iii.The prize is annually presented in a ceremonial ceremony in Manila, Philippines on August 31.
The first Ramon Magsaysay Awards ceremony was held on 31st August 1958.
• Vinoba Bhave(India), was one of the inaugural recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1958).
Note: Ravish Kumar, an Indian journalist, received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019 for “using journalism
to give voice to the voiceless.
About recipients Ramon Magsaysay Award 2022:
i.Sotheara Chhim-He is a mental health advocate from Cambodia. He is a leading voice in Cambodian trauma
syndrome.
He is being recognized for “his calm courage in surmounting deep trauma to become his people’s healer”.
ii.Tadashi Hattori-He is a sight-saving humanitarian from Japan.
He is being recognized for his simple humanity and extraordinary generosity as a person and a professional.
iii.Bernadette J. Madrid-She is a children’s rights crusader from the Philippines.
She is being recognized for “her unassuming and steadfast commitment to a noble and demanding advocacy.
iv.Gary Bencheghib-He is an anti-plastic pollution warrior from Indonesia.
He is being recognized for Emergent Leadership for “his inspiring fight against marine plastic pollution.

About Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF):
RMAF is an international wholly independent non-profit organization.
Chairman-Aurelio R. Montinola III
President– Susanna B. Afan
Headquarters- Manila, Philippines.
President of India Presents National Service Scheme Awards for the Year 2020-21
On 24th September 2022, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented the National Service
Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2020-2021 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• A total of 42 awards have been awarded
including 2 Universities, 10 NSS units, their
programme officers, and 30 NSS volunteers
received the awards.
Key People:
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag
Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Youth
Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, and youth affairs
secretary Sanjay Kumar participated in the event.
About NSS Awards:
i.The NSS awards are conferred every year by the Department of Youth Affairs, under the Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports.
• These awards are conferred to recognise and reward outstanding contributions towards
voluntary community service to promote NSS in India.
NSS Awards 2020-2021 Categories:
Number of
Category awards Value
1st Award – Rs.5 Lakh for NSS Programme Development with a
Trophy to the University/ +2 Council, along with a certificate
and a silver medal to the programme coordinator.
2nd Award – Rs.3 Lakh for NSS Programme Development with a
University/ +2 Trophy to the University/ +2 Council, along with a certificate
Council 2 and a silver medal to the programme coordinator.
Rs.2 Lakh to each NSS Unit for NSS Programme Development along
NSS Units and their with a Trophy and Rs. 1.5 Lakh to each Programme Officer with a
Programme Officers 10 +10 certificate and a silver medal.
Rs. 1 Lakh to each volunteer along with a certificate and a silver
NSS Volunteers 30 medal.
About National Service Scheme (NSS):
i.The NSS is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) of the Government of India (GoI), under the Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports (MoYAS) that was launched in 1969, with an aim to provide experience to young students
of schools and universities in delivering community services.
ii.NSS provides an opportunity to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class at +2 board level and student
youth of technical institutions, graduate & post graduate (PG) at colleges and University level to take part
in various government-led community service activities & programmes.

Forbes Asia 100 to Watch: 11 Indian start-ups features in the list
Forbes Asia released the 2nd edition of the list titled ‘Forbes Asia-100 to Watch 2022’. The list highlights
small companies and startups on the rise across the Asia-Pacific region.
About ‘Forbes Asia-100 to Watch’ list 2022:
i.The list for 2022 featured 11 start-up companies from India along with 19 companies from Singapore,
followed by 16 start-ups from Hong Kong, 15 from South Korea, and 13 from China.
ii.According to Forbes, 15 countries and territories are represented across 11 categories that include
biotechnology and healthcare, e-commerce and retail, and finance.
Eligibility criteria:
Companies had to be headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, Privately owned, for profit.
Companies have not more than USD 50 million in its latest annual revenue and have not more than USD 100
million in total funding through 1 August 2022.
Indian start-ups ‘Forbes Asia-100 to Watch’ list:
Company CEO Founded Year Category
TartanSense Jaisimha Rao 2015 Agriculture
Gramheet Pankaj Prakash 2020 Agriculture
Bijak Nakul Upadhye 2019 Agriculture
Animall Neetu Yadav 2019 Agriculture
Agrostar Shardul Sheth 2013 Agriculture
Pocket FM Rohan Nayak 2018 Entertainment & Media
Euler Motors Saurav Kumar 2018 Logistics & Transportation
Park+ Amit Lakhotia 2019 Logistics & Transportation
FRND Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar 2018 Consumer Technology
Bijnis Siddharth Vij 2015 E-commerce & Retail
GoKwik Chirag Taneja 2020 E-commerce & Retail
LIC out of Top 10 most valued firms; Replaced by Bajaj Finance, Adani Transmission
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is pushed out of the list of India’s 10 most valued companies by
market capitalization by Bajaj Finance and Adani Transmission. LIC is now ranked 11th with a market
capital of Rs 4.26 lakh crore.
• Bajaj Finance and Adani Transmission have taken 10th and 9th position, respectively.
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is the top valued Indian company with a market capitalisation of
Rs. 17.8 lakh crore, followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Infosys, Hindustan
Unilever Limited (HUL), ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), and Housing Development Finance
Corporation (HDFC) Limited.
Key highlights:
i.As on 30th August 2022, Adani Transmission entered the coveted list of top 10 most valued companies with a
market value of Rs. 4.43 lakh crore on the BSE list which is higher than Bajaj Finance’s total mcap of Rs. 4.42
lakh crore and LIC’s Rs. 4.26 lakh crore.
ii.On 17th May 2022, LIC share price fell sharply and were allotted to the investors at Rs. 949 apiece and got
listed at the stock exchanges at discount.
• The stock is about 29 percent down from its initial public offering (IPO) issue price of Rs. 949.
iii.In the 2022 June quarter net profit of LIC Shares jumped to Rs. 682.9 crore as compared to Rs. 2.9 crore in
2021 June quarters, which reported a 20 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in net premium.

• LIC continuously increased its market share in the year 2022 by launching two new Non-PAR
products in Q1 FY23 and a channel-specific product for the 1st time.
GRSE conferred with coveted Green Channel Certification by Defence Ministry

Warship maker Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) was conferred the Green Channel
Certification by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of portable steel bridges – Beiley type – of
various spans and configurations to the Indian Army.
• GRSE is the only organization in India qualified for the Green Channel Certification for Portable Steel
Bridges (Bailey Type), from the Indian Army.
• The Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of GRSE Commodore(Cmde) PR Hari, IN (Retd.) received
the certification from Lt Gen RK Malhotra, Director General, Quality Assurance (DGQA) in the
presence of officials from GRSE and Indian Army/ DGQA in New Delhi, Delhi.
MoHUA Minister Hardeep S. Puri presented Smart Solutions Challenge & Inclusive Cities
Awards 2022
On September 1, 2022, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
presented Smart Solutions Challenge & Inclusive Cities Awards 2022 which are an initiative of the National
Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the United Nations (UN) in India to address city-level accessibility and
inclusion challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PwD), women and girls, and the elderly.
Smart Solutions and Inclusive Cities Awards 2022:
These were launched in April 2022 to promote people-centric design and indigenous technological innovations
and solutions. Over 100 entries were received through an open call for applications, out of which the top 10
technology-based innovations in 3 categories were identified as winning solutions by an eminent 7-member
jury panel.
i.In the category of early-stage innovations, the winner was a wearable technology product, Fifth Sense by
Glovatrix Pvt. Ltd., that translates sign language gestures to speech and text using sensors and AI.
ii.In the second category of market-ready solutions, Mouseware by Dextroware Devices Pvt. Ltd. was the
winner. Mouseware is a head-wearable device that enables hands-free control of computers and smart gadgets.
iii.In the 3rd category of Implemented Solutions, Multi-Dimensional Inclusiveness: Using Advanced
Technologies for Education and Literacy by Belagavi Smart City Ltd won the top prize. This system enables
those with disabilities to access education and healthcare.
Here is the list of winners:
Rank Winners
Category 1: Early-stage Innovations
1 Fifth Sense by Glovatrix Pvt. Ltd
2 Digital Mobility Subsidy by Ola Mobility Institute
3 AxcesAble Places by AxcesAble Designs LLP
Category 2: Market-ready Solutions
1 Mouseware by Dextroware Devices
2 Signer.AI by Incluistic Pvt. Ltd. / Friends for Inclusion
3 IncluMaps by Vikas Upadhyay, Research Scholar, IIT Delhi
Category 3: Implemented Solutions
Multi-Dimensional Inclusiveness: Using Advanced Technologies for Education and Literacy by Belagavi
1 Smart City Ltd.
2 myUDAAN by Tekra Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

3 ‘Moving with Pride’ (Mo Bus and Mo E-Ride) by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Odisha
4 Nirbhaya App by Sagar Smart City Ltd.

Key Points:
i.The above solutions will help in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 11.7 to provide safe,
inclusive & accessible, green & public spaces for all vulnerable communities.
ii.India expanded the list of recognized disabilities from 7 to 21 after the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
of 2016 which states India has a higher number of people living with some form of disability.
iii.A ‘Compendium of Smart and Innovative Solutions for an Inclusive & Accessible Urban Future’ was
also launched. The compendium compiles selected solutions that were shortlisted for Phase 2 of the evaluation
process, to document and disseminate information about the available technological innovations and good
practices within India which can further be used as a resource by urban practitioners in cities and countries
across the world.
• The compendium developed by NIUA and the UN India is a collection of 40 cutting-edge digital/tech
solutions that will support the decision-makers and urban practitioners to promote accessibility and
inclusion of everyone.
Other Participants:
The UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, the Joint Secretary and Mission Director, Smart City
Mission, MoHUA, Kunal Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
i.The Open Data Week was conducted during the third week of January, from 17th to 21st January 2022, by the
Smart Cities Mission(SCM), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to encourage the adoption of open
data and promote innovation across India’s urban ecosystem.
ii.Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched project NIPUN (National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of
Nirman workers) , an initiative of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the flagship scheme of
the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister– Hardeep Singh Puri (Rajya Sabha Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Kaushal Kishore (Constituency- Mohanlalganj, Uttar Pradesh)
City of Markham in Canada named a Street After AR Rahman

AR Rahman, the Oscar Award-winning musician was honoured by naming a street after him in Markham,
Ontario, Canada.
• He shared his note for the authorities of Markham’s Mayor Frank Scarpitt and counsellors; Indian
Consulate General, Apoorva Srivastava and the people of Canada.
• Naming the street after Rahman was a return honour back in November 2013.
• Later, when the street was named after him in Canada, he felt more responsible and assured to keep
putting in hard work and inspire people.
Indian Army chief Gen. Manoj Pande conferred the title ‘Honorary General of the Nepali Army’
Bidya Devi Bhandari, the President of Nepal conferred the the honorary rank of General of Nepal
Army to General Manoj Chandrashekhar Pande, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Manoj Pande was conferred at a special ceremony at the President’s official residence ‘Shital Niwas’ in
Kathmandu, Nepal.
About General Manoj Pande:
i.General Manoj Pande, 1st officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the 29th Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
with the effect from April 2022.
ii.He was commissioned to the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) in 1982.

iii. He is the recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal and
he has been awarded the COAS Commendation card and
2 General Officer Commanding (GOC)-in-C
Commendation card.
About the Honorary General of the Nepali Army:
i.The practice of decorating army chiefs of each other’s
country with the honorary title has been followed as an
old tradition for 70 years.
ii.The 1st Indian Army Chief to be decorated with this
title was KM Cariappa, Commander-in-Chief General in
1950.
iii.In 2021, Chief of Nepali Army, General Prabhu Ram
Sharma has conferred with Honorary General of the Indian Army by the former Indian President Ram Nath
Kovind.
Indian scientist, Padma Shri awardee Dr Swati Piramal conferred France’s Legion of Honour
Award
Indian Scientist-Industrialist and Padma Shri recipient Dr Swati Piramal, Vice-Chairperson of the Piramal
Group was honoured with the ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’ (Knight of the Legion of Honour), France’s
top civilian honour for her contribution to business, science, medicine, arts, culture, and Indo-French ties.
• The award was presented to her by H.E. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
of France on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron.
Highlights:
i.The award is in recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of business and
industry, science, medicine, arts and culture, both nationally and internationally.
ii.In 2006, Dr Swati Piramal was honoured with Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (Knight of the Order of
Merit), France’s second-highest civilian honour.
The Legion of Honour award:
• It was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
• It is conferred by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality
of the recipients, and the President of France is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of
Honour.
About Dr Swati Piramal:
i.She is an Indian scientist and industrialist, and is involved in healthcare, focusing on public health and
innovation.
ii.She is the vice chairperson of Piramal Group, a business conglomerate with interests in pharmaceuticals,
financial services, real estate and glass packaging.
iii.She also served as Member of the Prime Minister of India’s Trade Advisory Council and the Scientific
Advisory Council. Currently she is working on the Harvard Global Advisory Council.
Award:
Padma Shri award (2012) for her contribution to the science and technology business.
MoS Jitendra Singh presents INSPIRE Awards – MANAK to 60 startups

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh presented INSPIRE (Innovation in
Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and
Knowledge) to 60 startups and financial support to 53,021 students.
• The award is instituted by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).

• According to Minister Jitendra Singh, in 2020-2021, the annual INSPIRE Awards–MANAK
competition attracted 6.53 Lakh unique
ideas and innovations from all States and
Union Territories (UTs) of the country.
Key Highlights:
i.Out of 6.53 lakh, a total of 53,021 students were
identified for financial support of Rs 10,000 each to
develop their prototypes and these innovators will be
extended complete incubation support for their
entrepreneurship journey.
ii.556 students have made it to the 9th National Level
Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) as
scientists, researchers, scholars, and an overall group of Science & Technology.
iii. In India, out of 766 districts, 702 districts have represented the ideas and innovations in the INSPIRE
Awards–MANAK scheme.
About INSPIRE Awards – MANAK:
i.The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK, a flagship scheme of the country is jointly implemented by the Department of
Science & Technology (DST) with the National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF).
ii.It aims to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10.
iii.Objective – The aim of MANAK is to target one million original ideas/innovations rooted in science and
societal applications to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children.
Gates Foundation honours 4 leaders with 2022 Goalkeepers Global Goals awards; Dr Radhika
Batra of India among winners
On 20 September 2022, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honoured 4 changemakers, Dr Radhika Batra
(India), Zahra Joya (Afghanistan), Vanessa Nakate (Uganda), and Ursula von der Leyen (Germany), with the
2022 Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards as a part of its annual Goalkeepers campaign.
• The award recognises their efforts to advance progress towards the United Nations’ (UN)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their communities and around the world.
2022 Goalkeepers Awards Ceremony:
i.The event was hosted by Tumelo Mothotoane, senior anchor of South African news broadcaster eNCA.
• The Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards ceremony was organized in Lincoln centre, New York, United
States (US).
ii.Goalkeepers is the Gates Foundation’s campaign to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development
Goals (Global Goals).
Winners of 2022 Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards:
Name of the Award Presented by Awardee Country
2022 Global Goalkeeper Award Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates Ursula von der Leyen Germany
2022 Campaign Award Malala Yousafzai Vanessa Nakate Uganda
2022 Changemaker Award Angelina Jolie Zahra Joya Afghanistan
2022 Progress Award Lilly Singh Dr. Radhika Batra India
About Dr Radhika Batra:
i.Dr Radhika Batra is the Co-founder of the nonprofit organization ‘Every Infant Matters’, which provides last-
mile health solutions to disadvantaged children in India.
ii.She is progressing SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

About Zahra Joya:
i.Zahra Joya, a journalist from Afghanistan, founded and self-funded ‘Rukhshana Media’—the first national
news organization of its kind, an online news agency focused exclusively on covering issues that affect the
women of Afghanistan.
ii.She is progressing SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions.
Vanessa Nakate:
i.Vanessa Nakate is a climate justice activist from Uganda and founder of the Africa-based ‘Rise Up Movement’
and the ‘Green Schools Project’
ii.She is progressing SDG 4: Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 13:
Climate Action.
Note-
In September 2022, United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) appointed Vanessa Nakate as its Goodwill
Ambassador.
About Ursula von der Leyen:
i.Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who has been serving as the President of the European
Commission.
ii.She was awarded for her contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
About Goalkeepers Report 2022:
• The Gates Foundation’s sixth annual Goalkeepers Report, “The Future of Progress,” was released.
• It was co-authored by foundation co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.
About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Headquarters- Seattle, Washington, United States (US)
CEO- Mark Suzman
Lok Nayak Foundation Sahitya Puraskar presented to Tanikella Bharani in Vizag

On 5 September 2022, Telugu writer and actor, Tanikella Bharani was presented with the annual Sahitya
Puraskar of the Loknayak Foundation (18th Loknayak Foundation Award) at an award ceremony held at
Kalabharathi Auditorium, Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh(AP).
• The Governor of Mizoram, Kambhampati Haribabu, who participated as the Chief Guest, felicitated
the award to Tanikella Bharanialong with actor Manchu Mohan Babu and others. Justice Jasti
Chelameswar, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court was also present.
• The Loknayak foundation has been giving the annual award for the past 18 years(since 2005).
About Tanikella Bharani:
i.Tanikella Bharani is an Indian actor, screenwriter, poet, playwright and director who mostly works in Telugu
films.
ii.He has worked in more than 750 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi.
iii.He has won 3 Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards.
About the award:
i.The award is popularly referred to as ‘Andhra Jnanpith’. It carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.
• The award is given annually to an eminent Telugu writer or poet or a person credited with service
for the cause of Telugu literature.
ii.Generally, the award is presented on 18th January annually to mark the death anniversaries of former Chief
Minister(CM) NT Rama Rao(NTR) and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
iii.Loknayak Foundation award winners are announced on 24th November every year on the birthday of Dr
Lakshmi Prasad Yarlagadda.
About Loknayak Foundation:
President- Dr Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad
Location– Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh

West Bengal to Receive International Travel Award 2023 For ‘Best Destination for Culture’
West Bengal has been accredited the International Travel Award 2023 for Best Destination for Culture by
the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO).
• The award will be presented at the World Tourism and Aviation Leaders’ Summit in Berlin,
Germany, on March 9, 2023.
Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA)
The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) is a professional travel writers organisation established
in 1998.
• It collaborates with the public and private sectors to encourage sustainable development and
enhance the quality of travel and tourism.
PATWA upholds the fundamental principles of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations (UN), and the UNWTO.
Other Global Recognition for West Bengal
The Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, one of West Bengal’s most significant festivals, was added to the
Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
• The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed it
during its 16th session in 2021.
Note:
For the second year in a row, World Travel Awards selected the Republic of Cuba as the Caribbean’s Leading
Cultural Destination in 2022.
Karim Benzema & Alexia Putellas Win UEFA Player Of The Year 2021/2022 Titles
Real Madrid CF striker Karim Mostafa Benzema (France) was awarded the ‘UEFA Men’s Player of the Year
2021/22’ title and Alexia Putellas Segura (Spain) was awarded the ‘UEFA Women’s Player of the Year
2021/2022 ’ title.
• The 2021/2022 Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) award ceremony, hosted
by Turkish Football Federation, was held in
Istanbul, Turkey on 25th August 2022.
Highlights:
i.Karim Mostafa Benzema, is a French professional
footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Real
Madrid and the France national team.
ii.Alexia Putellas Segura, is a Spanish professional
footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primera Division
club Barcelona, whom she captains, and the Spain national team.
iii.Since 1998, the UEFA President’s award has also acknowledged an outstanding individual or group
achievement, whose impact transcends the game.
About 2021/2022 UEFA awards:
Award category Name Country /Club
UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Karim Mostafa Benzema France/ Real Madrid
UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Alexia Putellas Segura Spain/FC Barcelona Femeni
UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year Carlo Ancelotti Madrid, Spain
UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Sarina Weigman England, United Kingdom
UEFA President’s award Arrigo Sacchi Italy

About Union of European Football Associations (UEFA):
Founded- 1954
President- Aleksander Čeferin
Headquarters- Nyon, Switzerland
Hindi writer Dr. Asghar Wajahat conferred with 31st Vyas Samman
The 31st Vyas Samman Award was conferred to renowned Hindi writer Dr. Asghar Wajahat in New Delhi,
Delhi. He was selected for the prestigious award for his play ‘Mahabali’, which is focused on Mughal emperor
Akbar and poet Tulsidas. Through this play he attempted to answer who is the real Mahabali, the poet or the
emperor.
• The Vyas Samman awarded by the K.K. Birla Foundation is a literary award that recognises
outstanding work of Hindi literature by an Indian citizen published in the previous 10 years. The
award includes a cash prize of Rs 4 Lakh, a citation and a plaque.
• Ram Vilas Sharma received the inaugural Vyas Samman (1991) for his work ‘Bharat ke Pracheen
Bhasha Parivar aur Hindi’.
30th Vyas Samman was presented to Professor Sharad Pagare for his novel ‘Patliputra ki Samragi’.
Admiral Sunil Lanba received Meritorious Service Medal from Singapore Government
On 8th September 2022, Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), former Chief of Naval Staff(CNS), Indian Navy, was
conferred the prestigious Pingat Jasa
Gemilang (Tentera) [Meritorious Service
Medal (Military)] by Halimah Yacob, the President of the
Republic of Singapore at the Ministry of Defence,
Singapore.
• The award was presented by Dr Ng Eng Hen,
Defence Minister of Singapore on behalf of the
President.
• The award is a recognition of his outstanding
contribution to the strong and long-standing
bilateral defence relationship between the Indian
Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.
About Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera):
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) is a decoration award given to the members of the Singapore Armed Forces
for distinguished performances.
Under special circumstances, The Medal is awarded to a person for his outstanding service in the promotion of
good relations between the Singapore Armed Forces and the military force of his country.
About Admiral Sunil Lanba:
i.Admiral Sunil Lanbaa retired Indian naval officer who served as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian
Navy.
ii.Before his naval career, he served as the Navigation, Aircraft Direction and Operations Officer aboard several
ships in both, the Eastern and Western Fleets of the Indian Navy.
iii. With the support of Admiral Sunil Lanba, both navies commemorated the Silver Jubilee of the Singapore-
India Maritime Bilateral Exercise in 2018
iv.He also conducted the inaugural Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) in September 2019.
His Other Awards:
• For his exceptional services to the nation, the President of India has first awarded Admiral Sunil Lanba
the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) and then the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM). He is also the
Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President.

Barack Obama won Best Narration award at 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Award
The former President of the United States(US), Barack Obama won the Outstanding Narrator Award at the 2022
Creative Arts Emmy Awards(74th Emmy) for his Netflix series “Our Great National Parks: A World of
Wonder”, a 5-part documentary series about some of the world’s national parks and their wildlife.
• The documentary was nominated under the Outstanding Cinematography for A Nonfiction Program –
2022 category and Barack Obama was nominated under the Outstanding Narrator – 2022 category.
• He is the 2nd US president to win an Emmy. Dwight D Eisenhower(34th US President) was given a
special Emmy Award in 1956.
Federal Bank Becomes only Indian Bank among Best Workplaces in Asia 2022 by Great Place to
Work
The Federal Bank Ltd was ranked 63rd on the Best Workplaces in Asia 2022 and became the only bank in
India to be listed by Great Place to Work, the global authority on building, sustaining and recognizing High-
Trust, High-Performance Culture at workplaces.
• The list was based on over 1 million survey responses across Asia and West Asia, representing the
experience of over 4.7 million employees in the region.
• According to Great Place to Work India data, 88% of employees at the best workplaces in Asia on
average reported having a positive employee experience. For the average global workforce, only
55% of workers report a similarly positive experience.
India won UN awards for ‘India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)’ under NHM
On 21st September 2022, India won a ‘2022 United Nations (UN) Interagency Task Force, and WHO Special
Programme on Primary Health Care Award‘ for its ‘India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)’, a Large-scale
hypertension intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM) at the UN General Assembly.
• India was awarded under the category of ministries of health (or government agency under a
ministry of health).
• The award is for India’s initiative to control and prevent hypertension under the government’s NHM.
• It has been recognized for India’s exceptional work within India’s existing primary healthcare
system.
• IHCI is a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR), state governments and the World Health Organization(WHO)-India.
Key Highlights:
i.As per the WHO’s report, one in four adults has high blood pressure, which is the common reason for sudden
heart attack or stroke.
ii.Hypertension is a serious and growing health issue in India. There are an estimated 20 crore adults with
hypertension, of whom approximately only 2 crores have it under control.
iii. The Indian Government has adopted the “25 by 25” goal to reduce premature mortality due to Non-
Communicable Diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.
India Hypertension Control Initiative:
i.The initiative was launched in 2017 and gradually increased to cover more than 130 districts across 23 states.
ii.IHCI aims to accelerate progress toward the NCD target by supplementing and intensifying evidence-based
strategies to strengthen the building blocks of hypertension management and control.
About Awards:
This award is to recognize achievements during 2021 on multisectoral action in the prevention and control of
NCDs, mental health and the wider NCD-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It is given in three categories, They are
• Ministries of health (or government agency under a ministry of health);
• Ministries (or government agencies) beyond health; and
• Non-state actors (non-governmental organization, academic institutions and philanthropy).

Uttar Pradesh gets awarded Ayushmann Utkrishta award 2022
On 26th September 2022, the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) was awarded the Ayushmann Utkrishta
award 2022 for effective implementation of the
Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
UP was rewarded for its contribution in various health
facilities to the Health Facility Register, the event was
organized at the Aarogya Manthan programme in Delhi.
• UP became the best performing state in India
with 28728 Health facilities added to the
National Health Facility Register.
• UP also became the second best State in
creating Ayushmann Bharat health account
(ABHA) with almost 2 crores ABH Accounts.
i.Karnataka ranks second with 23,838 healthcare facilities, followed by Andhra Pradesh (13,335), Maharashtra
(12,902), Bihar (12,453); Madhya Pradesh (12,268); West Bengal (11,607), Chhattisgarh (9,349), Telangana
(7,988), and Gujarat (7,791).
Health Facility Registry:
i.It is a comprehensive repository of health facilities of India across modern and traditional systems of medicine
under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
ii.It includes both public and private health facilities including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and
imaging centers, pharmacies, etc.
About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister- Yogi Adityanath
Governor- Anandiben Patel
Dance- Khayal, Nautanki Naqal
Stadium- Ravindra Kishore Shahi Sports Stadium, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj Sports Stadium
Cochin International Airport Limited won Airport Service Quality Award 2022
The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has won the Airport Service Quality Award-2022 in the 5 to
15 million passenger category of airports operating in the Asia-Pacific region.The Airport Service Quality
Award is instituted by the Airport Council International (ACI).
• The award recognized CIAL’s
implementation of ‘Mission
Safeguarding’ program that was
implemented in 2021-22 to ensure seamless
traffic and passenger satisfaction after
COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is considered as the highest honour in the
global aviation sector owing to its extensive
survey methodology practices.
Key Points:
i.The award was received by the CIAL
Chairman Pinarayi Vijayan and its Managing Director (MD) S. Suhas from ACI World Director General Luis
Felipe de Oliveira at a function held at Krakow, Poland.
• The event was organised in connection with the ACI Customer Experience Global Summit 2022.
ii.The airport registered a growth of 92.66% in passenger volume and 60.06% in air traffic movement. CIAL
also improved its position as the third-busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic.

Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman wins 1st Queen Elizabeth award
Indian-origin UK (United Kingdom) Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been named the winner of the 1st
Queen Elizabeth II Woman of the Year award at the Asian Achievers Awards (AAA) 2022 ceremony in
London, England.
About Suella Braverman:
i. Suella Braverman was born on 3 April 1980 in Harrow,
Greater London.
ii. She is a 42-year-old British politician and barrister
who was appointed as the UK’s Home Secretary on 6
September 2022 by British Prime Minister Mary
Elizabeth Truss (Liz Truss) at the AAA 2022 ceremony.
iii. In 2017, Suella Braverman was appointed as the
Chairperson of the European Research Group, and as a
member of the Conservative Party.
iv. From 2020 to 2022, she served as the Attorney
General for England and Wales.
About Asian Achievers Awards (AAA):
i.The Asian Achievers Awards (AAA) 2022 is the 20th edition held on 23 September 2022 in central London.
ii.The awards have been given in order to recognise the achievements of individuals from different spheres of
life across Britain’s South Asian community through public nominations.
iii.Other Winners :-
• Broadcaster Naga Munchetty won in the media category,
• Chairman and CEO of celebrated visual effects firm DNEG;
• Namit Malhotra in the Arts and Culture category;
• Captain Harpreet Chandi in the Uniformed and Civil Service category ;
• Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian was named Professional of Year for his pioneering DNA
sequencing discovery and
• Karenjeet Kaur Bains won the Sports Personality of the Year
Kumar Sanu, Shailendra Singh & Anand-Milind to get Lata Mangeshkar Award
On 28th September 2022, renowned playback singers Kumar Sanu & Shailendra Singh and the duo of Indian
film music composers Anand & Milind Shrivastav have been conferred with the National Lata Mangeshkar
Award for different years.
The prestigious award is given on the birth anniversary
of the late legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar at her
birthplace Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Shailendra Singh is honoured with the Lata
Mangeshkar Award for 2019, for his distinct
voice from 1970-1980.
• Anand-Milind is honoured with the Lata
Mangeshkar Award for 2020, for composing
music for over 200 films.
• Kumar Sanu is honoured with the Lata
Mangeshkar Award for 2021, for his velvet
voice to numerous popular songs in the 1990s.
Note: The last Lata Mangeshkar Award function was held on February 7, 2020.
Lata Mangeshkar Award:
i. It is a National-level award instituted to honour works in the field of music.
ii. The State Government of Madhya Pradesh started this award in 1984, which consists of a certificate of merit

and a cash prize.
iii. The Lata Mangeshkar Award is given annually by the Madhya Pradesh government’s culture department for
prompting excellence in the area of light music.
iv. Each carries a cash prize of Rs 2 Lakh and a citation.
v. Earlier recipients who have been honoured with the Lata Mangeshkar Award are Naushad, Kishore Kumar
and Asha Bhosle.
About Lata Mangeshkar:
i. Lata Mangeshkar is the most versatile singer in the Indian film industry. She was born on 28th September
1929 and died on 6th February 2022.
ii.Notable Awards & Recognition:- She was the recipient of three National Film Awards.
• she was one of the first Indian playback singers to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK.
• She received Padma Bhushan in 1969, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989, Padma Vibhushan in 1999
and Bharat Ratna in 2001.
Indian Activist Srishti Bakshi wins ‘Changemaker’ award at UN SDG Action Awards
A women’s rights activist from India, Srishti Bakshi has won the ‘Changemaker‘ award at the UN SDG (United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals) Action Awards held at a ceremony in Bonn, Germany.
The award is given to recognise the efforts of Srishti Bakshi to raise awareness of gender-based violence and
inequality.
About Srishti Bakshi:
i. Srishti Bakshi, a marketer-turned-women’s-rights-
activist and founder of the CrossBow Miles movement,
started on an on-foot pilgrimage of 3,800 Km
through 12 Indian states from Kanyakumari to
Kashmir.
ii. She has covered a distance of 30-35 km and met
anywhere between 150-200 people a day.
iii. She has already walked through the states of Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
iv. She conducted over 100 workshops focused on women’s safety to put a spotlight on the causes of violence
against women and also empower women and reveal stories of resilience, along with digital and financial
literacy.
v. WOMB: Women Of My Billion, a documentary that captured her journey exposes the raw emotions and
realities of women in India.
About UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony:
i. The UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony celebrates people and initiatives that mobilize, inspire, and connect
people every day, proving that each one of us has the power to drive transformative action
ii. The finalists for the UN SDG Action Awards were selected from over 3,000 applications from 150 countries
and the winners were announced during a live event on 27 September 2022.
Other UN SDG Action Awards Winners 2022:
• ‘SUPvivors say NO MORE’- Mobilise category
• ‘The Masungi Story’- Inspire category
• CyprusInno- Connect category
1 Honourable Mention for ‘Let’s Do It Ukraine’.

Akash Ambani is the only Indian to be on Time100 Next Emerging Leaders’ list
Akash Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Jio is the only Indian to be featured on the TIME100 NEXT emerging
leaders’ list, TIME magazine’s list of the world’s rising stars (United States-based global magazine).
Note: Another Indian-born American business leader, Amrapali Gan is also on the list.
About Akash Ambani:
i. Akash Ambani was born to India’s richest family ‘Ambani Family’ in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii. He graduated from Brown University, Rhode Island, the United States with a major in Economics and
interned with his father at their family business.
iii. On 27 June 2022, at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) he was promoted to the Chairman of Jio, India’s
largest telecom company, with over 426 million subscribers, after being controversially handed a board seat at
the age of 22.
iv. Since he was handed a board seat, he played a key role in landing multi-billion-dollar investments from
Google and Facebook. He may be given a crack at larger chunks of the family’s conglomerate if he handles Jio
well.
v. According to Time, Akash Ambani was always expected to rise in the business, but he has been putting in
hard work.
About TIME100 NEXT:
i. TIME magazine annually publishes the TIME100 Next, a list inspired by its flagship TIME100 which
recognizes 100 rising stars worldwide.
ii. The TIME100 NEXT list constitutes medical professionals, government officials, movement leaders, high-
profile whistle-blowers and top CEOs.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga appointed as interim PM of Mali
The Malian military government has appointed Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga as Interim Prime Minister (PM) of
Mali (West African country), after Mali’s Civilian Prime Minister (PM) Choguel Kokalla Maiga was admitted to
hospital.
• Before he was appointed as interim PM, Colonel Maiga was the
government spokesman and Minister of Territorial Administration.
• Choguel Kokalla Maiga has served many times as Minister in previous governments. He was named
premier after the soldiers who took power in August 2020 and carried out a 2nd success in May
2021.
• He has been the Government’s most outspoken voices in repeated public rows with West Africa
neighbours and international partners.
Gervais Ndirakobuca appointed as the new Prime Minister of Burundi

On 7th September 2022, BurundiPresident Evariste
Ndayishimiye appointed Gervais Ndirakobuca as the
Prime Minister (PM) of Burundi (East Africa) and replaces
Alain Guillaume Bunyoni (2020 – 2022).
• The 113 Members of Parliament (MPs) have
approved the proposal of the President of Burundi to
appoint Gervais Ndirakobuca.
About Gervais Ndirakobuca:
i.Gervais Ndirakobuca was born in Bukinanyana in the
Cibitoke Province of Burundi. He was a Burundian former

rebel commander and police commissioner
ii.Gervais Ndirakobuca was given the name ‘Ndakugarika’ which means ‘I will kill you’ for his rebellious
command during the Burundian Civil War that ended in 2005.
iii. He is known for his violent crackdown of the 2015 civil protest in Burundi.
iv.He joined the National Police of Burundi and rose to the rank of Commissioner (lieutenant-general) and was
addressed as General after Civil War.
v.When President Evariste Ndayishimiye appointed him as security minister, he was under sanction for human
rights violations by the United States and European Union against his protest.
Far-Right Leader Giorgia Meloni to become Italy’s 1st Woman PM

On 25th September 2022, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Far Right nationalist Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy)
party won 26% of the vote in Italy’s National Election by defeating Mario Draghi and becomes
Italy’s 1st Woman Prime Minister.
• Giorgia Meloni has won 114 seats.
About Giorgia Meloni:
i. Giorgia Meloni was born in Garbatella, an Urban zone of
Rome, Italy on 15th January 1977.
ii. She entered politics at the age of 15 and joined the neo-
fascist Social Movement, a group with pronounced
sympathy for Benito Mussolini, the country’s dictator from
1925 to 1945.
iii. She served as a Youth Minister in Berlusconi’s (2008-
2011) government before founding the Brothers of Italy in
2012.
iv. She is the youngest Cabinet Minister in Italy’s history. She was widely expected to form Italy’s most right-
wing government since World War II.
Parliament of Italy:
The Italian Parliament consists of two houses:
• The Chamber of Deputies has 630 elected members
• The Senate of the Republic has 315 elected senators.
About Italy:
President- Sergio Mattarella
Capital- Rome
Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson resigns after Right-wing parties win Swedish election
On 15th September 2022, Prime Minister (PM) of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, leader of Social Democratic
Party, resigned from the post after her centre-left bloc lost the 2022 Parliamentary Elections to a bloc of right-
wing parties, 176 seats to 173. The Elections were held
on 11th September 2022.
• Magdalena Andersson was Sweden’s first
female PM.
Note: The right-wing bloc includes a nationalist, anti-
immigration party (Moderate Party).
Key points:
i.The resignation was formally submitted to Andreas
Norlen, Speaker of Sweden’s parliament. She will
continue in a caretaking capacity until a new government
is formed.
ii.Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s Moderate Party leader, is likely to form a new government in Sweden.

iii.Magdalena Andersson is a 55-year-old Swedish politician and economist who has served as Prime Minister
of Sweden and leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party since 2021.
About Magdalena Andersson:
Magdalena Andersson was elected as the Prime Minister (PM) of Sweden in 2021. She served as leader of the
Swedish Social Democratic Party.
About Sweden’s Parliament (Riksdag):
• The Riksdag has 349 members who are elected every four years.
• The newly elected members of the Riksdag for the 2022–2026 electoral period will take their seats
on 26 September 2022.
About Sweden:
Capital-Stockholm
Currency- Swedish krona
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud named as Prime Minister
On 27th September 2022, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, a powerful Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and son
of King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been named Prime Minister (PM) of Saudi Arabia by royal decree.
The former Prime Minister King Salman bin
Abdulaziz will continue to chair the Cabinet meetings
that he attends.
Other Royal Decrees:
i. King Salman bin Abdulaziz promoted his 2nd son
Prince Khalid bin Salman from Deputy Defence Minister
to Defence Minister.
ii. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman remained Saudi Arabia’s
energy minister
iii. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister;
Mohammed al-Jadaan, Finance Minister; and Khalid al-
Falih, Investment Minister remained unchanged.
About Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud:
i. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the 37-year-old Crown Prince, known as MbS, a member of the Saudi royal
family who served as Minister of Defence (2015-2022). He is already seen as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia
(an oil-rich Gulf state).
ii. He is the leading figure in the kingdom’s “Vision 2030” plans to transform the country’s economy and
energy infrastructure.
iii. In 2009 he became a formal adviser to his father, who was then Governor of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
iv. In 2017, when Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud rose to power, he changed Saudi Arabia radically as he led
efforts to diversify the economy from dependence on oil, allowing women to drive and hold back the clerics’
power over society.
About Saudi Arabia:
King- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Capital- Riyadh
Currency – Saudi Riyal
Acefour Accessories appointed Jasprit Bumrah as the Brand Ambassador of its Brand
“Uppercase”
Acefour Accessories, a travel accessories company appointed Jasprit Bumrah, an Indian Cricketer as brand
ambassador for its eco-friendly luggage brand “Uppercase ‘‘ for two years. He will lead the ”Never Ordinary
Campaign”.
i.The campaign is managed by RISE Worldwide, an initiative of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and India’s

largest sports and entertainment company.
ii.It highlights that Uppercase bags are GRS (Global Recycle Standard)-certified sustainable travel gear on
various social platforms.
Santhosh Iyer appointed as MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz

India’s largest luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd, has appointed Santhosh Iyer as
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company with effect from 1 January, 2023.
He will replace Martin Shwenk, who will take over as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Thailand.
• Santhosh Iyer is currently serving as the company’s Vice President (Sales & Marketing).
• At the age of 46, Santhosh Iyer became the first Indian and the youngest person to be appointed as
head of Mercedes-Benz India.
• Santhosh Iyer has been associated with Mercedes-Benz India since 2009.
Rajesh Kumar Srivastava given additional charge as CMD of ONGC

Rajesh Kumar Srivastava has been given additional charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for a period of 4 months with effect from 1st September 2022 or till
the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.
• He took charge as the 3rd interim Chairman of ONGC following the superannuation of the
incumbent Alka Mittal on 31st August 2022.
• Rajesh Kumar Srivastava is currently serving as director (exploration) of ONGC.
Note: Since April 2021, ONGC has been operating without a regular CMD.
Highlights:
i.Subhash Kumar, the then senior-most director on the ONGC board and the director for finance, was named
officiating head after Shashi Shanker superannuated on March 31, 2021.
ii.Following the retirement of Subhash Kumar on December 31, 2021, Alka Mittal, Director for Human
Resources, was given the additional charge.
About Rajesh Kumar Srivastava:
i.Rajesh Kumar Srivastava joined ONGC in 1984 as Geologist at KG-PG Basin or Krishna Godavari Basin,
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
ii.He has the experience of more than 34 years in upstream hydrocarbon explorations from on-land and
offshore sites to developing geology and seismic data interpretation, monitoring and planning of explorations,
and development activities in several basins including deep water exploration on east coast of India.
iii.He is also the Chairman of ONGC TERI Biotech Limited (OTBL) and the President of the Indian Geological
Congress (IGL).
About Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC):
Headquarters-New Delhi, Delhi
Founded-1956
M V Iyer appointed as interim CMD of GAIL

M V Iyer Director (Business Development), Additional Charge of Director (Marketing) of GAIL (India) Limited
has been given additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Limited.
• He has been appointed for a period of 3 months with effect from September 1, 2022, or till the
appointment of a regular incumbent to the post or until further orders, whichever is the earlier
following the superannuation of current CMD Manoj Jain on August 31, 2022.
• He is also the Director of Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), GAIL’s new Joint venture company
for implementation of North East Gas Grid.

Kalyan Chaubey becomes new President of All India Football Federation
On 2nd September 2022 the former Indian Footballer and Indian Politician (BJP), Kalyan Chaubey from West
Bengal defeated former Indian Professional
Footballer Bhaichung Bhutia from Sikkim, in 33-1
polls to become new President of All India Football
Federation (AIFF).
• Kalyan Chaubey replaces the long time
president Praful Patel (2009-2022).
• In AIFFs 85-year history, Chaubey is the
first former Indian player to chair as
President in the football federation.
About Kalyan Chaubey and His Sports Career:
i.Chaubey is a graduate of Tata Football Academy in 1995
and became a professional football player. He played as a goalkeeper and won the award “Indian Goalkeeper
of the Year” in 1997-98 and 2001-02
ii.He was a member of the Indian teams at U-17 Asian Youth Championship 1994 in Iran and U-20 Asian Youth
Championship 1996 in South Korea. The senior international team from 1999 – 2006.
iii. Chaubey won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship twice (1999 and 2005) with India
and won the South Asian Games bronze medal in 1999.
iv. After his retirement, Chaubey took over as the CEO of Mohun Baagan Academy from 2010-2013.
Serbia’s President nominated Ana Brnabic as Prime Minister of Serbia until 2024
Ana Brnabic has been nominated as prime minister (PM) of Serbia by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for
the second consecutive time. Ana Brnabic who was 46 years old became Serbia’s first female and first openly
gay person to hold this postion.
• She has beenPrime Minister of Serbia since
2017 and her term will be continued till 2024.
• She was born in Belgrade,the capital city of
Serbia.
• In August 2016, she was appointed as
the Minister of Public Administration and
Local Self-Government. In addition, she is the
president of the Council for Innovative
Entrepreneurship and Information
Technologies of the Government of Serbia.
• In 2019, Brnabić was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 88th most powerful woman in the
world and as the 19th most powerful female political and policy leader.
Crisis in Serbia
• Serbia is almost entirely dependent on Russian gas and has also bought weapons from Russia, while
China is a major investor for Serbia.
• Both China and Russia support Serbia’s opposition to the independence of Kosovo, Belgrade’s
former southern province.
About Serbia:
President – Aleksandar Vučić
Capital – Belgrade
Currency – Serbian dinar

Indian-Origin Laxman Narasimhan to be the Coffee Giant Starbucks New CEO
Laxman Narasimhan an Indian-American business executive, has been appointed as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the coffee giant Starbucks. He will take over the position from October 1, 2022, and
replaces Howard Schultz
Currently, Narasimhan, the CEO of UK-based health, hygiene and nutrition company Reckitt Benckiser. He
has 30 years of experience in leading and advising global consumer-facing brands.
• Narasimhan will join the board on April 1, 2023. After relocating from London to Seattle, he will
join as an incoming CEO.
• Before assuming the role of CEO and joining the board, he will work closely with interim
CEO Howard Schultz, who stays in the role during the transition period, after that Schultz will
continue as a member of the board.
TMB appoints S Krishnan as its new MD & CEO

Krishnan Sankarasubramaniam took charge as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
the Tuticorin-based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited (TMB) with an immediate effect from 4th September
2022 for 3 years.
• Krishnan replaces the incumbent MD and
CEO KV Rama Murthy, whose period
expired on September 3, 2022.
About S Krishnan:
i.Prior to this appointment, S Krishnan served as the
MD & CEO of Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) from 4th
September 2020 to 31st May 2022.
ii.Krishnan started his banking career in January 1983
at Indian Bank.
iii.He has served as Executive Director of Syndicate
Bank from November 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020.
iv.He has also served as an Executive Director of Canara Bank from 1 April 2020 – 3rd September 2020.
v. He led important verticals in banking like Risk Management, Information Systems Security, HR, etc. He is a
Certified Fellow of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB) also was an Executive Secretary of the Board of
Bank of India.
About Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited (TMB):
Founder Chairman- M.V. Shanmugavel Nadar
Establishment- 11 May 1921
Headquarters- Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
Captain B K Tyagi took over as CMD of Shipping Corporation of India

On 3rd September 2022, Binesh Kumar Tyagi took over as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of the
Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI), a
Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE)
under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
(MoPSW).
• The proposal of Captain B K Tyagi has been
signed off by the Appointments Committee
of the Cabinet (ACC) and his service as CMD
is for 5 years.
About BK Tyagi:
i. Previously, Tyagi is the Director looking after the
Liner and Passenger Services Division (L&PS) at SCI from 8th January 2021 and hold the additional charge as

Director of Technical & Offshore services (T&OS) between 2021 and 2022.
ii. Capt. B K Tyagi joined SCI in 1990 after his graduation as Trainee Nautical Officer Cadet (TNOC)- SCI-
Maritime Training Institute.
iii. Since 20th November 2020, he was on the board of the International Council for School Leadership (ICSL)
and has contributed to the field of Inland Water Transport (IWT).
About Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)- Binesh Kumar Tyagi
Establishment- 2nd October 1961
Queen Elizabeth II appointed Liz Truss as UK’s New Prime Minister

On 6th September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Conservative Party (Tory Party) leader Elizabeth
Truss (Liz Truss) as the 56th Prime Minister(PM) of the
United Kingdom(UK) succeeding Boris Johnson, who
served as the PM of the UK from 2019 to 2022.
• She has become the 3rd Woman to hold the
position. she is also the Conservatives’ 4th
prime minister since a 2015 election.
• Liz Truss’s handover of power took place at
Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
UK.
• Boris Johnson resigned as the head of the UK
government in July 2022.
Note:
• For the first time in the Queen’s 70-year reign, the handover of power took place at Balmoral rather
than at Buckingham Palace in London.
• Liz Truss is the 15th Prime Minister to serve during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Winston Churchill
(1952) was the 1st PM under her reign.
Key Highlights:
i. Liz Truss won the Conservative Party leadership contest against Indian-origin former Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Truss was elected by the Conservative Party of 172,000 member to be their lead.
ii. Truss won 81326 votes, compared to Sunak’s 60399 votes afer a 7-week contest to succeed Boris Johnson.
About Elizabeth Truss:
i.Elizabeth Truss(Liz Truss) was elected as the Conservative MP for southwest Norfolk in 2010.s
ii.She has served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from 2016 to 2017 and served as Chief
Secretary to the Treasury from 2017 to 2019.
iii.Prior to her appointment as PM of UK, she served as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Affairs(since 2019).
iv.In 2019, she was also appointed as the Minister for Women and Equalities.
About United Kingdom (UK):
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling
Shaji Prabhakaran appointed as Secretary General of AIFF & Dhar as its Deputy
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Shaji Prabhakaran as its new Secretary General who
resigned the post of Football Delhi president.
• The appointment of Prabhakaran as Secretary General and Sunando Dhar as the new Deputy
Secretary General of the sports body was carried out by the newly-formed executive committee of
the AIFF, whose president is Kalyan Chaubey.

Dhar joined the AIFF as I-League Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and took over as the acting general secretary
after Kushal Das was on medical leave
Indian FMCG company Pintola announces Sunil Chhetri as Brand Ambassador

Indian superfood brand Pintola, the Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company has appointed renowned
Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri as Brand Ambassador.
• In 20 years of Sunil Chhetri s professional career, this was his first partnership with an FMCG
company in India.
• Pintola aims to serve a consumer size of 100 million shortly with a premium basket sized 21
products.
Volker Türk appointed as UN’s New High Commissioner for Human Rights
On 8th September 2022, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Volker
Türk of Austria as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following approval by the UN General
Assembly(UNGA).
• Volker Turk replaces Verónica Michelle Bachelet
Jeria, a Chilean politician who served at the office of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) from 2018 to 2022.
About Volker Türk:
i.Previously, Volker Türk served as the Assistant High
Commissioner for Protection at UN refugees, the UN
Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Geneva. He had a long and
successful career in the advancement of human rights
globally.
ii.He served with the UN refugee agency in Malaysia,
Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kuwait.
iii. His immediate challenge will be the controversial report of the accusation on China committing crimes
against humanity and possibly genocide (mass murder) against the Uyghur people and abusing Muslim
minorities.
About the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
Headquartered- Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment- December 1993
President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço Elected as the President of Angola for the 2nd term
Angola’s incumbent President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço won a second term as the President of
Angola after his party, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party, was declared the
winner of Angola’s general election.
• MPLA won 51.17 % of the ballots against 43.95
% for the main challenger, the National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
About João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço:
i.He was born 5 March 1954 in Luanda, Angola.
ii.He is an Angolan politician, who has served as the
president of Angola from 2017-2022 (first term).
• He was officially sworn into Office of President
on 26 September 2017
iii.He also served as the Minister of Defence from 2014-
2017.

iv.In September 2018, he became the Chairman of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
He was the party’s Secretary-General from 1998 to 2003.
About Angola:
Capital-Luanda
Currency- Angolan kwanza
President- Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco
Sanjay Khanna appointed as CEO & Country Manager of AEBC India

On 12th September 2022, the American Express Banking Corporation (AEBC) appointed Sanjay Khanna as the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Country Manager of AEBC India.
• The appointment was announced by Rob McClean, Executive Vice President, International Card
Services, American Express.
• At present, Sanjay Khanna heads the Country Executive Team (CET) and is responsible for driving
growth across the organisation’s consumer and commercial businesses.
About Sanjay Khanna:
i. Sanjay Khanna joined AEBC as manager of Finance in 1996
and spent about 27 years with American Express.
ii. He carried out many leadership positions in the company
which includes Head of Global Financial Operations, India
centre lead for finance and chairman of the American
Express India Pvt Limited (AEIPL) legal Entity Board.
iii. He was the former Chairman of the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) Committee and has been the interim
CEO since May 2022. He has exceptional credentials for
delivering strong results coupled with a natural knack for leading from the front.
iv. Sanjay Khanna is a proud recipient of 8 Chairman awards, a CFO Premier award, and a President’s award.
Piyush Goyal appoints Abhishek Mishra as a member of FCIs Consultative Committee

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal has appointed Abhishek
Mishra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) as a
member of the Consultative Committee, Food Corporation of India (FCI), under the Ministry of Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
• Abhishek Mishra, currently serving as the youngest Advisory Panel under the Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
• He is known for being the youngest entrepreneur in India with his varied work endured upon the
welfare of society at large.
Note: At the age of 18, Abhishek Mishra became the youngest CEO of the million-dollar organization
DPIFF.
Sanjay Kumar Rakesh appointed as the MD of CSC SPV e-Governance India

The Government of India (GoI) appointed former IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer Sanjay Kumar
Rakesh, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of CSC SPV (Common Service Centre Special Purpose Vehicle) e-
Governance India, as the Managing Director (MD) of the CSC SPV. He succeeded Dinesh Tyagi.
• The decision to this effect was taken at the 52nd board meeting of CSC held at the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), chaired by Alkesh Kumar Sharma (Meity
Secretary).

About Sanjay Kumar Rakesh:
i.He is a 1990 batch IAS officer of Tripura cadre and has
around 30 years of experience in serving the government in
various capacities.
• Before joining CSC, he was the additional chief
secretary in Tripura.
ii.He took over as the CEO of CSC SPV in November 2020
after taking a voluntary retirement from IAS.
iii.He also served as joint secretary at the MeitY where he
led several initiatives for ‘Make in India’ in the electronics
sector.
• He has also served under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and worked for the ‘Indira
Awas Yojana’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’.
BharatPe Appoints Two new Independent Directors

BharatPe appointed BP Kanungo, former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Kaushik Dutta,
current Chairman and Independent Director at Zomato as independent directors to its Board.
These appointments are in line with BharatPe’s aim to build a world-class institution.
• The board of directors of BharatPe now includes two executive directors, Shashvat Nakrani
(founder) and Suhail Sameer (CEO); five non-executive directors, Rajnish Kumar (former Chairman
of State Bank of India) and four investor nominees; and two independent directors.
• B P Kanungo served as the Deputy Governor of the RBI from 2017 to 2021. Kaushik Dutta also
worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Ugandan Youth Climate Activist Vanessa Nakate appointed as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF
On 15th September 2022, UNICEF appointed Vanessa Nakate, a 25-year-old climate activist from Uganda as
the Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
About Vanessa Nakate:
i.Vanessa Nakate was born in Kampala, Uganda (East
Africa) in 1996.
ii.She began her activism in January 2019 with the
inspiration of Sweden’s Greta Thunberg and has been
named Ugandan Climate Activist.
iii. She was a prominent member of the Fridays For Future
movement. She founded the Rise Up Movement, a platform
to raise the voices of African climate activists, and a project
to install solar panels in rural Ugandan schools.
iv.In 2020, she attended the 2020 World Economic Forum
in Davos, Switzerland, with Thunberg and others.
v.Globally half the world’s 2.2 billion children live in one of the 33 countries, classified by UNICEF’s Children’s
Climate Risk Index as “extremely high-risk” of the impacts of climate change.
vi.According to UNICEF, the top 10 countries are all in Africa.
Note: Rise Up Movement- A movement to eradicate poverty, gender-based violence, human trafficking and
child abuse.
IndusInd Bank re-appoints Sumant Kathpalia as MD & CEO for 3 years

IndusInd Bank re-appointed Sumant Kathpalia as its managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO)
for a further period of three years, with effect from March 24, 2023, up to March 23, 2026.

i.The appointment was approved by the Board of Directors of IndusInd Bank at its meeting held on September
15, 2022.
ii.The re-appointment is subject to the approval of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Shareholders of the
Bank.
About Sumant Kathpalia:
i.Sumant Kathpalia is a Qualified Chartered Accountant
and a graduate from Hindu College of Delhi University
(DU).
• In March 2020 he became the MD and CEO
IndusInd Bank (First tenure).
ii.He has experience in several multinational banks such as Citibank, Bank of America etc prior to joining
IndusInd Bank.
iii.He also led the Core Executive Team of the Indusind Bank which has successfully affected the Bank’s
business turnaround.
CSB Bank appoints Pralay Mondal as MD & CEO with effect from September 15
CSB bank limited, formerly known as Catholic Syrian Bank Limited, has appointed Pralay Mondal, as the
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank for a period of 3 years with effect from
15th September 2022.
• The board of directors of the bank approved the
appointment following the approval received
from the Reserve Bank of India(RBI).
• He has been serving as the Deputy MD of CSB
Bank since February 2022 and later he was
appointed as interim MD & CEO of the bank
with effect from April 2022.
About Pralay Mondal:
i.Pralay Mondal joined the CSB bank as president, retail,
SME, operations and IT on September 2020 and was
appointed as the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank
with effect from February 2022.
ii.Before joining CSB bank, he served as the senior group president and head of retail banking & business
banking at Yes Bank and as Executive director and head of retail banking at Axis Bank.
iii. He has previously worked with HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Wipro InfoTech and Colgate
Palmolive.
vi.He has around 30 years of banking experience across multiple businesses and functions including retail
assets, retail liabilities, business banking, products and technology.
GoI Appoints Thomas M Devasia as Member of IRDAI

The government of India(GoI) has appointed Thomas M Devasia, technical expert at Marsh Insurance Brokers
India(Kochi, Kerala), as a member (non-life) in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
(IRDAI) with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post till attaining the age of 62 years until
further order, whichever is earlier.
• He is appointed on a consolidated pay package of Rs 4 lakh.
Key Points:
This is the first time that the Government has appointed a senior executive from the private sector as a
member of IRDAI.
This first-of-its-kind appointment from the private sector marks the departure of the tradition of hiring people

from public sector insurance companies as members.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
IRDAI is formed under the IRDAI, Act 1999 on the recommendation of the Malhotra Committee.
Chairperson – Debasish Panda
Establishment – 1999 (Incorporated on 1st April 2000)
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
Senegal President Macky Sall reinstates the post of PM; Amadou Ba appointed as Senegal’s PM
On 17th September 2022, Macky Sall President of Senegal reinstated the post of Prime Minister(PM),
appointing former Economy Minister Amadou Ba(61 years old) as the PM of Senegal.
The post of Prime Minister was abolished in April 2019.
Background:
i.In May 2019, Senegalese parliamentarians approved a constitutional reform and abolished the post of Prime
Minister. President Macky Sall signed the decree that officially abolished the post of PM.
• Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne was the PM of Senegal in 2019.
ii.In 2021, Senegal’s Lawmakers voted to reintroduce the role of Prime Minister, which was abolished in 2019.
Key Points:
i.The President appointed a new government that included 38 ministers.
ii.Key ministers from the previous government including defence, interior, foreign affairs and finance, were
maintained.
iii.Oulimata Sarr, regional director of UN Women was appointed as the Minister of economy and planning.
About Amadou Ba:
i.Amadou Ba was born on 17 May 1961 in Dakar, Senegal. He is a Senegalese politician.
ii.He served as the Foreign Minister of Senegal from 2019–2020 and Minister of Finance and Economy from
2013–2019.
About Senegal:
Capital- Dakar
President-Macky Sall
Currency- West African CFA Franc
Ratan Tata & 2 others appointed as Trustees of PM CARES Fund

On 21st September 2022, Government has appointed Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus, Ratan Tata; retired
Justice K.T. Thomas, former Supreme Court judge; and former deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Kariya Munda as
the trustees of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES
Fund).
• Ratan Tata and 2 others appointed as the newly
nominated trustee during the meeting of the
Board of Trustees of the PM CARES Fund on 20th
September 2022 which was chaired by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Highlights:
i.The meeting was attended by Union Minister Amit Shah
and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. They both
also are Trustees of the PM CARES Fund.
ii.The Trust has decided to nominate other eminent persons
for the Constitution of Advisory Board of PM CARES Fund,
they are:
• Rajiv Mehrishi, Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Sudha Murthy, Former Chairperson, Infosys Foundation.

• Anand Shah, Co-founder of Teach for India and Former CEO of Indicorps and Piramal Foundation.
iii. During the PM CARES Fund meeting, the presentation was made on the various initiatives, including the PM
CARES for Children scheme which is supporting 4,345 children.
iv.The participation of new trustees and advisors will provide wider perspectives on the functioning of the PM
CARES Fund and their vast experience in public life would make a further effort in making the fund more
responsive to various public needs.
Max Life Insurance announced Rohit Sharma & Ritika Sajdeh as Brand Ambassadors
On 19th September 2022, Max Life Insurance announced Rohit Sharma, captain of the men’s Indian cricket
team and his wife Ritika Sajdeh, an Indian sports manager as Brand Ambassadors.
• The company has signed a 2-year partnership
with Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh, who are
making their debut onscreen together.
• The core message of Max Life Insurance is to be
prepared mentally, physically, and financially
for emerging challenges.
Key Highlights:
i.The collaboration will increase the awareness of life
insurance among the younger generation and help the
company grow further.
ii.With the partnership, Max Life Insurance targets the
millennial audience and conveys the importance of having life insurance.
iii. The aim of the company is to promote the Max Life brand ethos of valuing the ‘self’ to determine the right
financial value to protect themselves and their family.
About Rohit Sharma:
i.Rohit Gurunath Sharma from Nagpur, Maharashtra is the present Captain for the Indian cricket team in
limited-overs cricket.
ii.Rohit Sharma tops the list of most Indian Premier League (IPL) trophies(as a player). He won his first IPL title
with Deccan Chargers in 2009, and under his captaincy, Mumbai Indian won 5 IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017,
2019 and 2020).
Awards: Arjuna Award for Cricket in 2015 and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for Cricket in 2020.
About Max Life Insurance:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Prashant Tripathy
Establishment- 2001
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi.
Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retired) Appointed as India’s 2nd Chief of Defence Staff
On 28th September 2022, the Government of India(GoI) appointed Lieutenant (Lt.) General (Gen.) Anil
Chauhan, the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and a former Eastern Army
Commander, as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India.
• He is the 2nd person to hold the post of CDS after General Bipin Rawat, who died in a chopper crash
in December 2021 in Tamil Nadu.
• General Anil Chauhan will also function as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, GoI with
effect from the date of his assumption of charge and until further orders.
• Gen. Anil Chauhan retired in May 2022 and is currently the military advisor to national security
advisor Ajit Doval.

Key points:
i.This post was vacant since the death of India’s first CDS
General Bipin Rawat in December 2021.
ii.The appointment of Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan is the first
instance that a retired gen. has been taken to office as the
most senior officer.
• Following the appointment as CDS, Lt. Gen.
Anil Chauhan will automatically become a 4-
star officer.
iii.This appointment comes 3 months after the
Government amended rules for appointment to the post
of CDS.
Background:
In June 2022, the amended service rules of the armed forces made all serving and recently retired 3-star
officers, Lt General, Air Marshal and Vice Admiral who are under the age of 62 eligible for the post.
• According to the new rules, all 3-star and 4-star officers from the tri services, including the retired
officers from June 2020, are eligible for consideration for the post.
About Anil Chauhan:
i.Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan was born on 18th May 1961, in Uttarakhand and was commissioned into 11 Gorkha
Rifles in 1981.
ii.He has held several command, staff and instrumental appointments with extensive experience in counter-
insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and the Northeast. He had also served on a United Nations
(UNs) mission to Angola.
• He retired from the service on 31st May 2021 and has been serving as the advisor to the National
Security Council.
• He has authored a book “Aftermath of a Nuclear Attack”, published in 2010.
• He was honoured with several awards including Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva
Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.
Senior Advocate R. Venkataramani Becomes the New Attorney General for India
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, has appointed senior advocate R. Venkataramani (72-years old) as the
Attorney General (AG) for India for a period of 3 years succeeding K. K. Venugopal, whose term as AG ends on
30th September 2022. He is the 16th AG of India.
About Venkataramani:
i.Venkataramani enrolled as a lawyer in July 1977 with the
Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and shifted his practice to the
Supreme Court in 1979.
• In 1997, he was designated Senior Advocate by
the apex court.
• He specialised in constitutional laws, law of
indirect laws, human rights law, civil and
criminal law.
ii.He was appointed as a Member of the Law Commission
in 2010 and again for a further term in 2013.
iii.He was also involved in the Constitution Review Commission Work under the chairmanship of
Venkatachelliah.
About Attorney General for India (AG):
i.Attorney General for India is the first law officer of the Government of India and he is also a part of the Union
Executive.

ii.Under Article 76(1) of the Constitution, the President of India appoints a person who is qualified to be
appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court to be the AG for India.
iii.According to the article 76(4), There is no fixed tenure for the AG, he/she shall hold the office during the
pleasure of the President and shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.
Duties:
i.According to article 76(2) of the Indian Constitution, the duty of the AG is to give advice to the GoI upon such
legal matters and also to perform such other legal duties that are assigned by the President of India.
ii.Under article 88, the AG shall have the right to speak and take part in all the proceedings of Lok sabha and
Rajya sabha including joint sitting of the Houses, and any committee of Parliament for which he is added as a
member. He is not subjected to vote.
Senior IAS officer Rajendra Kumar appointed as Director General of ESIC

On 25th September 2022, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has appointed a senior IAS
officer Rajendra Kumar as the Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), as part
of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.
• Rajendra Kumar replaces Mukhmeet S. Bhatia, an IAS Officer of the 1990 batch of Jharkhand cadre,
who took over the charge of Director General of ESIC on 1st April 2021.
About Rajendra Kumar:
i. Rajendra Kumar is a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
ii. He is currently an additional secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY),
iii. Prior to his current position, he held senior positions in district administration and state government in
Tamil Nadu, India.
iv. He received the UN Public Service Award in 2014 for the Mobile Seva project he conceptualised and
implemented. Rajendra Kumar received the UN Public Service Award in 2014 for the Mobile Seva project he
conceptualised and implemented.
About the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):
ESIC is one of the two main statutory social security bodies under the Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Government of India. The other one is the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO).
Establishment– 25 February 1952
Dilip Tirkey elected new Hockey India president

The former India captain and Olympian Dilip Tirkey has been elected unopposed as the new President of
Hockey India (HI).He became the Hockey India’s first player-president.
• Bhola Nath has been elected unopposed as
secretary general.
• Adille Sumariwalla, who is also a former
players, is president of Athletics Federation of
India (AFI).
Key points:
i.The appointment was approved by the International
Hockey Federation (FIH).
ii.Dilip Tirkey was elected after Uttar Pradesh (UP)’s
Hockey chief Rakesh Katyal and Jharkhand’s chief Hockey
‘s Bhola Nath Singh withdrew their nominations for the
president’s post.

About Dilip Tirkey:
i.Dilip Tirkey hails from Sundargarh (Odisha), is a former Indian field hockey player.
ii.He made his debut in 1995 against England. He represented India in 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004
Athens Olympics.
• He is the only tribal hockey player to represent India in three Olympics.
• He was an ex-captain of the Indian Hockey Team.
iii.Currently he is working as the chairman of Odisha Hockey Promotion Council.He also served as chairman of
Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).
Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari appointed as chairman of PMLA appellate tribunal
Chief Justice of Madras High Court (HC), Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari was appointed as the Chairman of
the Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• He was appointed by the President of India for a period of 4 years, or till attaining the age of 70 or
until further orders, whichever is the earliest in terms of Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules,
2021 in Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.
• The order was issued by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
• The post of the Chairperson of the Tribunal was vacant since September 2019.
• The Tribunal for Forfeiture of Property under the SAFEMA (Smugglers and Foreign Exchange
Manipulators Act) and the PMLA Appellate Tribunal were merged in 2016 through the Finance Act,
2016.
NPCI re-appoints Dilip Asbe as MD & CEO for 5 years

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has approved the re-appointment of Dilip Asbe as the
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPCI for a period of 5 years, with effect from 8th
January 2023 to 7th January 2028 during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 22nd September 2022.
About Dilip Asbe:
i.Dilip Asbe joined NPCI in January 2010 as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and later served as Chief Operating
Officer from 2013 to 2018.
ii.He was appointed as the CEO-in-charge in August 2017 following the retirement of former MD and CEO of
NPCI, Abhaya Prasad Hota.
iii. In 2018, he was appointed as the acting MD & CEO.
iv.He played a vital role in the management of large-scale innovative payments processing platforms like
Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and
RuPay.
About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Dilip Asbe
Establishment- 2008
Lux Industries Limited appoints Sourav Ganguly as Brand Ambassador for Lux Cozi
Lux Industries Limited appointed Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador for its brand Lux Cozi.
• Sourav Ganguly is the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• Bollywood Actor Varun Dhawan is also a brand ambassador for the product.
• In August 2022, Lux Industries Limited launched a campaign with actor Salman Khan for its
Venus brand.

Dr Rajiv Bahl appointed as New Director General of ICMR
On 23rd September 2022, Dr Rajiv Bahl was appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the Indian Council
of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of the Department of Health Research, for a period of 3 years.
• The appointment of Dr Rajiv Bahl DG of ICMR & Secretary of the Department of Health Research was
approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
• Dr Rajiv Bahl will replace Dr Balram Bhargava who was appointed as ICMR DG on April 2018, for a
4-year term., whose term was extended by 3 months in April 2022.
• Currently, Dr Rajiv Bahl is the Head of Research on Maternal, Newborn Child, and Adolescent Health
and Ageing, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland.
He had trained as a Paediatrician in Delhi, India, and obtained his PhD in public health, joined WHO in 2008. He
was a Senior Scientist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for 10 years before joining WHO.
Britannia appointed Rajneet Kohli as CEO, Varun Berry elevated as its Executive VC & MD
The Board of Britannia Industries Limited has appointed Rajneet Singh Kohli as its Executive Director and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 26th September 2022. Varun Berry has been elevated as
its Executive Vice Chairman(VC) and Managing Director (MD) with immediate effect.
Rajneet Singh Kohli will report to Varun Berry.
• Prior to this appointment, Kohli was serving as president and chief business officer at Domino’s
India, run by food service company Jubilant FoodWorks.
• Varun Berry joined Britannia as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer in 2013.
IL&FS board reshuffles: Government appointed Nand Kishore as MD; CS Rajan as Non-executive
Chairman
On 27th September 2022, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs reshuffled the board of Infrastructure Leasing &
Financial Services (IL&FS) Limited which undergoes a debt resolution process and appointed Nand Kishore,
Executive Director as the New Managing Director, with immediate effect till March 2023.
• Existing Board member CS Rajan is being redesignated as the Non-Executive Chairman.
• The board has five members includes Rajan and Kishore, the other directors are G C Chaturvedi,
Malini Shankar and N Srinivasan. G C chaturvedi will step down on September 30 2022.
About Nand Kishore:
i. Nand Kishore was a 1981 batch IAS officer, who was appointed to the board of IL&FS in 2018.
ii. In December 2020, he was appointed as Executive Director of IL&FS.
About CS Rajan:
i. CS Rajan is an IAS officer of the 1978 batch who retired as Rajasthan Chief Secretary in 2016.
ii. He was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director for 6 months since Uday Kotak, who steered the
resolution process for nearly 4 years, as the IL&FS Ltd board’s Non-Executive Chairman ended on April 2, 2022.
Key Points:
i. In 2018, the corporate affairs ministry replaced the board of IL&FS when financial misdoings came to light.
ii. The financial services group has 347 entities under IL&FS and a resolution has taken place for 246
entities after the ministry-appointed board started the resolution process.
• IL&FS group had addressed a debt of about Rs 55,000 crore (90%) of its original estimate of Rs
61,000 crore.
• In 2018, the group represented a resolution of 62% of the overall fund-based and non-fund-based
debt of over Rs 99,000 crore.
About Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS):
Managing Director – Nand Kishore
Establishment- 1987

ACQUISITION & MERGERS
CCI Approval: Aditya Marketing and Manufacturing merges into Umang Commercial; SIIC holds
stake in Olam Agri Holdings; Caladium’s 7.49 % Stake Buy in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail
Limited
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves the merger of Aditya Marketing and Manufacturing
Private Limited into Umang Commercial Company Private Limited.
Highlights:
i.Umang Commercial is a part of Aditya Birla Group, an Indian multinational group of companies and it is an
investment holding company that holds shareholding in various entities on behalf of Kumar Mangalam Birla
and his family.
• Umang Commercial Company Private Limited is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a
Non-banking Financial Company (NBFC).
ii.Aditya Marketing and Manufacturing Private Limited is a part of B K Birla Group and is also an investment
holding company that holds shareholding in various entities on behalf of the late Basant Kumar Birla and his
family (BKB Family).
• Aditya Marketing and Manufacturing Private Limited is registered with the RBI as a NBFC.
iii.The proposed combination involves merger in accordance with the Scheme of Amalgamation under Sections
230 and 232 of the Companies Act, 2013.
iv.As a result of the merger, the shares of Umang Commercial in various entities will get transferred to Aditya
Marketing and Manufacturing.
• The company will take control over the entities including Padmavati Investment Private Limited;
Pilani Investment and Industries Corporation Limited; Century Textiles and Industries Limited;
Century Enka Limited and Ganesh Tubes and Services Private Limited.
CCI Approves Acquisition of Shares in Olam Agri Holdings by SALIC International Investment Company
CCI approves the acquisition of 35.43 percent stake in Olam Agri Holdings Private Limited (Olam Agri) by
SALIC International Investment Company (SIIC).
Highlights:
i.SIIC is fully owned and controlled by Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Corporation (SALIC) and an
unlisted limited liability company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that has been established to hold SALIC’s
international investments.
• SALIC is a Saudi Arabian investment company, active in the agricultural and food industries with
investments both in Saudi Arabia and other countries.
ii.Olam Agri is a company that operates as a merchant and processor of agricultural goods including farming,
procurement, wholesale trading, processing, refining and distributing and is headquartered in Singapore.
• More particularly, Olam Agri undertakes sale of various agri-commodities, including rice in India,
both at the wholesale and the retail level (directly and indirectly).
CCI Approves Acquisition of Caladium’s 7.49 % Stake Buy in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited
CCI approves the acquisition of approximately 7.49 percent shareholding in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail
Limited on a fully diluted basis by the Caladium Investment Private Limited GIC (Ventures) by way of
preferential issuance of equity and warrants.
Highlights:
i.Caladium Investment Private Limited is wholly-owned by Lathe Investment Private Limited, an entity which is
in turn wholly-owned by GIC (Ventures) Private Limited.
• The GIC Investor is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) organised as a private limited company
headquartered in Singapore that is part of a group of investment holding companies managed by GIC
Special Investments Private Limited (GICSI).

ii.Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited is a publicly listed company which is engaged in the manufacture and
retailing of branded apparel, footwear and accessories (AFA).
• This operates across India through its retail stores and distributes through its exclusive brand
outlets and Pantaloons stores, multi-brand outlets, shop-in-shop stores across departmental stores,
own online retail platforms and 3rd party e-commerce marketplaces.
CCI Approves Acquisition of 100% of Equity Share Capital of IIL by PayU India
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the final acquisition of 100% of the equity share capital
of IndiaIdeas.com Limited (IIL) or BillDesk by PayU Payments Private Limited (PayU India).
Target- IndiaIdeas.com Limited (IIL)
Acquirer- PayU Payments Private Limited (PayU India)
• The approval was given under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
• The proposed transaction involved novel assessment by the CCI of dynamic digital markets.
• The proposed transaction falls under Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002 (as amended).
• The deal, which was first announced in August 2021, was approved after a long wait as CCI sought
additional details from PayU.
About the acquisition:
i.PayU India is involved in providing payment aggregation services, which enables merchants (and other
entities) to receive payments from their customers across various digital payment methods.
ii.IIL is an unlisted public limited company. It uses the name “BillDesk” as its trading/ business/ brand name in
India.
• It also provides payment aggregation services, which enable merchants (and other entities) to
receive payments from their customers across various digital payment methods.
iii.The shares of PayU India are indirectly held by Prosus N.V. (“Prosus”). The acquisition brings PayU owner
Prosus’ total investments in India to USD 12 billion.
• Prosus has a primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam. Naspers Limited holds 73.6% voting rights in
Prosus. Naspers is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
CCI approves acquisition of stake in Apraava Energy Private Limited by CDPQ Infrastructures Asia II
Pte. Ltd.
The CCI approves the acquisition of stakes in Apraava Energy Private Limited by CDPQ Infrastructures Asia II
Private Limited under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
Target-Apraava Energy Private Limited
Acquirer- CDPQ Infrastructures Asia II Pte. Ltd.
i.The Proposed Combination involves acquiring an additional 10% shareholding in Apraava Energy Private
Limited from CPL GPEC (Mauritius) Holding Limited.
ii.Currently CDPQ Infrastructures Asia II Pte. Ltd. holds 40% shareholding in Apraava Energy Private Limited.
CDPQ Infrastructures Asia II Pte. Ltd.- it is a Singapore-based company which is direct and wholly owned
subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, a long-term institutional investor that manages funds
primarily for public and para-public pension and insurance plans.
Apraava Energy Private Limited- it is among the leading Independent Power Producer (IPP) in India, with an
investment spread across renewable energy (including wind and solar), transmission, supercritical coal and gas
fired generation.
• It entered India in 2002 and expanded its portfolio of operating conventional and renewable assets.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Founded-14 October 2003
Chairperson-Ashok Kumar Gupta

RIL acquired a 79.4% stake in SenseHawk Inc for USD 32 million
An Indian multinational conglomerate company, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced in the Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE) filing that the company had paid USD 32 million and acquired a majority stake of 79.4%
to control the ownership in the United States (US)-based SenseHawk Inc.
Note: SenseHawk, is a California-based developer of software-based management tools for Solar energy
generation.
Key Highlights:
i. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of RIL collaborates with SenseHawk to
revolutionize the Green Energy Sector and has the vision to enable 100 GW (GigaWatt) of Solar Energy
by 2030.
ii. The other investments of RIL with SenseHawk, new energy will be collaborative and create unique solutions
with higher value to customers.
iii. SenseHawk’s Solar Digital Platform (SDP) aims at pre-construction evaluation, process optimisation,
construction management, and operations and management and provides improved communication between
teams for early detection.
Google Acquires Mandiant for USD 5.4 billion to Strengthen Cybersecurity

Thomas Kurian, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Google Cloud has announced the USD 5.4
billion acquisition of Mandiant, Inc., the California-based cybersecurity company by Google LLC (limited
liability company) to help organisations improve their threat, incident and exposure management.
• Mandiant, a recognized leader in dynamic cyber defence, is to join Google Cloud to assist businesses
in improving their threat, incident, and exposure management, and retain the Mandiant brand.
Note: Mandiant is known for pulling out the Tulsa-based company, SolarWinds hack from (malware) a supply
chain attack by Russian hackers, which shook the world.
Key Highlights:
i.Mandiant is widely acknowledged by several big companies and had recognized Mandiant Cyber Threat
Defense Solutions as the market leader in threat intelligence and expertise in cyber security.
ii.Google Cloud will continue to hold the Mandiant brand and continue Mandiant’s mission to make every
organisation secure from cyber threats and confident in its readiness.
iii. The acquisition creates incredible value for Google’s customers and the security industry at large.
iv.The addition of Mandiant to Google Cloud Threat Intelligence will give security practitioners deeper visibility
and expertise from the frontlines.
LIC cut stake with GSK Pharma from 6.402% to 4.357%

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has cut its stake in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK Pharma)
India from 6.402% to 4.357%.
Key Highlights:
i.The report to the inventory exchange has mentioned that LIC has offered about 34.20 lakh (2.045%) shares in
the global pharma major during the period between September 2018-2022.
ii.According to LIC, the stake sale took place at an average price of Rs 1,549.40.
iii. On 14th September 2022, the Shares of Insurance coverage main lowered 1% to Rs.663.20 and Glaxo
lowered 0.55% to Rs 1,409.90.
iv.According to the June-end shareholding pattern, the General Insurance Corporation (GIC) of India holds a
1.42% stake in GSK pharma.
About Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC):
Establishment- 1956
Chairman- M.R. Kumar

CCI approves ADIA’s investment of Rs 665 crore in AB Health Insurance under ‘Green Channel’
route
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the investment of Rs 665 crore in primary capital
insurance by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ABHI) in exchange
for a 9.99 % equity.
The proposal has been approved by the competition under the ‘green channel’ route. The investment proposal
was made in August 2022.
Key Highlights:
i.Aditya Birla Capital (AB Capital) stock was trading 3.1% higher at Rs 121.5 on the Bombay Stock Exchange
(BSE).
ii.AB Capital will hold a 45.91% stake and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited will have a 44.10% stake
in the company after ADIAs investment.
iii. In 2016, ABHI formed a joint venture of 51:49 between AB Capital and South Africa-based Momentum
Metropolitan Holdings Strategic Investments (Pty) Ltd, an owned subsidiary of South African-based Momentum
Metropolitan Holdings Limited (MMH).
iv.ADIA will be the third partner in the insurance company.
SBI acquire balance stake in SBI Global Factors from SIDBI, BoM & UBI
On 16 September 2022, State Bank of India(SBI) acquired the 13.82% stake of State Bank of India Global
Factors Ltd (SBIGFL) from its existing shareholders Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) 6.53%;
Bank of Maharashtra (BoM); 4.34%; and Union Bank of India (UBI) 2.95%.
• Following this acquisition, SBIGFL became a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI.
• This transaction entails a cash consideration of RS 67.84 crore.
• Prior to this acquisition, SBI held an 86.18% stake in SBIGFL.
Key points:
i.The decision was taken in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Central Board (ECCB) of SBI on 29
March 2022.
ii.The approval for the acquisition of shares and change of control in management was given by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
iii.SBIGFL, a subsidiary of SBI, is a non-banking financial company. It provides domestic and export factoring
services.
Chairman- Dinesh Kumar Khara
Founded- 1955
Adani Group acquires Ambuja Cements & ACC; becomes India’s 2nd largest cement maker
On 16th September 2022, the Adani groups successfully completed the acquisition of Ambuja Cements
Limited and ACC Limited through Endeavour Trade and Investment Limited (BidCo), a special purpose
vehicle incorporated by the Adani groups.
• With this acquisition, Adani has now become India’s 2nd largest cement manufacturer.
Note: At present, Ultratech Cement is the largest player with a market valuation of over Rs 1.87 lakh crore.
i.Adani Group has acquired Switzerland-based Holcim’s 63.1% stake in Ambuja Cements, which owns a 50.05%
along with its 4.48% direct stake in ACC.
• The cash proceeds aggregated to USD 6.4 billion(~RS 51000 crore) for Holcim.
ii.The transaction involved the acquisition of Holcim’s stake in Ambuja and ACC along with an open offer in
both entities as per Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) Regulations.

iii.The Holcim-Adani deal was completed by way of the transfer of 100% shareholding of Holderind
Investments to Endeavour Trade and Investment in both Ambuja and ACC.
• Mauritius-based Holderind is the holding company of Holcim.
Key highlights:
i.This is the largest ever acquisition by Adani, and also India’s largest merger and acquisition (M&A)
transaction in the infrastructure and materials space.
ii.After the acquisition, Adani will hold 63.15 per cent in Ambuja Cements and 56.69 per cent in ACC (out of
which 50.05 per cent is held through Ambuja Cements).
Note – Currently, Ambuja Cements and ACC have a combined installed production capacity of 67.5 Million
Tonnes Per Annum(MTPA).
Canadian Pension fund OTPP to buy 30% of Mahindra Susten for Rs 2,371 crore
On 17th September 2022, the Canadian-based Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) Board signed binding
agreements with the Mahindra Group to receive a 30% stake in Mahindra Group’s renewable energy firm
Mahindra Susten Private Limited (Mahindra Susten). The value of the stake is Rs 2,371 crore (USD 300
million).
Key Highlights:
i. The partnership between Mahindra Group and OTPP is to capitalize on the growing renewables opportunity
in India and contribute toward the country’s decarbonization ambitions.
ii.The deal also initiates the setting up of an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) in compliance with
applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
iii. Initially, InvIT proposed to comprise renewable power assets seeded by Mahindra Susten with an
operational capacity of around 1.54 GWp. The shareholder loans of Rs 575 crore advanced by Mahindra Group
to Mahindra Susten will be repaid.
iv. As a result, Mahindra Group will receive an inflow of approximately Rs 1,300 crore. Both Mahindra Group
and OTPP will jointly explore the sale of an additional 9.99% stake in Mahindra Susten by May 31, 2023.
v. Over the next 7 years, Mahindra Group will deploy the funds and increase the amount by up to Rs 1,750 crore
into the business and InvIT. At the same time, OTPP has committed to deploy an additional amount of up to Rs
3,550 crore into the business and the InvIT.
vi. The proposed transaction will enable Mahindra Susten to build a strong renewable energy business focused
on solar energy, hybrid energy, integrated energy storage and round-the-clock (RTC) green energy plants.
CCI approves merger of Jio Cinema OTT platform with Viacom18

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the amalgamation of Jio Cinema OTT(Over The Top)
platform with Viacom18 Media Private Limited(Viacom 18), following an investment by BTS Investment 1
Pte. Ltd. and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services Ltd (RPPMSL).
• Under the partnership, Reliance’s Jio Cinema OTT app will be transferred to Viacom18.
• The proposed combination is notified under Section 6(2) read with Section 5 of the Competition Act,
2002 (as amended).
Background:
i.In April 2022, RIL and Viacom18 announced a strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems (BTS).
ii.Under the partnership, BTS will invest Rs 13,500 crore in Viacom18 and RPPMSL will invest Rs 1,645 crore
in the broadcaster as part of the tripartite partnership, to form one of the largest TV and digital streaming firms
in India.
Key points:
i.Viacom18 Media Private Limited is an Indian media and entertainment joint venture between TV18 and
Paramount Global (formerly known as ViacomCBS).
• It is engaged in providing media and entertainment services through its portfolio of channels and
streaming app ‘Voot’.

ii.RPPMSL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). It is engaged in Information
Technology (IT) support services in India.
iii.Bodhi Tree Systems (BTS) is an investment venture of James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems and Uday Shankar,
former Chairman of Star and Disney India
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Founded-2003
Headquarters-New Delhi,Delhi
Chairperson- Ashok Kumar Gupta
Ageas Federal Becomes First Insurer to have 74% Foreign Shareholding

Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI) became the first life insurance company in India to have 74
percent stake held by a foreign partner after the Belgium-based shareholder, Ageas Insurance International
NV, completed the acquisition of the 25 percent stake from IDBI Bank.
• Ageas has acquired the additional 25 percent stake of IDBI Bank in Ageas Federal Life Insurance for
a total cash consideration of Rs 580 crore.
Key highlights:
i.After the acquisition of the additional 25 percent stake, Ageas’ shareholding in the JV rose to 74 percent from
49 percent.
ii.Federal Bank continues to hold a 26 percent stake in AFLI whereas IDBI Bank has exited from a shareholder.
Note – As a part of the Union Budget for FY22, the government had increased the permissible limit for foreign
direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies to 74 percent from 49 percent.
About Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI):
Managing Director (MD) & CEO – Vighnesh Shahane
M&M to acquire Swaraj Engines’ 17.41% stake from Kirloskar Industries

Mahindra & Mahindra(M&M) announced to acquire an additional 21,14,349 equity shares constituting
17.41% stake in Swaraj Engines Ltd (SEL) from Kirloskar Industries Ltd (KIL) for Rs 296 crore.
• The acquisition will result in increasing M&M’s stake in SEL to 52.13% 34.72%.
• M&M will acquire equity shares at a price of Rs 1,400 per share. After the acquisition, SEL, which is
currently an associate of the company, would become a subsidiary of M&M.
• SEL is based in Mohali, Punjab. It is involved in the business of manufacturing diesel engines and its
components.
Axis Bank to acquire 9.94% stake in Fairfax-backed Go Digit Life Insurance

Axis Bank Limited, India’s 3rd largest private sector lender signed a non-binding term sheet to invest Rs 49.9
crore – Rs 69.9 crore for a 9.94% stake in Initial Public Offering (IPO) bound Go Digit Life Insurance, a firm
backed by Canada-based Fairfax Group.
• The proposed investment of up to Rs 70 crore will be made in two tranches.
Note: Axis Bank along with its two subsidiaries Axis Capital and Axis Securities own a 12.99 per cent stake in
Max Life Insurance
Key Points:
i. Axis Bank’s deal with Go Digit Life Insurance is subject to the execution of definitive agreements whose terms
and conditions are to be mutually agreed upon alongside fulfilment of other conditions.
ii. Axis Bank proposed to carry out life insurance business in India, subject to the grant of a certificate of
registration by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
Note: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) puts Fairfax Group-backed Go Digit’s IPO

in ‘Abeyance’ the proposed IPO of insurtech platform GoDigit, which operates the Digit Insurance brand.
About Axis Bank Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Amitabh Chaudhry
Establishment- 1993
Bank of India acquires over 5.5% stake in ONDC

On September 27, 2022, the Bank of India (BoI) acquired over 5.56% stakes in Open Network for Digital
Commerce (ONDC) for Rs 10 crore under the private placement route.
Highlights:
i.In absolute terms, BoI acquired 10,00,000 equity shares for Rs 100 each in ONDC. The transaction is expected
to be completed by the second quarter of FY23.
• The framework will make e-commerce more inclusive and accessible to consumers and sellers.
ii.ONDC is a private non-profit Section 8 company established by the Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
iii.It aims to promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital or
electronic networks in the country.
iv.Several other banks including State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Punjab National Bank (PNB),
Kotak Mahindra Bank(KMB), Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, and ICICI Bank have picked up
6.35% stake each in the ONDC.
• UCO Bank has a 3.17% holding, while SIDBI and NABARD have 6.35% each.
About Bank of India (BoI):
Founded- 1906
MD & CEO-Atanu Kumar Das
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China Launches Two New Experimental Satellites: Shiyan-14 and Shiyan-15
On 25th September 2022, China successfully launched two new Experimental Satellites, Shiyan-
14 and Shiyan-15 using the Kuaizhou-1A(KZ-1A) carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch
Centre in the northern province of Shanxi, China.
• This marks the 18th flight mission of the
Kuaizhou-1A series rocket, operated by the
Chinese company ExPace. Its first launch
took place in 2017.
About the satellites:
The name Shiyan means ‘experiment’ in Chinese.
Shiyan-14 will be particularly used for scientific
experiments and new technology verification,
and Shiyan-15 will be used for land survey, urban
planning and disaster prevention and mitigation.
Note – In 2021, China has launched 55 satellites into space and set a new national record when compared
to 39 launches in 2018 and 2020.
Additional info:
i.On September 25, 2022, China sent a new remote sensing satellite – Yaogan-36, launched by a Long

March-2D carrier rocket into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province
of Sichuan.
ii.On Sepember 27, 2022. A Long March-6 rocket carrying three satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.
The rocket sent the Shiyan-16A, Shiyan-16B, and Shiyan-17 satellites into the preset orbit.
About China:
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi
United States Spy Satellite NROL-91 launched into Orbit

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket was carrying the NROL-91, a United States
(US) Spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the United States Space Force’s Space
Systems Command (SSC) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.
• This launch was the 14th for the Delta IV Heavy configuration rocket since its debut in
December 2004.
• This is also the 387th overall flight of the Delta rocket since 1960 and also the 95th and final
launch from Vandenberg.
• Deltas will be replaced by ULA’s next-
generation Vulcan Centaur rockets.
About Delta IV Heavy configuration rocket:
i.The rocket is about 233-foot-tall (71 metres) and is
capable of lifting around 62,540 pounds (28,370 kgs) to
low Earth orbit (LEO).
ii.Most Delta IV Heavy missions have carried NRO
payloads into orbit.
iii. The Delta IV Heavy vehicles launched the Parker
Solar Probe in 2018, humanity’s first mission to the
Sun’s corona, on its journey to explore the Sun’s atmosphere and the solar wind, and took up the first flight
test of Orion crew capsule in 2014.
About National Reconnaissance Office (NRO):
i.The NRO is the Department of Defence organisation that is responsible for developing, acquiring,
launching and operating US spy satellites that provide intelligence data to policymakers, the intelligence
community and Defence Department.
About United Launch Alliance (ULA):
President & CEO – Tory Bruno
Headquarters – Denver, Colorado
China launches new remote sensing satellite Yaogan-33 02

China launched a new remote sensing satellite named Yaogan-33 02 into space from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center in northwest China. The satellite was launched by a Long March-4C carrier rocket and has
entered the planned orbit successfully.
• The satellite will be used for scientific experiments, land resources surveys, crop yield estimation,
and disaster prevention and relief.
• This marks the 435th flight mission of the Long March series carrier rockets.

Highlights: NavIC, India’s home-grown alternative to the GPS system
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is an indigenous independent stand-alone navigation satellite
system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and controlled by India.
• The Indian government nudges the smartphone makers to enable the NavIC navigation system in
new devices that are to be sold in India from 2023.
Background:
i.NavIC was originally approved in 2006 at a cost of USD 174 million and became operational in 2018.
ii.NavIC consists of 8 satellites and covers the whole of India’s landmass and also up to 1,500 km (930 miles)
from its boundaries.
iii.Currently, NavIC’s use in India is limited to public vehicle tracking, for providing emergency warning alerts
to deep sea fishermen with no terrestrial network connectivity, and for tracking information related to natural
disasters.
About NavIC:
i.NavIC is currently for use in India and its boundaries while other satellites such as GPS from the United States
(US), Galileo from the European Union, GLONASS from Russia, QZSS, operated by Japan and Beidou from China
caters to users across the globe for regional navigation.
ii.India’s 2021 satellite navigation draft policy stated the government will work towards expanding the
coverage from regional to global to ensure availability of NavIC signals in any part of the world.
iii.The Indian government also enables various ministries to use NavIC applications to promote local industry
that are engaged in developing indigenous NavIC-based solutions.
Indian Railways set up ‘Meghdoot’ machines at Mumbai stations

Indian Railways set up ‘Meghdoot’ machines at Dadar, Thane and other stations of Mumbai Division,
Maharashtra.
• The ‘Meghdoot’ machines use innovative technology to convert water vapour in the air into potable
clean drinking water.
• It utilizes the science of condensation to extract water vapour from the surrounding atmosphere.
• Meghdoot machines are research-driven and it does not need source water. Also the technology is
environmentally-friendly with zero maintenance.
i.Maithri Aquatech Pvt Ltd. was awarded to set up 17 ‘Meghdoot, Atmospheric Water Generator Kiosks’ over
Mumbai Division of Central Railway under NINFRIS (New, Innovative Non Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme) policy
for a period of 5 years.
• The company has also collaborated with the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT),
Hyderabad to produce water of the highest quality.
• It uses an Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) to convert water vapour in the air into fresh and
clean drinking water.
ii.The Licence fee of this innovative project is Rs 25,50,000 per annum, in which Rs 1,50,000 per year for each
kiosk at 6 stations- CSMT-5, Dadar -5, Kurla-1, Thane -4, Ghatkopar -1, Vikhroli- 1.
DBT & SII launches India’s First Indigenously-developed vaccine to prevent Cervical Cancer
India had launched its First indigenously-developed quadrivalent Human Papilloma Virus (qHPV) vaccine on 1
September, 2022 against Cervical Cancer.
This vaccine was developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT) and the market was granted by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), which was
recommended by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC).
• The Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh was invited to launch the vaccine at
India International Centre (IIC), Delhi, New Delhi.
• SII reported that the Centre can supply around 1 crore doses of qHPV by December 2022.

• As per the data of the World Health Organisation (WHO), 41,91,000 women have died due to
Cervical Cancer since 2019 (in India).
• In India, Cervical Cancer ranks 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years
of age.
NASA & Axiom Signs Second Private Astronaut Mission to Space Station Order
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Axiom Space have signed a mission order for
Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the 2nd private astronaut mission(PAM) to the International Space Station (ISS). The
mission is scheduled that is to take place in the 2nd quarter of 2023.
• The spaceflight will launch from NASA’s Kennedy
Space Centre in Florida and travel to the ISS.
About the mission:
i.The Axiom astronauts will spend around 10 days in the
laboratory and will coordinate in-orbit activities for the
private astronauts to conduct in coordination with space
station crew members and flight controllers on the ground.
ii.Axiom has contracted NASA, international partners, and
SpaceX as its launch provider for the transportation of crew
members to and from the ISS and also trains the Ax-2 crew
members for their flight
About Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2):
i.Background – In December 2021, NASA announced the selection of Axiom Space for negotiations for the
second private astronaut mission.
ii.For the Ax-2 mission, Axiom Space will submit 4 proposed crew members and 4 back up crew members to
ISS Multilateral Crew Operations Panel for review.
• After the review and approval from NASA and its international partners, the prime crew members
for the mission will be named.
iii.Axiom will obtain NASA services such as crew supplies, cargo delivery to space, storage, and other in-orbit
resources for daily use, through both the mission-specific order and Reimbursable Space Act Agreements to
conduct the mission
Note:
• On 8th April 2022, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched AX-1 with 4 crew members, from NASA’s
Kennedy Space Center, which was the first-ever fully private crewed mission to launch to the
orbiting lab(ISS).
• Inspiration4, a privately chartered spaceflight by Billionaire Jared Isaacman launched by SpaceX in
September 2021, was the first crewed orbital mission with no professional astronauts on board(all-
civilian spaceflight).
NASA Successfully Tests DART as it Crashes into Asteroid Dimorphos

On 27th September 2022 National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)’s Double Asteroid Redirection
Test (DART), the world’s first planetary defence technology demonstration, successfully crashed into
the asteroid Dimorphos 6.8m miles from Earth.
• This marks humanity’s first attemt to move another celestial body, with an aim to see if a larger
asteroid hurtling towards Earth could be diverted.
• Dimorphos is an asteroid that was discovered in 1996 and is about 9.6 million kilometres from
Earth.

About DART Mission:
i.DART targeted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, a small
body with just 530 feet (160 metres) in diameter that orbits
a larger asteroid called Didymos which is 2,560 feet (780
metre).
• Neither Dimorphos nor Didymos asteroids pose a
threat to Earth.
ii.This mission has been controlled at the Johns Hopkins
Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland,
United States (US).
iii.The impact should have nudged the asteroid slightly and
subtly changed its orbit around Didymos.
Key Points:
i.The spacecraft carried the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical
Navigation (DRACO) instrument along with a sophisticated guidance, navigation and control system that works
in accordance with Small-body Manoeuvring Autonomous Real Time Navigation (SMART Nav) algorithms.
• This enabled DART to identify differences between the asteroids and targets the small body.
ii.This cube-shaped impactor vehicle as small as a vending machine with two rectangular solar arrays, crashed
into the asteroid Dimorphos. This crash was captured by the DART’s own camera.
About Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART):
i.DART is a spacecraft designed to impact an asteroid as a test of technology
ii.It is the first-ever mission dedicated to investigating and demonstrating a method of asteroid deflection by
changing an asteroid’s motion in space through kinetic impact.
Objectives:
• Demonstrate a kinetic impact with Dimorphos.
• Change the binary orbital period of Dimorphos.
• Use ground-based telescope observations to measure Dimorphos’ period change before and after
impact.
• Measure the effects of the impact and resulting ejecta on Dimorphos.
NITI Aayog & WRI Launches India’s First National Electric Freight Platform – ‘e-FAST’
On 8th September 2022, National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), in collaboration with World
Resources Institute (WRI) India launched India’s 1st electric freight platform, e-FAST India (Electric Freight
Accelerator for Sustainable Transport – India) to enable road
based electric freight (e-freight) transition.
The e-FAST India platform is supported by the World
Economic Forum (WEF), CALSTART and RMI(Rocky
Mountain Institute) India for bringing different stakeholders
together, from across the freight ecosystem.
About e-FAST India platform:
i.This will help in strengthening partnerships and identify
and support innovative freight solutions.
ii.It will also support scalable pilots and suggest policies that
accelerate freight electrification in India.
The e-FAST India platform witnessed participation from major automobile industry players, logistics
companies, development banks and fin-tech companies.
Other launch:
i.During the event, NITI Aayog and RMI India WRI also released a report on “ ‘Transforming Trucking in India
– Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment”, that highlights the benefits of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in

India through combination of technology advancement, innovative business models, policy, and financing.
ii.During the launch, WRI India unveiled its Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Evaluator, an intuitive excel-
based application.
• In order to identify the freight impact on TOC per Kilometre, the TCO evaluator will analyse cost
components and performance parameters of light/medium/heavy-duty freight and compare electric
variants with its diesel/petrol/Coal & Natural Gas (CNG) counterparts.
Facts about the freight sector:
i.The freight sector plays a key role in India’s economy as it enables distribution and delivery of goods and
critical resources.
ii.India is the 3rd largest truck market, after China and the United States (US).
Note – The transport sector contributes almost 14 percent to India’s total energy-related greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions.
Two New “Super-Earth” Planets Discovered Just 100 Light-Years Away

Two “Super-Earth” planets orbiting LP 890-9, a small, cool star located at about 100 light-years from Earth,
have been discovered by an international team of astronomers.
• The star, which is also referred to as TOI-4306 or SPECULOOS-2, is the second-coolest star discovered
to have planets, after the famous TRAPPIST-1.
The Two New “Super-Earth” Planets
i.The system’s inner planet, designated as LP 890-9b or TOI-4306b, is about 30% larger than Earth and
quickly orbits around the dwarf star in just 2.7 Earth days.
• It was first found as an exoplanet candidate by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which looks for exoplanets orbiting nearby
stars.
ii.The second planet, LP 890-9c or SPECULOOS-2c, is significantly larger than Earth, about 40% larger, and
completes its orbit in around 8.5 Earth days.
• This second planet is believed to be in the habitable zone of its star, which is the region where
temperatures are just ideal for liquid water to exist on the surface.
Key Points:
i.The discoveries were made through the assistance of NASA’s TESS and the Search for Habitable
Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars (SPECULOOS) project led by the University of Liège, Belgium.
• These findings will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
ii.SPECULOOS is a project that looks for potentially habitable exoplanets around the smallest and coolest stars
of the solar neighbourhood.
iii.Super-Earths are a special type of exoplanet in the solar system that are more massive than earth but lighter
than the ice giants.
• They are formed by a combination of gas and rock and can grow to be 10 times the mass of the Earth.
Note:
• Three of the seven known exoplanets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 are in the habitable zone.
• TOI-1452 b, a “super-Earth” discovered recently, orbits a red dwarf star roughly 100 light years away
from Earth. It is referred to as the “water world” as it might support life.
Qimingxing-50: China’s 1st Solar-Powered Drone cum Satellite

China has successfully tested its first fully solar-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/drone namely
‘Qimingxing-50′ or Morning star-50 which can fly uninterrupted for months and can function even as a
satellite if required. It is also referred to as a ‘High Altitude Platform Stations’ or a pseudo satellite.
• It is China’s first large-sized UAV powered only by solar energy.
• It can fly continuously for long periods at an altitude of 20 km above the earth’s surface.

• It took off from an airport in Yulin, northwest China’s Shaanxi province and landed smoothly after
26 minutes airborne with all systems operating
normally.
Key Features:
i.With a wingspan of 50 m, it is a High-Altitude Long-
Endurance (HALE) UAV drone that is capable of high-
altitude aerial reconnaissance, assessing forest fire and can
also be used for communications.
ii.It will enhance Chinese defences in space and at sea as it
can keep flying even during periods of overnight darkness.
iii.It can be used in the field of renewable energy, new
materials and aeronautical engineering.
Point to be noted:
The United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) are among the nations that have built solar-powered
drones that can fly as high as 20 km up in the sky. In July, 2022, the US army tested a solar-powered, near-space
Airbus Zephyr S drone that set a new record by being airborne for 64 days.
ISRO tests hybrid propulsion system that uses Solid Fuel, Liquid Oxidiser
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a 30 kN hybrid motor, a new
propulsion system for the forthcoming launch vehicles, at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in
Tamil Nadu (TN).
• The hybrid motor uses Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX)
as the oxidizer, unlike solid-solid or liquid-liquid
combinations.
About hybrid motor test:
The test was conducted by Vikram Sarabhai Space
Centre (VSSC) with support from the Liquid Propulsion
Systems Centre (LPSC).
• It was a ground-based test which was for 15
seconds on a 300-mm sounding rocket motor.
• This test paves the way for a new propulsion
system for the forthcoming launch vehicles.
Key Points:
i.The use of liquids facilitates throttling, and the control over the flow rate of LOX enables the re-start
capability.
ii.Both HTPB and LOX are environment friendly, LOX is safer to handle.
• Conventional HTPB-based solid propellant motors used in rockets use ammonium perchlorate as
the oxidiser. In rocket engines, oxidisers supply the oxygen needed for combustion.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– S. Somanath
Headquarter– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Hughes Launches India’s First HTS Broadband Service to Link Remote Areas
On 12th September 2022 Hughes Communications India Private Limited (HCI) launched India’s first High
Throughput Satellite (HTS) broadband internet service to provide high-speed satellite internet across India,
including in remote areas.
• This service is provided using the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s GSAT-11 and GSAT-
29 communication satellites.

Features:
i.The service combines Ku-band capacity from ISRO’s
satellites (GSAT-11 & GSAT-29) and Hughes JUPITER
platform ground technology to deliver high-speed
broadband.
ii.The service also supports applications such as WiFi
hotspots for community internet access, managed SD-WAN
solutions, backhaul to extend mobile network reach and
satellite internet for small businesses.
iii.The initial HTS broadband service will begin with
internet speeds between 2-10 Megabits per second
(Mbps).
About Hughes Communications India Private Limited (HCI):
i.HCI is a Joint Venture of Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) and Bharti Airtel Limited.
ii.They provide different kinds of satellite-based broadband connectivity to the Indian Army and Paramilitary
forces like the Border Security Force (BSF), (SSB), (ITBP) and others.
President and Managing Director (MD) – Partho Banerjee
Headquarters – Gurgaon, Haryana
India’s First Avalanche Monitoring Radar Installed in North Sikkim

The first-of-its-kind “Avalanche Monitoring Radar” in India has been installed in North Sikkim by
the Indian Army and the Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE).
• The radar was made operational by DGRE, a
laboratory under the Defence Research
Development Organisation (DRDO)
specialized in forecasting and mitigating
avalanche hazards encountered by the Army
in the Himalayan region.
• Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, Sukna
based Tri Shakti Corps(33 Corps)
commander, launched the radar at an
altitude of 15,000 feet in North Sikkim.
Significance:
i.This radar detects an avalanche in less than three seconds by scattering a series of brief microwave
pulses towards the target. It can also be used to find landslides.
ii.The radar is an all-weather solution as it can see through snow, fog, and as well as at night.
iii.It covers an area of 2 square kilometres, eliminating the need for additional devices in avalanche-prone
areas.
iv.The radar is also connected to an alarm system, providing automatic control and warning actions in the
event of an avalanche.
• Automatically captured images and recordings of the event are saved for professional study in
the future.
v.It will help to prevent property damage in extremely high-altitude areas and save the lives of soldiers.

About Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE):
It is a new establishment formed with the merger of two premier DRDO labs – Snow & Avalanche Study
Establishment (SASE) Chandigarh & Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) Delhi.
Raised on 15th November 2020.
Headquarters– Chandigarh
RattanIndia launches its first anti-drone ‘Defender’

RattanIndia Enterprises’ launched its first anti-drone product called “Defender”, which can work both manually
and via Artificial Intelligence (AI), which helps it to adjust its position.
• The anti-drone was developed by Throttle Aerospace Systems, a step-down subsidiary of
RattanIndia Enterprises.
• The Defender will be a 70% indigenous product with a 30% import component of BLDC motor and
batteries.
• It will be manufactured at Throttle Aerospace’s manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• NeoSky India Ltd, wholly owned by RattanIndia, bought 60% of Throttle Aerospace in 2022.
Nasa’s Moxie Instrument Successfully makes Oxygen on Mars

NASA’s Experiment Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment (MOXIE), a lunchbox sized
instrument has successfully generated Oxygen (O2) by carrying out the work of a tiny tree on Mars.
• Background – Since February 2021, the MIT-led MOXIE, has been producing oxygen from the
carbon dioxide (CO2) rich atmosphere of Mars.
Key highlights:
i.As per the researchers, by the end of 2021, MOXIE was able to produce O2 on 7 experimental runs, in several
atmospheric circumstances, including day and night and throughout the Martian seasons.
• In each experimental run, MOXIE produced 6 grams of O2 per hour, which roughly equals the O2
produced by a small tree on Earth.
ii.Moxie is capable of producing O2 at almost any time of the Mars Planet’s day and year but the current version
of the instrument is small by design in order to fit aboard the Perseverance rover.
It is currently designed and built to run for only short periods, whereas a full-scale oxygen factory
would require larger units to run continuously.
ISRO develops Microprocessor-Controlled Smart Limbs

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed 1.6 kg Microprocessor-Controlled
Knees (MPKs), an intelligent artificial limb, which will benefit above-knee amputees to walk with a comfortable
gait.
• MPKs will offer extended capabilities for the
amputee than those offered by the passive
limbs that do not use the microprocessors.
Developers:
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO under an
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National
Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Pt.
Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with
Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) (PDUNIPPD (D)), and
Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India
(ALIMCO).

Trial:
The trials were conducted with the clearance of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC). The device was
tested with an amputee, identified by NILD for conducting walking trials. The trials were conducted at the NILD
lab jointly by NILD and VSSC.
• It has enabled an amputee to walk about 100 m in the corridor with minimum support.
Key Points:
i.MPKs currently available commercially in India are imported which costs range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.
The MPKs under development, once commercialised, are expected to cost around Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
ii.An MPK consists of a microprocessor, hydraulic damper, load & knee angle sensors, composite knee-case, Li-
ion battery, electrical harness, and interface elements.
• The microprocessor detects the state of gait based on the sensor data.
The control software estimates the real-time damping needed to attain the desired gait by changing
the stiffness of the system which is achieved by a DC motor-operated hydraulic damper.
DEFENCE
EXERCISE
India & UK Conducts Counter Ransomware Exercise for 26 Nations
To prepare the energy sector organisation to deal with ransomware attack, National Security Council
Secretariat (NSCS) of India and the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) in collaboration with BAE Systems
successfully designed & conducted the Cyber Security Exercise, a virtual ransomware drill for 26 Countries.
• The exercise is being conducted as part of the
International Counter Ransomware Initiative
(CRI)-Resilience Working Group which is
being led by India under the leadership of
National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC).
• The exercise focuses on Energy sectors
organisation in which each National Cyber
Crisis Management Teams of the CRI Partner
Nations deals with the a ransomware attack
on multiple electricity distribution
companies.
Aim:
• The exercise aims to simulate a large, wide-spread cyber security incident affecting organisations
within a country.
• This exercise was designed to support the mission of the CRI, and aims to allow participating CRI
Members to test their capability to respond to a major ransomware incident.
• The exercise demonstrates the benefit of sharing information and collaborating during a major
incident and provide opportunities for the CRI Nations to share their approaches to countering
ransomware.
About the Exercise:
i.The exercise has been facilitated by BAE systems and through the Immersive Labs platform.
ii.The theme of the exercise was based on the energy sector in which the respective National Cyber Crisis
Management Teams of the CRI Partner Nations will have to deal with a ransomware attack on multiple
electricity distribution companies.
• These energy sector companies are responsible for the distribution of electricity to domestic
customers and are the last link to the public supply.

iii.The exercise explored the complexity of decision-making around response to ransomware on Critical
National Infrastructure.
Key highlights:
All 26 invitees for the exercise are from CRI Partner Nations and their respective organisations that includes
Cyber Security, National Crisis Management, National Security Policy, Critical National Infrastructure and Law
Enforcement Agencies.
Additional info:
Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure have increased significantly in the recent past and India has observed a
70% increase in ransomware activities in the 4th quarter of 2021.
Indian Army Contingent Participates in Exercise Vostok-2022 In Russia

The Indian Army contingent, made up of personnel from
the 7/8 Gorkha Rifles, is participating in the multinational
strategic and command Exercise(Ex) Vostok-2022(East
2022), which is taking place from September 01 -07,
2022, at the training grounds of Russia’s Eastern Military
District.
Aim: Interaction and cooperation between other
participating military contingents and observers.
The Indian Army contingent will participate in joint
manoeuvres, including firepower exercises, joint field
training exercises, and combat discussions, at seven different locations.
Exercise Vostok-2022
The military exercise involves troops from Algeria, Russia, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria, and
other ex-Soviet countries such as Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Participating contingents include observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• The exercise involves more than 50,000 troops and more than 5000 items including 140 aircraft, 60
combat ships, gunboats and support vessels from China, India and several other countries.
• This exercise will take place at 7 military training grounds in Russia, which include firing ranges in
the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan.
• The participating countries performs operations such as “practice defensive and offensive
operations”
The Chief of the General Staff of Russia, General Valery Gerasimov, will oversee the military drill.
• The seven-day drills include land, air, and maritime components.
Key Highlights
i.According to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Indian Army Contingent will exchange practical
information and put validated procedures, drills, and the integration of modern technologies and tactical
exercises into practice.
ii.Japan has expressed opposition to Russia holding the maritime component of Vostok 2022 close to the
Southern Kuril Island, which is claimed by both Russia & Japan.
• India has opted not to participate in the marine component in Russia due to Japan’s concerns.
• The India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue 2022 will take place later in September 2022, and both
countries are represented in the QUAD (United States of America (USA), India, Australia & Japan).
iii.The drill, which will take place in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk, will involve warships from the Pacific
Fleet of the Russian Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China.
Note:
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for 5 squadrons of the S-400 Triumf Air
Defence Missile System.

CERT-In Conducts Cyber Security Exercise – ‘Synergy’
On 31st August 2022, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with Cyber Security Agency of Singapore
(CSA) successfully designed and conducted the Cyber
Security Exercise, ‘Synergy’ for 13 countries.
• Exercise Synergy was hosted by CERT-In on its
exercise simulation platform.
• The theme of the exercise was ‘Building
Network Resiliency to
counter Ransomware Attacks’.
Key highlights:
Objective – To Assess, Share and improve strategies &
practices among Member-States to build network resiliency
against ransomware & cyber extortion attacks.
i.Exercise ‘Synergy’ was successful in meeting its objectives and provided insights for CRI Member States to
build network resiliency and counter ransomware attacks.
ii.This exercise was conducted as part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience
Working Group, led by India under the leadership of National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
iii.Each country participated as a National Crisis Management Team, with a composition of different
government agencies including National CERTs (Computer Emergency Readiness Team)/CSIRTs (Computer
Security Incident Response Team), Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), Communication and IT/Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry and Security agencies.
Indian Army & Indian Air Force Conduct Joint Exercise “Gagan Strike” In Punjab
The Kharga Corps of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the joint exercise “Gagan
Strike” in Punjab, to demonstrate the strength and prowess of the armed forces.
• The joint exercise was led by Lieutenant General
Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding
(GOC), Kharga Corps, and took place over 4 days
in various places of Punjab bordering Ambala in
Haryana.
• Gen. Nav Kumar Khanduri, the GOC in Chief of
Western Command, also participated in the
exercise.
Key Points:
i.Attack helicopters were deployed as the aerial support for
ground forces engaged in drills, simulating the destruction of enemy defences and deep penetration.
ii.The drill also illustrated the precision firepower of the attack helicopters working in tandem with the
mechanised columns of the ground forces.
iii.It established the Apache 64E and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Weapon System Integrated (WSI) as
capable weapons delivery platforms.
JIMEX 2022: India and Japan Begins Joint Naval exercise at Bay of Bengal
On 11th September 2022, the sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22) was hosted by
the Indian Navy and it commenced in the Bay of Bengal.
• The first edition of JIMEX took place in the year 2013.
• The JIMEX 22 marks the 10th anniversary of JIMEX, which began in Japan in 2012 and also
coincides with the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

Participation of both countries:
i. Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships Izumo,
a Helicopter Carrier, and Takanami, a Guided Missile
Destroyer were represented the Japanese Navy.
• The JMSDF ships are being led by R Adm Hirata
Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four.
ii.The Indian Navy was represented by three indigenously
designed and built warships; INS Sahyadri, a multi-
purpose stealth frigate and Anti-Submarine Warfare
Corvettes INS Kadmatt and INS Kavaratti.
• Additionally, Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay,
Fleet Tanker Jyoti, Offshore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range
Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship borne helicopters are also taking part in the exercise.
• Indian Naval ships are led by R Adm Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
About JIMEX 22:
i.JIMEX 22 exercise involves 2 Phases that includes one at sea and another is the harbour phase at
Visakhapatnam.
ii.This exercise would consolidate the interoperability between the two maritime forces through complex
exercises in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.
INS Tarkash participated in Joint Maritime Exercise with Nigerian Navy

On September 12-13, 2022, an Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tarkash took part in a Joint Maritime Exercise with
Nigerian Navy Patrol Ships (NNS) which is currently mission deployed in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) for anti-
piracy operations, and to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. INS Tarkash arrived at Port Lagos, Nigeria on
September 8, 2022.
• During the exercise, Nigeria was represented by
its NNS Kano, Osun, Sokoto and Nguru.
• The exercise marked India and Nigeria’s first
joint operational deployment focusing on anti-
piracy operations in the GOG.
Key Points:
i.This exercise strengthened the interoperability between
the Indian Navy (IN) and Nigerian Navy (NN) in various
maritime operations like anti-piracy, assistance to vessels
in distress, SAR (Search and Rescue) drills, and anti-air and
anti-surface operations.
ii.It also enhanced skills for naval interdiction and counter-piracy operations.
iii.It should be noted that INS Tarkash is on a long-range voyage, covering three oceans, over 24000 nautical
miles in 133 days with the mission to strengthen friendship.
• On July 29, 2022, she completed her Mediterranean deployment and entered the Atlantic.
• On July 29-30 July, INS Tarkash conducted an exercise with the French Navy in which saw the
participation of French Fleet Tanker FNS Somme. Both vessels carried out replenishment at sea,
followed by cooperative air operations with a French Falcon 50 maritime surveillance aircraft,
several mock missile engagements and air defence drills.
• On July 26, INS Tarkash participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise in the Atlantic with Royal
Morocco Naval Ship Hassan 2, a Floreal Class Corvette.
• On August 16, 2022, the INS Tarkash was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to take part in Brazilian
bicentennial celebrations.

About INS Tarkash:
INS Tarkash (F50) is the second Talwar-class frigate constructed for IN at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad,
Russia. She is part of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates (F45, F50, F51) ordered by IN. These are
modified Krivak III-class frigates built by Russia. These ships use stealth technologies and a special hull design
to ensure a reduced radar cross-section.
• She was commissioned to IN in 2012 and joined the Western Naval Command.
• Manned by 300 crew, the 125-metre-long, 3 700-tonne carries a wide range of anti-ship, ant-air and
anti-submarine weaponry, including the supersonic BrahMos missile, 100 mm naval gun, optically
controlled 30 mm Close-In Weapon System, torpedoes and rockets.
• She embarks a Chetak naval helicopter.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande Reviews Exercise Parvat Prahar in Ladakh
General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) reviewed exercise Parvat Prahar, on his 2-day visit to
Ladakh. The COAS was briefed on operational preparedness by commanders on the ground.
Key highlights:
i.The exercise took place amid the disengagement process
of India and China Patrolling Point (PP) 15 in the Gogra-Hot
Springs area on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern
Ladakh.
ii.This disengagement process follows the 16th round of
talks between the corps commanders of India and China
that was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point in July 2022.
India and China have agreed on disengagement in the area
of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15).
About Exercise Parvat Prahar:
i.Parvat Prahar was held in the Ladakh plateau at an altitude of 14,000 feet, by the Mathura-based 1 strike
Corps of the Indian Army.
ii.The exercise includes infantry soldiers, T-90S and T-72 tanks, mechanised infantry, K-9 Vajra, Bofors and
M777 howitzers, helicopters and aircraft.
iii.The exercise is also supported by the 17 mountain strike corps with its headquarters at Panagarh in West
Bengal (WB) which in turn focuses on the eastern front, including Chumbi Valley.
Multinational Naval Ex Kakadu 2022 in Australia: INS Satpura & P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Participates From India
On September 12, 2022, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Satpura and a P8 I Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian
Navy reached Darwin in Australia to participate in the multinational Exercise Kakadu 2022 (KA22). This two
week-long Exercise is being conducted in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise area (NAXA) from 12-
24 September 2022.
• KA22 marks the 15th edition of the biennial
exercise.
Theme:
Partnership, Leadership, Friendship
Participants:
Around 19 vessels, 34 aircraft and more than 3000
personnel from 25 countries are expected.
Key Points:
i.The exercise includes both sea and harbour phase. During
the harbour phase of the exercise, the ship’s crew engage in
operational planning interactions and sports activities with participating Navies.

ii.Kakadu is the Navy’s premier maritime exercise. It develops interoperability between nations in the maritime
and air domains, and provides training opportunities for maritime security and surveillance.
About Exercise Kakadu:
Initiated in 1993, it is a joint-enabled, biennial exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and supported by
the Royal Australian Air Force.
About INS Satpura:
INS Satpura is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate that has better stealth and land attack capabilities than
the Talwar-class frigates. It was built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was
inducted the Eastern Naval Command headquartered at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Abhyas-01/22: ICG, USCG hold Joint Exercise off Chennai coast, TN

On September 20, 2022, a joint exercise ‘Abhyas-01/22’ between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the United
States Coast Guard (USCG) was held off Chennai coast in Tamil Nadu (TN).
• During the exercise, both sides showcased their capabilities to each other and strengthen their
working relationship enhancing interoperability in the field of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR),
boarding operations and other maritime law enforcement duties.
• It also promotes a ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific.
• It should be noted that the US Coast Guard cutter Midgett took part in the exercise who was on a
4-day goodwill visit for at-sea & in-port pro exchanges with the ICG. Over the course of this voyage,
the Midgett interacted with counterparts in the Philippines, Singapore, and also taken part in
bilateral exercises.
Key Points:
i.418 feet long and 54 feet wide, Midgett is the largest & most tech advanced of US CG newest class of vessels;
and is equipped with a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) Scan Eagle drone, MH-65 helicopter and other state-of-
the-art equipment.
ii.The exercise involved various fleet manoeuvres, SAR, anti-piracy operations, a scenario of the hijacking of a
vessel and the subsequent rescue of its crew, interdiction of the pirated vessel, a coordinated joint boarding
operation, and external fire-fighting to salvage burning ships
INS Sunayna Participates in Combined Maritime Forces at Seychelles

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sunayna participated in the capacity-building exercise Operation Southern
Readiness conducted by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) at Seychelles that happened between
24th September 2022 to 27th September 2022.
Highlights:
This event was coordinated as a part of the distinguished
visitor’s demonstration and was witnessed by Wavel
Ramkalawan, president of the Republic of Seychelles
along with other senior officials of member countries of
CMF.
• The Indian Navy was welcomed to the CMF
by Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, US NAVCENT.
• This is the maiden participation of an INS
Sunayna in CMF exercise.
About INS Sunayna:
i.INS Sunayna is a 2nd Saryu-class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) that was commissioned by vice admiral
Sathish Soni, flag officer commanding in chief for southern naval command at Kochi in October 2013.
ii.The ship was designed and developed indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited to meet the increasing ocean
surveillance and patrolling requirements of the Indian Navy.
iii.This will undertake operations such as coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of

sea lines of communications and offshore assets along with escort duties.
Features:
i.INS Sunayna has an automatic power management system installed by Larsen & Turbo. The ship travels with a
speed of more than 25 knots with its two KOEL/Pielstick diesel engines.
ii.The ship is enabled with the latest navigation, communication and electronic support systems.
• It also carries one 76mm gun with an electro-optic fire system, close-in weapon systems (CIWS), and
CHAFF launchers.
About Seychelles
President – Wavel Ramkalawan
Capital – Victoria
Currency – Seychellois Rupee
TESTING
ISRO successfully test Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator to Land Missions on Mars or Venus
On September 4, 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted tests of
an Inflatable Aerodynamic decelerator (IAD) that will be used for landing payloads on Mars and Venus in
future. It was test-flown in a Rohini-sounding rocket – RH300MKII-F22 IAD VEHICLE from Thumba Equatorial
Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Key Points:
i.IAD technology is designed and developed by ISRO’s Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• It has been designed specifically for spent stage
recovery.
ii.IAD can aerodynamically decelerate an object descending
through the atmosphere. It means that through this
technology the payload will land back on Earth by
decelerating the fall at the required level.
iii.IAD is made from Kevlar fabric, coated with
Polychloroprene. Since it is made of fabric, IAD can be packed into a small volume of 15 litres, available in the
nosecone of the RH300. When inflated, IAD takes the shape of three concentric toroid with an overall diameter
of 1.3m that generates high aerodynamic drag and stability.
iv.Rohini sounding rockets are used for flight demonstration of new technologies that are being developed by
ISRO as well as by scientists from India and abroad.
v.The rocket took the IAD to an altitude of 84 kilometers where it was inflated and descended through the
atmosphere with the payload part.
Apart from testing IAD, new elements, following new methodologies were also flight tested successfully,
including:
• Micro Video Imaging System
• Software Defined Radio Telemetry-Dual Transmitter (SDRT-DTx)
• Acoustics Processing Unit with mini-IMAS (Indigenous MEMS Acoustic Sensors)
• New software for wind compensation for TERLS
• Modified nose cone separation system
• Modified FLSC separation system for RH300
• Improved 1s delay detonator for spin rocket separation
• Thermally conducting and electrically insulating potting compound ATCAP-75-7030

DRDO: India Successfully Completes Six Flight Tests of QRSAM; Successfully Tests Pinaka
Rockets at Pokhran
On 8th September 2022 the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian
Army successfully completed 6 flight tests of the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system from
the Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha and is now ready for induction into the
Army.
Key highlights:
i.The flight tests were carried out against high-speed aerial
targets to evaluate the capability of the weapon systems
under various scenarios.
• The scenarios included long range medium
altitude, short range, high altitude manoeuvring
target, low radar signature with receding and
crossing target and salvo launch with two
missiles fired in quick succession.
ii.The performance of the system was also evaluated
under night operation scenarios which was confirmed by the data captured by range instruments like
telemetry, radar and Electro Optical Tracking Systems (EOTS).
iii.These tests were conducted in the final deployment with all indigenously-developed sub-systems that
includes the missile with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, mobile launcher, fully automated command
and control system, surveillance and multi-function Radars.
About Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM):
i.QRSAM is a short range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system primarily designed and developed by DRDO for
the Indian Army, which has been equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and control algorithms including
warhead chain.
• This is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and fire on short halts.
ii.The QRSAM has a fully automated command and control system with a range of 25 to 30 km.
DRDO Successfully Tests Enhanced Range Pinaka Rockets in Pokhran, Balasore
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired an enhanced
Range Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at Balasore, Odisha and Pokhran, Rajasthan.
• The Pinaka MBRL is designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE),
a laboratory of the DRDO that is based in Pune, Maharashtra.
• Munitions India Limited and Economic Explosives Limited manufactured the system.
About Pinaka Rockets:
i.The Pinaka (MBRL) is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India for the Indian Army, and comprises a free-
flight artillery rocket.
ii.Pinaka Mark-I has a maximum range of 40 kilometres while the Pinaka Mark-I enhanced version has a
maximum range of 60 kilometres.
Keynote:
In May 2022, DRDO also successfully completed trials of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) at
Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR).
• ATAGS is a fully indigenous artillery gun system project that has been developed by the DRDO and
as a part of the artillery modernization programme of the Indian Army.
• This is produced by two firms Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
Recent related news:
The Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have partnered with DRDO to use CHAFF Technology in the Indian
Airforce Aircraft and Indian Naval Ships in order to protect from enemy radar guided missiles during hostile
situations.

About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman – Dr Samir Vankatpati Kamat
US Military Successfully Tests Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

On 7th September 2022 the Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen, is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the
United States(US) Air Force, launched an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM) equipped with three test re-entry vehicles, armed with nuclear warheads from the Vandenberg
Space Force Base in California.
• This is the second test by the United States (US) in
less than a month after the launch of Minuteman III
ICBM in August 2022 which was postponed twice.
Key highlights:
i.The Minuteman III has been in service for 50 years, and is
currently the only land-based ICBM in the US nuclear arsenal
which is housed in Wyoming, North Dakota and Montana of
the US.
ii.The US arsenal also includes Trident submarine-launched
ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons carried by strategic bomber aircraft.
About Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM):
Minuteman III (also known as LGM-30G Minuteman III (Silo Launched Surface Attack Guided Missile – 30G) )
was inducted into the force in the early 1970s and is the 1st ICBM, equipped with multiple independently
targeted reentry vehicles or Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV’s).
Israeli Navy test-fires Gabriel V Anti-Ship Missile from Sa’ar 6 corvette

The Israeli Navy successfully tested the newest generation of anti-ship missiles namely ‘Gabriel V’ which is the
5th generation of anti-ship missiles developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Defense Ministry’s
Directorate of Research and Development (MAFAT).
• It is a surface-to-surface missile, also known as
the Blue Spear, and ANAM (Advanced Naval
Attack Missile)
• The Sa’ar 6-class corvette (INS Oz) fired a missile
at a dummy ship, destroying it. This was the first
anti-ship missile test from the new Sa’ar 6
corvette of the Israeli Navy.
Key Points:
i.Gabriel V featuring sea-skimming capabilities is designed to
strike targets in contested, congested and complex scenarios
even with sophisticated countermeasures.
ii.The system has combined anti-ship and land attack capabilities with a range of 290 km at high sub-sonic
speed. It has beyond line of sight strike capabilities and can strike both mobile or stationary targets.
iii.The missile weighs 760 kg, is 4.3 meters long and possesses a 150kg high explosive munition warhead.
iv.It can be launched with a fire-and-forget mode or fire and update version.
v.It does not fly in a straight line toward its target, making it difficult for a radar or optical system of an
interceptor to detect and hit.
vi.Gabriel V missiles are installed in Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, replacing the Gabriel IV missiles built in the 1990s.

TATA Developed Indigenous Loitering Munition Successfully Test Fired at Pokhran
An indigenous loitering munition, ALS 50 developed by TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), has been
successfully tested by demonstrating its strike capability tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan.
• The ALS 50 is an autonomous system that is
designed for Vertical Take Off and Landing
(VTOL). It is capable of operating from difficult
terrain and high-altitude areas.
• Previously in 2022, the ALS 50 has
demonstrated its ability to operate in high
altitude areas during tests in Ladakh.
About ALS 50:
i.ALS 50, is an autonomous targeting system that can
accurately identify and hit a predetermined target. It is
capable of taking off like a quadcopter and transitions into
fixed wing mode during flight for long-distance travel.
ii.As a future development, Artificial Intelligence and swarming capabilities could be integrated.
iii.With VTOL capability, the system has the ability to operate in areas such as narrow valleys, fortified
mountain positions, small jungle clearings and the decks of warships.
• It has the range of 1,000 kilometers.
• The load carrying capacity of the system is 23 kilograms.
Key Points:
i.The autonomous targeting system of ALS 50 can accurately identify and target pre set targets.
ii.The system can also be scaled up to enhance its range and payload capabilities.
About TATA Advanced Systems Limited:
Chairman – Vijay singh
DRDO successfully tested Very Short Range Air Defence System Missile at Chandipur
On September 27, 2022, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully
conducted the flight tests of two Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile from a ground
based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
• This Man Portable Air Defence System
(MANPAD) will be used for neutralising low
altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
Developers:
It is designed and developed indigenously by
Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Research Centre
Imarat (RCI) of the DRDO in collaboration with other
DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
Key Points:
i.VSHORADS comprises many technologies including
miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and
integrated avionics. It is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor
ii.The missile’s design, including the launcher, has been highly optimized for portability.
iii.It will succeed the Indian Army’s current stock, such as the Air Defence Guns L-70 and ZU-23 which is over
four decades old and completely obsolete.
iv.Very Short Range Air Defence Missiles are critical for defending any major city or strategically important
location.

OTHER DEFENCE NEWS
PM Narendra Modi commissions India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant in
Kochi; Unveiled New Ensign of Navy
On September 2, 2022, Prime Minister (PM) of India

Narendra Modi commissioned India’s first indigenous
aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant at Cochin
Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala.
i.He also unveiled the new Naval Ensign “Nishaan”
showcasing Indian maritime heritage. He dedicated the
new ensign to Chhatrapati Shivaji.
ii.He laid the foundation stone of Rs 4,500-cr rail
infrastructure, metro projects in Kerala.
About INS Vikrant: Largest ship ever built in maritime
history of India
Designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by CSL, a Public Sector
Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, it showcased Aatmanirbhar credentials during
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The steel installed in its airbase is also indigenous, developed by DRDO (Defence
Research and Development Organisation) scientists and produced by Indian companies.
• It has been built with state of the art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in
maritime history of India.
• It will be based in the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Features:
i.Length: 262.5 m
ii.Width: 61.6 m
iii.Displacement: Approx 43,000 T (Tonne)
iv.Maximum Speed: 28 Knots with endurance of 7,500 Nautical Miles.
• The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totalling 88 MW power and built at an overall cost close to
Rs 20,000 crores
v.The ship has around 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 including women officers and
sailors.

vi.The ship is capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter
jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light
Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy).
vii.Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS
Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft and the ship will have a set of ‘arrester wires’ for the
recovery onboard for jets.
It should be noted that INS Vikrant has 76% indigenous content, thus, its construction has resulted in direct
employment generation for over 2,000 employees of CSL. It also provided indirect employment generation for
approx 12,500 employees for over 550 OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers), sub-contractors, ancillary
industries and over 100 MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises).
New Ensign of Navy
Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, PM unveiled the new Naval Ensign (flag) at Kochi which dropped the
St George’s Cross and incorporates the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of a
modern navy. The White Ensign now comprises of two main constituents – the National Flag in the upper left
canton, and a Navy Blue – Gold octagon at the centre of the fly side (away from the staff).
• The Octagon is with twin golden octagonal borders encompassing the golden National Emblem (Lion
Capital of Ashoka – underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in blue Devnagri script) resting atop an
anchor; and superimposed on a shield.
• Below the shield, within the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon, on a Navy Blue background, is
inscribed the motto of the Indian Navy ‘Sam No Varunah’ in golden Devnagri script.
• The design encompassed within the octagon has been taken from the Indian Naval crest, wherein
the fouled anchor, which is also associated with colonial legacy, has been replaced with a clear
anchor underscoring the steadfastness of the Indian Navy.
Other Participants:
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD); Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral
Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar; Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, among others.
PM laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various projects of Kochi Metro and Indian
Railways worth around Rs 4500cr in Kochi
On 1st September 2022, Ahead of Onam, the PM also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation
various projects of Kochi Metro and Indian Railways worth around Rs 4500 crore in Kochi. He also visited Shri
Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram at Kalady village in Kochi.
Key Points:
i.The PM inaugurated the Phase I extension of the Kochi Metro Rail Project from Petta to SN junction.
• The total cost of the project is over Rs 700 crores.
ii.He laid the foundation stone for the Phase –II stretch of the Kochi Metro rail project from JLN stadium to
Infopark, having a length of 11.2 km and covering 11 stations.
• The total estimated cost of this project is around Rs 1,950 crores.
iii.PM also dedicated to the nation, the doubling of the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam-Chingavanam rail section,
completed at the cost of nearly Rs 750 crore.
iv.He dedicated to the nation the newly electrified rail section between Kollam – Punalur.
He laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of three railway stations in Kerala – Ernakulam Junction,
Ernakulam Town and Kollam.
• The total estimated cost of these station redevelopment projects is around Rs. 1050 crores.
v.Central Government by now has invested Rs 1 lakh crore in various infrastructure projects in Kerala which
includes Rs 55,000 crore, six-lane NH 66.
i.On 18th July 2022, PM Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’ while addressing the

Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar, named ‘Swavlamban’ (self-reliance) in New
Delhi, Delhi. The SPRINT Challenges aims to boost the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.
ii.On July 15, 2022, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched an indigenously built Y-
3023 Dunagiri, Project-17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) onto the river Hooghly in Kolkata (West Bengal) for
Indian Navy. The Project 17A frigates, also known as Nilgiri-class stealth frigates.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral R Hari Kumar
Founded– 26 January 1950
TARAGIRI: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd launches 5th Stealth Frigate of Project 17A
On September 11, 2022, the 5th Nilgiri-Class stealth frigate of the Indian Navy’s (IN) Project 17A namely
‘Taragiri’ (YD 12653) was launched in Mumbai, Maharashtra by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL). It is
named after a hill range in the Himalayas located in Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
“Taragiri” is the 3rd frigate built by MDL and the 5th
ship in the class overall.
• It was designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house
design organisation Directorate of Naval
Design (DND) in New Delhi (Delhi), while its
detailed design and construction was overseen
by the MDL, along with Warship Overseeing
Team (Mumbai).
• It has been built using an integrated
construction methodology.
• The ship was named by Charu Singh,
President, Navy Wives Welfare Association (Western Region), wife of vice admiral Ajendra Bahadur
Singh, FOC-in-C (Flag Officer Commanding in Chief) Western Naval Command, who was the chief
guest.
Features of Taragiri:
i.Launch weight: Approximately 3510 Tons
ii.Length & Width: 149.02 meters long and 17.8 Meters wide
iii.Speed: Over 28 knots
iv.Displacement: Approximately 6670 Tons
v.It is propelled by a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) combination of two Gas Turbines and two main diesel
engines
vi.Defence capability: Counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles
Key Points:
i.Taragiri will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated
platform management system, world-class modular living spaces, a sophisticated power distribution system,
and a host of other advanced features.
ii.It is fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system .
iii.The steel used in Hull construction of P17A frigates is indigenously developed DMR 249A which is a low
carbon micro-alloy grade steel manufactured by SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited).
iv.There are Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns that provide the ship with close-in-defence capability.
v.There is also SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount) Gun which provides effective naval gunfire support.
vi.The keel of Taragiri was laid on September 10, 2020 and the ship is expected to be delivered by August 2025.
About P17A Ships:
These are guided-missile frigates, which are follow-on classes of the P17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates with

improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems. The total value
of Project 17A is around Rs 50,000 Crore.
• Under this, Seven P17A Frigates are being built- 4 at MDL and 3 at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers (GRSE). These are named as Nilgiri, Himgiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, Taragiri, Vindhyagiri and
Mahendragiri e. after the names of hill ranges in India.
• So far, Four P17A ships, 2 each at MDL and GRSE, have been launched between 2019 and 2022. 1st
ship of P17A, “Nilgiri”, was launched in 2019 at MDL and 2nd Ship “Himgiri” was launched at GRSE
in 2020. The 3rd ship, Udaygiri, was launched at MDL in May 2022 while the 4th ship, Dunagiri, was
launched on July 15, 2022 by GRSE.
India Joins Elite Club with Army Set to Possess Quantum Communication Technology
The Indian Army is set to possess advanced Quantum Communication Technology, thereby joining an elite
list of nations with indigenous quantum technology that will equip troops with a high-end secured defence
system.
• The technology has been developed by the Bengaluru-based startup QNu Labs and under the aegis
of Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
• The technology provides advanced secured communication through Quantum Key
Distribution (QKD) systems that is non-hackable.
• China, the United States (US), Canada and other European countries are global leaders in the QKD
systems and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has made some
breakthroughs.
About QKD system:
i.A QKD system allows the creation of a quantum secure secret pair of symmetric keys between two endpoints
that are separated by a certain distance (over 150 Kms) in terrestrial optical fibre infrastructure.
• The QKD helps create a non-hackable quantum channel for creating unhackable encryption keys,
which are used to encrypt critical data, voice or video across the endpoints.
ii.The Army has initiated the procurement process of the QKD systems by issuing a commercial Request For
Proposal (RFP) for its deployment.
• The Indian Army uses this technology to fuse a large density of data and decision support capability
to securely deliver communication to troop leaders at various levels.
About QNu Labs:
Co-founder and CEO – Sunil Gupta
INS Ajay Decommissioned After 32 Years of Glorious Service

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Ajay (P34), the second Abhay class anti-submarine warfare ship of the Western
Naval Command, was decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra, after 32 years of
outstanding service to the nation.
• Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer
Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval
Command was the chief guest of the ceremony
• Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal AVSM Bar (Retd), the
first Commanding Officer of the ship was the
Guest of Honour.
INS Ajay (P34)
i.INS Ajay (P34) was commissioned on January 24, 1990 in
Poti, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union (USSR -Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics).

• It is a part of the 23rd Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Indian Navy, under the operational command of
the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA).
• It is named after the Ajay-class patrol vessel INS Ajay (1960), which was commissioned in 1960.
ii.INS Ajay (1960) was the first indigenously built ship in Independent India, delivered in 1961 by Garden
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It was gifted to Bangladesh in 1974, where it served as Bangladesh Naval Ship (BNS) Surma.
Key Points:
i. During its 32 years of active naval service, the ship was deployed in front on multiple occasions, including
Operation Talwar during the Kargil War with Pakistan in 1999, Operation Parakram in 2001, the India-Pakistan
standoff, and the post-Uri attack in 2017.
ii. The ship was equipped with long-range torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets and was primarily used in
anti-submarine warfare.
iii. The ship was decommissioned in the traditional way, with the National Flag, Naval Ensign, and
Decommissioning Pennant being lowered for the last time at sunset, marking the end of the ship’s
commissioned service.
Indian Coast Guard Inducts ICGS Samarth in its Fleet; Indian Navy will Get Two Indegenous
Diving Support Vessels
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has inducted ICG Ship(ICGS) ‘Samarth’ to strengthen the coastal security
mechanism. The ship has been based at Kochi, Kerala from Goa under the operational command of Coast Guard
District Headquarters-4 (Kerala & Mahe), Kochi.
About Samarth:
i.ICGS Samarth is a 105 metre-long ship that is
designed with a maximum speed of 23 knots
(approximately 43 Kmph).
ii.This is equipped with an integrated bridge
management system (IBMS), integrated platform
management system (IPMS), power management
system (PMS) and a high power external fire fighting
(EFF) system.
iii.This ship will enhance the Coast Guard maritime
domain operational efficacy in Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) and Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands.
Capacity:
i.The ship could carry a twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats, including two inflatable boats for
boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.
ii.The ship has a modern surveillance system and also has the capacity to avoid oil spills in the sea.
Note – Recently, a new capital ship Saksham joined the Coast Guard fleet in Kerala.
Indian Navy Launched Two Indigenous Diving Support Vessels: Nistar & Nipun
On 22nd September 2022, The Indian Navy launched two indigenously designed and built Diving Support
Vessels (DSVs) – Nistar and Nipun in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP). The first-of-its kind vessels were
built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) is the chief guest of the launching ceremony.
• The vessels were launched by Kala Hari Kumar, President of the Navy Welfare and Wellness
Association (NWWA).
• The vessels are designed with 118.4 metres length, 22.8 metres breadth with a displacement of
9,350 tons that could be deployed for deep sea diving operations.

• DSVs can undertake submarine rescue operations with its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
(DSRV) and also capable of patrolling, conducting search and rescue operations and carrying out
helicopter operations at the high seas.
Background – In 2018, Indian Navy signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) for the
construction of the two vessels at an outlay of around Rs 2,300 crore.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
Director General – Virender Singh Pathania
SPORTS
Overview of 15th Edition of DP World T20 Asia Cup 2022; Sri Lanka Won
The 15th Edition of DP World T20 Asia Cup 2022 tournament with cricket format of Twenty20 International
(T20I) was held between August 27 – September 11, 2022 in United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was held at two
venues of UAE viz. Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai), and Sharjah Cricket Stadium (Sharjah).
• The Championship title was grabbed by Sri Lanka
by beating Pakistan in the finals with 23 runs. It
was its 6th Asia Cup title, and 1st in the T20I
format.
• This tournament was originally scheduled in
September 2020 but was postponed amid COVId-
19 pandemic.
• The next edition i.e. 16th will be hosted
by Pakistan in 2023.
Prize Money:
Sri Lanka received an approximate amount of Rs 1,59,53,000 ($150,000) as prize money, while runners-up
Pakistan received an amount of Rs 79,66,000 ($75,000).
Hosts:
It should be noted that the tournament was played in Dubai, but Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) served as the
tournament’s host while the administrator was Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
• SLC was supposed to organize this tournament but due to economic and political crisis, it was
unable to host in Sri Lanka.
Key Points:
i.A total of 6 nations participated in the tournament viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka.
• India team was led by its Captain Rohit Sharma.
ii.A total of 13 matches played viz. 9 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium; and 4 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
iii.Sri Lanka won 5 matches in the tournament.
iv.Notably, Afghanistan was the only team in the tournament to defeat the Sri Lankan Team.
Awards:
Category Winner Country
Player of the series Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (Wanindu Hasaranga) Sri Lanka
Most Runs Mohammad Rizwan (281) Pakistan
Most Wickets Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh (11) India

Highlights of Asia Cup 2022:
i.India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in its opening Asia Cup T20 match
India won its opening matching against Pakistan by defeating the latter with 5 wickets. The match was Virat
Kohli’s 100th T20 international game.
• With this, Virat Kohli becomes the first Indian to play 100 matches in all three formats.
ii.India lost to SL in T20 Asia Cup for 1st time and failed to qualify for Super-4
Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets in their Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 stage match. This was India’s first defeat
against Sri Lanka in T20 Asia Cup history. This resulted in the disqualification of India in the Super 4 stage.
iii.Virat Kohli becomes batter with highest average in T20I cricket, overtakes Pakistan’s
Mohammed Rizwan
During a T20I between India and Hong Kong, Indian cricketer Virat Kohl became the player with the highest
average in the T20I format of cricket. He has scored 3,402 runs in T20Is at an average of 50.77. He has 31 half-
centuries in the format, with the best individual score of 94. He has a strike rate of 137.12.
• He has overtaken Pakistani batter Mohammed Rizwan, who has an average of 50.14 in 57 matches.
• They are followed by Devon Conway of New Zealand (average of 47.20 in 23 matches), star Pakistan
batter Babar Azam (average of 44.93 in 75 matches) and Indian batter Manish Pandey (average of
44.31 in 39 matches).
iv.Virat Kohli crosses 300 fours in T20I
Virat Kohli while playing his 100th T20I match against Pakistan broke a record of scoring 300 T20I fours.
Although, he is not the first one to reach that milestone as Paul Stirling of Ireland holds the record for 344 fours
while India’s skipper Rohit Sharma has struck 313 fours.
v.Rohit Sharma overtakes Virat Kohli to become India’s second most-successful T20I captain
Rohit Sharma has surpassed Virat Kohli as India’s second most successful captain in the T20I format after the
win against Hong Kong. He achieved the feat by winning his 31st T20I as the skipper of the team in his 37th
outing.
• Virat Kohli achieved 30 wins from his 50 matches as the India captain.
• The first one is Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni, who has helped India win 41 T20I matches under his
captaincy from 72 matches.
vi.Rohit Sharma becomes first player to score 3500 runs in T20I matches
India captain Rohit Sharma became the first player to score 3500 runs in T20I history. He achieved this feat
during a match against Hong kong.

vii.Virat Kohli breaks Rohit Sharma’s record of fastest to 3500 T20I runs
During a match between India and Afghanistan, Virat Kohli broke Rohit Sharma’s record by crossing 3500-run
mark in T20I by smashing his 71st century. With this, he became the only second batsman after Rohit Sharma
to go past 3500 T20I runs. During the match he remained unbeaten on 122* off 61 balls.
• Notably, Viraat Kohli achieved this in a record time. He is the fastest to strike 3500 T20I runs, taking
96 innings while Rohit Sharma completed this in 125 innings.
• His average is 51 while Rohit Sharma’s is 32.
viii.Ravindra Jadeja becomes India’s most successful Bowler in Asia Tournament History
Ravindra Jadeja becomes India’s most successful bowler or India’s highest wicket-taker in the history of the
Asia Cup tournament. He also accomplished this feat during a match against Hong Kong. He has 23
wickets across 6 Asia Cup tournaments held from 2010 to 2022.
• With this, he overtook former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who has 22 wickets.
ix.Rashid Khan becomes bowler with second-highest wickets in T20I
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the second-highest wicket-taker in the T20I format during
Afghanistan’s match against Sri Lanka. He now has 115 wickets in 68 T20Is.
• The leading wicket-taker in T20Is is Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (122), followed by
Rashid (115), Tim Southee of New Zealand (114), Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga (107) and New
Zealand’s Ish Sodhi (99).
x.Bhuvneshwar Kumar breaks record for taking most wickets for India against Pakistan in T20I
India’s fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke the record for taking most wickets for India against Pakistan in
T20I cricket history. Now, he has a tally of T20I wickets against Pakistan to nine. He is followed by
Hardik Pandya (7 wickets) and Irfan Pathan (6 wickets).
xi.Bhuvneshwar Kumar Becomes India’s most successful bowler in T20Is
He also became India’s most successful bowler in T20Is by overtaking Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 83 wickets.
Now, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has 84 wickets in T20Is.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar has done this in 77 matches while Yuzvendra Chahal has done in 66 games.
• Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 122 wickets.
xii.Indian Fast bowlers take all 10 wickets for India in a T20I match for the first time in history
During the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2022 match, Indian bowlers took all 10 wickets for India in a T20I innings
for the first time in the history of T20I matches for India.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar took four wickets, Hardik Pandya took three wickets, Arshdeep Singh took two
wickets and Avesh Khan picked one wicket.
Static Information:
i.India is the most successful team of Asia Cup with seven titles (six ODI and one T20I).
• India won the last edition (14th) of Asia Cup in 2018 in ODI format.
ii.Sri Lanka has played the most Asia Cups (14) followed by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have played 13
each.
iii.Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya made the most runs in the Asia Cup (1220).
iv.Sri Lanks’s Muttiah Muralitharan is the most wicket taker of Asia Cup (30).
v.Asia’s Cup’s first edition was also held in Sharjah, UAE in 1984, and it was won by India.
vi.Rohit Sharma is first Indian to feature in seven series of the tournament as he is featuring in all Asia Cup
editions since 2008.
New Zealand Cricketer Colin de Grandhomme Announces Retirement from International

Cricket
On 31st August 2022, New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme (36 years) announced his retirement
from international cricket.

About Colin de Grandhomme:
i.Colin de Grandhomme was born on 22nd July 1986 and is a
former Zimbabwean-born New Zealand international
cricketer.
ii.He began his career by playing for Manicaland in
Zimbabwe, and was a part of the Zimbabwe team at the 2003-
04 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.
• He debuted for New Zealand Cricket Team in
2012.
• From 2006 to 2018, he played for Auckland in
New Zealand domestic cricket and in 2017, he played in England for Warwickshire County Cricket
Club and also for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL).
• In May 2018, he signed for Northern Districts and played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018
and 2019 IPL seasons.
• In May 2021, he was signed by Hampshire for the T20 Blast and was drafted by Southern Brave for
the inaugural season of The Hundred.
Matches played:
i.He has played 29 Test matches with a score of 1432 runs at 38.70, including centuries against the West Indies
and South Africa, and 49 wickets at 32.95 including 6 for 41 on debut against Pakistan.
ii.He has also played 45 One-Day International Matches with the total score of 742 runs. iii.He has an
impressive record, particularly in the Test arena, which brought him 18 wins and also played a key role in the
BLACKCAPS inaugural ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 campaign, which ended with a victory over India
in the final at Southampton.
iv.He has also played in 41 T20Is, scored 505 runs at a strike-rate of 138.35 and took 12 wickets at 38.41.
Arjun Erigaisi wins 28th Abu Dhabi Masters Chess tournament 2022
Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi (India) won the 28th Abu Dhabi Masters Chess Tournament 2022. The tournament
was organised by Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games Federation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Arjun Erigaisi defeated David Anton Guijarro (Spain) in the ninth and final round with 7.5 points.
• He is currently India’s no. 3 and World’s no. 24tg in live ranking.
Key points:
i.In the 28th Dhabi, Masters Chess Tournament Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi won six matches and drew three
other games.
• He was awarded USD 15,000 for his victory in the chess tournament.
ii.He won against Deep Sengupta, Raunak Sadhwani, top-seed Wang Hao of China, Alexsandr Indjic, Rohit
Krishna, and David Anton Guijarro. He drew the matches against Evgeny Tomashevky, Jordan Van Forest, and
Ray Robson.
Erigaisi reaches career-best live world ranking of 24th, the third-best in India.
iii.Other Indians players including Nihal Sarin, S P Sethuraman, Karthikeyan Murali and Aryan Chopra, all GMs
and Aditya Samant, a FIDE Master, scored 6.5 points.
GM Aravindh Chithambaram wins 22nd Dubai Open chess tournament 2022; 7 Indian in Top
10
Indian Grandmaster (GM) Aravindh Chithambaram(22 years old) won the 22nd Dubai Open Chess
Tournament 2022 with 7.5 points from 9 rounds. Alexandr Predke(Russia), the top seed, finished runner-up
on 7 points after a five-way tie for the second spot.
• 7 Indians finished in the top 10 position with R Praggnanandhaa sharing second spot with five
others.

• The tournament, organised by Dubai Chess & Culture Club, was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(UAE) from 26 August 2022 to 5 September
2022.
Note:
i.The 2nd spot is shared by 5 players with 7 points:
Praggnanandhaa, Alexandr Predke, Abhijeet Gupta,
Jaykumar Sammed Shete, and S P Sethuraman.
ii.Arjun Erigaisi finished with 6.5 points to take 7th place
and GM Harsha Bharathakoti took the 10th place with 6.5
points.
About Aravindh Chithambaram:
• He won the Indian chess championships twice, in
2018 and 2019.
• He is India’s first National Triple Crown champion and is also the reigning National Rapid and Blitz
champion.
Highlights:
i.Aravindh Chithambaram and R Praggnanandhaa, settled for a draw in the ninth and final round, which
enabled Aravindh Chithambaram to finish with 7.5 points ahead of the rest of the field.
ii.R Praggnanandhaa took the third spot followed by Abhijeet Gupta, Sammed Jayakumar and SP Sethuraman.
About Dubai Open Chess Tournament:
The Dubai Open Chess Tournament is one of the biggest tournaments in the Middle East that attracts players
from all over the world, with a fund of USD 50,000.
• It was first held in 1999.
F1 Champion Max Verstappen extended his lead by winning Dutch Grand Prix 2022
Red Bull Driver Max Verstappen (Belgian, Dutch), won the Formula 1(F1) Heineken Dutch Grand Prix (GP)
2022 and made 4 straight wins for the 1st time in his F1 career. The Dutch Grand Prix 2022 took place
at Circuit Zandvoort, North Holland, Netherlands.
• 2022 Dutch GP marks his 10th win in 15 races
this season and extended his championship lead
to 109 points with seven races remaining.
The 2nd place was grabbed by George
Russell and Charles Leclerc finished
at 3rd place after a late safety car.
About Max Verstappen winning:
i.Verstappen, a 24-years-old Belgian-Dutch racing driver,
has achieved 30 victories and 17 pole positions. He started
his racing career at the age of 17 years.
ii.The 1st hat-trick of Verstappen’s racing career was at French Grand Prix 2021 and the grand slam at
the Austrian Grand Prix 2021. His 2nd grand slam was scored at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2022.
iii. The 2nd pit stop of Verstappen was on lap 48 with the virtual Safety Car. He also increased the point total
to 310 with his victory by passing Leclerc and Sergio Perez, whose points were 201.
iv.Verstappen beats a 7 time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, who ended up 4th at the flag which took
Hamilton to breaking point as the win slips away. Verstappen becomes a 2nd successive win for Red Bull in
his house race in front of 100,000 fans.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches mascot & anthem for 36th National Games in
Ahmedabad
On 4 September 2022, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah launched the mascot & anthem for 36th National
Games at Trans Stadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• The mascot is named as Saavaj which means lion’s cub in Gujarati. The Mascot represents India’s
cultural heritage while also giving a glimpse of a rapidly growing India.
• The anthem is based on the theme-Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. It encapsulated the philosophy of
Judega India, Jitega India, was rendered by Bollywood star singer Sukhwinder Singh.
i.The Union Home Minister also launched the official website of the national
games www.nationalgamesgujarat.in and the mobile App named NGGujarat at the curtain raiser ceremony in
Ahmedabad.
Key people:
The Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag
Thakur, Gujarat Minister for Sports, Harsh Sanghavi IOA (Indian Olympic Association) secretary general Rajeev
Mehta were present at the curtain raiser event.
Highlights of the event:
i.The event also witnessed the closing of 11th Khel Mahakumbh 2022.
ii.The winners of the Khel Mahakumbh, including the top 3 schools, districts and municipal corporations of
Gujarat, were felicitated.
• Four Parathletics from Gujarat were also felicitated with Khel Pratibha awards on the occasion.
Note-
The 36th National Games will be organised between 29th September 2022 to12th October 2022 at six cities in
Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. New Delhi will additionally
host the track cycling event.
• The theme of 36th National Games-’’Celebrating Unity Through Sports’’
• Events across 36 disciplines that include most traditional Olympic sports are expected to take part
and Indigenous sports like mallakhamb and yogasana will also feature in the National Games for the
first time.
• The 35th National Games were held in Kerala in 2015.
World Wrestling Championships 2022: India’s Bajrang Punia & Vinesh Phogat Won Bronze
Medals
17th edition of the World Wrestling Championships or World Wrestling Championships 2022 was held in
Belgrade, Serbia from September 10 to 18, 2022. The
United States of America(USA) lead the table with 15
medals followed by Japan (2nd place) and Turkey (3rd
place). India is ranked 24th with 2 medals.
Bajrang Punia Wins bronze at 2022 World Wrestling
Championships
India’s Bajrang Punia (Haryana) has won the men’s 65 kg
Freestyle bronze medal by defeating Sebastian Rivera of
Puerto Rico in the World Wrestling Championships 2022.
• This is his 4th championship medal in the World
Wrestling championship edition. Previously he has
won a silver in 2018, a bronze in 2013 and 2019.
• He is the only wrestler from India to have 4 medals in the World Wrestling Championships.

About Bajrang Punia:
i.The 28-year-old Bajrang Punia had won 2 Gold medals in 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2014 Asian Games
and a bronze medal in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
ii.He is the first Indian wrestler to be ranked world No. 1 in any category.
Vinesh Phogat Wins her 2nd World Wrestling Championships Medal
Vinesh Phogat (Haryana), a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games 2022, defeated Swedish champion
Emma Malmgren to win the women’s 53 kg Freestyle bronze medal.
• This is her 2nd bronze medal at the Wrestling World Championships.
About Vinesh Phogat:
i.Vinesh Phogat became the 1st Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both Commonwealth and Asian Games.
ii.She has won 3 Commonwealth Games golds in 2014, 2018 and 2022, 1 Asian Games gold medal in 2018 and
World Championships bronze in 2019 in addition to Asian championship in 2021.
iii.Awards –The Government of India (GoI) has honoured Vinesh Phogat with the Arjuna Award in 2016 and
the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2020.
• Phogat became the first Indian athlete to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards in 2019
Durand Cup 2022: Bengaluru FC Beats Mumbai City FC and won the 1st ever Durand Cup
Bengaluru Football Club(BFC) and its captain Sunil Chhetri won their 1st ever Durand Cup by defeating
Mumbai City FC (MCFC) in the Durand Cup 2022 held in Salt Lake Stadium or Vivekananda Yuba Bharati
Krirangan stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Durand Cup 2022 is the 131st edition of the Durand Cup, which is the first edition played after
recognition from the Asian Football Confederation.
• Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and World’s third oldest football tournament.
• 2022 Durand Cup was sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Key Points:
i.The tournament took place across 3 states – West Bengal, Manipur and Assam from August 16, 2022 to
September 18, 2022.
ii.A total of 20 teams were part of this edition of the competition (11 Indian Super League (ISL) teams, five I-
League teams and four teams from the Indian Armed Forces.
• For the first time in history, all 11 teams from the ISL took part in the Durand Cup 2022.
Highlights:
i.Sivasakthi Narayanan and Brazilian Alan Costa scored for Bengaluru FC and Lalengmawia Ralte got the lone
goal for Mumbai City.
ii.It was Bengaluru’s maiden title in the Durand Cup.
About Durand Cup:
i.The Durand Football Tournament, commonly known as Durand Cup, is an annual football competition,
founded by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, former Foreign Secretary of British India
ii.The winning team is presented with 3 trophies Durand Cup (the original tournament trophy), Shimla Trophy
(donated by the residents of Shimla) and President’s Cup (rewarded from the post-independence era).
iii.It is hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Note – The 1st edition was held in 1888 in Shimla and won by Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Former Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim retires from T20I cricket

On 4th September 2022, Mushfiqur Rahim(35 years old), former captain and vice-captain of Bangladesh
National Cricket Team announced his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) cricket.
• He will continue to represent Bangladesh in Test and One Day International (ODI) formats.
About Mushfiqur Rahim:
i.Mushfiqur Rahim is a Bangladeshi Cricketer (wicketkeeper-batter) hailing from Bogra, Bangladesh.
• He is the first and only Bangladeshi batsman to score three double-hundreds in Tests.

• He is the highest scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket.
ii.He is the first and only wicketkeeper-batsman in the history of Test cricket to score two double-hundreds.
iii.Mushfiqur Rahim is the only Bangladeshi player to win 150 international matches.
iv.He played in 102 Twenty20 matches for Bangladesh and scored 1,500 runs at 19.48. He captained for 23 of
those matches, leading Bangladesh to eight wins.
v.Mushfiqur Rahim would continue to take part in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and other Twenty20
franchise tournaments. He is the second senior Bangladeshi cricketer to retire from Twenty20s Internationals
in recent months after Tamim Iqbal.
vi.He has played for the Longest career (15y 277d) in Men’s Twenty20 Internationals, he is followed by Shakib
Al Hasan (Playing) of Bangladesh (15y 277d) and Dinesh Karthik (Playing) of India (15y 273d)
Mastercard acquires Title Sponsorship Rights for all BCCI International and Domestic Matches
On 5th September 2022, Mastercard announced its collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI), under which Mastercard will be the Title Sponsor for all international and domestic cricket matches of
the BCCI to be held in India.
• Mastercard will hold the sponsorship rights for the 2022-23 season.
• Mastercard replaced Paytm after the digital payments company reportedly backed out of its deal
with the Indian cricket board.
Key points:
i.Under the collaboration, Mastercard will work as the Title Sponsor for all international matches (both women
and men) held on home ground, domestic cricket matches like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy
organized by the BCCI as also all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches held in India.
ii.This partnership aims to enhance Mastercard’s connect with cricket lovers across India and beyond.
additional info:
i.Other international events sponsored by Mastercard are: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
Champions League, the Grammys, the Cannes Film Festival and the Australian and French Open tennis
tournaments.
ii.In 2018, Mastercard appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MSD), the former Indian cricket captain, as its brand
ambassador.
About Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI):
The BCCI is the governing body for cricket in India.
President- Sourav Ganguly
Founded- 1928
Badminton: Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto won Men’s Singles at Japan Open 2022; Japan’s Akane
Yamaguchi won Women’s Singles
Japanese badminton players, Kenta Nishimoto and Akane Yamaguchi won the men’s singles and women’s
singles titles at the Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open 2022, HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.
• The tournament was organised at Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan, from 30 August to 4
September 2022 with a total prize money of USD 750,000.
Highlights:
i.World no. 21, Kenta Nishimoto defeated World no. 6 Chou Tien-Chen (Taiwan) by 21-19, 21-23, 21-17 to
finally claim his first international title, having lost in his previous six final appearances.
ii.Two-time world champion World No 1. Akane Yamaguchi defeated An Se-Young (South Korea) by 21-9, 21-
15 in the women’s final to win her third women’s singles title at the Japan Open badminton.
iii.In Women’s Doubles, South Korea’s Jeong Na-Eun and Kim Hye-Jeong beat their compatriots Baek Ha-Na
and Lee Yu-Lim by 23-21, 28-26 to win the title.

iv.In Men’s Doubles, China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang defeated Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders
Skaarup Rasmussen by 21-18, 13-21, 21-17.
v.In Mixed Doubles, Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Japan’s Yuta
Watanabe and Arisa Higashino by 16-21, 23-21, 21-18.
About the tournament:
i.The 2022 Japan Open was the 16th tournament of the 2022 BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour
and also part of the Japan Open championships, which had been held since 1977.
ii.This tournament was organised by the Nippon Badminton Association with sanction from the BWF.
Suresh Raina announces retirement from Domestic Cricket & IPL

On 6th September 2022, Suresh Raina, a former Indian batsman announced his retirement from all forms of
cricket including the Indian Premier League (IPL) & Domestic Cricket. and prepared to play in overseas Twenty
20 (T20) leagues and the Road Safety Series around the world.
• He announced his international cricket
retirement on August 15, 2020, less than an hour
after MS Dhoni had announced his retirement.
About Suresh Raina’s Cricket Career:
i. Raina, the 35-year-old left-handed batsman, from Uttar
Pradesh started his career in 2000 as a cricketer and
became the 2nd youngest captain in India. He made his
debut in a One-Day Internationals (ODI) match against Sri
Lanka at Dambulla, Sri Lanka in 2005.
ii. He was the first Indian batsman to register centuries in
all 3 formats (Test matches, ODI and (T20I)Twenty20
Internationals ) of the game and was one of the best fielders.
iii. Overall games featured by Raina were in 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 T20Is for India in an international
career spanned 13 years. He piled up 5615 runs from 226 ODIs and 1605 runs from 78 T20Is. He was also a
part of the squad that won the 2011 World Cup (WC) and 2013 Champions Trophy in England and had not
played any first-class cricket, Since 2018.
iv. He retired with the scorecard of 6871 runs in 109 first-class matches, 80 runs in 302 list A games, and 8654
runs in 336 T20 matches.
v.He played 13 seasons of the IPL with scores of more than 5,000 runs and won four titles with Chennai Super
Kings(2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021).
vi.He played 11 seasons for Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2021, scoring 4687 runs in 176 matches.
vii.He led the now-defunct Gujarat Lions for 2 years (2016 and 2017) when Chennai Super Kings were
suspended. He played his last IPL in October 2021 against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates.
Awards and Recognition of Suresh Raina:
i. Raina got his “best fielder” award from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the finals of
IPL 2010.
ii. He received the prestigious award ‘Sports Icon’ at the Maldives Sports Awards 2022.
Note: He was nominated alongside 16 international sportspersons.
Anishka Biyani wins gold medal in Malaysian Chess Meet

Anishka Biyani, a 6-year-old Mumbai girl, won a gold medal in the Malaysian Age Group Rapid Chess
Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Anishka, a first-grade student achieved the feat in the Under-6
Open category (girl’s category) with a score of 4 points out of a possible six to clinch the title.

She was also qualified as one of the best Under-7 players in the All India FIDE (The International Chess
Federation) Rating Chess Tournament held in Yousufguda, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Badminton: Prannoy HS tops BWF World Tour Rankings; Anupama Upadhyaya tops under-19
BWF Junior rankings
30 years old Indian shuttler Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar (Prannoy HS) topped the latest (6th September
2022) Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Rankings in Men’s Singles category.
• HS Prannoy becomes World’s no 1 by overtaking the defending world champion Viktor Axelsen. He
accumulated 58,090 points in the tour, 2,500 points ahead of Viktor Axelsen.
17-year-old Anupama Upadhyaya has topped the latest (6th September 2022) BWF World Junior Ranking in
Women’s Singles category.
• She replaced fellow Indian Tasnim Mir from the top position.
• She becomes only the 2nd Indian Shuttler in the Under 19 girls category to claim the World no 1 position
in BWF Junior ranking.
• She is only the 6th Indian shuttler to top the junior rankings.
Diamond League Final: Neeraj Chopra Becomes First Indian to Win Diamond Trophy
Neeraj Chopra became the 1st Indian to win the Diamond League Finals Title, after winning the Men’s Javelin
event at the Zurich Diamond League Final 2022, Switzerland, with a best throw of 88.44m.
Key highlights:
i.Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won the second position with 86.94 m throw and Germany’s Julian Webber is
in the third position with 83.73m throw.
ii.Diamond League Award – He was awarded Diamond Trophy, USD 30,000 prize money and a wild card for
the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
About Neeraj Chopra:
i.His achievements – He has produced 88m – plus throws 6
times in the current season and holds a national record
89.94m.
• Neeraj Chopra has won the Olympic Gold in
2021, the Asian Games Gold in 2018, the
Commonwealth Games Gold in 2018, the World
Athletics Championships silver in 2022.
ii.This was his 3rd appearance in the Diamond League
Earlier he had competed at 7th position in 2017 and 4th in
2018.
Australia captain Aaron James Finch Announces Retirement from ODI Cricket
Australia’s One Day International (ODI) and Twenty 20 International(T20I) Captain Aaron James Finch (35-
year-old – Right Hand Batsman), who hails from Victoria, Australia, announced his retirement from ODI cricket
to concentrate on Shorter formats of cricket. The retirement comes straight after white-washing New Zealand
Cricket team in the ODI (3-0).
He has a record of 17 centuries in ODI cricket for Australia men, which puts him in 4th place just behind Ricky
Ponting (29), David Warner (18) and Mark Waugh (18) with a total of 5406 runs.
• He made his debut against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2013 and
represented Australia in the 146 ODIs.
• He will lead the team in the T20 World Cup which will be held in 2022 in Australia.

Max Verstappen Claims Fifth-Straight Victory by Winning Italian Grand Prix
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won the 2022 Italian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Pirelli
Gran Premio d’Italia 2022) held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Monza Circuit) in Monza, Italy.
• This marks the first Italian Grand Prix title of his career at the Monza circuit.
• This also marks his fifth GP title in a row and
his 11th win in 2022 season.
• Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished second
followed by George Russell of Mercedes
occupied third position.
About Italian Grand Prix 2022:
The 2022 Italian Grand Prix took place over 53 laps of
the 5.793-kilometre Autodromo Nazionale Monza on
Feature Race: Jehan Daruvala Becomes First Indian
to Win F2 Race
Red Bull-backed racer, Jehan Daruvala became the first Indian to win FIA Formula 2 (F2) feature race at the
Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Monza Circuit) in Monza, Italy.
• This is his 4th win in the Formula 2 race and 1st win of this season.
• It was also his 6th top-three finish at Monza
• He has moved to fifth in the F2 season with 126 points.
About Formula 2 (F2) Championship:
i.The FIA Formula 2 Championship that was introduced in 2017, is a second-tier single-seater championship
organised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
ii.The 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship is the 56th season of the formula 2 racing and 6th season of FIA
Formula 2 Championship.
Rahul Sharma announces retirement from Int’l and first-class cricket

Indian cricketer Rahul Sharma (35 year old) announced his retirement from all international and first class
cricket. He represented India in four One Day Internationals (ODI) and two T20Is (Twenty20 International).
• Rahul Sharma played a total of 44 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 40 wickets
towards his name.
• He made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut with Deccan Chargers (now Sunrisers Hyderabad)
in 2010, then represented the now defunct Pune Warriors in 2013 before moving on to play for
Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2014.
• He will take part in the upcoming Road Safety World Series for Indian Maharajas, which will start
from 10 September to 2 October in Lucknow, Jodhpur, Cuttack and Hyderabad.The second season of
the tournament features retired cricketers.
The 1st ever Mountain Bicycle, UCI MTB Eliminator World Cup 2022 held in India
Ladakh Police in collaboration with the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh and Cycling Association of
India organized the first ever Mountain Bicycle (MTB) World Cup- UCI MTB Eliminator World Cup
2022 in Leh, Ladakh. The event took place at the height of over 12 thousand feet to sea level. Twenty
international, 55 national and local cyclists participated in this world cup competition.
• Ladakh Police is hosting the event, while the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) and Edify Sports are
the official partners.
• Winner of Women Elite Category- Cross- Country eliminator- Marion Fromberger (Germany) and
Winner of Men Elite Category- Cross- Country eliminator- Felix Klausmann(Germany).

• Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup is a Cross Country
Eliminator (XCE) type track race. The racers must complete two laps of the 500-meter short track,
which has both natural and man-made obstacles. Four racers will be competing at once. It’s a true
display of strength, speed, agility, grit, and determination.
• The Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, SS Khandare flagged off
various raids that are part of world cup eliminator.
• Ladakh Advisor Umang Narula and Ladakh Additional Director General of Police SS Khandare
felicitated medals to the top three winners in both categories.
Carlos Alcaraz Wins His First US Open-2022 Title and Secures ATP World No.1 Ranking
The Spanish teen Carlos Alcaraz Garcia defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 in
the 142nd edition of US Open Championship-2022, Men’s singles final to claim his maiden Grand Slam (GS)
title. Alcaraz also became World number 1 in The
Pepperstone Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
world rankings.
• The finals took place in the Arthur Ashe Stadium
(Hard Court), New York City, New York, United
States, from 29th August 2022 to 11th
September 2022.
• Iga Świątek of Poland has defeated
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur to win the women’s
singles category.
• The total prize money for the 2022 US Open is
USD 60.1 million. Both men’s singles and
women’s singles will be rewarded with USD 2.6 million each.
Winners of US Open 2022:
Category Winner Runner
Men’s Singles Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Casper Ruud (Norway)
Women’s Singles Iga Świątek (Poland) Ons Jabeur (Tunisia)
Rajeev Ram (United States) Wesley Koolhof (Dutch)
Men’s Doubles Joe Salisbury (Britain) Neal Skupski (Britain)
Barbora Krejcikova (Czechia) Caty McNally (United States)
Women’s Doubles Katerina Siniakova (Czechia) Taylor Townsend (United States)
Storm Sanders (Australia) Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium)
Mixed Doubles John Peers (Australia) Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France)
Men’s Singles:
Carlos defeated Casper Ruud in the men’s singles finals and marked his name in the record books as the
youngest world number 1 in the history of men’s tennis since the ATP rankings began in 1973. He dethroned
Daniil Medvedev of Russia to become world no.1.
i.He is the youngest Grand Slam men’s champion since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open, and the youngest
US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990.
Women’s Singles:
Iga Swiatek (WTA – Women’s Tennis Association’s World No.1) has defeated Ons Jabeur to win her 1st U.S.
Open championship and 3rd Grand Slam title overall.
i.She is the 1st top-seeded woman to win the U.S. Open since 23-time major champion Serena Williams in 2014.
ii.She is also the 1st woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to collect two major titles in a single season.
iii.Ons Jabeur (WTA World No.2) becomes the first African and Arab woman ever to reach a US Open final.

Men’s doubles:
America’s Rajeev Ram and Britain’s Joe Salisbury became the second pair to retain the US Open Men’s
doubles title by defeating the duo Wesley Koolhof (Dutch) and Neal Skupski (Britain).
i.Toddwoodbridge and Mark Woodforde were the first pair to retain the US Open Men’s doubles title in 1995-
96.
Women’s doubles:
Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova have won the women’s doubles title at the 2022 US
Open. This is their 1st US Open title, where they defeated Caty McNally andTaylor Townsend.
i.Also they have completed the set with 6 GS titles for the year by winning two Roland Garros titles (2018 and
2021), two Wimbledon titles (2018 and 2022) and an Australian Open title (2022) along with US Open title
(2022).
Mixed doubles:
Storm Sanders and John Peers defeated the duo of Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens and France’s Edouard Roger-
Vasselin in the mixed doubles finals.
i.With this they have become the 1st Australian duo in 21 years to claim the US Open mixed doubles title in 21
years.
Serena Williams Retires:-
• An American women tennis player Serena Williams announced her retirement from Tennis after the
2022 US Open, one of the four major tennis championships.
• She was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association(WTA) for 319 weeks,
including a joint-record 186 consecutive weeks.
• She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles in her career.
Facts about US Open 2022 – Youngest and the Oldest Champion in the Open Era:
i.US Open is the 1st Grand Slam to award equal prize money to men’s and women’s singles champion
• Pete Sampras (1990), at the age of 19 years and 28 days became the youngest Men’s Singles
Champion.
• Tracy Austin (1979) became the youngest Women’s Singles Champion at the age of 16 years, 8
months and 28 days
• Ken Rosewall (1970) became the oldest Men’s Singles Champion at the age of 35 years, 10 months
and 11 days
• Flavia Pennetta (2015) became the oldest Women’s Singles Champion at the age of 33 years, 6
months and 18 days.
• Roger Federer has won the maximum number of US Open titles in the men’s singles category, ie. 5
titles.
• Chris Evert, Serena Williams are among the women who have won the maximum number of US
Open titles, 6 in the women’s singles category.
Note
• Althea Gibson became the 1st African-American to compete at the US Open in 1950.
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Recently Related News:
The 135th edition of the oldest Tennis Grand Slam event “The Wimbledon Championships (Wimbledon) 2022”
held in London, United Kingdom (UK). Novak Djokovic (Serbia) won the 2022 Gentlemen’s Singles Title against

Nick Kyrgios (Australia) which took place in Center court.This was Novak Djokovic’s 7th Wimbledon title and
his 4th straight Wimbledon men’s singles title.
• Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) won the 2022 women’s singles Wimbledon title,claiming her first
grand slam title and the first for Kazakhstan. She defeated Ons Jabeur (Tunisia).
About The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP):
Chairman – Andrea Gaudenzi
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
Robin Uthappa Announces Retirement from All Forms of Indian Cricket

On 14th September 2022, Indian cricketer Robin Venu Uthappa(hailing from Karnataka), a part of the Indian
cricket team that won the Inaugural Edition of 2007 Twenty20 International T20I World Cup, held at South
Africa, announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket.
• He last played for India in 2015 against
Zimbabwe.
Key highlights:
i.He was part of India’s 2004 Under-19 World Cup
team. He made his international debut in 2006 and
featured in 46 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 13
T20Is for India.
ii.He has scored 934 runs in ODIs and 249 runs in T20Is
and also has 9446 first class and 6534 List A runs under
his belt.
iii.He has won two Indian Premier League (IPL)
trophies for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014 and for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2021.
iv.He was the 2014 IPL’s leading run-scorer with a tally of 660 runs and won the Orange Cap too (Batting and
Scoring 660 runs).
v.Playing in the Karnataka team, he had also won the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Cup and the Vijay Hazare Trophy
in the 2013-14 season.
Australia’s Vice Captain Rachael Haynes announces retirement from all forms of Cricket
On 15th September 2022, Rachael Haynes, Australian women’s team cricketer & Vice-Captain announced her
retirement from International cricket and State cricket.
• Rachael Haynes made her debut back in 2009 and represented her Country in 6 Tests, 77 One Day
Internationals (ODIs), and 84 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and won ODI World Cups and three
T20 World Cups with the team.
• She is retiring after 167 matches and 3818 international runs to her name.
• She’s a 2-time World Cup champion (WCC), 4-time T20 WCC, 4-time Ashes winner, 7-time Women’s
National Cricket League (WNCL) winner and 2-time Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) champion.
India beat Nepal 4-0 to win 2022 SAFF U-17 Championship Title in Sri Lanka
On 14 September 2022, India clinched the 2022 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) under-17 (U-17)
Championship title after defeating Nepal by 4-0 score in the final match in Race Course International Stadium,
Colombo in Sri Lanka. India emerged as the champion for the fourth time (2013, 2017, 2019).
• The 2022 SAFF U-17 Championship was the 7th edition of the SAFF U-15/U-16 Championship. The
Tournament organised by SAFF took place from September 5 to 14, 2022 in Sri Lanka.
• India’s captain Vanlalpeka Guite was named as the ‘Most Valuable Player of the Tournament’. India’s
goalkeeper Sahil won the ‘Best Goalkeeper awards’.

• Boby Singh, Korou Singh, Vanlalpeka Guite, and Aman emerged as scorers for India, as they put forth
a dominant win against Nepal.
Bengaluru’s Pranav Anand becomes India’s 76th Chess Grandmaster

15-year-old, Pranav Anand from Bengaluru, Karnataka became India’s 76th Chess GrandMaster (GM) after
winning against International Master (IM) Emin Ohanyan of Armenia in Round 10 of the World Youth Under-16
Open.He received the title after he crossed the 2,500 Elo points in the World Youth Chess Championship in
Mamaia, Romania.
Note – India’s 76th GM, Pranav Venkatesh became
India’s 75th Grandmaster.
Key Highlights:
i.In order to qualify for the GM title, a player must secure
3 GM norms covering 27 games and cross the live rating
of 2,500 Elo points.
ii.Pranav Anand needs to cross the live rating of 2,500
which he did in the penultimate round of the World
Youth Under-16 Open 2022.
iii. In July, he scored the 3rd and final GM norm at the
55th Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland.
vi.He has drawn his game against Spain’s No.5 GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli (2619) in the penultimate round.
Note: The Elo rating system measures the relative strength of a player in some games, such as chess, compared
to other players.
About GrandMaster (GM):
i.GrandMaster is the highest title apart from World Champion awarded to Chess players International Chess
Federation FIDE.
ii.India’s 1st Chess GrandMaster was won by Viswanathan Anand at the age of 14 in 1988.
Winner of 20 Grand Slams, Swiss Player Roger Federer announces Retirement from
Professional Tennis
A Professional Tennis Player from Switzerland, Roger Federer has announced his retirement from the ATP
(Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour and Grand Slams at the age of 41.
• The 5th Laver Cup 2022 from September
23-25 that will be held at The O2 in London,
United Kingdom (UK) will be his final
appearance on the ATP circuit.
• The key reason behind his retirement was a
series of injuries.
Key Achievements of Roger Federer:
i.He played a total matches of 1,526, and won 1,251,
2nd in the Open Era behind United States’ (US) Jimmy
Connors (1274)
ii.He has won 20 Grand Slam victories, and finished 5
seasons ranked No.1. His victories include- the Australian Open six times, the French Open once, the US Open
five times, and Wimbledon, a record eight times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017).
iii.His 20 Grand Slam titles are 3rd highest behind Spain’s Rafael Nadal (22), and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (21).
iv.He also won the most Grand Slams Men’s singles main matches (369) in the Open Era.
v.He is a winner of 103 ATP titles, the second most in the Open era behind only Jimmy Connors (109).

vi.He holds the record of becoming the oldest ever world No. 1 at age 36 years, 320 days and remaining at the
top of the rankings for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
• He is also the oldest men’s player to win Wimbledon in 2017 at the age of 35 years, 342 days.
vii.He is the only player to reach the finals of 4 slams in a season thrice (2006, 2007, 2009).
viii.He is the only men’s player to win at least 10 titles on clay, grass, and hard courts.
Indian Chess Players Win Titles at World Youth Chess Championship in Romania
India’s Pranav Anand (Karnataka) won the Under-16(Open) title and A R Ilamparthi (Tamil Nadu) won
the Under 14 (Open) title at the World Youth Chess Championship 2022 held in Mamaia, România.
• The tournament was organised by Romanian
Chess Federation & Fédération Internationale
des Échecs (FIDE).
Key highlights:
i.The 76th Grandmaster, Pranav Anand scored 9 points
from 11 rounds to emerge as winner by beating
Augustin Droin of France.
ii.In the under-14 category, A R Ilamparthi won the
championship by scoring 9.5 points from 11 rounds.
iii.Among the girls, Mrittika Mallick finished 4th in the
girls Under-14 category with 8 points for 11; Anupam
M Sreekumar secured 7th and H G Pragnya finished at 8th place.
iv.In the girls Under-18 event, S Kanishka secured 6th place with 7.5 points and Rakshitta ravi finished 8th.
Positions of the Indian Players:
Category Winners Points out of 11 Position
A. R. Ilamparthi 9.5 points 1
Mrittika Mallick 8 points 4
Anupam M. Sreekumar 8 points 7
Under – 14 (Open) H. G. Pragnya 7.5 points 8
Pranav Anand 9 points 1
Under-16 (Open) M. Pranesh 8 points 5
S. Kanishka 7.5 points 6
Under-18 (Open) Rakshitta Ravi 7.5 points 8
Bangladesh won their maiden SAFF title at SAFF Women’s Championship 2022
Bangladesh won their first South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) title at SAFF Women’s Championship
2022 defeating Nepal (3–1). The tournament held from 6th to 19th September 2022 at Dashrath Rangshala
Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship was the 6th edition of this championship.
• this marks Bangladesh’s 1st ever win over Nepal in SAFF Women’s Championship.
• Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun won the Player of the Tournament award(Most Valuable
Player). She also won the highest goalscorer award with 8 goals.
• Bangladesh goalkeeper Rupna Chakma won the Best Goalkeeper award and the Bangladesh team
won the ‘Fair Play Award’.

Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain Retires From Test Cricket
Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Rubel Hossain announced his retirement from Test cricket on 19
September 2022. He will continue to play in One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I)
formats for Bangladesh along with Dhaka Premier League (DPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and other
white-ball tournaments.
• Mohammad Rubel Hossain was born 1 January 1990 in Bagerhat, Khulna, Bangladesh. He made his
Test debut for Bangladesh in 2009 and represented Bangladesh in 27 Tests over the span of 13
years.
• He has the highest bowling average of any pacer who has bowled at least 2,000 deliveries in Test
cricket.
• He holds the record of the fastest bowled delivery (149.5kph) by a Bangladeshi cricketer and he also
innovated a technique of bowled delivery named ‘Butterfly’.
ICC announces changes in Cricket Rules: Saliva ban made permanent

On 20 September 2022, International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a lot of changes to its ‘playing
conditions’ with an effect from October 2022, which means the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in
Australia will enforce the news rules.
• ICC has announced its Playing Conditions in Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)’s updated 3rd Edition
of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket after the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) approved
recommendations from Sourav Ganguly, Chairman of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee.
• The recommendations also discussed with Clare Connor, Chairman of the ICC Women’s Cricket
Committee to implement in Women’s Team.
The Main Changes to the Playing Conditions are:
i.Batters returning when caught: When a batter is out Caught, the new batter will come in at the end the
striker was, regardless of whether the batters crossed prior to the catch being taken.
• Previously, in case the batters crossed before a catch was taken, the non-striker would take strike
the next ball while the new batter would be at the non-striker’s end.
ii.Use of saliva to polish the ball: This prohibition has
been implemented already for over two years in
international cricket as a Covid-related temporary
measure and it is considered appropriate for the ban to
be made permanent.
iii.Incoming batter ready to face the ball : An
incoming batter should be ready to take the strike
within 2 minutes in Tests and One Day International
(ODIs), while the current timing of 90 seconds in
Twenty20 International (T20Is) remains unchanged.
• Previously, the incoming batter had three
minutes to take strike in ODIs and Tests but it has now been reduced. Failing to do so, the fielding
captain can appeal for timed out.
iv.Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery: Previously, a bowler who saw the batter
advancing down the wicket before entering their delivery stride, could throw the ball to attempt to Run out the
striker. This practice will now be called a Dead ball.
v.Striker’s right to play the ball :This is restricted so as to require some part of their bat or person to remain
within the pitch. Should they venture beyond that, the umpire will call and signal Dead ball. Any ball which
would force the batter to leave the pitch will also be called No ball.
vi.Unfair movement by the fielding side: Any unfair and deliberate movement while the bowler is running in
to bowl could now result in the umpire awarding five penalty runs to the batting side, in addition to a call of
Dead ball.

vii.Running out of the non-striker: The Playing Conditions follow the Laws in moving this method of effecting
a Run out from the ‘Unfair Play’ section to the ‘Run out’ section.
• Previously looked down as unfair play, running out a non-striker for backing up too much will now
be considered as a regular run-out.
Click here for the details of the new rules
Other Major Decisions:
i. In January 2022, the in-match penalty introduced in T20Is will also be adopted in ODI matches after the
completion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in 2023.
• In-match penalty for slow over rate: What is it? – If the bowling team fails to bowl the first ball of
the final over of their innings within the stipulated time, they will lose one fielder from outside of the
30-yard circle for the remainder of the innings.
ii. ICC decided that the playing conditions for all men’s and women’s ODI and T20I matches will be amended to
allow hybrid pitches to be used if agreed by both teams.
iii. Currently, hybrid pitches can only be used in women’s T20I matches.
About International Cricket Council (ICC) :-
• Chairman – Greg Barclay
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Geoff Allardice
• Established in -1909
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami announced retirement from international cricket

On 25th September 2022, Indian cricketer Jhulan Nishit Goswami, the bowling legend of Indian Women’s
cricket team, announced her retirement from international cricket. The Indian Women’s Cricket Team’s
3rd One Day International (ODI) against England at Lords stadium, England in September 2022 was her
last international match.
About Jhulan Nishit Goswami:
i.Jhulan Nishit Goswami was born 25 November 1982,
Nadia, West Bengal. She is famously known as ‘Babul’.
ii.She made her debut against England in 2002.
iii.She represented India in 12 Tests, 204 ODI and 68
T20Is (Twenty20 Internationals) picking 355 wickets.
iv.She served as the Captain of Indian Women’s Cricket
Team (2008–2011)
Records:
i.Jhulan Goswami is the only female cricketer to bowl the
most number of balls in her career (10005) Women’s
ODI.
ii.She holds the record for taking most wickets in ODI career (255), which includes bowled, caught by
wicket-keeper and Leg-Before Wicket (LBW).
iii.She is the youngest player to take 10 wickets in a test match (23y 277d – against England)
iv.Mithali Raj and Goswami are the only women to feature in 200-plus ODIs, having played 232 and 204
matches respectively.
v.43 Wickets for Jhulan Goswami in the women’s ODI World Cups, the most by any bowler in the
competition. All 43 wickets have been of different batters.
Awards:
• 2007 – ICC (International Cricket Council) Women’s Cricketer of the Year
• 2010 – Arjuna Award for cricket
• 2012 – Padma Shri for Sports (Cricket)

India will host the maiden Moto GP race in 2023
India will be hosting a maiden MotoGP (Grand Prix motorcycle racing) World Championships race, named the
‘Grand Prix of Bharat’ at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh in the following year
(2023).
• On 21st September 2022, MotoGP commercial rights owner Dorna signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Noida-based race promoters Fairstreet Sports to host the premier 2-
wheel racing event in India for the next 7 years.
• Riders from 19 countries will participate in the event.
• The Buddh International Circuit was once home to the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix, held for 3
consecutive years from 2011 to 2013 before it was discontinued due to financial, tax and
bureaucratic hurdles.
The Oval, Lord’s will Host Next Two ICC World Test Championship Finals in 2023 & 2025
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final will be
hosted by The Oval, London, England in June 2023 and the 2025 edition of WTC Final will be played at Lord’s,
London.
• The two venues in London will succeed Southampton (England), which hosted the inaugural final
between New Zealand and India in ICC WTC 2021.
• Australia and South Africa will also clash against each other in a three-match series in the current
cycle in December 2022-January 2023.
• Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan round up the top five in the rankings.
• The Lord’s earlier hosted several high profile ICC matches, including the2019 ICC Men’s Cricket
World Cup final.
Anil Khanna resigns as Indian Olympic Association Acting President

The former head of All India Tennis Association (AITA), Anil Khanna resigned as the acting/interim President
of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
• In June 2022, He took charge as the acting President of IOA after the Delhi High Court ruling ended
Narinder Dhruv Batra’s reign as President of IOA.
• IOA is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India.
• It is an affiliated member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Commonwealth Games
Federation (CGF), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Association of National Olympic Committee
(ANOC).
Cricket: West Zone won the 2022 Duleep Trophy against South Zone
The West zone has defeated the South zone by 294 runs to win their 19th title in the final day of 2022 Duleep
Trophy at the SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu that was held from 8th September 2022 to
• The 2022 Duleep trophy was the 59th season
of the Duleep Trophy.
• Ajinkya Rahane was the Captain of West
Zone and South Zone was led by Hanuma
Vihari.
Key points:
Jaydev Unadkat of West zone became the player of
the series, Yashasvi Jaiswal of West zone won
the Player of the Match for his match-winning scores
1& 265.

About Duleep Trophy:
i.Duleep Trophy is also known as Mastercard Duleep trophy for its sponsorship and it is also the first-
class cricket tournament in India.
• It is named after Duleepsinhji of Nawanagar, who is also known as Duleep.
ii.The competition was originally contested by teams representing geographical zones of India. But from 2016,
the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) selected the teams for the trophy.
iii.The scheduled matches will be played in Chennai, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Salem.
iv.West zone was earlier tied with North Zone with 18 titles.
OBITUARY
Former Soviet Union President & Nobel Peace Prize Winner Mikhail Gorbachev Passed Away
On August 30, 2022, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union (President), died at the
age of 91 in Moscow, Russia.
• Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Prize
for Peace in 1990 for putting an end to the
cold war without any bloodshed in the
Soviet Union.
About Mikhail Gorbachev:
i.Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931, in
Krasnogvardeysky District, Stavropol territory(Now in
Russia).
ii.He became a Soviet official, General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) Central
Committee (at the age of 54)from 1985 to 1991.
iii. He served as the President of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991.
iv.His work on democratising and decentralising the economy of his country led to the downfall
of Communism and the disband of the Soviet Union in 1991 and he resigned on December 25, 1991.
v.After his presidential term, he launched the Gorbachev foundation and became a vocal critic of Russian
Presidents (Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin) and campaigned for Russia’s social-democratic movement.
Carnatic vocalist T.V. Sankaranarayanan passes away

Renowned Carnatic singer and the recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, Tiruvalangadu Vembu Iyer
Sankaranarayanan (T. V. Sankaranarayanan)
passed away at the age of 77 years.
About Tiruvalangadu Vembu Iyer
Sankaranarayanan:
i.He was born on 7 March 1945 in Mayiladuthurai,
Madras Presidency, British India (present day
Chennai, Tamil Nadu).
ii.He was an Indian Carnatic vocalist (South Indian
classical singer), known for his music that stems
from the style of his guru, Madurai Mani Iyer.
Awards:
• Sangita Kalanidhi by the Madras Music
Academy in 2003.
• Padma Bhushan in 2003 in the field of arts for his contributions to Carnatic music.
• Sangeetha Kalasikhamani by The Indian Fine Arts Society in 2005.

• Vidhya Tapasvi by TAPAS Cultural Foundation in 2012.
Renowned Historian and Scholar Sheik Ali Saheb passed away

The 98-year-old Prof B Sheik Ali Saheb passed away on 1 September 2022 after a brief illness. He was a
renowned Historian and former Vice-chancellor of Goa and Mangaluru universities.
i.He was a well-known authority on Mysuru rulers (Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan) and authored more than 30
books and edited others on various aspects of history.
ii.Sheik Ali has gone through the documents in the Persian language and carried out extensive research on
Tipu. Major of his research work was related to the period of Mysuru rulers.
iii.He was the recipient of the following awards:
• Golden Jubilee Award of Mysore University
• Rajyotsava award
• Mythical Society of India Award
• Maulana Jauhar Award
Cyrus Mistry, ex-chairman of Tata Sons passes away

Cyrus Mistry, the 54-year-old former chairman of Tata Sons died in a road accident in Palghar district,
Maharashtra.
• The accident took place on a bridge over
the Surya river at Charoti in Palghar.
About Cyrus Pallonji Mistry:
i.Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, an Indian-born Irish
businessman, was born on 4 July 1968, in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
ii.Cyrus became the 6th and youngest chairman of
Tata Sons in 2012, succeeding Ratan Tata.
• He served as the chairperson of Tata Sons
from 2012 to 2016.
• He was ousted from the position in
October 2016.
iii.He was only the second chairman after Nowroji Saklatwala(led Tata Sons from 1932 to 1938) who did not
bear the Tata surname.
iv.As he held Irish passport, he was the 1st non-Indian to lead Tata Group.
• He served as the Managing Director of the family-run Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
v.He was a member of the National Integration Council.
Bhojpuri folk dance exponent Padma Shri awardee Ramchandra Manjhi passes away
On 7th September 2022, Padma Shri awardee Ramchandra Manjhi, renowned Bhojpuri folk dancer(well known
for Launda Naach) and theatre artist passed away in Patna, Bihar. Manjhi was the one who gave international
recognition to ‘Launda Naach’.
Note: ‘Launda Naach’- folk dance (men crossdress as women) of the Bhojpuri speaking Community of India,
Nepal, Mauritius and the Caribbean Islands.
About Ramchandra Manjhi:
i.Ramchandra Manjhi was born in Saran District, Bihar stepped on to the drama troupe of famous Bhojpuri
artist Bhikhari Thakur at age 10.
ii.He was an associate of Bhikhari Thakur(folk artist and poet) and a member of the Naach troupe for 30
years. Thakur was nicknamed “Shakespeare of Bhojpuri”.
iii. He has been performing Launda Naach for 84 years. He also practised dance styles such as Natua Naach,

Dhobiya Naach, and many others, and music styles such as Ghazal, Bhajan, Dadra and many others.
iv.He was presently associated with the (Saran-based) Bhikhari Thakur Repertory Training & Research Centre,
a troupe run by Dr Jainendra Dost (a renowned artist & filmmaker).
Awards:
i.In 2017, He won the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, for his contribution to the Folk Music of Bihar
(felicitation happened in 2019).
ii.In 2021, he was honoured with the Padma Shri award in the Arts field.
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest-Serving Monarch Passes away at 96; Prince Charles Becomes the
King
On 8th September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s (UKs) or Britain’s longest-serving monarch,
passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at 96 years after reigning for 70 years.
• Elizabeth II became Queen on the death of her
father King George VI on 6th February 1952.
• Her reign of 70 years was 7 years longer than
that of Queen Victoria and thus she became the
longest reigning queen of the UK.
Queen’s Life:
i.She worked to rebuild Britain that lost its empire in the
war and transformed from industrial powerhouse to
uncertain 21st century society.
ii.She headed the 54-nation Commonwealth, built
around Britain and its former colonies.
iii.She has appointed 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss over her reign.
iv.Lastly, she presided at a ceremony at Balmoral Castle to accept the resignation of Boris Johnson as prime
minister and appoint Truss as his successor in September 2022.
Funeral plan:
• The plan to deal with the death of the head of state in Britain was termed Operation London Bridge.
• The plan to deal with the Queen’s death in Scotland was codenamed “Operation Unicorn”, named after
the national animal of Scotland.
• These protocols are actually a detailed script for key logistical matters and procedures, including the
funeral procession.
Timeline:
i.In 1940, Elizabeth made her 1st public broadcast, when she was 14, as a Princess to children who evacuated
to the countryside or overseas during world war II.
ii.In 1953, Queen Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey in the first televised coronation service and
her 1st Commonwealth tour begins covering a distance of 43,618 miles.
iii.In 1991, the Queen toured the United States (US) and became the 1st monarch to address Congress.
iv.In 1995 the Queen made the 1st address by a British monarch to a South African parliament since 1947.
v.The year 2012 marks her 60 years (diamond jubilee) of her reign and in 2022 she becomes the longest
serving monarch of Britain.
Prince Charles Becomes the King of Britain after Queen Elizabeth
With the death of Queen Elizabeth, her son Prince Charles has become king of the United Kingdom (UK) and
14 other colonies.
• The new King, Prince Charles (73 years) will officially be known as King Charles III and is the oldest
monarch to take the throne in the history of Britain’s reign.
Life of Prince Charles:
i.Unlike his predecessors educated by private tutors, Prince Charles was sent to Hill House school in West
London and then to Gordonstoun, a tough boarding school in Scotland where Philip had also studied.

• He had gone to Trinity College, Cambridge, to study archaeology, physical and social anthropology but
later changed to history.
ii.During his studies he was formally crowned as the Prince of Wales, the title traditionally held by the heir to
the throne, at a grand ceremony in 1969 and in 1970 he became the 1st British heir to receive a degree.
iii.In 1971 he joined the armed forces, initially with the Royal Air Force and later with the Navy and ended his
service in 1976.
iv.He was a polo player and also rode as a jockey in a number of competitive races and was interested in skiing,
surfing and scuba diving.
Former CJI Kamal Narain Singh Passes Away

On 8th September 2022 former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Kamal Narain Singh passed away at the age of 95 in
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• He is the 22nd CJI, with a term from
25th November 1991 to 12th December
1991, making him the chief justice with the
shortest tenure.
Note – Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud, the
16th CJI had the longest tenure as CJI till today.
About KN Singh:
i.He was born on 13th December 1926 and started his
career as a judge with appointment as an Additional
Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1970. He then
became a Permanent Judge in August 1972.
ii.In 1986 he was promoted as a Supreme Court judge and then in 1991 he became the CJI. He also served as
Chairman of the 13th Law Commission of India from 1991-1994
iii.He was part of several important judgments, including the Ganga Pollution case, the case challenging the
validity of a death sentence and such others.
Note – Justice U U Lalit is the current and 49th CJI who took over charge from NV Ramana in 2022.
Renowned Archeologist, Padma Awardee BB Lal Passed Away

Padma awardee Prof. Braj Basi Lal (B. B. Lal), Former Director General (DG) of the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI)(1968 to 1972) , has passed away in Delhi. He was born in 1921 in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The government of India honoured him
with Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma
Vibhushan in 2021 for his contribution to
archaeology.
About Prof. Braj Basi Lal:
i.BB Lal has worked on archaeological sites associated
with the Harappan civilisation and the Mahabharata.
ii.He has also served on various United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization(UNESCO) committees.
iii.He is well known for his theory of temple-like
structure underneath the (now demolished) Babri Mosque in Uttar Pradesh.
iv.During his 50+ years career he has excavated several sites including Hastinapura (Uttar Pradesh),
Sisupalgarh (Odisha), Purana Qila (Delhi) and Kalibangan (Rajasthan).
v.He has more than 50 books and 150 research papers published in national and international journals.
vi.His noted works includes “The Saraswati Flows On: The Continuity of Indian Culture” (2002) and ‘Rama, His
Historicity, Mandir and Setu: Evidence of Literature, Archaeology and Other Sciences’ (2008).

Former Union Minister and Actor Krishnam Raju passes away
On 11th September 2022, Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju, an Indian actor and politician passed away at
the age of 82 in Hyderabad, Telangana.He was uncle of ‘Baahubali’ star Prabhas.
About U V Krishnam Raju:
i. U V Krishnam Raju from Andhra Pradesh entered
Tollywood in 1966 with his debut film ‘Chilaka
Gorinka’. He is the owner of the banner ‘Gopi Krishna
Movies’ and produced many films under his banner.
ii. He was elected as an Member of Parliament (MP)
in the 12th Lok Sabha from the Kakinada
constituency in 1998 and re-elected in the 13th Lok
Sabha from the Narasapuram constituency in 1999.
iii.He served as a Minister of State for the Ministry of
External Affairs from 1999 to 2004.
His Awards & Recognitions:
Krishnam Raju has received 5 awards Film fare Award – Telugu in 1978, 1985, 1987, 1989 and Filmfare Award
South in 2007.Also received three Andhra Pradesh Government’s Nandi Awards.
Indian boxer, Asian and Commonwealth Games medallist, Birju Sah passed away
Former World no. 7 boxer, Birju Sah, the first Indian boxer to win medals at both Commonwealth and Asian
Games, passed away at age of 48 years in
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
About Birju Sah:
i.Birju Sah was born in 1974.
ii.At the age of 19, He won a bronze medal at the
1993 Asian Junior Championship in Bangkok,
Thailand under light flyweight (45-48kg) category.
iii.He won a bronze medal at 1994 Commonwealth
Games in Victoria, Canada and later he also won the
bronze medal at the 1994 Asian Games held in in
Hiroshima, Japan.
iv.He also coached the Jharkhand team at the
National championships.
Iconic French New Wave Filmmaker, Jean-Luc Godard passes away

On 13th September 2022, Jean-Luc Godard, an Influential critic and Filmmaker passed away at the age of 91,
in the Swiss town of Rolle, on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.He was born in Paris, France.
• Jean-Luc Godard is recognised as one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema. He
revolutionized popular cinema in 1960 with his 1st feature film “Breathless”.
• His films have won several awards like the Golden Lion, Golden Bear, Honorary Academy Award and
Honorary César.
• Awards and Honours of Jean-Luc Godard: Academy Award (2011), Praemium Imperiale (2002),
an Honorary Academy Award (2010), an Honorary César (1987 and 1998), Golden Lion (1983),
Golden Bear (1965).
Note: The New Wave (in French, La Nouvelle Vague) is a film movement that made an appearance in the late
1950s in Paris, France.

Former Cabinet Minister of Malaysia Tun S. Samy Vellu passes away
On 15th September 2022, Tun Dr S. Samy Vellu, Former Cabinet Minister of Malaysia passed away at the age of
86 in Malaysia.
• Dr S. Samy Vellu was the 1st Malaysian to receive Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2003) for
Public Affairs, the highest Indian award for Non-resident Indian and Overseas Citizens of India.
• He was an Indian Descend, who served as Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president from 1981 to
2010.
• He was a Cabinet member for about three decades, starting as Public Works Minister in 1979 and
was one of the longest-serving leaders in the Cabinet.
• He also served as the Minister of Works and Public Amenities between 1979 & 1989 and again
between 1995 & 2008 and served as the MP for Sungai Siput in Perak between 1974 & 2008.
Former Indian Tennis Player & Davis Cup Captain Naresh Kumar passes away
On 14th September 2022, Naresh Kumar, the former Indian Tennis Player and Davis Cup Captain passed away
at the age of 93 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was born in Lahore, Punjab, British India (presently in Pakistan).
• Naresh Kumar, the non-playing captain of the Indian Davis Cup team in 1990, was a mentor of
Olympic Medallist Leander Paes.
• He began his Tennis journey at the Asian Championships in 1949 before ruling Indian Tennis along
with Ramanathan Krishnan for close to a decade in the 1950s.
• He became the 1st Tennis Coach to receive Dronacharya Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• He retired in 1969 with 5 titles in men’s singles such as Irish Championships in 1952 and 1953,
Men’s singles title at the Welsh Championships in 1952, Essex Championships at Frinton-on-Sea,
England and Wengen tournament in Switzerland in 1958.
Former Union Minister & Congress leader Manikrao Gavit passed away
Former Union Minister and Congress leader Manikrao Hodlya Gavit passed away at the age of 87 years in
Nashik, Maharashtra.
About Manikrao Hodlya Gavit:
i.He was born on 29 October 1934 in Nandurbar District, Bombay Presidency, British India (present-day
Maharashtra). He was a politician from Nandurbar
district of Maharashtra.
ii.As a member of the Indian National Congress (INC),
he represented the tribal-dominated Nandurbar
constituency (Maharashtra) from 1980 to 2009,
winning the Indian general elections consecutive nine
times, marking a record.
iii.He served as a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha.
iv.He has served as the Union Minister of State(MoS) for
Home Affairs(2004) and MoS for Social Justice and
Empowerment(2013). iv.He was appointed a pro-tem speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha by President (former)
Pratibha Patil in 2009.
Padma shri awardee Acharya Ram Yatna Shukla passed away

Padma shri awardee Prof Acharya Ram Yatna Shukla, a Sanskrit scholar and former President of Kashi Vidwat
Parishad, passed away at the age of 90 years.

About Acharya RamYatna Shukla:
i.Acharya RamYatna Shukla, born on 15th January 1932 in Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh (UP), was a scholar
of Sanskrit grammar and played an important role in conserving ancient and Sanskrit texts.
• He is popularly called as “Abhinav Panini” due to his contribution towards inventing new methods of
Sanskrit Grammar and Vedanta teaching and modernisation.
iii.He was the founder of UP Nagkoop Sastrath Samiti and Sanatan Sanskriti Samvardhan Parishad, which are
engaged in uplifting of Sanskrit language and moral value of society.
• Through these samitis he supported economically weaker sections of society and carried out various
social work.
iv.He also served as the Head of Department (HOD) and Dean at Sampurna Nand Sanskrit University, Varanasi,
UP
v.He served as the Principal, Lecturer, Reader and Visiting Professor of prominent institutes of India such as
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi(UP), French Institute of Indology in Puducherry, Lal Bahadur
Shastri University in New Delhi.
Awards:
• He was honoured with more than 25 awards including Keshav award, Vachaspati Award,
Vishwabharti award. He was conferred the title of “Mahamahopadhye”.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for immense contribution in social work.
Book Publication:
He has authored several books and research papers. One of his key publications is “Vyakaran Darshne Shristi
Prakriya Vimarsha”
Former TN Assembly Speaker Sedapatti R. Muthiah passes away

On 21st September 2022, Sedapatti R. Muthaiah, the former Tamil Nadu (TN) Legislative Assembly Speaker and
ex-Union Minister passed away in his hometown Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• Sedapatti Muthaiah entered politics as a student leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
• He joined All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) when M. G. Ramachandran (MGR)
founded the party in 1977. He is one of the founding members of the AIADMK.
• He was the Speaker during 1st regime of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa (1991-96).
• Later he became Union Minister for Surface Transport during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led
government in the Centre in 1998 (served for a brief period).
• Sedapatti Muthaiah was kept away from politics for some time but later joined DMK in 2008, he then
went on to become the head of the DMK party election committee.
Oscar winner Louise Fletcher passed away

Oscar Award winning American actress, Estelle Louise Fletcher passed away at the age of 88 years in
France.
• She was born on July 22, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States (US).
• She performed in various movies such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–99), Cruel
Intentions (1999), Netflix series Girlboss (2017). etc.
• She was nominated for two Emmy Awards for her roles in the television series Picket Fences
(1996) and Joan of Arcadia (2004).
• She won an 48th Academy Award or Oscar Award in 1976 for Best Actress, for playing the
villainous Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)”.
• She also won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest in 1977, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture
(Drama) in 1976.

BOOKS & AUTHORS
Dr Kalubhai unveils a book titled “Science Behind Surya Namaskar” at AIIA
Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State for AYUSH released a book titled “Science Behind
Surya Namaskar” a collection of evidence-based research on one of the most well-known Yoga asanas at the
AIIA.
The book was compiled by the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) department of Swasthavritta and Yoga,
at AIIA.
The book was released during the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programme 2022 organised by the
departments of Swasthavritta, Panchakarma, and Darvyaguna in association with Rashtriya Ayurveda
Vidyapeeth (RAV), New Delhi. at the AIIA from 22nd-27th August 2022.
• The book is a collection of evidence-based research on one of the most well-known Yoga asanas at
the AIIA.
• Dr Kalubhai also inaugurated the new Panchakarma Room in the Hospital block and flagged off
an e-rickshaw and a public ambulance for AIIA.
Renowned Indian Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Upendra Kaul Authors the Book “When The Heart
Speaks: Memoirs of A Cardiologist”
Dr. Upendra Kaul, one of India’s most distinguished
cardiologists, has written a book titled “When the
Heart Speaks: Memoirs of a Cardiologist,” which is
published by Konark Publishers Private Limited.
• The book is an honest account of the heart
touching events of Kashmiri Pandit Dr.
Upendra Kaul, who, while travelling to
various locations, longed for a home in his
hometown of Kashmir.
Key Points:
i.Dr. Upendra Kaul is a native of the scenic village of
Hawal in Jammu & Kashmir.
ii.He was among the first in India to utilize ballooning to open up arteries and other non-surgical procedures
while at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
• He has a great reputation across the world as a teacher and scholar.
iii.For his services to Indian medicine, he was given the Dr. B.C. Roy Award for the year 1999 and the Padma
Shri Award in 2006.
Journalist Pavan C. Lall authored a new book “Forging Mettle”

Senior journalist Pavan C Lall has authored a new book ‘Forging Mettle: Nrupender Rao and the Pennar
Story’, which is set to be released in September 2022. The book will be published by HarperCollins Publishers
India.
• The book is focused on how a business is built into a large organisation on the foundations of values and
sustainability.
• Forging Mettle is a story of Nrupender Rao, Chairman of the Board at Pennar Industries Limited and his
entrepreneurial journey.
• The story gives a unique philosophy for a company, recommended to striving entrepreneurs to
understand how to construct a principled and ethical institution.

Piyush Goyal released handbook on ‘Safety in Electrical Installations’ and ‘Guide for Using
National Building Code of India 2016’
Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush
Goyal released a handbook on the subject “Safety in Electrical Installations – A way forward to Safety by
National Electrical Code of India” and “Guide for Using National Building Code of India 2016” during the
4th Governing Council Meeting of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi, Delhi.
• Three pamphlets for awareness of the general
public about their rights and duties while
constructing their own home or buying one
from a builder are also developed.
About handbook- ‘Safety in Electrical Installations’:
i.It is jointly developed by BIS and International Cooper
Association (ICA) India.
ii.It highlights the importance and spread awareness
about Electrical Safety and provides technical guidance
for wiring installations in buildings.
• The design, installation and other features
provided in the handbook will help in understanding the purpose and application in a simplistic
waway.
iii.It will provide support to electrical engineers and technicians to understand the basic need and procedure
for safe and reliable electrical Low Voltage installations.
About ‘Guide for Using National Building Code of India 2016’:
i.It is a simplified version of National Building Code of India 2016 (NBC 2016).
ii.NBC 2016 is a technical document in which all provisions relating to planning, design, construction and
operation and maintenance of buildings are covered.
iii.The key contents and concept of each of the thirteen parts of NBC 2016 was laid down in the booklet using
infographics and simplified language.
• It also provides easy understanding of the technical contents of various Parts/Sections of the
voluminous NBC 2016.
About the pamphlets:
i.The three pamphlets will also guide on the ways to take better services from municipal bodies, statutory
authorities and building professionals (engineer, architect, etc.).These pamphlets were published in both Hindi
and English.
ii.The pamphlets helped in explaining the process of obtaining the permits from the Authority for development
or building construction, and also guides homeowners and homebuyers about the various aspects they must
ensure while buying or building a home.
iii.Title of the pamphlets:
• Guide for Homeowners – Series 1 Building Permit Process,
• Guide for Homeowners – Series 2 Constructing your Independent House,
• Guide for Homeowners – Series 3 Buying an Apartment from a Developer/Builder.
Former Indian Women’s Hockey Coach Sjoerd Marijne Authored a new book “Will Power”
Sjoerd Marijne, former Dutch field hockey player and former Indian Women’s Hockey Coach authored a new
book titled “Will Power: The Inside Story of the Incredible Turnaround in Indian Women’s Hockey”. The book
published by HarperCollins Publishers India will be launched in September 2022.
About the book:
i.The book highlights the experiences of Sjoerd Marijne, when he was appointed the Chief Coach of the Indian
Women’s Hockey Team in 2017.

ii.It also talked about how the Indian Women’s Hockey team dealt with setbacks, mental health issues, internal
politics and maintained team chemistry along with high-
performance culture.
iii.The book is a memorable account of Sjoerd Marijne’s
innings and will inspire readers to perform for the best,
be it in life, their careers or as part of teams.
About Sjoerd Marijne:
i.He was appointed the chief coach of the Indian
Women’s Hockey Team in 2017 and later, he was given
charge of the Men’s Hockey Team in September 2017.
ii.In May 2018, he was again appointed as the Coach of
Women’s Hockey and he guided the team to a fourth-
place finish at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
A book titled ‘’20th Century Indian Art: Modern, Post-Independence, Contemporary’’ launched
A new book titled “20th Century Indian Art: Modern, Post-Independence, Contemporary” edited by Prof. Partha
Mitter, Parul Dave Mukherji, and Rakhee Balaram was launched. The book was published by Thames & Hudson
in association with Art Alive Gallery.
The book showcases the history of Indian art across India and South Asia from the late 19th century to the
present day.
P.C. Balasubramanian Authored a new book “Rajini’s Mantras”

The entrepreneur-cum-author, P.C. Balasubramanian (PC Bala) authored a new book “Rajini’s Mantras: Life
lessons from India’s most-loved Superstar” in English. It was published by Jaico Publishing House (India).
• PC Bala’s 1st book was Rajini’s Punchtantra and Raja Krishnamoorthy, which became a national
bestseller. Grand Brand Rajini and Ram N Ramakrishnan were published on December 2022.
• After 10 years, PC Bala had given the best life lessons from Rajinikanth’s iconic speeches and public
interaction in “Rajini’s Mantras”.
• PC Bala is a public speaker and had been in the field of Chartered Accountant for 10 years and
became an entrepreneur as a founding member of Matrix Business Services India Pvt. Ltd.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind released Book ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas
Performer’s Implementation’
Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind released a book titled ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas
Performer’s Implementation’ which illustrates the life, works and achievements of Dr. B.R Ambedkar. The
book was compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation and the foreword was written by music composer and
Rajya Sabha MP (Member of Parliament) Ilaiyaraaja.
The book is published by Prabhat Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.
• It also highlights the policies and reforms made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure India’s
progress in line with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision.
• Specific focus was laid on infrastructure, education, socio-economic mobility, gender equality, and
self-reliance.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee released Jiwesh Nandan’s book “Muskurate Chand Lamhe Aur Kuchh
Khamoshiyan”
On 16th September 2022, renowned actor Manoj Bajapaye released the book titled ‘Muskurate Chand Lamhe
Aur Kuchh Khamoshiyan’, a bouquet of poems written by Jiwesh Nandan at India International Centre, New
Delhi, Delhi.

The publisher of this book is Shobit Arya, the founder and publisher of Wisdom Tree, an Indian publishing
organisation
• Jiwesh Nandan is a retired IAS officer of UP cadre (1987 batch). He also penned a book named ‘Maha
Kumbh: A Spiritual Journey’.
• The book contains Hindi poems and some sher-o-shayari (Urdu). The mood of poems includes all shades
of life and it is presented as an anthology crossing a range of feelings, meant to touch every aspect of life.
• The book was released in the presence of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra at a
function in New Delhi. According to him, the book contains philosophy, humour, and romance.
Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu releases a book about collection of selected speeches of Prime Minister
Former Vice President (VP) of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the book titled ‘’Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas
Sabka Vishwas”, a collection of selected speeches of the Prime Minister.
• This book is an encyclopedia of Shri
Narendra Modi’s ideas on various
Government schemes. In this compilation,
readers will find speeches given on
historical occasions – such as the 250th
session of the Rajya Sabha, the speech given
on the completion of 100 years of
ASSOCHAM, Jammu and Kashmir and
Ladakh after the removal of Article 370 on 8
August 2019.
About ‘’Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas”:
i.The book is a compilation of 86 speeches in 10
chapters of the Prime Minister(PM), Narendra Modi from May 2019 to May 2020 on various subjects.
ii.The book is divided into ten thematic areas, these speeches reflect the PM’s vision for ‘New India’. These
well-distributed sections are – Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Economy, People-First Governance, Fight Against Covid-
19, Emerging India: Foreign Affairs, Jai Kisan, Tech India-New India, Green India-Resilient India-Clean India, Fit
India-Efficient India, Eternal India-Modern India: Cultural Heritage, and Mann ki Baat.
iii.The book highlights contributions of various schemes such as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Swachha Bharat
Mission (SBM), innovation in field of science and technology, agriculture and agro-businesses, employment,
from Gramoday to Rashtroday, India’s journey to becoming self-reliant.
iv.The English version as well as Hindi version are published by Publications Division and these books can also
be purchased online through Publications Division’s website as well as Bharatkosh platform. The e-books are
also available on Amazon and Google Play.
Key people: The Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan and Union Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Anurag Thakur in a function organised by the Directorate of Publications Division were present
at the book launch.
Principal Scientific Adviser to GoI and British High Commissioner unveil the book She Is – Women in
STEAM
On September 21, 2022, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (GoI), Prof. Ajay Sood, and
the British High Commissioner (BHC) Alex Ellis unveiled the book titled ‘’She Is–Women in STEAM’’ authored
by ElsaMarie D’Silva and Supreet K Singh.
• The book honors 75 women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)
celebrating 75 years of independence of India and gender, leadership, and sustainable development
in the fields of STEAM.

Vice President releases the book titled “Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay – Jeevan Darshan Aur
Samsamyikta”
The Vice President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar released the book titled “Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay –
Jeevan Darshan Aur Samsamyikta” (five volumes) in New Delhi and on the occasion of birth anniversary
of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on 25th September 2022.
• Dr Bajrang Lal Gupta is the Chief Editor of the book and it is published by ‘Kitabwale’
publication.
• The book shed a light on the importance of Pt Deendayal’s thoughts in contemporary times.
• Deendayal Upadhyay was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and his vision on education was
the basis of the new National Education Policy 2020.
• Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Minister, Dr
Bajrang Lal Gupta, Chief Editor of the book, and other dignitaries attended the event.
A book titled ‘Wildlife India@50’ launched

A book titled “Wildlife India @50” edited by Manoj Kumar Misra and published by Rupa Publication India. The
book was published in the 50th anniversary of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (9th September).
• The book captures India’s 50-year-long wildlife journey through the eyes and experiences of a
diverse set of authors who themselves played a part in it.
• It also highlights various concerns including trading of wildlife products and the increasing loss of
natural habitat,cheetah extinction etc.
• Manoj Kumar Misra is a former member of the Indian Forest Service (IFS).He also headed TRAFFIC
India, a division of WWF-India.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik releases India’s first encyclopedia on tribal communities:

‘Encyclopaedia of Tribes’
On 26th September 2022, the Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha Naveen Patnaik released a 5-Volume
‘Encyclopaedia of Tribes’ published by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training
Institute (SCSTRTI) and Odisha State Tribal Museum in the Museum complex.
Odisha becomes the first state in India to start an encyclopedia on tribal communities.
• Odisha is the 3rd largest tribal populated state in India, which has 62 tribal communities living in
the state, including 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups.
• The encyclopaedia contains 418 research articles on the tribals. It took more than 4 years to come
up with this encyclopaedia.
• The focus of this encyclopaedia is on society, culture, and the development of tribals.
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Nutrition Week 2022- September 1 to 7
The National Nutrition Week (NNW) is annually observed across India from September 1 to September 7 to
create awareness about good nutrition and health, and its importance in human lives.
• It aims to raise public awareness about nutrition and healthy eating habits.
• The week is honoured to make people understand the importance of nutritional and adaptive eating
habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• The theme for NNW 2022 – “World of Flavours”
Background:
i.The National Nutrition Week (NNW) was initiated in 1982 as a Mass Awareness Campaign by the Food and
Nutrition Board under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).

ii.The first NNW was observed from 1st to 7th
September 1982.
• Nutrition Week was first observed and
marked by members of the American Dietetic
Association (ADA)(now known as Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics) in March 1975.
Significance:
i.Every year the Ministry of Women and Child
Development (MWCD) organises 7 days long events to
spread awareness about proper nutrition.
ii.In 2018 ‘POSHAN Abhiyan’ or National Nutrition
Mission was launched to educate people about health and nutrition issues like stunting, wasting, anaemia and
low birth weight in children, all due to under-nutrition.
• It also focuses on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
About Malnutrition:
i.It refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients.
• Undernutrition- It includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and
underweight (low weight-for-age).
ii.The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2: Zero hunger) aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition
by 2030.
Global Hunger Health Index Report 2021:
According to Global Hunger Health Index Report 2021, India ranked 101st among 116 countries and most of
the deaths in children were caused due to malnutrition.
World Coconut Day 2022- September 2

World Coconut Day is annually celebrated across the
globe on 2nd September to promote coconuts and
bring awareness regarding its value and health
benefits.
• The 2 September 2022 marks the 14th
observance of World Coconut Day.
• The theme of World Coconut Day 2022-
“Cultivate Coconut For A Happy Life And
Future”.
• The Day aims to raise awareness about the
use and benefits of coconuts across
various industries.
i.In India, the day is celebrated with the support of the Coconut Development Board (CDB) across the states
such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, etc.
ii.The Day also coincides with the Foundation Day of the International Coconut Community (ICC) formerly
known as Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC).
Background:
i.The Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) celebrated the first World Coconut Day on 2nd September 2009.
• The APCC was established on 2nd September 1969.
ii.Since then, every year under the APCC by the authority of UN-ESCAP (United Nations’ economic and social
commission for the Asia Pacific).
Events:
i.On the occasion of the World Coconut Day, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Narendra Singh
Tomar will inaugurate the Gujarat State Center of Coconut Development Board in Junagadh, Gujarat.

ii.He will also announce the winners of the Board’s National Awards and Export Excellence Awards.
• The technical sessions on good coconut farming practices and marketing will also be held at the
Junagadh Agricultural University.
Significance:
i.Coconut is a highly nutritious fruit, a crucial raw material and a significant crop. States like Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are the leading contributors.
ii.India is also among the major players of coconut exporters, It accounted for about 34% of the world’s total
production during 2020-21. The coconut crop contributes around Rs. 307,498 million (USD 3.88 billion) to
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• The productivity is 9687 nuts per hectare, which is the highest in the world.
• Indonesia is the world’s largest coconut-producing country.
iii.During the year 2021-22, the Government provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 801 million (USD
10 million) for covering a fresh area of 4,078 hectare under the expansion of area under coconut initiative and
91-hectare demonstration plots for productivity improvement.
• It includes establishing six new coconut nurseries and a coconut nucleus seed garden and six new
coconut processing units for value-added products like virgin coconut oil (VCO), activated carbon
and ball copra, and spray dried coconut milk powder.
About International Coconut Community (ICC):
ICC is an intergovernmental organisation of coconut producing countries established under the aegis of the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
Executive Director- Jelfina C. Alouw
Headquarters- Jakarta, Indonesia
Established –1969
About Coconut Development Board (CDB):
It works under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).
Chairman- Rajbir Singh Panwar
Headquarters– Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala
Established- 12th January 1981
Internaut Day 2022 – August 23

The Internaut Day is annually observed across the world on 23 August to commemorate the invention of the
World Wide Web (WWW).
• August 23 marks the day when the World Wide Web was opened to the public back in the year 1991
for the first time by WWW inventor Tim Berners Lee(British Scientist at CERN) as he allowed its
access.
• An “internaut” is a person who possesses a thorough knowledge of how to use the Internet and its
history.
In 1990, with Robert Cailliau, the British scientist prepared a ‘hypertext project’ which was called
‘WorldWideWeb.’
On 30th April 1993, CERN(the European Organization for Nuclear Research) made the source code of
WorldWideWeb available on a royalty-free basis, making it free software
5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022: September 1 – 30

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) organized the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah
2022 from 1st to 30th September 2022.
• It aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children under 6 years of age, pregnant women and
lactating mothers.

• As part of the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah,
the MoWCD plans to rope in the Gram
Panchayats as Poshan Panchayats.
• The 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah aims to
convert Jan Andolan (People’s Movement)
into Jan Bhagidari (People’s Participation).
The key focus will be on “Mahila aur Swasthya”
(Woman and Health) and “Bacha aur Shiksha” (Child
and Education).
Key points:
i.Various awareness activities about nutrition at the
ground level through sensitization drives, outreach programmes, identification drives, camps and fairs will be
conducted at national, state and panchayat level.
ii.Pregnant and lactating women, children below six years and adolescent girls will be given special attention to
realize the vision of ‘Swasth Bharat’.
iii.Under the State level activities- ‘Amma ki Rasoi’ or Grandmother’s Kitchen of traditional nutritious recipes
will be organized.
iv.A national level toy-creation workshop will also be organized to promote use of indigenous and local toys
for learning in Anganwadi Centres.
At the Panchayat level-
i.Awareness activities will be conducted by local functionaries under the guidance of the concerned District
Panchayati Raj Officers and Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs).
ii.Poshan Panchayat Committees will work with field level workers (FLWs) – AWWs (Anganwadi Workers),
ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery).
• The committee will provide for enabling service delivery through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs),
Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHNDs), and other relevant platforms to ensure all beneficiaries
receive basic Integrated Child Development services (ICDS).
iii.Growth Measurement drives under Swasth Balak Spardha will be conducted by States with the help of
AWWs, ASHA, district functionaries and agencies such as Lions Club, Rotary Club etc.
• Health camps for anaemia check-ups will be especially organised at AWCs for adolescent girls.
• Special focus will be given on the importance of rainwater conservation among women at
Anganwadi centers and on traditional foods in tribal areas for healthy mother and child.
POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan:
It is the Government of India (GOI)’s flagship programme, aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children
under 6 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
i.ThePrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the programme from
Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018.
ii.Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) was
launched in 2021 as an integrated nutrition support program to strengthen nutritional content, delivery,
outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to
disease and malnutrition.
International Vulture Awareness Day 2022 – September 3

International Vulture Awareness Day(IVAD) is annually observed across the globe on the first Saturday of
September. The day aims to create awareness about the importance of Vultures and to recognise the vital
work carried out by conservationists to preserve the Vultures.
The International Vulture Awareness Day 2022(IVAD 2022) falls on 3rd September 2022.
• IVAD 2021 was observed on 4th September 2021.
• IVAD 2023 will be observed on 2nd September 2023.

The IVAD initiative is jointly run by the Birds of Prey
Programme of the Endangered Wildlife Trust in South
Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England.
Background:
• The International Vulture Awareness Day
began in South Africa and the United
Kingdom(UK) and later became a global
event by the IUCN SSC (International
Union for Conservation of Nature Species
Survival Commission ) Vulture Specialist
Group.
• The first Saturday of September every year is International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD). Started
in 2006 by the Hawk Conservancy Trust and the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey
Programme.
About Vultures:
i.Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas where they occur.
ii.They play a major role in signalling the presence of a carcass to other scavengers, thus preventing
contamination by pathogens and helps keep nature free of disease.
iii.According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, almost 75% of all Vultures
are threatened with extinction.
Events in India:
i.Society for Wildlife Conservation, Education and Research (Wild-CER), India has organized a one day
seminar on ‘Status of vulture conservation efforts in India’ on 4th September 2022.
ii.World Wide Fund for Nature-India(WWF-India) has launched “Bring Back the Vultures”, a poster on
Vulture Species in India. The poster highlights the 9 species of Vultures found in India and features illustrations
and conservation information on each species.
• According to WWF India, among the 9 species of Vultures found in India, most of them are
threatened.
The 9 species are,
• White-rumped vultures(Critically endangered).
• Indian long-billed vulture(Critically endangered).
• Slender-billed vulture(Critically endangered).
• Red-headed vulture(Critically endangered).
• Egyptian vulture(Endangered)
• Cinereous vulture(Near Threatened).
• Bearded vulture(Near Threatened).
• Himalayan Griffon(Near Threatened).
• Eurasian Griffon(Least Concern).
Steps to Save Vultures:
• Stop the use of drugs toxic to Vultures.
• Prevent the poisoning of animals and carcasses.
• Infrastructures, including electricity, should be sited sensitively.
• Conserving their roosting and nesting sites.
iii.Himalayan Progressive School, Indian Biodiversity Conservation Society,Jatayu Nature club,Karnataka
Vulture Conservation Trust,TAMIL NADU FOREST DEPARTMENT ,Wildlife Conservation Foundation,India and
University of Lucknow were observed activities related to International Vulture Awareness Day.

About World Wide Fund for Nature India(WWF-India):
President– Arvind Wable
Established in 1969
National Small Industry Day 2022 – August 30

National Small Industry Day is annually observed
across India on 30th August to recognise the
importance and contribution of the small-scale
businesses in India.
• The small-scale sector plays a key role and
is a major growth indicator in the Indian
economy that contributes around 40
percent to the gross industrial value of the
country’s economy.
Background:
The erstwhile Ministry of Small-Scale Industries (now,
Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)) decided upon celebrating 30th August as National
Small Industry Day annually in 2000.
• A comprehensive policy package for small-scale industries (SSI) in India was announced 30th
August 2002.
• For the first time, on August 30, 2001, the ministry organised a convention for entrepreneurs in
the SSI in New Delhi along with award distribution.
About Small Scale Industries in India:
i.India comprises more than 6.3 crore of MSME that could access International markets and also work as an
international entity.
ii.SSI contributes around 40 percent of the total exports done by India and also contributes towards forex
reserves that reduces India’s balance sheet.
Initiatives:
i.CHAMPIONS portal – CHAMPIONS (Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing
the Output and National Strength) is the single window system and a unified, empowered, robust, bundled and
technology driven platform for promoting the MSMEs.
ii.UDYAM – Udyam is a free registration portal for MSMEs launched in 2020 for availing the benefits of
schemes or programmes of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
• Udyam Registration Certificate, an e-certificate is issued after the registration process which has a
dynamic QR Code through which the web page of the registration portal and details about the
enterprise can be accessed.
iii.National SC-ST Hub – The National SC/ST Hub, implemented by the Ministry of MSME through the National
Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), to provide professional support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
Entrepreneurs to fulfil the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for MSME.
About Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME):
Union Minister – Narayan Tatu Rane (Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra)
Minister of state – Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (Jalaun (SC), Uttar Pradesh)
International Day of Charity 2022 – 5 September

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Charity is annually observed across the globe on 5th
September to sensitise and mobilise the people across the world to help others through volunteer and
philanthropic activities.

Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted
the resolution A/RES/67/105 on 17th December 2012
and designated the 5th September of every year as the
death anniversary of Mother Teresa, as the
International Day of Charity.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Charity was
observed on 5th September 2013.
Why September 5?
The date of 5 September was chosen to commemorate
the anniversary of the passing away of 1979 Nobel
peace prize laureate Mother Teresa, also known as Saint
Teresa of Calcutta.
Importance of charity:
i.Charity is a notation of volunteerism and philanthropy which provides social bonding and contribute to the
creation of inclusive and resilient societies.
ii.Charity assists in the advancement of culture, science, sports, and the protection of cultural and natural
heritage.
iii.It also promotes the rights of marginalized and underprivileged people and promotes the importance of
humanity in conflict situations.
About Mother Teresa:
i.Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on 26th August 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia.
ii.Mother Teresa, the renowned nun and missionary, died on September 5, 1997.
iii.Mother Teresa was canonized as Saint Teresa of Kolkata by Pope Francis on 4th September 2016.
Works and recognitions:
i.She established the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation in the
Catholic Church, in 1950 in Calcutta, India.
ii.In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.
iii.The government of India honoured her with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980 for her
humanitarian work.
iv.She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for her work for bringing help to suffering humanity”.
v.She has received several awards and distinctions which also include,
• Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971)
• the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding (1972).
• Balzan Prize (1979)
• The Templeton Prise (1973)
• Ramon Magsaysay Award(1962)
National Teachers’ Day 2022 – September 5

National Teachers’ Day is annually observed across India on 5th September to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who served as the First Vice President and the 2nd
President of Independent India.
He was born on 5th September 1888 in Tiruttani, Madras Presidency(Now Tamil Nadu), British India.
• The day provides a platform to recognise and honour the contribution of teachers to society.
• 5th September 2022 marks the observance of the 60th National Teachers’ Day.
First Observance:
Teachers’ Day was first observed on 5th September 1962, the 77th birthday of Dr S Radhakrishnan, to
celebrate his work and his drive for education.

About Dr S Radhakrishnan:
i.Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was an Indian
philosopher and politician who served as the first vice
president of India from 1952 to 1962 and later served as
the 2nd President of India from 1962 to 1967.
ii.In 1931 he was knighted by King George V for his
service to education. He ceased to use the title “sir” after
Indian Independence.
iii.The government of India honoured him with Bharat
Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954.
National Awards to Teachers 2022:
On the Occasions of the National Teachers Day 2022(5th
September 2022), Droupadi Murmu, President of India, felicitated the awardees with the National Awards to
Teachers(NAT) 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• For 2022, 45 teachers from across India have been selected through a rigorous and transparent
online three-stage process.
• The National-level function was organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy,
Ministry of Education.
Click here for the complete list of winners of NAT 2022
About National Teachers Award:
Purpose: To celebrate and honour the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in India.
Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a silver medal.
Key Points:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the winners of the National Awards to Teachers, 2022 at
the event organised at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, Delhi.
Shikshak Parv 2022 – September 5 to 9:
i.The All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE), under the Ministry of Education, promotes the
celebration of Shikshak Parv to acknowledge the dignity of the teaching profession and the contributions of
teachers in nurturing the young minds of the nation.
ii.The AICTE has requested to organise several events and activities between 5th to 9th September 2022 to
commemorate Shikshak Parv 2022.
Shiksha Parv National Webinars 2022:
• 5th Sept- Role of Teachers in inculcating Human Values
• 6th Sept- Role of Teachers in promoting Indian languages in Higher Education.
• 7th Sept- Role of Teachers in promoting Indian Knowledge System.
• 8th Sept- Role of Teachers in developing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• 9th Sept-Role of Teachers in high tech such as AI ML AVGC ARVR, Metaverse etc in the teaching-
learning process.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2022 – 7th September
The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is annually observed across the globe
on 7th September to highlight the importance to raise public awareness to promote and facilitate actions to
improve the quality of air.
• 7th September 2022 marks the observance of the 3rd International Day of Clean Air for blue
skies.
The theme of International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2022 is “The Air We Share”.
• The theme focuses on the transboundary nature of air pollution and stresses the need for collective
accountability and action.

Background:
In 2019, the Second Committee of the 74th session of
the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted
the resolution A/RES/74/212 designating the 7th
September of every year as the “International Day of
Clean Air for blue skies”.
• The first ever International Day of Clean Air
for blue skies was observed on 7th
September 2020.
Problems of Air Pollution:
Health Impacts:
i.According to World Health Organization (WHO),
almost entire world’s population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the WHO air quality limit.
ii.The exposure to household and ambient (outdoor) fine particulate matter air pollution causes an estimated 7
million premature deaths each year.
iii.The fine particulate are responsible for one-third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and
lung cancer.
Climate Impacts:
The short-lived climate pollutants black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons are
mostly linked with both health effects and near-term warming of the planet.
Observance:
i.The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners have develop a range of informations like
interactive web feature on actions people can undertake in social media
ii.The Chief Scientists of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and
UNEP have issued statements highlighting the critical issues that affect all.
WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2022:
Ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, WMO released the Air Quality and Climate Bulletin
2022, the 2nd in an annual series, which focuses in particular on the impact of wildfire smoke in 2021.
• The annual WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin reports on the state of air quality and its close
interlinkages with climate change.
World Meteorological Organization(WMO) is the UN’s authoritative voice on Weather, Climate and Water.
Key Points:
• The report states that if the greenhouse gas emission remains high, the global temperature would
rise by 3-degree celsius from preindustrial levels by the second half of the 21st century.
• The Surface ozone levels are expected to increase in the highly polluted regions. This includes a 20%
increase across Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh, and 10% across eastern China.
International Literacy Day 2022- September 8

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s International Literacy Day
(ILD) is annually observed on September 8 across the world to highlight the importance of literacy for
individuals, communities and societies and also to highlight the positive effects of a higher literacy rate.
• The theme for ILD 2022 is “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces”
Objective- To raise awareness and remind people of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and
human rights and to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all individuals
around the globe.
Background:
i.In 1966, UNESCO proclaimed the 8th September of every year as International Literacy Day to highlight the
importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies.

ii.The first-ever International Literacy Day was observed on 8th September 1966.
Why September 8?
8th September marks the date of the inauguration of
the World Conference of Ministers on the Eradication
of Illiteracy held in 1965 in Teheran, Iran.
Literacy & SDG:
Literacy is a major component of the United Nations
(UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4: Quality
Education) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
Significance:
i.Literacy is a fundamental human right and the
foundation for lifelong learning.
• It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives.
ii.“Right to Literacy” is a human right and a means for personal empowerment.
Events of ILD 2022:
i.Since 1967, UNESCO has awarded International Literacy Prizes to outstanding and innovative programmes
that promote literacy.
ii.For the ILD 2022, UNESCO is conducting a two-day hybrid international event on 8 and 9 September 2022, in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at the global level.
• Various programmes and literacy practices will be announced through the 2022 UNESCO
International Literacy Prizes award ceremony.
Award Ceremony of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2022:
The Prizes were awarded at an official ceremony on International Literacy Day held on 8 September 2022 in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
i.The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (3 awards)
It was established in 1989, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea.
• It gives special consideration to mother language-based literacy development. Each of the three King
Sejong prizewinners receives a medal, a diploma and USD 20,000
2022 Winners:
• ‘Native Scientist’ programme of Native Scientist, United Kingdom.
• ‘Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education’ programme of Kalinga Institute of Social
Sciences(KISS), India.
• ‘Madrasa Arabic lessons’ programme of Madrasa, United Arab Emirates
KISS(Bhubaneswar) wins prestigious UNESCO Literacy Prize 2022:
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha was awarded the UNESCO King Sejong
Literacy Prize 2022 for its outstanding literacy programme based on the recommendations of an international
jury.
• KISS is the 5th institute from India and the 1st from Odisha to receive the UNESCO King Sejong
Literacy Prize.
• It is also the 3rd among the non-profit NGOs and the 1st indigenous based organisation to be
conferred with this award.
ii.The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 awards)
It was established in 2005, with the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
• It gives special consideration to functional literacy, leveraging technological environments, in
support of adults in rural areas and out-of-school youth. Each of the three Confucius prize winners
receives a medal, a diploma and USD 30,000.
2022 Winners:
• ‘Accessible Literature’ (Literatura Acessível) programme of Institute Include, Brazil.

• ‘People Accessible Network for Digital Empowerment and Inclusivity (PANDei)’ programme of
Sarawak State Library, Malaysia.
• ‘School Readiness through Community Participation’ programme of The Molteno Institute for
Language and Literacy, South Africa.
Note-
According to the Census of India, “person aged seven and above, who can both read and write with
understanding in any language, is treated as literate”.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Headquarters-Paris, France
Founded-1945
Director-General- Audrey Azoulay
International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2022 – September 9

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day to Protect
Education from Attack is annually observed across the
world on 9th September to raise awareness regarding the
importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection
and safety for students and educators and the need to
keep education at the top of the public agenda.
• 9th September 2022 marks the observance of
the 3rd International Day to Protect Education
from Attack.
• The day aims to raise awareness of the plight of
millions of children living in war-affected countries.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/74/275 on 28th May 2020 and
proclaimed the 9th September of every year as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
ii.The resolution was presented by the state of Qatar and co-sponsored by
62 countries.
iii.The annual observance of this day is facilitated by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the partners
within or outside the UN system.
• The first ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack was observed on 9th September 2020.
Significance:
i.The day is marked to make people aware that out of school, children are easy targets of abuse and exploitation
. The school should provide a safe place for students and safeguard them from threats and crises.
ii.The day signifies a crucial step to breaking the cycle of crisis and reducing the likelihood of conflicts in the
near future.
iii.According to the U.N., more than 22,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed
during attacks on education.
• Afghanistan, Cameron, and Palestine are some of the countries where the most direct attacks on
students occur.
Education Under Attack 2022:
According to the report titled ‘’Education Under Attack 2022’’ by Global Coalition to Protect Education from
Attack (GCPEA)-
i.More than 5,000 reported attacks on education and incidents of military use of schools and universities,
harming more than 9,000 students and educators in at least 85 countries were recorded in 2020 and 2021.
ii.Attacks on education and military use of schools increased by one-third in 2020 compared to 2019, and
remained at the same rate in 2021.

iii.The highest incidences of attacks on education schools were recoded in countries such as in Mali, the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Myanmar, and Palestine.
About Safe Schools Declaration (SSD):
i.It was opened for state endorsement in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015.
ii.By endorsing the Declaration, States commit to restoring access to safe education and to developing
education systems that are conflict-sensitive and promote respect between social or ethnic groups.
• The Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) was endorsed by around 114 states across the world.
• Tunisia is the 114th State t o endorse the SSD
iii.The SSD State-led Implementation Network will promote cooperation, assistance, and peer-to-peer exchange
of experience and good practice amongst states that have endorsed the Declaration.
About Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA):
i.Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), a unique inter-agency coalition was formed in
2010 to address the problem of targeted attacks on education during armed conflict
ii.UNESCO is a core member of GCPEA which is committed to raising awareness and contributing to policy
dialogue; deepening research on effective prevention and response strategies.
World EV Day 2022- September 9

World Electric Vehicle (EV) Day is annually observed across the globe on 9 September to spread awareness
about the benefits of using electric vehicles.
• The 9 September 2022 marks the 3rd observance of World EV Day.
Background:
i.World EV Day was an initiative created by the
sustainability media company GreenTV.
• The first World EV Day was observed on 9th
September 2020.
ii.In 2021, World EV Day was mentioned in the United
Kingdom (UK) parliament and was also celebrated by the
White House’s top climate advisor.
Significance:
i.On the occasion of World EV Day, special awareness
campaigns were organized across the world in order to educate people regarding the benefits of electric
vehicles.
ii.It is a social media campaign which encourages drivers to recognise the benefits of electric vehicles.
Note-
China is the largest EV market in the world. It emerged as the top producer and seller of electric vehicles in the
world.
Related information:
Audi India (Audi’s Indian subsidiary, a German luxury carmaker) completed the installation of 100+ EV
chargers across 60 cities in India.
• It includes all Audi India dealerships, workshop facilities, and select SAVWIPL (Skoda Auto Volkswagen
India Private Limited) Group’s dealerships located across strategic highways in India.
World Physical Therapy Day 2022- September 8

World Physical Therapy (PT) Day is annually observed across the globe on 8th September to honour the
contributions of physiotherapists in the healthcare sector and motivate people to lead a healthy life and be
physically active.
• The theme for World PT Day 2022 is Osteoarthritis and The Role of Physiotherapists.
• The theme for PT Day 2021 was ‘Rehabilitation and Long COVID’.

Significance:
i.The day highlights the importance of physical therapy & role of physical therapist in our society.
ii.This day also honours the profession of physiotherapists around the world who work to cure a number of
issues ranging from minor ergonomic (posture related) ailments to chronic joint pain and trauma from injury.
Background:
i.In 1996, the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) now known as World Physiotherapy
designated 8th September of every year as World PT Day.
• The World Physiotherapy was established on 8th September in 1951.
World PT Day 2022:
The World PT Day 2022 focuses on osteoarthritis and the role of physiotherapists in its prevention and in the
management of people affected by osteoarthritis.
What is Osteoarthritis?
i.Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, a condition that affects the joints, tissues around the
joints and other connective tissues.
• It is also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, Osteoarthritis just affects the joints in hands, lower back,
neck and weight bearing joints like feet, hips and knees.
About World Physiotherapy:
World Physiotherapy is the operating name of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, a registered
charity in the United Kingdom(UK).
President-Emma Stokes
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
Established- 1951
International Day for People of African Descent 2022- August 31

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for People of African Descent is annually observed across the
globe on 31 August to promote the extraordinary
contributions of the African diaspora around the world
and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against
people of African descent.
• 31st August 2022 marks the 2nd observance of
International Day for People of African Descent.
• The day was first celebrated on 31st August 2021,
halfway through the International Decade for
People of African Descent (2015-2024).
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/75/170 on 16th December 2020
and proclaimed the 31st August of every year as the International Day for People of African Descent.
ii.The efforts to establish the International Day for People of African Descent was led by Costa Rica.
Note: Costa Rica changed its political constitution in 2015 and defined itself as a multiethnic and multicultural
nation.
Why 31st August?
i.31st August marks the end date of the first International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World 1920.
ii.The convention resulted in the Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World.
International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024):
i.The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/68/237 on 23rd December 2013 and proclaimed the decade 2015 to
2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.
ii.The theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and
development.”
iii.It aims to celebrate the important contributions of people of African descent worldwide, advance social

justice and inclusion policies, eradicate racism and intolerance, promote human rights, and assist in creating
better, more prosperous communities.
Webinar: “Advancing the Right to Health for People of African Descent”
i.The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a global webinar on 31 August 2022 to throw light on the
injustices and systemic discrimination that people of African descent often face and its impact on health.
ii.The webinar was chaired by Princess Nothemba Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic
Priorities, WHO.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 – September 10

World Suicide Prevention Day(WSPD) is annually observed across the globe on 10th September to focus
attention on the issue of suicide and reduce the stigma around it.
The day also aims to raise awareness among the general public, organisations and government and promote
the message that suicide can be prevented.
The theme of WSPD 2022 is “Creating hope through action”.
• “Creating hope through action” is the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 –
2023.
• This acts as a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and
hope in all.
Background:
i.International Association for Suicide
Prevention(IASP) in conjunction with the World Health
Organization (WHO) established World Suicide
Prevention Day (WSPD) in 2003.
ii.The first ever World Suicide Prevention Day was
launched in Stockholm, Sweden on 10 September 2003.
WSPD Ribbon:
i.The two-toned “orange and yellow” ribbon is recognised
as the universal suicide prevention awareness ribbon. It
was launched by IASP in 2016.
ii.The ribbon is indicative of the light of a candle flame which relates to the Light a candle campaign of the
WSPD.
Suicide Prevention:
i.Every year more than 7 lakh people die by suicide and 20 times more people attempt suicide.
ii.The global mortality rate (due to suicide) is at 16 per 100000 or one death every 40 seconds and 1 attempt
every 3 seconds.
Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.
iii.77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries and 20% of global suicides are due to
pesticide self-poisoning
WHO’s Efforts:
LIVE LIFE approach of WHO has recommended 4 key interventions which have proven to be effective in
preventing suicide.
• limit access to the means of suicide
• interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide.
• foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents
• early identify, assess, manage and follow up with anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours
NCRB’s report:
i.National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the report on accidental deaths and suicides (2021) which
stated that 1,64,033 died due to various reasons in 2021. This includes 450 recorded deaths by suicide every
single day of the year.

ii.The report underlines a record high in suicide-related deaths in India in 2021
iii.Around 1.64 lakh suicides were reported in 2021, which is a 7.2% increase from 2020. 1.53 lakhs such cases
were reported in 2020.
iv.It is noted that 4 major cities – Delhi (2,760), Chennai (2,699), Bengaluru (2,292), and Mumbai (1,436),
accounted for nearly 35.5% of all suicides reported from 53 megacities.
International Day for South-South Cooperation 2022: September 12

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for South-South Cooperation is observed annually across the
world on September 12 to highlight the importance of cooperation among people and countries of the
developing world, known as the global South.
• The day aims to spread awareness about the
social, economic, and political developments
made in the Southern region.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly adopted the
resolution A/RES/58/220 on 23rd December 2003 and
proclaimed the 19th December of every year as the
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.
ii.The First ever UN Day for South-South Cooperation was
observed on 19th December 2003.
Why December 19?
December 19 marks the day on which UNGA endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and
Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC).
Date of Observance Changed from 19th December to 12th September:
In December 2011, the UNGA decided to change the observance of the International Day for South-South
Cooperation from 19 December to 12 September, in order to mark the day in 1978 when the UN Conference
on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries adopted the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting
and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
About South-South Cooperation (SSC):
South-South cooperation is a broad framework of collaboration among countries of the South in the political,
economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation 2022:
i.The events will be organised during the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo. under the theme “Key
Priorities and Future Directions in Advancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable COVID-
19 Recovery: Towards a Smart and Resilient Future”, held at United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC),
Bangkok, Thailand.
ii.It will be co-hosted by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the Government of
Thailand and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
iii.The event will also feature the launch of the publication “Good Practices in South-South and Triangular
Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Vol. 4.”
• The new volume features more than 130 good practices presented by over 50 partners, including
the Member States, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), United Nations entities, and other
development stakeholders.
United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC):
i.The UNOSSC serves as the main office for the coordination of South-South and triangular cooperation globally
and within the UN system.
ii.In 1974 the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution and endorsed the establishment
of a special unit within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

iii.In 2009, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation became an independent entity within the
U.N. to plan large-scale cooperative programs.
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
Established-1974
Director– Adel Abdellatif
National Forest Martyrs Day 2022 – September 11

The National Forest Martyrs Day is annually observed across India on 11th September to honour people
who gave their lives to preserve India’s forests and wildlife. The day is celebrated to commemorate the
anniversary of the Khejarli Massacre in 1730.
Background:
i.In 2013, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEF&CC) officially declared 11th
September to be celebrated as National Forest Martyrs
Day.
ii.11th September was chosen as the National Forest
Martyrs Day because, on this day in 1730, the Khejarli
massacre took place in Rajasthan.
About Khejarli massacre:
i.In 1730, under the order of Maharaja Abhai Singh of
Rajasthan, a royal party led by minister Giridhar
Bhandari went to Khejarli village to fell some Khejri trees that were sacred to the Bishnoi community.
ii.The villagers led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi refused to surrender their Khejri trees to the King’s men.
iii.This led to the massacre of more than 350 Bishnois, along with Amrita Devi Bishnoi and her daughters, who
volunteered to save the trees.
Significance:
i.National Forest Martyrs Day is celebrated to create awareness among people to preserve the forest and to
highlight the importance of trees in protecting the environment.
ii.The Khejarli massacre plays a key role in inspiring many other activists and movements such as the
Chipko movement, in which people hugged trees to save them from falling.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadhav (Rajya Sabha- Rajasthan)
Minister of state – Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency- Buxar, Bihar)
World First Aid Day 2022: September 10

World First Aid Day is observed every year on the second Saturday of September across the globe. For the year
2022, World First Aid Day 2022 falls on 10 September 2022.
• It aims to promote the significance and
create awareness about first aid, which is an
important fundamental skill.
• The theme for World First Aid Day 2022
is ”Lifelong First Aid Learning”.
i.World First Aid Day 2021 was observed on 11th
September 2021 and World First Aid Day 2023 will be
ii.World First Aid Day provides an opportunity to
improve people’s perceptions of first aid and make first-
aid education accessible to the public.

What is First Aid?
i.It is the treatment given to patients before seeking medical help.
ii.It is an effective and rapid intervention that involves reducing pain, and injury, and therefore increases the
survival chances of individuals in need.
Background:
In 2000, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) officially declared the
second Saturday of September as World First Aid Day.
Significance:
i.The Day is recognized to create awareness and emphasize the value of first aid as an act of humanitarian
empowerment and as a fundamental part of a broader resilience approach.
ii.The World First Aid Day 2022 event is coordinated by the Global First Aid Reference Centre and it also
provided necessary resources to the National Societies.
About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC):
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest
humanitarian network.
Founded-5 May 1919
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
President-Francesco Rocca
Hindi Diwas 2022- September 14

Hindi Diwas (Hindi Day) is annually observed across India on 14 September to mark the importance of the
Hindi language.
• The first Hindi day was celebrated on 14th
September 1953.
• It is celebrated in schools, colleges as well
as offices in India.
The day aims to raise awareness about the Hindi
language and also commemorate the event when it
was adopted as one of the official languages of India.
Note: World Hindi Day is annually observed on 10th
January across the globe.
Background:
i.India’s first Prime Minister (PM), Jawaharlal Nehru
decided to celebrate September 14 as ‘Hindi Diwas’. Hindi was adopted as the official language of the Union of
India on the 14th of September 1949. Subsequently, Hindi in the Devanagari script was declared as one of the
official languages of India along with the English language.
ii.The states of India identify their own official languages through the process of legislation.
iii.Indian parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1963. It allowed the usage of English along with
Hindi, even after 1965.
Why 14 September?
i.On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of India.
• 14th September also marks the birth anniversary of Beohar Rajendra Simha, who worked tirelessly
towards making Hindi the official language of India.
Significance:
i.On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, the President of India felicitates people for their contribution to the Hindi
language and literature.
• Hindi is also the Eighth Schedule Language.
ii.Kaka Kalelkar, Maithili Sharan Gupta, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Seth Govindadas and others made important
contributions to make Hindi the official language.

iii.Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has established ‘Hindi Chairs’ in various foreign
universities/institutions abroad.
iv.A self-teaching application LILA-Rajbhasha (Learn Indian Languages through Artificial Intelligence) was
created to promote self learning.
• Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar and Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar are awarded for contribution in the Hindi
Language.
Constitutional provision for Languages in India:
i.The 8th schedule consists of a list of 22 officially recognized Indian languages.
ii.Article 343 and 344 of the Constitution embody the major provisions dealing with the official languages of
the Union of India.
National Engineers Day 2022 – September 15

National Engineer’s Day is celebrated annually across India on September 15 to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Bharat Ratna Awardee Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who is considered one of the greatest
engineers of India.
• The day aims to recognise the contribution
of engineers in the development of the
nation.
• Sri Lanka and Tanzania also celebrate
Engineers Day on 15th September to honour
Sir M Visvesvaraya’s contributions.
Note:
i.September 15, 2022, marks the observance of the
55th. National Engineers Day.
ii.National Engineers Day 2022 marks the 161st birth
anniversary of Sir M Visvesvaraya. He was born on 15th
September 1861.
Background:
i.The government of India declared the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya as National
Engineers day.
ii.The first – ever National Engineers Day was observed on 15th September 1968.
About Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya:
i.Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861 in Muddenahalli village, Karnataka.
• He was popularly known as the ‘Father of Modern Mysore’ because of his major contributions.
ii.He was also called the “precursor of economic planning in India”, according to the Institution of Engineers
India (IEI).
iii.The creation of ‘block systems’ in 1903 is attributed to Sir M Visvesvaraya. He patented and installed an
irrigation system with water floodgates at the Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune (Maharashtra) to raise the
water supply level and storage.
Awards:
• He was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his exceptional contribution to the building of India in 1955.
• He was conferred the British knighthood in 1915 and served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
Books:
• “Reconstructing India”-1920
• “Planned Economy of India” – 1934
Engineers Day celebrations:
According to the circular issued on August 31, 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced
that the Engineers’ Day will be celebrated across various government departments by organising workshops,
seminars, lectures, awarding of engineers and improving communication skills.

About Institution of Engineers (India) (IEI):
It was incorporated under the Royal Charter on 9th September, 1935 by the King George V.
Established-1920
Headquarters-Kolkata, West Bengal
International Day of Democracy 2022- September 15

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Democracy is annually observed across the world -on 15
September to mark the importance of democracy and create awareness among people about democratic rights.
• 15th September 2022 marks the 15th
anniversary of the International Day of
Democracy.
• International Day of Democracy 2022 will
focus on the importance of media freedom to
democracy, peace, and delivering on the
Sustainable Development Goals.
Background:
i.On 8th November 2007, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/62/7
and proclaimed the 15th September of every year as the
International Day of Democracy.
ii.The first International Day of Democracy was celebrated on 15 September 2008.
Why September 15 ?
The day marks the adoption of theUniversal Declaration on Democracy by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU)
on 15th September 1997.
Significance:
i.The International Day of Democracy has been established to create awareness among people so that they
understand the importance of protection and the effective realization of human rights.
• According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to freedom of
expression is a fundamental human right.
ii.Democracy is a process as a goal which can be made into reality only with the full participation of the
international community.
• Essential elements of democracy include: values of freedom, respect for human rights and holding
periodic & genuine elections by universal suffrage.
Event of International Day of Democracy 2022:
i.The UN Office for Partnerships collaborated with the UN Democracy Fund to host a discussion in the SDG
studio as part of the SDG Roundtable series.
• The solutions for the achievement of SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions will be
discussed.
About Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU):
Headquarters-Geneva, Switzerland
President-Duarte Pacheco
Founded-1889
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2022- September 16
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is annually observed
across the globe on September 16 to bring attention to the ozone layer and the dangers of ozone depletion.
The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the ozone layer. This day is also known
as “World Ozone Day” or “Global Ozone Day”.

• 16 September 2022 marks the observance of the 28th International Day for the Preservation of the
Ozone Layer.
The theme of International Day for the Preservation of
the Ozone Layer 2022 is “Montreal Protocol@35:
global cooperation protecting life on earth”.
• Note: 16 September 2022 marks
the 35th anniversary of the Montreal
Protocol.
Background:
i.On 19 December 1994, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/49/114
and proclaimed September 16 as International Day to
Preserve the Ozone Layer.
ii.The first International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed on 16th September 1995.
Why 16 September?
The governments of 46 countries across the globe signed the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer” or “Montreal Protocol” on 16 September 1987.
About Ozone:
i.It is a special form of oxygen with the chemical formula O3.
ii.Most ozone resides high up in the atmosphere, between 10 and 40km above Earth’s surface.
• This region is called the stratosphere and it contains about 90% of all the ozone in the atmosphere.
Importance of Ozone:
i.The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus
helping preserve life on the planet.
ii.It protects the human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the
Earth.
iii.The ozone layer is crucial because the sun’s UV (Ultra Violet) radiation is a known cause of cancer, cataracts,
and other health problems.
Important convention related to Ozone layer protection:
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer:
i.The Vienna Convention was adopted and signed by 28 countries, on 22 March 1985.
ii.Under the convention, the United Nations members recognized the fundamental importance of preventing
damage to the stratospheric ozone layer.
Montreal Protocol:
i.The Protocol aims to protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control total global production and
consumption of substances that deplete it.
ii.It is a multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of around 100
man-made chemicals which are referred to as ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
• This is the only UN treaty that has been ratified by all the 198 UN Member States.
iii.The Montreal Protocol phases down the consumption and production of the different ODS in a stepwise
manner with different timetables for developed and developing countries.
Universal ratification
On 16th September 2009, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first treaties in the
history of the United Nations to achieve universal ratification.
Kigali Amendment:
On 15 October 2016 as a continuation of the global effort the Parties to the Montreal Protocol reached an
agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties in Kigali, Rwanda to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and came into force from January
1, 2019.

World Patient Safety Day 2022 – 17 September
World Health Organization’s (WHOs) World Patient Safety Day is annually observed across the world on 17
September to create awareness about various preventative measures which should be taken to make sure
safety of patients.
• The theme of World Patient Safety Day 2022
is ‘Medication Safety’ along with the
slogan ‘Medication Without Harm’.
• This theme has been chosen to specifically
draw attention to the need to improve
systems to support safe medication and
address unsafe practices.
Background:
i.World Patient Safety Day was established by
the 72nd World Health Assembly through the adoption
of resolution WHA 72.6 – ‘Global Action on Patient
Safety’.
ii.The day focuses on preventing and reducing risks, errors, and harm that patients face and also focuses on
increasing the implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.
Objective:
i.The main objective of World Patient Safety Day is to increase public awareness and enhance global
understanding of patient safety.
ii.The Day calls for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to increase patient
safety and reduce patient harm.
Aim:
World Patient Safety Day aims to raise global awareness of medication-related harm caused due to errors and
unsafe practices, which regards patient safety on the global level.
2022 Campaign of World Patient Safety Day:
i.The call for action of the global campaign is “Know Check Ask.” KNOW your medication.; CHECK if you have
the right patient, medicine, route, dose, and time; ASK your patient if they understand.
ii.It is to encourage those who take medication and their caregivers to take an active role in managing their
medication.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia.
Headquartered- Geneva, Switzerland.
Establishment- 1948.
World Bamboo Day 2022 – September 18

World Bamboo Day (WBD) is annually observed across the globe on 18th September to create awareness
about Bamboo, which is considered Green Gold.
• The day aims to promote the cultivation of bamboo for new industries across the world and to ensure
sustainable utilisation of bamboo, a non-wood forest product.
Note – 18th September is also celebrated as the Royal Thai Forestry Day
Background:
i.In 2009, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, Thailand the World Bamboo organisation
(WBO), with the support of the Royal Forest Department of Thailand, formally recognised 18th September as
World Bamboo Day.
ii.The delegates from nearly 100 countries agreed to commemorate this day as World Bamboo Day.
ii.This was initiated by Kamalesh Salam from Assam during his tenure as president of WBO from 2007 to
2009.

• The 1st ever Bamboo day was celebrated on 18th September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Significance:
i.According to the WBO, bamboos grow naturally in many
parts of the world but are not utilised in a sustainable
manner.
ii.WBD promotes the cultivation of bamboo for new
industries around the world and also supports traditional
uses for the economic development of the community.
About Bamboo:
i.Bamboos are native to Asia, Africa, South America, North
America and Australia. India contributes to 2 percent of
bamboo supply and China is the latest producer and
exporter of bamboo with 65 percent of bamboo supply.
ii.The bamboos are used as a food, an alternative of wood for building and construction material and also for
making handicrafts and paper.
iii.They do not require fertilisers, pesticides, or chemicals to grow, as their fallen leaves provide the necessary
nutrients which are recycled back into the soil.
• Bamboos are the fastest growing plant in the world that grows around 30 cm each day and are good
soil binders that benefit in soil conservation.
Bamboos in India:
i.The Indian Forest Act 1927, declared bamboo as a tree which prohibited it from cutting and transporting.
ii.In 2017, after the amendment of section 2(7) of the Indian Forest Act 1927 , parliament declared that
bamboo is not a tree and does not require permission for felling and transporting.
Note – The total Bamboo bearing area in India is estimated to be 15.69 million hectares.
About World Bamboo Organisation (WBO):
Executive director & CEO – Susanne Lucas
Headquarters – Antwerp, Belgium
International Equal Pay Day 2022- September 18

United Nations (UN)’s International Equal Pay Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 18
September to represent the efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value and to
eliminate the sexual discrimination against women and girls in employment, as per the UN’s commitment to
human rights and against all forms of discrimination.
• Across all regions, women are paid less than
men, with the gender pay gap estimated at
around 20% globally.
• 18th September 2022 marks
the 3rd observance of International Equal Pay
Day.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
adopted a resolution A/RES/74/142 on 18 December
2019 and proclaimed the 18th September of every year
as the International Equal Pay Day.
• The first-ever International Equal Pay Day was observed on 18th September 2020.

International Equal Pay Day 2022 event:
On the occasion of International Equal Pay Day, the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) organised a virtual
event at the global level on 18th September 2022 to highlight the pay transparency measures being
implemented in different parts of the world.
About Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC):
EPIC is led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Women, and partners.
Goal: to achieve equal pay for women and men everywhere. By bringing together a diverse set of actors with
different areas of focus and expertise.
• EPIC supports governments, employers, workers, and their organizations to make concrete and
coordinated progress towards this goal.
• It is the only multi-stakeholder partnership working to reduce the gender pay gap at the global, regional
and national levels.
Significance:
i.The day provides a global platform for women to raise the issue through various campaigns. International
Equal Pay Day also encourages people to join the social cause by identifying strategies for its implementation.
ii.According to data from the UN Women, at the global level, women earn 77cents for every dollar men earn for
work of equal value – with an even wider wage gap for women with children. Across the world, women still get
paid 23% less than men.
• At this rate, it will take the next 257 years to close the global gender pay gap.
iii.Women carry out at least two and a half times more unpaid household and care work than men.
iv.2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 5: Gender equality and SDG
8: Decent work and economic growth, address the need to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all
women and girls.
About UN Women:
UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women was created in
2010.
Executive Director- Sima Sami Bahous
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
World Water Monitoring Day 2022: September 18

World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is annually observed across the globe on the 18th of September to
increase public awareness of water monitoring and
recognizes the importance of protecting the world’s
water resources.
Background:
i. World Water Monitoring Day was proclaimed by
America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global
educational outreach program in 2003.
ii. WWMD points out the importance of water monitoring
and an awareness of water pollution issues as well as the
problems that come from overusing and misusing water.
iii. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the
International Water Association (IWA) coordinate the events of WWMD.
Objective:
i. Around 150 countries come together to honour WWMD on September 18.
ii. According to the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), only 0.3% of the Earth’s water is usable by
people. The remaining 99.7 per cent is in the oceans, soils, icecaps, and the atmosphere.
iii. With only 0.3% usable, it is essential that this infinite source continues to be utilised.

Aim:
WWMD aims to get the international outreach program to as many people as possible.
Events:
i. The EarthEcho Water Challenge, formerly known as World Water Monitoring Challenge, is an international
program that runs annually from March 22 (the United Nations(UN)’s World Water Day) through December.
ii. This program provides anyone to protect the water resources on which we depend all day.
iii. In the celebration of WWMD 2022, EarthEcho International, a leading environmental education non-profit,
is joining Xylem, a leading global water technology company, to help anyone take action to protect and restore
water resources.
About the National Ground Water Association (NGWA):
President- Brian Snelten
Headquarters- Westerville, Ohio, United States.
Establishment- 1946
September 17: Hyderabad Liberation Day

On 17th September 2022 Union Home Minister Amit Shah started off Hyderabad Liberation Day (or National
Integration Day) celebrations from the Parade ground in Telangana’s Secunderabad to commemorate 75
years of liberation of Hyderabad.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy also participated in
the event.
Background:
i.At the time of the Partition of India, in 1947, India was divided into British India and Princely states. The
states were acceded to either Pakistan or India.Hyderabad was one of the large princely state.
• Hyderabad with 16 districts including 8 Telangana districts, 5 Marathwada districts and 3 districts of
Karnataka were exempt.
ii.Indian Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel decided to annex Hyderabad, and that led to ‘Operation
Polo’ (Police action against Hyderabad).
• Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th in the line of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, had surrendered
Hyderabad during the Operation and the state was integrated into the territory of India on 17th
September 1948, which is now celebrated as Hyderabad Liberation Day.
Note – 17th September is also celebrated as Marathwada Liberation Day by Maharashtra and Hyderabad-
Karnataka Liberation Day by Karnataka.
International Red Panda Day 2022- September 17

International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is annually observed across the globe on the 3rd Saturday of
September to create awareness about the importance of the conservation of Red Pandas and to promote and
encourage people to save them.
International Red Panda Day (IRPD) 2022 was
• The IRPD 2021 was observed on 18th
September 2021.
• The IRPD 2023 will be observed on 16th
September 2023.
Red Pandas are widely found in the forest mountains of
Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.
Background:
IRPD was introduced in 2010 by the Red Panda
Network (RPN), an organisation dedicated to the
conservation of animals after a steep decline in its population.

• The first-ever International Red Panda Day was observed on 18th September 2010.
About Red Panda:
i. The Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal (slightly larger than a
domestic cat).
ii. They spend most of their time in trees and live alone most of the time. It has reddish-brown fur with a black
belly and legs, white-lined ears & muzzle (nose) and a ringed tail.
iii. According to RPN, it is estimated that there are 10,000 red pandas left in the entire world, and as few as
2,500 red pandas left in the wild.
iv. Red Pandas are listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of
Threatened Species and under Schedule, I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the red panda has the
highest legal protection.
v. Red Pandas were found roughly 50 years before the giant pandas were discovered. For the past 20 years, the
population of Red Pandas has declined by 50% in the world.
vi.The cause of deforestation and the degradation and fragmentation of the Red Panda habitat is because of
rapid human population growth in the Eastern Himalayas.
IRPD Aim:
IRPD aims to spread awareness about the stunted population of these animals and the ways to protect their
habitat.
Primary Threats to Red pandas:
• Habitat Loss.
• Livestock Herding.
• Free-roaming Dogs and Disease.
• Poaching & Illegal Trade.
• Bamboo Lifecycle.
• World Climate Change.
Ways to protect Red Pandas:
i. Red pandas are legally protected in India, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar.
Red Panda Network has become a world leader in efforts to protect red pandas and their habitat.
ii. WWF works with local communities to reduce human impact on the red panda’s habitat.
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2022-17th September

International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day is annually observed across the world on the 3rd Saturday of
September to encourage people to clean up the coastal line and create awareness about the importance of
preserving and protecting the oceans and waterways.
17th September 2022 marks the 37th observance of the ICC Day.
• ICC Day 2021 was observed on 18th September 2021.
• ICC Day 2023 will be observed on 16th September 2023.
Theme:
Every year the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA) joins Ocean Conservancy to commemorate ICC
Day.
• The ASCOA’s theme for ICC Day 2022 is “Connecting People For A Trash Free Coastline”.
The International Coastal Cleanup community drive for 2022 was launched with #SeatheChange to clean up
local beaches, streams, parks etc.
Background:
i.International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that
works to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year.
ii.The first-ever ICC Day was observed in the United States on the west coast of Washington State in 1986.

ICC Day 2022 Events in India:
AIM of ICC Day 2022 in India:
To conduct a cleanliness drive all along 7,500 km of Indian coast line at 75 beaches for 75 minutes with special
emphasis on Plastic Free Ocean to commemorate 75 years of Independence.
i.The ICC Day is annually observed across the globe under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in the South Asian Region to make
efforts to prevent and control marine pollution in the maritime zones of India.
• Since 2006, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been co-ordinating the ICC Day activity in India.
• In addition to ICG, ICC Day 2022 is spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry
of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Services Scheme (NSS), National
Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and various other central & state governments.
Departments and Non-Government Organisations (NGO).
• Aa a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, several activities have been organised from 4th July 2022 (75
days before September 17, 2022) as a run-up to ICC day.
Highlights:
i.The Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari in presence of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh flagged
off the largest coastal clean drive up at Juhu Beach in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the International Coastal Cleanup drive in Mumbai.
• 22 clean awareness drives were organized by the ICG personnel along with NSS and NGO My Green
Society at different locations of Mumbai like Juhu, Girgaon, Versova, Uttan, Madh Marve, Colaba,
Bandra and Worli.
ii.The ‘‘Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar’’ campaign was implemented in a whole of government and nationwide
manner, in which citizens across all coastal states participated to clean the marine junk.
• The campaign is in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 14.
About ECO-Mitram’ app:
On 5 July 2022, a mobile application called ‘ECO-Mitram’ was launched by the Govt. Of India (GoI) to take the
drive to every individual and also to spread awareness about the importance of ICC Day.
International Day of Peace 2022- September 21

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day is annually observed
across the globe on 21 September to strengthen the ideals of peace by following 24 hours of non-violence and
cease-fire.
• The theme of International Day of Peace 2022 is “End racism. Build peace”.
Background:
i.The day was declared by the UN General Assembly in 1981, by which it declared that the 3rd Tuesday of
September and observed during the inaugural session of the annual General Assembly. The 1st International
Day of Peace was celebrated on 21 September 1982.
ii.In 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 21 September as an official date for the International Day of
Peace. The Day will henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
iii. During the International Day of Peace, the UN invites all nations and people to honour an end of hostilities.
iv.The UN Peace Bell is rung at UN headquarters to remember World Peace Day.
Factors that promote a Culture of Peace:
• Seek to understand
• Promote economic and social stability
• Respect all human rights
• Advocate for equality
• Choose democratic principles

The UN’s Peace Bell:
i.In 1954, The ‘Peace Bell’ in the headquarters of the United Nations was donated by Chiyoji Nakagawa, the
former counsellor of the United Nations Association of Japan. It is known as the ‘Japanese Peace Bell’.
ii.The bell rings twice a year:
• On the 1st day of spring at the Vernal Equinox.
• On 21 September to celebrate the International Day of Peace.
iii. The bell was cast from coins and medals donated by the representatives of the Member States, the Pope, and
people, including children from over 60 different nations who supported the idea.
About the United Nations (UN) General Assembly:
President- Csaba Kőrösi(77th President of the General Assembly).
Headquarters- New York, United States.
Establishment- 1945.
World Alzheimer’s Day 2022- September 21

World Alzheimer’s Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 21 September to raise awareness about
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and the importance of a timely diagnosis, warning signs of dementia.
• The day also highlights the need to fight against the stigma that still surrounds Alzheimer’s disease
and dementia.
Note: Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells
to die. It is the most common type of dementia that affects around 50-60% of people with dementia.
World Alzheimer’s Month- September 2022:
i.World Alzheimer’s Month is the international campaign from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) that
takes place every September.
• The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month in September 2022 is ‘Know dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’,
continues on from the 2021 campaign.
• The 2022 campaign is specially focused on post-diagnostic support.
Background:
i.Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched World
Alzheimer’s Day at the opening of ADI’s annual conference in Edinburgh (Scotland) on 21 September 1994.
ii.The first awareness campaign – World Alzheimer’s Month – was piloted in 2010 in 12 countries .
iii.The first ever global campaign for World Alzheimer’s Month was started in 2012.
About Alzheimer’s & dementia:
i.These are degenerative brain diseases, which can destroy the memory and other brain functions of an
individual.
ii.The disease commonly affects people of older age and they find it difficult to remember things as they grow
older.
iii.Alzheimer’s is caused when there are disturbances in the structure of proteins in the brain.
iv.Dementia is an overall term used to describe brain syndrome that affects memory, behaviour and emotions.
Types -Vascular dementia, Lewy Body Disease, Frontotemporal dementia , Alcohol-related dementia , Down
syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease .
About World Alzheimer Report 2022:
• On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, the annual World Alzheimer Report released by
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).
• The World Alzheimer Report 2022 is centred around post-diagnosis support through a series of
expert essays, case studies and shared global experiences from those living with dementia and
carers..

About Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI):
CEO- Paola Barbarino
Headquarters- London,United Kingdom (UK)
Founded- 1984
Railway Protection Force celebrates 38th Raising Day – 20th September 2022
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is annually observed on 20th September as the Raising Day of RPF by the
members of the force and their families.
On 20th September 2022, the RPF celebrated the 38th Raising Day and the parade was organized as a part of
the celebration for the 1st time at the Central Level at Jag Jeewan Ram RPF Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Chief Guest of the Raising Day Parade was Darshana Vikram Jardosh, the Union Minister of
State (MoS) for Railways and Textiles.
Note: The RPF was constituted under the Railway Protection Force Act 1957 for providing security to Railway
property.
Key Highlights:
i.The National Level Parade of RPF for the first time organised the 38th Raising Day outside New Delhi.
ii.MoS Darshana Jardosh appreciates the role of RPF in ensuring safe travel for women passengers and
awarded 23 medals to men in Uniform.
iii. Out of 23, 16 RPF men were awarded for their distinguished service and 7 Officers, including Sarwottam
Jeewan Raksha Padak posthumously to Late Gyan Chand, Head Constable RPF NCR were awarded for the
bravery of saving life while on duty.
Awards Given to 23 Officers:
• President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service
• Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service
• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak
• Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak
• Jeevan Raksha Padak
• Sarwottam Jeewan Raksha Padak
iv.Darshana Jardosh inaugurated the function and hoisted a 100 feet high Monumental National Flag and
unveiled the installation of a Railway Coach with an engine for train intervention training and inaugurated the
renovated main hall of the academy.
i.The Minister has announced the sanction of Rs 55 crores for increasing training facilities in RPF.
ii.She also announced the skill up-gradation training centre on the premises of the 3rd
battalionRPSF (Railway Protection Special Force) for the up-gradation of skills of family members of RPF
officers, especially women at the cost of Rs 3 crore.
International NFT Day 2022- September 20

International NFT (Non-Fungible Token) Day is annually celebrated across the globe on September 20 to
commemorate the anniversary of publication of ‘NFT’ and also to celebrate the efforts of the creators and
collectors in the NFT community.
• On 20th September 2017, The term NFT was officially coined by Dapper Labs Chief Technology
Officer Dete Shirley in the form of the ERC-721 standard.
• ERC-721 became the template for non-fungible tokens.
• NFT is a record on a blockchain which is associated with a particular digital or physical asset.
• The ownership of an NFT is recorded in the blockchain, and can be transferred by the owner,
allowing NFTs to be sold and traded.
• The process of creating an NFT is referred to as “minting,”

SECI celebrates 11th Foundation Day – September 20 2022
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) celebrated its 11th Foundation Day on 20th September
2022.
The SECI, a CPSU (Central Public Sector Undertakings) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE), was established on 20th September 2011 to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar
Mission(NSM). It is the only CPSU dedicated to the solar energy sector.
Raj Kumar Singh, Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy participated as the chief guest of the event and
Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State(MoS) for New and Renewable Energy participated as Guest of Honour.
World Rhino Day 2022 – September 22

World Rhino Day is annually observed across the globe on September 22 to spread awareness about the
different types of Rhinos and the existential risks they face.
• The day is a part of the collective efforts to protect the endangered rhinoceros species across the
world.
• The aim of World Rhino Day is to raise awareness about the African and Asian species of Rhinos and
encourage people to take steps for their protection.
The theme of World Rhino Day 2022 is Five Rhino Species Forever.
The 5 species of Rhino are,
• 2 African rhino species – black and white rhinos.
• 3 Asian rhino species – Greater One-Horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos.
Note: According to the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), critically endangered
species are Javan, Sumatran and Black rhinos; Near Threatened is white rhinos; Vulnerable is Greater One-
Horned.
Background:
i.The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- South Africa announced World Rhino Day in 2010 and was internationally
recognized in 2011. It was popularized by Rhishja Cota and Lisa Jane Campbell.
• The day was first celebrated on 22 September 2010.
About Rhinos:
i.Rhinos are herbivores; they eat grass, plants and fruits.
ii.They can’t see beyond 30 meters, that is how Poachers hunt them easily.
iii. South Africa is home to over 60% of the world’s rhino population. The African Black Rhinos went extinct in
2011.
iv.In 1970, 70,000 Rhinos existed, now 27,000 are in existence.
Primary threats of Rhinos:
• Poaching
• Illegal Trafficking of Rhino Horn
• Climate change
• Loss of Habitat
• Low Population Density
World Car-Free Day 2022- September 22

World Car-Free Day is annually observed across the globe on September 22 to encourage people to give up
their cars for a day and adopt using non-motorized transport like riding a bicycle or walking.
The day highlights the many benefits of going car-free like focusing on environmental conservation and the
reduction of noise and air pollution.
Background;
i.The initial idea of car-free came after the petroleum crisis of 1973. As a response to the excessive increase in
the number of cars, World Car-Free Day was started in the 1990s.
ii.In 2000, the European Commission constituted the Car-Free Day as a European Initiative.

iii. Carbuster, currently known as World Car-free Network (WCN) and Adbusters media foundation launched
and promoted the observance of World Car Free Day as a global observance starting from 2000.
• World Car-free Day (22nd September) coincides with the observance of the European Mobility
week, which is annually observed from 16th to 22nd September.
iv.The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) set the initial annual Car-Free Day on the 1st Tuesday in
their Green Transport Week in the 2nd half (around 17 June). In 2000, it was agreed to make it a self-standing
day held on September 22.
Significance of the World Car-Free Day:
i.According to WCN, World Car-Free Day is the perfect opportunity to show how cities might look without
sound, traffic and pollution.
ii.The World Health Organization reported that environmental air pollution alone caused roughly 4.2 million
deaths in 2016.
iii. The result of going car-free was witnessed with France’s 1st ‘journée sans voiture’ (day without a car) in
Paris in September 2015, which was found reduced exhaust emissions by 40%.
International Day of Sign Languages 2022 – September 23

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is annually observed across the globe on
the 23rd of September to support and protect the linguistic and cultural identity of deaf people and others who
use sign language.
• 23rd September 2022, marks the observance of the 5th IDSL.
• The Day is celebrated as part of the International Week of the Deaf People 2022 (19-25 September).
The theme of the International Day of Sign Languages 2022 is Sign Language Unite Us.
Background:
i.The IDSL was proposed by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of 135 national associations
of deaf people.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/161 on 19th December
2017 and proclaimed the 23rd of September of every year as the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL)
• The first-ever International Day of Sign Languages was observed across the globe on 23rd
September 2018.
Why September 23?
The date 23rd September was chosen to remember the day on which the WFD was established in Rome, Italy,
in 1951(23 September).
About Sign Language:
i.Sign language is a non-verbal language that helps Deaf people to connect with their social environment.
ii.According to the WFD, there are over 70 million deaf people worldwide and 300 different sign languages are
used by them.
iii. The 1st Sign Language school for deaf children was founded in Paris, France by Abbé de l’Épée in 1755.
International Week of the Deaf People (IWDP) 2022-19 to 25 September:
The International Week of the Deaf People (IWDP) is annually observed across the world in the last full
concluding on the final Sunday week in September.
The WFD initiated the International Week of the Deaf and 1st launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy.
The theme of the IWDP 2022 is Building Inclusive Communities for All.
The IWDP 2022 is observed from 19th September to 25th September.
• The IWDP 2021 was observed from 20th September to 26th September 2021.
• The IWDP 2023 will be observed from 17th September to 24th September 2023.
Daily themes:
Date Theme
19 September Sign Languages in Education

20 September Sustainable economic opportunities for deaf people
21 September Health for All
22 September Safeguarding deaf people in times of crisis
23 September Sign Languages Unite Us!
24 September Intersectional Deaf Communities
25 September Deaf Leadership for Tomorrow
About the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD):
President- Joseph Murray
Headquarters- Helsinki, Finland
Establishment- 23 September 1951
World Rose Day 2022- September 22

World Rose Day is celebrated annually across the globe on 22 September to encourage and acknowledge
cancer survivors all over the world.
• World Rose Day 2022 is a symbol of hope for cancer patients.
• The day aims to bring happiness and hope into the lives of such patients and reminds them that they
can emerge victorious in their battle against cancer through determination and positivity.
Note: World Rose Day is also known as “Day for Welfare of Cancer Patients”.
About Melinda Rose:
i.World Rose Day is observed in the remembrance of Melinda Rose, a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed
with Askin tumour is a rare neoplasm of thoracic pulmonary region in the year 1994. She passed away in
1996.
ii.During her cancer journey, Melinda Rose wrote poems, wishes, and messages for other cancer patients as a
gesture of hope.
Significance of World Rose Day:
i.World Rose Day is observed to support and motivate all cancer patients to fight back and come out as strong
survivors.
ii.Cancer is one of the chronic diseases that is the cause of millions of deaths globally. .
iii.World Rose Day is important as it provides inner strength and motivation to the patients to keep moving
forward.
World Pharmacist Day 2022 – September 25

World Pharmacists Day(WPD) is annually observed across the globe on 25th September to encourage
pharmacists and value their contributions and to promote and raise awareness about their profession.
• The WPD Campaign, annually led by International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP – Federation
Internationale Pharmaceutique), provides an opportunity to promote the pharmacy profession.
According to FIP, the theme of World Pharmacists Day 2022 is “Pharmacy united in action for a
healthier world”.
Background:
i.The idea of the celebration of World Pharmacist Day was proposed by the Turkish Pharmacists
Association at the 2009 council meeting of the FIP Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey.
ii.The Council unanimously accepted the proposal to designate the 25th September of every year as World
Pharmacist Day.
• The first ever World Pharmacist Day was observed on 25th September 2010.

Why September 25th?
25th September was chosen to celebrate World Pharmacy Day(WPD) to mark the date of the
establishment of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). FIP was established on 25th
September 1912.
Significance:
i.Pharmacists play a major role in the healthcare industry and they take care of every individual in society.
It is important to celebrate their hard work.
ii.Pharmacists, with the right responsibilities and in the right environments are crucial to ensuring the
delivery of safe medical care and reducing adverse medication-related harm events in patients.
About International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP):
President- Dominique Jordan (Switzerland)
CEO- Dr Catherine Duggan
Headquarters- The Hague, Netherlands
Antyodaya Diwas 2022- September 25

Antyodaya Diwas is annually celebrated across India on 25th September to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Indian politician Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, leader of the political party Bharatiya
Jana Sangh (BJS), the forerunner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and remember his life and legacy.
• He was one of the most prominent personalities in the history of Indian politics.
• 25 September 2022 marks 106th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• ‘Antyodaya’ is one of the concepts promoted by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya which literally
means, ‘the rise of the last person’
Objective:
The day aims at reaching the weakest section of the society and to provide inclusive growth so that no
member of the society is left behind.
Background:
i.On 25th September 2014, the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the government of
India (GOI) led by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared the 25th September of every year as
“Antyodaya Diwas ” to honour Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
ii.25th September 2014 also marks the day on which the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD)
revamped the Aajeevika Skills, a skill development program as “Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen
Kaushalya Yojana” (DDU-GKY) a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
About the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:
i.Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was born on 25th September 1916 in Nagla Chandrabhan (present day
Deendayal Dham), Mathura, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
ii.His philosophical idea of ” Integral humanism ” was adopted as the official doctrine of the Jan Sangh in
1965 and later the Bharatiya Janata Party .
iii.In 1940, he started the monthly publication Rashtra Dharma, broadly meaning ‘National Duty’.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM:
Aajeevika – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) or Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM was
launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in June 2011.
• The investment support is provided by the World Bank.
World Rivers Day 2022- September 25

World Rivers Day is annually observed across the globe on the 4th Sunday of September to promote
awareness about the importance of rivers and the increasing threat posed to rivers by climate change.
World Rivers Day 2022 was observed on 25th September 2022.

• World Rivers Day 2021 was observed on 26th September 2021.
• World Rivers Day 2023 will be observed on 24th September 2023.
The theme for World Rivers Day 2022 is ‘The importance of Rivers to Biodiversity’.
Background:
i. World Rivers Day was 1st observed in 2005 following the launch of the United Nations (UN)’s
‘International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015‘.
ii. The day (World Rivers Day) was initiated by Mark Angelo, a Canadian river conservationist.
iii. The initiative to celebrate rivers was based on the success of British Columbia (BC) Rivers Day,
Canada’s largest river appreciation event since 1980.
About Mark Angelo:
i. Mark Angelo is the founder and chair of both BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day, an event now
embraced by millions of people in up to 100 countries.
ii. In 2009, Mark Angelo was appointed as the inaugural chair of the Rivers Institute at the British
Columbia Institute of Technology.
iii. He was the long-time head of the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program at the British Columbia
Institute of Technology (BCIT).
iv. He has received the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada (Canada’s highest honour) in
recognition of his river conservation efforts over the past 40years.
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2022 – September 26
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is annually
observed across the globe on 26 September to raise public awareness regarding the risk created by
nuclear weapons.
• The day highlights the need to eliminate nuclear weapons and the social & economic cost of
extending them.
Background:
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/68/32 on 26 September 2013
and declared 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
ii. The 1st ever International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed on 26th
September 2014.
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones:
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ), a regional approach, was established to strengthen global nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament norms and consolidate international efforts toward peace and
security.
The UNGA resolution (3472 (XXX) B) defines an NWFZ as
• The statute of total absence of nuclear weapons to which the zone shall be subject, including the
procedure for the delimitation of the zone.
• An international system of verification and control is established to guarantee compliance with
the obligations deriving from that statute.
• The Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT) took place at the United Nations Headquarters from 1 – 26 August 2022.
Treaties Involved in the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones:
• Treaty of Tlatelolco- The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America & Caribbean
became the 1st nuclear-weapon-free zone, which was opened for signature in 1967.
• Treaty of Rarotonga– The South Pacific became the second nuclear-weapon-free zone in 1985.
• Treaty of Bangkok- The Southeast Asia became third Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in 1997.

• START I (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was a bilateral treaty between the United
States and the Soviet Union on the reduction and the limitation of strategic offensive arms.
• Treaty of Pelindaba- Africa became the fourth nuclear-weapon-free zone in 1996.
• Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia- Central Asia became the fifth
nuclear-weapon-free zone in 2006.
• On 3 February 2021, the Parties agreed to extend the Treaty between the United States of
America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of
Strategic Offensive Arms (“new START”) until 4 February 2026.
• Currently, 5 NWFZs, covering most of the Southern Hemisphere and Central Asia. whereas,
Antarctica and Mongolia have a special Nuclear-Weapon-Free status.
About the United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General- António Guterres
Headquartered- New York, United States
World Contraception Day 2022 – September 26

World Contraception Day (WCD) is annually observed across the globe on 26 September to improve
awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and
reproductive health.
• This campaign emphasises the value of reproductive health while shedding light on birth
control options.
Background:
i. World Contraception Day was established by the 10 International Family Planning Organizations.
ii. The first-ever World Contraception Day was observed on 26 September 2007.
iii. The day is supported by about 15 international Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), medical &
scientific communities, and governmental organizations for imparting the right knowledge about sexual
and reproductive health.
Significance:
According to World Health Organization (WHO), the significance of World Contraception Day is captured
in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all UN Member States in 2015.
Importance of Sexual & reproductive health-care Services:
i. Sexual & reproductive health-care services includes preventing and treating sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
ii. This can also bring patients into the health care system, encouraging diagnosis and treatment of other
diseases and conditions.
iii. Sexual & reproductive health-care services and SGDs: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, Target 3.7 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states: ‘by 2030 to
ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning,
information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and
programmes’.
Key Points:
i.Around 257 million women do not use safe, modern methods of contraception to avoid the pregnancy,
while 172 million women out of 257 do not use any method for the same .
ii. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the only United Nations agency addresses family planning.

World Environment Health Day 2022 – September 26
The World Environmental Health Day (WEHD) is annually observed across the world on 26th September
to raise awareness about the important role of environmental health and to highlight the environmental
concerns on human health.
• The day aims to promote the improvement of environmental parameters and services of
environmental health professionals.
The theme for the 2022 WEHD is “Strengthening Environmental Health Systems for the implementation
of the Sustainable Development Goals”.
• On the WEHD various seminars, workshops and quizzes are conducted to raise awareness about
environmental health issues.
Background:
i.On 26th September 2011, the Board of Directors of the International Federation of Environmental
Health (IFEH) signed and proclaimed the 26th September of every year as “World Environment Health
Day”.
ii.The first WEHD was officially held on 26th September 2011.
Significance:
i.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one fourth of the global burden of disease can be
prevented by healthier environments.
• A healthy environment ensures clean air, sanitation, hygiene, stable climate, adequate water,
protection from radiation, safe use of chemicals, healthy and safe workplaces, sound
agricultural practices, and a preserved nature.
ii.Environmental Health plays a major role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) which is included in 7 SDGs, 19 targets and 30 indicators of the SDGs.
• The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 as a universal call to action to end
poverty, protect the planet, and also ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity
in life.
About International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH):
President – Henroy Scarlett
Establishment –1986
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)
World Tourism Day 2022 – September 27

The United Nations (UN)’s World Tourism Day (WTD) is annually observed across the globe on 27
September to raise awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social,
cultural, political and economic value.
• The WTD was initiated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
• 27th September 2022 marks the observance of the 42nd World Tourism Day.
• Host Country of WTD 2022: Indonesia
The theme of World Tourism Day for 2022 is ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
Background:
i. WTD was established during the 3rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Torremolinos, Spain, in
September 1979.
ii. The 1st ever World Tourism Day was observed on 27 September 1980.
Why September 27?
The date ‘September 27’ marks the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.

Celebration of WTD 2022:
i. The host country for the 42nd Edition of World Tourism Day 2022 is Indonesia and the official celebration of
WTD 2022 is celebrated in Bali, Indonesia.
ii. The World Tourism Day 2022 is held on 26 – 28 September 2022 at the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua, Bali,
Indonesia.
iii. The year 2022 is expected to witness the rebuilding of tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, while tourism
got hit hard by the pandemic.
Note:
• In 1997, the UNWTO General Assembly decided to designate a host country annually to act as the
Organization’s partner in the celebration of World Tourism Day.
• In 2019, India is the host country for World Tourism Day 2019.
Impact assessment of COVID-19 on tourism:
i. Tourism is one of the most affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting economies, livelihoods,
public services and opportunities on all continents.
ii. The impact of the pandemic on tourism resulted in USD 4.5 trillion loss to the global economy.
iii. The enormous economic and social impacts put 100 million direct tourism jobs at risk.
Glasgow Declaration:
i. The UNWTO-led Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism has seen a surge of signatures,
demonstrating how destinations and companies are proactive in adjusting to meet challenges and obligations.
• The Glasgow Declaration was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
ii. Glasgow Declaration is a voluntary commitment to accelerate climate action in tourism and to secure strong
commitments to supporting the global goals to divide emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
• Over 450 organizations have become signatories of this declaration.
About the United Nations World Trade Organisation (UNWTO):
Secretary-General– Zurab Pololikashvili
Headquarters– Madrid, Spain
Members– 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members.
World Rabies Day 2022 – September 28

World Rabies Day 2022 is annually observed across the globe on 28th of September to celebrate rabies
prevention efforts and unite against rabies.
The day also marks the death anniversary of the famous French chemist and microbiologist, Louis
Pasteur, who developed the first anti-rabies vaccine. Louis Pasteur died on 28th September 1895.
• 28th September 2022 marks the 16th observance of World Rabies Day.
The theme of World Rabies Day 2022 is “Rabies: One Health, Zero Death”, which highlights the relation
between the environment with both people and animals.
Background:
i.In 2007, World Rabies Day was established by Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), a non-profit
organization that aims to eliminate death from canine rabies by 2030, and recognised by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
• It is an event designed to be inclusive, uniting people, organizations, and stakeholders across all
sectors against rabies
ii.The first World Rabies Day was observed on 28 September 2007.
About Rabies Vaccine:
i.Rabies vaccine is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection caused by the rabies virus.
ii.In 1885, Louis Pasteur developed the earliest effective vaccine against rabies that was first used to treat a
human bite victim.

iii.He administered his first experimental rabies vaccine to a 9-year-old boy named Joseph Meister on 6 July
1885.
About Rabies:
i.It is a zoonotic viral disease. It is caused by the Rabies virus, of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family
Rhabdoviridae.
• It is a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey,
etc).
• It is invariably transmitted following a bite of a rabid animal that leads to deposition of the saliva
and the virus in the wound.
ii.Dogs are the most common animals affected by rabies all around the world. More than 99 percent of rabies in
humans is caused by dog bites.
• Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% vaccine-preventable.
iii.Major health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal
Health (WOAH), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working together
to eliminate rabies deaths in people that are caused by dogs by 2030.
Note-The GARC aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 at the global level.
About Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC):
Headquarters- Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America (USA)
Executive Director- Prof. Louis Nel
International Day for Universal Access to Information 2022 – September 28

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is annually observed
across the globe on 28 September to raise awareness regarding the need to expand laws related to information.
• International Day for Universal Access to Information 2022 is observed on 28 September 2022.
• 28 September 2022 marks the 3rd celebration of International Day for Universal Access to
Information 2022.
Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2022
Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2022 organised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 28th & 29th
September 2022 launched the 2022 edition of the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
• The theme of the Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2022 is “Artificial
Intelligence, e-Governance and Access to Information“.
• The theme focuses on the importance of artificial intelligence, e-Governance, and Access to
Information, in addition, to the role of media and information literacy and open access.
Background:
i. The IDUAI was proclaimed by the 38th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) General Conference in 2015.
ii. On 15th October 2019, the 74th UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/5 and
declared 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
iii. The 1st UN International Day for Universal Access to Information was observed on 28 September 2020.
Note: 135 countries in the world have been issued access to Information laws, with six having passed new
rules during the COVID-19 period between 2020 & 2021.
Objective:
The IDUAI is annually observed to recognize the importance of the right of access to information for defending
other human rights, restoring trust, and advancing inclusive, democratic societies.
Universal Access to Information
i. Access to Information is an integral part of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, as recognized
by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

ii. The Universal Access to Information states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses
the freedom “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
About the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director General- Ms Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters- Paris, France
Establishment- 1945
World Heart Day 2022- September 29

World Heart Day 2022 is annually observed across the globe on 29 September to raise awareness about the
rising concerns of heart health and, cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
• The day also highlights the importance of the prevention of CVDs and their global impacts.
• CVD, including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 18.6 million
lives each year.
• The theme for World Heart Day 2022 is “Use Heart For Every Heart’’. It is based on the three key
beneficiaries i.e Use heart for humanity, Use Heart for Nature, and Use heart for you.
The day aims to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy
diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided.
Background:
i.The idea of World Heart Day was proposed by Antoni Bayés de Luna, former President of the World Heart
Federation (WHF) (1997-1999).
ii.In 1999, the WHF and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated to the establishment of World
Heart Day and proclaimed the last Sunday of September as World Heart Day.
iii.Since 2011, World Heart Day has been observed annually on 29th September.
• The first-ever World Heart Day was observed on 24th September 2000.
Significance:
i.World Heart Day is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments
around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others.
ii.The WHF unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden and inspires
and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD):
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary
heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart
disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
• The Risk factors that lead to heart disease and stroke include, High blood pressure, cholesterol and
glucose levels, Smoking, Improper diet, and Obesity.
About World Heart Federation (WHF):
President- Prof Fausto Pinto
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2022 – September 29

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is annually
observed across the globe on 29 September to raise awareness about reducing food loss and waste.
• The Food and Nutrition Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
collaborate to facilitate the observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and
Waste and jointly organize a global event.
• 29 September 2022 marks the observance of the 3rd IDAFLW.
The global event of International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2022 focuses on “Stop Food Loss
and Waste! For People and Planet“.

Background:
i. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/209 on 19 December 2019 and
declared 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
ii. The 1st International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste was observed on 29 September 2020.
Significance:
The UNGA observes the IDAFLW to raise awareness of the importance of the problem and its possible solutions
at all levels, and to promote global efforts and collective action towards meeting SDG (Sustainable
Development Goals) 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Food Loss and Waste across the World:
i. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an estimated 14% of the world’s food is
lost between harvest and retail; and an estimated 17% of total production is wasted (11% in households, 5% in
the food service and 2% in retail).
ii. Food Loss and Waste (FLW) accounts for 38 % of total energy usage in the global food system.
Note: All the resources that were used to produce food – including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go
to waste when food is lost or wasted.
Significance of Reducing Food Loss and Waste:
i. Reducing FLW is seen as a way to lower production costs, and improve food security and nutrition.
ii. The FLW contributes to environmental sustainability, notably by easing the pressure on natural resources
and decreasing Green-House Gas (GHG) emissions.
SDG of FLW:
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12.3: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and
consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses”
highlight the need to accelerate collective actions to reduce food loss and waste.
• SDG target 12.3 has two components, Losses and Waste that should be measured by two separate
indicators: a Food Waste Index (FWI) and a Food Loss Index (FLI).
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director- Inger Andersen
Headquarters- Nairobi, Kenya
Establishment- 1972
Regiment of Artillery celebrated 196th Gunners Day

The Regiment of Artillery, an operational arm of the Indian Army, annually celebrates the 28th of
September as “Gunners Day” to commemorate the raising of the 5th(Bombay) Mountain Battery, the first
Indian Artillery unit on September 28, 1827.
28th September 2022 marks the observance of 196th Gunners Day.
• 5th is the oldest Indian Mountain Battery and the only one that served in the Second Sikh War at the
Seige of Mooltan in 1849.
• On the occasion of the 196th Gunners day, various ceremonies and events were organised to pay
homage to the Bravehearts who laid down their lives in service to the Nation and to inculcate a
sense of pride and achievement amongst all ranks of Indian Artillery.
APPS & WEB PORTAL

Union Minister Dr Manshukh Mandaviya Launches IPDMS 2.0 & Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App
On August 29, 2022, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, addressed
the Silver Jubilee (25 years) Celebrations of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in New
Delhi, Delhi.

• At the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the Integrated Pharmaceutical
Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS 2.0) and the upgraded Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App.
Dignitaries
Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, was the guest of honour. On
the occasion, participants included Stakeholders from the Pharmaceutical and MedTech device industries,
Central & State Governments, Price Monitoring & Resource Units, Civil Society, patient advocacy groups,
Pharmaceutical Research & Academic Institutions, Think-Tanks, and the national media.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
On August 29, 1997, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers,
established the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) as an attached office.
• Since July 2008, it has been under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers.
It performs a wide range of tasks, including implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Drugs Price
Control Order (DPCO), monitoring the availability of drugs, identifying any shortages, and taking corrective
action.
Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS 2.0)
IPDMS 2.0 is an integrated responsive cloud-based application developed by NPPA with technical assistance
from the Centre for Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
• It is intended to maximize operational efficiencies to support the government’s focus on “Ease of
Doing Business”.
It would offer a single portal for submissions of multiple forms as required by the Drug Price Control Order
(DPCO), 2013.
• It would also enable paperless functioning of NPPA and allow stakeholders from across India to
engage with the National Pharma Pricing Regulator.
Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App
The Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App will have new features such as speech recognition; search for medicines by
brand/formulation, availability in Hindi and English, a sharing function, a customer complaint management
system, and bookmarking medicines.
• It will be available on both iOS and Android.
It is an online tool for searching medicine substitutes as well as instantly checking the price of both Scheduled/
Non-Scheduled medicines at the time of purchase.
• Online complaints may be filed regarding medicine overpricing, unavailability, the sale of new
medicines without prior price approval of NPPA, supply denial, and the selling of any medicine
through the app.
Launching of A Publication Chronicling The 25 Years’ Journey of NPPA
During the inaugural session, a publication titled “An Overview of Drug Pricing @ NPPA 25 Year
Odyssey” was also released.
• The publication also describes the development of India’s drug regulatory system, with a focus on
pricing regulation.
Initiatives of the Government of India in the Health Sector
i.In the union budget for 2014–15, the Government of India (GoI) declared that two essential initiatives—
the Free Drug Service and the Free Diagnosis Service —would be prioritized in order to pursue “Health for
All”.
ii.The GoI developed operational guidelines as well as a Model RFP (Request for Proposal) for implementing
the Free Drug Service Initiative of the National Health Mission (NHM), which emphasized generic drug
procurement.
• It supports the free distribution of essential drugs at public health facilities.

iii.The Free Drug Service Initiative is supported not just with regard to medicines but also with regard to a
number of other elements, such as the strengthening or establishment of reliable mechanisms for quality
control and procurement.
iv.States were given incentives under NHM to implement the Free Drug Service Initiative and to further provide
everyone with access to affordable medicines.
• The policy of offering free essential medicines in public health facilities has subsequently been
announced in all states.
v.The Department of Pharmaceuticals introduced the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
(PMBJP) in November 2008, under which special outlets called Janaushadhi Kendras are opened to provide
generic medicines at reasonable prices.
On July 21, 2022, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers formally
introduced 3 sub schemes under the parent scheme “Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry” (SPI). The
Sub Schemes Under SPI are: Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS); Assistance
to Pharma Industries for Common Facilities Scheme (API-CF); Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Promotion
and Development Scheme (PMPDS). These schemes aim to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) in the pharmaceutical industry.
About Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:
Union Minister – Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Bhagwanth Khuba
Uttarakhand Education Department Launches e-Governance Portal – Samarth

On 30th August 2022 Uttarakhand’s education department launched an e-governance
portal, ‘Samarth’, which will provide all administrative and educational updates.
• The updates include information on entrance examinations, salary structures, appointments from 5
state universities and 140 public schools.
Key highlights:
i.A teacher-sharing format will be developed in future to provide quality education to students which connects
multiple private and government schools across India.
• This portal also provides access to 40 academic study modules
ii.Around 200 assistant professors of science subjects will be sent to the Indian Institute of
Science (IIS), Bengaluru for special training, while state university teachers will receive training in the Indian
Institute of Management (IIM), Kashipur.
Note – Uttarakhand government will implement the New Education Policy (NEP-2020) from September 2022.
About Uttarakhand:
Governor – Gurmit Singh
Festivals – Uttarayani Mela or Uttarayani Fai, Nandadevi Mela
Rivers – River Ganga, Yamuna River
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Launches “CAPF e-Awas” Portal

Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has launched the “CAPF e-Awas“ portal for the
purpose of allocating residential quarters to the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, in New Delhi,
Delhi.
• The “CAPF e-Awas” portal, which promotes transparency and accountability, would abolish the
“caste system” in the allocation of residential quarters to jawans.
Background
i.In the CAPFs, a mechanism has been established under which only personnel of the force for whom the houses
have been built are eligible to receive them. As a result, thousands of houses have been unoccupied.

• The introduction of the e-Awas portal has rectified it, and now personnel from other CAPFs will have
access to vacant houses.
ii.The Housing Satisfaction Ratio, which was around 33 % in 2014 and 48 % in 2022, with the launch of the
CAPF e-Awas portal, will increase by 13 % without construction of new buildings. It is expected to reach 73 %
by November 2024.
Initiatives of the GoI for the Welfare of Jawans
i.The MHA and the National Health Authority (NHA) have jointly launched the ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme to
deliver cashless healthcare services to serving CAPF personnel and their dependents through the
“Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana”(AB-PMJAY) IT (Information Technology) platform.
• The NHA is the apex organisation in charge of implementing India’s flagship public health
insurance/assurance scheme, AB-PMJAY, as well as the “National Digital Health Mission” to
develop a National Digital Health Eco-system.
ii.It covers the CAPF personnel from all 7 forces: Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial
Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National
Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• It was launched in Assam in 2021 and will be implemented gradually across India in a phased
manner.
• Till date, 56,000 bills worth more than Rs. 31 crore have been paid, while more than 35 lakh
Ayushman Cards have been distributed to 10 lakh personnel.
iii.An e-Transfer software has been developed to make the transfer of CAPF staff more transparent
• This allows the posting to be linked to the age and health of the Jawans.
• The software is now being utilized experimentally by the CISF and ITBP.
iv.The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) is in place to support technical and post-graduate
education for the widows and wards of deceased/ex-service personnel of the Armed Forces.
• The scheme is funded out of the National Defence Fund (NDF) administered by the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO).
• More than 80 additional courses have been introduced to the PMSS since it only had 42 previously.
The central ex-gratia has also been increased by making it more scientific.
v.A slew of initiatives has been done to strengthen the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar, including the
implementation of air courier services.
In August 2022, In a National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
website ranked first under the Central Ministries Portal. The Digital Police Portal is ranked number 2 under
the Central Ministry Services Portal. This was unveiled in the National e-Governance Service Delivery
Assessment done by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in
collaboration with its knowledge partners, NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services
Companies) and KPMG in 2021.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister – Amit Shah (Gandhi Nagar Constituency, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Nityanand Rai; Ajay Kumar Mishra; Nisith Pramanik
Meghalaya CM Sangma Unveils “Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act” Portal
Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister (CM) of Meghalaya has launched a multi-purpose web portal for
the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016. The web portal can be accessed
at http://megrssa.nic.in.
• Objective: To improve the provision of a range of government services, gather intelligence, and
guarantee the safety and security of the residents.
The web-based security system is initially being implemented in seven localities of Shillong (Meghalaya):
Nongrim Hills, Lapalang, Nongmynsong, Nongrah, Pohkseh, Riat Laban, and Wahdienglieng.

Key Points:
i.The web application was designed and developed by the Government of Meghalaya in association with the
National Informatics Centre (NIC) Meghalaya.
ii.The digitisation initiative would connect over 6,000 villages and localities in Meghalaya to the online system.
iii.It allows landlords, tenants, and local authorities in the localities and sub-localities to register and enter
rental unit information.
iv.The “Dorbar Shnongs” (traditional village institutions of Meghalaya) have also adopted a number of
preventative measures to ensure the safety of the residents.
Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016
i.The MRSSA, 2016 has been implemented by the Government of Meghalaya to ensure and improve the security
of the citizens of the state.
• It ensures it by conducting a careful and thorough investigation on all tenants living in the state.
ii.The implementation of the act will prohibit anti-social elements from seeking refuge in the state.
• It will also provide a regulatory mechanism to prevent unlawful infiltration or illegal migrants from entering
and residing in the localities.
J&K Police launched the ‘JK ECop’ Application for Emergency Services
J&K Police has launched the online mobile application ‘JK Ecop’ in Jammu and Kashmir. It was provided to
make an easy way to use networks to facilitate the common people.
• The application enables people to use a host of services ranging from registering a complaint to
downloading a copy of an FIR (First Information Report).
• As per the J&K Police, this app is a single-way solution for almost all police related problems like
reporting violations, the status of highways, seeking emergency help, etc.
Dr Jitendra Singh launches “Swachhata” Portal for the Special Campaign 2.0
Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh
launched the exclusive “Swachhata” Portal for the Special Campaign 2.0, which is scheduled to begin on
October 2, 2022, to 31st October 2022. It is dedicated to Swachhata and reducing the pendency of work in
Government offices.
• The portal was developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
(DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions(MoPP&P).
• The Special Campaign 2.0 will focus more on field/outstation offices in addition to the Ministries/
Departments and their attached/subordinate offices and the DARPG will oversee the
implementation of the Special campaign 2.0.
• He also released 3 reports of DARPG-the Special Campaign July Progress Report, the Centralised
Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) 7. 0 Brochure and the CPGRAMS
Monthly Progress Report for August 2022.
Manipur CM Biren Singh launches ‘CM Da Haisi’ Portal to address Public Grievances
On 19th September 2022, the Chief Minister (CM) of Manipur, N Biren Singh launched the ‘CM Da Haisi’ (Let’s
inform the CM) web portal in Imphal, Manipur, where the public can raise their grievances on the web portal.
• The portal enables people to quickly rectify their grievances and provides a platform to raise corruption-
related issues. The web portal will further enable the government to bring transparency and
accountability to governance.
• Of the given 3 numbers, 2 numbers are for anti-corruption cell number and the remaining is for public
grievances.
• The Public Grievance Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell have received a total of 134 complaints since
March 2022. 85% of the complaints have been resolved and communicated to the complainants.

Minister of Education & Skill Development Launches SCALE App for Skill Development in
Leather Sector
Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan launched
the SCALE (Skill Certification Assessment for Leather Employees) app during his visit to the Council of
Scientific & Industrial Research – Central Leather Research Institute(CSIR-CLRI), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• SCALE, an Android app developed by the Leather Skill Sector Council (LSSC), provides a one-stop
solution for the skilling, learning, assessment, and employment needs of the leather industry.
Key highlights:
i.The SCALE app allows people from all age groups interested in leather craft to access online live-streamed
classes from the state-of-the-art studio at its office.
ii.The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC),
CLRI, and Leather Sector Skill Council will collaborate to set up Common Facility and Skilling Centre across
India.
iii.NSDC and CSIR-CLRI will work together for addressing the skilling needs the leather sector and a national
level capacity building program will be held at CSIR-CLRI for augmenting the capacities of professionals in the
sector.
MoAFW & MoFPI Launch a Convergence Portal to Facilitate Food Processing Enterprises
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(MoFPI) together unveiled a ‘Convergence Portal’ for three flagship schemes at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi,
Delhi.
It was launched between the
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF),
• the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and
• the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
Dignitaries
Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Pashupati Kumar Paras, Minister of Food
Processing Industries & Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS), MoAFW.
Significance of the Convergence Portal
i.Through this convergence, eligible beneficiaries of the PMFME and PMKSY credit-linked subsidies can get
avail an additional benefit of Interest Subvention @3% on the interest rate being charged by the banks over
and above the 35% of subsidy being provided under the PMFME Scheme.
ii.To facilitate project approval under both schemes, the AIF Management Information System (MIS) portal has
been modified to accept applications from PMFME and PMKSY beneficiaries.
iii.The ultimate objective is the sustained economic growth of farmers and food processing entrepreneurs in
rural areas and increasing their income.
• It also seeks to ensure that all beneficiaries receive the benefits of the schemes and give them
financial, technical, and professional empowerment.
• To ensure that the beneficiaries of AIF, PMFME, and PMKSY received the maximum benefits, a
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was also issued.
• The initiative will contribute to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat by promoting the concept of “Vocal For
Local.”
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
i.The AIF is a medium-to-long-term debt financing facility that commenced on July 8, 2020, for the development
of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
• Implementing Agency – Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)
• Benefits – A 3% interest subvention and credit guarantee support till 2032-33.
iii.A provision of Rs. 1 lakh crore has been made under this scheme from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
iv.It has the facility of convergence with any other State or Central Government scheme.

• The National Horticulture Board’s commercial horticulture development and cold storage
development schemes have already undergone AIF convergence under the Integrated Nutrient
Management (INM) Division of MoAFW.
Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme
i.The PMFME scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme, was introduced on June 29, 2020, in order to increase the
competitiveness of individual microenterprises in the unorganized segment and encourage the formalisation of
this sector.
• Implementing Agency – Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
• The scheme offers financial, business, and technical support for upgrading micro food processing
enterprises in India.
ii.The PMFME scheme will give a 35% credit linked subsidy for the establishment of micro food processing
units with a maximum subsidy limit of Rs 10 lakh and common infrastructure with a maximum subsidy limit of
Rs. 3 crore.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
The PMKSY, a Central Sector Scheme, is envisioned as a holistic framework that will develop modern
infrastructure with effective supply chain management from the farm to the retail outlet.
• Implementing Agency – Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
It is an umbrella scheme with sub-schemes such as
• Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters (APC)
• Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC or UNIT)
• Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (CCI)
• Food Testing Lab (FTL)
• Operation Greens (OG)
• Research & Development Scheme (R&D)
In accordance with the requirements for each sub-scheme, the scheme provides for a 35% grant of Eligible
Project Cost for General and 50% for SC/ST/Difficult Areas, up to a maximum of Rs.5 crores to Rs.15 crores.
In July 2022, under the PMFME scheme, MoFPI signed a MoU with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India (NAFED) & Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) to
boost marketing and branding activities of beneficiaries. Two State-level brands including “AASNAA ” brand
from Punjab and the “BHIMTHADI” brand from Maharashtra also launched.
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI):
Union Minister – Pashupati Kumar Paras (Hajipur Constituency, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS) – Prahlad Singh Patel
Government launches ISL Mobile App ‘Sign Learn’ with 1,000 words
On 23rd September 2022, the Government of India launched an Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary mobile
app named ‘Sign Learn’ which contains 1,000 words.This is based on the dictionary of Indian Sign Language
Research And Training Centre (ISLRTC).
• ‘Sign Learn’ was launched by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice and
Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik, at the event of “Sign Language Day” on 23rd September 2022,
New Delhi, Delhi.
• The app is available on Android and iOS (iPhone Operating System) versions, and the words in the
app can be searched in Hindi or English medium.
e-Content of NCERT with ISLRTC:
i.On 6th October 2020, ISLRTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council of
Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to change NCERT textbooks from Class I to XII into Indian Sign
Language (digital format) to make the textbooks accessible to the children with hearing disabilities.
• Recently in 2022, ISL e-Content of NCERT textbooks of class 6 was launched.

iii. Under the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ campaign, the Government launched ISL versions of selected books of
the National Book Trust’s ‘Veergatha’ series.
iv.With the joint effort of ISLRTC and NCERT, 500 academic words in Indian Sign Language were launched.
These are the secondary-level academic words used in history, science, political science and mathematics.
MoS Faggan Singh Kulaste launches JALDOOT App for Monitoring of Ground Water Tables
across India
On September 27, 2022, the Union Minister of State (MoS) Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD) launched the ‘JALDOOT App and JALDOOT App e-brochure’ during a function in New
Delhi, Delhi.
• This app will be used across India for the monitoring of ground water tables by capturing the water
level of selected 2-3 wells in a village.
Developers of App:
It is jointly developed by MoRD and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
Key Points:
i.The manual monitoring of water levels in open wells will be measured twice in a year, from 1st May to 31st
May as pre-monsoon water level and from 1st October to 31st October for post-monsoon level for the same
well.
ii.The officers assigned for the measurement of water levels i.e. Jaldoots, will upload the geo-tagged
photographs through the app on every occasion of measurement.
• These regular data inputs will be integrated with the database of National Water Informatics Centre
(NWIC), which can be utilized for analysis, reports, and for Gram Panchayat Development Plan and
MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005-MGNREGA)Plans.
iii.This Mobile app will work in both online and offline mode, means, water level can be captured even without
internet connectivity, and when mobile comes in the connectivity area, data will synchronize with the central
server.
iv.Water level report, Monsoon Report and Registered user report are available at JALDOOT web portal.
v.A resource book for grass root level functionaries- Jaldoot can be accessed at http://cgwb.gov.in
(JalDootRsourceBook.pdf).
Other Participants:
MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, MoRD; MoS Kapil Moreshwar Patil, MoPR; and senior officers from the Ministry.
Representatives from all States/UTs were also present through Video-Conferencing.
i.MoRD has released the delta ranking of Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), in which
Jharkhand secured the first position in the delta ranking with a composite score of 76.19 in the month of June
2022.
ii.In order to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between
MoPR and the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) which will establish inter-
ministerial collaborations and strategic partnerships with the goal of eradicating TB in India by 2025.
About Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):
Union Minister– Giriraj Singh (Constituency- Begusarai, Bihar)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Constituency- Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh); Faggan Singh
Kulaste (Constituency- Mandla, Madhya Pradesh)

ENVIRONMENT
‘Ghatiana dvivarna’, a new crab species discovered in Karnataka
A new species of freshwater crab named “Ghatiana dvivarna” was discovered in the central Western Ghats
region around Bare in Yellapur taluk of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka.
• The discovery was published in Nauplius, the
journal of the Brazilian Crustacean Society.
• The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in
the world, houses 75 species of crab,
including the newly discovered Ghatiana
dvivarna.
About the discovery:
The new species was discovered by a team of
researchers from Uttara Kannada, Karnataka forest
department and Maharashtra.
• The researchers’ team comprised Sameer
Kumar Pati of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre in Pune (Maharashtra),
Tejas Thackeray of Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, Parashuram P Bajantri of Karnataka forest
department and Gopalkrishna D Hegde.
About Ghatiana dvivarna-The Crab:
i.The new species is named ‘Ghatiana dvivarna’, based on the Sanskrit word for two (dvi) colours (varna) of
the crab- white and red-violet.
The new species is around 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, is not edible and thrives on moss and lichens.
• It belongs to the Ghatiana genus of freshwater crabs.
• The new species is unique among the congeners because of its predominantly white colour.
• These crabs usually inhabit the holes in laterite rocks on the elevated mountains of central Western
Ghats (south of Goa-Nilgiris) region. They feed on mosses growing on laterite rocks and play a key
role in ensuring ecological balance.
Note: There are about 125 species of crabs and 13 have been recorded so far under the Ghatiana genus in India.
Ghatiana dvivarna is the 14th freshwater crab under the Ghatiana genus.
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