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 AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 17, 18 & 19 September 2023 : Headlines

Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

AH&D Along with WOAH Collaborates to Strengthen One Health Approach for Pandemic Preparedness
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Launches Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme
Andhra Pradesh’s Sweet ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’ gets GI tag
India and Russia Agreed to Train Indian Seafarers in Polar and Arctic Waters
RBI releases list of 15 NBFCs in ‘Upper Layer’ under SBR
Indian Bank Launched ‘IB SAATHI’ to enhance banking services
Morning Consult Survey: PM Modi Retained the Most Popular Global Leader title with 76% rating
Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 Portal Launched to Reduce Pendency in Govt Offices
Supreme Court of India onboards the National Judicial Data Grid Portal
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2023- September 16
International Red Panda Day 2023 – September 16
International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023 – September 16
Goa CM Pramod Sawant Launched Griha Adhar Scheme to Empower Homemakers in Goa
TN CM Launches Women’s Rights Grant Scheme; Beneficiaries to get Rs 1000/month
J&K’s Udhampur Railway Station Renamed after Capt. Tushar Mahajan

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 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
On September 14, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi visited Bina in Madhya Pradesh
(MP) and Raigarh, Chhattisgarh the details of which are as follows:

PM Visit to MP:
PM laid the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs. 50,700 crore in Bina, MP.
The projects includes Petrochemical Complex in Bina, a Power and Renewable Energy
Manufacturing Zone in Narmadapuram , IT (Information Technology) parks in Indore, Mega
Industrial Park in Ratlam; and 6 new industrial areas across MP.
i.Petrochemical Complex at Bina Refinery
The foundation stone is laid for the Petrochemical Complex at Bina Refinery by Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited (BPCL). The complex will be developed at a cost of ~Rs 49,000 crore .
This advanced facility will produce 1200 Kilo-Tonnes Per Annum (KTPA) of essential ethylene and
propylene, reducing import reliance and aligning with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The project will
generate jobs and stimulate downstream petroleum sector growth.
ii.Details of the other projects:
i.The PM also laid the foundation stone of ten projects namely ‘Power and Renewable Energy
Manufacturing Zone’ in Narmadapuram district, MP.
Power and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone, which will be developed with an outlay of more
than Rs 460 crore, will boost economic growth and jobs.
ii.The Two IT Parks (IT Park 3 and 4) in Indore will be built at a cost of around Rs 550 crores. This will
foster the IT and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sector and create employment
opportunities for the youths.
iii.Mega Industrial Park in Ratlam will be built at a cost of more Than Rs 460 crores. This will become a
hub for textiles, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and more. It will be well connected to Delhi Mumbai
Expressway.
iv.Six new industrial areas will be developed in Shajapur, Guna, Mauganj, Agar Malwa, Narmadapuram,
and Maksi at a total cost of about Rs 310 crore to promote balanced regional development and
employment opportunities.
PM Visit to Chhattisgarh:
During his visit to Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, he dedicated important rail sector projects, and laid the
foundation stone of ‘critical care blocks’ in nine districts of Chattisgarh and also distribute one Lakh sickle
cell counselling cards.

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i.Rail Sector Projects
He dedicated rail sector projects worth around Rs 6,350 crore in the public programme in Raigarh which
will provide impetus to socioeconomic development by facilitating movement of passengers as well as
freight traffic in the region.
The projects include: Chhattisgarh East Rail Project Phase-I, 3rd rail line between Champa to Jamga,
3rd rail line between Pendra Road to Anuppur and MGR (Merry-Go-Round) system connecting
Talaipalli Coal Mine to NTPC Lara Super Thermal Power Station (STPS).
i.Chhattisgarh East Rail Project Phase-I is a part of PM GatiShakti for multi-modal connectivity which
encompasses 124.8 km rail line from Kharsia to Dharamjaygarh with Gare-Pelma spur and 3 feeder lines
connecting Chhal, Baroud, Durgapur and other coal mines.
Cost: Approx. Rs. 3,055 crore.
Features:
The rail line is equipped with electrified broad gauge, level crossings, and passenger amenities.
It will also provide rail connectivity for coal transportation from Mand-Raigarh coalfields located in
Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
ii.The 50 kilometer (km) long 3rd rail line between Pendra Road to Anuppur is built at a cost of about Rs
516 crore and the 98-Km-long third line between Champa and Jamga rail section is built at a cost of about
796 crores
These rail lines will improve connectivity in the region and will boost the tourism and employment
opportunities.
iii.65 km electrified MGR (Merry-Go-Round) system will transports coal from the Talaipalli mine of NTPC
Limited(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) to 1600 Megawatt (MW) NTPC Lara
Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh.
This will strengthen energy security by supplying low-cost, reliable power.
The system was built at a cost of more than Rs 2070 crore.
PM lays foundation stone of 50-bed each ‘critical care blocks’
During the program, PM laid the foundation stone of 50 bedded ‘critical care blocks’ in nine districts of
Chattisgarh. These will be built under Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
(PM-ABHIM) at Durg, Kondagaon, Rajnandgaon, Gariaband, Jashpur, Surajpur, Surguja, Bastar & Raigarh
Districts, at a total cost of more than Rs 210 Crore.
Distribution of one lakh sickle cell counselling cards
PM also distributed one lakh sickle cell counselling cards under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination
Mission (NSAEM), which was launched by the Prime Minister in July 2023 at Shahdol, MP.
This distribution aims to address the health issues caused by sickle cell disease, especially among
the tribal population.
Recent Related News:
i.Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of MP implemented the Mukhyamantri Sikho-
Kamao Yojana (MMSKY) (CM Learn and Earn Scheme) for the skill development of the youths of MP.
ii.On 25th July 2023, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated the
5th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit (Heli Summit 2023) in Khajuraho, MP. During the event Scindia
launched Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN(Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik,) 5.2 (RCS UDAN 5.2) and
HeliSewa app.
About Madhya Pradesh(MP):
Chief Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel
Tiger Reserve– Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve

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AH&D Along with WOAH Collaborates to Strengthen One Health Approach for Pandemic
Preparedness
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (AH&D) under the Ministry of Fisheries Animal
Husbandry & Dairying in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) organized
a multi-sectoral workshop titled “Risk-based management of spill over events in wildlife in India”

The workshop aimed to strengthen the importance of a One Health approach, cross-sectoral
collaboration, and pandemic preparedness.
About the workshop:
i.Four main objectives:
Enhancing stakeholder knowledge about wildlife-origin disease risk analysis
Conducting a comprehensive gap analysis of India’s risk assessment and management
Simulating disease spillover scenarios
Promoting communication and awareness among relevant stakeholders.
ii.The workshop comprised seven sessions, including two dedicated to risk analysis simulations (one for
disease X and one specific to India).
What is One Health?
‘One Health’ is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimise the health of people, animals and
the environment.
It is particularly important to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to global health threats such as
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional info:
i.COVID-19 showed countries need to be better prepared for future pandemics.
ii.WOAH is working with Quadripartite, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to
address these critical issues.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
Union Minister – Parshottam Rupala (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat )
Minister of State – Sanjeev Kumar Balyan (Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh) ; L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha –
Madhya Pradesh)
About World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Director General – Monique Eloit
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established in – 1924

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Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Launches Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD),
launched Shrimp Crop Insurance scheme developed by Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited
(AIC) with the support of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Institute of
Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA).

The scheme was launched during the ICAR-CIBA’s 2nd edition of Shrimp Farmers Conclave
2023 at the Navsari Agricultural University Campus in Navsari, Gujarat on 14th September
2023.
Key people:
i.The conclave was inaugurated by union minister Parshottam Rupala.
C.R. Patil, Member of Parliament(MP-Lok Sabha) (Navsari constituency) participated in the
Conclave as Guest of Honour.
Grija Subramanian, Chairman cum Managing Director of AIC, Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General
(Fisheries) of ICAR, Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, and other senior officials were
present during the event.
About AIC’s Shrimp Crop Insurance scheme:
i.AIC developed the Shrimp Crop Insurance scheme in collaboration with ICAR-CIBA.
ii.The AIC’s Shrimp Crop Insurance scheme is open for black tiger prawn, white leg shrimp, scampi and
others.
The insurance coverage extends from the first stage to 130 days, or until the shrimps are fully
matured.
About the ICAR- CIBA’s Shrimp Farmers Conclave:
i.Shrimp Farmers Conclave provided a forum for aqua
farmers to share insights, debate difficulties, and explore
potential in the shrimp farming industry, aligned with the
government’s goals to improve India’s fisheries and
aquaculture sectors.
The conclave was conducted with the financial
support of the National Fisheries Development
Board (NFDB), Govt. of India under the PMMSY
scheme, NABARD, SCAFi and Agricultural
Insurance Corporation Ltd.
Highlights of the Conclave:
i.During the conclave, CIBA signed 2 Memorandums of
Understanding (MoU):
CIBA signed a MoU with National Fisheries
Development Board (NFDB) for implementing the crop insurance for aquaculture with
premium subsidy offered by the NFDB.

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 CIBA also signed a MoU with Fish Farmers Producer Organization (FFPO) of Gujarat to offer
technology support.
iii.Rupala handed over a cheque for Rs 40.05 lakhs in revenue earned by Scheduled Castes (SCs),
Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Cage Culture beneficiaries in the Navsari region through the adoption of CIBA
technology for livelihood development supported by Navsari Gujarat Research Center (NGRC)-CIBA
scientists.
He also handed over the CIBA produced Asian sea bass fish seeds to the farmers.
iv.During the conclave, farmers were explained how to report emerging disease pathogens in the “Report
Fish Disease APP”.
Additional info:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampadan Yojana(PMMSY), ICAR-CIBA is implementing a project
titled “Genetic improvement program of Penaeus indicus (Indian white Shrimp)-Phase-I” with a budget of
Rs. 25 crores to create a National Genetic Improvement Facility for Shrimp breeding.
About Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC):
Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) – Girija Subramanian
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Incorporated – 2002

Andhra Pradesh’s Sweet ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’ gets GI tag

Geographical Indications Registry(GIR) has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags to Andhra
Pradesh’s ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’, a sweet made of rice and jaggery.

‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’ is registered under the ‘Food Stuffs’ category.

Atreyapuram is a village in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.
Note: GIR headquarterd in Chennai, Tamil Nadu functions under the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
Key points:
i.GI Certificate Handover Ceremony was held at the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law
University(DSNLU), Visakhapatnam on the occasion of the national workshop on “Geographical
Indications and GI Certificate Handover Ceremony for Atreyapuram Pootharekulu”
The event, organised by the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Group, brought
together experts and dignitaries.
ii.The GI tag was granted to Sir Arthur Cotton Atreyapuram Putharekula Manufacturers Welfare
Association with a validation period from 14th June 2023 to 12th December 2031.

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About Putharekula:
i.Putharekula is a sweet made of the wafer-thin rice starch layer resembling paper stuffed with sugar, dry
fruits and nuts.
Putharekula means ‘coated sheet’ in the Telugu. Pootha means ‘coating’ and reku (plural rekulu)
means ‘sheet’.
The sweet makers prefer the MTU-3626 paddy variety locally known as ‘Bondalu’ which is
extensively grown in the Konaseema region to make the sweet.
About GI tags:
i.Geographical Indication (GI) marked items provide a guarantee of quality and distinctiveness that
primarily relates to their origin.
ii.As a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), India adopted the Geographical Indications of
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into effect on September 15, 2003.
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister- Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Governor- S. Abdul Nazeer
Festivels – Ugadi,Makar Sankranti,Lumbini festival

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India and Russia Agreed to Train Indian Seafarers in Polar and Arctic Waters
India and Russia agreed to train Indian seafarers in polar and arctic waters at the Russian Maritime
Training Institute in Vladivostok, Russia which is named after GI Admiral Nevelsky, and equipped with
simulator facilities.

The decision to train Indian seafarers took place during a meeting between the Union Minister of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and A.O. Chekunkov, the Minister of the
Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic in Vladivostok, Russia.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also participated in the 8th Eastern Economic Forum meeting
held in Vladivostok, Russia from 10th -13th September 2023.
Key points:
i.India and Russia are set to explore the possibility of using new transport corridors such as the Northern
Sea Route (NSR) as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai to
widen maritime cooperation.
ii.India also invited Russia to participate in the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, set to be held from
17th to 19th October in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Eastern Maritime Corridor(EMC):
i.Eastern Maritime Corridor is set to connect between Chennai(Tamil Nadu) and Vladivostok which is

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located on the Golden Horn Bay north of North Korea
and a short distance from Russia’s border with China.
The distance between the Chennai-Vladivostok
sea route is about 5,600 nautical miles (10371
kilometers).
EMC could reduce the transit time between
Indian and Russian ports in the Far East
Region by up to 40%, from 40 days to 24 days.
ii.Sonowal extended an invitation to an Indo-Russian
workshop on the EMC, set to be held from 30th October
to 1st November 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Northern Sea Route(NSR):
i.The Northern Sea Route runs along Russia’s northern
coastline and is the shortest shipping route between
East Asia and Europe.
The Route, which spans 5,600 km, begins at the
boundary between the Barents and Kara seas (Kara Strait) and finishes at the Bering Strait
(Provideniya Bay).
NSR saves travel distance by as much as 50% compared to the currently used Suez or Panama
routes.
About Russia:
President – Vladimir Putin
Capital– Moscow
Currency– Russian Ruble

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI releases list of 15 NBFCs in ‘Upper Layer’ under SBR
On September 15, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the names of 15 Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFCs) in the Upper Layer (UL)/NBFC-UL under Scale Based Regulation for NBFCs for the
year 2023-24.

What is SBR?
In October 2021, RBI issued the Scale Based Regulation (SBR): A Revised Regulatory Framework for
NBFCs (the framework) which categorizes NBFCs in the following as per their asset size and scoring
methodology:
i.NBFC-BL (Base Layer): It primarily consists of non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets below Rs 1,000
crore.

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NBFC Peer to Peer (P2P); NBFC-Account Aggregator (AA); Non-Operative Financial Holding Company
(NOFHC): and NBFCs without public funds and customer interface will always remain in the Base Layer.
ii.NBFC-ML (Middle Layer): It comprises all deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit-taking NBFCs with
assets exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, and NBFCs undertaking the following activities
Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs)
Infrastructure Debt Fund – NBFCs (IDF-NBFCs)
Core Investment Companies (CICs)
Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)
Infrastructure Finance Companies (NBFC-IFCs)
iii.NBFC-UL (Upper Layer): The upper layer includes NBFCs specifically identified by the RBI as
warranting enhanced regulatory requirements based on a set of parameters and scoring methodology. The
top 10 eligible NBFCs in terms of asset size will always reside in the upper layer, regardless of other
factors.
iv.NBFC-TL (Top Layer): NBFC-UL will be moved to Top Layer if RBI recognizes a substantial increase in
the potential systemic risk. As of now, the Top Layer shall ideally remain empty.
The remaining NBFCs, viz., Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICC), Micro Finance Institution
(NBFC-MFI), NBFC-Factors, and Mortgage Guarantee Companies (NBFC-MGC) could be placed in any of the
layers of the regulatory structure depending on the parameters.
Government-owned NBFCs shall be placed in the BL or ML. They will not be placed in the Upper
Layer till further notice.
Click Here to Read more SBR regulations
Here is the list of NBFC-UL for 2023-24:
S.No Name of the NBFC Category of the NBFC

1 LIC Housing Finance Limited Deposit taking HFC

2 Bajaj Finance Limited Deposit taking NBFC-ICC

Shriram Finance Limited (formerly Shriram Transport Finance Company

3 Limited) Deposit taking NBFC-ICC

Core Investment Company

4 Tata Sons Private Limited (CIC)

5 L & T Finance Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

6 Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Limited Non-deposit taking HFC

7 Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

8 Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited Non-deposit taking HFC

9 Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited Deposit taking NBFC-ICC

10 Tata Capital Financial Services Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

11 PNB Housing Finance Limited Deposit taking HFC

12 HDB Financial Services Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

13 Aditya Birla Finance Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

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 14 Muthoot Finance Limited Non-deposit taking NBFC-ICC

15 Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd. Non-deposit taking HFC

Key Points:
i.TMF Business Services Limited, formerly Tata Motors Finance Limited, qualifies as an NBFC-UL (Non-
Banking Financial Company – Upper Layer) based on scoring methodology.
However, it is currently not listed as an NBFC-UL in the latest review due to ongoing business
reorganization.
ii.According to SBR, once an NBFC is classified as NBFC-UL, it must adhere to enhanced regulatory
requirements for a minimum of five years, even if it doesn’t meet the parametric criteria in subsequent
years.
Recent Related News:
i.Education financing startup, Propelld has procured a NBFC license from RBI to disburse loans worth Rs
2000 Cr by Financial Year(FY)24 and to bolster its direct lending proposition.
ii.RBI has granted NBFC licence to the Neobanking platform Jupiter enabling the latter to scale up its
lending business.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi
Sankar
Establishment – 1st April 1935
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

Indian Bank Launched ‘IB SAATHI’ to enhance banking services

Indian Bank has launched a new initiative called IB(Indian Bank) SAATHI (Sustainable Access and
Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion), to provide basic banking services at all centres for a
minimum of four hours per day in fixed outlets through the business correspondent (BC) channel.

The initiative was launched by Shanti Lal Jain who is the Managing Director(MD) and Chief
Executive Officer(CEO) of Indian Bank in Chennai, Tamilnadu.
The program makes it easier for customers to access and use banking services, and it also offers
both basic and value-added services to customers.
Additional BCs & CBCs:
To implement the initiative, Indian Bank needs to have more than 5,000 newly appointed new BCs (by
March 2024) along with 15 Corporate Business Correspondents (CBCs).
Presently, they have only 10,750 BCs and 10 CBCs.
Indian Bank offers 36 different services to customers through its BC channel.

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Business Correspondent:
They are individuals or entities appointed by banks to bring banking services closer to people in remote or
underserved areas.
These agents play a crucial role in expanding the reach of banking services to communities that may
not have easy access to traditional bank branches.
Additional info:
Indian bank is planning to introduce 60 more services through BCs by FY2024-25.
About Indian Bank:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Shanti Lal Jain
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Established in – 1907
Tagline – Your own bank

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Morning Consult Survey: PM Modi Retained the Most Popular Global Leader title with 76%
rating
According to the “Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker” survey released by the United States of
America(USA) based consulting firm Morning Consult, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India has
been named the “Most Popular Global World Leader” with an approval rating of 76% (highest in the
world). Modi received 18% disapproval and 5% did not give an opinion.
Previously Modi topped the list in 2022 and 2021 as “Most Popular Global Leader ”.
Alain Berset, President of Switzerland is ranked 2nd (64%) followed by Andres Manuel Lopez
Obrador, President of Mexico at 3rd rank (61%).
Leaders among the Top 5 include Luiz da Silva, President of Brazil (4th – 49%); Anthony Albanese, PM of
Australia (5th – 48%).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 Portal Launched to Reduce Pendency in Govt Offices
On 14th September 2023, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and
Technology, launched dedicated website to monitor Swachhata Campaign 3.0 and Special Campaign for
Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 2023 at National Media Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.

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 The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is the Nodal Department for the implementation of
this Campaign.
The portal is designed, developed & hosted by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of
Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
Note: The Swachhata campaign, a mass awareness campaign, was 1st launched by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014.
Key People:
The launch ceremony was attended by Nodal Officers
of Public Grievances and Appellate Authorities in all
the 84 Ministries/Departments of Government of
India.
Special Campaign 3.0:
i.The government will organise Special Campaign 3.0
on the lines of the Special Campaigns held in 2021 and
2022 on the same theme.
ii.Under this Special Campaign, the target has been set
to undertake a cleanliness campaign at 1.5 lakh sites,
freeing up 100 lakh square feet of space that is
occupied by dump and junk items and generating
revenue amounting to Rs. 400 crore from scrap
disposal.
In the last two campaigns, revenue amounting
to Rs. 600 crores was earned by disposing of office scrap.
Objective: To improve the overall cleanliness of government offices and enhancing public experience.
Phases: The Special Campaign 3.0 will be organised in 2 phases: Preparatory phase ( September 15 to 30,
2023) & Implementation phase ( October 2 to 31, 2023):
During Preparatory phase, Ministries/Departments will mobilise the offices or officers and
ground functionaries for the campaign, identify the pendency in selected categories and finalize
the campaign sites and appoint nodal officers in each of their campaign offices, arrange training
for the nodal officers, and assess the volume of redundant materials to be disposed of, and
finalise the procedures for their disposal.
The Implementation phase will focus on Swachhata and reducing pendency in Government
Offices with a saturation approach. In this phase ministries and departments will utilise the
campaign to improve record management and document the best practices that evolved during
the campaign.
Note: The Cabinet Secretary addressed all Secretaries of the Government of India on 25th August 2023
and DARPG guidelines for the same were issued on 1st September 2023.
Highlights:
i.DARPG has launched a compendium of 300 Best Practices which will be implemented by all Government
Ministries and Departments and published widely through media, highlighting the ‘Whole of Government’
and ‘Whole of Science’ approaches” .
ii.On the occasion, the Special Campaign 3.0 Guidelines and Special Campaign Progress from December
2022-July 2023 and Monthly Report of Secretariat Reforms for June-July, 2023 were also released.

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Supreme Court of India onboards the National Judicial Data Grid Portal
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud announced that the Supreme Court of India (SCI) has
onboarded the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) portal, a flagship project of the e-Courts initiative.
The NJDG portal is a national repository of data relating to cases instituted, pending, and disposed of by
various courts across India.

The integration of the SCI into the NJDG portal signifies the successful completion of the e-Courts
project, bringing all three tiers of the Indian judiciary onto the NJDG platform.
NJDG is ‘sui generis‘ (meaning ‘of its own kind’ in Latin), so uploading data on the NJDG will ensure
transparency and accountability in the judicial domain.
NJDG Portal:
i.It has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in close coordination with the in-house
software development team of the SC Registry’s computer cell with an interactive interface and analytics
dashboard.
ii.The entire database will be periodically updated on the NJDG portal on a real-time basis. The NJDG-SCI
portal can be accessed through the SC website.
iii.To date, the NJDG portal remains unparalleled, providing citizens with easy access to crucial
information about the Indian judicial system at the click of a button.
iv.Now, with the click of a button, one can see real-time information on the pendency and disposal of cases,
year-wise, the total pendency of registered and unregistered cases, and also the number of cases decided
quorum-wise.
Benefits of NJDG Portal:
Increased transparency
Accountability and responsibility
Improved efficiency
Increased coordination
Informed decision making
Optimum deployment of resources and manpower
Single source of data
Huge potential for high-quality research work
Key Points:
i.The information available on the NJDG-SCI portal would include the current pendency of civil and
criminal cases, filing and disposal of cases in the previous month, number of cases pending before three-
judge, five-judge, and even nine-judge Benches.
ii.NJDG is recognized as a significant innovation under the ease of doing business initiative of the
Government of India.

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 IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2023- September 16
The United Nations (UN) World Ozone Day or International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone
Layer is annually observed on September 16 to raise awareness about the importance of the ozone layer
and its depletion that leads to global warming and climate change across the world.

The day also aims to bring attention to the significance of preserving the Ozone layer. This day is
also known as “Global Ozone Day.”
The 2023 theme of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is, “Montreal Protocol:
fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change.”
The theme highlights and reiterates the positive impact of the Montreal Protocol on ozone layer
recovery and reducing climate change.
Note: The theme also emphasises the Kigali Amendment, with its focus on the phase-down of
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and improved efficiency in the cooling sector, brings significant climate
mitigation benefits.
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 for the Preservation of the Ozone
Layer.
ii.The first International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed on 16 September
1995.
Why September 16?
The date September 16 commemorates the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer with a resolution A/RES/49/114 in 1987.
About Ozone:
i.Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive colourless gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and a
man-made product that occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere
(the troposphere).
ii.The ozone in the stratosphere, known as 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.
iii.Approximately 90% of atmospheric ozone is located in the stratosphere, which begins about 10–16
kilometers above the Earth’s surface and extends upwards to about 50 kilometers.

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Few important conventions related to Ozone layer protection:
Montreal Protocol:
i.The Montreal Protocol, is a landmark multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the
production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ozone-depleting
substances (ODS)
ODS are substances that are commonly used in products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, fire
extinguishers, and aerosols.
ii.The Montreal Protocol was signed by all the 198 UN Member states, the only UN treaty ever that has
been ratified by every country on Earth.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer:
i.In 1985, the world’s governments adopted the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer,
which entered into force in 1988.
ii.The convention aimed to promote cooperation among 28 signatory countries that agreed to research
and monitor the effects of human activities on the ozone layer and to take concrete action against activities
that are likely to have adverse effects on the ozone layer.
Note: On 16 September 2009, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first treaties
in the history of the UN to achieve universal ratification.
Kigali Amendment:
On 15 October 2016, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
reached an agreement to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), at their 28th Meeting of the Parties, in
Kigali, Rwanda.
Significance:
i.As per the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022 report from the Scientific Assessment Panel
(SAP) to the Montreal Protocol confirmed that ozone layer recovery is on track and ozone levels are
expected to return to 1980 levels by around 2066 over the Antarctic.
ii.A successful HFCs phasedown (global implementation of the Kigali Amendment) is expected to avoid up
to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming rise by 2100 while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
iii.With the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, up to 2 million cases of skin cancer may be
prevented globally each year by 2030.
iv.In June 2023, the first World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Ozone and UV Bulletin showed that
the production and consumption of controlled ODS have been phased out up to 99%.

International Red Panda Day 2023 – September 16

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) 2023 was observed on 16th September 2023.
The IRPD 2022 was observed on 17th September 2022. The IRPD 2024 will be observed
on 21st September 2024.
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).

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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:
The primary threats to Red pandas include habitat loss, livestock herding, free-roaming dogs and disease,
poaching, illegal trade, the bamboo lifecycle, and 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.
Recent Related News:
World Elephant Day is annually celebrated on 12th August 2023 across the globe to increase public
awareness of the preservation and protection of elephants, the ‘Gentle Giants‘ worldwide.
This day also highlights the challenges encountered by the elephants, including habitat loss,
poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflicts, and the need for better conservation efforts.
About Red Panda Network (RPN)
Founder – Brian Williams
Headquarters – Oregon, United States of America(USA)
Established in – 2007

International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023 – September 16

International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day is annually observed across the world on the 3rd Saturday of
September to raise awareness of the problem of marine litter. This day aims to encourage people to clean
up the coastal line and raise awareness about the significance of preserving the oceans and waterways.

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 It is a global event that promotes local clean-up actions on beaches, coastal areas, rivers, lakes, and
other watercourses.
International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023 was observed on 16th September 2023.
ICC Day 2022 was observed on 17th September 2022.
ICC Day 2024 will be observed on 21st September 2024.
ICC Day 2023 is observed under the theme “#SeatheChange” focusing on plastic pollution.
Background:
i.International Coastal Cleanup movement was first organised by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization
to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges.
ii.The first-ever International Coastal Clean-up event was hosted by Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara, the
members of Ocean Conservancy on the west coast of Washington State, the United States of America(USA)
in 1986.
iii.International Coastal Clean-up Day was started as part of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) initiative to sensitize the coastal populace on the conservation of oceans and prevent dumping of
waste into oceans.
The event has grown into the world’s largest one-day volunteer event.
Significance:
i.ICC Day is an international day of action to protect our oceans, watersheds, and wildlife from trash and
debris.
ii.Marine debris is one of the biggest threats to the health of our ocean and sea life, and scientists estimate
that plastic pollution accounts for up to 80% of marine litter.
iii.Marine debris has caused catastrophic effects on marine flora and fauna affecting safe habitats for
marine animals.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
millions of seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals face death each year due to plastic
entanglement in the ocean.
2023 Events:
i.To commemorate the Ocean Conservancy’s 38th annual International Coastal Cleanup, Ocean
Conservancy, Volunteercleanup.org, organized an annual country-wide International Coastal Cleanup in
Miami-Dade, at Margaret Pace Park in Florida (USA), on 16 September 2023 along with Miami
Waterkeeper.
ii.Englewood Community Coalition, Inc. is an organisation in the United States of America (USA) to provide
a healthy, safe, and drug-free community, organised a clean-up event on 16th September 2023, in the Bay
Heights Park & Boat Ramp in Florida, USA
iii.In honour of International Coastal Cleanup, Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit organisation
dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of Greater Los Angeles (USA) safe, healthy, and
clean, hosted cleanups across Los Angeles County, USA on World Cleanup Day or ICC Day.

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 Heal the Bay, also organised another coastal clean-up event on 23 September 2023 with the
location unannounced.
Events in India:
i.On September 16, 2023, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Region East, headquartered in Chennai (Tamil
Nadu), hosted the ICC Day 2023 at two iconic beaches: Marina and Elliot’s Beach (Besant Nagar).
ii.The event witnessed the participation of a diverse group including ICG personnel, government agencies,
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and college students.
About Ocean Conservancy:
Founded as Delta Organisation, the name was changed in 1975 to the Center for Environmental Education
(CEE). In 1989, CEE became the Center for Marine Conservation. In 2001, officially renamed The Ocean
Conservancy (Legally dropped ‘The’ later)
Chief Executive Officer– Janis Searles Jones
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., USA
Founded in– 1972

STATE NEWS
Goa CM Pramod Sawant Launched Griha Adhar Scheme to Empower Homemakers
Pramod Sawant, Goa Chief Minister (CM) distributed Griha Adhar sanction orders to numerous
beneficiaries in an event held at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali (Goa), to financially support homemakers,
promoting their independence and improving their quality of life.

The initiative was organised by the Directorate of Women and Child Development.
The CM also launched the Chavath-e-Bazaar, aimed at empowering Goan entrepreneurs and Self-
help Groups (SHGs), a digital initiative under the Swayampura Goa Programme organised by the
Directorate of Planning, Statistics, and Evaluation.
The CM also flagged off the Chavath-e-Bazaar vehicle, symbolizing a new era of empowerment for
rural artisans and entrepreneurs in Goa.
Griha Adhar scheme:
Griha Adhar is an exemplary scheme, that has now benefited a total of 1.5 lakh women beneficiaries. More
than 3 lakh families benefit with Griha Adhar and Dayanand Samajik Suraksha Yojana schemes(DSSS).
Goa Government provide Rs.2,000 under DSSS and Rs.1,500 under Griha Aadhar.
Chavath e-bazaar:
i.Chavath e-bazaar.com aims to empower women in line with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of
“Vocal for Local” by providing them with a unique opportunity to become an entrepreneur by starting and
growing their businesses online.
Under Swayampurna Goa 2.0, free-of-cost training will be given to women at their respective
panchayats, for packaging the food items, selling, and other related things.

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ii.It is an online portal integrated with the Swiggy app for seamless ordering, this innovative platform is
set to revolutionize the way Goan entrepreneurs and SHGs sell their products online.
iii.Chavath e-bazaar is also accessible through its website, https://www.goaebazaar.com/ to support the
rich tradition of Goan artisans and craftsmanship.
Goa CM Launched ‘Goa Taxi App’ To Elevate Travel Experience for Tourists
On 15 September 2023, Pramod Sawant, Goa CM launched the “Goa Taxi App“, a taxi service app through
which people can book a cab online to travel anywhere within the coastal state.It is 24/7 booking service.
This app will also bring down the traveling cost for tourists, to address the issue of extremely high
taxi fares in Goa.
“Goa Taxi App” has been operational at the Manohar International Airport (MIA), MoPA (Goa) for
the last 6 months.
Key People:
The CM launched the “Goa Taxi App” in the presence of Rohan Khaunte, Minister of Tourism, Goa; Ganesh
Gaonkar, Chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Suneel Anchipaka, Director of
Tourism department.

TN CM Launches Women’s Rights Grant Scheme; Beneficiaries to get Rs 1000/month

Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu(TN) M K Stalin launched Kalaignar Magalir Urimai (Thogai)
Thittam, a women’s rights grant scheme, to provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month for women,
who are recognised as the heads of families.
The scheme was launched on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former TN CM and Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founder C.N. Annadurai(15th September).
This was one of the 7 assurances given by Stalin in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections.
The grant of Rs 12,000 per annum is set to improve the livelihood of women, enhance their standard of
living and enable them to live with self-respect in society.
Eligibility:
i.Families earning annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh; holding less than five acres of wetland or less than ten
acres of dryland; and consuming less than 3,600 units of electricity per year for domestic use are eligible
for the scheme.
ii.A woman, from an eligible family, aged above 21 years of age (born before September 15, 2002), is
qualified to be a beneficiary of the scheme. The Women beneficiary should be a Permanent Resident of
Tamil Nadu.
iii.Families receiving Pension/Family pension from the Government are not eligible for the benefit under
this scheme.

J&K’s Udhampur Railway Station Renamed after Capt. Tushar Mahajan

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration has passed an order to rename the Udhampur railway
station in Udhampur district of J&K as “Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station”.
The renaming was approved by the Ministry for Home Affairs(MHA).
Captain Tushar Mahajan, from Udhampur’s Adarsh Colony, J&K, was an officer of the 9 PARA(Special
Forces of the Indian Army).
He attained martyrdom during the terror attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship
Development Institute (JKEDI) Building in Pulwama district in February 2016.
He shot & killed a terrorist while protecting his fellow Army personnel during the attack.

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