Print This Post
297 Views
SM Current Affairs SEPTEMBER 2021 Set 02, Current Affairs Notes By Success Mantra Coaching Institute GTB Nagar Delhi

SM Current Affairs SEPTEMBER 2021 Set 02

Diksha Sharma 15 MINUTES

PREFACE

It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI - Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.

The PRAVAHINI September-2021 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of September. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.

Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.

The PRAVAHINI September-2021 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.

We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.

Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)
Website: www.successmantra.in
Mail Id: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Affairs
2. International Affairs
3. Economic Affairs
4. Appointments
5. Awards And Honors
6. Important Dates & Sports
7. Reports And Indexes
8. Science & Technology
9. Miscellaneous

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

CHHATTISGARH GOVT. LAUNCHED 'MILLET MISSION'

 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has announced the launch of ‘Millet Mission’, which aims to provide proper price rates to farmers for minor cereal crops.

 The initiative is also a step towards the Chief Minister’s vision for the state to become India’s millet hub.

 To implement the mission, the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad and the collectors of 14 districts of the state.

 Other important benefits under the Millet Mission to farmers will include input assistance for millet, procurement arrangements, aid farmers in the processing of crops and ensure that the farmers get the benefit of the expertise of experts.

NITI AAYOG LAUNCHED SHOONYA CAMPAIGN

 NITI Aayog, RMI, and RMI India Launch ‘Shoonya’ Campaign. It is an initiative to promote zero-pollution shipping vehicles by working with customers and industry.

 The marketing campaign aims to speed up the adoption of electric powered automobiles (EVs) in the urban deliveries segment and create customer attention about the advantages of zero-pollution delivery.

 Industry stakeholders such as e-commerce companies, fleet aggregators, unique gear manufacturers (OEMs) and logistics corporations have been scaling up their efforts towards final-mile shipping electrification.

 As part of the campaign, a corporate branding and certification programme is being launched to realise and promote industry’s efforts toward transitioning to EVs for final-mile deliveries.

 An online tracking platform will share the campaign’s impact through facts such as car kilometres electrified, carbon savings, criteria pollutant savings and other advantages from easy delivery vehicles.

RAIL KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA LAUNCHED

 Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, a programme under the aegis of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

 Under Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, entry-level training will be provided to the youth in industry-relevant skills through Railway Training Institutes as part of 75 years of independence 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

 Under Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, training will be provided to 50,000 candidates over a period of three years.

 The main aim of the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana will be to impart training skills to the youth in various trades to bring qualitative improvement.

 This will provide a major boost to the Skill India Mission. It will not only improve the employability of the youth of the country but also upgrade the skills of those who are self-employed or are working with contractors.

'MEDICINE FROM THE SKY' INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

 Civil aviation minister Jyotiradtiya Scindia has launched a first of its kind “Medicine from the Sky” project in Telangana.

 The project has aimed at transporting vaccines and other essential products to remote areas using drones.

 The Medicine from the Sky project will be taken up on a pilot basis in 16 green zones in Telangana and later scaled up on the national level based on data.

 About the schemes: “This ‘Medicines from the Sky’ project will be taken up in 16 green zones. The data will be analysed for three months. Along with the health ministry, IT ministry, state government and the Centre will together analyse the data and make a model for the whole country.

VIJAY RUPANI RESIGNED AS GUJARAT CM

 Vijay Rupani has resigned as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He submitted his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat.

 The resignation comes following a flurry of developments in Gujarat following a meeting in Gandhinagar.

 He reached the Raj Bhavan shortly after PM Modi inaugurated Sardardham Bhavan in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and performed ‘bhoomi pujan’ of Sardardham Phase-II Kanya Chhatralaya (girls’ hostel) through video conferencing.

 Mr Rupani is the fourth BJP chief minister to step down in recent months; in July BS Yediyurappa resigned as Chief Minister of Karnataka in July and the double whammy in Uttarakhand, where Tirath Singh Rawat quit barely four months after replacing Trivendra Rawat.

BHUPENDRA PATEL ELECTED AS NEW CM OF GUJARAT

 Bhupendra Patel has been chosen as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat at the BJP legislature meeting. He is a BJP MLA from the Ghatlodia assembly seat in Ahmedabad.

 This comes after the resignation of Vijay Rupani from the post of CM of Gujarat.

 About the Bhupendra Patel: Bhupendra Patel holds a diploma in Civil Engineering and has held positions in Patidar trusts and organisations, including Sardar Dham and World Umiya Foundation, among others.

 He has been a standing committee chairman in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and chairman of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA).

• Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM MODI TO ATTEND 1ST IN-PERSON QUAD SUMMIT

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the first-ever in-person QUAD ( Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders’ Summit at the White House, in Washington D.C. on September 24, 2021.

 Quad nation comprises of India, Japan, the US and Australia. PM Modi will also address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 25, 2021.

 About the summit: This will be the first visit of PM Modi to the United States since President Joe Biden assumed office and also the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Biden assumed office.

 The other two leaders, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga will also be attending the Summit. Earlier, the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders was held in the virtual format in March 2021.

AUSTRALIA, UK & US TO FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

 A week before a meeting of Quad leaders in Washington DC, the Biden administration, on September 15, announced a new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific, between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. (AUKUS).

 As part of this, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines with help from the U.K. and the U.S.

 The trilateral grouping was formally announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison who joined U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House via video-link.

 About the AUKUS: The first project of AUKUS will be to help Australia acquire a nuclear-powered conventionally-armed submarine fleet.

 The three heads of state reaffirmed their intention to continue to work with their allies and groupings in tandem with AUKUS, with the Quad being mentioned by Morrison and Biden.

 AUKUS will also involve a new architecture of meetings and engagements between the three countries, as well as cooperation across emerging technologies (applied AI, quantum technologies and undersea capabilities).

21ST SCO SUMMIT IN DUSHANBE , TAJIKISTAN

 Prime Minister Modi led the Indian delegation and virtually addressed the plenary session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.

 This was the first SCO meet which took place in a hybrid format and the fourth summit in which India participated as a full-fledged member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

 The 21st SCO summit also assumed significance as the organization is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021.

 As India will be represented by EAM S. Jaishankar, the world leaders at the meeting are expected to deliberate on the Afghan crisis, its internal-external implications, and the issues pertaining to regional security.

 The summit will be chaired by the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. It will also see the leaders of the SCO member states, SCO Secretary-General, observer states, executive director of SCO regional anti-terrorist structure, President of Turkmenistan among others.

 During the meet, Jaishankar is also expected to attend a meeting on Afghanistan with the Head of the States of SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

 Foreign Minister of Russia, Foreign Minister of Iran, Prime Minister, as well as Foreign Minister of Pakistan, are some of the leaders who will be attending the meeting.

PM NARENDRA MODI CHAIRED 13TH BRICS SUMMIT

 Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has chaired the 13th BRICS Summit, through video conferencing.

 The theme of the India-led Summit was “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus.”

 The theme chosen by India reflects the fifteenth anniversary of BRICS, being observed in 2021. PM Modi called for enhanced BRICS cooperation under the motto of ‘Build-back Resiliently, Innovatively, Credibly and Sustainably’.

 The Summit concluded with the adoption of the ‘New Delhi Declaration’. This was the third time that India hosted the BRICS Summit.

 Prior to this India held the Presidency of the BRICS in 2012 and 2016. Also, this is the second time that Prime Minister Modi has chaired the BRICS Summit. He had previously chaired the Goa Summit in 2016.

 Apart from this, as the President of BRICS in 2021, India has highlighted four priority areas for this year’s BRICS Summit, which were:

• reform of the multilateral system,
• counter-terrorism cooperation,
• using digital and technological tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),
• enhancing people-to-people exchanges

 All BRICS Leaders took part virtually in the Summit, including Brazil President-Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Xi Jinping of China, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

 BRICS is an association of five major emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

1ST EVER 2+2 DIALOGUE B/W INDIA & AUSTRALIA

 India and Australia are undertaking their first-ever 2+2 ministerial dialogue at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

 The high-level foreign and defence ministerial-level dialogue will further ramp up the overall defence and strategic cooperation between the two countries, including in the Indo-Pacific cooperation amid China’s increasing military assertiveness in the region.

 The Indian delegation at inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ talks is being led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton, respectively.

 India has a 2-2 Ministerial-level meetings framework with very few countries, including the USA and Japan.

UAE INTRODUCED NEW GREEN VISA

 The United Arab Emirates has introduced a new classification of visas supposed to ease the restrictions faced by foreigners in pursuing employment opportunities in the country, referred to as “green visa”.

 According to the green visa, foreigners can work in the UAE without an employer’s guarantee. This green visa will allow visa holders to sponsor their parents.

 It will raise the upper limit of the child's age that the holder can guarantee from 18 to 25. The program will additionally enable the holder a grace duration of up to three months to look for a new job if they lose their old one.

IRAN BECAME 9TH MEMBER AT SCO

 Iran’s bid to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was approved after almost 15 years by the bloc’s seven permanent members on Friday.

 After the technical and legal process concludes – which could take up to two years – Iran will formally join a group that accounts for about one-third of the world’s land and exports trillions of dollars annually – as it counts China, Russia and India, in addition to several Central Asian states, among its members.

 Following his return from a summit in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe, President Ebrahim Raisi termed the approval a “diplomatic success” that means linking Iran to the economic infrastructures of Asia and its vast resources.

 President Raisi held a string of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Among other things, they led to the signing of eight agreements with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.

INDIA & INDONESIA BILATERAL EXERCISE 'SAMUDRA SHAKTI'

 Indian Naval ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Jakarta, Indonesia on September 18 to participate in the third edition of bilateral exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ with the Indonesian Navy.

 The maritime exercise is scheduled from 20-22 September, the Indian Navy said.

 In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral maritime exercise between India and Indonesia.

 The exercise has matured in complexity over the last two editions and will involve conduct of complex maritime operations including Military Interdiction Operations (MIO), Cross Deck Landings, Air Defence serials, Practice Weapon Firings, Replenishment Approaches, and Tactical Manoeuvres.

 Under the extant policies, the third edition of the maritime exercise is being conducted in a Covid-safe environment and seeks to bolster the maritime cooperation between the two navies and forge strong bonds of friendship across the Indo-Pacific.

PM MODI & JOE BIDEN TO HOLD BILATERAL MEETING

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will be holding a bilateral meeting on September 24, 2021, confirmed the White House.

 PM Modi will visit the US this week and participate in the first in-person Quad Leaders Summit and UN General Debate.

 US President Joe Biden will host the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders Summit at the White House with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

 The first in-person Quad Leaders Summit will focus on deepening ties and advancing practical cooperation in areas such as combating COVID-19, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, addressing the climate crisis, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

 The leaders during the Quad Summit will review the Quad vaccine initiative that was announced in March 2021.

 The leaders will also deliberate on global issues such as connectivity and infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, maritime security, cyber security, climate change, humanitarian assistance, and education. Afghanistan will be the key agenda of the summit.

INDIA & UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LAUNCHED CAFMD

 India and the United States of America (USA) have launched the “Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)”.

 It will strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment. The dialogue was launched by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Bhupender Yadav and Mr John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) in New Delhi.

 About the CAFMD: “Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)” is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April 2021. The other track is Strategic Clean Energy Partnership.

 CAFMD will demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development, taking into account national circumstances and sustainable development priorities.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

NPCI & FISERV LAUNCHED 'NFINI PROGRAMME'

 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in partnership with Fiserv Inc. to launch the plug-and-play RuPay credit card stack, ‘nFiNi’.

 nFiNi is a ready stack of services required for fintechs and banks to issue RuPay credit cards and will enable fintech to co-create bank-sponsored credit cards. It is a BaaS (banking-as-a-service) programme.

 About the platform: The nFiNi platform will power RuPay cards (including National Common Mobility Card) by offering access to needed services through the NPCI network combined with FirstVisionTM cloud-based open API integrations from Fiserv.

 This will bring significant efficiencies for banking and fintech institutions at various levels in terms of operations and customer management.

 The programme will further enable these institutions to expand their market base to new-to-credit customers.

• National Payments Corporation of India MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe.
• National Payments Corporation of India Headquarters: Mumbai.
• National Payments Corporation of India Founded: 2008.

APPOINTMENTS

CAG GC MURMU ELECTED AS ASOSAI CHAIRMAN

 The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, GC Murmu was elected as the chairman of the assembly of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) for a period of three years from 2024 to 2027.

 Murmu was elected by the 56th governing board of ASOSAI and approval for the same was conveyed by the 15th assembly of ASOSAI. India will host the 16th assembly of ASOSAI in 2024.

 The CAG, as the chairman, will be the chief executive of ASOSAI and represent ASOSAI in its dealings with national and international organisations.

 After the election, the CAG assured the members that during SAI India’s three-year term as chair of the ASOSAI, they will focus on the areas of environmental audit and leveraging emerging technologies for audit.

 About the ASOSAI: The ASOSAI is one of the regional groups of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) which aims to promote understanding and cooperation among member institutions through the exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of public audit.

 Established in 1979 with 11 members, the membership of the ASOSAI consists of charter members, members and associate members.

 The membership has since grown to 47 SAIs. The assembly consists of all members of the organisation and meets once in three years.

M. VENUGOPAL NAMED AS ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF NCLAT

 Justice M. Venugopal has been named as the new Acting Chairperson of the appellate tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

 This is the third time in a row that an Acting Chairperson is at the helm of the NCLAT, after the retirement of permanent Chairperson Justice S J . Mukhopadhaya on March 14, 2020.

 Justice Bansi Lal Bhat was the first Acting Chairperson from March 15, 2020, followed by Justice A I S Cheema from April 19, 2021, and subsequently Justice M. Venugopal from September 11, 2021.

 Who is Justice M. Venugopal?

 He is a former judge of the High Court of Madras. He had joined as a Sub-Judge in Tamil Nadu State Judicial Service on June 5, 1997, and later was elevated to Madras High Court in November 2007, where he had served for eleven-and-a-half years.

 About the NCLAT: The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

 It is also an appellate tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

 It is also the appellate tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

SHEFALI JUNEJA: 1ST WOMAN CHAIRPERSON OF ICAO

 India's Shefali Juneja has been elected as the first woman Chairperson of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aviation Security Committee.

 India has taken up the responsibility of the ICAO Aviation Security Committee after a gap of 12 years.

 Shefali Juneja was previously serving as the Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry and used to deal with International Agreements between 2012 and 2019.

 She also served as the chief bilateral air services negotiator for India for six years. During her term, she helped transform bilateral air service negotiations by implementing Open Skies as per the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.

 The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized United Nations agency, which is funded by 193 countries to support their diplomacy and cooperation with regards to air transport. Its headquarters is located in Quebec, Canada.

AWARDS & HONOURS

'ICRISAT' AWARDED WITH AFRICA FOOD PRIZE 2021

 Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been awarded the Africa Food Prize for 2021 for improving food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

 The Tropical Legumes Project developed 266 varieties of improved legumes and half a million tons of seeds for a range of legume crops, including cowpeas, pigeon peas, chickpea, common bean, groundnut, and soybean.

 The improved seeds benefitted over 25 million farmers in climate-resilient approaches and to control pest outbreaks across the region.

 About ICRISAT: ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political public international research organisation that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world.

ANAND KUMAR AWARDED WITH SWAMI BRAHMANAND AWARD

 Mathematician Anand Kumar was conferred with the Swami Brahmanand Award 2021 for his contribution in the field of education through his ‘Super 30’ initiative, which prepares underprivileged students for the IIT entrance exam.

 He received the award from professor Roop Kishore Shastri, the vice-chancellor of Haridwar’s Gurukula Kangri deemed university, at a function in the Rath area of Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

 The award carrying Rs 10,000 in cash, a bronze medal, a bronze statue of Swami Brahmanand and a certificate is given every year to people who have done special work in the education sector or for the welfare of the cow.

 What is ‘Super 30’?

 ‘Super 30’ is a coaching programme of Kumar’s Patna-based Ramanujan School of Mathematics. It hunts for 30 meritorious students from among economically backward sections of the society and shapes them to clear the test to get into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT).

 About the award: It has been instituted in the name of Swami Brahmananda, a freedom fighter, former MP and a saint known for his sacrifices and his contribution in the field of education.

 Friederike Irina Bruening, a German national, who has devoted her life to sick and abandoned cows in Mathura, received the first Swami Brahmanand Award for cow protection in 2019.

 Bruening, who is also known as Sudevi Dasi, is also a recipient of Padma Shri. In 2020, the award went to academician Dr Arun Kumar Pandey, who worked to strengthen India’s cultural and educational bonding in South Korea.

NIOS HONOURED WITH UNESCO'S LITERARY PRIZE

 National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), run by the education ministry, has bagged global recognition from UNESCO for its innovative approach towards education.

 The recognition is for educating differently-abled people through technology-enabled inclusive learning material. The NIOS move has a specific focus on Indian sign language-based content.

 By awarding NIOS the King Sejong Literacy Prize, the jury has recognized the value of providing for the unique educational and language needs of PwD learners by developing teaching content in sign language through digital mode.

 The award-winning programme focuses on the use of digital tools and local language to help persons with disabilities the option to access Indian Sign Language (ISL)-based content.

NATIONAL FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARD 2021

 The Florence Nightingale Award will be given to a nurse, Bhanumati Gheewala, from Sir Sayajirao General Hospital, Gujarat.

 She has been in charge of COVID-19 positive pregnant women’s deliveries as well as infant care. She worked in the gynaecology department as well in the paediatric ward.

 In 2019, when the wards of the hospital were waterlogged due to flood. She carried her duty in the gynaecology department and the pediatric ward.

 The Florence Nightingale Award is given by the Indian Nursing Council. This is a statutory agency under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to recognise the contributions of healthcare workers.

 The delegates at the Eighth International Conference of Red Cross Societies created this commemorative International Nightingale Medal.

 It was established in London in 1907. This medal was meant to be awarded to those who have excelled in the profession of nursing.

 The International Committee of the Red Cross in 1912 created the award. It is presented to nurses or nursing workers.

 It is given for “exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick, or disabled, or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster” or “exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education”.

SPORTS

IOC SUSPENDS NORTH KOREA FROM 2022 BEIJING OLYMPICS

 North Korea was formally suspended from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 10th Sept as punishment for refusing to send a team to the Tokyo Games citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

 IOC president Thomas Bach said the North Korean national Olympic body will also now forfeit money it was due from the previous Olympics.

 The unspecified amount — potentially millions of dollars — had been withheld because of international sanctions.

• International Olympic Committee Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
• International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach.
• International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894 (Paris, France).

MALINGA RETIRES FROM ALL FORMS OF CRICKET

 Lasith Malinga has announced his retirement from T20 cricket after 295 matches where he picked 390 wickets.

 He had already retired from Tests in 2011 and from ODIs in 2019. The Sri Lanka pacer had also announced his retirement from franchise cricket in January this year after being released by Mumbai Indians.

 Malinga was the first bowler to bag 100 T20I wickets before ending with 107 scalps. He finishes fourth in the highest wicket-taker category in the list behind Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir and Sunil Narine.

 Malinga, one of the best T20 bowlers of all time, was a crucial figure in the teams he represented in the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, and other franchise tournaments.

 He was part of four of the five IPL championship wins with Mumbai Indians but had opted out of the 2020 tournament.

MS DHONI AS MENTOR OF INDIAN TEAM FOR T20 WORLDCUP

 BCCI announced that the former India captain MS Dhoni will mentor the team for the tournament, which will be played in UAE and Oman in October and November.

 He announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket on August 15, 2020.

 Dhoni had last played for India in the 2019 ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

 Dhoni, who leads Chennai Super Kings, is a three-time IPL-winning captain and has brought home three major ICC trophies — World T20, Champions Trophy and World Cup.

• Secretary of BCCI: Jay Shah.
• President of BCCI: Sourav Ganguly.
• Headquarters of BCCI: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Founded: December 1928.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

INT. DAY OF DEMOCRACY OBSERVED ON 15TH SEPT.

 International Day of Democracy is observed globally on 15th September every year.

 It was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007, for promoting and upholding the principles of democracy and provide an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

 The theme for 2021 International Day of Democracy is “Strengthening democratic resilience in the face of future crises”.

 History of the day: The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly through a resolution in 2007 to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy.

 The day was observed for the first time in 2008. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

NATIONAL ENGINEER'S DAY: 15TH SEPTEMBER

 In India, Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year. The day is celebrated to recognise the contribution of engineers in the development of the nation.

 The day marks the birth anniversary of the engineering pioneer of India, Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya, (popularly known as Sir MV).

 He was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his exceptional contribution to the building of India in 1955. He has also conferred the British knighthood and served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.

 Engineers’ Day: History

 In 1968, the Indian government declared Sir M Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineers’ Day. Sir MV was regarded as the “Father of Modern Mysore”.

 Since then, this day is celebrated to honour and acknowledge all engineers who have contributed and still do so to build a modern and developed India.

WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY OBSERVED ON 21ST SEPTEMBER

 The globe acknowledges World Alzheimer’s Day every year on 21 September. The day aims at raising awareness about the disease, dementia, common symptoms, and risk factors attached to it.

 In many countries, World Alzheimer’s Day is observed throughout the month. The day also raises awareness about the severity of Alzheimer’s disease and its causes.

 History of World Alzheimer's Day: Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, identified this illness for the first time in 1901 in a 50-year-old German lady. That is the reason why the disorder was named after the psychiatrist.

 With time and alertness about the disease, the Alzheimer Disease International was formed in 1984.

 On its tenth anniversary which was celebrated in 1994, the organisation announced the inaugural of World Alzheimer’s Day. They decided to celebrate it on 21 September every year. However, World Alzheimer’s Month was recognised in the year 2012.

WORLD PATIENT SAFETY DAY: 17TH SEPTEMBER

 World Patient Safety Day is observed on September 17 to create a global awareness for patient safety and urge people to show their commitment to making healthcare safer.

 The Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety.

 The theme for 2021 WPSD is ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’.

 History of the day: World Patient Safety Day – established by the World Health Assembly in 2019 through resolution WHA72.6 on “Global action on patient safety” is observed annually on 17 September. It was adopted at the 72nd World Health Assembly on 25 May 2019.

WORLD BAMBOO DAY OBSERVED ON 18TH SEPTEMBER

 Every year on 18 September the World Bamboo Day is observed across the globe. The day is marked to raise awareness around the world for the conservation and promotion of the bamboo industry as well as of bamboo plantation.

 This special day is marked by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO), which aims to protect natural resources and the environment at large.

 The organisation also intends to ensure sustainable utilisation of bamboo, as well as promote traditional uses for economic development of local communities.

 The theme for the 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’

 History of the day: WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.

 The aim of the WBO is to bring the potential of bamboo to more elevated exposure, to promote new cultivation of bamboo for new industries in regions across the world, and also to promote traditional uses locally for community economic development, etc.

NMCG ORGANISED HIMALAYAN DIWAS ON SEPTEMBER 9

 The National Mission for Clean Ganga organized Himalayan Diwas on September 09, 2021, in association with Naula Foundation.

 This year’s theme is ‘Contribution of Himalayas and our responsibilities’. The event was part of the ongoing celebration of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

 Himalaya Diwas is celebrated every year on 9th September in the state of Uttarakhand. It is celebrated with the aim to conserve the Himalayan ecosystem and region.

 It was officially declared as Himalaya Day in 2015 by the then Chief Minister.

• Uttarakhand Founded: 9 November 2000.
• Uttarakhand Governor: Lt Gen Gurmit Singh.
• Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami.
• Uttarakhand Capitals: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer).

WORLD FIRST AID DAY OBSERVED ON 11TH SEPTEMBER

 World First Aid Day is observed on the second Saturday of September every year. In 2021 the day is being observed on September 11, 2021.

 The day is an annual campaign aimed at promoting the importance of first aid training and increasing its accessibility to save more lives in a crisis.

 When a person suffers from minor or serious injury or illness, the first and immediate assistance given to the patient is termed as ‘First Aid’.

 The theme for World First Aid Day 2021 is ‘First aid and road safety’, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

 World First Aid Day: In 2000, World First Aid Day was established by the IFRC and for more than 100 years, this organisation has been providing first aid services to people.

 The history of this day dates back to 1859 when a young businessman, Henry Dunant, saw the carnage at the battle of Solfrino.

REPORTS AND INDEXES

INDIA RANKED GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2021

 India has climbed two spots and has been ranked 46th by the World Intellectual Property Organization in the Global Innovation Index 2021 rankings, an official statement said on Monday.

 It further said India has been on a rising trajectory over the past several years in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and rose from a rank of 81 in 2015 to 46 in 2021.

 The consistent improvement in the GII ranking is owing to the immense knowledge capital, the vibrant startup ecosystem and the amazing work done by the public and the private research organisations.

 The Scientific Departments like the Department of Atomic Energy; the Department of Science and Technology; the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Space have played a pivotal role in enriching the National Innovation Ecosystem.

 Over the years, the GII has established itself as a policy tool for various governments and helped them to reflect upon the existing status quo, it added.

FSSAI'S 3RD STATE FOOD SAFETY INDEX

 Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on September 20, 2021, released the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 3rd State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of states across 5 parameters of food safety.

 9 leading states and Union Territories (UTs) were felicitated based on the ranking for the year 2020-2021 for their work towards ensuring food safety for citizens.

 In 2021, FSSAI’s 3rd State Food Safety Index showcased Gujarat as a top-ranking state, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Meghalaya, and Manipur. Among UTs, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and New Delhi were among the top ranks.

 During the event, Mandaviya also flagged off 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans Food Safety on Wheels to boost the food safety ecosystem across India. The total number of Mobile Food Testing Vans in India is now 109.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1ST SPACETECH START-UP TO TIE UP WITH ISRO

 A Hyderabad-based Space technology startup, Skyroot Aerospace has become the first private company to formally enter into an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

 The Framework MoU will allow the company to undertake multiple tests and access facilities at various ISRO centres and avail the technical expertise of ISRO for testing and qualifying their space launch vehicle systems and subsystems.

 The agreement was signed by R Umamaheswaran, scientific secretary at ISRO and chairman at Interim IN-SPACe Committee, and Pawan Chandana, who is the CEO of Skyroot Aerospace.

 About the Skyroot Aerospace: Skyroot, founded by former ISRO scientists, is building the Vikram series of rockets to carry small satellites into space.

 The startup has already test fired its solid propulsion rocket engine named Kalam-5, whose bigger version will power its rockets.

 Skyroot Aerospace is building the Vikram series of rockets to carry small satellites into space. The first launch vehicle in the series, Vikram-1 is scheduled to be launch in 2022.

CHINA’S EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE GAOFEN-5 02

 China successfully launched a new Earth observation satellite, Gaofen-5 02, into space, aboard a Long March-4C rocket, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province.

 The Gaofen-5 02 satellite is the 24th in the series of Gaofen Earth-observation satellites of China, to monitor environmental protection efforts and boost its natural resources surveillance.

 About the Gaofen-5 02: Gaofen-5 02 is a hyperspectral satellite that will be used for comprehensive environmental monitoring, to improve the country’s hyperspectral observation capacity of the atmosphere, water and land.

MISCELLANEOUS

WORLD’S LARGEST PLANT TO CAPTURE CO2 FROM AIR

 The world’s largest plant designed to capture carbon dioxide out of the air began its operations in Iceland.

 The plant is named Orca, which means ‘Energy’ in Icelandic word. It will suck out up to 4,000 tons of CO2 per year.

 About the plant: The carbon dioxide captured directly from the air will be deposited underground at a depth of 1,000 metres, where it would be turned into rock.

 The facility has been developed by Icelandic carbon storage firm Carbfix, in partnership with Swiss start-up Climeworks AG, which specialises in capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air.

 The technology launched may become a major tool in the fight against climate change.

KUSHINAGAR AIRPORT AS CUSTOM NOTIFIED AIRPORT

 The organization of CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has declared Kushinagar Airport as a Customs notified airport.

 This would also facilitate global passenger actions which include that of Buddhist pilgrims.

 The Kushinagar airport is a global airport unfolding throughout a location of 600 acres. It was granted the licence to operate global flights by using DGCA remaining February.

 In the month of August, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prolonged the validity of the airport’s licence to function worldwide flights till February 21, 2023.