This PAID PDF is provided by AffairsCloud’s dedicated team that works

diligently to provide aspirants with high-quality content. We recommend

you to purchase this PDF subscription and seize the opportunity to learn
efficiently.
Help Us to Grow & Provide Quality Service

Click here to Download the CareersCloud APP

Click here to Join the Telegram Channel
AffairsCloud Hindu Vocabs

Suggestions & Feedback are welcomed

Support@affairscloud.com

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 1

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 2
 AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 24 & 25 September 2023 : Headlines

❖ Kisan e-Mitra: Union MoS Kailash Choudhary Launched AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN Scheme
❖ Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and All World Gayatri Pariwar signed MoU for
NMBA awareness
❖ SIMBEX 2023: Indian Navy Conducts Maritime Exercise with Singapore at South China Sea
❖ UPNEDA and SIDBI Signed MoU to Promote Green Projects
❖ Axis Bank launches ‘NEO for Business’ for MSMEs
❖ Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) Using
UPI on ATMs
❖ Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23
❖ India set to Host 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement in 2027 in New Delhi
❖ Rajya Sabha Chairman Reconstitutes Panel of Vice-Chairpersons with 50% Women MPs
❖ Indian-origin Nihar Malaviya Assumes Permanent CEO of Penguin Random House
❖ Vivek Bhasin Appointed as 14th Director of BARC
❖ Delhi LG VK Saxena launches Vigilance Complaint Information Management System Portal
❖ Batillipes kalami: New Marine Tardigrade Species Found in TN, Named after Former President
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
❖ Padma Bhushan Awardee & Bharatanatyam Dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan Passed Away
❖ Sonal Goel IAS Unveils Her Book “Nation Calling” for IAS aspirants
❖ International Day of Sign Languages 2023- September 23

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 3

 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Kisan e-Mitra: Union MoS Kailash Choudhary Launched AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN Scheme
Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW),
launched “Kisan e-Mitra”, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
(PM-KISAN) Scheme in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The chatbot will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the PM-KISAN scheme, providing farmers
with rapid, clear, and easily accessible responses to their inquiries.
Points to note:
i.The MoA&FW successfully integrated the AI chatbots into government schemes. This is the first
AI Chatbot integrated with a major Union government flagship scheme.
ii.This initiative is in line with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of leveraging technology for the
betterment of farmers’ lives and governance.
About Kisan e-Mitra:
Objective: The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at
empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.
Features:
i.The AI Chatbot acts as a comprehensive guide for the beneficiaries, providing them with timely and accurate
responses to their queries related to the scheme.
ii.It has been developed and improved with the support of the EKstep Foundation and Bhashini.
iii.In the initial phase, the AI chatbot assists farmers with:
• Application status queries.
• Payment details.
• Ineligibility status.
• Scheme-related updates.
iv.The AI Chatbot, accessible through the PM KISAN mobile app, is integrated with Bhashini for multilingual
support, addressing the linguistic and regional diversity among PM KISAN beneficiaries.
• Currently, the Chatbot is available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, and Tamil. In a short period, it will
be made available in all 22 official languages of India.
Benefits: The AI Chatbot will help in accessing scheme information and resolving grievances.
• The scope of this service needs to broaden with other related issues like weather information, soil
conditions bank payments, and others.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme:
i.The PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to support the financial needs of land-
holding farmers in India (with 100% funding from GoI).
ii.The scheme offers an annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000, in 3 equal installments to eligible farmers’ families
through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 4

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and All World Gayatri Pariwar signed MoU for
NMBA awareness
On September 22, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Department of
Social Justice & Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E), and All World
Gayatri Pariwar at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi for spreading the message of
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) among the youth, women, students and the community under the
banner of All World Gayatri Pariwar.

• This MoU is a boost towards achieving the objective of drug sensitized India.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, MoSJ&E, Dr.
Chinmay Pandya, All World Gayatri Pariwar, among others.
Key Points:
i.Alcohol is the most frequently used psychoactive substance in India, followed by Cannabis and Opioids,
according to the first comprehensive National Survey on Substance Use conducted by the Department of Social
Justice & Empowerment through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS (All India
Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi.
ii.MoSJ&E is actively combating drug demand through the implementation of the National Action Plan for Drug
Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
• NAPDDR is an umbrella scheme that provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union
Territories (UTs) for various initiatives, including Preventive Education and Awareness Generation,
Capacity Building, Skill Development, Vocational Training, and support for the livelihood of former
drug addicts.
About Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA):
In August 2020, MoSJ&E has formulated and launched NMBA in 272 Districts across 32 State/Union Territories
identified as most vulnerable in terms of usage of drugs. Its aim is to create awareness about ill effects of
substance abuse among the youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses,
schools, among others.
About All World Gayatri Pariwar
Head/Mentor– Dr. Pranav Pandya
Headquarters– Haridwar, Uttarakhand

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
SIMBEX 2023: Indian Navy Conducts Maritime Exercise with Singapore at South China Sea
The Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participate in the 30th edition of the
Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2023), a joint naval combat exercise, from 21st to 28th
September 2023 in the southern parts of the South China Sea off the coast of Singapore.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 5

Two Phases:
SIMBEX 2023 is conducted in two phases including the land phase and the sea phase.
Land Phase:
• The land phase will include table-top activities and planning meetings.
• It is held from 21st to 24th September 2023 at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, Singapore.
Sea Phase:
• The sea phase will see the navies engage in various naval drills, including anti-submarine warfare
and live weapon firing.
• It is held from 25th to 28th September 2023 in the southern reaches of the South China Sea in
international waters.
• The Harbour Phase will witness a wide range of professional interactions, cross-deck visits, Subject
Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and sports fixtures, aimed at enhancing interoperability and
mutual understanding between the two navies.
Participants:
i.Indian Navy’s Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, Kamorta-class corvette INS Kavaratti, Sindhughosh class
diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft are taking part in this exercise.
ii.The Republic of Singapore Navy’s two Formidable-class frigates Republic of Singapore Ship
(RSS) Stalwart and RSS Tenacious, an S-70B naval helicopter, and the Victory-class missile corvette RSS
Valour are taking part in this exercise.
• The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is also participating in the exercise with a Fokker-50
maritime patrol aircraft and four F-15SG fighter aircraft.
Points to note:
During the opening ceremony, RSN’s Fleet Commander Colonel (COL) Kwan Hon Chuong and India’s Eastern
Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar unveiled
the commemorative logo of its 30th edition of the bilateral exercise.
Note:
• SIMBEX, first held in 1994, is the longest continuous naval exercise that India has had with any other
country.
• Indian Navy hosted the 29th edition of SIMBEX in October 2022 at Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh(AP), India.
Highlights of SIMBEX 2023:
i.The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy will also sign a submarine rescue joint standard
operating procedures (JSOP) agreement.
ii.During the shore phase, sailors from both navies will conduct joint planning, professional exchanges, and
sporting activities.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 6

iii.During the sea phase, both fleets will perform a series of naval serials in the air, surface, and underwater
domains, including gunnery firing, air defence, anti-submarine, communication, and navigation exercises.
• The exercise will be concluded with a sail-past of participating ships.

BANKING & FINANCE

UPNEDA and SIDBI Signed MoU to Promote Green Projects
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable
Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for
solarization of residential units at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and for bio-energy and renewable project
financing.

• The agreement was inked during an event organised in the SIDBI’s Lucknow Office in UP.
• This MoU will help in promoting solar energy, and encourage innovations for environment friendly
projects.
It should be noted that the State Government of UP has nominated Ayodhya to be developed as a Solar City.
Key Points:
i.During the event, emphasis were laid on creating awareness about digital and latest initiatives being
undertaken by SIDBI through ‘Promotional campaign for Financing Solar/ Green Projects’ for Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
ii.It should be noted that the Central Government is installing solar rooftop panels in 2500 MSMEs, and also
targets 30% electrification of vehicles by the year 2030, under the EV30@30 mission.
• SIDBI is supporting both missions of the Government.
iii.Through this event, information was shared among MSMEs regarding the solar and green projects and direct
financing products being offered by SIDBI.
About Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA):
It is an autonomous institution functioning as nodal agency for implementation of various schemes in the state.
Director– Anupam Shukla
Headquarters– Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh
Establishment– 1983
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
It was established under an Act of Parliament in 1990.
Chairman & Managing Director– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 7

Axis Bank launches ‘NEO for Business’ for MSMEs
On September 21, 2023, Axis Bank launched ‘NEO for Business’, a distinctive one-stop Transaction Banking
platform for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive
digital proposition that supports real, current, and emerging Transaction Banking needs of MSMEs.

• It has contemporary UX (User Experience)/UI (User Interface) along with bank-grade security
features.
• “NEO for Business” is the latest launch as part of “NEO by Axis Bank” branding. NEO by Axis Bank
is the digital banking proposition for its corporate banking customers/clients.
About NEO for Business:
i.It offers a wide array of Banking and Beyond Banking features such as: Digital self on-boarding, Bulk
Payments, GST Compliant Invoicing, Payment Gateway integration, 360° Customer View, End to End
Transaction Tracking, Auto Reconciliation, Recurring Collections, Cash Flow Reports, among others.
ii.These features make banking easier for MSMEs, allowing them to do transactions without going to a bank
branch.
iii.Axis Bank’s existing Current Account holders can access NEO for Business on mobile through an app or
web registration. Initially, it serves sole proprietors and individuals in the MSME sector, with plans to expand
to companies, partnerships, and LLPs (Limited Liability Partnership).
About Axis Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 1993 (begun operations in 1994)
Tagline – Badhti ka Naam Zindagi

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) Using
UPI on ATMs
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (USFBL) launched Interoperable Cardless Cash
Withdrawal (ICCW) service with an aim to allow Unified Payment Interface (UPI) enabled cardless cash
withdrawal from Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 8

 • This is in line with notification ‘ICCW at ATMs’ released by Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in 2022
under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51
of 2007).
• ICCW is also known as UPI-ATM; It enables withdrawal through Quick Response(QR) code.
About ICCW:
i.Card-less cash withdrawal through ATMs is a
permitted mode of transaction offered by a few banks in
India on an on-us and Off-us basis.
ii.UPI users can withdraw cash from any participating
banks’ ATMs (enabled for UPI-ATM) via UPI mobile
application instead of using a physical card.
iii.By scanning single-use dynamic QR code displayed on
the ATM screen and authorising the transaction with
UPI PIN, a customer can withdraw money from an ATM.
iv.As far as transaction Limits is concerned, customers
can enjoy up to two ICCW transactions per day per
account, with a withdrawal limit of Rs. 10,000/- per
transaction.
Key Features of ICCW:
i.ICCW allows customers to withdraw cash from any
ATM, regardless of which bank they use. This is
especially convenient for people who have multiple bank accounts.
ii.Since the whole transaction is cardless, the card-related frauds like skimming, cloning etc can be reduced.
iii.The process is considered to be more secured as it uses dynamic QR code for each transaction.
iv.Customers need not carry multiple credit/debit cards.
v.It will be useful for customers who have completed KYC (Know Your Customer) but have not yet received a
physical card.
vi.ICCW allows Cash withdrawal from Multiple UPI-Linked Accounts along with streamlined interaction with
ATM Machines.
About Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (USFBL):
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Govind Singh
Headquarters – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Incorporated in – 2016

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Highlights of Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23
The Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23 ,the most prestigious award offered by the Indian government for
“achievements in implementing the official language” was presented at the Hindi Diwas Samaroh 2023.This
prestigious award ceremony was part of the 3rd All-India Official Language Conference (Akhil Bharatiya
Rajbhasha Sammelan) took place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra,
from September 14-15.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 9

Key points:
i.Organized and Presented Annually by: Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India.
iii.Key Attendees: Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh; Minister of State for Home
Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra; Minister of State for MSME, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma; Minister of State
for Health, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar and others.

iv.These awards acknowledge and applaud outstanding efforts in the implementation of the Official Language
Policy across various categories, including ‘A,’ ‘B,’ and ‘C’ of Government of India Boards, Autonomous Bodies,
Societies, Nationalized Banks, Financial Institutions, and more.
v.The award ceremony coincided with the Third All-India Official Language Conference, Pune, Maharashtra.
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare Receives First Prestigious Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar,
2022-23
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare(DoPPW) gets the Prestigious First Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar,
2022-23. This marks the 2nd consecutive year where DoPPW has been recognized as the best performing
department in the category of Ministries/Departments with less than 300 employees.
• Received by: Shri Sanjiv Narain Mathur, Additional Secretary (Pension), received the award on
behalf of DoPPW.
• DoPPW is functioning under the leadership of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
• If a Ministry/Department gets first prize consecutively for two years then that Ministry/Department
will not be awarded the third time, instead some other Ministry/Department will be given an
opportunity.
PFC Receives ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ for Outstanding Performance in Implementation of Official
Language
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) received the prestigious ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ in the ‘A’ category for the
year 2022-23. PFC secured the third position in this category.
Received by: Smt. Parminder Chopra, representing PFC.
PNB Wins Rajbhasha Kirti First Prize at Hindi Diwas
Punjab National Bank, nation’s leading public sector bank, was honoured with the Rajbhasha Kirti First Prize
for the year 2022-23.
The Bank was also awarded the Rajbhasha Kirti Second prize for the year 2022-23 for their in-house
magazine “PNB Pratibha.”
Received by: PNB MD & CEO, Shri Atul Kumar Goel.
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) won the ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ first prize
Received by: Shri Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), received the highly
esteemed first prize in the ‘B’ region at the Rajbhasha Kirti Awards.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 10

IOB was awarded the coveted ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’
On the occasion of Hindi Diwas on September 14, 2023, Tamil Nadu based Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) was
awarded the coveted ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ (First Prize) for the third consecutive year.
Received by: Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastava, Managing Director & CEO, Indian Overseas Bank
IOB received a second honour at the event, wherein its in-house magazine ‘Vani‘ was also awarded
the ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ (First Prize) for official language implementation.
The bank has received awards from the Government of India for its outstanding contribution to and
implementation of the official language in conferences organised at Surat and Varanasi earlier.
Central Bank of India awarded with Rajbhasha Kirti Award from GOI
Received by: Shri. M. V. Rao MD & CEO, Central Bank of India.
Bank of Baroda Bags Government Of India’s Prestigious Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar
Bank of Baroda, a leading public sector bank, was awarded with the ‘Second Prize’ under the ‘Rajbhasha Kirti
Puraskar’ Scheme of the Government of India for the year 2022-23 in the Nationalized Banks category for
the second consecutive time.
Received by: BOB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Debadatta
Note: i.Town Official Language Implementation Committee (Bank) Vadodara and Varanasi working under the
convenorship of the Bank received First and Second prizes in linguistic region B and A respectively.
ii.Bank’s mobile banking application bob World is available in 12 Indian languages including Hindi. The Bank’s
WhatsApp Banking service is available in English as well as Hindi and Gujarati languages.
Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited awarded Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, awarded the prestigious Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar (second
prize) to Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) for the “implementation of official language
under public sector undertakings in Region ‘C’” for the years 2022–23.
Received by : BCPL Chairman Sandeep Kumar Gupta.
CAG bags “First” Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar for ‘outstanding implementation’ of Official Language Policy
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) awarded for Outstanding implementation of Official Language
Policy in the “Ministry/Department category” with more than 300 personnel for the year 2022-23.
Received by: Sh. Bhawani Shankar Director General (Rajbhasha) of the CAG office, Pune, Maharashtra.
Initiatives by CAG: i.The CAG had formed a committee for the better implementation of Rajbhasha policies in
‘Hindi Pakhwada 2022’.
ii.In order to create awareness about official work through Hindi language and to accelerate the usage of Hindi,
“Hindi Pakhwada 2023” is being organized in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India from
14th September, 2023 to 29th September, 2023.
14th Comptroller and Auditor General of India: Shri G.C. Murmu
Details of all Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23:
Category Description Winner
Ministries where
number of staff is less
than 300 Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare First
Ministry of Culture Second
Animal Husbandry Department Third
Ministries where
number of staff is more Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of
than 300 India(CAG) First
Department of Posts Second
Agricultural Co-operation and Farmers Welfare
Ministries/Departments Department Third

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 11

 Undertakings in ‘A’
Region Gail India Ltd, Delhi First
Hill India Ltd, Delhi Second
PFC Ltd., Delhi Third
Undertakings in ‘B’ Indian Export Credit Guarantee Corporation
Region Limited, , Mumbai First
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited,
Mumbai,Maharashtra Second
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, Mumbai Third
Undertakings in ‘C’ National Steel Corporation Limited,
Region Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh. First
Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer
Limited(BCPL), Dibrugarh,Assam Second
Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL),
Public Sector Undertakings Bengaluru,Karnataka Third
National Council of Hotel Management and
Undertakings in ‘A’ catering Technology(NCHMCT), , Noida,,Uttar
Region Pradesh First
Oil Industry Development Board, Noida Second
Central Ayurvedic Research Council, Delhi Third
Undertakings in ‘B’ Bhakra Trust Board or Bhakra Beas
Region Management Board (BBMB), Chandigarh First
National Dairy Development Board, Gujarat Second
Central Salt and Ocean Chemical Research
Institute,Bhavnagar,Gujarat. Third
Undertakings in ‘C’
Region Damodar Ghat corporation, Kolkata,West Bengal First
Commodity Products Export Development
Authority, Kochi,Kerala Second
Boards/Autonomous Insurance Regulatory and Development
Bodies/Trusts etc. Authority of India Third

where number of staff is

less than 800 Indian Overseas Bank First
Bank of Maharashtra Second
UCO Bank Third
where number of staff
is less than 800 Punjab national Bank First
Bank Of Baroda Second
Nationalized banks Central Bank of India Third
Rajbhasha “Vimarsh”, [Indian Institute of Mass
A region Communication, New Delhi] First
PNB “Pratibha”, Punjab National Bank, New
Delhi Second
In House Hindi Magazines B region Mahabank “Pragati”, Bank of Maharashtra, Pune First

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 12

 Rajbhasha “Gunjan”, Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited, Mumbai Second
C region “Vaani”, Indian oversea Bank, Chennai First
“Suvigya”, Krishi Anusandhan, and Robotik
Yantra Kendra, Bangalore Second
Note: Hindi Diwas is observed annually on September 14th. On this day in 1949, Hindi was declared as the
official language of the Union, as per Article 343 of the Constitution. The script for Hindi is Devanagari, and
Article 351 provides directives for the promotion and development of the Hindi language.

India set to Host 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement in 2027 in New Delhi
India won the bid to host the 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement (ICCC) in 2027
in New Delhi, Delhi. The decision was announced during the ongoing 16th ICCC (2023) in Bangkok, Thailand
held from 18 to 22 September 2023.
Besides India, other bidders were from Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• India’s bid was made by National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM / NCB) and
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The bid was presented by Dr L P Singh, Director General,
NCCBM; Dr S K Chaturvedi, Joint Director, NCB and Dr Shashank Bishnoi, Professor (Civil Engg.), IIT
Delhi.
• The 17th ICCC will offer India a unique opportunity to bring together global leaders, experts, and
innovators in the cement sector. India previously hosted the 9th Congress in 1992.
• The event highlights India’s research and academic expertise in the cement and concrete sector and
as the host city New Delhi will showcase its vibrancy with world-class conference facilities, including
Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi to the global industry.
About ICCC: The ICCC is regarded as the largest and most prestigious event in the area of Cement and Concrete.
These congresses have been held approximately every 4 to 6 years since 1918, serving as a crucial bridge
between academia and the cement industry.
Note:
• NCB, then Cement Research Institute of India (CRI) was founded on 24 December 1962. It is the
premier body under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• India’s cement industry, the second-largest in the world, has a low carbon-di-oxide (CO2) footprint
and is energy efficient.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Rajya Sabha Chairman Appoints Four New Women Vice-Chairpersons; Panel to Discuss
Women’s Reservation Bill
The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has reconstituted the panel
of vice-chairpersons with the eight member panel with 50 percent(4 members) of women parliamentarians
with effect from 13th September 2023.
• For the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) has given
equal representation to women members in the panel.
• The four new women Vice-Chairpersons were announced by Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Upper House,
on the first day of the Special Session of the Parliament which was held from 18th-22nd September,
2023.
• The panel of vice-chairpersons comprises an equal number of men and women Member of
Parliament(MP).

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 13

Newly Appointed Four Women Vice-Chairpersons:
The four new women Vice-Chairpersons are: Kanta Kardam(Uttar Pradesh), Sumitra Balmik(Madhya
Pradesh), Mamata Mohanta (Odisha) and Geeta alias Chandraprabha(Uttar Pradesh).
Kanta Kardam:
i.She was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2018 by representing Uttar Pradesh. She belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party.
ii.She served as President of Anti Corruption Cell (Western Uttar Pradesh) and Human Rights Commission,
Uttar Pradesh.
iii.She is the member of Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Committee for
the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas etc
Sumitra Balmik
i.Sumitra Balmik was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2022 to represent Madhya Pradesh. She also belongs to
Bharatiya Janata Party.
ii.She is the member of Committee on Petitions, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment and Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
Mamata Mohanta
i.She was elected to Rajya Sabha from Odisha in 2020. She is from Biju Janata Dal party.
ii.She is the Member of Committee on Rules, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Rural Development and
the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Committee on Empowerment of Women and Committee on Social Justice and
Empowerment.
Geeta alias Chandraprabha
i.She is representing Uttar Pradesh in Rajya Sabha 2020 onwards. She belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party.
ii.She is member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes and Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
Male members:
The male members of the panel are
i.Akhilesh Prasad Singh(member of Indian National Congress representing Bihar),
ii.Narain Dass Gupta(member of Aam Aadmi Party representing Delhi),
iii.V. Vijayasai Reddy(member of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party representing Andhra Pradesh)
iv.Santanu Sen(member of All India Trinamool Congress representing West Bengal).
Note: The Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated 4 women Parliamentarians namely
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (PT Usha), Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan and Sulata Deo to the panel of
vice-chairpersons in July 2023.
13 Women Vice-chairpersons Panel for a Day to Discuss Women’s Reservation Bill
The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has constituted 13 women
Parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons.The panel was reconstituted for a day to discuss
the Women’s reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 14

 • The panel of vice-chairpersons was constituted for a day specifically to discuss the Women’s
Reservation Bill in 2023. This suggests that the panel was formed temporarily to address this
particular legislative matter or session to discuss the bill.
• For the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha
(the Upper House of the Indian Parliament)
has constituted an all-women panel of Vice-
Chairpersons in Rajya Sabha.
New Panel of 13 Vice-Chairpersons:
The list of panel of Vice chairperson includes –
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil(PT) Usha(nominated), S.
Phangnon Konyak (Nagaland), Jaya Bachchan (Uttar
Pradesh), Saroj Pandey (Chhattisgarh) ,
Rajani Ashokrao Patil (Maharashtra), Fauzia Khan
(Maharashtra), Dola Sen (West Bengal),
Indu Bala Goswami(Himachal Pradesh), Kanimozhi NVN
Somu (Tamil Nadu), Kavita Patidar (Madhya Pradesh),
Mahua Maji (Jharkhand), Kalpana Saini (Uttarakhand)
and Sulata Deo (Odisha).
Women’s Reservation Bill 2023
• The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, officially
titled as The Constitution
(128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 and commonly referred to as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has
been introduced in the Indian Parliament.
• This bill, which aims to enhance gender representation, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 19th
September 2023 during a special parliamentary session.
• This legislation is to allocate 33 percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and state
legislative assemblies to women.
Bill Enactment Delayed Until 2026
• The Women’s Reservation Bill cannot be enacted into law until the year 2026.The bill can only
become effective after a process known as “delimitation” is carried out in the country.Delimitation
is necessary to allocate seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies in a manner that
reserves a specific percentage (in this case, 33 percent) for women.
• Without the completion of the delimitation process, it is not possible to implement the provisions of
the bill effectively, as it relies on a well-defined electoral map to allocate seats appropriately.
• According to the current legal framework, the next delimitation exercise can only take place after
the first census conducted post the year 2026. In simpler terms, this means that the Women’s
Reservation Bill cannot become a law and be put into action until at least 2026.
Recent Related News:
On 26th June 2023, Hardwar Dubey, Member of Parliament (MP) – Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh (UP),
passed away at the age of 74 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was a sitting MP Rajya Sabha from UP
since November 2020.
About Panel of Vice-Chairpersons:
The panel of vice-chairpersons is a group of members nominated to assist the chairman or the deputy chairman
of the Rajya Sabha in conducting its business efficiently.
• The Vice Chairpersons conduct the proceedings of the House when the Chairman and Deputy
Chairman are not available.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 15

Indian-origin Nihar Malaviya Assumes Permanent CEO of Penguin Random House
Nihar Malaviya, an Indian-origin American publishing executive, has been named permanent Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Penguin Random House, the New York (United States of America, USA)-based international
publishing group.
• Nihar Malaviya has been serving as the interim CEO for 9 months since January 1, 2023.
• Since his appointment as interim CEO, he has been a member of Bertelsmann’s (the parent company
of Penguin Random House) Group Management Committee (GMC).
• He will succeed Markus Dohle, who left the position following Penguin Random House’s
unsuccessful attempt to acquire Simon & Schuster in 2022.
• Prior to his appointment as interim CEO, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of
Penguin Random House, USA since 2014.
• He started his career at Bertelsmann in 2001 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs
Programme. In 2003, he moved within the group, joining Random House, where he excelled in
various leadership roles.
• He also serves on the board of directors of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Yale
University Press in the USA. He is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for
Strategy Execution.
Note: Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, has been undergoing company-wide
reorganization since 2023.

Vivek Bhasin Appointed as 14th Director of BARC

On 15th September 2023, Vivek Bhasin took charge as the 14th Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC), India’s premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Prior to this
appointment, Vivek was serving as the director of the Nuclear Fuels Group(NFG) of the BARC.
• He succeds Ajit Kumar Mohanty who was appointed as the Secretary to Department of Atomic
Energy(DAE) under the Prime Minister’s Office(PMO) and Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission
in May 2023.
• Vivek Bhasin joined the Reactor Engineering Division of BARC in 1988. He is known for his
contribution towards APSARA-U Reactor (operational in BARC) and Fast Breeder Test Reactor
(FBTR)(Operational in Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant, Tamil Nadu)
BARC was founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha in the name Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in
1954. AEET was renamed BARC in 1966.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Delhi LG VK Saxena launches Vigilance Complaint Information Management System Portal
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar (VK) Saxena launches first of its kind Vigilance Complaint
Information Management System (VCIMS) portal enabling people to file graft complaints against government
employees at anytime from anywhere.
• Complaints can be related to the vigilance/corruption/demand of bribe.
• With transparency and secrecy, this portal will monitor complaints and initiate speedy action.
• This portal requires only one time registration.
Key Points:
i.To ensure that only genuine complaints are filed on the portal, it is mandated for the complainants to submit
an e-undertaking so that he/she can be prosecuted under section 182 of IPC ( Indian Penal Code) for giving
false information to public servants.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 16

ii.Complaints against corruption received in physical form will not be accepted.
iii.This tool will aid in achieving the goal of zero tolerance to corruption.

ENVIRONMENT
Batillipes kalami: New Marine Tardigrade Species Found in TN, Named after Former President
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Researchers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat)
in Cochin, Kerala, have identified a new species of a marine tardigrade, “Batillipes kalami” from intertidal
beach sediments of the Mandapam coast in Ramanathapuram (southeast) Tamil Nadu (TN).

• The new species is named after Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India (2002-
2007) and an aerospace scientist, since the discovery was made close to his native
place Rameswaram (TN).
• The research findings have been published in the 18 September 2023 issue of the scientific
journal, Zootaxa .
Genus and Species:
i.The new Species ‘Batillipes kalami‘ of the marine tardigrade belongs to the Genus ‘Batillipes‘. It is the 37th
species of the genus Batillipes.
ii.Batillipes kalami is the 2nd marine tardigrade to be discovered in Indian waters and the first one from the
east coast.
• “Stygarctus keralensis”, the 1st marine tardigrade species from India was discovered from
Vadakara(West Coast) in Kerala in 2021.
iii.It is also the first taxonomically described species belonging to the genus Batillipes from India.
Tardigrades:
i.Marine Tardigrades, often referred to as “water bears”, are eight-legged micro-animals found in the water.
They are extremely tiny animals whose size is measured in micrometers.
ii.They are considered to be one of the toughest organisms on earth, having survived all five mass extinctions,
and are also the first known animals to survive in space.
• Tardigrades are semi-aquatic. They can survive in watery as well as terrestrial environments.
Researcher Team:
Vishnudattan N.K. (research scholar) and S. Bijoy Nandan (Professor) from the Dept. of Marine Biology,
Microbiology, and Biochemistry at Cusat; and Marcus Rubal from the Centre of Molecular and Environmental
Biology at the University of Minho, Portugal.
Features:
i.B. kalami measures an average of 170 micrometers (0.17 mm) in length and around 50 micrometers (0.05
mm) in width. The females are slightly bigger compared to the males.
ii.It is characterised by 4 pairs of legs, which possess sensory spines of varying lengths.
iii.It has a trapezoid-shaped head with sharp-tipped filament-like appendages (cirri) extending from it.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 17

iv.It belongs to the phylum Tardigrada, which comprises more than 1,300 described species. Of them, just 17%
are marine species.
v.It can be differentiated from all its congeners by:
• The presence of unconstricted primary clavae;
• 2 pairs of lateral body projections between leg II and leg III;
• Long and blunt-ended lateral body projections between leg III and leg IV;
• The shape of leg IV sensory organs and the presence of dorsal indentations in its head.

OBITUARY
Padma Bhushan Awardee & Bharatanatyam Dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan Passed Away
Bharatanatyam Dancer and Padma Bhushan Awardee Saroja Vaidyanathan passed away at the age of 86 due
to lymphoma diseases in Delhi.

About Saroja Vaidyanathan:

i.Saroja Vaidyanathan was born on 19 September 1937 in Bellary, Karnataka, and grew up in Chennai, Tamil
Nadu.
• She was married to Vaidyanathan, an IAS officer from the Bihar cadre.
ii.She established “Ganesha Natyalaya” in Delhi, where she teaches Bharatanatyam, Tamil, Hindi, and Carnatic
music.
iii.She served as the president of “Sanskar Bharathi”, a pan-Indian organisation working in the fields of art and
literature, for the Delhi Chapter since 2021.
Awards:
i.Saroja Vaidyanathan was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2013 in the
Arts category.
• She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2008 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships
(Akademi Ratna) award in 2023.
ii.She is also the recipient of Delhi’s government Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman(1991), Tamil Nadu’s
government Kalaimamani title(1999),and the title of Bharata Kalai Sudar, from the Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam.
• She was also the recipient of Kalidas Samman(2009-10) of the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Books Written:
Saroja Vaidyanathan has authored a number of books on Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, including ‘The
Classical Dances of India’, ‘Bharatanatyam – An In-Depth Study’, ‘Carnataka Sangeetham’, and ‘The Science of
Bharatanatyam’.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 18

 BOOKS & AUTHORS
Sonal Goel IAS Unveils Her Book “Nation Calling” for IAS aspirants
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched a book ‘Nation Calling – Holistic
Approach for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination’ authored by IAS
officer Sonal Goel Resident Commissioner of Tripura Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The book was published by UPSC Guide.
• The book was launched at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The book summarises Sonal Goel’s 15 year experience as an IAS officer which inspires young people
to become a bureaucrat.
About Sonal Goel:
Sonal Goel, hailing from Panipat, Haryana, is a 2008 batch IAS officer of Tripura Cadre. She joined the Haryana
cadre in July 2016 and served as Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Faridabad(Haryana) & Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Smart City Faridabad and Deputy Commissioner district Jhajjar(Haryana).

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Sign Languages 2023- September 23
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is annually observed across the globe
on 23 September to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and
other sign language users.

• The day also aims to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the
human rights of people who are deaf.
The day is celebrated as part of the International Week of the Deaf People (IWDP) 2023(from 18 to 24
September 2023).
• The theme of IDSL 2023 observed on 23rd September 2023 is, “A World Where Deaf People
Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
Background:
i.The IDSL was proposed by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of deaf organisations from
135 nations.
ii.On 19 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/161
and proclaimed the 23rd of September every year as the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL).
iii.The resolution was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, and co-
sponsored by 97 UN Member States.
iv.The first International Day of Sign Languages was observed on 23 September 2018 as part of the IWDP
2018.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 19

Why September 23?
i.The date 23 September commemorates the establishment
of WFD in 1951.
ii.This day marks the birth of an advocacy organization
(WFD), and one of its primary objectives is the preservation
of sign languages and Deaf culture as essential for
upholding the human rights of deaf individuals.
About Sign Language:
i.Sign language is manual communication commonly used
by people who are deaf. Sign language is not universal.
• People who are deaf from different countries
speak different sign languages.
ii.According to the WFD, there are more than 70 million
deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in
developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300
different sign languages.
iii.The first formal sign language was actually developed in France. The French priest, Abbe Charles-Michel de
L’Épée founded the first public school for the deaf in Paris (France) in 1755. He was really considered the
“Father of Sign Language and Deaf Education”
• 60% of countries in the world have not legally recognised their national sign language.
2023 Events:
i.Global Leaders Challenge: WFD organised this challenge in the successful 4th year, with the aim of
promoting the use of national sign languages by national and global leaders in partnership with their national
associations of deaf people.
ii.Shine a Blue Light on Sign Languages!: This concept was first launched in 2022, and WFD continued this
concept in the IDSL 2023. This event aims to unite the world, its citizens, communities, and societies through
the blue light by the shared experience of national sign languages.
iii.On the occasion of the IDSL, the Division of Administration (UN Geneva in Switzerland), WFD, and the Swiss
Federation of the Deaf (SGB-FSS) organised several events on 22 September 2023. The open-to-public events
took place in person at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
2023 IDSL Events in India:
i.The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi (Delhi) celebrated the IDSL
2023 on 23 September 2023 and launched various programs and materials. The event was held at Bhim Hall,
Dr.Ambedkar International Centre Janpath in New Delhi.
ii.The Centre organized the 6th Indian Sign Language (ISL) Competition 2023, a national-level competition held
for students with hearing disabilities, providing a platform for students with hearing disabilities to showcase
their talents.
Note: ISLRTC works under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)
(Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE).
Programmes and materials launched during the event:
• Basic Communication Skills in ISL an online self-learning course.
• 267 signs of financial terms in ISL jointly developed by ISLRTC, Society General, and V-Shesh.
• Around 10,000 ISL dictionary terms on the website
• ISL course in Special Schools for hearing impaired
• Video Relay Service (VRS) for the deaf community through WhatsApp video calls.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 20

 Aspirant Queries
Aspirant: Does Affairscloud covers all the Current affairs topics
related to examinations?
Affairscloud: We Guaranteed All the Important topics related to
examination are covered in Our Daily CA content and Daily CA
Quizzes.
Aspirant: Why is there a delayal in news?
Affairscloud: As some of the major news sites doesn't provide the
required data on the exact day, we take extra time for important
data to be presented to the aspirants on the examination basis to
ensure nothing is missed.
Example: In 'Important Days' topics the International
Organisations publish their reports and Rankings in the evenings, to
make sure every data is covered, we delay the topics to the next day

Candidates appearing for Competitive Exams. Kindly Share the

General Awareness questions, which asked in their respective
exams to “gaanalysis.ac@gmail.com”

GA Questions Asked in Exams

• Affairscloud’s Self Analysis for General Awareness Section

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 21

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 22
Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 23
Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 24
Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 25