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Current Affairs Study PDF – July 2023
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam
Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
CABINET APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................................... 7
PARLIAMENT NEWS ................................................................................................................................................ 12
FESTIVAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ............................................................................................................................... 15
OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 32
STATE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................. 52
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................ 57
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ......................................................................................................................................... 63
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 68
INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 68
FOREIGN VISITS ....................................................................................................................................................... 71
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................... 81
BANKING NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 81
RBI IN NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................. 81
SEBI ............................................................................................................................................................................ 90
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS....................................................................................................................................... 96
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED.............................................................................................................................. 96
OTHER BANK NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 100
FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 115
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS.................................................................................................................................. 123
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 125
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS...................................................................................................................................... 152
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE ........................................................................................................................ 162
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................... 171
RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 171
REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 179
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 197
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 217
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ....................................................................................................................................... 233

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 236
DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 251
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 251
MoU’s & DEALS ....................................................................................................................................................... 254
TESTING .................................................................................................................................................................. 255
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 256
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 257
OBITUARY ................................................................................................................................................................... 278
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................... 283
IMPORTANT DAYS ..................................................................................................................................................... 284
APPS & WEB PORTAL ............................................................................................................................................... 314

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet approves draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022
On July 5, 2023, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, approved the Draft
of Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022, will be tabled in Parliament during the upcoming
Monsoon session that will start on July 20 and continue till August 11 2023.
• The bill aims to provide consent-based data collection techniques.
What is DPDP Bill?
The Bill frames out the rights and duties of the citizen (Digital Nagrik) and the obligations to use collected data
lawfully of the data fiduciary (entities that collect personal data). It is based on the following six principles of
the data economy:
i.Collection and usage of the personal data of citizens of India.
ii.Data collection exercise: It must be for a legal purpose and the data should be safely stored till the purpose
is served.
iii.Data minimization: Only relevant data should be collected of individuals and serving the pre-defined
purpose should be the only aim.
iv.Data Protection and Accountability
v.Accuracy of data
vi.Rules regarding reporting a data breach
Background of DPDP Bill:
The Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or
Information) Rules, 2011, established by the Central Government under the Information Technology (IT) Act
2000 regulates the usage of personal data. However, it has been recognized that this framework is insufficient
to ensure adequate protection of personal data.
In response to this concern, the central government formed a Committee of Experts on Data Protection in 2017
chaired by Justice Bellur Narayanaswamy Srikrishna. The committee submitted its report in July 2018.
Based on the recommendations of the committee, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in the
Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament of India) in December 2019. The bill was then referred to a Joint
Parliamentary Committee for further examination, which presented its report in December 2021.
However, in August 2022, the bill was withdrawn from Parliament. Subsequently, in November 2022, the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the Draft Digital DPDP Bill, 2022 for
public feedback, for which, MeitY received and considered 21,666 suggestions.
Key Proposals in the Bill:
i.It requires data fiduciaries, to maintain the accuracy of data, keep data secure, and delete data once their
purpose has been met.
ii.It empowers the Data Protection Board (DPB) to levy a penalty of up to Rs 250 crore on organisations for
every instance of violation of norms.
• It can also increase such fines to a maximum of Rs 500 crore with requisite cabinet approval. Such
increases will not require any amendments to the Law.
iii.The definition for children will be retained as anyone under the age of 18 amid sustained pushback from
industry experts.
iv.The proposed law could allow global data flows by default to all jurisdictions other than a specified ‘negative
list’ of countries, essentially an official blacklist of countries where transfers would be prohibited.
Penalties in the Bill:
DPDP Bill Proposes six types of penalties on non-companies to companies:
i.To prevent a personal data breach, a penalty of up to Rs 250 core is being proposed (as mentioned above).

ii.Failure to notify the Board and affected Data Principals in the event of a personal data breach will be
penalized upto Rs 200 crore.
iii.Non-fulfilment of additional obligations in relation to Children will attract a penalty of up to Rs 200 crore.
iv.Non-fulfilment of additional obligations of Significant Data Fiduciary under sections 11 of the Act may
attract Rs 150 crore fine.
v.Non-fulfilment of additional obligations of Significant Data Fiduciary under sections 16 of the Act may
attract Rs 10 crore fine.
vi.Non-compliance with provisions of this Act other than those listed in (1) to (5) and any rule made
thereunder will attract penalties up to Rs 50 crore.
Applicability of Bill:
It will apply to processing of digital personal data within India; and to data processing outside the country if it
is done for offering goods or services, or for profiling individuals in India.
How will this bill be beneficial?
i.The Bill will enhance India’s trade negotiations with other nations like the European Union (EU), whose
General Data Protection Rules (GDPR) are among the world’s most exhaustive privacy laws.
ii.It will also empower individuals to question private companies as well as governments about their data
collection, processing, and storage.
iii.It is a crucial pillar of the overarching framework of technology regulations which also includes the Digital
India Bill, the proposed successor to the Information Technology Act, 2000; the draft Indian
Telecommunication Bill, 2022;and a policy for non-personal data governance.
Key Points:
i.As per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), approximately 137 out of 194
countries have implemented laws to safeguard data and privacy.
iii.Adoption rates for data protection and privacy laws are 61% in Africa (33 out of 54 countries), 57% in Asia
(34 out of 60 countries), and only 48% in Least Developed Countries (22 out of 46).
Recent Related News:
i.The Union Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with an outlay of Rs.6003.65 crore for
8 years (from 2023-24 to 2030-31). With this, India will join the top 6 nations (the United States of America
(USA), Canada, China, France, Austria, and Finland who are involved in the R&D in the QT.
ii.The Union Cabinet also approved the Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023 proposed by the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It will be introduced in the
upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha, Odisha)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha, Karnataka)
Union Cabinet has Approved Commercial Mining of 6 Critical Minerals Through MMDR Act
On 12th July 2023, Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development &
Regulation) MMDR Act of 1957, for the commercial mining of 6 critical minerals: lithium, titanium, beryllium,
zirconium, niobium and tantalum.
Note: This is the 5th amendment to the act since 2014. Earlier amendments authorised e-auction for minerals
and enabled the extension of expiring mine leases.
Key points:
i.The proposal will remove the six minerals from India’s ‘Atomic Minerals’ list and empower the Center to
auction their reserves for mining by private players.
ii.These minerals are key components of modern technologies such as mobile phones, electric vehicles, solar
panels, semiconductors, and wind turbines.
iii.These minerals help in electronics and communications, India’s transition towards greener energy, and
electrification of the transportation sector.

The new amendment:
i.The amendment proposes for an exploration licence, awarded through an auction to carry out
reconnaissance(exploration) and prospecting of a particular land for a mineral.
ii.The exploration licence for a larger area will be up to 5,000 sq km for a single block. The total area with one
entity will not exceed 10,000 sq km.
• Currently the government gives composite licences in a smaller area up to 25 square kilometres.
iii.The new amendment allows private companies to plan and explore areas where they conduct operations of
mining.
Lithium:
i.Lithium also referred to as “white gold”, is a non-ferrous metal used in rechargeable batteries, and to power
laptops, mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs).The mineral converts the chemical energy it stores into electrical
power.
ii.Lithium-ion batteries offer a longer life cycle as compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.
OAMDR Act amended to enable commercial mining in offshore areas
On 12th July 2023, the Union Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development
and Regulation)(OAMDR) Act, 2002, which allows commercial mining of mineral resources in offshore areas.
• Currently, the private sector is not allowed to mine mineral resources in offshore areas, including
territorial waters, continental shelves, exclusive economic zones, and other maritime zones of India
under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones
Act.
Note:
i.Australia is the world’s top lithium producer followed by the ‘Lithium Triangle’ of Argentina, Chile and
Bolivia.
ii.India meets about 70% of its lithium requirement from China and Hong Kong and it seeks to increase the EV
penetration from 1% currently to 30% by 2030.
The Government’s initiative to increase Lithium and other minerals production:
i.In 2019, the mines ministry created a joint venture company among National Aluminium Company Ltd
(NALCO), Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd (MECL) named Khanij
Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) to acquire mineral assets overseas such as lithium and cobalt.
ii.India and Australia identified five target projects (two lithium and three cobalt) under the India-Australia
Critical Minerals Investment Partnership to build new supply chains.
iii.India’s first lithium cell manufacturing facility with an installed capacity of 270 megawatt-hour (MWh) and a
daily production capacity of 20,000 cells of 10 amp-hour(Ah) came up in 2022 at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
On 28th June 2023, Shri Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister of Mines, released the first-ever report on “Critical
Minerals for India” which was constituted by the Ministry of Mines. This landmark report identifies 30 essential
minerals crucial to sectors such as defence, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and telecom.
Cabinet approves changes to Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023

On 12th July 2023, the union cabinet approved amendments to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions)
Bill, 2023.The amendments were made to decriminalise minor offences by amending 183 provisions in 42 Acts
which administered by 19 ministers with the aim to promote ease of business and living.
• It amends 42 laws, across multiple sectors, in agriculture, environment and media and publication.
• This includes the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public
Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Backdrop:
i.The Jan Vishwas Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in
December 2022.It was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (Chair: Mr. P.P. Chaudhary), which
submitted its report on March 17, 2023.

• The Bill removes certain offences. These include all offences under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.
• The Bill increases the fines and penalties for various offences in the specified Acts.The fines and
penalties will be increased by 10% of the minimum amount every three years.
• The Bill omits all offences under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.
ii.The committee prepared a report after it has held detailed discussions with all the 19 ministries or
departments along with the legislative department and department of legal affairs.
Acts in which amendments proposed:
i.The Acts which are being amended include The Drugs and Cosmetics Act(1940), Public Debt Act(1944),
Pharmacy Act(1948), Cinematograph Act(1952), Copyright Act(1957), Patents Act(1970), Environment
Protection Act(1986) and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
ii.The other laws include Trade Marks Act(1999), Railways Act(1989), Information Technology Act(2000),
Prevention of Money-laundering Act(2002), Food Safety and Standards Act(2006), Legal Metrology
Act(2009),and Factoring Regulation Act, 2011.
iii.These amending 42 laws are governed by various Union ministries, including finance, food production and
distribution, financial services, agriculture, commerce, environment, road transport and highways, posts,
electronics and Information Technology.
Outcome of the amendment:
In addition to seeking the decriminalisation of minor offences, the bill proposes the rationalisation of monetary
penalties based on the extent of the offence, thus consolidating trust-based government.
Union Cabinet Approves Mumbai based NITIE as 21st IIM of India

On 12th July 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a bill amending
IIM Act to include the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) in Mumbai as the 21st Indian
Institute of Management (IIM).The amendment will rename NITIE Mumbai as IIM Mumbai.
• Maharashtra is set to become the first state to have two IIMs, which includes IIM Nagpur,
established by the Government of India in 2015, and newly designated IIM Mumbai.
• The approved bill to be passed in the monsoon session of Parliament, which is set to take place from
July 20 to August 11, 2023.
Backdrop:
i.In January 2022, the Ministry of Education constituted a committee of experts to assess the feasibility of
including NITIE under IIM Act 2017.
It includes Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, Bombay Stock Exchange; Prof. Pawan Kumar Singh, Director,
IIM Tiruchirappalli; Prof. Pramod Kumar Jain, Director, IIT BHU; Prof. Subhasis Choudhuri, Director, IIT
Bombay; Pradeep Goyal, CMD, Pradeep Metals.
ii.The committee suggested that NITIE be renamed IIM Mumbai in 2022.
About NITIE:
i.NITIE Mumbai was established in 1963 with the support of the United Nations Development
Programme(UNDP)and the International Labour Organization(ILO) to create Skilled professionals.
ii.It is functioning under the Union Ministry of Education and offers postgraduate courses in various
management and industrial engineering fields.
iii.NITIE was ranked seventh in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking 2023.
About IIMs:
i.The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were founded to help the country’s management education. There
are currently 20 IIMs in India (as of July 2023).

ii.The first two IIMs, IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad, were established in November 1961 and December
1961.
iii.The other IIMs include IIM Bangalore(1973),IIM Lucknow(1984),IIM
Kozhikode(1996),IIM Indore(1996),IIM Shillong(2007), IIM Raipur(2010), IIM Ranchi(2010),IIM
Rohtak(2010), IIM Tiruchirappalli(2011), IIM Udaipur(2011), IIM Kashipur(2011), IIM Amritsar(2015), IIM
Bodhgaya (2015), IIM Nagpur (2015), IIM Sirmaur(2015), IIM Sambalpur(2015), IIM Visakhapatnam(2015)
and IIM Jammu (2016).
About IIM Act:
i.It is an Act to designate specific management institutes as institutions of national importance in order to
empower these institutions to achieve global excellence in management, management research, and related
fields of knowledge.
ii.The IIM Act was introduced in 2017 and the rules were revised twice, in 2018 and 2022.
Union Cabinet Approves Mediation Bill, 2021 & Press & Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023
On 19th July 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the amendments to 2
key bills: The press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 and the Mediation Bill, 2021, which were re-
worked to incorporate suggestions from a Parliamentary panel.
• The amendments cleared by the union cabinets are largely based on the recommendations made by
the parliamentary panel.
• These bills will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Note: Around 30 bills are being prepared for consideration during the monsoon session (from 20th July 2023
to 11th August 2023).
Amendments to Mediation Bill 2021:
• Amendments to the Mediation Bill including reducing the maximum timeline for completing
mediation proceedings from 360 to 180 days.
• Pre-litigation mediation has been made voluntary instead of mandatory.
About the Mediation Bill 2021:
Mediation Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha
on 20th December 2021 and the Parliamentary Standing
Committee was tasked to review the bill.
• The bill aims to institutionalise mediation and
establish the Mediation Council of India.
• The Bill requires people to try to settle civil or
commercial disputes through mediation
before approaching any court or tribunal.The
Bill aims to promote, encourage, and facilitate
mediation, especially institutional mediation,
to resolve disputes, commercial and otherwise.
• It also proposes mandatory mediation before
litigation and safeguards the rights of litigants
to approach competent adjudicatory
forums/courts for urgent relief.
Applicability:
The bill applies only for mediations conducted in India.
• involving only domestic parties
• involving at least one foreign party and relating to a commercial dispute (i.e., international
mediation)
• if the mediation agreement states that mediation will be as per this Bill

Disputes not fit for mediation:
Disputes involving claims against minors or persons of unsound mind, involving criminal prosecution, and
affecting the rights of third parties are considered disputes not fit for mediation.
Key Features:
i.The Mediation Council of India, established to regulate the profession of mediatrors, will not have
representation of practising mediators with adequate experience.
ii.The council requires prior approval from the Government of India(GoI) before issuing regulations related to
its essential functions.
iii.According to the bill, Mediation proceedings will be confidential, and must be completed within 180 days
and it may be extended by 180 days by the parties.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a structured, interactive process where an impartial third party neutrally assists disputing parties
in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.
About the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023:
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 will replace the Press and Registration of Books(PRB) Act
1867’ which governs the registration of the print and publishing industry in India.
• This will simplify the legislation that de-criminalises various provisions and brings digital media
under its ambit.
• This bill aims to ensure transparency and ease of doing business.
• This will also facilitate the registration process for newspapers and periodicals and remove penal
provisions for not including the name of the printer or the operation of printing presses by
newspapers.
Key Points:
i.At present, anyone who wants to start a newspaper has to apply with the district collector who will send the
application to the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) to check for title availability.
ii.The new bill moves this step of checking title availability online and reduces the time for registration.
PARLIAMENT NEWS
Rajya Sabha Chairman reconstituted panel of vice-chairpersons with 50% women
Parliamentarians
The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has appointed 4 women
Parliamentarians namely Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (PT Usha), Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan and
Sulata Deo to the panel of vice-chairpersons.
• The panel of vice chairpersons has been reconstituted with effect from 17th July 2023. The panel
reconstituted before the Monsoon Session contains a total of 8 members, out of which half(4) are
women.
• 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.
Note: The Vice Chairpersons conduct the proceedings of the House when the Chairman and Deputy Chairman
are not available.
Key Points:
i.Apart from these 4 women members, V Vijaysai Reddy(Andhra Pradesh), Ghanaashyam Tiwari(Rajasthan), Dr
L Hanumanthaiah(Karnataka), Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (West Bengal) have also been nominated to the panel.
ii.Phangnon Konyak, Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland became the first woman from Nagaland to be nominated
to the panel of Vice Chairpersons.
• She is also the first woman from Nagaland to be elected as a Member of Rajya Sabha and the 2nd
Woman from Nagaland to be elected to either the House of Parliament or the state Assembly.
iii.PT Usha became the first nominated MP in Rajya Sabha to be nominated to the panel of Vice Chairpersons.

Four Women Parliamentarians:
1. P.T. Usha:
i.A distinguished athlete and was awarded the Padma Shri in the Sports Field in 1985.
ii.In July 2022, PT Usha became the President nominated member of Rajya Sabha.
iii.She is a member of the Committee on Defence, the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports, and the Committee on Ethics.
2. S PhangnonKonyak:
i.She belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
ii.She is a member of Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of
Development of North Eastern Region, Committee on Empowerment of Women, House Committee and
Member, Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical
Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong (Meghalaya).
3. Dr.Fauzia Khan:
i.She belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party. She was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in April,
2020.
ii.She is a member of Committee on Empowerment of Women, Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Law and Justice.
4. SulataDeo:
i.She is a member of the Biju Janata Dal. She was elected to Rajya Sabha from Odisha in July, 2022.
ii.She is a member of Committee on Industry, Committee on Empowerment of Women, Joint Committee on
Office of Profit, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and
Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Additional Info:
The Rajya Sabha Chair has transitioned to a fully digital approach. The Rajya Sabha Chair will now utilise
electronic tablets for various aspects related to the conduct of business in the House, attendance in the House,
details of Members speaking and other relevant information.
About Rajya Sabha:
i.Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Indian Parliament.
ii.According to article 80 of the Indian Constitution, The total allowed capacity is 250 which includes, 238
elected and 12 appointed members.
iii.30 years is the minimum age required to become a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Finance amends Small Saving Rules, allows NRIs as Nominees

The Ministry of Finance has amended the Government Savings Promotion General Rules, 2018 with
Government Savings Promotion General (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, under which the Non-resident
Indians (NRIs) are made eligible to be nominated as nominee for government saving schemes.
• This is on the condition that payment to such nominee/s shall be on non-repatriation basis.
• This amendment has been added as sub-rule (9) in the principal rules, in rule 14, after sub-rule (8).
• The new rule indicates that the money needs to utilised in India.
Key Points:
i.The rule covers various schemes under the Government Savings Promotion Act, 1873, such as Public
Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Senior Citizens
Savings Scheme (SCSS), Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme (MSSC), Post Office Time Deposits,
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), and Post Office Monthly Income Scheme.
ii.This amendment benefits NRIs by allowing them to invest in small saving schemes and addresses issues
related to their nomination.
iii.Another amendment allows for converting a joint account into a single account upon the death of an account
holder. Previously, this conversion was not allowed.
iv.Changes have been made to payment norms for the death of a depositor. For amounts up to Rs 5 lakh

without a nominee, specific documents must be provided within six months. In the absence of relevant
documents, the rightful claimant will be required to fill out Form 11.
• For amounts exceeding Rs 5 lakh, payment is based on the will or letter of succession, along with
other necessary documents.
v.Another Key Amendments include Changes to name/surname, Accounts on the names of minors, etc. Click
Here for Official full list of Amendments
Competition (amendment) Act 2023: Power to appoint DG shifted to CCI from MCA
The Central Government has implemented a key provision of the Competition (amendment) Act 2023 that
vests power of appointment of Director General- DG (Investigation) in the Competition Commission of India
(CCI). Concurrently, it also has modified existing recruitment rules Competition CCI (Director General)
Recruitment Rules, 2009 to change the composition of the Search-cum-Selection Committee for appointment
of DG.
What are the changes?
i.Earlier, the Search-cum-Selection Committee was headed by Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Now, upon the vesting of power in CCI, the Search-cum-Selection Committee will now be headed by
Chairperson CCI and will have two Members, one each to be nominated by MCA and Central Government
(expert-person of eminence)
ii.The DG would be appointed by CCI out of the Panel (upto three names) recommended by the search-cum-
selection committee after obtaining prior approval of the Central Government.
• So far, the power to appoint DG was vested in the MCA.
Reason behind these amendments:
These changes follow the recommendation of the Competition Law Review Committee (CLRC) which aims to
address the issue of the Director General’s direct accountability to the Central Government instead of the CCI.
• The change seeks to create a clear separation between the regulator’s investigative and other
functions in line with international competition regulators’ practices.
When Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 come into force?
The Amendment Act comes into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, in the
official gazette specify Different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act
• The Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 11th April, 2023.
The Competition (Amendment) Act 2023 – Key Amendments
• Broadening the scope of anti-competitive agreements
• Reduction in time-limit for review of M&As from 210 days to 150 days
• Introduction of Deal Value as another criterion for notifying M&As
• Limitation Period of 3 years for filing Information(s)
• Penalty indexed to Global Turnover
• Introduction of Settlement & Commitment framework for faster market correction
• Hub-and-Spoke type arrangements brought under the presumptive rule of Appreciable
• Adverse Effect on Competition (AAEC)
• Leniency Plus
• Framing of Regulations after public consultations
• Issuance of Guidelines
• Appointment of the Director General by the Commission, with prior approval of Central Government
FESTIVAL
Annual Hemis Tsechu Festival concludes at Ladakh
The annual two day Hemis Tsechu Festival is celebrated by Hemis Gompa (monastery) from 28th June to 29th
June 2023 in Leh, Ladakh on the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava to commemorate his life and

works, who is referred to as Guru Rinpoche.
About the festival:
i.Hemis Tsechu Festival celebrating Guru Padmasambhava, in which monks wear masks and dance to the
rhythm of cymbals and long horns.
ii.The main celebration of the festival is the chaam dance performed by monks to commemorate the victory of
good over evil and to bless the land with renewed life and fertility.
iii.This festival also marks the opening of Guru Padmasambhava’s silk thangka (Tibetan painting) on the
occasion of Monkey Year in the Tibetan Calendar, which falls every 12 years.
About Guru Padmasambhava:
Guru Padmasambhava lived in the late 8th century, introducing tantric Buddhism to the Himalayan kingdom.
He preached to people with his famous eight avatars.
About Union Territory of Ladakh:
Lieutenant Governor – B. D. Mishra
Formation year – 31 October 2019
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

PM launched National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission and issued AB-PMJAY cards in
Madhya Pradesh
On 1st July 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia
Elimination Mission (NSCEM) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM) and released the guidelines for
Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh to eliminate anaemia by 2047. Along with
the initiative of NSCEM, the PM also distributed sickle cell genetic status cards to the beneficiaries.
• The PM also initiated the distribution of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-
PMJAY) cards of about 3.57 crore beneficiaries, with 1 crore cards already being issued to the
beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh.
• The ceremony for the distribution of AB-PMJAY cards was being organised at urban bodies, Gram
panchayats and Development Blocks across Madhya Pradesh.
Key People:
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and
Family Welfare; Mangubhai C. Patel, Governor of Madhya
Pradesh; Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya
Pradesh were also present at the event.
What is Sickle cell Disease (SCD)?
It is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating
systemic syndrome characterised by chronic Anaemia,
acute painful episodes, organ infarction and chronic organ
damage and by a significant reduction in life expectancy.
Note: As per Forbes, India has the second-highest global
prevalence of SCD. As per a National Health Mission
report, Madhya Pradesh has the highest burden of sickle
cell anaemia.
About National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination
Mission (NSCEM):
i. The mission was announced in the Union Budget 2023,
aims to address the important health challenges caused by sickle cell disease, particularly among tribal
populations of India.

ii. The mission will be implemented in 278 districts of 17 states in India namely Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
iii. NSCEM was developed to ensure that the health risks faced by the tribal communities of India are
significantly reduced.
iv. Over a period of three years, spanning from the fiscal year 2023-24 to 2025-26, the program targets
screening approximately 7.0 crore people.
About Ayushman Bharat Cards:
i. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has significantly reduced the financial burden on the people due to medical
expenses and the AB-PMJAY cards will act as an ATM card worth Rs. 5 lakhs.
ii. The card provides equity in healthcare and is accessible anywhere India to get free treatment.
Highlights:
Efforts taken by the Government of India to reduce the impact of various disease were highlighted like
Elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) completely in India by 2025.
About Madhya Pradesh:
Chief Minister- Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor- Mangubhai C. Patel
Tiger Reserve- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve
Kishan Reddy releases postal cover on “9 Years of Telangana Statehood”

On 30th June 2023, G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Tourism, released a special postal cover to
commemorate “9 Years of Telangana Statehood” and Picture Post cards (a set of 5 cards) on “Buddhist
Heritage in Telangana – Bavapur Kurru” at an event in Dak Sadan, Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The special postal cover featuring Dhulikatta Buddhist stupa is priced at Rs 50 and the set of
Bavapur Kurru post cards are priced at Rs 200.
• These will be available at all head post offices.
About the Special postal cover:
The special postal cover released by the Department of Post features the Dhulikatta Buddhist stupa, situated on
the banks of Hussaini Vagu at Dhulikatta in Peddapalli district, Telangana. The Stupa is Palaeographically
datable to 2nd century B.C.
About the Set of Picture Post Cards:
The set of 5 cards traces the events of Bavari, journey of a Brahmin sage from the Parayanavagga of Suttanipata,
and the introduction of Buddha Dhamma.
• The cards depicts the life event of a Buddhist monk Bavari,who settled in Assaka Janapada and sent
16 of his disciples to Magadha to meet the Buddha.
Bavapur Kurru:
i.Bavapur Kurru is the Buddhist site, located on an island in the middle of the river Godavari, 14 kms from
Khanapur town in Nirmal District, Telangana. This site was found by archaeologists in 2019.
ii.The Buddhist literature mentioned about the spread of Buddhism in Telangana in Parayanavagga of Sutta-
Nipata, a collection of religious discourse, speaks of Bavari, a Brahmin priest who came from Kosala in Magadha
to settle on an island of the Godavari River.
Telangana Statehood Day – 2nd June:
i.Telangana was formed as the 29th State of India on 2nd June 2014.
ii.The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, (Telangana Act), is an Act of Indian Parliament that split the
state of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
2nd June 2023 marks the 9th Statehood Day of Telangana.

ITC released a Special Stamp on Mission Millets in collaboration with Department of Post
On 25th July 2023, ITC Limited, a leading Indian multi-business enterprise based in Kolkata, West Bengal, has
released a special postal stamp, a “Customised My Stamp” on Mission Millet in collaboration with the
Department of Post(India Post) under the Ministry of Communication.The stamp was released by Kailash
Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare(MoA&FW).
• The postal stamp was released to celebrate Shree Anna and to create awareness about the
importance of Millets.
• The postal stamp is a part of ITC’s Mission Millets initiative commemorating the International Year
of Millets 2023.
• The exclusive ITC Mission Millets postal stamp acknowledges the significant role of farmers and
connects sustainable farming to nutritious food products and delicious millet-based recipes and
dishes.
Note: ‘My Stamp’ is the brand name for personalized sheets of Postage Stamps of India Post.Customized My
Stamp is a personalized sheet of Postage Stamps wherein the
corporate, organizations and institutions can get their customized sheets printed
from India Post.
ITC Mission Millets:
i.ITC launched Mission Millets in 2023, focussed on mainstreaming millets and in order to support the
Government of India’s (GoI) commitment to ‘Help India Eat Better’.
ii.ITC Mission Millets is powered by 3 Pillar strategy, which includes the development of a ‘good-for-you’ food
portfolio; the implementation of sustainable farming systems; and the creation of a robust millets agri value
chain.
iii.Along with the Mission Millets initiative ITC also promoting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in millet
farming connected through its app ITC Meta Market for Advanced Agricultural Rural Services (ITCMAARS), an
integrated ‘phygital’ eco-system to provide farmers with agricultural and related services on a digital platform
in 2022.
Key Points:
i.The ITC Millets Stamps release will further strengthen the vision of ITC to empower, educate and encourage
millet farming and consumption in India.
ii.India is the largest millet producer in the world.The efforts taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare on millets include the
• Celebration of the International Year of Millets-2023;
• Holding of G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (AMM);
• Designating Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Millets Research
(IIMR), Hyderabad as Global Centre of Excellence on Millets.
Other Participants:- Sushri Manju Kumar, Chief Post Master General, Department of Post, and S Sivakumar,
Group Head – Agri Business, ITC.
Additional Info:
In March 2023, ITC Ltd partnered with the Bharat Banking Mission of Axis Bank to offer lending products and
services to farmers, who are a part of the Agricultural Ecosystem of ITC.
India and the US jointly launched a call for proposals on Critical and Emerging Technology
On 18th July 2023, India and the United States of America (US) jointly launched a call for proposals on “Critical
and Emerging Technology: Quantum Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Transforming Lives“. The
program was designed by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the Secretariat for
USISTEF.
• The objective is to promote technology innovation and entrepreneurship in commercially viable and
socially relevant areas.

• US Secretary, Department of Energy, Ms Jennifer M. Granholm and Union Minister of State
(Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions,
Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh made a discussion on bilateral collaboration between
the two countries.
• The program worth USD 2million launched under the US-India Science and Technology Endowment
Fund (USISTEF) for the joint development and commercialization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
quantum technologies, and encouraged public-private collaborations to develop high performance
computing (HPC) facilities in India.
• The call will remain open till August 31, 2023 and will invite joint Indo-US technology innovation
and entrepreneurial proposals that are commercially viable and socially relevant.
• It will provide a prominent boost to the domestic as well as the US priorities looking at various
facets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Note – India has recently approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with an aim to seed, nurture and
scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology
(QT).
DoT Launches Bharat 6G Alliance to Drive Innovation and Collaboration in Next-Generation

Wireless Technology
On July 3, 2023, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT),Ministry of Communications (MoC) launches
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) to propel India’s technological progress in the telecom sector. In this regard, the
B6GA website (https://bharat6galliance.com) was also launched.
• The formation of B6GA was announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoC, in the presence
of Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State(MoS) for Communications.
What is B6GA?
B6GA is a collaborative platform in India, bringing together startups, companies (both public and private),
academia, research institutions, global technology alliances, associations, and standards development
organizations.
Its goal is to lead the development and deployment of 6G technology in India, and to make India a leading global
supplier of IP (Internet Protocol) products and affordable 5G, 6G, and future telecom solutions.
• B6GA will deploy 6G technologies to act as a powerful force multiplier for India by 2030.
Key Points:
i.It will understand the business and societal needs of 6G beyond technology requirements, and promote high-
impact open R&D initiatives.
ii.It will promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-
innovation, reduce imports, and boost export opportunities.
iii.It will accelerate standards-related patent creation in India and actively contribute to international
standardization organizations such as 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) and ITU (International
Telecommunication Union).
Funding for 6G technology projects:
A grant of Rs 240.51 crores under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) has been allocated to
support the advancement of 6G technology.
This fund will be used for 2 projects: the 6G THz Testbed with Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) &
Multiplexing and the Advanced Optical Communication Test Bed.
i.6G THz Testbed with Orbital Angular Momentum(OAM):
This project will be undertaken by a consortium consisting of SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave
Electronics Engineering and Research), a Research and Development (R&D) lab under the Department of
Electronics, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); IIT (Indian Institute of
Technology) Madras (Tamil Nadu), IIT Guwahati (Assam), and IIT Patna (Bihar).

• It aims to explore the potential of 6G (Sixth-Generation Wireless) technology using terahertz (THz)
frequencies and advanced multiplexing techniques for the development of 6G applications and
services.
ii.Advanced Optical Communication Test Bed project,
It will be undertaken in collaboration with IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, Indraprastha Institute of Information
Technology (IIIT) Delhi, and several industry players, focusing on creating an advanced test bed for optical
communication technologies.
• This initiative will spur innovations in areas like telemedicine and telesurgery, revolutionizing
healthcare services in India.
Note for TTDF: Launched by DoT/USOF in October 2022, 5% of annual collections from USOF (Universal
Service Obligation Fund) are available for TTDF Scheme for funding research & development of technologies,
products, and services.
Digital Communication Innovation Square (DCIS) initiative:
During the event, grants totalling Rs 48 crore were awarded to 66 startups and MSMEs (Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises) under Digital Communication Innovation Square (DCIS) initiative which fosters
innovation and entrepreneurship.
• DoT felicitated 75 innovators for their contributions to the field, and exceptional achievements.
• DoT under DCIS Scheme has been funding such startups and MSMEs .
India’s Achievements in Telecom Sector:
1. Four-fold increase in BTS (Base Transceiver Station) sites to 25 Lakh
2. FDI in Telecom Sector has increased to 24 billion Dollar
3. Over 2.7 lakh 5G tower have been installed almost at a rate of 1 Tower per minute making India
among Top three 5G ecosystems in the World.
4. Japan has aligned with India on Digital Payment system of India.
5. Over 1,600 crore investments in Telecom Manufacturing under PLI (Production Linked Incentive)
6. Over 200 patents in 6G technology
7. Advancement in zero latency Advanced optical communication for fields like Telemedical and
Telesurgery.
i.On March 27, 2023, MoC Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for
Communications, inaugurated the Two days ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’ which was
held on 27-28 March 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
ii.India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), under the ownership of the Department of Post, the Ministry of
Communications, partnered with New Delhi (Delhi)-based Bharti Airtel Limited to launch banking services
through WhatsApp for its customers.
About Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha, Odisha)
Minister of State– Devusinh Chauhan (Constituency-Kheda, Gujarat)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched NCC Integrated Software for Cadets
On 7th July 2023, Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence, launched the National Cadet Corps (NCC)
Integrated Software (NIS), a single window interactive software for Cadets, in New Delhi, Delhi.
During the event, NCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India (SBI) to
open zero balance accounts of all NCC Cadets.
Key People:
Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary, Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh AVSM VSM, Director General of NCC (DGNCC) and
senior officials of the ministry of Defence (MoD), NCC, BISAG and SBI were present during the event.
About NCC Integrated Software (NIS):
i.NIS, designed on the ‘Entry to Exit Model’, wasdeveloped in partnership with Bhaskaracharya Institute for

Space Applications and Geo Informatics (BISAG).
ii. The software, based on Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of “Once a Cadet Always a Cadet”,will
digitalize the entire process from the stage of enrolment in NCC as a cadet till exit registration as alumni.
iii. This will enable seamless issue of certificates, creation of an all India database of NCC cadets at the time of
their employment.
MoU signed between NCC and SBI to open zero balance accounts for NCC Cadets
NCC and SBI signed a MoU to open zero balance accounts for all NCC Cadets with debit card, chequebook &
passbook facility under the “Pahli Udaan” scheme, SBI savings account for minors.
Note: About 5 lakh Cadets will be benefitted by this MoU every year.
Key Features:
i. The account opened for the cadets will remain functional till completion of training or attaining 18 years of
age whichever is later.
ii. This will introduce the cadets to the national banking system and provide them with a ready platform to
avail benefit of other Government schemes through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) of funds into their accounts.
• Under DBT initiative, (MoD) reformed the physical uniform distribution to make it more transparent
and seamless, allowing direct bank transfer of uniform allowance in the bank accounts of the NCC
cadets.
iii. It will replace the existing central procurement and distribution process.
MSDE launched “AI for India 2.0”, Free AI Training Programme for the youth of India
On the occassion of World Youth Skills Day 2023 (15th July 2023), Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) launched a free online training programme on Artificial
Intelligence (AI), “AI for India 2.0“.
• It is a joint initiative of Skill India and Grab Ur Vernacular Imprint (GUVI), an Indian Institutes of
Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat incubated company.
• This National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) under the MSDE and IIT
Madras accredited online programme will enable the youth of India with frontier skills.
• The online programme is reportedly available in nine languages. This initiative is a beginning to
eliminate the language barriers in technology education and future-proofing India’s YuvaShakti,
especially in rural areas.
Note: 16th July of every year is globally observed as AI Appreciation Day to recognize and appreciate
the impact of AI on our lives.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Launches Bharat Internet Utsav

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under Ministry of Communication(MoC) in collaboration with
MyGov(Government of India’s citizen engagement platform), has launched the “Bharat Internet Utsav” to
celebrate the transformative role of the internet by encouraging citizens to share their stories of how the
internet has positively impacted their lives.
• To participate in this Utsav, citizens can share their videos of up to 2 minutes of various empowering
real-life stories on the transformation brought by Internet in the various aspects of their life on any
of the social media handles with #BharatInternetUtsav or upload in drive link, and the same link
can be submitted on MyGov at https://innovateindia.mygov.in/bharat-internet-utsav/.
• The contest shall be conducted on MYGOV from 07.07.2023 to 21.08.2023 and the best stories shall
be rewarded with prizes upto Rs 15,000.
DoT is utilizing the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to provide affordable, reliable internet
access to citizens in remote and commercially unviable areas, ensuring widespread connectivity.

MoA & FW Launched 3 Technological Initiatives Under PMFBY & RWBCIS
On 21st July 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW) launched 3 technological
initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) to empower farmers and streamline their operations in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju
launched the new initiatives, including YES-Tech (Yield Estimation System, based on
Technology) Manual, Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal
and AIDE (Sahayak) mobile app, to provide farmers with accurate weather data, yield estimates, and
crop insurance access, effective from the current tender cycle of 2023-25.
YES-TECH Manual:
i.Developed after testing in 100 districts of India, the YES-TECH Manual helps in the implementation of YES-
TECH, a technology-driven yield estimation system.
ii.It enables accurate yield assessments at the Gram Panchayat level in the agricultural sector.
WINDS Portal:
i.It is a centralized platform to manage hyper-local weather data collected by automatic weather stations and
rain gauges at taluk/block and gram panchayat levels.
ii.The portal aids in risk assessment, crop insurance, agriculture advisories, and disaster mitigation, thus
supporting the agricultural sector and rural economy.
AIDE mobile app:
The Android platform app aims to revolutionize crop insurance more accessible and convenient for farmers
with a seamless and transparent approach.
Key highlights:
i.Minister of Agriculture announced the delinking of subsidies, ensuring that farmers receive their claim
payments without waiting for State actions.
ii.This provides financial security to farmers as the centre releases its share of subsidies independently.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW):
Union Minister- Narendra Singh Tomar (Constituency-Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State- Sushri Shobha Karandlaje; Kailash Choudhary.
NITI Aayog Releases IESS to Assess the Impact of Green Energy Policies
On 20th July 2023, the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) released a Revamped India
Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047 (IESS 2047 V3.0) to assess the integrated impact of various green
energy policies of Government of India.
Key people:
The release was attended by Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson (VC), NITI Aayog, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI
Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief executive officer(CEO), NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, G-20 Sherpa.
Objectives:
i.IESS 2047 is a user-friendly interactive tool that can help ministries/ departments to develop a variety of
energy transition scenarios to achieve net-zero.
ii.The tool helps analyze emissions, cost, land, and water requirements till 2047 by assessing the demand and
supply of energy. It provides many permutations and combinations of net-zero pathways.
iii.It provides capabilities to compute the energy needs and estimates of the country and hence reduce India’s
dependency on external agencies for the estimates.
About IESS:
i.IESS an open-source tool, incorporates several policies related to alternative energy resources like Green
Hydrogen, Energy Storage, Renewable Purchase Obligations, PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha
evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan), offshore wind strategy, Electric Vehicle policy, Energy efficiency, etc.
ii.The revamped IESS 2047 will be updated on a yearly basis. The baseline has been standardised at 2020 and
calibrated up to 2022.

NITI Aayog and Vasudha Foundation Released the ICED 3.0
On 20th July 2023, NITI Aayog in collaboration with energy and climate think-tank Vasudha Foundation
released the India Climate Energy Dashboard (ICED) 3.0 during the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in
Goa.
• The ICED is the country’s one-stop platform for revamped online data center on energy, electric
mobility, climate and related economic datasets.
Key points:
i.Developed as a user-friendly platform, ICED 3.0 enables users to access and analyze datasets from 2005 using
an analytical engine freely and helps to monitor India’s clean energy transition journey.
ii.It is claimed to aid policymakers, the general public, and energy and climate trackers to track the latest
information from different ministries.
iii.This dashboard empowers users with over 500 parameters, over 2000 infographics, and several interactive
visualizations, allowing users to understand India’s energy sector holistically.
About NITI Aayog:
Chairman- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
CEO- B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Established- January 1st, 2015
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Indian Army & TVS motor launched All-women Motorcycle Rally to commemorate 24th Kargil
Vijay Diwas
The Indian Army, in partnership with TVS Motors company, launched a Tri-Services All Women Motocycle
Rally – ‘Nari Sashaktikaran Motorcycle Rally’ to commemorate 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas and to highlight the
brave spirit of women. General Manoj Pande, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) flagged off all-women
motorcycle rally from the National war memorial, New Delhi on 18 July 2023.
• The Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorates the victory of Indian Armed Forces against Pakistan on July
26, 1999, as part of Operation Vijay.
i.Rally will cover around 1000 kilometres through Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to reach
Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Kargil District, Ladakh on 25 July 2023.
ii.The 25-member strong tri-services team includes two Veer Naris, one of whom is a serving officer, 10 serving
Indian Army Women officers, one woman officer each from Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, three women
soldiers of Indian Army and eight Armed Forces spouses.
iii. The riders took part in the rally with TVS Ronin motorcycles.
NHA launches 100 Microsites Project to Promote Digital Health Adoption

On July 28, 2023, the National Health Authority (NHA) launched the 100 Microsites project under Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to promote digital health adoption and enhance healthcare accessibility for all.
• The project will be implemented by State Mission Directors of ABDM, while NHA will provide
financial resources and overall guidance.
• The Microsites will be established across India in various states/Union Territories (UTs).
Key Points:
i. The State and UT can collaborate with development partners and interfacing agencies to set up and manage
the microsites.
ii. All healthcare facilities and professionals, especially from the private sector, will be registered in ABDM’s
Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Health Facility Registry (HFR). ABDM-enabled applications will
then be installed within the microsite, while patients visiting these centers will have their health records linked
to their ABHA(Ayushman Bharat Health Account) profiles.

What are Microsites?
Microsites are clusters of ABDM-enabled small and medium-scale healthcare facilities, such as clinics, nursing
homes, hospitals (with less than 10 beds), laboratories, and pharmacies, offering digital health services to
patients. The project’s pilot Microsite was initiated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in October 2022, and additional
Microsites were launched in Ahmedabad and Surat, Gujarat, in March 2023.
Approval and Guidelines:
The 100 Microsites project was approved by the Mission Steering Group (MSG) during a meeting held on April
12, 2023. Subsequently, on May 31st, 2023, the NHA issued operational guidelines for the nationwide activation
of Microsites.
Aim:
To raise awareness about ABDM and its benefits among small and medium-scale healthcare providers,
encourage them to register on ABDM’s core registries, use ABDM-certified digital solutions and ultimately link
digital health records.
Types of facilities to be covered under a Microsite:
i.Private facilities like standalone clinics, polyclinics , nursing homes, small hospitals (preferably <10 beds),
labs, pharmacies, and any other healthcare facilities wherein health records are generated.
ii.Health Facilities and Health Professionals from all the systems of medicine.
Categories of a Microsite:
State/UTs have the flexibility to choose between two categories of Microsites based on regional priorities:
i.Category A Microsite: Comprising a minimum of 1000 facilities, including all types of health facilities
mentioned above.
ii.Category B Microsite: Comprising a minimum of 500 facilities but less than 1000, including all types of health
facilities mentioned above.
Click Here for Full Guidelines
i.On April 21, 2023, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme of the Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoH&FW) received the Prime Minister’s (PM) Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2022
under the Innovation (Centre) category.
ii.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges
in co-location with existing medical colleges established since 2014. The outlay for the same will be Rs 1,570
crore.
About National Health Authority (NHA):
Chief Executive Officer– S. Gopalakrishnan
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launches AMC Repo Clearing Limited and CDMDF
On July 28, 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, initiated the trading on Limited
Purpose Clearing Corporation (LPCC) mechanism called AMC Repo Clearing Limited (ARCL), during an event
organized by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in Mumbai, Maharashtra
• She also inaugurated Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF).
• Both the initiatives intend to deepen the functioning of the corporate debt markets.
About ARCL:
The Union Minister launched the triparty repo in corporate debt securities offered through ARCL, a LPCC aimed
at developing the underlying Corporate Bond market in India.
ARCL, setup by MFs)managing debt Assets under management (AUM) acts as a Central Counter Party (CCP)
that facilitates clearing and settlement services of corporate bond repo transactions.
• During its launch, ARCL successfully conducted its first transaction, with a total traded value of Rs
480 crore.

Aim of ARCL:
To develop an active repo market, which will enhance liquidity in the underlying corporate bond market
Key Points:
i.ARCL as a market infrastructure institution envisages creating a market for short-term borrowing against
corporate debt securities.
ii.It has set up a Core Settlement Guarantee Fund, funded by contributions from corporate bond issuers.
• This fund provides settlement guarantees, eliminating the need for bilateral counterparty exposure
limits.
iii.ARCL came into existence in April 2021 and operates under the regulations of the Stock Exchanges and
Clearing Corporations (SECC) Regulations, 2018.
About CDMDF:
The CDMDF is Rs 33,000-crore backstop facility for Mutual Funds (MFs), first mooted in the Union Budget of
2021-22. It was approved by SEBI in March 2023.
Of the Rs 33,000 crore, Rs 30,000 crore will come from the government, while the balance Rs 3,000 crore will
be contributed by the Asset Management Companies (AMCs).
• SBI (State Bank of India) MF will be managing the fund.
• CDMDF will enhance secondary market liquidity in the Corporate Bond market during stressed and
normal times, thereby instilling confidence amongst participants in corporate bond market.
• Click Here to Read about CDMDF
Participants:
Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Shri Ajay Seth; Chairperson, Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) Madhabi Puri Buch, among others.
i.On 26th April 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, approved the upgradation of
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) from a Category-I
MiniRatna CPSE.
ii.8th April 2023, the Ministry of Finance marked the 8th anniversary of the launch of the Pradhan Mantri
MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) Yojana (PMMY).
About Ministry of Finance:
Union Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha- Karnataka)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Pankaj Chaudhary; Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad
Departments – Department of Expenditure; Department of Economic Affairs (DEA);
Department of Revenue; Department of Financial Services; Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management (DIPAM) & Department of Public Enterprises
AIM and Bayer launches Nationwide ATL Industry Visit for students
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with Bayer launched an industry visit initiative under Atal
Tinkering labs (ATL), at Bayer’s manufacturing facility in Vapi, Gujarat.
• The collaboration aims to introduce students to the latest manufacturing techniques and
technologies used in industry.
• Bayer has opened its manufacturing and production plants and research centers at Vapi(Gujarat),
Shamirpet(Hyderabad ), Chandippa(Telangana) and Bangalore for ATL students to experience how
technology, automation and innovation are leveraged by the industry.
• Bayer is a Life Science company operating in the areas of agriculture and healthcare. Bayer has
partnered with Niti Aayog since 2021 to support various initiatives of the AIM.
• Bayer has partnered with and extended support to 125 schools, located in seven states, through the
adoption of the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) initiative.
Note: Atal stands for AICTE Training And Learning Academy

MHA launched Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States with
outlay of Rs 5000 crore
Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) launched a “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in
the States” as a part of the allocation of Preparedness and Capacity Building Funding Window under the
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to strengthen the fire services across the States of India.
• The total outlay of the scheme is Rs 5000 crore and out of this, Rs. 500 crore is kept for to
incentivize the States on the basis of their legal and infrastructure-based reforms.
Launch of the Scheme:
The scheme was announced on 13th June 2023, by the Union Minister Amit Shah, MHA and Ministry of
Cooperation while chairing the meeting with Ministers of Disaster Management of the States/Union
Territories(UTs) in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note:
• This scheme is a part of the initiatives taken to make India disaster resilient.
• The government of India has undertaken several key initiatives to ensure “zero deaths” and
minimum loss of property during disasters by strengthening disaster risk reduction systems.
About Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States:
Objective: To expand and modernize Fire Services in the States with a view that activities for strengthening of
fire services at the State-level through preparedness and capacity-building components of the NDRF will be
ensured.
Funding:
i.For the projects and proposals under the scheme, the state government will contribute 25% of the total cost
from their budgetary resources.
ii.The North-Eastern and Himalayan (NEH) States shall contribute only 10% of the total cost of such projects.
Background:
i.The 15th Finance Commision (XV-FC) for 2021-26, chaired by Nand Kishore Singh (NK Singh) recommended
the allocation of 12.5% of each of the NDRF and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
• 10% of the total corpus of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) and the State
Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) is allocated for the funding window of preparedness and
capacity building.
ii.Out of the total NDRF corpus, Rs 5000 crore was allocated for priority “Expanding and Modernization of Fire
Services”.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister– Amit Shah(Constituency- Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)
Ministers of State– Nityanand Rai; Nisith Pramanik; Ajay Kumar Mishra
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches campaign to transform iconic 75 Lighthouses

into Tourism Destinations
On 1st July 2023, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, launched a campaign to
transform 75 historic Lighthouses across India into Tourism Spots from Dwaraka, Gujarat.
• He inaugurated the 1st three renovated lighthouses in Dwarka, Gopnath and Veraval in Gujarat.
• This inauguration marks the beginning of the campaign.
Note: the campaign is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform India’s distinctive
lighthouses into captivating tourism sites.
Significance of the campaign:
i.The aim of the campaign is to showcase the rich culture, significance, and magnificent structures of India.
ii.These historic sites have the potential to develop into tourist attractions and to boost the local economy.
Note:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the unique appeal of lighthouses and their potential as tourist

attractions during the 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat.
Additional info:
i.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also participated in Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)’s Business
20(B20) Meet at Surat, Gujarat, and interacted with the leading members of the business community.
ii.He invited firms to invest in the inland waterways sector and highlighted the need for river cruises such as
‘Narmada Vilas’, ‘Godavari Vilas’, ‘Mahanadi Vilas’, ‘Cauvery Vilas’ based on the success of Ganga Vilas.
BSE launched new logo on its 149th Foundation Day

On 10th July 2023, S.S. Mundra, Chairman of BSE Limited (formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange),
launched BSE’s new logo during the event organised to mark the celebration of its 149th foundation day at BSE
International Convention Hall, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• BSE, established in 1875 as as the Native Share & Stock Broker’s Association, was the first ever stock
exchange in Asia.
In 1956, BSE became Inida’s 1st stock exchange to receive permanent recognition under the Securities
Contracts (Regulation) Act 1956.
Manoj Ahuja Launched BHARAT Campaign for Mobilization of Funds Through Banks
On 12th July 2023, Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW), virtually
launched a new campaign for banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) titled BHARAT (Banks
Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) to mobilize funds from banks
The 1 month long campaign, which will run from 15th July 2023 to 15th August 2023, was launched with a
target of Rs 7200 crore.
Key People:
The video conference was attended by banking executives of commercial Banks in the public and private sector,
Regional Rural Banks(RRBs), Small Finance Banks(SFB), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) and select
cooperative Banks.
Key Points:
i.The banks support to this scheme has created 31, 850 agriculture infrastructure projects with Rs 24750
crores as loan under AIF with an outlay of Rs 42,000 crores.
ii.Some of the top-performing Banks in the scheme include State Bank of India (SBI), Canara Bank, Punjab
National Bank (PNB), HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank, Madhyanchal Gramin Bank
and Punjab Gramin Bank (PGB).
MoA&FW asks banks to promote Rs 1 Lakh Crore AIF
On 13th July 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture called upon the banks to promote Rs 1 lakh crore AIF for creation
of necessary infrastructure in the farm sector.
• Under this scheme, Rs 1 lakh crore is to be disbursed by financial year 2025-26 and the interest
subvention and credit guarantee assistance will be given till the year 2032-33.
About Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
It is a financing facility launched on 8th July 2020, for creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and
community farm assets.
The scheme disburses Rs 1 lakh crore by financial year 2025-26 and the interest subvention and credit
guarantee assistance will be given till the year 2032-33.
PM Modi Inaugrates IECC complex “Bharat Mandapam” at Pragati Maidan; IECC to host G20
Meet
On 26th July 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated a futuristic International Exhibition-cum-
Convention Centre (IECC), the revamped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex also known as

Pragati Maidan Complex, and also unveiled the G20(Group of 20) coin and stamp at Pragati Maidan in New
Delhi, Delhi.
• The IECC Complex has been named “Bharat Mandapam” and the naming ceremony of the Centre
was carried out using a drone.
• PM Modi performed Havan and Puja at the new ITPO International Exhibition-cum-Convention
Centre and felicitated shramiks involved in the construction of the Centre.
• The IECC Complex is set to host the G20 leaders’
meeting which is scheduled to be held in September
2023.
Note: ITPO is the nodal agency of the Government of India under
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) which owns and
manages the Pragati Maidan Complex.
Key Points:
i.The IECC complex was developed as a national project at a cost
of Rs 2,700 crore with a campus area of 123 acres being India’s
largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and
Exhibitions) destination.
ii.The IECC complex is placed among the top 10 exhibition and convention complexes in the world by
competing with Hannover Exhibition Centre in Germany, the National Exhibition and the Convention Centre
(NECC) in Shanghai,China.
Facilities:
i.The complex comprises one mega convention centre divided into four levels, 24 meeting rooms, two
auditoriums and another two halls.
ii.The complex also has an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 3,000 people and 5,500 parking spaces.
iii.The Level-3 of the IECC holds a seating capacity of 7,000 people is said to be larger than the Sydney Opera
House in Australia.
iv.The exhibition halls in the complex provide seven innovative spaces for showcasing products, innovations,
and ideas.
v.The IECC also includes 5G Wi-Fi campus, 10G Intranet, interpreter room to support 16 languages, advanced
AV systems, building management system, light management system, DCN (Data Communication Network)
system, surveillance system and centralized air conditioning system.
Design:
i.The elliptical design of the building was influenced by the shankha, or conch shell.
ii.The walls and facades of the Convention Centre depict India’s traditional art and culture including
• ‘Surya Shakti’ highlighting India’s efforts in harnessing solar energy,
• ‘Zero to ISRO’(Indian Space Research Organisation), celebrating our achievements in space
• Pancha Mahabhuta signifying the building blocks of universal foundation – Aakash (Sky), Vayu (Air),
Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Prithvi (Earth).
Construction:
i.The redevelopment of Pragati Maidan began in 2017.
ii.The project is being executed by state-owned NBCC (India) Limited, formerly known as National Buildings
Construction Corporation and Shapoorji Pallonji, its subcontractor, on behalf of the India Trade Promotion
Organisation.
iii.It was designedby International architectural firm Aedas, and Indian architectural firm Arcop.

Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ‘Sagar Sampark’ to Boost the Digitalisation in the Maritime
Sector
On 12th July 2023, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal
inaugurated the Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) “Sagar Sampark” in New Delhi, Delhi,
to boost the digitalisation in the maritime sector.
• The indigenously developed DGNSS is a terrestrial based enhancement system that corrects the
errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and provides more
accurate positioning information in Indian waters and beyond.
Key people:
The launch ceremony took place in the presence of Shripad Y. Naik(Minister of State), Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), TK Ramachandran, Indian Administrative Service(IAS) Secretary, MoPSW
and officials from the ministry and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships(DGLL).
Use of DGNSS:
i.The launch of ‘Sagar Sampark’-DGNSS, at 6 locations under DGLL, will enhance the capability of the DGLL in
the field of radio aids to marine navigation.
ii.DGNSS helps mariners in safe navigation and reduces the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in the
port and harbour areas and this will lead to the safe and efficient movement of vessels.
iii.It fulfils international obligations of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).
iv.The DGNSS system will transmit corrections of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation
Satellite System (GLONASS) and reduces errors caused by atmospheric inferences, satellite clock drift.
v.The error correction accuracy has been improved from 5 to 10 meters to less than 5 meters for 100 Nautical
Miles (NM) from Indian coastline.
First of its kind Exhibition on ‘Banking on World Heritage’ depicting UNESCO Heritage
sites inaugurated at IGNCA, Delhi
On 30th June 2023, Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture inaugurated
an exhibition ‘Banking on World Heritage’ first of its kind in the world at Darshanam gallery of Indira Gandhi
National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, Delhi. This exhibition showcases Banknotes of G-20 Member
Nations, depicting United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed World
cultural Heritage Sites.
• The exhibition organised under the chairmanship of India as part of the ongoing G-20 Summit
celebrations and will run till July 9 2023 and has been organised in the spirit of
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.
• The exhibition has been curated by Ms. Rukmini Dahanukar, an independent scholar and founder of
‘Money Talks’.
Note: “Money Talks” is a collection of papers; an on-going research that argues, Money is not merely a medium
of exchange but a medium of communication.
Product Design Centre inaugurated in Kolkata and Grain-Ex facility launched

under MeitY supported projects
Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
inaugurated the Product Design Centre (PDC), set up at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-
DAC), Kolkata, West Bengal.
On the occasion, ‘Grain-Ex‘, an appearance based detection system, through machine vision technology for
pulses developed under ‘National Programme on Electronics and Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’ as well as Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR)- The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Delhi was also launched.

Key People:
The Key People at the inauguration and launch were: Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, MeitY; Aditya Kumar
Sinha, Director, C-DAC, Kolkata, West Bengal; Dr Om Krishan Singh, Scientist ‘D’, MeitY.
Product Design Centre (PDC):
i. The centre is equipped with all the software and printing technologies for system designing, prototyping,
ideation and fabrication.
ii. It also has prototyping and system designing facilities.
iii. Start-ups, entrepreneurs and the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of the eastern
region of India would be benefitted by this facility.
‘Grain-Ex’:
i. It is an appearance-based electronic (e)-Quality detection system for 14 types of pulses.
ii. It would bring about a transformative change in the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for quality-based
pricing.
• Over 1,200 e-NAM-connected markets will be benefitted.
Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated 7th Edition of IMC 2023 in Delhi

On 12th July 2023, the Minister of Communications(MoC) Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Curtain Raiser
of 7th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC 2023) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,Delhi.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under Ministry of Communications and the Cellular
Operators Association of India (COAI) will jointly host the seventh edition of Asia’s premier digital
technology exhibition with the theme ‘Global Digital Innovation’ which is scheduled to take place
from 27th to 29th October at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,Delhi.
Key Points:
i. Following the successful launch of 5G (5th Generation) Internet in IMC 2022, the emphasis for this year’s
event will be on the development of indigenous technology, fostering the growth of the telecom and
semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, and taking a leading role in 6G(6th Generation) technology.
ii. The Concept of ‘Partner Countries’and ‘Virtual exhibition’ will be introduced in the event.
iii. IMC 2023 plans to introduce Aspire, a startup event aimed at fostering entrepreneurship growth among
young innovators and industry delegates. It will include sections like an Investor zone, pitching zone, workshop
zone, and networking zone.
iv. IMC-2023 to showcase 5G use cases that are transforming key sectors such as agriculture, education,
logistics, and animal husbandry.
Note: Since its establishment in 2017, the India Mobile Congress (IMC) has been pivotal in positioning India as
a global leader in digital innovation.
About Ministry of Communications:
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw( Rajya Sabha Representing Odisha)
Minister of State(MoS)– Devusinh Chauhan
Note : Ashwini Vaishnaw is also the central minister for Ministry of Railways & Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology.
India’s 1st PPP model ATL inaugurated in Kerala in collaboration with OPPO India
On 10th July 2023, Minister of State(MoS) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrashekar
inaugurated country’s first Public-Private Partnership(P3) model Atal Tinkering Lab(ATL)
under NITI(National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) in partnership
with a leading smartphone manufacturing firm, Oppo India in Thrissur, Kerala.
• Learning Links Foundation, New Delhi based ‘not for profit’ organisation will act as the
implementation partner. The ATL has been set up to empower school children in classes 6th to 12th
to develop innovative solutions.

• ‘Hub n Spoke’ strategy (a distribution network that resembles a bicycle wheel) to be followed to
create an innovative learning environment. The ATL in the nodal school will act as a ‘Hub’ for
students from neighbouring government schools to conduct experiments.
• This marks a significant milestone in India’s School Innovation journey with the aim to create an
empowered future-ready workforce and nurture entrepreneurship and technological skills among
the youth.
About Atal Innovation Mission(AIM):
i. The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, implemented by NITI Aayog
ii. AIM was launched in 2016 with the aim of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among Indian youth.
iii. Till 2022, 10,000 ATLs were established across 35 States and UTs in India via government grants.
About Public Private Partnership(PPP)
• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) entail the cooperative efforts between a government agency and
a private-sector entity to jointly fund, construct, and manage various projects.
• Financing a project through a public-private partnership can allow a project to be completed sooner
or make it a possibility in the first place.
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Union Minister – Shri Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha -Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State – Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar
President Droupadi Murmu Completes One Year in Office; Lays Foundation Stones/inaugurates
Various Projects at Rashtrapati Bhavan
On 25th July 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu completed one year in the office as
the 15th President of India. On the occasion, she laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various projects at
the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
Background:
i.On 25th July 2022, Droupadi Murmu, the candidate of Bharatiya
Janata Party(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), was
sworn in as the 15th President of India.
ii.The Oath of office was administered by then Chief Justice of
India(CJI) Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana(NV Ramana).
• She became the first person from a tribal community
and the 2nd woman after Pratibha Patil to hold the
office of President, the highest constitutional post of
India.
• Elected at the age of 64, she became the youngest person to hold the post. She was also India’s first
President born in Independent India.
About Droupadi Murmu:
• Born in a Santali tribal family in Mayurbhanj, Odisha on June 20, 1958.
• In 2015, Murmu became the first woman governor of Jharkhand.
Key Info:
President Murmu engaged in several activities to commemorate the completion of her first year in the
presidency. These activities include:
Redeveloped Website:
Marking the completion of one year of her presidency, President Murmu launched the redeveloped website of
the President of India and Rashtrapati Bhavan, along with an e-book compilation of glimpses from the past
year of her Presidency.
• She also received the first copy of the book on Ayush Wellness Centre, President’s Estate,
titled ‘Preserving Health, Embracing Traditions.’

Laid Foundation Stone:
i.Laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the Shiva Temple in the President’s Estate, New Delhi,
Delhi.
ii.Laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Cricket Pavilion at the Sports Ground of Dr. Rajendra
Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President’s Estate, New Delhi, Delhi.
Inauguration activities:
i.Inaugurated ‘Navachara’ an Artificial Intelligence(AI) enabled gallery developed by Rashtrapati Bhavan in
collaboration with Intel India.
• This gallery showcases innovative AI solutions created by students and AI coaches, providing
insights into Rashtrapati Bhavan’s grandeur and promoting AI skills democratization.
ii.Inaugurated ‘Sutra-kala Darpan’, a Textile Collection of Rashtrapati Bhavan, featuring antique textiles that
document the building’s illustrious legacy.
iii.Inaugurated ‘Janjatiya Darpan’ a gallery showcasing the art, culture, and contributions of various tribal
communities in building the nation. The gallery displays various themes and artifacts in collaboration
with Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) (under the Ministry of Culture), New Delhi, Delhi.
Additional Info:
Activities in past:
Rashtrapati Bhavan undertook citizen-centric initiatives during the first year of her Presidency, such as
i.Opened Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh and Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad, Telangana
throughout the year for public visit.
ii.Increased the duration of opening Amrit Udyan (the historic Mughal Gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in
New Delhi, Delhi)
President Droupadi Murmu lays foundation of ‘Divine Light House’ of PBKIVV in Odisha
On 27th July 2023, President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for the “Divine Light House” of
Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (PBKIVV) at Dasabatia, Tamando, Bhubaneswar
(Odisha) during her 3 day visit to Odisha from July 25 to 27 2023.
• The President also launched the 2023 theme of PBKIVV, “The Year of Positive Change” for
conducting nationwide seminar and conferences
• She highlighted the significance of both material and spiritual development for humanity, with
technology being a crucial driver of change.
• She also acknowledged the role of PBKIVV, a social and spiritual campaign in promoting spirituality
through meditation and a disciplined lifestyle, leading to mental peace.
Note: Brahma Kumaris, officially known as ‘Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya’ is a
worldwide spiritual movement founded by Pitashri Prajapita Brahma (well known as Dada Lekhraj) in 1936 in
Hyderabad, Sindh (Present Pakistan) and formally established in October 1937
OTHER NEWS
Major changes regarding Tax Collected at Source (TCS) & Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
On 28th June 2023, the Ministry of Finance announced that there will be no changes in the rate of Tax Collection
at Source (TCS) for all purposes under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and for overseas travel tour
packages, regardless of the mode of payment, for amounts up to Rs 7 lakh per individual per annum.
• It was also announced that more time will be provided for the implementation of the revised TCS rates
and also for the inclusion of credit card payments in LRS.
Background:
i.During the Union Budget 2023-24, major changes were announced to the system of TCS on payments under
the LRS and overseas tour program packages.
• These changes come into effect from 1st July 2023.

ii.In March 2023, it was also announced that credit card payments would be brought under the LRS
iii.Following these announcements, several comments and suggestions were received.
iv.In response to the suggestion, the Ministry of Finance has decided to make suitable changes.
Details of the changes:
No change in TCS rates for all purposes under LRS & for overseas travel tour packages:
i.The Sub-section (1G) of section 206C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 provides TCS on foreign remittance through
the LRS and on the sale of overseas tour program packages.
ii.Through Finance Act 2023, sub-section (1G) of section 206C of the Act was amended.
• This increased the rate of TCS from 5% to 20% for remittance under LRS and for the purchase of
overseas tour program packages. This also removed the threshold of Rs 7 lakh for triggering TCS on LRS.
iii.These amendments take effect from 1st July 2023.
Note: These are not applicable when the remittance is for education or medical purpose.
Overseas spending using credit cards not to attract TCS:
The government has postponed the implementation of its 16th May 2023 e-gazette notification which brought
credit card expenses under LRS. This implies that the transactions through International Credit Cards, while
overseas would not be counted as LRS and hence, would not be subject to TCS.
• The Press Release dated 19th May 2023 which stated that TCS of 20% will be levied on individual
payments above Rs 7 lakhs through international debit and credit cards from July 1, 2023 stands
suspended.
Changes in TCS Rates:
i.A threshold of Rs. 7 Lakh per financial year per individual in clause (i) of sub-section (1G) of section 206C
shall be restored for TCS on all categories of LRS payments, through all modes of payment, regardless of the
purpose:
• Therefore, for first Rs 7 Lakh remittance under LRS there shall be no TCS.
• Beyond the Rs 7 Lakh threshold, TCS shall be 0.5% for remittance for education financed by education
loan; 5% for remittance for education or medical treatment and 20% for others.
ii.For the purchase of overseas tour program packages under Clause (ii) of Sub-section (1G), the TCS shall
continue to apply at the rate of 5% for the first Rs 7 lakhs per individual per annum.
• 20% rate will only apply for expenditures above Rs 7 lakh per individual per annum.
Increased TCS rates to apply from 1st October 2023:
The changes in the TCS rates which were set to be implemented with effect from 1st July 2023 will now come
into effect from 1st October 2023 with the above-mentioned modifications.
Overview of Changes in TCS Rates:
Rates before New

Nature of Payment Finance Act rates wef 1st
2023 October 2023
Nil upto Rs 7 Nil upto Rs 7

lakh lakh
LRS for education financed by
a loan
0.5% above Rs 0.5% above Rs
7 Lakh 7 Lakh

LRS for Medical treatment/ lakh lakh
education (other than
financed by loan) 5% above Rs 7 5% above Rs 7
Lakh Lakh

lakh lakh
LRS for other purposes
5% above Rs 7 20% above Rs
Lakh 7 Lakh
5% till Rs 7
Purchase of Overseas tour 5% (without
Lakh, 20%
program package threshold)
thereafter
Note:
• The TCS rates in the 2nd column shall continue to apply till 30th September 2023.
• No TCS will be applied on expenditures under LRS under clause (i) of Sub-section (1G) for the first Rs 7
lakh, irrespective of the purpose.
Additional info:
The necessary changes to the Rules (Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions Rules),
2000) will be issued separately.
The legislative amendment for this is yet to be proposed.
What is Tax Collection at Source (TCS)?
TCS is a tax/payable collected by a seller of specified goods from the buyer at the time of sale over.
Such persons must have the Tax Collection Account Number to be able to collect TCS.
• The goods are as specified under section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
What is Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)?
LSR is a foreign exchange policy initiative introduced by the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in 2004 with a limit of
USD 25,000.
• At present, Under the LRS, a resident individual can remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year for
permissible transactions.
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman(Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State– Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad; Pankaj Chaudhary
MNRE Unveils Guidelines for Incentive Schemes for Electrolyser & Green Hydrogen Production
in India
On 30th June 2023, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced comprehensive guidelines for
the implementation of the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme:
Component I – “Incentive scheme for Electrolyser Manufacturing” and Component II – “Incentive Scheme
for Green Hydrogen Production”.
• SIGHT programme is a major financial measure under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an
outlay of Rs 17,490 Crore.
• SIGHT programme aims to make India a global leader in the production and export of green hydrogen.
i. Component 1 has been allocated a significant amount of Rs 4,440 crore for the manufacturing of
electrolysers from FY26 to FY30.
ii. Component 2, on the other hand, has received an allocation of Rs 13,050 crore for green hydrogen
production during the same period.
Key Points:
i.These guidelines have been introduced to expedite the adoption of green hydrogen technology in India,
leading to a sustainable and clean energy future.

ii.The MNRE will implement the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Program
through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) as implementing agency between the financial year
(FY) 2025-26 and FY 2029-30.
Component 1: Incentive Scheme for Electrolyser Manufacturing
Component 1 provides government support for electrolyser manufacturing, with incentives offered per
kilowatt (kW) of manufacturing capacity. These incentives will be provided for a duration of five years,
commencing from the establishment of the manufacturing facility.
• Additionally, bidders are required to demonstrate a minimum level of local value addition (LVA)
annually, promoting local manufacturing and indigenization.
• The target capacity for the first phase of Component 1 is set at 1,500 megawatts (MW), laying a solid
foundation for electrolyser manufacturing in the country.
Click here to know more about Component I
Component 2: Incentive Scheme for Green Hydrogen Production
Component 2 focuses on the production of green hydrogen and provides two modes of participation.
• In Mode 1, interested parties can bid based on the minimum incentive demanded over a three-year
period, utilising a competitive bidding mechanism.
• Mode 2 involves SECI aggregating demand and initiating a competitive bidding system for procuring
green hydrogen and its derivatives at the most economical cost.
Incentives for green hydrogen production will be provided for three years from the commencement of
production, with a tiered structure.
Click here to know more about Component II
Additional info:
The MNRE has set an ambitious target of 4.5 lakh tonnes per annum (LTPA) for green hydrogen production
capacity. This capacity is divided into two pathways: a technology-agnostic pathway targeting 4.10 LTPA and a
biomass-based pathway with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum.
Expected Outcome:
The guidelines for the National Green Hydrogen Mission represent a significant step toward achieving India’s
renewable energy goals and transitioning to a greener and more sustainable future. These initiatives not only
strengthen the manufacturing sector but also drive the widespread adoption of green hydrogen as a clean and
efficient energy source.
About Ministry of New & Renewable Energy:
Union Minister – Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency : Arrah in Bihar)
Ministers of State – Bhagwanth Khuba
Central Govt approves 8.15% interest rate on Employees’ Provident Fund for FY23
On 24th July 2023, The Ministry of Finance, Government of India(GoI) has approved Employees’ Provident
Fund Organisation (EPFO)’s Central Board of Trustees’ recommendation to set the annual interest
rate of 8.15% on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) accounts for the financial year 2022-2023(FY23).
• This move will cover over 6 crore subscribers of EPFO.
• The current rate is 0.05% higher than the FY22 when it was 8.10%.
Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) has conveyed this approval of the Central Government under
para 60(1) of EPF Scheme, 1952 by crediting the interest to the account of each member of the EPF Scheme as
per the provisions under Para 60 of EPF Scheme, 1952.
Key Points:
i. Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, Government of India. It manages the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), a social security scheme
for salaried employees in India.

ii. Each month, an employee contributes 12 per cent of their earnings to their EPF account, with the entire
contribution directed towards the EPF account. On the employer's part, only 3.67 per cent is deposited into the
EPF account, while the remaining 8.33 per cent is allocated to the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS).
iii. According to EPFO’s latest provisional payroll data released on July 20, 2023, the top 5 states in terms of net
member addition are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, and Gujarat.
India’s 1st Fisheries AIC to be Set up at KUFOS, Kerala with a Grant of Rs 10cr
India’s first Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) in fisheries will be set up at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean
Studies (KUFOS) in Kochi, Kerala to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement in
fisheries and related sectors.
• KUFOS got a grant of Rs 10 crore from National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog to
set up fisheries’ AIC at the University.
About AIC in Fisheries:
i.KUFOS will lead this project as its principal investigator under the guidance of Radhika Rajasree SR,
Professor and head of the Department of Fish Processing Technology, KUFOS.
ii.This AIC will serve as a hub for innovation by developing technologies and solutions for the challenges faced
by marine ecosystems and fishing communities.
iii.It will also support new businesses in this sector to improve the fisheries industry and boost the economy.
iv.By encouraging partnerships between universities, industries, and the government, AIC will aid in
knowledge transfer and commercialization of research outcomes.
v.It will also create job opportunities and provide a supportive environment for start-ups and entrepreneurs to
succeed.
Key Points:
i.KUFOS is known for its excellence in education, research, and outreach related to fisheries and ocean studies.
ii.The AIC initiative is a part of NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) set up in 2016, which aims to
promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across different sectors in India.
Government raises interest rates on select small saving schemes by up to 0.3% for Q2 of FY24
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced an interest rate hike on
selected small savings schemes by up to 0.3% for the 2nd quarter of the financial year 2023-24 (Q2 FY24) (i.e
July 1, 2023-September 30, 2023).
• The rates are in line with the high-interest rates in the banking system.
Changed Interest Rates:
i.The interest rate for the five-year recurring deposit (RD) has been raised by 30 basis points (bps), resulting in
a highest increase of 0.3%. Earlier it was 6.2%, now it is 6.5%.
ii.Interest rate has increased by 10bps for
• Th One-year term deposits with post offices will now earn 0.1% reaching 6.9% (earlier 6.8%)
and,
• The two years tenor is 7% (earlier 6.9%).
Note: A basis point is equal to a 100th of a percentage point.
Unchanged Interest Rates:
i.Interest rates on term deposits for three and five years have been retained at 7% and 7.5%.
ii.The interest rates for popular Public Provident Fund(PPF) and savings deposits are kept at 7.1% and 4%,
iii.The interest rate on the National Savings Certificate (NSC) remained unchanged at 7.7% for July 1 to
September 30, 2023.
iv.The girl child savings scheme Sukanya Samriddhi rate remained unchanged at 8%.
v.The interest rate on the senior citizen savings scheme and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is 8.2% and 7.5%.
vi.There is no interest rate hike for the Monthly Income Scheme, and it gives investors a 7.4 percent gain.

Rate of interest from 01.04.2023 to Rate of interestfrom 01.07.2023 to
No. Classifications 30.06.2023 30.09.2023
1 Savings Deposit 4 4
1-Year Post Office Time
2 Deposits 6.8 6.9
3 Deposits 6.9 7
4 Deposits 7 7
5 Deposits 7.5 7.5
6 5-Year Recurring Deposits 6.2 6.5
National Saving Certificates
7 (NSC) 7.7 7.7
8 Kisan Vikas Patra 7.5 (will mature in 115 months) 7.5 (will mature in 115 months)
9 Public Provident Fund 7.1 7.1
10 Sukanya Samriddhi Account 8 8
Senior Citizens Savings
11 Scheme 8.2 8.2
12 Monthly Income Account 7.4 7.4
click here for official notification
Rate hike by RBI:
i.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the benchmark lending rate by 2.5% since May 2023 to 6.5%,
prompting banks to raise interest rates on deposits.
ii.The RBI has maintained the status quo on policy rate in the last two Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
meetings.
About Small Savings Schemes:
i.Small Savings Schemes are savings instruments managed by the government to encourage citizens to save
regularly.
ii.The small savings schemes have three categories- savings deposits, social security schemes, and monthly
income plan.
Setting up of interest rates:
i.Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis by the government.
ii.The formula to arrive at the interest rates for small savings scheme was given by the Shyamala Gopinath
Committee in January 2023.
iii.The committee suggested that interest rates of different schemes should be 25-100 bps higher than the
yields of the government bonds of similar maturity.
iv.The interest rates on small savings instruments had remained unchanged for nine consecutive quarters —
from the second quarter of 2020-21 to the second quarter of 2022-23.
Union Minister- Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha-Karnataka)
Minister of State- Pankaj Chaudhary; Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad.
India and US jointly conduct ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to combat illegal drugs
The United States of America (USA) and India conducted “Operation Broader Sword”, a bilateral multi-agency
enforcement initiative, to identify illicit and illegal medical products shipped using the International Mail
System.

• The operation held from 12th to 23rd June 2023 targeted shipments coming to the USA from India
through International Mail Facilities (IMFs) in John F Kennedy International Airport in New York,
USA and O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, USA.
Executive Agencies of this operation:
This joint operation was carried out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S.
Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), in collaboration with the Government of India’s Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence (DRI).
Outcome of this Combat operation:
i.Over 500 shipments of unlawful and potentially deadly unapproved prescription medications, combination
medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors were prevented from reaching American customers as a result
of this combat operation.
ii.Investigators examined over 1500 shipments originating in India throughout the operation, taking action on
around 500 goods, including illegitimate and unlawful pharmaceuticals intended to cure and/or reduce serious
ailments.
Note:
Operation Broader Sword was built upon the success of Operation Broadsword which was held in 2020 at
Chicago IMF targeting mail parcels containing illicit medical products from India
CDoT to be the Nodal Agency for Handling IPRs & Patents

The Government of India(GoI) has decided to make the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT),premier
R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, as the nodal facilitation
agency to handle telecommunication intellectual property rights (IPRs) and patents.
• CDoT will only act as a facilitator for SEP negotiations and shall not have any financial liability or
obligations towards any parties.
Key points:
i.C-DoT will offer support and guidance to startups, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME), and research
entities in converting their innovations into IPRs and transforming research into commercially viable products.
ii.It will manage IPRs/standard essential patent (SEP) on behalf of the Indian Research and development
(R&D) ecosystem and engage with both domestic and global IPR licensors.
iii.It represents Indian technology entities in IPRs/SEPs related engagements and be responsible for
developing, hosting, and maintaining the repository of Indian telecom IPRs/SEPs.
iv.These initiatives align with the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) goals, which aims to
establish internationally recognized IPRs in India, promote SEPs in digital communication technologies, and
encourage Indian IPRs through international collaborations.
About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) :
Chief executive officer(CEO)- Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay
Established- 1984
Power Ministry notified Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023 to develop India’s 1st domestic
carbon market
On 30th June 2023, the Ministry of Power notified the “Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023”, to develop India’s
first domestic regulated carbon credit trading market.
• The scheme was 1st announced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
• The scheme was drafted by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE), a statutory body under the
Ministry of Power.
The emphasis on reducing carbon emissions is in line with India’s target to achieve net zero by 2070.

About Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023:
i.The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023, entails the formation of a National Steering Committee(NSC), a
technical committee, an Accredited Carbon Verification Agency and the Central Electricity Regulatory
Commission (CERC) as the carbon market regulator.
ii.The Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA) will be the registry for the Indian carbon market.
iii.BEE will also constitute technical committees for diverse areas as needed under the compliance of
mechanisms for this scheme.
National Steering Committee(NSC):
The National Steering Committee(NSC), constituted of 20-22 members, will be headed by the
• secretary for Ministry of Power as the ex-officio chairperson while the
• secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) will be co-
chairperson.
The Members of the committee will also include representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy(MNRE), Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Coal and Minister of Petroleum and Natural
Gas(MoPNG), and NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) among others.
Note : Current Secretary of Power is Shri Pankaj Agarwal and Secretary of MoEF&CC is Ms. Leena Nandan
Functions of NSC:
i.The NSC will govern and oversee the domestic carbon market.
Under the guidance of NSC, BEE will finalise the procedures for institutionalizing the Indian carbon market and
formulate the rules and regulations.
• BEE will also identify the sectors, set targets for reduction in emissions, issue carbon credit
certificates and accredit the carbon verification agencies.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC):
i.CERC has been mandated as the regulator for trading activities.
ii.CERC will register the power exchanges and approve the carbon credit certificate trading in the Indian
carbon market.
iii.The power exchange will get approval from CERC for their bylaws and rules for the trading of certificates in
power exchange.
What is Carbon credit?
A carbon credit is the value assigned to the reduction, removal or avoidance of GHG emissions achieved and is
equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e)
Key Points:
i.The notification did not mention any activities that are eligible under the carbon trading scheme.
• Carbon credit market in India could reach USD 200 billion by 2030 from the current USD 2 billion.
ii.The Ministry of Power will recommend the notification of greenhouse gas(GHG) emission intensity targets to
MoEF&CC.
The obligated entities are required to achieve the GHG emission intensity in accordance with the targets and
they also have to meet the other targets like use of non-fossil energy consumption or specific energy
consumption.
• Entities that achieve the set targets will be issued carbon credit certificates and entities that fail to
achieve the targets will meet the shortfall by purchasing the certificate from the carbon market.
About Ministry of Power
Union Minister – Shri Raj Kumar Singh,Constituency – Arrah(Bihar)
Minister of State– Krishan Pal (Constituency- Faridabad, Haryana)
Secretary – Shri Pankaj Agarwal

KAPP-3 India’s 1st indigenous 700 MWe Nuclear Reactor commenced commercial operations
in Gujarat
On 30th June 2023, the 3rd Unit of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) (KAPP-3), India’s first indigenously
developed 700 MWe (megawatt electric) Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) (nuclear power reactor),
commenced its commercial operations at Kakrapar Site, Gujarat.
Key Points:
i.The Kakrapar project encompasses the construction of two 700 MW PHWRs: KAPP-3 and KAPP-4.
ii.The Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) site also houses two 220 MWe PHWRs (Kakrapar Atomic Power
Station(KAPS)-1 and KAPS-2).
iii.The reactor was built by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a wholly owned public sector
undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE).
Other PHWRs projects:
i. The physical progress achieved by KAPP 4 unit, as at the end of May 2023 was 96.92% and was by initiating
various commissioning activities.
ii. The NPCIL plans to build sixteen 700 MW PHWRs across India, and has granted financial and administrative
sanction for the same.
iii. Construction of 700 MW nuclear power plants is under progress at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan in Rajasthan
Atomic Power Project (Units 7 and 8) (RAPS 7 and 8) and at Gorakhpur, Haryana in Gorakhpur Haryana
Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (Units 1 and 2) (GHAVP 1 and 2).
iv. The Centre has sanctioned building of 10 indigenously developed PHWRs in fleet mode at four locations
such as Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP – 3 & 4), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh(Chutka -1&2), Mahi Banswara in
Rajasthan (Mahi Banswara – 1&2&3&4) and Kaiga in Karnataka (Kaiga – 5&6).
India’s 1st AI News Anchor introduced by OTV in Odisha

On 9th July, 2023, Odisha Television Limited (OTV), an Odia based broadcast and digital media company in
Odisha, introduced India’s and Odisha’s first regional multi-lingual Artificial Intelligence (AI) news anchor
named “Lisa” in a ceremony held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The introduction of AI Lisa, is an initiative driven by
the visionary team of OTV.
• Lisa is the first AI anchor in the free-to-air regional television broadcasting platform and also the
first Odia news anchor with an ability to speak multiple languages including Odia, English and
others.
Its development involved a large language model (LLM), learning algorithms and voice recognition capabilities
to create an anchor that could simulate human-like interactions.
DoT conducts 5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023 to showcase 5G products & Solutions
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communication, conducts ‘5G & Beyond
Hackathon 2023‘, aimed at shortlisting India-focused cutting-edge ideas that can be converted into workable
5G and beyond products and solutions.The participants include individuals, students, startups, and academic
institutions send their proposals from June 28, 2023.
i.The top 100 startups will be honored with a prize of 100 lakh (One crore) for their outstanding contributions
to the development of 5G products and solutions During the upcoming India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023 in
October 2023, held in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.The winners will get the support from government, industry, academia, telecommunication industries and
original equipment manufacturers to develop their models into products.
iii.The contestants can develop 5G and beyond solutions from across multiple categories including healthcare,
education and governance, AgriTech and livestock, environment, public safety and disaster management

enterprise, smart cities and infrastructure, cyber security, banking, finance and insurance, logistics and
transportation, multimedia and broadcast satellite, among others.
Assam’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited Upgraded to ‘Schedule A’ CPSE

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in its recent notification announced that the largest refinery in
northeast India, The Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam has been elevated from the ‘Schedule B’ to
‘Schedule A’ category Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSE) by Government of India.
i. With its new status as a ‘Schedule A’ enterprise, NRL becomes eligible to achieve the coveted Navratna As a
Navratna company, NRL will have the freedom to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore without seeking approval from
the central government.
ii. NRL will now have the authority to make swift decisions concerning joint ventures, strategic partnerships,
and special-purpose vehicles, paving the way for strategic growth.
About Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL):
• Numaligarh Refinery Limited(NRL) in which the Assam government holds a 26% stake, ranks
among the top 20 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in India in terms of sales revenue and
profitability.NRL is the largest refinery in Northeast India.
• NRL has also made its mark internationally by commencing the export of petroleum products to
neighbouring countries, thereby promoting the government’s Act East Policy.
About categories in Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSE):
All CPSEs are required to be categorised into four schedules namely,
• Schedule ‘A’ : These are the largest and most important CPSEs. These are the highest-ranked CPSEs,
known for their excellent performance, high profitability, and strategic importance. Schedule A
CPSEs have greater financial autonomy and can make investment decisions up to a certain limit
without requiring approval from the central government.
• Schedule ’B’: These are medium-sized CPSEs. CPSEs in this category are considered to have good
financial performance and operational capabilities, but they may not meet all the criteria of Schedule
A enterprises.
• Schedule ‘C’ : These are smaller CPSEs CPSEs classified as Schedule C are generally characterized by
moderate financial performance and operational capabilities. They may require higher levels of
oversight and approvals from the central government for key investment decisions.. They provide a
variety of goods and services, including banking, insurance, and tourism.
Schedule ‘D’: CPSEs falling under Schedule D have comparatively weaker financial performance and
operational capabilities. These enterprises usually require central government for major decision-making,
including investments.
DPIIT Notified 2 new QCOs on Potable Water Bottles & Flame-Producing Lighters
On 5th July 2023, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry, notified 2 new Quality Control Orders (QCOs) on Potable Water Bottles and Flame-
Producing Lighters to enhance public health and safety of consumers.
• Flame – Producing Lighters (Quality Control) Order, 2023
• Potable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order, 2023.
Note: This will come into effect six months from the date of notification
New QCO for Potable Water Bottles:
It mandates compulsory certification under the appropriate Indian Standard (IS) for the production and import
of potable water bottles made of copper, stainless steel, or aluminium.
New QCO for Flame-Producing Lighters:
It mandates compulsory certification under IS for ‘Safety Specification for Lighters’, and ‘Safety Specifications
for Utility Lighters’, for the Flame lighters manufactured for domestic market or imported into India. There are
two types of lighters available are Flame and Spark type.

Key points:
i.To support domestic micro and small industries, the government has provided relaxations in terms of the
timeline for implementing the QCO.
• For Small Enterprises, the QCOs shall come into force with effect from 9 months from the date of
publication of this notification.
• For Micro Enterprises, the QCOs shall come into force with effect from 12 months from the date of
publication of this notification.
• This aims to safeguard their interests while ensuring smooth transition and fostering a business-
friendly environment.
ii.The new standards will help to build a quality ecosystem to manufacture world-class products and it will also
contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) of India.
Why QCO?
i.To curb the import of sub-standard products, prevent unfair trade practices, and ensure the safety and well-
being of consumers, as well as the environment.
ii.To improve manufacturing quality standards and enhance the brand value of ‘Make in India’ products
through “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” or self-reliant India.
iii.According to the BIS Act, 2016, the manufacturing, storing, and sale of non-Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-
certified products are prohibited under the new Quality Control Orders (QCOs).
• The first time violation will lead to a penalty of imprisonment upto two years or with fine of at least
Rs 2 lakh.
• In case of subsequent offences, the minimum fine will be increased to Rs 5 lakh and it may extend up
to ten times the value of goods or articles.
Standard Mark
Sl.no Goods or articles Indian Standard Title of Indian Standard
Flame- Producing
1 Lighters IS/ISO 9994: 2018 Lighters – Safety Specification
IS/ISO 22702:
2018 Utility Lighters- Safety Specifications
Potable Water Bottles (Copper, Stainless Steel,

2 Potable water bottles IS 17803:2022 Aluminum)
Role of DPIIT:
i.DPIIT has developed 64 new QCOs covering 317 product standards in partnership with the BIS.
ii.The draft of QCO will be submitted to Minister of Commerce & Industry and vetted by the Department of
Legislative Affairs.
iii.On approval, the QCOs will be uploaded on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) website for a 60-day
period, inviting comments from member countries.
iv.DPIIT is also developing quality testing labs, product manuals, and other essential components, for the
growth of quality ecosystem in India.
About Ministry of Commerce & Industry:
Union Minister- Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha-Maharashtra)
Minister of State- Anupriya Singh Patel; Som Parkash
ONGC India’s first CPSE to get certified for Anti-Bribery Management System by InterCert USA
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the largest crude oil and natural gas Maharatna Company in India, has
become the first Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India to get certified for Anti-Bribery Management

System (ABMS) by M/s InterCert USA, an international accredited certification body in the United States of
America (USA).
• Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ONGC, received the ABMS
Certificate in an award ceremony.
Note:
ONGC was the first organization in India that adopted the Integrity Pact (IP) by Transparency International
(Anti-Corruption) in 2005.
The ABMS Certification is one of the significant achievements for ONGC’s efforts towards strengthening its
ability as a trusted business partner.
Key People:
Ranjan Prakash Thakur, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) and key representatives from ONGC along with a
representative from the Certification Body M/s InterCert were present during the award ceremony.
Implementation of ABMS:
After complete assessment and validation by M/s InterCert USA, ABMS has been implemented as per
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 37001:2016 International Standard under the guidance of
an international consultancy firm M/s Digital Age, in the first phase across 10 departments of ONGC’s
Corporate Office in Delhi.
Anti-Bribery Management System:
i. ISO 37001:2016, an international Standard on the domain of ABMS, specifies requirements and provides
guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing and improving an anti-bribery management
system.
ii. It allows organizations to prevent, detect and address bribery by adopting an Anti-bribery policy.
IGI Airport becomes India’s 1st airport to get 4th Runway & Elevated Dual Taxiway
On 14th July 2023, Delhi International Airport, also known as the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has
become the first airport in India to get four runways and dual Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT) (elevated
taxiways).
• Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated the new runway and
ECT at IGIA, New Delhi, Delhi.
Note:IGI Airport, Managed and operated by the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a consortium led by
GMR Airports Infrastructure, is India’s busiest and the world’s 9th-busiest airport
Key People:
General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.) Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, and Road Transport and
Highways, Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, Airport Authority of India, G. M. Rao, Group Chairman, GMR were also
present during the inauguration.
The 4th runway:
i.The 4.4-km runway with 4,400 metres length and 45 metres width was constructed to handle Air Traffic
Movements (ATM) and widebody aircraft is set to go up from 1,500 flights a day to 2,000.
ii.A ceremonial water cannon salute was accorded to Air India flight 821that took off from Delhi to Srinagar to
mark the operationalisation of the fourth runway.
iii.The fourth runway construction was successfully completed in September 2021 and will be initially used
only for departures.
Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT):
i.The ECT is 2.1 kilometres long and 44 metres wide, with a gap of 47 metres between the two lanes.
ii.The taxiways will connect northern and southern airfields and reduce taxi distance for aircraft by 7 km and
taxiing time for planes from 8-9 minutes.
iii.It will see a reduction of almost 55 thousand tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission on annual basis.
Additional Information:
i.IGIA has three terminals — T1, T2 and T3, and four runways — RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 10/28 and RW

11L/29R.
ii.Both the new runway and the taxiway are capable of handling large aircraft and wide-body jets such as
Airbus 380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-8.
MoRTH & JICA jointly developed 5 Guidelines to Enhance Mountainous Road Infrastructure in
India
On 7th July 2023, the Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH),
released the five guidelines to enhance mountainous road infrastructure in India developed by MoRTH with
the technical assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• These guidelines were published by Indian Road Congress (IRC).
Note: These guidelines were released during the 225th mid-term council meeting of the Indian Road Congress
in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Key People:
Tamradhwaj Sahu, Minister of Public Works Department(PWD), Chhattisgarh, P V V S S Ravi Prasad, MoRTH
Director General (Road Development) & Special Secretary were present during the event.
About the Guidelines:
i.The guidelines are designed to improve road networks, promote economic growth and to ensure high-quality
sustainable road projects.
ii.The guidelines provide technical specifications and best practices for road construction in mountainous
regions covering,
• Planning of Hilly Roads
• Slope Protection and Embankment with Advanced Technology
• Tunnel on Arterial Roads in Hilly Area
• Mountain Bridge with Advance Technology
• Operation and Maintenance of Mountainous Highways
India & JICA partnership:
Since 2007, JICA have provided several technical cooperation projects towards the road sector in India.
This includes,
• Capacity development of sustainable development of expressways (2007-2011)
• Capacity development for highway operation and maintenance Project (2013-2015),
• Capacity Development Project on Highways in Mountainous Regions (2016-2022).
About Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH):
Union minister – Nitin Jairam Gadkari(Constituency-Nagpur, Maharashtra)
Minister of State – General (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh
SCES Replaced by SCoS to Review Surveys for NSO

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) Standing Committee on Economic
Statistics (SCES), tasked with examining economic indicators, will be replaced by a Standing Committee on
Statistics(SCoS), to review the framework and results of surveys conducted for the National Statistical
Office(NSO).
New Standing Committee on Statistics(SCoS):
The new Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) will have a more extensive mandate. Unlike the SCES, the
SCoS will not only focus on economic indicators but will also review the framework and outcomes of all surveys
conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
i.Pronab Sen, India’s first chief statistician and the former chairman of the National Statistical Commission
(NSC), has been named the chairman of the SCoS.
ii.SCoS has 10 official members, and four non-official members who are eminent academics.
iii.The panel can have up to 16 members, as per the order issued by MoSPI.

Key points:
i.The SCoS identifies data gaps that need to be filled by official statistics with an appropriate strategy to plug
those gaps.
ii.It has also been mandated to use administrative statistics to improve data outcomes and the NSC will
authorize the approval of publication of the results.
Note: The SCoS has been set up due to data quality issues on household surveys on consumption expenditure
and employment conducted by SCES were junked.
Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES)
The SCES was set up in 2019 and primarily concerned with examining economic data related to specific sectors
and surveys.
• This was limited to datasets like the Periodic Labour Force Survey, the Annual Survey of Industries,
the Index of Industrial Production and the Economic Census.
The SCES was also chaired by Pronab Sen. It had 28 members, including 10 non-official members.
NABARD’s 42nd Foundation Day 2023- 12th July

On July 12, 2023, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) celebrated its 42nd
Foundation Day. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation was the chief guest of the
event held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The day was marked by a series of events throughout the country, including a webinar on the theme
of “NABARD: 42 Years of Rural Transformation.”
The webinar was addressed by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar,
who highlighted the important role that NABARD has played in the development of rural India by enhancing
agricultural production, developing infrastructure, and fostering financial inclusion.
At the event:
• Amit Shah distributed Micro-Automated teller machine(ATM) and Rupay Kisan Card to the dairy
farmers of milk societies of Banaskantha and Panchmahal districts of Gujarat Central Co-operative
societies.
Key people:
Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Secretary, Gyanesh Kumar, Ministry of Cooperation,
and Chairman of NABARD K.V.Shaji were present during the event.
Achievements of NABARD:
i.NABARD has launched credit delivery mechanism like Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Joint Liability Group (JLG) ,
Self Help Groups (SHG) , Banking Correspondents, improving the rural infrastructure through Rural
infrastructure development fund (RIDF), improving the financial health of co-operative banks & Regional Rural
Banks (RRB) etc.
ii.Through capital formation NABARD has amounted Rs. 8 lakh crore to the rural economy.
iii.It has reduced the short-term loan for agriculture finance of Rs.896 crore in 1982 to Rs.1.58 lakh.
iv.It has increased the long term agriculture loan in 1982 which amounted to Rs 2300 crore to Rs 1 Lakh crore.
v.It has financed 13 million metric ton capacity warehouses 1 crore self-help groups hin India.
vi.NABARD has about 7000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)which ensures farmers to get remunerative
prices for their produce.
vii.Under NABARD, the Cooperative Development Fund(CDF) established in 1992-93 with Rs 10 crore has
increased to Rs 293 crore.
viii.NABARD has refinanced Rs.12 lakh crore to the rural agricultural economy to meet the needs of agriculture
and farmers and to strengthen and diversify agri-production and Rs 20 lakh crore in the rural economy with a
growth rate of 14%.
About NABARD:
i.NABARD is a development bank focussing primarily on the rural sector of the country by providing finance for
Agriculture and rural development.

ii.It came into existence on 12 July 1982 by transferring the agricultural credit functions of Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) and refinance functions of the then Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC).
iii.It is a statutory body established under Parliamentary act-NABARD Act, 1981.
Founded in – 12 July 1982
Chairman – K.V.Shaji
DPIIT Joined Hands with Gujarat for the ODOP Program

On 20th July 2023, One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry partnered with
the Government of Gujarat in New Delhi, Delhi, with the aim to foster the promotion of the indigenous crafts
and artisans of the state.
• By implementing product tagging and story cards, the aim of the collaboration will be achieved.
• ODOP-Gujarat presents an extensive array of 68 distinctive products, encompassing a diverse
range from traditional crafts (like Gamthi Block print and Mata-ni-Pachedi) to agricultural
commodities (like groundnuts and cumin).
Similar Programs in Gujarat:
i.The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has conducted onboarding drives for Sujani Handloom,
Jamnagari Bandhini, and Patan Patola, facilitating their presence on the platform.
ii.The Agate Stone industry in Khambat district(Gujarat) and the Sujani craft from Bharuch district(Gujarat)
received essential support through workshops organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Design
(NID).
About One District One Product (ODOP) program:
One District One Product Scheme is an initiative that is seen as a transformational step forward towards
realizing the true potential of a district, fuel economic growth, and generate employment and rural
entrepreneurship, taking us to the goal of AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
• In India, Uttar Pradesh government was the first state of India to launch the concept of One District
One Product in 2018.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister- Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Kerala gets India’s 1st Construction Innovation Hub in Kochi

Kerala got India’s first Construction Innovation Hub (CIH) that will serve as a platform to promote
innovation and entrepreneurship around sustainable and affordable building facilities by encouraging
collaboration and knowledge-sharing among the industry stakeholders.
• The CIH was launched at the Sheltertech Summit, a
summit to advance housing and construction innovations,
which was organised by the Habitat for Humanity and
Kerala Start-up Mission (KSUM) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• The overall programme management of CIH will be taken
care of KSUM, and the CIH is set to be based in Kochi,
Kerala, which is also the headquarters of KSUM.
Responsibilities of KSUM:
i.The programme management includes the identification and recruitment of nascent companies.
ii.It also provides them with housing-related technical mentorship and connections, besides programme design
and facilitation.
iii.Establishing connections with the Habitat for Humanity India (HFHI), a Georgia (United States of America
(USA)) based non-profit organisation, that builds homes and provides housing-related services to low-income

families.
Note: HFHI founded in 1976 and functioning in 70 countries.
Benefits of the Hub:
i.CIH, which will serves as a platform to start-ups across India is initially intend to function virtually, gives
KSUM a decisive role in setting up a secretariat at the nodal agency to handle its administrative tasks and
identify a full-time point-to-contact person for the CIH.
ii.The facility will enable the KSUM to realise start-up space at Kerala Technology Innovation Zone (KTIZ) in
Kochi, Kerala, promote events and reach out to target audience.
iii.It will help provide digital platform for KSUM’s innovation lab, collaborate with different government
departments to identify pilot projects related to low-income housing as well as construction skilling, its finance
and other connects to start-ups/scale-ups as needed.
iv.KSUM will have the power to call for application of start-ups/students/Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) and evaluate their initial screening. It can hold road-shows and reverse pitch sessions for
the participants to get best start-ups nationally.
v.With the launch of the CIH, KSUM is set to form an advisory council comprising pertinent stakeholders, with
early-stage innovators reaching out to college students and conducting challenges and knowledge sessions to
promote shelter in the first year.
About Kerala:
Chief minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammed Khan
Festival– Thiruvathira, Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January) and Pooram festival (Mid-April)
Rajasthan Introduces India’s First Gig Workers Bill 2023

On 21st July 2023, the Rajasthan government introduced India’s first ever Gig workers Bill the ‘Rajasthan
Platform Based Gig Workers (registration and welfare) Bill 2023’ to guarantee social security to gig
workers.
• Aggregators, which include food delivery apps and e-
marketing platforms, must provide the Rajasthan
government with a database of all platform-based gig
workers on-boarded or registered with them within
sixty days of the Act’s implementation.
Gig worker:
i.Gig worker refers to someone who earns from such activities
outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship and
who works on a contract.
ii.The term “gig economy” means a general workforce environment, which includes short-term employment,
contractual jobs, and independent contractors.
Who comes underAggregators:
Aggregators are individuals or organisations engaging platform-based workers for tasks that include Ride
sharing, food and security delivery, logistics, and more.
Penalties for Non-Compliance:
i.It imposes monetary penalties for an aggregator that fails to comply with the Act.
ii.The state government may impose a fine up to Rs 5 lakh for the first offence and up to Rs 50 lakh for
subsequent offences.
Welfare Board for Gig Workers:
i.The Bill proposes to form a ‘The Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board’ to ensure registration
of gig workers and aggregators operating in the state.
ii.The Labour Minister would be the Chairperson of the “Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board” which
will meet at least once in six months.

Welfare Fee:
i.The bill also aims to set up a Platform Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee.
ii.The part of the welfare fee will be contributed by the aggregator on the basis of each transaction, or as
directed by the state government.
iii.The government also intends to establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the Act’s terms are
followed as well as the welfare fee is deducted on a regular basis.
Creation of Unique ID:
i.Under this Bill, the gig workers provide a unique ID (Identity Document) which will be applicable across
platforms.
ii.The ID will enable such workers to access general and specific social security schemes,and participate in all
decisions taken for their welfare through representation in the board.
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister – Ashok Gehlot
Governor – Kalraj Mishra
Dances – Ghoomar Dance, Chari Dance,Kachhi Ghodi
Tamil Nadu’s Authoor Betel Leaves received GI Tag

The Geographical Indications Registry has issued the Geographical Indication (GI) tag certificate to the Authoor
Betel Leaves (Authoor Vetrilai) of Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
• The betel leaves, locally known as Vetrilai in Tamil, cultivated in the Authoor village of Thoothukudi
district, Tamil Nadu (TN) attained the GI tag in April 2023.
• The tag was facilitated by the Tamil Nadu State
Agriculture Marketing Board and NABARD(National
Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development) Madurai
Agribusiness Incubation Forum(MABIF) is registered
in the name of Authoor Vattara Vetrilai Vivasayigal
Sangam.
• This recognition will enable the reach of Authoor betel
leaves in both domestic and international markets.
About Authoor Vettrilai:
i.It is cultivated across an extensive area spanning approximately 500 acres of land, encompassing regions like
Mukkani, Authoor, Korkai, Suganthalai, Vellakoil, and other Mukkani villages.
ii.The distinct pungency and spiciness of these Authoor betel leaves are attributed to the uniqueness of water
in Thamirabarani River, the main irrigation source for the fields here.
Key Points:
i.This leaf is utilized during special occasions such as temple festivals, housewarmings, and weddings and
possesses a distinctively spicy and pungent flavour.
• The other names of Vetrilai are tambulam in Sanskrit, paan in Hindi, tamula pakukilli in Telugu.
ii.It is available in available in three distinct varieties viz. Nattukodi, Karpoori, and Pachaikodi.
iv.The leaves are historically significant, being mentioned in the 13th-Century book ‘The Travels of MARCO
POLO (The Venetian)’.
• Ancient stone inscriptions also highlight the cultural significance of Authoor vettrilai in Tamil
culture.
HCLTech joins XR Startup Programme with MeitY, Meta

HCL Technology (HCLTech) in Noida, UttarPradesh, has joined the XR Startup Programme, an initiative
between Meta and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub(MSH) to
discover, nurture, and accelerate extended reality (XR) technology start-ups in India.

• These start-ups will be mentored by the HCLTech professionals through leadership training and the
sharing of business and industry viewpoints.
Key points:
i.The XR Startup Program, launched in September 2022, is a joint effort between the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH)
and Meta.
ii.Selected startups working on XR technology might receive a grant of up to Rs 20 lakh from the HCLTech.
Note: XR is a broad term to refer to Augmented Reality(AR), Virtual Reality(VR), and mixed reality.
CSIR-IIIM Jammu’s Cannabis Research Project is India’s 1st Cannabis Medicine Project under
PPP with a Canadian firm
The “Cannabis Research Project” of the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Indian Institute Of
Integrative Medicine (CSIR–IIIM) in Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is the first of its kind Cannabis Medicine
Project in India under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a IndusCann Limited, headquartered in Toronto,
Canada.
• This project is going on under a scientific agreement between CSIR-IIIM and a Canada
based IndusScan. Click Here to Read
• This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh,
Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST).
Key Points:
i.The Minister visited Cannabis Cultivation Farm of CSIR- IIIM to get first-hand information about the
cultivation practices for Cannabis in the protected area of the institute and research work being carried out on
this important plant.
• It is the first institute to obtain first license for Cannabis cultivation in India.
ii.Through this project, Cannabis, a substance of abuse will be used as a good for mankind especially for
patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer and epilepsy.
iii.This project has the potential to produce those kinds of medicines which have to be exported from foreign
countries, and can also produce export quality drugs meant for different kinds of neuropathies, diabetic pains
etc.
iv.Due to the prevalence of drug abuse in J&K and Punjab, this project also raise awareness about the various
medicinal uses of the abused substance, particularly for patients suffering from malignancies and other
diseases.
v.Under a tripartite agreement of CSIR with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR), CSIR-IIIM has completed the exploratory research on Cannabis after license for cultivation of
Cannabis for scientific purpose was granted by J&K Govt.
• Presently, CSIR-IIIM has a repository of more than 500 accessions collected from different parts of
the country, and are working to provide technology for Cannabis cultivation, and drug discovery.
Vi.Other States like Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh(UP), Manipur, Madhya Pradesh(MP) and Himachal Pradesh have
started making the policy and rules for use of Cannabis for scientific purposes.
Already approved drugs from Cannabis:
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the drugs such as Marilnol/nabilone and Cesamet for
treatment of nausea and vomiting, Sativex for neuropathic pain and spasticity, Epidiolex, Cannabidiol for
epilepsy and are being used in different countries.
Ministry of Jal Shakti Celebrated 1st Anniversary of Rural WASH Partners Forum (RWPF) in
Delhi
The Rural WASH Partners’ Forum (RWPF), a platform of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
(DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, celebrated its 1st anniversary during a two-day National Conference
on Rural WASH Partners’ Forum at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.

i.The theme of the conference was “Accelerating Progress towards a Swachh Sujal Bharat”.
ii.The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri. Gajendra Singh and launched various
initiative such as
• Release of the Manual for Disaster Management Plan (DMP),
• Set up of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Digital Academy,
• RWPF Annual Yearbook and Web page,
• Swachhata Chronicles – Transformative Tales from India, and
• Field Assessment Framework and Ranking Protocol of SSG 2023.
Notable initiatives launched in National Conference on RWPF:
i.Disaster Management Plan:
• Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released the Manual for Disaster
Management Plan (DMP) during the event.
• The Manual is developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation(DDWS) to ensure
safety, uninterrupted supply and minimum loss of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assets
and services involving stakeholders at national, state, district, and village level.
• The Plan aligns with the two-flagship programmes on WASH implemented by the Department
namely the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G).
• The Disaster Plan is developed based on the Advisory issued by National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA) which, under Section 37 of Disaster Management Act, 2005 desires every
Ministry/ Department to develop its own disaster plan to counter and be prepared for any
emergency arising in future.
• This disaster management plan takes account of gender-based vulnerabilities, and issues concerning
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, elderly, children and people with disabilities.
ii. JJM Digital Academy Establishment
Department of Drinking water and sanitation (DDWS) and Echo India, a non-profit organization signed a MoU
to set up the JJM Digital Academy. The online portal of JJM Digital Academy was launched by the Union
Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Secretary
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Smt Vini Mahajan and Additional Secretary & Mission
Director-NJJM Shri Vikas Sheel were participated the event.
• The Academy will be using digital technology in delivering knowledge, skills through innovative
approach to stakeholders associated with water supply programme like administrators, engineers,
Panchayat functionaries, technicians, sanitation workers and foot soldiers.
iii.RWPF Annual Yearbook and Web page:
• The Yearbook documents the efforts of development partners across different regions and themes,
showcased on the Web page.The recognition of their on-ground work by various agencies
encourages the partners to perform better and support the government in reaching desired goals.
iv.Swachhata Chronicles – Transformative Tales from India:
• It is released with a view to achieve the goal of SBM-G Phase-II, a compilation of 75 ODF Plus Best
Practices highlights the innovations, steps taken to remove obstacles and increase awareness,
special campaigns undertaken, and other efforts of States/UTs in various ODF Plus activities.
iv.Field Assessment Framework and Ranking Protocol of SSG 2023:
• It is a detailed framework defining how the States & UTs will be ranked in
the Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2023.
vi. Felicitation of Four start-ups by Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, for developing cost-effective and portable
water quality testing kits under Technology Challenge conducted by Invest India with support from DDWS.
Elico, Cluix and Heuristics have developed digital portable multi parameter water quality testing devices.

Note – The programme was followed by thematic sessions on water and sanitation organised by United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Aga Khan Foundation, All India Institute of Self Governance (AIILSG),
WaterAid, WASH Institute and the Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
About Rural WASH Partners Forum (RWPF):
• It is a platform launched by DDWS, under Ministry of Jal Shakti in July 2022, in collaboration with
KPMG India, to support States/ UTs in for their flagship programme such as Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G).
• The key objective of RWPF is to drive innovation in WASH sector through technology, developing
knowledge products, information sharing, financing, and building the capacity building of those
associated with the programme.
RWPF Secretariat has been set up at DDWS where KPMG is the platform coordinator to take tasks and activities
forward.
Bengaluru Becomes 1st Indian City to Join World Cities Culture Forum
Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka became the first Indian city to be part of the World Cities Culture Forum
(WCCF), a global network of cities that share research and intelligence to explore the role of culture in future
prosperity.
• Bengaluru became the 41st city to join the forum and
the network currently includes 40 cities across six
continents. The forum includes cities like New York,
London, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai. list of all wccf cities
Bengaluru’s way to WCCF:
i.The participative project called Unboxing Bangalore is
established to create a new narrative around Bengaluru through
multimedia properties and they have been representing the city
and leading the discussions.
ii.WCCF will work closely with Unboxing BLR Foundation, a not-for-profit initiative co-founded in April 2022
by Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner of Accel India and Philanthropist, and journalist Malini Goyal.
About WCCF:
i.It was founded in 2012 by Justine Simons, London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture & the Creative Industries.
• She was awarded an Order of the British Empire(OBE) in 2015 by Queen Elizabeth for her Services
to Culture in London.
ii.WCCF partners share the belief that culture is the key to their future as sustainable urban centres.
iii.The WCCF undertakes comparative research to assess the impact and significance of culture and creativity
and shares its findings with the Forum so that partner cities can make evidence-based policy decisions.
iv.Forum partners collaborate through a series of events that includes themed symposia, regional summits, and
workshops and These activities contribute to the yearly World Cities Culture Summit.
About Bengaluru cultural aspects:
i.Bengaluru is commonly referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ because of its role as the nation’s leading
information technology exporter.
ii.Bengaluru is home to more than 30 government and private museums that showcase the city’s rich history,
art and culture.
• India’s first interactive music museum opened in 2019.
iii.As the “Garden City of India”, it has many green spaces including two nationally recognised botanical
gardens, Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park that act as green lungs for the city.
iv.The variety of festivals and cultural events takes place including The Bengaluru International Film Festival,
The Bangalore Literature Festival, Bengaluru Design Festival and Future Fantastic Festival.

STATE NEWS
Maharashtra renames Versova-Bandra Sea Link as Veer Savarkar Setu & MTHL as Atal Setu
On 28th June 2023, The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the renaming of two infrastructure projects in Mumbai
after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and former Prime Minister(PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
i.The 17-km Versova Bandra Sea Link (VBSL) which connects Andheri to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and a part
of the coastal road project will be renamed as ‘Veer Savarkar Setu’ after Savarkar.
ii.The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) which connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, expected to be India’s
longest sea bridge upon completion by December 2023, will be renamed as ‘Atal Bihari
Vajpayee Smruti Sewree Nhava Sheva Atal Setu‘ after Vajpayee.
Note: The announcement was made on 28th May 2023, the 140th birth anniversary of Savarkar by
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
QCI and Odisha Government Launched Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp in Bhubaneswar

On 26th June 2023, the Government of Odisha launched the Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp (Odisha Quality Mission)
in Bhubaneswar, Odisha with an aim to promote and prioritize quality across various sectors in the state of
Odisha.
• It was launched with in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI) and Other industry
associations such as the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India(ASSOCHAM), Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI), Engineering Export Promotion Council of
India(EEPC), Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), PHD Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (PHDCCI), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), and
Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India(FHRAI),
• The dynamic 5T initiative in Odisha has achieved remarkable progress in enhancing quality across
various sectors including public service delivery, heritage tourism, healthcare, education, skilling, and
access to drinking water, among others.
The inauguration of the Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp took place in the presence of Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar
Jena and Development Commissioner Anu Garg.
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan initiated the registration of Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana
for youths in MP
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (MP) implemented the Mukhyamantri Sikho-
Kamao Yojana (MMSKY) (CM Learn and Earn Scheme) for the skill development of the youths of MP.
• He started the process of registration of youth applicants in this scheme and interacted with the
youths during the event organised at the Ravindra Bhavan in Bhopal, MP.
• The scheme-related training will begin on 1st August 2023.
About Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana:
The scheme aims to facilitate the ‘On the Job Training (OJT)’ opportunities in registered industrial and
vocational establishments, enabling young individuals to get industry-suitable skills.
• Apart from training the individuals will also benefit from a monthly stipend provided by the
Government of MP.
Features of the scheme:
Under the MMSKY scheme, there are about 700 different types of works and individuals can apply as per their
interest using a web portal, https://mmsky.mp.gov.in/.
Eligibility:
i. The candidate should be 18 to 29 years of age.
ii. The candidate should be the permanent resident of Madhya Pradesh.

iii. Candidates should have the educational qualification of class 12th, ITI pass or above.
iv. The candidates should have completed their registration and completion of e-KYC (Electronic Know Your
Customer) on Samagra ID Portal.
Note: Samagra ID given by the Samagra Portal of MP is a 9 digit number, which is provided to every citizen of
MP, just as an Aadhaar card.
Benefits:
The stipend benefits provided to the individuals learning under the scheme is, for:
• 12th Pass, the stipend will be Rs.8,000
• Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Pass candidates will get Rs.8,500
• Diploma Holders will get Rs.9,000
• Post Graduates will get Rs.10,000
Governor- Mangubhai C. Patel
Tiger Reserve- Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger reserve
Sarbananda Sonowal Laid the Foundation Stone for Inland Waterways Transport Terminal in
Assam
On 4th July 2023, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush,
Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) terminal to be developed
at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Assam along the banks of the River Brahmaputra, (National Waterways 2).
The tourist-cum-cargo IWT terminal will be developed at Rs 46.60 crores and is scheduled to be completed by
February 2024.
• The terminal will help in rejuvenating inland waterways transportation in the region for both cargo
and passenger movement, by helping the growth of trade and commerce.
Note: The IWT terminal is built under the aegis of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) – the nodal
agency for inland waterways of the MoPSW, will have many modern features.
J&K launched India’s first Tele-MANAS chatbot for people in mental distress
On 5th July 2023, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) launched India’s first Tele
Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (MANAS) chatbot in the Union Territory (UT) to
enhance mental health support for distressed people by initiating an instant conversation with those who are
in need.
• The 2-tier system comprises State Tele-MANAS cells, which includes trained counsellors and mental
health specialists in Tier 1 and specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical
College resources for physical consultation and/or eSanjeevani for audio visual consultation in Tier
2.
• J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who inaugurated the ‘J&K Health Conclave’ on Mental Health
and Non-Communicable Diseases at Srinagar,J&K.
The initiative will ensure round the clock services of health counsellors, clinical psychologists and consultants.
Pilot Project of Antyoday Shramik Suraksha Yojana Launched in Gujarat

On 8th July 2023, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of State for Communications
Devusinh Chauhan, launched the Pilot Project of Antyoday Shramik Suraksha Yojana for the welfare of the
workers from Nadia of Kheda district in Gujarat.
• The scheme aims to provide financial stability to workers or Labourers, in case of any accident or
death.

• It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the Indian Post Payments Bank, and
the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Note: Gujarat has become the first state in the India to introduce this scheme aiming to benefit the workers.
Benefits provided under the Scheme:
i.Workers can avail benefits for death or partial disability, with premiums ranging from Rs 289 and 499 per
year.
ii.In case of death, their family will receive Rs 10 lakh, while permanent disability due to an accident will make
the workers eligible for a sum of 10 lakh rupees.
iii.The scheme includes education assistance of 1 lakh rupees for the children of deceased workers.
About Gujarat:
Governor- Acharya Devvrat
Capital- Gandhinagar
Folk dance- Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai
Odisha Cabinet approved ‘Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha’ scheme to augment rural infrastructure
and preserve Jagannath culture
On 10th July 2023, the Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Naveen Patnaik approved ‘Ama Odisha
Nabin Odisha’ scheme to take measures to enhance rural infrastructure, leading to accelerated growth and to
promote, preserve and protect the Jagannath culture and tradition of Odisha.
• Under the scheme, a budget provision of Rs 4000 crore will be allocated, and it will cover all Gram
Panchayats (GP) with an entitlement of Rs 50 lakh.
The cabinet has also approved around 9 proposals related to 6 different departments, including the
Department of Energy, Home, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Revenue and Disaster Management,
Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) Development, and the Department of Works.
About Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha:
Background:
i. “Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha” scheme is the modified version of “AmaGaonAma Bikash” (AGAB) scheme
launched by the Odisha Government in
ii. The Government of Odisha has modified the guidelines of the earlier intervention AGABby giving it a new
dimension andmaking it effective from the Financial Year 2023-24.
iii. The vision of the intervention is to transform Odisha into a modern and aspirational Odisha retaining the
essence, soul, and spirit of Jagannath culture and spreading it to the world.
Objective:
The main objective of the scheme is to provide missing links to the existing small and essential projects and the
development of infrastructure.
Few Benefits of Expanding Rural infrastructure:
i. Under ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ shcmee, original works like restoration of village temple, building futuristic
digital infrastructure, will be undertaken.
ii. Under the scheme, every Gram Panchayat can take up work up to Rs 10 lakh to protect the Jagannath culture
and to protect their local places of worship, sites of historical significance and to provide amenities for our
pilgrims and visitors
iii. Improvement of infrastructure for primary education and also providing missing links to the existing
development infrastructure, construction, modernization and expansion works.
iv. Creating additional facilities for Mission Shakti Groups at the GP level.
v. Providing Banking Facilities and improvement of digital access in terms of mobile connectivity, optical fibre
connectivity, WiFi and internet connectivity.
vi. Transparency measures such as a web-based Management Information System (MIS) for monitoring the
Scheme and a dedicated app for sharing photographs before, during and after each project with Geographic
information system (GIS) tagging shall be developed under the scheme.

Odisha Cabinet approved Inclusion of Kui Language in 8th Schedule of Constitution of India
The Odisha Cabinet also approved the inclusion of Kui language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of
India to include several benefits to the Kandh tribes of Odisha.
Benefits:
i. It will help in the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Kui language and culture.
ii. Activities such as publication, creation of content and recognition will get momentum.
iii. Create an eco-system to facilitate research & Studies anchored around the preservation, promotion and
propagation of the Kui Language.
iv. More than 7 Lakh Kui-speaking Indigenous people will benefit from this decision.
v. The cabinet decision to recommend the inclusion of the Kui language in the 8th schedule will have no
financial implications.
Note: 8th schedule of the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. The
Constitutional provisions relating to the 8th Schedule occur in articles 344(1) and 351 of the Indian
Constitution. Currently it includes the recognition of 22 languages.
SLSWCA of Odisha Cabinet approved 11 Projects in various sectors worth Rs 3266 Crore
On 10th July 2023, 119th State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) of the Government of
Odisha chaired by Pradeep Jena, Chief Secretary of Odisha, approved 11 industrial projects worth around Rs
3266 crore.
• These projects would be set up in Balasore, Balangir, Kalahandi, Khordha and Jajpur districts of
Odisha and are expected to generate 9,146 employment opportunities.
• The projects were approved in various sectors including Metal Downstream and Ancillary,
Chemicals, Food Processing, Agro Processing, Plastics, Textiles Apparel, Information Technology (IT)
& Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and Renewable Energy.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister- Naveen Patnaik
Governor- Ganeshi Lal
Festivals: Raja Parba, Rath Yatra
J&K Govt created Department of Public Grievances in Union Territory

On 12th July 2023, the government of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) accorded to the creation of “Department of
Public Grievances” as a separate Administrative Department in the Union Territory, which will also deal with
the redressal of Public Grievances, and Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) Mulaqaat – Live Public Grievance Hearing.
• This is in line with the commitment of the J&K government that foresees promotion of citizen-
centric governance with emphasis on grievance redressal innovations through e-Governance.
• The sanction was accorded in pursuance of Entry 15 of the Second Schedule of Transaction of
Business of the Government of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules.
• It will also deal with J&K Integrated Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (JK-GRAMS);
Monitoring disposal of grievances by Administrative Departments and subordinate offices;
Grievance Redressal Quality Monitoring and monitoring of redressal of grievances received on social
media.
Note: LGs Grievance Cell shall be subsumed in the Department of Public Grievances, and Staff provided in the
LG’s Grievance Cell by the General Administration Department shall work in the new Department till posting of
permanent staff. Requiremnet of staff shall be met through internal adjustment and there shall be no fresh
creation of posts in this regard.
IRDAI appointed Tata AIG General Insurance as Lead insurer for Maharashtra
On 13th July 2023, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) selected Tata AIG
General Insurance Company Limited as the lead non-life insurer for the State of Maharashtra to

collaborate with all other non-life and health insurance companies to increase insurance penetration in
Maharashtra in line with its vision “Insurance for all by 2047”.
• Under this collaboration,Tata AIG will leverage its expertise, technology, and partnerships to
develop innovative insurance products and services that cater to the evolving needs of the people of
Maharashtra.
Key features:
i. As the lead insurer, Tata AIG will also collaborate with the IRDAI and the Maharashtra Government to raise
awareness of existing government schemes, enhancing insurance reach and accessibility at the Gram Panchayat
(GP), district and state levels.
ii. The IRDAI has also identified key segments such as Motor Insurance, Health Insurance, Crop Insurance,
support of Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and employment related insurance
solutions to drive overall insurance penetration in Maharashtra.
iii. Tata AIG will also assist in promoting the adoption of flagship government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri
Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Maharashtra.
iv. The collaboration is to create a society, which is insured and aware of the list of coverage offered by their
insurance policy. Maharashtra, with a strong socio-economic profile, certainly requires exponential adoption of
insurance
About Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited:
Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between the Tata Group and the American
International Group (AIG), started operations on January 22, 2001.
Chairman– Saurabh Agrawal
MD&CEO– Neelesh Garg
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Rajasthan Cabinet Introduced ‘Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill 2023’

On 18th July 2023, Rajasthan cabinet chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Ashok Gehlot introduced the Rajasthan
Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 aimed to provide social security to individuals and households of
Rajasthan.
• The Bill focuses on 3 main areas such as Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income, Right to Guaranteed
Employment and Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension.
These social security schemes were implemented by the Government of India’s United Progressive Alliance
(UPA) through Rights-based Laws such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA), Right to Education (RTE) and Food Security Act.
Funding:
The government of Rajasthan provides social security pension to over 90 lakh beneficiaries at an annual
expenditure of about Rs 9,000 crore, while the Central Government is providing Rs 300 crore annually by
giving Rs 200/300 per month to 10 lakh persons in Rajasthan.
Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income:
i. Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Guaranteed Income Act Yojana or MGMGIY will be the name of the scheme, as the
Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income scheme brought under the MGMGIY act.
ii. The MGMGIY scheme states that eligible persons will receive a minimum guaranteed income through this
scheme, either by providing employment through the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme
(IGUEGS) in urban areas and through Chief Minister Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (CMREGS) in rural
areas.
iii. Alternatively, an eligible person may receive pension if they come under an eligible category of old
age/specially abled/widow/single woman.
Right to Guaranteed Employment:
i. Every adult person residing in the rural areas of Rajasthan shall have a right to get guaranteed employment
for at least additional 25 days per financial year.

ii. After completing the maximum days of work as prescribed by the MGNREGA, the persons are eligible to
receive minimum wages weekly or within a fortnight.
iii. In urban areas, every adult person of Rajasthan has the right to get guaranteed employment for doing
permissible work of at least 125 days per financial year and to receive minimum wages weekly or within a
fortnight.
iv. If the Programme Officer fails to provide employment within 15 days of receiving an application, the
applicant shall be eligible to receive an unemployment allowance from the Rajasthan government on a weekly
basis or within a fortnight.
Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension:
i. The scheme ensures every person falling in the category of old age/specially abled/widow/single woman,
with prescribed eligibility, receives a pension.
ii. The pension includes an automatic increase of 15% annually on the base rate divided into 2 instalments of
5% in July and 10% in January of each financial year, starting from financial year 2024-2025.
iii. The implementation of this scheme is expected to result in an additional expenditure of Rs.2,500 crore per
year for the government, which may increase with time.
AP-Genco & NHPC to Form a Joint Venture for Implementing PSPHs in Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (AP-Genco) and National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation Ltd. (NHPC) will form a Joint Venture (JV) for implementing Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects
(PSPHs) with a total generation capacity of 6,000 Megawatt (MW)in Andhra Pradesh.
• The 1st project will be a 1,350 MW (9×150 MW) PSHP at upper Sileru in GK Veedhi mandal of Alluri
Sitharama Raju (ASR) district.Upon completion , the combined installed hydropower capacity of the
Sileru basin will reach over 2,425 MW.
The companies are yet to sign the drafted agreement and the partners would have an equal (50:50) stake.
Note: AP-Genco aims to generate 33 Giga-Watt(GW) with 29 PSP projects in upcoming year. The PSPHs with a
total capacity of 11 GW are being handed over to private companies, and the remaining will be undertaken by
AP-Genco and some by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).
GOVT SCHEMES
CENTRAL GOVT SCHEMES
Govt Launches Scheme to Support Pregnant Minor Victims of Sexual Assault
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani has launched a new scheme to address the
challenges faced by pregnant minor victims of sexual assault who lack family support. The “scheme for critical
care and support for accessing justice to rape/gang rape survivors or minor girls who get
pregnant” aims to provide essential assistance to these vulnerable individuals under Ministry of Women and
Child Development (MWCD).
• Under the initiative, medical and financial support will be provided through the Nirbhaya Fund.
• The budget of the proposal is Rs 74.10 crore. The allocated funds will also be used to establish
dedicated shelters for these victims.
• The scheme aims to provide an integrated support system under one roof, leveraging the
administrative structure of Mission Vatsalya in collaboration with state governments and Child
Care Institutions (CCIs).
Key Points:
i. The focus of the scheme is on offering shelter, food, daily necessities, safe transportation for court hearings,
and legal aid to those minor girls
ii. Depending on state governments’ discretion, the shelters may be standalone facilities or designated wards

within existing child care institutions (CCIs).
iii. The additional support, available in CCIs until the age of 18 and in after-care facilities until the age of 23,
demonstrates the government’s dedication to protecting and empowering vulnerable minors who have
experienced trauma.
Additional Info:
i. This initiative aligns with the establishment of 415 POCSO fast track courts across the country, reflecting the
government’s commitment to expedite justice for minor rape victims.
ii. Statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveal alarming numbers, with 51,863 cases
registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in 2021. Of these cases, 64%
(33,348 incidents) involved penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault, highlighting
the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect and support minor victims.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development:
Union Minister – Smriti Zubin Irani (Constituency: Amethi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State – Munjapara Mahendrabhai
STATE GOVT SCHEMES

Odisha Government launches Mo Jungle Jami Yojana for forest Dwellers
The Odisha Government launches ‘Mo Jungle Jami Yojana’ (My Forestland Scheme) with the aim to recognise
all rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights
Act)(FRA), 2006 in the next two years.
Key Points:
i.Under Mo Jungle Jami Yojana scheme, Forest Rights Cells will be constituted at the tehsil and district level for
the implementation of FRA, 2006.
ii. Mo Jungle Jami Yojana Scheme benefits all eligible tribal peoples, primarily single women and Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) get land titles and record corrections are made for 100% title holders.
FRA Act 2006:
The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 recognises the rights of forest living tribal communities and other
traditional forest dwellers to forest resources on which these communities depend for a range of requirements
such as livelihood, habitation, and other socio-cultural needs.
Rights of tribal people as per FRA:
Odisha is one of the leading States in implementation of FRA with distribution of 4.56 lakhs of individual forest
right (IFR) titles in the country as of July 2023.
• The Individual forest right (IFR) titles are given to the tribal individual for the land they have been
cultivating for generations.
• Community Forest Rights (CFR) allows tribal communities to use and manage forest resources to
achieve the objectives of conservation and regeneration.
Odisha’s Tribe profile:
i.Odisha is ranked third in terms of tribal population(9,590,756) as per the 2011 census. Odisha houses around
62 types of tribes including 13 PVTGs.
ii.Tribal population of Odisha consititutes about 22.85% of its total population, residing in 53,845 villages of
which 32,562 villages are FRA potential villages.
• Odisha’s estimated potential forest area over which forest rights can be recognised is 35,739 square
kilometres.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister- Naveen Patnaik
Governor – Ganeshi Lal
wildlife sanctuaries – Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunabeda Wildlife
Sanctuary

TN Police launched “Pengal Pathukaaptu Thittam” for Women Traveling Alone at Night
Tamil Nadu (TN) Police launched a new scheme “Pengal Pathukaaptu Thittam” (Women safety scheme) to
ensure the safety of the women travelling alone at night (between 10 pm and 7 am).
• Under this scheme, the women travelling alone can avail of free drop facility in a patrol vehicle in
case they feel unsafe.
• The women can use the helpline 1091, 112, 044-23452365 and 044-28447701 to avail the police
patrol vehicle.
The scheme will be in operation on all day of the week.
Odisha CM Launches ‘Ama Pokhari’ to Rejuvenate Water Bodies

On 6th July 2023, Odisha Chief Minister(CM) Naveen Patnaik launched ‘Ama Pokhari’ scheme, which aims to
rejuvenate 2,000 large water bodies in 115 urban local bodies at Lokseva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• The ‘Ama Pokhari’ scheme is implemented at a cost of Rs 120 crore.
• The renovation and maintenance of the water bodies will be done in collaboration with members of
Mission Shakti Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs).
Note – During the event, Odisha CM felicitated Anand Malligavad, known as the ‘lake man’ of India.
Objectives of the Scheme:
• Address water scarcity in a natural and sustainable manner.
• Ensure the availability of clean water for communities.
• The project developed for recreation of citizens helps in getting an aesthetic appeal and to improve
the climate of the coastal and surrounding areas by strengthening the ecological fabric.
About Odisha:
Capital- Bhubaneswar
Governor – Prof. Ganeshi Lal
Folk dance- Bhaagha Naacha, Goti Pua, Ghumura, Chhau.
Wildlife sanctuary- Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary.
Gujarat launches revamped PMJAY-MA scheme with Rs 10 lakh health cover

On 11th July 2023, Government of Gujarat launched the revamped Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-
Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme, under which people can avail free medical treatment up to Rs
10 lakh, a twofold rise from the previous limit of Rs 5 lakh.
• The revamped scheme was officially launched by Rushikesh Patel, Minister of Health and Family
Welfare of Gujarat in the presence of Gujarat Health Department officials.
Background:
During the State Budget presented in February 2023, Kanubhai Desai, Minister of Finance of Gujarat,
announced the doubling of insurance cover under PMJAY-MA scheme from Rs 10 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.
Key Points:
i.The New revamped PMJAY-MA Scheme benefits around 1.78 crore Ayushman Bharat cardholders in Gujarat
to afford high cost medical facilities.
ii.Under the PMJAY-MA, 2027 state-run hospitals, 803 private hospitals, and 18 Central government facilities in
the state are permitted to offer treatment or perform operations, and 2471 types of treatments and surgeries
are available to card users in these hospitals.
Note:
PMJAY is popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, MA stands for the state government’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam
(MA) scheme, which was merged with the central health scheme.
About MA Yojana:
i.The Mukhyamantri Amrutum Yojana, launched on 4th September 2012, is a tertiary care scheme for Below
Poverty Line (BPL) population of Gujarat.

ii.The scheme was initially launched with an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakhs.
About Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY):
i.PMJAY, the world’s largest health assurance scheme, aims to provide poor and vulnerable families with a
health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
• It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 23rd September 2018 in Ranchi,
Jharkhand.
ii.Ayushman Bharat has two components, Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (PM-JAY).
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel launches Gramin Awas Nyay Yojana

On 19 July 2023, During the announcement of Rs.1,764 crore worth benefits for various segments of
government employees, Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel introduced the ‘Nyay Yojana,’ a housing scheme
aimed at providing homes to rural homeless individuals in Chhattisgarh.
• The scheme will be fully sponsored by State Government of Chhattisgarh by allocating Rs.100 crore
in budget.
About Gramin Awas Nyay Yojana:
The scheme is the outcome of the survey conducted by Panchayat and Rural Development Department under
Government Of Chhattisgarh. The survey pointed out that
• This will help families which are encountering challenges in obtaining housing approval due to the
eligibility criteria for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana which is based on Socio-Economic Survey
2011 (officially known as Socio Economic and Caste Census – SECC 2011).
• The number of beneficiaries are around 8 lakhs.
About Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011
It is the first-ever census that generated data covering households in both rural and urban areas. SECC 2011 is
also the first paperless census in India which was conducted on hand-held electronic devices by the
Government of India.
• The data is being used to identify beneficiaries and expand the direct benefit transfer
scheme.
• The Ministry of Rural Development commenced the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in
June 2011 and the results of SECC 2011 were released by the government in July 2015.
SECC 2011 included the following three components of the census:
1. Rural census: It was conducted by the Ministry of rural development.
2. Urban census: It was conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
3. Caste census: It was conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs- Registrar General and Census
Commissioner of India.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
Governor – Biswabhusan Harichandan
Capital – Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Karnataka Launches Gruha Lakshmi Scheme for Women Supporting Households

On 19th July 2023, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the registration for Gruha Lakshmi
scheme, which provides Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of the households.

• The Scheme will benefit around 1.28 crore families in Karnataka and the cash benefit of Rs 2,000
will be transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The Gruha Lakshmi scheme will be implemented from August 15, 2023
Background:
i.This was one of the poll promises by the newly elected Siddaramaiah led Congress government in the election
manifesto of the 2023 Karnataka general Assembly Election.
ii.On 7th July 2023, the Karnataka Government allocated an amount of Rs 24,166 crore for the Gruha Lakshmi
scheme for 2023-24 fiscal year.
Eligibility:
i.The eligibility criteria to enrol in the Scheme for the women whose names appear as the head of the family on
Antyodaya, Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Above Poverty Line (APL) cards.
ii.Those women or their husbands who pay income tax or GST are not eligible under the scheme.
iii.Only one woman in a family can be the beneficiary of this scheme and the woman must not be a government
employee.
Registration for the Scheme:
i.Registration for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme can be done both online and offline.
ii.The beneficiaries may also register for this Scheme through common service centres such as Karnataka-1,
Bengaluru-1, Grama-1 or Bapuji Seva Kendra centres
iv.Eligible women can get themselves registered online by visiting the official portal of Seva Sindhu Guarantee
scheme.
iii.Documents required for Gruha Lakshmi Scheme:
• BPL Card/APL Card/ Antyodaya Card
• Bank-linked Aadhaar card
• Bank details
• Aadhaar-linked phone number
Recently launched New Schemes in Karnataka:
During the Budget presentation for the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Karnataka Government allocated around Rs
52,000 crore to their five main poll promises including for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
i.Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, every individual from a BPL family and and ‘Antyodaya’ households
receives 10 kg of free rice every month.
ii.Yuva Nidhi scheme provides a two-year payment of Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed graduates and Rs
1,500 per month for unemployed diploma holders.
iii.The Uchita Prayana scheme provides free bus travel to all women across the state.
iv.The Gruha Jyothi scheme launched to provide 200 units of free electricity.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Thaawar Chand Gehlot
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharavathi Valley
Wildlife Sanctuary
DAHD implemented Credit Guarantee Scheme under AHIDF for Livestock Sector
On July 20, 203, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fishries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying(MoFAH&D), has launched the first ever Credit Guarantee Scheme for Livestock sector.
• The scheme under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) aims to
strengthen the credit delivery system and ensure smooth access to collateral-free credit for Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Livestock sector.
To make the scheme operational, DAHD has set up a Credit Guarantee Fund Trust worth Rs. 750 crores which
will offer credit guarantee coverage of up to 25% for the credit facilities extended to MSMEs by eligible lending
institutions.

Key Objective of Scheme:
The lender should give importance to project viability and secure the credit facility purely on the basis primary
security of the assets financed.
Key Features:
i.Interest Subvention of 3%
ii.Loan up to 90% of the total project cost from any Scheduled Bank, National Cooperative Development
Corporation (NCDC).
iii.This scheme aims to facilitates finance access for underserved livestock sectors, benefiting first-generation
entrepreneurs and underprivileged individuals without collateral security. It is expected to boost MSME
participation in the livestock sector, increasing credit flow and strengthening rural economies,
About Credit Guarantee fund Trust:
In March 2021, DAHD has formed this trust with NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Private Limited, a
wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD (National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development) for extending
the credit guarantee to MSMEs under Rs 15000 crores AHIDF scheme.
• It is India’s first ever fund trust under Credit guarantee scheme of AHIDF in the agriculture and
Animal Husbandry sector
It incentivizes investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmers Producers
Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish the following:
• Dairy processing and value addition infrastructure
• Meat processing and value addition infrastructure
• Animal Feed Plant
• Breed Improvement technology and Breed Multiplication Farm
• Animal Waste to Wealth Management (Agri Waste Management)
• Setting up of Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs Manufacturing facilities.
Govt extends Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for 2 Years upto June 2024
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, has extended the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan
Yojana(ABVKY), an unemployment relief scheme, under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for
two years upto 30th June 2024.
• According to the gazette notification, the scheme has been extended for a period 1st July 2022 to
30th June 2024 with relaxed eligibility conditions and enhanced rate of relief.
• This is the third extension since its inception. Previously, the scheme was extended twice from 1st
July 2020 to 30th June 2021 and from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022 to provide relief to those
Insured Persons (IPs) who became unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana:
i.On 1st July 2018, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan
Yojana (ABVKY) scheme (on pilot basis) under the Section 2(9) of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948.
The Scheme aims to provide relief to the Insured Persons (IPs) who have become unemployed (Tenure: 2
years)
• It was decided to enhance the rate of unemployment relief under the scheme to 50% of wages from
earlier rate of 25% along with relaxation in eligibility conditions with effect from 24th March 2020.
• The waiting period to file the claim was reduced from 90 days to 30 days.
• IPs are required to have been in insurable employment for at least two years and have contributed
for a minimum of 78 days in the contribution period immediately preceding their unemployment.
• They must have contributed for at least 78 days in one of the remaining three contribution periods
within the two years prior to their unemployment.
Additional Info:
Between July 1, 2018 and December 12, 2022 a total of 66,013 employees have availed the unemployment
benefits under the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana, with a disbursement of Rs 87.83 crores.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
United States of America Rejoins UNESCO after 5 years
The United States of America (USA) re-joined as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after 5 years.
On 30th June 2023, the 193 member states of UNESCO met for an extraordinary session to examine the
proposal of the USA to rejoin UNESCO as early as July 2023, on the basis of a concrete financial plan, which
includes a commitment to repay its estimated arrears of USD 619 million. During the meet, 132 voted in favour,
10 voted against.
• USA’s decision to rejoin UNESCO was motivated by concern, over China’s influence in setting
standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology apprenticeship around the world.
Note:
In 2017, the USA, during the presidency of Donald Trump, decided to withdraw from UNESCO.
The Joe Biden administration has already requested USD 150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO
dues and arrears.
FAO, UNEP, WHO & WOAH launched One Health Priority Research Agenda for AMR
On 28th June 2023, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for
Animal Health (WOAH) , “the Quadripartite organisations”, launched “A One Health Priority Research Agenda
for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” through a webinar. The Research agenda aims to promote increased
research and investment in AMR.
One Health Priority Research Agenda on AMR:
i.The agenda defines ‘One Health’ as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and
optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
ii.It aims to guide a variety of stakeholders in generating new evidence to address antimicrobial resistance,
with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
iii.The concept acknowledges the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the larger
environment, including ecosystems, are inextricably linked and interdependent.
5 Key Pillars:
The global experts have identified five key pillars as well as three cross-cutting themes, namely gender,
vulnerable populations, and sustainability using a mixed Method approach.
The 5 key pillars are,
i.Transmission: This pillar focuses on the environment, plant, animal, and human sectors where AMR
transmission, circulation and spread occur.
ii.Integrated surveillance: This pillar aims to identify cross-cutting priority research questions in order to
improve common technical understanding and information exchange among One Health stakeholders.
iii.Interventions: This pillar focuses on programmes, practises, tools, and activities aimed at preventing,
containing, or reducing the incidence, prevalence, and spread of AMR.
iv.Behavioural insights and change:It focuses on research addressing human behaviour that affects AMR,
including ways to combat it.
v.Economics and policy: This pillar addressed investment and action in AMR prevention and control.
Additional info:
On June 22, 2023 WHO launched a global research agenda for AMR in human health which prioritises 40
research topics for and guide stakeholders to generate evidence to address antimicrobial resistance and to
collaborate across sectors by 2030 on low- and middle-income countries(LMICs).

About United Nation’s:
Secretary-General- António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, United States of America(USA)
Established- 1945
MEA: India joins Champions Group of Global Crisis Response Group

On 7th July 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that India has joined the champions group
of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) at the invitation of Antonio Guterres, United Nations (UN)
Secretary General (SG), to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India.
• Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA has been
designated as Sherpa to the GCRG process.
Note: On 7th July 2023, the sherpas of GCRG convened a virtual
meeting and the meeting of the Champions Group is scheduled for
21st July 2023.
Key Points:
i. The decision to join the Group reflects India’s increasing global
leadership and commitment addressing contemporary global
challenges.
ii. India’s participation will further improve the efforts of the UN in locating result-oriented solutions on
developmental issues that impact the world, particularly developing countries.
Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG):
i. The GCRG was set up by the UN SG in March 2022 to direct urgent and critical global issues pertaining to
interlinked crises in food security, energy, and finance and to coordinate a global response.
ii. The 32-member Group ensures high-level political leadership to get ahead of the immense inter-connected
challenges of food security, energy, and financing, and implement a coordinated global response to the ongoing
crises.
iii. Chair of the GCRG will be the UN SG António Guterres.
About Champions Group of GCRG:
The GCRG is supervised by the Champions Group composed of Heads of States (HOS)/ Heads of Governments
(HOG) of Bangladesh, Barbados, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia and Senegal.
United Nations IMO adopts strategy to reduce GHG Emissions from Ships
On 7th July 2023, the United Nations(UN) International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted the 2023 IMO
Strategy at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) on Reduction of Greenhouse gases (GHG)
Emissions from Ships, with enhanced targets to tackle harmful emissions.
• The revised IMO GHG Strategy aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping
close to 2050.
• IMO has also established a goal to adopt technologies, fuels, and energy sources with zero
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, aiming for a minimum adoption rate of 5% and striving for for a
higher adoption rate of 10% by the year 2030.
MEPC’s 80th session was held at the IMO headquarters in London United Kingdom(UK) from July 3rd -7th of
2023.
Indicative checkpoints:
Maritime countries, including India have agreed on indicative checkpoints of reducing emissions by at least
20%, striving for 30%, by 2030 compared to 2008 levels and at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, reaching
net-zero around 2050 depending on national circumstances.
Levels of ambition directing the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy:
i.carbon intensity of the ship to decline through further improvement of the energy efficiency for new ships
ii.The goal is for the carbon intensity of international shipping to decline, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions per

unit of transport work.
iii.uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to increase
iv.GHG emissions from international shipping to reach net zero
About International Maritime Organisation (IMO):
Secretary-General- Kitack Lim
Headquarters- London, United Kingdom
Established- 1958
Saudi Arabia Becomes 51st Nation to sign TAC

On 12th July 2023, Saudi Arabia signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia(TAC) with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in
Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Saudi Arabia became the 51st nation to agree to the
TAC and It was signed by Saudi Arabian Foreign
Minister(FM) Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
About Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC):
i.The TAC is a peace treaty signed by ASEAN nations in 1976 to
establish a set of norms to manage regional inter-state
interactions based on mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial
integrity, and national identity.
• It is a legally enforceable code for regional and global
inter-state relations.
ii.The Treaty has been revised three times, in 1987, 1998, and 2010, to allow states outside Southeast Asia, as
well as regional bodies whose members are sovereign states, to join.
Priorities of TAC:
i.Mutual respect for all nations’ independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity.
ii.Every state has the right to live its national existence free of external intervention, subversion, and force.
iii.Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another.
iv.Disagreements or conflicts should be resolved peacefully, with no threats or use of force.
Note:
• The countries acceded to TAC includes, India and China in 2003, the United States of America(USA)
and European Union (EU) in 2009.
• Ukraine had signed TAC in 2022 as the 50th member nation.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM):
i.The 56th AMM was held on 11-12 July 2023 in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia. The Meeting was chaired by
Indonesia under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.
ii.The AMM was formed by the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) in 1967, is responsible for ASEAN’s
political-security cooperation as well as ASEAN’s interactions with external parties.
iii.The 10 ASEAN member countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei
Darussalam, Viet Nam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic(PDR), Myanmar, and Cambodia.
About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):
Secretary General – Dr Kao Kim Hourn
Established – 1967
Headquarters – Jakarta, Indonesia

Adani Group Commissioned India’s First Transnational Power Project to Bangladesh
On 15th July 2023, Adani Group commenced the full load power supply to Bangladesh from the Adani group’s
Ultra Super-Critical Thermal Power Plant (USCTPP) in Godda, Jharkhand. This is India’s first commissioned
transnational power project where 100% of the generated power is supplied to another nation.
• Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani called on Bangladesh Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in
Dhaka, Bangladesh on full load commencement and handover of the 1600 MW USCTPP.
• The Godda USCTPP, marks the entry of Adani Group’s into transnational power projects. Adani
Power Jharkhand Ltd. (APJL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd, will supply 100% of
the generated electricity from the plant to another nation.
Key Features:
i. The USCTPP’s commissioned in a record time of 42 months, including the establishment of a 105 kilometre
(Km)-long 400 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, the construction of a private railway line, and the
implementation of an extensive water pipeline from the Ganges.
ii. In India, the Godda power plant is the to have started operations with 100%flue gas desulphurization (FGD),
selective catalytic re-converter (SCR) and zero water discharge for minimizing emissions, aligning with the
norms set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of the Government of India
(GOI).
About Adani Group:
Established in- 1988
Chairman – Gautam Adani
MD- Rajesh Adani
Headquarters- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
World Humanitarian Drive got special status from the UN for global education
The World Humanitarian Drive (WHD), an international Non-governmental organization (NGO), which
promotes international education and trade, has been granted special consultative status by United
Nations (UN)’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
With this ECOSOC status, WHD will be authorised to interact actively with its subsidiary bodies, the Human
Rights Council, certain UN General Assembly (UNGA) sessions, other intergovernmental bodies, and the UN
Secretariat.
Key facilities:
i. The special consultative status will provide WHD with the privilege to access UN’s meetings, provide written
and oral statements to ECOSOC.
ii. WHD can use UN facilities including submitting a quadrennial (occurring every 4 years) report on the
activities of the organisation, in support of the work of ECOSOC and the UN at a recently concluded meeting
held in UN in June 2023.
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
i. ECOSOC is the highest status granted to a NGO, which allows them to facilitate with the United Nations.
ii. The status is granted to NGO’s, which have special capability and are concerned specifically with only a few
of the fields of activity covered by the ECOSOC.
iii. ECOSOC has 54 member states, which are elected by the UNGA extend over 3 years of term.
About World Humanitarian Drive (WHD):
It is an International NGO with operations in 12 countries, founded in Croydon, UK.
The primary vision of WHD is to promote Peace, Education and Trade Harmony initiatives globally.
WHD also promotes key initiatives between India and the United Kingdom (UK).
Founder & Chairman- Dr Abdul Basit Syed, British Indian Global Peace activist, Entrepreneur, Writer.
Headquarters- London, the United Kingdom (UK)

UAE Becomes 1st Arab Country to Get Observer Status at Asia/Pacific Group on Money
Laundering
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first Arab country to be granted observer status of the Asia-
Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), the largest Financial Action Task Force-style regional body (FSRB)
in the world. The decision was made at the APG’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Technical Assistance and Training
Forum held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 9-14 July 2023.
The meeting was attended by a UAE delegation led by Hamid Al Zaabi, Director-General of the Executive Office
of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (EO AML/CTF).
About APG plenary Meeting:
The meeting was co-chaired by Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance Julien Brazeau of Canada’s
Department of Finance and Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney of the Australian Federal Police.
Key Outcomes of the meeting:
1. During the meeting, Tuvalu was admitted as the newest APG member. With this, APG now has 41
active members.
2. During the meeting, along with UAE, Kazakhstan was also admitted as the APG observers. With the
UAE and Kazakhstan, APG now has 9 observer jurisdictions.
Key points:
i. The UAE was named to the Financial Action Task Force list in 2022. The list denotes countries that are
working to address “strategic deficiencies” with regard to money laundering and illicit financing, which the UAE
has displayed via its participation in Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF).
ii. The APG’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Technical Assistance and Training Forum was also attended by some
major organisations like International Monetary Fund, World Bank, The Asian Development Bank etc.,
About Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG):
Founded in– 1997
Executive Secretary– Dr Gordon Hook
Members– 41 active members
Headquarters– Sydney, Australia
Italy unveils memorial to honour Indian Army Soldiers who fought in World War-II
On 22nd July 2023, the Commune of Monotone, Italy and the Italain Military historians unveiled
the V.C Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial at Montone, Perugia, Italy, as a tribute to the Indian soldiers
from the 4th, 8th and 10th Divisions, who fought in the Italian Campaign, during the Second World War (WW-
II) (1939-1945).
• The memorial also honoured the supreme sacrifices of Indian Soldier, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge,
Victoria Cross (VC) recipient (posthumous), who was killed during the fighting in the of Upper Tiber
Valley, Italy on 10th July 1944.
• The memorial is in the form of a live sundial. The motto of the memorial is “Omines Sub Eodem
Sole”, which translates in English as “We all live under the same sun”.
• Ambassador and Mayor of Montone inaugurated the Yashwant Gharge Memorial and Dr Neena
Malhotra, Ambassador of India in Italy and the Indian Defence Attaché represented India during the
ceremony.
• A special post card was also released during the event.
Note: Out of the 20 VC awarded in Italy, 6 were won by Indian soldiers.

VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Highlights of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Visit to India from 20- 21st July
2023
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an official two-day visit to India from 20- 21st July 2023. He
was welcomed by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. This marks
Wickremesinghe’s first trip to India since he was elected president of Sri Lanka in July 2022.
• The visit takes place as both countries celebrate
the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations in 2023.
During the visit, Wickremesinghe met Indian External Affairs
Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Adani
Group chairman Gautam Adani and President of India Draupadi
Murmu.
Note: Sri Lanka is an important partner in India’s “Neighbourhood
First” policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
vision.
India’s Financial Assistance
In 2022, Sri Lanka was hit by a financial crisis due to a severe paucity (insufficiency) of foreign exchange
reserves.
• India extended emergency financial support of about USD ($) 4 billion, providing for fuel and
essential items.
• India also helped Colombo secure a nearly $3-billion package from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF).
Important MoU’s exchanged between India and Sri Lanka:
• Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) in the field of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• MoU on cooperation in the field of renewable energy.
• Memorandum of Cooperation for economic development projects in Trincomalee district of Sri
Lanka.
• Network to Network Agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)and Lanka
Pay for UPI application acceptance in Sri Lanka
• Energy Permit for Sampur Solar Power Project.
India & Sri Lanka have Adopted Vision Document to Boost Economic Partnership
India and Sri Lanka adopted a vision document titled, “Promoting Connectivity, Catalysing Prosperity” that
would strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity to boost the economic partnership
between India and Sri Lanka.
• The vision is to accelerate mutual cooperation in tourism, electricity, business, higher education, and
skill development.
The vision document is based on five pillars
1.Maritime connectivity:
i.It outlines cooperation in the development of ports and logistics at Colombo, Trincomalee and
Kankesanthurai, with an aim to consolidate regional logistics and shipping.
ii.It also talks of the resumption of passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in India and
Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka besides working towards early resumption of ferry services between
Rameshwaram and Talaimannar.

2.Air connectivity:
Expansion of flights between Chennai and Colombo, besides exploring connectivity between Chennai and
Trincomalee, Batticaloa and other destinations in Sri Lanka.
3.Energy and power connectivity:
i.MoU on renewable energy for Sri Lanka to achieve 70% power from renewables by 2030.
ii.Establishment of high-capacity power grid interconnection to enable electricity trade including those of the
BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) initiative.
iii.Accelerate Sampur Solar power project and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure to explore green
hydrogen.
iv.Ongoing cooperation in Trincomalee Tank Farms for the development of industry, energy, and economic
activity.
v.Joint construction of a petroleum pipeline from India.
vi.Collaborative hydrocarbon exploration in offshore basins.
4.People-to-People connectivity:
The two countries also plan “to promote awareness and popularize India’s Buddhist circuit, and Ramayana trail
as well as ancient places of Buddhist, Hindu and other religious worship in Sri Lanka for enhancing tourism”,
5.Agreement on Acceptance of UPI in Sri Lanka:
On 21st July 2023, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe
signed a network-to-network agreement on the acceptance of UPI in Sri Lanka which will increase Fintech
connectivity.
• The agreement was signed between NIPL and Lanka Pay which allows Sri Lankan citizens to use
UPI-based payment systems for various transactions, promoting seamless and efficient cross-border
payments.
Prior to Sri Lanka, India’s UPI service has been adopted by Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal,
Bhutan and France.
About Unified Payments Interface (UPI):
i.UPI is an instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
which makes swift payments using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer.
ii.It facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions.
About Sri Lanka:
Prime minister- Dinesh Gunawardena
Capital- Colombo (executive and judicial capital); Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Currency- Sri Lankan Rupee
Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat

On 27th – 28th July 2023, Prime Minister(PM) of India, Narendra Modi was on a two day visit to Rajasthan and
Gujarat to inaugurate and launch various new initiatives and events.
PM Modi visit to Rajasthan:
On 27th July 2023, during his visit to Rajasthan, PM Modi laid the
foundation stone of medical colleges in Rajasthan and dedicated
various development projects to the nation.
Release of 14th instalment of PM-KISAN:
i.He released the 14th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme worth over Rs 17,000 crore to
more than 8.5 crores farmers.
ii.The PM-Kisan Scheme was started on February 24th, 2019 to
supplement the financial requirements of all land-holding farmers
who meet specified income exclusion conditions.

iii.Financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments in every four months is transferred into the
bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Launch of Urea Gold – Sulphur Coated Urea:
i.He also launched ‘Urea Gold’, a new variety of Urea coated with Sulphur to address sulphur deficiencies in
the soil.
ii.This new fertiliser is more cost-effective and efficient than Neem-Coated Urea, resulting in increased nitrogen
use efficiency, lower consumption, and improved crop quality.
Launch of 1,600 FPOs On-boarded on ONDC:
i.He also launched the onboarding of 1600 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) on the Open Network for
Digital Commerce (ONDC).
ii.The FPO initiative was launched in February 2020 with a total budget of Rs 6,865 Crore to set up 10,000 new
FPOs within 2025.
iii.ONDC empowers FPOs with direct access to digital marketing, online payment, business-to-business (B2B)
and business-to-consumer (B2C)transactions, and encourages local value addition, catalysing growth of
logistics in rural areas.
Dedicating 1.25 lakh PMKSKs to the nation:
i.PM Modi dedicated 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras to the farmers. Under this scheme, the retail
fertilizer shops converted into PMKSK in a phased manner.
ii.PMKSKs will cater to a wide variety of needs of the farmers and provide agricultural inputs (fertilizers, seeds,
implements), testing facilities for soil, seeds, and fertilizers.
iii.PMKSK also generates awareness among farmers, provides information regarding various government
schemes and ensures regular capacity building of retailers at block/district level outlets.
Inauguration of 5 Medical Colleges and Laying of foundation stone for 7 Medical colleges:
i.PM Modi inaugurated 5 Medical Colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar, and Sri Ganganagar.
• These 5 new medical colleges were developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 1400 crore.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone for the 7 new medical colleges at Jhunjhunu, Baran, Bundi, Karauli, Sawai
Madhopur, Tonk and Jaisalmer.
• These 7 medical colleges will be built at a cumulative cost of Rs 2275 crore.
• These medical colleges are being established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for
“Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/ referral hospitals.
iii.With these new medical colleges, the number of medical colleges in the State has grown from 10 in 2010 to
35, which is a 250% increase.
iv.The 12 new medical colleges will increase the number of MBBS(Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery)
seats in Rajasthan to 6275 seats from 1750 seats in 2013-14, which would be a 258% increase.
v.The new airport in Rajkot will contribute not only towards the development of the local automobile industry
of Rajkot but will also encourage trade, tourism, education and industrial sectors throughout Gujarat.
Inauguration of 6 Eklavya Model Residential Schools and One Kendriya Vidyalaya:
i.He inaugurated 6 Eklavya Model Residential schools in districts of Udaipur(2), Banswara(2), Partapgarh(1)
and Dungarpur(1) in Rajasthan.
ii.EMRS was founded in 1997-98 to provide quality education to ST children in remote places, allowing them to
pursue chances in further and professional education and gain jobs in a variety of fields.
PM Modi visit to Gujarat:
Inauguration of Gujarat’s first greenfield airport in Rajkot:
i.PM Modi inaugurated Gujarat’s first greenfield airport‘ Hirasar greenfield International airport’ in Hirasar,
Rajkot,Gujarat.
• The Airport will be the epitome of the local architectural heritage and will reflect the cultural glory
of art and dance forms of the Kathiawar region of Gujarat.
ii.It is located in Hirasar village around 30 km from Rajkot and is spread over an area of 1,500 acres and has
been developed at a cost of Rs 1,405 crore.

iii.It has a 3,040 metre (3.04 km)-long and 45-meter-wide runway, capable of accommodating 14 planes
simultaneously.
iv.The design of the terminal was inspired by Rajkot’s cultural vibrancy which would feature the art forms from
Lippan art to Dandiya dance.
v.The new airport in Rajkot will contribute not only towards the development of the local automobile industry
of Rajkot but will also encourage trade, tourism, education and industrial sectors throughout Gujarat.
Inauguration of SemiconIndia 2023 in Gandhinagar
On 28th July 2023, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd edition of SemiconIndia 2023 conference
organised by India Semiconductor Mission at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The Conference was held from 28th-30th July 2023 under the theme of ‘Catalysing India’s
Semiconductor Ecosystem’.
• It offers a platform to the participants to deliberate on various aspects shaping the semiconductor
ecosystem in India.
Objective of the conference:
i.It aims to bring together global leaders from industry, academia and research institutions.
ii.It also highlights India’s semiconductor strategy and policy, which aims to make the country a global hub for
semiconductor design, manufacture, and technological development.
Note:
Prior to the conference, SemiconIndia 2023 exhibition inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister(CM) Bhupendra
Patel in the presence of Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information and Technology Rajeev
Chandrasekhar on 25th July 2023.
Other notable inaugurations in Gujarat:
PM Modi dedicated multiple development projects worth over Rs 860 crores in Rajkot, Gujarat.
i.Sauni Yojana Link 3 Package 8 and 9 will help further strengthen irrigation facilities and provide drinking
water benefits for the Saurashtra region.
ii.The upgradation of Dwarka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS), conservation, restoration &
development of Uparkot Fort Phase I & II, construction of a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, and
flyover bridge among others.
FOREIGN VISITS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Tanzania officially for 4-days
Dr. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM) went on a four-day official visit to United Republic
of Tanzania from 5-8 July 2023.
EAM’s visit to Tanzania will further integrate the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Overview of EAM’s Visits:
i. On the 4 day visit, Jaishankar first visited a water supply project funded by line of credit from the Government
of India in Zanzibar, an island of Tanzania from 5th to 6th July 2023.
ii. He also attended a reception of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul.
iii. He co-chaired the 10th India-Tanzania Joint Commission
Meeting with his counterpart and looked to Tanzania’s top
leadership, including several Cabinet rank Ministers from 7-8th
July 2023 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
iv. He also met with the members of the Parliamentary
Friendship Group for India and inaugurated an India-Tanzania
business meeting.
v. Then he addressed the Indian diaspora and inaugurated the
statue of Swami Vivekananda in Dar es Salaam.

India-Tanzania tie-ups:
i. India and Tanzania have close and friendly relations. EAM’s visit to Tanzania will further integrate the
bilateral relations between the two nations.
EAM Jaishankar visited India’s supported water project in Kibamba
During the 4 day visit the EAM visited the water project in the Kibamba district of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania),
which is built with Indian assistance that supplies water to Dar es Salaam. He was joined by Jumaa Aweso, the
Minister of Water and Irrigation of Tanzania.
Highlights:
i. The EAM highlighted that the water project in Tanzania built with the support of India is the reflection of
Government of India’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
ii. He also claimed that bringing Indian expertise, experience, and best practices is the key to the development
partnership between India and Tanzania.
iii. He mentioned that Tanzania is the biggest development partner of India in Africa in the water sector.
iv. The partnership of India in the 6 water projects of Tanzania involves soft loans of almost USD 1 billion, and
after completion would bring safe drinking water to 8,000,000 Tanzanians.
• It would approximately cover 28 town of Tanzania
• Water access in the urban areas will be 94.5% and in rural areas it would be 78%
EAM S. Jaishankar Co-chaired at the 10th India-Tanzania Joint Commission Meeting
During the 4 day visit the EAM co-chaired the 10th session of India-Tanzani Joint Commisiion on Economic,
Technical and Scientific Cooperation, in Dar-es-Salaam and signified the bilateral relations between the 2
nations have always been strong since independence.
He emphasised the significance of Mission IT (India-Tanzania) and the two nation’s an “important trade
partners”.
The relations between the 2 nations have been characterised by high-level visits, several agreements, very
robust economic engagement, and by excellent cooperation in the multilateral forum.
Highlights:
i. Tanzania is the fourth-largest trade partner in Africa. It is the biggest development partner in the continent
and by this developing movement, India is committed to strengthen and deepen its relations with Tanzania.
ii. The two nations were discussed about the emerging areas of interest and exchanged the view on
international issues.
iii. A new flagship initiative was taken to open the first-ever global campus of the globally renowned Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) in Zanzibar.
iv. EAM also mentioned about India’s ongoing G20 Presidency and added that New Delhi, Delhi is running after
its chairmanshio through a process of close consultations with the partners from Global south.
v. Tanzania is India’s largest African partner in training and capacity building with 750 slots annually.
India & Tanzania signed a MoU to set up first IIT campus outside India at Zanzibar
During His visit, on 6th July 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed
between India and Tanzania for establishing the first IIT campus outside India named IIT
Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The initiative is in line with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to strengthen educational
cooperation between India and Tanzania.
The IIT campus in Zanzibar will start offering programs from October 2023 and will be responsible for
planning pedagogical strategies.
Note: Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of east Africa
IIT will open its first-ever overseas campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania in October 2023 with a batch of 50
Undergraduates (UG) and 20 Master’s students.
Key People:
The MoU was signed between Ministry of Education, India; Ministry of education and vocational training of
Zanzibar-Tanzania in the presence of Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Jaishankar, EAM, India.

EAM S Jaishankar attended reception onboard INS Trishul along with Zanzibar President in Tanzania
On 6th July 2023, S Jaishankar, EAM attended a deck reception onboard Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul, a
guided missile frigate in Zanzibar, Tanzania along with Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar during his 4
day visit to Tanzania.
INS Trishul in Tanzania was a statement of SAGAR or Security And Growth for All in the Region.
Note: SAGAR is a maritime initiative that prioritises the Indian Ocean region to ensure India’s peace, stability,
and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
FCD of Haryana Cabinet & TIC of Tanzania signed a MoU to promote Economic Growth
On 11th July 2023, The Foreign Cooperation Department (FCD) of the government of Haryana and the Tanzania
Investment Centre (TIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the bilateral economic
collaboration and promote greater economic growth and increase investment opportunities between India and
Tanzania.
Key People:
Dr Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional chief secretary, foreign cooperation department, Haryana; Gilead Terifrom,
Executive Director, TIC signed the MoU in TIC office in Dar es Salem (Tanzania).
About the MoU:
i. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration and would facilitate the expansion of
mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields of economy – automobiles, pharmaceuticals, textile industry,
engineering or machinery equipment, spices, cosmetics, energy and other areas of mutual interest.
ii. Under this MoU, FCD and TIC are committed to promote economic diversification, job creation, and
sustainable development in India and Tanzania.
iii. Both organizations would encourage an environment for foreign investors, enhance economic cooperation,
and stimulate the growth of key sectors of mutual interest by combining their expertise, resources, and
networks.
iv. This partnership aimed to attract a wide range of investors, including multinational corporations, small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurs, fostering economic prosperity for both nations.
About Tanzania:
Capital– Dodoma
President– Samia Suluhu Hassan
Currency– Tanzanian Shilling
Overview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2-day visit to France; Horizon 2047 Adopted
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a 2-day official visit to France from 13th to 14th July 2023 at the invitation
of H.E. Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
Notably, the year 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the India – France Strategic Partnership.
• This visit was an opportunity to chart the course of the
partnership for the future across diverse sectors such as
strategic, cultural, scientific, academic and economic
cooperation.
Note: The diplomatic relations between the two countries was
established in 1947, and the upgrading of the partnership to the
strategic level was made in 1998, by India’s PM Atal Bihari
Vajpayee and France’s President Jacques Chirac which was one of
the first for India with any country.
Highlights:
i.On 13th July 2023, PM Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest French
order of Merit(both Civilian and Military).

ii.During his visit, PM Modi held formal talks with President Macron and also meet with Élisabeth
Borne, Prime Minister(PM) of France, Gerard Larcher, President of the French Senate, and the National
Assembly of France.
• PM Modi and President Macron also adopted ambitious outcome documents, “Horizon 2047:
Charting the future of India-France Strategic Partnership” during their meeting.
iii.On 14 July 2023, PM Modi participated as Guest of Honour in the Bastille Day (National Day of the French
Republic) Parade at Champs-Élysées, in Paris, France.
iv.During his visit, PM Modi also interacted with the Indian diaspora in France, the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Indian and French companies, and prominent French personalities.
Now, we will discuss the important points from this visit.
Formal talks were held between both leaders: Adopted Horizon 2047 Roadmap
PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron met and emphasized the strong and resilient relationship
between their countries. They highlighted shared values, sovereignty, and commitment to international law.
• The leaders discussed progress in various areas of cooperation over 25 years and identified new
areas for growth.
• They stressed collaboration on clean energy, biodiversity, and digital innovation.
• The partnership focuses on education, science, culture, and people-to-people ties.
• They aim to uphold international law, promote global cohesion, and address challenges like climate
change.
In order to set out their shared vision for this next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership, both
leaders adopted the ‘Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards A
Century of India-France Relations’.
About Horizon 2047:
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French partnership, both countries agree to adopt a roadmap to set
the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047, which will celebrate the centenary of India’s independence,
the centenary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50 years of the strategic partnership.
• As of now both nations work within the framework of a partnership, as they have done since 1998.
In order to further deepen this Strategic Partnership, this communiqué is adopted. Its highlights are
given below:
I.Partnership for Security and Sovereignty
i.Both nations will extend their defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the
joint development of a combat aircraft engine.
ii.They will support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi
Role Helicopter [IMRH] programme with Safran Helicopter Engine, France.
• To enable progress on the IMRH programme, a Shareholders’ Agreement between Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France has been concluded for
engine development.
iii.There is an MoU between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), and Naval Group France, a
leader in European Naval Defence Industry to collaborate in the field of surface ship that caters to fulfil the
requirement of India and International Naval forces.
iv.Both countries are also working towards adopting a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation.
v.In view of the uptick in defence industrial collaborations between the two countries, India is setting up a
Technical Office of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at its Embassy in Paris.
vi.Through a unique model of Triangular Development Cooperation, India and France will work on setting up
the Indo-Pacific Triangular Cooperation (IPTDC) Fund to support climate and SDG-focused innovations and
start-ups from third countries in the Indo-Pacific.
• The fund aims to scale up green technologies in the region, and project selection will be a joint effort
between both countries.

vii.Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES- National Center for Space Studies) and Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) will strengthen their partnership on the following :
• For climate and environment, with the development of the TRISHNA mission and activities within
the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) on topics such as water resource management, marine
resources and air quality monitoring;
• For space exploration (Mars, Venus), maritime monitoring, launchers and manned flights in
connection with India’s Gaganyaan programme.
viii.India and France strengthen cooperation against terrorism, including operational collaboration and
countering online radicalization. NSG and GIGN formalize cooperation. They also collaborate in cyber security
and digital technology.
• There will be formalization of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and
the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) of France through the Letter of Intent
between India and France for Cooperation in the field of Counterterrorism.
ix.Both nations strengthen their partnership in science, technology, and academia. They establish a joint
strategic committee, focus on digital technology, health, and cyber security, and collaborate in pharmaceuticals
and payment systems.
• It should be noted NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)
and France’s Lyra Collect executed an agreement to implement Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
in France and Europe. The payment mechanism is in its last phase of production and will go live by
September 2023 with the Eiffel Tower, Paris as the first merchant in France to accept UPI.
II – Partnership for Planet
i.India and France welcome progress in the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project and commit to offering sustainable
development solutions through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership, International Solar
Alliance, and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
ii.They aim to strengthen nuclear training and internships, explore partnerships in modular reactors, and
collaborate on the Jules Horowitz Research Reactor.
iii.Both countries are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2070, respectively.
iv.They will collaborate on building near-zero emission buildings, promote language training, facilitate student
exchanges, and expand the Alliances Françaises network.
v.India will open a Consulate General in Marseille, and France has established the “Bureau de France” in
Hyderabad, Telangana.
vi.India and France will promote joint training programs and facilitate the creation of an Indian Alumni
community. India has invited French universities to set up their campuses in India.
• France will issue five-year Schengen visas for Indian students who have completed at least one
semester at a recognized French university and attained a Master’s degree.
• France reaffirms its goal of welcoming 20,000 Indian students by 2025 and aims to raise it to 30,000
by 2030.
vii.Both countries aim to have 300 Villa Swagatam laureates by 2035, utilizing a network of residencies to
attract top French talents to India.
viii.Both countries also agreed to work on establishing a partnership on low and medium power modular
reactors or Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR).
ix.India intends to make France, through its expertise, its companies and the French Development Agency
(AFD), its preferred partner in successfully achieving urban transition.
x.Naval Group and India’s Mazgon Dockyard Ltd signed an agreement for the construction of three additional
submarines under the P-75 programme
• This is a part of extension of the Indo-French partnership to explore ambitious submarine projects.
Others:
India, France committed to eliminate single use plastic products pollution, intensify maritime cooperation in
Indo-Pacific, enhance cooperation in strategic areas, space, science, sustainable development, deepening

cooperation in digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, startup, AI, increase cooperation to end cross-border
terrorism.
Click Here for Full Official Document
List of Outcomes: MoUs and Letter of Intents (LoI)
Documents Concluded Type
Institutional Cooperation
LoI between New National Museum and Cooperation on Museology LoI
LoI between Prasar Bharati and France Media Monde LoI
Cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies
between MeitY and French Ministry of Economy MoU
Technical Cooperation between Direction-Générale d’Aviation Civile, France and Airports
Authority of India in the field of Civil Aviation MoU
Agreement between Invest India and Business France MoU
Cooperation in the area of Space
Implementing
India-France joint Earth Observation mission TRISHNA Implementing Arrangement Arrangement
Implementing
Maritime Domain Awareness short-term programme Implementing Arrangement Arrangement
Agreement on Conjunction Analysis and Evaluation Service: Alerts and Recommendations
(CAESAR) and use of Exert Modules of JAVA for Assessment of Conjunction (JAC) software Agreement
Joint Declaration between ISRO and CNES Concerning Joint Developments in the field of
Launchers Joint Declaration
Scientific Cooperation
LoI between India and France for Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine LoI
Agreement between the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES), Chennai and Instiut Français de Recherche pour l’exploitation de la
Mer(IFREMER) MoU
Cooperation in Strategic Areas
Head of Agreement (HoA) between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and M/s Total Energies
Gas and Power Ltd (Total Energies) to establish a long-term LNG Sale and Purchase
Agreement (SPA) Agreement
NSIL and Arianespace intent to collaborate in commercial launch services LoI
Click Here for Full List
PM Narendra Modi becomes 1st Indian PM to be conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
PM Narendra Modi has become the first Indian PM to have been conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion
of Honour, France’s highest civilian and military honour, by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee
Palace in Paris, France.
About Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour:
i.The Legion of Honour, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, is divided into five classes: Chevalier
(Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer), and Grand-croix (Grand
Cross).
ii.Features of Grand Cross: The ribbon is red, and the badge features a five-armed Maltese asterisk on an oak
and laurel wreath.
iii.While membership is typically restricted to French nationals, foreigners can receive the honor for
supporting France or during high-level state.

Awards and honors bestowed on the PM Narendra Modi by other nations, previously:
• Order of the Nile by Egypt in June 2023
• Companion of the Order of Logohu by Papua New Guinea in May 2023
• Companion of the Order of Fiji in May 2023
• Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023
• Order of the Druk Gyalpo by Bhutan in 2021
• Legion of Merit by the US Government in 2020
• King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain in 2019
• Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin by Maldives in 2019
• St. Andrew Award from Russia in 2019
• Order of Zayed Award from the UAE in 2019
• Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award in 2018
• State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan from Afghanistan in 2016
• Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud from Saudi Arabia in 2016
PM meeting with meeting with the President of the Senate of France
PM Narendra Modi met Gerard Larcher, President of French Senate where Indian side highlighted the
significance of shared values of ‘Democracy, Freedom and Equality’.
• Their discussions were focused on a areas including India’s G20 (Group of Twenty) priorities,
democratic values in technology usage and cooperation between the two Upper Houses.
• Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
Presents exchanged between both the leaders:
i.PM Narendra Modi gifted a ‘sandalwood sitar’ to French President Emmanuel Macron. This unique replica of
a musical instrument is an art of sandalwood carving that has been practised in Southern India for centuries.
• It carries images of Goddess Saraswati, holding the musical instrument called the Sitar (Veena), the
Goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning, as well as the image of Lord
Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
• It is illustrated with peacocks – the national bird of India and embellished with intricate carvings
that reflect the myriad motifs from Indian culture.
ii.He gifted a hand-knitted silk Kashmiri carpet was the gift of Modi’s choice for French National Assembly
president Yael Braun-Pivet.
iii.He presented a sandalwood hand-carved elephant Ambavari to Gerard Larcher, president of the French
Senate.
iv.Pochampally silk ikat in a sandalwood box was presented to France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron by the
Indian PM.
• It has its roots in Pochampally town in Telangana, and renowned for its intricate designs and vibrant
colours.
v.Marble inlay work table was presented to French PM Elisabeth Borne. Marble Inlay Work’ showcased
intricate artwork done on marble, using semi-precious stones. The base marble is found in Makrana, a town in
Rajasthan, famous for high-quality marble.
France’s gift to Indian PM:
i.French President Emmanuel Macron gifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi a framed facsimile of a 1916
photograph of a Parisian presenting flowers to a Sikh officer and a replica of the Charlemagne chessmen, dating
back to the 11th Century.
ii.Macron also gifted Modi a series of novels – A la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time) – by
Marcel Proust published between 1913 and 1927 and considered the most important works of French
literature of the early 20th century.

About France:
President– Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister– Élisabeth Borne
Capital– Paris
Currency– Euro
Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to UAE

On July 15, 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, officially visited Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates (UAE). This mark’s his 5th visit to UAE since 2015.
He was welcomed by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the
airport and a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour were accorded to Modi.
• During his visit, PM Modi met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of
the UAE, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Here are the visit highlights:
PM meeting with Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, President-designate of CoP28
During the visit, the Indian PM met Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, President-designate of CoP28 (Conference of the Parties
to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Group CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Abu Dhabi
National Oil Company.
Key Points:
i.The discussions took place on the forthcoming COP-28 of UNFCCC
(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) under
UAE’s Presidency where Indian side committed its full support to
UAE for its COP-28 Presidency.
ii.The PM highlighted India’s efforts and initiatives to address
climate change, including International SolarAlliance, Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, International Year of Millets and
Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).
iii.The discussions also covered energy cooperation between India and UAE.
RBI, CBUAE sign pacts to promote use of INR, UAE dirham for cross-border transactions
During the visit, two agreements were inked between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Bank of UAE
(CBUAE) to facilitating seamless cross border transactions and payments, and foster greater economic
cooperation between the two countries.
Signatories:
The agreements were signed by the RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, and Governor of the Central Bank of
UAE, Khaled Mohamed Balama in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, President of the UAE.
The MoU are as follows:
i.Establishing a Framework to Promote the Use of Local Currencies viz. the Indian rupee (INR) and the
UAE Dirham (AED) for cross-border transactions
This MoU aims to put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of INR and AED
bilaterally by covering covers all current account transactions and permitted capital account transactions.
• The LCSS creation facilitates domestic currency invoicing and payment for exporters and importers,
fostering an INR-AED forex market. It encourages investments and remittances between both
nations while minimizing transaction costs and settlement time, benefiting Indian residents in the
UAE.
ii.Cooperation for interlinking their payment and messaging systems
Under this, both Central Banks agreed to cooperate on the following
i. Linking their Fast Payment Systems (FPSs) – Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India with Instant Payment
Platform (IPP) of UAE for fast, convenient, safe, and cost-effective cross-border funds transfers

ii. Linking the respective Card Switches (RuPay switch and UAESWITCH) to facilitate mutual acceptance of
domestic cards and processing of card transactions.
iii. Exploring the linking of payments messaging systems i.e., Structured Financial Messaging System (SFMS) of
India with the messaging system in the UAE to facilitate bilateral financial messaging between the two
countries, bypassing the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) messaging
system.
India signs MoU with Education and Knowledge dept of Abu Dhabi for setting up IIT Delhi campus
IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Delhi inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi
Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to set up
its international campus in Abu Dhabi.
• This MoU is on the lines of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed
between the top leadership of the two countries in early 2022.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and His Excellency Sheikh Mohamed Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
Key Points:
i.IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi aims to be a research-focused campus offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and
doctoral degrees, contributing to Abu Dhabi and UAE’s research and academic ecosystem.
ii.Starting 2024, IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi will provide diverse programs in Energy and Sustainability, Artificial
Intelligence, Computer Science and Engineering, Healthcare, Mathematics and Computing, and other
disciplines. Details will be announced later. It has already initiated outreach programs for UAE school students
and plans to launch industry-focused short courses and executive programs soon.
IOC inks long term LNG import pact deals with ADNOC LNG, TotalEnergies
A Head of Agreement (HoA) was signed between India’s Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Limited to import
liquefied natural gas (LNG) from UAE’s Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Co (Adnoc) Ltd and TotalEnergies of France
on a long-term basis.
Key Points:
i.This is the first long-term deal TotalEnergies has signed with an Indian company.
ii.Also, this is the first time an Indian company has signed a long-term LNG import deal with.
iii.Under this, IOC will import 1.2 million tonnes per annum of LNG from Adnoc-LNG for 14 years starting in
2026.
• It should be noted that under Indian and UAE CEPA, UAE Govt which provides for zero customs duty
to be applied on LNG imports from UAE against an applicable customs duty of 2.5 per cent plus
surcharge.
iv.The deal with TotalEnergies is for the import of 0.8 million tonnes a year of LNG for 10 years starting in
2026.
i.State-owned Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has introduced its solar-powered
hybrid boat “Sooryamshu”, a first-of-its-kind tourist boat in Kerala, in Kochi backwaters, Kerala. The boat built
by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Solas Marine Services Group was named Sooryamshu after the Hindi
translation of “Sunbeam.”
ii.The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a host member agreement with
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish its first overseas office, an Interim Operational Hub, at Abu Dhabi
Global Market, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
President– Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Currency– UAE Dirham
Capital– Abu Dhabi

Highlights of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s 3 day visit to Malaysia from 9th to 11th July
2023
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a three-day official visit to Malaysia from 9-11 July 2023, with a focus
on further combining bilateral defence cooperation and Enhanced Strategic Partnership between India and
Malaysia.
i. During his visit, he held bilateral talks with the Defence Minister of Malaysia Mr Dato’ Seri Mohamad Hasan,
where both the ministers reviewed defence cooperation between the 2 nations.
Note: This was the first bilateral visit after the establishment of
Enhanced Strategic Partnership, which was announced during the
visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Malaysia in 2015.
India and Malaysia discussed roadmap for 4th decade of
defence cooperation
On 10th July 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his 3 day visit
to Malaysia, discussed the roadmap for the 4th Decade of India-
Malaysia Defence Cooperation with Malaysian counterpart
Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
Highlights:
i. Initiatives were discussed by both the nations to further expand bilateral defence ties, particularly focused on
identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.
ii. They acknowledged their commitment to fully implement the Enhanced Strategic Partnership based on
mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law.
iii. The Defence Ministers of the 2 nations agreed to the next Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee
(MIDCOM) meeting which is being planned in India in later 2023.
iv. Rajnath Singh highlighted the potential of the Indian defence industry with capacity and capability to
cooperate with Malaysian Armed Forces in its inventory modernisation and maintenance plans.
v. Amendment in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between India and
Malaysia signed in 1993 were approved by both the Ministers, through ‘Exchange of Letters’ (EoL).
• This amendment will act as an enabler to expand bilateral defence cooperation in the areas of
mutual interest.
• The nations agreed to establish the Sukhoi Su-30MKM Forum and the Strategic Affairs Working
Group to elevate the cooperation between the two ministries.
Rajnath Singh inaugurated HAL regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rajnath Singh inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The regional office will facilitate the defence industrial collaboration between India and Malaysia and will also
serve as a hub for the HAL’s engagement with the wider South-East Asian region and act as a window for other
Indian Defense Public Sector Units (PSUs).
Rajnath Singh unveiled the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Malaysia
Rajnath Singh unveiled the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in the presence of distinguished INA
(Indian National Army) veterans in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rajnath Singh also felicitated Second Lieutenant Sundaram, a 99-year old INA veteran, who fought alongside
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Burma border.
About Malaysia:
Capital– Kuala Lumpur
Prime Minister– Anwar Bin Ibrahim
Currency– Malaysian Ringgit

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS
BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of RBI’s 27th Financial Stability Report, June 2023
On June 28, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its half yearly publication(i.e) 27th Financial
Stability Report (FSR), June 2023, which assesses risks to financial stability and the resilience of the Indian
financial system. It reflects the collective evaluation of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and
Development Council (FSDC).
• As per it, Indian economy and the domestic financial system remain resilient despite global
headwinds. This is due to the strong macroeconomic fundamentals.
• There is continuing growth momentum, moderating inflation, narrowing current account deficit,
rising foreign exchange reserves, ongoing fiscal consolidation and a robust financial system are
setting the economy on a path of sustained growth.
Highlights:
i.According to stress test results published in the FSR, under the baseline scenario, the aggregate Capital to
Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 46 major banks is projected to slip from 17.0% (historical high) in March
2023 to 16.1% by March 2024.
• CRAR of these banks may go down to 14.7% in the medium stress scenario and to 13.3% under the
severe stress scenario by March 2024, remaining above the minimum capital requirement, including
the capital conservation buffer (CCB), of 11.5%.
Note: Stress tests assess the resilience of banks’ balance sheets to unforeseen shocks emanating from the
macroeconomic environment.
ii.The CRAR of Urban Co-Operative Banks (UCBs) rose to 16.5% in March 2023 while that of NBFCs stood at
27.5 per cent.
iii.The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) rose to 13.9% in March
2023.
iv.The Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR) rose to 74% amid strong growth in net interest income and
significant reduction in provisions.
v.The profit after tax of SCBs registered a growth of 38.4% in 2022-23.
vi.None of the 46 SCBs would breach the minimum capital requirement of 9% in the next one year, even in a
severely stressed situation, although 7 SCBs may fall short of the minimum capital inclusive of the CCB (Capital
Conservation Buffer).
vii.Despite the recent step up in bank credit growth, India’s credit-to-GDP (Gross Domestic Product) gap
remains negative since March 2013, reflecting low credit absorption in India relative to advanced and emerging
market peers.
Banks’ bad loans at 10-year low
As per the report, the Bad loans in the banking sector have reached their lowest levels in a decade. SCBs’ Gross
Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio continued its downtrend and fell to a 10-year low of 3.9% in March 2023
and the net non-performing assets (NNPA) ratio declined to 1% of total loans, the lowest figure since June
2011.
• It indicates that banks have been actively setting aside provisions to cover bad loans
Key Points:
i.A further decline in bad loans is also expected by March 2024 under RBI’s baseline stress test scenario.
• GNPA ratio of all SCBs may improve to 3.6% by March 2024 under the baseline scenario from the
March 2023 level of 3.9%.

• If, however, the macroeconomic environment worsens to a medium or severe stress scenario, the
GNPA ratio may rise to 4.1% and 5.1%, respectively.
ii.The system-level GNPAs ratio and NNPAs ratio have sharply fallen from a high of 11.5% and 6.1% in March
2018, respectively.
Deposit claims worth Rs 751.8cr settled in FY23
As per the report, the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) settled claims of Rs 751.8
crore during FY23.
• With the present deposit insurance limit of Rs 5 lakh, 98.1% of the deposit accounts (estimated
three billion) and 46.3% of the assessable deposits (Rs 181.14 trillion) were insured.
• In absolute terms, the insured deposits amounted to Rs 83.89 trillion as of March 31, 2023.
Key Points:
i.The deposit insurance premium received by DICGC grew 9.7% (year-on-year/y-o-y) to Rs 21,381 crore during
FY23. Of this, the share of the commercial banks was 94%.
ii.The Deposit Insurance Fund(DIF) with DICGC rose 15.5% y-o-y during FY23 to reach Rs 1.70 trillion on
March 31, 2023.
iii.In FY22, DICGC had settled aggregate claims of Rs 8,516.6 crore under different channels. Of this, the largest,
of Rs 3,791.6 crore, was to Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB) for paying the depositors of the erstwhile Punjab
and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank.
States’ financial profile better in FY23; Debt stays High
The consolidated Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) of the states and Union Territories (UTs) declined from 4.1% of
GDP in FY21 to 2.8% in FY22 and FY23. This shows a sharp improvement in the fiscal position of the states in
FY23.
• This decline is driven by decline in revenue expenditure, and increase in the states’ tax revenue.
• For FY24, the states have budgeted a GFD-GDP ratio of 3.2%, which is significantly lower than the
indicative target of 3.5% set by the Central government.
Key Points:
i.The Capital Expenditure (capex) of the states had reached 2.5% of GDP in FY22 and remained at the same
level in FY23.
• It is budgeted to increase to 3.2% of GDP in FY24.
ii.Revenue expenditure declined from 14.2% of GDP in FY22 to 13.5% in FY23 (provisional). This has resulted
in improvement in the quality of expenditure.
iii.The revenue expenditure to capital outlay (RECO) ratio for the states has improved from 7.1 during 2020-21
to the Budget estimate of 5.1 in 2023-24.
iv.State’s outstanding liabilities have moderated after reaching a 15-year high of 31 % of GDP at the end March
2021 to 27.9% of GDP by the end of March 2023.
• However, it is still higher than the 20% limit recommended by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget
Management (FRBM) Review Committee (2018) and warrants further consolidation.
RBI floating rate bonds interest rate hiked to 8.05% from July 1, 2023
The RBI hiked the interest rate on its floating rate savings bonds, 2020 (Taxable)/FRSB 2020 (T) to 8.05% for
period July 01, 2023 to December 31, 2023 and payable on January 01, 2024. The next interest rate review for
RBI floating rate bonds is now due on January 1, 2024.
Features of RBI’s FRSB 2020 (T)
RBI launched the floating rate bonds in lieu of the earlier withdrawn 7.75% taxable bonds. Its key features are:
• Resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) can invest in these bonds.
• The minimum investment starts at Rs 1,000 with no limit on the maximum amount.
• The bonds have a fixed tenure of seven year. Premature withdrawals are allowed for individual
investors whose age is 60 years and above, subject to minimum lock-in period depending on the age
of the bond holder.
• The interest amount is paid out half-yearly on January 1 and July 1 every year.

RBI injects Rs 75,000 crore into the banking system as liquidity tightens due to tax outflows
In June 2023, RBI conducted the Rs 75,000 crore 4-day variable rate repo(VRR) auction to address the expected
stress on liquidity ahead of goods and service tax outflows. The RBI received bids worth Rs 75,695 crore but
accepted only Rs 75,004 crore at a 6.51 percent cut-off rate.
• A repo auction is conducted by RBI to inject liquidity in the banking system, when it turns into
deficit mode or is expected to tighten.
• Repo rate is the interest rate which the central bank, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), lends
money to commercial banks against government securities as collateral. It is a tool used by the
central bank to manage liquidity in the economy.
• In a repo transaction, the banks sell government securities to the central bank with an agreement to
repurchase them at a later date, usually the next day, at a slightly higher price, which includes the
interest cost. The difference between the selling price and the repurchase price represents the
interest cost or repo rate.
RBI upgrades info management system, launches next generation data warehouse CIMS
The RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launched the Reserve Bank’s next generation data warehouse, viz., the
Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) during the 17th Annual Statistics Day Conference on June
30, 2023.
• The conference was held as a part of the ‘National Statistics Day’ celebrations in the memory of
Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, who made invaluable contributions to the Indian
statistical system and economic planning.
Key Points:
i.The system will first be used by commercial banks, followed by urban cooperative banks (UCBs) and Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
ii.The CIMS will provide more data for public use and support online statistical analysis.
iii.It will also reduce regulatory compliance burden for regulated entities as reporting of data will become
easier.
iv.The Reserve Bank established its first enterprise-wide data warehouse, the Central Database Management
System (CDBMS) in 2002.
India May 2023 services exports rise 7.7% to USD 27.06 billion: RBI
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provisional data on July 4, 2023, India’s services exports in May
2023 increased by 7.7% compared to May 2022, reaching USD ($)27.06 billion while imports rose 2% to USD
15.5 billion.
• The government’s initial estimates, released in mid-June, had indicated that services exports
amounted to USD 25.3 billion, with services imports at USD13.53 billion.
It’s important to note that the RBI’s figures are provisional and subject to further updates which are published
quarterly as part of India’s overall balance-of-payments data.
Education financing startup Propelld gets NBFC licence from RBI

Education financing startup, Propelld has procured a non-banking financial company (NBFC) license from the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to disburse loans worth Rs 2000 Cr by Financial Year(FY)24 and to bolster its
direct lending proposition.
• Previously, Propelld provided lending solutions by partnering with NBFCs but now the new license
will help the company to lend directly along with functioning as a loan service provider (LSP).
With the NBFC Licence, Propelld will provide tailored loan products, flexible repayment options and
competitive interest rates to its customers, particularly in tier two and tier three cities.

RBI cancels licenses of Malkapur Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd & Shushruti Souharda
Sahakara Bank Niyamita
On July 5, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the banking licenses of two co-operative banks
viz. Malkapur Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd(Malkapur UCB) based in Buldhana, Maharashtra, and Shushruti
Souharda Sahakara Bank Niyamita(SSS Bank) based in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• In this regard, these two co-operative banks ceased to carry on banking business as defined in
Section 5(b) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 with effect from July 5,
2023.
However, on liquidation, every depositor is entitled to receive a deposit insurance claim amount of his/her
deposits up to Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), subject to the
provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961.
Note:
i.As per the data submitted by the Malkapur UCB, 97.60% of the depositors are entitled to receive the full
amount of their deposits from DICGC.
• DICGC has already paid Rs 496.98 crore of the total insured deposits under the provisions of Section
18A of the DICGC Act, 1961.
ii.As per the data submitted by the SSS Bank, 91.92% of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount
of their deposits from DICGC.
• As on May 31, 2023, DICGC has already paid Rs 54.16 crore of the total insured deposits.
Reasons behind the cancellation of licenses of both banks:
i.The banks do not have adequate capital and earning prospects which means they do not comply with the
provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949.
ii.They have failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) (d) and
22(3)(e) read with Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949.
iii.The continuance of the banks are prejudicial to the interests of its depositors as they are unable to pay its
present depositors in full.
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
IBA sets up 5-member group to implement RBI committee’s recommendations on ARCs

Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has formed a five-member working group for the Implementation of
recommendations from the Reserve Bank of India’s committee on the working of Asset Reconstruction
Companies (ARCs).
• The primary focus of the working group is to conduct a thorough review of assignment agreements
and trust deed templates related to the acquisition of distressed assets by ARCs from lenders.
• The aim of this review is to update these templates to align with the evolving changes and
expectations within the ARC sector, enabling them to meet the growing demands of the financial
industry.
Members:
1. Ajit Kumar, MD and CEO, Secondary Loan Market Association (SLMA)
2. Hari Hara Mishra, CEO, Association of ARCs in India
3. MythiliBalasubramanian, Executive Director, Edelweiss ARC;
4. Dharmendra Pali, senior official from State Bank of India
5. AnupamaRanade, senior official from ICICI Bank
RBI’s action on Sudarshan Sen Committee:
i. The formation of the working group follows the establishment of an RBI committee chaired by Sudarshan

Sen, a former Executive Director of RBI. The committee was tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of
the functioning of ARCs, and its report was released on November 2, 2021.
ii. The RBI has instructed the IBA and SLMA to form a Group to promptly implement the committee’s
recommendations, in consultation with lenders and ARCs.
Role of IBA & Secondary Loan Market Association (SLMA):
The central bank has directed the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and Secondary Loan Market Association
(SLMA) to proactively implement the committee’s recommendations without delay. The implementation
should be done in close coordination with the lenders and Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), ensuring
their active involvement in the process.
i. IBA is anticipated to furnish lenders with a standardized procedural document to guarantee certainty and
transparency during their auctions.
ii. To ensure transparency and consistency in the sale of distressed assets (non-performing loans), there are
plans to potentially create a dedicated online platform. The infrastructure developed by SLMA could be utilized
for this purpose.
• In order to streamline documentation procedures, the Secondary Loan Market Association (SLMA)
will create standardized templates for documents.
About Asset Restructuring Company(ARC):
i.The ARC framework plays a vital role in the financial sector by allowing originators to focus on lending
activities while transferring distressed financial assets (non-performing loans) to ARCs.
ii.ARCs act as primary agents for recovery after acquiring these assets. The framework also aims to assist
borrowers in revitalising their businesses, protecting viable and productive assets, and ensuring better returns
for banks and financial institutions from stressed assets.
RBI allows Card Network Portability from Oct 1, 2023

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a ‘Draft Circular – Arrangements with Card Networks for issue of
Debit, Credit and Prepaid Cards’ empowering the debit, credit, and prepaid card users in India with Card
network portability w.e.f. October 1st, 2023.
• This means users can port their card network just like one can port switch/port mobile service
providers while retaining the same phone number.
• The Card network portability will keep their existing card accounts, balances, and credit history
intact.
• The RBI has invited opinions from various stakeholders for the same up to August 4, 2023.
This decision by RBI has been taken in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 18 read with Section
10(2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007), by ensuring the interest of payment
system and public interest.
What is under the new arrangement?
i.Card issuers are prohibited from making arrangements or agreements with card networks that restrict their
ability to utilize the services of other card networks.
ii.Card issuers are required to issue cards on multiple card networks.
iii.Card issuers must offer eligible customers the choice to select any one of the multiple card networks.
Customers can exercise this option either during card issuance or at a later time.
The above requirements should be adhered by the Card issuers and card networks during existing agreements
at the time of amendment or renewal thereof, and fresh agreements executed from the date of this circular.
Key Points:
i.The Authorised card networks in India are American Express Banking Corp., Diners Club International Ltd.,
MasterCard Asia/ Pacific Pte. Ltd., National Payments Corporation of India – Rupay, and Visa Worldwide
Pte. Limited.
ii.The RBI proposal will make it safer and easier for consumers to access, use and manage credit

iii.This proposed regulation will enhance flexibility and competition in the credit card market, thus, stimulate
innovation and drive improvements across the industry.
iv.According to RBI data, credit card outstanding has soared to Rs 2 lakh crore, a rise of 29.7% on a year-on-
year (yo-y) basis.
• Banks have issued 8.65 crore credit cards, as of April 2023.
• Monthly credit payments are now over Rs one lakh crore every month, with card payments touching
Rs 1.32 lakh crore in the month of April 2023.
What is the current scenario?
Debit or credit cards have always featured the logos of Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, or RuPay. However,
individuals have had no control over which card network provider they could choose. This is because the bank
has been choosing the card network provider. But this new mandate by RBI will alter this situation.
i.According to RBI Monetary Policy Report (April 2023), credit growth continued to outpace deposit growth in
financial year 2022-23 (FY23) at an eleven-year high, despite banks fully transmitting lending rates linked to
external benchmarks [250 basis points (bps)], which now account for nearly half of floating-rate loans.
ii.RBI has granted a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence to the Neobanking platform Jupiter
enabling the latter to scale up its lending business.
i. It was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to
Mumbai in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by
the Government of India.
iv.Thus, 2023 marks the 75th year of public ownership of the Reserve Bank and its emergence as a national
institution.
RBI cancelled Licence of 2 co-operative banks, Harihareshwar Sahakari Bank and

Sri Sharada Mahila Cooperative Bank
On 11th July 2023, the Reserve bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of two cooperative
banks, Sri Sharada Mahila Co-operative Bank, Tumkur, Karnataka and Harihareshwar Sahakari Bank,
Satara in Maharashtra.
• The licence were cancelled by RBI under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as these
cooperative banks do not have adequate capital and earning prospects and have failed to comply
with the requirements of the banking regulation act.
• RBI has asked these two lenders to cease banking business from 11 July 2023 in two separate
statements.
Deposits in the 2 banks:
i. About 99.96% of the depositors of HarihareshwarSahakari Bank are entitled to receive the full amount of
their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
• As on March 8 2023, DICGC has already paid Rs57.24 crore of the total insured deposits to the
depositors of the Harihareshwar Sahakari Bank.
ii. About 97.82% of the depositors Sri SharadaMahila Cooperative Bank are entitled to receive full amount of
their deposits from DICGC.
• As on 12 June 2023, DICGC has already paid Rs 15.06 crore of the total insured deposits based on the
willingness received from the concerned depositors of the Sri Sharada Mahila Cooperative Bank.
RBI Statement:
i. AS pre RBI, on liquidation, every depositor of these 2 banks would be entitled to receive deposit insurance
claim amount of his/her deposits of up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from DICGC.
ii. Consequent to the cancellation of their licences, the banks have been prohibited from conducting the

business of ‘banking’ which includes, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits, among other things.
iii. The continuance of these banks was prejudicial to the interests of its depositors. With their present financial
position, these banks would be unable to pay their present depositors in full.
Established on- April 1, 1935
Governor- Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors- Swaminathan Jankiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M Rajeshwar Rao and T Rabi Sankar
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
India needs Average Annual growth rate of 7.6% for 25 years to Become Developed Nation:
RBI Paper
According to the article titled “India @ 100” published in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Bulletin July 2023
published by RBI’s Economic Research Department, India needs to achieve an average annual real Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 7.6% over the next 25 years to become a developed nation by 2047-48.
This would require raising the current per capita GDP from USD2,500 to USD22,000, an increase of 8.8 times.
• This paper, authored by Harendra Behera, V. Dhanya, Kunal Priyadarshi, and Sapna Goel, is included
in the RBI’s July 2023 issue of its monthly Bulletin, released on July 17, 2023. Click Here for full
Monthly Bulletin
• Please note that this study does not represent the official view of the RBI.
Note: On India’s 75th year of independence (August 15, 2022), the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi
expressed his vision for the next 25 years to turn India into a developed nation by 2047.
Basis of Assessment:
There is no unique criterion to define a country as ‘developed’. However, as per World Bank (WB) standards, a
country with a per capita income of US$ 13,205 or more in 2022-23 is classified as a high-income
country. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classifies countries into Advanced Economies
(AEs) and Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) based on factors like per capita GDP, export
diversification, and global financial integration.
• Since Per Capita Income (PCI) is the only common criterion, and the IMF doesn’t specify a
threshold for AEs, the lowest recorded per capita income among AEs in 2022 (US$18,427 for
Croatia) is used as a benchmark in this article. Also, the analysis assumes an Average Global
Inflation Rate of 2% until 2047-48.
Highlights:
i.As per WB standards, India’s per capita income must be more than $21,664 by 2047.
• To achieve this target, the required real GDP compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for India
needs to be 7.6% during 2023-24 to 2047-48;
ii.As per IMF standards, India’s per capita nominal GDP must be more than US$ 30,351.
• To achieve this target, the real GDP CAGR required for India should be 9.1% during 2023-24 to
2047-48.
iii.So as per above, India’s per capita GDP in nominal terms would have to record a CAGR of 10.6 (9.1%) to
become a high income country.
iv.It should be noted that the best India achieved over a period of consecutive 25 years in the past is a CAGR
of 8.1% during 1993-94 to 2017-18.
What does India need to do to become a Developed nation?
i.India’s industrial sector should increase its share from the current 25.6% to 35% by 2047-48, and
manufacturing should occupy 25% share in total value added.
• This would require the industrial sector to grow at a nominal CAGR of 13.4%.
ii.By sustaining a 13.3% growth rate in exports of goods and services (nominal), India can enhance its
comparative advantage in services exports. This would increase the share of goods and services exports in GDP
from 22.8% in 2022-23 to 30.5% by 2047-48.

iii.The agriculture sector would have to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% and the services sector by 13% in the coming
25 years to have a sectoral share of 5% and 60%, respectively, by 2047-48.
iv.India needs to adopt a multipronged approach to attain a sustainable path to development that includes
structural and comprehensive reforms across sectors, investment in infrastructure, bolstering logistics,
digitalizing the economy, and upskilling the labour force.
v.A Collaboration between the government, private sector, civil society, and citizens is also required.
vi.There is a requirement of upskilling of younger generation in the newage manufacturing and services sectors
Growth Drivers for India:
The Services sector will continue as the main driver of economic growth, however, India must also focus on
widening its manufacturing base, and rebalance its economic structure by strengthening its industrial sector.
i.India, which presently holds the G20 Presidency, has entrusted IMF and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to
jointly prepare a technical paper on cryptocurrency assets. This technical paper could be used to formulate an
all-inclusive policy to govern crypto assets.
ii.According to the RBI data, India’s Bank credit increased by 15% year-on-year (YoY) in the Financial year
2022-23 (FY23), against 9.6% YoY in 2021-22 (FY22).
i.It was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to
Mumbai in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by
the Government of India.
institution.
RBI cancels Licence of United India Co-operative Bank Limited

On 19th July 2023, Reserve Bank of India(RBI) cancelled the licence of United India Co-operative Bank Limited,
Nagina( Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh) as the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects to pay its
present depositors in full.
• The bank also does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and bank has failed to comply
with the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) (d) and 22(3)(e) read with
Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The bank is prohibited from engaging in any ‘banking’ activities, including the acceptance and
repayment of deposits, as defined in Section 5(b) in conjunction with Section 56 of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
Liquidation:
Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative in Uttar Pradesh to initiate the winding-up process and appoint a
liquidator for the bank.
i. The RBI reassured depositors that they will receive insurance claims for their deposits, subject to the
monetary ceiling of 5 lakhs from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), in
accordance with the DICGC Act, 1961.
ii. 99.98% of depositors of the bank are eligible to receive the full amount of their deposits from DICGC.
About Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (DICGC) is one of the five subsidiaries of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Chairman – Michael Debabrata Patra
Established under – Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961
Established in – 1978

RBI Sets Restrictions on Bengaluru based National Co-operative Bank
On 24th July 2023, Reserve Bank of India(RBI) imposed business limitations on Bengaluru’s one of the oldest
banks, National Co-operative Bank Limited because of its poor declining financial condition.
• Starting from July 24, 2023, the business restrictions will be in place for a duration of six months and
are subject to review.
• The restrictions are imposed under the provision of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Depositors will be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount up to Rs 5 lakh from the
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation(DICGC)
Restriction imposed:
i.Withdrawal limit is capped at Rs.50,000 per account
ii.The RBI also prohibited the bank from renewing loans, engaging in investments, creating liabilities,
processing payments, or accepting fresh deposits.
Note: The imposition of business limits does not lead to the termination of the banking license. The bank will
continue to operate within these limits until its financial status improves.
Additional info:
i.In May 2023, the National Co-operative Bank was levied with a monetary penalty by the RBI, citing regulatory
infractions.
• The bank charged fixed penalties (rather than penalties appropriate to the extent of the failure) for
customers’ failing to maintain a minimum balance in their savings bank accounts.
ii.In January 2020, the RBI had conducted an inspection in Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank and identified
discrepancies in its loan book and an escalation in non-performing assets (NPAs), leading to the imposition of
restrictions on the bank.
About National Co-operative Bank:
i.The bank was founded in 1975 by TR Shamanna
ii.Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka
iii. Chairman – H C Krishna
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI)
Governor – Shaktikanta Das (25th)
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra(earlier Kolkatta, West Bengal)
Established on – April 1, 1935
Established under – Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
RBI Includes S.Korea’s ‘NongHyup Bank’ in the list of Scheduled Banks under Schedule II of RBI
Act, 1934
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a notification addressing all the banks regarding the inclusion
of ‘NongHyup Bank’ in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• As per the RBI notification, NongHyup Bank has been officially include in the Second Schedule of the
RBI Act 1934 and published in the Gazette of India (Part III – Section 4).
• The notification informs all the banks about the addition of NongHyup Bank to the regulated list.
Scheduled Banks:
i.Scheduled banks are those banks that are listed under Schedule II of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.To qualify as a scheduled bank, the bank’s paid-up capital and collected funds must be at least Rs. 5 lakh.
iii.These banks are eligible for low interest loans from the RBI and also have membership in clearing-houses.
About NongHyup Bank (NH Bank):
i.NongHyup Bank (NH Bank), established in 2012, is a commercial bank headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
ii.NH Bank is a 100% subsidiary of the NongHyup Financial Group Inc and it is owned by National Agricultural
Cooperative Federation (NACF), an umbrella organization for Korean agricultural cooperatives founded in
1961.
iv.NH Bank entered Indian market in 2016 and opened its 1st liaison office in Gurgaon, Haryana to strengthen

the competitiveness of the agriculture sector.
v.In 2022, it had started its commercial operations in India, following the in-principle approval from the RBI for
establishing its first branch in India.
vi.On 13th July 2023, NH Bank opened its first branch in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Note: NH Bank became the 6th Korean bank, conducting business in India. Others Korean banks are: Shinhan
Bank, KEB Hana, KB Kookmin, Woori and Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK).
SEBI
Highlights of SEBI Board Meeting: Reduction of public issue listing timelines; Board
representation for retail investors under REITS/InvITs
On June 28, 2023, the board of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved a series of decisions
such as the reduction of public issue listing timelines, the introduction of regulations for non-convertible
debt securities(NCDs), and strengthening investor grievance handling mechanisms to improve the market
efficiency and investor protection.
-Reduction of public issue listing timelines
i.The board has approved the proposal for reducing the time period for listing of shares in a public Issue from
the existing six days to three days, from the date of issue closure (T Day).
ii.The revised timeline of T+3 days would be made applicable in two phases.
• Voluntary for all public issues opening on or after September 01, 2023
• Mandatory on or after December 01, 2023.
iii.The reduced timeline is expected to benefit issuers, allottees, subscribers, and stakeholders by expediting
the process and curbing kerb trading.
-Board representation for retail investors under REITS/InvITs
SEBI board also approves the amendments to the SEBI infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) Regulations,
2014 and SEBI real estate investment trusts (REITs) Regulations, 2014 to provide nomination rights to
unitholders holding 10% or more of the total outstanding units of the InvIT/REIT, either individually or
collectively, on the board of directors of the Investment Manager/Manager.
SEBI approved a provision that ensures opinions of retail unitholders are fairly represented in the decisions
taken by InvITs and REITs.
Key Points:
i.The sponsor who sets up the InvIT/ REIT, monetizes its assets by transferring them to the InvIT/ REIT and
exerts control over the decisions of the InvIT/ REIT through a significant shareholding in the Investment
Manager/Manager.
ii.Currently, SEBI Regulations mandate the sponsor to hold a minimum of 15% units for a period of at least 3
years from the date of listing of units.
iii.The board has also approved the sponsor of InvIT/ REIT “be required to hold a certain minimum unitholding
on a reducing scale for the entire life of the InvIT/ REIT. The mandatory minimum unitholding shall be locked-
in and be unencumbered.
iv.To provide an additional exit option for the sponsor of InvIT/ REIT, the SEBI board approved the proposal
for introduction of self-sponsored investment manager/manager or an investment manager/manager who also
takes on the responsibilities of the sponsor of InvIT/ REIT.
-Additional disclosures from certain FPIs
i.SEBI has decided to mandate enhanced disclosures from certain class of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs),
including furnishing granular level details about ownership and economic interests.
• The new norms will be applicable for FPIs that concentrate holdings in a single corporate group.
ii.Under the proposed framework, FPIs with concentrated single group equity exposures or significant equity
holdings will be mandated to make additional granular disclosures.

iii.Such FPIs will be required to provide granular level disclosures regarding ownership, economic interest, and
control rights on a full look–through basis.
iv.Applicability and Excemption:
• Thus the FPIs holding more than 50% of their equity Asset Under Management (AUM) in a single
corporate group or FPIs that individually, or along with their investor group hold more than Rs
25,000 crore in the Indian markets would be required to comply with the new requirements.
• The funds owned by the government, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and public retail funds
will be exempted, said the market regulator.
-Better redressal for investor grievances
i.SEBI strengthened the investor-grievance mechanism by integrating the SEBI Complaint Redressal System
(SCORES) with the online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanism.
ii.SEBI plans to reduce timelines and introduce auto-routing of the complaint to concerned regulated entities
and auto-escalation of complaintsin case of non-adherence to the prescribed timelines by the regulated entity.
iii.2 levels of Review:
• SEBI is also providing two levels of review in which at the first review will be by the designated
body if investor is dissatisfied with resolution provided by concerned regulated entity.
• The second review will be by SEBI if the investor is still dissatisfied after the first review.
-Listing and voluntary delisting of NCDs
i.SEBI board has approved the introduction of provisions related to the listing of non-convertible debt
securities and voluntary delisting of NCDs. ‘
ii.If an entity with listed debt securities has outstanding unlisted NCDs as on December 31, 2023, the entity
would now have the option to list them, but it would not be mandatory to do so.
iii.Also, entities having privately placed, listed debt securities wherein the number of debt security holders is
less than 200, will be eligible to delist their debt securities under this framework.
-Direct participation by clients in Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation (LPCC)
i.Since timely availability of funds and securities is critical in a repo market, direct participation of both
borrowers and lenders can widen the market.
ii.The SEBI board has approved the proposal to additionally facilitate participation by entities desiring direct
participation (not through a clearing member) in repo transactions in corporate bonds of the Limited Purpose
Clearing Corporation (LPCC).
Note: In September 2020, the SEBI board approved the proposal to set up LPCC for clearing and settling repo
transactions in corporate debt securities.
-SEBI Annual Report
The board also considered and approved the SEBI Annual Report 2022-23. the report will be submitted to the
Government of India in compliance with section 18(2) of the SEBI Act 1992.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India:
The SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 and it was established as a statutory body
in the 1992.
Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch
SEBI mandates Certification for ESG rating providers within 6 months; Tightens Disclosure
Norms for Listed Firms
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated that all entities providing ESG
(Environmental, Social, Governance) rating services to Indian entities to get a certification from it within 6
months w.e.f. July 3, 2023.
• A person acting as an ESG rating may continue to do so for a period of six months from the date of
this regulation coming into force.

This information by SEBI is issued in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11 (1) of
SEBI Act, 1992 read with the provisions of Regulation 20 of SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations,
1999, to protect the interest of investors and to regulate the securities market.
Key Points:
i.To render their ESG rating services, institutions will have to be incorporated as a company under the
Companies Act, 2013, with ESG marked as the main object under their Memorandum of Association (MoA).
ii.That institution will have to disclose their methodologies for all ratings on their website, and declare the
weightage given to all ESG factors in the final score.
iii.Foreign entities too will have to attain certification from the SEBI. The foreign ESG rating provider will need
a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience before they can render services to Indian businesses.
iv.This new provision will led to transparency and reasoning, and help in minimizing biases as Indian
companies tend to get worse ratings compared to their European counterparts without complete and proper
explanation
Note: ESG Rating Providers are regulated under the provisions of SEBI
(Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 (CRAR Regulations as amended with effect from
July 4, 2023) that inter-alia prescribe guidelines for registration of ERPs, general obligations of
ERPs, manner of inspection and code of conduct applicable to ERPs.
Click Here for Official Circular
SEBI tightens disclosure norms for listed firms
SEBI has also tightened the disclosure norms for listed companies with strict timelines and introduced criteria
for determining the materiality of events w.e.f. July 15, 2023.
• This information by SEBI
is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under sections 11(1) and 11A of the SEBI Act,
1992 and regulation 101 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,
2015/LODR Regulations, 2015.
What is under the new framework?
i.Listed companies must reveal family settlement agreements that can affect their management and control to
stock exchanges. If the listed entity is involved in the agreement, it must be disclosed within 12 hours, and if it’s
not involved, within 24 hours.
ii.Disclosure time for important events or information, such as acquisitions, Scheme of Arrangement, share
consolidation, and securities buyback, has been reduced from 24 hours to 12 hours.
iii.Decisions made in a board meeting must be disclosed within 30 minutes after the meeting ends.
iv.If the information doesn’t originate from the listed entity, it should be disclosed within 24 hours of the event.
v.In case a company’s board grants in-principle approval or permission to explore (which isn’t final approval),
it doesn’t need to be disclosed.
Click Here for Official Notification
i.SEBI decided to establish the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) in the form of an
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with an initial corpus of Rs 3,000 crore to act as a backdrop facility for the
purchase of investment-grade corporate debt securities during times of stress.
ii.Emkay Global Financial Services has received in-principle approval from the Investment Management
Department of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for sponsoring a Mutual Fund (MF) business
and incorporate an Asset Management Company (AMC).
About Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
The SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 and it was established as a statutory body
in the 1992.
Chairperson -Madhabi Puri Buch

BSE, NSE & SEBI allowed Micro-Cap Stocks under ESM to trade on All Days
On July 18, 2023, a joint discussion of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) Securities
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) decided to lift trading curbs on micro-cap stocks that come under
Enhanced Surveillance Measures (ESM).
• The revised framework is applicable from July 24, 2023.
• This will ease rules for trading in stocks that remain under ESM framework and also enhance their
liquidity.
Note: The revised framework comes days after BSE-listed Mercury EV Tech had moved Securities Appellate
Tribunal (SAT) to challenge the ESM framework. The next hearing was scheduled for July 25, 2023.
Changes in ESM Framework:
i.The rule of 100% margin remains unchanged.
ii.Now, the stocks under ESM Stage-II are allowed trade-for-trade (T2T) settlement on daily basis (trading
days) from Monday with +/- 2% price band under Periodic Call Auction. Earlier, these were allowed to trade
only once a week with Periodic Call Auction.
Table showing existing Rules and New Rules:
Stage Existing Surveillance Action Revised Surveillance Action
Applicable margin shall be 100% from T+2 day.
AND Trade for Trade settlement with price band of
I 5% OR 2% (In case scrip is already in 2% band) No Change
Trade for Trade settlement with price band of 2%. Trade for Trade settlement AND 100% Margin
AND Trading permitted once a week with Periodic AND Trading permitted with +/- 2% price band on
II Call Auction. all trading days under Periodic Call Auction
What is ESM?
From June 5, 2023, BSE and NSE had introduced ESM framework for companies/stocks with a market
capitalisation below Rs 500 crore to curb excess volatility by monitoring and controlling the price fluctuations
of small-cap companies, and to ensure stability and transparency in the market.
• The parameters for short-listing the securities under the ESM framework include high-low price
variation and close-to-close price variation.
• Both BSE and NSE have jointly implemented ESM.
About National Stock Exchange (NSE):
Managing Director & CEO– Ashishkumar Chauhan
SEBI Expands Scope of ESG Investing, Allows Six New Strategies for Mutual Funds
On 20 July 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI), the regulator of the securities market,
through a circular allowed Asset Management Companies(AMC) to introduce six new strategies under the
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) category.
• Currently, mutual funds are restricted to offer only one scheme with ESG investing under the
thematic category for equity schemes.
• The six sub-categories to the ESG theme, namely exclusion, integration, best-in-class and positive
screening, impact investing, sustainable objectives, and transition-related investments.
• The move aims to accommodate the growing demand for green financing.
Six new strategies:
i.‘Exclude’ securities based on specific ESG-related activities, business practices, or segments, with
characteristics like adverse impact, controversy, or faith-based criteria.
ii.‘Integration‘ themed funds consider ESG-related factors alongside traditional financial factors when making
investment decisions.
iii.‘Best-in-class & Positive Screening’ strategy aims to invest in companies outperforming peers on ESG-

related performance metrics.
iv.‘Impact‘ investing seeks a positive, measurable social or environmental impact alongside a financial return,
with fund managers detailing the methodology used and monitoring non-financial impacts.
v.‘Sustainable‘ objective funds invest in sectors, industries, or companies expected to benefit from long-term
macro or structural ESG-related trends.
vi.‘Transition or Transition Related’ schemes focus on companies supporting environmental transition and
just transition.
Mutual funds will be required to clearly disclose the name of the ESG strategy in the name of the respective ESG
fund or scheme.
Criteria:
SEBI introduced a more comprehensive framework for ESG rating called ‘BRSR Core’ (Business Responsibility
and Sustainability Reporting Core) to establish the basic criteria and metrics that companies need to disclose
and comply with to receive an ESG rating.
• SEBI has issued a mandate for ESG schemes, requiring them to invest a minimum of 65% of their
Assets Under Management (AUM) in listed entities(against present 80%) that provide assurance on
the BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting) Core. The remaining AUM of the
scheme can be invested in companies with BRSR disclosures. This requirement will come into effect
from October 1, 2024.
• If there is a change in Environmental, Social, and Governance Rating Provider(ERP), the reason for
such a change must be disclosed in the next monthly portfolio statements of ESG schemes.
Note: BRSR or Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report requires listed companies in India to disclose
information under the nine principles of the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct.
SEBI Rolled out Framework for CDMDF; mandates FPIs to disclose LEI Code
On July 27, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) rolled out the Framework for Corporate
Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) which aims to establish a Backstop Facility to purchase
investment-grade corporate debt securities, enhance secondary market liquidity, and boost confidence among
the participants in the Corporate Debt Market during periods of stress.
• It complies with the Guarantee Scheme for Corporate Debt (GSCD) notified by the Ministry of
Finance on July 26, 2023.
• This information by SEBI was provided in the exercise of its powers conferred under Section 11 (1)
of the SEBI Act, 1992, read with the provisions of
regulations 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, to protect the interest of investors in
securities and to promote the development of securities market.
Points to note:
In June 2023, Chapter III-C was inserted vide amendments to SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations,
2012 to facilitate the constitution of CDMDF, an Alternative Investment Fund.
On 28th July 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched CDMDF with the aim of advancing the
corporate bond market.
Key features of CDMDF:
The Subscribers:
CDMDF units will be subscribed by AMCs (Asset Management Companies) of Mutual Funds (MFs), and specified
debt-oriented Mutual Fund (MF) schemes excluding overnight funds and Gilt funds and including conservative
hybrid funds.
MF Contribution:
i.MF will contribute 25 basis points (bps) of the specified debt Asset under Management (AUM) to CDMDF. This
will lead to a contribution of Rs 2,242 crore by MFs to CDMDF.
• Incremental contributions will be made by specified debt schemes as their AUM increases every 6
months to maintain the 25 bps investment in CDMDF.

ii.Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) will calculate and inform each MF scheme of their contributions,
starting from this December 2023.
Key Guidelines:
i.It is a close-ended scheme with an initial tenure of 15 years after contributions from all Asset Management
Companies (AMCs).
ii.CDMDF will purchase securities only from the secondary market that are investment-grade, listed, have a
credit rating, and have a residual maturity of up to 5 years.
iii.It will not buy unlisted, below investment grade, defaulted securities, or those with a material possibility of
default or adverse credit news/views.
iv.During normal times, the fund will deal in only securities such as low-duration government securities (G-
Sec), treasury bills, tri-party repo on G-sec and Guaranteed corporate bond repo with a maturity not exceeding
seven days.
v.The sellers will receive 90% of the consideration in cash and 10% in the form of CDMDF units, bearing the
risk of first loss and redeemable during the scheme’s tenure.
vi.If the debt AUM decreases, there will be no return or redemption from CDMDF, and delayed contributions
will incur an annual interest of 15%.
Note: Within a period of 3 months, stock exchanges must create a distinct window on the current Request for
Quote (RFQ) platform to enable purchases, while clearing corporations are also instructed to establish the
necessary infrastructure for corporate debt trade settlement by CDMDF during market dislocation.
Disclosure and Fees:
i.CDMDF will disclose the Net Asset Value (NAV) by 9:30 pm on all business days on its investment manager’s
website and AMFI’s website.
ii.CDMDF will charge 0.15% of the portfolio value charged on a daily pro-rata basis during normal times, and
0.2% during market stress.
Click Here for Full Official Framework by SEBI
SEBI Mandates Non-Individual FPIs to Disclose Legal Entity Identifier Code
SEBI mandates all non-individual Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to disclose their Legal Entity Identifier
(LEI) code to improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems for better risk management.
• Presently, FPIs are required to provide their LEI details in the Common Application Form (CAF),
used for registration, KYC (Know Your Customer) and account opening of FPIs on a voluntary basis.
What is LEI?
LEI is a unique 20-character global code, that is used to identify legally distinct entities involved in financial
transactions.
Key Points:
i.RBI requires non-individual borrowers with aggregate exposure above Rs 25 crore to obtain an LEI code.
ii.SEBI mandates all existing FPIs (including those applying for renewal) to provide their LEIs to their
designated depository participant (DDPs) within 180 days.
• If failure, their accounts are blocked for further purchases until the LEI is provided.
iii.FPIs must ensure that their LEI is always active.
• Accounts of FPIs with expired or lapsed LEI codes will be blocked for further purchases until the LEI
code is renewed.
This information by SEBI was provided in the exercise of its powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the SEBI
Act, 1992, read with Regulations3(2), 22(1)(j) and 44 of SEBI (FPI) Regulations,2019, to protect the interest of
investors in securities and to promote the development the securities market.
i.SEBI has mandated alternative investment funds (AIFs) to provide investors with the option of a “direct plan”
and introduced a trail model for distribution commission. The framework for direct investments will go into
effect on May 1, 2023.

ii.Due to the rise of dependence on cloud computing for delivering IT (Information Technology) services, SEBI
drafted a cloud framework for the adoption of Cloud Services by SEBI Regulated Entities (REs).
About Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch
Establishment – 12 April 1992
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

Flipkart with Axis Bank Launches Personal Loans to Attract New Customers
In collaboration with Axis Bank, Flipkart, the leading e-commerce company in India, has introduced a personal
loan service accessible through Flipkart’s app. This loan facility allows individuals to obtain up to Rs 5 lakh,
with a remarkable approval time of just 30 seconds and eliminates the need for document submission.
• By offering personal loans, Flipkart is hoping to attract new customers who may be unable to afford
large purchases outright.
• Expanding on the financing options available to customers alleviates the immediate burden of large
purchases, encouraging higher transaction volumes and fostering customer loyalty & trust
Other services :
i. In addition to personal loans, Flipkart also offers a “buy now, pay later” option, EMI payments, and a co-
branded credit card.
• This move gives Flipkart a competitive advantage in the long run, as more and more Indians turn to
online shopping and financial services.
About Axis Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Established in – 1993 (begun operations in 1994)
Tagline – Badhti ka Naam Zindagi
About Flipkart:
Chief executive Officer (CEO) – Kalyan Krishnamurthy
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
IIFL Home Finance raises loan of USD 50 million from US International Development Finance
Corp
IIFL Home Finance Limited (IIFLHFL), a digital first home finance company and a subsidiary of IIFL Finance,
secured a USD 50 million loan from the United States of America (US) International Development Finance
Corp (DFC) in order to expand its portfolio of affordable home financing specifically targeting sustainable
housing.
• The fund was raised at a concessional rate of 5.72%, which includes the hedging cost. Its funding
cost on average is 8.4%.
• The deal marks the growing confidence that foreign investors have in India’s affordable housing
market, which is growing rapidly with government focus.
Note: For the second time in 2023, IIFLHFL, the mortgage lender is raising debt. It had obtained USD 68 million
from the Asian Development Bank in January 2023.
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

Kotak Bank partnered with NPCI to offer Rupay Credit Cards on UPI
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL/Kotak) partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI) to introduce the facility of linking its RuPay Credit Card to a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with

UPI-enabled apps. The Kotak RuPay Credit Card will be linked to Virtual Payment Address (VPA), a UPI ID, to
enable safe and secure payment transactions. With this, Customers are no longer needed to carry their physical
credit cards.
• Customers of KMBL can select from 7 RuPay Credit Cards and scan Quick Response (QR) code or
perform transactions on Point of Sale (POS) throughout India.
The linkage will also provide customers with a reward and an interest-free credit period of up to 50 days.
Paytm partnered with Shriram Finance to increase digital Financial Services and boost Loan
distribution
On 30th June 2023, Paytm announced a strategic partnership with Shriram Finance, a non-banking finance
company (NBFC) of the Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Shriram group, to extend financial services to its users,
including loan products. Under this partnership, Shriram Finance products will be made available on Paytm’s
platform digitally.
• This partnership combines Paytm’s wide reach and technology framework with Shriram Finance’s
lending expertise as the largest retail NBFC in rural areas of India.
This strategy supports Paytm’s leadership as a loan service provider (LSP) focussing on compliance and quality
of loans.
Indian Bank and NeSL Collaborate to Introduce Digital Services under Project WAVE
Indian Bank, a leading public sector lender, joined hands with National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) to
roll out a range of digital services as part of its ambitious digital transformation initiative, Project WAVE
(World of Advance Virtual Experience), which was initiated in January 2022. These innovative services are
set to revolutionise the banking experience by significantly reducing the turnaround time for bank guarantee
issuance and delivery.
i. As part of their digital transformation efforts, Indian Bank and NeSL have introduced an electronic bank
guarantee (e-BG) service to replace traditional paper-based processes.
ii. This move eliminates the need for physical stamp paper and customer signatures, replacing them with digital
stamping and e-signing.
The result is a streamlined process that reduces the average turnaround time for bank guarantees from the
industry standard of 3-4 working days to just a few minutes.
Additional Info:
In addition, Indian Bank has launched a fully digital process for eligible individuals and businesses to access
pre-approved business loans.
• The digital vehicle loan product allows individual customers to obtain their desired vehicle with
ease, with loan values of up to Rs 25 lakh available.
Future Outcomes:
The partnership with NeSL and the implementation of Project WAVE will empower customers with faster and
more efficient processes, revolutionizing the way banking services are delivered.
About Indian Bank:
MD & CEO – Shanti Lal Jain
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamilnadu
Tagline – Your Own Bank
IDFC FIRST Bank, Club Vistara, & Mastercard has Introduced Travel Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank Ltd has collaborated with Club Vistara and Mastercard to introduce a travel credit card that
aims to enhance travel experiences and lifestyle-related offers to cardholders.
• The new card will provide banking services with travel incentives.

Features and Benefits:
i.The rewards structure is based on Club Vistara Points, with accelerated points for different spending
categories.
ii.Cardholders can receive Club Vistara Points, lounge benefits, birthday benefits, annual rewards, golf benefits,
and cover for canceled flight and hotel bookings.
iii.The joining benefits include a free Premium Economy flight ticket along with an upgrade voucher.
iv.The card offers CFAR(Cancel For Any Reason) Insurance, providing coverage for non-refundable
components of travel bookings.
v.The card offers tiered annual rewards based on cumulative annual spending. Cardholders who spend more
than Rs.1,50,000, Rs.3,00,000, Rs.4,50,000, Rs.9,00,000, or Rs.12,00,000 will unlock additional Premium
Economy Class tickets as a reward.
Additional info:
IDFC FIRST Bank– a bank founded by the merger of Capital First and IDFC Bank in December 2018.
Club Vistara– TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name Vistara, is a 51:49 joint venture between
Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA).
MasterCard– a worldwide association of banks and financial institutions.
About IDFC FIRST Bank Ltd:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief executive officer(CEO)- V. Vaidyanathan
Established- 2018
Max Life Insurance partnered with DCB Bank to offer insurance products
Max Life Insurance Company Ltd partnered with DCB Bank Ltd to offer different types of life insurance
products to the DCB bank customers including Term, Savings and Retirement Plans to secure their financial
future and increase their investment portfolio.
• The partnership aims to empower DCB Bank’s customers by providing them with innovative and
flexible life insurance products that cater to their needs.
• Under this partnership, DCB Bank customers will get access to Max Life’s protection and long-term
savings products, providing financial stability for themselves and their family.
Note: DCB Bank is a new-generation private sector bank with 427 branches (as on 31st March 2023) across
India.
PayU, AWS India & Chiratae Ventures partners to launch ‘inFINity’ – a Fintech Accelerator for
Early-Stage Start-Ups
On July 12, 2023, PayU Payments Private Limited(PayU), leading payments solution provider, in collaboration
with Amazon Web Services(AWS) India and Chiratae Ventures, a venture capital firm, launched a 45-day
fintech accelerator program called ‘inFINity’ for early-stage startups in India.
Key Points:
i.The deadline to apply for the program is August 11, 2023. Selected applicants will be announced on August 17,
and the program will begin on August 31 with a three-day in-person boot camp in Bengaluru(Karnataka),
followed by four weeks of intensive online training.
ii.Startups applying for the program should either be self-funded or have raised less than $5 million in funding.
They should also be seeking Seed to Series A funding and have a minimum viable product (MVP) already
developed.
iii.The cohort will receive training and mentorship sessions, including access to PayU experts who will guide
them in scaling their business operations and expanding their customer base.
About PayU Payments Private Limited(PayU):
CEO of PayU India– Anirban Mukherjee
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana

IFSCA & BITS Pilani PIEDS Finxcelerator signed MoU to support FinTech & TechFin entities
On 13th July 2023, the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) and Pilani Innovation &
Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), Birla Institute of Technology and Science
(BITS), Pilani (Rajasthan) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at BITS Pilani PIEDS Finxcelerator,
Pilani Campus in Rajasthan.
• The MoU aims to set up a framework for cooperation and understanding between IFSCA and BITS
Pilani PIEDS Finxcelerator to collaborate in supporting and facilitating FinTech and TechFin entities.
• The MoU will enable cooperation and collaboration on diverse initiatives regarding FinTech.
Note:
• Finxcelerator is the joint initiative by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBiH) and PIEDS, BITS
Pilani.
IFSCA is responsible for development and regulation of international financial services, including that of the
insurance sector, in the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), which is treated as a separate international
financial jurisdiction, distinct from the rest of India.
PNB Partners with Amul to Support Finance Dealership Network

On 1st July 2023, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL), known as “AMUL” to offer financial services to
Federation’s supply network pan India under the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd (MUDRA)
scheme.
The MoU was signed at PNB’s corporate office Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi in the presence of Jayen Mehta,
Managing Director(MD), GCMMFL, M. Paramasivam, Executive Director, PNB and other senior officials of PNB
and Amul.
• Under this MoU, PNB will finance Amul’s retailers, wholesale dealers/area milk distributors and
exclusive Amul preferred outlets-milk parlours through small ticket financing under MUDRA.
• PNB will integrate with various digital channels like QR codes, POS (point of sale), UPI (Unified
Payment Interface), etc., supply chain finance and EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) collection
digitally, and providing working capital limits.
This partnership aims to support 11 lakh retailers, wholesale dealers and others.
Union Bank of India Partners with IBM India to co-create Digital Business Platform
Union Bank of India (UBI), one of the leading public sector bank (PSB) in India, partnered with IBM India
Private Limited to create a state-of-the-art Digital Business Platform, focusing on Omni-channel experiences
and data-driven hyper-personalization and a comprehensive financial services superstore designed for
seamless cross-selling and upselling.
This partnership promotes digital revolution in the banking industry and paves the way for a brighter, more
convenient future of banking services.
Features:
i.Omni-Channel Experience ensures the flexibility of the customers to engage with the bank through various
channels, including mobile, online, and in-branch.
• This multi-dimensional approach enables users to access their accounts anytime, anywhere,
ensuring exceptional convenience.
ii.The integration of data-driven hyper-personalization allows UBI to serve the unique financial needs of each
individual customer.
Key Points:
i.The Digital Business Platform will also facilitate full digital transfers, providing exceptional convenience and
efficiency to the customers.
ii.Union Bank of India will support Open Banking capabilities, allowing for perfect integration of services across
multiple partnerships.

iii.This digital-first approach provides faster and more efficient transactions, contributing to enhanced
customer satisfaction.
iv.The bank ensures a hassle-free experience for its customers by making more efficient processes and
eliminating unnecessary paperwork.
About Union Bank of India:
MD&CEO– A. Manimekhalai
Established on– 11th November 1919
Tagline– Good people to bank with
HDFC Bank partners with Davara KGFS for Co-lending Loans to Micro Enterprises
Dvara Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services (KGFS), Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC), and HDFC Bank Limited have entered into a co-lending partnership to provide business
capital to micro enterprises operating primarily in the unorganised sector, that have limited access to formal
sources of finance.
• The partnership aligns with the Dvara KGFS’s 2023 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) looking to enable
credit for micro businesses across the 10 states that it serves.
• This partnership will increase Dvara KGFS’s capabilities in empowering the operations of micro
business in rural areas.
• The co-lending collaboration between banks and NBFCs encouraged by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) has been a promising development to address the credit gap in the Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (MSME) sector.
Dvara KGFS launched its Enterprise Loans vertical in 2020 with focus on 3 value chains namely grocery, dairy
and agriculture. It has assisted numerous beneficiaries with working capital and business growth loans so far.
OTHER BANK NEWS

World Bank Approves USD1.5 Billion to Support India’s Low-Carbon Transition
On 29th June 2023, The World Bank granted USD1.5 billion in financing to accelerate India’s development of
low-carbon energy sources. This funding aims to assist India in scaling up renewable energy, fostering the
growth of green hydrogen, and stimulating climate finance for investments in low-carbon energy.
• The program’s objectives include scaling up renewable energy supply to reduce costs and improve
grid integration.
• This will assist India in achieving its target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• The government plans to issue bids for 50 GW of renewable energy each year from FY23-24 to
FY27-28, which will avoid carbon emissions of 40 million tons per annum by 2026.
Disbursement of loan
• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is providing a loan of USD 1.44
billion, supported by a USD 1 billion backstop from the United Kingdom, to enhance the World
Bank’s climate change financing to India.
• Additionally, a credit of USD 56.57 million from the International Development Association (IDA) is
sourced from the recommitment of previously cancelled IDA credit balances.
Background:
India, a rapidly growing economy, currently has lower per capita energy consumption compared to the global
average. To align with its objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, India aims to gradually phase out
the use of fossil fuel-based energy sources.
Green Hydrogen production in India:
i.The Indian government has introduced highly anticipated incentive schemes, valued at over ₹17,000 crore, to
promote the production of green hydrogen.

• The First Low-Carbon Energy Programmatic Development Policy Operation, the first of two
planned operations, will facilitate India’s development of green hydrogen.
• Through this program, the implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission will be
supported. This mission aims to attract USD100 billion in private sector investments by 2030.
• This program will support the implementation of policies for a national carbon credit trading
scheme, facilitating the launch of a national carbon market.
ii. In January 2023, India issued its first sovereign green bond. The program will further support policy actions
to issue USD6 billion in sovereign green bonds by 2026.
• This lending is also in line with the Bank’s Hydrogen for Development (H4D) Partnership
launched during the 27th Conference of the Parties (CoP27).
World Bank Approves USD200 Million Loan to Boost Renewable Energy in Himachal Pradesh
On 27 June 2023, World Bank approved the USD200 million loan to Government of Himachal Pradesh with a
maturity period of 14.5 years, including a grace period of 4.5 years. The objective of the loan is to facilitate
power sector reforms in the state and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy (RE) in its electricity
generation.
• This will help to achieve the state’s objective of adding 10,000 megawatts (10 gigawatts) of
additional RE capacity to make the state’s power supply greener.
• The World Bank’s Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Program will contribute to
enhancing the utilisation of existing renewable energy resources, particularly hydropower, and
diversifying the state’s energy mix.
Key points:
i.Himachal Pradesh’s ambitious target is to become a ‘Green State’ by 2030, meeting all its energy needs
through renewable and green sources. Currently, over 80 percent of Himachal Pradesh’s energy demands are
fulfilled by hydropower.
ii.As part of the program, 150 megawatts of solar capacity will be added, resulting in a reduction of more than
190,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
iii.This initiative also aligns with the National Apprentice Promotion Scheme implemented by the Ministry
of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship by providing training and hands-on exposure in the power sector
for about 700 female apprentice
About World Bank:
Establishment – July, 1944
Headquarters – Washington DC, United States of America(USA)
President – Ajay Banga
Five Institutions of World Bank Group:
1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
2. International Development Association (IDA)
3. International Finance Corporation (IFC)
4. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
UST Joins Project Rosalind to Develop API Prototypes for CBDC

On 28 June 2023, Digital Transformation Solutions Provider UST joined Project Rosalind, an initiative led by
the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Bank of England (BoE) to develop Application
programming interface (API) prototypes for central bank digital currencies (CBDC).
• The project aims to explore the potential impact of CBDCs on various sectors and to develop a well-
designed API layer that can enable interaction between a central bank ledger and private sector service
providers for safe and efficient retail CBDC payments.
About Project Rosalind:
Project Rosalind has advanced central bank innovation by exploring the role of API layers in supporting retail

CBDC systems and facilitating safe and secure CBDC payments through various use cases.
Key Points:
UST collaborated with BIS and BoE to develop an API layer comprising 33 API endpoints grouped into six
functional categories. The project has demonstrated the potential of API layers to securely distribute CBDCs
through private sector service providers.
i. UST has joined Project Rosalind to develop API prototypes for CBDC.
ii. The project has demonstrated the potential of API layers to securely distribute CBDCs through private sector
service providers.
iii. Project Rosalind has advanced central bank innovation by exploring the role of API layers in supporting
retail CBDC systems.
About Bank for International Settlements (BIS):
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial institution that serves as a bank for
central banks.
Chairperson – François Villeroy de Galhau
Headquarters – Basel, Switzerland.
About UST:
Headquarters – California, United States of America (USA)
Executive Chairman – Paras Chandaria
Merger Between HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd Receives Final Board Approval
In a significant development, the merger between Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC)Ltd
and HDFC Bank Ltd has successfully obtained final board approval . With a valuation of around USD 40 billion,
this unprecedented merger creates a financial services powerhouse.
Milestone Merger
i.Composite Scheme of Amalgamation for merger:
• HDFC Investments Limited and HDFC Holdings Limited merged with HDFC Limited.
• HDFC Limited merged with HDFC Bank Limited has became effective from July 1, 2023.
Background:
Competition Commission of India (CCI), the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger on
March 17, 2023.The merger was initially approved by HDFC Bank’s board on April 4, 2022, in accordance
with Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013, and the associated regulations.
Key Points:
i. With a combined valuation of USD 172 billion, the merger will impact millions of customers, shareholders,
and various businesses associated with both HDFC and HDFC Bank, including group insurance and asset
management ventures.
ii. With an impressive asset base of approximately Rs 18 lakh crore, the merged entity aims to establish a
comprehensive ecosystem of financial services.
iii.The subsidies of HDFC Limited, including HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited, HDFC Asset Management
Company Limited and HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company Limited, have become subsidiaries of HDFC
Bank with effect from July 01, 2023.
iv.Now,HDFC Bank subsidiaries include HDFC Securities Ltd., HDB Financial Services Ltd., HDFC Asset
Management Co. Ltd, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd., HDFC Capital Advisors Ltd. and HDFC Life
Insurance Co. Ltd.
v.As a result of the merger, HDFC Bank has now become the promoter of the two insurance companies.
Furthermore, effective from July 1, 2023, HDFC Bank has taken over as the co-sponsor of HDFC Mutual Fund, a
mutual fund registered with SEBI under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, replacing HDFC Limited.

Additional Info:
HDFC Bank has scheduled July 13, 2023 as the date for determining share allotments for HDFC shareholders.
Additionally, HDFC’s non-convertible debentures will be transferred to the bank on July 12, 2023, with
commercial papers to be transferred on July 7, 2023.
HDFC Bank to become India’s 2nd biggest company
After merging with mortgage lender HDFC, HDFC Bank is set to become the world’s fourth most valuable bank
based on market capitalization and emerge as the second biggest company in India.
• The merger’s completion will witness HDFC Bank securing its position as the second most valuable
company in India, just behind the formidable Reliance Industries, which held a market capitalization
of USD 210 billion.
• The merged entity holds a market capitalization of USD 172 billion, outshining banking giants
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd and Bank of America, and trailing only the formidable
JPMorgan Chase.
Chairman of HDFC Deepak Parekh Announces Retirement Ahead of Bank’s Merger
Deepak Parekh, the esteemed chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), has announced
his retirement as HDFC prepares to merge with HDFC Bank, marking the end of his remarkable 45-year tenure.
Parekh played a pivotal role in transforming HDFC into India’s largest financial services conglomerate, covering
sectors like banking, asset management, insurance, and real estate.
i. Parekh served on the boards of prestigious corporations globally, including DP World, Fairfax Financial
Holdings, and Economic Zones World.
ii. He was actively involved in influential economic groups and advisory committees, focusing on areas such as
infrastructure, housing, and capital markets.
Awards received:
Deepak Parekh received following awards such as
Country Award Year
India Padma Bhushan 2006
France Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour 2010
Germany Bundesverdienstkreuz Cross of the Order of Merit 2014
He also received first international recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award by Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales, in 2010
About Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank:
Chairman – Mr. Atanu Chakraborty
MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Tagline – We Understand Your World
World Bank Approves Bank of Israel’s Membership to Join the ICCR

The World Bank on June 2023 issued an official approval for the Bank of Israel to join the International
Committee on Credit Reporting (ICCR), a permanent structure of the World Bank, constituting a unique
worldwide committee on credit reporting.
Background:
i.Since November 2022, the World Bank has taken internal steps to approve the Bank of Israel’s membership to
the ICCR.
ii.Voting was held among the Committee members at the winter meeting of the ICCR in November 2022 and it
was decided unanimously to approve the Bank of Israel’s accession as a member of the ICCR.
About International Committee on Credit Reporting ICCR:
i.The World Bank (WB) with the support from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) created and

coordinated the ICCR in 2009.
ii.ICCR is the only recognized international standard setter and guideline issuer on credit reporting, which
includes representatives of central banks around the world and private financial regulators.
iii.It supports a broad, forward-looking, approach to issues in the world of credit reporting, achieving
agreements regarding policy aspects that affect the public interest.
iv.It sets out recognized international credit reporting standards with regard to credit reporting and credit data
sharing, which can be implemented by the member countries.
Responsibilities of ICCR:
The Committee is responsible to:
• Further develop the international agreed framework in its general principles
• Identify areas of further consideration and
• Dedicate resources to the elaboration of papers, reports, guidelines and other relevant materials
that will effectively support the adequate implementation of the General Principles.
Chair of ICCR– Jean Pesme
About Bank of Israel:
Governor– Amir Yaron
Director General– Shulamit Geri
Headquarters– Jerusalem, Israel
Established in– 1954
Indian Overseas Bank Launches RuPay Select Debit Card, Offering Exclusive Luxury Benefits
On 4th July 2023, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) introduced the all-new RuPay Select Debit card, aiming to
provide customers with a comprehensive blend of luxury, convenience, and security. With a host of exclusive
benefits, including access to gyms, complimentary health check-ups, golf lessons, spa services, and lounge
privileges at select domestic and international airports, this new debit card promises a premium banking
experience for IOB customers.
• With the introduction of the RuPay Select Debit card, Indian Overseas Bank aims to enhance its
customers’ banking experience by offering a range of exclusive luxury benefits.
• This initiative not only provides convenience and security but also reflects IOB’s commitment to
meeting the evolving needs and expectations of its valued customers.
Eligibility Criteria:
i. To be eligible for the RuPay Select Debit card, individuals must maintain a savings bank account or a
certificate of deposit (CD) with IOB, with an average daily balance of Rs. 1 lakh.
ii. The cash withdrawal limit is set at Rs. 50,000, while the daily limit for merchant establishment usage (PoS) is
Rs. 5 lakh. For e-commerce transactions, users can spend up to Rs. 3.5 lakh per day.
The issuance fee for the card is Rs. 800, along with applicable GST, and an annual maintenance fee is also
charged.
Additional Info:
• IOB customers will enjoy five free transactions (both financial and non-financial) at IOB ATMs.
Subsequently, a charge of Rs. 10 plus GST will be levied for each financial transaction, including cash
withdrawals and deposits.
• Non-financial transactions, such as checking bank statements and mini statements, will incur a
charge of Rs. 5 plus GST.
About Indian Overseas Bank (IOB):
MD & CEO – Ajay Kumar Srivastava
Headquarters – Chennai,Tamil Nadu
Tagline – Good people to grow with

SBI Revamps YONO App; Launches Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal facility
On 2nd July 2023, The State Bank of India (SBI) revamped its digital banking app, ‘YONO for Every Indian,’ and
introduced the Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) facility, aimed at providing greater
convenience to customers. These updates were unveiled on SBI’s 68th Bank Day.
• The revamped YONO (You Only Need One) app aims to meet customer expectations for a seamless
and pleasant digital experience, turning the vision of ‘YONO for Every Indian’ into a reality.
• The enhanced YONO application now includes Unified Payment Interface (UPI) features like Scan
and Pay, Pay by Contacts, and Request Money, expanding SBI’s commitment to inclusive and
customer-centric digital banking services.
About Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW):
The Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) facility allows both SBI customers and customers of other
banks to withdraw cash from any bank’s ATM using a single-use dynamic QR code. SBI aims to encourage
customers of other banks to join the YONO journey.
i. Users can easily withdraw cash by scanning the QR code using their UPI application’s Scan and Pay feature.
ii. This feature simplifies the cash withdrawal process and enhances security by eliminating the need for a PIN
or physical handling of a debit card, minimising risks such as shoulder surfing or card cloning.
About YONO – You Only Need One
• Since its launch in 2017, the YONO app has gained popularity, with over 60 million registered users.
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, 7.86 million savings accounts, accounting for 64% of total accounts,
were acquired digitally through YONO.
About State Bank of India
Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
Headquarters – Mumbai
Tagline – The Banker to Every Indian
Bank of India, 1st Bank, to roll out Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme
On July 4, 2023, the Bank of India (BoI) became the first bank to officially roll out Mahila Samman Savings
Certificate (MSSC), 2023, and operationalizing this scheme at all its branches. The roll-out ceremony was
inaugurated by the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rajneesh Karnatak through a
Video Conference (VC).
• This means, BoI is authorized to open accounts under MSSC. So far, only post offices were authorized
to open accounts under MSSC.
Note: On June 27, 2023, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, permitted all Public
Sector Banks (PSBs) and eligible Private Sector Banks to implement and operationalize the MSSC, 2023.
About Mahila Samman Savings Scheme (MSSC):
Announced by the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, during the Budget speech FY 2023-
2024, it commemorates the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. MSSC is aimed at empowering girls and women through
financial savings. It is a one-time small saving scheme backed by the Central Government which is available
for two years, from April 2023-March 2025.
Eligibility and Account Opening:
i.Individual girls or women can open an account, or a guardian can open on behalf of a minor girl.
ii.Minimum investment of Rs 1000 and multiples of Rs 100, up to a maximum limit of Rs 200,000.
iii.Multiple accounts allowed with a three-month gap, subject to the overall investment cap.
Interest Rate and Taxation:
i.The Deposit under the scheme is eligible for 7.5% interest per annum which will be compounded quarterly
and credited in account and paid at the time of closure of account.
ii.All earnings under the MSSC are taxable as per existing income tax provisions. But TDS (Tax Deducted at
Source) will not be deducted under the scheme.

Account Duration and Closure:
i.Account matures after two years from the date of opening.
ii.MSSC can be closed after 6 months of opening the account without giving any reason. In such a case, an
interest of 5.5% will be given i.e. 2% penalty after six months.
iii.Premature closure allowed in case of account holder’s death or extreme compassionate grounds.
Partial Withdrawals:
i.Account holders can make partial withdrawals up to 40% of the eligible balance.
ii.Partial withdrawals allowed after one year from the date of opening the account.
Airtel Payments Bank, Park+ team up to enable FASTag-based parking solution at Varanasi
airport
On July 4, 2023, the Airtel Payments Bank has collaborated with Park+ to enable FASTag-based smart parking
at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
• This smart parking solution allows automatic cashless payments at airport parking.
• The parking fee payment is deducted through the FASTag associated with the vehicle, which
reduced the time required to make the payment.
Amit Lakhotia is the Founder and CEO of Park+.
3 Multilateral Development Banks Have Pledged upto USD 27 bn for India’s Green Growth
During the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023), three Multilateral Development Banks,
the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have
contributed USD 27 billion for India’s Green Growth.
The funding allotment:
• The EIB has pledged Euro(€) 1 billion to develop a large-scale hydrogen industry hub
• The ADB intends to provide USD 20-25 billion over 5 years to support India’s green growth
• The World Bank approved USD 1.5 billion to aid India’s low-carbon transition journey.
International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023):
The 3 days ICGH-2023 held between 5th-7th July 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi inaugurated by R. K.
Singh the Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The event was organised by MNRE, in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the office of principal scientific advisor
to the Government of India.
• The conference held discussions in line with the objectives of India’s National Green Hydrogen
Mission to help achieve India’s target of Net Zero by the year 2070.
India towards Green Hydrogen:
i.India ranked 4th globally in terms of installed renewable energy capacity and achieving cost-effective solar
and wind power generation.
ii.With the recent launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission the Government of India showcased its
dedication to ramping up green hydrogen production and aligning with global trends.
iii.The country also has many advantages on the renewable energy front due to its abundant solar energy,
investments in the power grid, favorable climate, sufficient resources, and strong supply chain for green
hydrogen production.
iv.The public sector units (PSUs) have set a target to produce over one million metric tonnes (MMT) of green
hydrogen by 2030 to facilitate the transition to a green hydrogen economy.
v.The government aims to promote the uptake of green hydrogen in refineries and city gas distribution (CGD)
through both public and private sector entities, phasing out fossil fuels and aiding decarbonisation efforts.

About World Bank:
President- Ajay Banga
Headquarters– Washington, D.C. United States of America(USA)
Established- 1944
Citi Commercial Bank launches ‘CitiDirect Commercial Banking’ for Enhanced Digital Banking
Service
In a strategic move to meet the evolving global needs of their clients and to provide them with a truly digital
experience, Citi Commercial Bank (CCB) has unveiled a new platform called CitiDirect Commercial
Banking in the United States of America(USA).
i. By integrating the services such as banking relationships, spanning cash management, loans, trade, foreign
exchange (FX), servicing, and onboarding into a single platform, CCB aims to simplify and enhance the banking
experience for its commercial clients.
ii. Though this facility is available in the USA, CCB plans to introduce it across key global financial centres
including Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and the U.K in the second half of 2023.
iii. Clients can also digitally open accounts and request new products and services.
About Citi Commercial Bank:
Global Head – Tasnim Ghiawadwala
Headquarters – NewYork, United States of America (USA)
HDFC Bank becomes first to offer interoperability between CBDC and UPI
On 13 July 2023, HDFC(Housing Development Finance Corporation) Bank, the largest private sector lender in
India launched UPI QR code(Unified Payments Interface Quick Response code)interoperable with India’s
sovereign digital currency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
• With this, HDFC Bank became the first bank in the country to complete the integration process
between UPI payment system and Digital currency.
• HDFC Bank will enable Digital Rupee payments in several cities, including Mumbai, Delhi,
Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Gangtok.
Benefits:
i .This feature will benefit customers as it enables them to transact using the funds available in their CBDC
wallet through UPI QR codes.
ii.Previously, HDFC Bank customers had to scan two separate QR codes for their CBDC wallet and UPI payment
respectively, causing inconvenience.
iii.The new single UPI QR code allows customers to make CBDC wallet payments with a single scan. Merchants
also benefited by displaying only one QR code.
About Central bank digital currency (CBDC):
A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or national digital currency, is the digital form of a country’s fiat
currency. Instead of printing paper currency or minting coins, the central bank issues electronic tokens. This
token value is backed by the full faith and credit of the government.
• Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended to launch CBDC.
• Referred to as e₹ (digital Rupee), CBDC can be classified into two broad types viz. general purpose
for retail (CBDC-R) and wholesale (CBDC-W).
• RBI has started a pilot on CDBC on the wholesale side on November 1, 2022. Retail testing started on
December 1, 2022.
About Unified Payment Interface(UPI):
• Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI is a widely used mobile
payment system and most popular digital payment mode in the country that enables seamless and
cost-free transfer of funds between bank accounts.

• UPI was launched in 2016 by then Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Governor Raghuram G Rajan.
About HDFC(Housing Development Finance Corporation) Bank
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Tagline – We understand your world
EIB commits € 1 billion loan to support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission
European Investment Bank(EIB) is set to support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission with a
substantial loan of up to EURO 1 billion to boost green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in India.
• The EIB aims to boost India’s renewable energy ambitions by supporting renewable energy
generation, energy storage technologies, power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
• EIB Vice-President Kris Peeters is set to confirm EIB’s interest to support NGHM during his visit to
India to attend G20(Group of Twenty) Infrastructure Investors Dialogue (IID), which takes place
during the 3rd meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Gandhinagar, Gujarat,
India.
Key Highlights:
i.The investments align with the European Green Deal, the EU Global Gateway strategy, and India’s own agenda
on climate change, renewable energy, connectivity, and sustainable finance.
ii.The EIB’s support to this mission demonstrates its commitment to facilitating private and public investment
in India, improving access to finance for entrepreneurs, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission:
i.It aims to boost green hydrogen production and ecosystem.
ii.The government has set a target to build capabilities for producing at least 5 million metric tonnes of green
hydrogen per annum by 2030.
About European Investment Bank(EIB):
The EIB is the lending institution of the European Union(EU).
EIB is one of the biggest multilateral financial institution in the world and one of the largest providers of
climate finance.
President- Werner Hoyer
Headquarters– Luxembourg city, Luxembourg
Established- 1958
Fincare Small Finance Bank launched “The Great Indian FD Fest” campaign
On 10th July 2023, Fincare Small Finance Bank Limited (FSFBL) launched its new multilingual Television
Commercial (TVC) campaign “The Great Indian Fixed Deposit (FD) Fest” to raise awareness about the bank’s
interest rate offering for all categories of customers and highlight the significance of fixed deposit (FD) as a
stable and long-term investment suitable for everyone. The media campaign features FSFBL’s Brand
Ambassador Grand Master (GM) Viswanathan Anand.
• Currently the bank is offering the highest interest rate of 9.11% for senior citizens on an investment
of as little as Rs 5000 for a tenure of 1000 days and 8.51% for general citizens.
The Great Indian FD Fest campaign celebrates the spirit of financial empowerment and gives a golden
opportunity for every Indian to secure their financial future through FDs.
PNB launched ‘Project PNB PALAASH’ for environmental sustainability

Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s leading Public Sector Bank, launched an environmental initiative ‘Project
PNB Palaash’, an eight-month campaign to promote sustainability aimed at reducing costs and enhancing
operational efficiencies through measures such as energy and resource conservation, paper reduction, waste
management and optimised digital processes.

• The goal of this initiative is to actively contribute to conservation activities, encourage the adoption
of sustainable practices, and promote active employee engagement.
• The campaign is in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) vision of sustainable finance and the
6th iteration of Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE 6.0), an initiative by Department of
Financial Services (DFS),Government of India.
• Campaign themes for this project include Digi Branches, Green Data Center, Electric Vehicle Funding,
Green Project Funding, Recycle Camp, Tree Planting, Paper Savings, Energy Conservation Olympics,
and Paper Savings.
• Key People: Atul Kumar Goel, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Punjab
National Bank; Kalyan Kumar, Binod Kumar, and M Paramasivam, Executive Diresctors of PNB .
Note: As part of this initiative, one lakh plus employees of PNB will plant minimum two saplings each.
Indian Bank Launched “Resources Acquisition Centres” to build-up Deposit Portfolio

On 20th July 2023, the Indian Bank, India’s 7th largest Public Sector Bank launched “Resources Acquisition
Centre” (RAC) to bolster its retail deposit business portfolio, which encloses Current Deposit, Savings Bank,
and Term Deposit accounts.
• The bank plans to establish 20 RACs at Ultra Potential Centres in Phase-I to strengthen its deposit
portfolio. The inaugural ceremony of the first RAC took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key People:
Mahesh Kumar Bajaj, Executive Director, Indian Bank and SSP Roy, Field General Manager of Mumbai
(Maharashtra) Field General Managers Office (FGMO).
Key Points:
i.The dedicated RAC team of responsive and digitally empowered relationship managers will focus on
Relationship Banking, aiming to increase existing client relationships and attract potential high-value clients.
ii.The bank will target specific customer segments, such as High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs),
Government/Institutional Clients, Salaried Class, Corporates, Business community, Traders, and Pensioners.
iii.The introduction of RACs is expected to deliver significant and innovative results by offering strong
Relationship Banking services to both existing and potential high-value clients.
iv.The transformation roadmap of Indian bank focuses on the State-of-the-Art technology, pioneering and
customized products/processes, and delivering delightful customer experiences through Relationship Banking.
About Indian Bank:
Incorporated on– March 5, 1907
Started business on– August 15, 1907
MD & CEO– Shanti Lal Jain
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
CRISIL’s 2023 Greenwich Share and Quality Leaders: HDFC Bank tops in 3 Categories
On July 24, 2023, a list of Coalition Greenwich’s (a division of CRISIL) Share and Quality Leaders, and
Greenwich Excellence Awards 2023 was released in which HDFC Bank (among India’s local banks) has
overtaken the State Bank of India (SBI) as a top ranked bank in the 3 categories of Share and Quality Leaders
Award list.
• This list is a part of a study ‘Indian Corporates Turn to Big Banks to Fund Ambitious Growth- 2023
Greenwich Leaders: Indian Corporate Banking‘.
Highlights:
i.In the list of Greenwich Share Leader 2023(Large Corporate), HDFC Bank has overtaken State Bank of India
(SBI) and topped the list of Indian Large Corporate Banking Market Penetration – Local Banks.
ii.ICICI Bank has topped the Indian Large Corporate Banking Quality – Local Banks and emerged as the sole
designation for Greenwich Quality Leader 2023(Large Corporate).

iii.In the list of Greenwich Share Leader 2023 (Middle Market), HDFC Bank has again topped the list of Indian
Middle Market Banking Market Penetration(Local Banks). The bank previously topped the list in 2022.
1. In the lit of Greenwich Quality Leader 2023 (Middle Market) HDFC Bank shared a top spot
with ICICI Bank in the category of ‘Indian Middle Market Banking Quality – Local Banks’.
Assessment:
This study is premised upon the interviews conducted by Coalition Greenwich from September 2022 to March
2023, with 177 large corporates and 455 middle market businesses in India. The interviews focused on areas
such as banking relationships, quality perceptions of the respective relationships and products used including
corporate lending, cash management, trade services and finance, foreign exchange, structured finance, interest-
rate derivatives, and investment banking.
Greenwich Share Leader 2023; Greenwich Quality Leaders 2023; and Greenwich Excellence 2023
The following tables present the 2023 Greenwich Share and Quality Leaders in Indian Large Corporate and
Middle Market Banking and the winners of the 2023 Greenwich Excellence Awards in different categories.
• The column of Market Penetration in the table shows the proportion of companies interviewed that
consider each bank an important provider of corporate banking services.
Greenwich Share and Quality Leaders — 2023
Greenwich Share Leader 2023
Ranking Bank Market Penetration
Indian Large Corporate Banking Market Penetration – Local Banks
1 HDFC Bank 69%
2 SBI 60%
3T (Tie) Axis Bank 55%
3T ICICI Bank 54%
Indian Large Corporate Banking Market Penetration – Foreign Banks
1T Standard Chartered Bank 51%
1T HSBC 50%
3T Citi 44%
3T DBS 42%
Indian Middle Market Banking Market Penetration—Local Banks
1 HDFC Bank 70%
2 ICICI Bank 64%
3 Axis Bank 47%
Indian Middle Market Banking Market Penetration—Foreign Banks
1T Standard Chartered Bank 20%
1T HSBC 19%
1T Citi 18%
Greenwich Quality Leaders 2023
Category Bank
Indian Large Corporate Banking Quality—Local Banks ICICI Bank
Indian Large Corporate Banking Quality—Foreign Banks Bank of America, HSBC, J.P. Morgan
Indian Middle Market Banking Quality—Local Banks HDFC Bank & ICICI Bank

Indian Middle Market Banking Quality—Foreign Banks HSBC
Greenwich Excellence Awards 2023
For the 6th year, Coalition Greenwich has recognized excellence in Indian corporate banking through 2023
Greenwich Excellence Awards to identify the top-ranked banks in a series of product and service categories.
2023 Greenwich Excellence Awards for Indian Large Corporate Banking:
In this, more than 70 banks evaluated but only the following 4 featured with distinctive quality.
Category Bank
Overall Digital Experience Citi
Ability to Streamline KYC Processes
Coordination of Product Specialists
Frequency of Contact
Knowledge of Transaction Banking Needs
Timely Follow-Up ICICI Bank
Proactive Provision of Advice ICICI Bank, Bank of America
Knowledge of International Banking Needs Standard Chartered Bank
2023 Greenwich Excellence Awards for Indian Middle Market Banking
In this, more than 70 Banks Evaluated but only 3 have distinctive quality.
Category Bank
Ability to Digitize KYC Processes
Ease of Doing Business
Overall Digital Experience
Ability to Streamline KYC Processes
Coordination of Product Specialists
Knowledge of Transaction Banking Needs HDFC Bank & ICICI Bank
Frequency of Contact
Effective Senior Management Support
Timely Follow-Up Axis & ICICI Bank
Knowledge of International Banking Needs
Proactive Provision of Advice ICICI Bank
Key Points:
i.Between 2021 and 2022, 38% of Indian companies used one of the largest Indian private banks for overall
corporate banking services, up from 33%.
ii.From 2021 to 2022, the number of companies using at least one large foreign bank for their banking needs
increased to 21% from 18%.
iii.From 2021 to 2022, the percentage of Indian companies working with at least one of the smaller private
banks dropped to 18% from 21%.
iv.The overall revenue in the banking industry grew by 16% year on year (y-o-y).
v.In 2023, 46% of Indian companies used large private banks for domestic cash management, compared to 40%
in 2022. This resulted in increased penetration of large private sector banks.
• Foreign banks’ usage for cash management also increased to 21% from 18%.
vi.Over two years, the share of Indian companies engaged in international business and needing bank support
rose from 73% to 81%.

i.The Airports Council International (ACI) World published the ‘Top 10 Busiest Airports Worldwide for 2022,’
which ranked Delhi Airport [Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)] as the 9th busiest airport in the world
in 2022, surpassing Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in France.
ii.According to the Global Unicorn Index 2023 published by Hurun Research Institute, India is ranked 3rd on
the index with 68 unicorns (up 14 compared to 2022). Online educator BYJU’S worth USD 22 billion topped
the list of Indian Unicorns, followed by on-demand delivery start-up Swiggy and fantasy sports platform travel-
stay finder Dream11 (USD 8 billion each).
About CRISIL Limited :
CRISIL Ltd was formerly known as Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited. It is a leading, agile and
innovative global analytics company owned(majority) by S&P Global Inc.
Managing Director and CEO– Amish Mehta
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Indian Banks Receive Rs.5,729 Crore DEA Fund for Unclaimed Deposit Settlement
On 24th July 2023, Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad, the Union Minister of State(MoS) for Finance Ministry, announced
that over the past five years Indian banks have been allocated a sum of Rs.5,729 crore from the “Depositor
Education and Awareness” (DEA) Fund, as an effort to reunite unclaimed deposits with their claimants.
• As of 31st March 2023, Rs. 36,185 crores is transferred from Public Sector Banks to DEA Fund and
Rs. 6,087 crores is transferred from Private banks as well.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated the “100 Days 100 Pays” campaign, aiming to help
banks locate and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of each bank in every district across the
country within a 100-day timeframe. This campaign commenced on June 1, 2023, and is scheduled
to conclude on September 8, 2023.
Other steps taken by RBI to reduce unclaimed deposits:
i.Displaying the list of unclaimed deposits which are inactive/inoperative for ten years or more on the bank’s
websites
ii.Finding the whereabouts of the customers and their legal heirs to return unclaimed deposits to the rightful
claimants
iii.Formulating board approved policy on classification of unclaimed deposits
iv.Framing grievance redressal mechanism for quick resolution of complaints, record keeping, and periodic
review of unclaimed deposit accounts.
Additional Info:
RBI is set to launch a centralized web portal that will allow the public to inquire about such deposits across
multiple banks.
Canara Bank Leads PSBs in Lending with Rs 187,813cr to State PSUs & Corp.; TN holds Highest
Debt
According to the Parliamentary Questions and Answers data (Lok Sabha) on Outstanding Debt of States and
Union Territories (UTs), Canara Bank topped the list of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) with the highest
lending of Rs 187,813 crore in FY23 to Corporations and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of States and
Union Territories (UTs) for the 5th consecutive time.
• This information was revealed in a written statement by the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
Ministry of Finance, on July 24, 2023, in response to questions raised by Member of Parliament
(MP), Velusamy P.
• Out of the 12 PSBs, 10 reduced their lending to PSBs in FY23. Only two banks viz. Canara Bank and
Central Bank of India, increased their exposure in FY23.

Highlights of Lending Detail:
i.Canara Bank lending amount of ₹187,813 crore to government-backed entities, alone accounting for over 45%
of the total lending of all PSBs in the financial year 2022-2023(FY23).
ii. This lending amount was 11% higher compared to the ₹1,69,532 crore the bank had lent to government
entities in the previous financial year (FY22).
iii.Punjab National Bank (PNB) has notified as second highest lender in FY23 with a total loan disbursal of Rs
70,142.5 crore.
iv.State Bank of India (SBI) as 3rd highest lender, lent Rs 66,523.2 crore to State enterprises in FY23, down
from Rs 81,735 crore in FY22.
v.PNB and SBI are followed by Bank of India (Rs 25,147 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs 15,706.8 crore), Union Bank
of India (Rs 12,584.8 crore), Bank of Maharashtra ( Rs 10,822.7 crore), Indian Bank (Rs 9,021 crore), Indian
Overseas Bank (Rs 7,490 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 3,949 crore from Rs 1,475 crore in FY22), UCO
Bank (Rs 2,939.4 crore), Punjab and Sind Bank (Rs 87.7 crore).
• Punjab & Sind Bank had the lowest exposure to State PSUs and corporations in FY23 as compared to
Rs 3,570 crore in FY22.
Key Points:
i.The total lending by 12 PSBs to government entities fell to Rs 4.12-lakh crore (Rs 4.12 trillion) in FY23 from
4.93-lakh crore in FY22.
• This lending is declined about 20% year-on-year (y-o-y) in FY23 on the back of continuous growth
for four years.
ii.It was Rs 2.51 trillion in FY19, Rs 3.11 trillion in FY20, and Rs 3.98 trillion in FY21.
iii.In FY23, the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) achieved a record aggregate net profit of Rs 1.04 trillion.
iv.PM SVANidhi scheme, aimed at supporting COVID-affected street vendors to restart their businesses, as of
July 20, 2023, amounting to Rs 6,482 crore, have been disbursed to 38.5 lakh street vendors.
V.As of July 17, 2023, the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) has acquired three borrower
entities, namely Jaypee Infratech Ltd, SSA International Ltd, and Helios Photo Voltaic Ltd, with a combined debt
exposure of Rs 21,349 crore.
vi.In the last five financial years, the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have implemented
extensive actions to recover bad debts amid which scheduled commercial banks have managed to recover a
substantial amount of Rs 7.16 trillion (provisional data for FY 2022-23).
• The nationalized banks have not disbursed loans to State governments in the last five years.
Click Here to get Official Lok Sabha Q/A List
Tamil Nadu has highest Outstanding Debt in India
As per the RBI’s ‘State finances: A study of budgets of 2022-23’ report published in 2023, Union Minister of
Finance Nirmala Sitharaman shared data on outstanding liabilities, highlighting that Tamil Nadu(TN) has the
highest amount of outstanding debt among all States and Union Territories in India, at Rs 7.54-lakh crore (as
per budget estimates for FY23).
• TN is followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) at 7.10-lakh crore outstanding debt.
• Odisha is the only state in the country to reduce its debt consistently over the past three years: 1.8%
in 2019-20, 8.4% in 2020-21, and 12% in FY 2022-23.
Key Points:
i.TN has consistently been the highest market borrower in the last three years which is done through issue of
bonds under State Development Loans (SDLs).
• According to RBI data, TN’s gross market borrowings through SDLs stood at Rs 87,000 crore in FY23
and FY22 after raising Rs 87,977 crore in FY21.
iii.As per 2023-24 budget, TN government plans to borrow a total amount of Rs 1.43-lakh crore in 2023-24 and
make repayments of Rs 51,331.79 crore.
iv.The outstanding liabilities of Maharashtra, measured in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), stood
at Rs 6.80-lakh crore as per budget estimates for FY23.

• It was followed by West Bengal (Rs 6.08-lakh crore), Rajasthan (Rs 5.37-lakh crore) and Karnataka
(Rs 5.35-lakh crore).
v.The UT of Puducherry had the lowest outstanding debt of Rs 11,651 crore.
i.According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Report (April 2023), credit growth continued
to outpace deposit growth in financial year 2022-23 (FY23) at an eleven-year high, despite banks fully
transmitting lending rates linked to external benchmarks [250 basis points (bps)], which now account for
nearly half of floating-rate loans.
ii.According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India’s Bank credit increased by 15% year-on-year (YoY)
in the Financial year 2022-23 (FY23), against 9.6% YoY in 2021-22 (FY22).
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha- Karnataka)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Pankaj Chaudhary; Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad
Departments– Department of Expenditure; Department of Economic Affairs (DEA); Department of Revenue;
Department of Financial Services; Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) &
Department of Public Enterprises.
Federal Bank launches Non-Resident SB Account ‘NRE Eve+’ for NRI Women
The Federal Bank Limited (the erstwhile Travancore Federal Bank Limited) launched a unique Non-Resident
(NR) Saving Bank (SB) account scheme, named SB NRE (Non-Resident External) Eve+ designed exclusively for
the financial needs of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) women.
• The scheme provides variety of benefits geared at enhancing the financial journeys of the NRI
women.
Launch of SB NRE Eve+:
i.During the global virtual launch, the product theme as well as the prototype of the customised debit was
revealed and a debit card was presented to the first NRE Eve+ customer (Suni Paul) of the Federal Bank.
ii.The release of NRE Eve+ Savings Account was announced at the ‘Nurses Day Out’ Event conducted as part of
Nikai Angel Awards 2023 held at the De Montfort University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 23rd July
2023.
• First Account Holders: The first NRE Eve + account holders from Abu Dhabi, UAE were Dr. Jean
Shahdadpuri, Managing Director, Nikai Group of Companies; Mrs. Beena Muraleedharan, Executive
Director, SFC Group and Mrs. Danesa Thandassery Raghulal, Executive Director, Elite Foods Pvt Ltd.
Some Features of the Account:
i.Customers get free access to domestic and international airport lounges.
ii.The NRE Eve+ debit card provide customised offers including exclusive discounts on beauty, health care,
dining, shopping, travel, and entertainment, all of which are served to the tastes of women.
iii.Safe Deposit Locker and Portfolio Investment Services available at concessional rates.
iv.Zero balance savings accounts for two children below 12 years of age.
v.Complimentary Insurance up to Rs.78 lakhs that includes child education benefits, accidental health, hospital
cash & card protection.
vi.50% concession on Processing Fee / Administration Fee for Home Loans & Car loans.
vii.Free Mobile Alerts & Mobile Banking, Free Email alerts and Free unlimited at par cheque books.
About Federal Bank Ltd:
Tagline– Your Perfect Banking Partner
Chairman– C. Balagopal
MD&CEO– Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters– Aluva, Kerala
Established on– April 23, 1931

FINANCE NEWS
Tata AIA Revolutionizes Insurance Payments with WhatsApp and UPI Integration
On 28th June, 2023, Tata AIA, the life insurance arm backed by Tata Group, has introduced a first of its kind
feature in the insurance industry by enabling digital payments through WhatsApp and Unified Payment
Interfaces (UPI). This allows policyholders to make instant premium payments using these popular platforms,
providing a hassle-free experience. This move showcases Tata AIA’s commitment to leveraging technology and
enhancing customer satisfaction.
Key Points:
i. The new feature ensures that both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy consumers can easily pay their premiums
digitally and receive quick confirmation and acknowledgment.
ii. The collaboration with WhatsApp and PayU has resulted in the development of an in-house intelligent
platform, significantly enhancing the consumer experience and transactional ease.
iii. Tata AIA’s bottom-up approach, combined with technology, enables a deep understanding of customer
needs and continuous service improvement.
India’s widespread usage of WhatsApp and UPI as messaging and payment platforms makes this move by Tata
AIA particularly significant. With nearly 500 million WhatsApp users and over 300 million UPI users, Tata AIA
ensures that policyholders can conveniently use their preferred platforms for premium payments.
Additional Info:
Tata AIA has also implemented an analytics-driven approach to enhance renewal premium collections. The
company offers multiple digital channels for premium collections and supports five languages, including
English, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, and Bengali.
About Tata AIA Life Insurance:
MD & CEO – Mr. Naveen Tahilyani
Max Life Appointed as Lead Insurer for UP under State Insurance Plan of IRDAI
Max Life Insurance Company Ltd (Max Life) has been appointed as the “Lead Insurer” for the State of Uttar
Pradesh (UP) by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). This move is part
of IRDAI’s state insurance plan to enhance financial awareness and insurance inclusion.
Note:
• Max Life has also been appointed as the Lead Insurer for Arunachal Pradesh.
• Liberty General Insurance Ltd was appointed as the Lead Insurer for Delhi by the IRDAI under
State Insurance plan.
Features of Max Life as a Lead Insurer:
i.Max Life, by supporting this vision, aims to create awareness, accessibility of affordable insurance coverage
across UP in the first phase via digital insurance awareness activities, initiated by Max Life in Chandauli and
Varanasi of UP.
ii.It plans to introduce similar initiatives to other districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur,
Kaushambi, Siddharthnagar, and Shravasti, in the next 6 months.
• These districts are also a part of the Government of India’s (GoI) ‘Aspirational Districts Programme’
that aims to increase financial inclusion and skill development.
iii.It uses the approach of digitally managed distribution ecosystem with custom-made policies.
iv.It aims to support micro-entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, especially for women by
adopting the IRDAI’s Bima Vahak model in the near future.
Recent Survey of Max Life:
Max Life recently conducted a survey in association with KANTAR, ‘India Protection Quotient (IPQ), an annual
survey of Rural edition in 113 villages to drive awareness and adoption of life insurance in rural India

It was revealed that rural India scored low of 12 points on the protection quotient scale, as compared to urban
India’s score of 43
IRDAI State Insurance Plan:
i.The IRDAI’s state insurance plan is a collaborative effort with insurers by assigning two state governments to
each insurer to increase financial awareness and drive insurance inclusion.
ii.The initiative aims to enable insurance for all by 2047, where every citizen has an appropriate life, health and
property insurance cover, and every enterprise is supported by appropriate insurance solutions.
Cholamandalam MS Insurance Appointed as a Lead Insurer for West Bengal by IRDAI
Cholamandalam (Chola) MS General Insurance Company Ltd, a joint venture (JV) of the Murugappa Group
and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd, Japan, has been appointed ‘Lead Insurer‘ for the state of West
Bengal by the IRDAI in line with the its vision of “Insurance for All by 2047” (State Insurance Plan) to increase
insurance awareness and penetration throughout West Bengal.
Key Points:
i.Under this plan, Chola MS Insurance will focus on various aspects of health protection, coverage against
natural calamities, increasing employment opportunities, and protecting the business of Micro Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through comprehensive insurance offerings.
ii.The company has devised a bunch of initiatives to ensure the benefits of insurance reach the people including
awareness and outreach programs, strengthening the insurance distribution network, and ensuring speedy
grievance redressal and efficient claim settlement processes.
iii.Chola MS Insurance has opened a 10,000 square feet state headquarters in Kolkata (West Bengal), which will
serve as a hub, offering comprehensive insurance products and services to all subdivisions in West Bengal.
• The State headquarters was inaugurated by Mr. M.M Murugappan, Chairman of Chola MS Insurance,
and Mr. V. Suryanarayanan, Managing Director (MD) Chola MS Insurance.
On June 2, 2023, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) identified SBI Life
Insurance Company Limited (SBI Life) as the acquirer–insurer of the business of Sahara India Life Insurance Co.
(SILIC).
• In this regard, SBI Life shall take over the policy liabilities of around two lakh policies of SILIC,
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
It is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament, i.e., Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
Act, 1999 (IRDAI Act 1999) .It is a public authority as defined in the Right to Information Act, 2005
Chairman– Debasish Panda
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
Incorporated in– 2000
India & Bangladesh Launch Trade Transactions in Rupees to Lower Dollar Usage
In a significant move aimed at strengthening trade and reducing dependency on the US dollar, Bangladesh and
India have initiated transactions in Rupees as India is the top export destination for Bangladesh in Asia.
• This marks the first time Bangladesh has engaged in
bilateral trade with a foreign country outside the
realm of the US dollar. The exchange rate is based on
Market Demand.
• The launching ceremony was attended by Indian High
Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma IFS and
Bangladesh Bank (The central bank of Bangladesh)
Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder on behalf of India
and Bangladesh respectively.
Agreement Between India & Bangladesh:
i. The two countries have agreed to start settling trade in Rupees initially, and then gradually in Taka as the

trade gap between the two countries decreases. This is because Bangladesh imports more from India(USD
13.69 billion) than exports to India (USD 2 billion).
ii. The transaction costs in trade with India would reduce with the introduction of the Taka(Currency of
Bangladesh)-Rupee dual currency card which was about to be launched in September 2023.
iii. The permission was granted to open Nostro Accounts which will make it easier for businesses in the two
countries to trade with each other in their own currencies.
About Taka-Rupee Dual Currency Card:
• PayCard(a new debit card) for transactions in Indian Rupee as well as Bangladeshi Taka.
• This card can be used both in Bangladesh and India.
• Announced in the recent Monetary Policy of Bangladesh by Bangladesh Bank
About Nostro Account:
A Nostro account is an account held by one bank on behalf of another bank. It allows the customers to deposit
money in the bank’s account in another bank. It is often used if a bank has no branches in a foreign country.
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister – Sheikh Hasina Wazed
President – Mohammed Shahabuddin
Capital – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Currency – Bangladeshi Taka
PhonePe Launched One Stop POS Solution for its Merchants

On 6th July 2023, PhonePe launched its Point-of-sale (POS) device that enables merchants to accept payments
through Debit Cards, Credit Cards and UPI, with a simplified settlement experience.
• The device comes preloaded with the PhonePe POS App and supports transactions through
tap/swipe/dip and interoperable dynamic QR (Quick Response) codes.
• The POS device, built on the Android platform, can be accessed in areas of cellular coverage.
Reliable and security being its top features, it has PCI-PTS 6(Payment Card Industry-PIN Transaction
Security) certification safeguarding both merchant and consumer data.
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance sets Guinness World Records title at the first-ever General
Insurance Festival of India
On 3rd July 2023, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company (BAGIC), one of the leading private general insurers
of India, hosted the first-ever General Insurance Festival of India (GIFI) in Pune, Maharashtra, which officially
set a new Guinness World Records achievements for the largest attendance for an insurance conference.
There was a record turnout of 5235 attendees who contributed to creating history in the insurance
industry worldwide. This record-breaking achievement was announced at the main event of GIFI.
As a part of GIFI, Bajaj has established the GIFI Awards in India to recognise the top-ranked health and general
insurance advisors across the insurance industry.
Highlights:
i. GIFI started with the idea of creating a platform that brings together the best in the general insurance
industry and celebrates the industry’s contribution towards society’s well-being.
ii. The event included a remarkable performance by the comedian Sunil Grover and a musical performance by
the music composer Pritam among other spectacular performances.
iii. The event had various attractions like an automobile zone featuring manufacturers like Porsche, McLaren
Automotive, and Lamborghini.
Key People:
The event was graced by Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Bajaj Finserv; Charu Kaushal –
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Allianz Partners India and other eminent industry representatives.

GIFI Awards announced the top-ranked health and general insurance advisors across the insurance
industry
During GIFI, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance announced the winners and runners of the health and general
insurance advisors across the insurance industry.
• Based on a strict assessment process conducted by an independent process reviewer and a third-
party panel of judges, the company announced and honoured winners and runners-up for each
category at the GIFI.
• The judging panel for the GIFI Awards are Dr. S Prakash, MD of Star Health Insurance, Alice G
Vaidyan, former chairman and MD of General Insurance Corporation of India, and Nilesh Sathe,
Former Member of IRDAI.
Winners and Runners-up of the GIFI awards:
S.No Category Winner Runner
Best Health Insurance Advisor Mayank Chander Kothari Shakeel Ahmed (Mumbai,
1 of India (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) Maharashtra)
Best Motor Insurance Advisor Shiv Kumar Gupta (Varanasi, Uttar

2 in India Pradesh) Gaurav Sharma (Delhi)
Best Property Insurance Priyadarshini Sheshadri (Bengaluru, Bipin Kumar Patel (Mehsana,
3 Advisor in India Karnataka) Gujarat)
Best Multiline Insurance Prashant Shah (Mumbai,

4 Advisor in India Maharashtra) Charu Bharti (Delhi)
Best Woman Insurance Advisor Priti Sameer Shah (Mumbai,

5 in India Maharashtra) Karishma Chhabra (Delhi)
Razorpay India launches first International payment gateway through Curlec in Malaysia
On 12 July 2023, Razorpay, a prominent Indian Full-Stack Payments and Business Banking Platform, unveiled
its first international Payment Gateway in Malaysia, in collaboration with Curlec, under the brand ‘Curlec By
Razorpay’ with the aims to bridge the gap between local and international payment gateways.
Key Points:
• Payment Gateway intends to cater to over 5,000 businesses, with a target of achieving an annualised
Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Malaysian Ringgit 10 billion (USD 2.1 billion) by 2025.
• Razorpay bought the Malaysian startup Curlec in a USD($)20 Million deal in February, 2022.
Additional Info:
• Collaboration was driven by a shared vision to develop products that cater to the needs of the South
East Asian(SEA) region.
• Razorpay is eager to capitalise on Malaysia’s growing digital economy, as digital trade contributed
22.6% to the country’s total Gross Domestic product (GDP) in 2021, with an expected rise to 25.5%
by 2025.
• In May 2023, Razorpay launched ‘Turbo UPI’ – a one-step payment solution for the UPI network.
• In the last week of April 2023, it joined India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce
(ONDC) platform to streamline payment processes.
• Razorpay has roped in former RBI deputy governor NS Vishwanathan as the chairperson of the new
advisory board in April 2023..

About Razorpay India:
Founder & Managing Director (MD)- Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar
Headquarters – Bangalore, Karnataka
LIC launches Jeevan Kiran to offer Life Cover with Premium Return
On 28th July 2023, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched a new term assurance plan “Jeevan
Kiran”, a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings, and life Insurance plan that offers a combination of
protection and savings.
Eligibility & Restrictions:
• Age(Entry): Minimum 18 years to Maximum 65 years.
• Age (Maturity): Minimum 28 years to Maximum 80 years.
• Policy Term : 10 years to 40 years
• Minimum Basic Sum Assured: Rs 15 Lakhs.
• Maximum Basic Sum Assured: No Limit
• Minimum Premium: Rs 3000 for Regular Premium Policies & Rs 30000 for Single Premium Policies.
Features:
i.This policy will provide financial support to the family in case of unfortunate death of the life assured during
the policy term and returns the total premiums paid in case of survival till maturity.
ii.This is a non-participating product under which benefits payable on death or maturity are guaranteed and
fixed irrespective of actual experience.
Benefits payable in case of death
i.For policies with Regular Premium Payments, the “Sum Assured on Death” will be highest of Seven times the
Annualised Premium (or) 105% of the “Total Premium Paid” up to the date of death (or) Basic Sum Assured.
ii.For policies with Single Premium Payment, the “Sum Assured on Death” is determined as the greater of
125% of the Single Premium (or) Basic Sum Assured.
It is to be noted that the Death benefits can be received as lump sum or in five equal instalments with intervals
of annually, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly
Maturity benefit
Upon maturity, if the policy is still active, the “Sum Assured on Maturity” will be equivalent to the “Total
Premiums Received by LIC” (after deducting any excess premium, rider premium, taxes, etc.) under both
Regular Premium and Single Premium Payment Policies.
Additional Info:
i.The plan offers differential premium rates for Smoker/Non-Smoker lives.
ii.Housewives and pregnant ladies are not eligible for this plan. Female lives proposals may be submitted only
after six months from the date of their last delivery.
iii.The policy offers two optional riders(supplementary benefits added in the primary life insurance policy)
availed by paying an extra premium
• Accidental Death and Disability Benefit Rider
• Accident Benefit Rider
About Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India:
Chairperson – Siddhartha Mohanty
Bajaj Allianz Life launched ‘First Time Ever’ a Flexible and Rewarding Life Insurance Plan
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched a new life insurance plan called Bajaj Allianz Life ACE, a plan that is
non-linked, participating, and offers early-income benefits, empowering customers to customise their cash
flows. This is the first plan which allows such a customisation.

• Unique feature is that the plan offers an early or deferred income option, allowing customers to start
receiving income from the beginning of the policy or defer it for up to 5 years.
Key Features:
i. The plan offers the Goal Protection Benefit, ensuring that even in the unfortunate event of the
policyholder’s death, their family continues to receive the income throughout the policy term.
ii. The customers have the flexibility to choose between a higher income to generate additional cash flow, a
higher lump sum for creating a legacy, or a balance of both regular income and lump sum payouts.
Four product options:
1. Deferred Income: Customers receive income after the premium-payment term, with the flexibility
to delay its start for up to 5 years.
2. Early Income: Policyholders receive income from the first policy month or year after the deferment
period, along with cash bonuses (if declared) and guaranteed income.
3. Increasing Income: This option provides higher income after the premium-payment term,
combining guaranteed income and potential cash bonuses.
4. Wealth: Customers receive a lump sum amount at the end of the policy term, including the maturity
sum assured, accrued simple reversionary bonus and terminal bonus.
The death benefit is guaranteed to be at least 105% of total premiums paid, with the sum assured on death
being 11 times the annualized premium.
About Life Insurance:
Insurance serves as a protective measure against potential (financial) losses. The insurance industry comprises
two main sectors: life insurance and general insurance. Life insurance pertains to the policyholder’s life, while
general insurance covers various other aspects.
• The introduction of life insurance in India can be attributed to British influence. In 1818, a British
company established the Oriental Life Insurance Company in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
About Bajaj Allianz Life:
A Joint Venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited and Allianz SE (world’s leading global insurer and asset
manager)
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Tarun Chugh
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
India voluntarily contributes USD 1 million to UN for promoting use of Hindi language in the
UN
India contributed USD 1 million as part of a voluntary contribution to the United Nations (UN)
towards expansion of usage of the Hindi language in the UN and to encourage inclusive dialogue and
understanding.
• Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN handed over a cheque of USD 1
million to Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under Secretary General of the UN Department of Global
Communications.
• Hindi@UN project, in collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information of the UN, was
launched in 2018, with the goal of increasing the public outreach of the UN in the Hindi language,
and spreading greater awareness about global issues among millions of Hindi-speaking people
around the world.
• The Hindi UN News website remains in the top ten in internet search engines with 1.3 million
annual impressions.

Google Pay Introduced UPI LITE to Boost Small Value Transactions
On 13th July 2023, Google Pay introduced its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) LITE payment (on-device
wallet) feature to allow users to make small payments without entering the UPI personal identification number
(PIN).
• Using Google Pay’s UPI Lite, users can make payments of up to Rs(INR) 200 without the use of a UPI
PIN. Users maintain a balance of Rs 2000 (Maximum balance) in their UPI Lite wallet, which can be
loaded up to twice in a day and can spend up to a total of Rs 4000 within 24 hours.
• This is possible because the LITE account is linked to the user’s bank account but does not rely on
the issuing bank’s core banking system in real time.
Note: The UPI LITE support feature was launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) along with the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in September 2022, and currently it is supported by 15 banks. Paytm,
PhonePe and BHIM(Bharat Interface for Money), have the UPI LITE feature already.
PhonePe Launches India’s First Health Insurance Platform with Monthly Subscriptions
On 18th July 2023, PhonePe Insurance Broking Services Private Limited (PIBS), a wholly owned subsidiary of
PhonePe Private Limited, launched the health insurance plans offering comprehensive insurance in partnership
with leading insurers.
• With this launch, PhonePe Insurance became the first and only Platform in India to enable
customers to pay for insurance in easy monthly installments through Unified Payments Interface
(UPI) on the PhonePe app.
• These health insurance plans come with coverage up to Rs 1 crore.
Note: PhonePe Insurance Is Registered With IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory And Development Authority) As A
Direct Broker (Life And General).
Other benefits:
i. PhonePe Insurance Broking’s health insurance plans offer innovative features, such as a bonus cover that
increases up to 7 times the base cover amount for each claim-free year.
ii. Alongside these comprehensive plans, PhonePe provides users with pre and post-sales assistance, guiding
them in making informed decisions, facilitating the claim process, and accessing other essential services.
Additional Info
i. PhonePe sold over 5.6 million policies to date.
ii. PhonePe Insurance platform has extended its services across 98% of India’s PIN codes.
iii. Additionally, the platform has facilitated more than 200 million vehicle insurance quotes.
About PhonePe Insurance Broking Services Private Limited (PIBS)
HDFC Mutual Fund launches HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure
HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF), has
launched its fourth fund the HDFC Charity Fund For Cancer Cure in partnership with the Indian Cancer
Society (ICS) for the treatment of underprivileged cancer patients.
• The New Fund Offer (NFO) will open on July 28, 2023, and close on August 08, 2023. It is a closed-
ended income scheme and a f Fixed Maturity Plan(FMP) with a tenure of 1,196 days.
Key highlights:
i.The HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure offers investors the option to donate 50% or 75% of Income
Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal (IDCW) to the ICS.
• These donations will be eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (under
the old regime).

ii.HDFC AMC will match donations with an equal amount directly contributed to ICS (subject to limit of Rs 16
crore per financial year).
iii.HDFC AMC has waived all investment management and advisory fees and ensured that the maximum benefit
goes towards supporting cancer patients.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launches ICICI Pru Protect N Gain, a Protection based Saving
Life Insurance Plan
On 24th July 2023, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Prudential Life), launched
‘ICICI Pru Protect N Gain‘, a protection-oriented life insurance plan that offers life protection against
Accidental Death and Accidental Disability (Permanent disability due to accident) along with market-linked
returns.
• The scheme offers the dual benefits of protection and long-term savings to achieve the fundamental
needs of customers.
• The product provides the opportunity to offer life insurance protection of up to 100 times the
annual premium and enables customers to maximise returns through 18 funds options spread
across equity and debt.
• It provides the customers a life insurance cover for the entire policy time and ensures financial
security to their families during the policy tenure and significant lump sum for self on survival.
Note: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited is promoted by ICICI Bank Limited and Prudential
Corporation Holdings Limited.
Bajaj Finserv launches first equity scheme in flexi-cap category

Bajaj Finserv Asset Management launched its first equity Fund ‘Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund’ in the flexi-cap
category, an open-ended and dynamic equity scheme.
• The New Fund Offer (NFO) opens for subscription on July 24 and closes on 7th August 2023.
• Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Limited.
Investment Approach
i.Flexi-cap fund invests across companies of any market capitalizations including large-caps, mid-caps, and
small-caps companies.
ii.Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund will follow an investment philosophy based on INQUBE – the Asset Management
Company (AMC)’s proprietary framework that adds the layer of behavioural finance to the informational and
quantitative edges.
iii.It also invests based on Megatrends investing approach and their experts spot across sectors, themes,
market capitalization and geographies.
Fund Manager: The scheme will be managed by Nimesh Chandan (Chief Investment Officer),Sorbh
Gupta(Senior Fund Manager – Equity) and Siddharth Chaudhary (Senior Fund Manager – Fixed Income)
Megatrends
Megatrends are long-term developments that impact various aspects of society significantly such as
technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, demographic shifts, environmental concerns and
more.
Razorpay launches ‘MoneySaver Export Account’ for Indian exporters to save 50% on overseas
bank transfers
On 26th July 2023, Razorpay, a Finetech company announced the launch of its ‘MoneySaver Export Account‘,
built specifically for small and mid-size exporters by offering up to 50% savings on international bank transfers
for the Indian exporters. The facility allows exporters to open an account in any country of their choice (over
160 countries).

• The exporters receive international payments locally via the Razorpay platform such as FedWire,
Automated Clearing House (ACH) and more in order to save from high transfer costs, chargebacks
and payment failures.
• With the MoneySaver Export Account, Indian exporters can experience consistent wire transfer
from their international customers over 200 countries and have their funds settled directly in their
Indian bank accounts.
By using the Razorpay dashboard, users can access the features and all the payments will come with an
electronic Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS).
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

IMF WEO July 2023 Update projects Indian Economy Growth at 6.1% in 2023
On July 25, 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its ‘July 2023 World Economic Outlook (WEO)
Update- Near-Term Resilience, Persistent Challenges‘ projected a growth rate of 6.1% for India in 2023, which
is a 0.2 percentage point upward revision compared with the April 2023 projection of 5.9%.
• This shows a stronger-than-expected growth in the Q4 of 2022 driven by robust domestic
investment.
• For 2024, it remained at 6.3%, as projected in April 2023 WEO Update. India grew at 7.2% in 2022.
Note: In this update, for India, data and projections are presented on a fiscal year basis, with FY 2022-23
(starting in April 2022).
• As per Calendar Year, India’s growth projections are 6.6% in 2023 and 5.8% in 2024.
The Global Scenario:
i.The global growth is projected to fall at 3% in both 2023 and 2024 from an estimated 3.5% in 2022.
ii.Global headline inflation is projected to fall to 6.8% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2024 from 8.7% in 2022.
iii.The global recovery is slowing amid increased dissimilarity among economic sectors and regions.
iv.The forecast for 2023 is modestly higher than predicted in the April 2023 WEO, however, it remains weak by
historical standards.
v.The outlook projected the moderation of adverse risk globally as the United States (US) debt ceiling standoff,
and strong action by authorities to contain turbulence in US and Swiss banking which reduced the immediate
risks of financial sector turmoil.
Regional Highlights:
i.On the regional front, Emerging market and Developing Economies will grow at 4% in 2023, and 4.1% in
2024.
ii.Emerging and Developing Asia will grow at 5.3% in 2023, and 5% in 2024.
• China and India are part of this region.
ADO July 2023: ADB Retained India’s GDP Growth Forecast at 6.4% in FY2023
Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2023: Robust Growth with Moderating Inflation published by the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has retained India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast at 6.4% in
FY2023 and 6.7% in FY2024, as projected in ADO April 2023.
• The inflation projection for India in FY2023 is reduced slightly from 5.0% in ADO April 2023 to 4.9%
and maintained at 4.5% in FY2024.
• This is driven by continued domestic demand that supports India’s recovery.
• The growth in South Asia is projected at 5.5% in 2023 and 6.1% in 2024.
Highlights:
i.Inflation in developing Asia is forecast at 3.6% for FY2023, compared with an April 2023 forecast of 4.2%. The
inflation outlook for 2024 is raised to 3.4% from an earlier estimate of 3.3%.

ii.For economies in developing Asia, as domestic demand remains robust, the regional growth forecast is
maintained at 4.8% for 2023 and revised down to 4.7% for 2024 from 4.8% in April 2023 forecast.
• Developing Asia consists of 46 economies in the Asia-Pacific and excludes Japan, Australia and New
Zealand.
iii.Growth in Southeast Asia is now expected at 4.6% in 2023 and 4.9% in 2024, down from 4.7% and 5%
previously.
iv.The forecast for Caucasus and Central Asia is revised down marginally to 4.3% from 4.4% for 2023, and to
4.4% from 4.6% in 2024 after oil production in Azerbaijan fell more than expected.
v.The growth forecasts for East Asia are maintained at 4.6% in 2023 and at 4.2% in 2024; and for the Pacific at
3.3% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024.
vi.Headline inflation eased toward pre-pandemic averages as fuel and food prices waned.
About ADO:
i.Asian Development Outlook is the main economic forecasting product from ADB.
ii.It is published each April with an update published in September and brief reports published in July and
December.
Other Forecasts for India:
i.The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee projected GDP growth of 2023-24 at 6.5%.
ii.Fitch Ratings raised its forecast for India’s economic growth to 6.3% for FY24.
iii.World Bank (WB) had also pegged India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.3% in FY24.
Ashok Leyland won orders worth Rs. 800 crore from Indian Army to deliver Defence Vehicles
On 17th July 2023, Ashok Leyland Limited, a part of Hinduja Group, has won a contract worth Rs 800 crore to
supply defence vehicles to the Indian army.
• The contract includes the procurement of the field artillery tractor (FAT 4×4) and the gun towing
vehicle (GTV 6×6).
About FAT 4×4 and GTV 6×6:
The FAT 4×4 and GTV 6×6 are specialised vehicles employed by the artillery for towing light and medium guns,
respectively. Both these platforms were apparently featured in the initial positive indigenisation list announced
by the government of India.
• The vehicles will be delivered over the next 12 months to meet the requirements of the Indian Army.
Key Highlights:
i. Ashok Leyland’s selection for these pivotal Defence contracts emphasises its commitment to indigenous
manufacturing and its position as a trusted partner for the Indian Armed Forces.
ii. The contract also establishes the leadership of Ashok Leyalnd in the defence mobility vehicle business.
iii. Ashok Leyland has invested in development of mobility platforms ranging from 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, 10×10 &
12×12 for various applications and operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
iv. These platforms are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Ashok Leyland and contribute
significantly towards import substitution.
v. The new order secured from the Defence Sector marked a significant milestone in the journey of Ashok
Leyland, which is going to celebrate its 75th anniversary in September 2023.
vi. Ashok Leyland is looking at speeding up its defence business over the next 3 years to achieve Rs 3,500 crore
plus tender win, compared with Rs 2,000 crore plus win over the past 5 years.
About Ashok Leyland Ltd:
Founded in- 1948
Headquarters- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Shenu Agarwal

HDFC Bank Crossed USD 100 Billion Valuation; Becomes World’s 7th largest Lender
On 14th July 2023, following its reverse merger with its parent company, Housing Development Finance
Corporation (HDFC) limited, HDFC Bank crossed the USD 100 billion market capitalisation(m-cap) and traded
at a market value of around USD 152 billion. With this, HDFC Bank has emerged as the World’s 7th largest
lender, moving ahead of Bank of China and Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs.
HDFC bank has entering the list of the world’s top 10 banks by market capitalisation. JPMorgan Chase (USD 438
billion) tops the list followed by Bank of America at 2nd (USD 232 billion) and ICBC at 3rd (USD 224 billion).
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS

NASSCOM signed MoU with MIDAS & MAG to set up 1st launch pad in UK for Indian tech SMEs
On 29th June 2023, The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), the leading
organisation representing India’s technology industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with MIDAS (Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency) and MAG (Manchester Airports Group) to establish first
NASSCOM launch pad in the United Kingdom (UK) to promote innovation, investment, and technological
exchange between Greater Manchester (UK), and India.
• Under this MoU, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Indian tech companies seeking to establish
their presence in Greater Manchester (the UK) will have the opportunity to access 180 days of rent-free
office space within Manchester Airport’s premises.
Note: MAG is the largest group of airports in the UK, operating Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands
Airport. It also has a digital travel services business, called ‘Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited’ (CAVU).
Background:
i. The MoU is an outcome of NASSCOM’s visit to the UK in September 2022, supported by the Department of
Business and Trade, Government of UK.
Note: The collaboration was initiated following the success of similar initiatives in Canada.
About the Collaboration:
i. The companies will also be assisted in terms of ecosystem connections, introductions to stakeholders, and
other supportive measures to facilitate a “Faster Go-To-Market” approach.
ii. NASSCOM will actively promote this proposition among its membership base and this collaboration is a
positive demonstration to facilitate trade ties on the ground, especially when both UK and India are at an
advanced stage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) negotiations.
Benefits:
i. This initiative will help lower initial set up costs for SMEs and enhance their credibility in the UK market.
ii. This new agreement has the potential to unlock significant opportunities for collaboration across trade and
investment.
Note: About 7 Indian companies will be setting up their operations in the 1st phase of this pilot project.
Key Points:
i. The companies participating in the NASSCOM launchpad will be housed within 4M, an office suite at
Manchester Airport, where CAVU is also based, along with a number of other businesses.
Note: The 4M is a method that allows to identify and group causes that impact to a specific effect. 4M categories
(Material, Method, Machine, Man (Workforce))
ii. The NASSCOM delegation presently in the UK comprises of 25 Tech SMEs and is scheduled to visit locations
such as Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, other than London in the UK, to understand the unique value
proposition offered by each location.

About National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM):
Chairperson- Anant Maheshwari
President- Debjani Ghosh
Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh
UK signed treaty to join Trans-Pacific trading bloc

On 16th July 2023, the United Kingdom (UK) signed a deal to join the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major Asia-Pacific trading bloc in New Zealand and
became the first new member and first European nation to join since it was formed in 2018.
Kemi Badenoch, the Business and Trade Secretary of the UK signed the treaty confirming UK’s accession
protocol for the CPTPP in New Zealand.
• With the inclusion of the UK, the collective Gross domestic product (GDP) of the bloc, comprising
Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam,
will amount to 12 trillion pounds (USD 15.7 trillion), or 15% of the global GDP.
• The deal would mark the significant trade agreement for Britain since its departure from the
European Union in 2020.
It will bring a barrier-free trade access for British businesses to a market of 500 million people and access to
the wider region and the pact is expected to come into force in the second half of 2024.
MoD signed a contract of Rs. 2725 Cr with MDL for INS Shankush
On 30th June 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL) for the Medium Refit with Life Certification (MRLC) of the Indian Navy Ship “INS Shankush”, a
SubSurface Killer (SSK) Class of Submarine.
• The cost of the overall contract is Rs.2725 crore and the delivery of the Submarine post-MRLC will
be in 2026.
• Under this contract, INS Shankush, a submarine belonging to the SSK Class, will undergo
comprehensive renovation and life certification at MDL’s facility in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: INS Shankush belongs to the Shishumar class of Submarines and has a speed of 22 knots.
About the Contract:
i. This contract holds the significant step towards the development of MDL as a Maintenance, Repair &
Overhaul (MRO) hub for supporting the industrial ecosystem of India.
ii. The project is set to involve the participation of over 30 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
iii. It would lead to employment generation of 1200 man-days per day throughout the project duration.
iv. The INS Shankush project will be a flag bearer of Atmanirbhar Bharat in accordance with the Government of
India’s Make-in-India initiative.
Additional Info:
MDL is also currently in the process of finalising an agreement with the United States of America’ s (USA) Navy
to provide maintenance and repair services during voyages for its fleet.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister- Raj Nath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)- Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital- Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
IN & ICG signed MoU with IPRCL to develop a gallery at NMHC

On 2nd July 2023, The Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has signed an Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to set
up a Naval gallery at National Maritime Heritage Complex (NHMC).

• The MoU aims at Planning, Development, Construction, and Commissioning of Gallery No.6, based
on the theme, “Evolution of Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard” in Phase 1A of this Project.
Note: Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the project process of National Maritime Heritage Complex,World’s
biggest maritime museum complex, Lothal in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Signatories:
i.This MoU has been signed by Commandant PV Gopal, Project Officer, NMHC, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and AK
Gupta, Managing Director(MD), Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd.
ii.The signing of MoU took place in presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, MoPSW, Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief
Minister(CM) of Gujarat, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shantanu Thakur
and Shripad Yesso Naik, Ministers of State(MoS) MoPSW and senior officers of the Indian Coast Guard and
Indian Navy.
About NHMC:
i.Ministry of Ports,Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is building NHMC at the historic Indus Valley civilization
(IVC) region in Lothal, Gujarat, at an investment of Rs 4,500 crore.
ii.The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi in March 2019.
iii.Indian Navy and coast guard will work for the planning, development, construction, and commissioning of
the gallery.
Key highlights:
i.NMHC complex will have World’s Tallest Lighthouse Museum, Asia’s Biggest Under Water Marine Museum
and India’s Grandest Naval Museum
i.iIt will showcase the maritime heritage of the country from ancient to modern times by adopting an
edutainment approach using the latest technology to spread awareness about India’s maritime heritage.
iii.It will comprise of Lothal mini recreation to recreate Harappan architecture and lifestyle; four theme parks –
Memorial theme park, Maritime and Navy theme park, Climate theme park, and Adventure and Amusement
theme park; 14 galleries highlighting India’s maritime heritage starting from the Harappan times till now; a
Coastal States pavilion displaying the diverse maritime heritage of states and Union Territories(UT).
Note: NMHC is one of the major projects of Sagarmala Programme under MoPSW.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister- Sarbananda Sonowal
Minister of State- Shantanu Thakur; Shripad Yesso Naik.
NADA India signs MoU with SARADO to increase the Regional Cooperation in anti-doping in
sport
On 3rd July 2023, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (SARADO),comprising of Anti-Doping Organizations of
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka to increase the Regional Cooperation in anti-doping in
sports NADA India – SARADO Cooperation Meet in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The collaboration helps in collectively addressing the challenges posed by doping practices in
sports.
• This agreement marks a significant milestone as the first of its kind for India in the field of anti-
doping.
Key highlights:
The project plan includes the development of anti-doping education and prevention programmes in South Asia;
training and upskilling of sample collection personnel and educators; organising seminars and workshops;
facilitating exchange programmes; and producing educational literature on anti-doping over a period of 3
years.
What is Doping in sports?
Doping is the act of consuming artificial and often illegal substances to gain an advantage over others in
sporting competitions (for example:anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, stimulants and diuretics).

About National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) India :
NADA India was set up as registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 on November 24,
2005 with a mandate for Dope free sports in India.
• Director General & Chief executive officer(CEO) – Ms. Ritu Sain
About South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (SARADO):
i.SARADO was formed on 16th May 2007 in the South Asian Anti-Doping Program Project Development
Meeting held in Maldives.It comprises of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka to value and foster
doping free sport.
• Director General – Mr. Mohamed Mahid Shareef,
RAKEZ & ICFA signed MoU to promote Trade and Innovations in Food and Agriculture Sectors
between UAE and India
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote growth and development within the food and agriculture
sectors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Ramy Jallad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RAKEZ Group and Dr MJ Khan, Chairman
of ICFA.
Significance of the MoU:
i. The MoU aims to create opportunities for knowledge exchange, trade promotion, investment, and research
and development collaboration.
ii. It emphasises the commitment to strengthen relationships with international organisations like ICFA and
recognising India’s role as a strategic trade and investment partner for the UAE.
iii. The collaboration aims to provide opportunities for capacity-building, enabling tech and agricultural
companies in the RAKEZ business community to enhance their methods and share innovative, sustainable
farming techniques with major Indian companies.
iv. RAKEZ and ICFA will actively identify and promote investment opportunities for Indian businesses in the
economic zone, serving as an attractive gateway to the Middle East through this partnership.
v. This MoU further strengthens the UAE-India relations, which have been raised by the Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)signed in February 2022.
Features of the MoU:
i. Under this MoU, RAKEZ will enable Indian agri-businesses to explore profitable opportunities in the Middle
East/North Africa (MENA) region through Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
ii. The proposed joint research and development projects will stimulate agricultural innovation and contribute
significantly to the sector’s advancement in both India and the UAE.
iii. The MoU will facilitate promotional activities for trade, market access, and business matchmaking between
Indian food and agriculture companies and businesses within the RAKEZ ecosystem.
Additional Info:
i. As one of the UAE’s largest trading partners, India brings valuable innovation and expertise in the food and
agriculture sectors, particularly in sustainable farming and food processing technologies.
ii. Over 4,000 Indian companies, including Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, and Dabur, already operating in RAKEZ,
the collaboration with ICFA promises to further boost Indian presence and investment in the UAE.
About Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA):
ICFA is a society registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860, established in 2015
President- Prof. Panjab Singh

India Post & Canada Post signed a bilateral Tracked Packet agreement
According to the Gazette of India notified by the Department of Post, Ministry of Communication, dated June 28,
2023, India Post & Canada Post have signed a bilateral Tracked Packet agreement to introduce International
Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) between two countries to facilitate e-commerce exports.
• The service commenced operation with effect from July 01, 2023.
• The service will provide a competitive shipping solution for packets up to 2 kg with a tracking
facility and fulfil a major demand of exporters. The postage rates for the first 50 gms would be Rs
400 and Rs 35 for every additional 50 gms.
• India Post already provides ITPS service with 38 partner countries and Canada will be the 39th.
Note:On 1st June 2023, the ITPS service was expanded from 16 to 38 countries by bringing on 22 new partners,
including the United Kingdom (UK), France, the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Egypt, and Oman.
Japan to Export to India Stealthy UNICORN NORA-50 Integration Mast

India and Japan have recently solidified their strategic partnership with a Memorandum of Cooperation
(MoC) for the development of the UNICORN (UNIted COnbined Radio aNtenna) NORA-50 integration mast.
The MoC brings strategic partnership between two countries in the field of defence Technology.
• This unique horn-shaped structure consolidates multiple
antennas for tactical data link, TACAN (Tactical Air
Navigation), and communications, aiming to reduce radar
cross-section (RCS) and enhance operational capabilities.
• TACAN is a vital navigation tool in military aviation by
providing accurate aircraft placement, particularly in
difficult operational settings, and contributing to the
overall safety and effectiveness of military missions. The
aim of the project is to improve military systems’
navigational skills by incorporating TACAN capabilities into the NORA-50.
Key Highlight:
i.The NORA-50’s development is crucial in modern warfare as it decreases RCS, enhancing stealth and mission
success rates. Integrating multiple antennas streamlines installation, reduces system weight, and optimises
space utilisation on military platforms for efficient communication and minimal interference.
• The collaboration recognizes the significance of advanced communication and data link systems in
modern warfare, enhancing situational awareness and quick decision-making.
ii. The project includes joint research, development, and technology transfer, benefiting both nations.
iii. Beyond technological advancements, this partnership strengthens diplomatic and strategic ties. The NORA-
50’s development holds far-reaching implications for their defence forces, becoming a critical component of
advanced military platforms with enhanced communication, navigation, and stealth capabilities.
iii.The collaboration underscores their commitment to advancing defence capabilities through joint research,
development, and innovation.
iv. By combining expertise, they aim to develop cutting-edge technologies addressing defence challenges and
promoting regional stability.
DGCA signed MoU with EASA for Unmanned Aircraft Systems & Innovative Air Mobility
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aviation regulator of India has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), aviation regulator of Europe, to
enhance cooperation in the areas of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and innovative air mobility.
• The MoU focuses on cooperation in the areas of development of certification standards,
environmental standards and related requirements for the certification and use of unmanned
aircraft systems and innovative air mobility operations.

• This encloses aspects such as licensing of personnel, training, air traffic management and
infrastructure, including the establishment of standards and services for Unmanned Aircraft System
Traffic Management (UTM).
Significance of the MoU:
i. The MoU emphasises the significance of regular information sharing between DGCA and EAS on the
technological developments and research in this area.
ii. It also encourages both authorities to collaborate on respective strategies for outreach to relevant
stakeholders.
iii. To promote knowledge exchange and capacity building, it will facilitate joint conferences, workshops,
training programs by DGCA and EASA in this area.
iv. The signing of this MoU is expected to result in significant impact on the standards and accelerated growth
of the Indian Unmanned Aviation Sector.
Letter of Intent:
The partnership between DGCA and EASA, initiated with the signing of letter of intent (LoI) by the DGCA on
UAS and Innovative Air Mobility with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) during the European
Union (EU)-India Aviation Summit held in New Delhi, Delhi on 20th April 2023.
About European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA):
Executive Director- Patrick Ky
Chair of the Management Board- Piotr Samson
Headquarters- Cologne, Germany
India, Singapore Have Extended MoU to Co-operate on Public Administration Till ‘2028
On 6th July 2023, The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions(MoPPG &P), and the Public Service Division, of the Republic of
Singapore have signed a protocol document to extend the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Cooperation in Personnel Management and Public Administration for another five years till 2028.
Key points:
i.The MoU aims to strengthen the partnership between India and Singapore public services.
ii.The activities that are covered under the MoU includes cooperation in the areas of Administrative Reforms &
Public Sector Transformation, Public Service Delivery, Leadership and Talent Development, E-Governance,
Capacity Building and Training.
Signing of the MoU:
i.The MoU was signed by V Srinivas, secretary on behalf of DARPG, and High Commissioner of Singapore to
India, Simon Wong.
ii.The signing ceremony was attended by senior officers of the Singapore High Commission and DARPG.
Permanent Secretary, Public Service Division, Republic of Singapore also attended and addressed the event
virtually.
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions(MoPPG&P):
Union minister- Narendra Modi (Prime Minister)(Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of state- Dr. Jitendra Singh(Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir)
THDCIL Signs MoU with NHAI for Technical Services for Road Safety
On 4th July 2023, THDC India Ltd (THDCIL), a Mini Ratna category-I company under National Thermal Power
Corporation Limited(NTPC) and a Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at the NHAI headquarters in New
Delhi, Delhi to provide technical services as the technical consultant.

• The collaboration aims to enhance road safety in the National Highway, by addressing the risks
associated with landslides.
i.The MoU was signed by Atul Jain, Executive Director(ED)(Technical) THDCIL, and Amarendra Kumar, CGM
(Technical) of NHAI.
ii.THDCIL will be responsible for assessing landslide susceptibility areas and recommending mitigation
measures for vulnerable slopes between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu&Kashmir on NH(National Highway)
44.
NSIL Signs MoU with Voyager Space to explore Opportunities in Space Technology
Voyager Space, a global leader in space exploration, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under Department of Space (DOS)
and the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• The MoU aims to foster collaboration in spacecraft launch and deployment opportunities on-board
NSIL’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Key Points:
Voyager Space and NSIL will engage in joint research and development efforts to explore the use of space
qualified components from NSIL.
• The collaboration extends beyond launch services and encompasses spacecraft manufacturing,
deployment, operations, and other areas of mutual interest.
• By leveraging NSIL’s expertise in space technology and Voyager Space’s domain knowledge, the
partnership aims to drive innovation and advancement in the small satellite launch industry.
• This is particularly significant as small satellite launches have been gaining prominence in recent
years due to their cost-effectiveness and versatility.
Note: Voyager Space has already achieved success in flying customer satellites on two PSLV missions. The
collaboration with NSIL further strengthens Voyager Space’s presence in the Indian space market and opens up
new avenues for commercial space exploration in India and beyond.
About NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) – The commercial arm of ISRO:
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) – Radhakrishnan Durairaj
Gujarat signed six MoUs with private industries for mangrove plantation under MISHTI scheme
On 6th July 2023, The government of Gujarat signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six
industries for the mangrove plantation over 3000 hectares of land, under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative
for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme.
• The objective of these agreements were to increase the mangrove plantation cover along the
coastline of Gujarat.
• The 6 MoUs were signed with Digvijay Cement Limited, Nayara Energy Limited, RSPL Limited, Tata
Chemicals Society for Rural Development, Cairn Oil and Gas (Vedanta Limited) and Reliance
Industries Limited (RIL).
The MoU was signed during the event organised to launch the Hariyali Mahotsav, a drive to plant mangroves
in Dwarka town of Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat.
Key people:
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate
Change, , Poonamben Madam, Member of Parliament(MP- Lok Sabha – Jamnagar and Dwarka), and Mulubhai
Bera, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities & Forest and Environment, Government of Gujarat.
Details of MoUs:
The 6 companies have agreed to support mangrove plantation in cumulatively 3006 ha and pledged Rs 6 crore

for the same.
Digvijay Cement has pledged to support mangrove plantation in 40 ha, Nayara in 250 ha, RSPL Limited in 100
ha, Tata Chemicals in 200 ha, Vedanta in 1000 ha and RIL in 1416 ha.
Details of the MoU between RIL & Gujarat:
Under the MoU between RIL and Gujarat Government, mangrove forest in around 1416 hectares area of Marine
National Park will be developed under the MISHTI Scheme.
• The mangroves forest will be developed at a cost of Rs 510 lakh in the next 5 years.
Mangrove Coverage in Gujarat:
i.Mangrove cover in Gujarat is the second largest after West Bengal.
ii.Mangrove forests are found in the thirteen coastal districts of Gujarat, Kachchh and Jamnagar districts have
the most mangrove coverage among others.
About MISHTI Scheme:
i.MISHTI Scheme initiated with an aim of increasing the Mangroves covering approximately 540 Sq. Kms,
spreading across 9 States and 4 Union Territories within 2027-2028.
ii.The Centre will fund 80% of the project, while state governments will cover the remaining 20%.
iii.The MISHTI initiative aims to share best practices in plantation techniques, conservation measures,
management practises, and resource mobilisation through Public Private Partnership.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
Ramsar sites in Gujarat (Total 4 sites) – Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Lake
Wildlife Sanctuary, Wadhvana Wetland.
ECI & ET of Panama signed MoU on Electoral Cooperation

On 7th July 2023, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Electoral Tribunal (ET) of Panama signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an institutional framework for their ongoing cooperation in
the field of Election Management and Administration.
• The MoU was signed in Panama City, Panama during the interaction between the 3 member ECI
delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar and Alfredo
Juncá Wendehake, Presiding Magistrate, ET of Panama, Eduardo Valdes Escoffery, 1st vice
presidential magistrate and Luis A. Guerra Morales, 2nd vice presidential magistrate, ET of Panama.
• During the meet, they discussed on strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange between
the two Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
Background:
i. ECI has been expanding its links and cooperation with foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs) through
its ‘International Cooperation Programme’.
ii. This is the 4th MoU signed by ECI with an Election Management Body (EMB) in the Latin American region.
• Previously, ECI has signed similar MoUs with Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
iii. ECI has signed an overall 31 MoUs with EMBs and international organisations across the world.
Highlights:
i. The partnership between the 2 nations creates a platform for the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and
technological advancements.
ii. The ECI and ET of Panama are the members of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
Note: Officials from the ET of Panama also attended the international conference on ‘Inclusive Elections and
Elections Integrity’ organised by the EC in March 2023 as the lead for ‘Cohort on Elections Integrity’ under the
aegis of the ‘Summit for Democracy’.
iii. The ECI delegation will be attending the 11th Executive Board Meeting of A-WEB and an International
Conference at Cartagena, Colombia.

Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):
A-WEB is the largest association of EMBs across the world with 119 EMBs as Members & 20 Regional
Associations/Organisations as Associate Members.
About Panama:
Capital- Panama City
President- Laurentino Cortizo Cohen
Currency- Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
National Water Mission Signs MoU with Indian Plumbing Association To Improve Water Use
Efficiency
On 7th July 2023, the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE), under the National Water Mission (NWM) of the
Ministry of Jal Shakti, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Plumbing
Association (IPA) towards achieving a water-positive India by improving water use efficiency.
• The MoU aims to create awareness & promote rain water harvesting structures, low flow fixtures &
sanitary ware, treatment of grey & black water (5Rs: Reduce –Recycle- Reuse-Replenish-Respect),
water audit of built environment.
• Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) has been set up under the Implementation of NWM by the
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &
GR),Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The MoU was signed by Archana Varma, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, on behalf of NWM, Ministry of
Jal Shakti and Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, IPA, Okhla, New Delhi, Delhi.
Outcome of the MoU:
i.The MoU helps to promote the objective of BWUE, to consume less water by increasing water use efficiency by
aligning with the IPA’s ongoing efforts to advocate for water-sensitive fixtures that consume less water.
ii.IPA will cooperate to increase water use efficiency in domestic sector by 50-60% by reducing the
consumption from 135 liters per capita per day (lpcd) to 60 lpcd and the need for water audits in built
environments, such as residential buildings and hotels, to achieve the ambitious target of Net Zero Water
Buildings.
iii.The MoU aligns with the NWM’s Goal-4 to increase the water use efficiency by 20%.
iv.The provisions in the MoU focus on implementation and promotion of the objective of the NWM, through 24
chapters (in various cities) and with more than 6500 members of IPA.
About Ministry of Jal Shakti:
Union Minister– Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Minister of State– Prahlad Singh Patel; Bishweswar Tudu.
MoD & HAL sign Rs 458 crore contract for two Dornier Aircraft
On 7th July 2023, Ministry of Defence(MoD) signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for
procurement of 2 Dornier Aircraft for Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The overall cost is Rs 458.87 crore along with
associated Engineering Support package.
• The aircraft will be procured under the Buy (Indian) Category in New Delhi, Delhi in line with
the Aatmanirbhar Bharat policy.
• The aircraft will be equipped with advanced equipments such as glass cockpit, maritime patrol
radar, electro-optical infrared device, mission management system, etc. which enhances the aerial
surveillance capability of maritime areas under the responsibility of the ICG.
Note: The Dornier aircraft are being indigenously manufactured at HAL (Transport Aircraft Division), Kanpur,
Uttar Pradesh under “Make in India” initiative.

L&T and US Navy signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement for voyage repairs
On 11th July 2023, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) limited has signed a Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA)
with the United States Navy (US Navy) to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the United
States of America (USA) in the defence sector and to contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Note: This MSRA is a direct outcome of the 2022 US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
Background:
i. L&T’s state-of-the-art Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), one of the major node in the
Southern Defence Corridor, has been undertaking voyage repairs of the Military Sealift Command vessels.
ii. Following an elaborate assessment by the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command, the Shipyard was
qualified for the MSRA.
This is equivalent to undertaking warship refits, for which the Shipyard has already been qualified by the
Indian Navy and the Coast Guard.
About MSRA agreement:
i. Under this MSRA, L&T will dedicate all its dynamism, innovation, and Shipbuilding 4.0 techniques to meet the
quality and delivery requirements of the US Navy
ii. The agreement covers a variety of ship repair services, including hull repair, mechanical repair, electrical
repair, painting and so on and the agreement is valid for a period of 5 years.
iii. With this agreement, L&T will expand its presence in the global ship repair market and it will let the US
Navy get its ships repaired at a lower cost.
US Naval Ship (NS) Salvor:
i. The USNS Salvor is the Military Sealift Command’s rescue and salvage ship, which arrived at the shipyard on
9th July for voyage repairs.
ii. The USNS Salvor was the first ship under the MSRA to undergo steel repairs and it is the third US ship
coming to L&T Shipyard for voyage repairs.
Note: Earlier, voyage repairs of Marine Sealift Command (MSC) Fleet Support Ships, USNS Charles Drew and
USNS Matthew Perry were undertaken and completed on time by L&T.
Additional Info:
L&T is a USD 23 billion Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC)
projects, among others, and it operates in over 50 countries across the world.
Gogoro & Maharashtra Govt. Made an MoU to Set Up Smart Battery Ecosystem
Gogoro Inc. (Gogoro), a Taiwanese-based battery-swapping service provider and two-wheeler manufacturer
and the Maharashtra Government entered into an ‘Ultra Mega Project‘ agreement to invest more than USD
1.5 billion over the next 8 years to manufacture Electric Vehicles (EVs), smart battery packs and battery swap
stations across Maharashtra.
The proposed ‘Ultra Mega Project’ agreement includes financial incentive and support from the Maharashtra
government.
About the Ultra Mega Project:
i. In the 1st phase of the eight-year project, Gogoro will invest more than USD 500 million for manufacturing
vehicles and another USD 1 billion for smart battery infrastructure deployment which will be supported by
financial incentives and reimbursements by Maharashtra.
ii. Maharashtra being the leading state in India for EVs, committed towards sustainable transportation for
everyone by creating a smart battery ecosystem with Gogoro, a leader in sustainable vehicles and electric fuel
technologies.
Benefits of the project:
i. The project focused on creating a domestic supplier ecosystem that allows for domestic growth and foreign
market expansion and would generate approximately 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
ii. With this partnership, Gogoro is expected to lead the increase of foreign direct investment into Maharashtra
in both supply chain capabilities and smart battery infrastructure.

Taiwan to Establish TECC Office in Mumbai
On 5th July 2023, Taiwan announced its plans to expand its official presence in India by establishing its third
and new representative office “Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC)” in Mumbai, Maharashtra aimed at
expanding overall cooperation between India and Taiwan.
Other Representative offices:
i. In 2012, TECC was set up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, since then nearly 60% of all Taiwanese businesses
investing and opening factories in India have chosen to develop their operations in southern India.
ii. The investments made by Taiwanese manufacturing industries benefited Chennai and its surrounding areas.
The establishment of the TECC in Mumbai is expected to have a similar effect in western part of India.
Note: In 1995, both Taiwan and India established their respective representative offices: TECC in New Delhi,
Delhi and an “India Taipei Association” in Taipei, Taiwan.
Benefits of India-Taiwan tie-ups:
i. India has emerged as a major investment destination for global enterprises with its huge market and related
business opportunities.
• India becomes the most populous nation in 2023, while in 2022, India becomes the world’s 5th
largest economy.
ii. Mumbai being the largest city in India, serving as India’s financial centre and exhibiting its largest port.
iii. Under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP), it will also promote exchanges and cooperation in science
and technology, education, culture, and people-to-people ties between Taiwan and western India.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister– Eknath Shinde
Governor– Ramesh Bais
Zoological Park: Jijamata Udyan Zoo and Maharajbagh Zoo
IFSCA inks MoU with Climate Policy Initiative and IIML -EIC
On July 11, 2023, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) signed Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with Climate Policy Initiative -India (CPI) and IIML –EIC. These are detailed as below:
IFSCA MoU with CPI-India to cooperate on Sustainable Finance
IFSCA and CPI-India has signed a MoU for mutual assistance and cooperation to increase mobilization of global
sustainable capital flows into India.
Key Points:
i.This MoU also includes research and joint convenings in the field of sustainable finance.
ii.It is a step towards helping India and other developing countries achieve their goals of producing zero net
emissions and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by making the International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) a global hub for sustainable finance.
What is the requirement of International Capital Flows/mobilization of sustainable finance in India?
To meet the climate investment needs in India and achieve a successful low-carbon transition, there is a
requirement for greater international capital flows. According to CPI’s Landscape of Green Finance report in
2022, the total tracked climate investments for fiscal years 2018 to 2020 amounted to $40 to $50 billion per
year, with about 85% from domestic sources. However, this falls short of the necessary investment and
financing to meet India’s climate investment requirements.
• To bridge this gap, it is essential to attract more international capital flows, and this MoU is a step
towards the same.
About CPI:
CPI is an expert in finance and policies. They work to improve important energy and land use practices all over
the world. Its main goal is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions promote economic
growth while also addressing the challenges of climate change.
• CPI India Private Limited has been working to support India in fulfilling its global climate change
commitments though: clean energy market catalysing initiatives, such as the US India Clean Energy

Finance (USICEF), India Clean Energy Finance 2.0 (ICEF 2.0), Productive Use of Renewable Energy
(PURE), India Distributed Solar Finance initiative (IDSF), the Global Innovation Lab for Climate
Finance (India Chapter); among others.
Note: IFSCA develop and regulate the financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the
IFSC. Prior to the establishment of IFSCA, domestic financial regulators, namely the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
(PFRDA), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) regulated the business in IFSC.
IFSCA inks MoU with IIML -EIC to collaborate for supporting and
facilitating FinTech and TechFin entities
IFSCA has also signed MoU with IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre (IIML EIC) at IIM (Indian
Institute of Management) Lucknow EIC, Noida campus in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Key Points:
i.This MoU aims to establish a framework for collaboration and mutual understanding between both
organizations for supporting and facilitating FinTech and TechFin entities.
ii.Under this, FinTechs registered with IIML EIC may be facilitated to access IFSCA’s Regulatory and Innovation
Sandbox and apply to the IFSCA (FinTech Incentive) Scheme, 2022
About IIML EIC:
It is promoted by Indian IIM Lucknow and supported by National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship
Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science and Technology (“DST”), Government of India, and
Government of UP.
• It is focused on providing faster growth to new ventures for successful commercialization of
technology / product through a combination of accelerator program, seed capital, corporate venture
capital funds, smart co-working space, corporate market access, mentoring and training programs.
Click here for Official Notification
i.On April 19, 2023, IndusInd Bank signed a USD 100 million long-term credit deal with the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) to assist Indian firms interested in purchasing Japanese construction
equipment. It is in line with the IFSCA’s objective to make GIFT City as hub for raising long term finance.
ii.Godrej Capital Limited, the financial services arm of the Godrej Group, and State Bank of India (SBI) have
signed a MoU to strengthen their partnership, where the bank would provide various financial products and
offerings.
About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
It was established in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
Executive Director– Praveen Trivedi
Headquarters– Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Government of Meghalaya & NTPC signed MoU to enhance power and Clean Energy Generation
in Meghalaya
The Government of Meghalaya and NTPC Limited(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation
Limited) signed a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance the power infrastructure and
clean energy generation in Meghalaya.
• The MoUs encompass the Power Portfolio Management Services (PMS) for Meghalaya Discom, the
setting up of Pump Storage Power Plants (PSPs), and the implementation of Floating Solar projects
across Meghalaya.
• It also aims at enhancing power portfolio management of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited
(MeECL) by a team of professionals and expertise of the NTPC.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister(CM) of Meghalaya; Abu Taher Mondal,

Cabinet Minister, Power Department of Meghalaya; Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of
NTPC Limited and Sanjay Goyal, CMD, MeECL in New Delhi, Delhi.
Defence Ministry signs MoU with FSSAI to promote millet foods among defence personnel
On 13th July 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote use of millets and healthy eating practices among
the Armed Forces and ensure availability of safe & nutritious food in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU was signed by Director General (Supplies and Transport) Lieutenant General Preet
Mohindera Singh on behalf of Ministry of Defence (MoD) and CEO, Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) Shri G Kamala Vardhana Rao in the presence of Minister of Defence (MoD)
Rajnath Singh and Minister of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.
Benefits by this MoU:
i.It aims to create awareness about the nutritional benefits of diet diversity and millet-based food products
among the Army personnel and also pave the way for the introduction of millet-based menus in mess, canteens
and other food outlets under the MoD.
ii.This collaboration will also ensure that food handlers and chefs of mess, canteens of the Armed Forces, and
other food outlets receive food safety and hygiene training in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards
Act of 2006.
iii.The MoU will also encourage Armed Forces families and the general public to adopt nutritious diets, make
healthy food choices, and ensure food safety.
Millets: Millets are known for their nutritional value and can contribute to a well-balanced and diverse diet.
Book Launched: ‘Healthy Recipes for Defence’
i.The union ministers Rajnath Singh and Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled a book titled ‘Healthy Recipes for
Defence’ to promote the consumption of Shree Anna (millets) and its health benefits.
• This book will serve as a valuable resource for different canteens and food outlets under the MoD.
ii.The improvement in varieties of food provided to defence personnel assumes great importance, who work in
challenging terrains and varied climatic conditions.
TCS signed contract with GeM to develop enhanced version of Government e-Marketplace
portal
On 13th July 2023, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software exporter signed a contract with
Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Government procurement portal, for developing, implementing, operating
and maintaining the GeM portal in GeM headquarters New Delhi, Delhi.
Background:
i. In the early 2023, the government invited bids for developing an advanced version of the GeM portal.
ii. In June 2023, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public
Distribution, and Textiles announced that TCS has won the contract to for operating and maintaining the GeM.
iii. TCS and Intellect Design Arena (Gurugram (Haryana)-based) fintech platform were the 2 highest bidders.
iv. In 2017, The task of development and maintenance of the GeM portal was awarded to Intellect Design Arena
and Infibeam, a software company.
GeM Portal:
i. It was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and it is a one-stop-shop platform for
government ministries and agencies looking to procure goods and services.
ii. It is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common
use goods and services with minimal human interface.
iii. GeM portal was developed by erstwhile Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) under the
Ministry of Commerce with technical support of National E-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY).

Additional Info:
GeM sees 10x increase in public procurement during the last 3 years and its cumulative gross merchandise
value (GMV) reached USD 48.75 billion (Rs. 4 lakh crore) in April 2023.
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS):
Chairman- N. Chandrasekaran
CEO- K. Krithivasan
Ministry of Textile & Gujarat govt signed MoU to set up PM MITRA Park in Navasari, Gujarat
On 13th July 2023, the Ministry of Textile, Government of India (GoI) signed an Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Gujarat Government for setting up Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Regions and
Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Vansi village, Jalalpore Taluka in Navsari District, Gujarat.
• The PM MITRA Park in Vansi is inspired by the 5F vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Farm
to Fibre to Fabric to Fashion to Foreign.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textile, and Gujarat Chief
Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel at the signing ceremony held at the Convention Hall of Veer Narmad
University in Surat, Gujarat.
• This was the 7th PM MITRA Park under the union government announcement to set up seven textile
clusters in seven states.
Highlights of MoU:
i.The park will be built through a Special Purpose Vehicle with 51% equity from Gujarat and 49% from the
centre.The Gujarat government announced that the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) will
build the PM Mitra Park on a 1142 acres land in Vansi-Borsi, Navsari district, Gujarat.
ii.The central government would fund 30% of the overall investment, or Rs 500 crore, under this Rs 1500 Crore
investment.
iii.Benefits:The development of world-class industrial infrastructure at the PM MITRA Park will attract large-
scale investment, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• It will aid in increasing investment in the textile sector, creating job opportunities, and establishing
India as a textile production and export hub.
About PM MITRA :
i.On 17th March 2023, the central Government announced the sites for setting up of PM MITRA Parks in the
states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
click here to know more
The establishment of PM MITRA Parks are a unique strategy in which the Centre and State Governments would
collaborate to enhance investment, foster innovation, and create job opportunities, ultimately transforming
India into a global hub for textile manufacture and exports.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
UNDP India signed MoU with Absolute® to enhance sustainable agriculture practices under
PMFBY
On 17th July 2023, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and Absolute®, a bioscience
company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly strengthen the Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Government of India’s crop insurance scheme under the Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and enhance the strength of the farmers.

Objective:
i. To boost the implementation of the PMFBY and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
(RWBCIS) by building technical capabilities of the scheme and digitising service delivery of crop insurance and
agricultural credit processes to increase reach and uptake of the schemes.
ii. It will also promote credit profiling of farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and Farmer Producers Organizations
(FPOs), for accurate crop loss assessment and risk evaluation to mobilise agriculture financing.
Benefits of PMFBY Scheme:
i. PMFBY Scheme launched in 2016, offers risk protection by providing financial support to farmers suffering
crop loss or damage due to weather fluctuations, pest attacks, erratic rainfall, and humidity affecting
agricultural produce.
ii. The scheme will stabilise the lower yields and income of the farmers by encouraging them to adopt
innovative and modern agricultural practices.
iii. It also ensures the flow of credit to the agriculture sector for food security, crop diversification and
enhancing growth and competitiveness of the agriculture sector.
Note: From 2015 to 2021, India lost 33.9 million hectares of cropped area due to floods and excess
rains and 35 million hectares due to drought.
Features of the Collaboration:
i. UNDP India and Absolute® will use advanced technology and data-driven solutions to facilitate
farmland identification.
ii. It enhances farm monitoring, Research & Development (R&D) and analytical capabilities to
facilitate data-driven policymaking and fraud analytics.
iii. It ensures efficient and transparent delivery of government support to farmers at risk.
iv. Absolute®’s partnership with UNDP is a strong step forward in mitigating the increasing risk
pattern due to climate change, which can potentially impact over 120 million farmers across India.
v. The infusion of technology with plant science through this partnership will facilitate a strong credit
flow to the agriculture sector.
Additional info:
Since 2018, UNDP has been working with the MoA&FW. The technical support of UNDP at the
MoA&FW helped reach out around 1.71 crore farmers through various information, education, and
communication (IEC) campaigns such as Crop Insurance Week and organized more than 2.39 lakh
Fasal Bima Pathshalas or crop insurance classroom sessions in 2022.
About Absolute®:
Founded in– 2015
Co-Founder and CEO– Agam Khare
The Goa Government Has Signed 3 MoUs with CGTMSE, Paytm and ICAI
On 13th July 2023, the Goa government signed 3 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Credit
Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), Paytm and Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI).
• The MoUs focus on supporting Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), enable digital
payments in Goa government departments and to contribute to effective policy-making.
The Three MoUs:
1.Goa’s MoU with CGTMSE:
i.The MoUs signed with the CGTMSE aims to administer the Goa Credit Guarantee Scheme, also known as
the Mukhyamantri Saral Udyog Sahayya Yojana, within Goa.

ii.The scheme is designed by offering credit guarantees which provide easy access to financial assistance to
MSMEs in Goa.
About the CGTMSE:
i.The CGTMSE for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) depends on the loan amount, the category of
entrepreneurs, and the geographical region.
ii. For micro-enterprises, the extent of guarantee cover is 85% for credit up to 5 lakh, for credit above Rs 5 lakh
and up to Rs 5 crores is 75%.
iii.For women entrepreneurs, Scheduled Castes(SC)-Scheduled Tribes(ST) entrepreneurs, MSEs
located in aspirational districts, and Zero Defect and Zero Effect (ZED)-certified MSEs, the guarantee
cover is up to 85 % for loans up to Rs 5 crore.
2.Goa’s MoU with Paytm:
i.The MoU with Paytm, a leading digital payments company, was signed to facilitate digital payments
across various government departments.
ii.This includes deploying Paytm devices such as electronic data capture (EDC) machines, point-of-
sale (POS) terminals, and QR (Quick Response) code systems.
3.Goa’s MoU with ICAI:
The MoU with the ICAI was signed to collaborate in capacity building, research, policy-making
assistance, consulting, and other activities of Goa government through the experts of ICAI.
About Goa:
Chief Minister (CM)- Pramod Sawant
Governor- P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
Capital- Panaji
BHEL signed TALA with General Electric Technology for gas turbines
In July 2023, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) signed a Technical Assistance and Licence Agreement
(TALA), an extension agreement of its Gas Turbines (GTs) technology, with General Electric Technology GmbH
Switzerland (GE) at BHEL Corporate Office in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Under this extension Agreement, BHEL gained better access and enhanced rights for existing/
uprated and new Gas Turbine models.
• As per the agreement, BHEL shall also be able to supply GTs with fuel blends viz. Hydrogen,
Methanol, Syngas etc. and in hybrid configuration contributing towards accelerating the energy
transition in India.
BHEL in partnership with GE has been manufacturing and supplying GE designed GTs in India as well as
overseas markets since 1986.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Jai Prakash Srivastava, Director (Engineering, Research &
Development) & Director (Finance – Additional Charge), BHEL and Theodoros Stamatiadis, Executive Counsel
(Intellectual Property (IP)), GE Power (virtually).
Gujarat Govt Signed MoU with OneWeb to Setup India’s First Private ‘Satellite Network Portal
Site’
On 19th July 2023, the Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OneWeb, a
London-based Company, and Gujarat Government’s Department of Science and Technology, for setting up
India’s First Private ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’ in Gujarat.
• This project under Digital India, aims to provide affordable internet access to villages, district
panchayats, local administrative bodies, government departments, and other entities throughout
India.

Key people:
The MoU was signed by Vijay Nehra, Secretary, the State Department of Science and Technology, and Rahul
Vatts, Director of OneWeb India Communication Pvt. Ltd. in the presence of Gujarat’s Chief Minister(CM)
Bhupendra Patel.
Outcome of the MoU:
i.OneWeb will establish one of the two private ‘satellite network portal sites’ in two villages in Jotana taluka of
Mehsana district of Gujarat.
ii.The satellite network portal in Katosan and Tejpura, Jotana taluka, Gujarat, is scheduled to launch in 2023
with an estimated cost of over Rs. 100 crores for its Phase-1.
iii.The satellite network portal site, which will be located in Jotana taluka of Mehsana district, plans to provide
high-speed, low-latency, and affordable connectivity to the government, businesses, consumers, schools, and
other institutions.
Note: Under this, two Satellite Network Portals (SNPs) are being set up in India, one in Gujarat and the other in
Tamil Nadu through OneWeb.
OneWeb:
i.OneWeb is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite company with 648 satellites, aiming to build a global
communication network.
ii.Unlike traditional geostationary satellites located 36,000 km above the equator, OneWeb uses LEO satellites
to provide broadband Internet access, resulting in lower latency of less than 100 ms compared to GEO-based
networks with latencies of 500-700 ms.
Note: This technology is already operational in Europe and Canada.
About Gujarat:
Capital- Gandhinagar
Folk dance- Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai
India-Japan Sign MoC for Semiconductor Supply-Chain Partnership

On 20th July 2023, India and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) for a semiconductor supply-
chain partnership for government-to-government and industry-to-industry collaboration.
• The agreement was signed between Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and
Information Technology and Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and
Industry in New Delhi, Delhi.
The MoC helps India to become a global hub for the semiconductor industry and provides access to Japanese
technology, which helps India to develop its own semiconductor industry.
The outcome of the MoC:
i.The MoC signed between India and Japan will cover the semiconductor industry, including design,
manufacturing, equipment research, talent development, and enhancing supply chain resilience.
ii.An implementation organization will be created to facilitate government and industry collaborations.
Additional information:
i.Rapidus Corporation, a semiconductor manufacturer established in August 2022 in Tokyo, Japan will be one of
the contributors to this cooperation.
ii.It brings along Japanese companies, including Denso, Kioxia, MUFG Bank, Nippon Electric Company, Ltd
(NEC), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation(NTT), SoftBank, Sony, and Toyota.
iii. Japan is one of the five leading countries with a well-developed semiconductor ecosystem.
Points to be noted :-
• The Indian cabinet has given approval for American based Micron Technology’s plan to launch a USD
2.7bn semiconductor testing and packaging unit.

• The Production Linked Incentive(PLI scheme) of India – ‘Modified Programme for Semiconductors
and Display Fab Ecosystem’ – was announced in December 2021 with a total outlay of Rs.76,000
crore.
About Japan:
Prime Minister- Fumio Kishida
Capital- Tokyo
Currency-Japanese yen
FSSAI & AOAC INTERNATIONAL signed MoU to Enhance Food Safety Analytical Ecosystem in
India
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare, and AOAC INTERNATIONAL, a global organization that advances food safety, food integrity, and
public health, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and increase the food safety
analytical ecosystem in India.
• The MoU marks the joint commitment of both FSSAI and AOAC to work towards achieving common
objectives for the advancement of food safety standards and analytical practices in India.
Key People:
The MoU was signed at the FSSAI headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of G. Kamala Vardhana Rao,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FSSAI; Satyen Kumar Panda, Advisor (Quality Assurance) of FSSAI; Shrinvas
Joshi, President, AOAC-India Section; Dr. Ganesh Ramamurthi – President-Elect, AOAC-India Section and Dr.
Saurabh Arora – Director, AOAC-India Section.
Objectives:
i.The collaboration aims to promote Uniform Testing Methods across India, and ensures setting up of strong
analytical systems to meet the needs of food testing laboratories.
ii.FSSAI will be granted free access to AOAC Official Methods and sharing the Indian food safety ecosystem
access to globally recognized testing methods.
iii.Both organizations will actively collaborate in the development and validation of analytical methodologies,
ensuring accuracy and reliability in food testing practices.
Significance:
i.The partnership between FSSAI and AOAC INTERNATIONAL is of the utmost importance for India’s food
safety landscape.
ii.FSSAI aims to increase its analytical capabilities and align with international best practices, ultimately
strengthening the food safety ecosystem in India by supporting AOAC’s globally recognized expertise and
standards.
Key Points:
i.Critical aspects such as food testing analysis, method sharing, method development, and method validation
are covered under this collaboration.
ii.Both FSSAI and AOAC will jointly work together to advance the adoption of AOAC Official Methods in FSSAI-
notified laboratories, promoting better food safety practices and ensuring the availability of safe and
wholesome food for human consumption.
About AOAC INTERNATIONAL:
AOAC INTERNATIONAL was established in 1884 as the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Later, it
was renamed as Association of Official Analytical Chemists. at present the legal name of the organisation
is AOAC INTERNATIONAL
Long-form name: Association Of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) INTERNATIONAL

Ministry of Culture & Indian Navy signed an MoU to revive the ancient stitched shipbuilding
method
On 18th July 2023, The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to revive and maintain the 2000-year-old ancient stitched shipbuilding method known as
the Tankai method. The project aims to leverage the expertise of the remaining traditional shipwrights in India
and showcase their exceptional craftsmanship.
• It also aims to revive the rich maritime heritage among Indian citizens and also aims to promote
cultural memories among the Indian Ocean coastal countries.
• Thorough documentation and cataloging of the project will ensure that valuable information is
preserved for future reference.
In the Tankai method, instead of using nails, the Ships are built by stitching wooden planks together. This offers
flexibility and durability, making them less vulnerable to damage from shoals and sandbars rather than nails.
REC inks MoU with Avaada Group to invest Rs 20,000 crore over 5 Years
On July 20, 2023, Avaada Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with REC Limited (formerly
Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) under which the latter will invest Rs 20,000 crore in Avaada Group
over the next five years.
• This MoU was inked on the sidelines of the 4th meeting of the G20(Group of 20) Energy Transition
Working Group (ETWG) in Goa.
About MoU:
i.Avaada will utilize this investment in leading innovative renewable energy projects across India which include
green hydrogen and its derivatives, solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing, and an assortment of solar, wind,
and hybrid projects.
ii.The MoU also aligns with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the Green Hydrogen Mission, to drive India’s
energy transition growth.
Key points:
i.REC has provided support to Avaada, either directly or via the KfW Development Bank and World Bank line to
transform India’s renewable energy landscape, and establishing Avaada as a significant player in the global
effort to combat climate change.
ii.Recently, Avaada completed a funding round of $1.3 billion, inclusive of a $1 billion investment from the
Canadian asset management fund, Brookfield.
• This funding is aimed at boosting its green hydrogen and derivative business, with an additional
contribution of $300 million from Thailand’s GPSC, part of the PTT Group.
About REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited):
REC limited is a Navratna company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.
Chairman and Managing Director– Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Establishment– 1969
India Chamber of Business and Commerce signs MoA with ICMR to Promote India as Global
Hub in Healthcare Manufacturing
On July 20, 2023, India Chamber of Business and Commerce (India Chamber), and Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) have signed an Memorandum of Association (MoA) to promote India as global Hub in
healthcare manufacturing and delivery, and to build a strong healthcare ecosystem for the future and attract
investments in the healthcare sector.
• The agreement is in the line with creating Institutional arrangement for India Health Dialogue- A
national flagship initiative led by India Chamber of Business and Commerce in partnership with

ICMR, IMA (Indian Medical Association) and Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (M/o
MSME) to transforming healthcare and establishing India-led global supply chain networks.
Signatories:
The MoA was signed by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of Department Of Health Research (DHR) and Director General
of ICMR; and Nitin Pangotra, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), India Chamber, at MoMSME in New
Delhi, Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Narayan Rane, MoMSME.
Key Points:
i. The partnership promotes international collaborations in innovation and technology, academia-industry
partnerships, capacity building, and new innovations in healthcare.
ii. It creates a global platform for investment opportunities and entrepreneurship in India’s healthcare
manufacturing and services sector.
iii. It also fill the knowledge gap in the health sector and develop a critical manufacturing ecosystem to make
self-reliant in healthcare with world-class Medical Parks and infrastructure.
Notably, the future of healthcare involves digital and smart healthcare delivery, innovation-based high-quality
manufacturing, diversification into critical healthcare equipment, medical devices, diagnostics, drug parks, and
the application of new technologies. This MoA will cater to this with the application of new innovation and
technologies into healthcare system.
IIT Guwahati Signs MoU with Indian Council of World Affairs

On 19th July 2023, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G), Assam has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), to work together to expand awareness and
knowledge on international affairs and Indian foreign policy.
• The MoU was signed between Professor Parameswar Krishnan Iyer, Officiating Director, IIT
Guwahati, and Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, Director-General, ICWA. The agreement will be valid
for a period of 3 years.
• The MoU aims to address the challenges and opportunities in the global arena and shared vision of
‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
• It will undertake joint studies on issues of common interest through mutually agreed modalities.
Note: ICWA is India’s premier and oldest think-tank on foreign policy and international affairs.
India signed contract with Bangladesh to Modernize Signalling System of Dhaka-Tongi–

Joydebpur Rail Line
On July 23, 2023, India and Bangladesh signed a contract for installation of computer based interlocking
signalling system for Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur rail line at Rail Bhaban, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• The project is being implemented under the Line of Credit (LoC) extended by India to Bangladesh.
Signatories:
It was signed in the presence of Railway Minister of Bangladesh Md. Nurul Islam Sujon and High Commissioner
of India in Bangladesh Pranay Verma.
Key Points:
i.Implementation of this project will ease congestion and improve efficiency of Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebour section
which is one of the busiest rail lines in Bangladesh.
ii.There are 17 Indian-assisted projects in the railway sector in Bangladesh worth approx. USD 2 billion
accounting for 20% of the total commitment under Indian concessional loans being in Bangladesh’s railway
sector.
iii.The Governments of both nations are collaborating to build critical connectivity infrastructure and
enhancing connectivity links that can strengthen bilateral economic, cultural and people-to-people ties.

BR signs deal with Indian Company to Develop Rail Signaling System
Bangladesh Railway (BR) has appointed the Mumbai, Maharashtra based Indian company, KEC International
Limited, to develop signaling systems for the under-construction 3rd and 4th dual-gauge rail tracks from
Dhaka to Tongi and double-line dual gauge from Tongi to Joydebpur.
• It is a Tk (Bangladeshi Taka) 3.49-billion contract.
Signatories:
It was signed by Project Director Naznin Ara Keya, Bangladesh and Subharjit Jaha, India in the presence
of Bangladesh’s Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, and Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at Rail
Bhaban, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
What will be done under the contract?
The Indian company is tasked with design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the computer-
based interlocked signaling system at seven stations, including selected level crossings, along with optical fiber
cable-based telecommunication systems. There will also be be installation of optical fibre cable-based
telecommunication systems for blocked operation
• The project, initiated by BR in 2012 under the Indian Line of Credit, will take 30 months, including a
12-month defect liability period.
• However, due to delays, the project cost increased to Tk 33.42 billion, and the completion deadline
was revised four times to June 2027 since construction began in 2019.
i.In its 63rd Literature Festival, the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) bestowed the
SAARC Literature Award 2023 (Special Literary Award) to Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
ii.On 24th April 2023, a former judge, freedom fighter Mohammed (Md) Sahabuddin was sworn in as the
22nd president of Bangladesh in Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban, Dhaka in Bangladesh.
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister (PM)– Sheikh Hasina
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi Taka
BEL signed MoUs with Gabriel Power and CoRover for energy & AI solutions
On 19th July 2023, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Gabriel Power and
Energy Private Ltd (Gabriel Power) and CoRover Private Limited to leverage opportunities across the power
and energy sectors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) -based conversational solutions respectively.
• The strategic MoUs, aims to boost the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (‘self-reliant India’) initiative and
Government of India’s vision of a Digital India.
About BEL’s MoU with Gabriel Power and Energy Pvt Ltd:
i.The collaboration focuses on supporting the commitment of the two companies to the ’Make in India‘ initiative
by enhancing indigenous manufacturing capabilities and establishing India as a leading global manufacturing
hub for advanced power and energy solutions.
ii.The partnership is expected to create significant job opportunities within the power and energy industries.
iii.Under the MoU, BEL, and Gabriel will work closely together to introduce state-of-the-art technologies that
will be further optimised and manufactured in India.
iv.The collaboration will encompass a wide range of products, including Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargers, Smart
Meters, Green Hydrogen Generation, Hydrogen Gensets, and Solar Steam Solutions.
About Gabriel Power:
Gabriel Power, a company that is backed by several Global Funds intends to bring these technologies to India,
manufacture few products along with BEL and under ‘Make in India’ and targeting markets in India, Asia,
Middle East and Africa.

About BEL’s MoU with CoRover Private Limited:
i.BEL signed a non-exclusive MoU with CoRover Private Limited, a human-centric conversational and
generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) company for 2 years to indigenously develop and establish emerging
technologies and technical solutions to mark the requirements of AI-based solutions, especially conversational
AI-based virtual assistants.
ii.The MoU will enable both companies to collaborate in the fields of Generative AI platform, particularly with a
special focus on the BharatGenerative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) platform of Co-Rover.
Note: BharatGPT, the Large Language Model of CoRover, supports more than 12 Indian languages and over 120
foreign languages, through text, voice and even video.
iii.AI can be used to develop many more interactive applications like Dialogue/Conversational Management,
Real Time Analytics, Speech to Text (STT)/Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and many more.
Note: CoRover private ltd is the world’s first and the highest Return on Investment (ROI) delivering human-
centric conversational AI platform has developed the world’s first human-centric conversational AI platform,
being used by 1.3 Billion users.
KSUM & IFSCA Signs MoU to Support Fintech and Techfin firms
Kerala Startup Mission(KSUM) and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) for stronger support to budding fintech and techfin firms through
increased capital and a wider global network in the next three years.
• The MoU was signed between KSUM Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Anoop Ambika and IFSCA Chief
Technology Officer Joseph Joshy at the Integrated Startup Complex in Kalamassery, Kerala.
Highlights of the MoU:
i.The MoU seeks input relating to the fintech industry and collaborate on global hackathons, education
programs.
ii.The MoU allows KSUM & IFSCA to hold symposia, webinars, and conferences for the growth of fintech at IFSC
in GIFT (Gujarat International Financial Tec-City) of Gandhinagar, Gujarat to know about the global trend.
iii.As per the MoU, KSUM-registered fintechs
• can be found listed on international exchanges within IFSC to raise capital
• will get access to IFSCA’s Regulatory and Innovation Sandbox
• can also apply to the IFSCA FinTech Incentive Scheme 2022 for grants.
Fintechs & Techfins:
Fintechs are businesses that use technology to modify, enhance, or automate financial services for businesses
or consumers, while techfins provide software solutions that are not primarily finance-related.
Kerala Startup Mission(KSUM):
KSUM is Kerala government’s nodal agency established in 2006 for entrepreneurship development and
incubation activities in Kerala.
About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
Chairman- Injeti Srinivas (as of July 2023)
Established- 2020
Headquarters- Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Note – K Rajaraman will be the next chairperson after Injeti Srinivas who was the first chaiperson of IFSCA.
BBMP & World Desgin Organisation signed MoU to develop the infrastructure of Bengaluru
On 24th July 2023, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the administrative body of the Greater
Bengaluru metropolitan area & the 4th Largest Municipal Corporation in India, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Canada-based international non-governmental organization, World Design
Organisation (WDO), to offer suggestions and guidance on the ways to improve the infrastructure of

Bengaluru(Karnataka).
The MoU was signed as a part of the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative.
• The objective of the pact is to give a new look to the Bengaluru city, focussing on areas under the
jurisdiction of Bengaluru Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA) from the
municipal areas.
• The MoU was signed by David Kusuma, President, WDO and Tushar Giri Nath, Commissioner, BBMP.
Note: WDO, formerly known as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), that promotes
the profession of industrial design.
WDO launched a new global programme ‘World Design Protopolis’ (WDP) to support the creation of solutions-
based initiatives to globally address key development issues. The inaugural cycle of WDP took place in
Bengaluru on 24th July 2023.
WDP project of Bengaluru was hosted in partnership with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP),
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru and the Association of Designers of India
over a 5-year period from 2023 to 2028.
‘India AI’ and Meta, India sign MoU to Foster Advancements in AI & Emerging Technologies
On July 26, 2023, India AI and Meta,India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster
collaboration in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies.
• India AI is an Independent Business Unit (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The partnership will promote social inclusion, enhance government service delivery, and drive
innovation using large language models, Generative AI, cognitive systems, and translation models.
Signatories:
It was signed by Abhishek Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of India AI; and Shivnath Thukral, Director &
Head of Public Policy, Meta in India.
Objectives of the MoU:
i.To establish a framework for collaboration and cooperation between both entities in the field of AI &
Emerging Technologies
ii.To make Meta’s open-source AI models available for use by Indian AI ecosystem.
What will be done under the MoU?
i.The collaboration aims to conduct advanced joint research and development, utilizing cutting-edge AI
technologies to address significant challenges on a large scale.
ii.Both organizations are considering the establishment of a Center of Excellence (CoE) to support the AI and
other Emerging Technologies startup ecosystem.
iii.By utilizing Meta’s AI research models such as LlaMA, Massively Multilingual Speech, and No Language Left
Behind, the partnership will concentrate on creating datasets in Indian languages.
• This will enable translation and the development of large language models, with a special focus on
low-resource languages.
iv.Work will be done to improve accessibility to AI compute resources for researchers, startups, and
organizations with limited resources, facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration through workshops,
seminars, conferences, and similar platforms, and work together to promote responsible AI practices by jointly
developing comprehensive tools and guidelines.
Walmart & Flipkart signed MoU with Telangana Govt to support MSMEs
On 25th July 2023, Walmart and Flipkart signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
government of Telangana to support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Telangana. The MoU
was signed between Swasti, the programme partner for Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program
(Walmart Vriddhi) in India and Industries and Commerce Department of Telangana.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce
Department, Telangana and Joseph Julian KG, programme director of Swasti.
• The objective of the MoU is to facilitate the development of local MSMEs towards accessing a wider
domestic marketspace, support online retail and enable sustained growth and commercialisation.
• Under this MoU, Walmart will offer training and support to MSMEs to digitise their capacity building
to get greater access to supply chains.
• In collaboration with Swasti, the Walmart Vriddhi programme offers small businesses and
entrepreneurs a learning platform, provides free training, expert assistance, tools and skills required
to grow and expand their ventures. Over 32,000 MSMEs have already completed the training.
Note: Walmart Vriddhi was launched in 2019 aimed to equip 50,000 Indian MSMEs with the skills necessary to
succeed in business.
PFC and REC Signs MoU for Rs 5 lakh Crore Pacts with Clean Energy companies
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation(REC Ltd), have signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with clean energy companies for providing a total of Rs 5 lakh
crore funds to their projects during the “Green Finance Summit” held in Goa.
• PFC signed pacts worth Rs 2.37 lakh crore with 20 companies in the clean energy space
• REC tied up for Rs 2.75 lakh crore
The MoU were signed for solar, wind, green hydrogen, battery storage, and electric vehicle companies,
manufacturers of green energy equipment.
Note: REC & PFC, a State-owned Non-Banking Financing Companies (NBFC) and a Maharatna central public
sector undertaking(CPSE) comes under the Ministry of Power.
The “Green Finance” Summit:
The summit is organised by REC Ltd in partnership with the Indian Government’s Group of Twenty (G20)
Presidency, on the sidelines of the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and 8th Mission Innovation meeting
(CEM14/MI-8) in Goa between 19th to 22nd of July, 2023.
Notable MoUs signed:
PMI Electro Mobility:
PMI Electro Mobility, an Electric commercial vehicles (CV) manufacturer has signed an MoU with REC Ltd to
provide finance for its commercial electric vehicle (EV) for Rs 480 crore over the next five years, up to March
2028.
• The financial support helps to accelerate the efforts in combating carbon dioxide (CO2),emissions
and establishing a robust ecosystem for e-mobility.
• PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Private (PEMSPL) Ltd was incorporated in 2017 and its
headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
ACME Group:
ACME Group signed an MoU for Rs 4,000 crore loan with REC for its Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia
project in Oman.
• It also signed a pact for over Rs 21,000 crore of loans for setting up a 380-MW renewable power
phase 1 of Odisha, phase 1 of Tamil Nadu Green Ammonia projects and 600 megawatt hour (MWh)
of pumped hydro Project.
ACME Cleantech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., referred to as the ACME Group,a leading global sustainable and renewable
energy companies headquartered at Gurugram, Haryana.
Avaada:
Avaada has signed the MoU with an investment amount of Rs 20,000 crore to fund its projects over five years.
• The financing field includes green hydrogen and its derivatives, solar photovoltaic (PV)
manufacturing, and an assortment of solar, wind, and hybrid projects.

• Avaada is India’s leading energy transition company with business interests in Solar Module
Manufacturing, Electrolyser manufacturing and Green Ammonia production. The company
established in 2017 is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ReNew:
ReNew has signed MoU worth Rs 64,000 crore with PFC and REC for meeting its financing needs and enable the
company to raise long-term financing for large-scale green energy projects.
• ReNew,(subsidiary of ReNew Energy Global Plc) established in 2011, is one of India’s leading
renewable energy company in terms of total energy generation capacity is headquartered at
Gurugram, Haryana.
SJVN:
SJVN Limited has MoU with REC Limited to secure financial support of Rs 50,000 Crores for its projects,
subsidiaries and joint ventures to set up technology projects like Battery Storage, E-Vehicles, Green
Hydrogen/Ammonia, Hydrogen Cells Storage, Manufacturing Units for Green Projects and power generating
stations on conventional and renewable sources of energy.
• SJVN Ltd (formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam,) is a hydroelectric power generation company
incorporated in 1988 as a joint venture of the GoI and the government of Himachal Pradesh (GoHP).
It is headquartered in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Juniper Green Energy
Juniper Green Energy has signed an MoU with PFC for Rs 5,000 crore to fund its 1200 MW renewable energy
(RE) projects.
• Juniper Green Energy is an independent renewable energy power producer and operator of solar,
wind and hybrid power projects with experience in conceptualizing, building, and developing
renewable energy assets started its operations in October 2018. It is headquartered in Gurugram,
Haryana.
Hero Future Energies (HFE):
HFE signed two MoU with REC and PFC for infusion of Rs 3,100 crore each in HFE over the next five years to
develop green energy projects.
• The funds will be used in the development of renewable projects across India including solar and
wind for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers, utility projects and green hydrogen
derivatives, and will strengthen the company by ensuring the financial closure for future projects in
the pipeline.
• HFE is a prominent Independent Power Producer (IPP) with utility scale wind, solar, hybrid and
distributed solar plants across India was established in 2012, in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note: Adani, Greenko, Continuum, JBM Auto, Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd, Rajasthan Renewable
Energy were some of the other companies with whom PFC signed MoU.
About Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC):
Chairman & Managing Director(MD)- Parminder Chopra
Established- 1986
About Rural Electrification Corporation(REC Ltd):
Chairman & MD– Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Established- 1969
Goa Shipyard & BGIIES signed MoU to use AI for Shipbuilding

On 26th July 2023, the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU),
under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BITS Goa
Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Society (BGIIES, Goa) to drive innovation and progress in the
shipbuilding and defence industry using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of P Ravindran, General Manager (Production), GSL, and Suman
Kundu, President BGIIES in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
• BGIIES is a registered Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 based in Birla Institute of
Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa.
• Under the MoU, both entities will collaborate closely on research and development projects to utilize
AI’s full potential in shipbuilding and defence applications.
• The partnership aims to support the research expertise of BITS Goa and the extensive experience of
GSL in shipbuilding and defence.
• By utilizing AI-driven solutions, they seek to increase operational efficiency, optimize ship design
processes, and strengthen defence capabilities.
The shared expertise and resources will facilitate the creation of advanced AI algorithms, predictive
maintenance models, autonomous systems, and more.
TKMS Signs MoU With MDL to Modernise INS SHANKUSH Submarine

Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS ) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) for the overhaul and modernization of a Sub-Surface Killer (SSK) class submarine,
Indian Navy Ship (INS) Shankush to extend its operational capability.
• MDL, a Miniratna I Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) will act as general contractor up till the
on-time delivery of the submarine.
• TKMS, a Germany-based leading naval company, will be responsible for supplying selected systems,
equipment and components as well as for on-site technical support and pressure hull inspection.
About INS SHANKUSH:
i.INS SHANKUSH is the second submarine in a series of four Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) Class 209
Type 1500 boats that are all still in service.
ii.INS Shankush was first commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1986 as part of German-Indian cooperation.
iii.To extend the life of INS SHANKUSH, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a ₹2,725-crore contract with
MDL for the Medium Refit with Life Certification (MRLC) and said to be delivered in 2026.
iv.The first submarine in this class is undergoing MRLC and will be back on sail by August 2023.
Note: In June 2023 ,TKMS & MDL had signed an MoU for the local construction of submarines for the Indian
Navy as part of India’s effort to meet India’s Project 75I requirement.
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL):
Chairman & Managing Director(MD)- Sanjeev Singhal
Established- 1934
Tata Technologies signed MoA with Chhattisgarh to Transform ITIs into Industry 4.0 Tech Hub
Tata Technologies Limited, a global product engineering company, signed a 10-year Memorandum of
Agreement (MoA) with the Department of Skill Development, Technical Education and Employment,
Government of Chhattisgarh to transform 36 government-owned Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in
Chhattisgarh into Industry 4.0 technology hub. The total cost of the project is Rs 1188.36 crore.
• The MoA was signed in the presence of Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister(CM) of Chhattisgarh.
• Tata Technologies is collaborating with 20 global industry partners to upgrade the ITIs which will
offer 6 new trades and 23 new short-term courses that cater to Industry 4.0 demands.
• The upgraded ITIs will serve as skill incubation centres, strengthening the technical proficiency of
students and potential employers.
• The collaboration will upskill the youth of Chhattisgarh with a comprehensive understanding of
Industry 4.0 technologies and increase their employability and also strengthening the industrial
landscape of Chhattisgarh.
Note: Tata Technologies Limited is a subsidiary of TATA Motors Limited.

MeitY signs MoU with MICT of Papua New Guinea to share India Stack
On July 28, 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), India; and the Ministry
of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of the Papua New Guinea, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on sharing INDIA STACK i.e., successful digital solutions implemented at population
scale, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• This MoU was a follow-up to the 1st Global DPI (Digital Public Infrastructures) Summit organized by
MeitY on June 12-13, 2023 in Pune, Maharashtra.
Note: India Stack is a set of digital infrastructure components that enable the delivery of various digital services
to Indian citizens by utilizing Aadhaar, eSign, Digilocker, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Signatories:
It was signed by Abhishek Singh, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National eGovernance Division
(NeGD), MeitY, and Steven Matainaho, Secretary, (MICT) Papua New Guinea.
Key Points:
i.This MoU will lead to capacity building and foster collaboration in the implementation of population-scale
Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms. The ultimate goal is to enhance citizens’ ease of
living and improve governance efficiency and transparency.
ii.During the event, discussions were also held on vital aspects of digital transformation, including Digital
Public Infrastructure, Digital Identity, Digital Payment, Data Exchange, Data Governance, Data Protection
Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity, among other topics.
Other Participants:
Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY; Noel Colin Awiroweng Mobiha, Board Chairman, National ICT Authority;
Paulias Korni, High Commissioner for Papa New Guinea High Commission, among other officials
TN & UK Govt Signs MoU to Set Up Botanical Garden in TN

On 27th July 2023, the Tamil Nadu (TN) and United Kingdom (UK) governments signed a Memorandum of
understanding (MoU)in Chennai, TN during the 4th G20 Environment & Climate Sustainability Working
Group(ECSWG) Meeting to set up a botanical garden and also envisages launching projects to conserve
mangroves, forests and wetlands, besides releasing a green rating framework for industrial de-carbonization in
TN.
The MoU:
The MoU was signed between Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and
Forest Department and Richard Deverell, Director of Kew Garden, London.
Botanical Garden:
In technical partnership with Kew Gardens of United Kingdom, the TN Government has planned to set up a
Botanical Garden in Chengalpattu, TN.
• The garden will conserve and propagate native plant species of TN, including rare, threatened and
endangered species.
• The MoU commits to Kew Garden providing advice and expertise around landscape planning, plant
collection development, botanic garden management and other related matters to TN Government.
The Mangrove Project:
i.UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT’s) mangrove project was launched by Therese
Coffey, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the UK.
• The project demonstrates how community MRV (Measuring, Reporting and Verification) can be
codesigned, coproduced and implemented through inclusive community-based mechanisms.
ii.Keystone Foundation located in the Nilgiris, TN bagged this project which will work in 3 climate-smart
villages, focusing on 3 ecosystems – forests, mangroves and wetlands – selected in consultation with the TN
Government.
iii.The project will specifically build the capacities of forest communities
– tribals of the Nilgiris; fisherfolk of Pichavaram mangrove

ecosystem in Cuddalore, TN; and small-holder subsistence farmers
and agricultural laborers, living in inland areas of the wetland of
Coimbatore, TN.
Industrial decarbonization project:
The ‘Roadmap for Green Indexing of Industries – Low carbon industrial
development in TN, a strategic initiative on industrial decarbonization was launched by the Minister of State,
Graham Stuart with TN environment Minister Siva V Meyyanathan.
• As a part of this initiative, the green rating framework for industries was launched to motivate
businesses to take up low-carbon commitments and action to advance the TN government’s climate
change ambitions of achieving net zero before 2070.
About Tamil Nadu (TN):
Airport- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (Custom Airport ); Madurai International Airport
Bird Sanctuary- Vettangudi birds Sanctuary, Sivagangai; Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary, Tiruvallur
Festival- Pongal;Thiruvaiyaru Festival
RITES & IRFC signs MoU to collaborate & Develop Rail Infrastructure Projects
On 27th July 2023, RITES Limited (formerly known as Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited), a
Miniratna (Category-I) and Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) to explore
possibilities of mutual collaboration in the railway eco-system and the transport infrastructure sector.
• As part of the MoU, RITES will offer consultancy and advisory services and help in finding out the
financial and technical viability of projects, while IRFC will provide financial services to
projects/institutions that have got backward and or forward linkages with the Railways.
• The partnership will also bring forward cooperation and innovation in the consultancy domain
through knowledge sharing.
• RITES’ expertise in consultancy and IRFC’s financial expertise will stimulate mega and critical
projects and drive sustainable growth in the transport infrastructure sector.
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

The 2nd edition of the JDCC meeting between India and Tanzania
On 28th & 29th of June 2023 the second edition of Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting was
held between India and Tanzania in Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa focused on a wide range of opportunities for
collaboration with a view to enhancing security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• India and Tanzania have finalised a five-year roadmap to expand defence and maritime,
infrastructure building and collaboration in military equipment and technology.
The Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, included officials from the Ministry of Defence
(MoD) and the Armed Forces and Binay S Pradhan,High Commissioner of India to Tanzania.
Highlights of 50th meeting of GST Council held in New Delhi

On July 11, 2023, the 50th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council was held in New Delhi, Delhi
under the chairpersonship of Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance.
Matters Covered during the 50th GST Council meeting
i.Rate decisions taken on goods and services, as well as clarifications issued and rate regularizations
undertaken.
ii.Recommendations of various Group of Ministers (GoMs) were discussed.
iii.Clarification on compensation cess dues have been paid to the states that have submitted AG-certified
claims, and the states yet to submit their AG certificates will also be settled on submission of the same.

GST Council Meeting: The 50th milestone
i.To mark the milestone of 50th meeting of the GST Council, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman(Chairperson)
released a short video film titled ‘GST Council- 50 steps towards a journey’ in the presence of the Members of
the Council.
• The film showcases the evolution of the GST Council and is available in Hindi, English, and 11
regional languages.
ii.To commemorate this milestone, the Chief Post Master General (CPMG), Delhi, presented the Chairperson and
Members of the Council with a Special Cover and customised ‘My Stamp’.
Recommendations- The Key Part
The following are the recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates, measures for facilitation of trade
and measures for streamlining compliances in GST were made:
Changes in GST Tax Rates:
I.Recommendations relating to GST rates on Goods
A. Changes in GST Rates of Goods:
The GST on snack pellets, the semi-finished ingredient that is used to manufacture snacking products is
decreased to 5% from 18%. This includes uncooked, unfried and extruded snack palettes.
• There will regularize payment of GST on uncooked /unfried snack pellets during the past period on
‘as is basis’.
B. Others Changes related to Goods:
i. Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) exemption on imported Dinutuximab (Quarziba), a rare cancer
drug, for personal use.
ii.IGST exemption on medicines and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for rare diseases enlisted under
the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 when imported for personal use or by Centers of Excellence.
iii.Taxable reverse charge mechanism for supply of raw cotton by agriculturists to cooperatives.
iv.GST reduction on imitation zari thread or yarn from 12% to 5% and regularization of past GST payments on
‘as is basis’.
v.Inclusion of utility vehicles meeting specified parameters in compensation cess notification by amending its
entry 52B.
• These parameters are Length exceeding 4000 mm, Engine capacity exceeding 1500 cc and having
Ground Clearance of 170 mm & above and to clarify by way of explanation that ‘Ground clearance’
means Ground Clearance in un-laden condition.
vi.GST rate reduction on LD (Linz-Donawitz) slag from 18% to 5% for better utilization and environmental
protection.
vii.Regularization of trauma, spine, and arthroplasty implant matters prior to July 18, 2022 on ‘as is basis’.
viii.GST reduction on fish soluble paste from 18% to 5% and regularization of past GST payments on ‘as is
basis.
ix.Regularization of dessicated coconut matters from July 1, 2017 to July 27, 2017 on ‘as is basis’.
x.Notification of earlier ad valorem rate for pan masala, tobacco products, etc., for levy of Compensation Cess.
xi.Inclusion of RBL Bank and ICBC Bank in the list of specified banks for IGST exemption on gold, silver, or
platinum imports.
• Updation of the list of banks /entities eligible for such IGST exemption as per Annexure 4B (HBP) of
Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
xii.Consequential changes in notifications as per new Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
xiii.Regularization of GST issues on plates and cups made of areca leaves prior to October 1, 2019.
xiv.Regularization of GST issues on biomass briquettes from July 1, 2017 to October 12, 2017.

II.Recommendations relating to GST rates on Services
A.Changes in GST rates of services
GST exemption on satellite launch services supplied by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Antrix
Corporation Limited and New Space India Limited (NSIL) may be extended to similar services supplied by
organizations in the private sector.
B.Other changes relating to Services
i.Goods Transport Agencies (GTA) no longer need to file annual declarations for paying GST under forward
charge. If they choose this option for a specific financial year, it will automatically apply for future years unless
they choose to revert to reverse charge mechanism (RCM).
ii.The deadline for GTAs to exercise the option for paying GST under forward charge is moved to 31st March of
the previous financial year, starting from 1st January of the same year.
iii.Services provided by a director to a company in their personal capacity, like renting immovable property,
are not taxable under RCM.
iv.Food and beverages supplied in cinema halls are taxed as restaurant services if they are provided as part of a
service and separately from the cinema exhibition service.
• When cinema tickets and food/beverages are bundled as a composite supply, the entire supply is
taxed at the rate applicable to the cinema exhibition service.
III.Second Report of Group of Ministers (GoM) on Casinos, Race Courses and Online Gaming
According to the GST council, a uniform tax rate of 28% will be applied to Casino, Horse Racing, and Online
gaming. The tax will be based on the face value of purchased chips for casinos, on the full value of bets placed
with bookmakers/totalisators for horse racing, and on the full value of bets placed for online gaming.
Background:
A GoM was formed to address taxation on casinos, horse racing, and online gaming. They submitted two reports
(initial report in June 2022 during the 47th GST Council meeting and secondly before 50th GST meet), but no
consensus was reached on tax rates. Then the final decision of 28% tax rate was made by the GST Council.
Measures for Facilitation of Trade:
i.Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (Appointment and Conditions of Service of President and
Members) Rules, 2023:
• The Council recommended the rules for appointing the President and Members of the proposed GST
Appellate Tribunal to ensure its smooth establishment and functioning.
• Notification of Finance Act, 2023: The Council suggested that the provisions related to the GST
Appellate Tribunal in the Finance Act, 2023 be notified by the Centre, w.e.f. August 1, 2023, allowing
for the Tribunal’s prompt implementation.
• Nomination of Chief Secretary of Maharashtra: The Council recommended the nomination of the
Chief Secretary of Maharashtra as a member of the Search cum Selection committee, as per Section
110(4)(b)(iii) of the CGST Act, 2017.
• Phased Establishment of State Benches: The Council decided to establish State Benches of the GST
Appellate Tribunal gradually, in a phased manner.
ii.Annual Returns for FY 2022-23: The Council recommended continuing the relaxations provided in FY
2021-22 for various tables of FORM GSTR-9 and FORM GSTR-9C. Additionally, to ease compliance for smaller
taxpayers, the exemption from filing annual returns (FORM GSTR-9/9A) will be extended for FY 2022-23 for
taxpayers with an aggregate annual turnover up to Rs 2 crore.
iii.To ease compliance burden of the taxpayers, clause (f) of rule 46 of CGST Rules, 2017 amended to provide
for requirement of only name of the State of the recipient, and not the name and full address of the recipient, on
the tax invoice in cases of supply of taxable services by or through an Electronic Commerce Operator (ECO) or
by a supplier of OIDAR (Online Information Database Access and Retrieval) services to an unregistered
recipient.
iv.Special procedure to be provided under section 148 of CGST Act, 2017 to enable manual filing of appeal
against the orders passed by proper officers in respect of TRAN-1/ TRAN-2 claims of the registered persons,

filed in pursuance of the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of the Union of India v/s Filco Trade
Centre Pvt. Ltd.
• Rule 108(1) and rule 109(1) of CGST Rules, 2017 to be amended to provide for manual filing of
appeal under certain specified circumstances.
v.Council recommended to extend the amnesty schemes regarding non-filers of FORM GSTR-4, FORM GSTR-9 &
FORM GSTR-10 returns, revocation of cancellation of registration and deemed withdrawal of assessment
orders issued under Section 62 of CGST Act, 2017, till August 31, 2023.
vi.ISD Mechanism Clarification: The Council recommended clarifying the Input Service Distributor (ISD)
mechanism. It proposed that the distribution of input tax credit for common input services from third parties to
distinct entities should not be mandatory as per current GST provisions. However, a prospective amendment to
the GST law may be introduced to make the ISD mechanism mandatory for such common input services.
Measures for streamlining compliances in GST:
i.The Council has recommended to insert rule 138F in CGST Rules, 2017, as well as in SGST Rules, 2017 of the
States, who want to mandate the requirement of generation of e-way bills for intra-State movement of gold and
precious stones under Chapter 71 within their States.
ii.There will be issuance of notification under section 148 of CGST Act, 2017 prescribing a special procedure to
be followed by the manufacturers of tobacco, pan masala & other similar items inter alia for registration of
machines and for filing of special monthly returns;
iii.There will be insertion of section 122A in CGST Act, 2017 providing for special penalty for non-registration
of machines by such manufacturers;
iv.Provisions of section 123 of Finance Act, 2021, amending section 16 of IGST Act, to be notified with effect
from October 1, 2023.
v.Notification to be issued under section 16(4) of IGST Act. 2017 to provide for restriction of IGST refund route
in respect of exports of tobacco, pan masala & other similar items, and mentha oil.
vi.The Council amendments in CGST Rules, 2017 to strengthen the registration process and to effectively deal
with the menace of fake and fraudulent registrations in GST.
Check Full amendments Here
vii.Mechanism for ITC Differences (FORM GSTR-2B and FORM GSTR-3B): The Council recommended a system-
based intimation to taxpayers regarding excess ITC claimed in FORM GSTR-3B compared to FORM GSTR-2B
above a specified threshold.
• Taxpayers will have an auto-compliance procedure to explain the reasons or rectify the difference.
Rule 88D and FORM DRC-01C will be added to the CGST Rules, 2017, along with an amendment in
rule 59(6) to minimize ITC mismatches and prevent misuse of the ITC facility in GST.
vii.Pilot to be conducted in Puducherry for risk-based biometric-based Aadhaar authentication of
registration applicants. Following the system’s readiness test in Gujarat and Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh is set
to join the pilot.
viii.The GST Council has recommended to form a State level coordination Committee comprising of GST
officers from both State and Central GST administrations for knowledge sharing on GST matters and
coordinated efforts towards administrative and preventive measures.
ix.The council also discussed about the 2nd interim report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on IT System
Reforms.
GoM has recommended the measures to reduce frauds in GST through System based measures for
strengthening registration process in GST, more use of third-party data for risk management and controlling
flow of fake Input Tax Credit down the supply chain.

3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting under India’s Presidency held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
On July 17-18, 2023, the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) 2023 meeting under
the Indian Presidency was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It was jointly chaired by Union Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das.
• The meeting concluded with a G20 Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary comprising 26
paragraphs and 2 Annexures.
• This FMCBG meeting was preceded by the 3rd G20
Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting
during 14-15 July 2023 in Gandhinagar.
Objective:
To review the outcomes of the G20 Finance Track and to seek
guidance from Ministers and Governors on the way forward
Thematic Sessions:
The meeting was organised in five thematic sessions covering
1. Global Economy and Global Health
2. Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure
3. International Financial Architecture
4. International Taxation
5. Financial Sector & Financial Inclusion.
Participants:
520 participants across 66 delegations including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20
member countries, Invitee Countries, and Heads of various International Organisations (IOs).
Endorsements:
i.The G20 FMCBGs endorsed G20 Report on Macroeconomic Risks Stemming from Climate Change and
Transition Pathways
ii.The member also endorsed new G20 2023 Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) for the three years 2024-
26.
What is FIAP?
It aims to advance financial inclusion of individuals and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in G20
and beyond by focusing on promoting technological, innovations and digital infrastructure including DPI.
• India will lead the implementation of the new FIAP, as one of the Co-Chairs of Global Partnership
for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), for the next three years starting from 2024.
iii.The G20 FMCBGs endorsed Roadmap for Implementation of Recommendations of the G20 Independent
Review of MDBs’ Capital Adequacy Frameworks (CAF)’ which will help unlock more lending resources in
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
iv.The G20 Policy Recommendations for Advancing Financial Inclusion and Productivity Gains through Digital
Public Infrastructure (DPI)’, developed under the Indian Presidency was also endorsed
• These policy recommendations will be instrumental in guiding the G20 and non-G20 countries to
utilize DPI for boosting development processes for strong and inclusive growth.
Key Deliverables:
These include the following, among others:
i.Volume 1 of a Report of the G20 Independent Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs
ii.Progress in the debt treatment for countries under the Common Framework
iii.Guidance note for developing a globally coordinated framework for the regulation and supervision of crypto-
assets
iv.Recommendations on Advancing Financial Inclusion and Productivity Gains through DPI to achieve financial
inclusion of the last mile
v.Principles for Financing Cities of Tomorrow

Side Meetings:
These include the following,
i.Infrastructure Investors’ Dialogue on ‘Leveraging Funding and Financing Mechanisms and Approaches for the
Cities of Tomorrow’
ii.High-Level Tax Symposium on ‘Combatting Tax Evasion, Corruption and Money Laundering’
iii.Roundtable Discussion on Crypto Assets to discuss and deliberate on some of the key questions pertaining to
the crypto asset
iv.Roundtable on the Report of the G20 Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs
v.Workshops on ‘Interlinking Fast Payment Systems (FPS)’ and ‘Achieving Growth-Friendly Climate Action and
Financing for Emerging and Developing Economies’
Highlights from Discussions held during 3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting:
It should be noted that the discussions held during the Third G20 FMCBG meeting will inform the Leaders for
the G20 Summit to be held in India in September, 2023. The G20 FMCBGs will meet next in October 2023 in
Marrakesh, Morocco on the sidelines of 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and
International Monetary Fund (IMF) from October 9 – 15, 2023.
Following are the highlights from discussions:
I.Discussions were held on the key deliverables of the Finance Track under the Indian G20 Presidency for 2023
along with global economic outlook and risks, including macroeconomic implications of food and energy
insecurity, and climate change.
II.The Union Finance Minister, in her welcome remarks, reiterated the collective responsibility of G20 to steer
the global economy towards strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth.
III.Under the priority of strengthening MDBs to address global challenges of the 21st century, members
recognized the urgent need to strengthen and evolve the MDB ecosystem.
• A G20 Independent Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs was constituted by the Indian Presidency
which has prepared Volume 1 of the Report on Strengthening MDBs, and Volume 2 is expected in
October 2023.
IV.The G20 encouraged the efforts of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) towards strengthening
communication to facilitate effective debt treatment. The GSDR is chaired by India, IMF and the World Bank
(WB).
V.As India prioritized a need to consider macrofinancial implications of crypto assets, it presented high-level
recommendations provided by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) regarding crypto-asset activities and global
stablecoin arrangements. This was welcomed by G20 members.
Key Points:
i.The Indian Presidency has submitted a “Presidency Note” to all G20 members, which includes essential
inputs for a Roadmap on crypto assets.
ii.This Roadmap will be part of the Synthesis Paper being prepared jointly by IMF and FSB.
iii.The Roadmap aims to establish a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework, addressing various risks,
including those specific to emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) and global implementation of
FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards.
iv.The Synthesis Paper and Roadmap will be presented before the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023.
v.The meeting also saw the discussions on climate finance where members welcomed the recommendations on
the mechanisms to support timely and adequate mobilization of resources for climate finance, prepared by
the Sustainable Finance Working Group, along with Analytical Framework for SDG (Sustainable
Development Goals)-aligned finance.
VI.Members welcomed the discussion on the Framework on Economic Vulnerabilities and Risks (FEVR)
arising from pandemics, while taking into account country-specific circumstances.
VII.On the infrastructure agenda, members supported for work under the Indian Presidency’s priority
of ‘Financing the Cities of Tomorrow’.

VIII.In the tax agenda, members appreciated the significant progress made with respect to the two-pillar
international tax package and called for the finalization of the pending work as per the agreed timelines.
India and Indonesia Launched “India – Indonesia Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD Dialogue)
During the meeting, the Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and her Indian counterpart
Nirmala Sitharaman jointly inaugurated the India-Indonesia Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat to enhance collaboration on bilateral and international economic and financial matters.
• The EFD will promote shared understanding of global issues and enhance collaboration on
macroeconomic challenges, global economic prospects, and bilateral investment relations. It will
also extend cooperation in G20 and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) matters.
Others:
i.India’s Union Finance Minister also engaged in various bilateral discussions with her counterparts on the
sidelines of the FMCBG meeting.
ii.The delegates were hosted for ‘Ratri Bhoj Par Samvad’ (Conversation over Dinner), and for cultural programs
curated by the Government of Gujarat.
iii.Excursion events are also planned for the delegates to experience Gujarat through visits to Adalaj Step wells,
Sabarmati Ashram, Sabarmati River Front, Patan and Modhera.
i.On 21st April 2023, the Ministry of Finance announced that the Government will release a new
commemorative coin of Rs 100 denomination on 30th April 2023, for the 100th episode of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s radio show Mann Ki Baat.
ii.On 26th April 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF), approved the
upgradation of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) from a
Category-I MiniRatna CPSE.
Union Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Pankaj Chaudhary
Departments under the MoF – Department of Expenditure; Department of Economic Affairs (DEA);
Department of Revenue; Department of Financial Services; Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management (DIPAM) & Department of Public Enterprises.
CEC Rajiv Kumar participated in the 11th A-WEB Executive Board Meeting held in Colombia
Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) led the 3-member delegation from the Election Commission of
India (ECI) to participate in the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election
Bodies (A-WEB) in Cartagena, Colombia from 10th to 14th July 2023.
• The ECI delegation included Manoj Sahoo, Deputy Election Commissioner and Anuj Chandak, Joint
Director.
• On 13th July 2023, the National Civil Registry, Colombia organised an international conference on
the theme “A global view on the challenges of regional elections 2023” will bring together
representatives from the 19 Executive Board Members and the 2 Oversight and Audit Committee
Members.
• As a global association, A-WEB plays a critical role for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to work
on challenges like fake narratives derailing election integrity worlwide.
Agendas proposed in the meeting:
i. The participants at the Executive Board meeting discussed various agenda items including the programmes
and activities to be undertaken by A-WEB during 2023-24, the annual progress report of A-WEB & its regional
offices including A-WEB India Centre, budget and membership related matters amongst others.
ii. ECI proposals:
• Setting up an A-WEB portal to serve a as repository of electoral best practices and initiatives taken
by member EMBs in various aspects of electoral management.

• Establishing A-WEB Global Awards for EMBs who make significant contribution and take important
initiatives in the democratic processes. Both proposals were approved by the Executive Board.
Additional Info:
Meantime, on the sideline, a bilateral meeting on ECIs Electronic Postal Ballot System was also held with the
National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
• In 2012, India and South Korea had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing
a mutually cooperative relationship in the field of election administration.
• As per the MoU, both countries are supposed to establish a mutually cooperative relationship in the
field of election administration.
Note: In March 2023, NEC participated in the 3rd International Conference on ‘Inclusive Elections and Elections
Integrity’ organised by ECI under the supervision of ‘Democracy Cohort on Elections Integrity’.
India A-WEB Centre:
i. In September 2019, at a meeting of the A-WEB Executive Board held in Bengaluru, an India A-WEB centre was
also established in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. It was established for documentation and research for sharing the best practices and training and capacity
building of officials of A-WEB members, including a journal titled ‘A-WEB India Journal of Elections.’
iii. The ECI is responsible for providing all the necessary resources for the India A-WEB Centre.
Note: ECI assumed control over as Vice-Chairperson of A-WEB for 2017-19 term; as Chair for 2019-22 term
and is currently a member of its Executive Board for 2022-24 in its capacity as immediate former Chair of A-
WEB
About Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):
A-WEB launched in the Republic of Korea in October 2013 is the largest international organization of Election
Management Bodies (EMBs).
It currently comprises 121 EMBs from 111 countries.
Chairperson– Mosotho Moepya (Electoral Commission of South Africa)
Secretary General– Dr. In-sik Jang
Headquarters– Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea
CEM-14/MI-8 held in Goa on the sidelines of the 4th Energy Transitions Working Group
The 8th Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-8) and 14th Clean Energy Ministerial(CEM-14), hosted by the
Ministry of Power and Department of Science and Technology, took place alongside the 4th Energy Transitions
Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s Group 20 (G20) Presidency held in Goa from 19th July 2023 to
22 July, 2023.
• The theme for the year 2023 is ‘Advancing Clean Energy Together’.
• The event was attended by 34 member countries.
• The 4th ETWG Meeting was chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power.
Technology showcase:
i.Chief Minister(CM) of Goa Pramod Sawant inaugurated a four day technology and cultural showcase,
demonstrating cutting-edge advances in clean energy from India and around the world held at
the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.
ii.The showcase highlighted cutting-edge innovations such as electric vehicles, hydrogen technologies, and
various other clean energy solutions sourced from global developments.
iii.The event structured into three distinct segments:
• Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Showcase, organised in collaboration with Society of Indian
Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), CALSTART(an Non
Governmental Organisation from New York, United States Of America), and Drive to Zero(a program
and campaign aims to accelerate the growth of global zero-emission (ZE) commercial vehicle space);
• Mission Innovation section, presented by the Department of Science and Technology under
Government of India;

• Clean Tech Start-up category led by The Energy and Resources Institute(TERI).
Notable Events:
The event featured about 30 side events organised by over 50 partners. These supplementary sessions were
centered around diverse themes encompassing energy efficiency, clean fuels, clean power, mobility, and
industry decarbonization.
i.‘Global Carbon Management Challenge’ – The event emphasized crucial factors essential for successful
implementation, such as viable incentivizing policy frameworks, appropriate financial structures, and timely
assessments of geological Carbon-di-oxide(CO2) storage potentials.
ii.’Gigatonne Opportunity Initiative event’ – The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) Global Innovation Hub initiated a coalition comprising both private and public stakeholders came to
a consensus to work together and provide solutions on a gigatonne scale, which aimed to present these
strategies to relevant stakeholders during Conference Of Parties(COP)28.
Sessions held:
i.Financing carbon capture, usage, and storage The aim of this event was to make the financing of carbon
management projects more appealing and feasible with the objective of convening commercial banks,
multilateral development banks, governments, and industry representatives.
ii.‘Hydrogen – the Nordic Rally to the Valley and Nordic Green Sailing’ focused on the potential
acceleration of rapid innovation and deployment of hydrogen valleys through enhanced collaboration and
knowledge sharing between Nordic countries and others.
iii.‘Collaboration for Advancing Global Action on Sustainable Cooling’- emphasised the significance of
sustainable cooling as a priority topic, encouraging collective global action.
iv.‘Energy compacts’, India’s dedication to a clean energy future and its commitment to Sustainable
Development Goal(SDG7 – Affordable & Clean energy) was highlighted.
Additional Info:
• A discussion about the possibilities offered by a wide array of carbon removal technologies to
contribute to achieving net-zero emissions was organised.
• A dedicated session showcasing clean energy technology requirements and opportunities for
collaboration was also held with the focus on identifying key technical pathways, addressing data
gaps, and exploring the potential of collaborative research and development (R&D)
EESL signs 15 MoU on Green Energy at G20 meet
The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power,
signed 15 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 700 crore, on the sidelines of the recently
concluded G20 Green Energy Ministerial in Goa.
• The purpose of MoU is to strengthen the EESL’s commitment to exploring innovative solutions for
energy access, clean cooking, decarbonisation, and energy efficiency initiatives in India.
• The G20 Energy Ministerial meeting was chaired by Raj Kumar Singh, the Union Minister of Power,
and New and Renewable Energy.
Notable MoUs :
i.Agreement valued at approximately Rs.50 crore, was signed with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development
Council, Leh in Ladak to address electricity and cooking needs in remote areas of Leh.
ii.MoU with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), focusing on areas like super-
efficient cooling and heating and electric mobility, among others.
iii.An MoU with Andhra Pradesh State Housing Company Limited (APSHCL) amounting to Rs.110 crore,
wherein they would provide energy-efficient appliances to beneficiaries under the
esteemed Navaratnalu Pedalandariki Illu (NPI) scheme.
iv.An MoU with Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT M), aiming to support MSMEs in implementing
energy conservation measures and commercialising technologies.
v.An MoU with Loughborough University, United Kingdom (UK), under the Modern Energy Cooking Service
(MECS) programme, to promote and deploy electric cooking in India.

vi.Another collaboration was formed with Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
(BAPS) Swami Narayan Sanstha (Akshardham) to implement energy efficiency measures across BAPS centres
and temples in India.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL):
The EESL is a joint venture of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited, Power Finance
Corporation, and Rural Electrification Corporation and Powergrid.It was set up to facilitate implementation of
energy efficiency projects.
4th ECSWG & Environment & Climate Ministers Meeting was Held in Chennai
The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate
Ministers’ meeting was held between 26th to 28th July 2023, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• The 3-day meeting brought together around 300 delegates from G20 (Group of Twenty) member
countries, invitee countries, and several International Organisations, with a focus on finalizing the
Ministerial Outcome and the Presidency Documents under the two broad tracks of Environment and
Climate.
• During India’s G20 Presidency, a total of 11 documents were released, comprising 1 outcome
document and 2 Presidency Documents focused on the theme of Blue Economy, 4 Presidency
Documents and Compendiums of Best Practices related to Land and Biodiversity, as well as Water
Resources Management, and 4 Presidency Documents addressing the theme of Resource Efficiency
and Circular Economy.
The 4th ECSWG meeting:
i.G20 member countries & nine guest countries participated in the meeting with a shared interest in
environmental conservation and sustainability.
ii.12 international organizations including United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank were present during the meeting.
iii.Indian Presidency published the 5th report on actions against marine plastic litter under the G20
Framework for Marine Plastic Litter, in collaboration with Japan.
iv.The event hosted 15 pavilions highlighting different initiatives and projects related to the meeting’s core
themes.
• One pavilion was exclusively dedicated to LiFE while another pavilion focuses on Project Tiger,
highlighting conservation efforts. The remaining 13 pavilions will be dedicated to showcasing
various aspects of Handicrafts.
About LiFE:
LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment and resilient development paradigm for G20 is an important mission and
cross-cutting theme across all three priorities such as land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change
promoted by India.
Launch of Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC):
i.The Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) was launched by Bhupender Yadav,
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in the 4th ECSWG meeting.
• The coalition’s objective is to unite nations, industries, and experts in their endeavor to propel the
global circularity agenda forward.
ii.The foundational charter of RECEIC was signed and its logo was unveiled to mark the launch of the meeting
which was attended by Ministers of seven countries such as Mauritius, Denmark, Italy, Canada, The United Arab
Emirates (UAE), France, and the European Union(EU).
Chennai High-Level Principles adopted During the 4th ECSWG meeting:
The G20 members adopted the ‘Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/
Ocean-based Economy’, which can be implemented on a voluntary basis, “based on national circumstances
and priorities”.
• The document has nine principles that prioritize ocean health.

39 MNCs Came Together for Circular Economy Principles:
39 multinational corporations (MNCs) from various sectors such as steel, FMCG, electronics came together to
pledge to adopt resource efficiency and circular economy principles and to address environmental challenges
rising from waste, including plastics, microplastics, e-waste, and chemical waste.
• The MNCs headquartered in 11 different countries have joined the coalition as RECEIC founding
members.
Previous ECSWG meetings:
The previous meetings of ECSWG were held in Bengaluru in Karnataka, Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and Mumbai in
Maharashtra.
• The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meetings chaired by Ms.
Leena Nandan, G20 ECSWG Chair, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC).
The ECSWG & Minister’s Meeting focused on 3 key areas
• Arresting land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration, and enriching Biodiversity.
• Promoting a sustainable and climate-resilient blue economy.
• Encouraging resource efficiency and circular economy.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister- M. K. Stalin
Governor- R. N. Ravi
Airports- Tuticorin or Thoothukudi Airport; Salem airport
Bird sanctuary- Karikili Birds Sanctuary, Kancheepuram; Kanjirankulam Birds Sanctuary, Ramanathapuram
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

UN Unveiled 51 robots at AI summit to Advance SDG goals
International Telecommunication Union(ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations(UN) responsible for
information and communication technologies, organised 2 days Global Summit ‘AI for Good’ in Geneva,
Switzerland.
• The summit highlighted the deployment of specialized
robots to aid in achieving the organization’s 17 Social
Development Goals (SDGs)
• With less than a decade remaining to fulfil the SDGs,
this summit aims to identify practical applications of
artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing these goals and
scaling up the solutions for global impact.
About Sustainable Development Goals(SDG):
Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals
established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. The SDGs build upon the progress made through the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to integrate economic growth, social inclusion, and
environmental sustainability.
About the Summit:
Recent advancements in AI technology, including chatbots, object detection, and human emotion recognition
played a significant role in the summit’s discussions.
Day 1: Cutting-edge robotic AI solutions were presented through 51 robot(out of which nine are Humanoid)
demonstrations by companies such as Pepper the Robot, GoBe Robot, Aliengo, B1, and Go1.Notable robots
which attended the Global Summit include:

• Grace : World’s most advanced humanoid healthcare robot.First developed in partnership with
Hanson Robotics and SingularityNET, Grace is “the world’s foremost nursing assistant robot”, made
to provide support and care for the elderly.
• Sophia : The first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP),built by Hanson Robotics.UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed interacted with
Sophia during the summit.
• Nadine: Developed by the University of Geneva, Nadine is known as one of the most realistic
humanoid social robots in the world.
• Geminoid: Created by Hiroshi Ishiguro from Japan, Geminoid is an ultra-realistic humanoid robot
that closely resembles its human creator.
• 4NE-1: Neura Robotics has designed 4NE-1, which is recognized as one of the most advanced
cognitive humanoid robots globally.
• Ai-Da Robot, the first ultra-realistic robot artist, designed by Aidan Meller, and Desdemona, the
“rockstar” robot of the Jam Galaxy Band.
Day 2: A first-of-its-kind press conference where journalists pose questions to an all-robot panel was held.
Note – The United Nations is already leveraging AI in various areas, including the World Food
Programme’s HungerMap project.
About United Nation:
Members – 193 countries
United Nation Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, United States of America (USA)
Startup20 Shikhar Summit held in Gurugram; India passes torch to Brazil

Startup20 Shikhar Summit, organised by the Startup20 Engagement Group under the India G20(Group of
20) Presidency, was held from 3rd to 4th July 2023 in Gurugram, Haryana. The 2-day summit served as a
platform for fostering innovations, collaborations, knowledge sharing, and strategic alliances within the global
startup ecosystem.
• During the closing ceremony of the summit, Dr.
Chintan Vaishnav, Chair of Startup20 and the Mission
Director for Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), handed
over the torch to Brazil, which holds the G20
presidency for 2024.
Highlights:
i.The name “Shikhar,” which means “mountain peak” in Sanskrit,
symbolizes the pinnacle of achievements in shaping the future of
the global startup ecosystem.
ii.There was a Startup Conclave during the summit where startups showcased their innovative products and
services, engage in investor pitches, mentoring sessions, and network with industry professionals.
iii.The event also marked a vibrant evening of cultural showcases and performances.
G20 adopted first ‘Startup20 Communiqué 2023’ to create definition framework for start-ups
During the summit, the G20 countries have adopted the first ‘Startup20 Communiqué 2023‘ by agreeing on
the creation and adoption of a definition framework for start-ups that will have five components including legal
entity type, age, size, scalability and innovation.
The nations have also agreed on the creation of a networked institution to support start-ups and ecosystem
stakeholders across all member countries, increasing and diversifying access to capital, and easing market
regulations for start-ups.
The Joint Communique has urged the G20 leaders to raise the joint annual investment of G20 nations in the
global startup ecosystem to USD 1 trillion by 2030.

• Notably, Saudi Arabia is the first country to endorse and support this Startup20’s call.
Other Highlights of Joint Communique:
i.It also include prioritising the inclusion of under-represented communities within the start-up ecosystem
ii.The policy communiqué sets the direction for G20 countries to scout promising startups intensively, fund
them collaboratively, mentor them contextually and scale them globally
iii.It has asked the leaders to facilitate the flow of public and private capital into the startup ecosystem by
promoting various mechanisms such as Fund-of-Funds, Corporate Venture Funds, and University Endowment
Funds.
These measures aim to empower startups to innovate, grow, and address global challenges effectively.
i.On March 27, 2023, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information
Technology and Railways, and Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, inaugurated the Two
days ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’ which was held on 27-28 March 2023 at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
ii.India’s and Asia’s first mobile biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory named ‘Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3
Advanced Augmented Network (RAMBAAN)’, designed to investigate emerging viral infections was showcased
at the second G-20(Group of 20) Health Working Group meeting held in Panaji ,Goa.
About Startup20:
Startup20 is the first of its kind official engagement group initiated under the Indian presidency of the G20
2023.
Startup20 India Chair– Dr. Chintan Vaishnav
Headquarters– Ahmedabad, Gujarat
U20 chair city Ahmedabad hosted U20 Mayoral Summit 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), the Chair City of Urban 20(U20) 2023, hosted the 2-day U20 Mayoral Summit 2023 from
7th to 8th July 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The Summit concluded with the handover of the Communiqué
from the Mayors to G20 leaders.
• Kiritkumar J Parmar, Mayor of Ahmedabad handed over the Communique to Hardeep Singh Puri,
Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Amitabh Kant, G20 (Group of 20) Sherpa.
• The handover was moderated by the U20 convenors, C40 Cities and United Cities and Local
Governments (UCLG).
Note: C40 cities is a set of major cities around the world that have
committed to fighting climate change, which connects around 96 of
the world’s largest and most influential cities.
About the Communiqué:
i. The Communiquéwas officially endorsed by a record number of
105 cities across the world.
• This is around twice the number of endorsements for any
previous U20 communiqués and is the highest ever
number of endorsements received to date for any U20
Communiqué.
ii. The Communiqué is in line with the theme of India’s (G20) presidency “VasudhaivaKutumbakam”, or One
Earth, One Family, One Future.
iii. The Communiqué has been drafted as an action agenda for the 6 priorities identified collectively by U20
cities. The priorities are:
• Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviours
• Accelerating climate finance
• Championing local culture and economy
• Ensuring water security

• Catalysing digital urban futures and
• Reinventing frameworks for urban planning and governance.
Key Points:
i. While addressing the Summit, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that cities play a major role in
achieving the global goals related to sustainability, inclusivity and climate resilience.
ii. He also highlighted the 9 focus areas for the cities to achieve a sustainable future:
• Strengthen local governance
• Plan beyond traditional boundaries
• Push for financially self-reliant cities
• Foster a culture of innovation
• Harness the power of data and technology
• Shift from regulation to facilitation
• Focus on impacts not outcome
• Put citizens at the heart of urban policy
• Leverage local culture and economy
About the U20 Mayoral Summit 2023:
i. The Summit was hosted with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) National
Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and the U20 Technical Secretariat.
• The summit offered a platform for city leaders from G20 countries to deliberate on actions towards
sustainability.
ii. The current U20 cycle has also created a record with over 50 articles, 6 extensive background research
papers, six white papers on the six priority areas and six U20 bulletins being prepared and released during the
cycle.
iii. The Summit also saw the launch of several technical papers and documents including the Policy brief on
Mainstreaming Gender in U20 and the Ahmedabad Resilient City Climate Action Plan, which gives a roadmap
for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
What is U20?
Urban 20 is a city diplomacy initiative that brings together cities from G20 member states under a common
framework to discuss global economic, climate and development issues.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister- Bhupendrabhai Patel
Airport- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and Dholera International Airport
For the 1st time, India hosted the Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 in New Delhi
For the first time, India hosted the Global Food Regulators Summit 2023, held as part of the Group 20 (G20)
event, in Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, Delhi from 20th to 21st July 2023. The summit was organised by the
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and
Family Welfare inaugurated the Global Food
Regulators Summit 2023 to create a global platform
of food regulators to exchange perspectives on
strengthening food safety systems and regulatory
framework across the food value chain.
Note:
This is the first time the summit was held outside Rome, Italy.

Key people:
i.The special guest Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Govt. of Nepal, Dr. Bedu
Ram Bhusal and the guest of honour Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh
Tomar are present in the event.
ii.Prof S P Singh Baghel and Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare
are also present in the summit.
New Launches in the summit:
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launches the following new initiatives in the summit.
Food-o-Copoeia:
i.Food-o-Copoeia, a collection of food category-wise monographs was released at the summit.
ii.It acts as a single point reference for all applicable standards for a specific product category detailing quality
and food safety standards, labelling and claim requirements, packaging requirements, test methods and any
other regulatory provisions required by the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSRs).
SaNGRAH:
i.The common regulators platform ‘SaNGRAH‘ – Safe food for Nations: Global
food Regulatory Authorities Handbook was also launched at the summit.
ii.It is a database of Food Regulatory Authorities of 76 countries across the world, their mandate, food safety
ecosystem, food testing facilities, contact details for food authorities.
iii.This handbook is available in Hindi, English,Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Common Digital Dashboard:
The Dashboard is a common Information Technology (IT)-portal that provides comprehensive information on
regulations, notifications, cautions, guidelines, contamination limits, and the most recent advancements by
India’s Food Regulators.
Exhibition:
i.Dr Mandaviya also inaugurated a two-day exhibition during the Global Food Regulator Summit 2023.
ii.The exhibition enables the interactions of ideas and information about food safety, food standards, food
testing capabilities, product reformulation, and food technology innovation.
iii.It witnessed 35 exhibitors including Food Business Operators (FBOs), Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT)
manufacturers, Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Marine
Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Export Inspection Council (EIC),Spice Board, Tea Board and
Coffee Board to showcase their expertise and contributions to the field.
Key points:
i.The summit was attended by the food regulators from over 40 countries along with representatives from 30
International Organisations and 25 International Research Institutes to share viewpoints and knowledge on
critical food safety system concerns.
ii.The various technical sessions focused on topics such as the roles and responsibilities of global food
regulators, challenges and solutions for global food safety, robust standard setting, innovation in food
emergency response took place in the submit
Overview of the 23rd SCO-CHS Summit 2023 under India’s First SCO Chairmanship
On July 4, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi chaired the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit which was held in a virtual format.
• India, as the Chair of the SCO, hosted the SCO-CHS Summit for the first time. India assumed the
chairmanship of the SCO in September 2022.
Note: Previously, Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu chaired the 19th Meeting of the SCO Council of
Heads of Governments (CHG) hosted by India for the first time in November 2020.This was the first time
that India chaired a SCO(CHG) level Meeting.

Theme of the Summit:
‘Towards a SECURE SCO’
• SECURE stands for Security; Economy (and Trade);
Connectivity; Unity; Respect (for Sovereignty and
Territorial Integrity); and Environment.
Key topics discussed at the Summit:
i.These include situation in Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict, and
increased cooperation among member countries.
ii.Participants deliberated on strategies to boost connectivity and
trade.
iii.PM Narendra Modi mentioned about five pillars of the SCO-s vision: security, economic development,
connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environmental protection.
Highlights:
New Delhi Declaration:
During the summit, the member nations signed the New Delhi Declaration coined by the Indian
Government to fight against terrorism. It envisages developing common principles and approaches to form
a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organizations whose activities are prohibited on the
territories of the SCO Member States.
• The Declaration also proposes four other joint statements on de-radicalisation, sustainable
lifestyle to tackle climate change, production of millets and digital transformation.
Point to be Noted: Under this declaration, India refused to sign the paragraph supporting China’s Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI). With this, India is only nation who does not endorsed this agreement.
• However, other SCO member nations viz. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan will jointly implement this project, including efforts to link the construction of
the Eurasian Economic Union and BRI.
Click Here for Full Declaration
Joint Statements:
The leaders also adopted the following two thematic joint statements:
i.Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism:
Under this, member states are determined to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation within the
organization, promote multilateral cooperation, strengthen coordination at global, regional and national
levels, and coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional security threats and challenges.
• The nation will exchange practical experience on how to ensure the security of major
international events held on the territory of the SCO states.
Click Here for Statement
ii.Cooperation in the field of Digital Transformation:
Under this, the member states will collaborate to explore the potential of digitalization in various fields, as
development of digital technologies will promote data applications to better serve all aspects of economic,
social and cultural life. Click Here for Full Statement
PM Modi presents Indian AI-based language platform ‘Bhashini’ at SCO
The PM Narendra Modi presented the AI (artificial intelligence) and Natural Language Processing (NLP)-
based language platform ‘Bhashini’ at SCO summit which can transcend language barriers by translating
in-real time and allowing people from different languages to interact with one another over digital
platforms.
Note: At present, the official languages of SCO are Mandarin and Russian.India is proposing to include
English as the official language of the group.

About Bhashini:
In 2022, PM Modi launched Bhashini under the National Language Technology Mission (NLTM). Developed
by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), its aim is to bring the non-English
speaking population of the nation to the global internet and help them access it in their language itself.
• It is one of the key missions by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation
Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
• Bhashini has a data repository and a model repository.
• The Universal Language Contribution API (ULCA) is also part of Bhashini.
Iran joins SCO as its 9th Permanent Member
During the summit, Iran became the new permanent member (9th) of SCO. Now, the member nations of
SCO increased to 9 viz. China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan.
• This highlights the growing interest of other countries in joining the SCO, emphasizing the
organization’s importance.
Belarus set to become a full member of SCO charter by 2024
Belarus is set to become a full member by 2024 as the nation signed a Memorandum of Obligations which
will lead to its membership.
Kazakhstan takes over SCO Presidency from India
The presidency of the SCO for the forthcoming period is handed over to the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in 2024 in the Kazakhstan.
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also proposed closer energy cooperation within the
SCO.
• In this regard, suggestions were made on hosting an SCO energy conference and developing a
joint energy strategy for the organisation.
Participants:
Heads of the SCO secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) which include
President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,
Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President
Emomali Rahmon, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
• Turkmenistan is a permanent invitee, while Presidents of Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been
invited as Observer States.
• The summit has invited six international and regional organizations, including the United
Nations (UN), Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of
Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic
Union), and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).
Note: The 2022 SCO Summit was held in person, and all leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi
had attended the summit in Samarkand.
About SCO:
It is a 9-member intergovernmental organization that was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. The
main goals of the SCO are to strengthen mutual trust and good-neighborliness among member states,
promote their effective cooperation in political, trade, economic, and other areas.
• 4 Observer States: Mongolia, Iran, Belarus, Afghanistan
• 6 Dialogue Partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Turkey, Nepal
Static Points: India’s SCO Presidency
i.India had joined the SCO as an observer country in 2005 and became a full member state in 2017 along
with Pakistan.
ii.India hosted at least 140 SCO events and 14 Ministerial meetings since September 2022.

• India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September
16, 2022.
iii.India has also set up new working groups during the year on several issues including Startups and
Innovation; Traditional Medicine and Digital Inclusion.
iv.India created five new pillars and focus areas of cooperation in SCO. These are startups and innovation,
traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage.
v.Two new mechanisms in SCO — Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and Experts
Working Group on Traditional Medicine — were created on India’s initiative.
vi.A commemorative stamp was released on June 15, 2023 to mark the first-ever SCO presidency of India.
Jyotiraditya M Scindia Inaugurates Heli Summit 2023 by Launching UDAN 5.2 & HeliSewa app
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, Madhya Pradesh.
• During the event Scindia launched Regional Connectivity
Scheme UDAN(Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik,) 5.2 (RCS
UDAN 5.2) and HeliSewa app.
Heli Summit 2023:
i.The theme of the summit was “Reaching the Last Mile: Regional
Connectivity through Helicopters & Small Aircraft”.
ii.The summit was jointly organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,
in association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans
Ltd., and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI).
Objectives of the Heli Summit 2023:
i.Providing a common platform for all industry stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss the growth story of
the Indian Helicopter and Small Aircraft industry.
ii.Enhancing the scope of the UDAN Scheme in remote and hilly terrains and expanding the country’s rural-to-
urban connectivity.
iii.Boosting Helicopter & Small Aircraft connectivity to places with existing and potential tourism hotspots by
providing uninterrupted services.
Launch during the summit:
i.UDAN 5.2:
UDAN 5.2 for small aircraft (by awarding 22 routes) and for helicopters (by increasing the VGF and reducing
the fare cap) has been launched.
Note: Udan , launched in October 2016, aims to enhance the connectivity to in tier II and tier III cities of India
and achieve last-mile connectivity through small aircraft such as 1A (with less than nine seats) and Category
1(with less than 20 seats).
ii.HeliSewa app:
HeliSewa is a single window service platform by the initiative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation under Digital
India to develop a common platform by creating an ecosystem between the helicopter operators and the
district authorities.
iii.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pawan Hans Ltd. and Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd. was
signed for advancing the Helicopter and Small Aircraft sector in India.
Flight Training Organisations (FTO):
Scindia inaugurated 3 FTO; two pilot training academies and one helicopter training institute and also
announced aircraft services between Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• With this, the number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh has risen to six — three in Khajuraho, and one
each in Indore, Sagar and Guna.

Recent related news:
On February 8th, 2023, helicopter service provider, Pawan Hans Limited (PHL), a central public sector
undertaking under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), launched its helicopter services on 6 routes in Assam
under the RCS UDAN Scheme (Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).
• The new helicopter services will provide connectivity on the “Dibrugarh-Jorhat-Tezpur-Guwahati-
Tezpur-Jorhat-Dibrugarh” network.
Governor- Mangubhai Patel
Capital- Bhopal
3rd India & Lao FOC held in Vientiane, Lao; Signed MoUs for 5 QIPs
On July 27, 2023, the 3rd round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Lao People’s
Democratic Republic (PDR) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The FOC was co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar,
Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), India and Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Foreign
Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR.
• During the 3rd India-Lao FOC, 5 Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the 2
nations for the implementation of 5 Quick Impact Projects
(QIPs), in the fields of education, health, water facility and
Information Technology (IT).
Key Points:
i.Both sides reviewed the gamut of their bilateral relations, and
explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in areas like
development partnership, economic and trade ties, agriculture,
healthcare, education, defense, and heritage preservation.
ii.Discussions also covered mutual interests in regional and global issues, along with cooperation in
international forums such as the United Nations (UN), ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and
Mekong Ganga Cooperation.
• Indian side highlighted the cooperation extended by Lao PDR as Country Coordinator for the
Mekong Ganga Cooperation.
iv.India also reiterated its support to Lao PDR ‘s upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024.
v.The next round(4th) of FOC will be held in New Delhi, Delhi (India) at mutually convenient dates.
vi.The 2nd FOC between India & Lao was held on 10th August 2015 in New Delhi, Delhi.
What are QIPs?
i.QIPs were introduced by the Government of India (GoI) during the 6th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC)
Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi on September 4, 2012. These projects aim to benefit CLMV countries
(Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In this regard, India-CLMV QIPs Revolving Fund was
established with an initial annual contribution of US$1 million.
ii.Over time, the India-CLMV Revolving Fund has been revised twice.
• First, it was increased to US$1.25 million following the India-Cambodia Joint Statement in 2018.
• After the India-Vietnam Summit in 2020, the fund was further raised to the US$2 million.
iii.Each QIP project is limited to a cost of no more than US$50,000.
iv.The primary focus of QIPs is on undertaking short gestation, high visibility projects with a completion period
of up to one year.

About Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR):
Prime Minister– Sonexay Siphandone
Capital– Vientiane
Currency– Laotian Kip(Lao kip)
India’s Ambassador to Laos PDR– Prashant Agrawal
INDEX
RANKING
India stands at 126 rank out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index
According to the 17th edition of the Global Peace Index 2023 released by international think-tank, the Institute
for Economics & Peace (IEP), India has ranked at 126th position by climbing nine positions from 2022. The list
is topped by Iceland.
• The ranking, which is based on 23 indicators
grouped into three criteria (societal safety and
security; extent of ongoing domestic and
international conflict; and degree of militarization),
shows 84 countries recording improvement and 79
showing deterioration.
Key Findings:
i. The 2023 Global Peace Index, which measures peace in 163
countries, found that violence costs the world USD17.5 trillion
in purchasing-power parity (PPP) terms, or 12.9% of total
global GDP. This means that each person on the planet is losing out on USD 2,200 in economic output because
of violence.
ii. The index also found that the level of global peacefulness has decreased for the 13th time in the past 15
years. This is due to a number of factors, including political instability, unresolved internal conflicts, and an
increase in violent crime.
Positive Trends:
i. The report found that the largest improvements in peacefulness occurred in North America and the Middle
East and North Africa region. North America’s improvement was mainly driven by Canada, which this year
gained two positions to 11th place in the index.
ii. Western Europe remains the world’s most peaceful region overall, with six placing among the top ten
countries, including the number one slot.
• Europe’s strength arises from its relatively low in internal conflict and political instability and high
socio economic development, buoyed by longstanding efforts to develop peaceful societies at home.
Peaceful societies are more prosperous and stable, much is required to sustain them. The report warns that
individuals have become more inflexible and politically polarised and less tolerant of dissenting views. This is a
troubling trend that could lead to further violence and instability in the years to come.
Rank Country
1 Iceland
2 Denmark
3 Ireland
4 New Zealand
5 Austria

126 India
Note: Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008
The bottom five countries are – Democratic Republic of the Congo (159), South Sudan (160), Syria (161),
Yemen (162), and Afghanistan(163)
India’s position with respect to year 2022
India held the 135th position in 2022 with a score of 2.578, whereas in the current year it has improved to the
126th rank with a score of 2.314.
India’s position with respect to neighbours:
• India is listed as the 126th country on the list which is far behind few of her neighbours such as
Bhutan (17), Maldives (23), Nepal (79), China (80), Bangladesh (88), Sri Lanka (107).
• Countries like Myanmar (145) & Pakistan (146) are listed behind India.
THE Young University Rankings 2023 : Mahatma Gandhi University Secures Top among Indian
Universities
According to the Times Higher Education(THE) ‘Young University Rankings(YUR)-2023’ , Mahatma Gandhi
University (MGU), Kerala has emerged as top among Indian universities and secured 77 globally.Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore tops the list in 2023.
• The only three universities from India in the Top 100 World List are Mahatma Gandhi University, JSS
Academy of Higher Education and Research, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management
Sciences.
Indian Universities’ Performance
MGU followed by JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysore, Karnataka and Shoolini University of
Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh in top three positions among Indian
Universities.
• JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysore, Karnataka ranked 79 and Shoolini
University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences ranked 91st in the ranking list.
Key points:
i.A total of 45 Indian institutes were assessed in the THE Young University Ranking 2023 out of 605
universities globally .
ii.This category includes universities established in the past 50 years.For the first time, 13-year-old Shoolini
University has participated in these rankings.
iii.In the year 2022, out of 539 universities ranked globally, only 40 Indian institutions were on the list and JSS
Academy of Higher Education and Research topped the list.
LPU Ranks Ahead of 3 IITs in India
Lovely Professional University (LPU),Punjab placed in World’s Rank Band 251-300 in the ranking THE YUR
2023 list among the other universities created since 1973.LPU has surpassed three IITs, namely IIT Guwahati
and Bhubaneswar (ranked within the 301-350 band), as well as IIT Mandi (ranked within the 351-400 band).
• World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI)-2023 has recently acknowledged Lovely
Professional University (LPU) ahead of world’s top Harvard & Oxford universities, in one of its
global ranking lists.
• LPU secured an impressive 12th position in the global ranking list for the ‘Fourth Industrial
Revolution’ category, while Harvard, a renowned Ivy League university, was ranked 23rd, and
Oxford of the UK secured the 37th position.
• India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2023 has ranked LPU at 38th
among all government & private universities in the country.

The top 5 Indian Universities in ‘THE Young University Ranking 2023’ and their ranks and scores:
S.No University Rank
1 Mahatma Gandhi University 77
2 JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research 79
3 Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences 91
4 Alagappa University 101-150
5 Indian Institute of Technology Indore 101-150
The top 5 Universities in ‘THE Young University Ranking 2023’ (Globally):

S.No University Rank
1 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 1
2 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2
3 Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris 3
4 Hong Kong Polytechnic University 4
5 Erasmus University Rotterdam 5
The global ranking:

i.Hong Kong has three institutions in the top 10, while France is the most-represented country in the top
20(with five institutions in this group).
ii.Italy’s Humanitas University is the highest new entry in the ranking, in 29th place.
iii.Turkey leads as the most-represented nation with 47 institutions, followed by India with 45 and Iran with
39.
iv.Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Namibia are among the countries that make their debuts.
v.In the year 2022, 74 territories featured in the ranking list making it 78 in 2023.
vi.Australia is top-performing nation for first time in five years, while the United Arab Emirates(UAE) has
shown a greater rate of improvement.
Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2023:
i.The Rankings for the year 2023 has been released on 3rd July 2023.
ii.The THE World University Rankings 2023 include 1,799 universities across 104 countries and regions.
iii.THE Ranking is based on the 13 performance indicators as the flagship THE World University Rankings.
iv.358 institutions are listed with “reporter” status(provided data but did not meet the eligibility criteria to
receive a rank).
v.The universities are judged across all their core missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and
international outlook – to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available.
About Times Higher Education:
First issue- October 1971
Headquarters- London, United Kingdom (UK)

Tamil Nadu becomes India’s Top Electronics Exporter of FY23 with the export worth USD5.37
billion
According to the Export data released by the government of India for FY23 (financial year ended in March
2023), Tamil Nadu (TN) becomes India’s leading exporter of Electronic goods in FY23, with exports reaching
USD5.37 billion (bn), nearly triple the export of FY22 (USD 1.86 bn).
• Tamil Nadu is followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) in the 2nd place with export worth USD 4.90 bn and
Karnataka in 3rd place with USD 4.52 bn.
• For the 1st time, TN has overtaken UP, Karnataka and Maharashtra to top the list as India’s leading
exporter of electronic goods.
• Production from the companies like Tata Electronics and Pegatron helped TN to climb the top spot from
the 4th spot in FY22 in the electronics sector.
Note: In FY22, Karnataka topped the list with USD 3.87 bn; followed by UP with USD 3.77 bn; Maharashtra with
USD 2.08 bn.
Export data:
In FY 2022-23 India’s export of electronic goods were recorded at USD 23.57 bn, the share of TN in the total
export is 22.83%.
• Previously in FY22, India’s export of electronic goods were at USD 15.59 bn while TN’s share was
11.98%.
i. TN being the top electronics exporter, retained the top spot in the first two months of the current fiscal year
FY2023-24 followed by Karnataka and UP.
Table of India’s leading exporter of Electronic goods in FY 23:
Share of Share of
FY23 (in FY22 (in
India’s India’s
S.No. State USD USD
Export Export
billion) billion)
(in %) (in %)
1 Tamil Nadu 5.37 22.83 1.86 11.98
2 Uttar Pradesh 4.9 20.85 3.77 24.25
3 Karnataka 4.52 19.22 3.87 24.89
4 Maharashtra 2.68 11.41 2.08 13.39

Key Points:
i. Now in Tamil Nadu, there are over 15 leading electronics manufacturers, including Foxconn, Tata Electronics,
Salcomp and Pegatron.
Note: Tamil Nadu aimed to achieve a USD 100 bn electronics system design and manufacturing industry in the
next five years.
ii. TN continues to promote innovation, attract investments, and nurture entrepreneurship in the Electronic
sector.
iii. Strong industrial climate, availability of skilled/trained labour (especially women with high productivity),
good logistics connectivity of the Airport, reliable power supply, and robust supply chain of TN were the key
factors that contributed to its success in the electronics sector.

Henley Passport Index 2023: Indian passport ranks 80th; Gives Visa-Free Entry to 57
Countries
According to the Henley Passport Index 2023 (3rd quarter) released by Henley & Partners, a London-based
global citizenship and residence advisory firm, India ranked 80th by providing visa-free or visas on arrival
access to 57 countries.
• India ranked 87th in Henley Passport Index 2022.
• Singapore is the world’s most powerful passport with visa-free access to 192 travel destinations
out of 227 worldwide.
The top 5:
i.Singapore increased its score by 25, pushing it five places up the ranking over the past 10 years
to 1st position.
ii.The 2nd place is shared by 3 European countries Germany, Italy, and Spain with 190 visa-free destinations
iii.Japan, which held the top position for five consecutive years, dropped to 3rd place as the number of visa-free
destinations for its passport holders decreased to 189.
• It shares its position with Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden.
iv.The United Kingdom, claimed 4th place(a position it last held in 2017) by rising 2 spots.
• It shares its position with Denmark, Ireland and Netherland.
v.The 5th position is held by Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland
with visa-free access to 187 countries.
Country Rank Score
Singapore 1st 192
Germany, Italy, and Spain 2nd 190
Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden 3rd 189
Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom 4th 188
Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland 5th 187
Note: The United States(US), which once topped the ranking nearly a decade ago, slid two places to eighth
place.
The least in the index:
Afghanistan with a score of 27, Iraq 29 and Syria 30 stands at the bottom of the ranking, rounding out the three
weakest passports in the world.
Country Rank Score
Afghanistan 103rd 27
Iraq 102nd 29
Syria 101st 30
India’s rank ties with:
India’s current rank ties it with countries like Togo and Senegal.
Country Rank Score
India 80th 57
Togo 80th 57
Senegal 80th 57
• Indian passport holders still need a visa to enter 177 destinations across the world including China,
Japan, Russia, the United States, and the entire European Union.

HPI rankings:
i.The strength of the passports is evaluated on the basis of the total number of destinations that its holders can
travel visa-free.
ii.Henley’s Passport Index ranking tracks data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
updating the report every quarter.
Henley Openness Index 2023:
The Henley Openness Index (HOI) ranks all 199 countries and territories worldwide according to the number
of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa.
• India ranks 94th by scoring 4.
The HOI is a reverse calculation of the HPI, and is based on the data from the IATA.
About Henley & Partners:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters- London, United Kingdom(UK)
Established- 1997
Hurun Institute’s ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023: Witnessed
slowdown in the Indian start-up ecosystem
On 27th June 2023, The Hurun Research Institute released the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future
Unicorn Index 2023, a ranking of India’s start-up ecosystems worth at least USD 200 million, and the new
additions in the unicorn list reveals a significant decline in 2023, indicating a slowdown in the Indian start-up
ecosystem. The cut-off date was 31 May 2023.
• In 2023, India added only three unicorn start-ups having a valuation of over USD 1 billion compared to
24 (turned Unicorns from the list) in 2022 pointed at a distinct slowdown.
• The important factor contributing to this decline is the drop in the Investor interest, also termed as
“Funding Winter”.
Note: This is an index of the most valuable private equity or venture capital (VC)-funded companies in India
founded after 2000, ranked according to their latest funding round valuation.
Classifications of the Start-ups:
i. Hurun Research Institute has classified start-ups as Unicorns (start-ups founded after the year 2000 with a
valuation of USD 1 billion); Gazelles (start-ups that are most likely to go Unicorn in the next 3 years), and
Cheetahs (start-ups that could go Unicorn in the next 5 years).
ii. The evaluation is based on regulatory filings, feedback from other entrepreneurs, and some of the active
India-focused VC funds and angel investors.
Index 2023:
i. To feature in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023, the start-up is required to
have a minimum valuation of USD 200 million (Rs.1,650 crore).
ii. In 2023, Hurun Research found 147 (122 in 2022) Indian future Unicorns from 25 cities and they were set
up on average in 2015.
iii. The total number of Unicorns in India in 2023 is 83, and there were 51 gazelles, and 96 cheetahs, as against
84 unicorns, 51 gazelles, and 71 cheetahs in the 2022 index.
iv. Future Unicorns were seen disrupting financial services, healthcare, business management solutions and
education.
v. India’s future unicorns are currently worth USD 57 billion, with an increase of 16% as compared to 2022,
mainly driven by addition of new future unicorns to the list.

Table for Gazelles in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023:
Total
Funding
Start-up
No. Company Year Founded Received
Sector
(in USD
million)
Ather Electric
1 2013 342
Energy Vehicle (EV)
Leap
2 2019 153 EdTech
Scholar
Quick
3 Zepto 2021 360
Commerce
In the 2023 index, the Gazelles listed 51 start-ups; they have collectively secured USD 9.6 billion.
Table for Cheetahs in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023:
Total Funding
No. Company Received (in Start-up Sector
USD million)
1 Pepperfry 285 E-Commerce
2 Atlan 69 SaaS
3 Clear 140 FinTech

In the 2023 index, the 96 Cheetahs collectively secured USD 9.3 billion, leading with the E-commerce start-ups
with 17 representations, followed by SaaS with 14.
Note:
i. A total of 135 future unicorns were founded after the year 2010, of which only 10 of these Gazelles and
Cheetahs were founded.
ii. The slow-down in the economy has been tough for certain companies, with almost 20% of 2022’s Gazelles /
Cheetahs either dropping off the list or being downgraded.
Table for Top 3 Indian cities in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023:
Cumulative
Rank No. of Main Valuation
City
(Change) Companies (Change) companies (USD in
million)
Ather
Bengaluru Energy,
1 (0) 53 (+6) 20,330
(Karnataka) Leap
Scholar

Smartworks,
2 (0) Delhi NCR 29 (+4) Square 11,290
Yards
Zepto,
Mumbai
3 (0) 19 (+3) InCred, 7,970
(Maharashtra)
Servify
Bengaluru (Karnataka) continues to be the start-up capital of India by being home to 53 probable unicorns.
Table for Top 3 sectors in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023:
Cumulative
Rank Start-up No. of Valuation No. of No.
(Change) Sector Companies (Change) (USD in Gazelles of Cheetahs
million)
E-
1 (+1) 21 (+8) 7670 4 17
Commerce
2 (0) FinTech 21 (-7) 8750 11 10
3 (0) SaaS 20 (+9) 6990 6 14

Key Points:
i. Peak XV Partners, which was formerly known as Sequoia, is the biggest investor with stakes in 37 unicorns.
ii. Kaivalya Vohra (22), co-founder of Quick commerce start-up Zepto is the youngest cofounder in the index.
iii. The highest number of future unicorn founders are Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur (West
Bengal) graduates with 24 founders, followed by those from IIT Delhi with 23 founders.
iv. The 147 companies featured in the index employ over 1.02 lakh people. A total of 18 companies dropped off
the list in 2022, but there were over 40 new additions and the overall funding to the start-ups on the list grew
by 6% to USD 18.8 billion.
About Hurun India:
Launched in- 2012
Founder and MD- Anas Rahman Junaid
SBI Ecowrap report: India set to become the world 3rd Largest Economy in 2027
According to the State Bank of India’s (SBI) economic research report Ecowrap dated on 27th July 2023, India is
set to become the world 3rd Largest Economy in 2027(Financial Year 2028) based on actual Gross domestic
product (GDP) data as on March 2023.
• India currently ranks 5th in the world’s largest economy, accounting for 3.4% of global GDP.
• As per the report, India will surpass both Japan and Germany in 2027 if it develops at the present
current rate of growth.
India’s GDP in FY24:
i.The report also states that India’s GDP is expected to grow
by more than 8% in the first Quarter of Financial Year 2024 (8.1-8.2%).
ii.It also predicted that India may surpass the 6.5% mark of overall growth (GDP)in FY24.

Top 5 Economies:
Nominal GDP
Rank Country (Billion in USD) Share (%)
United States of America
1 (USA) 25464 25.40%
2 China 18100 18.10%
3 Japan 4234 4.20%
4 Germany 4075 4.10%
5 India 3399 3.40%
Key points:
i.The incremental increase of USD 1.8 trillion estimated in the economy’s size between 2022-27 will be more
than the current size of the Australian economy.
ii.India is all set to touch $20 trillion by 2047 by adding 0.75 trillion USD in every 2 years.
• India’s global share in GDP will cross 4% by 2027.
iii.To achieve the 3rd place India needs to grow by CAGR of 8.4% till 2027 (in dollar terms). This translates into
11.0-11.5% nominal GDP growth per annum (in Rs
terms), which is achievable.
Comparison between 2014 and 2024:
i.The share of India’s GDP is now at 3.5%, as against 2.6% in 2014.
ii.It developed into the 5th largest economy from the 10th in 2014.
State-wise estimate:
i.Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh set to break the $500 billion
mark in 2027 (or FY28).
ii.In 2027,the GDP size of major Indian states will be more than the size of some of the Asian and European
countries including Vietnam, Norway,Hungary,Qatar.
Estimation of top 3 States contributing to India’s GDP in FY28:
Estimated Size Estimated
State (Billion in USD) Share (%) Countries with equal size in 2027
Maharashtra 647 13% Vietnam
Uttar Pradesh 515 10% Norway
Tamil Nadu 426 8% Chile
About State Bank of India(SBI):
Established – 1 July 1955
REPORTS
MoS for Panchayati Raj Kapil Moreshwar Patil released Report on Panchayat Development
Index
On 28th June 2023, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj(MoPR)
released the Report on Panchayat Development Index(PDI) during the National Workshop on PDI held at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
National Workshop on PDI:
Main focus:
i.To develop a strategic plan and roadmap for the integration of the Ministry’s portal /dashboard to build a data
ecosystem.

ii.Assess the schematic progress in alignment with LSDGs at Panchayat and institutional mechanisms for
implementation of the Panchayat Development Index with the active support of different Ministries /
Departments, Panchayats and Knowledge Partners
Participants:
Senior officials from various Ministries and departments, Principal Secretaries and officials from the
departments under the MoPR, Directors of SIRD&PRs, Senior Technical Officers of State NIC and Officials of
SDG Cell and other stakeholders participated in the national workshop.
About PDI Report:
i.PDI was formulated to evaluate different indicators responsible for ensuring targeted development in villages.
ii.PDI Report comes with 144 local targets, 577 local indicators and 688 data points on 9 themes of Localization
of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), which aggregates the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) of
the United Nations.
• The 9 themes include poverty-free and enhanced livelihood in villages, healthy villages, child-friendly
villages, water-sufficient villages, clean and green villages, villages with self-sufficient infrastructure,
socially just and socially secured villages, village with good governance, and women-friendly village.
iii.This will act as a statistical tool to measure and monitor the development at the panchayat Level.
iv.This will provide a baseline for Panchayat to set up local targets and local action points with measurable
indicators in preparation of the thematic Gram Panchayat Development Plan.
v.This will also help to reflect the current status of the Panchayats to take the required actions to achieve the
development goals by building institutional mechanisms.
Pilot PDI:
On a pilot basis, data from 4 districts (Pune, Sangli, Satara and Solapur) of Maharashtra were compiled.
i.The PDI ranks panchayats on the basis of scores and categorises them into different grades
• Panchayats with scores above 90% will be categorised as A+, 75 to 90% will be grade A, 60-75% will be
grade B, 40-60% will be grade C and below 40% will be grade D.
ii.Based on the pilot index,
• 70% of the panchayats in the 4 districts of Maharashtra are in Category C, while 27% are in B.
• Around 36% of panchayats fall in grade D and around 53% fall under grade D, in the case of water
sufficiency.
• 30% of panchayats are in grade B in being clean and green villages, and 30% in grade C when it comes to
being women-friendly.
Key points:
i.PDI Committee chaired by Jayashree Raghunandan, Former Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil
Nadu, interacted with 19 States on their efforts to develop LIFs for implementation of LSDGs;
ii.During the workshop, MoS Kapil Moreshwar Patil presented the certificate of appreciation to the team of
Maharashtra for their significant contribution to PDI.
iii.The MoPR has also approved revamping the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan for implementation from 2022-
23 to 2025-26 with a focus on capacity building and training of elected representatives and functionaries to
strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Background:
i.India is a signatory to the UN 2030 Agenda for achieving inclusive; people-centric and holistic Sustainable
Development through 17 SDGs.
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the Nodal institution for the implementation of
SDGs in India.
ii.More than 70% Indian population resides in rural areas and the attainment of SDGs at the national level
requires actions at the grassroots level through Panchayati Raj Institutions.
iii.MoPR initiated a thematic approach by aggregating 17 SDG goals into 9 broad themes for LSDGs to empower
Panchayats & other stakeholders in rural areas.

Additional info:
i.MoPR is organizing the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) for the preparation of the Gram Panchayat
Development Plan (GPDP) as ‘Sabki Yojana SabkaVikas’ throughout India.
ii.Gram Panchayats are directed to prepare a holistic Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) through the
lens of 9 themes.
About Ministry of Panchayati Raj(MoPR):
Union Minister– Giriraj Singh (Constituency- Begusarai, Bihar)
Minister of State– Kapil Moreshwar Patil(Constituency- Bhiwandi, Maharashtra)
WHO Report: Unsafe WASH responsible for death of 395K children under 5 in 2019
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report titled Burden of disease attributable to unsafe
drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update, among children under the age of 5, unsafe Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was responsible for 395 000 deaths and 37 million disability-adjusted life
years (DALYs). This represents 7.6% of all deaths and 7.5% of all DALYs in this age group.
• This also includes 273000 deaths from diarrhoea and 112000 deaths from acute respiratory
infections, top 2 infectious causes of death for children under 5 globally.
About the WHO Report:
i.The report provides the estimates of the burden of disease attributes to unsafe WASH for 183 WHO Member
states for the year 2019.
ii. The estimates are based on 4 health outcomes – diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections (ARIs),
undernutrition (protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)), and soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH).
• These are included in reporting of sustainable development goal (SDG) indicator 3.9.2 on mortality
attributed to unsafe WASH.
Key Highlights:
i.According to the report, half of the world’s population still does not have adequate access to drinking water,
sanitation and hygiene, which caused the death of at least 1.4 million people and 74 million DALY in 2019.
• About 771 million people lack access to safe water and 1.7 billion people don’t have a toilet globally.
ii. STHs affect an estimated 1.5 billion people or 24% of the world’s population.
iii. Diarrhoeal disease accounted for most of the attributable burden, with over one million deaths and 55
million DALYs.
iv. The second largest contributor was ARIs from inadequate hand hygiene, which was linked to 356 000
deaths and 17 million DALYs.
v. It was estimated that 10% of the burden of undernutrition, PEM among children under 5 could be
attributable to unsafe WASH, representing a total of 8,000 deaths and 825,000 DALYs in this age group.
vi. Data in the report showed, only 3% of countries had a formal policy or a plan in place with at least 75%
costing plan available to implement these policies.
vii. WHO African and South-East Asian Regions contributed to around 3 quarters of all WASH attributable
deaths, with 510,000 and 593,000 deaths respectively.
viii. Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe experienced the fastest progress on
access to basic hand hygiene services, with coverage increasing by more than 10% points between 2015 and
2020.
India Doubles its share of Global Commercial Services Exports to 4.4% in 2022: WB &
WTO Report
According to the report titled “Trade in services for development: Fostering sustainable growth and economic
diversification” co-published by World Bank (WB) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) India has doubled its
share of global commercial services exports to 4.4% in 2022 from 2% in 2005.
i.The report also stated that China has also doubled its share of global commercial services exports from 2005

to 2022, from 3% to 5.4%.
ii.The report was launched by the WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the World Bank
President, Ajay Banga, at an online event on 3rd July 2023.
Highlights:
i.China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India are top exporters and importers of services, driving the trade
performance of developing economies.
ii.In India, South Africa and Türkiye, over 10% of services sector jobs are directly linked to cross-border
exports.
iii.Services value-added accounted for 51% of India’s total exports in 2018, reflecting reforms to attract foreign
direct investment (FDI).
iv.Global commercial services exports almost tripled from 2005 to 2022, fueled by Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT) advancements.
• Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and the Middle East saw increased shares in commercial
services imports, while Africa, Europe, and North America declined.
v.Digitally delivered services exports reached $3.82 trillion in 2022, representing 54% of total global services
exports.
Key Points:
i.The export of computer-related services has significantly contributed to India’s economic growth.
ii.The IT (Information Technology) industry in India has been the leading generator of well-paid jobs over the
past decade.
• In India, 34% of the IT workforce is women.
• Female workforce participation in the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry is much higher
than the national average i.e. 21%.
iii.India and the Philippines have become global leaders in computer services and BPO. However, they need to
upskill and reskill their workforces and invest in the development of their domestic services sectors,
particularly in terms of Research & Development (R&D).
India: A Popular Destination for Medical Travel
India has emerged as a favored medical travel hub, attracting approximately 3.5 million foreign patients
between 2009 and 2019.
• These patients come from developed countries like the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States
of America (USA), as well as developing countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, for
affordable yet high-quality treatment options.
i.According to the World Bank (WB) report “Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South
Asia,” concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) like soot and small dust (PM 2.5) in some of South Asia’s
most densely populated and underdeveloped areas are up to 20 times higher than the World Health
Organization (WHO) threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/mʒ).
ii.According to the “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” report released by the World Trade Organization
(WTO) the merchandise trade volume is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2023, up from October 2022 estimate of
1.0%.
About World Bank (WB) Group:
President– Ajay Banga
Financial Arms– 5: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International
Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
Headquarters– Washington, DC, United States of America(USA)
About World Trade Organization (WTO):
Director-General– Okonjo-Iweala
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2023: India and ASEAN top recipients of FDI
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s “World Investment
Report 2023(WIR 2023): Investing in Sustainable Energy for All”, Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) in Asia’s
developing countries remained unchanged at USD 662 billion and India and Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) were the top recipients , with an increase of 10% and 5% respectively.
Asia accounted for more than 50% of the global FDI.
• The FDI increase in developing countries was unevenly shared and much of the growth was
concentrated in a few large emerging economies.
• India was among the five economies that accounted for almost 80 percent of the FDI flows to the
region. The four other economies were China, Singapore, Hong Kong(China) and the United Arab
Emirates(UAE).
• In South Asia, foreign direct investment (FDI) into India increased by 10 percent, reaching USD 49
billion. This rise in FDI made India the third-largest host country for greenfield project
announcements, and the second-largest for international project finance deals.Singapore was the
largest recipient of FDI in Southeast Asia region.
Key Points:
i.The 2023 report stated that the global flow of FDI declined by 12% to USD 1.3 trillion in 2022.
ii.The United States of America(USA) topped the list of top 20 host economies (FDI inflow) for 2022 with USD
285 billion. For the USA, FDI flow declined by 26% compared to 2021.
• In 2022, FDI flows to developed countries as a group fell by 37% largely in Europe and North
America.
iii.China, the 2nd largest FDI recipient in the world, witnessed an increase of 5%.
iv.In the Gulf region, the FDI declined but the number of project announcements increased by two third.
v.The FDI inflow was stagnant in several developing countries and the FDI to the least developed countries
(LDCs) also declined during the period.
vi.It is noted that FDI inflow in developing countries were comparatively higher than the FDI inflow in the
developed economies.
Findings of the Report:
i.WIR 2023 revealed that the annual investment deficit is widening in the developing countries as they work to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The largest gaps are in energy, water and
transport infrastructure.
• The gap is now about USD 4 trillion per year, increased from USD 2.5 trillion in 2015.
ii.WIR 2023 calls for urgent support to developing countries to enable them to attract significantly more
investment for their transition to clean energy.
iii.The report also proposed a compact setting out priority actions, ranging from financing mechanisms to
investment policies, to ensure sustainable energy for all.
About World Investment Report 2023
i.World Investment Report 2023 provides the latest trends in global foreign direct investment, greenfield
investment projects, and international project finance.
ii.This report also includes a key review of investment needs at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.
The report features,
• Analysis of the trends in FDI during 2022, with especial emphasis on the development implications.
• Ranking of the largest transnational corporations in the world.
• In-depth analysis of a selected topic related to FDI.
• Policy analysis and recommendations.
• Statistical annex with data on FDI flows and stocks at the country level.

According to the State of World Population (SOWP) 2023 titled “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the case
for Rights and Choices” published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India overtakes China to
become the most populous nation in the world, the population of India has grown by 1.56% in the past year
and it is estimated to be 142.86 crore.
About United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
UNCTAD is an intergovernmental organization which promotes the interests of developing countries in world
trade.
Secretary-General– Rebeca Grynspan
India registers remarkable reduction in poverty with 415 million people coming out of it in 15
years: UN
The latest update of the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was released by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at
the University of Oxford, United Kingdom(UK).
• As per it, a total of 415 million people moved out of poverty in India within just 15 years from
2005/2006 to 2019/2021 showing 55.1% decrease in 2005-06 to 16.4% in 2019-2021.
Assessment:
The analysis of trends from 2000 to 2022, focused on 81 countries with comparable data over time.
Indian Scenario:
i.In India, multidimensional poverty declined from 645 million people in 2005-2006 to 370 million in 2015-
2016, and further to 230 million in 2019-2021. Deprivation decreased across all indicators.
ii.The proportion of people multidimensionally poor and deprived of nutrition decreased from 44.3% in 2005-
2006 to 11.8% in 2019-2021, and child mortality fell from 4.5% to 1.5%.
iii.Those deprived of cooking fuel decreased from 52.9% to 13%, and sanitation deprivation decreased from
50.4% in 2005-2006 to 11.3% in 2019-2021.
iv.Multidimensional poverty and deprivation decreased in drinking water (from 16.4% to 2.7%), electricity
(from 29% to 2.1%), and housing (from 44.9% to 13.6%).
Global Scenario:
i.Over 18% of the global population (1.1 billion people) live in acute multidimensional poverty across 110
countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia housing the majority of the poor.
ii.Two-thirds of all poor individuals (730 million people) reside in middle-income countries, highlighting the
need for action in these nations. Low-income countries, comprising just 10% of the MPI population, are home
to 35% of the poor.
iii.Half of the MPI-poor population (566 million) consists of children under 18, with a poverty rate of 27.7%.
Poverty predominantly affects rural areas, where 84% of all poor people live.
iv.25 countries, including India, have successfully halved their global MPI values within 15 years,
demonstrating the potential for rapid progress. These countries include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam.
i.According to the State of World Population (SOWP) 2023 titled “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the
case for Rights and Choices” published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India overtakes China
to become the most populous nation in the world, the population of India has grown by 1.56% in the past
year and it is estimated to be 142.86 crore.
ii.The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released its report titled ‘Women and
Men in India 2022’ which is 24th in a series. As per it, an average Indian woman, aged between 15 and
29 spends 5.5 hours doing unpaid labour. A man in that age group spends about 50 minutes a day doing work
that yields no money.

About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator– Achim Steiner
Headquarters– New York, United States
2023 WHO-UNICEF JMP report: Women, girls bear the burden of Water, Sanitation Crisis
According to the report by World Health Organization(WHO)- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint
Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) titled “Progress on household drinking
water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: Special focus on gender”, gloablly women and girls bear the burden
of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) crises.
• Women and girls spend more than ten times as much time fetching water for households than men.
• Girls are nearly twice as likely as boys to bear the responsibility.
Note: This is the first in depth analysis of gender inequalities in WASH in household.
Gist of the report:
i.Globally, around 1.8 billion people live in households without water supplies on the premises.
ii.Women and girls(age 15 or above) are responsible for water collection in 7 out of 10 households without
water supplies on premises.
iii.Girls under 15 (7%) are also more likely than boys under 15 (4%) to fetch water.
iv.The report also noted that women and girls are likely to feel unsafe using a toilet outside of the home and
disproportionately feel the impact of lack of hygiene.
v.Around 500 million people across the globe share sanitation facilities with other households.
vi.According to a recent survey, 22 countries show that among households with shared toilets, women and girls
are more likely than men and boys to feel unsafe walking alone at night and face sexual harassment and other
safety risks.
Key Points:
i.According to the WHO Data, Globally, 1.4 million lives are lost each year due to inadequate water, sanitation
and hygiene.
• 2.2 billion people (1 in 4) lack safely managed drinking water at home.
• 3.4 billion people(2 in 5) lack safely managed sanitation.
• 2 billion people(1 in 4) cannot access soap and water at home to wash their hands.
Points to be noted:
i.Achieving universal access to WASH services by 2030 requires substantial progress and integrated gender
considerations.
ii.Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 6 – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all.
iii.The report highlighted that between 2015 and 2022,
• Household access to safely managed drinking water increased from 69 to 73%.
• Safely managed sanitation increased from 49 to 57%.
Basic hygiene services increased from 67 to 75%.
Ministry of Education releases report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for
2021-22
On July 7, 2023, the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE), released the
‘Performance Grading Index (PGI): 2.0: 2021-22: States & Union Territories‘ which assesses the performance of
school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.
• It should be noted that the PGI: 2.0 is the revised version of earlier ‘PGI – State structure for 2021-
22’.

What is the revision?
PGI – States/UTs was initially released for 2017-18 and has been updated until 2020-21. It focuses on
Governance Processes rather than quality indicators. However, to incorporate recent initiatives of the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020, monitor Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and replace
achieved indicators, the PGI – State structure has been revised and renamed as PGI 2.0 for 2021-22.
• Therefore grades obtained by States/UTs in previous edition of the PGIs are thus not comparable
with this new edition.
How does PGI 2.0 assess?
In PGI 2.0, the sources data from Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), National
Achievement Survey (NAS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) portal, Project Appraisal,
Budgeting, Achievements and Data Handling System (PRABANDH) and Vidyanjali Portal.
• It should be noted that UDISE+ Systems initiated by Department of School Education and
Literacy covering more than 14.89 lacs of schools, 95 lacs of teachers and 26.5 crores of children
provides a platform to organize and classify all school data across India and build a credible
database from all recognized schools imparting formal education from Pre-primary to class XII.
Key Points:
i.The new PGI 2.0 structure covers 73 indicators, focused more on qualitative assessment, digital initiatives and
teacher education. It comprises of 1000 points across 73 indicators grouped into 2 categories viz., Outcomes,
Governance Management (GM).
• These categories are further divided into 6 domains, viz., Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A),
Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), Governance Process (GP) & Teachers Education and
Training (TE&T).
ii.PGI 2.0 for 2021-22 classified the States/UTs into ten grades viz., highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is
for State/UT scoring more than 940 points out of total of 1000 points. The lowest grade is Akanshi-3 which is
for score up to 460.
Aim of PGI 2.0:
i.To properly track the progress of States/UTs.
ii.To propel States & UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions to bring optimal education
outcomes covering all dimensions.
To help States/UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritize areas which needs improvement.
PGI 2.0 Grades attained by various States/UTs in 2021-22
No of
Grades states/UTs States/ UTs attained the respective Grades
Daksh (941-
1000) NIL None
Utkarsh (881-
940) NIL None
Atti–Uttam
(821- 880) NIL None
Uttam (761-
820) NIL None
Prachesta– 1
(701-760) NIL None
Prachesta – 2
(641-700) 2 Chandigarh, Punjab
Prachesta – 3
(581-640) 6 Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu (TN)
Akanshi – 1 Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh (AP),
(521-580) 13 Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and

Daman and Diu (DNH & DD), Rajasthan, Goa, Sikkim, Haryana, West Bengal (WB),
Himachal Pradesh (HP)
Akanshi – 2 Assam, Nagaland, Bihar, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir (J & K), Telangana, Jharkhand,
(461-520) 12 Tripura, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Akanshi – 3
(401-460) 3 Arunachal Pradesh (AP), Meghalaya, Mizoram
List of Top 5 States as per Scores:
State/UT Score Grade
Chandigarh 659 Prachesta-2
Punjab 647.4 Prachesta-2
Delhi 636.2 Prachesta-3
Kerala 609.7 Prachesta-3
Gujarat 599 Prachesta-3
Highlights:
i.None of the States/UTs has attained the highest Grade i.e., Daksh.
ii.The top-most grade attained in PGI 2.0 is Prachesta – 2. It was attained by only 2 States and UTs, namely
Punjab with score of 647.4 and Chandigarh (659.0).
iii.6 States/UTs joined Grade Prachesta – 3 (score 581-640), 13 States/UTs joined grade Akanshi -1 (score 521-
580), 12 States/UTs in grade Akanshi – 2 (score 461-520) and 3 States in grade Akanshi – 3 in PGI 2.0.
iv.Punjab and Chandigarh which are in Prachesta – 2, are ranked 21st and 35th respectively in terms of their
geographical size amongst States/UTs.
Key Points:
i.With approximately 14.9 lakh schools, 95 lakh teachers, and nearly 26.5 crore students from diverse socio-
economic backgrounds, the Indian Education System stands as one of the world’s largest.
ii.India adopted the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) in 2015, aligning with the global education
development agenda.
• SDG4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all by 2030.
i.Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G), Assam, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Samagra Shiksha, Assam, (SSA) under the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan of MoE to develop scientific temper
and strengthen students’ ability to handle challenging environments.
ii.On 11th April 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE, unveiled the digital version of the
Employability Skills Curriculum (ES) for students enrolled in India’s
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at the Future Skills Forum in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Constituency- Rajya Sabha, Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Annpurna Devi (Constituency- Kodarma, Jharkhand); Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
(Constituency-, Inner Manipur, Manipur); Dr. Subhas Sarkar (Constituency- Bankura, West Bengal)
Over half of world’s child trafficking victims trafficked within own country: Report by IOM &
FXB
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human
Rights at Harvard University (FXB) released a new report titled ‘From Evidence to Action: Twenty years of IOM
child trafficking data to inform policy and programming‘.
• As per the report, half of child trafficking victims are trafficked within their own country.

• In cases of international trafficking, children are mostly trafficked to neighbouring, wealthier
countries.
This report, a first of its kind, is based on analysis of extensive, globally sourced data, using the IOM’s Victims
of Trafficking Database (VoTD). It analyzed primary data from more than 69,000 victims of trafficking of 156
nationalities, trafficked in 186 countries.
• VoTD is the largest available international database of individual victims of trafficking. 18.3% of
VoTs in the database were children.
The study assessed the factors that drive vulnerability to trafficking and revealed trends for the trafficking
were mostly gendered, informed by the education and income levels of the victims and their families.
Key Points:
i.The report highlights that child trafficking is a multifaceted and intricate issue that persists and transforms
across borders. It affects all ages, genders, and nationalities, making it a truly global phenomenon with no
immunity.
ii.Approximately half of the trafficked children, mostly boys, are subjected to forced labor across various
industries like domestic work, begging, and agriculture.
• Boys were almost twice as likely to be trafficked as children than girls. Boys had 39% likelihood of
being trafficked internationally than domestically, as compared to girls.
• Child victims reported being exploited in domestic work (14.5%), begging (10.2%), hospitality
(3.4%) and agriculture (3.3%).
• Female child victims are more likely to report sexual exploitation (30.3%) than male child victims
(7.3%).
iii.Another significant aspect is sexual exploitation, which impacts around 20% of trafficked children,
primarily girls, through activities such as prostitution, pornography, and sexual servitude.
iv.To effectively combat child trafficking, accurate and current data is crucial for evidence-based policy and
programming. However, the availability of actionable data is currently limited, and reaching child victims
through conventional surveys is challenging due to various factors.
India Achieved the Best-Performing Nation on UN Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation
Survey
According to the 5th edition of Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation by the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP), India has emerged as the best-performing
country in the South Asian region in terms of trade facilitation.
• India has been positioned at the forefront of global trade facilitation efforts, with an impressive
score of 93.55% in 2023 vis a vis 90.32% in 2021 after evaluation of 160 economies(countries) and
60 trade facilitation measures.
India’s Performance on Trade Facilitation:
i.India has progressed by achieving a perfect score of 100% in four key areas;
• Transparency, Formalities, Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation, and Paperless Trade.
ii.India has shown improvement in the “Women in Trade Facilitation” component, increasing the score from
66.7% in 2021 to 77.8% in 2023.
• This indicates India’s commitment to gender inclusive and empowering women in the trade sector.
iii.The 2023 survey reveals that India has not made any notable implementation in terms of “Wildlife Trade
Facilitation.”
Previous year scores
Year Score
2015 63.44%
2017 67.74%

2019 78.49%
2021 90.32%
2023 93.55%
Trade facilitation score
Parameters 2023 2021
Transparency 100% 100%
Formalities 100% 95.83%
Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation 100% 88.89%
Paperless Trade 100% 96.30%
Cross-Border Paperless Trade 66.67%. 66.67%
Key points:
i.India’s continuous efforts towards improving the trade ecosystem for MSMEs(Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises) has helped India in improving its score in UNTF(United Nations Trade facilitation) survey since
2017.
ii.The overall score of India has been greater than many developed countries including Canada, France, United
Kingdom(UK), Germany etc.
iii.India is the best performing country when compared with south and south-west Asia region(64.30%) and
Asia and the pacific region(66.76%).
Digital initiatives:
Indian Customs’ digital initiatives such as Single Window Interface for Facilitation of Trade (SWIFT), Pre-
Arrival data processing, and e-Sanchit, particularly Turant Customs which aims to create a paperless,
contactless, and faceless trade environment.
About Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation:
i.The survey covers WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) with 60 trade facilitation measures categorized
into eleven sub-groups.
ii.The survey is fact-based rather than perception-based.
iii.A three-step approach to data collection and validation is generally followed over a 6-month period every 2
years.
About United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP):
Executive Secretary- Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
Established- 1947
Headquarters- Bangkok, Thailand
UN Report: Global public debt hit record USD 92 trillion in 2022

On 12th July 2023, Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general (UNSG) launched “A world of debt.
A growing burden to global prosperity”, a new report from the UN global crisis response group and as per
the report nearly 40% of the developing countries in the World is in serious debt, as public debt reached a
record USD 92 trillion in 2022, which is five-fold since 2000.
• According to the report the Governments borrowed to country crises on development include the
COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and climate change.
• Some 3.3 billion people, almost half of humanity living in countries that spend more on debt interest
payments than on education or health.
• The report was jointly prepared by the UN Global Crisis Response Group, the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the five United Nations Regional Economic
Commissions.

Developing Countries and Debt Burden:
i. Domestic and external debt worldwide has increased more than five times in the last two decades,
outstripping the rate of economic growth, with gross domestic product (GDP), which tripled at the same time
since 2002.
ii. Developing countries owe almost 30% of the total, of which roughly 70% is attributable to China, India and
Brazil.
iii. 59 developing countries are struggling a debt-to-GDP ratio above 60% – a threshold indicating high levels of
debt.Developing countries’ total public debt increased from 35% of GDP in 2010 to 60% in 2021. Similarly,
external public debt, the part of a government’s debt owed to foreign creditors, increased from 19% of GDP to
29% of GDP in 2021.
iv. The report also added that debt has been translating into a substantial burden for developing countries due
to limited access to financing, rising borrowing costs, currency devaluations and sluggish growth.
v. The net interest debt payments exceeding 10% of revenues for 50 emerging economies worldwide.
vi. Private creditors, such as bondholders and banks, represent 62% of developing countries’ total external
public debt.
vii. African countries on average, pay 4 times more for borrowing than the United States of America (USA) and
8 times more than the wealthiest European countries.
Controlling measures:
i. As per UN, multilateral lenders should expand their financing, with measures such as a temporary suspension
of International Monetary Fund (IMF) surcharges, commissions charged to borrowers using its credit lines
extensively and increased financing access for countries in debt distress.
ii. A debt workout mechanism is also needed to address the slow progress of the G20 Common Framework.
• The debt treatment framework was adopted by the Group of 20 major economies and official
creditors in October 2020, and aims to include non-Paris club members such as China in debt relief.
MoPR launched Action Taken Report Module of AuditOnline

Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the Action Taken Report (ATR) Module of AuditOnline during a
virtual event presided over by Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Union Minister of State(MoS), MoPR. The module aims to
provide a more structured approach to the audit process, ensuring clarity on the actions taken in response to
audit findings.
• In order to achieve the accountability through audits the MoPR introduced the ATR Module aimed
towards increasing the online audit process and also promoting digital governance at the grassroots
level.
• The ATR Module of AuditOnline will enable Panchayats to become more accountable, efficient,
empowered and corruption-free, ensuring a seamless management and utilization of funds at Gram
Panchayat level across India.
• During the last two audit periods 2020–21 and 2021–22, states have generated over 200,000 Audit
Reports. As on date, 256,795 Panchayats have been registered; 2,103,058 observations have been
documented and 211,278 (~ 80%) Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) Audit Reports have been
generated for audit period 2021–22.
Note: On April 15, 2020, the MoPR launched the AuditOnline application to enable online audits of Panchayat
accounts and strengthen financial management and transparency.
Microplastics can alter Gut Microbiome, cause Intestinal Inflammation: FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report titled ‘The Impact of Microplastics and
Nanoplastics on Human Health‘. As per it, Microplastics and nanoplastics significantly affect the gut
microbiomes of humans, animals, and the environment.

• The report highlights instances where changes in intestinal structure and gastrointestinal
functioning have been observed as a result of exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics. However,
the effects of exposure to other plastic chemicals on the gut microbiome remain largely unexplored.
• The report’s authors reviewed 146 articles on the subject.
Key Points:
i.Microplastics and nanoplastics have been found to affect soil microorganisms and permeate the entire food
chain.
ii.Research shows that exposure to plastic leads to intestinal inflammation and gut dysbiosis, affecting the gut
microbiome and microbiota in aquatic species, rodents, and humans.
iii.Microplastics found in water bottles and food items like sugar, honey, sea salt, and tea have been detected in
human lung tissue, placenta, stool, blood, and meconium.
iv.Microplastics (0.1 to 5,000 μm) and nanoplastics (0.001 to 0.1 μm) are widespread contaminants of growing
concern due to their potential impact on the environment, animals, and human health.
v.Physical abrasion of microplastic and its accumulation in the gut can make an organism feel ful,l resulted in
decreased food intake. This can eventually cause weight loss and changes in metabolism.
2023 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update: World can end AIDS by 2030
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations (UN) Programme on Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV)/Acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), report titled “2023 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update – The Path That Ends
AIDS” highlights that there is a path to end AIDS by 2030 and it requires strong political leadership, following
the science, tackling inequalities and ensuring sustainable funding.
The report contains data and case studies which highlight that ending AIDS is a political and financial choice,
and that the countries and leaders who are already following the path are achieving extraordinary results.
Progress:
i.Progress in AIDS response has been strongest in the countries and regions such as in eastern and southern
Africa (that have the most financial investments), where new HIV infections have been reduced by 57% since
2010.
ii.Due to investment in ending AIDS among children, 82% of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with
HIV globally were accessing antiretroviral treatment in 2022, up from 46% in 2010. New infections among
children have fallen by 58 % during the same period, the lowest number since the 1980s.
iii. Funding for HIV found to be declined in 2022 from both international and domestic sources, and has fallen
back to the same level as in 2013.
• A total of USD 20.8 billion was available in 2022, and far short of the USD 29.3 billion needed by
2025.
iv. As per the update, in 2022, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV and 630,000 died from AIDS-
related illnesses.
Estimations from the update:
i. In 2022, an estimated 39 million people around the world were living with HIV and if it left untreated, it can
progress to AIDS.
ii. Countries/regions such as eastern Europe and central Asia, Middle East and North Africa encountered a
steep increase in new infections.
iii. It is primarily due to a lack of HIV prevention services for marginalised and key populations and the barriers
posed by punitive (intended as a punishment) laws and social discrimination.
iv. Several countries have removed harmful laws in 2022 and 2023, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
Cook Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore that have decriminalized same-sex sexual relations.
v. Whereas existing laws to protect the rights of vulnerable people have been strengthened in other countries
such as Central African Republic, Ghana, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Spain.

NITI Aayog launches 2nd National MPI: India’s Multidimensionally Poor declines to 14.96% in
2019-2021
On July 17, 2023, the Vice-Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, Suman Bery
released the 2nd edition of NITI Aayog’s Report ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): A Progress
Review 2023‘.
• The report represents India’s progress in reducing multidimensional poverty between the two
surveys, National Family Health Survey [NFHS-4 (2015-16)] and NFHS-5 (2019-21).
• India has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in number of India’s
multidimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021.
Assessment:
i.The broad methodology followed is in consonance with the global methodology of Alkire-Foster
methodology developed by technical partners, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative (OPHI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
ii.The National MPI measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions
of Health, Education, and Standard of Living that are represented by 12 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) aligned indicators.
• These include nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school
attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.
iii.It provided estimates for the 36 States and Union Territories and 707 Administrative Districts
Note: This index is an important tool that enables the country to track its progress towards the SDGs,
particularly SDG target 1.2, which aims to reduce poverty in all its dimensions.
• Its first edition launched in 2021.
Highlights:
i.There is Marked improvement across all the 12 indicators.
ii.Uttar Pradesh (UP) registered the largest decline in number of poor i.e. 3.43 crore people.
iii.The fastest reduction in the proportion of multidimensional poor was observed in the States
of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Odisha, and Rajasthan.
iv.However, Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, UP and MP (even after decrease) top the chart where the percentage
of total population who are multidimensionally poor is high.
v.Delhi, Kerala, Goa and Tamil Nadu have the least number of people facing multidimensional poverty along
with the Union Territories.
vi.The rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59% in 2015-16 to 19.28% in 2019-21.
vii.During the same period, the urban areas saw a reduction in poverty from 8.65% to 5.27%.
viii.Between 2015-16 and 2019-21, the MPI value has nearly halved from 0.117 to 0.066 and the intensity of
poverty has reduced from 47% to 44%.
ix.This decline showcases Central Government’s strategic focus on ensuring sustainable and equitable
development and eradicating poverty by 2030. This include Flagship programs like Poshan Abhiyan and
Anaemia Mukt Bharat, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY), Saubhagya, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY),
Samagra Shiksha, among others.
i.On April 13, 2023 the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare (MoA&FW) agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under the initiative.
ii.NITI Aayog released a report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India”
which presents a collection of good and innovative practices adopted by state governments and organisations
in various aspects of the millet value chain.

About National Institution For Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– B. V. R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
IEA in collaboration with PPAC of MoP&NG launched Oil 2023 medium-term market report
On 17th July 2023, The International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris(France)-based autonomous organization, in
collaboration with Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the administration of Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) launched the Oil 2023 medium-term market report titled IEA Oil 2023
– Supply and demand dynamics to 2028 in Delhi for oil supply and demand.
• The Oil 2023 medium-term market report forecasts that based on current government policies and
market trends, global oil demand will rise by 6% between 2022 and 2028 to reach 105.7 million
barrels per day (mb/d).
• India`s demand for energy is growing faster than any other major economy and is expected to grow
in all sectors due to favourable demographics supported by urbanization and industrialization.
Key People:
Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoP&NG; Toril Bosoni, Head of Oil Industry and Markets Division, IEA.
Consumption of petroleum products in FY 2022-23:
i. The overall consumption of petroleum products in FY 2022-23 was at 223 Methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
• The growth rate was about 12% over the previous year (FY 2021-22)
ii. This growth in the petroleum products has been influenced by growth in High Speed Diesel(HSD) at 12.1%,
the largest contributor with 85.9 MMT and Motor Spirit (MS)(petroleum) with 34.9 MMT consumption during
2022-23 at a growth rate of 13.4% 2021-22.
iii. The growth increased forward motion in the FY 2023-24 too and India is the World’s 4th largest refiner; has
the 4th largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal capacity; 4th largest Auto market and also 3rd largest bio
fuels producer.
iv. The focus of India is on decarbonisation and it has already achieved 12% ethanol blending in Petrol and has
targeted for 20% blending by 2025.
IEA Oil Market Report (OMR) Analysis and Forecast:
i. The Oil 2023 medium-term market report finds that growth of global oil demand is set to decline, almost stop
by 2028.
• This is due to accelerated shift towards cleaner energy technologies for energy security concerns.
ii. In spite of robust demand from the petrochemical and aviation sectors, annual demand growth is expected to
decline from 2.4 mb/d in 2023 to just 0.4 mb/d in 2028.
iii. The expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), the growth of biofuels and improving fuel economy reduce
consumption is set to decline the use of oil after 2026 particularly in transport.
iv. However, some economies, notably China and India, will continue to register growth throughout the forecast
and India will surpass China as the main source of growth by 2027.
v. Biofuels are expected to provide 10% of new liquid fuel supply growth to 2028 and as per the report, biofuels
production expands nearly 600 kb/d (thousand barrels/day) from 2022 to 2028, with Brazil, Indonesia and
India combined accounting for 70% of this increase.
Global upstream investment:
i. IEA report assessed that global upstream investments in oil and gas exploration, extraction and production in
2023 are expected to reach their highest levels since 2015.
ii. Global upstream oil and gas investment is on track to increase by an estimated 11% in 2023 to USD 528
billion, compared with USD 474 billion in 2022.
iii. Oil producing countries outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) alliance
(non-OPEC+) dominate medium-term capacity expansion plans, with a 5.1 mb/d supply boost by 2028 led by

the United States of America (USA), Brazil and Guyana. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq
lead the plans for capacity building within OPEC+.
iv. This level of investment, if sustained, would be adequate to meet forecast demand in the period 2022-28
covered by the report. However, it exceeds the amount that would be needed in a world that gets on track for
net zero emissions.
About International Energy Agency (IEA):
Executive Director- Fatih Birol
Headquarters- Paris, France
Tamil Nadu tops NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2022 for States/UTs
According to the Export Preparedness Index(EPI) 2022 for States and Union Territories(UTs), the 3rd edition of
the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) report, Tamil Nadu has topped the Index with an
overall score of 80.89.
• Maharashtra with 78.20 at 2nd place, Karnataka with 76.36 at 3rd place and Gujarat with 73.22 at
4th place are the top performers in EPI 2022 in all categories of states.
• The report, which presents a comprehensive analysis of India’s export performance in FY22, was
released by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, on 17th July 2023.
• The EPI 2022 was prepared by NITI Aayog in association with the Institute for
Competitiveness(IFC).
Note: The report highlights that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have the highest number of Geographical
Indications (GI) products being exported.
About EPI:
i.The EPI 2022 Report evaluates the performance of the states across four pillars:
• Policy pillar.
• Business Ecosystem pillar.
• Export Ecosystem pillar.
• Export Performance pillar.
ii.These 4 pillars are further based on ten sub-pillars: Export Promotion Policy; Institutional Framework;
Business Environment; Infrastructure; Transport Connectivity; Export Infrastructure; Trade Support; R&D
Infrastructure; Export Diversification; and Growth Orientation.
iii.The index utilise 56 indicators that captures export preparedness of States and UTs in terms of exports at
both the state and district-level.
Highlights of TN’s Exports:
i.Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruppur have topped among the exporting districts of Tamil Nadu.
ii.Engineering goods is the top export of Kanchipuram. The district is also the leading exporters of Silk and its
finished products.
iii.The primary exports of Chennai includes petroleum products, engineering goods, and drugs and
pharmaceuticals.
iv.In terms of exports value, Tiruppur is ranked 22nd in India. The major exports of Tiruppur includes, raw
material exports, cotton products and handloom products.
TN’s Score Card:
i.TN’s enhanced performance across all 4 pillars has ensured its top position on the overall index.
ii.TN’s score across 4 pillars:
• Policy Pillar: 97.21
• Business Ecosystem Pillar: 88.84
• Export Ecosystem pillar: 73.68
• Export Performance pillar. 63.34

Highlights of EPI 2022:
i.According to EPI 2022, most of the coastal states of India have performed well.
ii.Haryana(63.65), Telangana(61.36) and Uttar Pradesh(61.23) are the top performers in landlocked states
category.
iii.Uttarakhand (59.13) has topped among Himalayan States followed by Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura,
Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
iv.Goa(51.58) has topped among Union Territories followed by Jammu & Kashmir(J&K), Delhi, Andaman and
Nicobar and Ladakh.
v.The report stated that among 680 districts, the top 100 districts contributes to around 87% of total exports of
India.
vi.Gujarat’s Jamnagar has toped the list of Districts followed by Surat, Mumbai Suburban, Mumbai, Pune,
Bharuch, Kanchipuram, Ahmedabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Bengaluru Urban.
• With 8 districts, Gujarat has the highest number of districts in the top 25 export districts in India.
Note: To promote export, 674 districts have formed a District Export Promotion Committee, and 557 have
formulated a District Export Action Plan.
On May 1, 2023, the NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India) in collaboration with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released the ‘Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium,
2023’ which is a compilation of 75 initiatives of the Centre and the states/ Union Territories (UTs) in the
social sector.
About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
NITI Aayog Releases TCRM Matrix framework to drive Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) has released the Techno-Commercial Readiness
and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) framework under the NITI Working Paper series titled “A NEW
LENS FOR INNOVATION IN NEW INDIA –Introducing The Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market
Maturity Matrix,” aimed at promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship in India.
• The framework is a pioneering assessment tool designed to revolutionize technology evaluation,
foster innovation, and fuel entrepreneurship in India.
Key people:
The working paper is authored by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog along with Dr. Neeraj Sinha, Senior
Adviser, Naman Agrawal, Specialist, Ms. Naba Suroor, Associate and Siddhey G Shinde, Young Professional, NITI
Aayog.
Highlights:
i.The TCRM Matrix provides historical development of technology assessment framework, including the
Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Commercialization Readiness Level (CRL), and Market Readiness Level
(MRL) scales.
ii.The working paper offers practical guidelines for integrating the TCRM Matrix into India’s broader
innovation ecosystem, empowering policymakers, strategists, academics, and investors to drive positive
change.
iii.Its adoption requires comprehensive analysis and contextualization based on India’s unique national and
sectoral innovation landscapes.
iv.TCRM Matrix, a robust assessment tool, empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions, enhance
technology commercialization prospects, and position India as a global leader in innovation.

About NITI(National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog:
Chairperson- Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India)
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Established- 2015
UN Women and UNDP Launched the Report “The paths to equal: Twin Indices on Women’s
Empowerment and Gender Equality”
United Nations (UN) Women and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a report
titled The paths to equal: Twin indices on women’s empowerment and gender equality at the Women
Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023) in Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa.
• The report highlights the global challenges faced by women and provides a roadmap for targeted
interventions and policy reforms.
The Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) & The Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI):
The data is collected from 114 countries and have been analysed based on two new indices that offers a
comprehensive assessment of countries progress in achieving gender equality.
i.WEI measures women’s power and freedoms to make choices and seize life opportunities across five
dimensions: health, education, inclusion, decision-making, and violence against women.
• According to WEI on an average, women are empowered to achieve only 60% of their full potential.
ii.GGPI evaluates the status of women relative to men in core dimensions of human development, including
health, education, inclusion, and decision-making.
• The GGPI measured that women achieve 28 % less than men across key human development
dimensions.
iii.The twin indices also provide vital evidence needed for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), including SDG 5 (“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”).
Highlights of the report:
i.Less than 1%of women and girls live in countries with both high levels of women’s empowerment and high
gender parity.
ii.More than 90% of the world’s female population i.e 3.1 billion women and girls live in countries
characterized by a large women’s empowerment deficit and a large gender gap.
Outcome of the report:
Of the 114 countries analysed,
i.85 countries have low or middle women’s empowerment and low or middle performance in achieving gender
parity.
ii.More than half the countries in this group are in the high (21 countries) or very high human development
group (26 countries).
iii.No country has achieved full women’s empowerment or complete gender parity
About UN Women:
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
About UNDP:
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate
change.
Telangana Govt & WEF Launched ‘Saagu Baagu’ Project Phase 1 Insights Report
On 20th July 2023, the government of Telangana & World Economic Forum (WEF) launches ‘Saagu
Baagu’(agriculture advancement) project Phase 1 Insights report in Telangana, Hyderabad. The project aims to
provide AI-based agritech services to farmers in Telangana.

• The WEF report showcases the successful implementation of the pilot project launched through
Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture Innovation (AI4AI) benefiting over 7,000 chilli farmers in
Khammam district in Telangana.
Note: AI4AI- a collaboration initiative between Telangana government and WEF.
Key people:
The launch was presided over by KT Rama Rao, Minister for ITE&C Government of Telangana; Palanivel
Thiagarajan, Minister for ITE&C, Government of Tamil Nadu; Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary ITE&C
Department of Telangana; and other dignitaries of the WEF.
Implementation of the Project:
The project was initiated in 2022 and is implemented by Digital Green (in consortium with three agritech
startups) with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
About the Saagu Baagu project:
It is a partnership between the Government of Telangana, and the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the
Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).
i.In phase I, the project includes AI-based advisories, soil testing, product quality testing, and e-commerce.
ii.In phase II (from 2023) the Telangana government plans to expand additional agritech services to 20,000
chili and groundnut farmers in three districts and to introduce Digital public infrastructure.
iii.In Phase III (by 2025), the goal is to reach 1,00,000 farmers in Telangana.
iv.The project is an example of agriculture value chain transformation by focusing on easing agritech services
delivery to the end customer through administrative and policy support and through digital public
infrastructure, including its “Agriculture Data Exchange” and “Agritech Sandbox”.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister- K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor- Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan
Capital- Hyderabad
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Mary Kom Named Global Indian Icon of 2023 at 5th UK-India Awards 2023
On 29th June 2023, Former Rajya Sabha member and India’s first-ever Olympic medallist in women’s
boxing, Mary Kom (40 years old) has been honoured with the India Global Forum (IGF) United Kingdom(UK)
Special Award: Global Indian Icon of the Year award (2023) at
the 5th annual UK -India Awards (2023) held in Fairmont Windsor
Park, Windsor, UK.
• She received the award from Indian High Commissioner to the
UK Vikram Doraiswami and shared her remarkable 20-year
journey filled with dedication and unwavering commitment to
the sport of boxing.
The event was organised by India Global Forum (IGF) as a part of the
UK-India Week 2023 held from 26th to 30th June 2023.
• The event was hosted by Rory Bremner, Britain’s celebrated comedian and impressionist.
UK-India Awards:
UK -India Awards honours and recognises the outstanding contributions of those who drive the UK-India
partnership, including leaders in business, professional services, government, culture and social impact.
Other Noted Winners:
i.Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, nominated for Oscar for his film “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, was
honoured with “IGF UK Special Award: Lifetime Contribution to UK-India Relations”. The award recognised his
contributions to cinema in both countries.

ii.The Indian High Commission’s cultural arm, the Nehru Centre in London, UK, received the IGF UK Special
Award: Significant Contribution. The award recognised the centre’s contribution towards the growth and its
efforts to popularise Indian culture in the West.
iii.The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI – UK) was honoured with the “Business
Promotion Organisation of the Year(2023)” award.
Other Winners at 5th UK-India Awards 2023:
• Market Entrant of the Year – CrowdInvest
• Consultancy of the Year – SannamS4
• Legal Practice of the Year – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
• Financial Services Organisation of the Year – ICICI Bank UK Plc
• Technology Company of the Year – Mphasis
Social Impact Project of the Year – Action Aid UK
King Charles and Queen Camilla Give Environmental Award to Indian Conservationists
On 28th June 2023, Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla presented the prestigious Elephant Family
environmental award to Indian conservationists at the 2023 Animal Ball, Lancaster House, London,United
Kingdom(UK) to recognise contributions to protecting Asian wildlife.
• Kartiki Gonsalves,Filmmaker documentary ‘The
Elephant Whisperers,’ received the Tara Award.The
Elephant Whisperers’, which won the 2023 Academy
Award/Oscar Award for Best Documentary Short
Film.
• The Real Elephant Collective (TREC)-a wildlife
conservation group from India, consisting of 70 Adivasi
artists, was honoured with Mark Shand Award.
Key points:
i.The debut director of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ Kartiki
Gonsalves was recognised for extraordinary achievements in storytelling and advocacy for coexistence,
received elephant statuette as the award.
ii.TREC was conferred the award for their five-year meticulous work in creating the CoExistence Herd of
intricate sculptural representations of wild elephants.
About TREC:
i.TREC in the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu works with indigenous communities to present intricate sculptural
representations of wild elephants.
ii.The sculptures, made from the invasive weed lantana camara, provide livelihood opportunities for Adivasi
(indigenous) communities while contributing to the removal of this harmful weed from protected areas.
The Elephant Whisperers:
The film explores connection between humans and elephants through the heartwarming story of Raghu, an
orphaned elephant from the same herds depicted in TREC’s sculptures.
Animal ball 2023:
i.The year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of wildlife conservation charity Elephant Family, established by
Mark Shand in 2003(Queen Camilla’s late brother).
ii.This year’s annual Animal Ball was a celebration of indigenous communities, hosted by the Elephant Family
in partnership with the British Asian Trust.
WB President Ajay Banga named in 2023 list of Great Immigrants

Ajay Banga, Padma Shri awardee and the President of the World Bank, has been named among the 2023
annual list of “Great Immigrants”, that honours individuals who have strengthened the United States of America

(USA) through their contributions. The list is curated by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the USA, a
philanthropic organisation.
• Ajay Banga, became the first-ever Indian American to lead the World Bank in June 2023 and he is the
only honouree from India in 2023 list of ‘Great Immigrants.
2023 Great Immigrants:
i. In honour of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant and the founder
of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the corporation in every 4th
of July celebrates the exemplary contributions of immigrants to
American life.
ii. In 2023, the Corporation honours 35 individuals from 33 countries
whose contributions and actions have enriched and strengthened the
society and democracy of the USA.
iii. In 2023, the Corporation highlighted the work of immigrants who have promoted opportunities for others
through their work as educators, mentors, philanthropists, job creators, public servants, storytellers, and
advocates.
Note: Every 4th of July is celebrated as the Independence Day of the USA.
About Ajay Banga:
i. He started his career in India and spent 13 years at Nestle India and 2 years at PepsiCo.
ii. Before joining the World Bank, Ajay Banga was the Vice chairman at General Atlantic.
iii. He is also a co-founder of the Cyber Readiness Institute and served as vice-chair of the Economic Club of
New York, the USA.
iv. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mastercard.
v. He was the Honorary Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, serving as Chairman from 2020-
2022.
vi. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2016 for his contributions in the fields of trade and industry.
Highlights of the 2023 Event:
2023 honorees include:
• Ke Huy Quan, Vietnamese-born Academy Award-winning actor.He won the 2023 Oscar for Best
Supporting Actor in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’.
• Pedro Pascal, Chilean-born actor;
• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigerian-born Director-General of World Trade Organization;
• Ted Lieu, Taiwan born US Congressman and so on.
British Children’s Writer Michael Rosen honoured with PEN Pinter Prize 2023
British children’s writer and performance poet, Michael Rosen(77 years old), has been awarded the PEN
Pinter Prize 2023. He will receive the award in a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library on 11 October
2023.
Michael Rosen is known for making poetry accessible to children through his work and performances. His
themes are often social, political and ethical.
• Some of Rosen’s most well-known books include You Can’t Catch Me (1982), which won the Signal
Poetry Award; You Wait Till I Am Older Than You (1996), Rover (2007), Fantastic Mr Dahl (2012, on
Roald Dahl’s writing life).
About PEN Pinter Prize:
i.The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 in memory of playwright Harold Pinter, who won the Nobel
Prize in Literature in 2005.
ii.The Prize is awarded annually to a writer resident in the United Kingdom(UK), the Republic of Ireland, the
Commonwealth or former Commonwealth who is committed to the fearless exposition of truth.
• The PEN Pinter Prize is shared with an International Writer of Courage winner selected by
English PEN’s Writers at Risk Committee in association with the winner.

GAIL accredited with Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) T3 Status
On 23rd June 2023, Gas Authority Of India Limited (Gail (India) Limited), a Maharatna – central public sector
undertaking (CPSU) accredited with Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) T3 Status which is a highest level of
facilitation for Importers & Exporters by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance.
• AEO is a programme run by the World Customs Organisation (WCO)SAFE Framework (2005) of
Standards to secure and facilitate global trade, it aims to improve international supply chain
security, facilitate the flow of genuine goods, and increase the ease of doing business in India.
Benefits of AEO Certification:
i.In 2016 the ACP (Accredited Client Programme) and AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) merged
into a combined three-tier AEO programme which awards certificates to importers and exporters based on
three levels of accreditation, namely AEO T1, AEO T2, and AEO T3, with AEO T3 being the highest degree of
accreditation and providing the most benefits.
• The AEO Programme was introduced as a pilot project in 2011.
ii.The holder of an AEO-T3 certificate would be granted greater ease of import and export of their
consignments, more than AEO T1 and AEO T2 holders.
iii.AEO-T3 certificate holders will have the facility that their containers will not be selected for scanning at the
ports and borders, except on the basis of specific intelligence.
iv.AEO-T3 certificate holders are not required to provide a bank guarantee. However, it should be noted that if
the competent body has ordered the provisional release of seized goods, the option of no bank guarantee will
not be available.
About World Customs Organisation (WCO):
The World Customs Organisation (WCO), formerly known as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), is an
autonomous intergovernmental organisation whose aim is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
Customs administrations.
Secretary General –Kunio Mikuriya
Member countries – 185
Headquarters – Brussels,Belgium.
AIFF Awards 2022-23: Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manisha Kalyan named Footballers of the Year
On 4th July 2023, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the winners of AIFF annual awards for
the season 2022-23.
Lallianzuala Chhangte, an Indian Men’s Football Player from
Mizoram, was named the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the year 2022-
2023 for the first time and Manisha Kalyan, an Indian Women’s
Football Player from Punjab, was named AIFF Women’s Footballer
of the Year 2022-23 for the 2nd time.
• Previously, Manisha Kalyan won the award for the 2021-
22 season. She became only the third Indian female
footballer to win the individual award two or more times
after Bala Devi (three) and Bembem Devi (two)
• Lallianzuala Chhangte became the second player from Mizoram, after Jeje Lalpekhlua (2016), to win
the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year award.
About Lallianzuala Chhangte:
i. Lallianzuala Chhangte (26 years old) plays for the Indian National football team as winger and represents
Mumbai City Football Club(FC) in the Indian Super League (ISL).
ii. During the international season 2022-2023, he represented India in 12 matches and scored 2 goals and
provided assists for 1.
iii. He was a part of the Indian team that won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2023

held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, Karnataka.
iv. He scored 18 goals and provided 9 assists in a total of 32 matches across all competitions in the last season.
This included 16 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) for Mumbai City FC in ISL.
v.He scored two goals and provided an assist in the Hero International Cup 2023, and was awarded with the
Man of the Match in the final against Lebanon.
Note:Previously, he won the Footballer Players Association of India (FPAI) Player of the award for 2022-23
season.
About Manisha Kalyan:
i. She plays as a Forward for Apollon, a first-division football club in Cyprus and the India women’s national
team.
ii. She became the first ever Indian to play in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women’s
Champions League 2022.
iii. In her 17 league appearances for Cypriot First Division club Apollon, she scored 6 goals and aided the team
to win the Cypriot First Division title along with the Cypriot Women’s Cup title.
Winners of AIFF Awards 2022-2023:
AIFF Awards 2022-23 Winners
AIFF Men’s Footballer of the year 2022-23 Lallianzuala Chhangte
AIFF Women’s Footballer of the year 2022-23 Manisha Kalyan
AIFF Men’s Emerging Player of the year 2022-23 Akash Mishra
AIFF Women’s Emerging Player of the year 2022-23 Shilji Shaji
AIFF’s Men’s Coach of the Year 2022-23 Clifford Miranda
AIFF’sWomen’s Coach of the Year 2022-23 Priya Parathi Valappil
MoHFW won Kreta Vikreta Gaurav Samman Samaroh 2023 award

On 26th June 2023, the Department of Health and Family Welfare under the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) received the winner of Kreta Vikreta Gaurav Samman Samaroh, 2023 in Highest Single-
Bid Procurements in the 2022-23 fiscal category.
• The event was organised by Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry at Vanijya Bhawan New Delhi, Delhi.
• Rajiv Wadhawan, Advisor, Department of Health and Family Welfare, MoHFW received the award
from Piyush Goyal, Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry.
• MoHFW has taken the lead in achieving the Government of India’s (GOI) Make in India and obtaining
through the GeM.
Note: These awards aim to celebrate those who share the vision of a transparent, inclusive and efficient public
procurement landscape in India.
IAU named Minor Planets after Aswin Sekhar, 1st Indian meteor astronomer, & 3 other
Scientists
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) through its Working Group Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN)
named Minor Planets after 4 Indians namely Aswin Sekhar, India’s prominent meteor astronomer from
Kerala, Ashok Kumar verma, an Indian astrophysicist, Kumar Venkataramani, an Indian astronomer
and Rutu parekh, planetary geologist from Gujarat.
This honour was conferred at the Asteroids, Comets, Meteors (ACM) Conference 2023, held in Arizona, the
United States of America (USA), from June 18-23, 2023.
Aswin Sekhar is the first professional meteor astronomer from India in modern times.

Minor Planets:
i. Minor planets are small celestial bodies within the solar system
that are orbiting the sun. These include the asteroids, Pluto and
other icy worlds beyond Neptune, and a diverse host of other
bodies.
ii. Ceremonial naming system and Non-ceremonial naming system
are the 2 types of naming systems for the Minor Planets.
iii. The Minor Planets named after the 4 Indians are: 2000LJ27
named after Aswin Sekhar; 2000HD73 named after Rutu parekh;
2000SM362 named after Kumar Venkataramani; 2001FG122 named
after Ashok Kumar Verma
About Aswin Sekhar:
i. AswinSekhar was born in 1985 in Ottapalam, Kerala.
ii. He is currently affiliated with the Paris (France) Observatory which comes under the Ministry of science,
technology and education, government of France.
iii. He was a solar system dynamicist at Centre for Earth Evolution & Dynamics (CEED), University of Oslo,
Norway for the Crater Clock Project funded by the Research Council of Norway.
iv. The IAU honoured him, as an international association of professional astronomers, at the Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD) level and beyond.
v. He has made important contributions to the field of meteors in meteoroid stream dynamics, particularly in
the effects of relativity and resonances in meteoroid streams.
About Ashok Kumar Verma:
He is a senior flight dynamics engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard
Space Flight Center in Maryland, the United States of America (USA).
About Kumar Venkataramani:
He is an astronomer at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in California, the USA, specialising in
spectroscopic observations of comets and asteroids.
About Rutu Parekh:
i. She is a planetary geologist studying icy surfaces on various celestial bodies, including Mars.
ii. She is currently serving as a post-doctoral researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the USA
Coal India Limited received ‘The Rising Star Award’ by GeM

Coal India Limited (CIL), a Maharatna Public Sector Unit (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal has been honoured
with the “Rising Star Award” in appreciation of its outstanding efforts to enhance procurement through the
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal in the fiscal FY 2022–23.
• Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Textile, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food, and
Public Distribution, presented the award to CIL.
• Anupriya Patel, Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industry and Prashant Kumar Singh, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) GeM, were also present at the event.
Note: GeM or e-Marketplace, launched in 2016, is a 100% Government owned National Public Procurement
Portal for different goods & services procured by Government Organisations / Departments / PSUs.
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023 at the World’s Digital
Insurance Awards
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd, has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the Asia Pacific(APAC)
region at The World’s Digital Insurance Awards . The award was presented to recognise Bajaj Allianz Life’s
ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform which empower customers to digitally service their
policies.

• TDI – The Digital Insurer, hosted the 8th edition of the World’s Digital Insurance Awards to
showcase some of the most innovative projects in the insurance industry.
The WhatsApp Conversational Platform:
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance developed an customer BOT to self-serve and resolve queries while also offering
real-time human live agent support to its sales and distribution channels as well as employees.
i.In the last 3 years, 86% of Bajaj Allianz Life’s active customer base has opted for WhatsApp servicing.
ii.12% of total service transaction volumes are handled by the WhatsApp Business Platform.
iii.2.4 lac customers interact with the BOT monthly to fulfill their policy requirements.
About Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance:
i.Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance is one of India’s leading private life insurers began its operations from August
2001. It is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra.
ii.It is a joint venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited, a non-banking financial institutions in India, and Allianz
SE, world’s leading global insurer and asset manager.
4 Indian Origin Women features on Forbes’ America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2023
4 Indian Americans, Jayshree Ullal, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arista Networks, Neerja
Sethi, co-Founder of Syntel, Neha Narkhede, co-founder of Confluent, and Indra Nooyi, former chair and CEO of
PepsiCo, were featured on the 2023 America’s Richest Self-Made Women, 9th edition of Forbes’ annual ranking
of the United States of America (USA)’s most successful women entrepreneurs, executives and entertainers.
• Jayshree Ullal is ranked 15th with net worth of USD 2.2
billion, Neerja Sethi, is ranked 25th with net worth of
USD 990 million, Neha Narkhede is ranked 50th with net
worth of USD 520 million and Indra Nooyi is ranked
77th with net worth of USD 350 million
• The combined net worth of these 4 women stands at
USD 4.06 Billion.
The list is topped by Diane Hendricks, Chairman and founder of ABC
Supply Co., Inc. (ABC), for the 6th consecutive year, with net worth
of USD 15 billion.
Diane is followed by Judy Love and Family, Chairman And CEO, Love’s Travel Stops And Country Stores, with
USD 10.2 billion and Judy Faulkner, Founder and CEO of Epic Systems with USD 7.4 billion.
Four Women of Indian Origin:
JayshreeUllal:
i. She has been president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the publicly-traded networking company, Arista
Networks since 2008 and owns about 2.4%, which recorded revenue of nearly USD 4.4 billion in 2022.
ii. She is also on the board of directors of Snowflake, a cloud computing company that went public in September
2020.
NeerjaSethi:
i. She co-founded Information Technology (IT) consulting and outsourcing firm Syntel with her husband Bharat
Desai in 1980 in their apartment in Troy, Michigan (USA).
ii. In 2018, they sold it to French IT firm Atos SE for USD 3.4 billion.
Neha Narkhede:
i. In 2014, she co-founded left to found Confluent along with her two LinkedIn colleagues, which helps
organisations process large amounts of data on Apache Kafka.
ii. The USD 586 million (2022 revenues) company went public in June 2021 at a USD 9.1 billion valuation; She
owns around 6%.
iii. In March 2023, she announced her new company, fraud detection firm Oscilar, where she is the co-founder
and CEO.

IndraNooyi:
i. She retired as PepsiCo’s CEO in 2018 and as chair in 2019, after 24 years with the company.
ii. She joined the board of Amazon in 2019 and grew up in India. She joined scandal-plagued Deutsche Bank’s
new Global Advisory Board in November 2022.
Key Highlights:
i. Shonda Rhimes, American Television Producer and Daphne Koller, CEO, Insitro, whose firm is using AI to
develop drugs more quickly, are among the 8 newcomers.
ii. Forbes valued individual assets including stakes in public companies using stock prices from May 12, 2023 to
compile net worths.
iii. Forbes valued private companies by consulting with outside experts and conservatively comparing them
with public companies.
Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List 2023: Sumit Virmani of Infosys ranked 41
Sumit Virmani, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Infosys (India) is ranked 41st on the The Forbes World’s Most
Influential CMOs List 2023, which recognises the 50 Most Influential CMOs in the World.
• The 2023 list was announced on 6th July 2023 at a special luncheon at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes,
France.
• The list is topped by William White, CMO of Walmart (United States of America) and is followed by
Marcel Marcondes, Global CMO of Anheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium) in the 2nd and Conny Braams,
Chief Digital and Commercial Officer of Unilever (England) in the 3rd.
About Sumit Virmani:
i. He joined Infosys in 2004, and took the roles of Executive Vice President (EVP) and Global Chief Marketing
Officer in 2019.
ii. He is now overseeing market research, business alliances and development, direct marketing, and market
strategy.
iii. At the beginning of 2022, Infosys was named the fastest growing IT Services brand in the world.
iv. At the end of March 2023, Infosys reported quarterly revenue growth of over 6% Year on Year.
Key Highlights:
i. Indian origin Asmita Dubey, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, L’Oreal is at 21 on the list.
ii. Forbes Hall of Fame created in 2022 recognizes Morgan Flatley, Global CMO at McDonald’s, into the Forbes
CMO Hall of Fame 2023.
Note: She is the only one chief-marketer and had made the list 4 times previously and was thus the only CMO
eligible for inclusion in the 2023 Hall of Fame class.
About Forbes:
Forbes is a media and publishing company.
Founded in- 1917
CEO- Mike Federle
Headquarters- Jersey City, New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
34th International Biology Olympiad held at Al Ain, UAE; India tops medal tally with 4 Golds
India won 4 gold medals and topped the medals tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad (IBO
2023) held at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 3rd to
11th July 2023.
• For the first time, all the students (4) representing India won the gold at the IBO.
• Besides India, Singapore has also won 4 gold medals at IBO 2023.
Note: Around 293 students from 76 countries participated in the IBO 2023 and a total of 29 gold medals were
awarded at the IBO 2023. The number of gold medals will be limited to approximately 10 % of the number of
participants.

Organizers:
The 34th IBO was hosted by the UAE and organised by the Ministry
of Education, UAE in partnership with the UAEU.
The Winners:
The following students from India emerged as the gold medal
winners:
Students City/ State
Dhruv Advani Bengaluru, Karnataka
Ishan Pednekar Kota, Rajasthan
Megh Chhabda Jalna, Maharashtra
Rohit Panda Risali, Chattisgarh
Key Points:
i.The above team was led by Prof. Madan M. Chaturvedi (Former Senior Professor, Delhi University-DU);
and Dr Anupama Ronad from Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education- Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (HBCSE, TIFR) in Mumbai, Maharashtra; and two Scientific Observers: Dr V. V. Binoy (National
Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru); and Dr Rambhadur Subedi (National Institute for Research
in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRH), Mumbai).
ii.Earlier, India has topped the medals tally in Astronomy & Astrophysics (in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and
2021), Physics (in 2018) and Junior Science (in 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022).
iv.The 35th IBO will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2024 as UAE handed over the official flag and trophy of
the IBO to Kazakhstan during the closing ceremony which was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul
Al Falasi, Minister of Education, UAE.
About IBO:
The IBO, an association responsible for organizing the world’s leading biology competition for secondary
school students, aims to identify, inspire, empower, and support the future leaders in the field of life sciences
while fostering their international network.
How can one participate?
To participate in the IBO, students must first become one of the top four students in their National Biology
Olympiad (NBO). NBOs typically conduct 3-5 progressively challenging rounds to select participants for the
IBO. During the IBO, students are required to take part in both theoretical and practical exams.
NLC India Ltd has been declared the Winner of the GeM Award for 2023
NLC India Limited (NLCIL), a Navratna company under the Ministry of Coal, has been declared the Winner of
the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) award for the year 2023 in “Timely Payments (CPSEs)” category for
promoting and encouraging business activities through e-Market.
• K Mohan Reddy, Director (Planning and Projects), received the award on behalf of NLCIL from
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution &
Textiles.
i.NLCIL registered and on-boarded in GeM portal in the year 2017.
ii.It’s growth in GeM procurement started at Rs 2.21 crore during the year 2018-19 and the company has now
registered an impressive growth of Rs 984.93 crore during the year 2022-23.
Note: GeM is dedicated e-Market service platform, a National public procurement portal, for selling and buying
of different goods and Services.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy Confers Global Incredible Inc Leadership Award
On 16th July 2023, Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of Northeast Region
(DoNER) conferred the ‘Global Incredible Inc Leadership Award’ from the U.S.India SME Council.

• US India SME Council bestowed his efforts to promote tourism and India’s rich culture.
• It was presented by the president and chief executive
officer(CEO) of U.S. India SME Council, Inc. Elisha B.
Pulivarti.
About US India SME Council:
i.US India SME Council is a Nonprofit, Membership, and Premier
Business Advocacy Organization, based in Washington DC, the
United States of America (USA).
ii.It is an organisation to serve the Small to Medium Business
Enterprises (SMBEs) in the USA and India.
iii.It will promote trade, commerce, and people-to-people exchange programs between the United States &
India.
HLPF on economic, social and environmental sustainability on tourism
On 14th July 2023, Kishan Reddy attended the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) High-
Level Political Forum (HLPF) on economic, social and environmental sustainability on tourism in the capacity
of G-20 Tourism Chair at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA).
• The 2023 UN HLPF theme was “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease and the
full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.
• At the meeting, Kishan Reddy delivered a keynote address and discussed India’s progress on the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs.
About the meeting:
i.The HLPF side event organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia in
collaboration with the UNWTO with support of the Ministry of Tourism of India as the Chair of the G20 Tourism
Committee Presidency.
ii.The aim of the meeting is to demonstrate how multilateral, governmental, corporate, and academic
collaborations are actively contributing to tourism’s potential in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
15th Edition of International Eni Award honours IIT-M Professor

On 17th July 2023, Eni, an Italian integrated energy company, announced the names of the winning researchers
and scientists of the 15th edition of the Eni Award.Thalappil Pradeep, professor in the Department of
Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras), has been awarded the Advanced
Environmental Solutions Award, which is dedicated to research for the protection and sustainable use of
natural resources.
• The prize is composed of a gold medal, a citation and a
cash component and the award is set to be presented by
the President of Italy in the near future.
Professor Thalappil Pradeep’s contribution:
i. T. Pradeep’s work on affordable clean water using advanced
materials has gained recognition. He made groundbreaking
discoveries in sustainable nano-scale materials that effectively
remove toxic contaminants from water.
ii. His research on pesticide removal has positively impacted
millions of people. Moreover, his team has successfully developed ‘water-positive’ materials that can
effectively eliminate toxic contaminants like arsenic, uranium, and others from water.
Other Honours:
i. T. Pradeep joins the ranks of distinguished previous awardees, including Nobel laureates such as Sir Harold
W. Kroto, Alan Heeger, and Theodor Wolfgang Hänsch, along with Prof. C.N.R. Rao(Indian Chemist), a recipient
of the Bharat Ratna Award in 2014.

ii. He also received other recognition such as with Padma Shri(2020), Prince Sultan
Bin Abdulaziz International Prize(2022), Nikkei Asia Prize(2020),
Shanti SwarupBhatnagar Prize(2008).
About Eni Awards:
i. Established in 2007, the Eni Award is a globally recognized platform for groundbreaking research in the
realms of energy and the environment. The coveted distinction of the Eni Award stems from its stringent award
criteria and the esteemed selection committee, which comprises Nobel laureates among other distinguished
experts.
ii. The Eni Awards are divided into three categories: Energy Transition ,Energy Frontiers, and Advanced
Environmental Solutions.
About Eni:
• Eni, established in 1953, is a comprehensive energy company operating in 69 countries worldwide.
They focus on providing fully decarbonized products, balancing both environmental and financial
sustainability.
• Headquartered in Italy, Eni effectively contributes to the fulfilment of the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the 2030 Agenda.
Additional Info:
• The esteemed accolades in the first category were bestowed upon Yu Huang from the University of
California (Los Angeles, USA) and Jeffrey R. Long from the University of California (Berkeley, USA).
• The second category’s laureate was Matthew Rosseinsky from the University of Liverpool (UK).
French government presented Chevalier award to Indian Musicians Aruna Sairam & Shashank
Subramanyam
On 15th July 2023, the Government of France presented the title of Chevalier (Knight) de l’Ordre des Arts
et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) awards to Aruna Sairam, a Padma Shri awardee and Carnatic
vocalist, and Shashank Subramanyam, flautist for their contributions in connecting France and India through
their music.
The award Ceremony was held at the National Day of the French
Republic celebrations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Ordre des arts et des lettres:
i. It is an Order of France established by the Minister of Culture in
1957 and confirmed as part of L’ordre National du Mérite by
President Charles de Gaulle in 1963.
ii. It is the most significant arts-specific honour conferred by the
Government of France that honours personalities who have made
significant contributions to the music field, arts, literature and the
cultural and artistic legacy of Indo-France relations.
iii. The award is given at three levels: Commandeur (Commander), Officier (Officer), Chevalier (Knight).
About Aruna Sairam:
i. ArunaSairam, born in 12th May 1960 in Mumbai, Maharashtra is regarded as the Music Ambassador of India.
ii. ArunaSairam is recipient of several awards including the Padma Shri for Arts in 2009 and the
SangitaKalanidhi by the Music Academy in 2018.
iii. She was also elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
iv. ArunaSairam has also received the United States of America (US) Congress Proclamation Award of
Excellence in 2008.
v. She received The “Kalaimamani” by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2006.
About Shashank Subramanyam:
i. Shashank Subramanyam, born in October 14, 1978 in Rudrapatna, Karnataka.
ii. He was awarded the SangeetNatakAkademi Senior Award by Government of India for the year 2017.

iii. He was nominated for the Grammy for the album Floating Point with John McLaughlin in 2009.
iv. He received the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu Government in the year 2001.
President Murmu presents Bhoomi Samman awards 2023

On 19th July 2023, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented the Bhoomi Samman 2023 awards to 9
State Secretaries and 68 District Collectors along with their teams for achieving saturation of the core
components of Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) – the core of Governance.
• The awards were given to Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura
and West Bengal at a function organised by the Union
Ministry of Rural Development in Vigyan Bhawan,
New Delhi, Delhi.
• Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati
Raj is Giriraj Singh.
• Out of 766 districts in the country, 68 districts have
won ‘Platinum Prize’ in six categories under the
DILRMP.
• The event is extremely significant for Revenue and Registration functionaries of the State who
would receive the “Bhoomi Samman” for the first time in the last 75 years for their outstanding
performance.
19 districts of Odisha wins platinum awards of DILRMP:
i.Odisha was presented “Bhoomi Samman” award as best state in implementing and meeting all the parameters
of DILRMP.
ii.19 districts of Odisha who won platinum award under six different categories by attaining 100 % objectives
of DILRMP are Angul, Boudh, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur,
Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Sambalpur.
• The districts were represented by their concerned Collector/Additional District Magistrates(ADM).
iii.Satyabrata Sahu,the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Odisha along with other officials from
the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, represented the Odisha Team.
i.Odisha has become a leading state in digitization of land records and public services through the
implementation of 5T and ‘Mo Sarkar’ regulations.
ii.Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) was launched by the Union Ministry of
Panchayati Raj in August 2008 for the digitization of land records.
iii.The target of DILRMP is to achieve digitization of more than 94 per cent of land records, with completion
expected before the deadline of March 31, 2024.
Note: DILRMP aims at reducing the court cases involving land disputes and effective implementations of
various welfare schemes of the government.
J&K Rural Livelihoods Mission bagged SKOCH Award under “State of Governance India 2047” in
Gold Category
The UMEED Programme of Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) bagged the SKOCH
Award under the theme “State of Governance India 2047” in Gold category in District Governance for its
outstanding efforts in creating marketing avenues for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the Union Territory. JKRLM
received the SKOCH Award for the first time since the establishment of the scheme.
• This recognition is for the hard work and dedication of JKRLM for empowering women and
promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas and creating marketing opportunities from district level
to national level platforms.

• Indu Kanwal Chib, Misssion Director of JKRLM, who received the award introduced several
initiatives including Umeed Women’s Haat, and District
Rural Haat, SHG products available on e-commerce
platforms like Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon etc.,
• SKOCH award, one of the highest honors in the field of
governance, finance, and technology, which recognizes
organizations that have made significant contributions to
the socio-economic development of communities through
innovative initiatives.
• Some of the notable 2023 SKOCH Award Winner of Gold Winner’s List
2023 SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Winner
1.Union Prerna – Union Bank of India.
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in 2.Naari Shakti – Telangana Grameena Bank
Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) 3. Financial Reporting – State Bank of India
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Supply Chain Management System strengthening and
Finance & Revenue Extension – Maharashtra State Excise Department
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Forest
under Expansion, Consolidation and
Improvement of wildlife habitat Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve,Assam
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Urban MMRDA e-Tendering Portal – Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Developmentary Development
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS) – Labour Resources
Labour Department, Government Of Bihar
1. e-Vivechna App – State Crime Records Bureau, PHQ
Bhopal M.P.
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in E- 2.e-Mitra – Department of Information Technology &
Governance Communication (DoIT&C), Government of Rajasthan
1.BANGLASHREE – A new incentive scheme for Micro, Small
&Medium Enterprises. – Directorate of Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises, Government of West Bengal
2.Hastkala Setu Yojana – Commissionerate of Cottage and
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Ease Rural Industries
of Doing Business 3.Nivesh Sarathi – Invest UP
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphaar Yojna – Women & Child
Women & Child Development Development Department, Haryana
Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance,
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in E- Government of India for Online Dashboard for MoUs of
Governance Central Public Sector Enterprises
1. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited( RVNL) Excellent Physical and
Financial Performance of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Public 2. Bharat Electronics Limited for Response To Covid
Sector Undertaking Pandemic Wave-1
1.Mukhyamantri Grameen Pey-Jal Nischay Yojana –
Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Bihar.
2.SHG Bank Linkage – Society for Elimination of Rural
Poverty, Andhra Pradesh.
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Rural 3.Streenidhi – Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty,
Development Andhra Pradesh
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Power
& Energy APTRANSCO of Andhrapradesh

Odisha PVTG Nutrition Improvement Programme(OPNIP) –
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Odisha PVTG Empowerment & Livelihoods Improvement
Minority Affairs Programme(OPELIP)
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in Police
& Safety Kaaval Karangal – Greater Chennai Police
SKOCH Award Winner for Gold Category in
Environment – Vehicle Location tracking
system(VLTS) for Hazardous waste
transportation Gujarat Pollution Control Board
Moksha Roy, 7-year-old Indian-origin wins UK PM’s Points of Light award

On 13th July 2023, Moksha Roy, a 7-year-old Indian-origin girl from Hertfordshire, the United Kingdom (UK)
has been awarded the UK Prime Minister’s (PM) Points of Light Award as Sustainability Champion for
volunteering for several sustainability initiatives including raising funds for children in need for United Nations
International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
• She has been the world’s youngest Sustainability
Champion, who started advocating for the United Nations
(UN)’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)
initiative against micro-plastic pollution at the age of 3.
• The initiative was supported by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, a bishop of superior rank, who is ‘primate of
All England and the UN task force.
Note: She received the award from Oliver Dowden, Deputy PM, the
UK.
Achievements of Moksha Roy:
i. She attempts to educate over 1 billion children and their families about micro-plastic pollution and how to
prevent it by her work, including to children in 24,000 UK schools and colleges.
ii. She wrote letters to the world leaders at the age of 5 and urged them to introduce the UN SDGs into the
school curriculums to ensure children can learn about the UN SDGs to act on crucial issues ranging from climate
change, gender equality and plastic pollution.
iii. She has also assisted in educational sessions for deprived school children in India and has provided
messages at events, including at Conference of the Parties (COP)27.
Awards/Honours:
In 2022, she has been awarded the British Citizen Youth Award (BCyA) in recognition of exceptional positive
impact on society and as an inspiration to others.
About UK Points of Light Award:
i. The Points of Light first established by George H. W. Bush (Former President of the United States of America
(USA)) in 1990.
ii. In April 2014, UK Points of Light was launched, it was developed in partnership with the US programme.
iii. The award is presented to outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.
Ministry of Coal won “Best Engagement” Award for Procurement through GeM Portal
Ministry of Commerce and Industry awarded the Ministry of coal under the “Best Engagement” category for its
achievements on e- procurement through Government e Marketplace (GeM).
The Ministry has consistently performed well on the GeM portal for 2 consecutive financial years.
Key Points:
i. During the financial year 2023-24, the Coal Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have showed a steady
confidence in GeM by publishing bids worth Rs. 21,500 crore.
ii. This participation shows the Ministry of Coal’s commitment to promoting a digital-first approach and its

proactive role in leading the adoption of advanced technologies for the benefit of all stakeholders.
iii. During the period 10th to 16th July 2023, high value tenders worth Rs.5,372.60 crore have been published
on GeM portal.
iv. As on 17th July 2023, this financial year stands at Rs 3,909 crore by the actual procurement facilitated
through GeM.
v. Within a span of 100 days in current financial year (2023-24), the Ministry of Coal has surpassed 2022’s
target of Rs. 4000 crore. Currently it is Rs. 3909 crore.
Other Awards:
1. Coal India Limited (CIL) has been awarded “Rising Star” by GeM.
2. NLC India Limited (Formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited) has been awarded in the
“TimelyPayments (Central Public Sector Enterprises CPSEs)” category through GeM.
Mumbai’s 169 yr old Byculla Railway Station won 2022 UNESCO Asia Pacific Award for Cultural
Heritage Conservation
On 24th July 2023, India’s oldest railway station (169-years-old) Byculla railway station in central Mumbai,
Maharashtra received the 2022 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia
Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation (Award of Merit). The award was presented by Ashwini
Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways.
• The recognition comes after 5 years of restoration activities
of the railway station started in 2018
• The award was announced in November, 2022.
Key Points:
It is to be noted that the restoration work was taken care by 3 women
namely
i.Shaina Nana Chudasama, Member of Parliament(MP) through her
Non Government Organisation (NGO) ‘I love Mumbai’
ii.Abha Narain Lambah, Conversation Architect and Historic Building Consultant
iii.Minal Bajaj of Director of Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation
Note: Shaina Nana Chudasama holds a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for fastest saree drape
About Byculla railway station
i.Byculla railway station was built in 1852
ii.One of the original stations on the Thane-Bombay rail network that was inaugurated in 1853
Additional Info:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) won the highest Award of excellence in the 2022
UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards for cultural heritage conservation.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Headquarters – Paris, France
Members – 195 countries
Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik has Become the 2nd Longest-Serving CM in India

On 22nd July 2023, Odisha Chief Minister (CM) & Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik has become
the 2nd longest-serving Chief Minister in India, with a tenure of 23 years and 139 days.
• Patnaik, the five-time Chief Minister of Odisha, took charge on March 5, 2000.
Key points:
i.Patnaik surpassed the record set by former West Bengal CM Jyoti Basu who holds office for 23 years 137 days
from June 21, 1977, to November 5, 2000.
ii.Pawan Kumar Chamling, the former CM of Sikkim, holds the 1st position as the longest-serving CM after

independence in India. Chamling held the office of CM for 24 years and 166 days from December 12, 1994 to
May 27, 2019.
iii.Naveen Patnaik is also the 3rd CM after Pawan Chamling and Jyoti Basu to win five consecutive terms as
CM.
MoYAS recognised Handball Association of India as National Sports Federation

On 25th July 2023,the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports(MoYAS) recognised the Handball Association of
India (HAI) as a National Sports Federation (NSF) status for the promotion and regulation of handball with
immediate effect.
• Recognition was granted with a view to run the affairs of handball.
• HAI is also affiliated to the International Handball Federation(IHF), the Asian Handball
Federation(AHF) and the Indian Olympic Association(IOA).
Backdrop:
i.HAI led by Digvijay Singh Chautala and Handball Federation of
India (HFI) led by Jagan Mohan Rao claimed to be the legitimate
national federation for handball in India in the last few years.
Recently, IOA also gave HAI recognition after it agreed to merge
with the HFI.
ii.Following the Indian Olympic Association’s intervention, On
29th May 2023, the executive committee of HAI elected the new
officer bearers of HAI.
Newly Elected Office Bearers of HAI:
President – Digvijay Singh Chautala
Secretary General – Jagan Mohan Rao
Treasurer – Thakur Tejraj Singh
About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports(MoYAS) :
Union Minister – Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency – Hamirpur,Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State(MoS) – Nisith Pramanik (Constituency – Coochbehar, West Bengal)
GEM Awards 2023-24: ANI Chairman Prem Prakash honoured with Lifetime Achievement
Award
On 26th July 2023, Prem Prakash, a renowned journalist and Founder & Chairman of Asian News International
(ANI), was honoured with the Global Education Mentor (GEM) Award 2023 – Lifetime Achievement
Award, recognising his significant contributions to the field of education and journalism throughout his
lifetime.
• He was honoured with the award at the GEM Awards 2023-24 program organised at Dr. Ambedkar
International Centre (DAIC), in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The program was graced by the Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Jal Shakti and
other prominent personalities from the education sector and so on.
• Prem Prakash has dedicated over 70 years in the world of Journalism and during his long career he
has covered some significant stories of post-independence India including the 1962 War with China
and 1971 Wars against Pakistan.
• His notable work includes: Reporting India: My Seventy-year Journey as a Journalist (2020) and its
Hindi Version was launched in 2022; Afghanistan: The Quest of Peace, The Path of Wars (2023).
Note: GEM Award aims to celebrate the achievements of those who have dedicated their lives to improve
education or its associated social sector in India and promoting innovative approaches to teaching and
learning.

President Droupadi Murmu confers National Geoscience Awards 2022 to 22 Geoscientist
On July 24, 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards- 2022
(NGA) of the Ministry of Mines on 22 Geoscientists during an event organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural
Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
Categories and Number of Awards:
There were 10 awards grouped under three categories viz. National
Geoscience Award for Life Time Achievement, National Young
Geoscientist Award, and National Geoscience Awards in various
fields of geosciences
• A total of 173 nominations were received out of which
168 were valid nominations. Finally 22 Geoscientists
were selected by the Award Making Authority (AMA)
chaired by Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Mines
for 10 awards which include 4 individual awards, 3 team awards & 3 joint awards.
Category of Award Number of Awards
National Geoscience Award for Lifetime
Achievement 1
8 (3 Team Award + 3 Joint Award + 2 individual Awards= 20
National Geoscience Awards awardees)
National Young Geoscientist Award 1
Total 10 Awards (22 Awardees)
Awardees for the National Geoscience Awards-2022
1.National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement:
It was conferred upon Professor (Dr.) Om Narain Bhargava, Department of Geology, Panjab University (PU),
Chandigarh, for his pioneering work in the Himalayas spanning over the last four decades.
• About Award: It is given to an individual with an exceptionally high lifetime achievement for
sustained and significant contributions in any of the disciplines mentioned in Clause-2 of NGA
Regulation 2022.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate.
2.National Young Geoscientist Award:
It was presented to Dr. Amiya Kumar Samal, Assistant Professor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). He has made a notable contribution in understanding the variation of Sub-
Continental Lithospheric Mantle (SCLM) beneath various Archean cratons of the Indian shield.
• About Award: It is for outstanding research work in any field of geosciences to an individual below
35 years of age as on the 31st December of the preceding year.
• Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh and a certificate. In the case of a team award, the award
money will be equally divided.
3.National Geoscience Awards:
National Geoscience Award (10 Awards) shall be given to individuals or team(s) in recognition of meritorious
contribution in any of the disciplines mentioned in Clause-2 of NGA Regulation 2022.
The award is presented for various fields under 4 different sections,
SECTION- I – Mineral Discovery & Exploration
SECTION- II – Mining, Mineral Beneficiation and Sustainable Mineral Development
SECTION- III – Basic Geosciences
SECTION- IV – Applied Geosciences
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 Lakh plus a research grant of Rs. 5 Lakh spread over 5 years
subject to satisfactory yearly progress and a certificate.

Awardees Category
National Geoscience Awards– 2022
Section– I – Mineral Discovery & Exploration
Field (i): Mineral Discovery & Exploration
(excluding fossil fuels)
This field is of economic and/or strategic importance and application of innovative techniques.
1.GSI team comprising of
i.Soubhagyalaxmi Sahoo, Geologist
ii.Swapnita Brahma, Geologist
iii.Yogeesha S. N., Geologist
iv.P. Rajesh Durai, Director Team Award
2.GSI team comprising of
i.Jitendra Kumar, Geologist
ii.Ngazipmi Chahong, Geologist
iii.Bikash Kumar Acharya, Sr. Geologist
iv.Anindya Bhattacharya, Director Team Award
Field (ii): Coal, Lignite and Coal Bed Methane Discovery & Exploration
Under this, there is application of innovative techniques and Oil, Natural Gas, Shale Gas and Gas Hydrates
Discovery & Exploration.
GSI team comprising of
i.Dr. Satya Narayan Sethy, Geologist
ii.Nitin Narendra Raut, Geologist
iii.Rakesh Deepankar, Sr. Geologist
iv.Sumit Jaiswal, Geologist Team Award
SECTION- II – Mining, Mineral Beneficiation and Sustainable Mineral Development
Field (iv): Mineral Beneficiation and Sustainable Mineral Development
-Mineral Beneficiation includes mineral processing, project development for utilization of low-grade ores &
production of value-added mineral products and mineral economics.
-Sustainable Mineral Development includes mine closure, project development, institutional development and
capacity building.
Pankaj Kumar Satija, Managing Director at Tata Steel Mining Limited in Nayapalli,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha Individual Award
SECTION- III – Basic Geosciences
Field (v): Basic Geosciences
It includes Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, Paleontology, Geodynamics, Geochemistry, Geochronology and
Isotope Geology, Ocean Development (Oceanography and Marine Geology), Glaciology and Arctic & Antarctic
Research including Geo-Scientific Expeditions; and science surveys/baseline geoscience data collection
including Geological and Geochemical mapping & survey, and Systematic Thematic mapping.
1.Prof. Saibal Gupta, Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT (Indian Institute of
Technology) Kharagpur, West Bengal (WB) Individual Award
2.Dr. Waliur Rahaman, Scientist E,
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa
Prof. Dipak Chandra Pal,
Department of Geological Sciences,
Jadavpur University, Kolkata, WB Joint Award
SECTION- IV – Applied Geosciences
Field (vi): Applied Geology
It include Engineering Geology, Geothermal Energy, Seismotectonics, Geostatistics, Remote Sensing and Geo-
Information System; Groundwater Exploration; Geo-Environmental Studies relating to mining, urban,

industrial, coastal and desert management, paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, medical geology, climate change
and studies related to their impact on ecosystem
Dr. Harish Bahuguna, Director, GSI, Jammu
Dr. Keesari Tirumalesh, Scientific Officer,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra Joint Award
Field (viii): Natural Hazard Investigations
It includes scientific studies related to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods and tsunamis.
Dr. Saibal Ghosh
Deputy Director General, GSI, Kolkata
Dr. Vikram Gupta
Scientist – F, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, Uttarakhand Joint Award
About National Geoscience Awards (NGA):
Established in 1966 by the Ministry of Mines, NGA acknowledges the exceptional individuals and organizations
that have demonstrated excellence, dedication and innovation in Geosciences.
• The awards are presented in the field of Mineral Discovery and Exploration, Basic Geosciences,
Applied Geosciences and Mining, Mineral Beneficiation and Sustainable Mineral Development.
• Click Here for Full Information about NGA
Participants:
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Mines; Minister of State (MoS) Raosaheb Patil Danve, Ministry of
Mines, senior functionaries of the Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India (GSI), among others.
i.Aaliya Mir, a wildlife conservationist working for India-based charity Wildlife SOS, has been honoured with
the Wildlife Conservation Award for 2023 by the administration of the Union Territory (UT) Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K), for her conservation efforts in the region.
ii.Kiran Nadar, Philanthropist and an art collector, was conferred with “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”
(Knight of the Legion Honour), the highest French civilian award, by Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador to
India in a ceremony held at the Residence of France in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Geological Survey of India (GSI):
Director General– Janardan Prasad
Headquartered– Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur Confers 8th and 9th Community Radio Awards
The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, inaugurated the two-day Regional
Community Radio(CR) Sammelan (North) at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi,
Delhi on the occasion of National Broadcasting Day on 23rd July 2023.
• During the Inaugural Session, he presented the 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards to
commendable Community Radio Stations (CRSs) that have made significant contributions in their
field and for the public interest.
9th National Community Radio Awards:
The 9th National Community Radio Awards consists of 12 awards
under 4 categories such as Thematic Awards, Most
Innovative Community Engagement Awards, Promoting Local Culture
Awards and Sustainability Model Awards.
• These prestigious awards recognize outstanding
Community Radio Stations (CRS) from various states,
including Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Tripura.

• The CSR played a key role in ‘Jan Bhagidari se Jan Andolan ’ (Public movement with Public
Participation).
The National Community Radio Awards prize list:
• 1st- Rs. 1 Lakh
• 2nd- Rs. 75,000
• 3rd- Rs. 50,000
Winners Details of Awardees:
Thematic Awards:
• 1st Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana; Name of Programme: Hope Jeene Ki Rah
• 2nd Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambalpur, Odisha; Name of Programme: Adhar O Poshan Bigyan
• 3rd Prize : Green Radio, Sabour, Bihar; Name of Programme: Poshan Shrinkhla.
Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards:
• 1st : Radio SD, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of the programme: Hizra in Between
• 2nd : Kabir Radio, Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of Program: Selfie Le Le Re
• 3rd : Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana Name of Programme: Book Bugs.
Promoting Local Culture Awards:
• 1st: Voice of SOA, Cuttack, Odisha; Name of Programme: Asmita
• 2nd: Friends FM, Tripura, Agartala; Name of Programme: Revived a dying art: MASK & POT
• 3rd: PantnagarJanvani, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand; Name of Program: Dadi Ma Ka Batua.
Sustainability Model Awards:
• 1st : Radio Hirakhand, Sambhalpur, Odisha
• 2nd : VayalagaVanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
• 3rd: VAGAD Radio “90.8”, Banswara, Rajasthan…Click here for official list..
8th National Community Radio Awards:
About National Community Radio Awards:
i.The Government of India instituted the National Community Radio Awards to promote better programming in
Community Radio.
ii.The National Community Radio Awards are given to those Community Radio Stations who have done
exemplary work in the field of Community Radio Broadcasting through Community Centric Programmes.
iii.The various categories of awards based on the Community Radios’ developed programmes under various
themes.
iv.The awards have promoted a culture of sustainability, innovation and citizen-participation.
Initiatives To Expand the reach of Radio in India:
✓ Govt to e-auction 808 channels in 284 cities
✓ Licensing time has reduced from 4 years to 6 months
✓ Processes involved has been reduced from 13 to 8
Community Radio and its Role:
• Community Radio is an important 3rd tier in Radio Broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Radio
broadcasting and Commercial Radio.
• CSR are low power Radio Stations, which are meant to be set-up and operated by community based
organisations.
• It provides a platform to communities to air local voices on issues concerning Health, Nutrition,
Education, Agriculture etc.
• There are a total of 449 Community Radio Stations in India till July 2023.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:
Union Minister- Anurag Singh Thakur(constituency-Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of state- Dr. L. Murugan

Jindal Aluminium Limited received AS9100D Aerospace Certification from NVT Services
Jindal Aluminium Limited, India’s largest Aluminium extrusion company and India’s second largest producer
of aluminium flat rolled products, was awarded the AS 9100D Aerospace certification by M/s NVT Services,
one of India’s top aerospace certification agencies. The certificate recognises Jindal Aluminium as a qualified
manufacturer for the aviation, space, and defence industry.
• Post completion of a two-stage audit process by NVT Services, the accreditation was awarded to the
Bengaluru (Karnataka) facility of Jindal Aluminium. The process of certification started in January
2023, and the certificate was received by the Jindal Aluminium Ltd in June 2023.
Note: AS9100D also called as AS9100 or EN9100:2018 is the most recent standard for organizations that
design, develop or provide aviation, space and defense products and services, including parts, components and
assemblies.
• The AS 9100 Rev D standard includes the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and specifies additional
aviation, space, and defense (ASD) industry requirements.
AS 9100D standard, jointly developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the European
Association of Aerospace Industries, specifies the Quality Management System requirements for organizations
that develop, design or manufacture aviation, space and defence products.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

GoI Extends Brajendra Navnit’s Tenure As India’s Ambassador To WTO
On 28th June 2023, the Government of India(GoI) extended the tenure of Brajendra Navnit as Ambassador
and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 9 months beyond 28th
June 2023 and upto 31st March 2024 or until further orders.
• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) chaired by
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, has approved the
proposal of the Department of Commerce for an extension
in the tenure of the foreign deputation of Brajendra Navnit
About Brajendra Navnit:
i.Brajendra Navnit, a 1999 batch Indian Administrative Service
(IAS) officer of Tamil Nadu Cadre, has been serving as the
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to WTO since
June 2020.
ii.He has served at various leadership roles at district and state
level in Tamil Nadu and also serve the GoI at New Delhi, Delhi .
iii.He has also worked in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs as Deputy Secretary
(Budget), Director in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister(PM).
iv.During his tenure at the Ministry of Finance, he authored the 1st edition of the Government Debt Paper,
which communicated the consolidated General Government Debt of the Federal and State Governments to
multilateral organizations and sovereign credit rating agencies.
Director-General- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
TS Singh Deo appointed as Chhattisgarh deputy CM

On 28th June 2023, Senior Congress leader and Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo(70), has been
appointed as the deputy chief minister(CM) of Chhattisgarh.

The appointment was approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at the Congress headquarters in
Delhi.
About TS Singh Deo:
i.Also known as modern-day Maharaja, Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo (TS Singh Deo) is the titular
Maharaja of Chhattisgarh’s Surguja, was first elected as a member of the state’s legislative Assembly in 2008.
ii.Deo also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the 4th Vidhan Sabha of Chhattisgarh.
iii.An MLA from Ambikapur constituency, Deo is currently holding Health and Family Welfare, Medical
Education, Twenty Point Implementation and Commercial Tax (GST) portfolios.
ACC re-appointed Tushar Mehta, SGI for the second time and 6 ASGs for Supreme Court, 4 ASGs
for High Courts of India
On 30th June 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the re-appointment
of Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India (SGI) with effect from 1st July 2023 for a period of three years or
until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• This is the 2nd extension granted to Mehta by the government of India.
• Tushar Mehta has been serving as the SGI since 10th October 2018. In June 2020, he got his 1st
extension as SGI for a term of 3 years with effect from 1st July 2020.
About Tushar Mehta:
i. Tushar Mehta, born on May 5, 1962, in Gujarat started his
career as a lawyer in 1987.
ii. In 2007, the High Court of Gujarat named him a senior lawyer.
In 2008, he was appointed as Additional Advocate General
iii. In 2014, he received a promotion to Additional Solicitor
General of India.
iv. He was also the Special Public Prosecutor in the 2G spectrum
matter and related cases.
About SGI:
The Solicitor General of India (SGI) is subordinate to the
Attorney General for India. The SGI is the second-highest law officer in India.
Reappointment of Additional SGI – Supreme Court of India:
i. The ACC also approved the re-appointment of 6 Additional Solicitors General (ASG) for the Supreme Court of
India for a period of 3 years namely:
• Vikram Banerjee, K.M. Nataraj as Additional SGI with effect from 1st July 2023; Balbir Singh and S.V.
Raju, N. Venkataraman and Aishwarya Bhati as Additional SGI with effect from 30th June 2023.
Note: However, the terms of the ASG’s namely Madhavi Diwan, Sanjay Jain and Jayant K Sud was ended and
their names did not feature in the list of re-appointed law officers.
Reappointment of Additional SGI of the High Court:
The ACC also issued an order of re-appointing 4 ASG’s in the High Courts of India for a period of 3 years namely:
• Chetan Sharma, Additional SGI, High Court of Delhi with effect from 1st July 2023;
• Satya Pal Jain, Additional SGI, High Court of Punjab & Haryana with effect from 1st July 2023;
• Dr. Krishna Nandan Singh, Additional SGI, High Court of Patna with effect from 1st July 2023;
• Devang Girish Vyas, Additional SGI, High Court of Gujarat with effect from 30th June 2023.
About Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC):
Established in- 26 January 1950
Chairperson- Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India)

PTC India shareholders approve the appointment of Rajib Kumar Mishra as CMD
On 28th June 2023, the PTC India Limited (formerly known as Power Trading Corporation of India Limited)
shareholders passed resolutions relating to the appointment of Rajib Kumar Mishra as the company’s
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) with requisite majority votes at the seventh Extra Ordinary General
Meeting (EGM).
• He has been appointed as the CMD in PTC India with effect from March 29, 2023.
• He has been serving as the acting chairman of PTC India since November 2021, after former CMD
Deepak Amitabh quit.
• As per the voting result, 77.71% of votes were in favour of the ordinary resolution and 22.29%
against the proposal.
In 2020, He was named the Whole-time Director of the company with effect from 24th February 2020, up to
23rd February 2025 or the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
He joined PTC Board on February 24, 2015, as Director of Marketing and Business Development. he has
previously worked at various capacities at Power Grid, NTPC and PTC India.
Anurag Verma Appointed as New Chief Secretary of Punjab

On 1st July 2023, Anurag Verma, a 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, took charge as the
42nd chief secretary of Punjab in Chandigarh, Punjab. He will also hold the charge as principal secretary,
personnel and vigilance.
• Anurag Verma succeeded Vijay Kumar Janjua, who retired on 30th June 2023.
Anurag Verma served as the additional chief secretary of Punjab, Principal Secretary home affairs and Justice,
along with some other additional charges. Previously, he has also served as the deputy commissioner of the
Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts.
Ajit Pawar Took Oath as the Maharashtra Deputy CM

On 2nd July 2023, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief
Minister (Dy CM) by Ramesh Bais, Governor of Maharashtra, in a ceremony at the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai,
Maharashtra in the presence of Maharashtra’s Chief Minister(CM) Eknath Shinde.
• Now, Maharashtra has 2 Dy CMs. Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)’s Devendra Fadnavis is the other Dy
CM of Maharashtra.
• During the ceremony, 8 other NCP leaders: Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif,
Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil, and Sanjay Bansode, took oath as
ministers.
Prior to this appointment, Ajit Pawar resigned as the leader of the opposition (LoP) in the Lower House and
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has accepted it.
Note:The total strength of the Maharashtra legislative assembly is 288 and a minimum of 145 is needed to win
the trust vote. With Ajit Pawar’s move, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s seats are likely to
cross the 200-mark.
PM Prasad takes over as CMD of Coal India

On 1st July 2023, PM Prasad took charge as newly-appointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Coal
India Limited (CIL) by succeeding Pramod Agrawal, who superannuated on June 30, 2023.
• Prior to this appointment, he served as the CMD of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), the Jharkhand-
based arm of CIL, since October 1, 2020.
• PM Prasad began his career in 1984 as a management trainee at Western Coalfields Limited, a
subsidiary of CIL.

He has also served as the Executive Director (Coal mining) at NTPC Limited(formerly National Thermal Power
Corporation Limited), Director Technical at Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and CMD of Bharat Coking Coal
Limited (BCCL)
Lt Gen M.U.Nair Appointed as the Head of National Cyber Coordination Centre

On 3rd July 2023, Lt Gen M U Nair has been appointed the new National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) by
the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), the cybersecurity and e-surveillance agency under Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology in the government of India.
• He is the third cyber security chief in India, succeeding
Lt Gen (retd.) Dr Rajesh Pant and preceded by Gulshan
Rai, who was the first chief.
About Lt Gen Nair:
i.A distinguished alumnus of the esteemed National Defence
Academy, Lt Gen MU Nair has been honored with Ati Vishisht Seva
Medal and Sena Medal.
ii.Prior to his appointment as NCSC, he held the chair of 28th
Signal-officer-in-Chief at the Army Headquarters in July 2022, and
also served as the commandant of the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.
iii.He has also held other important positions including the additional director general, signal intelligence, chief
of staff of a corps and command.
iv.Lt Gen Nair is an expertise in cyber warfare, signal intelligence and communication and information
technology at both national and global levels.
About National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC):
NCSC under National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) coordinates with different agencies at the national
level for cyber security matters.
Vice Admiral Atul Anand takes over as Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs
On July 3, 2023, Vice Admiral Atul Anand was appointed as the Additional Secretary of the Department of
Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• He will succeed Lt Gen Anil Puri, who retired on February 28, 2023.
About Vice Admiral Atul Anand:
i.He was commissioned into the executive branch of the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988.
ii.He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (71st Course, Delta Squadron)
iii.He is a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
iv.He commanded Torpedo Recovery Vessel INTRV A72, missile boat INS (Indian Naval Ship) Chatak, corvette
INS Khukri and missile destroyer INS Mumbai.
v.He also served as the Navigating Officer of the Indian Navy’s ships — Sharda, Ranvijay and Jyoti.
B.Neeraja Prabhakar Appointed Chairperson of Research Advisory Committee of ICAR

B.Neeraja Prabhakar,Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University
appointed as the chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) at Pedavegi in Andhra Pradesh.
• She assumed office on June 13, 2023 and will head a 10-member committee for a period of three
years.
• The ICAR-IIOPR is the country’s only top institute undertaking oil palm research and creating oil
palm technology that may be used in all oil palm-growing states.

She is also a member of the Telangana Oil Palm Advisory Committee, which advises the state government on
the expansion of oil palm production, challenges associated with oil palm farming, and issues confronting the
oil palm processing Industry.
NATO extended the tenure of Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO up to October
2024
On 4th July 2023, the 31 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental
military alliance decided to extend the tenure of Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO for another year
until 1st October 2024. Jens Stoltenberg’s term was supposed to end in September 2023.
• Jens Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister of Norway
(from 2000 to 2001; 2005-2013) became NATO
Secretary General in 2014. His term has already been
extended 3 times.
• This is the fourth time he got his term extended by
NATO.
• The decision about his extension will be endorsed by
NATO Heads of State and Government at the Vilnius
Summit which is scheduled to be held in on 11-12 July
2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
About Jens Stoltenberg:
i. Jens Stoltenberg was born on 16 March 1959, in Oslo, Norway.
ii. From 2002 to 2014, he was the Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party (Det Norske Arbeiderparti; DNA), a
social-democratic political party in Norway
iii. Prior to his career in NATO, he was the United Nation’s (UN) Special Envoy on Climate Change from 2013 to
2014.
iv. He also chaired UN High-level Panels on climate financing and the coherence between development,
humanitarian assistance and environmental policies.
Awards:
i. On 23rd January 2023, Jens Stoltenberg received an Honorary Award of the Verkhovna Rada, the unicameral
Parliament of Ukraine.
ii. On 9th January 2023, Jens Stoltenberg was awarded the Sønsteby prize for his brave defending of
fundamental democratic values in Norway.
Books:
Some of his notable work includes Min historie (My story) (2016), The Ice is Melting: Ethics in the Arctic
(Foreword) (2015), Samtaler (2009).
About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
Formed in- 1949
Secretary General- Jens Stoltenberg
Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
Member States- 31 (At present)
BCCI Appointed Former Indian Cricketer Ajit Agarkar as Chairman of Senior Men’s Selection
Committee
On 4th July 2023, Ajit Agarkar, the former Indian Cricketer, has been appointed as the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) new chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee by succeeding the previous
chairman Chetan Sharma, who resigned from the post in February 2023.

• Ajit Agarkar was unanimously recommended to the post by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC),
consisting of Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape.
Note: He was recommended based on seniority – total number of Test matches.
• The Senior Men’s Selection Committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar consists of Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto
Banerjee, Salil Ankola, and Sridharan Sharath.
About Ajit Agarkar:
i.Agarkar hailing from Mumbai, Maharastra, has played 26 Tests, 191 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and four
Twenty20 International (T20I) for India and has also taken part in 110 first-class, 270 List A, and 62 T20
matches for Mumbai.
ii.He still holds the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian batter in ODI, achieved with a 21-ball fifty
against Zimbabwe in 2000. He also held the record for being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets, accomplished
the feat in just 23 matches.
iii.He was a part of India’s victorious squad in the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007.
iv.In the Indian Premier League (IPL), He played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and the Kolkata
Knight Riders (KKR).
v.He retired from all cricket in 2013 and later served as the Chief Selector for the senior Mumbai Team and
coached the Delhi Capitals.
Sheo Kumar Singh-I appointed as acting chairperson of NGT

Justice Sheo Kumar Singh-I was appointed as the acting chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the
Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with the effect from July 6, 2023 until
further notice.
• He succeeded Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, chairperson of NGT (July 2018 -July 2023), who retired on
July 6, 2023.
• He was part of the NGT as a judicial member since March 11, 2020.
About Sheo Kumar Singh-I:
i.Sheo Kumar Singh-I joined Judicial Service in 1984 and worked as district judge in different districts of Uttar
Pradesh (UP), Registrar (Judicial) of Supreme Court, Registrar General at High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
before his elevation as high court judge.
ii.He was appointed Observer of the Ram Janam Bhumi in Ayodhya by the Supreme Court to monitor the
excavation work carried out by the expert team of Archeological
Survey of India (ASI).
iii.He also served as a judge of the Industrial Tribunal in Uttar
Pradesh and the chairman of the Oversight Committee in the
state constituted by the NGT.
National Green Tribunal (NGT):
i.Purpose:According to the National Green Tribunal Act (2010),
the National Green Tribunal was founded in 2010 as a
specialised judicial body with expertise primarily for the purpose
of mediating environmental cases.
ii.Functions:The Tribunal is responsible for providing an effective and timely remedy in situations involving
environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, and enforcement of any
environmental legal right.
iii.Jurisdiction:The Tribunal’s orders are binding, and it has the authority to offer affected persons relief in the
form of compensation and damages.
About National Green Tribunal (NGT):
Acting Chairman Person – Sheo Kumar Singh-I
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

Rajkumar Upadhyay gets a 2-Year Extension as CEO of C-DoT
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Department of
Telecommunications(DoT) for the extension in tenure of Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO (Chief executive
officer), C-DoT(Centre for Development of Telematics) for a period of 2 years till 9th July 2025 or attaining
the age of 60 years.
Key points:
i.In October 2020, Upadhyay joined India’s telecom technology
research organisation C-DoT as the executive director and in
November 2022 he was promoted as CEO and C-DoT’s board
chairman.
ii.Previously, he served as Additional Director General,
Doordarshan & All India Radio(AIR), Prasar Bharati, deputy
director general (DDG) at DoT, advisor at Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) and is also the founding member of the
Bharat 6G Alliance.
iii.He won many awards which include J. C. Bose award (1987) by Ministry of Defence(MoD), the National e-
Governance award (2007) by Government of India (GoI), CIO 100 award (2007) by International Data Group
(IDG), and Deepak C. Jain Award (2009) by IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) Bangalore, India.
About Centre for Development of Telematics(C-DoT):
Chief executive officer- Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay
Established- 1984
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi.
DoT Secretary K Rajaraman IAS Replaces Injeti Srinivas as Chairman of IFSCA

According to the notification released by The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under Ministry of Finance,
The Department of Telecommunications secretary and 1989-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu
Cadre, K Rajaraman will be the next chairman of the International Financial Services Centres Authority
(IFSCA).
• He will be replacing Injeti Srinivas, the first
chairperson of IFSCA (which acts as a unified authority
for the development and regulation of financial
products, financial services and financial institutions)
appointed in 2020.
• Rajaraman is expected to join the IFSCA in the month
of August 2023.
• His tenure will be for three years from the date of his
assumption of charge of the post, or till attaining the
age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.
• As per the IFSCA (salary, allowance, and other terms and conditions of service of chairperson
and members) Rules 2020, the proposal put forth by the Department of Economic Affairs to
appoint K Rajaraman, IAS, as the Chairperson of IFSCA has been approved by the Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet(ACC).
About K Rajaraman:
i. In October 2021, he assumed charge as the Telecom Secretary. He successfully conducted first-ever fifth
generation or 5G auction, with the government fetching more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
ii. He is also considered as a driving force behind the recently-launched Bharat 6G Alliance and in rolling out
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) 4G network

About International Financial Services Centres Authority(IFSCA):
Headquarters – Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Established under – International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019
Shavkat Mirziyoyev Re-Elected as President of Uzbekistan for 7 years term

On 9th July 2023, the incumbent Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been re-elected with 87.1 % of the
vote for 7 years term according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Committee(CEC) of the
Republic of Uzbekistan. He is a member of the UzLiDeP (Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party).
• On 30th April 2023, the Uzbek President called for snap
election on which Uzbek citizens voted on constitutional
amendments through a referendum which reset his term
count and extended the presidential term to seven years
from five.
• More than 15 million voters participated in the election,
which comprises 79% of the voters.
Other presidential candidates:
Ulugbek Inoyatov(4.02%) from the People’s Democratic Party of
Uzbekistan, Robakhon Makhmudova(4.43%) from the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” and
Abdushukur Khamzayev (3.74%) from the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan.
About Shavkat Mirziyoyev:
i.In 2003, Mirziyoyev served as prime minister under his predecessor Islam Karimov (the first post-
independence president of Uzbekistan) and he was subsequently reappointed to the position three times, in
2005, 2010, and 2015.
ii.He was elected as president in 2016 following the death of Islam Karimov and again in the year 2021 for the
2nd term.
About Uzbekistan:
Prime Minister- Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov
Currency- Som
Capital- Tashkent
Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari resigns, Irina Ghose becomes MD

Microsoft India promoted Irina Ghose as its Managing Director (MD), while Anant Maheshwari stepped down
from his position as Microsoft India President.
• As part of the executive reshuffle, Navtez Singh Bal has been appointed as the new Chief Operating
Officer (COO). He was earlier heading the Government, Public Sector and Education Business for
Microsoft in India which is now taken care of by Venkat Krishnan.
About Irina Ghose:
i. The then COO of Microsoft India, Irina Ghose who was associated with the firm for more than 2 decades,
focused on the end-to-end operations, go-to-market strategies and drove one of the largest world-class sales
enablement programs.
ii. In 2010, she founded MyLittleBit, a philanthropic foundation that believes that everybody can contribute in
small parts to make a giant impact on the underprivileged.
iii. She is actively engaged with Microsoft for Startups, a Microsoft program that provides support, Azure
credits and free licences to selected Microsoft products to software entrepreneurs and startups.
About Anant Maheshwari:
i. AnantMaheshwari steps down as Microsoft India President after 7 years, who joined Microsoft in the year
2016.
ii. In the month of April 2023, he was appointed as the Chairperson of National Association of Software and

Service Companies(NASSCOM) for the period 2023-24. He also served on NASSCOM’s Executive council since
2017.
iii. He is India Advisory Committee member of U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), National Council member of
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ex Chairperson CII IT/ITeS committee and is a fellow of the Aspen
Global Leadership Institute.
About Microsoft (India):
Country Manager – Ashutosh Gupta
Abhijit Chakravorty appointed as MD & CEO of SBI cards

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (SBICPSL), a subsidiary of State Bank of India (SBI) and India’s
second-largest credit card, provider appointed Abhijit Chakravorty as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from August 12, 2023 for a period of 2 years. He is currently serving as the
Deputy MD of SBI.
• He will succeed the incumbent MD & CEO Rama Mohan Rao Amara, who tendered his resignation
with effect from 11th August 2023 owing to his transfer back to the SBI.
About Abhijit Chakravorty:
i. He started his banking career as a Probationary Officer (PO)
with SBI in 1988 and earned an experience of over 34 years in
various fields.
ii. He oversaw the Bank’s Operations in Bangladesh as CEO and
Country Head and
iii. He also served as the vertical responsible for Information
Technology (IT) operations of the customer-facing channels and
payment systems.
iv. He served at the Hongkong branch of SBI and has played a
pivotal role in high-value Corporate Lending as a member of the Commercial Credit Group.
v. He also took the role of Chief General Manager (Channels & Operations) at the Global IT Centre of SBI
About SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited:
SBI Card was launched as SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited in 1998 by the State Bank of India
and GE Capital.
Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Khara
MD & CEO– Rama Mohan Rao Amara
Harsh Chouhan resigns NCST Chairman

On 26th June 2023, Harsh Chouhan, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
resigned from his post 8 months ahead of the end of his tenure. He was appointed as the Chairman of NCST in
February 2021 for a period of 3 years. Droupadi Murmu, President of India, accepted his resignation on 27th
June 2023.
• Following his resignation, the NCST is left functioning with Ananta Nayak, the only member of the
commission.
• Since 2019, the post of Vice Chairman (VC) has been vacant following the appointment of then VC
Anasuya Uikey as Governor of Chhattisgarh (now serving as Governor of Manipur).
Note: As per the ‘NCST Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Members (Conditions of Service and Tenure)
Rules 2004’, NCST should have a chairperson, VC and members. The number of members has not been capped
but there should be a woman member.
Harsh Chouhan’s resignation comes after an argument with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change (MoEFCC) over the Forest Conservation Rules 2022, which he believed violated the Forest Rights Act,
2006.
About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST):
NCST, a constitutional body, was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the
Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
The amendment replaced the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with 2
separate Commissions: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and NCST with effect from 19
February 2004.
Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah Elected as the New President of Olympic Council of Asia
On 8th July 2023, Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait was elected as the new president of the Olympic
Council of Asia (OCA) from 2023-2027 by the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Sheikh Talal joined the OCA in 2007 and was a member of the executive board, replaces his elder
brother, Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, who was suspended from Olympic involvement in 2021.
• Sheikh Talal beat Dr.Husain Al-Musallam ,a Director General of OCA and also the President of
World Aquatics.
• Sheikh Talal is the son of Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who founded OCA in 1982 and served
as its president until 1990.
Additional info:
Former Secretary General of the OCA, H.E.Raja Randhir Singh of
India, had led the OCA as Acting President since 2021 until the
election.
About Olympic Council of Asia (OCA):
OCA is an independent non-governmental not-for-profit
international Asian sport organization currently with 45 member
National Olympic Committees.
• Founded in – 1982.
• Headquarters – Kuwait.
Former J&K Chief Secretary B R Sharma appointed as State Election Commissioner of J&K
On 14th July 2023, Retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary of J&K Braj Raj Sharma(B R Sharma) was
appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of J&K with effect from the date he assumes charge till he
attains the age of 65. B R Sharma succeeds K K Sharma whose tenure as SEC of J&K completed on 1st February
2023.
Note: The appointment was made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in exercise of the powers conferred by
proviso to sub-section (3) of section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
• BR Sharma, a 1984-batch IAS officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, served as the CS of J&K from
2015 to 2017.
• He has also served as the Chairman of Staff Selection Commission(SSC) from 2019 to 2020. He has
also served as the Chief of J&K Public Service Commission (PSC) from 2020 to 2022.
• He has also served as Secretary, Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA)
and other significant roles.
Rakesh Pal appointed as 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard

On 19th July 2023, Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the 25th Director General of Indian Coast
Guard (DGICG). He holds the recognition of being the First Gunner of ICG.
He was given the additional charge of DGICG in February 2023. He was elevated to the rank of Additional
Director General in February 2022.

Note: Virender Singh Pathania was the 24th DGICG, appointed on December 31 2021.
About Rakesh Pal:
i. He hails from Uttar Pradesh and is an alumnus of the Indian Naval
Academy and joined Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in January 1989.
ii. Over 34 years of career span, he held several key appointments
afloat and ashore and the prominent ones are:
• Commander Coast Guard Region (North West) in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Deputy Director General (Policy and Plans) and
Additional Director General Coast Guard in New Delhi,
Delhi, the Headquarters of ICG.
iii. He has commanded all classes of ICG ships (ICGS), including ICGS Samarth, ICGS Vijit, ICGS Sucheta Kriplani
and ICGS Ahalyabai and and ICGS C-03.
iv. He has undergone professional specialisation in the Gunnery and Weapons System at the Indian Naval
School Dronacharya in Kochi, Kerala and Electro-Optics Fire Control Solution course from the United Kingdom
(UK).
v. He has held various staff assignments such as Director (Infra & Works) and Principal Director
(Administration) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, Delhi.
vi. He has also Commanded two Coast Guard bases of the forward areas of Okha & Vadinar in Gujarat.
Awards/Honours:
Rakesh Pal was conferred with Tatrakshak Medal (TM) in 2013 for his illustrious service and President
Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) in 2018 for his distinguished service.
Nivruti Rai Appointed as MD & CEO of Invest India

On 12th July 2023, Former Intel India country head Nivruti Rai has been appointed as the Managing
Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Invest India, succeeding Manmeet K Nanda, Joint Secretary,
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), who had been serving as additional charge
of MD & CEO ad-interim in March 2023.
About Nivruti Rai:
i.Born in Uttar Pradesh in November 1969, Nivruti Rai is the
recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2022 for her
remarkable contributions to the field of technology by President
Ramnath Kovind.
ii.Previously she served at Intel for 29 years as a global business
and technology leader and led Intel India as Country Head for the
past seven years.
About Invest India:
i.Invest India is an investment promotion agency, whose aim is to
facilitate investors looking to invest in India. It is headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.It was set up in 2009 as a non-profit venture under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industries.
iii.It also plays a role in executing the government’s flagship initiatives including Make in India, Startup India,
and National Single Window System.
Rajay Kumar Sinha appointed as MD & CEO of SBI Capital Markets Limited
Rajay Kumar Sinha, has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI
Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS), one of the oldest investment banks in India, effective from July 14, 2023.
• Rajay Kumar Sinha succeeded Amitava Chatterjee, who moved to SBI Corporate Centre as Deputy
Managing Director, in charge of Commercial Clients Group.

About Rajay Kumar Sinha:
i. Rajay Kumar Sinha joined SBI as Probationary Officer (PO) in 1991.
ii. He is Deputy Managing Director at SBI, Corporate Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
iii. Prior to this appointment, Rajay Kumar Sinha held the position of overseeing Treasury operations of SBI,
managing the bank’s investment portfolio, money market, equity, private equity, and forex operations.
About SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS):
SBICAPS, a wholly owned subsidiary and investment banking arm of State Bank of India (SBI).
It is registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a category I Merchant Banker and a
Research Analyst.
MD&CEO– Rajay Kumar Sinha
Non-Executive Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Khara
Sat Pal Bhanoo appointed as MD of LIC; succeeds Siddhartha Mohanty

Sat Pal Bhanoo has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
with effect from the date of assumption of charge of office and up to the date of his superannuation on 31st
December 2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• He succeeds Siddhartha Mohanty, who was appointed as the Chairman of LIC in April 2023.
• Sat Pal Bhanoo is currently serving as the Additional Zonal Manager (In-Charge), LIC’s zonal office in
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh(MP).
• Now, LIC has 4 MDs: Sat Pal Bhanoo, Mini Ipe; M Jagannath and Tablesh Pandey.
• In June 2023, MP Tangirala,Additional Secretary in the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of
Finance, was appointed as Government Director of LIC replacing Suchindra Misra.
Note:
• LIC has decided to phase out the chairman post to align with other publicly traded corporations.
• Siddhartha Mohanty will serve as the chairman of LIC till June 2024 and after that he will take
charge as the first CEO of LIC for the term from June 2024 to June 2025.
• The 4 MD’s of LIC will be reporting to the CEO.
A Madhavarao appointed as CMD of Bharat Dynamics Limited

Commodore A Madhavarao (Retd.) assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) effective
from July 19, 2023. The MoD approved his appointment till the date of his superannuation on April 30, 2026 or
until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd), who served as the CMD of BDL from 2019, retired from the
post on 31st March 2023.
• After Siddharth Mishra, P Radhakrishna Director
(Production) assumed additional charge CMD, BDL
with effect from 1st April 2023 for a period of 3
months. On 8th July Nuka Srinivasulu, Director
(Finance) assumed additional charge of CMD, BDL.
About A Madhavarao:
i. Prior to this appointment, A Madhavarao held the position of
Director (Technical) with additional charge of Director
(Production) in BDL since January 2023.
ii. He served as Executive Director (Marketing) at
BDL and Unit Head of BDL Kanchanbagh Unit in Hyderabad, Telangana.
iii. In BDL, he played a significant role in developing infrastructure in BDL by taking up initiatives to enable

BDL towards realization of Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliant India).
iv. Besides BDL, he has had over 3 decades of experience in the Indian Navy.
v. He served as General Manager (Technical) at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
About Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL):
Incorporated on– 16th July 1970
Chairman & MD– A Madhavarao
Vijay Sampla Resigns as Chairperson of NCSC

On 18th July 2023, Former Union minister and senior Punjab BJP leader Vijay Sampla resigned from the post of
chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
• Sampla has been holding the charge of NCSC chairperson since 2021.
i.He served as chairman, for the Khadi and Village Industries Board, Punjab from 2009-12.
ii.He won the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Hoshiarpur in Punjab and was the minister of state for social
justice and empowerment from 2014 to 2019.
iii.In April 2022, Sampla was appointed as the chairperson of the NCSC for second time.
Note: The NCSC is a constitutional body,under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment,Government of India established to safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC) in
India.
4 new Chief Justices appointed in the High Courts of Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana and Orissa
On 19th July 2023, Droupadi Murmu, the President of India appointed 4 new Chief Justices (CJ) namely Justice
Sunita Agarwal, Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai, Justice Alok Aradhe, Justice Subhasis Talapatra in the High
Courts (HC) of Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, and Orissa respectively.
Note: With this appointmnets, Gujarat HC is the only high court in India with a woman CJ.
Details of the Appointment:
High Court New CJ Previous CJ/Acting CJ
Telangana HC Justice Alok Aradhe Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Gujarat HC Sunita Agarwal Ashish J Desai (Acting CJ of Gujarat HC)
Kerala HC Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai Justice S V Bhatti
Orissa HC Justice Subhasis Talapatra Justice S Muralidhar
Note:
• Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice S V Bhatti were recently elevated as judges of the Supreme Court of
India.
• Justice S Muralidhar is set to retire from the post of CJ of Orissa HC in August 2023.
Background:
The appointments were approved by the Supreme Court collegium
headed by Dr Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Chief
Justice of India (CJI) along with justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and
Sanjiv Khanna at a meeting held on July 5, 2023.
Telangana HC:
On 23rd July 2023, Justice Alok Aradhe was sworn in as the CJ of the
Telangana HC at Raj Bhavan, Telangana. Tamilisai Soundararajan,
Governor of Telangana, administered the oath of office.
• Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) of Karnataka HC since July
2022.
• He has also served as Additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh HC and Judge at Karnataka HC.

Gujarat HC:
On 23rd July 2023, Justice Sunita Aggarwal was sworn in as the CJ of the Gujarat HC at the Raj Bhavan in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat will administer the oath of office.
• Justice Sunita Aggarwal is the second woman Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court after Justice Sonia
Gokani(retired from the post in February 2023)
• Prior to this appointment, she was serving as the Judge at Allahabad HC.
Kerala HC:
On 22nd July 2023, Justice Ashish J Desai, who was serving as the Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) of Gujarat HC was
sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the
oath of office at Raj Bhawan, Kerala.
• Chief Justice Desai is presently the 38th Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
Orissa HC:
Justice Subhasis Talapatra has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court. He will take charge
as the CJ following the superannuation of the incumbent CJ Justice S Muralidhar on 7th August 2023.
Highlights:
i.Justice Desai, as the senior most puisne judge of the Gujarat High Court, had been performing the duties of the
CJ of Gujarat High Court following the retirement of Justice Sonia G Gokani in February 2023.
• He will also be the only judge from Gujarat high court to represent among the CJs of high courts.
ii.Justice Talapatra is the seniormost puisne judge from his parent Tripura High Court. He is currently serving
in the Orissa High Court on transfer.
• The Tripura High Court has not got representation among the CJ of High Courts since its inception in
2013.
Note: Puisne judge, judges who are ranked lower in seniority, i.e., any judge other than the Chief Justice of that
court.
Key Points:
i.With the present appointments, out of the 25 HCs, Bombay and Manipur HCs will be only two high courts
having acting CJs.
• Justice Nitin Jamdar acting CJ of Bombay HC and Justice M. V. Muralidaran acting CJ of Manipur HC.
ii.Along with the appointments the new CJs, the centre had also notified the transfer of justice P Sam Koshy, a
judge from Chhattisgarh high court to Telangana HC.
MoS gives 3 month extension to Amitava Mukherjee’s tenure as CMD of NMDC & NSL
The Ministry of Steel(MoS) has extended tenure of the Amitava Mukherjee as the Chairman-cum-Managing
Director(CMD) Additional charge of NMDC Limited Formerly known as National Mineral Development
Corporation) and NMDC Steel Ltd (NSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NMDC Ltd for 3 months.
• The extended tenure comes into effect from 1st
September 2023 to 19th November 2023 or till a
regular CMD is appointed or until further orders,
whichever is the earliest.
• Mukherjee is a Director (Finance) at NMDC Ltd who
holds the additional charge of the CMD of NMDC since
13th March 2023 and additional charge of CMD of NSL,
since 21st March 2023.
• 19th November 2023 marks the date of completion of his
tenure as Director (Finance) of NMDC Ltd.
Note: Previously, in June 2023, he got a 3 months extension to his tenure as CMD of NMDC and NSL with effect
from 1st June 2023 to 31st August 2023.
About Amitava Mukherjee:
i.He joined NMDC as Director (Finance) in 2018. Prior to this, he served as General Manager (Finance) in Rail

Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for 3 years.
ii.He is on the Board of nine subsidiaries/ associate/joint venture Companies of NMDC. He also holds the
position of Chairman in BRPL.
iii.He belongs to the 1995 batch of Indian Railway Accounts Services (IRAS) and held key positions in the
Eastern Railways during his service in IRAS from 1997-2016.
iv.Before joining IRAS, he worked at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) from 1994-1997.
About NMDC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director (Additional Charge)– Amitava Mukherjee
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana.
Ritesh Chauhan (IAS) Given Additional Charge as MD of NAFED

Ritesh Chauhan, a 2005 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh(HP) cadre has been given additional charge of
the post of Managing Director(MD), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.
(NAFED) under Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare.
• He is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
& Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.
He is posted for a period of 3 months w.e.f. 01.05.2023 or till the appointment of regular incumbent or until
further orders, whichever is earlier.
Pedro Sánchez named caretaker PM of Spain After Inconclusive Election

On 25th July 2023, Pedro Sánchez, General Secretary of Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (Spanish acronym:
PSOE) was formally named as caretaker Prime Minister (PM) of Spain. The interim government will remain in
power until a resolution is reached for the political uncertainty that emerged from the inconclusive elections
held on 23rd July 2023.
• Pedro Sánchez has been the 7th PM of Spain (officially
president of the Government of Spain) since 2018.
• In 2018, he became the first politician from Spain to
unseat a PM (Mariano Rajoy) through a motion of no-
confidence.
Note – A caretaker Prime Minister, also known as an interim Prime
Minister, is a temporary leader appointed during a period of
political transition or uncertainty until a new government is
formed or the political situation is resolved.
Background:
i.The election held on 23rd July 2023 was called by the PM Pedro Sánchez after his party PSOE lost in the
regional and municipal elections took place in May 2023.
ii.The general election of Spain held on 23rd July 2023, conservative People’s Party (PP) won 136 seats and the
far right Vox Party won 33 seats.
iii.The coalition of PP and Vox jointly won 169 seats, 7 short of an absolute majority of 176 in Spain’s 350 seat
parliament.
iv.Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) finished 2nd with 112 seats.
v.The PSOE and its allies in the new, far-left Sumar coalition won a total of 153 seats.
About Pedro Sánchez:
i.Pedro Sánchez, born in Madrid (Spain) in 1972, and in 1993 he joined the PSOE party of Spain and is serving
as the General Secretary of the party.
ii.He worked as an adviser at the European Parliament and was a member of the cabinet office of the United
Nations High Representative for Bosnia Herzegovina.

iii.He was also served as the Leader of the Opposition and candidate to the Presidency of the Government
iv.Prior to that, he served as a Member of the Lower House of Parliament for the constituency of Madrid and a
City Councillor for Madrid, Spain.
About Spain:
Capital– Madrid
Prime Minister– Pedro Sánchez (interim)
Currency– Euro
UAE Minister for Foreign Trade has been Elected as Chair of WTO’s MC13
On 24th July 2023, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign
Trade has been elected as the chair of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference
(MC13).
• The announcement was made during the WTO General Council in Geneva, Switzerland where Dr Al
Zeyoudi met with the WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The MC13 which will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
from 26th to 29th of February 2024 will be attended by representatives from the 164 countries and customs
blocs that make up the WTO.
Jim Skea of UK elected as the Chair of IPCC

On 26th July 2023, James Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea of the United Kingdom (UK) was elected as the new chair of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) an intergovernmental body of the United Nations(UN) that
works to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities.
• The election was held at the United Nations
Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi,
Kenya.
• He was elected by 90 votes to 69 in a run-off with
Thelma Krug of Brazil.
• As the new chair of IPCC, Jim Skea will lead the Panel
through its 7th assessment cycle.
Points to note:
i.The IPCC completed its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in March
2023.
ii.Hoesung Lee of South Korea served as the Chair of IPCC since October 2015.
About the Election of IPCC Chair:
i.Thelma Krug (Brazil); Debra Roberts (South Africa); Jim Skea (UK); Jean-Pascal van Ypersele (Belgium) were
the candidates nominated for the post of IPCC chair.
ii.Among the 4 candidates 2 were women. Thelma Krug, an IPCC vice-chair and former researcher at National
Space Institute, Brazil and Debra Roberts, co-chair of an IPCC working group investigating the effects of climate
change on societies and ecosystems.
iii.This was the first elections in the history of the IPCC with women candidates running for the chair of IPCC.
About Jim Skea:
i.He served as a member of the IPCC Bureau since 2008 and he has nearly 40 years of experience and expertise
in climate science.
ii.He served as the Research Director of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) from 2004-2012.
iii.He co-led the IPCC’s landmark Special Reports on “Global Warming of 1.5 °C” in 2018 and “Climate Change
and Land” in 2019 and the 2022 Report on the Mitigation of Climate Change.
iv.He was a co-author of the 2023 Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report.

About Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) in 1988
Chairperson– James Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea
India’s UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Assumes the Chairmanship of 62nd Session of CsocD
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, has assumed the
chairmanship of the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62).
Note: CSocD meets annually in New York, The United States of
America(USA), usually in February.
Background:
i.On 15th February 2023, India has been elected as the chair of the
62nd session of the UNCSocD, during the 13th plenary meeting-
61st session of the commission for social development. India will
hold its term until 2027.
ii.The commission elected Ruchira Kamboj as the chair of CSocD62
and Carla María Carlson, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of
the Dominican Republic; H.E. Jon Ivanovski, Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission
of North Macedonia; and Thomas Lammar, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg were also
elected as the Vice Chairpersons of the CSocD62.
iii.For the first time since 1975, India has been elected as the chair of CSocD.
CSocD62 theme:
i.The central theme for the CSocD62 is “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies
to accelerate Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve
the overarching goal of poverty eradication”.
• The theme underscores the vital connection between social development and social justice as they
form the bedrock for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About United Nation’s Commission for Social Development (UN CSocD):
CSocD, originally known as the Social Commission (renamed in 1966), was established by ECOSOC res. 10 (II)
(1946).
i.CSocD is one of the key commissions tasked with monitoring and carrying out the Copenhagen Declaration
and Programme of Action.
ii.It was established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
iii.The commission’s goal is to advise the ECOSOC, on social issues that are not covered by specialized
intergovernmental organizations.
iv.It consists of 46 members, elected by the ECOSOC for 4-year terms based on equitable geographical
distribution.
ACQUISITION & MERGERS

IDFC Ltd to merge with IDFC First Bank in a share exchange ratio of 155:100
On 3rd July 2023, the board of directors of IDFC First Bank Limited approved the scheme of amalgamation of
IDFC Limited with IDFC First bank and the share exchange ratio is fixed at 155:100.
• IDFC First Bank has proposed to complete the merger by the end of 2023.
The scheme is subjected to receipt of requisite approvals from e Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the National Company Law
Tribunal(NCLT), BSE Limited (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the National Stock Exchange of India

Limited (NSE India) and other statutory and regulatory authorities and shareholders.
About the Scheme of Amalgamation:
i.Following the merger, shareholders of IDFC Ltd will get 155 shares of IDFC First Bank for every 100 shares
held in the former
• The Share Exchange Ratio for the proposed merger shall be 155 equity shares of face value of Rs 10
each fully paid-up of IDFC FIRST Bank for every 100 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each fully
paid-up of IDFC Limited.
ii. With this merger, the IDFC Limited’s shareholders will become the direct shareholders of IDFC First Bank.
Note: This will be the second major merger deal in the financial sector in 2023 after HDFC Bank merged with
Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).
2 Step Process:
i.The IDFC group rejig scheme is a two-step process.
• First, IDFC Financial Holding Company Limited (HFCL) will be amalgamated with IDFC Limited.
• Second, the IDFC Limited will amalgamate with IDFC First Bank.
ii. The reduction of the securities premium account of IDFC First Bank is a part of the scheme.
iii. The companies have successfully completed all the stages of corporate simplifications, as stated in an
exchange filing, the next phase involves amalgamation with IDFC First Bank Limited.
Outcomes of the merger:
i. The merger will lead to simplification of the corporate structure of IDFC HFCL, IDFC Ltd, and IDFC First Bank
by consolidating them into a single entity and will help streamline the regulatory compliances of the previous
entities.
ii. This will also support the creation of an institution with diversified public and institutional shareholders
with no promoter holding.
iii. As a result of the proposed merger, the standalone book value per share of the IDFC First bank would
increase by 4.9% as calculated on audited financials as of March 31, 2023.
Additional Info:
As per RBI’s licensing rules on February 22, 2013, IDFC as a promoter was required to hold a minimum of 40%
equity in the bank for 5 years till September 30, 2020. Since then, IDFC got approval from RBI to merge IDFC
and its holding company (IDFC HFCL) with the bank.
CCI approves acquisition of Marnix Lux by Concentrix Corporation

On 4th July 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the indirect acquisition of Marnix Lux
SA (Marnix Lux) by Concentrix Corporation, and acquisition of approximately 22% shareholding in combined
company by the shareholders of Marnix Lux.
i.The acquirer Concentrix Corporation is a United States of America(USA) based publicly listed company,
engaged in providing customer experience services, a segment of Information Technology and Information
Technology enabled services.
ii.The target company Marnix Lux is the parent company of Webhelp, which is active in the provision of
business process outsourcing services and specialised services.
LIC Reduces 2% Stake in India Cements Through Open Market Transactions

Life Insurance Corp (LIC),Indian state-owned insurance group and investment company has reduced its stake
by 2% in India Cements Ltd from 5.87% to 3.83%. The reduction has taken place between November 2017 and
July 2023 through open market transactions.
• Post the sale of 63.28 lakh share, LIC currently holds 1.19 crore shares of India Cements.
Note: India Cements currently runs eight integrated plants and two grinding units across India, with a total
cement production capacity of around 15.5Mta (million tons per annum).

GQG Partners invested around Rs.2400 crore and acquired 5.96% stake in Patanjali Foods
On 14th July 2023, GQG Partners LLC, a Florida (The United States of America)-based asset management firm
led by Rajiv Jain, acquired a 5.96% stake (about 2.15 crore shares) in the Patanjali Foods Limited (formerly
known as Ruchi Soya Industries Limited), a manufacturer of consumer packaged foods in India, for Rs 2400
crore through the Offer-for-sale (OFS) process initiated by Patanjali Foods.
• The floor price was kept at Rs 1,000 per share but allotment to non-retail investors was done at a
share price of Rs 1,103.80.
• In July 2023, Patanjali Ayurved, primary promoter Patanjali Foods, announced its plan to divest
around 7% of its stake for Rs 2,533.9 crore via an OFS to meet the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI)’s minimum public shareholding norm of 25%. Following the sale, shareholding of
Patanjali Ayurved has come down to 73.82%.
Note: In March 2023, GQG Partners invested around USD 3.2 billion in Adani Group firms led by Gautam Adani.
M&M buys 3.5% stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 crore

On 26th July 2023, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M), automotive manufacturing company of Mahindra
group, acquired a 3. 53% stake in Mumbai(Maharashtra) based RBL Bank, formerly known as Ratnakar Bank,
for Rs 417 crore.
• This is the first significant move by a manufacturing sector to venture into a private bank, after new
norms of Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in 2021.
• There is also a scope for further investments of Mahindra & Mahindra subjected to the cap of 9. 9%
New norms of Reserve Bank of India(RBI) – 2021:
i.Industrial houses can hold upto 10% stake in banks, but cannot be their promoters.
ii.Financial institutions, supranational institutions, public sector undertaking and central/state government can
hold upto 10% stake in banks, but cannot be their promoters.
iii.Banking company(after the completion of business of 15 years) can hold upto 26% stake in banks, but can be
their promoters.
Additional Info:
As per RBI norms, any entity looking to acquire over 5% stake in a bank needs to seek prior approval from the
regulator.
About RBL Bank:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – R Subramaniakumar
Tagline – Apno ka Bank
CCI approves Acquisition of 59.38% stake in Unichem by Ipca Labs

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), the competition regulator in India, approved the proposed
combination involving acquisition of shareholding up to 59.38% of stake in Unichem Laboratories Limited by
Ipca Laboratories Limited.
Acquirer: Ipca Laboratories Limited.
Target: Unichem Laboratories Limited.
Background:
i.In April 2023, The Acquirer entered into a definitive share purchase agreement for acquisition of one-third
(2.35 crore shares at Rs 440/ share) of the Target overall shareholding for a cash consideration of Rs 1,034
crore.
ii.As per the acquisition regulations of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Acquirer also made
an open offer to acquire up to 26% of the shares of the Target at Rs 440 apiece, aggregating to Rs 805.4 crore.
Highlights:
i.The proposed combination pertains to proposed acquisition of approximately 33.38% of the issued and paid-

up equity voting share capital (on a fully diluted basis) of the Target by the Acquirer pursuant to a share
purchase agreement.
ii.Additionally, since the Acquirer is acquiring more than 25% shareholding in the Target, which is a listed
company, the Acquirer is required to make an open offer for the purchase of equity shares up to 26% of the
Target’s equity share capital in accordance with the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers)
Regulations, 2011.
iii.Accordingly, the Acquirer will acquire up to 59.38% shareholding of the Target (Proposed Combination).
Note:
• Ipca Laboratories Limited, a fully-integrated pharmaceutical company that manufactures
formulations and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for various therapeutic segments.
Unichem Laboratories Limited is active in the sale of formulations, APIs, intermediates, and contract
manufactured finished formulation dosages, globally.
Future Generali India Life partnered with JM Financial to Elevate Insurance Products
Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Limited (FGILI), a joint venture (JV) between the Generali
Group and the Future Group, partnered with JM Financial Services Limited (JM Financial), an integrated and
diversified financial services group, to expand its product offerings and market presence across India.
• The partnership will help the insurer expand its product portfolio and leverage the distribution and
financial advisory capabilities of JM Financial to offer innovative products.
• It will enable FGILI to reach a larger customer base of 2.20 lakh and serves to the various needs of
individuals, corporations, and financial institutions.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX launched ESA’s Euclid mission to explore Dark Universe
On 1st July 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Euclid Spacecraft was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon
9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the United States of America(USA).
• ESA’s Euclid mission is designed to explore the composition and evolution of the dark
Universe(dark energy and dark matter) using a wide-angle telescope to survey galaxies as far away
as 10 billion light-years from Earth.
Destination:
Its operational orbit will be halo around a point known as
the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 (L2), at an average distance
of 1.5 million km beyond Earth’s orbit.
About Euclid Spacecraft:
i.The Euclid spacecraft, approximately 4.7 m tall and 3.7 m in
diameter, will have a launch mass of around 2100 kg.
The nominal mission lifetime is 6 years.
ii.The Euclid spacecraft is made up of 2 major assemblies:
• payload module – 1.2-m-diameter telescope(Euclid
Telescope) and two scientific instruments: a visible-wavelength camera (the VISible instrument,
VIS) and a near-infrared camera/spectrometer (the Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer,
NISP)
• service module – contains the satellite systems: power distribution, attitude control, propulsion,
telecommand, telemetry and data handling.
ESA’s Euclid Mission:
The mission is the second medium-class mission (M2) in the Cosmic Vision program (2015-2025) adopted by
ESA’s Science Program Committee (SPC) in June 2012, and launched on July 1, 2023.

About Euclid Space Telescope:
i.It is named after the Greek mathematician, Euclid of Alexandria, known as the “father of geometry”.
ii.It plans to explore the origin and components of the Universe and the fundamental laws that govern it by
remaining operational for a minimum of six years.
iii.The telescope will deliver images that are at least four times sharper than ground-based ones.
iv.It looks at the shapes and movement of galaxies from different points between the pull of gravity and the
push of dark energy.
About European Space Agency (ESA):
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space.
Created in 1975.
Director General– Josef Aschbacher
Headquarters– Paris, France
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launches Hughes JUPITER 3, World’s Largest Commercial Satellite
On 28th July 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)’s Falcon Heavy Rocket launched the
Hughes JUPITER 3 mission(EchoStar XXIV), the world’s largest commercial communications satellite, to the
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida,
the United States of America(USA).
• This mark’s Falcon Heavy’s 7th launch since its
debut in 2018 and the 3rd launch and SpaceX’s
51st mission in 2023.
Note: With the total payload mass of 9.2 metric tons, Jupiter 3
is the heaviest geostationary satellite ever launched.
About Hughes JUPITER™ 3:
i.Echostar, Hughes’ parent company, ordered Jupiter 3 from
Maxar in 2017
ii.The rocket will provide wireless internet connectivity over
North and South America. Once operational, will “support in-
flight Wi-Fi, maritime connections, enterprise networks, backhaul for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and
Community Wi-Fi solutions
iii.It has 500 Gigabits per second (Gbps) capacity that will double the capacity of the Hughes JUPITER satellite
fleet.
JUPITER Fleet
i.JUPITER fleet total capacity: More than 1 TeraBits Per Second (Tbps)
ii.JUPITER 1 (EchoStar XVII): Launched in July 2012 with 120 Gbps capacity
iii.JUPITER 2 (EchoStar XIX): Launched in December 2016 with 200 Gbps capacity
About Falcon Heavy :
• As one of the world’s most powerful operational rockets, three-fuselage(three reusable Falcon 9
nine-engine cores) Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo of 64 metric tons
or 141,000 lbs into Earth orbit.
• Falcon Heavy, which can exert over 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and is capable of delivering
26.7 metric tons to GTO, is more than up to the task.
About Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Elon Musk
Headquarters – California, United States of America(USA)

SpaceX Gets license from Mongolia to offer high-speed internet via Starlink Satellites
The government of Mongolia has granted 2 licenses to the SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, to function as an
internet service provider utilizing Starlink, satellite
communications service operated by SpaceX.
• Following this, SpaceX will provide high speed
connectivity through Starlink to the internet users in
Mongolia.
Background:
The collaboration between the government of Mongolian and
SpaceX was formally initiated in February 2023 during the
Mobile World Congress(MWC) 2023 held in Barcelona, Spain
from 27 February to 2 March 2023.
Note: Starlink has established a network of more than 3,500 satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) that can
provide connectivity in remote areas.
Key Points:
i.At present, Mongolia has an extensive network of fiber optic cables which provides access to high speed
internet.
ii.The introduction of starlink technology will enhance the connectivity to the underserved locations, that are
difficult to reach.
About Mongolia:
Prime Minister– Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene
Currency– Mongolian Tugrik
Capital– Ulaanbaatar
Pixxel Wins the iDEX Prime (Space) Grant to Develop Miniaturized Multi-Payload Satellites for
IAF
Pixxel, a Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based private space data company, won a multi-crore grant from the
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD) for
the Mission DefSpace Challenge under iDEX Prime (Space), to manufacture miniaturised multi-payload
satellites for the Indian Air Force (IAF).This was received as a part of the SPARK (Support for Prototype
and Research Kickstart (in Defence)) grants by iDEX.
Benefits of the Grant:
i.Under the grant from iDEX, Pixxel will develop small
satellites of up to 150 kilograms (Kgs) for Electro-Optical,
Infrared (IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar and Hyper Spectral
purposes.
ii.Pixxel will utilize its expertise of building microsatellites in-
house to manufacture satellites externally for the first time.
About Mission DefSpace:
i.Mission DefSpace, launched by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi during DefExpo in October, 2022 with 75 Defence Space Challenges relevant to the end users.
ii.The challenges are classied into 5 buckets: launch system, satellite system, communication and payload
system, ground system, and software system.
iii.The mission aims to encourage technology development in space for defence applications by startups and
young entrepreneurs through various initiatives of MoD, including iDEX.
Aim of the Grant:
To develop technologies, addressing each and every stage of a space mission from mission planning and
manufacturing to satellite data analytics and more.

SPARK Grants:
The SPARK grants offered to select start-ups through the iDEX (Prime) and Defence India Start-up Challenges
(DISC), intended to promote innovation by empowering Indian innovators and entrepreneurs in India.
Note: Pixxel emerged as the winner of the grant due to its outstanding pioneering technology in the area of
hyperspectral satellite manufacturing.
Key Points:
i.This grant marks the entry of Pixxel into the defence sector and will now manufacture small satellites for the
Indian Defence sector.
ii.Pixxel as a leading innovator in the space tech sector, building and launching made in India and the world’s
highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites of earth at daily frequencies.
iii.Pixxel has launched commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites that provide earth-imaging services to its
customers that include contract for supplying technical hyperspectral imagery to the United States of America
(USA)’s National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
About Pixxel:
CEO&Co-Founder– Awais Ahmed
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded in– 2019
Skyroot successfully tested its Raman-II Engine at ISRO facility in TN

On 20th July 2023, Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, Hyderabad (Telangana) -based space startup,
successfully tested its Raman-II engine at the Liquid Thruster Test Facility (LTTF) of ISRO(Indian Space
Research Organisation) Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu(TN).
• The testing was enabled by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
Note:
This facilitation by ISRO highlights its commitment to support
private players, start-ups, and Non-Government Entities (NGEs)
in developing India’s space eco-system.
About the Test of Raman-II:
i.The 10-second duration test achieved the expected
performance in terms of start transient, steady state, and shut-
off.
ii.The test facility systems demonstrated normal performance
during the test, meeting the engine inlet conditions at T0.
iii.The instrumentation systems performed as expected and ensured the accuracy and reliability of the test
results.
About Raman-II Engine:
i.Raman-II engine was designed by Skyroot to generate 820 N(Newton) (Sea Level) and 1460 N (Vacuum)
thrust, with a nominal chamber pressure of 8.5 bar absolute.
ii.The engine was manufactured through additive manufacturing techniques.
iii.It uses Mono Methyl Hydrazine and Nitrogen Tetroxide as propellants.
iv.The engine will be installed into the fourth stage of its launch vehicle, Vikram-I.
About Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited:
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Pawan Kumar Chandana
Headquarters- Hyderabad, Telangana
About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO):
Chairman- S Somanath
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established on – 15th August 1969

Ariane-5 rocket launched 2 satellites successfully on its final and 117th mission
On 5th July 2023, the 117th and final launch of Ariane 5, a 53 metre tall, three-stage launcher was
successfully blasted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana toward geostationary orbit to
deliver two military communications satellites namely Syracuse 4B for the France and the Heinrich
Hertz (H2Sat) for the German Governments.
• Ariane 5, a European heavy-lift space launch vehicle
first launched in 1996 has 27 years of experience
with this final launch mission.
• Of Ariane 5’s 117 missions and 239 payloads
delivered to orbit, the launch vehicle has performed
at a 96% success rate.
Note: Ariane 5, failed to reach orbit on its first launch, initiating
an auto-destruct abort after 40 seconds.
Heinrich-Hertz Satellite:
Heinrich-Hertz is an experimental communications satellite
that will test new hardware and serve as a test platform for university and public sector scientific and technical
experiments.
Key Points:
i. The HM7B, a European cryogenic rocket engine which currently powers the upper stage first flew in Ariane 1
also joined the recent Ariane 5 launch, and both are in its final space venture.
ii. This upper stage is an icon to Ariane launches as it helped power 228 missions in the past without fail.
iii. Ariane 5 took part in several launch milestones including the James Webb Telescope in 2021, in partnership
with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Canadian Space Agency, as well as
Europe’s comet-chasing Rosetta mission, which deployed a landing probe in 2014.
SpaceX launched 22 Starlink v2 satellites to LEO

On 23rd July 2023, the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched 22 Starlink v2
satellites to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) onboard the Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40)
at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida, the United States of America(USA).
• The Falcon 9 first stage booster returned to Earth
and landed about 8.5 minutes after the lift off on
the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship
stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• This marks the 6th flight and landing of the
Falcon 9 first stage booster. It has previously
supported 5 missions including CRS-26, OneWeb
Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, and two Starlink
missions.
Key Points:
i.The spacecraft were deployed on the LEO, about 65
minutes after the launch.
ii.SpaceX’s Starlink is the constellation of networked satellites aimed to provide global broadband
communications (internet services to those who are not yet connected).
iii.The Starlink v2 satellite also provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe.
Note: So far SpaceX has launched more than 4,850 Starlink craft to LEO.
About Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX):
Founded in– 2002
Chief Executive Officer& Co-Founder– Elon Musk
Headquarters– Hawthorne, California, the United States of America

Greater Chennai Police launched India’s first ‘Police Drone Unit’ in Chennai
On 29th June 2023, The Greater Chennai Police(GCP), a division of the Tamil Nadu(TN) Police, launched
the ‘Police Drone Unit’, the first in India, for aerial surveillance in Chennai, TN.
Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force C. Sylendra Babu inaugurated the Unit at Besant
Avenue, Adyar, Chennai. The unit was established at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore.
• The unit, has a total of 9 drones under three categories – Quick Response Surveillance drones, heavy-lift
multi-rotor drones, and Long Range Survey wing plane.
• These drones are equipped with built-in artificial intelligence (AI) facilities and can be operated upto 5-
10km from the ground station. The drones with thermal object imaging facilities will also help in night
patrolling
• The drones are equipped with ANPR (automatic number plate registration) cameras which helps to
check vehicles registration data.
It will also help to monitor movements in isolated places and gatherings of anti-social elements
Galactic 01: Virgin Galactic completed first Commercial Spaceflight

On 29th June 2023, Virgin Galactic Holding Inc (SPCE.N), the space company founded by United Kingdom(UK)
entrepreneur Richard Branson, successfully completed its first commercial spaceflight
mission called “Galactic 01”.
• 2 Italian air force officers(Colonel Walter Villadei and Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Landolfi) and an
aerospace engineer from the National Research Council of Italy made the brief suborbital ride with 3
Virgin Galactic crew members.
• The crew flew more than 50 miles (80 km), an altitude recognised as the edge of outer space by the
Government of the United States of America(USA), above the New Mexico desert on a Virgin
Galactic rocket plane.
The Mission started at the Virgin Galactic spaceport in New Mexico, where the passengers were securely
attached beneath the wing of the enormous twin-fuselage mothership known as Virgin Mother Ship (VMS) Eve.
75 minutes after takeoff, the Unity spaceplane landed on a runway at Spaceport America.
Home Minister Amit Shah launched Make in India “Akshar River Cruise” on Sabarmati
Riverfront, Gujarat
On 2nd July 2023, Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, virtually launched the
‘Akshar River Cruise‘ on Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This is the first passenger catamaran
built in India under the “Make in India” initiative.
• The Akshar River Cruise is a floating restaurant
developed under Public Private Partnership by Akshar
Travels Private Limited, Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC) and Sabarmati Riverfront
Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) at a cost
of Rs.15 crore.
• The cruise has a capacity of 165 passengers.
Features of the Akshar River Cruise:
i. The 30-metre-long luxury cruise, with two engines and a two-
hour drive, will help boost tourism with attractions such as live
music and tasty vegetarian and Jain food.
ii. The river cruise is equipped with 180 life safety jackets, a fire sprinkler system against fire.
iii. Emergency rescue boats/life boats have also been designed for the safety of the people.
iv. The cruise has become the centre of various social and cultural activities for everyone including senior
citizens, Children and Youths.

Note:
The riverfront was a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he was the Gujarat chief minister.
Tourism Initiatives of Gujarat:
Under the Sarhad Darshan Programme (Border visit programme), arrangements have also been made to give
the youth of Gujarat an experience of Nadabet, the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat, where the border security forces
(BSF) performs their duties in difficult circumstances.
James Webb Space Telescope helps researchers unveil 6 new galaxies

In June 2023, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
has helped researchers identify the earliest galaxies ever seen – within the first 650 million years after the
Universe was born in the Big Bang,
• The project, is known as the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES).
JWST has discovered six Monster galaxies, formed roughly 500-700 million years after the Big Bang,
6 distant galaxies captured by JWST:
i.The record holder (JADES-GS-z13-0)
ii.The glowing dog bone
iii.GN-z11
iv.The big clumpy one
v.The inside-out one
vi.The cosmic rose
Elena Introduces India’s First NavIC – Based PNT Device

Elena Geo Systems,a Space Technology Company and Optimus Logics, two companies based in Bengaluru in
Karnataka, have successfully developed handheld devices called PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and
Timing) that are driven by satellite communications. This project was funded by the Department of
Telecommunications under the Digital Communication Innovation Square (DCIS) scheme.It will become India’s
first hand-held NavIC-based navigation device.
Key highlights:
i.The 1st lot of PNT devices will be manufactured by Elena Geo Systems.
ii.The PNT device consists of a 5G mobile phone and NavIC chip along with its adapter and receiver to be able
to communicate with NavIC satellite.
• Elena’s NavIC chip enables “very accurate” positioning, navigation and timing applications and
could potentially replace the widely-used American Global Positioning System (GPS).
• The Elena’s PNT handheld device provides accurate location and navigation coordinates in high
altitudes where neither Google Map nor Global Positioning System (GPS) functions and could
replace the American GPS.
• Optimus Logics manufactures the 5G mobile phone under the brand name ‘Rhino’, which was
launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2022.
iii.These devices will be useful during during disaster management, railway track surveillance and high altitude
emergency situations.
iv.The need to manufacture the PNT device came in September 2019 from the Ministry of Defence to develop
an indigenous product for the Indian armed forces.
v.The device gives an accurate location in forests, remote areas, deep into desert, tracking canals where there
are no mobile towers.
India Launches First 100% DME-Fueled Tractor for Sustainable On and Off-Road Usage
Researchers at Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed the India’s first tractor/vehicle
that operates solely on 100% Dimethyl Ether (DME), an indigenous and renewable fuel. This breakthrough

positions DME as a viable alternative fuel and engine technology for conventional diesel engines used in
agriculture and transportation sectors.
i.The research was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) and was aligned with
NITI Aayog’s ‘Methanol Economy’ program.
ii.This groundbreaking development by IIT Kanpur sets a new benchmark in the field of sustainable
transportation, opening doors to a promising future where renewable fuels drive India’s journey towards a
cleaner and greener environment.
Key Points:
i. Dimethyl Ether (DME) is an indigenous and renewable fuel that has been widely adopted in countries like
the United States, Japan, China, Sweden, Denmark, and Korea for powering vehicles.
ii. The DME-powered tractor presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for a wide range of
agricultural applications.
About Dimethyl Ether (DME) engines:
• The DME-fueled engine has been shown to achieve higher thermal efficiency while emitting lower
levels of pollutants, including particulate and soot emissions.
The DME-powered tractor presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for a wide range of
agricultural applications. Its simplified engine technology, free from complex and expensive emission control
devices, ensures user-friendliness and compliance with stringent emission regulations.
ISRO successfully launched LVM3 rocket carrying Chandrayaan-3, India’s third Moon Mission
On July 14, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched ‘Chandrayaan-3 (Moon
Craft)’ spacecraft into orbit onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-3 Mission 4(LVM3 M4) rocket from SDSC SHAR
(Satish Dhawan Space Centre- Sriharikota Range), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP). Under the Chairmanship
of ISRO Sreedhara Panicker Somanath.
• It is India’s third lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan 1 in 2008, Chandrayaan 2 in 2019.
• LVM3 is responsible for placing the integrated module, comprising the propulsion module, the
lander module, and the rover, in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) measuring 170 x 36,500 km.
• The Chandrayaan’s 3 mission director – Mohan Kumar, the Vehicle/Rocket Director – Biju C.
Thomas and the Spacecraft Director – Dr P. Veeramuthuvel.
Note: The 642 tonne LVM 3 (formerly GSLV-Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII) is 43.5 metre tall rocket, and is
nicknamed as ‘Bahubali’ or ‘Fat Boy’.
Highlights of Chandrayaan-3:
i.Developed by ISRO, it consists of indigenous Lander module
(LM) called Vikram (Valour), Propulsion Module (PM) and
Rover named Pragyaan (Wisdom) with an objective of
developing and demonstrating new technologies required for
Inter planetary missions.
ii.Objectives: To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar
Surface, To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
• In-situ is a Latin phrase meaning “in the original location”.
iii.The spacecraft will take nearly 42 days to reach moon.
iv.The Lander and rover are expected to land near the lunar south pole region on August 23 or 24, 2023.
v.With successful landing, India will be the first country to land spacecraft near Moon’s South Pole at 70
degrees latitude, and the 4th country to soft land on the moon after the United States (US) with its Surveyor 1 in
1966; Soviet Union/Russia’s Luna 9 in 1966, and China with Chang’s 3 in 2013.
vi.The mission life of Lander & Rover is One lunar day (~14 Earth days), and their Landing Site (Prime) is 4 km
x 2.4 km 69.367621 S, 32.348126 E.

vii.The moon’s south pole region has been chosen because of a possibility of presence of water/ice molecules in
the deep craters in this region. This was indicated by the Chandrayaan-1 mission.
• The presence of water ice that could support a future space station.
• Also, the conditions on this region of the Moon could hold clues about the early solar system and the
history of Earth.
Highlights of Mission Sequence:
The Mission is classified into multiple phases which is broadly classified into three:
• Earth Centric Phase (Phase-1) which includes, Pre-launch Phase; Launch and Ascent Phase;
and Earth-bound Manoeuvre Phase (orbit-raising manoeuvre).
• Lunar Transfer Phase (Phase-2) – the transfer trajectory phase.
• Moon Centric Phase which includes Lunar Orbit Insertion Phase (LOI)-(Phase-3); Moon-bound
Manoeuvre Phase (Phase-4); PM and Lunar Module Separation (Phase-5) and others.
Key Points:
Earth-bound Manoeuvre Phase(orbit-raising manoeuvre) is performed by the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and
Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Four Earth-bound manoeuvres will be conducted till July 31 and the trans-lunar insertion will take place on
August 1.
• The first orbit-raising manoeuvre was conducted on 15th July 2023 and placed the Chandrayaan-3
spacecraft at the 41,762 km x 173 km orbit (closest to Earth is at 173 km and farthest at 41,762 km).
• The 2nd orbit-raising manoeuvre (Earth-bound apogee firing) was performed on 17th July 2023 and
the spacecraft is now in 41603 km x 226 km orbit.
• The 3rd orbit-raising manoeuvre (Earth-bound perigee firing) was performed on 18th July 2023 and
the 4th manoeuvre is planned for 20th July 2023.

Outlay of Chandrayaan 3:
As per ISRO statements in 2020, its estimated cost is around Rs 615 crore or USD75 Million. Of that, the lander,
rover and propulsion module cost Rs 250 crore and the launch services cost around Rs 365 crore.
• It is one of the most cost-effective space missions as compared to its predecessors.
Mass:
The total for Chandrayaan-3 is 3897.89 Kg consist of the following:
• Propulsion Module: 2148 kg
• Lander Module: 1752 kg including Rover of 26 kg
Click Here for full list of Specifications
Chandrayaan 3: A follow up Mission to Chandrayaan 2
It follow-up to the partially successful Chandrayaan-2 mission, whose lander Vikram and rover Pragyaan
crashed on the Moon’s surface on September 7, 2019. It was expected to launch in 2021 but delayed amid
COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Chandrayaan 3 mission is nearly identical to the Chandrayaan 2 mission, but the Orbiter component
has been replaced with PM.
Details of Chandrayaan 3 Components:
Lander (Vikram):
It is box-shaped, with four landing legs and four landing thrusters of 800 newtons each unlike Vikram on
Chandrayaan-2 which had five 800 Newtons engines with a fifth one being centrally mounted with a fixed
thrust. Additionally, the Chandrayaan-3 lander will be equipped with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV).
• It have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the Rover which will carry out
in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. It consists of the
following Payloads:
i.Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) Langmuir Probe (LP)
to estimate the plasma density and its variations
ii.Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and
temperature
iii.Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site
iv.Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), a passive experiment, to understand the dynamics of Moon system.
Rover (Pragyaan):
The rover is a tiny, trolley kind of device with wheels. Once the lander lands on the moon, the rover will slide
out of the lander’s belly and crawl over the moon’s surface like a cockroach. It will pick up soil and do
experiments, punch a probe a foot down the surface to check thermal conductivity. Its payloads are:
i.Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) to determine the elemental composition (Mg (Magnesium), Al
(Aluminium), Si (Silicon), K (Potassium), Ca (Calcium), Ti (Titanium), Fe (Iron)) of Lunar soil and rocks around
the lunar landing site.
ii.Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of
landing site.
Point to be noted: Both the Lander and the Rover instruments conduct experiments, such as analyzing the
moon soil, checking how the moon’s surface conducts heat, and how quake waves move through the moon
surface.
Propulsion Module (PM):
It is a replacement for orbiter (Chandrayaan 2). The main function of PM is to carry the Lander and the Rover
from launch vehicle injection till final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and make their separation from itself.
Its payloads are:
i.Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) to study the spectral and polarimetric
measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range (1-1.7 μm).
ii.It also has one scientific payload as a value addition which will be operated post separation of Lander Module.

ESA ground stations support Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission
According to the June 2021 agreement signed by the ESA and ISRO to provide technical support to each other,
including tracking and communication services to upcoming Indian space missions through ESA’s ground
stations.
• The European Space Tracking (ESTRACK) operated by European Space Agency (ESA) will support
the mission
i.ESA’s 15 metre antenna in Kourou, French Guiana, will be used to track Chandrayaan-3 health status after its
lift.
ii.32-metre antenna at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd in the United Kingdom will track Chandrayaan-3’s
propulsion and lander modules.
iii.Data and telemetry sent back by Chandrayaan-3 arriving via Kourou and Goonhilly will first be forwarded to
ESOC. From there, they will be sent to ISRO for analysis.
iv.Additionally NASA’s Deep Space Network and ISRO’s two own stations (ISRO Spacecraft Command Centre
and ISRO 32 metre Deep Space Antenna at Byalalu, Karnataka) will also track the Chandrayaan-3.
v.In June 2021, ESA and ISRO signed an agreement to provide technical support to each other, including
tracking and communication services to upcoming Indian space missions through ESA’s ground stations.
Scientific experiments to be conducted by Chandrayaan 3:
i.Gather data on the polarization of light reflected by Earth
ii.Measure the density of ions and electrons near the surface of the Moon and its changes over time
iii.Measure the temperature of the moon’s surface near polar region
iv.Scan for moonquakes around landing site, delineating the structure of the lunar crust and mantle
v.Understand the dynamics of the Moon system
The Landing Process:
Chandrayaan 3’s landing process involves three stages: Earth orbit manoeuvres, Trans-lunar injection, and
Lunar orbit manoeuvres. Once completed, the lander separates from the main spacecraft and performs a soft
landing on the moon.
• Soft landing means decelerating from over 6,000 km/h to zero on the moon’s surface.
Key Points:
i.It travels a distance of 384,400 km, circling the Earth independently in an elliptical orbit. It orbits the Earth 5-
6 times, ranging from 170 km to 36,500 km, before moving towards the lunar orbit.
ii.When the spacecraft is about 100 km from the moon, the lander detaches and begins its descent. It uses four
thrusters to slow down its descent, reaching a speed of 2 meters per second before touchdown.
How does the data collected by the lander and rover reach the earth?
The data collected by the lander and rover is digitized and transmitted as electromagnetic waves to a receiver
on the circulating PM around the moon. The orbiter module from the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission serves
as a backup with its own receiver. Either the PM or the orbiter will transmit the data back to Earth.
Key Notes:
i.It should be noted that PM, the lander, the rover are all up there forever.
ii.As the moon completes a full rotation on its axis, approximately 29.5 Earth days pass. A moon day and night
both last about 14 Earth days. Since the lander and rover rely on solar panels for electricity, they will remain
operational for one moon day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.
Launch of Vinod Mankara’s ‘Prism: The Ancestral Abode of Rainbow’
National award-winning filmmaker-writer Vinod Mankara’s new book titled ‘Prism: The Ancestral Abode of
Rainbow’ was also released from the rocket launchpad at SDSC.
• It was released by ISRO Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath and handed over to Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director S Unnikrishnan Nair.

Key Points:
i.It is published by Kozhikode (Kerala)-based Lipi Publications.
ii.It is a collection of 50 interesting articles from various streams of science including space science, astronomy,
biology, anthropology and mathematics. It covers various topics such as the James Webb space telescope, dark
sky tourism, black hole confirmation, the dog Laika’s first space journey, etc.
iii.It is an exploration into the aesthetic and poetic aspects of science.
ISRO Chairman unveils vital facilities for Solid Motor Advancement
On July 12, 2023, a group of vital facilities essential for the enhancement of solid motor realization were
inaugurated by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath from SDSC
SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre- Sriharikota Range), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• SDSC-SHAR is responsible for the development of solid motors/ segments for ISRO’s acclaimed
launch vehicles. Now, it aims to set up 29 primary and 16 auxiliary facilities to enhance its
capabilities in solid propellant processing.
• This inauguration is the first phase of this initiative by introducing five key facilities dedicated to
solid propellant mixing, casting, machining, and non-destructive testing of cast segments.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– S. Somanath
IN-SPACe Issues an Expression of Interest for SSLV Tech Transfer

On 11th July 2023, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued an
expression of interest (EoI) for the first-of-its-kind Transfer of Technology (ToT) of the small satellite launch
vehicle (SSLV) to Indian private Space firms.
• The aim of this initiative is to boost the Indian
Private Space Industries.
The recipient of this ToT would be able to grow the small
satellite segment in a big way, paving the way for India to
become the global hub for such launches.
About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV):
i.SSLV is a 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with 3 Solid
Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion based Velocity
Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
• SSLV is 2m in diameter and 34m in length with lift
off weight of ~120 tonnes.
• SSLV is capable of launching 500kg satellite in 500km planar orbit.
ii.So far, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has flown the SSLV only twice and only one of those
missions were successful.
• The first developmental flight SSLV-D1/EOS-02 Mission was launched on 7th August 2022 from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP). The mission fell short of
placing the satellites (Earth observation satellite (EOS-02) and AzaadiSAT satellites) into their
intended orbits.
• The 2nd developmental flight SSLV-D2, launched on February 10, 2023, became the first SSLV to
launch satellites successfully. The mission placed EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into
450 km circular orbit.
Note:
For the first time, in August 2019, ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India issued an EoI to manufacture 5 Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) as the first lot of its target to realise 12 PSLV rockets per year from the
domestic private sector.

Voyager Space signed an MoU with ISRO to use Gaganyaan crew spacecraft
On 7th July 2023, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and ISRO’s Human
Space Flight Centre (HSFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Voyager Space to explore
opportunities for the utilisation of the Gaganyaan crewed spacecraft to service Starlab space station.
• The MoU was signed during the 4th edition of the Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SLEM)
organised under Under India’s presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20).
• The meeting under the theme ‘Towards a New Space ERA (Economy, Responsibility, Alliance)”, was
held from 6th to 7th July 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The objective of this agreement is to explore opportunities for the utilisation of the Gaganyaan
crewed spacecraft to service Starlab space station.
About Voyager Space:
i.Voyager Space is a Private Space firm founded in 2019 in Denver, Colorado, the United States of America
(USA).
ii.Starlab is partially funded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), planned to be launched
in 2028 to develop a commercial space station in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
iii.Voyager space collaborated with Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks and Airbus Defence to build the Starlab space
station.
About Gaganyaan mission:
i.Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed mission by the ISRO to send 3 crew members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3
days mission.
ii.Gaganyaan will consist of two parts, the crew module (CM) also known as Gaganyaan Spacecraft and the
service module (SM), which together will form the orbital module.
iii.Gaganyaan Spacecraft will carry India’s heaviest rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk-
3), also known as the Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3).
China Successfully Launches World’s First Methane-Powered Rocket to Space

On July 12 2023, LandSpace, a Chinese private aerospace company became the world’s first aerospace company
to launch a two-stage rocket ‘ZhuQue-2 Y-2’ using liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOx) as oxidizer.
The rocket was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert, China.
• A test payload was deposited into the Sun-
Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
• The launch was the second attempt for the Zhuque-2
Y-2 rocket, following a failed initial launch of
Zhuque-2 Y-1 in December, 2022.
Methane engines:
i. The exceptional performance and cost-effectiveness of
methane engines have potential to produce methane by
combining water and carbon dioxide in space.
ii. The technology holds great promise for reusable rockets,
positioning it at the forefront of the new era of rocketry
Note: In April 2023, Beijing Tianbing Technology Co (Tianlong-2) from China became the world’s first private
company to reach orbit on its inaugural attempt.
Across the globe, researchers and engineers are actively involved in the research and development of various
types of reusable rockets powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane.
In the United States of America: Terran 1 from Relativity Space in March 2023 and SpaceX’s Starship in April
2023 failed with the use of methane-powered engines.
In India: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently engaged in the development of two engines
referred to as “LOx methane” engines at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Trivandrum, kerala.
i. The first project is dedicated to the conversion of the existing cryogenic engine, which presently relies on

liquid hydrogen as fuel, into a LOx methane engine.
ii. The second project aims to create a smaller engine, equipped with an electric motor, capable of producing a
thrust capacity of three tonnes.
About People’s Republic of China:
President – Xi Jinping
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Chinese Yuan (Renminbi-RMB)
2 components of NISAR Satellite jointly developed by NASA-ISRO combined to a single

Spacecraft at ISRO
In June 2023, the engineers at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka
joined the two main components of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), namely the spacecraft
bus and the radar instrument payload, to create a single spacecraft.
• On 8th March 2023, the payload ( L-band radar and S-band Radar) arrived from the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California,
the United States of America(USA) to Bengaluru and the bus was built at the ISRO facility.
• NISAR jointly developed by NASA and ISRO is set to launch in early 2024 from the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP) atop ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II rocket.
• According to ISRO, NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally
consistent data for understanding changes among other observables, the dynamics of forests,
wetlands, and agricultural lands.
The NISAR satellite is currently undergoing performance testing, to be followed by several rounds of
environmental testing to ensure its promptness for launch and meet all of its operational requirements once in
orbit.
14th CEM adopted CEM-Hubs initiative for Scaling Low-Carbon Fuel Production
On July 21, 2023, The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) adopted first-of-its-kind ‘Clean Energy Marine Hubs
Initiative (CEM-Hubs)’ for scaling up low carbon fuel production during the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial
(CEM14) and 8th Mission Innovation meeting (CEM14/MI-8) held on July 19-22, 2023 in Goa, India.
• The CEM14/MI-8 meeting was simultaneously organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),
under the Ministry of Power, and the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and
Technology, in Goa from 19th to 22nd July 2023.
• CEM was held on the sidelines of 4th G20 (Group of Twenty) Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting
(ETMM) under India’s G20 Presidency in Goa during July 19-20, 2023.
Theme of CEM14/MI-8: Advancing Clean Energy Together
Aim of CEM14/MI-8: To Bring Together The Global Clean Energy Community.
Note: CEM is a partnership project of the world’s key economies working together to accelerate the global
clean energy transition.
About CEM-Hubs Initiative:
It is a high-level global forum jointly led by private sector and governments across the energy-maritime areas
to promote policies and programs to transform maritime transportation and production hubs for future low-
carbon fuels.
Initiation:
CEM-Hubs was officially launched on September 23, 2022 by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the
International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), and the Clean Energy Maritime Taskforce, It is initially
backed by Canada, Norway, Panama, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The initiative is also supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Centre

for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD).
Key Points:
i.Its membership includes countries, companies and industry experts.
ii.The CEM-Hubs initiative and progress will be featured at the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nation
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from
November 30 to December 12, 2023
Reason behind scaling up low carbon fuel production:
i.The maritime industry is not ready for the upcoming surge in low-carbon fuel demand until 2050.
ii.According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the shipping industry will face the
responsibility of transporting at least 50% of all traded low carbon fuels by 2050.
iii.The current lack of production centers, suitable vessels, and adequate port infrastructure poses a significant
obstacle.
iv. At present, the shipping industry has only tested one ship in the global fleet for transporting liquefied
hydrogen, which made a journey from Australia to Japan.
So, through this initiative, maritime value chain will be prepared to cope with the growing need for low-carbon
fuels.
About Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM):
Head of Secretariat– Jean-François Gagné
Headquarters– Within the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, France
NASA, DARPA enlist Lockheed to build Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft

On 26th July 2023, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) penned an agreement with Littleton, Colorado based aerospace
and defence firm Lockheed Martin to construct Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) vehicle to use in NASA’s
Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations(DRACO) program for crewed missions to Mars.
• This will help NASA & DARPA jointly to launch a
nuclear-powered satellite as soon as 2027
• The engine uses a nuclear fission reactor to generate
high temperatures which is efficient than chemical
propulsion systems
About Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar
Operations(DRACO) program:
NASA is attempting to develop a nuclear rocket that will take
humanity to Mars and beyond. Under the DRACO program,
NASA aims to have an in-space test of Nuclear Thermal
Propulsion (NPT) within 2027 with an estimate of USD 499 million.
• In 1979, NASA contemplated a manned Mars Mission utilising a nuclear-powered spacecraft known
as Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA). Unfortunately, the NERVA project
was abandoned.
• Under the agreement with DARPA, Lockheed Martin is responsible for spacecraft design, integration,
and testing.
About Engine:
i.BWX Technologies, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, is responsible for the design and build of the nuclear fission
reactor that will power the engine.
ii.DRACO engine features a nuclear reactor which heats hydrogen from a frigid temperature of minus 420
degrees Fahrenheit to an incredibly hot 4,400 degrees. The resultant hot gas will be expelled through a nozzle
to create the necessary thrust for propulsion.
iii.NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) is responsible for the overall management and
execution of the nuclear-powered DRACO engine.

Background:
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched the program in 2021. In January 2023,
NASA joined the program. It was agreed that
• The technical development of the nuclear thermal engine, which will be integrated into DARPA’s
experimental spacecraft, will be led by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).
DEFENCE
EXERCISE
India and France Conduct Joint Maritime Exercise off Visakhapatnam
In a demonstration of their strong naval partnership, the Indian Navy and the French Navy carried out a joint
Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) in the Bay of Bengal along the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The exercise involved the participation of Indian Naval Ships INS Rana (a guided missile destroyer) and
INS Sumedha (an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel), alongside the French Navy’s La Fayette class
frigate FS Surcouf.
• During FS Surcouf’s visit to Visakhapatnam from
June 26-29, a range of activities were undertaken to
foster professional and social interactions between
the two navies.
• These activities included sporting events, cross-
deck visits, and exchanges aimed at promoting
mutual understanding and camaraderie.
Key Highlight:
The MPX commenced with INS Rana and INS Sumedha, along
with FS Surcouf, engaging in a series of joint exercises. These
exercises encompassed tactical manoeuvres, replenishment at sea (RAS) approaches, air defence operations,
and cross-deck helicopter operations. The exercises showcased the seamless coordination and interoperability
between the Indian and French naval forces.
• The exercise not only enhanced the naval capabilities of both forces but also emphasised their
shared commitment to maintaining a secure and stable maritime environment in the Bay of Bengal
region.
Additional Info:
i. As strategic partners, the Indian Navy and the French Navy continue to strengthen their bonds through joint
exercises, fostering greater interoperability and reinforcing naval diplomacy between the two nations.
ii. From March 10 to March 11, 2023, a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) took place between the Indian
Navy and the French Navy. During this exercise, the French Navy’s frigate FS La Fayette and Mistral-class
amphibious assault ship FS Dixmude participated alongside the Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS
Sahyadri.
Indian Navy Conducts 7th Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023

Indian Navy (IN) along with Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF)conducts the 7th edition of the
bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from July 5 to 10,
2023. This edition marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
• JIMEX 23 provides an opportunity for the two navies to learn from each other’s best practices and
facilitate operational interactions to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared
commitment towards maritime security in the region.

• The exercise is a part of the growing maritime cooperation between India and Japan, which is aimed
at promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific
region.
About Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) :
The JIMEX 23 spans six days and consists of two phases.
i. Harbour Phase: The initial phase, known as the Harbour Phase,
will take place in Visakhapatnam. During this phase, participants
will engage in professional discussions, sporting events, and social
interactions.
ii. Sea phase: This phase will be conducted on the open sea,
enabling the two navies to collaborate and refine their warfighting capabilities. Through intricate multi-
discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface, and air domains to enhance their interoperability.
Participants:
Indian Navy (IN): The exercise saw the participation of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Delhi, India’s inaugural
indigenously constructed guided missile destroyer, as well as INS Kamorta, a homegrown Anti-Submarine
Warfare Corvette. Additionally, fleet tanker INS Shakti, a submarine, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Dornier,
ship-borne helicopters, and fighter aircraft were also a part of the exercise.
Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF): JMSDF will be represented by the guided missile
destroyer JS Samidare and its integral helicopters.
SALVEX: 7th Edition of IN-USN Salvage and EOD Exercise held in Kerala
The 7th edition of Indian Navy (IN) – the United States of America (USA) Navy (USN) Salvage and the
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise, SALVEX was conducted from June 26 to July 6 2023 in Kochi,
Kerala to strengthen US and Indian divers’ capability in diving and salvage techniques.
• The first-ever IN- USN SALVEX was conducted in 2005 and the SALVEX series of exercises have
been conducted annually thereafter, alternately in Indian and US Pacific locations.
Participants:
The exercise witnessed participation from both navies which
included the vessels/Ships: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak
and US Naval Ship (USNS) Salvor, as well as Specialist Diving and
EOD teams.
SALVEX Exercise:
i. The Diving teams of both the countries shared maritime rescue
experiences on Maritime Salvage and trained together in various
facets of EOD Operations on land as well at sea over the course of
10 days.
ii. SALVEX also saw conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness and
gaining from best practices mutually in Maritime Salvage and EOD operations.
iii. The constructive engagements on operational terms have improved the skill-sets of the diving teams in a
number of different disciplines such as mine detection and neutralisation, wreck location and salvage.
INS Sunayna participates in CMF Exercise ‘Operation Southern Readiness 2023’ in Seychelles
From July 10-12, 2023, INS (Indian Naval Ship) Sunayna, a second Saryu-class patrol vessel, participated in
two-week long annual training exercise ‘Operation Southern Readiness 2023’, conducted by Combined
Maritime Forces (CMF), in Seychelles to strengthen international collaboration at sea & enhances operational
readiness.
• The exercise was led by CMF’s new maritime security training staff, CTF-154.

• The training exercise onboard was witnessed by a delegation of CMF from Bahrain headed
by Cmde Oliver, Commander of CTF56.
Aim of CMF exercise:
To enhance maritime security, countering piracy to ensure safety and freedom of navigation in the region
Participants:
Navies from the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Italy,
Seychelles Defence Forces & Marine Police, and member
nations of EUNAVFOR (European Union Naval Force).
Key Points:
i.Professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges and
visits were held during the CMF along with lecture and practical
demonstrations on varied aspects of Navigation, VBSS (Basic
and Advanced training), Maritime Domain Awareness and mass
casualty evacuation drills.
ii.A combined yoga session was organised onboard with participation of personnel from Seychelles Defence
Forces and CMF along with the ship’s crew.
About Combined Maritime Forces (CMF):
It is a multi-national naval partnership to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2
million square miles of international waters. Its main focus areas are defeating terrorism, preventing piracy,
encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment. It has 5 Combined Task Forces
(CTFx):
1. CTF 150 (Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf)
2. CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy)
3. CTF 152 (Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf)
4. CTF 153 (Red Sea Maritime Security)
5. CTF 154 (Maritime Security Training)
Member nations:
It has 38 members: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Germany,
Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain,
Thailand, Türkiye, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen.
Nomadic Elephant-23: 15th edition of India-Mongolia joint military exercise at Ulaanbaatar,

Mongolia
Nomadic Elephant-2023, the 15th edition of India-Mongolia bilateral joint military exercise is being
conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July 2023. Indian Army contingent comprising of 43
personnel is participating in the exercise at Mongolia.
Primary Theme: Focus on counter-terrorism operations in
mountainous terrain under United Nations (UN) mandate.
Objective: To build positive military relations, exchange best
practices, develop interoperability, companionship, camaraderie
and friendship between the two nation armies.
Note: On 16th July 2023, Indian Army contingent reached
Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft.
Participants:
Participants include soldiers from the Indian Army’s Jammu and
Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment and Unit 084 of the Mongolian Armed Forces.
Key Highlights:
i. The scope of this exercise involves Platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX).

ii. Indian and Mongolian troops have been engaging in various training activities including endurance training,
reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training.
iii. These activities between the two armies are designed to enhance their skills, capabilities and also to learn
operational experience from each other during the exercise.
iv. India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. Exercise NOMADIC
ELEPHANT-23 between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army will further promote bilateral relations between
the two nations.
NOMADIC ELEPHANT Exercise:
i. This joint military exercise between India and Mongoliais an annual training event, which is conducted
alternatively in Mongolia and India.
ii. The previous edition (14th edition) of exercise was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh in
Himachal Pradesh from 5 to 18 October 2019.
About Mongolia:
Capital– Ulaanbaatar
Prime Minister- Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene
Currency– Mongolian Tugrik
MoU’s & DEALS

L&T and Spain’s Navantia sign an ‘Teaming Agreement to build submarines for Indian Navy
On 10th July 2023, Spain’s shipbuilder Navantia and engineering major Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), India
signed an ‘Teaming Agreement'(TA) in Delhi to jointly bid for a Rs. 43,000-crore (4.8 billion euros) project to
build 6 advanced diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy.
• The TA was signed for the purpose of submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian
Navy’s Project 75 (India) or P75 (I), a military acquisition initiative and submarine programme
affiliated to India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) .
• This agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between L&T and Navantia
on 11th April 2023 in Madrid, Spain to bid for the Indian Navy’s P75 (I).
• Under the agreement, Navantia will design the P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class. The first
S80 submarine, launched in 2021, is undergoing sea trials and will be delivered to the Spanish Navy
by end 2023.
Key people:
The pact was signed in the presence of, L&T Chief executive officer(CEO) and Managing Director(MD) S N
Subrahmanyan, Naval Construction Vice President and Member of the Board of Navantia Augustin Alvarez
Blanco and Spanish envoy Jose Maria Ridao Dominquez.
Project 75 (I)
i.It requires Indian bidder to tie up with a foreign collaborator and execute the programme for the delivery of
six conventional submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP), while achieving targetted
Indigenous content.
• The environmentally Green AIP is a third-generation system that runs on Bio-Ethanol Stealth
Technology (BEST) and has lower operating and through-life costs.
ii.P75(I) would be the first program to be processed under the ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model that
allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with foreign defence majors to produce high-end military
platforms to reduce import dependence.
Construction of the submarine:
L&T would build the submarines, while Navantia would design them based on the Spanish state-owned
shipbuilder’s S80 class of submarines and provide the AIP system that lets submarines remain underwater
longer.

Other works of Navantia:
Navantia has been involved in the design and construction of
• the Scorpéne class of submarines together with DCNS (Now Naval Group) of France,
• the Scorpene submarines (Kalvari class) built in India, including hand-holding of the Indian yard.
Note: The P-75I programme is one of the biggest under the Make in India initiative.
About Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T):
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director– S. N. Subrahmanyan
Headquarters- Mumbai
Established- 1938
Indian Army signs contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch with Tata Advanced
Systems Limited
On 14th July 2023, the Indian Army signed the contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch with Tata
Advanced Systems Limited under the Make in India model to produce a compact, modular, and strengthen
networking device capable of faster switching, hence increasing the Indian Army’s tactical communication
capability.
• Tactical access switch used for the communication between two tactical army troops. It is
equipped with a non-blocking mode of operation as well as a switching capability for data and Voice.
Recently inducted weapons in Indian Army:
i.The Dhanush howitzer, produced by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) using
Swedish Bofors technology, entered Eastern Ladakh in 2022. It can effectively target locations up to 48
kilometers away, showcasing its advanced capabilities.
ii.The Army has received the advanced Tata Rajak surveillance system, which can see or detect persons from a
distance of more than 15 kilometres and vehicles from a distance of more than 25 kilometres.
iii.The Made in India Kalyani M4 Quick Reaction Force Vehicle built by Kalyani Group’s Bharat Forge can travel
at speeds of 60-80 km/h even in the rough terrain of the Ladakh sector, with a capacity of 10 combat ready
armed personnel.
TESTING
North Korea Conducted Second Successful Test of Solid-Fueled ICBM
On 12th July 2023, North Korea’s Hwasong-18( Mars Artillery Type 18), a intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBM) was successfully launched for the second time from Pyongyang, North Korea (Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea). The first test-firing of Hwasong-18 was on 13th April 2023.
• It uses solid-fuel technology, giving it the capability to launch with minimal preparation and allows
faster deployment of missiles during a war which makes it harder for the opponent to detect signs of
their launch in advance.
• The road mobile, three stage missile flew for 74 minutes – the longest time for a North Korean
missile test.
• Hwasong-18 is the North Koreas’s first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Key points:
i.The missile traveled up to a maximum altitude of 6,648 km (4,131 miles) and flew a distance of 1,001 km (622
miles).
ii.The missile finally splashed into the sea about 250km west of northern Japan’s Okushiri island.
iii.The missile landed in the East Sea,(the Sea of Japan) of the Korean peninsula and about 250 km west of
northern Japan’s Okushiri island.
What is Solid Fuel Technology?
i.Solid propellants are a mixture of fuel and oxidiser to create propellants.
ii.Metallic powders such as aluminium serve as the fuel, while ammonium perchlorate, a salt of perchloric acid
and ammonia, acts as oxidiser.
iii.When solid propellant burns, oxygen from the ammonium perchlorate combines with aluminium to generate

enormous amounts of energy and temperatures of more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees
Celsius), creating thrust and lifting the missile from the launch pad.
Note: North Korea was banned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) from ballistic missile tests after
its first nuclear test in 2006.
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

DAC approves proposals for procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft from France
On 13th July 2023, The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of
Defence (MoD), granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft along
with associated ancillary equipment, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew training and logistic
support for the Indian Navy from the French government.
• This procurement is based on an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between Indian and
France and aims to bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.
Key Points:
i.The price and other terms of purchase will be negotiated with the French Government after taking into
account all relevant aspects.
ii.The contract documents will incorporate the integration of Indian-designed equipment and the
establishment of a Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) Hub for various systems after subsequent
negotiations.
Other Approvals:
i.The DAC also granted the AoN for procurement of three additional Scorpene submarines under Buy
(Indian) category which will be constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• The procurement with higher indigenous content maintain Navy’s force level and operational
readiness as well as create employment opportunities in the domestic sector.
ii.DAC approved the proposal to lay down guidelines to achieve desired indigenous content in all capital
acquisition cases.
Note: This will support in achieving “Aatmanirbharta”, in critical manufacturing technologies and life-cycle
sustenance of defence platforms/equipment through indigenous manufacturing.
First Barge of series LSAM 7 delivered to Indian Navy

On 18th July 2023, the Indian Navy received the First Barge of the series LSAM 7 (Yard 75) in the presence of
Iftekhar Alam, Commanding Officer of INS Tunir. This Barge was constructed in accordance with the
classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and is expected to serve the Indian Navy for a
service life of 30 years.
• The Barge proudly exemplifies the “Make in India” initiative of the Government of India, as it stands
as a symbol of self-reliance with all its major and auxiliary equipment procured from indigenous
manufacturers.
• The induction of these Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barges is expected to bolster the operational
capabilities of the Indian Navy by streamlining the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation
processes for articles and ammunition to Indian Naval Ships.
In line with the Government of India’s “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiatives, M/s SECON
Engineering Projects Private Limited, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) based in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh has successfully secured a contract for the construction of eight MCA Barges.
Note: A type of vessel which is primarily used for transporting cargo is called as Barge
Additional Info:
In June 2023, Thane-based Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) firm, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt
Ltd, has successfully delivered the first barge of the series LSAM 15 (Yard 125) to the Indian Navy under a
contract for the construction of Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barges.

About SECON Engineering Projects Private Limited:
IAF to get its first Airbus C295 transport aircraft in September 2023
Indian Air Force (IAF) will get its first C-295 transport aircraft in September, 2023 from Airbus and Space S.A.,
Spain.C295 is replacing Avro transport aircraft that procured in 1960s.
• The C-295 has a capacity of 9 tonnes and can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. IAF will
become the largest operator of the C-295.
Key points:
i.In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹22,000-crore deal with Airbus and Space S.A., Spain, for
procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF. As per
contract, 16 aircraft would come in fly away condition, manufactured at the Airbus facility in Seville, and 40
would be manufactured in India by Airbus jointly with Tata Advanced Systems Limited(TASL).
• The first aircraft manufactured in India would be delivered in September 2026.
ii.Six IAF pilots and 20 technicians have been trained at the Seville facility, Jorge Tamarit, head of the C295
India programme.
‘AGRIBOT A6’ Drone of IoTechWorld Avigation Receives Type Certification from DGCA
IoTechWorld Avigation Private Limited , a Gurugram (Haryana)-based Agri-drone manufacturer, obtained
a Type Certificate (TC) for its new indigenous drone model ‘AGRIBOT A6‘ from the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation. This the second drone from
IoTechWorld that has received TC.
• IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd was awarded the first TC under Drone Rules, 2021 in June 2022.
• TC for drones is an official document issued by the DGCA certifying that a specific type of drone
meets all the technical parameters and safety standards for operation in India.
• AGRIBOT A6 model is 30% more compact than the previous model and is easy to transport and
operate.
• AIF (Agriculture Infrastructure Fund) is available for AGRIBOT A6 in which 90% collateral free loan
is available at 3% subvention on the interest rate
Note: The certification, a compulsory requirement under the Drone Rules 2021, verifies that the drone adheres
to the highest safety and quality standards.
SPORTS
2023 Lausanne Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra wins in javelin throw with 87.66m throw
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw at the
Lausanne Diamond League 2023 (officially known as Lausanne Diamond League Athletissima 2023), held from
June 29 to 30 at Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Neeraj Chopra recorded a throw of 87.66 meters(m), Germany’s Julian Weber finished second with
the throw of 87.03m and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic finished
third with the throw of 86.13m.
Key points:
i.Neeraj Chopra earned 8 points from the Lausanne leg of the Diamond league.He earned 16 points including
the Doha leg to lead the 2023 Diamond League qualification rankings in men’s javelin throw.
ii.Lausanne Diamond League 2023 is the 6th round of the 2023 Diamond League series. The 2023 Diamond

League series has a total of 14 rounds, where 13 rounds are qualifiers and 14th round is the finals (The
Diamond league 2023), which will be held in Eugene, United States of America (USA).
• In Diamond leagues, Athletes are awarded points instead of
medals and the top eight athletes at the end of the Diamond
league will qualify for the Diamond League Finals.
Note:
In September 2022, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a
Diamond League title by winning the Zurich Diamond League Final
2022 with a best throw of 88.44m.
Murali Sreeshankar finished fifth in the men’s long jump
i.India’s Murali Sreeshankar finished fifth in the men’s long jump event
at the 2023 Lausanne Diamond League with a jump of 7.88 metres(m).
ii.The 24-year-old Sreeshankar finished 3rd place in his maiden Paris Diamond League 2023 with the jump of
8.09m on 9th June 2023.
About Diamond League:
i.The Diamond League is a series of athletic meets, comprising track and field events, held annually from 2010,
organised by Monaco headquartered World Athletics.
ii.It was established to replace the International Amateur Athletic Federation IAAF Golden League, which had
been held since 1998.
iii.The 2023 Diamond League is the 14th edition,which is being held from May 5, 2023- September 17, 2023.
F1: Red Bull Driver Max Verstappen Wins 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Dutch-Belgium racing Driver Max Verstappen won the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix(GP) – Officially known as
Formula 1 Rolex Groser Preis Von Österreich 2023, at the circuit Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria.
• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monacan Driver) finished 2nd
and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (Mexican Driver) finished
3rd.
• Verstappen won both the main F1 race and the shorter
sprint race from pole position at the Austrian GP 2023.
About Max Verstappen:
i.This marks Max Verstappen’s 5th straight win and the 7th
victory of the 2023 season. (So far, 9 races were held in 2023
season).
• In 2023, Max won the Spanish GP, Monaco GP, Miami GP, Australian GP, Bahrain GP, Canadian GP,
and Austrian GP.
ii.As of Austrian GP 2023, Max Verstappen has won a total of 42nd F1 title and secured the 5th place in the all
time for most GP wins. He surpassed Brazilian Aryton Senna Da Silva’s 41 victory in F1.
Note:
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won the 2022 edition of Austrian Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen finished second in
that event.
2023 Championship (Driver Standings – As of 2023 Austrian Grand Prix )
Position Driver Team points
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 229
2 Sergio Perez Red Bull 148
3 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 129
About Austrian Grand Prix:
The first Austrian Grand Prix was held in 1996 in A1-Ring (Now Red Bull Ring) circuit.
• Number of Laps – 71

• Circuit Length – 4.318km
Race Distance – 306.452 km
Indian Men’s Football team defeat Kuwait to lift 2023 SAFF Championships for 9th time
On 4th July 2023, Indian Football Team (also known as ‘Blue Tigers’) won the South Asian Football Federation
(SAFF) Bangabandhu Championship 2023 defeating Kuwait national football team at the finals, in Sree
Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The 2023 SAFF Championships marks India’s 9th
SAFF Championship title and second consecutive title
after it won in 2021 SAFF Championships in Maldives
(defeated Nepal).
• India previously had won the championships in 1993,
1997, 1999, 2005, 2009,2011,2015, and 2021.
About SAFF Championship 2023:
i.The 14th edition SAFF Championship 2023 held from 21th June
to 4th July 2023, saw participation of eight teams including India,
Kuwait, Nepal, Pakistan, Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh.
• Kuwait and Lebanon are the two Non SAFF members invited to this tournament.
ii.India won the finals by penalty Shootout (5-4) after the draw (1-1).
Cash Prizes:
i.Winners – 50,000 USD (India)
ii.Runners-up – 25,000 USD (Kuwait)
SAFF Championship 2023 Awards:
i.Best goalkeeper of the competition (Golden Glove) – Anisur Rahman Zico (Bangladesh)
ii.Highest Goalscorer award (Golden Boot) – Sunil Chhetri (India)
iii.Most valuable player (Golden Ball)- Sunil Chhetri (India)
iv. Fair play award of the team – Nepal
v. Man of the Match (Final) – Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (India)
About SAFF Championship:
i.SAFF Championship is an international football tournament primarily contested by teams from the South
Asian subcontinent, organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
ii.The 1st edition of SAFF Championship won by India in 1993 in Pakistan.
FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23: Netherlands Men’s team won the title for 2nd time
On 4th July 2023, The Netherlands men’s hockey team won the 4th edition of Fédération Internationale de
Hockey(FIH) Hockey Pro League 2022-23 by defeating Belgium in the finals held in Antwerp, Belgium.
• The Netherlands Men’s become the first team in the
men’s competition to win the title twice. They won
their 1st title in the 2021-2022 season.
• With the win, the Netherlands also become the first
nation to win both the men’s and women’s FIH
Hockey Pro League titles in the same season (2022-
2023).
The 2022-23 FIH Hockey Pro League(men’s) started on 28th
October 2022 and ended on 4th July 2023.
Player of the match in the finals: Jip Janssen (The
Netherlands)

Men’s FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23 Points table:
Position Country Points
1 Netherlands 35
2 Great Britain 32
3 Belgium 30
4 India 30
Indian hockey team at FIH Hockey Pro League:
i.The Indian men’s hockey team finished fourth position in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23 with 30 points
from 16 matches.
ii.This was India’s second fourth-place finish in the FIH Hockey Pro League, having finished fourth in their
inaugural season in 2020-21.
iii.The Indian hockey team secured third position in the 2021-22 season.
Note:
i.India’s Harmanpreet Singh was the top Goal Scorer (18 Goals) in FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23.
ii.The Indian hockey team (51 Goals) is also the top Goal scoring team in FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23.
Netherlands won the 4th edition of Women’s FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-2023:
On 27th June 2023, Netherlands Women’s Hockey team won the 4th edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League
2022-23 title by defeating New Zealand in Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen, The Netherlands.
• This marks Netherlands women’s 3rd title in FIH Hockey Pro League. So far, they have won 3 of the
4 women’s FIH Hockey Pro League titles.
• Argentinian Women’s hockey team and Australian women’s hockey team won second and third
place in the 2022-2023 season.
2022-23 FIH Hockey Pro League (Women’s) was held from 4th November 2022 to 5th July 2023.
Note: The Netherland’s Xen de Waard was awarded as Player of the Match in the finals.
Women’s FIH Pro League 2022-23 Points table:
Position Country Points
1 Netherlands 46
2 Argentina 32
3 Australia 31
About FIH Hockey Pro League:
i.FIH Hockey Pro League is an annual global Field Hockey League tournament involving best national teams
(men’s and women’s) in the world.
• The inaugural edition of both men’s and women’s FIH Hockey Pro League was held in 2019.
ii.The best team of the season, which has accumulated the highest number of points at the end of the League, is
crowned Champion and receives the coveted FIH Hockey Pro League Trophy.
iii.From 2020-21 season, the FIH Hockey Pro League follows a round-robin format where each team plays the
other team twice – home and away.
FIH Global Leadership Partner: Hero MotoCorp
Winners of previous edition FIH Hockey Pro League:
Edition Men’s Team Women’s Team
2019 Australia The Netherlands
2020-21 Belgium The Netherlands
2021-22 The Netherlands Argentina

Bangladesh Cricketer Tamim Iqbal retires from International Cricket
On 6th July 2023, Bangladesh One Day International (ODI) Captain Tamim Iqbal (aged 34) announced his
retirement from international cricket after 16 years of his journey in cricket.His last game was on 5th July 2023,
against Afghanistan in Chattogram, Bangladesh.
• Tamim Iqbal is the third-highest run-scorer as of July 2023, after only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,
with 8,313 runs in 241 games, including 14 hundreds.
• He is the highest ODI run scorer for Bangladesh (8313 runs) and scored 14 centuries which is
highest among Bangladesh players.
• He made his international debut in a 2007 ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Note: He has reversed his decision of retirement from international cricket (8 July 2023).
Badminton: Lakshya Sen Wins Men’s Singles Title in Canada Open 2023
Indian Badminton Player Lakshya Sen won the Men’s Singles finals at the Badminton World Federation
(BWF) Yonex Canada Open 2023 (Canada Open 2023) defeating China’s Li Shi Feng (reigning All England
champion 2023), held in Calgary, Canada from 4th July – 9th July 2023.
• India’s P.V. Sindhu lost to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in
the Women’s Singles (semifinals) of Canada Open 2023.
About Lakshya Sen:
i.This marks Lakshya Sen’s second BWF Super 500 title, earlier he
won his maiden Super 500 title at the 2022 India Open in January
2022 (by defeating Loh Kean Yew of Singapore)
ii.Lakshya Sen previously won the men’s singles gold medal by
defeating Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong in Commonwealth Games
Birmingham 2022.
Winners of Canada Open 2023:
Women’s Singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Rank 1) of Japan won the Women’s Singles title by defeating Thailand’s
Ratchanok Intanon at the Canada Open 2023.
Men’s Doubles: Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark won the Men’s Doubles title by
defeating Frederik Sogaard and Rasmus Kjær of Denmark.
Women’s Doubles: Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida (Rank 3) of Japan won the Women’s doubles title by
defeating Wakana Nagahara and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan at the Canada Open 2023.
Mixed Doubles: Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito of Japan won the mixed Doubles by defeating Mathias
Thyrri and Amalie Magelund of Denmark.
About Canada Open:
i.The Canada Open first started in 1962 and comes under the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 500
Category.
• BWF World Tour is classified into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, four Super 1000, six Super
750, seven Super 500, and 11 Super 300.
About Canada Open 2023:
i.The Canada Open 2023 marks the 58th edition organised by Badminton Canada and Badminton Alberta with
the support from BWF.
ii.Prize Money:
Total – USD 4,20,000
Men’s Singles – USD 31,500
Women’s Singles – USD 31,500
Men’s Doubles – USD 33,180
Women’s Doubles – USD 33,180
Mixed Doubles – USD 33,180

About Badminton World Federation (BWF):
President – Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen
Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
F1 British GP 2023: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his first ever British GP Title
On 9th July 2023, Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver (Dutch-Belgian) won the title at Formula 1 (FI) Aramco
British Grand Prix (GP) 2023 held at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England (the United Kingdom,
UK).
• This marks his first ever British GP title and 6th
consecutive F1 win of the 2023 season.
• This also marks Max’s 8th win of this season and Red
Bull’s 10th consecutive win of 2023 season (the other 2
titles were won by Sergio Perez in Saudi Arabia GP and
Azerbaijan GP).
Lando Norris, the McLaren driver (Belgian-British) finished second
and Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver (British) finished third.
British GP 2023 was the home race for both Lando Norris and
Lewis Hamilton. This victory of Max Verstappen making it a record-equalling 11 wins in a row for Red Bull and
also his 6th win in a row and 8th in 10 races this season.
Note:
• This is the Red Bulls’ 11th win in a row, a record stretching back to Max Verstappen win at the final
race of November 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
• No team has ever completed an unbeaten F1 season. Red Bull is still on course to do so. McLaren’s
1988 team was the closest any team came, winning 15 of the 16 races that year.
• Red Bull will have to win 22 races to do the same.
Key Points:
i. It was Max Verstappen’s 43rd career win, and it has helped both Red Bull and Max Verstappen to lead in their
respective Constructors’ and Drivers’ standings.
ii. The win was Red Bull’s first at Silverstone circuit since Mark Webber (Australian) in 2012.
iii. Lando Norris team mate Oscar Piastri (McLaren) finished 4th and Lewis Hamilton’s team mate George
Russell (Mercedes) finished 5th.
iv. The British GP 2023 took place over 52 laps of the 5.891-kilometre Silverstone Circuit.
FI 2023 British GP Results (Top 3):
Position Driver Team
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull
2 Lando Norris McLaren
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
Grand Chess Tour: Gukesh finished 5th, Viswanathan Anand tied at 7th in SuperUnited Rapid
and Blitz Croatia 2023
Indian Grand Master (GM) Dommaraju(D) Gukesh (17 years old) finished 5th(with score 19.5/36) while Fomer
World Champion GM Viswanathan Anand (with score 16.5/36) tied at 7th place with Jan-Krzysztof Duda of
Poland in the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2023, the 3rd led of the Grand Chess Tour (GST) 2023, held
from 3rd to 10th July 2023 in Westin Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
• World No. 1 & Former World Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the SuperUnited Rapid and
Blitz Croatia 2023 with a score of 26.0/36.

• Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia finished 2nd with 22.5 points and Alireza Firouzja of Iran finished 3rd
with 22 points.
During the tournament, for the first time Gukesh defeated
Viswanathan Anand in the rapid segment. This was also Gukesh’s
first tournament match against Viswanathan Anand. On 9th July
2023, Gukesh defeated Anand in 34 moves in the blitz segment of
the tournament.
The Prize amount received by Gukesh and Viswanathan Anand was
USD 15,000 and USD 9,500 respectively.
The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2023:
i. It was the third tournament and midway point of the Grand Chess Tour and the final results came from a
combination of the scores in Rapid and Blit
ii. The tournament saw 9 rounds of rapid and 18 rounds of Blitz being played and the Total Prize Fund: USD
175000
iii. The winner of the tournament Magnus Carlsen received a winner’s trophy and a cash prize of USD 40,000.
iv. Ian Nepomniachtchi received USD 30,000 for the 2nd place and AlirezaFirouzja received USD 25,000 for the
3rd
About Grand Chess Tour 2023:
i.The Grand Chess Tour is a circuit of international chess tournaments and events, each demonstrating the
highest level of organization for the world’s best chess players.
ii.Tournaments under GCT 2023:
• Superbet Chess Classic Romania: May 4 – 16, 2023, Bucharest, Romania
• Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland: May 19 – 26, 2023, Warsaw, Poland
• SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia: July 3 – 10, 2023, Zagreb, Croatia
• Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz: November 12 – 19, 2023, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
• Sinquefield Cup November 19 – December 3, 2023, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Note: At present, Fabiano Caruana leads the GCT standings with 20 points.
Final Standings of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2023 (Top 5):
Position Player Points
1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway) 26
2 Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) 22.5
3 Alireza Firouzja (Iran) 22
4 Fabino Caruana (USA) 21.5
5 D Gukesh (India) 19.5
World Archery Youth Championships 2023: India won 11 medals(6 Golds, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze)
The Indian Archery team won 11 medals (6 Golds, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze) and secured 2nd position in the medal
tally of the Limerick 2023 World Archery Youth Championships held in Limerick, Ireland from 3rd July-9th July
2023.
• South Korea topped the medal tally with 10 medals (6 Gold and 4 Silver).
World Archery Youth Championships 2023:
i.The World Archery Youth Championships 2023 witnessed the participation of 518 archers (277 men and 241
women) from 58 countries competing for medals in individual and team events in the Under-21(U21) and
Under-18(U18) age categories.
• Team India represented by 12 archers each in the U21 and U18 age groups.
ii.India’s U21 archery squad led by compound archers Prathamesh Jawkar and Pragati and India’s U18 archery
squad led by 17-year-old women’s compound archer Aditi Gopichand Swami.

iii.World Archery Youth Championships 2023 medals were designed and minted by the Monnaie de Paris.
Indian medal winners in U21 Event:
Archer Event Medal
Priyansh Compound men’s individual Gold
Parth Salunkhe Recurve men’s individual Gold
Avneet Kaur and Priyansh Compound mixed team Gold
Avneet Kaur, Parneet Kaur and Pragati Compound women’s team Gold
Parth Salunkhe and Ridhi Recurve mixed team Bronze
Bhajan Kaur Recurve women’s individual Bronze
Indian medal winners in U18 Event:
Archer Event Medal
Aishwarya Sharma, Aditi Gopichand Swami and Ekta Rani Compound women’s team Gold
Aditi Gopichand Swami Compound women individual Gold
Manav Ganeshrao Jadhao, Pawan Gat and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Compound men’s team Silver
Aishwarya Sharma and Manav Ganeshrao Jadhao Compound mixed team Bronze
Ujjwal Dhama, Goldi Mishra and Agastay Singh Recurve men’s team Bronze
Parth Salunkhe becomes 1st Indian male archer to win Gold in Youth World Championship (recurve
category)
i.The 19-year old Parth Salunkhe from Maharashtra becomes the 1st
Indian male archer to win a gold medal in Recurve men’s individual by
defeating South Korea’s Song Injun.
• He also won a Bronze medal in the Recurve mixed team
along with Ridhi.
ii.Youth World Champion: Parth Salunkhe is the first male
archer (recurve category) and sixth Indian archer to become Youth
World Champion.
• Previously in women’s recurve section, Deepika Kumari had become cadet and youth world
champion in 2009 and 2011, while Komalika Bari won the cadet and youth world champion in 2019
and 2021.
• Aditi Gopichand Swami won the gold medal in Compound women individual event and Priyansh
won the gold medal in Compound men’s individual event in World Archery Youth Championships
2023 are the other youth world champions from India.
About World Archery Youth Championships:
The World Archery Youth Championships occurs every alternate year and the first edition was held in 1991.
Note: Indian team topped the medal tally by winning 15 Medals(including 8 Gold) in World Archery Youth
Championships 2021 in Wroclaw, Poland.
About World Archery:
President – Dr Ugur Erdener
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Sri Lanka won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualifier defeating the Netherlands
Sri Lanka won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2023 Qualifier
tournament by defeating the Netherlands by 128 runs in the finals held on 9th July 2023 in Harare and
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

• The CWC 2023 Qualifier, the 12th edition of CWC, was held from June 18 to July 9 2023 in Harare
and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
• Sri Lanka won all 8 matches they played in the tournament and became the first team from the ICC
World Cup 2023 Qualifiers to qualify for the main draw of the World Cup 2023 to be held in India
from October 5 to November 19 2023.
• Sri Lanka has qualified for the main draw of the World Cup 2023 as Qualifier 2, while the
Netherlands will go into the World Cup as Qualifier 1.
• This was SL’s 10th consecutive One Day International (ODI) win and Dilshan Madhushanka (SL) won
the player of the match award.
Tennis – Overview of 136th Edition of “The Wimbledon Championships 2023

The 136th edition of The Wimbledon Championships (Wimbledon) 2023 took place from 26th June to 16th July
2023, the Gentlemen’s Singles was won by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the
centre court, All England lawn tennis and croquet club, Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom.
About Wimbledon:
• Wimbledon was established in 1877 and organised by
the All England Lawn Tennis and Crouquet Club
(AELTC)& International Tennis Federation.
• The 2023 Championships is the 129th staging of the
Ladies’ Singles Championship event, the 55th in the
Open Era and the 3rd Grand Slam tournament of the
year.
• It is one of the 4 Grand Slam tennis tournaments
(others being Australian Open, French Open and the
United States(US) open)that takes place in Grass Outdoor Courts and every player must follow the
dress-code of whites.
Courts played:
The important matches will be played in Centre Court and rest of all the matches will be played from Court 1 to
Court 18.
Wimbledon 2023: Prize Money
• Gentlemen’s & Ladies Singles- £(Euro)2,350,000
• Gentlemen’s, Ladies & Mixed Doubles – £600,000
Winners of Wimbledon 2023:
Gentlemen’s Singles:
Carlos Alcaraz(ATP-Association of Tennis Professionals Rank 1) defeated seven-time Wimbledon champion
Novak Djokovic(ATP Rank 2) to claim his first Wimbledon title(2023) at the Gentlemen’s singles final match.
• For Carlos it was a second major following his US Open title 2022 as he became Wimbledon’s third
youngest men’s champion.
• For Djokovic it was his ninth final at Wimbledon and 35th at the majors. He also was kept from
claiming his 24th career major.
Ladies Singles:
Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded Women’s Singles champion at Wimbledon in
the Open Era after defeating Ons Jabeur (WTA- Women’s Tennis Association Rank 6)of Tunisia in the Ladies
singles final.
• She was the first unseeded woman to even reach the final at the All England Club in 60 years.
Marketa Vondrousova:
i.This is Vondrousova’s first Grand Slam title.
ii.She was the second-lowest ranked player to reach the Wimbledon final — only Serena Williams in 2018 was
lower at 181.

iii.Since the beginning of the Open era (1968), Vondrousova is the 24th different woman who has lifted the
Venus Rosewater Dish.
iv.The 24-year-old left-handed is the third player from the Czech Republic to win the title after Jana Novotna
(1998) and Petra Kvitova (2011, 2014).
Note: Ons Jabeur(28) from Tunisia is the only Arab woman and only North African woman to make it that far in
singles at any Grand Slam tournament.
Gentlemen’s Doubles:
Neal Skupski(United Kingdom) and Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof won the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s doubles
title against the duo Marcel Granollers(Spain) and Horacio Zeballos (Argentina).
Key points:
i.This will be Skupski first grand slam title in the men’s doubles.
ii.Neal Skupski is into his third Wimbledon men’s doubles final in a row
iii.Neal Skupski became the second British player in the Open era to win the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon
iv.He is also the first British man to win both the mixed doubles and Gentlemen’s doubles at the All England
Club since Leslie Godfree in 1926.
v.Skupski has two mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon together with Desirae Krawczyk, in 2021 and 2022.
Ladies doubles:
Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic won their second Wimbledon Ladies
doubles title as a pairing by beating Elise Mertens of Belgium and Storm Hunter of Australia.
• Taiwanese Hsieh and Czech Strycova won their first Wimbledon title together in 2019.
i.Hsieh is now a four-time Wimbledon doubles champion, having also won alongside Belgium’s Mertens in 2021
and Peng Shuai of China in 2013.
ii.Elise Mertens was looking for her fourth Grand Slam title overall, while Storm Hunter was trying to win her
first.
Mixed Doubles:
In the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles final Mate Pavic of Croatia, with teammate Lyudmyla Kichenok(Ukraine)
against Joran Vliegen of Belgium and his teammate Xu Yifan of China.
Key points:
i.Pavic has also won three men’s doubles championships, including Wimbledon in 2021.
ii.This would be Pavic’s sixth Grand Slam championship.
iii.Kichenok became the third Ukrainian to win a Grand Slam title and the first to win Wimbledon.
Wimbledon 2023
Category Winners Runners
Carlos
Gentlemen’s Singles Alcaraz(Spain) Novak Djokovic(Serbia)
Marketa
Vondrousova(Czech
Ladies Singles Republic) Ons Jabeur(Tunisia)
Neal
Skupski(United
Kingdom) and Marcel Granollers(Spain)
Wesley and Horacio Zeballos
Gentlemen’s Doubles Koolhof(Dutch) (Argentina)
Hsieh Su-Wei of
(Taiwan) and
Barbora Strycova Elise Mertens(Belgium) and
Ladies doubles (Czech Republic) Storm Hunter (Australia)

Mate Pavic(Croatia)
and Lyudmyla Joran Vliegen(Belgium) and
Mixed Doubles Kichenok(Ukraine) Xu Yifan(China).
Records by Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2023
i.Novak Djokovic joins Serena Williams(United States of America) and Roger Federer(Switzerland) as the only
players in tennis history to win at least 350 Grand Slam matches. Williams has 367 and Federer has 369.
ii.Novak Djokovic contests his 100th Wimbledon match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
iii.Novak Djokovic tied Roger Federer’s record, entering 46 men’s Grand Slam semifinals by defeating Andrey
Rublev(Russia).
Justine Henin receives the Philippe Chatrier Award from ITF:
On 8th July 2023, former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin(Belgium) has been
honoured with the Philippe Chatrier Award, the highest recognition from the International Tennis Federation
(ITF).
• The Belgian was presented with the accolade at the 2023 ITF World Champions Awards presented
by UNIQLO, a Japanese textile Manufacturer, took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in
London, United Kingdom.
• ITF President is David Haggerty.
Key points:
i.Henin won seven Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games and was part of
Belgium’s team that won the Fed Cup (Billie Jean King Cup) in 2001.
ii.The 41-year-old Henin has established a successful academy in Belgium and a charitable foundation that
helps provide sporting opportunities for children with disabilities.
Note: The Philippe Chatrier Award, named after the former ITF president, was introduced in 1996 and
recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the sport on and off the court.
Official Partners of Wimbledon 2023:
International Business Machines(IBM), American Express, OPPO, Rolex, Jaguar Land Rover, and Barclays
About Wimbledon:
Chairman- Ian Hewitt
Founded- 1877
Court- Grass Outdoor
Asian Athletics Championships, Bangkok, Thailand: India finish 3rd with 27 medals
Indian contingents won 27 medals( 6 Gold, 12 Silver and 9 Bronze) and finished 3rd in the overall medal tally of
the 25th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships (AAC), the flagship event of the Asian Athletics
Association(AAA), held in the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand from July 12th to July 16th
2023.
• Japan topped the medal tally with 37 medals (16 gold,
11 Silver, 10 bronze ) followed by China with 22
medals (8 Gold, 8 Silver, 6 Bronze).
Note: The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the
foundation of the Asian Athletics Association(AAA) (1973-2023).
Members of AAA: Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.
• It is a biennial event happening once in every two
years
• Following the cancellation of the 2021 edition in
Hangzhou, China due to COVID-19, the Asian Athletics Championships returned after a four-year
hiatus.

Top 5 Countries:
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Japan 16 11 10 37
2 China 8 8 6 22
3 India 6 12 9 27
4 Sri Lanka 3 2 3 8
5 Qatar 2 1 1 4
India’s mixed relay team wins gold; Swapna Barman, Sarvesh Kushare claim silver
India had a remarkable performance in the mixed relay team event, winning a gold medal. The team members,
Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Mishra, Amoj Jacob, and Subha Venkatesan demonstrated excellent teamwork and
skill to secure the top position in the event.
• Swapna Barman in the heptathlon event, earned a silver medal; Anil Sarvesh Kushare secured a
silver medal in the men’s high jump.

Indian shot-putter Tajinderpal Toor wins his 2nd gold medal
i. Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a 28-year-old shot-putter, clinched his second gold medal in the men’s shot put event.
He achieved this feat by recording an impressive throw of 20.23 meters, securing the top position in the
competition.
ii. Previously, he had also won the gold medal in the same event at the Asian Athletics Championships 2019
with a best throw of 20.22 meters.
iii. In the 2017 edition of the championships, he had secured a silver medal. Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s consistent
performance and remarkable throws have established him as a prominent figure in shot put and a valuable
asset to Indian athletics.
Athlete Abdulla Aboobacker wins gold in triple jump
Abdulla Aboobacker, a 27-year-old athlete from Kerala, claimed gold in the men’s triple jump event with an
impressive leap of 16.92 meters
Abdulla Aboobacker, Ajay Kumar Saroj clinch gold medals
Abdulla Aboobacker in the men’s triple jump event, secured a gold medal whereas Ajay Kumar Saroj
demonstrated his strength and endurance in the men’s 1500m event, winning a gold medal for India.
Long jumper Sreeshankar qualifies for 2024 Olympics after winning silver medal at Asian meet
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured his qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics after claiming a
silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships.
i. Sreeshankar achieved a second career-best jump of 8.37m during the final round, surpassing the Olympic
qualification mark of 8.27m.
ii. The gold medal went to Yu Tang Lin of Chinese Taipei, who recorded a jump of 8.40m, ranking as the third-
best effort in the world this season.
Sreeshankar had already qualified for the Budapest World Championships in August with his jump of 8.41m
during the qualification round of the National Inter-State Championships in the month of June 2023, which also
placed him second in the world rankings.
Indian Gold Medal Winners:
Athlete Event
Jyothi Yarraji Women’s 100m hurdles
Abdulla Aboobacker Men’s triple jump
Parul Chaudhary Women’s 3000m steeplechase
Ajay Kumar Saroj Men’s 1500m
Tajinderpal Singh Toor Men’s shot put
Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Mishra, Amoj Jacob, Subha Venkatesan Mixed 4x400m relay team
About 25th Asian Athletic Championship:
2023 Mascot:
Thailand has chosen Hindu god “Hanuman” as the official mascot of 25th Asian Athletics Championships.
• Hanuman is one of the key characters of the Indian epic “Ramayana”.
Logo:
The logo of 25th Asian Athletics Championship symbolizes the participation of athletes, their skills, teamwork,
display of athleticism, dedication, and sportsmanship.
Note: The inaugural Asian Athletics Championships were held in Marikina, the Philippines in 1973.
About Asian Athletic Association:
President – Dahlan Al-Hamad
Headquarters – Bangkok, Thailand

64th IMO at Chiba Japan: India Finished 9th with 2 Gold, 2 Silver & 2 Bronze
India finished at the 9th position securing two gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition out of 112
countries at the 64th International Math Olympiad (IMO) 2023 held at Chiba, Japan from July 2-13, 2023. China
is ranked 1st followed by the United States of America (USA) at 2nd and South Korea at 3rd.
• This is the fourth time India secured a position in the top 10 (India finished 7th in 1998 and in 2001,
and 9th in 2002).
Winners:
• Gold medalists: Atul Shatavart Nadig(Bengaluru,Karnataka) and Arjun Gupta(New Delhi, Delhi)
• Silver medalists: Ananda Bhaduri(Guwahati, Assam) and Siddharth Choppara(Pune, Maharastra)
• Bronze medalists: Adhitya Mangudy Venkata Ganesh(Pune, Maharastra) and
Archit Manas(Hyderabad).
Note: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education(HBCSE) – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR) is
the nodal Centre for training and selecting the students for the International Olympiads (in physics, chemistry,
biology, astronomy and mathematical).
• The final team is selected through various stages of the National Olympiad Examination conducted
by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education(HBCSE)
Football: England won the Men’s 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship title defeating Spain
England Football team won the Men’s 2023 UEFA(Union of European Football Associations) European Under
21 (U21) Championship title(1-0) defeating Spain in the finals held at Batumi Arena, Georgia. This mark’s
England’s 3rd UEFA European U21 Championship title after 1982 and 1984.
• This also marks the 9th finals of Spain, more than any other country. Italy stands 2nd with 7.
UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named England forward Anthony Gordon as the Player of the
Tournament.
• Curtis Jones, the goal scorer of the finals was named official Under-21 EURO final Player of the
Match.
• 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship, the 24th edition of the UEFA European U21
Championship.
• The tournament was co-hosted by Romania and Georgia from 21st June to 8th July 2023. Romania
hosted the opening match, while Georgia hosted the final.
This is a biennial international youth football championship organised by UEFA for the men’s U21 national
teams of Europe. Slovakia has been selected as host nation of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21
Championship.
Commonwealth Sr. Jr. & Youth Weightlifting Championship 2023: India won 20 Medals in
Senior Category
Indian Senior weightlifting contingent won 20 medals (9 Golds, 9 Silvers and 2 Bronze) at the Commonwealth
Senior, Junior, and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2023 in
Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• The Indian team overall won 61 medals (38 Gold, 21
Silver and 2 Bronze) across senior (9 Golds, 9 Silvers
and 2 Bronze), junior (13 Golds, 8 Silvers) and youth
(16 Golds, 4 Silvers) categories.
• The event witnessed 250 weightlifters from 20
countries participating across junior, youth and senior
categories from 12th July to 16 July 2023.
Note: India won 16 medals (4 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze) at the
Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2021 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Last time India hosted the

tournament in Pune in 2015.
Indian Senior medallists:
i.Gold medallists:The nine gold medallists are Komal Kohar (women’s 45kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (women’s
49kg), Popy Hazarika (women’s 59kg), S Nirupama Devi(women’s 64kg), Vanshita Verma (women’s 81kg),
Mukund Aher (men’s 55kg), Shubham Todkar (men’s 61kg), Ajith N (men’s 73kg) and Ajay Singh (men’s 81kg).
ii.Silver medallists:The nine silver medallists are Jhilli Dalabehera ( women’s 49kg), Shrabani Das (women’s
55kg), T Madhavan(men’s 67kg), Harjinder Kaur (women’s 71kg), Pallavi S(women’s 64kg), Amarjit
Guru(men’s 89kg), Harshad Wadekar(men’s 96kg), Harcharan Singh ( men’s 102kg), Lovepreet Singh(men’s
109kg).
iii.Bronze medallist:The two Bronze medallist are Jagdish Vishwakarma(men’s 96kg) and Purnima Pandey
(women’s +87kg)
Awards:
i.The 2022 junior World Championships silver medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav of India won the Gold medal in
the women’s 49kg event, awarded as the Best Lifters in the junior category.
ii.Samoa’s Don Opeloge (102kg) and Jenly Wini Tegu (55kg) of Solomon Islands were named the ‘Best Lifters’
in the senior category.
US Open 2023 Badminton: China’s Li Shi Feng & Thailand’s Supanida Katethong won singles
titles
On 16th July 2023, China’s Li Shi Feng (Ranked 12) and Thailand’s
Supanida Katethong (Ranked 22) won the men’s singles finals and the
women’s singles finals of the Yonex US Open 2023 at the the Mid-
America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States of America (USA).
• The US open 2023 is the part of HSBC Badminton World
Federation (BWF) Super 300 series held from 11th July to
16th July 2023.
Winners of Yonex US open 2023:
Championship Winner Runner
Li Shi Feng Kunlavut Vitidsarn
Men’s Singles (China) (Thailand)
Supanida Katethong Gao Fang Jie
Women’s Singles (Thailand) (China)
Goh Sze Fei and
Nur Izzuddin Fang-chih Lee and Fang-jen Lee
Men’s Doubles (Malaysia) (Chinese Taipei)
Liu Shengshu and
Tan Ning Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen
Women’s Doubles (China) (Denmark)
Ye Hongwei and
Lee Chia-hsin Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund
Mixed Doubles (Taiwan) (Denmark)
Highlights:
i.This mark’s Supanida Katethong’s maiden world tour title. Her previous best World Tour result was a
runner-up finish at the 2022 India Open.
• She is the second Thai player to win the US Open title after Sapsiree Taerattanachai in 2013.
ii.India’s Lakshya Sen, Rank 19 and 2023 Canada Open champion, was defeated by All England champion and
Rank 12 Li Shi Feng of China in the semifinals.
• India’s PV Sindhu lost to China’s Gao Fang Jie in the quarter-finals of US Open 2023.

About US Open 2023:
i.The USA Badminton organized this tournament with sanctions from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
ii.The US Open 2023 marks the 58th edition and the sixteenth tournament in the 2023 BWF World Tour and
the seventh Super 300 event of the season.
Total Prize Money: USD 210,000
President – Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen
Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cricket: South Zone won the 2023 Duleep Trophy title defeating West Zone
On 16th July 2023, South Zone defeated West Zone by 75 runs in the finals of the 2023 Duleep Trophy
Championship at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Karnataka. South Zone has won the Duleep Trophy
after 9 years, previously South zone was the joint winner (along with North Zone) in 2013-14 . This marks
South Zone’s 14th title.
2023 Duleep Trophy, 60th edition of the Duleep Trophy, was held from 28th June 2023 to 16th July 2023.
• West Zone was led by Priyank Panchal and South Zone was led by Hanuma Vihari.
• Vidwath Kaverappa of South Zone won both the ‘Player of the Match’ for taking 8 wickets (7/53 and
1/51) in the final match as well as the ‘Player of the Series’ award for taking 15 wickets in 2 match.
• The Duleep Trophy, also known by its sponsorship name, the MasterCard Duleep Trophy, is a First-
Class Cricket tournament in India.
It is named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinghji (also called as Duleep), an Indian cricketer from then-British India.
Indian GM Praggnanandhaa Becomes Champion at Super GM chess tournament in Hungary

On 19th July 2023, Young Indian Grandmaster (GM) R Praggnanandhaa (17) became champion at the V Geza
Hetenyi Memorial Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2023 in
Budapest, Hungary.
• In the final round, he secured a draw against Polish GM
Radoslaw Wojtaszek with the white pieces.
Note: The inaugural edition of V Géza Hetényi Tournament was
organized by GM FT Attila Czebe in Budapest, Hungary from 11th
to 18th July 2023.
The opponents:
Praggnanandhaa posted 5 wins, drew 3 games and had 1 defeat in
the fifth round at the hands of Amin Tabatabaei.
i.Praggnanandhaa scored wins over Sanan Sjugirov(Russia), Parham Maghsoodloo (Iran), Adam Kozak
(Hungary) and Peter Prohaszka (Hungary).
ii.He drew his last three games, against Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), Maxim Matlakov (Russia) and Radosław
Wojtaszek (Polish).
Note: Praggnanandhaa’s live rating is now 2707.3, making him currently the world no.31.
Prize:
The inaugural edition of this Super GM Round-Robin tournament has a total prize fund of €10700. The top
three prizes are €5000, €2500 and €1500 each respectively.
Hungarian GP 2023:Max Verstappen gave Red Bull 12th Successive Win

On 23rd July 2023, RedBull’s Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch racing driver) won Formula1(F1) Qatar Airways
Hungarian Grand Prix 2023, held in Budapest, Hungary. This victory made the RedBull team win twelve
consecutive Formula One races in 2023.

• Red Bull’s achievement broke the record of McLaren’s 11 wins in 1988
• This also marks Verstappen’s seventh consecutive win. He completed the race with 26 points
POSITION DRIVER TEAM POINTS
1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing 26
2 Lando NORRIS McLaren 18
3 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing 15
i.Lando NORRIS from McLaren came in second place, trailing behind Verstappen by 33.731 seconds. Norris
earned 18 points for his runner-up position.
ii.Sergio PEREZ, Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing, finished
third. He secured 15 points.
iii.Max Verstappen’s victory now has a 110-point lead over his closest
rival, Sergio Perez. Perez also had a strong race, recovering from ninth
to third place.
Records by Verstappen and RedBull Racing:
i.Verstappen becomes the fifth driver in history to win seven
consecutive races (after Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian
Vettel and Nico Rosberg).
ii.Red Bull scored their 250th podium finish today.
iii.For Verstappen it was his 44 career win in (Position 1).
About Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix 2023:
• Scheduled from 21st July 2023 to 23rd July 2023
• Held in the track Hungaroring which is of length 4.38km built in the year 1986 with 70 laps
Korea Open 2023: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Wins Men’s Doubles Title
The Indian Badminton Players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Men’s Doubles title by
defeating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto at the
finals of the Korea Open 2023.
• The Korea Open 2023 marks Chirag and Satwik’s fourth
victory following the Swiss Open, Asian Championships and
Indonesia Open in 2023.
• The Super 500 badminton tournament, Korea Open 2023
held from 18th – 13th July 2023 at Jinnam Stadium, Yeosu,
South Korea.
Winners of Korea Open 2023:
Anders Antonsen Loh Kean Yew
Men’s Singles (Denmark) (Singapore)
An Se young Tai Tzu-ying
Women’s Singles (South Korea) (Chinese Taipei)
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and
Chirag Shetty Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto
Men’s Doubles (India) (Indonesia)
Chen Qing chen and
Jia Yi fan Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong
Women’s Doubles (China) (South Korea)
Feng Yan zhe and Huang Dong ping Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin
Mixed Doubles (China) (China)

About Chirag and Satwik pair:
i.Korea Open 2023 marks their 3rd Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 500 title.
• The Chirag and Satwik pair became the first Indian pair to win the Korea Open.
ii.The Chirag and Satwik pair won many titles including 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold,
Thomas Cup gold, bronze medal in 2022 World Championships and also won Super 300 (Syed Modi and Swiss
Open), Super 500 (Thailand and India Open), Super 750 (French Open) and Indonesia Open Super 1000.
Korea Open 2023:
i.The Korea Open 2023 is the seventeenth tournament in the 2023 BWF World Tour calendar and the fifth
Super 500 event of the season.
ii.The 30th edition of Korea Open is organized by Badminton Korea Association with sanctions from the
Badminton World Federation (BWF).
• Total Prize money: USD420,000
iii.The BWF World Tour is divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, four Super 1000, six Super 750,
seven Super 500, and 11 Super 300.In addition, the BWF Tour Super 100 level offers ranking points.
Satwik set two Guinness world records with fastest badminton hits in controlled environments and on-
field
i.India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has set the Guinness world record for the fastest hit by a male player in
badminton with a 565 kilometre/hour(351 milesperhour) smash.
ii.He broke the previous record of 493 km/h (306.34 mph) by Malaysian Tan Boon Heong in 2013.
iii.Malaysia’s Tan Pearly also set the Guinness world record for the fastest female badminton hits with a
remarkable speed of 438 km/h (about 272 mph).
iv.Satwik’s smash was conducted in a controlled environment at the Yonex factory gymnasium in Soka,
Saitama, Japan.
• Rankireddy and Tan Pearly’s world record attempts were achieved on April 14, 2023, and were
confirmed by the Guinness World Records judges based on speed measurement findings from that
day.
On-field Record:
i.Satwik also set the fastest badminton hit on field by hitting 500 km/h (310 mph) at the Men’s Doubles
quarterfinals of 2023 Korean Open with Chirag Shetty against Japan’s Taku Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.
ii.Previous record was set by India’s Lakshya Sen with a smash of 420 km/h during the men’s singles final of
the 2023 Canadian Open.
Pakistan A Wins ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023

On 23rd July 2023, Pakistan A cricket team won Asian Cricket Council(ACC) Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup
2023 by defeating India A in the finals at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• This marks Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the tournament,previously it won the cup in the
2019 finals against Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
About ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023:
i.The fifth edition ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 held from 13th July to 23rd July 2023 in Colombo,
Sri Lanka.
ii.The eight teams participated in the event including India A, Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, Oman
A, Pakistan A, Nepal A and United Arab Emirates A.

List of award winners:
Award Player
Player of the Series Nishant Sindhu (India)
Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Most Runs in the tournament (225 runs)
Nishant Sindhu (India)
Most Wickets in the tournament (11 wickets)
Player of the Final Tayyab Tahir (Pakistan)
Note:
The India A cricket team is the second tier of the Indian national cricket team, consisting of players who are
usually on their way of making it into the national squad.
About ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup:
i.It is organised by the Asian Cricket Council(ACC) and the first editon was held at Singapore in 2013.
ii.The list of teams that won the cup includes India(2013), Sri Lanka(2017), Sri Lanka(2018),Pakistan( 2019)
and Pakistan( 2023).
About Asian Cricket Council(ACC):
President – Jay Shah
Headquarters– Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard has won 110th edition of the Tour de France
Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard of the Jumbo-Visma, Dutch professional bicycle racing team,has
won 110th edition of the Tour de France for a second straight year on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France. The
Tour de France (Tour of France) is an annual men’s multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France.
• Vingegaard crossed the finish line after the 21-day race 7min 29sec ahead of Slovenia’s Tadej
Pogacar, the champion in 2020 and 2021.
• Vingegaard’s winning margin (7 minutes and 29 seconds) was the largest since 2014.
• The tour covers 3,405 kilometres with eight mountain stages across five mountain ranges.
Vingegaard seized control of the race over two stages in the Alps.
Sri Lankan Cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne retires from international cricket

On 23rd July 2023, Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne announced his retirement from international
cricket with immediate effect, after a 12-year cricket career.
About His Career:
i.Thirimanne represented Sri Lanka in 44 Test matches, 127 One-Day Internationals(ODI) and 26 Twenty20
(T20) Internationals after his debut in 2010.
ii.He has represented Sri Lanka in two ODI World Cups (2015, 2019) and three T20 World Cup campaigns,
including Sri Lanka’s victory in 2014.
iii. He Scored more than 5000 international runs across all three formats and In five ODIs, he also served as Sri
Lanka’s captain.
iv.Thirimanne’s final appearance for Sri Lanka was the Test match against India at Bengaluru in March 2022.
Tennis: India’s Sumit Nagal wins Men’s Singles Tampere Open 2023
On 23rd July 2023, Indian Tennis Player Sumit Nagal won Men’s Singles title of the Tampere Open 2023 by
defeating Dalibor Svrcina of Czech Republic in Tampere, Finland.
• This marks Sumit Nagal’s fourth Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger title in five
outings and his second title in 2023, when he won the Garden Open 2023 in Rome, Italy.

• Previously he won the 2019 ATP Buenos Aires(Argentina open) and 2017ATP Bengaluru
Challengers.
• The 41st editon of the Tampere Open was held in
Tampere, Finland from 17th July to 23rd July, 2023.
About Tampere Open 2023:
i.Tampere Open is part of the ATP Challenger 75 category and
played on Clay surface.
ii.In 1982, the Tampere Tennis Center hosted the first Tampere
Open. After 40 editions, the tournament is now the longest-
running Challenger in history.
iii. In 2007, the Tampere Open also opened for women, when the
women’s ITF tournament began to be organized.
• In 2023, only the men’s tournament will be played at the Tampere Open.
About Sumit Nagal:
i.The 25-year old Sumit Nagal hails from Jhajjar District of Haryana and started playing Proffesional tennis from
2015.
• His career best ATP men’s singles ranking is 122 at 2020.
Key Points:
i.He won the prize money of USD 9,880 and collected 75 ATP points from this tournament.
ii.He secured 178th place in ATP World Singles ranking after the winning Tamper Open.
iii.He is the first Indian to win two ATP Challengers in Europe.Previously Indian players Somdev Devvarman,
Rohan Bopanna, and Harsh Mankad had won one ATP Challenger title in Europe.
• He is also the first Indian to win three ATP Challenger singles titles on Clay.
iv.He also becomes the first Indian player to win two ATP Challenger titles in Europe and second in Finland.
Tampere Open 2023 Winners:
Category Winner Runner
Sumit Nagal Dalibor Svrcina
Men’s Singles (India) (Czech Republic)
Vladyslav Orlov (Ukraine)
and
Piotr Matuszewski and Szymon Kielan Adam Taylor
Men’s Doubles (Poland) (Australia)
About ATP Challenger tour:
i.In terms of ranking points and prize money, the ATP Challenger Tour is the second-tier tournament circuit for
men’s professional tennis, placing just below the ATP World Tour.
ii.Events are categorized, in descending order of prestige, as Challenger 125, Challenger 110, Challenger 75, and
Challenger 50
ISSF Junior World Championships 2023: India Finished 2nd with 17 medals
India won 17 Medals(6 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze)and secured the 2nd spot in the overall medal tally of the
3rd edition International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championships
2023Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun. The event held from 14th July to 25th July 2023 at Changwon Shooting Range,
Changwon, South Korea.
• China topped the medal tally with 28 medals(12 Golds, 9 Silver and 7 Bronze).
Note:
Previously India topped the medal tally with 43 medals(17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze) in ISSF Junior World
Championships 2021 at Lima, Peru.

Overall Medal Tally:
1 China 12 9 7 28
2 India 6 6 5 17
3 Ukraine 5 3 2 10
Highlights:
i.The 19-year old Kamaljeet won two golds in the men’s 50m pistol
event and the 50m pistol men’s team event along with Ankait Tomar
and Sandeep Bishnoi.
ii.Abhinav Shaw and Gautami Bhanot won the gold medal in the
10m air rifle mixed team.
• Gautami Bhanot also won the silver medal in 10m air rifle
women’s team along with Uttam Sonam Maskar and Swati
Chowdhury.
• Abhinav Shaw also won the gold medal in 10m air rifle
men’s team along with Srikanth Dhanush and Parth Rakesh Mane.
iii.Sainyam won three medals including a gold in 10m air pistol women, and a bronze each in the 10m air pistol
mixed team and women’s team events.
iv.Sameer, Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Anandakumar won silver medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire
Pistol team event.
• They totalled 1730 points to finish behind China’s 1747, which equalled the existing junior world
record in the event.
v.Indian pair of Harmehar Singh Lally and Sanjana Sood bagged a silver medal in the skeet mixed team event.
Shooter Event
Kamaljeet 50m pistol men
Shubham Bisla 10m air pistol men
Sainyam 10m air pistol women
Abhinav Shaw and Gautami Bhanot 10m air rifle mixed team
Abhinav Shaw, Srikanth Dhanush and Parth Rakesh Mane 10m air rifle men’s team
Yashita Shokeen, Veerpal Kaur and Tiyana 50m pistol women’s team
Kamaljeet, Ankait Tomar and Sandeep Bishnoi 50m pistol men’s team
Indian Silver Medal Winners:
Shooter Event
Shubham Bisla, Amit Sharma and Abhinav Choudhary 10m air pistol men’s team
Uttam Sonam Maskar, Gautami Bhanot and Swati Chowdhury 10m air rifle women’s team
Raiza Dhillon Women’s skeet
Harmehar Singh Lally and Sanjana Sood Mixed team skeet
Sameer, Mahesh Anandakumar and Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu 25m rapid fire pistol men’s team
Bakhtyaruddin Malek, Shardul Vihan and Arya Vansh Tyagi Trap men team

Indian Bronze Medal Winner:
Shooter Event
Abhinav Chaudhary and Sainyam 10m air pistol mixed team
Sainyam, Urva Chaudhary and Anjali Chaudhary 10m air pistol women’s team
Umamahesh Maddineni 10m air rifle men
Unish Holinder, Randeep Singh and Akshay Kumar 25m standard pistol men’s team
Yashita Shokeen, Prarthana Khanna and Tiyana 25m standard pistol women’s team
Participation:
i.A total of 90 Indian shooters participated in pistol, rifle and shotgun events in the under-21 age category.
ii.India’s contingent were the largest among all, followed by 66 shooters from South Korea and 46 Shooters
from the United States of America(USA).
iii.Around 550 shooters from 44 countries participated in the event.
About International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):
President – Luciano Rossi
Headquarters – Munich, Germany
Aditya Samant Becomes India’s 83rd Chess Grandmaster

On 26th July 2023, Aditya S Samant (17) an International Master, became India’s 83rd chess Grandmaster (GM)
by earning his 3rd GM norm against Aryan Chopra in the 9th round of Biel Chess Festival Master Tournament
(MTO) 2023 in Switzerland.
Note: To become a GM, a player has to secure 3 GM norms and cross
the live rating of 2,500 Elo points.
Key points:
i.Aditya who hails from Maharashtra earned his 1st GM norm at the
age of 16 at the ABU Dhabi Masters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates (UAE) in August 2022 and secured his 2nd GM norm at the
3rd El Llobregat Open, Spain in December 2022.
ii.His live rating when going into the ninth round game was 2525.4
and to achieve his 3rd GM norm, he just needed to play his 9th round
game against Aryan Chopra.
iii.Aditya became an International Master in 2022 at the 1st Maharashtra GM Open 2022.
Indian achievers in Biel Chess tournament:
i.Aditya is the third Indian to achieve the final GM norm at the Biel Chess tournament.
ii.In 2021, Harshit Raja and in 2022, Pranav Anand earned their final GM norm at the Biel Chess tournament.
82nd Grandmaster:
Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth had become India’s 82nd Grandmaster in May 2023.
OBITUARY
Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ actor, dies at 89
On June 29 2023, Veteran United States(US) actor Alan Arkin, who received four Academy Award nominations
and won an Oscar passed away in Carlsbad, California, United States of America(USA)at the age of 89.
• He demonstrated his versatility from farcical comedy to chilling drama.
Early life:
i.He was born on 26th March 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
ii.He began his career in theater on Broadway, New York before entering into television and film roles.

iii.He won the Tony Award for best actor for the play Enter Laughing in 1963.
Notable works and awards:
i.Arkin won his Oscar for his supporting performance in the indie
comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” in 2007.
ii.He starred in films including “Catch-22”, “Edward Scissorhands”
and “Argo,” and series like “BoJack Horseman.”
iii.His most recent role was on Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method,”
where he earned two Emmy nominations.
iv.Arkin earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe
Award, and British Academy Film Award.
v.He also received multiple Oscar nominations, including for his
first film “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” in 1967 and for “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter”
in 1969.
K M Vasudevan Namboothiri, Line Artist from Kerala, passed away at 98

On 7th July 2023, Karuvattu Mana (K M ) Vasudevan Namboothiri, one of India’s fine line artists and a literary
illustrator from Kerala passed away at the age of 98 in Kottakkal, Malappuram district, Kerala. He was born in
1925 in Ponnani, Madras Presidency, British India(now in Kerala).
• He is well known for his illustrations for short stories and novels of Malayalam, like Randamoozham
(M.T. Vasudevan Nair), Enippadikal (Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai), Pithamahan (VKN) and
Smarakasilakal (Punathil Kunhabdulla).
• In 2004, the Lalithakala Akademi of Kerala honoured him with the Raja Ravi Varma Award; he also
served as the President of the Kerala Lalithakalai Akademi.
• He received the Kerala State Film Award for art direction for his work in the film ‘Uttarayanam’ in
1974.
Spain’s only Ballon d’Or winner Luis Suarez passed away at 88

Former Spanish footballer Luis Suarez Miramontes, The Ballon d’Or winner passed away at the age of 88 in
Milan, Italy.He was the only spanish-born men’s footballer to receive the Ballon d’Or award (1960) as of July
2023.
• Luis Suárez Miramontes is often referred to as the
“Golden Galician” and nicknamed as “The Architect”.
About Luis Suarez:
i.Luis Suarez was born in La Coruna, Spain in 1935 and began his
career as footballer at Deportivo La Coruna football club.
ii.He represented Barcelona team for 253 games scoring 141 goals
from 1954 to 1961 and was the part of winning two Liga titles
(1958-59 and 1959-60), two Spanish Cups (1956-57 and 1958-
59), and two Fairs Cups (1957-58 and 1959-60) .
iii.He played for Italian football club Inter Milan from 1961 to 1969, winning three Serie A titles, two European
Cups and two Intercontinental Cups during his stay in Milan.
iv.He represented the Spanish national team for 32 games between 1957 and 1972, including winning the
European Cup in 1964.
v.He also coached the Spanish National Team (La Roja) at the 1990 world cup in Italy.
Note:
Alexia Putellas of Spain won the women’s Ballon d’Or twice in 2021 and 2022.
About Ballon d’Or Award:
The Ballon d’Or is annually presented by the France Football magazine to the world’s best footballer for their
performances over the previous year , since 1956.

Nirmala Buch, 1st and only woman Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh passed away at 97
Nirmala Buch, the first and only woman chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh (MP) (1991 to 1993) passed
away at the age of 97 in Bhopal, MP. She was born in Khurja district of Uttar Pradesh on October 11, 1925.
• She was a 1960 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer who is well known for her primary
role in framing ‘Gramin Vikas’ (Rural Development) and Panchayati Raj’ (Local self- Governance)
systems in MP during her term at the Yojana Aayog (now National Institution for Transforming India
(NITI) Ayog).
• She served as financial and education secretary from 1975-1977 to the Government of MP.
• She established ‘Mahila Chetna Manch’ (MCM) in 1984 to work for women’s empowerment.
Nikki McCray-Penson, Basketball Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, Passed Away at Age 51
Nikki McCray-Penson, a former basketball star and current Rutgers assistant coach has passed away at age 51.
She hails from Tennessee, United States of America(USA).
• McCray-Penson won two Olympic gold medals for the USA –
first in Atlanta in 1996 and then in Sydney in 2000.
• McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball
Hall of Fame in 2012.
McCray-Penson career:
i.McCray-Penson played in the Women’s National Basketball
Association (WNBA) for Washington, Indiana, Phoenix, San Antonio
and Chicago where she was a three-time All-Star.
ii.McCray-Penson went on to play two seasons in the American Basketball League, from 1998-2006
earning MVP(Most Valuable Player) honors and winning the League championship with the Columbus Quest in
1997 and scored 2,550 career points.
McCray-Penson career as coach:
i.McCray-Penson also had a legendary 15-year career as a basketball coach.
ii.She won a national title in 2017 as an assistant coach under Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina,
the first title for the women’s basketball program.
iii.She later served as the head coach at Old Dominion and then Mississippi State University.
Eminent Mathematician Mangala Narlikar Passed Away

On 17th July 2023, renowned Indian mathematician and educationalist Mangala Narlikar, passed away at the
age of 80 in Pune, Maharashtra. She was born on 17th May 1943 in Bombay Province, British India (now in
Pune, Maharashtra).
• She is the spouse of Prof Jayant V. Narlikar, Indian
cosmologist & astrophysicist, the founder director of the
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
(IUCAA), Pune(Maharashtra).
i. In 1980, she obtained her PhD in Analytic Number Theory from
Mumbai University (MU)
ii. Dr Mangala Narlikar carried out research in pure mathematics and
her core fields of interest were real and complex analysis, analytic
geometry, number theory, algebra and topology.
iii. She also worked for Balbharti, the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production & Curriculum
Research Centre(MSBTPCRC), a government organization responsible for developing and publishing textbooks
for schools in Maharashtra. Later in 2013 she was made ‘Chairman’ of Balbharti.
iv. Initially, she has worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai(Maharashtra) and
later joined as a lecturer at Bombay University and Pune universities.

Books Written:
Mangala Narlikar has written several books for school students on mathematics in English, Hindi and Marathi
in simple terms. Some of them are
1. “Dosti Ganitashi!” is a book written in Marathi.
2. “A Cosmic Adventure” is a Marathi book co-authored by Jayant Narlikar.
3. “Fun and Fundamentals of Mathematics” is an English book co-authored by Jayant Narlikar.
4. “Ganit Gappa (Part 1 & 2)” is a Marathi book written by the author.
5. “Pahilele Desh Bhetleli Manas” is a Marathi book by the author.
6. “Nabhat Hasare Tare” is a Marathi book co-authored by Ajeet Kembhavi and Jayant Narlikar.
Additional Info:
Jayant Narlikar (spouse of Mangala Narlikar) along with Sir Fred Hoyle developed the conformal gravity theory,
called ‘Hoyle–Narlikar’.
Former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy Passes Away

On 18th July 2023, Former Chief Minister(CM) of Kerala and veteran Indian National Congress(INC) leader
Oommen Chandy passed away at the age of 79 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was born on October 31, 1943 in
Kottayam, Kerala.
• He served as the Chief Minister twice (2004–2006 and
again from 2011–2016) for a total of seven years. By
serving for 2,459 days as CM, he is the fourth longest
served CM of the state after Kerala’s former Chief
Ministers E K Nayanar (4,009 days), K Karunakaran
(3,246 days) and C Achutha Menon (2,640 days)
As Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA):
• As of 2nd August 2022, Oommen Chandy was the longest
serving Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of
Kerala’s State Legislative Assembly representing Puthuppally constituency of Kerala for 18,728
days.
• Since the establishment of Kerala state, the assembly has seen a total of 970 legislators, but only K M
Mani(President of Kerala Congress-M) and Oommen Chandy have achieved the remarkable
milestone of completing 50 years as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
• Having commenced his tenure as a legislator with a victory in the 1970 Assembly elections, he
continued to secure triumphs in 12 consecutive polls till 2021.
As a Minister:
Oommen Chandy served as a minister in the state cabinet on four separate occasions.
i. In the first Karunakaran Cabinet (1977) and the first Antony cabinet (1977-78), he held the position of
Minister for Labour in Kerala State Government.
• During his tenure as Labour Minister, Chandy introduced unemployment wages for the first time
in the country.
ii. During the second Karunakaran cabinet (1981-82), he took charge of the Home Department in the State
Government.
iii. Additionally, he served as the Finance Minister of Kerala from 1991 to 1994 in the fourth Karunakaran
cabinet.
Additional Info:
• Oommen Chandy received recognition from the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) for
spearheading a series of pioneering initiatives in democratic governance under the Government of
Kerala. These efforts aimed at enhancing people’s access and involvement in human development
and governance.

• First of its kind in the country, Chief Minister’s Mass Contact Programme, introduced by Chandy,
marked a groundbreaking approach in the nation as it facilitated direct communication and
interaction between Chandy and the citizens.
American Singer & Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett Passes Away
On 21st July 2023, legendary American pop & jazz singer and recipient of 19 Grammy awards, Tony
Bennett(Anthony Dominick Benedetto or Joe Bari) passed away at the age of 96. He was born on 3rd August
1926 in Queens, New York, United States of America(USA).
About Tony Bennett:
He received a Recording Academy (Grammy)’s Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2001. He sold more than 50 million albums
worldwide.
• In 1999, Bennett and his wife, Susan, founded Exploring
the Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the role
of the arts in public high school education.
Records:
• In 2014, he made the album ‘Cheek to Cheek’ in
collaboration with Lady Gaga, becoming the oldest living act to reach the top spot in the US, breaking
his record for his album Duets II in 2011.
• In 2021, at the age of 95 years and 60 days, with the release of “Love for Sale,” his second
collaboration with Gaga, as it made him the oldest person to launch a new material album, setting
a Guinness World Record.
Grammy & Other Recognistion:
i.Out of 19 Grammy awards, Bennett received first Grammy for the song “I Left My Heart in San
Francisco,” under two category (for Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male). Later it was
inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994.
ii.In 1994, his MTV Unplugged outing won Bennett a Grammy for album of the year
iii.Four of his albums were certified Platinum (given by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),
including I Left My Heart in San Francisco (1962), MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett (1994), Duets: An American
Classic (2006) and Duets II (2011).
iv.Other albums: ‘Because of You’(1951- first No. 1 hit ), ‘The Art of Excellence’(1986), ‘Perfectly Frank’(1992)
v.’Love for Sale’(2021) was his last studio release.
Note: Platinum is the certification awarded to music albums that have sold more than 1 million copies.
As a painter:
• The United Nations twice commissioned his artwork, including their 50th Anniversary “Peace” and
“Brotherhood”.
• “Homage to Hockney,” is on permanent display at the Butler Institute of American Art (Ohio, USA),
and “Boy on Sailboat, Sydney Bay.” in National Arts Club(New York, USA)
As a Democrat:
i.In 1944, Tony Bennett served in the US Army during World War II, fighting in France and Germany.
ii.He was a supporter of the civil rights movement, participating in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches.
Czech-French novelist Milan Kundera Passed Away

On 11th July 2023, Milan Kundera, Czech Republic-born French writer passed away in Paris, France at the
age of 94. He was born on April 1, 1929 in Brno city, Czech Republic (erstwhile Czechoslovakia).
He was best-known for his 1984 novel ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’.
• He emigrated to France in 1975 after his dismissal from the Czechoslovakian Communist Party for
“anti-communist activities and he lost his Czech nationality in 1979 and became a citizen of France
in 1981. After 40 years, his Czech citizenship was restored in 2019.

• His notable work includes The Joke (1967); Laughable Loves (1968); Life is Elsewhere (1969); The
Book of Laughter and Forgetting” (1979); Immortality (1988); Identity (1998)
• His awards include the Jerusalem Prize (1985); the Herder Prize (2000).
Renowned Marathi Writer Shirish Kanekar Passed Away

On 25th July 2023, Shirish Kanekar, Veteran Marathi writer and columnist passed away in Mumbai,
Maharashtra at the age of 80. He was born on June 6, 1943 in Pune, Maharashtra.
• He worked at Marathi and English language publications like Loksatta, Indian Express, Samana, and
Free Press Journal. He was popular for his newspaper columns on Cinema, Cricket and Politics.
• His notable works include: Humorous articles like ‘Kanekari’, Fillambaji’, and ‘Shirishasan’;
Bollywood movies such as “Nut Bolt Bolpat,” “Kanekari,” and “Cricket Vedh”; Books such as Irsalaki;
Surparambya.
His collection of stories titled ‘Lagaon Batti,’ was recognised and honoured with the Maharashtra Literary
Parishad Award for Best Comedy- Joshi Award
BOOKS & AUTHORS

Kerala Governor Released Malayalam Translation Of ‘Krishna – The 7th Sense’ by Debashis
Chatterjee
On 8th July 2023, Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala, released the book “Krishnan Oru
Ezhamindriyam”, the Malayalam translation of ‘Krishna – the 7th Sense’ authored by Prof. Debashis
Chatterjee, Director of Institutes of Management (IIM)-Kozhikode(Kerala), during the event held at IIM,
Kozhikode, Kerala.
The book was translated from English to Malayalam by V Madhusoodan.
• ‘Krishna – the 7th Sense is Debashis Chatterjee’s debut novel in fiction and a spiritual work on love
and living published in 2022.
The Governor also disclosed the latest edition of Debashis Chatterjee’s work Karma Sutras – Leadership and
Wisdom in Uncertain Times, the lead book of the IIMK (Kozhikode)-Penguin Series for New Managers.
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav Released MSSRF’s Pictorial Book on Mangrove

On 14th July 2023, Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, released the
pictorial book titled ‘Biodiversity and Importance of Mangrove Ecosystem’ authored by scientists from the
M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).
• It provides a comprehensive overview of the mangrove ecosystem in India and is available in
English, Tamil and Telugu.
• It contains simple descriptions to explain mangrove species across India, medicinal uses of
mangroves and several wildlife creatures that thrive in the ecosystem.
The book can be downloaded from the MSSRF website www.mssrf.org
Former CEC of India TN Seshan authored his autobiography “Through The Broken Glass”
‘Through The Broken Glass: An Autobiography authored by T.N. Seshan, the former Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) of India, who made a significant difference to Indian elections. It was published by Rupa
Publications India. This autobiography also covers his term as the CEC from 1990 to 1995 with a page count of
368. It has been published 4 years after he passed away in 2019.
• In the early part of his career he described his first posting as a sub-collector in Dindigul and then a
collector in Madurai of Tamil Nadu.
T.N. Seshan is also the author of An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election.

Venkaiah Naidu Released the Book “As the Wheel Turns” in Chennai
On 20th July 2023, Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu released the book titled “As the wheel turns” to mark
the Rayala Corporation’s Diamond Jubilee(75th year celebration) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• The book is authored by Ranjit Pratap, Managing Director of Rayala Corporation.
The book offers a remarkable 50 years journey of Ranjit Pratap’s personal experiences, hardships and triumphs
in the world of business.
About Rayala Corporation:
i.Rayala Corporation was founded by Rajagopal Naidu in 1948 as an automotive spare parts and office
equipment product company. The headquarters is located in Chennai,Tamil Nadu.
ii.It has now diversified into sectors including arms and ammunition, real estate, organic farming and food
processing.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Asteroid Day 2023 – June 30
The United Nations (UN)’s International Asteroid Day is annually observed across the world on 30th June to
raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard and to inform the public about the crisis
communication actions to be taken at the global level in case of a credible Near-Earth Object (NEO) threat.
Background:
i. In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution, A/RES/71/90 and
proclaimed the 30th June of every year as the International Asteroid Day.
ii. The observance of the day was based on a proposal by the Association of Space Explorers, which was
endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
iii. The first-ever International Asteroid Day was observed on 30th June 2017.
History:
Asteroid Day was co-founded by Dr Brian May, an astrophysicist and famed musician of the rock group Queen;
Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut; Grig Richters, filmmaker; and Danica Remy, President of B612
Foundation to educate the public about the importance of asteroids and so on
Why June 30?
30th June marks the anniversary of the Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history, the Siberia
Tunguska event, which occurred on 30th June 1908.
Siberia Tunguska event:
Siberia Tunguska event, a massive 12-megaton explosion that happened near the Podkamennaya Tunguska
River in Yeniseysk Governorate of Eastern Siberia (Current Krasnoyarsk Krai) in Russia.
What Is an Asteroid?
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Although asteroids orbit the Sun like planets, they are
much smaller than planets.
Near-Earth Objects (NEO): A Near-Earth Object is an asteroid or comet which passes close to the Earth’s
orbit, which represents potentially catastrophic threats to our planet.
UN and Outer Space:
i. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has worked on NEO, recognising a NEO impact
hazard as a global issue demanding an international response.
ii. UNOOSA works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the
utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.

About United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):
Note: Aarti Holla-Maini appointed as Director of UNOOSA on 28th June 2023.
Established in- 13 December 1958
UNOOSA Acting Director- Niklas Hedman
Headquarters- Vienna- Austria
International Day of Parliamentarism 2023 – June 30

The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Parliamentarism is annually celebrated across the globe on 30
June to celebrate Parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the day-
to-day lives of people across the world.
• The day also marks the anniversary of the foundation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global
organization of national parliaments, founded on 30th June 1889.
• 30th June 2023 marks the 134th anniversary of IPU.
The theme of International Day of Parliamentarism 2023 is “Parliaments for the Planet”.
• The 2023 theme focus on climate action and emphasis that ‘climate action starts at home’.
IPU’s campaign for International Day of Parliamentarism 2023:
The IPU-launched campaign “Parliaments for the Planet” to mobilize parliaments and parliamentarians to act
on the climate emergency.
The campaign is made up of 2 parts:
i.My parliament- This emphasises parliaments and the people working there to reduce their carbon footprints
and transform to green energy.
ii.My planet- To empower parliament to create climate change legislation in the area of the Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) to carry out the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees
Celsius.
Background:
i.The United United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/278 on 22nd May
2018 and proclaimed the 30th June of every year as the International Day of Parliamentarism to acknowledge
the importance of parliamentary institutions.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Parliamentarism was observed on 30th Jun 2018.
Why 30th June?
30th June was chosen to mark the foundation day of the IPU founded on 30th June 1889 in Paris, France.
History of IPU:
i.The idea for the IPU was laid by William Randal Cremer(England) and Frédéric Passy(France) by setting up
an association of MPs which has been transformed into a global organization.
ii.The IPU was instrumental in setting up the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 1899,and helped
in laying the foundations for the creation of the League of Nations in 1919 and the United Nations in 1945.
About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):
President- Duarte Pacheco
Secretary General- Martin Chungong
Headquartered- Geneva, Switzerland
Members– 79 Member Parliaments and 14 Associate Members.
Slogan– “For democracy. For everyone.”
National Doctor’s Day 2023 – July 1

National Doctor’s Day is annually observed across India on 1st July to appreciate and honour the valuable
contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals in India. This day also gives an opportunity to thank
doctors for their selfless service and efforts for the well-being of the people in India.

• The day also commemorates the birth as well as the death Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan
Chandra Roy (BC Roy), a physician and one of the most influential designers of India’s contemporary
healthcare system.
• The national observance of Doctor’s Day across India is led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
The theme for National Doctor’s Day 2023 in India is – “Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands”.
The 2023 theme aims to recognise and appreciate the tireless efforts of our medical professionals during the
period of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be resilient as newer diseases, infections and health issues
emerge.
Background:
i. In India, the celebration of National Doctor’s Day was initiated by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for
the first time on 1st July 1991.
ii. Since 1991, the day has been celebrated as a significant occasion to honour and appreciate the invaluable
contributions of doctors, promote medical awareness, and encourage the well-being of the medical community.
About Bidhan Chandra Roy (BC Roy):
i. Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on July 1, 1882 in Patna, Bihar.
ii. After completing his medical studies at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, the United Kingdom (UK), he
completed both the Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and the Fellow of the Royal College of
surgeons (FRCS) degrees in a span of only two years and three months.
iii. He also pioneered the founding of the IMA in 1928 and the Medical Council of India in 1934 and also served
as the first President of the Medical Council of India.
iv. He was a personal doctor of Mahatma Gandhi and the first medical consultant in the subcontinent of India.
v. He served as the 2nd Chief Minister of West Bengal (from 1948 to 1962).
vi. In 1961, the Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in recognition of his immense
services to society. He passed away on 1st July 1962.
Events in 2023:
i. On the occasion of National Doctors Day 2023, the IMA has organised a national event in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Communications, graced the event as Chief Guest.
About Indian Medical Association (IMA):
National President- Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal
75th National Chartered Accountants Day – 1st July 2023

The National Chartered Accountants (CA) Day is annually observed across India on 1st July to commemorate
the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on 1st July 1949. It is also known as
ICAI Foundation Day which honors the work of all Chartered Accountants.
• 1st July 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the ICAI.
Theme for 2023:
The theme for the year 2023 is ‘Empowering Financial Excellence’.
Event 2023:
i.To commemorate the 75th anniversary, President of India Droupadi Murmu attended the CA foundation day
and launched the new syllabus at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi, Delhi
• The syllabus is formulated with the new Scheme of Education and Training in line with International
Education Standards and National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP).
• ICAI celebrated the event as Vishwaska Utsav showcasing ICAI’s name as an embodiment of
Independence, Integrity & Excellence.
ii.India Post, Ministry of Communication & Technology, released a commemorative stamp of ICAI on the
occasion of the CA Day 2023 to mark the beginning of its 75th year.
iii.ICAI also launched a Special logo to commemorate the beginning of its 75th year.

Feature of the logo:
i.The logo features a modern interpretation of the Garuda, the mythical bird-like creature that is a symbol of
strength, power, and wisdom in Indian mythology.
ii.The vibrant blue color on the logo represents the dynamism and innovation of the chartered accounting
profession.
iii.The logo also features the words “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India” in a sans-serif font and a
tagline: ‘75 Years of Trust’.
ICAI:
i.The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament,
(The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949) to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country.
• The ICAI is the 2nd largest professional body of CA’s in the world an it is the only licensing and
regulatory body for the financial audit and accounting profession in India.
ii.The Institute, functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of
India.
iii.The Council constitutes of 40 members, 32 are elected by the Chartered Accountants and 8 are nominated by
the Central Government representing the Comptroller and Auditor General of India(CAG), Securities and
Exchange Board of India(SEBI), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders.
About Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):
President- Aniket Sunil Talati
Established in 1949
6th Goods and Services Tax Day – 1st July 2023

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Day is annually observed on 1st July to commemorate the implementation of the
GST system, a comprehensive indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services in India.
• 1st July 2023 marks the observance of the 6th GST Day which commemorates the 6th anniversary
of GST coming into force (1st July 2017).
Background:
i.On 1st July, 2017, GST laws were implemented, replacing multiple indirect taxes such as excise duty, service
tax, value-added tax (VAT), and others levied by the Central and State Governments.
ii.On 30th June 2018, the Government of India announced the decision to celebrate the 1st July of every year as
the GST Day.
• The first-ever GST day was observed on 1st July 2018, which marked the first anniversary of the
Implementation of GST.
Events 2023:
• Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs presided over as the chief guest
of the celebrations of the 6th GST Day organised at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• Two taxpayers, namely, Ji Shoji India Pvt. Ltd. and Rajan Agro Green Foods Pvt ltd also received
commendation from the MSME category.
Key People:
Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for Finance, Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary of Revenue; Vivek Johri,
Chairperson of CBIC, and Members of the GST Council also participated in the event.
Genesis of GST:
i.The idea of a nationwide GST in India was first proposed by the Kelkar Task Force on Indirect taxes in 2000.
Objective: To replace the existing complex and fragmented tax structure with a unified system which will
simplify compliance, reduce tax cascading, and promote economic integration.
ii.The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014, which aimed to amend the Constitution to enable the
implementation of GST, was introduced in Parliament and was passed in 2015.

iii.The bill was later passed in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha in August 2016 and received the assent of the
President on 8th September 2016.
iv.The GST Council was notified with effect from 15th September 2016 and the office of the GST Council
Secretariat was established to assist the GST Council.On 1st July 2017, GST laws were implemented.
Features of GST:
Dual Structure: The GST operates under dual structure: Central GST (CGST) levied by the Central Government
and the State GST (SGST) levied by the State Governments.
• For Inter-state transactions, Integrated GST (IGST) is applicable, which is collected by the Central
Government and apportioned to the respective State.
• GST is levied at each stage of the supply chain, from the manufacturer to the consumer.It is applied
to the value addition at each stage and reduce the burden on the end consumer.
Gross GST Revenue – June 2023:
The gross GST revenue collected by the end of June 2023 is Rs 1,61,497 crore. For the 4th time, the gross GST
collection has crossed Rs. 1.60 lakh crore mark.
• This includes Rs 31,013 crore CGST, Rs 38,292 crore SGST and Rs 80,292 crore IGST(including Rs
39,035 crore collected on import of goods) and Rs 11,900 crore cess (including Rs 1,028 crore
collected on import of goods).
• The government has settled Rs 36,224 crore to CGST and Rs 30,269 crore to SGST from IGST.
• The total revenue of the Centre and the States in the month of June 2023 after the regular settlement
is Rs 67,237 crore for CGST and Rs 68,561 crore for SGST.
• The revenue of June 2023 is 12% higher than the GST revenues of June 2022.
About GST Council :-
As per Article 279A (4), the GST Council will make recommendations to the Union and the States on important
issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST
Laws, principles that govern Place of Supply, threshold limits.
• Chairperson of GST Council is Union Finance Minister Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman
World Sports Journalists Day 2023 – July 2

World Sports Journalist Day is annually observed all over the world on 2nd July to acknowledge and honour
the hard work of sports journalists across the world. The day also commemorates the foundation of the
International Sports Press Association (AIPS Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive) in 1924 in Paris,
France.
2nd July 2023 marked the 99th Anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).
Background:
i. World Sports Journalists Day was established by the AIPS in 1994 to mark the 70th anniversary of its
foundation and celebrate the achievements of members of the sporting media.
ii. To mark the foundation of AIPS, July 2nd each year has been designated World Sports Journalists Day.
iii. The first-ever World Sports Journalists Day was observed on July 2nd 1994.
History of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS):
i.During the 1924 Summer Olympics at Paris, France,AIPS was established in Paris, France as Association
Internationale de la Presse Sportive by Frantz Reichel, Games Press Chief and Victor Boin, Belgian freestyle
swimmer.
ii. The first Congress was held in July 1924, with 29 nations present.
Note: 85 Congresses have been held since 1924, with the last one taking place in Seoul, the Republic of Korea
(South Korea) in May 2023.
AIPS Card:
It is the only official sports press card recognised across all borders, represents an important network of
contacts, information and communications linking more than 10,000 journalists as well as leading international
daily newspapers, periodicals and radio and television channels across the five continents.

AIPS Sport Media Awards:
i. The AIPS Sport Media Awards are the highest international accolade in the sport media industryand is a
celebration of sports media excellence, offering recognition to the very best sport storytellers across all media
platforms.
ii. The 2023 Awards will be the 5thedition and will take place in Seoul, South Korea.
Various Awards for Sports Journalist:
i Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Dave Moore Award by
Elysian Fields Quarterly, the United States of America (USA).
ii. Red Smith Award by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE), the USA.
Federation in India:
i. Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) was formed on 27th February 1976 at the Eden Gardens,
Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal.
ii. In 1978, SJFI became a founding member of the Asian Sports Journalists’ Union and in 1979 the SJFI got
affiliated to the World Sports Journalist body AIPS.
About International Sports Press Association (AIPS):
President- Gianni Merlo
Headquarters- Lausanne, Switzerland
International Plastic Bag Free Day 2023 – July 3

International Plastic Bag Free Day is annually observed across the globe on 3rd July to create awareness about
the hazardous effects of single-use plastic bags on the environment.
• The day is a reminder for individuals and communities globally to decrease their reliance on plastic
bags and look for sustainable solutions as an alternative.
Background:
i.The first International Plastic Bag Free Day was observed on 3rd July 2008, initiated by Rezero, a member of
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE).
ii.The first edition took place in Catalonia ,Barcelona, Spain, and later in 2009 ZWE decided to launch it at
European level.
• The European Union(EU), in 2015, passed specific directives to decrease the dependence on single-
use plastic bags.
Highlights:
i.The Plastic Bag Free Day is a part of the Break free from plastic movement, started in 2016 which unites the
international movement of plastic pollution fighters to build a future free from plastic waste.
ii.In 2002, Bangladesh became the 1st country in the world to implement a ban on thin plastic bags as it
clogged the drainage systems during the floods.
Significance:
i.The Day aims to create awareness about the need to reduce plastic waste, promote sustainable alternatives
and encourage behavioural changes regarding the use of plastic bags.
ii.The day also serves as a reminder of the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment, wildlife and
human health.
Efforts of the Government of India:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified comprehensive guidelines on
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) under plastic waste management rules 2016.
• The MoEFCC adopted,
i.To enforce the ban on identified single-use plastic items,
ii.To implement extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging.
Note: The Guidelines on EPR for Plastic Packaging target recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid
plastic packaging, and use of recycled plastic content.

Alternatives to Plastic Bags
Plastic Bags can be replaced with reusable cotton bags, mesh bags(washed and reused) and paper bags
(biodegradable and recyclable) made up of made of canvas and cotton.
About Zero Waste Europe:
Executive director- Joan Marc Simon
Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
International Day of Cooperatives 2023 – July 1

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) is annually observed across the
globe on the first Saturday of July to raise awareness about the importance of cooperatives and their
contributions to the development of society. CoopsDay is an annual celebration of the Cooperative movement,
one of the world’s oldest and largest business networks.
The day also commemorates the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), one of the
largest non-governmental organisations representing cooperatives.
• ICA was founded in London, England on 19 August 1895 during the 1st Cooperative Congress.
• 1st July 2023 marked the observance of the 101st International Day of Cooperatives.
The theme for the International Day of Cooperatives 2023 is “Cooperatives: partners for accelerated
sustainable development”.
• The 2023 theme highlights how the cooperative way of working, inspired by the cooperative values
and principles, has the accomplishment of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Note: Since 1995, the ICA and the UNs, through the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of
Cooperatives (COPAC), have jointly set the theme for the celebration of CoopsDay.
Background:
i. Since 1923, the International Cooperative Day has been annually celebrated by the global Cooperative
Movement on the 1st Saturday in July.
ii. The first-ever Co-operators Day was observed on 7th July 1923.
iii. In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/47/90 and
proclaimed the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives, marking the centenary of the
establishment of the ICA.
iv. Since 1995, the UNs International Day of Cooperatives has been observed jointly alongside International
Cooperative Day.
v. The 2023 Coops Day marked the 29th International Day of Cooperatives recognised by the UN.
About Co-operative Movement:
i. Co-operatives are associations and enterprises through which people can effectively improve their lives while
contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of their community and nation.
ii. The co-operative movement has been also recognised as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national
and international affairs.
Note: In September 2023, the international community will mark the midpoint in the implementation of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and search ways to demonstrate the contribution of cooperatives in
advancing the achievement of the SDGs.
History of Co-operative:
i. The earliest record of a cooperative comes from Fenwick, Scotland on March 14, 1761.
ii. In 1844 a group of 28 artisans working in the cotton mills in the town of Rochdale, in the north of England,
the United Kingdom (UK) established the first modern cooperative business, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers
Society, also known as the Rochdale Pioneers.
Events of 2023:
i. An online International Conference ‘Cooperative for Sustainable development’ was held on 1st July 2023 from
Donostia, Spain.

ii. During the conference, the Cooperators from all around the world discussed the relationship between the
cooperative movement and each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 1 to 17.
iii. The event was organised by the Higher Council of Cooperatives of the Basque Country together with
Konfekoop and COCETA.
PM inaugurated 17th ICC on the International Day of Cooperatives in Delhi
On the occasion of the International Day of Cooperatives 2023(1st July 2023), Narendra Modi, Prime
Minister of India, inaugurated 17th Indian Cooperative Congress (ICC) on 1st and 2nd July 2023 at
International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The theme of the congress is ‘AmritKaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India’.
• The 2-day event organised by National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) was chaired by Union
Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Ministry of Cooperation.
Note: NCUI is the apex organisation of the cooperative movement in India and is responsible for education and
training of more than 8.5 lakh Cooperatives in India. It has a population of more than 30 crore people.
Highlights of the Event:
i.During the event, PM also launched e-commerce platform NCUI Haatfor Cooperative Marketing.
ii. He also unveiled the cooperative extension and advisory services portal, focusing on a learning management
system which provides information and services for cooperative members, leaders, managers and the general
public.
iii. PM also unveiled a book on ‘Cooperative Growth and Trends in India’, a souvenir on cooperative movement,
training modules on “Member’s role in cooperative” and “Governance in Cooperatives”.
Key People:
i. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the inaugural session of the congress and Om Birla, Lok Sabha
Speaker graced the valedictory function as Chief Guest.
ii. Union Minister ManuskhMandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and BL Verma, Minister of State
(MoS) for Cooperation also participated in the event.
Objective:
The objective of the meeting is to discuss various trends in the cooperative movement, to showcase the best
practices being adopted by the successful cooperatives and to deliberate on challenges being faced by the
cooperative world. The event will witness the participation of more than three thousand 600 stakeholders.
Google Cloud-powered e-commerce App for Cooperative communities
On 1st July 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India launched an e-Commerce App for Cooperative
Marketing, created through a partnership between Google Cloud and the National Cooperative Union of India
(NCUI), during the 17th ICC in New Delhi, Delhi.
Features of the e-Commerce App:
i. The App will enable cooperatives to sell their products directly across different regions, eliminating the need
for intermediaries.
ii. The platform will offer training, capacity building support, and access to government welfare schemes,
assisting cooperatives in areas such as packaging, branding, and market reach.
iii. The e-commerce app will serve as a common platform for cooperative communities to showcase and sell
their products and services to a larger group of people.
Shares of Cooperative Sector of India:
Cooperative sector has a share of about 29% in agriculture credit distribution, 35% in fertiliser distribution,
25% in fertiliser production, 35% in sugar production, about 30% in spindle sector, almost 15% in milk
production, procurement and sale, 13% in wheat procurement, and 20% in paddy procurement.
Additional info:
i. To ensure equality in cooperative law under the constitutional framework, the Parliamentary Committee
government has suggested an amendment in the Multistate Cooperative Societies Act. The law will be
enforced as suggested by the Parliamentary Committee with consensus coming in the coming session of
Parliament.

ii. To bring uniformity in the laws forPrimary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Ministry of Cooperation
prepared the bylaws for PACS and sent it to 26 States and Union Territories (UT) as advisories.
• Around 26 states and UTs have accepted these bylaws and 85% PACS of India will work under the
same law after September 2023.
iii. Initiatives were taken in changing the retail outlets and the Centre has also approved world’s biggest food
grains storage scheme, with the success of this scheme, the share of cooperatives in the storage system will
increase to more than 35% in the next 5 years.
iv. Strengthening the cooperative sector of India by providing PACS in every panchayat of India in the next 3
years.
• Currently 85,000 PACS in India, and 3 lakh PACS will come into existence.
About Ministry of Cooperation:
A separate Ministry of Cooperation in India was set up under the Government of India in 2021.
Union Minister- Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- B. L. Verma (Rajya Sabha Uttar Pradesh)
First ever International Day of Women in Diplomacy – 24th June 2023

The United Nations (UN)’s first ever International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWID) was observed
on 24th June 2023 to recognize the role of Women in Diplomacy as in furthering the Socio-Economic Equitable
and Inclusive Sustainable Development.
• The theme of IDWID 2023 is “Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future: Women in Diplomacy for
Sustainable Development”.
Background:
During its 76th Session, United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/76/269 on 20
June 2022 and proclaimed the 24th June of every year as the International Day of Women in
Diplomacy (IDWID) .
• 24th June 2023 marks the observance of the 1st ever International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
Note: As of January 2023, there were 34 women serving as heads of state and/or government of 31 countries.
First high level forum for IDWID 2023:
On 23rd June 2023, The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and the Permanent Mission of
Malta to the UN organised (virtually) the First High-Level Forum celebrating IDWID 2023.
i.The forum, organised by the RASIT’s programs: World Youth League and Women in Science International
League discussed the role of women diplomats in Breaking Barriers, re-Shaping the Future of achieving the
three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity.
ii.The Inaugural Forum of the IDWID featured interactive conversations led by youth with women diplomats in
the international community and 4 high-level conversations with distinguished women ambassadors.
World Zoonoses Day 2023 – July 6

World Zoonoses Day is annually observed across the globe on 6th July to raise awareness about Zoonosis or
zoonotic disease, an infectious disease that can spread between species, from animals to humans or vice versa.
The day commemorates the anniversary of the day that Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, successfully
administered the first vaccine against rabies, a zoonotic disease on 6th July 1885.
Zoonosis:
i. A zoonosis is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.
There are over 200 known types of zoonoses.
ii. Zoonotic pathogens may be harmful germs like bacteria, virus or parasites, or may involve unconventional
agents and can spread to humans from animals through direct contact or through food, water or the
environment.
iii. Zoonoses include a wide range of new and existing diseases in humans such as Rabies, which are 100%
preventable through vaccination and other treatments.

iv. Other zoonoses such as Ebola virus disease, salmonellosis and COVID-19, have the potential to cause global
pandemics.
Prevention and control:
i. Safe and appropriate guidelines for animal care in the agricultural sector will help reduce the potential for
foodborne zoonotic disease.
ii. Standards for clean drinking water and waste removal, as well as protections for surface water in the natural
environment, are also important and effective.
iii. Education campaigns to promote handwashing after contact with animals and other behavioural
adjustments can reduce community spread of zoonotic diseases.
WHO’s response for Zoonotic disease:
i. World Health Organization (WHO)’s ‘One Health’ is an integrated, unifying approach that mobilises multiple
sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to balance and optimise the health of people,
animals and the environment.
ii. As part of the One Health approach, the WHO collaborates with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
of the United Nations (UN) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the Global Early Warning
System for Major Animal Diseases (GLEWS).
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Founded in- 1948
Director-General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
World Kiswahili Language Day 2023 – July 7

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Kiswahili Language
Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 7th July to recognise the role of Kiswahili language as a
language of unity.
• The day highlights the role of Kiswahili in promoting cultural diversity, creating awareness and
encouraging dialogue among civilizations.
• 7th July 2023 marks the 2nd commemoration of the World Kiswahili Language Day.
The 2023 theme of World Kiswahili Language Day is “Unleashing Kiswahili’s potential in the digital era“,
which highlights the important role played by Kiswahili in the digital landscape.
Significance:
The day offers a platform to promote the potential of Kiswahili to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development as well as the African Union Agenda 2063.
• Kiswahili, also known as Swahili, is one of the most widely used languages of the African family
and the most widely spoken in sub-Saharan Africa.
• It is the only African language within the Directorate of the Global Communications at the UN.
Background:
i. In November 2021, UNESCO in its 41st session of the General Conference adopted the resolution 41 C/61,
proclaimed the 7th July of every year as the World Kiswahili Language Day.
ii. The first-ever World Kiswahili Language Day was observed on 7th July 2022.
Note: Kiswahili is the first African language recognized by the UN.
Why July 7th?
On July 7th 1954, the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) under the Late Mwalimu Julius
Kambarage Nyerere, First President of the United Republic of Tanzania, adopted Kiswahili as a unifying
language for independence struggles.
About Kiswahili:
i. Kiswahili is among the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with more than 200 million speakers.
ii. The language is one of the lingua franca (common language) in many countries within East, Central and
Southern Africa as well as in the Middle East.

iii. It is one of the official languages of the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and East African Community (EAC).
iv. It is an indispensable tool in facilitating regional integration particularly in the implementation of the
African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
v. The UN in 1950, established the Kiswahili language unit of UN Radio.
2023 Events:
i. On 7th July 2023, an event was organised on the basis 2023 theme “Unleashing Kiswahili’s potential in the
digital era” by the UNESCO and the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania, in collaboration with
the State Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community
(EAC) to the UN at New York, the United States of America (USA).
ii. This event drew attention to how Kiswahili can act as a bridge, connecting diverse communities and
facilitating inclusive participation in the digital world.
Establishing Kiswahili from India:
i. Since May 1943, the external service division of Akashvani, formerly known as All India Radio (AIR), the
national public radio broadcaster of India has been broadcasting a daily Kiswahili (Swahili) language service to
reach out to the African community all over the world.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Founded in- 16 November 1945
Director-General- Ms Audrey Azoulay
National Fish Farmer’s Day 2023 – July 10

National Fish Farmer’s Day(NFFD) is annually observed across India on 10th July to recognise the
contributions of the fish farmers, aquaculture industry professionals and other stakeholders towards
sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
• The day offers a platform to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of the fish farmers and
the commitment towards sustainable aquaculture.
• 10th July 2023 marks the observance of 23rd National Fish Farmers Day(NFFD).
Significance:
i.10th July also marks the observance of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Foundation
Day. 10th July 2023 marks the observance of the 17th NFDB Foundation day.
ii.NFDB was established in 2006 as an autonomous organization under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D).
Background:
i.In 2001, the government of India declared every year 10th July will be celebrated as National Fish Farmers
Day.
ii.The first Fish Farmers Day was observed in 2001 by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-
Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), a premier institute of Fisheries Education in India based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Why July 10?
The day honours and commemorates the contribution of Professor Dr Hiralal Chaudhury and his colleague Dr
K. H. Alikunhi, in the Indian fisheries sector for the successful contribution in demonstrating Hypophysation
(technology of induced breeding) in Indian Major Carps (common name for several species of fish) on 10th
July 1957 at the former CIFRI Pond Culture Division in Angul, Odisha.
• This demonstration eventually lead to a revolution in Inland Aquaculture.
Efforts of the Indian government to develop the Fisheries Sector:
i.Since 2015, the Government of India (GoI) has announced a cumulative investment of Rs 38,572 crore.
ii.Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries, under the Blue Revolution Scheme, played a major
role in the development of the fisheries sector.

• The initiative was launched in 2015 with an investment of Rs 3000 core.
iii.During the 2018 budget, Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced the establishment of the
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a corpus of Rs. 7522.48 Crore for the
fisheries sector.
• This supported the development of infrastructure in the fisheries and Aquaculture sector as a whole,
both in the marine and inland fisheries to augment fish production.
iv.In 2020, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to
bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India
• The scheme was envisioned with an overall investment of Rs. 20,050 crore over a period of 5 years.
• During Union Budget 2023–24, Finance Minister announced the Sub-scheme under PMMSY with an
investment of Rs. 6,000 crores.
• The primary objective of PMMSY is to enhance fish production to an impressive 22 million metric
ton (MMT) by 2024–25.
v.In June 2023, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister MoFAH&D released the “Report Fish Disease” Mobile App,
developed under PMMSY, for quick reporting of Fish Diseases and timely scientific advice to aqua farmers.
Celebration of NFFD 2023:
Summer Meet 2023 & Start-up Conclave:
i.Department of Fisheries, MoFAH&D, has organised ‘Summer Meet 2023’ and the ‘Start-up Conclave’ in
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on 10th – 11th July 2023.
ii.The ‘Summer Meet 2023’ and the ‘Start-up Conclave’ served as a platform to highlight the noteworthy
accomplishments of the Indian fisheries sector and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the industry.
iii.These events united fish farmers, researchers, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to
exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore the prospects for the sustainable development of
fisheries.
iv.The conclave offered a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas, products, and
technologies in fisheries and aquaculture.
Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge:
i.The Department of Fisheries launched the “Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge” in partnership with
the Startup India hub and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the
Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The challenge aims to identify, reward and recognize startups creating exceptional impact in the
fisheries ecosystem.
• On the occasion of National Fish Farmer’s Day 2023 (10th July 2023), the shortlisted startups will be
felicitated by Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of MoFAH&D at the event organised at
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the selected startups will receive a cash grant of
Rs 2 lakh to support building their innovations.
ii.The event at Mahabalipuram will feature an exhibition of 30 exceptional startups from across India,
showcasing their best fisheries innovation.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying(MoFAH&D):
Union Minister– Parshottam Rupala (Rajya- Sabha Gujarat)
Minister of State– Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan; Dr L. Murugan
World Population Day 2023 – July 11

The United Nations (UN)’s World Population Day is annually observed across the globe on 11th July to focus
attention on the urgency and importance of population issues and to enhance awareness of population issues,
including their relations to the environment and development.
The 2023 theme of World Population Day is “Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the
voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities“.

Background:
i. In 1989, the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established
World Population Day, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the “Day of 5 Billion“, which was observed
on 11 July 1987.
ii. In December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the
resolution A/RES/45/216 and decided to continue observing “World Population Day“.
iii. World Population Day was first observed on 11th July 1990 across the globe in more than 90 countries.
About Global Population:
According to the future population projection by the UN, 7 billion mark was one of the noted milestone
observations and it’s expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in
2100.
Population, a Global Issue:
i. The dramatic growth of the world’s population has been driven largely by increasing numbers of people
surviving to reproductive age, and has been accompanied by major changes in fertility rates, increasing
urbanization and accelerating migration.
ii. The UN’s system has been involved in addressing these complex and interrelated issues, through the work of
the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs.
Significance:
i. The 2023 theme highlights the unique opportunity for advocacy of causes like gender equality, women’s
empowerment and their role in the shaping of a better world.
ii. Women and Girls make up 49.7% of the global population, so advancing gender equality is a must to create a
more just, resilient and sustainable world.
iii. The creativity, ingenuity, resources and power of women and girls are fundamental to addressing
demographic and other challenges that threaten our future, including climate change and conflict.
iv. The UNFPA’s 2023 State of World Populationreport illustrates that, on 15th November 2022, the world’s
population surpassed 8 billion people.
v. The report also showed ways to combat population alarmism and safeguard reproductive rights and choices
for our Future.
Highlights:
As per the UNFPA report:
i. More than 40% of women around the world cannot make decisions on sexual and reproductive health and
reproductive rights.
ii. A woman dies every 2 minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth.
iii. As few as 1 in 4 women across low- and middle income countries (LMIC) are realizing their desired fertility.
iv. More than two thirds of the 800 million people globally who cannot read are women.
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency and it aims to deliver a world where every
pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Started Operations- 1969
Executive Director- Dr. Natalia Kanem
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Motto: “Ensuring rights and choices for all”
International Malala Day 2023 – July 12

Malala Day is an international observance annually celebrated on 12th July to honour
the birthday of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist and Nobel Prize laureate.
• The day is also marked to honour Malala, who is known for her advocacy of girls’ education. It also
signifies the free, quality and compulsory education for every child across the world.

Background:
i. On July 12, 2013, Malala on her 16th birthday gave an impactful address at the United Nations (UN) in New
York.
• She primarily focussed on the need for worldwide quality education to the women and appealed
world leaders in this regard to bring changes to their policies.
ii. The UN declared her birthday as “Malala Day” and has been observed internationally for the first time on
12th July 2013.
iii. On 12 July 2013, the UN celebrated Malala Day, an event in support of UN’s Secretary-General’s Global
Education First Initiative (GEFI), which brought together hundreds of young leaders to call on world leaders to
ensure free and compulsory education for every child around the world.
Note: GEFI, a 5 year global initiative to mobilise efforts and action for education and rally a global movement to
achieve quality, relevant and inclusive education for all by 2015.
About Malala Yousafzai:
i. She was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. In 2008, she started advocating for women’s education
in Pakistan.
ii. In 2012, she was brutally attacked by the Taliban, who restricted female education. Then she became an
international symbol of the fight for girls’ education.
iii. In 2013, TIME magazine named Malala one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.”
iv. In 2013, Malala and her fatherZiauddin Yousafzai co-founded the Malala Fund to bring awareness to the
social and economic impact of girls’ education and to empower girls to demand change.
v. The UN Secretary-General AntónioGuterres designated Malala as a UN’s Messenger of Peace in 2017 to help
raise awareness of the importance of girl’s education.
Books:
Malala has written several books, including “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up Education and was shot by the
Taliban”, an autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, co-authored with Christina Lamb, published in 2013; Malala
Speaks Out (2023).
Nobel Prize:
i. In October 2014, Malala was named a Nobel Peace Prize winner at the age of 17, she became the youngest
person to receive this prize.
ii. She is the first Pashtun and the second Pakistani to receive the Nobel Prize, while the first was Abdus Salam,
Pakistani physicist who won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1979
Other Awards/Honours:
i. In 2012, the Pakistani government awarded Malala, the National Peace Award, subsequently renamed the
National Malala Peace Prize for those under 18 years old.
ii. On October 10, 2013, the European Parliament awarded Malala the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom
of Thought for acknowledging her work.
iii. In April 2023, she became the first Pakistani to receive the honour of Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP),
which promotes numerous Pakistan-related events at Oxford University, England, United Kingdom.
2023 Event in the UN:
i. On the occasion of International Malala day, an event was organised by the UN on 12th July 2023 to address a
decade of work for girls’ education in Nigeria.
ii. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UN
Messenger of Peace were joined together to discuss the importance of advancing and transforming girls’
education.
World Youth Skills Day 2023 – July 15

The United Nations(UN)’s World Youth Skills Day is annually observed across the globe on 15th July to
celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and
entrepreneurship.

The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2023 observed on 15th July 2023 is “Skilling teachers, trainers and
youth for a transformative future”.
• The 2023 theme highlights the importance of teachers, trainers and other educators’ role in
providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their
communities and societies.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/169/145 in December 2014 and
proclaimed the July 15 of every year as the World Youth Skills Day.
• The resolution was initiated by Sri Lanka and supported by G77 (Group of 77) and China.
ii.The first ever World Youth Skills Day was observed on 15th July 2015.
Significance:
The day offers an opportunity for discussion between young people, technical and vocational education and
training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policymakers and development
partners.
Importance of TVET:
i.Education and training play a major role in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ii.Education 2030 Incheon Declaration constitutes the commitment of the education community to Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all”
iii.Education 2030 devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically
regarding access to affordable quality TVET.
iv.TVET can equip youth with the skills that are required to access work, including skills for self-employment.
• It can also reduce access barriers to the world of work, for example through work-based learning,
and ensuring that skills gained are recognised and certified.
2023 Event:
High Level Panel:
As a part of the World Youth Skills Day 2023, the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United
Nations, in collaboration with UNESCO, ILO, and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth,
organised a High Level Panel event at UN headquarters at New York, the United States of America(USA).
• The event aims to engage the member states, young experts, social partners, teachers, educators,
and other stakeholders in a discussion about enhancing the skills of teachers, trainers, and youth to
pave the way for a transformative future.
YouthLead Innovation Spotlight:
YouthLead Innovation Spotlight hosted on 14th July 2023, ahead of the World Youth Skills Day, to convene a
dialogue on the importance of multistakeholder collaboration to enable future-proof skills for youth through
trainers’ and teachers’ empowerment.
Hybrid event organised by UNESCO-UNEVOC:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) -UNEVOC and WorldSkills
International jointly organised a hybrid event to showcase the positive impact of youth skills development on
societies and economies.
About The UNESCO – UNEVOC :
The UNESCO – UNEVOC International Centre for TVET is one of 8 UNESCO institutes and centres working in the
field of education.
The acronym UNEVOC is a combination of ‘UNESCO’ and ‘vocational education’.
Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC– Friedrich Huebler
Headquarters– Bonn, Germany

Day of International Criminal Justice 2023 – July 17
Day of International Criminal Justice is annually observed across the globe by International Criminal Court
(ICC) on 17th July to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute(1998), the founding
treaty of the ICC.
• The day also recognise the efforts taken by the organisations working towards bringing justice to
international criminal acts like crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and crimes of
aggression.
• The observance is also known as World Day for International Justice or International Justice Day.
17th July 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statue.
Background:
i. On 17th July 1998, the treaty of the Rome Statute of the ICC was signed and adopted by 120 nations.
ii. The Rome statue laid the foundation for the establishment of the ICC on 1st July 2002 (the date the Court
became operational).
iii. The date of 17 July was adopted as the Day of International Criminal Justice by the Assembly of the States
Parties during the Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Kampala (Uganda) in June 2010.
iv. The first-ever Day of International Criminal Justice was observed on 17th July 2011.
Events of 2023:
i. On 27th March 2023, to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption ofthe Rome Statue that founded the ICC,
the British Embassy in Rome, Italy in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Justice and the Netherlands
Embassy in Rome, Italy organised a celebratory event.
The event highlighted the importance of the Statue and the role of the ICC in promoting justice and
accountability across the world.
ii. The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statue is hosting the exhibition “Common bonds: From the
Rome Conference to today” at the Hague City Hall, The Hague in Netherlands from 11 – 31 July 2023 to address
some of the world’s worst crimes,from across the globe the ICC hears thousands of stories from conflict
survivors.
• This exhibition is hosted by the ASP and was produced by the ICC. The ICC collaborated with the
Trust Fund for Victims to capture and share the photographs from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo about ICC reparations and other Trust Fund for Victims programmes.
iii. Events will come to an end in the annual meeting of the ASP to be held in New York, the USA from 4 to 14
December 2023.
Note: The ASP is the ICC’s management oversight and legislative body and is composed of representatives of
the States which have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute.
About International Criminal Court (ICC):
It is the world’s first permanent international criminal court and is also a court of last resort to investigate,
prosecute thee most heinous offences in cases, where national courts fail to act.
ICC is also different from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the principal judicial organ of the
United Nations for the settlement of disputes between States.
President– Piotr Hofmański
Headquarters– The Hague, the Netherlands
Nelson Mandela International Day 2023 – July 18

The United Nations (UN)’s Nelson Mandela International Day is annually celebrated across the world
on 18th July to recognise Nelson Mandela’s values, including his commitment towards social justice, peace,
reconciliation, and promotion and protection of human rights.
• This day also marks the birth anniversary (July 18, 1918) of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who played
an eminent role in creating non-racial constitution, non-sexist and democratic of South Africa.
• The day is also called as Mandela Day.
• The 2023 Mandela Day marks the 105th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

The 2023 theme for Nelson Mandela International Day is “Climate, Food & Solidarity”.
Background:
i. On November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution A/RES/64/13 and
declared 18th July of every year (his birthday) as “Nelson Mandela International Day“.
ii. The resolution acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally
and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
iii. The first UN’s Nelson Mandela International Day was observed on 18th July 2010.
Nelson Mandela Prize:
i. On 6th June 2014, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/68/275 and established UN’s Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela Prize (Nelson Mandela Prize), an honorary award.
ii. The Prize will be presented as a tribute, to recognize the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to
the service of humanity as guided by the purposes and principles of the UN.
iii. The prize was awarded for the first time in 2015 and in 2020 for the second time.
Nelson Mandela Rules:
i. The UNGA’s resolution A/RES/70/175 adopted the revised UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment
of Prisoners.
ii. It also approved that these rules should be known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules” in honour of the legacy of
Nelson Mandela.
iii. The goal is also to promote humane conditions of imprisonment; to raise awareness about prisoners being a
continuous part of society; to value the work of prison staff as a social service of particular importance.
Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace (2019 – 2028):
On 24th September 2018, UNGA adopted the resolution (A/RES/73/1) at UN’s Headquarters in New York, the
United States of America (USA) for the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit and recognised the period from 2019 to
2028 as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace.
About Nelson Mandela:
i. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa on July 18, 1918 was a prominent anti-apartheid
activist.
ii. He served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999.
iii. He was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected President on May 1994 and passed away
on December 5, 2013.
Awards:
i. On December 1993, he jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize with Frederik Willem de Klerk for their
significant contribution to peaceful elimination of apartheid in South Africa.
ii. In 1990, Government of India awarded Nelson Mandela its highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in his
honour and to recognize his contribution towards eliminating racial discrimination worldwide.
• Over the last 40 years Nelson Mandela has received more than 250 awards.
Books:
Long Walk To Freedom, the Autobiography of Nelson Mandela; The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela; No Easy
Walk to Freedom.
Events of 2023:
i. On the occasion of Nelson Mandel International Day, a virtual public service activity was organised by the UN
to limit global warming and take care of our planet on 18th July 2023.
• It was a campaign activity based on the Nelson Mandela’s quote “We must never forget that it is our
duty to protect this environment”, initiated via the UN campaign app ‘ACTNOW’ for Living
Sustainably in the Modern World.
ii. The UNGA has organised an informal plenary meeting to mark Nelson Mandela International Day on 20th
July 2023, in New York, the USA, and the meeting will be addressed by CsabaKőrösi, President of the UNGA;
AntónioGuterres, UN Secretary-General; Andrew Young, Politician, activist, and Former Permanent
Representative of the USA to the UN.

World Snake Day 2023 – July 16
World Snake day is celebrated annually across the world on 16th July to raise awareness of the snakes in the
world and also to recognise the importance of snakes and snakes disbelieves in our ecosystem.
• On 16th July 2023, World Snake Day was celebrated at the National Zoological Park (Zoo) in New
Delhi, Delhi for the conservation of snakes by creating awareness about different types of snakes in
India.
• On the occasion of the World Snake Day 2023, an enrichment activity was conducted by snake
keeping staff by providing cage furniture in the reptile house. Plantation was also conducted inside
the snake houses.
• Interaction with about 350 visitors and small children was conducted about snakes and healthy
lifestyle following the Mission LiFE (lifestyle for the environment) at the reptile house.
• Reptile house walk was conducted and visitors interacted with the snake keepers. Literature on
reptiles was also distributed among visitors.
Note: Currently there are 31 number of snakes of 07 species present in the National Zoological Park, Delhi.
International Chess Day 2023 – July 20

The United Nations (UN)’s International Chess Day or World Chess Day is annually observed on 20th
July across the globe to mark the significant role of Chess as an affordable and inclusive activity and also to
improve overall Intelligence quotient (IQ) across the world.
20th July 2023 also marks the observance of the 99th Anniversary of the International Chess Federation,
or Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), established in 1924.
Background:
i.The idea to designate a specific day to celebrate chess internationally was first proposed by UNESCO (the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). In 1966, FIDE, the international governing
body for chess, officially established International Chess Day in response to UNESCO’s proposal. Since then, July
20th has been celebrated annually as a tribute to the captivating world of chess.
ii. On 12th December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/22
and proclaimed the 20th July of every year as World Chess Day.
iii. The first-ever UN recognised World Chess Day was observed on 20th July 2020.
iv.FIDE was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
Why July 20?
i. 20th July mark the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris (France) in
1924.
ii. FIDE was founded during the 8th summer Olympic Games in Paris, France,
iii. The International Chess Day began on the same day (20th July 1966) as the founding of the FIDE.
About Chess:
i. Chess is a two player strategy board game and has 64 squares organised in an 8×8 grid. The board is
chequered with dark and light squares and is divided into ranks (rows) and files (columns).
ii. Each player starts the game with 16 pieces (8 Pawn, 2 Knights, 2 Bishops, 2 Rooks, 1 Queen and 1 King)
History of Chess:
i. According to the UN, one of the theories states that an early game similar to the present day chess
called Chaturanga originated in the Northern Indian Subcontinent during the Gupta period (~ 319 – 543
Common Era (CE)) and spread along the Silk Roads west to Persia.
ii. Chaturanga was later introduced as Shatranj in Sassanid Persia around 600 CE.
iii. The Alfonso manuscripts, also known as the Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games), a mediaeval collection of
texts on 3 different types of popular game from the 13th century CE describe the game of Chess as very similar
to Persian Shatranj in rules and gameplay.
World Chess Champions:
• Grand Master (GM) Ding Liren from China is the world Chess champion (As of May 2023)

• GM Ju Wenjun from China is the Women’s world champion
Key Points:
i. Chess became part of the Olympic Esports Series in 2023.
ii. The first Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities took place in January-February 2023 in Belgrade,
Serbia.
About International Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)):
President– Arkady Dvorkovich (Russia)
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
Motto– “Gens una sumus” (Latin) (“We are one family”)
International Moon Day -20th July 2023

United Nations(UN) designated International Moon Day (IMD) which is annually celebrated across the globe
on July 20th to mark the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11
lunar mission.
• The day aims to raise public awareness about sustainable Moon exploration and utilisation.
• The first IMD was celebrated on 20th July 2022.
Theme for IMD 2023:
i.IMD 2023 is celebrated on 20th July 2023 and it marks the 54th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar mission.
ii.The day will be celebrated with the theme “Lunar Exploration Coordination & Sustainability.”
iii.The theme emphasizes educating the public on the importance of conducting sustainable lunar exploration.
Note: Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin were the first humans to set foot on the moon which
they then named Tranquility Base, on July 20 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission. During this mission, Michael
Collins orbited the Moon in the command module.
Background:
i.The Moon Village Association (MVA) submitted an application to the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs
(UNOOSA) during the UN-Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) 64th Session, for the
proclamation of the International Moon Day on July 20, the anniversary of the 1969 first human landing, from
the United States of America(USA), with the Apollo 11 mission.
ii.The proclamation has been approved on December 9 2021, by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
in Resolution A/RES/76/76, building upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space.
Moon Village Association:
i.The Moon Village Association is a Vienna, Austria-based non-governmental organization(NGO) that was
founded in 2017 and serves as a permanent, informal global forum for governments, academia, industry, and
the general public who are interested in the development of the Moon Village.
ii.The Moon Village is a concept that aims to transform international cooperation in space exploration and new
methods for exploring the Moon.
The Apollo 11 mission:
i.The Apollo 11 mission was a historic space flight by National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)
that achieved the first manned landing on the Moon.
ii.It was launched on July 16, 1969, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, and Michael
Collins.
iii.On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the lunar surface in the lunar module “Eagle”.
iv.Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon with the famous quote: “One small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind.”
v.They spent about 2.5 hours conducting experiments and collecting samples.
vi.Command module Columbia is the only spacecraft of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission that returned to Earth.
vii.The successful return of Apollo 11 to Earth on 24th July 1969, marked a major milestone in space
exploration and an important achievement for mankind.

About the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):
i.UNOOSA works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the
utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
ii.It serves as the secretariat for the UN COPUOS.
Director- Aarti Holla-Maini
Headquarters- Vienna, Austria
Established- 1958
National Flag Adoption Day 2023 – July 22

National Flag Adoption Day is annually observed across India on 22nd July to commemorate the day on
which the Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour flag, in its present form, as the national flag of India in
1947.
The History of the Indian National Flag:
i.Before India’s independence from the British on 15 August 1947, The meeting of the Constituent Assembly
held on 22 July 1947 adopted the National Flag of India.
ii.The flag served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950
and that of the Republic of India thereafter.
Features of India’s tri-colour flag:
i.The National flag of India is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and
dark green at the bottom in equal proportion.
• The National Flag was first designed in 1923 by Pingali Venkayya. The initial flag design by
Venkayya had only two colours – red and green. He later added a running wheel to symbolise the
progress of the Nation.
ii.In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra.
iii.The chakra is designed after the wheel which is featured on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.
iv.The diameter of the chakra approximates the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.
Representations:
Saffron colour indicates the strength and courage of India
White indicates peace and Dharma Chakra represents truth.
Green represents fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.
Nickname:
In India, the term “Tricolour” or “Tiranga” refers to the Indian national flag.
Ratio:
The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3.
Flag Code:
i.After 55 years of Independence, on 26th January 2002, the flag code of India was modified and allowed the
citizens of India to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National
days as was the case earlier.
ii.Flag Code of India, 2002, was divided into 3 parts
• Part I of the Code contains a general description of the National Flag.
• Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private
organizations, educational institutions, etc.
• Part III of the Code relates to the display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and
their organisations and agencies.
Note:
According to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 whoever destroys or disrespects or into
contempt the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both.

Pi Approximation Day 2023 – July 22
The Pi Approximation Day is annually observed on 22nd July across the globe to honour the importance of
the concept of Pi in calculations, which is represented using the Greek letter ‘π’.
Why 22nd July?
i.When the date 22nd July is written in the day/month format (22/7), it looks like the fraction 22/7.
ii.The value of 22/7 approximation to 2 decimal place is 3.14.
Note: Pi Approximation Day was first celebrated in the Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg,
Sweden.
Significance of Pi:
i.The ratio of the circumference (C) of a circle to its diameter (D) is a constant number denoted by π and is
independent of the size of the circle.
ii.π is an irrational number and cannot be expressed as a common fraction.
iii.Archimedes, a mathematician in ancient Greece was one of the first persons to suggest a rational
approximation of 22/7 for π, it is sometimes referred to as Archimedes’ constant
iv.The Greek letter π was first used by mathematicians in the 1700s and was introduced by William Jones, a
mathematician from Wales, the United Kingdom (UK) in 1706.
v.The use of the symbol π was popularized by Leonhard Euler, a mathematician from Switzerland, who adopted
it in 1737.
Note: Pi was derived from the first letter of the Greek word ‘perimetros,’ meaning circumference.
Related Observance:
Pi Approximation Day, besides being celebrated on July 22, is also celebrated on November 10, as it is the 314th
day of the year (November 9 in leap years).
Pi Day:
i.Pi Day is annually observed across the globe on 14th March to celebrate the never ending number, which
denotes the Pi value when written in the month.date (American calendar system) format (3.14).
ii.Larry Shaw, a staff physicist at the Exploratorium linked March 14 (3.14) with the digits of pi (3.14159…),
and organised the first-ever known Pi Day was on 14th March 1988 at an Exploratorium in San Francisco, the
United States of America (USA).
Note:
14th March also marks the birth Anniversary of Albert Einstein, a physicist from Germany.
14th March also marks the death anniversary (March 14, 2018) of Stephen Hawking, a theoretical physicist,
cosmologist from England, the UK.
World Brain Day 2023- July 22

World Brain Day, is celebrated annually across the globe on July 22, to raise awareness about brain health and
neurological disorders.2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of World Brain Day, hosted annually on July 22 by the
World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
• The theme for World Brain Day 2023 is “Brain Health and Disability: Leave No One Behind.”
• WFN has collaborated with the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation(WFNR) to enhance the
impact of the 2023 World Brain Day initiative.
• World Brain Day 2023 will be celebrated on July 22 and it was first observed on 22nd July 2014.
History of World Brain Day:
i.22nd July was chosen as “World Brain Day” to honor the foundation of the World Federation of Neurology
(WFN) in 1957 in Belgium and also the crafting of WFN’s 1st constitution.
• WFN represents over 145 national neurological societies.
ii.The Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee proposed designating the 22nd of July 2014 as “World Brain
Day” during the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) Council of Delegates meeting on the 22nd of September
2013.
iii.The approval to celebrate it into a annual event was given by the Board of Trustees of the Public Awareness

and Advocacy Committee in February 2014.
World Brain Day is framed by five key aims:
i.Prevention: Brain disabilities can be prevented, treated and rehabilitated.
ii.Awareness: Global brain health awareness can reduce the disability associated with brain disorders.
iii.Access: Universal access to care, treatment, rehabilitation and assistive technology is essential.
iv.Education: Education increases equity for those living with brain disabilities.
v.Advocacy: Brain health is a human right that applies to everyone, everywhere.
National Mango Day 2023- July 22

National Mango Day is celebrated annually on July 22 which is dedicated to the nutritious tropical fruit, mango
to celebrate its cultural importance, popularity, and versatility in culinary delights.
• It was started by the National Horticulture Board of India in 1987 as the International Mango
Festival to pay tribute to mango.
Key points:
i.The name “mango” originates from the Malayan word “manna,” and the fruit’s seeds have travelled from Asia
to various parts of the world, establishing a global presence.
ii.Mangoes share their family, Anacardiaceae, with cashews and pistachios.
National Broadcasting Day 2023 – July 23

National Broadcasting Day is annually celebrated on 23rd July in India to commemorate the establishment
of the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC), a Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra) based private radio station,
which came into existence on 23rd July 1927.
• The year 2023 marks the 96th Anniversary of the establishment of the All India Radio (AIR),
which was formerly known as IBC.
• In June 1923, the Radio Club of Bombay made the first-ever broadcast in India.
This day also aims to celebrate the radio, which served as the only broadcasting medium before Television for
both News and Entertainment.
Background:
i.Radio broadcasting began in India under British rule in 1922 with programmes by the Bombay Presidency
Radio Club.
ii.The journey of the AIR started on 23rd July 1927 as a private company called the Indian Broadcasting
Company Ltd (IBC) and this is the reason for celebrating the National Broadcasting Day on 23rd July.
iii.IBC went into liquidation on 1930 following which, the British government in India took over the
broadcasting facilities and established the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS).
iv.In April 1930, the ISBS, under the Department of Industries and Labour (now called the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting), began its operations on an experimental basis. On June 8, 1936, the ISBS
became All India Radio (AIR).
v.At the time of independence from the British Raj, there were 6 radio stations in India, at Delhi, Bombay,
Calcutta (Now Kolkata, West Bengal), Madras (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu) and
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
• There were 3 in Pakistan (Peshawar, Lahore and Dacca).
• FM (Frequency modulation) Broadcasting began in Chennai on 23 July 1977.
About All India Radio (AIR):
i.AIR, one of the largest broadcasting organisations in the world in terms of the number of languages of
broadcast, the spectrum of socio-economic and cultural diversity it serves.
ii.All India Radio (AIR), formerly known as ‘Akashvani‘ (meaning Voice from the Sky in Sanskrit) since 1957, is
India’s largest national public radio broadcaster and a division of Prasar Bharati.
iii.It is the sister service of Doordarshan, an Indian television broadcaster owned by Prasar Bharati.

iv.Rabindranath Tagore renamed the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) All India Radio in a poem written
for the inauguration of Calcutta’s shortwave service as Akashvani, the voice that comes over from the skies.
• The name ‘Akashvani‘ was derived from the poem by Rabindranath Tagore, which he wrote for the
inauguration of the Calcutta shortwave service in 1939.
v.The home service of Akashvani comprises 479 broadcasting stations across India and broadcasts in 23
languages and 179 dialects, covering nearly 92% of India’s area and 99.2% of its population.
vi.The motto of AIR is ‘Bahujan Hitaya : Bahujan Sukhaya’ (meaning ‘for the happiness and welfare of all in
Sanskrit) has been serving to inform, educate and entertain the people since its inception.
About Prasar Bharati:
It is a statutory autonomous body established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India)
Act, 1990 and came into existence on 23rd November, 1997
CEO– Gaurav Dwivedi
Income Tax Day 2023- July 24

Income Tax Day or ‘Aaykar Diwas’ is observed annually in India on 24th July
to commemorate the introduction of the provision of Income Tax (IT) in India in the year 1860.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the significance of taxation and to motivate individuals to
contribute to the nation’s development through tax payments.
• 24th July 2023, marks 164th anniversary of IT Day.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the 164th IT Day celebrations in the presence of
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
History of Income Tax Day:
i.The IT system was introduced on 24th July 1860, by the then Finance Minister of British India, Sir James
Wilson.
ii.The scheme was introduced to compensate for the losses incurred by the government during the revolt of
1857.
iii.In 1961, the IT Act-1961 was passed to clearly lay out the framework for the current income tax system in
India.
iv.In 2010, the government of India decided to observe the 1st IT Day on 24 July to commemorate
the 150th anniversary of the introduction income tax system in India.
i.In 2023, the IT department achieved 3-crore income tax returns (ITRs) milestone days ahead of the deadline
surpassing the 2022 target.
ii.As of July 18, 2023, over 3.06 crore ITRs were filed for income earned in the fiscal year 2022-23 and over
1.50 crore e-verified ITRs have been processed.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT):
The CBDT is the apex body that heads the IT Department. The IT Department functions under the Department
of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
Chairman- Nitin Gupta
Established- 1963
World In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Day 2023 – July 25

World In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Day is annually observed across the globe on 25th July to commemorate
the achievements and progress made in the field of infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
• The day 25th July marks the birth date of world’s first ‘Test-tube baby’, Louise Brown, the first
baby conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Louise Brown was born on 25th July 1978 in in
Manchester, England, the United Kingdom (UK).

Significance:
i.This day is also recognised to celebrate the success and importance of IVF as an effective method of
conceiving.
ii.This day is also known as World Embryologist Day observed across the globe to commemorate the great
role and contribution of Embryologists in the IVF technology, one of the greatest innovations in the field of
reproductive Science.
Note: Robert Edwards (“Father of IVF”), a Scientist and a Nobel Prize (Physiology or Medicine 2010) winner for
the development of human IVF therapy and Patrick Steptoe, Gynaecologist surgeon from the UK are the
successful pioneers of IVF in the world.
About In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):
i.IVF is a type of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) where sperm and an egg are fertilized outside of the
human body.
ii.IVF is a complex process that involves retrieving eggs from ovaries and manually combining them with sperm
in a lab for fertilization.
iii.Several days after fertilization, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo) is placed inside a uterus. Pregnancy
occurs when this embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.
About Assisted reproductive technologies (ART):
i.ART refers to a range of techniques used to achieve pregnancy by handling sperm or egg cells outside the
human body and transferring embryos into the woman’s reproductive tract.
ii.Types of ART techniques include IVF, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, Artificial insemination, Egg donation,
Ovarian stimulation and so on.
Regulations on ART:
i.The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 was introduced in Lok Sabha in September
2020 to protect and safeguard the reproductive rights of women.
ii.The Parliament on December 2021, passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021
aims at the regulation and supervision of ART clinics and banks, prevention of misuse, and safe and ethical
practice of ART services.
iii.On 7th June 2022, The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published the Assisted Reproductive
Technology (Regulation) Rules, 2022 to regulate the functioning of ART clinics and banks.
iv.In 2023, The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology
Regulations (ART), 2023 aiming to improve medical care and security for donors and patients.
v.In order to regulate and supervise the ART clinics, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and
National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) have come out with National Guidelines for Accreditation,
Supervision and Regulation of ART Clinics in India.
First Indian Test Tube Baby:
i.The first Indian test tube baby, ‘Kanupriya Agarwal’ aka Durga who was born on October 3, 1978.
ii.Late Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay was the first-ever physician in India and the second in the world to create a
baby through the IVF procedure.
World Drowning Prevention 2023-25th July

The United Nations (UN)’s World Drowning Prevention Day is annually observed across the globe on 25th July
to highlight the impacts of death by drowning on families and communities and to provide solutions to prevent
death by drowning.
• World Drowning Prevention Day 2023 theme is “Anyone can drown, no one should” and World
Health Organisation (WHO) is inviting technical partners to: Do One Thing, Improve One Thing or
Add One Thing to improve safety of people in and around water.
25th July 2023 marks the observance of the 3rd World Drowning Prevention Day.

History:
i.World Drowning Prevention Day was established by the U.N. General Assembly
Resolution’s A/RES/75/273 “Global drowning prevention” in April 2021, to spread the awareness on
drowning and devise various counteractions to restrain it.
ii.The first World Drowning Prevention Day was marked on 25 July 2021.
Data on Drowning:
i.An estimated 236 000 people die from drowning each year, constituting 7% of all injury-related deaths.
Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1–4 years, followed by children aged 5–9 years.
ii.More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels and
swimming pools in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas
disproportionately affected.
Measures to Prevent from Drowning:
WHO also raises awareness on six evidence-based, low-cost drowning prevention interventions that countries
and organizations can use to drastically reduce the risk of drowning. These include:
i.Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
ii.Set and enforce safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations
iii.Improve flood risk management locally and internationally
iv.Install barriers controlling access to water
v.Provide safe places away from water for pre school children with capable child care
vi.Teach school age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills.
76th World Health Assembly adopts first ever resolution on drowning prevention
i.76th World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution “Accelerating action on global drowning
prevention” requesting governments and their partners, in collaboration with the World Health Organization
(WHO), to accelerate action on drowning prevention through 2029.
ii.The resolution was sponsored by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland and adopted by Member States.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Founded- 1948
Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023- 26th July

Kargil Vijay Diwas or Kargil Victory Day is observed annually across India on 26th July to observe India’s
victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war 1999 and also pays tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers
during the Kargil war.
• 26th July 2023, mark the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
The operation that took place during the war is known as Operation Vijay.
Background:
i.The war between India and Pakistan started after Pakistani troops intruded the Kargil district in Jammu and
Kashmir (now in Ladakh).
ii.The infiltration was a violation of the Shimla Agreement, signed in 1972 by India and Pakistan.
iii.The Indian army launched “Operation Vijay” after the first infiltration was reported on May 3, 1999.
iv.The armed conflict was fought for more than 60 days from May to July 1999.
v.On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army declared Operation Vijay a success after taking over all the strategic peaks
taken over by Pakistani infiltrators.
Operation Vijay:
i.The mission of Operation Vijay was to recapture the famous “Tiger Hill” and all the territories occupied by
Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC).
ii.During the operations a total of 674 Indian soldiers made sacrifice and were awarded 4 Param Vir Chakra, 10
Maha Vir Chakra and 70 Vir Chakra among others for gallantry.

Note: Every year, on the Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Prime Minister of India pays tribute to the soldiers who lost
their lives in the Kargil war, at Amar Jawan at the India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi.
Events in 2023:
i.On 22nd July 2023, Indian Army undertook a Motorcycle Expedition from Kohima, Nagaland to Kargil, Ladakh
and paid homage to the soldiers during the ‘Battle of Mashkoh’ in Operation Vijay.
ii.To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a year-long programme has been planned by the Ministry
of Defence (MoD), that commenced from 26th July, 2023.
About Pakistan:
Prime minister- Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
Capital- Islamabad
Currency- Pakistani rupee (PKR)
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems 2023 – July 26
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s International Day for the
Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems is annually celebrated across the globe on 26th July to raise
awareness of the significance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to
promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.
• The day is also known as “The World Mangrove Day“.
• 26th July 2023 marks the observance of the 8th International Day for the Conservation of the
Mangrove Ecosystems.
Background:
i.On 6th November 2015, UNESCO at its 38th session of the General Conference adopted the resolution 38C/66
and officially declared 26th July of every year, in response to the request of Ecuador, as the International Day
for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
ii.The first-ever International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was observed on 26th July
2016.
iii.The date 26th July also marks the death anniversary of Greenpeace activist Hayhow Daniel Nanoto, who
passed away in 1998 during a massive protest to re-establish the mangrove wetlands in Muisne, Ecuador.
Significance:
i.Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea in tropical
regions, rooted in saline water and soils exposed to the tides.
ii.They ensure food security for local communities. They provide biomass, forest products and sustain fisheries
and support rich biodiversity.
iii.It act as a form of natural coastal defence and help mitigate the effects of climate change and extreme
weather events such as Tsunamis, storm surges, erosion and so on.
Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA):
The GMA is an extraordinary collaboration that brings together Non-Government Organizations (NGOs),
governments, industry, local communities and funders towards a common goal of halting mangrove
degradation and increasing mangrove cover by 20% by 2030.
Note: According to GMA, so far an estimated 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded, and an additional
1% is lost annually. Overall, mangroves are disappearing 3 to 5 times faster than global forest losses with
serious ecological and socio-economic impacts.
Mangroves and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
All 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are connected to Mangroves for the Future (MFF)’s Strategic
focus areas: coastal rehabilitation; livelihood support; and resilience-building and empowerment, with climate
change and gender as key cross-cutting issues.
Note: MFF, a partnership-based regional initiative co-chaired by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to encourage investment in coastal ecosystem
conservation for sustainable development.

Need for the conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem:
i.Although mangroves are found in 123 nations and territories, mangrove forests are globally rare. They
represent less than 1% of all tropical forests worldwide, and less than 0.4% of the total global forest estate.
• 1 hectare of Mangrove can store 3,754 tons of carbon (it is the equivalent of taking 2650+ cars off
the road for a year).
• UNESCO’s marine World Heritage sites host 9%of global mangrove carbon assets.
• A 500 meter mangrove strip reduce wave heights by 50 to 99%
• Carbon emissions from mangrove deforestation account for up to 10% of emissions from global
deforestation (despite covering 0.7% of land).
ii.It has been estimated that more than 3 quarters of mangroves in the world are now threatened and with all
the aquatic and terrestrial organisms that depend on them.
iii.UNESCO is engaged deeply in supporting the conservation of mangroves with the:
• inclusion of mangroves in Biosphere Reserves; World Heritage sites and UNESCO Global Geoparks;
also engaged at the scientific and policy levels to protect, manage or restore global blue carbon
ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses and tidal/salt marshes) for addressing climate change.
Director-General– Ms Audrey Azoulay
Founded in– 16 November 1945
85th CRPF Raising Day – 27th July 2023

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Raising Day, also known as CRPF Foundation Day, is annually
celebrated on 27th July to commemorate the establishment of CRPF, the largest of India’s Central Armed Police
Forces, functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India (GoI).
• The day recognises the valour courage and sacrifices of the soldiers of CRPF in the past 84 years,
which plays a key role in India’s growth by maintaining peace and preserving internal security and
national integrity of India.
27th July 2023 marks the observance of 85th Raising Day.
History:
i.CRPF is the premier central police force of the Union of India for internal security, originally constituted as the
Crown Representative Police on 27th July 1939.
ii.It is one of the oldest Central para military forces (now termed as Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)).
iii.The Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 sparked political disrupts and agitations
in the former royal States of India, which led to the raising of the CRPF.
iv.It became the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the enactment of the CRPF Act of Parliament on
December 28, 1949. This Act constituted CRPF as an armed force of the Union.
Zones of CRPF:
There are 4 zones namely Central Zone; Northeast Zone, Southern Zone and Jammu & Kashmir Zone.
Significance:
i.The CRPF has played an increasingly large role in India’s general elections besides law and order and counter-
insurgency duties.
ii.The CRPF has played a major role in the security arrangements during all the Parliamentary elections. Lately,
CRPF contingents are also being deployed in United Nation peacekeeping missions.
iii.One of the vital roles of the CRPF, which is not very evident, is guarding vital Central Government
installations such as Airport, Powerhouses, Bridges, Doordarshan Kendras, All India Radio Stations, residence
of Governors and Chief Ministers, Nationalised Banks and other Government establishments in insurgency
affected States.

Key Points:
i.The CAPF of India has grown into a big organization with 246 Battalions (Bns), including 208 executive Bns, 6
Mahila Bns, 15 Rapid Action Force (RAF) Bns, 10 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) Bns, 5
Signal Bns and 1 Special Duty Group, 1 Parliament Duty Group (PDG).
ii.On 26th January 2023 on the occasion of Republic day, several medals were awarded to the police forces
across India, of the 901 total medals awarded, CRPF walked away with 111 medals (the maximum police
medals or 12% of the total 901 medals) across three categories – Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), President’s
Police Medal (PPM) for Distinguished Service and Police Medal (PM) for Meritorious Service.
iii. CRPF is the largest CAPF having 01 Force Headquarters (Hqrs), 04 Zonal Hqrs, 21 Adm Sectors, 02 Ops
Sectors, 39 Adm Ranges, 17 Ops Ranges, 43 Group Centres, 22 Training Institutions.
Related observance:
CRPF Valour Day also called as Shaurya Diwas is annually observed on 9th April to commemorate the CRPF
personnel during the 1965 war against Pakistan Army.
About Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
Director-General– Sujoy Lal Thaosen
Established on– 27 July 1939
World Hepatitis Day 2023 – 28th July

The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is annually observed across the globe
on the 28th July to create awareness and educate people about the effect of viral hepatitis.
• The theme for WHD 2023- “One Life, One Liver” which creates awareness in the public by
emphasizing the need for prevention, early detection, and adherence to prescribed treatment.
• ‘We’re Not Waiting’ is the campaign theme for WHD 2023.
Hepatitis:
i.Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by viral infections.
ii.Five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D, and E – are responsible for the majority of cases but they
differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and
prevention methods.
iii.Hepatitis B and C are the most common, accounting for over 90% of hepatitis-related deaths.
iv.Chronic hepatitis infections can lead to severe health issues, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver
failure.
History of WHD:
World Hepatitis Day, initially observed on May 19, was later moved to July 28 in 2010.
i.World Hepatitis Alliance established in 2007 organized the first ever community-led WHD in 2008.
ii.The 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland adopted various resolutions on a
variety of global health issues including the resolution WHA63.17 proclaiming the 28th July of every year as
WHD.
iii.The 1st WHOs, WHD was observed on 28th July 2011.
Why 28th July?
The date was chosen to honor the birth anniversary of Dr Baruch Samuel Blumberg a physician and
geneticist, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV)in 1967 and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine, for
which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in1976.
WHO on Hepatitis:
i.According to WHO estimates, approximately 325 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis, and
over 1.3 million deaths occur annually due to hepatitis-related complications.
ii.WHO has set up a goal to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030. To achieve this, the WHO urges countries to
achieve specific goals:
• Reduces new infections of hepatitis B and C by 90%.

• A 65% reduction in hepatitis-related deaths from cirrhosis and cancer.
• Make sure that at least 90% of people infected with hepatitis virus (B and C) are diagnosed.
• At least 80% of eligible individuals receive appropriate care.
• Provision of chronic hepatitis B treatment access to all pregnant women and birth vaccines to their
infants in order to prevent HBV infection.
WHD aligns particularly with three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
• Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
• Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) and
• Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
About World Health Organisation(WHO):
Founded in- 1948
World Nature Conservation Day 2023 – July 28

World Nature Conservation Day is annually observed across the globe on July 28 to create awareness about
the importance of protecting the natural resources and wildlives.
• The day also aims to educate the people about the necessity of conservation of natural resources,
bio-diversity and ecology across the world and the challenges of climate change.
Impacts of Natural Imbalance:
i.In recent times, climate change and environmental degradation becoming a pressing issue and due to the
careless use of natural resources and over exploitation, the consequence of global warming could be severe for
the future generation.
ii.The species getting threatened, global warming, pollution are causing a huge imbalance in nature.
Some Environment Conventions and Protocols:
1.The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Water- fowl Habitat, also known as
the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and
wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
2.The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for the conservation of
biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
• The CBD entered into force on 29 December 1993 and it has been ratified by 196 countries.
• It covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic resources.
3.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a multilateral environmental agreement
to protect human health and the environment from POPs.
• It was adopted in 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland and entered into force in 2004
4.Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that aims to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global
warming.
• It operationalizes the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change by
committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse
gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.
• It was adopted on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.
Some initiatives in India to conserve nature:
i.India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds
and plants with an objective to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India. The Act was last
amended in the year 2022.
ii.The Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
(MOEF&CC) includes,

• National River Conservation Programme;
• Sub-schemes of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems;
• Green India Mission and National Afforestation Programme;
• National Coastal Management Programme;
• National Mission on Himalayan Studies under Climate Change Program
iii.The MoEFCC also monitors the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) and has been carrying out enabling activities and other obligations of the Convention.
International Tiger Day 2023 – 29th July

International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is annually observed across the globe on 29th July to
raise awareness about the need for tiger conservation and the threats faced by the endangered species.
(Scientific name: Panthera tigris, belongs to genus Panthera)
• 29th July 2023, marks the 13th International Tiger Day.
Background:
i.On 23rd November 2010, the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation was signed during the
International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia which took place from 21st to 24th of November 2010, by
proclaiming 29th July of every year as the International Tiger Day.
• The 1st international tiger day was observed on 29th july 2010.
ii.The day is supported and observed by major charities including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the Smithsonian Institution.
iv.The summit adopted National Tiger Recovery Priorities (NTRPs) and Global Tiger Recovery Programme
(GTRP) by providing a blueprint for each country to reach the TX2 target.
TX2:
The TX2 (Tigers times two) goal is a global commitment to double the world’s wild tigers by 2022.
• The Signatories were Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lao,
Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Key points:
i.According to the WWF there are 3,900 wild cats in the world. Poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss,
however, have reduced their population and range to just about 7%.
ii.In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized the continental
tiger(Panthera tigris tigris) and the Sunda island tiger(Panthera tigris sondaica) as tiger subspecies.
iii.The IUCN Red List of threatened species classifies Tigers as Endangered.
iv.Tigers have been included in Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) since 1975, which means all international trade in tigers, including parts and
derivatives, for commercial purposes is generally prohibited under the Convention.
Conservation efforts in India:
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for strengthening tiger
conservation.
Project Tiger:
i.The ‘Project Tiger’ is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the MoEFCC, providing funding support to tiger
range States for in-situ conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves. It was launched in 1973 to revive the
tiger population.
• The project was the first-ever tiger conservation programme in the world.
ii.The Project Tiger has increased the coverage of tiger reserves from 9 to 53 as of 2023.

Tiger Population:
• According to the results of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), 2022 released by Prime
Minister(PM) of India, Narendra Modi, on 9th April 2023, the population of wild tigers in India is
estimated to be a minimum of 3,167, out of which 3,080 are unique individuals.
• India has now become the home of around 75% of the global tiger population.
• The State with the Highest Tiger population in India is Madhya Pradesh, followed by Karnataka and
Uttrakhand.
About Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister- Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha- Rajasthan)
Minister of State(MoS)- Ashwini Kumar Choubey
APPS & WEB PORTAL

MoRD Launches eSARAS App for Products From Women SHGs
On 3rd July 2023, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), the flagship
initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), launched the eSARAS, an e-commerce mobile
application to support the marketing of products made by women of Self-help Groups (SHGs).
• The app was launched by Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of MoRD in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He also inaugurated the eSaras Fulfilment Centre at the MoRD office at Janakpuri, New Delhi, Delhi.
The eSaras app:
i.The app is an online platform for buying handicrafts and handloom items made by rural women registered
with SHG’s.
ii.The app is a platform for marketing of the best, authentic handicrafts and handlooms made by women from
SHG’s.
iii.The launch of the app promotes the spirit of “Vocal for Local” by marketing easier by “SHG Didis” in even
more customer friendly way.
The eSARAS fulfillment centre:
i.The eSARAS fulfillment centre will be managed by the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains
(FDRVC – a Not for Profit Company constituted jointly by MoRD and Tata Trust).
ii.It will be used to process, package and ship products that customers purchase through the eSaras portal and
app.
iii.It will handle the logistics required to bring an online order to a customer’s doorstep.
Note: DAY-NRLM’S strategy is a 360 degree approach with online marketing initiatives like eSARAS App and
Portal, and popular on-grounds events like SARAS Melas, Saras Food Festivals.
ECI opened Online Portal for filing 3 types of Financial Reports by the Political Parties
The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a new web-portal Integrated Election Expenditure Monitoring
System to facilitate the online filing of Contribution Reports, Audited Annual Accounts and Election
Expenditure Statements by the Political Parties according to the provisions in the Representation of the People
(RP) Act, 1951. The online availability of the data is expected to enhance the level of compliance and
transparency.
• All political parties are required to submit their financial statements online with this portal to the
Election Commission/Chief Electoral Officers of States/Union Territories (UTs).
The twin objectives of the facility are to overcome the difficulties faced by the political parties in the physical
filing of reports and to ensure timely filing of financial statements in the prescribed formats.

3rd Edition of NeSDA: DARGP launched portal for NeSDA 2023
On 6th July 2023, V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)
under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, launched the 3rd edition of the National e-
Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA 2023) portal (nesda.gov.in).
• With the launch of the NeSDA 2023 portal, DARPG has begun its work towards the preparation of
the 3rd edition of the NeSDA (NeSDA 2023) study.
About the framework of NeSDA 2023:
i.3rd edition of the NeSDA framework developed by DARPG aims to analyse the depth and effectiveness of
existing e-Governance service delivery mechanisms from the citizen’s perspective.
ii. This framework, based on the Online Service Index (OSI) of the United Nations (UN)’s E-Government Survey,
has been revised for the Indian federal structure and the e-Governance landscape of the States and Union
Territories (UT)’s.
iii. Framework for NeSDA 2023 is elaborated under 3 dimensions:
• Portals Coverage
• Mandatory Services Coverage
• Assessment Parameters
1. Portals Coverage:
i. All Government Portals assessed during NeSDA are classified into two categories viz., (i) State, UT, Central
Ministry Portal and (ii) State, UT, Central Ministry Services Portals.
ii. NeSDA 2023 framework will evaluate the maturity of e-Government at the City level by assessing City Portal
i.e., the official portal of respective City/Urban Local Body that provides a single window access to the
information and links to the services being provided for the citizens and other stakeholders in the city.
2. Focus Sectors and Mandatory Services Coverage:
i. The NeSDA framework covers G2C (Government to Government) and G2B (Government to Business) services
across 7 sectors, such as Finance, Labour Employment, Education, Local Governance Utility Services, Social
Welfare (including Health, Agriculture, Home Security), Environment (including Fire) and Tourism sectors.
In NeSDA 2023, 5 mandatory services at State/UT level and 12 services at Central Ministry level would be
evaluated.
A total of 59 mandatory services will be assessed for every State & UT and 37 services will be assessed for
Central Ministries.
3. Assessment Parameters:
The 2023 NeSDA framework proposed to include three additional assessment parameters: Open Government
Data (OGD), E-Participation, and Leveraging Emerging Technologies, to make the framework more robust with
leading global digital government trends.
About NeSDA:
NeSDA is a biennial study undertaken by the DARPG to enhance the e- Governance Service Delivery of the
States/UT’s and Central Ministries and helps to improve their citizen-centric delivery of services and share best
practices across India.
Note:
• The DARPG has successfully released 2 editions of NeSDA study: NeSDA 2019(released in 2020) and
NeSDA 2021 (released in 2022).
• In NeSDA 2021, 1400 services across all States and UTs were assessed as compared to 872 in 2019,
an increase of over 60%.
Key Takeaways of NeSDA 2021:
• Increase in e-Service Delivery
• Rise in use of Integrated / Centralised Portals for delivery of e-Services
Improvement across assessment parameter scores

Meta launches a new app , Threads
On 6th July 2023, Threads, an app launched as a new text-based microblogging platform, developed by
Facebook parent Meta for sharing text updates and joining public conversations.It is built by the Instagram
team,photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms.
• The new app is rolled out in 100 countries (currently unavailable in EU region) including India and
is available in iOS(iPhone Operating System) and Play Store.
• It is said to be the text-based version of Meta’s photo-sharing app Instagram.Thread users will need
an Instagram account to log in.
• The posts in Threads can be up to 500 characters long and include links, photos and videos up to five
minutes long .
• Threads app has similarities to Twitter. Both platforms focus on text-based updates and public
conversations. Threads aims to provide a microblogging experience similar to Twitter, allowing
users to share their thoughts, engage with others, and participate in public discussions.
DoT Secretary K Rajaraman launches ‘Standards Coordination Portal’

On 7th July 2023, K Rajaraman, the Secretary to the Department of Telecommunication(DoT), Ministry of
Communications, launched the ‘Standards Coordination Portal’, developed by Telecommunication
Engineering Centre (TEC) under the DoT, during the “National Workshop on Enhancing Indian Participation in
Telecom Global Standards Bodies” held at Centre For Development Of Telematics (C-DoT) Campus in New
Delhi, Delhi.
• The workshop was conducted by TEC in collaboration with C-DoT and Telecommunications
Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), a National Telecom Standards Development
Organisation (SDO).
Purpose of the Portal:
i.The portal aims to increase India’s participation in global standardising initiatives by bringing together
specialists from various sectors such as industry, academic institutions, research organisations, and
government.
ii.This also serves as a central hub for sharing information and promoting collaboration in the Standardisation
of telecom and related ICT domains.
Online Module – Voluntary Certification :
i.An Online Module for Voluntary Certification of telecom products was also introduced, which shall provide a
streamlined process for certification.
ii.Approval Certificate for Conditional Access System and the Technology Approval Certificate for Dual Band
Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point, was handed over to C-DoT, symbolising their commitment to quality and
innovation.
Highlights of the Workshop:
i.K.Rajaraman, Secretary (DoT), also released the “Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial Intelligence
Systems” TEC standard, which specifies detailed protocols for analysing and rating the fairness of artificial
intelligence systems, assuring ethical and responsible AI deployment.
ii.The experts from industries, academia, government organisations, and renowned research and development
centres engaged in discussions of topics including the step-by-step process of standard-making processes,
conversion of patents into Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), and the significant role of academic institutions in
fostering a vibrant Standards Community.
iii.This workshop addressed the importance of standardisation for firms and start-ups, specifically through the
Standard Essential Patents (SEP) system.
iv.The workshop provided a platform to create awareness and encourage active Indian participation in
international standardisation bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union(ITU), 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) etc. The workshop

emphasised the pivotal role of standardisation for businesses and start-ups, particularly through the Standard
Essential Patents (SEP) mechanism.
Mobile-Dost-App launched in J&K for Citizen Centric Services

On July 11, 2023, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) launched the ‘Mobile
Dost App’ in line with Apka Mobile Hamara Daftar, an initiative for mobile-based delivery of citizen-centric
services in J&K.
• This app, developed by the IT (Information Technology) department of J&K with support from the
Government of Haryana, brings digital transformation and improved accessibility to J&K residents.
• The launch also saw virtual participation from Uma Shankar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
Haryana, among others.
About Mobile Dost App:
It aims at empowering people of J&K by providing a comprehensive platform to access all the Government to
citizen Services (G2C) directly from their mobile devices.
• It offers over 450 government-to-citizen services, including certificates, licenses, grievance
registration, and welfare scheme access.
• The app also provides emergency helpline connections, government tender information, bill
payment, travel details, job applications, news updates, event information, and important contacts.
• The app also provides detailed information about government tenders, enabling entrepreneurs and
businesses to stay informed about opportunities and actively participate in the region’s
development.
In times of crisis, individuals can swiftly connect with emergency helplines such as police, fire, medical, and
disaster management services, ensuring rapid response and assistance during emergencies.
Amit Shah Launches ‘CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal’ to Expedite Refunds for Sahara Group
Depositors
On 17th July 2023, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah launched the ‘Central Registrar of Cooperative
Societies (CRCS) – Sahara Refund Portal’ aimed at aiding over 10 crore depositors of the Sahara Group in
reclaiming their money within 45 days of registration in the portal.
• The refund portal has been developed by a subsidiary of Industrial Finance Corporation of India
(IFCI) Ltd, a Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC-ND-
SI).
• In Phase I, around 1.7 crore investors will be beneficiaries, and claims up to ₹10,000 will be
prioritised for settlement. The refunds will be credited to the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the
investors within a 45-days of registration in the portal.
Background:
Between March 2010 and January 2014, four cooperative societies linked to the Sahara group of companies
registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
i. Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Limited (Lucknow)
ii. Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Limited (Bhopal)
iii. Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Limited (Kolkata)
iv. Stars Multipurpose Cooperative Society (Hyderabad)
Fraudulent activities:
i. Many complaints were received from across the country regarding non-payment to the depositors. The
Central Registrar directed the societies to pay the unpaid amount to the investors and stopped the societies
from taking fresh deposits and renewing existing ones,

ii. To address this, the government invited Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Enforcement
Directorate(ED), Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) along with
other stakeholders, to work together and create a system that would benefit the affected small investors.
• In response, all the agencies jointly filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The court’s landmark
decision established that if there is unanimous agreement among the agencies, a committee headed
by a retired Supreme Court judge would supervise the reimbursement process for the affected
investors.
Supreme Court’s decision:
Following a petition presented by the Ministry of Cooperation, on 29th March 2023, the Supreme Court issued
an order for the reimbursement of funds from the Sahara-SEBI refund account to approximately 10 crore
investors
• The court ordered that out of the balance amount in the Sahara-SEBI refund account, ₹5,000 crore
be transferred to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
A bench headed by justice MR Shah ordered this payment to be made under the supervision of the retired judge
R. Subhash Reddy, and with the assistance of advocate Gaurav Agarwal, the Central Registrar would complete
the payment process in 9 months.
What is the Sahara-SEBI refund account?
i. In 2011, SEBI issued an order to Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing
Investment Corporation Ltd (SHICL) to reimburse the funds they had raised from investors through a type of
bonds called Optionally Fully Convertible Bonds (OFCD).
• SEBI claimed that the funds were raised in violation of SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection)
Guidelines, 2000, and various regulations of the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements)
Regulations, 2009.
ii. In August 2012, the Supreme Court upheld SEBI’s directive, affirming that the two companies must refund
the collected money to the investors along with 15 per cent interest.
• As a result, Sahara was required to deposit Rs. 24,000 crore with SEBI for further reimbursement to
the investors. Currently Rs. 24,979.67 crore remains unutilized in the Sahara-SEBI Refund Account.
Union Minister – Amit Shah (Constituency – Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State(MoS) – B. L. Verma
Himachal CM Sukhu launches website of Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023

On 16th July 2023, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, launched
the Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 website, a digital platform initiative aimed at helping the disaster-affected people
in the Himachal Pradesh.
• By using this website, people can donate money in Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 from anywhere using
multiple payment methods such as debit card, credit card, net banking, Quick Response (QR) code
and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
• The department of digital technology and governance developed a transparent web link where
anyone can donate online and receive a receipt on their mobile device to facilitate this support.
The system has been integrated with multiple payment gateways to ensure seamless transactions and
preparations are under processing to enable online donations from overseas donors.
UP Govt Launched Portal to Process E-Vehicle Subsidy

On 19th July 2023, the Government of Uttar Pradesh(UP) launched an Electric Vehicle (E-vehicle or EV) subsidy
portal (https://upevsubsidy.in/) to enable citizens to apply online for subsidy available on the purchase of EVs
in UP. As per the UP government policy, buyers can apply online for EV subsidies for vehicles bought after
October 14, 2022.

• The development and maintenance of the portal have been assigned to UPDESCO (Uttar Pradesh
Development Systems Corporation Ltd)
• Under the Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, 2022, permission has
been granted for the implementation of the Purchase Subsidy Promotion Scheme with conditions.
The scheme is effective from October 14, 2022 to October 13, 2023.
• On purchase of any single vehicle across vehicle segments, subsidy on EVs will be payable to
individual beneficiaries (buyers) and purchase subsidy will also be payable to aggregators or fleet
operators (buyers), so that a unit can avail subsidy for a maximum of 10 vehicles across vehicle
segments.
• The subsidy amount will be 50% of the total subsidy for buyers purchasing EVs without batteries.
• For 2-wheeler EVs, the subsidy will be Rs 5,000/ vehicle for the first two lakh purchases, not
exceeding 15% of the ex-factory cost. For 4-wheeler EVS, the subsidy will be Rs 1 lakh/ vehicle for
the first 25,000 purchases, not exceeding 15% of the ex-factory cost.
Health Ministry Launched Online Portal to Report Violation on E-Cigarettes

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a portal www.violation-reporting.in for all
states and Union Territories to report the violations under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production,
Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act (PECA) 2019.
• The portal helps to collect information and take swift action on reported violations of the PECA,
cigarettes and other Tobacco products act-2003.
• Electronic cigarettes and similar devices are battery-operated systems that heat a substance (in
liquid or solid state), which contains nicotine and often flavours, to create an aerosol for inhalation.
They are designed to simulate the act of smoking traditional cigarettes without burning tobacco.
Ministry of Culture launched PORTAL OF ‘MERA GAON MERI DHAROHAR’, a Virtual Museum
On 27th July 2023, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (MoS) Ministry of Culture launched the virtual portal
of Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD), a virtual museum that culturally maps over 6.5 lakh villages of India, at
Qutub Minar premises in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The objective of the launch is to integrate the information regarding villages by using technologies,
in order to identify and document the cultural heritage and village life of India.
• The interactive web portal developed under the MGMD will serve as the National Cultural
Workplace (NCWP) for artists and crafts persons and provide a single window online platform for
culture service providers.
Key People:
Meenakashi Lekhi, MoS, Ministry of Culture; Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, MoS, Ministry of Rural Development and
Shobha Karandlaje, MoS, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare were also present on the occasion.
Key Points:
i.The event also included a digital village trivia and interactive puzzle game.
ii.On the occasion, the Projection Mapping Show was premiered, showcasing the rich Indian heritage and
culture through captivating narratives of villages from all across India.
iii.Additionally, viewers can access synchronized audio for the show through the portal, making it convenient
for them to watch from nearby places such as rooftops and balconies.
About Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD):
i.It is a component of National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) established by the Ministry of Culture with
an aim to express India’s cultural heritage and its creative potential to regenerate and revitalize rural
economies, as a result making Village India self-reliant.
ii.MGMD is undertaken as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), an initiative of the Government of India
(GoI) to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture
and achievements.

iii.The primary objective of the mission is to culturally map the art traditions and cultural practices along with
the artists and craft-persons engaged in the preservation of these art forms
GA Questions Asked in Exams
• Affairscloud’s Self Analysis for General Awareness Section

efficiently.



Current Affairs Study PDF – September 2023
Table of Contents
FESTIVAL................................................................................................................................................................... 33
OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 34
STATE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................. 45
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................ 48
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 64
INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 64
BANKING NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 71
RBI IN NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................. 71
SEBI ............................................................................................................................................................................ 79
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED.............................................................................................................................. 81
OTHER BANK NEWS ................................................................................................................................................ 92
FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 101
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 118
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE........................................................................................................................ 146
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................... 162
RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 162
REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 170
DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 226
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 226

TESTING .................................................................................................................................................................. 231
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 236
OBITUARY ................................................................................................................................................................... 253
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................... 259
IMPORTANT DAYS ..................................................................................................................................................... 261
APPS & WEB PORTAL ............................................................................................................................................... 314
ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 324

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approvals on September 6, 2023
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 6th
September, 2023:
i.Approves ₹3,760 crore VGF for development of BESS.
ii.Approves additional allocation of Rs. 1164.53 crore for IDS, 2017 in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
Cabinet Approves ₹3,760 Crore VGF for Development of BESS
The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) aimed at developing Battery
Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The scheme is part of the government’s efforts to enhance renewable energy
integration and reduce peak power demand costs. It was first introduced in the Union Budget 2023.
Objective: The objective is to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to citizens while supporting the
renewable energy sector, especially solar and wind power.
Scheme Overview:
i.Total project outlay: ₹9,400 crore.
• Government contribution: 40% of the total project cost, amounting to ₹3,760 crore, provided as
VGF. Remaining 60% of project costs to be invested by participating companies.
• Budgetary grant included in the initial outlay: ₹3,700 crore.
ii. Beneficiaries:
• Developers selected through a competitive bidding process open to both public and private sectors.
• Focus on supporting power distribution companies (Discoms) by allocating a minimum of 85% of
BESS project capacity to Discoms.
iii.It will be administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
iv.VGF to be disbursed in five tranches, linked to BESS project implementation stages.
v.Target Levelized Cost of Storage (LCoS) between ₹5.50-6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to make stored
renewable energy economically viable.
Impact and Goals:
i.Reduce the cost of battery storage systems to increase their viability.
ii.Aims to develop 4,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of BESS by 2030-31.
iii.Facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into the electricity
grid.
iv.Intends to minimize wastage, optimize transmission network utilization, and reduce costly infrastructure
upgrades.
Note: A DISCOM (Distribution Company) is a utility responsible for delivering electricity to end-users in a
specific area. They operate and maintain the distribution infrastructure, manage billing, and ensure reliable
electricity supply.
Background of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme:
• Launched in 2004.
• Aimed at supporting infrastructure projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• Provides government grants to projects that are economically justified but not commercially
viable due to large capital investments, long gestation periods, and the inability to increase user
charges to commercial levels.
What is BESS:
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) stores energy from diverse sources, often with
renewables, for cost-effective use during peak demand. BESS, comprising a battery system, inverter,
battery management system, and energy management system, stores excess energy and releases it

when needed, enhancing grid stability. Types include lead-acid, lithium-ion, LiFePO₄, and flow
batteries.
Union Minister – Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha Constituency – Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Shri Pankaj Chaudhary and Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad
Cabinet Approves Additional Allocation of Rs. 1164.53 Crore for IDS, 2017 in Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand
The Cabinet approved an additional amount of Rs. 1164.53 crore for the Industrial Development Scheme (IDS),
2017, for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, proposed the allocation of additional funds under the Central
Sector Scheme for Industrial Development Scheme 2017 for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Key Points:
i.The Industrial Development Scheme, 2017, was initially announced in 2018 for Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand.
ii.Rs. 1164.53 crore needed to fulfill scheme Commitments until 2028-2029.
iii. Approved additional funds will offer below incentives to eligible new and expanding industrial units in the
manufacturing and service sectors under the scheme:
• Central Capital Investment Incentive for Access to Credit (CCIIAC):
Industrial units will receive a CCIIAC at a rate of 30% of the investment in Plant and Machinery, with
an upper limit of Rs. 5.00 crore.
• Central Comprehensive Insurance Incentive (CCII):
Industrial units will be eligible for reimbursement of 100% of the insurance premium on building and
Plant & Machinery for a maximum period of 5 years from the date of commencement of commercial
production/operation.
Industrial Development Scheme for Himachal Pradesh (HP) & Uttarakhand, 2017
Objective: Accelerate industrialization and promote industrial growth in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Implementation: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
Financial Outlay
• Initially: Rs. 131.90 crore, fully utilized by the fiscal year 2021-22.
• Additional approved funding: Rs. 1164.53 crore (on Sep 6, 2023)
Commencement and Duration:
• Effective from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022, has now been extended to cover the period up to
2028-29.
Eligibility:
i.All new and expanding industrial units in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand’s manufacturing and services
sectors, including Bio-technology and Hydel Power Generation Units up to 10 MW, qualify for incentives under
the scheme.
Nodal Agency:
i.Himachal Prades – The Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (HPSIDC)
ii.Uttarakhand – The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL)
About Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
DPIIT was formed in January 2019 through the merger of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
(DIPP) and the Department of Commerce.
Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Secretary – Rajesh Kumar Singh

Centre Approves 10% Medical Education Reservation for Puducherry Government School Students
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a proposal from Puducherry to implement a10%
quota for students studying in government schools in medical admissions in Puducherry. The Centralised
Admission Committee (CENTAC) is responsible for finalizing the list of students for admission to various
higher education courses.
Implementation of the 10% Quota:
i.Eligibility: For NEET-qualified students who have studied from Class I-XII in government-run schools in
Puducherry.
ii.The reservation is applicable to Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)/ Bachelor of Dental
Surgery (BDS)/ Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) courses under government quota seats in
government/private self-financing medical colleges in the Union Territory, starting from the academic year
2023-24.
Impact of the Quota:
• The quota is expected to benefit approximately 37 NEET-qualified government school students,
providing them with medical admissions each year.
• This initiative aims to create more opportunities for deserving students and promote access to
medical education.
About Puducherry
Chief Minister – N. Rangaswamy
Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan
Festivals – Thai Pongal, Mascarade Festival (Mask Festival), Masi Magam, Bastille Day
Cabinet Approval on September 13, 2023

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on
13th September 2023.
i.Resolution on the success of the New Delhi Group20 (G20) Summit.
ii.Approval for the expansion of Ujjwala Yojana.
iii.Approval of eCourts Phase III For 4 years.
iv.Approval of MoUs between India and 3 other Countries:
• MoU between India and Armenia, India and Antigua & Barbuda, India and Sierra Leone.
v.Approval of foreign investment in M/s Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Resolution On The Success Of The New Delhi Group20 (G20) Summit
The Union Cabinet has passed a resolution to commemorate the success of the 18th G20 Summit, hosted the
summit for the first time by India in New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023.
• The Summit was held in Bharat Mandapam – International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre
(IECC) complex, in New Delhi Delhi .
• The theme of the summit was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One
Future”. (the theme of India’s Presidency).
• The summit accepted the African Union as a permanent member of the G20,significant inclusion
means that the G20 has now transformed into the G21.
Focused Arena:
The emphasis on achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), reforming international financial
institutions, establishing digital public infrastructure, advocating for a green development agreement, and
supporting women-led development.
Outcomes of G20:
i.Boosting the global economy, providing more resources for development, expanding tourism, creating
international job opportunities, improving food security through increased millet production and consumption,
and strengthening commitment to biofuels are prominent outcomes of the G20 Summit.

• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor(IMEC) Agreement and the Global Biofuels
Alliance(GBA) were concluded at the summit.
Additional info:
i.IMEC Agreement is a proposed trade and investment corridor that would connect India, the Middle East, and
Europe.
ii.The GBA is a new initiative by India to promote the global adoption of biofuels.
• India, Brazil and the United States of America(USA) are the founding members of the alliance.
Approval For The Expansion Of Ujjwala Yojana 2.0
The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 2.0 for release of 75
lakh LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections over 3 years from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2025-26.
• By providing additional 75 lakh Ujjwala connections, the total number of PMUY beneficiaries will be
at 10.35 crore.
About PMUJ:
i.Ujjwala was launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
• The scheme to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG(Liquefied Petroleum Gas) available to 5 crore
rural and deprived households.
ii.In the Union budget for FY 21-22, provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the PMUY
scheme (under Ujjwala 2.0) was announced.
• The scheme targets low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY.
iii.The first refill and stove will also be provided free of cost to Ujjwala beneficiaries.
iv.A subsidy of Rs.200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for upto 12 refills per year is being provided to PMUY
consumers.
Additional Info:
i.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around one-third of the global population rely on open
fires for cooking.
ii.This leads to harmful household air pollution, contributing to an estimated 3.2 million deaths annually in
2020, with over 237,000 deaths being children under the age of 5.
Approval of eCourts Project Phase III For 4 years
The Union Cabinet has approved the eCourts Project Phase III as a Central Sector Scheme spanning 4
years (starting from 2023 onwards) with financial outlay of Rs.7210 crore.
• It will use intelligent smart systems enabling data-based decision making for judges and registries
while scheduling or prioritizing cases.
Implementation:
• The scheme is implemented under the joint partnership of the Department of Justice under Ministry
of Law & Justice(MoL&J) and eCommittee of Supreme Court of India(SCI).
• The scheme will be implemented in a decentralized manner through the respective High Courts to
develop a judicial system that would promote ease of justice by making the system more accessible,
affordable, reliable, predictable, and transparent for all stakeholders.
About E-Courts Project:
i.The eCourts Project was conceptualised on the basis of the “National Policy and Action Plan for
Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary – 2005”
ii.The project aims to create a unified technology platform for the judiciary to provide a seamless and paperless
interface between the courts, the litigants and other stakeholders.
eCourts Project Phase III:
i.e-Courts Phase-III builds on the successes of Phase-I and Phase-II and aims to ensure maximum ease of justice
by moving towards digital, online and paperless courts through digitization of the entire court records
• Phase III is centered in the philosophy of “access and inclusion”.
ii.It uses Artificial Intelligence (Al), Machine Learning (ML), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Natural
Language Processing (NLP) to provide a “smart” ecosystem.

Approval of MoUs Between India and 3 Other Countries
India and Armenia
The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by the Ministry of
Electronics & Information Technology(Meity) of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of
Armenia in June 2023.
India and Antigua & Barbuda
The Union Cabinet also approved another MoU which was signed between the Meity of Government of India
and the Ministry of Information, Communications Technologies, Utilities and Energy of Antigua & Barbuda in
June 2023.
India and Sierra Leone:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister approves the signing of Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on 12th of June 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of
the Republic of India and the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Republic of Sierra Leone
• All the above three MoUs pave a way for cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital
Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
About MoU:
i.The MoU aims to enhance both Government to Government(G2G) and Business to Business (B2B) bilateral
Cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
ii.The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences and digital technologies-based
solutions (viz. INDIA STACK) in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the countries.
iii.The MoU will be in force for 3 years.
India stack:
India stack is an ambitious government initiative to creating a unique digital infrastructure to solve India’s hard
problems towards presence-less, paperless and cashless service delivery.
Additional Info:
i.India has led in building digital public infrastructure (DPI) and provided services during the COVID pandemic.
• Many countries are interested in learning from India’s experience and signing agreements to share
DPI solutions.
.ii.Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to blocks or platforms such as digital identification, payment
infrastructure and data exchange solutions that help countries deliver essential services to their people,
empowering citizens and improving lives by enabling digital inclusion.
Approval of Foreign Investment in M/s Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) approved the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposal for
foreign investment in M/s Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited,a public limited Indian pharmaceutical company
listed on the National Stock Exchange(NSE) Limited and the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited(BSE) of India.
• M/s Berhyanda Limited of Cyprus acquired 76.1% equity shares of Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited
for about Rs.9589 crores.With this, the total foreign investment of acquired firm increased to 90.1%.
• The investments in the foreign investor company, M/s Berhyanda Limited, are held by Advent
Funds which was managed by Advent International Corporation, an entity incorporated in United
States of America (USA).
• Advent India began investing in India in 2007 and has invested approximately Rs 34,000 crores in
20 Indian companies.
Regulatory bodies like Reserve Bank of India(RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and
Competition Commission of India (CCI) evaluated the proposal.

FDI policy:
i.For greenfield pharmaceutical projects – 100% FDI is
allowed (under automatic route)
ii.For brownfield pharmaceutical projects – FDI up to
74% are allowed (under the automatic route) and
Government approval is required for investment beyond
74%.
iii.The investor-friendly Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Policy regime for the pharmaceutical sector brings in the
best global practices in technology, innovation, and skills
development.
• This will help to accelerate economic growth
and development, increase capital investment,
boost domestic productivity, enhance
competitiveness, and generate employment.
Additional info:
i.Total FDI inflows in the pharmaceutical sector has been
Rs.43,713 crore for FY 2018-19 to FY 2022-23.
• In 2022, FDI inflow in the pharmaceutical sector grew at 58%.
On July 5, 2023, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, approved the Draft of
Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022, will be tabled in Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon
session that will start on July 20 and continue till August 11 2023.
About Armenia:
President – Vahagn Khachaturyan
Capital – Yerevan
Currency – Armenian Dram(AMD)
About Antigua & Barbuda
Prime Minister – Gaston Browne
Capital – Saint John’s
Currency – East Caribbean Dollar(XCD)
About Sierra Leone
President – Julius Maada Bio
Capital – Freetown
Currency – Sierra Leonean Leone

President Murmu Unveiled 12-foot Statue of Mahatma Gandhi & Gandhi Vatika at
Gandhi Darshan, Delhi
On 4th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a 12-foot-high statue of the Father of the
Nation, ‘Mahatma Gandhi‘ and inaugurated a ‘Gandhi Vatika‘ at Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat in New Delhi,
Delhi.
• At Gandhi Vatika, statues of Mahatma Gandhi in different poses have been installed.
• A selfie point has been established within Gandhi Vatika to enhance the visitor experience,
especially for children.
• V K Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and Vijay Goel, Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and
Darshan Samiti (GSDS), were also present on the occasion.

PM Narendra Modi dedicates Phase 1 of IICC-Yashobhoomi in New Delhi;
Launches PM Vishwakarma Scheme
On September 17, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the Prime Minister (PM) of India
Narendra Modi dedicated the Phase -1 of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), also
known as Yashobhoomi to the nation located in Dwarka Sector 25, New Delhi, Delhi.
• IICC is India’s largest convention and exhibition centre with a total indoor area of 300,000m2.
• He also launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme covering 18 focus areas of artisans and
craftsmen along with its logo, tagline ‘‘Samman Samarthya Samridhi” and portal
(https://pmvishwakarma.gov.in/).
• He released a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and video on the occasion.
• The launch/release was made from the IICC, New Delhi.
Note: Vishwakarma Jayanti is annually celebrated on the last day of the month of ‘Bhadrapada‘ of the
Hindu calendar. Usually, Vishwakarma Jayanti falls on 17th or 18th September.
About IICC-Yashobhoomi:
Built at a cost of approximately Rs. 5400 crore, it is one of the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives,
Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities, featuring India’s first indoor arena with a retractable roof. The
total project area is over 8.9 lakh square meters and a total built-up area is more than 1.8 lakh square
meters.
• Department for Promotion of Industry and internal Trade (DPIIT) had set up a 100%
Government owed company namely India International Convention & Exhibition Centre (IICC)
Limited to implement, and develop the project.
Highlights:
i.It is designed by CP Kukreja Architects.
ii.It has been awarded Green Cities Platinum certification from Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII)
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
iii.Kinexin Convention Management Pvt Ltd, a consortium of Korea International Exhibition Centre
(KINTEX) and eSang Networks Company Ltd, has been appointed as the operator for exhibition and
convention centre for managing the venue for 20 years.
iv.National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC) is acting as the knowledge
partner for the project for an initial period of 10 years.
v.YashoBhoomi will overtake Bharat Mandapam in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan as its total land size of
over 221 acres is more than latter’s 123 acres.
Note: Its foundation stone was laid in 2018 by the PM and is being built in two phases. The complete
project (after Phase II completion) is planned at an estimated cost of Rs 25,703 crore.
• Phase-II will include three exhibition complexes, arena, hotels (3500 hotel rooms), retail and
office spaces.
Key Facilities:
i.Spans 73,195 square metres, it encompasses 15 convention rooms, including the main auditorium, the
grand ballroom, 13 meeting rooms, and can accommodate up to 11,000 delegates.
ii.It also Largest LED (Light-emitting diode) media facade in India
iii.It has Innovative automated seating system for flexible configurations
iv.These halls connect to a grand foyer with a unique copper ceiling that filters light through skylights.

v.Public areas in Yashobhoomi incorporate Indian cultural elements like terrazzo floors with Brass inlay.
vi.The facility prioritizes sustainability with a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system, and
rainwater harvesting.
vii.It is equipped with High-tech security measures to ensure visitor safety, and there’s an underground
parking facility for over 3000 cars and 100 electric charging points.
viii.It connects to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line through the newly established
Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 station, featuring three subways for easy access to Exhibition halls, the
convention center, and more.
• Note: Before IICC inauguration, PM inaugurated the extension of the Delhi Airport Metro
Express line, which will now connect Dwarka Sector 21 to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25.
About PM Vishwakarma Scheme:
It is a fully funded Union Government Scheme with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crores to support artisans and
craftspeople, also known as, Vishwakarmas in rural and urban areas across India through skill
upgradation and income.
Focus:
i.To improve the quality, and reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople
ii.To strengthen the Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-student tradition) of traditional skills
Key Points:
i.It offers free registration for Vishwakarmas through biometric-based PM Vishwakarma portal, providing
recognition, skill upgrading, a toolkit incentive of Rs 15,000
ii.A collateral-free credit support up to Rs 3 Lakh will be provided viz. Rs 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs 2
lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%, and incentive for digital transactions and
marketing support.
iii.During training times, Rs 500 per day allowance will be provided to the Viswakarmas.
iv.In the first year, five lakh families will be covered and a total of 30 lakh families will be covered over five
years from FY24 to FY28.
The scheme will cover the following traditional crafts:
1. Carpenter
2. Boat Maker
3. Armourer
4. Blacksmith
5. Hammer and Tool Kit Maker
6. Locksmith
7. Goldsmith
8. Potter
9. Sculptor, Stone breaker
10. Cobbler (Shoesmith/ Footwear artisan)
11. Mason (Rajmistri)
12. Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver
13. Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional)
14. Barber
15. Garland maker
16. Washerman
17. Tailor
18. Fishing Net Maker

Other Participants:
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance; Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry; Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE); Union
Minister Narayan Rane, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), among others.
i.On 1st July 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India launched the National Sickle Cell
Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCEM) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM) and released the
guidelines for Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh to eliminate anaemia
by 2047.
ii.The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under Ministry of Communication(MoC) in collaboration
with MyGov(Government of India’s citizen engagement platform), has launched the “Bharat Internet
Utsav” to celebrate the transformative role of the internet by encouraging citizens to share their stories of
how the internet has positively impacted their lives.
About India International Convention & Exhibition Centre (IICC) Limited:
Managing Director & CEO– Sumita Dawra ((Special Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry(MCI))
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched Tele-Law 2.0 for Legal Advice
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State(MoS) Independent Charge (IC) Ministry of Law and Justice(MoL&J)
launched Tele-Law 2.0, an initiative of the Department of Justice(DoJ), MoL&J to provide legal information and
advice with the support of communication and Information Technology. Some of the highlights of the event are
• Screening of the “Tele-Law” documentary, illustrating the journey of Tele-Law over five years
(2017-2022).
• Launching of “Tele-Law-2.0,” which integrates Tele-Law and the Nyaya Bandhu App, accompanied
by the release of its informative e-tutorial.
• Union Minister also launched the 4th Edition of Voices of Beneficiaries Booklet which highlights
the real-life stories of individuals whose lives were positively impacted by Tele-Law.
• Presentation of the “Achievers Catalogue,” spotlighting top-performing Paralegal Volunteers,
Village-level Entrepreneurs, Panel lawyers, and State Coordinators categorized by regions for the
Years 2022-2023 and April to June 2023-2024.
Tele-Law 2.0:
i.In alignment with the commitment outlined in Article 39A,which focuses on ensuring access to “justice for
all”, the DoJ is organizing an event called Tele-Law 2.0.
ii.The main objective of the Tele-Law program is to impact the lives of one crore beneficiaries well before 2026.
• Tele-Law program operates under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice
(DISHA) Scheme and has offered more than 50 lakh legal consultations and ensures that justice is
delivered to everyone in India.
• DISHA Scheme was launched for a period of 5 years (2021-2026) to advance the cause of access to
justice.
Tele –Law Program:-
• Tele –Law Program was launched in 2017.
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) has joined hands with the National Legal Services Authority
(NALSA) and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited to ensure that legal aid reaches marginalized
communities through Common Services Centers (CSC).

Nyaya Bandhu App:
Tele-Law 2.0 includes a fusion of Tele-Law Services with Nyay Bandhu (Android Application for legal
support) pro bono legal services, ensures that citizens have seamless access to free legal guidance and
representation.
• Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) was introduced in the year 2017 , aims to establish a
nationwide framework for providing free legal assistance.
“Pro bono legal services” are offered voluntarily and without charge to those who can’t afford legal assistance.
“pro bono” is Latin phrase ,refers to “for free”
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches Malaviya Mission by UGC; MoE signs MoU
with Adobe to help children learn AI
On September 5, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of National Teachers’ Day 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme by
the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• He also inaugurated the Portal of the Programme (https://mmc.ugc.ac.in/) and released its
information brochure.
• The Portal is set up by UGC for teachers interested in capacity-building programs.
Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme aims to improve the quality of teachers’ training, build
leadership skills in teachers and help realise the goals of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
About Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme:
i.Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme, the 2-week online capacity-building program, is organised
by the UGC, in association with the MoE.
ii.This programme for faculty members has been designed to align with NEP 2020’s key features.
iii.The programme focused on various themes identified for course curriculum/content for capacity building of
faculty members at HEIs.
The 8 themes were
1. Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education
2. Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)
3. Academic Leadership
4. Governance and Management
5. Higher Education and Society
6. Research and Development
7. Skill Development
8. Student Diversity and Inclusive Education and Information and Communication Technology.
Background:
i.UGC’s Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) supports India’s non-technical Higher Education
Institutions (HEI) working in various HEIs.
• The thrust areas for these CPDPs are dynamic and identified by UGC in tune with NEP 2020.
ii.Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching
(PMMMNMTT), a central sector scheme launched in 2014, aims to address the issues on teacher training/
capacity building and the professional
development of faculty in HEIs and provide fund for capacity building training of faculties of HEIs.
iii.MoE has sought to strengthen the synergy and integration between HRDCs and PMMMNMTT centres to meet
the objectives of NEP 2020.
iv.Considering optimal utilisation of infrastructure, human and financial resources the entire capacity building
efforts was renamed and popularised as as Malaviya Mission (MM).
Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers’ Training Centers:
111 HRDCs in HEIs have been identified Under Malaviya Mission(MM). These HRDCs will
be renamed as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers’ Training Centers.

This will ensure continuous professional development and help in building capacities of 15 lakh teachers of
HEIs through 111 Malaviya Mission centres across India in a time-bound manner.
Need behind this Mission:
To make our educators future-ready with a deeper understanding of Indian values, improving teacher training
quality, nurturing leadership skills, and help realizing National Education Policy (NEP) goals
Participants:
Chairman of UGC Prof. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar; Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry for Education, K.
Sanjay Murthy, among others
MoE signs MoU with Adobe to Help Children Learn AI
The MoE also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adobe, an American multinational computer
software company, to help children learn Artificial Intelligence (AI) by developing creative expression in
classrooms using the application Adobe Express.
• Adobe Express is an application that will help students develop their creativity in a digital
environment and foster new collaboration, communication and creative skills within the classroom.
More about Adobe Express:
It is an AI-driven, all-in-one content creation application equipped with generative AI capabilities, enabling
users to produce various content types such as posters, animated videos, web pages, and PDFs. This tool is
designed to benefit the next generation of creators, marketers, data scientists, and business leaders.
i.Under this partnership, Adobe will provide free access to Adobe Express Premium and offer professional
development opportunities for K-12 (Kindergarten to 12th Grade) schools across India.
ii.The curriculum, training, and certification programs related to Adobe Express tools and capabilities will
empower students with the tools and resources to develop future-ready skills on creativity, critical thinking,
communication and collaboration, while educators will be empowered with critical skills required to inspire
creative classrooms.
iii.Approximately 20 million students and 500,000 teachers in India will receive training and certification in
creativity and digital literacy through Adobe Express by 2027.
• Educators will receive Adobe Creative Educators certification upon completion of training
i.On 12th July 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a bill
amending IIM Act to include the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) in Mumbai as the 21st
Indian Institute of Management (IIM).The amendment will rename NITIE Mumbai as IIM Mumbai.
ii.On 6th July 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between India and Tanzania for
establishing the first IIT campus outside India named IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
About Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Constituency- Rajya Sabha, Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Annpurna Devi (Constituency- Kodarma, Jharkhand); Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
(Constituency-, Inner Manipur, Manipur); Dr. Subhas Sarkar (Constituency Bankura, West Bengal)
UNDP Launches Innovative e-Learning Programme on Sustainable Finance

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched an innovative e-Learning Programme as a
proactive response to the increasing global need to support and enhance sustainable finance.
• This initiative, led by the Sustainable Finance Hub’s (SFH) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Finance Academy, aims to share UNDP’s extensive knowledge on sustainable finance with global
practitioners.
Sustainable Finance:
Sustainable finance is the basis of SDG ambitions, empowering individuals worldwide to align funds with
national SDG targets and crafting a universal sustainable finance framework for the benefit of all.

About the e-Learning Programme:
i.The open-access e-Learning Programme is available to anyone with an Internet connection.
ii.It comprises 10 comprehensive module that offers fundamentals of sustainable finance and advanced
explorations in key areas of SDG.
• The modules include budgeting, taxation, thematic bonds and insurance for the SDGs, accessing
capital for SDG investment, establishing SDG investment project pipelines, and more.
iii.The SDG Finance Academy envisions broadening collaboration channels for a global sustainable finance
community in the next phase, to support development financing’s impact.
Click here to know more
Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH):
i.The UNDP’s SFH has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable finance initiatives.
ii.SFH introduced the SDG Finance Academy, a strategic program aimed at equipping its extensive workforce
and national partners with sustainable finance knowledge.
iii.As a direct outcome of the SDG Finance Academy, Uruguay became the first-ever nation to issue a
sovereign bond aligned with the UN SDGs.
Analysis to achieve SDG targets:
i.The UN SDG Report 2021 revealed a distressing increase in extreme poverty, reversing decades of progress.
This increase in poverty is a significant setback to achieving SDG 1 (“No Poverty”).
Projections suggest that the global poverty rate may rise to 7%, further complicating efforts to eliminate
poverty by 2030.
Ministry of Education along with ICC, BCCI, and UNICEF Launched ‘CRIIIO 4 GOOD’ Modules to
Promote Gender Equity
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education launched a new online, life skills learning module
“CRIIIO 4 GOOD” to promote gender equity among girls and boys at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in
Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The programme was launched in association with International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
CRIIIO4 GOOD is an innovative youth engagement that promotes gender equality and equal
opportunities for all. It will equip children with the essential life skills needed to develop in an ever-
changing world.
Key People:
Dr. Kuberbhai Dindor, Minister of Primary, Secondary and Adult Education & Tribal Department, Government
of Gujarat; Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI; Smriti Mandhana, Vice Captain of Indian Women’s cricket team
and Celebrity Supporter for ICC-UNICEF CRIIIO 4 GOOD initiative; Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to
India and 1000 children were present during the event.
About CRIIIO 4 GOOD:
i.‘CRIIIO 4 GOOD’ is a series of 8 cricket-based animation films.
ii.Each animated film part focuses on a theme of specific life skills,namely,
Leadership, problem-solving, confidence, decision-making, negotiation, empathy, teamwork, and goal-
setting.
iii.These life skills are visualized through state-of-the-art animation, using relatable cricketing examples.
iv.The learning module utilises cricket as a dynamic teaching tool, focusing on essential life skills and
promoting gender equity.

v.Through CRIIIO 4 GOOD, the power of sports and the popularity of cricket are being used as a medium to
empower the girl child and spread awareness about gender equity.
Promoting gender equity equips girls with life skills and encourages their participation in sports.
What is Criiio?
Criiio celebrates all of the creative and adaptive ways that cricket is being played around the world.
Unlike the traditional cricket, which is played with hard ball between 2 teams of 11 players, criiio can be played
with any type of bat and ball in any type of playing area.
Wider Reach:
i.To maximize their impact, all 8 learning modules are accessible for free
at https://www.criiio.com/criiio4good
ii.The films are available in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, making them accessible to a wider audience.
Note: The Ministry of Education, Government of India, will disseminate the modules to more than 1.5 million
schools across India and the Diksha platform.
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director– Catherine Russell
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established on– 11 December 1946
MoCF Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launches National Policy and PRIP Scheme for Pharma-
MedTech sector
On September 26, 2023, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers (MoC&F) launched National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-
MedTech Sector in India; and Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-
MedTech (PRIP) Sector during an event in New Delhi, Delhi.
About National Policy on R&D and Innovation in the Pharma-MedTech Sector in India
Aim:
To promote R&D in pharmaceuticals, including traditional medicines, phyto-pharmaceuticals, and medical
devices.
Focus Area of Policy:
i.Foster innovation and research by enhancing the regulatory environment, and nurturing new talent.
ii.Encourage private and public investment in innovation using various incentives.
iii.Establish a supportive ecosystem for cross-sectoral research to drive sustainable sector growth.
Key Points:
i.It proposed to set up an Indian Council of Pharmaceuticals and Med-tech Research and Development to
facilitate and promote collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions.
ii.The policy will aid in higher GDP (Gross Domestic product) contribution, boosted exports, global market
share growth, improved healthcare, reduced disease burden, high-end R&D jobs, talent repatriation.
iii.As a part of policy, there will be introduction of centralized dashboard to track upcoming innovations and
research.
iv.As per the Allocation of Business Rules, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has been assigned the work
related to promotion and co-ordination of basic, applied and other research in areas related to the
pharmaceutical sector; education and training including high end research; international co-operation in
pharmaceutical research, inter- sectoral coordination and all matters relating to National Institutes of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs).
Background:
On the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 46th Report, the Department of
Pharmaceuticals under the MoC&F constituted a High level Inter- departmental Committee to draft and finalize
Policy on R&D and Innovation which submitted its report in September, 2020.

• Following this, draft ‘Policy to Catalyze R&D and Innovation in the Pharma MedTech Sector in India’
was prepared, and the final policy has been notified in gazette on 18th August, 2023.
About Scheme for PRIP Sector:
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has introduced the PRIP scheme with a budget of Rs. 5,000 crores, aiming
to shift the Indian pharmaceutical sector towards innovation-driven growth by enhancing research
infrastructure. The scheme includes two components:
i.Component A: Establishing 7 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) at NIPERs (National Institute of Pharmaceutical
Education and Research) with a budget of Rs 700 crores to bolster research infrastructure.
ii.Component B: Promoting research in 6 priority areas like New Chemical Entities, Complex generics, medical
devices, stem cell therapy, orphan drugs, and Anti-microbial resistance with a budget of Rs 4,250 crores.
• Financial support will be provided to industries, MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises), SMEs
(Small & Medium Enterprises), startups collaborating with government institutes, and for in-house
and academic research.
Benefits of the scheme:
i.Development of world-class research infrastructure, fostering a talent pool of qualified students.
ii.Promotion of industry-academia partnerships to drive innovation.
iii.Acceleration of the pharmaceutical sector’s growth, leading to increased revenue and job creation.
iv.Development of affordable healthcare solutions, reducing the healthcare burden.
Key Points:
i.As Indian pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest pharmaceutical industry in the world by volume with
current market size of around USD 50 Billions, he Strengthening of R&D infrastructure is needed for self-
reliance.
ii.The pharma and medical devices sector should be transitioned from cost-centric to innovation-driven.
iii.Emphasis are being laid on mass production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• Already, three bulk drug parks in Himachal Pradesh (HP), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Prades, and
Gujarat; and four medical device parks in HP, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Tamil
Nadu (TN) are set up, which will help in strengthening this sector.
i.Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 8 International Conference on Pharma and Medical
Device Sector on May 26, 2023. It was organized by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in association with the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
ii.For the first time, India hosted the Global Food Regulators Summit 2023, held as part of the Group 20 (G20)
event, in Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, Delhi from 20th to 21st July 2023. The summit was organised by the
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
About Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F):
Union Minister– Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha- Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bhagwanth Khuba(Constituency- Bidar, Karnataka)
Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with UNWTO unveils the G20 Tourism and SDG
Dashboard
On September 5, 2023, Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 (Group of Twenty) Tourism and SDG (Sustainable Development
Goal) Dashboard.
• The dashboard was launched by the Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Tourism
in a virtual ceremony.
• G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is an outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group.
Key Points:
i.The dashboard is developed under the leadership of India’s G20 Presidency and with the expert knowledge
partnership of UNWTO.

ii.The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard is an comprehensive online public platform that gathers information
from the G20 Tourism Working Group, including the GOA Roadmap, survey data, case studies, and best
practices from G30 Countries.
• It offers insights into sustainable tourism and facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration
among G20 countries.
iii.The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard launch signifies a major step toward achieving the SDGs and
demonstrates the global community’s commitment during India’s G20 Presidency.
iv.The virtual launch witnessed participation from G20 Member countries, invited countries, international
organizations, Indian States & Union Territories (UTs), and industry stakeholders.
About Ministry of Tourism:
Union Minister– G. Kishan Reddy (Constituency- Secunderabad, Telangana)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand);
Shripad Yesso Naik (Constituency- North Goa, Goa)
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches ‘Amazon Future Engineer Programme’ for EMRSs
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Phase II of
the ‘Amazon Future Engineer Programme’ in 54 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) spread across
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.
• The second phase would include an Advanced Block Programming and Artificial
Intelligence(AI)curriculum in addition to coding, logical sequencing, learning loops, and block
programming.
• The program covers students from class six to class 9 by offering fundamentals of computer science
to the fundamentals of AI respectively.
• Phase I was launched on 2022 in collaboration with Amazon India and Learning Links Foundation
(LLF), and has trained over 7,000 students from grades six to eight on the fundamentals of computer
science and block programming modules.
Additional Info:
• Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has inaugurated the EMRS Coders Expo in
New Delhi, Delhi. It is an exhibition of the top 20 Coding Projects of the students from EMRS.
• Anil Kumar Jha also inaugurated a 3-day workshop in Delhi to train EMRS teachers in the revised
module.
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.
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
Incorporated – 2002
MSDE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches ‘Skills on Wheels’ with NSDC and IndusInd Bank
to Promote Skilling
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in collaboration with the National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) and IndusInd Bank.MSDE minister and Shri Om Birla,Speaker, Lok Sabha have
jointly launched the initiative during the inauguration of the program ceremony.
Aim:
To equip rural youth, especially women, with key digital skills and make them job and future-ready
About Initiative:
i.This initiative will empower 60,000 youth over a period of 5 years with relevant skills training to
improving the livelihood of rural households.
ii.To bring the Skill India Mission to the farthest areas of India, a specially equipped bus with retrofitted

tools and resources known as ‘Skills On Wheels’ will travel to remote areas.
iii.It will also spreading awareness at grass root level about free skill training programs.
iv.It will empower youth with industry-relevant skill training, enhancing both theoretical and practical
knowledge.
• It will align candidates’ academic backgrounds, aptitudes, and skill sets with the right courses,
thereby bridging the industry’s skill gap and reducing youth unemployment.
About Skill India Mission:
• Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi launched the Skill India Mission in 2015 in accordance with
his vision to help India become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant).
• This initiative was aimed to create and implement comprehensive skill development training
programmes that would help bridge the gap between industry demands and skill requirements.
About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC):
NSDC was set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Government of
India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of
NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
It is a not-for-profit public limited company under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding
to section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
CEO– Ved Mani Tiwari
Headquarters– New delhi, Delhi
DEPwD Launched 5 Initiatives for PwDs: Online Case Monitoring Portal for
Grievance Redressal
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) under the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment (MoSJE) launched 5 Pioneering Initiatives to Foster Inclusivity and Empower Persons with
Disabilities(PwDs).
• An Online Case Monitoring Portal developed by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons
with Disabilities (CCPD) was launched to simplify and expedite the grievance resolution process for
PwDs.
• The initiatives were launched by Pratima Bhoumi, Minister of State (MoS), MoSJE at the Dr.
Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
The other 4 initiatives were:
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Architecture(COA).
• Releasing of Anonymous Data of Unique Disability ID (UDID).
• PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal.
• Comprehensive Booklet: Pathways to Access: Courts on Disability Right.
About Online Case Monitoring Portal:
Aim:
To minimize reliance on physical paperwork, support operational efficiency and Environmental Sustainability
in line with the Government’s broader objectives.
Features:
i.The portal is equipped with a range of features designed to enhance efficiency, including seamless online
complaint filing, end-to-end digital process, automation of reminders and time-based notices, and a hybrid
approach incorporating e-court and e-office modules.
ii.The portal will replace the traditional paper-based procedures with a digital grievance resolution process.
iii.The portal will streamline disability grievance handling and is accessible on the Office of the CCPD website.

About the other 4 initiatives:
i.DEPwD has partnered with COA to introduce universal accessibility courses within Bachelor of Architecture
programs.
• This partnership will extend to develop a certified course for architects and civil engineers, equip
them with skills to conduct accessibility audits in built environments and ensure compliance with
accessibility standards.
ii.DEPwD released the anonymous data through the UDID portal for research purposes. This will provide
insights at various levels, facilitating a deeper understanding and informing targeted interventions.
iii.PM-DAKSH Portal introduced by DEPwD is a comprehensive digital platform designed to empower PwDs in
their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities.
• This will offer seamless registration through UDID, access to location-based skill training options, a
wide array of job listings from across India, and streamlined administrative processes.
iv.The booklet, Pathways to Access: Courts on Disability Rights, by DEPwD is a compilation of notable
judgments from India’s Supreme Court and High Courts concerning disability rights.
This will be a reference guide for PwDs and stakeholders in the disability sector.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched Skill India Digital Platform

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) has launched
the Skill India Digital (SID) platform.
• SID is India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for skilling, education, employment, and
entrepreneurship.
• The digital platform includes both a website and a mobile Application that was developed by the
National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC). It is available in multiple Indian languages.
About the Skill India Digital platform:
i.Skill India digital platform offers a variety of industry-specific skill courses, career opportunities, and support
for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• It includes listings for courses from Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and the Skill Council for Green
Jobs(SCGJ).
ii.The platforms serve as the link between job-seekers and employers, enabling educational institutions to
develop courses to industry demands.
iii.The platform aligns with the vision outlined in the G20 framework for developing DPI and the digital
economy in order to promote digital skills and literacy.
iv.The app will be linked with DigiLocker and Aadhaar to issue verifiable certificates of course completion and
to generate digitally signed Curriculum Vitae (CVs) for job applicants and people taking courses.
• It also provides Digital CVs of jobseekers through personalized QR Codes.
• SID is linked to the Udyam portal for the registration of micro, small and medium enterprises.
• It also linked with the eShram portal which was created to build a National Database of
Unorganized Workers and the National Career Service which was a five-year project launched by the
Government in 2015 for job-seekers.
• It is also linked with the Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM) portal.
Additional info:
During the launching event, several memorandum of understanding (MOUs) were exchanged with
organizations to advance digital skilling, foster industry participation, and enhance learner engagement,
including All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE),National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Infosys, Microsoft, Amazon Web
Services (AWS), RedHat, Wadhwani Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Future Skills Prime,
SAP, Tech Mahindra Foundation.

CBIC Launched ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘ – GST Reward Scheme
Central Board Of Indirect Taxes & Customs(CBIC) under Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, launched
an invoice incentive scheme called ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘.
• The scheme aims to incentivise citizens and consumers to ask for Goods and Service Tax (GST)
invoices from the seller when making business-to-consumer (B2C) purchases of goods or services.
• The scheme was launched in the 3 States (Assam, Gujarat and Haryana) and in 3 Union
Territories(UT) (Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
Aim of the Scheme:
i.The scheme aims to enhance GST processes and revenue collection.
ii.This initiative offers cash rewards, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore, through monthly and quarterly
lucky-draws.
• This indirectly contributes to curbing tax evasion, fostering accountability, and supporting the
formal economy’s growth.
Criteria:
Invoices with a minimum purchase value of Rs 200 are eligible for the lucky draw, and individuals can upload a
maximum of 25 invoices in a month.
Lucky Draw details:
Every month, 800 people will be randomly selected to receive a prize of Rs 10,000 each. Additionally, 10 people
will be awarded a prize of Rs 10 lakh each.This scheme includes a quarterly draw in which two individuals are
selected to receive a prize of Rs 1 crore.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released Capacity Building Plan for 3 Departments under
Mission Karmayogi
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) and
Ministry of Education(MoE), released “Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP)” of MSDE, Department
of Higher Education (DoHE) & Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), “Know your
Ministry Induction Module” of MSDE and “Training Module for Directors” of Department of Higher
Education (DoHE), MoE.
• These initiative launched by the MSDE, DoHE, Department of School Education & Literacy
(DoSEL) and Capacity Building Commission (CBC).
• All these initiatives are launched under Mission Karmayogi.
• These aims to enable the government officials with competence to become future ready and for
efficient public service delivery.
Key people:
Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MSDE; Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE; among others
were present during the launch.
About Mission Karmayogi:
i.It envisages capacity building of government employees by modernizing their thinking, approach and
improves their skill set. Click Here to Read about it
ii.CBC was also set up under this mission to create India’s own Civil Service Competency Framework.
About ACBP:
ACBP will help in rolling out various capacity building interventions for the officers in a planned manner.
• Praveen Singh Pardeshi, Member (Administration), CBC gave the presentation on ACBP of
MSDE.
• Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member (HR), CBC gave the presentation on ACBP of DoHE and
DoSEL.

About Know Your Ministry – Induction Module of MSDE:
It is a first of its kind, digital Induction Training Module to boost citizen-centricity and MSDE functionality.
• This digital, interactive e-learning module is available on iGoT Mission Karmayogi platform for
ministry personnel.
• It aims to align individuals with ministry vision and enhance their contributions to the value
chain.
About Training Module for Directors:
The Training Module for Directors of Academic Institutes of DoHE aligns with New Education Policy (NEP)
2020, fostering dynamic institutional leadership in Higher Education.
India’s First Solar City Inaugurated in Sanchi of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh(MP) Chief Minister(CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the city of Sanchi in Raisen
district in MP as India’s first Solar City.
• This is in line with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of developing a solar city in every
state by 2070.
About the Sanchi Solar City:
i.The solar plants of 3 MW and 5 MW solar plants in Nagauri and Gulgaon of sanchi respectively cater to the
city’s electrical and agricultural needs.
• In addition to this, an 8 MW grid-connected solar plant is under construction within the Sanchi city.
• Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) acted as the nodal agency of the solar city
project.
• MPUVNL campaigned for ‘Urja Saksharta Abhiyan’ to educate the people of Sanchi about energy
saving.
ii.Sanchi Solar City will reduce annually about 13,747 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent
to having more than 2 lakh adult trees.
iii.This project will save more than 7 crore rupees annually in the energy related expenditure of the
government and the citizens.
iv.The initiatives made under this project including
• Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are set up across the city to promote the adoption of e-
vehicles.
• Public establishments equipped with rooftop solar systems on their premises.
• Individual rooftop owners established rooftop solar systems on their premises to reduce their
dependence on Grid Power.
Note:
India has set a target of generating 40% of its total installed power generation capacity from renewable sources
by 2030.
About Sanchi:
i.Sanchi is famous for its Buddhist stupa which is regonised as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
• The Great Stupa at Sanchi was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.
Additional info: In October 2022, PM Narendra Modi declared Modhera village in Gujarat as India’s first 24×7
solar-powered village.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister (CM)– Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel
Dance – Lehangi, Akiri Dance, Gaur

PM Modi Inaugurations on 23 & 24 September 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made significant inaugurations during September 23 & 24 2023.
i.Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023 at Rudraksh International
Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
ii.Prime Minister Flagged off Nine Vande Bharat Express
Trains on September 24, 2023, via Video Conferencing to
Enhance Connectivity and Passenger Experience.
iii.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of
an international cricket stadium in Varanasi.
iv.On September 23, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
inaugurates International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 at Vigyan
Bhavan in New Delhi.
PM Inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated Kashi Sansad
Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023 at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh
Key Highlights
i.Inauguration of 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas: The Prime Minister inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya
Vidyalayas(Residential Schools), built at a cost of approximately Rs 1115 crores, across Uttar Pradesh.
• These schools aim to provide quality education to children of laborers, construction workers, and orphans
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to children from weaker sections of society.
• Each school boasts modern facilities, classrooms, sports grounds, recreational areas, auditoriums, hostels,
and residential staff flats, with a capacity for up to 1,000 students in each school.
• Rolled out by the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board
(UPBOCW), Department of Labour.
ii.Launch of Kashi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita Portal: Shri Modi launched the portal for the registration of Kashi
Sansad Khel Pratiyogita, promoting sports and competitions in the region.
iii.He proposed strengthening the system of quality tourist guides in Kashi to promote the city, including
organizing a Kashi Sansad Tourist Guide competition.
Background of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav:
The event aimed to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of Kashi, featuring participation from over 37,000
individuals across 17 disciplines, showcasing their talents in various cultural and artistic fields.
About Uttar Pradesh:
• Capital: Lucknow
• CM: Yogi Adityanath (Constituency: Gorakhpur, UP)
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
Note: Cultural Capital of India: Kashi, Varanasi, UP.
PM Modi flags off nine Vande Bharat Express trains
Prime Minister flagged Off Nine Vande Bharat Express Trains,connecting 11 states on September 24, 2023, via
Video Conferencing to enhance connectivity and Passenger Experience.
Nine New Vande Bharat Trains
i.Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express (30 min faster)
ii.Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express (2 hrs faster)
iii.Hyderabad – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (2.5 hrs faster)
iv.Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express
v.Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express (1 hr faster)
vi.Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express (3 hrs faster)
vii.Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express (3 hrs faster)
viii.Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express (1 hr faster)

ix.Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express (1 hr faster)
Connectivity Across Eleven States
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand,
and Gujarat
Religious Connectivity
Rourkela- Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express and Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express
connect important religious towns of Puri and Madurai.
Vijayawada – Chennai Vande Bharat Express via Renigunta route provides connectivity to Tirupati Pilgrimage
center.
Key Points from PM’s Address:
i.Infrastructure and Policy Initiatives
• PM Gatishakti Masterplan for infrastructure development coordination.
• New Logistics policy to reduce transportation and export-related charges.
• 8-fold increase in this year’s railway budget compared to 2014.
• Redevelopment of over 500 major stations, referred to as Amrit Bharat Stations.
ii.Celebration of Railway Stations: Railways celebrating ‘Sthapna Diwas’ (establishment day) of railway
stations on includes celebrations at Coimbatore, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and Mumbai. Coimbatore
Railway station completing 150 years
iii.Vision for a Developed India
• Emphasis on the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat for national development
• Aim to achieve a developed India by 2047
iv.Vande Bharat trains equipped with world-class amenities and advanced safety features
Includes Kavach technology.
About Vande Bharat Express (previously known as Train 18):
i.On 15 February 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi was flagged off at the
New Delhi railway station by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ii.There are currently 25 Vande Bharat trains in operation, and an additional 9 have been introduced, bringing
the total to 34.
About Ministry of Railways:
Union Minister: Ashwini Vaishanw (Rajya Sabha Constituency- Odisha)
Minister of State: Raosaheb Danve and Darshana Jardos
Kerala gets first Orange Vande Bharat Express on Kasaragod -Thiruvananthapuram route
The newly introduced Orange Vande Bharat Express in Kerala, inspired by the saffron color of the national
flag, will operate on the Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram route via Alappuzha. The total count of Vande
Bharat services will reach 68, featuring smaller 8-coach versions with 25 improvements over their
predecessors.
Orange Vande Bharat: Vande Bharat Express trains have been given a new look with a combination of orange,
grey, and white color in the front instead of the previous white-blue color scheme.
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of international cricket stadium
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in Varanasi.
Stadium Details:
i.The international cricket stadium in Varanasi will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators.
ii.It is being developed in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi, at a cost of about Rs 450 crores (The Uttar Pradesh
government spent ₹121 crores to acquire the land for the stadium, while the Board of Control for Cricket in
India [BCCI] will spend ₹330 crores on its construction.).
iii.The thematic architecture draws inspiration from Lord Shiva.
iv.The stadium will be equipped with crescent-shaped roof covers, trident-shaped lights, ghat steps-based
seating, and Bilvipatra-shaped metallic sheets on the facade.
v.It is expected to be ready by December 2025.

vi.The spectators’ gallery will resemble the steps of the
ghats of Varanasi.
vii.This will be Uttar Pradesh’s third international
cricket stadium.
Key Attendees:
• Former India cricketers, including Sachin
Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri
• BCCI President Roger Binny
• BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla
• BCCI Secretary Jay Shah
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
Key Points from Prime Minister’s Address:
i. The stadium’s strategic location at the crossroads
leading to Mata Vindhyavasini and its proximity to
Motikot village, the birthplace of Raj Narain ji.
ii.Efforts are being made to provide world-class sports
facilities to the youth of Kashi, including spending on
Sigra Stadium and its facilities.
iii. Mention of the National Education Policy’s recognition of sports as a subject and the establishment of
the National Sports University in Manipur.
International Stadium in UP: i.Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. ii.Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana
Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
PM inaugurates ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023’ in New Delhi
On September 23, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 at
Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. First time such an initiative has been undertaken in the country.
Organized by: Bar Council of India (BCI).
Theme: Emerging Challenges in Justice Delivery System.
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR):
i.ADR gains importance due to the complexity of commercial transactions.
ii.India has enacted a mediation Act to systematize informal dispute resolution.
iii.Lok Adalats (People’s Courts) in Bharat has been a significant means of resolving disputes. Lok Adalats have
successfully resolved around 7 lakh cases in the last 6 years.
Simplifying Language and Law:
Contemplating presenting the law in two ways: one in the language familiar to legal professionals and another
in a language that an ordinary person from India can understand.
Prominent Attendees:
• 50th Chief Justice of India, Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud (as chief guest)
• Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal
• Chairman, Bar Council of India, Shri Manan Kumar Mishra
Recent Achievements and Developments: i.Passage of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, providing 33%
reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.
About Bar council of India:
Established: 1961
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chairman: Manan Kumar Mishra

Rajnath Singh Inaugurates 90 Infrastructure Projects Worth Over Rs 2900 Crore By BRO
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defense inaugurated 90 infrastructure projects constructed by
Border Road Organisation (BRO) at a ceremony organised by the BRO at Devak Bridge on Bishnah-Kaulpur-
Phulpur Road in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The projects have been constructed in 11 border States and Union Territories of India.
• The BRO completed the construction of these projects with Rs 2941 crores in less time frame using
state-of-the-art technology.
Note: The state-of-the-art 422.9 meter long Class 70 RCC Devak bridge enhances the operational preparedness
of the Armed Forces.
Infrastructure Projects and Locations:
i.The infrastructure projects include Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh; two airfields in West Bengal, two
helipads, 22 roads and 63 bridges.
ii.Among these 90 projects Arunachal Pradesh hosts 36 of them, Ladakh is home to 26, Jammu & Kashmir
accommodates 11, Mizoram sees five, Himachal Pradesh has three
• Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal each have two.
• There is one project in Nagaland, one in Rajasthan, and one in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh:
The tunnel is of 500-metre long located on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The all-weather connectivity tunnel will be used by Armed Forces deployed and the tourists to visit
Tawang Region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields:
The Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal were renovated to bolster the preparedness of the
Indian Air Force (IAF) and to facilitate commercial flight operations in the region.
Upcoming Projects:
i.Nyoma Airfield: The foundation stone was also laid for Nyoma Airfield in Eastern Ladakh to be developed at
a cost of Rs 200 crore.
ii.Shinkun La Tunnel: the world’s highest tunnel at an altitude of 15,855 feet. to connect Lahaul-Spiti in
Himachal pradesh to the Zaskar Valley in Ladakh.
Govt Inaugurated VSK; Laid foundation stone for 141 PM SHRI Schools & NSCBAV in
Uttarakhand
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education(MoE) and Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) along with Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand, inaugurated
the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• They also laid the Foundation Stone of 141 Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI)
Schools and 40 bed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya (NSCBAV) (residential
school) in Dehradun Uttarakhand.
• PM SHRI Schools will serve as the models for the existing schools to achieve excellence and the
NSCBAV will provide quality education to underprivileged children.
Vidhya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in Uttarakhand:
i.VSK is a technology-based and modern data-driven model that aims to enhance the learning outcomes of
Uttarakhand’s 23.50 lakh school students of Uttarakhand.
• The Education Department of the Government of Gujarat set up India’s first VSK in 2019 as a
prototype, aimed at leveraging data and technology to bring a transformation in learning outcomes.
ii.Since the introduction of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), VSK has expanded its reach across
India, ensuring a standardised and effective approach to education.
• NEP 2020 is a philosophical document for creating a knowledge-based economy in the 21st century.

Points to note:
i.Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned more than Rs 79 crore for this financial year for 142 PM-Shri
schools and 3 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose residential hostels in the Uttarakhand.
ii.More than Rs 18 crore has already been sanctioned by the Union government for the 1st phase.
Other Launches & Highlights:
i.During the event, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh
Dhami also launched the Chief Minister Higher Education Meritorious Scholarship Scheme and Higher
Education Research Incentive Scheme for Uttarakhand.
ii.The Research Scholarship aligns with the National Research Foundation in which teachers of Uttarakhand
will be receiving grants for their research projects.
• Under this scheme, the Uttarakhand government will provide a grant of Rs. 15-18 lakhs to those who
want to go ahead with research.
iii.The Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the Amrit Kaal Dialogue at the University of
Petroleum and Energy Studies at Bidholi, Uttarakhand.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates ‘Udaan Bhawan’ and ‘E-wallet’ Facility in Delhi
On 18th September 2023, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA),
inaugurated ‘Udaan Bhawan,’ an Integrated Office Complex at Safdarjung Airport in Delhi and an e-
wallet (Bharatkosh Advance Deposit) facility for MoCA.
Key People:
General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.), MoCA and Ministry of Road Transport, and
Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, MoCA were also presented at the inauguration.
Regulatory Authorities of Indian Civil Aviation Sector:
i.Regulatory Authorities such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security (BCAS), Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Airports Economic Regulatory
Authority (AERA), play a vital role in the Civil Aviation sector by framing and implementing rules and
regulations as per standards.
ii.Airports Authority of India (AAI) is the major airport operator responsible for construction, operations,
providing Air traffic control (ATC) and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) Services &
maintenance at various airports across India.
About Udaan Bhawan:
i.The Udaan Bhawan, the New Integrated Office would allow all organisations to work together under the
same roof and this would lead to better coordination between various regulatory authorities under MoCA
such as DGCA, BCAS, AAIB, AERA, and AAI.
The total built-up area of the building is 71257 square meters (Sqm), built at a cost of Rs. 374.98 crore.
ii.The new building, emphasising its alignment with the Prime Minister’s call for ‘Sankalp se siddhi.’
Features:
i.The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)-5 rated building incorporating a range of
eco-friendly features that align with environmental conservation.
E-Wallet Facility:
i.The e-wallet will be particularly useful for processing fees for various regulatory approvals in
the Bharat Kosh portal.
ii.It will act as a prepaid wallet that would enable registered users to add funds in advance.
• Initially, only National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)/Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
mode will be allowed for adding funds.
iii.The Bharat Kosh portal would allow a faster, quicker, more secure payment system through our civil
aviation ministry.

FESTIVAL
Maharashtra Celebrates Dahi Handi Festival as Part of Krishna Janmashtami
Maharashtra celebrated the Dahi Handi festival as part of Krishna Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of
Lord Krishna on 7th September 2023. The festival is also known as Gopal Kala or Utlotsavam. The term ‘Dahi’
refers to curd and handi, an earthen pot consisting of milk-related by-products.
Over 800 Govinda Pathaks (groups) prepared human pyramids and competed with each other to break
dahi handis in various suburban areas in Mumbai (Maharashtra) including Warli, Andheri, Jogeswari, and
Thane among others.
• The Dahi Handi tradition symbolises Lord Krishna’s playfulness and his love for butter and curd.
This tradition commemorates the legendary act of young Krishna and his friends, who formed
human pyramids to reach pots of curd and butter hung high in the homes of Vrindavan, Uttar
Pradesh.
• In Mumbai, prizes ranging from Rs.7000 to Rs 2 lakhs (depending upon the layers of the human
pyramid) were announced by organisers for the Govinda groups. The Maharashtra government has
provided insurance to around 75,000 Govindas.
India’s First Lighthouse Festival Held in Goa to promote Lighthouses as Tourist Destinations
The First edition of ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ or ‘Indian Lighthouse Festival’, the 3 day long event
to promote Lighthouses as Tourist Destinations was held in Goa from 23rd to 25th September 2023.
• The festival was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways (MoPSW) at Fort Aguada in Panjim, Goa on 23rd September 2023.
• This festival was celebrated across all the lighthouses in India to promote historic spots i.e.
Lighthouses as tourist destinations.
• It also highlights the invaluable role of lighthouses in the coastal regions.
Key Points:
i.MoPSW will utilize this festival to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPP) for transforming India’s historic
lighthouses into world-class tourist destinations, and showcase their rich maritime heritage globally.
• The Central Government has selected 75 Lighthouses for the same.
• This transformation will be done under the campaign ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’.
ii.During the event, a session titled ‘Vanguards of Our Shores: Lighthouses as Testaments of India’s Past
and Present’ was held, organized by Bharat Pravah, an initiative of Institute for Governance, Policies and
Politics. It was hosted by known historian and archaeologist Professor Vasant Shinde,
ii.Investment opportunities across 75 Lighthouses were highlighted along with cultural exhibitions, session
highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, among others.
iii.The Central Government replaced the Lighthouse Act, 1927 with the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021,
establishing a framework for aid to navigation in India.
• This new law introduced the concept of Heritage Lighthouses, allowing the government to designate
aids to navigation as heritage sites for educational, cultural, and tourism purposes.
Note:
India has at least 203 lighthouses spread across its 7,517 km coastline.
Participants:
Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa; Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State(MoS) for Ports, Shipping &
Waterways and Tourism along with other senior officials from both state and central governments participated
in the event.
About Goa:
Governor– P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Chief Minister– Pramod Sawant
Airports– Marmagao Port, Manohar International Airport

OTHER NEWS
India’s 1st Indigenously Developed Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Unit-3 Begins Operation
at Full Capacity
On August 31, 2023, India’s first indigenously developed 700-Megawatt Electric (MWe) Pressurised Heavy
Water Reactor (PHWR) at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Unit-3 (KAPP3) in Gujarat has commenced
operations at full capacity.
• It had started commercial operations on June 30, 2023 but had been operating at 90% of its capacity
till now.
• KAPP-3 and KAPP-4 are India’s first pair of indigenously designed PHWRs of 700 MW unit size with
enhanced safety features.
Key Points:
i.Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is tasked with the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of
nuclear power reactors.
• The Construction of 700 MW nuclear power plants is going on at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan (RAPS 7
and 8), and at Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP 1 and 2).
ii.The government has sanctioned the building of 10 indigenously developed PHWR in fleet mode at four
locations viz, Gorakhpur in Haryana, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (MP), Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in
Karnataka.
• The PHWRs, which use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator, constitute the
mainstay of India’s nuclear power fleet.
• Till now, the biggest reactor of indigenous design was the 540 MWe PHWR, two of which have been
deployed in Tarapur, Maharashtra.
iii.NPCIL currently operates 23 commercial nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 7480 MW.
• Twelve more reactors are under construction at various stages, connected to the grid, totalling to
9,400 MW.
About Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limit (NPCIL):
Chairman & Managing Director– Bhuwan Chandra Pathak
J&K’s Bhaderwah Rajmash & Sulai Honey and Assam’s Chokuwa rice gets GI Tag
Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags
to Bhaderwah Rajmash(Red kidney beans) and Ramban Sulai Honey of Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) and
Chokuwa rice(Magic Rice) of Assam.
• Geographical Indication Registry functions under the Department of Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI)
State GI Product Goods
Bhaderwah Rajmash
(red kidney beans) Agriculture
Jammu & Kashmir Ramban Sulai Honey Agriculture
Assam Chokuwa Rice of Assam(Magic Rice) Agriculture
Bhaderwah Rajma:
i.Bhaderwah Rajmash(red kidney beans) smaller and distinct in texture is known for its unique taste and
flavour globally.
• It is a pole type or trailing variety cultivated along with Maize to reduce soil erosion.
ii.It is cultivated in the districts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar in Jammu.

ii.Application was made by Bhaderkashi Fruits Producer Company Limited in (J&K) & facilitated by Directorate
of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare(Jammu) and
NABARD(J&K).
Sulai honey:
i.Sulai honey (extracted from Van Tulsi) is known for its taste
apart from unique aroma & benefits in comparison with other
honey.
• Sulai honey is crystal clear in appearance and colour
ranges from white to Amber.
ii.It is cultivated in the districts of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar,
Udhampur, Reasi in Jammu
iii.Application was made by Al Fallah Farmer Producer Company Limited and facilitated by the Department of
Horticulture( Jammu) and NABARD (J&K).
iv.In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gifted organic Sulai honey to Queen Elizabeth.
Note: Bhaderwah Rajma & Sulai honey hold significance in the Chenab Valley region of J&K.
Chokuwa rice:
i.Chokuwa Rice of Assam is known as Magic rice because of its ‘soak and eat’ characteristics.
• It belongs to the traditional Sali rice variety and has a low amylose content.
• Other names: Soft Rice; Locally known as “Komal Chaul” .
ii.It is cultivated in the districts of Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat,
Nagaon, Morigaon, and Sonitpur in Assam
iii.Application to GI tag was made by: Seuj Satirth of Dimow from Sivsagar (Assam) & facilitated by Assam
Agricultural University.
Additional Info:
In 2020, NABARD initiated the process of GI tagging for nine products in close collaboration with the
Department of Handicrafts and Handloom(J&K) as well as the Department of Agriculture(J&K).
• Out of the 9 products, six products (including Bhaderwah Rajmash & Sulai honey received GI tag so
far.
On 29th March 2023, Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra Tea got a European Union(EU) Geographical Indication Tag
(GI Tag). This will offer an opportunity for the Kangra tea to enter the European Market.
About Geographical Indication(GI) Tag
i.Geographical Indication (GI) is a type of intellectual property right that recognizes products that come from a
particular place and possess special qualities, characteristics, and features associated with that area.
Unauthorized use of these products are protected.
ii.India enacted the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, to provide for the
registration and better protection of GI relating to goods in India, which came into force from September 2003.
iii.GI is registered for an initial 10 years, which may be renewed from time to time.
Odisha’s Koraput Kalajeera Rice Gets GI Tag

Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags
to Odisha’s ‘Koraput Kalajeera Rice’, which is also known as the ‘Prince of Rice’.
• Kalajeera rice has been exclusively cultivated by the tribes and farmers of Koraput district in
Odisha over generations.
Geographical Indication Registry functions under the the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).
Application Details:
i.Koraput Kalajeera Rice(Class 30 – Rice) was categorised as ‘Agriculture’ under Goods.
ii.The application was made by Jaivik Sri Farmers Producer Company Limited(Odisha) and facilitated by

Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Empowerment (Odisha) & National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD)- Odisha.
About Koraput Kalajeera Rice:
i.It is an aromatic rice variety with a unique black colour, excellent aroma, taste, and texture, making it popular
among rice consumers.
ii.Kalajeera rice is grown in specific areas of Koraput district, including Tolla, Patraput, Pujariput, Baliguda, and
Mohuli.
iii.Kalajeera rice is believed to enhance memory, control diabetes, increase haemoglobin levels, and boost
metabolism.
• This fragrant grain possesses various medicinal properties, including being antispasmodic,
stomachic, carminative, antibacterial, astringent, and having sedative properties.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
Dance – Chhau Dance &Gotipua Dance
River – Subarnarekha River & Brahmani
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.
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
NCERT Granted Deemed to be University Status by UGC

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) granted the ‘Deemed to be
University’ Status under ‘De Novo‘ category of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• This was announced by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) during the event organised for the 63rd Foundation Day of the
NCERT(1st September 2023).
• The deemed to be university status is given under section 3 of the University Grants Commission
(UGC)Act, 1956.
What will NCERT do with Deemed University status?
i.With this status, NCERT can apply to the UGC to set up a new institution as deemed-to-be-university, which
will undertake study and research in unique and emerging areas that are not offered by any existing institution.
ii.NCERT with the new status will have the autonomy to award its own graduate, postgraduate and doctoral
degrees, and design its own syllabus and courses.
iii.NCERT’s Regional Institute of Education (REI)in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhuvaneshwar, Mysore & Shillong are
currently affiliated with local universities in respective states and will affiliate with NCERT after the new status.
Points to note:
Deemed to be University: Under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, an institution of higher education other than a
university that performs high-quality work in a certain field can be authorised as a deemed to be university
institution.
De-novo: De-novo institution means an institution with the focus on teaching and research in unique and
emerging areas of knowledge.
Additional info:
i.The chapter on the evolution of Chandrayaan 3 and the agreements of the Group-20 (G-20) summit is to be
added to the new NCERT textbooks.
ii.NCERT is set to develop educational material in all 22 recognised languages with the help of software like
Anuvadini and Bhashini.
iii.NCERT also created ‘Jadui Pitara,’ a play-based learning and teaching resource material, especially for
children aged 3 to 8 years.
About the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT):
NCERT was established with an objective to assist and advise the government on matters related to school
education.
Director – Dinesh Prasad Saklani
MoE, MSDE & Meta collaborate for Digital Skilling of Students, Educators and Entrepreneurs
On September 3, 2023, a collaboration was initiated between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Meta (formerly known as Facebook)
namely ‘Education to Entrepreneurship: Empowering a generation of students, educators, and
entrepreneurs’ for a period of 3 years in New Delhi, Delhi.
• This collaboration was launched by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE & MSDE.

• Three Letters of Intent (LoI) were also exchanged between Meta and key institutions, namely the
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), the All India
Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
About Education to Entrepreneurship Partnership:
It is an initiative to bring digital skilling to the grassroots level by enabling the younger generation to become
problem solvers and entrepreneurs. It will support the integration of students, youth, workforce, and micro-
entrepreneurs with modern technologies.
• It will also contribute towards positioning India as the Global Skill Capital or Global
Powerhouse For Skill Development and empowering the youth of India.
Key Points:
i.Meta envisages to train 500,000 entrepreneurs in digital marketing within the next three years through its
partnership with NIESBUD.
ii.This comprehensive program will utilize Meta’s platforms to provide training in digital marketing skills,
initially catering to seven regional languages.
iii.META’s partnerships with NIESBUD, CBSE & AICTE will catalyse infinite possibilities for equipping our
population with critical digital skills and empowering micro entrepreneurs and small businesses.
v.3 short films were also showcased highlighting the details about the partnerships.
Participants:
Minister of State (MoS) Annpurna Devi, MoE; MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MSDE, Atul Kumar Tiwari; Chairman,
AICTE, among others.
Bengaluru Established India’s First 500 kVA Underground Power Transformer Station
at Malleshwaram
On 5th September 2023, K J George, Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated India’s
first 500 Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) Underground Power Transformer Station on 15th Avenue
in Malleswaram, Bengaluru (Karnataka).
• This facility was developed in collaboration with Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited
(BESCOM) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore.
• Electricity related works are done by BESCOM and civil works by BBMP.
Note:
• BESCOM Ltd is responsible for Power distribution in 8
districts of Karnataka (Bangalore Urban, Bangalore
Rural, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, Davanagere, Tumkur,
Chitradurga and Ramanagara).
• BBMP is an administrative body responsible for civic
amenities and some infrastructural assets of the
Greater Bangalore metropolitan area.
Objective:
The primary objective of the project is to ensure the safety of
people, ensure a consistent power supply, prevent electrical
accidents, improve pedestrian access, and maintain the Artistic Garden City.
Features of Underground Power Transformer:
i.The transformer is stationed 10 feet (around 4 meters) below ground level and standing on the 30-millimeter
(mm) concrete structure built at ground level and can be accessed through two metal doors.
ii.The 500kVA capacity transformer is stationed with eight-way solid-state Ring Main Units (RMU) and has a
cast iron earthing grid.
iii.The underground station has a 1-horsepower (HP) submersible water pump, which is said to automatically
turn on and drain out from the transformer unit, in case the underground station gets flooded.
iv.It has automatic temperature and humidity monitoring systems, a Low Tension (LT) distribution Panel,

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), and Lighting and Ventilation systems, among other components.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister– Siddaramaiah
Governor– Thawar Chand Gehlot
Wildlife Sanctuary– Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuaries and Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary
NITI Aayog Completes Special Campaign 2.0 for Disposal of Pending Matters and Swachhta
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has successfully completed its Special
Campaign 2.0, which aims to resolve pending matters and promote cleanliness (Swachhta) within
government offices.
• The Special Campaign 2.0, initiated by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public
Grievances (DARPG), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, was
undertaken from November 2022 to August 2023.
• About 95% of public grievances and appeals were successfully addressed during the campaign
period.
• Special Campaign 2.0 is a step towards transparent, efficient governance and cleanliness in
government institutions.
The main goal of Special Campaign 2.0 was to quickly and effectively resolve public complaints, as well
as references from Members of Parliament, State Governments, and other government agencies.
Note: As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of “A Clean India” DARPG initially launched campaign for
disposal of pending matters from 2nd to 31st October 2021. With the success of the campaign, DARPG decided
to continue the campaign in 2022 and further in 2023.
DAC Gives Nod to Rs.45,000 Crores Worth Proposals for Defence

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting on 15th September 2023, under the chairmanship
of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition
proposals of various weapons systems and platforms amounting to Rs 45,000 crore.These proposals
further strive to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Indian Defence Forces and increase the
incorporation of indigenous content in defence projects.
Key Highlights:
(i) The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted approval for nine procurement proposals, and all
these procurements will be sourced from indigenous vendors under Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed
Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category.
• The Buy Indian-IDDM category plays a crucial role in the Indian government’s endeavours to
foster self-reliance in the defence sector, primarily aimed at advancing indigenous capabilities.
• This move will further provide significant boost to the Indian defence Industry and will help in
achieving the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ which will further contribute towards the ‘Make
in India’ initiative of the Government of India.
(ii) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during the high-powered Defence Acquisitions Council meeting,
directed the top military officials and government bureaucrats towards ensuring a minimum of 60-
65% indigenous content for IDDM projects, in the defence sector.
• Currently, the threshold for indigenous content in defence projects stands at 50%.
• The defence minister directed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary
and Director-General (DG) -Acquisition, to collaborate with the Indian industry in raising the
minimum threshold for indigenous content. This directive is aimed at strengthening the self-
sufficiency and capabilities of the Indian defence industry while decreasing reliance on foreign
suppliers

Details of Procurements:
i) For Indian Army:
Under proposals to enhance the Indian Army’s capabilities, the DAC approved the Acquisition of Necessity
(AoN) for the procurement of Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicles (LAMV) and Integrated Surveillance
and Targeting System (ISAT-S) to improve protection, mobility, attack capabilities, and overall
survivability.
Additionally, the DAC cleared the AoN for the procurement of High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) Gun Towing
Vehicles, enabling swift mobilization and deployment of Artillery Guns and Radars.
(ii) For Indian Air Force:
To enhance operational accuracy and reliability, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved several
Indian Air Force proposals. These included the avionic upgrade of Dornier Aircraft, the procurement
of Dhruvastra Short Range Air-to-Surface Missiles as potent Indigenous Precision Guided Weapons for
indigenously built ALH Mk-IV Helicopters, and the acquisition of 12 Su-30 MKI Aircraft with associated
equipment from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
(iii) For Indian Navy:
The DAC has given the green light for the acquisition of Next Generation Survey Vessels, a move that will
bolster the Indian Navy’s capacity to conduct Hydrographic Operations and enhance its capabilities in this
regard.
About DAC:
• Established: 2001
• Chairman – Union Defence Minister
• The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry which decides on new
policies and capital acquisitions for the Indian Defence services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and
the Indian Coast Guard.
About Ministry of Defence:
Union Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri): Shri Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow)
Minister Of State for Defence: Shri Ajay Bhatt
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
Northeast’s Mithun Recognized as a ‘Food Animal’ by FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recognized Mithun (scientific Name-Bos
frontalis), the bovine (cow-like animal) as a ‘food animal’.
• The features of Mithun are its traditional semi-domestication and ability to thrive in a free-range
forest ecosystem with minimal human intervention.
• Mithun meat, particularly known for its low-fat content, has the potential to become a premium
meat product catering to health-conscious consumers.
• Food animals are those that are raised/used for food production and consumption by humans.
Mithun, often referred to as the “Cattle of the Hills”, is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland,
highlighting its profound cultural significance.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the M-ANITRA app to register Mithun
farmers as “buyers” and “sellers” in order to assist them in conducting business at competitive
prices.
• The ICAR – National Research Centre of Mithun(NRCM) in Nagaland celebrated the first National
Mithun Day on 1st September 2023.
MHA Cancels FCRA Licence of Bal Raksha Bharat & 2 other NGOs
Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of Bal
Raksha Bharat, Srinivas Malliah Memorial Theatre Crafts Museum and SELF EMPLOYED WOMEN’S
ASSOCIATION (SEWA).
• The licences were cancelled ahead of the deadline (30th September 2023) for FCRA licences
renewable for Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs).
i.Bal Raksha Bharat is the India unit of the United Kingdom(UK) Based NGO “Save The Children” which
operates in around 16 states across India.
• The audited report of the NGO revealed that it has received Rs 163 crore in its bank accounts and Rs
66.66 lakh worth of in-kind contributions for year 2021-2022.
ii.Srinivas Malliah Memorial Theatre Crafts Museum was established in memory of freedom fighter Ullal
Srinivas Malliah to provide training in traditional handicrafts like puppet making, mask making, paper figures,
bamboo crafts and others.
Points to note: MHA grants FCRA licences to NGOs for 5 years and evaluates based on annual returns and
foreign grants received for their intended purposes. Misuse or diversion of foreign funds by NGOs is a violation
of the FCRA Act.

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Govt Introduced New Set of National Awards in the Field of Science,
Tech & Innovation
The Government of India (GoI) has introduced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), a new set of National
Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Objective:
To recognize the notable and inspiring contribution made by scientists, technologists, and innovators
individually or in teams in various fields of science, technology, and innovation.
About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP):
i.RVP is set to become one of the highest recognitions in the field of science, technology, and innovation in
India, and it will replace nearly 300 awards given by various science departments with 56 centrally
administered awards.
ii.The RVP will be given in 13 domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics and
Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science,
Technology and innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, and Others.
Categories:
The RVP will comprise 3 Vigyan Ratna awards, as well as 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup
Bhatnagar, and 3 Vigyan Team awards.
i.Vigyan Ratna (VR) award is set to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in any field of
science and technology.
ii.Vigyan Shri (VS) award is set to recognize distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
iii.Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award is intended to recognise and encourage young
scientists under the age of 45 who have made outstanding contributions to any field of science and technology.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar(SSB) awards have been given by the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research(CSIR) since 1958 across seven domains.
ii.Vigyan Team (VT) award is to be awarded to a team of three or more scientists/researchers/innovators
who have made an exceptional contribution in any field of science and technology while working in a team.
Eligibility:
i.Scientists, technologists, and innovators working in any field of science in government or private
organizations who have contributed to any field of science and technology shall be eligible for the award.
ii.People of Indian origin living abroad who have made exceptional contributions to Indian communities or
society are also eligible for the awards.
Selection Procedure:
The nominations for the Awards will be analysed by the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC) which is
headed by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and comprising Secretaries,
scientists and technologists from different fields of science and technology.
Key Points:
i.The RVP awards, which will commence from 2024, will be conferred by the President of India or the Vice
President, according to the proposal.
• The CSIR will coordinate the administration of the awards process for two years, after which it will
be taken over by the proposed National Research Foundation.
ii.The nominations for this award will be invited every year on 14th January which would remain open till 28th
February (National Science Day).
iii. The awards will be announced on 11th May (National Technology Day) every year and the award
ceremony will be held on 23rd August (National Space Day).
• All Awards will have a Sanad(Certificate) and a medal.
i.On September 11, 2023, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) Director General N
Kalaiselvi announced the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) awards for Science and Technology 2022 to be
distributed to 12 young scientists across India.Click here to view full Award List

ii.Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared that 23rd August of every year will be observed as “National
Space Day” in India to commemorate the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon.
About Ministry of Science and Technology:
Ministers of state (independent Charges) – Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency – Udhampur, Jammu and
Kashmir)
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve: MP’s 7th Tiger Reserve unveiled in MP

The State Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has unveiled its 7th Tiger Reserve namely ‘Veerangana
Durgavati Tiger Reserve’ which is spread over an area of 2,339 square kilometres
across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of MP. Parts of it falls under the Narmada and Yamuna River
basins.
• The unveiling comes after the approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The declaration of this Tiger Reserve is in accordance with the provisions of clause (ii) of sub-section (iv)
of section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972).
Key Points:
i.It will encompass areas within the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Wildlife
Sanctuary.
ii.About 1,414 square kilometres in the tiger reserve has been included in the core area and 925.12 square
kilometres in the buffer zone.
iii.It comprises two core areas.
• Core Area-1 spans an expansive 1390.036 square kilometers.
• Core Area-2 encompasses 23.97 square kilometers.
iv.A green corridor will be developed to connect Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) to Durgavati for tiger movement.
v.Singorgarh Fort lies within the reserve.
vi.Designated areas in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve are recognized by the Union Ministry of
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to safeguard wildlife conservation.
Features:
Vegetation– Dry deciduous type
Flora– Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Ber, Amla, etc.
Fauna– Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck,
Barking deer, Common Langur Rhesus Macaque etc.
Notes:
i.As per the report ‘Status of Tigers: Co-predators & Prey in India-2022’, released by the National Tiger
Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India in July this year, MP (785) has the highest number of
tigers in India, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (560).
ii.Other six Tiger Reserves in MP are Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.
About NTCA
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change constituted under provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in
2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Governor– Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Chief Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary, Phen Wildlife Sanctuary
Tata Motors delivers India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Buses to IOCL
On September 25, 2023, Tata Motors delivered first-of-its-kind two Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle (FCEV) buses to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL). These were flagged off by Union

Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG); Minister of State
(MoS) Rameswar Teli, MoPNG; Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL; among others.
• The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises.
Key Points:
i.In June 2021, Tata Motors won a tender from IOCL to supply 15 FCEV buses for testing hydrogen-based
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel-cell technology in India.
ii.These 12-meter buses, designed for easy boarding and seating 35 passengers, were developed at Tata
Motors’ R&D (Research & development) center in Pune, Maharashtra.
iii.This bus features 350-bar hydrogen storage system, 70 Kw fuel cell stack, electronic braking system &
stability control for higher safety, intelligent transport system, new-generation telematics for efficient, user-
friendly vehicle maintenance, etc.
iv.The buses underwent rigorous road testing and validation before delivery.
v.The buses are equipped with four cylinders each with a capacity of 30 kilograms that can run the buses for
350 kilometers.
Note:
Tata Motors launched its 3rd vehicle scrapping facility in Surat, Gujarat, on September 23, 2023. The facility,
operated by partner Shree Ambica Auto, has an annual capacity to disassemble 15,000 end-of-life vehicles
safely and sustainably, including vehicles of all brands.
Other two similar facilities are in Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.
FSSAI Introduces ‘Special Category’ to Promote Gender Equality in Food Biz

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced a new provision of ‘Special Category’ in
the online Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal to promote gender equality and equal
opportunities for women and transgender entrepreneurs in the food business sector.
Key Points:
i.According to this provision, licensing and registration authorities will prioritize ‘Special Category’ applications
in a manner that ensures a one-to-one ratio with regular applications until there are no pending applications in
either category.
ii.The identification of these individuals will be done during the application submission process through
Aadhaar/PAN (Permanent Account Number) authentication.
About FoSCoS:
i.FoSCoS, introduced in 2020 by FSSAI, is an enhanced version of Food Licensing and Registration System
(FLRS), launched in 2012 for issuance of pan-India FSSAI Licenses and Registration.
ii.FoSCoS is a cloud-based online platform offering multiple services to Food Business Operators (FBOs),
including licensing, registration, and regulatory compliance.
About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare established under under the Food
Safety and Standards Act, 2006
Chairperson– Sudhansh Pant
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Established in 2008
CBG, Biogas Plants Registered on GOBARdhan Portal to Get Financial Assistance

The Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants and biogas plants registered on the Unified Registration Portal for
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) are eligible for financial assistance under the
Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme of the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of
Chemicals & Fertilizers(MoC&F).

• Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan was introduced by the Department of Drinking Water
and Sanitation (DDWS), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to streamline the registration of CBG plants
and biogas plants across India. The DDWS is the Nodal Department for GOBARdhan.
• As of September 2023, 1,163 biogas plants and 426 CBG plants registered on the portal.
The MDA scheme has been launched with a budget of Rs. 1451.82 crore over a three-year term (FY 2023-24 to
FY 2025-26) to encourage the production and use of organic fertilizers derived from GOBARdhan plants.
• Through the scheme, these plants get Rs. 1500 per metric ton(MT) for the sale of Fermented
Organic Manure (FOM)/ Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM)/ Phosphate Rich Organic
Manure (PROM) produced at their BG/CBG plants under the GOBARdhan initiative.
STATE NEWS
Union Minister Scindia Inaugurates Utkela Airport & Bhubaneswar-Utkela Direct Flight
Service in Odisha
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA) along with Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh
(Rtd.) Minister of State (MoS) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation virtually inaugurated Utkela Airport in the
Kalahandi district of Odisha and a direct flight between Utkela and Bhubaneswar of Odisha.
• Utkela Airport, owned by the Government of Odisha, is developed under the Regional Connectivity
Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) of the MoCA, this regional airport comes at a cost
of Rs. 31.07 Crores.
• With the operation of Utkela Airport from 31st August 2023, Odisha will now have 5 airports in total
after Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Jeypore and Rourkela. The Utkela airport has a runway that spans
917 meters (2,995 feet) in length and 30 meters in width.
• The IndiaOne airline will connect Utkela to Bhubaneswar with 2X weekly flights on Tuesday and
Thursday and IndiaOne aircraft will be utilising 9-seater Cessna C-208 aircraft sanctioned under the
UDAN scheme.
Note: RCS-UDAN is the flagship program of MoCA started in October 2016. In April 2017. The first flight from
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) to Delhi under the UDAN scheme was flagged off by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra
Modi.
Ahmedabad Becomes India’s 2nd City to Implement ETS for Particulate Matter After Surat
Mulubhai Bera, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest & Environment, Climate Change, Government of
Gujarat, inaugurated the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) Live trading in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. With this
launch, Ahmedabad became the 2nd city in India as well as in Gujarat to implement an ETS for particulate
pollution after Surat (Gujarat).
• ETS for particulate pollution will help in regulating industrial emissions and reduce Gujarat’s
pollution levels. The live trading among 118 Ahmedabad industries in the scheme has commenced
from 5th September 2023.
• The ETS is an innovative instrument for pollution regulation that has the potential to transform the
trade-off between environmental quality and growth and improvement in air quality.
• The ETS for Particulate Matter (PM) in Surat, is the world’s first of its kind effort to use markets to
reduce pollution in August 2019. This innovative initiative in Gujarat aimed at ensuring a balance
between economic growth and environmental conservation.
• The initial phase of the Ahmedabad ETS encompassed crucial activities, including installing and
calibrating Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) devices across participating industries,
coupled with multiple workshops to simulate trading scenarios. The trading platform has been
developed by the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) e Markets Limited
(NeML).

The ETS is implemented by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) with the technical expertise of Prof.
Michael Greenstone (University of Chicago, the United States of America (USA)); Dr. Rohini Pande (University of
Yale, USA), Dr. Anant Sudarshan (University of Warwick, England, the United Kingdom), Dr. Nicholas Ryan
(University of Yale) along with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Energy Policy Institute
Chicago, USA.
Note: The ETS empowers industries in the textile sector within the Narol and Vatva clusters, in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat.
Jharkhand Cabinet Approves Pension for the Transgender Community & Inclusion in Backward
Classes Category
Jharkhand Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Hemant Soren approved to include
the transgender community under its universal pension scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Rajya Samajik Suraksha
Pension Yojana’ and avail the financial aid of Rs 1000 per month.
• Those who are 18 years of age or above and have voter ID cards will be eligible for the scheme.
The cabinet has also approved including them under the other backward class (OBC) category to ensure they
avail the benefits of reservation in government jobs.
• Those who are not covered by any caste reservation will be included in the OBC category at number
46 in the list.
Note: According to the Department of Women, Child Development, and Social Security (WCDSS), the
transgender population in Jharkhand was around 11,900 in 2011, and it is now approximately 14,000.
AP Governor Released Special Postal Covers On Freedom Fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju
Andhra Pradesh(AP) Governor S Abdul Nazeer has released 6 special covers on “Manyam Viplava Saradhi
Alluri Sitarama Raju” part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to honour the unsung heroes through the medium of
philately.
• The covers were brought out by the Department of Post, Ministry of Communication, is a
compilation of the heroic deeds of Alluri and sacrifices of his lieutenants in the form of monograph.
The release also commemorates the Centenary of the Chilli Post.
• In 1922, The revolutionaries led by Alluri Sitarama Raju used a unique way of despatching messages
to the British officials. They shoot an arrow, along with a bunch of chillies and a typed message,
termed as ‘Mirapakaaya Tapa’, or ‘Chilli Post’ to scare the British.
• Their First attack was on the Chintapalli police station in 1922, which led to the Rampa Revolution.
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.
UP Launched Instant Birth Registration for Newborns at Govt Health Facilities

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has integrated its Maa Navjaat Tracking app (MaNTrA) with the birth
registration system, to enable the immediate issuance of birth registration certificates for newborns at the
Government health facilities in UP.
• This will enhance citizen convenience and eliminate the need for parents to apply separately.

• With this development, UP has become the first state to implement ‘Suo Motu’ automatic birth
registration for government health institutions verified through the Civil Registration System
(CRS) portal.
Partners of the initiative:
The Directorate of Census Operations, Lucknow (UP), has partnered with the UP National Health Mission
(NHM-UP), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the
Registrar General of India, Delhi, aims to facilitate the generation of automatic birth registration
certificates at government facilities.
MaNTrA app:
i.The MaNTrA app, originally developed in UP in collaboration with UNICEF, monitors the quality of
services in the labour room and has been successfully deployed in public health facilities in UP.
ii.The seamless integration of the MaNTrA app with the birth registration system is a significant step
towards increasing the ‘ease of living’ of a common citizen by creatively using digital technology
architecture.
Note: In August 2023, the MaNTrA for Delivery Point Health Facilities, under the NHM-UP, received the
“Silver Award” in the “Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation” category of the
National Awards for e-Governance Scheme 2023.
Process:
i.The CRS (Office of Registrar General, India) Application Programming Interface (API) retrieves data for
17 fields from the MaNTrA, managed by NHM-UP.
ii.The API is now acting as registrar in all government health institutions up to the primary healthcare
level.
• A total of approximately 2,500 birth certificates have already been issued.
iii.The data is then configured into a birth certificate, digitally signed by the hospital registrar.
Note: The initiative has started in about 1,000 public health facilities, with plans to expand it to every
government facility. The objective is to ensure that Automatic Birth Registration Certificates are issued on
the spot in each case.
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
Stadiums– Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex (Greater Noida Cricket Stadium, Indoor) and
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Sports Stadium (Outdoor)
Startup Odisha Launches Rs 100 Crore Startup Growth Fund

Startup Odisha, an initiative of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME) Department of the Odisha
government, launched “Odisha Startup Growth Fund (OSGF)” worth Rs 100 Crore in collaboration with
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• SIDBI will serve as the fund manager for the new fund and will be responsible for framing the
investment strategy and managing the fund’s portfolio.
Odisha Startup Growth Fund operates a Fund-of-Funds vehicle to invest in state startups through a
centralized tracking and implementation mechanism.
• The Odisha government will replenish the fund once Rs 100 crore gets exhausted.
• The nature of the investments from the fund will be based on equity and quasi-equity.
• The fund will invest in startups of Odisha over five years through Alternative Investment Funds
(AIFs).

GOVT SCHEMES
MNRE Extends Waiver of DCR for Solar Cells Under Comp C of PM KUSUM till March 2024
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the relaxation for the provision of
requirement of indigenous domestic content requirement (DCR) under Component C of Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana (PM-KUSUM Scheme) till 31st March 2024.
• The DCR requirement for solar cells was waived off for projects awarded on or before June 20, 2023.
• This is a continuation of the memorandum issued by MNRE in August 2022, which extended the DCR
waiver until 20th June 2023. This decision comes after receiving industry representations on the
matter.
About PM KUSUM Scheme:
i.Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan
Mahabhiyan Yojana (PM-KUSUM Scheme) was launched
in March 2019 by the MNRE, to subsidize farmers to
install solar irrigation pumps for cultivation.
ii.It has 3 components:
• Component A: 10,000 (Mega Watt) MW of
solar capacity through installation of small
Solar Power Plants of individual plants of
capacity upto 2 MW.
• Component B: Installation of 20 lakh
standalone Solar Powered Agriculture
Pumps.
• Component C: Solarisation of 15 Lakh Grid-
connected Agriculture Pumps.
Note: Component C is also known as Feeder Level
Solarization(FLS). It envisages solarization of 10
Lakh grid connected agricultural pumps with unique pump capacity of upto 7.5 Horse Power (HP).
Key Points:
i.DCR Rule, which mandates the use of local solar cells and modules, is crucial for PM-KUSUM’s
implementation.
ii.The extension aims to support the scheme’s efforts to decarbonize agriculture by promoting solar
energy use in various forms.
iii.As of February 28, 2023, the scheme has installed 89.45 MW of solar capacity under Component A
and approximately 2.09 lakh pumps have been installed or solarized under Components B and C,
equivalent to about 1,140 MW of solar capacity.
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.
STATE GOVT SCHEMES

Rajasthan CM Launched Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food Packet Scheme
Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan launched the Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food
Packet Scheme (MNAFP) (Chief Minister’s Free Annapurna Food Packet Scheme) on the occasion of
Independence Day (15th August 2023).
• The scheme is one of the major welfare schemes of the Rajasthan government, which seeks to
distribute free food packets to more than 10.4 million families for free every month.
• The scheme would benefit up to 50 million individuals.
Background:
i.The scheme is part of the ‘Inflation Relief Package’, which was announced by the CM in February 2023,
during the state budget for 2023-24 to provide relief to the public from rising prices.
ii.The Rajasthan government had allocated Rs 19,500 crore for the inflation relief package.
iii.This free food packet scheme will reportedly cost the state government of Rajasthan Rs 4,500 crores
annually.
About the Scheme:
Features:
i.Under the scheme, families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) will receive the Annapurna
food packets every month from the fair price shops (FPS) for free.
ii.Each food packet will contain 1 kilogram each of Chana dal, Sugar, Salt, 1 liter of Soybean refined edible oil,
100 grams each of Chili powder and Coriander powder, and 50 gm of Turmeric.

iii.The FPS kiosks were set up at the district and block level function, where public representatives would
distribute the packets to the beneficiaries through point of sale (POS) machines.
Eligibilities:
i.The beneficiary should be a permanent resident of Rajasthan.
ii.The beneficiary should also have a Jan Aadhaar card, the “one number, one card, one identity” scheme of
Rajasthan.
iii.The family of the beneficiary should be registered in the NFSA.
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister– Ashok Gehlot
Governor– Kalraj Mishra
Airports– Jaipur International Airport and Maharana Pratap Airport
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.
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.

Odisha CM Launches Two New Schemes To Improve The nutritional Status
The Chief Minister(CM) of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik rolled out two new schemes namely ‘Mukhyamantri
Sampoorna Pushti Yojana’ and ‘Pada Pushti Yojana’ to improve the health condition of pregnant women,
children and adolescent girls in the state.
Features of Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana:
i.The scheme aims to improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, and malnourished
children in Odisha.
ii.Mamata Yojana(launched in 2011) is ensuring the good health of pregnant women and newborns in the state.
Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana will further improve nutrition among the needy.
iii.The provisions under the scheme are as follows:
• All the adolescent girls (aged between 15 to 19 years) will be provided with nutritional
supplements.
• The pregnant women and expecting mothers(including Anganwadi workers and women of
the Mission Shakti) will be provided with additional dry foods.
• The scheme also provides complete food to children who are severely malnourished, and Chhatua
(roasted gram flour) and eggs to children who are moderately malnourished & severely
underweight.
Features of Pada Pushti Yojana:
Under the ‘Pada Pushti Yojana’, children in remote and tribal areas will be given high-quality, cooked meals in
their own villages and enclaves.
Additional Info:
i.Odisha was the first state in the country to design a nutrition budget for 2020-21.
ii.Mission Shakti: Launched in 2022, it is an integrated women empowerment programme that acts as an
umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women.
About Odisha:
Dance Forms – Chhau Dance, Gotipua Dance
Rivers – Baitarani, Vansadhara
Himachal CM Sukhu launches SABAL Yojna to Empower Specially-Abled Children

On September 4, 2023, the Chief Minister (CM) of Himachal Pradesh (HP) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
launched Mukhya Mantri Sporting Abilities, Rebuilding Aspirations and Livelihood Scheme (SABAL) from
Nadaun in district Hamirpur, HP during the event jointly organized
by Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and Sampark Foundation.
• The scheme intends to improve the lives of specially-abled children in the state by integrating them
into the mainstream..
About SABAL Scheme:
i.The State Government plans to support approximately 400 schools in Hamirpur, Solan, and Shimla districts to
provide essential facilities and opportunities to specially-abled children.
ii.They have also allocated a 2% reservation in government jobs for such individuals.
iii.The education stipend for specially-abled children will increase to Rs 1000.
iv.The HP government envisages to empower more than 7,000 specially-abled children in HP.
Launch of ‘Abhyas Himachal’ and ‘Shikshak Sahayata‘ chatbots
The CM also launched ‘Abhyas Himachal’ and ‘Shikshak Sahayata’ chatbots on the Swift Chat app, and powered
by conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI). These chatbots support convenient lesson revision for students,
offering quizzes and educational videos for enhanced learning and teaching in classrooms.

Other Launches by CM:
i.Sampark Science TV Program:
• Converts regular TVs into Smart TVs.
• Enhances children’s learning, especially in math and English.
• Preloaded with educational content, no internet required.
ii.Establishment of ‘Rajya Chayan Aayog’:
• To replace Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
• Will be set up in Hamirpur
• Aims to ensure fairness in candidate selection
• Emphasizes transparency and merit-based selection
Note: Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC) was dissolved in February 2023, after the
question paper leak was unearthed on December 23, 2022.
iii.Funding Allocation:
Rs. 5 crore for constructing a DIET Girls Hostel in Gauna, Nadaun, and creation of a modern stadium, featuring
sports like shooting, boxing, and swimming.
About Himachal Pradesh (HP):
Chief Minister– Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
Festivals– Nalwari Fair (March), Deotsidh Fair (March & April)
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.
Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana: AR CM Pema Khandu Launches Scheme for Welfare
of Labour Force
The Chief Minister (CM) of Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Pema Khandu rolled out new scheme titled ‘Mukhya
Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana (MMSKY)’ for the welfare of the labour force of the state.
• The scheme was launched during an event organized by the state unit of Bharatiya Mazdoor
Sangh (BMS) at Nyokum Lapang ground, Itanagar, AR.
• The event was orgnaised as a part of the observance of Vishwakarma Jayanti.

• BMS has celebrated as National Labour Day on 17th September 2023, the eve of
Vishwakarma Jayanti.
Features of MMSKY:
i.Under this, incentives for workers registered with the Arunachal Pradesh Building and other
Construction Workers Welfare Board (APBOCWWB) have been revised.
ii.Maternity benefit raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000.
iii.Natural death compensation increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakhs.
iv.Accidental death compensation raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
v.Funeral assistance enhanced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000.
vi.Medical assistance (first 3 days) increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, and Rs 100 per day afterward
raised to Rs 250, with a ceiling limit of Rs 25,000.
vii.Property damage due to natural calamities compensation of Rs 10,000.
viii.Cash incentives for children’s sports achievements: Rs 15,000 for Gold, Rs 10,000 for Silver, and Rs
8,000 for Bronze at the state level, and Rs 30,000 for Gold, Rs 20,000 for Silver, and Rs 15,000 for Bronze
at the national level.
Other Key Announcements:
i.Salaries for both unskilled and skilled workers increased by Rs 1000.
ii.State government will pay a monthly premium of Rs 200 for Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and also pay the
share for workers in schemes like Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and PM Jeevan Jyoti
Beema Yojana (PM-JJBY).
iii.Three new vending zones will open in Itanagar viz. Papu-Nallah near forest park, C Sector tri-junction in
Naharlagun, and D-Sector near Hotel Rajhans in Naharlagun.
iv.Aganwadi workers and helpers receive a salary increase of Rs 1000, and ASHA workers’ emoluments
topped up by Rs 1000 by the state government.
About Arunachal Pradesh (AR):
Chief minister– Pema Khandu
Governor– Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Wildlife Sanctuaries– D’Ering Memorial (Lali) Wildlife Sanctuary, Kane Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve– Kamlang Tiger Reserve
India Creates History, Achieves 75% ODF Plus Villages under Swachh Bharat Mission –
Grameen
India has achieved the major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II with 75%
villages achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status under Phase II of the Mission.
• An ODF Plus Model village adds ODF status to its name and has arrangements for both Solid Waste
and Liquid Waste Management.
• Total of 4.43 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step
towards achieving the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) phase II goals by 2024-25.
Key Points:
i.The top performing States/UTs which have achieved 100% ODF Plus villages: Andaman & Nicobar
Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura.
ii.100% ODF Plus Model villages Among States/ UTs – Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli &
Daman Diu, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim.
iii.Target has been fixed to make all villages ODF Plus by 2025.
• Out of the 4,43,964 ODF Plus villages so far, 2,92,497 villages are ODF Plus Aspiring villages with
arrangements for Solid Waste Management or Liquid Waste Management.

• 55,549 villages are ODF Plus Rising villages with arrangements for both Solid Waste Management
and Liquid Waste Management and 96,018 villages are ODF Plus Model villages.
• Overall 2,31,080 villages have arrangements for solid waste management, and 3,76,353 villages
have arrangements for liquid waste management.
iv.This achievement of 75% ODF Plus Villages is attained during ongoing Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) –
2023 campaign which is being celebrated annually from 15th September to 2nd October under Swachh
Bharat Mission (Grameen) under the theme ‘Garbage Free India’
SHS Progress Report as on 23rd September 2023
People
Sr. No. of Activities No. of People
State Name Participation (% of
No. Completed Participated
rural population)
1 Telangana 33,764 42,38,753 20.48
2 Karnataka 4,992 84,22,581 18.92
3 Bihar 5,881 1,63,45,878 17.19
4 Lakshadweep 38 9,336 12.51
5 Puducherry 19 37,744 6.72
6 Gujarat 10,861 28,54,750 6.53
7 Uttarakhand 809 3,38,521 4.75
8 Jharkhand 1,051 12,86,728 4.07
9 Ladakh 99 9,962 3.99
10 Madhya Pradesh 4,297 22,36,691 3.72

About Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
Launched In- 2014
Released By- Ministry of Jal Shakti
Aim– To accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation.
SBM(G) Phase-I (2014 to 2019):
• During the launch of SBM (G) in 2014, the rural sanitation coverage in the country was merely
38.7%.
• Since then, more than 10 crore individual toilets were constructed and as a result, rural areas in all
states were self-declared having achieved ODF status as on 2nd October 2019.
SBM(G) Phase-II (2020 to 2025):
• It emphasizes the sustainability of achievements under phase I and to provide adequate facilities
for Solid/Liquid & plastic Waste Management (SLWM) in rural India.
• The sanitation method used here by Government is properly constructed Twin-Pit the most
preferred technology.
• The major components of the Phase-II of SBM (G) are Sustaining Open Defecation Free Status
(ODF-S), Solid (Bio-degradable) Waste Management, Plastic Waste Management (PWM), Liquid
Waste Management (LWM), Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic

Bio-Agro Resources-dhan), Information Education and Communication/Behaviour Change
Communication (IEC/BCC) and Capacity Building.
• The entire budget outlay for SBM Phase II is 1.43 lakh crores out of which 52,497 has to come
from SBM-G and the remainder has to come from 15th Finance Commission funds (51,057 crores)
and MGNREGA (24,823 crores). Click Here to view SHS- 2023 State Report Card
Chhattisgarh Government launches Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Nyay Yojana

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel has launched the “Mukhyamantri Gramin
Awas Nyay Yojana” with the aim of providing assistance for constructing houses to eligible beneficiaries of the
scheme across the state.
The scheme includes beneficiaries who have not received the benefit of Pradhan Mantri (PM) Awas
Yojana which is based on Socio-Economic Survey 2011 (officially known as Socio Economic and Caste Census –
SECC 2011).
• Based on the Chhattisgarh State Socio-Economic Survey 2023, around 1,076,545 families out of the
5,979,000 families were found to be houseless and having kutcha(mud and straw) houses.
• The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 1,30,000 and Rs 1,20,000 per family by dividing it
into IAP (hilly and inaccessible areas) and non-IAP (plain areas) districts, respectively.
• In addition, the eligible families will get Rs 12,000 as per their eligibility through the convergence of
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act(MNREGA).
Note:
Additionally, Rs 5 crore has been deposited to the accounts of 500 beneficiaries under
the Mukhyamantri Nirman Shramik Awas Sahayata Yojana (MNSASY), which offers Rs 1 lakh for the
construction of housing assistance to registered construction workers.
UN Issues New Guidance Affirming Children’s Right to Clean, Healthy Environment
On 28th August 2023, The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child issued new guidelines
,formally known as “General Comment No. 26(2023),” which calls for the governments of the member states
to take action to protect the children’s rights against the increasing climate crisis.
• This marks the first time the committee has affirmed Children’s rights to live in a clean, healthy and
sustainable environment.
• During its 93rd session, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has officially
adopted General Comment No. 26 (2023).
Background:
i.The guidance was adopted after 2 rounds of consultation with States, national human rights institutions,
international organizations, civil society, thematic experts and children.
ii.The Committee received contributions from 16,331 children across 121 countries on the negative effects of
environmental degradation and climate change on their lives and communities.
About the guidelines:
The guidelines provide a comprehensive interpretation of State obligations under the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by 196 countries.
• The treaty, adopted in 1989, outlines children’s rights, including life, health, clean drinking water,
and survival and development.

Key Points:
i.The guidelines instruct members to take all appropriate, necessary ,and reasonable measures to protect the
children’s rights against the harms related to climate change.
ii.The guidelines also encourage member nations to progressively phase out the utilization of coal, oil, and
natural gas, while ensuring a fair and equitable transition to renewable energy sources.
iii.This promotes the establishment of an inclusive early warning system to protect children from the impacts
of extreme weather.
iv.The committee emphasizes that developed countries should offer grants, rather than loans, to developing
nations for climate change mitigation, bridging the climate finance gap.
Effects of the climate crisis on children:
i.Environmental degradation and climate change threaten the future of children across the globe(including
India).
ii.A recent study highlighted that reducing carbon emissions can prevent 4,000 to 6,000 child deaths due to
heat in Africa every year.
iii.Globally, around 12 million children were displaced in 2022 due to extreme weather events.
About The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC):
CRC is the body of 18 independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child by its States parties.
Chair– Ann Marie Skelton (South Africa)
Karnataka’s Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas & West Bengal’s Santiniketan Inscribed on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Santiniketan in West Bengal(WB) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were inscribed on
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list.
• Santiniketan is the 41st and Sacred Ensembles of the
Hoysalas is the 42nd World Heritage site in India.
• Both were listed under the Cultural heritage category.
This was announced during the 45th extended session of the
World Heritage Committee of UNESCO being held in Riyadh,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 10 to 25 September 2023.
Note: At present, India has a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage
sites, which includes 7 natural heritage sites, 1 mixed heritage
site and 34 Cultural Heritage sites.
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas:
i.It is a serial nomination of the three most representative examples of Hoysala-style temple complexes.
• The Channakeshava temple in Belur(Hassan District)
• The Hoysalevara temple in Halebidu(Hassan District)
• The Keshava temple in Somanathapura(Mysore District)
ii.The ancient site has been part of UNESCO’s Tentative list since 2014 for its rich cultural and historical
heritage.
iii.It is Karnataka’s 4th World Heritage Sites. The other three include the Hampi Monuments of
Vijayanagara(1986), Pattadakal Temples complex of the Chalukyan era(1987) and the Western
Ghats(2012).
iv.They are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and its conservation and maintenance
will be done by the Ministry of Culture
• The state government will ensure the conservation of state-protected monuments which are
around these three Hoysala monuments.

v.They were built in 12th -13th centuries which has a basic Dravidian architecture but shows strong
influences of Bhumija architecture widely used in Central India, the Nagara traditions of northern and
western India and the Karnataka Dravida architecture by Kalyani Chalukyas.
About Hoysala Empire:
i.The Hoysala emperors ruled the present day Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for more than 3 centuries with
the initial capital as Belur, then later changed to Halebidu.
ii.Sala was the founder of Hoysala dynasty and other few rulers were Vishnuvardhana, Narasimha I,
Narasimha III, Veera Ballala III etc,.
Santiniketan:
i.Shantiniketan was established by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and his father Debendranath
Tagore in 1901 in Birbhum district of West Bengal.
• It is an ensemble of historic buildings, landscapes and gardens, pavilions, artworks, and
continuing educational and cultural traditions.
ii.It is the third World Heritage Site of West Bengal after Sundarban National Park (1987) and Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway (1999).
iii.A ‘world university’ was established at Santiniketan in 1921, recognising the unity of humanity or
“Visva Bharati”.
iv.National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was inspired by the model of education the Nobel laureate had
introduced at Santiniketan.
v.France-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), recommended the site to
UNESCO’s heritage list.
Other new sites:
UNESCO also inscribed many new sites. Click here.
About World Heritage Site:
i.A world heritage site can be either cultural or natural areas or objects which are inscribed on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List for having outstanding universal value.
• These sites are usually considered to have cultural significance to all the people in the world.
ii.UNESCO seeks to protect and preserve such sites through the Convention Concerning the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This international treaty was drawn up in 1972.
iii.World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to
humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future
generations to appreciate and enjoy.
International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, is annually observed
across the globe on April 18 to create global awareness about the significance of historical, heritage, and
cultural monuments, and measures to protect them so that future generations can also witness them and
embrace the rich heritage of the world.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO):
Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
Established in – 1945 (came into force in 1946)
India and US Launches RETAP Under Strategic Clean Energy Partnership

The United States(US) Department of Energy (DOE) and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) in a meeting togetherly launched the US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform
(RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership .
• RETAP was announced in June 2023 to advance new and emerging renewable technologies.

• The meeting was led by DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk and MNRE Secretary Bhupinder Singh
Bhalla.
Focus of RETAP:
i.Initial focus of RETAP will be on green & clean hydrogen, wind energy, long duration energy storage,
geothermal energy, ocean & tidal energy and other emerging technologies in the future.
ii.RETAP was launched to take bilateral collaboration further with a result-oriented, time-bound technology-
focus.
Five themes:
• Research & Development
• Piloting & Testing of Innovative Technologies
• Advanced Training & Skill Development
• Policy and Planning for Advancing RET and enabling technologies
• Investment, Incubation and Outreach programmes
Background:
U.S-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership was launched in 2021 by India and the
United States of America(USA) to advance shared climate and clean energy goals.
• Two tracks: Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) & Climate Action and Finance Mobilization
Dialogue.
Strategic Clean Energy Partnership:
The SCEP advances energy security and innovation, focusing on electrification, decarbonization, and scaling up
emerging clean energy technologies.
Note: Plans are there to create RETAP Steering Committee, joint working groups and to collaborate with
subject matter experts.
About Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE):
Union Minister – Raj Kumar Singh (Arrah, Bihar)
Minister of States (MoS) – Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar, Karnataka)
2nd Edition of Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival Held in Nepal

The 2nd edition of Surya Nepal Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) was held from 1st to 3rd September
2023 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The event was inaugurated by Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud of Nepal on 1st
September 2023 and it was successfully concluded on 3rd September 2023 in Lalitpur, Nepal.
• Central theme of the festival is Shakti, Bhakti, Civilizational connection: Nepal as centre of Global
Thought
• This festival is held to exchange South Asian culture through promoting literary and cultural
activities.
• Artists and writers from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka displayed their work in
literature, music, dance, poetry, and other mediums.
i.’Yashaswi Sahitya Samman’ award were given to Professor Avadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya
Dutta, Prof Madhav Prasad Pokharel and actress Manisha Koirala.
ii.The inaugural ‘Yashaswi Book Prize‘ recipients:
• Bibek Ojha – For his fiction book ‘Aithan’
• Dr Nawaraj KC – For his non-fiction book ‘Sanesh’
• Dr Mahendra Malla – For the anthology of poems entitled ‘Bhasako Bakpatra’
• Govinda Giri Prerana – for the biography ‘Sushree Parijaat’
• Anuradha – children’s literature book ‘Chhamchhako Chhamchhami’
• Rima KC – translation of ‘Selected Poems by Amrita Preetam’
• Narayan Ghimire – For his food and medicine book ‘Raithane Khanpan Ra Chadparva’
• Lakpa Dendi Sherpa – For autobiography his ‘Himalayan Maverick’
• Sushant Thapa – For his anthology of English poetry, ‘Means of Merit’

Highlights of 45th Session of World Heritage Committee
The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, concluding on
September 25. This session witnessed the addition of 42 new sites to United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage List, alongside other significant decisions.
The committee was chaired by H.H. Princess Haifa Al
Mogrin, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Delegate to
UNESCO.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) served as the host
country for 45th session of WHC.
India’s Santiniketan in West Bengal and the Sacred
Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka have been
added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage
list…Click here for complete information…
42 new sites inscribed and approved the extension of 5 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Key Points:
i.Of the 42 newly inscribed sites, 33 are cultural and 9 are natural. This brings the total number of UNESCO
World Heritage sites to 1199 (993 cultural, 227 natural, 39 mixed) across 168 countries. .The Committee also
approved the extension of below 5 existing World Heritage sites
ii.The newly inscribed sites are 15 in Europe, 12 in Asia, 6 in Africa, 6 in the Americas and 3 in the Middle East.
The 45th Session also saw the largest number of inscriptions from Africa in a single Committee session since
1982.
iii.Nearly 300 civil society organizations and representatives from 195 States Parties participated in the
session.
iv.The Dive Into Heritage tool, set to launch in 2025, will allow the public to explore World Heritage sites
online.
v.Six World Heritage properties in Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, and Sri Lanka
received international funding totalling 336,000 USD to support local conservation projects.
vi.In 2022 and 2023, more than thirty sites benefited from such financial aid, totaling more than 1 million USD.
vii.Africa reached a significant milestone with 5 new sites added, bringing the continent’s total to 100 World
Heritage sites.
viii.Rwanda secured its first two inscriptions: Nyungwe National Park and genocide memorial sites.
Newly inscribed cultural sites:
S.No. Site Names Country
1 Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er China
2 Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites Mongolia
3 Gaya Tumuli, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
4 Gordion, Turkey
5 Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt Germany
6 Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, Cambodia
7 Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939 Lithuania
8 National Archaeological Park -Tak’alik Ab’aj Guatemala
9 Old town of Kuldīga Latvia
10 Prehistoric Sites of Talayotic Menorca, Spain
11 Santiniketan India

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
12 Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor, Uzbekistan
13 The Gedeo Cultural Landscape Ethiopia
14 The Persian Caravanserai, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
15 Tr’ondëk-Klondike Canada
16 Viking-Age Ring Fortresses Denmark
17 Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops Czech Republic or Czechia
18 Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan, Palestine
19 Astronomical Observatories of Kazan Federal University Russian Federation
Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu”
20 Transhumance Route Azerbaijan
21 Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory Tunisia
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of
22 Detention, Torture and Extermination Argentina
23 Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker, Netherlands
24 Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front) Belgium, France
25 Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, USA
Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and
26 Cassipora Creek Cemetery Suriname
Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and
27 Memorial sites of the Genocide Bisesero, Rwanda
28 Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas India
The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati
29 Monuments, Thailand
30 The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks Indonesia
31 The Maison Carrée of Nîmes France
32 Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia Turkey
33 Zagori Cultural Landscape Greece
Newly inscribed natural sites:
S.No. Site Name Country
1 Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua Congo
Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern
2 Martinique France
3 Anticosti Canada
4 Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
5 Cold Winter Deserts of Turan Uzbekistan
6 Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines Italy
7 Nyungwe National Park Rwanda
8 Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve Tajikistan

9 ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid Saudi Arabia
Extension of 5 existing World Heritage sites:
Cultural properties
Historic Centre of Guimarães and Couros Zone [extension of “Historic Centre of
Guimarães”, inscribed in 2001] (Portugal)
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba [extension of “Koutammakou, the
Land of the Batammariba”, Togo, inscribed in 2004] (Benin, Togo)
Natural properties
Andrefana Dry Forests [extension of “Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve”,
inscribed in 1990] (Madagascar)
Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago [extension of “Ha Long Bay”, inscribed in 1994
and extended in 2000] (Viet Nam)
Hyrcanian Forests [extension of “Hyrcanian Forests”, Iran (Islamic Republic of), (Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic
inscribed in 2019] Republic of))
UNESCO Committee Suspends Three Major Projects at Capitol Complex, Chandigarh
In a significant setback to the Union Territory (UT) administration, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO
has suspended three ambitious projects at the Capitol Complex in Sector 1, Chandigarh,India. The
suspension is due to concerns that these projects are impacting the overall universal value (OUV) of the
UNESCO World Heritage site.
The reason for the suspension appears to be twofold:
these projects did not meet the requirements of a heritage impact assessment,
they were not in compliance with the guidelines provided by ICOMOS.
Capitol Complex: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Designed by renowned Swiss-French architect-planner Le Corbusier.
Houses the three pillars of democracy: legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Key components include the Open Hand monument, Punjab and Haryana high court, Tower of Shadows,
Geometric Hill, legislative assembly, and the secretariat.
The site received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2016.
Suspended Projects
i.Underground Multi-Level basement Parking facility.
ii.Holistic Development Plan for Punjab and Haryana High Court.
iii.Air Cooled(AC) Chiller Plant – Proposed to replace window and split AC units to enhance the aesthetic
appeal of the Capitol Complex.
ICOMOS’s Role
Committee cited non-compliance with International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
guidelines.
ICOMOS is a crucial world heritage body responsible for setting guidelines and assessing heritage sites.
It accepted the recommendations of the expert heritage committee for including Capitol Complex in the
World Heritage list..
Changes in UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger: Removals and Additions
During the period from September 12 to 16, the World Heritage Committee conducted a review of the status of
263 sites that were already inscribed on the World Heritage List. This review resulted in significant changes for
three properties:
Removal from UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger: The “Tombs of the Buganda Kings in Kasubi”
in Uganda.
Additions to the List of World Heritage in Danger: Two sites from Ukraine, namely “Kyiv: Saint Sophia
Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings and Lavra of Kyiv-Pechersk” and “L’viv – the

ensemble of the historic centre,” were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to
threats associated with shelling and other factors.
Recognition for ‘Sites of Memory’:
Three ‘Sites of Memory’ related to recent conflicts joined the World Heritage List: Argentina’s “ESMA Museum
and Place of Memory,” Rwanda’s “Genocide Memorial Sites,” and Belgium and France’s “Funeral and Memorial
Sites of the Western Front in the First World War.”
India and the World Heritage
India has currently 42 world heritage properties overall, which include 34 cultural, 7 natural and 1
mixed (Khangchendzonga National Park, also Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, is a national
park and a biosphere reserve located in Sikkim, India. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World
Heritage Sites list in July 2016) property.
In addition, India has 50 sites on the UNESCO’s Tentative List.
Presently, India has the sixth largest number of sites in the World. The countries that have 42 or
more World Heritage sites and apart from India are Italy (59), China (57), Germany (52), France
(51) and Spain (50).
Note: As per UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines, a country can nominate only one property in a year. India has
added 12 new world Heritage sites since 2014.
About World Heritage Committee
Chairperson: Dr Abdulelah Al-Tokhais (Saudi Arabia)
Rapporteur: Ms. Shikha Jain (India)
Member Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Mexico,
Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South
Africa, Thailand, and Zambia.
According to the World Heritage Convention, a committee member’s term of office is six years.India is currently
the member of the WH Committee for its fourth term (2021-25).
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
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
UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023: Decarbonizing Shipping to Cost Over USD
100bn/year
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023 urged
to take action and system-wide collaboration to decarbonize maritime transport. The report warns that the
decarbonising shipping would cost over USD 100 billion per year as the emission continue to increase.
UNCTAD urges the need for cleaner fuels, digital solutions and an equitable transition to address
ongoing carbon emissions and regulatory uncertainties in the shipping industry.
The Review of Maritime Transport 2023 was launched on September 27, 2023 (ahead of the World
Maritime Day 2023 – 28 September 2023).
Shipping Dominance and Emissions:
i.Accounts for over 80% of global trade volume.
ii.Contributes nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
iii.Emissions increased by 20% in the past decade.
Financial Requirements for Decarbonization:
i.Additional USD 8 billion to USD 28 billion annually needed to decarbonize ships by 2050.
ii.Substantial investments of USD 28 billion to USD 90 billion annually necessary for developing infrastructure
supporting 100% carbon-neutral fuels by 2050.
Key Points:
i.Full decarbonization could raise annual fuel expenses by 70% to 100%, affecting Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) heavily reliant on maritime transport.
ii.The Review emphasizes the need for a transition to cleaner fuels in the shipping sector as nearly 99% of the
global fleet still relies on conventional fuels.
iii.Global shipping industry predicts 2.4% growth in 2023, with containerized trade (which declined by 3.7%
in 2022) expected to expand by 1.2% in 2023 and over 3% between 2024 and 2028.
iv.In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization(IMO) agreed to reduce shipping industry emissions by
20% by 2030 and 70% by 2040 (compared to 2008 levels).
The updated plan also aims for net-zero emissions close to 2050, replacing the previous 50% reduction
target.
i.According to UNCTAD’s “World Investment Report 2023(WIR 2023): Investing in Sustainable Energy for All”,
Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) in Asia’s developing countries remained unchanged at USD 662 billion and

India and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were the top recipients , with an increase of 10%
and 5% respectively.
ii.As per the UNCTAD, approximately 137 out of 194 countries have implemented laws to safeguard data and
privacy.
About United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
It is an intergovernmental organization which promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade.
Secretary-General– Rebeca Grynspan
IATA Allots three-letter Code ‘DXN’ for Upcoming Jewar International Airport in Noida
International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association for the world’s airlines, has allotted
the three-letter code ‘DXN’ for the upcoming greenfield airport at Jewar in New Okhla Industrial
Development Authority (Noida), Uttar Pradesh (UP). The code ‘DXN’ symbolises the airport’s proximity to
Noida, Delhi, and western UP.
This three-letter code assigned by the IATA will be the designator, that airlines and travel agencies will
use, internationally, to identify Noida International Airport.
This ensures that travelers can easily identify the airport across various platforms. It will help travelers
and aviation professionals to identify and communicate destinations swiftly and accurately, avoiding
any confusion and mistakes.
By the end of 2024, this initiative will be fully implemented. The code will become active once airport
operations start.
Once completed, the Noida airport is composed to become the largest airport in India, spanning an
expansive 5,000-hectare area and developed in 4 phases.
The first phase is scheduled to be completed with one runway and a 12 million passenger capacity
terminal building by September 2024.
The airport for the UP government is being built by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited
(YIAPL), a fully-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, Switzerland.
Note: IATA represents some 300 airlines or 83% of total air traffic.
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Highlights of President Droupadi Murmu’s Visit to Gujarat from September 12-13, 2023
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on a two-day visit to Gujarat from September 12 to 13, 2023. During
her visit,
• She inaugurated the Gujarat Assembly’s ‘National e-
Vidhan Application’ (NeVA) project and addressed
the members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly at
Gandhinagar.
• She also virtually launched the Ayushman
Bhav initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoH&FW) from the Raj Bhavan,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

President of India Inaugurates NeVA and Addresess the Gujarat Legislative Assembly
President Droupadi Murmu on her 2-days visit to Gujarat, inaugurated the ‘National e-Vidhan Application’
(NeVA) which aims to make the functioning of the State Assembly paperless by transforming them into ‘Digital
House’.
• E-Vidhan would enable the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to stay connected with
their constituents.
Key Points:
i.The integration of the NeVA platform enables assembly members to access and adopt best practices from the
Parliament and other legislative bodies across India.
ii.The vision of “One Nation, One Application” would enhance the efficiency and transparency of the Gujarat
Legislative Assembly. Additionally, the shift to digital processes is expected to contribute to environmental
sustainability by reducing paper usage.
About National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)
i.National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is one of the 44 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) under the “Digital India
Programme” of the Government of India (GoI)
ii.It is a work-flow system deployed on the National Information Centre (NIC) Cloud, MeghRaj which helps:
• The Chair of the House to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly;
• Members to carry out their duties in the House efficiently and
• To conduct Legislative Business of the House in a Paperless manner.
iii.NeVA is a device-neutral and member-centric application created to equip them to handle diverse House
Business smartly. NeVA is inspired by the GoI’s visionary concept of ‘One Nation-One Application’.
President Droupadi Murmu Launched Ayushman Bhav Campaign Virtually in Gujarat
On 13th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav campaign as well
as the Ayushman Bhava portal from the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The launch of the Ayushman Bhav campaign and the portal marked a significant step towards
achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all.
• The campaign aims to deliver healthcare services to the last mile and consolidate access and
affordability for underserved populations.
Key People:
The launch event was attended by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister MoH&FW; Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief
Minister (CM) of Gujarat; Bharati Pravin Pawar, and SP Singh Baghel, Ministers of State(MoS) MoH&FW; VK
Paul, Member (Health), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and other senior officials.
Key Points:
During her address, President Murmu highlighted the principles of “Antyodaya” (good health for all and
leaving no one behind) and praised the role played by local governance in this attempt and the significance of
Ayushman GPs, the government’s commitment to sustainable development goals (SDGs), and the upcoming
Seva Pakwada initiative.
• Seva Pakwada initiative, is set to run from September 17 to October 2, 2023, with an aim to provide
essential health services to every citizen, furthering the mission of “antyodaya.”
About Ayushman Bhav:
i.The ‘Ayushman Bhav‘ campaign, launched by the MoH&FW is a pioneering nationwide healthcare initiative
designed to achieve complete healthcare coverage, encompassing every village and town in India. It signifies a
transformative shift in healthcare service delivery.
Aim: ‘Ayushman Bhav’ aims to create momentum to increase awareness about the Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID generation, and services related to the
screening and management of non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis (TB), and Sickle Cell Disease.
ii.It operates through collaborative efforts led by Gram Panchayats (GPs) in partnership with the Department of
Health, various government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas.
iii.This initiative ensures the reach of healthcare access to every corner of India.

Components of Ayushman Bhav:
• Apke Dwar 3.0.
• Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) Community Health Clinics (CHC).
• Ayushman Sabhas.
i.By embracing these components, Ayushman Bhav is set to expedite healthcare access at the grassroots,
contributing to the realization of a healthier nation.
ii.Under Ayushman Bhav, Health Melas and Medical Camps are an important component that will be set up
once a week at all HWCs and CHCs.
President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates ‘First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ in New Delhi
On 12th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the First Global Symposium on Farmers’
Rights (GSFR) in an event held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Convention Centre,
National Agricultural Science Centre in New Delhi, Delhi
Organisers and Hosts:
i.The Symposium was organised by the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (International Treaty) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome.
ii.It was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in collaboration with the
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority; ICAR, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI), and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
India’s Agro-biodiversity:
i.The president described India, as a mega-diverse country, despite occupying only 2.4% of the world’s land
area, but accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species of plants and animals.
ii.In terms of biodiversity, India ranks as one of the nations supplied with the widest range of plants and
species, and India’s rich agro-biodiversity isn’t just a national asset; it’s a global treasure.
iii.Over the years, Indian farmers have dedicatedly conserved local plant varieties, domesticated wild species,
and nurtured traditional crops.
iv.This wealth of biodiversity serves as the foundation for global crop breeding programs, ensuring food and
nutritional security for both humans and animals.
India’s transformation in agriculture to other sectors:
i.Since 1950-51, India has witnessed remarkable growth in the production of various agricultural commodities,
and agricultural research and technology have played a pivotal role in this transformation.
ii.These advancements have not been limited to food grains alone but have also impacted horticulture,
fisheries, dairy, and poultry sectors, ensuring a well-rounded approach to food security.
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, paid a visit to Suriname and Serbia from 4th to 9th June 2023. She visited
Paramaribo, Suriname, at the invitation of Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname,
and Serbia at the invitation of Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW):
Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar (Constituency- Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State(MoS)– Sushri Shobha Karandlaje; Kailash Choudhary
Highlights of Saudi Arabia’s PM HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud visit
to India
From September 9-11, 2023, the His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister (PM) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a State visit to India on the
invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi. This marks the Prince’s 2nd State visit to India, His
Royal Highness earlier visited India on a State Visit in February 2019.
• The overarching context of his visit was to strengthen bilateral relations and strategic partnership
between India and Saudi Arabia.

• Official talks were held between HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and PM
Narendra Modi to enhance India-Saudi strategic relations and discussed current global and regional
matters.
Points to note:
i.During his visit, he attended the Group of 20 (G20) Summit hosted by India on 9-10th September 2023 and
continued his stay on 11th September 2023 for the State Visit.
ii.He was accompanied by a high level delegation comprising of almost 14 members and 8 ministers.
1st meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (SPC)
The Crown Prince and the PM of India co-chaired the first meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic Partnership
Council (SPC) which was set up with the signing of an Agreement by both leaders during the PM Narendra
Modi state visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October 2019.
i.This SPC made India the fourth country with which Saudi Arabia formed such a partnership, after the United
Kingdom (UK), France, and China.
ii.They reviewed the work done under the framework of SPC including its two Ministerial Committees namely:
• Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation
• Committee on Economy and Investments
About the Ministerial Committees :
i.These two committees have four levels of engagement, including Summit-Level Meetings, Ministerial-Level
Discussions, Senior Officials’ Meetings, and Joint Working Groups (JWGs).
ii.Four JWGs have been formed under each sub-committee.
• The JWGs under the Political committee are Political & Consular; Legal & Security; Social & Cultural;
and Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation.
• The JWGs under the Economic committee are Agriculture & Food Security; Energy; Technology &
Information Technology; and Industry and Infrastructure.
Key Outcomes of Meeting:
i.India and Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite the USD 50-billion West Coast refinery project and identified areas
such as energy, defence, semiconductor, and space for intensified cooperation.
• West Coast Refinery Project aims to set up Asia’s largest refinery in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. It is a
trilateral project between ARAMCO (Saudi), ADNOC (UAE) and Indian companies.
ii.They agreed to diversify the current status of their hydrocarbons relationship into a comprehensive energy
partnership.
iii.Both sides inked eight pacts to boost cooperation in a range of areas.
Signing of 8 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU):
i.MoU in the field of Energy between MNRE and Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Saudi Ministry of Energy have
signed a MoU to strengthen their energy partnership, supporting India’s transition to sustainable
energy and global climate change mitigation efforts.
Saudi Arabia appreciated India for its climate change efforts, including the International Solar
Alliance, One Sun-One World-One Grid, Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI),
and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiatives.
Signatories: Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh, MNRE; and HRH Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud,
Minister of Energy for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
What will be done the MoU?
India and Saudi Arabia will cooperate in the following areas:
Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Hydrogen, Electricity, Grid Interconnection,Petroleum,
Natural Gas, Strategic Petroleum Reserves, and Energy Security.

Circular Economy and climate change mitigation technologies like carbon capture, utilization,
and storage.
Promoting digital transformation, innovation, cyber-security, and artificial intelligence in the
energy sector and supply chains.
ii.MoU for Cooperation in the Technical Field & Establishment of SME Bank between SIDBI and SME
Bank of Saudi Arabia
A MoU was inked between Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and Small and Medium
Enterprises (SME) Bank of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the technical field and the establishment of the SME
Bank.
• The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of India-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum 2023 in
New Delhi, Delhi which was organized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India and the Saudi Ministry of Investment.
• The signing was attended by SMEB Acting CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Abdulrahman bin
Mohammed bin Mansour and SIDBI Deputy Managing Director Sudatta Mandal.
What will be done under the agreement?
Under the agreement, they will share knowledge about SME lending practices and collaborate on training
programs for employees to improve operations and awareness.
iii.Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
(MCIT) of Saudi Arabia and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India in the field of
Digitization and Electronic manufacturing
iv.MOU between Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) of India and Oversight and Anti Corruption Authority,
Saudi Arabia
v.MOC between National Archives of India(NAI) and King Abdulaziz Foundation of Saudi Arabia in the area of
archival cooperation
vi.Framework of Cooperation on Enhancing Bilateral Investment between Invest India and Ministry of
Investment of Saudi Arabia
vii.MoU between Saudi EXIM Bank and Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) of India
viii.MoU on Seawater Desalination between National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) of India and Saline
Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) of Saudi Arabia
Other Highlights:
i.Both sides agreed to organize the next meeting of SPC within next two years as stipulated in the Agreement
for SPC.
ii.Both sides will explore cooperation in promoting sustainable hydrocarbon use, energy efficiency, and raising
awareness in construction, industry, and transportation.
• They also agreed to promote tourism, enhance cooperation and partnership in sports programs and
activities.
• India appreciates Saudi Arabia's leadership in addressing climate change through initiatives
like "Saudi Green" and "Middle East Green," in line with the circular carbon economy
approach endorsed by G20 leaders.
iii.The India-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum 2023 is the first formal investment symposium between India
and Saudi Arabia. It was co-chaired by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce, and Khalid A. Al
Falih, Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
iv.45 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were concluded between India and Saudi Arabia, in G2B
(Government to Business) and B2B (Business to Business) formats.
v.Both highlighted a remarkable 23% growth, as bilateral trade surpassed US$ 52 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal
year.
i.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an official two-day visit to India from 20- 21st July 2023.

ii.On 27th – 28th July 2023, Prime Minister(PM) of India, Narendra Modi was on a two day visit to Rajasthan
and Gujarat to inaugurate and launch various new initiatives and events.
About Saudi Arabia:
Capital– Riyadh
Currency– Saudi Riyal
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.
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.
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):
Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel
Tiger Reserve– Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve

BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
RBI allows operation of pre-sanctioned credit lines at banks through UPI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular titled ‘Operation of Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines at Banks through UPI’
announced the inclusion of pre-sanctioned credit lines as funding accounts in Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
This decision broadens the scope of UPI by incorporating credit lines as a funding account.
Background: In the “Statement on Development and Regulatory Policies” dated April 6, 2023, the RBI
proposed to enhance the functionality of the UPI by incorporating pre-sanctioned credit lines at banks into the
system.
What is Credit Line in UPI?
• A credit line in UPI refers to a pre-approved amount of credit that a bank offers to its customers.
This credit line allows customers to make transactions or payments even if they don’t have sufficient
funds in their bank account at that moment. It’s essentially a short-term loan or credit limit that the
bank provides to the customer with applicable fees or interest
Key points:
i. The circular applies to Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks,
and Regional Rural Banks.
ii.This directive is issued under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems
Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
iii. Before the expansion, UPI allowed linking of savings accounts, overdraft accounts, prepaid wallets, and
credit cards.
iv. Payments through these pre-sanctioned credit lines, issued by Scheduled Commercial Banks to individuals,
can be made through the UPI system with the prior consent of the individual customers.
v. Banks can establish terms and conditions for the use of these credit lines, including credit limits, credit
periods, interest rates, in accordance with their board-approved policies.
• The RBI’s expansion of UPI’s scope aligns with India’s goals for digitizing payments and fostering
financial inclusion.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI):
UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank),
merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. It also caters to
the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.
• Pilot launch: April 11, 2016
• UPI enabled apps launch: August 25, 2016
• Developed by: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
• Launched by: Dr. Raghuram G Rajan (Ex-RBI Governor)
• In August 2023, UPI transactions achieved significant milestones, surpassing 10 billion transactions.
Significance: UPI is a robust and widely used platform for immediate money transfers through mobile devices,
handling 75% of the retail digital payments volume in India.
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Established – April 1, 1935

RBI Issues Guidelines on Responsible Lending Conduct; Revises Banks’ Investment Portfolio
Norms, w.e.f April 1, 2024
On September 13, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines on Responsible Lending
Conduct which directs Regulated Entities (REs) to release all original movable or immovable property
documents, and remove charges registered with any registry within 30 days of full repayment or settlement of
personal loans by borrowers.
• These directions by RBI are issued under sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR)
Act, 1949, sections 45JA and 45L of the RBI Act, 1934, and section 30A of the National Housing Bank
(NHB) Act, 1987.
• Official notification of ‘Responsible Lending Conduct – Release of Movable / Immovable Property
Documents on Repayment/ Settlement of Personal Loans‘
Note: The REs include All Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks(SFBs) and Regional Rural
Banks(RRBs), excluding Payments Banks); All Local Area Banks; All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks; All
State Co-operative Banks and District Central Co-operative Banks; All Non-Banking Financial Companies
(NBFCs) including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs); and All Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs).
Applicability:
These Directions are applicable to all cases where release of original movable / immovable property
documents falls due on or after December 1, 2023.
Reason behind These Directions:
Despite Fair Practices Code guidelines since 2003, REs exhibit inconsistent practices in releasing property
documents upon full loan repayment, causing customer disputes and grievances. In order to overcome this
situation and to protect borrowers’ rights and ensure a smoother, more accountable lending process these
directions has been issued.
Key Points:
i.Borrowers can choose to collect documents from the loan-serving branch or another RE office.
ii.REs must have a procedure for returning documents to legal heirs in case of borrower demise.
• This should be available on the REs’ website for customer reference.
iii.If REs delay property document release or fail to file charge satisfaction forms after 30 days post-loan
settlement, they must explain the reasons to the borrower.
• If the delay is REs’ fault, they must compensate the borrower at Rs 5,000 for each day of delay.
iv.If property documents are lost/damaged, REs must help obtain duplicates and cover associated costs,
in addition to the compensation of Rs 5000/day for delay.
• However, this process allows for an additional 30 days to the REs, with penalties calculated after 60
days.
v.This compensation doesn’t affect the borrower’s rights under other applicable laws.
RBI revises Banks’ Investment Portfolio Norms, w.e.f April 1, 2024
RBI also revised its guidelines on categorizing the investments by banks, to align them with global standards by
issuing RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions,
2023 which will be effective from April 1, 2024.
• The change in the norms follows the revisions proposed in the Discussion Paper (DP) on January 14,
2022 regarding the current norms for the classification, valuation, and operation of investment
portfolios of commercial banks.
• With the implementation of revised Directions, RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of
Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions, 2021 dated August 25, 2021 will
be repealed.
RBI issued these directions in the exercise of its powers conferred under section 35A of the BR Act, 1949, and
all the powers enabling it on this behalf.
Applicability:
All commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks-RRBs)

Reasons behind this revision:
i.To ensure transparency and stability in the banking sector
ii.To introduce a framework for banks to categorize their investments and specify how they should be valued
and managed.
Key Points:
i.RBI introduced a new category of investment, Fair Value Through Profit and Loss (FVTPL) account. The
existing HFT category will now be part of FVTPL category. So, as per the revised norms, banks will have to
classify their entire investment portfolio under three categories viz. Held-to-Maturity (HTM), Available for
Sale (AFS) and FVTPL.
1.HTM: Under this existing category, banks hold securities until maturity.
• These securities should provide regular principal and interest payments.
2.AFS: These securities will collect contractual cash flows with the option to sell.
• These will be fair-valued at least quarterly.
3.FVTPL: This is a new category introduced by RBI and includes securities that do not qualify for HTM or AFS.
• Securities in this category are valued at fair market value, and any gains or losses are directly
reflected in the bank’s profit and loss account.
• Banks need more regular accounting for investments in FVTPL books.
• Note: HFT category was for debt securities purchased by banks with the intent of selling them
within a short period.
ii.RBI has removed the 90-day ceiling on holding period of securities under the Held for Trading (HFT)
category, and ceiling on HTM in lenders’ investment portfolios.
• At present, Banks can exceed 25% in HTM if government securities meet statutory liquidity ratio
(SLR) requirement, capped at 18%.
iii.Instruments with loss-absorbing features (e.g., tier 1 or tier 2 capital) can’t be in AFS or HTM.
iv.Under the new RBI guidelines, all investments must be measured at fair value upon initial recognition.
v.Government securities acquired from RBI auctions, switch operations, and open market operations will be
recognized at their allotted prices.
vi.Investments in subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures will be held separately from other investment
categories, and will be initially recognised at their acquisition cost. It will be adjusted if investee changes status.
Benefits of this Revision:
i.With these directions there will be improved financial reporting, enhanced disclosures, support for the
corporate bond market, hedging with derivatives, and stronger risk management in banks.
ii.They align with global accounting standards while maintaining prudential safeguards like Investment
Fluctuation Reserves (IFR), due diligence limits, and reliability in valuation.
i.RBI has issued a ‘Draft Circular – Arrangements with Card Networks for issue of
ii.RBI included ‘NongHyup Bank’ in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. NongHyup
Bank (NH Bank), established in 2012, is a commercial bank headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

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.
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
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.
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.
Deputy Governors – Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi
Sankar
RBI: Household Savings fall to 5-decade Low at 5.1% in FY23, RBI Imposes Penalties on Four
Cooperative Banks
Net financial savings of households declined to a nearly 5-decade low of 5.1% GDP in FY23. This marked a
notable decrease from the previous fiscal year, where it stood at 7.2% (FY22), as per RBI data.
• National Financial Switch (NFS) usage was decreased from 11.5% in FY21 to 5.1% in FY23, as
per data from RBI’s Flow of Financial Assets and Liabilities of Household released on September
2023.
i.Rising Financial Liabilities:
Household financial liabilities saw a substantial increase, rising to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, up from 3.8% in
FY22. This indicates that households have increasingly relied on borrowing to meet their consumption
needs.
Note: The rate of increase in financial liabilities in FY23 was the second highest since Independence. The
highest rate of increase was recorded in FY 2006-07 at 6.7%.
ii.Household Asset Trends:
Net household assets showed a declining trend:
FY21: Rs 22.8 trillion

iii.High Household Debt: Household debt remained elevated at 37.6% of GDP in FY23, compared to
36.9% in FY22.
Factors Contributing to Challenging Household Financial Landscape in India:
• Stagnant Wages: Real wages in India have not grown significantly over the past 8 years.
• Increasing Healthcare and Education Costs: The cost of healthcare and education has been
steadily increasing, with medical inflation at 12% in 2021, the highest in Asia, and education
costs rising by 11-12%.
Note: In a deviation from the usual pattern, private consumption final expenditure (PFCE) saw a year-on-
year improvement of 6% in Q1FY24, surpassing 2.8% in Q4FY23 and 2.2% in Q3FY23, possibly
influenced by reduced inflation. GDP data for Q1FY24 indicated that investment showed greater strength
than consumption, and urban demand surpassed rural demand.
RBI Imposes Penalties on Four Cooperative Banks
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes monetary penalties on four cooperative banks citing its authority
under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, specifically Section 47 A (1) I in conjunction with Sections 46
(4) (i) and 56.
Lalbaug Cooperative Bank Ltd (Gujarat) – Rs 5 Lakh.
Reason: Non-compliance with the RBI directions on ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks’ and ‘Interest
Rate on Deposits Directions, 2016’.
• Breached prudential inter-bank exposure limit and counterparty exposure limit.
• Failed to pay interest on overdue recurring and term deposits.
Cooperative Bank of Mehsana Ltd (Gujarat) – Rs 3.50 Lakh
Reason: Non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Loans and Advances to Directors etc. – Directors as surety
or guarantors – Clarification’ and ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks’.
• Sanctioned loans with a relative of one of the directors as guarantor.
• Breached the inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.
Harij Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd (Gujarat) – Rs 3 Lakh
Reason: Non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Maintenance of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)’, ‘Placement of
Deposits with Other Banks’, and ‘Interest Rate on Deposits – Directions, 2016’.
• Breached the inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.
• Failed to pay applicable interest on deposits of deceased individual depositors or sole
proprietorship concerns.
National Cooperative Bank Ltd (Maharashtra) – Rs 1 Lakh
Reason: Non-compliance with RBI directions on Maintenance of Deposit Accounts-Primary (Urban) Co-
operative Banks’.
• Did not conduct annual reviews of inoperative accounts.
RBI in News:
i.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced on September 8 to phase out the Incremental-cash
reserve ratio (I-CRR) by October 7, 2023. As part of this process, 25 percent of the total I-CRR released on
September 19, another 25 percent on September 23, and the remaining 50 percent on October 7.
ii.The RBI has issued a list of 15 Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) categorized in the ‘upper layer’
subject to scale-based regulations.
iii. The RBI has projected a real GDP growth rate of 7.8% for the Q1FY24 and a full-year growth rate of
6.5%.
Established – April 1, 1935

RBI Approves Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-op Bank Merger with Cosmos Co-op Bank; Penalizes SBI,
Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took the following decisions from September 21- 25, 2023:
RBI approves merger of Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-op Bank with Cosmos Co-op Bank
On September 25, 2023, RBI in exercise of its power conferred under Sub-Section (4) of Section 44A read
with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 sanctioned the Scheme of amalgamation of
The Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra with The Cosmos Co-operative
Bank Limited, Pune, Maharashtra.
• The Scheme will come into force with effect from 26th September 2023.
• Following the amalgamation, the branches of The Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-operative Bank Ltd will function
as branches of The Cosmos Co-operative Bank Limited with effect from 26th September 2023.
RBI imposes penalty on SBI, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank
On September 21, 2023, RBI imposed a monetary Penalty on the State Bank of India (SBI), Indian Bank,
an Punjab & Sind Bank in exercise of it powers conferred under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read
with Sections 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the BR Act.
However, these penalties will not make any kind of effect on any transaction or agreement of bank with its
customers.
Penalty on SBI: Rs 1.30 Crore
RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 1.30 Crore on SBI for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on
‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions’ and ‘Guidelines on Management of Intra-Group
Transactions and Exposures’.
Background:
The RBI’s Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2021) in 2021 found that the bank failed to
comply with directions, including sanctioning a term loan without proper due diligence and exceeding intra-
group exposure limits. Following the bank’s response and examination of the matter, RBI imposed a monetary
penalty for substantiated non-compliance.
Penalty on Indian Bank: Rs 1.62 crore
RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 1.62 crore on Indian Bank for non-compliance with certain directions issued by
RBI on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions’, ‘Reserve Bank of India [Know Your Customer
(KYC)] Directions, 2016’ and ‘Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016’.
Background:
During the RBI’s ISE 2021, several instances of non-compliance were discovered including sanctioning a term
loan to a corporation without proper due diligence, leading to debt repayment issues, failing to close accounts
opened through OTP (One Time Password)-based e-KYC (Know Your Customer) after one year without
conducting customer due diligence etc. This led to the imposition of a monetary penalty on the bank.
Penalty on Punjab & Sind Bank: Rs 1 crore
RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Punjab & Sind Bank for non-compliance with the provisions of sub-
section (2) of Section 26A of the BR Act, 1949 read with directions issued by RBI on ‘The Depositor Education
and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014-Section 26A of Banking Regulation Act, 1949-Operational Guidelines’.
Background:
During the 2021 RBI inspection, the bank was found to have failed to comply with provisions of the BR Act and
RBI directions by not crediting the eligible amount to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the
prescribed timeframe under Section 26A of the BR Act. This led to the imposition of a monetary penalty on the
bank.
RBI imposes Rs 8.80 Lakh penalty on Fedbank Financial Services Limited
RBI also imposed a penalty of Rs 8.80 Lakh on Fedbank Financial Services Limited, a Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) in Mumbai, for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Monitoring of Frauds in NBFCs
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016.

• This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of clause (b)
of sub-section (1) of Section 58G read with clause (aa) of sub-section (5) of Section 58B of the RBI Act,
1934.
RBI cancels Kapol Co-operative Bank’s licence
On September 25, 2023, RBI has cancelled the licence of the Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited, Mumbai,
Maharashtra amid inadequate capital and earning prospects. Following, it is immediately prohibited from
conducting banking activities, including accepting and repaying deposits, as defined in Section 5 (b) read with
Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949 with immediate effect.
Reasons behind Cancellation:
i.It does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of the BR
Act, 1949.
ii.It also failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22(3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3)(d) and
22(3)(e) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;
iii.The bank’s continuation is detrimental to depositors, as its current financial position makes it unable to fully
repay them, and harm public interest.
Key Points:
i.Approximately 96.09% of depositors are eligible to receive their full deposits from Deposit Insurance and
Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
• It should be noted that in case of liquidation, depositors can claim up to Rs 5,00,000 from the DICGC)under
the DICGC Act, 1961.
ii.As of July 24, 2023, DICGC has already paid Rs 230.16 crore to insured depositors based on their willingness
to claim their deposits.
i.On July 5, 2023, RBI cancelled the banking licenses of two co-operative banks viz. Malkapur Urban Co-
operative Bank Ltd(Malkapur UCB) based in Buldhana, Maharashtra, and Shushruti Souharda Sahakara Bank
Niyamita(SSS Bank) based in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
ii.RBI cancelled the banking licence of two cooperative banks, Sri Sharada Mahila Co-operative Bank, Tumkur,
Karnataka and Harihareshwar Sahakari Bank, Satara in Maharashtra.
RBI issues New Prudential Regulations for AIFIs; Cancels Licence of Nashik Zilla Girna
Sahakari Bank Limited, Nashik
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the RBI (Prudential Regulations on Basel III Capital Framework,
Exposure Norms, Significant Investments, Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio
Norms and Resource Raising Norms for All India Financial Institutions) Directions, 2023 which will be
applicable w.e.f. April 1, 2024.
These were issued by RBI in exercise of powers conferred by Section 45L of the RBI Act, 1934.
Applicability:
These will be applicable to the five All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) viz.
Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM) Bank
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NABFID)
National Housing Bank (NHB)
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

Key Points:
i.The draft Directions were released for public comments on October 22, 2021, and the final were released on
September 21, 2023.
ii.These new directives enforce Basel III standards and regulations for AIFIs, covering capital, exposure,
investments, valuation, and resource raising norms.
iii.With these, RBI aims to ensures financial stability, safeguards interests, and enhances resilience of India’s
financial sector through ongoing regulatory efforts.
Click Here for Official Guidelines
RBI cancels the licence of Nashik Zilla Girna Sahakari Bank Limited, Nashik, Maharashtra
With order dated 25th September 2023, RBI cancelled the licence of the Nashik Zilla Girna Sahakari Bank
Limited, in Nashik, Maharashtra, since the bank does not have an adequate capital and earning prospects.
The bank does not with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of
the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Following this, the bank ceases to carry on banking business, with effect from 26th September 2023.
The authorities have requested the Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative, Maharashtra, to initiate
the bank’s winding up process and appoint a liquidator.
Note:
Following the cancellation of the licence, the bank is prohibited from conducting the business of ‘banking’
which includes, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5 (b) read with Section
56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with immediate effect.
Reason behind Cancellation:
i.It also failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3)(d) and 22(3)(e)
read with Section 56 of BR Act, 1949;
ii.The bank’s continuation is detrimental to depositors, as its current financial position makes it unable to fully
repay them, and harm public interest.
Key Points:
i.99.92% of depositors of the bank are eligible to receive their full deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit
Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
ii.It should be noted that in case of liquidation, depositors can claim up to Rs 5 lakhs from the DICGC under the
DICGC Act, 1961.
i.RBI has cancelled the banking licenses of two co-operative banks viz. Malkapur Urban Co-operative Bank
Ltd(Malkapur UCB) based in Buldhana, Maharashtra, and Shushruti Souharda Sahakara Bank Niyamita(SSS
Bank) based in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
SEBI
SEBI Approved Groww Mutual Fund To Launch Its First Index Fund
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) gave approval to Online stock broking firm, Groww Mutual
Fund to launch its first index fund ‘Groww Nifty Total Markets Index Fund’. The fund will be raised through
New Fund Offering (NFO).

• The launched index fund is a Passive mutual fund (which replicates a market index like the Nifty or
Sensex) and will be launched by the end of September 2023.
What is NFO?
An asset management company launching a new mutual fund can raise capital through a NFO which is similar
to an Initial Public Offering (IPO). NFOs provide details of the portfolio, including company shares, securities,
fund manager, etc.
• Through such offers, investors can purchase units of a mutual fund at the subscription price (usually
set at Rs.10 per unit).
• Both open-ended and closed-end funds are launched via new fund offers for a limited time
period(Maximum of 30 days), and then traded in the market, based on their corresponding net asset
value (NAV).
Additional Info: Zerodha Asset Management Limited launched two new schemes Zerodha Tax Saver (ELSS)
Nifty Large Midcap 250 Index Fund and Zerodha Nifty Large Midcap 250 Index Fund (ZN250).
SEBI Mandates Payment To IPEF Only Through Online Mode
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular stating that crediting funds to the SEBI Investor
Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) should be made only through online mode.
• This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under section 11(1) of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
Changes made:
The new guidelines replaced previously issued SEBI guidelines in 2020 which prescribed that the amounts
shall be credited to the IPEF through online mode or by Demand Draft (DD).
Payment methods:
The payment can be made through internet banking, National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), Real Time
Gross Settlement (RTGS), Unified Payments Interface(UPI) and Debit cards.
What is IEPF?
i.Under Section 205 C of the Companies Act, 1956, the government has instituted an Investor Education and
Protection Fund (IEPF).
• This fund serves as a repository for unclaimed funds related to dividends, matured deposits,
matured debentures, share application money, and similar items.
ii.The IPEF has been set up for the promotion of investors’ education, awareness and protection.
iii.Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority(IEPFA) is responsible for administrating IEPF.
About Groww Mutual Fund:
Groww Mutual Fund operates under the trusteeship of Groww Trustee Limited and is sponsored by Nextbillion
Technology Private Limited.
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Varun Gupta
SEBI Board Approves Various Proposals; Discusses Tech Trends In Securities Market
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) discussed various trends in the securities market, and on
SEBI approach to proactively plan for the same during its 202nd Board Meeting held on September 21, 2023 in
Mumbai, Maharashtra. SEBI also approved the following proposals:
1.Flexibility in the framework for Large Corporates (LCs) for meeting incremental financing needs
through issuance of debt securities
SEBI approved the proposal to provide flexibility in the framework for large corporations (LCs) to meet
financing needs from the debt market through measures to the existing LC framework
The measures are:
i.Raise the monetary threshold for defining LCs

• As per the current rules, LCs are those that need to have an outstanding long term borrowing of at
least Rs 100 crore, a credit rating of ‘AA and above’, and a target to finance themselves with long
term borrowings (above one year).
ii.Eliminate penalties for LCs unable to meet a set percentage of incremental borrowing from the debt market
iii.Introduce a system of incentives and balanced disincentives
iv.Keeping the three-year contiguous block requirement for compliance
v.Removing the need for large corporations to file identification and compliance statements
vi.Manadates LCs to meet one-fourth of their financing needs from the debt market.
2.SEBI extends timeline for compliance with enhanced qualification and experience requirements for
Investment Advisers
SEBI Board extended the compliance deadline for enhanced qualification and experience requirements for
investment advisers to September 2025 from September 2023 and applied these requirements to individuals,
principal officers, and associated persons with investment advisers.
3.Streamline the Framework for credit of unclaimed amounts of investors in listed entities other than
companies, REITS and InvITs to IPEF
i.SEBI Board has approved amendments to make it easier for investors in debt to access unclaimed amounts in
debt-listed entities (excluding companies), Real-Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure
Investment Trusts (InvITs).
• In this regard amendments will be made in Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF)
Regulations, Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations, InvIT
Regulations and REIT Regulations
ii.With this, Investors can directly approach the respective listed entities, REITs, and InvITs to claim their
unclaimed amounts, ensuring a smoother claim process.
iii.Regulatory guidelines will be put in place for the segregation and efficient utilization of unclaimed amounts
in the IPEF as per the board’s directives.

Indian Bank Collaborated With IBM To Enhance Scalability and Agility
Indian Bank Limited, a public sector bank(PSB), collaborates with IBM (International Business Machines
Corporation) to provide a secure and adaptable computing infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of
innovative front-end banking applications.
• The collaboration paves way to run Indian bank’s Core Banking Solution (CBS) workloads on the
IBM servers.
• The Collaboration is a part of Indian Bank’s initiative Project PARADISE (Performance
Augmentation by Resource Aggregation in Distributed Environment).
To cater digital infrastructure requirements:
i.IBM proposed a hybrid cloud approach for all Advanced Interactive eXecutive (AIX )workloads to increase the
speed and introduced a combination of Capex and Opex model for consumption of compute resources.
ii.IBM provides Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) to provide additional compute and storage, to build a
private cloud using the available resources, to create a single pool of processors across Data Centers (DC) and
Disaster Recovery (DR) and enable services equivalent to a pay-as-you-grow model.
To enhance security within their private cloud:
• Indian Bank opted to employ IBM PowerSC for all AIX endpoints. This decision was made to ensure
better support for compliance audits.
• The bank deployed IBM PowerVC to simplify virtualization management, streamline cloud
deployments, manage workload images, and optimize resources dynamically for IBM AIX Servers.
Important Features:
The new cloud environment provided by IBM incorporates various advanced features. This includes virtual

machine replication for consistency, a self-service portal that simplifies provisioning, and advanced capabilities
such as virtual image capture, deployment, and cataloging.
• Through the consolidation of their front-end branch servers, Indian Bank has improved
manageability and ensured continuous availability at their data centres in Chennai and Mumbai,
guaranteeing uninterrupted services for their valued customers.
About Indian Bank:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Shanti Lal Jain
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Tagline – Your own bank
About IBM:
IBM was founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and was later renamed as
International Business Machines in 1924.
CEO- Arvind Krishna
IREDA Signs MoU with UBI and BoB to Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects
On 5th September 2023, The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) signed
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Union Bank of India (UBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB).
• These agreements will enable IREDA to work with UBI and BoB in loan syndication and co-
lending for a variety of renewable energy projects involving both established and cutting-edge
renewable energy technology.
IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category- I) Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under the administrative control
of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Signatories:
i.The MoU with UBI was signed by Bharat Singh Rajput, General Manager(GM) (Technical Services) of IREDA
and Dhirendra Jain, GM (Large Corporate Vertical) of UBI.
ii.The MoU with BoB was signed by Bharat Singh Rajput, GM (Technical Services) of IREDA and Dhiren Lalai,
GM of BoB.
Key People:
Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of IREDA; A. Manimekhalai, Managing Director &
CEO of UBI; and Debadatta Chand, CEO of BoB were present at the event.
About the MoUs:
i.This was part of IREDA’s plans to support the government of India’s target of achieving 50 percent cumulative
electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
ii.This collaboration aims to extend IREDA’s reach, particularly in tier-2 & tier-3 cities and rural areas, to
provide unique and innovative financial support to existing and new customers.
About Union Bank of India (UBI):
Managing Director– A. Manimekhalai
Tagline– Good People to Bank With
About Bank of Baroda (BoB):
MD & CEO– Debadatta Chand
Headquarters– Vadodara, Gujarat
Tagline– India’s International Bank

KredX & Mastercard partners to make B2B Payment Rewarding for Enterprises & Vendors
KredX(Minions Ventures Private Limited), India’s largest supply chain finance platform, partnered
with Mastercard, Inc., the second largest payment processing company across the globe, to make Business-to-
Business (B2B) digital payments rewarding for both enterprises and vendors.
• Under this partnership, Mastercard will integrating its commercial card service with the KredX
platform, eliminating the complexities associated with B2B payments, especially those involving
cards.
What is B2B Payments?
B2B payments are the exchange of currency for goods or services supplied between two businesses. This is an
inter-commerce transaction that does not involve a consumer.
A B2B form of transaction is conducted between 2 businesses, such as one involving a manufacturer and
wholesaler, or a wholesaler and a retailer.
i.The platform with features like dynamic discounting, early payment options, and price discovery mechanisms
will enable enterprises and vendors to enhance their cash flows..
ii.Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the platform serves as an end-to-end procure-to-pay solution for
businesses, helping them with faster and more efficient matching and processing of invoices.
• Notably, the Smart Bid algorithm will help enterprises discover the best discount rates from
vendors.
iii.By integrating pre-discounting journeys with post-discounting payments, this platform will enhance KredX’s
operational efficiency and strengthen its supply chain management capabilities.
• Accelerating supply chain velocity through financial innovation has been central to KredX’s value
proposition
iv.This platform aims to address some common challenges associated with B2B payments, such as long
accounting and reconciliation processes, limited vendor acceptance, and frequent chargebacks.
v.This will be instrumental in promoting digital payment acceptance by allowing small vendors to receive
payments even in the absence of in-house payment gateways and Point of Sale (PoS) machines.
About KredX (Minions Ventures Private Limited):
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Manish Kumar
Founded in– 2015
Cleartrip Partners with Axis Bank to Offer Travel Benefits to Credit Card Holders
Cleartrip, a subsidiary of Flipkart India Private Limited, has partnered with Axis Bank, one of the largest
private sector banks in India, to introduce an innovative proposition to provide travel benefits to both existing
and new cardholders, who book through Cleartrip. This collaboration is set to benefit close to 12.5 million
customers.
• This will offer a wide range of privileges for domestic flight bookings, such as discounts in bookings
of seats worth Rs. 1,200, free meals, exemption from convenience fees, and options to cancel and
reschedule flights for a nominal fee of Re.1 under CT FlexMax.
• Axis Bank credit card holders can access specially curated travel offers without having to wait to
collect/redeem points in order to enjoy the benefits. The partnership represents a significant
departure from the conventional standards of booking discounts for domestic flights.
• Currently, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) concentrate on offering instant cash discounts through
partnerships with banks. However, they offset these discounts by imposing convenience fees and
additional charges for seats and meals.
While Axis Bank is billing the partnership as “one of a kind,” Cleartrip isn’t the first OTA to link up with a bank
or financial institution. Cleartrip is invested in disrupting the OTA space through a transparent and customer-
centric approach.

AU Small Finance Bank Partners with Star Health and Bajaj Allianz to Offer Insurance Products
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has recently entered into bancassurance agreements with Star Health and
Allied Insurance Company (Star Health), and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company (Bajaj Allianz). This
strategic move allows AU Bank to offer a range of insurance products to its customers through these
partnerships.
• Customers of AU Bank can now access insurance products such as health insurance and general
insurance policies through the bank’s branches and digital channels.
Bancassurance Partnership with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance:
i.Under this partnership, AU SFB will distribute a range of insurance products from Bajaj Allianz Life
Insurance.These products include term insurance, savings plans, and retirement products.
ii.The collaboration is expected to be a long-term partnership, indicating a sustained relationship between AU
SFB and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.
iii.The partnership is to enhance the delivering top-tier services and adopting a digital-first approach, which
suggests a focus on providing efficient and technology-driven insurance solutions to customers.
Bancassurance Partnership with Star Health:
i.In the case of the partnership with Star Health, AU SFB will distribute health insurance plans from Star Health.
ii.Health insurance plans typically cover medical expenses and provide financial protection in case of illness or
accidents.
What is Bancassurance
Bancassurance is a financial services arrangement in which a bank partners with an insurance company to offer
insurance products and services to its customers.
• The bank acts as an intermediary or distribution channel for insurance products, allowing
customers to purchase insurance policies, such as life insurance, health insurance, or property
insurance, through the bank.
About AU Small Finance Bank Limited(Ltd):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sanjay Agarwal
Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan
Cashfree Payments Partners With NPCI To Launch Customer On-Boarding Feature

Cashfree Payments India Private Limited in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
launched “AutoPay on QR(Quick Response)”, a feature enabling customer onboarding through a 2-step
process.
• The 2 step process involves scanning the QR code and approving an e-mandate through Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) apps.
Working:
i.Subscription-based businesses should circulate their subscription QR codes through various marketing
channels like online ads, newspapers, websites, TV, and product packaging.
ii.This will eliminate the necessity to download an app or register on the website which is time consuming and
poor onboarding experience.
Additional Info:
i.Cashfree Payments works with banks to build the core payments and banking infrastructure that powers the
company’s products.
ii.It is also integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Wix, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Google Pay.
About Cashfree Payments India Private Limited:
Cashfree Payments is a payments and banking technology company that enables businesses in India to collect
payments online and make payouts.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- Akash Sinha

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
NPCI was launched in 2008 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under
the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- Dilip Asbe
IIT Kanpur Partners with ICICI Bank to Foster Startup Ecosystem

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh(UP) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the ICICI Bank Limited to support the startup ecosystem and provide resources for
the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur.
i.Under this MoU, IIT Kanpur and ICICI Bank will facilitate joint efforts to equip startups and innovators at the
SIIC with essential tools and knowledge.
ii.The MoU will focus on improving the understanding of foreign trade policies among incubates and
conducting workshops and seminars to help them engage in international markets.
iii.As a part of the partnership, IIT Kanpur and ICICI bank will jointly host events for startups, to cultivate a
broader environment of innovation and entrepreneurship that extends beyond financial services.
Role of ICICI bank:
i.ICICI Bank helps innovators, incubatees, and students at IIT Kanpur with pre- and post-transaction
compliance while engaging with Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) support.
• This includes verifying and submitting regulatory documents through digital means.
ii.This simplifies the process and enhances accessibility to financial resources for emerging entrepreneurs.
ICICI Bank Got RBI Approval to make I-Process as its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved ICICI Bank Limited to convert I-Process Services (India) Private
Limited (I-Process) into a wholly-owned subsidiary, subject to specific conditions.
• ICICI Bank’s Board members already approved the proposal in February 2023.
• The estimate cost of conversion is Rs 15.40 crores (subjected to finalisation)
• ICICI Bank currently holds 19% stake in I-Process.
About I-Process Services (India) Private Limited (I-Process):
I-Process Services (India) Private Ltd. is a leading company in financial service recruitment.It provides staffing
solutions services for some of India’s top financial institutions.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Prashant Mohta
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
About ICICI Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sandeep Bakhshi
Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka
SIDBI partners with Tata Power to Finance Solar Rooftop Initiatives for MSMEs
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Tata Power Solar Systems Limited (TPSSL),
and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to offer an easy financing option for Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• TPSSL is the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) while
TPREL is a subsidiary of Tata Power.
Signatories:
Dr. Praveer Sinha, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director (MD), Tata Power;

and Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), SIDBI signed in the presence of
Minister of State (MoS) of Finance, Dr. Bhagwat Karad, at the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
Key Points:
i.TPSSL and SIDBI will encourage solar energy adoption among MSMEs by offering customized financing
solutions through SIDBI’s 4E (End to End Energy Efficiency) Scheme.
• The initiative aims to reduce CO2 footprints and contribute to India’s clean energy goals.
ii.MSMEs that are willing to opt for Rooftop Solar PV Plant or associated services from Tata Power or its
authorised Channel Partners across India will be financially supported by SIDBI .
• Notably, SIDBI has set up a mission solar to provide financing to 2,000 MSMEs for solar rooftops.
iii.During the forum, TPSSL and SIDBI launched ‘The Big Solar Fest’ offering zero processing fees during the
festival season to promote solar adoption among MSMEs, enhancing sustainability.
Background:
The MoU signed was the outcome of success and positive feedback received from the collateral-free solar
financing initiative introduced by TPSSL and SIDBI in 2021.
Yes Bank Partners with Juspay to Launch HyperUPI, NPCI’s UPI-based Plug-in Service
Yes Bank Limited(YES Bank) partnered with Juspay Technologies Private Limited (Juspay), India’s leading
payments company, to launch HyperUPI, a plug-in Software Development Toolkit (SDK) developed by the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that empowers in-app Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
payments for merchant apps.
• With this, the merchants can now offer customers a hassle-free one-click UPI experience. This will
also allow customers to undertake UPI-based transactions within the merchant app.
• This plug-in SDK is built on one of the most reliable UPI-on-cloud stacks in India, which also
supports UPI payments for several consumer and merchant apps.
Simplified Payment Experience:
i.The UPI plug-in SDK simplifies and streamlines the payment experience and leads to a remarkable four-fold
improvement in transaction speed and a success rate of over 90%.
ii.HyperUPI aims to empower businesses to seamlessly integrate UPI into their apps, providing customers with
an unparalleled payment experience
Features:
i.HyperUPI differs from the standard UPI as it integrates directly into merchant apps, allowing for a more
streamlined payment process with features like Mandates (recurring payments) and Third-party Validation
(TPV), etc.
ii.It also provides merchants with a no-code platform, enabling them to design a user interface that integrates
seamlessly with their app’s theme and branding.
iii.This service can be easily incorporated into the merchant’s apps across various technical frameworks such
as React-Native, Flutter, and Cordova, etc.
Key Points:
i.In addition, Yes Bank has utilised this plug-in SDK infrastructure to develop the Payment Service Provider
(PSP) app ‘YES PAY NEXT‘, which offers comprehensive UPI services, including person-to-person payments
and pull payments, seamlessly.
ii.With HyperUPI Plug-in SDK, customers can complete their UPI payment in less than 5 seconds.
iii.Juspay became the first fintech startup to build the UPI PSP on the cloud, which has recorded an uptime of
99.99+% and the highest Transaction per Second (TPS) Rate of Rs. 5000.
Gullak Partners with Juspay; Becomes 1st in India to Implement UPI Plugin SDK
• Gullak, a leading fintech app, has become the first merchant to deploy Juspay’s UPI plugin SDK,
HyperUPI.

• NPCI is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, to create a robust Payment
& Settlement Infrastructure in India.
Yes Bank & BriskPe Partnered to Enable Cross-border Payments for MSMEs by BriskPe A2A Solution
GoBrisk Technologies Pvt Ltd. (BriskPe), a Mumbai (Maharashtra) based payments fintech company, and Yes
Bank partnered to introduce BriskPe Account-to-Account (A2A), a cutting-edge suite of solutions designed to
empower exporters and importers.
• This collaboration represents a significant milestone in the world of cross-border payments,
benefiting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the manufacturing and
services sectors.
Note: BriskPe extends its reach beyond borders, by the establishment of its subsidiary, BriskPe Technologies
Inc., situated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Cross Border A2A:
i.This strategic partnership enables BriskPe’s customers to collect payments in over 36 foreign currencies,
spanning more than 180 countries.
ii.The funds can then be converted into Indian Rupees (INR) and settled directly into their local bank accounts
in India within a single business day.
About the Partnership:
i.Based on Yes Bank’s Online Payment Gateway Service Providers (OPGSP) Export Application program
interfaces (APIs), the product is set to reshape the international trade landscape with features like real-time
transaction processing and instant Electronic Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (eFIRA) generation.
ii.Under this partnership, Yes Bank aims to contribute and strongly align with the government of India’s vision
of boosting the MSME sector and transforming India into a Global export powerhouse.
iii.The mission of BriskPe aims to empower Indian MSMEs, enabling them to not only compete but also develop
on the global stage.
iv.The partnership will bring together BriskPe’s expertise and YES BANK’s advanced digital banking
capabilities.
v.This partnership signifies a new era in cross-border payments, providing a seamless and efficient platform for
Indian exporters to navigate the complexities of international trade and bolster their global competitiveness.
• Their focus is on providing cost-effective, top-tier payment solutions tailored to the needs of Indian
businesses involved in international trade.
In May 2023, Cashfree Payments partnered with Yes Bank to offer ‘Global Collections’, an international
collection service for Indian exporters with a Yes Bank account, to simplify the way Indian exporters receive
payments from across the world.
About Yes Bank Limited:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– Prashant Kumar
IndusInd Bank launched ‘Virtual Commercial Credit Card’ in Collaboration with Visa
and Juspay
IndusInd Bank in partnership with Visa and Juspay launched a “virtual commercial card” with additional
layers of security to give the cardholders a complete control over cross-border transactions for corporates and
travel agents. The card is built on the Visa Payables Automation platform.
• The card benefits the customers who make multiple bookings in different foreign-denominated
currencies.
• The card offers a high degree of control, reduced complexity and complete transparency.

Features of the card:
i.The cardholders can generate virtual cards and customise its credentials such as Card Number, Card
Verification Value (CVV) code and expiry dates.
• The card can also be customised with transaction-specific limits.
• This feature makes the parent card out of the process, so that it will be safe.
ii.The card complies with tokenisation-cum-Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) regulation &
follows Maker and Checker workflow.
iii.The card allows for multiple user access.
iv.This card recognises the evolving needs of customers by redefining domestic and cross-border
transactions of the customers.
Additional Info:
Tokenisation-cum-AFA regulation: Tokenization is a backend process of replacing Credit/ Debit/ Prepaid
Card details with a unique set of characters or a ‘token’.
• AFA is a security measure that requires customers to provide more than one piece of evidence to
verify their identity. Examples: One-time passwords (OTPs), Security questions and Biometric
authentication.
About IndusInd Bank Limited(Ltd):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sumant Kathpalia
Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer
About Visa:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ryan McInerney
Headquarters- California, United States of America(USA)
About Juspay:
Founder – Vimal Kumar
Headquarters – Bangalore, Karnataka
IREDA Signs MoU With BoM to Finance Renewable Energy Projects

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a significant Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan
syndication for renewable energy projects nationwide.
• Under this agreement, Bank of Maharashtra can invest in the Bonds issued by IREDA (in
accordance with the specified terms and conditions of the offering).
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing
Director(CMD) of IREDA.
• IREDA, a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India enterprise under the administrative
control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
About MoU:
i.The MoU aims to provide a financial ecosystem for Green Energy projects along with several services
including
• Co-lending and co-origination support for all renewable energy projects.
• Facilitation of loan syndication and underwriting.
• Management of Trust & Retention Account for IREDA borrowers.
• Commitment by BoM to lend IREDA with fixed interest rates spanning a period of 3-4 years.

ii.This collaboration will help to boost India’s green energy sector and support the country’s climate
change goals.
• It paves a path to achieve India’s goal of Net Zero emissions by the year 2070.
India’s renewable energy Commitment:
i.India’s goal is to fulfill 50% of its energy demands using renewable sources by 2030.
ii.Achieving 500 GW(Giga-watt) of non-fossil electricity capacity and to reduce emissions by 1 billion tons
by 2030
iii.India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 45%.
Additional Info:
IREDA also signed many MoUs with Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions to satisfy the funding
requirement of the Renewable Energy projects like Green Hydrogen and Offshore Wind.
About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) – Pradip Kumar Das
About Bank of Maharashtra(BoM):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – A S Rajeev
Headquarters- Pune,Maharashtra
Tagline – Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)
SJVN & PFC Signed MoU for RE & Thermal Projects Worth Rs 1.18 Lakh Crores
SJVN Ltd (formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), India’s leading Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC),
to finance renewable and thermal energy Projects worth Rs. 1,18,826 crore.
• The project includes renewable energy(RE) ventures (Solar, Hydro and Pumped Storage) with a
total capacity of around 12178 Megawatt(MW) along with 660 MW Thermal generation project.
• PFC will fund around 67-76% of the project tentatively. The proposed fun in the form of term loan
will range from Rs 80000 crore to Rs 90000 crore. The funds may be further increased to
accommodate the specific requirements of the RE projects as per project requirements.
• The MoU was signed by Manoj Sharma, Director (Commercial), PFC, and Akhileshwar Singh, Director
(Finance), SJVN.
i.SJVN Ltd is a Mini Ratna Schedule A Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power. It is
involved in hydroelectric power generation and transmissionin.
• SJVN, established in 1988 is a joint venture (JV) between the Government of India (GOI) and
Government of Himachal Pradesh.
ii.PFC Ltd is a Maharatna CPSE incorporated on July 16th, 1986, under the Ministry of Power.
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
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
SIDBI signs pact with DLAI to Boost Fintech Sector

On September 23, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to
boost India’s fintech sector by utilizing each other’s expertise.
• The MoU was signed during UnConvlave2023 event organized by DLAI in Goa.
Signatories:
Jatinder Handoo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DLAI; and Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and
Managing Director (CMD), SIDBI
What is in the MoU?
i.The MoU focuses on creating standard protocols for digital lending partnerships, including Bank- Lending
Service Providers (LSPs) alliances and co-lending arrangements.
ii.SIDBI will offer resource support to eligible DLAI member NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Company) and
explore Assignment and Securitisation transactions.
iii.The agreement will explore partnerships for various direct credit schemes, such as “Prayaas,” GST Sahay,
Express loan, and green financing.
iv.There will also be development of policies to protect consumer interest.
Key Points:
i.During the event, DLAI’s latest version of the industry Code of Conduct (CoC) was also launched by
Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI.
ii.This CoC aligns with Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Digital Lending Guidelines, emphasizing responsible
lending, transparency, fair debt collection, data privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.
iii.Established in 2016, DLAI is a premier national-level association of digital lending institutions in India.
REC & PNB sign MoU to Co-Finance Infrastructure Project Debts worth Rs 55,000cr
On September 26, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the REC
Limited (Formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) for
collaboration to hunt potential funding opportunities in the Power Sector and Infrastructure & Logistics Sector
through a consortium arrangement.
• Both entities jointly provide financing worth Rs. 55,000 crores over the next 3 years.

Note: REC Limited is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), focusing on power sector financing and
development across India.
Signatories:
It was signed by T.S.C Bosh, Executive Director (Infra & Logistics), REC Limited; and Rajeeva, CGM (Corporate
Credit Division), PNB in Gurugram, Haryana.
Key Points:
i.REC provides long term loans and other finance products for Power-Infrastructure sector comprising of
Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery
Storage, Green Hydrogen etc.
ii.PNB, one of the largest Public Sector Banks (PSB) in India funds infrastructure projects too along with
banking.
Additional info:
i.REC Limited is venturing to expand its loan portfolio for green projects to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2030.
ii.REC have sanctioned more than Rs 85,700 crore towards various projects spanning from metro, ports,
airports, oil refineries, highways, steel infra to healthcare, educational institutions and also in sectors of IT
infra/ fiber optics, etc
About REC Limited:
It is a Maharatna CPSE (Central Public Sector Enterprise) established in 1969, under Ministry of Power.
Chairman and Managing Director– Vivek Kumar Dewangan
About Punjab National Bank (PNB):
MD & CEO– Atul Kumar Goel
Headquarters– New delhi, Delhi
Tagline– the name you can BANK upon !
Kotak Mahindra AMC Partners With CBSE to launch Investor Education and Awareness
Initiative
Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited(KMAMCL) in collaboration with the Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched an Investor Education and Awareness Initiative
called “Seekho Paiso ki Bhasha”.
The initiative aims to promote financial literacy among CBSE teachers in affiliated schools nationwide
by conducting a series of educational and awareness programs.
Working:
i.As part of the initiative, 75,000 educators(50% of them being women educators) will be inculcated with the
financial knowledge.
To raise awareness among teachers, 1,000 financial literacy programs will be conducted in September
and October 2023 in 100 different locations across India.
To promote equitable growth and development, female educators are given equal consideration.
ii.The program will be taken care by 500 skilled trainers from the Centre for Investment Education and
Learning (CIEL) which is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
iii.Upon completion of the program, Kotak Mutual Fund aims to reach over 75,000 CBSE teachers.
About Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited:
Group President & Managing Director – Nilesh Shah
About Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE):
Chairperson – Nidhi Chhibber

Established in –1929 (started as the Board of High School and Intermediate Education. In 1952, it reached the
national level and was reconstituted as CBSE in 1962)
OTHER BANK NEWS

ADB’s Survey: Global Trade Finance Gap Expands to USD 2.5 Trillion in 2022
According to Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s 2023 Trade Finance Gaps, Growth and Jobs Survey (8th
edition), the global trade finance gap rose to USD 2.5 trillion in 2022 (10% of global merchandise trade)
from USD 1.7 trillion in 2020 and USD 1.5 trillion in 2018.
• This indicates that the global economy is still struggling to rebound from the effects of COVID -19
pandemic.
• The trade finance gap is the difference between requests and approvals for financing to support
imports and exports.
What caused the Financial Gap?
i.After COVID-19 pandemic global goods exports grew at 26.6% in 2021 and 11.5% in 2022. Because of this,
there was a greater need for financial support for trade. However, it became harder to get this financial help
from ADB due to increased economic uncertainties.
ii.The problems like rising interest rates, flagging economic prospects, inflation, and geopolitical volatility
reduced the ADB’s lending capacity.
• Russian-Ukraine conflicts also impacted their trade finance portfolios due to growing geopolitical
uncertainty and increased commodity prices.
iii.Following a zero-growth rate during the last quarter of 2022, as of April 2023, global trade exports in value
slowed year-to-date, showing a decline of around 3%.
Solution:
i.Digitalization of global trade can reduce the gap, facilitate transparency, and underpin a greater ability to
monitor environmental and social standards.
• But there are no proper guidelines to electronic documents and legislation regarding the electronic
trade documents.
ii.Enhance trade financing capacity with SME-specific credit procedures, deep-tier supply chain finance, and
attracting new capital sources.
iii.Integrate trade financing into crisis response initiatives.
iv.Promote global digital trade advancement by prioritizing standard harmonization, commercial adoption,
legislation, and policy development.
v.Standardize sustainability criteria and improve data collection and reporting methods.
ESG
The 2023 trade gaps survey focuses on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues for the first
time (along with digitalization), to evaluate the impact on relevant supply chains and the trade finance gap.
• ESG alignment could reduce the trade financing gap.
TSCFP
Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) provides loans and guarantees to more than 200 partner
banks to support trade, boosting imports and exports that foster growth when the private sector finds it
challenging to operate.
• TSCFP is working to make global trade and supply chains green, resilient, inclusive, and socially
responsible.
• It is backed by ADB’s AAA credit rating.
Additional Info:
The survey is based on responses from 137 banks across 54 countries and 185 firms from 43 countries. The
survey responses reflect over 60% of the global market for bank-intermediated trade financing.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Members – 68 member countries (49 from the region)
Indian Bank Launched VISA Co-branded Metal Credit Card With OneCard
Indian Bank in partnership with OneCard introduced state-of-the-art, mobile-first, contactless, VISA
Signature metal co-branded credit cards to offer easy access to potential users in the wake of social
distancing.
• This initiative brings features like tracking transactions in real-time, managing expenses,
converting purchases into EMIs, redeeming rewards, making repayments, planning monthly
budgets, adjusting credit limits, and facilitating seamless payments, all within a mobile
application.
• State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) Bank, South Indian Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank(CSB), Federal
Bank, Bank of Baroda Financial are some other OneCard Co-branded Card Issuers.
OneCard:
i.OneCard is a co-branded credit card issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Banks and Financial
Institutions in partnership with OneCard.
• OneCard is launched and managed by FPL Technologies on a full-stack proprietary technology
platform.
ii.Currently available in Mumbai(Maharashtra), Delhi NCR(Nelhi), Bengaluru(Karnataka),
Pune(Maharashtra), Hyderabad(Telangana), Chennai(Tamilnadu), Ahmedabad(Gujarat), Surat(Gujarat),
Vadodara(Gujarat), Indore(Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur(Rajasthan) and Kolkata(West Bengal).
iii.The card is built with full-stack technology and backed by the principles of simplicity, transparency, and
giving back control to the user.
iv.OneRewards is the Rewards Program of OneCard
Card Offerings:
i.The card offers numerous benefits like lifetime validity, Zero Joining Fees and Annual Fees along with
Zero Rewards Redemption Fees.
• The co-branded also offers seamless digital on-boarding and flexible Equated Monthly
Instalments(EMI) options.
ii.The Cardholder can control all aspects of the credit card through OneCard mobile application.
About Indian Bank:
About Onecard:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anurag Sinha
SBI Announces Introduction of UPI Interoperability on CBDC

India’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) interoperability for its Digital Rupee(eRupee), also called as Central Bank Digital Currency
(CBDC), enhancing accessibility and convenience for customers. Through the ‘eRupee by SBI’ application,
CBDC users can now seamlessly scan merchant UPI Quick Response (QR) codes, facilitating swift and secure
transactions.

Note – IDFC First Bank also announced the integration of UPI QR codes with its CBDC.
Benefits:
i. It aligns with the growth and popularity of the UPI payment system, which allows customers to make instant
payments using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA).
ii.SBI has been actively participating in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) retail digital e-rupee project since
December 2022, making this integration a significant advancement.
iii. Transitioning to a Cashless Economy: This development aligns with India’s ongoing shift towards a
cashless economy, bridging the gap between CBDC and the widely utilized UPI platform.
iv. Promising Future for CBDC Integration: SBI’s move to introduce UPI interoperability holds promise for
the future of CBDC integration, with potential game-changing implications for digital payments in India.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
CBDCs are a digital form of a paper currency. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which exist in a largely unregulated
environment, CBDCs are official legal tender issued and supported by a central bank. It is the same as a fiat
currency and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency. Digital Rupee is using blockchain distributed-
ledger technology.
• The Digital Rupee (e₹) or E-Rupee is a tokenised digital version of the Indian Rupee, issued by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Proposed in: January 2017
Launched on:
• Digital Rupee -Wholesale (e₹-W) : November 01, 2022
• Digital Rupee-Retail (e₹-R): December 01, 2022
Note – In 2020,the Bahamas, an island nation introduced the world’s First central bank digital currency (CBDC)
known as the Sand Dollar.
SBI Card unveils additional features on its super-premium card ‘AURUM’
SBI Card, India’s leading credit card issuer, has unveiled the latest features of its super-premium card ‘AURUM’
for C-suite executives and high-net-worth individuals. AURUM is an exclusive, by-invitation-only credit
card adorned with handpicked features designed to provide cardholders with unique privileges.
Note– Aurum” in the context of “SBI Card Aurum” is a Latin word that means “gold.
Additional Features:
i.Annual Spends-Based Milestone: Cardholders can earn rewards based on their annual spending, allowing
them to accumulate benefits up to INR 2 lakh per year.
ii.Unlimited International Lounge Access has now been extended to allow 4 international lounge visits for
accompanying guests.
iii. Club Marriott Membership: Cardholders receive a complimentary 1-year Club Marriott membership.
Membership Fees: The joining and annual membership fee for AURUM is INR 9,999, available by invitation
only. However, this fee is waived if cardholders achieve a spending milestone of INR 12 lakh during their card
membership year.
About SBI Card
MD & CEO: Abhijit Chakravorty
Established: 1998
Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana.
Parent organization: State Bank of India
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Establishment – 1955
Tagline–The banker to Every Indian

PNB Launches CBDC-UPI Interoperability Through PNB Digital Rupee App
Punjab National Bank(PNB) launched Central Bank Digital Currency(CBDC) and Unified Payments Interface
(UPI) interoperability in its PNB Digital Rupee App.
• PNB Digital Rupee app users can use their CBDC Wallets to make purchases on the UPI QR of these
merchants even if they don’t have a CBDC Wallet.
• Interoperability is the technical compatibility that allows a payment system to work with other
payment systems.
i.The CBDC Wallet has digital rupees(e Rupee) issued by the RBI and is a tokenised digital version of the rupee.
The digital rupee functions exactly like a sovereign currency and is interchangeable 1:1 with paper money.
ii.UPI is a mobile-based payment system that was launched by the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI) in 2016.
Note:
Banks including State Bank of India(SBI), Bank of Baroda, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC
Bank, and IDFC First Bank have introduced UPI interoperability on their digital rupee application.
SBI Card Launches ‘SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card’ for MSMEs

SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBI Card), India’s largest pure-play credit card company, launched
‘SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card’, a Credit Card for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The card
has been designed to offer interest-free short-term credit options for MSME merchants and other exclusive
benefits.
• SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card was unveiled by Mr. Dinesh Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India
(SBI) at Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• This card will address the need for easy and timely access to formal credit by providing interest-free
short-term credit to MSMEs.
• This card is available on the RuPay network and can also be linked to the Unified Payments Interface
(UPI) for payments through various UPI-enabled third-party apps.
Note: SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited, subsidiary of State Bank of India (SBI), was formerly known as
SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited (SBICPSL).
HSBC India Launched “ONDC in a box”; Becomes 1st Foreign Bank in India to launch ONDC
proposition
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) India has launched ‘Open Network for Digital
Commerce(ONDC) in a Box’, a one-stop-shop proposition for corporates to partcipate in ONDC platform,
during the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2023 held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• With this launch, HSBC India becomes the first foreign bank in India to offer an ONDC-enabled
proposition.
• ONDC in a box was developed in partnership with Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (Protean) and
Shayr Omnichannel Private Limited (Adya).
About ONDC in a box:
As a part of this, the banking services are offered by HSBC India and the ONDC Modules are offered by Protean
and Adya.
• The end-to-end banking requirements for ONDC across Payments and Settlement are serviced and
managed by HSBC India.
• The ONDC modules and the front-end applications like the buyer app, seller app, reconciliation
service provider, and issue and grievance management are handled by Protean and Adya.
Eligibility: Offer is valid for HSBC India customers (who have chosen HSBC Bank as the settlement bank on
ONDC) till 30th August 2025.
Benefits: This will offer a secure Application Programming Interface(API) for collections and settlement and a

wide suite of services offered for ONDC enablement.
Key Points:
i.Protean is contributing to and supporting open digital building blocks, including ONDC, accelerating
commerce for network participants through its products.
• Protean is an approved Network Service Provider by ONDC. It offers ONDC Gateway Services;
Technology Service Provider (TSP) services (various Buyer app and Seller App solutions);
Reconciliation & Settlement Service Provider (RSP) and Issue & Grievance management solutions.
ii.Adya offers customisable ONDC Buyer and Seller applications (apps), along with supporting apps like
Grievance Management, Settlements, and Logistics App.
About ONDC:
ONDC is an initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• The initiative aims to build an open, interoperable network on which buyers and sellers can transact
without needing to be present on the same platform.
About Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) India:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Hitendra Dave
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharasthra
About Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (Protean):
Managing Director(MD) & CEO – Suresh Sethi
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharasthra
Established in 1995
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.
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:

Union Bank of India, 1st PSB to launch Rupay Debit Cards for Women and HNIs
Union Bank of India (UBI) has introduced two new Debit Card variants, the HNI Emperio RuPay Metal Debit
Card and the RuPay Empower Her Debit Card, in association with the National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI).
• With this, UBI becomes the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to offer Metal Debit Card cards, serving
High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNI) and women customers.
• These cards are issued on the RuPay network.
• The cards were unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest(GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra by UBI’s MD
& CEO (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer), A. Manimekhalai, and NPCI’s COO (Chief
Operating Officer), Praveena Rai.
About HNI Emperio RuPay Metal Debit Card:
It will serve ultra-HNIs with benefits in the form of insurance cover, subscription to over the top (OTT)
channels, international lounge access and merchant-specific discounts. It is equipped with Near Field
Communications (NFC) and can be enabled for tap and pay in transit.
Note: Those with net worth of Rs 100 crore and more are classified as Ultra-HNIs (UHNIs) and those with
investable surplus of Rs 5 crore and above can be classified as HNIs.
About RuPay Empower Her Debit Card:
It is a Rupay platinum card, and offers a comprehensive range of benefits, including free cancer care coverage
for breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers, along with complimentary health check-ups. It also provides free
personal accident and air accident cover, access to OTT subscriptions, international lounge access, and
merchant-specific offers and discounts.
About Union Bank of India(UBI):
Managing Director & CEO– A. Manimekhalai
Tagline– Good People to Bank with
Established in 1919
Nationalised in 1969
AU Small Finance Bank Launches Zenith+ Metal Credit Card

AU Small Finance Bank Ltd., a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-approved Small Finance Bank (SFB), introduced
the Zenith+ Metal Credit Card, expanding its range of banking solutions.
• This super premium credit card includes features from global travel to unlimited entertainment
options like premium lounge access, personalised concierge services, and a welcome benefit with
Luxury Brand vouchers or Reward Points worth Rs 5000 upon card activation.
• The annual membership fee for this card is Rs 4,999 plus Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• The card’s benefits include the lowest Foreign Exchange (Forex) markup of 0.99% for global travel.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Introduces Maxima Savings Account, Business Maxima Current
Account
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited (Ujjivan SFB) has launched the Maxima Savings Account and Business
Maxima Current Account which is designed exclusively for medium and large business entities.
• Both the accounts offer a RuPay Select Debit Card that provides access to wellness services,
exclusive merchant offers, airport lounge access, and a premium health checkup.
Key features of the Maxima Savings Account:
i.Annual interest rate on the Maxima Savings Account up to 7.5%.
ii.Customers can open the account with Rs 1 lakh.
iii.Flexibility to maintain Rs 15 lakh or more in Fixed Deposits(FD) to meet the balance eligibility
criteria(this option is not available with other standard savings accounts).

iv.Complementary Health Prime Benefit is offered for eligible customers.
v.Other benefits: Higher transaction limits, Free cheque and Demand Draft (DD) issuances, Free
transactions across all channels and unlimited cash deposits and withdrawals at any Ujjivan SFB branch.
Key features of the Business Maxima Current Account:
i.Business Maxima Current Account provides businesses and entrepreneurs with a comprehensive suite of
services designed to meet their unique needs.
ii.The account offers facilities like online banking, instant fund transfers, and cash management options.
iii.It provides provision for customising cash deposit limits for businesses.
iv.ATM withdrawal limit per day is capped at Rs 5 lakhs per day.
v.Business account holders will have access to specialised relationship managers for personalised banking
support
vi.Other benefits: Account services for merchants, Free installation and rental fees for POS (Point of Sale)
services.
About Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited:
Managing Director – Ittira Davis
SBI Introduces Digital Opening of NRE/NRO Account Setup through YONO

The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to
effortlessly open Non-Residential External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts (both
savings and current accounts) through SBI’s mobile app YONO.
• This service is designed for New to Bank (NTB) customers as a one-stop solution for NRI
banking needs to provide them with simplified, efficient, and accurate account opening process.
Note:
An NRE account is opened in India in the name of an NRI for his/her foreign earnings, while an NRO
account is for managing income earned in India, such as rent, dividend, pension, and interest.
Key Points:
i.This service can be availed by the NRIs from their homes, eliminating the need for an in-person visit to
India.
ii.Customers can track the status of their applications in real-time.
iii.SBI is the largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers, and employees.
• As of June 2023, the bank has a deposit base of over Rs. 45.31 lakh crore with a CASA (Current
Account and Savings Account) ratio of 42.88% and advances of more than Rs. 33 lakh crores.
Process:
i.Download YONO SBI app
ii.Choose NRE/NRO account opening
iii.Submit KYC:
• Option 1 – at an SBI branch in India
• Option 2 – Attest the KYC documents by a Notary, Indian Embassy, High Commission, SBI
Foreign Office, Representative Office, Court Magistrate, or Judge and mail to a designated
branch.

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
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).
• 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
Poonawalla Fincorp Gets RBI’s Approval to Issue Co-Branded Credit Card with IndusInd Bank
Poonawalla Fincorp Limited has received Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s approval to issue co-branded credit
card with IndusInd Bank Limited.
• Poonawalla Fincorp Limited(formerly known as Magma Fincorp) is an Non-Banking Finance
Company (NBFC) belonging to Cyrus Poonawalla group.
Key Points:
i.The co-branded credit card is designed offer benefits to the customers with a favourable credit history.
• The credid card is set to be launched within 3 months.
ii.This partnership paves ways for Poonawalla Fincorp to enter credit card segment.
iii.The entire process of credit card will be 100% digital.
What is Co-branded Credit Card?
Co-branded credit cards are the product of a mutual partnership between a particular merchant and a credit
card issuer. This will provide merchant-specific benefits to brand-loyal consumers.
About Poonawalla Fincorp Limited:
Poonawalla Fincorp was established in 1989 as Magma Fincorp Ltd. It was renamed as Poonawalla Fincorp
Limited in July 2021 following the acquisition of controlling stake by Sun Holdings Private Limited.
Chairman – Adar Poonawalla
Headquarters – Pune. Maharashtra
About IndusInd Bank Limited:
KBL-Swarna Bandhu: Karnataka Bank launches Door Step Gold Loan Facility in collaboration
with SahiBandhu
Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL) introduced an innovative Door-Step Gold Loan service called “KBL-
Swarna Bandhu” for its customers in collaboration with SahiBandhu.
It enables complete digitalization of gold loan processes, allowing the bank to offer gold loan services
directly to customers at their doorstep. It also expands its Gold Loan Portfolio.
SahiBandhu, a leading aggregator platform for gold loans supported by The Manipal Group.
Key Points:
i.As a part of this collaboration, SahiBandhu will serve as a Corporate Business Correspondent and Lending
Service Provider, adhering to the established digital lending guidelines.
ii.This collaboration will strengthen the bank’s gold loan portfolio and highlight the digital expertise of both
Karnataka Bank and SahiBandhu.
iii.Initially, the service will be available in select bank branches and will gradually be extended to all branches.
About Karnataka Bank Limited(KBL):
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma
Headquarters– Mangaluru, Karnataka
Tagline– Your Family Bank Across India

About SahiBandhu:
Co-Founder and CEO– Rajesh Shet
FINANCE NEWS
EPFO granted permission to invest in equities and related investments
The government has allowed the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to invest proceeds
from the sale or redemption of investments in equities and related assets.A new clause was added on
August 24, 2023, to amend below previous two notifications.
Background Notifications
i.April 23, 2015 Notification: Discusses investment of incremental accretions by EPFO.
ii.May 29, 2015 Notification: Defines instruments and limits for EPFO investments.
Insertions in Notification (dated September 1, 2023)
i.Added “sale or redemption of investment in equities and related investments” to the list of allowed
actions.
ii.EPFO can invest a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 15% in equities and related instruments.
What is EPFO operation?
• EPFO is an organization under Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India that
manages provident funds, which are retirement savings accounts for employees in India. It
collects contributions from both employees and employers and invests these funds in various
places.
• The aim is to generate returns on these investments, and part of these earnings is then
distributed to the account holders as interest on their provident fund accounts.
Guidelines for Equities and Related Investments
i.Stock Investments
• EPFO can invest in shares of companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) or National
Stock Exchange (NSE) with a market capitalization of ₹5000 crore or more.
• Investment can also be made in mutual funds with a minimum of 65% of their investments in
BSE or NSE listed equity.
ii.Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)/Index Funds
• EPFO can invest in ETFs/Index Funds replicating the BSE Sensex Index or the NSE Nifty 50
Index.
• ETFs issued by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-regulated mutual funds for
disinvestment of the Government of India’s shareholding in body corporates can also be used.
• Use exchange-traded derivatives for hedging, limited to 5% of total equity and equity-related
investments.
Current mandated existing investment pattern of EPF
Current Investment Plan (Since April

Instrument
1, 2015)
Government securities Min: 45% and up to 50%
Debt securities and term deposits of banks Min: 35% and up to 50%

Short-term Debt Instruments and Related
Up to 5%
Investments
Equity and equity related Instruments Min: 5% and up to 15%
Part of limits set for equity and equity-

ETFs/Index funds
related Instruments
Asset backed securities, units of real estate/

Up to 5%
infrastructure investment trusts
EPFO’s Investment Approach
i.EPFO does not directly invest in individual stocks, including blue-chip companies.
ii.EPFO invests in equity markets through ETFs replicating BSE-SENSEX and NIFTY-50 indices.
iii. EPFO also invests in ETFs designed for the disinvestment of the Government of India’s shareholding in
body corporates.
EPFO’s Investment Portfolio (as of December 31, 2022)
i.Total corpus of various funds: Rs. 18.30 lakh crore.
• Over 91% of investments in Debt instruments.
• Remaining investments in ETFs: As of January 31, it had invested 10% of its proceeds in
ETFs, with the aim of achieving the maximum permissible threshold of 15%.
ii.EPFO has invested over ₹2.01 lakh crore in ETFs since 2018-19 until July 2023.
iii. EPFO’s equity investments are exclusively through ETFs, totaling more than ₹2 lakh crore as of July 31.
• EPFO was allowed to invest in equity-related investments in 2015 for the first time.
iv.EPFO serves over 6.5 crore subscribers.
Important investment terminology
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): An investment fund that holds a collection of assets, such as stocks, bonds,
or commodities, and is traded on stock exchanges, similar to a stock.
• ETF share prices change throughout the trading day similar to how stock prices change
constantly; this is different from mutual funds, In contrast, mutual funds are priced once daily,
typically after the market closes.
Blue Chip Company: A well-established, financially sound, and reputable company with a history of stable
growth and reliable performance, often considered a safe investment.
Index Fund: An index fund is a passive investment vehicle that mirrors the performance of a market index
like the S&P 500. It provides diversified exposure to either a particular sector or the entire market.
Hedge Fund: An investment fund that uses various strategies to generate returns for its investors, often
with higher risk and fees compared to traditional funds.
Recent Related News
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has formed 3 committees to frame draft schemes
for pension, provident fund and insurance under EPFO, in line with the provisions of the Code on Social
Security 2020.
The three schemes are:
• Employee’s Provident Fund Scheme (EPFS) for provident fund
• Employee’s Pension Scheme (EPS) for pension
• Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLIS) for insurance

About EPFO:
Central Provident Fund Commissioner(CPFO)/CEO – Ms. Neelam Shami Rao
Headquarters – New Delhi
Establishment –1952
World’s First Fully Automated Investment Fund , ‘The Ad Astra Fund’ Launched by Savart
Savart, one of India’s leading investment advisory firms, launched a Portfolio Management Service (PMS) ‘The
Ad Astra Fund’ , World’s First fully automated fund in Hyderabad, Telengana.It uses Artificial
Intelligence(AI) research system Advanced Process Automation & Research Technology (APART) to make
investment decisions.
• The fund enhanced possibilities of attaining more returns on investments.
• The fund received investment of about Rs 31 crores on Day1 and plans to achieve an Assets under
management(AUM) of Rs 350 crores by the end of FY24.
Ad Astra Fund:
i.The Ad Astra Fund is a long-term investment vehicle; at least 3 years and ideally 7–10 years.
ii.The Ad Astra Fund is designed to keep portfolio churn as low as possible.
iii.The fund mainly focuses on stocks and keeps a concentrated portfolio.
iv.The Ad Astra Fund is agnostic across sectors and market capitalization, thus ensuring access to varied
investment opportunities.
Engines of APART:
APART consisting of three main components:
Quant Engine: This part conducts numerical analyses of securities. Such as analysing profit and loss
statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and more than 2000 other factors.
Iris Engine: This engine interprets qualitative and abstract information like corporate governance, moat,
sustainability, stakeholder relations, ethics, and litigation pertaining to the promoters and the underlying asset,
the business, from annual reports, conference call transcripts, social media, and 4,000+ other sources.
Synapse Engine: Acting as a link between Quant and Iris, the Synapse Engine is responsible for making
decisions about how to construct a portfolio. This includes determining where to allocate assets, when to
rebalance, and how to execute trades.
Unique features of Apart:
• Unlike other funds focused on technical and mathematical analysis, APART also does comprehensive
fundamental and qualitative analysis quickly and on a bigger scale than humans.
• APART adapts faster than human fund managers according to the market and avoids getting stuck in
unhelpful strategies that can lead to bad performance.
• APART doesn’t guess future prices and financials but looks at the present market and business
situation to make quick investment choices.
About Savart:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sankarsh Chanda
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
NPCI Launches Blockchain-Backed Open-Source Project ‘Falcon’

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launches ‘Falcon’, an open-source Hyperledger Fabric
Deployment Helper, to streamline the deployment and management of Hyperledger Fabric based blockchain
networks on Kubernetes clusters.
• The primary goal of introducing ‘Falcon’ is to simplify the complex process of establishing,
configuring, and managing various components of the Hyperledger Fabric network within a
Kubernetes environment.

• These components include Fabric nodes, peers, orderers, and channels.
About the Falcon:
i.Falcon is an open-source project created under General Public License (GPL) license (GPL-3.0).
ii.Falcon is expected to help blockchain developers to use the distributed ledger technology to facilitate
efficient, reliable, and automated deployment of network as well as Web3 solutions.
• “Web3 solutions” refer to applications, technologies, and platforms that are part of the evolving
next generation of the internet, often referred to as the “Web3” or “decentralized web.”
Note: NPCI has launched blockchain technology based “Vajra Platform” to make payments fast and secure in
2020.
About the Blockchain Technology:
Blockchain technology is an advanced database technique that enables the transparent sharing of information
within a business network. Data is stored in blocks that are linked together in a chain in a blockchain database.
• Blockchain technology is used to create an unalterable or immutable ledger(data that can only be
recorded, not changed or deleted) for tracking orders, payments, accounts, and various transactions.
i.Distributed ledger: A distributed ledger is the shared database in the blockchain network that is
synchronized and accessible across different sites and geographies by multiple participants.
ii.Hyperledger Fabric: Hyperledger Fabric is an open source, permissioned blockchain framework, started in
2015 by The Linux Foundation.
• It is a modular, general-purpose framework with distinct identity management and access control
features that make it suitable for a wide range of industry applications such as supply chain tracking,
trade finance, loyalty and rewards, and clearing and settlement of financial assets.
iii.Kubernetes: Kubernetes (‘k8s’ or ‘kube’) is an open-source framework for managing containers in a
coordinated manner. It acts as a powerful management tool that automates the deployment, administration,
and scaling of containerized applications.
• Kubernetes was originally developed by Google. It was later donated to the Cloud Native
Computing Foundation (CNCF), a nonprofit organization that fosters the development and
adoption of cloud-native technologies.
• Containers are lightweight, executable application components that combine application source
code with all of the operating system (OS) libraries and dependencies required to run the code in
any environment.
NPCI is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the
provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement
Infrastructure in India.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Dilip Asbe
Incorporated – 2008
PhonePe Enter Online Stock Broking with Share.Market App

On 30th August 2023, PhonePe, an Indian digital payment platform, entered the online stock broking business
with a new trading app, Share.Market under its subsidiary PhonePe Wealth Broking. The app can be used to
invest in stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds or Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
• As per PhonePe, Share.Market offers a more discounted brokering price (24 cents or 0.05%,
whichever is lower), and broader market intelligence and a quantitative research-based tech
platform called WealthBaskets, which will be available to users as both a mobile app and on the web.
• With this new launch, PhonePe aims to tap into the growing interest in stock trading and investing
among its user base, which will bring a new dimension to stock broking by providing quantitative
research along with execution.

• It will provide a spectrum of investment products allowing investors across different demographics
to build a balanced portfolio.
Share.Market charges a one-time onboarding price of Rs 199 that includes benefits such as zero brokerage up
to Rs 400 on trades till March 31, 2024.
ICICI Prudential Life launched ICICI Pru GIFT Pro

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Prudential Life) has launched “ICICI Pru GIFT
Pro” which is a protection and savings-oriented life insurance plan. The new plan provides policyholders, also
known as the “Life Assured,” with a wide range of options to customize their policy.
• It offers a range of flexibilities to the policyholder, including options related to Money Back Benefit
and Guaranteed Income (GI).
Eligibility:
Premium Payment Term (in years) – 5 to 12
Minimum Annual Premium – Rs 50,000
Min/Max Age at Entry (in years) – 18 (minus Policy Term) and 60
Flexibility offered:
i.ICICI Pru GIFT Pro enables customers to personalize the product to suit their individual requirements. This
includes the flexibility to select income benefits and premium payment terms, among other customizable
features.
i.MoneyBack benefit is the facility to withdraw a particular percentage of the amount from the total premiums
paid.This option allows policyholders to receive periodic payments, typically a percentage of the sum assured,
at regular intervals during the policy’s duration.
• Choice of Percentage: When you start your “ICICI Pru GIFT Pro” insurance policy, you have the
flexibility to choose any percentage between 0% to 100% of the total annual premiums you’ll pay.
• One-Time Lump Sum: This chosen percentage represents the MoneyBack Benefit, which is a one-
time lump sum payment that you’ll receive at specific intervals during your policy.
ii.Guaranteed Income option – With the Guaranteed Income (GI) option, the insurance company promises to
pay you a fixed amount of money at regular intervals.
• Level(Constant) Guaranteed Income option is an income option which will provide you a
constant income (does not increase or decrease) throughout the income period.
• Increasing Guaranteed Income option is an income option which will provide you an increasing
income throughout the income period. Your income will increase by 5% p.a simple interest.
iii.Customers have the freedom to select any amount, up to 100% of the premiums they’ve paid, as a lump sum
benefit. They can also pick when they receive this benefit.
Benefits:
i.Tax benefits may be applicable on premiums paid, subject to conditions under provisions of the Income Tax
Act, 1961
ii.GI can be increased with the Low Cover Income Booster option.
iii.Through the Save the Date option one can fix any date to receive income.
Death Benefits:
The death benefit in the “ICICI Pru GIFT Pro” plan is the amount that will be paid to the designated beneficiaries
or nominee(s) in the unfortunate event of the policyholder’s death during the policy term.
How does the insurance plan work?
A person pays premiums for a certain period of time (5 to 12 years for this plan).
• After the completion of policy term, the person will receive Guaranteed Income (GI) at the end of
every month/year from the accumulated amount for a particular period of time (Income Period –
starting from 8th year till 30 years).
About ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Prudential Life):
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Prudential Life) is promoted by ICICI Bank Limited and

Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited.
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anup Bagchi
Mastercard launches ALT ID for Enhanced Online Payment Security at Guest Check-Out
Mastercard has launched ALT ID (Alternate Identifier) solution for enhanced online payment security
for Guest Check-Out processes as it will prevent exposure of sensitive card information during transactions.
How does it work?
i.The ALT ID solution creates an Alternate Identifier for actual card numbers provided by users during guest
check-out processes or cardholders who carry out transactions without saving their cards. Therefore, it
reduces the vulnerability of exposing sensitive card data in the event of unauthorized access or data breaches.
• The ALT ID solution will provide multiple advantages to cardholders, such as non-storage of card
numbers on merchant websites and protection from potential data breaches.
ii.For merchants and payment service providers, , it will allow them to safeguard card numbers with minimal
developmental complexities, thereby enhancing the overall customer payment experience they offer.
iii.Previously, Mastercard rolled out a Card-On-File (CoF) tokenization solution for cardholders to safely
complete transactions without revealing sensitive card details.
Click Here to Read about CoF
About Mastercard:
CEO– Michael Miebach
Headquarters– New York, United States of America(USA)
Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance gets Certificate of Registration from RBI to Start NBFC Operations
Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limitd (BACFL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Limited, has
received the Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start the business of
Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC).
• The certification of registration was issued on 31st August 2023 under Section 45-IA of the
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 to commence/carry on the business of the NBFC without
accepting public deposits.
Background:
i.In October 2021, Bajaj Auto announced the setting up of a 100% captive finance subsidiary ‘Bajaj Auto
Consumer Finance Ltd (BACFL)’, to offer financing solutions for vehicles manufactured or endorsed by
Bajaj Auto and associated entities.
ii.In July 2023, Bajaj Auto Ltd. announced the establishment of BACFL and applied for a NBFC license with
the RBI.
Key Points:
i.BACFL is the 2nd NBFC in the Bajaj group. Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv Limited
is the other NBFC under the Bajaj Brand.
ii.The NBFC can potentially influence the Group company Bajaj Finance, which depends on the distribution
network of Bajaj Auto to source two-wheeler, and new and used car loans.
About Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Ltd (BACFL):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Rakesh Makkar

PayNearby and Grameen Foundation Collaborated to Upskill 1.50 lakh Rural BC
PayNearby in collaboration with Grameen Foundation for Social Impact (GFSI) launched ‘Scaling Agent
Viability and Quality in India’ project to upskill 1.5 lakh business correspondents (BC) and enlist 15,000
women BCs through the required skills, knowledge and support in rural India .
• The project is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
About the collaboration:
i.The tenure of the project is two years.
ii.PayNearby’s Distribution-as-a-Service network (DaaS) will be utilised by Grameen Foundation to offer
tailored digital and financial solutions across various domains such as commerce, education,
entertainment, credit management, insurance, and more.
iii.The BCs will provide digital and financial services beyond cash-in/cash-out.
• BCs will be made aware of the financial advantage of a diversified product portfolio.
iv.The collaboration aims to boost women’s abilities in a connected business world, showcasing inclusive
development, women’s empowerment, and involving key stakeholders.
Who are Business Correspondents(BC)?
Business correspondents assist villagers in opening accounts, conducting transactions, and processing
loans. They earn commissions from the bank for these services. Using a mobile device, they help villagers
with various banking tasks such as depositing money, withdrawing from savings accounts, and applying
for loans.
About PayNearby:
Founder & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anand Kumar Bajaj
Paytm Launches New ‘Soundbox’ That Enables Card Payments

Paytm(One97 Communications Limited) launched industry-first Paytm Card Soundbox which enables
merchants to accept both mobile and card payments across all Visa, Mastercard, Amex and RuPay networks
through Soundbox with ‘tap and pay’ feature.
• The soundbox provides both audio and visual payment confirmation through a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) screen to the merchant and the customer.
Key Features:
i.Tap and Pay: Paytm Card Soundbox includes built-in ‘tap and pay’ functionality, allowing merchants to accept
card payments of up to Rs 5,000.
ii.Connectivity: The device boasts fast 4th Generation (4G) network connectivity for swift payment alerts.
iii.Multilingual Alerts: Catering to India’s diverse merchant base, Paytm Card Soundbox provides alerts in 11
languages, which can be easily customised through the Paytm for Business app.
iv.Near-field communication (NFC) Compatibility: Users with NFC-enabled smartphones can make
payments using the tap feature.
v.This device combines the efficacy of a Point of Sale (POS) unit, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Quick
Response (QR) code card, and even a sound box confirming the transaction.
Single Solution to Dual Problems:
The Paytm Card Soundbox offers a solution to two challenges faced by merchants:
i.It streamlines the process of accepting card payments.
ii.It provides them with immediate audio alerts for all transactions.
Additional Info:
Paytm was the first company to launch audio-based confirmations with Paytm Soundbox in 2019.

About Paytm:
Founder & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Launched a New Savings Plan ‘Bajaj Allianz Life ACE’
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited introduced Bajaj Allianz Life ACE is a non-linked, participating,
Individual Life Insurance Savings Plan. The plan offers more flexibility to customers in designing cash flows
according to their individual financial needs.
• In contrast to traditional savings products, this plan provides the customers with the power of
choice to design their income flow.
Eligibility criteria
Minimum & MaximumAge at Entry – 18 to 55 years (With Goal Protection Benefit (GPB)) & 0 to 60
years (Without GPB)
Maturity Age – Upto Age 85 years (With GPB) & Upto age 100 years (Without GPB)
Premium Payment Frequency – Yearly, Half yearly, Quarterly and Monthly
Products Options:
i.Deferred Income: Insurer will receive income in arrears; It starts after the Premium Payment Term and
Deferment period and is payable till the end of policy term.
ii.Early Income: Insurer will receive income in the form of Cash
bonuses from the end of 1 month/ 1 year after the Deferment period of the Policy.
iii.Increasing Income: The income is paid in arrears after the
end of the Premium Payment Term and Deferment period and is payable till the end of policy term.
iv.Wealth: On maturity, the insurer will receive a lump sum.
Features:
i.Tailored Income: Freedom to choose the amount of income when it starts, how long it continues, and can
even adjust the final benefits.
ii.Payment Timing Flexibility: The policyholder can opt to receive income right away or can delay it for up to
5 years
iii.Flexible Income Duration: The policyholder can choose the time frame for receiving income (from a
minimum of 10 years up to 100 years of age).
iv.Goal Protection Benefit (GPB): This option ensures that even if something unfortunate happens to the
policyholder, their family will still receive the planned income.
v.Extra Benefits for Women: The plan offers additional income benefits to women, empowering them with
enhanced financial security and flexibility to pursue their life goals.
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited:
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited and Allianz SE.
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Tarun Chugh
Hitachi Payment Services Launched India’s 1st White Label UPI-ATM with NPCI
Hitachi Payment Services Private Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., and an integrated payment
solutions provider, launched India’s first-ever Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-Automated Teller Machine
(ATM) as a White Label ATM (WLA), in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI),
offering secure cardless cash withdrawals.
• The UPI-only white-label ATM will improve customer security by eliminating the need for physical
cards.

• The launch of the ‘UPI ATM’ seamlessly merges the convenience and security of UPI with traditional
ATMs.
• At Present, Hitachi payment is the only WLA operator to offer cash deposit facility.
White Label ATM (WLA):
i.ATMs set up, owned and operated by non-banks are called WLAs.
ii.Non-bank ATM operators are authorised under the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
Hitachi Money Spot UPI ATM:
i.The Hitachi Money Spot UPI ATM delivers a seamless digital experience for customers, by supporting
advanced and innovative technology.
ii.This service can be accessed at more than 3,000 ATM locations, and this offering empowers any bank
customer to experience the convenience of Quick Response (QR)-based UPI cash withdrawals.
iii.It is a testament to Hitachi Payment Services’ technological capabilities and commitment to making
innovative banking services accessible to citizens across India.
iv.It is built on Android Operating System (OS) and brings in significant possibilities of transitioning from the
legacy architecture of transaction processing and ATM management to offering solutions in line with evolving
technology.
Benefits:
i.Customers would benefit from a unified and secure user experience as well as the convenience of card-less
cash withdrawals with the Hitachi Money Spot UPI ATM.
ii.It will promote financial inclusion by making banking services more accessible in remote areas of India and
card penetration.
About Hitachi Payment Services Private Ltd:
Hitachi Payment Services was founded in 2008 as Prizm Payment Services.
It was acquired by Hitachi in 2014 and renamed as Hitachi Payment Service in 2015.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– Sumil Vikamsey (Cash Business)
Bharti AXA Life introduces ‘Income Laabh’ to Simplify Insurance with Maximum Protection
Bharti AXA Life Insurance has launched Bharti AXA Life Income Laabh, an individual savings plan that
provides both financial security and a consistent income stream throughout the policy term.
• It is a non-linked, non-participating individual savings plan with life insurance coverage.
• This launch was made as a part of its aim to simplify insurance and deliver maximum protection to
its consumers.
Key Points:
i.Policyholders can expect guaranteed income for 10 to 12 years, with initial payouts equal to 100% of the
annual premium and increasing to 150% after 5 years for a 10-year term, or 200% after 6 years for a 12-year
term.
ii.A lump sum amount is given at the end of the income period to support important life goals, aiming to
enhance the financial well-being of customers and their families.
iii.Optional riders are offered for enhanced coverage, providing additional security and peace of mind to
policyholders.
• Bharti AXA Life Income Laabh also offers flexibility in premium and policy terms, along with
potential tax benefits.
About Bharti AXA Life Insurance:
Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a joint venture (JV) of New Delhi based Bharti Group (51%) and Paris Based AXA
(49%), a French multinational insurance firm.
MD & CEO– Parag Raja

Mastercard And Invest India Along With Tourism Ministry Launched Enhanced Priceless.com
‘Mastercard’ with the support from the Ministry of Tourism and Invest India has launched Priceless.com to
explore India’s history and culture (using latest travel trends).
• Priceless.com will support the “Dekho Apna Desh“ initiative of the Tourism Ministry.
About Priceless.com:
i.priceless.com is an extension of Mastercard’s global priceless platform that offers exclusive experiences and
privileges to Mastercard cardholders around the world.
ii.It paves a way for local and international travellers to experience the country’s diverse heritage.
iii.The program enables Mastercard cardholders to gain exclusive access to culture-rich, gastronomical, and
wellness luxe experiences in New Delhi(Delhi), Agra(Uttar Pradesh), Jodhpur(Rajasthan), Dehradun
(Uttarakhand), Pune(Maharashtra), etc.
• The program offers many experiences including a visit to Qutub Minar in New Delhi and to the
streets Old Agra.
Demand for travel:
According to the Mastercard Economics Institute’s Travel Industry Trends 2023, spending on experiences at
travel destinations has increased by 65% since March 2019, driven by pent-up demand for travel.
• Priceless.com is available exclusively to Mastercard cardholders which aims to create memorable,
once-in-a-lifetime experiences for its cardholders.
Dekho Apna Desh initiative:
Introduced in Budget 2023, the scheme aims to promote domestic tourism and encourage people to explore the
rich cultural heritage and diversity of India.
• The scheme is intended to offer financial assistant to tourists travelling to different parts of India.
About Mastercard:
President – Ari Sarker( Asia Pacific)
Headquarters – NewYork, United States of America(USA)
About Invest India:
Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India, set up as a non-profit
venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Government of India.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Nivruti Rai
About Ministry of Tourism:
Union Minister – G. Kishan Reddy (Constituency: Secunderabad, Telangana)
Minister of State(MoS) – Ajay Bhatt (Constituency: Nainital – Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand) ; Shripad
Yesso Naik (Constituency: North Goa, Goa)
Max Life Launched Life Insurance & Health Combined Insurance Policy Named ‘SEWA’
Max Life Insurance Company Limited has launched a new insurance plan “Max Life Secure Earnings
& Wellness Advantage (SEWA) Plan” that combines the benefits of health and life insurance under a single
plan.
It allows the insured to fulfill the healthcare needs of their family while simultaneously ensuring a financial
backup for future expenses.
• It integrates health, protection, savings, and wellness benefits for the insured and offers a
comprehensive plan that covers hospitalisation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) charges, etc. along with
life cover.
• SEWA Plan is available in 2 variants namely: Elite Variant and Lite Variant.

Some Features of SEWA Plan:
i.The SEWA plan offers guaranteed returns on premiums. There is also partial withdrawal allowed through a
traditional guaranteed plan. The guaranteed returns are payable as a lump sum at maturity.
ii.The policy also offers an in-built health coverage over and above the existing health insurance plan.
iii.It provides an option to take loans against policy to help customers in case of financial emergencies, but only
when the policy has acquired a surrender value, which can be a maximum of 75% of the surrender value.
iv.The policy also provides a discount of 5% on first-year premiums to female and transgender customers.
Some Benefits of SEWA:
i.The policy offers a death benefit to the nominee in case of death of the insured.
ii.The customers are entitled to loyalty boosters on each premium payment during the premium paying term.
iii.A savings booster benefit is added to the accrued policy benefit at the end of each month post-completion of
the premium paying term.
• This benefit applies only to the Elite variant of the plan.
Wellness App:
i.Max Life Insurance also offers customers with an interactive holistic wellness app named ‘Max Fit‘.
ii.The Max Fit app offers personalised health and wellness solutions promoting physical, mental, and emotional
well-being through 24*7 live support for addressing all health concerns.
iii.The app encourages the customers to lead a disciplined and healthier lifestyle, by providing enhanced
maturity benefits.
About Max Life Insurance Company Limited:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– Prashant Tripathy
Commenced Operations– 2001
NPCI Launches India’s First Contactless Payment Wearable “OTG Ring”

National Payment Corporation of India(NPCI) has launched a RuPay ON-THE-GO(OTG)ring named as 7
Ring, the first contactless payment wearable ring which was made in India.
• The ring was unveiled in Global Fintech Fest, 2023 (GFF 2023) which was held during 5th to 7th
September 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• 7 Ring is designed, assembled, manufactured and patented in India.
• The ring was made in collaboration with 7 (Sevenring Innovations Private Limited)
and LivQuik Technology(India) Private Limited.
Eligibility:
Any Indian resident above 18 years of age with an active Unified Payments Interface (UPI) address can buy the
ring (provided they satisfy any one of the invite-only criteria).
About 7 Ring:
i.7 Ring is a sleek, wearable ring that is made from a very strong and scratch-resistant material called zirconia
ceramic(ZrO2) which is also used in aerospace applications
ii.The ring is Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) compliant, as neither its body nor any of its
electronic components contain any hazardous substances.
iii. The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) customers can use the ‘OTG Ring’ for the transactions.
Working:
i.The ring allows to make payment by just placing the fist on a Point of Sale (POS) device
ii.7 Ring links to a digital prepaid wallet not linked to a Bank Account
• The wallet can be topped-up and payments can be made from it.
iii.The device also provides a comprehensive Passbook feature to keep track of the transactions.
iv.7 Ring only works when it is placed parallelly within 4 cm range of a contactless reader.

Features:
i.7 Ring doesn’t require a smartphone application or an One-time password(OTP) / PIN for making payments
below Rs 5,000 in India.
• Also the ring doesn’t require pairing with a smartphone, instead it is linked to a digital prepaid
wallet in the cloud.
ii.7 Ring is a passive wearable that draws power from the POS machine, so has no battery
iii.7 Ring works on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, is EMVco certified, and contains the same
security standards which are used in payment instruments worldwide by all leading networks.
Transaction Criteria:
There are two limit criteria based on Know Your Customer (KYC).
i.Monthly transaction limit of Rs 10,000 – registered as a Minimum KYC(During ring activation)
ii.Monthly transaction limit of Rs 2 Lakhs – Full KYC
Bharti AXA Life Insurance Launches New Mid-Cap Scheme Emerging Equity Fund
Bharti AXA Life Insurance launched its new fund offering (NFO) called Bharti AXA Life Emerging Equity
Fund. This is Bharti AXa’s first mid-cap fund launched with an aim to provide long-term capital
appreciation through investing in a portfolio of mid-cap companies.
• Bharti AXA Life Insurance launched mid-cap fund after 13 years; The last launch of mid-cap
fund was in 2010.
Process:
i.Investors can invest in Bharti AXA Life’s Emerging Equity Fund through three of Bharti AXA Life’s Unit
Linked Insurance Plan(ULIP):
• Bharti AXA Life Wealth Pro
• Bharti AXA Life Grow Wealth
• Bharti AXA Life Wealth Maximizer
ii.Investors get access to the investment market with a relatively small initial investment and take
advantage of the NFO’s base price, with the potential to earn significant long-term capital gains.
What is NFO?
NFO is the first subscription offering for any fund being launched by an investment company.
During an NFO, investors can purchase units of the mutual fund scheme at the face value, which is typically
set at a fixed price usually of Rs. 10 per unit.
Mid-Caps:
i.According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), companies that are ranked from 101 to
250 in terms of market capitalization are known as mid-cap companies.
• Mutual funds that hold stocks from the mid-cap are called ‘Mid-cap funds’.
ii.Mid-caps represent the future’s emerging blue-chip companies.
iii.Mid-cap funds are involved with more risk than large-cap funds but will yield good returns in the long
run.
iv.Mid-cap stocks can complement both high-risk and low-risk investment strategies, offering investors a
balance of stability and growth.
About Bharti AXA Life Insurance:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Parag Raja

Meta Launches UPI Payments For WhatsApp Business Messaging in India
Meta(formerly known as Facebook) Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch
of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) payments for WhatsApp Business in India. This allows customers to pay
businesses directly on the Whatsapp Chat application using their preferred UPI option.
• The announcement was virtually in the Meta Conversations event focusing on WhatsApp Business,
held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The accepted payment methods include Pay on WhatsApp, credit/debit cards, netbanking, Google
Pay, PhonePe, Paytm and more UPI options.
• The initial payment partners are RazorPay and PayU.
WhatsApp’s payments solution was released in Singapore(May 2023) and Brazil(April 2023).
Motilal Oswal Nifty 500 ETF: Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund launches India’s 1st Nifty 500 ETF
Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund launched India’s first Nifty 500 ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) “Motilal Oswal
Nifty 500 ETF”, an open-ended scheme replicating/tracking the Nifty 500 Total Return Index.
Its New Fund Offer (NFO) is available for subscription until September 29, 2023.
The scheme will benchmark its performance against the Nifty 500 Total Return Index.
It will be managed by Swapnil Mayekar and Rakesh Shetty.
Objective:
To closely match the Nifty 500 Total Return Index’s returns, while accounting for tracking error but before
accounting for expenses.
Key Points:
i.This fund is ideal choice for investors seeking long-term capital growth.
ii.Investors can join with just Rs 500 per plan/option and invest in multiples of Re 1, with no upper investment
limit.
iii.The minimum amount for purchase/redemption would be in creation unit size of 20,00,000 units and in
multiples thereof. Units once redeemed/repurchased will not be re-issued.
iv.Typically, the scheme will primarily invest in Nifty 500 Index constituents, making up 95-100% of total
assets. It may also allocate up to 5% to low-risk instruments like liquid schemes and money market
instruments.
iv.There are no charges for investing, and no exit load applies.
Additional info:
The scheme will re-open for continuous sale and repurchase within five business days from the date of
allotment.
About Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Ltd. (MOAMC):
It is the Investment Manager to Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund.
MD & CEO– Navin Agarwal

India’s GDP in the Q1FY24 grew one-year high to 7.8%: NSO
As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program
Implementation (MOSPI), India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew one year high to 7.8% in the April-June
quarter of 2023-2024 (Q1FY24), compared to a growth of 6.1% in the January-March quarter of FY23
(Q4FY23).
• This growth is driven by stronger consumption demand and higher activities in the services sector.
• India remains one of the fastest growing major economies, and is expected to grow at 6.5% in FY24.

• The data was briefed by Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Venkatramanan
Anantha Nageswaran.
Highlights:
i.Real GDP or GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q1FY24 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 40.37 lakh crore,
as against Rs 37.44 lakh crore in Q1FY23 showing a growth of 7.8% as compared to 13.1% in Q1FY23
ii.The nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in Q1FY24 saw a growth of 8% as compared to 27.7% in Q1FY23
showing a growth of 8% as compared to 27.7% in Q1FY23.
iii.Gross Value Added (GVA) at Basic Prices for Q1FY24 at 2011-12 Prices grew 7.8% as compared to 11.9% in
Q1FY23 and 6.5% in Q4FY23
iv.GVA at at Basic Prices for Q1FY24 at Current Prices grew 8% as compared to 25.9% in Q1FY23.
Sectors in Q1FY24:
i.The real estate and financial sector also moved up by 12.2% on a yearly basis while construction, mining and
manufacturing sector stood at 7.9%, 5.8% and 4.7% respectively.
ii.The agriculture forestry, and fishing recorded a growth of 3.5%, and electricity, gas, water supply, and other
utility services at 2.9%.
iii.Trade, hotel, transport, communication saw a growth of 9.2%.
iv.Investments, as reflected by Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), grew 8.9%, while Government Final
Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) grew 2.3%.
Key Points:
i.India needs to grow by ‘7% and 8%’ a year and build a strong manufacturing base to create jobs.
ii.Currently, 45% of India’s workforce is employed in the farm sector, which contributes just 18% to the
economy.
Click Here for Full Data
i.MoSPI Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES), tasked with examining economic indicators, will be
replaced by a Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), to review the framework and results of surveys
conducted for NSO.
ii.According to the second advance estimates (SAE) of national income released by the
NSO, the Indian economy is expected to have recorded a 7.0% growth in real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in
FY23 from 9.1% in FY22.
About the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
MoSPI is the nodal agency for the planned and organized development of the statistical system in India.
Ministers of State (Independent Charge) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurugram Constituency – Haryana)
Moody’s Raises India’s GDP Forecast to 6.7% for 2023

Global rating agency Moody‘s in its Global Macro Outlook has raised India‘s growth forecast to 6.7% from
5.5% for 2023 calendar year amid strong economic growth in Q1FY24.
• The strong growth of the services sector and a surge in capital expenditures contributed to India’s
impressive 7.8% GDP growth in the April to June,first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24 (Q1FY24),
which was lower than RBI’s projection of 8 % for the same period of Q1FY24.
• Moody’s recent growth forecast for India, predicting a 6.7% economic growth rate in 2023, stands
slightly higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) projection of 6.5% for the fiscal year 2023-
24(FY24).
Outlook of 2024
Moody’s has adjusted its GDP forecast for the financial year 2023-24 due to the strong economic performance
observed in the second quarter (Q2FY24). This outperformance has set a high baseline in 2023, leading to
Moody’s revising the GDP growth projection downward from 6.5% to 6.1% for the financial year 2024.

Moody’s Rating
• Moody’s had maintained a stable outlook for India with “Baa3” rating. “Baa3” is toward the lower
end of the investment-grade spectrum. It’s not the highest or best rating a country can achieve but is
still considered relatively stable.
• The rating scale typically ranges from “Aaa” (the highest) to “C” (the lowest), with various grades in
between. “Baa3” falls in the middle of this scale.
Key Points:
There is also a possibility of increase in the food commodity prices if the rainfall between June and October
remains below normal.
As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) estimates, there is 9% rain deficiency across India.
Fitch Retains India’s Growth Forecast at 6.3% for FY24: Global Economic Outlook Sept 2023
Fitch Ratings in its special report titled Global Economic Outlook – September 2023 retained India’s Gross
Domestic Product(GDP)’s growth forecast for the current fiscal year(FY 2023-24) at 6.3% and projected
growth rate of 6.5% for FY 2024-2025.
• Earlier in June 2023, the rating agency had revised its forecast to 6.3% from the 6%.
• Inspite of tight monetary policy and poor export, the economy is striving to grow.
Quarterly analysis:
The Indian economy grew at 7.8% in the first quarter(Q1 – April to June) in FY 2023-24.
• According to the report, the high-frequency indicators suggest that the growth in July-September
will be moderate due to low exports and credit growth.
RBI’ consumer confidence survey (CCS):
i.Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in its bi-monthly consumer confidence survey (CCS) (July 2023) pointed out that
consumers are becoming a little more pessimistic on income and employment prospects.
ii.Fitch expects that the RBI’s benchmark interest rate will stay at 6.5% for 2023.
Impact of Inflation:
i.The global economy is slowing down, and India will be affected by this. The RBI has raised interest rates (by
250 Basis Point)to control inflation.
• Though the increase in inflation is temporary, (particularly rise in food price), this will reduce the
purchasing power of the household.
ii.Annual headline inflation was 6.8% in August after 7.4% in July and 4.9% in June.
Additional info:
The threat of El Niño makes the inflation exceed the forecasts.
Fitch expects 2023-end retail or CPI inflation at 5.5%, higher than our previous forecast of 5%.
ADB lowers India’s GDP projection for FY23 to 6.3%; India Ratings revises India’s FY24 GDP
growth to 6.2%
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2023 lowered
India’s gross domestic product (GDP) projection by one percentage point for Fiscal 2022-2023 (FY23) to
6.3% from 6.4% (ADO April 2023 estimate).
• This down gradation is due to slowing exports, global geopolitical tensions, and the likely
impact of erratic rainfall on agriculture output at the time of harvesting of kharif season (July-
October) or during the Rabi season(October-April).
• For FY 2023-2024 (FY24), the GDP projection is retained at 6.7%.
• In FY25, economic growth could be higher if foreign direct investment(FDI) inflows are larger,
particularly in the manufacturing sector.

Key Points:
i.India’s Q1FY24 GDP grew by 7.8% YoY (year on year), driven by robust services and increased
investment, fueled by public spending and bank credit to the private sector.
ii.Inflation has decreased to 5.5% in 2023 from 6.7% in 2022 and is expected to further decrease to 4.2%
in FY24.
• This is influenced by government actions like export restrictions on rice, export duties on other
rice varieties, buffer stocks of pulses and onions, removal of import duties on pulse imports, and
a new cooking gas subsidy.
Developing Asia GDP Projection:
i.ADB also lowered the economic growth forecast for developing Asia to 4.7% in 2023 from 4.8% projected
in April 2023 ADO.
ii.The growth forecast for 2024 is unchanged at 4.8%.
iii.Inflation in developing Asia is forecast to decline from 4.4% last year to 3.6% in 2023 and 3.5% in 2024.
• The decline will be driven by the China, where the inflation forecast is revised down to 0.7%.
Risks to the Outlook
ADB has cited three main risks to the outlook,
i.Impact of the weakness in China’s property sector
ii.Sporadic supply disruptions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
iii.Export curbs amid the risk of droughts and floods caused by El Nino.
India Ratings Revises India’s FY24 GDP Growth Estimates to 6.2%
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) revised India‘s GDP growth estimate for FY24 to 6.2% from 5.9%
projected in February 2023. .
• This increase is due to the sustained government capital expenditure, deleveraged balance
sheet of India Inc and banks, and the prospect of a new private corporate capex cycle.
Note:
India Inc is a common term used by the Indian media to refer to the formal (comprising government and
corporate) sector of the nation.
Key Points:
i.In the 1st Quarter of FY24 (1QFY24), the quarterly GDP growth was at 7.8% and it is estimated to slow
down in the remaining three quarters of FY24.
ii.The Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) is expected to grow 6.9% in FY24 as against 7.5% in
FY23.
iii.Monsoon rainfall and industrial growth are marked as areas of concern.
iv.Retail inflation will soften, and the headline CPI (Consumer Price Index) will come at 5.5% in FY24
Other Recent Projections for India in FY24:
i.As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest forecast, the Indian economy is likely to grow at 6.5% in
the FY24.
ii.Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) upped the GDP growth projection for
India to 6.3%.
iii.Fitch retained India’s growth forecast at 6.3%
iv.S&P Global Market Intelligence raised it to 6.6%.
About ADO:
i.Asian Development Outlook is the main economic forecasting product from ADB.
ii.It is published each April with an update published in September and brief reports published in July and
December.

i.During the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023), three Multilateral Development
Banks, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have
contributed USD 27 billion for India’s Green Growth.
ii.The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee projected GDP growth of 2023-24 at
6.5%.
President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines,
FinMin Retains 6.5% GDP Growth Estimate for FY24

The Monthly Economic Review – August 2023 released by the Department of Economic Affairs under the
Ministry of Finance, has retained its estimate for India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the
Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) at 6.5%.
• The risks to the growth outlook were offset by the bright spots in corporate profitability, private
sector capital formation, bank credit growth, and activity in the construction sector.
• The report also said that the steady decline in the urban unemployment rate has contributed to
keeping private consumption strong in the economy.
• High domestic demand for consumption and investment hiked the GDP growth rate in the first
quarter(Q1) of FY 24 (April-June 2023).
High-Frequency Indicators(HFIs) suggest that the second quarter(Q2) of FY24 (July-September 2023) is
shaping up well.
S&P Global raises India’s FY24 Growth Projection to 6.6%

On September 18, 2023, S&P (Standard & Poor’s) Global raised India’s growth prediction for FY24
to 6.6% from 5.9% predicted in August 2023 amid strong growth in the April-June quarter (Q1FY24).
• In FY25, it will increase at a rate of 6.2% as compared to 6.1% projected in August 2023.
Key Points:
i.India’s inflation rate will grow sharply to 6% in 2023 as compared to 5.1% prediction in August 2023.
• India’s inflation rate is anticipated to be high, at 5.3% in 2024.
• Global inflation will reach 5.7% in 2023 and over 4% in 2024.
ii.India’s economic growth momentum was buoyant in Q1FY24, growing at a pace of 7.8% year-on-year (y-
o-y), supported by robust growth in domestic demand.
iii..The deceleration of global economic growth will exert pressure on India’s exports.
India Post, Bigfoot Retail Solution join hands to Strengthen E-Commerce Export Ecosystem
On September 5, 2023, the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications has partnered with
Bigfoot Retail Solution, which operates as the Shiprocket brand, to boost the e-commerce export by utilizing
India Post’s extensive presence and shipping solutions.
• It was signed in the presence of Alok Sharma, Director General Postal Services, Manju Kumar, Chief
Postmaster General Delhi and Saahil Goel, CEO, Shiprocket.
Key Points:
i.The agreement enables technical integration between Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs) and Shiprocket.
ii.India-based sellers using Shiprocket can generate e-PBE (Postal Bill of Export) and shipping labels directly
from the Shiprocket platform.
iii.Exporters can access services like packaging, label printing, pickup, and shipment induction at the nearest
DNK in India.

iv.India Post has undertaken various initiatives, including expanding Foreign Post Offices, introducing the
Postal Bill of Export, launching competitive international services, and establishing DNKs in India.
About Department of Posts:
Director General Postal Services– Alok Sharma
Air India Launches Project Abhinandan to Offer Enhanced On-Ground Experience to

Passengers
Tata Sons-owned Air India launched “Project Abhinandan” (greetings in Hindi) to provide personalised and
hassle free ground experience for its passengers.
As part of the Project Abhinandan, Specially trained Service Assurance Officers(SAOs) will be stationed
at 16 major airports in India to provide support and assistance to Air India guests.
• The 16 major airports include Ahmedabad(Gujarat), Bengaluru(Karnataka), Kochi &
Kozhikode(Kerala), Chennai(Tamil Nadu), Delhi, Goa, Guwahati(Assam), Hyderabad(Telangana),
Kolkata(West Bengal), Varanasi & Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh), Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune (Maharashtra),
and Vishakhapatnam(Andhra Pradesh).
• Over 100 Service Assurance Officers have already been recruited and deployed across airports.
• These officers have been trained to deal with unexpected problems that travellers may have, such as
missed flights, delayed baggage delivery, and misconnections.

India, Bangladesh Sign 3 MoUs To Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina, PM of People’s Republic of Bangladesh exchanged 3
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh.
The 3 MoUs were,
• MoU on Cooperation in Digital Payment mechanisms
between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
and Bangladesh Bank.
• MoU on renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP)
between India and Bangladesh for 2023-2025.
• MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council
(BARC).
The MoUs were exchanged following the bilateral meeting between
PM Modi and PM Hasina.
India Bangladesh Bilateral meeting:
PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who was visiting India as a guest to
participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit held from 9th to 10th September 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• During the meeting, they discussed the entire scope of bilateral cooperation including political and
security cooperation, power and energy, and people to people ties.
Details of the MoUs:
i.MoU on Cooperation in Digital Payment mechanisms between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
and central bank of Bangladesh ‘Bangladesh Bank’.
• The scope of the MoU is issuance of RuPay Prepaid Card from Bangladesh, establishing acceptance of
RuPay Card in Bangladesh at ATM and commercial transactions, cross border remittance, enabling

acceptance of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) through Quick Response (QR) code in Bangladesh at
Merchant locations.
ii.MoU on renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) for 2023-2025.
• This aims to hold cultural activities to strengthen cooperation in the areas of archaeological
conservation, youth affairs, sports and mass media etc.
• Both countries will exchange the visits of scholars/academicians in the field of art, culture and
literature for a duration of two weeks.
• CEP was initially signed between both countries in 2015; Lastly renewed in 2019 for the tenure
2021-23.
iii.MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council
(BARC).
• The agreement boosts cooperation in agricultural research and education envisages exchange of
scientists, scientific equipment, scientific literature,germplasm and breeding material.
• The MoU will come into effect through the creation of two-year Work Plans.
• It also includes the formation of a Joint Working Group of both nations, which will meet once every
two years in New Delhi and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Additional Info:
Both the countries welcomed the operationalization of the Agreement on the use of the Chattogram and
Mongla Ports and commissioning of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
• They looked forward to the beginning of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA).
About People’s Republic of Bangladesh:
Prime Minister -Sheikh Hasina
Capital – Dhaka
Currency – Bangladeshi Taka
MoSJE & NSKFDC Signed MoU to Enhance Socio-Economic Uplift of Safai Karamcharis
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to enhance the socio-
economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers, waste pickers, and their families.
• The MoU signed for the fiscal years (FY) 2023-24 and 2024-25 will focus on empowering the
marginalized communities across India.
Note:
“Safai Karamchari” means a person engaged in or employed for manual scavenging or any sanitation work.
About the MoU between MoSJE & NSKFDC:
i.The collaborative effort aims to expand activities that promote safety, education, skill development,
entrepreneurship, and long-term employment prospects, enabling the overall growth of sanitation employees.
ii.This collaboration aims to share expertise and resources in order to effectively implement programmes that
empower marginalised communities.
• The signing between MoSJE & NSKFDC indicates a shared aim of promoting equality and societal
growth.
iii.The MoU emphasises the objective to accelerate inclusive growth by allocating and utilising money for
targeted welfare programmes more effectively.
About NSKFDC:
i.NSKFDC is a state-owned corporation under the MoSJE which plays a vital role in the elimination of manual
scavenging.
ii.NSKFDC is the Nodal Agency for the implementation of the Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for
Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) under the MoSJE.
Managing Director– Prabhat Kumar Singh.

Established in 1997
About the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE):
Union Minister – Dr. Virendra Kumar (Constituency- Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ramdas Athawale (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra); A. Narayanaswamy (Constituency-
Chitradurga, Karnataka); Pratima Bhoumik (Constituency- Tripura West, Tripura)
Amazon & India Post Signs MoU for MSME Exporters; Amazon launches Sah-AI, Digital Assistant
Amazon, an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, has signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with India Post to simplify cross-border logistics for Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprise (MSME) exporters.
• The MoU was signed during the (Fourth) Amazon Smbhav Summit 2023 held on 31st August
2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• During the event, Amazon introduced “Amazon सह-AI (Amazon Sah-AI)”, a generative Artificial
Intelligence (AI) -based personal digital assistant.
i.The partnership between India Post and Amazon will simplify cross-border logistics and compliance for
Indian exporters shipping directly to customers around the world.
ii.Under this MoU, Indian exporters on Amazon’s Global Selling program will be enabled to book their
shipments, print shipping labels and pay for shipping directly from their Seller Central account.
iii.They will be able to send their shipments to India Post’s Dak Niryat Kendras across India from where it can
be exported to customers abroad.
Amazon Smbhav Summit 2023:
The fourth edition of Amazon Smbhav Summit took place in 2023, focused on innovation, financial inclusion
and sustainability for small businesses and consumers.
• During the event, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology,
unveiled the postal stamp to commemorate the 10-year partnership between India Post and
Amazon. The stamp features various transportation modes used by Amazon to ship products from
sellers to customers across India.
Amazon Partners with Indian Railway’s DFCCIL:
Amazon also announced its engagement with Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited
(DFCCIL) of the Indian Railways for shipping customer packages through freight railway routes in India.
• With this Amazon becomes the 1st e-commerce company in India to partner with DFCCIL to ship
packages.
• Amazon India has started operations with DFC on the 659 km long Rewari-Palanpur (Haryana-
Gujarat) route.
Key Points:
i.Amazon has now opened its logistics and supply chain for D2C (Direct-to-consumer) brands across India to
serve the customer’s orders from various sales channels(including their own websites)
ii.Amazon has promised to digitise around 10 million MSMEs, generate USD 20 billion in cumulative e-
commerce exports and generate more than 2 million jobs in India by 2025.
• The process of digitisation will enable economic growth, expand customer reach, reduce expenses
on marketing and distribution and offer access to foreign markets.
iii.Amazon is allocating USD 15 million for nature-based projects in the Asia-Pacific region as a part of its USD
100 million Right Now Climate Fund.
About India Post:
India Post is a government-operated postal system in India and is the trade name of the Department of Post
under the Ministry of Communications.

Director General Postal Services– Alok Sharma
GSITI Signs 5-year MoU with ISRO, for Capacity Building in Mineral Resources, Disaster
Management
The Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI) in Hyderabad (Telangana) has signed a 5-
year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru (Karnataka) as part of
the National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS)
programme.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Dr Mathew Joseph, Deputy Director
General and Head of Mission-V, representing GSITI, and Dr JV
Thomas, Director of Earth Observation Applications and Disaster
Management Support Programme Office (EDPO), ISRO, in the
presence of Shantanu Bhatawdekar, Scientific Secretary, ISRO.
Objective :
The primary objective of the project is capacity building through the generation of a skilled workforce (human
resources) in the Application of Digital Image Processing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Mineral
Exploration, Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques in Mineral Exploration, and Applications of Geo-informatics
in Disaster Management.
About the Collaborative Project Between GSITI & ISRO:
i.The scope of the collaborative project between GSITI and ISRO is to conduct a series of training for capacity
building in the areas of mineral resources and disaster management within the framework NNRMS programme.
ii.This aims to provide individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required to contribute effectively to
the sustainable management of natural resources and disaster response efforts.
iii.The Photo Geology and Remote Sensing (PGRS) Division at GSITI, Hyderabad will conduct 15 training
programs over the next 5 years, with an estimated 300 participants.
• These participants represent Central/State Government Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs),
faculty members, and research scholars of academic institutions.
About National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS):
The NNRMS of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC) is a Central Sector (National
level) inter-agency system Scheme.
It aimed at the utilisation of Remote Sensing Technology for the Inventorisation, Assessment, and Monitoring of
the country’s natural resources.
ISRO-developed Device Named ‘Nabhmitra’ for Fishers’ Safety Successfully Tested at Neendakara
ISRO has successfully tested its innovative device named ‘Nabhmitra’, which was developed at ISRO-Space
Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The device aims to enhance the safety of fishermen during their sea
expeditions.
• The testing took place at Neendakara in Kollam, Kerala, where the device was installed on a fishing
vessel and tested in the presence of scientists and Fisheries department officials.
• Nabhmitra operates on the basis of a satellite-based communication system that facilitates two-
way communication, bridging the gap between sea and shore.
Features and Benefits of Nabhmitra:
i.Fishers receive crucial weather and cyclone warnings in their local language, and the boats can also send
distress messages to the authorities.
ii.In emergencies such as capsizing or fire, fishers can swiftly send distress signals to the authorities in the
control center with the push of a button.
iii.The control center instantly receives the distress alert, along with the precise location of the distressed

vessel (boat), expediting rescue efforts, and the fishers on the distressed vessel receive prompt response
messages.
iv.Apart from providing information about shipping channels and maritime boundaries, the device will also
help to identify fishing fields.
Vande Bharat Trains Project: Indian Railways Signed Supply Contract with Indo-Russian
JV Kinet Railway Solutions
The Indian Railways has signed a supply contract with the Indo-Russian Joint Venture (JV) Kinet Railway
Solutions for manufacturing Vande Bharat trains. As per the contract, Kinet Railway Solutions will
manufacture 120 Vande Bharat trains, along with maintenance services for 35 years.
Kinet Railway Solutions is a JV between Metrowagonmash (MWM) and Locomotive Electronic Systems
(LES), Russia, and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), India for the production of Vande Bharat trains.
MWM is a subsidiary of rail equipment manufacturer, Transmashholding JSC Group (Transmash).
The collaboration between MWM, LES, and RVNL for the Vande Bharat train project faced persistent
challenges from the start, primarily over the issue of majority ownership between Indian and
Russian partners.
The dispute delayed the contract signing with the Indian Railways till September 2023. The Indian
Railways had invited bids for Vande Bharat train sets in December 2022 and they were opened in
March 2023.
On September 14, 2023, the United States of America’s (US) Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Russian entities including elites, industries, financial institutions,
and technology suppliers.
India Global Forum and World Governments Summit Launch Emerging Economies Program
On September 20, 2023, London, United Kingdom (UK)-based India Global Forum (IGF) and World
Governments Summit (WGS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an Emerging
Economies Programme.
• This partnership will also allow the IGF to join WGS’s knowledge partners around the Globe.
• It will also foster international cooperation and sharing best practices.
Signatories:
It was signed by the Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of IGF and Mohamed al Sharhan, Managing
Director(MD) of WGS, in the presence of Omar Sultan Al Olama, United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Minister of
State for Artificial Intelligence(AI) and Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Vice-Chair of the WGS
Organization.
About Emerging Economies Programme:
i.High-level discussions: The initiative will facilitate discussions on sustainable economic growth, geo-
economic perspectives, and innovative solutions, involving government officials, business leaders, economists,
and experts.
ii.Global South development: It aims to promote sustainable economic growth and development in the Global
South.
• Research will be conducted on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Global South,
progressively enhancing regional data for future governments.
iii.The initiative seeks to integrate global efforts, keeping pace with new trends and enabling effective
responses to evolving challenges.
About World Governments Summit (WGS) Organization:
It is a global, neutral, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments.
Chairman– Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi
Headquarters– Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

DGR Signed MoU with Genpact to Generate Employment for Ex-Serviceman
Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence
(MoD) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Genpact India Private Limited to facilitate
employment opportunities for Ex-Servicemen of the Defence Services.
• The partnership brings the corporate companies and Ex-Servicemen on a common platform to
provide Ex-Servicemen with skilled manpower and give them a second career after their military
service.
Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Genpact India is a global professional services firm that provides intelligent
business operations services.
NTPC & OIL Inked MOU to Collaborate in Renewable Energy & Decarbonization
On August 31, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between NTPC Limited (formerly
known as National Thermal Power Corporation) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to explore collaboration in the
areas of Renewable Energy (RE), green hydrogen and its derivatives, and decarbonization initiatives including
through the use of geothermal energy.
• NTPC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking(CPSU) under the Ministry of Power.
• OIL is a Maharatna CPSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG).
Signatories:
The MoU was signed in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of Gurdeep Singh, Chairman & Managing Director
(CMD), NTPC; and Dr. Ranjit Rath, CMD, OIL; and their functional directors.
Key Points:
i.Under the MoU, both sides facilitate knowledge sharing and experience on upcoming decarbonisation
technologies such as carbon sequestration.
ii.Through the MoU, they will expand their presence in the RE sector and explore sustainable solutions as part
of their commitment to help India achieve its 2070 Net Zero emissions target
iii.NTPC is committed to achieve 60 GW (Giga Watt) of RE capacity by 2032.
About NTPC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Gurdeep Singh
Telangana & Tabreed signed MoU to set up Asia’s largest district cooling project in Hyderabad
The government of Telangana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Central
Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed), Abu Dhabi(United Arab Emirates-UAE) based cooling-as-a-service provider,
to develop Asia’s largest District Cooling System (DCS) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Tabreed is set to invest USD 200 million to develop 1,25,000 refrigeration tons (RT) of cooling
infrastructure for the Hyderabad Pharma City(HPC), Telangana.
• The project is being taken up on a Public Private Partnerships(PPP) basis.
• This will provide sustainable long-term cooling services through utility cooling as a service model
for process cooling and storage requirements of industrial units.
Note: HPC is praised as the world’s largest integrated pharma cluster, in Telangana.
District Cooling system (DCS):
District Cooling is an environmental friendly, energy saving and economical cooling method. DCS involves using
a central chiller plant to cool water, which is then circulated for indoor cooling purposes to industrial,
commercial and residential buildings through a closed loop pipe network.
i.This is in line with the efforts towards greener and healthier environment and the vision of achieving net-zero
emissions by 2047.
ii.The collaboration between Tabreed and the Telangana government commits to reshaping the landscape of

sustainable infrastructure development.
iii.Tabreed’s expertise in DCS to HPC will shape the future of the industrial clusters and set a powerful
precedent for environmental responsibility.
MoU with Tabreed for another Project:
i.Telangana government has also signed a MoU with Tabreed to explore district cooling infrastructure in
existing and upcoming commercial districts of Cyberabad in Hyderabad and other mixed-use development
areas that offer the potential to reduce over 200 Megawatt (MW) of peak electricity demand.
ii.It resulted in an annual Carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction of 18 million tonnes over a 30-year period while
mitigating the heat island effect that will further boost Hyderabad’s position as one of the best cities to live and
work in Asia.
Benefits:
i.The first-of-its-kind, initiative will bring multi-fold benefits of highly reliable, superior cost-efficiency, and
unprecedented economies of scale, resulting in 6,800 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of power savings and 41,600 mega
liters of water savings.
• It will pave the way for reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions by saving 6.2 million tons of CO2.
ii.This initiative is set to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry’s cooling practices, contributing to a cleaner
and greener environment for various bulk drug manufacturing facilities.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor– Tamilisai Soundararajan
Zoological Park– Nehru Zoological Park and Vana Vigyan Kendra Mini Zoo (Kakatiya Zoological Park)
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
APFPS signed MoU with SBI to Promote and Establish 7,500 Micro Food Processing Units in AP
The Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS), under the Department of Agriculture & Marketing,
Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of
India (SBI) for upgrading and establishing a minimum of 7,500 micro-food processing units in AP.
• This agreement will be executed during the fiscal year 2023-24(FY24) under the Prime Minister
Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.
• The collaboration aimed at fostering the growth of the food processing industry in Andhra Pradesh.
Key People:
The MoU was signed between Sridhar Reddy, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), APFPS; and V. Hema, Deputy
General Manager, SBI in the presence of Chiranjiv Choudhary, Secretary to Government of AP (Food
processing), Industries and Commerce Department.
PMFMPE Scheme:
PMFMPE is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched on 29th June 2020 by the Ministry of Food Processing
Industries(MoFPI), to promote competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized
segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.
i.As part of this MoU, SBI will offer collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to eligible beneficiaries, following
the guidelines of the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) under the Agri
Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
• CGTMSE is jointly set up by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), the
Government of India, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to catalyse the
flow of institutional credit to MSEs.
ii.Under the PMFME scheme, loans will be available at 9% interest, with an additional 3% interest subvention
wherever applicable. There will be a moratorium of 3 months when the food processing units are stabilising.
• SBI has already sanctioned over 500 loans under the PMFME scheme in the previous fiscal (2022-
23), emerging as a major lending partner in this attempt.
iii.In addition to collateral-free loans and financial support, SBI will provide necessary working capital loans to
ensure the successful operation of the enterprises.
iv.SBI will also support the promotion of food processing in collaboration with Farmer Producer Organisations
(FPOs).
Benefits of the agreement:
i.APFPs collaboration with SBI will not only provide a significant boost to micro food processing enterprises in
AP but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth in AP.
ii.Streamlined loan processing with minimum documentation and processing time, attractive interest rates, and
others.
About Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS):
It was established by the Government of AP under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Act in November 2012 to act as
a nodal agency for the development of the Food Processing Sector in AP.
Chairman– Chiranjiv Choudary
CEO– L. Sridhar Reddy
Headquarters– Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

ISO and UNDP Partnership to enhance achievement of SDG
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) have signed a Statement of Intent(SoI) to use International Standards as a tool in advancing the
achievement of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
• The collaboration also aims to develop the first international standard for the SDGs based on
UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards and relevant ISO standards.
• The partnership is in alignment with SDG17 – Partnerships for Goals.
About the partnership:
i.The collaboration will develop a common basis for documentation and certification, making it easier for
organizations and companies to align their efforts and document progress toward the SDGs.
ii.The collaboration will design New management standards for the benefit of businesses and investors.
• This is to make sustainability and the SDGs as intrinsic part of business instead of being as an
add-on element.
• Better practices in business will lead to better outcomes for business.
About United Nations Development Programme(UNDP):
Administrator – Achim Steiner
About International Organization for Standardization (ISO):
President – Ulrika Francke
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Members – 169 national standards bodies.
IREDA signs MoU with IIFCL to Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects

On September 4, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Renewable
Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) to co-finance
Renewable Energy (RE) Projects.
• This MoU will utilize the expertise of IREDA in Green financing and IIFCL’s in Infrastructure
financing.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), IREDA;
and Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar, MD, IIFCL.
What is in the MoU?
i.The MoU will empower IREDA and IIFCL for Co-Lending/Co-Origination and Loan Syndication for all RE
projects, including Small Hydro projects.
ii.IREDA will offer its techno-financial expertise to IIFCL for the development of RE Sector.
Both organisations will fix interest rates for IREDA borrowings for 3-4 years.
iii.IIFCL has the option invest in the Bonds issued by IREDA, subject to terms and conditions of the issue.
iv.This collaboration will support India’s target to achieve 50% share of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
Click Here for Official Release
About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA):
IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category-I) Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE) under the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Chairman and Managing Director– Pradip Kumar Das

About India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL):
IIFCL has been registered as a NBFC-ND-IFC(Non-Banking Financial Company-Non Deposit- Infrastructure
Finance Company) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) since September 2013 and follows the applicable
prudential norms of the RBI.
BEL and IAI Signs MoU to Enhance Short Range Air Defence Systems of India
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI), Israel’s leading aerospace and
defence company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in addressing India’s
growing needs in the field of Short Range Air Defence Systems.
The MoU was signed by K V Suresh Kumar, Director (Marketing), BEL, and Avi Elisha, Vice President and
General Manager, Missile Systems Division, IAI, in the presence of Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, Chairman &
Managing Director (CMD), BEL, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The MoU aims at strengthening IAI and BEL’s capabilities and is in line with the
‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) and ‘Make in India’ policies of the Government of India
(GoI).
• This MoU will empower the Indian industry to make significant contributions towards equipping the
Indian Armed forces with state-of-the-art short-range air defense systems
• The primary goal of this partnership is to provide the Indian Armed Forces with high-end Air
Defense solutions that meet their high-end operational requirements on one hand and ‘Make in
India’ requirements on the other.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):
BEL is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- Bhanu Prakash Srivastava
Indian Railways’ GSV Vadodara and Airbus sign MoU to enhance India’s Aviation Sector
On September 7, 2023, Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara (Gujarat) and Airbus,
an European multinational aerospace corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for
collaboration to enhance India’s aviation sector.
• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is a Central University under Ministry of Railways in Vadodara, Gujarat.
This is India’s first University in the Transportation and Logistics sectors.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director, AIRBUS India and South Asia;
and Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor, GSV at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways; and Ms. Jaya Varma Sinha, the
Chairperson and CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Railway Board were present during the signing
ceremony.
What is under the MoU?
i.The MoU entails a partnership between two entities to establish a C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara.
ii.It will support the creation of sector-specific training programs for students and professionals, collaborative
research, industry exposure for faculty, student internships, placements, and scholarships.
iii.This collaboration is expected to generate job opportunities for students, and around 15,000 students will be
placed within Airbus’s Indian operations.
About Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya(GSV):
GSV was established in 2022 by an Act of Parliament.

• It focuses on transportation and logistics, global collaborations aligning with national developmental
plans.
• It offers multidisciplinary programs, executive training, and research, utilizing Indian Railways’
training infrastructure.
Chancellor– Ashwini Vaishnaw (Union Minister of Railways)
Location– Vadodara, Gujarat
NJA signs MoU with Singapore Judicial College on Advancing Cooperation in Judicial Education
& Research
The National Judicial Academy (NJA) of India, which works under the directions of the Supreme Court of India,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Judicial College of the Supreme Court of
Singapore on advancing cooperation in judicial education and research.
• The MoU was signed during Dr. Dhananjaya Yashwant (DY) Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India
(CJI)’s official visit to Singapore. Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of Singapore was also present
during the signing.
• On September 7, 2023, another MoU was signed between the Supreme Court of India and the
Supreme Court of Singapore in the field of Judicial Cooperation in the presence of the CJI and the
Singapore CJ.
• CJ Sundaresh Menon has been serving as the 4th CJ of Singapore since 2012. He is the first
Singapore-born Chief Justice of Singapore.
• CJI DY Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th CJI in November 2022, succeeding Justice
Uday Umesh Lalit. DY Chandrachud’s tenure will end on November 10, 2024.
Note: NJA, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), established in 1993 under the Societies Registration Act, of 1860, is an
independent society, fully funded by the Government of India (GoI).
CJI is the Chairman of the General Body of NJA as well as the Chairman of the Governing Council , the Executive
Committee and the Academic Council of NJA.
Google Cloud & CERT-In Under MeitY Partners to Train Govt Officials in Cybersecurity Skills
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offered by Google, has partnered with the Indian Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to train government
officials in cybersecurity skills.
• CERT-In is part of the MeitY which deals with cybersecurity threats, hacking, and other cyber-
related issues.
• This partnership aims to strengthen the cybersecurity landscape in India.
Features of the partnership:
i.Around 1000 government officials will undergo training in cyber defence best practices including use of
Generative Artificial intelligence(AI), Conducting cybersecurity AI hackathons and real-world applications and
scenarios.
• The experts from Google Cloud and Mandiant (cybersecurity firm and a subsidiary of Google) will
lead training sessions.
ii.Google Cloud will also offer 1 lakh scholarships for Google cybersecurity certificates.
• These scholarships aim to equip learners with in-demand skills necessary for a successful career in
cybersecurity.
ONDC & Google Cloud Collaborate to Advance E-Commerce in India with AI
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Google Cloud collaborated to advance e-commerce in India
with generative AI.
• ONDC is an open protocol network that will allow any e-commerce application to identify and
engage in local commerce across categories such as mobility, grocery, food ordering and delivery,
hotel booking, and travel, among others.

‘Build for Bharat’ – Hackathon :
i.They set to launch an India-wide hackathon, ‘Build for Bharat’ aimed at catalyzing innovation and
addressing critical challenges for the digital users in the country.
• The hackathon is set to span three months, drawing 100,000 participants who will offer mentoring
and assistance.
ii.The hackathon aims to create solutions that democratise access to digital commerce for all people, regardless
of digital literacy, geography, or economic background.
• It also intends to encourage an open ecosystem of developers, students, and companies that will
innovate within the ONDC framework.
iii.It also supports participants in addressing typical e-commerce difficulties such as enhancing supply chain
visibility, developing more targeted consumer personalisation, and optimising inventory management.
About Google Cloud:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Thomas Kurian
About Indian Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT-In):
Director General – Sanjay Bahl
ATIS’ Next G Alliance & Bharat 6G Alliance signed MoU to Explore 6G Wireless Technology
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)’s Next G Alliance and the Bharat 6G
Alliance (B6GA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration opportunities on 6G
wireless technologies.
• The MoU will facilitate aligning research and development priorities that support a common 6G
vision and create secure and trusted telecommunications as well as resilient supply chains.
Key People:
The MoU between the two organizations was signed by Susan Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of ATIS; and N. G. Subramaniam, Chairman of Bharat 6G Alliance and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of
TATA Consultancy Services Limited (TCS).
i.ATIS and B6GA have jointly acknowledged a shared vision. This vision, as joined in a United States-India Joint
Statement, revolves around:
• Building secure and trustworthy telecommunications; bolstering resilient supply chains, and
fostering global digital inclusivity.
ii.Both countries endorse an ambitious vision for 6G networks, which encompasses standards of cooperation
and a strong commitment to collaborative research and development in 6G technologies.
Key Highlights:
i.India had a vision for societal empowerment and the promise of an enhanced quality of life through the next
generation of 6G technology.
ii.The transition to 6G technology needs focused, open, and collaborative research efforts, amongst national
boundaries.
iii.The MoU between ATIS and B6GA is a critical link in shaping the future of the global 6G mobile wireless
ecosystem.
iv.In a significant move towards shaping the future of wireless technology, ATIS highlighted the attempt to
define next-generation wireless leadership.
v.This initiative has seen ATIS enter into collaborative agreements with renowned organizations like:
• Korea’s 5G Forum, Japan’s Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium, and Europe’s 6G Smart Networks and
Services Industry Association (6G-IA).

What is the Next G Alliance?
i.It is an initiative to advance North American mobile technology leadership over the next decade through
private sector-led efforts with the initial focus on 6G.
ii.The work will encompass the full lifecycle of research and development, manufacturing, standardization, and
market readiness, with a strong emphasis on technology commercialization.
• The efforts of its working groups in Applications, Green G (The Path Toward Sustainable 6G),
National 6G Roadmap, Societal and Economic Needs, Spectrum, and Technology are building the
foundation for North American leadership in 6G and beyond.
What is Bharat 6G Alliance (B6AG)?
i.In July 2023, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications launched
the Bharat 6G Alliance to drive innovation and collaboration in next-generation wireless technology.
ii.It is an initiative of Indian industry, academia, and national research institutions and is aligned with the
Bharat 6G Mission to design, develop, and deploy technology and innovations that provide an intelligent and
secure solution for the high-quality living experience of citizens in India and outside.
iii.B6AG aimed at promoting the ecosystem for research, design, development, field testing, Intellectual
property rights (IPR), security, certification, and manufacturing of telecom products and solutions, inter alia.
About Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS):
President & CEO– Susan M. Miller
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., the United States of America(USA)
NVIDIA Partners with RIL to Advance AI in India & Partners with TATA to Build AI
Infrastructure
The United States of America (USA) based chipmaker NVIDIA corporation separately partnered with Reliance
Industries Limited and Tata Group to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) Supercomputers in India.
• The partnership aims to advance computing infrastructure and platforms for developing AI
solutions in India.
• NVIDIA Corporation is a technology company known for designing and manufacturing graphics
processing units (GPUs).
Partnership with Reliance:
i.Reliance Industries and NVIDIA partnered to build the fastest AI supercomputer in India.
• They will collaborate to develop India’s own foundation large language model (LLM), which would
be suitable for generative AI applications and instructed in a wide range of Indian languages.
ii.Nvidia is set to provide cutting-edge technology, including the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip and
the NVIDIA DGX Cloud, an AI supercomputing service hosted in the cloud.
• The GH200 chip is a sifgnificant development in computing architecture, providing unmatched
performance and vast memory bandwidth.
iii.Reliance Jio Infocomm, Reliance Industries’ telecom arm will create AI applications and services for their
450 million Jio customers and provide energy-efficient AI infrastructure to scientists, developers and startups
across India.
• NVIDIA will provide Jio with end-to-end AI supercomputer technologies such as CPU, Graphics
processing unit(GPU), networking, and AI operating systems and frameworks for developing the
most powerful AI models.
iv.The AI infrastructure will be hosted in AI-ready computing data centers that will eventually expand to 2,000
MW.
• Execution and implementation will be managed by Jio.
v.The new AI cloud infrastructure will give academics, developers, entrepreneurs, scientists, AI practitioners,
and others in India access to rapid computing and high-speed, secure cloud networking, allowing them to run
workloads safely and efficiently.

Partnership with Tata:
i.Tata and NVIDIA will collaborate to construct an AI supercomputer powered by the next-generation NVIDIA
GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip to achieve best-in-class performance.
ii.Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will design and process generative AI applications using the AI
infrastructure and capabilities.
• TCS will also upskill its 6 lakh-strong workforce with the partnership.
• The partnership will also catalyze the AI-led transformation across Tata Group companies.
About NVIDIA Corporation :
Founder and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Jensen Huang
ONDC & Transport Dept of Kerala signed MoU to Extend Open Mobility Network
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI) and the Transport Department of
the Government of Kerala signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the scope of the open
mobility network in Kerala.
• The agreement expanded the Kochi Open Mobility Network to cover the rest of the state of Kerala,
now called the Kerala Open Mobility Network (KOMN), which was launched in November 2022 in
Kochi, Kerala.
• The project will integrate all modes of transportation that are currently operating in Kerala onto the
ONDC network and will offer affordable and convenient access to all modes of transport through
user-friendly buyer and seller apps.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by S. Sreejith, Transport Commissioner, Kerala; and Shireesh Joshi, Chief Business Officer
(CBO), ONDC.
i.The partnership aims to integrate the KOMN into ONDC, fostering an inclusive and accessible mobility
ecosystem without any obstacles.
ii.This commitment extends to providing the people of Kerala with convenience, accessibility, and efficiency in
all aspects of transportation on the open network.
iii.This collaboration, known as the KOMN, brings together various stakeholders from government agencies to
private providers, and ensuring safety and convenience, leads to a more connected and accessible Kerala.
Benefits:
The collaboration to extend the open mobility network, powered by the ONDC protocol, can enhance both the
customer and driver value proposition in the Yatri cab and auto booking app in Kochi, Kerala.
• It allows drivers to connect directly with customers, eliminating the need for any intermediaries
thereby enabling the customers to pay less and drivers to earn more.
• With a network of over 5,000 drivers and 2 lakh customers, the app has completed 180,000 trips
and enabled drivers to earn over Rs 4.5 crore without any commissions.
Kochi Open Mobility Network:
i.Kochi Open Mobility Network launched in 2021, is an initiative of the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority
(MTA) to support the local community in Kochi.
ii.Kochi Open Mobility Network is the world’s first inclusive, multimodal mobility network.
iii.The mission provide its citizens with seamless multimodal mobility made available as a digital service.

About Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):
ONDC, the world’s first inclusive large-scale e-commerce system, was incorporated as a Section 8 (Non-Profit
Organisation under the Companies Act 2013) company in December 2021.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– T Koshy
Indian Navy Signed MoU with Uber to Offer Reliable Mobility Solutions for Naval Personnel,
Families
The Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Uber, a leading ridesharing app, to
provide reliable, convenient, safe, and economical mobility solutions for personal travel and commute of Naval
personnel and families across India.
• This MoU aligns with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s (CNS) vision of ‘Happy Personnel’ under the
‘SHIPS FIRST’ approach and is a maiden initiative in the Armed Forces.
• This also promotes the Government of India’s (GoI) ‘Digital India’ vision of embracing technology for
transformative change.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, CNS; Mrs. Kala Hari Kumar, President Navy
Wellness and Welfare Association (NWWA); and Mr. Abhinav Mittoo, Senior Country Manager, Uber for
Business, Under India South Asia and Egypt.
About the MoU:
i.Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will integrate Uber’s advanced ride-sharing technology via a
seamless platform, Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem.
ii.The partnership will help streamline the travel experiences of the Naval workforce, making their travel
smoother and the process more efficient.
Benefits:
Uber will extend several benefits to Indian Naval personnel and their families including: –
• A personalised profile on the Uber App.
• Premier Executive Cab Category provides surge price protection during peak office hours.
• Availability of Top-rated drivers.
• Zero cancellation fee on all Uber rides.
• 24×7 Premium business support.
SHIPS FIRST Approach:
i.The Indian Navy has incorporated the ‘SHIPS FIRST’ approach in its functioning, to boost the morale and
welfare of the Human Resource.
ii.The ‘H’ signifying ‘Happy Personnel’ in ‘SHIPS FIRST‘, highlights the focus of the Indian Navy to meet the
welfare of its sailors (personnel) and their families.
About Uber Technologies, Inc:
Uber is an American transportation conglomerate that provides ride-hailing services.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Dara Khosrowshahi
Headquarters– California, United States of America
President India and South Asia– Prabhjeet Singh
Launched in 2009
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Signs Master Ship Repair Agreement with US Govt to Service its
Fleet
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), a Public-Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence
(MoD), has signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the government of the United States of
America (US), represented by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka, Japan.

• MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding
contractors to pre-approve shipyards to repair US naval vessels.
• Under this agreement, MDL is composed to deliver essential voyage repair and maintenance
services for the US Navy Ships (USNS) and it signifies the strengthening of India’s maritime security.
• This is a non-financial agreement and there are only 2 shipyards in India including MDL which has
signed MSRA, the other being Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The agreement is expected to open up voyage
repairs of US Navy Ships at Mazagon Dock.
• In July 2023, L&T had signed the MSRA with the US Navy. L&T’s Kattupalli Shipyard, near Chennai
(Tamil Nadu), a major node in the Southern Defence Corridor, was qualified for undertaking voyage
repairs of the Military Sealift Command vessels and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52).
Note: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, formerly known as Mazagon Dock Limited was incorporated as a
Private Limited Company on February 26, 1934, in Mumbai (Maharashtra).
NGEL & Nayara Energy Signed MoU For Green Hydrogen Production
NTPC Green Energy Limited(NGEL) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nayara Energy
Limited to produce Green Hydrogen for Nayara Energy’s captive usage and help them in the decarbonisation
process and to reduce carbon footprint.
• This partnership aligns with NTPC’s initiatives to develop hydrogen projects and aims to make India
self-reliant (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Mohit Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer(CEO), NGEL and
Amar Kumar, Head-Technical, Nayara Energy and other officials.
NGEL is the subsidiary of NTPC Limited (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) whereas
Nayara Energy Limited is a Pan-India fuel retail network.
MoLE Signs MoUs with Private Job Portals/Employers to Integrate with NCS Portal
On September 12, 2023, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) signed Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with various job portals, employers, and skill providers to integrate with its National
Career Service (NCS) portal.
• This collaboration allows private job portals to share their job openings on the NCS platform,
expanding employment opportunities for registered jobseekers of NCS.
• This partnership is set to benefit over 30 lakh eShram registered workers in the unorganized sector
who have joined NCS.
Notes:
i.The eShram portal is used for enrollment, registration, collection and identification of the required data of all
the unorganised workers
ii.NCS is a mission mode project launched in 2015 which is being implemented by the Directorate General of
Employment, MoLE. It is a one-stop solution providing employment and career related services to the citizens
of India.
Aim of MoUs:
To enhance employment opportunities and services for jobseekers on NCS portal
Signatories:
MoUs were signed by Amit Nirmal, Deputy Director General (Employment) on behalf of MoLE presence of
Arti Ahuja, Secretary, MoLE; and Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Additional Secretary (Labour and Employment).
Entities with which MoUs were Signed:
1. TeamLease HRtech (Freshersworld)
2. Monster.com India Pvt Ltd referred as foundit
3. QUESS CORP Limited
4. Delivery Track (VSS Tech)
5. KARPAGA Assessment APP MATRIX Services Private Limited (HireMee)

6. QUIKR INDIA Private Limited
7. TCS iON
8. Firstjob.co.in
Other MoUs by MoLE:
i.MoLE partnered with TCS iON to offer free online soft skills employability training in English and Hindi,
enhancing jobseekers’ employability and workforce quality.
• TCS iON is a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) focused on Manufacturing Industries
(SMB), Educational Institutions and Examination Boards.
ii.MoLE also signed an MoU with HireMee to provide free aptitude tests, benefiting both jobseekers and
employers by streamlining candidate selection.
NABARD Inks MoU with UNDP India to Boost Data-Driven Innovations in Agriculture
On September 12, 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
technical cooperation for the joint development of data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to
support smallholder farmers.
Aim:
To promote sustainable agriculture, reducing vulnerability by sharing best practices and optimizing
investments
Signatories:
It was signed by Chief General Manager of NABARD, Sanjeev Rohilla, and UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative, Isabelle Tschan.
i.Under this MoU, NABARD and UNDP will share open-source data for product development, technology
transfer, collective climate action, and agrarian policy support to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder
farmers.
ii.UNDP will utilize its expertise in open innovations, data collaboratives, data science, and global knowledge to
support NABARD’s goal of data-driven decision-making in agriculture investments.
iii.UNDP and NABARD will analyze agricultural trends over time to optimize investment decisions in areas like
watershed management, micro-irrigation, warehouse, and climate-related initiatives.
iv.The partnership will also include enhancing and disseminating collaborative digital public goods
like DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture).
About DiCRA and how it will be useful in this partnership:
Curated by UNDP and partner organizations, it provides intelligence on climate resilience for 50 million
hectares of farmland across India. It identifies resilient and vulnerable farms by using data science and machine
learning, crucial for India’s 80% of rural women employed in agriculture, who are highly vulnerable to climate
change.
• As a part of the partnership, NABARD will host and maintain the DiCRA platform and utilize its
geospatial datasets for policy-making, research, and development activities with UNDP’s technical
support.
About National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):
Chairman– Shaji K V
Established on 12 July 1982
Hindalco Partners with Italy’s Metra to Manufacture Extruded Products for Rail Coaches
Hindalco Industries Limited signed a technology partnership with Rodengo Saiano, Italy-based Metra SpA to
manufacture high-precision extruded products for high-speed aluminium rail coaches in India.

• Extruded aluminium is important in the railway industry because it combines weight reduction and
mechanical strength.
• Hindalco plans to invest Rs.2,000 crore in making passenger coaches for the Vande Bharat
trains and this technology partnership will provide cutting-edge technology for this effort.
Note:
• Hindalco Industries Limited, the metals flagship company of Aditya Birla Group, is the world’s
largest aluminium rolling and recycling company.
• Metra SpA produces high-technology content aluminium extrusions for Railway, Mechanics,
Industrial, Automobile and Architectural applications.
• Extrusion is the process of shaping material such as aluminum, by forcing it to flow through a
shaped opening in a die.
AWS Signed MoU with ISRO & IN-SPACe to Support Space-tech Innovations through Cloud
Computing
Amazon Web Services (AWS) India Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre
(IN-SPACe) to support space-tech innovations through cloud computing.
• Cloud computing provides speedy handling of enormous numbers of raw space data as well as the
execution of Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine learning (ML) and analytics workloads to achieve
meaningful results at a low cost.
i.The partnership will support space startups, research institutes, and students access to cutting edge cloud
technologies that accelerate the development of new solutions in the space sector.
ii.They will also work together on a new initiative to utilise AWS education programmes to train students and
educators in cloud computing, AI, ML, analytics, and security.
iii.This partnership follows the Government of India’s Indian Space Policy 2023.
• The policy provides a strategic roadmap for the growth and development of India’s space program
and ambitions.
A Startup Support Initiative:
i.Through the AWS Activate program, AWS will provide eligible space startups tools, resources, and expert
technical support at no cost.
• This will enable startups to build innovative solutions and commercialise them faster.
ii.Startups will also benefit from access to AWS and its global experience of building aerospace and satellite
solutions through the AWS Space Accelerator program.
About the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe):
IN-SPACe was established under the Department of Space (DOS) as a single window agency for all space sector
activities of private entities.
Chairman – Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka
Headquarters – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Odisha Govt Signed MoU with 6 Public Sector Banks to Provide Banking Services in Unbanked
GPs of Odisha
On 13th September 2023, the Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 6
Public Sector Banks(PSBs), to provide banking services in all unbanked Gram Panchayats (GPs) of Odisha
through Customer Service Point-plus (CSP plus) banking outlets.
• The 6 PSBs are: State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Union Bank of India
(UBI), UCO Bank of India, Bank of India (BoI), and Bank of Baroda (BoB).

• Odisha is the first state in India to adopt such an exemplary model for providing banking services to
all GPs.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Anu Garg, Development Commissioner Cum Additional Chief Secretary
Water Resources, Government of Odisha; Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of Finance department,
Government of Odisha.
Banking Penetration in Odisha:
i.Financial inclusion is a high-priority agenda of the Government. It continues to be a critical challenge since
banking penetration in Odisha is quite low and not uniform across the districts.
• Out of 6798 GPs, around 65% of GPs (4373 GPs) do not have brick-and-mortar branches.
ii.For increasing banking penetration and financial inclusion, brick-and-mortar branches are an integral
component.
iii.Since banking is an essential service for financial inclusion, every GP of Odisha needs to be provided with a
brick-and-mortar branch for easy access to banking services and to strengthen the Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT) system.
Scheme for providing banking services to GPs:
i.In August 2023, the Odisha cabinet approved a scheme under which brick-and-mortar infrastructure will be
offered to banks to roll out their services in all 4,373 unbanked GPs through CSP-plus outlets with a budgetary
support of Rs. 500 crore.
ii.The scheme will be implemented in a phased manner to cover all unbanked GPs of Odisha within the current
financial year 2023-24.
iii.Odisha Govt will provide rent-free banking space for 5 years and bear one-time expenses for Fixed Costs and
Recurring expenses for 3 years.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister– Naveen Patnaik
Governor– Ganeshi Lal
Dance Forms– Ghumura Dance (Folk), Odissi (Classical)
NHAI Signs Agreement to Develop Multi Modal Logistics Park at Bengaluru

National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), has signed an agreement for the development of
Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in at Muddelinganahalli in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The agreement was signed between the Government Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Bengaluru
MMLP Private Limited and Concessionaire SPV PATH Bengaluru Logistics Park Pvt. Ltd.
Note: Bengaluru MMLP is a Government SPV incorporated between NHLML, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
(RVNL) and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). NHLML is the subsidiary of the
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
About Proposed MMLP:
• The proposed MMLP will be developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) (Design,
Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model at an estimated cost of Rs 1,770 crore.
• This project is set to become the first and largest MMLP ever implemented in the country under
the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
• It will handle around 30 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo by the end of the 45-year
concession period, offering a significant boost to industrial zones in the catchment region such
as Bengaluru and Tumkur.
Why MMLP needed?
MMLP is an initiative to enhance freight logistics by enabling effective inter-modal freight movement to
reduce total freight costs and time, provide efficient warehousing, and improve consignment tracking and
traceability.

TCS Partners with BankID BankAxept AS to Enhance Norway’s Financial Infrastructure
Tata Consultancy Services(TCS), a part of the Tata group, has entered a partnership with BankID
BankAxept AS, Norway’s national payment and electronic identity system, to set up and manage an
operations command center that will enhance the resilience, security, and availability of Norway’s
financial infrastructure.
• BankID is the Norwegian eID verification system, used by more than 90% of the population,
banks, government agencies, and commercial enterprises.
i.As part of the agreement, TCS will build and manage a 24×7 operations command center in Oslo, Norway,
for all BankID BankAxept AS users and clients.
ii.It will enable immediate responses to any service disruption, security issues, or client requests that are
related to Norway’s essential national payments and electronic identity verification systems.
iii.TCS will operate a specialised monitoring platform at the new command center that can predict,
respond, and prevent any issues in the value chain from affecting the larger financial services ecosystem.
About Norway:
Prime Minister(PM) – Jonas Gahr Støre
Capital – Oslo
Currency – Norwegian Krone
UN WFP and IIT Bombay Partner to Improve Food Security, Nutrition, Climate Resilience, and
Livelihoods
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB)
in Mumbai( Maharashtra) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve food security,
nutrition, climate resilience, and livelihoods in India.
Purpose of MoU:
i.To Establish a comprehensive knowledge management system to identify, analyze, and generate
evidence related to food and nutrition security.
ii.To Develop an ecosystem for technology and innovations to support government food safety net
programs.
iii.To Create real-time monitoring systems and dashboards using administrative data sets to generate
actionable evidence on food and nutrition security.
The UN WFP, headquartered in Rome, Italy, was established in 1961. The current Executive Director of the
WFP is Cindy H. McCain.
C-DOT & CSIR-NPL Signed an Agreement for Development of NavIC Based IST Traceable PRTC
for Telecom Sector
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR)-
National Physical laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi, Delhi signed an agreement to develop Indian Standard
Time (IST) traceable Primary Reference Time Clock (PRTC) to synchronise all the telecom services with
one reference time.
• The time clock will be based on a regional navigation satellite system called Navigation with
Indian Constellation (NavIC).
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Rajkumar Upadhyay, the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of C-DOT
Note: C-DOT is an autonomous telecom Research & Development(R&D) centre under the Department of
Telecommunication under the Ministry of Communications.
Purpose of the agreement:
The agreement was signed under Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the

Department of Telecommunication(DoT) to provide fund to domestic companies and institutions involved
in technology design, development, commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to
enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
About Primary Reference Time Clock (PRTC):
i.The device aims to provide direct IST traceability to all the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) within ± 20 nanoseconds.
ii.The device provides several benefits such as reducing the dependency on Global Positioning System
(GPS), shifting to NavIC (formerly known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)),
Improving digital forensic analysis of transactions along with increased cyber secure networks and
reduced call drops.
Why PRTC?
i.Time synchronisation of TSPs and ISPs is essential for a nation’s cybersecurity, as all financial
transactions, stock market trades, and communication are routed through them.
ii.The development of the PRTC is also an important step towards achieving the objective of “One nation
One time“.
• This is because it will ensure that all telecom networks in India are synchronised with the same
time source.
About Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme:
TTDF Scheme was launched in 2022 by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the DoT.
• TTDF Scheme (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology
applications.
• It brings together academia, startups, research institutes, and industry to build and develop the
telecom ecosystem.
Additional Info:
i.Indian R&D has the potential to develop innovative solutions for the future.
ii.To achieve the goal of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India), the collaboration in areas of mutual
interest is needed.
About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajkumar Upadhyay
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) – National Physical laboratory (NPL):
CSIR-NPL is the custodian of National Standards and maintains the Indian Standard Time (IST). The
National Physics Laboratory(NPL) was the first among the chain of national laboratories to be set up
under CSIR.
Director – Venugopal Achanta
Located in – New Delhi, Delhi
GRSE Signed MoUs with Lloyd’s Register & Caterpillar Inc for Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Ferry & Medium-Speed Engines
The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited signed two non-binding Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with foreign companies during the Defense and Security Equipment
International (DSEI) Exhibition in London, United Kingdom (UK) which took place from 12th – 15th
September 2023 at the Excel in London’s Royal Victoria Dock.
• These MoUs are in line with India’s commitment to advance innovative green energy
technologies and promote sustainable, cost-effective alternative fuels.

GRSE MoU’s with Foreign Companies:
The two non-binding and confidential in nature MoUs
• With Lloyd’s Register for the development of a hydrogen fuel cell ferry
• With Caterpillar Inc. for a potential collaboration in the production, sale, and service of
medium-speed engines, particularly for the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Note:
• GRSE is a Mini Ratna Category 1 Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence.
• Lloyd’s Register is a 260-year-old company that works towards finding sustainable solutions to
maritime transportation.
• Caterpillar Inc. is an American construction, mining and other engineering equipment
manufacturer.
Key Points:
i.GRSE has also entered into a MoU with Goa-based DEMPO Group to construct commercial vessels at its
three premier shipyards of DEMPO at DSEPL Goa and Modest Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
• This represents GRSE’s first venture into commercial shipbuilding following their
groundbreaking public-private partnerships in India’s warship-building sector.
ii.The Central Government also plans to build hydrogen-fueled electric vessels, in line with the Global
Maritime Green Transitions initiative, in partnership with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and The Energy
and Resources Institute (TERI).
Additional info:
i.Munition India Limited(MIL), Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Limited (AW&EIL), Yantra India
Limited(YIL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited(BDL) were the other PSU’s that participated in DSEI
exhibition.
ii.The Indian Pavilion in the exhibition was inaugurated by Vikram Doraiswami, India’s High
Commissioner to the UK on 12th September 2023.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director– Cmde PR Hari, IN Retd
Headquarter– Kolkata, West Bengal
Iran-India Joint Chamber of Commerce & FIEO Signed MoU to Boost Trade, Investment
On September 22, 2023, Iran-India Joint Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with New Delhi(Delhi) based Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO) to develop cooperation in
the fields of trade, investment, quality standards and technology transfer.
• The MoU was signed by Mahdi Rangrona, Vice President of the Iran-India Joint Chamber of
Commerce; and Ajay Shai, Director General(DG) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FIEO.
About Iran:
Capital– Tehran
Currency– Iranian Rial
President– Ebrahim Raisi
Indian Navy & IISc Bengaluru Signed MoU for Technical Collaboration & Joint Research
A Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) was signed between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indian Institute of
Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka, to promote academic cooperation in the varied field on Engineering,
improve scientific understanding of defense-related technologies, and create new technologies.
• The MoU was signed by Rear Admiral K Srinivas, Assistant Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refit) on behalf
of the IN and Captain Shridhar Warrier (Retd), Registrar IISc and Prof B Gurumoorthy, Director
of Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) Bengaluru. FSID is promoted by IISc

CO2 Based AC:
IN collaborates with IISc to undertake development indigenously designed & developed future-ready
Transcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) based Air Conditioner (AC) plant working on natural refrigerant.
• By inculcating this technology, the use of halon synthetic refrigerants can be reduced and phased out in
near future.
• This MoU paves a path to develop such technologies in the near future
ONGC Signed Agreement with HPCL for Sale of Oil from Mumbai Offshore
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), the largest crude oil and natural gas Company in India, signed
an agreement to supply crude oil from Mumbai (Maharashtra) offshore fields to Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Ltd (HPCL). This agreement covers the sale of approximately 4.5 million tonnes of crude oil per
annum to HPCL’s Mumbai refinery.
• ONGC and HPCL are the Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG). HPCL is a subsidiary of ONGC
Note: ONGC produces 13-14 million tonnes of crude oil per year from its resources in the Arabian Sea, off the
coast of Mumbai.
This is ONGC’s 2nd term agreement sealed for the sale of Mumbai Offshore crude oil post-marketing freedom.
Previsouly, in August 2023, ONGC signed a similar agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to
supply 4 million tonnes per annum of crude oil, with an optional 0.5 million tonnes.
About Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC):
Chairman & CEO– Arun Kumar Singh
Established in– 14th August 1956
Ministry of Education, AICTE & Microsoft Signs MoU to Equip Students with Skills
Ministry of Education(MoE), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Microsoft have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to equip students with skills and exposure to new technologies.
• The collaboration aims to provide students with opportunities for skill development, mentorship,
and project development, as well as to empower educators in the fields of AI, Cloud, Data Science,
Data Analytics, and Security.
i.Microsoft is set to integrate Microsoft Learn its centralized training and skilling platform to complement
AICTE’s existing curriculum and offer students hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies.
ii.Microsoft will also engage students in the Azure Developer Community in India for industry insights and
mentorship.
• Students and educators will also have access to Azure Handbooks to work on projects that solve
problems for industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and education.
iii.The Future Ready Talent Program will also be offered for skilling students and virtual mentorship on
technology projects to strengthen their competences.
Key people:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Minister of State for Education; Annapurna Devi, Minister of State for
Education and T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE.
About Future Ready Talent Program:
i.Future Ready Talent Program is a digital upskilling program for students to enhance their employability.
• Students will receive a certificate from Microsoft and the National Association of Software and
Service Companies (NASSCOM) after completing their internship through this program.

• It is the collaborative initiative by Microsoft, AICTE, FutureSkills Prime – a NASSCOM and Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) digital skilling initiative, Ernst & Young (EY),
GitHub and Quess Corp.
About All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE):
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the national-level Apex Advisory Body for the promotion of
quality in technical education under the Ministry of Education(MoE).
Chairman – T.G. Sitharam
About Microsoft:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Satya Nadella
Headquarters – Redmond, Washington (United States of America)
IBM Signed 8 MoUs with departments of MoE & MSDE to Scale Digital Skills Training in India
On September 27, 2023, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) signed 8 Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with the departments under the Ministry of Education (MoE), and Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to offer tailored courses to empower the Indian youths with
future-ready digital skills.
• The signing of these MoUs were presided over by the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE
and MSDE.
Focus of the Collaboration:
This partnership focus on the co-creation of curriculum and access to IBM SkillsBuild, learning platform of
IBM, for learners across school education, higher education, and vocational skills on emerging technologies like
Artificial Intelligence(AI) (including generative AI), Cybersecurity, cloud computing, and professional
development.
What is in the MoUs?
IBM’s collaboration with MoE and MSDE spans following three levels of education:
i.School Education: Provide access to digital content and skills training from IBM SkillsBuild for high school
students, teachers, and trainers in schools selected by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), National Council for
Teacher Education (NCTE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and NIOS (National Institute of Open
Schooling).
• This will be offered online (webinars) and in-person workshops.
• IBM will also work on CBSE’s AI curriculum for Grades 11 and 12, develop a cyber skilling and
blockchain curriculum for high school students to be hosted on IBM SkillsBuild.
ii.Higher Education: IBM, through its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) implementation partners, will
work with the Department of Higher Education, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National
Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training
& Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh and state skilling missions to offer digital content and skills development
opportunities to students and faculty in technical fields through IBM SkillsBuild.
iii.Vocational Skills: Working with MSDE, Directorate General of Training (DGT), and state vocational
departments to empower job seekers, including the long-term unemployed and school dropouts, with technical
and professional skills through IBM SkillsBuild for workforce re-entry.
ECI & Electoral Commission of Seychelles Signed MoU for Cooperation in Electoral Management
Electoral Commission of Seychelles (ECS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Election
Commission of India (ECI) for cooperation to enhance electoral management and administration.
The MoU was signed by Danny Lucas, Chairperson of the ECS, and Rajiv Kumar, chief election commissioner of
ECI.

This MoU will support improving electoral management and administration, building on shared
experience, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge.
This will also strengthen exchange of best practices in election management and training of officials.
Previously, CEC Rajiv Kumar visited Bhutan on 26th April 2023 and held Bilateral discussions with Dasho
Sonam Topgay, Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan, on the collaboration on human resource development,
research & training, and leveraging technological advancements to strengthen election management.
Arunachal Signed MoU with NGI to Harness Geothermal Potentials

On the occasion of World Tourism Day (WTD) 2023 (27th September 2023), Arunachal
Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Norwegian Geotechnical
Institute (NGI) to explore and develop its geothermal potential through hot springs available in the state.
The aim of the MoU coincides with the theme of WTD 2023 “Tourism and Green Investment.”
The Royal Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi, Delhi will technically support the project through NGI.
Delegates:
i.On behalf of Arunachal Pradesh the MoU was signed by Repo Ronya (Secretary of Science & Technology in the
state) and Rajinder Bhasin (a technical expert from NGI) signed for NGI.
ii.The MoU was signed in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister(CM) Pema Khandu and Vivek
Kumar who is the Senior advisor of the Norwegian embassy in New Delhi, Delhi.
Aim of the MoU:
Aims to provide facilitating mechanism for both to work on mutually agreed, progressive and
supportive activities.
Aim to further the development in the field of Geotechnics and Rock Engineering through dealing
complex sub-surface geological and geotechnical issued of Arunachal Pradesh.
About the MoU:
i.NGI will carry out geological, geochemical, and geothermal investigation of selected geothermal sites in
Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal.
This investigation will include an Magnetotellurics (MT) survey to decipher the deeper geo-electrical
configuration of geothermal springs (hot springs) and assess the feasibility of utilizing the
geothermal energy resources for further use.
ii.The Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CESHS), an autonomous organization of Arunachal
Pradesh’s Department of Science & Technology, is working with the NGI to assess the potential of geothermal
energy in the state.
iii.Many of the hot springs are located in mountain areas where generators run on fossil fuel for electricity and
heating. These can be replaced by geothermal energy with no Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) emissions.
iv.The local communities and the army personnel will be benefitted from the outcome of this project.
About Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI):
NGI is an independent research centre in the field of geotechnical engineering and the engineering geosciences.
Managing Director(MD) – Lars Andresen
Headquarters – Oslo, Norway
About Arunachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister – Pema Khandu
Governor- Lt. General KT Parnaik
Wild Life Sanctuary – Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Yordi-Rabe Supse
Zoological Park – Itanagar Zoological Park, Roing Zoo

Govt Forms 8-member Committee on ‘One Nation One Election’ chaired by Former President
Ram Nath Kovind
On September 1, 2023, the Union Government formed a committee under the leadership of former President
of India Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibility of “One Nation One Election” which aims to hold General
(Lok Sabha) and State elections simultaneously.
• The information for the same was shared by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of
Parliamentary Affairs.
Member of the committee includes
• Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs
• Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the largest party (Congress) in Opposition (Lok Sabha)
• Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Leader of the Opposition
• NK Singh, Former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission
• Subhash C. Kashyap Former Secretary General, Lok Sabha
• Harish Salve, Senior Advocate
• Sanjay Kothari, Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State(MoS) independent Charge, Minister of Law and Justice will be a special
invitee to the meeting of the committee.
Niten Chandra, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs will be the secretary of the committee.
Primary focus of the committee:
i.Review and recommend revisions to the Representation of the People Act, the Constitution of India, and other
relevant laws and regulations required to facilitate simultaneous elections across the nation.
ii.It will assess whether state ratifications are necessary for the proposed Constitutional revisions and provide
suitable recommendations.
iii.It will also examine and offer recommendations for addressing scenarios, like hung Houses, motions of no
confidence, defections, and other similar situations, in the context of concurrent elections.
What is One Nation, One Election?
The Central Government is planning to introduce a bill on One Nation, One Election which envisages
simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies either on a single day or within a specific time
frame.
• In India, the general elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assembly polls are held
separately when the tenure of the incumbent government comes to an end or it gets dissolved for
some reason.
This concept is not entirely new, as India previously held simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in
1951-52, 1957, 1962, and 1967, though they were discontinued due to premature dissolutions.
Benefits:
i.Reduces electoral costs for both the Election Commission of India (ECI) and candidates.
ii.Eases the burden on administrative and security forces with fewer election duties.
iii.Ensures consistency and continuity in policies and programs between the Central government and states.
iv.Enables the government to focus on governance instead of constant election campaigning.
v.Potentially increases voter turnout due to the convenience of casting multiple ballots at once.
MoEF&CC sets up new panel replacing SC’s Ad-Hoc Central Empowered Committee
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has set up a new permanent Central
Empowered Committee (CEC), replacing an ad hoc expert panel with the same name which assisted the
Supreme Court (SC) in matters of forest and environment issues.

• Now, CEC is instituted as a permanent statutory body on environmental issues, and Government
of India (GoI) has full control over the constitution of the CEC.
• This development followed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Key Points:
i.In this regard, Union government will nominate and appoint members to the new CEC.
ii.It will comprise a chairperson, a member secretary and three expert members.
• The chairperson, with a minimum of 25 years of experience in environmental, forestry, or wildlife
fields or substantial administrative expertise in government, will serve a maximum term of three
years.
iii. The member secretary must hold a rank not lower than deputy inspector general or director with a
minimum of 12 years of experience, and the three expert members, one from each sector, need at least 20 years
of expertise.
About Ad-hoc (Old) CEC:
The CEC, formed in 2002 by the SC, acted as an environmental watchdog, significantly influencing India’s
environmental policy and governance. It was created during the T N Godavarman case to oversee court orders
related to forests and wildlife. It monitored the implementation of the court’s orders related to forests, wildlife
and conservation.
MCA Extends Tenure of Company Law Committee by 1 Year

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) has extended the tenure of the Company Law Committee by 1 year,
until September 16, 2024.
Company Law Committee:
i.The Company Law Committee was set up in 2019 with a tenure of one year(2020), and its tenure was
successively extended year after year.
ii.The committee has been tasked with examining and recommending the government on different matters
concerning the implementation of the Companies Act, 2013, and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)Act,
2008.
objectives:
• To promote the Ease of Living in the country by providing ease of doing business to law-abiding
corporates.
• To Promote improved corporate compliance for all stakeholders.
• To address emerging issues having an impact on the working of companies in India.
Committee Members:
At Present, the Company Law Committee consists of 11-members under the chairmanship of the Dr Manoj
Govil, Secretary, MCA.
Additional Info:
The Company Law Committee recently released its third report in March 2022. They had
recommended various changes to the Companies Act, 2013 to recognise new concepts, expedite corporate
processes, improve compliance requirements, and remove ambiguities from existing provisions
About Ministry of Corporate Affairs:
Union Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Lok Sabha Constituency – Gurugram, Haryana)
Highlights of 54th AGM of REC Limited; Committed to Increase Green Project Loan Portfolio
to Rs 3 Lakh cr by 2030
On September 6, 2023, the 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification
Corporation Limited) was held via Video Conferencing. The Meeting was chaired by its Chairman & Managing
Director (CMD) Vivek Kumar Dewangan.

Highlights from AGM:
i.REC Limited is committed to increase its green project loan portfolio to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2030, representing
more than a 10-fold increase.
ii.REC’s focus areas include Renewable Energy (RE) projects like solar, wind, hybrid, and e-mobility, along with
emerging sectors such as Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia.
iii.The Ministry of Power has granted REC the authority to provide loans to non-power infrastructure and
logistics sectors, contributing to India’s development.
• In FY23, REC sanctioned over Rs 85,700 crore for diverse projects, accounting for about 32% of the
company’s total sanctions.
iv.In August 2022, REC issued bonus shares in a 1:3 ratio, increasing its issued and paid-up share capital to Rs
2,633.22 Crore. REC is known for its generous dividend payouts.
• In terms of dividends, REC is among the highest dividend-paying companies in its category.
v.REC offered remote e-voting to its members from September 3, 2023, to September 5, 2023, in accordance
with Regulation 44 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI-Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements) Regulations 2015 and Section 108 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 20 of the
Companies (Management and Administration) Rules 2014.
REC raises USD 1.15 Billion through Syndicated Term Loans in August 2023
REC Limited raised USD 1.15 billion in August 2023 in two tranches from a consortium of six banks
as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (MLABs) under its Market Borrowing Programme of Rs. 1.20
lakh crore for 2023-24.
• The tenor of the loan is 5-years and are benchmarked to SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate),
the benchmark rate for the loans denominated in USD.
Key Points:
i.Tranche 1 of USD 505 million was raised on August 3, 2023, from Bank of Baroda (BoB), Gujarat International
Fin Tec-City (GIFT City) IFSC Banking Unit (IBU); Axis Bank, GIFT City IBU; State Bank of India (SBI), London
Branch(the United Kingdom-UK).
ii.Tranche 2 of USD 645 million was raised on August 31, 2023, from SBI London Branch, Bank of India (BoI),
GIFT City IBU; BoI London Branch; and HSBC, GIFT City IBU.
iii.These funds will be utilized towards power, infrastructure, and logistics projects under the ECB (External
Commercial Borrowings) guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
iv.GIFT City IBUs committed a record USD 550 million, the highest-ever monthly contribution to REC.
Notes:
i.A syndicated loan is a loan offered by a group of lenders (called a syndicate) who work together to provide
funds for a single borrower.
ii.SOFR is the benchmark rate for the loans denominated in USD (United States Dollars).
REC signs USD 100mn Foreign Currency Term Loan Agreement with EXIM Bank
REC Limited secured a Foreign Currency Term Loan of USD 100 million from EXIM (Export Import) Bank of
India. This is the first term loan being extended by Exim Bank to REC.
• The 5-year loan, benchmarked to SOFR, will be used to refinance and provide capital equipment
loans to borrowers in the power, infrastructure, and logistics sectors.
• This is a part of REC’s Market Borrowing Programme for 2023-24.
i.On July 20, 2023, Avaada Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with REC Limited under
which the latter will invest Rs 20,000 crore in Avaada Group over the next five years.
ii.Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) and REC Ltd. have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
clean energy companies for providing a total of Rs 5 lakh crore funds to their projects during the “Green
Finance Summit” held in Goa.

About REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited):
It is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Headquarter– Gurugram, Haryana

India G20 Summit, 9 September 2023 – 10 September 2023
The two-day 18th G20 (Group of 20) Leaders’ Summit, under India’s presidency, happened in Bharat
Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from September
9th to 10th, 2023. This is the first ever G20 Summit being hosted by India.
• The meeting was held under the theme of
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth – One
Family – One Future”. It is inspired from the Maha
Upanishad, an old Sanskrit scripture.
• The theme also spotlights LiFE (Lifestyle for
Environment).
Note – The previous 17th G20 Heads of State and Government
Summit took place on 15-16th November 2022, in Bali,
Indonesia with theme for this was, “Recover Together, Recover
Strong”.
Key Attendees:
The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the
United States and the European Union.
• G20 Invitees: The Nations invited by India included delegates from these countries: Bangladesh, the
Netherlands, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates
(UAE).
• G-20’s invited international organisations included UN (United Nations), IMF(International
Monetary Fund), World Bank, WHO (World Health Organization), WTO (World Trade
Organization), ILO(International Labour Organization), FSB (Financial Stability Board), OECD
(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), AU (African Union), NEPAD (New
Partnership for Africa’s Development) , ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),
ADB (Asian Development Bank), ISA (International Seabed Authority), and CDRI (China
Development Research Institute).
About G20:
Founded: 1999
• The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the
European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).
• During the 18th G20 Summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi announced that the African Union has been
included as a member of the G20, making it the 21st member.
African Union becomes 21st member of G20 grouping
In the opening ceremony of 18th G20 Summit, on September 9th, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
made a historic declaration by announcing that the African Union had officially become a permanent member
of the G20.
• This significant inclusion means that the G20 has now transformed into the G21.

About African Union:
(i) Established: It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
which was founded in year 1963.
(ii) Chairperson: Azali Assoumani (from Comoros)
(iii) Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
History has been created with the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement about the unanimous adoption of the New
Delhi declaration during the 18th G20 summit.
Key takeaways from Delhi Declaration:
(i) The document is of 37 pages & 83 paras. All the 83 paras of the declaration were passed unanimously
with a 100 per cent consensus.
• The declaration contained 112 outcomes. These includes 73 outcomes (lines of effort) and 39
annexed documents.
(ii) The New Delhi Leader’s Delhi declaration lays emphasis on key points such as sustainable development
goals (SDGs), Gender equality, Countering terrorism and money laundering. Click here to view Delhi
Declaration Document
The declaration highlighted the significance of the Purposes and Principles outlined in the UN
Charter.
• It stressed that all nations should avoid using force or threats of force to gain territory or interfere
with the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or political independence of other states and it states the
usage of nuclear weapons as “inadmissible”.
(iv) The declaration outlines a vision for a sustainable future through the establishment of a green
development pact.
• The declaration also mentions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE.
• G20 is endorsing the 2023 Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) with the aim of accelerating
financial inclusion for individuals and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
(v) The declaration mentions about member nation’s commitment to pursue reforms for better, bigger and
more effective Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). Member countries also expressed their commitment
to improve access to digital services and digital public infrastructure.
India launches Global Biofuel Alliance
On September 9, 2023, at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the
Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), a collective effort aimed at reducing the world’s dependency on petrol and diesel
fuels.
• This initiative represents a significant step in the direction of sustainable energy and economic
strategies. Biofuels are considered an alternative and more environmentally friendly source of
energy compared to traditional fossil fuels, as they can be derived from renewable resources like
plant matter.
Note – India is the world’s third-largest consumer and importer of oil.
Key Takeaways:
(i) A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including
both G20 members and non-member countries.
• India, Brazil, and the United States laid the foundation for the alliance. Together, these three
countries account for a significant 85% of global ethanol production and are responsible for 81% of
its consumption.
(ii) The GBA has been launched with nine initiating members–India, the USA (United States of America), Brazil,
Argentina, Bangladesh, Italy, Mauritius, South Africa, UAE.
• Canada and Singapore are observer countries.

About GBA:
The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) is an initiative by India as the G20 Chair.The GBA aims to accelerate the
worldwide adoption of biofuels by promoting technological advancements, increasing the use of sustainable
biofuels, setting globally recognized standards, identifying global best practices, and ensuring industry
participation
• Additionally, GBA will serve as a central repository of knowledge and a hub for expertise in the field.
About Biofuels:
• Biofuels refers to the renewable fuels derived from biomass–from plants or agricultural, animal,
domestic, and industrial biowaste.
• Global Biofuel Production Targets: According to estimates by the International Energy Agency
(IEA), the global production of biofuels would need to triple by 2030. This significant increase in
biofuel production is seen as a crucial step in aligning the world’s energy systems with the goal of
achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
• India’s Carbon Neutrality Commitment: India has set commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by
2070 means that India aims to reducing its net emissions to zero.
• Biofuel Roadmap in India: India has also outlined an ambitious biofuel roadmap as part of its
efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy. One significant aspect of this
roadmap is the government’s commitment to achieving a 20% ethanol blending rate in petrol by
2025-26, which is an acceleration of its earlier target of reaching this level by 2030.
Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) & India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC)
On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of USA,
H.E. Mr. Joe Biden co-chaired a special event on Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII)
and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Governments of India, USA, Saudi
Arabia, the European Union, UAE, France, Germany, and Italy to establish the India – Middle East –
Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• PGII is a developmental initiative aimed at narrowing the infrastructure gap in developing countries
as well as help towards accelerating progress on SDGs globally.
About IMEC:
(i) The IMEC comprises of an Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Gulf region and a Northern Corridor
connecting the Gulf region to Europe. It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport
routes.
(ii) The new project is a part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) – an initiative for
funding infrastructure projects across the world and is seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI).
(iii) In 2022, during the G7 summit in Germany, the PGII was officially launched as a joint initiative to help fund
infrastructure projects in developing countries through public and private investments.
• Through this partnership, the G7 (Group of 7) aims to mobilize up to USD 600 billion by 2027 to
narrow the infrastructure investment gap in partner countries.
Gender equality, women empowerment and women-led development
Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration
2023 introduced a significant step forward for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women-led
development.
• The idea is incorporated from the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment,
which was held in Gandhinagar from August 2-4, 2023.
• The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration 2023 focuses on ‘Enhancing Economic and Social
Empowerment’, ‘Bridging the Gender Digital Divide’, ‘Driving Gender Inclusive Climate Action’ and
‘Securing Women’s Food Security, Nutrition and Well-Being’.

Key Highlights:
(i) Building on Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Nari Shakti (the power of women) vision, India’s G20
Presidency has shifted the focus for the first time from women’s development to women-led development.
• G20 EMPOWER and W20 meetings chaired by Dr. Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director- Apollo
Hospitals Group) and Dr. Sandhya Purecha (Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee) are notable events
with the support of Ministry of Women & Child Development(MWCD).
• The inclusion of a commitment to “Gender Equality and Empowering All Women and Girls” in the
G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration 2023 reflects a significant step toward addressing gender
disparities and promoting the empowerment of women and girls on a global scale.
(ii) Leaders of the G20 agreed to the creation of a Working Group on the empowerment of women to support
the G20 Women’s Ministerial which will convene its first meeting during the Brazilian G21 Presidency.
India hands over G20 presidency to Brazil as summit concludes
The two days G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 was concluded on 10th September,2023. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, which will assume the
presidency of the grouping from December 1,2023 this year.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi called an end to the 18th G20 summit in New Delhi by passing on
a ceremonial gavel to Brazil, which will take the bloc’s presidency.
• India is currently holding the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022, to November 30,
2023.
• It was further proposed that a virtual session of the G20 will be conducted by the month of
November,2023.
• During the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Modi delivered closing remarks that resonated with a global
audience, concluding with the Sanskrit phrase, “Swasti Astu Vishwasya!” which translates to a wish
for hope and peace throughout the world.
• Earlier in the day, he addressed the third session of the summit, presenting a visionary framework
for responsible Human-Centric AI.
UK PM Rishi Sunak signs new strategic pact with Singapore in India
On the margins of G20 Leader’s summit, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak forged new strategic partnership
with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on September 9,2023.
• Both the countries will work to conclude a “new and modern” bilateral investment treaty and it will
be the first treaty which UK has negotiated since Brexit.
• In addition to enhanced economic cooperation, the new U.K.-Singapore Strategic Partnership is
expected to strengthen security cooperation, science and technology innovation, and research and
development.
ADB commits concessional loan to India under Green Financing facility
(i)During the summit, Asian Development Bank (ADB) assured India to provide concessional loans under the
Green Financing facility is significant in the context of India’s efforts to achieve its environmental and
sustainable development goals.
• Concessional Loans: Concessional loans typically offer favorable terms to borrowing countries,
including lower interest rates and longer repayment periods.
(ii)During the bilateral meeting between ADB President Masasugu Asakawa met Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman, both discussed the outcome of G20 India Presidency and ADB contribution to G20 work streams
under the Finance side as well as the Sherpa side.
• Sherpas are high-level government officials who work behind the scenes to prepare for G20
summits. They are responsible for advancing their country’s priorities, coordinating negotiations,
and ensuring that the agenda is effectively addressed.

G20: Nataraja Statue at Bharat Mandapam
The 18th G20 Summit featured the world’s tallest Nataraja statue, statue shows Lord Shiva as the lord of
dance at the Bharat Mandapam which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26, 2023.
Key Takeaways for Bharat Manadapam:
(i) It is made of eight metals or ‘Astha dhatu’ which includes copper (87%), zinc (10%), lead (3%), and very
small proportion of tin, silver, gold, mercury and iron.
(ii) It is Crafted by sculptors from Swamimalai in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, using the ‘lost-wax casting‘
method.
(iii) The 27-foot sculpture weighs about 20 tonnes.
(iv) The ‘Nataraja’ has been created in the style of Chola tradition, prevalent in 9th century south India and
statue is made by Srikanda Sthapathy.
“Millet Didis” of Odisha at G20
Subasa Mohanta and Raimati Ghiuria, two women from Odisha, India, got the opportunity to share their
experiences and success in millet cultivation at the G20 Summit held on September 9-10 in New Delhi, among
world leaders. They were called as affectionately known as ‘Mandia Didi’ or ‘Millet Didi’.Both women came
from tribal communities and credited the success of millet cultivation to the Millet Mission initiated by
the Odisha government.
• The mission has expanded to cover 177 blocks in 30 districts and has contributed to the resurgence
of millet cultivation.
Significant Books related to G20
(i) India in the G20: Rule-taker to Rule-maker – Manjeet Kripalani
(ii) G20 @ 2023: The Roadmap to Indian Presidency – V. Srinivas
(iii) India & the G20: Legacy & Prospects for Multilateralism amidst a Poly Crisis – Patrick Bond and Sonal
Raghuvanshi
(iv) 20 Years of G20: From Global Cooperation to Building Consensus – Edited by Rajat Kathuria, Prateek
Kukreja
(v) Economics Of G20: A World Scientific Reference – John Whalley and Manmohan Agarwal
(vi) The G20 Development Agenda – Parthasarathi Shome
WHO released Gujarat Declaration: Outcome Document of WHO Traditional Medicine Global
Summit 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the WHO Traditional
Medicine Global Summit 2023 in the form of the “Gujarat Declaration”.
• This reaffirs the global commitments towards
indigenous knowledges, biodiversity and
traditional, complementary and integrative
medicine.
• The pariticipants of the summit endrosed the
outcomes of the summit based on the research and
evidence-informed discussions and initiatives
presented in the Summit’s 5 plenaries and 6
parallel sessions.
Gujarat Declaration:
i.The meeting report sets out a strategic action agenda aimed at advancing universal health coverage and
achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the integration of Traditional,
Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) and Indigenous knowledge.

ii.The report also explores the application of science, technology, innovation, and knowledge exchange in
validating and unlocking the contribution of TCIM for the betterment of planetary health and people’s
health and well-being across all stages of life.
iii.This will act as a catalyst to harness the potential of traditional medicine through the lens of science and
will focus on the integration of traditional medicines in national health systems and help unlock the power
of traditional medicine.
iv.This highlights the role of the multi-regional, multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaborations
demonstrated at the Global Summit through the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) that
is in line with and complements the work of WHO to maximise the benefits of TCIM in global health.
Points to note:
i.Support the evidence-based integration in national health policies and systems based on the highest
quality research.
ii.Accelerate the production, regulation, and formal utilization of scientifically proven TCIM products and
practices.
iii.Advance policies that promote standardized TCIM documentation
iv.Establish a global network of TCIM reference clinical centres that can routinely undertake standardized
data collection and monitoring based on WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) coding of
the implementation.
v.Recognize, respect and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as provided in the United Nation (UN)
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Summit:
WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Summit “Towards Health and Well-being for All” co-hosted by the
Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Government of
India (GoI) and WHO was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023.
Objective:
To mobilise political commitment and evidence-based action on TCIM to achieve universal health coverage
and well-being for people and the planet.
Note: The G20 Health Ministers’ meeting under the G20 India Presidency themed “One Earth. One Family.
One Future” was held from 17th to 19th August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
About the Summit:
i.It was the first in the series of WHO global summits on traditional medicine, which will be held bi-
annually in different WHO regions.
ii.The programme and agenda of the summit were organized around the core themes of evidence and
learning, data and regulation, biodiversity, innovation, and digital health.
Highlights:
i.During this summit, several global commitments were reaffirmed, emphasising the importance of
indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and TCIM. It included the:
• Declaration of Alma-Ata of 1978;
• Convention on Biological Diversity 1992:
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007;
• UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care 2018;
• UN General Assembly (UNGA) political declaration on universal health coverage in 2019;
• World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions on traditional, complementary and integrative
medicine (TCIM), and Indigenous People’s health and rights, among others.

ii.Based on the evidence, discussions and outcomes presented at the Summit, the participants agreed to
support some action agenda and a few of them are:
• Health and well-being of people and the planet
• Global health leadership in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
• Data, and routine information systems
• Biodiversity and sustainability.
About WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine(GCTM):
i.In March 2022 WHO, with the support of the GoI, established the WHO GCTM, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in
response to the increased global interest and demand.
ii.The Centre serves as a remarkable addition to the WHO’s existing capacity in traditional medicine and
supplements.
ii.It collaborates with the 6 regional WHO Offices and Headquarters to provide support on governance,
norms, and country-specific initiatives.
For the first time, India hosted the Global Food Regulators Summit 2023, held as part of the Group 20
(G20) event, in Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, Delhi from 20th to 21st July 2023. The summit was
organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Director-General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Established on– 7 April 1948
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi visit to Jakarta; Attended 20th ASEAN-India Summit & 18th
East Asia Summit
Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi paid official visit to Jakarta, Indonesia from 6th to 7th September
2023 at the invitation of Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia.
• During his visit, he attended the 20th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) -India
Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) hosted by Indonesia as current Chair of ASEAN.
• The 20th ASEAN-India Summit is the 1st Summit since the elevation of India-ASEAN relations to a
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
In 2023, Indonesia took lead as ASEAN Chair with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. The
Chairmanship of ASEAN is rotate annually based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member
States.
20th ASEAN-India Summit:
On September 7, 2023, the 20th ASEAN-India Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Summit was co-
chaired by Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Indian PM Narendra Modi on the
theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth‘.
• The meeting reviewed the progress made under ASEAN-India dialogue relations and welcomed the
Annex to the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and
Shared Prosperity (2021-2025) which was adopted during ASEAN Post Ministerial
Conference with India (PMC+1), held in Jakarta on July 13, 2023.
Highlights:
i.Discussions were held on enhancing the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing
ASEAN’s centrality in the Indo-Pacific.
ii.Indian side highlighted alignment between India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
iii.Emphasis were laid on the importance of promptly reviewing the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA).
iv.The Indian Side announced to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.

• Timor-Leste joined the ASEAN in 2022 as an Observer, before becoming its full member.
v.Two Joint Statements, one on Maritime Cooperation, and the other on Food Security were adopted.
Statement on Maritime Cooperation:
• India and ASEAN members agreed to enhance maritime cooperation, focusing on safety, security,
and combating illegal activities.
• They also committed to advancing the Blue Economy, addressing climate change and pollution, and
promoting sustainable maritime transport.
• Both parties agreed to collaborate on Indo-Pacific connectivity, involving various sectors for
infrastructure development, with a particular emphasis on fisheries and shipbuilding.
Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises
• They have agreed to make concerted efforts to increase cooperation in food security, nutrition, food
trade supply chain, cultivation of millets, and financing for climate-friendly technologies.
• They have agreed to ensure unrestricted trade and flow of foodstuffs and other essential agricultural
inputs.
• They agreed to explore government-to-government food grain exports for humanitarian crises and
supported the use of digital technologies in agriculture, including interoperability of digital
infrastructure.
• They will exchange information on national policy frameworks, particularly for rice and other
priority crop commodities.
PM Narendra Modi unveils 12-point plan to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation
The PM proposed a 12-point plan to strengthen India-ASEAN cooperation, covering:
1. Creating a multi-modal connectivity corridor linking South-East Asia, India, West Asia, and Europe.
2. Sharing India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Stack with ASEAN partners.
3. Establishing an ASEAN-India fund for Digital Future to support digital transformation and financial
connectivity.
4. Renewing support for the Economic and Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) as a
knowledge partner.
5. Advocating for shared representation of Global South issues in multilateral forums.
6. Inviting ASEAN countries to join the WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India.
7. Collaborating on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
8. Sharing India’s expertise in providing affordable, quality medicines through Jan-Aushadhi Kendras.
9. Cooperating against terrorism, terror financing, and cyber-disinformation.
10. Inviting ASEAN countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
11. Promoting cooperation in disaster management.
12. Enhancing collaboration on maritime safety, security, and domain awareness.
Key Points:
i.In 2022–2023, bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 131.5 billion, accounting for 11.3% of
India’s overall trade.
ii.In 2022, ASEAN and India celebrated the 30th anniversary, and the relations between them have elevated to
the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Participants:
India and ASEAN member nations viz Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam. Timor-Leste participated in the Summit as Observor.
18th East Asia Summit:
The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting adopted the EAS Leaders’
Statement on Maintaining and Promoting the Region as an Epicentrum of Growth and exchanged views on
a wide range of regional and international issues.
• The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the EAS Plan of Action (POA) 2018-2022 and
welcomed the adoption of the new EAS POA for the next five years.

Key Points:
i.The 18th East Asia Summit, Indian side reiterated the importance of the EAS mechanism and reaffirmed
support for its strengthening.
ii.There was a call for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, with an emphasis on ASEAN centrality.
iii.Cooperation was urged to address global challenges, including terrorism, climate change, resilient supply
chains for essential items, and energy security.
iv.India’s initiatives in climate change, such as International Solar Alliance (ISA), CDRI, LiFE, and One Sun One
World One Grid (OSOWOG), were noted.
v.The leaders also engaged in discussions on various regional and international issues.
About EAS:
Established in 2005, is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. It is the only leader-led forum at
which all key partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.
• It has 18 members — the ten ASEAN countries, along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States (US).
i.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an official two-day visit to India from 20- 21st July 2023. He
was welcomed by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. This marks
Wickremesinghe’s first trip to India since he was elected president of Sri Lanka in July 2022.
ii.Dr. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM) went on a four-day official visit to United Republic of
Tanzania from 5-8 July 2023. EAM’s visit to Tanzania will further integrate the bilateral relations between the
two nations.
About ASEAN:
It was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok
Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Secretary-General– Dr. Kao Kim Hourn
Secretariat– Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta
12th India-UK EFD: Announced the launch of UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge
India and the United Kingdom (UK) announced the launch of the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge
(UKIIFB) during the 12th Round of Ministerial India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) held in New
Delhi, Delhi on 11th September 2023, to secure long-term investment for vital infrastructure sectors in India.
• UKIIFB is a collaborative initiative signifies the continuing commitment of both nations to work in
close cooperation toward unlocking substantial infrastructure investment opportunities in India.
• UKIIFB initiative also provide expertise and investment to support the National Infrastructure
Pipeline of India.
Note: The next(13th) Ministerial India-UK EFD will be held in London, UK in 2024.
Key People:
The Indian delegation was led by Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, and
the UK delegation was led by Jeremy Hunt, Member of Parliament (MP), Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK.
• The 12th India-UK EFD concluded with the adoption of the Joint Statement by Nirmala Sitharaman
and Jeremy Hunt.
UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB):
i.UKIIFB initiative is led jointly by the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and the City of
London.
ii.Primary objective: To unlock infrastructure investment and leveraging the City of London’s expertise in
structuring and phasing major infrastructure projects.
iii.The UK has a lot to offer in the financial and project management areas, and India’s remarkable ability as an
investment powerhouse in technology, fintech, and green transition underscores its pivotal role in driving
global economic growth.

• Both nations underscored the significance of mutual knowledge exchange, enhanced cooperation,
and support, by focusing on advancing infrastructure development, a robust FinTech ecosystem, and
Sustainable Finance, towards global economic stability and sustainability.
Benefits: By uniting the collective strengths of both nations, the UKIIFB is composed to create a transformative
impact, securing the foundation for economic growth, job creation, and shared prosperity in both the UK and
India.
Commitments:
i.Both nations are committed to working together on:
• Enhancing economic growth; Securing economic resilience; Furthering climate action and
sustainability; and Transforming their economies via technology and infrastructure.
ii.The commitments are supported by the India-UK Roadmap to 2030, to work together to maximise new
opportunities and address emerging challenges.
Some Commitments at the 12th EFD:
Enhancing Economic Growth:
i.The Financial Market Dialogue (FMD) held in London in 2023, provided an opportunity to deepen the
cooperation between both nations across a range of subsectors including banking, insurance, and pension,
among others.
• The Ministers also participated in the India-UK Financial Partnership (IUKFP) meeting co-chaired by
Mr. Uday Kotak and Mr. Bill Winters.
• The IUKFP meeting, inter alia, held discussions on policy papers as well as ideas for deeper financial
exchange and collaboration between the two countries.
ii.India and the UK reiterated the commitment to deepen their collaboration on Financial Services, building on
each other’s strengths and supporting mutual aspirations towards financial inclusion and sustainable
development.
• There was optimism in terms of the activities being done by India to promote financial services and
investment in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) International Financial Services Centre
(IFSC) and the UK’s commitment to supporting the same.
• GIFT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is India’s first IFSC under the SEZ Act 2005.
Securing Economic Resilience:
i.They committed to enhancing the resilience of both economies including through trade, macroeconomic
cooperation, and collaboration on global challenges, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
ii.The UK offered a new UK-India Economic Cooperation Programme to deploy cross-country knowledge
exchanges, capacity building, and technical assistance to support India’s proposed economic reforms, climate,
and so on.
Furthering Climate Action and Sustainability:
Both nations are making efforts towards reaching their respective Nationally Determined Contributions and
net zero goals and to adapt and build resilience to climate impacts. They also recognised the significance of
mobilising affordable and adequate public and private finance for climate action.
• The commitment made by the developed countries to the goal of USD 100 billion in climate finance
per year by 2020, and annually through 2025, to address the needs of developing countries.
Transforming Economies via Technology and Infrastructure:
Both nations welcomed the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), which is an integral addition to the
global standards for the automatic exchange of information.
• The commitment to launch CARF exchanges by 2027 aligns with the aspirations of numerous
jurisdictions.
According to the report World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2023, by the United Nations (UN)
released on May 16, 2023, India’s economy, the largest in the South Asian region, is expected to grow by 5.8%
in 2023 and 6.7% in 2024, supported by resilient domestic demand.

About the United Kingdom (UK):
Capital– London
Prime Minister– Rishi Sunak
Currency– Pound Sterling, or Great British Pound (GBP)
IICA & UNICEF jointly organize workshop on Business Responsibility and Sustainability
Reporting
On September 12, 2023, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) organised a workshop on Business
Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) in collaboration with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s
Fund) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) at the NSE premises in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It was inaugurated by Dr. Harish Ahuja, SVP (Senior Vice President) & Head PSD – Power & Carbon
Markets, Investor Awareness, NSE.
• The workshop was part of the ongoing collaboration between IICA and UNICEF to promote
responsible business conduct among corporates and relevant stakeholders in India.
Aim:
The workshop aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the BRSR framework.
What is BRSR framework?
It is based on the 9 principles of the National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC). It
mandates the top 1000 listed companies to report their ESG performance, showcasing their dedication to
responsible business conduct.
Participants:
The workshop was attended by more than 50 Sustainability, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), ESG
(Environment, Social and Governance) and BHR (Business Human Rights) professionals from key corporate
entities.
Key Points:
i.Workshop topics included CSR and ESG for building responsible brands, effective BRSR disclosures, digital
tools, IT portal/software for BRSR, and the application of family-friendly policies in business.
ii.Participants enhanced their BRSR knowledge and implementation skills through interactive learning and
peer networking.
iii.Upcoming BRSR workshops are scheduled in different Indian cities, including Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP)
(20 Sept.), Delhi (26 Sept.), and Bengaluru, Karnataka (29 Sept.).
Points to note:
IICA: It was established as a think-tank of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) which provides necessary
support through policy advocacy, research and capacity building programmes to Government, Corporates, and
other relevant stakeholders.
SoBE: School of Business Environment (SoBE), a school within IICA, has the mandate to work in the domains of
CSR, ESG and BHR to strengthen the Responsible Business ecosystem.
About Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA):
IICA was registered as a society on September 12, 2008 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Director General & CEO– Praveen Kumar
2nd Naval Commanders Conference: Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan 2023-

37 Released
On September 4, 2023, the 2nd edition of Bi-annual Naval Commanders Conference was held in New Delhi,
Delhi where Minister of State (MoS) Ajay Bhatt, Ministry of Defence interacted with Senior Naval Leadership.
• The 1st edition was conducted onboard INS (Indian Naval Ship) Vikrant in March 2023

Unveiling of several Key initiatives by MoS:
i.Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan 2023-37 (MIPP): This plan outlines the Navy’s infrastructure
needs for the next 15 years, aligning with the government’s sustainability goals and broader policy directives.
ii.IRS Rules and Regulations Handbook: It incorporates technological advancements and self-reliance in
naval shipbuilding, this handbook covers the construction and classification of naval combatants.
• It is an improved version of the previous edition of 2015, represents the self-reliance of the naval
shipbuilding industry.
iii.Family Logbook for Defence Civilian Personnel: A financial record book for naval civilian personnel
families, providing crucial financial information for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
iv.Electronic Service Document Project: This project aims to digitize and centralize HR (Human Resource)
record management for Naval personnel, in line with the Digital India Vision.
Indian Navy unveils new uniform items:
During the Meet, Indian Navy showcased ongoing indigenous projects and introduced new uniform items at the
naval commanders’ conference.
• The newly designed uniform items was introduced in service for enhanced comfort, hygiene and
functionality.
• The new uniform set includes, jackets, high absorption T-shirts, high ankle shoes, camouflage caps
and a national civil dress for messes and functions
The Indian Navy also showcased its ongoing and planned indigenous projects based on niche technologies in
areas including combat platform integration, underwater domain awareness, cyber security, tactical
communications and combat management system.
Delivery of Second ACTCM Barge, LSAM 16
On September 6, 2023, the Second Barge of the series LSAM 16 (Yard 126) has been delivered to Indian Navy
(IN) Under Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules, with a 30-year service life.
• The barge, equipped with indigenous equipment, aligns with the “Make in India” initiative. This
addition will enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities by facilitating the transportation,
embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition for IN ships both at jetties and outer
harbors.
This delivery was a part of the contract for construction and delivery of Eleven Ammunition Barges with Thane,
Maharashtra based MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd.
India To Host 1st Edition of ‘Global IndiaAI 2023 ’ in October 2023

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is set to organise the 1st edition of
the Global IndiaAI 2023 conference in October 2023(tetatively planned for 14/15th October 2023).
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE),
and MeitY is chairing the conference’s steering committee. The committee includes memebrs from MeitY’s
Digital Economy Advisory group and other prominent leaders in the field of AI.
• The conference will showcase the vibrant India artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem comprising
initiatives like DI Bhashini, India Datasets Program, and others.
• This key annual gathering for the entire AI ecosystem, will witness the participation from leading AI
players, researchers start-ups, and investors from India and abroad.
The conference will cover a wide range of topics including Next Generation Learning and Foundation AI
models, AI applications in healthcare, governance, next-gen electric vehicles, future AI research trends, and
others.
Highlights of 4th Edition of Global Fintech Fest 2023

4th Edition of Global Fintech Fest (GFF) is the largest fintech 3-day conference held from September 5 to 7,
2023 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .It was jointly organized by the National

Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence
Council (FCC).
• Theme: Global collaboration for a responsible financial ecosystem -Inclusive | Resilient |
Sustainable.
• 5th edition of GFF will take place on October 8-10, 2024.
i.The GFF 2023 supported by key Indian governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance, the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
ii.Additionally, several prominent international organizations joined hands with GFF 2023, including the World
Bank, the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD), the Consultative Group to
Assist the Poor (CGAP), and Women’s World Banking. Furthermore, Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom,
Germany, and Israel acted as Country Partners for GFF 2023.
• Three hackathons were conducted by Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI), National Bank
For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) and State Bank of India (SBI).
FinMin Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurated the Global Fintech Fest 2023
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s address at the Global Fintech Fest 2023 in Mumbai covered several
important aspects of India’s financial ecosystem and its challenges.
• Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chair GFF 2023, and Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council,
were also present amongst the dignitaries in the inaugural session.
Here’s a summary of her key points and the threats she highlighted:
i.Fintech’s Role: Fintech has become a powerful tool for financial inclusion, surpassing traditional financial
activities.
ii.Dematerialized (Demat) Accounts: The number of demat accounts in India has grown significantly, from 4.1
crore in 2019-20 to 10 crore in 2022-23, marking a 2.5-fold growth.
iii.Mutual Funds and Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs): There’s a record number of mutual funds and SIPs,
contributing to wealth generation with cities beyond the top 30 in India have seen their share in total mutual
fund assets grow from 15% to 26% in the last four years.
iv.RBI’s Payments Vision for 2025 involves actively supporting global outreach efforts to expand the reach of
domestic payment systems through collaboration with relevant partners.
v.Maharashtra remains the leader in terms of ITR (Income Tax Return) filings, while other states, including
those in the North-East, Chhattisgarh, and even Jammu & Kashmir, have experienced double-digit growth in
new ITR filings.
vi.It states that the estimated annual cross-border payments globally amount to $20 trillion, incurring
$120 billion in transaction costs according to a Boston Consulting Group(BCG) Study. It also mentions that
India is the largest recipient of remittances, receiving approximately $100 billion worth of remittances in 2022.
vii.The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also released a report titled ‘The Second Wave: Resilient,
Inclusive, Exponential Fintechs’ and inaugurated a fintech exhibition during the event.
Note:
i.Payments Council of India (PCI): PCI was established in the year 2013 under the support and backing of the
Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
ii.Fintech Convergence Council (FCC): Setup in 2017 as a fintech committee, Fintech Convergence Council
was later converted into an independent council with an independent governing board, with over 70 members.
RBI Governor Unveils Five Exciting Payment Solutions at Global Fintech Fest 2023
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das recently announced five new innovative payment
solutions developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.
These solutions aim to expedite credit lines and advance the offline payments ecosystem, contributing to a
more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital payments environment in India.

Credit Line on UPI:
• This offering enables pre-sanctioned credit lines from banks through Unified Payments Interface
(UPI).
• Facilitates faster access to credit, promoting a streamlined and digital banking system.
UPI LITE X:
• Allows users to send and receive money offline using near-field communication (NFC) technology.
• Expands offline payment capabilities to areas with poor connectivity.
• Transactions are limited to Rs 5,000 within the NFC payment limit.
UPI Tap & Pay:
• Enhances quick response (QR) code and NFC technology adoption for payments.
• Users can tap NFC-enabled QR codes at merchant locations for payments.
Hello! UPI — Conversational Payments on UPI:
• Enables voice-enabled UPI payments in Hindi and English, with regional language support coming
soon.
• Users can make payments via UPI apps, telecom calls, and IoT devices using voice commands.
• Improves accessibility for users who prefer native languages and those less experienced with digital
payments.
• Users can simply give voice commands to transfer funds and input a UPI Personal Identification
Number (PIN) to complete the transaction.
BillPay Connect — Conversational Bill Payments:
• Introduces a nationalized number for bill payments across India.
• Customers can pay bills by sending a simple message “Hi” or giving a missed call.
• Voice-assisted bill payments are available through smart home devices and physical collection
centers.
About NPCI:
It is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to create a robust
payments and settlement system.
Founded: 2008
MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Hitachi Payment Services Introduces ‘India’s first ever’ UPI-ATM
Hitachi Payment Services, a 100% subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd., has introduced
India’s first-ever UPI-ATM, known as the “Hitachi Money Spot UPI ATM”,a White Label ATM. This innovative
Automated Teller Machine (ATM), developed in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI), aims to transform the traditional ATM transaction experience and enhance customer security by
eliminating the need for physical cards.
Key Features and Benefits:
i.UPI-ATM operates through QR-based UPI cash withdrawals and requires users to have a UPI app
installed on their Android or iOS devices.
ii.Cardless Cash Withdrawals: The UPI ATM offers cardless cash withdrawals, eliminating the need for
physical cards. Users can access funds from multiple accounts using their Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
app.
Note: White Label ATM (WLA): WLAs are a type of automated teller machine that is owned and operated by
non-bank entities or private companies rather than traditional banking institutions.These ATMs are called
“white label” because they typically do not bear the branding or logo of a specific bank.
About Hitachi Payment Services:
MD: Sumil Vikamsey
Founded:2008 (as Prizm Payment Service)
Headquarters: Goregaon, Mumbai

Global Fintech Awards 2023: Adeeb Ahamed Wins Leading Fintech Personality of the Year Award at GFF
Mumbai
Fintech Awards recognize outstanding emerging start-ups, disruptive technologies, unique business models
and innovative founders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Fintech companies, financial institutions and
start-ups can nominate their works for Fintech Awards in 15 diverse sub-categories under 3 classifications
(Global Awards, Entity Awards, Special Fintech Achievements).
• Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings based in Abu Dhabi. Ahamed has
been instrumental in revolutionizing cross-border payments between the GCC and India. His
company operates a network of 300+ customer engagement centers and digital payment solutions
in 10 countries.
Winners of Global Fintech Awards 2023:
Category Winner
Global
· Fintech Personality of the Year – Gulf Cooperation Countries Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial
(GCC) Holdings
· Fintech Personality of the Year – Europe Tom Greenwood, Founder & CEO, Volt
Entity Awards
· Best WealthTech Startup Jar (Changejar Technologies)
· Best InsurTech Startup Plum Benefits
· Best Lending Startup Kinara Capital
· Best RegTech Startup Tookitaki Holding
· Best Payment Aggregator One97 Communications
· Best Design Award Juspay Technologies
· Best Payment Startup Juspay Technologies
· Friends of Fintech Online PSB Loans Limited
· Fintech for Good One97 Communications
· Champions of ESG L&T Finance
Special Fintech Achievements
Bhavesh Gupta, President & COO, One97
· Fintech Leader of the Year Communications (Paytm)
· Fintech Chief Technology Officer (CTO)/ Chief Information
Officer (CIO) of the Year Kailash Nadh, Zerodha
Open Network for Digital Commerce(ONDC) (E-
· Fintech Company of the Year commerce company)
Reimagining Aadhaar Authentication: UIDAI Demonstrates AI and ML-Powered Aadhaar Enhancements
The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) made a significant impact at the Global Fintech Festival (GFF)
2023 in Mumbai, organized an industry meet-up under the theme “Reimagine Aadhaar #together.” UIDAI’s
unwavering commitment to providing seamless services through the Aadhaar identity platform was evident,
allowing residents to access a wide array of services with ease.
Key Points:
i.Enhanced Face Authentication Facility: UIDAI showcased its in-house developed Face Authentication
feature, powered by cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies.
ii.Collaboration with Industry Partners: UIDAI actively encouraged collaboration with industry and fintech
partners under the Volunteer Guideline 2022 initiative.

A notable partnership with Airtel Payments Bank focused on enhancing the resident experience for face
authentication, including improvements for low-light conditions and fraud prevention mechanisms.
iii. Practical Use-Cases:: Attendance systems for beneficiaries of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and streamlined customer acquisition processes for banks.
iv.Innovation Initiatives: UIDAI unveiled plans to establish a new Sandbox environment and a state-of-the-
art Innovation Lab at the UIDAI Tech Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka.
These initiatives aim to facilitate research and development, fostering innovation within the Aadhaar
ecosystem.
About UIDAI
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority and a government department,
established on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology, following the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016.
• Prior to the enactment of the Act, the UIDAI had functioned, since 28 January 2009, as an attached
office of the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog)
CEO: Sh. Amit Agarwal
Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
SBI unveils ‘Nation’s First Transit Card’: RuPay NCMC Prepaid Card
The State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender in the country, has unveiled the ‘Nation First Transit Card,’ also
known as the RuPay National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Prepaid Card, at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.
• Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman of State Bank of India, highlighted how the ‘Nation First Transit
Card,’ powered by RuPay and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) technology, aligns with the
national vision of “One Nation One Card” and contributes to the country’s growth.
Key Features of RuPay NCMC Prepaid Card :
i.The card is designed to simplify the commuting experience by enabling digital fare payments for metro, buses,
water ferries, and parking, all through a single card.
ii.It also serves as a convenient means for retail and e-commerce transactions.
Background of NCMC Programs by SBI:
• SBI initiated NCMC programs in 2019 in collaboration with transit operators.
• As part of these programs, SBI successfully introduced various cards like the “City1 Card,” “Nagpur
Metro MAHA Card,” “MUMBAI1 Card,” “GoSmart Card,” and “Singara Chennai Card” for different
metro systems across the country.
Ongoing NCMC Initiatives:
• SBI is currently implementing NCMC-based ticketing solutions for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation
Limited (MMRC) Metro Line 3 and Agra Metro, which are in advanced stages of execution and will
soon be available to the public.
About SBI Card:
MD & CEO: Abhijit Chakravorty
Established: May 1998
Headquarter: Gurugram, Haryana

INDEX
RANKING
India ranks 30th in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries 2023; Switzerland Tops
According to the 8th edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries Rankings 2023, India improved its
ranking by one spot to claim 30th rank in 2023 with overall score of 40.8. India was ranked 31 out of 85 in
2022.
• The list is topped by Switzerland, among 87
countries, for the second consecutive time and sixth
time overall.
• Switzerland is followed by Canada at 2nd rank, and
Sweden at 3rd rank.
Basis of Analysis:
The rankings are developed in collaboration with global
marketing communications company WPP and its
proprietary BAV brand analytics tool, and by the
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, United
States (US). The ranking evaluated 87 countries, more than 17,000 respondents on 73 attributes.
• These attributes are grouped into 10 thematic sub-rankings viz. Adventure, Agility, Cultural
Influence, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, Movers, Open for Business, Power, Quality of Life and Social
Purpose.
The India Story:
i.As per the report, India has an area of 3,287,263 Sq.Km, and a population of 1,417,173,173 with Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 3.39 trillion.
ii.India’s best performance came in the ‘Movers’ category by grabbing the 5th spot, in which countries are
ranked based on their future growth potential, including how prepared it is to weather challenges posed by the
global economy.
iii.In terms of cultural Influence and heritage, India is ranked 29th & 10th respectively.
iv.In the category of Power, India is ranked 12th.
Click Here for full Details about India in the Report
Top 5 and India in Best Countries Rankings 2023
Rank Country
30 India
1 Switzerland
2 Canada
3 Sweden
4 Australia
5 United States of America (USA)
Key Points:
i.The top 25 on the list is dominated by the Eruropean countries with 16 entries. Japan (6th), Singapore(16),
China(20), and South Korea(21) are the only asian countries among top 25.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) (19th) is the only Middle Eastern country among top 25.
ii.Cyprus, Honduras, and Zimbabwe have made their debut in the Best Country Rankings, while El Salvador
have rejoined the list after being absent in 2022.

iii.The bottom 10 countries on the list include Cameroon(78), Algeria(79), Myanmar(80), Honduras(81),
Serbia(82), Uzbekistan(83), Kazakhstan(84), Lebanon(85), Belarus(86), and Iran(87).
v.Germany saw the largest fall among leading nations at 7th position in 2023 since 2022 , while Australia and
New Zealand each rose three spots to 4th and 8th position.
i.According to the 17th edition of the Global Peace Index 2023 released by international think-tank, the
Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), India has ranked at 126th position by climbing nine positions from 2022.
The list is topped by Iceland.
ii.According to the Times Higher Education(THE) ‘Young University Rankings(YUR)-2023’ , Mahatma Gandhi
University (MGU), Kerala has emerged as top among Indian universities and secured 77
globally. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore tops the list in 2023.
About U.S. News & World Report:
Executive Chairman & CEO– Eric Gertler
Headquarters– Washington DC., United States of America
India is Ranked 52nd in Digital Quality of Life Index 2023; France tops
According to the 2023 Digital Quality of Life(DQL) Index, the 5th edition of the annual DQL Index by
Surfshark Limited, India has raised to 52nd rank with a ranking index of 0.5154 from 59th rank in 2022.
• The Index featuring 121 countries is topped by France with a ranking index of 0.7902 followed
by Finland, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg.
• In Asia(regional ranking) India is ranked 13, with Singapore (global rank 10) at the top.
Rank Country Ranking Index
1 France 0.7902
2 Finland 0.7483
3 Denmark 0.7377
4 Germany 0.7357
5 Luxembourg 0.7357
52 India 0.5154(~0.52)
The bottom five countries – Tajikistan(117), Ethiopia(118), Mozambique(119), Democratic Republic of
the Congo(120) and Yemen(121)
5 pillars:
The DQL index raked the 121 countries by their digital wellbeing based on five pillars(with each pillar
carries equal weightage of 20%):
• Internet affordability
• Internet quality
• Electronic infrastructure (e-infrastructure)
• Electronic security(e-security)
• Electronic government (e-government)
These pillars have 14 indicators that help to measure the overall digital quality of life.
India’s ranking in these 5 pillars:
Internet Affordability – 28th rank, Internet Quality -16th rank, Electronic Infrastructure – 91st rank,

Electronic Security – 66th rank and Electronic Government – 35th rank.
Take away from the survey:
The survey pointed out that India’s internet quality is 36% higher than the global average.
India is not prepared to fight against cybercrime, and It has very low data protection laws.
About Digital Quality of Life Index 2023
i.The Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index reveals insights into factors that impact a country’s digital
wellbeing and areas that should be prioritised for future improvement.
• The study offers a unique perspective into a country’s digital quality of life.
ii.The study covers 90% of the world population.
iii.DQL Index 2023 includes 4 more countries than the previous edition. The new countries are Venezuela,
Kuwait, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
iv.The results are comparable with the previous three editions. So that a country’s digital progress can be
easily tracked.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024:IISc Placed First in India; 91 Indian
Institutions Featured in The Ranking
According to the ‘Times Higher Education(THE) World University Ranking 2024’, the Indian Institute of
Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru) is Ranked No. 1 among Indian institutions, falling into the 201-250 band
ranking for the first time since 2017. IISc Bengaluru has moved up from 251-300 band in 2023.
With 91 Indian institutes included in the “THE World
University Rankings 2024”, India is the fourth most–
represented country on the list. In 2023,75 institutes
from India were featured in the list.
University of Oxford of United Kingdom(UK) ranked 1st in
THE World University Rankings 2024 for the eighth
consecutive year, while Stanford University and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) of United
States of America(USA) in second and third places
respectively.
Top Performing Indian Universities:
Rank /Band Name of the Institute
201-250 IISc Bengaluru (Karnataka)
501-600 Anna University (Tamil Nadu)
501-600 Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi)
501-600 Mahatma Gandhi University (Kerala)
501-600 Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences (Himachal Pradesh)
Performance of Indian Universities:
i.The 43 Indian universities ranked under 1,000 in THE World University Rankings 2024.
The 4 Indian Universities in the 501-600 band are Anna University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma
Gandhi University and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences
There are 19 Indian universities in the 601-800 band and 19 Indian universities in the 801-1000 Band
of the ranking.
ii.The 20 new Indian universities were featured in the 2024 ranking.
iiiIndian Institute of Technology(IIT) – Indian School of Mines(ISM) Dhanbad(Jharkhand), IIT Patna(Bihar), IIT
Guwahati(Assam), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad (Telangana) are
featured in 601-800 band while IIT Gandhinagar(Gujarat) featured in 801-1000 band.

Note:
Seven IITs – Bombay( Mumbai, Maharashtra), Delhi, Guwahati (Assam), Kanpur(Uttar Pradesh),
Kharagpur(West Bengal), Madras(Tamil Nadu), and Roorkee (Uttarakhand)- have opted out of THE World
University Rankings in 2020, expressing concerns about the ranking’s transparency and standards.IIT
Guwahati re-entered the rankings in 2023.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024:
i.The 20th edition of ‘THE World University Rankings’ featured 1,904 universities across 108 countries and
regions.
ii.The 2024 ranking analysed over 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included
survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally.
The ranking includes 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions.
iii.The United States of America (USA) is the most-represented country overall, with 169 institutions and the
most-represented in the top 200 (56).
Japan is the second most-represented country overall with 119 institutions.
iv.In addition to the 1,904 institutions listed in the ranking, 769 universities featured in the “reporter” status,
which means they contributed data but did not match the eligibility criteria for a rank.
Top 10 Universities in the World:
Rank Name of the Institute
1 University of Oxford(UK)
2 Stanford University (USA)
3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology(USA)
4 Harvard University(USA)
5 University of Cambridge(UK)
6 Princeton University(USA)
7 California Institute of Technology(USA)
8 Imperial College London(UK)
9 University of California, Berkeley(USA)
10 Yale University (USA)
Methodology:
The 2024 ranking is based on the 18 performance indicators which are grouped into five pillars,
i.Teaching (the learning environment): 29.5%

ii.Research environment (volume, income and reputation): 29%
iii.Research quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence): 30%
iv.International outlook (staff, students and research): 7.5%
v.Industry (income and patents): 4%
Top Performers – Pillar wise:
Stanford University – Teaching
Oxford University and Cambridge University – research environment
MIT – research quality
The University of Sharjah(United Arab Emirates – UAE) – international outlook
28 institutions received a top score of 100 for the industry
i.Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kerala has emerged as the top among Indian universities and secured 77
globally in the Times Higher Education(THE) ‘Young University Rankings(YUR)-2023, Singapore tops the list in
2023.
ii.According to Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2023, released on 22nd June 2023, the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru (Karnataka) is ranked 1st in India and 48th on the overall list,
China’s Tsinghua University tops the list.
About Times Higher Education (THE):
THE (Formerly The Times Higher Education Supplement (The Thes) is a British magazine reporting on news
and issues related to higher education.
CEO– Paul HowarthHeadquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
India Becomes 13th Country to Issue OIML Certificate

India has been recognised as an authority to issue internationally accepted OIML(International Organization
of Legal Metrology) pattern approval certificates for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world.
With this India becomes the 13th country in the world that can issue OIML certificates.
• Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will now issue the OIML
certificates.
• OIML Pattern Approval certificate is mandatory to sell a weight or measure in the International
market.
Other countries that can issue OIML Certificates are Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany,
Denmark, France, United Kingdom(UK), Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and Slovakia.
About International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML
French: Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale):
OIML is an international standard-setting body.
Established in 1955.
Members: 63 Member States & 64 Corresponding Members (India has been a member of the OIML since 1956)
EFW 2023 Annual Report: List Topped By Singapore & India Ranks 87
According to the Economic Freedom of the World(EFW) 2023 Annual Report released by Canadian think
tank Fraser Institute, Singapore is the world’s freest economy with a rating of 8.56. India Ranked 87 in the
index.
• Hong Kong and Switzerland stand as the second and the third freest economy with the rating of 8.55 and
8.47 respectively.
• Hong Kong retained the top position since the start of the EFW Index in 1970. For the first time, Hong
Kong has slipped from its number one position to second place.
• EFW 2023 Annual Report is based on data from 2021, the most recent year with comparable statistics
across 165 jurisdictions.

Rank Country Rating
1 Singapore 8.56
2 Hong Kong 8.55
3 Switzerland 8.47
4 New Zealand 8.43
5 United States of America(USA) 8.14
87 India 6.62
The bottom five countries are – Yemen(161), Sudan(162), Syria(163), Zimbabwe(164) and Venezuela(165).
India’s Economic Freedom Index Ranking:
In 2023 EFW report, India has slipped one spot and stays at 87th rank with the ratings of 6.62. In EFW 2022
Annual Report, India obtained 6.64 ratings and stood at 86th rank.
• New Delhi(Delhi) based independent Think-Tank ‘Centre for Civil Society’ is one among the Co-publishers
of the index.
5 Areas:
The index measures the degree of economic freedom present in five major areas:
• Size of Government
• Legal System and Property Rights
• Sound Money
• Freedom to Trade Internationally
• Regulation
Within these five major areas, there are a total of 45 components and subcomponents in the index.
India’s rating in five areas is as follows:
Size of Government – 7.64, Legal System and Property Rights – 5.29, Sound Money – 7.99, Freedom to Trade
Internationally – 6.19 and Regulation – 5.98.
A comparison:
India ranked high among BRICS countries. Brazil secured 90th rank, Russia secured 104th rank, China stands at
111 whereas South Africa ranks at 94.
Additional Info:
The reason for Hong Kong’s decline in the ranking is
i.The main reason is introduction of new regulatory barriers to entry, an increase in the cost of doing business,
and limitations on employing foreign labour affected the economic freedom score.
ii.The imposition of a national security law in 2020 restricted political and civil freedom connection.
Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report 2023: TCS Retains Its Number One
Position
In the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report 2023, conducted by Wire and Plastic
Products (WPP) and Kantar, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) retained its top position as India’s most
valuable brand for the second consecutive year with a brand value of USD 43 billion.
Housing Development Finance Corporation(HDFC) bank and Infosys occupies 2nd and 3rd position
with a brand value of USD 33,612 and USD 24,170 respectively.
This 2023 ranking marks the 10th edition of India’s most valuable brands ranking by Kantar.

Top 10 most valued brand:
Brand Valuation
Brand Rank Brand Name ( in Million USD) Brand Category
1 TCS 42,869 Business Technology and Services Platform
2 HDFC Bank 33,612 Financial services
3 Infosys 24,170 Business Technology and Services Platform
4 Airtel 22,517 Telecom Providers
5 State Bank of India (SBI) 14,483 Financial Services
6 ICICI Bank 12,976 Financial Services
7 Asian Paints 12,839 Paints
8 Jio 11,773 Telecom Providers
9 Kotak Mahindra Bank 10,332 Financial Services
10 HCLTech 9,361 Business Technology and Services
Data & Analytics:
i.India’s top 75 brands have a combined brand value of USD 379 billion, a decline of 4% from 2022.
The decline due to the ongoing economic volatility across the world, especially in business technology
and services platforms category.
ii.India’s Gross Domestric Product (GDP) has almost doubled with an 82% growth; The world’s GDP has grown
at 30%
iii.Top 50 brands have increased almost five fold in value, from USD 69.6 billion in 2014 to USD 339.9 billion in
2023.
The most valuable global brands, which have grown by 2.4 times.
iv.Financial services brands make up the largest share of the ranking’s total value and grew by 6%, driven by
the boom in digital banking, led by Axis Bank and ICICI Bank.
v.Telecom providers also performed well, with their total brand value increasing by 17%.
vi.The 75 companies behind India’s most valuable brands have consistently outperformed the key market
indices – Sensex and the NIFTY50
Newcomers
The 2023 Indian brand ranking includes four newcomers and two re-entrants.
i.PhonePe(21st rank) has become India’s leading digital payment application.
ii.Other newcomers include fintech brand Cred, ShareChat(photo and video sharing app), and
Star(entertainment platform).

Top 3 Risers:
Brand Value Year -on- Year
2023 change
S.No Brand Name 2023 Rank Category ( US$M) (in %)
1 TVS 51 Automotive 1,896 59
2 Mahindra Rise 47 Automotive 2,008 48
3 Sunfeast 54 Food & Beverages 1,831 40
The automotive category produced the two fastest risers.
i.TVS gained 59% in value and leapt 24 places helped by a number of successful product launches and a 10-year
partnership with BMW that gives it leverage in markets such as Europe, the US and Canada.
ii.Mahindra, which grew its value by 48%, due to the shift in preference from hatchbacks to SUVs, and the
demand for electric vehicles.
iii.Additionally, with 40% Year-on-Year change Sunfeast (54th most valuable brand) is third fast riser
Methodology:
i.To be eligible for this ranking, a brand must be originated in India, or its parent company must be listed on an
Indian stock exchange.
ii.Indian unicorn companies must have their most recent valuation publicly available.
Additional Info
The report forecasts India’s GDP growth for the year 2023-24 will be at 5.9%.
The report reveals that India’s GDP in 2022 was USD 3.29 trillion and GDP growth rate was at 6.8%; The
per capita income was at USD 8,379.
The brand valuation firm Brand Finance released its INDIA 100 2023: The annual report on the most
valuable and strongest Indian brands- June 2023 report in which the Tata Group has retained its 1st
position as India’s most valuable brand at USD (United States Dollar) 26,381 Million in 2023.
About Kantar:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Chris Jansen
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom(UK)
Chainalysis’s Global Crypto Adoption Index 2023; India Tops Among 154 Nations
According to the 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index released by Chainalysis, a crypto-analysis
firm, India has topped the index (rank 1), with a score of 1.0, among 154 countries. Previously, India was
ranked 4th in the 2022 index.
• Nigeria and Vietnam stands at second and third rank with the index score of 0.642 and 0.568
respectively.
• This is the 4th annual Global Crypto Adoption Index. The first edition of the Index was published in
2020.
Rank Country Region Index Score
1 India Central & Southern Asia and Oceania 1
2 Nigeria Sub-Saharan Africa 0.642
3 Vietnam Central & Southern Asia and Oceania 0.568
4 United States of America(USA) North America 0.367
5 Ukraine Eastern Europe 0.215
Note: This is an excerpt of Chainalysis’s 2023 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report, which will be released in
October 2023.

Five sub-indexes:
The Global Crypto Adoption Index is made up of five sub-indexes. Each sub-indexes is based on countries’ usage
of different types of cryptocurrency services.
• Centralized service value
• Retail centralized service value
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) exchange trade volume
• DeFi (decentralized finance) value
• Retail DeFi value
Methodology:
The index ranks 154 countries based on characteristsic like population size and purchasing power, take the
geometric mean of each country’s ranking in all five, and then normalize that final number on a scale of 0 to 1.
India’s rank in sub-index:
i.The country ranked first in four parameters including centralized service value, retail centralised service
value, DeFi value and Retail DeFi value.
ii.India ranked 5th in sub index P2P exchange trade volume.
Government Interference:
i.This comes even as crypto trading and investing in India has subdued due to taxation rules introduced by the
government.
• With 30% tax on gains, India has also introduced 1 per cent Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on crypto
trades.
ii.India is also advocating for worldwide crypto legislation, at the G20 Summit hosted by India.
Note:The report also said that low-income countries saw a dramatic uptick in crypto adoption following a
slump in late 2022, spurred by the collapse of the FTX(one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges).
About Global Crypto Adoption Index:
i.The report combines on-chain data and real-world data to measure which countries are leading the world
in grassroots crypto adoption.
ii.The report aims to highlight the countries in which common people who use crypocurrency.
iii.The report has divided countries into several regions such as – (1) Central & Southern Asia and Oceania, (2)
Sub-Saharan Africa, (3) North America, (4) Eastern Europe, (5)Latin America, (6) Eastern Asia, (7)Middle East
& North Africa and (8)Central, Northern, & Western Europe
Additional info:
Central & Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO) region dominates the index, with six of the top ten countries
located in this region.
India(1st rank), Vietnam(3rd rand), Philippines(6th rank), Indonesia(7th rank), Pakistan(8th rank) and
Thailand(9th rank).
REPORTS
UN Report: Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the leading
United Nations (UN) body on Biodiversity and Conservation, published a report titled Assessment Report on
Invasive Alien Species and their Control (known as the “Invasive Alien Species Report”).
• As per the report, invasive alien species were identified as one of the main direct drivers of
biodiversity loss worldwide, and at least 37,000 alien species were established worldwide.
• The report also reveals that more than 3,500 invasive species have penetrated various regions and
biomes worldwide due to human activities, thus affecting human health, food security, and
biodiversity.
• The global economic cost of invasive alien species exceeded USD 423 billion annually in 2019, with
costs having at least quadrupled every decade since 1970.

Background:
i.In 2018, the IPBES Plenary, at its 6th session (IPBES-6) in Medellin, Colombia, approved the undertaking of a
thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control.
ii.The assessment officially commenced at the 7th session of the IPBES Plenary (IPBES-7) in Paris (France) in
2019.
iii.The assessment report and its summary for policymakers for its approval were presented for the Plenary’s
acceptance, at the 10th session of the Plenary (IPBES-10).
• IPBES-10 took place from 28 August – 2 September 2023 in Bonn, Germany.
Report Analysis:
i.The report emphasised that not all alien species become invasive, Invasive alien species are a specific subset
of alien species that establish and spread, causing harm to ecosystems and sometimes people.
• About 6% of alien plants; 22% of alien invertebrates; 14% of alien vertebrates; and 11% of alien
microbes are known to be invasive, posing major risks to nature and to people.
ii.Invasive alien species have a profound impact on ecosystems worldwide, contributing to 60% of global
animal and plant extinctions. In some cases, they are the sole drivers, responsible for 16% of these extinctions.
• Over 218 invasive alien species have been directly responsible for more than 1,200 local extinctions.
iii.Nearly 80% of the documented impacts of invasive alien species on nature’s contributions to people are
negative, especially through damage to food supplies.
Examples:
• The impact of the European shore crab (Carcinus maenas) on commercial shellfish beds in New
England, the United Kingdom (UK);
• Damage caused by the Caribbean false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) to locally important fishery
resources in India.
According to the new report titled “Falling short: Addressing the climate finance gap for children”
released on 22nd June 2023, by the members of the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) coalition;
Plan International, Save the Children, and United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), despite bearing the impacts
of the climate crisis, children are being failed by climate funding commitments.
About Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES):
Executive secretary– Dr. Anne Larigauderie
Established on– 2012
Gender Snapshot 2023: Progress on SDG 5 ‘Gender Equality’ is Offtrack

United Nations (UN)’s report titled “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot
2023” states that the world is failing in its efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) 5:
gender equality, due to the biases against women around the world in health, education, employment and the
halls of power.
• This is the latest edition of the annual series jointly produced by of the UN Women(UN Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and UN Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (DESA).
• The report provides a comprehensive analysis of gender equality progress across all 17 SDGs.
• The report also highlights prevailing trends, gaps, and recent setbacks on the journey towards
achieving gender equality by 2030.
Key Findings:
i.If current trends continue, by 2030, more than 340 million women and girls will remain in extreme poverty,
and nearly one in four will experience severe food insecurity.
• Climate change could worsen this, impacting an additional 236 million women and girls in the
worst-case scenario.

ii.The gender gap in power and leadership positions remains entrenched, and, if things keep going as they are,
the next generation of women will still spend on average 2.8 more hours per day on unpaid domestic work than
men.
iii.54% countries still lack laws in all key areas of gender equality, including on equal rights to enter marriage
and initiate a divorce.
iv.Barriers: The active resistance to gender equality and chronic underinvestment, with unequal access to
healthcare, political representation, economic disparities, and a lack of legal protection are the key barriers to
progress.
v.Poverty: About 1 out of every 10 women(10.3%), lives in extreme poverty with less than USD 2.15 a day.
• By 2030, about 8% of all the world’s women will still be living in extreme poverty (a lot of them will
be in Sub-Saharan Africa).
vi.Education: It estimates that up to 129 million girls may be out of school globally in 2023. If current trends
persist, an estimate of 110 million girls will still be out of school in 2030.
vii.Child Marriage: Globally, 1 in 5 young women (19%) is married before age 18.
viii.Wages: Around 61.4% of women in age group 25 to 54 were into the labour force(against 90.6% of men)
in 2022 and paid far less.
• In 2019, for each dollar earned by men in labor income, women earned only 51 cents.
Key Points:
Science and Technology:
i.Gender barriers continued to restrict women’s participation in crucial roles for the future of science,
technology, and innovation.
• In 2022, the representation of women among inventors listed on international patent applications
was only one-fifth that of men.
ii.In 2020, women held only 1 in 3 research positions worldwide and only one in five science, technology,
engineering and maths (STEM) jobs
Legislation:
Globally women hold only 26.7% of parliamentary seats, 35.5% of local government seats, and only 28.2% of
management positions at work.
Promotion of Peace:
Global conflicts are on the rise, with a notable increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict-
affected areas.
• In 2022, it was 614 million, marking a 50% increase compared to 2017.
The need of the hour:
According to the report, an annual investment of USD 6.4 trillion is needed by 2030 in 48 developing countries
(70% of population) to realise gender equality across various crucial domains.
• The report advocates for a boost in financial support for initiatives aimed at advancing gender
equality and empowering women.
Caution:
i.If current government spending patterns persist, there will be an annual deficit of USD 360 billion.
ii.With the current slow pace of change, women’s share of workplace management positions will reach only
30% by 2050.
iii.None of the indicators are at “target met or almost met”
• 2 indicators are “close to target”; 8 indicators are at a “moderate distance to target”; 4
indicators are “far or very far from target” and 4 indicators lack sufficient data to assess at global
level.
iv.A continued failure to prioritize SDG 5 will put the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in peril.

According to the report titled “Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress 2023” released on 6th June 2023, around
2.3 billion people across the globe are still using polluting fuels and technologies for cooking and around 675
million people did not have access to electricity in 2021.
About UN Women(UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women):
Executive Director – Sima Bahous
Headquarters – New York, United States of America(USA)
About United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
Under-Secretary General – Li Junhua
World Bank & UNICEF Report: Every second extreme poor in the world is a child
According to the report “Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty According to International Poverty
Lines” prepared by the World Bank Group and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in 2022, children
accounted for 52.5% of the total extreme poor population in the world i.e., every 2nd extreme poor person
in the world is a child.
• About 11.5 %(52 million) of Indian children live in extremely poor households.
About the Report:
i.This was the third report by the World Bank and UNICEF, including their two reports in 2016 and 2020.
ii.The report presented estimated trends in child poverty from 2013 to 2022, based on three international
poverty lines: USD 2.15 (extreme poverty), USD 3.65 (lower middle income), and USD 6.85 (upper
middle income).
• The report was based on the new global poverty line adopted in September 2022, with the
World Bank updating data on its Poverty and Inequality Platform.
Increasing Trends in Children Poverty:
i.The share of children in the extreme poor population is continuing to increase. it has increased from 47.3
in 2013 to 52.5% in 2022.
ii.In 2022, estimates of children in poverty around the world show
• 333 million children living in extreme poverty (USD2.15)
• 829 million children living in lower middle income (USD3.65)
• 1.43 billion children living in upper middle income (USD6.85)
Comparison of Poverty among Different Ages:
i.In 2022, 15.9 % of the world children population lived in extremely poor households as compared to 6.6
% of adults.
ii.Among the children, the poverty rate is the highest for the 0-5 year age group which is around 8.3 % (99
million) children living in extreme poor households.
iii.The average poverty gap for children under the age of 18 is higher (5.1%) than for adults (1.9%) at the
USD 2.15 threshold.
Region Wise Analysis:
i.Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the highest numbers of poor children.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest rate of poverty among children, at 40%, whereas
South Asia has 9.7%.
• These two regions account for 90 % of the world’s extremely poor children.
Note:
Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world made a promise to end extreme child poverty
by 2030.

Impact of Covid-19 on Child poverty:
i.Covid-19 breaks the trend of consistent decline in child poverty.
• As per the report, there would be a reduction of 68.4 million children in extreme poverty
between 2013 and 2020, but only actually witnessed an estimated reduction of 29.2 million
children, due to pandemic disruptions.
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director – Catherine M. Russell
Global Report on Hypertension: WHO Released 1st Report on the Impacts of Hypetension &
Ways to Stop It
The World Health Organization (WHO) released it’s first-ever report on the global impact of
hypertension (high Blood Pressure –BP) titled, “Global Report on Hypertension: the race against a
silent killer”, along with recommendations on the effective hypertension care to save lives.
• Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood
vessels have persistently raised pressure.
• This comprehensive report features statistics underscoring the consequences of uncontrolled
hypertension, ranging from heart attacks, strokes, and premature death to substantial economic
loss.
Key Points:
i.The report reveals that approximately 4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not receiving
adequate treatment. By scaling up coverage, it’s estimated that 76 million deaths could be prevented
ii.The world is not on track to meet the voluntary global target of a 25% reduction in the prevalence of
raised blood pressure (uncontrolled hypertension) by 2025.
Who-recommended Components for Hypertension Care:
The report underscores the importance of implementing WHO-recommended effective hypertension care
to save lives, which includes the following 5 components:
1. Protocol
2. Medication and equipment supply
3. Team-based care
4. Patient-centered services
5. Information systems
Analysis of the Report:
Rising numbers:
i.Between 1990 and 2019, the number of individuals living with hypertension (BP of 140/90 mmHg or
higher or taking medication for hypertension), doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion.
ii.Nearly 50% of those people with hypertension remain unaware of their condition. This lack of
awareness is a critical hurdle in addressing the issue.
• More than three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs).
Preventive measures:
i.The prevention, early detection, and effective management of hypertension, according to WHO, are
among the most cost-effective interventions in health care.
• It should be prioritized by countries as part of their national health benefit package offered at a
primary care level.

ii.WHO noted that more than 40 LMICS, including Bangladesh, Cuba, India, and Sri Lanka, have
strengthened their hypertension care with the HEARTS package, enrolling more than 17 million people
into treatment programs.
iii.The economic benefits of improved hypertension treatment programs outweigh the costs by about 18
to 1.
Note: The HEARTS technical package provides a strategic approach to improving cardiovascular health in
countries. It comprises six modules and an implementation guide.
Overview of India & Hypertension:
According to the report, around 4.6 million deaths in India can be prevented by 2040 if around 50% of its
hypertensive population controls its blood pressure.
• The report shows an estimated 188.3 million adults aged 30-79 years live with hypertension in
India. In order to achieve a 50% control rate, 67 million more people with hypertension would
need to be effectively treated.
• Only 37% of Indians with hypertension are diagnosed and only 30% get treated. At present,
only 15% of those with hypertension in India have it under control.
Key Points:
i.The report takes a look at the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), a collaborative initiative of the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW), state governments, Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), WHO-India and Resolve to Save Lives as a technical partner.
• The IHCI was started in 2018 to improve hypertension control in the community using the WHO
HEARTS strategy of the evidence-based treatment protocol, and uninterrupted drug supply,
among others.
iii.IHCI launched in selected districts of 5 states and, as of June 2023, had scaled up to 155 districts of 27
states with the enrolment of 5.8 million hypertension patients.
Recent related News:
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at
the University of Oxford, United Kingdom(UK).
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Established on- 7 April 1948
WHO Report: India’s Ultra Food-Processing Sector grew at 13.37% CAGR from 2011-2021
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s report titled “Growth of ultra-processed foods in India-
An analysis of trends, issues and policy recommendations”, India’s Ultra-Processed Food Sector grew at a
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.37 % in retail sales value from 2011 to 2021.
• This report has been developed by the WHO Country Office for India in collaboration with
the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
• The report called for a nutritional transition to a healthier lifestyle.
What is Ultra-Processed Food?
As per the British Heart Foundation, Ultra-processed foods are items with long shelf lives that usually contain
five or more ingredients, including preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors.
Highlights from the Report:
i.The report has analysed five popular categories of ultra-processed foods in India, chocolate and sugar
confectionery; salty snacks; beverages; ready-made and convenient foods; and breakfast cereals.

ii.The report highlighted the requirement of policy interventions to halt this rising trend of ultra-processed
food in order to prevent India from facing an obesity epidemic similar to certain Western nations.
iii.Notably during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Indian ultra-processed food sector’s annual growth rate declined
sharply from 12.65% in 2019 to 5.50% in 2020.
• However, during 2020-2021, a significant rebound in sales occurred with 11.29% growth.
iv.In retail sales volume from 2011 to 2021, beverages had the largest share, followed by chocolate and sugar
confectionery, and ready-made convenience food at 2nd and 3rd place.
• Within beverages, concentrates/squashes dominated with 77% in 2021 (down from 80% in 2011),
followed by soft drinks/concentrates at 13%, and juices at 9%.
v.In 2021, sweet biscuits share was more than 43% of the chocolate and sugar confectionery market in retail
sales value due to their affordability, convenient storage, and extended shelf life.
vi.Retail sales of salty snacks increased at a rate of 16.78% from 2011 to 2021.
• High salt content can make consumers vulnerable to hypertension and heart and kidney diseases,
etc.
Key Recommendations by Report:
The report have recommended actions for India to achieve nutritional security and meet United Nations (UN)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030:
i.The report highlighted that the advertising and marketing regulations should reduce the targeted efforts to
market and advertise products like sweet biscuits to childrens.
ii.The report also stated that Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) in consultation with stakeholders,
should establish a clear HFSS (High Fat, Sugar and Salt) food definition.
• Following this, Goods & Service Tax (GST) Council should align tax structures with HFSS Food
definition. A nutrient based tax model will implement higher taxes for products that have fat,
sugar, and salt beyond the recommended levels and lower taxes for healthier options.
iii.There should be strengthening of existing policies, and development of comprehensive national nutrition
policy for undernutrition and overnutrition, with defined objectives, goals, and targets.
iv.Tax should be increased on non-packaged and unlabelled foods, which is currently taxed at 5% under GST
regime.
v.Zero-sugar carbonated drinks should not be classified under the same GST category in line with carbonated
drinks.
i.According to the ‘Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, June to November 2023
Outlook’ report released on May 29, 2023, by the United Nation (UN) agencies of Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), globally Hunger is set to worsen in 18 ‘hotspots’
comprising a total of 22 countries including the regions in India’s neighbours countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Myanmar.
ii.According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s 11th edition ‘World of Work’, the global
unemployment is projected to fall below pre pandemic levels to 191 million, corresponding to an
unemployment rate of 5.3% in 2023.
UNFPA India and IIPS Releases India Ageing Report 2023

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India, along with the International Institute for Population Sciences
(IIPS), unveiled ‘Caring for Our Elders Institutional Responses: India Ageing Report 2023’.

The report was released in the presence of Saurabh Garg, the Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment and Ms. Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director
Bhutan.
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is
the nodal ministry for care and welfare of senior citizen.
Note: United Nations had declared 2020-30 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing.
About the Report:
i.The India Ageing Report 2023 represents a thorough review of the living conditions and welfare of older
individuals in India.
ii.The report re-examines the conditions of older persons in the country, and attempts to increase the quality of
elder care in India.
iii.India Ageing Report 2023 is build on its previous released report India Ageing Report – 2017.
Leveraged data:
The report leverages the latest data available from
Longitudinal Ageing Survey in India (LASI), 2017–18,
Census of India 2011
Population Projections by the Government of India (2011–2036)
World Population Prospects 2022 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Data & Analytics:
i.Senior citizen occupies 10% of India’s population. By 2036, it will be 14.36%. In 2050 it will be 20.8%
ii.The current estimate of the decadal growth rate of the elderly population (60+ years) of India is at 41%
iii.The report predicts that by 2046 elderly population will surpassed the population of children (Below 15
years) in the country.
iv.More than 40% of the elderly in India are poor, with about 18.7% of them living without an income.
v.The report projected that the population of people aged 80+ years will grow at a rate of around 279%
between 2022 and 2050 with a predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women.
vi.The report highlights that women had higher life expectancy at the age of 60 and at the 80, when compared
to men( with variations across States and Union Territories).
The women(aged 60) in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala live longer than women in other parts of
India(life expectancy of 23 and 22 years), and they also live longer than men(4 years) in their own
states as compared to the national average differential of only 1.5 years.
vii.Women in Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir can
expect to live for more than 20 years after they turn 60.
viii.The sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) among the elderly has exhibited a consistent upward trend since
1991(whereas the ratio in the general population is stagnating).
During the decade from 2011 to 2021, this ratio witnessed growth across all regions in India, except the
Union Territories and western India.
In the northeast and the east, while the sex ratio of the elderly increased, it remained below 1,000 in
both years, indicating that men still outnumber the women in these regions even at 60-plus years.
ix.Most states in the southern region of India and some northern states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have
a higher proportion of elderly people than the national average in 2021. This gap is expected to widen by 2036.
x.States with higher fertility rates and slower demographic transition, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are
expected to see an increase in the share of the elderly population between 2021 and 2036, but the level will
remain lower than the Indian average.
xi.The dependency ratio is the number of elderly people per 100 people (between 15 and 59 years).
Lower old age dependency ratios: Union Territories (13) and the north-eastern region (13).
Higher old age dependency ratios: southern India(20) and Western India(17).

xii.The report also looked at how the government and state authorities responded to the needs of elderly
people during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the experiences of older people themselves.
Most older people said that they received some state aid, but that it was not enough. They also said that
there were no accessible public healthcare facilities, and that nobody except NGOs(Non
Government Organisation) or CBOs (community-based organizations) helped them.
Claims from the Report:
i.The report suggest for enhanced geriatric care to address the unique healthcare requirements of old aged
people.
ii.The report says that government schemes and policies should be framed by government by focusing on the
health, financial empowerment, and capacity building of the elderly population.
Also there should be Ministerial committees dedicated to shaping policies for elderly welfare.
iii.It also suggest that there should be active involvement of community-based organizations in digital
empowerment through computer and internet usage sessions.
iv.The report recommend the corporates to make initiatives which is aimed at promoting joyful ageing,
providing social assistance, establishing old age homes, and raising awareness about elder abuse.
Takeaway:
i.This report is an important resource for scholars, policymakers, program managers, and all stakeholders
involved in elder care.
ii.As India experiences demographic ageing, it is crucial to ensure that the elderly population has access to the
care and support required for them to lead healthy, dignified, and fulfilling lives.
iii.The major challenges of India’s ageing population are the feminisation and ruralisation of this older
population.
iv.The levels of poverty has the direct effect on the quality of life and healthcare utilisation of the old age
population.
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the
University of Oxford,United Kingdom (UK).
Executive Director – Natalia Kanem
Established in – 1969 (as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. Later its the name was changed to
the United Nations Population Fund in 1987)

65th Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2023: India’s Ravi Kannan Among Four Winners
Philippines based Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the 65th edition of the Ramon
Magsaysay Award(2023) with the theme “Transforming Asia, Inspiring the World”.The 2023 Ramon
Magsaysay Award is set to be held in Manila, Philippines on 11th
November 2023.
The 2023 Ramon Magsaysay awardees are:
• Ravi Kannan: “Hero for Holistic Healthcare” from India.
• Miriam Coronel–Ferrer: “Women in Peace-Building Pioneer”
from the Philippines.
• Eugenio Lemos: “Food Sovereignty Visionary” from Timor-
Leste.

• Korvi Rakshand: “Education-for-All Champion” from Bangladesh.
Note: The Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the ‘Nobel Prize of Asia’.India has received a total of 59
awards, while the Philippines has received 65 awards, making it the highest among all countries.
Winners of Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2023:
Awardee Country Contribution
For his combination of skill, commitment, and compassion in pushing the
Ravi Kannan India boundaries of people-centered, pro-poor health care and cancer care
For his work towards developing inclusive education for the underprivileged
Korvi Rakshand Bangladesh children in Bangladesh
Timor- For his efforts in ensuring adequate food for people and promoting the
Eugenio Lemos Leste importance of conserving the environment and social equality.
Miriam Coronel- For her unwavering confidence in the transforming power of nonviolent
Ferrer Philippines peacebuilding techniques.
The award carries a certificate, a medallion with an embossed image of Ramon Magsaysay and a cash prize of
USD 50,000.
About 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners:
Dr R. Ravi Kannan: Hero of Holistic Healthcare:
i.Surgical oncologist Dr R. Ravi Kannan has been working as Director at the Cachar Cancer Hospital and
Research Centre(CCHRC), Silchar in Assam since 2007.
• He previously headed the Surgical Oncology department at the prestigious Adyar Cancer Institute,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Ravi Kannan was awarded Padma Shri in 2020 in the field of medicine category.
Korvi Rakshand: Education-for-all Champion:
i.The founder of the JAAGO Foundation Korvi Rakshand of Bangladesh awarded with the 2023 Ramon
Magsaysay Award in the Emergent Leadership category.
• He established the JAAGO Foundation in 2007 to provide education to underprivileged students.
• The Foundation now provides English-language education to over 30,000 students throughout
Bangladesh at free of cost.
Miriam Coronel-Ferre: Women in Peace-Building Pioneer:
i.Peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferre was the Philippines government’s Chief negotiator for peace talks
with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to end insurgency and pave the way for peace.
• She co-founded the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators,engaged in convening safe spaces for
dialogues and supporting mediation initiatives in countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan. .
• She also served as the mediation adviser for the United Nations (UN) and was involved in U.N. peace
missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq, the Maldives and Southeast Asia.
Eugenio Lemos:Food Sovereignty Visionary:
i.An agriculturalist who promotes organic farming in Timor-Leste(East Timor), was recognized for his work in
helping achieve sufficient food for people and instilling the value of safeguarding the environment and social
equality.
• As a singer, he uses his songs to campaign for food security and environmental protection.
About Ramon Magsaysay Awards
The Ramon Magsaysay Award, is a yearly honor created to uphold the values of 7th president of the Philippines
Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay. Started by trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, located in New York City,
and with the approval of the Philippine government. It is managed by Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
(RMAF). It is frequently referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Asia.”
• First Awarded: August 31, 1958.
• From 1958 to 2008,The Award was given in six categories annually, five of which were eliminated in
2009.

• Except for Emergent Leadership the Awards are no longer given in any predefined category
beginning in 2009.
Indians who have won Ramon Magsaysay Award in the past:
Satyajit Ray- 1967 – Filmmaker
Prakash Amte-2008- Indian medical doctor
Ravish Kumar- 2019 -Indian journalist
Kiran Bedi- 1994 – IPS officer
Several others including- Vinoba Bhave, Mother Teresa, and Arvind Kejriwal (2006) also won this prestigious
award.
Recently Related News:
On 26th April 2023, The 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award was presented to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama in person after 64 years in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, by Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
president Susanna B Afan and foundation trustee Emily A Abrera.
About Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF):
Chairman – Aurelio R. Montinola III
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
National Awards for e-Governance 2023 Presented During 26th NCeG Held in Indore
The 26th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), was organised on the 25th and 26th of August
2023 at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), to deliberate on providing better facilities
to the citizens.
• During the conference, the National Award for e-Governance 2022-23 (NAeG 2023) were
presented for exemplary implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
• The 26th NCeG was organised on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat, Empowering Citizens’.
NCeG 2023:
NCeG 2023 was inaugurated by Om Prakash Sakhalecha, Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and
Science & Technology, Governemnt of MP.
• NCeG 2023, the two-day conference, was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms &
Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, and Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Government of Madhya
Pradesh.
Note:
• The confernece has been annually held since 1997. Every year the event is jointly organised by
DARPG and MeitY in partnership with one State Government
• The 25th NCeG was held on 26th – 27th November 2022 in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K). The
theme of the 2022 Conference was “Bringing Citizens, Industry, and Government closer”.
Objective: To provide a platform for policymakers, practitioners, industry leaders, and academicians to deliver,
discuss, and recommend an actionable strategy for good governance and to improve the standard of public
services rendered to the common man.
Highlights:
i.Representatives from 28 states and 9 Union Territories (UTs) along with academia, Research Institutions, as
well as industry, have participated in the conference.
ii.9 sub-themes including District-level initiatives; Emerging technologies for providing citizen-centric services;
Role of Research and Development (R&D) in citizen-centric services were discussed at the conference.
iii.An Exhibition was also organised during the event to showcase India’s achievements in the field of e-
Governance, along with a Wall of Fame/photo exhibition on the 2022’s Awardees.

What is e-governance?
i.E-governance, meaning ‘electronic governance’ is using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
(such as Wide Area Networks (WANs), the Internet, and mobile computing) at various levels of the government
and the public sector and beyond, for the purpose of enhancing governance.
ii.In the goal for ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,’ e-governance has emerged as a transformative
force.
National Award for e-Governance 2022-23
National Award for e-Governance, 2022-23 (NAeG 2022-23) were conferred to various
Department/Organisation/Institutions for the best achievement in the implementation of e-Governance
innovation, and the efforts made to fast-track the implementation of an initiative/technology/project or
program.
A total of 16 awards (8 gold and 8 silver) were presented under 5 categories:
• Government Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation
• Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen-Centric Services
• District-level initiative in eGovernance
• Research on Citizen Centric Services by Academic/Research Institutions
• Application of Emerging Technologies in Governance by Startups
Gold Award: It consists of a Trophy, a Certificate, and a Cash Incentive of Rs 10 Lakh for the Organization and
a Certificate for each team member not exceeding 4 in number (including the Project Head).
Silver Award: It consists of a trophy and certificates same as in the Gold award but the Cash Incentive is Rs 5
Lakh for the Department/ Organization/Institution.
NAFIS of NCRB gets DARPG’s Gold Award for Excellence in Category-1
The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) team of the National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB) won the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process Reengineering for Digital
Transformation (Category-1) of the NAeG 2022-23 from the DARPG, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances
and Pensions.
• The award recognised the dedication of the NAFIS team in creating a fool-proof fingerprint
identification system.
• NAFIS, developed by the NCRB, is a centralised database of criminal fingerprints. This helps in the
quick and easy disposal of cases.
West Bengal Government’s Suvidha Vehicles System wins Gold Award for Efficient Trade Facilitation
The West Bengal government also received a Gold Award in the Government Process Reengineering for
Digital Transformation Category 1 of the NAeG 2022-23 from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and
Pensions for the Suvidha Vehicles Facilitation System.
• The award is a recognition of the West Bengal government’s efforts to improve trade facilitation and
reduce the time and cost of doing business in West Bengal.
West Bengal’s Suvidha Vehicles Facilitation System initiative was launched to ease the traffic flow of trucks at
the India-Bangladesh border in Petrapole, which is the largest land Port in South Asia.
SVAMITVA Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj won Gold in NAeG 2022-23
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme of
the Ministry of Panchayati Raj received the Gold Award in the Application of Emerging Technologies for
Providing Citizen Centric Services, Category 2 of the NAeG 2022-23.
• The representatives of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Survey of India, and National Informatics
Centre (NIC)-Geographic Information System (GIS) received the Award conferred to SVAMITVA
Scheme from Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
On May 25, 2023, Kerala became India’s first fully e-governed state as it successfully digitized a range
of government services for prompt and transparent delivery to its citizens.

About Ministry Of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions:
Union Minister- Narendra Modi (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State- Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir)
Dr.Shanta Thoutam Honoured with World Innovation Award at BRICS

Telangana’s 1st woman Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) Shanta Thoutam honoured the World Innovation
Award at the first BRICS innovation forum held at Moscow, Russia. The cloud city concept was the core topic
of the forum.
• The award is given for her contribution to the Sustainable
Development Goal(SDG)-4 through a systematic effort to
implement innovative solutions.
About the award:
i.The Award was established by the World Organisation for
Development, an international Non-Governmental Organization(NGO)
with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and
Social Council(ECOSOC).
ii.The award is given to honors leaders from the developing countries who have made personal contributions
for the achievement of sustainable development goals(SDG).
About SDG-4:
SDG4 : Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• It is one among the set of 17 Global Goals to be achieved within 2030 by 193 member states of the
United Nations.
In the Forum:
i.Shanta Thoutam highlighted Telangana government’s pioneering efforts and successes in open data, digital
innovation, and urban development.
ii.She emphasised the Command Control Centre in Hyderabad(Telangana), which enhances citizen security by
analyzing visual data from 100,000 CCTV cameras.
iii.There were representations from more than 30 countries at the forum.
Other Nominees:
i.Fernando Padula Novaes, who is the Municipal Minister of Education of São Paulo in Brazil.
ii.Saif Al-Hiddabi, who is the Undersecretary of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education,
Research, and Innovation in Oman.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Rated ‘A+’ in Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023
United States of America (US)-based Global Finance magazine has rated Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as A+ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
• Along with Shaktikanta Das, Thomas J Jordan Chairperson of the Swiss National Bank,
Switzerland and Nguyen Thi Hong, Governor of State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnam were rated A+.
• The grades are based on a scale from A to F for success in inflation control, economic growth
goals, currency stability, and interest rate management. An ‘A’ represents an excellent
performance and an ‘F’ stands for an outright failure.
• The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grade the
central bank governors of 101 key countries, territories and districts, including the European
Union, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Bank of Central African States, and the Central
Bank of West African States.
Note: In June 2023, Shaktikanta Das was conferred the award of ‘Governor of the Year at the 10th annual
Central Banking Awards 2023 at London, the United Kingdom (UK).

Vijayawada Railway Station gets ‘Green Railway Station Certification’ with Highest Platinum
Rating
The Vijayawada Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh(AP) has been certified as “Green Railway Station” with
the highest rating of Platinum by IGBC (Indian Green Building Council)-Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII). The rating was presented under the IGBC Green Railway Stations Rating System.
• This becomes the 2nd railway station under the South
Central Railway (SCR) Zone to bag a Platinum rating after
Secunderabad railway division(Telangana), which bagged
the rating in 2018.
• Earlier in 2019, Vijayawada Railway Station was holding
the Gold Standard Rating from IGBC – CII, which is valid for
3 years.
Re-certification Process:
i.In the re-certification process of 2023, Vijayawada station showed
improvement in almost all aspects compared to 2019.
ii.This recognition stands as a testament to the relentless efforts and determination of the station’s staff to
enhance environmental standards while providing eco-friendly services to passengers.
Green Railway Stations Rating System:
i.CII-IGBC, with the support of the Environment Directorate of Indian Railways, has developed the Green
Railway Stations Rating system, aiming to facilitate the adoption of Green Concepts.
ii.This initiative thereby reduces the adverse environmental impacts due to station operation & maintenance
and enhances the overall commuter experience.
iii.The rating system helps to address National priorities like water conservation, waste management, energy
efficiency, reduced use of fossil fuel, lesser dependency on usage of virgin materials, and health & well-being of
station occupants.
iv.The rating system will help the station management to understand their present position with respect to the
‘green performance‘ of the station and the measures that need to be taken to enhance the performance on a
continual basis.
Evaluation Process:
The Vijayawada Railway Station was evaluated under six modules: Sustainable station facility; Health hygiene
and sanitation; Energy efficiency; Water efficiency; Smart and green initiative; Innovation & development.
Few Features of the IGBC Platinum Certified Vijayawada Railway Station:
i.Health and Hygiene standards: Safe Drinking water, No smoking, Tobacco smoke control, Fresh air ventilation,
Solid waste management plan, a Plastic-free environment, Daylighting, etc.
ii.Energy efficient measures: 5 star rating electrical equipments, LED(light-emitting diode) fixtures,
BLDC(Brushless Direct Current Motor) fans, day light sensors, energy monitoring, solar water heaters.
iii.Smart and Green Initiatives: Wi-Fi facilities, Smart Card ticketing, Food courts, Pharmacy, Innovative
measures like the Centre for Advanced Maintenance Technology (CAMTECH) design coach watering, etc.
Additional info: In June 2023, Vijayawada Station became the 1st station in India to equip platforms with a
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roof, installing a total capacity of 130 kilowatts ‘peak’ (kWp) of
solar power.
About Indian Green Building Council (IGBC):
IGBC is India’s Premier certification body and is the founding member of the World Green Building Council. It is
a part of the CII, formed in the year 2001.
Vision of the Council– “To enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the
global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025”
Chairman– Gurmit Singh Arora

Updated: Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023: Indore, Amravati, Parwanoo Tops in Category -1,2
& 3 Respectively
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has given
awards to the ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2023′ winners on the occasion of the “International Day of Clear Air
for Blue Sky” on 7th September 2023, at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan- 2023’ was conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
under the initiative of the MoEFCC.
• The 2nd edition of Swachh Vayu Survekshan took place in 2023.
‘National Clean Air City’ Awards:
i.Category 1: Indore (Madhya Pradesh) secured the first rank followed by Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and Thane
(Maharashtra) in the second and third place respectively.
• Those cities with a population above 10 lakh fall under category 1.
ii.Category 2: Amravati of Maharashtra bagged the top rank followed by Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and
Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) in the second and third place respectively .
iii.Category 3: Parwanoo of Himachal Pradesh bagged the top rank followed by Kala Amb(Himachal Pradesh)
and Angul(Odisha) in the second and third place respectively.
The award comes with a cash price, trophy and Certificate with the title “National Clean Air City”
Click here to know more about Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023
Winners of Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023:
Categories Rank Cities
1 Amravati (Maharashtra)
Moradabad
2 (Uttar Pradesh)
Guntur
3 (Andhra Pradesh)
Firozabad
4 (Uttar Pradesh)
Category 2 Rajahmundry
(3-10 Lakhs Population) 4 (Andhra Pradesh)
Parwanoo
1 (Himachal Pradesh)
Kala Amb
2 (Himachal Pradesh)
Angul
3 (Odisha)
Raebareli
4 (Uttar Pradesh)
Category 3 Talcher
(Less than 3 Lakhs Population) 5 (Odisha)
Note: Population was based on the 2011 census
Objectives:
The objectives of Swachh Vayu Survekshan include: spreading awareness among all sections of society;
informing citizens about health impacts; comparing air quality conditions in different cities; and achieving the
goal of clean air for all.
Method of Assessment:
The cities were assessed on eight major points, including control of biomass and municipal solid waste burning,

road dust, dust from construction and demolition waste, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, public
awareness, and improvement in Particulate Matter(PM)10(particles of 10 micrometers or less in diameter)
concentration.
Additional Info:
In 2022,Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, Prayagraj,Varanasi secured first, second and third place respectively in
category 1.
Click here to view full list of cities
CSIR announces Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes 2022 for 12 scientists

On September 11, 2023, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) Director General N
Kalaiselvi announced the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) awards for Science and Technology 2022 to be
distributed to 12 young scientists across India.
• The announcement was made at the launch event of
‘One Week One Lab’ programme of CSIR-National
Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research
(CSIR-NIScPR), in the presence of Minister of State
(MoS) Dr. Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Science and
Technology), Vice President, CSIR in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding
Indian work in science and technology.
Here is the list of Winners:
Sr.No. Winner Category
Dipyaman Ganguli
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata,
1 West Bengal Medical Sciences
Ashwani Kumar
CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH),
2 Chandigarh Biological Sciences
Maddika Subba Reddy
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD),
3 Hyderabad, Telangana Biological Sciences
Akkattu T Biju
4 Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka Chemical Sciences
Debabrata Maiti
5 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Maharashtra Chemical Sciences
Vimal Mishra Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and
6 IIT-Gandhinagar, Gujarat Planetary Sciences
Dipti Ranjan Sahoo
7 IIT, Delhi Engineering Sciences
Rajnish Kumar
8 IIT, Madras, Tamil Nadu Engineering Sciences
Apoorva Khare
9 IISc, Bengaluru Mathematical Sciences
Neeraj Kayal
10 Microsoft Research Lab India, Bengaluru Mathematical Sciences

Anindya Das
11 IIsc, Bengaluru Physical Sciences
Basudeb Dasgupta
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai,
12 Maharashtra Physical Sciences
Winners Contribution in the Field of Science:
1.Dipyaman Ganguli awarded for clinical and translational Covid-19 research, including an RCT (Randomized
controlled trials).
2.Ashwani Kumar recognized for biofilm-induced infections in TB (Tuberculosis) pathophysiology.
3.Maddika Subba Reddy awarded for new functions of phosphatases in cellular protein sorting.
4.Akkattu T Biju honored in the field of chemical sciences.
5.Debabrata Maiti recognized for contributions to transition-metal catalysis in agrochemicals and
pharmaceuticals.
6.Vimal Mishra awarded for research on hydrologic extremes and water resources in India.
7.Dipti Ranjan Sahoo acknowledged for seismic mitigation in buildings and bridges.
8.Rajnish Kumar recognized for carbon sequestration and methane recovery from marine gas hydrates.
9.Apoorva Khare honored for contributions in representation theory, combinatorics, and matrix analysis.
10.Neeraj Kayal awarded for developing algorithms in algebra, number theory, and arithmetic complexity.
11.Anindya Das recognized for understanding electrical and thermoelectric properties of 2-D materials.
12.Basudeb Dasgupta awarded for research on neutrinos in astrophysical environments and dark matter
detection method.
About SSB Prize:
Instituted in memory of the first Director General of the CSIR, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, is is an annual
recognition usually announced on September 26, CSIR’s foundation day.
• It honors outstanding researchers under 45 in seven scientific disciplines and includes a cash prize
of Rs 5 lakh.
• The seven disciplines are Biological Sciences, Chemical sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medical
Sciences, Physical Sciences., Engineering Science and Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary
sciences.
i.On 29th June 2023, Former Rajya Sabha member and India’s first-ever Olympic medallist in women’s boxing,
Mary Kom (40 years old) has been honoured with the India Global Forum (IGF) United Kingdom(UK) Special
Award: Global Indian Icon of the Year award (2023) at the 5th annual UK -India Awards (2023) held in
Fairmont Windsor Park, Windsor, UK.
ii.Ajay Banga, Padma Shri awardee and the President of the World Bank, has been named among the
2023 annual list of “Great Immigrants”, that honours individuals who have strengthened the United States of
America (USA) through their contributions. The list is curated by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the USA,
a philanthropic organisation.
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
Director General– N. Kalaiselvi
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Science & Technology
Indian Fashion Designer honoured with France’s Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Government of France has awarded the “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Knight of the
Order of Arts and Letters) to the Indian Fashion Designer Rahul Mishra. The award recognises his
achievements in the field of arts as a designer, and his commitment to promote Indian crafts and know-how
internationally.

• The award also honours his contribution to the cultural relationship and cooperation between
France and India.
• On 12th September 2023, Emmanuel
Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, presented the
insignia of the award to Rahul Mishra at a special
ceremony at the Residence of France, New Delhi, Delhi.
About Rahul Mishra:
i.Rahul Mishra, hailing from Uttara Pradesh(UP), is known for
combining slow fashion with traditional Indian crafts.
ii.He made his debut in 2006 at the Lakme Fashion Week with a
collection using cotton handloom from Kerala. Later in 2014, he made his global debut with his prêt-à-porter
collection at Paris Fashion Week in 2014.
iii.In 2009, He became the first non-European designer to win the prestigious scholarship at the Istituto
Marangoni, Milan, Italy.
Awards & Achievements:
i.He was won the International Woolmark Prize 2013/14 for his “Lotus Effect” collection. He was the first
Indian to win the award.
• His work from this collection was featured in the Victoria & Albert Museum from 2015 to 2016.
ii.In 2020, he became the first Indian to showcase his work at the Paris Haute Couture Week. He was invited as
a guest by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.
iii.He was the first Indian designer to feature on online rental boutique, Rent the Runway.
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres:
i.It is an Order of France established by the Minister of Culture in 1957 and confirmed as part of L’ordre
National du Mérite by president Charles de Gaulle in 1963.
ii.It is the most significant arts-specific honour conferred by the Government of France that honours
personalities who have made significant contribution to the music field, arts, literature and the cultural and
artistic legacy of Indo-France relations.
iii.The award is given at three levels: Commandeur (Commander), Officier(Officer), Chevalier (Knight).
33rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize 2023: Team Including Indian Researcher Won 2023 Ig Nobel
prize
The 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 33rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on
September 14, 2023. The Ig Nobel Prize is the prize for humorous scientific feats and aims to “honour
achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.”
• A team of scientists from India, China, Malaysia,
and the United States of America (USA) has won
the 2023 Ig Nobels, in the ‘Mechanical
Engineering‘ category for re-animating dead
spiders and using them as mechanical gripping
tools.
2023 Ceremony:
i.The 2023 ceremony happened entirely as a webcast
produced by a Magazine named ‘Annals of Improbable
Research’.
ii.The prizes were awarded by genuine Nobel laureates. Each winner received a 10 trillion Zimbabwe
dollar bill and a pack of “Ig Pseudo Cola.”
iii.A new additional companion event called ‘Ig Nobel Face-to-Face‘ has been organised for the 33rd First
Annual Ig Nobel Prize winners on November 11, 2023, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Museum, Cambridge (USA).
List of Winners of 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes
10 Categories of Ig Nobel Prize:
Chemistry and Geology; Literature; Mechanical Engineering; Public Health; Communication; Medicine;
Nutrition; Education; Psychology; Physics.
Indian Researcher Team:
i.A team from Rice University in Texas, USA won the Mechanical Engineering Prize for re-animating dead
spiders to use as ‘necrobotic‘ mechanical gripping tools, able to grasp objects up to 130% of their own
weight.
• The findings, published in the journal Advanced Science (July 2022), showed that spiders “are
able to grasp objects greater than their own weight”.
Team members: Faye Yap, Zhen Liu, Anoop Rajappan (India), Trevor Shimokusu, and Daniel Preston.
ii.The team with a dead spider found that a dead spider’s legs naturally sit in a “closed” state like a
clenched fist, but the legs can be extended, and the grip opened, by applying pressure.
iii.Using this “necrobotic” approach, the team created a spider-based gripper that could, grasp objects with
irregular shapes.
• The gripper can also serve as a handheld device and innately camouflages in outdoor
environments.
Key Highlights of 2023 Events:
i.Winners of the prizes represented 22 countries, including 5 researchers from the USA, 4 from the United
Kingdom, and 3 from China.
ii.The theme of the 2023 ceremony, evinced in the non-opera and other bits, was: WATER.
iii.The 2023 event included the premiere of 7 songs on the topic of water, plus eminent researchers
explaining their subjects in just 24 seconds, and then in only 7 words.
About Ig Nobel Prize:
i.It is awarded every autumn to celebrate 10 unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research.
ii.‘Ig Nobel Prize’ is a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies and on the word ignoble, an achievement
‘characterised by baseness or meanness’, and is satirical social criticism that identifies absurd yet useful
knowledge.
iii.This award is the brainchild of Marc Abrahams, editor of the magazine ‘Annals of Improbable
Research’.
iv.The awards have been presented since 1991 by genuine Nobel laureates usually at Harvard University
in the United States of America (USA).
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Conferred 84 artistes with Sangeet Natak Akademi
Amrit Awards 2022
On September 16, 2023, the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the one-
time Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards 2022 to 84 artistes from varied fields of performing arts
during a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The award was constituted to honour Indian artistes
aged above 75 years who have not been accorded any
national honour in their career so far.
• A total of 84 artists, comprising 70 men and 14 women,
were bestowed with this prestigious award at the
ceremony.
Key People:
Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Meenakashi Lekhi, Ministers of

State(MoS) for Culture and Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi were present during
the award ceremony.
Key Points:
i.The list features artists from various Indian states viz. 3 from Andhra Pradesh, 2 from Arunachal Pradesh,
6 from Maharashtra, 3 each from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, 2 each from Punjab, and Delhi.
ii.4 award recipients each are from Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, and Karnataka, while 5 each from Assam and Rajasthan were recognized for their exceptional
contributions.
Some of the Awardees:
Awardee Genre Contributions
Celebrated for remarkable

Mahabir Nayak (Jharkhand) Music (Folk)
contributions to music
Harishchandra Prabhakar Borkar Acknowledged for significant

Theatre
(Maharashtra) contributions to theatre
Lauded for outstanding

Dharmeswar Nath (Assam) Dance
achievements in dance
Notable in the world of

Raghubir Malik (Bihar) Hindustani Vocal
Hindustani vocal
Lalitha Srinivasan (Karnataka) Bharatnatyam

Spotlight shone for expertise
in Bharatnatyam
Vilasini Devi Krishnapillai (Kerala) Bharatanatyam
Click here to more about the awardees
Note:
The award ceremony is followed by the festival of performing arts featuring the recipients of Sangeet
Natak Akademi Amrit Awards from 16th to 20th September 2023 at Meghdoot Complex, Sangeet Natak
Akademi, New Delhi, Delhi.
About Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards:
These are a national honor recognizing performing artists, educators, and scholars in the performing arts.
Recipients are chosen by the Akademi’s General Council, which includes prominent figures in music,
dance, theater, and related fields, along with government nominations.
• The award includes a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a Tamrapatra, and an Angavastram.
About Sangeet Natak Akademi:
Sangeet Natak Akademi is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India and serves a 5-year term.
Chairman– Dr. Sandhya Purecha
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Culture
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.
Key points:
i.Organized and Presented Annually by: Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs,
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.
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
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,
Public Sector Undertakings 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),
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
B region Mahabank “Pragati”, Bank of Maharashtra, Pune First
Rajbhasha “Gunjan”, Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited, Mumbai Second
C region “Vaani”, Indian oversea Bank, Chennai First
“Suvigya”, Krishi Anusandhan, and Robotik
In House Hindi Magazines 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.
NMC India Gets World Federation for Medical Education Recognition Status for 10 Years
The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India has been awarded the Recognition Status by the World
Federation for Medical Education (WFME) for a period of 10 years with immediate effect.
• As part of this recognition, all the 706 existing medical colleges in India will become WFME
accredited and the new medical colleges, set up in the coming 10 years will automatically become
WFME accredited.
Note: The WFME programme of Recognition of Accrediting Agencies was established following the 2005.
Significance of WFME Recognition Status:
This will enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India and align Indian medical education
with global best practices and benchmarks.
This status will boost the international standing and reputation of Indian medical schools and healthcare
professionals.
This will facilitate academic collaborations, and exchanges, and encourage continuous improvements and
innovations in medical education.
Benefits:
This recognition allows Indian medical graduates to pursue postgraduate (PG) training and practice medicine
in countries that require WFME accreditation including the United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia,
and New Zealand.
This will make India as an attractive destination for international students due to its globally recognized
standards.
With NMC being WFME accredited all Indian students become eligible to apply for the Education Commission

on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
WFME Recognition Programme:
i.The WFME Recognition Programme follows the same principles as a medical school accreditation system:
evaluation of documentation, policies and procedures; a site visit; and a decision taken by an independent
committee with reference to pre-defined criteria.
ii.This aims to raise the standards of medical education worldwide, through ensuring that national and regional
accrediting agencies are acting in an appropriate, robust and transparent way.
About Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG):
i.Established in 1956, ECFMG is a world leader in promoting quality health care and the primary body
responsible for overseeing policies and regulations related to licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
ii.ECFMG Certification is a requirement for IMGs to take the USMLE and obtain an unrestricted license to
practice medicine in the USA.
About National Medical Commission (NMC):
Chairman– Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma
NMC has been constituted by an act of Parliament known as the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 which
came into force on September 25, 2020.
About World Federation for Medical Education (WFME):
President– Professor Ricardo León-Bórquez
Registered office– Worcester, England (United Kingdom) and Ferney-Voltaire, France
WFME is the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in official relation with the World Health
Organization(WHO) representing medical education and medical schools worldwide.
WFME was founded in 1972 by the World Medical Association (WMA) and the World Health Organization
(WHO).
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%).
Biswanath Ghat in Assam Selected as Best Tourism Village of India 2023

Assam Chief Minister(CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Union Ministry of Tourism(MoT) has
selected Biswanath Ghat(also known as Gupta Kashi) of Sonitpur district of Assam as the Best Tourism
Village of India 2023.
• MoT has also selected Kiriteshwari village in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal as the Best
Tourism Village of India.
• The villages were selected from amongst 791 applications from 31 States and Union
Territories(UTs).
i.Biswanath Ghat is known for cultural amalgamation and spiritual and religious sites like Gangmou Than and
Nagsankar temple.
ii.Kiriteshwari, located near Bhagirathi River, houses the Kiriteshwari temple, one of India’s 51 Shaktipeethas.

The Best Tourism Villages Competition seeks to honor a village that best exemplifies a rural tourism
destination.
• It showcases the renowned cultural and natural assets, and preserves & promotes community-based
values, goods, and lifestyles of the villages in India.
Agri Scientist Swati Nayak Becomes 3rd Indian to be Honoured with Norman E. Borlaug Award
Indian Scientist Swati Nayak has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for ‘Field
Research and Application’. She became the third Indian and first odia (Odisha) scientist to receive this award in
Field Research and Application. The award was announced in Climate Week New York City which held from 17-
24 September 2023.
• She received the recognition for her innovative approach of
engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems, from
testing and deployment to access and adoption of climate-
resilient and nutritious rice varieties.
Note: The other two Indians who received this award is Aditi
Mukherji (2012) and Mahalingam Govindaraj (2022).
About Swati Nayak:
i.Swati Nayak is a Scientist and the South Asia Lead for Seed System
and Product Management at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), New Delhi, Delhi.
• Nayak joined IRRI in 2013 as a specialist in Agriculture Research & Development (Gender, climate change)
ii.She is fondly called Bihana Didi (seed lady) in Odisha.
iii.She also serves as the Global Lead for Rice and Co-lead for Cereal Seed Systems under the key initiative
SeedEqual of Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), a global research partnership
of centers conducting research on agriculture food systems.
Achievements:
i.Nayak developed high demanded drought-tolerant rice variety called Shahabhagi Dhan.
ii.She is also one of the key scientists working in the international seed policy agreement called Seeds
Without Borders, which speeds the dissemination of modern rice varieties across South and Southeast Asia.
iii.Nayak anchored Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (MKSP), an initiative under National rural
Livelihood Mission(NRLM).
• This was the first ever such dedicated initiative approved by Indian Cabinet for women farmers.
iv.She disseminated more than 20 promising climate-resilient and bio-fortified rice varieties.
About Norman E. Borlaug Award:
i.The Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation
ii.The award is presented annually by the World Food Prize Foundation to an individual under the age of 40
who has made a significant contribution to improving global food security and nutrition.
iii.The recipient will receive USD 10,000 and an award diploma.
Additional Info:
Swati Nayak is set to formally receive the award during the Borlaug Dialogue scheduled to take place on 24
October 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa in United States of America(USA).
Waheeda Rehman to be Honoured with 53rd Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Veteran Indian actor and Padma Awardee Waheeda Rehman will be conferred with the Dada Saheb Phalke
Award for the year 2021 for her lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. She will become the 53rd recipient of
this award.
• She will also be the 8th female artist to receive the dadasaheb phalke award.
• The award will be presented during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.
• Honoured with the highest award in the field of cinema, the recipients of this award are recognized
for their ‘outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema’.

About Waheeda Rehman:
i.She was born on February 3, 1938, in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
In her career spanning over 5 decades, Waheeda Rehman has
worked in over 90 films.
ii.She initially started her film career in the Telugu industry with
the 1955 Telugu films “Rojulu Maraayi” and “Jayasimha”. She
made her Hindi cinema debut in Guru Dutt’s 1956 film “CID”.
iii.Her notable films include Pyaasa (1957), Guide (1965),
Khamoshi (1969), Phagun (1973), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Chandni
(1989), Lamhe (1991), Rang De Basanti (2006), and Delhi 6
(2009), Skater Girl (2021) among many others.
Awards:
i.The Government of India (GoI) awarded her the National Film Award (Best Actress) for the movie “Reshma
and Shera” (1971).
ii.She was honoured with the Padma Shri (Art) in 1972, and Padma Bhushan (Art) in 2011
About Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
i.Dada Saheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, was introduced by the GoI to commemorate the contribution of
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke) to Indian cinema.
The award recognises the ‘outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema’.
• Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who directed India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra in
1913 was considered the Father of Indian cinema.
ii.It is presented annually at the National Film Awards (NFA) ceremony organised by the Directorate of Film
Festivals (DFF), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB).
iii.The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh.
Note:
• The inaugural award was conferred by Devika Rani Roerich in 1969.
• Asha Parekh was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020(52nd recipient).
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research celebrated its 82nd Foundation Day – 26th
September 2023
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research(CSIR) celebrated its 82nd Foundation Day on 26th September 2023
with a event organised at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent
Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology
(MoST) addressed the event and presented
the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar (SSB) Awards for
Science and Technology (S&T) 2022 to the 12
eminent Scientists under the age of 45.
Note: CSIR, a premier national Research and Development (R&D)
organization led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, works under
the administrative supervision of the MoST.
Achievements and Initiatives of CSIR:
i.CSIR’s Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) mission aims to combat the urgent global challenge of
carbon emissions reduction and climate change mitigation.
• It tackles the pressing issue of carbon emissions and climate change.
• Focuses on innovative CO2 capture, utilisation, and storage technologies.
ii.CSIR’s initiative focusing on the Sickle Cell Anaemia project aims to implement a comprehensive disease
management plan.

• The initiative’s goal is to alleviate the future disease burden and enhance the quality of life of
patients.
Initiative:
i.CSIR Leadership to devise a “One Week-One Theme” scheme along the lines of OWOL, combining all the
institutions dealing with the theme or the subject in a truly integrated fashion.
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
President– Narendra Modi
Vice-President– Dr. Jitendra Singh
Director – General – Dr. Nallathamby Kalaiselvi

General Brice Oligui Nguema appointed as Transitional President of Gabon
On August 30, 2023, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, was unanimously
appointed as the Transitional President of Gabon and Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and
Restoration of Institutions.
• He will be sworn in as Transitional President before the
Constitutional Court on Monday September 4, 2023.
Note: Gabon is the latest African country to witness a military coup
after Niger in July 2023 and Mali in 2022.
The African Union(AU)’s Peace and Security Council has decided
to “immediately suspend” Gabon following the military coup.
Background:
i.Gabon’s coup leaders appointed Brice Oligui Nguema after
deposing Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
ii.The military coup came after the Gabonese Election Center confirmed that incumbent President Ali Bongo
officially won a 3rd term as president with 64.27% of the vote.
About Brice Oligui Nguema:
i.Brice Oligui Nguema served as an aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo Former President of Gabon, who ruled Gabon
for nearly 42 years (from 1967 until his death in 2009).
ii.Under the presidency of Ali Bongo, Nguema was appointed as the military attache at Gabon’s embassies in
Morocco and Senegal.
iii.In 2018, he was appointed as the General Manager of Special Services under the Gabonese Republican
Guard, an independent military responsible for protecting government officials and buildings.
iv.In 2020, he was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard.
About Gabon:
Capital– Libreville
Currency– Central African CFA franc
Jaya Varma Sinha Appointed as 1st Woman Chairperson & CEO of Railway Board
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC) has approved the appointment of Jaya Varma Sinha as the
Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board. She becomes the 1st woman to hold the post
since the establishment of Railway Board in 1905.
• She succeeded Anil Kumar Lahoti whose tenure as chairman and CEO ended on 31st August 2023.

• Jaya Varma Sinha will hold the post till 31st August 2024. Previously was set to retire on 1st
October 2023, but she will be re-employed until her
tenure is over.
• Prior to this appointment, she was serving as the Member
(Operations and Business Development), Railway Board.
About Jaya Varma Sinha:
i.Jaya Varma Sinhais is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
officer of 1986 batch who started her career in 1988.
• During her 35 year career, she held various significant
positions, including Additional Member for Traffic
Transportation on the Railway Board and roles in diverse areas such as operations, commercial, and
vigilance.
ii.She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of South Eastern
Railway in 2018.
iii.She has also served as Railway Adviser in the High Commission of India, Dhaka, Bangladesh for four years.
• The Maitree Express from Kolkata to Dhaka was inaugurated during her tenure in Bangladesh.
Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam elected as 9th President of Singapore

Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam (66 years) has been elected as the 9th
President of Singapore after securing 70.4% (1,746,427 votes) of more than 2.48 million valid votes cast.
• He will succeed incumbent Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s first female President elected without a
contest in 2017 whose term will conclude on September 13, 2023.
About the Election:
Singapore presidential polls 2023 is the first contested Presidential
polls of Singapore since 2011.
The elections were non-partisan position of President under which
each candidate for office is eligible based on his or her own merits
rather than as a member of a political party.
Result:
Tharman Shanmugaratnam defeated Ng Kok Song, a former
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Chief
Investment Officer (CIO), who had 15.72% of votes (390,041), and Tan Kin Lian, NTUC Income Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), who bagged 13.88% votes (344,292).
About Tharman Shanmugaratnam:
i.Tharman Shanmugaratnam joined politics in 2001 and has served in various public sector and r and
ministerial positions with the People’s Action Party (PAP) for over 20 years.
ii.In 2007 he was appointed as Singapore’s Minister for Finance and following the 2011 general election, he
was appointed Deputy Prime Minister (PM) of Singapore, in addition to the Finance portfolio.
• He served as the Deputy PM of Singapore till 2019.
iii.He Chaired the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from May 1, 2011, to July 7, 2023.
iv.He also Chaired the International Advisory Council (IAC) of the Economic Development Board (EDB) from
2014 to 2023.
v.He led the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the policy advisory committee of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2011 to 2014.
vi.In 2017, he served as the Chair of the G20 Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Global Financial Governance,
and Chair of the Group of Thirty.

About Singapore:
Prime Minister– Lee Hsien Loong
Capital– Singapore
Currency– Singapore Dollar
Dipak Gupta took over as Interim MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank; Uday Kotak Resigned
Dipak Gupta, Joint Managing Director (MD) of the Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited took over as
the Interim MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank till 31st December 2023. He will hold the
position till Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes its successor.
• The appointment of Dipak Gupate follows the
early resignation of Uday Kotak from the position of
MD & CEO with effect from 1st September 2023. His
tenure as MD & CEO expires on 31st Devember 2023.
• Uday Kotak will continue as a part of Kotak Mahindra
Bank as a non-Executive director.
Note: The leadership change were announced during the
meeting of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s board of Directors.
About Dipak Gupta:
i.Dipak Gupta joined the Kotak Group in 1992, prior to that he worked with the consultancy division of A.F.
Ferguson & Co.
ii.He has been the whole time Director of the Kotak Mahindra Bank (previusly known as “Kotal Mahindra
Finance Limited (KMFL) since 1999.
iii.He has been serving as the Joint MD of Kotak Mahindra Bank since January 2012.
iii.He was instrumental in accomplishing the partnership between KMFL and Ford Credit International
and was the first MD of Kotak Mahindra Primus Limited (now Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited).
iv.He also chairs functions of Internal Audit and Information Technology (IT) including Cyber Security and
Digital Initiatives, at the Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
About Uday Kotak:
i.Uday Kotak is the Founder and Promoter of the Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
ii.He has been the MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited since August 2002.
iii.He currently Co-Chairs the Indo-UK Financial Partnership (IUKFP) and servs as the Chairman of the
Advisory Committee on Corporate Insolvency and Liquidation (Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India).
About Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL):
Incorporated in 1985 as “Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd”.
Receivd Banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in 2003 and Became the 1st Non-Banking
Finance Company (NFBC) in India to be converted into a bank. It was then renamed as “Kotak Mahindra
Bank”.
MD & CEO– Dipak Gupta (Interim)
Former CJI NV Ramana Appointed International Mediation Panel Member of SIMC

Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana (NV Ramana), Former Chief Justice of India (CJI), has been appointed
member of the International Mediation Panel of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC). A
letter of appointment was presented to him by George Lim, Chairman of SIMC, in Singapore.
• Justice Ramana took part in the ‘Singapore Convention Week’ (SC Week), the annual convention
organised by Singapore Ministry of Law (MinLaw), the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and over 20 partner organisations.

• India’s leading multinational corporations (MNCs) have come together to support a mediation
initiative led by Justice Ramana. Top executives from various organizations, including SIMC and
Indian corporate groups like Reliance, Aditya Birla, Tata, and Mahindra, collaborated to sign the
‘Declaration of Intent.’
Note: The 2023 theme of the SC Week was “Tomorrow’s World Today: Leading the Future of Dispute
Resolution” and was a five-day event held from 28th August 2023 to 1st September 2023.
Swaraj Tractors Names MS Dhoni as Brand Ambassador

Swaraj Tractors, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Chaired by Mr. Anand Mahindra has
named Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former Indian captain as its new brand ambassador. The
announcement was made during the launch of the company’s lightweight tractors.
• According to the Swaraj Tractors, the relationship would strengthen its dedication to offering
Indian farmers cutting-edge and dependable mechanisation solutions.
• As the brand ambassador, MS Dhoni will feature on the newly launched advertising campaign
for the brand.
Swaraj Tractors, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Chaired by Mr. Anand Mahindra has named
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former Indian captain as its new brand ambassador. The announcement was
made during the launch of the company’s lightweight tractors.
About MS Dhoni:
i.MS Dhoni was captain of the Indian national team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in Test
cricket from 2008 to 2014. He also captined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League
(IPL).
ii.He is the only captain in the history of cricket to have won all three International Cricket Council (ICC)
trophies: Twenty20 (T20) World Cup 2007, 2011 ICC ODI World Cup 2011, and 2013 ICC Champions
Trophy 2013
Sato Kilman Elected as PM of Vanuatu For the 5th Time

On 4th September 2023, the Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu elected Sato Kilman, a former Prime
Minister (PM) and leader of the People’s Progressive Party, as the new PM of Vanuatu. This marks Sato
Kilman’s 5th term as the PM of Vanuatu.
• Previously, he served as the PM from December 2010 to April 2011; May to June 2011; June 2011 to
March 2013; and 2015 to 2016.
• Sato Kilman was elected 27 votes to 23 in the secret ballot. This outcome followed the Court of
Appeal upholding the results of a no-confidence motion against the outgoing PM,
Ishmael Kalsakau.
About Sato Kilman: Prior to entering politics, Sato Kilman served as the police commissioner. He served as
the deputy PM in Ishmael Kalsakau’s government until May 2023.
Cognizant India’s CMD Rajesh Nambiar Appointed as Chairperson of NASSCOM

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has appointed Rajesh
Nambiar, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of Cognizant India, as its Chairperson.
• He will replace Anant Maheshwari (former president of Microsoft India) who was appointed as
Chairman of NASSCOM (2023-2024) in April 2023.
• He is relocating to Dubai as part of his new role as Honeywell’s High Growth Region President And
Chief Executive Officer(CEO).
• In April 2023, Rajesh Nambiar was appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of NASSCOM for the period
2023-24.

NASSCOM Executive Council:
He will be supporting the NASSCOM Executive Council for 2023-
2025 along with NASSCOM President Debjani Ghosh.
• The Executive council aims to make the software
industry a USD 500 billion worth by 2030.
About the leadership:
i.The leadership will focus on accelerating the adoption and
widespread impact of cutting-edge emerging and deep
technologies.
ii.Improving India’s talent pool to match changing job
requirements and technological advancements.
iii.Emphasizing comprehensive industry solutions for increased efficiency, sustainability, and rapid innovation,
and creating a diverse, fair, and inclusive workplace for everyone.
About Rajesh Nambiar:
i.Rajesh Nambiar is also serving as the Executive Vice President of Cognizant.
• He also chairs the Cognizant Foundations in the United States of America and India. He is a member
of the global board of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
ii.Prior to joining Cognizant in November 2020, He served as the Chairman and President of Ciena India.
iii.He has also worked with IBM as Global Delivery Leader.
iv.Prior to IBM, he was associated with the Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) for around 18 years.
About National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)
NASSCOM is a non-profit organization that represents and promotes the interests of the information
technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in India. NASSCOM plays a significant role in
shaping the policy environment for the IT and BPO sectors in India.
Chairperson – Rajesh Nambiar
Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Association of Investment Bankers of India appoints Mahavir Lunawat of Pantomath Capital as

Chairman
The Association of Investment Bankers of India (AIBI) appointed Mahavir Lunawat, Group Founder and
Managing Director (MD) of Pantomath Capital Advisors Private Limited, as its Chairman for two years starting
September 2023. He will succeed Anay P Khare, MD (Corporate Finance Division(CFD) of Axis Capital Ltd.
• AIBI also appointed Arjun Mehra, MD of J.M. Financial,
and Prem D’Cunha, SVP (Senior Vice President) & Head
– ECM Execution at ICICI Securities as its Vice Chairmen.
• These appointments were made at the AIBI’s Board
Meeting held on September 5, 2023.
Note: AIBI is the sole representative body of investment bankers
to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and various
statutory authorities, and the Chairperson represents investment
bankers on SEBI’s Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC),
actively voicing members’ views on regulatory reforms.
About Mahavir Lunawat:
i.Mahavir Lunawat, an industry veteran with 20+ years of experience, currently represents AIBI as Director on
SEBI’s Alternate Investment Policy Advisory Committee (AIPAC).
ii.He has led numerous Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate restructuring projects and managed
over 100 IPOs.
iii.He has also served as Director at TiE Mumbai, a member of the Capital Market Committee of PHD Chamber

of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), and contributed to the Kotak Committee on Corporate Governance.
About Arjun Mehra: He has over 15 years of investment banking experience, specializing in capital markets,
M&A transactions, and regulatory consultations.
About Prem D’Cunha: He has 20+ years of experience in Indian investment banking and capital markets. He’s
been involved in regulatory consultations on various topics, including offers for sale, stock exchange
mechanisms, and public offer guidelines.
About Association of Investment Bankers of India (AIBI):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Dr. Milind V. Dalvi
Establishment- 1993 as Association of Merchant Bankers of India (AMBI)
Tagline– Raising the Credibility Standard
RBI Approved Re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as MD & CEO of ICICI Bank for 3years
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the Managing
Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICICI Bank Limited for three years with effect from 4th
October, 2023 to 3rd October 2026.
• This is his second extension of tenure; the first
extension happened in 2021 for two years which is
about to expire on 3rd October 2023.
• He has been serving as the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank
since 2018 succeeding Chanda Kochchar.
Background:
i.In October 2022, the board of directors of ICICI Bank approved
to re-appoint him to the post.
ii.The shareholders of the bank also approved the reappointment
at the annual general meeting held in August 2023.
About Sandeep Bakhshi:
i.Prior to the appointment as MD & CEO, Sandeep Bakhshi was a Whole time Director and the Chief Operating
Officer (COO) of the ICICI Bank.
ii.He joined the ICICI Group in 1986 and has handled various assignments across the group in ICICI Limited,
ICICI Lombard General Insurance, ICICI Bank and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
About ICICI Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sandeep Bakhshi
Established in 1994
Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka
Mastercard India Appoints Former SBI Chief Rajnish Kumar as Non-Executive Chairman
Rajnish Kumar, former chairman of the State Bank of India(SBI) has been appointed as the Non-Executive
Chairman of Mastercard India.
• Rajnish Kumar will guide Mastercard’s South Asia executive leadership team, led by Gautam
Aggarwal, Division President for South Asia and Country Corporate Officer, India.
• He is currently serving as the chairman of payments startup BharatPe.
About Rajnish Kumar:
i.Rajnish Kumar served as the chairman of SBI from 2017 to 2020.
• He is also widely credited for spearheading the SBI YONO platform.
• He served at SBI and its subsidiaries across India, the United Kingdom and Canada in various
leadership roles.

ii.He serves on the boards of various organisations and corporations, including HSBC Asia Pacific, Larsen &
Toubro(L&T), and Brookfield Property Management.
iii.He also served as Director on the boards of various organizations
including Export- Import Bank of India(EXIM), Institute of Banking
Personnel Selection(IBPS), National Institute of Bank Management,
Pune, Indian Banks’ Association, Khadi & Village Industries
Commission, Indian Institute of Banking & Finance.
iv.Book – Rajnish Kumar Authored a book ‘The Custodian of
Trust: A Banker’s Memoir’ published by Penguin Viking in 2021.
About Master Card:
Mastercard is a payment and technology company, which deals with clearing, authorization, and settlement of
payment transactions.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Michael Miebach
RBI Approved Re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as MD & CEO of HDFC Bank

Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has approved re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as Managing
Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of 3 years with effect
from 27th October 2023 to 26th October 2026.
• He has been MD and CEO of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank since
October 2020, after he took charge from Aditya Puri(the bank’s longest serving CEO (26 years-
since September 1994).
About Sashidhar Jagdishan:
i.Sashidhar Jagdishan joined HDFC Bank in 1996 as a Manager in the Finance function and became
Business Head of finance in 1999.
• He was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in 2008.
ii.Prior to his appointment as MD & CEO, he was serving as the
Group Head of Finance, Human Resources, Legal & Secretarial,
Administration, Infrastructure, Corporate Communications and
Corporate Social Responsibility.
Note:
HDFC Limited merged with HDFC Bank Limited in July 2023
and became India’s 2nd biggest company, behind Reliance
Industries with respect to market capitalization.
About Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC)
Bank:
Chairman – Mr. Atanu Chakraborty
MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters – Mumbai,Maharashtra
Tagline – We Understand Your World
Srinivasan K. Swamy elected as Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations

Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Chairman of R.K. Swamy Hansa Group, has been elected as
the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the term 2023-2024. He
replaced Pratap Pawar who served as Chairman for the term 2022-23.

• Srinivasan K. Swamy was the Deputy Chairman of the Bureau for the year 2022-2023.
• He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of
India(AAAI) in 2016.
• He is currently serving as Chairperson of Asian Federation of Advertising Association.
Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor and Director of Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd representing
publisher members on the council, has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of ABC for 2023-2024.
The ABC founded in 1948 is a not for profit, voluntary organisation consisting of Publishers, Advertisers
and Advertising Agencies.
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).
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.
• 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.
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.

ADB Appoints Bhargav Dasgupta as Vice-President for Market Solutions
On September 22, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Bhargav Dasgupta as Vice-
President (Market Solutions) for a period of 3 years.
• Prior to this appointment, He was serving as the Managing
Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICICI
Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd since 2009.
• He has resigned from the post of MD & CEO of ICICI
Lombard. His tenure as MD & CEO was set to end in April
2024.
Roles and Responsibilities:
As the Vice President (Market Solution) of ADB, he will be responsible
for management of the operations of ADB’s Private Sector Operations
Department and Office of Markets Development and Public–Private Partnerships.
About Bhargav Dasgupta:
1. Bhargav Dasgupta started his career in 1992 with erstwhile ICICI Limited. He held leadership
positions in diverse business areas in the ICICI Group.
ii.He also set up ICICI Bank’s International Banking Group and built its presence in 15 countries within 4 years.
• This International Banking business strategy became a case study at Harvard Business School in
Massachusetts, United States (US)
iv.Prior to the appointment as MD & CEO of ICICI Lombard, he was the Executive Director of ICICI Prudential
Life Insurance during October 2006 to May 2009.
v.He is currently the Chair of FICCI’s (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry ) Insurance &
Pension Committee.
Headquarters– Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Established in 1966
Members– 68 member countries(49 are from Asia and Pacific)
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.
Tata Electronics Chairman Banmali Agrawala Appointed as New Chairman of Tata Advanced
Systems
Banmali Agrawala has been appointed as the New Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL),
the aerospace and defense solutions division and wholly owned subsidiary of TATA Sons, the holding company
of TATA Group.
• Prior to the appointment, he was serving as the Senior
Advisor at Tata Sons and Chairman of Tata Electronics
Private Limited (TEPL).
• He succeds Vijay Singh who has retired from the post. He
was serving as the Chairman of TASL since 2018 and he is
also serving as the Vice-Chairman of TATA Trust.
Note: Tata Sons is the holding company of Tata Group.
About Banmali Agrawala:
i.Banmali Agrawala started his career with the Wartsila Group, a
Finnish manufacturing and services company and worked there for 20 years, both in India and in Finland.
• He became the Managing Director (MD) of Wartsila India Ltd, the Global head of the BioPower
Industries and a member of the Global Power Plant Management Board.
ii.He has also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of General Electric (GE), South Asia.
• Prior to GE, he served as the Executive Director (Business Development & Strategy) and a member
of the Board at Tata Power.
iii.He assumed the role of President of Infrastructure, Defence & Aerospace at Tata Sons Private Limited in
October 2017, markinghis 2nd tenure with the Tata Sons.
iv.He is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States of America (US)-India Business Council (USIBC)
and Pratham Education Foundation.
Chairman in Tata Group: In the Tata Group, he is the Chairman of companies like Tata Projects, Tata Housing
Development Company, Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd., Air Asia (India) Ltd. and is on the Board of Tata
Power and TASL.
Positions in CII: He is an active member of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and held several
positions within CII such as Chairman of the Western Regional Council, and currently is also a Member of CII’s
National Council.
Note: TASL is planning to build defence systems and equipment under its ‘Make in India‘ scheme with
technological help from foreign defence equipment makers.
About Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL):
Chairman– Banmali Agrawala
CEO & Managing Director– Sukaran Singh

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Appoints Sanjeev Mantri as MD & CEO

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Limited appointed Sanjeev Mantri as the Managing director (MD) and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company following the resignation of Bhargav Dasgupta from the post.
• Sanjeev Mantri is currently serving as the Executive Director of ICICI Lombard General Insurance (since
2015).
i.Sanjeev Mantri will take on the position of MD and CEO from 1st
December 2023 or the date of approval from the Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), whichever
is later, for a period of five consecutive years or his date of
retirement, whichever is earlier, subject to the approval of IRDAI and
the members of the company.
• However, till 30th November 2023, Bhargav Dasgupta will
continue to be the MD&CEO.
About Sanjeev Mantri:
i.Mantri is a cost and chartered accountant; He began his career with Bennett Coleman and Co., followed by key
leadership positions at BNP Paribas.
ii.He was in charge of the retail division of ICICI Lombard and is responsible for the distribution of products
across agency, bancassurance, direct, and alternate channels.
• He also heads the strategy, products, analytics, pricing, marketing, and corporate communication
segments in the company.
iii.Prior to ICICI Lombard, he handled Rural and Inclusive Banking portfolio at ICICI Bank.
About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Limited:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Bhargav Dasgupta
ACC approved Re-Appointment of Rajeshwar Rao as RBI Deputy Governor for 1 year
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the re-appointment of M Rajeshwar
Rao, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for a period of 1 year with effect from 9th October
2023.
• Initially, he was appointed as the Deputy governor of RBI
in October 2020 for a period of 3 years.
About Rajeshwar Rao:
i.Rajeshwar Rao joined the RBI in 1984 and as a career central
banker, he has served in various key roles in the functioning of RBI,
India’s Central Bank.
ii.He has held charge of the Risk Monitoring Department. He has also
worked as the Banking Ombudsman, in New Delhi (Delhi).
iii.He worked in the RBI’s regional offices in Ahmedabad (Gujarat),
Hyderabad (Telangana), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and New Delhi.
iv.He was appointed as the Executive Director of RBI on November 7, 2016. Prior to this, he served as the Chief
General Manager of the Financial Markets Operations Department.
Deputy Governors of RBI:
i.According to the RBI Act 1934, besides the governor, RBI needs 4 DGs, 2 from within the ranks, one

commercial banker, and another economist to head the monetary policy department.
ii.The current 4 DGs of RBI are:
• Swaminathan J
• T. Rabi Sankar
• M. Rajeshwar Rao
• Dr. M.D. Patra
Established on– April 1, 1935
Katrina Kaif Becomes Uniqlo’s First Brand Ambassador for India

Bollywood Actress Katrina Kaif has been named as the first Indian Brand Ambassador of Uniqlo, a Japanese
multinational fashion retailer brand.
• The one-year agreement will feature the actress in advertising films for the company’s ‘LifeWear’
range of everyday apparel.
• Uniqlo is part of Japan’s largest fashion group Fast Retailing which has eight brands including
Uniqlo, GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse Tam-Tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang.
• Uniqlo opened its first store in India in 2019.
Switzerland’s Tennis Player Roger Federer has been the Uniqlo Global Brand Ambassador since 2018.
Note:
Katrina Kaif was also recently (in September ‘23) named as the brand ambassador of Etihad Airways of United
Arab Emirates.
Gokul Subramaniam Appointed as Intel India President

Intel Corporation, a leading digital chipmaker based in the United States of America(USA), has
appointed Gokul Subramaniam as the President of Intel India.
As Intel India President, he will be responsible for Intel’s overall engineering and design operations in
India, including driving innovation, cross-group efficiencies, and execution of Intel products from
the site.
He is currently a Vice President (VP) of the Client Computing Group (CCG) and serves as general
manager of Client Platforms and Systems. He will be assuming the Intel India president role in
addition to the existing leading client platforms and systems in CCG.
Before joining Intel in 2012, Subramaniam worked with Texas Instruments. He is the inventor of 6
patents with an additional 5 filed in the areas of computing, wireless, power management, industrial
design, systems, and software.
In June 2023, Nivruti Rai, Intel India country head and vice president of foundry services, resigned from her
post. Later in July 2023, she was appointed as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Invest India, the investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Indian Governemnt.
Intel India is the company’s largest design and engineering center outside the United States of America
(USA), with state-of-the-art design facilities in Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Hyderabad (Telangana).
KN Madhusoodanan Appointed as Part-Time Chairman of Dhanlaxmi Bank

Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has approved the appointment of KN Madhusoodanan as the Part-Time
Chairman of Thrissur (Kerala)-based Dhanlaxmi Bank for a period of 3 years with effect from September 26,
2023. He has been an Independent Director on the Board of the Bank with effect from 9 November 2022.

KN Madhusoodanan succeeded G Subramonia Iyer, Part-time Chairman and Independent Director of
the bank, who resigned in December 2021. Following his resignation, the bank had been without a
Chairman for 21 months.
KN Madhusoodanan is the Managing Director of various private limited companies including Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) companies. He ventured into civil construction in 1983.
He founded the Mavanal group of companies and established 2 crushed units Mavanal Granites Private
Limited and Vajra Rock Mining Industries in Pathanamthitta, Kerala. He is the promoter and MD of
M/s. Mavanal Granites Private Limited.
Previously, RBI rejected the proposal to appoint G Rajagopalan Nair as its part-time chairman. He has been
serving as an independent director with the bank since August 2020.

CCI Approves Acquisition of Certain Shares in Brillio Holdings by Orogen-Brunson
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a certain shareholding
in Brillio Holdings, Inc. by Orogen-Brunson L.P.
Acquirer: Orogen-Brunson L.P. is a limited company formed in the United States of America(USA) to enable the
proposed combination.
• This is a part of the group of Orogen Holdings LLC and the group of Atairos Group, Inc.
Target: US-based Brillio Holdings, Inc. is a global technology consulting and business solutions provider that
focuses on big data analytics.
It is present in India through its subsidy “Brillio India Technologies Private Limited”.
CCI approves merger of TSAL into Air India

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Phase I merger of Vistara owned Tata SIA Airlines
Limited (TSAL) into Air India Limited (AIL), with AIL emerging as the surviving entity (Merged Entity). AIL
requested for the merger in April 2023.
• Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) will hold 25.1% shareholding in Air India with an investment of Rs
2,059 crore in the entity.
• TSAL is a joint venture between TSPL and SIA, with TSPL and SIA holding 51% and 49% of the total
shareholding, respectively.
About the Merger:
i.The merger was announced in November 2022 and expected to be completed by March 2024.
ii.With this merger, Air India becomes India’s largest international carrier and second largest domestic carrier
with a combined fleet of 218 aircraft, making it India’s largest international carrier and second largest domestic
carrier.
iii.After the merger, market share of the Tata Group could be more than 50% in at least seven domestic
markets.
Route for the new entity:
The entity will have 49% of the total flights on the New Delhi (Delhi)-Mumbai (Maharashtra) route and 52% of
the total flight on New Delhi (Delhi) -Bengaluru(Karnataka) route.
Two more approval:
i.Approval for the acquisition of certain shareholdings in the AIL by SIA and Tata Sons Private Limited
(TSPL).
ii.Approval for the acquisition of additional shares in the AIL by SIA pursuant to a preferential allotment.
iii.The CCI approved the proposed combination subject to compliance of voluntary commitments offered by the
parties.

Additional Info:
With a review period of 30 days, CCI looks for any adverse effect of competition in the market due to this
merger.
• If it finds any adverse effect, CCI sends a show cause notice on further review which may take up to
210 working days.
About Tata SIA Airlines Limited(TSAL):
TSAL, a joint venture between Vistara is a joint venture of TSPL(51%) and SIA(49%), has gained prominence
under the “Vistara” brand. It offers a range of services, including domestic and international scheduled air
passenger transport, air cargo transport, and charter flight services.
About Air India Limited (AIL):
Air India Limited, comprising wholly-owned subsidiaries Air India Express Ltd. and AIX Connect Private
Limited, is actively engaged in various aviation services, including domestic and international scheduled air
passenger transport, air cargo transport, and charter flight services.
CCI Approves Acquisition of up to 29.9% Stake in RHI Magnesita NV by Ignite Luxembourg

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of up to 29.9% equity shares of RHI
Magnesita NV by Ignite Luxembourg Holdings S.à r.l.
Acquirer– Ignite Luxembourg Holdings S.à r.l
Target– RHI Magnesita NV
This acquisition led to an indirect acquisition of RHI Magnesita India Limited (RHIM India), as no shares of the
Indian company were being purchased as part of the Proposed Combination.
• Ignite Luxembourg Holdings, incorporated in Luxembourg, is owned by New York (United States of
America (USA))- based Rhône Capital LLC (Rhône Capital).
• RHI Magnesita NV conducts its business in India through its subsidiary, RHIM India, and exports to
India.
GQG Acquired Over 5 Crore Shares in IDFC First Bank from V Vaidyanathan
GQG Partners have acquired 5.07 crore equity shares (0.8% of the total equity) in IDFC First Bank for
about Rs 478.70 crore from V Vaidyanathan, Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IDFC
First Bank. The transaction occurred at a price of Rs 94.5 per share.
• Out of Rs 478.7 crore sales proceeds, Rs 229 crore would be to pay to IDFC First Bank to subscribe
to new shares of the bank and Rs 240.5 crore towards income tax payment for exercising the stock
options.
• Rs 9.2 crore will be contribution to pre-committed causes.
Following this transaction, Vaidyanathan’s shareholding in IDFC FIRST Bank will increase from 0.58% as of
30th June 2023, to 1.04% of the paid-up capital of the bank. Including options yet to be converted, his
shareholding is 1.23% of the total share capital of the bank
• The stock options were given to Vaidyanathan as a part of the merger between Capital First and
IDFC Bank in December 2018.
IDFC First Bank Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was established in 2018. Tagline: ‘Always
You First’.
KKR Set to Invest Rs 2069.50 Crore in Reliance Retail

The global investment firm KKR & Co. Inc., also known as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., is set to invest Rs
2,069.50 crore into Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) to raise its total equity stake
to 1.42% from 1.17% on a fully diluted basis.
This investment will translate into an additional equity stake of 0.25% in RRVL on a fully diluted basis.
• The investment is at a pre-money equity value of Rs 8.361 lakh crore (around USD 100 billion).
• The deal makes RRVL one of the top four companies by equity value in India.

RRVL is the retail arm and a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited(RIL). KKR had earlier invested Rs 5,550
crore in RRVL in 2020.
• In September 2023, RIL received Rs 8278 crore from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for around
1% stake in RRVL.
CCI Approvals on September 20, 2023

On September 20, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
i.Acquisition of additional unit holding in Highways Infrastructure Trust by 2452991 Ontario Limited and
acquisition of equity stake in Highway Concessions One Private Limited by 2743298 Ontario Limited
ii.Acquisition of certain shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities
iii.Acquisition of some percentage of the total equity shareholding in Quality Care India Limited by Centella
Mauritius Holdings Limited
iv.Acquisition of certain percentage of stake in Quality Care India by BCP Asia II
CCI approves acquisition of additional unit holding in Highways Infrastructure Trust by 2452991
Ontario Limited and acquisition of equity stake in Highway ConcessionsOne Private Limited (HC
One) by 2743298 Ontario Limited
i.The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of additional unitholding in the Target Trust by OTPP 1
and separately acquisition of equity stake in HC One by OTPP 2 (Proposed Combination).
Key Points
i.2452991 Ontario Limited (OTPP 1) and 2743298 Ontario Limited (OTPP 2) are solely controlled by Ontario
Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPPB).
ii.OTPPB administrates pension benefits and the investment of pension plan assets of active and retired
teachers in the Canadian province of Ontario worldwide.
iii.Highways Infrastructure Trust (Target Trust) is an infrastructure investment trust registered with
Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014
(InvIT Regulations).
iv.HC One is a company incorporated in India with the objective of managing and operating roads assets in
India.
CCI approves certain shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities along with
certain Individuals
i.Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition of certain
shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II along with certain
Individuals
ii.The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 10.98% stake (on a fully diluted basis) of Target by
the Acquirers.
• PIOF-II shall be acquiring about 10.79% of shareholding in the Target, whereas the Individual
Acquirers shall collectively be acquiring 0.19% shareholding in Target.
Key Points:
i.The PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II, is a trust established under the laws of India and registered as a
Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
ii.The PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II is owned and controlled by Premji Invest Limited (Premji Invest),
which is controlled by Mr.Azim Premji.
iii.The Individual Acquirers are senior level management employees, partners and consultants of Premji
Invest.
iv.The TVS Credit Services Limited is a non-Deposit taking Systemically Important NBFC (NBFC-NDSI)
incorporated in India. It commenced business in 2010 as a retail focused NBFC.

CCI approves acquisition of approximately 24.16% of total equity shareholding in Quality Care India
Limited by Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited
i.The proposed combination relates to acquisition of approximately 24.16% of the total equity shareholding in
Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) by Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited.
Key Points:
i.Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited is a newly incorporated special purpose investment vehicle incorporated
in Mauritius and currently has no operations in India.
ii.The Acquirer is majorly owned and controlled by an entity, which is advised by the affiliates of TPG Inc.
(TPG), the ultimate holding company of the TPG group.
iii.QCIL is an unlisted public limited company with its registered office in Hyderabad, Telangana.
iv.QCIL is a multi-specialty healthcare provider in India.
v.It operates a network of multi-speciality hospitals under the brand name CARE Hospitals across various cities
in India.
CCI approves acquisition of 72.49% stake (approx.) in Quality Care India by BCP Asia II
i.The Proposed Combination envisages acquisition of ~72.49% of the total equity shareholding of Quality Care
India Limited (Target), on a fully diluted basis, by BCP Asia II Topco IV Pte. Ltd (BCP Asia II/Acquirer) from
Touch Healthcare Private Limited.
Key Points:
i.The Acquirer is controlled by funds advised and/or managed by affiliates of Blackstone Inc.
ii.The Target is a multi-specialty healthcare provider established in 1997.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI)
CCI is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
It is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002
Chairperson – Ravneet Kaur
About Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Chairperson – Madhabi Puri Buch
Established – Earlier SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 through a resolution and
later on it got established as a statutory body in the year 1992.
HDFC AMC Gets RBI Approval to Acquire Upto 9.5% Stake in KVB, DCB Bank
HDFC Asset Management Company Limited(HDFC AMC) received approval from the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) to acquire additional holdings of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of Karur Vysya
Bank Limited(KVB) and DCB Bank Limited.
• The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by HDFC AMC to RBI.
• The holding of HDFC AMC in both the banks should not exceed (individually) 9.5 % of the paid-up
share capital or voting rights of the Bank at all times.
Conditions in acquisition of KVB:
RBI instructed HDFC AMC not to reduce the shareholding below 5% without prior approval from RBI.
• If the aggregate holding falls below 5%, prior approval of RBI will be required to increase it to 5% or
more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the Bank.
Conditions in acquisition of DCB Bank:
The RBI has given HDFC AMC one year time to buy the shares of DCB Bank.
• If HDFC AMC does not buy the shares within one year, the RBI’s approval will be cancelled.
Compliance:
The approval granted by RBI is subject to compliance with
• Relevant provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949

• RBI’s master direction and guidelines on the acquisition and holding of shares or voting rights in
banking companies dated January 16, 2023
• Provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
• Regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
About Karur Vysya Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – B. Ramesh Babu
Headquarters – Karur, Tamil Nadu
Tagline – Smart Way to Bank
About DCB Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Murali M. Natrajan
Tagline – We Value You
About HDFC Asset Management Company(AMC) Limited :
HDFC AMC was established in 2000 and firm registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Joint Venture Formation: In 2001, a strategic joint venture was established between HDFC Limited and abrdn
Investment Management Limited (formerly Standard Life Investments Limited).
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Navneet Munot

ISRO Successfully Launched Aditya-L1: India’s 1st Mission to the Sun
On 2nd September 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched Aditya-L1(Lagrange Point 1),
India’s 1st observatory-class space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)
rocket from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), Satish Dhawan Space Centre – SDSC (formerly Sriharikota Range –
SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
• PSLV-C57 is the 59th flight of PSLV and the 25th mission
using the PSLV-XL configuration.
About PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission:
Name significance: Aditya is the name of the Sun in Sanskrit
language.
Objective: The PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission’s objective is to study
the Sun, the nearest star and the largest object in the solar system,
over the next 5 years.
Journey:
i.The spacecraft is planned to be stationed in the halo orbit around
the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million kilometres (km) from the
Earth.
• The Aditya-L1 mission will take around 4 months to reach the designated point (L1) from where it
will study the sun.
• The Aditya-L1 weighing about 1,4807.7 kg has successfully separated from the PSLV and began
its 125-day journey towards L1.
ii.The spacecraft will perform orbital maneuvers using its Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) to reach Sun-Earth L1.
iii.The Aditya-L1 will stay in the Earth-bound orbits for 16 days and undergo 5 maneuvers to gain the
necessary velocity for its journey.
iv.Aditya-L1 will undergo a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver and begin its 110 day trajectory to L1.

Mission Director: Nigar Shaji, an ISRO woman scientist from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu is the Mission Director of
the Aditya-L1 mission.
Key Points:
i.The satellite at the halo orbit around the L1 point will have the advantage of continuously viewing the sun
without any occultation or eclipse.
ii.This will enable us to observe solar activities continuously.
Science Objectives:
• To study Coronal Heating and Solar Wind Acceleration.
• To understand the initiation of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), flares and near-earth space weather.
• To understand the coupling and dynamics of the solar
• atmosphere.
• To understand solar wind distribution and temperature anisotropy.
Mission’s Uniqueness:
i.This is the 1st spatially resolved solar disk in the near Ultra-Violet (UV) band.
ii.CME dynamics close to the solar disk (~ from 1.05 solar radius). This provides information in the
acceleration regime of CME which is not observed consistently.
iii.On-board intelligence to detect CMEs and solar flares for optimised observations and data volume.
iv.Directional and energy anisotropy of solar wind using multi-direction observations.

Payloads:
The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of
the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors.
1. Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
2. Solar Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
3. Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX)
4. Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
5. Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
6. High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
7. Magnetometer
Functions of the Payloads:
The science payloads of Aditya-L1 were indigenously developed by various laboratories across India.
i.VELC, developed at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics(IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, will study the solar
corona and dynamics of Coronal Mass Ejections.
• VELC will send around 1140 images of the sun every day to the ground station.
ii.SUIT, developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics(IUCAA), Pune, Maharashtra, will
image the Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near UV and also measure the solar irradiance variations in
near UV.

iii.APEX, developed at Physical Research Laboratory(PRL), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and PAPA, developed at
Space Physics Laboratory(SPL), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, will
study the solar wind and energetic ions, as well as their energy distribution.
iv.SoLEXS and HEL1OS, developed at U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, and the Magnetometer payload at
the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems, Bengaluru, will study the X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray
energy range.
v.The Magnetometer will be used to measure the interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.
These payloads were developed in close collaboration with ISRO centres.
Trajectory to L1:
Initially, the Aditya-L1 mission will be placed in low earth orbit.
The orbit will be made more elliptical and later the spacecraft will be launched towards L1 using onboard
propulsion
About the Sun:
Estimated age: 4.5 billion years.
Distance from Earth to the sun: 150 million Km
The visible surface of the sun known as the photosphere is relatively cool and has a temperature of about 5,500
degrees Celsius.
Solar Wind:
i.The constant flow of particles from the sun is known as solar wind and is mostly composed of high-energy
protons.
ii.The solar wind along with other explosive/ eruptive solar events like Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) affects the
nature of space.
Lagrange Point:
i.The Lagrange points are named after Joseph-Louis Lagrange, a French-Italian mathematician, who discovered
their existence during his study of planetary physics in the 18th century.
ii.Lagrange points are imaginary points in space where objects sent there will stay put.
iii.At Lagrange point, the gravitational pull of the two large bodies equals the necessary centripetal force
required for a small object to move with them
iv.A total five Lagrange points denoted as L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5 are there.
Additional info:
With the launch of Aditya-L1, India joined the elite group that includes Japan, the United States of America
(USA), Europe, and China which are studying the sun.
i.On July 14, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched ‘Chandrayaan-3 (Moon
Craft)’ spacecraft into orbit onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-3 Mission 4(LVM3 M4) rocket from SDSC SHAR
(Satish Dhawan Space Centre- Sriharikota Range), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP). Under the Chairmanship
of ISRO Sreedhara Panicker Somanath.
ii.On 30th July 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C56/DS-SAR
Mission, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV–C56) carrying 7 Singapore Satellites – DS-SAR as primary
satellite along with 6 co-passengers, from the First Launch Pad (FLP) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in
Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
About the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
SpaceX Launches 22 Starlink Satellites into LEO

On 31st August 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched 22 of
its Starlink internet satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft

lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, in the United
• After the liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth, touching down on the SpaceX drone
ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas”, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• It was the 7th launch and landing for this particular booster. It previously launched Crew-5, Global
Positioning System III (GPS III) Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, Commercial Resupply Service
(CRS)-28, Intelsat G-37, and now two Starlink missions.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink Satellites to LEO

On 15th September 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)
launched 22 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO). A Falcon 9 rocket launched the
Starlink spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in
Florida, the United States of America(USA).
• This was the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously
launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and two Starlink missions.
• It returned to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff on the SpaceX droneship ‘Just Read the
Instructions’, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.
• This launch marks SpaceX’s 65th mission of 2023 and the 49th from Florida’s Space Coast
launch station.
GalaxEye Introduces Drone-Based High-Resolution All-Weather Imaging System

GalaxEye, a SpaceTech start-up company, has introduced a high-resolution Aerial drone-based Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) System. This cutting-edge technology enables exceptionally detailed and high-resolution
all-weather imaging, even in rainy or cloudy conditions.
• The drone-based SAR system is said to be the first such technology developed by a private company
in India.
• GalaxEye’s in-house developed ‘data fusion technology’ will deliver detailed insights and data from
space, empowering satellite constellations to conduct all-weather imaging without facing
atmospheric hindrances that “plague” current single-sensor satellites.
• This technology will generate highly detailed images through a compact satellite constellation,
which will achieve global coverage within a 12-hour time frame when fully operational.
• The capability of constant all-weather, all-time imaging, along with precise object geometry analysis,
holds immense value across various sectors such as insurance, precision agriculture, accurate
property tax assessments, and the monitoring of utilities like transmission lines.
Note: GalaxEye the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) intubated space-tech
startup is building the world’s 1st multi-sensor earth observation satellite.
North Korea Unveils First Tactical Nuclear-Armed Submarine Named “Hero Kim Kun Ok”
On 8th September 2023, North Korea launched its first operational tactical nuclear attack submarine,
Submarine No. 841 named “Hero Kim Kun Ok“. It was specially designed to launch strategic nuclear weapons
from underwater. This will be deployed to the fleet, patrolling the waters between the Korean peninsula and
Japan.
• The launch ceremony was attended by Kim Jong Un, the Supreme leader of North Korea at the
Sinpho shipyard located on the east coast of North Korea.
• The Submarine is launched ahead of 75th anniversary of the North Korea’s founding (September 9,
1948).
• The submarine was named after Hero Kim Kun Ok, a North Korean naval chief who led an
operation that sank the USS Baltimore in 1950 during the Korean War.

Note: North Korea annually celebrates September 9th as the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.
Objective:
The new launch is in response to the joint military exercise conducted by the United States of America (USA)
and South Korea, and to counter the advanced naval assets of the United States of America (USA) and its Asian
allies.
Note: In July 2023, the USA docked a nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarine in South Korea for the first
time since the 1980s.
About the Submarine Hero Kim Kun Ok:
i.The vessel appears to be a modified Soviet-era Romeo-class submarine, which North Korea acquired from
China in the 1970s and started producing domestically.
ii.The Submarine, with 10 missile launch tube hatches, can likely fire Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles
(SLBMs) and have the ability to carry 10 of North Korea’s Pukgoksong-3 weapons.
iii.The submarine is also capable of launching the “Haeil,” North Korea’s first-ever nuclear-armed unmanned
underwater vehicle unveiled in March 2023.
iv.The submarine with 2 distinct sizes of launch hatches, is capable of launching two distinct types or sizes of
SLBMs.
v.The term “tactical” suggests that it is not equipped with an SLBM for reaching the US mainland, but armed
with smaller, short-range SLBMs or Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles (SLCMs) capable of striking South
Korea, Japan, or other nearby regions.
Key Points:
i.North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are prohibited by United Nations (UN) Security
Council resolutions, and the new submarine launch has raised concerns from South Korea and Japan.
ii.North Korea has an estimated about 70-90 diesel-powered submarines in one of the world’s largest
submarine fleets. But they are mostly aging ones capable of launching only torpedoes and mines, not missiles.
China launches “Yaogan-33 04” Remote Sensing Satellite

China launched a remote-sensing satellite, “Yaogan-33-04,” also known as Yaogan 33D carried off by a Long
March-4C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in northwest China.
Yaogan-33 04 was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The Long March-4C is
a three-stage launch vehicle fueled by liquid propellant.
The information from the “Yaogan-33 04” satellite will be used for scientific experiments, land resource
surveys, crop yield estimates, and disaster prevention and relief work.
The launch marks China’s 45th rocket launch in 2023 and the 489th flight mission of the Long March
carrier rocket series.
Remote Sensing Satellite is a satellite designed to gather data about the Earth’s surface and atmosphere using
sensors to detect and measure various characteristics such as temperature, vegetation, and pollution.
Iran’s IRGC Launched Military Imaging Satellite Nour 3 Into Orbit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has successfully launched a third military imaging
satellite Nour 3 from the Shahroud spaceport of Iran into the orbit.
The satellite was launched by the three-stage Qased carrier which was developed by the IRGC.
In Persian, Nour (also spelled as Noor) means “light” and Qased means “Messenger”.
Points to note:
i.The Noor-3 was placed in Lower Earth Orbit(LEO) at the height of 450km (280 miles) from the surface of the
Earth.
ii.Nour-3 satellite will be used to collect data and images for IRGC’s intelligence purposes.
Previous versions of Nour:
i.Nour 1 is the first military reconnaissance satellite launched by Iran after several failed attempts.
It was launched in April 2020 at a height of 425km (265 miles) above the Earth.

ii.Nour 2 was launched in March 2022 in a low orbit of 500km (310 miles).
Other Satellite of Iran:
In August 2022, Iran’s high-resolution, remote-sensing Khayyam satellite was launched by Russia’s Soyuz-2.1b
rocket, from the Russia-controlled Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
About Iran:
President – Ebrahim Raisi
Capital – Tehran
Currency – Iranian Rial
Grene Robotics Launched India’s 1st AI Enabled Counter Drone ‘Indrajaal’

Hyderabad’s(Telangana) Grene Robotics in partnership with Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL) launched ‘Indrajaal’ which is India’s first and the only counter-drone system that uses Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning(ML) to counter drone threats.
• The drone was unveiled in the presence of Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh who is the Governor of
Uttarakhand.
About Indrajaal:
i.Indrajaal drone works on AI-driven platform GreneOS.
ii.It is the world’s only autonomous wide area, counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) that can defend
against all classifications and all levels of autonomous drones.
• It is equipped with infrared and lasers to attack specific targets.
iii.The drone addresses threats like low radar cross section (RCS) hazards, and medium to high-altitude
sustained operation (MALE and HALE) Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), along with loitering ammunitions and
mass drone infiltrations.
iv.It employs Multi spectral detection with Acoustic sensors, active Radio Frequency (RF), passive RF, thermal
sensors, etc.
Features:
i.Indrajaal is a networked, modular solution that counters the limitations of traditional drone systems.
ii.Indrajaal counters all sizes of drones including autonomous drones.
iii. The drone employs AI to assess potential threats and recommend appropriate measures for mitigation.
iv.The drone uses the combination of 12 proprietary technologies based on the need.
v.It can offer 360 degree protection against areas upto 4000 sq.kms.
Protection:
The drone will use the nation’s self-reliant military capabilities and defend against the increasing threat of
enemy drones.
• It protects military installations, critical establishments, government buildings and sensitive areas
from all drone classes.
Additional Info:
In 2021, GreneOS Defence was launched to deliver India’s first unified AC6ISRT platform.
• Two product spin-offs of the DefOS platform Autonomous Manpad Data Link (
AMDL) and Indrajaal Anti drone defence system was launched.
Garuda Aerospace Introduces Drone Training Program To Empower People With Disabilities
Garuda Aerospace Private Limited along with Bharat Drone Association and National Drone Pilot Association
launched the Equality Drone Training program, in Chennai, Tamilnadu.
• The 10 days program is specifically designed for persons with disabilities to offer them (free-of-
cost) training, education, and skill development.
• The program strengths the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEandI) initiatives of Garuda Aerospace
Agnishwar Jayaprakash is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Garuda Aerospace Private Limited
which was established in 2015.

Kolkata Metro Plans to Replace Steel Third Rail with Composite Aluminium Third Rail
Kolkata Metro Railway under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, have decided to
use composite Aluminium Third Rail in all its upcoming corridors along with retro-fitment in the existing
corridors with steel third rail.
With this Metro Railways, Kolkata will become a part of the elite group of metros that have shifted
from Steel Third Rail to Aluminium Third Rail. The group includes London(the United Kingdom-UK),
Moscow(Russia), Berlin(Germany), Munich(Germany), and Istanbul(Türkiye) Metro
Key Points:
Metro Railway, Kolkata, has floated a tender to replace the existing steel Third Rail.
• As a part of this, a total of 35 Route Kilometer (RKM) mainline steel Third Rail will be replaced in
stages.
i.The first phase, work will be taken up from Dumdum to Shyambazar.
ii.In the 2nd phase, the work will be taken up from Shyambazar to Central and J D Park to Tollygunge.
iii.In the 3rd phase, work will be taken in the section between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge) to
Kavi Subhash (New Garia).
Advantages of composite aluminium Third Rail over Steel Third rail:
i.Since the resistance of steel Third Rail is 6 times higher than composite Aluminium Third Rail, the resistive
current loss is reduced and traction voltage levels are improved.
ii.The reduced voltage drop will enable faster acceleration with the same rake available in the Kolkata Metro.
iii.For a 10 km corridor, a composite Aluminium Third Rail would require 1 less traction substation compared
to a steel third rail. This will save up to ~Rs 210 crores in capital investment for a 35 km metro corridor.
iv.No possibility of damage due to rusting. Reduced maintenance and life cycle cost. Reduce the frequency of
measurement of the third rail dimension.
v.The use of composite Aluminium Third Rail is estimated to save energy of around 6.7 million units per annum
and improves the energy efficiency and reduces the carbon footprint.
What is Third Rail?
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to trains, trams, and other rail vehicles.
• It is an additional rail placed near the ground, alongside or between the two main rails of a railway
track. This carries the electrical current that powers the train’s electric propulsion system.
Points to note:
Kolkata Metro Railways(then Calcutta Metro) was India’s 1st & Asia’s 5th Metro built by Indian Railways on
24th October 1984.
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw(Rajya Sabha Odisha)
Minister of State– Danve Raosaheb Dadarao (Constituency- Jalna, Maharashtra); Darshana Vikram Jardosh
(Constituency- Surat, Gujarat)
JAXA & MHI launches X-ray Astronomical Satellite XRISM and Lunar lander SLIM
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI) launched
the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 (H-IIA F47) which carried X-ray astronomical satellite X-Ray Imaging and
Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and Lunar lander Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).
• The rocket was launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan.
• With this, Japan yet to become the fifth country to soft land on the moon; The fourth Country was
India with its launch of Chandrayaan 3 mission in August 2023.
Note: Other three nations to soft land on the moon – the United States of America(USA), Russia & China.
XRISM
X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, a joint project of JAXA, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration(NASA) and the European Space Agency(ESA).

• The satellite aims to observe plasma winds flowing through the universe which helps
in understanding the evolution of stars and galaxies.
• XRISM is said resolve mysteries regarding the formation of
the universe.
SLIM
i.SLIM is a lunar lander which is dubbed as the “moon sniper”.
ii.It is the small spacecraft(2.4 metres) with two objectives such
• Demonstration of high-precision landing technology ( by
using pin-point landing technique and obstacle detection
technique).
• Realisation of a lightweight lunar and planetary probe system to allow more frequent lunar and
planetary exploration missions.
iii.The USD 100-million mission is expected to start the landing by February 2024 (near lunar
sea Mare Nectaris) after a long, fuel-efficient approach trajectory.
• After landing, the craft will analyse the composition of olivine rocks near the sites in search of clues
about the origin of the moon.
Note:
OMOTENASHI craft is the first lunar lander of JAXA which was launched in November 2022 but lost its signal
and failed to soft land
Additional info:
Russia’s Luna-25, failed as the spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the moon after a problem
preparing for pre-landing orbit.
About Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
President – Yamakawa Hiroshi
Headquarters – Tokyo, Japan
WHO Launches 2 New Resources Designed to Strengthen Suicide Prevention Efforts

On 12th September 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched 2 resources designed to strengthen
suicide prevention efforts. The 2 resources are
• 4th version of Preventing Suicide: a resource for media professionals (2023 update).
• Policy brief on the health aspects of decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts.
The resources provide important guidance on two areas that are critical to suicide prevention efforts namely
Responsible reporting of suicide by the media and Decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts.
Key Points:
i.According to WHO, suicide is a significant public health issue and 1 in every 100 deaths globally is by suicide,
which affects over 700,000 people every year. It is the 4th leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
ii.Both the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO Global Mental Health
Action Plan has set target to reduce the global suicide rate by one-third by 2030.
Responsible reporting of suicide by the media:
i.WHO’s 4th version of Preventing Suicide: a resource for media professionals (2023 update) is produced in
collaboration with the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).
• The 3rd version was launched in 2017. The 1st version was released in 2000 and the 2nd version in
2008.
ii.This resource summarises current evidence on the impact of media reporting of suicide and provides
practical guidance for media professionals on how to report suicide responsibly.
iii.Responsible media coverage of suicide is an important tool in collective suicide prevention efforts.
• By using this resource, media professionals can help minimize imitative behaviours through
accurate, appropriate, and empathetic reporting on suicide, and encourage people to seek vital help

iv.The resource also highlights increasing evidence that media reporting focuses on. Focusing on stories of
survival and resilience can inspire others facing similar struggles and can contribute to suicide prevention.
Points from the Resource:
i.Countries have different procedures and legislative frameworks that may influence how deaths are identified,
certified, and recorded as suicides, resulting in different quality of the data.
ii.In some countries, national guidelines for the reporting of suicide have been incorporated into codes of
practice for media professionals.
iii.The effect of media reports on increasing the number of suicides is referred to as “suicide contagion” and the
“Werther effect”
• The ‘Werther effect’ is named after the title character of Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s novel The
Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), who dies by suicide. The publication of the novel was followed by
several suicides.
Decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts:
i.As per WHO’s Policy brief resource, The decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts is a critical step that
governments can take in their efforts to prevent suicide.
• It is outlined in WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, adopted by the 66th
World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2013.
ii.Decriminalization requires the engagement of stakeholders from many different sectors including health,
justice, social welfare, education, employment, and agriculture, as well as the media.
• Multiple countries have recently decriminalized suicide and suicide attempts namely Guyana,
Pakistan, and Singapore.
Objective:
This policy brief aims to initiate meaningful dialogue around this critical issue and to provide inspiration and
guidance to countries in their efforts to decriminalize suicide and suicide attempts.
Criminalization impacts:
i.Criminalization is often justified as a means to discourage people from attempting suicide. It can lead to an
increased risk of suicide.
ii.One critical consequence of criminalization is that people do not seek care and support due to the fear of legal
consequences.
iii.Criminalization results in suicide being underreported. Suicide and suicide attempts are criminalized in the
laws of at least 23 countries worldwide and suicide attempts continue to be actively punished in some of them.
• Countries known to criminalize suicide and suicide attempts among the 23 countries are: Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Gambia, Grenada, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates (UAE), and so on.
According to the WHO report titled Burden of Disease Attributable to Unsafe Drinking Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene: 2019 update, among children under the age of 5, unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was
responsible for 395 000 deaths and 37 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). This represents 7.6% of
all deaths and 7.5% of all DALYs in this age group.
About World Health Organisation (WHO)
Director General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Established on– 7 April 1948
AAI Inducts two Advanced B-360 Aircraft into Flight Inspection Fleet
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has inducted two new B-360 aircraft with advanced state-of-the-
art Flight Inspection system into its Flight Inspection Unit(FIU)’s Fleet to carry out calibration of ground
navigation and landing aids.

• The induction of the new aircrafts was flagged off by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of
Civil Aviation in the presence of General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh, Minister of State(MoS) for
Civil Aviation and Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman of AAI, at Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi, Delhi.
• Flight inspection is crucial in achieving the best international standards specified by the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
• These aircraft will be used in Calibrating the Category I, II and III Instrument Landing Systems,
Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range(DVORs),Distance Measuring Equipment (DME),
non-directional beacon (NDB), Radar, Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS), Precision
Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) .
Note: FIU of AAI is a key component in the safety chain of Air Navigation Service provided by AAI in Indian
airspace. FIU was established in 1959 in Bamrauli, Allahabad and was shifted to Safdarjung Airport in
1986.
IAF Tested ‘Type V Heavy Drop System’ from Cargo Aircraft

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully tested the indigenously developed ‘Type V Heavy Drop
System’ from a cargo aircraft which is capable of paradropping arms, ammunition, and other equipment
to inaccessible places/battlefields.
• The design of this system has been developed by
Aerial Delivery Research and Development
Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The parachute was developed under
the ‘Make In India’ initiative.
About Type V Heavy Drop System:
i.The parachute is manufactured by Airbornics Defence and
Space Private Limited.
ii.It is a multi-stage parachute system comprises of eight Main
canopies, three extractor parachutes and one drogue parachute.
iii.The parachute weighs up to 20 tons.
iv.It has a platform which is made up of a special Aluminium-based metal.
v.The parachute also has electrical, electronic and mechanical systems along with other latching
accessories.
Can be used with:
The Type V Heavy Drop System can be used with the Boeing C-17, Lockheed Martin C-130 and other C-
series aircraft.
Additional Info:
i.With this testing, the preparations have been completed for the induction of the Type V Heavy Drop
System into the Indian Armed Forces.
About Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE):
The ADRDE is a Research & Development(R&D) laboratory of the Indian Defence Research and
Development Organisation(DRDO).
Director – Manoj Kumar
Headquarters – Agra, Uttar Pradesh
About Indian Air Force (IAF)
Chief of the Air Staff – Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari

Archaeologists Found World’s Oldest Wood Structure in Zambia, Dating Back 476,000 Years
A group of archaeologists has discovered the evidence of world’s oldest wooden structure, “a pair of
interlocking logs connected by a notch” that date to 476,000 years ago at an archaeological site of Kalambo
Falls, Africa’s 2nd-highest waterfall on the Kalombo River in Zambia.
• The findings of this structure were published in the
journal ‘Nature’ on 20 September 2023.
Note:
• Kalambo Falls on the Kalambo River is a 235-metre
single-drop waterfall on the border of Zambia with the
Rukwa Region of Tanzania at the edge of Lake
Tanganyika.
• This falls was inscribed into the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s
(UNESCO) World Heritage site in 2009.
Highlights of the Discovery:
• The remains of the ancient complex wood structure pre-date ‘Homo sapiens’ (humans) by over
100,000 years suggesting that early hominins were experts at woodworking.
• This discovery challenges the standard view that Stone Age humans were wanderers.
About the Wooden Artifact:
i.The artifact includes 2 preserved interlocking logs joined transversely by an intentionally cut notch. The
upper log had been shaped, and tool marks were found on both logs.
ii.These logs were deliberately shaped and joined together to form a structure, probably the foundation of a
platform or part of a dwelling.
• This revelation originates from the Kalambo Falls area, where ancient Stone Age humans had a
consistent water source and an abundance of forest-based food.
iii.According to the scientists, this is a first of its kind finding in the African or Eurasian Paleolithic and may
represent the earliest use of wood in construction.
Research technique:
i.The research team employed a luminescence dating technique to determine the age of the world’s oldest
wooden structure.
ii.This technique involved measuring the natural radioactivity in minerals in the fine sediment that encased the
wood to figure out when it was last exposed to sunlight.
Other findings:
At Kalambo, the scientists also recovered 4 wood tools from 390,000 to 324,000 years ago, including a wedge,
digging stick, cut log, and notched branch.
Research Team:
i.This research is part of the Deep Roots of Humanity project, led by Archaeologist Professor Larry Barham
from the University of Liverpool, the United Kingdom (UK), and Geoff Duller, professor of Geography at the
University of Aberystwyth, UK.
ii.This project explores how human technology developed during the Stone Age and is funded by the UK’s Arts
and Humanities Research Council.
About Zambia:
Capital– Lusaka
President– Hakainde Hichilema
Currency– Zambian Kwacha/Ngwee

Israel Unveils MBT ‘5th Generation’, ‘Lightning’ Version of Merkava Tank
The Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces(IDF) unveiled its new 5th generation main battle tank (MBT),
the Merkava Mark 5, also known as “Barak,” which translates to “lightning” in Hebrew. The Merkava 5 is the
refined version of the Merkava IV.
• The tank underwent five years of development.
• The Barak tank was developed jointly by the Defense Ministry’s Armored Vehicles Directorate and
the IDF’s Ground Forces and Armored Corps.
• The first models of the tank were delivered to the 52nd Armored Battalion of the 401st Brigade.
Features:
The tank is described as a “leap forward” in terms of its technological capabilities and is equipped with a
number of advanced features, including:
• A new Iron Vision helmet for the tank commander, which provides a 360-degree view of the
surrounding area equipped with artificial intelligence and augmented reality overlays that can
highlight enemy targets and other important information.
• A new fire control system that is more accurate and faster than previous systems.
• A new active protection system that can detect and intercept incoming anti-tank missiles.
• Improved armor and mobility.
These advanced systems were created by multiple Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems Limited,
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Limited, and the Israel Aerospace Industries’ subsidiary, Elta system Limited
along with other firms.
Capabilities:
i.The Barak tanks are equipped with “a wide infrastructure of reliable sensors” to detect targets and
intelligence information can be shared between the tank and other parts of the military, which will be “a real
revolution on the battlefield.
ii.The tanks also feature the advanced Windbreaker missile defense system, developed by Rafael, which is
currently used on older Merkava tank models and Namer armored personnel carriers.
iii.It also has a radar detection system ‘Trophy outside Israel’, for identifying incoming missiles and taking
subsequence action.
About Israel:
Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu
Capital – Jerusalem
Currency – New Israeli Shekel
Google Introduces Android Earthquake Alerts System in India

Google has introduced its Android Earthquake Alerts System in India in collaboration with the National
Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), and the Ministry of
Earth Sciences.
This partnership will aid in Central Government efforts in providing timely earthquake alerts and safety
information.
About Android Earthquake Alerts System:
i.Android users with devices running Android 5 or newer will receive the feature.
To receive alerts, users must have Wi-Fi and/or cellular data connectivity, and both Android Earthquake
Alerts and location settings enabled.
ii.This system utilizes the built-in sensors in Android smartphones, which are known as accelerometers,
which can function as mini seismometers.
How does it work?
When a plugged-in and charging Android phone detect earthquake tremors, they send data to a central server.
If multiple phones in the area detect similar shaking, the server estimates the earthquake’s details and sends

rapid alerts to nearby Android devices. These user-friendly alerts, available in multiple Indian languages, often
reach users before stronger shaking.
These alerts travel along the internet at the speed of light
Key Points:
i.There are two types of alerts: Be Aware and Take Action. Be Aware alerts provide information for light
shaking. Take Action alerts to get your attention for moderate to heavy shaking.
ii.Previously, Google has collaborated with the NDMA to offer users safety information regarding natural
disasters such as floods and cyclones through Google Search and Maps.
About National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
Headed by the Prime Minister (PM) of India, it is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
Chairperson– Narendra Modi
Narwhal/Hai Kun: Taiwan launches its 1st Domestically Made Submarine

On 28th September 2023, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen launched Taiwan’s 1st domestically
built submarine named “Hai Kun” during a ceremony at the submarine’s shipyard in its southern Kaohsiung
city, Taiwan.
Hai Kun means “mythical sea creature” in Chinese and it is dubbed as ‘Narwhal‘ in English.
Highlights:
i.Hai Kun is built with an outlay of Taiwan Dollar (T$) 49.36 billion (USD1.53 billion).
ii.It will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp and carry US (United States)-made Mark 48
heavyweight torpedoes.
iii.The diesel-electric powered submarine will undergo several tests and will be delivered to the navy by the
end of 2024.
Hai kun will undergo a harbor acceptance test on October 1 2023, followed by a sea acceptance test.
iv.The submarine will enter service in 2025, and join the fleet of two existing submarines purchased from the
Netherlands in the 1980s.
Additional info:
i.Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program has targeted to buil one domestically developed
submarine by 2025 and another by 2027.
ii.These will be deployed in the waters around Taiwan and the area from Suao in Yilan to Yonaguni Island in
Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture.
About Taiwan:
President– Tsai Ing-wen
Capital– Taipei
Currency– New Taiwan dollar
DEFENCE
EXERCISE
Indian Army to Participate in Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 in Egypt
Indian Army contingent comprising 137 personnel has departed to Egypt to participate in “Exercise BRIGHT
STAR- 23“, a multinational tri-services joint military exercise scheduled to be conducted from 31 August to 14
September 2023 at Mohammed Naguib Military Base in Hammam, Egypt.
• Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 will be led by US CENTCOM (United States of America Central
Command), and the Egyptian Army.

• This exercise will provide a unique opportunity for the Indian Army to share best practices and
experiences with other armies aimed at enhancing
defense cooperation.
Note:
Exercise Bright Star-23 comes after the Indian and Egyptian Armies
conducted the first-ever joint exercise between the Special Forces,
Ex Cyclone-I, in January 2023.
Participants:
i.In the 2023 edition, 34 countries will participate in Exercise
BRIGHT STAR-23 including the USA, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar.
• It will be the largest-ever joint military exercise in West Asia and North Africa region.
ii.For the 1st time, Indian Armed Forces are participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR with a total strength
of 549 personnel.
• The Indian Army is being represented by a contingent from 23 JAT Battalion.
Schedule of the Exercise:
i.The Exercise will comprise a large number of training activities focused on sharing the best practices to
combat emerging unconventional threats and enhance regional partnerships amongst participating nations
aimed at maintaining world peace.
ii.In addition to the various field and situational training exercises, Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 will also include
a combined arms live firing exercise based on a tactical setting.
iii.A panel discussion on contemporary topics, especially on cybersecurity, is also scheduled to be conducted
for which the Indian Armed Forces are the lead force.
Background:
i.BRIGHT STAR was initially conceptualized as a bilateral biennial training exercise between the US and
Egypt during the Camp David Accord of 1977.
ii.The 1st edition of the Exercise occurred in 1980 in Egypt. Starting in 1995, participation in the exercise was
expanded to other nations.
iii.The previous Exercise BRIGHT STAR was conducted in 2021, wherein the armed forces of 21 countries
participated.
On March 29, 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed three contracts worth ∼ Rs 5,400 crore for the
Indian Army (IA), and Indian Navy (IN) under the Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and
Manufactured)} to boost defense capabilities of India.
About Egypt:
Prime Minister– Mostafa Madbouly
Capital– Cairo
Currency– Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Indian & Sri Lankan Navy conducts Maritime Partnership Exercise

The Indian Navy (IN) and Sri Lanka Navy(SLN) jointly conduct a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) off the coast of
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Indian Naval Ship(INS) Delhi and SLN Ship Vijayabahu participated in the Exercise.
• The Exercise took place during a two-day visit of INS Delhi to Sri Lanka from 1st to 3rd September
2023.
INS Delhi is the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer built by Mazagon
Dock Limited in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Overview of INS Delhi’s 2 day visit:
i. TheCommander of INS Delhi, Captain Abhishek Kumar, and the crew of INS Delhi paid respects at the Indian
Peace Keeping Force(IPKF) memorial of Indian soldiers who laid their lives in Sri Lanka during IPKF

operations from 1987-91.
ii.During a reception hosted onboard INS Delhi, As part of India’s Aarogya Maitri initiative, the High
Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, presented the ‘Arogya Maitri Cube’ to the Mahinda Yapa
Abeywardana, Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament.
• The indigenously built Arogya Maitri Cube is the world’s first disaster hospital developed
under Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).
• It consisted of 72 cubes, each containing an array of essential equipment and supplies.
iii.The INS Delhi crew and SLN personnel carried out the clean-up of Crow Island Beach in Colombo.
Varuna-23: Phase II of 21st edition of Varuna conducted in Arabian Sea

The Indian Navy and the French Navy conducted the Phase II of the 21st edition of the Varuna (Varuna
2023), the bilateral maritime exercise, in the Arabian Sea. The 3 day exercise witnessed the participation of
guided missile frigates, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft and integral helicopters by both countries.
• Varuna 23 was conducted in two phases. The Phase I of ‘Varuna-2023’ was conducted off India’s
Western Seaboard from 16th to 20th January 2023.
• The 21st edition of Varuna marks the 25th year of Indo-French strategic partnership.
Indian & French Navy bilateral naval exercise was initiated in 1993 and the exercise was named “Varuna”
in 2001.
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.
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.
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.
INS Sahyadri Participates in 1st India-Indonesia-Australia Trilateral Maritime Exercise

From September 21-22, 2023, the first trilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise was held between the Indian
Navy (IN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy where India was represented by warship Indian
Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which is mission deployed in Indo-Pacific.
• INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built warship of the Indian Navy which was mission deployed in the
Indo-Pacific region.
The trilateral Maritime exercise allowed the nations to enhance their partnership and capabilities for a stable
Indo-Pacific region through complex tactical exercises, cross-deck visits, and helicopter training to improve
interoperability.
About INS Sahyadri:
INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multirole stealth frigates.
It was built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai, Maharashtra and is commanded by Capt Rajan Kapoor.
Yudh Abhyas 23: 19th Edition of India-US Joint Military Training Exercise Began in USA
Exercise Yudh Abhyas 23, the 19th edition of the annual joint military training exercise between Indian
Army and the United States Army is being conducted in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the United States of
America (USA).
• This is a 14-day-long exercise which began on 25th
September 2023 is set to culminate on 8th October
2023.
The theme of Yudh Abhyas 23 is ‘Employment of an Integrated
Battle Group in Mountain/ Extreme Climatic Conditions’ under
Chapter VII of United Nations(UN) mandate.
Note: The 18th edition of the Indo-US joint military
exercise “Yudh Abhyas 22” was held at Auli in Chamoli district,
Uttarakhand (India) from 16th November to 2nd December 2022.
Participants:
Indian Army contingent comprising of 350 personnel and 1-24 Infantry Battalion from the 1st Brigade Combat
Team of the US Army is participating in the exercise.
• The lead battalion from Indian side is affiliated to MARATHA Light Infantry Regiment.
Highlights:
i.The Exercise will entail exchanging best practices and enhancing interoperability to mutually learn from each
other & strengthen the bond between the two Armies.

ii.A Command Post Exercise and Expert Academic Discussions on selected topics will also form part of the
exercise.
iii.The scope of Field Training Exercise includes
• Validation of Integrated Battle Groups against hostile forces at the Brigade level
• Integrated Surveillance Grid at the Brigade/ Battalion level
• Employment of Heliborne/ Airborne elements and Force Multipliers
• Validation of logistics and casualty management during operations
• Evacuation and combat medical aid and other aspects as applicable to High Altitude Areas and
Extreme Climatic Conditions.
Significance:
i.Both sides will engage in a series of tactical drills to enhance interoperability in conducting United
Nations(UN) peacekeeping operations.
ii.Additionally, the personnel from both countries will also hold detailed discussions to share their experiences
and best practices.
Indian Army Participates Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise 2023 of ADMM Plus EWG
Indian Army participates in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) Defence Ministers Meeting
(ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023.
• The exercise takes place from 25th to 30th September 2023 in Primorsky Region of Russia.
• The main objective of the exercise is strengthening and promoting regional cooperation in the field
of counter-terrorism.
• Indian Army is represented by a Contingent consisting of 32 personnel from 14th Battalion affiliated
with the Rajputana Rifles.
About the Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise(FTX) 2023:
i.It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with
Myanmar.
• The exercise comprises a number of counter-terrorism
drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a
fortified area.
ii.The exercise takes place in two stages including
• Stage 1: The representatives of the military command
authorities determine the concept and develop a
decision to conduct an anti-terrorist operation at the
operational and tactical levels.
• Stage 2: Military contingents of the participating
countries work together as part of a multinational contingent of troops to jointly develop practical
actions in the course of the anti-terrorist operation at the Sergeyevsky firing range in Russia.
iii.ADMM Plus exercise activities are conducted in seven expert working groups: humanitarian mine action,
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military medicine, maritime security, countering terrorism,
organizing peacekeeping operations, and cyber security.
Note:
ADMM Plus EWG on counter terrorism conducted Table Top Exercise at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th
August 2023.
About ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)Plus:
i.The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States of America(USA).
• The dialogue partners of ASEAN are collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”.
• The objective of the ADMM-Plus initiative is to strengthen security and defence cooperation for
peace, stability, and development in the region.

ii.The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)Plus has been meeting annually to allow dialogue and
cooperation among ASEAN and Plus countries since 2017.
• The first ADMM Plus meeting was held in 2010 in Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Note: ADMM-Plus also known as SMOA Plus which is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.
i.Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia
Summit (EAS) hosted by Indonesia as the Chair of ASEAN 2023 On September 7, 2023
ii.The 20th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Economic Ministers’ meeting was held in
Semarang, Indonesia which was co-chaired by India and Indonesia on August 21, 2023.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ASEAN has 10 Members including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei
Darussalam, Viet Nam, Lao PDR (People’s Democratic Republic), Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Secretary General – Dr Kao Kim Hourn
Headquarters – Jakarta, Indonesia
TESTING
IAF Tests Indigenously Developed Military Combat Parachute System
The Indian Air Force(IAF) tested the efficacy and foolproof functioning of the Military Combat Parachute
System which is indigenously designed and developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development
Establishment (ADRDE).
• ADRDE is a Research & Development(R&D) lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO).
Testing:
A test jumper of the IAF, intentionally detached the main parachute and let the reserve parachute open on its
own through Reserve Static Line (RSL), without activation of the Reserve Handle, even before the Barometric
Automatic Activation Device(AAD).
About ADRDE:
Director – Manoj Kumar
Headquarters – Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

INS Mahendragiri: 7th Nilgiri-Class Stealth Frigate under Project 17A launched at MDL
Nilgiri class stealth frigate Indian Navy Ship (INS) Mahendragiri was launched at the Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited(MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• INS Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of
Project 17A of the Indian Navy(IN). This is also the 4th
frigate constructed by MDl.
• The ship was launched by Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, wife
of Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Key People:
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar graced the ceremony as
the Chief Guest.
• Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Maharashtra
Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister(CM) Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were
present at the ceremony.

About INS Mahendragiri:
i.INS Mahendragiri is named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in Odisha.
• It has a length of 149 metre, a width of 17.8 metre, launch weight of 3450 tons and capable of
reaching a top speed of 28 knots.
• The stealth frigate is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau and the keel of
INS Mahendragiri was laid on 28 June 2022.
ii.The frigate is equipped with a CMS-17A combat management system to provide secure data links for
uninterrupted interoperability among multiple navy surface and aerial assets.
iii.It is also armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and 32 Barak-8
medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
About Project 17A:
i.Project 17 Alpha(P-17A) was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2015 at the cost of
Rs.45,000 crore for seven ships.
• The fourships of project 17A are INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri, and INS Mahendragiri are
constructed by MDL, while the remaining three, INS Himgiri, INS Dunagiri, and INS Vindhyagiri, by
GRSE.
ii.Project 17A frigates are a follow-on to the Project 17 (Shivalik class) frigates, with improved stealth features,
advanced weapons and sensors, and platform management systems.
Note:
The second launch of P-17A took place within the short span of two weeks, Recently the President Droupadi
Murmu launched INS Vindhyagiri, the sixth ship of project 17A at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd
(GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal in 17th August 2023.
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)- Sanjeev Singhal
Established- 1934
Titagarh Rail Systems Launches Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A 20’ for Indian Navy
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), formerly known as Titagarh Wagons Limited (TWL), launched the ‘DSC
A 20’ (Yard 325), a Diving Support Craft (DSC) for the Indian Navy at Titagarh shipyard, West Bengal.
• This is the first of the five DSC vessels to be delivered to
the Indian Navy by TRSL, with the total contract value of
about Rs 175 crore.
• The Launch Ceremony was attended by Vice
Admiral Sanjay Mahindru of Indian Navy.
Features of DSC:
i.The DSC is a state-of-the-art watercraft outfitted with extensive
technology capabilities to assist diving operations in every potential
underwater environment.
• They are 30 m long catamaran hull ships, with a displacement of approx 300 tons.
• DSC used for operational/training diving activities in harbours and coastal waters.
ii.These ships are designed and built in India in accordance with the appropriate Naval Rules and Regulations
of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
• During the design stage, the ships’ hydrodynamic analysis and model testing were performed at the
Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Background:
i.The contract for building five DSC was signed between Ministry of Defence(MoD) and TRSL, Kolkata on
February 2021.
• It is set to be delivered to Indian Navy in fiscal year 2024-2025.

Note:
The Keel of the 5th DSC, ‘DSC A 24’ was also laid along with the launch.
About Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) – Jagdish Prasad Chowdhary
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
‘Vibhav’: Indian Army Inducted 600 Self-neutralising Anti-tank Mines with Safety Mechanism
The Indian Army has inducted Six hundred indigenously manufactured self-neutralising anti-tank
mines, known as “Vibhav”, to provide mobility kill against all enemy armoured vehicles.
• The introduction of Vibhav into the Indian Army’s armoury enhanced their defences against
enemy armoured vehicles and strengthened their overall operational capabilities.
• Vibhav, the point-attack anti-tank munition, was developed in collaboration with the Defence
Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) in India. This mines have safety and actuation
mechanisms to ensure operator safety.
• Vibhav is being manufactured by the Kalyani Group for the Indian Army.
Feature and Benefits of Vibhav:
i.The Vibhav anti-tank mine is composed of modern plastic,
which gives it sufficient strength and durability to withstand
storage, handling, and operating conditions in varying field
environments.
ii.“Vibhav” can be laid either manually or mechanically,
providing flexibility in deployment.
iii.Safety and actuation mechanisms have been incorporated
into these mines to ensure operator safety and reliability.
iv.These mechanisms, along with integrated explosive, mechanical, and electronic features, make the
Vibhav mines lethal against targets and effective against both current and future armoured vehicles.
v.The munition also incorporates an Electronic Anti-Handling and Anti-Lift Device (EAHALD) that, once
armed, is operational for 120 days.
New Inclusion:
i.One significant improvement in the Vibhav mines is the inclusion of mechanical timers, allowing self-
neutralization after 120 days.
• This feature adds an extra layer of safety and prevents the accidental handling or lifting of
armed mines after their intended lifespan.
ii.The Vibhav mines have a storage life of 10 years and no unique storage needs.
MoD Clears Proposal to Buy ‘Pralay‘ Ballistic Missiles for Indian Army
The Ministry of Defence(MoD) has approved the proposal to procure a regiment
of ‘Pralay’ tactical ballistic missiles with a range of 150 to 500 kilometers(Km) for the Indian Army.
• These missiles will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control
(LoC), that is borders with China and Pakistan respectively.
• The missiles were developed by the DRDO. These missiles with conventional warheads will be
using in tactical roles.
• ‘Pralay’ is powered by a solid propellant rocket motor and other new technologies. The missile
guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.
Features:
i.Pralay is a quasi-ballistic and will be the longest-range surface-to-surface missile in the inventory of the
Army. It is capable of being launched from a mobile launcher.

ii.The advanced missile has been developed in a way to be able to defeat interceptor missiles. It has the
ability to change its path after covering a certain range in mid-air.
iii.It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of about 350 to 700 kilograms (kg), which gives it a
deadly punitive capability.
iv.It can also carry a high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, Penetration-cum-Blast (PCB) and
Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS).
Key Points:
i.The procurement follows a similar approval granted to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the acquisition of
these missiles.
ii.This missile system’s development commenced around 2015 and the acquisition of these missiles is part
of a broader strategy to develop a strategic rocket force, a concept advocated by Chief of Defence Staff Late
General Bipin Rawat.
iii.The missile was successfully tested twice on consecutive days on 21 and 22 December 2022.
iv.Pralay, along with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will form the crux of India’s planned Rocket
Force.
Note: It can be compared to China’s Dong Feng 12 and the Russian Iskander missile that has been used in
the ongoing war with Ukraine.
INS ‘Nireekshak‘ Successfully Conducts Vital Mixed Gas Diving Training Sessions As Part Of IN-
SLN Divex 23
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak(A-15), the Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel (DSRV) of the
Indian Navy successfully conducted vital Mixed Gas Diving training sessions.
• This is a part of eight-day diving training deployment
exercise(14-21st September 2023) IN-
SLN Divex 23 between India and Sri Lanka.
• This is aligned with India’s ‘Neighborhood First‘
policy for capacity building in neighbouring nations.
Mixed Gas Diving:
Mixed gas diving involves the use of breathing gases other than
the standard air mixture of approximately 21% oxygen and 79%
nitrogen.
• The purpose of using mixed gases in diving is to extend
dive times, increase safety, and allow divers to explore deeper underwater environments.
Other Activities Carried Out:
The diving teams of both the Navies participated in diving exercises towards enhancing interoperability,
cohesiveness and exchange of Best Practices.
About INS Nireekshak:
i.The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems and is capable of undertaking Saturation and
Submarine rescue dives.
• INS Nireekshak is well-equipped with two six-man recompression chambers and a three-man diving
bell.
ii.It is fitted with a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) to maintain precise position during Submarine Rescue/
Diving and Salvage operations.
iii.The ship was built by Mazgaon Shipbuilders in 1985 & has been in service with the Navy since 1989.
• It was re-commissioned in 1995(after the modifications).
iv.INS Nireekshak holds the record for the deepest dive (to a depth of 257 metres) carried out in India.
v.The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Harikumar awarded the ship an ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation, a first in the
Indian Navy.

ICG Pollution-Control Vessel ‘Samudra Prahari’ Carries Out Pollution Response Table-Top Exercise in
Bangkok
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Pollution-Control Vessel(PCV) ‘Samudra Prahari’ carried out a Pollution Response
Table-Top exercise and demonstration at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The exercise is part of events held during the four day visit(17-20th September 2023) of the vessel
to Bangkok.
• The exercise devised and tested Thailand’s Maritime Pollution Response contingency plan in
collaboration with the ICG.
• The exercise fostered knowledge sharing and an interactive environment among the services, to
cooperate during real-life oil pollution scenarios.
Other Events:
The beach cleaning activity was carried out as a part of the Puneet Sagar Abhiyan.
• It a nationwide flagship campaign of National Cadet Corps (NCC) to clean sea shores of plastic &
other waste material, while raising awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
About Samudra Prahari:
i.The Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Prahari has embarked on an overseas deployment to Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries from 11th September 2023 to 14th October, 2023.
ii.The Samudra-class Pollution Control Vessel is a class of three vessels built by the ABG Shipyard Limited in
Gujarat for ICG.
• The ship was commissioned in 2010.
iii.The vessel is outfitted with advanced pollution control gear, including containment tools like Hi-Sprint
Booms and river booms to contain oil spills recovery devices.
iv.The ship is also equipped with a Chetak Helicopter in Pollution Response configuration.
Swavlamban 2023: 2nd edition of Indian Navy’s NIIO Seminar Scheduled for 4&5 Oct 2023
The 2nd Edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO)
Seminar ‘Swavlamban 2023’ is scheduled to be held on October 4-5, 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The seminar will showcase 75 prototypes of indigenous technologies/products developed by start-
ups under the ‘SPRINT Challenges’ initiative.Niche technologies being developed under the SPRINT
Challenges .
• The 1st edition of the seminar was held in July 2022 in New Delhi, Delhi. Prime Minister Modi
launched 75 challenges for the start-ups/ MSMEs as a part of the ‘SPRINT’ initiative.
SPRINT is a collaborative initiative between the Indian Navy, Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO),
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO, and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC).It aims
to boost the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.
LSAM 9 (Yard 77): Indian Navy’s 3rd MCA Barge launched at Visakhapatnam
Commodore G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh) launched Yard 77
(LSAM 9), the 3rd Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge of the Indian Navy, at the at Guttenadeevi, East
Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, the launch site of M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd.
• The Barge featuring major and auxiliary equipment/systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers is in
line with the Make in India initiative of the Ministry of Defence.
• The barge is constructed under the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), with a
service life of 30 years.
The contract for the construction and delivery of 08 X MCA Barges was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering
Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) shipyard, aligning with the
GoI’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India) initiatives.

• The availability of MCA Barges is set to significantly enhance the operational commitments of the Indian
Navy (IN), making the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition for IN
Ships more efficient.
• The MSME shipyard had already delivered the first Barge of the series LSAM 7 (Yard 75) on 18th July 2023
and the 2nd Barge, Yard 76 (LSAM 8) on 18th August 2023.
SPORTS
ISSF World Championships 2023: India Finished 3rd With 14 Medals
India won 14 medals (6 golds and 8 bronze) and secured third place in the International Shooting Sport
Federation (ISSF) World Championships 2023 held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 14th August to 1st September
2023.
• China topped the medal tally with 28 medals (15 golds, 7 silver and 6 bronze) followed by Ukraine
in second place with 12 medals(6 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze).
• ISSF World Championship 2023 is also a qualifying
event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
1 China 15 7 6 28
2 Ukraine 6 4 2 12
3 India 6 – 8 14
India’s Olympic Qualifiers:
i.Four of the Indian contigents have qualified for the Paris 2024
Olympics in this event including
• Rajeshwari Kumari (women’s trap)
• Sift Kaur Samra (women’s 50m rifle 3 positions)
• Akhil Sheoran (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions)
• Mehuli Ghosh (women’s 10m air rifle)
Highlights:
i.Amanpreet Singh won a gold medal in the men’s 25m standard pistol while Shiva Narwal and Esha Singh won
gold medal in the mixed 10m air pistol team event.
ii.Indian women’s team of Rhythm Sangwan, Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker clinched the gold medal in the 25m
women’s pistol event.
iii.The 50m pistol women’s team comprising Tiyana, Sakshi Suryavanshi and Kirandeep Kaur won the gold
medal.
• Mehuli Ghosh, Tilottama Sen and Ramita won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle team
event.
iv.Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar and Akhil Sheoran won the gold medal in the 50m rifle 3
positions men’s team.
Shooter Event
Amanpreet Singh 25m standard pistol men
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, Akhil Sheoran 50m rifle 3 position men’s team
Tiyana, Sakshi Anil, Suryavanshi, Kirandeep Kaur 50m pistol women’s team
Rhythm Sangawan, Esha Singh, Manu Bhakar 25m pistol women’s team

Mehuli Gosh, Tilottama Sen, Ramita 10m air rifle women’s team
Esha Singh and Shiva Narwal 10m air pistol mixed team
Indian Bronze Medal Winner:
Shooter Event
Akhil Sheoran 50m rifle 3 positions men
Mehuli Gosh 10m air rifle women
Tiyana 50m pistol women
Tiyana, Yashita Shokeen, Kritika Sharma 25m standard pistol women’s team
Ravinder Singh 50m pistol men
Ravinder Singh, Kamaljeet, Vikram Jagannath Shinde 50m pistol men’s team
Rajendra Bagul, Akshay Jain, Gaurav Chaudhary 25m centre pistol men’s team
Shiva Narwal, Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema 10m air pistol men’s team
About ISSF World Championships 2023:
i.The 53rd edition of the ISSF World Championships (2023) witnessed the participation of 1,329 shooters
from 101 countries for 36 medal events in the Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun categories.
ii.It also offered 48 quota places to the participating shooters for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
Recently related News:
In July 2023, India won 17 Medals(6 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze)and secured the 2nd spot in the overall medal
tally of the 3rd edition International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championships
2023Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun. The event was held from 14th July to 25th July 2023 at Changwon Shooting Range,
Changwon, South Korea.
About the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):
President – Luciano Rossi
Headquarters – Munich, Germany
Zurich Diamond League 2023: World champion Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Men’s Javelin
Throw Event
Olympic and World champion Neeraj Chopra, an Indian track and field athlete, finished 2nd in the men’s
javelin throw event at the Zurich Diamond League 2023, which took place from August 30-31, 2023 at the
Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland.
• Neeraj Chopra finished 2nd with the best of 85.71 meter.
• Jakub Vadlejch (85.86m) of the Czech Republic finished 1st and won gold, and Germany’s Julian
Weber (84.92m) finished 3rd.
• Neeraj Chopra currently has 23 Diamond League 2023 points and is in the 2nd spot, he will next
participate in the Diamond League 2023 season finals at Eugene (United States of America –
USA), on September 16 and 17 2023.
• Murali Sreeshankar, an Indian athlete finished 5th place in the Men’s Long Jump event at
the Zurich Diamond League 2023 and he is set to make his debut in the Diamond League finals in
Eugene, the USA.
Note:
• Neeraj Chopra’s best throw is 89.94m, an Indian national Javelin record at the Stockholm Diamond
League 2022 in Sweden.
• Neeraj Chopra, who became the first-ever Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the 2023 World
Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary

Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix 2023; Sets Record for Most Consecutive F1 Wins
On September 3, 2023, Max Verstappen, Belgian-Dutch driver of Red Bull, won the 93rd edition of
Italian Grand Prix, officially known as Formula 1(F1) Pirelli Gran Premio D’italia 2023 held in Monza
Circuit, also known as the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, located in Monza, a town near Milan, Italy.
• Sergio Perez (Mexico) of Red Bull and Carlos
Sainz Jr. (Spain) of Ferrari finished
at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
This victory marks Max Verstappen’s 10th consecutive win of
the 2023 F1 season and sets the record of Most consecutive
F1 Wins.
• The record was previously held by Sebastian
Vettel(Germany) of Red Bull who won 9
consecutive titles in 2013.
2 Sergio Perez Red Bull
3 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
Note: Italian Grand Prix was the 14th round of the 2023 Formula One (F1) World Championship. It is the
74th season of the F1 World Championship recognised by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de
l’Automobile).
• The next event (15th Round) will be F1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 which
will be held from September 15-17, 2023 in Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore.
i.In 2021, after winning Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he became the first Dutch driver to win the F1 World
Championship, and the 34th F1 World Drivers’ Champion. He also won his 2nd consecutive F1
championship in the 2022 season.
ii.As of the 2023 Italian Grand Prix, he achieved 47 victories and 28 pole positions.
iii.He also hold a record of Youngest driver to start a race at the age of 17 years, 166 days during 2015
Australian Grand Prix.
Points to note:
i.Red Bull has broke the record for Most consecutive wins by a constructor with 15 wins(2022-2023). The
record was previously held by Ferrari (11).
ii.So far, Red bull has won every race of the 2023 season (10 by Max Verstappen and 2 by Sergio Perez).
About Italian Grand Prix:
It is the fifth oldest national Grand Prix (after the French Grand Prix, the United States Grand Prix, the
Spanish Grand Prix and the Russian Grand Prix), having been held since 1922.
• Race length- 306.720 km (190.596 miles)
• Laps- 53
Football: Mohun Bagan Defeats East Bengal to Win Durand Cup 2023
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated East Bengal Football Club 1-0 to win the Durand Cup 2023 trophy
held in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan(Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Mohun Bagan became the first team to win the 17 titles in the Durand cup surpassing East
Bengal with 16 titles.
• The Durand Cup2023 was held from 3rd August to 3rd September 2023.

Awards:
Golden Ball – Nandhakumar Sekar(East Bengal)
Golden Boot – David Lalhlansanga (Mohammedan SC)
Golden Glove – Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)
Prize Money – Rs 60,00,000
Highlights:
i.Dimitri Petratos’s lone goal in the finals paved the way for
Mohun Bagan’s win.
• It also marks Mohun Bagan’s first win since 2000.
ii.Previously, Mohun Bagan played in the finals of the 2004,
2009 and 2019 editions of the Durand Cup.
iii.’Derby’ means a match between local rivals in football, the match between East Bengal and Mohun
Bagan Super Giant is considered as the ‘Kolkata Derby’ which is locally known as “Boro Match” (or ‘Big
Match’ in Bengali).
iv.2023 Durand Cup was sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
About Durand Cup:
i.The 132nd edition of the Durand Cup was played in following venues
• Salt Lake Stadium(Kolkata), Mohun Bagan Ground(Kolkata), East Bengal Ground (Kolkata),
Kishore Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata), Sports Authority of India Stadium (SAI)-Kokrajhar(Assam)
and Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati(Assam).
ii.The tournament witnessed the participation of 24 teams including teams from Nepal, Bhutan and
Bangladesh, the foreign teams are taking part in the tournament after a gap of 27 years.
iii.The Durand Cup 2023 organised by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS)- a part of Indian
Armed forces, in association with of All India Football Federation (AIFF).
iv.The first edition was held in 1888 as an army cup and it was named after its founder Sir Henry
Mortimer Durand, then Foreign Secretary to Govt of India.
• The Durand Cup is the oldest football competition in India & Asia, and also the third oldest in
the world.
Note:
i. ATK Mohun Bagan won the ninth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL)2022-23 title by defeating
Bengaluru FC in the finals in March 2023.
ii.ATK Mohun Bagan team changed into Mohun Bagan Super Giant in June 2023.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team beat Pakistan to win 1st edition of Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup
On September 2, 2023, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team won the inaugural Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup Salalah
2023 by defeating Pakistan with 4-4 (2-0) by a penalty shootout in the final in Sultan Qaboos Youth
Complex for Culture and Entertainment – Pitch 1(Stadium), Salalah, Oman.
• With this win, India qualified for the FIH Men’s
Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024.
• The championship held from 29 Aug – 2 Sep 2023
was for Senior Men category, and served as
qualifying tournament for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s
World Cup Oman 2024.
Note: HOCKEY 5s is a small-sided, predominantly outdoor,
format of the game. It is simple and flexible enough to be
played by anybody, anywhere. It is an invasion game played
between two teams with 4 field players and a goalkeeper

Key Points:
i.This is the first time that India has beaten Pakistan in the Men’s Hockey 5s format.
ii.Hockey India announced Rs 2 Lakh for each player and Rs 1 Lakh for each support staff.
iii. KHAN Abdullah Ishtiaq Of Pakistan was named man of the match (Final).
Medal Winners:
Indian Men’s hockey team was given the Gold medal with a trophy and Pakistan got Silver medal and
Oman won Bronze.
Participant Countries:
A total of 11 Asian countries participated in Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup – India, Pakistan, Oman, Malaysia,
Bangladesh, Iran, Kazakhstan, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong China and Afghanistan.
Awards:
Awards Player Team
Player of the Tournament Maninder Singh India
Goalkeeper of the Tournament Lenur Vishnyakov Kazakhastan
Goalkeeper of the Tournament Asim Gope Bangladesh
Leading Goalscorer Abdul Rana Pakistan
Rising Player of the Tournament Abdullah Delpori Afghanistan
Rising Player of the Tournament Aiman Madit Oman
IITF Asian Table Tennis C’ship 2023: Indian Men’s Team Wins Bronze
The Indian men’s team comprised of Sharath Kamal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai won
the bronze medal in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Asian Table Tennis Championships
2023.
• IITF Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023 is the 26th edition of the tournament and it was also
the qualification tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• India and South Korea settled for bronze after losing the semifinals against Chinese Taipei and China
respectively. In the Asian Championships, two losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.
• This marks their 2nd consecutive medal in the Asian Championship. They previously won the
bronze in 2021 Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar.
• China won the gold medal in the men’s team event by defeating the Chinese Taipei in the finals.
Chinese Taipei won the silver.
ii.The Indian women’s team of Sutirtha Mukherjee, Archana Girish Kamath and Sreeja Akula secured fifth
place in the women’s team event.
• The Chinese Women’s Table Tennis Team won the gold medal by defeating South Korea in the finals
of the women’s team event.
iii. India’s Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath lost to the Kazakhstan pair of Anastassiya Lavrova and Kirill
Gerassimenko in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles event.

Novak Djokovic Won his 24th Grand Slam Title at US Open 2023
Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the men’s
singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium(Hard Court), New York City, New York, United States of
America(USA).
• The 143rd edition of the US Open was held from 28th August to 10th September 2023(Main-draw).
Men’s Singles:
i. Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his 4th US Open title and 24th Grand Slam title by defeating Daniil Medvedev
(ATP Ranking 3) of Russia.
• Djokovic equals Australian Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams.
• He is the first male player to win three out of four grand slams in the season (2023) including
his Australian Open 2023, French Open 2023 and US Open 2023 in the open era.
• Novak Djokovic(36 years and 3 months) became the oldest player to win the US Open in the Open
Era, surpassing Ken Rosewall(35 years and 10 months) in 1970.
• With this victory, Djokovic moved to first rank in the Pepperstone Association of Tennis
Professionals(ATP) Rankings.
ii.Novak Djokovic has won a total of 24 Grand Slam titles which includes 3 French Open (2016, 2021, 2023), 10
Australian Open(2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), 7 Wimbledon (2011, 2014,
2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) and 4 US Open (2011, 2015, 2018, 2023).
Women’s Singles:
i.Coco Gauff (Women’s Tennis Association WTA- Ranking 3) won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open
2023 by beating Aryna Sabalenka(WTA Ranking 1) in the Women’s Singles final.
• She became the youngest American women to win a major since 1999 where Serena Williams won
at the age of 17 in 1999 US Open.
• The 19-year-old Coco Gauff became only the third American teenager to win the New York Major,
the others being Tracy Austin (1979 and 1981) and Serena Williams (1999).
Men’s doubles:
i.Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles title at the US Open by beating Rohan Bopanna and
Matthew Ebden in the final.
• Winning US Open 2023 was their third successive title at the US Open including their wins at 2021 &
2022.
• The 43 years and six months old Rohan Bopanna was the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam final
in the Open era surpassing Canada’s Daniel Nestor record who was 43 years and 4 months old when
he played the 2016 Australian Open final.
• This marks Rohan Bopanna’s second Grand Slam men’s doubles final, after the 2010 US Open with
Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.
Women’s doubles:
i.Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe won the women’s doubles title at the US Open by defeating 2020 US
Open champions Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund in the finals.
• Gabriela Dabrowski became the first Canadian player to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam title .
• Erin Routliffe became the first New Zealander to win any title at the US Open.
Mixed doubles:
i.Harri Heliovaara and Anna Dalinina won the mixed doubles title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Jessica
Pegula and Austin Krajicek in the finals.
• Harri Heliovaara became the first Finland player to win the mixed doubles title in the US Open.
• Anna Dalinina became the first Kazakhstan player to win a mixed doubles title at any Grand Slam.
Winners of the US Open 2023:
Men’s Singles Novak Djokovic(Serbia) Daniil Medvedev (Russia)

Women’s Singles Coco Gauff(USA) Aryna Sabalenka(Belarus)
Rajeev Ram (U) and Rohan Bopanna(India) and
Men’s Doubles Joe Salisbury (England) Matthew Ebden(Australia)
Gabriela Dabrowski
Women’s (Canada)and Vera Zvonareva(Russia) and Laura Siegemund
Doubles Erin Routcliffe(New Zealand) (Germany)
Harri Heliovaara(Finland) and
Anna Dalinina Jessica Pegula (USA)and
Mixed Doubles (Kazakhastan) Austin Krajicek(USA)
50th Anniversary of Equal Prize Money:
i.US Open 2023 celebrates the 50th Anniversary of equal prize money for men and women tennis players.
• It was also the first grand slam to offer equal prize money since 1973.
Prize Money:
i.Men’s and Women’s singles – Winner(USD 3,000,00) & Runner-Up(USD 1,500,000)
ii.Men’s and Women’s Doubles – Winner(USD 700,000) & Runner-Up(USD 350,000)
iii.Mixed Doubles – Winner(USD 170,000) & Runner-Up(USD 85,000)
Official sponsors:
Chase, J.P.morgan, American Express, Emirates
About US Open:
i. The first edition of the US Open was held in 1881.
• Althea Gibson became the 1st African-American to compete at the US Open in 1950.
i. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to claim his first Wimbledon title(2023) at the Gentlemen’s singles
final Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded Women’s Singles champion at
Wimbledon in the Open Era after defeating Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the Ladies singles final.
ii.Novak Djokovic, Serbian professional tennis player, won his 23rd Grand Slam title (Men’s singles category) by
defeating Casper Ruud of Norway in the French Open 2023 also known as 2023 Roland-Garros, Iga Świątek a
Polish tennis player won the Women’s Singles title at the French Open 2023 by defeating Karolína Muchová, the
Czech tennis player.
About The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP):
Chairman – Andrea Gaudenzi
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2023: India’s Divya Deshmukh wins Women’s Rapid Title
The Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2023 was held from 31st August to 9th September 2023 at the
National Library of India, Kolkata,West Bengal.
• India’s International Master Divya Deshmukh from Maharashtra won the Tata Steel Chess India
Rapid title in the women’s category.
• Indian Chess Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa from TamilNadu secured third place in
both Open Rapid and Open Blitz events.
• This marks the 5th edition of the tournament since the first edition was held in 2018.
Note:
Rapid: a game of chess played within a fixed amount of time, usually between 10 to 60 minutes per player.
Blitz: a game of chess, commonly known as speed chess, where all the moves must be made in a fixed time of
less than 10 minutes for each player.

Winners of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2023:
Category Rapid Blitz
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Alexander Grischuk
(France) (played under FIDE flag)
Teimour Radjabov Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Open (Men’s) (Azerbaijan) (Uzbekistan)
Divya Deshmukh Ju Wenjun
(India) (China)
Ju Wenjun Koneru Humpy
Women’s (China) (India)
Open Rapid:
i.Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France won the Tata Steel Chess India Open Rapid title.
• Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan finished second, while Praggnanandhaa, India’s Vidit Gujrathi and
Alexander Grischuk shared third place.
Open Blitz:
i. Russian Grandmaster (GM) Alexander Grischuk (played under FIDE flag) won the Tata Steel India 2023 Open
Blitz title.
• India’s Praggnanandhaa secured third in the 2023 Tata Steel India Open Blitz, while Nodirbek
Abdusattorov finished in second place.
• India’s Arjun Erigaisi secured fourth in the blitz match.
Women’s Blitz:
i.Ju Wenjun of China won the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Blitz title.
• She has been the World champion since 2018.
ii.India’s Koneru Humpy finished second, while India’s Dronavalli Harika and Divya Deshmukh finished third
and fourth respectively.
Women’s Rapid:
i.The 17-year-old IM Divya Deshmukh won the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid title in the women’s category.
• Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun finished second while IM Polina Shuvalova finished third.
Prize Money:
Rapid winner – USD 10000
Blitz winner – USD 7500
Tata Steel Chess India Festival Events:
The Tata Steel Chess India Festival Events also held on the sidelines of the main event.
i.GM Mitrabha Guha won the Tata Steel Chess Festival 2023 All India Blitz Open.
• GM Diptayan Ghosh and Soham Bhattacharyya were finished second and third respectively.
ii.WIM Arpita Mukherjee won the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Festival All India Women.
iii.Soham Bhattacharyya won the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Festival All Bengal Under-19.
In August 2023, Norwegian Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen won his first
International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Cup title by defeating India’s
GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 finals.
About Federation Internationale des Echecs/International Chess Federation (FIDE):
• President – Arkady Dvorkovich
• Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
• Established – 1924

Germany Defeat Serbia to Win First-Ever FIBA Basketball World Cup
German men’s basket ball team won the International Basketball Federation(FIBA) Basketball World Cup
2023 by defeating Serbia in the finals held in Manila, Philippines.
• The 19th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup
took place for the first time across three host nations
in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from
25th August to 10th September 2023.
• This marks Germany’s maiden FIBA Basketball
World Cup title.
• The event witnessed the participation of 32 teams
grouped into 8, each comprising of 4 teams.
Winners of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
Position Country Medal
1 Germany Gold
2 Serbia Silver
3 Canada Bronze
Highlights:
i.Germany became the first team since 2006 to win a FIBA World Cup crown in their debut final, previously
Spain had won it in 2006.
• Germany’s previous best performance at the men’s World Cup was in 2002 in Indianapolis(USA)
where they won the bronze medal.
• Germany was also unbeaten throughout the tournament and became the fifth consecutive World
Cup champion to go unbeaten.
ii.This was Serbia’s second defeat at the finals of the men’s World Cup since they lost to the United States of
America(USA) in the 2014 final in Madrid, Spain.
iii.Canada bagged the bronze medal by defeating the United States of America(USA).
• This also marks Canada’s first medal in the FIBA World Cup.
Awards:
i.Dennis Schroder of Germany won the TISSOT Most Valuable Player award.
• Josh Giddey (Australia) earned the Wanda Rising Star Award at the FIBA Basketball World Cup
2023.
ii.Schroder also joined the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 All-Star 5, along with Bogdan Bogdanovic of
Serbia, Canada star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards from the USA, and Slovenia star Luka Doncic.
iii.The winning team was awarded the Naismith trophy named after the Basketball inventor James Naismith.
Additional Info:
i.Qatar is set to host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
ii.Spain won the previous edition of the World Cup (2019) followed by Argentina and France in the second and
third place respectively held in China in 2019.
About International Basketball Federation/Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA):
President – Hamane Niang
India Wins the 16th Edition of Asia Cup 2023 Finals Defeating Sri Lanka
India have lifted the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time after defeating the defending
champions Sri Lanka in the Finals of Asia Cup 2023, at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• The 16th Edition of Asia Cup 2023 was Co-hosted by Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan for the 1st
time from 30 August to 17 September 2023.
Highlights of Asia Cup 2023:
With eight titles (seven ODI and one T20I), India becomes the most successful team in the history of
tournament. Where Sri Lanka is the second most successful team with six titles and Pakistan have
won two.
• Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the second time in
his career to join Mohammad Azharuddin and MS Dhoni in an elite list.
• Azharuddin and Dhoni were the only two captains to have won the Asia Cup twice before Rohit.
Azhar won the titles in 1991 and 1995 while Dhoni won in 2010 and 2016.
• Rohit had first won the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018, which was played
in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format.
Awards & Prize Money:

i.Man of the Match (Final)- Mohammed Siraj
ii.Man of the Series- Kuldeep Yadav
iii.Most Runs- Shubman Gill (India) – 302 Runs
iv.Most Wickets- Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka)- 11 Wickets
v.The tournament champions, Indian team received USD 1,50,000 as prize money.
Key Points:
i.A total of 6 nations participated in the tournament viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
ii.Nepal, made their Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Asia Cup debut as it has qualified for the first time in
qualifying the 2023 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, Nepal.
iii.India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have qualified to play the Super fours stage.
Records Made in Asia Cup 2023:
i.Virat Kohli hits a ton against Pakistan in Asia Cup to become the fastest batsman to score 13,000 One
Day International (ODI) runs
• He achieved this extraordinary feat in just 267 innings, surpassing the previous record held by
the Sachin Tendulkar, who took 321 innings to reach the same milestone.
• He is now just two centuries away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s other record of 49 ODI
centuries, which stands as the highest number of centuries scored by any batsmen in One Day
International cricket history.
ii.Skipper Rohit Sharma becomes sixth Indian batter to complete 10,000 ODI runs
• Rohit Sharma becomes the sixth Indian to enter the 10,000 ODI runs club after Virat Kohli,
Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid.

• He is also the second-fastest to do so after former skipper and current teammate Virat Kohli.
iii.Ravindra Jadeja completes 200 ODI wickets
• Ravindra Jadeja became the 7th Indian bowler to touch the milestone of 200 one-day
international.
iv.Kuldeep Yadav becomes fastest Indian spinner to reach 150 ODI wickets
• He becomes the fourth fastest spinner overall to reach 150 wickets in ODIs after Saqlain
Mushtaq of Pakistan(78 matches), Rashid Khan of Afghanistan (80) and Ajantha Mendis of Sri
Lanka(84).
• He also becomes the second fastest Indian bowler overall to have taken 150 wickets after pacer
Mohammed Shami who achieved the milestone in 80 matches.
v.Shubman Gill becomes the first batter to score 1,000 ODI runs in 2023
• He reached this feat in his 17th innings.
• He is followed by UAE’s Asif Khan (934 runs), Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka (817), UAE’s Vrittya
Aravind (792), UAE’s Muhammad Waseem (782), and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (745).
vi.Siraj becomes the first Indian bowler to bag four wickets in one over in one-day internationals.
• Siraj matched the record of former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas for the fastest ODI five-
wicket haul.
• Siraj became the second bowler in the Asia Cup 50-over format to take a 6-wicket haul after
Mendis (Sri Lanka) bagged the figures of 6/13 against India in 2008.
vii.Sri Lanka’s batting score in the final ODI of Asia Cup 2023 was the record-lowest score by any team
in an Asia Cup ODI final.
• It replaced the India’s score of 54 runs against Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy, 2000.
viii.India’s win against the Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 was the biggest win for India in the ODI
format.
ix.India extended the record for most wins by a team against a single opposition in ODIs with its 98th win
over Sri Lanka.
About Asia Cup:
Inception Year– The Asia Cup cricket tournament commenced in 1984, in UAE (Winner – India).
Formats– Traditionally it’s been an ODI tournament, it has occasionally featured T20I matches, such as in
2016 & 2022.
• The format can differ from edition to edition.
Organizing Body- The Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
Asian Cricket Council President – Jay Shah
Time Duration- It was originally scheduled to be held every two years.
Most runs– ST Jayasuriya (1220 runs) (Sri Lanka)
Most wickets– M Muralidaran (30 wickets) (Sri Lanka)
Other Statistics- India, with eight titles (seven ODI and one T20I), is the most successful team in the
tournament.
Sri Lanka has played the most Asia Cups (16) followed by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (15 each).
Diamond League 2023 Final: Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second in Javelin Throw
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra finished second place in the men’s javelin throw
event at the Diamond League 2023 Final with a best throw of 83.80m.
• Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won the men’s javelin throw title with a best throw of 84.24m
while Finland’s Oliver Helander came third with an 83.74m throw.
• The Diamond League 2023 Final was held in Eugene, Oregon, the United States of America(USA)
from 16th to 17th September 2023.

Neeraj Chopra’s journey to the Diamond League 2023 Final:
i.Previously, Neeraj Chopra won the Doha(May 2023) and Lausanne legs(June 2023)of the 2023 Diamond
League series while settling for the second position in the Zurich leg(August 2023).
ii.He was qualified for the Diamond League Final with 23 points from three meetings, whereas Jakub
Vadlejch finished first with 29 points after competing in all four qualifying events.
• In Diamond leagues, Athletes are awarded points along with the medals and the top eight
athletes at the end of the Diamond league will qualify for the Diamond League Finals.
Highlights:
i.The 2023 title for Jakub Vadlejch was his third title in the Diamond League championships after he won
the 2016 and 2017 Diamond League championships.
ii.Neeraj Chopra’s record in Eugene: Neeraj Chopra holds the record best throw of 88.13m in Eugene
when he won the world championship silver medal in 2022.
About Diamond League:
i.The Diamond League is a series of athletic meets, comprising track and field events, held annually from
2010, organised by Monaco headquartered World Athletics.
ii.It was established to replace the International Amateur Athletic Federation IAAF Golden League, which
had been held since 1998.
iii.The 2023 Diamond League is the 14th edition(sponsorship reason it’s called Wanda Diamond League),
held from May 5, 2023- September 17, 2023.
Points to Note:
i.Neeraj Chopra had won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw in the World Athletics Championships
2023 which was held in Budapest, Hungary in August 2023.
ii.Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a Diamond League Trophy in 2022 at the Javelin Throw
event with a throw of 88.44m.
NÖ OPEN 2023: ATP Challenger in Tulln: India’s Sumit Nagal ends as Runner-Up
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal finished as runner up in the NÖ OPEN 2023(powered by EVN), a
Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger 100 event, held in Tulln, Austria from 3rd to 10th
September 2023.
• Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva won the title defeating Sumit Nagal in the finals held in TC Tulln
facility in Tulln.
• Nagal earned 60 ranking points during the event and is ranked 156th (as of 11th September 2023)
in the ATP Rankings.
He has won a total of four ATP Challenger Tour title: 2017 Bengaluru Open
Bengaluru(Karnataka, India), 2019 Challenger de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2023 Garden Open in Rome, Italy and 2023 Tampere Open in Tampere, Finland.
Note: The NÖ Open is a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It is currently part of the ATP
Challenger Tour.
Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai Launched Mashaal for 37th National Games
P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, launched the Mashaal (torch) for the 37th National Games in a
ceremony organised by the Department of Sports and Youth affairs, Goa and the Sports Authority of Goa at
Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Donapaula, Goa.
• The 37th National Games is set to be held from 25th October, 2023 to 9th November 2023 in Goa.
• Governor also launched the anthem (theme song) of the 37th National Games featuring the voice of
Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan. The Goan instrument, Ghumat is also used for the anthem.

During the event, Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa, launched the website with all information
related to the 37th National Games.
Archery World Cup Finals 2023: Indian Archer Prathamesh Jawkar Clinched Silver Medal
Indian archer Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar(Ranked World No.14) clinched the silver medal in Men’s
Compound in Hermosillo 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Finals which was held in Hermosillo, Mexico on
9th & 10th September 2023.
• Prathamesh Jawkar competed against Mathias Fullerton (Ranked World No.10) of Denmark in the
gold medal clash.
The match was a tie as both players scored 148 points after five sets. While both archers hit a 10 in the shoot-
off, Fullerton won because his arrow was closer to the centre.
About Archery World Cup 2023:
Hyundai Archery World Cup 2023 had 4 Archery World Cup Stages (AWCS) (Antalya, Türkiye; Shanghai,
China; Medellín, Colombia and Paris, France) and Archery World Cup Final (Hermosillo, Mexico).
• Hyundai Archery World Cup 2023 is the 17th edition of the international archery circuit organised
annually by World Archery.
Indonesia Masters 2023 Badminton: India’s Kiran George Wins Men’s Singles Title
India’s Kiran George won the men’s singles title at the BNI Indonesia Masters 2023 held from 5th to 10th
September 2023 in Medan, Indonesia.
• BNI Indonesia Masters 2023 is the Badminton World
Federation(BWF) World Tour Super 100 tournament.
• This marks Kiran George’s second BWF Super 100 title
after he won his maiden title at the Odisha Open in
2022.
Highlights:
i.Men’s Singles: India’s Kiran George won the men’s singles title
by defeating Koo Takahashi of Japan in the finals.
• This win helped him to get the career-best BWF 39th
rank in men’s singles.
ii.Women Singles: Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo of Indonesia won the women’s singles title by defeating Chiu
Pin-Chian of Chinese Taipei in the finals.
iii.Men’s Doubles: Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia won the men’s
doubles title by defeating Kakeru Kumagai and Kota Ogawa of Japan.
iv.Women’s Doubles: Lanny Tria Mayasari and Ribka Sugiarto of Indonesia won the women’s doubles title by
defeating Chang Ching Hui and Yang Ching Tun of Chinese Taipei.
v.Mixed Doubles:Roy King Yap and Valeree Siow of Malaysia won the mixed doubles title by defeating Hiroki
Nishi and Akari Sato of Japan.
Prize Money:
Total – USD 100,000
Singles Winner – USD 7,500
Doubles Winner – USD 7,900
Key points:
i.Indian pair Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa lost to Sung Yu-Hsuan and Wang Szu-Min of Chinese Taipei
in the women’s doubles semifinals.
ii.India’s Mansi Singh lost to Chiu Pin-Chian of Chinese Taipei in the women’s singles quarter-finals.

SAFF U16 Championship 2023: India Won the Title Defeating Bangladesh
Indian Under 16 (U-16) men’s football team won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16
Championship 2023 title defeating Bangladesh (2-0) in the finals. The 2023 SAFF U16 Championship was held
from 2nd to 10th September 2023 in Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan.
• 2023 SAFF U16 Championship is the 8th edition of the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship, the
annual international football competition contested by the national teams of SAFF members(India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan).
i.This marks the 5th title of India in the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship.
• With this India became the most sussessful team of the tournament with 5 titles (U15 title in 2017 &
2019; U16 title in 2013 and 2023 and U-17 title in 2022).
ii.Bharat Lairenjam scored a goal in the first half in the 8th minute, while Levis Zangminlun secured the
winning goal for Indi in the second half in the 74th minute, leading to a victory for India.
iii.Suraj Singh won the Best Goalkeeper award and Mohammed Arbash(MD Arbash) won Most Valuable
Player (MVP) and also bagged the Highest Goal Scorer award with 3 goals.
Note: SAFF formed in 1997, is an organization working to develop and make football more accessible for
everyone within the South Asian football-playing countries. SAFF’s motto is ‘Unity in Strength’
Carlos Sainz Jr. wins the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (Carlos Sainz Jr.) of Spain won the Formula 1 (F1) Singapore
Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 held in Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore.
• McLaren driver Lando Norris of the United
Kingdom(UK) finished second while Mercedes
driver Lewis Hamilton of UK finished third
position.
Winners of Singapore Grand Prix 2023:
1 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
i.Max Verstappen’s fifth position in the race, put an end to his 10 consecutive F1 Wins.
• So far Max Verstappen has won 12 F1 Grand Prix in 2023 and still leads the season’s
championship.
• The Singapore GP 2023 marks the first GP where Red Bull has been off the podium since the
Brazilian Grand Prix in November 2022.
ii.This victory marks Carlos Sainz Jr. second career win in F1 including his victory at the 2022 British
Grand Prix.
About Singapore Grand Prix 2023:
i.The 14th edition of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix was held from 15th to 17th September 2023.
• Singapore Grand Prix 2023 was the 15th round of the 2023 Formula One (F1) World
Championship.
About the Marina Bay Circuit:
• Circuit Length – 4.94 Km
• Race Distance -306.143 Km
• The First Singapore Grand Prix held at Marina Bay Circuit was on 2008.

About Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)
The F1 Grand Prix races are organised by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem
ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 Rio de Janeiro: India Ends Campaign with Two Medals
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was
held from 12th – 19th September 2023. India finished 5th in the medal tally with 2 medals (1 Gold and 1
Silver).
• The World Cup Rifle/Pistol 2023 Rio de Janeiro was
the final stage of the ISSF World Cup for rifle and
pistol shooters.
Note:
A total of 16 Indian shooters took part in the ISSF World Cup in
Rio.
Medal Tally:
1 Italy 2 _ 1 3
2 China 1 4 3 8
3 Hungary 1 1 1 3
5 India 1 1 _ 2
Indian Medal Winners:
i.India’s Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event.
• Oceanne Muller of France and Jiale Zhang of China won the silver and bronze medals
respectively in the same event.
• This has been Elavenil’s second individual ISSF World Cup medal since she won the gold in the
women’s 10m air rifle event in ISSF World Cup Rio in 2019.
ii.India’s Nischal won the silver medal in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions while Jeanette Hegg Duestad
of Norway and Stephanie Laura Scurrah Grundsoee of Denmark won the gold and bronze medals
respectively.
• This event marks Nischal’s first senior World Cup appearance.
iii.The 19-year-old Nischal created a qualification national record in the Women’s 3 Positions event by
shooting a solid 587 in relay one.
• Previously Anjum Moudgil and Ayushi Podder held qualification national record with a short in
relay two.
• Anjum Moudgil and Ayushi Podder also participated in this event and finished 10th and 35th
place respectively.
About ISSF World Cup:
• The 2023 ISSF World Cup comprised 13 stages including the final of competitions held across
various cities in the world.
• The 2023 ISSF World Cup final will be held in Doha, Qatar from 18th – 27th November 2023.
About the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):
ISSF is the governing body of the Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol and shotgun (clay target)
disciplines, and of several non-Olympic shooting sports events.

President– Luciano Rossi
Headquarters– Munich, Germany
Italy’s Marco Bezzecchi Wins Inaugural MotoGP Grand Prix of India 2023
Italy’s Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney VR46 Racing team won the IndianOil Grand Prix of India 2023 (MotoGP
Bharat 2023) held at the Buddh International Circuit(BIC), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• Jorge Martin(Spain) of Prima Pramac Racing
and Fabio Quartararo ((France) of Monster Energy
Yamaha MotoGP finished second and third place
respectively.
• The inaugural edition of the MotoGP India Grand Prix
was held from 22nd to 24th September 2023.
• This is the 1st time motor racing event was hosted by
India since the 2013 Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix.
Winners of Grand Prix of India 2023:
Position Player Team
1 Marco Bezzecchi Mooney VR46 Racing
2 Jorge Martin Prima Pramac Racing
3 Fabio Quartararo Monster Energy Yamaha

About MotoGP India Grand Prix 2023:
The event witnessed the participation of 82 riders from 41 teams competing in MotoGP, Moto 2 and Moto 3
categories.
• MotoGP is the top division of motorcycle racing, while Moto2 and Moto3 are the lower divisions
below MotoGP.
• MotoGP uses a 1,000cc engine with top speeds of about 360 kmph, Moto2 uses 765cc motorcycles
(up to 300 kmph) and Moto3 uses 250cc motorcycles (240 kmph).
ii.India Grand Prix 2023 was the 13th out of 20 races in the 2023 FIM MotoGP World Championship (MotoGP)
• FIM stands for Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM; English: International Motorcycling
Federation)
Note:
Kadai Yaseen Ahamed was the only Indian rider at the MotoGP Bharat 2023. He made his debut competing in
the Moto3 level at MotoGP Bharat 2023.
• He has become the second Indian after S Sarath Kumar to participate in a MotoGP.
Winners of Moto2:
Pedro Acosta(Spain) of Red Bull KTM Ajo finished in first place while Tony Arbolino (Italy)of ELF Marc VDS
Racing Team and Joe Roberts(United States of America) of Italtrans Racing Team finished second and third
place respectively.
Winners of Moto3:
Jaume Masia(Spain) of Leopard Racing finished in the first position while Kaito Toba(Japan) of SIC58 Squadra
Corse team and Ayumu Sasaki (Japan) of Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP finished second and third place
respectively.
About the circuit:
i.The Buddh International Circuit hosted Formula 1 races from 2011 to 2013.

• MotoGP – 21 Laps
• Total Distance – 105.21 Km / 65.37 Miles
About MotoGP:
FIM World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP™) has been organised by Dorna Sports since 1991.
• Fairstreet Sports has signed an agreement with Dorna Sports to organise the MotoGP round in
India for the next seven years, from 2023 to 2029.
About Fairstreet Sports:
Chief Executive Officer – Vaibhav Sinha
Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Max Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix 2023; Marks His 13th Title of 2023
Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen (competing under Dutch flag) of Red Bull won the Formula 1
(F1) Japanese Grand Prix 2023 held in Suzuka International Racing Course from 22nd – 24th September
2023.
British-Belgian driver Lando Norris (competing under British Flag)
of McLaren finished second while Australian racing driver Oscar
Piastri of McLaren won third place.
• This marks Max Verstappen’s 13th victory in 16 races of
the 2023 season and Red Bull’s 15th title of the season.
• This also marks his 2nd consecutive Japanese Grand Prix title,
He previously won the title in 2022.
• This also marks Max Verstappen’s 48th career win. It was his
29th career pole position and the 9th pole in 2023 season.
Winners of Japanese Grand Prix 2023:
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren

F1 Constructors Championship 2023:
i.Red Bull team won the F1 Constructors Championship 2023 by earning 623 points so far in the 2023 F1
season
• This marks Red Bull’s second consecutive Constructors title and also their sixth title since they entered the
sport in 2005.
• Red Bull won the constructors’ title in 2010,2011,2012,2013,2022 & 2023.
• The constructors’ title was awarded to the team based on the points earned by the finishing position of
each of their two drivers at each Grand Prix.
F1 Driver standing:
i.Max Verstappen leads F1 Driver standing points, and he could win his third consecutive driver’s title(world
championship) if he wins the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix which is set to be held in October 2023.
ii.As of now, Verstappen has 400 points in driver standing while Mexican driver Sergio Perez of Red Bull is in
2nd place with 223 points and British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is at 3rd place with 190 points.
About Japanese Grand Prix 2023:
i.The first edition of the Japanese Grand Prix was held in 1987.

• Race Distance – 307.471 km
ii.Sponsorship – Lenovo
About Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)
The F1 Grand Prix races are organised by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem
OBITUARY
Former Netherlands Goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed, Runner-Up In Two FIFA World Cup
Finals Passed Away
Former Netherlands goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed who played in 2 Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) World Cup finals for the Netherlands passed away. He was born in Amsterdam,
Netherlands in 1940.
• He was a part of the Netherlands team, popularly known as “Clockwork Organe” which finished as
runner-up in the 1974 World Cup (against West Germany) and 1978 World Cup (against
Argentina).
• He retired at the age of 44 after 717 matches. His final appearance made him the oldest player ever
to feature in a Dutch professional match.
• He holds the record of 683 minutes (Between October 1977 and June 1978) in international matches
without conceding a goal.
During his professional career, He played with Amsterdam club DWS (now known as FC Amsterdam).
Heath Streak, Former Zimbabwe Cricket Captain Passed Away

On 3rd September 2023, Heath Hilton Streak (Heath Streak), Former captain of the Zimbabwe Cricket
team, passed away at the age of 49, in Matabeleland, in southwestern Zimbabwe. He was born on March
16, 1974, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
About Heath Streak:
Career:
i.Heath Streak represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests and 189 One Day
Internationals (ODIs) between 1993 and 2005.
• He made his ODI debut against South Africa in Bengaluru,
Karnataka during the 1993 Hero Cup.
• He retired from international cricket at the age of 32 in
2005 and went on to play for the English County,
Warwickshire County Cricket Club (CCC).
ii.He represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests, making him their second-most capped Test player, and 189 ODIs
iii.He was appointed captain twice, first in 2000 and then again in 2002 to lead the team at the 2003 World
Cup, the event co-hosted by Zimbabwe. He later resigned his captaincy in 2004.
iv.In 2021, ICC banned him from all forms of cricket for 8 years for breaching the anti-corruption code in
2018.

Records:
i.He was the leading bowler of Zimbabwe, with 216 Test wickets and 239 ODI wickets, and also the first
Zimbabwean to reach 100 Test wickets.
• He was the only cricketer from Zimbabwe to take more than 100 Test wickets and over 200 ODI
wickets.
ii.He was the 7th highest test run-scorer of Zimbabwe with 1,990 runs at an average of 22.35.
iii.He is ranked 4th in the list of the most runs in an ODI career without a hundred with 2943 runs.
Post Retirement:
i.After his retirement, He was appointed as the bowling coach of the Zimbabwe team in 2009 and after
that, he remained coach at his domestic union, Matabeleland Tuskers in Zimbabwe.
ii.He served as the Zimbabwe’s head coach from 2016 to 2018.
iii.In 2014, he founded the Heath Streak Academy in Bulawayo, to help the development and growth of
cricket in Zimbabwe.
• Post his resignation from the academy in 2022, the academy was renamed the Zimbabwe Youth
Academy.
British Scientist Sir Ian Wilmut, Creator of Dolly, the Cloned Sheep, Passed away
On September 10, 2023, British Scientist Sir Ian Wilmut, the man who led the team at the Roslin Institute at
the University of Edinburgh that created Dolly the Sheep in 1996 has passed away at the age of 79. He was
born on 7th July 1944 in Hampton Lucy, United Kingdom(UK).
About Ian Wilmut:
British embryologist Ian Wilmut was a Chair of the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University
of Edinburgh.
• He laid the foundations for stem cell research/ regenerative medicine which aims to cure many of
the diseases of ageing by enabling the body to regenerate damaged tissue.
Career:
i.He worked at the University of Cambridge, as part of Professor Christopher Polge’s team, that worked on the
preservation of semen and embryos by freezing.
• He was a part of the team that created Frostie, the first calf to be born from a frozen embryo in
1973.
ii.Later, He moved to the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO), the predecessor to The Roslin
Institute.
iii.In 2005, He moved to the University of Edinburgh in 2005, becoming the first Director of the MRC Centre for
Regenerative Medicine.
Awards and Honours:
i.In 1998, he received the Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award and the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy
of Achievement.
ii.He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999 and a Fellow of the Royal
Society (FRS) in 2002.
iii.He together with Keith Campbell and Shinya Yamanaka jointly received the 2008 Shaw Prize for Medicine
and Life Sciences for their works on the cell differentiation in mammals.
About Dolly, the Sheep:
i.Dolly, a Finn Dorset sheep, was the world’s first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell.
ii.Dolly was cloned from a cell taken from the mammary gland of a 6 year old Finn Dorset sheep and an egg cell
from a Scottish Blackface sheep.
iii.Dolly was born on 5th July 1996 and was announced to the world on 22nd February 1997. After 6 years,
Dolly died on 14th February 2003.

Dennis Austin Co-Creator Of PowerPoint Passed Away
American Software Developer Dennis Austin, one of the co-creators of PowerPoint software, passed away. He
was born on May 28, 1947 in Pittsburgh city of Pennsylvania, United States of America(USA). He was
PowerPoint’s primary developer from 1985 until his retirement in 1996.
• Austin along with Robert Gaskins created the powerpoint for the software
company Forethought and released it in 1987.
Microsoft then acquired the firm and integrated PowerPoint into its suite of Office programs.
N S Srinivasan, Traffic Expert & Founder Director of NATPAC, Passed Away

Dr. NS. Srinivasan, a renowned highway and traffic expert, and Founder Director of the National
Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), passed away at the age of 89 at his residence in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). He was born in Nallur, TN
• He served as Head of the Traffic and Transportation Division of the Central Road Research Institute,
New Delhi, Delhi for 13 years from 1963 to 1976.
• From 1976 to 1988, he served as the executive director of NATPAC. He also served as an Advisor to
the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB).
• He served as a World Bank advisor to prepare a highway network plan for Yemen. He has prepared
transportation plans for Delhi, Bengaluru (Karnataka), and other cities including the 9th Asian
Games of Delhi & 8th World Tamil Conference at Thanjavur (TN).
• He also served at Anna University (Chennai) as a visiting professor in Transportation Engineering
from 1990 to 2002. After retirement, he started the Transport Advisory Forum (TAF).
• He has been acknowledged as “the man who brought order to Delhi’s roads”, “Roving Organizer”,
“Pioneer in Traffic Planning”, and “the Father of Traffic Engineering in India”.
Awards: He was honoured with several awards including the President of India’s Prize of the Institution of
Engineers (India) for the year 1973-74.
Note: NATPAC is an institution under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment
(KSCSTE) in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
Moldova’s 1st President Mircea Snegur Passed Away

Mircea Snegur who served as the first President of the independent Moldova has passed away. He was born on
17th January 1940 in the village of Trifanesti, in Florești District, Moldova.
• He became the President of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1990 following the approval
from the Moldovan Supreme Council.
• He led the Republic of Moldova to its proclamation of independence on 27 August 1991.
• Following the independence, in 1992, Snegur and then Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed an
agreement to stop a conflict over Moldova’s breakaway Transdniester (Transnistria) region.
About Moldova:
President– Maia Sandu
Capital– Chişinău
Currency– Moldovan Leu
Renowned Flautist & Padma Shri Awardee ‘Sikkil’ Neela from Passes Away
Renowned Flautist and Padma Shri Awardee Sikkil Natesan Neela, the younger of the renowned ‘Sikkil
Sisters’ duo from Tamil Nadu, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). She was born on 9th September
1938.
• The Sikkil Sisters perfected the ’gayaki’ style of playing Carnatic music on the flute.
• Sikkil Neela along with her sister Sikkil Kunjumani were top grade artist of All India
Radio(AIR) and Doordarshan(DD).

About Sikkil Natesan Neela:
i.Her father was Azhiyur Natesa Iyer, a reputed mridangist.
ii.Sikkil sisters learnt to play the flute from their uncle
Azhiyur Narayanaswamy Iyer, but Sikkil Kunjumani is
Neela’s principal mentor and guide.
iii.In 1942, the then Kingdom of Mysore awarded Neela and
Kunjumani with the title ‘Venugana Praveena’.
Awards & Honours:
i.In 2004, the government of India honoured Neela with
‘Padma Shri’, the 4th Highest Civilian Award in India for her
contribution in the field of art.
ii.The Music Academy, Madras of Chennai, Tamil Nadu conferred “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” to Sikkil Sisters
in 2002.
• For the first time in the history of the Music Academy, 2 artistes have been awarded the title in
the same year.
• This was also the first time for the academy to honour women flautists
iii.In 1984, they received ‘President Award’ from Sangeetha Natak Academy
Under the Ministry of Culture and in 1989, they received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Carnatic
Music (Instrumental).
vi.She received ‘Kalaimamani‘ award from Tamil Nadu Iyal, Isai, Nataka Mandram in 1973.
Additional info:
i.Elder sister Sikkil Kunjumani passed away in 2010
ii.Sikkil Natesan Neela’s daughter Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar is also a flautist.
Renowned Indian American Writer-Filmmaker Gita Mehta Passed Away

Gita Mehta, a Renowned Indian-American Writer-Filmmaker, journalist and Author, passed away in New
Delhi, Delhi. She was born in 1943 to Biju Patnaik, an independent activist and the 3rd Chief Minister of
Orissa (now Odisha). She is the elder sister of Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister(CM) of Odisha.
• She has authored several books including “Karma Cola”, “Snakes and Ladders: Glimpses of
Modern India”, “A River Sutra”, “Raj”, and “Eternal Ganesha: From Birth to Rebirth”.
• In 2019, she was honoured with Padma Shri, India’s 4th highest civilian honour, in
the “Foreigners” category for her outstanding contribution to the field of Literature &
Education. She declined the award citing its timing ahead of the May 2019 Elections.
• She served as a war correspondent in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) of US TV network NBC in
1970-1971. She complied her experience in the documentary titled “Dateline Bangladesh”.
She also produced and directed around 14 television documentaries for UK, European and US networks.
Hindustani Classical Vocalist Malini Rajurkar Passed Away

Malini Rajurkar, a noted Hindustani classical vocalist and one of the foremost exponents
of Gwalior Gharana passed away at the age of 82 in Hyderabad, Telangana. She was born in 1941 in Ajmer,
Rajasthan.
• She has received several awards, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2001
for her contribution to Hindustani vocal music.
• She has performed in major music festivals in India, including Gunidas Sammelan (Mumbai),
Tansen Samaroh (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Sawai Gandharva Festival (Pune, Maharashtra), and
Shankar Lal Festival (Delhi).

• Her collaboration with Pune-based Alurkar Music House resulted in numerous noted albums like
“Birj Yuvati Sang Racho Rang Raas” in Raga ‘Maru Bihag’ that describes the traditional “Raas Leela”.
• In the 1990s, she immortalised the traditional slow-tempo composition “Peer Na Jaani”, in Raga
‘Malkauns’.
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’.
Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano Passed Away

Giorgio Napolitano, Former President of Italy (2006 to 2015) and leader of Italian Communist Party, passed
away at the age of 98 in Rome, Italy. He was born in 1925 in Naples, Italy. He was the longest-serving and
longest-lived president in the history of the modern Italian Republic(post-second world war democratic era).
• He joined the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1945 and became the 11th president of Italy in 2006
and later re-elected for a 2nd term in 2013 and later stepped down from the post in 2015.
• He was the first and the only president in Italy to be reelected to the office.
• In 2005, he was appointed Senator for Life in Italy’s Senate by then president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
National Award Winner, Veteran Malayalam Filmmaker KG George Passed Away

Veteran Malayalam film director and National Award winner Kulakkattil Geevarghese (KG)
George passed away at the age of 77 near Kakkanad in Kochi, Kerala. He was born on 26 May 1946 in
Pathanamthitta, Kerala.
About KG George:
i.KG George started his film career as an assistant to Ramu Kariat in the early 1970s.
ii.He debuted as a director with the film ‘Swapnadanam’ (1975) starring Rani Chandra.
• He won the National film award for best feature film in Malayalam for his debut movie ‘Swapnadanam’
in 1976.

• The film also won 2 Kerala State Film Awards for Best Film and for Best Screenplay.
iii.His prominent directorial works include ‘Ulkkadal’ (1979);
‘Onappudava’ (1978); ‘Panchavadi Palam’ (1984);
‘Adaminte Vaariyellu’ (1984); among others.
v.The last film he directed was Elavamkodu Desam, a period
drama in 1998.
Awards:
i.He has won a total of 9 Kerala State Film Awards for his film
Swapnadanam(1975); Rappadikalude Gatha (1978) Yavanika
(1982); Adaminte Variyellu(1983); and Irakal(1985).
ii.He was honoured with the JC Daniel Award for 2015 in
recognition of his lifelong contributions to Malayalam cinema.
• JC Daniel Award is the highest award for contribution to Malayalam Cinema.
Other careers:
i.KG George was selected as a jury member for the National Film Awards in 2000 and he also chaired the jury of
the Kerala State Film Awards in 2003.
ii.He also held the position of chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) for five
years.
iii.He was the founder and chairman of the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) and continued to
be an executive member.
Padma Awardee MS Swaminathan, Father of India’s Green Revolution, Passed Away

Indian agricultural scientist and Padma Awardee Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (MS Swaminathan),
who is popularly known as the Father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu(TN). He was born on 7th August 1925
in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. He is a native of Mankombu,
Alappuzha District, Kerala.
About MS Swaminathan:
i.In 1954, Dr. Swaminathan joined the faculty of the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Delhi. He served
as the Director of IARI from 1961 to 1972.
ii.He served as the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary to the Government of
India (GoI), Department of Agricultural Research and Education
from 1972-79.
iii.In 1988, he became the president of the International Union of the Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources.
iv.He has also served as the Member of the Parliament (MP) of India (Rajya Sabha – Nominated) from 2007 to
2013.
v.He founded M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), a research centre in Chennai in 1988 and
served as its Chairman, Emeritus Chairman, and Chief Mentor.
Awards/Honours:
i.GoI honoured him with the Padma Shri (1967), Padma Bhushan (1972) and Padma Vibhushan (1989) for
Science and Engineering.
ii.He was named the first World Food Prize Laureate for developing and spearheading the introduction of
high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India during the 1960s. He received the award in 1987.
iii.He won numerous international awards such as:
The 1994 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Sasakawa Environment Prize;

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Gandhi Gold Medal in
1999;
The 1999 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development; and
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award in 2000.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1971.
iv.TIME Magazine honoured him as one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century.
He was the 3rd Indian to receive this honour after Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
v.The government of Kerala conferred him the ‘Kerala Shastra Puraskaram 2021, for his achievement in
agricultural research
Kerala Shastra Puraskaram, instituted jointly by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and
Environment (KSCSTE) and the Department of Science and Technology.
Ashwin Dani, former Executive Chairman of Asian Paints Passed Away

Ashwin Suryakant Dani, former Executive Chairman of Asian Paints Limited, India’s leading paint and
decor company, has passed away at the age of 79. He was born on September 26, 1944, in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
He is the son of Suryakant Dani, one of the co-founders of
Asian Paints.
Note: Asian Paints is now among Asia’s biggest paint companies
with operations in 19 countries.
About Ashwin Suryakant Dani:
i.In 1967, Ashwin Dani initiated his career as a development
chemist at Inmont Corp, now BASF in Detroit, the United States of
America (USA).
ii.Ashwin Dani joined Asian Paints in 1968 as a senior executive.
iii.He joined the Asian Paints’ Board in 1970 and held the position of Vice Chairman and Managing Director
(MD) of Asian Paints from 1998 to 2009.
iv.He served as the founder director on the board of PPG Asian Paints, a Joint Venture (JV), formed in 1997
between Asian Paints Limited and PPG Industries Inc., USA.
v.Since 2009, he continued on the board as the non-executive director & vice chairman of the board and the
company.
vi.He served as the Non-Executive Chairman on the board of Asian paints from 2018 to 2021. He stepped down
from his post in 2021.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

Dharmendra Pradhan Launched Comic Book “Let’s Move Forward” Developed by NCERT &
UNESCO
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education(MoE) launched an innovative comic
book titled “Let’s Move Forward” in a ceremony at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. The book aims
to promote the health and well-being of school-going children across India,
• The comic book was jointly developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training
(NCERT), under the Department of School Education and Literacy, MoE and the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) New Delhi.
• The book is available in both print as well as digital formats in Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali,
Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Tamil and Telugu.

• It is designed to be an interactive and educational tool to complement the implementation of
the School Health and Wellness Programme(SHWP). under Ayushman Bharat Campaign.
• An electronic version of the comic book will also be accessible on the Ministry of Education (MoE),
NCERT, UNESCO, and DIKSHA websites.
This covers a wide range of topics like growing up healthy; emotional well-being and mental health;
interpersonal relationships; values and citizenship; gender equality; etc.
MIB Secretary Apurva Chandra released E-Book titled “People’s G20”, on India’s G20
Presidency
Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) unveiled an ebook,
titled “People’s G20”, which provides the comprehensive documentation of India‘s journey during
its G20 Presidency, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The e-book was prepared by research unit of Press Information Bureau(PIB).
The eBook is divided into three parts:
• The 1st part focuses on the historic G20 Summit held in New Delhi from 9th -10th September
2023.
• The 2nd part offers a summary of the meetings conducted by various Working Groups under the
Sherpa and Finance Track.
• The 3rd part presents a captivating photo essay that captures the essence of the Jan-Bhagidari
events(awareness events about G20) held across India during India’s presidency.
ECI releases Comic Books to Create Awareness About Elections Among Children
The Election Commission of India (ECI) under Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral
Participation(SVEEP) program released a comic book ‘Chacha Chaudhary aur Chunavi Dangal’ to spread
awareness about elections, voting and the electoral process to children. The comic features 10 short stories on
electoral aspects.
• The comic book is a joint initiative of ECI & Pran Comics.
• The book uses the comic characters such as Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, Dhamaka Singh and
Billoo.
• ECI will distribute 30,000 copies for free among children.The copies of the comic books will also be
available digitally.
SVEEP is a flagship program of the ECI for voter education, spreading voter awareness, and promoting voter
literacy.
• Its primary goal is to build a truly participative democracy in India by encouraging all eligible
citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the elections.
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).

UOW Australia& NSE Academy Unveils New Book on Corporate Finance
The University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia in collaboration with the NSE Academy Limited launched the
global edition of the book Introduction to Corporate Finance (sixth edition) at the NSE India(National Stock
Exchange of India Ltd) headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The book is authored by first year lecturers at UOW campuses (in Hong Kong and Dubai).
• The book covers the principles of valuing and trading of shares in UAE, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong and
Australia; The book hels in understanding the complexities and nuances of the corporate finance
landscape.
• The book was launched by NSE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ashishkumar
Chauhan, UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson, and UOW’s Global Brand
Ambassador Adam Gilchrist.
Note: On 18th September 2023, UOW Australia unveiled its UOW India identity at the Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar and became one of the 1st foreign universities to have an
International Branch Campus (IBC), a teaching base in India. This will award Australian degrees to Indian
students.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for People of African Descent 2023 – August 31
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for People of African Descent is annually observed across the
globe on 31st August to promote the extraordinary contributions of African descent people all around the
world.
• This day also aims to promote and protect the human rights of people descended from African
victims of enslavement.
31st August 2023 marks the 3rd observance of International Day for People of African Descent.
Background:
i.On 16 December 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/75/170
and proclaimed the 31st of August of every year as the International Day for People of African Descent.
• The year 2020 marked the midterm of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-
2024).
ii.The first-ever International Day for People of African Descent was observed on 31st August 2021.
iii.The efforts to establish the International Day for People of African Descent was under the initiative of Costa
Rica.
Note: Costa Rica changed its political constitution in 2015 and defined itself as a democratic, free, independent,
multiethnic, and multicultural Republic.
Why 31st August?
i.31st August marks the closing date of the Universal Negro Improvement Association’s first international
convention called the First International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World in 1920.
ii.The Convention opened in Liberty Hall, New York, the United States of America (USA) on August 1, 1920, and
adopted the Declaration of Rights of the Negro People of the World.
• It was one of the world’s earliest and most comprehensive human rights documents.
International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024:
i.On 23rd December 2013, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/68/237 and proclaimed the decade 2015-
2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.
ii.As proclaimed by the UNGA, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African
descent: recognition, justice and development.”
Note: Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many
millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.

Key Points:
According to the data from the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA (formerly the United Nations Fund for
Population Activities), UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency:
i.Afro-descendent women and girls across the Americas experience systemic denials of quality care,
mistreatment, and abuse at the hands of the health sector, which leads to deadly impacts.
ii.In the USA, women and girls of African descent are 3 times more likely to die during or shortly after
childbirth than non-Afrodescendants.
• In Suriname they are 2.5 times more likely; and 1.6 times more likely in Brazil and Colombia.
World Sanskrit Day 2023 – August 31

World Sanskrit Day, also known as ‘Vishva-Samskrita-Dinam’, is annually observed across India on the
Poornima Tithi (Full Moon day) of Shravana month in the Hindu Calandar, to honour Sanskrit, the world’s
oldest known languages and the mother of all languages, originated in India around 3500 years ago.
World Sanskrit Day 2023 was celebrated on 31st August 2023.
• World Sanskrit Day 2022 was observed on 12th August 2022.
Significance of Sanskrit Day :
i.The day also aims to raise awareness about the Sanskrit language used by scholars and saints in ancient India
to pen several revered books, especially about religious teachings and philosophy.
ii.World Sanskrit Day serves as a tribute to the birth anniversary of Panini, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and
grammarian, who is considered the founder of the language and literature.
Background:
i.In 1969, the Ministry of Education, Government of India (GoI) announced that Sanskrit Day would be
celebrated every year at the Central and state levels all over India.
ii.The first World Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969.
About Sanskrit:
i.Sanskrit is an ancient and classical language of India in which ever first book of the world Rigveda was
compiled. Sanskrit was the classical literary language of the Indian Hindus.
ii.Sanskrit language is divided into 2 parts which are Vedic and Classical.
• Vedic Sanskrit is a part of the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Puranas. The Vedas were composed
from 1000 to 500 BCE.
• Classical Sanskrit has its origin at the end of the Vedic period and represents a development of one
or more such early Old Indo-Aryan dialects.
iii.Panini, Kalidasa, Patanjali, and Ved Vyas are the prominent personalities who wrote classics in the Sanskrit
language.
iv.Sir William Jones, an English scholar, came to India in 1783 and served as the judge of the British Supreme
Court in Calcutta (now Kolkata, West Bengal) had a passion for Indic languages and started researching,
reading, and understanding the intricacies of Sanskrit.
• He founded the Asian Society in 1784 and translated Manusmriti, Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntala,
Ritu Samhara, and Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda into English.
Points to note:
i.The Sanskrit language is known as the ‘Language of God’.
ii.In 2005, right after Tamil, the GoI declared Sanskrit as a Classical Language of India.
• 6 languages in India namely Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008),
Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014) have been given the status of classical languages. All the
Classical Languages are listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists of 22 languages(including Sanskrit).
iii.In 2010, Uttarakhand became the first state in India to list Sanskrit as its second official language after Hindi.
iv.In 2020, the Uttarakhand Government decided to develop ‘Sanskrit Grams’ across the state, to make people
communicate using Sanskrit regularly.

v.In a village named Mattur in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, villagers can be seen speaking in the ancient
Indian language, Sanskrit.
vi.The city of Mysuru in Karnataka continues to publish ‘Sudharma‘, the only Sanskrit daily newspaper in
the world since 1970 (by print), and is now available online as an e-paper.
Pandit Varadaraja Iyengar was the publisher as well as the Founder Editor, for almost 20 years.
National Nutrition Week 2023 – September 1 to 7

National Nutrition Week (NNW) is annually observed across India from September 1 to 7, to raise
awareness among people about the vital role of nutrition and health in human lives, and to promote healthy
and hygienic eating habits.
• The main objective of NNW is to highlight the importance of a healthy diet and its impact on the
body, as a balanced diet with essential nutrients is necessary for proper development and
functioning.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan
Maah throughout September 2023 across India.
• This aims to foster nutritional understanding across India through a theme centered on “Suposhit
Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered
India).
Background:
i.In India, NNW was initiated in 1982 as a Mass Awareness Campaign by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB),
under the purview of the MWCD of the Government of India (GoI).
• The FNB is a technical support wing under the Child Development Bureau of the MWCD that
provides technical support to the government on matters related to nutrition.
ii.The first NWW was observed from 1st to 7th September 1982.
Poshan Maah 2023
The month long observance aims to create awareness concerning critical human life stages: pregnancy,
infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
This events organised under Poshan Maah 2023 will work to enhance ground-level nutritional awareness
through campaigns focusing on key themes around Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding.
Significance:
i.During the NNW, every year the MWCD implements 7 days long programs to promote awareness about
healthy eating and proper nutrition for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
ii.POSHAN Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) was launched in March 2018 to achieve
improvement in the nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women, and
Lactating Mothers in a time-bound manner.
• And also to achieve a reduction in stunting and wasting in children (0-6 years) as well as a reduction
in anaemia in women, children, and adolescent girls. The scheme has been extended up to 31st
March 2023.
What is malnutrition?
i.It refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition
occurs in people who are either undernourished or overnourished.
ii.The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions.
• Undernutrition: It includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height),
underweight (low weight for age), and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of
important vitamins and minerals).
• The other is overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease,
stroke, diabetes, and cancer).

Global Hunger Index 2022:
i.In the 2022 GHI, India ranks 107th out of the 121 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2022 GHI scores.
With a score of 29.1, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
• Top performers in GHI 2022 are: Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile,
ii.GHI measures and tracks the hunger situation at global, regional, and national levels over the long term, and
has been jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide since 2006.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development
Union Minister– Smriti Zubin Irani (Constituency- Amethi, UP)
Minister of State– Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai (Constituency- Surendranagar, Gujarat)
World Coconut Day 2023- September 2

World Coconut Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 2nd September to promote the importance of
coconuts and their contributions to various aspects of life, including the economy, agriculture, and health.
• The day also aims to raise awareness about the uses
and benefits of coconut cultivation and consumption.
The theme of World Coconut Day 2023 is “Sustaining Coconut
Sector for the Present and Future Generation.”
• The day is also observed to commemorate the
Foundation Day of the International Coconut
Community (ICC), formerly known as the Asian and
Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), founded on 2nd
September 1969.
How the Day is celebrated in India?
In India, this day is celebrated with the support of the Coconut Development Board (CDB), across the states
such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, etc.
Background:
i.World Coconut Day was first celebrated by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) on September 2,
2009.
ii.The date of September 2 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the establishment of the APCC in 1969.
• APCC is an intergovernmental organisation functioning under the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
iii.Since then, every year under the APCC by the authority of UN-ESCAP, this day has been organised to
highlight their policies and mark the course of action for promoting this tropical fruit and bringing awareness
regarding its health benefits.
Significance:
i.Coconut, Cocos nucifera Linnaeus, (family Palmae) is a pantropical plant, which is a highly nutritious fruit, a
crucial raw material, and a significant crop.
ii.The top 3 leading producers of coconuts are Indonesia, India and the Philippines.
2023 Events:
i.On 2nd September 2023, the Coconut Development Board in association with the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala
celebrated World Coconut Day at PJ Hall, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, Kerala.
• Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW) inaugurated the programme.
• A Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) Business Meet on Incentivising Coconut Cultivation with
Better Profit was held as part of the programme.
ii.International Coconut Community (ICC), Government of Gorontalo Regency (Indonesia), and
Dekindo Konsultan Utama organised a Conference, Business Meeting, Exhibition, Famers Training, and

Competition & Awards from 1-25 September 2023 to commemorate World Coconut Day with the theme
“Sustaining Coconut Sector for the Present and Future Generation.”
About International Coconut community (ICC):
Executive Director– Dr Jelfina C. Alouw
Headquarters– Jakarta, Indonesia
About Coconut Development Board (CDB):
It is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Chairman– Rajbir Singh Panwar
Headquarters– Kochi, Kerala
Established on– 12th January 1981
Ministry of Education to Organise Literacy Week from 1st to 8th September 2023 under ULLAS
Ministry of Education, Government of India (GoI) is set to launch a week-long literacy campaign from
September 1st to September 8th, 2023, in celebration of International Literacy Day on 8th September 2023.
• This campaign aims to raise awareness about Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society
(ULLAS)-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram among all the stakeholders/ beneficiaries/ citizens.
Purpose of the Campaign:
i.This literacy campaign initiative aimed at fostering a sense of Kartavyabodh (duty-consciousness) and
Janbhagidari (citizen participation) among the nation’s citizens.
ii.This comprehensive effort seeks to popularise literacy and bring India closer to the goal of achieving
universal education.
Other Objectives:
i.The main objective will be to increase the number of learners and volunteer registrations on the ULLAS
mobile app.
ii.ULLAS is targeting:
• Students of Govt./aided schools, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated Schools,
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Teacher Training
Institutions under National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), etc, and Retired Employees,
Members of Schools Management Committees, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Neo-literates, Non-literates,
etc. and citizen of India.
ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram:
i.The GoI has approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakramme for the period
FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Education For All (erstwhile termed as Adult Education) to align with
the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Budget Announcements FY 2021-22.
ii.The objectives of the scheme are to impart not only Foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover
other components that are necessary for a citizen such as:
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and
Continuing Education.
iii.On 29th July 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education launched the logo,
slogan/tagline-“Jan Jan Sakshar” and popular name- ULLAS of Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram in Delhi
during the 3rd anniversary celebration of NEP 2020.
International Day of Charity 2023- September 5

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Charity is annually observed across the globe on 5th
September to sensitise and mobilise people, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and stakeholders all
around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.
• The day recognises the efforts of charitable organisations and individuals, including the work of
Mother Teresa.

• The day also seeks to increase social responsibility and enhance public support of charitable causes.
Background:
i.On 17th December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/67/105
and designated the 5th September of every year, the death anniversary of 1979 Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.
• Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, passed away on 5th September 1997.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Charity was observed on 5th September 2013.
Significance of Charity:
i.Charity is the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, which provide real social bonding and contribute to
the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies.
ii.Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, and supplement public services in health care,
education, housing, and child protection.
iii.It assists in the advancement of culture, science, sports, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
iv.It also promotes the rights of the marginalised and underprivileged and spreads the message of humanity in
conflict situations.
About Mother Teresa:
i.Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Uskup, Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, North Macedonia),
on August 26, 1910.
ii.On May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun, and from 1931 to 1948 Mother Teresa taught at St.
Mary’s High School in Calcutta (now Kolkata, West Bengal).
iii.In 1948, she became an Indian citizen and on October 7, 1950, she founded the “The Missionaries of
Charity”, a religious congregation in the Catholic Church, in Calcutta, India.
• In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.
iv.She died on 5 September 1997 at 87 years of age, in Calcutta. She was regarded as a spokesperson for the
Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church..
v.Mother Teresa, the Patron Saint of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity was Canonized and declared Saint
Teresa of Kolkata by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016.
Awards and Honours:
i.The Government of India (GoI) honoured her with the “Bharat Ratna” in 1980 for her humanitarian work.
ii.She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and
distress, which also constituted a threat to peace.
• However, she refused the Nobel honour banquet and requested the UDS 1,92,000 prize money to be
used to help the poor in India.
iii.Her work has been recognised and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of
awards and distinctions, including the:
• Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971); Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and
understanding (1972); Balzan Prize (1979).
• She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1962. She also received the inaugural Templeton Prize
in 1973.
National Teachers Day 2023 – September 5

National Teachers’ Day is annually observed across India on 5th September to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned educationist, who served as the 1st
Vice President and 2nd President of Independent India.
• He was born on September 5, 1888, at Tirutani, Madras Presidency, British India (now Tamil Nadu).
The day is celebrated to honour and recognise the invaluable contribution of teachers to our society.
Background:
i.Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan assumed office as the 2nd President of India in 1962, and some of his students
approached him to seek permission to celebrate September 5 as a special day.

ii.He instead, requested them to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day to acknowledge the invaluable
contribution of teachers to society.
iii.The day was first observed on 5th September 1962, the 77th
birthday of Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
• Since then, September 5 has been celebrated as National
Teachers Day across India.
About Dr. S Radhakrishnan:
i.Radhakrishnan’s political career was marked by several
significant positions, including his tenure as the Indian Ambassador
to the Soviet Union (Now Russia) from 1949 to 1952, and
represented India at UNESCO (1946–52).
ii.He served as the 1st Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the 2nd President of India from May 13,
1962, to May 13, 1967.
iii.In 1931, he became the first Indian to hold a chair at Oxford University in England, the United Kingdom (UK).
iv.On April 17, 1975, he passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
v.Some of his notable works as an author and editor are: Hindu View of Life (1926); Bhagavad-gita (Editor)
(1948); The Principal Upanishads (1953); A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy (1957);
Awards/Honours:
i.He received a Knighthood from the British emperor King George V in 1936 for his excellence in teaching.
ii.In 1963 Dr. Radhakrishnan was honoured with the ‘British Royal Order of Merit‘. The British Government
awarded him the title of ‘Sir’.
iii.The Government of India (GoI) honoured him with the first Bharat Ratna Award in 1954 for his
contribution to the field of academics.
Related Observance:
i.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed 5 October to be
World Teachers’ Day in 1994 to commemorates the adoption of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation
concerning the Status of Teachers, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• It was an intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris (France).
• 5 October also celebrates the adoption by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997 of the UNESCO
Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel.
National Awards to Teachers’ 2023:
On the occassion of the National Teachers Day 2023 (5th September 2023), President of India,
Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Award to Teachers’ 2023, to 75 selected Teachers across India at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The 75 honorees comprised 50 school teachers, 13 educators from higher education, and 12
teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal.
About National Awards to Teachers:
i.Every year on the occasion of National Teachers Day, the Ministry of Education(MoE), GoI confer National
Awards to teachers, to encourage and appreciate them for their extraordinary contribution.
ii.The National Award to Teachers was instituted in 1958, and the guidelines were revised in 2018.
iii.From 2023, the scope of the NAT has been broadened to encompass teachers from the Department of Higher
Education, the MoE, and the MSDE.
Purpose of the Award:
The purpose is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honour
those teachers who through their commitment and industry have not only improved the quality of school
education but also enriched the lives of their students.

2023 Award Events:
i.The Department of School Education & Literacy, MoE has organised a National level event on Teachers Day
every year.
ii.The event serves as a platform to confer the National Awards to the best teachers of India, selected through a
rigorous, transparent selection process.
Selection Process:
i.In the pursuit of recognising innovative teaching, research, community outreach, and contributions, a
nomination drive was initiated, utilising online platforms to ensure widespread participation (Jan Bhagidari).
ii.This initiative was steered by the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE & MSDE, who established 3
distinct Independent National Juries, each consisting of renowned individuals, tasked with selecting exceptional
educators.
Other Events:
i.Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Malaviya Mission, a Teacher Training Programme during
the National Teachers Day. This is a dedicated portal for the capacity building of faculty members in higher
educational institutions.
ii.On the eve of Teachers’ Day (4th September 2023), Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi interacted with the
winners of NAT 2023 at Lok Kalyan Marg, Delhi. All the 75 award winners participated in the interaction.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2023- September 7

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies also known as World Clean Air
Day is annually observed across the globe on 7th September, to raise awareness about the importance of clean
air for a sustainable future.
• The day also aims to mobilise global action to address air pollution, which represents one of the
biggest threats to human health.
7th September 2023 marks the 4th annual observance of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
• The theme of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2023 is, “Together for Clean Air”.
The theme highlights the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and shared
responsibility for overcoming air pollution.
Background:
i.In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on its Second Committee of the 74th session adopted
the resolution A/RES/74/212, designating the 7th September of every year as the “International Day of Clean
Air for Blue Skies”.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was observed on 7th September 2020.
• The resolution also invited the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to facilitate the
observance of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
Air Pollution and its Impacts:
i.Air pollution is a global challenge with serious implications for both human health and the environment.
Without aggressive intervention, the number of premature deaths caused by ambient air pollution is projected
to increase significantly.
• By 2050, the number of premature deaths caused by ambient air pollution could increase by more
than 50% by 2050
Health Impact:
Tiny, invisible particles of pollution penetrate deep into our lungs, bloodstream, and bodies. These pollutants
are responsible for about one-third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well
as one-quarter of deaths from heart attack.
Climate Impact:
Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon, methane, tropospheric (ground-level) ozone, and
hydrofluorocarbons are the most important contributors to the man-made global greenhouse effect after
carbon dioxide (CO2) and have high global warming potential.

WHO Develops 1st Air Pollution & Health Training Toolkit for Health Workers
World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the 1st Air Pollution and Health Training
toolkit (APHT), in collaboration with over 30 international experts, specifically tailored for health workers.
• The APHT is set to be released at the end of 2023. The APHT toolkit is a set of materials designed to
enable health workers, in clinical and public health sectors.
• The purpose of APHT is to educate health workers about the health risks of air pollution and identify
risk reduction strategies.
WHO launched the user-friendly OpenWHO online training program on International Day of Clean Air for
Blue Skies 2023(7th September 2023) during the WHO Webinar Series – Clean air and energy for health: from
evidence to solutions.
How to use APHT?
The APHT toolkit adopts a train-the-trainer approach and facilitates in-person workshops, online courses, and
various learning opportunities.
• Tools provided by WHO, such as this training program, can empower local health workers in their
own communities to advocate for policy reforms while counseling patients and individuals on how
to reduce their exposure.
OpenWHO online training program:
i.OpenWHO online training program is the first part of the toolkit that has been introduced explicitly for
healthcare professionals.
ii.This aims to equip all health workers, who would benefit from gaining knowledge and skills to protect
individuals and communities from air pollution exposure.
iii.This contains 4 modules: outdoor (ambient) air pollution, household air pollution, the main health effects of
air pollution exposure, and what health workers can do.
• This course examines the main health impacts of air pollution and which roles health workers can
play to protect and promote people’s health.
Note: According to a report from the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), only
11% of medical schools worldwide include air pollution as a risk factor for health as part of formal education.
Key facts:
i.According to the WHO, Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature
deaths worldwide in 2019.
• Some 89% of this occurred in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and the greatest number
in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.
iii.Household (Indoor) air pollution was responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year in 2020,
including over 237,000 deaths of children under the age of 5.
iv.Around 2.4 billion people worldwide (around a third of the global population) cook using open fires or
inefficient stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, and crop waste), and coal, which generates
harmful household air pollution.
v.The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution are associated with 6.7 million
premature deaths annually.
• In 2014, WHO issued the first-ever health-based guidelines for Indoor air quality on clean fuels and
technologies for household cooking, heating, and lighting.
International Literacy Day 2023- September 8

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s International Literacy
Day (ILD) is annually observed on 8th September across the globe, to remind the public of the importance of
literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and
sustainable society.
• The 2023 theme of ILD is, ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the
foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.

Background:
i.The idea of International Literacy Day was first propsed during the inaugural World Congress of Ministers of
Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy held in Tehran, Iran in September 1965.
• The congress proposed to observe 8th September, date of the inauguration of the congress, as
International Literacy Day to focus on the value of literacy for individuals, communities, and society
as a whole and recognise it as the gateway to a well-educated and effective society.
iii.In 1966, UNESCO adopted the resolution UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441 and proclaimed the 8th of
September of every year as the “International Literacy Day.”
• The first-ever International Literacy Day was observed on 8th September 1967.
ILD and SDG:
i.ILD 2023 provides an opportunity to accelerate progress towards achieving the agenda of Sustainable
Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and lifelong learning and to reflect on the role of literacy in building
more inclusive, peaceful, just, and sustainable societies.
ii.The 2023 ILD marks the mid-point on the path to achieving the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
UNESCO strategy of Youth and Adult Literacy (2020-2025):
i.On 15 November 2019 at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference in Paris (France), the Member States agreed to
adopt a new UNESCO Strategy for Youth and Adult Literacy (2020-2025).
• This strategy will be a guiding framework for the promotion of youth and adult literacy in the
coming years.
ii.Closely aligned with the UNESCO Strategy for Youth and Adult Literacy (2020–2025), the Global Alliance for
Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL) Strategy was adopted in April 2020 and functions as
a guiding framework for the Alliance’s work.
• Currently, 30 countries are strongly committed to improving youth and adult literacy.
Note: In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), the share of 10-year-old children who could not read and
understand a simple text with comprehension has increased from 57% in 2019 to an estimated 70% in 2022.
ILD 2023 Campaign:
On ILD 2023, the #ImALifelongLearner campaign was organised to share the literacy learning story.
• The campaign serves as a reminder that the right to education is a right to lifelong learning that
knows no age limits.
UNESCO International Literacy Prizes (ILP):
On the occassion of ILD 2023(on 8th September 2023), UNESCO announced the winner of UNESCO
International Literacy Prizes (ILP) which reward excellence and innovation in the field of literacy around the
world to promote effective and innovative practices and encourage dynamic literate societies.
• Currently, there are 2 UNESCO ILPs, The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (3 awards) and The
UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 awards).
• UNESCO has awarded its 2023 ILPs to 6 outstanding innovative literacy programmes from
Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Finland, Pakistan, South Africa, and Uganda during ceremony held
in Paris, France.
UNESCO ILP:
i.Since 1967, UNESCO ILP has recognised 512 projects and programmes undertaken by governments, Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and individuals around the world.
iiUNESCO seeks to support effective literacy practices and encourages the promotion of dynamic literate
societies thorugh these awards.
Winners of 2023 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize:
• The GraphoGame programme by the GraphoGame organization (Finland) for its collection of top-
tier literacy games in 14 different languages attracting over 5 million users.
• The Himalayan Literacy Network (Pakistan), is an NGO that brings quality preschool and primary
education closer to remote Bakarwal communities.

• The ‘Africa e-Library project’ by Snapplify (South Africa), a leading edtech company offering digital
learning solutions for individuals and institutions.
About UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize:
i.Established in 1989, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, it gives special
consideration to mother language-based literacy development.
• Each of the 3 prize winners receives a medal, a diploma, and USD 20,000.
ii.Purpose: To reward the efforts of institutions, organizations, or individuals for their contribution to the fight
against illiteracy in commemoration of King Sejong who invented the Korean alphabet.
Winners of 2023 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy:
• The ‘Empowering remote and climate vulnerable communities with digital literacy’ Programme by
Friendship (Bangladesh).
• The ‘My Very Own Library: Cultivating a culture of reading in the homes of children in the
Dominican Republic’ Programme by Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (Dominican
Republic).
• The ‘Peaceful Communities’ Programme by Uganda National Self-Advocacy Initiative (Uganda) is a
peer-led organization for individuals with psycho-social disabilities in the rural Kayunga District of
Uganda.
About UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy:
i.Established in 2005, with the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, it gives special
consideration to functional literacy, leveraging technological environments, in support of adults in rural areas
and out-of-school youth.
• Each prize winner receives a medal, a diploma, and USD 30,000.
ii.Purpose: To honour outstanding programmes of institutions, organizations, and individuals in view of
supporting effective literacy practices and promoting dynamic literate societies.
World Physical Therapy Day 2023- September 8

World Physical Therapy (PT) Day, also known as World Physiotherapy Day, is annually observed across
the globe on 8th September to raise awareness about the importance of physical therapy and the role it plays
in improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals across the globe.
• This day is an opportunity to recognise and honour the contributions made by physical therapists,
also known as physiotherapists, towards keeping people fit, mobile, and healthy.
The 2023 campaign theme of World Physical Therapy Day is “Arthritis and the Role of Physiotherapists”.
• The theme highlights different forms of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and
axial spondyloarthritis
Note: This follows the 2022 theme which focused on “Osteoarthritis”.
Background:
In 1996, the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) designated 8th September as World PT Day to
honours the world’s physiotherapy community’s togetherness and unity.
The WCPT was rebranded as World Physiotherapy in 2020.
Why September 8?
The date, 8th September, marks the day on which WCPT was founded in 1951.
• WCPT came into being at its inaugural meeting on 8th September 1951 at the Ingeniørhuset
Restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark.
World PT Day 2023 Toolkit:
i.The toolkit for World PT Day 2023 includes information sheets, posters, banners, and an activities guide.
ii.All the materials of World PT Day 2023 are aimed at the general public and promote the role of
physiotherapists in the prevention of arthritis, including some forms of inflammatory arthritis, and in the
management of people affected by arthritis.
iii.The materials are available now in a range of languages. There is also a resource list for facts and additional

reading for physiotherapists.
Observance in India:
i.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment(MoSJ&E), Government of India (GoI) serves as a central authority for advancing the
development agenda for Persons with Disabilities(PwD) in India.
ii.DEPwD announced its participation in World Physiotherapy Day on September 8, 2023, to raise awareness
about the importance of physiotherapy among the general population.
• This significant observance featured a series of nationwide events conducted by affiliated
institutions.
About World Physiotherapy:
World Physiotherapy is the operating name of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, a registered
charity in the United Kingdom (UK).
President– Michel Landry
Chief Executive Officer– Jonathon Kruger
Headquarters– London, the United Kingdom (UK)
Founded in– 1951
Himalaya Diwas 2023 – September 9

Himalaya Diwas, also known as the Himalayan Day is annually observed across India, especially in the state
of Uttarakhand on 9th September with the aim of conserving the Himalayan ecosystem and region.
• The day also aims to raise awareness among the general public and bring community participation
in conservation activities to save and maintain the Himalayas and mountain nature.
9th September 2023 marks the 14th edition of Himalaya Diwas.
Background:
i.Himalaya Day, initiated on September 9, 2010, was a significant step towards acknowledging the importance
of the Himalayan region. While the government initially expressed interest in this attempt, progress on the
matter has been slow.
ii.In 2014, Harish Rawat, the then Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand officially declared the 9th September of
every year as the ‘Himalaya Diwas’.
• He also announced that the day would be celebrated by the Government of Uttarakhand as well.
iii.In 2015, Harish Rawat officially declared government recognition for Himalaya Day, following a proposal by
Ajay Bhatt, a senior BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition.
iv.The first-ever Himalaya Diwas was celebrated on 9th September 2015.
Significance:
i.The day is celebrated to tell the importance of the Himalayas, often referred to as the “Mountain King“.
ii.Himalaya Day is celebrated to stop indiscriminate exploitation of the region’s natural resources,
deforestation, shrinking glaciers, river depletion, and pollution reaching the Himalayas under any
circumstances.
About the Himalayas:
i.The name of the mountain range, Himalaya, originally came from the world Himā-laya, which means ‘Abode of
Snow’ in Sanskrit.
ii.It is a spectacular range of mountains located in the subtropical high-pressure belt region of the Earth,
encompasses parts of eight South Asian territories of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma).
iii.Running from west-northwest to east-southeast, the crescent-shaped Himalayan range is 2500 kilometers
long, with the western anchor in Nanga Parbat and the eastern anchor in Namcha Barwa.
iv.The northern Himalayas is bordered by the Karakoram Mountains and the Hindu Kush Mountains.

Peaks:
i.The Himalayas is the highest mountain range in the world and has 9 out of 10 of the world’s highest peaks,
including Mount Everest, which is the highest of the Himalayas mountain.
ii.The 10 peaks exceeding 8000 meters in elevation in the Himalaya ranges, namely Mount Everest (~8848
meters), Kangchenjunga (~8586 meters), Lhotse (8516 meters), Makalu (8485 meters), Cho Oyu (8281
meters), Dhaulagiri (8167 meters), Manaslu (8163 meters), Nanga Parbat (8126 meters), Annapurna (8100
meters), Shishapangma (8064 meters).
iii.These mountains, referred to as the Third Pole, are the source of some of Asia’s major rivers and also help to
regulate the planet’s climate.
• Moreover, there are 40 mountains over 7000 meters above sea level. That’s why the Himalayas is
the highest mountain range on Earth.
Flora and Fauna:
i.The Himalayan region, with its diverse climatic conditions, is home to many uncommon, endemic, and
endangered species of flora and fauna.
ii.The number of plant species in the Himalayas is estimated at 25,000, 10% of the world’s known species, and
50% of India’s endemic flora.
iii.The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) itself boasts 832 plant species, representing 128 families and
427 genera, and comprising 26% of the total flora of Himachal Pradesh.
Some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Indian Himalayas:
• Darjeeling Mountain Railways (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway), West Bengal- (Cultural UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1999).
• Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand (Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1988).
• Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (First site in India of Mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site in
2016).
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985).
• Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), Himachal Pradesh (Natural UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 2014).
2023 Events:
i.The 14th edition of Himalaya Diwas was observed on 9th September 2023, at Gandhi Park, Dehradun
(Uttrakhand), where environmental groups organised a ‘Himalaya aur Hum’ rally and other programmes.
• The 2023 celebrations focused on escalating Himalayan disasters through songs, discussions, and
debates.
ii.Padma awardee Dr. Anil P. Joshi, founder of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation
Organisation (HESCO) emphasised the need for “Sustainable development methods,” to protect the Himalayas.
iii.On September 9, 2023, Pushkar Sigh Dhami, CM of Uttarakhand greeted the people of Uttarakhand, on
Himalaya Day and emphasised the Himalayas as the basis of water, life and environment.
World First Aid Day 2023 – September 9

World First Aid Day is annually observed across the globe on the 2nd Saturday of September to create
awareness about the importance of first aid training in saving lives and preventing injuries.
The day also aims to encourage the general public to learn basic first-aid skills.
World First Aid Day 2023 was observed on 9th September 2023.
• World First Aid Day 2022 was observed on 10th September 2022 and World First Aid
Day 2024 will be observed on 14th September 2024.
The theme of World First Aid Day 2023 is “First Aid in the Digital World”.
• The theme promotes the utilisation of digital tools (mobile apps and online videos/courses) and
resources that support first aid education.

Background:
i.In 2000, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) declared the 2nd
Saturday of every year as World First Aid Day.
ii.The first-ever World First Aid Day was observed on 9th September 2000.
History of First Aid:
i.During the battle of Solferino in 1859, Henry Dunant, a businessman from Geneva helped the wounded
soldiers and lobbied political leaders to protect the war victims.
ii.Later, he co-founded the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) dedicated to providing first aid
assistance and promoting its importance across the globe.
Note: The incident of the battle of Solferino inspired Henry Dunant also inspired him to write a book titled “A
Memory of Solferino” which details his experience.
What is First Aid?
First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the
location where it occurred.
The process of First aid often consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and requires little technology or
training to administer.
Importance of First Aid:
• First aid relieves pain and prevents infections and their chances.
• First aid reduces Recovery Time and saves healthcare costs.
• It is stated that around 150000 lives are lost due to lack of first aid.
About the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC):
Secretary General– Jagan Chapagain
Established in 1863
International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2023- September 9

The United Nations (UN) International Day to Protect Education from Attack is annually observed across
the globe on 9th September, to raise awareness about the pressing issue of attacks on schools, students,
education personnel, and teachers worldwide.
9th September 2023 marks the observance of the 4th International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
Significance:
• The day also aims to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected
by conflict.
• The day serves as a reminder to signify the importance of safeguarding schools as places of
protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the
public agenda.
Background:
i.On 28 May 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/275 and
proclaimed the 9th September of every year as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
• The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62
countries.
ii.The annual observance of the Day is facilitated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in close
collaboration with partners within and outside the UN system.
iii.The first-ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack was observed on 9th September 2020.
Need to Protect Education from Attack:
i.Places of education should be safe havens for children, students, and education personnel. However, out of
school, children are easy targets and direct targets of abuse and exploitation.

ii.The day serves as a reminder that children and youth continue to face conflict, violence, and disruption to
their education, undermining their right to learn and thrive in a peaceful and nurturing environment.
iii.According to national education targets, the percentage of students attaining basic reading skills by the end
of primary school is projected to rise from 51% in 2015 to 67% by 2030.
• However, an estimated 300 million children and young people will still lack basic numeracy and
literacy skills by 2030.
Safe Schools Declaration (SSD):
i.The Safe Schools Declaration was introduced in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015. It’s an inter-governmental
political commitment to safeguarding students, teachers, schools, and universities in the midst of armed
conflicts.
ii.Its objectives extend beyond protection to ensure that education can persevere during times of war and to
actively discourage the military use of schools.
iii.The Declaration is a framework for collaboration and exchange, and endorsing countries meet regularly to
review the Declaration’s implementation.
• Currently, 118 States have endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, and Zambia was the 118th state to
endorse the SSD.
Six Grave Violations:
i.The six grave violations serve as the basis to gather information and report on violations affecting children
and are:
• Killing and maiming of children;
• Recruitment or use of children as soldiers;
• Sexual violence against children;
• Abduction of children;
• Attacks against schools or hospitals;
• Denial of humanitarian access for children.
ii.In August 2023, the Government of Ukraine signed a joint prevention plan with the support of the UN to end
and prevent grave violations against children.
Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA):
i.GCPEA is a unique inter-agency coalition formed in 2010 to address the problem of targeted attacks on
education during armed conflict.
ii.UNESCO is a core member of GCPEA and remains committed to raising awareness and contributing to policy
dialogue; deepening research on effective prevention and response strategies.
Key Points:
i.According to the UN Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict published on 5th June
2023:
• In 2022, children continued to be disproportionately affected by armed conflict, and the number
affected by grave violations increased compared with 2021.
• From January to December 2022, there was a 112% increase in attacks on schools (1,163) and
hospitals (647), particularly in Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Israel, the State of Palestine, Myanmar, Mali
and Afghanistan.
• In Afghanistan, the UN verified 95 attacks (72 on schools; and 23 on hospitals), including attacks on
protected persons.
• While non-state armed groups were responsible for 50% of grave violations, government forces
were the main perpetrators of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals,
and the denial of humanitarian access.
ii.According to GCPEA, Over 14,500 reports of attacks on education or military use of educational facilities were
recorded worldwide between 2017 and 2022.
• More than 28,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in such attacks
carried out in situations of armed conflict or insecurity.

2023 Events:
i.To mark the 4th International Day to Protect Education from Attack, a main High-Level Observance is co-
organized by UNESCO, the State of Qatar, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, UNICEF, and the United
Nations Department of Global Communications.
• The event will take place on 13 September 2023, at the UN Headquarters in New York, the United
States of America.
• This event is part of a week-long commemoration dedicated to galvanizing action to safeguard
education, focusing on the theme of “Justice for Victims“.
ii.On 11 September 2023, in parallel with the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva
(Switzerland) hosted a high-level commemoration at the Palais des Nations, Switzerland.
• The event delved into actionable steps to prevent and mitigate the devastating impact of attacks on
education. A key focus was the endorsement and implementation of the SSD.
Director-General – Ms. Audrey Azoulay
Founded in– 1945
World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 – September 10

World Suicide Prevention Day is annually observed across the globe on 10th September to create awareness
that suicide can be prevented and to bring attention to the issues of suicide and reduce the stigma around
suicide.
• The annual observance is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
and co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation(WHO).
The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021-2023 is “Creating Hope Through Action”.
• This theme calls for action and a reminder that there’s an alternative to suicide.
Background:
i.The International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the WHO established the World
Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) in 2003.
ii.The first-ever WSPD was successfully launched in Stockholm, on 10th September 2003.
WSPD Symbols:
Symbol: The suicide awareness symbol is ‘;’ a semicolon.
• The semicolon indicates a pause in a sentence where the writer could have chosen to end it but
instead decided to continue.
Ribbon: The two-toned “orange and yellow” ribbon, which represents the light of a candle flame, is used as the
universal suicide prevention awareness ribbon.
Key Points:
i.Suicide is a major public health problem with far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences.
ii.Annually, around 7 lakh people die by suicide and for each suicide, there are likely more than 20 suicide
attempts.
iii.Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among people aged 15–29-year.
77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
India’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy:
i.India launched the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) on 21st November 2022.
ii.This is the 1st policy in India to make suicide prevention a public health priority.
iii.This aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030 compared with 2020.

About the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP):
President– Professor Rory O’Connor
Headquarters– Washington DC, The United States of America(USA)
Established in 1960
National Forest Martyrs Day 2023- September 11

The National Forest Martyrs Day is annually observed across India on 11th September to remember, and
honour people who sacrificed their lives to protect forests and Wildlife in India that are important for the well-
being of the planet.
• The day is also observed as an annual commemoration of the Khejarli massacre in 1730.
Background:
i.In 2013, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India (GoI)
officially declared the 11th of September of every year as National Forest Martyrs Day.
• The day is observed to recognise the infamous Khejarli Massacre of 1730 took place in Khejarli,
Rajasthan.
ii.Since 2013, September 11th has been an annual commemoration of the Khejarli massacre known as National
Forest Martyrs Day.
About Khejarli Masaacre:
i.In 1730, under the order of Abhay Singh, the Maharaja of Marwar (Jodhpur, Rajasthan), a royal party led by
Minister Giridhar Bhandari went to the Khejarli village of Rajasthan to cut down the Khejarli trees for wood.
ii.However, the people of the Bishnoi Community were against this order. Over 360 people of the Bishnoi tribe
led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi and her daughters, objected to the felling of trees.
iii.They protested to save the trees and this led to the massacre of more than 360 Bishnois, along with Amrita
Devi Bishnoi and her daughters, who all volunteered to save the trees.
Khejri Tree:
i.The Khejri tree (Prosopis cineraria) holds a historic significance in the Bishnoi community and culture,
recognizing its significance in their survival, and their beliefs prohibit the harming of trees and animals.
ii.It is the most dominant tree in western Rajasthan. Khejri, “Pride of the desert” or “Kalpvriksha of Thar” was
declared the State tree of Rajasthan in 1982-83.
iii.As the Khejri tree has been traditionally protected by the Bishnois of Rajasthan, for the remarkable
phenomenon in the field of conservation, both of vegetation and soil.
iv.The Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communication released a Commemorative type stamp on
the occasion of World Environment Day on 5th June 1988, and the Khejri tree was used as the theme of the
stamp.
Kherjri Massacre, an inspiration to Chipko Movement:
i.The 1730 Khejri massacre became the inspiration behind the Chipko Movement, which can be essentially
called a Women’s movement.
• The first Chipko movement occurred near the village of Mandal in Uttar Pradesh in 1973 and was
led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt, an environmentalist and Gandhian social activist and the founder of the
cooperative organisation Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh.
ii.Chipko (“to hug” in Hindi) movement is a non-violent demonstration aiming to protect India’s forests and
other natural resources in the Himalayan region.
iii.The demonstrators hugged trees to save them from being cut down, giving the movement the name “chipko”
2023 Events:
To commemorate the foresters, who had laid down their lives to protect forests and wildlife, National Forest
Martyrs Day was observed on 11th September, 2023 at Forester Memorial, Brandis Road, Forest Research
Institute (FRI), Dehradun campus in Uttarakhand.

About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC):
Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha- Rajasthan)
Minister of State– Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency- Buxar, Bihar)
International Day for South-South Cooperation 2023- September 12

The United Nations (UN) International Day for South-South Cooperation is annually observed across the
globe on 12th September, to highlight the importance of cooperation among people and economic and
technical cooperation among countries of the developing world, known as the Global South.
• South-South Cooperation (SSC) refers to the technical cooperation among developing countries in
the Global South.
The 2023 theme of the International Day for South-South Cooperation is, “Solidarity, Equity, and
Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs”.
• The theme highlights the importance of SSC in achieving the UN 2030 agenda of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Background:
i.On 23rd December 2003, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/58/220
and proclaimed the 19th December of every year as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.
ii.The first-ever UN Day for SSC was observed on 19th December 2004.
Why December 19?
It was on that date, that the UNGA endorsed the Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co-
operation among Developing Countries (TCDC), known as the “Buenos Aires Plan of Action” (BAPA).
Change in the date of Observance:
In 2011, the UNGA decided to change the observance of the International Day for SSC from 19th December
to 12th September, to mark the date in 1978, when the UN Conference of the Global South on TCDC adopted
the BAPA for Promoting and Implementing TCDC, one of the main pillars for SSC.
• On 12 September 1978, UN conference of the Global South on TCDC was held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
South-South Cooperation (SSC):
i.It is done through a broad framework of collaboration among countries of the South in the political, economic,
social, cultural, environmental and technical domains.
ii.Involving two or more developing countries, it can take place on a bilateral, regional, intraregional or
interregional basis.
iii.Through SSC, developing countries share knowledge, skills, expertise and resources to meet their
development goals through concerted efforts.
2023 Events:
i.A High-level Panel Discussion was organised by United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC),
together with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in its capacity of Chair of the High-Level
Committee on SSC 2023-2025 on 12th September 2023 in New York, the United States of America.
• The event highlighted the needs emerging from various regions as well as to present
transformational initiatives designed to address the most acute priorities of the 2023 Agenda.
ii.UNDP and Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) launched the report
“Harnessing the Role of Private Sector in Waste Management through SSC for Inclusive Urbanization”.
iii.Rwanda Cooperation in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WFP organised a Plenary regarding the South-South and Triangular
cooperation.
iv.In 2023, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) partnered with the governments of Brazil, China and
India to launch new programmes to establish the role of SSC in supporting countries to meet their development
goals and to the achievement of the SDGs.

About United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC):
i.In 1974, the UNGA endorsed “the establishment of a special unit within the UNDP, to promote technical co-
operation among developing countries.”
ii.Its name was changed to United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) by a High-level
Committee decision on 2 April 2012.
Director– Dima Al-Khatib
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
World Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Day 2023- September 7

World Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Day also known as World Duchenne Awareness Day (WDAD) is
annually observed across the globe on 7th September, to increase awareness of Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder affecting muscles.
• WDAD also raises awareness and inspires action to improve the lives of people living with Duchenne
and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DMD/BMD).
The 2023 theme of World Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Day theme is “Duchenne: Breaking Barriers“.
• 7th September 2023 marks the observance of the 10th World Duchenne Awareness Day.
Background:
i.In 2014, Elizabeth Vroom, the Chair and Cofounder of the World Duchenne Organization (WDO); and Nicoletta
Madia, the Community Coordinator of the WDO, initiated the observance of World Duchenne Awareness Day to
raise global awareness about DMD.
• WDO, formerly known as the United Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (UPPMD) is a Netherland-
based global umbrella organization of national patient organizations established in 2000.
• WDO represents persons with Duchenne and their families worldwide.
ii.The first-ever World Duchenne Awareness Day was celebrated in 2014.
iii.Since 2014, the day has become a worldwide movement with participants from across the globe.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy(DMD):
i.Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is named after Dr. Duchenne de Boulogne, a French neurologist who
was one of the first to report the disease in detail in the 1860s.
ii.DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness due to the
alterations of a protein called ‘dystrophin’ that helps keep muscle cells intact.
• Approximately 1 in every 5.000 boys is born with the disease. It is caused by a mutation on the X-
chromosome, this is why only a few girls are affected.
Symptoms:
• The initial sign of a problem is difficulty in walking. Then, other motor functions follow until it
ultimately affects the ability to breathe as well as the function of the heart, as the heart is a muscle
too.
• The missing protein has a role in brain function, potentially causing learning and behavioural issues.
About Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD):
Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is one of nine types of muscular dystrophies, a group of genetic,
degenerative diseases primarily affecting voluntary muscles.
• BMD is named after German doctor Peter Emil Becker, who first described this variant of DMD in the
1950s.
Note:
DMD/BMD are both X-linked recessive disorders. Both conditions are caused by mutations in
the dystrophin gene, which encodes the protein dystrophin. BMD has a later onset and milder symptoms
compared to DMD.
2023 Observance in India:
i.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), commemorated World Duchenne

Muscular Dystrophy Day on 7th September 2023, with the vision aimed at raising awareness about Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
• The DEPwD under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJE) is the central authority
overseeing the development agenda for Persons with Disabilities across India.
ii.The DEPwD conducted a series of events at more than 50 locations across India to create awareness among
people all over India through the institutions associated with it.
• The events included Seminars and Webinars, Awareness Programmes, Quiz Competition
Distribution of Aids, and Appliances Physical Screening Camp Rally.
Hindi Diwas 2023 – September 14

Hindi Diwas (Hindi Day) is annually observed across India on 14th September to commemorate the adoption
or declaration of Hindi, written in the Devanagari script as one of the official languages of India.
• This day is observed to celebrate and recognise the linguistic diversity of India, with a focus on the
Hindi language’s significance in India’s identity.
Background:
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister(PM) of Independent India proclaimed the 14th September of
every year as the Hindi Diwas to commemorate the adoption of Hindi as official langaugae of India on 14th
September 1949.
• The first ever Hindi Diwas was observed on 14th September 1953.
Significance of 14th September:
i.On 14th September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi as the official language of India.
ii.The date, also marks the birth anniversary of Beohar Rajendra Simha(14th September 1900), an acclaimed
Indian scholar, historian, theologian, littérateur, polyglot and Hindi-stalwart.
• He played a major role in making Hindi as the official language of India. He is also known for the
illustrations in the original final manuscript of the Constitution of India.
Official language of India:
i.Indian Parliament passed the Official Language Act, 1963. According to that English is the other language that
holds associated official status in addition to Hindi.
• English is extensively used for official and administrative purposes.
ii.The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 official languages of the Republic of India (Hindi is one
among them).
iii.Further, Article 351 of the Constitution addresses the ‘Directive for the Development of the Hindi Language.’
• It shall be the Union’s duty to promote the spread of the Hindi language and to develop it so that it
may serve as a medium of expression for all elements of India’s composite culture.
Key Points:
i.The Government of India (GoI) is making all efforts to promote the use of Hindi in politics and diplomacy and
raise the stature of the language globally.
ii.In 2018, the GoI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations (UN) to increase the
volume and frequency of Hindi content produced by the UN to serve Hindi language audiences around the
world.
• The UN, later also launched Hindi versions of its social media content on Twitter, Facebook, and
Instagram.
iii.Most government websites are bilingual now, Hindi and English. However, the websites of organisations
such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), and even the National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB) are open in Hindi by default.
Parliamentary Committee on Official Language:
i.In 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to provide a list
of government institutions located in foreign countries.

ii.The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was constituted to periodically review the work done in
the official language.
iii.Its primary responsibility is to assess the progress of Hindi language adoption in government operations
nationwide. The committee compiles a report and presents it to the President.
• The 12th volume of this report has been presented to the President. Only 9 of the report volumes
were submitted up to 2014, while 3 have been submitted in the last 4 years.
Awards Schemes for Hindi:
i.The Department of Official Language under the MHA introduced an award scheme named
‘Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar Scheme‘, to encourage writing books originally in Hindi and to promote the
official language.
ii.The Department of Language also introduced the award scheme ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Piraskar‘, to encourage
the implementation of the official language.
• These awards were conferred at the Hindi Diwas on 14th September annually to
the Ministries/Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), Nationalised Banks, Boards/Autonomous
Bodies/Trusts, etc., and in-house Hindi Magazine.
Key Highlights:
i.Since 2019, Hindi Advisory Committees have been established in all 59 ministries. These committees convene
regular meetings to promote the use of the official language in government affairs.
ii.A total of 528 Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLICs) have been formed to enhance
the use of the official language in various regions across India.
• India has extended its efforts globally, with TOLICs established in London, Singapore, Fiji, Dubai, and
Port-Louis.
iii.Department of Official Language has initiated the ‘All India Official Language Conference.’ The inaugural
conference took place in Banaras, Uttar Pradesh on November 13-14, 2021. The 2nd conference was held in
Surat, Gujarat on September 14, 2022.
• In 2023, the 3rd conference is scheduled to be held in Pune, Maharashtra.
New Initiatives of the Department of Official Language:
i.To align the official language with technology, the Department introduced the ‘Kanthastha‘ memory-based
translation system.
ii.The innovative ‘Hindi Shabd Sindhu‘ dictionary by the Department continuously expands, encompassing
words from Indian languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
iii.The ‘e-Mahashabdkosh‘ mobile app offers access to a vast repository of 90,000 words. An ‘e-Saral‘
dictionary, comprising approximately 9,000 sentences, facilitates language learning.
About Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA):
The Department of Official Language was set up in June 1975 as an independent Department of the MHA.
Union Minister– Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)
Ministers of State– Nityanand Rai; Ajay Kumar Mishra; Nisith Pramanik
International Day of Democracy 2023- September 15

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Democracy is annually observed across the globe on 15th
September to highlight the significance of democracy and to create awareness among the people about
democratic rights.
The day also offers a platform to review the the state of democracy in the world.
The theme of International Day of Democracy 2023 observed on 15th September 2023 is “Empowering the
next generation.”
The 2023 theme focus on the role of the children and young people in advancing democracy and
ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world.

Background:
i.On 8th November 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/62/7 and
proclaimed the 15th September of every year as the International Day of Democracy.
ii.The first International Day of Democracy was observed on 15 September 2008.
Why September 15?
i.On 15th September 1997, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organisation of National
parliaments, adopted the Universal Declaration on Democracy.
ii.This declaration outlined the fundamental principles of democracy, emphasising values such as participation,
transparency, and accountability.
iii.The IPU suggested that the occasion be celebrated on September 15 to commemorate the adoption of the
Universal Declaration on Democracy.
Significance:
i.The word democracy comes from two Greek words: demos, which means “the people”, and kratein, which
means “to rule”.
ii.Democracy is a universally recognized ideal and is one of the core values and principles of the UN. Democracy
provides an environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.
According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Freedom of expression is a
fundamental human right.
iii.UN activities in support of democracy are carried out through the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), and the
Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), among others.
The UNDEF finances projects that empower civil society, promote human rights and encourage the
participation of all groups in democratic processes.
Democracy and Young Generations:
i.Promoting an engaged and well-educated electorate is the cornerstone of robust democratic societies.
ii.Ensuring that young people not only understand the democratic process but also believe that their voices
truly matter is of greatest importance.
iii.Young individuals are faced with navigating a complex landscape where democracies confront various
threats. These challenges include:
Online Mis- and Disinformation
Rising Populism
Climate Crisis
iv.Addressing the challenges they face and promoting their participation can create a more resilient and
inclusive democratic society for generations to come.
Note:
The World Bank has projected that: by the time today’s teenage climate activists reach their late 20s,
climate change could force an additional 100 million people into the depths of extreme poverty.
According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, climate change could lead to an extra 20%
rise in malnourished children by 2050.
2023 Events:
i.The 2023 International Democracy Day was commemorated with a live event at the Sponsored Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) Pavilion, North Lawn at UN Headquarters in New York, the United States of America
(USA).
The event, organized by the UNDEF under the umbrella of the UN Office for Partnerships, serves as a
platform to unite civil society representatives, UN officials, and climate activists.
ii.An event ‘Inclusive Democracy for Sustainable Development‘, was organized on 15th September 2023, to
deepen the understanding between inclusive democracy, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and
the forthcoming SDG Summit.

The event was organized by the intergovernmental organization International Institute for Democracy
and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in partnership with the Global Democracy Coalition
and the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN.
About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):
President and Head of Executive Committee– Duarte Pacheco
National Engineer’s Day 2023- September 15

National Engineer’s Day is annually observed across India on 15th September to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (15 September 1861), who is considered as
one of the greatest Engineers in India.
This day also honours engineers for their vital role in shaping society and recognizes the contributions
made by engineers to India’s development through innovation and technology.
The theme of National Engineer’s Day 2023 observed on 15th September 2023 is, ‘Engineering for a
Sustainable Future,’ which highlights engineers’ role in addressing global challenges.
Note: Apart from India, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania also celebrate Engineers’ Day on September 15, to honour Sir
Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s contribution to their respective countries.
Background:
i.In 1968, the Government of India (GoI) declared the birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, as
National Engineers’ Day.
ii.Since then, National Engineers’ Day has been celebrated in India on September 15th each year as a tribute to
his legacy and acknowledges the contributions made by engineers to India’s growth and development.
About Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya:
i.Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861, in Muddenahalli village in Karnataka, and
is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of engineering in India.
He is also referred to as Sir MV and the ‘Father of Modern Mysore‘ for his major contributions to
society.
He was also called the “Precursor of economic planning in India”, according to the Institution of
Engineers India (IEI).
ii.From 1912 to 1918, he served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore(now Mysuru, Karnataka). He was the Chief
Engineer responsible for the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam in Mysore.
iii.He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in recognition of his achievements
and contribution to Indian society in 1911.
iv.He designed and patented automatic water floodgates in 1903, which were first installed at the Khadakwasla
reservoir, in Pune (Maharashtra).
Awards:
i.In 1955, the GoI honoured him with ‘Bharat Ratna‘ for his significant contributions in the field of engineering
and for his service to the nation.
ii.He was also knighted as a Knight Commander of the British Indian Empire (KCIE) by King George V, which
put the honourific ‘Sir’ before his name.
As a mark of respect, in the memory of Sir M V, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FKCCI) instituted an Annual Award in 1999 to recognize people who have made
outstanding contributions to the economic and social development of Karnataka.
Books:
Reconstructing India (1920); Planned Economy for India (1934); Memoirs of My Working Life (1951).
About Institution of Engineers India (IEI):
IEI was incorporated under the Royal Charter on 9th September 1935 by the then His Majesty King George V.
After Independence(1947), IEI became a “Body Corporate” protected under Article 372 of the Constitution of

India and is administered by a National Council.
President– Er. Shivanand Roy
Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal
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.
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).
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
World Patient Safety Day 2023- September 17

World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Patient Safety Day is annually observed worldwide on 17
September to spread worldwide awareness about patient safety and promote actions to improve the
safety of healthcare practices across the world.
• The theme of WPSD 2023 observed on 17th September 2023 is “Engaging patients for patient
safety“.
• The slogan of WPSD 2023 is “Elevate the voice of patients!”.
The 2023 theme emphasises the pivotal role patients, families, and caregivers play in ensuring the safety
of healthcare practices.
Background:
i.World Patient Safety Day was established in May 2019 by the 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA)
through the adoption of resolution WHA72.6, “Global action on patient safety”.
ii.The resolution recognizes patient safety as a global health priority and endorses the establishment of
World Patient Safety Day to be observed annually on 17 September.
iii.The first WPSD was observed on 17 September 2019.
Note: The 3rd WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm, was launched in 2017 as a
multiyear initiative with the goal of reducing severe, avoidable medication-related harm globally by 50%
over a period of 5 years

Objective:
The primary objectives of the World Patient Safety Plan are to increase public awareness and engagement,
enhance global understanding, and work towards global solidarity and action by Member States to
enhance Patient Safety, and reduce patient harm.
WHO’s Flagship Initiative:
i.WHO established a flagship initiative entitled “A Decade of Patient Safety 2020-2030” in February 2020.
This is in line with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.A Decade of Patient Safety 2020-2030, the Patient Safety Flagship is a transformative initiative to
address the global call and to guide and support strategic action on patient safety at the global, regional,
and national levels.
iii.Its core work involves supporting the implementation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–
2030.
Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030:
i.The 74th WHA in 2021 approved the decision WHA74.13 to adopt the Global Patient Safety Action Plan
2021–2030 with a vision of “a world in which no one is harmed in health care, and every patient receives
safe and respectful care, every time, everywhere”.
ii.It provides a framework for countries to develop their respective national action plans on patient safety,
as well as to align existing strategic instruments for improving patient safety in all clinical and health-
related programmes.
iii.The goal is “to achieve the maximum possible reduction in avoidable harm due to unsafe health care
globally”.
Significance:
i.WPSD is firmly grounded in the fundamental principle of medicine, “first do no harm”.
ii.Patient safety is defined as “the absence of preventable harm to a patient and reduction of risk of
unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum.”
Key Facts:
According to the WHO’s facts on patient safety,
• Around 1 in every 10 patients is harmed in health care and more than 3 million deaths occur
annually due to unsafe care.
• In Low-to-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), as many as 4 in 100 people die from unsafe care.
• Above 50% of harm (1 in every 20 patients) is preventable; half of this harm is attributed to
medications.
• Patient harm potentially reduces global economic growth by 0.7% a year. On a global scale, the
indirect cost of harm amounts to trillions of USD each year.
2023 Events:
As a part of the observance of WPSD 2023, WHO organised a Global Conference entitled “Engaging
Patients for Patient Safety” in Geneva, Switzerland on 12 and 13 September 2023 to promote
collaboration, identify best practices, and pave the way for their widespread implementation across
various healthcare settings.
NATHEALTH & NABH Signed MoU to Enhance Patient Safety and quality Healthcare across India
On the occasion of WPSD 2023, NATHEALTH, Healthcare Federation of India, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers
(NABH), to promote and enhance patient safety and improve healthcare quality.
• This collaboration represents a significant step to ensure patient safety and improve the quality
of healthcare services across India.

Note: NABH, a constituent Board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), is an autonomous body under the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry(MCI).
Objective:
i.The partnership aims to promote patient safety, enhance the quality of healthcare services, and drive
positive changes in the healthcare ecosystem.
ii.NATHEALTH and NABH by collaborating with their expertise and resources, aim to drive positive
changes that have a lasting impact on the healthcare sector.
Under this partnership, NABH and NATHEALTH will collaborate on various initiatives, including:
• Joint initiatives to enhance patient safety and quality healthcare practices.
• Jointly develop a white paper/ awareness module on patient safety outlining the best practices
around consumer safety measures and conduct a series of expert sessions to disseminate this
across healthcare caregivers and the broader health system.
• Jointly curated case studies, expert testimonials, and scientific materials and raise awareness
around patient safety in healthcare through patient-facing communication campaigns.
• Advocacy for policies and measures that support and enhance patient-centric care.
• Institutionalise an annual patient experience award and recognise the best practices in patient
safety across both public and private sectors.
Key Points:
Medical errors are a global concern, causing a substantial loss of lives each year. In India, these errors
contribute to approximately 122 deaths per 100,000 people, highlighting the urgent need for improved
care quality and safety measures.
World Bamboo Day 2023 – September 18

World Bamboo Day is annually observed across the globe on September 18 to create awareness about
bamboo and to bring the potential of bamboo to a more elevated exposure.
• The annual observance of World Bamboo Day is led by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO),
an international coordinating body for bamboo practitioners.
Significance of the observance:
• To protect natural resources and the environment.
• To ensure sustainable utilization.
• To promote new cultivation of bamboo for new industries in regions around the world.
• To promote traditional uses locally for community economic development.
Background:
i.In 2009, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, Thailand the World Bamboo Organisation
(WBO), with the support of the Royal Forest Department of Thailand, formally recognised 18th September
as World Bamboo Day.
• The observance was initiated by Kamalesh Salam from Assam who served as the President of
WBO from 2007 to 2009.
ii.Around 100 countries agreed to commemorate 18th September as World Bamboo Day.
iii.The 1st ever Bamboo Day was celebrated on 18th September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The 18th of September is annually observed as the Royal Thai Forest Day in Thailand.
About Bamboo:
i.The Bamboos (Bambusoidaea) consists of 1439 different species in 116 genera.
ii.It is one of the 12 subfamilies of the grass family (Poaceae) and one of the tallest species of the Poaceae
family.

iii.Bamboo is the world’s fastest producer of biomass and can be used for anything from the production of
paper or clothing.
iv.Some species spread aggressively and can form a dense undergrowth that excludes other plants.
v.Bamboos are distributed across the tropical and subtropical to mild temperate regions. Most species of
bamboo are native to Asia and the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Bamboo in India:
i.In India, the Indian Forest Act of 1927 declared bamboo as a tree which prohibited it from cutting and
transporting.
ii.Later in 2017, the amendment of section 2(7) declared bamboo is not a tree and does not require
permission for felling and transporting.
• Therefore, bamboo grown on private or homestead land by farmers does not require a felling
permission or transit permission.
UN Report on “Bamboo’s Role in the Shift to Bio-Based Building Materials”:
United Nations (UN) has unveiled a comprehensive report titled “Building Materials and the Climate:
Constructing a New Future” which highlights the role of bamboo in the transition to bio-based building
materials.
The report noted the importance of replacing traditional building materials such as legacy concrete and
steel with sustainable, renewable alternatives.
Key Points:
i.The report focuses on the importance of regulations that prevent practices like the clear-cutting of
forests to ensure the sustainability of bamboo sourcing.
ii.Bamboo’s potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly is its most significant contribution to
construction.
iii.The report stated that Bamboo’s versatility, rapid growth, ability to grow on degraded lands, and
carbon-reduction potential make it a perfect candidate for efforts towards mitigating climate change.
About World Bamboo Organisation(WBO):
WBO was initially founded as the “International Bamboo Association (IBA)” in 1992 and later renamed as
the “World Bamboo Organization”.
Executive director & CEO – Susanne Lucas
Headquarters –Boston, Massachusetts,United States of America(USA)
International Equal Pay Day 2023- September 18

The United Nations (UN) International Equal Pay Day is annually observed across the world on 18
September to represent the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal
value.
• The day also aligns with the UN’s commitment to human rights and the eradication of all forms
of discrimination, including gender-based disparities against women and girls.
18th September 2023 marks the observance of the 4th International Equal Pay Day.
Background:
i.On 18 December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution
A/RES/74/142 and proclaimed the 18th of September of every year as the International Equal Pay Day.
ii.The first-ever International Equal Pay Day was observed on 18 September 2020.
What is Gender Pay Gap?
The gender pay gap, also known as the gender wage gap, is a form of gender discrimination that is
widespread throughout the world.
• Women are generally paid around 20% less than men for the same job in a similar position
globally.

Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC):
i.The Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) is led by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UN
Women(UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), and the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
ii.The goal of the Coalition is to achieve equal pay for women and men everywhere.
iii.By bringing together a diverse set of actors with different areas of focus and expertise, EPIC supports
governments, employers, workers, and their organizations to make concrete and coordinated progress
toward this goal.
• EPIC is currently the only multi-stakeholder partnership working to reduce the gender pay gap
at the global, regional, and national levels.
Significance:
i.According to the OECD’s book titled “Joining Forces for Gender Equality, What is Holding us Back?”
(2023):
• By 2060, closing gaps in labour force participation and working hours could boost Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) by over 9% across OECD countries, adding about 0.23% points to
average annual growth.
• Almost 60% of public employees are women but they make up less than 40% of managers in
public employment.
ii.As per ILO and World Health Organisation(WHO), Women in the health and care sector face a larger
gender pay gap than in other economic sectors, earning an average of 24% less than peers who are men.
iii.As per the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)’s report on Care: Putting the Care Economy
in Place: Trade Unions in Action Around the World (2022), the ILO estimates that globally:
• Investing in universal childcare and long-term care would create 280 million jobs by 2030 and
another 19 million by 2035.
• It would boost the employment rate of women by 78%, and 84% of these jobs would be formal.
• An annual spend of 4% of total GDP would create millions of jobs that could be paid for, in part,
from tax earnings that would rise because of increased incomes and employment, reducing the
cost closer to 3% of GDP
iv.According to the data from UN Women:
• It is estimated that only 28% of women employed worldwide get to enjoy paid maternity leave.
• Globally, nearly 65% of people above retirement age without any regular pension are women.
2023 Events:
i.A High-Level Pledging Event was organised to mark International Equal Pay Day 2023 on September 18
2023 at the w. Westin New York Grand Central, the United States of America (USA).
• The event entitled: “Standing up for equal pay – celebrating achievements and understanding
challenges”, aimed to give countries an opportunity to make new equal pay pledges. It was
organized by the EPIC, which is led by the ILO, the UN Women, and the OECD.
ii.On the occasion of International Equal Pay Day, an OECD Emerging Markets Network (EMnet)- EPIC
webinar entitled ‘‘How companies can move the needle through the equal pay international coalition.” was
organized on 11th September 2023.
About UN Women:
Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the UN– Ms. Sima Sami Bahous
Headquarters– New York, USA
In July 2010, the UNGA created UN Women, the UN’s Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women.

World Water Monitoring Day 2023- September 18
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is annually observed across the globe on 18 September to raise
awareness about the significance of monitoring water sources regularly and to educate and recognise the
importance of protecting the world’s water resources.
Note: Every year, around 150 countries come together to honour WWMD on September 18.
Background:
i.World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) was proclaimed by America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as
an international outreach program in 2003.
• The outreach program is intended to educate and involve citizens in the protection of water
resources around the world.
ii.WWMD is officially celebrated on September 18. It was initially chosen to be a month later on October
18 to recognize the anniversary of the United States of America (US) Clean Water Act, which was enacted
by the US Congress in 1972 to restore and protect America’s water resources.
iii.The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA) coordinate
WWMD internationally.
iv.In 2009, the program introduced an extended monitoring period from March 22 until December 31 in
order to accommodate groups that wish to monitor at other times during the year.
Why changed from October 18 to September 18?
i.In 2007, organizers decided to move WWMD to September 18th. The reason for this change was to
encourage global participation, including regions where the month of October experiences freezing
temperatures.
ii.The shift to September has allowed participation from across the world, fostering a global commitment
to monitoring and preserving water resources.
EarthEcho Water Challenge:
The EarthEcho Water Challenge (formerly World Water Monitoring Challenge) is a program of EarthEcho
International that runs annually from March 22 (the United Nations World Water Day) through December
and equips anyone to protect the water resources we depend on every day.
Key Points:
i.According to the 2023 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR):
• Water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over the last 40 years and is
expected to grow at a similar rate through 2050.
• The overall global demand for water will continue to increase at an annual rate of about 1%,
resulting in an increase of between 20 to 30% by 2050, with a margin of error of more than
50%
ii.World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
(UNICEF) states that almost 2 billion people depend on healthcare facilities without basic water services.
iii.According to WHO, 80% of diseases worldwide are linked to poor water quality, making it crucial to
monitor water to prevent illnesses for future generations.
iv.According to the US Geological Survey:
• More than 68% of the fresh water on Earth is found in icecaps and glaciers, and just over 30% is
found in groundwater.
• Only about 0.3% of our freshwater is found in the surface water of lakes, rivers, and swamps.
• Of all the water on Earth, more than 99% of Earth’s water is unusable by humans and many
other living things.

About EarthEcho International (EarthEcho):
Executive Director– Mia DeMezza
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., USA
Founded in– 2005
International Week of Deaf People 2023- September 18 to 24

International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) is annually observed across the globe during the last full
week of September and concludes on the final Sunday of September. The IWDP week raises awareness
about the rights of people who are deaf or hard of hearing/hearing impaired.
• The IWPD 2023 is observed from 18 to 24 September 2023.
The IWDP 2022 was observed from 19 to 25 September 2022 and the IWDP 2024 will be observed
from 23 to 29 September 2024.
• The theme for IWDP 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign
Anywhere!”.
Objective:
IWDP aims to call for unity from the rest of the world through consistent, coordinated, and widespread
mobilisation to ensure that the campaigns are visible through sufficient media coverage.
Background:
i.The International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) is an initiative that was first launched by the World
Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958 in Rome, Italy.
ii.It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September to commemorate
the same month (23 September 1951), the first World Congress of the WFD was held.
iii.Each year the WFD promotes awareness of human rights and sign language of the respective Deaf
Communities worldwide by hosting a variety of events around the globe.
International Day of Sign Language (IDSL):
i.The United Nations (UN) IDSL is annually observed across the globe on 23rd September.
ii.IDSL was proposed by the WFD and it is a part of the observance of IWDP.
Note: WFD will celebrate the 2023 IDSL by highlighting their 200+ National sign languages.
Daily themes of IWDP 2023:
Date Theme
18 September
(Monday) Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children
19 September
(Tuesday) Building Capacity Across the Globe
20 September
(Wednesday) Realising “Nothing Without Us”
21 September
(Thursday) Putting Deaf People on the Agenda
22 September (Friday) Achieving Sign Language Rights for All
23 September International Day of Sign Languages: A World Where Deaf People
(Saturday) Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere
24 September (Sunday) Building Inclusive Deaf Communities

Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children:
i.The members of WFD approved the Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children at the WFD’s XXI General
Assembly in South Korea, in July 2023.
ii.This declaration contains 10 articles proclaiming the rights of all deaf children around the world.
iii.This declaration is an essential tool for promoting the rights of deaf children.
• Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children was one of the daily themes (18 September) of IWDP
2023.
Communication Supports of Hearing Impaired:
People who are hearing impaired use many communication supports to access audio information. They
also use these supports to interact with others. Some of the supports are:
• Sign Language (with interpretation for communicating with non-signers)
• Video Relay Service (VRS)
• Teletypewriter (TTY) technology
• Real-Time Captioning (RTC) for live events
• Closed captioning (for TV or movies)
About World Federation of the Deaf (WFD):
WFD is an international non-governmental organization representing Deaf people worldwide. It is a
federation of deaf organisations from 135 nations.
President– Dr Joseph J. Murray
Headquarters– Helsinki, Finland
Founded on– 23 September 1951
International Day of Peace 2023- September 21

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Peace also known as “World Peace Day” is annually
observed across the globe on 21 September and is dedicated to strengthening the principles of peace both
within and among all nations and peoples, advocating for 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
• The theme of International Day of Peace (IDP) 2023 observed on 21st September 2023 is
“Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals“.
The theme aims to recognise individual and collective roles in promoting peace. Fostering peace is
essentially tied to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the SDGs
will create a culture of peace for all.
Background:
i.In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the 3rd Tuesday of September as
International Day of Peace. This day coincided with the opening day of the regular annual sessions of the
General Assembly.
ii.The first IDP was observed on 21 September 1982 (3rd Tuesday of September 1982).
iii.In 2001, the UNGA declared 21 September of every year as an official date for the IDP. The day will
henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
• During the IDP, the UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities.
iv.The UN Peace bell is rung in the UN headquarters in New York City, the United States of America (USA),
to signal the call for global peace.
UN Peace Bell:
i.The Peace Bell, also known as the “Japanese Peace Bell”, was donated by the United Nations
Association (UNA) of Japan in June 1954.
ii.Chiyoji Nakagawa, the former counsellor of the UNA of Japan (UNAJ) proposed to build a Peace Bell as a
symbol of hope for peace.
iii.The bell was presented to the UN by Renzo Sawanda, Japanese observer to the UN, in 1954.

• The bell was cast from coins donated by delegates of 60 nations who attended the 13th General
Conference of the UNA held in Paris, France in 1951.
Note: The bell tower was modelled after the Hanamido (a small temple decorated with flowers) that
symbolises the place where Buddha was born.
Tradition of Ringing Bell:
i.The Japanese Peace Bell is traditionally rung twice a year:
• On the first day of spring, at the Vernal Equinox, in celebration of the annual Earth Day.
• On 21 September to celebrate the IDP.
ii.António Guterres , the Secretary-General and Dennis Francis, the President of the General Assembly
celebrated the IDP in the Peace Garden at the UN Headquarters in New York (USA) by ringing the Peace
Bell and observing a minute of silence.
• To commemorate the IDP, the traditional Peace Bell Ceremony took place on 13 September
2023.
Symbol of World Peace Day:
The IDP is represented with a dove and an olive branch symbol. The ‘dove’ represents peace and freedom,
while the ‘olive branch‘ has been a traditional symbol of peace since ancient times.
Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace:
i.On September 13 1999, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/53/243 for the Declaration and
Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. The resolution called for the programme of action to include 8
action areas:
• Culture of peace through education
• Sustainable economic and social development
• Respect for all human rights
• Equality between women and men
• Democratic participation
• Understanding, tolerance and solidarity
• Participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge
• International peace and security
ii.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) emphasises that these
interconnected action areas have been the key priorities of the UN, uniting them under the umbrella of a
culture of peace and non-violence.
iii.The year 2023 marks the 20th Anniversary of the UN Resolution on the Declaration and Programme of
Action on a Culture of Peace.
2023 Events:
A Youth Event programme was organised on 14 September 2023, where Young leaders, activists and
performers were raising their voices and demanding action on the issues that matter to them at the Youth
Event for the IDP.
World Alzheimer’s Day 2023- September 21

World Alzheimer’s Day is annually observed across the globe on 21 September to raise awareness and
challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type of dementia
and other forms of dementia.
• The day also aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, and the importance
of timely diagnosis and treatments.
• World Alzheimer’s Day is observed during the World Alzheimer’s Month.

World Alzheimer’s Month:
i.The month of September is annually observed across the world as World Alzheimer’s Month (a month-
long campaign). It is the international campaign from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).
• According to ADI, the theme for World Alzheimer’s Month campaign 2023 is “Never too early,
never too late”.
The 2023 campaign focused on raising awareness about dementia and emphasises the importance of
identifying risk factors. It highlights that taking proactive steps to reduce risk factors can help delay or
prevent dementia.
Background:
i.World Alzheimer’s Day was launched during the opening of ADI’s annual conference in Edinburgh,
Scotland on 21 September 1994 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ADI.
ii.In 2010, ADI launched the first awareness campaign, “World Alzheimer’s Month”, as a pilot campaign in
12 countries.
• Since 2012, World Alzheimer’s Month is annually observed during the month of September.
About Alzheimer’s & Dementia and its types:
i.Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the
brain and impact memory, thinking, behaviour, and emotion.
ii.The most common is Alzheimer’s disease, which affects 50-60% of people with dementia.
iii.Alzheimer’s disease causes the brain to shrink and is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and
thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
• The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German pathologist who first discovered an
‘unusual disease of the cerebral cortex’ and noticed the brain tissue of a woman who had died of
an unusual mental illness in 1906.
Types: Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal
dementia.
World Alzheimer Report 2023:
On the occassion of World Alzheimer’s Day 2023, the ADI launched the World Alzheimer Report 2023 with
focus on reducing the risk of dementia. The 2023 report is written in journalistic style and featuring key
case studies.
• The report examines the drivers behind risk reduction and the role of government in providing
population-based systemic changes to promote risk reduction and the importance of dementia
research.
The World Alzheimer Reports are a comprehensive source of global socioeconomic information on
dementia published annually by ADI on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day.
• Each World Alzheimer Report is on a different topic.
• ADI launched the first World Alzheimer Report in 2009.
Key facts about Alzheimer’s disease:
i.According to ADI, globally, the number of people living with dementia will almost triple by 2050.
ii.According to the WHO:
• Currently, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, over 60% of whom live in
low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases.
• Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain. Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.
• Women are disproportionately affected by dementia, both directly and indirectly.
• Women experience higher disability-adjusted life years and mortality due to dementia, but also
provide 70% of care hours for people living with dementia.

About Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI):
Chief Executive Officer– Paola Barbarino
Headquarters– London, UK
Founded in– 1984
World Rhino Day 2023- September 22

World Rhino Day is annually observed across the globe on 22 September to raise awareness about the
terrible situation of Rhinoceros or Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and emphasise the steps to conserve its
population.
• The day is dedicated to celebrating all 5 species of Rhinos namely white and black rhinos
in Africa, and the greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran rhino species in Asia.
Background:
i.In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – South Africa announced World Rhino Day, a national crisis to
create awareness about the importance of saving these animals.
ii.Since 2011, World Rhino Day has been celebrated internationally on September 22nd every year.
iii.The observance was initiated by two dedicated conservationists namely Lisa Jane Campbell from the
Chishakwe Ranch in Zimbabwe and Rhishja Cota-Larson from Saving Rhinos in the United States of America
(USA).
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List:
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species:
• The Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis), the Javan or lesser one-horned Asian Rhino
(Rhinoceros sondaicus), and the Sumatran or Asian two-horned Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is
categorised as “Critically Endangered“.
• White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) is “Near Threatened” and the Greater one-horned Asian
Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is “Vulnerable“.
About Rhinos and its features:
i.At the beginning of the 20th century, 500,000 rhinos roamed Africa and Asia. By 1970, rhino numbers
dropped to 70,000, and now, over 27,000 rhinos remain in the wild.
ii.All five species of rhinos are herbivores, consuming large amounts of vegetation, which helps increase plant
biodiversity.
iii.Male rhinos are called ‘bulls’ and females are called ‘cows’. Their young are ‘calves’. Together, a group of
rhinos is called a ‘crash’.
Features:
Rhino horn is made up of keratin, the same protein that forms the basis of our hair and nails.
Primary threats to Rhinos:
Poaching, Habitat loss, fragmentation, Climate Change, and Illegal trafficking of Rhino horns.
• Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicine to ‘cure’ a range of ailments, from cancer to
hangovers and the horn is seen as a status symbol, particularly in Vietnam.
Note: In the last decade, poachers have killed almost 10,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia.
2023 State of Rhino:
i.Every September, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) publishes its signature report, State of the Rhino,
which documents current population estimates and trends, where available, as well as key challenges and
conservation developments for the 5 surviving rhino species in Africa and Asia.
Note: IRF was founded as the International Black Rhino Foundation in 1991 and was renamed as IRF in 1993.
Rhinos in India:
i.In India, rhinos are found in Assam, parts of West Bengal, and Bihar. According to the WWF, there are around
3,700 Indian rhinos in the wild today.
ii.Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) alone has 2,613 Rhinos, according to a census carried out in March
2022.

Efforts taken to preserve Rhinos in Assam:
i.The Assam government has expanded Orang National Park, a crucial habitat for rhinos, by nearly 200 sq km in
north-central Assam to secure the future of rhinoceros populations in Assam.
ii.The newly added land connects Orang National Park to Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary in the east of Assam.
This connection is pivotal for the unhindered movement of rhinos between protected areas.
iv.This expansion completes the creation of a linked corridor between all the major rhino-holding protected
areas in Assam, including Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa and Bura Chapori
Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Kaziranga National Park.
World Rose Day for Cancer Patients 2023 – September 22

World Rose Day, also known as the Day for Welfare of Cancer Patients is annually observed across the globe
on 22 September and is dedicated to cancer patients all across the globe and also encourages and
acknowledges cancer survivors all over the world.
• The day aims to bring happiness and hope into the lives of such patients and reminds them that they
can emerge victorious in their battle against cancer through determination and positivity.
Note: Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal
cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue.
Background:
i.The origin of World Rose Day is credited to a 12-year-old Canadian girl named Melinda Rose, who was
diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer (Askin’s Tumor) in 1994.
ii.The day is reportedly observed in memory of Melinda Rose, who passed away from the disease in 1996.
Why the Rose?
i.The rose symbolises love, hope, and empathy, making it the perfect emblem for this day.
ii.It reminds everyone to be compassionate and understanding toward cancer patients.
• On World Rose Day, people offer roses, cards, and gifts to cancer patients and their caregivers, who
also play an important role in this difficult journey.
Cancer Ribbons:
i.Cancer ribbons are loops of ribbon that people wear to show their support for those with cancer or to spread
awareness about the disease.
ii.There are over 50 different ribbons, which represent different cancers and their survivors and caregivers
today.
Significance:
i.Awareness: The day raises awareness about the importance of early detection and cancer prevention. It
encourages individuals to undergo regular screenings and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
ii.Fundraising: Many organizations use World Rose Day as an opportunity to raise funds for cancer research
and support programs.
iii.Honour: This day commemorates the bravery of cancer survivors while paying tribute to those who lost
their lives to this relentless disease.
Key Points:
i.According to the World Health Organization(WHO) Globally, Cancer is a leading cause of death, which
accounts to around 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly 1 in 6 deaths. The most common cancers are breast,
lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers.
ii.Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), regional office for the Americas of WHO states that cancer burden
will increase by approximately 60% over the next two decades, further straining health systems, people, and
communities.
• By 2040, the global burden is expected to increase to nearly 30 million new cancer cases, the most
significant increases will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

World Car-Free Day 2023 – September 22
World Car-Free Day is annually observed the cities across the globe on 22nd September to encourage
motorists to give up their cars for a day. The day also highlights the benefits of being car-free such as reduced
air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a safer environment.
History of World Car Free Day
i.The idea for World Car Free Day came after the petroleum crisis of 1973, when people started to look for ways
to reduce their dependence on cars.
ii.The first national car-free day campaign was inaugurated in Britain by the Environmental Transport
Association in 1997.
iii.In 1999, An international carfree day was organised in Europe as a pilot project for the European Union’s “In
Town Without My Car” campaign. This campaign continues as Annual European Mobility Week from 16th to
22nd September.
iv.In 2000, Car Busters (the precursor to World Carfree Network) called for a “World Carfree Day,” to coincide
with Europe’s carfree day on September 22.
Why World Car Free Day?
i.Cars are a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions, which contribute to climate
change.
• It produces a large amount of harmful GHGs like carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and
methane (CH4), which are responsible for climate change.
ii.Cars also cause traffic congestion(as it occupies more space in the road) and noise pollution.
iii.In addition, cars consume a large amount of petrol or diesel.
Additional Info:
Every year from 16 to 22 September, European towns showcase their commitment to clean and sustainable
urban transport during Mobility week.
As a part of the observance of World Car-Free Day 2023, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh (MP) High
Court has asked all its staff to use alternative modes of transport instead of cars with respect to the occasion of
World Car-Free Day.
WB Governor CV Ananda Bose Unveils Logo of ‘Kala Kranti Mission’ & Flags Off a Cycle March
On the occasion of World Car Free Day 2023, the Governor of West Bengal (WB) CV Ananda Bose unveiled the
logo of ‘Kala Kranti Mission’ and flagged off a cycle march from Raj Bhawan in Kolkata, West Bengal.
About Kala Kranti Mission:
i.It is a unique initiative to appreciate and celebrate the rich diversity of West Bengal’s cultural traditions and
arts & crafts.
• The mission will be formally inaugurated on the eve of Durga Puja.
ii.As a part of the Kala Kranti mission, 108 awards, termed as ‘Durga Bharat Samaan’, will be released on the
eve of Durga puja.
Note: Durga Puja 2023 will be observed from 20th to 24th October 2023.
About Cycle March:
i.The mission of Kala Kranti will be spread across WB by the Cycle March.
ii.The idea of a clean world and protection of the environment will be insisted by the cyclist.
World Bio-Fuel Day is observed annually on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-
fossil fuels or bio-fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels for the energy sector.
• The day also honours Rudolf Diesel, a French-German Inventor, who invented the Diesel Engine in
1892.
• The day also tries to highlight the various efforts taken by the Government to promote the use of
biofuel for the sustainable development of the planet.

About West Bengal:
Chief Minister – Mamata Banerjee
Governor – C. V. Ananda Bose
Wildlife Sanctuary – Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve – Buxa Tiger Reserve, Sundarban Tiger Reserve
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.
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.
World Rivers Day 2023 – September 24

World Rivers Day (WRD) is annually observed across the globe on the 4th Sunday of September to promote
awareness about the importance of rivers and aims to encourage the improved protection of all rivers around
the world.
• The day also promotes the conservation and sustainable management of these vital natural
resources. It is a celebration of the world’s waterways.
World Rivers Day (WRD) 2023 was observed on 24 September 2023.
• WRD 2022 was observed on 25 September 2022 and WRD 2024 will be observed on 22
September 2024.
Background:
i.In 2005, the United Nations (UN) launched the “International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015″,
to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for water resources.
ii.Following this, WRD was established in response to a proposal initiated by Canada’s internationally
renowned river conservationist, Mark Angelo.
iii.The proposal for a global event to celebrate rivers was based on the success of British Columbia (BC) Rivers
Day, which Mark Angelo had founded and led in western Canada since 1980.
• BC Rivers Day eventually evolved into WRD.
iv.That first WRD was observed in 2005 and was celebrated across 12 countries.
About Mark Angelo:
i.Mark Angelo is the founder and Chair of both BC Rivers Day and WRD.
ii.He is the Chair Emeritus of the Rivers Institute at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in
Burnaby, BC, Canada.
iii.He was also the inaugural Chair of the BC Heritage River System from 1997 to 2001, the first provincial
initiative of its kind.
iv.He was also the long-time head of BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program.
v.He received both the Order of BC in 1998 and 2 years later, he received the Order of Canada (Canada’s highest
honour) in recognition of his river conservation efforts over the past four decades.
• He became a Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS) fellow in 2013
2023 Events:
To commemorate the WRD 2023, WRD organised a series of events such as paddling trips down major rivers,
river conferences, online panel events, and various new projects like riverside plantings and habitat restoration
projects have been launched.

• A campaign for the “Rights of Rivers” and the launching of “Adopt a Rivers” programs were also
organised.
World Pharmacists Day 2023 – September 25

World Pharmacists Day(WPD) is annually observed across the globe on 25th September to encourage
activities that promote and advocate the role of the pharmacist in every corner of the world.
• The day also marks the foundation day of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP–
Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique), global body for pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and
pharmaceutical education.
• The day offers an opportunity for pharmacy to celebrate its achievements in supporting societies,
but also to make its value and further potential in improving health known.
25th September 2023 marks the observance of the 13th World Pharmacists Day.
Theme:
i.The theme of WPD 2023 is “Pharmacy Strengthening Health Systems.”
• Pharmacy is integral to a well-functioning health system, as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted.
• The theme of the WPD is annually chosen by the FIP Bureau.
ii.FIP’s message for WPD 2023 is “Let pharmacies do more”.
Background:
i.In 2009, during the Council meeting of the FIP Congress in Istanbul, Turkey(Now Türkiye), the Turkish
Pharmacists Association (TPA) proposed the annual celebration of World Pharmacists Day on September 25.
ii.The first-ever World Pharmacist Day was observed on 25th September 2010.
iii.In 2020, FIP introduced World Pharmacy Week, expanding the festivities to encompass the entire
pharmacy profession and inclusively recognizing all sectors within the field of pharmacy.
Why September 25?
25th September was chosen to mark the date of the establishment of the FIP.
• FIP was established on 25th September 1912 as a not-for-profit federation.
Significance of WPD:
i.World Pharmacists Day highlights the global impact of pharmacists in ensuring the well-being of individuals
and communities.
ii.Molecules become medicines when pharmaceutical expertise is added
iii.They have played pivotal roles in vaccine distribution, patient education, and medication management
during these challenging times.
iv.They play a significant role in addressing global health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, chronic
disease management, and access to essential medicines in underserved regions.
About Pharmacists:
A pharmacist is a health care professional specializing in the usage and administration of medication.
• They supervise the medicines supply chain and ensure pharmacy premises and systems are fit for
purpose.
National Doctor’s Day is annually observed across India on 1st July to appreciate and honor the valuable
contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals in India. This day also gives an opportunity to thank
doctors for their selfless service and efforts for the well-being of the people in India.
About International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP):
President(Acting)- Paul Sinclair (Australia)
Headquarters- The Hague, Netherlands

Antyodaya Diwas Day 2023- September 25
Antyodaya Diwas Day is annually observed across India on 25 September to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, former leader of the political party Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS),
which was a precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• 25th September 2023 marks the 107th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
The term ‘Antyodaya’ means the “rise and development of the last person in society”, one of the concepts
promoted by Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• The aim of the Antyodaya is to uplift the poor in the society.
Background:
i.On 25 September 2014, during the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the Government of
India (GoI) led by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared the 25th September of every year as
Antyodaya Diwas.
ii.The first Antyodaya Diwas was observed on 25 September 2014.
Note:
During the 1st Antyodaya Diwas (2014), the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) re-introduced its skill
development programme called ‘Aajeevika Skills‘ as
“Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)” under the National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (NRLM).
• The programme was renamed “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)- NRLM in November 2015.
About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:
i.Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916, in Nagla Chandrabhan (now Deendayal Dham
) in Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Ii,He established the publishing house ‘Rashtra Dharma Prakashan’ in Lucknow (UP), and launched the
monthly magazine ‘Rashtra Dharma’ in the 1940s to spread the ideology of Hindutva nationalism.
• He started a monthly magazine “Rashtra Dharma”, a weekly ‘Panchajanya’, and a daily ‘Swadesh’.
iii.He started full-time work in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1942.
iv.‘Integral humanism’ was a set of philosophical concepts drafted by him as a political program and adopted in
1965 as the official doctrine of the Jan Sangh.
v.He became president of the Jana Sangh in December 1967. He started as the General Secretary of the BJS in UP
and later became the National General Secretary of the party. He held this role for 15 years.
vi.He died in February 1968 near Mughalsarai Junction railway station in UP.
Books: He wrote a number of books including Samrat Chandragupt (Hindi Edition, 2017); Jagatguru Shri
Shankaracharya (2017); Political Diary, Integral Humanism: An Analysis of Some Basic Elements (2016);
About Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY):
DDU-GKY is a placement-linked skill development program of the MoRD for rural poor youth under NRLM.
• The target group for DDU-GKY is poor rural youth in the age group 15-35.
Aim: It aims to skill rural youth who are poor and provide them with jobs having regular monthly wages or
above the minimum wage.
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2023- September 26
The United Nations (UN) International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is annually
observed across the globe on 26 September to enhance public awareness about the threat posed to humanity
by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination.
• This day provides an opportunity to educate the public about the real benefits of eliminating such
weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them.
Background:
i.On 26 September 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/68/32 and
declared 26 September of every year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

• The resolution was the follow-up to the UNGA’s first-ever high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament in
2013.
ii.The first-ever International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed on 26
September 2014.
UN Platform for Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones:
i.Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) are regional agreements aimed at strengthening global nuclear non-
proliferation and disarmament efforts while promoting peace and security.
ii.The UNGA resolution 3472 (XXX) B (1975) defines NWFZs as zones recognized by the UNGA and established
by a group of States through a treaty or convention whereby:
• The statute of total absence of nuclear weapons to which the zone shall be subject, including the
procedure for the delimitation of the zone, is defined;
• An international system of verification and control is established to guarantee compliance with the
obligations deriving from that statute.
Some Treaties involved in NWFZs:
Treaty of Tlatelolco:
The Treaty established the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
became the 1st NWFZ in a highly populated area, which was opened for signature on 14 February 1967 in
Mexico City.
Treaty of Rarotonga:
The South Pacific became the 2nd NWFZ in 1985 and entered into force on 11 December 1986.
Treaty of Bangkok:
Southeast Asia became the 3rd NWFZ was signed on 15 December 1995 by 10 Southeast Asian States. It
entered into force on 27 March 1997.
• It is also called the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, also known as the SEANWFZ Treaty.
Treaty of Pelindaba:
Africa became the 4th NWFZ. It is also known as the African NWFZ Treaty, opened for signature on 12 April
1996 in Cairo, Egypt, and entered into force on 15 July 2009.
Treaty on a NWFZ in Central Asia: Central Asia became the 5th NWFZ in 2006.
Note: Currently, 5 NWFZs, covering territories in most of the Southern Hemisphere and in Central Asia.
Antarctica and Mongolia have a special nuclear-weapon-free status.
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty:
i.Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed in 1991 and was a bilateral arms control treaty
between the USA and the Soviet Union (Russia). It entered into force in 1994, after the Soviet Union’s
dissolution, and eventually expired in 2009.
ii.On 3 February 2021, the United States and Russian Federation agreed to extend the Treaty on Measures for
the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (“new START”) until 4 February 2026.
iii.On 21 February 2023, the Russian Federation announced the suspension of its participation in the New
START Treaty.
• The suspension threatens future arms control measures between the two largest nuclear powers. The
breakdown of these treaties threatens global security and stability.
World Contraception Day 2023 – September 26

World Contraception Day celebrated annually observed across the globe on September 26th to raise
awareness about contraception and to enable people to make informed choices about their sexual and
reproductive health.
• 26th September 2023 marks the observance of 17th World Contraception Day.
Theme:
The theme of World Contraception Day 2023 is “The Power of Options”

• The theme highlights the essential role that contraceptive options play in enabling people to take control
over their reproductive health.
Background:
i.World Contraception Day was established by the 10 International Family Planning Organizations to highlight
the importance of contraception as a conscious choice in family planning.
ii.The first-ever World Contraception Day was observed on 26 September 2007.
iii.The day is supported by about 15 international Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), medical &
scientific communities, and governmental organizations for imparting the right knowledge about sexual and
reproductive health.
Significance:
i.The day aims to create awareness abut various contraceptive options to individuals, especially young men and
women, regarding Family Planning and Reproductive Health.
ii.It motivates people to have a open dialogues to promote a clear understanding and importance of
contraceptives.
What is Contraception?
Contraception, also known as Birth control, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy.
There are many different types. Some are reversible, while others are permanent.
Types:
• Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) (intrauterine device (IUD) and implants)
• Hormonal Methods (birth control pills, patches, and rings)
• Barrier Methods (condoms and diaphragms)
• Emergency Contraception
• Sterilization
Key Points:
i.The use of contraception can also reduce chances of maternal death and disability, newborn and child
mortality and morbidity, unintended pregnancies, and abortion.
ii.According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) survey, at least 17.2 crore people are not using
any form of contraception across the globe.
World In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Day is annually observed across the globe on 25th July to commemorate the
achievements and progress made in the field of infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
World Environmental Health Day 2023- September 26

World Environmental Health Day(WEHD) is annually observed
across the globe on 26 September to raise awareness about the
importance of environmental health and to promote action to
protect human health from environmental hazards.
• The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the critical
role the environment plays in our well-being.
The theme of WEHD 2023 is, “Global Environmental Public
Health: Standing up to protect everyone’s Health each and
every day“.
• The theme highlights that Environmental health is a critical component of public health, encompassing
both natural and human-induced factors that shape our well-being.
Background:
i.On 26 September 2011, the Council of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared
the 26th September of every year as the World Environmental Health Day (WEHD).
ii.The declaration was in support of the inaugural Environmental Health Youth Summit held in Denpasar, Bali,
Indonesia, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Council of the Federation.

• The declaration was made official by the Board of Directors of the IFEH.
iii.Since its inception, WEHD has grown to become a global platform for addressing critical environmental
health challenges and promoting sustainable practices.
Significance:
i.The day aims to raise awareness about environmental health and work towards the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.The components essential for good health are:
• Clean air, a stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from
radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built
environments, and a preserved nature.
iii.Human unresponsiveness towards nature is a key driver of the environmental degradation of the natural
world.
• Environmental pollution, global warming, deforestation, ozone layer depletion, and biodiversity losses are
some of the basic reasons behind poor environmental health.
Key Points:
i.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthier environments could prevent almost one-
quarter of the global burden of disease. More than 100 illnesses and injuries can be directly linked to
environmental health concerns.
• WHO estimates an additional 2,50,000 people are dying every year due to climate change.
ii.WHO also estimates that 23% of all deaths are linked to “environmental risks” like land and air pollution,
water contamination, and chemical exposure.
iii.According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), some 11 million tonnes of plastic waste
flow annually into oceans. This may triple by 2040.
2023 Events in India:
i.To commemorate the WEHD, the Department of Chemical Engineering of MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology,
Bengaluru (Karnataka) organized a series of events from 26 September 2023 to 3 October 2023 such as:
ii.SAFI Institute of Advanced Study (SIAS), Malappuram (Kerala) observed the WEHD with programs like
expert talks, community outreach programme, and a debate among the college students.
About International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH):
President– Dr. Henroy P. Scarlett (Jamaica Association of Public Health Inspectors)
Headquarters– London, the United Kingdom
The IFEH was inaugurated on September 25, 1985, and registered as a Company on June 6th, 1986.
Note:
• Dr. Bruno Cvetkovic, representing the Croatian Chamber of Health Professionals, secured the position of
IFEH President-Elect during the Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) IFEH meeting.
He will hold the position of President-Elect until 2024, after which he will assume the role of IFEH President
from 2024 to 2026.
World Tourism Day 2023- September 27

The United Nations (UN) World Tourism Day (WTD) is annually observed across the globe on 27
September to promote and raise awareness among the international community about the importance of
tourism, and its social, cultural, political, and economic significance.
• The annual observance of WTD is led by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a UN
specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally
accessible tourism.
27th September 2023 marks the observance of 43rd World Tourism Day.
The 2023 theme kept by the UNWTO is, “Tourism and green investment”.
• With this theme, UNWTO highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030.

Host of WTD 2023:
Annually, UNWTO designates a host country for the WTD
celebrations. The host country for the WTD 2023 is the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia.
Background:
i.On September 1979, the UNWTO General Assembly at its 3rd
session in Torremolinos (Spain), decided to institute WTD.
ii.The first-ever WTD was observed on 27 September 1980.
Why September 27?
The date coincides with the 10th anniversary of the adoption of
UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO 5 years later.
Timing of WTD:
The timing of the observance of WTD aligns with the transition of tourist seasons between the northern and
southern hemispheres.
• In the northern hemisphere, September marks the end of the high tourist season.
• Conversely, September indicates the onset of the tourist season in the southern hemisphere as
spring blooms into summer.
Significance:
i.WTD 2023 will be a call to action for the international community, governments, multilateral financial
institutions, development partners, and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment
strategy.
ii.WTD 2023 focus isn’t solely on conventional investments but also on innovative solutions that drive
economic growth and productivity.
Key Facts:
i.According to the UN,
• The tourism industry expects a need for millions of hospitality graduates annually until 2030. An
additional 800,000 jobs per year will necessitate specialized vocational training.
• To meet this demand, people are the backbone of the tourism sector, and investing in their
development is most important.
• Green Buildings in Emerging Market Cities offer a USD 24.7 trillion investment opportunity by 2030.
Hotels, resorts, and restaurants alone account for a significant USD 1.5 trillion of this potential.
• Tourism presents diverse investment avenues for decarbonization initiatives. Investments in
decarbonization solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure are essential to drive sustainability in
the tourism industry.
ii.According to UNWTO, International tourism recovered 84% of pre-pandemic levels in the period January-July
2023 (a 16% decline compared to 2019).
• The early part of the Northern Hemisphere summer season and a strong second quarter played a
crucial role in this recovery.
iii.The UNWTO-led Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism to accelerate climate action, support the
global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.
• The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism was launched at the UN Climate Change
Conference (COP26) in November 2021.
2023 Events:
A series of programs were organized for the WTD 2023 and was hosted at Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia from 27 – 28 September 2023.
• The events align with the 2023 theme of WTD, which focused on investing in people, the planet, and
prosperity for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship and supporting Tourism’s green
transition.

WTD 2023 events in India:
Ministry of Tourism(MoT) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) has organised the Global Launch of ‘Travel for LiFE’(TFL), a sectoral program under
Mission LiFE(Lifestyle for Environment), focusing the tourism sector.
• The event, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi, was virtually attended by the international
organizations, participants from the G20 member countries and others.
Travel for LiFE was launched for two different verticals:
• Travel for LiFE for Cleanliness – a national TFL campaign for cleaning tourist sites and
monuments in convergence with the Swachhata campaign
• Travel for LiFE for Rural Tourism – this encourages tourists to explore the rural and lesser-known
hinterland promoting sustainable rural tourism thereby empowering rural communities.
About Travel for LiFE:
i.‘Travel for LiFE’ will promote tourists to adapt simple actions that will result in conservation of the
environment, biodiversity, improvement in the local economy and preservation of the socio-cultural integrity
of the local communities.
ii.This aims to create mindful and deliberate utilization of resources by the stakeholders in the tourism value
chain.
List of Gold Awardees:
GOLD AWARDEES
VILLAGE AWARDEE STATE
Dawar Jammu and Kashmir
Sarmoli Uttarakhand
Reiek Mizoram
Kanthallor Kerala
Madla Madhya Pradesh
Other Highlights:
i.The Best Rural Tourism Village Awards were presented to 35 Rural Tourism Villages in Gold(5), Silver(10),
and Bronze(20) Categories respectively.
• This aims to promote and preseve the cultural heritage and sustainable development of the villages
through tourism.
ii.Intiatives like ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ Competition, Design Edible Cutlery Competition, Yuva Tourism Club
Merchandise and the Swachhata Campaign at 108 Tourism sites across India were launched during the event.
• Tourism for Tomorrow is a national Travel for LiFE competition for for case studies and best
practices. This is in line with the key priorities of Goa Roadmap.
About United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):
It is the UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible
tourism.
Secretary-General– Zurab Pololikashvili
Headquarters– Madrid, Spain
World Lung Day 2023 – September 25

World Lung Day is observed annually on September 25th across the globe to raise awareness about lung health
and promote lung disease prevention.
• 25th September 2023 marks the 6th World Lung Day.

Theme:
The theme for World Lung Day 2023 is “Access to prevention and treatment for all. Leave no one behind.”
• The theme highlights the importance of ensuring equal access to lung disease prevention and
treatment for everyone, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure healthy lungs for all.
• The theme reflects the commitment to ‘Reduce Inequity’ which is one of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development goals.
Background:
i.World Lung Day was initiated by Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) which is a collaborative
organization consisting of the world’s foremost international respiratory societies.
ii.The first World Lung Day was celebrated in 2017.
Significance:
i.The day aims to make people aware that clean air and essential lung care are fundamental rights, regardless of
one’s circumstances.
ii.The day paves a path in the prevention of lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), lung cancer, and infections like tuberculosis.
iii.It serves as a platform to advocate for universal access to quality healthcare, education, and diagnostics
regarding lung health.
About FIRS:
i.FIRS was established in 2001; FIRS is dedicated to advancing lung health on a global scale.
• David CL Lam is the President of FIRS and the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR)
ii.FIRS has identified three key target areas to tackle inequalities in the fight against respiratory disease:
• Improving access to preventative services and stop-smoking treatments
• Expanding access to inhalation therapies
• Strengthening access to effective pneumonia vaccines for children.
iii.FIRS along with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), is calling on governments
and healthcare providers worldwide to give equitable access to preventative services and treatments for
respiratory conditions, and lifesaving pneumonia vaccines for children.
World Rabies Day 2023- September 28

World Rabies Day (WRD) is annually observed across the globe on 28 September to raise awareness of
rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this horrifying disease. The day also aims to advocate
for rabies elimination globally.
28th September 2023 marks the 17th observance of WRD.
The theme of WRD 2023 is “Rabies: All for 1, One Health for All”.
The theme adds the additional layer of highlighting the need for collaboration, the importance of
equality, and strengthening overall health systems by ensuring that One Health is not for a selected
few but for everyone.
Background:
i.In 2007, World Rabies Day was established by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), a non-profit
organization aimed to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030, and later endorsed by the World
Health Organization (WHO).
It is an event designed to be inclusive, uniting people, organizations, and stakeholders across all sectors
against rabies.
ii.The first WRD was observed on 28 September 2007.
Why September 28?
The date 28 September was chosen as it commemorates the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur (28
September 1895), the French chemist and microbiologist.
He developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundation for the manufacture of many other
vaccines.

About Rabies:
i.Rabies is a zoonotic disease (transmitted between animals and humans) caused by rabies virus (RABV), a
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus.
Taxonomically, RABV belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae.
ii.It is the deadliest disease on earth with a 99.9% fatality rate. It causes progressive and fatal inflammation of
the brain and spinal cord.
About Rabies Vaccine:
i.Rabies vaccine is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection caused by the rabies virus.
ii.Louis Pasteur developed the earliest effective vaccine against rabies, first used to treat a human bite victim.
iii.On July 6, 1885, Louis Pasteur administered his first experimental rabies vaccine to a 9-year-old human
patient, Joseph Meister.
iv.WHO recommends 2 main immunization strategies for the prevention of human rabies namely Post-
exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Key Facts:
i.Rabies is a 100% vaccine-preventable viral disease in more than 150 countries and territories.
ii.It causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa, 40% of whom are children under
15 years of age.
iii.Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to
humans. Rabies can be prevented through vaccination of dogs and the prevention of dog bites.
Globally rabies causes an estimated cost of USD 8.6 billion per year.
iv.Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in Asia and
Africa.
v.Vaccination of at least 70% of dogs in areas at risk is now accepted as the most effective way of preventing
human rabies deaths.
Collaboration of International organizations for eliminating Rabies:
The major organizations working together to eliminate rabies deaths in people that are caused by dogs by 2030
are:
WHO; the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Organisation for Animal Health
(WOAH), the United Nations the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), GARC, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
World Maritime Day 2023- September 28

The United Nations (UN)’s World Maritime Day (WMD) is annually observed on the last Thursday
of September to recognize the contribution of the people who work in the maritime industry.
WMD 2023, the 46th World Maritime Day, was observed on 28th September 2023.
WMD 2022 was observed on 29th September 2022 and the WMD 2024 will be observed
on 26th September 2024.
Theme:
The theme for World Maritime Day 2023 is ” MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on”
The WMD 2023 marks 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
The theme also aims to promote further dialogue on the next phase of IMO’s work to further enhance
the sustainable use and protection of our planet and oceans in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Note: The annual observance of WMD is led by International Maritime Organization(IMO), UN’s specialized
agency that sets global standard authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of
international shipping.

Background:
i.The World Maritime Day was created by the United Nations through its specialized agency International
Maritime Organization (IMO).
ii.The first ever WMD was observed on 17th March 1978 to mark the date of the IMO Convention’s entry into
force in 1958.
Since 1978, the day has been celebrated annually and eventually the day was moved to the last
Thursday of September.
Significance:
i.the day offers a global platform to recognize the importance of the maritime industry and its contributions to
the global economy and society.
ii.The day also highlights the contributions of seafarers and maritime professionals in global economy.
iii.The day also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges facing the maritime industry, such
as marine pollution, climate change, and maritime security.
About MARPOL:
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), adopted on 2 November
1973, is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by
ships from operational or accidental causes.
The Convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships – both
accidental pollution and that from routine operations.
World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is annually celebrated on 21st June across the world to raise awareness of the
importance of hydrography and its major role in improving the knowledge of the seas and oceans.
About International Maritime Organization(IMO):
Secretary-General – Kitack Lim
International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023- September 28

The United Nations (UN) International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is annually
observed across the globe on 28 September to spread awareness concerning the need to expand laws related
to information and their actual implementation.
The expansion of these laws helps in building inclusive institutions to access the world.
28th September 2023 marks the 4th observance of UN’s IDUAI.
The theme of IDUAI 2023 is “The importance of the online space for access to information”.
The theme focuses that internet access is a gateway for accessing information, playing a pivotal role in
empowering individuals with knowledge and achieving the UN 2030 Agenda
Background:
i.In 2015, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference
adopted 38 C/ Resolution 57 and proclaimed the 28th September of every year as the IDUAI
Since 2016, UNESCO commemorats the Day by organizing a Global Conference and several national
events all over the world.
ii.On 15 October 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 74th session adopted a resolution
A/RES/74/5 and declared the 28th September of every year as the IDUAI, recognizing its role in development,
democracy, and equality.
iii.The first UN IDUAI was observed on 28 September 2020.
Global Conference 2023:
UNESCO organised the Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2023 on the necessity of the
importance of the online space for access to information on 28 September 2023, at the Bonavero Institute of
Human Rights, Mansfield College, Oxford University, Oxford , The United Kingdom (UK).

The Opening session of the conference was followed by the High-level roundtable, which discussed the
access to information and internet disruptions in the context of the Vienna Declaration adopted at
the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993.
Critical Role of Internet Access:
i.The Internet has become a vital tool for accessing and disseminating information in the digital age. Internet
access is vital for exercising freedom of expression, a fundamental human right.
ii.As digitalization advances, it becomes increasingly crucial for ensuring not only freedom of expression but
also progress in education, and social participation, ultimately promoting a more inclusive and equitable
society.
iii.Blocking access to the internet is a clear breach of human rights.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, explicitly upholds the freedom to seek, receive,
and share information.
Key Facts:
i.According to the 2022 UNESCO report on public access to information, 138 nations currently have laws that
safeguard access to information.
10% of UK Citizens have used Access to Information Laws to access information.
ii.Digital technologies shape the way we communicate and access information globally yet in Africa.
For example, only 40% of people use the Internet, compared to 66% globally.
iii.As of May 19, 2023, 13 states in India have imposed a total of 33 shutdowns already in 2023,
according to Software Freedom Law Center, India (Partner of Access Now).
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2023- September 29

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is annually
observed across the globe on 29 September to raise awareness of the importance of the food loss and waste
issue and promote global efforts towards resolving it.
The day is co-convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
29 September 2023 marks the observance of the 4th IDAFLW.
The theme of IDAFLW 2023 is “Reducing food Loss and waste: Taking Action to Transform Food
Systems”.
The 2023 theme calls for the action to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) toward transforming agrifood
systems to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 agenda.
Background:
i.On 19 December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 74th session adopted the
resolution A/RES/74/209 and designated the 29 September of every year as the International Day of
Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
The resolution recognizes the fundamental role that sustainable food production plays in promoting
food security and nutrition.
ii.The first IDAFLW was observed on 29 September 2020.
Significance:
i.The target 12.3 of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)12 emphasises halving per capita global food waste at
both the retail and consumer levels while reducing losses along production and supply chains.
ii.Target 16 (Sustainable consumption choices are enabled, and food waste reduced by half) of the Kunming-
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) also calls for “halving global food waste by 2030”.
Efforts in line with the SDG 12.3 target and GBF Target 16 will promote progress in transforming
agrifood systems, benefiting both humanity and the environment.
iv.The 2 Sub-Indicators of the SDG 12.3 target are the Food Loss Index (FLI) and Food Waste Index (FWI).

Food Loss and Waste (FLW):
i.The disposal of FLW in landfills, leads to Green-House Gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to climate change.
ii.FLW can also negatively impact food security and food availability, and contribute to increasing the cost of
food.
iii.Reducing FLW can address some of the world’s most pressing issues: poverty, hunger, and climate change.
Key Facts:
i.According to the FAO 2023, between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, with a mid-range of
735 million.
ii.According to the FAO 2022, globally, around 13% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail.
iii.According to UNEP 2021, an estimated 17% of total global food production is wasted in households, in food
service, and in retail altogether.
iv.According to the UN:
Food that is lost and wasted accounts for 38% of total energy usage in the global food system.
FLW is responsible for approximately 7% of global GHG emissions and nearly 30% of the world’s
agricultural land is currently occupied to produce food that is ultimately never consumed.
Packaging now contributes approximately 5.4% of global food-system emissions, more than any other
supply-chain factor including transportation.
2023 Events:
FAO and UNEP organised a webinar on 29 September 2023, about stopping food loss and waste for the people
and for the planet to commemorate the 2023 IDAFLW.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN:
Director-General– QU Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
World Heart Day 2023 – 29th September

World Heart Day(WHD) 2023 is observed across the globe on 29th September to raise awareness about heart
health and accelerate actions to prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular diseases(CVD).
Theme:
The theme for the World Heart Day 2023 is “Use Heart, Know Heart.”
The theme emphasises the crucial process of getting to know one’s own heart first; It intends to think
and act towards the reduction of CVD.
Background:
i.WHD was established in 2000 by the World Heart Federation(WHF) in partnership with the World Health
Organization (WHO).
The idea of WHD was introduced by Antoni Baie de Luna, former president of the World Health
Federation(1997-99).
ii.The day was first observed on 24th September, 2000.
iii.Originally, WHD was observed on the last Sunday of September every year. From 2011 onwards, the day is
being observed annually on 29th September.
Significance:
i.WHD focuses on educating people about the sign and symptoms of CVD to avoid any further complications.
ii.It also encourages peoples to inculcate healthy lifestyle to prevent and control any heart related ailments.
iii.It promotes international cooperation in research, prevention, and treatment.
iv.The day aims to spread awareness about risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical
inactivity.

What is CVD?
i.Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary
heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart
disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
ii.CVDs are one of the leading cause of mortality worldwide.
iii.Heart attack, Stroke and coronary heart disease are one of the most common reason of deaths due to
cardiovascular disorders.
Additional Info:
Numerous South East Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Timor-Leste, have
committed to improving hypertension and diabetes management in primary healthcare by 2025
through the SEAHEARTS initiative.
SEAHEARTS initiative of the South-East Asia Region is a platform that brings together tobacco control,
salt reduction, elimination of industrially produced trans fats along with hypertension and diabetes
coverage and control through primary health care.
India, with the world’s most extensive coverage, aims to provide standard care to 75 million people with
hypertension and diabetes by 2025, contributing significantly to Non-Communicable Disease(NCD)
management.
Every year, around 1.7 crore people die due to cardiovascular disease, accounting approx 31% of all
global mortality.
World Organ Donation Day is annually observed on the 13th August across the globe to spread awareness
about the importance of organ donation to save more lives and to make people aware of the misconceptions
about organ donation.
About World Heart Federation(WHF):
World Heart Federation is a global Non-Governmental Organization(NGO) dedicated to the prevention and
control of cardiovascular diseases.
President – Daniel Piñeiro
APPS & WEB PORTAL

PNB Launches PNB GST Sahay App to Enable MSMEs Access Instant Loans Digitally on GST
Invoices
Punjab National Bank (PNB), a Public Sector Bank launched the PNB GST Sahay App, a mobile application based
on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Sahay scheme. This is an end-to-end digital product under which lending
can be done using GST invoices.
• With this accessibility, PNB has become the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to facilitate digital
credit flow to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) using GST invoices.
• This initiative is also in line with the bank’s strategy to further the development of the MSME sector
and digital credit ecosystem in India.
Features:
i.The app enables an end-to-end digital lending process to help eliminate any manual intervention for MSME
borrowers and makes the process cost-effective and smooth.
ii.This service will directly credit the loan amount into the borrower’s current account maintained with the
bank.
iii.PNB GST Sahay App will bridge the gap between the applicant/borrower and the Bank.
Benefits:
i.Through this app, all the GST-registered MSME business entities (Proprietorship) having an active account

with PNB are eligible for the PNB GST Sahay service.
ii.The credit limit starts from Rs 10,000 and goes up to Rs 2 lakhs per invoice, subject to capping of Rs 10 lakhs
per borrower.
iii.PNB GST Sahay also makes loan repayments a one-time hassle-free process for the MSMEs by offering the
option of pre-payment.
About Punjab National Bank (PNB):
PNB, India’s first Swadeshi Bank, commenced its operations on April 12, 1895.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer– Atul Kumar Goel
Established in– May 19, 1894
Tagline– The Name you can Bank upon
Home Minister Amit Shah Launches ‘E-resource Web Portal’ of Inter-State Council Secretariat
Union Minister, Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), launched the e-resource web portal of the Inter-
State Council Secretariat, MHA, during the 26th Meeting of the Western Zonal Council at Gandhinagar,
Gujarat. This portal will enable the functions of the zonal councils.
• The meeting chaired by Amit Shah was attended by Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister(CM) of
Gujarat, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Goa CM Pramod Sawant and Praful Khoda Patel,
Administrator of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and other dignitaries from the states in the
Western Zone.
About the Portal of Inter-State Council Secretariat:
i.The portal is a repository of important documents like the minutes and agenda of the meetings of the Inter-
State Council & its Standing Committee since its constitution on 28th May 1990 and Zonal Councils & their
Standing Committee since their inception in 1957.
ii.This will be used by the Central Ministries/Departments and the State government/Union Territories(UTs)
for policy interventions.
Highlights of the 26th meeting of the Western Zonal Council:
i.During the meeting a total of 17 issues were discussed and around 9 of which were resolved and the issues on
national interest were retained for monitoring after in-depth discussion.
ii.The western zonal council member states were instructed to work on 3 issues of national importance:
• POSHAN Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) – to achieve improvement in the
nutritional status of Children, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers
• Reducing the dropout rate of schoolchildren
• Taking benefits of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY), the national
public health insurance scheme, to every poor household.
Note:
i.Between 2013 to 2023, a total of 23 Zonal Council meetings were held and these meetings have resolved 1143
issues, which is more than 90% of the total issues.
ii.The Western Zone contributes to around 25% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India.
About Inter-State Council:
Chairman– Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India)
Chairman of Zonal Councils– Amit Shah (Home Minister)
ASI Launches ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0′ Programme, ‘Indian Heritage’ App & e-permission portal
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) launched the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ programme to collaborate
with corporate stakeholders for the preservation of monuments at Samvet Auditorium, Indira Gandhi
National Centre for the Arts(IGNCA), New Delhi, Delhi.

• The programme was launched by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, the Ministry of Culture,
Tourism and Development of North Eastern
Region(DoNER), along with Minister of State(MoS)
Meenakashi Lekhi,Ministry of Culture and External
Affairs.
• The app named ‘Indian Heritage‘ and the e-
permission portal were launched at the event.
Note: This is the revamped version of ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni
Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ scheme which was launched on
World Tourism Day 2017 (27th September 2017).
Key People:
The event was also attended by Union Culture Secretary Govind Mohan and Director General of ASI,
Kishore K. Basa
About ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’:
i.Under ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’, ASI invites corporate stakeholders to enhance amenities at Historical
monuments by utilising their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
• ASI has 3696 monuments under its protection across the country.
ii.The amenities will sought for different monuments as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains(AMASR) Act 1958.
• Interested stakeholders can apply to adopt a monument or specific amenity/ amenities at a
monument through a dedicated web portal ‘www.indianheritage.gov.in’.
• The portal provides details of monuments sought for adoption along with gap analysis and
financial estimation of amenities.
iv.The selected stakeholders will develop, provide and/or maintain amenities in hygiene, accessibility,
safety and knowledge categories.
• The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with entities will be signed for a five-year period
that can be extended for another five years.
About ‘Indian Heritage’ App:
i.‘Indian Heritage’ is a user-friendly mobile app that features information about the State-wise details of
monuments along with photographs, a List of public amenities available, a Geo-tagged location, Feedback
mechanism for citizens.
About e-permission portal:
i.An e-permission portal will allow the users to get permission for photography, filming and
developmental projects on monuments.
ii.The portal will fast-track the process for obtaining various permissions and solve operational and
logistical bottlenecks involved.
About Archeological Survey of India (ASI);
Director General – Kishore K. Basa
India unveils ‘G20 India’ mobile app; 1st ever App made for G20
The Government of India has unveiled “G20 India”, a mobile app which will offer a comprehensive, interactive
guide to event-related information. For the first time, a mobile App has been made for G20.
• The app was launched ahead of the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit, the 18th meeting of G20,
scheduled to take place in Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition-Convention Centre, Pragati
Maidan, in New Delhi, Delhi on September 9-10, 2023.

About G20 India App:
i.The G20 India App, created by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is a user-friendly digital platform for
participants and global audiences alike.
ii.It is available for download, both on Android and iOS.
iii. Its key feature is multilingual support. It offers content in 6 official United Nations (UN) languages and 4
other languages Hindi, German, Japanese and Portuguese.
iv.The app will remain operation throughout India’s G20 Presidency. India’s G20 Presidency started from 1st
December 2022 and will end on 30th November 2023.
v.Features of the platform include a calendar for the G20 India 2023 event, resources, media, and insightful
details about the G20.
9th meeting of the G20 Coordination Committee chaired by Dr PK Mishra
On August 30, 2023, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (PM), Dr Pramod Kumar (PK) Mishra chaired
the 9th G20 Coordination Committee meeting to oversee preparations for the G20 (Group of Twenty) New
Delhi Leaders’ Summit 2023, covering logistics, protocol, security, and media arrangements.
About the Summit:
i.The summit will feature exhibitions on culture and democracy, including a Nataraj statue installation and a
specially curated program for visiting leaders’ spouses.
ii.Delegates will experience digital India through the ‘Innovation Hub’ and ‘Digital India Experiential Hub’ at
Bharat Mandapam.
iii.For smooth coordination between various agencies, a Multi-Agency Control Room is set up at Bharat
Mandapam.
iv.Emphasis were laid on minimizing public inconvenience and maintaining essential services.
Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria Launches “Sarpanch Samvad” Mobile App of QCI
Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria launched the ‘Sarpanch Samvad’, a mobile app developed by the Quality
Council of India (QCI) in Raj Bhavan, Guwahati, Assam.
• The objective of this initiative is to provide comprehensive support to sarpanchs across India and
encourage their development as leaders.
Features of the ‘Sarpanch Samvad’ app:
i.The app is set to connect approximately 2.5 lakh sarpanchs across India.
ii.It also serves as a platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration for grassroots
leaders.
iii.Sarpanchs can use this app to highlight development activities in local villages, learn about best practices,
and establish connections across India.
Key points:
i.Sarpanch or president is the head of the village panchayat.
ii.The app was launched as part of the QCI’s initiative of bringing together Sarpanchs from different parts of the
country for Samvaad (discussions) to share their best practices and ways to elevate villages to quality
villages.
About the Quality Council of India (QCI):
i.The Quality Council of India was established in 1997 by the Government of India as an apex organisation
responsible for establishing and operating the third-party national accreditation system.
ii.It is also responsible for improving quality across sectors and advising the government and other
stakeholders on matters concerning quality.
iii.It has established constituent Boards that offer accreditation in respective areas including
• National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for labs.
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) for hospitals.
• National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) for certification and inspection
bodies.

• National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) for education and training.
About Assam:
Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria
Dance – Bihu, Jhumur Dance, Bagurumba
Haryana CM Launched New e-Bhoomi Portal for Land Purchase

Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister (CM) launched a new e-Bhoomi portal to further ease the
process of purchasing land for the development of government projects.
The government aims to purchase land in a transparent
manner with the consent of the landowners.
The CM also inaugurated Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana
Portal and No-Litigation Policy-2023 portal.
He also launched the HMJIS portal to replace the already
launched e-Ravana portal to stop illegal mining in
Haryana.
About e-Bhoomi Portal:
i.Apart from farmers, aggregators will also be able to offer land on
this portal.
Farmers can offer their land independently or through listed aggregators. The aggregator must be an
income taxpayer and must have a Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) family ID.
ii.The offer of land on the new portal would be valid for 6 months.
iii.A minimum offer of 10 acres has been made mandatory for voluntary offers made by aggregators.
iv.In case of purchase of land for projects, the aggregators would be given incentives at the rate of 1%.
Processing:
i.Under the process, once anyone (individual or aggregator) uploads the offer on the portal, it will be informed
to the designated agency, which will inform the concerned government department for the proposed project,
ii.The process will be initiated in automatic mode considering the rates being offered by the individual or
aggregator.
iii.To facilitate and coordinate the entire process, nodal officers have been identified in each department and at
the district level.
iv.The entire process will be expected to be completed within a time frame of 3 to 6 months.
Benefits: This process will bring transparency as well as reduce complaints of delay in payment by land
owners and aggregators.
Property Rates:
i.When property rates fall within the collector rate range, the Administrative Secretary of the department
swiftly approves them. This step involves a feasibility examination.
ii.If proposed rates exceed collector rates, they undergo further consideration. The proposal is presented to the
Committee of Secretaries, presided over by the Chief Secretary.
iii.In cases where rates exceed 50% of the collector rates, the proposal escalates to the High Powered Land
Purchase Committee (HPLPC), led by the CM.
Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana Portal:
i.The CM also unveiled the “Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana Portal,” designed to provide housing for
economically weaker sections, with an annual income of less than Rs. 1.80 lakh, who are in need of housing.
ii.This scheme will offer flats in Panchkula, Gurugram, Sonipat, and Faridabad, with other cities offering both
plot and flat options.
iii.The scheme would be implemented by the ‘Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran‘, ensuring the provision of
essential amenities in the housing colonies.

No-Litigation Policy-2023 portal:
i.In a step towards resolving land acquisition issues of the year 2011 for the expansion of the Industrial Model
Township (IMT) Manesar (Haryana), the CM inaugurated the ‘No-Litigation Policy-2023 portal’.
ii.The policy is set to address land-related issues in the villages of Kasan, Kukrola, and Sahrawan, situated in the
Manesar Tehsil of Gurugram district of Haryana.
iii.This policy aims to provide much-needed relief and extend benefits to landowners whose names are
currently recorded in the revenue estate of these villages, as of the awards declared in awards no. 1, 2, and 3 on
August 16, 2022.
iv.The key provision of the policy stipulated that landowners, upon accepting compensation in accordance with
the awards announced, would refrain from challenging the land acquisition.
They are also required to withdraw any pending court cases related to this land.
Issuance of OBC Certificates:
i.The Haryana Government also introduced the issuance of Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates through
the PPP family ID system.
ii.Citizens can download their OBC certificates online by accessing the Citizen Saral Portal. If their eligibility is
confirmed based on the data available in the OBC category within the PPP, the certificates can be obtained.
Currently, 397 schemes and services are linked to the PPP.
On 21st July 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW) launched 3
technological initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather
Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) to empower farmers and streamline their operations in New Delhi,
Delhi.
About Haryana:
Chief Minister– Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor– Bandaru Dattatreya
Wildlife Sanctuary– Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary and Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary
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.
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):
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.
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.
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
Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics Launches to Provide Credible Data on Agriculture
Sector
Professor Ramesh Chand, Member of National Institution for Transforming India(NITI) Aayog, launched
Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg) developed by Department of Agriculture and Farmers’
Welfare(DoA&FW), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW) to address data
related governance challenges in agriculture.

About Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics(UPAg):
i.Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics(UPAg) is an advanced agricultural data management platform
that generates crop estimates and integrates with other systems providing Agriculture Statistics such as
Price, Trade, Procurement, and Stock.
• It acts as a centralised hub for near real-time information on crop production, market trends,
price, and other essential agricultural data.
ii.UPAg intends to help agriculture stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and farmers, by
offering complete insights to enable informed decision-making.
iii.The initiative aligns with e-governance principles, bringing smartness, transparency, and agility to
India’s agriculture sector.
Key Features of UPAg Portal:
The UPAg portal will offer features like data standardisation, data analysis, granular production estimates,
commodity profile reports, and plug and play.
i.Data Standardization: The portal standardises data on prices, production, area, yield, and trade, making
it available in a single location and removing the need to assemble data from numerous sources.
ii.Data Analysis: UPAg Portal will use advanced analytics to provide data including production trends,
trade correlations, and consumption patterns to policymakers, allowing them to make more educated
decisions.
iii.Granular Production Estimates: The portal will generate more frequent granular production
estimates, boosting the government’s capacity to respond quickly to agricultural problems.
iv.Commodity Profile Reports: Commodity profile reports will be generated utilising algorithms,
reducing subjectivity and offering customers comprehensive insights.
v.Plug and Play: Users will be able to create their own reports using the portal’s data, fostering data-
driven decision-making.
Additional info:
As per the third advance estimate of the production of major crops for the agricultural year 2022-23, the
top five rice production states are Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha.
Central Govt launches Kisan Rin Portal, WINDS Manual and Door to Door KCC Campaign
On September 19, 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman , Ministry of Finance; and Union
Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW),
inaugurated Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) Manual, and
Door-To-Door Kisan Credit Card (KCC) campaign (Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan) during an event at Pusa
Complex, New Delhi, Delhi.
• These initiatives are focused on Agri-credit (KCC & MISS) and Crop Insurance
(PMFBY/RWBCIS).
• MISS stands
for Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, PMFBY for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana,
and RWBCIS for Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.
Key People:
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje; Kailash Choudhary, Ministers of State for MoA & FW, Ritesh Chauhan CEO of
PMFBY and Shaji KV, Chairman of NABARD were present during the event.
About Kisan Rin Portal (KRP):
It aims to give farmers subsidized loans under the KCC scheme, and also assist them in availing subsidized
agriculture credit through MISS.
• KCC is a credit scheme introduced in August 1998 by Indian public sector banks.

Developers:
The portal is developed collaboratively by MoA&FW, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under
Ministry of Finance, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAH&D) and Department of Fisheries
(DoF) under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying(MoFAHD), Reserve Bank of India
(RBI), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Key Points:
i.It will offer a comprehensive view of farmer data, scheme utilization progress, loan disbursement
specifics, and interest subvention claims to increase seamless integration with banks for more effective
and efficient agriculture credit.
ii.Banks are mandated to give all relevant data by December 31, 2023, for the Kisan Rin Portal.
iii.As per the Government data, there are around 7.35 crore KCC accounts as of March 30, 2023 with a
sanction limit of a total of 8.85 lakh crore.
• During April-August of FY24, the Central Government has disbursed agri-credit of around Rs
6,573 crore at a subsidised interest rate.
KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan: Door-to-Door KCC campaign:
During the event, Ghar Ghar KCC Abhiyaan was also launched which will initiate from October 1, 2023 till
December 31, 2023 which aims to connect around 1.5 crore beneficiaries
of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) who are not yet connected to KCC scheme
• Currently, there are around 9 crore beneficiaries under PM KISAN.
WINDS Manual
It is launched to enhance the impact of the Weather Network Data Systems (WINDS) initiative which was
launched in July 2023 to utilize advanced weather data analytics to make informed weather decisions on
agriculture.
• WINDS initiative targets to establish a wide network of weather stations an Rain Gauges at the
block and gram panchayat level.
• Click Here to Read about WINDS
Key Point:
i.WINDS manual offers stakeholders a deep understanding of the portal, aiding States and Union
Territories in its integration for transparent data observation. It also provides practical insights on using
weather data for better crop management and risk reduction.
i.On 12th July 2023, Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW),
virtually launched a new campaign for banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) titled BHARAT
(Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) to mobilize funds from banks.
ii.On 13th July 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture called upon the banks to promote Rs 1 lakh crore AIF for
creation of necessary infrastructure in the farm sector. Under this scheme, Rs 1 lakh crore is to be
disbursed by financial year 2025-26 and the interest subvention and credit guarantee assistance will be
given till the year 2032-33.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW):
Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar (Constituency-Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Sushri Shobha Karandlaje; Kailash Choudhary.
HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Launches Integrated Electricity Consumer Portal

Himachal Pradesh(HP) Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Integrated Electricity
Consumer Portal of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) on the occasion of
Engineer’s Day on 15th September 2023.

• This effort seeks to establish a paperless work culture throughout the organisation, with the
goal of streamlining administrative processes and expediting services.
• This is a part of Himachal Pradesh’s efforts to achieve a Green Energy State by 31st March,
2026.
Features:
• Consumers can pay their electricity bills and seek new electricity connections by applying
online through this portal.
• They can check the application status, change the name of the connections, and load
adjustments in this portal.
• The portal would provide energy generation statistics and allow Independent Power Producers
(IPP) to submit online invoices without visiting the concerned authorities.
Agri Secretary Manoj Ahuja Launches Mobile App & Web Portal for GCES to Revolutionize
Farming Practices
On September 21, 2023, Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)
under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) launched the mobile application and
the web portal for General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES) to transform agricultural practices across India.
• This development has been made to enhance the reach, scope, and outcome of government actions
in the course of development.
• The piloting of the app and portal is planned in 12 States and will be rollout by 3rd week of October
2023.
• All states are urged to adopt GCES portal and application to ensure creditability.
Developer:
The portal and the mobile application of GCES has been developed by the DA&FW.
Key Points:
i.With this launch, GCES will become automatic as field data will be collected using GPS (Global Positioning
System) enabled mobile application and will be stored in the server which ensures on time reporting of crop
statistics.
• Till date data collection, compilation and yield estimation is fully manual process which cause delay
in reporting by states.
ii.GPS-enabled devices offer precise latitude and longitude coordinates, ensuring data integrity and eliminating
manipulation in location-based data collection
iii.The portal and app store detailed yield data by village, including crop experiment information and harvest
weights.
• Agencies involved in conducting Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) in different states are Revenue
Department, Agriculture Department and Directorate of Economics &Statistics.
iv.The app’s geo-referencing feature ensures data accuracy and transparency by mapping plot boundaries and
uploading photos.
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.
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.
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.

Pterygotrigla intermedica: ZSI Discovered New Species of Deep Water Marine Fish of West
Bengal Coast
The scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified a new species of vibrant orange deep-water
marine fish namely ‘Pterygotrigla intermedica‘ from Digha Mohana in West Bengal.
The details of the new species are published in the international marine science Journal Thalassas on
September 20, 2023.
• The new species, commonly known as gurnards or sea-
robins, belongs to the family Triglidae and Indo-Pacific
subgenus Otohime of the genus Pterygotrigla.
• It’s is the fourth Pterygotrigla species found in India, among
a total of 178 Triglidae species worldwide.
Features:
Notable features of the new species include a long opercular spine and
a very short cleithral spine; lateral-line, gill rakers on upper limb and
12–13 on lower limb of first gill arch and a large black blotch between the 4th and 6th spines of the first dorsal
fin.
Key Points:
i.The team of scientists was led by Anil Mohapatra of the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) at ZSI,
along with Sanmitra Roy and Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra.
ii.The discovery was made in 2018 when a local fisher caught the species as a bycatch.
• 24 specimens were collected during a study of by-catch components along India’s east coast.
• Out of the 24 specimens, 23 are preserved at ZSI’s EBRC in Gopalpur, Odisha with one specimen in
the Marine Fish Section in Kolkata for further study.
iii.The new species closely resembles its congeners, Pterygotrigla arabica, P. hemisticta and P. spirai.
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
ZSI is a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Director– Dr. Dhriti Banerjee
Scientists Discover New Pangolin Species Named “Manis Mysteria”

Scientist has identified a new Pangolin species, tentatively named “Manis mysteria” through the analysis of 27
scales confiscated in Hong Kong in 2012 and 2013. This new species becomes the 9th pangolin species and
the 5th Asian pangolin.
The 8 extant species of pangolins, classified into three genera: Manis(Asia), Phataginus(Africa),
and Smutsia(Africa).
The finding was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS).
Pangolins are nocturnal mammals that dig burrows, feed on ants and termites, and have scales made of keratin
that cover their entire body.
Pangolin is the world’s most trafficked mammal and its scales are coveted for use in traditional
medicine.
Since 2014, all 8 pangolin species are classified as threatened with extinction on The International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

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Current Affairs Study PDF – June 2023
Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ................................................................................................................................................. 7
CABINET APPROVALS ...................................................................................................................................... 7
PARLIAMENT NEWS ....................................................................................................................................... 15
FESTIVAL ......................................................................................................................................................... 16
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ....................................................................................................................... 18
OTHER NEWS .................................................................................................................................................. 27
STATE NEWS ......................................................................................................................................................... 44
GOVT SCHEMES ..................................................................................................................................................... 48
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ...................................................................................................................................... 50
VISITS .................................................................................................................................................................... 58
INDIAN VISITS ................................................................................................................................................. 58
FOREIGN VISITS .............................................................................................................................................. 65
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS .................................................................................................................................. 73
BANKING NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 73
RBI IN NEWS.................................................................................................................................................... 73
SEBI .................................................................................................................................................................. 79
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS .............................................................................................................................. 88
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED ...................................................................................................................... 91
OTHER BANK NEWS ....................................................................................................................................... 96
FINANCE NEWS ............................................................................................................................................. 110
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS ............................................................................................................................. 119
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 124
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS ................................................................................................................................. 151
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE ..................................................................................................................... 156
INDEX.................................................................................................................................................................. 159
RANKING ....................................................................................................................................................... 159
REPORTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 180
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ................................................................................................................................. 202
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 223
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ................................................................................................................................... 245

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 249
DEFENCE ............................................................................................................................................................. 258
EXERCISE ....................................................................................................................................................... 258
MoU’s & DEALS ............................................................................................................................................. 263
TESTING ........................................................................................................................................................ 265
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ............................................................................................................................... 267
SPORTS ............................................................................................................................................................... 273
OBITUARY ........................................................................................................................................................... 294
BOOKS & AUTHORS ............................................................................................................................................. 300
IMPORTANT DAYS ............................................................................................................................................... 301
APPS & WEB PORTAL .......................................................................................................................................... 345
ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 355

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approvals on May 31, 2023
On May 31, 2023, The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi approved the
following proposals:
i.Constitution and empowerment of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for facilitation of the World’s Largest
Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector
ii.Establishment of a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union in New Delhi
iii.City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) from 2023 to 2027
Cabinet approves Constitution and Empowerment of IMC for Facilitation of World’s Largest Grain
Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector
On the lines of the Central Government’s plan to expand the foodgrain storage capacities in India, the Union
Cabinet has approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the
facilitation of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector.
• The Government will infuse approximately Rs 1 Lakh Crore (Rs 1 trillion) for this plan in order to
increase foodgrain storage capacity by 700 lakh tonne in the cooperative sector from about 1,450
lakh tonne presently to 2,150 lakh tonne in the next five years by constructing a godown capacity of
2000 tonnes in every block.
Aim of Plan:
i.To reduce the damage of food grains due to a lack of storage and strengthening food security
ii.Help in checking distress sales by farmers
iii.Reduce import dependence
iv.Create employment opportunities in rural India
Convergence of Various Schemes:
This plan will see the convergence of the following schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (MoFPI).
MoA&FW:
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
• Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI)
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
• Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
MoCAF&PD:
• Allocation of food grains under the National Food Security Act
• Procurement operations at Minimum Support Price
MoFPI:
• Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME)
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
Pilot Project:
The pilot project of the plan would be implemented by the Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) in at least 10 selected
Districts of different States/Union Territories (UTs) by ensuring time-bound and uniform implementation.
• The Pilot will highlight the various regional requirements of the project, which will be further
incorporated for the country-wide implementation.
About IMC:
The IMC for the facilitation of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector will be constituted
under the Chairmanship of Minister of Cooperation.

• Its members will include the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Minister of Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minister Of Food Processing Industries, and concerned
secretaries.
Responsibilities of IMC:
i.To modify guidelines/ implementation methodologies of the schemes of the respective Ministries as and when
need arises, within the approved outlays and prescribed goals
ii.Creation of infrastructure such as godowns, etc. for Agriculture and Allied purposes at selected Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
Benefits of the Plan:
i.Address the shortage of agricultural storage infrastructure in India by setting up various types of agri-
infrastructure, including warehouse, custom hiring center, processing units, etc. at the level of PACS, thus
transforming them into multipurpose societies.
ii.Enable PACS to undertake various other (following) activities, thus, enhancing the incomes of the farmer
members as well:
• Functioning as Procurement centres for State Agencies/ Food Corporation of India (FCI)
• Serving as Fair Price Shops (FPS)
• Setting up custom hiring centers;
• Setting up common processing units
There are more than 1,00,000 PACS in India with a huge member base of more than 13 crore farmers.
iii.It will reduce the cost incurred in transportation of food grains to procurement centres and again
transporting the stocks back from warehouses to FPS.
Through ‘whole-of-Government’ approach, the Plan would strengthen PACS by enabling them to diversify their
business activities, thus enhancing the incomes of the farmer members as well.
Time-frame and Manner of implementation:
As the plan received Cabinet approval, a National Level Coordination Committee will be formed, and
implementation guidelines will be issued within 15 days.
• A portal for the linkage of PACS with Govt. of India and State Governments will be rolled out within
45 days of the Cabinet approval.
• Overall, implementation of proposal will start within 45 days of the Cabinet approval.
Note:
i.India has 65,000 agricultural cooperative societies. Through the launch of the Grain Storage Plan, the farmers
could able to obtain up to 70% of loans from these societies in addition to storing their produce in the facilities.
ii.India produces about 3,100 lakh tonnes of foodgrains annually, and current godown facilities can store only
up to 47% of the produce.
Cabinet approves establishment of Regional Office of the UPU in New Delhi
The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in New
Delhi, Delhi. This office would focus on UPU’s development cooperation and technical assistance activities in
collaboration with UPU.
Key Points:
i.Under this collaboration, India will provide a Field Project Expert, staff, and office space for the regional
office and it would also prepare and implement projects on capacity building and training, improving efficiency
and quality of postal services, enhancement of Postal technology, e-commerce and trade promotion.
ii.The office will implement projects to improve postal services, technology, e-commerce, and trade promotion
in the region.
iii.The initiative will not only expand India’s diplomatic reach and strengthen relations with other countries,
particularly in the Asia-Pacific region but also enhance India’s presence in global postal forums.
About Universal Postal Union (UPU):
Established in 1874 by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) to
promote and facilitate the smooth functioning of international postal services and foster cooperation among its

member countries. It is the second-oldest international organization after the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU).
Director General– Masahiko Metoki
Headquarters– Berne, Switzerland
Members– 192 nations
Cabinet approves City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) from 2023 to 2027
To further expand the Smart Cities Program, the Union cabinet approved the ‘City Investments to Innovate,
Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0)’ to 18 more cities which will run for a period of four years, from 2023
to 2027.
• CITIIS 2.0 is an initiative developed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in
collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW),
the European Union (EU), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
Funding:
The funding for CITIIS 2.0 will include a loan of Rs 1,760 crore (EUR 200 million) from AFD and KfW (EUR 100
million each) and a technical assistance grant of Rs 106 crore (EUR 12 million) from the EU.
3 Components of CITIIS 2.0:
i.Component 1:Provide financial and technical support for climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation
projects in up to 18 smart cities.
• Emphasis on circular economy and integrated waste management.
ii.Component 2:Support all States and UTs on demand. Assist in setting up/strengthening State climate
centers, creating Climate Data Observatories, enabling climate-data driven planning, and building capacities of
municipal functionaries.
• Project Management Unit (PMU) at National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) will coordinate
support.
iii.Component 3:Strengthen climate governance in urban India through institutional strengthening, knowledge
dissemination, partnerships, capacity building, and research.
• Interventions at Centre, State, and City levels to facilitate scale-up across all States and Cities.
Key Points:
i.The cities will have to apply to the government and will be shortlisted by a panel for final approval
ii.CITIIS 2.0 complements the climate actions of the Government of India, aligning with existing national
programs like the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and
Urban Transformation 2.0), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0, and Smart Cities Mission (SCM).
iii.It also contributes to India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and commitments at the
Conference of the Parties (COP26).
Background:
CITIIS 1.0. was launched jointly in 2018 by MoHUA, AFD, EU, and NIUA, with a total outlay of Rs 933 crore (EUR
106 million).
• At present, 12 cities are already covered by the first tranche of the programme. More than 50
products and 150 technical documents have been created for urban practitioners.
The 3 components of CITIIS 1.0:
• Component 1: 12 city-level projects selected through a competitive process.
• Component 2: Capacity-development activities in the State of Odisha.
Component 3: Promoting integrated urban management at the national level through activities undertaken by
NIUA, which was the Program Management Unit (PMU) for CITIIS 1.0

Cabinet Approval on June 7, 2023
On June 07, 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following
proposals.
• Approved the third revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
• Approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Crops
• Approved the continuation of the ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme’
• Approved Metro Connectivity from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City in Gurugram
Third revival package for BSNL:
i.The cabinet has approved the third revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) with a total outlay
of Rs 89,047.82 crore that includes allotment of 4G/5G spectrum through equity infusion.
ii.The authorized capital of BSNL was increased from Rs 1,50,000 crore to Rs. 2,10,000 crore.
iii.With the third revival package, BSNL will emerge as a stable telecom service provider focused on providing
connectivity to remotest parts of India.
The details of Budget and Specturm allotment :
Band Spectrum allotted Budgetary support
700 MHz 10 MHz paired in 22 licensed service areas (LSAs) Rs 46,338.60 Crore
3300 MHz 70 MHz in 22 LSAs Rs 26,184.20 Crore
26 GHz 800 MHz in 21 LSAs and 650 MHz in 1 LSA Rs 6,564.93 Crore
2500 MHz 20 MHz in 6 LSAs and 10 MHz in 2 LSAs Rs 9,428.20 Crore
Miscellaneous items Rs 531.89 Crore
Total Rs 89,047.82 Crore
Key Points:
i.With the above budget allotment, BSNL could provide pan-India 4G and 5G services, provide 4G coverage in
rural and uncovered villages under various connectivity projects, fixed wireless access (FWA) services for high-
speed Internet, and services/ spectrum for captive non-public network (CNPN).

ii.Union Government had approved the first revival package for BSNL/Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (
MTNL) in 2019 amounted to Rs. 69,000 Crore. In 2022, Government approved second revival package for
BSNL/MTNL amounting to Rs 1.64 Lakh Crore.
• Due to these two packages, BSNL has started earning operating profits since FY 2021-22. Total debt
of BSNL has reduced from Rs 32,944 Crore to Rs 22,289 Crore.
iii.It provided financial support for capex (Capital Expenditure), viability gap funding for rural landlines,
financial support for de-stressing the balance sheet and settlement of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues and
merger of BBNL with BSNL.
iv.As per the statement of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Communications and IT, BSNL was
allocated Rs 53,000 crore capital in 2023 to construct new towers, enhance its 2G/3G, 4G and 5G networks pan
India.
• BSNL also issued advanced purchase orders worth over Rs 19,000 crore to a consortium led by TCS
and C-DOT for the deployment of 4G network.
Increase in MSP for Kharif crops
i.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the increase
in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24.
• Objective: To ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce and to encourage crop
diversification.
• As per Third Advance Estimates for FY23, total Foodgrain production in India is estimated at a
record 330.5 million tonnes which is higher by 14.9 million tonnes as compared to the FY22. This is
the highest increase in the last 5 years.
ii.The MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 was increased in line with the Union Budget 2018-
19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average Cost of
Production, aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers. Click here to know the MSP for Kharif
Crops
iii.The margin to farmers over their cost of production are estimated to be highest in case of bajra (82%)
followed by tur (58%), soybean (52%) and urad (51%) and for rest of the crops it is estimated to be at least
50%.
iv.The Union Government launched schemes and initiatives, such as the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY),
the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), to encourage farmers to diversify their crops.
Continuation of ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme’
The CCEA chaired by PM Narendra Modi also approved the continuation of the central sector plan ‘Exploration
of Coal and Lignite scheme’ with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,980 crore with extension of time period
from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle.
Key Points:
i.The exploration for coal and lignite under the scheme is conducted in two broad stages: (i) Promotional
(Regional) Exploration and (ii) Detailed Exploration in non-Coal India Limited blocks.
ii.An outlay of Rs 1,650 crore will be provided for promotional (Regional) exploration and Rs 1,330 crore for
detailed drilling in non-CIL (Coal India Limited) areas.
iii.Approximately 1,300 sq km area will be covered under Regional exploration, and about 650 sq km area will
be covered under detailed exploration, it added.
iv.Purpose: The exploration for Coal and Lignite is required to prove and estimate the availability of coal
resources in India, which would help further in preparing detailed project reports to start coal mining.
Metro Connectivity from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City
Union Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi also approved the extension of Metro Connectivity from HUDA
City Centre on the Delhi Metro’s Yellow Line to Cyber City in Gurugram (Haryana) spanning a distance of
28.50 km and encompass a total of 27 stations along the route.
The entire project will be elevated and have a spur (side line) from Basai village to Dwarka Expressway, for
connectivity to the depot.

• The total completion cost of the project will be Rs.5,452 crore. This will be a standard gauge line of
1435 mm (5 ft 8.5 inches).
• The project is proposed to be completed in 4 years from the date of sanction of the Project and it
would be implemented by Harayana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC) which
will be set up as a 50:50 Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India and Government
of Haryana.
Name of corridor Length(in KM) No. of Station
Huda City Centre to Cyber City – Main corridor 26.65 26
Basai Village to Dwarka Expressway – Spur 1.85 1
Total 28.5 27
Benefit: The metro line will connect New Gurugram with Old Gurugram (which at present does not have any
metro line). In next phase, it will provide connectivity to Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Existing metro lines in Gurugram:
i.Yellow Line: The Yellow Line which was introduced in June 2010, is operated by the Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation (DMRC), stretches across 49.019 km and encompasses 37 stations, connecting Samaypur Badli to
HUDA City Centre.
ii.Rapid Metro Gurugram – 2013: The Rapid Metro Gurugram, constructed in two phases, covers a route
length of 11.6 km. The first phase, a 5.1 km loop from Sikandarpur to Cyber Hub, was initially built by a
consortium involving DLF, IERS (IL&FS Enso Rail System), and ITNL (IL&FS Transport Network Limited).
• Since November 14, 2013, the first phase has been managed by Rapid Metro Gurgaon Ltd.
• The second phase, spanning 6.5 km from Sikandarpur to Sector-56, was constructed by a
consortium consisting of ITNL and IRL (IL&FS Rail Limited) and has been operated by the Rapid
Metro Gurgaon South Ltd since March 31, 2017.
Other Proposed Metro lines in Gurugram:
i.Gurgaon – Manesar – MBIR (82 km) line was proposed in 2015 and set to complete by 2017. However, the
line has still not been developed.
ii.Gurgaon – Faridabad line had already been approved by the government and received the green light to
begin development in March 2023 and the line will have 12 stops covering 34.12 km.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals in
February: Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana, Ratification of 3 Protocols on Article 3 bis and
Article 50 (a) & Article 56 relating to amendments in the Chicago Convention, 1944, Extension of the term of
the 22nd Law Commission of India upto 31st August, 2024, and Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory
certification of cotton bales.
Cabinet Approvals on June 28 2023

On June 28, 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has given its approval
for multiple initiatives and they are as follows.
-Approved Ratificatio of HQA between GoI & CDRI
The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Narendra Modi approved the ratification of the Headquarters Agreement
(HQA) between Government of India (Gol) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) which was
signed on 22nd August, 2022.
Backdrop:
i.On 28 August, 2019, the Union Cabinet had approved the setting up of CDRI along with its supporting
Secretariat in New Delhi (Delhi) and also gave the approval for GoI financial support of Rs 480 crore to CDRI
over a period of 5 years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

ii.Subsequently, on the 29th June, 2022, the Cabinet had approved recognition of CDRI as an International
Organization and for signing of HQA for granting CDRI exemptions, immunities and privileges as contemplated
under Section-3 of the United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.
iii.In pursuance of the Cabinet decision, on 22nd August, 2022 the HQA was signed between the Gol and CDRI.
iv.Thus the Ratification of the signed HQA between Gol and CDRI would provide CDRI an independent and
international legal persona so that it can carry out its functions internationally, more efficiently.
About CDRI:
i.The CDRI was launched by PM Narendra Modi during the United Nations Climate Action Summit on the
23rd September, 2019, at New York (United States of America).
ii.It is the global initiative launched by the GoI and is seen as India’s attempts to obtain a global leadership role
in climate change and disaster resilience matters.
iii.CDRI is a global partnership of National Governments, United Nations (UN) agencies and programmes,
multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge
institutions that aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby
ensuring sustainable development.
iv.Since its launch, thirty-one (31) Countries, six (06) International Organizations and two (02) private sector
organizations have become members of CDRI.
v.CDRI has been expanding its membership consistently by attracting a wide variety of economically advanced
countries, developing countries, and countries that are most vulnerable to climate change and disasters.
-Approved introduction of NRF Bill, 2023
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the PM Narendra Modi approved the introduction of the National Research
Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament.
i.The approved Bill would enable the establishment of NRF which will seed, grow and promote Research and
Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges,
research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
ii.After approval of the bill in the Parliament, it will establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic
direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy
(NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs 50,000 crore during five years (2023-28).
iii.The bill would also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of
Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which has an expanded mandate and covers activities over and
above the activities of SERB.
Governing Bodies :-
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF
which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals
across disciplines.
• The Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science &
Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents.
• NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific
Adviser to the Government of India.
Purpose of NRF:
i.It will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research
institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State
governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.
ii.It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage
collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.
-CCEA Approved Schemes for Farmers
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved a package of
innovative schemes for farmers with a total outlay of Rs 3,70,128.7 crore.

• Objective: The schemes are focused at overall wellbeing and economic betterment of farmers by
promoting sustainable agriculture and to boost farmers’ income, strengthen natural / organic
farming, rejuvenate soil productivity, and ensure food security.
Continuation of Urea Subsidy Scheme:
i.Continuation of Urea Subsidy Scheme was approved by the CCEA to ensure constant availability of urea to the
farmers at the same price of Rs 242/ 45 kg bag excluding taxes and neam coating charges.
• Out of above approved package, Rs. 3,68,676.7 Crore have been committed for urea subsidy for
three years (2022-23 to 2024-25). This is apart from recently approved Nutrient Based Subsidy of
Rs 38,000 Crore for Kharif season for 2023-24.
ii.Current MRP of urea is Rs 242 per 45 kg bag of urea (exclusive of charges towards neem coating and taxes as
applicable), whereas the actual cost of the bag comes around Rs. 2200.
iii.The Scheme is wholly financed by the GoI through budgetary support and the continuation of the scheme
will increased the indigenous production of Urea to reach self-sufficiency levels.
Note – GoI has also increased the fertilizer subsidy from Rs 73,067 Crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 2,54,799 Crore in
2022-23.
Strengthening of Nano Urea eco-system:
GoI plans to commission 8 Nano urea plants with production capacity of 44 Crore bottles equaling to 195 LMT
of conventional urea by FY26.
In order to make India ‘Atmanirbhar’ in Urea by 2025-26, GoI is setting up and revival of 6 urea production
units at Chambal Ferti ltd. – Kota Rajasthan, Matix ltd. Panagarh West Bengal, Ramagundam-Telangana,
Gorakhpur-UP, Sindri-Jharkhand and Barauni-Bihar.
Indigenous production of urea has increased from the level of 225 LMT during 2014-15, to 250 LMT during
2021-22. In 2022-23, production capacity has increased to 284 LMT.
–Approved assistance to promote organic Fertilizers
GoI has approved assistance of Rs. 1451.84 crore for Market Development Assistance (MDA) for promoting
Organic Fertilizers from Gobardhan Plants.
The approved package also consists of innovative incentive mechanism for the restoration, nourishment, and
betterment of the mother earth.
• PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother –
Earth (PMPRANAM) would incentivize States/ Union Territories to promote alternate fertilizers
and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
Key Points:
i.MDA scheme in the form of Rs 1500 per MT to support marketing of organic fertilizers, viz., Fermented
Organic Manures (FOM)/Liquid FOM/Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM) produced as by-product from
Bio- gas Plants/Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants set up under umbrella GOBARdhan initiative.
ii.This initiative will facilitate establishing 500 new waste to wealth plants under GOBARdhan scheme for
promoting circular economy, by increasing the viability of these BG/CBG plants.
Promotion of Natural Farming
Initiative taken for the Promotion of Natural Farming as sustainable agriculture practice is restoring soil health
and reducing input costs for farmers.
• 425 KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) have laid down demonstrations of natural farming practices and
organized 6,777 awareness programs involving 6.80 lakh farmers.
• Course curricula for Natural Farming has also been developed for BSc as well as MSc programmes to
be implemented from the academic session July-August 2023.
Introduction of Sulphur coated Urea (Urea Gold);
• To address sulphur deficiency of soil and save input costs for the farmers, Sulphur coated Urea (Urea
Gold) is being introduced in India for the first time which is being more economical and efficient
than the currently used Neem coated urea. It will increase the farmers’ incomes with enhanced
production & productivity.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) reaches 1 lakh
About one lakh PMKSKs have already come up in India. For the convenience of farmers, the farm inputs are
being provided as a one stop solution for all needs of farmers.
-Approved FRP of Sugarcane
i.CCEA has approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2023-24 (October –
September) at Rs 315/qtl for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%.
ii.It has also been approved to provide a premium of Rs 3.07/qtl for each 0.1% increase in recovery over and
above 10.25%, & reduction in FRP by Rs 3.07/qtl for every 0.1% decrease in recovery.
iii.GoI also decided that there should not be any deduction in case of sugar mills where recovery is below 9.5%.
• Such farmers would get Rs.291.975/qtl for sugarcane in ensuing sugar season 2023-24 in place of Rs
282.125/qtl in current sugar season 2022-23.
iv.The cost of production of sugarcane for the sugar season 2023-24 is Rs.157/qtl. This FRP of Rs.315/qtl at a
recovery rate of 10.25% is higher by 100.6% over production cost.
• The FRP for sugar season 2023-24 is 3.28% higher than current sugar season 2022-23.
Note – The FRP approved shall be applicable for purchase of sugarcane from the farmers in the sugar season
2023-24 (starting w.e.f. 1st October, 2023) by sugar mills.
Background:
i.In the current sugar season 2022-23, about 3,353 lakh tons of sugarcane of worth Rs.1,11,366 crore
purchased by sugar mills, which is the second highest next to the procurement of paddy crop at Minimum
Support Price.
ii.India is being the second largest exporter of sugar in the world. In sugar season 2021-22, India has also
become largest producer of sugar. It is expected that India would become third largest ethanol producing
country in the world by 2025-26.
PARLIAMENT NEWS
GoI Amended the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 introduced TOD Tariff &
Rationalized Smart Metering Provisions
Government of India (GoI) has introduced two changes to the prevailing power tariff system, through an
amendment to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020.
• The changes are: introduction of Time of Day (ToD) Tariff, and rationalization of smart metering
provisions.
TOD Tariff System:
i.Under the ToD Tariff system, Tariff during solar hours (duration of eight hours in a day as specified by the
State Electricity Regulatory Commission) of the day shall be 10%-20% less than the normal tariff, while the
tariff during peak hours will be 10 to 20 percent higher.
ii.ToD tariff would be applicable for Commercial and Industrial consumers having Maximum demand of 10 KW
and above, from 1st April, 2024 and for all other consumers except agricultural consumers, latest from 1st
April, 2025.
iii.ToD tariff should be made effective immediately after installation of smart meters, for the consumers with
smart meters.
Benefits:
• As per the statement of Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh ToD tariffs
comprising separate tariffs for peak hours, Solar hours and normal hours, send price signals to
consumers to manage their load according to the Tariff.
• With awareness and effective utilization of ToD tariff mechanism, consumers can reduce their
electricity bills.
• As the solar power is cheaper, the tariff during the solar hours will be less, so the consumer will get
benefited.

Rules over amendment in smart metering provision:
i.GoI simplified the rules for smart metering to avoid inconvenience / harassment of the consumers, the
existing penalties for increase in consumer’s demand beyond the maximum sanctioned load / demand have
been reduced.
ii.As per the amendment in metering provision, post installation of a smart meter, no penal charges will be
imposed on a consumer based on maximum demand recorded by the smart meter for the period before
installation date.
iii.Load revision procedure has also been rationalized and smart meters should be read remotely at least once
in a day and the data should be shared with Consumers in order to enable them to take informed decision about
electricity consumption.
Note –
• The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 were notified by the GoI on December 31, 2020,
based on the conviction that power systems exist to serve consumers and that consumers have
rights to get reliable services and quality electricity.
• The current amendment to the Rules is a continuation of the measures taken by the government, to
empower power consumers, to ensure 24X7 reliable electricity supply at affordable cost, and to
maintain a conducive ecosystem for investment in the power sector.
FESTIVAL
Union Minister Jitendra Singh Inaugurated ‘Lavender Festival’ in J&K; Bhaderwah Emerged as
Lavender Capital of India
On 4th June 2023, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of state (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
inaugurated the two-day “Lavender Festival” in Bhaderwah Valley of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• While inaugurating the festival, Jitendra Singh stated
that Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender
capital of India and a prominent Agri-Start-up
destination.
• Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-
Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu,
has organised the event as part of its One Week One
Lab Campaign.
CSIR- Aroma Mission:
The CSIR- Aroma Mission, a flagship project of CSIR has been instrumental in promoting lavender cultivation in
the temperate regions of J&K.
• In the Bhaderwah, Doda district of J&K, CSIR-IIIM is supporting farmers in the cultivation of
Lavender under CSIR-Aroma Mission.The media has recognized this initiative of CSIR-IIIM as the
“Purple Revolution.”
• The primary goal of CSIR-Aroma Mission is to increase the income of small and marginal farmers
and foster the development of agriculture-based start-ups.
• Under CSIR-Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM introduced Lavender and provided more than 30 Lakh free
Lavender plants to the farmers of different districts of J&K.
Key Points:
i.Lavender variety (RRL-12) developed by CSIR-IIIM in J&K is the source of high-value, low-volume essential oil
which is highly sought after by perfumery industry.
• This variety is highly suitable for cultivation in the rain-fed temperate regions of India.
• CSIR-IIIM has installed fifty distillation units (45 fixed and five mobile) at different locations across
J&K to support the farmers in the processing of lavender.

ii. CSIR-IIIM has conducted many skill development programs and trained more than 2500 farmers and young
entrepreneurs from J&K on Lavender cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing.
Benefits of Lavender Cultivation:
i.The successful adoption of Lavender cultivation in the temperate regions of Jammu by many small and
marginal maize farmers has led to the establishment of a new industry around the region.
ii.Many young entrepreneurs in J&K have started small-scale businesses through the value addition of
Lavender oil, hydrosol, and flowers.
iii. The net annual income of farmers who switched from maize to Lavender cultivation has increased many
folds from around Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000 per hectare to Rs.3,50,000 to Rs.6,00,000 per hectare.
iv.Farmers of the Bhaderwah, Doda district, produced 300, 500, 800, and 1500 Litres of Lavender oil in 2019,
2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. They earned around Rs 5.0 Crore between 2018-2022 by selling dry
flowers, Lavender plants, and Lavender oil.
Wihu Kuh festival of Tangsa Tribe showcases Arunachal Pradesh’s vibrant culture
Tangsa, the traditional tribal community of Arunachal Pradesh (AR) celebrated the annual festival ‘Wihu
Kuh’ in June 2023.
• Wihu Kuh, translating to “paddy transplantation festival”, marks the beginning of the agricultural
season and a cultural exhibition that enclose the spirit of the Tangsa people.
• This festival is a time of labour and hope, it is also a period of happiness, as the tribe welcomes the
prospect of an abundant harvest.
About Tangsa tribe:
i. Tangsa is a tribal community which is deeply rooted in their agricultural traditions, living mainly in the
verdant hills of the Changlang district of AR.
ii.Tangsa tribe is a collective of sub-tribes each with their distinct dialect and customs, reside primarily in the
Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and across the border in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, Burma.
iii. In spite of their diverse sub-tribal identities, all Tangsa communities come together to celebrate the
WihuKuh Festival, a testament to their unity and shared devotion to the land that sustains them and their
unwavering belief in the power of community.
Wihu Kuh festival:
i. The WihuKuh Festival stands as a symbol of the tribe’s rich cultural tapestry, which reflects their deep
connection with the earth, their joyful spirit, and their strong sense of community.
ii. The festival begins with common prayer and the ceremonial sowing of the first rice seeds by playing the
rhythmic beats of the “rongker”, traditional drums, and the sweet-toned tunes of the “pangtoi”, a bamboo
flute.
iii.At the festival the men are decorated in vividly coloured traditional attire and headgears decorated with bird
feathers and wild boar tusks. The women wear handwoven shawls and beaded necklaces.
Traditional Food: Rice beer, locally known as “apong”, is a traditional beverage that flows freely during the
festival.
Songs and Tales:
i. Traditional folktales and songs are shared throughout the festival, and passed down from older generations
to the young, keeping the tribe’s oral tradition alive.
ii. The stories define the tribe’s intrinsic connection with nature and their respect for the environment.
About Arunachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister– Pema Khandu
Governor– Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Airport– Tezu Airport, Itanagar Airport

Raja Parba Festival of Odisha: Celebration of Womanhood and Earth
Raja Parba of Odisha, also known as Swing Festival, is an annual 3 day festival celebrated during the month
of Asadha (usually starts on 14th June and ends on 16th June) dedicated to honouring Earth and celebrating
womanhood.
• The festival also marks the beginning of monsoon.
Raja Parba 2023 is celebrated from 14th June to 16th June 2023.
Note: Raja is the shorthand of the word Rajaswala, which means a menstruating woman.
Celebration of Raja Parba:
i.The first day is celebrated as Raja Sankranti or Pahili Raja, the second day is celebrated as Mithun
Sankranti or Raja and the third day is celebrated as Bhudaha or Basi Raja (the day after raja).
ii.The fourth day is celebrated as Vasumati Sanana,signifies the end of the mensuration of the earth.
Significance:
i.The people of Odisha believe that Bhudevi (Earth), the wife of Lord Jagannath (Vishnu) undergoes her
menstrual cycle in these days before the onset of rains.
• During the celebration of Raja Parba, people do not plough or do construction and other works
which requires the earth to be dug.
• It is believed that after this festival the earth becomes even more fertile.
ii.During the festival women and girls do not participate in cooking and spend their days on the improvised
swings.
• The festival celebrates the menstruation and conveys the message of empowerment against the
societal taboos.
About Odisha:
Governor- Ganeshi Lal
Wildlife sanctuaries – Debrigarh Wildlife sanctuary, Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary

MeitY launches pilot project on Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing
On May 31, 2023, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched a pilot project
on Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) in Bengaluru, Karnataka which will run for three months
(from May 31, 2023) on a trial basis with five companies, namely Flex, Lenovo, CTDI, R-Logic, and Aforeserve.
Key Points:
i.Through the ERSO scheme, India hopes to capture 20% of the global repair service market (in five years)
which is currently valued at USD 100 billion.
ii.At present, India’s revenue from repair services is about USD 350 million which is likely to be USD 20 billion
in the next 5 years.
iii.This initiative will also support Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
iv.MeitY, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) converged with industry to make India the
most attractive repair destination for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) products globally.
MoE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveils UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities)

regulations, 2023
On June 2, 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) released the UGC
(Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023 for the establishment of more quality-focused
deemed universities. These will surpass the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2019.
• Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the new Regulations are built on the principle of
a ‘light but tight’ regulatory framework envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.

How will these guidelines be helpful?
These guidelines will enable the establishment of numerous high-quality deemed-to-be universities in an
objective and transparent manner. The simplified guidelines will encourage universities to prioritize quality,
excellence, and enhance the research ecosystem, thereby, transforming higher education in India.
Key Features of UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023:
i.Faculty Strength: The minimum required faculty strength has been increased from 100 to 150.
ii.Corpus Fund: For private institutions, the corpus fund requirement has been increased from Rs 10 crore to
Rs 25 crore.
iii.Executive Councils: Deemed universities will now need to establish executive councils similar to those in
central universities.
iv.It also include eligibility criteria based on NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ‘A’
grade or NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings, online application process, distinct
institution category, off-campus center setup eligibility, quality monitoring, adherence to statutory body rules,
fee concessions and scholarships, Academic Bank of Credits implementation, transparency in prospectus
availability, and record maintenance for five years.
v.The regulations prioritize quality and monitoring will be closely monitored by UGC expert committees.
• Failure to rectify identified deficiencies may result in the withdrawal of permission to start new
courses or programs.
vi.Institutions deemed to be Universities with minimum ‘A’ grade and above or ranked from 1 to 100 in the
“Universities” category of NIRF rankings of the relevant year are eligible to set up off-campus centres.
Click Here for full features
Note:
Under the UGC Act 1956, the Central Government has the authority to designate an institution as an Institution
Deemed to be University, as if it were a university within the meaning of Section 2(f). Upon declaration, such
institution shall be deemed to be a university.
The first set of Regulations was notified in the year 2010, which were revised in 2016 and 2019.
Meta & MWCD launched Amrit Generation Campaign to Empower Youths

Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) launched the
Amrit Generation campaign to empower and engage the youth of India (age group of 16-18 years) to express
their aspirations and dreams for the future. The campaign starts on 8th June 2023.
• The campaign was launched by Union Minister Smriti Irani, MWCD on 7th June 2023.
• The campaign invites youths to showcase their creativity and share their aspirations by creating
Reels on Instagram and Facebook using the #Amrit Generation.
50 shortlisted entries will be invited to New Delhi (Delhi) to interact with senior policymakers and industry
leaders and will also get an opportunity to visit the Meta office in Gurugram (Haryana).
MoP & MNRE jointly launched “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research” to leverage
Emerging Technologies in Power Sector
The Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have jointly launched a
national mission named “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research” (MAHIR) to quickly identify
emerging technologies in the power sector and leverage them indigenously, at scale, for deployment within and
outside India.
• By identifying emerging technologies and taking them to the implementation stage, the mission
seeks to support them as the main fuel for future economic growth and make India a manufacturing
hub of the world.
• The mission has been planned for an initial period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 and will
follow the technology life cycle approach of Idea to Product.

Aim:
The national mission MAHIR aims to facilitate indigenous research, development and demonstration of the
latest and emerging technologies in the power sector.
Funding for the Mission:
i. The Mission will be funded by pooling financial resources of the MoP, MoNRE and the Central Public Sector
Units (PSUs) under the two Ministries of MoP and MNRE.
ii. Any additional funding needed will be mobilised from the Government of India’s budgetary resources.
Click here for the Office Memorandum of MAHIR
Highlights:
i. MAHIR will act as a catalyst for achieving Net Zero emissions and promoting initiatives like Start-Up and
Make in India in the Power Sector.
ii. It will also contribute towards attaining the United Nations (UNs) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
iii. MAHIR will work with premier institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes
of Management (IIMs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and
Research (IISERs) and Universities on the one hand and public & private power sector start-ups and
established industries (Government enabled) for creating an innovation ecosystem.
Areas identified:
Eight areas have been identified for research and are:
• Alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries
• Modifying electric cookers/pans to suit Indian cooking methods
• Green hydrogen for mobility (High-Efficiency Fuel Cell)
• Carbon capture
• Geothermal energy
• Solid-state refrigeration.
• Nanotechnology for EV battery
• Indigenous Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) technology
Structure of the Mission: The Mission will have a two-tier structure, a Technical Scoping Committee and an
Apex Committee.
• The technical scoping committee will be chaired by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity
Authority, will identify ongoing and emerging research areas globally, and recommend potential
technologies for development under the Mission.
• The Apex Committee, chaired by the Union Minister for Power & New and Renewable Energy will
deliberate on the technology and products to be developed and approve the research proposals.
MoPSW launched ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’, an Online Dredging Monitoring System

On 9th June 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW),
launched “Sagar Samriddhi – Waste to Wealth”, an online dredging monitoring system as part of the ‘Waste
to Wealth’ initiative of the MoPSW.
• The system is developed by National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts
(NTCPWC), the technological arm of MoPSW, and it replaces the previous Draft & Loading Monitor
(DLM) system.
Key People:
Secretary of MoPSW Sudhansh Pant along with other senior officials of the MoPSW also attended this
programme.
Note: The application of technology for monitoring aims to reduce human error and is in line with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Zero Defects and Zero Effect.
Sagar Samriddhi:
Capabilities:
• Real-time dredging progress report

• Daily and monthly progress Visualisation
• Dredger performance and downtime monitoring
• Easy location track data with snapshots of loading, unloading and idle time
Features:
i.This will also bring in synergy among multiple input reports like daily dredging reports, and the pre and post-
dredging survey data before processing and producing real-time dredging reports.
ii.This will enable better productivity and contract management and will also enable the effective reuse of
dredged material with the waste-to-wealth concept.
Implementation:
i.At present, the Cochin Port(Kochi, Kerala) and Mumbai Port(Mumbai, Maharashtra), have adopted the
Sagar Samriddhi system.
ii.The New Mangalore Port(Mangaluru, Karnataka) and Deendayal Port(Kutch, Gujarat) it is running the system
on a trial basis.
iii.The MoPSW has mandated all Major Ports and Inland Waterways Authority of India (lWAl) to monitor the
dredging activity through this system with customisation from NTCPWC.
About Waste to Wealth Mission:
Waste to Wealth Mission is one of the 9 scientific missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and
Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC).
Aim:
• To identify, develop, and deploy technologies to treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials,
and extract resources of value.
• To identify and support the development of modern technologies that promise to create a clean and
green environment.
Key Points:
i.In 2021, the MoPSW issued the “Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports” to address the objective of carrying out
dredging with the essential technical investigation.
ii.This enabled the Major Ports to formulate the dredging projects in order to complete in time.
• The Ports and IWAI annually spend around Rs.1000 crores for the annual maintenance dredging at
Major Ports and Waterways (around 100 million cubic meters).
iii.With this new system, the dredging cost will be reduced and also bring in more transparency and efficiency
to the overall system.
About NTCPWC:
NTCPWC was established under the Sagarmala Programme of MoPSW with an investment of Rs 77 cores at the
Indian Institute of Technology Madras(IIT Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Aim: to enable research & development for the marine sector.
On May 10, 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH
(Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy), launched ‘Harit Sagar Guidelines – 2023’, the
Green Port Guidelines, in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal
Minister of State– Shripad Yesso Naik, Shantanu Thakur
Google launches Indian Languages Program to support local news publishers

On 16th June 2023, Google has launched the ‘Indian Languages Programme‘ under the Google News Initiative
(GNI), to support local news publishers in India improve their digital operations and reach more readers.
Key highlights:
i.The program aims to empower publishers with various tools and best practices to enhance their user
experience and revenue generation.

ii.The Indian Languages Programme aims to provide training, technical support, and funding to news
publishers in English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi.
iii.It will include series and virtual workshops on Core Web Vitals, website optimisation, News Consumer
Insights (NCI), YouTube.
Eligibility criteria:
• Eligible applicants must be small or medium-sized Indian language news organisations that have an
operational website, a minimum of 12 months of continuous operation, and at least 50 full-time
employees(FTE).
The GNI Indian Languages Program is open for applications till June 30, 2023 on the GNI website and will be
evaluated by the Google Project team and external advisors.
Note: GNI is Google’s digital skills training program for journalists and newsrooms in tackling misinformation.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches New CSR Guidelines ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayog’
On 27th June 2023, The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal
launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayyog’ the new guidelines of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by the Ministry
of Ports, Shipping & Waterways in New Delhi, Delhi.The new guidelines empower ports to undertake CSR
activities directly by addressing local community issues.
• The rules would impact Projects and programmes involved in the activities listed in Section 70 of
the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
CSR Committee:
i.A CSR Committee will be formed in each major port headed by the Deputy Chairperson of the Major
Port and shall have two other Members.
ii.To integrate CSR in Business Plan each major port shall prepare a CSR Plan for every financial year with the
social and environmental concerns related to the business of the entity.
CSR funding guidelines:
Sagar Samajik Sahayyog guidelines will enable the ports in India to allocate a specific percentage of their net
annual profit based on their turnover for implementation and monitoring of CSR activities.
i.Ports with an annual turnover of less than Rs 100 crores will spend 3-5% of their net annual profit.
ii.Ports with a turnover between Rs 100 to 500 crores will spend 2-3% of their net annual profit.
iii.Ports with a turnover exceeding Rs 500 crores will spend 0.5-2% of their net annual profit.
The split up of the CSR money:
i.20% of CSR expenses must be designated to Sainik Kalyan Board at district level, National Maritime Heritage
Complex and National Youth Development Fund.
ii.78% of funds should be released for the social & environmental welfare of the community.
iii.2% of the total CSR expenses will be dedicated to project monitoring by the ports for implementation and
monitoring of CSR activities.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways:
Union Minister- Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam
Minister of State- Shantanu Thakur(Constituency-Bangaon, West Bengal)
Swachh Survekshan 2023: MoHUA launched Field Assessment for 8th edition of World’s
Largest Urban Cleanliness Survey
On 27th June 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Field Assessment for
the 8th edition Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2023 – Mera Shehar, Meri Pehchan. SS 2023 survey is expected to
engage with approximately 10 crore citizens and making it the world’s largest annual urban cleanliness survey.
• Under SS 2023, around 3,000 assessors will take the field for assessment from 1 July 2023 and will
evaluate over 4500 cities across 46 indicators. It is expected to be completed within a month.
• SS 2023 was rolled out on 24th May 2022 with telephonic feedback from citizens on various
parameters of city cleanliness.

Objective:
i. The focus of SS 2023 is on Waste-to-Wealth initiative and is curated towards processing and scientific
management of waste
ii. The survey aims to promote sustainable sanitation and waste management through competition and
engagement with citizens.
Swachh Survekshan:
i. It was first launched in 2016 under the aegis of MoHUA as an assessment tool to analyse and compare the
status of sanitation of Indian cities under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) (Urban).
ii. As a part of the SBM (Urban), the assessment will be based on cleanliness of public spaces and toilets;
collection of feedback from residents; and the performance of municipalities in waste collection, segregation
and processing.
iii. The Survey will be held to prepare the annual ranking of the cleanest cities in India.
• For 6 consecutive years (since 2016), Indore city, Madhya Pradesh has been ranked as the cleanest
city in India.
Swachh Survekshan 2023 Survey:
i. The survey was conducted over 4 quarters, the first 3 quarters of assessment have already been completed
successfully and a new 3rd quarter for SS 2023 was introduced in 2023.
ii. The 4th and the final quarter is now being launched from 1 July, 2023.
iii. The survey includes new indicators such as waste processing, segregation at source, and cleanliness of
public areas.
iv. Efforts are being taken to make the survey easier and useful for smaller and medium sized cities so that
SwachhSurvekshan continues to be a management tool for improvement in sanitation.
SS 2023 Indicators:
i. It focuses on parameters concerning: Segregated door-to-door waste collection; zero waste events; Divyang-
friendly toilets; improved plastic waste management and cleaning backlanes, wherein the marks have been
increased in 2023.
ii. This has also prioritisedSafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge (SSC) focusing on the efforts towards the
transformation of manhole to machine hole.2x marks have been increased under this component.
Note: SSC, launched on 19th November 2020 under the MoHUA with a core challenge of eradicating hazardous
cleaning and promoting mechanised cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
iii. The new indicator of Waste to Wonder Parks has been introduced with 2% weightage. Swachh TULIP (The
Urban Learning Internship Program), primarily for more than 1 lakh population cities, enters SS 2023 as a new
indicator.
iv. Red Spots (spitting in commercial/ residential areas) has also been added as a new indicator under cleaning
of public areas.
v. Special emphasis is being placed on Promotion of RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, functionality of RRR Centres.
40% weightage has been indicated for detailed technical assessment of all waste treatment facilities in cities in
2023.
Feedback:
The feedback from the citizens are collected through Vote For My City App, Vote For My City Portal, MyGov App,
Swachhata App and QR (Quick Response) Codes.
Survey Process:
i. MoHUA has taken qualitative measures to ensure seamless functioning of the survey. A national team has
been specifically designated as a single point of contact for States/cities for matters pertaining to toolkits and
anything regarding assessments etc.
ii. MoHUA will also be sending a core team to various cities to oversee the assessment process.
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister- Hardeep Singh Puri (Rajya Sabha Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)- Kaushal Kishore (Constituency- Mohanlalganj, Uttar Pradesh)

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the first-ever National Training Conclave for Civil Servants
On 11th June 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the first-ever National Training
Conclave aimed at strengthening the training infrastructure for Civil Servants across India at an event held at
the International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The Conclave was hosted by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and is organised under the
authority of the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) – ‘Mission
Karmayogi’.
• The training modules nurture the potential of officials as well as instil the whole of government
approach and spirit of Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation).
Highlights:
i. The Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) Karmayogi platform has brought about a level playing
field as it provides opportunities to everyone for training.
• Karmayogi Mission seeks to improve the orientation, mindset and approach of the government
personnel.
ii. Over 1500 representatives from various training institutes, including Central, State, Regional and Zonal
Training Institutes, and Research institutes attended the conclave.
iii. Civil Servants from the Central government departments, State governments, and local governments, as well
as experts from the private sector took part in the deliberations.
iv. This diverse gathering will foster the exchange of ideas, identify the challenges being faced and
opportunities available, and generate actionable solutions and comprehensive strategies for capacity building,
v. The Conclave will have eight-panel discussions, each focusing on key concerns related to Civil Services
training institutes such as faculty development, training impact assessment, and content digitisation.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates National Training Centre for FSSAI
On May 31 2023, Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW)
inaugurated the state-of-the-art National Training Centre for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Key People:
Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State (MoS), MoH&FW; G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive
Officer(CEO) of FSSAI, S Gopalakrishnan, Special Secretary, MoH&FW, and General (Dr.) V.K. Singh (Retd), MoS
of Civil Aviation and Road Transport & Highways, were present at the event.
Significance of the Center:
i.The new National Training Centre of the FSSAI will provide structured instruction, practice, and learning
experiences to bridge the gap between existing knowledge and desired knowledge in the field of food safety
and standards.
ii.National Training Centre is established to offer various training programs.
• As mandated by the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006 and the FSS Rules, 2011, FSSAI is
responsible for providing training to individuals involved in food businesses, including food
business operators, employees, Food Safety Officers, and designated officers.
• This will also ensure the development of a future-ready workforce committed to ensuring safe and
wholesome food for the citizens of India.
App Launched:
Food Safety and Certification (FoSTaC), an e- learning app developed by FSSAI that contains learning and
training modules about food safety guidelines, such as proper food handling, storage, and hygiene practices etc.,
for street vendors was launched by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Books Released:
Dr. Mandaviya launched two books namely Millets (Shree Anna) Recipes- A Healthy Menu for Mess/Canteens
and Healthy Gut, Healthy You – Traditional Recipes with potential probiotic benefits.

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)-G. Kamala Vardhana Rao
Established-5 September 2008
MSDE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated ‘Project Gajapati to Gabon’, Gabon’s 1st Agri-
SEZ Project
On June 14, 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education(MoE) and Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), inaugurated Project Gajapati to Gabon and flagged off Gabon’s
first Agriculture Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Project & Power Transformers (T&D) Project from New
Delhi, Delhi.
The establishment of the Agriculture and Food Processing Special Economic Zone in Gabon will enhance food
security and self-sufficiency in Gabon.
About Project Gajapati to Gabon:
Project Gajapati to Gabon is an international outreach initiative of the government of Gabon, AOM Group and
Centurion University of Technology and Management for Education, Industry skilling and Agri Skilling Project.
About Agriculture SEZ Project and T&D project:
Agriculture SEZ Project and T&D project is the joint Venture (JV) of the Government of Gabon with Africa’s AOM
Group as implementing partner and Odisha’s Centurion University of Technology and Management as
knowledge, training and technology partner.
Key Points:
i.It was inaugurated during the event in New Delhi whose Chief Guest was Union Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan, MSDE and Guest of Honour were Hugues Judicael Mbadinga Madiya, Minister of
Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnerships of Gabon; Mve Ellah Charles, Minister of Agriculture of
Gabon; Mouguiama Daouda Patrick Taofick, Minister of Higher Education of Gabon.
ii.In the first phase of the program, 30 farmers and 20 B.Sc./M.Sc. Agri and B.Tech/M.Tech Engineering
students from Gajapati district, an aspirational district of Odisha, will visit Gabon as agri-technical and technical
consultants under the above-mentioned Agri-SEZ.
iii.Notably, development partnership is a key pillar in India’s Africa policy.
• India has extended concessional loans of over US$ 12.3 Billion to Africa and US$ 700 Million of
grant assistance with development projects in various sectors.
About Gabon:
It is a country in Central Africa.
Capital– Libreville
Currency– Central African CFA franc
President– Ali Bongo Ondimba
UTPRERAK: MoS Krishan Pal inaugurated CoE in NPTI, New Delhi to boost adoption of Energy
Efficient Technologies
On June 26, 2023, the Union Minister of State (MoS) Krishan Pal inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE)
namely ‘Unnat Takniki Pradarshan Kendra (UTPRERAK)’/’Advanced Industrial Technology Demonstration
Centre (AITDC)’ at the National Power Training Institute (NPTI), Badarpur in New Delhi (Delhi). The MoS also
released the logo of the Centre and released the brochure on the Centre.
• It has been set up by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power (MoP) to boost
industry adoption of clean and energy efficient technologies and boost India’s global energy
transition impact, and make it a Developed Nation by 2047.
• MoP will allocate sufficient funds under the budget for BEE
• The event also saw the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BEE and NPTI.

Highlights:
i.More than 10,000 energy professionals are proposed to be trained in next 5 years from the industry and other
potential sectors
ii.UTPRERAK will help the industry meet emission intensity reduction targets, as India is going to roll out
Indian carbon market soon.
• The CoE will enable industries to achieve these targets, by promoting and handholding new
technologies.
iii.It is proposed to set up Steering Committee and an Advisory Body comprising industry and other
stakeholders who will guide CoE about its activities through recommendations, and ensure the maintenance
and upgradation of its facilities.
• It will also bring together all stakeholders including new engineers, energy managers, energy
auditors, decision makers and manufacturers of energy efficient technologies.
Responsibilities of UTPRERAK:
It aims to promote Energy Conservation and sustainable development in India by improved access to modern
energy efficiency services, Technology and knowledge base. It will implement and support projects and
activities in 5 result areas:
i.Becoming the primary reference and resource institution for industrial energy-efficient technologies.
ii.Demonstrating and showcasing energy-efficient technologies in important industry sectors.
iii.Functioning as an exhibition cum information center and repository of knowledge.
iv.Facilitating knowledge exchange through workshops and seminars, promoting best practices adoption.
v.Acting as a strategic capacity-building institution, offering comprehensive training and education in energy
efficiency to professionals across India.
Key Points:
i.Under the guidance of BEE, the CoE will undertake collaboration and technology transfer on advanced
technologies with institutes across the world.
• BEE would collaborate with various research institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology
(IITs), National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), Central Pulp & Paper Research
Institute (CPPRI), National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), Jawaharlal Nehru
Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), South India Textile Research
Association (SITRA) and Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), etc., for carrying out
research activities at the CoE.
ii.The Centre will also operate as a Regional Hub for conducting Research and Development (R&D) activities for
clean energy technologies in identified sectors.
iii.The CoE consists of three demo halls for demonstration of technologies for five Perform, Achieve and Trade
(PAT) sectors viz. Iron & Steel, Cement, Pulp and Paper, Chlor-Alkali and Textiles. It also has two lecture
halls for training and education activities.
iv.When fully functional, it will have state-of-the-art facilities for networking, conferencing, training, and
information dissemination on energy-efficient technologies.
Participants:
Additional Secretary, Ajay Tewari, MoP; Director General (DG), Abhay Bakre, BEE; DG, Dr. Tripta Thakur, NPTI;
among others.
i.In 2022 India’s Ministry of Power targeted battery storage capacity of 4% of total electricity consumption by
2030. To reach that goal, India would need a total battery energy storage capacity of 182 gigawatt-hours by
2030.
ii.According to a list published by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Ministry of Power, West Bengal
Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has ranked best performing power generation company in the
country for the financial year 2022-23 (FY23).

About Bureau of Energy efficiency (BEE):
It was established on March 1, 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
Director General– Abhay Bakre
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Power
OTHER NEWS
India Conducts Asia’s 1st Performance-based Helicopter Navigation
India conducted Asia’s first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters. The flight from
Juhu (a suburb of Mumbai), Maharashtra to Pune, Maharashtra was made using GAGAN (GPS(Global
Positioning System) Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) satellite technology, which allows high-quality of air
traffic management.
• The GAGAN technology was jointly developed by
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and
the Airports Authority of India(AAI).
Key Points:
i.The GAGAN technology supports the aircraft/helicopters
with guided landing at airports which do not have instrument
landing systems for low-visibility operations.
ii.All the registered aircraft in India will have to comply with
GAGAN by December 2025.
iii.As helicopters which fly at much lower levels are always at
risk for locational inaccuracy specially in case of accidents for search and rescue operations, the GAGAN
technology will enhance better traffic management of both aircraft and helicopters in the Indian air space.
About GAGAN:
i.The GAGAN is a state-of-the-art space-based augmentation system that uses a system of ground stations to
provide necessary augmentations to the GPS standard positioning service(SPS) navigation signal.
• GAGAN is the regional Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) implemented by the
government of India.
ii.It is a system to improve the accuracy of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver by providing a
reference signal.
iii.It provides possible navigational services over the Indian FIR (Flight Information Region) with the capability
of expanding to neighbouring FIRs.
• The GAGAN is designed to provide the additional accuracy, availability, and integrity necessary to
enable users to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, from en route through approach for all qualified
airports within the GAGAN service volume.
Benefits:
i.GAGAN will also provide the capability for increased accuracy in position reporting, allowing for more
uniform and high-quality Air Traffic Management (ATM)
ii.GAGAN will also provide benefits beyond aviation to all modes of transportation, including maritime,
highways, and railroads.
Note – In April 2022, IndiGo became the first airline in India to land aircraft using the indigenous navigation
system GAGAN.
India’s first, Hydrogen-Powered Trains to run from Jind district of Haryana

Indian Railways is set to introduce its first hydrogen train, expected to start operating from Jind district in
Haryana by March 2024.The first prototype of the hydrogen train is scheduled to run between the Jind-Sonipat
(Haryana) Section of Northern Railway in the fiscal year 2023-2024.

• India’s first hydrogen plant is being established near the railway junction in Jind (Haryana) district,
in order to support this initiative.
• The hydrogen plant is in its final phase of
development and is expected to be completed by
December 2023.
• The hydrogen plant will produce hydrogen from
water and will play a pivotal role in powering the
hydrogen trains.
Note: Currently, trains in India run on diesel and electricity
and it is claimed that hydrogen powered trains have been
running only in Germany.
Key Points:
i. Hydrogen trains use hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel engines, and those cells produce electricity by
combining hydrogen and water, which generates electricity used to power the train’s motor.
• The by-products are water and a little heat.
ii. The hydrogen fuel based train of eight bogies will be environment friendly, as hydrogen fuel does not
produce harmful emissions.
iii. The introduction of hydrogen-powered trains will not only reduce carbon (CO2) emissions but also pave the
way for a cleaner and greener future.
Note: Senior officials have also visited the site to assess the requirements for setting up a hydrogen pump in
Jind (Haryana) and establishing the necessary infrastructure.
PM Narendra Modi Pens Song ‘Abundance in Millets’ with Grammy winner Falu; 3 New
Categories Added to Grammy Awards
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has collaborated with Falguni Shah (Falu), an Indian-American singer-
songwriter, who is also a Grammy Award winner for a special song named ‘Abundance in Millets’ to promote
the benefits of millet and its potential to alleviate world hunger.
• The single track ‘Abundance in Millets’ which was
performed by Falu along with her husband (singer)
Gaurav Shah was released on June 16, 2023, on every
streaming platform.
• The song which highlights the benefits of millet was
written in English and Hindi and made accessible to
everybody.
Key Points:
i.Falu received the Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album in
2022 for her album ‘A Colorful World’.
ii.Falu stated that PM Narendra Modi suggested her to write a song with a message of ending hunger to bring
change and uplift humanity.
iii.International Year of Millets:
• The year 2023 has been designated as the ‘International Year of Millets’ after a proposal for it was
brought forward by India and endorsed by Members of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) Governing Bodies, as well as by the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.
• Millets were among the first crops to be domesticated in India and several evidences are found for
its consumption during the Indus Valley civilization.
• At present millets are grown in more than 130 countries, and they are considered traditional food
for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa.

-3 New Categories Added to Grammy Awards
i.The Recording Academy has recently announced the addition of three new categories of Best African Music
Performance, Best Pop Dance Recording, and Best Alternative Jazz Album, to the Grammy Awards.
• The addition of three new categories acknowledges the influence of the Afrobeats genre and
showcases unique local expressions from across the African continent.
• Eligibility: Subgenres such as Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Afro-pop, Bongo Flava, Ethio jazz, Kizomba,
High Life, Fuji, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian drill, Afro-house, and South African hip-hop will be
eligible for consideration.
Key Points:
i.Earlier, the African-based songs dominated nominations in the Best Global Music Performance category,
which debuted in 2022.
ii.Now due to the addition of the Best African Music Performance award, global songs from other genres like
Latin music, K-pop, and Arabic music may also now get a better chance at earn nominations in the Best Global
Music Performance category.
iii.The Grammys have also made changes to the voting process. Two categories of Producer of the Year (Non-
Classical) and Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical), have been moved to the general field.
iv.Grammys voters are limited in the categories they can vote, however, all voters are allowed to vote in the
general field.
v.Thus the 66th Grammy will now have 94 categories, the nominations will be announced in November 2023,
and the awards ceremony will take place in early 2024.
Ricky Kej, an Indian music composer and environmentalist based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, has his 3rd Grammy
at the 65th annual Grammy Awards(Grammy 2023) under the Best Immersive Audio Album category for the
album Divine Tides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off 5 Vande Bharat trains from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
On 27th June 2023, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister (PM) of India flagged off 5 new Vande Bharat trains
connecting important cities in different parts of India from Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh (MP). This is for the first time so many Vande Bharat trains have been launched in one day.
• These trains will improve economic connectivity
across India by connecting various regions in
Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Karnataka
and Maharashtra.
• Among the 5 trains, 2 trains were physically
flagged off and 3 in virtual mode. The 5 new trains
increased the total number of Vande Bharat
Express trains to 23.
5 Vande Bharat trains:
• Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal, MP)-Jabalpur, MP
• Khajuraho (Bhopal, MP)-Indore, MP
• Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Dharwad-Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Hatia (Ranchi, Jharkhand)-Patna, Bihar
• Madhya Pradesh got 2 Vande Bharat trains.
The trains are designed to run at a speed of 110 kmph to 130 kmph, the average running speed on the
ground ranges between 63 to 96 kmph.
ii. The routes are smaller versions, comprising eight coaches instead of sixteen coaches.

Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur:
i. The train of MP will connect Mahakaushal region (Jabalpur, MP) to Central region (Bhopal) of MP,
and it will be nearly two hours and 30 minutes faster than the existing fastest train on the route.
ii. Tourist places like Bheraghat, Pachmarhi, and Satpura, etc in the region will be benefitted by the
enhanced connectivity.
Ranchi-Patna:
i. It will be the first Vande Bharat train for Jharkhand and Bihar and the average speed of the train on
the Ranchi-Patna route is not more than 63 kmph.
ii. A rail distance of 379 km between Ranchi and Patna is currently traversed in 6 hours, it will boost
connectivity between Patna and Ranchi and will help the commuters save one hour and 25 minutes of
journey time on the existing route.
Dharwad-Bengaluru:
i. It will connect major cities in Karnataka- Dharwad, Hubballi, and Davangere with the silicon city,
Bengaluru.
ii. It will be faster by about 30 minutes compared to the fastest train on the route.
Goa-Mumbai:
i. It will be Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express, covering a distance of 586 km; it will connect Mumbai’s
ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj Terminus to Goa’s Madgaon
ii. It will also link Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali stations in Maharashtra and
Thivim in Goa.
Vande Bharat trains:
i. Government of India (GoI) launched the first Vande Bharat trains in February 2019 in New Delhi,
Delhi.
ii. It provides passengers with world-class comfortable travelling experience and advanced state-of-
the-art safety features, including KAVACH technology, an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System
developed by Indian Railways through Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) for
enhancing safety of running trains.
Note: Of the 23 Vande Bharat trains, the New Delhi(Delhi)-Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) train is the
fastest, running at 96 kilometre per hour (kmph) (even though the maximum speed is 130 kmph) and
covers 759 km in eight hours.
BIS Releases Quality Standard IS 18267: 2023 for Agri By-Product Utensils
On 16th June 2023, The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published IS 18267: 2023 on ‘Food Serving
Utensils Made from Agri By-Products – Specification’, aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting
sustainability.
• The IS 18267: 2023 lays down the norms to make disposable utensils free from harmful additives
and contributes towards environmental safety, conserve natural resources, promote a circular
economy.
Key Points:
i.The BIS standards covers various aspects such as raw materials, performance and manufacturing techniques
such as hot pressing, cold pressing, molding, and sewing.
ii.The IS 18267: 2023 standard, emphasizes the use of agricultural by-products, such as leaves and sheaths, as
preferred materials for making plates, cups, and bowls.
iii.It prohibits the use of chemicals, resins, and adhesives, and recommends appropriate parts of plants and
trees for production.
The disposable plate market is estimated to reach US$ 6.73 billion by 2028, growing at a Compound Annual

Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.94% from 2021 to 2028 helps in providing economic opportunities to farmers, Micro,
Small & Medium enterprises (MSME) and controls plastic and air pollution caused by the burning of
agricultural by-products.
7 Handicrafts Products of Uttar Pradesh Get Geographical Indication Tag

Geographical Indication Registry(Chennai, Tamil Nadu-TN) under the Department of Industry Promotion and
Internal Trade(DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI), has recognised 7 Handicrafts products
from Uttar Pradesh with Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
The 7 products are
• Amroha Dholak.
• Kalpi Handmade Paper.
• Baghpat Home Furnishings.
• Barabanki Handloom Product.
• Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip.
• Mainpuri Tarkashi.
• Sambhal Horn Craft.
GI Certification:
Baghpat home furnishing, Amroha dholak, Kalpi handmade paper and Barabanki handloom received the GI
certification on 14th June 2023 while Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip, Mainpuri Tarkashi, and Sambhal Horn
Craft received the certification on 1st May 2023.
• With the addition of these 7 new products, the total number of GI certified products of UP has
increased to 52.
• UP tops the list of state with highest number of GI-tagged handicrafts. Out of the 52 products to its
credit 40 are crafts goods. Varanasi has a total of 23 GI products of which 18 belongs to handicraft
products.
• These products are covered under ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme which aims for
balanced regional development across all districts across India.
• Tamil Nadu tops (overall) with 55 GI-tagged goods, followed by UP at the 2nd spot with 52 GI
products.
Amroha Dholak:
Amroha Dholak is a musical instrument made of natural wood (maily from the wood of Mango, jackfruit and
teakwood)
Amroha houses around 300 small units producing Dholak, a wood-based drum instruments.
• The application for the Amroha Dholak was filed by Artisans Welfare Society, Mohalla –
Danishmandan, Amroha, UP.
Kalpi Handmade Paper:
Kalpi handmade paper is the first to get the GI tag in the handmade paper category.
The craft was introduced by Munnalal ‘Khaddari’, a Gandhian, formally introduced the craft here in the 1940s,
• The application for Kalpi handmade paper was filed by Hasht Nirmit Kagaj Samiti, Industrial Estate,
Kalpi, UP.
Baghpat Home Furnishings:
Baghpat, known for its Home Furnishing works, supplies products like bed sheets, mattresses, towels, pillows
and other products across India.
• The application for Baghpat Home Furnishings was filed by the Directorate of Handloom and Textile
Industries, Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Master Weavers Cooperative Society Limited.
Barabanki Handloom Product:
Barabanki and adjoining region houses around 50,000 weavers and 20,000 looms and the annual turnover of
these clusters is estimated to be around Rs 150 crores.

• The application for Barabanki Handloom Product was filed by the Directorate of Handloom and
Textile Industries, Government of UP, along with Bhartiya Bunkar Sahkari Samiti Limited.
Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip:
Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip is a stone craft which uses a unique and soft stone with scientific name, the
‘Pyro Flight Stone’, a radiant white-coloured stone that is predominantly found in this region.
• The application for Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip was filed by Gaura Udyog Audyogik Utpadan
Sahkari Samiti Limited.
Mainpuri Tarkashi.
Tarkashi, an art form which is primarily a brass wire inlay work on wood, popular in the Mainpuri district of
UP.
This is maily used for khadaous, which means wooden sandals.
• The application for Mainpuri Tarkashi was filed by Tarkashi Hastshilp Sahkari Samiti.
Sambhal Horn Craft.
Sambhal Horn Craft is a horn-bone handicraft products made in Sambhal region. The raw material used for
making these craft items is procured from dead animals.
• The application for Sambhal Horn Craft was filed by the Handicrafts Welfare Association.
The Government of India (GoI) has given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to 33 new products from different
states, including Bihar (1), Uttar Pradesh (10), Madhya Pradesh (1), Chhattisgarh (1), and Tamil Nadu (11), as
well as the Union Territories (UT) of Ladakh (1) and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) (8).
The total number of GI Tags in India has risen to 465.
About Uttar Pradesh(UP):
Bird Sanctuary– Parwati Arga Bird Sanctuary; Lakh-Bahosi Bird Sanctuary
Festival– Janmashtami; Taj Mahotsava
Uttarakhand’s Naini Saini Airport Receives Aerodrome License By DGCA

The Naini Saini Airport, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
aerodrome licence to operate civil flights.
• This license which is valid for 6 months, has been handed over to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation
Development Authority (UCADA) by DGCA.
About Naini Saini Airport:
i.The Naini Saini Airport was inaugurated in 1994, by the then Union Civil Aviation Minister
Gulam Nabi Azad in the presence of UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav which allows chartered
or private flights carrying VIPs.
ii.This airport is located at an aerial distance of just 50 kilometers from the China border which has an
air strip of 1508 meters.
Note: 2 major airports in Uttarakhand- Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and Pant Nagar Airport of
Udham Singh Nagar.
Formal job creation increased in FY23, Highest in Maharashtra: EPFO Payroll Data Analysis
According to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) payroll reporting data analysis, 1.39
crore people found new formal jobs in India in FY23 which means the number of net payroll additions
increased around 13% Y-o-Y (Year-on-Year) to 1,38,51,689 in FY23 from 1,22,34,625 in FY22.

• The increase in payroll addition was recorded amid global layoffs and an economic slowdown.
In India, tech start-ups laid off around 20000 employees in FY23, while other sectors provided
jobs.
• Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of formal job creation, contributing
around 22% of total new jobs created in India i.e., 30,28,978 payroll additions across age
groups and sectors.
• It should be noted that Maharashtra has topped every financial year since September 2017,
when the EPFO began releasing payroll addition data.
Assessment:
It captures the employment data of firms employing at least 20.
Highlights:
i.In Maharashtra, from 15,75,943 lakh in FY19, new formal jobs in the state increased to 17.4 lakh the
following year. While there was a dip during the pandemic in FY21, the number shot up in FY22. This again
increased by 15% in FY23.
ii.Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu (TN) at 2nd place with 14.05 net new payroll additions in FY23
recording a 9.6% increase in formal job creation compared to FY22.
• It has risen in ranking after a gap of five years.
iii.Karnataka, Haryana and Gujarat bagged the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
iv.Among the large states, Assam had the fewest formal job creations at 64,432. This is, however, a 177%
increase compared to FY22.
v.The 22-25 age group bagged the most jobs at 36.24 lakh.
• 32.25 lakh people aged 18-21 also bagged formal jobs in FY23.
vi.While Tech start-ups in India laid off around 20,000 employees in FY23, the other sectors did well in
providing jobs.
Note: Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) also showed lower unemployment rate, 7.6% in
FY23, compared to the previous two financial years of 8% in FY22 and 10% in FY21.
MoRTH allows e-Bank Guarantee, Insurance Surety Bonds as bid & Performance Security in
BID, HAM & EPC Projects
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has approved the acceptance of e-Bank Guarantee
(BG) and Insurance Surety Bonds as a bid security and performance security in standard documents (Request
for Proposal (RFP) and Model concession Agreement (MCA)) of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction
(EPC), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) (Toll) projects.
• This decision follows recent amendments by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
in General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017 relating to inclusion of e-BG and Insurance Surety Bonds
as means to accept bid security and performance security.
Key Points:
i.As per the approval, existing contracts including road development, toll contracts, ropewaysand any other
contract wherein Ministry has prescribed a BG can be replaced with insurance surety bonds.
ii.Physical bank guarantees (being taken as bid security or performancesecurity) may be accepted if e-bank
guarantees are not feasible.
iii.The introduction of surety bond insurance reduces the reliance on bank guarantees for infrastructure
developers and provides risk transfer and financial protection in case of non-performance.
• It also requires less collateral and frees up funds for business growth.
iv.In December 2022, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Finance, launched the country’s first-ever
surety bond insurance product to reduce the dependence on infrastructure developers on BG.

v.Recently, the Ministry of Finance has agreed to allow contractors engaged by state-owned National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to
convert their bank guarantees into insurance surety bonds.
Static Points:
i.A Bank Guarantee (BG) is a financial instrument used as a legal contract in which a bank acts as a guarantor
and undertakes an obligation to pay the beneficiary a certain amount of money specified in the guarantee, if the
debtor from the original contract does not fulfill his contractual obligations.
ii.Insurance Surety Bonds are instruments where insurance companies act as ‘Surety’ and provides the
financial guarantee that the contractor will fulfil its obligation as per the agreed terms.
iii.Ministry of Finance, has made e-BG and Insurance Surety Bonds at par for all Government procurements.
India-Bangladesh border to undertake 5 developmental projects each in border areas

Border Security Force(BSF) of India and Bangladesh’s Border Guards Bangladesh(BGB) have agreed to initiate
five developmental projects to improve the ground conditions along the India-Bangladesh border.
• The decisions were announced during the 53rd Director General level border coordination
conference between BSF and BGB held in New Delhi, Delhi from 11th to 14th June 2023.
• The BSF side was led by Sujoy Lal Thaosen, DG of BSF and BGB side was led by AKM Nazmul Hasan,
DG of BGB.
i.The five projects include the construction of a bailey bridge, road repair, and the strengthening of retaining
walls.
ii,The projects will be implemented in five states along the border: Assam, West Bengal, Mizoram,
Meghalaya, and Tripura.
Union Govt takes 5 significant decisions for strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies
On 8th June 2023, the Government of India has taken 5 important decisions revolving around Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), a basic unit and the smallest cooperative credit institution in India that
works on the grassroots level (gram panchayat and village level).
Key People:
The 5 decisions were taken in a meeting held between Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of
Cooperation and Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers in New Delhi, Delhi.
5 decisions:
i. There are about 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies present across India. On the basis of
mapping, PACS which are not functioning as fertiliser retailers will be identified and encouraged to function as
retailers on the basis of feasibility in a phased manner.
ii. PACS which are not currently functioning as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK) will be
brought under the scope of PMKSK.
Note: PMKSK will serve the needs of the farmers in India and provide agri-inputs (fertilisers, seeds,
implements) including testing facilities for soil, seeds and fertilisers.
iii. PACS will be connected with the marketing of organic fertilisers, especially Fermented organic Manure
(FoM) or Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM) or Phosphate-enriched Organic Manure (PROM).
iv. PACS can also be employed as drone entrepreneurs for spraying fertilisers and pesticides. Drones can also
be used for the survey of the property.
v. Fertiliser companies will act as an aggregator for small bio-organic producers to market the end product,
under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme of the Department of Fertilisers. PACS will also be
included as wholesalers/retailers in this supply and marketing chain of bio-organic fertilisers.

ICAI Central Council approves renewal of MRAs with CPA Canada, CPA Ireland
The Central Council of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(ICAI), India’s largest professional accounting
body, has approved the renewal of the existing mutual recognition agreement (MRA)/memorandum of
Understanding(MoU) with CPA Canada (Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada) and CPA Ireland,
formerly the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland.
• ICAI has also approved the renewal of MRA with the South African Institute of Chartered
Accountants (SAICA), the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), the National Board of
Accountants and Auditors (Tanzania) and the Qatar Financial Centre Authority.
• These are in line with the efforts of ICAI to increase the global outreach and footprint of accounting
profession to expand opportunities for its members.
Key Points:
i.The ICAI has been expanding its presence across the globe and it is working with the accounting bodies across
the globe to establish MRAs and mutual recognition agreements.
ii.ICAI aims to collaborate with international organisations in accounting and related fields to provide greater
mobility and professional opportunities for Indian professionals.
ICAI office in US:
i.To enhance the professional global presence, ICAI’s Central Council also approved to open 2 new
representative offices in the United States of America(USA).
ii.These offices will be established in Philadelphia and Kansas.
iii.With these 2 new offices the total number of representative offices in the USA becomes 9. The other offices
are located in Florida, Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Michigan, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Recent Initiatives & MoUs by ICAI:
i.In May 2023, the Union Cabinet of India also approved the MoU to establish mutual cooperation between ICAI
and CA Maldives.
ii.In April 2023, the ICAI and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) renewed their
MoU to provide opportunity for the qualified member of both ICAI and ICAEW.
iii.Recently, Aniket Sunil Talati, President of ICAI, inaugurated the ICAI chapter in Seattle, the 9th Overseas
Chapter in the USA.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off MV Empress, India’s 1st International Cruise
from Chennai
On 5th June, 2023, The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and
Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the India’s maiden International Cruise Vessel – MV Empress –
from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). It is built at a cost of Rs.17.21 crores.
• The cruise service is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the first
Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways
Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise service.
The modern cruise terminal developed at Chennai Port is spread over an area of 2,880 square metres with the
ability to host 3,000 passengers at a time.
The cruise service will go to three ports in Sri Lanka, Hambantota, Trincomalee and Kankekanturi.
Rajasthan tops in Wind Energy Adoption during FY 2022-23; Gujarat & TN stands 2nd & 3rd
On the event organised as a part of the Global Wind Day 2023 (15th June 2023) in New Delhi, Delhi, Bhupinder
Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MoNRE) felicitated Rajasthan, Gujarat, and
Tamil Nadu (TN) for being the top achiever during the financial year(FY) 2022-2023.
• Rajasthan was honoured for achieving the highest wind capacity addition.
• Gujarat was honoured for achieving the highest wind capacity addition through open access.
• Tamil Nadu was honoured for initiating the repowering of wind turbines.

About the Global Wind Day event:
The MoNRE joined the global celebration of Global Wind Day 2023 by organising the 1-day event under the
central theme – “Pawan – Urja: Powering the Future of India”.
Organisers:
The event was organised by the National Institute of Wind Energy, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation,
Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, Indian Wind Power Association, and Wind Independent
Power Producers Association.
Participants:
The event witnessed the participation of the central and state government authorities, wind turbine
manufacturers and developers, international and domestic financial institutions, Central Public Sector
Enterprises(CPSEs), academia, think tanks and other stakeholders.
Highlights of the event:
The Wind Atlas at 150 meter(m) above ground level, prepared by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE)
was also launched during the event.
• At present, the onshore wind potential of India is at 1,164 giga watt (GW) at 150m above ground level.
Key Points:
i.According to the data of MoNRE, India ranks 4th in the Wind power capacity in the world.
ii.The government of India is committed to achieving the target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by the
year 2030.
iii.Wind energy will play a major role in achieving 50% of this target of achieving electric power installed
capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2070.
iv.Following the efforts of the Indian government, India has developed around 15GW of domestic and
manufacturing capacity.
Jettwings Airways, Northeast’s first Airlines gets Approval for Flight operations
On 14th June 2023, Jettwings Airways, a Guwahati (Assam)-based airline received the No objection certificate
(NOC) from the Ministry of civil Aviation (MoCA) to operate as ‘Schedule Commuter Air Transport Services‘
in the North eastern regions of India and aims to begin its services from October 2023. With this,
Jettwings becomes the first-ever company from the Northeast region to start airline operations in India.
• Jettwings Airways plans to offer regional connectivity to passengers under the Centre’s Regional
Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) to several destinations in the
Northeast and eastern Indian regions initially.
UDAN Scheme:
i. UDAN Scheme, initiated in October 2016 is a regional airport
development program which was launched in April 2017 by the
Government of India (GoI), and is basically a part of a regional
connectivity scheme for upgrading the under-serviced air routes.
Through this scheme, air travel will be made affordable and
widespread.
ii. Under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), the central
government has made efforts to improve air connectivity by linking
regional airports which has significantly improved trade for particular regions. This has also promoted the
economic growth and development of the tourism sector.
Highlights:
i. Jettwings Airways plans to introduce a fleet of modern aircraft, including turbofan and turbo-propelled ones,
to offer premium economy services for regional travel, after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals and
an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
ii. The fleet will initially have four 80- seater aircraft and the Airways will offer business class along with the
premium economy on their planes, where the seats will be the same as economy but better on-board services

will be provided.
iii. The Airways is also in a plan to introduce a loyalty programme to reward frequent passengers and to
expand its operations beyond North East India and neighbouring countries.
Footwear industry to comply with Quality Control Orders from July 1, 2023
On June 14, 2023, the Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) interacted with
the representatives from the Indian Footwear Industry in New Delhi, Delhi, and decided to implement
‘Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2022’ on 24 footwear
products (those made with rubber and polymeric material and other components) from July 1, 2023.
• It was also decided not to extend the deadline for complying with the mandatory quality standards and
included Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the ambit of the Quality Control Order (QCO).
MSMEs were earlier exempt from QCO.
• Now, footwear manufacturers have to modify their processes to comply with the new standards. This
includes establishing testing laboratories, obtaining Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licences, and
adhering to the rules for issuing the ISI (Indian Standards Institute) mark.
QCOs will help in increasing the production of quality footwear, and exports and establishing Indian brands in
the global markets.
Key Points:
i. For 5 standards which have been revised recently, it was also decided to give six more months time to small
industries (annual turnover less than Rs 50 crore and investment of Rs 10 crore) for complying with the order
and accordingly, it will come into force from January 1, 2024.
ii.Micro units (with an annual turnover of less than Rs 5 crore) will get an additional year and should follow the
new norms from July 1, 2024.
iii.BIS will reduce the Testing Charges for the footwear products under the QCOs by 80% for the government-
recognized start-ups and micro units, having less than Rs 5 crore turnover.
iv.In the leather and footwear sector, the government issued three mandatory quality orders on October 27,
2020. Out of these three, one on protective footwear was already implemented from January 2022 and the
remaining would come into force from July 1, 2023.
Key People:
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), MoCI, and
Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, BIS, among others, took part in the interaction.
Additional info:
i.As per the statement of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal,
India is the second largest footwear manufacturer in the world with 9% of the annual global production.
ii.More than 10,000 manufacturing units and about 1.5 lakh footwear traders spread all over India are engaging
more than 30 lakh people in manufacturing or trading activities and nearly 85% of the manufacturers are
small-scale in nature.
Note – Earlier the DPIIT, rolled out the Quality Control Orders for a host of goods such as toys, household
refrigerating appliances, certain steel and cable items, toys, and bicycles’ retro-reflective devices.
i.On 31st March 2023, The Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), Government of India(GoI), released the
Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 which aims to increase India’s exports to USD 2 trillion by 2030 by shifting
from incentives to remission and entitlement based regime.
ii.Indian industry to work with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to formulate standards for products which are
presently not covered under these standards, so that these can also be brought under QCOs after 6 months of
the notification of these standards.

About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I):
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS)– Som Parkash (Constituency- Hoshiarpur, Punjab) and Anupriya Patel (Constituency-
Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh)
MeitY joins hands with IITs to promote R&D of Nanoelectronics

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has joined hands with IITs (Indian Institute of
Technologies) to promote research, development of nanoelectronics.
Several initiatives have been undertaken by MeitY in the last five years to promote the Research and
Development (R&D) of nanoelectronics in India. The most important of these initiatives is the establishment of
Nanoelectronics Centres of international standards at premier institutes.
INUP-i2i:
• Indian Nanoelectronics Users Programme-Idea to Innovation (INUP-i2i) is a flagship programme
initiated and funded by MeitY.
• It is being implemented at the Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics (CEN) at IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT
Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Guwahati and has provided a great opportunity for the R&D
community all over the country for accessing state of the art nanofabrication facilities for
undertaking research and skill development in Nanoelectronics.
Recent Initiatives undertaken by IITs under INUP-i2i
i.Nanoscale Research Facility at IIT Delhi is organizing its “8th User Awareness Workshop on Fabrication &
Characterization Facility for Nanotechnology” on June 22-23, 2023 under INUP-i2i.
ii.IIT Kharagpur is organizing INUP-i2i Nano Hackathon on Healthcare, 2023.
iii.IIT Delhi is organizing Nano Hackathon under the INUP-i2i programme for students and academic
researchers in the area of Healthcare, Agriculture, Safety, Energy&Environment.
• The INUP-i2i would provide infrastructure and technical support and technical mentoring to the
hackathons.
What is Nanotechnology?
It is the development and use of techniques to study physical phenomena and develop new devices and
material structures in the physical size range of 1-100 nanometres (nm), where 1 nanometre is equal to one
billionth of a meter.
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha Odisha)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha Karnataka)
VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme announced to connect Indian STEMM diaspora with Indian
Higher Educational Institutions
On 15th June 2023, The Government of India has launched VAIBHAV(Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik), a new
fellowship programme to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine)
diaspora with Indian institutions.
• As a first step the Government is announcing VAIBHAV Fellowship Call-2023.
• The VAIBHAV programme will be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Ministry of Science and Technology.
The VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme:
It will facilitate academic and research collaborations between Indian higher education institutions and leading
institutions abroad.
Note: In 2020,the Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the VAIBHAV Summit, a global virtual
summit of overseas and resident Indian researchers and Academicians on Gandhi Jayanti,(2nd October).

Department of Legal Affairs sets up Panel led by T K Viswanathan to recommend Reforms in
Arbitration Law
On June 16, 2023, the Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law & Justice (MoL&J) constituted a 16-
member expert committee chaired by the Former Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs and Padma
Shri awardee (2017 – Civil Service) T K Viswanathan to recommend reforms in the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996.
• The objective is to alleviate the burden on courts.
• The panel has been tasked with submitting its report within 30 days.
Members:
Law Ministry additional secretary Rajiv Mani, Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, some senior
advocates, representatives of private law firms, and officials of the Legislative Department, NITI Aayog,
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), railways and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) are its
other members.
Key Responsibilities of Committee:
i.It will assess the current Indian arbitration system in the country, including the working of the Arbitration Act
by identifying the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges when compared to other important foreign
jurisdictions.
ii.It will also suggest a framework for a model arbitration system. This system should be efficient, effective, and
cost-effective, catering to the specific needs and requirements of the users involved in arbitration cases.
iii.It will recommend principles for determination of costs of arbitration, and fees of arbitrators.
iv.It will propose measures to fast track enforcement of award by suggesting modification to existing provision
v.It will recommend a charter of duties for guidance of arbitral tribunal, parties and arbitral institutions.
vi.The panel will also examine the feasibility of enacting separate laws for domestic arbitration and
international arbitration.
Notes:
i.Arbitration is an Alternative Dispute Resolution method which settles a dispute without getting into the
intricacies of the court. Under arbitration, the parties concerned, instead of approaching courts, opt for private
dispute resolution through arbitrators. The decision of arbitrators is binding on the parties like the decision of
the court.
ii.The Department of Legal Affairs is taking several steps to strengthen the dispute resolution environment and
promote ease of doing business through reforms in laws.
MoYAS hikes boarding amount for Athletes and officials’ by 66% on foreign tours
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) increased the upper limit for boarding and accommodation
for Indian athletes and team officials by almost 66%, from USD 150 to USD 250 per day.
• This revision is applicable for Indian athletes and officials participating only in international
competitions, under the Ministry’s Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).
• Because of higher rates fixed by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in foreign countries, NSFs
made a request to the ministry to increase the existing ceiling of USD 150 per day which was fixed in
2015
GoI withdraws draft Live-stock and Live-stock Products [Importation and Exportation] Bill,
2023
On 20th June 2023, the Government of India(GoI) withdrew the draft of the Live-stock and Live-stock Products
[Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023, based on the objections from the section of the people including
animal activists and religious groups.
• This Bill was “re-enactment” of the present Live-stock importation Act (1898), and Live-stock
Importation (Amendment) Act of 2001.

Background:
i.On 7th June 2023, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) released the draft
bill and invited suggestions and objections up to 17th June 2023.
ii.Animal activists opposed the move to include canines and felines in the list of livestock.
iii.The section of the public also concerned that the implementation of the bill will result in reduction of the
livestock population in India.
About the Bill:
i.The bill was aimed at framing measures for the regulation of the importation of livestock and livestock
products as well as promotion and development of exports of livestock and livestock products.
ii. According to the bill, definition of live-stock includes all equines (donkeys, horses, mules, assess, hinnies),
bovines (cattle, buffaloes, bullocks), caprines, ovines, swines, canines, felines, avian, laboratory animals, aquatic
animals and except those prohibited in any other act.
• This draft bill also includes any other animal which may be specified by the Central Government
later.
MNRE Extends Timeline for Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects Scheme by Two
Years till 2026
On 16th June 2023, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) extended the deadline
for ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects’ by two years i.e. till 2026.
• The previous deadline for this project was scheduled to end in March 2024.
• This project was implemented with the aim to reduce project cost per MegaWatt (MW) and higher
transmission losses.
About the Project:
The project was initiated to build solar power parks with 500 MW and above capacity, smaller solar power
parks are also allowed only in-case of acute shortage of non-agricultural land and large portions of land difficult
to acquire in view of difficult terrain.
• The solar power parks were implemented in collaboration with the state government, Central Public
Sector Undertakings (CPSU), and private entrepreneurs. The implemented agency is termed Solar
Power Park Developer (SPPD).
1st Phase:
The ultra mega solar power projects were implemented in December 2014, with an aim to set up at least 25
solar parks and ultra mega solar projects with a production capacity of 20,000 MW within 2020.
2nd Phase:
The solar power projects scheme was extended to 2023-24 with enhanced capacity of 40,000 MW on 21th
March,2017.
Central Financial Assistance (CFA)
i.The ministry of New and Renewable Energy provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of up to Rs 20.00 lakh
per MW or 30% of the project cost, including Grid-connectivity cost, whichever is lower, and CFA of Rs 25 lakh
per solar park for the detailed project report (DPR)
• The solar power projects implemented by private entrepreneurs are not eligible for CFA under this
scheme.
ii.If Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) acted as the SPPD,it would receive Rs 20 lakh per MW or 30%
of the project cost for external transmission infrastructure only.
iii.If SECI/CPSU/State PSU/government organisations or their subsidiaries and joint venture act as SPPD, it
would receive Rs 12 per MW or 30% of the project cost to SPPD for development of internal infrastructure and
Rs 8 per MW or 30 % of the project cost to the CTU/STU for creation of external transmission infrastructure.
Note – All the States and Union Territories are eligible for getting benefits under the scheme.

Women and Child Development Ministry discontinued its Autonomous Bodies RMK & CSWB
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) discontinued its two autonomous
bodies, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), as well as its internal
division namely Food and Nutrition Board (FNB).
• This decision is a part of the Ministry of Finance’s rationalization exercise to shut down departments
and sections that no longer have relevance in the current scenario.
About RMK:
Launched in 1993 to extend collateral-free credit to women in the informal sector, it was registered under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860. In November 2020, the ‘Rationalisation of Government Bodies’ report by the
Chief Economic Adviser (Then- Krishnamurthy Subramanian) recommended its closure, citing the availability
of alternative credit options like microcredit schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and
PM Mudra Yojana. The move will help in avoiding duplicity.
About CSWB:
Formed in 1953 as a charitable company, it was one of the first efforts by the Indian government to build a
body on the principle of voluntarism, and aims to function like a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). It was
registered under the Indian Companies Act 1956 to promote social welfare organizations, study their needs,
and provide aid to Panchayati Raj institutions. It has been mostly inactive for some time now.
About FNB:
Set up in 1964, is an attached office of the MWCD. Originally with the Ministry of Food, the FNB was shifted to
MCWD in 1993 as technical support wing. It has four regional offices and quality control laboratories at Delhi,
Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu), in addition to 43 Community Food &
Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs) in 29 states and UTs.
Key Points:
i.RMK and CSWB are among the six autonomous bodies under the WCD ministry; the others being the National
Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), National Commission for Women (NCW),
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
ii.The budgetary allocation for CSWB in 2023-24 (FY24) was Rs 40.06 crore. For the FNB, Rs 18 crore was set
aside in FY24. There has been no allocation for RMK in FY24.
GoI extends timeline for Loan/Completion of Ethanol Projects till September 30, 2023
Government of India (GoI) has extended the timeline for the disbursement of loans for the completion of
ethanol projects up to 30 September 2023 in a move to strengthen ethanol production in India under the
‘scheme for extending financial assistance to sugar mills for augmentation of ethanol production capacity’.
• The extended timeline for ethanol projects tends to boost the agricultural economy, reduce fossil
fuel dependency, save foreign exchange on account of crude oil imports and reduce air pollution.
Background:
i. GoI extends soft loan through banks to the mills for setting up new distilleries, expanding existing ones and
installation of incineration boilers or installation of any method as approved by Central Pollution Control Board
for Zero Liquid Discharge.
ii. Previously, the deadline for loan disbursement for ethanol projects was set on March 31, 2023.
Key Features:
i. Under the scheme, the government provides interest subvention for the disbursed loans and has now
extended the loan disbursement timeline until September 30, 2023. This extension applies to all schemes that
were notified during the period from 2018 to 2021.
ii. The decision to extend the timeline was prompted by challenges faced in processing loan applications and
coordinating with multiple agencies.
iii. Many project proponents were unable to observe the original deadline, resulting in delayed loan
disbursements and incomplete projects and the government recognized the need for an extension to address
this issue.

iv. The central government provides financial assistance in the form of interest subvention at a rate of 6% per
annum or 50% of the interest charged by banks, whichever is lower.
• This benefit is applicable for a period of five years, including a one-year moratorium.
v. The primary objective behind these measures is to increase ethanol production and supply for the Ethanol
Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme, particularly during surplus seasons.
vi. Over the years, Government policies have led to a remarkable expansion in both molasses-based and grain-
based distilleries.
Note: The capacity of molasses-based distilleries has increased from 215 crore litres in 2014 to 811 crore litres
in 2023. Similarly, capacity of grain-based distilleries has grown from 206 crore litres in 2013 to 433 crore
litres. As a result, India’s national ethanol production capacity has reached an all time highest to 1244 crore
litres in 2023.
Ethanol Supply:
i. The impact of these efforts is evident in the supply of ethanol to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
Note: In 2013-14, the supply was 38 crore litres with a blending level of 1.53%. By 2020-21, the production
and supply of fuel-grade ethanol to OMCs had increased by eight times.
ii. In the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2020-21, India achieved a historic milestone by producing 408 crore litres
of ethanol, achieving a blending rate of 10.02%. By 11th June 2023, during ESY 2022-23, India had already
recorded 310 crore litres blended, reaching a blending rate of 11.70%. The target for the current ESY 2021-22
is a 12% blending rate.
iii. To achieve the ambitious goal of 20% blending by 2025, India’s ethanol production capacity needs to be
expanded to 1700 crore litres.
DRDO organised ‘Anusandhaan Chintan Shivir’; Released list of 75 Tech Priority Areas
On 27th June 2023, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organised
“Anusandhaan Chintan Shivir” in New Delhi, Delhi to encourage Defence Research and
Development(R&D) within the industry and academia.
• Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan graced the event as the Chief Guest.
• During the event, DRDO released “DRDO Technology Foresight 2023”, a list of 75 technology
priority areas for Industry and Academia.
Key People:
Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee(CISC),
Air Marshal PK Ghosh, Director General (DG) (Administration) Air Headquarters, scientists from DRDO,
industry leaders and academia experts were present during the event.
About DRDO Technology Foresight 2023:
i.DRDO has further divided the list of 75 tech priority areas into 403 technological categories and further
spread out to 1,295 current and future technology development tasks.
ii.This identifies the technology areas on which various laboratories of DRDO are currently working.
iii.The list of activities also identifies the future technology areas which are required for the development of
defence systems and defence R&D to strengthen the security of India.
iv.The list also features the major technology tasks envisaged in the near future for defence R&D needs.
v.To establish a seamless channel of understanding between various stakeholders, the list of various DRDO
establishments working in respective areas was presented to the Industry and academia.
DGR & IBM signed MoU to generate employment for Ex-servicemen
Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of
Defence(MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with IBM (International Business Machines
Corporation) to generate employment for Ex-servicemen and facilitate their seamless integration into the
civilian workforce.
• As a part of this MoU, IBM aims to bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment,
by offering veterans with opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

i.Under this MoU, DGR will collaborate with IBM to identify the ex-servicemen with skillsets and aptitudes
suitable for relevant job opportunities that arise at IBM and its affiliates.
ii.IBM will leverage its resources and expertise to facilitate the recruitment, training, and upskilling of ex-
servicemen following the assessment and shortlisting of candidates for the roles.
Background:
i.To maintain the youthful profile of the Armed Forces, around 60 thousand personnel are annually retired or
released at comparatively young age.
ii.DGR assist them to acquire additional skills to facilitate their resettlement through a second career.
Note: From April 2022 to March 2023, around 24234 ex-servicemen have received employment in various
sectors.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman– Dr Sameer V. Kamath
ARAI awards Automotive PLI certificate to Mahindra Last Mile Mobility

Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (LMM), a division of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M), becomes first firm to
receive the Automotive PLI certificate under the Rs. 25,938-crore production-linked incentive scheme for
automobiles (PLI-AUTO)
• The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), a testing agency under the Ministry of Heavy
Industry (MHI), awarded the eligibility certificate to LMM forits flagship electric 3-wheeler.
Note: The Ministry of Heavy Industries notified the PLI Scheme for PLI-AUTO Scheme on September 23, 2021,
with a budgetary outlay of INR 25,938 crore.
STATE NEWS
Cabinet of Maharashtra Approved Initiatives to Benefit Farmers of the State
On May 31, 2023, the state Cabinet of Maharashtra chaired by the Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde has
approved the following initiatives which were announced earlier in the state budget 2023-24 in March
2023.
a.Crop Insurance Scheme under Re 1:
The cabinet has approved the decision to enable the farmers in Maharashtra to opt for the crop insurance
scheme by paying 1 Rupee(Re), with the state funding their share of a 2% premium.
• The cabinet also approved a model that will cap the profit of insurance companies.
b.Approved Scheme ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana’:
i.The state cabinet has approved new financial scheme named ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana’.
ii.Benefit: Under the scheme, more than one crore farmers in the state will be paid Rs 6,000 annually.
iii.As per the statement of CM Eknath Shinde, the amount was in addition to Rs 6,000 paid to farmers in
instalments per year by the Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
• As a result, a sum of Rs 12,000 will be deposited in the account of each farmer of the state every
year. Thus the state’s grant will be paid in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
iv.The scheme was announced by Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the state’s
finance minister, in the 2023-24 state budget.
• The state had proposed a budgetary outlay of Rs 6,900 crore for the scheme for 2023-24.
c.Natural Farming: To promote natural farming, the cabinet also approved the decision to bring an area
of 25 lakh hectares in the state under organic farming in the next three years.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde launches Asia’s largest cluster development scheme in Thane
On 5th June 2023, Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde launched Asia’s largest cluster development
scheme in Thane, Maharashtra for the collective redevelopment of unauthorised and official dangerous
buildings in the urban areas.
• Each beneficiary of the scheme will get a house of 323 square feet.
Thane Cluster Development Scheme:
i.Thane cluster development will be implemented on 45 urban renewal plans (URPs) spread across a gross area
of 1,500 hectares.
ii.In the 1st phase, 10,000 tenements will be built using pre fab construction technology on an area of 1,500
hectares, which will be the biggest in Asia.
Implementing Agency: The cluster development scheme will be implemented by the City and Industrial
Development Corporation (CIDCO).
1st Phase:
i.In the first phase of development, the project will be implemented in six areas, including Kopri in Thane East,
Rabodi, and Hazuri, Lokmanya Nagar, Tekdi Bungalow area in Panchpakhadi, and Kisan Nagar.
ii.The 1st phase also includes the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings, and legal and illegal
residential buildings.
iii.The project is expected to benefit 30,000 families in the region.
Additional info:
i.CM Shinde inaugurated the office dedicated to cluster development at Kashish Park housing complex
ii.He also launched the construction of the first two Urban Renewal Clusters (URCs) 5 and 6 in Kisan Nagar
which is part of URP 12.
• The first two clusters will involve construction on 7,753 square metres and 19,275 square metres.
iii.To boost this scheme, the Maharashtra government approved a 50% concession in premium for the
developers to pay for cluster development.This premium concession is applicable for one year to all schemes,
allowing the developers to submit plans for approval quickly.
Note:
The government of Maharashtra has also roped in Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure
Technology Ltd, a government of Maharashtra undertaking, which undertakes affordable housing projects, to
execute a third cluster.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister- Eknath Shinde
Governor-Ramesh Bais
Tiger Reserves-Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve
Union Government sanctioned Rs 12,911 crore for the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh
The Union government sanctioned Rs 12,911 crore to Andhra Pradesh (AP) for completing the first phase of
the Polavaram Project, which also includes an additional Rs 2,000 crore for the construction of the diaphragm
wall, which was washed away due to the Godavari floods.
• The Polavaram Irrigation Project is on the river Godavari near Ramayyapeta village of Polavaram
Mandal in Eluru district, where Godavari emerges out of the last range of the Eastern Ghats and
enters the plains in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.
About Polavaram Project:
i.The major part of this project is the construction of Earth cum Rock fill dam (2454 metre) with three gaps.
ii. This multi-purpose major irrigation project will irrigate agricultural lands up to 4,36,825 hectares.
iii.This project also includes a hydroelectric power plant with generation capacity of 960 MW power (12 x 80
MW).
iv.It will supply drinking water to a population of 20.50 lakh population in 611 villages.

River linking part:
This project interlinks Godavari and Krishna rivers by diverting 80 TMC of water to the Krishna river basin.
The Water Resources Department of AP is the Executing Agency for Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) on
behalf of Govt. of India for the timely execution of the project.
Recently, the Union government sanctioned a revenue deficit grant of Rs 10,461 crore to AP and Rs 55,000
crore has been sanctioned to AP under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) in the last nine years.
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister- Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Governor- S. Abdul Nazeer
Wildlife Sanctuaries- Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife
Sanctuary
WBIDC, FICCI, Amazon Jointly Hosts E-Export Haat in West Bengal

On 8th June 2023, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation(WBIDC), Amazon Global Selling and
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI) have jointly organised an e-
Export Haat at Silpa Sadan, Kolkata, West Bengal(WB) to help small businesses and entrepreneurs from West
Bengal expand their businesses globally through e-commerce exports.
• This is in line with the West Bengal government’s desire to boost e-commerce export opportunities
in the WB using online trading platforms.
About e-Export Haat:
It featured sessions on e-commerce exports opportunities, master classes on various aspects of e-commerce
exports, and on-the-spot registrations on Amazon Global Selling for the attending exporters.
Participants: around 200 potential exporters and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Kolkata
and other districts of West Bengal attended the e-Export Haat.
About West Bengal:
Capital-Kolkata
Chief Minister-Mamata Banerjee
Governor– Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Launches Government’s Flagship Scheme Shakti

Karnataka Chief Minister(CM) Siddaramaiah launched the Shakti scheme to provide free rides for women and
girls students of the state in government buses with effect from 11th June 2023. This scheme will benefit more
than 41.8 lakh women every day and would cost the state exchequer an estimated Rs 4,051.56 crore annually.
• Under this scheme, transgender persons can also avail free rides on buses belonging to the four state
transport corporations – Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan
Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and
Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
• The scheme also reserves 50% of bus seats for male passengers.
• The smart cards for free travel will be issued within the next three months.
• To avail of the scheme, beneficiaries can apply for a smart card through the Sevasindhu portal.
Madhya Pradesh Government adopts Cooperative Policy 2023

On 14th June 2023, the cabinet meeting chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
approved the Co-operative Policy 2023, with an aim to strengthen the cooperative movement and create jobs
in the co-operative sector.
• Through this initiative, MP has become the first state to have implemented a cooperative policy.

• This policy focuses on the preparation and implementation of the public co-operative partnership
(PCP) model, which means cooperative organisations would collaborate with government entities.
Highlights of the policy:
i.New co-operatives to be formed in agriculture, health care, food processing, animal husbandry, water
conservation, new and renewable energy, tourism, minerals, agricultural equipment, organic products, and
other sectors and they will be linked to various government schemes.
ii.Formation of core groups at the district level to explore investment possibilities in the co-operative sector.
iii. To ensure the ease of doing business and promoting transparency in the functioning of cooperatives, a
better Information System and Cooperative Database to be developed
iv.State Cooperative Education and Training Fund set to be established to strengthen the cooperative education
system.
Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor- Mangubhai chhaganbhai Patel
Tiger Reserves- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren launches Panchayat level Medicine shop scheme

On 19th June 2023, Jharkhand Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren launched a ‘panchayat-level medicine shop’
scheme in Chatra district, Jharkhand, by handing over the licences to 21 educated youth of rural areas to
operate medicine shops in panchayats.
About Panchayat-level medicine shop scheme:
i.The scheme aims to ensure the availability of essential medicines in remote villages and to promote
employment.
ii.Under this scheme, medical shops will be established in every village of Jharkhand and provide essential and
compulsory medicines to the people.
Jharkhand Government is set to launch monthly social security pension for Transgender people
The Jharkhand government is set to launch a Rs 1,000 monthly social security pension for transgender people.
This scheme will be implemented with an aim to support the unemployed transgender people.
Eligibility for the scheme:
i.Those who have attained the age of 18 and have voter identification cards will be eligible for the pension.
ii.Transgenders getting family pensions, paying income tax or availing any other benefits under the social
security scheme, will not be eligible for the scheme.
iii.Eligible people should submit an application to the Block Development Officer (BDO) in rural areas and to
the Circle Officer (CO) in municipal areas along with copies of their Aadhaar Card, voter ID card, Bank Passbook
and the transgender certificate issued by the Deputy Commissioner.
Additional info:
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren also distributed appointment letters among 11 job aspirants, laid foundation
stone for 177 projects costing around Rs 364 crore, inaugurated 42 schemes worth around Rs 14 crore,
distributed assets and welfare schemes worth over Rs 2 crore among the beneficiaries during his visit to the
district.
About Jharkhand:
Chief Minister – Hemant Soren
Governor- C. P. Radhakrishnan
Wildlife sanctuaries- Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary, Hazaribagh Wildlife
Sanctuary

UP Government Launches ‘Polytechnic Chalo Abhiyan‘ to Motivate Technical Education Among
Youth
On 16th June 2023, the Government of Uttar Pradesh(UP)
launched ‘Polytechnic Chalo Abhiyan 2023’ to motivate youths to pursue technical education and take
admission in polytechnic institutes.
• It aims to enroll lakhs of youth in Government, aided and private polytechnic institutes.
• It is being conducted in various educational institutions for promotion of the entrance examination
in all districts.
• The department of technical education has urged all polytechnic institutions in UP to participate in
the campaign to increase the admissions.
The IT department in Himachal Pradesh has been renamed as the Digital Technology
Department.
The Himachal Pradesh(HP) government has renamed its Department of Information Technology(IT) as the
Department of Digital Technologies and Governance and the approval to this effect was given by the state
cabinet of HP. Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to have this nomenclature to transform the
state into a digitally advanced state.
• This renaming aims to reflect the expanded focus of the department and its role in driving digital
transformation and effective governance.
• It ensures accessibility and affordability of digital services for all citizens.
• The department will implement policies for four areas such as Artificial Intelligence(AI), drones,
cloud computing, and big data analytics.
IAS V Venu Appointed as Kerala Chief Secretary; IPS Sheikh Darvesh Saheb Appointed as New
DGP
On 27th June 2023, the Kerala government appointed V Venu, a 1990 batch IAS( Indian Administrative Service)
officer of the Kerala cadre, as Chief Secretary of Kerala. He is currently serving as the Additional Chief
Secretary (Home).
He is set to replace the incumbent Chief Secretary VP Joy who is set to retire on 30th June 2023.
The Kerala government has also appointed Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, a 1990 batch IPS(Indian Police Service)
officer of Kerala cadre, who is currently the head of the Fire and Rescue Services in Kerala as Director-General
of Police(DGP) of Kerala.
He will replace DGP Anil Kanth, who will retire on 30th June 2023.
GOVT SCHEMES
PM Narendra Modi Launched 2 Schemes Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI Yojana to revive wetlands
and mangroves
On World Environment Day 2023 (June 05, 2023), Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched two schemes
named Amrit Dharohar Yojana and MISHTI Yojana (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats
and Tangible Incomes) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to revive
wetlands and mangroves across India.
• As per the statement of PM, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India have increased almost
three times in the past nine years.

Amrit Dharohar Yojana:
The scheme was launched to conserve the existing Ramsar sites and achieve sustainable ecosystem
development through public participation over the next three years, and make them as the centres of eco-
tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people.
MISHTI Yojana:
i.Backdrop: In the Union Budget 2023-24, the Union govt announced the scheme MISHTI for mangrove
plantation along the coastline and on salt pan lands, wherever feasible, through convergence between
MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), CAMPA (Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Fund and other sources.
ii. The scheme envisages to comprehensively explore the possible area for the development of mangroves
covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 9 states and 4 union territories (UTs) over 5 years(2023-
2028), starting from FY24.
iii.It would facilitate in reviving and protecting the mangrove ecosystem and restore the mangrove cover in
nine states across India. As part of the launch of MISHTI, mangrove plantation programs were organized at 75
mangrove sites in those 9 states.
• Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik planted mangrove
saplings at Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao, as part of the launch of MISHTI scheme.
• The program was organized in association with the Forest department, government of Goa and
Wildlife and Ecotourim, Campal Range, North Goa, to mark World Environment Day 2023 on June 5,
2023.
iv.Under the scheme, best practices on plantation techniques, management practices, conservation measures
and resource mobilization would be shared through the public-private partnership route.
v.The schemes would also help in mitigating the threat to lives and livelihoods in coastal areas from rising sea
levels and disasters like cyclones.
vi.The Union Government will covers 80% of the project cost, while state governments contribute the
remaining 20%.
Note – PM noted that to get rid of single-use plastic India started working on both central and state levels in
2018 with banning the single-use plastic and made the plastic waste processing mandatory.
• Due to this, there has been a compulsory recycling of about 3 million tonnes of plastic packaging in
India, which is 75%of the total annual plastic waste produced in India, and around 10,000
producers, importers and brands have come under its ambit till date.
Additional info on Mangroves:
i.Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the coastal intertidal zone at tropical and subtropical
latitudes near the equator as they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
• Mangrove trees grow in areas with low-oxygen soil, where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments
to accumulate. Mangroves forests are beneficial and important as they stabilize the coastline,
reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.
ii.As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, India has about 3 percent of South Asia’s mangrove
cover. Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in
Gujarat have substantial mangrove cover.
On 4th February 2023, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, launched
the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’, a campaign structured on a “whole of society” approach for wetlands
conservation, during the National level Celebration of World Wetlands Day at Nanda Lake in Goa.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha – Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS ) – Ashwini Kumar Choubey

MP CM inaugurated Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojna’s fund transfer
On 10th June 2023, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) inaugurated
the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana‘ by depositing an amount of Rs 1000 each in the accounts of 1.25
crore women of the state, during the event held in Garrison Ground, Jabalpur, MP.
Note: The Madhya Pradesh Government had plans to increase the assistance to Rs.3000 per month in future.
About Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana:
On 5th March 2023, MP CM launched the Ladli Bahna Scheme to strengthen the economic status of the women
and girls of MP.
Features of the Scheme:
i. This scheme will enhance women’s economic independence, improving their health and nutrition status and
expanding their influence over family decisions.
ii. On the 10th of every month, the amount will get credited to the beneficiaries, and they will get a total of Rs
12,000 annually which will help them to fulfil their basic needs.
Eligibility:
i. Registering for the scheme, a woman should be the local inhabitant of Madhya Pradesh state.
ii. The age limit should be above 21 years old and under 60 years old.
• Initially it was above 23 years, now it has been relaxed to 21 years
iii. The benefit of this scheme will be given only to women whose annual family income is less than Rs.2.5 lakh
or who have less than five acres of land.
iv. The women belonging to the category of schedule tribe (ST), schedule caste (SC), and general category can
take benefit of the LadliBehnascheme.
v. The scheme also serves the widow, abandoned and minority women in society.
Governor– Mangubhai Patel
Airport– Raja Bhoj International Airport, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport
Andhra Pradesh CM launches ‘Jagananna Amma Vodi’ scheme

On 28th June 2023, Andhra Pradesh(AP) Chief Minister (CM) Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the ‘Jagananna
Amma Vodi‘ scheme for the 4th year, to disburse financial assistance of Rs 6,393 crore to around 43 lakh
beneficiaries, at Kurupam in Parvathipuram Manyam district, AP.
In 10 days, the fund will be distributed in all the mandals benefiting more than 83 lakh students
studying in classes 1 to 12 across AP.
Under the scheme, eligible mothers who send their children to schools will receive Rs 15,000 financial
aid to meet their educational expenses.
The AP government has credited a total of Rs 26,067 crore under the Jagananna Amma Vodi scheme(this
also includes the Rs 6,393 crore disbursal set in motion on 28th June 2023).
MoH&FW Released OTT Guidelines for anti-tobacco warning on OTT; 1st of its kind in the
World
On the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day 2023 (31st May 2023), Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW), released OTT (over-the-top) guidelines for
the regulation of online depiction of Tobacco Products in online curated content.

• Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director South East Asia, World Health Organisation (WHO)
stated that, with this release, India becomes the 1st country in the world to regulate anti-tobacco
warnings on OTT platforms.
About the OTT guidelines:
i.The publishers of online curated content that display tobacco products or their use will be required to comply
with specific guidelines.
ii.An Inter-ministerial committee with representatives from the MoH&FW, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting(MIB), and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), will take action on its own
motion (suo moto), or on receiving a complaint regarding the failure to comply with the provisions outlined in
the guidelines.
Salient features:
i.Health spots, messages, and disclaimers:
• Display of anti-tobacco health spots, for a minimum of 30 seconds each at the beginning and middle
of the program.
• Exhibit anti-tobacco health warnings during the display of tobacco products or their use.
• An audio-visual disclaimer on the ill effects of tobacco use (minimum 20 seconds) at the beginning
and middle of the program.
ii.Access to content:
• Health spots, messages, and disclaimers for the publishers will be available on mohfw.gov.in &
ntcp.mohfw.gov.in.
iii.Legibility and language:
• Anti-tobacco health warning message displayed as a static message must be legible and readable,
with black font on a white background, and must include the warnings “Tobacco causes cancer” or
“Tobacco kills.
• The audio-visual disclaimer should be in the same language as used in the online curated content.
iv.Limitations on display:
• Display of brands of cigarettes or other tobacco products or any form of tobacco product placement
is prohibited.
Other launches:
i.During the event, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also launched a Dashboard of online reporting of the
National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) activities and a Portal to report Online violations under the
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act(COTPA), 2003 and the prohibition of E-cigarette Act, 2019.
ii.He also launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign and “Aaj Zindagi Jeete Hai’, a musical anthem by Music
Composer-Duo Salim-Sulaiman launched in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha- Gujarat)
Minister of State– Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar
Extreme weather events led to 12mn Children Displacements in 2022: UNICEF estimates
According to the estimates released by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) on June 13, 2023, extreme
weather events around the world, including unprecedented floods in Pakistan and the drought in the Horn of
Africa, led to 12 million children displacements in 2022.
• By the end of 2022, a record 43.3 million children lived in forced displacement, and almost 60%
(25.8 million) were internally displaced by conflict and violence.
• Internally displaced and refugee children, who are among the most vulnerable, often face barriers to
education, healthcare, routine immunization, and social protection.
Highlights:
i.The number of children forcibly displaced from their homes doubled in the last decade.

• The war in Ukraine has forced more than 2 million Ukrainian children to move from the country and
displaced more than 1 million children inside Ukraine.
ii.The number of refugee and asylum-seeking children also hit a new record of 17.5 million, a number that does
not even include those newly displaced in 2023 (by the conflict in Sudan).
• More than 940,000 children have been displaced because of the conflict to date.
iii.According to The Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 released in May 2023, the number of people
displaced by disasters rose by 40% in 2022 compared to 2021.
iv.In 2022, an estimated 2.8 million people were displaced by drought from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and
Somalia.
UNICEF Urges Governments to leave no child behind by:
i.Recognizing refugee, migrant and displaced children as children first and foremost with rights to protection,
inclusion, and participation.
ii.Providing safe and legal pathways for children to move, seek asylum and reunite with family.
iii.Strengthening national education, health, child protection and social protection systems to include displaced
children without discrimination.
iv.Investing in national child protection systems.
India joins Centralised Laboratory Network (CLN) for testing vaccines

India through its Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) has joined
the Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN) of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI’s)
which works to test vaccines which can be used during a pandemic, epidemic disease outbreak.
On May 30 2023, 5 new members based in Africa and India joined the CLN network and currently it has 15
partner facilities in 13 countries.
• CLN is a part of the CEPI and the Network is the largest global group which has standardised
methods and materials for testing.
New member of CLN:
The five new members of the CLN are Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-
NIV), Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal), KAVI Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI ICR) & the University
of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID) (Kenya), Synexa Life Sciences (South Africa)
and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) (Uganda).
Security Council Extends UN Political Mission in Sudan for 6 Months

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has agreed to extend the United Nations Integrated Transition
Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) – United Nations(UN)’s political mission in Sudan, for 6 months until
the 3rd December 2023, as conflicts worsen in Sudan.
• Adopting resolution 2685 (2023), UNSC also requested the Secretary-General of UN to continue
reporting on the implementation of the Mission’s mandate every 90 days and decided to remain
actively seized of the matter.
UNITAMS was created in June 2020 to support Sudan’s democratic transition after the fall of Omar al-Bashir
government.
The resolution reaffirms the Security Council’s commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and
territorial integrity.
UNGA elected 5 new non-permanent member of UN Security Council

On 6th June 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) elected five countries Algeria, Guyana,
Republic of Korea (South Korea), Sierra Leone and Slovenia as non-permanent members of the UN Security
Council (UNSC) for 2 year period beginning from January 2024 to December 2025.

• The newly elected 5 countries will replace the outgoing non-permanent members of Albania, Brazil,
Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose two-year terms end on 31st December
2023.
UNSC election for non-permanent members:
i.192 member countries voted to fill 3 Council seats allocated to the Africa and Asia-Pacific Groups, and 1 each
for Eastern Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Slovenia won the election for Eastern Europe with 153 votes against Belarus.
• Guyana for Latin America & the Caribbean (191 votes), Algeria(184 votes); and Sierra Leone for
Africa (188 votes) and the Republic of Korea for Asia (180 votes) were elected unopposed.
ii.The newly elected countries will join Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland as non-permanent
members of UNSC.
iii. Voting of the election is conducted by secret ballot and candidates must obtain the support of two-thirds of
the 193 UN member states present or 128 votes, even if they run uncontested.
Note: All five newly elected members have previously served on the Security Council. Algeria has served three
times. Guyana and the Republic of Korea have each served twice. Sierra Leone and Slovenia have each served
once.
UN Security Council:
i. UNSC, established in 1946 under the UN Charter, is tasked to maintain international peace and security.
ii. It has 15 members, 5 of which –The United States of America (USA), Russia, China, the United Kingdom (UK),
and France are permanent members, who have a right to veto any resolution or decision.
iii.The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two years, which comprises all
193 UN Member States, half renewed each year, and are allocated by geographical distribution by region.
iv. The presidency of the UNSC is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English
alphabetical order of the Member States names.
• President of UNSC for June 2023 – United Arab Emirate
About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
Founded in– 1945
President – Csaba Kőrösi of Hungary (Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago will take charge in September
2023)
UNDP Launches 3rd Cohort of 4 Ocean Innovators

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched its third cohort of four ocean
innovators which aims to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 14.2, 14.5 and
14.7: marine protected areas, area-based management and the blue economy.
• These 4 innovations will demonstrate the compelling roles of marine spatial planning (MSP), marine
protected areas (MPAs) and new environmentally and socially sustainable economic activities for a
healthy and resilient ocean.
• UNDP’s Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) will provide financial, mentoring and incubator support
to these four ocean innovators.
• UNDP has committed to deliver at least 100 Ocean Innovations by 2030. Supported
by Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) and Norad (Norwegian
Agency for Development Cooperation), the third cohort receives financial support to ocean
innovators of up to USD 250,000 for two years.
3rd cohort of Ocean Innovators:
• DHI Water and Environment (M)Sdn. Bhd. – Mapping and monitoring of ecosystems at Scale with
Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery, a tropical system application in Malaysia.
• University of Rhode Island – Ensuring community roles in complex multiple use areas in
Madagascar

• Mersea Marine Consulting- Exotic Pufferfish Leather Products (Türkiye)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – SEA Success (Bangladesh and Thailand)
UN adopts BBNJ Treaty, the first-ever international treaty to protect high seas biodiversity
On 19th June 2023, The United Nations(UN) adopted the first-ever legally binding international treaty,
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty (BBNJ treaty), also known as the “High Seas Treaty”, to
protect the high seas and preserve marine biodiversity in international waters.
• It is an agreement under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which
came into force in 1994. It is about the conservation
and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of
areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• The agreement was adopted during the
“Intergovernmental Conference on Marine
Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”
held from 19th to 20th June 2023 in UN
headquarters, New York, United States of
America(USA).
• The treaty establishes the first-ever framework for governing practices like fishing, mining and oil
extraction in international waters.
Background:
i.193 member states of the UN adopted the legally binding marine biodiversity agreement following nearly two
decades of negotiations over forging a common wave of conservation and sustainability in the high seas beyond
national boundaries which covers 2/3 of the Earth’s oceans.
ii.It contains 75 articles that aim at protecting, caring for, and ensuring the responsible use of the marine
environment, maintaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, and conserving the inherent value of marine
biological diversity.
Key Points:
i.It will be open for signatures in New York for 2 years starting on 20th September 2023, following the
summit on the UN sustainable development goals(SDGs).
ii.It will take effect once it is ratified by 60 countries.
iii.The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected
areas in the high seas.
iv.It also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities
in the oceans.
Key points from the Treaty:
i.The treaty establishes a framework for “Marine Protected Areas”.
ii.It establishes standards and guidelines to determine the environmental impacts of high seas.
iii.The treaty creates a Conference of Parties (COP) to enforce the treaty’s terms, which includes a scientific
advisory board.
iv.It creates a mechanism for transferring marine technology to developing countries.
v.The treaty also establishes principles for sharing the benefits of “marine genetic resources” (MGR) collected
by scientific research in international waters.
About United Nations(UN):
Secretary General– António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, United States of America

UNGA adopts resolution introduced by India,to honour fallen peacekeepers
On 14th June 2023, The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted draft resolution which was
introduced by India to establish a memorial wall to honour fallen peacekeepers.
• India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj revealed the draft
resolution which titled as ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’ at UN General
Assembly hall,United Nations Headquarters in New York.
• It was adopted by consensus and the resolution was co-sponsored by nearly 190 UN Member State
out of 193 UN Member states.
• It will be funded from voluntary contributions.
• The wall will be included in the ceremonies on the International Day of United Nations
Peacekeepers.
• The wall honors 3,500 peacekeepers who have lost lives in different missions of conflict areas across
the globe.
Note – In 2014, India proposed a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to make June 21
International Yoga Day with supporting of 177 UN Member states and it was adopted within 75 days.
Indian peacekeepers at UN:
i.With more than 6,000 military and police personnel deployed to Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus,
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East and Western Sahara India stands
as the 3rd largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.
ii.About 178 Indian peacekeepers have made sacrifice in UN peacekeeping missions which is the largest till
date.
iii.18 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal,
Rwanda and the US had submitted the resolution.
Bangladesh: World Bank launches its first road safety project in South Asia
On 14th June2023, The World Bank (WB) launched its first road safety project in South Asia with a USD 358
million financing agreement with the government of Bangladesh.The Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BRSP)
was inaugurated at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• This project aims to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and injuries from road crashes in
selected cities, high-risk highways, and district roads.
• The two National Highways, Gazipur-Elenga (N4) and Natore-Nawabganj (N6), passing through the
five divisions of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh, will be taken up
for the implementation of this project.
• This project will improve road safety by providing facilities including improved engineering designs,
signage and marking, pedestrian facilities, speed enforcement, and emergency care.
India has Become a Global Leader in LEED Zero Certifications

On 15th June 2023, The US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) have
notified that the India as a global leader with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Zero
green building projects outperforming both the United States and China.
• LEED recognises projects that have reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon,
energy, water or waste.
• The United States and China stands 2nd and 3rd in the LEED Zero certifications, with 47 (30%) and 15
(10%) certifications
India’s Performance:
i.India has 73 LEED Zero certified projects, comprising 45% of the more than 150 total LEED Zero
certifications with Haryana and Tamil Nadu leading the way in certifications.
ii.Delhi Land & Finance Limited (DLF)-45 and India Tobacco Company Limited (ITC)-15 are leading in the

LEED Zero green certification initiative in India.
iii.India’s achievement with the LEED is in line with its ambitious target of achieving net zero Green House Gas
(GHG) emissions by 2070.
iv.There are more than 35 million certified square feet of LEED Zero projects.
Note: Net Zero Buildings Week is observed globally from 12th–16th June to promote the advantages of net
zero buildings.
‘FarmersFZ’ chosen by UN for food startup ‘Accelerator Programme’

A Kerala-based startup, Farmers Fresh Zone (FarmersFZ), has been selected for the United Nations (UN)
Accelerator Programme hosted by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
• FarmersFZ has been included in a list of 12 agri-food startups around the world for the UN to develop
business.
About FarmersFZ:
i.FarmersFZ is an e-commerce platform as well as a marketplace, located in Kochi, Kerala which commenced on
19th July 2015 to connect farmers directly with consumers.
ii.It eliminates intermediaries and ensures fair price for vegetables and agri products.
iii.It is under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and aims to accomplish the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals(SDG).
iv.KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation
activities in the state.
Note – ‘UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment’ will take place in Rome, Italy, from July 24–26,
2023, at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
IREDA participated in “Intersolar Europe 2023″ exhibition in Germany

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of
India(GoI) enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),
participated in the three-day “Intersolar Europe 2023″ exhibition held in Munich, Germany from 14th to 16th
June 2023.
• The exhibition aimed to educate visitors on IREDA’s initiatives in financing renewable energy
projects, promoting energy efficiency, and promoting the growth of renewable energy in India.
• The inauguration of the pavilion was carried out by Chief Managing Director(CMD),
IREDA, Pradip Kumar Das.
• IREDA’s pavilion served as a platform for visitors to network and explore potential business
opportunities, particularly during the crucial time of energy transition and IREDA’s Initial Public
Offering (IPO) plan.
• During the exhibition, IREDA officials attended meetings with Germany banks such as Kreditanstalt
für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Development Bank and Commerz Bank to review current progress and
explore partnership opportunities.
• IREDA officials also visited RCT(RENA Clean Tech
Solutions) GMbH(Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) at Konstanz, Germany to discuss the
technology, milestones, and costs related to the Indosol Solar Manufacturing project.
ITU approves Bharat 6G vision framework “IMT-2030”

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations (UN)’s agency for Telecom has approved
the Bharat 6th Generation (6G) vision framework named “IMT(International Mobile Telecommunications)-
2030” at its 44th meeting of the ITU-R WP 5D (ITU- Radiocommunication sector Working Party 5D) held in
Geneva, Switzerland from June 12 to June 22, 2023.

• The new 6G vision contained in the draft new recommendation ITU-R M.IMT.Framework for 2030
and beyond provides framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030
and beyond.
• This new Framework recommendation will become a base document for 6G work across the
different research groups and in external standards development organisations like the Third
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
Key People:
i.The ITU meeting was attended by: Bharat Bhatia, President IAFI (ITU-APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunity)
Foundation of India); Jitendra Singh, Vice President IAFI
ii. India administration delegation by TK Roy, Deputy Director General in the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Communications, played a critical role in
getting the ubiquitous connectivity being accepted as a key usage scenario.
Background:
i. In March 2023, India released its ‘Bharat 6G’ vision document which recommended opening up more
spectrum across low-, mid- and Millimetre wave (MM wave) bands.
ii. It has also laid importance on terahertz (THz) research, as well as, focused on industry and academic
research & development, among others.
Note: 6G testbed had also launched at the time of launching the 6G document by Narendra Modi, Prime
Minister of India.
Highlights:
i. One of the key elements agreed upon among the different administrations was on the inclusion of elements of
interworking across different access services.
ii. ITU is now intending to develop interfaces that would allow interworking of terrestrial 6G network with
non-terrestrial technologies (such as satellites being launched by OneWeb, Telesat, etc.).
Note: Similar interfaces will be developed for other access technologies including Wi-Fi.
iii. IAFI provided input contributions to the meeting on this aspect of interworking and helped drive consensus
on this topic at the meeting.
iv. The newly approved 6G standard now includes six key usage scenarios, as compared to only three usage
scenarios in 5G.
v. The newly developed framework standard is envisaged to support expanded and new usage scenarios
compared to those of IMT 2020, while providing enhanced and new capabilities.
vi. Under the newly approved ITU vision of IMT 2030, 6G to continue to build an inclusive information society
and to support the UN’s sustainable Development goals (SDGs)
Goals:
The IMT 2030 framework is expected to be a significant enabler for achieving the following goals, among
others:
• Inclusivity
• Ubiquitous connectivity
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Enhanced security, privacy and resilience
• Standardisation and interoperability
• Interworking
About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
Founded in- 1865
Secretary-General- Doreen Bogdan-Martin

World Bank unveils debt payment pause, IMF touts $100 bn for poorest
On 22nd June 2023, World Bank announced a new and expanded toolkit to support the countries towards crisis
preparedness, response, and recovery during the "Summit for a New Global Financial Pact" held in Paris,
France.
The tool kit includes:
• Offering a pause in debt repayments for the most vulnerable countries in times of crisis or
catastrophe.
• Redirecting financing – Giving countries new flexibility to quickly redirect a portion of their funds
for emergency response.
• Linking crisis preparedness and financing – To allow more countries to build emergency systems
and have quick-disbursing finance available in times of crisis.
• Backstopping development projects with private sector support. – This will enable businesses to
sustain operations and protect jobs, building resilience and long-term sustainability.
• Building enhanced catastrophe insurance for providing resources without adding to the debt.
IMF hit USD 100 billion target of special drawing rights for vulnerable countries
During the summit, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced
that IMF has reached its target of making USD 100 billion in special drawing rights (SDRs) available for
vulnerable nations.
Key Points:
i.In 2021, the rich countries decided to rechannel their unused IMF special drawing rights(SDRs), an
international reserve currency, to poor countries.
ii.The plan was to make USD 100 billion available by lending the SDRs back to the IMF so that it could in turn
lend the funds at below-market rates to low-income countries.
iii.This target was one of the key announcements of the Paris Summit that aimed to help poor countries to cope
with debt burdens while making more climate financing available.
About Summit for a New Global Financial Pact:
i.The summit aims to give impetus to a new global finance agenda.
ii.The Summit aims to boost crisis financing for low-income states and ease their debt burdens, reform post-
war financial systems and free up funds to tackle climate change by getting top-level consensuses like
G20(Group of 20), COP(Conference of the Parties (COP)), IMF-World Bank and United Nations(UN) on how to
promote a number of initiatives.
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Overview of Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal visit to India; 7 MoUs Signed
The Prime Minister (PM) of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, was on a 4-day official visit
to India from May 31 – June 3, 2023, at the invitation of the PM of India Narendra Modi for regular high-level
exchanges between both nations in furtherance of India’s Neighbourhood First policy.
• The Nepal PM was accompanied by his daughter Ms Ganga Dahal; and included a delegation
comprising Ministers, Secretaries, and senior officials of the Government of Nepal.
• This was his 1st official trip abroad since assuming office in December 2022 and his 4th
visit to India as the Prime Minister(PM) of Nepal.
The PMs meet:
The Nepal PM held bilateral delegation-level talks with the Indian PM at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Delhi.
They reviewed the wide-ranging areas of bilateral relations and cooperation, including trade and transit;
hydropower, power trade and transmission lines; cross-border railways, motorable bridges, petroleum

pipelines and ICPs; irrigation, river training, inundation and flood control; agriculture; culture and civil
aviation.
India and Nepal sign seven agreements in various fields
During the meet, India and Nepal witnessed the exchange of the
seven documents in various fields including trade and
commerce, cross – border petroleum pipeline, development of
Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and hydroelectric project. These
include the following:
i.Renewal of India-Nepal Transit of Treaty, 1992
• Through this, a provision has been made for the
people of Nepal to use the inland waterway facility
of India, for the first time, along with new rail routes.
• The India-Nepal Treaty of Transit (1992), renewed every 7 years, provides for port facilities to
Nepal at Kolkata/Haldia and Visakhapatnam and specifies different transit routes between Kolkata
and Vishakhapatnam and the India-Nepal border.
ii.MOU for the development of ICP at Dodhara-Chandani
iii.MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Petroleum Infrastructure.
iv.MOU between the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of Nepal and Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service
(SSIFS) of India
v.MOU for the Development of Phukot-Karnali 480 MW (Mega Watt) Hydro-electricity Project
vi.Project Development Agreement (PDA) of Lower Arun 669 MW (Mega Watt) Hydro- electricity Project
vii.MoU between National Clearing House Limited Nepal (NCHL) and National Payment Company India Limited
(NPCIL) for faster cross-border payments that will benefit businesses, students and tourists of both Nepal and
India.
10-year Power Trade Deal between India and Nepal:
Both sides had reached an agreement on long-term power trade, under which India will import 10,000 MW
from Nepal in the next 10 years. This is a major development in enhancing cooperation in this area based on
the Joint Vision Statement that the two PM issued in April 2022.
1st Trilateral Power Transaction:
Under a trilateral agreement, India agreed to allow Nepal to sell power to Bangladesh using the Indian
transmission network. Both India and Nepal have agreed to export up to 50 MW of power from Nepal to
Bangladesh via India.
The three countries will work out an agreement to this effect soon
• Currently, India exports around 452 MW of power from Nepal.
Other Discussion/Agreements:
i.They agreed for the extension of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline to Chitwan as well as
construction of a new pipeline along with storage terminals between Siliguri and Jhapa in eastern Nepal on
grant assistance from India.
• Indian side also agreed to construct two motorable bridges over the Mahakali River in Sirsa
(Parsuram Dham Purna GiriMai) and Jhulaghat under grant assistance.
ii.With regard to the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) as envisaged in the Mahakali Treaty, it was
agreed that the concerned officials of both governments should expedite the bilateral discussions towards early
finalization of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the PMP within a period of 3 months.
• PMP is a bi-national hydropower project to be developed in Mahakali River bordering Nepal and
India.
What is Mahakali Treaty?
It was signed between India and Nepal in 1996 concerning Integrated Development of the Mahakali River
(known as river ‘Sarda’ in India), including Sarda Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage and Pancheshwar Project.

• Under this equal sizes of underground power house i.e. of 3240MV will be constructed on each side
of Mahakali river in India and Nepal.
iii.Both sides welcomed the construction of the Tanakpur link canal and agreed that water will be released
from Tanakpur barrage to irrigation command area of Nepal through this canal in a phase-wise manner.
iv.Both sides directed for early convening of the Commerce Secretary level mechanism to address the issues
related to trade.
v.They agreed on the early finalization of MoU on mutual recognition of certificates and accrediting of the
testing labs.
vi.They agreed to promote cooperation in the field of agriculture, including research and development, capacity
building, natural farming and use of nano-fertilizers.
vii.They agreed to set up a fertilizer plant in Nepal with the participation of public and private sector entities
from Nepal and India to meet the fertilizer needs of both Nepali and Indian farmers.
viii.Both sides agreed to increase physical connectivity by establishing new rail links, and to provide training to
Nepalese railway personnel in Indian Railway Institutes.
Requests Made by Nepal to India:
i.Additional air entry routes for bilateral flights and requested for approval of high-altitude additional air-entry
route from Mahendranagar.
ii.Operationalizing the Instrumental Landing System (ILS) procedure for smooth operation of Gautam
Buddha International Airport and enhancing flight safety and efficiency.
iii.Approval of additional 1200 megawatts of hydropower for export from Nepal to India including the 456 MW
Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower project at the earliest.
iv.Non-reciprocal access for Nepal’s agricultural and primary products to the Indian market.
v.Lifting of Countervailing duty on Nepali Jute Products
vi.Expedite the work of GP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, establishment of Nepal Institute of Technology
in Sudurpaschim of Nepal, and construction of Cricket Stadium and Sports Village in Fapla, Dhangadi under the
grant assistance of India.
vii.Germ plasm of major cash crops particularly sugarcane and coffee.
viii.Resolve the boundary matters through the established bilateral diplomatic mechanisms.
• In November 2019, a border disputed flared up between India and Nepal over the Kalapani
territory, located in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
Inaugurations/Groundbreaking:
The two PMs remotely inaugurated and performed the groundbreaking of following six projects:
i.Handing-taking over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of railway line with a length of 17km, for passenger trains
ii.Flagging off the inaugural-run of Indian cargo train to Nepal on the newly built
Bathnaha-Biratnagar, Nepal Customs Yard railway, with an Indian grant
• The new rail links will cut transportation costs and time for trade between Nepal and Kolkata and
Haldia ports.
iii.Groundbreaking of ICPs at Bhairahawa (Nepal) –Sunauli (India)
iv.Inauguration of ICP at Nepalgunj (Nepal)-Rupaidiha (India)
• It is Uttar Pradesh’s first land port or ICP, at Rupaidiha in Bahraich district along the India-Nepal
border which is built on 115 acres of land, and has cost about Rs 200 crores.
Note: Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), which comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), set
up ICPs on India’s international borders for smooth movement of cargo and passenger vehicles.
v.Groundbreaking of phase II of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project to be built at a cost
of Rs 183 crore. This is South Asia’s first trans-border petroleum pipeline, launched in 2019, and has supplied
2.8 million metric tonnes of diesel to Nepal.
vi.Groundbreaking of 400kV Butwal-Gorakhpur Transmission Line to be built at a cost of Rs 462 crore. This is
expected to be commissioned in 24 months.

Nepal-India Business Summit:
The Nepal PM also addressed the Nepal-India Business Summit in New Delhi jointly organized by Federation
of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and
interact with business leaders of both countries.
• He also interacted with the Nepali community in India over a welcome reception being hosted by the
Ambassador of Nepal to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma.
The Nepalese PM also called on Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar;
and visited Rajghat and paid his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Key Notes:
i.PM Narebdra Modi had given the HIT formula for India-Nepal relations which stands for Highways, I-ways
and Transways during his first visit to Nepal in 2014.
ii.India is also developing the mega 900 MW Arun-III hydroelectric project in Nepal, and has a 490 MW Arun-4
hydro electric project in the pipeline as well.
About Nepal:
Capital– Kathmandu
Currency– Nepalese Rupee
President– Ram Chandra Poudel
Highlights of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to India from June 4 to 5 2023
United States (US) Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was on a two-day visit to India from June 4 to 5, 2023, to
strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between both nations,
especially in areas of transfer of critical technologies for co-
development of military hardware.
• It is Defence Secretary Austin’s second visit to India and
his previous trip to India was held in March 2021.
-Discussions on Defense Procurement Agreements
i.Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence, Government of
India and Lloyd Austin discussed General Electric’s proposal to
share technology with India for fighter jet engines and New Delhi’s
plan to procure 31 MQ-9B armed drones at a cost of over USD 3 billion from US’s General Atomics Aeronautical
Systems Inc.
ii.During the meeting between Rajnath Singh and Lloyd Austin both nations decided to launch negotiations for
two crucial agreements related to the security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defence Procurement in
an effort to establish stable supply chains of arms and equipment.
iii.They have also praised the recent launch of a new Advanced Domains Defence Dialogue was and committed
to expanding the scope of bilateral defence cooperation to encompass all domains.
iv.They also discussed the establishment of the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), a new
initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation.
• The initiative would be launched on June 21, 2023, by the U.S.-India Business Council designed to
complement existing government-to-government collaboration by promoting innovative
partnerships between U.S. and Indian companies, investors, start-up accelerators, and academic
research institutions
Note – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make an official state visit to Washington (US) later in June 2023.
-Roadmap for defence industrial cooperation
i.On June 05, 2023, India and the US concluded a roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to fast-track
technology tie-ups and co-production of military platforms such as air combat and land systems.
ii.The new framework for cooperation was finalised by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence
Secretary Lloyd Austin during their bilateral talk.

iii.The new roadmap will “fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in air combat and land mobility
systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain.
iv.They have also decided to initiate negotiations on a framework for the security of supply arrangement and a
reciprocal defence procurement agreement to promote long-term supply chain stability.
v.The US defence secretary also had separate talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He exchanged
views about regional and global security issues of concern, including maritime security in the Indian Ocean
Region.
vi.US defence secretary welcomed India’s leadership role in the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness
Initiative (IPMDA).
-India-US Defence and Strategic Partnership
i.Both US and India have signed key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics
Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 which will allows their militaries to use each other’s
bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
ii.The two nations also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018
which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology
from the US to India.
iii.In October 2020, India and the US signed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement
to further boost bilateral defence ties.
iv.The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two
countries.
From April 3–5, 2023, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, visited India on an
official trip at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu.
On March 20-21, 2023, Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister (PM) of Japan, paid a two-day visit to India and held the
‘Japan-India Summit Meeting 2023’ with PM of India Narendra Modi, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral
cooperation
About United States(US):
Capital – Washington, D.C.
Currency – United States dollar (USD)
President – Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
Highlights of German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius’s visit to India; TKMS MDL
sign pact for bid IN’s Rs 43,000cr P75I Project
The Federal Minister of Defence of Germany, Boris Pistorius
was on a 4-day official visit to India from June 5-8, 2023 for
facilitating bilateral defence cooperation and exploring avenues
for strategic partnership.
• This is the first visit of a German Defence Minister to
India since 2015.
Meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh:
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and India’s Union Minister
Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence hold talks to enhance
bilateral defence cooperation, particularly industrial
partnership.
i.The issue of global supply chain disruptions was also discussed and the Indian side asked the German side to
diversify their supply chains to stable and open countries.
• In this regard, India asked Germany to relax some of their licensing requirements for the export of
spares and components under the German federal agency, BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and
Export Control). A list was submitted to Germany for the same.

• It was stressed that Germany should treat India as a privileged partner.
ii.Indian side highlighted the opportunities in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for
German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) & Tamil Nadu (TN).
Other Participants:
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, among others,
participated in the delegation-level meeting. From the German side, State Secretary from the Ministry of
Defence Benedikt Zimmer, German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, and other senior officials from
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence participated in the meeting.
Germany’s TKMS and India’s MDL sign pact for bid IN’s Rs 43,000cr P75I Project
German defence major Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Indian Navy’s (IN) P-75 India
(P75I) Submarine Project in Mumbai, Maharashtra in the presence of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
About P75I Project:
With an outlay of over Rs 45,000 crore, in June 2021, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the mega project to
domestically construct 6 conventional submarines with better sensors and weapons and the Air Independent
Propulsion System (AIP) through a Strategic Partnership (SP) model.
This model allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to
produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence. It means, Indian shipyard will be selected
by the government, which will also nominate the foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) under the
overall arch of ‘Make in India’.
In this regard, Indian Government shortlisted MDL and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have been shortlisted to
partner with foreign OEM. As foreign partners, only Germany and South Korea technically meet the criteria to
submit bids under P-75I
• The bidding process for the project called P-75 India ends in August 2024.
What is the MoU?
According to the MoU, TKMS would contribute to the engineering and design of the submarines as well as
provide consultancy support to the joint project, while MDL would take the responsibility of constructing and
delivering the respective submarines.
• TKMS is a market leader for non-nuclear submarines. If all goes smoothly and Germany bags the
contract, the earliest the first P-75I submarine can be commissioned is around 2032.
Note: Also, with the deal, Germany envisages reducing India’s Berlin dependence on Russia in the defence
sector. In 2022, according to the Stimson Center, 70% to 85% of India’s military platforms are of Russian origin.
Key Points:
i.Currently, India has 17 conventional diesel-electric submarines, which are classified as SSKs.
• Of the 17 SSKs, four are of Shishumar Class, which were bought and then built in India in collaboration
with the Germans starting 1980s.
• 7 are Kilo Class or Sindhughosh Class submarines bought from Russia (including erstwhile USSR)
between 1984 and 2000
• 6 are Kalvari Class built in India at MDL.
ii.To meet the P-75I requirement, TKMS is expected to offer the Indian Navy its Type 214 SSK.
iii.It should be noted that the fifth Scorpene-type submarine (Kalvari-class) submarine INS (Indian Naval Ship)
Vagir was commissioned in January 2023 under French Technology Transfer.
• INS Vagsheer, the sixth such submarine, is expected to be inducted in 2024.
Others:
i.Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was honoured with the Tri-Service Guard of Honour.
ii.He visited the Headquarters, Western Naval Command and MDL in Mumbai.
iii.He interacted with some Indian defence start-ups at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Delhi, in an event
organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

• The event showcased game-changing technologies by Indian start-ups on augmented reality/virtual
reality, energy systems, smart drones and anti-drone systems, space propulsion systems and other allied
technologies.
iv.He also Laid a wreath on the National War Memorial, New Delhi, Delhi.
Note:
India and Germany have had a Strategic Partnership since 2000, which has been strengthened through Inter-
Governmental Consultations since 2011 at the level of Heads of Government. India was among the first
countries to establish diplomatic ties with Germany after the Second World War.
i.On April 25, 2023, The Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &
Public Distribution, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action signed the new
Work Plan for 2023 during the 9th Annual Meeting of the Indo-German Working Group on Quality
Infrastructure (QI) in Berlin, Germany.
ii.The “World Energy Transitions: Outlook (WETO) 2023: 1.5°C Pathway” released by International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA) in Berlin(Germany), shows that the global energy transition is off-track, aggravated by
the effects of global crises and calls for a fundamental change of course in the energy transition.
About Germany:
Capital– Berlin
Currency– Euro
President– Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Highlights of Defence Minister of Vietnam General Phan Van Giang visit to India
Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang was on a 2 day visit to India from 18th to
19th June 2023.
• During his visit, he held bilateral talks with Union
Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He also made a cultural visit to Agra, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• He inspected the Tri-Service Guard of Honour, and laid a
wreath and paid homage to the soldiers at the National
War Memorial, New Delhi, Delhi.
Bilateral meeting with India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
A bilateral meeting was held between Union Minister Rajanath
Singh, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), and General Phan Van
Giang to enhance India-Vietnam cooperation in defence industries, maritime security and multinational
cooperation. Both sides will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest including the
situation in the South China Sea.
• Chief of Defence Staff General (CDS) Anil Chauhan and other top officials from the Ministry of
Defence also attended the meeting.
India gifts indigenously-built missile corvette ‘INS Kirpan‘ to Vietnam
During the meeting, the Indian side gifted an indigenously-built in-service missile corvette INS (Indian Naval
Ship) Kirpan to Vietnam to enhance the capabilities of the Vietnam People’s Navy.
India will train Vietnamese personnel in submarine and fighter jet operations, cyber-security and electronic
warfare, among other fields.
About INS Kirpan:
i.The Navy commissioned INS Kirpan, a 1,350-tonne Khukri class missile corvette, on January 12, 1991.
ii.It has a length of 91 meters, a beam of 11 meters, and can reach speeds exceeding 25 knots.
iii.It is equipped with a medium-range gun, 30 mm close-range guns, chaff launchers, and surface-to-surface
missiles, the ship is versatile and capable of various roles such as coastal and offshore patrol, coastal security,
surface warfare, anti-piracy, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

Key Points:
i.General Phan Van Giang and his delegation to India also paid a courtesy visit to Indian President Droupadi
Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 19th June 2023.
ii.He also visited Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) headquarters in New Delhi(Delhi)
to enhance defence industrial capabilities through cooperation in defence research and joint production.
ii.India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Note: in June 2022, During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Vietnam, the two nations signed a ‘Joint
Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’ and a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on ‘Mutual Logistics Support’.
FOREIGN VISITS
President Droupadi Murmu visit to Suriname & Serbia – 4th to 9th June 2023
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, paid a visit to Suriname
and Serbia from 4th to 9th June 2023. She visited Paramaribo,
Suriname at the invitation of Chandrikapersad Santokhi,
President of the Republic of Suriname and Serbia at the
invitation of Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia.
• This mark’s her first state visit after assuming office in
July 2022 and this also marks President Droupadi
Murmu’s first visit to Europe.
• President Murmu’s visit to Serbia is the first-ever visit by
an Indian President to Serbia.
President’s Visit to Suriname:
On 4th June 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, reached Paramaribo, Suriname on the first leg of her
State Visit to Suriname and Serbia.
Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname received her at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.
President Murmu honoured with the highest civilian award of Suriname
i.During her visit, Suriname President honoured President Murmu with the “Grand Order of the Chain of the
Yellow Star” the highest civilian honour of Suriname.
• She became the 4th recipient and the first Indian to receive this honour.
ii.The Order was instituted in 1975 at the independence of Suriname and replaced the Dutch Order of the
Netherlands Lion. the award is presented to individuals recognising their meritorious service to the
Surinamese people or nation.
MoUs & Work plan signed Between India & Suriname:
i.During the President’s visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Work Plan were signed between
India and Suriname in the field of Health, Agriculture ad capacity building.
ii.The MoUs were signed after the delegation-level talks between the President of India and Suriname.
About the MoU:
i.Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation of India (CDSCO) under the Directorate General of Health
Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoH&FW), and Ministry of Health of Suriname signed a
memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of medical products regulation.
ii.MoH&FW signed an MoU with the government of Suriname to extend the recognition to Indian
Pharmacopoeia.
• Pharmacopoeia is a book containing directions for the identification of compound medicines, and
published by the authority of a government or a medical or pharmaceutical society.
iii.Joint Work plan for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors for a period of 2023-2027 under
an existing MoU was also signed during the event.

Other Highlights:
i.On 5th June 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, along with Suriname President Chandrikapersad
Santokhi graced the cultural festival organised to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians
in Suriname.
• Note: On 5th June 1873, the first group of Indians reached the shores of Suriname, on board the ship
Lalla Rookh.
ii.During her visit, she paid homage at the Baba and Mai monument, a symbolic representation of the first
Indian man and woman, who first set foot in Suriname.
iii.She also paid respect at the Mama Sranan monument which represents Mama Sranan, the Mother of
Suriname holding her five children, the five ethnicities that inhabit Suriname with care and affection.
iv.She also inaugurated a simulated village modelled on the original habitat of the Indians who came to
Suriname. It displayed the lifestyle and circumstances in which they lived.
Major Announcement:
i.President Droupadi Murmu announced that the government of India has extended the eligibility criteria for
the OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) Card up from the fourth generation to the sixth generation of those
original Indian immigrants who had arrived in Suriname from Indian territories.
ii.She also announced that India is committed to enhancing technical cooperation and contributing to the
capacity-building and skill development of Suriname’s human resources as per the requirements.
President’s Visit to Serbia :
On 7th June 2023, she reached Belgrade, Serbia in the final leg of her State Visit to Suriname and Serbia.
Aleksandar Vucic President of Serbia received her and was accorded a guard of honour at the Nikola Tesla
Airport, Belgrade.
Highlights:
i.During her visit she interacted with the Indian diaspora and friends of India at the Community Reception
hosted by the Ambassador of India to Serbia, Sanjiv Kohli, in Belgrade.
ii.On 8th June 2023, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu met the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the
Prime Minister(PM) of Serbia Ana Brnabic and Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Vladimir Orlic and
led the delegation-level talks in Belgrade.
iii.She also addressed the India-Serbia Business Forum during her visit.
President Droupadi Murmu and President Aleksandar Vucic agreed to set a target for bilateral trade from the
present 320 million euros to one billion euros by the end of the decade.
iv. Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic also promised the simplification of the issue of Visas to Indians.
v.He also stated that the direct flight between India and Serbia will promote tourism and business between
both nations.
vi.A high-powered business delegation consisting of members from 3 Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), the Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) also held talks with a
business delegation from Serbia.
Note:
In 2022, the total FDI inflow into India was around USD 77 billion.
The Serbian economy has attracted more than half of the foreign direct investment (FDI) received by the
Western Balkans region since 2018.
About Serbia:
Prime Minister– Ana Brnabić
Capital– Belgrade
Currency– Serbian Dinar

About Suriname:
President– Chan Santokhi
Capital– Paramaribo
Currency– Suriname Dollar
Highlights of Key Initiatives Launched during PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to the USA June 20-24
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi made a 5-day visit to the United States of America from 20th to 24th June
2023, at the invitation of President of USA Joseph Robinette Biden Jr (Joe Biden) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
• So far, PM Modi has visited the USA 6 times(2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021) in his capacity as
the PM of India. However, the June 2023 visit marks his first ever ‘state visit’ to the USA, which, as
per diplomatic protocol, is the highest-ranked visit.
• In the USA, PM Narendra Modi was received by Indian Ambassador to the
US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj.
• He lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga
2023 (on June 21, 2023) at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York City, United States and held
bilateral talks with President Joe Biden in Washington,
USA.
-GE Aerospace signed MoU with India’s HAL to produce fighter
jet engines
On June 23, 2023, during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US,
World’s leading aircraft engine maker, GE Aerospace signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Washington to
produce fighter jet engines in the country for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The GE Aerospace’s F414 engines will be co-produced in India to power HAL’s Tejas light combat
aircraft (LCA) Mk2.
• The MoU includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, and GE
Aerospace continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorisation
for this.
Background:
i.The effort is part of the IAF’s LCA Mk2 program and the agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier
commitment to build 99 engines for IAF as part of the LCA Mk2 programme.
ii.The LCA Mk2 will form an important element of IAF’s future air combat capabilities, and its first flight could
take place in 2024, setting the stage for its production and subsequent operational availability around 2028 to
replace the Mirage 2000s and Jaguars.
• GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 have been part of the development and production of LCA Mk1 and
LCA Mk2 programmes.
iii.Along with the current agreement, the GE would also continue to collaborate with the Indian government on
the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2 engine programme.
iv.Currently, HAL uses GE 404 engines for the 83 light combat aircraft it is manufacturing for the IAF.
• Note – Recently, the IAF bought 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault, a French manufacturer of
combat aircraft.
-Cabinet Approved Micron’s semiconductor testing and packaging unit Plan
On 21st June 2023, PM Modi met with Sanjay Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Micron Technology Inc
in Washington DC, USA and invited Micron to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India.
• Ahead of the PM’s visit to the USA, The Union Cabinet of India has approved U.S. chipmaker Micron
Technology’s USD 2.75 billion plan to build a new semiconductor testing and packaging facility in
Gujarat, India.

• Out of the total investment for the plant, Micron will invest up to USD 825 million over the 2 phases
of the project, and the remaining will be funded by the government of India and the Gujarat
government under the Modified Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) Scheme.
• Under the ATMP scheme, Micron will receive 50% fiscal support for the total project cost from the
Indian central government and incentives representing 20% of the total project cost from the state
of Gujarat
• Cabinet has agreed production-linked incentives worth Rs 11000 crore for the plant.
Key Points:
i.As per the approval the Assembly Testing Marking and Packaging unit, which does not involve chip
manufacturing but focuses on testing and packaging semiconductor chips, will be constructed in the city of
Sanand (Gujarat).
ii.Micron could procure and package chip for clients at the plant, or other companies could send their chips for
testing before shipping. The plant is expected to create up to 5,000 new direct Micron jobs and 15,000
community jobs over the upcoming years.
iii.The company plans to set up an OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test)) plant in India which
will test and package its product to make it ready for use.
iv.In the first phase, the government had cleared four OSAT projects which included proposals by Tata Group,
Sahasra Semiconductors.
About Micron Technology:
• It is a world leader in innovative memory solutions that transform how the world uses information.
• The company has been instrumental to the world’s most significant technology advancements,
delivering optimal memory and storage systems for a broad range of applications, including
automotive, mobile, data centre, and client.
-Agreement signed between India and the US on cooperation in Space Research
During PM Modi’s visit to the USA, India and USA signed agreements – Artemis Accords and Joint Indo-US
mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024, on cooperation in Space Research, which will take
the bilateral relations to a new height.
Key Points:
i.On 21st June 2023, India became the 27th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, demonstrating its commitment
to sustainable and transparent space activity.
• Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sandhu, signed on behalf of the Government of the Republic
of India.
• As per Artemis Accords, India can participate in the US led Artemis programme for exploration of
moon and other celestial objects under common protocols.
ii.On the joint mission to the International Space Station, India-US will develop a framework for joint mission to
the International Space Station in 2024.
iii.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) are
developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation in 2023.
NASA announced to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas,
with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the ISS in 2024.
About Artemis Accords:
The Artemis Accords was signed on October 13, 2020 by eight founder nations – Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK) and USA. The Artemis Accord is a non-binding
agreement with no financial commitments.
• It is an American-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of
expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.
• It aims at enhancing the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with intension of
advancing the Artemis program.

-India And US Launches USD 2 Million Tech Grant for AI, Quantum Technologies
As per the joint statement issued by PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, the United States and India
announced a USD 2 million grant program for artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
• The grant program is part of the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment fund and aims to
foster collaboration between the two countries in emerging technologies.
• Public-private collaborations are encouraged under the programme to develop high-performance
computing (HPC) facilities in India and pledged to lower barriers to US exports of HPC technology
and source code.
India’s own National Quantum Mission was first announced in 2020 and intends to develop intermediate-scale
quantum computers with 50 to 1,000 physical qubits by 2031.
• India’s list of objectives are magnetometers, atomic clocks, superconductors, novel semiconductor
structures and quantum communications.
The Indian Department of Atomic Energy has made a USD 140 million in-kind contribution to the U.S.
Department of Energy’s Fermi National Laboratory for the collaborative development of the Proton
Improvement Plan-II Accelerator.
-IFFCO signs agreement for export of Nano liquid urea to US
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) started exporting world’s 1st Nano liquid Urea invented &
manufactured indigenously in India by IFFCO to USA through signing an agreement with California-based
Kapoor Enterprises Inc.
• In June 2021, IFFCO launched the world’s first nano urea fertiliser, while nano DAP in April 2023.
-Resolution of six outstanding WTO disputes between US and India
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles,
Piyush Goyal has highlighted the resolution of six outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes
between US and India through mutually agreed solutions as jointly communicated by the PM Narendra Modi
and President of the USA H.E. Joseph Biden.
The six trade disputes that will be terminated:
• Three of them which have been filed by India against the USA namely, Countervailing Measures on
Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India (DS436); Certain Measures Relating to the
Renewable Energy Sector (DS510); and Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminum Products (DS547).
• The other three disputes, which have been filed by the USA against India are: Certain Measures
Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules (DS456); Export Related Measures (DS541), and
Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States (DS585).
Key Points:
i.As a part of the agreement, the US has agreed to grant market access to steel and aluminium products under
the exclusion process of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962. India has agreed to remove the
additional duty, i.e., retaliatory tariffs on certain products.
• The prevailing basic import duty on those products applicable to all imports wouldcontinue.
ii.As part of the market access, the US Department of Commerce will clear 70% of steel and 80% of aluminium
applications for products originating in India.
iii.The market access would restore opportunities for Indian steel and aluminium exporters, which were
restricted since 14th June 2018 because of the US 232 measure under which additional duties of 25% and 10%
were levied on steel and aluminium products respectively.
iv.These applications would be made under the exclusion process of Sec. 232 by the importers on behalf of the
exporters.
v.It would provide significant impetus to raise India’s Steel and Aluminium exports by about 35%.
-India inducted into US-led Mineral Security Partnership
India has been inducted into the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), a US-led collaboration of 14 countries that
aims to catalyse public and private investment in critical mineral supply chains globally.

• India became the newest partner in the MSP, which would accelerate the development of diverse
and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains globally while agreeing to the principles of
the MSP including environmental, social, and governance standards.
Purpose of MSP:
• The MSP could focus on the supply chains of minerals such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and also the 17
“rare earth” minerals.
• While cobalt, nickel and lithium are required for batteries used in electric vehicles, rare earth
minerals are critical in trace amounts in semiconductors and high-end electronics manufacturing.
Rare earth Minerals:
i.It comprises 17 elements and are classified as light RE elements (LREE) and heavy RE elements (HREE).
• Some REs are available in India such as lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium and
samarium.
ii.Other rare earth minerals such as dysprosium, terbium, and europium that are classified as HREE are not
available in Indian deposits in extractable quantities.
iii.Currently, there is an overwhelming dependence on countries such as China for HREE, which is one of the
leading producers of RE with an estimated 70% of the global production.
• China is a strong player in the mineral space and has created processing infrastructure in rare earth
minerals and has acquired mines in Africa for sourcing elements such as cobalt.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Ministry of State (Independent Charge (IC)) Science & Technology made a 6-day
visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from April 26 to May 1, 2023, to hold a series of meetings with his counterpart
Ministers in the Government of the UK as well as with the Indian diaspora, StartUps and academicians.
Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, paid an official visit to Maldives from 1st to 3rd May 2023. During his
3 day visit, he held bilateral talks with Mariya Ahmed Didi, Minister of Defence of the Maldives and Abdulla
Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives.
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s visit USA, Egypt from June 20-25 (Part II)
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited the United States of America (USA) and Egypt from 20th to 25th
June 2023, during his visit, multiple initiatives and Memorandum of Understanding and bilateral talks for
further development were held on the sidelines of the visit and some of the key events and initiatives are
mentioned as follows.
-PM Narendra Modi Addressed Joint Sitting of the US Congress
During his visit to the United States of America (USA) from 20th to
24th June 2023, at the invitation of President of USA Joseph
Robinette Biden Jr (Joe Biden) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, PM
Narendra Modi addressed the joint sitting of the US Congress.
• He has become the first Indian PM to address the joint
meeting of the US Congress for the second time. PM
Modi previously addressed the Congress in 2016.
• During his address, he spoke about terrorism, unity in
diversity in India. He also said that India would become the 3rd largest democracy soon.
He became the third Indian leader to make a state visit to USA and the only Indian PM to address a joint session
of the US Congress twice.
-Boeing to invest USD 100 million in infrastructure, pilot training in India
Boeing, an Aerospace and defense manufacturer in the United States, has announced a USD 100 million
investment in infrastructure and programs to train pilots in India.
• The investment was made on the backdrop of Air India signing firm orders of over 200 jets earlier
from Boeing, which include 20787 Dreamliners, 10 777Xs, and 190 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft.

i.Boeing’s investment in pilot training infrastructure would increase the company’s commitment to supporting
India’s aviation industry.
ii.The investments would be directed towards enhancing training facilities and programs, ensuring that the
country’s future pilots receive world-class training and development opportunities.
iii.The investment aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States and his meeting with President Joe
Biden.
iv.Boeing aims to contribute to India’s aviation goals and the development of a skilled workforce in the
industry.
-Google, Microsoft and Amazon CEOs Decide to Invest in India
Following PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the USA, the three US tech giants of Amazon, Google, and Microsoft,
have committed and announced major capital investments and technological cooperation in India for the
growth of Indian technology.
Key Investments:
i.Amazon has committed to investing an additional USD 15 billion in India over the next seven years, which will
take the company’s total India investment across all businesses to USD 26 billion.
• Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy and PM Narendra Modi discussed about supporting Indian startups,
creating jobs, enabling exports, digitisation, and empowering individuals and small businesses to
compete globally.
• Amazon has pledged to digitise 10 million small businesses, enable USD 20 billion in exports, and
create 2 million jobs in India by 2025.
• Currently, Amazon India is on track to deliver on them, having already digitised over 6.2 million
small businesses, enabled over USD 7 billion in exports, and created over 1.3 million direct and
indirect jobs.
ii.Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella in his meeting with PM Narendra Modi discussed the power of
technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, to help improve the lives of Indians.
• In May 2023, Microsoft launched Jugalbandi, a new generative AI-driven chatbot on mobile devices
for government assistance, in India.
• It can understand questions in multiple languages, whether spoken or typed. It retrieves
information on relevant programs – usually written in English – and relays it back into the local
language.
• The Jugalbandi AI assistant is powered by language models from AI4Bharat, a government-backed
initiative, and reasoning models from Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.
iii.Google is investing USD 10 billion in India’s digitisation fund and announced plans to open its global fintech
operation centre in GIFT City, Gujarat.
-USA Formalizes Naval Ship Repair Deal With India’s L&T
i.To strengthen defence ties with India, the government of the USA has signed a formal framework agreement
on naval ship repair with Larsen & Toubro, the Indian defense shipbuilder.
• The agreement coincides with the visit of PM Narendra Modi to the White House.
ii.L&T operates a modern shipyard at Kattupalli (north of Chennai, Tamil Nadu) on India’s Bay of Bengal
coastline.
iii.The signing of a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with Larsen & Toubro formalizes an existing
arrangement between the U.S. Navy and the Indian yard.
iv.Since August 2022, 3 U.S. Navy vessels have passed through the L&T shipyard , and the MSRA opens up new
opportunities for further repair stopovers, particularly for naval auxiliaries from Military Sealift Command.
-US, India to Pursue Energy Transition Goals, to Set Up Investment Platform
According to the joint statement issued by India and USA, both nations commit to set up the first multi-billion
investment fund to achieve net carbon zero and clean energy transition goals.

i.Both nations’ are also committed to creating innovative investment platforms to lower the cost of capital and
attract international private finance and accelerate the deployment of greenfield renewable energy, battery
storage, and emerging green technology projects in India.
ii.Both nations will work together to bring down the cost of green hydrogen under India’s National Green
Hydrogen Mission and the US Hydrogen Energy Earthshot.
iii.They have also intended to development of joint efforts in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.
• The US also welcomed India’s decision to co-lead the multilateral Hydrogen Breakthrough Agenda.
U.S. to ease visas for skilled Indian workers: The US government is expected to make an announcement that
a small number of Indians and other foreign workers with H-1B visas will be able to renew them in the US
without travelling abroad.
-Gifts exchanged between PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden
On the State visit to the United States, PM Narendra Modi presented special gifts from India to US President Joe
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
The Ten Principal Upanishads: PM Modi gifted Joe Biden with a rare first edition print of The Ten Principal
Upanishads, recognising the leader’s profound admiration for Irish poet William Butler Yeats.
• ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’, is an English translation of the Hindu religious text by Irish poet
Yeats and Shri Purohit Swami.
• Note – In 1937, WB Yeats published an English translation of the Indian Upanishads, co-authored
with Shri Purohit Swami. The translation and collaboration between the two authors occurred
throughout the 1930s and it was one of the final works of Yeats.
Sandalwood box: He also presented a special sandalwood box to Joe Biden that has been handcrafted by a
master craftsman from Jaipur, Rajasthan. The sandalwood sourced from Mysore, Karnataka has intricately
carved flora and fauna patterns.
• The box also contains the idol of Lord Ganesha, a Hindu deity considered the destroyer of obstacles
and the one who is worshipped first among all gods, and its silver form has been handcrafted by a
family of fifth-generation silversmiths of Kolkata.
Green Diamond: Apart from this, PM Narendra Modi gifted the Green Diamond to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
Features of Green Diamond gifted by PM Narendra Modi:
• The lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond reflects earth-mined diamonds’ chemical and optical
properties.
• The diamond is eco-friendly in nature, and it emits only 0.028 grams of carbon per carat and is
certified by the Gemological Lab, IGI (International Gemological Institute).
• As the diamond is crafted using sustainable resources like solar and wind power, it also embodies
eco-friendliness.
Antique American Book Galley & Vintage Camera:
• U.S. President Biden and First Lady Jill presented a handmade, antique American book galley from
the early 20th Century as the official gift to Prime Minister Modi.
• They also reportedly gifted a vintage American camera, accompanied by an archival facsimile print
of George Eastman’s Patent of the first Kodak camera, a hardcover book on American wildlife
photography, and a signed, first edition copy of ‘Collected Poems of Robert Frost’.
-PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Egypt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Egypt for 2 days from June 24 to 25, 2023 at the invitation of Egyptian
President El-Sisi and his visit marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Egypt in 26 years.
On June 24, 2023, PM Narendra Modi met Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly-led India Unit, a group of
high-level Ministers constituted by El-Sisi to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
-Conferred with Egypt’s highest state honour “Order of the Nile”
On June 25, 2023, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, conferred the country’s highest state honour “Order
of the Nile” award on PM Narendra Modi.

About Order of the Nile:
i.Instituted in 1915, the ‘Order of the Nile’ is conferred upon Heads of states, Crown Princes, and Vice-
Presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services.
ii.The ‘Order of the Nile’ is a pure gold collar consisting of three-square gold units comprising Pharaonic
symbols.
• The first unit resembles the idea of protecting the state against evils, the second one resembles
prosperity and happiness brought by the Nile and the third one refers to wealth and endurance.
• The three units are connected to one another by a circular gold flower decorated with turquoise and
ruby.
• In the middle of the pendant, there is a protruding symbol representing the Nile that brings together
the North (represented by the Papyrus) and the South (represented by the Lotus).
Note – Order of the Nile is the 13th such highest state honour that various countries across the world have
conferred upon PM Modi.
-India&Egypt Signed Agreements on Strategic Partnership
On June 25, 2023, India and Egypt signed agreements on a strategic partnership as Prime Minister Narendra
Modi held bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo (Egypt).
• The four agreements that were signed include the agreement over development in the history of the
bilateral relationship.
• Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between both nations in the fields of
agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law.
-Visit to Pyramids of Giza
• During his visit to Egypt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic pyramids of Giza, which is
considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World.
• The Pyramid of Giza serves as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, the ruler under the Fourth Dynasty of the
Old Kingdom. The Great Pyramid of Giza is considered to be the largest Egyptian pyramid.
The iconic pyramids were built in the early 26th century BC over a period of 27 years. Notably, the
Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’.

BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of the 2nd Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy of FY24
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 6-members Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) met on 6th, 7th and 8th June 2023 and released
its second bi-monthly monetary policy statement
for FY24 (Financial year 2023-2024).
Policy Rates:
i.The MPC has decided to keep the policy rates under the liquidity
adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged (maintains status quo) with
the stance remain focused on the withdrawal of accommodation.
ii.The Unchanged Policy rates are as follows:
Category Rates
Policy Rates
Policy Repo Rate 6.50%
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate 6.25%

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate 6.75%
Bank Rate 6.75%
Reverse Repo Rate 3.35%
Reserve Ratios
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.50%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 18%
Member of MPC:
The MPC meeting was headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das the other 5 members of the committee include,
• Shashanka Bhide, Ashima Goyal, Prof. Jayanth R. Varma, Michael Debabrata Patra, and Dr. Rajiv Ranjan.
a.MPC’s Assessments on Growth and Inflation:
Growth:
i.India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth for FY24 was projected at 6.5% with 8 percent in Q1, 6.5
percent in Q2, 6 percent in Q3, and 5.7 percent in Q4.
ii.India’s real GDP recorded a growth of 7.2% in FY23, stronger than the earlier estimation of 7.0%.
iii.Real GDP growth in Q4 FY23 accelerated to 6.1% (y-o-y) from 4.5% in Q3 FY23, supported by fixed
investment and higher net exports.
iv.On the supply side, real gross value added (GVA) increased from 4.7% in Q3 FY23 to 6.5% in Q4 FY23, due to
improvement in manufacturing activity.
v.The 8 core industries’ output expanded by 3.5% y-o-y in April 2023 as compared with 3.6% in March 2023.
vi.The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing rose to a 31-month high of 58.7 in May 2023.
-Inflation
i.Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was projected at 5.1 percent in FY24, with 4.6 percent in Q1, 5.2
percent in Q2, 5.4 percent in Q3, and 5.2 percent in Q4.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has set a target to bring down inflation to 4%.
ii.India’s foreign exchange reserves were placed at USD 595.1 billion on June 2, 2023.
iii.The average daily absorption under the LAF increased to Rs 1.7 lakh crore during April-May 2023 from Rs
1.4 lakh crore in February-March 2023.
b.Developmental and Regulatory Policies
-RBI issued Guidelines on DLG/FLDG in Digital Lending
RBI has examined the arrangements between Regulated Entities (REs) and Lending Service Providers (LSPs) or
between two REs involving default loss guarantee (DLG), commonly known as First Loss Default Guarantee
(FLDG) and approved the regulatory framework for permitting DLG arrangements in Digital Lending.
What is DLG?
The term DLG refers to a contractual arrangement, between a RE and an entity (that meets certain criteria
specified in the below guidelines on DLG) in which the entity will guarantee to compensate the RE for loss due
to default upto a certain percentage of the loan portfolio of the RE that is specified earlier.
Guidelines on DLG in Digital Lending:
i.Eligibility as DLG Provider: RE could enter into DLG arrangements only with a Lending Service Provider
(LSP)/ other RE with which it has entered into an outsourcing (LSP) arrangement.
• The LSP providing DLG must be incorporated as a company under the Companies Act, 2013.
ii.Forms of DLG: RE shall accept DLG only in one or more of the following forms:
• Cash deposited with the RE.
• Fixed Deposits maintained with a Scheduled Commercial Bank with a lien marked in favour of the RE.
• Bank Guarantee in favour of the RE.
iii.Cap on DLG:
• RE should ensure that the total amount of DLG cover on any outstanding portfolio which is specified
upfront should not exceed 5% of the amount of that loan portfolio.

• In the case of implicit guarantee arrangements, the DLG Provider should not bear a performance risk of
more than the equivalent amount of 5% of the underlying loan portfolio.
iv.Invocation of DLG: The RE should invoke DLG within a maximum overdue period of 120 days unless made
good by the borrower before that.
v.Tenor of DLG: DLG agreement would remain in force for not less than the longest tenor of the loan in the
underlying loan portfolio.
vi.Requirements:
• REs should put in place a Board approved policy before entering into any DLG arrangement. Such policy
should include, at the minimum, the eligibility criteria for the DLG provider, the nature and extent of
DLG cover, the process of monitoring and reviewing the DLG arrangement, and the details of the fees, if
any, payable to the DLG provider.
• This regulatory framework is based on the principle that lending business can be carried out only by
entities that are either regulated by the Reserve Bank or entities permitted to do so under any other law.
v.FLDG scheme allows Indian fintech to partner with banks and NBFCs. As per the RBI’s statement, FLDG
arrangements conforming to these guidelines shall not be treated as ‘synthetic securitization’ and/or shall also
not attract the provisions of ‘loan participation’.
-RBI Issues Framework for Compromise Settlements and Technical Write-offs
RBI introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for ‘compromise settlements/one-time settlements
(OTS) and technical write-offs’, under which all REs including cooperative lenders could be able to resolve
non-performing assets (NPA) and streamline instructions for regulated entities.
Key Frameworks:
i.The framework mandates the REs to establish board-approved policies for undertaking compromise
settlements and technical write-offs.
• Compromise settlements refers to any negotiated arrangement with the borrower to fully settle the
claims of the RE against the borrower in cash.
• Technical write-off, refers to writing off NPA for accounting purposes without waiving claims against the
borrower.
ii.The board should mandate a reporting format to track trends, including the number and amounts of such
settlements, recovery in technically written-off accounts, and classification of accounts based on fraud or wilful
default.
• REs may undertake compromise settlements or technical write-offs in respect of accounts categorised as
wilful defaulters or fraud without prejudice to the criminal proceeding underway against such debtors.
iii.RBI proposed to rationalise the extant prudential norms on restructuring of borrower accounts affected by
natural calamities.
iv.Compromise settlements where the time for payment of the agreed settlement amount exceeds 3 months
shall be treated as restructuring.
v.Cooling Period: In respect of borrowers subject to compromise settlements, there should be a cooling period
as determined by the respective Board approved policies before the REs can assume fresh exposures to such
borrowers.
• Borrowers who enter into a compromise settlements should need to go through a cooling period of a
minimum 12 months in case of farm credit exposures.
vi.The OTS framework has now been extended to urban co-operative banks (UCBs).
Additional info:
• The process of declassifying the loan as an ‘asset’ in the bank’s books is what is termed as write-off.
• Banks that have a high level of NPA used to have low deposit rates and keep lending rates high to
recover the losses on those assets.

-Extended PSL Targets for UCBs
RBI has extended the phase-in time for achievement of the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Targets for Primary
(Urban) Cooperative Banks (UCBs) by two years, i.e. from March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2026.
• RBI is set to provide suitable incentives to UCBs that have met the prescribed targets as on March 31,
2023.
• The PSL targets for UCBs were revised in 2020 to ensure a non-disruptive transition, a path provided till
March 31, 2024, to achieve the revised targets.
-PPIs to issue e-RUPI vouchers
i.To increase the scope of e-RUPI vouchers, RBI proposed to expand the scope and reach of e-RUPI vouchers by
permitting non-bank Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuers to issue e-RUPI vouchers and enabling
issuance of e-RUPI vouchers on behalf of individuals.
• The e-RUPI, a digital voucher launched in August 2021, rides on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
system of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Click here to know more
ii.With over 35 non-bank PPI issuers, including Amazon Pay, Bajaj Finance, Ola Financial Services, PayU
Payments Pvt Ltd, and Phone Pe Pvt Ltd, this move is set to significantly widen the scope of e-RUPI vouchers.
• At present, purpose-specific vouchers are issued by banks on behalf of Central and State Governments
and to a limited extent on behalf of corporates.
-Banks to issue RuPay forex cards
RBI decided to allow the issuance of RuPay Prepaid Forex (Foreign Exchange) cards by banks in India for use
at ATMs, PoS machines and online merchants overseas to expand payment options for Indians travelling
abroad.
• Further, RuPay Debit, Credit, and Prepaid Cards will be enabled for issuance in foreign jurisdictions,
which can be used internationally, including in India. These measures will expand the reach and
acceptance of RuPay cards globally.
• RuPay Debit and Credit cards issued by banks in India have gained international acceptance through
bilateral arrangements with international partners and co-badging arrangements with international
card schemes
-RBI opens TReDS for all players in factoring, including insurers
i.RBI has allowed all participants who are undertaking factoring business to participate as financiers in the
Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform to improve access to funds for micro, small and
medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• Due to this, insurance companies are getting permitted as the ‘fourth participant’ in TReDS, besides
MSME sellers, buyers and financiers.
• The insurance facility would encourage discounting of payables of buyers irrespective of their credit
ratings.
ii.RBI has also allowed secondary market transactions on the TReDS platform.
-Streamlining the Bharat Bill Payment System
i.To enhance the efficiency of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) and also to encourage greater
participation, the process flow of transactions and membership criteria for onboarding operating units in BBPS
was set to be streamlined.
• BBPS is an ‘anytime anywhere’ bill payments platform which is operational since August 2017.
Currently, BBPS has onboarded over 20,500 billers and processes over 9.8 crore transactions every
month.
-Own Limits for Call, Term, Notice Money
Scheduled commercial banks (excluding Small Finance Banks) are allowed to set their own limits for borrowing
in Call and Notice Money Markets within the prescribed prudential limits for inter-bank liabilities.
What is Call, Term, Notice Money:
• Call Money means borrowing or lending in unsecured funds on overnight basis;

• Notice Money means borrowing or lending in unsecured funds for tenors up to and inclusive of 14 days
excluding overnight borrowing or lending;
• Term Money means borrowing or lending in unsecured funds for periods exceeding 14 days and up to
one year.
Additional Measures:
i.To develop the onshore rupee non-deliverable derivatives contract market and to provide residents with the
flexibility to efficiently plan their hedging activities, RBI has permitted banks that are operating International
Financial Services Centre (IFSC) to offer non-deliverable derivatives contracts utilising rupees to resident non-
retail-users-for-hedging.
• The newly-permitted transactions will be cash-settled in rupees and shall have the flexibility of cash
settlement between two relevant banks and between a bank and a person residing outside India in
rupees or any foreign currency.
ii.RBI has decided to rationalise and simplify the licensing framework for authorized persons under Foreign
Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, to improve the efficiency in the delivery of foreign exchange facilities
to various segments of users including common persons, tourists and businesses.
iii.RBI has conducted a four-day variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auction for Rs 1 lakh crore (USD 12.12
billion) on June 12, 2023.
• RBI conducted a 14-day VRRR auction of Rs 2.0 lakh crore on June 2, 2023; 4-day VRRR of Rs 1.0
lakh crore on June 5, 2023; 3-day VRRR of Rs 75,000 crore on June 6, 2023; and 2-day VRRR of Rs 75,000
crore on June 7, 2023, considering the overall build-up of surplus liquidity.
Additional info: As per the statement of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, as on March 31, 2023, there was a total
of 3.62 lakh crore of Rs 2000 notes in circulation. After the announcement of withdrawal, so far about 1.8
lakh crore of Rs 2000 notes have come back, which is roughly about half of the Rs 2000 notes in circulation as
on March 31, 2023.
• About 85% of the Rs 2000 notes have come back as deposits into bank accounts
Note – The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled during August 8-10, 2023.
On May 19, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified the withdrawal of Rs 2000 denomination banknotes
from circulation and directed banks to stop issuing this banknote with immediate effect.
On April 10, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the directions named RBI (Outsourcing of
Information Technology Services) Directions, 2023 for the outsourcing of Information Technology (IT) services
by banks, NBFCs (Non-bank financial companies) and Regulated Entities (REs) to ensure that such
arrangements do not undermine their responsibilities and obligations to customers.
About the Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Deputy Governors– Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Establishment– 1st April 1935
RBI launches ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign to settle unclaimed deposits
As per the announcement made by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 12, 2023, RBI launched
the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign for the banks on June 1, 2023. The campaign was commenced by the
banks to trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district of India within
100 days.
• This measure will complement the ongoing efforts by RBI to reduce the quantum of unclaimed
deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners/ claimants.

What are unclaimed deposits?
Balances in savings / current accounts which are not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not
claimed within 10 years from the date of maturity are classified as “Unclaimed Deposits”.
• These amounts are transferred by banks to ‘Depositor Education and Awareness Fund’ (DEAF)
maintained by RBI.
• RBI has also announced the setting up of a Centralized Web portal for the public to search
unclaimed deposits across multiple banks.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Launched Financial Inclusion Dashboard Antardrishti

In June 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shaktikanta Das, launched a financial inclusion
dashboard named ‘Antardrishti‘.
• ‘Antardrishti’ in Hindi means “Insight”.
About Antardrishti:
Purpose: The dashboard provides the necessary insight to assess and track the development of financial
inclusion by recording relevant data.
Key Points:
i.The dashboard, presently intended for internal use in the RBI, will further facilitate greater financial inclusion
through a multi-stakeholder approach.
ii.The dashboard will assess the degree of financial exclusion at a local level across the nation.
Financial Inclusion:
i.Financial Inclusion aims to provide access to affordable and appropriate financial products and services like
savings accounts, credit, insurance, and payment systems.
ii.RBI promotes financial inclusion through various policies, the launch of ‘Antardrishti’ is also a part of the
efforts of RBI towards financial inclusion.
Financial Inclusion (FI) Index:
i.RBI had constructed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index in 2021, to measure the extent of financial inclusion.
• FI index comprises 3 parameters, ‘Access (35% weightage), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%).
ii.The FI-Index incorporates details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as the pension sector in
consultation with the government and respective sectoral regulators.
iii. Information on various aspects of financial inclusion will be collected under the index in a single value
ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial
inclusion.
Deputy Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
RBI Eases Restrictions on HDFC Credila’s Customer Onboarding

On 27 June 2023, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed the restrictions on customer onboarding for HDFC
Credila. This move comes as a significant development, allowing HDFC Credila to expand its customer base and
streamline its operations.
Background:
Previously, HDFC Credila faced restrictions on onboarding new customers following HDFC’s announcement of
selling a 90 percent stake in the subsidiary to Baring PE and ChrysCapital. The deal, valued at ₹9,060 crore, also
includes a capital infusion of ₹2,000 crore by the private equity firms.
Criteria:
i. To avail this relaxation, HDFC Credila is required to submit an application for a change in shareholding as a

Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to the RBI by July 31, 2023
ii. HDFC Bank’s shareholding in HDFC Credila must be reduced to 10 percent by March 31, 2024, to ensure
compliance with regulatory requirements.
Expected Outcomes:
Upon completion of the stake sale, HDFC Credila will cease to be a subsidiary of HDFC, resulting in a decrease in
HDFC’s shareholding to below 10 percent of HDFC Credila’s total issued and paid-up share capital. However,
HDFC will retain one seat on the board of Credila, maintaining its presence and influence.
RBI cancels Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank’s licence; Allows to operate as NBFC
On 27 June 2023, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank (Dharwad,
Karnataka), to operate solely as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), effectively revoking its banking
licence granted on March 23, 1994.
• The central bank emphasised that the Bank must immediately cease all banking activities, including
accepting deposits from non-members.
Additionally, the bank is required to fulfil its obligations by repaying any outstanding deposits from non-
members upon request, even after its reclassification as a non-banking institution.
RBI's First-Ever Penalty on Credit Bureaus for Non-compliance with Four Entities
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has fined all Four credit bureaus, TransUnion CIBIL Limited, Equifax Credit
Information Services Private Limited, Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Limited and CRIF
High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited, for not maintaining accurate borrower data following
customer complaints.
• They have been subjected to monetary penalties by the RBI due to their non-compliance with the
Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005, and Credit Information Companies Rules,
2006.
• This is the first such concerted action by RBI towards Credit Bureaus.
Key Points:
i.RBI slapped a fine of Rs.26 lakh on TransUnion CIBIL Limited, Rs.24.25 lakh on Equifax Credit Information
Services Private Limited, Rs 24.25 lakh on Experian Credit Information Company of India Private
Limited, and Rs 25.75 lakh on CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited.
ii.Certain data related to the credit information maintained by the four organisations and Information Services
was not accurate and complete.
RBI imposed Rs 30 lakh penalty on Standard Chartered Bank
RBI has also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Standard Chartered Bank-India(StanChart) for
non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions,
2016.
• RBI penalised StanChart for assigning multiple customer ID numbers to the same individual
customer, violating the central bank’s norms.
• Seven co-operative banks were also fined by the regulator for various violations
SEBI
SEBI Issued Guidelines for Transactions in Corporate Bonds through RFQ platform by SBs
On June 2, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued guidelines for transactions in
Corporate Bonds (CBs) through the Request for Quote (RFQ) platform by stock brokers (SBs) in order to
increase liquidity on the platform and to enhance the transparency and disclosure pertaining to trading in the
secondary market in corporate bonds.

Key Points:
i.SEBI has asked SBs to undertake at least 10% of their total secondary market trades by value in CBs in that
month by placing/seeking quotes through one-to-one (OTO) or one-to-many (OTM) mode on the RFQ platform
of stock exchanges.
• The instruction would be applicable for all the trades in a proprietary capacity with effect from July
01, 2023.
ii.The value would be increased by 25% of their total secondary market trades from April 1, 2024, onwards.
Note – This circular is issued by SEBI in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act,
1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate
the securities markets.
About Request for Quote (RFQ):
i.The RFQ is a trade execution platform launched in 2020 as per the guidance of SEBI, for inviting and/or
giving quotes. It is a direct participation model where all participants trade in their own accounts.
ii.Under the platform all regulated entities, listed corporate bodies, institutional investors and all Indian
financial institutions were eligible to register, access and transact.
iii.In October 2022, SEBI allowed SBs to place bids on the RFQ platform on behalf of their clients to facilitate
wider participation in the CB market.
• This was in addition to the existing option of placing bids in a proprietary capacity. Quotes on RFQ
platforms can be placed through OTO or OTM mode.
iv.In January 2023, SEBI allowed the participants to use the services of SEBI-registered brokers for
participation in RFQ platform.
v.The RFQ platform also provides options for users to seek a quote and to respond to a quote.
vi.The platform uses RFQ protocol where an initiator may request other participants for a quote in corporate
bonds, securitised debt instruments, municipal debt securities, Government securities, State development
loans, Treasury Bills, Commercial Papers and Certificates of Deposit or any other security as specified by an
exchange from time to time.
Additional info:
i.SEBI has been taking steps to increase the liquidity on RFQ platform of stock exchanges and made certain
stipulations for transactions on RFQ platform by Mutual Funds , Portfolio Management Services, and Alternate
Investment Funds.
ii.SEBI has directed the stock exchanges to file the compliance report from August 2023 with the Department of
Debt and Hybrid Securities (DDHS), SEBI.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated alternative investment funds (AIFs) to
provide investors with the option of a “direct plan” and introduced a trail model for distribution commission.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI):
SEBI Allows MFs to Participate in Repo Transactions and Issues Framework for Upstreaming of
clients’ funds by SBs & CMs to CCs
In June 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed Mutual Funds (MFs) to
invest/participate in repo transactions in securities such as Commercial Papers and Certificate of Deposits
(CDs) to improve the growth of the corporate bond market.
• SEBI issued a circular over modification of the previous guidelines and introduces new provisions
for MFs and asset management companies to participate in repo transactions.

Key Provisions:
i.As per the new guidelines, the MFs are now allowed to participate in repo transactions only on corporate debt
securities rated ‘AA’ and above and Commercial Papers (CPs) and CDs.
ii.In case of transactions where settlement is guaranteed by a clearing corporation, the exposure would not be
considered for the purpose of determination of investment limits for the single issuer, group issuer and sector
level limits.
iii.The credit rating of exposure on repo transactions would be considered on a look-through basis for various
purposes, including the potential risk class (PRC) matrix, liquidity ratios, and risk-o-meter.
iv.As per the circular of SEBI, the new provision would come into force with immediate effect.
Note – SEBI has issued the instruction in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the SEBI Act,
1992, read with the provisions of Regulation 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
What is Repo Transaction?
A repurchase agreement, or “repo,” is a short-term agreement to sell securities in order to buy them back at a
slightly higher price.
Repo transactions are also known as a repo or sale repurchase agreement in which the securities are sold with
the seller agreeing to buy them back at a later date. The instrument is used for raising short-term capital.
A debt security is a debt instrument that could be bought or sold between two parties and has basic terms
defined, such as the notional amount (the amount borrowed), interest rate, and maturity and renewal date.
-SEBI Issues Framework for Upstreaming of clients’ funds by SBs & CMs to CCs
SEBI has issued a framework for upstreaming of clients’ funds received by Stock Brokers (SBs) and Clearing
Members (CMs) to Clearing Corporations (CCs) to safeguard the investors’ funds and improve their confidence.
Upstreaming of funds:
i.As per the framework, SBs and CMs should not retain client’s funds and must be upstreamed to CCs every day
on End of Day (EOD) basis.
ii.The clients’ funds should all be upstreamed by SB/CMs to CCs only in the form of either cash, a lien on Fixed
Deposit Receipts (FDR), or a pledge of units of Mutual Fund Overnight Schemes (MFOS).
• The rule will come into effect on July 1 2023.
Downstreaming/Withdrawal of funds:
i.When the client makes a request to SBs/CMs, for withdrawal of fund they, in turn, should raise a request to
CCs before the stipulated cut-off time. Following this, CCs will release the funds.
• The CC should try to release the cash as soon as possible but within 2 hours from the time
requested.
• The clients may request release of funds to SBs/CMs at any time during the day.
ii.SB/CMs could also request for the release of funds even if the client did not come up with a request, such
events are when the clients have unpaid obligations, loss due to sale of unpaid securities, loss, statutory levies,
brokerage charges, other charges like DP charges or funds to be released to clients on account of regulatory
requirements such as running account settlement.
About Securities Exchange Board of India(SEBI):
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharastra
SEBI introduces framework for Direct Mutual Fund Investment Platforms

On June 13, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced a regulatory framework for
online investment (Execution Only) Platforms that facilitate investments in direct (commission-free) plans of
schemes of mutual fund (MF) w.e.f. September 01, 2023.
• This brings clarity on obligations of such platforms, and also addresses investor concerns on
associated risks and introduces grievance redressal mechanism.

This introduction followed the public consultation and discussions in the MF Advisory Committee where it has
been decided to prescribe a framework for Execution Only Platforms for transacting in direct plans of schemes
of MF. In this regard, the SEBI (Stock Brokers) Regulations, 1992 have been amended.
• This circular by SEBI is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI
Act, 1992 to protect the interest of investors in securities and to promote the development of the
securities market.
What are the regulations?
i.Platforms providing MF investment services in direct (commission-free) plans will have to apply for
‘Execution Only Platform’ (EOP) licence either with SEBI or the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)
within three months of the regulation coming into force.
• As of now, these MF investment platforms operate under a stock broker or Investment Advisor (IA)
licence.
ii.Platforms of investment advisors and stock brokers will not need an EOP registration if it is open only for
their advisory or broking clients.
iii.SEBI has provided two options to the EOPs i.e. they could either register with AMFI and become agents of
asset management companies or register with a stock broker and become agents of investors. Whom they
charge for the services will depend on whose agent they become.
Background:
SEBI registered Investment Advisors and Stock Brokers use their technology or digital platforms to offer
services for executing transactions in direct plans of MF schemes. These platforms are often used by investors
who are not their clients according to the regulations set by SEBI (Investment Advisers) in 2013 or SEBI (Stock
Brokers) in 1992. Currently, there is no specific framework in place for technology or digital platforms
(including those provided by Investment Advisors and Stock Brokers to non-clients) to solely offer execution
services for direct plans of MF schemes and gather transaction-related data.
• In this regard, the above-mentioned regulatory framework has been made.
SEBI Revised Rules Relating to Minor’s Investment in Mutual Fund by Parent/Guardian

In May 2023, based on the recommendation of the Mutual Fund (MF) Advisory Committee,The Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has recently updated its 2019 circular, which outlines the standardized
procedures to be followed by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) regarding investments made in the name
of a minor (i.e. children about 10 to 18 years of age) through a parent/guardian.
• All AMCs are advised to make the necessary changes to facilitate the above changes in MF
transactions with effect from June 15, 2023.
Revised Regulations:
i.As per the new rule, the MF scheme investment payments (in any mode for subscription) could be accepted
from any bank account i.e. the minor, parents or legal guardians, or a joint account in the name of a minor with
parents or a legal guardian.
• Existing case: So far, SEBI permitted an MF scheme investment payment through the bank account
of a minor or from a joint account of the minor along with parents or a legal guardian.
• From now on, there will be no requirement to open joint accounts or accounts of a minor child for
this particular investment purpose, as it could be done from any of three accounts i.e. the minor,
parents or guardian.
ii.Redemption: But in case of all redemptions from MF scheme investments (made in the name of the minor) at
a later stage, the amount will be credited to the verified bank account of the minor alone (that can be a joint
account also) after completing all Know Your Customer (KYC) formalities.
Note – SEBI issues the changes in the exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act,
1992, read with Regulation 77 of the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.

SEBI – Introduced 3 Months Timeline for Listed Entities to Fill KMPs Vacancies and Issued
Restrictions of products offered on an OBP by OBPP
In June 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a timeline of 3
months for ‘Listed Entities’ to fill up the vacancies of their Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs) such as Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Managing Director (MD), Wholetime Director, Manager
and Compliance officer to ensure smooth functioning of listed companies.
• An amendment to this effect has been made in the SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements (LODR) regulations based on the consultation paper issued by SEBI in February
2023.
Other key regulations:
i.Along with KMPs the listed companies are also now required to fill the vacancies of directors within 3 months.
ii.SEBI also directed the that the listed companies not to fill vacancies of KMPs by appointing a person in an
‘interim capacity’.
• But the appointment could be allowed only if such appointments are made in accordance with the
laws applicable in case of a fresh appointment to such office and the obligations under such laws are
made applicable to the person coming in an “interim capacity”.
Background:
i.In February 2023, SEBI issued a consultation paper on ‘Streamlining Disclosures by Listed Entities and
Strengthening Compliance with SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR)) Regulations,
2015‘.
ii.The consultation paper proposes changes to the current regulatory framework for disclosures by listed
entities and aims to improve the quality and timeliness of disclosures made by listed companies.
iii.In the consultation paper on LODR Regulations SEBI stated that if an independent director resigns or is
removed from the board of directors of the listed entity, they should be replaced by a new independent director
by the listed entity at the earliest but not later than three months from the date of such vacancy.
What is meant by “Listed entity”?
Listed entity means an entity which has listed, on a recognised stock exchange(s), the designated securities
issued by it or designated securities issued under schemes managed by it, in accordance with the listing
agreement entered into between the entity and the recognised stock exchange(s).
Purpose of the timeline:
i.With regard to the LODR regulations, one of the key functions of the Board of directors (BoD) of a listed entity
is to oversee succession planning of KMP like compliance officer, CFO and CEO.
• Accordingly, as per the SEBI consultation paper the BoD of the listed entity should ensure that the
vacancies of such personnel are filled up in a timely manner.
ii.The new three months timeline for listed entities is stricter than the six months window which was currently
being provided under the Companies Act 2013 for filling the vacancies of KMPs (Company Secretary, CFO and
CEO/MD/WTD/Manager).
• The norms under the Companies Act 2013 apply to unlisted companies.
-SEBI Issued Restriction of products offered on an Online Bond Platform:
SEBI has restricted Online Bond Platform Providers (OBPPs) from offering products other than listed debt
securities on their Online Bond Platform (OBP) or any other platform website, products or services.
• SEBI has issued a circular specifically aimed at Online Bond Platform Providers, emphasizing the
need to comply with Regulation 51A of the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible
Securities) Regulations, 2021.
Who is OBPP and What is OBP?
OBPP is defined as any person operating or providing an online bond platform’and OBP is any electronic
system, other than a recognised stock exchange or an electronic book provider platform, on which the debt
securities which are listed or proposed to be listed, are offered and transacted.

Other Restrictions:
i.As per the SEBI’s regulation, OBPPs need to register themselves as stock brokers in the debt segment of the
stock exchange.
ii.The holding company, subsidiary, or associate of an OBPP are not permitted to utilise the name, brand name,
or any name resembling that of the OBPP for offering products and services that are not regulated by a financial
sector regulator such as SEBI, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of
India (IRDAI), or The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA).
iii.If the OBP or any other platform/website of OBPP has any link/ tab to websites/ platforms of its holding
company, subsidiary or associate, undertaking any activity or offering products/ securities or services that are
regulated by other financial sector regulators, the disclaimer of ‘<Name of the product> is regulated by
<RBI/ IRDAI/ PFRDA>’ need to displayed in legible font once the link/tab is clicked
Cause for the issue of Restrictions:
i.SEBI has issued the restriction as it has noted that certain OBPPs are offering products other than listed debt
securities and debt securities proposed to be listed through a public offering on their platforms.
• They are also offering unlisted bonds on a separate platform or website and have not divested such
offerings.
• Moreover, certain OBP providers have given a link on the online bond platform to another platform
for transacting in unlisted bonds and other products.
ii.These practices are in contravention of NCS (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations.
Securities that can be offered on Online Bond Platforms:
i.SEBI has revised the Clause 5.2 of OBP circular and allowed inclusion of a few new product categories such as
government securities and listed sovereign gold bonds.
ii.Under the revised clause 5.2, OBPPs could offer listed debt securities, listed municipal debt securities and
listed securitised debt instruments; debt securities, municipal debt securities and securitised debt instruments
proposed to be listed through a public offering; listed government securities, state development loans and
treasury bills; and listed sovereign gold bonds.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), India’s capital markets regulator, has issued a circular on
the use of brand names or trade names by Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs), following its
previous publication of an extensive set of guidelines for advertisements issued by these entities.
SEBI introduces Stricter framework for Disposal of undertaking by a listed Entity

On June 14, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) required ‘listed entities’ to follow a
stricter framework for the disposal of ‘undertaking’ and prescribed an approval requirement, through the
introduction of regulation 37A by making amendments to the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements (LODR)) Regulations, 2015 called the SEBI (LODR)(Second Amendment) Regulations, 2023.
• The amendments are based on the Consultation Paper rolled by SEBI on February 21, 2023.
• Regulation 37A came into force with immediate effect, i.e., from June 14, 2023.
Currently, companies make the disposal or lease of their undertakings through two routes of Scheme of
Arrangement (prescribed under the Companies Act and/or LODR Regulations) and by way of slump
sale/Business Transfer Agreement (outside the Scheme of Arrangement framework).
Existing Framework: Disposal (other than by way of a scheme of the arrangement), requires approval of the
shareholders by way of special resolution and it has so far been regulated as per section 180(1)(a) of the
Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act’).
• There was no explicit framework for protecting the interest of minority shareholders.
• The sale of undertakings or their substantial part was being allowed to be executed outside the
scheme of arrangement framework without being approved by the National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT).

About Undertaking: An undertaking shall be covered under regulation 37A if, the investment of the company
in such undertaking is more than 20% of its net worth; or if the undertaking generates at least 20% of the total
income of the company.
New Framework: To safeguard the interest of minority shareholders, SEBI has now issued an additional
framework for the disposal of the undertaking, i.e. the disposal of an undertaking through slump sales (outside
the Scheme of Arrangement) should be approved only if the majority of public shareholders vote in favour than
those voting against it.
• SEBI has also now mandated disclosure of the objects and commercial rationale for such sale,
disposal or lease, to the shareholders.
Exemption: SEBI has provided exemption in case of transactions with a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS), the
approval regime will apply in case of disposal of undertaking by such WOS or any reduction in shareholding in
the WOS subsequent to the transfer of the undertaking.
Note – SEBI made the amendments in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 11, sub-section (2) of
section 11A and section 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) read with
section 31 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956).
SEBI – Issues standardisation for valuing AIF portfolio assets & Barred Eros International
Media, promoters & CEO from the securities market
The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has made the manager and key management personnel of the
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) responsible for appointing an ‘independent valuer’ of assets and
ascertaining true and fair valuation of the investments of AIF schemes.
Requirements for Independent Valuer:
i.The independent valuer should have at least three years of experience in the valuation of unlisted securities
and should not be associated with the manager, sponsor or trustee of the AIF.
ii.The independent valuer should be registered with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and have
membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or Institute of Company Secretaries of India or
Institute of Cost Accountants of India or CFA Institute.
iii.It should be a holding company or subsidiary of a Credit Rating Agency registered with SEBI.
iv.AIFs are directed to report valuation based on audited data of investee companies (as on March 31) to
performance benchmarking agencies in six months.
Directions for AIF under Valuation:
i.If the established policies and procedures of valuation of AIF portfolio assets do not result in fair and
appropriate valuation, the manager is directed to value the assets or securities at a fair value and document the
rationale for such deviation.
ii.The manager should inform the investors the reasons, in case of a deviation of over 20% between two
consecutive valuations or a deviation of over 33% in a financial year.
iii.Valuation of securities not covered by SEBI norms should be carried out as per valuation guidelines
endorsed by any AIF industry association, which has a membership of at least 33 % of SEBI-registered AIFs.
iv.The eligible AIF industry association are directed to endorse appropriate valuation guidelines after taking
into account the recommendations of the Alternative Investment Policy Advisory Committee of SEBI.
Conditions for Liquidation Scheme:
i.Condition: As per the SEBI’s direction, an AIF has to obtain the consent of 75% of investors by value for
launching ‘Liquidation Scheme’ during the liquidation period of one year of the original scheme.
ii.What is Liquidation scheme?
It is a close-ended scheme launched by an AIF only for the purpose of liquidating the unliquidated investments
purchased from its scheme, whose tenure has expired.
iii.AIFs are already allowed to deal with investments of their schemes which are not sold due to lack of liquidity
during the winding-up process, by either selling such investments to a new scheme of the same AIF or
distributing such unliquidated investments.

-SEBI barred Eros, promoters & CEO from the securities market
In June 22, 2023, the SEBI has barred Eros International Media Limited, its promoters and chief executive
officer (CEO) Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi from the securities market until further notice over alleged breach of
trade practice regulations.
• The Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Arjan Lulla was also barred by SEBI from holding
any directorial position in any listed company, including Eros International or its subsidiaries.
Background:
i.In fiscal 2019-20, Eros International Media made a provision towards impairment on ‘content advances’, ‘film
rights’, and certain goodwill amounting to Rs 1553.52 crore.
ii.In FY20 the company also wrote off trade receivables amounting to Rs 519.98 crore. The National Stock
Exchange (NSE) examined the statements and forwarded a preliminary investigation report (PER) to SEBI.
iii.Thus SEBI initiated a detailed investigation into the affairs of the Company and the investigation is currently
in progress and a forensic auditor has also been appointed to conduct an examination into the books of
accounts of the Company.
About Securities Exchange Board of India(SEBI)
Headquarters -Mumbai, Maharastra
SEBI unveils ASBA-like facility for Trading in Secondary Market

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced ASBA (Application supported by Blocked
Amount)-like process for trading supported by Blocked Amount in the secondary market w.e.f. January 1, 2024.
This move is aimed to safeguard investors’ cash collateral.
• This information by SEBI is provided in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the
SEBI Act, 1992, read with Section 10 of the
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 to protect the interests of investors in securities
and to promote the development of the securities market.
What is this method?
This method utilizes the funds held in the investor’s bank account, rather than requiring upfront transfer to the
trading member. It integrates Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Unified Payments Interface (UPI) mandate
service of single-block-and-multiple-debits with the secondary market trading and settlement process and ‘UPI
block facility’. This method provides improved security for cash collateral and promotes smooth trading in the
secondary market.
i.In this framework, investor funds remain in their bank account but are blocked in favor of the Clearing
Corporation (CC) until the block is released or debited for trading obligations.
ii.The CC directly handles settlement of funds and securities, eliminating the involvement of the trading
member.
iii.A UPI block acts as collateral and can be used for settlement purposes. Investors blocking a lump-sum
amount can have multiple debits from the block, as long as there’s enough balance to meet obligations over
several days.
Other Features:
i.Cash-equivalent collateral (e.g., bank guarantees, fixed deposits) not allowed. Only approved securities can be
pledged.
ii.Funds pay-in settlement exclusively through UPI block.
iii.Single block limit of Rs 5 lakh, with multiple blocks within UPI limit.
iv.Clients can request block release via app, communicated to CC through clearing member.
v.Upon release, client’s bank unfreezes the amount.

SEBI
SEBI comes out with disclosure formats for compliance reports on Governance, annual secretarial by
REITs, InvITs
SEBI also comes out with disclosure formats for compliance reports on governance and annual secretarial for
emerging investment vehicles — Real Estate Infrastructure Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment
Trusts (InvITs) which will come into force from FY 2023-24 onwards.
Format for Compliance Report on Governance
Under this, the format for compliance report on governance, InvITs and REITswill have to disclose the name of
the investment managers, the composition of the Board of Directors (BODs) of the investment managers as well
as the composition of committees, meetings of the board of directors, along with meetings of committees, on a
quarterly basis.
• For the governance report, such investment managers are required to submit a quarterly
compliance report to the stock exchanges within 21 days from the end of each quarter.
• The report needs to be signed either by the compliance officer or the chief executive officer (CEO) of
the investment manager.
Annual secretarial compliance report:
With regard to the annual secretarial compliance report, the investment manager of the InvIT and REIT will
have to appoint a practising company secretary on an annual basis to examine the compliance of all applicable
rules, consequent to which, the practising company secretary is required to submit a report to such investment
managers.
• The investment managers of the investment instruments have to disclose the compliance with the
regulatory norms, deviations and observations made by the practising company secretary.
• The compliance report on both governance and annual secretarial would also be made part of the
annual report of the InvITs and REITs.
Key Points:
i.REITs invest majorly in completed and rent-generating real estate assets. Privately placed InvITs can invest in
under-construction assets as well as completed and revenue-generating assets.
ii.Format for Annual Secretarial Compliance Report for InvITs
This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992 and
Regulation 26J of the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations 2014.
iii.Format for Annual Secretarial Compliance Report for REITs
This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1)of the SEBI Act, 1992 and
Regulation 26Dof the SEBI (Real Estate InvestmentTrusts) Regulations2014.
iv.Format of Compliance Report on Governance for REITs
Regulation 26Eof the SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014. This circular is issued with the
approval of the competent authority
v.Format of Compliance Report on Governance for InvITs
Regulation 26Kof the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014. This circular is issued with
the approval of the competent authority.
i.SEBI has mandated alternative investment funds (AIFs) to provide investors with the option of a “direct plan”
and introduced a trail model for distribution commission. The framework for direct investments will go into
effect on May 1, 2023.
ii.SEBI decided to establish the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) in the form of an
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with an initial corpus of Rs 3,000 crore to act as a backdrop facility for the
purchase of investment-grade corporate debt securities during times of stress.


World Bank approves $148M loan to West Bengal for Enhanced Rural Irrigation Practices
On June 9th, 2023, The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 148 million loan to
support West Bengal, India, in improving irrigation practices in rural areas. The loan will help the region
harness(utilize) the surface and groundwater resources more effectively for agricultural purposes.
• West Bengal aims to increase farmers’ incomes
through production of a range of pulses, fruits, and
vegetables which requires water for irrigation.
• The West Bengal Accelerated Development of
Minor Irrigation Project – Phase II will support the
state’s Department of Water Resources Investigation
and Development and water-user associations (WUAs)
to plan and operate new irrigation structures such as
check dams, small-scale storage structures, creek
rehabilitation, tube wells, and pump dug wells.
• The irrigation practices will allow for crop diversification to boost the yield of high-value crops
including the production of 17,000 tons of oilseed and at least 10,000 tons of fish each year.
During Phase I, the Project created 2,277 WUAs and reached 125,000 beneficiaries.
The $148 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity
of 11.5 years with a grace period of four years.
Note:West Bengal is one of the largest food-producing states in India—producing nearly 15% of the nation’s
rice—and the second largest fish-producing state.
About the World Bank:
Established: 1944
Presidents: Ajay Banga(14th President)
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
ADB to Fund USD 130 Million Loan for Horticulture in Himachal Pradesh
On 8th June 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and The Government of India signed a USD 130 million
loan for the Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project to increase
agricultural productivity, improve access to irrigation and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise
farmers’ income in Himachal Pradesh.
• This agreement is based on the outcome of ADB’s project
readiness facility which demonstrated the subtropical
horticulture production over 200 hectares and prepared
the draft water user association (WUA) act and the draft
state horticulture development strategy.
Signatories:
Mr. Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for the Government of
India signed the Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture,
Irrigation, and Value Addition Project with Takeo Konishi,
Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission.

Benefits of the project:
i.This project will help the farmers to increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at
least 15,000 farm households across 7 districts of the state namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour,
Solan, and Una.
ii.This project will improve on-farm irrigation and water management in about 6,000 hectares of farmland
by rehabilitating or building new irrigation schemes strengthening the capacity of water user association
(WUA).
iii.This project will create cluster-wide community horticulture production and marketing associations
(CHPMAs), as well as district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies, for farmers to access subtropical horticulture
markets.
iv.The Farmer producer company (FPC) will manage CHPMAs in handling business plan development,
agribusiness promotion, and designing value-addition facilities such as sorting and packaging facilities, and
storage and collection centres.
About Asian Development Bank:
World Bank approves additional USD 150mn Loan for Resilient Kerala program
The World Bank (WB) through its lending arm International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) has approved an additional USD 150 million loan to support the Resilient Kerala
Program to strengthen Kerala’s preparedness against natural disasters, climate change impacts, disease
outbreaks, and protect lives.
• This financing along with the earlier investment of USD 125 million, focuses on coastal erosion and
water resource management and is expected to protect approximately 5 million (50 lakh) people
from the impacts of floods.
• The loan has a final maturity of 14 years, including a grace period of 6 years.
Need behind this funding:
Funding for Kerala is crucial due to its vulnerability to natural
disasters and climate change. Currently, the lack of integration of
satellite maps, risk maps, and sectoral data hinders effective
planning and execution of public sector investments.
The funds will:
i.Enhance coastal resilience through a shoreline management
plan, addressing risks to environmental resources, human
settlements, and coastal infrastructure.
ii.Minimize future flood damage by restoring rivers and
embankments, improving data systems to reduce vulnerability to hazards, and integrating comprehensive
planning.
iii.Develop an integrated river basin management plan for the Pamba river basin.
Overall, the funding will strengthen Kerala’s resilience to natural hazards and climate change, promote effective
planning, and safeguard the state’s coastal and riverine areas.
Key Points:
i.Urbanization and deforestation have led to sustained erosion along 45% of Kerala’s 580-km coastline.
ii.The upland districts and rivers of the Pamba river basin, including the origin point in the Idukki district,
suffer severe damage from heavy rainfall.
iii.Between 1925 and 2012, the forest cover in Kerala has declined by over 44%, while settlements have
increased by 400%.

About World Bank (WB):
World Bank Group President – Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington, DC, USA
ADB approves USD 295mn loan to improve Transport Connectivity in Bihar

On June 22, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 295 million loan to improve transport
connectivity in Bihar.
• The loan amount will be utilized towards the widening and upgradation of around 265 kilometres of
state highways, improving transport connectivity and safety in Bihar.
• The Government is contributing USD 156.6 million for the same.
Key Points:
i.The highways will be upgraded with climate- and disaster-resilient design, road safety elements, and other
features that will respond to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities.
ii.The project will also encourage women’s participation by providing employment in construction works.
iii.Trainings in livelihood as well as awareness on road safety, health and hygiene, and abuse and harassment
will also be provided to women from communities in the
project areas.
iv.Initiatives to strengthen transport planning, safety, and
sustainability within Bihar State Road Development
Corporation Limited will be implemented.
• These include developing a road asset management
system which includes climate change and disaster
risk information, establishing research laboratories
with training equipment in the Bihar Road Research
Institute, conducting studies on congestion
management and climate adaptation, and creating guidelines for gender-inclusive practices in road
safety measures.
Note: Since 2008, ADB has provided five loans totaling $1.63 billion to Bihar, which have upgraded about 1,696
kilometers of state highways and constructed a new bridge over the Ganga River.
Headquarters– Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
World Bank Approves USD 255.5 Million Loan to Enhance Technical Education in India
On June 26, 2023, one of the World Bank’s institutions International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) granted a USD 255.5 million loan to
India with a maturity period of 14 years, including a grace
period of five years, to improve the quality of technical
education and expand career opportunities for students.
i. The project will span five years and benefit around 275
government-run technical institutions, reaching over 3.5 lakh
students annually.
ii. The World Bank’s support for India’s technical education
sector aims to equip students with the necessary skills for the
evolving job market, promote gender equality, and foster research and innovation.
Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education Project:
India’s tertiary education sector faces skill gaps in both technical and non-technical areas, as highlighted by

recent studies. The Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education
Project of World Bank, in line with India’s National Education Policy 2020, aims to tackle these challenges by
focusing on improving student skills, employability, and institutional governance.
• This project will provide students with updated curricula that incorporate emerging technologies in
communication and climate resilience.
• It will also enhance internship and placement services, fostering networking opportunities and
supporting students’ success in their chosen fields.
The project prioritizes increasing female participation in technical education, particularly among marginalized
communities. Outreach programs will be organised to address gender-related issues and misconceptions about
women’s abilities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Female students will be
encouraged to complete their courses successfully and gain practical experience.
Additional Info:
Furthermore, the project seeks to promote research and innovation in priority sectors like climate change and
sustainable energy, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and society. It will also strengthen
governance and internal quality assurance mechanisms in the participating institutions.
About World Bank:
Established in 1944
Headquarters- Washington D.C, United States of America(USA)
President- Ajay Banga
World Bank’s Country Director for India – Auguste Tano Kouame.

IITMRP & RBIH Collaborates to Launch Voice Banking Solution
IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP), not for profit company promoted by the Indian Institute of Technology
Madras (IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN) and IITM Incubation Cell (IITMIC) have joined hands with Reserve
Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to introduce
voice-banking solutions to eliminate language barriers across India.
• The voice-based banking solution aims at conducting basic banking transactions through voice-
controls in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and English, in the initial stage.
• Voice-banking will assist the illiterate and the visually impaired in their banking needs.
• IITMRP, IITMIC, and RBIH partnered with State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra
Bank, and IDFC First Bank for the ‘Vaulter Voice’ voice banking hackathon at IIT Madras Research
Park. The event aimed to explore voice-based banking solutions, fostering collaboration between
academia, industry, and leading banks.
Yubi partners with Indian Bank to provide digital Supply Chain Financing for SMEs
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) based Yubi (formerly known as CredAvenue), has partnered with Indian Bank to extend
digital supply chain financing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
• Under this, Indian Bank will utilize Yubi’s technology and platform to digitally enable and scale its
supply chain financing book through vendor and dealer financing, targeting large corporations and
their SME counterparties.
Key Points:
i.Yubi is an online debt marketplace that connects borrowers and lenders for various credit products.
ii.The partnership is expected to disburse Rs 1,500 crore within the first year.

IFC & NaBFID Signed MoU to Develop PPP Projects and Strengthen Infrastructure
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a part of the World Bank Group, and National Bank for Financing
Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 2, 2023, to
develop a pipeline of investment-ready public-private partnership (PPP) projects in infrastructure across India.
• The MoU would support India’s target of achieving a USD 5-trillion economy while fostering low-
carbon and climate-resilient growth.
• The MoU was signed by Rajkiran Rai G, Managing Director, NaBFID and Thomas Lubeck, Manager,
Asia Pacific Public-Private Partnership, Transaction Advisory Services, IFC.
Key Points:
i.Under the MoU, IFC and NaBFID would collaborate and identify and develop PPP projects and provide
comprehensive transaction advisory services.
ii.The PPP projects would be selected and implemented based on sustainability as well as climate adaptation
and mitigation.
iii.The initial projects are expected to mobilize around USD 2 billion in private investment over the next few
years in national priority sectors, including renewable energy, energy storage, urban infrastructure, and others.
iv.National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) has an estimated investment of around USD 1.4 trillion, including USD
290 billion through the private sector for the development of the project under the partnership.
v.Under the MoU, IFC will act as an advisor to the government and support it to conduct detailed project
studies, assessing structuring options and assisting in running open and competitive tenders to identify
qualified private partners.
• IFC’s advisory support would be completed once project agreements are signed between the public
and private partners.
Note – IFC has a 30-year track record of advising on PPPs across sectors in more than 100 countries, resulting
in the mobilization of USD 40 billion in private investment over 164 projects and benefitting over 153 million
people through better access to electricity, water, sanitation, and health care.
About International Finance Corporation (IFC):
Managing Director – Makhtar Diop
Headquarters – Washington, D.C., U.S.
YES Securities & WatchYourHealth Partners to offer Investment Solutions to Healthcare

Professionals
On June 05, 2023 YES Securities (India) Limited (YSL), a leading financial services company, is partnering with
WatchYourHealth (WYH), a tech-driven healthcare platform, to provide investment solutions to healthcare
professionals through the ‘Wellth- Where Investments and Health Unite’ program.
• YSL will provide free-of-cost demat and trading accounts, financial planning products like
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) and Alternative investment funds (AIFs) to retail and High-Net-
Worth Individuals (HNI) clients.
• Doctors and healthcare professionals affiliated with WYH will be offered investment products and
advisory services by YSL
Advance brokerage plans with complimentary turnover limit of Rs. 50 Lacs without charging any brokerage,
along with Call and Trade and Digital DIY options for all trading need.
SIDBI signs pact with HDFC Bank to offer Financial Solutions to MSMEs
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with HDFC Bank Limited under which both entities will work together to provide complete financial product
and services to the customers under MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) in a seamless manner.

Key Points:
i. The signing of the MoU involved V. SatyaVenkata Rao, Deputy Managing Director of SIDBI,
and Akhilesh Kumar Roy, Executive Vice President of HDFC Bank Limited.
ii.This arrangement will enable MSMEs to avail financial products and services of both the banks, and bring
more MSMEs in financial ecosystems.
Chairman & Managing Director– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
RING partners with NPCI to integrate UPI Plug-in

RING(Onemi Technology Solutions Private Limited), India’s leading digital credit platform, has partnered
with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to integrate Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Plug-in
capabilities into RING’s existing digital services.
• This collaboration will enable RING to provide ‘Scan & Pay’ choices to its existing clients and new
customers who choose UPI as a payment method.
• The RING app will become a one-stop integrated payment and credit solution, which allows
customers to obtain credit and pay businesses.
• Users can scan any merchant’s QR code to make UPI payments from their bank accounts linked to
the RING app.
UPI Plug-in offers a faster approach to provide inline consumer experience to Merchants and Fintechs.
Tata Steel signs MoU with Germany’s SMS group to cut carbon emissions
On 14th June 2023, Tata Steel Ltd, a part of Tata Group, and Germany’s SMS group GmbH signed an
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on decarbonisation of the steel making process. Under
this MoU, Tata Steel and SMS Group will undertake technical discussions and initiate actions for conducting
Joint Industrial Demonstration of the EASyMelt (electric-assisted syngas smelter) technology, developed by
SMS group.
• The demonstration will be conducted at the ‘E’ Blast Furnace in Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant, with
an aim to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emission by more than 50% from blast furnace’s baseline
operation.
• EASyMelt is an ironmaking solution which can be implemented in existing integrated steel plants to
accelerate decarbonisation.
• Tata steel aims to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2045.
Note:
• 9% of global carbon emissions is caused by Steel production, according to the World Steel
Association
• India being the second-largest steel producer in the world after China. China is also the largest
contributor to carbon emissions which is due to ‘Blast Furnace Ovens’used in Chinese steel plants.
IndusInd Bank partners with Wise to offer Online Inward Remittance Services to NRIs
On 16th June 2023, IndusInd Bank announced its partnership with Wise, the global technology company
which is specialising in moving and managing money around the world, to offer online inward
remittance services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) residing in the United States of America (USA)
and Singapore.
• Under the collaboration, IndusInd Bank’s multi-partner remittance service platform – Indus Fast Remit
(IFR) will be integrated with Wise Platform to offer multi-currency inward remittance service to NRIs.
• The integration of IFR and Wise’s platform also marks the launch of Wise Platform in India, whose
infrastructure offers banks and non-banks in India.

Note: The Partnership was announced on June 16, which coincides with the International Day of Family
Remittances.
Features:
i. The customers can access Wise’s fast and low cost international money transfers directly through the Bank’s
IFR platform or its Internet banking platform.
ii. Through this collaboration, NRIs can book remittance transactions on the IndusInd Bank IFR platform and
credit to the beneficiary will be routed under the Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA) scheme of Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) through Wise’s RDA partners in India.
iii. IFR platform will also facilitate NRI customers to open Non Resident External (NRE)/Non Resident Ordinary
(NRO) accounts with IndusInd Bank, apart from using the remittance services.
Process of Remittance:
i. The users of IFR will have the option to choose from multiple Exchange Houses/Money Transfer Companies
offering competitive rates with a single sign-on and an end-to-end digital journey.
ii. The remittance service will be offered through the licensed overseas Exchange Houses/Money Transfer
Companies and the amount will be transferred to the beneficiary’s account in India under RBI’s Rupee Drawing
Arrangement (RDA) Scheme.
Benefits:
i. This partnership will provide transparency by eliminating mark-up fees, so that the NRIs will be able to see
the Exchange rate and fee before sending money.
• The conventional way of cross-border money movement through traditional financial institutions
typically involves high charges and hidden fees.
ii. The process to initiate a transfer can be done online without visiting bank branches or going through the
hassle of any paperwork.
iii. Customers will have visibility over their transfer status and estimated arrival time, and the transfers are
fast, about 55% of transfers sent through Wise are instant, which is less than 20 seconds.
iv. Customers can compareforex rates and determine the exact credit amount, allowing for a more informed
decision-making process.
About IndusInd Bank Limited:
Started Operations– 1994
CEO– Sumant Kathpalia
Manipal Technologies partners with Indian Bank to offer Customised Banking Solutions
On 22nd June 2023, Manipal Technologies Limited (MTL), a multi-business enterprise, partnered with Indian
Bank, a public sector bank to promote financial inclusion by offering customised banking products to empower
millions of underserved individuals across India.
As part of this association, MTL will work closely with Indian Bank to offer tailor-made banking products in
rural locations and unlock their economic growth potential.
Objective:
i. The partnership aims to build a sustainable network of Corporate Business Correspondents (CBCs) that will
enhance the availability, affordability and accessibility of financial services, particularly in underserved
markets and rural areas.
Features of the alliance:
i. The initial focus will be serving more than 600 locations and eventually extending the presence in newer
regions in states such as Tamil Nadu (TN), Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, and
Punjab.
ii. The Indian Bank’s alliance with MTL will further enable the Bank to extend its reach beyond existing
branches and serve the unbanked and underbanked customers of India.
iii. The Indian bank also aims to empower individuals with seamless access to financial services, ranging from

account opening, withdrawals, deposits, lead generation, opening FDs, and applying for loans.
iv. The extensive network of MTL’s trained Field Business Correspondents (FBCs) will enable Indian Bank in
reaching out to individuals in remote areas to ensure convenient access to financial services.
v. MTL’s business portfolio across domains, includes fintech, financial inclusion, doorstep banking, fraud risk
management, gold loans, digital solutions, print management, cards, commercial print, and secure solutions.
Additional Info:
The Indian Bank recorded a 47% rise in net profit for the March quarter (the period of 3 months beginning on 1
January 2023) to Rs.1,447 crore, helped by a decrease in bad loans and a rise in interest income.
Note: For the year ended March 2023, the profit of the Indian Bank increased by 34% to Rs 5,282 crore against
Rs 3,945 crore in FY2022.
About Indian Bank:
Incorporated on– March 5, 1907
Commenced on– 15 August 1907
MD & CEO– Shanti Lal Jain
Tagline– Your Own Bank/ Apka Apna Bank
Kotak General Insurance & actyv.ai Partners to provide insurance products to MSMEs
On Jun 26, 2023, Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd (Kotak General Insurance) partnered
with actyv.ai, an AI-powered technology company, to offer customised insurance products to Micro Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
Key Points:
i.Under the partnership, Kotak General Insurance joins actyv.ai and intends to provide tailored insurance
solutions that cater specifically to the needs of MSMEs, enabling them to effectively manage business risks and
protect their assets.
ii.Insurance solutions would be provided to nearly one lakh supply chain partner ecosystems, enabling them to
prioritize growth while minimising concerns related to business risks.
iii.This partnership empowers enterprises to extend group insurance coverage to their distributors, retailers,
and suppliers.
iv.Kotak General Insurance also join hands with actyv.ai to offer small OTC (Over-the-Counter) products like
health and commercial policy via an end-to-end digital platform.
About Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd:
MD & CEO- Suresh Agarwal
L&T and BSNL Partner for Private 5G Network Solutions

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Technology Services Limited (LTTS) has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) to provide private 5G(Fifth-generation) network solutions for global enterprises providing
faster connection speed and lower latency.
• According to International Data Corporation (IDC), private 5G networks unlock companies
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) and is expected to
grow beyond USD 8 billion by 2026 at an annual growth rate of 35.7% from 2022.
Key points:
i.LTTS will offer businesses devices, applications, technologies, software, sensors, servers, and core integration
inside the network infrastructure and this partnership marks LTTS entry into the 5G private network space.
ii.BSNL will supply spectrum using a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) or isolated allotment by being the
official network provider.

Note: For private 5G networks, LTTS had partnered with Nvidia and Mavenir in Europe and Qualcomm in the
United States.
NPCI partnered Priority Pass Access to enable Airport Lounges access to RuPay Card holders
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) partnered with the Priority Pass Access India, a domestic
lounge experience programme to offer Airport Lounge access to the RuPay card holders.
• Under this partnership, eligible RuPay cardholders in India will be able to access over 50 premium
lounges and airport experiences in major cities across India by simply tapping or swiping the RuPay
card for entry.
• RuPay card holders will also gain access to a network of railway lounges in India.
RuPay is an Indian multinational financial services and Payment Service System, launched by the NPCI in 2014.
OTHER BANK NEWS

ADB launches India CPS for 2023-27; Focus on Employment Creation, Green Growth
On May 23, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) rolled out its ‘India Country Partnership Strategy
(CPS) 2023-2027: Catalyze Robust, Climate resilent, and inclusive growth’ to assist India in its efforts to
achieve sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive growth for the next five years.
Aim of CPS: To support India to catalyze robust, climate-resilient, and inclusive growth. The CPS is well aligned
with India’s national development priorities to be achieved by 2047, when India marks 100 years of
independence.
3 pillars of CPS:
i.Pillar 1: Accelerate Structure Transformation and Job creation through convergence of logistics–
industry–urban–skilling programs, coupled with support for Micro, Small, And Medium-Sized Enterprises
(MSMEs).
ii.Pillar 2: Promote Climate Resilient Green Growth: Under this, climate-resilient growth will be promoted
with customized engagements in climate change mitigation and adaptation through the Innovative Finance
Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP), as well as integrating environment and disaster risk
management.
iii.Pillar 3: Deepen Social and Economic Inclusiveness: The social and economic inclusiveness will be
improved by rebalancing ADB’s portfolio more towards human development in health, social protection, and
education; basic urban services; and agriculture and rural development.
Themes of CPS:
i.Domestic Resource Mobilization
ii.Gender equality and Social Inclusion
iii.Digitalization, fintech, and innovation ecosystem support
iv.Regional Cooperation and integration
Reason behind this strategy:
India has bounced back quickly from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with economic growth projected
at 6.4% in FY24 and now ranks among the fastest-growing major global economies. However, for inclusive
growth, it needs to tackle critical challenges in infrastructure, human development, income and regional
disparities, and vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards.
• Now, to support this, CPS is formed which will support India’s structural transformation, and
contribute to India’s national flagship programs on developing industrial corridors, multimodal
logistics systems, urban infrastructure, skill ecosystem, and small businesses.
Benefits of CPS:
i.This will enable urban areas to promote industrial competitiveness and create more jobs in formal
manufacturing and services sectors.
ii.It will also maximize value addition through knowledge solutions, technical assistance, and capacity building

of its partner agencies in the areas of strategic engagement.
iii.India is a key ADB partner.
• As of the end of December 2022, ADB had committed $52.6 billion in 605 public sector loans, grants,
technical assistance in India, and USD 8 billion in private sector investments.
Other Highlights:
• On average, India’s service sector contributed 3.9% of the 7% annual growth from FY2012–2013 to
FY2022–2023 (excluding FY2020-21), and formal manufacturing in more skill- or capital-intensive
sectors, contributed 1.0%.
• India is the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter, but its per capita emissions are about one-third of
the global average.
• India is a founding member of ADB and the bank’s fourth-largest shareholder.
Headquarter– Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
World Bank Approves USD 391 Million in Financing for Assam and Tripura
On 26th, June, 2023, World Bank approved USD 391 million in financing to improve healthcare services and
economic opportunities in India’s northeastern states of Assam and Tripura. The funding aims to enhance
access to high-quality healthcare services and economic development in these regions of northeast India.
i. The World Bank’s support for these projects underscores its commitment to the development efforts of the
Government of India in the northeast region.
ii. By improving healthcare access and promoting economic development, these initiatives will contribute to a
better quality of life and increased productivity in Assam and Tripura.
ASSIST-Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation
The Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST) Project will
receive USD 251 million to improve access to secondary healthcare services.
• The project will focus on providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services,
managing non-communicable diseases, and upgrading lower-level facilities to district hospitals.
• It will also strengthen the capacity of healthcare managers and nurses to improve service delivery.
The ASSIST project aims to serve at least 1.8 million people and can potentially serve as a model for healthcare
innovations in the Northeast region.
Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project:
The Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project will receive USD 140 million to promote
socioeconomic development and improve the lives of tribal populations.
i. The project includes upgrading over 400 kilometres of rural roads to all-weather roads, providing better
market access for farmers and communities in hilly and forested areas.
ii. Climate-smart agriculture practices will also be implemented, benefiting around 75,000 households by
improving their livelihoods.
Additionally, the project aims to improve learning outcomes for secondary school students by increasing
enrollments for boys and providing teacher training.
Tenure/Maturity Period:
The financing, consisting of a USD 251 million variable spread loan for Assam and a USD 140 million loan for
Tripura, is sourced from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The loans have a
maturity period of 10.5 years, including a five-year grace period.
World Bank Grants USD 300M Loan to Improve Education in Chhattisgarh
On 27th june, 2023, The World Bank has approved a USD 300 million loan, with maturity of 18.5 years along
with a grace period of 5 years, to enhance the quality of education in government-run schools in Chhattisgarh,

India under the project CHALK (Chhattisgarh Accelerated Learning for a Knowledge Economy
Operation) which aims to benefit 4 million students, particularly those from poor and vulnerable communities.
i. The World Bank’s USD 300 million loan for CHALK signifies a substantial investment in Chhattisgarh’s
education sector.
ii. By expanding access to quality education, enhancing teaching standards, and addressing infrastructure gaps,
the project aims to equip students with the skills needed for future employment. It reinforces the state’s
commitment to building an inclusive and prosperous society.
Background:
• In Chhattisgarh, a significant majority of schools, around 86 percent, are under government
administration. While the enrollment rate in elementary schools is high at 95 percent, it drops
considerably to 57.6 percent at the senior secondary level.
• Moreover, there is a noticeable disparity between boys and girls, with boys having an enrollment
rate 10.8 percent lower than that of girls.
This decline in enrollment can be attributed to multiple factors, including the absence of science and
commerce education in many senior secondary schools, a shortage of qualified teachers specialising in
science and mathematics, and a lack of essential infrastructure such as laboratories and facilities.
• Additionally, students residing in remote areas encounter difficulties in finding suitable
accommodations. While girls are provided with residential school facilities through the centrally
sponsored Samagra Shiksha program, there is currently no equivalent scheme available for boys.
About CHALK (Chhattisgarh Accelerated Learning for a Knowledge Economy Operation)
CHALK will establish and operate 600 model composite schools from Grades 1 to 12, offering science and
commerce programs at the senior secondary level. These schools will ensure quality education through trained
teachers, strong leadership, and adequate infrastructure. Climate-proofing school infrastructure will be
prioritised using environmentally sound construction practices.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
Governor – Biswa Bhushan Harichandan
National Park – Guru Ghasidas National Park, Kanger Valley National Park
About World Bank:
The World Bank Group consists of five institutions working together to achieve their common goals. These
institutions include:
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Development Association (IDA)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
Kiwi launches ‘credit on UPI’ platform to enable credit service on UPI

Kiwi, a ground-breaking credit card platform, has launched its all-inclusive ‘Credit on Unified Payments
Interface (UPI)’ customer solution, thereby, transforming how credit cards are issued and utilized.
Kiwi, the first app in India to receive certification from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will
enable customers to experience “Credit on UPI” by issuing Rupay Cards in collaboration with banks.
• This allows users to securely make payments using either a credit card or bank account through
their phones.
• It has set an ambitious goal to become the leading issuer of RuPay credit cards by 2026.
RBI allowed linking of RuPay credit cards to the UPI platform in June 2022.

Myntra, Kotak Mahindra Bank launches first-of-its-kind Digital Fashion Co-Branded Credit
Card
On June 1, 2023, the Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) in partnership with Myntra, Bengaluru-based
Indian fashion e-commerce company, launched its first-of-its-kind co-branded digital fashion and lifestyle
credit card namely ‘Kotak Myntra credit card’ which will be available on MasterCard and RuPay
networks.
• The credit card could be availed completely in a digital way across Myntra and Kotak mobile
applications.
• The co-branded credit card was created to be used in the fast-growing fashion e-commerce
market in India.
Features of Cards:
i.The card is dedicated to fashion shoppers across metros, tier 1, tier 2 & 3 cities
ii.The joining fee and annual fee for the credit card is Rs 500.
• Rs 500 e-voucher on card activation.
iii.There will be 7.5% instant discount on unlimited transactions on Myntra, up to Rs 750 per transaction,
and complimentary access to Myntra Insider.
iv.There will be 5% cashback on any purchase with some of the popular platforms: Swiggy, Swiggy
Instamart, PVR, Cleartrip, Urban Company.
RBL Bank Introduces ACE Fixed Deposit Scheme, offering up to 8.50% Interest Rate
RBL bank Ltd introduced a new fixed deposit scheme named ‘ACE Fixed Deposit scheme’ with an interest of
up to 8.50% to provide better saving options for its customers.
Key Points:
i.Term – The Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme is available for terms ranging from 12 months to 20 years, and the
customers will have additional alternatives for banks and prizes under the new plan.
ii.The minimum deposit value of the FD scheme is Rs 50 lakh and maximum deposit value is Rs 2 crore.
iii.Eligibility – The scheme is available to both resident and non-resident Indians.
iv.Under the scheme, the bank is offering 20 bps higher rate of interest, over and above the regular callable
deposits (Fixed Deposit with premature withdrawal). Moreover, senior citizens and super senior citizens
getting 50 bps and 75 bps higher interest rate respectively.
Fixed Deposit Interest Rate:
RBL Bank has also revised its fixed deposit interest rates effective from June 1, 2023 and it offers an interest
rate between 3.50% to 7.80% for regular citizens for deposits below Rs 2 crore. Click here to know more.
Under FD the bank offers, Senior Citizens (60 years to less than 80 years) with an additional interest rate of
0.50% per annum (p.a) and Super Senior Citizens (80 years and above) are eligible for an additional interest
rate of 0.75% p.a.
• Senior Citizens/Super Senior Citizens rates are not applicable on Non-Resident Fixed Deposits
(NRE/NRO).
About RBL Bank Ltd.:
Establishment – 6 August 1943
MD&CEO – R Subramaniakumar
Tagline – apno ka bank
Kotak Private launches a Savings Programme ‘Réserve‘ for UHNIs and HNIs
Kotak Private Banking, a division of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, has launched a savings programme
named ‘Réserve’ exclusively for its UHNIs (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals) and HNIs (High Net Worth
Individuals) comprising entrepreneurs, business families, and professionals.

• Réserve is a by-invite programme and it provides banking services, and a range of exclusive lifestyle
amenities in areas such as travel, health and wellness, and entertainment to provide a luxury
banking experience.
• The savings programme includes offering different top brands to provide luxury benefits.
Eligibility: The savings programme Réserve is applicable for an individual who is having a Rs 7.5 Crore
Relationship Value and a minimum savings bank account balance (Average Yearly Balance) of Rs 50 lakhs.
Additional info:
i.Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) are people with investable assets of at least USD 30 million.
• Net worth is a measure of someone’s current financial position and is calculated as the value of their
assets minus their liabilities.
ii.According to the recent report titled The Wealth Report 2023” published by Knight Frank, India’s UHNWI is
estimated to increase 58.4% in the next 5 years from 12,069 in 2022 to 19,119 individuals in 2027.
About Kotak Private:
CEO – Oisharya Das
BoB Launches ICCW facility for cash withdrawals using UPI on its ATMs
On June 5, 2023, the Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW)
facility which would enable a customer to withdraw cash using UPI (Unified Payments Interface) from the
bank’s ATMs (Automated Teller Machine) without using the physical debit card.
• BoB became the 1st public sector bank(PSB) to launch the ICCW service.
• The ICCW facility would give customers a simple, convenient and secure way to withdraw cash
without the use of a physical card.
Note – BoB has over 11,000 ATMs across India.
Who could Withdraw?
Customers of BoB and other participating issuer banks that use BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) UPI, BoB
World UPI or any other UPI application enabled for ICCW on their mobile phone could withdraw cash from a
BoB ATM.
Withdrawal Limit: Only two transactions were allowed per account/day with a withdrawal limit of Rs 5,000
per transaction.
Process of Withdrawal:
i.To withdraw cash, the customers need to select the option ‘UPI Cash Withdrawal’ at a BoB ATM and enter
the withdrawal amount, after which a QR code is displayed on the ATM screen.
ii.The customer needs to scan the QR code using a UPI app enabled for ICCW and authorise the transaction with
her/his UPI PIN on the mobile phone to withdraw the cash from the ATM.
iii.In the case of multiple bank accounts linked to a single UPI ID, ICCW functionality provides the option to
select the account to be debited.
About Bank of Baroda (BOB):
MD&CEO – Sanjiv Chadha
Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat (Head office), Mumbai, Maharashtra (Corporate centre)
Establishment – 20 July 1908
Tag line – India’s International Bank
SBI launches project Kuber in Bengaluru

On 2nd June 2023, the State Bank of India(SBI), launched ‘Project Kuber’, which includes the establishment of
four Transaction Banking Hubs and one Corporate Salary Package Hub in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Nand Kishore, chief general manager, SBI, Bengaluru Circle, inaugurated these hubs at SBI
Administrative Building in KG Road, Bengaluru and Sampige Road in Malleswaram.

• Transaction Banking Hubs will act as a one-stop destination for all payment and collection-related
requirements and will offer services to corporate/non-corporate clients, from account opening to
onboarding them on SBI’s digital platforms.
A professional team will facilitate business partners and customers in availing digital banking services such
as Yono Business, e-Payments, Cash Management Products.
HSBC India unveils New Campaign “My Account Starts Today” Featuring Cricketer Virat Kohli
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India) unveiled its latest advertising
campaign “My Account Starts Today” with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, their new brand influencer.
• This is aimed at leveraging Virat Kohli’s appeal to help illustrate the benefits of banking with HSBC.
• The campaign highlights HSBC’s purpose of “Opening up a world of opportunity” as it works to
support the goals of an aspirational India
The multi-channel campaign will be rolled out across various media platforms, including print, television,
outdoor displays, OTT(over-the-top) platforms, and digital channels.
JPMorgan Partners with 6 Indian banks to trial blockchain-based USD settlement

JPMorgan Chase & Co, the largest bank by assets under management in the United States (US), has joined
forces with six leading Indian banks to launch a pilot program designed to test a blockchain-based
platform for the settlement of interbank US Dollar transactions.
• The 6 Indian banks to be joining in the pilot program to test the new blockchain-based platforms
includeHDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank and IndusInd Bank and JPMorgan’s own
banking subsidiary at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City ).
Pilot Program:
i.Under the pilot, the six Indian banks will open on-chain Nostro accounts with JPMorgan’s branch in Gift City.
• Nostro Account –A nostro account, derived from the Latin word for “ours,” is an account held by a
bank in a foreign currency at another bank. These accounts are commonly utilized to facilitate
foreign exchange and trade transactions.
• A vostro account is an account held by a foreign bank in the local currency at another bank. Vostro
accounts, derived from the Latin word for “yours”.
ii.The pilot project would use JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain platform after receiving the final approval from the
International Financial Services Center Authority.
iii.Onyx blockchain platform, a permissioned version of Ethereum that is designed to handle wholesale
payment transactions was originally launched in 2020.
• The platform is already being used by Goldman Sachs, DBS Bank and BNP Paribas.
• As of April 27, JPMorgan has processed almost USD700 billion in transactions in short-term loans
using its Onyx platform.
Benefits:
i.The collaboration aligns with the Indian government’s vision to elevate GIFT City, the Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City, to a competitive position among global financial centres such as Singapore, Hong Kong, the
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and the International Financial Centre (IFC) in Dubai.
ii.The implementation of blockchain technology is to expedite USD transactions between financial institutions.
iii.Dollar payments in India are currently made through the Swift messaging system via Nostro accounts held at
US-based banks.
iv.The current settlement system service is only available during US office hours not available on Saturdays,
Sundays, or public holidays whereas the blockchain platform will allow the banks to process instant
transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

HDFC Bank Introduces Millennia Credit Card
On June 7, 2023, HDFC Bank introduced a new credit card named ‘Millennia Credit card’ which offers
cashback over e-commerce platforms and multiple benefits.
Eligibility:
i.Millennia credit card is applicable to both self-employed and salaried Indian nationals.
ii.Age: The minimum age limit is 21 and maximum age is 40.
iii.Income: For Salaried persons the Gross Monthly Income has to be more than Rs 35,000 and for Self
Employed the income has to be Rs 6.0 Lakhs per annum
Benefits of the Millennia Credit card:
i.The card comes with contactless technology allowing customers to ‘tap and pay’ via POS machine.
ii.Cashback:
• The HDFC Millennia Credit card offers cashback and reward points on Amazon, Flipkart, and other e-
commerce platforms.
• In addition, the card also offers 1% cashback on offline purchases, smart EMI, and lounge access for
free, among others.
• In every billing, a maximum reward of Rs 1000 would be offered.
iii.Millennia Credit Card would offer interest free period of up to 50 days from the date of purchase of the card.
About HDFC Bank Ltd
MD&CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters -Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment – August, 1994
Tagline – HDFC Bank Parivartan. A Step Towards Progress.
SIDBI Launched Mission EVOLVE to finance MSMEs for EVs; GAME Received SIDBI’s Approval
for NGAP Program
In June 2023, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched
mission EVOLVE (Electric Vehicle Operations and Lending for Vibrant Ecosystem) in a tie-up with the Niti
Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), World Bank, Korea-World Bank partnership facility, and
Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to finance MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises) in the electric vehicles (EV) space.
• The objective of mission EVOLVE is to provide affordable commercial financing for EV loans to
MSMEs, including hosting telematics and reducing financing costs.
• Under the partnership, SIDBI would receive technical support from Niti Aayog whereas the financial
assistance would be provided by the World Bank, the Korea-World Bank partnership facility and the
Korean EDCF.
Key Points:
i.This mission supports SIDBI’s aim to boost India’s target for EV30@30 (or) 30% EV penetration by 2030.
ii.In April 2023 SIDBI launched ‘Mission 50K-EV4ECO‘ to provide better financing terms for electric vehicles
(EV). This mission aimed to finance 50,000 EVs.
iii.Gerald Ollivier, Lead Transport Specialist for the World Bank in India, stated that Evolve is designed to
support around 1.5 million EVs and build the ecosystem in the mobility segment.
Note – According to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), EV sales in India surpassed the 1
million mark in FY23, with 11,52,021 units sold, up to 58% from 7,26,861 units sold in FY22. Two-wheelers
had the highest share of 62%, with 7,26,976 units sold in FY23.
-GAME Received SIDBI’s Approval for NGAP Program
On June 9, 2023, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) received in-principal approval from SIDBI
for designing and structuring a sustainable and scalable NBFC (Non-Banking Finance Company) Growth
Accelerator Program (NGAP).

Key Points:
i.The first phase of the program involves the design of a comprehensive, actionable, granular report with the
programme structure, piloting strategy and implementation plan for NGAP by GAME.
ii.Under the pilot cohort, the programme will include criteria for the evaluation and selection of around 20
NBFCs that are small in size but focused on the MSE (Medium and Small Enterprise) segment.
iii.NGAP is expected to be rolled out with active engagement of SIDBI from August 2023.
iv.The NGAP would enable a larger set of NBFCs to get access to institutional funding at a reasonable rate, so
the benefit can be passed on to the MSMEs.
v.The programme would support small NBFCs that cater to MSEs in Tier 3 and 4 cities or to the urban MSEs
that serve as the lowest rung of suppliers in a long value chain.
On 30th September 2022, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Dun & Bradstreet signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create the SIDBI -D&B Sustainability Perception Index (SIDBI – D&B
SPeX) during an event held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (TN).
Chairman & Managing Director – Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters -Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Establishment -2nd April 1990
ICAI and IBA to Set up Common Platform for Balance Confirmations

The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) plans to set up a
Common Platform for Balance Confirmations which will be jointly controlled by both entities.
Development and Implementation:
i.The platform’s development and maintenance will be handled by Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based PSB Alliance
Pvt. Ltd. (PSB Alliance) in collaboration with Hyderabad (Telangana) based Institute for Development and
Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT).
• The PSB Alliance is a joint venture umbrella corporation that was founded and owned by all 12
Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
ii.IBA has engaged with the Reserve Bank of India’s IDRBT and the National E-Governance Services Ltd. (NeSL)
to ensure the platform’s efficient implementation.
iii.The portal will be jointly owned by both IBA and ICAI. The portal’s development is expected to take
approximately three months.
Key Points:
i.It will initially cover just PSBs but will subsequently be expanded to include private sector banks, Mutual
Fund, and financial organisations as well.
ii.The common portal will be legally binding.
iii.It will have a regulatory structure comprised of ICAI, IBA, PSB Alliance Pvt. Ltd., and IDRBT.
iv.Balance confirmations will be handled by banks.
Reason behind this platform:
This new platform was created for auditors to make their job easier and more reliable. Currently, auditors have
to rely on external confirmations to get information from different parties, like banks, about things such as
accounts receivables, accounts payables, bank balances, loans, investments, or inventory held by third parties
etc.
• But sometimes, this method led to problems. In 2009, there was a big scandal involving a company,
Satyam Computers in which bank balance confirmation was a critical audit mistake that led to total
fraud.
To avoid similar controversies and to streamline the process, this new platform was created. Auditors won’t
have to pay anything to use it. It will be much more efficient and trustworthy, and auditors can be sure that the

information they get from the platform is reliable. Once the portal is operational, auditors will no longer be
concerned about the risks connected with external verification of account balances.
Federal Bank launches ‘I am Adyar, Adyar is me’ campaign in Chennai

Aluva (Kerala)-based Federal Bank Limited has undertaken the ‘I am Adyar, Adyar is me’ campaign in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) and transformed an entire bank branch into a living museum of local stories.
• The campaign has handpicked 40 compelling stories of individuals, which are showcased in an
exclusive exhibition at the Adyar branch of Federal Bank.
• This art exhibition will run for two weeks between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Over 100 auto-rickshaws have been decorated with the campaign’s branding.
Note: In February, 2023, the Bank had emphasised its focus on human connection with the campaign,
“Rishta Aap Se Hai, Sirf App Se Nahi”.
In a first, IOB launches ‘My Account My Name’ for SB Account Holders

On June 12, 2023 the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launched ‘My Account My Name’, a scheme to enable its
Savings Bank (SB) account customers to choose any easy to remember 7 Digit/Character Account Name as their
saving account number.
• This first-of-its-kind scheme in the banking industry was launched by Ajay Kumar Srivastav,
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IOB from IOB’s central office in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).
• The scheme will be available in all 49 regional offices of IOB across India.
About My Account My Name:
i.Under this feature, The account name can be a combination of seven letters only or seven numbers only or
seven alphanumeric — like AJIT007, PRADHAN or 2424707 and others.
ii.This means bank’s saving account customers can select his/her/any name as his/her account number and the
same can be used for all transaction purposes.
iii. Initially, this facility is available for IOB SB HNI (High Net Worth Individuals) and IOB SB salary account
customers.
Key Points:
i. IOB has recently revamped its savings account schemes to cater to diverse segments of society, encompassing
the salaried class, HNIs, students, pensioners, and senior citizens, aligning with the current scenario.
ii.On February 10, 2023, IOB celebrated its 87th Foundation Day by revamping all its current account schemes.
iii.It should be noted that on June 2, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has penalized IOB with Rs 2.20 crore
for contravention of the provisions of certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Prudential Norms on Income
Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning Pertaining to Advances – Divergence in NPA Accounts’, ‘RBI
(Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016’ and Advisory on ‘Man in the Middle (MiTM) Attacks in ATMs’.
About Indian Overseas Bank (IOB):
MD & CEO– Ajay Kumar Srivastava
Tagline– Good people to grow with (आपकी प्रगति का सच्चा साथी)
Establishment– 1937 (Nationalized- 1969)
SBM Bank India Launches World Elite Metal Debit Card for the Uber-affluent Indian
On June 9, 2023, SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India) launched SBM World Elite Metal Debit Card,
Powered by Mastercard, for exclusive, on-invitation access to the world of luxury for the Uber-affluent Indian.
• This is an International Debit Card and can be used for international transactions.
• It is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue of the card.

• It is designed and being offered exclusively to SBM Private customers and will target growing segment of
affluent Indians with a global outlook.
Key Points:
i.Each card comes with the assured concierge network from Mastercard, exclusive privileges across 500 luxury
hotels, resorts and Michelin-star restaurants globally, including Taj Epicure.
ii.It also provides unlimited complimentary airport lounge access globally.
iii.This debit card can be used for cash withdrawals at any ATM (Automated Teller Machine), any number of
times, at no extra cost.
iv.The cardholders can access the finest health advisors, and coordinators, a network of more than 50,000 of
the world’s leading medical experts, and VIP (Very Important Person) access to 46 premium golf clubs and golf
programs across 12 countries.
About SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India):
It is the first bank to receive a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India to set up and operate as
a Scheduled Commercial Bank under Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) mode offering banking services in India.
MD & CEO– Sidharth Rath
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Launched new Deposit Scheme ‘Vikas Ashadeep 400 days’
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has introduced a new deposit scheme named ‘Vikas Ashadeep 400
days’. The scheme was launched by Shreekant M Bhandiwad, Chairman of KVGB.
Key Points:
i.The scheme is of a tenor of 400 days with an interest rate of 7.50% for senior citizens and 7% for the general
public. Customers of the scheme could earn higher interest for a shorter period i.e. almost 13 months.
ii.A minimum of Rs 10,000 and a maximum of Rs 2 crore can be deposited under the scheme.
iii.The scheme is applicable to all segments of depositors, including senior citizens, and institutions.
iv.The KVGB bank has a network of 639 branches with total business of Rs 33350 crore. This included Rs
18710 crore of deposits and Rs 14640 crore of advances.
About Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB):
KVGB came into existence in September 2005 by amalgamating 4 erstwhile Regional Rural Banks(RRBs) –
Malaprabha, Bijapur, Varada and Netravati Grameena Banks.
Chairman – Shreekant M Bhandiwad
Headquarters – Dharwad, Karnataka
SIB launches Digital Account Opening Platform ‘SIB SWIFTe‘; Wins 6th DCX Awards 2023
under SME Loans category
South Indian Bank (SIB) introduces SIB SWIFTe, a customer-centric digital account opening platform that
eliminates paper-based documentation and on-boards customers in five minutes for opening Savings Accounts,
resulting in a hassle-free process.
• It targets new-to-bank users above 18 years with valid Aadhaar and/or PAN (Permanent Account
Number).
Key Points:
i.It provides a branch-like experience to customers’ homes by eliminating the need to visit a physical branch by
offering a user-friendly interface, clear instructions, and enabling convenient interactions with bankers.
ii.SIB SWIFTe allows customers to open accounts directly from Android-enabled mobile devices, and a
biometric device.
iii.This paperless KYC (Know Your Customer) process offers competitive interest rates on savings balances.
SIB wins ‘Outstanding Digital CX – SME Loans’
SIB has been recognized with the Outstanding Digital CX award at the 6th Digital CX (DCX) Awards 2023 (held

in Singapore) under the SME (Small Medium Enterprise) Loans category, in recognition of its innovative GST-
based instant business loan digital platform that has revolutionized the banking experience.
• DCX is an annual award instituted by Singapore-based ‘The Digital Banker’ to recognize excellence in
providing exceptional digital experiences to customers.
• It should be noted that SIB partners with actyv.ai to implement its Digital GST Business Loan
Platform. actyv.ai is a leading AI-powered enterprise SaaS (Software as a Service) platform with
embedded B2B (Business to Business) BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) and insurance offerings.
SIB has also been recognized at the 13th edition of the Finnoviti Awards 2023 for launching Micro LOS (loan
origination system) Platform which caters specifically to agricultural customers.
• Finnoviti Awards recognizes the innovations in Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and
honour the innovators. This is the fourth time in a row that SIB has bagged the Finnoviti Awards.
About South Indian Bank (SIB):
CEO and Managing Director– Murali Ramakrishnan
Headquarters– Thrissur, Kerala
Tagline– Experience Next-Gen Banking
PNB launches IVR-based UPI 123PAY to enable UPI Transactions Without Internet
Punjab National Bank (PNB), has become the first public sector bank to launch an Interactive Voice Response
(IVR)-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) solution, UPI 123PAY, in accordance with the Digital Payment
Vision 2025 of a cashless and cardless society.
Note – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in collaboration with the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI)
launched UPI123Pay in March 2022.
• So far the UPI facility was accessible only through smartphones or through Unstructured
Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service and was dependent on good internet connectivity.
• Now the launch of offline IVR-based facility UPI 123PAY would enable the customers to make UPI-
based transactions, at any time with any phone from anywhere in India i.e. even if they do not have
access to smartphones or internet connectivity.
• This function is also available for non-PNB customers. The UPI 123PAY will be multilingual and be
available in the customer’s preferred language.
The UPI 123PAY Process: The customer needs to dial the bank’s IVR number “9188-123-123” and choose the
beneficiary to authenticate the UPI transaction.
Note: Infrastructure Development Finance Company(IDFC) First Bank, City Union Bank(CUB) & National
Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) Payments Bank have gone live on IVR payments.
Amp Energy India secures ~USD250mn funding from SMBC Bank of Japan, ICG, AIIB
On June 12, 2023, Amp Energy India, a renewable energy Independent Power Producer (IPP), has secured up
to USD250 million (about Rs 2,061 crore) funding from SMBC Bank of Japan (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking
Corporation), Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• Amp Energy India will utilize this amount to expand its operations and strengthen its position as the
leading energy transition platform in India.
Key Points:
i.Amp Energy India which has a total portfolio of more than 2.7 Gigawatts (GW) spread across 17 states, will
utilise these investments to accelerate its growth and provide renewable energy transition solutions to a range
of industries.
ii.It provides renewable energy transition solutions to marquee customers across 10 diverse sectors viz.
pharmaceutical, automobiles, cement, steel, heavy engineering infrastructure, FMCG, educational institutions,
IT & data centres, utilities, and government bodies.

• Marquee customers are high-profile clients like well-known individuals, influential companies who
hold significant importance for a business. Due to their brand recognition and revenue potential,
they receive specialized services and solutions from businesses.
Note:
i.SMBC is a Japanese multinational banking and financial services institution headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
ii.ICG is a LSE (London Stock Exchange)-listed global alternative asset manager headquartered in London,
United Kingdom (UK).
• This is the first investment of ICG’s Asia-Pacific Infrastructure with Amp India.
iii.AIIB, headquartered in Beijing, China, is a multilateral development finance institution that provides capital
for infrastructure development projects.
• For AIIB also, it is the first direct equity investment into a renewable IPP.
About Amp Energy India:
Co-Founder, MD and CEO– Pinaki Bhattacharyya
Fino Payments Bank joins Hubble Money to introduce Spending Account

Fino Payments Bank Ltd. has partnered with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based fintech company Hubble Money to
introduce India’s and world’s first spending account aimed at helping customers manage their finances, track
expenses, and earn rewards on purchases. This partnership is made under Fino Payments Bank’s Fino 2.0
initiative to strengthen its digital offerings and enhance the overall customer experience.
• It will target GenZ and millennial customers, and cater to their aspirations and lifestyle changes.
Features:
i.Depositors can save money in the spending account and earn up to 10% cashback on all purchases made from
the account.
ii.Users will earn an annual interest rate of 2.75% on the funds parked in the account.
iii.The spending account is integrated with Fino Payments Bank’s digital savings account, which can be
accessed through the FinoPay mobile app.
iv.They can track their expenses across more than 50 partnered brands, potentially saving up to Rs. 20,000
annually.
About Fino Payments Bank Ltd:
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer– Rishi Gupta
Headquarters– Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Kotak Mahindra Bank Launched ‘Active Money’ Facility to earn FD like interest up to 7%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL) has launched a facility named ‘Active Money’ or Flexi Fixed Deposit, which
provides Current/Savings Account holders with fixed deposit (FD)-like interest rates of up to 7% per annum.
Process of Active Money Facility:
i.Under the Active money facility, the surplus funds from the customers’ Current/Savings Account are
transferred in multiples of Rs 10,000 to a 180-day FD whenever the balance in Current/Savings Account
crosses above a threshold (specified by the account variety).
ii.Then the money is again transferred automatically back to Current/Savings Account whenever there is a
short fall in Current/Savings Account balance.
iii.Earning interest: Thus the facility enables the customer to earn Fixed Deposit interest up to 7% per annum
for part of the balance lying idle and at the same time enjoy liquidity in Current/Savings Account.
Key Points:
i.The customers have flexibility to access their funds anytime without any penalty on foreclosure.
ii.Criteria: The default minimum threshold over which the surplus funds earn FD-like higher interest rate is Rs
25,000 for Savings/Salary/811 accounts and Rs 50,000 for current accounts.

• 811 is a savings account offered by Kotak Mahindra Bank which comes along with a number of unique
banking features.
iii.Kotak Mahindra Bank offers Fixed Deposit (FD) interest rate between 2.75% to 7.20% for tenure ranging
from 7 days to 10 years.
About Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL)
MD&CEO – Uday Kotak
Tagline – Let’s Make Money Simple
Union Bank of India Launched four Bank Account Schemes to Benefit Women, Pensioners &
CHS
On June 19, 2023, the Union Bank of India launched four bank account schemes named Union Unnati,
Union Samriddhi, Union Samman, and Union SBCHS (SB Account For Co-Operative Housing Society),
targeting women, women entrepreneurs and professionals, pensioners and cooperative housing societies
(CHS).
The 4 account schemes and their benefits:
i.Union Unnati: CD (certificate of deposit) Account For Women
• It is a current account (CA) designed for Women Individuals & Sole Proprietorship (Women
proprietors) with an Average Monthly Balance (AMB) of Rs 50,000.
• The account offers free Cancer Care Insurance Coverage Sum assured of Rs 10 lakhs, personal
accident cover, concession in loan interest rates, retail loan processing charges, and minimal service
charges.
ii.Union Samriddhi: SB Account For Women
• It is a savings bank (SB) account targeted at Women Individuals (18 years and above) to empower
them by providing a safe and convenient savings and financial management avenue.
• This account also offers benefits similar to Union Unnati such as Free Cancer Care Insurance
Coverage, personal accident cover, and concession in loan interest rates, among others.
iii.Union Samman: SB Account For Pensioners
• It is a savings account aimed at pensioners thus Individuals drawing regular pensions through Union
Bank are eligible for this account
• It extends door-step banking, personal accident cover, concession in loan interest rates and
processing charges, and free health check-ups.
iv.Union SBCHS:
Eligibility: All Registered CHS, Resident Welfare Associations, Apartment Owners Association who are eligible
to open Savings Accounts.
Union SBCHS is a savings bank account that acknowledges the cooperative housing societies, Resident Welfare
Association/apartment owners Associations by offering concessions in loan processing charges for purchasing
solar lights, elevators, and other machinery, as well as concessional rates for home, vehicle, and education loans
for society and flat owners.
About Union Bank of India:
Establishment -11 November 1919
MD& CEO – A. Manimekhalai
Tagline – Good People to Bank with

Axis Bank launches One-View – Multi-Bank Aggregator Feature on its Mobile App
On June 21, 2023, Axis Bank launched its latest feature, ‘One-View’ on ‘Axis Mobile’, a banking Application of
Axis Bank, to enable the users to manage their accounts across the different bank, including non-axis accounts.
• Axis Bank became the 1st private sector bank to launch a new-age banking feature using the
Account Aggregator(AA) ecosystem to create a seamless banking experience for its customers.
• This feature enables customers to access multiple bank accounts on one single platform, and track
their balances, transaction statements, and spends on a real-time basis.
Features of One-View:
i.Ensures Seamless onboarding process to link non-Axis Bank accounts in the Axis Mobile app.
ii.Provides a comprehensive view of their account balances and transaction statements across multiple bank
accounts.
iii.This feature will eliminate the need for multiple mobile banking applications.
iv.It also Allows customers to download and email transaction details from their linked accounts.
v.Customers can delink any single or all non-Axis Bank accounts at their convenience
Note: Axis Bank’s mobile app has earned the distinction of being the highest-rated mobile banking app on the
Google Play Store, with an average rating of 4.8 stars.
What is AA?
It is Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulated entity, holding an NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company)-AA
license, which enables individuals to securely and digitally access and share their financial information from
one institution to another within the AA network. The data sharing is made with the individual’s consent,
ensuring privacy.
• It replaces the traditional blank cheque acceptance of long terms and conditions.
About Axis Bank:
MD & CEO – Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
Canara Bank Becomes 1st PSB to launch UPI payments to merchants via RuPay Credit Cards
On June 26, 2023, Canara Bank became the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) in India to introduce the facility of
UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments to merchants through RuPay Credit Card, in association with NPCI
(National Payments Corporation of India).
• This facility is made available at ‘Canara ai1’ Banking Super App of the Bank.
Key Points:
i.Notably, currently only Merchant Payments are allowed using this facility, and Person-to-Person, Card-to-
Card, or Cash-Out Transactions will not be permitted for UPI payments from RuPay Credit Cards.
ii.This facility enables the bank customers to make UPI payments to merchants from their RuPay Credit Cards.
iii.They can also link their Canara Bank RuPay Credit Cards to their UPI IDs.
iv.The transaction limits applicable for UPI transactions shall continue for UPI payments using RuPay Credit
Card.
About Canara Bank:
MD and CEO– K Satyanarayana Raju
Tagline– Together We Can

Bank of India Launches Centralised Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell in Mumbai
On 26th June 2023, Rajneesh Karnatak managing Director (MD) and chief Executive officer (CEO) of Bank of
India (BOI) inaugurated BOI’s Centralised Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell’ housed in its headquarters in
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• This cell is equipped with an end-to-end digital underwriting system onboard pool buy-outs and co-
lending of loans in partnership with NBFCs to boost priority sector lending.
• This will provide seamless integration between BOI and NBFCs.
• The Cell will onboard loan assets under Retail, MSME and the Agriculture segment with a dedicated
team.
Pool Buy-Out:
Pool Buy-Out is a practice in the banking sector to buy out the retail portfolios of NBFCs in return for
immediate payment.
FINANCE NEWS
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Launches India’s 1st Insurance Plan for Diabetics
On May 29, 2023, the Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd., the private life insurer, launched first of its kind
insurance plan in the Indian life insurance industry designed for Type 2 diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals,
named ‘Bajaj Allianz Life Diabetic Term Plan Sub 8 HbA1c’.
• As per the data of Bajaj Allianz Life, India is referred to as the ‘diabetes capital of the world’ with the
diabetic population in the country expected to hit 69.9 million by 2025 and 80 million by 2030.
• Diabetic Term Plan Sub 8 HbA1c offers life insurance coverage by factoring in the nuances of the
health condition of those having diabetes.
• The term plan will enable financial security for pre-diabetic or Type 2 diabetic individuals whose
HbA1c (Haemoglobin A1c) is up to 8%.
Key Points:
i.Diabetic Term Plan Sub 8 HbA1c is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, pure risk premium life
insurance plan.
ii.It also offers its diabetic customers an ecosystem to manage and maintain their health.
iii.The plan will incentivize individuals to keep a check on their HbA1c and keep improving it.
iv.Bajaj Allianz Life will also provide Health Management Services through webinars, medical consultations, etc.
to support customers to manage their diabetes and general health.
What is HbA1c?
i.The term HbA1c refers to glycated haemoglobin. It develops when haemoglobin, a protein within red blood
cells that carries oxygen throughout the human body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming ‘glycated’.
ii.Measuring HbA1c will show the average blood sugar (glucose) level over the past two to three months.
iii.For people with diabetes the value of HbA1c is important as the higher the value, the greater the risk of
developing diabetes-related complications.
HbA1c Diagnosis:
HbA1c values Diagnosis
≤5.6% Normal
5.7–6.4% Prediabetes
≥6.5% Diabetes
About Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd
It is a joint venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited, and Allianz SE.
MD&CEO – Tarun Chugh
Establishment – August 2001

mooPay Launches India’s first Heat Index linked insurance for dairy farmers of mooMark
mooPay Private Limited, the fintech arm of Stellapps Technologies Private Limited, in partnership with
IBISA Network, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd., and Insurtech startup Gramcover, has
launched India’s first heat Index-based insurance plan to provide financial compensation
to mooMark dairy farmers in case of income loss due to a fall in milk productivity during heat waves in
summer.
• mooMark is a private dairy supply chain arm of Stellapps.
What is in the heat Index-based insurance plan?
Under this farmers receive insurance benefits if temperatures exceed specified limits for a set number of
days within a 60-day period starting from May 1, 2023, based on region-specific parameters.
• mooMark utilizes temperature trend data from a pre-agreed public database to compensate
claimants according to prescribed benefit slabs.
• Each insured cattle can receive a maximum coverage of Rs 2,000. Presently, the insurance
covers one cattle per household.
First Phase:
In the first phase, mooMark includes this insurance in its loyalty program, covering approximately 7,000
farmers in 5 districts across 4 states, with a total sum assured exceeding Rs 1.3 crore.
• This financial product can benefit over 80 million dairy farming families that rely on income
from around 300 million cattle.
So far, the mooPay platform has made direct farmer payments worth more than Rs 1,000 million and
disbursed more than 3,200 loans worth over Rs 42 million.
About Stellapps Technologies Private Limited:
CEO– Rahul Mallick
Motilal Oswal AMC launches India’s first-ever Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund
Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Limited (MOAMC) has launched open ended Motilal Oswal Nifty
Microcap 250 Index Fund which is India’s first-ever passively managed micro-cap fund to replicate/track the
performance of Nifty Microcap 250 Total Return Index (TRI).
• It will focus on the first 250 firms beyond the NSE (National Stock Exchange) 500 companies.
• The New Fund Offer (NFO) period for the same is June 15, 2023 to June 29, 2023.
• The scheme will be managed by Swapnil Mayekar and Rakesh Shetty (For Debt Component).
Notes:
i.An open-ended fund or scheme is one that is available for repurchase and subscription continuously.
ii.A passive fund is an investment vehicle that tracks a market index, or a specific market segment, to determine
what to invest in.
About Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund:
i.This fund will be beneficial for those who seek returns that correspond to the total returns of Nifty Microcap
250 TRI, subject to tracking error, and who seek long term capital growth.
ii.The minimum subscription amount is Rs 500 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter. The scheme will offer a
regular plan and direct plan – with growth and IDCW (Income Distribution Cum Withdrawal Pan
(IDCW) options.
iii.It offer high return potential due to limited analyst coverage
iv.The scheme will invest in the securities comprising the Nifty Microcap 250 TRI in the same proportion as in
the index. It may also invest in the money market instruments, in compliance with regulation to meet liquidity
requirements.
• The scheme will invest 95-100% in constituents of Nifty Microcap 250 Index and 0-5% in units of liquid
schemes and/or money market instruments.

About Nifty Microcap 250 Index:
It is designed to measure performance of the top 250 companies excluding those already present in the Nifty
500 constituents. The index is well-diversified, with its top 10 holdings accounting for only 11% against 59% in
Nifty 50 Index. It also provides diversified exposure to sectors like Industrials, Consumer Discretionary,
Commodities and Healthcare.
About Micro-cap Stock:
A micro-cap stock is a publicly traded company that has a market capitalization (m-cap) lower than small, mid,
and large-cap stocks. It accounts for just 3% of the total m-cap listed stocks.
i.The MF (Mutual Fund) industry classifies the top 100 stocks by m-cap as large caps. The next 150 are
considered as midcaps and the subsequent 250 as small caps. Thus micro-cap mostly comprises the top 500
stocks, and in Nifty Microcap 250 Index, these are generally those that rank between 501 to 750 in the m-cap
rankings.
ii.These are firms with a market cap of Rs 100 to 500 Crore.
iii.Albeit at a higher risk, these delivered higher returns compared to its counterparts.
About Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Limited (MOAMC):
Incorporated on November 14, 2008 under the Companies Act, 1956
MD & CEO– Navin Agarwal
IRDAI Identified SBI Life as the Acquirer-Insurer of Business of SILIC

On June 2, 2023, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) identified SBI Life
Insurance Company Limited (SBI Life) as the acquirer–insurer of the business of Sahara India Life
Insurance Co. (SILIC).
• In this regard, SBI Life shall take over the policy liabilities of around two lakh policies of SILIC,
backed by the policyholders’ assets, with immediate effect.
Note: This decision has been taken by IRDAI in exercise of its powers under sub-section (2) of Section 52B of
the Insurance Act, 1938. Click Here for Official Release
Key Points:
i.For the implementation of the Order in a timebound manner, IRDAI has constituted a committee of Member
(Actuary), Member (Life) and Member (F&I).
ii.SBI Life has been instructed to engage with SILIC policyholders, ensuring policy servicing and establishing a
dedicated cell to address their queries.
• They are also required to publish essential information on their website.
iii.IRDAI will closely monitor the situation, providing further directions as needed to safeguard the interests of
SILIC policyholders.
The SILIC Background:
SILIC was granted a Certificate of Registration (CoR) in 2004 for life insurance. Due to financial and governance
issues, an Administrator was appointed in 2017, preventing the insurer from underwriting new business.
Despite multiple directions to meet regulatory requirements, SILIC failed to comply and protect policyholder
interests. The company’s portfolio is in a run-off trend with increasing losses and claims. Consequently, on June
2nd, 2023, IRDAI decided to take the above mentioned action to safeguard SILIC policyholders.
About SBI Life Insurance Company Limited (SBI Life):
SBI Life was incorporated in 2000 and was registered with IRDAI in 2001.
MD & CEO– Mahesh Kumar Sharma
Tagline– Apne Liye.Apno Ke Liye.

Karbon Card launched Card++, India’s 1st Mobile Based Expense Management Card
Karbon Card, a B2B (Business to Business) payment solution provider, launched India’s first-ever mobile-
based expense management card namely ‘Card++’.
• Based on the mobile-first approach, it will address the challenges faced by startups and Small and
Midsize Business (SMB) by providing reliable and accessible expense solution, thus, reducing
disruptions caused by the use of multiple payment instruments by SMBs.
Benefits:
i. A dedicated Android app for easy access anytime anywhere
ii. Uncapped cashback on spends.
iii. Customizable transaction controls on the app itself
Key Points:
i.The card is free to use and provides uncapped cash-back offers.
ii.Its features include allowing payments on platforms like Google, Amazon, Swiggy, Ola, etc.
• It offers a comprehensive and user-friendly expense management experience with its 2-click sign-up
process, intuitive Android app for on-the-go access, and seamless top-up options.
iii.It aims to onboard a significant number of new customers by the end of 2023.
About Karbon Card:
Founders– Amit Jangir, Kartik Jain, and Sunil Kumar
Co-Founder & CEO– Pei-fu Hsieh
Bajaj Finserv Launches its MF Business, Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund

On June 6, 2023, Bajaj Finserv Limited (BFS) launched its new mutual fund(MF) business under Bajaj Finserv
Mutual Fund.
• This will be India’s 43rd Asset Management Company (AMC) and 6th company to enter the MF
industry post-2021.
• This MF will be headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra.
Background:
i.In March 2023, BFS received the final registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to
commence its mutual fund operations under Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund, with Bajaj Finserv Asset Management
Limited (BFAML), a wholly owned subsidiary of BFS, as the Investment Manager.
ii.Ganesh Mohan will be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the MF while Nimesh Chandan will be the chief
investment officer (CIO) of the MF. Sorbh Gupta Gupta and Siddharth Chaudhary will be the fund managers.
Key Points:
i.This AMC had filed its first seven schemes with SEBI i.e. the liquid fund, money market fund, overnight fund,
arbitrage fund, large and mid-cap fund, balanced advantage fund, and flexi cap fund.
• It will start rolling out these products within the next 30 days, starting with Fixed Income products.
ii.The comprehensive set of products across fixed-income, hybrid and equity categories will meet the needs of
diverse investor profiles ranging from retail and HNIs (High Net Worth Individuals) to institutions.
iii.It will deploy technology at scale to empower teams, create platforms for distributors, simplify investments,
and build long-term sustainable value for customers.
Note:
i.BFAML aims to combine all sources of alpha, such as Information edge, Quantitative edge and Behavioural
edge into a framework, called as ‘INQUBE’.
ii.India’s MF industry size is Rs 40.8 lakh crore.
About Bajaj Finserv Limited (BFS):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Sanjiv Bajaj
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra

Go Digit Gets IRDAI Approval to Carry Life Insurance Business in India
On June 02, 2023, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) granted the Certificate
of Registration (CoR) to Go Digit Life Insurance Limited (Go Digit) to carry out life insurance business in India.
• The approval brings the total number of insurers in the Indian life insurance segment to 26.
Go Digit is backed by Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Holdings.
Go Digit General Insurance is also proposing to come out with an Initial public offering(IPO) and has already
filed papers with markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Samco launches India’s 1st Actively-managed momentum fund, SAMCO Active Momentum Fund
SAMCO Asset Management Private Limited, Investment Manager of SAMCO Mutual Fund, launched India’s first
actively-managed momentum fund – SAMCO Active Momentum Fund, an open-ended equity scheme following
momentum theme with Benchmark Index of Nifty 500 Index TRI.
• The New Fund Offering (NFO) from SAMCO Active Momentum Fund commences on June 15, 2023,
and concludes on June 29, 2023.
About SAMCO Active Momentum Fund:
It carefully chooses stocks with momentum traits like breakouts and price leadership, utilizing a special
momentum-seeking algorithm. By taking advantage of current price trends, the fund aims to outperform the
market and generate superior returns for investors.
• In Momentum investing, active management offers several unique advantages such as a wider
investible universe, quicker rebalancing and hedging flexibility during periods of anti-momentum.
• Momentum is one of the most persistent factor to generate excess returns in all assets be it equity,
commodity and forex.
Key Points:
i.The Minimum Application Amount is Rs 5000 and in multiples of Rs 1/- thereafter.
ii.The Minimum SIP Amount is Rs 500 and in multiples of Rs 1/- thereafter.
iii.It is invested only during times of Momentum, and remains out of markets when there is Anti-Momentum.
iv.The fund manager for SAMCO Active Momentum Fund is Paras Matalia who will oversee the fund’s
investment decisions and work towards maximizing returns for investors.
Momentum themed Scheme: It is a thematic fund that invests in stocks that exhibit momentum
characteristics and sell those stocks when those stocks lose momentum.
Microfinance Loan Portfolio increased by 22% in FY23; NBFC-MFIs being top lender with 40%
share
According to the data released by MFIN (Microfinance Institutions Network), the Gross loan portfolio of the
microfinance industry increased by 22% in FY23 to Rs 3.5 lakh crore, serving 6.6 crore unique borrowers.
• The number of active microfinance loan accounts increased by 14.6% to 13 crore as on March 2023.
Key Points:
i. NBFC-MFIs (Non-Banking Finance Companies – Microfinance institutions) continued to be the largest
provider of micro-credit in terms of loans outstanding, with their share of the total industry portfolio rising to
40% in FY23 from 35.2% in FY22.
ii.With a market share of 34% banks held the second place followed by small finance banks(SFB) at 16.6%.
iii. Other NBFCs accounted for 8.5% share and other MFIs accounted for 1%.
Regional Distribution:
i.In case of regional distribution, Bihar replaced Tamil Nadu(TN) as the largest State in terms of portfolio
outstanding, followed by Uttar Pradesh(UP) in third place.
ii.East and North-East and South India accounted for 63% of the total portfolio under regional distribution.
• The share of East and North-East reduced continuously over FY23, reaching 34.9% from 37.7% as of
March 2022.

• South and North region gained more than 1% each.
NBFC-MFIs:
i.Assets under Management (AUM) of NBFC-MFIs increased 39% YoY to Rs 1.3 lakh crore in March 2023,
including an owned portfolio of Rs 1.1 lakh crore and managed or off-balance sheet portfolio of Rs 23,931 crore.
ii.The average ticket size increased 13% YoY to Rs 42,010 for FY23.
iii.NBFC-MFIs received debt funding of Rs 74,787 crore during FY22 a 59.2% higher than FY22. Total equity
grew 25.4% to Rs 26,332 crore.
Max Life Insurance launched non-linked life insurance savings plan – Smart Wealth Advantage
Growth Par Plan
On June 8, 2023, the Max Life Insurance Company Ltd launched a non-linked participating individual life
insurance savings plan named ‘the Smart Wealth Advantage Growth Par Plan’ with four income variants.
• The savings plan would provide individuals with financial protection and savings accumulation.
About Smart Wealth Advantage Growth Par Plan:
The plan includes four variants: Insta Income, Balanced Income, Future Income, and Lifelong Income.
• All these variants offer built-in guarantees, cash bonuses (if declared), and life coverage throughout
the policy term.
Key benefits:
i.The plan combines the benefits of life insurance coverage with savings.
ii.They also offer death benefits that ensure financial protection for beneficiaries in case of the policyholder’s
demise.
iii.As non-linked plans are not tied to market investments or returns, the policyholders would have the
opportunity to participate in insurance company profits through bonuses.
iv.The plan offers benefits of enhanced liquidity, guaranteed income, cash bonuses, retirement income
planning, flexibility in income options, and enhanced protection benefits.
• Retirement income: The plan offers an enhanced income with a minimum guarantee after attaining
65 years.
• Flexibility: The plan offers flexibility to opt from 4 income designs with the option to receive
income on special days.
About Max Life Insurance Company Ltd:
It is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Service ltd (part of Max Group) and Axis Bank Limited
MD & CEO – Prashant Tripathy
Paytm introduces UPI SDK for faster payments of its Merchants

One97 Communications Limited (OCL) owned Paytm introduced Paytm UPI software development kit (SDK)
for its merchants to make payments without any failure of the payments. Paytm UPI SDK supports transactions
via UPI-linked bank accounts and RuPay credit cards.
• Paytm UPI SDK will allow users to pay directly from bank accounts through UPI PIN without having
to jump between merchant and payment app.
• Earlier Paytm introduced UPI LITE, to enable transactions of up to Rs.2,000 without having to enter
a PIN to make payments. Along with UPI LITE, Paytm is enhancing two-sided payments for its
merchants and customers fail-proof UPI payments.
PhonePe launches its Payment Gateway with Limited-Period Free onboarding for MSME
Merchants
On June 14, 2023, PhonePe officially launched the PhonePe Payment Gateway new MSME (Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises) merchants by offering a limited-period deal of free onboarding with no hidden charges,

setup fees, or annual maintenance fees. This is in contrast to most payment gateways that typically charge a
standard transaction fee of 2%.
• With this gateway, merchants with a monthly sales volume of Rs 1 crore could potentially save up to Rs
8 lakhs. In addition, they have the opportunity to save around Rs 2 lakhs per month due to zero
onboarding costs.
Key Points:
i.PhonePe’s Payment Gateway ensures an exceptional payment experience for both consumers and merchants
by providing seamless integration experience across various platforms, including Android, iOS, mobile web,
and desktop.
ii.It offers a no-code setup for integration across all platforms and helps merchants accept online payments
efficiently.
iii.This gateway is in compliance with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations to securely store customers’
tokenized cards in the PhonePe Card Vault after taking consumer consent.
iv.According to data platform Statista, the market size of payment gateways in India is expected to nearly triple
in the next seven years i.e. by 20230 with a compound annual growth rate of 16.2% from around $4.79 billion
in 2023 to $13.68 billion in 2030.
v.Earlier PhonePe had announced the launch of its Account Aggregator (AA) services for customers to give
consent to sharing of all their financial data, such as bank statements, insurance policies and tax filings with
regulated financial institutions for several use cases such as applying for loans, buying new insurance, getting
investment advice, etc.
About PhonePe:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer– Sameer Nigam
NSE International Exchange unveils a New Identity for Gift Nifty

On June 19, 2023, the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) unveiled a new brand identity/logo of GIFT Nifty at
International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, as a part of the full-scale transition of Singapore Exchange (SGX) Nifty to Gift Nifty under
NSE IFSC-SGX Connect Project.
• NSE IFSC-SGX Connect Project will replace the existing SGX Nifty Futures & Options contracts,
which were traded on SGX, with GIFT Nifty from July 3, 2023.
• Injeti Srinivas, Chairman of the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) was the
chief guest of the event. The event also saw the presence of Ashish Kumar Chaunah, MD & CEO, NSE,
and V Balasubramaniam, MD & CEO, NSE IX.
Note:
i.The new brand logo of Gift Nifty is aligned with the flagship index NIFTY 50. The full form of Nifty is the
National stock exchange FIFTY.
ii.NSE IFSC is a fully owned subsidiary company of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE India).
Key Points:
i.Following the replacement, all US (United States) dollar-denominated Nifty derivatives contracts will be
exclusively traded on NSE IFSC.
• All open positions in SGX NIFTY will migrate to GIFT NIFTY; hence no open interest remains in SGX
NIFTY.
ii.The SGX NIFTY will be suspended from trading after the end of the T session on June 30 2023. SGX intends to
delist the SGX NIFTY.
iii.NSE IFSC-SGX Connect project was approved in 2019 for the trading of the SGX’s Nifty futures contract,
based on the NSE’s Nifty 50 index, on IFSC which will boost activity at the GIFT City.
iii.The new identity enables Market participants to access Gift Nifty 50, Gift Nifty Bank, Gift Nifty Financial

Services, and Gift Nifty IT derivative contracts on NSE IX for almost 21 hours from July 3, 2023, which overlaps
Asia, Europe, and US trading hours.
Note – In addition, NSE IX also unveiled its new corporate brand identity evolving distinctly designed IX along
with NSE.
About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE India):
Managing Director & CEO– Ashishkumar Chauhan
IRDAI Introduced Modifications to “Use and File” Procedure for Life Insurance Products
On 20 June 2023, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) introduced some
modifications to the existing “Use and File” Procedure for Life Insurance Products.
• Objective: To expand the scope of the Use and File procedure to facilitate the insurance industry in
promoting penetration and improving the accessibility of life insurance products.
• The modifications are issued by IRDAI in the exercise of its powers under the Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority Act, 1999.
Key Modifications:
i.IRDAI has included individual and group unit-linked life and health insurance products and allowed
insurers to use and file the products under the modified procedure.
ii.IRDAI has also introduced ‘Combi products’, which allow the filing of Combi products where the life insurer
is the lead insurer.
• This will allow customers to access comprehensive insurance coverage under a single policy.
• The combi products also needed to comply with the existing norms set by IRDAI.
iii.The current Standardized File Identification Number (SFIN) clearance process by IRDAI is dispensed.
• Even though the insurance companies are still instructed to comply with all prudential and exposure
norms as per Regulation 9 of IRDAI (Investment) Regulations, 2016, as amended from time to time,
for each segregated fund and the Assets Under Management (AUMs) of Unit-Linked Insurance Plans
(ULIPs)
• This can lead to quicker availability of new life insurance products in the market.
iv.IRDAI allows the addition of new unit-linked funds to existing unit-linked products.
• Thus after addition, the new unit-linked funds will be treated as existing funds for subsequent unit-
linked products.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
Chairperson – Debasish Panda
Establishment – 1999, Incorporated in 2000
LIC – launches close-ended ‘Dhan Vridhhi’ plan and Sold 2.07% stake in NMDC for Rs 649 crore
On June 23, 2023, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched the non-linked, non-participating,
individual, savings, single-premium, close-ended life insurance plan, named ‘Dhan Vridhhi’ to offer a
combination of protection and savings.
• The plan was being available for sale from June 23 to September 30, 2023.
Key Points:
i.The plan provides financial support for the family in case of the unfortunate death of the life assured during
the policy term.
ii.As the plan is being a single premium plan, there is no future premium obligation and no lapsation.
iii.Options to choose: Under the plan, the proposer have two options to choose i.e. the ‘Sum Assured on Death’
could be either be 1.25 times (Option 1) or 10 times (Option 2) the Tabular Premium for the chosen Basic Sum
Assured.

Features:
i.Term – The plan is available for 10, 15 or 18 years of term.
ii.Age – The minimum age at entry varies from 90 days to 8 years, depending upon the term selected. The
maximum age at entry varies from 32 to 60 years, depending upon the term and option selected.
iii.The Minimum Basic Sum Assured is Rs 1,25,000 and one can opt for higher basic sum assured in multiples of
Rs 5,000.
iv.The Guaranteed Additions will accrue at the end of each policy year, throughout the policy term. The
Guaranteed Additions range from Rs 60 to Rs 75 (Option 1) and Rs 25 to Rs 40 (Option 2) per Rs 1,000.
v.A settlement option is available on maturity/death in monthly/quarterly/half-yearly/yearly intervals for five
years.
vi.The plan also offers liquidity through a loan facility, which is available anytime after three months from the
completion of the policy.
vii.Under the plan, the amount payable on the death of the life assured during the policy term after the date of
commencement of risk, but before the stipulated date of maturity, was the ‘Sum Assured on Death,’ along with
accrued guaranteed additions.
– LIC Sold 2.07% stake in NMDC for Rs 649 crore
LIC sold over 6.06 crore shares or 2.07% stake in iron ore producer NMDC Lmited (formerly National Mineral
Development Corporation) between March 14 and June 20 for around Rs 649 crore at an average price of Rs
107.59 a share via open market sale.
Now the LIC’s shareholding in NMDC has decreased from 11.69% to 9.62%.
About Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India
Establishment -1956
Interim Chairman – Siddhartha Mohanty
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance launches ‘Nishchit Pension Plan’

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital
Limited (ABCL), has announced the launch ‘Nishchit Pension Plan‘ a comprehensive retirement solution. It is
a non-linked, non-participating individual pension plan for retirement.
• It helps in accumulating 100% guaranteed corpus, to secure an uninterrupted income.
Key points:
i.ABSLI’s Nishchit Pension Plan enables the policyholders to customize the plans according to their retirement
goals, by providing Premium Payment Term (PPT) & Policy Term (PT) options.
ii.It will offer returns on premiums invested, loyalty additions depending on premium and its term, provided
the policy is in-force and all due premiums have been paid.
Features:
i.Policyholders can choose from multiple PPT options, ranging from 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 years & Regular Pay
options.
ii.The maximum entry age to avail ABSLI Nishchit Pension Plan is 65 years, while the minimum entry age
is 30 years.
iii.The minimum annualized premium is Rs. 20,000 and there is no limit on the maximum premium that you
can pay.
iv.The maximum age to avail the vesting benefit is 75 years, while the minimum vesting age is 45 years.
Note – Vesting: The age at which the insured starts to receive the pension is called the vesting age. Once the
vesting age is reached, the policy begins to release the annuity payout amount in the frequency mentioned in
the policy

About Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance:
MD & CEO- Kamlesh Rao
Established- 2000
Headquartered- Mumbai
ICICI Lombard and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance jointly launched Combi Product ‘iShield’
ICICI Lombard General Insurance and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance have jointly launched a combi
insurance solution, ‘iShield’ health and life, offers two-in-one benefit will provide customers to manage their
health and life insurance needs together instead of purchasing separate products for each of them.
• Under ‘iShield’, the health insurance component covers expenses related to hospitalisation, day-care
treatments, pre and post hospitalisation, and Teleconsultation and so on.
• The life insurance under ‘iShield’ will continue till the age of 85, ensuring sufficient financial
resources of the family to continue with their lives.
About ‘iShield’:
i. iShield is a one-of-its-kind offering that is synergistic in capabilities and shares the brand values of ICICI
Prudential Life Insurance and ICICI Lombard.
ii. It is designed to provide customers and their family’s with a comprehensive dual benefit of health and life
insurance solution along with a seamless single window customer experience.
iii. It will enable customers to take care of expenses required for medical treatments. Apart from that, it will
also provide a lump sum amount to the family in case of the unfortunate demise of the policyholder.
iv. Customers can purchase this solution/product by filling in a single application and undergoing a medical
check-up.
v. Other than the vast agent network, multiple easy-to-use touchpoints such as the company website or the
Mobile App will also provide customers a hassle-free purchase and premium payment experience.
Additional Info:
i. The Combi solution ‘iShield’ health and Life insurance was launched under the Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India’s (IRDAI) ‘use and file’ procedure for life insurance products.
ii. On 20th June,2023, IRDAI introduced modifications to the existing ‘use and file’ procedure for life insurance
products, aiming to facilitate the insurance industry in promoting penetration and improving the accessibility
of life insurance products.
iii. IRADI introduced the concept of “Combi products/solutions”, referring to insurance products where a life
insurer acts as the lead insurer.
• Life insurers offering combi products must comply with the extant norms prescribed by IRDAI.
About ICICI Lombard General Insurance:
Founded in- 2001
MD/CEO- Bhargav Dasgupta

India’s GDP Grows at 6.1% in Q4FY23 and 7.2% in FY23: Union Govt data
According to the official data released by the Union Government on May 30, 2023, the Indian Economy’s
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in Q4 FY23 (Fourth Quarter of Financial Year 2022-23) i.e. from
January to March 2023 is projected at 6.1% year-on-year (YoY) when compared to the 4.5% growth in Q3
FY23 and 4.1% in FY22.
• India’s growth rate for FY23 was projected at 7.2% compared to 9.1% GDP growth in FY22. Due
to this growth, the Indian economy is now USD 3.3 trillion in size.

Key Points:
i.Sector-wise Growth in Q4FY23:
• The growth in the Q4 FY23 period was mainly contributed by 6.9% of growth in service sector, a
5.5% in agriculture, 4.5% in manufacturing and 10.4% in Construction sector.
• The electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services segment grew 6.9% in Q4FY23 from
6.7% in Q4FY22.
ii.GDP Projections:
• According to the National Statistics Office (NSO) data, the real GDP prices in FY23 are estimated
to attain a level of Rs 160.06 lakh crore, as against the first revised estimates of GDP of Rs
149.26 lakh crore for FY22.
• Nominal GDP in FY23 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 272.41 lakh crore, as against Rs 234.71
lakh crore in FY22, showing a growth rate of 16.1%.
• The GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q4 FY23 is estimated at Rs 43.62 lakh crore against Rs
41.12 lakh crore in Q4 FY22, showing a growth of 6.1%.
• The GDP at Current Prices in Q4 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 71.82 lakh crore compared to Rs
65.05 lakh crore in Q4 2021-22, a growth of 10.4%.
iii.Gross value added (GVA) growth in FY23 was about 7% against an 8.8% growth in FY22. The
Manufacturing sector’s GVA growth increased to 4.5% Q4 FY23 as against 0.6% in Q4 FY22.
iv.The discrepancies factored while computing the national income was Rs 3,80,964 crore in FY23, which
was lower than Rs 4,47,182 crore in FY22.
JP Morgan raises India’s FY24 GDP forecast to 5.5%

JP Morgan raised its forecast for India’s annual growth by 50 basis points to 5.5% for fiscal 2024, following
an increase in India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 6.1% in the March quarter of FY23
(Q4FY23).
• This growth was boosted by government and private capital spending.
• The economy also grew at a better-than-expected 7.2% for fiscal 2023.
Key Points:
i.Though the GDP forecast is increased, but, it has warned that the global economic slowdown and tighter
financial conditions will still drag the economy.
ii.The growth potential could be enhanced if the central government successfully achieves a significant
increase in budgeted capital expenditure for fiscal 2024 and convince the states to do the same.
• The economy may suffer adverse effects if the occurrence of the El Nino phenomenon affects the
monsoon of 2023.
iii.Global growth momentum is still expected to slow in the coming quarters.
iv.On May 31, 2023, the Indian government revised its full-year growth estimate for FY23 to 7.2% from
7%. India’s economy grew at 9.1% in FY22.
v.As per the brokerage, the Indian economy could be affected if the El Nino phenomenon impacts the
2024’s monsoon.
India’s CAD narrows to 0.2% of GDP on moderation in Trade Deficit: RBI’s BoP Q4FY23 Data
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data titled ‘Developments in India’s Balance of Payments
during the Fourth Quarter (January-March) of 2022-23’, India’s current account deficit (CAD) declined
sequentially to USD 1.3 billion – 0.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 4th quarter (January-March) of
2022-23 (Q4 of FY23) from USD 16.8 billion – 2% of GDP the 3rd quarter (October-December) of 2022-2023
(Q3 of FY23).
• In Q4 2021-22, India’s CAD was USD 13.4 billion, 1.6% of GDP.

• The decline in CAD in Q4 of FY23 was due to the moderation in the trade deficit to USD 52.6 billion
in Q4 of FY23 from USD 71.3 billion in Q3 FY23, along with the robust services exports.
Key Points:
i.The CAD widened to 2% of GDP in FY23 compared to 1.2 per cent in FY22. This came as an uptick in
merchandise imports due to higher global commodity prices led to the widening of merchandise trade deficit.
ii.In the financial account, net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at US$ 6.4 billion was higher than US$ 2.0 billion
in Q3FY23, although lower than a year ago (US$ 13.8 billion).
iii.Net Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) recorded an outflow of US$ 1.7 billion amid the equity segment in
Q4FY23 as compared with an outflow of US$ 15.2 billion during the Q4FY22.
iv.Net External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) to India recorded an inflow of US$ 1.7 billion, as against an
outflow of US$ 2.5 billion during Q3FY23 and an inflow of US$ 3.3 billion in Q4FY22.
v.There was an accretion to the foreign exchange reserves (on a BoP basis) to the tune of US$ 5.6 billion as
against a depletion of US$ 16.0 billion in Q4:2021-22
BoP during FY23:
i.The CAD witnessed a deficit of 2% of GDP, compared to 1.2% in FY22. This was due to a widening trade deficit
of US$ 265.3 billion, up from US$ 189.5 billion in FY21.
ii.Net FDI inflows were lower at US$ 28.0 billion in FY23, compared to US$ 38.6 billion in FY22.
iii.Net FPI resulted in an outflow of US$ 5.2 billion in FY23, compared to an outflow of US$ 16.8 billion the
previous year.
iv.Net ECBs to India saw an outflow of US$ 4.1 billion in FY23, contrasting with an inflow of US$ 7.4 billion in
FY22.
v.The foreign exchange reserves experienced a depletion of US$ 9.1 billion during FY23 on a BoP basis.
CII Projected India’s GDP to Grow in the Range of 6.5-6.7% in FY24

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has projected the Indian economy to grow in the range of 6.5-
6.7% in FY24 (Financial Year 2023-24) supported by strong domestic drivers and robust Capital expenditures
(CapEx) momentum of the government.
Key Projections:
i.CII has also projected India’s GDP to grow in Q4 FY23 by 6.1%, with an annual growth rate of FY23 at 7.2%.
ii.As per the statement of R Dinesh, CII president, India’s GDP growth is expected to increase to 7. 8% in the
next decade (FY22-31) as compared to 6.6% in the previous decade.
iii.CII also expects the consumer price index (CPI) based retail inflation to fall within RBI’s target range of 4%
within a band of +/- 2 percent in FY24.
• RBI to ensure CPI inflation within a target In the 1st bi-monthly monetary policy for FY24, RBI
maintained a status quo and did not change the interest rate.
iv.Retail inflation declined to an 18-month low of 4.7% in April 2023 and it was about 5.66% in March 2023
and 7.79 % in March 2022.
v.R Dinesh prioritised 8 key areas for the Government to make reforms and sustain growth.
About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
President– R Dinesh
Director General – Chandrajit Banerjee
Establishment -1895
Fiscal Deficit target in FY23 Reduced to 6.36% of GDP: CGA Data

According to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the fiscal deficit target in FY23 was
reduced to 6.36% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) against 6.4% in the revised estimates (RE) due to lower-
than-estimated revenue expenditure.

• Fiscal deficit for FY23 was at Rs 17.33 trillion, or 98.7% of the RE of Rs 17.55 trillion due to the
reduction in higher tax, non-tax revenue collections and non-debt capital receipts.
Key Points:
i.The net tax revenue in FY23 reached marginally higher (by 0.5%) at Rs 20.97 trillion than the RE of Rs 20.86
trillion.
ii.The non-tax revenues for FY23 were at Rs 2.86 trillion, or nearly 9.3% higher than the RE.
iii.In FY23, the Revenue expenditure got decreased to Rs 34.5 trillion, slightly lower than the RE of Rs 34.59
trillion. The capex increased to Rs 7.36 trillion from RE of Rs 7.27 trillion.
iv.The revenue deficit for FY23 was also contained at 3.9% of GDP against the RE of 4.1%.
v.The lower revenue-expenditure-to-capital-expenditure ratio at decreased to 4.7 in FY23 compared with 5.4 in
FY22.
CGA data over April 2023:
i.The fiscal deficit in April 2023 stood at Rs 1.33 trillion, or 7.5% of the FY24 Budget Estimates (BE) compared
to 4.5% in April FY23.
ii.In May 2023 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved transferring Rs 87,416 crore to the Union Government as
a dividend for FY23.
OECD Projects India’s GDP Growth in FY24 at 6% & FY23 at 7.2%

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Economic Outlook, has marginally
increased India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for 2023-24 (FY24) to 6%, from its earlier
projection of 5.9%.
• India’s GDP growth forecast for FY23 was estimated at 7.2% due to higher-than-expected
agriculture output and strong government spending.
Key Points:
i.OECD estimates inflation in India in FY24 at 4.8%, slower than Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 5.2%.
ii.India’s economic growth in FY25 projected to 7%, lower than its April projection of 7.1%. Inflation in FY25 is
projected to be 4.4%, compared with the earlier estimation of 4.2%.
iii.OECD projected the Global GDP growth in 2023 to be 2.7, the lowest annual rate since the global financial
crisis (except the 2020 COVID -19 pandemic period). GDP growth for 2024 was projected at 2.9%.
iv.OECD projects the headline inflation converge towards 4.5% with interest rates to be lowered from mid-
2024.
S&P projects India’s GDP at 6% for FY24, Fastest Growing in Asia Pacific
On June 26, 2023, the S&P Global Ratings released its quarterly economic update for Asia-Pacific
namely ‘Economic Research: Economic Outlook Asia-Pacific Q3 2023: Domestic Demand, Inflation Relief
Support Asia’s Outlook‘ stating India as the fastest growing economy among Asia Pacific nations.
• In this, the S&P Global Rating retained its forecast for India’s economic growth unchanged at 6% for
fiscal year 2023-2024.
• GDP is projected to rise to 6.9% for 2024-25 and 2025-26 and rise to 7.1% in 2026-27.
• India leads, with an average growth of 7% in 2024-2026.
• India, Vietnam, and the Philippines continue to lead, with average growth of 6.7%, 6.6%, and 6.1% in
2023-2026.
Inflation:
i.Retail inflation is likely to soften to 5% in 2023 (FY2023-24) from 6.7% in 2022 (FY2022-23) citing normal
monsoon and softer crude prices as primary reasons.
ii.It will be 4.5% in 2024 (FY 2024-25) and 2025 (FY2025-26), and 4.8% in 2026 (FY 2026-27).
iii.The update expected India’s policy rate for 2023 at 6.25%, and 5.25% in 2024, 5% in 2025 and 2026.

Key Points:
i.India’s retail inflation eased to a 2-year low of 4.25% in May 2023 on an annual basis as against 4.70% in April
2022.
ii.In India, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand, external deficit trends have improved this year as oil
prices have declined.
iii.The Asian emerging market economies remain among the fastest growing ones in our global growth outlook
through 2026.
Regional Scenario: Asia
A GDP growth of 3.8% is projected in Asia in 2023 for Asia-Pacific excluding China, after 4.7% in 2022. Inflation
and external deficits are receding; pressure on central banks to raise rates has diminished.
About S&P Global:
President and Chief Executive Officer– Douglas L. Peterson
Headquarters– New York, United States
Tata Group to Establish India’s 1st Lithium-ion Cell Manufacturing Gigafactory in Gujarat
On 2nd June 2023, Tata Agaratas Energy Storage Solutions Private Limited, a subsidiary of Tata
Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to establish a lithium-
ion cell manufacturing giga factory in Sanand region, Gujarat.
This giga-factory in Gujarat will produce the 1st ever lithium-ion cells in India. The plant is expected to start
in less than 3 years
• The MoU was signed under the New Gujarat Electronics Policy 2022-2028, made under the
guidance of Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel.
• This plant will have an estimated initial investment of around Rs.13,000 crore and will have a
production capacity of 20 Gigawatt hours (GWh).
• The plant will help generate direct and indirect employment for some 13,000 individuals.
The plant will help reduce Gujarat’s dependence on China and South Korea, which currently supply
battery cells to India
UAE emerges as fourth largest investor in India in FY23

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become India’s fourth largest investor in the fiscal year 2022-23
following the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
between the two countries in May 1, 2022.
• In 2023, UAE’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India has risen to USD 3.35 Billion which is more than
tripled from USD 1.03 Billion in 2021 to 22.
• The UAE was the fourth largest investor in India in 2022-23 compared to the seventh in 2021-22.
• Singapore was the largest investor in India with USD 17.2 billion investment in FY23, followed by
Mauritius (USD 6.1 billion) and the US (USD 6 billion).
NOTE: UAE’s investments in India are mainly in sectors like services, sea transport, power and construction
activities.
Udupi Cochin Shipyard bags Norwegian order to build six new-gen cargo vessels
Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), (Formerly Tebma Shipyards Limited) based in Malpe, Udupi,
Karnataka, has won the international order from M/s Wilson Shipowning AS, headquartered in
Bergen, Norway, to design and construct of six new-generation diesel-electric 3800 DWT
(deadweight) general cargo vessels at an approximate cost of Rs 580 crores. The contract is signed with an
option for additional 8 vessels.
Note: UCSL is a subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited(CSL) a Mini Ratna company under the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways(MoPSW).

• The “Future proof Dry Cargo Vessel” designed by Conoship International, Netherlands would be
Environmental friendly Diesel Electric vessel ready for installation of Wind foil units and battery
hybrid systems and transporting general cargo in Europe’s inland and coastal waters.
The first vessel will be delivered by December 2024 and thereafter deliveries will be completed
within March 2026.
IndiGo places 500 aircraft A320 order with Airbus

On 19th June 2023, at the Paris Air Show 2023, India’s airline InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) ordered 500
A320 aircraft, from French manufacturer Airbus scheduled to be delivered within the years 2030-2035.
• The purchase agreement was signed in the presence of V. Sumantran, Chairman of the Board of
IndiGo, Pieter Elbers, Chief executive officer(CEO) of IndiGo, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, and
Christian Scherer, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.
i.The aircraft’s ordered comprises A320NEO (New Engine Option), A321NEO and A321XLRs (Extra Long
Range) aircraft.
ii.The engines of the aircraft will be decided by Airbus between Pratt & Whitney and CFM with a mix of A320
and A321 aircraft.
iii.This deal stands 2nd to Air India which made a deal of 470 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing Company in
February 2023.
Fitch Ratings Projected India’s GDP growth in FY24 at 6.3%

In June 2023, the Fitch Ratings has increased its forecast for India’s GDP(Gross Domestic Product) growth by
0.3% points to 6.3% for the current fiscal year 2023–2024 (FY24) from its prior prediction of 6% due to near-
term momentum and a stronger outturn in the first quarter of FY24.
• The GDP growth of the Indian economy was about 7.2% in FY23 and 9.1% in FY22.
Key Points:
i.Growth projections for FY25 and FY26 are estimated at 6.5% each due to inflation having eased and the
domestic economy has picked up.
ii.Fitch stated that the GDP growth for the months of January to March 2023 was higher than anticipated and
that there has been a recovery in manufacturing following two consecutive quarterly contractions.
iii.Fitch also noted that there has been a boost from construction and an increase in farm output.
iv.In expenditure terms, GDP growth was driven by domestic demand and a boost from net trade.

US President Joe Biden & UK PM Rishi Sunak signed the Atlantic Declaration, 1st of its kind US-
UK Economic Partnership
On June 8, 2023, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Rishi Sunak and President of the United States
(US), Joe Biden, signed the “Atlantic Declaration”, a first-of-its-
kind economic partnership between US and UK to enable future
cooperation on issues such as artificial intelligence, and other
economic and commercial relations.
• Under this, both USA and UK aim to partner to build
resilient, diversified, and secure supply chains and reduce
strategic dependencies.
• The declaration aims to increase US-UK trade in areas
such as defence, nuclear materials and the critical
minerals used in electric-car batteries.

Note: The Atlantic Declaration was signed during Rishi Sunak’s first White House visit as UK PM.
Key Objectives of the Declaration:
i.The Atlantic Declaration will reduce vulnerabilities across supply chains and keep Russia out of the global civil
nuclear power market.
ii.The declaration was designed to improve the economic security in both nations’ response to threats from
China and Russia.
iii.The declaration is intended to allow the two countries to move faster and cooperate in areas such as supply
chains disrupted by COVID-19 and the invasion of Ukraine.
iv.It would bring the UK into the orbit of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which lays out vast subsidies for
green infrastructure. The declaration will allow UK electric car manufacturers to benefit from some of the IRA
subsidy regimes.
v.The two countries will also collaborate on key industries including AI (Artificial Intelligence), 5G and 6G
telecoms, quantum computing, semiconductors and engineering biology.
WHO & Global Fund signed a revised Strategic Framework for Collaboration to build stronger
Health Systems
On 8th June 2023, The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Fund to Fight Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria (the Global Fund) signed a new and
revised Strategic Framework for Collaboration.
Objective:
The framework aims to build stronger and more resilient health systems and maximise collaboration and have
a significant impact in supporting major communicable diseases at the country, regional and global levels.
Key Points:
i. The new five-year framework builds upon the previous agreement established in 2018 and it aligns with the
Global Fund’s 2023-2028 Strategy and the WHO General Program of Work.
ii. These strategies emphasise placing communities at the center of the health response and addressing
pandemic preparedness and challenges posed by climate change.
iii. The framework also aligns with broader collaboration platforms that accelerate support to countries in
achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including universal health coverage (UHC).
iv. The new strategic framework for collaboration, driven by the shared mission and commitment of WHO and
the Global Fund, will strengthen and extend collaboration to effectively serve countries.
New Revised Framework:
Through this new framework, WHO and the Global Fund will be leveraging their comparative strengths across
35 areas for collaboration divided into 4 categories:
• Health Policies and normative guidance
• Advocacy and health governance
• Health products and innovations
• Technical support and capacity building
Some significant achievements of the collaboration made at the country level:
i. 18 countries have efficiently implemented differentiated service delivery for Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) testing, treatment, advanced HIV of disease care, and virtual interventions to reach individuals unaware
of their HIV status.
ii. Collaboration has enabled early guidance and surveys on dual testing for COronaVIrus Disease of 2019
(COVID-19) and TB, allowing for improved detection of people with TB through the innovations adopted during
and after the COVID-19 emergency.
iii. Strategic initiatives on malaria enabled accelerated progress towards malaria elimination. Since 2018, 8
countries have been certified malaria-free by WHO, with five more preparing for certification in 2023 and 2024.
iv. The partnership has paved the way for the implementation of innovative approaches, such as the new WHO
Insecticide Treated Nets Guidelines for Malaria and the scale-up of new, shorter treatments for multidrug-

resistant TB.
Founded in– 1948
LA Zoo to partner with Bihar Govt & WTI for gharial conservation in Gandak
Los Angeles(LA) Zoo (California, the United States of America-USA) is set to partner with the Government of
Bihar and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for the conservation of Gharial (gavia), a fish-eating crocodile in
the Gandak River in West Champaran district, Bihar.
• The partnership aims to strengthen the conservation efforts of the reptiles and release hatchlings back
to the river safely.
• Gharials are critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
of Species.
Background:
i.A high-level meeting between WTI, LA Zoo and Bihar was organised to discuss the emerging challenges and
solutions for Gharial conservation.
ii.During the meeting, the progress, achievements and challenges of the conservation of Gharial in Gandak River
were also discussed.
iii.The meeting also deliberated the collaborative work between Bihar’s environment and forest department
and WTI for the recovery of the wild population of Gharials.
iv.During the meeting, the LA Zoo agreed to strengthen the ongoing conservation effort through ‘ex-situ’
incubation and further release of the hatchlings back to the river safely.
Gharial Conservation Project:
i.The Gharial Conservation Project was launched by the Bihar government in association with WTI in 2014, to
revive the breeding of the reptiles in Gandak River (Bihar).
ii.According to the recent survey conducted between the Gandak barrage and Rewa ghat, following the launch
of this project the number of Gharial in the 284 km stretch of Gandak river has increased from 30 in 2014 to
217 in 2023.
iii.A total of 37 adult Gharials (including five males), 50 sub-adults, 49 juveniles and 81 yearlings were
observed.
iv.The Gandak River has become the second successful breeding site for Gharials in India after the Chambal
Sanctuary area.
About Bihar:
Chief Minister– Nitish Kumar
Governor– Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Capital– Patna
3 MDBs, WHO launch health investment platform to strengthen primary healthcare

3 Multilateral Development Banks(MDB) — the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank
(EIB), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), have partnered with the World Health Organization
(WHO) to launch the new Health Impact Investment Platform.
• This aims to strengthen and invest in climate and crisis-resilient Primary Healthcare Services (PHC)
in low- and low-and-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs).
Key Points:
i.The Platform was launched during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact from 22-23 June in Paris,
France.
ii.It will provide Euro(€)1.5 billion to LICs and LMICs in the form of loans and grants for PHC services, for

vulnerable populations and communities.
iii.WHO will act as the Health Impact Investment Platform’s policy coordinator, for financing decisions with
national health priorities and strategies. The Platform’s secretariat will support governments to develop
national health and prioritize primary healthcare investment plans in support of government health strategies.
NOTE: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is also considering joining this partnership to expand
this project to Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Director General – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia)
Headquartered – Geneva, Switzerland
PFC and RITES signs MoU for strategic partnership for financing infrastructure and logistics
sector
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and
engineering firm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Power Finance Corporation (PFC), a
Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking(CPSU), to establish a strategic partnership for financing
infrastructure and logistics sector projects in India and abroad.
• The partnership aims to support projects in various sectors such as water & sanitation, transport &
logistics, energy, communication, social and commercial infrastructure.
• Under the MoU, RITES will offer its knowledge in pre-feasibility reports, detailed project reports,
transaction advisory, project management services, audits, and inspections.
• The PFC and its companies will offer financial support for infrastructure projects (both domestic and
international).
This partnership will explore opportunities at various government/semi-government/autonomous
bodies or authorities/private entities and multilateral funding agencies such as World Bank(WB),
Asian Development Bank(ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
NGEL & UPRVUNL Signed MoU to Develop Renewable Energy Parks

On May 31, 2023, NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) in Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Objective: To develop Renewable Energy Parks and Projects in UP and to facilitate in
Government of India’s efforts towards energy transition.
• The MoU was signed by Mohit Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NGEL and Nidhi Kumar
Narang, Director (Finance), UPRVUNL, in the presence of P. Guruprasad, Managing Director
(MD), UPRVUNL, Praveen Saxena, Regional Executive Director of NTPC. V V Sivakumar, General
Manager, NGEL.
Key Points:
i.As part of the agreement, the NGEL and UPRVUNL would collaborate and set up floating and ground
mounted Solar Projects in the Rihand reservoir, other water bodies and any available vacant land.
ii.They would also develop solar PV (Photovoltaic) Projects dedicated to the solarization of Ayodhya City
(UP) and set up of Renewable energy Parks and Projects wherever land is made available.
iii.NGEL and UPRVUNL shall jointly work for the formation of a Joint Venture Company (JVC) to meet the
Renewable Generation Obligation, Flexibility in Generation and Scheduling of Thermal/Hydro Power
Stations through bundling with Renewable Energy and Energy Storage.
• The Rihand River is a tributary of the Son River and flows through the Indian states of
Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.

About UPRVUNL & NGEL:
i.At present UPRVUNL has four thermal power stations within UP with an installed capacity of 5,820 MW
and one thermal power station with an installed capacity of 1,320 MW under JV with NTPC.
• UPRVUNL is in the process of adding a further 3300 MW capacity with supercritical technology
on its own and another 1980 MW in JV with Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
ii.NTPC is India’s largest power utility with an installed capacity of 72 GW (including JVs) and plans to
become a 130 GW company by 2032.
iii.NTPC established NGEL as a fully owned subsidiary to focus on Renewable Energy Parks and Projects.
NGEL aims to drive the development of green hydrogen, energy storage technologies, and round-the-clock
renewable energy power.
Indian Navy & IMU signed MoU for Technical Collaboration

On 2nd June 2023, Indian Navy and the Indian Maritime University(IMU), headquartered at Chennai(Tamil
Nadu), signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for Technical Collaboration. The MoU enable
collaboration in areas of training, joint research and development, collaborative training, and field-level
problem solving by teams from the Centre of Excellence(CoE) (Marine Engineering), Indian Navy Ship(INS)
Shivaji, Lonavala(Maharashtra), and IMU.
• The MoU was signed by Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Equipment, and Dr. Malini V
Shankar, IAS (Retired), Vice Chancellor of IMU in New Delhi, Delhi.
TN govt signed 6 MoUs worth Rs 818.9 crores with Japanese Companies

On 29th May 2023, The Tamil Nadu (TN) government signed six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth
over Rs 818.9 crore with Japanese Companies during Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) M K Stalin’s nine-day
visit to Japan and Singapore.
• The MoUs were signed in the presence of CM of TN M K Stalin, at the end of an investors conclave,
organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Tokyo, Japan.
Details of the MOUs:
i.On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government, Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Corporation (TN’s nodal agency for
investment promotion and single window facilitation) signed an MOU with KyoKuto Satrac, with an investment
of Rs 113.90 crore, for the establishment of a 13-acre plant at Mambakkam in Kancheepuram district, TN to
manufacture trailers and trucks parts.
ii.Shimizu Corporation signed an MOU with Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Corporation to undertake
construction, engineering and related business in Tamil Nadu.
iii.Mitsuba India Pvt Ltd signed an MOU with Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Corporation to expand its plant
at SIPCOT Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district to manufacture spare parts for four and two vehicles at an
investment of Rs 155 crore.
iv.Sato-Shoji Metal Works signed an MOU for setting up a factory to manufacture high-quality steel
components used in the aerospace, defence and construction equipment sector with an investment of Rs 200
crore.
v.Kohyei signed an MOU with Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Corporation worth over Rs 200 crore to
manufacture polycarbonate sheets, roofing systems, and extrusion lines for electronic components for use in
the construction industry.
vi.Tofle signed an MOU with Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Corporation worth over Rs 150 crore to
manufacture stainless steel specialised flexible hoses.
Other Highlights of CM’s visit:
i. In addition to this, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with
Omron Healthcare, a Japan-based manufacturer and distributor of personal healthcare products will set up a
medical devices manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs128 crore.

ii.TN CM M K Stalin participated in a joint conference with JETRO to invite Japanese companies to invest in
Tamil Nadu and also invited major Japanese companies to participate in the global investors’ meet in Chennai
to be held in January 2024.
Note – M K Stalin has signed 13 MoUs that would totally attract investments worth more than Rs 1,130 crore in
Singapore and Japan.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister– M K Stalin
Governor– R N Ravi
Airport– Chennai International Airport, Coimbatore International Airport
MNIT & NDSA signed MoU to set up India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for Earthquake
Safety of Dams
The Malviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan and the National Dam Safety
Authority (NDSA), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
establish India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams which will focus on studying
seismic hazards, developing new dams, and enhancing the protection of existing ones.
• MoJS has recognised the National Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management
(NCDMM) of MNIT to be the National Center for Earthquake Safety of Dams and has approved a
Financial Grant of Rs 30 crore for establishing and running the centre for the next 5 years.
Key People:
The MoU in this regard was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MoJS; Central
Water Commission’s (CWC) Chairperson Kushvinder Vohra; NDSA Chairperson Sanjay Kumar Sibal; MNIT
Director Narayan Prasad Padhy, on 22nd May 2023 in MNIT, Jaipur.
Objective of National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams
To develop indigenous expertise in addressing technology challenges related to the structural and earthquake
safety of dams, thereby making India self-reliant in this field.
What will Centre do?
i.The Centre will work closely with dam engineers, regulators, and policy makers to mitigate the significant
threat of earthquake shaking to dam safety.
ii.It will pilot a study of select dams nationwide to develop and revise safety standards along with international
collaborations.
iii.It will play a key role in developing new norms for the protection of aging dams.
iv.It will also review the earthquake safety manuals of the Central Water Commission(CWC).
About Dam Safety Act 2021:
It should be noted that the Dam Safety Act of 2021 recognized the issue of safety of major dams (beyond State
boundaries) as a matter of national importance and priority. It oversees the maintenance and operation of
specified dams to prevent disasters.
• With over 5,500 dams in India, including 70 of national importance, the act addresses the risks they
pose.
• Notably, the failure of such dams can result in the uncontrolled release of impounded water, leading
to adverse consequences for life, property, and the environment.
Applicable for dams with:
• Height more than 15 metres
• Height between 10 metres to 15 metres and subject to certain additional design and structural
conditions.

Bajaj Finserv signed an MoU with Maharashtra Govt to invest Rs 5000 crore in Pune
On 3rd June 2023, Bajaj Finserv Limited, the non-banking financial company (NBFC), signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra, to invest Rs 5000 crore for development
projects in Pune (Maharashtra). This is the largest financial services investment in India.
The MoU was signed by Harshdeep Kamble, Industry Secretary, Government of Maharashtra and S Sreenivasan,
Chief Financial Officer(CFO), Bajaj Finserv, in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister (Dy
CM) of Maharashtra and Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD), Bajaj Finserv.
• This is expected to create 40,000 jobs in Pune and develop Pune as a financial centre.
• Work on the project will commence in 2023 and envisions state-of-the-art connectivity and facilities
for business.
• The project is planned as a sustainable development one that meets the highest global standards of
certifications with green solutions and a net-zero approach.
MoU signed between Microsoft and Indian Govt to train youth in digital and cybersecurity
skills
A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Microsoft and the Directorate General of
Training (DGT), Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), to train 6000 students and
200 educators at government-led Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skills Training Institutions
(NSTIs).
• Microsoft will offer a wide range of courses for the training including in Artificial Intelligence (AI),
cloud computing, web development and cybersecurity skills.
• This training is being conducted under the CyberShikshaa programme and will be expanded to
students and educators at 10 NSTIs for women.
What is CyberShikshaa programme?
It is launched by Microsoft in partnership with Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and in support with
Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) of Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) to train women
engineering graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds to build careers in cybersecurity.
Features:
i. The training will empower young students with industry-relevant skills, enhancing their employability, and
connecting them to relevant job opportunities.
ii. Students have the opportunity to learn from industry experts and engage in deep-dive sessions, multifaceted
capstone projects in addition to future skills training for AI fluency and fundamentals, cloud computing and
web development.
iii. Train-the-Trainer workshops will be conducted to empower faculty members on AI fluency and
fundamentals, cloud computing, web development, Power BI (Business Intelligence), and soft skills.
iv. The trained faculty members can then train ITI students attending Computer Operator and Programming
Assistant (COPA) training.
Benefits:
i. Microsoft will promote the placement of successful learners from this training project with support from
DGT.
ii. The successful learners will be facilitated with employment opportunities through collaborations with
recruitment and placement agencies and state-wide job fairs.
About Microsoft:
Established in– 4 April 1975
Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
CEO & Chairman– Satya Nadella
Headquarters– Washington, the United States of America (USA)

Microsoft India & AirJaldi signs MoU to offer internet access to underserved in 12 states
Microsoft India and AirJaldi Network signed a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide
internet access for underserved communities in 12 states.
Titled ‘Contentful Connectivity‘, the program aims to expand access to high-speed internet and meaningful
connectivity in rural regions of India by partnering with private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Note: AirJaldi is the brand name used by Rural Broadband Private Limited, a Class A Internet Service Provider
in India.
• Under this program, AirJaldi Networks will expand into 3 new states namely, Telangana,
Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
AirJaldi Networks will be strengthened in 9 states by extending the wireless and wired infrastructure
and supporting the extension of reach and connectivity provision for underserved users.
NHPC & Torrent Power signed MoU with Maharashtra for pumped hydro projects
NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) and Torrent Power Limited signed a
Memoranda of Understanding(MoUs) with the Government of Maharashtra for the development of pumped
hydro storage projects.
MoU between NHPC & Maharashtra:
NHPC Limited signed MoU with the Department of Energy, Govt of Maharashtra for the development of 4
pumped Storage Projects aggregating to 7350 MW(megawatt), namely Kalu – 1150 MW, Savitri – 2250 MW,
Jalond – 2400 MW and Kengadi -1550 MW and other Renewable Energy Source Projects in Maharashtra.
• These projects will attract an investment of about Rs 44,000 crore.
• These will generate indirect and direct employment for 7,000 people in Maharashtra.
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Biswajit Basu, Director(Projects) NHPC and Abha Shukla, Principal
Secretary (Energy), Department of Energy, Maharashtra in the Presence of Deputy Cheif Minister (Dy CM)
Devendra Fadnavis.
MoU between Torrent Power and Maharashtra:
Torrent Power signed an MoU with Maharashtra for 3 pumped storage hydro schemes of 5,700 MW capacity in
Maharashtra at an investment of Rs 27000 crore.
• The projects will be executed over a period of 5 years.
• These projects will be implemented in Karjat 3000 MW in Raigarh District, Maval – 1200 MW and
Junnar – 1500 MW in Pune District of Maharashtra.
Bihar & AAI signs MOUs to construct new Civil Enclaves at Darbhanga & Purnea Airport
On June 5 2023, The Government of Bihar signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the
Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the construction of Civil Enclaves at Darbhanga Airport and Purnea
Airport in Bihar.
• The MOUs were signed by Kundan Kumar, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Bihar and Charul Shukla,
Executive Director (Planning), AAI in the presence of other senior officers from AAI and GoB.
• Under this MoU, the Bihar government will provide undisputed land free of cost to AAI for both
airports.
• The construction will take place on 76.65 acres of land for the New Civil Enclave and the installation
of CAT-II approach lights in Darbhanga and 52.18 acres of land for the Civil Enclave in Purnea.
• The construction of the new Civil Enclaves will bolster the infrastructure and also pave the way for
the commencement of air services at Purnea Airport.

BCI Signs MoU With Bar Council Of England & Wales For Mutual Exchange Program Of Lawyers
& Law Students
On June 5, 2023, The Bar Council of India (BCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bar
Council of England and Wales and the Law Society of England and Wales for an exchange programme of
Lawyers and Law Students for mutual exchange of training & learning amongst each others jurisdiction.
• The MoU follows BCI’s commitment to implement the regulations to permit the practice of home
jurisdiction law by English and Welsh lawyers and law firms in India.
• The MoU was signed by Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of BCI, Lubna Shuja, President of Law
Society of England and Wales and Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales in the
Meeting Hall of the Law Society of England and Wales, in London, the United Kingdom(UK).
• The lawyers recommended by the Bar Council of India shall have no right to practise in the UK in
terms of the MOU.
Tata Elxsi partners with ISRO to build Crew Module Recovery Models for Gaganyaan Mission
Tata Elxsi, a leading global design and technology company has partnered with the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) to design and develop Crew Module Recovery Models (CMRM) for recovery team
training of the Gaganyaan Mission.
• The project marked Tata Elxsi’s entry into mechanical design for space.
• This is the first time ISRO has outsourced the mechanical design and development work to an
external partner for a critical system.
• Currently, two Recovery-Models CMRM and Ground Support Fixture (GSF) have been delivered to
Naval training teams at Kochi (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) to train the recovery
teams.
Objective:
ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission aims to demonstrate Human Spaceflight capability by launching a three-member
crew onto an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back to Earth safely by landing in
Indian sea waters.
Key Points:
i. Safe recovery of the crew is one of the key requirements of this project, which must be carried out with
minimum lapse time and hence CMRMs are designed and fabricated.
ii. The CMRMs for recovery team training, are mock-up models, which simulate details of mass, Centre of
gravity, outer dimensions, interfaces, and externals of the actual Crew Module.
iii. Tata Elxsi executed activities from developing the design configuration in accordance with ISRO
requirements, to carrying out structural analysis for various load cases, material procurement and testing,
fabrication, carrying out load tests, and transportation of the CMRM and the GSF.
iv. Tata Elxsi has also carried out the design and delivered hardware meeting a highly challenging delivery
schedule of 6 months, demonstrating excellent program management skills, which enabled timely
commissioning recovery training exercises to meet Gaganyaan mission requirements.
Additional info:
On February 7, 2023, ISRO, along with the Indian Navy carried out initial recovery trials of Crew Modules in the
Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) of the Indian Navy, at Kochi, Kerala.
ICAR signs an MoU with Amazon Kisan to Empower Farmers

On June 9, 2023, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Amazon Kisan, signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to combine strengths and create synergy between the two organisations to guide
farmers who are enrolled on Amazon’s ‘Kisan store’ on scientific cultivation of different crops and help them
achieve optimum yield and income.

• The MoU was signed by U S Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, and
Siddharth Tata, Product Leader, Amazon Fresh Supply Chain and Kisan.
Backdrop: In September 2021, Amazon India launched the Kisan (Farmer) Store on Amazon.in for farmers
which provides the availability of agriculture inputs like seeds, farm tools & accessories, plant protection,
nutrition and many other agricultural products at competitive prices, with the added convenience of delivery at
their doorstep.
Key Points:
i.Under the MoU, ICAR will collaborate with Amazon for technologies, capacity building and transfer of new
knowledge. It will provide technological backstopping to the farmers through Amazon’s network and improve
farmers’ livelihood and boost crop yield.
ii.The farmer’s partnership with Amazon Kisan program under the MoU is a Public-Private-Peasants-
Partnership (PPPP) and it will help ensure access to high-quality fresh produce for consumers across India,
including through Amazon Fresh.
iii.ICAR and Amazon will work together on farmer engagement programmes at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs),
conducting demonstrations, trials, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance farming practices and
profitability.
• Amazon will provide training support and assist farmers in marketing their produce through its
online platform, facilitating direct connections with consumers.
• KVK’s will strengthen a wider group of farmers by leveraging technological base through the
transfer of technology and capacity building programmes.
iv.The MoU was signed as an outcome from a pilot project at Pune (Maharashtra) between ICAR-KVK and
Amazon, to further expand the same collaboration to extend the precise agriculture practices developed
through extensive research.
Kotak Life & DGR signed MoU to Provide Employment Opportunities for Ex-Servicemen
On 12th June,2023, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited (Kotak Life) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), an Inter Service organization under
the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, to offer employment opportunities to Ex-
Servicemen of the Defence Services,
Under this MoU, Ex-Servicemen will be offered various roles in Kotak Life across multiple distribution
channels.
NSE, Maharashtra govt & Moneybee Institute sign MoU for investor-awareness programmes
On 13th June 2023, the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) signed a tri-partie Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra,
and Moneybee Institute Pvt. Ltd. to create awareness among the public about investing in the capital markets.
• Maharashtra became the first state to actively initiate the financial literacy campaign under this
MoU.
Note: Moneybee Institute has been engaged in training through online and offline sessions related to finance
and investments since 2007.
Objective:
The primary aim of this MoU is to create awareness amongst the public about the various aspects of investing
in the Capital Markets, provide relevant and practical knowledge to investors, enabling them with relevant
information to make better investment decisions.
Key Points:
i. The Maharashtra government being the first state through this initiative, will be guided to avoid cyber fraud,
create awareness about ponzi schemes and how and where to invest.
Note: Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent scheme that involves paying existing investors in a non-existent enterprise

with the funds collected from new investors.
ii. Capital Markets play a crucial role in driving economic growth, so it is important to promote education and
awareness for the new, potential, and existing investors in the securities market.
About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE)
Started operations– 1994
Chairman& Public Interest Director– Girish Chandra Chaturvedi
Managing Director& CEO– Ashishkumar Chauhan
Google, MeitY join hands to Enhance G20-Stay Safe Online Campaign

On June 15, 2023, Google announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) to enhance MeitY’s ‘G20-Stay Safe Online’: A Campaign for Cyber Safety’ to create
citizen awareness on online cyber safety in India.
Backdrop:
i.India has taken over the Presidency of the G20 for one year from 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
ii.During India’s presidency of G20, the MeitY is running a campaign titled ‘Stay Safe Online’ for creating
awareness among citizens including specially-abled persons to stay safe in an online world on the widespread
use of social media platforms and rapid adoption of digital payments.
Key Points:
i.Under the collaboration, Google will work with MeitY to amplify the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign through
literacy programmes around cyber safety, helping people identify common types of online scams through
multilingual digital content on online safety, and educational content on how to navigate information online.
ii.Google is working with MeitY to improve user awareness of cyber fraud and adopt best practices to safeguard
against it. Through the ‘Be Internet Awesome’ programme, Google will raise awareness of the fundamentals of
online safety.
Note – YouTube is also offering a digital literacy program called ‘Hit Pause’, to promote critical thinking about
online information and create awareness about online scams and avoid getting scammed.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha – Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) -Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Assam Govt inks MoU with NFR and NRL for Hassle-Free Rail & River Travel
On June 14, 2023, the State Government of Assam has signed Memorandums of understanding (MoUs)
with Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to ensure hassle-free rail
and river travel, and to expedite development in the state.
• Both the MoUs were signed at Janata Bhawan, Guwahati (Assam) in the presence of Assam Chief
Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma.
MoU with NFR:
It was signed between Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC)/Assam Government and NFR.
Signatories: It was signed by Managing Director (MD) Rahul Das, ASTC on behalf of ASTC; and Additional
Divisional Railway Manager Lumding Division Sai Singh Kongrymmai signed it on behalf of NFR.
About MoU:
i.It has been inked for the construction of the second entry to Guwahati railway station by transferring ASTC’s
land in Guwahati’s Paltanbazar to the railways.
• In this regard, ASTC handed over four bighas, four kathas and 19 lechas of its land to NFR. In
exchange, NFR has given Rs 5.93 crore, 20 bighas, two kathas and one lechas of land to ASTC at
Jalukbari along NH-31.

ii.This will facilitate building of a world-class next generation railway station here with all passenger amenities.
iii.The station will be developed with a green building concept with installation of solar panels, waste
management, water management etc.
MoU with NRL:
It was signed between Directorate of Inland Water Transport (IWT), Assam/Assam Government and NRL.
Signatories: It was signed by the Director Partha Pegu, IWT; and Chief General Manager (GM) Marketing
Subrata Das, NRL.
About MoU:
i.It has been inked for the supply of High Speed Diesel (HSD) for IWT’s fleet from the NRL for its vessels in
Assam i.e. it will provide seamless fuel to IWT ferries.
ii.This will ensure high quality bulk quantity of HSD to the IWT department to boost efficiency of vessel engines
and make them environment friendly
About Assam:
Governor– Gulab Chand Kataria
Airports– Lilabari Airport (Lakhimpur), Silchar Airport (Kumbhirgram)
Natural Heritage Sites– Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
TRSL-BHEL inks contract with Indian Railways to Manufacture 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
A consortium of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) and
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), formerly known as Titagarh Wagons Limited (TWL), bagged a contract
worth Rs 24,000 crore with the Indian Railways to manufacture 80 fully assembled Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
by 2029 and their maintenance for 35 years.
• The first prototype will be delivered within 2 years.
About the Contract:
i.BHEL will cover supply of propulsion systems such as Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)-based
traction converter-inverter, auxiliary converter, train control management system, motors, transformers, and
mechanical bogies. TRSL will be responsible for the mechanical coach building.
ii.The final integration, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the trains shall be jointly done by BHEL and
TRSL at their facilities and Indian Railways’s Integral Coach Factory at Chennai.
Features of the New Trains:
These trains will be designed at an operating semi-high speed of 176/160 kilometer per Hour. Each train will
accommodate 887 passengers in its 16 coaches.
Note:
It is part of the tender floated by the Ministry of Railways in February 2023, for 200 Vande Bharat Trains.
MSL signed Rs 100 Cr contract with Indian Railways to install essential components in Vande Bharat
Express
Mobility Solutions Ltd (MSL) bagged a contract worth Rs 100 crore from Indian Railways for delivering and
installing several essential components for India’s first indigenous semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express.
i.As part of the contract, MSL will supply
• Front mask or nose cone (eight pieces worth around Rs 2.4 crores)
• 16 rakes of interior panelling with toilets (worth around Rs 76.58 crores)
• 16 coaches per rake
ii.The scope of work includes the development, supply, and installation of FRP interior panels for the roof, side,
walls, and partitions, toilet with doors, accessories, roller blinds, and other critical equipment.
About Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL):
Chairman & Managing Director – Dr. Nalin Shinghal

NITI Aayog, UN sign the GoI-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027
On June 16, 2023, a ‘Government of India – United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation
Framework 2023-2027’ (GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027) was signed between the National Institution for
Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and United Nations (UN) office in India.
• Aligned with India’s national development vision, GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 is a collaborative effort of
the UN Development System (UNDS) for India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
while promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, and human rights.
Signatories:
GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B V R Subrahmanyam, NITI Aayog;
and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India.
Formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027:
i.The formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was led by NITI Aayog while the UN Resident Coordinator led
and coordinated inputs from the UNDS in India.
ii.Line Ministries, State Governments, Union Territories, the UN Resident Coordinator, civil society
organizations, think tanks, private sector entities, cooperatives, and labour unions actively contributed to its
development ensuring a whole of society, whole of government and whole of UN approach.
iii.The GoI-UNSDCF was informed by a third-party evaluation of the previous Cooperation Framework (2018-
2022) and a Common Country Analysis (CCA) conducted by the UN in India.
Note – As the previous Government of India – United Nations Sustainable Development Framework 2018-
2022(GoI–UNSDF 2018–22), an agenda of cooperation, results and strategies to achieve national development
priorities and the SDGs completed its 5 years of implementation, GoI and UN renewed it for another five years
via GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027.
Implementation:
The implementation, monitoring and reporting of GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 will be co-led by the Government of
India and the United Nations, India through a Joint Steering Committee.
Highlights of GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 Framework:
i.It is structured around four strategic pillars: People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
• These pillars are inspired by the 2030 Agenda.
ii.The framework focuses on six outcome areas derived from above mentioned four interlinked pillars.
• These outcome areas are Health and Well Being, Nutrition and Food Security, Quality Education,
Economic Growth and Decent Work, Environment, Climate, Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
and Resilience, and Empowering People, Communities, and Institutions.
iii.To deepen cooperation, the GoI-UNSDCF will emphasize SDG localisation and South-South cooperation for
the first time.
• This approach aligns with India’s commitment to accelerating the SDGs and its leadership in
promoting South-South cooperation and showcasing Indian development models on a global scale.
Notes:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/RES/72/279 designates UNSDCF as the principal
planning and implementation instrument for the UN Development System at the country level.
ii.The framework’s timing is crucial as it coincides with the halfway mark towards achieving the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. It also aligns with India’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) over the
next 25 years.
i.NITI Aayog released a report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India”
which presents a collection of good and innovative practices adopted by state governments and organisations
in various aspects of the millet value chain.
ii.On April 13, 2023 the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming
India), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs

(ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under
the initiative.
About NITI Aayog (National Institution For Transforming India):
Chairman– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
India, Australia includes 15 New Areas for talks on CECA

On June 16, 2023, India and Australia decided to expand the negotiations on Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement (CECA) by including 15 more areas which have never been part of any trade deal that
India has been part of.
• These areas include agri-tech, critical minerals, space, sports, MSMEs, gender innovation and
competition policy, mining, and defence collaboration among others.
• This decision has been made during the third round of negotiations on the comprehensive trade
agreement with Australia. As per the statement of Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary in the
Department of Commerce The next round of talks is scheduled for July 2023.
Note: India and Australia have already implemented an interim trade pact (Economic and Cooperation
Agreement) in December 2022.
Rajesh Agrawal, also mentioned about Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in which India
has an observer status on the trade pillar and it is observing the developments very closely.
About IPEF:
i.IPEF was launched jointly by the United States (US) and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on
May 23, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
ii.The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy and fair
economy (issues like tax and anti-corruption). India has joined all the pillars except the trade one.
iii.Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam are members of the 14-nation bloc IPEF.
About Australia:
Capital– Canberra
Currency– Australian Dollar
Prime Minister– Anthony Albanese
MoD & ICOMM Tele signed contract to procure Radio Relay Communication equipment
containers
On June 15 2023, the Ministry of Defence(MoD) signed a contract worth Rs 500 crore with
Hyderabad(Telangana) based ICOMM Tele Ltd to procure 1,035 numbers of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay
Communication equipment containers. The contract was signed under the ‘Buy {Indian–IDDM (Indigenously
Designed, Developed and Manufactured)} category.
• The Radio Relay Containers will address the requirement of mobile communication detachments of
the Indian Army and it will be utilized to provide a protected environment for communication
equipment to function in a failsafe and reliable manner.
• The delivery of the containers is scheduled to commence from the current Financial Year 2023-24.
• The containers with all equipment and sub-systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers will
boost the indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment in line with the vision of “Aatmnirbhar
Bharat”

NHPC & KSEB signed MoU to set up Design Clinic for Vetting of Design of KSEB Projects
On 16th June 2023, NHPC Limited(erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), to set up a “design
clinic” for vetting of design of KSEB projects by NHPC.
Note:
• NHPC Limtied is a Mini Ratna Category-I Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) under the Ministry of
Power.
• KSEB is a PSU under the Government of Kerala.
Signatories:
Rajat Gupta, Executive Director (Strategy Business Development and Consultancy) NHPC, and Radhakrishnan
G, Director (Generation – Civil), KSEB Ltd.
i.Under this MoU, NHPC will provide consultancy services to KSEB, as its Owner’s Engineer, to examine and
asses the design of the KSEB projects(including the ongoing projects and projects in pipelines).
ii.Both NHPC and KSEB will collaborate for the accelerate the hydroelectric potential to enable a clean energy
transition in Kerala, through a techno-commercially viable manner.
About NHPC Limited:
Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) – Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi
Headquarters – Faridabad, Haryana.
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh Finalised the draft of a Tripartite Power Trade Agreement
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have finalised the draft of a tripartite power trade agreement, the first of its
kind initiative for development to create greater energy connectivity across the neighbourhood.
• The agreement which was agreed by the three
countries is expected to be signed in the coming
months.
• The agreement would enable Nepal and Bangladesh to
send surplus power from one region to another via the
Indian grid (which was a long-standing demand from
Nepal and Bangladesh).
Key Points:
i.Earlier, the electricity trade with neighbouring countries was
done under bilateral agreements.
ii.The finalisation of new guidelines for Cross-Border Trade of Electricity (CBTE) in recent years served as
building blocks for the new arrangements.
iii.The guidelines of the agreement evolved after consultations with all stakeholders, allowing neighbouring
countries to purchase and sell power through the Indian grid and participate in Indian power exchanges.
India’s Energy Co-operation with Neighbouring Nations:
Energy cooperation forms a key element of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. India has constructed
electricity transmission infrastructure in Nepal and Bangladesh and helped both countries to build cross-
border pipelines.
Nepal:
i.The Prime Minister (PM) of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, was on a 4-day official visit to
India from May 31 – June 3, 2023.
• Phase II of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project was initiated to be built at a cost of
Rs 183 crore. Click here to know more

ii.Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi unveiled plans to facilitate the export of
hydropower from Nepal to Bangladesh. About 50 MW of hydropower would be exported at the beginning and it
might be increased after the agreement was signed.
iii.During his first foreign visit to Nepal in 2014, PM Narendra Modi unveiled the “HIT” formula for forging links
through highways, i-ways and trans-ways.
iv.India was already importing more than 450 MW of power from Nepal and the target is to take it to 10,000
MW. India also buys hydropower from Bhutan.
Bangladesh:
i.In March 2023, India and Bangladesh launched a Rs 377 crore cross-border pipeline which is expected to
supply one million metric tonnes of diesel annually from Assam’s Numaligarh refinery to northern parts of the
neighbouring country.
ii.The pipeline which is 132 km in length and a 127 km stretch within Bangladesh was built with an Indian
grant.
Srilanka:
i.During the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, part of India’s support worth USD 4 billion consisted of lines of credit
to help meet Colombo’s requirements for fuel and LPG.
• State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) supplied fuel through its subsidiary Lanka IOC in June 2022.
ii.India and Sri Lanka also have agreed to jointly develop the oil tank farms in Trincomalee (Sri Lanka).
On September 21, 2022, at the 25th Globoil Summit 2022, the apex edible oil industry associations from five
major palm oil importing countries from Asia viz. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have formed
an Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).
ITI Ltd signs MoU with TCIL and C-DOT to Develop Communication Products for Smart Cities
On June 19, 2023, ITI Ltd signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Centre for
Development of Telematics (C-DOT ) and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) to develop and
provide new communication products and services for smart cities.
• Each project will be administered under a separate project agreement, in which TCIL will be the lead
partner, C-DOT will be the technology partner and ITI will be the manufacturing partner.
Aim:
To establish a framework for cooperation between the TI, CDOT, and TCIL in creating and delivering of
innovative telecommunication products and related services for Smart Cities,
Signatories:
The MOU was exchanged between Rajesh Rai, Chairman and Managing Director of ITI Limited, Rajeev Kumar,
Registrar, C-DOT, and Alka Asthana, Executive Director, TCIL.
What is in the MoU?
i.Under the MoU, project agreements will specify the responsibilities of the parties involved, payment terms,
and mutual objectives of the parties.
ii.This collaboration will create an ecosystem capable of delivering end-to-end indigenous telecom
networks/solutions.
iii.The companies will ensure conceptualisation, installation, commissioning and maintenance of C-DOT and
third-party-designed products.
iv.The signatory companies will cooperate to each other in the areas of extending repair support, making and
delivering identified products and ensuring technical compliance of the products, among others.
v.This MoU is a part of efforts made by the Central Government to bring together research and development
(R&D) in telecommunications.
About ITI Limited:
Chairman and Managing Director– Rajesh Rai

IIM of Jammu signs MoU with SIDBI to Strengthen Entrepreneurial ecosystem
On 16th June 2023, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) and the Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
the 6th annual convocation of IIM at Jammu.
• The 6th Convocation Ceremony of the IIM was addressed by Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union
Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor
(LG) of Jammu and Kashmir, and Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in Jammu.
• As part of the IIM Jammu and SIDBI partnership, projects would be launched to strengthen the
entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
• The MoU was signed between Prof B.S Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Sudatta Mandal, Deputy
Managing Director, SIDBI in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan.About Jammu & Kashmir:
Lieutenant Governor- Manoj Sinha
Dance forms- Dumhal Dance, Rouf Dance, Hafiza Dance, Bacha Nagma, Surma dance, Dandaras.
Wildlife Sanctuary– Thajwas – Baltal Wildlife Sanctuary, Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Overa Aru
Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary
India, Philippines Sign MoU on FinTech Cooperation

On June 19, 2023, the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India and the
Department of Finance (DOF), Government of Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on
Financial Technology (fintech) cooperation. The MoU also aims to promote financial inclusion to address the
digital divide.
Signatories: The MOU was signed by Shambhu S. Kumaran,
Ambassador of India to the Philippines and Benjamin E Diokno,
Secretary, DOF, Government of Philippines in Manila, Philippines.
Key Points:
i.Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) would be
constituted comprising senior representatives from Foreign and
IT Ministries, Central Banks, financial sector regulatory
institutions and other related agencies as members.
• The JWG would be co-chaired at the undersecretary
level from the Ministries of Finance.
ii.The JWG would promote cooperation between fintech industry in India and the Philippines, including the
development of innovative technologies, digital governance, payment linkages, creation of interoperable APIs
(Application Programme Interface), financial inclusion, promoting use of digital signatures across borders and
mainstreaming digital fund transfer platforms among others.
iii.The MoU was expected to provide an institutional framework for cooperation on three key areas of
digitalization of payments, direct benefit transfer using national ID, and financial inclusion.
About Philippines:
President – Bongbong Marcos
Capital – Manila
Currency – Philippine peso (PHP)
India, UNWTO ink pact to Enhance Cooperation in Tourism

On 20th June 2023, The Ministry of Tourism, the Government of India and the United Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and identify
areas of mutual interest.
• It was signed during the 4th and final G20 (Group of Twenty) Tourism Working
Group Meeting and G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting being held from June 19-22, 2023 in Goa.

Signatories:
The MoU was signed by V Vidyavathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, India; and Zurab Pololikashvili,
Secretary General, UNWTO.
What is in the MoU?
This MoU envisages the collaboration of both parties on key programmatic areas related to tourism market
intelligence, tourism, and rural development, tourism investment, education, and innovation.
Highlights:
i.The 4th Tourism Working Group of G20 has two side events viz. ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for
Sustainable and Responsible Travel’ and the 2nd was ‘Towards a circular economy of Plastics in Tourism -The
global Tourism Plastic initiative’.
ii.During the second side event an MoU was also signed between the Central Nodal Agency, Sustainable
Tourism, Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) and Punjab Tourism Board to collectively unite
and address plastic pollution in the tourism sector.
iii.The two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group were Goa Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for
achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration.
Key Points:
i.Side events on crucial initiatives of Cruise Tourism, Global Tourism Plastic Initiative and Public Private Sector
are also being organized by Ministry of Tourism, India on the side lines of the main Tourism Working Group
meeting.
ii.During these events, 15 bilateral meetings are being held between India and various G20 member countries
and international organisations.
iii.Under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority
areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises), and Destination Management for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving
the targets for 2030 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
Participants:
Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Tourism; Minister of State (MoS) Shripad Yesso Naik,
Ministry of Tourism; G20 member countries, central government Ministries, various State Governments and
International Organizations.
About United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO):
Secretary-General– Zurab Pololikashvili
Headquarters– Madrid, Spain
Airbnb & Ministry of Tourism signed MoU to promote cultural tourism & heritage stays
Ministry of Tourism(MOT), Government of India, signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU)
with Airbnb, Inc., an online marketplace for Homestays (based in the United States of America-USA), to
promote cultural tourism and heritage homestays to showcase Indian heritage to foreign visitors.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister, Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Tourism, on the
onset of the 4th G20(Group of 20) Tourism Working Group(TWG) Meeting held in Goa.
• Under this MoU, Airbnb will partner with MOT to promote inbound tourism as a part of its ‘Visit
India 2023’ initiative. Airbnb will launch a dedicated ‘Soul of India’ microsite for the global audience
showcasing India’s rich culture and built heritage.
• Airbnb will also support to hosts in untapped tourist areas, assist them in promoting their
homestays, build host capacity, and foster a culture of responsible hosting.
• Note: In December 2022, Airbnb signed an MoU with the Goa tourism department to promote
inclusive tourism.

UNDP partnered with DAY-NULM to empower women entrepreneurs
On 20th June, 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnered with the
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to empower women to make
well-informed career choices in the field of entrepreneurship.
• The partnership will provide support for women looking to start and expand their own enterprises
in sectors such as care economy, digital economy, electric mobility, waste management, food
packaging and more.
• Under the partnership, the 3-year project which is extendable beyond 2025 will cover 8 cities in the
initial phase focused on promoting entrepreneurship development and accelerating enterprise
growth.
Key People:
Rahul Kapoor, Joint Secretary and Mission Director, DAY-NULM & PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor’s
AtmaNirbhar Nidhi), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Shoko Noda,
Resident Representative, UNDP India took part in signing the partnership.
Key Points:
i. UNDP and DAY-NULM will collaborate on piloting innovative solutions, particularly in the care economy
domain by drawing on their extensive sectoral expertise.
ii. UNDP and DAY-NULM will jointly engage in on-ground mobilisation activities that involve identifying
pockets of urban poverty and potential entrepreneurs, as well as facilitating access to Business Development
Services.
• Handholding support will be provided to the unit to formalise their businesses, establish bank
linkages, secure access to finance and markets.
iii. As currently women account for only 15% of the total entrepreneurs in India, UNDP will offer national-level
capacity building support to DAY-NULM by leveraging its experience in linking over 2,00,000 women to better
employment opportunities.
• This support will focus on knowledge generation and management, such as compiling collections of
best practices related to urban poverty, to enhance the implementation of national-level schemes.
iv. UNDP will also contribute to the initiative by developing community business mentors called Biz-Sakhis in
selected project locations.
• These mentors, who possess valuable business knowledge, can support new and existing
enterprises, and serve as a resource for DAY-NULM at a later stage.
v. The DAY-NULM has an aim to uplift the urban poor by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities
through skill development. The scheme extends its coverage to all the 4,041 statutory cities and towns, thereby
covering most of India’s urban population.
vi. DAY-NULM has mobilised more than 8.4 million urban poor women across India through its outreach
efforts, forming over 8,31,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in over 4,000 towns.
vii. Their impressive grassroots initiatives facilitate economic empowerment and amplifies the voices of
marginalised sections of the urban population, including Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs),
minorities, female-headed households, street vendors, and rag pickers.
Administrator- Achim Steiner
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America
Department of Justice partnered with NALSA, CSC for mainstreaming legal aid via Tele–Law
The Department of Justice (DoJ) under the Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India (GoI) has partnered
with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Common Services Centres (CSC) electronic governance (e-
Governance) Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalised communities through the
system of Tele–Law.

About Tele–Law:
i. Tele-Law was launched in 2017 as a pilot programme with 1800 CSCs in 11 States.
ii.Tele-Law means the use of communications and information technology for the delivery of legal information
and advice.
iii. The concept of Tele-Law is to facilitate delivery of legal advice through a panel of lawyers stationed at the
front office of Legal Services Authorities and CSC, mostly at the level of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
iv. The project initiates to connect citizens with panel lawyers through video conferencing, internet and
telephone facilities by the VLEs identified in 1,00,000 gram panchayats.
v. DoJ’s Tele-Law aimed at improving the lives of citizens through free pre-litigation advice & making justice
delivery accessible, affordable and efficient for all.
JustIS App– It is the Mobile Court management App of DoJ, for the Judges of District & Subordinate Courts in
India.
About Ministry of Law and Justice:
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) – Arjun Ram Meghwal (Constituency – Bikaner, Rajasthan)
DGR Signs MoU with Adecco Ltd. to Generate Employment for Ex-servicemen
On 21st June 2023, The Directorate-General for Resettlement (DGR) under the Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Department, Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Adecco
India Private Ltd in New Delhi, Delhi to generate employment for ex-servicemen.
• The goal is to bring corporate companies and ex-military on a common platform to generate job
opportunities for ex-military personnel in various sectors such as IT, E-Commerce, Logistics,
Telecom, Aerospace and Defense, Facility Management, Security, Assessment Services Digital,
Energy and Energy, Manufacturing, Chemistry and Agri-Food Etc.
• To provide job for its ex-personnel in future due to contractual employment of constabulory under
the Agnipath scheme.
• From April 2022 to March 2023, 24,234 ex-servicemen received employment in various sectors.
Note: On 12th June 2023, the DGR had signed with an MoU with Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd to
create jobs for ex-servicemen.
BEL & HFCL signed MoU to leverage business opportunities across multiple sectors
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Unit (PSU) and HFCL Limited (formerly
known as Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd), a leading technology enterprise signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to indigenously develop and deploy emerging technologies and technical solutions to
address the requirements of Defence, Telecom and Railway sectors.
• The non-exclusive MoU, signed for 2 years, aims to promote ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India)
initiative and Make in India initiative.
• Under this MoU, BEL’s expertise in defence and HFCL’s expertise in cutting edge solution will
contribute in achieving India’s vision of digital India and support to establish India as an important
global manufacturing hub.
Highlights:
i. Under this MoU, BEL and HFCL will seek business opportunities, capitalising on their domain expertise,
technological strengths, and market presence to enhance the nation’s capabilities in defence.
ii. It will also contribute to the growth of telecommunications infrastructure and other critical, developing
sectors.
iii. BEL and HFCL in this process shall explore options such as Transfer of Technology and joint production of
mutually identified products and solutions.
iv. This partnership will play a pivotal role in meeting GOI’s target of building state-of-the-art technology
architecture.

Note: The GOI has prioritised its focus on initiatives like acceleration of the implementation of 5G network,
nationwide fiberisation and promoting participation in the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
i. The combined leadership of BEL and HFCL will facilitate in developing and manufacturing innovative
products, solutions and technological capabilities to address the opportunities across sectors including
Defence, Telecom, communications, Railways.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):
BEL was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), GoI
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Bhanu Prakash Srivastava (additional charge)
HAL signs MoU with Argentina firm for exploration in aircraft

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), headquartered in Bengaluru from Karnataka and Argentina’s Fabrica
Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) have signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration in
the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft components, systems, and structures during the
ongoing Paris Air Show 2023 at Paris, France.
• The partnership aims to strengthen ties between HAL and Argentina’s aviation industry and it
contributes to the growth and development of the aerospace sector in the Latin American (LATAM)
region.
• Note- FAdeA is an Argentinian state-owned aircraft manufacturer, administered under the South
American Country’s Ministry of Defence.
IOB inks MoU with TNSRLM to provide financial support to SHGs

On 20th June 2023, the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a leading Public Sector bank, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission (TNSRLM), to promote the growth
of self-help groups (SHGs) in Tamil Nadu and provide financial support to them.
Under the terms of the MoU, TNSRLM will facilitate eligible SHGs for credit linkage with IOB.
Objective:
The strategic collaboration aims to integrate access to financial resources for SHGs, enabling them to undertake
entrepreneurial activities, expand their ventures and contribute to the economic development of Tamil Nadu.
Key People:
i. Divyadharshini, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu Corporation for
Development of Women (TNCDW) and Sanjay VinayakMudaliar, Executive Director, IOB.
Key Points:
The target for IOB under SHG National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for the current fiscal (FY 2023-24) is
Rs.1875 crore set by TNCDW to increase disbursal under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National
Rural Livelihoods Mission), thus effectively doubling the impact of financial assistance.
GeM signed MoU with TANSTIA to increase GeM Seller Base in Tamil Nadu
On 21st June 2023, GeM (Government e-Marketplace), India’s leading online public procurement platform,
signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TANSTIA (Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries
Association) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to enhance the GeM seller base in Tamil Nadu.
The MoU outlines the commitments and collaborative efforts of both parties to promote transparency,
efficiency, and inclusivity in public procurement processes.
The partnership holds huge potential for growth and development in the small and tiny industries sector of
Tamil Nadu.
Key People:
MoU was signed by Er. K. Marlappan, President- TANSTIA in the presence of A.V. Muralidharan, Deputy
Director General and Deputy Chief Executive Officer,GeM; G. Kathiresan, Joint Secretary (Headquarters)
TANSTIA; Ramesh Mahadevan, Business Facilitator, GeM; K.S. Prasanna, Consultant, GeM and N. Sabareesh,

Consultant, GeM.
Key Points:
i. During the last fiscal year, Tamil Nadu recorded the second-highest growth in GeM procurement amongst 36
States and Union Territories (UTs).
ii. Tamil Nadu observed an increase in order value by 302.5% (nearly three times) from Rs.220.89 Crore in
FY22 to Rs.889.19 Crore in FY23.
iii. Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) received orders worth Rs.3,808.50 crore from the Central and State
government.
iv. Buyers in FY23, an increase of 122% from FY22. With access to the national market, 92% of orders (in terms
of value) were from buyers outside Tamil Nadu.
About Indian Overseas Bank:
Founded on- 10th February 1937
MD and CEO- Ajay Kumar Srivastava
Headquarters- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Indian Railways signed MoU with USAID to Combat Climate Change

On 14th June 2023, The Indian Railways (IR) and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), an independent agency of the United States (US) federal government, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to combat climate change and achieve Indian Railways’ target of net-zero carbon
emissions by 2030.
• According to the projected estimates, in order to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission, Indian Railways
would need an expected renewable capacity of around 30,000 MW (megawatts) by the fiscal year
2029-30.
Note -The projected energy demand of Indian Railways for the fiscal year 2029-30 is estimated to be
approximately 8200 MW (megawatts).
Signatories:-
The MoU was signed by Naveen Gulati, Member (Traction and Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Indian Railways,
and Isabel Coleman, Deputy Administrator, USAID in the presence of Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board.
Scope of MoU:
i.The MOU states that, the collective expertise, resources, and innovation of the two partners will be accelerated
for the deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage technologies, aligning with
the net-zero goal, promotion of e-mobility.
ii.USAID and IR aims to develop sustainable solutions that enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon footprints,
and ensure a greener future for railway operations.
iii.IR will be provided technical support for addressing regulatory and implementation barriers.The IR and
the USAID/India will co-host events, conferences and capacity-building programs, arrange field visits and study
tours of domestic and international.
India and Belgium Sign Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty for Investigations
India and Government of Kingdom of Belgium have signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which
allows Belgian authorities to carry search warrant issued by Indian courts and summon a person under
investigation by an Indian agency.
• It will help investigators in getting evidence from fugitives like Neeshal Modi, brother of Punjab
National Bank (PNB) scam mastermind Nirav Modi.
i.In Belgium, The Federal Public Service Justice will serve such summons or execute warrant on the person.
ii.In India, summons or warrant shall be sent to the Internal Security (IS)-II division of the Ministry of Home
Affairs(MHA)

NOTE:The MLAT states that between India and Germany, any suspect’s documents that are uncovered during
searches in Belgium will be sent to India.
India and UAE signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators
On 23rd June 2023, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for
authorised economic operators (AEOs) of both countries on sidelines of the 141st/142nd sessions of World
Customs Organization(WCO) Customs Co-operation Council meeting, in Brussels, Belgium.
• The agreement is signed to promote greater trade facilitation and ease of doing business between
the 2 countries.
By recognizing the AEO status India and the UAE seek to streamline and quicken customs procedures, reducing
administrative burden and costs for authorised businesses.
Background:
i.The MRA comes as the continuation of historic India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA), which was signed between the two nations on 18 February 2022, officially came into force on 1 May
2022.
ii.CEPA is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over USD 100 billion and trade in
services to over USD 15 billion within five years.
Note: In September 2021, India and the US had signed a MRA AEO.
ONDC & Kerala Govt signed MoU for better market access to PSU products
On 23rd June 2023, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Kerala,
to increase access and business opportunities in various sectors in Kerala by facilitating digital transformation.
• This collaboration holds huge potential for improving the growth and visibility of public sector units
(PSUs) offerings and facilitating increased accessibility for consumers across Kerala.
• Nine PSUs have already signed an agreement with ONDC and currently around 200 products of
PSU’s are available on ONDC platform.
Key People:
Suman Billa, Principal Secretary, (Industries & Norka), Government of Kerala and Thampy Koshy, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of ONDC exchanged the MoU.
Antony Raju, Minister of Transport, Kerala; P. Rajeeve, Minister of Law, Industries & Coir, Kerala; Dr. VP Joy,
Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala were some of the key people involved.
Highlights:
i. In the next phase of the collaboration, the products of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MEMEs) will be
made available on ONDC platform.
ii. Workshops will be conducted in all taluks to create awareness onthe possibilities offered by ONDC.
iii. The agreement with ONDC will bring momentum for PSUs MSMEs and the industries to market their
products widely and assist Kerala industries go globally under the tag of ‘Kerala Brand’.
Note: The transport department will also be engaged in a pact with the ONDC.
Shiprocket seller app integrates with ONDC onboarding
Shiprocket, India’s 106th unicorn and an e-commerce enablement platform has announced the integration of
the “Shiprocket seller” app with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to facilitate the onboarding of
sellers on the ONDC network.
• With the help of Shiprocket’s seller app, the Shopify-powered stores of merchants will be
discoverable on the network.
• This integration aligns with Shiprocket’s mission to standardise e-commerce for merchants in
BHARAT (India).

Note: Shiprocket plans to enable five categories on ONDC including beauty and personal care, fashion,
electronics and appliances, health and wellness and home and kitchen.
Paytm Signs MoU With Arunachal Pradesh to Develop Startup Environment

On 22nd June 2023, Paytm Payment Services Limited (PPSL) signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park (APIIP) to develop a startup environment for the
youth in Arunachal Pradesh.
• To support the business of young people, Paytm Incubation Centre will offer free credits through
the Paytm Startup toolkit and its product at a subsidised rate to early-stage firms.
The MoU was signed in the presence of its CEO Tabe Haidar, at the APIIP, the first state-owned marquee
incubator.
NOTE: On 18th May 2023, Paytm partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) Card to launch Paytm SBI Card
on the RuPay network.
Infosys signs USD 454 million deal with Danske Bank to accelerate its digital transformation
On 26th June 2023, Infosys (Information Systems), India’s No.2 Information Technology (IT) service provider
has collaborated with Denmark’s Danske Bank, by signing a deal valued at USD 454 million for 5 year period
to accelerate its digital transformation.
• Infosys will help in digitalizing Danske Bank’s business by adding cloud, data facilities and it will
also acquire Danske Bank’s IT centre in India in the financial year (FY) 2023-24.
The collaboration will help to achieve Danske Bank’s with better customer experiences, operational excellence,
and a modernised technology landscape, powered by next-gen solutions.
Note: Infosys uses Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions and platforms, to accelerate the bank’s
digital agenda.
NHPC and GRIDCO signed a MoU for developing Solar Energy Projects in Odisha
On 23rd June 2023, NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation), India’s largest
hydropower development company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with GRIDCO Limited (Grid Corporation of Odisha), a Government of Odisha undertaking for the development
of pumped storage projects (PSPs) and renewable energy in Odisha.
• The MoU envisions setting up Self-identified PSPs of at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) and renewable
energy projects (on-ground and floating solar projects) of at least 1,000 MW in Odisha.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Rajat Gupta, Executive Director (Strategy Business Development and Consultancy),
NHPC and Trilochan Panda, Managing Director (MD), GRIDCO Limited.
MoA & FW Signed an MoU with Pixxel Space India Pvt. Ltd. to Develop Geospatial Solutions
On 26th June 2023, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW) in New Delhi, Delhi has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pixxel Space India Pvt. Ltd. based in Bengaluru,
Karnataka to develop geospatial solutions for the Indian agriculture ecosystem on a free of cost basis using
Pixxel’s hyperspectral dataset.
• The project will focus on crop mapping, crop stage discrimination, crop health monitoring, and soil
organic carbon assessments.
The MoU was signed by C. S. Murthy, Director, Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) on behalf
of Government of India (GoI), and Abhishek Krishnan, Chief of Staff represented M/s Pixxel Space India Pvt. Ltd
in the presence of the Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW),
Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary, DA&FW.

Hyperspectral remote sensing technology:
i.It measures spectral data in narrow wavelength bands, can detect changes in chlorophyll content, canopy
moisture status, and soil reflectance to assess crop health and soil nutrient mapping.
ii.This technology will also contribute to crop risk management, early detection of crop stress, and accurate
diagnostics of pest, disease or water-related issues.
iii.It also reduces dependence on time-consuming and error-prone manual surveys and measurements.
About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW):
Union minister – Narendra Singh Tomar (Constituency – Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of state – Kailash Choudhary (Constituency – Barmer, Rajasthan)
West Bengal govt ties up with Dun&Bradstreet for MSMEs

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) India has partnered with the West Bengal (WB)government to issue Data Universal
Numbering System (D-U-N-S) Numbers to exporters and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the
state.
Key points:
i.D&B assigns a unique 9-digit (D-U-N-S) number to a specific MSME firm or an exporter which comprises
various financial health indicators and also captures firmographic data, corporate relationships and credit
scores of a specific business entity.
ii.It helps identify, validate, and link businesses worldwide and lenders can seek a credit report about a
business by using the number assigned to it.
NOTE: West Bengal is among the top 10 states in terms of coverage of business in the D&B database, with the
majority being MSMEs.
WHO & ICH collaborate to enhance sharing of Regulatory Information globally on medical
products
On 27th June 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council for Harmonisation of
Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) announced a collaboration to increase the
registry and sharing of regulatory information on medical products across the world.
Objective:
To establish a unified language that streamlines global regulatory decision-making concerning the safety and
effectiveness of medical products, while offering vital insights into the scope, causes and consequences of
diseases and mortality, worldwide.
i. The common language will increase the analysis of adverse events and outcomes, such as insurance claims’
databases, mortality and morbidity statistics, , by connecting the WHO International Classification of Diseases
11th Revision (ICD-11) with the ICH Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA).
Note:
MedDRA is a highly specific standardised medical terminology developed by ICH.
ICD–11 is the international standard for systematic recording, reporting, analysis, interpretation and
comparison of mortality and morbidity data.
ii. It paves the way for enhancing medical treatment and patient safety, and also helps in the overall
improvement of health policies.
iii. The collaboration of WHO with ICH’s MedDRA facilitates the sharing of regulatory information
internationally for medical products used by humans.
iv. It is used for registration, documentation and safety monitoring of medical products before and after a
product has been authorised.
v. The collaboration will also enhance the pharmacovigilance signal detection across even larger volumes of
data and the identification of important public health issues.

Note: Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and
prevention of adverse effects or any other medicine/vaccine related problem.
WHO, Global Citizen signed MoU to promote Health for All
On 22nd June 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Citizen, the international advocacy
organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on joint global advocacy initiatives
over the next three years to promote and protect health for all people.
• Under the MoU, both organisations agreed to advance the priorities and objectives of WHO’s 13th
General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the health-related aims of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
• The MoU was signed at the event named ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris event’, held during the
Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France.
About the MoU:
i. The partnership aims to engage more citizens, especially young people, to advance the cause of health for all.
ii. The two organisations will raise awareness about the significance ofEvidence-based health advice.
iii. It also signifies to identify areas and drive action to improve the health of people around the world, which
includes advancing health equity, mitigating the health impacts of climate change, scaling up immunisation, and
promoting women’s and girl’s health.
iv. It also emphasises the need for adequate support for local health providers to deliver essential care and
services at country level.
FaMe TN & SIDBI signed MoU to attract investment worth Rs 1510 Cr

On the occasion of United Nations (UN)’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day 2023 (27th June
2023), FaMe TN (Facilitating MSMEs of Tamil Nadu Government), erstwhile MSME Trade and Investment
Promotion Bureau, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SIDBI (Small Industries
Development Bank of India) to attract investments worth Rs. 1,510 Crore to provide jobs for 7,400 people.
• This was a part of the investments worth Rs 1,723.05 crore which were confirmed at the MSME Day
function held under the chairmanship of Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) M K Stalin in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.
New initiatives in TN:
i.TN Chief Minister (CM) M K Stalin launched the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme (AABSC) to
empower Scheduled Caste(SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs.
• Under this scheme, a subsidy of Rs 18.94 Crore will be given to 100 beneficiaries to mark the birth
centenary of former TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
ii.TN CM M K Stalin inaugurated three new industrial estates at Kodur in Chengalpattu district, Manapparai in
Tiruchirappalli and Sakkimangalam in Madurai district at an estimated cost of Rs 153.22 crore providing
employment to 21,500 people.
iii.CM also inaugurated the new cashew processing cluster at Kadampuliyur, Cuddalore district. It was
developed under the MSME cluster development scheme for Rs 2.16 crore, including a Rs 1.81 crore
government subsidy.
iv.A virtual business-to-business (B2B) pavilion was launched to create a market opportunity for the
betterment of MSMEs.
v.The first Common Facility Centre under the Micro Cluster Development programme and sectoral trade
exhibition was also inaugurated at the event.
Additional info:
Around 6,257 startups have registered in Tamil Nadu on the Startup India platform from 2021 to 2023. It was
double the number of startups registered from TN, compared to the period from 2016 to 2021.
About FaMe TN:
The FaMe TN (formerly known as MSME Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau) was established in
September 2019, to promote trade, investments and exports in the MSME (Micro Small and Medium

Enterprise) sector in Tamil Nadu.
About Tamil Nadu (TN):
Chief Minister – M K Stalin
Governor – R N Ravi
Tiger Reserves – Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve
Assam signs MoU with Caspian Equity to foster Agricultural Productivity

Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, an autonomous body under the Assam
government, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Caspian Impact Investment Adviser
(Caspian Equity) as an effort to strengthen rural infrastructure, employment opportunities and foster
agricultural productivity in the State.
• This partnership implements Assam Agribusiness Investment Fund (AAIF), a contributory and
determinate investment trust, having a corpus of Rs 250 crores.
• ARIAS will act as the nodal agency for the fund, while Caspian Equity will serve as the fund manager,
investing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
AAIF will operate as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund(AIF) registered with the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with anchor funding from the World Bank through Assam Agribusiness and
Rural Transformation Project (APART).
MoU signed between Ministry of Culture and Canara Bank to Enhance Financial Support for
Veteran Artists
On 28th June 2023, the Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Canara Bank to
streamline the process and disbursal of financial assistance to veteran artists on monthly basis under
the “Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists”.
Background:
i.Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme namely “Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists” and provides
financial assistance of Rs. 6000 per month under the scheme to artists and scholars above the age of 60 years
who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of performing arts and culture in their active age
or are still contributing, but due to old age they are facing difficulty and are in penury condition.
ii. The pension is designed to alleviate financial difficulties experienced by these artists in their later years.
iii.Currently, under the scheme, disbursal of financial assistance in respect of artists selected before 2017 is
made through LIC while for the artists approved post 2017, it is made directly by the Ministry of Culture.
iv.Unfortunately, delays in receiving necessary documents from beneficiaries often resulted in the disbursal of
a lump sum amount rather than regular monthly payments.
Purpose of MoU:
In an effort to streamline the process and ensure timely support to veteran artists, the Culture Ministry has
now partnered with Canara Bank.
Expected Outcomes:
• This transformative change in the disbursal method is expected to bring much-needed stability and
financial security to veteran artists who have dedicated their lives to enriching the cultural
landscape of the nation.
About Canara Bank:
MD & CEO – K Satyanarayana Raju
Headquarters – Bengaluru
Tagline – Together we Can

EPFO formed 3 committees to frame Draft Schemes for PF, Pension and Insurance
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has formed 3 committees to frame draft schemes for
pension, provident fund and insurance under EPFO, in line with the provisions of the Code on Social Security
2020.
The three schemes are:
• Employee’s Provident Fund Scheme (EPFS) for provident fund
• Employee’s Pension Scheme (EPS) for pension
• Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLIS) for insurance
Note:
• The government of India (GoI) has to frame these 3 schemes, in terms of the Section 15 of the Code
on Social Security 2020.
• The draft of these 3 schemes will be prepared and placed before the Ministry of Labour &
Employment (MOL&E), GoI for consideration.
Details of the Committees:
Chanramauli Chakraborty, Additional Central provident fund Commissioner (ACC) (Headquarters-
HQ) Legal, will be the overall co-ordinator for all three committees.
i.The committee for framing EPFS 2023 consists of 11 members which will be co-chaired by Sanjay Kumar, ACC
(Patna, Bihar) and Pankaj Raman of ACC (HQ).
ii. The committee for framing EPS 2023 consists of 8 members which will be chaired by Rajiv Bhist, ACC (HQ).
iii. The committee for framing EDLIS 2023 consists of 5 members which will be chaired by Vaishali Dayal, ACC
(Zonal Office, Hyderabad, Telangana).
Click here for the complete list of committee members
Key Points:
i. The draft schemes should conform to the mandate and the contours of the Code.
ii. The committee may engage in deliberation with the officers/experts within or outside EPFO in this process if
required.
iii. The first draft on the 3 Schemes are expected to be submitted by the respective Committees to the Central
Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC), EPFO by June 23, 2023
What is Code on Social Security 2020?
i. Social Security Code, 2020 aims to amend and consolidate the existing labour laws relating to social security
with the wider goal of extending social security benefits to all employees and workers irrespective of belonging
to the organised as well as unorganised sector.
Note: This includes self-employed workers, home workers, wage workers, migrant workers, and gig (a job that
lasts a specified period of time) and so on, who shall be eligible for social security schemes, including life
insurance and disability insurance, health and maternity benefits, provident fund, among others.
ii. The Code on Social Security, 2020 provides measures to ensure access to health care and provision of income
security to workers.
iii. It replaces nine laws related to social security, including:
• The Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923;
• The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948;
• The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952;
• The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959;
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961;
• The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972;
• The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981;
• The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996;

• The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
About Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):
The Employees’ Provident Fund Bill was introduced in the Parliament as Bill Number 15.
Organisation Executive– Neelam S Rao (CPFC in EPFO)
Government of India constitutes Peace Committee in Manipur under the Chairpersonship of

Governor, Manipur
The Central government has constituted a peace committee in Manipur under the chairmanship of Governor
Anusuiya Uikey.
• The members of the committee include the Chief Minister, a few ministers in the state government,
MP, MLAs and leaders from political parties, former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists,
social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups.
Aim: To facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups of the State, between conflicting
groups and strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication.
Background: On May 3, 2023, Violence broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in
the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.
Highlights of 76th annual World Health Assembly held in Geneva from May 21 to 30 2023
The 76th annual World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 21 to 30 May 2023.
• The theme of this 2023’s Health Assembly is: WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all.
• Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, represented India in the
76th World Health Assembly.
Highlights of the World Health Assembly Meetings & Decisions
-Taiwan Excluded from World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly not extended Taiwan an invitation to the event and it was excluded due to the
Chinese opposition.
• China and Pakistan urged members to reject Taiwan’s inclusion while Eswatini and the Marshall
Islands supported Taiwan’s inclusion.
• China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and says the island is not a separate country but part of “one
China” governed by Beijing.
-Union Health Minister Address Event at World Health Assembly
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya delivered the keynote address at a side event session on ‘Heal in India &
Heal by India’ and ‘Together we fight against TB’ at the 76th World Health Assembly, reiterating India’s
contribution in the field of Medical Value Travel and India’s resolve to eliminate Tuberculosis from India by
2025.
• Mansukh Mandaviya was joined by S Gopalakrishnan, Special Secretary, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
Keynote at Heal in India & Heal by India Session:
i.The ‘Heal by India’ initiative is designed to increase health workforce mobility from India to different parts of
the world to serve the world as per the Indian Philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One
Family).
ii.Mansukh Mandaviya stated that India is home to the world’s oldest medical system of Ayurveda and India has
promoted the AYUSH treatment due to the increase in demand across the world for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga,
Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy) treatments.

iii.He highlighted India’s G20 Presidency philosophy of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, and reiterated
that under the G20 Health Track, India has prioritized Health Emergencies, Prevention, Preparedness and
Response with a focus on One Health and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).
iv.COVID vaccination: More than 2.20 billion doses have already been administered in India so far under
COVID vaccination and millions of vaccines were shared with the world through the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.
v.He also mentioned that India has launched the World’s largest Government funded health insurance scheme –
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM- JAY) in 2018 to cover all aspects of healthcare in
the nation.
• Around 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are transforming the
delivery of comprehensive primary health care services in India.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) bridge the gap among different stakeholders of the
healthcare ecosystem through the usage of technology.
• The disease surveillance system, laboratory networks, and infectious disease blocks are built under
PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission across the country to augment research
capacity.
vi.He reiterated that ‘Healthcare for All’ is aligned with “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas & Sabka Prayas”, meaning
”striving together, through collective efforts towards an inclusive growth”.
-PM Modi’s Video Message at World Health Assembly:
In his video message at the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi
stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, India has shipped almost 300 million vaccine doses to more than
100 countries with most of them from the Global South.
• He highlighted the need to improve global health equity and equal access to resources.
• PM Modi mentioned that WHO’s first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established
in India.
• He affirmed India’s support to WHO in creating availability, accessibility and affordability of
healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.
-Existence of Threat of an even deadlier pathogen
i.While addressing the 76th World Health Assembly, WHO Director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
stated that the threat of another variant emerging that causes new surges of disease and death remains with
even deadlier potential.
ii.He stated that the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency is not the end of COVID-19 as a global health
threat.
iii.He reported that countries have made progress on universal health coverage, with some 477 million people
now benefitting.
iv.He highlighted several achievements that have been made over 2022 in what he called the “five Ps”:
promoting, providing, protecting, powering, and performing for health.
v.Action on Health Care: Between 2017 and 2022, 133 governments increased or introduced a new tax on
products that harm health, such as tobacco and sugary drinks.
vi.On protection, Tedros noted that following an all-time low of five wild poliovirus cases in 2021, numbers
increased in 2022, with 20 cases in Pakistan, two in Afghanistan, and eight in Mozambique.
-Progress of Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent Health
i.The World Health Assembly delegates discussed progress against the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s
and Adolescent Health (2016-2030).
ii.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s report on the Strategy presented to the World Health
Assembly expressed that maternal mortality rates have stagnated since 2016.
• As per the report, if the current trends continue, 54 countries will fall short of meeting the
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for under-five mortality and 63 countries will not
achieve the SDG target for neonatal mortality.

About the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030):
i.It is a bold roadmap for ending all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by
2030, and improving their overall health and well-being.
ii.This Global Strategy includes a monitoring framework with 60 indicators, (of which 16 are key) to help
countries and their partners promote accountability in ending preventable deaths (“Survive”), ensuring health
and well-being (“Thrive”), and expanding enabling environments so that all women, children, and adolescents
can reach their potential (“Transform”) and no one is “Left Behind”.
-WHO’s Programme Budget for 2024-2025
i.Member States of WHO agreed to the WHO’s Programme Budget of USD 6.83-billion for the next two
years 2024-2025, which shows a historical 20% increase in assessed contributions (membership fees).
• Investing in WHO returns USD 35 for every USD 1 invested.
ii.With the increased assessed contributions, Member States would contribute US$ 1148.3 million towards the
budget with their membership fees. The rest, USD 5685.8 million will be covered by voluntary contributions
made by Member States and other contributors.
Other Highlights:
• At the Strategic Roundtable discussion was held on Protecting and investing in the health and care
workforce
• The global health workforce shortage has been declining significantly from 18 million in 2013 to 15
million in 2020 and is projected to be around 10 million by 2030.
-Sustainable financing: feasibility of a replenishment mechanism
Backdrop: The 75th World Health Assembly adopted the recommendations of the Working Group on
Sustainable Financing, requesting WHO to explore the feasibility of a replenishment mechanism to broaden
further the financing base.
i.In response, WHO submitted the report, an assessment of the feasibility of such replenishment mechanism in
the 76th World Health Assembly.
ii.The report summarizes the analysis of the six principles that are to serve as the basis for considering a WHO
replenishment mechanism and proposes the major elements of a first “WHO investment round” to implement
such a mechanism in 2024.
iii.Member States adopted a decision welcoming the continued effort to sustainably finance WHO and
requested a plan for the First Investment Round in 2024.
iv.As of 31 March 2023, the base programmes of WHO has a funding gap of USD 443.8 million, including
projections of voluntary contributions.
v.The current gap is compounded by the challenge of persisting “pockets of poverty”, underscoring the urgent
need for more sustainable financing.
On March 3, 2023, the Government of India (GoI) and the World Bank (WB) signed 2 complementary loans
of $500 million Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness Program (PHSPP) and $500 million
Enhanced Health Service Delivery Program (EHSDP) to support and improve India’s healthcare infrastructure.
• The loan agreements were signed by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs and Auguste Tano Kouamé, World Bank India country director.
About The World Health Assembly:
i.It is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and it is attended by delegations from
all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.
ii.The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint
the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
iii.The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

G20 3rd Employment Working Group Meeting held in Geneva
The 3rd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the G20 (Group of Twenty) Indian Presidency
was successfully held from May 31st to June 2nd, 2023, at the International Labour Organization (ILO)
headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It was chaired by Ms. Arti Ahuja, G20 EWG Chair, and Secretary, Labour and Employment.
Participation:
i.Delegates representing 78 G20 Members countries, 09 guest
countries, and 04 International Organizations attended the
meeting.
ii.The Ministry of Labour & Employment’s international
knowledge partners i.e. International Labour Organisation ILO),
Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD),
International Social Security Association (ISSA), World Bank
(WB) and a domestic knowledge partner i.e. Ministry of Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, attended the meeting to provide their technical
expertise to the group.
Key Points:
i.The members reached a broad agreement on the draft Ministerial Communique and Outcome documents
related to the three G20 EWG’s priority areas.
ii.The discussions included progress updates on Antalya and Brisbane Targets by the ILO and Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), highlighting the need for accelerated efforts to meet the
goals.
iii.Key outcomes under the Indian Presidency include the development of an international reference
classification of occupations and the extension of ILO and OECD’s Skills for Jobs Database to G20 countries to
address global skill gaps.
iv.Commitments were also made to provide social protection for gig and platform workers and ensure
sustainable financing.
v.3 key priority areas for EWG 2023 selected by the Indian Presidency include – Addressing global skill gaps,
Gig and platform economy and social protection, and Sustainable financing of social protection.
Note:The fourth and final meeting of the EWG and the Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting is scheduled
for 19th -21st July, 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The 2nd EWG meeting was held at Guwahati, Assam.
1st Meeting of the Joint Committee of the India-UAE CEPA, concluded successfully
On 12th June 2023, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully held the 1st Meeting of the Joint
Committee (JC) of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister
Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
(MoCI)and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s
Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
Outcome of the meeting:
i.India-UAE have agreed to set a target of USD 100 billion for
trade in non-petroleum products by 2030. Presently, the trade
of non-petroleum products stands at USD 48 billion.
ii. They have also agreed to exchange services trade data, forboth preferential and on most favoured
nation(MFN), on a quarterly basis.

iii. India and UAE have also agreed to set up an UAE-India CEPA Council(UICC), which will act as a vehicle for
both the governments and the export-related private sectors to facilitate the implementation of CEPA by
creating awareness and building partnerships, and organising business events in both India and UAE.
• As a Business to Business (B2B) collaboration mechanism, the UICC will focus on sectors like Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME), startups, women entrepreneurs, service sector participants to
build economic linkages and optimize CEPA benefits.
iv. They have also agreed to set up various committees and sub-committees and technical councils with regard
to the implementation of various provisions of the trade agreement such as trade in goods; customs facilitation;
rules of origin; sanitary and phyto-sanitary and technical barriers to trade issues; trade remedies; investment
facilitation; and economic cooperation.
• The trade agreement helps Indian exports from sectors like textiles, footwear, automobiles, gems,
and jewellery, while UAE exporters are increasing shipments from iron and steel, aluminium and
polymers.
Key highlights:
i.India and UAE reviewed the bilateral trade under the CEPA, and agreed to operationalize the established
committees/sub-committees/technical council under the CEPA.
ii.The Ministers also exchanged their views on matters related to World Trade Organization (WTO).
• The 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) is set to be held in
February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
B2B Event:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal and UAE’s Foreign trade Minister Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi pariticpated in
the B2B event organized by the Department of Commerce(MoCI) in partnership with Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII).
Representatives from the business communities of India and the UAE, and senior officials participated in the
event.
India-UAE Trade:
• During the Financial Year(FY) 2022-23, the bilateral trade between India and the UAE was growing
at around 16.5% of USD 84.84 billion.
• India’s exports to the UAE saw a growth of 12% and reached USD 31.6 billion.
About Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement(CEPA):
• It is a kind of free trade pact which covers negotiation on the trade in services and investment, and
other areas of economic partnership.
• India has signed CEPAs with South Korea and Japan.

Global DPI Summit 2023 held in Pune; MoU signed between India & 4 Nations on sharing INDIA
STACK
On June 12-13, 2023, the Global DPI Summit 2023 was held as the part of the side event of third meeting of G20
(Group of Twenty) Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) in Pune, Maharashtra.
• It was inaugurated by Union Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY) in the presence of Ministers from 9 countries namely
Suriname, Armenia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Malawi and
Trinidad and Tobago.
Key Theme:
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Governance
Aim:
i.To bring together brilliant minds, creative thinkers, and passionate advocates of DPI from around the globe

ii.To embrace DPI as a catalyst for growth, inclusivity, and citizen’s welfare
Objective:
i.Build a pragmatic understanding of DPI
ii.Showcase the remarkable DPIs of G20 members and invited
countries and their impact on the national and global digital
economy
iii.Deliberate on critical success factors with key stakeholders
iv.Share the know-how and best practices of DPI
Participants:
The summit was attended by 150 foreign delegates from around
50 countries and over 250 delegates in-person and more than 2000 persons attended the summit live.
Signing of MoU between India and 4 Nations:
The event saw the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the four countries
of Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua and Barbuda on sharing INDIA STACK i.e. successful
digital solutions implemented at population scale.
• India Stack is a set of digital infrastructure components that enable the delivery of various digital
services to Indian citizens by utilizing Aadhaar, eSign, Digilocker, and Unified Payments Interface
(UPI).
Highlights:
i.The summit had a Global DPI Exhibition which showcased and demonstrate India Stack initiatives such as UPI,
Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance), and many more.
• Overall, Twelve initiatives from under the Digital India Flagship Programme showcased the best
practices in implementing DPIs.
ii.A total of 10 Panel Discussions on sector agnostic and sectoral DPIs were held which are as follows:
Day 1
i.Overview of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
Chaired by: Melford Walter Fitzgerald Nicholas, Minister of Information Communication Technologies, Utilities
and Energy, Government of Antigua and Barbuda
ii.Digital Identities for empowering people
Chaired by: Eliud Okech Owalo, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT and The Digital Economy, Kenya
iii.Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion
Chaired by: Mohammed Khamis Abdulla, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Communication and
Information Technology, Tanzania
iv.DPI for Judicial Systems and Regulations
Chaired by: Mark Ramkerrysingh, Chairman (Vice President Rank), Trinidad and Tobago
Day 2
i.Digital Document Exchange for efficient service delivery
Chaired by: Gevorg Mantashyan, First Deputy Minister of High Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia
ii.Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for DPI
Chaired by: Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, Minister, Ministry of Information, Malawi
iii.Digital Education and Skilling
Chaired by: Parvashi D Maharahaje, Assistant Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology and
Communication, Mauritius
iv.Parvashi D Maharahaje, Assistant Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology and
Communication, Mauritius
Co-Chaired by: Rahaingonjatovo Nirina, Chief Digital Officer, Ministry of Digital Development, Digital
Transformation, Posts and Telecommunications of Madagascar, and Kanaka Dasaratha Herath, State Minister Of
Technology, Ministry Of Technology, Sri Lanka
v.Digital Agriculture Ecosystem

Chaired by: Damchen Zangmo, Dy.Chief ICT Officer, GovTech Agency, Bhutan
vi.Building the Global DPI Ecosystem
Chaired by: Walter Eduardo Morales Vega, Board Advisor, Central Bank of Uruguay
Key Notes:
i.It should be noted that the Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma of MeitY is a Chair of G20 DEWG
ii.This Summit is in alignment with the core theme of India’s G20 presidency viz. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-
‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’
i.India’s and Asia’s first mobile biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory named ‘Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3
Advanced Augmented Network (RAMBAAN)’, designed to investigate emerging viral infections was showcased
at the second G-20(Group of 20) Health Working Group meeting held in Panaji , Goa.
ii.During the European Union(EU)-India Aviation Summit 2023 held from 20th to 21st April 2023 in New Delhi,
Delhi, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA India) signs
a deal with European agencies to deepen the ties between India and European Union(EU) in the aviation sector.
About Armenia:
Capital– Yerevan
Currency– Armenian Dram
Prime Minister– Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan
India, US launched INDUS-X for Technology and Defence Industry Cooperation

On June 21, 2023, The Ministry of Defense (MoD), Governmnet of India(GoI) and the Department of Defense
(DoD), government of the United States of America(USA) officially launched the India-U.S. Defense
Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) at an event held in Washington DC, USA to expand the strategic
technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between governments, businesses, and academic
institutions.
• Objective: To strengthen ties between the defence industrial ecosystems of both nations to make
them more innovative, accessible, and resilient.
Backdrop:
i.The INDUS-X was formed based on the commitment made between the U.S. and Indian National Security
Advisors in January 2023 to launch an ‘Innovation Bridge’ to connect U.S. and Indian defence start-ups as part
of the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• iCET was announced by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in 2022 for
cooperation on critical and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors
and quantum computing.
ii.India’s Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) are leading
INDUS-X activities for MoD and DoD, respectively.
Two-day INDUS X event:
i.The two-day INDUS X event was held on June 20 and 21, 2023 and it was hosted by the US-India Business
Council.
ii.It was Co-organized by iDEX under the MoD and the US DoD, bringing together government representatives,
defence industry leaders, think tanks, investors, and start-ups from both countries.
iii.Anurag Bajpai, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion-DIP) of the MoD, led the Indian delegation and
emphasized the significance of the launch of INDUS X in strengthening bilateral defence relations.
iv.A joint showcasing of innovative technologies held at the event by 15 Indian start-ups and 10 US start-ups, in
multiple domains such as maritime, Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, and space.
v.INDUS X also hosted panel discussions and round tables focused on deepening collaborations across various
domains, including government, academia, and industry, especially startups.
vi.A factsheet was released at the event for operationalising the “Defence Innovation Bridge” under iDEX.

Bilateral Cooperation:
i.A Senior Advisor Group (SAG) will assess the progress on the collaboration agenda and make
recommendations to the defence establishments and other INDUS-X stakeholders for future work.
ii.The collaboration agenda will be implemented by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Carnegie India,
USIBC, the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), and the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers
(SIDM) will drive the implementation of the collaboration agenda.
INDEX
RANKING
THE Impact Ranking 2023: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham tops Indian Universities
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has emerged as the top Indian
university on the Times Higher Education(THE) Impact Rankings 2023. 2023 Impact Rankings is the 5th
edition of THE Impact ranking.
• Globally, Amrita University is ranked 52 among the 1,591 universities from 112 countries.
• Western Sydney University in Australia has topped the overall ranking for the second year in a row
followed by the University of Manchester, in the United Kingdom(UK) and Queen’s University in
Canada.
Note:
• Amrita University, founded in 2003, is the youngest university to become credited “A” by the
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
• The university is a multi-disciplinary institution located across 5 campuses: TN(Coimbatore),
Karnataka (Bengaluru, & Mysuru), and Kerala (Amritapuri, & Kochi)
About Impact Ranking:
i.THE Impact Rankings is a global performance table that assesses universities against the United Nations
(UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The universities are ranked individually over the 17 SDGs.
ii.The Impact ranking was first launched in 2019 with 450 universities. participating
Methodology:
i.The methodology was developed in conjunction with Vertigo Ventures and Elsevier.
ii.To feature on the overall ranking table, universities had to submit SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and a
minimum of 3 other SDGs.
Top 5 on the overall ranking:
Rank Name of the University Country
1 Western Sydney University Australia
2 University of Manchester United Kingdom
3 Queen’s University Canada
4 Universiti Sains Malaysia Malaysia
5 University of Tasmania Australia
Top 3 Indian Universities on the overall ranking:
Rank Name of the University State
52 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
101-200 Lovely Professional University(LPU) Phagwara, Punjab
101-200 Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences Bajhol, Himachal Pradesh

201-300 Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Indian University among top 100 under Each SDG:
• For SDG 1: No Poverty: JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (Mysuru, Karnataka) is
ranked 65th.
• For SDG 2: Zero Hunger: LPU is ranked 41st.
• For SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being: JSS Academy is ranked 16th and Amrita university is
ranked 23rd and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, TN) is
ranked 83rd.
• For SDG 4: Quality Education: Amrita university is ranked 9th, Manipal Academy of Higher
Education (Manipal, Karnataka) is ranked 25th and B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science
and Technology (Vandalur, TN) is ranked 75th.
• For SDG 5: Gender Equality: Manipal Academy of Higher Education is ranked 4th and Amrita
university is ranked 46th.
• For SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Amrita University is ranked 24th and Shoolini University
of Biotechnology and Management Sciences is ranked 41st and B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent
Institute of Science and Technology and SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Chennai, TN) at
77th.
• For SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Guwahati(Assam) is
ranked 6th and Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences(TN) is ranked 18th, Chitkara
University(Chandigarh) ranked 40th and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management
Sciences at 43 and LPU at 77th
• For SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: University of Calcutta (Kolkata, West Bengal) is
ranked 52nd and LPU at 97th rank.
• For SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: KIIT University is ranked 17th.
• For SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Saveetha Institute of Medical and
Technical Sciences ranked 44th and IIT Gandhinagar (Gujarat) is ranked 54th.
About Times Higher Education(THE):
Mission: To be the definitive source of data, insight, and expertise on higher education around the world.
First issue– October 1971
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
NIRF: IIT Madras tops India Ranking 2023: Overall for the 5th time
According to the 8th edition of India Rankings (India Ranking 2023), prepared by Ministry of Education (MoE)
based on parameters defined by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Madras (IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), has topped the list for the 5th consecutive time.
• IITM is followed by the Indian Institute of Science
(IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka ranked 2nd and IIT
Delhi at 3rd.
• IIT Madras has also topped among the Engineering
institutes for the 8th consecutive year.
• IIT Madras is also ranked 2nd among research
institutions and ranked 2nd best for Innovation.
Note: featuring 13 categories, India Ranking 2023 of NIRF is
the largest in its scope to date.
About NIRF:
i.NIRF was approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) (now MoE) and launched on
29th September 2015.

ii.NIRF outlines a methodology to rank institutions across India. The parameters cover Teaching, Learning and
Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and
Perception.
• First edition of India Rankings was released in 2016.
Key Points:
i.Under the best university category, IISc Bangalore has topped the list followed by Jawaharlal Nehru
University(JNU) (New Delhi, Delhi) and Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) in 2nd and 3rd rank
respectively.
ii.All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Delhi has topped among the medical colleges in India followed
by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) and Christian Medical College
(Vellore, TN)
iii.Top 100 in the Overall category consists of 44 Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI), 24 state
universities, 13 deemed universities, 18 private universities, 4 agriculture and allied sector institutions, and 3
management institutions.
iv.The total number of institutions ranked in Management and Pharmacy has been increased from 75 to 100
each from 2022 onwards.
New Additions in Indian Ranking 2023 :
• Introduction of a new subject namely Agriculture & Allied Sectors
• “Innovation” ranking which was previously executed by the Atal Ranking of Institutions on
Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) has been integrated into the India Rankings to reduce the burden
on institutions of providing similar data to two different agencies.
• The scope of “Architecture” has been expanded to “Architecture and Planning” to include
institutions imparting courses in Urban and Town Planning.
Top 5 in Indian Ranking 2023: Overall:
Rank Institute Score
1 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) 86.69
2 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 83.09
3 IIT Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 82.16
4 IIT Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 81.28
5 IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP)) 77.23
Click here for India Ranking 2023-overall
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: University
1 IISc (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 83.16
2 Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) (New Delhi, Delhi) 68.92
3 Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) 67.73
4 Jadavpur University(Kolkata, West Bengal(WB)) 66.07
5 Banaras Hindu University(BHU) (Varanasi, UP) 65.85
Click here for India Ranking 2023-University
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: College
1 Miranda House (Delhi) 74.81
2 Hindu College (Delhi) 72.39
3 Presidency College(Chennai, TN) 71.18

4 PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (Coimbatore, TN) 71.05
5 St. Xavier`s College (Kolkata, WB) 70.8
Click here for India Ranking 2023-College
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Research
1 IISc (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 86.22
2 IIT Madras (Chennai, TN) 84.01
5 IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpu, WB) 71.63
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Research
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Engineering
1 IIT Madras (Chennai, TN) 89.79
4 IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, UP) 80.65
5 IIT Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand) 75.64
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Engineering
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Management
1 Indian Institute of Management(IIM) Ahmedabad (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) 83.2
2 IIM Banglore (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 80.89
3 IIM Kozhikode (Kozhikode, Kerala) 76.48
4 IIM Calcutta (Kolkata, WB) 75.53
Click here for India Ranking 2023- Management
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Pharmacy
1 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Hyderabad. Telangana) 78.86
2 Jamia Hamdard (New Delhi, Delhi) 78.74
3 Birla Institute of Technology & Science(BITS) -Pilani (Pilani, Rajasthan) 76.67
4 JSS College of Pharmacy (Ooty, TN) 76.55
5 Institute of Chemical Technology (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 75.42
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Pharmacy
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Medical
1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 94.32
2 Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) 81.1
3 Christian Medical College (Vellore, TN) 75.29

4 National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 72.46
5 Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (Puducherry, Pondicherry) 72.1
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Medical
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Dental
1 Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, TN) 84.08
2 Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Manipal, Karnataka) 77.51
3 Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra) 73.08
4 Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi) 70.96
5 A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (Mangaluru, Karnataka) 69.21
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Dental
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Law
1 National Law School of India University (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 80.52
2 National Law University (New Delhi, Delhi) 73.91
3 Nalsar University of Law (Hyderabad, Telangana) 73.76
4 The West Bengal National University of Juridicial Sciences (Kolkata, WB) 69.34
5 Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) 68.3
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Law
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Architecture
1 IIT Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand) 83.21
2 National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut (Kozhikode, Kerala) 78.18
3 IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpur, WB) 76.82
4 NIT Tiruchirappalli (Tiruchirappalli, TN) 65.42
5 School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi, Delhi) 65.14
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Architecture
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Agriculture and Allied Sectors
1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (New Delhi, Delhi) 83.16
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI)
2 (Karnal, Haryana) 70.45
3 Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana, Punjab) 65.98
4 BHU (Varanasi, UP) 63.68
5 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Coimbatore, TN) 61.71
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Innovation
Rank Institute
1 IIT Kanpur(UP)
2 IIT Madras (TN)

3 IIT Hyderabad (Telangana)
4 IIT Delhi
5 IIT Roorkee(Uttarakhand)
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Innovation
About Ministry of Education(MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State(MoS)– Annpurna Devi; Dr. Subhas Sarkar; Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
Tata Group retains 1st Position as India’s Most Valuable Brand: INDIA 100 2023 Brand Finance
Report
The brand valuation firm Brand Finance released its INDIA 100 2023: The annual report on the most valuable
and strongest Indian brands- June 2023 report in which the Tata Group has retained its 1st position as India’s
most valuable brand at USD (United States Dollar) 26,381 Million in 2023.
• It has shown a growth at 10.3% as compared to
2022.
• This is the first time that an Indian brand has
breached the brand value mark of USD 25 billion.
Note: Tata Group is the only Indian brand to feature in the top
100 of the Brand Finance Global 500 2023 (gaining 7 ranks in
2023), the annual ranking of the world’s top 500 most valuable
brands released in January 2023.
Table showing Top 5 India’s Most Valuable Brands:
Rank Brand Valuation (in USD Million)
1 Tata Group 26,381
2 Infosys 13,010
3 LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) 9,756
4 Airtel 7,527
5 Reliance Group 7,357
Click Here for Full List
Table Showing Top 5 India’s Strongest Brands:
Rank Brand Overall Rank
1 Taj 78
2 AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited) 16
3 Britannia 29
4 Jio Group 11
5 Royal Enfield 46
Highlights:
i.Tata is followed by the Infosys at USD13 billion and LIC at USD 9.8 billion at 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
Both also retained their position as 2022.
• Infosys’ brand value grew 2% versus 2022, while LIC’s brand value declined 12% in comparison to
last year.
ii.The State Bank of India (SBI) retained its 6th position on the list in 2023 at USD 7.3 billion, while Mahindra
Group stood at 7th rank, up 15% over 2022 at a brand value USD 7.1 billion.

• It should be noted that the Mahindra Group is fastest growing brand amongst the top ten as it
performed exceptionally well in FY23 with record profits crossing Rs 10,000 crore for the first
time on revenues of Rs 1,21,269 crore.
iii.Wipro, HDFC Bank and HCL Tech completed the top 10 list at USD 6.9 billion, USD 6.8 billion and USD 6.5
billion in brand value for 2023.
iv.Luxury hotels giant Taj is India’s strongest brand for the second consecutive year with Brand Strength
Index (BSI) score of 89.4 out of 100 and a corresponding elite AAA brand strength rating.
• The Group is a top performer across several global industry rankings and assessments in
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
• Taj is followed by AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited) at 2nd place with BSI score of 89 (AAA),
and Britannia at 3rd with BSI score of 87.6.
v.Raymond is the fastest growing brand, up 83.4%.
vi.Persistent Systems jumps 25 places, the most by any Indian brand.
vii.Brands from Auto, Metals, Building Materials and Hospital sectors have shown a surge.
viii.India’s top 100 most valuable brands collectively exhibited growth, with their total value approaching USD
2 trillion since the last valuation on January 1, 2022.
Table Showing Most Valuable Indian Brands in 2023 in Different Categories:
Category Brand
Most Valuable Banking Brand SBI (State Bank of India)
Most Valuable IT Services Brand TCS (Tata Consultancy Services)
Most Valuable Food & Drink Brand AMUL
Most Valuable Automobile Brand Mahindra
Most Valuable Telecoms Brand Airtel
Most Valuable Oil & Gas Brand Reliance
Most Valuable Insurance Brand LIC
Most Valuable Mining & Metals Brand Tata Steel
Most Valuable Building Materials Brands Ultratech Cement
Most Valuable Hotel Brand Taj
Most Valuable Tyre Brand MRF
Most Valuable Clothing Brand Raymond
SBI is the number one banking brand as per Brand Value in South Asia and it is valued at USD 7.3 billion
Some standout performances from Indian brands:
i.Raymond, at 90th position, as the most valuable clothing brand has posted an incredible 83.2% rise in
brand value to USD 273 million.
ii.Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (automobiles) has seen a brand value increase of 59.3% to USD 3.6 billion,
making it the fastest-growing automobile brand in India and among the top 10 fastest growing auto brands
globally for 2023.
iii.Indigo emerges as the most valuable airline brand with a brand value of USD 832 million, ranked 45th in
the India 100.
About Brand Finance India 100 2023 report:
This report ranks India’s top 100 most valuable and strongest Indian brands and also features sectoral
analytics and top sectoral brands. In addition to measuring overall brand value, it also evaluates the relative
strength of brands, based on factors such as marketing investment, familiarity, loyalty, staff satisfaction, and
corporate reputation.

Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach, a brand
valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668.
i.According to the report launched by National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) in
collaboration with ProHance, ‘India’s Tech SMEs: Rising in the Global Digital Arena’, the Digital technology
SME’s (small and medium-sized enterprises) revenue share in FY30 (financial Year 2029-2030) was expected
to reach $30-$40 billion.
ii.According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, ‘Infertility prevalence estimates 1990-2021’
released on April 03, 2023, Around 17.5% of the adult population (roughly 1 in 6 ) worldwide experience
infertility in their lifetime.
About Brand Finance:
Chairman– David Haigh
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
THE Asia University Rankings 2023: IISc tops Indian Institutes; China’s Tsinghua University
tops the overall list
According to Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2023, released on 22nd June 2023, the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru (Karnataka) has emerged as the highest ranked Indian Institute.
IISc is ranked 48th on the overall list.
• The list is topped by China’s Tsinghua University, followed by the Peking University of China in
the 2nd position and Singapore’s National University of Singapore(NUS) in the 3rd position for the
4th year in a row.
• The 2023 ranking, the 11th edition of THE Asia University Rankings, ranks 669 Universities (up
from 616 in 2022) from 31 countries or regions.
Note: Notably, IISc 2023 position at 48th is the lowest rank since
2015, when it first entered the ranking at the 34th spot. It was
ranked 42nd in 2022.
Assessment:
The ranking is premised upon the 13 performance indicators to
reflect the attributes of Asia’s institutions. These performance
indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching (the learning
environment); Research (volume, income and
reputation); Citations (research influence); International
Outlook (staff, students and research);
and Industry Income (knowledge transfer).
Indian Scenario:
i.Among the 75 Indian Institutes featured on the list, only 18 are featured in the top 200, while 4 are in the top
100 and only 1 in the top 50.
• Apart from IISc, the other instituted featured among the top 100 are, JSS Academy of Higher
Education and Research in Mysuru (Karnataka) (68th); Shoolini University of Biotechnology and
Management Sciences in Bajhol, Himachal Pradesh (HP) (77th) and Mahatma Gandhi University in
Kerala (95th).
ii.India is showing a year-on-year increase in participation with 71 universities in the rankings in 2022 and 63
in 2021.
Note: With 41.4 million students, 1.5 million teachers, 1,113 universities, 11,296 stand-alone institutions and
43,796 colleges, the Indian Higher Education System is considered to be the 3rd largest in the world.

• India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to increase the gross enrolment rate from about
27% to 50% by 2035. It also aims that 50% of learners from schools to higher education to be
exposed to vocational education by 2025.
Representations:
i.Most universities in the overall rankings are from Japan (117), followed by China (95), India (75), Iran (65)
and Turkey (61) at 2nd, 3rd , 4th and 5th respectively.
ii.In case of Top 200 rankings, India has traditionally been a larger contributor to the top than its neighbours,
however, it had only a slight boost in representation with 18 universities in 2023 as compared to 17
Universities in 2022.
• The top 200 list also includes two institutions from Bangladesh for the first time: the University of
Dhaka at 186th place; and North South University at 192nd.
iii.A total of four mainland Chinese universities feature in the top 10. It is followed by Hong Kong with 3
Universities in the top 10.
iv.A total of 79 universities have joined the ranking since 2022.
• This increase is led by eight universities in Pakistan, followed by seven each from Iran and Turkey.
THE Asia University Rankings 2023: Asia’s Top 5
2023 rank Institution Country/region Overall score
1 Tsinghua University China 88.2
2 Peking University China 87.8
3 National University of Singapore Singapore 87.2
4 University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 80.1
5 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Singapore 79.2
Click here for Full Rankings
THE Asia University Rankings 2023: India’s Top 5
2023 2023 Overall
Rank Institute Rank
1 Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka 48
2 JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 68
3 Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, HP 77
4 Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala 95
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H),
5 Telangana 106
Click Here for Full Indian Rankings
Recent Related News
i.The Airports Council International (ACI) World published the ‘Top 10 Busiest Airports Worldwide for 2022,’
which ranked Delhi Airport [Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)] as the 9th busiest airport in the world
in 2022, surpassing Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in France.
ii.The National accreditation system of India under the Quality Council of India (QCI) was ranked 5th globally in
the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII)2021. India’s overall QI (Quality infrastructure) system ranking
continues to be in the Top 10 unchanged from GQII 2020 at the 10th position, with a GQII score of 0.932.
About Times Higher Education (THE):
Formerly The Times Higher Education Supplement (The Thes), it is a British magazine reporting on news and
issues related to higher education.
CEO– Paul Howarth
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom

Global Gender Gap Index 2023: India Ranks 127th and Iceland Tops
According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual Global Gender Gap Report 2023, released on June 20
2023, India has closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap and ranked 127th out of 146 countries in terms of
gender parity at the Global Gender Gap Index 2023 whereas Iceland Topped the index followed by Norway
and Finland at 2nd and 3rd rank.
• Thus India has improved by 1.4% points and 8
positions in 2023 compared with the 2022 edition.
(India was ranked 135th in the 2022 Index).
The Global Gender Gap Index 2023 rankings:
Rank Country Score 0-1
127 India 0.643
1 Iceland 0.912
2 Norway 0.879
3 Finland 0.863
4 New Zealand 0.856
5 Sweden 0.815
Subindex Analysis for India:
i.India has attained parity in enrolment across all levels of education. However, it has reached only 36.7%
parity on Economic Participation and Opportunity.
ii.There was an increase in parity in wages and income but the shares of women in senior positions and
technical roles have dropped slightly since the 2022 edition.
iii.India has registered 25.3% parity on Political Empowerment, with women representing 15.1% of
parliamentarians, the highest for India since the inaugural 2006 edition.
iv.In the case of the Health and Survival index with 95% parity, the sex ratio at birth improved by 1.9% points
to 92.7%.
India’s Subindex Ranks at Global Gender Gap Index 2023:
Sub Index Rank Score 0-1
Economic Participation and Opportunity 142 0.367
Educational Attainment 26 1
Health and Survival 142 0.95
Political Empowerment 59 0.253
Global Gender Gap Performance – Region-wise:
• The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 categorizes countries into eight regions: Eurasia and Central
Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North
Africa, North America, Southern Asia, and SubSaharan Africa.
• Gender parity in Europe (76.3%) surpasses the parity level in North America (75%) this year to
rank first among regions.
South Asia:
Southern Asia which ranked fifth out of eight regions achieved 63.4% gender parity, the second-lowest score of
the eight regions.
Rank
Country Regional Global Score 0-1
Bangladesh 1 59 0.722
Bhutan 2 103 0.682

Sri Lanka 3 115 0.663
Nepal 4 116 0.659
Maldives 5 124 0.649
India 6 127 0.643
Pakistan 7 142 0.575
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 8 143 0.575
Afghanistan 9 146 0.405
Global Analysis:
i.The global gender gap score in 2023 (for all 146 countries) increased by 0.3% points from 68.1% in 2022
to 68.4%.
ii.According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, no country has yet achieved full gender parity, and the top
nine countries (Iceland, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, Nicaragua, Namibia and Lithuania)
have closed at least 80% of their gap.
iii.With 91.2%, Iceland takes the top position and it also continues to be the only country to have closed more
than 90% of its gender gap
iv.Out of the 117 countries with available data since 2017, 18 countries, India (44.4%) including Bolivia
(50.4%), and France (42.3%), have achieved representation of women of over 40% in local governance.
v.The overall progress in 2023 is partly due to the improvement in closing the educational attainment gap.
• Thus 117 out of the 146 indexed countries now have closed at least 95% of the gap under
educational attainment.
Way forward: In accordance with the report, 131 years will be required for closing the overall gender gap and
at the current rate of progress, it will take 169 years for economic parity and 162 years for political parity.
About Global Gender Gap Index:
i.The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 to annually
benchmark progress towards gender parity and compare countries’ gender gaps across four key dimensions of
Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political
Empowerment.
ii.The Global Gender Gap Index measures scores on a 0 to 100 scale for each indicator and it is calculated as the
ratio of the value of each indicator for women to the value for men.
• A parity score of 1 indicates full parity. The gender gap is the distance from full parity.
iii.2023, the 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Index, 146 countries in which 102 countries have been
covered in all editions since the inaugural one in 2006. Croatia rejoins the 2023 index, whereas Guyana drops
out.
About World Economic Forum(WEF)
Headquarters – Cologny/Geneva, Switzerland
Founder & Executive Chairman – Professor Klaus Schwab
President – Børge Brende
Reliance climbed 8 spots and ranked 45 on Forbes 2023 The Global 2000 list
On 13th June, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) climbed eight spots to
the 45th rank, the highest for an Indian company in the 2023 edition of the Global 2000 list of public
companies published by Forbes’.
• Reliance held the 53rd position in the 2022 edition of the Global 2000.
• RIL ranked 45 ahead of well-known names like Germany’s BMW Group, Switzerland’s Nestle, China’s
Alibaba Group, the United State of America’s (USA) Procter & Gamble and Japan’s Sony.

• JPMorgan, America’s biggest bank is at the top of the list for the first time since 2011; Saudi Aramco,
Saudi Arabian Oil Company in the 2nd followed by 3
state-owned banks of China (ICBC, China
Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China).
Note:
• 2022 editions topper Berkshire Hathaway of the
USA, fell to 338 due to unrealized losses in its
investment portfolio.
Metrics:
i. The Global 2000 ranks the largest companies in the world
using four metrics: Sales; Profits; Assets and Market value.
ii. As a group, the companies on the 2023 list account for USD 50.8 trillion in sales, USD 4.4 trillion in profits,
USD 231 trillion in assets and USD 74 trillion in market value. This is the first time total revenue has surpassed
USD 50 trillion.
Note: Reliance with sales of USD 109.43 billion and profit of USD 8.3 billion
Highlights:
i. There are 58 countries represented by the publicly traded companies on the list.
ii. The US leads with 611 companies on the ranking, followed by China with 346 Global 2000 companies.
iii. Forbes used the latest 12 months of financial data available as of May 5, 2023, to calculate the factors used
for the ranking.
The Complete list of Forbes 2023 The Global 2000
India in the Global 2000:
i. Totally 55 Indian companies figured in the list with State Bank of India (SBI) climbed to 77th spot (from 105
in 2022); HDFC Bank is at 128th position (from 153 in 2022); ICICI Bank is at 163 (from 204 in 2022); State-
owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at 226 and HDFC at 232.
ii. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) made its maiden entry and ranked 363; Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
slipped to 387th rank (from 384 in 2022).
iii. Other notable Indian firms on the list are:
Axis Bank (423); National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) (433); Larsen & Toubro (L&T) (449);
Bharti Airtel (478); Kotak Mahindra Bank (502); Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) (540); Infosys (554); Bank of
Baroda (586); Coal India (591); Tata Steel (592); Hindalco (660) and Vedanta (687).
AGEL ranked 1st in Asia and among top 10 Companies Globally in RE Sector by ISS ESG
performance
On 15th June 2023, Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), India’s largest renewable power producer and the
Renewable Energy (RE) arm of the diversified Adani portfolio, has been ranked 1st in Asia and among the top
10 companies globally in the Renewable Energy sector by the Institutional Shareholder Services
(ISS) ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Ratings.
• AGEL has been placed in the ‘Prime’ (B+) band, recognizing its strong ESG disclosure practices and high
level of transparency.
• By this achievement, AGEL is a step closer to achieving its target of being rated among the top 10 ESG
companies in the world in the electric utility sector by the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25)
Note: AGEL has already been ranked in the world’s top 10 companies in the RE sector by Sustainalytics in FY23.
Operations of AGEL:
i. AGEL has the largest operating renewable portfolio in India with 8,216 Megawatts (MW).
ii. The operations of AGEL provide clear environmental benefits by contributing to fighting climate change and
to a more sustainable energy system by enabling transition.
iii. Through its dedicated management systems, the relevant social and environmental risks have been
addressed.

iv. Its focus on RE is in line with India’s decarbonisation goals and it is working towards providing an
ecologically leading solution to climate change, water scarcity, and the unsustainable growth in consumption of
natural resources.
v. The four pillars of the ESG framework of AGEL are: Guiding principles; Policies; Commitment and Assurance.
• The Framework helps AGEL align with United Nations (UN) Global Compact, UN Sustainable Goals, India
Business and Biodiversity Initiatives, Green Bond Principles, and the International Finance Coalition
(IFC)s Environmental and Social Performance Standards (E&S).
ISS ESG Rating:
i. ISS ESG is a leading global provider of ESG research and ratings, which are based on a comprehensive
assessment of a company’s ESG performance, including its environmental impact, social responsibility, and
corporate governance.
ii. The rating is designed to help investors identify companies that are well-positioned to manage ESG risks and
opportunities.
iii. The rating is based on a pool of about 700 standard and industry-specific indicators, from which ISS ESG
selects approximately 100 environmental, social and governance-related indicators for each of the ratings.
• AGEL has implemented a group-wide health and safety management system, which is certified in
accordance with ISO 45001 standards.
About Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL):
i. AGEL, which is a subsidiary of the diversified Adani Group, develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains
utility-scale grid-connected solar and wind projects.
Established on– 23 January 2015
MD-Vneet S Jaain
India to lose 6,500 millionaires in 2023, Dubai and Singapore top choice: Henley’s Report
According to the Henley and partners’ annual report of Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2023,
published on June 13 ,2023, India may lose (net outflow) at least 6,500 High-Networth Individuals (HNWIs) in
2023 making India the second-highest outflow of HNWIs globally, after China (which has a net outflow of
13,500 HNWIs).
• India will be followed by the United Kingdom-UK (3,200) and Russia (3,000) in third and fourth
places, respectively.
• The 2022 edition projected the departure of 7,500 HNWIs from India that year.
Who is HNWIs ? Millionaires or HNWIs refer to those with an investable wealth of USD 1 million or more.
(approx. Rs 8.2 core or more).
About the report: The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report represents the countries and territories with
net inflows or net outflows of 100 or more HNWIs namely, the difference between the number of HNWIs who
relocated to and who emigrated away from a particular country during a given year.
Top 5 Country wise net HNWI inflow/outflow
Forecast Net Actual Net Forecast Net Actual Net
HNWI Outflows HNWI Outflows HNWI Inflows HNWI Inflows
Rank Country 2023 2022 Rank Country 2023 2022
1 China -13,500 -10,800 1 Australia 5,200 3,800
2 India -6,500 -7,500 2 UAE 4,500 5,200
3 UK -3,200 -1,600 3 Singapore 3,200 2,900
Russian
4 Federation -3,000 -8,500 4 USA 2,100 1,500
5 Brazil -1,200 -1,800 5 Switzerland 1,800 2,200

Preferred Destinations for wealthy Indian families:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore remain preferred destinations for wealthy Indian families
amid Golden Visa” program, favourable tax environment, robust business ecosystem and a safe, peaceful
environment
Reasons behind investment migration from India:
India’s prohibitive tax legislation, complex rules relating to outbound remittances which open to
misinterpretation and abuse are some of the issues that had triggered the trend of investment migration from
the country.
i.However these outflows are not alarming, Global wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth projects India’s
HNWI population will experience 80% increase by 2031, positioning India as one of the world’s fastest-growing
wealth markets during the period.
ii.Currently India has approximately 357,000 HNWIs
Why are millionaires choosing to relocate (A Global Scenario)?
Recent turbulence and uncertainties have led to a notable trend of investors considering relocation for various
reasons: safety, security, education, healthcare, climate resilience, and crypto-friendliness. Nine out of the top
ten countries projected to attract the most HNWIs in 2023 have residence-by-investment programs. These
programs incentivize Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) in exchange for residency rights and, in some cases,
citizenship.
Global Migration:
The report also states that around 122,000 no of HNWIs (HNWI figures rounded to nearest 1,000) are expected
to get migrated globally in 2023. The migration of HNWIs globally was about 84,000 in 2022.
Which countries will lose the highest number of millionaires in 2023?
Brazil with 1,200 HNWIs outflow is followed by Hong Kong (1,000), South Korea (800), Mexico (700), South
Africa (500) and Japan (300) at 5th , 6th , 7th, 9th, 9th and 10th respectively in terms of HNWIs outflow in
2023.
i.According to the State of World Population (SOWP) 2023 titled “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the
case for Rights and Choices” published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India overtakes China
to become the most populous nation in the world, the population of India has grown by 1.56% in the past year
and it is estimated to be 142.86 crore.
ii.According to the “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” report released by the World Trade Organization
(WTO) the merchandise trade volume is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2023, up from October 2022 estimate of
1.0%.
About Henley and Partners:
CEO– Juerg Steffen
Headquarters– London, UK
Global Liveability Index 2023: Austria’s Vienna ranked world’s most liveable city
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2023 released on June 21,
2023, Vienna, the capital of Austria, has topped the index as the world’s most liveable city. Vienna has
secured the top spot for the second consecutive year excelling in all the categories of the index.
• Copenhagen (Denmark) ranked second while Melbourne and Sydney of Australia ranked 3rd and
4th in the index.
• EIU’s index ranks 173 cities across five categories: stability, healthcare, education, culture and the
environment, and infrastructure.
• The average liveability score has increased from 73.2 in 2022 to 76.2 (out of 100) in 2023. This is
the highest score in 15 years due to improvements made by developing countries and as lives return
to normal after COVID-19, education, health and cultural facilities are improving.

Ranking of Indian cities:
5 cities from India have been featured on the EIU’s Global
Liveability index 2023.
• New Delhi (Delhi) 141st rank.
• Mumbai (Maharashtra) 141st rank.
• Chennai (Tamil Nadu) 144th rank.
• Ahmedabad (Gujarat) 147th rank.
• Bengaluru (Karnataka) 148th rank.
Highlights:
i.The top 10 spots of the index include three cities in Canada, two
in Switzerland, and two in Asia. Most of the top 50, are in rich
countries.
ii.Living conditions remain worst in Damascus (the capital of Syria) and it ranks 173 as the least liveable city in
the world for the second consecutive year due to social unrest, terrorism and conflict.
iii.Cities in the Asia-Pacific region have rebounded the most. 8 of the top 10 cities whose ranking was
improved were from the Acia-pacific region as the economy in this region recover from the Pandemic.
iv.Western Europe cities dominate the top 10 fellers down the ranking due to the war in Ukraine and the
economic and political disruptions.
• War-raged Ukraine’s capital Kyiv ranked 165th out of 173 cities. Meanwhile, Moscow in Russia,
which fell to 96th place in 2022, remained stable in the 2023 index.
• London, the capital UK capital and Sweden’s capital Stockholm dropped 12 and 22 spots to 46th and
43rd positions.
v.The global average score in 2023 was the highest in 15 years due to improvements made by developing
countries and as lives return to normal after COVID-19, education, health and cultural facilities are improving.
City liveability index, March 2023:
Most liveable Least liveable
Rank City (Country) Index value Rank City (Country) Index value
1 Vienna(Austria) 98.4 173 Damascus(Syria) 30.7
2 Copenhagen(Denmark) 98 172 Tripoli(Lebanon) 40.1
3 Melbourne(Australia) 97.7 171 Algiers(Algeria) 42
4 Sydney(Australia) 97.4 170 Lagos(Nigeria) 42.2
5 Vancouver(Canada) 97.3 169 Karachi(Pakistan) 32.5
Note – As per the statement of Upasana Dutt, Head of Liveability Index at EIU, due to the overall removal of
COVID-19-based restrictions, Education has emerged stronger with children returning to schools and a
significantly reduced burden on hospitals and healthcare systems.
About The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU):
It is the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, the sister company to The Economist
newspaper.
Managing Director – Robin Bew
2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500- 6 month update: RIL topped as India’s most valuable
company
According to the “2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500: a Six Month Update” released on 20th June
2023, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) topped as India’s most valuable company with a value of Rs 16.37

lakh crore followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with Rs 11.76 lakh crore and HDFC Bank with Rs 9.41
lakh crore.
• The report, featuring 500 most valuable non-state-owned companies in India, was released
by Burgundy Private, Axis Bank’s Private Banking Business and Hurun India.
• This report is a six-month update (from October 30, 2022- April 30, 2023) on the 2022 Burgundy
Private Hurun India 500 released in December 2022.
Top 5 of Burgundy Private Hurun India 500-Special Report:
Value (INR Change
Rank Company Cr) (%) Headquarters
Reliance Industries Mumbai
1 Limited (RIL) 16,37,327 -5.10% (Maharashtra)
Tata Consultancy Services Mumbai
2 (TCS) 11,76,385 0.70% (Maharashtra)
Mumbai
3 HDFC Bank 9,41,386 12.90% (Maharashtra)
Mumbai
4 ICICI Bank 6,41,930 1.40% (Maharashtra)
Kolkata (West
5 ITC 5,29,682 22.50% Bengal)
Note:
i. The total value of the top 10 companies in the report remains unchanged at Rs.5 lakh crore (USD 874 billion),
which is equivalent to 37% of India’s Gross domestic product (GDP) and 34% of the total value of the 2022
Burgundy Private Hurun India 500.
ii. 7 among the top 10 are headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Ranking process:
i. The companies required a minimum value of Rs.5,500 crore, equivalent to USD 672 million to feature on the
report.
ii. The Special Report is a list of the 500 most valuable companies that are headquartered in India.
Government/ State-owned companies and subsidiaries of foreign companies are excluded.
Key Points:
The value of the top 500 companies in the report decreased by 6.4% to Rs 212 lakh crore from Rs 227 lakh
crore as on 30th October 2022.
• Around 287 companies declined during the review period while 14 companies remained flat and 24
dropped out from the list.
During the 6 months, the value of RIL decreased by 5.1%(Rs 87,721 crore), while TCS value has increased by
0.7% and HDFC bank value has increased by 12.9%.
Key Highlights:
i. Serum Institute of India has topped the list of most valuable unlisted companies with a value of Rs 1.92
lakh crore followed by National Stock Exchange of India(NSE) with a value of Rs 1.65 lakh crore and BYJU’s
with a value of Rs 69,100 crore.
ii. In terms of geographical distribution, the companies featured on the list comefrom 15 states, led by
Maharashtra (191), Karnataka (63) and Tamil Nadu (44) followed by Delhi(40), and Haryana(36).
• Mumbai (Maharashtra) tops the list of cities with 155, followed by Bengaluru (Karnataka) with 62
and New Delhi (Delhi) with 40 and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) with 39.
iii. In the biggest gainers (by percentage), the companies featured on the list was led by New Delhi (Delhi) -
based Jindal Stainless (213.3%) followed by Lloyds Metals and Energy (93.1%) and Finolex Cables (71.1%).

iv. And thebiggest gainers (by Indian Rupees in Crores) were occupied by HDFC Bank (Rs.1,07,730), ITC
(Rs.97,323), and Housing Development Finance Corporation (Rs. 59,328).
v. In the Industry Distribution side, Financial Services led the list in terms of value created, with more than
one-fifth of the cumulative value (21.9%) followed by Software & Services (12.8%) and Healthcare (8.3%).
• Financial Services and Healthcare were the biggest contributors with 72 and 60 companies
respectively.
• The Top 5 industries made up nearly half of the list.
vi.In the Most Valuable Company category, Tata Group topped the list with 15 companies (TCS as the most
Valuable Company), followed by Adani group with 8 companies (Adani Enterprises as the most valuable
company) and Aditya Birla Group with 5 companies (Grasim Industries as the most valuable company).
India’s Harish Bhat ranked 10th on Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List
2023; Walmart’s William White Tops
According to The Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs(Chief Marketing Officers). List: 2023, Harish
Bhat, Brand Custodian of the Tata Group, was ranked among the top 10 most influential CMOs for the 2nd
consecutive year.
• In the 2023 list, Harish Bhat is ranked 10th and previously in 2022, he was ranked 9th.
• The 2023 list, the 11th edition of Forbes’ top 50 CMO list, is topped by William White, CMO of
Walmart(United States of America-USA) followed by Marcel Marcondes, global CMO of Anheuser-
Busch InBev (Belgium) at 2nd spot and Conny Braams, Chief Digital and Commercial Officer of
Unilever (England).
Note: The list was announced at a special luncheon event held at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France.
About Harish Bhat:
Bhat has been a part of the Tata Group since 1987. He is also chairman of Tata Coffee Ltd and Director on the
Boards of Tata Companies, like Titan Company Ltd., Trent Ltd., Tata Starbucks Pvt. Ltd., Infiniti Retail Ltd., Tata
Unistore Ltd., and Tata AIA Life Insurance Company.
Highlights:
i.Sumit Virmani, CMO of Infosys(India) was ranked 41 on the 2023 list. He joined Infosys in 2004 and took
charge as the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Global CMO in 2019.
ii.Asmita Dubey, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, L’Oreal (France), was ranked 21st on the 2023 list. Asmita
Dubey is an Indian national with a background in economics and statistics.
Key Points:
i.The list recognizes 50 chief-marketers whose influence on their brands, businesses, culture, people, and the
global marketing community, stand apart.
ii.Of this year’s 50 honorees, 28 make the list for the first time.
Assessment:
With primary research partner, Sprinklr, and with key supplemental data and analysis provided by LinkedIn,
Forbes analyzed over 11 billion individual data points to get to the 50 CMOs.
• 2,892 brands or companies that appeared in one or more of seven distinct and authoritative data
sources (including The Forbes Global 2000 and Brand Finance 500) were assessed on 22 indicators
and proxies for CMO influence.
Forbes list of most influential CMOs 2023: Top 5
Rank Name Brand
1 William White Walmart
2 Marcel Marcondes Anheuser-Busch/InBev
3 Conny Braams Unilever
4 Greg Joswiak Apple

5 Dirk-Jan van Hameren Nike
10 Harish Bhat TATA
21 Asmita Dubey L’Oreal
41 Sumit Virmani Infosys
The Forbes CMO Hall of Fame: Class of 2023
In 2023, Morgan Flatley, EVP (Executive Vice President), Global Chief Marketing Officer, and Head of New
Business Ventures at McDonald’s, inducted into the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame 2023 Class. Morgan Flatley is the
only inductee of 2023.
• The Forbes CMO Hall of Fame was initiated in 2022 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Forbes
World’s Most Influential CMOs list.
• It recognizes those chief marketers who have appeared, or would have, on the list at least five times
since its inception.
Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023: Bengaluru ranked 20th & Silicon Valley Topped the
Global List
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) released by policy advisory and research
firm Startup Genome, Indian ecosystems continue to rise, with Bengaluru (Karnataka) startup ecosystem has
positioned to the 20th spot, moving two places from 2022.
• Mumbai (Maharashtra) moved up five places to 31st
position and Delhi moved up two places to 24th
position respectively in the Global Startup Ecosystem
list 2023.
• Among the emerging ecosystems, Pune
(Maharashtra) has moved into the 31-40 range in
2023, from 51–60 in 2022.
• Silicon Valley(United States) remaining at the top
ecosystem in the GSER 2023 followed by New York
City(United States) and London(United Kingdom)
tied at 2nd position. They are maintaining the top three position from 2020.
Key Points:
i.Los Angeles (United States) and Tel Aviv(Israel) were at 4th and 5th position, whereas Boston(United
States) and Beijing were at the 6th and 7th position respectively.
ii.Miami(United States of America) being ranked as 23rd has made impressive progress by making it into the
top 30 ecosystems, an improvement of 10 positions from 2022.
iii.The top-100 Emerging Ecosystems are collectively worth more than USD 1.5 trillion in ecosystem value.
iv.Europe is the most represented region in the Emerging Ecosystems ranking and has expanded its share from
37% to 41% since the GSER 2022.
About GSRE 2023:
i.The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) is an analysis of the current state of startup
ecosystems worldwide.
• Startup Genome measured six factors in each ecosystem performance, funding, market reach,
connectedness, talent & experience and knowledge.
ii.The GSER provides insights into the world’s leading startup ecosystems, emerging trends, and key challenges
facing entrepreneurs.
iii.It is based on research and analysis of data from 3.5 million startups across 290 global ecosystems and over
a decade of independent research and providing policy advice to more than 145 clients in over 50 countries to
date.

iv.The methodology for this ranking showcases the ecosystems displaying high potential to be top global
performers in the coming years.
Note – Indian government has massively invested in digital public infrastructure, collectively known as India
Stack, which included APB (Aadhaar Payment Bridge), AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System), eSign,
Digilocker, UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and DEPA (decentralized consented data sharing protocol).
About Startup Genome:
Founder & CEO – JF Gauthier
Headquarters – San Francisco, California, United States
QS World University Rankings 2024: IIT Bombay only Indian Institute among the top 150
According to the QS World University Rankings 2024 by Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) released on 27th June
2023, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the only Indian Institute
featured among the top 150 Universities.
• IIT-B ranked 149th globally, has emerged as the best
higher education Institue in India.
• The global list is topped by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, United
States of America(USA) for the 12th time (2012 and
from 2014 to 2024).
• MIT is followed by the University of Cambridge,
Cambridge, the United Kingdom (UK) in 2nd place
and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK in 3rd place.
About QS World University Rankings 2024:
QS World University Rankings 2024, the 20th edition of the ranking, features 1,500 institutions across 104
locations and is the only ranking of its kind to emphasise employability and sustainability.
• For the 2024 ranking, QS has introduced 3 new metrics: Sustainability, Employment Outcomes and
International Research Network in addition to the weighting of certain existing indicators, academic
reputation, employer Reputation, and faculty-student ratio.
Top 5 University:
Rank University
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA
2 University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
3 University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
4 Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
5 Stanford University, Stanford, USA
Top 5 Indian Institutes:
Indian Rank University Global Rank
1 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Mumbai, Maharashtra 149

2 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), New Delhi, Delhi 197
3 Indian Institute of Science(IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka 225
4 Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), Kharagpur, West Bengal 271
5 Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 278

Key Points:
i.Apart from IIT-B, IIT Delhi (IITD) is the only Indian university among the top 200 in the 2024 ranking.
ii.The rank of IISc Bengaluru dropped from 155 in 2023 to 225 in 2024 while IIT-Madras has dropped from 250
in 2023 to 285 in 2024 and IIT-Delhi has dropped from 174 to 192 in 2023.
iii.The University of Delhi, ranked 407th, and Anna University, ranked 427th, have made their debut among the
top 500 universities on the list.
iv.A total of 13 Indian universities have ranked lower than the 2023 edition, while the ranks of 13 institutes
remained unchanged.
v.15 institutions have recorded a higher rank in 2024, with an academic reputation as the indicator where most
institutions (28 out of 41, excluding the new entries) have improved.
The institutes whose ranking improved significantly included the University of Delhi, which has improved from
521 in 2023 to 407 in 2024.
WEF’s Energy Transition Index 2023: India ranked 67th; Sweden Tops
According to the World Economic Forum(WEF) report titled “Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2023”,
published in collaboration with Accenture, India is ranked 67th on the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2023.
• The report also stated that India is the only major
economy with energy transition momentum
accelerating across the ETI’s equitable, secure and
sustainable dimensions.
• ETI 2023, the list of 120 counties, is topped
by Sweden with an ETI score 78.5 followed
by Denmark (76.1) and Norway (73.7) in 2nd and
3rd rank respectively.
India – country analysis:
i.The improvement in India’s ETI performance was contributed
by achieving universal access to electricity, replacing solid fuels with clean cooking options (Liquefied
Petroleum Gas-LPG) and increasing renewable energy deployment.
ii.India has maintained a diversified mix of energy trade partners. The rising import dependence represents a
risk amid global energy market volatilities.
iii.The energy mix of India remains carbon intensive, with a low share of clean energy in final demand.
iv.The pace of thermal power plant expansion has been slowed. The strategies for early retirement or
repurposing of the existing fleet will play a major role in this.
v.The progress of India is challenged by 2 key macro trends:
• Strong economic growth.
• Urgency to create quality jobs for a growing working-age population.
Top 5 on Energy Transition Index 2023:
Rank Country ETI Score
1 Sweden 78.5
2 Denmark 76.1
3 Norway 73.7
4 Finland 72.8
5 Switzerland 72.4
67 India 54.3
Key Points:
i.Among the world’s 10 largest economies, France(7) was the only G20(Group of 20) country to feature among
the top 10 of the ETI 2023.

• The largest economies like Germany, the United States of America(USA) and the United
Kingdom(UK) were ranked 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.
ii.India and China, the emerging and developing countries in Asia with high populations have improved their
ETI score by 12% in the past 10 years.
Key Highlights:
i.The global average ETI scores increased by 10% since 2014 but showed only marginal growth in the past 3
years. The 2023 global average is 56.3%.
ii.Among the 120 countries listed, approximately 113 have shown progress, but only 55, including India, have
experienced an improvement in their scores by more than 10 percentage points over the past decade.
• China, India and Indonesia, the emerging centres of demand have witnessed these improvements.
iii.The report stated that India and Singapore are the only countries that are making advances on all aspects of
energy system performance.
During the RPM (Review, Planning, and Monitoring) meeting of States and State Utilities in New Delhi, Delhi,
Union Minister R. K. Singh, Ministry of Power, released the report of the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI)
2021-2022.
• Five states are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) in SEEI 2021-22: Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
About World Economic Forum(WEF):
Founded in – 1971
Founder & Executive Chairman- Klaus Schwab
President– Borge Brende
Headquarters– Cologny, Switzerland
2023 Global Competitiveness Index: Published by IMD

On 20th June 2023, The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) published 35th edition of
the World Competitiveness Index 2023 which ranks India at 40th position. The top 3 positions in the ranking
were claimed by Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland.
• The data published explores multiple factors that
affect the prosperity of 64 economies.
India in the World Competitiveness Index 2023:
i.India dropped 3 places to rank 40 which is an improvement
from the 43rd position secured in 2019-2021
ii.The key factors that contributed to India’s ranking were
exchange rate stability, compensation levels and advancements
in pollution control.
iii.The report outlined the issues that India is projected to
encounter in 2023- maintaining high GDP(Gross domestic
product) growth, managing financial market volatility and controlling inflation and fiscal deficit.
iv.The report states that Indian government’s efficiency has increased but still lagging in business efficiency
infrastructure and economic performance.
Top 5 & India on World Competitiveness Index 2023:
Rank 2023 Country Rank 2022 Ranking change
1 Denmark 1 –
2 Ireland 11 9
3 Switzerland 2 -1
4 Singapore 3 -1

5 Netherlands 6 1
40 India 37 -3
Factors measuring competitiveness:
It is based on 336 competitiveness criteria and four factors, namely Economic performance, Government
efficiency, Business efficiency, and Infrastructure.
Highlights:
i.Denmark’s top position is based on its consistent achievements in all four competitiveness factors.
ii.Ireland made the most impressive overall improvement as it leapt from 11th place to second.
iii.Switzerland retained the third place due to its strong performance in all factors of competitiveness. It ranks
first in government efficiency and infrastructure
iv.The rest of the top 10 (6 to 10) are Taiwan(China), Hong Kong SAR(Special Administrative Region), Sweden,
USA, UAE.
v.European economies dominated the top 10 rankings.
vi.Six South American countries occupied the bottom 10 positions in the index, with Venezuela ranking last
at 64th place.
Note: Kuwait is the latest economy to join the ranking, making its début in 2023.
World Competitiveness Index:
i.The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), first published in 1989, is a comprehensive annual report
and worldwide reference point on the competitiveness of countries.
ii.Based on a comprehensive study, it provides benchmarks as well as patterns, and also statistics, and survey
data.
iii.It analyzes and ranks countries according to how they manage their competencies to achieve long-term
value creation.
REPORTS
Pakistan, Afghanistan among Global Hunger Hotspots: FAO & WFP Hunger Hotspots Report
According to the ‘Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, June to November 2023
Outlook’ report released on May 29, 2023, by the United Nation (UN) agencies of Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), globally Hunger is set to worsen in 18 ‘hotspots’
comprising a total of 22 countries including the regions in India’s neighbours countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Myanmar.
• Hotspots are places where acute hunger is at a high
risk of worsening from June to November 2023.
• The report has assessed 22 countries where acute
food insecurity can potentially increase in
magnitude and severity for 18 areas.
Note: The report calls for urgent humanitarian action to save
lives and livelihoods, and to prevent starvation and death in
eight regions of Afghanistan, Haiti, Nigeria, the Sahel region
(Burkina Faso and Mali), Somalia, South Sudan, the Sudan and
Yemen.
Highlights:
i.Highest Concern Nations: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen remain at the highest
concern level
• Haiti, the Sudan and Sahel region (Burkina Faso and Mali) and Sudan have been elevated to the
highest concern levels.
ii.Very High Concern Nations: Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Syrian Arab Republic are hotspots with very high concern.

• The warning is also extended to Myanmar.
• These hotspots have many people facing critical acute food insecurity.
iii.Lebanon has been added to the list of hotspots, joining Malawi and Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua) that remain hotspots.
iv.As per the report, Pakistan’s worsening economic and political crises could further reduce households’
purchasing power and ability to afford food and essential goods in the country, where 6% of the rural
population across the 43 districts analysed are assessed to be in Emergency between April and October 2023.
Causes of Acute Food Insecurity:
i.The growing economic conflicts in low and middle-income nations.
• 2023 is expected to bring a global economic slowdown amid monetary tightening in high-income
countries, increasing the cost of credit, and weakening local currencies in low- and middle-income
economies.
ii.The Sudan Crisis Spill-over: This has increased population displacement and hunger among people forced
from their homes in search of refuge and those hosting them.
iii.Weather extremes, such as heavy rains, tropical storms, cyclones, flooding, drought and increased climate
variability, remain significant drivers in some countries and regions. The May 2023 forecast suggests an 82%
likelihood of El Niño conditions starting in the May–July 2023 period.
Recommendations:
i.The report recommended urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent starvation and
death in hotspots
ii.It provides concrete country-specific recommendations on priorities for immediate emergency response and
anticipatory action.
About Hunger Hotspots Report:
It is part of a series of analytical products produced under the Global Network Against Food Crises, to
enhance and coordinate the generation and sharing of evidence-based information and analysis for preventing
and addressing food crises. It identifies areas where acute food insecurity could increase during the outlook
period.
i.The second ILO–UNICEF (International Labour Organization – United Nations International Children’s
Emergency Fund) joint report on social protection for children titled ‘More than a billion reasons: The urgent
need to build universal social protection for children’ was released on March 01, 2023.
ii.According to the 9th edition of the World Bank’s “Women, Business, and the Law 2023” report, women across
the world only have 77% of the legal rights that men do, and nearly 2.4 billion women of working age live in
countries that do not provide them the same rights as men.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Headquarter– Rome, Italy
ILO report: Global unemployment fall to 5.3%, low-income nations lag in Recovery
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s 11th edition ‘World of Work’, the global
unemployment is projected to fall below pre pandemic levels to 191 million, corresponding to an
unemployment rate of 5.3% in 2023.
• The report highlighted that the low-income countries may remain far behind in the recovery
process.
• The report also calls for global financial support for job creation and social protection.
Global Job Gap:
i.In 2023, the global jobs gap is projected to at 453 million people or 11.7%, which is more than double the
unemployment count.

• The global jobs gap of 453 million includes both the 191 million unemployed people and an
additional 262 million who want employment but do not qualify as unemployed.
ii.Unequal Job Gaps:
• Based on the repot, in 2023, the lowincome countries are facing the largest jobs gap rate at 21.5%,
and the rate in middle-income countries stands slightly above 11%. Whereas the High-income
countries register the lowest rates, at 8.2%.
• Women face a jobs gap rate of 14.5%, compared to 9.8% for men.
Unemployment – Low-income Countries Left Behind:
i.As per the report’s projection, low-income countries in the Arab and African region will not be able to recover
to the pre-Covid levels of unemployment in 2023.
• For North Africa, the unemployment rate in 2023 is projected to be 11.2% (10.9% in 2019); for Sub-
Saharan Africa, 6.3% (5.7% in 2019); and for the Arab States 9.3% (8.7% in 2019).
ii.Unemployment rate in other regions:
• Latin America and the Caribbean have managed to reduce their unemployment rates substantially
below to pre-Covid levels (6.7% as compared to 8% in 2019).
• Northern, Southern, and Western Europe have reduced their unemployment rate to 6.3% from 7%
in 2019.
• Central and Western Asia now has 7.8% unemployment as against 9.2% in 2019.
Social protection policy gaps:
i.In terms of Old age pension, lower-middle-income and low-income countries’ older persons receiving just
38.6% and 23.2% of pension respectively, compared to 77.5% globally.
ii.The ILO monitor discovered that the introduction of universal basic old age pension in the developing
national will increase its GDP per capita by 14.8% within 10 years.
iii.This will also reduce the extreme poverty (share of people who live on less than USD 2.15 per day) by 6%
points from the current rate of 15.5%.
Suggestions of the report:
i.ILO suggested the requirement for global financial support for job creation and social protection during a time
of multiple crises and shocks to ensure that recovery and reconstruction will leave no one behind and support
long-term structural transformation.
ii.It stated that the investment towards people through jobs and social protection will support to reduce the
gap between rich and poor nations and people.
iii.The report emphasize the importance of creating fiscal space for social investments in low-income countries.
Additional info: Sri Lanka has been hit by a series of crises, starting with the Easter bombings in 2019 and
followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as per the report, the economy is expected to contract by 3.0% in 2023.
The second ILO–UNICEF (International Labour Organization – United Nations International Children’s
Emergency Fund) joint report on social protection for children titled ‘More than a billion reasons: The urgent
need to build universal social protection for children’ was released on March 01, 2023.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Director-General – Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo
Headquarters – Geneva , Switzerland
RBI’s Annual Report 2022-23: RBI’s Income Increased by 47.06%; PSBs Contribute Maximum
Bank Fraud Amount
On May 30, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report 2022-23, a static report of the
Central Board of Directors on the working of the RBI for the year ended March 31, 2023 (i.e. FY23) submitted to
the Central Government in terms of Section 53(2) of the RBI Act, 1934.
• India has experienced macroeconomic and financial stability in FY23 with a steady growth.

• India has contributed more than 12% on average to global growth during the last five years.
Highlights of the RBI’s Annual Report:
a.Assessment and Prospects of Domestic Economy:
i.Growth: According to the second advance estimates (SAE) of national income released by the National
Statistical Office (NSO) the Indian economy is expected to have recorded a 7.0% growth in real GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) in FY23 from 9.1% in FY22.
• Agriculture and allied activities were resilient in 2022-23, with gross value added (GVA) registering
a growth of 3.3%.
• The production of kharif oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton was higher during FY23.
• Real GDP growth for FY24 is projected at 6.5% with risks evenly balanced.
ii.Inflation: Overall, headline inflation increased to 6.7% in 2022-23 from 5.5% in 2021-22.
• Inflation reached a peak of 7.8 per cent in April 2022 due to sharp increase in global prices of crude
oil, food, fertilisers and metals.
iii.Deficit and Debt:
i.The general government deficit and debt moderated to 9.4% and 86.5% of GDP, respectively, in FY23 from
the peak levels of 13.1% and 89.4% in FY21, respectively.
ii.The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) of the government declined from 6.7% of GDP in FY22 to 6.4% of GDP in 2022-
23.
iii.India’s current account deficit (CAD) was at 2.7% of GDP during April-December 2022.
b.FDIs are at their lowest since FY20
i.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): According to the RBI annual report, the total Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) flows into India reached a three-year low of USD 46 billion in FY23, which is 26% lower than the
previous fiscal year(FY22 USD 58.8 billion).
• FDI flow into India in FY21 was USD 59.6 billion and FY20 was USD 50 billion.
• Net capital inflows under FDI, were lower during FY23 at USD 28.0 billion than USD 38.6 billion in
FY22.
ii.The surplus liquidity absorbed under the LAF (Liquidity Adjustment Facility) moderated from a daily average
of Rs 6.6 lakh crore in March 2022 to Rs 0.14 lakh crore in March 2023.
iii.India emerged as the largest player in real-time transactions at the global level, with a 46% share in 2022.
Top 3 FDI Flows in India in FY23:
Source/Industry FY23 (FDI in USD billion)
Country Wise Inflows
Singapore 17.2
Mauritius 6.1
United States 6
Sector-wise Inflows
Manufacturing 11.3
Financial Services 6.8
Computer Services 5.6
Note: FDI in the manufacturing sector fell 30% to $11.3 billion in 2022-23 on an annual basis.
c.NPA: Gross NPA ( Non-Performing Assets) as share of total advances has reduced from 15.5% in 2018-19 to
5.8% in the quarter ending December 2022. While public sector banks continue to have higher NPA ratios, they
have seen a large reduction in their NPA ratio.
d.Merchandise Trade:
i.India’s merchandise exports at USD 450.4 billion recorded a growth of 6.7%in FY23 as compared with 44.6%
in FY22.

ii.India’s merchandise imports at USD 714.0 billion recorded a growth of 16.5% in FY23.
iii.Petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) imports constituted the largest item in India’s import, accounting for
29.3% of the overall imports in FY23.
iv.Gold imports at US$ 35.0 billion declined by 24.2 per cent in 2022-23.
v.India is the largest importer of vegetable oil globally. India’s import bill on vegetable oil rose to USD 20.8
billion in 2022-23 from USD 19.0 billion in FY22.
e.DICGC’s Deposit Insurance:
i.To protect the small investors, DICGC offers deposit insurance of Rs 5 lakh (including the principal and
interest amount) per depositor for each bank (within 90 days) in the event of the bank being unable to fulfil its
commitment due to liquidation or cancellation of the banking licence.
• Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), which is constituted under the DICGC
Act, 1961 is wholly-owned by the RBI.
ii.The deposit insurance extended by DICGC covers all commercial banks including local area banks (LABs),
payments banks (PBs), small finance banks (SFBs), regional rural banks (RRBs) and co-operative banks, that
are licensed by the Reserve Bank.
iii.As on March 31, 2023, the number of registered insured banks was about 2,027, which include 140
commercial banks (including 43 RRBs, two LABs, six PBs and 12 SFBs) and 1,887 co-operative banks [33 state
cooperative banks, 352 district central cooperative banks and 1,502 urban cooperative banks (UCBs)].
iv.Key Facts:
• The number of fully protected accounts (294.5 crore) in FY23 constituted 98.1% of the total number
of accounts (300.1 crore).
• In terms of amount, the total insured deposits of Rs 83,89,470 crore in FY23, constituted a Rs
46.3% of assessable deposits of Rs 1,81,14,550 crore.
• During FY23, the DICGC has sanctioned supplementary claims of 11 liquidated banks aggregating
Rs105.8 crore under Section 16 (1) of the DICGC Act, 1961.
• In FY23, it has also settled claims of 28 banks under ‘All Inclusive Directions (AIDs)’of the RBI
aggregating Rs 646.8 crore.
• The size of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) stood at Rs1,69,263 crore (Provisional) as on March
31, 2023, yielding a reserve ratio (DIF/insured deposit) of 2.02%.
v.An insured bank is required to submit its claim within 45 days of imposition of AID after which the DICGC
would get the claims verified within 30 days and pay the depositors within the next 15 days.
f.Lending rates are back to pre-covid levels
i.Banks’ deposit and lending rates increased in FY23 along with a 2.5% points increased in the policy repo rate.
ii.In response to increase in the policy repo rate in FY23, banks raised their external benchmark-based lending
rate (EBLR).
iii.The 1-year median marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) of banks also increased by 1.5% points
in FY23.
g.Bank’s Fraud Analysis:
i.In FY23, as per the assessment of bank group-wise fraud cases over the last three years private sector banks
reported the maximum number of frauds, whereas the public sector banks continued to contribute maximum
to the fraud amount.
ii.13,530 cases of bank frauds are identified in 2022-23 involving an amount of Rs 30,252 crore compared to
9,097 frauds amounting Rs 59,819 crore in 2021-22.
• The report highlighted that proportionately, the decline in the total amount involved in frauds
continued during 2022-23, with a reduction of 49 per cent over 2021-22.
iii.Frauds on advances, which includes wilful loan defaults have decreased in the last two years from Rs 1.3
lakh crore to Rs 28,792 crore in 2022-23. Close to 70% of the amount involved in total bank frauds were in
public sector banks.

iv.In terms of Numbers, frauds have occurred predominantly in the category of digital payments
(card/internet).
v.In terms of of value, frauds have been reported primarily in the loan portfolio (advances category).
h.Rise in RBI’s total income in 2022-23 by 47.06%:
i.Balance sheet of RBI in FY23: The size of the RBI’s balance sheet increased by Rs 1,54,453.97 crore, i.e.,
2.50% from Rs 61,90,302.27 crore in FY22 to Rs 63,44,756.24 crore in FY23.
ii.RBI’s income increased by 47.06% to Rs 2.35 lakh crore, the expenditure increased by 14.05% to Rs 1.48 lakh
crore.
iii.The overall surplus in FY23 of Rs 87,416.22 crore as against Rs 30,307.45 crore in FY22, resulting in an
increase of 188.43%. The surplus was about Rs 99,122 crore in FY21; Rs 57,127.53 crore in FY20; and Rs
1,75,987.73 crore in FY19.
iv.The supply of notes during the year FY23 at 2,26,002 lakh pieces was 1.57% higher than that of FY22
(2,22,505 lakh pieces). The expenditure incurred on printing of banknotes decreased from Rs 4,984.80 crore in
FY22 to Rs 4,682.80 crore in FY23.
RBI’s Income, Expenditure, and Surplus Statement in FY23:
FY22 FY23
(Amount in Rs crore) (Amount in Rs crore)
Income
1,60,112.13 2,35,457.26
(increased by 47.06%)
Expenditure
1,29,800.68 1,48,037.04
Surplus payable to the Central Government
30,307.45 87,416.22
The report released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Report On Currency And Finance 2022-23 on May 03, 2023,
recommends India to introduce a broad-based carbon pricing system in line with emerging global best
practices to meet the country’s climate goals.
Deputy Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
India emerges as top source country for FDI into Dubai

According to a report released by “fDi Markets”, a service from United Kingdom’s UK’s Financial Times Ltd.,
India is the top source country for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). India
is ranked among the top 5 source countries for announced FDI projects and estimated FDI capital.
• Dubai is ranked No 1 globally for attracting greenfield FDI projects in 2022.
• With 77.5 % of greenfield projects, the top sectors by FDI projects from India into Dubai in 2022
were software & IT services (32%, business services (19%), consumer products (9%), real estate
(6%), and financial services (5%).
The top sectors by FDI capital from India into Dubai in 2022 were consumer products (28% ), software & IT
services (20% ), communications (19%), pharmaceuticals (8%), and business services (8%).

IRENA’s Low-cost finance for energy transition Report Praises India’s Renewable Energy
Growth
A report titled ‘Low-cost finance for energy transition’ produced by the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) praised India’s achievement in rolling out renewable energy capacity, calling it
“unprecedented”.
• The report was prepared by IRENA in conjunction with India’s G20 Presidency and in close
collaboration with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of India, offers valuable
insights concerning access to low-cost finance for the energy transition and the deployment of
critical technologies in particular
Key Points of the Report:
i.India ranked third on the Renewable Energy Attractive Index in 2021 and India’s solar and wind power base
is the fourth largest in the world.
ii.India’s renewable energy sector growth is being driven by national targets of 175 GW of renewable energy
capacity by 2022 and 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
iii.IREDA:
• Establishment of the government-owned, non-banking finance company, Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency (IREDA), in 1987 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is recognized
by the report.
• The report states that, IREDA has been serving India’s renewable energy sector and the
government’s ambitions for the past 35 years and it has helped commission approximately 20 GW of
renewable energy capacity in the country through financing to renewable energy developers
iv.Green Bonds:
• The report mentioned sovereign green bonds as a next logical step to showcase India’s commitment
to building a low-carbon economy, mobilise private sector capital for sustainable development and
lower the cost of capital for green projects by tapping into new investors.
• During the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), India set net-zero emissions
targets to achieve by 2070.
• The report estimated that India would need USD 10 trillion between 2022 and 2070 to achieve
them to meet its 2070 net-zero target.
• So far, overall green bond issuance in India has grown significantly to USD 18.3 billion cumulatively,
with 2021 being the year with a record issuance of USD 7 billion.
v.India aims to reach about 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based
energy resources by 2030.
vi.Climate finance, green development and lifestyle for the environment (LiFE) are among the key priorities of
India’s presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20), under its chosen theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“One
Earth, one family, one future”).
Note – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports
countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for
international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial
knowledge on renewable energy.
NHAI’s 1st Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22: highlights NHAI’s initiatives for Environment
Sustainability
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH),
has published its inaugural ‘Sustainability Report for FY 2021–22: Building A Sustainable Road
Infrastructure’, which highlights the effectiveness of various efforts undertaken by the NHAI toward the
conservation of environment and energy.

• The report, prepared as per the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting guidelines, was released
by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, MoRTH.
Gist of the report:
i.Between FY 2019-20 and 2021-22, the direct emission has been reduced by 18.44% and 9.49% due to less
fuel consumption.
• NHAI is also working towards reducing indirect emissions, by transiting towards clean and green
energy sources.
ii.Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions from energy consumption, operations, transport and travel measured in
Metric Tonnes (Carbon dioxide) CO2 equivalent (MTCO2eq)/Kilometer(Km) constructed have witnessed a
decline of 9.7% in FY 2020-21 and 2% in FY 2021-22.
• GHG Emission Intensity was at 22.23 in FY 2019-2020, 12.47 in FY 2020-21 and 10.50 in FY 2021-
2022.
iii.NHAI has also reduced its dependency on fuel for energy consumption. The Energy Intensity of NHAI in Giga
Joules(GJ)/km by 37% in FY 2020-21 and 27% in FY 2021-22, while the kilometres constructed through the
reporting period have been rising steadily.
• The coverage of electronic toll collection through FASTag (with 97.5 % penetration) has contributed
to reducing carbon footprint.
iv.NHAI has been using recycled materials (Recycled Asphalt (RAP) and Recycled Aggregates (RA)) for National
Highway(NH) construction. In the past 3 years, the use of fly ash and plastic waste in construction was also
increased.
v.As a part of its efforts to ensure wildlife protection and conservation and to reduce the man-animal conflict
across India, more than 100 Wildlife Crossings were created in 3 years across 20 States.
Plantation drive of NHAI:
NHAI undertook the plantation drives to develop eco-friendly NHs.
i.More than 2.74 crore saplings were planted till 2021-22 to offset direct emissions from the vehicles.
ii.NHAI has also partnered with various stakeholders like, State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM), Self Help
Groups(SHG), Corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to
organise plantation drives.
iii.In July 2022, NHAI planted around 1.1 lakh plants in a single day through simultaneous plantations at 114
identified locations across India.
Gender diversity:
i.The report highlights the commitment of NHAI towards creating inclusive and responsible work practices.
ii.In the past 3 years, NHAI has increased the employment of women and marginalized communities. Female
hiring has increased by 7.4% in 3 financial year.
Note – According to the MoEF&CC Study on ‘A Rapid Assessment of Avoided CO2 Emissions during
Construction, Maintenance and Operation of National Highways’ a total of 77,265 KM of national highways have
been constructed since 2014 to date, which can potentially avoid 32.15 million tonnes of CO2 annually and
642.95 million tonnes of CO2 cumulatively over a period of 20 years.
About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):
NHAI was constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1988.
Chairman– Santosh Kumar Yadav
Tracking SDG7: 2.3 people use polluting fuel & 675 million have no Electricity
According to the report titled “Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress 2023” released on 6th June 2023,
around 2.3 billion people across the globe are still using polluting fuels and technologies for cooking and
around 675 million people did not have access to electricity in 2021.
• The report states that the world is not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
7 for energy by 2030.

• The report highlighted that despite the progress across various indicators of SDG 7 agenda, the
current rates of progress is insufficient to achieve the 2030 targets.
Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report:
i.The Report acts as a global reference point for information on the realization of SDG 7: Affordable and Clean
Energy
ii.The report is produced annually, since 2018, by five agencies: International Energy Agency (IEA), the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World
Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), which are responsible for tracking global progress toward
SDG7.
Access to Clean Fuels & Technologies For Cooking:
It is estimated that around 71% of the world’s population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in
2021. This represents an increase of 2%
points since 2020 and 14 points since 2000.
• The usage of polluting fuels and technologies increases the risk of chronic diseases among
household members(especially women and children).
• This also contributes to climate change, perpetuating gender inequity, and compromising actions for
sustainable development.
The report stated that around 1.9 billion people across the globe will not have access to clean cooking in 2030.
• If the current rate of progress continues, around 6 out of 10 people without access to clean cooking
in 2030 would reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Note: Around 3.2 million people across the globe die due to illness caused due to polluting fuels and
technology, which increases exposure to toxic levels of household air pollution.
Access to Electricity:
Globally, access to electricity grew by an annual average of 0.7% points between 2010 and 2021. The pace of
annual growth slowed during 2019–21 to 0.6% points
• In 2010, 84% of the world’s population had access to electricity. This increased to 91% in 2021.
• More than 80% of those without electricity(around 567 million in 2021) reside in sub-Saharan
Africa, similar to the deficit in 2010.
International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development and
renewable energy production, including in hybrid systems, in 2021 was about USD 10.8 billion
Executive Director– Fatih Birol
Established in 1974
World Bank trims India’s Growth Forecast to 6.3% for 2023

On June 6, 2023, the World Bank (WB) in its Global Economic Prospects Report-June 2023 lowered India’s
growth outlook to 6.3% for 2023, a 0.3 percentage point downward revision from 6.6% in January 2023.
However, India will remain the fastest-growing economy (in terms of both aggregate and per capita GDP) of the
largest EMDEs (Emerging Market and Developing Economies).
• India’s growth to pick up slightly through FY2025/26 as inflation moves back toward the midpoint
of the tolerance range and reforms payoff.
• For 2024, WB expects GDP growth rate at 6.4%. While for 2025 forecast, the growth rate is expected
at 6.5%.
Reason behind the slowdown:
Slowdown is attributed to private consumption being constrained by high inflation and rising borrowing costs,
while government consumption is impacted by fiscal consolidation.

Key Points w.r.t. India:
i.The growth forecast for India in 2023-24 has been revised downward by the WB, citing a decline in private
consumption and a significant global slowdown.
ii.The manufacturing sector experienced a rebound throughout 2023, following a contraction in the second half
of 2022.
iii.Investment growth remained strong as the government increased capital expenditure.
iv.In terms of employment, the first quarter of 2023 saw a decrease in unemployment rate to 6.8%, the lowest
since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an increase in labor force participation.
v.India’s headline consumer price inflation has returned to a range of 2-6 percent, which falls within the central
bank’s tolerance band.
The Global Story:
i.The global economy is projected to “slow substantially” this year, with a “pronounced deceleration” in
advanced economies
ii.Global growth is projected to decelerate from 3.1% in 2022 to 2.1% in 2023.
• It will be 2.4% in 2024 and 3% in 2025.
iii.Global growth is projected to slow significantly amid high inflation, tight monetary policy, and more
restrictive credit conditions.
iv.In EMDEs other than China, growth is set to slow to 2.9% in 2023 from 4.1% in 2022.
v.In advanced economies, growth is set to decelerate from 2.6% in 2022 to 0.7% in 2023 and remain weak in
2024 at 1.2%.
vi.Public debt averages in Low income countries about 70% of GDP. 14 low-income countries are already in, or
at high risk of, debt distress.
vii.On the regional front, South Asia is projected to edge down to 5.9% in 2023 and then to 5.1% in 2024.
About Global Economic Prospects Report:
This WB Group Flagship Report is a product of the Prospects Group in the Development Economics (DEC) and
Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) Vice Presidencies. It examines global economic developments
and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies. It is issued twice a year, in
January and June.
i.According to the WB report titled Connecting to Compete 2023: Trade Logistics in an Uncertain Global
Economy – the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and its indicators” released on April 21, 2023, India’s rank
increased by 6 places to 38 in the index, from 44 in 2018.
ii.According to the WB report “Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia,”
concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) like soot and small dust (PM 2.5) in some of South Asia’s most
densely populated and underdeveloped areas are up to 20 times higher than the World Health Organization
(WHO) threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/mʒ).
About World Bank (WB):
President (WB Group)– Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington D.C, United States (US)
Member Nations – 189
IEA report: Global Renewable Capacity Additions to increase by 107 GW in 2023

According to Renewable Energy Market Update – June 2023 of International Energy Agency (IEA), the Global
renewable capacity additions are set to increase by 107 gigawatts (GW), the largest absolute increase ever, to
more than 440 GW in 2023.
• The growth in renewable capacity is fueled by the expanding policy support, growing energy
security concerns and improving competitiveness against fossil fuel alternatives.

Global perspective:
i.Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, including both large utility-scale and small distributed systems, accounts for
two-thirds of 2023’s projected increase in global renewable capacity.
ii.Solar PV additions will continue to increase in 2024 while challenges remain for wind expansion. Without
rapid policy implementation, the global onshore wind additions in 2024 are expected to fall by around 5% from
2023 levels.
iii.Global renewable capacity additions could reach 550 GW in 2024 in our accelerated case, almost 20% higher
than in the main forecast.
iv.China’s contribution to global renewable capacity additions is expected to increase in 2023 and 2024,
consolidating its position as the undisputed leader in global deployment.
India perspective:
i.India’s renewable capacity additions are expected to increase again in 2023 and 2024, owing to faster onshore
wind, hydropower and distributed solar PV deployment.
ii.The utility-scale solar PV capacity additions (made up mainly of capacity awarded in auctions) of India in
2022 reached to 14 GW, accounting for over two-thirds of RE growth in India.
iii.The lower auction volumes and supply chain challenges in 2023 indicates that slowdown of almost 20% is
probable, with a possible recovery in 2024.
• The auction volumes dropped by one-third in 2022, only 10 GW was awarded (lowest amount since
2017).
iv.In March 2023, the government of India ordered federal agencies to increase auction capacity to 50 GW
annually starting in FY 2023-2024. This will lead to higher deployment beyond 2025.
v.India aims to expand its domestic manufacturing prompts the supply-demand mismatch and higher prices in
the short term, affecting PV expansion in 2023 and 2024.
• Previously, India has imported almost 90% of its solar PV modules from China. IEA states that two
rounds of the production-linked incentives (PLIs) for PV manufacturing will allow India to become
fully self-sufficient in terms of solar PV supply in the next 4 to 5 years.
vi.Wind power capacity additions are forecast to grow by almost 70% in 2023 year-on-year
The International Energy Agency (IEA) claimed in its country report titled “LiFE lessons from India -The
benefits of advancing the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative through the G20” that if adopted
worldwide, the measures specified under the LiFE initiative could save consumers around USD 440 billion in
2030, corresponding to around 5% of total fuel spending across the global economy that year.
Executive Director– Dr. Fatih Birol
Bond issuances by banks to fall below Rs 90,000cr in FY24: ICRA Report

According to the ICRA report on Indian Banking Sector, Bond issuances by banks are projected to decrease to
Rs 90,000 crore in FY24 from a record high of Rs 1.1 lakh crore in FY23. This is attributed to improved liquidity
conditions and increased inflows from foreign investors.
• Banks issue bonds as a means to secure funding and strengthen their capital base.
Reason behind the expected decrease in bond issuances:
Stronger foreign institutional investor (FII)/foreign portfolio investment (FPI) inflows, derecognition of the Rs
2,000 note, and a potential dividend from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are anticipated to alleviate liquidity
conditions temporarily.
Key Points:
i.Regarding Tier-I or Additional Tier I (ATI) bonds, issuances are projected to be lower than the levels observed
between FY2022 and FY2023, estimated at Rs 30,000-33,400 crore due to lower scheduled call options.
• Public sector banks (PSBs) will remain larger issuers of tier-I bonds in the current financial year.

• ATI bonds are unsecured bonds with no pre-determined maturity date, and are issued to raise
long-term capital.
ii.There will be a slight increase in outstanding Tier-I bonds, which are expected to reach Rs 1.3 lakh crore by
March 2024 compared to Rs 1.2 lakh crore as of March 2023.
iii.As for Tier-II bonds, a moderation is expected after the peak observed in FY23, which amounted to Rs 49,600
crore. However, some banks may still opt to raise infrastructure bonds.
iv.According to the latest RBI’s money market operation data, liquidity surplus has risen from around Rs
56,000 crore to Rs 2.11 lakh crore.
v.Bank credit growth, which was 15% in FY23 could moderate in FY24. Deposits grew by 9.6% in FY23.
vi.Combined issuances by banks and AIFIs ( All India Financial Institutions) touched a high of Rs. 2.0 lakh crore
in FY2023, with gross bond issuances by banks reaching an all-time high of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore.
Oral diseases affect more than 800 million people in the Western Pacific: WHO Report
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s “Global oral health status report Towards universal
health coverage for oral health by 2030 Regional summary of the Western Pacific Region” around 800 million
people, or 42% of people in the Western Pacific Region, suffer from oral diseases such as untreated dental
caries, gum disease, or tooth loss.
• If the countries in the region fail to integrate oral health services into universal health coverage
packages, the increasing population of older adults in the Region will increase the burden of oral
diseases in the future.
The Western Pacific Region- The most affected region:
i. The oral diseases in the region surged by 30% over the past 30 years (1990–2019), from an estimated 629
million cases in 1990 to more than 800 million cases in 2019.
ii.Compared to other regions of WHO, The Western Pacific Region has the highest prevalence of tooth loss,
around 92 million people in the region aged 20 years and above are missing all their teeth, including 1 in 5
adults above 60 years.
iii.Around half of the countries in the region spent less than USD 10 per person per year on oral health care. 5
countries spend between USD 11 and USD 50, and five high-income countries spend between USD 51 and USD
300.
• The global average spending for oral healthcare is USD 50 per person per year in 2019.
i.Countries in this region should make policy measures to reduce sugar intake and to ensure people receive
optimal levels of fluoride through drinking water.
ii.Oral diseases are one of the non-communicable diseases (NCD), and they can be reduced by low consumption
of tobacco and alcohol.
Resolutions adopted in WHO related to Oral Health:
i. In 2021, WHO member states adopted a historic resolution in oral health and suggested providing oral health
prevention and treatment as part of universal health coverage.
ii.At the 2022 World Health Assembly, the Global Strategy on Oral Health was adopted by member countries.
iii. At the 2023 World Health Assembly, the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030 targeted to achieve
universal Health Coverage for oral health by 2030 was adopted.
WHO western pacific region:
i.The Western Pacific Region is one of the six regions of the World Health Organization. Headquartered in
Manila, Philippines.
ii.It covers 37 countries in the western Pacific region including China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mongolia,
and others.

About World Health Organisation:
Director General- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Established– 1948
ICMR Study: India has 101 million diabetics & 136 million pre-diabetics & Goa has highest
prevalence
According to the new study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes(ICMR-
INDIAB), India has around 101 million people living with diabetes and 136 million people with pre-diabetes.
• The study showed that Goa has the highest population of diabetic patients. Around 26.4% of the
Goan population has diabetes.
Note:
The ICMR-INDIAB study is published in the medical journal “The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology”, a
monthly journal focused on diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism.
Gist of the report:
i.According to the study, the number of diabetic cases in India has increased by 44% from 70 million in 2019.
ii.The report stated that around 15.3% of the Indian population (around 136 million) is pre-diabetic.
• Pre-diabetic is a person who has higher-than-normal blood sugar levels but is not high enough to be
considered a diabetic.
State-wise break up:
As a part of this study, the researchers of ICMR-INDIAB studied the prevalence of major metabolic non-
communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and pre-diabetes from 31
states and Union Territories (UTs) of India.
i.Goa recorded the highest prevalence, around 26.4% of type 1 and type 2 diabetes cases.
ii.The UT of Puducherry stands 2nd with 26.3% followed by Kerala at 3rd place with 25.5% of cases.
iii.Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest prevalence, around 4.8%, of diabetes cases.
Status of other diseases:
The study also showed that besides diabetics, the cases of lifestyle diseases like hypertension and obesity have
also increased in India.
• More than 35.5% of the people in India had hypertension or high blood pressure.
• About 39.5% suffer from abdominal obesity and 28.6% suffer from overall obesity.
• Around 24% of the surveyed population suffer from hypercholesterolemia or high bad cholesterol
levels (LDL).
About the Survey:
i.The survey conducted between 18th October 2008 and 17th December 2020), is the largest survey on
diabetes and other metabolic non-communicable diseases undertaken in India.
ii.Under this survey, the researchers analysed the data of more than 1.13 lakh individuals. 75000 of these
people were from rural areas.
iii.Dr Ranjit Mohan Anjana, the President of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation was the first author of the
study.
Unemployment Rate fell to 7.7% in May: CMIE Report

Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt.Ltd.(CMIE) has recently released the data about the current
unemployment rate in India for May 2023.According to its statistics, Unemployment rate decreased to 7.7%
due to a decline in the labour participation at 441.9 million.
• In May 2023, the unemployment rate in India for individuals aged 15 years and above declined to 7.7%,
marking a decrease from 8.11% in April 2023.Meanwhile labour participation rate fell by 1.1 % point
to 39.6% in May when compared to April 2023.T

• The decline in labor participation was notably higher in rural India compared to urban India. Moreover,
the urban labor market observed a decrease in both the employed and unemployed populations.
About Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd.
Established: 1976
Managing Director: Mahesh Vyas
Headquarters: Mumbai,Maharashtra
Around 90% of people have at least one bias against Women: UNDP Report
According to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) report ‘2023 Gender Social Norms Index
(GSNI)- Breaking down gender biases: Shifting social norms towards gender equality‘, released on June 12,
2023, 90% of both men and women or almost 9 out of 10 men and women worldwide hold “at least one”
fundamental bias against women.
• There has been no progress on biases against women in the last decade. The report shows that
despite the rise in women’s rights groups and social movements over the past decade or so, progress
towards gender equality has stagnated.
• The publication of the 2023 GSNI was supported by financial contributions from the Republic of
Korea (South Korea).
Highlights:
i.It is also worth noting that in 38 of the surveyed countries, people with “at least one bias” decreased to just
84.6% from 86.9%.
ii.Prejudices remain “deeply embedded” in society along with cultural biases and pressures that have
continued to hinder women’s empowerment
iii.Nearly half the world’s people believe that men make better political leaders than women do, and two of five
people believe that men make better business executives than women do.
• On average, the share of women as heads of state or heads of government has remained around 10%
since 1995 and in the labour market women occupy less than a third of managerial positions.
iv.Gender biases are pronounced in both low and high Human Development Index (HDI) countries across
regions, income, level of development and cultures.
v.Women are more skilled and educated than ever before, yet even in the 59 countries where women are now
more educated than men, the average gender income gap remains a staggering 39% in favour of men.
vi.In countries with the highest levels of gender biases against women, it is estimated that women spend over 6
times as much time as men on unpaid care work.
vii.Only 27% of people believe that women having the same rights as men is essential for a democracy.
viii.25% of people or one in four respondents believes that a man beating his wife is justifiable.
ix.Some 28% believe that university is more important for men.
What is GSNI?
The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) captures beliefs on gender equality in capabilities and rights. First
introduced in the 2019 Human Development Report.
It quantifies biases against women, capturing people’s attitudes toward women’s roles along four key
dimensions: political, educational, economic and physical integrity. The index covers 85% of the global
population.
Assessment:
The GSNI draws upon data from 91 countries, encompassing the World Values Survey (WVS) waves 5 (2005-
2009), 6 (2010-2014), and 7 (2017-2022), with the latest update reflecting information as of 12 January 2023.
i.In February 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to eliminate plastic pollution in the world’s oceans
and rivers.

ii.According to the “Trade and Development Report Update: Global Trends and Prospects” (April 2023) report
published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India’s economic growth is
projected to decline to 6% in 2023 from 6.6% in 2022.
Headquarters– New York, United States (US)
Global Slavery Index 2023: With 11 Million Forced Labourers India tops among the G20
Nations
According to the Global Slavery Index 2023, an assessment of modern slavery conditions in 160 countries,
released by Australia-based Rights group Walk Free Foundation in May 2023, Globally, around 50
million(49.6 million) people were living in conditions of modern slavery in 2021, a 25% rise over the last five
years.
• Among the G20 nations, India tops the list with 11 million people working as forced labourers,
followed by China, Russia, Indonesia, Türkiye and the United States of America(USA).
• ⅔ of people in modern slavery were in India, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia,
Nigeria, Türkiye, Bangladesh and the USA.
• Asia and Pacific region has the largest number of modern slavery with 29.3 million people.
What is Modern slavery?
• It includes practices of forced labour, forced marriage, debt bondage, commercial sexual
exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and exploitation of children.
• It is also considered as any situation where threats, violence, coercion and deception prevent a
person from refusing or leaving.
Analysis over G20 Nations:
i.G20 nations account for more than half of all people living in modern slavery.
ii.In 2021, G20 countries imported USD 468 billion of at-risk products, including electronics, textiles, palm oil
and solar panels, have been shipped from countries with weak worker protection, thus worsening forced
labour conditions.
Global Analysis:
Top 5 Countries where Modern Slavery is more prevalent and least prevalent:
Most Prevalent Least Prevalent
1 North Korea 160 Switzerland
2 Eritrea 159 Norway
3 Mauritania 158 Germany
4 Saudi Arabia 157 Netherlands
5 Türkiye 156 Sweden
About Global Slavery Index 2023:
i.The 2023 Global Slavery Index provides an assessment of the extent to which a country’s population is
vulnerable to modern slavery for 160 countries.
ii.The index was framed based on the data released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Walk Free,
and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in 2022 to illustrate how “modern slavery is hidden in
plain sight”.
India’s Stance on Modern Slavery:
i.For the benefits of labour, India passed the Bonded Labour Abolition Act of 1976 which prohibits the practice
of bonded and forced labour, and identifies the responsibilities of State Governments to form vigilance
committees.
ii.The Act was amended in 1985 to include contract and migrant workers.

iii.India also has a Central scheme for the Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour, one part of which includes
providing financial assistance to the rescued individual (the 2016 amendment increased the amount of funds).
iv.The Supreme Court has previously ruled that non-payment of minimum wages amounts to ‘forced labour’
under Article 23 of the Constitution.
CBIC released National Time Release Study 2023 Report

On 15th June 2023, Vivek Johri, Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) released the
National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report which offers the port-category wise average release time for
2023.
• The data on the NTRS 2023 is based on the sample period- 1st week of January 2023, from 1st to 7th
January 2023 (both dates included).
Import Release Time: Arithmetic Mean of the period between ‘Arrival of Goods’ and the Customs granting of
“Out of Charge”.
Export Release Time: Arithmetic Mean of the time between the arrival of the cargo at the port and its physical
departure from port or customs station.
NTRS 2023:
i.NTRS 2023 was conducted at 15 customs ports acros 9 States.
ii.The data source of the study was the customs automated systems maintained by the Directorate Gereral of
Systems and Data Management, CBIC.
iii.NTRS 2023 compares the average release time to the performance during 2021 and 2022,
• To assess the progress towards the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) targets.
• To identify the impact of various trade facilitative initiatives, notably “Path to Promptness”.
• To identify the challenges to more expeditious reduction in release time.
iv.The ports included in the NTRS represents seaports, air cargo complexes (ACCs), inland container depot
(ICDs) and integrated check posts (ICPs).
• These accounts for around 80% of the bills of entry and 70% of shipping bills filed in India.
Gist of NTRS:
i.According to the study, the average import release time has improve in 2023 compared to 2022. achieving
20% reduction in release time for ICDs; 11% reduction for ACCs; and 9% reduction for seaports.
ii.In absolute terms, the import release time for seaports, ICDs, ACC and ICPs is 85:42 hours(Hrs) , 71:46 hrs,
44:16 hrs and 31:47 hrs, respectively.
iii.The measure of standard deviation has lowered which indicates a certainty of expeditious release of
imported Cargo.
iv.The NTRS 2023 reaffirms the “3 fold path to promptness” which comprises,
• advance filing of import documents enabling pre-arrival processing,
• risk-based facilitation of cargo
• benefits of trusted client programme – Authorised Economic Operators.
The cargoes with all 3 features combined achieve the NTFAP release time target across all port categories.
Key Findings:
i.By adopting the benchmark of regulatory clearance, the NTFAP release time targets were achieved in almost
all the port categories.
ii.The improvement in the release time was achieved through the efforts of various stakeholders like Customs,
port authorities, Customs Brokers and Participating Government Agencies (PGAs), in implementing the trade
facilitation measures.
India to overtake China in Oil Demand Growth by 2027: IEA Report

According to the ‘Oil 2023′ Analysis and forecast to 2028 report released by International Energy Agency
(IEA), India will surpass China as the main driver of global oil demand growth by 2027 as consumption expands
in fast-growing developing economies and contracts in the developed world.

Key Points:
i.China’s demand will fall consistently from 2024 after a massive rise in 2023. The United States (US), China,
and India are the world’s three largest oil consumers in that order.
ii.India consumed 222.30 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2022-23, 10.2% more year-on-year.
• The report mentioned India as the fastest-growing economy in the world, and projects Indian GDP
to expand by 4.8% in 2023, rising to 6.3% in 2024 before recovering to an even stronger 7% in
2025-28.
Global Analysis:
i.World oil demand in 2023 is expected to grow by 2.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) to 102.3 mb/d.
ii.Global crude output reached an estimated 82.3 million barrels per day till April 2023 due to record
production runs in Asia
iii.The report projected that on current government policies and market trends, global oil demand will rise by
6% between 2022 and 2028 to reach 105.7 million barrels per day (mb/d) amid robust demand from the
petrochemical and aviation sectors.
• Despite this cumulative increase, annual demand growth is expected to reduce from 2.4 mb/d in
2023 to just 0.4 mb/d in 2028.
iv.Oil use for transport going into decline after 2026 amid expansion of electric vehicles (EVs).
• This will reduce global growth in demand for oil: from 2.4 million barrels per day now to 400,000
barrels per day by 2028.
vi.Global upstream investments in oil and gas exploration, extraction and production are on course to reach
their highest levels since 2015, growing 11% year-on-year to USD 528 billion in 2023.
About Report:
It examines how a stronger drive by governments towards a low-emissions future and changes in behaviour
will impact oil market fundamentals in the coming years, and explores upcoming challenges.
Executive Director– Fatih Birol
World Bank Report: Subsidies Didn’t address Climate Change Instead Degrading Fossil Fuels,
Agriculture, and Fisheries
According to the report ‘Detox Development Repurposing Environmentally Harmful Subsidies’ , released by the
World Bank (WB), subsidies for three assets of fossil fuels, agriculture, and fisheries did not address the climate
change instead being the cause for the degradation of these assets and harming people, the planet, and
economies.
• The subsidies for the three assets exceed USD 7 trillion per year or about 8% of global Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
• These subsidies include both explicit subsidies,which are direct public expenditures totaling about USD
1.25 trillion and implicit subsidies, which measure the societal impacts of externalities and amount to
more than USD 6 trillion.
Key Analysis of the Report:
i.The report examines how subsidy reform could help safeguard the world’s foundational natural assets of
clean air, land, and oceans.
ii.As per the report, subsidy reform could reduce air pollution and save up to 360,000 lives by 2035 in 25 high-
pollution, high-subsidy countries.
iii.Fossil fuel:
• Fossil fuel usage which is incentivized by vast subsidies is being the main cause for the 7 million
premature deaths each year due to air pollution.
• About 94% of the world’s population is exposed to unsafe particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations.

iv.Agriculture:
• Agricultural subsidies are responsible for the loss of 2.2 million hectares of forest per year, equivalent to
14% of global deforestation.
• Subsidy-driven deforestation causes the spread of vector-transmitted diseases including 3.8 million
additional cases of malaria each year, with an economic impact of up to USD 19 billion per year.
• In India, 1.36 billion people (99% of the population) are exposed to unsafe PM2.5 concentrations (that
is, over 5 μg/m3), of which 1.33 billion (96%) face hazardous levels (over 35 μg/m3).
v.Fisheries:
• More than 34% of fisheries are overfished, and this situation is exacerbated by open-access regimes and
capacity increasing subsidies.
• Fisheries subsidies, which exceed USD 35 billion each year, are a key driver of dwindling fish stocks,
oversized fishing fleets, and falling profitability.
• Inefficient subsidy usage is responsible for up to 17% of all nitrogen pollution in water in the past 30
years, which has large enough health impacts on reducing labor productivity by up to 3.5%.
Other Highlights of the Report:
i.Countries around the world actively paid about USD 577 billion in 2021 to artificially lower the price of
polluting fuels such as oil, gas, and coal.
ii.Poor air quality is responsible for approximately 1 in 5 deaths globally. A significant number of these deaths
can be attributed to fossil fuel subsidies.
iii.Agriculture is the largest user of land worldwide, feeding the world and employing 1 billion people,
including 78% of the world’s poor.
iv.Oceans, which support the world’s fisheries and supply about 3 billion people with almost 20 percent of their
intake of animal protein, are in a collective state of crisis.
About World Bank(WB):
World Bank Group President – David Malpass
Headquarters – Washington, DC, USA
FAO Report: Food Imports by Most Vulnerable Countries Expected to Decline; Global Food Bill
to Rise to USD 1.98 trillion in 2023
According to the ‘Food Outlook Biannual Report On Global Food Markets’ report released by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, on June 15, 2023, the global food bill was expected to rise
to USD (United States Dollar) 1.98 trillion in 2023, up 1.5% from 2022. It rose by 11% in 2022 and 18% in
2021.
• The food imports by most vulnerable countries are expected to decline in 2023 due to higher
quotations for fruits, vegetables, sugar and dairy products, dampening demand.
Key Analysis of the Report:
i.The world food import bill was forecasted to reach a record high in 2023 and the food imports by advanced
economies are continuing to increase.
ii.The import bill for the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is predicted to decline by 1.5% in 2023
and that for net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs) to decline by 4.9 percent.
iii.Thus the decline in food import volumes in LDCs and developing countries suggests a decline in the
purchasing capacity.
Trends of Commodity
i.Global production of coarse grains is forecasted to rise by 3.0 percent to 1513 million tonnes.
ii.World rice production is forecasted to rise by 1.3 percent in 2023/24 to 523.5 million tonnes, while
international trade is expected to drop by 4.3% in volume terms to 53.6 million tonnes.
iii.World wheat production in 2023 is expected to decline by 3.0 percent from its all-time high of 777 million
tonnes in 2022, mainly due to expected decreases in the Russian Federation and Australia.

iv.Global outputs of oil crops, milk and sugar are all expected to increase. For meat, pig and bovine meat
volumes could drop slightly in 2023.
v.Global production of aquatic animals is also expected to grow in 2023 due to an anticipated increase in
aquaculture production as capture fisheries are seen contracting.
Kathmandu-based ICIMOD Study Report: Himalayan glaciers might lose 75% of their ice by
2100
According to the study report issued by Kathmandu (Nepal) based intergovernmental scientific authority
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas are
melting at unprecedented rates and are expected to lose up to 75% of their volume by 2100 due to global
warming.
• The Hindu Kush Himalaya stretches about 3,500 km (2,175 miles) across India, Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan encompassing the peaks like Everest and
K2.
Key Findings of the Report:
i.As per the report, the melting of glaciers could cause dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240
million people who live in the mountainous Himalayan region.
ii.The report warns that if greenhouse gases (GHGs) are not drastically reduced, flash floods and avalanches
will become more common in the coming years.
iii.The report also mentioned that due to glacier melting, the availability of freshwater would be impacted
which in turn affect the 240 million people who live in the Himalayan region as well as another 1.65 billion who
live downstream of the 12 rivers that originate in the Himalayan mountains.
iv.According to recent research, Mount Everest’s glaciers have lost 2,000 years of ice in the last 30 years.
v.The report stated that at 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) or 2°C of warming above preindustrial temperatures,
glaciers across the entire region will lose 30% to 50% of their volume by 2100.
• In the Eastern Himalayas (which includes Nepal and Bhutan), a 3°C warming could result in a loss of
up to 75% of the ice, at 4 °C warming, the loss could increase to 80%.
vi.The report also warns that water flows in the region’s 12 river basins, including the Ganges, Indus, and
Mekong, are expected to peak around mid-century, affecting over 1.6 billion people who rely on those water
sources.
Note – The name the Hindu Kush comes from the Persian words Hindu and kush, meaning ‘killer of Hindus.’
National Energy Data: Survey and Analysis 2021-22 Report, Released by MNRE
On 23rd June 2023, The report titled National Energy Data: Survey and Analysis 2021-22 was released by Raj
Kumar Singh, Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New
Delhi, Delhi.
• This report is produced by the Energy Data Management Unit under the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency(BEE), Ministry of Power in collaboration with NITI Aayog(National Institution for
Transforming India) which provides detailed insights into energy supply and consumption patterns
across various sectors of the Indian economy.
The report presents,
• extensive data compiled from FY (Financial Year) 2016-17 to FY 2021-22, of fuel-wise energy
consumption in major end-use sectors.
• the impact of various energy conservation policies carbon dioxide emission reduction and monetary
savings.
Key highlights of the report:
Value Addition:
i.The report provides detailed fuel-wise energy consumption data for various sectors which enables to
understand their energy profiles.
ii.The use of distinct conversion factors for domestic coal and imported coal, based on different calorific values,
provides a realistic picture of coal-based energy supply and consumption in the country.
iii.The report incorporates the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation’s (MOSPI) 2023 report,
which employs a weighted average methodology to derive coal conversion factors for different grades of coal.
iv.This report also provides us with the impact of various policies on energy savings and Carbon dioxide(CO2)
emission reduction with corresponding monetary savings.
New Insights:
i.By utilizing Indian coal conversion factors instead of the International Energy Agency’s conversion factors, it
is revealed that the energy for the past six years was actually 18% lower than previously reported.
ii.The report indicates an 8% decrease in energy consumption in the year 2021-22.
iii.The share of electrification on consumption has increased to 20.9%.
Usefulness:
i.The report helps for assessing the availability of data on various energy products in the country.
ii.It enables policymakers to analyze the energy intensity of the country, facilitating the formulation of robust
policies and necessary course corrections.
Way Forward:
i.The report highlights the need to bridge the data gap related to non-commercial energy sources such as
biomass, which play a significant role in meeting energy needs.
ii.There is a need to enhance exploration data, including 2D(two-dimensional) and 3D(three dimensional)
surveys.
iii.Future editions of the report are expected to incorporate data from government-subsidized projects and
capture additional information on energy sources.
iv.The primary goal is to minimize our reliance on imported energy sources. To achieve this, we have a two-fold
approach: firstly, we aim to electrify the economy, and secondly, we strive to transition to greener energy
alternatives.
NOTE: The presentation of the report was given by Abhay Bakre, Director General, BEE.
About Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE):
Union Minister– Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency-Arrah,Bihar)
State Minister– Bhagwanth Khuba (Constituency-Bidar,Karnataka)
Inflation is slowing down Personal Consumption Expenditure: RBI Report

As per the article State of the Economy authored by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Michael
Debabrata Patra and other RBI officials, inflation is slowing down personal consumption expenditure. On the
other hand, it is moderating corporate sales and holding back private investment in capacity creation.
• This article is a part of monthly RBI Bulletin released on June 23, 2023.
• It should be noted that the views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not
represent the views of RBI.
Key Points:
i.The manufacturing, construction, and services sector are the vivid areas on the aggregate supply side.
ii.Manufacturing posted a pick-up in net profits in January-March 2023 for the first time, after three
consecutive quarters of slowdown in profitability.
iii.In construction sector, there will be growth driven by public spending on Capital Expenditure (Capex),
including Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and surging launches and sale of residential housing units.
iv.Services, which constitutes more than 60% of the gross value added in the economy, are likely to sustain
their post-pandemic resurgence.
v.Travel platforms, airlines and hotel chains have strong summer demand in spite of high air fares on both
domestic and international routes, and hotel tariffs are already on par with pre-pandemic levels.
vi.In the e-commerce space, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), substantially boost gross value
added by the trade sector, accelerate overall economic growth and reap productivity gains.

vii.On the agriculture front, wheat procurement is 39.5% higher than the full season procurement last year
from 2022.
• Revision in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 14 major kharif crops led to an effective increase of
7.5% in procurement prices.
RBI’s Insights on Inflation: Highlights from the June MPC Meeting
i. During the June 2023 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the six-member MPC left the repo rate
unchanged at 6.5% for the second time.
ii.The MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) expressed its view that inflation’s trajectory warrants ‘continuous
vigil’, which means MPC needs to maintain constant and careful monitoring of inflation.
iii.The RBI has been mandated by the government to maintain CPI at 4% with a band of +/-2%
iv.Retail inflation or consumer price index-based inflation (CPI), which averaged 6.7% in in 2022-23, eased to
4.25% in May 2023 from 4.7% in April 2023.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Deputy Governors –Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar, and
Swaminathan Janakiraman
Just 2.4% of Climate Funds used as Supporting Child-Responsive Activities: UNICEF Report
According to the new report titled “Falling short: Addressing the climate finance gap for children” released
on 22nd June 2023, by the members of the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) coalition; Plan
International, Save the Children, and United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), despite bearing the impacts of
the climate crisis, children are being failed by climate funding commitments.
• The report states that just 2.4% of climate finance from the key Multilateral Climate Funds (MCFs), a
cumulative USD 1.2 billion, or USD 70.6 million annual average (USD 0.03 per capita), can be
classified as supporting projects incorporating child-responsive activities.
• In total, 591 project proposals were assessed, covering a 17-year period from 2006 to March 2023.
• This figure is likely an overestimate, as even less money is dedicated to meeting the requirements.
Highlights:
i.While MCFs play a crucial role in setting agendas, mobilizing investments from other public and private
finance institutions, they contributed less than 4% of projects, representing 7% of MCF investment ($2.58
billion), prioritize the needs and involvement of girls.
ii.The UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index indicates that over a billion children face extremely high risks from
climate impacts.
iii.Children are particularly vulnerable to water and food scarcity, water-borne diseases, and physical and
psychological trauma due to climate effects.
• This also disrupts children’s access to basic services like education, healthcare, and clean drinking
water.
Assessment:
The report used a set of three criteria to assess climate finance from MCFs serving the UNFCCC (United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Paris Agreement. These were:
i.Addressing the distinct and heightened risks they experience from the climate crisis,
ii.Strengthening the resilience of child-critical social services
iii.Empowering children as agents of change.
Key recommendations highlighted in Report:
i.Act swiftly to address the adaptation gap.
ii.Allocate funding for losses and damages caused by climate change.

iii.Prioritize children’s well-being and critical social services.
iv.Target the most vulnerable children at high risk due to climate impacts.
Number of people battling Drug Addiction globally up to 296 million: UNODC World Drug
Report 2023
According to the 2023 World Drug Report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2023 (26th June
2023), globally around 296 million people used drugs in 2021, a 23% increase over the previous decade.
• Based on the new data, the global estimate of people who inject drugs in 2021 at 13.2 million, an
18% higher than the estimates for 2020.
• The number of people who suffer from drug use disorders also increased to 39.5 million, a 45%
increase over 10 years.
Note: The report was released during the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) special event in Vienna,
Austria.
What is in the report?
The report covers drug trafficking, environmental crimes, clinical trials with psychedelics and medical cannabis
use, drug use in humanitarian settings, innovative drug treatment, drugs and conflict, socioeconomic
inequalities driving drug challenges, environmental devastation caused by illicit drug economies, human rights
abuses, and the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs.
Highlights:
i.The demand for treating drug-related disorders is largely unmet, with only one in five people receiving
treatment for drug use in 2021.
ii.Youth populations are particularly vulnerable to drug use and are heavily impacted by substance use
disorders in various regions, such as Africa where 70% of people in treatment are under the age of 35.
iii.There is a need for prioritizing public health, prevention measures, and improving access to treatment
services.
• The right to health is not granted to many individuals who use drugs as inequalities persist in
accessing and obtaining controlled drugs for medical purposes.
iv.Law enforcement responses should keep pace with agile criminal business models and the growing
availability of cheap synthetic drugs in the market.
• The cheap, easy, and fast production of synthetic drugs has radically transformed many illicit drug
markets.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director- Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
First-Ever Report on Critical Minerals Unveiled by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

On 28th June 2023, Shri Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister of Mines, released the first-ever report on “Critical
Minerals for India” which was constituted by the Ministry of Mines. This landmark report identifies 30 essential
minerals crucial to sectors such as defence, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and telecom. The
comprehensive list marks a significant milestone for India, aligning with the nation’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-
reliance) roadmap.
Note: Shri Pralhad Joshi also acting as Cabinet Minister for Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Coal
About the report on “Critical Minerals for India”:
i. The report sheds light on the indispensable role of these critical minerals in driving economic development
and ensuring national security. Industries such as high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transportation,
and defence heavily rely on these minerals.

ii. Additionally, the identified minerals play a vital role in facilitating the global transition to a low-carbon
economy and supporting renewable energy technologies, aligning with worldwide ‘Net Zero’ commitments.
List of identified minerals: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite,
Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorus, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon,
Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.
Note: Alongside identifying the critical minerals, the committee recommended the establishment of the Centre
of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) within the Ministry of Mines whose primary purpose is to
periodically update the list of critical minerals for India, devise the critical mineral strategy, and undertake
various functions aimed at developing an efficient value chain for these minerals.
Outcomes:
• The introduction of the report on critical minerals signifies a significant stride for India, providing a
clear roadmap for strategic planning, policy formulation, and investments in the mining sector.
• By identifying these critical minerals, India aims to enhance its self-sufficiency and meet the
requirements of key sectors contributing to its economic growth and national security.
Background:
Recognizing the importance of identifying and establishing value chains for critical minerals, the Ministry of
Mines constituted a committee in November 2022, led by the Joint Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Mines.
Through thorough deliberations, the committee meticulously determined the list of critical minerals.
Additional Info:
Furthermore, India’s recent inclusion in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) during Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States further strengthens the nation’s critical mineral supply chains.
About Ministry of Mines:
Cabinet Minister – Shri Pralhad Joshi (Constituency : Dharwad in Karnataka)
Ministers of State – Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao
India Removed From UNSG Report On Impact Of Armed Conflict On Children

India has been removed from an annual report on the impact of armed conflict on children, by UN Secretary
General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres on the impact of conflict in view of the measures taken by the government to
better protect children.
• Guterres also acknowledged India’s technical mission and a workshop on strengthening child
protection.
India had been included in the report since 2010, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Lake Chad Basin,
Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Sahitya Akademi announced winners of Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar Awards
2023
On 22nd June 2023, the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, an
autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture chaired by Madhav Kaushik, President,
Sahitya Akademi declared a list of 22 recipients of its Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 20 winners of
its Yuva Puraskar for the year 2023.
• The works were selected on the basis of recommendations made by the Jury of 3 members each in
concerned language in accordance with rules and procedure laid down for the purpose.

Award:
The winners of Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar and
Yuva Puraskar 2023 awards will receive the award in the form
of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cheque
of Rs.50000 each at a ceremony to be held later.
Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023:
i. It is an annual award established in 2010 for the most
outstanding book by an Indian author, first published in any of
the languages recognized by the Akademi during the five years
prior to the year, immediately preceding the year of the award,
i.e. books published between 2017 and 2021 are considered.
ii. In order to be eligible for the award, the Children’s book must be an outstanding contribution to the language
and literature to which it belongs.
iii. The book must be a creative one not a work of translation or an anthology of multiple authors and is meant
for the target readership of 9 to 16 years age group.
iv. The Executive Board declares the awards on the basis of majority vote by the jury.
v. The Akademi announced 22 winners in the category and the award will be given for 1 Stories, 7 Short stories,
7 Novels, 1 Poetry and Stories, 1 Play, 1 Memoir and 4 Poetry.
Note: There is no award in Kashmiri language for 2023 and the award in the Manipuri language will be
declared later.
Table of Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023:
S.No. Awardee Language Title
Short stories
1 Suryanath Singh Hindi Kotuk App
2 Jugal Kishore Sarangi Odia Jejenka Gapa Ganthili
3 Gurmeet Karyalvi Punjabi Sachi Di Kahani
4 Mansing Majhi Santali Nene-Pete
5 D.K. chaduvula Babu Telugu Vajrala Vaana
6 Late Mateen Achalpuri (Posthumous) Urdu Mamta Ki Dor
7 Pratima Nandi Narzaree Bodo Gosaini Gwjwn Nwjwr
Novels
1 Rothindranath Goswami Assamese Powalmoni Aru Chichingar Duhxahaxik Abhijan
2 Shyamalkanti Das Bengali Eroplaner Khata
3 Vijayashree Haladi Kannada Surakki Gate
4 Tukaram Rama Shet Konkani Jaann
5 Priya A.S. Malayalam Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal
6 Radhavallabh Tripathy Sanskrit Manavi
7 Udhayasankar Tamil Aadhanin Bommai
Poetry
1 Balwan Singh Jamoria Dogri Kanjkan
2 Akshay Anand ‘Sunny’ Maithili Ol Katra, Jhol Katra
3 Eknath Avhad Marathi Chhand Dei Aanand

4 Dholan Rahi Sindhi Vanganmal Ji Shaadi
Stories
1 Sudha Murty English Grandparent’s Bag of Stories
Play
1 Madhusudan Bisht Neplai Bal Ekanki Natakharu
Memoir
1 Kiran Badal Rajasthani Tabran Ri Duniyan
Click to know everything about Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023
Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2023:
i. It is an annual award established in 2011 to recognise young writers of the age 35 years and below in Indian
languages.
ii. The Akademi announced 20 winners in the category and the award will be given for 9 Short Stories, 7 Poetry,
1 Plays, 1 Criticism, 1 Historical, 1 Novel.
Note: Awards in Manipuri, Maithili and Sanskrit languages will be declared later.
Table of Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2023:
S.No. Awardee Language Title
Short Stories
1 Jintu Gitartha Assamese Mon Mora Tora
2 Hamiruddin Middya Bengali Mathrakha
3 Sagar Shah Gujarati Get Together
4 Manjunayak Challur Kannada Phoo Mattu Ithara Kathegalu
Tanvi Kamat
5 Bambolkar Konkani Shots
6 Bapi Tudu Santali Dusi
7 Monika J. Panjwani Sindhi Glamour
8 Ram Thangam Tamil Thirukarthiyal
9 Tauseef Bareilvi Urdu Zahan Zaad
Poetry
1 Mainasori Daimary Bodo Som, Jiu, Arw
2 Nighat Nasreen Kashmiri Lalli Nilvath Tchali Na Zanh
3 Ganesh Puthur Malayalam Achante Alamara
4 Vishakha Vishwanath Marathi Swatahala Swataviruddh Ubhe Kartana
5 Naina Adhikari Nepali Ghat-Pratightka Udgarharu
6 Sanddep Punjabi Chitt Da Jugraphia
7 Deilal Mahiya Rajasthani Atas Ro Olmo
Plays
1 Dheeraj Bismil Dogri Ahlada
Historical
Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the
1 Anirudh Kanisetti English cholas

Criticism
1 Johny Takkedasila Telugu Vivechani
Novel
1 Atul Kumar Rai Hindi Chandpur Ki Chanda
Click to know everything about Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2023
About Ministry of Culture:
Union Minister- Gangapuram Kishan Reddy (Constituency: Secunderabad, Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS)- Arjun Ram Meghwal (Constituency: Bikaner, Rajasthan )Meenakashi Lekhi
(Constituency: New Delhi, NCT of Delhi)
Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo received 57th Jnanpith Award

On 27th May 2023, Damodar Mauzo, an eminent Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner,
received the 57th Jnanpith Award from P S Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, at an event held at the Raj
Bhavan, Panaji, Goa.
• He is the 2nd konkani writer after Ravindra Kelekar to receive the award. Ravindra Kelekar was
the recipient of the 42nd Jnanpith Award.
• He was honoured with the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, for his outstanding
contribution to literature.
Note:
• Nilmani Phookan, an Assamese poet received the 56th Jnanpith Award.
About Damodar Mauzo:
i.DamodarMauzo from Majorda, Goa is a short story writer, novelist, columnist and screenplay writer.
ii. He published his first collection of short stories “Ganthan” in 1971.
iii. His story “Angvonn” was televised as a Hindi Serial Ek Kahani titled as “Manauti” in Doordarshan and it
would re-run several times over the years.
iv. He has served as a member of the executive board, General Council, as well as the finance committee of the
SahityaAkademi.
Notable Works:
He has published around 25 books in Konkani and one in English.
• Some of his notable works include: Ganthon (1971), Karmelin (1983), Tsunami Simon (1996),
Teresa’s Man and Other Stories from Goa (2014), The Wait and Other Stories (2022).
Awards and Honours:
i. In 1978, DamodarMauzo received the Goa state literary award for his attempt at children’s literature
“KanniEka Khomsachi”.
ii. In 1983, DamodarMauzo was honoured with the prestigious “SahityaAkademi“ award for his novel
“Karmelin”.
iii. In 2011, he won the prestigious Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar for his novel Tsunami
Simon.
About Jnanpith Award:
i. The Jnanpith Award is recognised as the oldest and the highest Indian literature for English and other Indian
languages.
ii. The award is presented annually by the BharatiyaJnanpith, a cultural organisation and it was instituted in
1961 by BharatiyaJnanpith trust founded by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain family.
• The Award carries a Cash Prize of 11 Lakhs, a citation and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati,
the Goddess of learning).

IISc named Hypersonic Wind Tunnel After Late Prof Roddam Narasimha
On 28th May 2023, Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru, Karnataka, named its 0.5 Meter Diameter
enclosed free-jet Hypersonic Wind Tunnel after Late Professor Roddam Narasimha, an aerospace scientist,
to recognise his pioneering efforts in experimental hypersonics in India.
Key People: Samir V Kamat, Secretary to the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)participated in the naming event and S Somanath, Secretary to
the Department of Space and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attended the event
virtually.
About Prof Roddam Narasimha:
i.His association with IISC Bangalore dates back to the early 1960s and he laid the foundation for high-speed
aerodynamics research in India.
ii.He was the chief Project Coordinator at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( 1984-1993) and as Director of the
National Institute of advanced Studies, Bengaluru (1997-2004)
iii.He was the longest-serving member of the Space Commission, India’s premier space policy-making body,
from 1989 through 2012, advising the top science and technology leadership of the country on various
programmes, projects, and approaches.
Awards:
He was awarded Padma Vibushan, the Second-highest civilian award in India, in 2013 for his contribution to
work (Science & Engineering).
About Hypersonic Wind Tunnel:
i.The cutting-edge wind tunnel technology generates a circular air jet at hypersonic speeds, capable of reaching
Mach 10(Mach 1 is equal to 343 metres per second)
ii.This facility enables researchers to simulate and study hypersonic flight conditions by placing test materials
within the high-speed air jet.
• IISc Bengaluru also has three supersonic and two hypersonic wind tunnels in total. Two other
hypersonic wind tunnel facilities at ISRO and DRDO.
JSW Steel becomes 1st Manufacturer to get CII’s GreenPro Ecolabel

JSW Steel Limited, a flagship company of the JSW Group and an integrated steel manufacturer, has become the
First Manufacturer to receive GreenPro ecolabel for its ‘Automotive Steel’ products.
The GreenPro Ecolabel, developed by the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)’s Green Business Centre,
recognises the highest standards of environmental sustainability and product performance in the Indian
manufacturing sector.
• JSW Steel Vijayanagar’s ‘Automotive Steel’ products underwent rigorous assessments and met the
stringent criteria set by the GreenPro certification.
• The certification signifies that JSW Steel’s products are manufactured with due care to their
environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, including raw material sourcing, production
processes, energy consumption, and end-of-life management.
• The GreenPro ecolabel for JSW Steel’s ‘Automotive Steel’ products will help automotive
manufacturers make informed choices, promoting the adoption of sustainable materials in their
supply chains, said the company.
Note: GreenPro is a Type – 1 Ecolabel which enables the end users in the building sector and manufacturing
industries to choose right products, materials and technologies for reducing the environment impacts during
the construction, operation and maintenance of their buildings and factories.
AIIMS Nagpur Becomes 1st AIIMS to Receive NABH Accreditation

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Nagpur, Maharashtra has become the first of all AIIMS to
be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).

• NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), set up to establish and operate
accreditation programme for healthcare organisations.
• The NABH accreditation is a globally recognized standard for healthcare quality. The NABH
accreditation assesses a hospital’s performance in a number of areas, including patient care, safety,
and organisational efficiency.
BoB announced nominations for the Inaugural Rashtrabhasha Samman Award

Bank of Baroda(BoB), India’s leading public sector bank, announced the nominations for the 1st edition of
the Bank of Baroda Rashtrabhasha Samman Awards (2023). The winner is set to be announced on 11th
June 2023.
• A total of 12 titles in Odia, Urdu, Punjabi, Nepali, Bengali, Marathi and Tamil were featured on
the longlist of Rashtrabhasha Samman Awards 2023.
The award aims to acknowledge and promote literary works in various Indian languages listed under
the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, and make these works accessible to Hindi readers through
translations.
• The Award will be presented to both the author of the original work and its hindi translator.
• Prize: The award-winning book will receive Rs 21 lakh(for author) and Rs 15 lakh (for
translator) and the 5 shortlisted books will receive Rs. 3 lakh (author) and Rs. 2
lakh(translator).
Jagdish Bakan, Ramanathapuram DFO, wins UNESCO’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award
Jagdish Sudhakar Bakan, wildlife warden and District Forest Officer (DFO) of Ramanathapuram district,
Tamil Nadu (TN) has been selected for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management.
• He is the first Indian to win Michel Batisse Award.
About Jagdish Sudhakar Bakan:
i. JagdishSudhakarBakan, 2017 batch Indian Forest Service
(IFS) officer hails from Parbhani district, Maharashtra.
ii. He is currently the Director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
iii. He has been chosen for the award for his work in the Gulf
of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, which is endowed with rich marine
biodiversity, including several species of fish, coral, birds, sea turtles,
crustaceans.
Award Ceremony:
i. Jagdish S Bakan will deliver a lecture on his case studies at the 35th session of the International Coordinating
Council of the MAB Programme organised by UNESCO in Paris from June 12 to 15, 2023.
ii. He will receive the Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management on June 14 2023 in Paris,
France.
iii. The reward of USD 12,000 will go to the Tamil Nadu State government and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve Trust.
Note: The Michel Batisse Award only acknowledges completed work accomplished within a Biosphere Reserve
in the World Network. Case studies that concern future work will not be considered.
About Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management:
i.The award was established in 2005 and is given once every two years during the Man and the Biosphere
Reserves (MAB) Programme Council, in memory of Dr.Michel Batisse, a French Scientist.
ii.The award will be given for outstanding achievement in management of biosphere reserves across the globe
in line with the recommendations of the Seville Strategy.

Prize: The award carries a cash prize of USD 12000.
Note: The 2021 Michel Batisse Award was won by Sharon Wright of Australia for her work in the Noosa
Biosphere Reserve, Australia.
Established in– 16 November 1945
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Indian-origin scientist Joyeeta Gupta honoured with NWO Spinoza Prize 2023
On 7th June 2023, Dutch Research Council (NWO) has named Indian-origin Scientist Joyeeta Gupta, Professor
of Environment and Development in the global South at the University of Amsterdam, as the recipient of
the 2023 NWO Spinoza Prize, the highest scientific awards in the Netherlands, for her scientific work
promoting a fair and sustainable world.
• She was honoured for her remarkably broad and
interdisciplinary research approach. Her research
work primarily focuses on addressing the challenges
posed by climate change through good governance.
• She is the 12th researcher from the University of
Amsterdam to receive the Spinoza Prize.
Note:
• NWO has named Joyeeta Gupta and Toby Kiers,
Professor of Mutualistic Interactions, University
Amsterdam as the recipients of the 2023 NWO
Spinoza Prize.
• Bram Nauta, professor of Integrated Circuit Design at the University of Twente, and Corien Prins,
professor of Law and Information Technology at Tilburg University, were named the recipients of
the 2023 NWO Stevin Prizes.
About Joyeeta Gupta:
i.Joyeeta Gupta is also working as a professor of Law and Policy in Water Resources and Environment at the
International Institute for Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE)Delft Institute for Water
Education,The Netherlands.
ii.She served as the co-chair of the Earth Commission (2019-2021), set up by Future Earth and supported by
the Global Challenges Foundation. She was co-chair of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s
Global Environment Outlook-6 (2016-2019)
iii.She was also the lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) between 1988 and
2014, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, former United States of America (USA) Vice
President.
About the NWO Spinoza Prize:
i.Spinoza Prize, named after Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), renowned Dutch scientist and philosopher, was
established in 1995.
ii.The award is annually presented by the NWO to two best researchers to increase the visibility of excellent
scientists and to encourage world-class research in the Netherland.
iii.Prize includes a bronze statue of Spinoza and 1.5 million euros.
About NWO Stevin Prize:
The Stevin Prize, named after Simon Stevin-a Flemish mathematician, is an award and honour for researchers
with international reputations who have achieved exceptional success in the area of knowledge exchange and
impact for society.
About NWO:
The Dutch Research Council(NWO) is the most important science funding bodies in the Netherlands and

realises quality and innovation in science
About The Netherlands:
Prime Minister– Mark Rutte
Capital– Amsterdam
Currency– Euro
British Writer Paterson Joseph wins 2023 RSL Christopher Bland Prize
On 8th June 2023, British actor and writer Paterson Joseph won the 2023 Royal Society of Literature(RSL)
Christopher Bland Prize (5th edition of the award) for his debut novel titled “The Secret Diaries of Charles
Ignatius Sancho”. The book is a historical fiction about Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was the first Black man to
vote in England.
• The jury for RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2023: Lemn Sissay (chair), Meena Kandasamy and Simon
Savidge.
• RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award which honours a debut writer for their work of
fiction or non-fiction, who is first published at the age of 50 or over. The award carries a cash prize
of 10,000 Pound sterling.
• The Prize was launched in 2018 in memory of British Politician Sir Christopher Bland who died in
2017.
Mumbai’s BEST received UITP Awards 2023 under ‘Climate And Health’ category
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking, a civic transport and electricity provider
public body based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, won the UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics)
Awards 2023 under Climate and Health category for its project “BEST Green Travel Initiative: Creating
Sustainable Public Transportation”.
• Lokesh Chandra, General Manager of BEST,
received the award during an award ceremony
organized as a part of the UITP Global Public
Transport Summit held from 4th to 7th June 2023
in Barcelona, Spain.
• UITP is a 138-year-old organization, which acts as
an international association for public transport
authorities.
Note: BEST was also recognized as one of the top 3 finalists in
the ‘Public And Urban Transport Strategy’ category.
About UITP Awards:
i.The UITP Awards cover 9 categories, that encompass the full spectrum of our diverse sector.
ii.The UITP awards are considered the most prestigious award in the field of public transport.
iii.The winners of UITP Awards 2023 were selected by an international jury panel consisting of 21 members.
BEST received award for excellence in smart mobility by FICCI
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) honoured BEST with an award for
excellence in “smart mobility” category. The award recognises the efforts of BEST towards the
transformation of bus transport undertaken by BEST in the past 2 years.
Key Initiatives of BEST:
i.10,000 e-buses: BEST aims to convert the entire fleet to electric buses and grow it to 10000 e-buses by 2026.
The fleet will double from 3219 to 7000 by 2023.
ii.Run on 100% renewable energy: The entire fleet will be powered by renewable solar energy. It has
already procured the 700 MW of solar energy that is needed to power its fleet.

iii.Digital Tickets on NCMC and BEST Chalo App(E-bus app): This offers mobile tickets, passes, live tracking
and live seat status.
• BEST launched the BEST Co-branded Chalo National Common Mobility Card(NCMC), a tap-to-pay
prepaid card, powered by RyPay and Yes Bank.
• This was India’s first NCMC ever launched by any city/state bus utility.
iv.100% digital buses: BEST operates India’s first 100% digital buses where passengers use the BEST mobile
app or card to tap in and tap out themselves.
GSITI, Hyderabad gets Accredited as “Athi Uttam” by NABET

Hyderabad Headquarters Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI),under the Ministry of Mines,
received accreditation from National Accreditation Board of Education and Training (NABET) for its
outstanding Earth Science training.
• Team from Capacity Building Commission (CBC), NABET and Quality Council of India(QCI) awarded
the Certificate of Accreditation with the grading of Athi Uttam following the on-site assessment.
• The assessment were based on the inspection of all standard operating procedures and
methodologies followed by GSITI at various levels.
Key Points:
On 11th June 2023, the Union Minister of State Geological Survey of India (GSI) Independent charge Jitender
Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology & Ministry of Earth Sciences, presented the accreditation certificate
to Ch. Venkateswara Rao, deputy director general of GSI and head of Mission-V during the national training
conclave held in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Geological Survey of India Training Institute:
i.It operates in 6 Regional Training Divisions (RTD) situated in Hyderabad(Telangana), Nagpur(Maharashtra),
Jaipur(Rajasthan.), Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh), Kolkata(West Bengal), and Shillong(Meghalaya).
ii.It has set up four Field Training Centres (FTCs) which align with the Ministry of Mines Vision in Chitradurga
(Karnataka), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Zawar (Rajasthan), and Kuju (Jharkhand) to provide training to geoscience
professionals, teachers, researchers, and students across various geological subjects.
iii.GSITI offers training, capacity building programs to stakeholders, central and state departments, Mineral
Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) , Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC), Oil India Limited(OIL),
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), central
universities, colleges, other educational institutions and to participants from developing nations(75 nations)
through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation(ITEC) programme, sponsored by the Ministry of
External Affairs.
Established- 1976
About National Accreditation Board of Education and Training(NABET):
NABET is a constituent Board of Quality Council of India(QCI) which offers accreditation to educational
organisations, vocational training organizations and skill certification bodies.
Chairperson –Premendra RajMehta
CEO-Varinder S Kanwar
Headquartered- New Delhi, Delhi
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das honoured with Governor of the Year award at Central Banking
Awards 2023
On June 14 2023, Shaktikanta Das, the 25th governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been honoured
with the title the “Governor of the Year” at the Central Banking Awards 2023 in London, for his role during
Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the fight against inflation.

• Shaktikanta Das (a retired IAS officer) is the former secretary of the Department of Revenue and
Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance. He assumed charge as the 25th
governor of the RBI on December 12, 2018. Prior to that, he was a member of the 15th Finance
Commission and G20 Sherpa of India.
• He is the second RBI governor to be honoured with the award after Raghuram Rajan, who received
the title in 2015.
Other top 2 notable awards of Central Banking Awards 2023 such as the Central Bank of the Year award and
the Currency Manager award were received by The National Bank of Ukraine.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali awarded Order of the British Empire (OBE)
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been awarded OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to the
game of cricket. This honor was bestowed upon him as part of the Queen’s birthday honours, specifically on the
momentous occasion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
• He represented England for 225 matches across all the three formats.
• He retired from test cricket in September 2021 with 2,914 runs and 195 wickets from 64 Tests.
• Moeen Ali, withdrew his decision of retirement from England test cricket team and is playing in the
Ashes 2023.
About the Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honour those who had served in a
non-combative role and expanded the Order to reward contributions to the Arts, Sciences, Charitable work and
Public Service.
Arundhati Roy Awarded the European Essay Prize 2023

Indian writer Arundhati Roy was awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement by
the Charles Veillon Foundation for the French translation of her compilation of essays titled “Azadi” (2021).
• Roy will receive a prize money of CHF 20,000 (roughly
Rs 18 lakh) at an award event on September 12 in
Lausanne, Switzerland.
Azadi:
i.In Azadi, the author used it as a powerful form of
combat,analysing the rise of fascism and its structural implications.
Roy has also reflected on the meaning of freedom in a world of
growing authoritarianism.
• Arundhati Roy explores themes such as nationalism,
resistance, democracy, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities.
ii.Azadi,consists of nine stand-alone essays, published by Penguin Publications.
About Arundhati Roy:
i.Roy’s first novel, The God of Small Things, won the Booker Prize in 1997.
ii.The “Ministry of Utmost Happiness” and “My Seditious Heart” were the other books written by Roy.
About European Essay Prize:
i.European Essay Prize awarded by the Charles Veillon Foundation since 1975, to honour a book or the work of
an author, to nourishing and spreading the evolution of thought.
ii. The aim of the award is to draw attention to authors whose work get witness to and offer a fertile
commentary on current societies, their practices, and ideologies
iii. Earlier recipients included Mona Chollet (2022), Johny Pitts (2021), Alessandro Baricco (2020), Siri
Hustvedt (2019), Marcel Gauchet (2018).

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presents National Water Awards 2022 in New Delhi; MP tops
in Best State Category
On June 17, 2023, Vice President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, conferred the 4th National Water Awards,
2022 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi on 41 winners in 11 categories for their exemplary work in the field
of water conservation and management.
• Madhya Pradesh (MP) tops the Best State category
which is followed by Odisha at 2nd position and
Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Bihar at 3rd position jointly.
Award Ceremony:
The award ceremony was organised by the Department of Water
Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR,
RD & GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS). The event started with the
traditional ‘Jal Kalash’ ceremony.
• Each award winner was conferred with a citation and a
trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.
Table showing the list of winners:
Rank Winner
Best State
1 Madhya Pradesh (MP)
2 Odisha
3 AP and Bihar.
Best District
1 Ganjam District, Odisha
2 Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu (TN)
3 Adilabad District, Telangana
Best Village Panchayat
1 Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana
Kadavur Village Panchayat, Karur district, Tamil Nadu and Manickal Village Panchayat,
2 Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala
Kadegaon Village Panchayat, Jalna district, Maharashtra and Mawkyrdep Village Panchayat, Bhoi
3 Rymbong Block, Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
Best Urban Local Body
1 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh,
2 Indore Municipal Corporation, Indore, MP
Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat, Gujarat and Malkapur Municipal Council, Karad, Satara,
3 Maharashtra
Best Media
1 Advance Water Digest Private Limited Gurugram, Haryana
Centre For Environment And Sustainable Development, Srinagar, Jammu And Kashmir and Regional
2 News Unit, All India Radio, Guwahati, Assam w
3 Network Eighteen, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Best School

1 Jamiyatpura Primary School, Mehsana, Gujarat
2 KGBV School, Chagalamarri, Nandyal, AP
3 Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Baori, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Best Institution for Campus usage
1 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir
2 Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, Telangana
3 Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab
Other Awards:
i.The Award for the Best Industry conferred on Barauni Thermal Power Station, Begusarai, Bihar.
ii.The Award for the Best NGO conferred on Arpan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
iii.The Award for the Best Water User Association conferred on the Sanjeevani Piyat Sahkari Mandli Ltd,
Narmada, Gujarat.
iv.The Award for the Best Industry for CSR Activities will be conferred on HCL Technologies Ltd., Noida, UP.
v.Notably, AP received 4 awards in different categories. Click Here for Official List
Key Points from the Award Ceremony:
i.Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has effectively executed the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) which exemplifies the
objectives of quantity, quality and continuity.
ii.The public representatives, media and civil society organisations are urged to support the officers/staff of
MoJS in implementation of their schemes & programs.
iii.Suggestion were made for the development of existing ponds in each and every village of India as
rejuvenation of these ponds will help revive water bodies on a large scale, augment animal husbandry, and
contribute to the economic development.
iv.The public representatives at each level of governance from Panchayat to Parliament are also to plant at least
100 trees per year and appealed to all citizens to make water conservation on the lines of Jan Andolan and
commit to the 3Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
About National Water Awards:
The National Water Awards were launched in 2018 by DoWR, RD &GR. These are a part of the ongoing
nationwide drive of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ or ‘Water Prosperous India’.
• It focuses on encouraging the good work and efforts made by various individuals and organizations,
and provide an opportunity to strengthen public participation in water resource conservation and
management activities.
Assessment for 4th National Water Awards:
The 4th National Water Awards were launched on July 30, 2022 for which 868 applications were received. The
applications were scrutinized and evaluated. The ground truthing of the shortlisted applications was carried
out by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) after which 41 winners,
including joint winners covering all 11 categories have been selected for awards.
Piku, the mascot of National Water Mission:
The Vice President also launched an animated short film on ‘Piku’, the mascot of ‘National Water Mission
(NWM)-Catch the Rain’ for telecast on Doordarshan channel to spread the message of water conservation.
i.According to the “Water Bodies – 1st Census Report” released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, West Bengal (WB)
has topped the list of states with the most number of ponds and reservoirs.
ii.On April 25, 2023, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s 1st Water Metro in Kochi (Kerala) which is a one-
of-its-kind project that connects 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for
seamless connectivity with Kochi city.

Union Minister– Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency- Jodhpur, Rajasthan)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Bishweswar Tudu (Constituency- Mayurbhanj, Odisha); Prahlad Singh
Patel (Constituency- Damoh, Madhya Pradesh)
Gita Press, Gorakhpur to receive Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021

The Ministry of Culture has named Gita Press, Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), a publishing house, as an awardee
of Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 in recognition of the work done by the institution in community service. This
decision has been taken after due deliberations by the jury headed by Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra
Modi.
• The award will acknowledge its outstanding
contribution towards social, economic and political
transformation through non-violent and other
Gandhian methods.
• Gita Press is one of the largest publishers of religious
texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and
the Upanishads.
Note: Gandhi Peace Prize for 2020 was awarded to
‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangladesh) for his
contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian
methods.
About Gandhi Peace Prize:
Instituted in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it is an annual award
carrying an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite handicraft or handloom item. It is open
to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
More about Geeta Press:
Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including
16.21 crore Bhagavad Gita. The year 2023 marked its 100 year of establishment (Centenary year).
• It has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation.
• Its objective is to promote and spread the principles of Sanatana Dharma, the Hindu religion.
Previous Awardees:
i.It has also been awarded to Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa , Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former
President of Tanzania, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka,
Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, social worker Baba Amte, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, Mr. Vaclav
Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, environmentalist Chandi
Prasad Bhatt and Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.
ii.Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
British author Salman Rushdie awarded the 2023 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
Salman Rushdie, an Indian born British-American writer was awarded the 2023 Peace Prize of the German
Book Trade for his literary work and for his resolve and positive attitude in the face of constant threat to his
life.
• The award ceremony will take place on 22nd October 2023 in the Church of St. Paul in Frankfurt am
Main, Germany.
Note: The 2022 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade was awarded to Serhiy Zhadan, an Ukrainian author and
musician.

About the Peace Prize:
i. Since 1950, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association,
the professional organisation of publishers and booksellers in the
Federal Republic of Germany, has been awarding the Peace Prize
of the German Book Trader.
ii. The Peace Prize is linked with a prize money of 25,000 euros,
which is raised by the publishers and booksellers.
iii. The Foundation Board of the Peace Prize has annually selected
a personality who has made an important contribution to peace,
humanity and understanding between peoples since 1950.
About Salman Rushdie:
i. Salman Ahmed Rushdie, born on 19th June 1947 in Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra), is the author of
novels, short stories, travel literature, essays and journalistic pieces. His works have been translated into over
40 languages.
ii. At the age of 14, he moved to England, the United Kingdom (UK) and began his professional career as a
freelance journalist and theatre actor.
iii. In 1973, he actively became a writer and eventually published his debut novel, Grimus, in 1975.
iv. From 2004 to 2006, he was president of the PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, Novelists) American
Centre and also acted as chairman of the PEN World Voices International Literary Festival for ten years.
Notable works:
Some of his notable works includes: The Satanic Verses (1988), East, West (1994), The Moor’s Last Sigh«
(1995), The Ground Beneath Her Feet« (1998), Fury (2002), Luka and the Fire of Life (2010), Two Years Eight
Months and Twenty-Eight Nights (2015), Golden House (2017) and Quichotte (2019).
Awards and Honours:
i. In 2019, Salman Rushdie was honoured with WELT Literary Award
ii. In 2019, he was awarded the Swiss Freethinkers Awardin recognition of his artistic work.
iii. He won the 1981 booker prize for his 2nd novel “Midnight’s children, which brought him international fame,
becoming a bestseller in the UK and the United States of America (USA).
Star Alliance wins World’s Best Airline Alliance at the Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards
On June 20 2023, at the Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards in Paris Air Show 2023, Paris, France, Star
Alliance is named the World’s Best Airline Alliance Award for Singapore Airlines for the 5th year, and the Star
Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles(LA) International Airport wins the top award as the Best Alliance Lounge for
the 7th year.
• Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance received the
awards at Paris Air Show 2023.
Other Awardees:
i.Tata-owned Vistara bagged the 16th position at the Skytrax World
Airline Awards 2023 and shines as only Indian airline to feature in
top 20 best airline list, while Indigo ranks 43rd, it retained the lead
position as the best low-cost airline in India as well as South Asia.
ii.Top 5 winners of Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards include
Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways,
Emirates, and Japan Airlines.
iii.AirAsia (at 31st position) again won the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award, a title it has won each year
since 2010. IndiGo was in the 43rd position.
iv.A new award was introduced in 2023, for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline, this being won by Air
Canada. Click here to know more

About Star Alliance:
i.The Star Alliance network which was established in 1997, is a global group of 26 airlines, including Air India,
Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and South African Airlines.
ii.The 13 Star Alliance member airlines received 35 additional awards including World’s Cleanest Airline and
World’s Best Premium Economy Class to several best regional airline awards.
iii.Since its introduction in the award categories in 2005, Star Alliance has won the World’s Best Airline
Alliance award multiple times.
About The Skytrax World Airline Awards:
i.The World Airline Awards began in 1999, when Skytrax launched its first global, annual airline customer
satisfaction survey.
ii.The award which is also known as “the Oscars of the aviation industry”, is decided through international
customer voting.
iii.The 2023’s survey represented passengers over 100 nationalities in 6 major international languages.
Randstad India’s REBR 2023: Tata power emerged as India’s Most Attractive Employer Brand
According to the annual report of Randstad India, a Human Resources (HR) service provider, titled “Randstad
Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2023” Tata Power Company has been named ‘India’s most attractive
employer brand’.
• Tata Power is followed by Amazon at the 2nd spot and Tata Steel Limited, at the 3rd place. Tata
Steel is the new entrant on the REBR 2023 report.
• Tata Power has scored high on the top 3 EVP (Employee Value Proposition) drivers- financial health,
good reputation and career progression opportunities.
Note:
• The report stated that the most important EVP drivers of the Indian workforce while choosing an
employer are: Work-life balance, good reputation and attractive salary and benefits.
• The female workforce focuses more on the work-life balance.
About the Report:
The 2023 report is based on the survey taken among 1.63 lakh respondents across the globe. The sample space
covers 32 markets and 75% of the global economy.
Key Highlights:
i.The other organisations among the top 10 include Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) at the 4th place followed by
Microsoft, Samsung India, Infosys, Tata Motors Limited, IBM and Reliance Industries Limited(RIL).
ii.Among the startups, Big Basket has emerged as the most attractive startup employer brand in India.
iii.The report highlighted that employees have rated automotive as the most attractive sector (77%) in India
followed by Information Technology (IT) /Information Technology enabled Services(ITeS) and Telocom with
76% and Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), Retail and e-commerce with 75%.
iv.The report also discovered that around 91% of the respondents finds employer more attractive if they allow
them to take up additional jobs or assignments for supplemental income.
‘When Climate Change Turns Violent’ , Indian Documentary Wins WHO Award at HAFF Festival
On 7th June 2023, An Indian documentary film titled “When Climate Change Turns Violent” has won a special
prize in the ‘Health for All’ category at the 4th Annual Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) held at the World
Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Vandita Sariya from Rajasthan had directed the film which deals with gender-based violence &
climate change that runs for 4.32 minutes.She is the only Indian winner among the the winners.
• Two movies from the WHO South-East Asia Region were recognized and received awards at 2023
Health for All Film Festival (HAFF).

• Another film from South East Asia Region to be awarded
is Bangladesh documentary film, ‘One in 36 Million:
Story of Childhood Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh’
under the category Better Health and Well Being.It was
directed by Arifur Rahma and Mitali Das and produced
by Pure Earth Bangladesh.
Note – HAFF was initiated by WHO in 2019 to make audio-visual
language a key component of the WHO’s ‘communicating
for health impact’ approach.
Lalitha Natarajan, Chennai based Lawyer-Activist won the 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the
Elimination of Child Labour
In May 2023, Lalitha Natarajan, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Lawyer-Activist has been awarded the 2023
Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour for her
extraordinary contributions to combat child labour.
Judith Ravin, the United States of America (USA) Consul General
presented the award to Lalitha Natarajan at a ceremony at the U.S.
Consulate General in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Note: The 2022 Iqbal Masih Award was awarded to Blue Dragon
Children’s Foundation (Vietnam).
About Iqbal Masih Award:
The Iqbal Masih Award is a non-monetary award presented
annually by the U.S. Secretary of Labor and administered by ILAB’s (Bureau of International Labor
Affairs) Office of Child Labour, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking that honours extraordinary contributions
to combat child labour.
History of Iqbal Masih Award:
i. The Iqbal Masih Award honours a Pakistani Child named Iqbal Masih, who became a debt slave in a carpet
factory in Pakistan at the age of 4, then he escaped his captors at 10.
ii. He became an outspoken public advocate against child exploitation and he gave other children the
courage,for which he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1994
iii. He was killed a year later at the age of 12 in his native Pakistan.
iv. He is a symbol of the struggle against child labour and in 2000, the first World’s Children’s Prize for the
Rights of the Child was given posthumously (after his death) for him.
v. The award commemorates the World Day against Child Labour which is observed every year on 12 June to
raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour.
Efforts of Lalitha Natarajan:
i. Lalitha Natarajan has worked passionately throughout her career as a lawyer and activist to protect the rights
of child labour.
ii. As a member of the Child Welfare Committee (North Zone), under the Department of Social Defence,
Government of Tamil Nadu, she ensures victims receive compensation under the Child Labour Act and
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act .
iii. As a leader in the fight to end child labour in southern India, she identifies child victims of trafficking,
specifically bonded labour, assisting in their re-integration into society.
iv. She also provides legal and counselling assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment.
v. As Project Coordinator with the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) League for Education and
Development, she engaged with elected leaders and law enforcement officials to rescue child labourers from
stone quarries.
vi. For over two decades, she has rescued children from forced labour in various industrial sectors across the
state of Tamil Nadu, ranging from stone quarries to food processing factories to handloom mills.

Note: Her awareness-raising work in Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu) district enhanced the Tamil Nadu
government’s research and reporting capacity, leading to more accurate data and increasing the number of
reported child labour cases in the heirloom industry from 6,000 to more than 12,300.
Meesho, NPCI: 2 Indian Companies featured on TIME100: Most Influential Companies 2023
Meesho and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), two Indian companies have been featured on the
“TIME 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023“, the TIME Magazine’s annual list under the
‘pioneer’ category
• The TIME 100 Most Influential Companies List
described Meesho as an “Innovative Retailer”
and NPCI as “Connecting Commerce“.
About TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list:
i. This list is an expansion of TIME’s iconic TIME100 franchise, will
be curated by an expansive network of editors and correspondents
of TIME.
ii. To create the TIME100 companies, the editors of the magazine
seek nominations from various sectors and poll a global network
of contributors, correspondents, as well as external experts.
iii. The editors then evaluate each key factor of the companies based on criteria such as impact, innovation,
ambition, and success.
iv. The 2023 list is divided into five categories titled: Leaders, Disruptors, Innovators, Titans, and Pioneers.
Each category has listed under 20 companies.
Note: TIME Magazine launched the first TIME100 Companies list in 2021.
About Meesho:
i. Meesho is a Bengaluru (Karnataka) based E-Commerce Company, founded in 2015 by ViditAatrey and
Sanjeev Barnwal.
ii. It doesn’t charge sellers a commission, which it says enables it to sell 60% of its products for less than USD4,
in reach for Indian families that make less than USD6,000 a year.
iii. Meesho is the most-downloaded shopping App in the world in early 2022, serving customers priced out by
Amazon and Walmart.
Note: According to data.ai, Meesho has emerged as the “World’s fastest shopping app” to cross 500 million
cumulative downloads across Google Play and iOS App Store combined.
i. NPCI is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) launched in 2008
to create more robust payment systems. It is an umbrella organisation for all retail payments and settlement
systems in India.
ii. It launched United Payments Interface (UPI), which lets instant money transfers via mobile apps and Quick
Response (QR) codes, and has brought digital payments to nearly 300 million users, replacing debit and credit
cards and enabling e-commerce growth in India.
iii. The company had registered about 45 billion transactions and accounted for 52% of India’s digital
payments and had huge growth in 2021–22.
Some notable companies:
The TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2023 list dominated by:
Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS and Elon Musk’s SpaceX (under Leader category)
Sam Altman’s OpenAI (under Disruptors)
Kia America, Formula One (under Innovators)
Major League Baseball, MLB, Disney, Samsung, Apple and Microsoft (under Titans)

IOC honoured WHO DG Tedros Ghebreyesus with Olympic Order & WHO with Olympic Cup
2021
On 20th June 2023, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach presented
the Olympic Order to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus in an
award ceremony held at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• During the event, IOC also honoured The World Health
Organisation (WHO) with the Olympic Cup for
2021 in recognition of its exceptional contribution to
the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Tokyo 2020.
Key Points:
The Olympic Order recognises Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus’s
inspirational role in ensuring the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
took place, and supported the cooperation agreement between
the IOC and the WHO signed in 2020.
About Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:
i.Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, born in Asmara, Ethiopia (now in Eritrea), was elected as WHO Director-
General for a five-year term in May 2017.
ii.He served as the Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016
in Ethiopia.
• During his period as a Health Minister, he made the foundation for universal health coverage and
access to better health care in Ethiopia.
About Olympic Order:
i.The Olympic Order is awarded to a person who has done outstanding services to the Olympic cause, either
through his own personal achievement or his contribution to the development of sport.
ii.Olympic Order already awarded to great personalities including Fanny Blankers-Koen, Jean-Claude Killy,
Bertrand Piccard, Jesse Owens, Steffi Graf, Alberto Tomba, Indira Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
About Olympic Cup:
i.The Olympic Cup is a unique award and was created in 1906 by the IOC’s founder, Pierre de Coubertin.
ii.The Olympic Cup is the highest honour bestowed for an institution that has a proven track record of
advancing the Olympic Movement’s goals.
Partnership between IOC and WHO:
i.In May 2020, the two organisations signed a new cooperation Agreement, to promote healthy lifestyles,
including physical exercise, sport and active recreation, as a tool for health around the world.
ii.In 2022, a new joint programme between the IOC and WHO was signed to strength the role of sport in
contributing to the global target of a 15 per cent reduction in physical inactivity by 2030 and fostering healthy
and active lives, the three-year programme forms part of the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy.
Five trailblazers win 1st UNESCO–Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young
Scientists
The 1st edition of UNESCO–Al Fozan International Prize 2023 was conferred upon five exceptional young
scientists from Argentina, Cameroon, China, Egypt and Serbia during a ceremony at UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) headquarters in Paris, France.
The winners:
Dr Federico Ariel (40 years old, Argentina)
He established the basis for the use of RNAs (Ribonucleic acid) to deliver information to plants that avoids
recourse to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

• He designs special RNA molecules that act as exogenous natural substances to help plants adapt to
environmental stress and resist harmful pathogens,
thereby reducing the need for synthetic pesticides.
• This breakthrough will enable us to protect crops from
pests and help them withstand heat waves using a GMO-
free approach.
Professor Abdon Atangana (37 years old, Cameroon)
He has made significant contributions to mathematics, specifically in
fractional calculus, differential equations, and mathematical
modeling. These have practical applications in solving real-life
problems like disease spread, heat transfer, groundwater flow, and
weather patterns.
Professor Qiaomei Fu (39 years old, China)
She retrieved ancient DNA from human remains and sediments, constructing an evolutionary map of Eurasian
populations, particularly East Asian, spanning 100,000 years.
These findings unveils unique human diversity and shape our understanding of human genetic composition
and traits.
Dr Hesham Omran (38 years old, Egypt)
He has led the development of a toolbox that revolutionizes the creation of efficient semiconductor chips which
will save significant time in creating efficient chips for electronic devices like computers, phones, and electric
vehicles.
Dr Jelena Vladic (37 years old, Serbia)
She has developed innovative ecological extraction processes to obtain products from aromatic and medicinal
plants and add value to food and agricultural waste.
Moreover, she has used microalgae from wastewater treatment to extract bioactive compounds.
Read full Information about Scientists Here
Prize Money:
The Prize consists of an award of US $ 50,000 for each of the five laureates as well as a medal and a diploma.
Jury:
The jury was composed of three scientists: Dr Edna Matta-Camacho, a structural biologist (Colombia) who
founded STEM Tolina, an educational programme; Professor Didier Queloz (Switzerland), who shared the
Nobel Prize for Physics with Michel Mayor in 2019 for the discovery of the first exoplanet;
and Dr Fadji Zaouna Maina (Niger), an Earth scientist from the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration) Goddard Space Flight Center in the United States (US).
About UNESCO–Al Fozan International Prize:
It was established by UNESCO in 2021 in partnership with the Al–Fozan Foundation in Saudi Arabia for the
Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It recognizes the
achievements of young people(less than 40 years old at the time of the application deadline), particularly girls
and women, that are conducive to socio-economic transformation and development on a global scale in science.
• It is awarded every two years to five laureates from the five geographic regions of UNESCO (Africa,
Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean)
• It is also on the lines of United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Academy to honour Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks & Carol Littleton with Honorary Awards at
the 14th Governors Awards
On 26th June 2023, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(The Academy) announced that
American actress Angela Bassett, American Actor Mel Brooks and American film editor Carol Littleton will
be honoured with the Honorary Awards(Oscar®).
The academy also announced that Michelle Satter, the founding senior director of the Sundance Institute’s

Feature Film Program – which focuses on the cultural impact of
supporting independent storytellers, will be honoured with the Jean
Hersholt Humanitarian Award(Oscar®).
• These 4 Oscar® will be presented to them during the
Academy’s 14th Governors Awards which will be held on
18th November 2023 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in
Los Angeles, California, the United States of
America(USA).
Note: The winners of these awards were voted on by the Board of
Directors of the Academy.
About Honorary Award:
The Honorary Award is presented to honour the extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional
contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.
About The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is presented to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences
whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry
About Angela Bassett:
Angela Bassett, whose acting career has spanned nearly four decades, is known for her memorable roles in
films like the 1993 Tina Turner biopic “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda
Forever” in 2022.
• She received her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Turner, and her second for playing
Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther”, making her the first actor to receive an Oscar nomination for a
Marvel film
About Mel Brooks:
Mel Brooks (97) has directed, produced and acted in beloved Hollywood comedies including “Blazing Saddles,”
“History of the World, Part 1,” “Young Frankenstein” and “The Producers.”
• He won an Oscar in 1969 for Best Original Screenplay for “The Producers” and received two Oscar
nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay (“Young Frankenstein”) and Best Original Song (“Blazing
Saddles”).
About Carol Littleton:
Carol Littleton is being recognized for her achievements in film editing, including her work on Steven
Spielberg’s “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Film Editing.
About Michelle Satter:
Michelle Satter has played a vital role in the careers of countless filmmakers around the world.
• She has also led the Sundance Institute’s international initiatives in Asia, Europe, India, Latin
America and the Middle East.
• She has also founded and oversees the vision and content of Sundance Collab, a global digital
storytelling community and learning platform.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Distinguished Service Awards at Defence Investiture

Ceremony-II
On 27th June 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India-the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,
conferred 85 Distinguished Service Awards to serving and retired Indian Armed Forces and Indian Coast Guard
(ICG) personnel for distinguished service of an exceptional order during the Defence Investiture Ceremony
(Phase-II) held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The 85 Distinguished Service Awards includes 52 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSMs), one Bar to
AVSM, three Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSMs) and 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSMs).
Key People:
Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India were also present

during the ceremony.
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM):
i. It was instituted on 26th January 1960 as Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) Class-II for distinguished service of an
exceptional order.
ii. It was renamed as AtiVishishtSeva Medal on 27th January 1967.
iii. It is circular in shape, 35 millimetres (mm) in diameter and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard
fitting.
iv. The medal, made of standard silver is embossed with a five-pointed star on its observe and the State
Emblem(Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath) on its reverse and the inscription is embossed along the upper rim.
AVSM bar:
i. If a recipient of the medal is awarded the medal again later, every such further award shall be recognised by a
Bar to be attached to the riband by which the medal is suspended.
ii. For every such Bar, a miniature insignia of a pattern approved by the Government shall be added to the
riband when worn alone.
Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSM):
i. It was instituted on 26th June 1980 to recognise the distinguished service of an exceptional order during
war/conflict/hostilities. It may be awarded posthumously.
ii. The medal is circular in shape, 35 mm in diameter and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings
and is made of gold gilt.
iii. The medal has the State Emblem on it and the inscription UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL (in English). On its
reverse, it has a five-pointed star.
Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSMs):
i. It was instituted on 26th January 1960 as VSM Class-I to recognise the distinguished service of the most
exceptional order and was renamed as PVSM on 27th January 1967.
ii. The medal is round in shape, 35 mm in diameter and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings. It
is made of gold gilt embossed with a five-pointed star and on its reverse is the State Emblem and the inscription
embossed along the upper rim.
UK PM Rishi Sunak honoured 101 years old Sikh WWII veteran Rajindar Singh Dhatt with UK
Points of Lights Award
On 28th June 2023, Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister (PM) of the United Kingdom (UK) honoured Retired British
Indian Shikh Soldier Rajindar Singh Dhatt (aged 101) with UK Points of Light award at India Global Forum’s
(IGF) annual UK-India Week 2023 reception at 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom.
• He was awarded for his service in the British Indian Army
and coordinating”Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s
Association” to help bring together British Indian war
veterans.
About UK Points of Light:
i.The UK Points of Light award honours exceptional individuals whose
contribution is making a difference in their communities and whose
stories might inspire others to find innovative solutions to social
concerns in their own communities and beyond.
ii.UK Points of Light inspired from the US points of light, launched in partnership with the United States of
America (USA) in April 2014.
• US Points of Light was first established by President George H. W. Bush in 1990.
iii.Every weekday, the Prime Minister bestows the Points of Light award on an inspiring volunteer.
About Rajindar Singh Dhatt:
i.He was born in pre-partition India in 1921, joined the British-Indian Army during the Second World War and
later promoted to Havildar Major (Sergeant Major) in 1943.

ii.He was also part of the Far East campaign to fight in Kohima in northeast India to support the Allied Forces
and help break through the Japanese defences.
iii.After retiring from the Army, he settled in Hounslow UK in the year 1963.
iv.He speaks at memorial events and works with war veteran charities, including the Royal British Legion and
the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
About IGF UK-India Week 2023:
i.The 5th edition IGF’s UK-India Week 2023 held from 26th June to 30th June 2023 in London and Windsor,
United Kingdom.
ii.It is a forum that seeks to honour and strengthen the longstanding partnership between these two countries
by providing a platform to spotlight crucial topics, including politics, trade, business, sustainability, inclusion,
and innovation.

Petteri Orpo, NCP Party leader elected as New Prime Minister of Finland
On 20th June 2023, the Parliament of Finland elected Petteri Orpo, conservative National Coalition Party
(NCP) leader as Prime Minister (PM) of Finland.
• Petteri Orpo will lead a coalition of the conservative NCP,
the nationalist Finns, the minority-language Swedish
People’s Party (RKP) and the Christian Democrats.
• Petteri Orpo succeeded Sanna Marin of Social Democrats
party, who served as the PM of Finland from 2019-2023.
• Riikka Purra, Head of the Finns Party is the new Finance
Minister and Elina Valtonen, Deputy Leader of NCP
becomes the Foreign Minister of Finland.
Election:
i. During the April 2023 Parliamentary elections held in April 2023, Petteri Orpo’s NCP got 22% (48 seats) of
votes and Finns Party got 21% (46 seats) of votes. Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic party finished third with
20%.
ii. Petteri Orpodecided to build a right-wing coalition with the Finns Party, RKP and the Christian Democrats.
iii. The negotiations between the four parties were successful, the coalition secured a majority of 108 seats in
parliament out of 200.
About Petteri Orpo:
i. Petteri Orpo, born on 3 November 1969 in Köyliö, Finland, and his work with the NCP dates back to the
1990s.
ii. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 2007 elections.
iii. He has served on several committees, including the Foreign Affairs, Finance and Environment Committees
and the Parliamentary Office Committee.
iv. He served as Chair of the NCP parliamentary group in 2012–2014.
v. From 2014 to 2015, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, in Alexander Stubb’s (Former PM
of Finland) Government in 2014–2015.
vi. Under JuhaSipilä’s (Former PM of Finland) Government, he first served as Minister of the Interior in 2015–
2016 and then as Minister of Finance in 2016–2019.
About Finland:
Capital– Helsinki
Prime Minister– Petteri Orpo
Currency– Euro

Ashwani Kumar, Executive Director of Indian Bank appointed as MD & CEO of UCO Bank
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Ashwani Kumar, Executive
Director, Indian Bank as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UCO Bank, a
Commercial public sector bank undertaken by the Government of India (GOI).
• The appointment has been made for a period of three years, with the possibility of an extension
based on the review of his performance.
• Ashwani Kumar succeeding Soma Sankara Prasad, who
has been the MD & CEO from 2021 is set to retire on
31st May 2023.
About Ashwani Kumar:
i. He has rich banking experience of more than two decades across
five public sector banks (PSBs) such as: Bank of Baroda (BOB),
Corporation Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), Punjab
National Bank (PNB), and Indian Bank.
ii. Prior to joining Indian Bank as an Executive Director, he was
serving as Chief General Manager of Mumbai Zone of Punjab
National Bank (PNB).
iii. His work experience includes working in Wholesale Banking division and as Head of several Branches
(including Industrial Finance Branches and Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs))
iv. As a General Manager, he was heading Mid Corporate and Large Corporate verticals and also served as a
Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
About UCO Bank:
Founded in– 1943
MD & CEO– Ashwani Kumar
Headquarters– Kolkata
Tagline– Honours your Trust
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Re–elected as President of Türkiye for a third term

On 28th May 2023, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected as the President of Türkiye for his third
consecutive term. He has been serving as the 12th President of Türkiye since 2014.
About the Election:
Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 52.14% of the votes in the second
round against the Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who
had 47.86%.
• Run-off vote held on May 28 2023 was the first time in
the history of the Republic of Türkiye, since 2014,
where direct Presidential elections were introduced.
Note:
• A run-off vote is a second round of voting that takes
place when no candidate receives more than half of the
presidential vote.
• Turkey transitioned from a parliamentary system to a presidential one in July 2018.
About Recep Tayyip Erdogan:
i. RecepTayyipErdoğan, 69, born on 26 February 1954 started his political career as the head of the Beyoglu
youth branch of the National Salvation Party of Turkey in 1976.
ii. He was elected mayor of Istanbul (Türkiye), following the 1994 local elections. The 2002 elections were his
first elections as a party leader (AK Party).
iii. He won the 2002 election and served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014.

iv. In 2014, he was elected as the first President of Republic of Türkiyeelected by popular vote in the first
round of election.
• Few books written by Recep Tayyip Erdogan include: A Fairer World is Possible: A Proposed Model
for a United Nations Reform; Step by Step Istanbul: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Istanbul.
About Republic of Türkiye:
Capital– Ankara
President– Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Currency– Turkish lira (TRY)
NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh Gets Additional Charge as CMD of NEEPC

Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of NTPC Limited(formerly known as National
Thermal Power Corporation), has been given additional charge as the CMD of North Eastern Electric Power
Corporation Limited(NEEPCO), following the retirement of the incumbent CMD P C Pankaj.
He has been given the additional charge for a period of 3 months with effect from 1st June 2023 or till the
appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders.
• The decision was taken following the approval of the Union Minister of Power and New and
Renewable Energy(NRE), RK Singh.
• Gurdeep Singh has been serving as the CMD of NTPC Limited since 2016. Prior to joining NTPC,
he served as the Managing Director(MD) of Gujarat State Electricity Company Limited.
Sachin Tendulkar named ‘Smile Ambassador’ for oral hygiene campaign in Maharashtra
On 30th May 2023, Cricket Icon Sachin Tendulkar was named the ‘Smile Ambassador’ for
Maharashtra’s ‘Swachh Mukh Abhiyan’(SMA), a campaign to create awareness about oral health and hygiene
across Maharashtra, for a period of 5 years.
Maharashtra Chief Minister(CM) Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister(Dy
CM) Devendra Fadnavis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sachin Tendulkar regarding the
association for this campaign.
• The SMA campaign has been conceptualised in association with the Indian Dental Association
(IDA) in order to promote oral hygiene.
• The IDA is hoping that this campaign is able to lead India to optimal oral health and pave the way for
a new model of oral health care.
Note: In March 2023, antiseptic brand Savlon made Tendulkar their first ‘Hand Ambassador’ for
the Savlon Swasth India Mission, which aims to highlight the importance of hand hygiene for a healthier
nation.
IAS officer Ajay Yadav appointed as MD of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited
On 31st May 2023, Ajay Yadav, an Indian Administrative (IAS) officer from the 2005 batch of Bihar Cadre,
was appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Solar Energy
Corporation of India (SECI), Miniratna Category-I Central Public
Sector Unit (CPSU) under the administrative control of Ministry of
New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Prior to this appointment, Ajay Yadav served as the Joint
Secretary in MNRE, Government of India (GoI).
• Ajay Yadav succeeded Suman Sharma, former MD of
SECI, who relinquished the post of MD of SECI with
effect from 19th May 2023. He joined as a member of the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 25th May 2023.

About Ajay Yadav:
i. Ajay Yadav had started his career as an Assistant Collector in Patna, Bihar, and has subsequently held several
important positions in the State Government as well as in
ii. Before joining MNRE as Joint Secretary, he was working as a Private Secretary to the Minister of Civil
Aviation(MoCA).
iii. He also served as the Director (Government Nominee) of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
Limited (IREDA), Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India Enterprise, under MNRE.
About Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI):
• SECI facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
• It is the only CPSU dedicated to Renewable Energy (RE).
• The company has been converted into a Section-3 company, in 2015, through an amendment by GoI
under the Companies Act, 2013.
Established in– 9th September 2011
Chairman– Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, IAS
MD– Ajay Yadav, IAS
K Krithivasan takes over as MD & CEO of TCS; Rajesh Gopinathan steps down
On 1st June 2023, K Krithivasan took charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD)
of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s Largest information technology (IT) services company and a part of
the TATA Group.
• K Krithivasan, Global Head of The Banking, Financial
Services, and Insurance (BFSI) Business Group of TCS,
has been serving as the CEO designate of TCS since 16th
March 2023.
• He succeeds Rajesh Gopinathan, who stepped down
from the post on 31st May 2023.
• K Krithivasan became the 5th Chief Executive Officer of
TCS
About K Krithivasan
i.K Krithivasan served as the president and global head of the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI)
business group at Tata Consultancy Services.
ii.He joined TCS in 1989 and worked in various leadership roles in delivery, customer relationship
management, large program management and sales
About Rajesh Gopinathan:
i.He served as the Chief Financial Officer of TCS from 2013 and He was appointed as the CEO of TCS in February
2017.
ii.He was part of the Board of Trade, a top government advisory body on external trade.
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS):
Chairman– N Chandrasekaran
MD and CEO-K Krithivasan
Headquarters-Mumbai, Maharashtra
CCI Director General Atul Verma gets 3-month extension

The Government of India(GoI) has extended the tenure of Atul Verma as the Director General of the
Competition Commission of India (CCI) for three months beyond May 31, 2023.
• Atul Verma, a 1991 batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed as DG at CCI in
June 2020 for 3 years.

• The Director General (DG) office is the investigation arm of CCI.
• CCI is probing various anti-competitive cases, including those relating to technology companies.
Note: Presently, the power to appoint DG lies with MCA and the recent amendments to Competition Act 2002
had transferred this power to CCI.
Amarendu Prakash Takes Charge as SAIL Chairman; Succeeds Soma Mondal

On 31st May 2023, Amarendu Prakash took charge as the new Chairman of Steel Authority of India Ltd
(SAIL), a Maharatna a Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE) under the Ministry of Steel.
• Prior to this appointment, he has been servings as the Director (In-charge) of SAIL’s Bokaro steel
plant(BSL), in Bokaro, Jharkhand, since 2020.
• He succeeds Soma Mondal, who retired from the post on April 30, 2023.
• Amarendu Prakash joined SAIL in 1991 as a Management Trainee (Technical) and worked in
various capacities with responsibilities in various plants and units.
Argentina’s Celeste Saulo appointed as 1st female SG of WMO; India’s Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
elected as 3rd VP
On 1st June 2023, Prof Celeste Saulo, a leading meteorologist from Argentina, was appointed as the first
female Secretary-General (SG) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations
(UN)’s specialised agency for meteorology.
• Celeste Saulo, who is currently serving as 1st Vice-
President of WMO, will take over as SG of WMO on 1st
January 2024.
• She will succeed Prof Petteri Taalas of Finland, who
has been the SG of WMO (for 2 terms) since 2016.
Note: Celeste Saulo was appointed after receiving the requisite
two thirds majority of votes from delegates at the quadrennial
World Meteorological Congress, the top decision-making body of
the 193-Member WMO.
About Celeste Saulo:
i.Celeste Saulo has been a member of various expert scientific panels of WMO. She was elected as a
member of the WMO Executive Council in 2015 and later elected as the 2nd VP of WMO in 2018.
ii. In 2019, she was elected as the 1st VP of WMO and became the first woman to hold that position.
iii. Until 2018, she was a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the World Weather Research
Program (WWRP).
iv. She has also been a member of the Working Group on Seasonal to Inter-annual Prediction and of the
World Climate Research Programme(WCRP)/CIVILAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) Panel for
the Variability of the American Monsoon Systems.
IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra elected as 3rd VP of WMO:
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General (DG) of India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the
Ministry of Earth Science, has been elected as the Third Vice-President of WMO.
Other Major Appointments at WMO:
i. Abdulla Al Mandous– Director General of the National Center of Meteorology, United Arab Emirates
(UAE) and Permanent Representative of UAE and President of the WMO Regional Association for Asia, was
elected as the next President of WMO for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027.
ii. DaoudaKonate– director of meteorology of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire was elected as the 1st VP of
WMO for the next four years and Eoin MORAN, Director of Irish Meteorological Service, Ireland was
elected as the 2nd VP of WMO.

Elections:
i. The election was held on 22nd May 2023, during the ongoing 19th World Meteorological Congress (Cg-
19) in Geneva, Switzerland.
ii. The general assembly of WMO’s 193 member states and territories takes place every four years.
• Mrutyunjay Mohapatra received 113 votes out of a total of 148.
About Mrutyunjay Mohapatra:
i. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra hailing from Odisha started his career as a Junior science assistant in Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1988.
ii. He joined IMD in 1992 and was working in Odisha and he was shifted to Delhi in 2002. Since 2007, he
served as the head of the cyclone division in IMD.
iii. He has been serving as the DG of IMD in New Delhi, Delhi.
iv. He serves as the Chairman of the Regional Sub-project Management Team of Severe Weather Forecast
Programme for South Asia.
v. He is in the Task Team for the finalisation of Meteorological Payloads of Indian National Satellite
(INSAT)-4 satellites to be launched in 2025.
vi. He has published more than 125 research articles in peer-reviewed national/international journals and
has edited over 20 books and 8 Journals.
vii. He received several awards and recognitions from different agencies including the 25th Biennial
Mausam Award (2008-2009).
About World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
Established in– 23 March 1950
Secretary-General- Professor Petteri Taalas
Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago’s Elected as UNGA President for the 78th session
On 1st June 2023, Dennis Francis, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), was
elected as the President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the
General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA).
• Dennis Francis will take charge as President of UNGA
at the beginning of the 78th session in September
2023.
• He will succeed Csaba Kőrösi of Hungary, President of
the 77th session of the UNGA.
Note: In accordance with the established regional rotation, the
President of the 78th session of the UNGA was elected from the
Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.
About Dennis Francis:
i.He served as the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to many countries for 18 consecutive years and
retired in September 2021.
ii.He represented UN agencies in Geneva, Vienna and Paris.
UN General Assembly:
i.The 193 Member UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
ii.The main functions of the UNGA include appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the
Security Council, electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council and approving the UN
budget.
78th Session of UNGA:
During the session of the UN General Assembly, the world leaders discuss the action needed to achieve

the UN Goals for 2030, from ending extreme poverty and ensuring quality secondary education for all
children to achieving gender equality, reducing inequality, and taking urgent action to combat climate
change.
About Trinidad and Tobago:
President-Christine Kangaloo
Capital-Port of Spain
Currency-Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TT$)
About United Nations:
Secretary General- António Guterres
Head Quarters-New York, United States
Established-1945
Prathapa Reddy took charge as Chairman of APGVB; succeeds K. Praveen Kumar

On 4th June 2023 K Prathapa Reddy, Deputy General Manager of State Bank of India (SBI), took charge as the
Chairman of Warangal(Telangana)-headquartered Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank (APGVB), Regional
Rural Bank sponsored by SBI, Operating in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• He will serve as the chairman of APGVB for 5 years.
• He took charge from K. Praveen Kumar, the outgoing chairman of APGVB.
K Prathapa Reddy worked with SBI for over 2 decades and served at various positions, including that of the
regional manager of Nizamabad and Himayat Nagar regions.
• As the Deputy General Manager, he led the Real Estate Housing Business Unit (REHBU) at SBI
Bhopal circle.
PESB Recommended Sanjay Swarup as the Next CMD of CONCOR

On 7th June 2023, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended Sanjay Swarup for the post
of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), Public
Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways.
• Currently, Sanjay Swarup is serving as the Director
(International Marketing & Operations) at CONCOR,
India’s biggest rail hauler of containers.
• The recommendation of PESB is yet to be signed off by
the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• V Kalyana Rama, the current CMD, is set to be step
down from the role in September 2023.
As the CMD of CONCOR, Sanjay Swarup will also take up the role
as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CONCOR and will be
accountable to the Board of Directors and the Government of India.
About Sanjay Swarup:
i. Sanjay Swarup,an Indian Railways Traffic Service (IRTS) officer of 1990 batch, has more than 3 decades of
career spanning a range of assignments in Public Sector and Government.
ii. He started his career in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and served there for more than 4 years.
iii. He has also worked with the Indian Railways in various areas like Operations, Commercial, Safety and
Information Technology (IT).
iv. In CONCOR, he has worked in various capacities in International Marketing, Commercial and Operations at
Pan India Level and so on.
v. He is also a life member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Asian Institute of
Transport Development (AITD), Centre for Transportation Research and Management and All India
Management Association (CTRAM) and All India Management Association (ALMA).

Note:
CONCOR has been lined up for privatisation by the government, however the final process is yet to start.
About Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR):
CONCOR was incorporated in March 1988 and commenced operation in November 1989.
Chairman and MD– V. Kalyana Rama
Latvian Parliament Elected Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as New President of Latvia
On 31st May 2023, The Saeima, the Parliament of Latvia (one of the three Baltic States)
elected Edgars Rinkevics(49 years old), who has been serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2011,
as the 11th President of Latvia since 1918.
• Edgars Rinkevics will serve a 4-year term as the
president of Latvia succeeding Egils Levits, the current
president of Latvia(2019-2023).
• Edgars Rinkevics is expected to be sworn in on 8th July
2023.
• Edgars Rinkevics will also become the first openly gay
president in Latvia.
Election:
Edgars Rinkevics, as a candidate of New Unity
party, received 52 votes from the 100-seat Saeima legislature, (one vote more than what was required to win
by) and defeated his closest rival Uldis Pīlēns, a businessman, who received 25 votes.
Note: Krisjanis Karins, the Prime Minister(PM) of Latvia also belongs to the New Unity party.
About Edgars Rinkevics:
i.Edgars Rinkevics worked as a Journalist for Latvian Radio specialising in foreign policy issues and
international relations from 1993 to 1994.
ii. In 1995, he served as a senior expert in the Policy Department under the Ministry of Defence of the Republic
of Latvia and in 1996, he became its director.
iii. From 1996 to 1997, he served as a Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy under the Ministry of Defence
of the Republic of Latvia.
iv. From 2002 to 2003, he was the Deputy Head of Latvia’s Delegation for Negotiations on Accession to
NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
v. From 2005 to 2007, he became the Head of NATO Summit Latvia Task Force and he was the Head of the
President’s Chancery, in the Chancery of the President of the Republic of Latvia till 2011.
vi. Since 2011, he has been serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
Note: He will represent Latvia, a European Union and NATO member nation, at NATO’s Vilnius (Lithuania)
summit in July 2023.
Awards:
In 2022, he was awarded the 2022 First Degree Order of Ukraine for “Merit” for his contribution to
strengthening international relations, supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and
promoting Ukraine in the world.
About Latvia:
Capital– Riga
Prime Minister– Krisjanis Karins
President– Egils Levits
Currency– the Euro

ACC appointed Amit Agrawal as new CEO of UIDAI & Subodh Kumar Singh as Director-General
of NTA
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) as part of a bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre
appointed Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers namely Amit Agrawal as Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Subodh Kumar Singh as the Director-
General (DG) of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Amit Agrawal succeeds Saurabh Garg, whose two year term has ended and was also appointed as
Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Subodh Kumar Singh will be replacing Vineet Joshi, who was appointed as the DG of NTA in 2018 and in
2022, he was re-appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
• Along with the new position as the CEO of UIDAI in the rank, Amit Agrawal will also serve as the
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Amit Agrawal (1993 batch) and Subodh Kumar Singh (1997 batch) are Indian Administrative Service
(IAS) officers of the Chhattisgarh cadre.
About Amit Agrawal:
i.Prior to the Additional Secretary position, he served as the Finance Secretary and Commercial Tax Secretary
to the State Government of Chhattisgarh.
ii.He also served as the State Technical Education & Manpower Planning Secretary in Chhattisgarh.
iii. He was also the adviser and Director in the Office of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.
iv. He also served as the Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance, Department of
Financial Services.
About Subodh Kumar Singh:
i.Subodh Kumar Singh was initially the Joint Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, and has been
given in-situ upgradation to the level of Additional Secretary.
ii.Currently he is serving as the Additional secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution under
the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
iii.He was also serving as the Joint Secretary in the Civil Supplies Department.
About the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):
Founded in– 28 January 2009
CEO– Amit Agrawal
About National Testing Agency (NTA):
Founded in– 2017
Director General– Subodh Kumar Singh
Nitin Agarwal appointed as the New DG of BSF

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Nitin Agarwal, an Indian Police Service (IPS)
officer of the 1989 Batch Kerala cadre, as the new Director General
(DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) from the date of joining the
post and up to 31st July 2026, his date of superannuation, or till
further orders whichever is earlier”.
• Nitin Agarwal will succeed Sujoy Lal Thaosen, who has
been holding the additional charge as the DG of BSF since
December 2022.
• Nitin Agarwal is currently serving as the Additional
DG(ADG) (Operations), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
headquarters in Delhi.

Note:
Sujoy Lal Thaosen, DG of CRPF, was given an additional charge as DG of BSF following the retirement of Pankaj
Kumar Singh incumbent DG of BSF.
About Nitin Agarwal:
i.Nitin Agarwal was promoted as ADG in CRPF in 2014 while he was serving in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP).
ii.He has previously served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), formerly known as the Special Service Bureau, a
border guarding force of India deployed along Nepal and Bhutan.
iii.He has also served at various capacities in his cadre state of Kerala.
Anantharaman has been appointed as the new TransUnion Cibil chairman

On 8th June 2023, TransUnion CIBIL Limited(formerly Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited), India’s
first credit information bureau, announced the appointment of V Anantharaman as its non-executive
chairman.
• He takes over from M V Nair, who stepped down from the
post after 11 years of chairmanship.
About Anantharaman:
i.Anantharaman has worked in the banking industry with international
firms including Standard Chartered Bank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank
and Bank of America.
ii.He has also served as a senior advisor to British International
Investment (formerly Colonial Development Corporation-CDC),
Development Finance Institution of the government of the United
Kingdom(UK)
iii.He serves on the boards of the Indian Hotels Company Limited, Axis Asset Management Company, IIFL Home
Finance Ltd and Ecom Express Ltd., advisor to Lighthouse Funds, a consumer and healthcare-focused mid-
market private equity firm.
About TransUnion CIBIL Limited:
It is a subsidiary of TransUnion, an American multinational conglomerate.
Managing Director and CEO – Rajesh Kumar
Amitava Mukherjee gets 3 months extension as CMD (additional charge) of NMDC and NMDC
Steel
The Ministry of Steel has given 3 months extension to Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Finance) of National
Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd to hold the additional charge of Chairman & Managing
Director (CMD) of NMDC and NMDC Steel Ltd from June 01 to August 31, 2023, or till a regular office-holder
joins the post, or until further orders, whichever is the earlier.
• He has been holding the additional charge as CMD of NMDC since March 31, 2023, and was given the
additional charge until May 31 2023.
• The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) had recommended N. Sridhar, CMD of Singareni
Collieries Company as NMDC CMD in March 2023.
Hyundai Signs Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya as Brand Ambassador for Exter
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has signed Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya as the brand ambassador for
Exter, its sub 4metre sports utility vehicle (SUV), which was launched on July 10,2023.
Exter is expected to come up with safety features including the six airbags and electronic stability control.

• Hardik Pandya, hailing from Gujarat, made his international debut for India against Australia in
2016.
• In March 2023, He became India’s 27th One Day Internationals (ODI) captain and made his made his
captaincy debut in the first game against Australia in the India-Australia series.
• He played for Mumbai Indians (MI) in Indian Premier League(IPL) from 2015 to 2021 and since
2022 he has been player for Gujarat Titans as its Captain.
Pandya worked with over 12 brands including Monster Energy drink, Gulf Oil, William Lawson scotch, boAt,
and Britannia.
Note:According to brand valuation agency Kroll, in 2022, Hardik Pandya was worth $34.8 in terms of brand
value.
ACC named Sudhansh Pant as new Health Secretary; Chanchal Kumar as Aviation Secretary
As a part of the top level bureaucratic reshuffle, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has
appointed Sudhansh Pant, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of 1991 batch Rajasthan Cadre, as the
new Secretary (Officer on Special Duty – OSD), Department of Health and Family Welfare(DoH&FW) under the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW).
• He is currently serving as the Secretary in the Ministry
of Ports, Shipping and Waterways(MoPSW).
• He will succeed the incumbent Rajesh Bhushan, who
is set to retire on 31st July 2023.
Note: T K Ramachandran, the Chairman of V O Chidambaranar
Port Trust, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu(TN) will succeed Sudhansh
Pant as the Secretary, MoPSW.
Chanchal Kumar, MD of NHIDCL, appointed as Civil Aviation
Secretary
Chanchal Kumar, a 1992 batch IAS Officer of the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary (OSD),
Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA). He is currently serving as the Managing Director(MD) of National Highways
and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
• He will take charge as the Civil Aviation Secreatry on 1st August 2023 succeeding Rajiv Bansal, who
is set to retire from the post on 31st August 2023.
Pankaj Agrawal appointed as Power Secretary
Pankaj Agrawal, 1992 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh (MP) cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary
(OSD), Ministry of Power(MoP). He is currently serving as the Additional Secretary and Director General
(Acquisition), Ministry of Defence(MoD).
• He will succeed Alok Kumar, Secretary, MoP, upon his superannuation on 30th June 2023.
Other Appointments:
i.Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, retired IAS officer was appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)
of Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd(SECI) for a period of 2 years or until further orders, whichever is
earlier, on usual terms and conditions.
ii.Bharat Lal, retired Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer of the Gujarat cadre, was appointed as the Secretary
General, National Human Rights Commission for a period of 1 year or until further orders, whichever is
earlier.
• He will succeed Devendra Kumar Singh who is set to retire on 30th June 2023.
• He is currently serving as the Director General, National Centre for Good Governance.
iii.Atal Dulloo, lAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT)-Jammu &
Kashmir(J&K) cadre has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home
Affairs(MoHA). He is set to succeed Dharmendra S. Gangwar, upon his superannuation on 30th June 2023.
• He is currently posted as Additional Chief Secretary in J&K.

iv.Vibhu Nayar, lAS of Tamil Nadu Cadre, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of External
Affairs(MEA), was appointed as the Special Secretary & Financial Advisor(OSD), MEA.
• He will take charge on 1st November 2023 succeeding Anil Kumar Jha, who is set to retire on 30th
November 2023.
v.S. Gopalakrishnan, IAS (TN) Special Secretary, DoH&FW was appointed as Director General, National
Productivity Council, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT).
• He will succeed Sundeep Kumar Nayak, upon his superannuation on 31st July 2023.
vi.Debashree Mukherjee, Special Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, was appointed as Secretary in the same succeeding Pankaj Kumar, who is
set to retire on 30th September 2023.
vii.Nivedita Shukla Verma, IAS of Uttar Pradesh(UP) cadre (1991) Special Secretary, Department of Defence,
MoD, was appointed as Secretary(OSD), Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals, Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers (MoC&F) succeeding Arun Baroka, who is set to retire on 31st August 2023.
viii.Renu Gonela Pillay was appointed as the as Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes,
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment succeding Upma Srivastava who is set to retire on 31st July 2023.
ix.Seema Jam was appointed as the Member Finance, Space Commission in the rank and pay of Secretary to the
Government of India. She will also hold the additional charge of Member Finance, Earth Commission and
Atomic Energy Commission.
• She will succeed Talleen Kumar who is set to retire on 31st July 2023.
x.Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, was
appointed as the Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, MoC&F.
xi.Subhas Chandra Lal Das,Director General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was
appointed as the Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MoMSME).
• Atul Kumar Tiwari has been serving as the Secretary (additional charge) of MoMSME
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers elected as next chief of IATA’s board of governors
Pieter Elbers,the Chief executive officer(CEO) of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), has been elected as the
chair-elect of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. He will succeed the
current chairman Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of Rwandair, in June 2024.
• The announcement was made during the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air
Transport Summit, Istanbul, Turkey from June 4-6, 2023.
• Pieter Elbers, a Dutch airline executive, has been serving as the CEO of IndiGo since 2022. He has
served as the president and CEO of the Netherlands’ flag carrier airline, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,
from 2014 to 2022.
IATA is a trade association of airlines, founded in 1945, headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
• The IATA Board now has representation from Air India and IndiGo as its members.
RBI Approved Re-appointment of PN Vasudevan as the MD & CEO of Equitas SFB; Equitas Holdings Ltd
Submitted its NBFC Licence to RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of P N Vasudevan as the managing director
(MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) for a 3-year term with effect from
July 23, 2023.
Key Points:
i.Equitas SFB posted 35% year-on-year (YoY) growth in its advances to reach Rs 27,861 crore by the end of
March 2023.
ii.In which, the small finance loan portfolio expanded by 28% YoY to Rs 10,083 crore and the micro-finance
loan portfolio grew by 34% to Rs 5,225 crore.
• The vehicle loan portfolio expanded by 38% to Rs 6,971 crore.

iii.Equitas SFB’s total deposits grew 34% YoY to Rs 25,381 crore. The share of low cost money Current Account
and Savings account (CASA) stood at 42% at the end of March 2023.
iv.At the end of March 2023, the bank’s capital adequacy ratio was
23.8% with Tier I at 23.08 % and Tier II at 0.72%.
–Equitas Holdings Ltd has surrendered its NBFC licence to RBI
i.As per the statement of RBI, Non-Banking Financial Company
(NBFC) Equitas Holdings Ltd has surrendered its Certificate of
Registration (CoR) (i.e. the NBFC Licence) granted to them by RBI.
ii.Following the submission of the licence, RBI has cancelled Equitas
Holdings’ CoR (certificate of registration) in the exercise of powers
conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
Note – Along with Equitas Holdings Ltd, Mukand Global Finance Limited also submitted its NBFC licence to RBI.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence to the
Neobanking platform Jupiter enabling the latter to scale up its lending business.
About Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd:
Establishment – September 5, 2016
MD&CEO – Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan
Tagline – Here, Your money works towards better society
FSIB selected Ramaswamy Narayanan as CMD, GIC Re and Rajeswari Singh Muni as CMD, NICL
The Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) has selected Ramaswamy Narayanan, General Manager,
General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GIC Re.
• He will succeed Devesh Srivastav, the current CMD of GIC Re, who is set to retire in September 2023.
• N Ramaswamy, who joined GIC Re in 1988, will get a 2 year term and will retire in September 2025.
About Ramaswamy Narayanan:
i. In 1988, he joined GIC as a direct recruit officer and over the past three decades, he has been involved in
various functions within GIC.
ii. Earlier he was posted in London, the United Kingdom to head the GIC Re’s UK branch.
iii. As a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the UK branch, he was involved in handling the operations of the
Branch, the newly setup Lloyds syndicate of GIC (GIC 1947) as well as the Corporate Member of GIC over a
period of four and half years.
iv. He also handled the functions of Human Resource (HR), International Operations, Marketing and Broker
Relationship Management and Credit Rating at GIC’s Head Office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
FSIB selected Rajeswari Singh Muni as CMD of NICL
FSIB has also selected Rajeswari Singh Muni, General Manager & Director (GMD), United India Insurance, as
the CMD of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).
• She will succeed Suchita Gupta, the current CMD of NIC, who is set to retire in August 2023.
About Rajeswari Singh Muni:
i. She has 35 years of experience and expertise in the Crop Insurance domain.
ii. In 1987, she joined GIC, Crop Insurance Cell Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and has worked in various states in
various departments.
iii. In 2004, she was given the charge of Regional Manager in Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) in
Hyderabad, Telangana.
iv. In 2019, she became the General Manager of AIC and handled various portfolios.
Other Appointments:
FSIB recommended Sat Pal Bhanoo and R. Doraiswamy as new Managing Directors (MD)s of Life Insurance
Corporation of India(LIC).

• After ACC’s approval Sat Pal Bhanoo will fill up the vacancy of Siddarth Mohanty, the
current Chairperson of LIC, who will take charge as CEO and MD of LIC, till superannuation on June 7,
2025.
• Doraiswamy will join in place of Mini Ipe, MD of LIC, who will be retiring at the end of August 2023.
Note: Currently LIC has 4 MDs.
About Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB):
i. FSIB, constituted the Chairmanship of BhanuPratap Sharma, former Secretary, Department of Personnel
and Training (DoPT).
Members:
Girija Kumar, former CMD of Oriental Insurance Company (OIC); Sujay Banarji, former Member of Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Usha Sangwan, former MD of LIC. Debasish Panda,
Chairman, IRDAI, Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial services (DFS).
About Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB):
i. It replaced the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) and constituted effective from July 01, 2022 for appointing
whole-time Directors (WTDs) and non-executive Chairpersons (NECs) on the Boards of Directors in financial
services institutions such as Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Insurance companies (PSIs), Financial Institutions
(FIs), and Leadership development.
Kuwait re-elects Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as Prime Minister

Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been re-elected as Kuwait’s Prime Minister(PM) following a
decree (official order) issued by Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on 13th
June 2023.
• On 6th June 2023, the election for the 17th National Assembly took place.
He served as the Kuwait National Guard’s deputy commander from November 2020 till March 2022 and was
first appointed as the Prime Minister on July 24, 2022.
Note: The prime minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah’s previous government resigned following
parliamentary elections.
Gopichand Hinduja takes over as Group chairman

The Chairman post of the Hinduja Group has been taken over by Gopichand Hinduja, (83) after his brother
Srichand P Hinduja passed away on17th May 2023.
• Earlier, Gopichand Hinduja was the co-chairman of Hinduja Group Ltd. which is present in 11 sectors
such as automotive, IT, media and entertainment, infrastructure, oil and speciality chemicals, power and
real estate.
• Hinduja Group is a London-based conglomerate(combined) organization founded in 1919
by Parmanand Hinduja.The Indian headquarter is Mumbai,Maharashtra.
Note: Gopichand Hinduja obtained British citizenship in 1997.
Ex-RBI Dy Governor N S Vishwanathan appointed as non-executive, part time chairman of Axis

bank
On 16th June 2023, The Board of Directors of Axis Bank approved the appointment of N. S. Vishwanathan,
former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) , as its Non-Executive (Part-time) Chairman for a
period of three years.
• The appointment is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Axis Bank and RBI.
About N. S. Vishwanathan:
N. S. Vishwanathan is currently serving as the independent director of Axis Bank since May 2023 and he has

also been serving as the head of the advisory board at Razorpay since April 2023.
He joined RBI in 1981 and served as Deputy Governor from 2016 to 2020.
• He currently serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Governing Council at the Institute for
Development and Research in Banking Technology(IDRBT), Hyderabad, Telangana.
• He served as a member of the board at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from July
2016 to March 2020.
Aalok Kumar, Sr VP & President & CEO of NEC Corporation appointed as ADB Bank’s High-Level
Advisory Group on Digital Technology
Aalok Kumar, Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President (VP), Head of the Global Smart City
Business, NEC (formerly known as Nippon Electric Company, Limited)
Corporation India, has been appointed as a member of the Asian
Development Bank’s (ADB) High-level Advisory Group on Digital
Technology for Development in Asian countries with effect from May
1, 2023.
Aalok Kumar is also the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
NEC Corporation India.
Aalok Kumar replaces Katsumi Emura, a former officer of NEC
Corporation and one of the founding members of the group.
About Aalok Kumar:
i. Aalok Kumar has nearly three decades of experience in senior leadership roles in business transformation,
performance improvement, and margin expansion.
ii. Prior to his role as President and CEO of NEC India in 2020, he served as the Senior Vice President of
McKinsey & Company.
iii. He has also worked in companies that include GE Healthcare Technologies Inc (GE HealthCare), General
Electric Capital Corporation (GE Capital) and ABN Amro Bank.
ADB’s High-level Advisory Group:
i. In 2019, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) established a High-level Advisory Group on Digital Technology
for Development.
ii. The eight-person experts’ group will advise on the use of digital technologies and their implications for
ADB’s development work.
iii. It will provide inputs for digital strategies on ADB’s operational priorities, as defined in its Strategy 2030.
iv. The eight-member group, consisting of global industry leaders in digital technology and academicians, is
committed to further accelerating the utilisation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among
ADB activities for developing countries.
U Saravanan appointed as the CMD of NFL

U Saravanan was appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of National Fertilizers Limited (NFL),
Schedule ‘A’ & a Mini Ratna (Category-I) Central Public Sector Undertaking(CPSU), under the Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilizers(MoC&F), with effect from 16th June 2023 till the date of his superannuation (31st
January 2027).
• Prior to the appointment, he was serving as the CMD of Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL), a CPSU
under MoC&F. He has also served as the Director (Technical) at MFL.
• He was also a board member of Indian Potash Limited and Fortune Biotech.
• He is a Life member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), Kolkata (West Bengal).

Swaminathan Janakiraman, MD of SBI appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI
On 20th June 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment
of Swaminathan Janakiraman, Managing Director (MD) (Corporate Banking and Subsidiaries) of the State
Bank of India (SBI) to the post of Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The appointment of Swaminathan Janakiraman is for a period of three years from the date of joining
the post or until further orders.
• He will succeed Mahesh Kumar Jain, whose 5 years tenure ends on June 22nd 2023.
Note:
Mahesh Kumar Jain was first appointed as a DG in June 2018 for 3 years, then he was re-appointed in June 2021
for a further 2-year period.
About Swaminathan Janakiraman:
i. In a career spanning over 33 years with SBI, Swaminathan Janakiraman held various assignments across
Corporate and International Banking, Retail and Digital Banking and so on.
ii. He served SBI in various capacities including Deputy Managing Director (Finance) and Chief Digital Officer.
iii. Prior to this, he served as the Chief General Manager (CGM) of Hyderabad, Telangana Circle and also served
in SBI’s New York (the United States of America-USA) Branch as Head of Trade.
iv. As SBI’s nominee, he served on the Board of the Bank of Bhutan, an SBI Joint Ventures (JV) in Bhutan.
v. As SBI’s nominee, he was a Director on the boards of Yes Bank, National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI), NPCI International and Jio Payments Bank.
vi. He also been the SBI’s nominee director and Chairman of the Board of SBI Payments Services Pvt Ltd, an SBI
Hitachi JV.
vii. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) as well as Certified Documentary Credit
Specialist (CDCS).
Note – The current 4 Deputy governors of RBI are Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar
Rao, and T. Rabi Sankar.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI) :
The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934.
Founded in– July 1955
Hasmukh Adhia appointed as Chairman of GIFT City; Airavat Capital launches global
technology fund at GIFT City
Hasmukh Adhia, former union finance & revenue secretary, has been appointed Chairman of GIFT
City Ltd (Gujarat International Finance Tec-city co. ltd.), in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, replacing Sudhir
Mankad, who has been serving as the Chairman of GIFT City since 2007.
• Hasmukh Adhia was also appointed as the non-executive Chairman of the Vadodara(Gujarat) based
Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd (GACL) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Gujarat Mineral
Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC).
Note:
GACL, is a chemical substance manufacturing company owned by the Government of Gujarat and GMDC is a
minerals and lignite mining company owned by the Gujarat government.

About Hasmukh Adhia:
i.Hasmukh Adhia, retired Gujarat cadre IAS (Indian
Administrative Service) officer of the 1981 batch, is currently
serving as the advisor to the Gujarat Chief Minister (CM)
Bhupendra Patel.
ii.He was part of the panel appointed by the Gujarat government
to recommend measures for the post-COVID-19 economic revival
of the State.
iii.He is currently serving as the non-executive Chairman of Bank
of Baroda(BoB), and also the Chancellor of Central University of
Gujarat. He serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore(IIMB), Bengaluru, Karnataka.
iv.He also serves as Vice-President of Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) and Pandit
Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar.
Note – GIFT City Ltd is an entity responsible for developing India’s first smart city Gujarat International
Finance-Tec City in Gandhinagar.
–Airavat Capital launches global technology fund at GIFT City
On 20th June 2023, Airavat Capital, a public equities investment firm, launched a global technology
fund, Airavat Global Technology Fund R (AGTF R), based in Gift City to invest in top listed technology
companies around the globe.
• AGTF R is a category III alternative investment fund. At present, the open-ended fund has received
interest worth USD 40 million from a range of investors.
• The fund will offer Indian HNIs (High Net-worth Individuals) and institutional investors the
opportunity to leverage Indian technology ecosystem insight to capitalise on the growth potential of
top-listed technology companies worldwide.
• Airavat Capital is also launching GTF NR (a sister fund of AGTF R) aimed at raising capital from
investors in South-East Asia (SEA) and the Middle East (ME).
• Airavat also recently redomiciled a Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) vehicle to India with the
launch of Airavat Capital India Fund (ACIF) in GIFT city.
About Gujarat International Finance Tec-city co. ltd. (GIFT-City Ltd):
Headquarters – Gandhinagar, Gujarat
MD & Group CEO – Tapan Ray
Marcel Ciolacu Appointed as New Prime Minister of Romania; Nicolae Ciucă Resigned
On 15th June 2023, Ion-Marcel Ciolacu(55 years old), leader of Romania’s Social Democratic Party (PSD-
Partidul Social Democrat) sworn in as the new Prime Minister(PM) of Romania at the Cotroceni Palace in
Bucharest, Romania.
Romania PM Nicolae Ciucă Resigned:
Nicolae Ciucă, leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), who has been serving as the PM of Romania since
2021 resigned from the post on 12th June 2023.
• On 13th June 2023, Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania, appointed incumbent Justice Minister
Catalin Predoiu as interim PM of Romania.
Background:
i.Under an agreement reached by the members of the ruling coalition that was sworn-in in November 2021,
Romania will rotate its PM every 18 months before the next parliamentary elections, which are expected to be
held in December 2024.
ii.The rotation should have taken place on 25th May 2023 but was delayed due to the teachers’ strike in
Romania.
iii.As per the agreement, Nicolae Ciucă handed over the post to Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of PSD.

Vote of investiture:
On 15th June 2023, The new government led by Marcel Ciolacu won the vote of investiture in the Parliament.
i.The cabinet received 290 votes in favour and 95 against during the joint plenary session of the 465-seat
bicameral legislature.
ii.Marcel Ciolacu will lead the cabinet composed of 2 deputy PMs and 17 other ministers.
About Ion-Marcel Ciolacu :
i.Ion-Marcel Ciolacu has been a member of the Social Democrat Party(PSD) since 1990 and became the PSD’s
interim President in December 2019. In August 2020 he was elected as the full president of PSD.
ii.He entered national politics in 2012 and won a mandate as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the
Parliament of Romania and he was re-elected as member of Parliament in 2016.
iii.He served as a member of the Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies from 2014 to 2016.
iv.He served as the Deputy PM of Romania from June 2017 to January 2018 and served as the Speaker of the
Chamber of Deputies from 2019 to 2020.
v.He served as the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania from 2021 to June 2023.
About Romania:
Prime Minister– Marcel Ciolacu
President– Klaus Iohannis
Capital– Bucharest
Currency– The Romanian Leu
Alibaba CEO Zhang Resigns to focus on Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group

On 20th June 2023, Daniel Zhang Yong, the 51-year-old Chinese business executive, has announced his
resignation as Alibaba Group Holding chairman and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and to focus on Alibaba
Cloud Intelligence Group.
• Zhang joined the retail giant in 2007 and became CEO in 2015 and chairman in 2019, succeeding co-
founder Jack Ma.
• Eddie Yongming Wu, chairman of Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall Group, is set to assume the role of
CEO at Alibaba Group.
• Joseph Tsai, the Executive Vice Chairman, is set to assume the position of Chairman, succeeding the
current chairman.
RBI assigns additional responsibilities to 3 Deputy Governors after M K Jain exit

On June 21, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) assigned additional responsibilities to three deputy
governors after the exit of Mahesh Kumar (MK) Jain from the post of deputy governor. His term expired on
June 21, 2023.
Additional Responsibilities assigned to current 3 RBI Governors w.e.f. June 22, 2023:
i.Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra will now look after Department of Co-ordination, Corporate
Strategy and Budget Department, Economic and Policy Research, Statistics and Information Management,
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation, Financial Markets Operations and Regulations,
Department of International, Monetary Policy and Secretary’s Department.
ii.Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar has been assigned the responsibility of Central Security Cell, Right to
Information (RIA) Division, Currency Management, External Investments & Operations, Government and Bank
Accounts, IT, Payments and Settlements System, HRM (Human Resource Management), Foreign Exchange,
Internal Debt Management, Premises, and Rajbhasha.
iii.Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao will look into the Department of Consumer Education and Protection,
Regulations, Supervision, Communication, Enforcement, Inspection, legal, Risk Monitoring, and Financial
Inclusion and Development.
Click Here for full responsibilities

Key Points:
i.On June 20, 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of State Bank
of India’s (SBI) Managing Director Swaminathan Janakiraman to the post of Deputy Governor (DG) of the
Reserve Bank of lndia (RBI) for a period of three years, succeeding M K Jain.
ii.According to the RBI Act, of 1934, the central bank should have four deputy governors — two from within
the ranks, one commercial banker and an economist to head the monetary policy department.
• The deputy governor appointments are made for an initial period of 3 years, and the person is
eligible for reappointment.
Establishment – April 1, 1935
Kyriakos Mitsotakis wins second term as Greek PM

On 25th June 2023, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of Greece’s centre-right New Democracy (ND-Nea Demokratia)
party, won the national election and secured a 2nd four-year term as the Prime Minister(PM) of Greece.
• He was sworn in as the PM of Greece on 26th June
2023 by the Archbishop of Athens, head of the Church
of Greece.
Note: Kyriakos Mitsotakis served as the PM of Greece for the first
term from July 2019 to May 2023. He has been serving as the
President of the ND party since 2016.
National Election of Greece:
The ND party had earned over 40% of the votes, 158 seats out of
the 300 seats. Its main opposition, Alexis Tsipras (former PM
from 2015 to 2019)’s centre-left party Syriza, earned over 17%
(about 48 seats) of the vote.
• The election held on 25th June 2023 was the second held in Greece in five weeks.
• The first election was held on 21st May 2023, in which the ND party came first with 145 seats but
failed to secure an outright majority in the parliament.
Note: Under Greek rules for a second election, the biggest party is awarded a bonus of between 20 and 50 seats.
With more than 40% of the vote, ND won all 50 seats.
About Kyriakos Mitsotakis:
i.In 2003, Kyriakos Mitsotakis entered politics and was elected to parliament with the ND party in the March
2004 elections.
• Since 2004, he has participated in the Committee for Constitutional Amendment, the Committee for
Trade and the Committee for National Defense as a member of the Parliament.
• He was re-elected in the general election in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2015.
ii. He was the first in order parliamentary representative of ND in Parliament from February to November
2015.
iii. He has also served as the Minister of Administrative Reform and e-Government from June 2013 to January
2015.
iv.He was also an active member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly.
Additional info:
Before entering politics, Kyriakos Mitsotakis worked as a financial analyst with Chase Investment Bank, and as
a consultant with McKinsey and Company for ten years.
In 1999 he joined the National Bank of Greece as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NBG Venture Capital.

About Greece:
Capital– Athens
Prime Minister (PM)- Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Currency– Euro
DBS Bank India Appoints Rajat Verma as Managing Director of Institutional Banking Group
On 26th June 2023, DBS Bank India Limited appointed Rajat Verma as Managing Director(MD) and head of
DBS Institutional Banking Group, India.
• Institutional banking refers to the services provided by
banks to large organizations such as corporations,
government entities, and non-profit organizations. These
services typically include business loans, commercial
mortgages, and lines of credit.
i.Rajat, who has 26 years of banking experience will be
succeeding Niraj Mittal.
ii.Niraj Mittal will be taking up a new role as country head of DBS
Bank in Australia as part of the bank’s continued talent and
leadership development program by focusing on DBS franchise linkages with South-East Asia and South Asia.
NOTE-Rajat Verma formerly served as MD and country head of commercial banking at Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) India.
About DBS Bank India Ltd:
DBS Bank India Limited, a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of DBS Bank Limited, Singapore.
Managing Director and Chief executive officer(CEO)– Surojit Shome
Headquarters – Mumbai,Maharashtra
Jhulan Goswami, Heather Knight and Eoin Morgan Joins MCC World Cricket Committee
Jhulan Goswami, former Indian woman cricketer, Heather Knight, captain of the England women’s cricket
team and Eoin Morgan, former England Men’s cricketer have joined the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) World
Cricket Committee (WCC).
• The trio has joined the committee ahead of its upcoming
meeting at Lord’s cricket ground in London, the United
Kingdom (UK), known as the Home of Cricket, which is
owned by the MCC.
About Jhulan Goswami:
i. The seamer enjoyed a career spanning two decades include 12
Tests, 204 ODIs and 68 Twenty-Twenty (T20) Internationals from
2002 to 2022, picking over 355 wickets across formats, the most by
any bowler in women’s international cricket.
ii. JhulanGoswami, a Padma Shri (2012 – for her services to sports), and Arjuna Awardee (2010 for the Sport –
Cricket), is often regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in women’s Cricket and retired from international
cricket in 2022.
iii. She was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC in April 2023.
Note: The final appearance of Jhulan Goswami was at Lord’s in the One Day International (ODI) against England
in 2022.
About Heather Knight:
The England women’s team won the ODI world cup led by Heather Knight in 2017.

About Eoin Morgan:
The England Men’s team won the ODI world cup led by Eoin Morgan in 2019.
Note: Both Eoin Morgan and Heather Knight led their teams to the ODI World Cup at the Lord’s Cricket ground.
MCC World Cricket committee:
i. It is an independent body of current and former international cricketers, umpires, and officials from across
the world.
ii. The committee, funded entirely by the MCC, conducts research, particularly into technological advances and
the biomechanical elements of the game.
iii. The committee signifies the growth of the female representation on the committee with the growth that
women’s cricket has enjoyed in recent years.
iv. JhulanGoswami and Heather Knight join Clare Connor (Former English Cricketer) and Suzie Bates (New
Zealand Cricketer), who can all offer direct insight into women’s Cricket.
v. WCC will meet on Monday and Tuesday at Lord’s ahead of the second Men’s Ashes Test between England and
Australia.
Note: 3 new members were added to the WCC in February 2023, when Clare Connor, Justin Langer and Graeme
Smith joined ahead of the meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Committee Members:
The 14 member committee, chaired by Mike Gatting, Former English Cricketer, includes,
Mike Gatting (Former English Cricketer) (Chair), Jamie Cox (Australian Cricketer), Suzie Bates, Clare Connor,
Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lankan Cricket Umpire), Sourav Ganguly (Former Indian Cricketer), Justin Langer
(Australian Cricket Coach), Ramiz Raja (Former Pakistani Cricketer), Kumar Sangakkara (Former Sri Lankan
Cricketer), Graeme Smith (Former South African Cricketer), Ricky Skerritt (West Indian Cricket Board
President)
Aarti Holla-Maini of UK appointed as Director of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs

On 26th June 2023, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Aarti Holla-Maini, an
Indian-origin satellite industry expert from the United Kingdom (UK), as the Director of the United Nations
Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
• Aarti Holla-Maini will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of Italy,
who served as the Director of UNOOSA from 2014 to 2022.
• Niklas Hedman of Sweden, who has been serving as the
Acting Director of UNOOSA since March 2022, will continue
in the post until Aarti Holla-Maini assumes the position.
About Aarti Holla-Maini:
i.She served as the Secretary-General of the Global Satellite Operators
Association for 18 years.
ii.Aarti Holla-Maini served as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space.
iii.She has served as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space; a member of
the Advisory Group of the Space Sustainability Rating managed by eSpace at the École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne (EPFL) Space Center; a member of the Advisory Board of the Satellite Industry Association of
India; Senior Space Policy Adviser to Forum Europe and as Expert Adviser on Space Traffic Management for
European Union studies 2021-2023.
iv.She was also a key architect of the Crisis Connectivity Charter, which was formed in 2015 for emergency
satellite communications with the UN World Food Program’s Emergency Telecommunications Cluster.
Haoliang Xu of China appointed as new Under-Secretary-General & Associate Administrator for UNDP
On 26th June 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Haoliang Xu of China as Under-
Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Haoliang Xu will succeed Usha Rao-Monari of India, who has been serving as the Under-Secretary-
General and Associate Administrator of the UNDP since 17th February 2021.

About Haoliang Xu:
i.Prior to the appointment, he has been serving as the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s
Bureau for Policy and Programme Support since 2019.
ii.He also served as the Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the
Pacific from 2013 to 2019.
iii.He has held various roles in UNDP, working in field and headquarters assignments in Asia-Pacific, Europe
and Central Asia, including assignments in Iran, Timor-Leste, Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
RBI approved Appointment of A P Hota as Federal Bank’s Part-Time Chairman

On June 26, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of AP Hota, independent
director, as part-time chairman of the Federal Bank with effect from June 29, 2023, till January 14, 2026.
About AP Hota:
i.He has banking experience of over 27 years in RBI, mostly in
technology and payment systems, from 1982- 2009.
ii.While at the RBI, he served as nominee director to the Board of Vijaya
Bank and subsequently Andhra Bank.
iii.He was the architect of NPCI and served as its Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer between 2009- 2017.
iv.AP Hota was appointed as Independent Director of Federal Bank
Limited with effect from January 15, 2018.
Rohit Jawa took charge as MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever Ltd

On 27th June 2023, Rohit Jawa took over as the new Managing Director(MD) & Chief executive officer(CEO) of
Hindustan Unilever Limited(HUL) following Sanjiv Mehta’s retirement. He is also the President of Unilever
South Asia and a Member of the Unilever Leadership Executive(ULE).
• Jawa is to get an annual remuneration of Rs 21.43 crore and
would receive a sum of Rs 4.83 crore as mobility-linked
allowances in Financial Year(FY)24.
Rohit Jawa’s Career with HUL:
i.He had started his career with HUL as a management trainee in 1988.
ii.His 1st overseas opportunity came in 2004 when Jawa was elevated
as the Vice President of Unilever Vietnam. Since then he has served
across geographies like Bangkok, Singapore, Philippines, China.
iii.He is known for transforming the consumer goods major’s in Asian
Markets.
iv.He previously held the position of Unilever’s chief of transformation in London.
Note-Sanjiv Mehta took over as MD and CEO of HUL in October 2013. He introduced several business programs
such as ‘Dial up the Big Q’ and ‘Winning in Many Indias’.
About Hindustan Unilever Limited(HUL):
MD & CEO- Rohit Jawa
Headquartered- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1931(set up of the 1st Indian Subsidiary)

Competition Commission of India approves deal involving Manipal Group
On 6th June 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a fair-trade regulator, cleared the proposed
deal involving Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Limited (MHEPL) and Manipal Education and Medical
Group India Pvt Limited (MEMG India).
• The deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator CCI, which keeps a tab on
unfair business practices as well as promotes fair competition in the marketplace.
• The proposed combination entails the: (a) acquisition of equity shares capital of the Manipal Health
Enterprises Private Limited (MHEPL/ Target) by Kangto Investments Pte. Ltd.(Kangto), Kabru
Investments Pte. Ltd. (Kabru), Manipal Research & Management Services International (MRMSI),
Manipal Global Health Services (MGHS), MEMG International India Private Limited (MEMGIIPL) and
TPG SG Magazine Pte. Ltd. (TPG SG); and
(b) acquisition of optionally convertible debentures of MEMG India by MEMGIIPL from National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund – II (Proposed Combination).
Note:
• MHEPL operates a chain of multi-speciality hospitals under the brand name ‘Manipal Hospitals.
• MEMG India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RSP Trust India and belongs to the Pai family group.
CCI approved minority Stake Acquisition in Lenskart Solutions
CCI has approved the minority stake acquisition in Lenskart Solutions by Dove Investments, Defati
Investments Holding BV and Infinity Partners under the green channel route.
• The proposed combination relates to Dove Investments, Defati Investments Holding BV and Infinity
Partners’ minority acquisition of certain equity shareholding of Lenskart.
• Under the green channel route, wherein a transaction, which does not raise any risk of an
appreciable adverse effect on competition, is deemed to be approved on being intimated to the
antitrust/fair-trade regulator.
Note:
• Lenskart Solutions Pvt Ltd (LSPL) is engaged in the business of manufacturing, sale and wholesale
trading of eyewear products.
• Dove Investments, Defati Investments Holding BV and Infinity Partners are private equity
investors.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd:
CCI has also cleared the acquisition of securities of a newly incorporated entity of Mahindra & Mahindra
Ltd by the World Bank Group arm International Finance Corporation (IFC).
IFC would invest in Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd by subscribing to certain compulsorily convertible preference
shares (CCPS) of the new unit of Mahindra & Mahindra, which is being incorporated to improve the last-mile
electric mobility business.
CCI approves acquisition of 4.04% shareholding in Acko Tech by GASACK

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of an additional 4.04% shareholding of
Acko Technology and Services Private Limited (Acko Tech) by General Atlantic Singapore ACK Pte. Ltd.
(GASACK).
• The CCI has approved the proposed combination subject to compliance with amendments jointly
provided by GASACK and GAP Bermuda, LP pursuant to Regulation 19(2) of the Rules of the
Competition Commission of India (Procedure in Commercial Transactions Related to Combinations),
2011.

• Acko Tech is engaged in the business of providing general (non-life) insurance through its
subsidiary, Acko General Insurance Limited (Acko GI).
General Atlantic Singapore ACK Pte (GASACK) is an investment holding company held by funds or vehicles
controlled by US-based private equity firm General Atlantic.
CPPIB Sells 1.77% Stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank

On 9th June 2023, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) sold around 3.3 crore shares or 1.7 % of the
equity of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited(KMB) through open market transactions. The shares were sold at an
average price of Rs 1855.64, the total deal value was Rs 6,123.6 crore.
• Around 2.2 crore shares were sold at Rs 1,855 each, while another block of 1.09 crore shares were
traded at Rs 1,864.15.
• CPPIB has been a long-term investor in the KMB and raised its stake from 4.9% at the end of March
2016, to 6.26% at the end of March 2018.
• As of March 2021, CPPIB held 6.37% stake in KMB. In March 2022, CPPIB had sold 2.02% stake in
the KMB at Rs 1,699 per share.
• The current stake-sale will bring down the fund’s holding to below 3 %.
LIC Raises Stake in SAIL to 8.6% & reduces stake in NHPC to 3.19%
Life Insurance Corporation of India(LIC) has increased its stake in Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a
Maharatnas Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSE) under the Ministry of Steel, by 2.001% (8.26 crore shares)
through an open market acquisition, at an average price of Rs 66.18 per unit.
• With this acquisition, LIC has raised its stake from 6.68% to 8.68%.
• LIC brought these shares between 14th October 2022 and 8th June 2023 for about Rs 547 crore.
LIC reduces its stake in NHPC to 3.19%
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reduces its stake in NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric
Power Corporation ) to 3.19% in the March quarter from 3.48% in the preceding quarter.
• LIC sold shares worth Rs 832.8 crore (202.6 million shares of NHPC at an average price of Rs 41.10)
between October 18, 2022 and May 23, 2023.
• It disclosed that its ownership in NHPC Ltd has decreased from 522.6 million(5.203%) to 319.9
million shares(3.19%).
About Life Insurance Corporation of India:
Founded on– 1st September 1956
Chairperson– Siddharth Mohanty
IRDAI has approved SBI MF to take upto 10% share in ICICI Lombard
On 12th June 2023, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) gave its approval to SBI
Mutual Fund (SBIMF) to acquire upto 10% of the total paid up equity share capital of ICICI Lombard General
Insurance Company Limited(ICICI Lombard) through market purchase.
• SBIMF is a joint venture (JV) between the State Bank of India(SBI), an Indian public sector bank, and
Amundi, a European asset management company.
By the end of March 2023, SBIMF, through various scheme, held 4.62% stake in ICICI Lombard, while ICICI
Bank held 48.02%.
Key Points:
i.The IRDAI has instructed SBI MF to verify that its total shareholding, including those of group entities or body
corporate under the same management, shall not exceed 10% of the total paid-up equity share capital.
ii.The IRDAI’s approval is valid for one year and subject to compliance with provisions of IRDAI (Registration
of Indian Insurance Companies) Regulations, 2022, Indian Insurance Companies (Foreign Investment) Rules,

2015, Insurance Act/Rules/Regulations, Orders, Circulars etc.
Additional info: :
i.In May 2023, The board of directors of ICICI Bank approved the plan to increase its the shareholding in ICICI
Lombard by 4% in the next 16 months.
ii.ICICI bank aims to acquire 2.5% stake out of the 4% by 9th September 2024.
About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company:
MD & CEO- Bhargav Dasgupta
Established- 2001
Headquarters- Mumbai,Maharastra.
About The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India:
IRDAI (also referred to as IRDA) is a government body responsible for regulating and developing the insurance
industry in India.
Chairperson- Debasish Panda
Founded- 1999
CCI approves acquisition of certain shareholding in Ambit by Daiwa International

On 13th June 2023, The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a certain
shareholding(Minority Stake) in Ambit Private Limited (APL) by Daiwa International Holdings Inc through a
combination of primary subscription of shares and secondary share purchases from existing shareholders.
• Daiwa International Holdings Inc, incorporated in Japan was established for the purpose of holding
stock in a domestic or foreign company for its commercial activities.
• APL is a merchant banker registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
4.54 % stake in CDSL is sold by BSE for Rs 468 crore

On 14th June 2023, through a block deal, BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) sold its 4.54% stake (i.e.47.44 lakh
shares) in Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) for Rs 468 crore (at Rs 985.98 apiece).
• Of that, ICICI Prudential Technology Fund bought 5.28 lakh shares.
Key Points:
i.As on March 31, 2023, the BSE held 20% of the total equity shares of CDSL and now sold 4.54% stake to
comply with the norms of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) .
ii.As per the norms of SEBI, under the SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 2018, a stock exchange
is allowed only to hold a 15% stake in a depository (it was reduced to 15% from 24% in January 2021).
About Central Depository Services Limited:
• CDSL is a depository that keeps securities in dematerialized form and facilitates book entry trading
and settlement of securities.
• It is organised by the Bombay Stock Exchange in collaboration with the State Bank of India, Union
Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, and Standard Chartered Bank. CDSL got listed on the
exchange in 2017.
Max Life Insurance picks 2.99% stake in Capital Small Finance Bank for ₹49.5 crore
Max Life Insurance Company Limited (Max Life) has acquired a 2.99% equity stake in Capital Small Finance
Bank (CSFB), which is headquartered in Jalandhar, Punjab. The acquisition was made for a total consideration
of Rs. 49.50 crore.
• Max Life has been allotted 10.5 lakh equity shares of CSFB of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 458 per
equity share.

Key points:
i.The strategic investment will increase CSFB’s Capital Adequacy Ratio(CAR) by over 1% to 20.77%.
ii.The post-investment valuation is determined to be Rs1652 crore.
Note: On 24th April 2016, Capital Small Finance Bank Limited started its operations as India’s 1st Small
Finance Bank after conversion from Capital Local Area Bank.
TPG Investments exits Shriram Finance by selling 2.65% stake

On 19th June 2023, Private equity(PE) firm and a Leading Global Alternative Asset Manager Texas Pacific
Group(TPG) sold its entire 2.65 % stake or 99.2 lakh shares in Non-Banking Financial Company(NBFC) Shriram
Finance Ltd for Rs 1,390 crore through open market transactions.
• The shares were offloaded through TGP’s affiliate – TPG India Investments II Inc in 18 tranches.
Shriram Finance provides consumer finance services, offering automobile, commercial vehicle, business, and
gold loan services.
It was formed by the merging of Shriram City Union Finance and Shriram Capital into Shriram Transport
Finance.
CCI approves acquisition of stake by HDFC in HDFC Life Insurance and HDFC ERGO General
Insurance
On June 20, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) granted its approval to Housing Development
Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC Limited) to acquire a certain stake in HDFC Life Insurance Company and
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd.
• These approvals will aid in the merger of HDFC Limited into HDFC Bank, which is expected to be
finalized by the third quarter of the Financial year 2023-24 (Q3 FY24).
• In both cases, the merged entity HDFC Bank (after the effective date of the proposed amalgamation)
will hold over 50% of the shareholding of the two insurance companies
Background:
On April 4, 2022, HDFC Bank agreed to take over HDFC in a deal valued at about USD 40 billion which is termed
the biggest transaction in India’s corporate history. In April 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted
HDFC Bank or HDFC to raise their stake in HDFC Life Insurance Company and HDFC ERGO General Insurance
Company to over 50%, effective until the merger date.
• HDFC Limited is a public limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956
The Outcome:
The proposed entity i.e. ‘HDFC Bank’ will have a combined asset base of around Rs 18 lakh crore. Once the deal
is effective, HDFC Bank will be 100% owned by public shareholders, and existing shareholders of HDFC will
own 41% of the bank.
• Every HDFC shareholder will get 42 shares of HDFC Bank for every 25 shares they hold.
Another Development:
i.As per an RBI directive for its merger with HDFC Bank, HDFC Limited was asked to pare its stake in HDFC
Credila to 10% over the next two years, and stop onboarding new customers.
ii.Thus on June 19, 2023, HDFC Limited stated that it would sell a 90% stake in education loan subsidiary HDFC
Credila Financial Services to Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) EQT group and the ChrysCapital group for Rs
9,060.5 crore.
HDFC sells 90% of its stakes in HDFC Credila for Rs 9,060 crore
Housing Development and Finance Corporation(HDFC) has sold its 90% stakes in HDFC Credila Financial
Services, a education loan subsidiary of the (HDFC) to BPEA EQT and ChrysCapital for Rs 9,060 crore.
i.The Stakes are acquired by Kopvoorn BV, part of the BPEA EQT group, and Moss Investments, Defati
Investments Holding B.V. & Infinity Partners,which are part of the ChrysCapital group

ii.The total revenue of HDFC Credila during the 2022-23 fiscal was Rs 1,352.18 crore and its net worth as on
March 31, 2023, was Rs 2,435.09 crore.
Background for the sale:
The sale comes ahead of the completion of HDFC’ Ltd’s merger with HDFC Bank Ltd.,
as advised by RBI to bring down the shares in HDFC Credila Financial Services to 10% within 2 years.
Piramal Enterprises to sell entire 8.34% stake in Shriram Finance

According to block deal data available on the National Stock Exchange, on 21st June 2023, Piramal Enterprises
divested its entire 8.34% stake in non-banking financial company Shriram Finance for Rs 4,824 crore through
an open market transaction. As of March 2023, Piramal Enterprises held the stake-sale comprising Rs.3.12
crore shares while Shriram Capital held 18%.
This comes after TPG India Investments, the United States of America (USA)-based private equity firm
offloaded its entire 2.65% stake, or 99.2 lakh shares, in the Piramal Enterprises via several block deals at
Rs.1,401 per share for Rs.1,390 crore.
Note:
The sale by Piramal will be the third large exit since the three-way merger of Shriram City Union Finance and
Shriram Capital with Shriram Transport Finance to create Shriram Finance in December 2022.
SBI to acquire 20% stake in SBI Pension Funds from SBICAPS

The Executive Committee of the Central Board (ECCB) of the State Bank of India (SBI) has accorded approval
for acquiring the entire 20% stake held by SBI Capital Markets (SBICAPS) in SBI Pension Funds.
• SBICAPS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI. It provides Investment Banking and Corporate
Advisory Services to its clients.
• SBI Pension Funds is a Pension Fund Manager (PFM), managing the pension corpus under the
National Pension System (NPS).
Note: Currently, SBI has a 60% stake in SBI Pension Funds, with the balance stake being held by SBICAPS
(20%) and SBI Funds Management (20 %).
CCI approves acquisition of TCNS Clothing by Aditya Birla Fashion

On 27th June the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of TCNS Clothing Co Limited
by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited(ABFRL).
• The proposed combination involves acquisition of 51% of the “expanded share capital” of TCNS
Clothing Co Limited (target) by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (acquirer).
i.ABFRL, a listed company and part of the Aditya Birla conglomerate, is involved in retailing branded apparel,
footwear and accessories.
ii.TCNS Clothing Co Limited, also a listed company, manufactures and sells women’s apparel, footwear and
beauty products under various brands.

North Korea 1st spy satellite launch fails
On May 30, 2023, North Korea’s attempt to put the country’s first spy satellite “Malligyong-1 satellite” into
space failed as the new satellite transport rocket Chollima-1 lost propulsion and crashed into waters off the
Korean Peninsula’s western coast.
• The rocket was launched. from the North’s Sohae Satellite Launching Ground northwestern
Tongchang-ri area, Cholsan, North Pyongan Province, North Korea.

• This satellite launch by North Korea is a violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
resolutions that ban the country from conducting any launch based on ballistic technology.
SpaceX Launches 22 second generation Starlink ‘V2 Mini’ satellites

On 4th June 2023, SpaceX launched Falcon9, a two staged rocket carrying 22 second generation starlink
satellites, known as “V2 Mini” to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape
Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• This was the 3rd launch and landing for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously launched
Crew-6 and SES O3b mPOWER missions.
• The second generation Starlink satellites equipped with more powerful phased array antennas and
the utilisation of E-band for backhaul, allows each satellite to provide approximately four times
more connectivity than the earlier generations.
• By using the Starlink satellite network, SpaceX aims to create a low-latency, high-speed internet
network throughout the world.
Chinese astronauts returned Earth after six-month stint in space station

On 4th June 2023, Chinese astronauts, Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu, returned to Earth on board
the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship after completing their 6-month mission to build China’s Tiangong space
station. Shenzhou-15 touched down at Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region.
• Manned spaceship Shenzhou-15 was launched on November 29, 2022.
• They have conducted spacewalks and a variety of scientific experiments at Tiangong space station.
• These 3 were replaced by the three astronauts Jing Haipeng,Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao who flew
to the space station onboard Shenzhou-16 on 30th May 2023.
SpaceX launches 47 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea

On 22nd June 2023, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) launched 47 Starlink internet
satellites by Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United States of
America(USA).
• The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth, landed on the SpaceX droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love
You’, stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
As of now SpaceX has launched more than 4,600 Starlink satellites, most of them are currently operational.
Note: Starlink satellites are equipped with optical space lasers to create a global broadband internet network
that provides high speed connectivity even to the remote corners of the Earth.
SpaceX Launched 52 Starlink Satellites to Provide Global BroadBand

On 30th May 2023, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation), successfully launched a two-staged
rocket Falcon9 carrying 52 satellites of Starlink Mission into
circular Low Earth Orbit (LEO) about a distance of 540 km above
Earth from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United
States of America(USA).
• This was the 14 launch and landing for this Falcon 9
first-stage booster.
Starlink Mission:
i.The first batch of Starlink satellites was deployed in 2019, Since
then, almost 4,591 satellites have been sent into low orbit to
create an overheard network of spacecraft.
ii.This mission named Starlink Group 2-10 will mark the 83rd operational Starlink mission

iii.These satellites join the 3,700 operational spacecraft in SpaceX’s Starlink mega constellation.
iv.SpaceX has the approval to deploy 12,000 Starlink satellites and has applied for permission for another
30,000 on top of that.
v.Starlink satellites are equipped with optical space lasers to create a global broadband internet network that
can provide high-speed connectivity to the remote corners of the Earth.
Falcon9’s first stage returned and landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship stationed in the Pacific
Ocean about 8 minutes and 45 seconds after launch.
Previous Starlink Launch:
On May 10 2023, SpaceX launched 51 Starlink Satellites by Falcon9 rocket.
Recent news about SpaceX:
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule named Freedom carrying Ax-2 private astronauts for the Houston-based company
Axiom Space., launched on 21st May 2023 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida to the International
Space Station (ISS) and returned to Earth on 30th May in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City,
Florida, USA.
About SpaceX:
Founder & CEO -Elon Musk
Established– 2002
Headquarters– Hawthorne, California, United States of America
India carries out successful training launch of MRBM Agni-1 From Odisha
On 1st June 2023, India carried out a successful training launch of a nuclear-capable Medium Range
Ballistic Missile (MRBM), Agni-1 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
• Agni-1 was fired as a user training launch by Strategic
Forces Command (SCF), which controls, manages and
administers the nuclear forces in India.
• This test launch successfully validated all operational
and technical parameters of the missile.
About Agni-1 missile:
i.This medium-range Agni-1, is a 15-meter-long missile,
weighing around 12,000 kilograms(Kg), has a strike range of
over 700 kilometres (Km) and is capable of carrying a payload
of up to 1,000 Kg.
ii.Agni Systems Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by DRDO.
iii.It was first launched on 25th January 2002 from Wheeler Island (now APJ Abdul Kalam Island), Odisha.
Other Agni series missiles:
i.The series of Agni missiles includes Agni-2(up to 2,000km), Agni-3(around 3,000km), Agni-4(around
4,000km) and the country’s longest striking range Agni-5(up to 5,000km).
ii.The latest addition to this series is the ’Agni-Prime’ a two-stage canisterised solid-propellant missile
with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000-km was first tested on 28th June 2022.
Ballistic missile: Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket, then follow an unpowered trajectory
that moves upwards before descending to reach its fixed target. In Contrast, cruise missiles are jet-
propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman-Dr Samir V Kamat
Headquarters-New Delhi, Delhi
Established-1958

China Achieves New Record: Launches 41 Satellites into Space in Single Mission
On June 15, 2023, China successfully launched 41 satellites into
space using the Long March 2D rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite
Launch Centre located in Shanxi province, China. This resulted in
a new national record for the highest number of satellites
deployed in a single mission.
• This mission marked the 476th flight of the Long March
rocket series, and China’s 24th rocket launch in 2023.
• The satellites launched were built
by Changguang Satellite Technology, a State-owned
enterprise in Northeast China’s Jilin province.
Key Points:
i.The primary purpose of these satellites is to provide commercial remote sensing services, conduct technology
verification, and obtain high-definition images of the Earth.
• The images and data products generated will be used in a wide range of fields such as industrial analysis,
regional survey, land resources mapping, mineral development and urban construction planning.
ii.Among the 41 satellites, 36 belong to the Jilin-1 series, representing China’s first-ever self-developed
commercial remote sensing satellite system launched in 2015.
• Now, the total number of Jilin-1 satellites has now reached 108, forming China’s inaugural commercial
constellation consisting of over 100 remote sensing satellites.
iii.China is actively working on developing relay satellites that will serve as communication bridges between
missions to the moon, deep space, and ground operations on Earth. By 2030, China aims to establish these relay
satellites, and to send astronauts to the moon.
Static Points:
i.Long March 2D is one of the most reliable rockets in China. It is designed and manufactured by the Shanghai
Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC).
• The 40.6-meter rocket has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a liftoff weight of 251 metric tons. Its typical
tasks are to transport satellites to low-Earth or sun-synchronous orbits.
ii.The previous national record was recently by China’s ZK 1A rocket, which sent 26 satellites into orbit. The
ZK 1A was developed by CAS Space, headquartered in Beijing.
iii.The world record is held by California (United States)-based SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lifted 143 satellites in
January 2021.
Iran Unveils 1st Indigenously-made Hypersonic Missile “Fattah”

On 6th June 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran unveiled the first Indigenously-made
Hypersonic ballistic missile, “Fattah” with a range of 1,400 kilometres (km).
• This missile was named by the Iranian Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• ‘Fattah’ in Farsi (Persian) language
means ‘Conqueror/opener’.
Features of ‘Fattah’:
i.This missile is capable of moving at a speed of up to Mach 15 and
it is capable of penetrating all defence shields.
ii.It uses solid propellants, allowing it to reach high speeds and
perform various manoeuvres inside and outside the earth’s
atmosphere.
iii.It travels in a complex trajectory path which makes it difficult to intercept by others. It can also bypass the
most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States of America (USA) and Israel.

Recent missiles of Iran:
Khaiber, a new surface-to-surface missile 4th generation of Khorramshahr ballistic missile launched by Iran on
5th May 2023. It can travel up to a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) and can carry a 1,500 kilogram
payload.
About Iran:
Capital- Tehran
President- Ebrahim Raisi
Currency- Iranian Rial (IRR)
GalaxEye Space to launch world’s 1st Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Satellite ‘Drishti’
Galaxeye Space Solutions Pvt Ltd(Galaxeye Space), a space-tech startup incubated by the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Madras, (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), is developing the world’s first multi-sensor earth
observation satellite namely ‘Drishti‘ incorporating a visible spectrum camera that allows synchronized
imaging, capable of capturing multiple images simultaneously.
• The startup is going to launch “Drishti mission”, its
first satellite, in 2024.
• It will be India’s first and the world’s highest-
resolution multi-sensor imaging satellite.
Key Points:
i.GalaxEye is focused on deploying a satellite constellation
featuring a unique sensor based on data fusion to provide the
most comprehensive dataset of imagery from space.
ii.This data fusion technology will deliver unprecedented insights
and data from space, enabling satellite constellations to conduct all-weather imaging without being hindered by
atmospheric interference commonly experienced by single-sensor satellites today.
iii.The technology will allow the production of extremely high-resolution images through a compact satellite
constellation, and will provide global coverage in less than 12 hours.
About Galaxeye Space Solutions Pvt Ltd:
Galaxeye was founded by a team of 5 students/alumni of IIT- Madras who were qualified as the only Asian
Finalists at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition 2019.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Suyash Singh
Incorporated in 2021
India’s Azista BST Aerospace launched its 1st satellite “AFR” on SpaceX Transporter-8 mission
On 13th June 2023, Azista BST Aerospace(ABA), a Ahmedabad (Gujarat)-based aerospace firm, launched its 1st
satellite “ABA First Runner (AFR)” onboard the SpaceX (Space
Exploration Technologies Corporation)’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of
the Transporter-8 Mission from Space Launch Complex 4E at
Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States of
America (USA).
About ABA First Runner (AFR):
i. The 80-kilogram (Kg) AFR satellite was built on a modular bus
platform and accommodates a wide-swath optical remote sensing
payload with both panchromatic & multispectral imaging
capabilities.
ii. AFR will provide a panchromatic image with five metre resolution with a Swath of 70 Kilometre (km).
iii. AFR represents the first Satellite of its size and capabilities, built in India (Atmanirbhar Bharat), which

possesses the ability to facilitate diverse crucial applications for both civilian and defence applications.
About Transporter-8 Mission:
Transporter 8 mission is a dedicated rideshare flight to a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) with 72 small
microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.
About Azista BST Aerospace (ABA):
i. Azista BST Aerospace is a joint venture (JV) between Azista Industries Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana and Berlin
Space Technologies (BST) GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
ii. ABA Company claims to have a production capacity of at least two satellites per week at its 50,000-square-
foot facility.
Founded in– 2019
SpaceX deployed Indonesian communications satellite ‘SATRIA-1’ in orbit

On 18th June 2023, the SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) successfully deployed a
new Indonesian communications satellite named SATRIA-1 (Satellite of the Republic of Indonesia) to
geosynchronous transfer orbit.
• SATRIA-1 will be operated for the Indonesian
Government by the Indonesian company
Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) into orbit.
• SATRIA-1 telecommunications satellite lifted off atop
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space
Force Station in Florida, the United States of America
(USA).
• SATRIA-1 is envisioned to boost connectivity
inclusion in Indonesia, providing free internet
connection to 150,000 public facilities, including
schools, regional government offices and health facilities.
About SATRIA-1:
i. SATRIA-1 is a 4.6-metric ton (10,100-pound) spacecraft, which provides about 150 billion bits (gigabits, Gb)
per second of communications, which is three times the capacity of the nine telecommunication satellites that
Indonesia currently use.
ii. It will not provide internet service directly to individual users, instead, it will support education and health
centres, and thousands of public WiFi access points where citizens can connect to the internet with computers
and smartphones.
iii. SATRIA was built by Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France, which is based on Thales’s Spacebus Neo
spacecraft design, the company’s newest satellite bus which debuted in 2020.
iv. SATRIA is the second in a series of PSN satellites to bring improved communications to Indonesia by
beginning its service around November 2023.
• The Nusantara Satu, or Nusantara 1, satellite launched in 2019 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Additional Info:
The PSN SATRIA mission marked the 12th launch and landing of Falcon 9 first stage booster B1067.
Note: The previous launches are: Commercial Resupply Services-22 or CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4,
CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, mPOWER-a, and four Starlink missions.
Founded in-4 March 2002
CEO– Elon Musk
President– Gwynne Shotwell
Headquarters– Hawthorne, California, the United States of America (USA)

Skyroot successfully tested Raman-I Engine designed to use in Vikram-I rocket
Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad (Telangana) based private Indian Space company, successfully conducted the
Flight Qualification Test of the Raman-I Engine at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• ‘Raman’ is a series of engines or thrusters which uses
the Earth storable hypergolic (MMH/N2O4)
propellants for upper stage engine and attitude or
reaction control in Skyroot’s Vikram-1 launch
vehicle (rocket).
• The Raman-I engine underwent a test firing at the
LPSC of ISRO, marking Skyroot as the first Indian
private company to launch a rocket with Vikram-S
Note: The indigenous Vikram-S (named after Vikram Sarabhai,
the father of India’s space programme) was launched in
November 2022, from the ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking India’s
first privately developed rocket.
Roll Attitude Control:
i. As Vikram-I launches into space, aerodynamic disturbances and thrust misalignments can make the vehicle
roll about its axis, needing a responsive roll-control system.
ii. The four Raman-I engines will be utilised to facilitate roll attitude control through precise pulses,
commanded by the autopilot algorithm of our mission computer, enabling the rocket to effectively manage its
rotation and orientation.
iii. Maintaining a stable roll attitude is vital to guarantee the rocket’s stability during ascent. Uncontrolled
rotation can result in instability, making it challenging to accurately control the rocket’s trajectory.
Raman-1 Qualification Test:
i. Propulsion for roll control requires rapid response and needs to be versatile, supplying adequate thrust from
atmospheric pressure to the deep vacuum and with widely varying inertia.
ii. The series of tests resulted in perfect completion with 280 engine pulses with a total burn time of 104
seconds.
iii. The total test was carried out within 352 seconds with the Peak Vacuum Thrust of 890N (Newton).
Raman-1:
i. The engine throat is designed with Metal matrix composites (MMCs), which are light-weighted structural
materials.
ii. The nozzle of the engine is scarfed to tangentially flush to vehicle diameter from inside.
iii. Raman-I engine test has completed endurance with nominal and off-nominal chamber pressures, mixture
ratios and a minimum pulse width of 1/17th a second.
Additional Info:
i. The three variants of the Vikram rocket of Skyroot: Vikram-I can carry 480 Kilograms (kg) of payload to Low
Earth Orbit, Vikram-II is designed to lift off with 595 kg of cargo, and Vikram-III can launch with 815 kg to 500
Kilometre (km) Low Inclination Orbit.
ii. Raman-1 engine for roll control and Raman-2 engine as a single higher thrust regeneratively cooled will be
used in the upper stage of Vikram-1 launch vehicle, which may take place by the end of 2023.
About Skyroot Aerospace:
Established in– 12th June 2018
Co- Founders– Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka

Israel Conducts the First Test of an Autonomous Flying Taxi to ease Traffic Congestion
Israel, has carried out its initial tests flights of an Autonomous aircraft that can carry passengers and heavy
cargo, an Air taxi, in a bid to ease traffic congestion on the roads.
• The revolutionary aircraft which is part of the
government-led pilot project, also known as the Israel
National Drone Initiative (INDI) is expected to serve
as future public transportation.
• This is the first initiative of its kind in the world for an
extensive and multidisciplinary examination of new
technologies, including the transportation of cargo and
later, people.
Objective:
i. The project launched under INDI aims to create a national drone
network and prepare the sky for drone deliveries, across Israel, with regulators and private companies working
together.
ii. It is also to build an ecosystem whereby drones will not only help with traffic congestion, but provide
commercial and public services more efficiently and give Israeli companies a global competitive advantage.
Collaboration:
i. This project is a joint collaboration between the Transportation Ministry, the Israel Innovation Authority,
Ayalon Highways Ltd (Israel), and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI).
ii. The collaborative project examines all the aspects, including regulation and legislative changes, involved in
the commercial operation of drones, as an additional tool to deal with congestion.
Second Phase:
i. The air taxis launched were part of the second phase of the INDI project, which began in January 2023 and so
far 11 drone operating and delivery companies were involved in the experimental tests.
• The first phase of the initiative focused on small cargo flights, which lasted until 2022.
ii. For the first time ever, an autonomous Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft with long-
distance capabilities were all tested within a managed urban airspace carrying heavy cargo loads, which in the
future could transport people.
Note: Notable results were achieved by Cando Drones, Israeli Air, and Downwind.
About Israel:
Prime Minister– Benjamin Netanyahu
President– Isaac Herzog
Currency– New Israel Shekel (NIS)
World’s Most Powerful Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Opens in Beijing, China

China has finished constructing the world’s most powerful largest and fastest wind tunnel JF-22, in the
mountainous Huairou district of northern Beijing, China. The JF-22 wind tunnel is owned by the Institute of
Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) and is expected to play a crucial role in China’s pursuit of
hypersonic technology.
• It has a diameter of 4 metres (13 feet) and can generate extreme high airflow speeds of up to 10
kilometres (6.2 miles) per second.
• This is capable of simulating hypersonic flight conditions up to Mach 30, which is 30 times the
speed of sound.
Note:
The JF-12 wind tunnel, simulates flight conditions at lower speeds and temperatures, has been operating since
2012 at the same site as the JF-22.

Kiya.ai showcased Bharatmeta, India’s metaverse platform, at VivaTech 2023 in Paris
Kiya.ai, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Artificial Intelligence(AI) and emerging technology solutions provider,
showcased its version of the metaverse called “Bharatmeta“, India’s first of its Kind metaverse
platform, at VivaTech 2023 event held at Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France from 14th to 17th June
2023.
• Vivatech 2023 is the 7th edition of Europe’s biggest startup and tech event.
• Metaverse refers to a multi-dimensional digital space that employs virtual reality and augmented
reality to provide lifelike experiences to users online.
• Bharatmeta offers practical use cases for banking, commerce, culture, and collaboration within the
metaverse. It aims to bridge the gap between physical and virtual realms.
IUCAA delivered SUIT telescope to ISRO for the solar mission

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), a space telescope developed by Pune’s Inter-University Center
for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), was delivered to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for
its ADITYA-L1 solar mission.
• SUIT is set to be one of the seven payloads of ADITYA-L1,
India’s first mission to study the sun.
• The main purpose of the telescope is to study the Sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) emissions and capture high-resolution
images of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, in
various UV wavelengths.
Features of SUIT telescope:
i. The SUIT telescope will provide full disk images of the sun in the
2000 to 4000 A (1 angstrom = 10^-10 m) wavelength range which
has never been obtained so far.
ii.Suit will operate in the far and near ultraviolet regions, covering wavelengths of 200-400 nanometers. It will
observe the hotter and more dynamic regions of the Sun’s atmosphere, such as the transition region and the
corona.
iii.The plan for SUIT was initiated by ISRO in 2012 and the development work was started in 2016.
iv. SUIT will study the dynamic of solar flares, sudden, violent outbursts of energy from the sun.
About Aditya L1 mission:
i.Aditya L1 will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is
about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• It is expected to launch at the end of August 2023.
ii.L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any eclipses.
iii.The main objectives of this mission include studying the sun’s atmosphere and dynamics of solar winds.
About Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA):
Director – Prof R. Srianand
Location – Pune, Maharashtra

DEFENCE
EXERCISE
Finland, Norway, and Sweden Hosts multinational Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 from 29 May
to 9 June 2023
Finland, and Norway, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, along
with Sweden hosted the 6th multinational Arctic Challenge exercise 2023 (ACE 23), which is scheduled
to be held from 29 May to 9 June 2023.
• Objective: To train participating forces to conduct dissimilar aircraft combat in large composite
air operations safely and effectively.
Participants:
i.In addition to the hosts (Finland, Norway, and Sweden), the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom
(UK), Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States of
America (USA) are also participating in the ACE 23.
ii.Nearly 1,000 allied forces from the USA, UK, Norway and also from NATO applicant Sweden, joined some
6,500 Finnish troops and some 1,000 vehicles for exercises, which mark Finland’s biggest modern-time
land-force drill above the Arctic Circle.
iii.Some 150 aircraft from 14 NATO members and partner countries are also participating in ACE 23
exercises.
iv.The USA troops practised with their Multiple Launch Rocket Systems shipped from Germany, while
their Finnish counterparts fired their Leopard 2A6 tanks, the Swedes and the Norwegians fired from CV90
infantry fighting vehicles and the UK troops deployed Warrior tanks.
About ACE:
i.ACE is the event which has been conducted by Nordic countries bi-annualy since 2013.
ii.The ACE is part of the NORDEFCO cooperation between Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Their
Air Forces regularly carry out combined air combat-related Cross Border Training operated from their
home bases.
Note – The Air Forces of Sweden, Finland and Norway hosted the multinational Arctic Challenge Exercise
2021 (ACE 21) from 7 June to 18 June 2021.
Finland the New Member of NATO:
i.Finland joined NATO in April 2023 and became its 31st member.
ii.As Finland shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, the addition of Finland into NATO
doubled the length of the border that NATO shares with Russia.
iii.Finland is hosting the ACE 23 in Rovajarvi, one of Europe’s largest artillery training grounds in
Northern Finland.
About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
Formed in– 1949
Secretary General– Jens Stoltenberg
Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium
Members –31 independent member countries
Indian Army’s Sapta Shakti Command Conducted “Sudarshan Shakti 2023”

Exercise Along Western Border
South Western (Sapta Shakti) Command of the Indian Army (IA) conducted a 4-day exercise “Sudarshan
Shakti 2023” from 22nd to 25th May 2023 along the Western borders in Rajasthan and Punjab.

• Exercise ‘Sudarshan Shakti 2023’, was designed to validate operational preparedness of the Indian
Army in a network-centric environment.
• The joint war exercise included the participation of various units from the Indian Army and other
defence forces to test their readiness and capability in dealing with different scenarios.
Key Points:
i. The Indian Army’s elements of combat power, combat support
and logistic support were exercised in a synergised application
under all domains of enemy threat including Grey Zone Warfare
as part of high tempo operations.
ii. The exercise is considered a unique event in its scope and
objective as it is aimed to counter electronic warfare.
iii. Special Forces and niche technologies covering drones,
tethered drones, loiter ammunition were deployed during the
military drill.
iv. Shatrujeet Brigade (50th Independent Para Brigade), which is a formation of the Indian army and the
Western Command prominently took part in the exercise.
Key People:
General B.S. Raju- South Western Command’s General Officer Commanding-In-Chief; Air Marshal P.M. Sinha-
Western Air Command’s Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief were present during the war drills.
Note: This exercise fulfilled the stated objectives of the five pillars of transformation announced by Chief of the
Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pandey in January 2023, the 5 pillars of the transformation are:
• Operational preparedness
• Force modernization
• Human resource development
• Strategic partnerships
• Jointness among the armed forces.
Indian Army and Indian Air Force Joint Exercise:
i. C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster and AN-32 aircraft were used to insert troops and specialised
equipment into designated areas in the obstacle-ridden terrain with clinical precision.
ii. A high level of operational preparedness and synergy was displayed between Western Command, strategic
forces and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to undertake integrated operations in an obstacle-ridden terrain.
iii.This partnership is an excellent example of jointness and interoperability between the two forces during
various operational scenarios.
Sixth edition of India-Maldives Exercise ‘Ekatha’ begin in Maldives

The 6th edition of the annual Naval Exercise ‘Ekatha’ between India and Maldives was scheduled to be
conducted from 4th June to 3rd July 2023, in Maldives to enhance interoperability in diving and special
operations.
• The 5th edition was held in Maldives from September 5
to October 3, 2022.
Key Points:
i.Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) went to
Maldives to participate in the exercise along with Maldives
National Defence Force (MNDF).
ii.The conduct report of the exercise was reviewed by Lieutenant
Commander of the Indian Navy training team, Mahesh Kumar.
iii.The High Commissioner of India to the Maldives,
Munu Mahawar and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy, Vice
Admiral M. A. Hampiholi handed over certificates to the Marines of Special Operations Group (SOG) of the

MNDF Marine Corps.
iv.Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval
Command, Indian Navy, Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi also participated in the exercise inauguration ceremony.
v.Ten marine commandos from the Indian Navy focused on combat shoot, VBSS, demolition, CQB, divator
diving, rebreather diving, and diving operations.
1st India-France-UAE Trilateral Maritime Exercise held in Gulf of Oman

The First edition of the India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Trilateral Maritime Partnership
Exercise was held in the Gulf of Oman from 7th to 8th June 2023.
Note: The Gulf of Oman borders Iran and Pakistan on the north,
Oman on the south, and the UAE on the west.
Aim:
• To enhancing trilateral cooperation between the three
navies.
• To address traditional and non-traditional threats in the
maritime environment
Participants:
Indian Navy’s INS (Indian Naval Ship) Tarkash (a second Talwar-
class frigate commissioned in 2012), French Navy’s French Ship (FS) Surcouf both with integral helicopters,
French Rafale aircraft and UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating in the exercise.
Key Points:
i.The exercise involved naval operations such as Surface Warfare, involving tactical firing and Drills for Missile
engagements on surface targets, Helicopter Cross Deck Landing Operations, Advanced Air Defence Exercise and
Boarding operations.
ii.There was an exchange of best practices between the personnel.
iii.It also enhances collaboration in ensuring safety of mercantile trade and freedom of navigation at high seas
in the region.
12th bilateral Joint Military Exercise “Ex Ekuverin” started between India and Maldives
at Uttarakhand
The 12th edition of “Ex Ekuverin”, a bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian Army and
the Maldives National Defence Force commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand on 11th June 2023. The
exercise will continue till 24th June 2023.
• Ekuverin is a bilateral exercise conducted alternatively in
India and Maldives.
• The focus of the exercise Ekuverin is to share best
practices, increase coordination and cooperation between
both the forces at tactical level.
Note:
• The meaning of Ekuverin in the Maldivian language is
‘Friend’.
• 11th Edition of Exercise Ekuverin between India &
Maldives was conducted at Kadhdhoo Island, Maldives from 06 to 19 December 2021.
Objective:
The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism
(CI/CT) Operations in accordance with the United Nations (UN) mandate focusing on joint Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief operations (HADR).

Participants:
The two-week long exercise will see participation of a platoon strength contingent from both the Indian Army
and Maldivian National Defence Force.
Highlights:
i. The defence cooperation between India and Maldives extends from joint exercises to assisting Maldives with
defence training and equipment requirements.
ii. The two nations have very close and friendly relations in economic, cultural and military co-operation and
this bilateral exercise will help strengthen the ties between India and Maldives.
INS Satpura represented Indian Navy at Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2023 at Indonesia
Indian Naval ship (INS) Satpura participated in the 4th edition of Multilateral Naval Exercise “Komodo”
(MNEK 2023) held in and around Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia from June 4 to 8 2023.
• INS Satpura participated in the exercise as part of the
Indian Navy’s deployment to ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) countries.
• INS Satpura also represented the Indian Navy at the
International Fleet Review (IFR) reviewed by
President of Indonesia Joko Widodo on 5th June 2023.
• Indian Navy’s participation in the MNEK exercise
series is a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to ‘Act
East’ (Maritime Cooperation) in its attempt to ensure
‘Security and Growth for All in Region’ (SAGAR).
About MNEK:
MNEK is a biennial exercise, held every 2 years, since 2014 between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
• The last edition (3rd) of MNEK was held in 2018 in Lombok Island, Indonesia from 4th to 9th May
2018.
• Komodo 2023 was the first iteration since 2018 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participation of INS Satpura:
It actively participated in the International Maritime Security Symposium during the harbour phase, and
various other activities that include City Parade, Cultural Programmes and Band performances, and also
participated in a multilateral maritime exercise on 8th June 2023.
Note: In May 2023, INS Satpura was deployed in South East Asia and participated in the inaugural edition of
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise AIME23 from 02 – 08 May 2023, which witnessed participation by all ASEAN
navies.
About MNEK 2023:
Participants: The navies of 36 countries including the United States of America (USA), Australia, Brazil,
Bangladesh, Canada, China, and India celebrated the opening of the international exercise of the 2023 MNEK.
Theme: The theme of MNEK 2023 was “Partnership to recover and to rise stronger.”
• Under the theme, the Indonesian Navy invited the participating nations to work together to
contribute to responding to humanitarian problems and deal with potential natural disasters in the
region.
Key Points:
i. The exercise allowed for several exchanges that support multilateral cooperation in the maritime
environment across the Indo-Pacific.
ii. The exercises emphasise non-warfighting aspects of operational-level exercises.
iii. This also includes a shore phase with engineering and medical civic action programs, an international
maritime security symposium, community outreach, military sports engagements, and an international fleet
review.

In Europe NATO begins its air drill -“Air Defender 23”
On 12th June 2023, North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) began its German(host) led air force
deployment “Air Defender 23” exercise in Europe.
• The exercise is scheduled to be held from 12th-23rd June 2023 and includes 250 military aircraft
from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden.
• The exercise will focus on keeping up the United States (US) presence in Europe and providing
training on a larger scale. The exercise intends to boost interoperability and preparedness to protect
against drones and cruise missiles in the case of an attack within NATO territory.
• Training missions would take place over the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and Southern Germany.
“Air Defender” was conceived in 2018 to respond to the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine
Note: NATO’s Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Ex Khaan Quest 2023: India participates in Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise in Mongolia

On June 19, 2023, the 19th edition of Multinational Peacekeeping Joint Exercise, Ex Khaan Quest 2023, was
inaugurated by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) Ukhnaagiin
Khurelsuk at the Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The Indian Army(IA) represented by a contingent from the Garhwal Rifles participated in the
exercise.
• ‘Ex Khaan Quest 2023’ is scheduled to be held from June 19 to July 2, 2023
• The exercise co-sponsored by MAF and United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) features
participation from military contingents and observers from 26 countries, including Indian Army
(IA).
• The Lao People’s Democratic Republic participated for the first time and the Republic of Türkiye
with a full team.
Aim:
i.Enhance interoperability of the participating nations
ii.Promote experience sharing
iii.Train uniformed personnel for the United Nations
Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO)
Key Points:
i.The exercise includes Command Post Exercise (CPX), Field
Training Exercises (FTX), combat discussions, lectures and
demonstration.
ii.It will enhance the level of defence co-operation between IA
and participating countries especially with the MAF which will boost bilateral relations between the two
countries.
iii.The exercise showcases commitment and joint efforts of nations to global security cooperation
About Ex Khaan Quest:
i.It is an annual military exercise held in Mongolia established in 2003.
ii.It became an international exercise in 2006, originally being a joint exercise between the Mongolian Armed
Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command(USINDOPACOM).
Indian Army conducted Exercise Agneyastra 1 in eastern Ladakh

Indian Army’s Northern Command conducted “Exercise Agneyastra 1” on 19th June 2023, in eastern Ladakh
to showcase India’s fire power supremacy.
Note: Agneyastra means firearms in Hindi.
About Exercise Agneyastra 1:
i.Artillery platforms of the Indian army such as the newly-inducted Korean K-9 Vajra-T 155mm/52 calibre self-

propelled howitzer (SPH), FH-77 Bofors 155mm/39 calibre towed howitzer and mortars were a part of the
Exercise Agneyastra-1.
ii.Anti-tank missiles and Carl Gustav rocket launchers (RLs) also
participated in the exercise Agneyastra 1.
iii. Ideaforge’s Switch UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), a fixed
wing and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Hybrid UAV, was
used to provide the real time imagery of the exercise area.
iv.Switch UAV also offers real-time Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance (ISR) imagery of the target area, functioning
day and night, even in harsh conditions at high altitudes.
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff- General Manoj Pande
Founded – 1895
IAF conducted Exercise “Ranvijay” with focus on integrated operations

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise ‘Ranvijay’ with a focus on integration, in which day and night
operations were carried out by combat aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft as part of integrated
wargames to enhance the skills of fighter pilots.
• Exercise Ranvijay was carried out in UB Hills and Central Air Command (CAC) Area of Responsibility
(AOR) from 16-23 June 2023.
• The exercise was carried out in different air bases of the CAC headquartered in Prayagraj, Uttar
Pradesh (UP).
• As a part of the Government of India’s efforts to integrate the forces, different IAF commands carried
out wargames and aerial drills to enhance cooperation with the other 2 services.
Note: Su-30, a twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft jointly developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, Russia and
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India for the IAF.
MoU’s & DEALS

Indian Army signed its 2nd Procurement Contract with Astrome Tech Pvt Ltd for “Tactical LAN
Radio systems”
On 9th June 2023, the Indian Army signed a contract with Astrome Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru
(Karnataka)-based start-up company to procure the indigenously-developed “Tactical LAN (Local area
network) Radio” for reliable and interference-free communication in remote and difficult terrain.
• It is the second procurement contract that the Indian
Army has signed in order to furthering its
commitment to the “Make in India” Campaign
through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
• Tactical LAN Radio is a state-of-the-art high
bandwidth backhaul wireless radio equipment
designed to provide reliable and fail-safe
communication.
Key People:
The contract was signed in the presence of Lieutenant General
MV Suchindra Kumar- the Vice Chief of Army Staff at New Delhi, Delhi.
iDEX:
iDEX framework, formulated and approved by the Ministry of Defence, was launched by Narendra Modi, the
Prime Minister of India in April 2018, during Defence Expo India 2018, aims to create an ecosystem to foster

innovations and encourage technological advancements in Defence and Aerospace.
Features of LAN Radio:
i. The solution offers an enhanced range of communication and embedded frequency hopping mechanism to
prevent chances of interference and long-range point-to-multipoint high-bandwidth communication.
ii. It also incorporates enhanced safety features and can operate continuously for 48 hours on a single set basis
without any breakdown.
iii. The Astrome technology company has also developed ‘GigaMesh’, an innovative wireless product to solve
internet woes of rural parts of India.
• In 2022, Astrome got a pilot project from the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) and has
deployed Multi-Link E-band radios, which Astrome claims is the world’s first such system for
broadband internet connectivity, in rural Karnataka.
Progression of Indian army Projects:
i. Currently, 42 Indian Army projects are being developed through the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC),
Open Challenges and iDEX PRIME scheme, which provides support to 41 start-ups to develop cutting-edge
solutions for the Indian Army’s challenges.
ii. The Indian Army has dedicated a nodal officer and nominated a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for each challenge to
provide continuous support and monitor the progress of the projects.
iii. Additional iDEX projects of the Indian Army, approved under the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), are nearing
finalisation and are expected to be formalised into contracts soon.
About Astrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd:
Incorporated on– 20th May 2015
Chairman & Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)- Prasad Laxminarayana Horabailu
Co-Founder & CEO– Neha Satak
MoD Approved Deal to Acquire MQ-9 Reaper Drone from the USA
The Defence Acquisition Council(DAC), the highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence(MoD), has
approved the deal to acquire the MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) drones from the United States of America(USA).
• The final decision on the deal is set to be taken by
the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS).
• The deal was approved during the meeting of DAC
headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 15th
June 2023.
• During the meeting DAC has also approved other
“Made in India” defence deals.
Note: All the high value acquisitions requires final approval
from the CCS.
About the Deal:
i.Lead agency of the deal: Indian Navy(IN).
ii.The deal involves the acquisition of 15 drones for the Indian Navy for surveillance operations in its area of
responsibilities.
Background:
i.Previously India planed to rationalise the acquisition of the MQ-9 drones and reduce the count from 30 to 18
or less.
ii.At present, India is set to acquire 31 drones, 10 each for all three services.
• The three armed services, Army, Navy and Air Force, of India have planed to acquire a similar type
of medium altitude, long endurance drones from indigenous producers.
Additional info:
i.At present, India has 2 american predator drones, on lease from american firm General Atomics, which have

been assisting the Indian Navy in monitoring activities in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
ii.Previously in March 2023, the DAC has approved the proposal to procure 60 Made in India utility
helicopters(Maritime) worth Rs 32000 crore and BrahMos Supersonic cruise missiles for Indian Navy; 307
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems(ATAGS) howitzers for Indian Army and 9 Advanced Light Helicopter
(ALH) Dhruv Choppers for the Indian Coast Guard(ICG).
Note: This decision comes ahead of the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to the USA from 21st to 24th
June 2023. This will his 1st state visit to the USA during his 9 years reign as PM of India.
Union Minister– Raj Nath Singh(Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State(MoS)– Ajay Bhatt
TESTING
DRDO successfully fight-tested “Agni Prime” Ballistic Missile off Odisha coast
On 7th June 2023, Agni Prime or Agni-P, a New Generation Ballistic Missile was successfully flight-tested by
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast
of Odisha.
• This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by users after three successful
developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system.
Flight Test:
i. A number of Range Instrumentation like Radar, Telemetry and
Electro Optical Tracking Systems were deployed at different
locations, including two down-range ships, at the terminal point
to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle.
ii. The test witnessed by the senior officials of DRDO and Strategic
Forces Command was conducted in the night hours of June 7
2023, and all the objectives were successfully demonstrated
during the flight test.
Agni Prime:
i. It is a 2 stage surface to surface,canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation
and guidance system.
ii. It has a range between 1000 to 2000 km (Kilometre) and was test-fired for the first time in June 2021.
iii. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
• Agni series of missiles includes the Prithvi short range ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft, which
constitute the backbone of India’s nuclear weapons delivery.
iv.The Agni Prime is the 6th missile in the Agni series of ballistic missiles.
v.The Agni series of missiles are among the prime weapons in India’s arsenal as it faces an increasingly
aggressive China along the mountainous Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Additional Info:
In 2022, India has carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), with
India’s first ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSMN) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Arihant, validating India’s
second strike nuclear capability.
IIT Kanpur successfully conducts Test Flight for Cloud Seeding/Artificial Rain
On 21st June 2023, The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Uttar Pradesh (UP) successfully
conducted a test flight/experiment for their cloud seeding project. It was a test of artificial rain through cloud
seeding. The experiment was conducted with due approval from DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

• Cloud seeding is the process of enhancing the chance of precipitation by using different chemical
agents like silver iodide, dry ice, salt, and other
elements.
Note: Initiated in 2017, IIT-K Cloud Seeding Project is led by
Professor Manindra Agarwal of the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering.
About Experiment:
i.In the experiment, a Cessna aircraft of IIT-K was flown from the
airstrip of the Flight Laboratory of IIT Kanpur with cloud-seeding
attachments and came back to the Flight Lab airstrip, after
successfully completing the test ride.
ii.The test flight went up to an approximate height of 5000 feet.
iii.The test flight spread the agents using a flare as is standard practice.
Note: Prof. Manindra Agrawal stated that they did not fire the flares into the clouds, and the experiment was a
trial for the equipment only.
• The cloud seeding attachments used in the experiment were procured from a manufacturer in the
United States of America (USA), and the necessary modifications to the aircraft were approved by
both the US-based Cessna and the DGCA. Following the completion of the procedure, the test flight
safely returned to the IIT-K Flight Lab airstrip.
Key Points:
i.This achievement opens up possibilities for creating rainfall in drought-prone regions of UP mainly
Bundelkhand, and benefit agricultural communities facing water scarcity.
ii.The cost of cloud seeding is roughly Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh for an hour of the exercise.
French DGA test fired V-MaX Hypersonic Glider technology for the 1st time
On 26th June 2023, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA– Directorate General of Armaments), the French
Government Defense procurement and technology agency, successfully conducted its first test firing of a V–
MaX (Véhicule Manoeuvrant Expérimental or experimental manoeuvring vehicle), a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
(HGV) to develop new missile technology capable of evading the most sophisticated air defences.
• A sounding rocket carrying the V-MaX HGV was launched from the Biscarosse missile test site on the
Bay of Biscay, southwestern France.
VMaX:
i. V-Max program was officially launched in 2019, and initial flight
testing for the V-MaX launcher was scheduled for as early as 2021.
ii. The French V-MaX program is being developed by Ariane Groupe,
a defence company specializing in space launches and best known
for Ariane rockets.
Hypersonic Gliders:
i. Hypersonic gliders, a type of warhead for ballistic missiles that can
operate freely and glide at hypersonic speed, designed to carry a
nuclear or conventional warhead.
ii. Unlike ballistic missiles whose trajectories are fixed at launch, hypersonic gliders can change direction at
high speed, allowing them to zigzag past air defences and take evasive action once targeted by anti-air missiles.
iii. Typically, these gliders are launched by a rocket to attain a high altitude tens of kilometres (kms) above the
Earth before the glider and its payload descend back at hypersonic speed.
iv. The French HGV has the capacity to exceed Mach 5 (over 6,000 kilometres per hour (Kmph)/3,730 miles per
hour(mph)) and has been under study by major nuclear powers for several years.

OTHER DEFENCE NEWS
Indian Navy successfully engaged an Underwater Target using indigenously developed
HeavyWeight Torpedo
On 6th June 2023, The Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) successfully engaged an underwater target with an indigenously developed
heavyweight Torpedo, named Varunastra.
• It is a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s &
DRDO’s quest for accurate delivery of ordnance on
target in the underwater domain.
• This is the second sea-level test in two weeks.
• It showcases the country’s commitment to future-
proof combat readiness through Aatma Nirbharta
(self-reliance).
Key Points:
i. ‘Varunastra’, the advanced Heavy-Weight anti-submarine
Torpedo, was inducted by the Indian Navy in 2016 and is developed by the Indian Navy and the Naval Science
and Technology Laboratory (NSTL) of DRDO and is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).
ii. ‘Varunastra’ is a ship launched, heavy weight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo capable of
targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasures environment.
iii. ‘Varunastra’ can be fired from all Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships capable of firing heavyweight
torpedoes.
vi.The weight of the torpedo is 1.25 tonnes and it can carry around 250 kg of explosives while travelling at
about 40 nautical miles an hour.
What is Torpedo?
It is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target,
and with an explosive warhead designed to explode either on contact with or in proximity to the target.
Recent successful achievements of Indian Navy:
i. On 31st May 2023, the Indian Navy’s MH-60 Romeo helicopter (MH60R), from naval Air station INS Garuda,
Kochi made a successful maiden landing on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea.
ii. In May 2023, the Indian Navy successfully fired a Brahmos Supersonic cruise missile, ‘Sea Skimming’, which
is capable of hitting its target up to a distance of 300 km using its frontline guided missile destroyer INS
Mormugao.
Indian Navy’s anti-submarine MH-60R helicopter makes maiden landing on INS Vikrant
On May 19, 2023, the Indian Navy’s MH-60 ‘Romeo’ (MH-60R) helicopter, known for its anti-surface and anti-
submarine warfare capabilities, successfully landed for the first time on the Indian Naval Ship (INS) NS Vikrant,
an indigenously designed and constructed aircraft carrier.
• The MH-60R, stationed at the Naval air station INS Garuda in Kochi, Kerala, made the landing on the
indigenously designed and constructed aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea.
• MH-60R helicopter manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation,an American aerospace
technology corporation.
• The integration of the helicopter with a naval warship would strengthen the Indian Navy’s capability
to counter underwater threats, monitor maritime activities and conduct surveillance operations.
Mig-29 K of the Indian Navy made a successful night landing on the indigenously developed aircraft carrier INS
Vikrant on May 24,2023.

Indian Navy partners with QNu Labs to Procure Quantum Encryption Systems
QuNu Labs Private Limited (QNu Labs), a leading quantum technology startup company, partners with
the Indian Navy for the procurement and deployment of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) based systems.
• With this collaboration, Indian Navy becomes India’s 1st agency to procure large-scale Quantum-
based encryption systems.
• The procurement order for the QKD systems was
signed by the Indian Navy in May 2023.
• Indian Navy will procure and deploy QKD systems in a
Hub & Spoke configuration across multiple locations,
with QNu Labs as the partner of choice for delivering
and integrating these state-of-the-art systems.
• The procurement of QKD-based Hub & Spoke systems
is a strategic move that underscores the Indian Navy’s
determination to stay at the forefront of emerging
security technologies.
Objective:
i. The collaboration aims to increase the security of sensitive communication networks within the Indian Navy
and strengthen their defence against emerging cyber threats.
ii. It also aims to strengthen the security of the communication networks, which are critical for mission-critical
operations and the exchange of sensitive information.
Quantum Encryption:
i. Quantum encryption offers exceptional security by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics to
protect sensitive information.
ii. Unlike traditional encryption methods, which rely on mathematical algorithms, quantum encryption
leverages the unique properties of quantum principles to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of data.
iii. This technology provides a virtually impenetrable layer of protection, making it highly resistant to hacking
and eavesdropping attempts.
iv. The integration of quantum encryption systems will provide an extra layer of protection against
sophisticated cyber threats, ensuring the confidentiality and authenticity of data transmitted across naval
networks.
v. The deployment of quantum encryption within the Indian Navy will not only strengthen national security but
also contribute to the overall advancement of quantum technology in India.
Other applications:
Quantum Encryption has a wide range of suggestions for various sectors including finance, healthcare, and
telecommunications in addition to its usage in defence.
About QNu Labs:
Founded in– 2016
Co-Founder & CEO– Sunil Gupta
1st ACTCM Barge of the series of LSAM 15 (Yard 125) delivered to Indian Navy at NAD
(Karanja), Mumbai
On 9th June 2023, the first Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge of the series LSAM 15 (Yard
125) has been delivered to the Indian Navy (IN) at the Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Karanja, Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
• The Contract for the construction of 11 ACTCM Barge was concluded with M/s Suryadipta Projects
Pvt Ltd, Thane(Maharashtra), a Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME), in consonance with
“Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government of India.

Background:
ACTCM Barge, Yard 15(LSAM 15) was launched by Indian Navy’s
Captain Prashant Saxena AWPS Mumbai, Maharashtra on 10th
February 2023 at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane.
About the barge:
i.The Barge was built under the classification rules of the Indian
Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years.
ii.The major or auxiliary equipment of the barge is sourced from
indigenous manufacturers
iii.The availability of the ACTCM Barges will provide impetus to the Operational commitments of IN by
facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles or ammunition to IN Ships both
alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
GRSE Launched two Warships INS Anjadip & Sanshodhak; Foundation laid for the 7th ASW-SWC
Ship
On June 13, 2023, two warships of INS (Indian Naval Ship) ‘Anjadip’, the 3rd of eight indigenously built Anti-
Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), and INS ‘Sanshodhak’, the 4th and last in the series of
Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project, were launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE)
at shipbuilding facility of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in Kattupalli, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• GRSE is now building eight ASWSWCs and four SVLs for the Indian Navy and the Ships are at various
stages of completion.
-Launch of INS Anjadip and its Significance:
i.INS Anjadip was launched by Priya Pandit, wife of Vice Admiral R
B Pandit, Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva
Medal (AVSM), Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command.
• It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii.The ship was named Anjadip to signify the strategic maritime
importance accorded to the island of Anjadip, which is located off
Karwar (Karnataka).
• The island is connected to the mainland by a
breakwater and is part of INS Kadamba.
iii.The “Arnala” class of ships will replace the Indian Navy’s in-service “Abhay” class ASW Corvettes.
iv.The Arnala class of ships are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low-
Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying operations including subsurface surveillance in littoral
waters.
v.ASW SWC ships are of 77 m long and have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots and
endurance of 1800 nautical miles (NM).
Background:
i.In April 2019, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and GRSE, Kolkata, agreed to the construction of eight ASW-SWC
ships for the Indian Navy.
ii.In accordance with the deal, the first of eight indigenously built ASW-SWC “Arnala,” was launched in
December 2022 at L&T in Kattupalli, Chennai and the second one INS Androth was launched on March 21,
2023, in Kolkata.
iii.As per the build strategy, four ships are being built at GRSE, Kolkata and the construction of a balance of four
ships has been subcontracted to M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli.
iv.The ASW SWC ships would have more than 80% indigenous content, ensuring that large-scale defence
production is carried out by Indian manufacturing companies, generating employment and capabilities in India.
At the end of the launch event, R B Pandit also laid the keel for the 7th ASW SWC ship.

-Launch of INS Sanshodhak and Significance:
INS ‘Sanshodhak’, the fourth and last in the series of Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project, being built by L&T/
GRSE for Indian Navy was launched on 13 June 2023 at Kattupalli, Chennai.
• The chief guest of the Launching Ceremony was VAdm Adhir Arora, Chief Hydrographer to the
Significance:
i.The ship named ‘Sanshodhak’, meaning ‘Researcher’, signifies the primary role of the ship as a Survey Vessel.
ii.SVL ships would replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships, with new-generation hydrographic
equipment, to collect oceanographic data.
iii.The SVL ships are 110 m long, and 16 m wide with a displacement of 3,400 tons.
iv.The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by the Steel
Authority of India Limited.
v.SVL ships have the capability to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter and they could
undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels.
vi.The ships also would be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as
civil applications.
vii.The ships are capable of providing limited defence, High availability disaster recovery (HADR), and can
serve as Hospital ships during emergencies.
Background:
i.The contract was signed between MoD and GRSE on Oct 30, 2018, for building four survey ships at Rs 2435
Crore.
ii.Survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal & deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports & Harbour
approaches and determination of navigational channels & routes.
iii.The first three ships of the project, Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak were launched on 05 Dec 2021, 26 May
2022 and 26 Nov 2022 respectively.
iv.As per the build strategy adopted by GRSE, the first ship is being built at GRSE Ltd and the construction of the
balance three ships is envisaged at L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
Key people present at the launching events include Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh AVSM, VSM, CWP&A, Vice
Admiral Adhir Arora, AVSM, NM, Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India, and Cmde P R Hari IN (Retd),
Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE):
Chairman & Managing Director – Commodore (Retd) PR Hari, Indian Navy
Headquarter– Kolkata, West Bengal
Naval Airfield Integrated Security Systems and Naval Anti-Drone System upgraded at INS Dega,
Andhra Pradesh
On June 12 2023, Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, flag officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command,
inaugurated the indigenously designed and developed state-of-the-art Naval Airfield Integrated Security
System (NAISS) and the Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS) at Indian Naval Ship (INS) Dega in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh.
• NAISS, an AI-enabled multi-layered area security system and NADS, an anti-drone system with the
capability to detect, track, and destroy hostile drones in the locality of the airfield were developed by
Bharat Electronics Limited, (BEL).
• NAISS and NADS highlights the Indian Navy’s focus towards innovative solutions and manufacturing
that are aligned with the Make-in- India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) initiatives.

Indian Navy Launches Julley Ladakh outreach programme to engage with youngsters and civil
society
Indian Navy Launched “Julley Ladakh” (Hello Ladakh), an outreach programme to Ladakh with an aim to
increase awareness about the naval service and to engage with youth and civil society members.
• Vice Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh
flagged off 5000km Motorcycle Expedition from New
Delhi on 15th June and it will reach Leh on 28th June
passing through the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and
Jammu and Kashmir.
i.Motorcycle expedition conducted in partnership with TVS Motors.
Riders took part in this expedition with TVS Apache RTR and RR
310.
ii. As part of the initiative, Navy Personnel will pay homage at the
Kargil War Memorial and for those at the 1962 battle of Rezang La.
iii. Indian Navy also conducts a band concert, a Medicalcamp and a football match between the Navy and the
Ladakh Football Club.
Main objectives of the Julley Ladakh:
• Celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of Indian Independence).
• Conduct Awareness drives at Schools/ Colleges in Ladakh region about the career opportunities
Indian Navy offers including the Agnipath Scheme.
• Motivate Youth to join the Indian Navy.
• Showcase Nari Shakti, an initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, by including Women
Officers and spouses.
• Interact with naval veterans and Veer Naris in the region.
Note:
The Indian Navy had also undertaken the Sam No Varunah car expedition to engage with citizens in all the
coastal states.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Founded – 26 January 1950
DRDO, Indian Navy demonstrate transfer of command and control of Tapas UAV
On 16th June 2023, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy
collaborated successfully and demonstrated the transfer of command and control capabilities of the TAPAS
201 unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV).
Demonstration of TAPAS UAV:
i.The TAPAS took off at 7.35 a.m. from a remote ground station to
onboard Indian Naval Ship (INS) Subhadra, 148 km from
theKarwar naval base, Karnataka.
ii.The UAV was seamlessly (smoothly) flying around an altitude of
20,000ft, Above Mean Sea Level (ASML).
iii.During the flight duration of 3.30 hours, INS Subhadra handled
the UAV operations for 40 minutes.
iv.To control the UAV, one Ground Control Station and two Ship
Data terminals were installed on the INS Subhadra.
v.After the completion of the successful trial it landed at Aeronautical Test Range(ATR) Chitradurga, Karnataka
(It also took off from the same test range).

About Tapas 201 UAV:
i.Tapas UAV, developed by DRDO, is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)UAV. The indigenously
developed TAPAS 201 UAV has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru based Aeronautical
Development Establishment (ADE).
• It is designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance missions for the Indian armed
forces.
ii.It made its first flight at the Aero India 2023 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Features:
i.It has a range of more than 18 hours and can operate at altitudes of up to 28,000 feet.
ii.It can carry payloads up to a maximum of 350 kgs.
iii.It was developed in response to the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking, and
Reconnaissance) requirements of the tri-services.
iv.Depending on pre-programmed flight plans it can fly autonomously or be remotely controlled, operating in
both day and night conditions.
v.It can capture high-resolution images and videos as it is equipped with advanced sensors and cameras
which transfers the collected data to ground control station.
vi.It aims to provide continuous wide area coverage and identify small targets.
Mahindra Defence delivered India’s 1st Armado ALSV to Indian Army

Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has started
delivering the first units of the Armado to the Indian armed forces. The Armado is India’s 1st Armoured Light
Specialist Vehicle (ALSV), designed and developed by Mahindra.
• The Armado ALSV can be used in counter-terrorist
and Special Forces operations, and can also be used
by quick reaction teams, as a surveillance vehicle and
for patrolling the borders.
• It is designed to be a modular type, that can be
upgraded to suit a wide variety of operational roles,
offers ballistic protection up to B7, Stanag
(Standardization Agreement) Level II.
Note:
B7 ballistic protection is the strongest level of protection used to
stop armour-piercing bullets from high-velocity rifles including sniper rifles.
Stanag Level II protection ensures grenade and mine blast threats and high-powered artillery of up to 115mm
at 80m.
Features of Armado ALSV:
i. It is powered with a 3.2-litre turbocharged, direct-injection diesel engine that can also run on NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty Organization)-grade diesel.
ii. The engine produces 215 Horsepower (hp) and 500 newton-metre(Nm) of torque and power is delivered to
all four wheels via a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
iii. The Armado has a claimed top speed of over 120 kilometres per hour (kph) and a 0-60kph time of 12
seconds, and has a payload capacity of 1,000 Kilogram (kg).
iv. It also features Bilstein independent suspension for all four corners and gets 318/80 R17 tyres that can also
run without air or a puncture for up to 50km and the Armado also gets a centralised tyre inflation system.
v. It gets a power steering system and can be configured to be either left-hand (LHD) drive or right-hand drive
(RHD).
vi. It has a seating capacity of 6 passengers, including the driver, and can be configured to seat up to 8.
vii. It also gets a public address (PA) system, GPS (Global Positioning System), automatic grenade launcher,
electric winch, High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) radio as well

as a self-cleaning-type exhaust scavenging and air filtration system for extremely dusty climates.
About Mahindra Defence System (MDS):
Chairman– SP Shukla
Union Defence Minister Inaugurated the Integrated Simulator Complex for Indian Navy in
Kerala
On 21st June 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Integrated Simulator
Complex(ISC) “Dhruv“ at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala.The ISC Dhruv hosts modern and
advanced indigenously-built simulators which will significantly improve the practical training of Indian Navy
personnel.
• These simulators are designed to provide real-time experience on navigation, fleet operations,
naval tactics and will also be utilised for training of personnel from friendly countries.
• These simulators are indicative of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and a defence export
potential for the nation.
• Some of the other indigenously developed simulators in the Complex include Combat Management
System and Maritime Domain Awareness Lab.
Our indigenous products:
i.The Ship Handling Simulators, developed by ARI Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, Delhi, have been exported
to 18 countries.
ii.The Astronavigation Dome, the first of its kind in the Indian Navy, has been developed by Infovision
Technologies Pvt Ltd.
iii.The ADHCS, developed by Institute for Systems Studies and Analysis, a DRDO laboratory, will provide real-
time operational environment scenarios to trainees.
Note: Rajnath Singh visited the Multi-Station Handling Simulator (MSSHS), Air Direction and Helicopter
Control Simulator (ADHCS) and Astronavigation Dome.
SPORTS
Khelo India University Games 2022 Held in UP: Panjab University tops Medal Tally
Panjab University (Chandigarh) won the overall championship of the 3rd edition of the Khelo India University
Games (KIUG 2022) held in Uttar Pradesh (UP) from 25th May to 3rd June 2023. Panjab University topped the
medal tally of KIUG 2022 with a total of 69 medals (26 gold, 17 silver and 26 bronze).
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab – 68 medals (24 gold, 27 silver and 17 bronze) and
Jain University, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 32 medals (16 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze medals) were
ranked in 2nd and 3rd place.
Top 5 on KIUG 2022 Medal Tally:
Rank University Total Gold Silver Bronze
1 Panjab University (Chandigarh) 69 26 17 26
2 Guru Nanak Dev University, (Punjab) 68 24 27 17
3 Jain University (Karnataka) 32 16 10 6
4 Punjabi University (Patiala, Punjab) 34 12 14 8
5 Guru Kashi University 28 9 10 9
Click here for the overall medal tally

Inauguration of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022:
On 25th May 2023, Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022
was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM)
Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS) and Nisith Pramanik, Minister of
State (Mos), MoYAS, at Babu Banarasi Das University (BBD
University), Lucknow, UP.
About Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022:
i.Khelo India University Games (KIUG) is a national-level multi-
sport event held in India for athletes from universities across
India.
The event is organised as a part of the Khelo India movement.
• KIUG 2022 witnessed the participation of over 4750 athletes from more than 200 Universities, who
competed for 822 medals (262 gold, 263 silver and 297 bronze) across 21 sports.
• Rowing is the new category of sport added in the 3rd edition of KIUG.
Organiser: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) and the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Venues: The sporting events were held at 9 venues in 4 different cities in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh: Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
• Delhi: New Delhi (for Shooting Event)
Mascot: Jeetu, which represents the Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), also called swamp deer, the state
animal of UP.
• The game’s mascot Jeetu the Barasingha, the exotic vibrant state animal embodies “Garv se Gaurav”
Games Anthem: “Khelo India – Har Dil Mein Desh”, composed and sung by renowned singer Palash Sen.
Official logo: The logo represents the rich heritage, traditional and historical legacy of UP.
The Torch: ‘Shakti’, the official torch of the Khelo India University Games.
Top medal winners:
i.National Swimming record holder Siva Sridhar of Karnataka’s Jain University, who won a total of 11
medals, including 8 golds, is the most successful male athlete at KIUG 2023.
ii.Goa’s leading swimmer, Shrungi Bandekar of Karnataka’s Jain University who won a total of 9 medals
including 5 gold, is the most successful woman athlete.
• She also won the best swimmer individual champion award in women’s category in KIUG 2022.
Highlights of KIUG 2022:
Totally 11 meet records were rewritten at the third edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2022).
i.Siva Sridhar, who holds India’s national record in the 200m individual medley, won gold in the 400m
individual medley at KIUG with a new meet record of 4:37.21.
ii.Vikrant Malik of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology,Bhubaneswar, Odisha, made an 80.00m javelin
throw to break the previous record of Rishabh Nehra’s 76.64m at KIUG 2021.
iii.Tanya Chaudhary of Chaudhary Charan Singh University,Meerut,Uttar Pradesh, became the first women
athlete to breach the 60m mark at KIUG with an effort of 60.61m.
iv.Samardeep Singh Gill of Barkatullah University with an 18.75m throw in men’s shot put a new record in
KIUG 2022.
KIUG 2022 Records:
Old New
Athlete (University) Event record record
Men’s 400m medley
Siva Sridhar (Jain University, Karnataka) (swimming) 4:38.98 4:37.21

Yoonus Shah (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand
University) Men’s 1500m (athletics) 3:52.54 3:51.61
Tanya Chaudhary (Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Women’s hammer throw
Meerut) (athletics) 54.40m 60.61m
Women’s discus throw
Shalini Chaudhary (Barkatullah University) (athletics) 47.07m 50.60m
Pragyan Prasant Sahu (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Women’s 100m hurdles
Technology) (athletics) 13.77s 13.63s
Vikrant Malik (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) Men’s javelin throw (athletics) 76.64m 80.00m
Samardeep Singh Gill (Barkatullah University) Men’s shot put (athletics) 17.98m 18.75m
Kushal Kumar Mohite (Shivaji University) Men’s decathlon (athletics) 6333 pts 6389 pts
Women’s javelin throw
Harita (Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani) (athletics) 48.42m 50.14m
Pooja (Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani) Women’s heptathlon (athletics) 4748 pts 4991 pts
Sidharth AK (Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam,
Kerala) Men’s pole vault (athletics) 4.80m 4.90m
Note:
i.The 1st edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2020) was held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Panjab
University topped the medal tally with 45 medals (17 Gold,18 Silver and 10 Bronze).
ii.The 2nd edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2021) was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Jain
University, topped the medal tally with 32 medals (20 gold,7 silver and 5 bronze medals).
16th Season of TATA Indian Premier League: CSK won their 5th title defeating Gujarat Titans
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni)-led Chennai Super Kings(CSK) won their fifth Indian Premier
League (IPL) title by defeating the reigning champions Gujarat Titans(GT) led by Hardik Pandya by five
wickets in the finals of the 16th edition of IPL(IPL 2023) at Narendra Modi Stadium(the largest cricket stadium
in the world) in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• The 16th edition of IPL (IPL 2023 or IPL 16), also known
as Tata IPL 2023 for sponsorship reasons, is a franchise
Twenty20(T20) cricket league in India.
• The tournament was held from 31st March 2023 to 28th
May 2023 (finals rescheduled on reserve day – 29th
May).
CSK – Winner of 16th IPL:
With this win, CSK equals the Mumbai Indians (MI) record of most
trophies.
• CSK became the most successful team in the tournament. The team won 5 titles in 14 editions
breaking the record of MI which has won 5 titles in 16 editions.
About CSK:
• Captain- MS Dhoni
• Head Coach- Stephen Fleming
• Principal Partner- TVS Eurogrip, Madurai, TN-based tyre manufacturing brand of TVS Srichakra Ltd.
• IPL Winning Years: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 & 2023
About 16th edition of IPL(IPL 2023):
Organiser: IPL 2023 is organised by the IPL governing council (Arun Singh Dhumal is the current chairman of
IPL)

• CSK Pacer Tushar Deshpande became the first impact player in the competition’s history during the
opening match of 2023 season between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, he replaced Ambati
Rayudu.
Sponsors:
• Title Sponsor: TATA (Rs 440 crore)
• Official partner: Dream11; Unacademy; TATA Safari; CRED; Upstox; & RuPay
• Official Broadcasters: Star Sports Network
• Official Digital streaming partner: JioCinema
Venue:
The 70 league stages of the tournament were held across 12 venues in India.
• Narendra Modi Stadium(Ahmedabad, Gujarat)
• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium(Bengaluru, Karnataka)
• M. A. Chidambaram Stadium(Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
• Arun Jaitley Stadium(New Delhi, Delhi)
• Assam Cricket Association Stadium (Guwahati, Assam)
• Sawai Mansingh Stadium(Jaipur, Rajasthan)
• Wankhede Stadium(Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (Hyderabad, Telangana)
• BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
• Eden Gardens(Kolkata, West Bengal)
• Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium(Mohali, Punjab)
• Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium(Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh)
Awards and Prize money:
Award Winner/Team Prize Money
Winners CSK Rs 20 Crore
Runners up GT Rs 12.5 Crore
Third Place Mumbai Indians (MI) Rs 7 crore
Lucknow Super Giants (Lucknow Super
4th Place Giants – LSG) Rs 6.5 crore
Orange Cap for Most Runs in the season
(Batting) Shubman Gill (GT) (890 Runs) Rs 10 lakh
Purple Cap for Most Wickets in the
season (Bowling) Mohammad Shami (GT) (28 wickets) Rs 10 lakh
Emerging Player of the Tournament Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals – RR) Rs 10 lakh
Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Rs 10 lakh (along with
Electric Striker of the Tournament Bangalore – RCB) tata Ev car)
Game Changer of the Season Shubman Gill (GT) Rs 10 lakh
Most Valuable Player of the Season Shubman Gill (GT) Rs 10 lakh
Most Fours in the Season Shubman Gill (GT) (85) Rs 10 lakh
Longest Six of the Season Faf du Plessis (RCB) Rs 10 lakh
Catch of the Season Rashid Khan (GT) Rs 10 lakh
Fairplay Award Delhi Capitals (Delhi Capitals -DC) Rs 10 lakh
Best pitch and ground of the season Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium Rs 50 lakh (shared)

Awards of IPL 2023 Finals match:
Award Winner(Team) Prize Money
Player of the Final Devon Conway (CSK) Rs 1 lakh
Super Striker of the Final Ajinkya Rahane (CSK) Rs 1 lakh
Game Changer of the Final Sai Sudharsan (GT) Rs 1 lakh
Most Valuable Player of the Final Sai Sudharsan (GT) Rs 1 lakh
Super Fours of the Final Sai Sudharsan (GT) Rs 1 lakh
Longest Six of the Final Sai Sudharsan (GT) Rs 1 lakh
Catch of the Final MS Dhoni (CSK) Rs 1 lakh
Top Performing Teams (IPL Points Table):
Team Points wins Loss
GT 20 10 4
CSK 17 8 5
LSG 17 8 5
MI 16 8 5
Virat Kohli becomes 1st batter to cross 7,000 runs in IPL:
On 6th May 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB)’s Virat Kohli became the first batter to get to 7000 runs in
IPL, a T20 Tournament.
• He achieved the feat during the 46-ball 55 in a match against the Delhi Capitals(DC) in Arun Jaitley
Stadium in Delhi.
• He also holds the record for the most runs scored in a single edition of IPL. He achieved the feat in
2016 with 973 runs.
• Virat Kohli slams record 7th IPL hundred (against GT), most by any batter in tournament’s history
by surpassing Chris Gayle, who scored 6 centuries.
Other achievements by Virat Kohli:
i.During a match against MI at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli also became the first Indian to score a
half-century of fifties in IPL.
• David Warner of Australia, the captain of leading DC tops the list of players with the most half-
centuries or more in the IPL. He has crossed the 50-run mark 61 times in IPL and has four centuries
in his name.
ii.On 15th April 2023, Virat Kohli became the first batter to score 2500 runs at a single venue. He achieved the
feat during the match against DC at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium(Bengaluru, Karnataka).
• He is also the player with the most runs at a single venue in an IPL Season. He scored 597 runs at
Chinaswammy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2016
MS Dhoni completes 5,000 runs, seventh-highest run scorer in IPL history
On 3rd April 2023, MS Dhoni crossed the 5,000 run mark in IPL during the match against LSG in CSK’s home
ground MA Chidambaram Stadium.
• He has scored 5082 runs at an average of 39.09 in 250 matches.
Key Points:
i.Dhoni has represented CSK in 219 games, scoring 4508 runs in 190 innings. Overall, in 250 matches Dhoni has
scored 5082 runs at an average of 39.09 and a strike rate of 135.96 in 217 innings.
ii.He has scored 24 half-centuries and is also the 7th-highest run scorer in the IPL.
iii.Dhoni becomes the first player in the history of IPL to play 250 matches.

RR’s Yuzvendra Chahal becomes 1st Indian bowler to take 300 wickets in T20:
Yuzvendra Chahal, spinner of Rajasthan Royals, became the first Indian bowler to take 300 wickets in T20
cricket.
• He took 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs during the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
• With this, he has a record of 303 wickets in 265 matches.
He is now ranked 15th on the all-time highest T20 wicket-takers list surpassing Andrew Tye of Australia.
• DJ Bravo of West Indies tops the list with 615 wickets in 558 matches.
Having taken 170 wickets in IPL, He equalled Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga’s record for the 2nd most IPL wickets.
• Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal became the highest wicket-taker in history of IPL,
going past Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Dwayne Bravo by picking 187 wickets in match against
KKR at the Eden Gardens.
MI’s Piyush Chawla becomes the 5th-highest wicket-taker in IPL
On 22nd April 2023, During MI’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, MI
spinner Piyush Chawla overtook Ravichandran Ashwin to become the bowler with the fifth-highest wickets in
the history of the IPL.
• During his IPL career, he has played for CSK, PBKS, Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) and MI and has
taken 166 wickets in 171 matches at an average of 26.86 and an economy rate of 7.84. His best
bowling figures are 4/17.
Punjab Kings’ Sikandar Raza became the only Zimbabwe Player Score 50 In IPL
On 15th April 2023, Punjab Kings’ Sikandar Raza scored his first-ever IPL fifty against LSG in Bharat Ratna Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. With this, he became the only Zimbabwe Player to
score a half-century in IPL.
Shubman Gill scored the highest IPL playoffs score – 129
Shubman Gill of Gujarat Titans (GT) scored 129 runs in the 1st inning against MI in Qualifier 2 at Narendra
Modi Stadium in Gujarat. This is the highest by a batter in the IPL playoffs.
• He overtook Virender Sehwag’s 122 for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against CSK in 2014.
During the IPL 2023, Gill also became the player with the second-highest number of runs in a single IPL
season at a single venue. He scored 572 runs in 9 innings, with 2 centuries and 3 fifties and a best score of 129.
RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal breaks IPL record of fastest half-century:
On 11th May 2023, Yashasvi Jaiswal of RR broke the record for the fastest half-century (50 runs) during the
game against KKR.
• He scored 50 runs in 13 balls breaking the previous record KL Rahul and Pat Cummins for scoring
50 runs in 14 balls.
• He has now scored 625 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 167.
Sai Sudharsan becomes 1st cricketer to be ‘retired out’ in an IPL playoff match
On 26th May 2023, during the Qualifier 2 between GT and MI, Sudharsan scored 43 runs in 31 balls and
remained unbeaten, before being replaced by Rashid Khan ahead of the 20th over.
• He became the first cricketer to be ‘retired out’ in an IPL playoff match.
• He also became the only 3rd player in IPL history to retire out, after Ravichandran Ashwin and
Atharva Taide.
• Ravichandran Ashwin was the 1st batter to lose his wicket by ‘retire out’ in IPL. He lost his wicket
in IPL 2022 against RR.
About IPL:
i.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) established the league in 2007. The competition is usually
held in summer between March and May every year.
ii.The first edition was held in 2008. Rajasthan Royals were the inaugural champion of the IPL.

Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Oman: India won the title defeating Pakistan
On 1st June 2023, India won the Dhofar Municipality Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 defeating Pakistan in
the finals held in Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex Stadium in Salalah, Oman. This marks India’s 4th Men’s
Junior Asia Cup title.
• The tournament organised by the Asian Hockey Federation and hosted by Oman Hockey
Association was held from 23rd May 2023 to 1st June 2023 in Salalah, Oman.
• Uttam Singh, Captain of the Indian Team, was awarded the Player of the Match(finals).
• With this win, India became the most successful team with maximum titles(4). India has
previously won the title in 2004, 2008 and 2015. Pakistan is the 2nd most successful team with
3 titles (1988, 1992 & 1996).
The Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup is a men’s international under-21 event. The tournament, held since
1988, serves as a qualification tournament for the Men’s International Hockey Federation (FIH)
Hockey Junior World Cup.
Note: The Hockey India Executive Board announced a cash award of Rs 2 lakh each for the players as the
team qualified for the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, which is set to be held in December
2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
F1: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Spanish GP 2023

On 4th June 2023, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch racing driver) won the 2023 Spanish Grand
Prix(GP), officially known as Formula 1 (F1) AWS Gran Premio de España 2023, at Circuit de Barcelona-
Catalunya in Montmeló within Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain.
• He was followed by Mercedes’ Lewis
Hamilton (British Racing Driver) at 2nd
place and Mercedes’ George Russell (British Racing
Driver) at 3rd rank.
• This win marked Max Verstappen’s 5th of the
season, 3rd in a row, 3rd in Spain and the double
world champion’s 40th in F1.
• The 2023 Spanish GP marks the 63rd edition of
Spanish GP and the 8th round of the 74th season of
F1 world Championship.
Note:
i.The race took place over 66 laps of the 4.657-kilometre Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Catalonia, Spain.
ii.The race length was 307.236 km (190.908 miles).
Note: The next round (9th) of the 2023 F1 championship will be the Canadian GP which will be held at Circuit
Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.
Race Result (Top 3):
Position Driver Team Points
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 26 (fastest Lap Point)
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 18
3 George Russell Mercedes 15
India’s Aravindh Chithambaram wins Dubai Open chess 2023

Indian chess grandmaster (GM) Aravindh Chithambaram (aged 24) of India wins the 23rd Dubai Open
2023 (Dubai Open Chess Tournament 2023) for the second consecutive year which was held at Dubai Chess &
Culture Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirate(UAE) from 27th May – 4th June 2023.

• He was followed by GM Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan at 2nd, and GM Arjun Erigaisi (India) at
3rd.
• With this performance, Aravindh Chithambaram grabbed
2633 Elo points, closer to the 2650 Elo rating.
About Dubai Open Chess Tournament:
i.Dubai Open Chess Tournament an annual open chess tournament
was first organised in 1999.
ii.The tournament is annually organized by the Dubai Chess &
Culture Club.
iii.The tournament was divided into 2 categories: the Masters
category for players with an international rating above 2200 and the Open category for players rated below
2200.
iv.In 2023, a total prize purse of USD 52,000 was awarded to the top 10 players in both categories.
• The Masters category champion receives USD 12,000 and the championship trophy, while the Open
category champion receives USD 2,000.
Participants:
A total of 80 participants (in category A) from more than 30 different countries participated in this tournament.
• A total of 9 rounds were played in Swiss format.
Table Showing Top 3:
Ranking Name Country Rating
1 Aravindh Chithambaram India 2633
2 Javokhir Sindarov Uzbekistan 2661
3 Arjun Erigaisi India 2701
Key Points:
i.Arvind Chithambaram was recognized with trophy and USD 12000.
ii.India currently has nine players in the World’s top 100 in live ratings.
iii.13-year-old Jaiveer Mahendru of India scored 7.5/9 to finish second in Category B(Open) (1600-2199). He
received USD 1800 cash prize.
About Aravindh Chithambaram:
Hailing from Thirunagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, he earned his international master title in 2014 and his
grandmaster title in 2015.
• Currently, his World rank is 127.
India Bagged 3 Bronze at IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships 2023 in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan
3 Indian boxers, Deepak Kumar Bhoria, Mohammed Hussamuddin and Nishant Dev, have won the bronze
medal at the 22nd edition of the International Boxing
Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships (2023), held
at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 30 April-14 May
2023.
• Uzbekistan topped the overall medal tally with 9
medals (5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze) followed
by Kazakhstan in 2nd place with 5 medals (4 gold and 1
silver) and Russia at 3rd with 6 medals (2 Gold and 4
bronze).
Note:
• For the first time, India has won 3 medals at a single edition of the tournament.

• With this win, India has won a total of 10 medals (to date) at the IBA Men’s World Boxing
Championship.
Vijender Singh won India’s 1st-ever medal (Bronze) at Men’s World Boxing Championships in 2009
Top 3 in Medal tally:
Rank country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Uzbekistan 5 2 2 9
2 Kazakhstan 4 1 0 5
3 Russia 2 0 4 6
India 0 0 3 3
12 Spain 0 0 3 3
IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships 2023:
i.IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships 2023 was organised by Uzbekistan Boxing Federation in association
with International Boxing Association (IBA)
• Totally 13 boxers represented India at IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships 2023.
ii.Awards:
Best Team Award won by Uzbekistan
Best Boxer award – Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan
Best Judge and Referee Award– Tamim Sultani, Afghanistan
Prize Reward:
This was the first time the IBA has given prize money of USD 3,000 for all participants who lost in the quarter-
finals.
• Gold medallist won USD 200,000
• Silver medallist won USD 100,000
• Bronze medallist won USD 50,000
i.The 2019 Asian Silver medallist Deepak Bhoria of Haryana won the bronze medal by defeating Nurzhigit
Diushebav of Kyrgyzstan 5-0 in the quater-finals of Flyweight 51 kg category. In the semifinal, he lost to two-
time world bronze medallist Billai Bennama (4-3) of France.
ii.Nishant Dev won the bronze medal in the light-middleweight 71 kg category by defeating Jorge Cuellar of
Cuba (5-0) in the quarter-finals. This is his first boxing medal at an international level tournament. He lost to
Aslanbek Shymbergenov of Kazakistan 2-5 in the semi-finals.
iii.The two-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) bronze medalist, Mohammad Hussamuddin, won the bronze
medal in Featherweight 57 kg category by defeating Javier Ibanez of Bulgaria 4-3 in the quarter-finals. He had
withdrawn from the semi-finals due to an injury.
Indian Medallist (3 Bronze):
Category Winner
Flyweight 51KG Deepak Kumar Bhoria
Light Middleweight 71 KG Nishant Dev
Featherweight 57 KG Mohammad Hussamuddin
About IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships:
i.IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by
the IBA (previously known as the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur – AIBA).
ii.The 1st edition of the tournament was held in 1974.
About International Boxing Association (IBA):
President– Umar Kremlev

2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships: China’s Fan Zhendong wins Men’s singles title
On 28th May 2023, Fan Zhendong, World No.1 Table Tennis (TT) player from China, won the Men’s Singles
title at the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Table Tennis (WTT)
Championships defeating China’s Wang Chuqin (world no.2) in the finals held in Durban, South Africa.
• This marks Fan Zhendong’s 2nd Singles Title at the
WTT championship and won the St. Bride Vase trophy
for Men’s Singles.
• He previously won the Singles title in 2021 in Houston,
the United States of America (USA). This also marks
China’s 10th Men’s Singles title at the WTT
championship, since 2005.
The 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships, the 57th
edition of the WTT Championship, was held from 20th to 28th
May 2023 in Durban, South Africa.
About Fan Zhendong
i. At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Fan Zhendong won the gold medal in the team event and the Silver
medal in Men’s Singles.
ii. With this win, he also became an 8-time World champion: 4 times (2014,2016, 2018, 2022) in team events,
twice, in singles(2021 & 2023) and twice in doubles (2017 & 2023).
Men’s Doubles:
Fan Zhendong along with Wang Chuqin won the Men’s doubles title defeating Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon of
South Korea.
• They received the Iran Cup, the Men’s doubles trophy.
• Wang Chuqin, who appeared in the men’s singles for the first time, won the Mixed Doubles and
Men’s Doubles (along with Fan Zhendong) titles in the 2023 ITTF tournament.
China’s Sun Yingsha won her maiden Women’s Singles title:
World No. 1 Women’s TT Player, Sun Yingsha from China, won the Women’s Singles title at the 2023 ITTF
World Table Tennis (WTT) Championships defeating her compatriot Chen Meng (World No 4).
• This marks her first-ever Women’s singles title at the WTT championship.
• She received the Geist Prize– the women’s singles trophy.
About Sun Yingsha:
i. In 2017, Sun Yingsha won her first singles victory at the ITTF World Tour held at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
ii. In 2019, she won the doubles event at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
iii. In the 20201 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan, she won a Silver medal in women’s Singles.
Women’s doubles:
Chen Meng and Wang Yidi of China won the Women’s doubles title defeating Shin Yubin and Jeon Jihee of South
Korea.
• They received the W.J.Pope Trophy – Women’s doubles trophy.
Mixed Doubles:
World number one mixed doubles pair Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin won the Mixed Doubles title at the 2023
championship defeating Hina Hayata and Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan.
• With this win, the pair have retained their mixed doubles title at the WTT championship. they
previously won the title in 2021 in Houston, USA.
• They received the Heydusek Cup- the Mixed doubles trophy.
Winners of 2023 championship:
Event Winner Runners
Men’s singles Fan Zhendong (China) Wang Chuqin (China)
Women’s singles Sun Yingsha (China) Chen Meng (China)

Men’s doubles Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong (China) Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon (South Korea)
Women’s doubles Chen Meng and Wang Yidi (China) Shin Yu-bin and Jeon Ji-hee (South Korea)
Mixed doubles Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha (China) Hina Hayata and Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan)
Magnus Carlsen wins 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland

Former World Chess Champion, Grandmaster(GM) Magnus Carlsen (Worlds No. 1) from Norway won the title
at Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland 2023, the 2nd event of the 2023 Grand Chess Tour(GCT), held at the
Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland from 19th to 26th May 2023. He received a cash
prize of USD 40000.
• Magnus Carlsen topped the final standing with a score of
24/36 followed by defending champion GM Jan-
Krzyzstof Duda of Poland (23/36 score) and Filipino-
American GM Wesley So and GM Maxime Vachier-
Lagrave of France tied at 3rd place with 21½ points.
About Magnus Carlsen:
i.Magnus Carlsen is a former 5-time World Chess Champion (2013–
2023) and current 4-time World Rapid Chess Champion and 6-time
World Blitz Chess Champion.
ii.He hold the No. 1 position in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) world chess rankings since 1 July
2011.
About Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland 2023:
i.The Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland is a series of 5 events with a total prize fund of USD 1.4 million.
ii.It is a 10-player Round Robin event.
About GCT 2023:
i.GM Fabiano Caruana of the United States of America won the title at 2023 Superbet Chess Classic Romania,
the 1st leg of 2023 GCT.
ii.The 3rd leg of 2023 GCT, SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb Croatia will be held from 3rd to 10th July 2023
and the 4th leg will be held in Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz in Missouri, United States (US) from November 12-19,
2023.
iii.Sinquefield Cup, the finals of 2023 GCT, will be held in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA from 19th November to
3rd December 2023.
Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam title at French Open 2023
Novak Djokovic, Serbian professional tennis player, won his 23rd
Grand Slam title (Men’s singles category) in the French Open
2023 also known as 2023 Roland-Garros, held at Court Philippe-
Chatrier in Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France.
• Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud of Norway in the final
of the French Open 2023 in straight sets 7 (7) -6 (1), 6-3, 7-
5 to win his 3rd Roland-Garros (French Open) title.
• Novak Djokovic, the winner of Men’s Single at the French
Open, received the “La Coupe des
Mousquetaires(Musketeers’ cup)” trophy. He was also awarded prize money amounting to 2.3 million
Euro, an increase of 4.55% from 12 months ago.
Note: With this win, Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal, a Spanish tennis player, to become the most successful
male tennis player – with the most major singles trophies – in the history of men’s tennis. Rafael Nadal has won
a total of 22 Grand Slams.

About French Open 2023:
i.French Open 2023, the 127th edition of the French Open, was held from 22nd May to 11th June 2023.
ii.The 2023 French Open, the 2nd Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2023, was played on outdoor clay courts.
French Open Trophies:
• men’s singles – Musketeers’ cup
• women’s singles – Suzanne-Lenglen cup
• men’s doubles – Jacques-Brugnon cup
• women’s doubles Simonne-Mathieu cup
• mixed doubles – Marcel-Bernard cup
About Novak Djokovic:
i.Novak Djokovic has won a total of 23 Grand Slam titles which includes 3 French Open (2016, 2021, 2023), 10
Australian Open(2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), 7 Wimbledon (2011, 2014,
2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) and 3 US Open (2011, 2015, 2018).
ii.He is also the only male player to win all 4 grand slam titles at least 3 times.
iii.He is the only player to win all 9 ATP Masters 1000 events since the start of series in 1990, doing so multiple
times for a record total of 38 titles.
Note:
On 4th June 2023, Novak Djokovic defeated Juan Pablo Varillas and reached his 55th Grand Slam quarter-final
and record 17th quarter-finals at the French Open.
• He surpassed Rafael Nadal’s record of 16 quarter-finals in 18 appearances.
Women’s Singles: Iga Swiatek won her 3rd French Open title defeating Karolina Muchova
World’s No.1, Iga Świątek(22 years old), a Polish tennis player won the Women’s Singles title at the French
Open 2023 by defeating Karolína Muchová, the Czech tennis player.
• This marks her 3rd French Open title(2020, 2022, 2023) and 4th Grand Slam title which includes 3
french open and 1 US Open (2022). She also became the youngest to win 4 major titles since Serena
Williams in 2002.
• She has also become the first woman to win back-to-back French Open titles since Belgium’s Justine
Henin (2005, 2006, 2007).
• She received the “Coupe Suzanne Lenglen (Suzanne-Lenglen cup), the French Open trophy of Women’s
Singles and a cash prize of 2.3 million Euro.
Doubles title
Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek won Men’s Doubles
The American-Croatian team Austin Krajicek(United States of America-USA) and Ivan Dodig(Croatia) won their
first-ever Men’s Doubles title at the French Open 2023 defeating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium.
• With this win, Austin Krajicek reached the No. 1 position in the Pepperstone Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) Doubles Rankings for the first time. Ivan Dodig is ranked 4th on the list.
• Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek received the “Coupe Jacques-Brugnon (Jacques-Brugnon Cup) after
winning the Men’s doubles title at French Open 2023.
Hsieh Su-wei & Wang Xinyu won the women’s doubles title
Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan and Wang Xinyu of China won the Women’s doubles title at French Open 2023 by
defeating 10th-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Taylor Townsend of the USA.
• This mark’s the first grand slam doubles title of Hsieh and Wang as a team.
• This marks Hsieh Su-Wei’s 5th Grand Slam Doubles title. She previously won 3 Wimbledon (2013, 2019,
2021) and 1 French Open (2014 with Peng Shuai).
• For Wang Xinyu, this is her first Grand Slam doubles title.
• The pair received the Coupe Simonne-Mathieu (Simonne-Mathieu Cup) for winning the Women’s
doubles in the French Open 2023.

Note:
During the 2nd round(R2) of Women’s Doubles between Japan’s Miyu Kato and Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi and
Marie Bouzková of Czechia & Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, the former pair was disqualified from the women’s
doubles competition after Kato hit a ball down the court between points, inadvertently striking a ball girl.
• Chair umpire, Alexandre Juge issued a code violation on Sutjiadi and Kato.
Miyu Kato & Tim Pütz won the mixed doubles title at French Open 2023
Japan’s Miyu Kato and Germany’s Tim Puetz won the 2023 French Open Mixed Doubles title defeating Bianca
Andreescu of Canada & Michael Venus of New Zealand.
• This mark’s the first-ever Grand Slam title for both Kato and Puetz.
• The pair received the Coupe Marcel Bernard (Marcel Bernard Cup) for winning the mixed Doubles title.
Winners of French Open 2023:
Men’s Novak Casper Ruud

singles Djokovic(Serbia) (Norway)
Women’s Iga Karolína Muchová

singles Świątek(Poland) (Czech Republic)
Ivan Dodig
Sander Gillé and
Men’s (Croatia) and
Joran Vliegen
doubles Austin Krajicek
(Belgium)
(USA)
Hsieh Su- Leylah

Women’s wei(Taiwan) Fernandez(Canada)
doubles and Wang Xinyu and Taylor
(China) Townsend (USA)
Bianca Andreescu
Miyu Kato
Mixed (Canada) and
(Japan) and Tim
doubles Michael Venus
Pütz (Germany)
(New Zealand)
About French Open:
French Open is the premier clay court championship in the world and the only Grand Slam tournament
currently held on clay surface.
Official name: French les Internationaux de France de Tennis(French Internationals of Tennis).
Official Sponsor: BNP Paribas
Australia won 2nd ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 by defeating India
The Australia men’s cricket team captained by Pat Cummins defeated Indian men’s cricket team captained by
Rohit Sharma by 209 runs in the finals to win the 2nd edition of International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test
Championship (WTC) 2021-23.
• The finals of the ICC WTC 2021-2023 was held at The Oval, London, the United Kingdom.
• ICC WTC 2021-2023 started on 4th August 2021 and finished with the Final on 7–11 June 2023.
• Australia batter Travis Head was adjudged the Player of the Match (Finals) for scoring 163 runs off 174
balls in 1st innings.

• India’s defeat in the ICC WTC final became the fourth defeat in an ICC tournament final since 2014.It
includes India lost the final of the T20 World Cup to Sri Lanka
in 2014, the Champions Trophy final to Pakistan in 2017, and
the WTC final in 2021 to New Zealand.
About ICC World Test Championship:
i.The ICC World Test Championship is a two-year tournament with 9
teams competing for two spots in the WTC Final.
ii.Teams were ranked based on percentage of WTC points won in
eligible Test matches. Each team played six WTC series – three at
home and three away.Each test match has 12 points for a win, 4 for a
draw, and 6 for a tie.
iii.The teams competing in the ICC WTC 2021-23 cycle are India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and New Zealand.
Prize Money:
The total Prize for the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle is USD 3.8 million.
The winners- USD 1.6 million
The runner- USD 800,000
Ist ICC World Test Championship 2019-21:
The 1st edition ICC World Test Championship was won by New Zealand by defeating India by eight wickets.
Highlights of ICC Test World Championship 2021-23:
i.Australian left-hander Travis Head becomes the first batsman to score a century (163 runs in 174) in the
World Test Championship (WTC) final.
• Head’s strike rate of 81.91 in the 2021-23 cycle is the highest among batters with at least 500 runs.
• His score in the final is the second-best individual score by any Australian batter at a neutral venue in
Test cricket history.
ii.Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane becomes first indian to score a half-century in ICC World Test
Championship final.He scored 89 runs in 129 balls. He became the 13th Indian batter to surpass 5000 runs in
Tests.
iii.Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi to become India’s most successful left-arm
spinner in Test cricket. Ravindra Jadeja took 267 wickets in 65 matches at an average of 24.25. Bishan Singh
Bedi has 266 wickets in 67 matches.
• Jadeja is the world 4th successful left arm-spinner in Tests. The top three in the list are Sri Lanka’s
Rangana Herath (433 in 93 matches), Daniel Vettori (362 in 113 matches) and England’s Derek
Underwood (297 wickets in 86 matches).
iv.Indian captain Rohit Sharma became the third-fastest opening batter to record 13,000 international runs
across all formats in his 307th innings. He is behind Matthew Hayden (293 innings) and Sachin Tendulkar
(295). He scored (15 runs in 1st and 43 runs in 2nd innings)
v.Virat Kohli becomes India’s highest run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 cycle with
932 runs in 17 matches.
Duke Ball:
World Test Championship (WTC) Final match played with Duke Ball. This ball is preferred for the test matches
in England and the West Indies. It is Manufactured by British Cricket Balls Limited and these are hand-
stitched and more durable than other ball types.
Top 4 on the points table of ICC WTC 2021-23
Rank Team Matches Won Lost Drawn Points
1 Australia 19 11 3 5 152
2 India 18 10 3 5 127

3 South Africa 15 8 6 1 100
4 England 22 10 8 4 124
BEST PERFORMANCES in ICC WTC 2021-23:
Most runs: Joe Root (England)1915 runs in 22 matches.
Most wickets: Nathan Lyon (Australia) 88 wickets in 20 matches.
Australia’s ICC Titles:
Australia became the first and only team to win all four major ICC events. This is the 9th time Australia have
taken an ICC Trophy.
• ICC One Day International (ODI) World Cup -1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015
• ICC Champions trophy – 2006 and 2009.
• T20 International World Cup – 2021
• ICC World Test Championship 2021-23
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman– Greg Barclay
Headquarters- Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Paris Diamond League 2023: India’s Murali Sreeshankar finishes 3rd in Long Jump
On 9th June 2023, the 24-year-old Indian long jumper and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Murali
Sreeshankar secured third place in Long Jump (Mens) at the Paris Diamond League 2023 held in Stade
Charléty, Paris, France, achieving a best jump of 8.09m in his 3rd attempt.
• This was Sreeshankar’s second appearance in the Diamond League.
• With this bronze medal, he became the third Indian after Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj
Chopra and discus thrower Vikas Gowda to finish on the podium in the Diamond League.
• The top two spots were claimed by Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.13m) and Switzerland’s Simon
Ehammer (8.11m) respectively.
• The Diamond League Final will be held in Eugene, USA, on September 16 and 17 of 2023.
Murali Sreeshankar came into the Paris leg of the Diamond League after winning three consecutive gold
medals.
• In May 2023, He won a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze label event in Kallithea, Greece with his
season-best jump of 8.18m and made the cut for the upcoming Asian Games in China.
• He also won the Indian Grand Prix in March 2023 with a 7.94m jump. He also topped the podium at the
MVA High-Performance athletics meet in the USA with an 8.29m wind-assisted effort.
Note: India’s national record in men’s long jump belongs to Jeswin Aldrin, who hit 8.42m earlier this year.
Hockey: 2023 Women’s Junior Asia Cup: India beats S.Korea to win maiden title
Indian Women’s Junior Hockey Team won the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 title by defeating four-time
champions Republic of Korea (South Korea) in the finals held in Kakamigahara, Japan.
• This marks India’s first-ever Women’s Junior Asia Cup
title.
• Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, the 8th edition of the
women’s international under-21(U-21) field hockey
championship of Asia, was held in Kakamigahara, Japan
from 2nd to 11th June 2023.
• South Korea and Japan won the Silver and Bronze
Medals respectively in the Women’s Junior Asia Cup
2023.
Note: With the results India, Korea and Japan have qualified for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup
2023 which is scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile from 29 November to 10th December 2023.

Awards:
Best Goalkeeper – Lee Seoyeon (South Korea)
Rising Star Player – Anjali Barwa (India)
Best Player of the Tournament- Ueno Maho (Japan)
Most Promising Goalkeeper – Cen Hailin (China)
Player-of-the-Match (Finals)– Indian captain Preeti
Highlights:
i.India’s Annu and Neelam scored two goals for India in the Finals.
• Indian forward Annu, who scored the opening goal in the finals, finished the tournament as the top
goalscorer with 9 goals.
ii.This was India’s Second-time entry to the finals of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup. In the 2012 edition Finals,
India lost to China 2-5.
iii.In the semifinal, India’s Sunelita Toppo scored a goal to beat Japan 1-0.
iv.Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs 2 Lakh for each player and Rs 1 lakh for each support staff.
Ranking Table:
Team Position
India 1
South Korea 2
Japan 3
China 4
Malaysia 5
Totally 10 Teams participated in Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023. The contestants include India, China, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
India won the Dhofar Municipality Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 by defeating Pakistan in the finals held in Sultan
Qaboos Youth Complex Stadium in Salalah, Oman. This marks India’s 4th Men’s Junior Asia Cup title.
FIH Global Leadership Partner – Hero MotoCorp
Indonesia Open 2023: Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Won Men’s Doubles
Indian badminton players Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (World no 5) won the Men’s doubles
title at the Kapal Api Group Indonesia Open 2023 (Indonesia Open 2023) by defeating 2022 world champions
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (World no 3) from Malaysia.
• This was Satwik-Chirag’s first ever men’s doubles title
at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour
Super 1000 event and they also became the 1st
doubles pair from India to win a title at Super 1000
event.
Note: Previously, Saina Nehwal (2009,2010 & 2012) and Kidambi
Srikanth (2017) won the Singles title in the Indonesia Open.
Kapal Api Group Indonesia Open 2023, 41st edition of the
Indonesia Open, was held from 13-18th June 2023 in Gelora Bung
Karno Sports complex in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Indonesia Open 2023 was organised by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) in-
association with BWF.
• The total prize money was USD 1,250,000.

About Satwiksairaj and Chirag pair:
i.They won the Gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2020 and bronze at the world
championships 2022. They also won a gold medal at the Thomas Cup 2022.
ii.They were also the first Indian pair to win Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 and Super 100
events.
Viktor Axelsen won his 3rd consecutive Men’s Singles Title at Indonesia Open 2023:
2022 world champion Viktor Axelsen (World no1) of Denmark, won the men’s singles title at Indonesia 2023,
defeating Anthony Sinisuka Ginting(World no 2) from Indonesia.
• This mark’s Viktor Axelsen’s 3rd consecutive Men’s singles title at the Indonesia Open. He previously
won the title in 2021 and 2022.
• In the semi-finals, Viktor Axelsen defeated HS Prannoy(India)to reach finals.
• This is Axelsen’s 9th Super 1000 Title, including All England Open(2020,2022), Denmark
Open(2021), Malaysia Open(2023) and Thailand Open(2020 I , 2020 II), and second title in 2023
after Malaysia Open 2023.
Other Winners:
i.Women’s Singles:
Tokyo 2022 Olympics gold medallist Chen Yufei(China) won the Women’s Singles Title defeating Rio 2016
Olympics champion Carolina Marin(Spain).
ii.Women’s doubles:
Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee of South Korea won the Women’s Doubles Title defeating Japan’s Yuki Fukushima
and Sayaka Hirota.
iii.Mixed Doubles:
Tokyo 2022 Olympic silver medallists Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong of China won mixed doubles defeating
Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino(Japan)
Winners of Indonesia Open 2023:
Viktor Axelsen
Men’s Singles (Denmark) Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (Indonesia)
Women’s Singles Chen Yufei (China) Carolina Marin (Spain)
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik
Men’s Doubles (India) (Malaysia)
Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota
Women’s Doubles (South Korea) (Japan)
Zheng Si wei and Huang Ya Qiong
Mixed Doubles (China) Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino (Japan)
About Indonesia Open:
i.The first edition of this tournament was conducted in 1982.
ii.From 2018, it was given Super 1000 status by the BWF.
• All England Open, China Open, and Malaysia Open are the other Super 1000 events.
President – Poul-Erik Høyer
Formula 1: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Wins Canadian Grand Prix 2023
Dutch-Belgium racing driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the Formula 1 (F1) Canadian Grand Prix 2023
(Pirelli Grand Prix Du Canada 2023) title, 9th round of the F1 2023 championships, at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

•Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished 2nd and Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton finished 3rd in the
Canadian Grand Prix 2023
• This marks Red Bull’s 100th win in Formula 1 events
since its inception in 2004.
• This also marks Max Verstappen 41st F1 win, equalling
Brazilian Ayrton Senna da Silva’s record in F1.
Verstappen and Senna had the fifth-highest wins in F1,
while Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton topped with 103 wins
in F1 events.
Canadian Grand Prix 2023 Podium:
Position Driver team
2 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
i.Max Verstappen won six out of eight F1 events in 2023.
• Spanish Grand Prix, Monaco Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix, Australian Grand Prix, Bahrain Grand
Prix, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are the F1 events won by Max Verstappen in 2023.
ii.He secured 2nd position in both Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 and Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023.
About Canadian Grand Prix:
The Canadian GP is an annual auto race held in Canada since 1961 and has been part of the Formula One World
Championship since 1967.
• Race Distance – 305.27km
Indian Football Team defeated Lebanon to win Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023
On June 18, 2023, Indian Men’s Football Team (also known as Blue Tigers) captained by Sunil Chhetri won the
Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 title by defeating Lebanon team captained by Hassan Maatouk (2-0) in the
finals at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023, the 3rd edition of the
Intercontinental Cup, was held from 9th to 18th June
2023 in Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• This marks India’s 2nd Intercontinental Cup title.
India previously won the inaugural edition in 2018.
• This marks also mark’s India’s first victory against
Lebanon since 1977. India and Lebanon played eight
matches against each other from 1977 to 2023.
Note: This victory marks India’s first trophy since the 2021 South
Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
Highlights of the tournament:
In the finals, Indian team captain Sunil Chhetri and Indian forward Lallianzuala Chhangte scored two goals
against Lebanon.
• Sunil Chhetri scored his 87th international goal in the 46th minute of the finals.
• Lallianzuala Chhangte who scored India’s 2nd goal in the 65th minute of the finals was named the
player of the match(finals)

Awards & Prize Money:
Winners: India – USD 50,000
Runner-up: Lebanon – USD 25,000
Hero of the tournament: Sandesh Jhingan – India (Rs. 1,50,000)
Player of the match(Final): Lallianzuala Chhangte – India
About Intercontinental Cup:
i.The Intercontinental Cup (known as the Hero Intercontinental Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a four-nation
football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
ii.It was launched in 2018 as a replacement for Nehru Cup. The first edition held as the 2018 Intercontinental
Cup.
Participants: India, Mongolia, Lebanon and Vanuatu.
Note: The 2nd edition was won by North Korea.
Additional info:
i.Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 1 crore cash prize for the Indian Football Team.
ii.The Indian Football Team decided to donate Rs 20 Lakhs to families of Odisha train accident victims.
FIFA Ranking:
i.According to the Fédération Internationale De Football Association(FIFA) ranking (as of 6th April 2023),
India’s men’s football team is ranked at 101.
ii.Mongolia is ranked 183, Lebanon at 99 and Vanuatu is at 183.
Egypt won SDAT WSF Squash World Cup 2023 in Chennai

On 17th June 2023, The defending champion Egypt won the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu
(SDAT) World Squash Federation (WSF) Squash World Cup 2023 by defeating Malaysia in the finals.
• SDAT WSF Squash World Cup 2023, the 4th edition of Squash World Cup, was held at the Express
Avenue Mall, chennai, Tamil Nadu from 13-17th June 2023.
• Tamil Nadu(TN) Chief Minister(CM) M.K. Stalin presented the golden cup to Egypt.
• Egypt won the 3rd edition Squash world cup 2011 in chennai,Tamil Nadu.
About SDAT WSF Squash World Cup 2023:
SDAT WSF Squash World Cup 2023 was sponsored by the Tamil Nadu(TN) Government and supported by the
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport (MoYAS), Government of India.
Note:
i.After a gap of 12 years, the Squash World Cup has come to Chennai, TN. The 3rd edition was held in Chennai in
2011.
ii.From now onwards, it will be held every 2 years. The next World Cup will be in 2025.
Participants:
Players from 8 countries Egypt, India, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong (China), South Africa, Colombia
participated in the WSF Squash World Cup 2023.
• Two men and two women from each country were allowed to participate in the squash world cup.
Venues – Indian Squash Academy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu And Express Avenue Mall, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Results of the finals:
• Kenzy Ayman(Egypt) lost to Xin Ying Yee(Malaysia) 0-3 in the women’s second string match.
• Aly Abou Eleinen(Egypt) defeated Darren Pragasam(Malaysia) 3-0 men’s first string match.
• Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egypt) defeated Aira Azman (Malaysia) 3-1 in women’s first string match.
• Karim El Hammamy (Egypt) v Sai Hung Ong (Malaysia)– match withdrawn in men’s second string
match.
India wins Bronze at 2023 Squash World Cup:
i.India ranked third place jointly with Japan by winning the bronze medal at the Squash World Cup 2023.This is
India’s best performance in Squash world cup so far.

• The Indian team lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals, represented by Joshna Chinappa, Saurav Ghosal,
Tanvi Khanna and Abhay Singh.
About squash world cup:
The first edition of the Squash World Cup was played in 1996 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and featured 16 teams.
• Australia won the inaugural world cup.
iii. England won the 2nd edition of the squash world cup 1999 in the Netherlands.
ACC: Asia Cup 2023 to be held in Hybrid Model in Pakistan & Sri Lanka
On 15th June 2023, The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced that the 16th edition of Asia Cup (Men’s Asia
Cup 2023) will be held in hybrid mode in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from 31st August 2023 to 17th September
2023.
• For the first time since 2008, Pakistan will host a multi-nation cricket competition at home.
Note: Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup 2022 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) by defeating Pakistan in the
finals.
Background:
i.Asia Cup 2023 was initially allotted to Pakistan and scheduled to be held in September 2023.
ii.In October 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that India will not travel to
Pakistan.
iii.Therefore, ACC announced that Asia Cup 2023 will be held in Hybrid mode in which Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) will remain the event host with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue. 4 matches of the Asia Cup 2023 will be
played in Pakistan while Sri Lanka will host 9 games of the event.
About Asia Cup 2023:
i.Men’s Asia Cup 2023 will be held in One Day International (ODI) format.
ii.Teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, will participate in a total of 13
One Day International (ODI) matches (4 matches in Pakistan and 9 matches in Sri Lanka.)
iii.Six teams are grouped into two groups, two teams from each group will qualify for the super four stage. The
top two teams from the super four stage will meet in the finals
Note:
Since the Asia Cup 2008, the Indian team has never visited Pakistan due to long-standing geopolitical tensions
between the two nations.
• After 2008, both Pakistan and India usually play in neutral venues.
About Asia Cup:
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Asia Cup is the only continental cup in cricket and is played among the top
teams in Asia.
The event alternates every 2-years between ODI and T20I formats.
• The first Asia Cup was held in Sharjah in the UAE in 1984.
About Asian Cricket Council (ACC):
President – Jay Shah
Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched IOA ‘Bharat in Paris’ campaign
On 23rd June 2023, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur flagged off Indian Olympic
Association’s (IOA) “Bharat in Paris” campaign with a short marathon of 7 km at the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Bharat in Paris Campaign:
i.The “Bharat in Paris campaign” aims to create awareness and promote sports across India ahead of the 2024
Paris Olympics games.

ii.The campaign aims to combine sports and sustainability exhibiting India’s inclusivity towards today’s youth,
spirit of sportsmanship and sustainability for an eco-friendly
environment.
iii.The campaign also highlights the commitment of the
government of India and IOA towards Digital India and Sustainable
Garments.
iv.As a part of the campaign, the participants’ jerseys are made
from a blend of hemp, bamboo and beechwood.
v.Every participant was presented with a digital certificate,
adapted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the Khelo India
Games.
Initiatives of India for Paris Olympic 2024:
i.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) launched the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in
September 2014, with an aim to support India’s top athletes for all their expenses of boarding, lodging and
training in India and abroad.
ii.TOPS was revamped in April 2018 to establish a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes and
providing holistic support.
• As of June 2023, this scheme supports 105 TOPS Core Group Athletes across 13 sporting disciplines.
It includes both men’sHockey and women’s Hockey teams and 269 TOPS Development Group
athletes across 12 sports disciplines.
• The Athletes including Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu and Neeraj Chopra benefited from this scheme.
Paris Olympic 2024:
Paris Olympics 2024 is scheduled to be held from 26 July 2024 to 11 August 2024 in Paris, France.
• Paris 2024 Mascot: Olympic Phryge – based on the traditional small Phrygian hats that the
mascots are shaped.The name and design were chosen to represent symbolic figures of the French
Republic as well as emblems of liberty.
• Official Slogan: Games Wide Open(French: Ouvrons Grand les Jeux).
Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023: India won 202 medals
The Indian team won 202 medals (including 76 Gold, 75 Silver, 51 Bronze) in Special Olympics World Games
Berlin 2023 held in Berlin, Germany from 17th June 2023 to 25th June 2023.
• The Berlin 2023, the 16th edition Special Olympics
World Games Berlin witnessed the participation of 7000
special Olympic Athletes from around 190 countries
competing in 26 sports.
Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023:
Special Olympics is a sports event conducted every two years,
alternating with Summer and Winter Games for the people with
intellectual disabilities. For the first time since its inception, the
Special Olympics were staged in Germany.
2023 Mascot: Named as ‘Unity’, it represents the emotions the athletes feel about the World Games: joy,
togetherness, pride, and excitement.
2023 Motto: ‘unbeatable together’
Note:
The next edition of the Special Olympics ‘Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024’ will be held
from 27th February 2024 to 2nd March 2024 in Calgary, Canada.
History of Special Olympics:
i.Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, invited young people with intellectual disabilities to
the Sporting event called ‘camp Shiver’ in her Backyard in 1962.

ii.The 1st International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (USA)
in 1968.
Highlights of Special Olympics 2023:
i.Indian Athletes won six medals in the track events (including 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 51 Bronze).
• Aanchal Goyal (400m, Level B Female) and Ravimathi Arumugam (400m, Level C Female) won gold
medals for India in track events.
ii.Saket Kundu won a silver medal in the mini javelin Level B and a bronze medal in the Level B 400m event.
iii.India’s Saraswati won a gold medal in the 500m roller skating race event.
iv. Indian Pair Ranveer Saini and Rahul Agarwal won gold medal in the Level-1 golf event.
v. In the finals of the U21-D3 Table Tennis event, India’s Vighnesh Lokeshwar Naik defeated India’s Gunocean
Singh Bedu to win gold.
• In the women’s singles 30-D3 Table Tennis event, Alivelamma Gujjala secured gold.
vi. Siya Sarode won four medals including a gold medal in Squat, a bronze medal in Bench Press, silver medals
in Deadlift, and Combined Event.
vii. Suhalia Parveen won silver as India’s first medal in the Judo event at the Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Bharat:
Special Olympics Bharat is a sports body representing India at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
• It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports(MoYAS), Government of India as a National
Sports Federation, for development of Sports for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.
i.The Indian team, represented by 198 athletes participating across 16 sports events, had a send-off ceremony
at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, Delhi on 9th June 2023.
ii.Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur an Union Minister Smriti Irani, Ministry of
Women and Child Development & Ministry of Minority Affairs, participated as the chief guest for the send-off
ceremony.
iii.To spread the message about the Special Olympics, Special Olympics Bharat organised ‘The Flame of Hope’,
a torch rally that started on May 26 from Delhi and reached Delhi on June 9, 2023.
iv.MoYAS has allotted an amount of Rs 7.7 Crore to the Indian team for the participation in the Special Olympics
2023.This was the highest allotment for Special Olympics so far.
Ambassadors of Special Olympics Bharat:
i.Film Star Ayushmann Khurrana acted as the Goodwill Ambassador for Special Olympics Bharat to support and
encourage the Indian team members.
ii.Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh also the Goodwill Ambassador for Special Olympics Bharat.
iii.Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, has
supported the special OlympicsIndian team.
• It provided material assistance to the entire Indian contingent of athletes, coaches and officials for
their training, equipment, wearables, accessories and other administrative requirements to ensure
the Indian team’s participation and performance.
About Special Olympics:
Founder – Eunice Kennedy Shriver
OBITUARY
Padma Shri awardee & Eminent Scholar-Writer Vellayani Arjunan Passed Away
On 31st May 2023, Vellayani Arjunan, an eminent scholar, writer, academician and Padma Shri
awardee passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala at the age of 90. He was born on 10 February 1933.
• Vellayani Arjunan holds 3 Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.) degrees from three universities (Aligarh and
Agra (Uttar Pradesh), and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).

• Vellayani Arjunan had the credit of having Post
Graduations (PGs) in Malayalam, English and Hindi and PG
diplomas in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
About Vellayani Arjunan:
i. VellayaniArjunan had been a well-known person in the academic,
cultural and literary sphere of Kerala for over 20 years.
ii. He was born at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and began
his career as a research assistant in the Kerala Lexicon Department.
iii. Later he became a faculty to teach Malayalam Language and
Literature at Sree Narayana College in Kollam, Kerala.
iv. He was the first Professor of Malayalam at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh and
became the Head of the Department (HOD) of Modern Indian Languages at AMU.
v. He also served as the director of the state Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications, Kerala in 1975.
vi. He also held posts as director of the Kerala Bhasha Institute and of the School of Communication and
Information Science at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala.
His Notable Works:
He has authored about 40 books of different genres, including poetry, short stories, children’s fiction, Essays
and so on. Some of his notable works include: Mahanmarude Jeevithathil Ninnu; Malayalathinte Jaithra Yathra;
Ozhukkinethire (His Autobiography).
Honours:
In 2008, he was honoured with Padma Shri in the field of Literature & Education.
Padma Shri awardee & Sanskrit Scholar Ved Kumari Ghai passed away
On 30th May 2023, Ved Kumari Ghai, Veteran Sanskrit Scholar and Padma Shri awardee, passed away at
her residence in Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K). She was born on December 16, 1931 in Pratap Garh Mohallah,
Jammu, J&K.
About Ved Kumari Ghai:
i. VedKumariGhai started her career as a professor of Sanskrit at
Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu.
ii.She served as the Dean and Head of Sanskrit Department,
University of Jammu, J&K and retired in 1991.
iii. In 1966–1967 and 1978–1980, she taught Panini’s Sanskrit
grammar and literature at the Institute of Indian Studies,
Copenhagen University, Denmark.
iv. She was also a member of the Amarnath shrine board.
Notable works:
i. She has authored books like Kashmir Darpan, Narendra-Darpan and Kashmir ka Sanskrit SahityakoYogdann
(Kashmir’s Contribution to Sanskrit Literature)
ii. She has also co-authored a few books with her husband Professor Ram Pratap like Urmika (a Collection of
Sanskrit Poems), MeraGeetTumhaaray hain (Hindi) and so on.
iii. Her scholarly book “Studies in Phonetics and Phonology” has been widely appreciated.
Awards and Honours:
i. In 1995 her scholarly pursuits won her President of India ‘Certificate of Honour, Gold Medal by the Jammu
and Kashmir Government for social work.
ii. In 1997 she won the President’s Award for Sanskrit. In 2005, she was awarded the Dogra Ratan award;
lifetime achievement award in 2009 and Stri Shakti Puraskara in 2010.
iii. In 2014, she was honoured with the Padma Shri under the Literature and Education discipline.

Ghanaian writer and feminist Ama Ata Aidoo dies at 81
Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghanaian author, poet and playwright famous for her feminist ideals, passed away at the
age of 81 in Ghana, a country in western Africa. She was born in 1942 in Abeadzi Kyiakor, Gold Coast (now
Ghana).
• She published her first play “The Dilemma of a Ghost” in 1965 and became the first African
woman to publish a play.
• She served as the education minister of Ghana from 1982 to 1983.
• She won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best African Book in 1992 for her novel
“Changes: A Love Story”
Her Noted Works include Anowa, Our Sister Killjoy, and Search Sweet Country.
Tongan Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Passes Away at 75

On 28 May 2023, Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili of Tonga, a member of the Tongan Royal
family and a politician, passed away in Auckland, New Zealand at the age of 75. She was born on 12th May 1948
in Tonga, a Polynesian country.
She will be buried in Tonga at the Mala’e Kula Royal Tombs.
• She was the eldest daughter of Prince Fatafehi Tuipelehake and Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune
and the eldest granddaughter of Her Majesty, the late Queen Salote.
• She served as the 1st elected female parliamentarian in Tonga from 1975 to 1977.
• She also served as president of the Langafonua Gallery & Handicrafts Centre, established by the late
Queen Salote to empower Tongan women with traditional skills and talents.
• She served as the patron of Tonga Health Society Langimalie Clinic (since 2018) and the Lapaha
Council, Tonga’s 1st village council.
American athlete Jim Hines, 1st to Sprint 100 M in Under 10 secs, Passed Away
On 3rd June 2023, Former American track and field athlete and National Football League (NFL) player, Jim
Hines, the 1st man to run 100 meters in under 10 seconds, passed away at the age of 76. He was born in
September 1946 in Dumas, Arkansas, the United States of America (USA) and was raised in Oakland, California,
USA.
About Jim Hines:
i. At the age of 17, he was ranked among the top 20 in the world
over 100 yards.
ii. In 1965, he achieved his first US Championships podium finish
placing second in the 200m.
iii. In 1966, he won the national 200m title, and in 1967 he won his
first national 100 yards title.
iv. In 1967, he set his first ratified world records; clocking 9.1 for
100m yards and 10.0 for 100m and he was the fifth man to claim a
share of the world 100m record with that mark.
v. At the 1968 US Championships in Sacramento, he became the first man to officially go below 10 seconds for
100m, running a hand-timed 9.9sec and earned a spot on the US team.
vi.He retired from athletics at the end of 1968 and moved into the NFL, and played for 2 years for the Miami
Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.
1968 Olympic:
i. In the 1968 Olympic Games held at México, Jim Hines again clocked a hand-timed 9.9 (electronically
registered as 9.95 seconds), which also made him the first man to officially break 10 seconds on electronic
timing and won his first Olympic gold.
Note: This world record lasted 15 years, the longest of any men’s 100m world record in the fully automatic era,

but in 1983, it was finally broken by Calvin Smith, a former American Sprinter with 9.93 seconds.
ii. He also had a share of the 4x100m relay world record at the Mexico Olympics, securing the US team to Gold
in 38.24 seconds.
Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar Passed Away at 94
On 4th June 2023, Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar passed away at the age of 94 due
to prolonged respiratory illness in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She was born as Nagabai on July 30, 1928 in
Khadaklat village in Belgaum, Karnataka.
Career:
i.SulochanaLatkar made her debut as an actor in 1946 and starred in a
number of Hindi and Marathi films.
ii.She was well known for her ‘mother roles’ in Hindi films between
1959 and 1995.
iii.She acted in Hindi films like “Aaye Din Bahar Ke”, “Gora Aur Kala”,
“Devar”, “Talaash”, and “Azaad”.
iv.She acted as the lead heroine in Marathi films like “Sasurvas”,
“Vahinichya Bangdya”, “Meeth Bhakar”, “Sangte Aika” and “Dhakti Jau”.
Awards:
i.Sulochana Latkar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 in the field of Arts.
ii.She was also honoured with Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
iii.She was honoured with the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award, a highest civilian award presented by the
Government of Maharashtra, in 2009.
Manoj Misra, an Environmental Activist and former IFS Officer passed away due to COVID-19
complications
On 4th June 2023, Manoj Misra, a renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service (IFS)
officer passed away at the age of 68 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP) due to COVID-19 related complications.
He was born on October 7, 1954, in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The movement Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan headed by Manoj Misra, led to the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) suggesting the phased rejuvenation of the river Yamuna in 2015.
• Manoj Misra actively fought against deforestation, illegal mining and pollution using legal avenues to
protect forests and rivers.
Renowned Doordarshan anchor, Gitanjali Aiyar passes away

Gitanjali Aiyar, one of India’s first English news presenters on national broadcaster Doordarshan(DD), passed
away. She was born on 29th January 1947.
• She worked with DD for over 3 decades since 1971 and was awarded the best anchor 4 times. She
was also honoured with Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in 1989.
• In 2002, she switched to corporate communications, government liaison and marketing.
• She has also worked with the Taj and Oberoi group of hotels and worked as a consultant at the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• She also worked as the Head of the Major Donors department World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s ex-Prime Minister and Media Magnet Passed Away at 86
On 12th June 2023, Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian Prime Minister and the billionaire media magnet passed
away at the age of 86 in Milan, Italy. He was born on 29th September, 1936 in Milan, Italy.
• He was the three-time Prime Minister (PM) of Italy serving during the period of 1994-1995, 2001-2006
and 2008-2011.

• He was the longest-serving post-war PM of Italy, and the third longest-serving since the Unification of
Italy, after Benito Mussolini and Giovanni Giolitti.
About Silvio Berlusconi:
i. In 1961, he started his career in real estate, and his construction
company Edilnord built residential districts on the outskirts of Milan
(Italy).
ii. In 1978, he launched an internal cable TV station, called
Telemilano, it became Italy’s first national private TV network and
later it grew into Mediaset, Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster.
• To sustain his channels he started importing American shows
such as “Dallas,” “Baywatch” and “The Smurfs”.
iii. In 1994, he established his own political party, Forza Italia (Go Italy), which won legislative elections, and he
became the PM for the first time.
iv. In 1996, he went on trial for the first time on corruption charges and was sentenced to 16 months in prison
for false accounting, but released on appeal.
v. In 2001, he started his second term as PM and served for 5 years, and in 2008, after a new electoral win, he
returned as PM until 2011.
vi. In 2011, he was forced to resign at the height of the Eurozone debt crisis, after he lost his parliamentary
majority.
vii. In 2013, he was voted out of parliament by the Italian Senate, following his conviction for tax fraud in a case
pertaining to Hollywood movie deals done by Mediaset.
viii. In 2019, he won a seat in the European Parliament, becoming the assembly’s oldest Member of the
European Parliament (MEP) at the age of 82.
Awards:
In 2009, Silvio Berlusconi was awarded the Member 1st Class of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud, a Saudi Arabian
order of merit by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
About Italy:
President– Sergio Mattarella
Prime Minister– Giorgia Meloni
Currency– The euro
Glenda Jackson: Oscar-Winning Actress and Former Politician dies at 87

On 15th June 2023, Two-time Oscar-winning actress and UK’s former politician Glenda Jackson passed away
in London at the age of 87.
She was born in Birkenhead, England on 9th may 1936.
i.She won 2 academy awards for Women in Love in 1971, A
Touch of Class in 1974 performing with the Royal Shakespeare
Company.
ii. she won 2 Emmy Awards in 1972 for her performance as Queen
Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R under Television category.
Political carrer:
• She was elected to the House of Commons, joined the United
Kingdom’s Parliament from 1992 to 2015.
• She also served two years as a junior transport minister in Tony Blair’s New Labour government from
1997.
Additional info:
• In 2019, her debut movie “Elizabeth Is Missing” won her the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts (BAFTA) award.

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy dies at 89
Cormac McCarthy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer, passed away at the age of 89 at his home in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, the United States of America (USA). He was born on July 20, 1933, in Providence, Rhode
Island, USA.
About Cormac McCarthy:
i. In 1957, Cormac McCarthy started his literary career with short
stories such as “A Drowning Incident” and “Wake for Susan”. Both
of them got published in the students’ literary magazine known as
“THE PHEONIX” at the University of Tennessee, USA.
ii. His first novel, “The Orchard Keeper”, was published by Random
House in 1965.
Adaptations:
i.Some of his noted works like “All The Pretty Horses”, “The Road”,
and “No Country For Old Men” was adapted into films.
ii.In 2008, the movie based on his novel, “No Country for Old Men” with the same name directed by Joel and
Ethan Coen won four Academy Awards (Oscars), including the award for Best Picture.
Notable works:
Some of his notable works includes: Child Of God (1973), Suttree (1979) Blood Meridian (1985), The
Stonemason (drama 1994), No Country for Old Men (2005), The Road (2006), The Sunset Limited (2010), Stella
Maris (2022)
Awards:
i. In 1992, the first book of his border trilogy “All The Pretty Horses” won the National Book Award
ii. His novel, “The Road”, was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction in 2006 and, Pulitzer
Prize for Fiction in 2007.
Nobel Laureate, Goodenough, the American Co-inventor of Lithium-ion Batteries Passed Away
On 25th June 2023, John Bannister Goodenough(100), the American co-inventor of Lithium-ion
batteries and a co-winner of 2019 Nobel prize for Chemistry, passed away. He was born on 25th July 1922 in
Jena, Germany.
Education and career:
• He served during the 2nd World War as a meteorologist in the United States(US) Army after
studying mathematics at Yale University, US.
• In 1952, he studied at the University of Chicago,
receiving a doctorate in physics.
• He later worked at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) and Oxford University in Great
Britain.
• Since 1986 he has been a professor at the University of
Texas at Austin, US.
His works:
i.Goodenough also played a significant role in the development of
Random Access Memory (RAM) for computers.
ii.In 1979 Goodenough and his collaborators developed a battery with a cathode of lithium ions having the
potential of 4 volts between layers of cobalt oxide.
Awards:
He has been honoured with the National Medal of Science (2011), the Charles Stark Draper Prize (2014), and
the Copley Medal (2019).
Books:
He wrote Magnetism and the Chemical Bond (1963), Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology: Principles, Performance

and Operations (2009, with Kevin Huang), and an autobiography, Witness to Grace (2008).
Note: Goodenough shared the Nobel prize with British-born American chemist M. Stanley Whittingham and
Japanese chemist Yoshino Akira “for the development of lithium-ion batteries”. He was the oldest person to
win a Nobel Prize.
• It was in 1980, Goodenough and his fellow researchers developed a lithium battery with a cathode
of cobalt oxide, in which lithium ions could be housed within layers.
Rajya Sabha MP Hardwar Dubey passes away at 74

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 Hardwar Dubey:
i.He was born on 1st July 1947, in Hussainabad, Ballia district of
Uttar Pradesh(UP).
ii.He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from
Agra cantonment constituency twice, from December 1989 to April
199 and June 1991 to December 1992.
iii.He served as the Minister of finance of the Uttar Pradesh government under the Chief Ministership of Kalyan
Singh from 1991- 1992.
iv.During his tenure as a member of the Rajya Sabha, He served as a member of various committees including
the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Committee on Industry, Joint
Committee on Offices of Profit, and Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

BJP President JP Nadda released a book “Amrutkaal ki Ore” by Shivanand Dwivedi & K K
Upadhyay
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda (JP Nadda) released a new book
titled “Amrutkaal ki Ore”(Towards Amrit Kaal), compiled by Shivanand Dwivedi and K K Upadhyay, in New
Delhi, Delhi. The book details the achievements of the Modi government during the past 9 years and its
contribution towards the transformation of India.
• This is the 3rd volume in a series on #ModiGovt was brought out by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Research (SPMR) Foundation. The book is published by Prabhat Prakashan.
A total of 21 authors have shared their views on different topics in this book.
Ambassador Satish Chandra authored ‘A Life Well Spent — Four Decades in the Indian Foreign
Service’
Indian Ambassador Satish Chandra authored a book titled ‘A Life Well Spent – Four Decades in the Indian
Foreign Service’ which covers four decades he served in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) from 1965 to 2005 as
an IFS probationer to Deputy National Security Advisor.
• The book offers insights into Indian diplomacy and the evolution of the NSC (National Security
Council) structure.
• The book was published by Rupa Publications in May 2023.

About Satish Chandra:
• Satish Chandra is currently being the Vice Chairman of the New Delhi-based think tank, influential
brains trust, Vivekananda International Foundation.
• Satish Chandra who joined the IFS in 1965 was posted in Indian missions till 1989.
• He served as India’s ambassador to the Philippines, its permanent representative to the UN
Offices in Geneva, (Switzerland) and its High Commissioner to Pakistan.
• He was the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and, was the deputy national security
advisor.
Journalist A.K. Bhattacharya authored a new book titled “India’s Finance Ministers”
Veteran Journalist Ashok Kumar Bhattacharya (AK Bhattacharya) has authored a new book titled “India’s
Finance Ministers: From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977)” which highlights the role of India’s
finance ministers who shaped India’s economy in the first 30 years(from 1947 to 1977) after Independence.
The book is published by Penguin Business an imprint of Penguin Random House.
• The book is divided into 3 main parts: Nehru and his finance ministers, those under Shastri and
Indira Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi as her own finance minister.
• Economic Journalist AK Bhattacharya is the editorial director of Business Standard and the writer of
a long-running column – Raisina Hill. he has also served as the editor of the Pioneer and Business
Standard.
Journalist Kasturi Ray authored a new book “Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands
to Raisina Hills”
The new book titled “Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hills” authored by
journalist Kasturi Ray illustrates the challenges Murmu encountered on her path to success as India’s first
president from a tribal community. The book is published by Rupa Publications, India, with a ‘Foreword’
by Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
• Kasturi Ray analysed Murmu’s life from her school and college days to becoming a Teacher, Social
worker, Counsellor, Minister, Governor of Jharkhand, and President.
Kasturi Ray is a senior news editor at The New Indian Express in Bhubaneswar, Odisha and a South Asian
Women in Media (SAWM)-United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) fellow for reporting development
journalism.
Noted Works: “Indira Gandhi: The Final Chapter” and “Mamata Banerjee: The Story of India’s Rebel Queen”.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World No Tobacco Day 2023 – 31st May 2023
World No Tobacco Day(WNTD) is annually observed across the globe on 31st May to create awareness about
the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and encourage the general public to quit smoking.
• The annual observance of World No Tobacco Day is led by the World Health Organisation(WHO).
The theme of WNTD 2023 observed on 31st May 2023 is “We need food, not tobacco”. WHO’s theme -
“Grow Food, not Tobacco”.
Background:
i.WHO established World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to highlight the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death
and disease it causes.
ii.The World Health Assembly(WHA) adopted the resolution WHA40.38 in 1987 and proclaimed the 7th of
April of every year as World No Smoking Day.

iii.In 1988, WHA passed a resolution WHA42.19 and called for the celebration of 31st May of every year as
World No Tobacco Day.
Significance:
i.The WNTD 2023 campaign aims to create awareness about alternative crop production and marketing
opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, nutritious crops.
ii.The 2023 observance also aims to expose the efforts of the tobacco industry to interfere with attempts to
substitute tobacco growing with sustainable crops and contribute to the global food crisis.
Objectives of WNTD 2023:
• To mobilize governments to end subsidies on tobacco growing and use of savings for crop
substitution programmes that support farmers to switch and improve food security and nutrition.
• To support the efforts to combat desertification and environmental degradation by decreasing
tobacco farming
Key Points:
i.Globally, around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year. Growing tobacco
also contributes to the deforestation of 200000 hectares a year.
ii.Land used for growing tobacco then has a lower capacity for growing other crops, such as food, since tobacco
depletes soil fertility.
WNTD 2023 awards:
WHO announced the winners of World No Tobacco Day 2023 awards and WHO Director-General’s Special
Recognition Certificate.
• The State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC), Government of Meghalaya and the Centre for Multi-
Disciplinary Development Research in Dharwad, Karnataka received the award under the “South-
East Asia Region” category.
About UNTD Award:
Annually the WHO recognises individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions(Africa, America, East
Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia & Western Pacific) for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco
control.
• This is presented in the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Awards.
Click here for the complete list of winners
About World Health Organisation(WHO):
World Milk Day 2023 – June 1

World Milk Day (WMD) is annually celebrated across the world on 1st June to create awareness about the
importance of milk, one of the most widely produced and valuable agricultural commodities on Earth.
The day recognises milk as global food and celebrates the dairy sector.
The day aims to create awareness about the benefits of milk and dairy products highlighting the contribution of
Dairy industries in providing livelihood to billions of people across the globe.
• The annual observance of World Milk Day is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the United Nations.
The common theme of the observance is “The potency of milk and the milk industry.”
Background:
The observance of World Milk Day was initiated by the FAO in 2001 to provide an opportunity to bring
attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector.
• The first-ever World Milk Day was observed on 1st June 2001.
Note: World Milk Day is yet to be recognized as an official international day by the United Nations(UN).

Why June 1?
June 1 was chosen for the observance of World Milk Day since several countries across the globe celebrate their
national milk day on or around June 1.
Significance of WMD 2023:
WMD 2023 will focus on showcasing how dairy is reducing its environmental footprint, while also providing
nutritious foods and livelihoods.
• The dairy sector drives an active narrative that integrates the environmental, nutritional and
societal impacts of the sector.
The dairy sector contributes to the
• Good food, health and nutrition.
• Farmers caring responsibly for their communities, the land and their animals.
• Economic development and livelihoods.
India’s National Milk Day:
India celebrates National Milk Day on 26th November, the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who is also
known as the ‘Father of White Revolution“.
About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):
Director-General– Qu Dongyu
Global Day of Parents 2023 – June 1

The United Nations(UN)’s Global Day of Parents is annually observed across the globe on 1st June to honour
parents across the globe and to create awareness about the importance of quality parenting and family life in
every child’s upbringing.
Significance:
i.The global observance highlights the major role of parents in the development of children and recognises the
family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children.
ii.The day offers a platform to appreciate parents throughout the world for their selfless commitment to
children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/66/292 on 17th September
2012 and proclaimed the 1st June of every year as the Global Day of Parents.
ii.The first ever Global Day of Parents was observed on 1st June 2013.
Importance of parenting:
Parents(including mothers and fathers, as well as other caregivers who act as parents) are among the most
important people in the lives of young children.
The 3 essential components of parenting are empathy, emotional regulation, and endurance.
Other Related Observances:
i.UN observed 1994 as the International Year of the Family under the theme “Family: resources and
responsibilities in a changing world”.
ii.In 1993, UNGA adopted a resolution and proclaimed the 15th May of every year as “International Day of
Families” to raise awareness about the importance of families and to promote the role of families in society.
World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2023-May 30

World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day is observed annually on May 30th to raise awareness about Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) and to provide support to those who are living with this disease.
• Multiple sclerosis is a chronic Autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including
the brain and spinal cord.

The theme for World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2020-2023 is “connections”.
The annual observance of World MS Day is coordinated by the MS International Federation and its members.
Background:
World Multiple Sclerosis Day was initiated by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), an
international non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and advocating for people with multiple
sclerosis.
• The first ever World MS Day was observed on 27th May 2009.
Significance:
i.To dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding MS and promote understanding and support for those living
with the condition.
ii.To raise awareness about multiple sclerosis and its impact on individuals, families, and communities around
the world
Events in India:
On 30th May 2023, as a part of the observance of the World MS Day 2023, The Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) organised
awareness programs about Multiple Sclerosis and conducted various events at more than 40 places across
India.
• The theme colour of MS Day is Orange.
• As a part of the observance, the organisations lighten their buildings in orange colour.
MS Connections campaign:
i.The MS Connections campaign focuses on building community connection, self-connection and connections to
quality care.
ii.The campaign tagline is ‘I Connect, We Connect’ and the campaign hashtag is ‘MS Connections’
Key Points:
i.MS Connections challenges social barriers that leave people affected by MS feeling lonely and socially isolated.
ii.This observance also provides a platform to advocate for better services, celebrate support networks and
champion self-care.
About Multiple Sclerosis International Federation:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Peer Baneke
Headquarters– London,United Kingdom
Established– 1967
International Sex Workers’ Day 2023 – June 2

International Sex Workers Day, also known as International Whores Day, is annually observed across
the globe on 2nd June to honour the sex workers who are the victims of cruelty and violence and
acknowledge them as valuable contributors to society.
• The day also provides a platform to recognise the exploited working conditions of these sex
workers.
Every year, International Sex Workers’ Day is commemorated by NSWP (Global Network of Sex Work
Projects) with focus on the theme “Access to Justice”
Background:
i.On 2 June 1975, more than 100 sex workers occupied the Saint Nizier Church in Lyon, France and
protested against sex work and expressed their anger about their exploitative living conditions.
• They also launched a media campaign to express their grievances to the world.
ii.Since 1975, the 2nd June of every year is commemorated as International Sex Workers Day.
Rights of Sex Workers:
i.Sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law and criminal law must apply equally in all cases

ii.The Consensus Statement of NSWP highlights 8 fundamental rights for sex worker-led groups across the
globe. These were identified as crucial targets for their activism and advocacy.
The 8 rights are,
• Right to associate and organise;
• Right to be protected by the law;
• Right to be free from violence;
• Right to be free from discrimination;
• Right to privacy, and freedom from arbitrary interference;
• Right to health;
• Right to move and migrate;
• Right to work and free choice of employment
Other Related Observances:
• International Sex Workers’ Rights Day is observed on 3rd March to raise awareness of the
rights of sex workers and to combat stigma and discrimination.
• Sex Worker Pride observed on 14th September calls for attention to sex workers’ labour
rights, access to justice and violence against sex workers.
• International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers observed on 17th December calls
for attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the world.
World Bicycle Day 2023- June 3

The United Nations (UN)‘s World Bicycle Day is annually observed on 3rd June across the world to promote
the benefits of cycling and raise awareness about the social, economic importance of bicycles, which
contributes to a cleaner Environment.
• The day also celebrates the bicycle as a simple, affordable, reliable, clean, healthy, environmentally
friendly and sustainable means of transport.
Objective:
World Bicycle Day is aimed at making people more active through simple activities, including cycling. The
World Health Organization (WHO) also emphasises that cycling proves to be an effective way to achieve
recommended activity levels.
Origin of Bicycle Day:
The idea for World Bicycle Day was first proposed by Professor Leszek Sibilski, a Polish-American social
scientist working in the United States of America (USA).
• He began a grassroots campaign to get the UNs to recognise World Bicycle Day, and he eventually
gained the support of Turkmenistan and 56 other countries that Co-sponsored the resolution.
• The World Cycling Alliance (WCA) and the European Cyclists Federation (ECF) welcomed this
resolution adopted by the UNGA, and have campaigned for an UN designated World Bicycle
Day since 2016.
Background:
i. In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/272 during its
72nd Regular session and proclaimed 3rd June of every year as World Bicycle Day.
ii. The declaration was adopted by a consensus of 193 member states that encouraged them to include bicycles
in regional, international, and subnational development programmes and policies.
iii. The first UN designated World Bicycle Day was observed on 3rd June 2018.
World Bicycle Day Logo:
i. The original UN Blue and White World Bicycle Day logo was designed by Isaac Feld and the animation was
done by Professor John E. Swanson.
ii. This logo symbolises various types of bicyclists around the globe, accompanied by the hashtag
#June3WorldBicycleDay underneath it.

Cycling and Sustainable development:
i. On 15th March 2022, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/76/255 on integration of mainstream
bicycling into public transportation systems for sustainable development.
ii. It emphasised that the bicycle is an instrument of sustainable transportation and conveys a positive message
to foster sustainable consumption and production, and has a positive impact on climate.
iii. A document titled “Cycling Delivers on the Global Goals!” delivered by WCA and ECF to the UN in 2015,
showed that cycling delivers directly on at least 12 of the 17 UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Benefits of Cycling:
• Cycling is a cheaper way of transportation and it saves money.
• It has an intrinsic zero-emission value, hence it helps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
• It leads to being aware of the local environment, promoting environmental awareness as well as
sustainable consumption and production.
• It strengthens the muscles, improve physical fitness and flexibility and leads to a healthier life.
About United Nations (UN):
Founded in– 24 October 1945
Secretary-General– António Guterres
World Environment Day 2023 – June 5

The United Nations (UN)’s World Environment Day (WED) is annually observed across the globe on 5th June to
highlight the significance of protecting the environment. The day also creates awareness about the efforts taken
by various stakeholders across the globe to address environmental issues.
5th June 2023 marks the observance of the 50th World Environment Day.
The theme of the WED 2023 is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”.
• The 2023 theme acts as a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter.
The annual observance of WED is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an
environmental authority in the UN system, since 1973.
Host of WED 2023: The WED 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands.
#BeatPlasticPollution Campaign:
The WED 2023 campaign #BeatPlasticPollution calls for global solutions to combat plastic pollution.
Background:
The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/2994 (XXVII) in 1972 and
proclaimed the June 5th of every year as “World Environment Day”.
• The first-ever World Environment Day was observed on 5th June 1973.
Why June 5?
June 5th marks the inaugural day of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, the first world
conference to make the environment a major issue, held in Stockholm, Sweden from 5 to 16 June 1972.
Key Points:
i.Globally, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually and around 50% of these are designed
to be used only once.
• Only about 10% of the plastics produced are recycled.
ii.An estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastics end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually.
iii.Microplastics, plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter are found in air, water, soil, food, and inside our
bodies.
iv.More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement,
and other dangers.
v.Annually, around 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow into oceans and this is estimated to triple by 2040.

Note:
A shift to a circular economy can reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans by over 80% by 2040; reduce
virgin plastic production by 55%; save governments USD70 billion by 2040; reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions by 25%; and create 700,000 additional jobs.
About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director– Inger Andersen
Headquarters– Nairobi, Kenya
International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 2023 – 5th
June
The United Nations(UN)’s International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
Fishing is annually observed across the globe on 5th June to address the issue of illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.
• 5th June 2023 marks the observance of the 6th International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing.
Background:
i.In 2015, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations(FAO) proposed an initiative to declare an International Day for the Fight against Illegal,
Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
ii.During the 40th Session of the FAO Conference, held in Rome, Italy, in July 2017, the resolution entitled
“Observance of the International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing” was adopted.
iii.In December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/72 and
proclaimed the 5th June of every year as “International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing”.
• The first-ever International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing was observed on 5th June 2018.
Note: The resolution also declared the year 2022 as the “ International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and
Aquaculture”.
Why June 5?
The date 5th June marks the day when the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) officially entered into
force as an international treaty. The PSMA entered into force on 5th June 2016.
• It was the 1st international legally-binding instrument specifically devoted to the fight against IUU
fishing.
What is IUU Fishing?
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a broad term that captures a wide variety of fishing activity.
i.Illegal Fishing refers to fishing activities conducted by foreign vessels without permission in waters under
the jurisdiction of another state.
• Illegal fishing is a key driver of global overfishing, it threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security
and regional stability at risk.
ii.Unreported fishing refers to fishing activities that are not reported or are misreported to relevant
authorities in contravention of national laws
iii.Unregulated Fishing refers to fishing activities in areas where there are no applicable management
measures to regulate the catch
Key Points:
i.Globally, the IUU fishing activities are responsible for the loss of around 11 to 26 million tonnes of fish each
year. It is estimated to have an economic value of USD 10 to 23 billion.
ii.IUU fishing undermines national and regional efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life below Water:
Target 14.4 aims to end overfishing, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and destructive fishing
practices.
Target 14.6 aimed to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and
overfishing and eliminate subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing by 2020.

About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO):
Director-General– Qu Dongyu
World Day against Speciesism 2023 – June 5

The World Day against Speciesism is annually observed on June 5th across the world, to stop discrimination
based on species membership. The day is initiated by animal rights advocates, and its main goal is to remind
people that speciesism, like racism or sexism, has no place in a civilised society.
• The day is supported/observed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Animal
Rights Movement (FARM), and other animal rights groups.
• World Day against Speciesism is a good opportunity for the general public to learn about animal
rights and veganism.
Note: World Day for the End of Speciesism (WoDES) is a similar event, which is observed annually at the end of
August around the world since 2015.
What is Speciesism?
i. The term Speciesism refers to the assignment of different rights, values, or special consideration to
individuals solely on the basis of their species.
ii. “Speciesism” is the human-held belief that all other animal species are inferior.
Origin of Speciesism:
i. In 1970, the term Speciesism was coined by Dr Richard D. Ryder, the psychologist, ethicist, writer and
political animal lobbyist in one of his essays.
ii. In those essays he put forward to call attention to the fact that the attitude toward animals derives from the
same kind of mentality as racism or sexism.
iii. But, the term Speciesism was introduced internationally in 1975 by Peter Singer, a student at Oxford,
England, the United Kingdom (UK).
iv. He wrote a book titled “Animal Liberation” by contacting Richard Ryder, which is widely considered to be
the philosophical background of the animal liberation movement.
Animal rights advocates claim that speciesism is a prejudice similar to sexism or racism, and according to them,
any use of animals by humans (to produce food and clothes, for scientific experiments, in the entertainment
industry, etc.) is a form of discrimination and abuse.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2023- June 4

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed
annually on June 4th across the world to recognise and acknowledge the sufferings and pain of children
throughout the world, who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
• The day originally focused on the children affected by the 1982 Lebanon War and also focused on
Palestinian children that were victims of Israel’s acts of aggression.
• The day also affirms the UNs commitment towards protecting children and their rights.
Background:
On 19 August 1982, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 7th emergency special
session adopted the resolution A/RES/ES-7/8 and proclaimed 4th June of every year as the International Day
of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
• The first-ever International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression was observed on 4th
June 1983.
Convention on the Rights of the Child:
i. In 1989, world leaders came together and made a commitment to the world’s children by adopting the UNs
“Convention on the Rights of the Child” (CRC), an international legal framework on childhood.
ii. The Convention says childhood is separate from adulthood, and lasts until 18, and it is a special, protected
time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity.

iii. This is the most widely approved international human rights treaty.
Protection of Child Rights:
i. In 1997, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/51/77, on the “Rights of the Child” following the report of
GraçaMachel, which showed the devastating social and psychological impact of armed conflict on children.
ii. The resolution was built on existing UNGA efforts to protect the rights of children, including through the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol, and the annual Rights of the Child resolutions.
iii. The UNGA in 1996, created the mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to
strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, and so on.
• The mandate has been renewed and expanded by the UNGA since 1996, with the latest Resolution
(A/RES/72/245) adopted on 16 December 2021.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and Children’s future:
i. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a special target (16.2), aims to end abuse,
exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence and torture of children by 2030
ii. The UN’s SDG 16 promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
Founded in– 24 October 1945
UN Russian Language Day 2023 – June 6

The United Nations(UN)’s Russian Language Day is annually observed across the globe on June 6th to create
awareness about the history, culture and development of the Russian language. The day also aims to celebrate
cultural diversity and multilingualism.
• The day also marks the birth anniversary of the great Russian poet, playwright, and
novelist, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (A.S. Pushkin) (1799 – 1837), the founder of modern
Russian literature.
• Every year, Russia celebrates June 6th as “Pushkin Day”.
Background:
i.In 2010, on the eve of International Mother Language Day celebrated annually on 21st February at the
initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Department of
Public Information (now Department of Global Communications) announced the launch of “Language Days at
the United Nations”.
• UN Languages Days aim to raise awareness of the history, culture and development of each of the 6
official UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, among the staff of the
Organization.
• UN Russian Language day is a part of UN Languages Days.
Events 2023:
As a part of the celebration of the UN Russian Language Day on 6th June 2023, UN entities organised a series of
virtual events in New York, Geneva and Vienna, including a poetry reading, a literature recital, theatrical
performances and discussions about the Russian language.
Significance of Russian:
i.Russian is the official language of the Russian Federation, the largest country in the world.
ii.Russian is also known as the “International Language of Space” and astronauts need to learn the language
on the International Space Station(ISS).
• English and Russian are the official languages of ISS.
iii.With around 258 million Russian speakers, it is the 8th most spoken language in the world.
Other UN Language Days:
• French Language Day – 20 March
• Chinese Language Day – 20 April

• English Language Day – 23 April
• Spanish Language Day – 23 April
• Arabic Language Day – 18 December
World Pest Day 2023- June 6

World Pest Day, also known as World Pest Awareness Day, is observed annually on 6th June across the
globe to raise public awareness of the importance of pest management for the protection of public health.
• The day also emphasises the big threats caused by small pests.
Background:
i. World Pest Day was initiated by the Chinese Pest Control Association (CPCA), and co-sponsored by the
Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers’ Association (FAOPMA), the National Pest Management
Association (NPMA), and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA).
ii. The first-ever World Pest Day was observed at the Beijing Hotel, China on June 6th 2017.
Harms/ damages caused by Pests:
i. Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet, with an estimated 5.5 million species. More than
one million have been named by scientists, and many more have yet to be discovered.
ii. While many insects can seem like pests, and are organisms that transmit disease, cause damage/harm to
people, plants, animals. Various harm or health concerns caused by common pests are as follows:
iii. Cockroaches make household life very difficult and cause risks of various food contamination illnesses,
allergies etc.
iv. Mosquitoes spread diseases like malaria, dengue fever, asthma, allergies and so on.
v. Termites are a major cause of damage to any property, as they usually live in the soil and eat wood, they are
known for damaging wooden properties.
vi. Various rats and mice spread rodent-borne diseases, contaminate the food and also damage the home.
vii. Additionally, some insects like Spiders, Lady beetles, dragonfly families and predatory mites are natural
predators to pests that may harm food crops.
Pest Management:
i. Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances made up of chemical or biological ingredients and
intended to repel, destroy or control pests, or to regulate plant growth.
ii. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN),estimates that plant pests and
diseases account for the reduction of between 20 and 40% of global crop yields per year.
iii. The International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management developed by FAO and the World Health
Organization (WHO) considers all the regulatory and technical measures required in the life cycle of pesticides
to ensure their safety and efficacy.
iv. FAO promotes less hazardous, alternative approaches to synthetic chemical pesticides and encourages
developing countries to prioritise the identification of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).
v. FAO also promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for sustainable crop protection and it was developed
to steadily increase pesticide use in pest control crises.
World Food Safety Day 2023 – June 7

The United Nations(UN)’s World Food Safety Day(WFSD) is annually observed across the globe on 7th June to
create awareness about the importance of maintaining food standards and to promote actions to prevent
foodborne diseases at all levels.
• 7th June 2023 marks the observance of the 5th World Food Safety Day
The theme of WFSD 2023 is “Food standards save lives” and the slogan of WFSD 2023 is “Food safety is
everyone’s business”

Significance:
The observance of WFSD aims to draw attention and inspire action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne
risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agricultural production, market access,
tourism and sustainable development.
Background:
i.The 40th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Conference in July
2017 adopted a resolution in support of a World Food Safety Day and the World Health Organization(WHO)
expressed their support in December 2017.
ii.On 20th December 2018, United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/250
and proclaimed the 7th June of every year as World Food Safety Day.
• The first-ever World Food Safety Day was observed on 7th June 2019.
iii.On 3rd August 2020, World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution WHA73.5 to recognize World Food
Safety Day to strengthen global efforts for food safety to reduce the burden of foodborne disease.
About Foodborne diseases:
i.Foodborne diseases are infectious or toxic in nature and are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical
substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.
ii.This delays the socioeconomic development by affecting health care systems, and harming national
economies, tourism and trade.
Key Points:
i.Around 40% of the victims of the foodborne disease are Children under 5 years. Around 125000 children aged
below 5 die annualy due to foodborne diseases.
ii.Globally, around 600 million (1 in 10 people in the world) is affected due to eating contaminated food and
around 420000 die every year.
iii.340 Children under 5 years of age die due to preventable foodborne diseases, on average, every day
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya released 5th State Food Safety Index of FSSAI
On the occasion of the World Food Safety Day 2023 (7th June 2023), Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FA), released the 5th edition of State Food Safety Index(SFSI),
an annual assessment released by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• The index was released during the event organised by FSSAI, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Key People:
The SFSI was released in the presence of Prof. SP Singh Baghel and Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Ministers of
State(MoS) MoH&FA, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FSSAI, and other senior
officials.
About State Food Safety Index:
SFSI acts as a tool to propel States and Union Territories to enhance their performance and establish robust
food safety systems within their jurisdictions.
Key Points:
i.Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) secured the 1st Rank among the Union Territories(UT) in the compliance to
ensuring food safety as per the FSSAI norms.
• J&K is followed by Delhi and Chandigarh in 2nd and 3rd ranks.
ii.Under Small states category, Goa topped the list followed by Manipur in 2nd and Sikkim in 3rd.
iii.Under Large States category, Kerala tops the list followed by Punjab in 2nd and Tamil Nadu in 3rd.
Other Highlights of the event:
i.3 comprehensive manuals to promote food safety were released during the event.
The 3 manuals are,
• Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Fish & Fish Products
• Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Cereal and Cereal Products – 2nd edition
• Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Beverages: Tea, Coffee and Chicory
ii.The winners of the Eat Right Challenge for Districts were felicitated during the event.

• The challenge, organised as the International Year of Millets, was launched to promote and
encourage healthy eating habits and enhance the overall food safety and sustainability.
World Oceans Day 2023 – June 8

United Nations(UN) World Oceans Day is annually observed across the globe on 8th June to create awareness
about the importance of the oceans, a life source which supports the sustenance of humanity and every other
organism on earth.
• The theme of World Oceans Day 2023 is “Planet Ocean: tides are changing”.
Background:
i.The concept of a ‘World Oceans Day’ was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit 1992, held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, a parallel event at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
ii.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/63/111 on 5th December 2008
and proclaimed the 8th June of every year, starting from 2009, as World Oceans Day.
• The first-ever World Oceans Day was observed on 8th June 2009.
Note:Since 2002, the World Ocean Network sponsored by Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
(IOC), has been instrumental in building support towards ocean awareness.
• The IOC of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(IOC-UNESCO) is the only
UN body specialized in ocean science and services.
Significance:
The World Oceans Day 2023 is observed within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
2021 – 2030, which was launched in 2021 and coordinated by IOC-UNESCO.
• Ocean Decade Conference: in 2024, UNESCO and government of Spain will co-host the Ocean Decade
Conference in 2024 to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities.
Importance of Oceans:
i.Around 50% of the world’s oxygen (O2) is produced by the ocean and it also absorb around 30% of carbon
dioxide (CO2) produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.
ii.More than a billion people across the globe depend on oceans’s produce as their main source of protein.
iii.It is estimated that around 40 million people will be employed by Ocean based industries by 2030.
Events:
The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, hosts
the hybrid celebration of the annual event on 8th June 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York, the United States
of America(USA).
• The event is hosted in partnership with non-profit organization Oceanic Global, and supported
by Panerai.
Events in India:
As a part of the observance of the World Oceans Day 2023, the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research(CSIR)-National Institute of Oceanography(NIO) organised a event presided over by Chief
Minister(CM) of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant.
• During the event, goa CM felicitated the winners of national competitions held at CSIR-NIO for the
World Oceans Day on the theme “Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean”.
• He also released a Magazine on ‘Samudramanthan’, a compilation in the form of splendid scientific
works, Rhythms in Poetry & Essay and Ingenuity in Photography and Drawing.
World Brain Tumour Day 2023 – June 8

World Brain Tumour Day is annually observed on the 8th of June across the globe with the intent of
increasing public awareness about brain tumours, and the importance of early detection and timely treatment,
as well as provide support to affected individuals.
• Brain Tumour is an unusual growth of cells in the brain or around it, which causes pressure inside
the skull and it can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).

The theme for World Brain Tumour Day 2023 is “Protect yourself- keep away from stress.”
• The 2023 theme emphasises the significance of developing stress management techniques to
prevent brain tumours.
Symbol: The Gray ribbon is the official symbol of raising awareness for Brain Tumour and Brain Cancers.
Background:
i. World Brain Tumour Day was established by the Deutsche HirntumorhilfeV. (German Brain Tumour
Association), a Leipzig (Germany)-based non-profit organisation in 2000.
ii. Since 2000, World Brain Tumour Day has been celebrated annually on 8 June as a contribution to brain
tumour patients and their family.
Related Observances:
i. The month of May every year is annually observed as the Brain Tumour Awareness Month, dedicated to
support, empower and louder the voice of the brain tumour community.
ii. The International Brain Tumour Awareness Week is annually observed in a week
during October and November.
• The 16th International Brain Tumour Awareness Week will be held from Saturday, 28th October
2023 to Saturday 4th November 2023.
Brain Tumours and its types:
i. A brain tumour is one of the deadliest disorders affecting any gender, both adults and children. The majority
(85–90%) of all primary central nervous system (CNS) cancers found in the brain are due to brain tumours.
ii. More than 150 different types of brain tumours have been documented. Two main groups of brain tumours
are primary and metastatic.
• Primary brain tumours include tumours that originate from the tissues of the brain or the brain’s
immediate surroundings and are benign or malignant.
• Metastatic brain tumours include tumours that arise elsewhere in the body (such as the breast or
lungs) and migrate to the brain, usually through the bloodstream, and are considered cancer and are
malignant.
Note: Metastatic tumours to the brain affect nearly one in four patients with cancer, or an estimated 150,000
people a year. Up to 40 percent of people with lung cancer will develop metastatic brain tumours.
Timely Treatment:
i. Brain tumours can be aggressive and can quickly grow in size, leading to increased pressure within the skull.
Timely treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
ii. That aims to remove or shrink the tumour, reducing the risk of further growth and potential complications,
so if not treated on time, it can cause brain damage and can be life-threatening.
iii. Advances in neuroradiology have led to more timely and accurate diagnoses; improved neurosurgical
approaches have permitted more complete and safer tumour removal, and new chemotherapies and radiation
therapies have extended survival.
Symptoms:
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the brain tumour, but the following may accompany different
types of brain tumours:
• Headaches that may be more severe in the morning or awaken the patient at night
• Difficulty thinking, speaking or articulating
• Personality changes
• Weakness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body
• Loss of balance or dizziness
• Vision changes
• Hearing changes
• Nausea or vomiting, swallowing difficulties

Additional info:
As per the International Association of Cancer Registries (IARC) there are over 28,000 cases of brain tumours
reported in India each year and more than 24,000 people reportedly die due to brain tumours annually.
World Accreditation Day 2023 – June 9

World Accreditation Day(WAD) is annually observed across the globe on 9th June to promote the value of
accreditation, a review process to determine if educational programs meet defined standards of quality.
The theme of World Accreditation Day 2023, observed on 9th June 2023, is “Accreditation: Supporting the
Future of Global Trade”.
• The 2023 theme focuses on how accreditation supports the United Nations(UN) Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 17.
Background:
i.The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation(ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum
(IAF) jointly established the World Accreditation Day (WAD) as a global initiative in 2007.
ii.The first ever World Accreditation Day was observed on 9th June 2008.
Significance WAD 2023:
i.The observance aims to promote the value of accreditation in the economy.
ii.The day also provides a platform to create awareness about the importance of accreditation related
activities.
iii.The day enables the ILAC, IAF and their members to highlight the importance of accreditation in supporting
the future of global trade.
Note:The WAD 2023 poster was created by Vivek Vardhan, accreditation officer for the National Accreditation
Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) of India, as the result of a competition run by ILAC and
IAF.
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation(ILAC):
i.ILAC, started as a conference in 1977 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
ii.It was established with an aim of developing international cooperation for facilitating trade by promotion of
the acceptance of accredited test and calibration results
iii.More than 88,000 laboratories, around 14,000 inspection bodies, over 650 proficiency testing providers and
260 reference material producers were accredited by the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
Signatories in 2022.
iv.The current scope of the ILAC MRA includes accreditation of
• calibration laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025,
• testing laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025,
• medical testing facilities using ISO 15189,
• inspection bodies using ISO/IEC 17020,
• proficiency testing providers using ISO/IEC 17043 and
• reference material producers using ISO 17034.
Headquarters– Silverwater, New South Wales, Australia
ILAC Chair– Etty Feller (Israel)
World Day Against Child Labour 2023 – June 12

The United Nations (UN)’s World Day Against Child Labour is annually observed on 12th June across the
world to raise awareness about the need to focus attention of child labour and the action and efforts needed to
end child labour and the goal behind observing the day is to encourage the growing movement against child
labour.
• The theme of World Day Against Child Labour 2023 is “Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!“
• The year 2023 marks the 21st year of observance of the World Day Against Child Labour

Background:
i. The World Day Against Child Labour was launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO), an UN
agency in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to
eliminate it.
• The day was launched to highlight the conditions of children engaged in child labour and what can be done
to help them.
• ‘Abolition of Child Labour’ was one of the main objective for ILO, which was founded in 1919.
ii. The first-ever World Day Against Child Labour was observed on 12th June 2002.
Call for action:
World Day against Child Labour on June 12 2023 serves as a call to action for:
i. Reinvigorated international action to achieve social justice, particularly under the envisaged Global Coalition
for Social Justice, with child labour elimination as one of its important elements;
ii. Universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age , which, together with the universal
ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour, achieved in 2020, would provide all
children with legal protection against all forms of child labour;
iii. Effective implementation of the Durban Call to Action.
• Durban Call to Action is a document in which children are signatories to the document, which
emphasizes the need for urgent action to end child labour, and was adopted by Delegates at the 5th
Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour on 20th May 2022 in Durban, South Africa.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)’s and Child Labour:
Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda for SDG adopted in 2015, calls out to end child labour in all its forms by 2025
such as:
• Taking effective measures for strengthening the prevention of forced labour;
• Ending modern slavery and human trafficking;
• Protecting and eliminating the Worst form of Child Labour including the recruitment of child soldiers
and involving children in Agriculture;
Note: To that effect, the Durban Call to Action commits Member States to tracking their own progress during
the period 2022 to 2025 and present the results at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child
Labour.
Child Labour:
i. Child labour is work carried out to the detriment and endangerment of a child, in violation of international
law and national legislation.
ii. All “unconditional” worst forms of child labour, which are internationally defined as slavery, trafficking,
forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, prostitution and pornography, and illicit activities.
iii. Labour performed by children under the minimum legal age specified for that kind of work, as defined by
national legislation, in accordance with accepted international standards.
iv. Labour that jeopardises the physical, mental or moral well-being of a child, known as “hazardous work”.
Note: Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be targeted for elimination,
the participation of children’s or adolescents’ in work that does not affect their health and personal
development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive.
Prevalence of Child Labour:
i. Africa ranks highest among regions both in the percentage of children in child labour with 5%, which is about
72 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures with 7% (62 million).
ii. The remaining child labour population is divided among the Americas 5% (11 million), Europe and Central
Asia 4% (6 million), and the Arab States 3% (1 million).
iii. 9% all children in lower-middle-income countries, and 7% of all children in upper-middle-income countries,
are in child labour and as of now around 160 million children are still engaged in child labour, That is almost
one in ten children worldwide.

About International Labour Organization (ILO):
Founded in– 1919
Director-General– Gilbert F. Houngbo
International Archives Day 2023 – June 9

International Archives Day is annually celebrated on June 9th across the world to raise awareness of the
importance of archives and promote the protection and free access to archives to make people understand the
essentials to support archives and the profession.
• The day also marks the foundation day of the International Council on Archives (ICA), established
in 1948.
• 9th June 2023 marks the observance of the 75th anniversary of ICA.
Significance:
The observance aims to remind the essential role of archives in supporting administrative accountability and
transparency, protecting the rights of individuals and organisations, and forming part of the cultural heritage of
society.
Background:
i.During the 15th International Congress on Archives in Vienna, Austria in 2004, over 2000 participants from
116 countries adopted the resolution requesting that the United Nations (UN) to designate a specific day to
mark the importance and value of archives.
ii.During the 2007 ICA Annual General Meeting, June 9th was proclaimed as International Archives Day, to
commemorate the date ICA was established under the auspices of the United Nations Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1948.
• The first-ever International Archive Day was celebrated on 9th June 2008.
International Archives Week:
In 2019, the ICA expanded the International Archive Day event to an entire week to promote the value and
importance of archives and archivists along with worldwide Organisations.
2023 marked the 5th International Archive Week (5-9 June 2023).
Objective of International Archives Day and International Archives Week:
• To raise public awareness of the importance of records and archives.
• To raise awareness among senior decision-makers of the benefits of records management for good
governance and development.
• To improve the public, private and public sectors’ understanding of the necessity of long-term archival
preservation and access.
• To showcase the unique, extraordinary, and rare documents preserved in archival institutions.
• To advance the image of records and archives to enhance their visibility globally.
On International Archives Day 2023(9th June), the National Archives of India (NAI) has organised an exhibition
“Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” (Our language our heritage), under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
(AKAM), showcasing the heritage of India’s linguistic diversity as a Nation, “One Nation; Many Languages”.
• Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for Culture inaugurated an exhibition in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note:
India is one of the 4 most linguistically diversified countries in the world, along with Papua New Guinea,
Indonesia, and Nigeria.
According to an estimate, 7,111 languages are spoken globally and about 788 languages of which are spoken in
India alone.
About International Council on Archives (ICA):
ICA is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to the effective management of
archival records and the preservation of the world’s archival heritage. It collaborates with the Council of

Europe, UNESCO and other NGOs like International Committee of the Blue Shield.
ii. It comprises approximately 1400 members in 199 countries and territories.
President– Josée Kirps
International Albinism Awareness Day 2023 – June 13

The United Nations (UN) International Albinism Awareness Day is annually observed on 13th June across
the world to raise awareness about Albinism and to highlight the importance of the human rights of the people
with albinism worldwide.
The theme of International Albinism Awareness Day 2023 is “Inclusion is Strength“, which builds on the
theme of 2022 “United in making our voice heard.”
Objective: The 2023 theme aims to ensure the inclusion of the voices of persons with albinism in all sectors of
life and highlight the importance of inclusion of a diversity of groups from both within and outside the albinism
community.
Background:
On 18th December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/69/170
and proclaimed the 13th June of every year as the International Albinism Awareness Day.
• This follows the recommendations by the Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/26/10 in
July 2014 to proclaim 13th June of every year as International Albinism Awareness Day.
• The first-ever International Albinism Awareness Day was observed on 13th June 2015.
About Albinism:
i. Albinism is a rare genetic condition caused by mutations of certain genes that affect the amount of melanin
produced by the human body, which controls the pigmentation (colour) of skin, eyes and hair.
• People with albinism have extremely pale skin, eyes and hair. They are at an increased risk of vision,
skin and social issues.
ii. The condition of Albinism is found in both sexes regardless of ethnicity and in all countries of the world.
iii. The condition causes vulnerability to the sun and bright light and as a result, almost all people with albinism
are visually impaired and highly vulnerable to developing skin cancer.
People with albinism and Human Rights:
People with albinism face various forms of discrimination all over the world. Their physical appearances are
often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalisation
and social exclusion.
Prevention of attack:
i. In 2013, the UNs Human Rights Council adopted a resolution (A/HRC/RES/23/13) calling for the prevention
of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism.
ii. In 2015, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution A/HRC/RES/28/6 without a vote to establish the
mandate of an Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism for a period of
three years.
• It was extended on 23 March 2021 through resolution A/HRC/RES/46/12.
iii. In 2015, Ms. Ikponwosa Ero of Nigeria was appointed as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of
human rights by persons with albinism by the Human Rights Council.
iv. In 2021, she was succeeded by Ms. Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond of Zambia.
Founded in– 1945
Member States– 193 member states (As of June 8 2023)

World Blood Donor Day 2023 – June 14
World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is annually observed on 14th June across the world to raise awareness
about the significance of donating blood, and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts
of blood.
The annual observance of WBDD is led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The slogan/theme for 2023 WBDD campaign is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”
• The 2023 slogan focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and highlights the role
of every single donor, who gives the valuable gift of blood or plasma.
Significance:
The day also emphasises the need for safe blood like Red blood cells (RBC), White blood cells (WBC), etc., and
blood products, which are any therapeutic substance derived from human blood, plasma-derived medicinal
products and so on.
Host country for WBDD 2023:
Algeria is the host country for the global event of WBDD 2023. The events are organised through Algeria’s
National Blood Transfusion Service.
Background:
i. In 2004, the WHO initiated and established the observance of World Blood Donor Day on 14th June to mark
the birth Anniversary of Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943), Austrian-American immunologist.
ii. Following the successful observance of the WBDD 2004, in May 2005, the World Health Assembly (WHA)
adopted a resolution WHA58.13 titled “Blood safety: proposal to establish World Blood Donor Day” and agreed
to observe 14th June every year as WBDD.
• WBDD is celebrated as an integral part of the national blood donor recruitment programme.
Karl Landsteiner:
Karl Landsteiner was born on14th June 1868 in Vienna, Austrian Empire (now Austria).
Karl Landsteiner was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1930 for his discovery of
human blood groups
Objectives of WBDD 2023:
• To celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to become new
donors;
• To encourage people in good health to donate blood regularly, to transform the quality of life for
transfusion dependent patients and help to build a secure blood supply in all countries in the world;
• To highlight the critical roles of voluntary non-remunerated regular blood and plasma donations in
achieving universal access to safe blood products for all populations;
• To mobilise support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development
partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.
Additional Info:
i. About 118.54 million blood donations are collected worldwide and over 40% of these are collected in high-
income countries.
ii. In low-income countries, up to 54% of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age; and in
high-income countries, 76% of all transfusions are given to the people over 60 years of age.
iii. Based on samples of 1000 people, the median blood donation rate is 31.5 donations in high-income
countries, 16.4 donations in upper-middle-income countries, 6.6 donations in lower-middle-income countries
and 5.0 donations in low-income countries.
Founded in– 1948

Global wind day 2023 – June 15
Global Wind Day is annually observed on 15th June across the world to raise awareness regarding the
importance of wind as a Renewable source of energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our
energy systems, decarbonise our economies and boost jobs and growth.
• The day also promotes clean air, and can help people to strive for a greener planet.
• The Global Wind Day also known as World Wind Day is annually organised by WindEurope
(European Wind Energy Association- EWEA) and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
Background:
i. The Global Wind Day originated in Europe in 2007 as “Wind Day”, a pan- European campaign to promote the
importance of clean wind energy, organised by the EWEA.
ii. In 2009, EWEA teamed up with GWEC and turned it into a global event and the objective behind it was to
encourage people across the world to make the most out of wind Energy.
Significance of Global Wind Day:
i. It promotes the use of wind energy and encourages people to support the development of wind farms and
showcases the progress that has been made in wind energy development like increasing size and efficiency of
wind turbines.
ii. It also encourages action on climate change by highlighting the potential of wind energy to help reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Benefits of Wind energy:
• It is one of the most cost-effective sources of energy.
• Wind energy is not dependent upon fossil fuels or coal, making it a clean energy source.
• It is a sustainable source of energy that will never run out.
• Wind energy also creates jobs.
India in Global Wind Day 2023:
i. The Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA), with support from the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE), is organising two significant industry events:
• Global Wind Day Conference-2023 on 15th June 2023 in Pune, Maharashtra
• Global Wind Day run on 18th June 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi
ii. The attempt is to highlight MNRE’s and WIPPA’s role in reviving India’s wind sector and increase its general
awareness and visibility, as a result adding to the call for faster progress in the wind sector.
Additional Info:
i. The Government of India has set a target of achieving 500 Gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel based electric
power capacity to be commissioned by 2030.
ii. As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)’s report on Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for 2029-30, a
cumulative capacity of 14 GW is estimated to be added from Wind Energy.
iii. As of 30th April 2023, the total installed wind power capacity of India was 42.868 Gigawatts (GW).
iv. In the 2023 Global Wind Power Generation, India ranked 5th, with the People’s Republic of China, the United
States of America (USA), Germany and Brazil occupying the first 4 positions.
About Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC):
Chairman– Jonathan Cole
CEO– Ben Backwell
Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium
ASEAN Dengue Day 2023 – June 15

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) annually celebrates the ASEAN Dengue Day (ADD) on 15th
June in the tropical and subtropical areas, such as Southeast Asia, Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa to
create awareness on the prevention and control of Dengue at the regional and National level.

• This day also allows the ASEAN Members to promote measures to prevent the Dengue, in
coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The 2023 theme for the ASEAN Dengue Day is ASEAN’s Commitment to Fight against Dengue.
Objective:
i. The objective is to demonstrate the commitment of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in the fight against dengue
by recognizing the threats and opportunities and working together towards proactive and sustainable
solutions.
ii. Increasing access to preventive health services such as education, and access to health professionals will
help reduce the impact of dengue in communities.
Background:
i. The observance of ASEAN Dengue Day was endorsed at the 10th ASEAN HealthMinisters Meeting in 2010 as a
key regional advocacy initiative against dengue.
ii. It is declared, that 15th June of every year as the ASEAN Dengue Day by all AMS.
iii. The first official ASEAN Dengue Day was observed on 15th June 2011.
World Dengue campaign:
i. In 2018, the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD) started a worldwide dengue
awareness campaign, and called on the United Nations (UN) and WHO to designate a World Dengue Day.
ii. ISNTD also convened an international and multi-sectoral Dengue Advisory Group, composed of partners
from Ministries of Health, research and academia, Non-government Organisations (NGO)s and civic society, to
guide this campaign.
iii. The World Dengue Day campaign is aiming to consolidate dengue prevention and control measures on an
international scale given the rapidly growing global threat of dengue.
iv. Hence to mark the observance of ASEAN Dengue Day 2021, and to establish the first World Dengue Day,
ISNTD and Asia Dengue Voice & Action (ADVA) have jointly organised ISNTD-ADVA World Dengue Day Forum
– Cross Sector Synergies, which was held online from 13 to 15 June 2021.
Asia Dengue Summit:
i. In 2023, ADD will be commemorated at the 6th Asia Dengue Summit (ADS) 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand from
15 to 16 June 2023, under the theme “Road Map to Zero Dengue Death”.
ii. The 6th ADS will serve as the platform for Dengue experts from all over the world to share information on all
aspects of Dengue which will lead to better prevention and control of global Dengue.
National Dengue Day in India:
India annually observes the National Dengue Day on 16th May, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.
Dengue:
i. Dengue is one of the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases/infection caused by the dengue virus
(DENV), which spreads far and wide in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the urban and semi-urban
areas.
ii. It is transmitted by female mosquitoes of the species Aedesaegypti (Ae. aegypti, Primary dengue vector) and
Aedesalbopictus (Ae. albopictus, secondary dengue vector in Asia)
Dengue Vaccine:
i. Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) is the first dengue vaccine to be licensed worldwide by Sanofi Pasteur (Paris,
France).
ii. It was first licensed in Mexico in December 2015 for use in individuals 9-45 years of age living in endemic
areas, and is now licensed in 20 countries. iii. CYD-TDV is a live recombinant tetravalent dengue vaccine, given
as a 3-dose series on a 0/6/12 month schedule.
Additional Info:
i. According to the WHO, dengue is now endemic in more than 100 countries, with Asia representing
approximately 70% of the global burden of disease.

ii. Malaysia has seen a 200% spike in dengue cases, the cumulative number of dengue cases reported from
January 2023 onwards was 33,325, which is 204.2% higher than the corresponding period of 2022, which
reported 10,954 cases.
Established on– 8 August 1967
Chair (2023)- Indonesia
Theme of 2023 Chairmanship– ASEAN Matter: Epicentrum of Growth.
Secretary-General– Dr. Kao Kim Hourn (Cambodia)
Headquarters– Jakarta, Indonesia
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023 – June 15

The United Nations(UN)’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is annually observed across the globe
on 15th June to create awareness about the abuse and neglect of older persons.
• The day also highlights the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder
abuse and neglect.
The theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023 observed on 15th June 2023 is “Closing the Circle:
Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses”.
Background:
i.The observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15th June was initiated by the International Network
for the Prevention of Elder Abuse(INPEA) in 2006.
ii.In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/66/127 and
proclaimed the 15th June of every year as the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
iii.The first-ever UN’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed on 15th June 2012.
Abuse of Older people:
The abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action,
occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an
older person.
Key points:
i.It is estimated that the global population of people aged 60 and above will increase from 900 million in 2015
to about 2 billion in 2050.
ii.Globally, around 1 n 5 people aged 60 years or above experience some form of abuse in the community
setting.
iii.The rates of abuse are high in institutions like nursing homes and long term care facilities.
Efforts of WHO:
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the report titled “Tackling abuse of older people: five
priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)” which highlighted the key priorities to prevent
and respond to abuse of older persons.
• The report was published in partnership with Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN
DESA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN and with support from INPEA.
The 5 priorites were,
• Fight against ageism, a major reason why the abuse of older people receives so little attention.
• Generate better data to raise awareness about abuse of older people.
• Develop and scale up cost–effective solutions to stop abuse of older people.
• Make an investment case focusing on how to address the problem is money well spent.
• Raise funds as more resources are needed to tackle the problem.
UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030)
In December 2020, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/75/131 and proclaimed the 2021–2030 the United
Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing.

International Day of Family Remittances 2023 – June 16
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is annually observed on 16th
June across the world to recognise the crucial contribution of over 200 million migrant workers across the
world, who send money to over 800 million family members in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• The day also highlights the resilience of migrant workers in experiencing economic insecurities, global
pandemic and natural and climate-related disasters.
• The theme of the International Day of Family Remittances 2023 is “Digital remittances towards
financial inclusion and cost reduction.”
Note: Remittances refers to the money that is transferred by migrant workers to their native countries with the
aim to contribute towards economic development.
Objective:
The theme of IDFR 2023-24 campaign focuses on the benefits of digital remittances. The Emerging digital
technologies to enhance financial inclusions in LMICs and to act toward achieving the cost reduction target of 3
as per in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10.c.
Background:
i. The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), a universally-recognized observance adopted by the
Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on 16 February 2015.
ii. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/281 on 12th June 2018,
and proclaimed 16th June of every year as the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR).
Significance:
IDFR is now fully recognized at the global level, as one of the key initiatives to implement the Global Compact
for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which urges for the reduction of remittance transfer costs, and greater
financial inclusion through remittances.
Family Remittance Campaign:
i. The theme of IDFR 2023-24 campaign focuses on the benefits of digital remittances. The Emerging digital
technologies to enhance financial inclusions in LMICs and to act toward achieving the cost reduction target of
3% as per the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10.c.
ii. IFAD, as custodian of the IDFR, aims at ensuring support of the observance and dissemination of resulting
actions in the framework of the decennial (lasting for 10 years) #FamilyRemittances Campaign 2020-2030:
Support one billion people reach their own SDGs.
iii. The campaign highlights best practices and innovative solutions by our partners and industry players that
have fostered financial inclusion through digital payments and, encouraging further commitments from
diaspora networks and industry partners to work toward greater development and financial inclusion.
Remittance and SDG:
Remittances can contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a variety of ways:
i. At household level: by recognizing the positive socioeconomic impact of remittances on families and
communities (SDGs 1-6);
ii. At community level: by supporting policies and specific actions to promote synergies between remittances
and financial inclusion, encourage market competition and regulatory reform, and mitigate any negative impact
resulting from climate change (SDGs 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13);
iii. At national level: by ensuring that the revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, as
outlined in SDG 17 and the Global Compact on Migration promote collaboration across all sectors involved in
remittances.
Role of Remittances in achieving the SDGs:
i. SDG 10.c commits, by 2030, to reduce to less than 3% the transaction costs of migrant remittances and
eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5%.
ii. Migrant remittances, however, contribute directly and indirectly to several SDGs in addition to 10.c, as
outlined in IFAD’s Remittances, investments and the Sustainable Development Goals report.

Global Forum on Remittances, Investment and Development (GFRID):
i. The UNs promoted a framework, Global Forum on Remittances, Investment and Development (GFRID) to
engage all sectors, to explore opportunities and challenges in the post-pandemic landscape, with a major focus
on main remittance corridors and diaspora investment innovations in Africa.
ii. The summit was hosted by IFAD, the UN Office of the Special Adviser for Africa and the World Bank from 14
to 16 June 2023, at Nairobi (UN Office), Kenya.
Additional info:
As per the World Bank’s report (June 2023), the recorded remittance flows to LMICs are growing an estimated
1.4% to USD 656 billion in 2023, as economic activity in remittance source countries is set to soften, limiting
employment and wage gains for migrants., while in 2022, it was USD 626 billion.
About International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):
Instituted in- 1977
President- Alvaro Lario
Headquarters- Rome, Italy
World Crocodile Day 2023 – June 17

World Crocodile Day is observed on June 17 every year to spread awareness about the conservation of
endangered crocodiles and alligators around the world.
• The Crocodiles and alligators are celebrated during the day and it would encourage people to get
involved in helping them.
• World Crocodile Day 2023 was organized by the Crocodile Research Coalition in conjunction with
the Belize Zoo.
• Crocodiles are reptiles from the order Crocodilia that have short legs, powerful tails, long snouts,
and bony-plated backs.
Key Points:
• Crocodiles are large semi-aquatic reptiles found in the tropics of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and
Australia.
• Crocodilian Species in India include Mugger (or) Marsh Crocodile, Estuarine (or) Saltwater Crocodile
and Gharial Crocodile.
Crocodile Conservation:
i.The Crocodile Conservation Project was established in various states in India in 1975.
ii.The Gharial and Saltwater Crocodile Conservation Program was launched in Odisha in early 1975, followed
by the Mugger Conservation Program.
iii.As a result of the programme, the estimated number of saltwater crocodiles in India increased from 96 in
1976 to 1,640 in 2012.
Hatching of 125 gharials in the Gandak River basin:
i.On June 17, 2023, The Wildlife Trust of India announced the hatching of 125 gharials in the Gandak River
basin.
ii.Since 2013-14, the Wildlife Trust of India, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, Govt. of Bihar, has been conserving the critically endangered gharials in the Gandak River.
iii.The Gandak River (one of the tributaries of the Ganges) is home to the second-largest population of these
fish-eating reptiles in the world.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023 – June 17

The United Nations(UN)’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is annually observed across
the globe on 17th June to create awareness about Drought, one of the most destructive natural disasters in
terms of loss of life and also encourages people to find achievable solutions for combating desertification.
The theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023 is “Her land Her rights”.

• The theme emphasizes that investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a
direct investment in their future and the future of humanity.
Focus: The global focus for the 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is on women’s land
rights.
• It is essential for achieving the interconnected global goals of gender equality and land degradation
neutrality by 2030 and contributing to the advancement of several other Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Purpose:
i.UN observes the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to strengthen the implementation of the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or
desertification, particularly in Africa.
ii.To let people know that desertification and drought can be effectively tackled, and that solutions are possible
through strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/49/115 in December 1994 and
proclaimed the 17th June of every year as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
ii.The first ever World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed on 17th June 1995.
Women’s land rights agenda :
i.The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reaffirms its commitment to gender
equality with the following Desertification and Drought Day 2023 objectives:
• Raising awareness of the disproportionate impact of desertification, land degradation and drought
on women and girls and the barriers they face in decision-making on land issues.
• Highlighting women’s contributions to sustainable land management and broader SDGs.
• Mobilizing global support to advance land rights for women and girls around the world.
ii.2023’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day was held at the United Nations Headquarters in
New York, United States of America (USA).
Key Analysis:
i.Women hold a vital stake in the health of the land, yet they often don’t have control over it. In all parts of the
world, women face significant barriers in securing land rights, limiting their ability to thrive and prosper.
ii.Nearly half of the global agricultural workforce is female, yet less than one in five landholders worldwide are
women.
iii.Women’s rights to inherit their husband’s property continue to be denied in over 100 countries under
customary, religious, or traditional laws and practices.
iv.Globally, women already spend a collective 200 million hours every day collecting water.
Additional info:
i.Forecasts estimate that by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population.
ii.The number and duration of droughts have increased by 29% since 2000 and more than 2.3 billion people
already facing water stress.
About United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
Executive Secretary– Ibrahim Thiaw
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2023 – June 19
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is annually
observed on 19th June across the world to raise awareness of the need to put an end to Conflict-related Sexual
Violence (CRSV).
• 19th June 2023, marks the observance of the 9th official International Day for the Elimination of
Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Background:
i. On 19th June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution (A/RES/69/293)
and proclaimed 19th June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
ii. The first ever International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict was observed in 19th June
2015.
Why June 19?
This date 19th June commemorates the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution (S/RES/1820 of
2008) on 19th June 2008, in which the Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment
to peacebuilding.
2023 Event:
i. As a part of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2023, an event on
“Bridging the gender digital divide to prevent, address and respond to conflict-related sexual violence” was
organised.
ii. The 2023 event is co-hosted by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on
Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict and the Permanent Mission of
Argentina to the United Nations.
iii. The purpose of the event is to stand in solidarity with the survivors, and those supporting them, to spark
hope, knowledge and inspiration as we lift our voices to say: “#EndRapeInWar”.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV):
i. The term “conflict-related sexual violence” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced
pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence of
comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked to a
conflict.
ii. The term also encloses trafficking in persons when committed in situations of conflict for the purpose of
sexual violence or exploitation.
UN Action:
UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) is a network of 24 UN entities, united with the goal of
ending sexual violence during and in the wake of armed conflict. Working as one UN, the UN Action aims to:
• Prevent conflict-related sexual violence
• Enhance accountability
• Meet the needs of survivors of sexual violence
Special Representative:
i. The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC)
is an office of the UNs Secretariat that supports the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual
Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), established in 2009.
ii. The Special Representative serves as the UNs’ spokesperson and political advocate on CRSV.
iii. In April 2017, the UN’s Secretary-General appointed Pramila Patten of Mauritius as the SRSG-SVC
About United Nations (UN)s:
Founded in– 1945
National Reading Day 2023 – June 19

National Reading Day is annually observed across India on 19th June to mark the death anniversary of
Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker(PN Panicker), who is fondly known as the Father of the Library Movement in
Kerala. The observance aims to encourage the habit and culture of reading and to promote literacy.
• The day is observed as a tribute to the effort of PN Panicker to transform society with his literacy
movement in India.
19th June 2023 marks the observance of the 27th Reading Day.

Background:
i.On 19th June 1996, The government of Kerala, in association with the P N Panicker Foundation, initiated the
state observance of Reading Day.
• The day was observed as a mass movement to promote literacy and the culture of reading in Kerala.
ii.The P N Panicker Foundation and P N Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra have been observing the Reading Day,
Reading Week, and Reading Month Celebrations since 19th June 1996.
iii.In 2017, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared 19th June of every year (Kerala’s Reading Day)
as National Reading Day in India.
PN Panicker & his efforts:
i.PN Panicker was born on 1st March 1909 in Alappuzha, Kerala. He passed away on 19th June 1995.
ii.PN Panicker founded Sanadana Dharma Library in 1926.
iii.He led the formation of Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (Travancore Library Association) in 1945
with 47 rural libraries. It was later renamed as “Kerala Granthasala Sangham” in 1956, following the formation
of Kerala State.
• Grandhasala Sangham was honoured with the ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1975.
iv.He also founded the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED) in 1977.
KANFED played a major role in Kerala State Literacy Mission.
• Kerala became the 1st State in India to achieve Universal Literacy.
Sustainable Gastronomy Day 2023 – June 18

The United Nations(UN)’s Sustainable Gastronomy Day is annually observed across the globe on 18th
June to create awareness about the important role of gastronomy towards sustainable development.
• The day also recognises the practices involved with sustainable food consumption, particularly the
art of collecting and preparing the food we eat.
The annual observance of Sustainable Gastronomy Day is led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).
Background:
proclaimed the 18th June of every year as Sustainable Gastronomy Day.
• The resolution also acknowledged gastronomy as a form of cultural expression linked to the natural
and cultural diversity of the world.
ii.The first-ever Sustainable Gastronomy Day was observed on 18th June 2017.
Gastronomy:
Gastronomy, the art of food, also refers to a style of cooking from a particular region. It also refers to the local
food and cuisine.
Sustainable Gastronomy:
Sustainable Gastronomy refers to the concept of doing something like. agriculture, fishing, or even food
preparation, in a way that does not waste natural resources and can be continued in the future without
harming our environment or health.
Efforts towards Sustainable Gastronomy:
UNESCO launched the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2004 to share best practices and develop
partnerships in 7 creative fields.
• As of 2021, 36 cities have been designated Creative Cities of Gastronomy.
FAO promotes green culture diets which are healthy as well as sustainable.
5 Principles of Sustainable Food and Agriculture:
• Increase productivity, employment and value addition in food systems
• Protect and enhance natural resources
• Improve livelihoods and foster inclusive economic growth

• Enhance the resilience of people, communities and ecosystems
• Adapt governance to new challenges
Autistic Pride Day 2023 – June 18

The Autistic Pride Day is annually observed on 18th June across the world to promote awareness about the
understanding, and acceptance of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex developmental disorder that
affects communication and social interaction.
The aim of this day is to recognize the significance of pride for autistic people and to show the world that those
people are not diseased or defective or in need of a cure.
Background:
i. Autistic Pride Day was initiated by Aspies for Freedom (AFF), a solidarity and campaigning community that
works towards spreading awareness about autism.
ii. In 2005, the first Autistic Day was observed in Brazil by the AFF, created by Gareth and Amy Nelson and
eventually it became a global event.
Autistic Pride Symbol:
i. Autistic Pride Day is characterised by the rainbow infinity symbol, in which the infinity symbol represents
neurodiversity and the rainbow represents the pride movement.
ii. The rainbow infinity symbol signifies the diversity of individuals with ASD and the endless opportunities and
differences within the autistic community.
Note: Gold is used by autistic advocates as the chemical symbol for gold is Au (from the Latin aurum).
Related Observance:
World Autism Awareness Day is annually observed by the United Nations (UN)’s on April 2nd globally to raise
awareness about the ASD and promote the livelihood of people having autism.
Autism:
i. Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that refers to a
broad range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and
nonverbal communication.
ii. This neurodevelopmental disorder is associated with symptoms that include “persistent deficits in social
communication and social interaction across multiple contexts” and “restricted, repetitive patterns of
behaviour, interests, or activities.”
iii. Although autism can be recognized at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” due to the fact
that the signs and symptoms normally start to present within the first two years of life.
Resolution of WHO:
i. In May 2014, the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution “Comprehensive and
coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders”, which was supported by more than 60
countries.
ii. The resolution urges the World Health Organization to collaborate with Member States and partner agencies
to strengthen national capacities to address ASD and other developmental disabilities.
World Refugee Day 2023 – June 20

The United Nations (UN)’s World Refugee Day is observed annually on 20th June across the world to honour
the strength and courage of refugees around the globe and encourages public awareness and support of the
refugees, people who have had to flee their homelands because of conflict or natural disaster.
• World Refugee Day is also an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to
recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
The 2023 theme of World Refugee Day is “Hope away from home“.
• The 2023 theme admits people’s ability to find strength, rebuild their lives, and cultivate a sense of
hope even in the face of immense challenges.
• 2023 theme focuses on the power of inclusion and solutions for refugees.

Background:
i. In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution (A/55/597) and
proclaimed the 20th June of every year as World Refugee Day.
ii. The first-ever World Refugee Day was observed on 20th June 2001.
iii. The 2001 event marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,
which sets out the fundamental concepts for international refugee protection.
Note: It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the UNGA officially designated it as an international
day in December 2000.
UNHCR Campaign:
i. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency established by UNGA in
1950, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people
forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
ii. UNHCR has launched a special campaign to create a global movement of solidarity with refugees.
1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol:
i. The UNs Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, adopted in 1951, is the centrepiece of international
refugee protection, the Convention entered into force on 22 April 1954.
ii. It has been subject to only one amendment in the form of a 1967 Protocol, which removed the geographic
and temporal limits of the 1951 Convention.
iii. The 1951 Convention, as a post-Second World War instrument, was originally limited in scope to persons
fleeing events occurring before 1 January 1951 and within Europe.
iv. The 1967 Protocol removed these limitations and thus gave the Convention universal coverage. It has since
been supplemented by refugee and subsidiary protection regimes in several regions,as well as via the
progressive development of international human rights law.
v.The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the cornerstone of refugee protection and the key
legal documents that form the basis of UNHCR’s work.
vi. The 1951 Convention provides the internationally recognized definition of a refugee and outlines the legal
protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive.
Additional info:
i. According to the UN, every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror.
There are several types of forcibly displaced persons such as refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs), Stateless Persons, Returnees (former refugees).
ii. At the end of 2022, more than 100 million people were forcibly displaced globally, a record number of people
were moved by the war in Ukraine and other conflicts around the world.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR):
Established on– December 14th 1950
High Commissioner– Filippo Grandi
UNHCR works in- 135 countries (At present)
World Sickle Cell Day 2023 – 19th June

World Sickle Cell Day, also known as “World Sickle Cell Awareness Day” is annually observed across the
globe on 19th June to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and its impact on individuals, families,
and communities worldwide.
The theme of World Sickle Disease Day 2023 (observed on 19th June 2023) is ‘Building and strengthening
global sickle cell communities, formalizing newborn screening and knowing your sickle cell disease
status’.
• The 2023 theme launched by the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO)
highlights the importance of advanced technology in identifying sickle cell disease.

Background:
i.In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/63/237 and
recognised the sickle cell disease(SCD) as public health problem.
ii.The resolution also urged the members of the UN to create awareness about SCD on 19th June every year at
national and international levels;
What is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?
i.SCD is an inherited blood disorder that causes sickle-shaped red blood cells that can stick together which
blocks blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body.
ii.Red blood cells are usually round and flexible so they move easily through blood vessels. These cells also
don’t live longer compared with normal blood cells.
iii.As a result, one can also develop anaemia and the condition is known as sickle cell anaemia.
So far, there is no cure for most people with SCD and treatments can relieve pain and help avoid complications
associated with the disease.
Symptoms:
i. Over time, people with sickle cell disorders can experience damage to organs including the liver, kidney,
lungs, heart, and spleen.
ii. Early signs and symptoms of sickle cell include swelling of hands and feet. This swelling is known
as dactylitis.
iii.The skin becomes yellowish (resembling jaundice). The whites of the eyes might also become yellow.
iv.Disrupted blood flow can also cause problems with your eye health where the retina may get damaged.
World Sickle Cell Day 2023 observance in India:
i.On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day 2023 (19th June 2023), Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs(MoTA), chaired a Workshop on Sickle Cell Anaemia Disease, organized at the National Tribal
Research Institute(NTRI) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Union Minister Munda stated that MoTA will work with the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare(MoH&FW) and other relevant Ministries to prevent, control and manage SCD.
ii.Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment(MoSJE) has organised various events across India to mark the observance of World Sickle Cell
Day 2023
GoI set to Launch Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia
The government of India is set to launch the implementation of the “National Sickle Cell Anaemia
Elimination Mission” from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh(MP), in a mission mode across India to enable screening
and health profiling of the 7 crore population in the age group of 0-40 in affected tribal areas.
• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is expected to launch the mission on 27th June 2023.
Key Points:
i.According to the data from MoTA, SCD is widespread among the tribal population in India. It is estimated that
1 in 86 births among Scheduled Tribes(STs) has SCD.
Note: According to the Census 2011, Madhya Pradesh is a state with the highest tribal population in terms of
numbers.
About the Mission:
i.During the Union Budget 2023-24, the GoI proposed the mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047.
ii.The mission entails the creation of awareness of SCD, universal Screening of the people in affected tribal
areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central Ministries and state governments.
iii.The screening will be done by the health ministry through the National Health Mission(NHM), with targets
set for states and the tribal affairs ministry.
International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2023 – June 1

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for Countering Hate Speech is annually observed across the
globe on 18th June as a vital reminder of the urgent need to address the global issue of hate speech.

• The day aims to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate
speech.
• 18th June 2023 marked the observance of the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
Background:
i. In July 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/309 and
proclaimed 18th June of every year as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
ii. The first-ever International Day for Countering Hate Speech was observed on 18th June 2022.
Origin:
i. The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is built on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate
Speech launched on 18 June 2019.
ii. This first UN system-wide initiative designed to tackle hate speech provides an essential framework for how
the UN can support and complement the efforts of its member states to address hate speech.
Note: The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech emphasises the transformative power of education as
a tool to address this phenomenon’s root causes and drivers. It seeks to promote peaceful, inclusive societies
for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Hate Speech:
As per the UN, Hate speech is any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses
pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are (based
on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor).
Events of 2023:
i. On 19th June 2023, a High-level event was organised to mark the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate
Speech for showcasing champions of good practices on tackling hate speech from across the world.
ii. The event was hosted by the UNs Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of
Morocco to the UNs at the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber in New York, the United States of
America (USA).
Event at UNESCO:
i. On 20th June 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marked
the International Day for Countering Hate Speech with a regional launch of UNESCO’s 2023 published guide
“Addressing hate speech through education”, a guide for policy-makers.
ii. The guide is developed jointly by UNESCO and the UNs Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of
Genocide (UN OSAPG) to explore educational responses to this phenomenon and give practical
recommendations for strengthening education systems.
iii. The event is organised by UNESCO in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office and
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Founded in– 1945
International Picnic Day 2023 – June 18

International Picnic Day is annually observed across the globe on the 18th of June to celebrate the tradition of
meals taken outdoors in a park, lakeside, or any spot with a beautiful view.
• The day is observed to spend time with friends and family taking a break from the everyday routine.
• This observance also celebrates the beauty of nature, strengthens family bonds, promotes an active
lifestyle, and fosters a sense of togetherness.
Background:
i.The origin of Picnic Day is associated with the French Revolution (1789 to 1799).
ii.In 1789, France opened its royal parks to the public after the French revolution, marking the observance of

the first ever Picnic day celebration.
History:
i.The term “picnic” finds its roots in the French word “pique-nique,”
ii.During the 19th century, a picnic, a leisurely gathering, was transformed into a social event.
iii.Picnics also represent the unity of common people during political protests such as the 1989 Pan-European
Picnic which played a major role in the fall of the Iron Curtain.
International Yoga Day 2023 – 21st June

The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Yoga (IDY) is annually observed across the globe on 21st June to
create awareness about the benefits of practising yoga, an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that
originated in India.
• 21st June 2023 marks the observance of the 9th International Yoga Day.
The theme of IDY 2023 is “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – ‘Yoga for ‘The World is One Family’.
Significance of Yoga
i.The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. The word
symbolises the union of body and consciousness.
ii.In 2016, Yoga was inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Background:
proclaimed the 21st June of every year as the International Day of Yoga.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Yoga was observed on 21st June 2015.
Note:
• The proposal to establish International Yoga Day was 1st introduced by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the UNGA.
• The draft resolution of the International Day of Yoga, proposed by India, was endorsed by a record
175 member states.
Observance:
The 9th International Day of Yoga is organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in collaboration
with the UN Secretariat at the UN Headquarters in New York, The United States of America (USA).
Note: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, attended the Yoga program at the UN Headquarters.
PM Narendra Modi’s address on IDY 2023:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually addressed the celebration of the IDY 2023 in India led by Jagdeep
Dhankhar, Vice President (VP) of India, at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh(MP).
• VP Jagdeep Dhankhar led the mass demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP).
Key People:
Mangubhai Patel, Governor of MP; Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister (CM) of MP; Sarbananda Sonowal,
Union Minister of Ayush; Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State(MoS) for Ayush along with Cabinet
Minister of MP participated in the event.
Yoga from Arctic to Antarctica:
On the occasion of the IDY 2023, as a part of the “Yoga from Arctic to Antarctica”, Yoga demonstration was
organized in countries falling in and around the Prime Meridian line and on the North Pole and South Pole
regions.
• Scientists and Researches at the Indian research bases in the Arctic and Antarctica namely Himadri
and Bharati also participated in the Yoga demonstration.

Ocean Ring of Yoga by Indian Navy:
On the occasion of the IDY 2023, the Indian Navy formed an “Ocean Ring of Yoga”, under which the Indian Naval
Ships deployed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) visit various ports in friendly foreign countries and spread the
message of the IDY 2023 theme “Yoga for Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”.
• The event was planned by the Ministry of AYUSH in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and
other ministries.
About Ocean Ring of Yoga:
i.Under this, Port calls are planned at Chattogram (Bangladesh), Safaga (Egypt), Jakarta (Indonesia), Mombasa
(Kenya), Toamasina (Madagascar), Muscat (Oman), Colombo(Sri Lanka), Phuket(Thailand) and Dubai (United
Arab Emirates-UAE) by naval ships Kiltan, Chennai, Shivalik, Sunayna, Trishul, Tarkash, Vagir, Sumitra and
Brahmaputra respectively.
ii.As a part of Oceans Ring of Yoga, around 3500 naval personnel onboard the 19 Indian Naval Ships have
travelled around 35000 kilometres as Yoga ambassadors in both national and international waters.
iii.The activities are focused on the “Common Yoga Protocol – CYP”.
iv.The Indian Navy has also conducted Mass camps, workshops, poster-making competitions, quiz contests and
lectures on “Health Benefits of Yoga”.
Additional info:
• Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force along with Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP),
Border Security Force (BSF), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) made a chain of Yoga
demonstration in unison named “Yoga Bharatmala”.
• The Yoga demonstration along the Indian coastline and islands was termed as “Yoga Sagarmala”.
Yoga Mahotsav 2023:
On 20th June 2023, the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports(MoYAS) organised the
“Yoga Mahotsav” at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi, Delhi in run-up to the IDY-2023.
• The event featured a session on ‘Benefits and Technique of Rajyoga and Meditation’ by Prajapita
Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya and Yoga demonstrations by Yoga Instructors from
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.
Yoga Mahotsav – 100 days countdown:
On 13th March 2023, the Union minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the three-day event Yoga
Mahotsav 2023 to commemorate the 100 days countdown to IDY 2023.
• The event featured a range of programs and activities which will include talks/discourses by Yoga
gurus, Vice Chancellors Summit to share their experience, States/UTs Ayush Summit, Yoga
Fusion/Demonstration, and Yoga rhythmic performance.
World Hydrographic Day 2023 – June 21

World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is annually celebrated on 21st June across the world to raise awareness of
the importance of hydrography and its major role in improving the knowledge of the seas and oceans.
• This day also aims to publicise the work of Hydrographers all around the world.
The 2023 theme of World Hydrographic Day is “Hydrography – Underpinning the Digital Twin of the
Ocean”
• The 2023 theme for WHD is designed to highlight the relationship between hydrography and
oceanography.
Background:
i. World Hydrography Day was approved and implemented as an annual celebration by the International
Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in 2005.
ii. On 29th November 2005, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Resolution
A/RES/60/30 “Oceans and the law of the sea”, recognizing the establishment or adoption of World
Hydrography Day to be celebrated on 21st June every year, by the IHO.
iii. The first ever World Hydrography Day was observed on 21st June 2006.

Why June 21?
i. On 21st June 1921, the International Hydrographic Bureau was established as an intergovernmental
organisation that works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted.
ii. In 1970, the International Hydrographic Bureau was renamed as the International Hydrographic
Organization (IHO).
iii. In order to mark the anniversary of the establishment of IHO, June 21 is chosen as the World Hydrology Day.
Hydrography:
i. Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the
physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change
over time.
ii. The important factor of Hydrography is to provide safety of navigation and in support of all other marine
activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental
protection.
Few important benefits of Hydrology are: Resource exploitation – fishing, minerals; Environmental
protection and management; National marine spatial data infrastructures; Maritime defence and security;
Tsunami flood and inundation modelling; Marine science.
Observace in India:
i. On 21st June 2023, Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister attended an event organised by the Indian Navy at
the hydrography ship South Jetty, Indian Naval station Kochi, Kerala on the occasion of World Hydrography
day.
ii. The event hosted senior officers of the Navy, sailors, and hydrographers. The minister toured a Hydro
exhibition held on the occasion and also released nautical charts.
The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD):
i. It operates under the Indian Navy as the nodal agency that conducts hydrographic surveys and produces
nautical charts in India.
ii. Till now, INHD has published 650 electronic and paper navigation charts covering national and international
waters for merchant mariners and Navies worldwide.
iii. In 2022, INHD distributed over six lakh Electronic Navigation Charts to seafarers operating in these waters
and has generated more than 7000 lakh rupees revenue, which is estimated to grow significantly in the future.
Assistance of INHD:
i. In line with the Government of India’s (GoI) Security and Growth For All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative, the
survey ships of the Indian Navy have conducted various joint survey operations with friendly foreign nations
covering an area of 89000 sq
ii. INHD has also assisted them with capacity building and knowledge-sharing, which are undertaken by the
seven AatmaNirBhar indigenously built survey ships mapping the vast Indian Ocean Region.
iii. INHD also serves as the NAVAREA 8 coordinator, covering an area of 26 million sq km of the Indian Ocean,
sharing information regarding sea navigation safety through Indian web module Warnings Information and
Navigation Services (WINS).
Note: The National Institute of Hydrography (NIH) at Goa is the centre for imparting training in Hydrography
accredited by the International Hydrographic Organization for National and International Trainees.
About International Hydrographic Organization (IHO):
Secretary-General– Dr Mathias Jonas (Germany)
Headquarters– Monaco
International Day of the Celebration of Solstice 2023 – June 21

The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is annually observed across
the globe on June 21 to highlight the importance of the solstice in the culture of many indigenous peoples and
to encourage cultural exchange.

Background:
United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/300 in June 2019 and proclaimed
the 21st June of every year as the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice to promote awareness
around the astronomical events of Solstice and Equinox.
The Solstice:
A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice a year typically around June 20th or
21st and December 21st or 22nd. During a solstice, the tilt of the Earth’s axis is at its maximum, either
pointing towards or away from the Sun.
• Solstice is derived from the Latin words ‘sol‘ (‘Sun’) and ‘sistere’ (‘to hold still’).
i.Summer Solstice which usually falls around June 21(initial solstice) marks the 1st day of summer and
the longest day of the year. This usually occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.
ii.Winter Solstice which usually falls around December 21(2nd solstice) marks the 1st day of Winter and
the shortest day and longest night of the year. this usually occurs in Southern Hemisphere.
The equinox:
An equinox is derived from the Latin aequinoctium, from aequus (equal) and nox (night).The equinox is when
the Sun is above the Earth’s equator and occurs twice a year and the day and night time are of
approximately equal duration.
i.Spring equinox which occurs on 20th March as it marks the beginning of Spring in most cultures.
ii.The other being the Autumnal equinox which occurs on 23rd September as it marks the beginning of
autumn.
World Music Day 2023 – June 21

World Music Day is annually celebrated across the world on 21st June to encourage and honour the musicians
and singers for the gift of music across the world. This day recognises the power of music in uniting people of
different nationalities, cultures, and races around the world.
• This day also serves as a platform and provides opportunities to the young and amateur musicians
to showcase their talents.
• World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, meaning “Festival of Music” in French.
• 2023 marks the 41st Anniversary of the celebration of Fête de la Musique.
Note: The annual celebration of Fête de la Musique across the world coincides with the day of the Summer
Solstice, a day symbolising the perfect balance of light and darkness.
Background:
i. In 1982 World Music Day was first celebrated as Fête de la Musique in Paris, France conceived by Jack Lang,
an French Minister of Culture along with Maurice Fleuret, Director of Music and Dance of the Ministry of
Culture, France.
ii. Maurice Fleuret, Jack Lang, along with Christian Dupavillon, architect-scenographer came up with a plan to
unite the musicians on the streets of Paris (France) for the celebration of Fête de la Musique.
iii. The Celebration of Fête de la Musique was adopted as a global event on the occasion of the European Year of
Music 1985.
iv. The day, which originated on 21st June 1982 in France, is currently celebrated in around 120 countries
worldwide.
Events in India:
On the occasion of World Music Day 2023 and International Day of Yoga 2023 (21st June 2023),
Sangeet Natak Akademi, has organised an event “Samyog”, at Meghdoot theatre complex, Copernicus Marg,
New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event includes, workshops related to Yoga and Music, and Music performances by various
performers and musicians.

United Nations Public Service Day -June 23
United Nations Public Service Day is observed annually across the globe on 23rd June to highlight the
contribution of public officials in development and progress. The day aims to acknowledges the work of public
servants outstanding efforts and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
• A special event took place at UN Headquarters in New York on June 23rd, in celebration of UN Public
Service Day with the theme of “Innovative Public Service Delivery: Ensuring No One Is Left
Behind.”
Origin :
On 20th December 2002, the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the
resolution A/RES/57/277 and proclaimed 23rd June as United Nations Public Service Day.
• UN Public Service Day marks the anniversary date when the International Labour Organisation(ILO)
adopted the Convention on Labour Relations (Public Service), 1978 (ILO convention no. 151) to
determine the working conditions of all civil servants worldwide.
UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA):
i.UNPSA programme was established by the United Nations(UN) in 2003 to recognise UN public service day.
ii.The award was reviewed in 2016 to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
iii.The winners of these awards are divided into 5 regional groups which includes Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern
Europe, Latin American and the Caribbean, and Western Asia.
iv.The UNPSA awards are given by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
v. The UNSPA was 1st awarded on UN’s Public Service Day 2003.
NOTE: The UNPSA programme marks its 20th anniversary in 2023.
Symbols:
i.The United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) uses a special logo for Public Service Day.
ii.UNPAN’s main logo, will be similar to the logo on the UN flag.
Additional info:
Africa Public Service Day is celebrated in Africa to coincide with the United Nations Public Service Day.
About United Nations:
Secretary general – António Guterres
Establishment- 1945
Headquarters- New York, United States
International Olympic Day 2023 – June 23

International Olympic Day is annually celebrated across the world on 23rd June for the celebration of sport,
health, and being together. This day marks the founding day of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at
the Sorbonne, Paris on June 23, 1894, when ancient Greek Olympics were revived by the efforts of French
historian Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
• The theme for International Olympic Day 2023 is ‘Let’s Move’ which emphasises daily physical
activity to people around the world. #Letsmove and #OlympicDay are the hashtags for this year’s
celebration.
Background:
i.The proposal for observing Olympic Day was presented at the 41st Session of the IOC in Stockholm, in 1947,
by IOC member Doctor Josef Gruss Czech.
ii.During the 42nd IOC session in 1948 in St Moritz, Switzerland, the IOC adopted the resolution to celebrate the
International Day of Olympics annually from 1948.
• The first International Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948 by 9 countries: Portugal,
Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belgium in their
respective countries.

Olympic Charter:
i.For the first time, the 1978 edition of the Olympic Charter recommended all the NOCs to organise an Olympic
Day to promote the Olympic Movement.
ii.The current Olympic charter recommends the NOC to regularly organise (if possible each year) an Olympic
Day or Week to promote the Olympic Movement.
Events in 2023 International Olympic Day:
In 2023, around 130 NOCs are hosting Olympic Day Celebrations in their respective territories.
ii.On the occasion of International Olympic Day 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and IOC Jointly
launched the Let’s Move campaign on 23rd June 2023.
• As part of the campaign, digital invitation were released from Olympians Allyson Felix, Pau Gasol, PV
Sindhu, Yusra Mardini to schedule 30 minutes for digital workout on 23rd June 2023 with them.
Olympic Day Run:
i.National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have organised Olympic Day runs annually across the world since 1987
to celebrate Olympic Day and promote the practice of mass sport.
ii.The first Olympic day Run was celebrated by 45 NOCs in 1987.
• 2023 marks the 37th Olympic Day Run
About International Olympic Committee (IOC):
President – Thomas Bach
International Widows Day 2023 – June 23

The United Nations (UN)’s International Widows Day is annually observed across the world on 23rd
June 2023 to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to provide the unique support they
need.
• The day serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by widows all over the world and the need to
address their unique social, economic and legal issues.
Significance:
The day is an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows. This includes
information on access to a fair share of their inheritance, land and productive resources; pensions and social
protection that are not based on marital status alone; decent work and equal pay; and education and training
opportunities.
Background:
i. On 21st December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/65/189 and proclaimed the 23rd June of every year as International Widows’ Day.
ii. The first-ever International Widows’ Day was observed on 23rd June 2011.
History:
i. The establishment of International Widows Day was carried out by the efforts of various organisations,
including the Loomba Foundation, an international charity that advocates for the rights of widows.
ii. The foundation, led by Raj Loomba, worked endlessly to bring attention to the challenges faced by widows
and campaigned for a designated day to raise awareness and promote action.
iii. The Loomba Foundation established this day to commemorate the day on which Shrimati Pushpa Wati
Loomba, mother of Raj Lommba became a widow (23 June 1954).
iv. The first International Widows Day by the Loomba Foundation was observed on 23rd June 2005 in London,
the United Kingdom (UK).
Key Points:
i. It is estimated that nearly one in ten widows worldwide lives in extreme poverty.
ii. At least 1.36 million of the approximately 258 million widows globally are child widows.

iii. A huge number of women are widowed due to armed conflict, it is reported that in some parts of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, around 50% of women are widows, while there are an estimated 3 million
widows in Iraq and over 70,000 in Kabul, Afghanistan.
iv. Particularly across Africa and Asia, widows are subjected to physical and mental violence.
Founded in– 1945
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2023 – June 26

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed across
the world on 26th June to raise awareness and remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable, it is
also a crime.
• This day is also observed to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and support
victims and survivors of torture throughout the world.
• The day also offers an opportunity to call on all stakeholders to unite in support of the millions of
people around the world who have been victims of torture.
Background:
i. On 12th December 1997, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/52/149 and proclaimed the 26th June of every year as United Nations International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture.
ii. The first-ever International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was observed on 26th June 1998.
Note: The year 1998 marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),
which proclaimed that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment” on 10th December 1948.
Objective:
The day was established with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Why June 26?
26th June marks the day in 1987 on which the ‘Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment’ came into force.
UN Convention against Torture:
i. The UN convention was adopted by the UNGA on 10th December 1984 and came into force on 26th June 1987
after it had been ratified by 20 states.
ii. Its implementation by States parties is monitored by a body of independent experts, the Committee against
Torture.
Note:
• Currently, there are 173 State parties to the Convention.
• The year 2023 marks the 36 anniversary of the entry in force of the UN’s convention on torture.
What is Torture?
i. The term ‘torture’ is defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is
intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a
confession.
ii. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and its purpose:
i. The UN’s Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture is a unique UN operation that gives direct help to victims of
torture and their families.
ii. The fund was established in 1981 by the UNGA to focus global attention on the needs of torture victims.

iii. The objective of the fund is to help victims and their families to rebuild their lives and to seek redress for the
human rights violations they have suffered.
iv. The Fund is managed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner (OHCHR) for Human Rights, the
focal point for UNs human rights activities.
Funds in 2023:
i. In 2023, the Fund awarded 184 annual grants for civil society organisations to implement projects for direct
assistance to torture victims, for a total of USD 8,931,000.
ii. The Fund also awarded six annual grants to help build the capacity of civil society organisations providing
vital services to survivors.
Note: In addition, the Fund allocated over USD 605,000 for emergency grants to be awarded on an as-needed
basis throughout 2023 to respond to human rights and humanitarian crises.
Founded in- 1945
Secretary-General- António Guterres
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – June 26 2023
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is annually observed
across the globe on 26th June to create awareness regarding the negative effects of drug abuse and illegal
trade.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has announced the theme for 2023
as ‘People first: Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention’.
Key Points:
i.The global event encourages people to quit drug usage and adopt a healthier lifestyle by conducting various
campaigns, rallies, and awareness programs that create awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse.
ii.The main objective of celebrating this day is to understand the underlying causes of drug usage and
promote evidence-based approaches to drug prevention and treatment.
History:
i.The Day is observed to honour Lin Zexu, who played a vital role in demolishing the opium trade in Guangdong
region of China.
ii.On 7th December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the
resolution A/RES/42/112 and proclaimed June 26 as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking to support the efforts that make society drug-free.
Significance:
i.Globally, the day is observed by organising various events for the public of different age groups and the need
for more efficient drug recovery centres which can be accessed easily.
ii.Special attention to youngsters to create awareness among them about the ill side effects of drug abuse and
addiction.
Mission 2023 will focus:
i.To create awareness regarding the impacts of stigma and discrimination on people using drugs.
ii.To promote voluntary services for all the people who use drugs.
iii.To educate regarding drug use, available treatments, and the importance of possible support.
iv.To combat stigma and discrimination by promoting language that is respectful and not judgmental.
v.To encourage the young ones to prevent drug use and any kind of addiction.
Note: The first International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was organised with the
theme ‘Think Health, Not Drugs’.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC):
Executive Director– Ghada Fathi Waly

Day of the Seafarer 2023 – June 25
The United Nations (UN)’s Day of the Seafarer (DotS) is annually observed across the world on 25th June to
raise awareness of the important role Seafarers play and the challenges they face in global trade. The day also
offers a platform to recognise and honour the invaluable contributions of seafarers to the world economy and
economic and social well-being.
• 25th June 2023 marks the observance of the 13th edition of the ‘Day of the Seafarer’
• The observance of the DotS is led by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UNs
specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine
and atmospheric pollution by ships.
The theme/Campaign theme of Day of the Seafarer 2023 is “Seafarers, MARPOL, and the Marine
Environment.”
• The 2023 theme of Day of the Seafarer is in line with the theme of IMO’s World Maritime Day 2023
(28 September 2023) “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on.”
What is MARPOL?
i. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international
convention adopted on 2 November 1973, covering the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by
ships from operational or accidental causes.
• “MARPOL” is short for marine pollution.
• 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the MARPOL.
Background:
i. Resolution 19 was adopted at the IMO’s Conference of Parties to the International Convention On Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978 (the Diplomatic conference held in
Manila, Philippines in June 2010) and proclaimed 25th June of every year as the Day of the Seafarer.
ii. The first-everDotS was observed on 25th June 2011.
Campaign 2023:
i. The 2023 campaign hashtag is #OceansWorthProtecting
ii. As part of the 2023 campaign, seafarers will be encouraged to share a picture of the marine environment
surrounding them while at sea, highlighting that the marine environment is worth protecting.
i. In India, the maritime industry has played a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic landscape for
centuries. The celebration of the Day of the Seafarer holds immense importance for the nation, with its 7,500
km long coastline and strong dependence on overseas trade.
ii. The Directorate General of Shipping, Government of India, as the designated National Maritime
Administration of India, had decided to celebrate the same under the aegis of the National Maritime Day
Celebrations (Central) Committee (NMDC (C)) C on 25th June 2023 in the auditorium of Shipping Corporation
of India, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
iii. The NMDC (C) C had allocated 30 minutes for Indian Seafarers to showcase their talent related to or based
on the theme on the occasion of DotS and performance for a maximum of 5 minutes.
About International Maritime Organisation (IMO):
Secretary-General- Kitack Lim
Headquarters- London, The United Kingdom (UK)
World Refrigeration Day 2023 – June 26

World Refrigeration Day (WRD) is annually observed across the world on 26th June to raise awareness and
understanding of the important role that the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump industry and its
technology play in modern life.
• WRD also celebrates the people and technologies responsible for creating and maintaining the world
we live in, a world dependent upon temperature-controlled environments.

• WRD is an international awareness campaign established by the World Refrigeration Day
Secretariat.
The theme/Campaign of WRD 2023 is “Next Generation Cooling: The Future is in our hands“, which
focuses on the future of cooling technology, the industry and people working within it, and those that benefit
from cooling.
Significance:
i. Next generation cooling is important because it can help reduce the energy consumption and carbon
emissions (CO2) of cooling systems, which are becoming more widely used as the world gets hotter and more
humid.
ii. The 2023 campaign in line with the theme of WRD 2022 ‘Cooling Matters’ will look forward with the aim of
raising awareness of how the modern cooling industry is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges and
opportunities the sector faces providing the increasing demand for low carbon cooling and heating solutions in
a warming climate.
Background:
i. WRD was the idea of refrigeration consultant Stephen Gill, former president of the Institute of Refrigeration
in the United Kingdom (UK), and it was started in coincidence with the establishment of the World
Refrigeration Secretariat in 2019.
ii. The first-ever WRD was observed on 26th June 2019.
Note: It was an immediate monumental success when more than 800 physical events took place in at least 153
countries around the world.
Why June 26?
The day 26th June was chosen by signifying the birthday of Lord Kelvin, also known as William Thomson,
Scotsman Kelvin, a renowned inventor inventing an international system of measuring absolute temperature,
which is obviously a vital part of refrigeration.
Additional info:
i. In 2019 the United Nations (UN)’s Environment’s OzonAction Programme (UNEP) announced its partnership
with WRD to promote awareness of the importance of refrigeration.
ii. According to the International Energy Agency, Air Conditioners (AC) account for nearly 20% of the total
electricity used in buildings around the world today, and their use is set to rise over the next three decades,
becoming one of the top drivers of global electricity demand.
Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day 2023 – June 27

The United Nations (UN)’s Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day is annually observed
across the world on 27th June to raise awareness about MSME’s contribution in achieving the 2030 Agenda of
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This day also highlights the role of MSMEs in global economy,
promoting innovation and creativity, and creating employment internationally.
• 27th June 2023 marks the 6th Anniversary of MSME Day.
• The global celebration of MSME day is led by the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Background:
i. On 6th April 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/279 and
proclaimed the 27th June of every year as the Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day.
ii. The first-ever MSME day was observed in collaboration with theInternational Council for Small Business
(ICSB), the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the UN on 27th June 2017.
2023 Events:
i. On 27th June 2023, a dynamic event for Galvanizing MSMEs Worldwide by Supporting Women and Youth
Entrepreneurship and Resilient Supply Chains has been organised by the ICSB in the UN headquarters (UNHQ)
New York, the United States of America (USA), to celebrate the crucial role of MSMEs in achieving the 2030
Agenda for SDGs.

ii. The event will feature engaging panel discussions, inspiring keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and
networking opportunities by a group of experts, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who are
passionate about supporting MSMEs.
Key Points:
i. MSMEs are an essential component in implementing SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 9
(industry, innovation, and infrastructure).
ii. MSMEs account for up to 90% of businesses, 60% to 70% of employment, and they account for 50% (half) of
global Gross domestic product (GDP).
iii. 600 million jobs will be needed by 2030 to absorb the growing global workforce, which makes SME
development a high priority for many governments around the world.
Udyami Bharat- MSME Day 2023 in India:
On the eve of International MSME Day (27th June 2023), the Ministry of MSME, Government of India (GoI) is
celebrating ‘Udyami Bharat (Enterprising India) -MSME Day’ on 27th June, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi,
Delhi.
Objective:
The objective is to improve the business environment for MSMEs, encourage innovation and development of
new products and services, promote regional development and reduce regional disparities, create market
opportunities in both domestic and global markets and also to encourage MSMEs to adopt sustainable practices
across India.
Key People:
Narayan Rane, Union Minister for MSME, Chief Guest and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Union Minister of State
(MSME), Guest of Honour in this programme.
MSME Ministry launched Champions 2.0 Portal and Mobile App to support MSMEs projects
Launches:
i. The Ministry of MSME launched various initiatives for growth and development of MSMEs such as
CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal and Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects and Technology Centres at the event.
ii. The Champions 2.0 Portal and app are designed to address the challenges faced by MSMEs in managing their
cluster projects efficiently.
iii. The initiative will help streamline the management of cluster projects through advanced geo-tagging
technology, which will enable real-time monitoring, tracking, and evaluation of projects, ensuring transparency
and effective resource utilisation.
Other programmes at the event:
i. Results for ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 2.0’ will be declared and ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0’ for Women
Entrepreneurs will be launched.
ii. The event includes certificate distribution to Gold and Silver Zero Defect and Zero Effect (ZED) certified
MSMEs, and digital transfer of Rs.400 crore, Margin Money subsidy to 10,075 Prime Minister Employment
Generation Programme (PMEGP) beneficiaries and signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MoU)s will also
be included among various organisations of the GoI.
About International Trade Centre (ITC):
Founded in– 1964
Executive Director– Pamela Coke-Hamilton
World Vitiligo Day – June 25 2023

World Vitiligo Day is celebrated annually across the globe on 25th June to raise awareness about vitiligo, a
chronic skin condition that causes the loss of pigmentation in patches of the skin.
• The goal of World Vitiligo Day 2023 is to spread knowledge, promote research and to recognize
bullying, psychological trauma, social neglect of people affected by vitiligo.

World Vitiligo Day 2023: Theme
i.The theme for World Vitiligo Day 2023 is “Vitiligo: Looking into the Future” and the campaign headquarters
will be hosted by Kazakhstan under the guidance of Dr. Aliya Kassymkhanova.
ii.The city of Tampa, Florida, (United States of America) USA has designated June as Vitiligo Awareness
Month.
iii.The day is also known as Vitiligo Awareness Day or Vitiligo Purple Fun Day, as purple is the official color
representing the condition.
History:
i.World Vitiligo Day was first observed on 25th June, 2011, on the initiative of Steven Haragdon, the founder
of the Vitiligo Friends Network, and further developed by Ogo Maduewesi, a Nigerian vitiligo patient and the
Founder and Executive Director of the Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation (VITSAF).
ii.The date was chosen to commemorate the death of Michael Jackson, the popstar who discussed his struggles
with Vitiligo.
iii.Vitiligo Friends Network is taking effort to recognise 25th June as “World Vitiligo Day” by the United Nations
to provide various campaign with a wider platform to reach and create awareness throughout the globe.
Causes of Vitiligo:
Vitiligo occurs when the cells responsible for producing melanin stops functioning and caused by involving a
combination of genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors.
National Insurance Awareness Day 2023 – June 28

National Insurance Awareness Day is annually observed on 28th June to raise awareness about Insurance
which offers a layer of protection to guard in various situations and about the benefits of investing in an
insurance plan.
• The day also serves as a reminder to people to check if all their insurance payments (or renewals)
are up to date.
What is Insurance?
Insurance is a legal agreement (financial tool) between two parties – the insurer (Insurance
Company/provider) and the insured (Policy holder), also known as insurance coverage or insurance policy, in
which the insurer provides financial coverage for the losses of the insured that s/he may bear under certain
circumstances.
Evolution of Insurance in India:
i. India witnessed the emergence of life insurance business in 1818 with the establishment of the Oriental Life
Insurance Company in Calcutta (Now Kolkata in West Bengal).
ii. In 1914, the Government of India (GoI) started publishing returns of Insurance Companies in India.
iii. The Indian Life Assurance Companies Act, 1912 was the first statutory measure to regulate the life
insurance business.
iv. In 1956, an ordinance was issued nationalising the Life Insurance sector and Life Insurance Corporation
(LIC) came into existence
v. The LIC of India was formed by an Act of Parliament (LIC, Act 1956), with a capital contribution of Rs. 5
Crores from GoI.
Note: The minimum paid-up equity capital of insurance companies is Rs.100 Crore. If the application is made
for the business of Reinsurance, there must be documentary evidence proving that the paid-up capital of the
business is at least Rs. 200 crore.
Insurance penetration in India:
i. As per the Economic Survey 2022-23 released on January 31, 2023, the Insurance penetration in India has
risen from 2.7% (in 2000) to 4.2% (in 2020) and was 3.2% in 2021.
Note: Insurance penetration is measured as the percentage of insurance premiums to Gross Domestic Product
(GDP)

ii. In 2021, the total global insurance premiums rose by 3.4% in real terms, with the non-life insurance sector
witnessing a 2.6% rise.
iii. In the life insurance segment, global premium growth registered a projection of 4.5%.
About Life Insurance Corporation (LIC):
Establishment- 1956
Chairperson- Siddhartha Mohanty
World Allergy Week 2023 – June 18 to 24

World Allergy Week is an annual initiative of the World Allergy Organization(WAO) to create awareness
about allergic diseases and related disorders. The day also aims to advocate for the provision of training and
resources in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of these diseases.World Allergy Week 2023 was
observed from 18th to 24th June 2023.
• The theme of World Allergy Week 2023 is “Climate Change Worsens Allergies: Be Ready”. The
WAO also hosted the webinar based on this theme on June 20, 2023.
Note: World Allergy Week 2022 was observed from 5th to 11th June 2022 and World Allergy Week 2021 was
observed from 13th to 19th June 2021.
Background:
i.In 2005, in association with the biennial World Allergy Congress, the first event of World Allergy Day was
hosted by WAO.
ii.WAO Board of Directors approved the establishment of World Allergy Week in 2011 following the
recommendations from WAO Member Societies and other associates of WAO to expand the scope and timeline
of World Allergy Day.
iii.World Allergy Week 2011 was observed from 4th to 10th April 2011.
Observance of World Allergy Week 2023:
Annually, WAO chooses a disease topic that requires greater attention and provides physicians and the general
public with a webinar, infographic, and additional information to educate and spread awareness on the
topic.The year 2023 will focus on managing allergic diseases amidst environmental changes.
• The most common chronic diseases in humans are allergic airway diseases of the respiratory
system.
• Asthma affects over 350 million people worldwide, and allergic rhinitis affects between 10% and
50% of the population, depending on geographic location.
Key points:
i.Allergies which are primarily inherited and environmental are more prevelant in Developed nations than in
underdeveloped nations.
ii.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report of 2023 states that pollen levels are projected to increase
children’s asthma-related emergency department visits from 17% to 30%.
National Statistics Day 2023 – June 29

National Statistics Day (Statistics Day) is annually observed across India on 29th June to raise public
awareness about the role and importance of statistics in Socio-economic planning, policy formulation and
development processes in everyday life.
• 29th June 2023 marks the observance of the 17th Statistics Day.
• The day marks the celebration of the birth anniversary of Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra
Mahalanobis (PC Mahalanobis), known as the “Father of Indian Statistics” and recognises his notable
contributions in the fields of statistics and economic planning.
The theme of National Statistics Day (Statistics Day) 2023 is “Alignment of State Indicator Framework
with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

Background:
i. In 2006, the Government of India (GoI) designated the 29th June of every year, the birth anniversary of
Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, as “Statistics Day”, in the category of Special Days to be
celebrated at the national level.
ii. Notification to this effect was published in the Gazette of India on June 05, 2007.
iii. The first-ever National Statistics Day was celebrated on 29th June 2007.
About Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis:
i. Prof Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was born on 29 June 1893 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii. He was part of the first planning commission of India and was well known in establishing the Indian
Statistical Institute (ISI) with a Statistical Laboratory set up in 1931.
iii. In 1968, he was honoured with the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ for his contributions to Literature, science and
education services to India.
Events of 2023:
i. The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) organised a main event of Statistics Day 2023
at Scope Convention Centre, Scope Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. Presentations on the theme of Statistics Day 2023 were made by the officers of MoSPI during the technical
session of the event.
Key People:
Rao Inderjit Singh (Chief Guest), Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge), MoSPI;
Prof. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman, National Statistical Commission (NSC); Dr. G. P. Samanta, Chief
Statistician of India & Secretary, MoSPI.
About National Statistical Commission (NSC):
The Government of India through a resolution dated 1st June, 2005 established the National Statistical
Commission (NSC).
Mandate: To evolve policies, priorities and standards in statistical matters.
Chairman- Prof. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar
International Day of the Tropics 2023 – June 29

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the Tropics is observed annually across the globe on 29th
June to raise awareness about various challenges that tropical nations face and to celebrate the extraordinary
diversity of the Tropics.
The day aims to emphasize the role of the countries in the tropics towards achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals(SDG).
Background:
i.On June 14th, 2016 the United Nation General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the
resolution A/RES/70/267 declaring June 29th as the International Day of the Tropics.
ii.The first ever International Day of the Tropics was observed on 29th June 2017.
Why June 29?
i.TheUN chose the date June 29th to mark the anniversary of the launch of the inaugural “State of Tropics
Report”.
ii.The inaugral report was launched on 29th June 2014 by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar
(Burma).
Tropical Region:
i.The area surrounding the Equator between the Tropic of Cancer (23°27 N) and the tropic of Capricorn (23°27
S) is roughly considered the tropical zone or the torrid zone which includes the Equator and parts of North
and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
ii.There are fewer seasonal variations in the day-to-day temperature, which remains relatively constant
throughout the year and they receive direct sunlight and are hotter and wetter.

iii.There are several types of climate within the tropical climate zone: tropical rainforest climate, tropical
monsoon climate, and tropical wet and dry (savanna) climate.
iv.It accounts for 40% of the world’s total surface area and are host to about 80% of our planet’s biodiversity.
Challenges faced by tropical countries:
i.The population living in the tropics experiences more undernourishment and higher levels of poverty than the
rest of the world.
ii.The proportion of the urban population living in slums is higher in the tropics than in the rest of the world.
iii.The tropical region comes across climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanization and demographic
changes.
Note: Unlike other international days, there is no annual theme for each International Day of the Tropics.
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York, United States of America
APPS & WEB PORTAL

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Launched Unified Registration Portal For
GOBARdhan
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, launched the Unified Registration Portal for
Biogas/ Compressed Bio Gas (CBG)/ Bio CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) plants under Galvanizing Organic
Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme.
• This portal will be a one-stop repository to assess investment and participation in Biogas/CBG
sector at the pan-India level.
• This will also streamline the process of setting up CBG/Biogas plants in India.
About the portal:
i.The portal, developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry
of Jal Shakti, the nodal agency of GOBARdhan, will ensure Ease of Doing Business (EODB).
ii.The functioning of the portal was tested and explored by the CBG Producers Association.
Key Points:
i.With aggregated data from all Ministries & Departments across Centre and States, this will also attract
greater investment from the private players.
ii.To avail the benefits and support of GoI schemes and programs related to GOBARdhan, new projects
should register on this portal.
iii.The portal will display information about existing and proposed GOBARdhan projects.
iv.This portal will act as a valuable tool for investors and entrepreneurs of the sector.
About GOBARdhan:
GOBARdhan, launched in 2018 under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen(SBM(G)-Phase II program, is
an umbrella initiative of the Indian government that aims to convert waste to wealth towards promoting a
circular economy.
• The scheme is implemented through the partnership between the State Governments and
Private Sector including entrepreneurs, societies etc.
i.Objective: To generate wealth and energy by converting cattle dung, agri residue and other organic
waste into Biogas, CBG and biofertilizers.
ii.It encompasses schemes/programmes under various Ministries & Departments. This includes:
• Waste to Energy Scheme – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE).

• SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) scheme of the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG).
• SBM(G) Phase II of DDWS.
• Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Dept. of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) of Dept. of Animal Husbandry &
Dairy.
iii.Target: The scheme aims to contribute to India’s climate action goals especially towards achieving net
zero emission by 2070.
Note: At present around 650 GOBARdhan plants have been reported by different stakeholders.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a PM SVANidhi Mobile app

On 1st June 2023, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
launched the mobile app “PMSVANidhi” for street vendors to ease their loan application process under
the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.
• The app was launched during the event organised to mark the 3 years completion of the
Scheme, which was launched on 1st June 2020.
• This will provide an end-to-end solution to facilitate Lending Institutions – Banks/ non-bank
financial companies (NBFCs)/ Microfinance institutions (MFIs), to process loan applications of
beneficiaries through field agents.
The scheme was launched to provide collateral-free working capital loans of up to Rs 10,000 of one-year
tenure to approximately 50 lakh street vendors to help resume their businesses in the urban areas.
Note: The scheme facilitates working capital loans in three tranches to street vendors.
Manappuram Finance Launched Digital Lending App ‘Ma-Money’

Manappuram Finance Limited, a Thrissur(Kerala)-based NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company),
launched a new digital lending platform named ‘Ma-Money’ to provide customers with all the financial
products offered by Manappuram Finance under one platform.
Key Points:
i.The app is primarily targeted at customers in tier 2 and tier 3 cities (cities with populations ranging from
20000 to 1 lakh).
ii.Loans offered under the Ma-Money app include personal loans, business loans, consumer durables’
loans, loans for the healthcare industry, food industry, small-scale industries, car loans, home repair loans,
among others.
iii.The launch of Ma-Money is part of Manappuram Finance’s broader strategy to expand its digital
footprint and provide customers innovative and convenient financial products.
iv.As per the statement of V P Nandakumar, Managing Director and CEO, of Manappuram Finance, the new
app is expected to support it to increase its digital business and reach a wider audience.
v.Manappuram Finance is expected to touch USD 350 billion by the end of 2023 at a growth rate of 11 to
12 per cent annually.
Maharashtra Cabinet launched new Portal “Maha Labharthi” for implementing

“Shasan Aplya Dari” Scheme
In May 2023, the Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, launched an initiative
named ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ (government at your doorstep) scheme aimed at providing citizens the necessary
information and full benefits of various schemes of the government.
The state government of Maharashtra will now use a new portal called Maha Labharthi, which means mega
beneficiary, where all the state schemes will be enlisted.

The portal Maha Labharth developed by Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) will be used
by the state government for effective implementation of its Shasan Aplya Dari scheme.
Objective:
The objective of ‘Shasan Aplya dari’ is to take various benefits of the government schemes at the doorstep of the
common people without any inconvenience.
Registration Process:
i. Once launched, the citizens can visit the MahaLabharthi website and after filling the requisite information,
he/she would get a list of government schemes, which he/she wants to use and get benefits of it.
ii. The portal will also provide information about the government office from where one can inquire about the
government scheme and its associated benefits and the necessary documents to avail of the benefits.
Authorisation Centre:
i. The Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology (MS-CIT) centres as well as Common Service
Centre (CSC) at the district level will authorise the citizens, who are all eligible to visit and get the information.
ii. Upon filling the form, the citizens availing the government schemes will be provided a letter signed by the
Chief Minister (CM) and the deputy CM of the Maharashtra state.
iii. The letter can be taken to the concerned government office or to a place hosting the ‘Shasan Aplya dari’
program.
• For this initiative, a dedicated team has been set up in the CM’s office and 15,146 volunteers have
been appointed for the same across the state.
The district administrations have organised two-day camps in their jurisdictions to ensure the success of the
initiative. They have set a target of providing benefits to around 75,000 locals under the campaign.
The funds from the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) and the
District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) were set to be used for the scheme.
About Maharashtra:
Zoological Park– Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park and Rajiv Gandhi Zoological
Park (Peshwa Park)
UP Govt launched “Nand Baba Milk Mission” Scheme & Family ID Portal under ‘One Family One
Identity’ Scheme
On 6th June 2023, the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), launched the Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme, to
provide milk producers the facility of selling their milk at a reasonable price in villages through dairy co-
operative societies.
• The scheme has been allocated a budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
• The scheme aims to make Uttar Pradesh a leading state in the field of milk development and milk
production.
Key Points:
i. Under this scheme, a Dairy farmer producer organisation (Dairy FPO) in order to facilitate sale of milk in
producer’s villages itself under this mission.
ii. The efforts made by the Dairy Development Department is to ensure the development of the rural economy
in UP, to provide beneficial prices to the farmers for their milk and to strengthen the agro-based infrastructure.
iii. There is a plan to set up 5 Dairy FPOs in 5 districts of UP as a pilot project in the Financial Year (FY) 2023-
24, in which women will also play a major role.
Other Highlights:
i. Dharampal Singh, Cabinet Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Department, UP government,
unveiled the Nand Baba Milk Mission’s office at KisanGomtinagar, Lucknow, UP.
ii. He also unveiled the ‘Dairy Development Portal’ and logo of Nand Baba Milk Mission.

UP govt unveiled Family ID portal under ‘One Family One Identity’
On 6th June 2023, the UP Government launched the Family ID Portal for creation of unique Family
ID (Identity) under ‘One Family One Identity’ scheme.
• This aims to establish of a live, comprehensive database of family units of UP and to connect at least
one member of each family with employment.
Features:
i. Employment of underprivileged families can be identified on the basis of the integrated database obtained
through Family ID and prioritised, possible employment opportunities will be made available to them.
ii. Family passbook prepared by the officials, showing full details of the benefits of government schemes
received by each family, while reviewing the progress made in the context of Family ID.
iii. 12 digit unique family ID will be provided by the portal, to those families who are not ration card holders.
iv. An Aadhaar based e-KYC facility is available on the Family ID portal.
Eligibility:
i. Families, who do not have a ration card and are not covered under the National Food Security Scheme will
have to apply for the Family ID through the portal.
ii. Ration card holders made under the National Food Security Schemedon’t require family ID. Their ration card
ID will be the family ID.
Note: Currently, about 3.6 crore families and 15 crore aadhaar validated Ration Card holders living in UP are
getting the benefit of the National Food Security Scheme. As per the system of Family ID Scheme, their Ration
Card number will be their Family ID and they can check it by using the Registration portal.
Benefits:
i. The collected database will be helpful in better management of beneficiary schemes, timely targeting,
transparent operation and providing 100% benefit of the scheme to the eligible persons.
ii. Facilities are made in order to be accessedeasily by the general public.
Stadium: Eklavya Sports Stadium (Outdoor) and Late Mohan Choubey Pahalvan Sports Stadium (Outdoor)
IFS launches the revamped website of PPPININDIA & online portals for IIPDF
On June 14, 2023, the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat (IFS) under the Department of Economic Affairs
(DEA), Ministry of Finance has launched its revamped website of Public Private Partnership(PPP) in India
(PPPININDIA) for its enhanced value to the stakeholders involved in PPP (Public–Private Partnership) projects.
• This launch is a part of IFS efforts to encourage private investment in infrastructure by creating an
environment that supports the development and delivery of infrastructure projects.
About PPPININDIA Website:
i.It is a one-stop solution that promotes and facilitates PPPs projects and knowledge exchange in India by
bringing together government entities, private companies, investors, and entrepreneurs for sustainable growth.
ii.It serves as a repository of policies, guidelines, and model bidding documents for various sectors including
the newly launched Reference Guide for Setting up of State PPP units helping States to create dedicated units
for promoting PPP policy, program and projects and Reference Guide for PPP Project Appraisal helping Project
Appraisal Authorities (PSAs) in quality appraisal of PPP projects.
iii.It also offers guidance materials and a Best Practices Portal showcasing successful infrastructure projects.
• Best Practices Portal that contains the best practices in successful implementation of infrastructure
projects by the states and central ministries. It can be accessed on
https://www.pppinindia.gov.in/bestpractices.
IIPDF Portal:
To promote Digital India initiative of the Government of India, the IFS also launched the IIPDF (India

Infrastructure Project Development Fund) Portal for submitting applications for consideration under IIPDF
Scheme.
• Launched in 2022, IIPDF Scheme is designed to aid development of quality PPP projects by
providing necessary funding support to the project sponsoring authorities. GoI Notifies IIPDF
Scheme for Funding PPP Projects Development
Key Points:
i.It will allow PSAs to apply online under IIPDF scheme that will significantly reduce the processing time,
involve less paperwork, and help the PSAs to obtain speedy and time bound approvals for the submitted
projects.
ii.The IFS is also in process of launching similar online portals on this website for submitting online
applications for Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) and VGF (Viability Gap Funding)
Scheme.
NHAI launches knowledge-sharing platform for highways development

On 20th June 2023, The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched a ‘Knowledge Sharing
Platform’ hosted on the NHAI website to promote inclusive development of national highways.
• The portal is launched to encourage experts and citizens to share Knowledge and innovative
practices regarding road design, construction, road safety, environmental sustainability, and other
related fields.
Information in the form of video clips, PowerPoint Presentations (PPT), and Portable Document Format (PDF)
files can be uploaded on the NHAI web portal https://ksp.nhai.org/kb/ which will be reviewed and evaluated
by NHAI officials for implementation.
Himachal CM commenced online portal of Nurses Council

On 13th June 2023, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu commenced the online
portal of the Himachal Pradesh Nurses Registration Council (HPNRC).
• The website aims to provide nurses with Primary registration and renewal services, issuance of
No Objection Certificates (NOC), additional qualification updates, foreign verification, online
migration, transfer of registration.
• To boost the employment generation and streamline tracking processes, the website of
Employment department will be combined with HPNRC’s website.
About Himachal Pradesh Nurses Registration Council(HPNRC):
• A regulatory body which maintains the registration and licensing of qualified nurses in the state of
Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Himachal Pradesh Nurses Registration Act, came into force from 1977.
About Himachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla
Capital:
i.Summer Capital – Shimla
ii.Winter Capital – Dharamshala
Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey Launches Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile
App for Indian Dairy Industries
On June 16, 2023, Union Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled
the ‘Dugdh Sanakalan Sathi Mobile App’ or ‘Milk Collection Partner Mobile App’ from Mussoorie,
Uttarakhand for the Indian Dairy Industry.

• This app will address the key challenges in the milk collection process which ultimately benefit the
milk producers and contribute to the growth of the dairy sector.
Developer of App:
It is designed and developed by Jaipur (Rajasthan)-based Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments
Limited (REIL), a“Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under MHI.
• Its Managing Director is Rakesh Chopra. June 16, 2023, also marks the 43rd foundation day of REIL.
Aim of App:
To improve the quality of milk, foster transparency among stakeholders, and streamline operations at the
grassroots village level, including Milk Cooperative Societies, milk producers, milk organizations/unions and
state federations.
Key Points:
i.It is a comprehensive cloud-based solution that utilizes the latest state-of-the-art platform.
ii.The app will provide all services to milk producers in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu and other languages.
iii.It is on the lines of the Indian Government’s commitment to digitizing processes and facilitating direct
beneficiary transfers of government subsidies and milk payments to milk producers.
iv.Its other features include enhanced transparency through stakeholder engagement, online monitoring of
daily milk poured at Milk Cooperative Societies, and real-time milk price updates.
Arunachal Pradesh CM launches app called ‘Arunpol App’ of Arunachal Pradesh Police
On 14th June 2023, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister “Pema Khandu” launched an app called ‘Arunpol App‘ of
Arunachal Pradesh Police and flagged-off an Arunachal Pradesh Police(APP) awareness generation
vehicle Arun Pol Sewa from the Civil Secretariat, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The app will helps common people to register complaints without coming to the police station and
helps the public with emergencies.
• The vehicle travels places to know the issues of the people and create awareness among the masses.
CM Pema Khandu also launched another app called E-Vigilance app for the state government employees. He
said that this app will benefit the state government employees by ensuring timely vigilance clearance.
Assam launch WebPortal to check illegal cattle transportation

On 15th June 2023, The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of Assam launched a web portal for
cattle transportation aiming to prevent the illegal transportation of cattle.
The livestock farmers and cattle traders can obtain permits required for inter-state transportation of cattle
through the website.
This system is prepared under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 will alleviate the problems encountered
in the transportation of improved breeds of high milk-producing cattle to Assam and help in preventing illegal
transportation of cattle.
Karnataka Govt launched “Brand Bengaluru” portal to seek public suggestion

on B’luru development
On 21st June 2023, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister(CM) and Bengaluru Development Minister, DK
Shivakumar, launched a portal ‘Brand Bengaluru‘ and WhatsApp number for people to share suggestions
regarding the development of the Bengaluru.
• The public can visit ‘www.brand bengaluru.karnataka.gov.in‘ or contact the WhatsApp number
9480685700 to provide suggestions regarding the development of Bengaluru within June 30, 2023.
Key highlights:
i.A committee of officials, industry leaders, and decision-makers would be constituted to prepare a master
plan for development of Bengaluru city in 6 months.
ii.Member of the Legislative Assembly(MLA’s), officers and brand ambassadors of Bengaluru, had suggested

high-density corridor, expansion of metro connectivity, monorail, suburban rail, road widening, elevated road,
conversion of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (‘NICE’) road into ring road, and construction of tunnel
roads in the city to control the traffic.
iii.Their suggestions pertained to cleanliness, environment, waste disposal and sewage management, sewage
treatment and recycling, Cauvery water supply, development of slum area, efficient administration and
corruption control.
About Brand Bengaluru:
Brand Bengaluru portal is launched to seek suggestions from people to improve the infrastructure and turn
Bengaluru into a Green City.
About Karnataka:
Capital- Bengaluru
Governor- Thawar Chand Gehlot
Chief Minister- Siddaramaiah
MoAFW Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches PM Kisan Mobile App with Face
Authentication Feature
On June 22, 2023, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
(MoAFW) launched the PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication Feature during an event organised by
the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), MoAFW at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi (Delhi).
• It was launched under the scheme for income support to farmers i.e.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).
Key Points:
i.With this app, farmers can complete e-KYC (Know your customer) remotely by scanning their face without
OTP (One Time Password) or fingerprint.
• Farmers can also know the status of land seeding, linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts, and e-KYC
using the No User Status Module.
ii.The app enables farmers to assist up to 100 other farmers in completing their e-KYC from home as the
Central Government has extended the e-KYC ability to state government officers, enabling them to complete the
process for up to 500 farmers.
iii. The department has also roped in India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) to open Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
for beneficiaries and urged Common Service Centers (CSCs) to organise village-level e-KYC camps with the help
of States and Union Territories (UTs).
About PM-KISAN:
The scheme was launched in February 2019 but is being implemented with effect from December 2018. Under
this, eligible farmers are provided with a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs
2,000 each every four months.
• The 13th installment of PM-KISAN was paid to more than 8.1 crore farmers.
Rajasthan govt brings PCTS mobile app to ensure better healthcare for mothers, infants
Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Rajasthan, has launched the Pregnancy, Child
Tracking & Health Services Management System (PCTS) app to enable online tracking, reporting and
monitoring of the health of pregnant women, obstetricians and infants.
• PCTS was developed by the National Informatics Centre(NIC) as an Integrated system for Health
information management system (HIMS).
• The PCTS app enables ASHA Sahyoginis, who are selected from the local community and trained as
frontline health workers in Rajasthan, to efficiently reach women and infants in their designated
areas.

Note – The ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) program is a community health initiative implemented by
the Government of India. It was launched in 2005 as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and
later incorporated into the National Health Mission (NHM).
i.PCTS provides health care services to pregnant women and children and helps the government to reduce
infant and maternal mortality.
ii.It improves institutional delivery, immunisation and monitors areas with decreasing sex ratio at birth.
iii.PCTS has been presented with National Award for E-Governance (2011-12), best project under e-Health
category (2010), The Manthan Award (2009), Data Quest magazine (spotlight) 2010.
NOTE: Birth certificate is also provided through PCTS app as it is integrated with Pehchan portal.
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, launched
NANDI Portal
On 26th June 2023, Parshottam Rupala , Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched
a NANDI– (NOC (No Objection Certificates) Approval for New Drug and Inoculation System) Portal at Krishi
Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi to timely process the applications and grant NOC for veterinary drugs and vaccines.
NANDI Portal:
i. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) developed this portal through the Centre for
Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to enhance the regulatory approval process and ensure
transparency in assessing and examining veterinary product proposals.
ii. The integration of the NANDI portal with the SUGAM portal, an e-Governance solution for the Central Drugs
Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health will streamline the approval process
further.
iii. The launch of the NANDI portal marks an important step taken by the DAHD in realising the objectives set
out in its Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI).
Highlights:
i. Following the animal vaccination coverage initiative and Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs), the launch of
NANDI Portal would not only facilitate regulatory processes but also provide valuable support to researchers
and industries from a commercial perspective.
ii. This initiative is a significant step towards advancing Government of India’s Digital India and promoting the
well-being of livestock and the livestock industry by creating awareness among livestock rearers and
improving logistical facilities.
• The consumption of veterinary drugs is expected to increase.
iii. The crucial role of veterinary vaccines in safeguarding animal health, boosting production, ensuring safe
food supplies, and preventing the transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans has been
acknowledged.
iv. The DAHD has consistently worked towards accelerating the regulatory approval process, which is crucial
for the availability of veterinary drugs and vaccines in India.
v. In order to achieve this goal, the DAHD has established empowered committees, such as the Empowered
Committee for Animal Health (ECAH), chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), GoI.
Note: ECAH focuses on building resilient, farmer-centric animal health systems in India and proposing changes
to enhance the long-term success of the livestock sector. Additionally,
vi. The Regulatory Subcommittee, composed of veterinary experts from the industry and academia, has been
set up under the ECAH to comprehensively deliberates, takes efficient actions, and provides recommendations
and policy inputs on a veterinary vaccine, biological, and drug submissions.
vii. The portal aligns with the Digital India vision initiated and embodies the principles of Minimum
Government and Maximum Governance by leveraging Information Technology (IT) systems.

MoMSME launched CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal, Mobile App for MSME’s Sector Growth
On 27th June 2023, on the occasion of United Nations (UN)’s Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day,
the Ministry of MSME (MoMSME) celebrated ‘Udyami Bharat-MSME Day’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi
to launch various initiatives including Champions 2.0 Portal and Mobile App for geo-tagging of cluster
projects and technology centres for the growth and development of the MSME sector.
• 6 MoUs between different organisations were also signed during the event.
Key People:
Narayan Rane, Union Minister of MSME was the chief guest of the programme and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma,
Union Minister of State (MoS) for MSME was the guest of honour.
Champions 2.0 Portal:
i. It is a platform for resolution, redressal and remedies launched in June 2020 as a single-window grievance
redressal, an information and communications technology, or technologies (ICT)- based portal for MSMEs.
ii. It useschatterbot(chatbot) technology for automated grievance redressal in order to reduce the turnaround
time using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
iii. It will be available in 11 languages (Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi,
Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu) from earlier 7 languages to improve user-friendliness and outreach.
vii. The portal resolved 16,221 grievances out of 16,262 grievances received in the Financial Year (FY)23. In
the current FY so far, 5,365 grievances were received, of which 5,206 were resolved.
Note: Previously MSME complaints were resolved through the internet grievance monitoring system (IGMS) up
to May 31, 2020.
Geo-tagging App:
i. The ministry of MSME is working on a geo-tagging app for the MSME units and the data collected from this
app will be shared with the PM-Gati Shakti portal.
ii. The first phase of the app will include the latitude and longitude of the physical location of cluster projects
under the MSE- Cluster Development Programme (CDP) and MSME offices development and facilitation offices
(DFOs), testing centres and technology centres.
iii. The MSE-CDP implemented since 2003, aims to strengthen capacity building for MSEs through Common
Facility Centre (CFC) projects and Infrastructure Development (IDs) projects.
Six MoUs:
i. MoMSMEand Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), signed a MoU to create a portal for ‘PM
Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman’ (PMVIKAS) by SIDBI.
ii. MoMSME and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a MoU with the objective of sharing Udyam
Registration data with GeM for last mile registration of MSMEs in the Public Procurement eco-system.
iii. MoMSME and the Industry Department, Government of Tripura signed a MoU for sharing of Udyam
Registration data through Application programming interface (API), easing policy making and targeted
distribution of scheme benefits.
iv. MoMSME and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) signed a MoU for
giving guarantee coverage to the beneficiaries of the MSME sector.
v. National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development
Corporation (NSFDC) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) signed a
MoU to promote mutual collaboration for supporting Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST)
entrepreneurs under National SC-ST Hub and various schemes being implemented by NSFDC and NSTFDC.
vi. NSIC, LG Electronics India Private Limited, and Electronics Sector Skill Council of India signed a MoU to
establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) by LG Electronics in NTSC Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Hyderabad
(Telangana).
Highlights:
i. The significance of the MSMEs in India’s Gross domestic product (GDP) and exports were emphasised and
expecting MSME’s contribution of India’s GDP to 50% by 2030.

ii. All the stakeholders were congratulated and encouraged to take steps towards achieving India a USD5
trillion economy.
Note: Since 2014, India’s GDP ranking has climbed from 10th to 5th position.
About Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs):
Union Minister– Narayan Tatu Rane (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Minister of State– Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (Constituency- Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh)
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Launches “Report Fish Disease” App in New Delhi
On 28th June 2023, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, launched
Report Fish Disease(RFD) an android-based mobile application for aquatic animal diseases reporting at Krishi
Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The app has been developed by ICAR(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)-NBFGR(National
Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources) under National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal
Diseases (NSPAAD), funded under Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana by the Department of
Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India.
Key People:
The app was launched in the presence of Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State(MoS) MoFAH&D and senior Officers
from the Department of Agricultural Research and Education(DARE), ICAR and NSPADD.
Background:
i.The Department of Fisheries has allocated ₹33.78 crore for a period of three years for the implementation of
the second phase of the NSPAAD under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme.
ii.With the RFD app, NSPAAD will meet national and international obligations through transparent reporting.
• PMMSY is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in India
as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
About Report Fish Disease(RFD) app:
i.It provides advice to farmers associated with aquaculture and help them to connect directly to district
fisheries officers and scientists.
ii.It will enable farmers to report the incidence of diseases in finfish, shrimps, and molluscs in their farms and
get scientific technical assistance on the same from scientists/ Experts.
iii.The data regarding the diseases will be stored on temporal & spatial scale and can be used for mapping the
disease cases.
iv.It will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of aquaculture systems by minimizing the negative
impacts of fish diseases on fish population, industry, and ecosystems thereby reduce the loss and increase
farmers income.
MK Stalin, CM of Tamil Nadu inaugurated new buildings in various locations and launched a
Portal for Farmers
On 28th June 2023, M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu (TN) virtually inaugurated several projects
at various locations and launched a new web
portal Tamil Mannvalam (http://tnagriculture.in/mannvalam) to encourage farmers to use appropriate
fertiliser for their land, knowing the type and quality of the soil.
With the help of the portal, the farmers are able to know about the soil health of their lands via geo-
referenced survey number, and could also get other details of the soil such as pH, organic carbon and
calcareousness.
The CM also released a coffee-table book titled “Nette Nette Panaimarame” which tells the uses of palmyra
trees and how every part of it is useful for humans in some or another way.
Note: Soil Calcareousness contains a high proportion of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of calcite or
aragonite.

Various Inaugurations:
i. The CM inaugurated several new buildings for the agriculture department built at a cost of Rs.68.83 crore,
which includes agricultural extension centres, sub-agricultural extension centres, primary processing centres,
godowns, etc., andnew buildings for the TN Agricultural University constructed at various locations.
ii. CM also inaugurated 3 Periyar Memorial Samathuvapurams at Ramasamudram panchayat in Tiruvallur
district, Tholar panchayat in Cuddalore district, and Kattukulam panchayat in Tiruchy district that have been
renovated at a cost of Rs 3.12 crore.
iii. He also inaugurated new buildings for the Rural Development Department (Panchayat Union office)
constructed at a total cost of Rs 34.76 crore.
iv. The CM inaugurated the renovated ‘PoomalaiVanigaValagam’ (commercial complexes) in 26 districts
constructed by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women at a cost of Rs.5.16 Crore.
v. He launched a micro-enterprise finance scheme under the ‘Vazhndhu Kattuvom Project’ (formerly Tamil
Nadu Rural Transformation Project – TNRTP),an innovative World Bank assisted project and handed over
loans to Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) worth Rs.50 crore.
Highlights:
i. He handed over Rs.15 lakh in financial assistance to ‘Team Sea Shakti’ of Kumaraguru College of Technology
in Coimbatore, an only Indian Team selected to take part in Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to create a
hydrogen-powered boat.
The objective is to commercialise the power system for the benefit of fishermen.
Note: The 10th edition of Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) 2023 organised by Yacht Club de Monaco
(YCM) in the bay of Monaco (Principality of Monaco) from July 3 to 8 2023.
ii. The CM handed over a house allotment order to Palam P. Kalyanasundaram, a social worker.
iii. The CM chaired a meeting to review the implementation of 55 ongoing programmes and 35 projects which
are to be implemented by 13 departments at the Secretariat in Chennai, TN.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister- M. K. Stalin
Governor- R. N. Ravi
Birds Sanctuary- Vettangudi birds Sanctuary (Sivagangai), Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary (The lake is located in
both Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh)
ENVIRONMENT
Pisodonophis kalinga: New Eel Species Discovered from Palur canal, Odisha
Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species
of eel named Pisodonophis kalinga from Palur canal in Ganjam district, Odisha. The Olive-
Coloured snake eel, was found hiding in the Chilika lagoon, Asia’s biggest brackish and freshwater lagoon
and the adjoining Palur canal of Odisha.
• The name “Pisodonophis kalinga” refers to
the ancient name of Odisha, and “kalinga snake
eel” has been proposed as the common name for this
unique species.
• The detailed characteristics of Pisodonophis kalinga
was published in the latest edition (29th May 2023)
of the International Journal Marine Biodiversity.
Note: Palur canal connects Chilika lagoon with River
Rushikulya of Odisha.

Species Classification:
Pisodonophis kalinga belongs to the family Ophichthidae and the order Anguilliformes.
Research team:
Anil Mohapatra (Team led), a senior scientist, Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (ERBC) of ZSI, Gopalpur,
Odisha; Scientists of Berhampur University, Berhampur (Odisha) and Ravenshaw University, Cuttack
(Odisha).
• In 2020, Rajesh Kumar Behera, a masters student of Berhampur University collected several
specimens by assuming the species as “Pisodonophis boro” (rice-paddy eel) and conducted the
length and weight relationship by using digital callipers and a measuring tape.
Examination:
i. After thorough examination, the specimens of “Pisodonophiskalinga” were found to be very distinct from
“Pisodonophisboro” in several aspects like teeth shape, vertebrae range, position of dorsal fin, among
others.
ii. DNA analysis of samples collected from different localities with various morphs confirmed the two
species were related. One was expected to be Pisodonophisboro, and the other was the newPisodonophis
kalinga.
Features of Pisodonophis kalinga:
i. The found specimen of Pisodonophiskalinga has a strong elongated body (30 inches long) with irregular
patches of teeth.
ii. The dorsal side of the body of new species is dark olive-brown, ventrally pale white and both the
colours meet at the lateral side. The dorsal and anal fins have black bases and margins.
iii. P. kalinga have a higher range of vertebrae and fin ray count: 170–173 vertebrae, 374–400 dorsal fin
rays, and 248–269 anal fin rays.
iv. It is abundantly found in the region during the monsoon season from September to November.
Total Species:
There are now a total of three species of Pisodonophis in India, following the discovery of the new species.
• The eels from the family Ophichthidae have at least 359 valid species within two subfamilies,
the Myrophinae (71) and the Orphichthine (288 species), across the world.
Gracixalus patkaiensis: New Species of Green Tree Frog Discovered from NTR, Arunachal
Pradesh
A team of Indian and German scientists discovered a new species of green tree frog
named Gracixalus patkaiensis from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve (NTR) in Changlang district, Arunachal
Pradesh.
• The suggested common name of the new species
is “Patkai green tree frog”.
• The frog is named after Patkai hills range, where
the type locality of the new species lies within NTR.
• The discovery of the species is the first of its kind in
India and the 6th new frog species discovered from
the NTR, one of the largest protected areas of
Northeast India.
The findings of the new species have been published in the
recent edition (26th May 2023) of the German scientific
journal Vertebrate Zoology
Genus and Species:
i. The new species of rhacophorid frog belongs to the genus Gracixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae).

ii. The genus Gracixalus is a subspecies of small- to medium-sized frogs, and there are 19 species of this genus
across Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, southern China and Myanmar.
Research team:
The team includes researchers from:
Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based Wildlife Institute of India; Dresden (Germany)-based Senckenberg Natural
History Collections, and the Namdapha Tiger Reserve (NTR).
About the discovery:
i. The team first heard the frog’s mating call (a sound made by a bird or animal in order to attract a sexual
partner) while on a herpetological exploration of the NTR on 14th May 2022.
ii. The new species has been described based on morphological and molecular study, along with calling
patterns.
Note: Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles.
Features:
i. patkaiensis is morphologically distinct from other congeners by a suite of morphological characters such as
snout-vent length 23.6 – 26.5 mm (millimetres) in adult males.
ii. It has a long head, small nostrils, a green back with irregular brown spots, slender physique, a dark streak
across the head and white marks on its side.
iii. It also has spikes sticking out of its head and back and appears to be closely related to the
Gracixalus gracilipes found in China, Thailand and Vietnam.
iv. Genetically, the new taxon is found to differ from all the recognized Gracixalus species by 4–14.8%
divergence in the 16S (Mitochondrially encoded 16S Ribonucleic acid (RNA)) mitochondrial gene.
Note: The discovery of this new species can help in trans-boundary conservation initiatives and future
recognition of the area as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage site.
Gekko Mizoramensis: New species of flying geckos found in Mizoram

A team of researchers uncovered a new species of gliding geckos named Gekko Mizoramensis in Mizoram. As
the new species can glide the researchers have termed it a “parachute gecko“.
The new species was also named after Mizoram, the name of the
state where it was discovered i.e. Gekko Mizoramensis.
• The parachute gecko is one of the 14 geckos all over
the world that are known for gliding through the air,
and one specimen of the new species was collected
more than 20 years ago.
• Details of the new species of gliding geckos have been
published in the latest issue (15th May 2023)
of, Salamandra, a German journal on herpetology.
Genus and Species:
The new species belongs to the gekkonid genus Gekko, and gliding flight in members of the subgenus
Ptychozoon, commonly known as Parachute Geckos, and are nocturnal.
Features:
Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards found in warm climates throughout the world.
i. The Gekkomizoramensis had evolved the adhesive pads on their feet, which let them climb almost on any
surface using a network of microscopic hairs.
ii. It became one of the most successful lizard groups by some adaptations such as the ability to discard and
regrow their tails to distract predators, or see well in the dark.
iii. These geckos have flaps of skin and when they leap off a tall structure, air resistance pushes the flaps out to
their full extent much like a parachute, slowing the speed at which they fall, while other gliding reptiles use the
bone to form their flying surfaces.

iv. The skin flaps also help to break up their shape, acting as a camouflage against predators.
v. The new species is most similar to its sister species Gekkopopaensis (by the Arakan Hill range of Burma),
from which it differs in having an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 7–14% and by discrete
differences in morphology and colour pattern.
Note: At present there are more than 1,200 species of gecko and the species found inhabiting Mizoram, has
previously been discovered in parts of South Asia including Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and
Cambodia.
Hasarius mumbai: New Species of Jumping Spider found in Mumbai, Maharashtra

A new species of jumping spider named ‘Hasarius mumbai’ was recently discovered from the rocks lying
close to the streams at the Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) conservation education centre (CEC) in
Goregaon East, Mumbai (Maharashtra). The species is named after Mumbai, where it was found.
• The 33-acre nature reserve, inhabit to the ‘jumping
spiders’, is “one of the few pristine mixed moist
deciduous forest types in India” and shares its
boundaries with the biodiverse landscapes of Sanjay
Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and Film City in Aarey
Milk Colony (AMC) of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: This is the 3rd species of the genus Hasarius from India.
The other 2 are H. adansoni, found across India including in
urban areas, and H. kjellerupi, documented from the Union
Territory (UT) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Genus and Species:
i. The word “Hasarius” refers to a genus that ranks the species of “jumping spiders” belonging to the Salticidae
ii. The ‘Salticidae’ family of spiders as per existing literature contains over 600 different genera and over 6,000
described species of spider.
iii. These spiders are known for their unique hunting technique (Stalk and hunt the prey by pouncing),
different from traditional spiders that rely on webs.
Note: This genus, first discovered in the year 1826, occurs primarily in warm climates.
Researchers involved:
Rishikesh Tripathi (Lead) Christ College, Kerala; and researchers from the School of Natural Sciences,
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and the BNHS, Mumbai (Maharashtra), have published their findings
in the latest issue of the International, peer-reviewed journal Arthropoda Selecta.
Note: This is the first time since September 2021 that a description of a new biological species from Mumbai
city has been published.
Features:
i. The colour of the new species is Carapace brown, with white lateral bands of nearly uniform thickness. Eye
field black, mid-anteriorly with a streak of white hairs.
ii. A shield-like plate on the front of the head densely covered with intermixed white and rusty coloured hairs
forming a continuation with the lateral white stripes of carapace.
iii. Their multiple eyes provide a 360-degree view of their surroundings, helping in their hunting strategy.

efficiently.



Current Affairs Study PDF – August 2023
Table of Contents
PARLIAMENT NEWS ................................................................................................................................................ 14
OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 39
STATE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................. 63
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................ 71
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 78
INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 78
FOREIGN VISITS ....................................................................................................................................................... 83
BANKING NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 89
RBI IN NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................. 89
SEBI .......................................................................................................................................................................... 102
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS..................................................................................................................................... 109
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED............................................................................................................................ 110
OTHER BANK NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 119
FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 128
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 141
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE........................................................................................................................ 167
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................... 178
RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 178
REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 182

DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 247
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 247
TESTING .................................................................................................................................................................. 250
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 253
OBITUARY ................................................................................................................................................................... 278
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................... 287
IMPORTANT DAYS ..................................................................................................................................................... 289
APPS & WEB PORTAL ............................................................................................................................................... 326
ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 335

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approves Rs 1.39 Lakh cr for a Last-Mile Broadband Connectivity Plan
On 4th August 2023, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 1.39 lakh crores for a last-mile broadband
connectivity plan for 6.4 lakh villages across India as part of the BharatNet project. It will involve a change in
execution strategy, with a focus on providing optical fiber-based connections to the last mile through village-
level entrepreneurs.
• The last-mile connectivity will be delivered by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely
Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), an arm of state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL), in partnership with village-level entrepreneur (VLE).
• This partnership aims to ensure effective and efficient broadband connectivity reaching the
grassroots level in the villages.
• BharatNet is one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world.Around 1.94 lakh villages have
been connected at present, and the balance is likely to be connected over 2.5 years.
Background:- The Union Cabinet approved the BharatNet Project on 25th October 2011, one of the biggest
rural telecom projects in the world implemented to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India for providing non-
discriminatory access to broadband connectivity to all the telecom service providers.
• Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) is the implementing agency of Bharat Net Project.
• Under the BharatNet programme, the government has a target to provide broadband connectivity to
250,000 gram panchayats by 2025.
Key Points:
i.Similar to private telecommunications companies (telcos) Airtel and Jio, the Government will now involve VLE
or Udyamis in providing fiber connections to homes. This will be done on a 50:50 revenue-sharing basis.
The project is expected to create 2.5 lakh jobs in India.
ii.Under the modernised model, the government will bear the cost of taking the infrastructure to the home,
while the rural entrepreneur will be responsible for the maintenance and operations of home connections.
iii.So far, the government has provided internet connections to 5,67,000 households. Of these, 351,000 fiber
connections have been given using the new BharatNet Udyami project.
Third Package:
i.The approval of the recent package marks the third such initiative for BharatNet by the Centre.
ii.In 2017, the total funding of the BharatNet (Phase-I and Phase-II), approved by the Cabinet, is Rs 42,068
crores.
iii.In 2021, the Cabinet allocated another Rs 19,041 crore to implement the last-mile connectivity project under
the public-private partnership (PPP) model which, however, failed to generate significant interest.
Broadband Package:
i.Under the BharatNet project, the home broadband package will start at Rs.399/ month, offering unlimited
data at a speed of 30 Megabits per second (Mbps). The other plans include Rs 599, Rs 799, etc.
Note: In the pilot trial, BharatNet showed an average speed of 175 GigaByte (GB) per household per month.
Cabinet Approvals on August 16, 2023

On August 16, 2023, the Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the
following proposals:
i.7 Railway Projects worth Rs 32,500 Crore.
ii.‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ to benefit individuals skilled in Traditional Craftsmanship.
iii.Digital India project’s extension with outlay of Rs 14,903 cr.
iv.Rs 20,000-crore project for FSVs.

v.PM-eBus Sewa” for augmenting city bus operations.
vi.MRA of Authorised Economic Operators between India and Australia.
vii.MoU on Cooperation in Sports between India and Australia.
viii.MoU between India and Suriname in the field of Medical Products Regulation.
Cabinet Approves 7 Railway Projects worth Rs 32,500 Crore
The Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves seven multi-tracking projects of Indian Railways
with an outlay of Rs 32,500 crore. These projects are fully funded by the Central Government.
• These will add 2,339 kilometres to the existing network of Indian Railways.
• These seven multi-tracking projects aimed at easing operations and reducing congestion by covering
cover 35 districts across 9 states of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and West Bengal (WB).
Key Points:
i.These will help increase the existing line capacity, smoothen train operations, reduce congestion and facilitate
ease of travelling and transportation
ii.The projects have been identified through PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-model connectivitys.
iii.Apart from the infrastructure enhancements, these projects are anticipated to augment freight capacity
significantly, accommodating approximately 200 million tonnes of additional freight traffic annually.
iv.The projects will provide employment of 7.06 crore person-days to the people of the selected states.
About Projects:
Four projects have been approved for doubling of current tracks, one project has been approved for adding a
third line, one project for quadruple the existing network & one multi tracking project.
1) Gorakhpur Cantt to Valmiki Nagar — doubling of existing line.
• The total length of the project is 96 Km at a cost of Rs 1,269.8 crore.
2) Son Nagar-Andal multi tracking project.
• Total length is 374.5 Km at a total cost of Rs 13,606 crore. This project will cover parts of Bihar,
Aurangabad & Jharkhand.
3) Nergundi-Barang and Khurda Road-Vizianagaram — third line to be added.
• The length of the project is 385 Km which will be covered with a total cost of Re 5,618 crore.
4) Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone — doubling of the existing line.
• It will be carried out across 418 Km, at a cost of Rs 5,655.4 crore, this project will cover parts of
Maharashtra, Telangana & AP.
5) Guntur-Bibinagar — doubling of the existing line.
• It will be carried out across 239 Kms at a cost of Rs 3238 crore.
6) Chopan-Chunar — doubling of existing line.
• It will be carried out across 102 Km at a cost of Rs 1,553 crore.
7) Samakhiali-Gandhidham — quadrupling of the line.
• It will be carried out on a total length of 53 Km at a cost of Rs 1,571 crore.
Cabinet approves ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ to benefit individuals skilled in Traditional Craftsmanship
The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ to benefit individuals skilled in traditional
craftsmanship/artisan works. These include Weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, barbers, and
such families.
• Around Rs 13,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore will be allocated for the scheme.
• Click Here to Read
Govt approves Digital India Programme‘s extension with outlay of Rs 14,903 cr
The Union Cabinet also approved extension of Digital India programme with an outlay of Rs 14,903 crore. The
Digital India programme was launched on 1st July 2015 to enable digital delivery of services to citizens.
• Under the extended project 6.25 lakh IT (Information Technology) professionals will be re-skilled
and up-skilled, and 2.65 lakh persons will be trained in information security under the Information
Security & Education Awareness Phase (ISEA) Program.

Key Points:
i.540 additional services (Currently 1,700 services) will be available under the Unified Mobile Application for
New-age Governance (UMANG) app/ platform.
ii.9 more supercomputers will be added under National Super Computer Mission (NSCM).
• This is in addition to 18 supercomputers already deployed;
iii.Bhashini, the AI (Artificial Intelligence)-enabled multi-language translation tool (currently available in 10
languages) will be rolled out in all 22 languages in the 8th schedule to the Constitution.
iv.There will be modernization of the National Knowledge Network (NKN) which connects 1,787 educational
institutions;
v.3 Centres of Excellence(CoE) in Artificial Intelligence(AI) on health, agriculture and sustainable cities will be
set up;
vi.There will be new initiatives in the area of cyber security including development of tools and integration of
more than 200 sites with National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC).
Central Govt. approves Rs 20,000-crore project for FSVs
The Central Government has approved Rs 20,000 crore project for the construction of five Fleet Support
Vessels (FSVs) for Indian Navy (IN). These will be manufactured by the Visakhapatnam (AP)-based Hindustan
Shipyards Limited (HSL).
• This decision has been taken to bolster India’s naval capabilities.
• Each of these ships will weigh approximately 45,000 tonnes, and are expected to be ready by the
next decade.
Need behind FSVs:
The ships are needed to support warships on long range patrol and can carry a variety of equipment, such as
fuel, ammunition and food supplies. They will be able to support ships of all classes, including the two Indian
aircraft carriers.
Cabinet approves “PM-eBus Sewa” for augmenting city bus operations
The Union Cabinet approved the bus scheme ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ for augmenting city bus operation by 10,000 e-
buses (electric buses) on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• The Scheme will support bus operations for 10 years till 2037, and also generate 45,000 to 55,000
direct jobs.
• Under this scheme priority will be given to cities having no organized bus service, and will cover
cities having a population of 3 lakh and above.
Outlay:
Its estimated cost is Rs 57,613 crore, out of which support of Rs 20,000 crore will be provided by the Central
government, and the rest will be borne by the State Governments.
Scheme Coverage:
The scheme will cover cities of Three lakh and above population as per census 2011 including all the Capital
cities of Union Territories (UTs), North Eastern Region (NER) and Hill States.
Key Points:
i.There will be two segments of the scheme.
• Under Segment A, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed on PPP model in 169 cities.
• Under Segment B, Infrastructure will be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility
Initiatives(GUMI).
ii.States/Cities will be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators. The
Central Government will support these bus operations by providing subsidy to the extent specified in the
proposed scheme.

iii.The program boosts e-mobility and backs private power setups.
iv.Urban areas get aid for charging stations through GUMI.
v.It speeds up electric bus use, innovation, and supply chains, while also cutting pollution and promoting public
transit.
Cabinet approves Mutual Recognition Arrangement of Authorized Economic Operators between India
and Australia
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing and ratification of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
between the Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance,
Government of India, and the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Border Force, Australian Government.
• The deal is part of a global effort by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) through its SAFE
Framework of Standards to secure and improve global trade, and strengthen end-to-end security of
supply chains.
• This MRA will benefit Indian exporters to Australia and enhance the trade relationship between the
two nations.
Key Points:
i.As per the agreement, Mutual Recognition of the Australian Trusted Trader Program in Australia and
the Authorized Economic Operator Program in India will come into force from the date of signing by the
authorized representatives of both the countries.
ii.The agreement intends to offer mutual advantages to authorized and reliable exporters from both sides in the
clearance of goods by the Customs authorities of the importing country.
Cabinet approves MoU on Cooperation in Sports between India and Australia
The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Sports between
the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS), India; and the Department of Health and Aged Care of the
Government of Australia.
There will Bilateral exchange programs in the field of sports between both nations, sharing of knowledge and
expertise in the area of sport sciences, technologies and infrastructure; athlete and coach training and
development; sports governance and integrity; grassroots participation in sport; major sporting events;
diversity and inclusion in sport.
• All athletes, regardless of their caste, creed, region, religion and gender, will equally receive the
advantages resulting from the bilateral cooperation in the field of sports with Australia.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Suriname in the field of Medical Products
Regulation
The Union Cabinet has also given its approval for the MoU
between Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
(CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoH&FW), Government of India and Ministry of
Health, Government of the Republic of Suriname on
Cooperation in the field of health and medicine or medical
product regulation.
• It will strengthen bilateral ties between India and
Suriname by facilitating a constructive dialogue
on the laws and regulations pertinent to medical
products, among other matters.
Note:
This MoU was signed on June 4, 2023 during the visit of the
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to Suriname.
Areas of Cooperation:
The main areas of cooperation between the CDSCO and Ministry of Health, Suriname are as follows:

1. Promoting an understanding between the Parties of each other’s regulatory framework,
requirements and processes
2. Exchange of information and cooperation on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Clinical
Practices (GCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Pharmacovigilance Practices
(GPvP).
3. Recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia
4. Exchange of safety information, including Pharmacovigilance, and adverse events. This includes
safety concerns relating to medicines and medical devices.
5. Participation in scientific and practical conferences, symposiums, seminars and forum organized by
the Parties.
6. Capacity building in mutually agreed areas
7. Coordination at the international fora
Key Points:
i.The MoU aids medical product exports, boosting foreign exchange and supporting self-reliance.
ii.It enhances comprehension of pharmaceutical regulations, covering materials, devices, and cosmetics.
i.On the lines of the Central Government’s plan to expand the foodgrain storage capacities in India, the Union
ii.The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in New
Delhi, Delhi. This office would focus on UPU’s development cooperation and technical assistance activities in
collaboration with UPU.
About Suriname:
Capital– Paramaribo
Currency– Suriname Dollar
President– Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokh
Cabinet Approvals on 29th August 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on
29th August 2023:
i.Decrease of LPG prices by Rs. 200 per cylinder.
ii.Rs 50 Lakh grant for startups to promote Technical Textiles.
iii.Adopts Resolution Hailing Soft-Landing of Chandrayaan-3.
Central Govt approves reduction of LPG prices by Rs 200 per cylinder
Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the price
reduction of 14.2 kg LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder by Rs.200 per cylinder for all consumer across the
country with effective from August 30,2023.
• This will also be applicable to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which means, PMUY
beneficiaries will now get a total subsidy of Rs 400 per 14.2kg-LPG cylinder.
Note: The prices for non-subsidized domestic per 14.2kg LPG cylinder currently stand at Rs 1,103 in Delhi; Rs
1,129 in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB); Rs 1,102.50 Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Rs 1,118.50 in Chennai, Tamil
Nadu (TN).
Key Points:
i.The decision will ease the financial burden on citizens and promote the welfare of households.There are more
than 31 crore domestic LPG consumers in India including 9.6 Cr PMUY beneficiary families

ii.The central Government will provide 75 lakh new LPG connections for free under PMUY.
• New connections under the subsidy scheme will be completely free.
iii.The total expenditure for PMUY is Rs 6,100 crore for the FY2022-23 and Rs 7,680 crore for FY2023-24. The
LPG subsidy allocation for FY2023-24 is expected to be revised upwards.
About PM Ujjwala Scheme
Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
AIM: To provide LPG connections to women from BPL households.
Launch Date & Place : 1st May, 2016 at Ballia, UP
Ujjwala 2.0 :-
Launch Date: 10th August,2021
Launched at : Mahoba, UP
Ministry of Textiles approves Rs 50 lakh grant for startups to promote Technical Textiles, gives nod to
26 engineering institutes
The Ministry of Textiles has approved the Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles – Grant for Research
and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT).
• The information for the same was provided by Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary Textiles, Ministry of
Textiles, during a press conference in New Delhi, Delhi on the important developments in the
National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
i.This initiative offers grant-in-aid of up to INR 50 Lakhs over a span of 18 months.
• To be eligible for the grant, startups must not have been operating for more than five years.
ii.The program’s goals are to increase exports and generate high-value jobs.
iii. Ministry offers an additional 10% of the total grant to incubators (organisation or institutions support
startups in their early stage business),whereas incubates(startups or individuals in the incubator
program) are required to make a minimum investment of 10% of the funding in two equal instalments.
Highlights:
i.The guidelines foster the development of Technical Textiles startups, aiding conversion from prototypes to
products and commercialization.
ii.GREAT emphasizes areas like Agro-textiles, Medical-textiles, Smart Textiles, Bio-degradable textiles, High-
performance materials, and Indigenous Machinery, employing technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT
(Internet of Things), and 3D/4D printing, among others.
Other Approvals by the Ministry of Textiles:
i.The Ministry also approved 26 institutes to upgrade their lab facilities and train trainers in the application
areas of technical textiles. These institutes will contribute to the development and introduction of technical
textile courses/ papers in the key departments/specializations and introduce new degree programme in
technical textiles.
• Rs 151.02 Crores has been approved for this project, where, 15 applications valuing Rs 105.55
Crores are from Public Institutes and 11 applications valuing Rs 45.47 Crores are from Private
Institutes.
• It will support upgrading existing courses across various technical textile domains, including
specialty fibers, geotextiles, smart textiles, among others.
ii.The Ministry will also reopen the Academic Institutes Guidelines for Technical Textiles Education (Round II)
under National Technical Textiles Mission(NTTM) with broader criteria, including institutes with National
Board of Accreditation (NBA) scores above 750, National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC) rating
A+/3.26 or higher, and top 200 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked institutes as eligible
private ones.
• These guidelines have received initial approval and aim to incorporate new courses by the 2025-26
academic year.

iii.On the quality and regulation aspect of technical textiles, the Ministry notified two QCOs (Quality Control
Orders) for 31 technical textile products including 19 geotextiles and 12 protective textiles, which will come
into effect from October 7, 2023.
About National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)
The mission aims to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles with 4 components: i.Research,
Innovation and Development. ii. Promotion and Market Development. iii. Export Promotion. iv. Education,
Training, Skill Development
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.
Implementation: For a period of four years , starting from FY 2020-21 till FY 2023-24.
About Ministry of Textiles:
Union Minister – Shri Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Constituency – Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS) – Smt. Darshana V Jardosh
Union Cabinet adopts Resolution Hailing Soft-Landing of Chandrayaan-3
The Union Cabinet adopted a resolution hailing the soft-landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface,
highlighting that the mission’s achievement signifies not only Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO)
success but also India’s advancement and global stature.
• Through this resolution Cabinet congratulated ISRO on its efforts, and thanked scientists for making
India, the first country to land near the Moon’s South Pole.
• The Cabinet also welcomed the decision to celebrate August 23 as the National Space Day.
• Two points on the moon were named as Tiranga Point (footprint of Chandrayaan-2)
and ShivShakti Point (Chandrayaan-3’s landing spot).
• Chandrayaan-1: Launched in 2008 by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Chandrayaan-2: Launched in 2019.
Chandrayaan-3: Launched in July 2023.
• Chandrayaan-4/LUPEX: it is expected to launch by or after 2026. Lunar Polar Exploration Mission
(LUPEX), a planned collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
About Chandrayaan 3:
On August 23, 2023, India accomplished the successful
landing of its Chandrayaan-3 mission on the lunar surface,
becoming the fourth nation to achieve this feat, following
the United States, Russia, and China.
Launcher: LVM3(Launch Vehicle Mark-3)
Launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR,
Sriharikota,,
Budget – Rupees 615 crores
Project Director : P Veeramuthuvel
i.The Union Cabinet, approved the Draft of Digital Personal
Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022 which frames out the
rights and duties of the citizen (Digital Nagrik) and the
obligations to use collected data lawfully of the data
fiduciary (entities that collect personal data).
ii.Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) MMDR Act of
1957, for the commercial mining of 6 critical minerals: lithium, titanium, beryllium, zirconium, niobium and
tantalum.
Chairman– Sreedhara Panicker Somanath

PARLIAMENT NEWS
President Droupadi Murmu Gives Assent to Four Bills,August2023
On 12th August 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu gave assent to four bills including the Digital
Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023, the Jan
Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
(Amendment) Bill 2023.
• As per the Indian constitution, a bill transforms into an act upon receiving the President’s assent and
is then formally announced in the official gazette. Consequently, the aforementioned bills have now
been enacted as acts.
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023:
i.The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023 amends the Registration of Births and Deaths
1969 Act.
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023 falls under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
ii.The bill will contribute to the development of a national and state-level database of registered births and
deaths, which will eventually ensure the efficient and transparent delivery of public services and social
benefits, as well as digital registration.
key Features of the Bill
i.Database of births and deaths: The Bill provides for the appointment of a Registrar-General of India(Central
level), who may issue general directions for registration of births and deaths, and also maintain a national
database of registered births and deaths.
• The Chief Registrars (appointed by states) and Registrars (appointed by states for local area
jurisdiction) , who are appointed by the states for local area jurisdiction, will be liable for providing
data on registered births and deaths to the national database.
• Note – The Registrar General of India(RGI) is a designated office that operates within the framework
of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
ii.Electronic certificates:The Bill facilitates the insertion of provisions for digital registration and electronic
delivery of certificates of births and deaths.
iii.Aadhaar details of parents and informants required: The original act allowed certain persons to report
births and deaths to the Registrar. Ex-the medical officer in charge of a hospital where a baby is born must
report the birth.
• The amendments expand the list of specified persons including the adoptive parents for non-
institutional adoption, biological parents for births through surrogacy, and the parent in case of
birth of a child to a single parent or unwed mother.
• The amendments added that the specified persons shall also provide the Aadhaar number of the
parents and the informant.
iv.Use of birth certificate: It will provide for the use of the birth certificate as a single document to prove the
date and place of birth of a person born on or after the date of commencement of the Registration of Births and
Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023.
• The information will be used for purposes including for admission to an educational institution,
issuance of a driving license, preparation of voter list, marriage registration, appointment to a post
in central or state government or a local body or public sector undertaking or in any statutory or
autonomous body under the central or state government.
v.Appeal process: Everyone who is dissatisfied with the Registrar’s or District Registrar’s decision or order
may file an appeal with the District Registrar or Chief Registrar, as appropriate.
• Such an appeal must be filed within 30 days of receiving the action or order in dispute.
• The decision of the District Registrar or Chief Registrar must be made within 90 days of the date of
the appeal.

vi.Connecting database:The Bill states that the national database may be made available to other authorities
preparing or maintaining other databases and the use of the national database must be approved by the central
government.
• Both the States and Union Territories are responsible for maintaining separate databases within
the Civil Registration System(CRS). This system operates under the operational oversight of the
Registrar General of India (RGI).
• It includes the population register, electoral rolls, ration cards, and any other national databases as
notified by the Government.
• Also, the state database may be made available to authorities dealing with other state databases,
subject to state government approval.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The purpose of this Act is to make changes to the “Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act,
1991. This Act was passed on August 11, 2023.The name of this Act is the “Government of National Capital
Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023.”
• Hence, the “Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023” replaces
the “Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023.”
• The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 falls under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Note – This is a common practice where an ordinance (temporary law issued by the executive branch) is
replaced by a bill passed by the legislative body (in this case, the Parliament), which then becomes a permanent
law.
Highlights of the Bill:
i.Establishment of National Capital Civil Services Authority(NCCSA):
The Bill establishes the National Capital Civil Services Authority(NCCSA) to recommend various service-related
issues to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG).
• It includes transfers and postings, matters
related to vigilance, disciplinary proceedings,
and prosecution sanctions of Group A of All
India Services (except Indian Police Service),
and The Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar,
Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and.
Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services(DANICS).
• The Authority consists of the Chief Minister of
Delhi as Chairperson, the Principal Home
Secretary of the Delhi government as Member
Secretary, and the Chief Secretary of the Delhi
government as member.
• The central government appoints both the
Principal Home Secretary and Chief Secretary.
• All Authority decisions shall be made by a
majority vote of the members present and
voting. A meeting requires a quorum of two
individuals.
ii.Powers of the Lieutenant Governor:Lieutenant Governor of Delhi granted discretionary power over
matters beyond Delhi Assembly’s competence or requiring Judicial/quasi-judicial action.
• It also increases the LG’s discretionary role by granting him the authority to approve or reject the
Authority’s recommendations.
• In the event of a disagreement between the LG and the Authority, the LG’s judgment will be final.

iii.Disposal of matters by Ministers: A Minister of the Delhi government prior to issuing any order regarding
certain topics, the order must be submitted to the LG for his opinion through the Chief Minister and the Chief
Secretary.
• It includes the peace and tranquility of Delhi, relations between the Delhi government and the
central government, Supreme Court, or other state governments, summoning, prorogation, and
dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, and matters on which LG is to give an order in his sole
discretion.
iv.Duties of Secretaries:The Department Secretaries must bring certain matters to the notice of the LG, the
Chief Minister, and the Chief Secretary.
• It includes matters which may bring the Delhi Government into controversy with the central or any
state government, the Supreme Court, or the High Court of Delhi.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023
The primary purpose of the Bill is to regulate the processing of digital personal data and respect individuals’
right to protect their data while recognizing the necessity of processing and using such data for lawful
purposes.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology.
Key Features:
i.Applicability: The Bill applies to the processing of digital personal data within India where such data is
collected online, or collected offline and is digitised.
• It will also apply to the processing of personal data outside India if it is for offering goods or services
in India.
• Personal data is defined as any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such
data
ii.Consent:Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose after obtaining the consent of the
individual.
• Consent will not be required for ‘legitimate uses’ including specified purposes for which data has
been provided by an individual voluntarily, provision of benefit or service by the government,
medical emergency, and employment.
iii.Rights and duties of data principal: An individual whose data is being processed (data principal), will have
the right to obtain information about processing, seek correction and erasure of personal data, nominate
another person to exercise rights in the event of death or incapacity, and grievance redressal.
iv.Obligations of data fiduciaries: The entity determining the purpose and means of processing, (data
fiduciary), must make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data, build reasonable
security safeguards to prevent a data breach, inform the Data Protection Board of India and affected persons in
the event of a breach, and erase personal data as soon as the purpose has been met and retention is not
necessary for legal purposes (storage limitation).
v.Data Protection Board of India: The central government will establish the Data Protection Board of India.
• Key functions of the Board include monitoring compliance and imposing penalties, directing data
fiduciaries to take necessary measures in the event of a data breach, and hearing grievances made
by affected persons.
vi.Penalties: Bill specifies penalties for various offenses such as up to Rs 200 crore for non-fulfillment of
obligations for children, and Rs 250 crore for failure to take security measures to prevent data breaches.
• Penalties will be imposed by the Board after conducting an inquiry.
vii.Transfer of personal data outside India: The Bill allows the transfer of personal data outside India, except
to countries restricted by the central government through notification.
viii.Exemptions: Rights of the data principal and obligations of data fiduciaries (except data security) will not
apply in specified cases including prevention and investigation of offences, and enforcement of legal rights or
claims.

• By notification, the central government exempts certain activities from the application of the Bill
including processing by government entities in the interest of the security of the state and public
order, and research, archiving, or statistical purposes.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
• Through The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, a total of 183 provisions are being
proposed to be decriminalized in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments.
• Acts being amended include the Indian Post Office Act, of 1898, the Environment (Protection) Act, of
1986, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the Information Technology Act, of 2000.
• The Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (Chair: Mr. P.P. Chaudhary), which
submitted its report on March 17, 2023.
Click here to know more about the Jan Vishwas Bill
i.President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Competition(Amendment Bill),2023, which aims to
amend the Competition Act, 2002, that regulates competition in the Indian market and forbids anti-competitive
practices like cartels, mergers, and acquisitions that might have a negative impact on competition.
ii.On April 10, 2023, the Governor of Tamil Nadu (TN) Ravindra Narayana (RN) Ravi approved the ‘Tamil Nadu
Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022’ to ban online gambling, including
online rummy and poker with stakes.
About the National Capital Territory(NCT) of Delhi:
Chief Minister – Arvind Kejriwal
Governor – Vinai Kumar Saxena
Wildlife Sanctuary – Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Festivals – Bhai Dooj Festival, Chhat Festival
President Droupadi Murmu Has Given Approval to Three More Bills in August 2023
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the following bills during the Monsoon Session,
2023 of Parliament:
• The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Act, 2023
• National Dental Commission Act, 2023
• Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Act, 2023
The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Act, 2023 falls under the jurisdiction of Ministry of
Human Resource Development.It was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 28, 2023, it amends the Indian
Institutes of Management (IIM) Act, 2017.
• The Act declares IIMs as institutes of national importance in alignment with the acts governing the
Indian Institute Of Technology (IITs) and other Institutes of National Importance.
• The Bill classifies the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai in Maharashtra as
IIM, Mumbai, means, NITIE is included in The IIM Act, 2017.Hence, NITIE is India’s proposed 21st IIM.
• It also redefines the roles of the Board, Director, and Visitor, and seeks to enhance accountability,
efficiency, and quality in management education.
• The bill empowers the “Visitor” to nominate the chairperson of the board of governors, oversee
appointment as well as removal of directors, and audit the functioning of the 20 IIMs in the country.
• The Bill designates the President of India as Visitor of every Institute covered by the Act.

Highlights of the Bill:
i.IIM Director –
• Under the Act, the Director of an IIM is appointed by the Board of Governors, based on the
recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee. However, the Board needs to obtain the prior
approval of the Visitor before appointing an Institute Director.
• The Board, with prior approval of the Visitor, the authority to remove the Director from office.Under the
Act, the Board may remove the Director from office on grounds such as: (i) insolvency, (ii) mental and
physical incapacity, (iii) conflict of interest with prior approval of the Visitor.
ii.Chairperson of the Board of Governors: Under the Act, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of each
Institute is appointed by the Board. The Act empowers the Visitor to nominate an eminent person as the
Chairperson of the Board of IIMs.
iii.Inquiries against IIMs:The Act allows the Board to investigate Institutes that aren’t following the Act. A
retired High Court judge leads these investigations.
iv.Dissolution of the Board: The Bill states that the central government can create the conditions and
procedure for dissolving or suspending an Institute’s Board. In case of suspension or dissolution, an interim
board will be formed by the central government for up to six months or until a new Board is established.”
V.Setting Up Institutes: According to the Act, if a current institution becomes an IIM under this Act, all its
employees will maintain their existing tenure, salary, and pensions. However, the Bill doesn’t include the
Director of such institutions in this rule.
National Dental Commission Act, 2023
The National Dental Commission Act, 2023 falls under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.It was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 24, 2023,it repeals the Dentists Act, 1948.
• Objective – It seeks to regulate the profession of dentistry in India by promoting affordable and high
quality oral healthcare availability and boosting the employability of Indian dental professionals
globally.
Highlights:
i.Formation of National Dental Commission (NDC): Under the Act, the National Dental
Commission consists of 33 members,will be formed to replace the existing Dental Council of India (DCI) and
repeal the Dentists Bill, 1948. The act also mandates the formation of State Dental Councils or Joint Dental
Councils.
• This structure aims to decentralize authority and enhance effective regulation.
• The NDC will be led by a ‘selected’ Regulator. This entails the appointment of the NDC Chairman and
Members through a merit-based selection process conducted by a Search–cum-Committee chaired by
the Cabinet Secretary.
ii.The Act will empower three distinct Autonomous Boards to will carry out specific functions, contributing
to a comprehensive regulatory framework.They are
• Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Dental Education Board,
• Dental Assessment and Rating Board (DARB), and
• Ethics and Dental Registration Board (EDRB).
iii.There will fixed tenure for the Chairperson, Members, and Secretary of the Commission, with no possibility
of reappointment.
iv.There will be creation of an online and live National Register of licensed dentists and dental auxiliaries.
v.There will be establishment of a Dental Advisory Council with representation from all States/Union
Territories for comprehensive insights.
Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 falls under the jurisdiction
of Ministry of Mines.It was introduced in Lok sabha on July 27, 2023,and it amends Offshore Areas Mineral
(Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (‘OAMDR Act’), to introduce crucial reforms in India’s offshore mining
sector.

• Objective -The proposed law seeks to create transparent system for managing and overseeing mineral
resources in India’s maritime areas, including territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic
zone, and other relevant zones.
Note -The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) was amended in January
2015 to provide for allocation of mineral concessions in onshore areas through auction.
The Act categorizes offshore mining-related activities into the following:
• Reconnaissance, which involves a preliminary survey to locate mineral resources
• Exploration, which includes exploring, proving, or locating mineral deposits
• Production, the commercial activity of the extraction of minerals
Highlights:
i.The proposed amendment in the Act will bring major reform by introducing auction as the method of
allocation of operating rights in the offshore areas.The Act introduces two types of operating rights,
namely production lease and composite licence through competitive auction for the private sector.
• Composite license mandates exploration completion in 3 years, extendable by 2 years. Successful
exploration leads to production leases. Max exploration area: 30 minutes latitude by 30 minutes
longitude and Max production area: 15 minutes latitude by 15 minutes longitude.
ii.PSU Participation: Public Sector Units (PSUs) are granted operating rights in areas reserved by the Central
Government. For atomic minerals, operating rights are exclusively granted to PSUs.
iii.Renewal and Duration: Renewal of production leases has been eliminated, with a fixed 50-year period in
line with the MMDR Act. This ensures clarity and consistency.
iv.Offshore Area Limits: There is now a cap on the offshore area one entity can acquire. The limit is defined as
45 minutes latitude by 45 minutes longitude for a specific mineral or a group of associated minerals under one
or more operating rights.
v.Offshore Areas Mineral Trust: A non-lapsable trust, called the Offshore Areas Mineral Trust, is established.
It will fund activities like exploration, disaster relief, research, and aiding affected individuals.
• It will maintain a fund under the Public Account of India.
vi.Ease of Transfer: Provisions for simple transfer of composite licences or production leases have been
included, aiming to streamline business operations.
India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), spanning over two million square kilometers, holds valuable
recoverable resources. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified mineral reserves in offshore areas:
• 1,53,996 million tons of lime mud off Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts.
• 745 million tons of construction-grade sand near Kerala.
• 79 million tons of heavy mineral placers off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and
Maharashtra.
• Phosphorite in Eastern and Western continental margins.
• Polymetallic Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts in Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Sea.
About Monsoon Session, 2023 of Parliament:
It was commenced on July 20, 2023, and was adjourned sine die on August 11, 2023. Throughout the session,
20 Bills were presented in the Lok Sabha, and 5 Bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha passed 22
Bills, while Rajya Sabha passed 25 Bills. One Bill was withdrawn in agreement with both the Lok Sabha and the
Rajya Sabha. The combined tally of Bills passed by both Houses during this session amounts to
23. Click Here for full list
i.On the lines of the Central Government’s plan to expand the foodgrain storage capacities in India, the Union
ii.To further expand the Smart Cities Program, the Union cabinet approved the ‘City Investments to Innovate,
Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0)’ to 18 more cities which will run for a period of four years, from 2023 to
2027.

Ministry of Finance Launches Vivad Se Vishwas-2 Scheme To Settle Contractual Disputes
On 2nd August 2023, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance (MOF), launched the scheme, Vivad
se Vishwas II – (Contractual Disputes), to settle the pending contractual disputes of government and
government undertakings.
• The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 by the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala
Sitharaman.
The scheme aims to promote ease of doing business and will cover disputes up to September 30, 2022, clear the
backlog of litigation, and also resolves the government’s contractual disputes with private parties.
Key points:
i.The deadline for submitting claims under the scheme is 31st October 2023
ii.Application for settlement are to be made by the contractors through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
portal.
iii.The Scheme is valid from 15 July to 31 October 2023.
i.The scheme is applicable to domestic contractual disputes involving the Government of India or organizations
under its control.
ii.Disputes with arbitral awards issued up to 31st January 2023 and court awards passed up to 30th April 2023
are eligible for settlement.
iii.Eligible claims shall be processed only through GeM. For non-GeM contracts of Ministry of Railways,
contractors may register their claims on IREPS (www.ireps.gov.in).
Settlement Offers:
i.Contractors will be offered settlement amounts based on the net amount awarded or upheld by the court.
ii.For court awards passed on or before 30th April 2023, the settlement amount can go up to 85% of the net
amount.
iii.For arbitral awards passed on or before 31st January 2023, the settlement amount can go up to 65% of the
net amount awarded
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches DBT in NAPS to strengthen apprenticeship

ecosystem
On 12th August 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Ministry of Education(MoE), and the Ministry
of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in National
Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to encourage the participation of both corporates and young
individuals towards apprenticeship training in India, at an event in New Delhi, Delhi.
• As part of the DBT launch, an amount of approximately Rs. 15 crores was disbursed to 1 lakh
apprentices.
• Under the NAPS, the GoI reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend, up to a maximum of Rs.1500/-
per month per apprentice, engaged by employers.
• With the implementation of DBT, it is anticipated that the number of apprentices will further
increase, expanding the coverage beyond the initial 30% target set under NAPS 2.0.
Analysis:
i.More than 25 Lakh apprentices have been engaged since the inception of NAPS in 2016 till 31st July 2023,
whereas around 2.6 lakh Apprentices have completed training in the financial year (FY) 2023-2024.
ii.As a result of proactive initiatives by the government, to promote quality training across various sectors, the
number of active establishments offering apprenticeships saw an increase to 40,655 in 2023-24 from 6,755 in
2018-19.
Key Highlights:
i.The Union Minister emphasized this initiative as perfectly aligning with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision

of promoting aspirational skilling and encouraging the concept of “earning while learning,” as outlined in the
National Education Policy (NEP).
ii.The introduction of DBT in NAPS marks a move towards transparency and efficiency.
iii.The robust strategy, involving the evolution of policies, and collaboration with industries, underscores the
importance of a skilled workforce in the growth of India.
iv.Notably, there has been an exceptional 488% increase in the number of establishments offering
apprenticeship training since the inception of NAPS.
• Some of them were the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (MCCIA) in
Pune, Maharashtra, the Baddi Cluster from Himachal Pradesh, and the North Malabar Consortium
Industry Cluster in Kannur, Kerala.
Chintan Shivir:
i.The MSDE also organized a “Chintan Shivir” on “Enhancing Apprenticeship Engagement” to elevate the uptake
of apprenticeship programs across all stakeholders.
ii.The core objective of Chintan Shivir was to foster collaboration among central and state governments,
industry bodies, and the private sector.
iii.The Chintan Shivir was divided into 3 breakout sessions themed on: Stakeholder Convergences to Make
Apprenticeship Aspirational; Strategies and Practices to Promote Quality Apprenticeship and Create a Diverse and
Inclusive Apprenticeship Ecosystem, respectively.
iv.The deliberations revolved around, fostering dialogue; increasing apprenticeship uptake; enhancing quality;
and ensuring equal opportunities for marginalized and underserved communities.
Few Key achievements of NAPS:
i.In FY 2023-24, approximately 2.6 lakh apprentices successfully completed their training.
ii.Women apprentices have also increased from 22,427 in 2018-19 to 1.48 lakh in FY 2022-23, registering a
nearly 7-fold increase in the last 5 years.
iii.The number of active establishments has subsequently increased from 6,755 in 2018-19 to 40,655 in 2023-
24.
iv.States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana have
emerged as leaders in the apprenticeship engagement chart.
v.This inclusive approach extends to regions like the North Eastern Region, aspirational districts, and tribal
districts.
Postal Life Insurance Launches Direct Incentive Disbursement for Sales Force
On August 7, 2023, Postal Life Insurance (PLI) introduced a pilot program for ‘Direct Incentive Disbursement’
in the Delhi and Uttarakhand Circles to recognize the role of its sales force or PLI’s agents.
• It was unveiled by Alok Sharma, Director General, Postal Services. Chief Postmasters General of all
Postal Circles also participated in this program through video conference.
About Direct Incentive Disbursement Initiative:
i.This initiative is their agent incentive program under which agents’ commissions from the previous month
directly transferred to their Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) Accounts resulting in swift and secure
transactions.
ii.It will also lead to the convenience and motivation of Salesforce.
iii.The automated payouts will reduce administrative costs, enabling a greater focus on delivering client
service.
iv.The introduction of this initiative marks a modernization of the incentives distribution process.
Key Points:
i.The PLI’s agent or sales staff is the driving force behind the department’s accomplishments.
ii.PLI is committed to strengthening its relationship with agents and fostering a culture of excellence as this
initiative will benefit around two lakh sales force members across India, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Direct
Agents, Field Officers, and Departmental Employees.

About PLI:
PLI was launched in 1884 as a welfare scheme for postal employees and later extended to employees of the
Telegraph Department in 1888. It is the India’s oldest life insurer, with significant growth from a few hundred
policies in 1884 to over 50 Lakhs policies as of 31st March 2021.
Now, its coverage includes employees of Central & State Governments, Defence and Para-Military Services,
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Banks, Educational Institutions, Local Bodies, professionals, and employees
of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE)/ (BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) listed companies.
Nitin Gadkari Launched World’s 1st BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle”
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways(MoRTH) launched the world’s
first prototype of BS-VI(Bharat Stage Six) Stage II compliant “Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle”, Toyota
Innova Hycross.It is a variant of Toyota’s Innova, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private
Limited(Toyota Kirloskar).
• This is also India’s first flex-fuel electrified vehicle that can run in either electric
mode or 100% ethanol.
• This launch is in line with India’s target to increase ethanol blending in petrol by 20% by 2025-
2026.
About the Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle:
i.The new Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle(FFV) is based on the Innova Hycross and is designed and
developed to comply with the emission standards of India.
• Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have an internal combustion engine and are capable of operating
on petrol and any blend of petrol and ethanol.
ii.The upcoming stages of this prototype will include meticulous refinement, homologation and
certification process.
iii.This innovative vehicle has an internal combustion engine and is capable of operating on petrol and any
blend of petrol and ethanol.
• Until now, the maximum limit of mixing is set at around 83%.But but this model says to run on
100 per cent ethanol.
Key People:
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG), Union Minister Dr
Mahendra Nath Pandey, Ministry of Heavy Industries; Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director & Chief
Executive Officer (MD & CEO), Toyota Kirloskar were presented during the launch.
Bharat Stage (BS):
Bharat stage(BS) emission standards are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to
regulate the output of air pollutants from compression ignition engines and Spark-ignition engines
equipment, including motor vehicles.
Bharat Stage Six(BS-VI):
i.Bharat Stage Six (BS-VI) or BS6 is the 6th emission benchmark or criterion in reducing pollution levels
when compared to the BSIV or BS4 emission norms.
• Both are the maximum emission norms which set the maximum pollution from the exhaust of
the motor vehicle.
• India shifted to BS VI vehicular emission norms by 1st April 2020 from BS IV.
ii.As per the previous Auto fuel Policy, BS-II, BS-III and BS-IV quality auto fuels were introduced in India by
1sy April 2017. The Committee proposed the implementation of BS-V emission norms by 1st April 2020
and the BS-VI emission norms from 2024.
iii.Due to the increasing pollution, the Government implemented the BS-IV and BS-VI emissions with effect
from 1st April 2020.

iv.The fuel quality has improved from BS-IV to BS-VI norms by reducing the permissible Sulphur content
from 50 Parts Per Million (ppm) in BS-IV to a maximum of 10 ppm in BS-VI-compliant fuel.
Additional info:
• India has reduced the dependence on oil imports with an aim to become self-reliant. At present,
India imports fossil fuels worth Rs 16 lakh crore every year.
• Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, or alcohol) is a biofuel with the chemical formula C2H5OH. It
is naturally made by the fermentation of sugar.
President of India Released Rs.100 Coin Commemorating Late Shri NT Rama Rao
Government of India(GoI) introduced a commemorative Rs.100 silver coin featuring the image of
the Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (N.T. R),a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and
a legendary Indian actor.President of India Droupadi Murmu released the coin to mark the 100th birth
anniversary (centenary Year) of N.T.Rama Roa at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre(RBCC) in New
Delhi,Delhi.
Specifications of Rs.100 Silver coin:-
• The coin is 44mm in diameter and it is made from 50 percent Silver, 40 per cent Copper, 5 per
cent Nickel and 5 per cent Zinc.
• The coin features the national emblem, the Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath, on one side and an
image of NTR along with the inscription ‘Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Satha Jayanthi’ on the
other side.
• NTR’s centenary, the coin also has the inscription 1923-2023.
About N.T.Rama Rao
i.He served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for three terms and was well known as Anna Garu
(Elder Brother) by the fans and supporters.He made his debut in Telugu language movies.
ii.N.T.Rama Rao was honored with three National Film Awards for his involvement in the production of
Telugu movies Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1960) and directing Varakatnam
(1970).He was also honoured with India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri in 1968 in the
field of arts and films.
iii.He became familiar in 1950s for his portrayal of Hindu Gods such as Lord Krishna,Lord Rama and Lord
Shiva in his movies.
iv.He is also recognized for his role for the initiatives such as Telugu Cultural Renaissance and the Telugu
language movement.
The Government Mint
• India Government Mint, Mumbai (‘IGM Mumbai’) is engaged in the manufacture of circulation
coins, commemorative coins, medals and medallions, and weights & measures standards. The
IGM Mumbai, established in 1829, is one of the oldest mints in India.
• It is part of the Union Finance Ministry and is operated by the Security Printing and Minting
Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL).
The first Mumbai Mint rupee was coined in the year 1672.
MoE Announces Launch of Smart India Hackathon 2023

On 23rd August 2023, The Ministry of Education’s(MoE) Innovation Cell in collaboration with the All India
Council of Technical Education (AICTE) announced the launch of the 6th edition Smart India Hackathon (SIH)
2023.
• SIH-2023 is supported by the participation of 26 Central Ministries, 6 State Ministries, and 4
Industry partners.

• The last date for the submission of problem statements for senior SIH is September 30, 2023,
whereas for Junior SIH, it is October 30, 2023.
Note:The first edition of the Smart India Hackathon was held in 2017.For the Junior category, this is the 2nd
edition since it was started in 2022.
Key people:
i.Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education, Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, and Dr. Abhay ere, Vice
Chairman of AICTE were present at the announcement event at New Delhi, Delhi.
About Smart India Hackathon 2023:
i.Smart India Hackathon 2023 is a nationwide initiative to provide students with a platform to address critical
challenges, we encounter in our everyday lives.It aims to foster a culture of product innovation and cultivate
problem-solving skills among participants.
ii.The competition is set to be held in two categories.
• SIH Junior – Class 6th-12th students.
• SIH Senior – Higher Education Institution (HEI) students (Graduate/Post-Graduate/Doctor of
Philosophy)
iii.Themes – Agriculture, FoodTech & Rural Development, Blockchain & Cybersecurity, Clean & Green
Technology, Disaster Management, Fitness & Sports, Heritage & Culture, MedTech / BioTech / HealthTech,
Miscellaneous, Renewable / Sustainable Energy, Robotics and Drones, Smart Automation, Smart Education,
Smart Vehicles, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Tourism and Toy.
iv.Participants can choose their problems from the collection of 239 problem statements, including 182
software challenges and 57 hardware challenges
v.The tentative dates for the grand finale of Senior SIH and Junior SIH are in the first week of November 2023
and January 2023, respectively.
Additional info:
i.UNESCO India Africa Hackathon was inaugurated at Gautam Buddha University in Uttarpradesh on November
2022.
ii.The National Cybersecurity Hackathon ‘KAVACH-2023’ was conducted by AICTE in collaboration with the
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BRPD), and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
along with Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It was launched in February 2023 and the valedictory was held in AMC Engineering College,
Bengaluru on 10th August 2023.
ii.The four teams won the ‘KAVACH-2023’ including LNCT University of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), G.H. Raisoni
College of Engineering and Business Management (Jalgaon, Maharashtra), Bhilai Institute of Technology Durg
(Chhattisgarh) and Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Management (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu).
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat New Car Assessment Programme
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) launched the Bharat
New Car Assessment Programme(BNCAP) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The aim of the launch is intended to improve the road safety for M1 category motor vehicles
weighing less than 3.5T Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).
• The BNCAP car test program begins on 1st October 2023,will be led by the Central Institute of Road
Transport (CIRT).
Key people:
Minister of State(MoS) for Road Transport and Highways Gen Vijay Kumar Singh and Anurag Jain, secretary
of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)also present during the launch.
Note:
The M1 category refers to vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in
addition to the driver’s seat.

About Bharat NCAP:
i.The purpose of this programme is to provide automobile buyers with a tool for comparing the crash safety of
motor vehicles on the market.
ii.Car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their vehicles to be tested in accordance with Automotive Industry
Standard (AIS) 197 under this scheme.
• The car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP) based on
its performance in the testing.
iii.This initiative will lead to creating high demand’ for safer cars which compel manufacturers to meet
‘customer safety preferences’.
Key points:
i.BNCAP sets India as the world’s fifth country to have such an indigenous car crash test programme, behind the
United States, China, Japan, and South Korea.
ii.So far, Indian cars have been tested by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), a Zero
Foundation project based in the United Kingdom.
C-DOT’s 40th Foundation day: Communication Minister Launched Security systems –

TRINETRA
On the occasion of the 40th Foundation day of Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)(25th August
2023), Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State(MoS), Ministry of Communication, launched C-DOT’s TRINETRA,
an indigenously developed cyber threat detection and resolution system.
• During the event, MoS Devusinh Chauhan also inaugurated the C-DOT’s Enterprise Security
Operation Centre (ESOC) at C-DOT campus New Delhi, Delhi.
• He also inaugurated the technical conference centered on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine
Learning (ML)” organised by C-DOT.
Note:
C-DOT, was established on 24th August 1984 as an autonomous Telecom Research & Development(R&D)
centre under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
About TRINETRA:
i.It is a comprehensive security systems combining Security information and Event Management (SIEM),
Security Orchestration and Automated Response (SOAR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), User Entity and
Behaviour Analytics (UEBA), Multi-Source Threat Intelligence and others.
• The TRINETRA solution provides 24×7 near real-time actionable cyber-security status and quickly
deals with cyber-threats like viruses, malware, and spyware.
ii.It checks the computers, laptops, servers, and virtual machines in a company to make sure they’re safe from
cyber-attacks.
• If it detects any malwares, Trinetra analyses and mitigates any vulnerabilities and gives Artificial
Intelligence (AI) enabled automated responses.
Conference on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)”:
The technical conference was organised as a part of C-DOT’s GB Meemamsi Lecture Series (workshops on
newly emerging dimensions of Telecom & Information and communications technology (ICT)) .
The technical conference featured a diverse range of discussions on the emerging aspects of AI and ML.
What is a Security Operations Center (SOC)?
A Security Operations Center (SOC) comprises a group of cybersecurity experts committed to overseeing and
evaluating an organization’s security status, while also taking action on current and potential security
breaches. The team is responsible for scanning all the security systems in real time.
The Government of India(GoI) has decided to make the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-
DoT),premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, as the nodal
facilitation agency to handle telecommunication intellectual property rights (IPRs) and patents.

Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajkumar Upadhyay
‘UPI Chalega 3.0’: NPCI Launched 3rd edition of UPI Safety Awareness Campaign
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched “UPI Chalega 3.0”, the 3rd edition of its
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Safety Awareness campaign, developed in collaboration with key
stakeholders in the payments ecosystem. The campaign aims to promote the adoption of UPI as a secure, easy,
and instant mode of payment.
The campaign is designed to educate users about UPI’s various features, including UPI LITE for quick low-value
transactions, UPI AUTOPAY for secure recurring payments, and UPI Interoperability for seamless money
transfers across all UPI-enabled applications.
• Aim: To drive UPI adoption and safe usage through engaging initiatives such as enhancing brand
awareness of UPI, improving understanding of its features, and encouraging wider adoption among
new users.
• A dedicated microsite, www.upichalega.com, has been created to provide a comprehensive resource
hub, which offers informative videos, instructional guides, details about participating banks and
third-party apps, and dynamic social media updates.
• Users can access detailed information about UPI services, enabling them to set up and use UPI LITE,
UPI AUTOPAY, and UPI Interoperability.
Note: In 2020, the UPI Chalega campaign was launched under the guidance of the Financial Literacy Advisory
Committee (FLAC). UPI Chalega Campaign 1.0 and 2.0 had a significant impact on the adoption and
understanding of UPI, making it the preferred payment method.
India’s First AI School Launched in Kerala

On 22nd August 2023, Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated India’s first Artificial
Intelligence (AI) school at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• AI School was created by iLearning Engines (ILE) of the United States of America(USA) in
collaboration with Vedhik eSchool which was managed by a committee of veteran professionals
including former Chief Secretaries, DGPs and Vice Chancellors.
i. AI School facility will be initially available to students from classes 8 to 12. The curriculum and methodology
are designed in compliance with the National School Accreditation Standards, which are based on the New
National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
ii.It provides coaching for competitive exams including JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) , NEET(National Eligibility
cum Entrance Test), CUET(Common University Entrance Test), CLAT(Common Law Admission Test),
GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test), ILETS(International English Language Testing System).
iii. By providing digital content through the school’s website, the financial burdens on parents will be reduced.
DPIIT and MoRD launched ODOP Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store

To promote the indigenous crafts and artisans of India, One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative
under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
collaborated with Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) Aajeevika, an initiative by Deendayal
Antyodaya (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• ODOP Wall was inaugurated at SARAS Aajeevika Store in New Delhi as part of the collaboration.
• In addition to directing consumers and enthusiasts to emporiums, the collaborative effort seeks to
incorporate innovative features like product tagging and story cards.

Note: The ‘ODOP Wall’ signifies India’s remarkable heritage of craftsmanship, ready to enchant international
spectators and function as a dynamic platform that exhibits the nation’s unparalleled artistic legacy on a global
scale.
Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) Aajeevika
i.SARAS Aajeevika demonstrates a commitment to women’s empowerment.
ii.The initiative places particular emphasis on elevating women artisans and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), acting as
a dedicated platform for their meticulously crafted goods.
iii.Through this marketplace, SARAS Aajeevika enhances the capabilities and proficiencies of these women,
enabling them to establish themselves as self-reliant entrepreneurs.
One District One Product (ODOP) program
i.ODOP initiative seeks to actualize national self-reliance by nurturing equitable regional progress across every
district in the nation.
ii.This endeavor involves singling out, labeling, and advocating a distinctive product from each district,
spotlighting the extensive array of products spanning diverse sectors such as handlooms and handicrafts.
iii.As a component of its broader expansion strategy, ODOP persists in establishing significant partnerships
with governmental and private organizations, in accordance with its overarching objective of elevating India
into a self-sustaining epicenter of unique artistry and entrepreneurial spirit.
About Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Ministers of State – Shri Som Prakash and Anupriya Singh Patel
About Ministry of Rural Development
Union Minister – Giriraj Singh (Begusarai Constituency in Bihar)
Ministers of State – Faggansingh Kulaste
NBRI Namoh 108: MoST Minister Dr Jitendra Singh unveils new variety of Lotus flower
developed by CSIR-NBRI
On August 19, 2023, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science &
Technology (MoST), unveiled “NBRI Namoh 108”, a unique variety of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) with 108 petals,
in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• NBRI Namoh 108 was developed by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Botanical
Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow(UP)-based institute of national importance which engaged
in research in the classical botanical disciplines.
About NBRI Namoh 108:
i.This is the first lotus variety whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.
ii.It will be registered as the official lotus variety out of India.
iii.The name Namoh was inspired from “Om Namaha Vasudeva”. Namoh in Sanskrit translates to ‘salutations‘.
The name of the variety was given by an internal committee of the NBRI.
iv.The number 108 and lotus flower are considered auspicious in Hindu religion. Therefore this combination
gives an important identity to this variety.
Features:
i.The Namoh 108 blooms from March to December making it the longest-lasting among lotus varieties.
ii.Its maximum size can reach upto 10 inches in Diameter.
iii.It is rich in nutrients like amino acids, polyphenois, flavonoids, Catechins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and
minerals.
iv.It can be propagated by rhizomes and through seeds and it can be grown in ponds, tanks, and pots.
Background:
The lotus was initially discovered several years back in Manipur, and kept at the institute as part of its
collection of flowers and plants, on which the institute conducts research.

Release of apparel made from Lotus Fibre and Perfume ‘Frotus’
The MoST Minister also introduced apparel made from lotus fibre and perfume ‘Frotus’. The perfume is
extracted from lotus flowers and was developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in
collaboration with Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, UP.
• FFDC is an autonomous Body under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
Launch of Lotus Mission:
Government has also initiated the Lotus Mission after the success of Aroma Mission, which aims to promote the
cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils, thereby, increase the income of the farmers through cultivation
of high value and high demand aromatic crops.
• Aroma Mission nodal agency is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in
Lucknow(UP).
• Lotus Mission will be undertaken in Mission mode like the other priority schemes.
Note: Other priority schemes are National Honey and Bee Mission (NHBM), National Bamboo Mission (NBM),
National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), National Mission for
Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Gokul Mission, Blue Revolution, Mission Shakti, and the National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) etc.
Launch of new variety of Aloe vera ‘NBRI-Nihar’
The Minister also introduced ‘NBRI-Nihar,’ a new Aloe vera variant with about 2.5 times greater gel yield
compared to traditional Aloe vera. It has strong resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases.
• The Minister also unveiled ‘Herbal Cold Drops’ and ‘Herbal Anti Dandruff Hair Oil,’ crafted by
Marc Laboratories, for treating common cough and cold as well as dandruff issues.
Other Launches/MoU:
i.An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CSIR-NBRI & M/s Nucleome Informatics,
Hyderabad, Telangana for collaborative research on Cotton.
ii.Dr. Jitendra Singh launched herbal colors extracted from temple flower offerings, usable for various purposes
including fabric dyeing.
iii.A Database of 500 Raw Drug Repositories of the CSIR-NBRI meeting Indian Pharmacopoeia Standards was
unveiled.
iv.A book featuring elite rose varieties from CSIR-NBRI Garden was released.
v.CSIR-NBRI’s digital Herbarium, a National Repository of flora specimens of India, was launched to easily
disseminate information among the public.
vi.Books about ‘Plant Resources of Uttar Pradesh and a Check List’ and an ‘e-flora of Uttar Pradesh’ were
presented.
• Both provides a list and information of more than 5,000 plants of UP.
vii.NBRI-Goutout supplement for gout/gouty arthritis and a nutri-bar for high-altitude army personnel were
introduced.
viii.Dr. Jitendra Singh attended a six-day NBRI event from August 14 to 19, 2023 showcasing research,
products, and expertise to stakeholders.
i.The “Cannabis Research Project” of the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Indian Institute
Of Integrative Medicine (CSIR–IIIM) in Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is the first of its kind Cannabis
Medicine Project in India under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a IndusCann Limited, headquartered in
Toronto, Canada.
ii.On 19th July 2023, the Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OneWeb, a
London-based Company, and Gujarat Government’s Department of Science and Technology, for setting up
India’s First Private ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’ in Gujarat.

About CSIR– National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI):
It is an institute of National Importance under CSIR.
Director – Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Science & Technlogy(MoST)
Location– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
NHA launches India’s 1st ABDM Microsite in Aizawl; Mizoram 1st state to Operationalize
Microsite
On 23rd August 2023, National Health Authority (NHA) launched India’s first Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
(ABDM) microsite in Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram. With this, Mizoram became the 1st State in India
to operationalise ABDM microsite project.
• Mizoram has appointed Youth for Action as the Interfacing Agency for implementing the ABDM
Microsite in Aizawl.
Note:
Besides Mizoram, other states including Andhra Pradesh(AP), Madhya Pradesh(MP), Uttar Pradesh(UP),
Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have also made significant progress in the implementation of ABDM microsites.
More microsites are expected to be operational in the next few weeks.
Background:
i.On July 28, 2023, NHA launched the 100 Microsites project under ABDM to promote digital health adoption
and enhance healthcare accessibility for all.
ii.In April 2023, the Mission Steering Group(MSG) approved 100 Microsites project. These Microsites will be
established across India in various States and Union territories(UTs).
• Click Here to Read
What are Microsites?
Microsites are clusters of ABDM-enabled small and medium-scale healthcare facilities, such as clinics, nursing
homes, hospitals (with less than 10 beds), laboratories, and pharmacies, offering digital health services to
patients like linking the health records generated at these facilities with their Ayushman Bharat Health
Accounts (ABHAs).
• These records can be accessed and shared using ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record (PHR)
applications on patients’ phones.
Key Points:
i.The establishment of microsites is a step towards advancing healthcare digitization efforts throughout India.
ii.State Mission Directors of ABDM will oversee the implementation of this project while NHA will provide
financial resources and overall guidance for the project.
iii.Collaboration with development partners and interfacing agencies allows States and UTs to establish and
manage microsites, with on-ground teams engaging healthcare providers.
About National Health Authority (NHA):
Chief Executive Officer– Ram Sewak Sharma
BRICS Nations Agree to Launch New University Ranking System

BRICS Education Ministers recently assembled in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa and reached an
agreement to establish a new autonomous university rating system. BRICS nations comprises Brazil, Russia,
India, China, and South Africa.
• Objective – It aims to take a significant step toward bringing excellence in higher education,
encouraging cross-border academic collaborations, and advancing the collective educational
objectives of these nations.
i.The primary agenda of the BRICS Education Ministers’ meeting was addressing the need for modern,
accountable education and training. Leaders from various educational departments collaboratively recognized

the limitations of current university ranking methodologies.
ii.This prompted a decision to create a new ranking system, demonstrating commitment to enhanced, accurate
evaluation of higher education institutions globally. Ministries of Education from Brazil, Russia, India, China,
and South Africa wholeheartedly lent their support for this proposal.
iii. Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education in Russia, emphasized the
necessity for a new evaluation framework in the global education community. He stressed the importance of
objectivity and universal acceptance in this framework.
iv.CHEN Jie, Deputy Minister of Education from People’s Republic of Chinahighlighted that the upcoming
rating system’s need to rely on qualitative benchmarks, not just quantitative ones.
PM Launches Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh during 9th National Handloom Day in Delhi
On August 7, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi launched the e-portal ‘Bhartiya Vastra
evam Shilpa Kosh (भारतीय वस्त्र एवं शिल्पकोष) – A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’ developed by the National
Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles.
• This launch was made during the 9th National Handloom Day celebration held at Bharat Mandapam,
Pragati Maidan, Delhi which was presided over by the PM.
• The event was hosted jointly by the Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (M/o MSME).
• It was attended by over 3000 weavers and artisans from across India.
Note: The PM declared August 7 as the ‘National Handloom Day’ in 2015 to highlight the contribution of
handloom weavers in the development journey of India. This specific date commemorates the
Swadeshi Andolan launched in 1905.
About Textiles & Crafts Repository e-portal:
The online repository is a one-of-a-kind knowledge platform that connects the history, present status, and
future developments of textile, clothing, and related crafts. It offers access to a vast database of research papers,
case studies, dissertations, and doctoral theses in these areas, serving as a comprehensive resource for
information on new developments and current events in textiles and crafts.
Key Points:
i.PM also inaugurated a special three-day exhibition of handloom, handicraft and khadi products by awardee
weavers, cooperative societies, producer companies and women self-help groups (SHGs) from across India.
ii.Two films were showcased during the event:
• “संगठन से सफलता”- It highlighted the positive impact on weavers’ lives due to an organized
ecosystem of skilling, marketing and distribution by the Ministry of Textiles
• Another movie titled “Khadi for fashion” emphasized Khadi’s relevance for employment and the
economy.
iii.To raise awareness among young audiences about India’s handloom sector, a two-week educational
initiative at the National Crafts Museum was organized, benefiting over 10,000 students from 75 schools.
Other Participants:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Textiles; Union Minister Narayan Tatu Rane, M/o MSME; Union
Minister of State (MoS) Darshana Jardosh, Ministry of Textiles; MoS Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, M/o MSME;
among others representatives from handloom clusters across India, NIFT campuses, Weaver Service Centres
(WSCs), Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) campuses, National Handloom Development
Corporation (NHDC), Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), Khadi and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC) institutions and State Handloom Departments.

MeitY Launched IWBDC to Create Indigenous Web Browser with Advanced Features
On August 9, 2023, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web
Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), Open Challenge Competition for Indian technology enthusiasts to
create an indigenous web browser with advanced security features.
• It was jointly launched by Sunita Verma, Scientist G & Group Coordinator (Research &
Development- R&D in Electronics & Information Technology); Arvind Kumar, Controller of
Certifying Authorities (CCA), MeitY; and Dr. S. D. Sudarshan, Executive Director C-DAC (Centre for
Development of Advanced Computing), Bengaluru, Karnataka during a Launch Programme
organized at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The dignitaries also unveiled the Challenge brochure during the event.
• This Challenge is spearheaded by MeitY, CCA and C-DAC Bengaluru.
About IWBDC:
Aim:
To motivate and empower technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers from India to create web
browser with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, advanced features and strong security & data privacy
measures.
Rounds:
The competition comprises three rounds: an ideation round selecting 18 entries, a second round narrowing
down to 8 participants, and a final round to determine the winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up.
Throughout the challenge, participants will receive technical mentorship.
Prize money:
• The total prize money of the challenge is Rs. 3.41 crore.
• The winner will receive a prize of Rs. 1 crore and ongoing support to further develop the browser.
Key Points:
The browser’s key focus will be on accessibility and user-friendliness, including support for individuals with
different abilities. It will also offer the capability to digitally sign documents using a crypto token, enhancing
secure transactions and digital interactions.
Participants:
The program was participated by more than 200 participants from government departments, industry, start-up
and academia through on-line and off-line mode.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Unveiled ‘A-HELP’ Programme in Gujarat

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has unveiled the ‘A-
HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme under the Azadi
Ka Amrit Mahotsav, along with an Infertility Camp in Gujarat.The Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, Government of India, is spearheading these initiatives as part of the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan
under Inclusive Development.
• The ‘A-HELP’ program is designed to empower women through their participation as skilled agents,
making substantial contributions to disease control, artificial insemination as part of
the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
• It marks a significant stride towards empowering women, enhancing livestock productivity, and
advancing the socio-economic landscape of the region.
• Prime Minister (PM) Shri Narendra Modi launched nine campaigns under the theme Inclusive
Development as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on the 24th April 2023 during the National
Panchayati Raj Day at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. The PM also launched the Website and Mobile App
“Samaveshi Vikaas” on the same day.The nation will observe Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) till
August, 2023.

MeitY Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma Launches The ‘Graphene–Aurora Program’
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched
the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala.The program aims to bridge the
gap between research & development and its commercialization, using the India Innovation Centre Graphene
(IICG) centers in Kochi.
• The program has been allocated a total budget of Rs 94.85 Crore, with significant participation
from industry partners, including Carborundum Pvt Limited.
• Digital University Kerala will execute the program in collaboration with joint funding from MeitY,
the Government of India, the Government of Kerala, and industry partners.
• MeitY Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma announced the establishment of a section 8 company
named ‘India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC).‘ This not-for-profit entity
will be created, and its initial operations will commence at the newly inaugurated Government of
Kerala facility situated in Digital Science Park, Trivandrum.
MoH&FW launched 2nd Phase of Nationwide MDA Campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis
On 10th August 2023, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoH&FW), inaugurated the 2nd phase of the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The 2nd phase will cover 81 districts in 9 endemic States – Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• During the event, Union Minister Mandaviya also launched the National Guidelines for Clinical
Management of Dengue Fever 2023 and Chikungunya Fever.
Note: Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). LF is a
Vector-Borne Disease transmitted by Culex mosquitoes.
Points to note:
i.India’s Accelerated Mission for Lymphatic Filariasis Eradication aims to achieve its goal of eliminating
Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of the global target.
ii.LF can be successfully eliminated from India, by encouraging public participation (Jan Bhagidaari) and
adopting a ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ strategy.
Key People:
T.S. Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister (CM), Chhattisgarh; Brijesh Pathak, Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh.
5 Pillars for Eliminating LF:
• Multi-drug administration (MDA) Campaign is held twice a year synchronized with National
Deworming Day (10th Feb and 10th August).
• Early diagnosis and treatment; engagement of medical colleges for strengthening Morbidity
management and disability (MMDP) services.
• Integrated Vector Control with multi-sectoral coordinated efforts.
• For inter-sectoral convergence with allied departments and ministries.
• Leveraging existing digital platforms for LF and exploring alternate diagnostics.
MSDE launched Special Skill Development Program for North East Region
On 8th August 2023, The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
launched ‘Transforming lives, building futures: Skill development and entrepreneurship in North-East’,
a special skill development program to create a robust skill-centric and industry-ready ecosystem in North-
Eastern Region (NER).
• The initiative was jointly unveiled by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister, MSDE, Union Minister
G. Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region(MoDONER)
and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State(MoS) for MSDE in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key points:
i.The government of India has allocated a substantial fund of Rs 360 crore to promote inclusive development,
foster entrepreneurial talent, and catalyze socio-economic growth in the NER.
• It will benefit more than 2.5 lakh youth in phase one, which will make them job ready for domestic
as well as international markets.
ii.The North East Skills Development and Entrepreneurship initiative emphasizes aligning courses with the
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), supported by digital infrastructure to develop well-rounded
professionals through an ‘earn and learn’ mode.
iii.The Initiative includes:
• 2 Lakh skill training under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
• 30,000 Apprenticeship Engagement under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
• 20,000 to be skilled under Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
• Quality enhancement of ITIs under skill strengthening for industrial value enhancement (STRIVE)
• Strengthening of Polytechnics
• Special projects will be taken up for the special needs of the North-East region under Skills
Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP)
• Skill India International Centre to be set up to promote overseas job opportunities.
iv.Additionally, efforts are being made to provide vocational education and skill development programs for
skilled professionals in agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and IT.
MoE Dharmendra Pradhan & MEA S. Jaishankar jointly launch SII; MoE chose OCI to modernize
DIKSHA
On August 3, 2023, the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), and Union
Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) jointly launched Study in India
(SII) Portal which is an integrated one-stop solution for international student registration and visa application
process.
• It was launched during an event in New Delhi, Delhi.
• This portal is guided by National Education Policy (NEP).
• This launch is on the lines of the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of re-establishing
India as a global hub of education, and preferred education destination.
How will SII Portal be useful?
For international students who wish to study in India, this portal streamlines their registration, visa
application, approval and course selection process through comprehensive information about the Indian
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Aim:
To simplify international students’ academic journey in India
Key Points:
i.It presents information on academic programs covering undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), Doctoral
level programs, and courses in Indian Knowledge System like Yoga, Ayurveda, classical arts etc. along with
academic facilities, research support, and related information.
ii.It also has the provision for students to apply in more than one institute/course of their choice.
About SII Program:
i.It is a Central Government flagship program launched under the aegis of MoE in 2018. It seeks to attract more
international students to India by promoting it as a preferred and affordable study destination with high-
quality education. It aims to improve the overall standard of higher education in the country and facilitate
access to various courses while showcasing academic excellence.
ii.The SII program involves partnership with educational institutes, fulfilling one of the following criteria, to
enrol international students
• National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking (<=100)

• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation score (>=3.01)
• Institutes of National Importance (INI)
Other Participants:
Minister of State (MoS) Dr Subhas Sarkar, MoE; MoS Annpurna Devi, MoE; MoS Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, MoE &
MEA; among other senior officials Ambassadors of more than 10 countries.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1945442
MoE chose Oracle Cloud Infra to modernize DIKSHA
On August 2, 2023, MoE selected Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to modernize the national education
technology platform Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA). This means, DIKSHA is
transformed and migrated onto OCI under a multi-year collaboration agreement between both entities. It will
help in making DIKSHA more accessible and lower it’s IT (Information Technology) costs.
• The DIKSHA migration project is being implemented by two Oracle Partner Network members
viz. Bharti Airtel and Trigyn Technologies. DIKSHA will be deployed in the Oracle Cloud Mumbai
region in Maharashtra.
Key Points:
i.This will also enhance Diksha’s security, and the ability to adjust to demand-based capacity, and can serve
more students and teachers.
ii.The platform supports 1.48 million schools across all of India’s 35 states and union territories and is available
in 36 Indian languages.
Need behind this:
MOE required a robust cloud service provider to handle the extensive data processing, storage, and distribution
needs of the DIKSHA platform. It generates a huge number of logs for which they run Elasticsearch, Logstash,
and Kibana (ELK stack) for application diagnosis, performance, analytics and dashboards.
• OCI Compute VMs (Virtual Machines) and OCI Storage efficiently manage DIKSHA’s workload and
store application content and performance logs.
• The application’s microservices are supported by Kubernetes clusters in OCI Container Engine for
Kubernetes (OKE), with container images stored in OCI Container Registry.
About DIKSHA:
DIKSHA was an initiative of NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) under Minister of
Education(MoE) in India.It was launched in 2017 as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative for school
education and foundational learning.
• It uses Sunbird, an open-source platform by EkStep Foundation, to help teachers support inclusive
learning for students in underserved areas and with disabilities all over the country.
• Every day, users watch 1.2 petabytes of text and video content from sources like NCER ,CBSE
(Central Board of Secondary Education), and SCERTs (State Council of Educational Research and
Training).
i.According to the 8th edition of India Rankings (India Ranking 2023), prepared by Ministry of Education
(MoE) based on parameters defined by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian Institute
of Technology (IIT) Madras (IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), has topped the list for the 5th consecutive time.
ii.On June 2, 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) released the UGC
(Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023 for the establishment of more quality-focused
deemed universities. These will surpass the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2019.
About Ministry of Education(MoE):
Minister of State (MoS)– Annpurna Devi; Dr. Subhas Sarkar; Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
Note – Shri Dharmendra Pradhan serves as both the Union Minister of Education(MoE)and the Union Minister
of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSJE) in the Government of India.

President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurated Unmesha 2023 & Utkarsh Festival in Madhya Pradesh
On 4th August 2023, President of India Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature
Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – National Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts to promote inclusivity and
cultural diversity at Ravindra Bhavan in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• The function was also addressed by Madhya Pradesh
Governor Mangubhai Patel and Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Utkarsh:
i. ‘Utkarsh’ celebrates the rich expressions of folk and tribal traditions
in India. The event, which will take place from 3rd–5th August 2023, is
organized by the Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture in
collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademi of the Union Ministry of
Culture.
ii. Artists from Madhya Pradesh and other states will give colorful
programs every evening during Utkarsh, the festival of expressions and a celebration of the progress of tribal
society.
Unmesha 2023:
i. The ‘Unmesha’ festival is a international literary gathering from August 3 to 6 2023 is organised by the
Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi of the Union Ministry of
Culture.
ii. It is India's most inclusive and Asia's largest literature festival in terms of the number of languages
represented.
• It is also on track to overtake other festivals as the biggest literary event in the world.
iii.More than 575 authors in 102 languages are expected to participate in over 75 events in ‘Unmesha 2023’.
iv.Writers from 13 countries will participate in the festival.
v.The President meant Unmesh as the opening of eyes and the flowering of flowers.
Note: This will be the 2nd edition of ‘Unmesha’. The first event was held in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh in June
2022.
Other programs during the event:
i.A cultural exhibition of more than 1000 artists depicting the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” is
organized.
ii.Book exhibition by Sahitya Academy, cultural presentations by tribal communities and group discussions on
devotion, cinema and tribal literature will also be showcased during the festival.
India to Get its 1st Integrated Theatre Command by August 2023

India is set to establish its first Integrated Theatre Commands (ITC) in August 2023. The Indian Armed Forces
(Army, Navy and Air force) have overcome the differences and accepted the broad commanding structure for
ITC, developed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan. 2 ITCs are set to be established in North
India, one in Jaipur (Rajasthan) and the other in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
• The Army’s South Western Command (SWC) in Jaipur will serve as the Headquarters (HQ) of the
ITC, and will primarily focus on countering threats from Pakistan, while the Central Command based
in Lucknow, will serve as the HQ of the ITC, will tackle security challenges coming out from China.
• Theatre commanders hold a four-star rank, making them equivalent in rank to the Chiefs of the
Army, Navy, and Air Force. The CDS will commands all 6 theatre commanders.
• Additionally, there are other joint commands, which handle specific activities such as logistics,
training, cyber and space operations, missile systems, and intelligence, and will be headed by a
three-star officer.
• Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is responsible for managing various theatre commanders and
commanders of new commands. The CDS is the head of the DMA.

Note:
The Maritime ITC is likely to be established in Karnataka under the Naval Command.
The Government’s decision to develop ITC comes 22 years after the establishment of its first tri-service
command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command. ITCs in India are built upon the principle of ‘One Border One
Force’, which ensures focused and efficient management.
PM virtually laid Foundation Stone for Redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations under ABSS
On August 6, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of
508 Railway Stations as Amrit Bharat Stations covering 27 states and Union Territories (UTs) via video
conferencing in New Delhi, Delhi . This redevelopment will be done at a cost of more than Rs
24,470 crores under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).
• Click Here for full list of 508 stations
Highlights:
i.The redevelopment will cover 55 each in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37
in West Bengal (WB), 34 in Madhya Pradesh (MP), 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat
and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Tamil Nadu (TN), 15 in Haryana, 13 in
Karnataka among others.
ii.55 will be developed at the cost of approx Rs 4,000 crores in UP, and Rajasthan, 34 stations in MP at the cost
of approx Rs 1,000 crores, 44 stations in Maharashtra at the cost of 1,500 crores, among others.
What is ABSS?
i.Launched in February 2023, it aims to transform and revitalize 1,309 railway stations across India by
enhancing the overall passenger experience and making them world-class travel hubs. The above 508 stations
are a part of these 1,309 stations.
ii.Under the project, all the stations will be redeveloped as city centers which will led to the overall urban
development of the cities.
• There will be a roof plaza, shopping zone, food court, kids play area, multi-level parking, escalators,
executive lounge, and special facilities for specially abled will also be available in these stations.
iii.To ensure smooth access, there will be widening of roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly
designed signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well planned parking areas, improved lighting etc.
iv.A sufficient number of toilets, escalators, more comfortable and durable furniture at waiting halls, and free
Wifi will be created.
v.There will be landscaping/horticulture, integrated passenger information system, signages, improvement of
platforms and platform shelters, benches and washbasins, better illumination and power supply arrangements,
and CCTV (Closed Circuit Television), among other.
vi.The design of the station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
Note: The Indian Railways runs over 13,000 trains every day covering 7,325 stations across India.
i.Railway Energy Management Company (REMC) Limited, a subsidiary of RITES (Rail India Technical
and Economic Service) Limited, has set up a National Energy Management Centre (NEMC) that has been
established at its office in Delhi.
ii.On 18th May 2023, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation,
several railway projects worth more than Rs 8000 crores in Odisha including Vande Bharat Express between
Puri-Howrah.
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha- Odisha)
Ministers of State– Raosaheb Patil Danve, Darshana Jardosh

PM lays Foundation Stone & dedicates to Nation Development Projects in Sagar, MP
On August 12, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to
the nation, the following development projects in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh (MP):
i.Foundation stones laid for Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial:
Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial will be constructed at a cost of more than Rs 100 crores in an
area of more than 11.25 acres at Badtuma village of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh.
• It will be built in Nagar style.
• It will have an art museum and gallery to showcase the life, philosophy and teachings of
Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji. It will also have facilities for devotees like Bhakt Niwas,
Bhojanalay etc.
• The soil of more than 20000 villages and 300 rivers will be used to built this memorial.
ii.Foundation stones laid for two Road Projects
The PM laid the foundation stone of two road projects at a cost of more than Rs 1580 crores. These include a
four-laning road project connecting Morikori – Vidisha – Hinotiya and a road project that will connect Hinotiya
to Mehluwa.
iii. Dedicated to the nation doubling of Kota-Bina rail route
The project, Kota-Bina rail route, has been built at an estimated cost of more than Rs 2475 crores. It passes
through Kota and Baran districts in Rajasthan, and Guna, Ashoknagar and Sagar District in MP. The additional
rail line will increase capacity for better mobility and will help improve train speed along the route.
Other Developments:
i.The construction of the Global Skill Park in Govindpura, Bhopal, named after Saint Ravidas, is underway.
• Notable sites associated with Baba Saheb are being developed as Panch-Teerth.
ii.The birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda is now celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
iii.MP’s Habibganj railway station was named after Queen Kamlapati of the Gond community, and Patalpani
station after Tantya Mama.
Participants:
Governor of MP Mangubhai Patel, chief minister of MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan, among others were also present
during the ocassion
MeitY inaugurates Renewable Energy Microgrid Power Plant for rural communities
Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the
innovative Technology of a Hybrid Green Energy Microgrid, developed by the Centre for Development of
Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as part of the National Mission on Power
Electronics Technology (NaMPET) Program for rural communities’ electrical energy requirements.
• The ceremony took place at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC), Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram
(Kerala). The reliable green energy-based microgrids have emerged as a dependable power source
for critical systems within Veterinary hospital setups in the ERC.
• A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localised, and self-contained energy system that
incorporates renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs.
• In the microgrid scheme implemented in ERC, a unique 25 kilo Watt Power Conditioning Unit (PCU)
technology, using Silicon Carbide and a Wide Band Gap (WBG) Semiconductor device operating at
50 kilo Hertz and avoiding bulky 50Hz transformer that makes the system very compact and a
container-based deployment in a remote location is realised.
• The initiative and support are provided by the Forest Department of the Government of Kerala for
Green technology evaluation, which is effectively being used in the rehabilitation of wild animals
too.

India’s First 3D-Printed Post Office Building Inaugurated in Bengaluru
Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information
Technology, inaugurated India’s first three-dimensional (3D) Printed Post Office located in Bengaluru’s
Cambridge Layout, Karnataka.
• The new post office was created using 3D Concrete Printing Technology by Larsen and Toubro (L&T)
Construction.
• The technology had been approved by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion
Council (BMTPC) and the structural design of the post office was validated by Indian Institute of
Technology Madras(IIT-M) .
Note – BMTPC is a not-for-profit autonomous body registered in 1990 under the aegis of the Ministry of
Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India.
What is 3D Concrete Printing?
3D concrete printing, also known as concrete additive manufacturing, is an innovative construction technology
that involves using specialized machines to create three-dimensional objects and structures using concrete as
the primary material. This process allows for the precise layer-by-layer deposition of concrete, enabling the
fabrication of complex and custom shapes.
Other First 3D Printed Houses
• In April 2021, India’s first 3D-printed house was built on IIT-M campus by Tvasta Manufacturing
Solutions.
In December 2022, Indian Army also inaugurated its first two-storey 3D-printed dwelling unit for
soldiers at Ahmedabad Cantonment in Gujarat.
OTHER NEWS
7 products from Rajasthan, Goa & UP get Geographical Indication tag
Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) under the Department of Industry
Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has granted Geographical
Indications (GI) tags for 7 new products from 3 states– 4 from Rajasthan, 2 from Goa and 1 from Uttar Pradesh
(UP).
The GI-tagged 7 products are:
State GI Goods
Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft Handi Craft
Bikaner Kashidakari Craft Handi Craft
Bikaner Usta Kala Craft Handi Craft
Rajasthan Jodhpur Bandhej Craft Handi Craft
Goa Mankur Mango (Malcorado or Mankurad) Agriculture
Goa Goan Bebinca Food Stuffs
Uttar Pradesh Jalesar Metal Craft (Jalesar Dhatu Shilp) Handi Craft
Key Points:
Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft:
iAs per the documents submitted to the GI Registry, weapons are exquisitely ornamented by a complicated
process.
ii.The process includes etching designs, heating, and then cooling, intertwined with embedding gold and silver
wire into the metal, pressing and flattening it to a smooth surface with a moonstone, and finally polishing it.
ii.Bikaner Kashidakari Craft:
• The craft is traditionally created on cotton, silk, or velvet with a variety of fine stitches and mirror-
work, and the craft finds special places in marriage, and is commonly used for creating gift items.

• The mirrors are believed to have the power to repel the ‘evil eye’ with their reflective surfaces.
• The weaving of fabrics for Bikaner Kashidakari Craft was
primarily carried out by the Meghwal community.
iii.Jodhpur Bandhej Craft:
• The traditional Rajasthani craft involves the intricate
process of tying and dyeing fabrics and is one of the most
famous textile art forms of Rajasthan.
• The fabrics used for Bandhej are muslin, silk, and voile.
Cotton thread is used for tying the fabric.
iv.Bikaner Usta Kala Craft:
• It is also known as Gold Nakashi or Gold Manauti work and the art form is famous for its long-
lasting Golden Colour.
• Untreated raw camel hide is processed and moulded by the Dapgar community of leather
craftspeople for the requirements of the Usta.
v.Goa Mankurad Mango:
• The application for the ‘Mankurad mango‘ was filed by the All Goa Mango Growers Association,
Panaji (Goa).
• Mankurad Mango has many other names like Kurad, Goa Mankur, Malcorado, Cardozo Mankurad, or
Corado.
• It is the most famous and popular mango variety in Goa and is also known as the table mango and
has a longer shelf life.
• The name ‘Malcardo‘ was named by Portuguese and it means ‘Poor Colored‘, with time, it became
Mankurad Aamo (mango) in Konkani (a language spoken mainly in Goa).
vi.Goan bebinca:
• The application for the Goan bebinca was filed by the All Goa Bakers and Confectioners Association.
• Bebinca or bibik, popularly known as the Queen of Goan Sweets/desserts, is a traditional Indo-
Portuguese pudding.
vii.Jalesar Dhatu Shilp:
• Jalesar Dhatu Shilp in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district holds historical significance as it was once the
capital of Magadha king Jarasandha.
• Currently, over 1,200 small units are dedicated to creating decorative metal crafts and brassware,
such as Ghungrus (anklets) and Ghantis (bells).
• This craft is carefully crafted by the skilled artisans of the Thatheras community, residing in the
mohalla locality named Hathuras.
TN’s Jaderi ‘Namakatti’, Chedibutta Saree & Matti banana gets GI tag; TN tops GI chart with 58 Tags
Three new products of Tamil Nadu (TN), Tiruvannamalai’s Jaderi namakatti, Tirunelveli’s Chedibutta saree, and
Kanniyakumari’s Matti banana, has been recognised with GI tag. With the addition of these 3 new products the
total number of GI tagged products from TN has become 58.
With this, TN has become the state with highest number of GI tagged products.
• Uttar Pradesh holds the second position with 53 GI products followed by Karnataka (48), Kerala
(36) and Maharashtra (34).
• The GI tags given by the GIs Registry located in Chennai, TN, and the above-mentioned figures are as
of April 2023.
Jaderi Namakatti:
i.The GI application for Jaderi Namakatti was filed on behalf of Jaderi Thiruman (Namakatti) Producers Society
in Jaderi in Thiruvannamalai district.
ii.About 120 families in the tiny village of Jaderi in Tiruvannamalai district have been making these Namakatti
for about 3 centuries and supplying them all over India and abroad.

iii.The natural ingredients available in Thenpoondipattu village are collected and made into Namakatti by
artisans after a time-consuming process.
iv.These are finger-length long clay pieces, made up of rich deposits of hydrous silicate minerals.
v.The fine grain particles of clay are cured by natural weathering or alteration of other silicates that smoothen
them with unique white colour and texture.
Matti banana:
i.The application for the Kanniyakumari Matti Banana was filed by the Kanyakumari Banana and Horticulture
Farmers Producer Company Limited.
ii.The scientific name of the Matti banana is ‘Musa Sapidisiaca‘, which is commercially grown in the high rainfall
zone (1469 millimeters) in Kanyakumari.
• Mostly grown in the Agatheeswaram, Thovolai, Thiruvattar taluks of the Kanyakumari district
iii.It has high medicinal value and is known to be highly fragrant, sweet and sub-acid in flavour, firm in texture,
and powdery in nature.
iv.The 15-month-old crop is considered rare and is grown only in the hills of South Travancore (Undivided TN
and Kerala) near Nagarcoil.
v.Each bunch of Matti Banana weighs between 12-19 kilos. Other common variants of Kanniyakumari Matti
Banana include Semmatti (red Matti), Thaen Matti (honey Matti), and Malai Matti (Hill Matti).
vi.Even though banana is not generally recommended to infants for up to 6 months, Matti banana variety can
be safely consumed by infants, and the corm extract from the fruit is also used as a jaundice cure.
Note: 1 medium-sized banana would provide 13% of Manganese for a person’s daily needs and it helps the
body make Collagen and protects the skin and other cells from free radical damage.
Chedibutta Sarees:
i.The application for the Chedibutta Sarees has been filed by the Veeravanallur Sowrashtra Weavers
Cooperative Production and Sales Society Limited in Tirunelveli district.
ii.The name Chedibutta is a combination of two Tamil words: ‘Chedi’ (plant) and ‘Butta’ (motif or design).
iii.It has the iconic “plant and flower” motif woven on the border and Pallu (edge of the saree) and these small
Buttas punctuated beautifully all over the saree.
iv.It is totally a handloom product made in art silk and cotton mix fabric. One Chedibutta saree contains 8
Chedibutta designs in the body and 5 on the Pallu
v.The saree is woven using art silk thread while the Chedibutta designs are made using brightly coloured cotton
threads.
vi.Sowrashtra community members are the primary weavers of these traditional handloom sarees.
Key Points:
i.Currently, the GI recognition has been earned by so many products attorneys, artisans and authorities should
make collective efforts to monetise the achievement.
• The efforts include completing the remaining legal formalities like filing authorised user
applications.
ii.It will allow the authorised producer to market these products under GI tag exclusively.
iii.Separate legal protection is available for these products and they will get global approval to sell these
products in various countries.
About GI Tag:
i.GI is an indication used to identify products having special characteristics originating from a definite
geographical origin.
ii.India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indication of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, to provide for the registration and better protection of GI relating to
goods in India, which came into force with effect from September 2003.
iii.A GI is registered for an initial period of ten years, which may be renewed from time to time.

The Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has been granted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) to
several products of Madhya Pradesh (MP), which include 5 handcrafts product, 1 Agricultural product, 1 Food
stuff, 1 Textile product.
Highlights of 77th Independence Day of India on August 15, 2023

The Central Government has organized the 77th Independence Day at Red Fort, New Delhi, Delhi which was
addressed by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi.
2023 Independence Day signified the theme Nation First, Always First under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav’ celebrations, which began in 2021.
• The year 2023 marked the 76th anniversary of Indian Independence, as the first anniversary was
marked a year from the actual year that is 1948. Hence, India celebrated its 77th Independence Day
and 76th Independence Day anniversary in 2023.
Glimpse of the event:-
• In 2023, PM Modi has also introduced the “HAR GHAR TIRANGA” means “Every Home, a Tricolor”
campaign ,encouraging the public to proudly hoist the tricolor flag on Independence Day.
• The prime minister addressed the nation for 90 minutes during his 10th consecutive Independence
Day address on August 15.
• The national flag rose as a 21-gun salute echoed from the elite 8,711 Field Battery (Ceremonial).
• Indigenous 105-mm Light Field Guns were used for the first time for ceremonial gun salute at
Independence Day event.
• The Red Fort’s floral arrangements included the prominent G20 logo.
• 75 couples from different regions adorned their traditional attire for the ceremony.
• Capture a selfie with the flag and post it on the official website https://harghartiranga.com as well
as on social media using the campaign hashtag.
‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ for Craftsmanship
During the event, the PM announced ‘Vishwakarma Yojana‘ to benefit individuals skilled in traditional
craftsmanship/artisan works.These include Weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, barbers, and
such families.
Around Rs 13,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore will be allocated for the scheme.
Key Points:
i.The scheme will be launched on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti (September 17,
2023).
ii.The scheme seeks to enhance artisans’ products and services, integrating them into local and global value
chains, thus economically empowering marginalized workers from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes
(ST), Other Backward Communities (OBCs), women, transgender, and others.
Scheme for drone training for Women SHGs
The Central Government is set to launch a new scheme to provide agri-drones to thousands of women-led Self-
Help Groups (SHGs) in order to promote the use of technology in the agriculture sector and promote agritech in
the country.
Key Points:
i.Recipients will be trained to operate and repair these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
ii.Initially 15000 SHGs will be covered under this.
New urban housing scheme
The Central Government will launch a new scheme to help those living in rented houses in cities to build their
own homes.
• Under the scheme, government would provide offer interest subsidy on bank loans to such families
(urban poor and middle class) which live in cities but stay in rented homes, slums and unauthorized
colonies and want to build a home of their own.

• A relief worth lakhs of rupees will be provided under the scheme.
President approves 1 President’s Tatrakshak Medal & 5 Tatrakshak Medals to ICG
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has approved one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and five
Tatrakshak Medals (TM) to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry,
exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished/meritorious service on the occasion of Independence Day 2023.
• These awards are given to the personnel of the ICG on the occasion of Republic Day and
Independence Day every year since January 26, 1990.
Award Awardee (Name & Rank)
President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished IG (Inspector General) Manoj Vasant Baadkar, TM

Service) (0173-Q)
Comdt (JG) Anurag Shukla (0853-M)

Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry)
Sultan Singh, P/Nvk(P), 12405-T
DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Manoj Bhatia

(0323-J)
Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service)
DIG KR Deepak Kumar (0434-L)
Deobrat Kumar Mishra, P/Adh(RP), 00486-L
President approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and CAPF personnel
The President approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)
personnel. These include the following:
• 4Kirti Chakra (posthumous)
• 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous
• 2 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)
• 52 Sena Medals (Gallantry)
• 3 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)
• 4 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)
i.The President also gave her assent to 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, including to Army
dog Madhu (Posthumous), and one to Air Force personnel for their significant contributions in different
military operations.
ii.The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation,
Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham
Valley, Rescue Operation and Operation Evacuation. Click Here for Full List of Awards
President awarded 53 personnel with Fire Service Medals
The President awarded 53 personnel with Fire Service Medals. These include the following
3 President’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry
1 Fire Service Medal for Gallantry
8 President’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service
41 Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service
• 48 personnel / volunteers are also awarded Home Guards & Civil Defence Medals.
Click here for – List of Fire Service Medals
Click here for – List of Home Guards & Civil Defence Medals
Other Highlights:
i.The government’s “Vibrant Villages” initiative was highlighted that envisages transforming the perspective on
border villages.
• Government has approved Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on
15th February,2023 for development of the select villages in 46 blocks in 19 districts of abutting

northern border in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and UT
(Union Territory) of Ladakh.
ii.Around 1,800 special guests from diverse sectors of society witnessed the Independence Day ceremony at the
Red Fort.
Historical Background: Independence Day of India
i.On August 15, 1947, India was declared independent of British colonialism, and sovereignty was given over to
the country’s leaders.
ii.The Indian Independence Bill, which created the independent nations of India and Pakistan , came into effect
at midnight on August 15, 1947.
iii.The provinces of Bengal and Punjab were divided between the two new nations.
iv.Lord Mountbatten continued as Governor-General and Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed India’s first Prime
Minister (PM).
• Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, hoisted the national flag above Delhi’s Red Fort at the
Lahori Gate. This tradition has been continued by every subsequent Prime Minister.
About Delhi:
New Delhi is the National Capital of India.
Lieutenant Governor– Vinai Kumar Saxena
Chief Minister– Arvind Kejriwal
Project Tiger and Project Elephant Merged as PT&E

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced the merger of the two flagship
conservation programmes namely Project Tiger (PT) Division and Project Elephant (PE) Division into a new
division called Project Tiger and Elephant (PT&E) in April 2023 and the official order came up on June 2023.
• By merging, both projects will be funded through a common allocation starting 2023-24. However,
there remains uncertainty regarding the allocation of finances between these 2 projects.
• The Additional Director-General of Forests (ADGF) – PT (ADG-PT) has been re-designated as ADGF
(PT & E), with the Inspector General Forests and Project Director, PE will be the divisional head of
the PT&E division and will be reporting to the ADGF (PT&E), who is also the member secretary of
the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The merger will strengthen the conservation of both animals, as they often share the same
landscapes in India, but the decision to cut funding for conservation efforts raises concerns,
particularly regarding the conservation of signature animals like tigers.
• In 2023-24, the combined budget of PT and PE schemes amounts to Rs.331 crore. This represents a
decrease from the 2022 budget, which was Rs.335 crore, comprising Rs 300 crore for PT and Rs.35
crore for Project Elephant.
• However, the combined budgets for PT and Project Elephant released in 2022-23 were Rs. 220
crore, which is only about two-thirds of the allotted amount.
Note:
• The 50th anniversary of PT was observed on April 2023, and Project Elephant completed 30 years in
2022.
• In 2011, the former Planning Commission proposed a significant initiative to merge 3 centrally
sponsored schemes into one, which included PT, Project Elephant, and Integrated Development
under Wildlife Habitat. But was objected by the Standing Committee of the National Board for
Wildlife.
India’s First Biodiversity village ‘Atlas’ of Mayem released in Goa

Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa, released the “Mayem Biodiversity Atlas”, India’s 1st Village
Atlas during an event held at Mahamaya Devalaya Mandap Mayem Mayem village (Bicholim Town) in North
Goa district, Goa.

• Along with the Atlas, the CM also released a dedicated website, Poster, and a logo during the event.
• The event was jointly organised by Mayem Vaigunim
Gram Panchayat, Biodiversity Management Committee,
Mayem Vaigunim, and Mayem Panlot Sangh.
About Mayem Biodiversity Atlas:
i.The biodiversity atlas is a document of 250 pages which offers
details of the diverse flora and fauna found in the village of
Mayem.
ii.The atlas was prepared based on the People’s Biodiversity
Register (PBR) prepared by the village Biodiversity Management
Committee.
• Sakharam Pednekar is the Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee.
iii.This atlas gives a socio-cultural history of Mayem village that dates back to the 12th century.
Key Highlights:
i.The state government will unveil the biodiversity atlas of all 191 village panchayats in Goa.
ii.This initiative will create awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems.
iii.CM assured about providing necessary assistance to preserve and maintain biodiversity and also appealed to
youths to come forward for the protection of biodiversity.
Tamil Nadu to Set Up India’s First UAS Testing Centre in Kanchipuram

Tamil Nadu (TN) is set to establish India’s first Common Testing Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems
(UAS) (drones) under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS). The centre will be established at a
cost of Rs 45 crore over an area of 2.3 acres at the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu
Limited (SIPCOT) Industrial Park, Vallam Vadagal near Sriperumbudur in Kanchipuram district, TN.
• It would be established by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), which is
the nodal agency for implementing the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC), which aims
to provide an ecosystem for the aerospace and defence industry in the region.
Background:
i.At present, the lack of common test centres that can support the Aerospace and Defence Standards outside
Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU)/Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
represents a barrier to entry for many oganisations.
ii.To address this issue, TIDCO has initiated the process of setting up test centres for multiple sub-domains,
including UAS.
iii.A consortium of companies comprising Keltron, Sense Image Technologies, Standards Testing and
Compliance, and Avishka Retailers was selected to partner with TIDCO in establishing the facility.
Key Points:
i.This testing centre will enable Tamil Nadu to become a preferred destination for aerospace and defence
companies to set up their Indian operations.
ii.As part of the implementation of the TNDIC, the government of Tamil Nadu has adopted a multi-pronged
strategy, and one of them is the creation of an enabling ecosystem including Common Testing Centres for the
Aerospace and Defence Industry.
Note: DRDO’s integrated facility in Chitradurga, Karnataka is exclusively reserved for DRDO’s use.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister– M. K. Stalin
Governor– R. N. Ravi
Airport– Madurai International Airport, Tuticorin Airport or Thoothukudi Airport

NTCA approved Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan as 54th Tiger Reserve of India
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) of the Government of India, has officially approved The Karauli-Sarmathura-
Dholpur sanctuary in Rajasthan as Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve of India under Project Tiger.
• It becomes 5th Tiger reserve of Rajasthan and 54th Tiger
Reserve of India.
• The forest covers an area of 1,058 square kilometres (368
sq km of core area and 690 sq km of buffer area) and
currently has 9 tigers.
Note: The number of tigers in Rajasthan has increased from 32 in
2006 to 88 in 2022.
Core and Buffer:
Core area: This is the central part of a protected area, where the
main focus is on conservation. Human activities are strictly controlled or prohibited in the core area.
Buffer area: This is the area surrounding the core area, where human activities are allowed, but with
restrictions.
Other Tiger Reserves of Rajasthan:
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Sariska
Tiger Reserve.
Project Tiger:
• The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to promote conservation of the tiger.
• Project Tiger has been converted into a National tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) through an
amendment in Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1972.
Additional Info:
i.Established in 2022, Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh(UP) was the 53rd Tiger reserve in India.
ii.As per “Status of Tigers 2022” report Madhya Pradesh(MP) has the maximum number (785) of tigers in India.
The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6%.
MRPL becomes India’s largest single-location PSU refinery

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a Mangaluru(Dakshina Kannada), Karnataka based
Miniratna Central public sector enterprise (CPSE) has become the largest PSU-refinery (single location) in
India for 2022-23. MRPL processes 10% of the total crude oil refined by PSU petroleum refineries in India.
• MRPL processed 17.14 million tonnes of crude oil in 2022-23, which was the highest-ever
throughput processed by any single-location PSU refinery in India’s petroleum refining history.
• MRPL, after its establishment in 1988 as a joint venture (JV) refinery (promoted by M/s Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)), expanded its operations in two phases to raise its capacity
to 15 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA).
• The refinery configuration has a Nelson Complexity Index (NCI) of 11.3, one of the highest complex
PSU refineries. Its petrochemical (Petchem) Intensity is 9.5%, and the company aims to reach 15%
in the medium term.
Note:
• NCI refers to types of petroleum products an oil refinery can produce, measured on a scale from 1 to
20.
• Petchem intensity refers to the percentage of crude oil that is converted directly into chemicals that
are used to make plastic and other material.
MRPL, a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) under the Ministry of Petroleum &
Natural Gas (MoPNG).

G20 Pandemic Fund approved USD 25M for Animal Health System in India
Group 20 (G20) Pandemic Fund has approved the USD 25 million proposal by Department of Animal
Husbandry & Dairying(DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD) on
“Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response(PPR)”.
• The project will be carried out by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the lead implementing
entity, along with the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO).
Background:
i.In May 2023, the Governing Board of the Pandemic Fund received 350 expressions of interest(EOI) and 180
full proposals, with grant requests totaling more than USD 2.5 billion against the available budget of USD 338
million.
ii.The Board have approved 19 grants under its 1st round of funding allocations aimed to boost the resilience
to future pandemics in 37 countries across 6 regions.
Click here for the list of all selected proposals
Key Points:
i.The fund will also provide dedicated resources for PPR and increase investments, enhance coordination
among partners, and serve as a platform for advocacy.
ii.The fund brings additional resources to India to reduce the risk of pathogens emerging from animals
(domesticated and wildlife) to be transmitted into the human population.
About the G20 Pandemic Fund:
i.The Pandemic Fund was established in September 2022, and formally launched under Indonesia’s G20
Presidency(2022) at the G20 meetings in Bali, Indonesia in November 2022.
ii.This is the 1st multilateral financing mechanism dedicated to providing multi year grants to help low- and
middle-income countries become better prepared for future pandemics.
iii.The Fund hosted by the World Bank has already raised USD 2 billion in seed capital from 25 sovereign and
philanthropic contributors.
DPE upgrades the Status of OIL as ‘Maharatna CPSE‘ and OVL as ‘Navratna CPSE‘
On 3rd August 2023, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance, upgraded
the status of 2 oil sector Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) namely Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC
Videsh Ltd (OVL). The status of OIL and OVL has been upgraded to the status
of Maharatna and Navratna CPSEs respectively. Earlier OIL was a ‘Navratna’ CPSE, while OVL was a Categry-
I ‘Miniratna‘ CPSE.
• OIL, the second-largest National Exploration & Production (E&P) Company in India, now will be
the 13th Maharatna amongst the CPSEs.
• OVL, the wholly owned subsidiary and overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited
(ONGC), and the second largest petroleum company of India, now will be 14th Navratna amongst
the CPSEs.
• The new status will help both OIL and OVL, take decisions on large investments on their own, both
within India and abroad.
Note: Both OIL and OVL are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
(MoP&NG), Government of India (GoI).
Maharatna Scheme:
i.The ‘Maharatna’ scheme was introduced for CPSEs, with effect from May 19, 2010.
ii.The objective of the scheme focuses on empowering specific Navratna CPSEs to facilitate the expansion of
their operations and emerge as global giants by increasing their market share both in domestic as well as global
markets.

Criteria for grant of Maharatna status to CPSEs:
For a company to be categorised as a Maharatna,
i.It should be listed on an Indian stock exchange, with a minimum prescribed public shareholding under
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations.
ii.Holding Navratna status.
iii.The CPSEs should have
• An average annual turnover of more than Rs. 25,000 crore during the last 3 years.
• An average annual net worth of more than Rs. 15,000 crore during the last 3 years.
• An average annual net profit after tax of more than Rs. 5,000 crore during the last 3 years.v.These
companies are free to decide on investments up to 15% of their net worth in a project.
Note: OIL has an annual turnover of Rs 41,039 crores and a net profit of Rs 9,854 crores for the fiscal year
2022-23.
Navaratna Scheme:
i.The ‘Navratna’ scheme was introduced in 1997, to identify CPSEs, that had comparative advantages and to
support them in their drive to become global giants.
ii.The Boards of Navratna CPSEs have been delegated powers in the areas of Capital Expenditure, investment in
Joint Ventures (JV)/Subsidiaries,Human Resources Management, etc.
Criteria for grant of Navratna status to CPSEs:
For a company to be categorised as a Navratna,
i.The CPSEs which are Miniratna I, Schedule ‘A’ and have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) ratings in 3 of the last 5 years.
ii.Granting the navratna status enhances financial autonomy to invest up to 1000 crores without any approval
from the central government.To establish financial joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries in India or
abroad with the stipulation that the equity investment of the CPSE should be limited to the following:-
a. Rs 1000 crore in any one project
b. 15 % of the net worth of the CPSE in one project
c. 30 % of the net worth of the CPSE in all joint ventures/subsidiaries put together
ii.The CPSE should have 4 independent Board Directors.
iii.The CPSEs have composite scores of 60 (out of 100) or above in the following 6 selected performance
indicators and are eligible to be considered for a grant of Navratna status. The 6 parameters are:
• Net profit to Net worth; Manpower cost to total production cost or Service cost; Profit Before
Depreciation, Interest, and Taxes (PBDIT) to capital employed; PBDIT to turnover; Earning per
Share; Inter-Sectoral Performance.
Note: OVL has an annual turnover of Rs.11,676 crore and net profit of Rs.1700 crore for the fiscal year 2022-23.
List of total Maharatna and Navartna Companies 2023:
13 Maharatna CPSEs:
1.Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
2.Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
3.Coal India Limited
4.GAIL India Limited
5.Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
6.Indian Oil Corporation Limited
7.NTPC Limited
8.Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited,
9.Power Finance Corporation
10.Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
11.Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
12.Steel Authority of India Limited
13.Oil India Limited

14 Navratna CPSEs:
1.Bharat Electronics Limited
2.Container Corporation of India Limited
3.Engineers India Limited
4.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
5.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
6.National Aluminium Company Limited
7.National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited
8.Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
9.NMDC Limited
10.Oil India Limited
11.Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
12.Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
13.Shipping Corporation of India Limited
14.ONGC Videsh Limited
On 26th April 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF), approved the upgradation
of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) from a Category-I
MiniRatna CPSE.
About Oil India Private Limited (OIL):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Dr. Ranjit Rath
Headquarters– Duliajan, Assam
Incorporated on– 18th February 1959
CDAC and Arm Collaborates to Expand Semiconductor Support Under the DLI
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) has collaborated with United Kingdom (UK)
based semiconductor IP (Intellectual property) company Arm through the “Arm Flexible Access for Startups”
(AFAS) program to expand semiconductor support under the Design Linked Incentive Scheme (DLI) and foster
the growth of the sector in India during the 2nd day of the conference ‘SemiconIndia 2023’ at Gandhinagar,
Gujarat.
SemiconIndia 2023:
i.The ‘SemiconIndia 2023’ is being organized by India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry
associations.
ii.It aims to make India a global hub for Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing and Technology Development
which will help propel the vision of India Semiconductor Mission.
iii.The Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister(PM), Narendra Modi on 28th July, 2023.
Key points:
i.AFAS program, gives USD $0 license fee access to a broad portfolio of verified Arm IP, tools and training to
startups.
• This helps in broadening its eligibility criteria to welcome applications from startups that qualify
under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) SemiconIndia
futureDESIGN DLI scheme.
ii.With this partnership, a total of seven startups will work towards producing chip and IP cores for the
automotive, mobility, and computing sectors.
DLI scheme:
The DLI scheme, implemented by CDAC, aims to provide financial incentives and design infrastructure support
for the development and deployment of semiconductor designs for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System
on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design over a period of five years.

CDAC and Arm intend to work towards the following objectives:
i.Startups selected under DLI will qualify for the Arm Flexible Access for Startups program.
ii.Arm will provide the startups with access to processor and system IPs, reference designs, Graphics
Processing Unit (GPU), Image Signal Processor (ISP), and artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator IPs, and
software development tools.
iii.Arm will provide access to thousands of Artisan physical IP products supporting multiple foundries and
process nodes for physical design and implementation.
Exchange of MoU Between CeNSE, IISc and LAM Research
Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru,Karnataka
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lam Research India to support the skill development of
engineers at the SemiconIndia 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The MoU aims to develop a customized course offering for Indian universities to teach
semiconductor fabrication technology utilizing Lam Research’s Semiverse Solutions virtual
fabrication software, SEMulator3D.
The first tranche of the programme with 30 engineers will commence in August 2023 at CeNSE which is
expected to be completed by December 2023, and the 2nd tranche by June 2024.
About Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC):
Director General- Magesh Ethirajan
Establishment- 1988
Headquarters- Pune, Maharashtra
National Mission for Clean Ganga Approves 7 Projects Worth Rs 692 Crore
The National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) approved 7 projects worth Rs 692 crore for the construction of
Sewage Treatment Plants(STP)and other works to prevent pollution of the river Ganga and its tributaries.
• The projects were approved at the 50th meeting of the Executive Committee of NMCG held on 1st
August 2023, under chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Director General(DG) of NMCG.
Three Projects in Uttar Pradesh:
Three projects worth Rs. 661.74 crore for sewage management in Uttar Pradesh were authorised at the
meeting.
i.The construction of a 100 Million Litres per Day (MLD) STP in Lucknow, together with Interception and
Diversion (I&D) operations, to be carried out under the Hybrid Annuity Mode(HAD).
ii.The development of a 50 MLD STP in Prayagraj, as well as the I&D of the balance discharge from the
Dariyabad Pipalghat and Dariyabad Kakahraghat drains, has been approved.
• The existing treatment capacity of Naini STP in Prayagraj’s sewerage district-A will be increased to
80 MLD by this project, which will cost around Rs. 186.47 crore.
iii. The project of construction of 6 MLD STP, I&D and other works in Hapur was also approved to stop the flow
of Hapur city drain into River Kali, which is a tributary of River Ganga.
Two Projects in Bihar:
i.To set-up Two STPs (5 and 7 MLDs) at an estimated cost of Rs. 74.64 crore for tapping of Pipra ghat drain and
Chhatiya ghat drain respectively along with I&D works for Raxaul town in Bihar was also approved.
• This project will reduce pollution in the Sirsiya River, which originates in Nepal and enters Bihar at
Raxaul in the East Champaran district.
Urban River Management Plans (URMP)
i.A project worth Rs 20 crore has also been sanctioned for the preparation of 60-70 Urban River Management
Plans (URMPs) in two phases for optimal water management in urban areas.
• During the first year, 25 URMPs shall be prepared and 35 URMPs shall be prepared during the
second year.

• This project is part of the River-Cities Alliance (RCA) under Namami Gange, which provides cities
opportunities to cooperate, work together, learn from each other’s best practices, share knowledge,
thus paving the way for Gyan Bhagidari, which will lead to transformational solutions.
• RCA presently has more than 140 members, including foreign cities, an increase from 30 members
in 2021.
M.Sc. in Freshwater Ecology and Conservation
i.A Project to start the M.Sc. Course in Freshwater Ecology and Conservation at the Ganga Aqualife
Conservation Monitoring Centre, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, at a cost of Rs. 6.86 crore for ten
years was approved by NMCG.
• The concept seeks to educate a cadre of ecologists and field biologists with competence in
freshwater ecology in order to successfully manage India’s freshwater resources and biodiversity.
Electric crematorium in West Bengal:
It also approved a project to construct an electric crematorium at Barkola, Kharagpur in West Bengal.
About National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG):
Director General(DG) – G Asok Kumar
New Guidelines for Designation of Senior Advocates in the SC

The Supreme Court (SC) of India has introduced new guidelines named as Guidelines for Designation of
Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court of India, 2023 for the designation of senior advocates practising in
the Supreme Court of India.It replaced the guidelines issued in 2018.
• The new guidelines prescribe a minimum age of 45 years for applying for the ‘senior advocate’
designation and minimum of 10 years of standing(mainly in Supreme Court).
• This age limit can be relaxed by the Committee, the Chief Justice of India(CJI) or a Supreme Court
judge if they recommend an advocate’s name.
Why new guidelines?
The new guidelines have been introduced following a ruling on May 12, 2023 by a three-judge bench led
by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. The ruling was in response to a case seeking modifications in the ‘senior
advocate’ designation guidelines set by a 2017 Supreme Court ruling in the Indira Jai Singh v. Union of India
case.
• The 2017 guidelines allowed the CJI and “any judge” to recommend an advocate’s name for
designation, the new 2023 guidelines specify that the CJI and “any Judge of the Supreme Court”
may recommend an advocate’s name in writing.
Key Changes in the New Guidelines:
i.The new guidelines mention that “any Judge of the Supreme Court” can recommend an advocate’s name in
addition to the Chief Justice of India.
ii.The weightage for reported and unreported judgments, excluding those that don’t establish legal principles,
has been increased from 40 to 50 points.
iii.Guidelines reduced the marks for “publication of academic articles” from 15 to 5.
• “Experience of teaching assignments in the field of law” and “guest lectures delivered in law schools
and professional institutions connected with law” have been combined and will also account for 5
marks.
Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates:
All matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates in the Supreme Court of India will be dealt
by “Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates”.
Composition of the Committee:
Chairperson – Chief Justice of India (CJI) (current CJI is Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud)
Members: Two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court of India; Attorney General for India (AGI) and A
member of the Bar council(nominated by the Chairperson and other Members).

Transparency and Objectivity in Designation
i.The evaluation procedure now encompasses the inclusion of legal article publications, teaching
responsibilities, and guest speaking engagements.
ii.This is intended to offer a more comprehensive representation of the advocate’s capacity to contribute to
legal progress.
iii.The updated criteria are designed to guarantee openness and impartiality in the selection process.
IMD launched Heat Index indicating the Feel like Temperature

In July 2023, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched the Heat Index on an experimental
basis. This information was provided by the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in a
written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
What is heat index?
The heat index measures how hot it feels by considering both the air temperature and relative humidity. It
offers guidance for regions in India, indicating the apparent temperature/feel like temperature to show the
potential discomfort for people caused by weather conditions, along with the day’s minimum and maximum
temperatures.
Aim:
To provide information on the effect of humidity on high temperatures
Colour codes used for Experimental Heat Index are as follows:
• Green: – Experimental heat Index less than 35 degree C
• Yellow: – Experimental heat Index in the range 36-45 degree C
• Orange: – Experimental heat Index in the range 46-55 degree C
• Red: – Experimental heat Index greater than 55 degree C
Key Points:
i.The heat index in India is calculated similarly to the National Weather Service, and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States (US)
ii.It offers guidance on taking extra precautions to minimize discomfort.
iii.IMD uses temperature and humidity data at 2:30 pm to calculate the heat index and forecasts the maximum
temperature at that time.
iv.A heatwave is declared if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least
40 degree C or more and is 4.5 degrees above normal for the day for Plains and at least 30 degree C or more for
Hilly regions.
• A severe heatwave is declared when the temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius and 6.5 degrees
above normal.
• A heat wave is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to human body when exposed.
About India Meteorological Department (IMD):
Director General– Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
India Unveils Ayush Visa Category: For Foreign Nationals seeking Traditional Medicine
Treatment
On August 2, 2023, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced a new Ayush (AY) visa for foreign nationals for
treatment under Ayush systems/Indian systems of medicine like therapeutic care, wellness and Yoga.
• With this, a new chapter i.e. chapter 11A – Ayush Visa has been incorporated after Chapter 11 –
Medical visa of the Visa Manual, which deals with treatment under the Indian systems of medicine
and accordingly necessary amendments has been made in various chapters of the Visa Manual,
2019.
• AYUSH is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.

Key Points:
i.The Ayush Visa aims to attract foreigners who wish to undergo Ayush therapy, wellness, and Yoga in India.
ii.The introduction of this visa aligns with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s announcement at the at Global
Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit (GAIIS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in April 2022.
iii.This will boost Medical Value Travel in India, and also stregthen the vision of making Indian traditional
medicine a global phenomenon.
iv.Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) are collaborating to develop a one
stop Heal in India portal to promote India as a global Medical tourism destination.
• Ministry of AYUSH is promoting Ayush system of treatment national and globally. Recently, it signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC),
Ministry of Tourism, GoI for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other
traditional systems of medicine.
v.As per the report ‘The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID’ by the Global Wellness Institute
(GWI), the Global Wellness economy will grow at 9.9% annually.
Ayush based healthcare & Wellness economy is estimated to grow to $70 billion by 2025.
MoHFW sets deadline for Pharma MSMEs to Adopt Good Manufacturing Practices
On August 2, 2023, the Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
has made it mandatory for all Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) drugmakers/pharma
companies with an annual turnover of over Rs 250 crore to adopt Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
within six months starting August 1, 2023.
• Companies with a turnover of less than Rs 250 crore can complete the process in 1 year.
• The adoption will be made by implementing the revised Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
1940. It should be noted that World Health Organisation (WHO)-GMP standards are now a part of
the revised Schedule M.
• Drugmakers, who fails to follow the timeline, will be penalized.
Reason behind this implementation:
This decision has been taken for the proper implementation of the Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
1940 which has not been implemented accurately by the majority of the drugmakers.
Background:
Officials inspecting 162 units and 14 public testing labs discovered significant issues like poor documentation,
lack of validation, infrastructural deficiencies, unqualified employees, and faulty design. This resulted in a
review of the current Schedule M’s principles and GMP concepts to align with global standards. The Drug
Technical Advisory Committee also recommended this to improve documentation, failure investigation, and
technical expertise for better compliance.
Key Changes:
The major changes that will happen with the introduction of a revised Schedule M to support upgradation of
the units are:
• Introduction of Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS)
• Quality Risk Management (QRM)
• Product Quality Review (PQR)
• Qualification and validation of equipment, change control management, self-inspection and quality
audit team, suppliers audit and approval, stability studies as per recommended climate condition,
validation of GMP related computerised system, specific requirements for manufacturing of
hazardous products, biological products, radiopharmaceutical and phytopharmaceuticals.
What is Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940?
It regulates GMP and quality management systems followed by pharmaceutical manufacturing units, including
specific requirements pertaining to premises, plant and equipment.

About GMP:
GMP are mandatory standards which build and bring quality into product by way of control on materials,
methods, machines, processes, personnel and facility or environment etc. These were first incorporated in
Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 in 1988, and were last amended in 2018.
Key Points:
i.There are around 10,500 manufacturing units in the country, of which around 8,500 fall under micro, small
and medium level enterprises, or MSMEs.
ii.India is a major exporter of medicines to Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) which require GMP
certification from the World Health Organisation (WHO)
What is WHO GMP certification?
WHO GMP certfications is for the quality of pharmaceutical products moving in international commerce. The
guidelines for the same were endorsed by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1997.
• It ensures that medicinal products are consistently produced and controlled to the quality
standards.
• WHO-GMP certification is valid for three years.
• It violation will result in cancellation of licence and monetary penalty.
i.On 8th June 2023, The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Fund to Fight Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria (the Global Fund) signed a new and
revised Strategic Framework for Collaboration.
ii.On 27th June 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council for Harmonisation of
Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) announced a collaboration to increase
the registry and sharing of regulatory information on medical products across the world.
NHA extends DHIS for hospitals under Ayushman Bharat Till Dec 31, 2023
On August 4, 2023, the National Health Authority (NHA) extended its Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS)
under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) till the 31st of December, 2023.
About DHIS:
Launched w.e.f. January 1, 2023, DHIS offers incentives of upto Rs 4 crores to hospitals and diagnostic labs and
Digital Solution Companies (DSCs) such as Hospital/ Health Management Information System (HMIS) and
Laboratory Management Information System (LMIS) for adopting and enabling transformative digitization
under ABDM.
Key Points:
i.For availing incentives the health facilities and DSCs should be registered with the ABDM’s Health Facility
Registry (HFR) and should fulfil the eligibility criterion specified under the scheme.
ii.The incentives are based on the number of digital health records created and linked to Ayushman Bharat
Health Account (ABHA) numbers of the patients.
iii.As of date, 1 205 health facilities have registered under this scheme with 567 public and 638 private
hospitals. out of the 25 digital solution companies registered, 22 are from the private sector.
iv.Till June 2023, close to 120 health facilities and 7 health tech companies have received incentives totalling to
Rs. 4.84 Cr.
v.The scheme is continuously monitored by NHS for its effectiveness.

MNRE Extends Deadline For Self-Certification of SPV Inverters
On 27th July 2023, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has
issued a notification extending the deadline for self-certification of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) inverters (items 4-
5) under the SPV, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order,
2017.The extension is from 30th June 2023 to 31st December 2023 or till further orders.
i.This extension is subject to the condition that manufacturers comply with self-certification based on
valid International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certificates corresponding to Indian Standards
(IS) specified in the order and provide test reports from accredited test labs. The extension aims to ensure a
smooth implementation of the order for SPV inverters.
ii.The ministry has provided this extension on account of the limited availability of test facilities and in order to
provide additional time for compliance with the QCO.
iii.The government had previously extended the implementation of the QCO from 30th June 2022 to 31st
December 2022 and further extended it from 31st December 2022 to 30th June 2023.
Background:
i.On 5th September 2017, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), under the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) Act, issued the Solar Photovoltaics Systems, Devices, and Components Goods (Requirements
for Compulsory Registration) Order 2017. This order includes six products in the schedule.It aims to enforce
quality control in Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Technology Power Projects including SPV modules, inverters, and
battery storage.
ii.As per the order, no person shall manufacture or store for sale, import, sell or distribute goods, which do not
conform to Indian Standards (IS) specified in the Order.
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Unveiled The New Logo Of The NMDC

On 5th August 2023, Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled the new logo of
the Navratna Public Sector Enterprise, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), India’s largest iron
ore producer, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The new logo signifies NMDC’s commitment towards sustainable & responsible mining and also its
global aspirations.
Features of the new logo:
i.The logo is a manifestation of NMDC’s vision of NMDC 2.0.
ii.The blue cog has been retained to pay homage to our heritage by representing the mineral mining cycle
which symbolizes the steadfastness and trust that NMDC has earned over the decades.
iii.At the center of the logo, a hand cradling the earth signifies NMDC’s commitment towards sustainable &
responsible mining and also its global aspirations.
iv.The vibrant green color symbolizes growth, renewal, and harmony with nature.
Note – Its earlier logo symbolized the journey of India in the last 75 years, where India was growing with a
focus on reducing its dependence and becoming self-reliant.
India hands over Rs.450 million to Sri Lanka to fund its SL-UDI Project
On 4th August 2023, India handed over a cheque of Rs.450 million in advance to Sri Lanka, for supporting the
Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project, which is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s digital
infrastructure and promote growth across various sectors.
• The project supported by the Indian government is seen as a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s
path to economic recovery.
• With this move, Sri Lanka is paving the way for a more technologically advanced future, anticipating
substantial economic development and prosperity.
• The initiative comes under the objective of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, which demonstrates
its commitment of India to assist its neighbouring countries in the South Asian region for mutual
cooperation and support.

Key People:
i.Gopal Bagley, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka handed over the cheque of Rs.450 million to Kanaka
Herath, Minister of State, Ministry of Technology, in the presence of Sagala Ratnayake, the Chief of Presidential
Staff and Senior Adviser on National Security to the President, Sri Lanka; Eldos Mathew, First Secretary of the
Indian High Commission.
ii.The cheque constitutes 15% of the total funds required for the successful implementation of SL-UDI as an
advance payment.
Background:
i.The project commenced in March 2022, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
Sri Lanka and India.
ii.An Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) for the (SL-UDI) project was also introduced.
About SL-UDI Project:
i.The project focuses on collecting biographic and biometric data, encompassing facial, iris, and fingerprint
information.
ii.All the collected data is securely stored in a centralized system to issue identification cards based on the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
iii.These identification cards will serve as reliable and standardized means of verifying individual identities.
iv.The project promises a more efficient and effective delivery of services while targeting poverty reduction
and welfare programs, by streamlining government services and promoting financial inclusion.
About Sri Lanka:
Prime Minister– Dinesh Gunawardena
President– Ranil Wickremesinghe
Currency– Sri Lankan Rupee
Kerala and UN Women organise ‘Trainers of Trainer’ as part of Women-Friendly Tourism

Kerala’s state Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission) in collaboration with United Nations
(UN) Women India organised the ‘Trainers of Trainer’ programme under the ‘Women-Friendly Tourism’
project.
• The two-day orientation programme for women was held in Kumarakom, Kottayam, Kerala on 31st
July and 1st August 2023, to focus the wide range of tourism activities in which women can play a
central role.
About Trainers of Trainer programme:
i.The programme engaged a total of 85 women trainers, who will then train women involved in tourist
initiatives and other services around the state.
• This was the second in a series of training workshops planned by RT Mission that would cover the
entire state.
• So far, 1850 women have participated in training sessions held as part of the project.
ii.The programme turned out to be a forum for experience-sharing sessions, where entrepreneurs and
professionals addressed how to successfully carry out every aspect of tourist activities, making visitors’ stay in
the state a one-of-a-kind experience.
About Women-Friendly Tourism project:
i.When launched:In November 2022, Kerala launched state level ‘Women-Friendly Tourism’ project with RT
Mission as the nodal agency.
• The project was initiated to instill a sense of security among women travellers, thereby promoting
tourism with a focus on women empowerment.
ii.MoU signed:To boost women-friendly activities in the tourism sector, Kerala signed an Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the UN Women India in February 2023.
• Under the MoU, UN Women will support Kerala tourism in developing reports and material related
to women-friendly tourism and their publication.

iii.The project involves the participation of women in a whole lot of activities, including catering and
accommodation, transportation and serving as community guides.
• It is estimated to generate at least 10,000 startups, over 30,000 new job opportunities, and a
network of 1.5 lakh women working in tourism and related industries.
About Kerala:
Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor – Arif Mohammed Khan
Classical Dance – Kathakali, Mohiniyattam
Festivals – Onam, Vishu
India’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 7.95% in July 2023 due to Rise in Agricultural Labour
Demand
According to the recent data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt.Ltd. (CMIE), the
unemployment rate of India in July 2023 fell to 7.95% from 8.45% in June 2023. This decline is due to the
increased demand for agricultural labour in rural areas, as the monsoon season has begun.
• However, in July 2023, the demand for labour in the rural non-agriculture sector declined, leading to
a decrease in the number of rural workers seeking employment, consequently affecting the rural
employment rate.
• The rural unemployment rate also declined to 7.89% in July 2023, from 8.73% in June 2023, while
the urban unemployment rate slightly increased to 8.06% from 7.87% in the same period.
• Data indicates that the labour force in rural India has decreased by 5 million. The labour force
participation rate in urban areas has also seen a decline. This indicates that the issue extends
beyond rural regions and reflects a broader weakness in the Indian economy.
Note: In an effort to address rising unemployment dissatisfaction, the government is distributing appointment
letters as part of a promise to provide 1 million government jobs by the end of 2023.
Drone Manufacturer Dhaksha Wins Contract from Indian Army for supply of 200 Drones,
Accessories
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) based Drone Manufacturer, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd(DUMS), a subsidiary of
Coromandel International Limited, an Agri-solutions provider, has bagged an order worth Rs 165 crore to
supply 200 medium-altitude logistics drones, and accessories to the Indian Army.
• Recently, DUMS has also won a contract from the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO),
agri inputs cooperative, to supply 400 agri-spraying drones.
• These two orders are set to be delivered within the next 12 months.
Note: Additionally, the DUMS‘ strong order pipeline further increases the potential for increased revenues for
the ongoing year.
Key Points:
i.DUMS has been selected by the Indian Army to supply its logistics drones. The company is committed to
building the latest technologies for drone manufacturing and serving to requirements of the defense sector as
well as the farming community of India.
ii.The defense contract serves as a huge validation of Dhaksha’s technology capability and it recognises the
company’s ability to capture opportunities in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) space.
iii.The agri-spraying drones are designed to assist farmers in optimising crop management practices by
providing precise and targeted spraying of fertilisers and pesticides.
iv.DUMS has a technology collaboration with Anna University, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and is the 1st company in
India to obtain the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA Type Certification for the commercial sale of
drone for 3 different drone models (Agri – Hybrid, Agri – Electric, and Surveillance drones).

About Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Director– Ramanathan Narayanan
CBI Academy Joins Interpol Global Academy Network as its 10th Member
On 8th August 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy, based in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
joined the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Global Academy Network as its 10th
member through a virtual signing ceremony organized between CBI and Interpol at Global Complex for
Innovation, Singapore for development and delivery of joint training program and research projects.
• A letter of acceptance was signed by Deputy Inspector General(DIG) (Training) Mohit Gupta of the
CBI Academy with Glenn Martindale, Director, Capacity Building and Training Directorate, Interpol
in consultation with India’s Union Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and the Department of
Personnel and Training.
INTERPOL Global Academy Network:
i.Established in 2019, the INTERPOL Global Academy Network is under the leadership of INTERPOL’s
Capacity Building and Training Directorate. Its primary goal is to spearhead a worldwide strategy for law
enforcement training.
ii.The Network has members in all regions and supports academic collaboration amongst Law Enforcement
Training Institutions across the globe.
iii.The INTERPOL Global Academy currently has 10 members: Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Austria, Botswana,
Colombia, India, Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):
i.The CBI is a premier training institution in the fields of crime investigation, prosecution and vigilance
functioning.
ii.It is the National Central Bureau of Interpol for India as well as a Nodal Agency for Transnational Organised
Crimes, Anti-Corruption Crimes, Bank Fraud Cases and Cyber Crimes.
Director – Praveen Sood
Headquarters – New Delhi,Delhi
NABARD supports Rajasthan to Get 5 GI Tag certification for Traditional Products

The National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development(NABARD) supported Rajasthan to get a
Geographical Indications (GI) tag for five traditional products including Nathdwara Pichhwai Craft of
Rajsamand, Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft, Bikaner Kashidakari Craft, Jodhpur Bandhej Craft and Bikaner Usta
Kala Craft.
Advantages of getting GI Tags:
i.GI tags are crucial in rural off-farm development because they act as product differentiators, boost brand
building, provide local employment, create a regional brand, generate spin-off benefits in tourism and cuisine,
and help to conserve biodiversity.
ii.It also improves market access, raises knowledge, and strengthens producers’ ability to assert their rights.
iii.It is supported to empower local communities by enhancing their income levels and preserving the
intactness of disappearing artworks.
Nathdwara Pichhwai Craft:
i.The Nathdwara Pichhwai Craft has a 400-year history and depicts the glorious life of Lord Shrinathji(Lord
Krishna).
• These paintings were used to decorate the walls of temples in Nathdwara, Rajasmand district,
Rajasthan.

ii.The word Pichhwai comes from the Sanskrit words, ‘pich’ meaning back and ‘wais’ meaning hanging.
iii.The colours used in Pichhwai painting are natural colours including vibrant blue, green, brilliant red, and
Oranges.
• The most beautiful ones are mainly filled with pure gold.
iv.Themes commonly used in Nathdwara Pichhwai Crafts are based on Ramayana, Krishna Lila,
Choura Panchasika, Ragamala series and Gita Govinda.
• Nathdwara Pichhwai Craft is a Handi Crafts goods.
Note:
The other four GI products Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft, Bikaner Kashidakari Craft, Jodhpur Bandhej Craft, and
Bikaner Usta Kala Craft explained in Rajasthan GI Tags
Renewal:
A registered GI shall be valid for 10 years and can be renewed on payment of renewal fee.
Additional info:
i.In Rajasthan, NABARD also promotes the farm and off-farm sectors through skill development programmes,
GI, promotion of farm and off-farm producer organisations, farmer exposure tours, and improvement of
watersheds and wadis for tribal people.
ii.NABARD spent Rs.31.04 crore on different developmental activities in Rajasthan during the financial year
2022-23.
Maharashtra’s New Amravati station Becomes Central Railway’s 3rd Pink Station
New Amravati Railway Station (Amaravti, Maharashtra) became the 3rd station within Central Railway(CR)
and the 1st station in Bhusaval Division of CR to be designated as a Pink Station, fully managed by women staff.
• Central Railway became the first zone of the Indian Railways to set up all women managed station.
• Matunga suburban station in Mumbai division became the 1st railway station in India to be operated
by an all-woman staff in July 2017, followed by Ajni station in the Nagpur division in 2018.
About New Amravati station:
i.The New Amravati station has a staff strength of 12 women employees – 4 Deputy Station Superintendents, 4
Pointswomen, 3 Railway Protection Personnel and 1 Station Ticket Booking Agent.
ii.The station has a daily footfall of approximately 380 passengers and operates 10 trains.
Ministry of Railways approves closure of BRPL
The Ministry of Railways has granted in-principle approval for the closure of ‘Bastar Railway Private
Limited (BRPL), a joint venture(JV) of NMDC Limited , IRCON International Ltd., Steel Authority of India
Ltd.(SAIL) and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (CMDC).
• The closure involved the transfer of assets and liabilities of BRPL to the Ministry of Railways.
About Bastar Railway Private Limited (BRPL):
BRPL was established as a project-specific JV company in 2016 for developing the 140-kilometer rail line
project from Rowghat to Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.
• BRPL is still in the construction phase and has yet to generate revenue.
Shareholdings:
• 26% – IRCON International Limited is a Government of India Undertaking company under the
Ministry of Railways.
• 12% – SAIL is a Maharatna Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the Ministry of Steel.
• 10% – CMDC is a Government of Chhattisgarh undertaking company.
52% – NMDC Limited, formerly National Mineral Development Corporation, is a Navratna PSE under the
Ministry of Steel.
IIM Bangalore’s Report on ‘Assessment of Employment Potential of JJM

On 10th August 2023, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, released
the report of the Study on Assessment of Employment Potential of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), in New Delhi, Delhi.

The assessment was conducted by Centre for Public Policy under Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
(IIMB), Benglauru(Karnataka).
• The report of the study has estimated an employment generation potential of JJM to the tune of 2.82
crore person per year employment.
• The report was prepared with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Findings of the Report:
This report is the third in a series of findings released recently, on the impact of JJM on the lives of citizens in
rural India.
i.Direct Employment:The report estimated that around 59.93 lakh persons get direct employment during the
construction phase of JJM per year from the total employment generation of 2.82 crore person per year.
• Around 40% of the direct employment (23.8 lakh person per year) is estimated to be contributed by
the engagement of engineers, managers, plumbers, electricians, motor mechanics and chemists.
• Additional employment:It also provides additional direct employment of 11.84 lakh person per
year during the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) phase every year.
• It also provides Additional 13.3 lakh person per year employment during JJM operations phase.
ii.Indirect Employment:It Provides additional indirect employment to 2.22 crore persons per year in India
through manpower engaged in production of the materials including pipes, valves, pumps.
Methods used for this Estimation:
The input-output model was used in the macro approach to estimate the impact of investment on employment
across industries, whereas in the micro approach, sample data collected from completed JJM schemes from
different states was used to estimate direct employment during the construction and O&M phases of the
projects.
About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):
i.JJM was introduced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in August 2019 to provide tap water connection
to all rural households.
The coverage of tap water connections increased from 3.23 crore (17%) households in 2019 to 12.79
crore (65.81%) households in August 2023.
ii.Due to this mission,the issues of access to clean drinking water in Arsenic and Fluoride affected areas have
also been fully addressed.
Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency- Jodhpur, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Prahlad Singh Patel (Constituency- Damoh, Madhya Pradesh) ; Bishweswar Tudu
(Constituency- Mayurbhanj, Odisha)
DAC Approves Proposals worth Rs 7,800 cr to Enhance Operational Capabilities of Indian

Armed Forces
On 24th August 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by the Union Defence Minister,
Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth
around Rs 7,800 crore, to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
Details of DAC’s Approvals:
i.To enhance the efficiency of the Indian Air Force, DAC granted AoN for the procurement and installation of
an Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 Military/Transport Helicopters, which will enhance better
survivability of Helicopters.
• The procurements will be made under the Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and
Manufactured) category.
• The EW Suite will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), under the Ministry of
Defence(MoD).
ii.The DAC has also granted AoN for procurement of a Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanised
infantry and armoured regiments.

• This will enable operations like unmanned surveillance, logistic delivery of ammunition, fuel & spares,
and casualty evacuation on the battle field.
iii.DAC has also granted AoN for the procurement of weapons to enhance the operational capabilities of the
MH-60R multi-mission helicopters in service with the Indian Navy.
iv.The DAC approved the procurement of a 7.62×51 millimeters (mm) Light Machine Gun (LMG) and Bridge
Laying Tank (BLT).
• The induction of LMG will enhance the fighting capabilities of infantry forces, and the induction of BLT
will result in faster movement of Mechanised Forces.
v.DAC has also approved the AoN for procurement of Ruggedised Laptops and Tablets for the Indian Army
under Project Shakti.
Note: All these procurements will be sourced from Indigenous vendors only.
President of India Releases Postage Stamp in Memory of Dadi Prakashmani

Droupadi Murmu, The President of India, released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, former
chief of Brahma Kumaris, at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of
Communications, to commemorate Dadi Prakashmani’s 16th death anniversary. Dadi passed away
on 25th August 2007.
i.Dadi Prakashmani, known as Dadi Kumarka, was born in 1922 in the north Indian province of Hyderabad,
Sindh (now in Pakistan). She served as the Administrative Head of Brahma Kumaris from 1969 until 2007.
ii.During her lifetime, the organization expanded from 1 country to 120 countries with over 5,000 centres and
sub-centres around the world.
• The Brahma Kumaris, officially known as the ‘Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa
Vidyalaya,’ is a global spiritual movement dedicated to personal change and world rejuvenation.
The organisation was founded by Prajapita Brahma in 1936 in Hyderabad, Sindh. It is now headquartered
in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
MoD Signs to Acquire Five Indigenously Built FSS from HSL Worthing 19,000 Crore
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Hindustan
Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) for the acquisition of five indigenously built Fleet
Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy worth 19,000 crore (approximately).
About The Fleet Support Ships (FSS):
• The FSS will be built with a length of 225 metres and a width of 32 metres and will have a
displacement of 44,000 tonnes.
• It will be deployed for restocking ships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores
• These ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people and human assistance and disaster
relief (HADR) operations.
• The Fleet Support Ships (FSS) that are signed will carry a cargo of almost 25,000 tonnes
• These vessels is a flag bearer of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in harmoniousness with the ‘Make in India’
initiatives.
• Construction of these ships encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in
production process.
• The 44,000-tonnes FSS will be the first of its kind to be constructed in India by an Indian
Shipyard and will be successfully delivered in eight years.
Union Minister – Raj Nath Singh (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of States(MoS) – Ajay Bhatt (Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)

About Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Hemant Khatri
Headquarters – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Nehru Memorial Museum Has Been Renamed as The Prime Ministers’ Museum
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has officially been renamed as the Prime Ministers’
Museum and Library (PMML) Society with effective from August 14, 2023.It is located within the Teen Murti
House complex at New Delhi, Delhi.This institution operates independently under the India Ministry of Culture.
• It was established in 1964 after the death of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who had
spent his lifetime in his official residence for 16 years until his demise on May 27,1964.
• This renaming reflects motive of expanding the society’s focus beyond its previous associations
to Jawaharlal Nehru and aims to foster a more comprehensive understanding of all the prime
ministers of India and their invaluable contributions to the nation.
• The decision to change the name was taken in June 2023 in a meeting of the NMML Society. It was
chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice president of the society. This project
was approved by Executive Council, NMML in its 162nd meeting held in November 2016.
• Shri Nripendra Misra is the chairman of the Executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and
Library (NMML)
Note – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in April 2022, stands as
a homage to every prime minister of the Republic of India post-Independence, encapsulating their individual
contributions to our nation’s progress during the past 75 years.
Ministry of Home Affairs Renews FCRA Licence of ORF for 5 Years

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a Delhi-based foreign policy think tank, has received a five-year
renewal of its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The renewed license is valid from October 1, 2023, to September 20, 2028. ORF sought this renewal to continue
receiving foreign grants from voluntary sources and foreign entities.
• The renewal of the organization’s FCRA was pending with the government since March 2023. During
this time, extensions were provided to various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including
ORF till September 30th 2023. .
• The ORF, in adherence to the amendment made to section 17 of The Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act, 2010, in the year 2020, took the necessary steps to meet the new legal
requirements.
• As part of the compliance process, ORF ensured that it met the regulatory requirements by opening
bank accounts with the State Bank of India(SBI). These bank accounts were established at the
Parliament Street New Delhi branch of the SBI. This step aligns with the regulations and helps
facilitate transparent and accountable financial transactions related to foreign contributions.
As of August 15, 2023 a total of 206 voluntary organizations have been issued FCRA (Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act) licenses. This list includes several notable organizations like the International
Forum for Environment, Sustainability, and Technology (iFOREST) and Sikkim Manipal University. The
licenses allow these organizations to receive foreign contributions legally and transparently.
Automotive PLI Scheme Extended By Another Year Till FY28

Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey,Ministry of Heavy Industries(MHI) in ‘Review of Production Linked
Incentive-Auto Scheme’ announced the extension of the deadline of Production Linked Incentive(PLI)
Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry by another year.
• The program that was supposed to last for five years, from 2022-23 to 2026-27, will be active till
2027-28.

• The distribution of the incentives will be on a quarterly basis, instead of an annual plan.
PLI Scheme for Automotive Sector
i.Under the Automotive PLI scheme, incentives are applicable for specified sales of Advanced Automotive
Technology (AAT) products (vehicles and components) manufactured in India starting from April 1,
2022.These incentives will remain in effect for a continuous period of five years.
ii.Eligibility to Incentive: AAT products for which a minimum of 50 per cent Domestic Value Addition (DVA)
is achieved and has been certified by Testing Agencies (TAs) of MHI.
• This requirement will help to reduce imports, making it easier to manufacture AAT products locally,
and creating both domestic and global supply chains.
iii.In April 2023, MHI published Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for DVA certification to facilitate ease
of doing business (EODB).
iv.95 companies are covered under the scheme that looks to promote local manufacturing of new technology
products.
Two More Testing Agencies:
The ministry also approved a request to add two more TAs to test the vehicles and components.
i.Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) in Chennai, Tamilnadu
ii.National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Madhya Pradesh
Current testing centres: Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in Pune, Maharashtra and the
International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT) in Manesar, Haryana.
The scheme has two components viz. Champion OEM incentive scheme and Component Champion incentive
scheme.
• Champion OEMs, specializing in electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles.
• Component Champions, focused on manufacturing high-value and advanced components.
STATE NEWS
UNFPA & MP govt Launch ‘Just Ask!’ Chatbot for Adolescents & Young Adults on SRHR
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly known as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities
in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) and the Department of Public Health and Family
Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbot
called ‘Just Ask!’ (Khulke Poochho in Hindi), for adolescents and young adults (15-29 years) in India to explore
information and become aware on the issues related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
• The chatbot will equip, empower, and educate them about the need for accurate and accessible
information on social issues.
• The chatbot has been developed by the UNFPA sexual and reproductive health experts.
Funding:
The project will be partly funded by Bayer, an international pharmaceutical company.
Bayer signed an agreement with UNFPA in India to contribute USD 720,000 to improve awareness on SRHR
among adolescents and young people.
Key People:
Prabhuram Choudhary, Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare of MP, and Andrea M Wojnar, India
Representative of UNFPA.
Features and Benefits of the Chatbot:
i.The chatbot provides a secure, personalized, and non-judgemental space for adolescents and young adults in
India (15-29 years).
ii.It assists them to be aware of the questions related to growing up, bodily changes, menstruation,
reproductive health, pregnancy and family planning, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other SRHR topics.

iii.The chatbot engages users in interactive conversations and provides them with accurate and reliable
information within minutes and free of cost.
• The content is supported by engaging infographics that increase comprehension and enable users to
follow instructions easily.
iv.The user experience is designed to be safe, personalized, multi-lingual, and compassionate.
• The platform has been developed in line with UNFPA’s Guide on the Safe and Ethical use of
Technology, the structural design will keep user data private.
v.It features two aspiring role models, Dhruv and Drishti, who communicate information in a simple and
relatable manner.
vi.The chatbot links adolescents and young people to Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs), government
health facilities, and helplines.
It is the United Nations (UN)’s sexual and reproductive health agency.
Executive Director– Dr. Natalia Kanem
Motto– “Ensuring rights and choices for all”
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Launches LEAP Coworks for KSUM Beneficiaries

On 1st August 2023, Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Statewide membership card of
Kerala Startup Mission’s (KSUM) ‘LEAP (Launch, Empower, Accelerate, Prosper) Coworks’ and also
inaugurated the refurbished headquarters of the KSUM at the Thejaswini Building in Technopark Phase 1 in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also inaugurated the operations of first phase of the new India’s
first Digital Science Park.
Note – Kerala has achieved significant milestones with the establishment of India’s first Digital
University named Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology ,as well as India’s first
technology park.
LEAP Coworks:
i.It is an initiative of Kerala government’s mission to transform industry incubators into co-working spaces to
provide innovation and collaboration for a startup ecosystem by offering infrastructure, workspaces, meeting
rooms, internet connectivity for a productive work environment.
ii.Under this initiative, the new KSUM headquarters in Technopark will be rebranded as LEAP Coworks space.
iii.KSUM will continue to provide mentorship programs, business development assistance, access to funding
opportunities, and expert guidance.
iv.Through LEAP, KSUM will introduce flexible membership plans to accommodate the various needs of the
startups, including hot desks, dedicated desks and private office spaces.
LEAP Coworks membership card:
i.The launch of the LEAP Coworks membership will provide startups, professionals, angel investors, and
venture capitalists with unparalleled access to KSUM’s premium facilities.
ii.The membership card offers subsidised access to all LEAP center facilities and allow access to book Flexi
Workstations and KSUM’s partner incubation centers across Kerala.
About Kerala:
Chief Minister- Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor- Arif Mohammed Khan
Festival- Thiruvathira, Pooram
Stadium- EMS Stadium, Jimmy George Indoor Stadium

Kerala Govt is Set To Launch ‘Shubhayatra’ for Financial Support to 1st time Overseas
Emigrants
The Kerala government is about to launch a new project titled ‘Shubhayatra’, to provide financial support to
first-time overseas emigrants from Kerala.
• The project aims to create a positive and productive migration ecosystem by providing financial
assistance of up to Rs. 2 lakhs with a tax holiday for 6 months and attractive interest subvention to
meet the incidental expense of eligible candidates.
Soft Loan:
i.To meet the expense of first-time emigrants such as regulatory examinations or licensing examinations of
various countries, service charges of recruiting agencies, visa stamping and attestation expenses, high airfares,
and other incidental expenses the Kerala government will provide a soft loan for foreign employability skilling
assistant and the preparatory expense for the migration.
ii.The candidate will get time up to three years for repaying the soft loan
Telangana Assembly Passes TSRTC Merger Bill After Governor’s Approval

On 06th August 2023, Telangana State Legislative Assembly passed the Telangana State Road Transport
Corporation(TSRTC) (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill 2023, after receiving
approval from Tamilisai Soundarajan, Governor of Telangana.
• The bill(with effect from 31st July 2023) aims to merge loss-making TSRTC with Telangana
government and to absorb the employees into the government service.
• The administrative control of TSRTC will remain under the Transport, Roads and Buildings
Department, with the head being the vice-chairman and managing director.
• The bill was introduced by Telangana Transport Minister, P Ajay Kumar.
Note: Annually, the Telangana Government will inject Rs 3,000 crore to cover the salaries and allowances of
more than 43,000 employees.
Key Recommendation by the Governor:
Telangana Governor, Tamilisai Soundarajan recommended few changes in the bill such as,
i.Emoluments of absorbed RTC employees to match state government scales for pay, transfers, promotions,
pensions, and provident funds.
ii.Similar benefits and salaries for contract/outsourced employees as per state service rules, with recognition
and protection for future service in different capacities.
iii.Maintenance of buses to be taken over by the government through outsourcing or other means, ensuring
financial responsibility for safety.
Other Recommendation:
i.Assets division and completion process between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recommended under Andhra
Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014.
ii.To clarify and assume liability for clearing arrears from former Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport
Corporation(APSRTC).
iii.Provision for already-absorbed TSRTC employees to seek ‘compassionate appointment’ for family members
due to work-related health issues.
iv.Suggestion to make disciplinary proceedings within RTC more humane and in line with service rules for
other government employees.
vii.If RTC employees are deputed to other departments, provision to protect their grade, pay, salary, and
promotions for continuity and stability.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor- Tamilisai Soundarajan
UNESCO Heritage- Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa)
Airport- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), Ramagundam Airport (Ramagundam)

Justice Subhasis Talapatra Sworn in as 33rd Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
On 8th August 2023, Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Judge of the Orissa High Court, took oath as the 33rd Chief
Justice (CJ) of the Orissa High Court. The oath ceremony was administered by Prof. Ganeshi Lal, the Governor
of Odisha.
• Justice Subhasis Talapatra succeeded Justice Dr. S
Muralidhar following his superannuation on 7th August
2023.
• Justice Subhasis Talapatra is set to retire on October 3,
2023.
Note: In July 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the
name of Justice Talapatra, as the CJ.
About Justice Subhasis Talapatra:
i.Justice Subhasis Talapatra hails from Udaipur, Tripura.
ii.He was designated as Senior Advocate on December 21, 2004. On November 15, 2011, he was sworn in as an
Additional Judge of Gauhati High Court in Guwahati, Assam.
iii.On September 13, 2013, was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Tripura High Court.
iv.He served as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura twice from November 2-13, 2018, and
November 11-15, 2019.
v.He was transferred as Judge, High Court of Orissa on June 1, 2022, and he took the oath of office on June 10,
2022.
vi.Since 2017, he held the position of Executive Chairman of Tripura State Legal Services Authority and
Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee; Computer Committee, and eCourts Project; Committee for
Establishment of National Law University.
Orissa High Court launches Warrant Management System and PIL portal
On 7th August 2023, S Muralidhar, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, on the day of his superannuation,
dedicated 2 e- initiatives : Warrant Management System and Public Interest Litigation (PIL) portal, for the
benefit of all stakeholders, including the police.
Warrant Management System:
i.It is a portal of the high court collaboratively developed with the State Crime Records Bureau to ensure
expeditious transmission and monitoring of warrants.
ii.The portal has the facility of issuing warrants to the police, tracking the status of execution, and
acknowledgment of execution. This facility was initially launched in the Cuttack district of Odisha and has been
now extended to 7 other districts.
PIL Portal:
i.It serves as a tool for the public to access important PILs, its relevant orders, and reports from the High Court
which will benefit both researchers and students.
ii.This platform will also ensure transparency and accessibility in the legal system.
RGICL has been Awarded the Contract for Implementing MHIS & PMJAY in Meghalaya
On 8th August 2023, Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd (RGICL) signed a contract with the Department
of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya for the implementation of the Megha Health
Insurance Scheme (MHIS) and the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)-Phase
6 in Meghalaya.
• RGICL emerged as the successful bidder to implement a revised MHIS 6 scheme in convergence with
PMJAY, providing an insurance cover of Rs 5.3 lakhs for all eligible beneficiaries on a family floater
basis.
• Meghalaya has decided to review the health benefit packages and other terms in insurance contract
of MHIS 6. This will cover more than 7 lakh families in Meghalaya and provide them health

insurance coverage that will meet secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, outpatient care,
diagnostic tests, and follow-up care.
• RGICL will also leverage its digital capabilities for smooth and hassle-free enrolment, claim
settlement, and grievance redressal for the beneficiaries.
• The scheme provides coverage to all residents of Meghalaya apart from those who are employed by
the GoM and central governments.
Rajasthan CM Launched Indira Gandhi Smart Phone Scheme in Jaipur

On 10th August 2023, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan, launched the Indira Gandhi Smart Phone
Scheme during an event organised at the B.M. Birla Auditorium in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• During the event, CM also launched the ‘Digital Sakhi Book’.
About Indira Gandhi Smart Phone Scheme:
i.Under this scheme, free smartphones with 3 years of data facility will be distributed to 1.3 crore women in
Rajasthan. The beneficiaries will include girl students (class 9 to class 12) of government schools, college
students, single women, and widows.
ii.Rs 6800 will be deposited in an e-wallet through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) for the purchase of these
smartphones and SIM.
1st Phase:
i.In the first phase of the scheme, it aims to provide smartphones to approximately 40 lakh women. Those
eligible for the first phase include women who served 100 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and 50 days under the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee
Scheme.
CM announced Fuel Surcharge Waiver for Electricity Consumers in Rajasthan
CM Ashok Gehlot announced a complete waiver of the fuel surcharge for all domestic and agricultural power
consumers in Rajasthan.
It is noted that hereafter, no consumer will be required to pay the surcharge after using more than 200 units of
electricity.
• Previously, the waiver was applicable only to those who used up to 200 units of electricity per
month.
What is Fuel SurCharge?
A fuel surcharge for power consumers is an additional fee on electricity bills, covering the cost of fuel used to
generate power. This charge can vary based on factors such as the price of fuel and the efficiency of power
generation methods.
• It is often used to cover the expenses incurred in producing electricity using fossil fuels like coal, oil,
or natural gas.
Key Points:
i.This would impose an additional cost of Rs 2500 crore. This will be borne by the government of Rajasthan.
The public-sector power distribution company will get the amount from the State government.
ii.To provide relief from the high input costs of agriculture, the government of Rajasthan provides 2000 units of
electricity per month at no cost to farmers.
Telangana launched India’s 1st Agricultural Data Exchange platform and ADMF
K Taraka Rama Rao, Cabinet Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT, E&C),
Telangana, launched India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management
Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The ADeX has been developed as a Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI) for the agriculture sector.
• ADeX is a collaboration between the Telangana Government, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and
the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Banglore(Bengaluru, Karnataka).

• Both ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural
data by the industry and start-ups and provide a big growth to the data economy specifically in the
agriculture sector.
• These initiatives will create a comprehensive data economy for the future of agriculture and will
enable large-scale innovation that will drive impact to the farmer community.
ADeX Platform:
i.It is an open-source, open-standard, and interoperable public good platform.
ii.Its primary goal is to democratise data access and equip both public and private sectors to develop
applications and deliver services to benefit society.
iii.ADeX software platform facilitates the secure, standards-based exchange of data between agricultural data
users like agri application developers and agricultural data providers like government agencies, private
companies, etc.
iv.In Phase-I of the project, the ADeX Platform is currently deployed in Khammam city of Telangana and will be
expanded to the entire Telangana state subsequently.
Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF):
i.ADF has been developed after extensive public and industry consultations on data protection, management,
and innovation.
ii.Informed by domestic laws and regulations and converging global best practices, it is a forward-looking
framework, with the objective of facilitating consent-based responsible data sharing.
iii.ADMF is applicable to all government departments dealing with agricultural activities as well as all
agriculture information users and providers. The framework provides for a robust grievance redressal
mechanism.
iv.The framework envisages an Inter-Departmental Committee, which will issue standard operating
procedures and guidance on key aspects such as access controls, data quality, data service providers, etc.
About Telangana:
Zoological Park– Nehru Zoological Park, Vana Vigyan Kendra Mini Zoo (Kakatiya Zoological Park)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Multi-Level Flyover in Pune & launches One Pune
Card
The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) inaugurated Rs 865
crore multi-level flyover built at Chandni Chowk in Pune, Maharashtra.
• This bridge with a total length of 16.98 km will address traffic congestion in the city.
• The internal and external service roads have been aligned with Mumbai-Bengaluru National
Highway
One Pune Card launched for Pune Metro users
On August 12, 2023, the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) unveiled a multi-purpose
“One Pune Card” for metro travel. The card can also be used for retail payments across India. It was
inaugurated by the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Key Points:
i.The first 5,000 passengers will get the card free of cost and others will have to pay Rs 150 + 18% tax.
ii.One Pune Card follows the norms of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and can be used in any
other metro and bus services in India.
iii.The card is on the Indian Payments (RuPay) framework and adheres to the guidelines set by the Government
of India for NCMC.
• For transactions up to Rs 5,000, no PIN is required.
iv.The event attended by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers (CMs) Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, Maha-
Metro managing director Shravan Hardikar and others.

Goa Becomes First State to Provide IVF Free at Govt Hospital
Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa inaugurated free In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) therapy at the Goa
Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim,Goa along with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Intrauterine
Insemination (IUI).With this, Goa has become the first state in the country to offer free artificial insemination
treatment.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment is the most common method of artificial insemination for
parents who are unable to conceive naturally.
• GMC is the first hospital in the country to offer free IVF treatment. Patients will not be charged. The
entire funding will come from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
The government will pay on an average Rs.5 Lakhs to Rs.7 lakhs for the IVF treatment.
Assam Cabinet Launches MODI Scheme to Reward the Cleanest District of Assam
On 25th August 2023, the Assam cabinet in its 100th meeting chaired by Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief
Minister(CM) of Assam, launched called MODI (Most Outstanding District Initiative), to reward the cleanest
district.
• This Clean district drive will boost solid waste management and sanitation.
• The detailed guidelines of the initiative will be issued during the Conference of District
commissioners which will be held on 27th August 2023.
Key Points:
i.The most outstanding district will be awarded Rs 100 crore towards infrastructure development and the
results will be declared by the first week of April 2024.
ii.The districts will be assessed on 108 parameters including cleanliness, legacy waste disposal, and maximum
coverage of clean drinking water before being given the cleanest tag.
iii.MODI is a new effort to motivate comprehensive cleanliness at the district level and the detailed guidelines
were issued at the conference of district commissioners.
New Districts:
i.Additionally, the cabinet has decided to create 4 new districts . These districts were abolished on December
31 2022. The new districts include Hojai, Biswanath, Tamulpur and Bajali.
ii.Assam CM also stated that 24 sub divisions will be abolished and 81 sub districts will be created.
Installation of CCTVs:
i.The cabinet also approved the installation of 2,000 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across Guwahati
to implement a citizen-friendly, holistic, integrated, and responsive Intelligent City Surveillance System.
ii.This initiative aims to improve safety, increase productivity, ensure enforcement, and effective and
preventive policing through integration with existing Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), etc.
Semiconductor Hub:
i.The cabinet approved the Assam Electronics (Semiconductor, etc.) Policy, 2023 with the aim to establish
Assam as a hub of semiconductor manufacturing and electronics production.
ii.The key benefits of the policy include attracting semiconductor fabrication and design investment, job
creation, ecosystem development, market resilience, export growth, and revenue generation for Assam.
iii.Policy benefits extend to all new units within the ‘Semiconductor Manufacturing’ sector, and eligible
industrial units are also covered.
iv.The policy allows for phase-wise commissioning of the total approved plant capacity. Micro-small-medium-
enterprises (MSMEs) have a three-year limit for this, while large industries get 5 years from the date of the first
fixed capital investment.
About Assam:
Chief Minister– Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor– Gulab Chand Kataria
Stadium– Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium (Outdoor) and Nehru Stadium (Outdoor)

TN CM Stalin Launches Expansion of Breakfast Scheme for all TN govt School Students
On 25th August 2023, Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM), MK Stalin inaugurated the expansion of the state
governments’ free breakfast scheme to all state-run primary schools from classes 1 to 5. With this scheme,
TN has now become the first state in India to provide free breakfast to students in all government schools.
The scheme was inaugurated at a government school at Tirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district, the birthplace of
M Karunanidhi, former CM of TN and DMK patriarch.
• Nearly 17 lakh students across approximately 31,000 government schools in the state will benefit
from the extension of the scheme. For this initiative, a sum of Rs 404 crore has been allocated.
• This scheme is viewed as an extension of the mid-day meals, the CM’s Free Breakfast Scheme is
aimed at reducing malnutrition and increasing attendance by providing nutritious breakfast.
• The CM’s breakfast scheme was first inaugurated on September 15, 2022, on the occasion of the
birth anniversary of C N Annadurai, former CM of TN, in Madurai, TN.
Note: TN was the first to introduce the mid-day meal scheme in India in 1922 in the then-Madras
Presidency(Now Tamil Nadu). Former CM Kamarajar launched the full-fledged mid-day meal programme for all
panchayat and government-run primary schools in Tamil Nadu in 1956-57.
Gujarat CM Launches Online Platform for Panchayati Raj Institutions

Chief Minister(CM) of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel launched a software called the Panchayati Raj Accounting
Information System Automation (PRAISA), to make online payment compulsory for Panchayati Raj
institutions at a state-level ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh‘campaign in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Panchayati Raj institutions & local self-governed bodies will be handling their financial
transactions worth Rs 34,000 crore in PRAISA to increase transparency.
Key Points:
i.Instead of cheques, PRAISA is used by Panchayati Raj institutions to make payments to contractors or
vendors.
ii.This software can also issue work orders, make payment to and maintain the accounts.
iii.This portal facilitate all financial and accounting transactions for 33 districts and 248 taluka panchayats
through this online platform, making the administration paperless and more effective.
iv.Dashboards such as Gujarat CM Dashboard, Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) and Public
Financial Management System (PFMS) will be connected with PRAISA.
V.Quick Response (QR) codes and schedules are mandatory for making payments through PRAISA.PRAISA
allows real-time monitoring of any panchayat’s transactions at taluka, district and state level
About Meri Mati Mera Desh Campaign:
• “Meri Maati Mera Desh“, is a nationwide and people led “Jan bhagidari” initiative to
commemorate 75 years of India’s independence.
• It is the final event of Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav program.
• Tagline: `Mitti ko naman, veeron ka vandan`.
About Gujarat:
WildLife Sanctuary – Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary
Airport – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Dholera International Airport

GOVT SCHEMES
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Completes 9 Years of Successful Implementation
On 28th August 2023, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), a National Mission for Financial
Inclusion (FI) completed 9 years of successful implementation.
• PMJDY, the biggest financial inclusion initiative in the world, was introduced by Prime Minister
(PM) Narendra Modi on 15th August 2014 (Independence Day) and was launched on 28th
August 2014.
Financial Inclusion:
i.FI is a comprehensive approach aimed at fostering economic development and ensuring that financial
services are accessible to all segments of society.
ii.FI promotes equitable and inclusive growth by extending financial services at an affordable cost to
vulnerable groups such as low-income groups and weaker sections that lack access to basic banking
services.
About Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):
i.PMJDY aims to ensure access to financial services, namely, basic savings & deposit accounts, remittance,
credit, insurance, and pension in an affordable manner to all households in India.
ii.Under the scheme, a basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account can be opened in any bank branch or
Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) outlet, by persons not having any other account.
Features:
i.One basic savings bank account is opened for unbanked people.
ii.There is no requirement to maintain any minimum balance (zero balance/zero charges) in PMJDY
accounts.
iii.Interest is earned on the deposit in PMJDY accounts.
iv.Rupay Debit card is provided to PMJDY account holders.
Benefits:
i.Accident Insurance Cover of Rs.1 lakh (enhanced to Rs. 2 lakh for new PMJDY accounts opened after 28th
August 2018) is available with a RuPay card issued to the PMJDY account holders.
ii.An overdraft (OD) facility up to Rs. 10,000 to eligible account holders is available.
iii.PMJDY accounts are eligible for all Government benefits (from Centre / State / Local Body) to the
beneficiaries accounts such as:
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan
Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Micro Units Development &
Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.
Achievements:
i.As of mid-August 2023, the number of total PMJDY Accounts is 50.09 crore; 55.6% (27.82 crore) Jan-
Dhan account holders are women and 66.7% (33.45 crore) Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban
areas.
ii.Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) architecture has enabled the successful transfer of Government
benefits in the accounts of the common man consistently.
iii.Jan Dhan Darshak App (JDD App), is a mobile application that provides a citizen-centric platform for
locating banking touch points such as bank branches, ATMs, Banking Correspondents (BCs), Indian Post
Payment Banks, etc. in India.
Over 13 lakh banking touchpoints have been mapped on the JDD App.

STATE GOVT SCHEMES
Gramin Mitra: Goa CM launches Door-Step Delivery of Govt Scheme for Rural Area
Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister(CM) of Goa, launched Gramin Mitra, the flagship scheme of the Government of
Goa to provide doorstep delivery of government services across the state and promote digital empowerment in
rural areas at an event held at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Goa.
• The scheme will play an important role to bridge the digital gap between Rural and Urban Areas.
The initiative is piloted by the Department of Information Technology (IT), Electronics, and
Communication (E&C) (DITE&C).
• Goa is the first state to offer doorstep delivery of government services through the Gramin Mitra
Scheme or village-level entrepreneurs.
Objective:
i.To promote digital empowerment by strengthening the digital foundation in rural Goa and with access to
information and opportunities that can transform the lives of rural communities and drive socio-economic
growth.
ii.Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, the scheme aims to provide access to technology, digital
literacy, and e-governance services to rural communities across Goa.
Note: The scheme will be able to deliver 179 state government services.
Key People:
Rohan Khaunte, Minister of IT, E&C, Government of Goa; Shripad Naik, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Member of Parliament (MP) – Rajya Sabha (Goa)
were also present in the event.
Key Highlights:
i.Bringing government services to people’s doorsteps will save their time and resources and the program
ensures that every individual can access essential services without leaving anyone behind.
ii.Rs 5,000 honorarium will be paid to the Gramin Mitras and Citizen Service Centres which deliver 200 and
more public services per month.
iii.The government also launched a citizen service helpline – 14471, enabling people to call and request
services.
iv.It allows individuals to request public services by simply calling the dedicated Call Centre Number, which
operates from 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week.
v.The Government of Goa, in coordination with the DITE&C, will provide the necessary training and capacity
building for the Gramin Mitra (Digital Cadets), who will be deployed through the Common Services Centres
(CSCs).
• These diligent cadets will be equipped with the required IT gadgets to efficiently deliver services to
applicants.
About Goa:
Chief Minister– Pramod Sawant
Governor– P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Stadium– Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda Stadium (Outdoor)) and Tilak Maidan Stadium (Outdoor)

World Rice Price Index jumps to near 12-year high in July 2023: FAO
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) All Rice Price Index increased by 2.8% in July
2023 to 129.7 points as compared to 126.2 point in June 2023.
• This is highest level in nearly 12 years as prices in key exporting countries rised on increased
demand and India’s move to curb the rice exports.
• The FAO’s July 2023 rice index is almost 19.7% higher than 108.4 points in July 2022, and the
highest nominal value since September 2011.
Note: The FAO Food Price Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of globally-traded food
commodities. For rice tracking, the FAO monthly Rice Price Update provides monthly rice export prices from
major origins.
Key Points:
i.FAO’s overall world food price index also rose in July 2023 to 123.9 points, up 1.3% from June 2023 while
11.8% below its July 2022 level.
• It is driven by higher costs for rice and vegetable oil.
ii.The India Rice Ban: India is a big exporter of rice, sending 40% of the world’s rice exports, followed by
Thailand (13% share) and Vietnam (9% share), among others. But in July 2023, the Indian government decided
to stop exporting non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and to keep prices stable during the
upcoming festive season.
• Additionally, they also put a ban on exporting de-oiled rice bran (DORB) until November 30, 2023
which was previously allowed for export.
iii.India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Pakistan are among leading exporters of rice. China, Philippines,
Benin, Senegal, Nigeria and Malaysia are key importers of the staple.
About United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO):
Iraq becomes 18th country recognised by WHO for eliminating Trachoma as a Public Health
Problem
On July 31, 2023, Iraq becomes the 18th country recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for
eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. It is also the 5th country in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean
Region to achieve this feat. It is also acknowledged by the WHO as the 50th country for eliminating at least
one Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), globally.
• This represents reaching the halfway mark to the 100-country target set for 2030 in the 2021–2030
NTD road map that targets the prevention, control elimination and eradication of 20 diseases and
disease groups.
Efforts by Iraq in eliminating trachoma:
i.In 2012, Iraq launched its national trachoma program to eradicate the disease. They developed a surveillance
system to detect and manage cases in eye care facilities, schools, and collaboration with the Ministry of
Education. Thousands of healthcare staff, including refractionists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eye
surgeons, contributed to these efforts.
ii.Post-elimination, Iraq and WHO will continue to closely monitor previously endemic areas to detect and if
necessary, combat any resurgence of disease.
About Trachoma:
i.It is a contagious bacterial eye infection caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It primarily affects the
surface of the eye and the inside of the eyelid.

ii.It is transmitted through direct contact with the eye or nose secretions of infected individuals or from fomites
and flies or indirectly through contaminated objects like towels or clothes.
iii.With time, it causes the eyelashes to be pushed inward into the eye. So with every blink, they brush against
the eyeball. This form of trachoma is called trichiasis. If it’s not treated, trichiasis can lead to blindness.
iv.The SAFE strategy: It includes Surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis); Antibiotics to
clear the infection, particularly the antibiotic azithromycin; Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement,
particularly improving access to water and sanitation.
Key Points:
i.Trachoma remains endemic in six countries in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, significant
progress has been made in reducing the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma
elimination purposes, decreasing from 39 million in 2013 to 6.9 million as of April 2023.
ii.17 other countries that have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are Benin, Cambodia, China,
Gambia, Ghana, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco,
Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Togo and Vanuatu.
About Iraq:
Capital– Baghdad
Currency– Iraqi Dinar
Prime Minister– Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani
India Commits USD 700,000 to Tuvalu’s Clean Water Initiative

India has pledged to support worth USD 700,000 from the India-United Nations Development
Partnership(UNDP) Fund to the project in Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation for clean water initiatives and
community development in schools.
• India will provide funding support for the “Motufoua Concrete Water Cistern” project, initiated by
the Tuvalu Government.
• The project aims to construct a concrete water cistern, at Tuvalu’s only public school called
‘Motufoua Secondary School’,a capacity of 760 metric cubes which will store and provide clean
water to students, teachers and school staff promoting hygiene and reducing water-borne diseases.
• The announcement was made by Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Key points:
i.This financial commitment aligns with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s “Sagar Amrut Scholarship”
scheme for the Pacific Island countries.
• Modi announced the “Sagar Amrut Scholarship” scheme for the Pacific Island countries during the
Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit, held in May 2023 in Papua New Guinea.
ii.Furthermore, the 12-point action plan introduced at the summit focuses on addressing health, wellness and
community development sectors as per priorities of the Pacific island countries.
iii.This project represents India’s efforts to work collaboratively with fellow developing countries to achieve
About India-UN Development Partnership Fund:
i.The Fund is established by the Government of India in June 2017, to support projects in developing countries
that aim to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
ii.The Fund adheres to the principles of South-South cooperation and prioritizes national ownership and
leadership, equality, sustainability, development of local capacity and mutual benefit.
iii.The Government of India has committed USD 150 million over the next decade for the fund and it has
supported 75 development projects across 56 countries.
About Tuvalu:
Prime Minister- Kausea Natano
Capital- Funafuti
Currency – Tuvaluan dollar (TVD) and Australian Dollar

Highlights of 2nd Namaste Vietnam Festival held in 3 cities of Vietnam
The 2nd edition of Namaste Vietnam Festival (Hello Việt Nam Festival) was held in the 3 southern cities of
Vietnam viz. Ho Chi Minh(HCM) City, Da Lat city(Central Highlands province) and Tuy Hoa city (south-central
coastal province) from 12th to 20th August 2023.
• The theme of the 2nd Namaste Vietnam Festival was “People unite, warm friendship”
• The festival is an intersection of culture and commerce, creating the basis for promoting bilateral
relations to promote tourism, trade, art, culture, music and film.
Objective:
To enhance cultural understanding and people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening the bond between both
countries.
Organizers:
It was jointly organised by the Indian Embassy, Consulate General of India in Vietnam under the aegis of
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India, IFFW (Indian Film Festival Worldwide) and Innovations India.
Note: The first ever Namaste Vietnam Festival was held in HCM City and Nha Trang in Vietnam from 12th
August – 12th September 2022. It was a major programme to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s
Independence Day and the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties.
Highlights:
i.The festival was Curated by Internationally Acclaimed Festival Curator Captain Rahul Bali.
ii.It was opened by the well-known Bollywood actor Anupam Kher & filmmaker-actor Rahul Mittra in the
Hoa Binh Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City’s biggest performing arts venue.
iii.The significant component of the festival includes an Indian Film Festival featuring the World Premiere of 2
Indian Films – Anupam Kher’s ‘The Signature’ & Rahat Kazmi’s ‘Kaya Palat’ which also were the opening and
closing films at the festival.
• Anupam Kher’s The signature was the first ever world premier of a Hindi film in Vietnam.
Key Points:
The festival showcased a diverse array of activities, including
i.India – Vietnam Railway Cooperation Seminar: Indian delegation, led by Anshul Gupta, including
representatives from major railway enterprises like Railtel, JMV, GG Tronics, and others, engaged with Vietnam
Railway Authority and Vietnam Railways to enhance Vietnam’s railway network.
ii.India – Vietnam Tourism Cooperation Seminar: Over 30 Indian tour operators connected with 50+
Vietnamese counterparts in multiple cities to discuss mutual tourism promotion in both countries.
MOU’s Worth USD 1 Billion Inked
As part of the 2nd Namaste Vietnam Festival, various seminars and meetings led to the signing of
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth over USD 1 billion between Indian and Vietnam businesses.
• The MoUs were signed across 3 major sectors: Railways, Tourism, and Cinema
• Consul General of India Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi and provincial leaders witnessed the MOU signings.
Railways:
Indian enterprises like RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RailTel), Ashoka Buildcon Limited, Efftronics
Systems Pvt. Ltd, and JMV LPS Limited signed MOUs with Vietnam’s Hoa Binh Group and Vietnam –
International Entrepreneurs Networking Club (VIENC) during India Vietnam Railway Cooperation Seminar.
• Vietnam plans to build 2000 km of new track for Trans Vietnam High-Speed Rail by 2030, investing
over USD 58 billion.
• Vietnam Railways is looking for transfer of expertise and technology in various fields like
modernization, signalling and safety systems and plans to partner with the Indian Companies in
railway projects of Vietnam.
• The MoUs between the above entities focused on technology transfer and expertise for Vietnam
Railways’ upgrade.

Tourism:
Over 10 MOUs signed between Indian tour operators and leading hotels/tour companies in Ho Chi Minh City,
Dalat, Phu Yen, Ha Nam, and Hanoi during India – Vietnam Tourism Cooperation Seminars.
Cinema:
To boost the cultural relations between India & Vietnam, a MoU was signed between the Government
of Phu Yen province of Vietnam and the Curator of Namaste Vietnam Festival, Captain Rahul Bali towards film
cooperation and collaboration in Film Making.
i.Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang was on a 2 day visit to India from 18th to
19th June 2023. During his visit, he held bilateral talks with Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh in New
Delhi, Delhi.
ii.On 4th June 2023, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of state (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
inaugurated the two-day “Lavender Festival” in Bhaderwah Valley of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). While
inaugurating the festival, Jitendra Singh stated that Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of India
and a prominent Agri-Start-up destination.
About Vietnam:
Capital– Hanoi
Currency– Vietnamese dong
Prime Minister– Pham Minh Chinh
48 African Countries Adopted Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment &

Climate Change
48 African countries have agreed to adopt the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment
and Climate Change (KDMECC) to address climate change and human mobility challenges in Africa and
leverage the opportunities for sustainable development.
• This was announced during the Technical Conference of States on the continental expansion of the
KDMECC held from 23rd to 25th August 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The KDMECC-AFRICA is expected to be signed by Member States during the Africa Climate Summit
in Nairobi, Kenya on 4th September 2023.
About the conference:
i.The conference was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Uganda with support from the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
ii.The conference also enabled the African States to develop a common position ahead of the Africa Climate
Summit and the Conference of Parties (COP 28).
About KDMECC:
During the Inter-Ministerial Conference on Migration, Environment and Climate Change held from 27 to 29 July
2022 in Kampala, Uganda, 15 African states signed and agreed upon the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on
Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC).
• KDMECC was the first member state-led comprehensive and action-oriented framework to address
climate-induced mobility in practical and effective ways.
Key Points:
i.KDMECC addresses the nexus of human mobility and climate change in the whole of Africa.
ii.KDMECC-AFRICA will ensure that everyone’s voices, including the voices of youth, women and persons in
vulnerable situations, are the priority of the expanded declaration.
iii.This offers a platform to support the priorities of the member states in addressing the challenges and also
enables them to leverage migration for sustainable development.
About the International Organization for Migration (IOM):
IOM is a United Nations (UN) agency that provides services and advice concerning migration.

Director General– António Vitorino
Membership– 175 member states and 8 observer states
Established in 1951
India Hands Over maritime surveillance Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka

On August 16, 2023, India presented the Indian Navy’s Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft to the Sri
Lanka Air Force(SALF) at the event in Katunayake SLAF Base, Colombo, SriLanka.
• On the occasion of India’s 77th Independence day celebration,the high commissioner of India, Gopal
Baglay ceremonially handed over the aircraft to Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka, the Chief of Staff and Senior
Adviser to the President on National Security.
• This marks the second Dornier aircraft.This signifies the replacement of the first Dornier aircraft,
which was deployed in 2022.First one was served for a year and returned to India for maintenance.
i.In 2018, Sri Lanka Requested for India for 2 Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft to enhance the maritime
surveillance capabilities of Sri Lanka.
ii.Following the request, India decided to provide a Donier-228, which was a part of the Indian Navy’s fleet, to
Sri Lanka free of cost for a span of 2 years.
• In August 2022, India handed over the first Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft of the SALF.
About Dornier 228:
i.The 19-seater Dornier 228 aircraft is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft.
ii.Dornier 228 was designed and manufactured for the first time by Dornier GmbH (a German aircraft
manufacturer).
• Following the transfer of technology from the German corporation, HAL began manufacturing at its
transport aircraft division in Kanpur after obtaining a product licence.
iii.Features:The Dornier aircraft equipped with advanced sensor to tackle common security challenges in the
region such as Drug & Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Search & Rescue.
• It also empowers Sri Lanka to safeguard its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from maritime threats.
About Sri Lanka:
President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Capital – Colombo (executive and judicial capital); Sri Jayawardenepura kotte (legislative capital)
Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee
UNDP Creates National Carbon Registry to Assist Nations in Achieving Climate Targets
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) developed an open-source software called ‘National
Carbon Registry’.This software enables countries to effectively manage national data and processes for trading
carbon credits.
• The software has recently been accredited as a digital public good (DPG).As a DPG,the registry utilizes
open-source programming, allowing countries to reproduce and change the information to their own
requirements and contexts.
About National Carbon Registry:
i.The registry follows national and international best practices based on inputs from countries and is a result of
ongoing work by the Digital4Climate (D4C) Working Group.
• D4C includes UNDP, the World Bank, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) among others.
ii.It is designed to be an interoperable digital system that can be combined with national measurement,
reporting, and verification (MRV) systems as well as international digital systems such as UNDP’s voluntary
cooperation platform and the World Bank’s global platform Climate Action Data Trust (CAD Trust).
• As a result of this programme, there will be a greater collection of digital public infrastructure to address
climate challenges.

iii.The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Government of Japan contributed to
the development of the National Carbon Registry.
Carbon Credit:
i.A carbon credit is the amount of money linked to the reduction, elimination, or avoidance of greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gases.
ii.Carbon finance will be key for the implementation of the NDCs, and the Paris Agreement enables the use of
such market mechanisms through Article 6.
Carbon Markets:
Carbon markets are trading platforms where carbon credits are bought and sold. Carbon markets allow
companies and individuals to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by buying carbon credits from
entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Head Quarters – New York, United States of America (USA)
Established – 1965, began its operations on 1966
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Pune, Maharashtra
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi visited Pune, Maharashtra on 1st August 2023. He flagged off the Pune
metro trains and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects.
• He was also conferred with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023.
PM Modi conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award
i.PM Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir
Trust, which comes with a memento and citation, in appreciation for his exceptional leadership and his work
promoting patriotism among citizens.
• It comes up with a memento, citation and cash reward of Rs 1 lakh.
• He decided to donate the award money of Rs 1 lakh to the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
ii.The award was constituted by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak
on August 1 every year, to mark the death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
iii.The award is conferred upon those who have worked towards the development and upliftment of the nation
and who have left a significant impact on the progress of the country.
iv.He was the 41st recipient of this award. The former recipients of the award include eminent personalities
like Pranab Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, NR Narayana Murthy, and E
Sreedharan, among others.
Note:
In 2022, Tessy Thomas, popularly known as India’s missile woman was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National
Award.
About Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
i.Bal Gangadhar Tilak born on 23th July 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra and died on 1st August 1920.
ii.He has earned titles include ‘Lokmanya Tilak’(Beloved Leader of the People), ‘The father of Indian unrest’,
‘The Maker of Modern India’.
iii.Tilak’s famous slogan was ‘Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it’.
iv.He founded the Indian Home Rule League in 1914 and participated in various indian freedom movements.
v.His notable books include ‘Gita Rahasya’ and the ‘Arctic home of the Vedas’.

Inauguration of metro lines:
i.PM Modi flagged off metro trains which marks the inauguration of services on completed sections of the two
corridors of Pune Metro Phase I.
• These sections running from Phugewadi station to Civil Court station, and from Garware College
station to Ruby Hall Clinic station.
ii.The Chhatrapati Sambhaji Udyan and Deccan Gymkhana metro stations have a distinct design that resembles
the headgear worn by warriors of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, commonly known as “Mavala Pagadi.”
• The Shivaji Nagar underground Metro station has an unique design that looks inspired of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s forts.
• The Civil Court metro station on route is one of the deepest metro stations in India. The deepest
point is at 33.1 meter(m).
Note: Since April 2023, Kolkata Metro network’s Howrah station, 33 meters below the surface, held the record
as “the deepest station was in India”.
Waste to Energy Plant:
He dedicated the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) Waste to Energy Plant. It was developed
at a cost of approximately Rs 300 crores and will consume approximately 2.5 lakh Metric Tonnes(MT) of trash
yearly to generate power.
Houses under PMAY:
i.He handed over more than 1,280 houses constructed by PCMC under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY).
ii.He also handed over more than 2,650 PMAY houses constructed by Pune Municipal Corporation.
iii.He laid the foundation stone of around 1,190 PMAY houses to be constructed by PCMC and over 6,400
houses constructed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Recent relates news:
On February 12, 2023, PM Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan and inaugurated the 246-kilometer (km) Delhi-
Dausa-Lalsot stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.This Delhi-Mumbai Expressway would be India’s longest
Expressway spanning 1,386 km.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister – Eknath Sambhaji Shinde
Governor – Ramesh Bais
Dances – Dangari Gaja, Povadas Dance,Lavani Dance
Home Minister Amit Shah’s 2 day visit to Gujarat; Inaugurates projects worth Rs 1052 cr
Amit Shah, Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Cooperation (MHA), during his 2 days visit
to Gujarat on 12th and 13th of August 2023, inaugurated various development works worth Rs.1052 crore in
the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Gujarat.
• The development works were jointly done by the
Government of India (GoI) and the Government of Gujarat.
Development works:
• Began the renovation work of Revabai General Hospital.
• Laid the foundation stone for the new six-floor building of
Seth N.N. Patel Public College of Gujarat and began the
works for rebuilding of the entire hospital.
• Laid the foundation stone for the widening of 4 lane road
from Randheja to Balwa in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Key People:
Many dignitaries including Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat also participated in the event.

Highlights:
i.The Union Minister Amit Shah urged the hospitals to upgrade and register under the Ayushman Bharat –
Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY), to benefit the poor by giving them treatment without any
expenses.
ii.He distributed toys to the kids, under the Gujarat Institute of Housing and Estate Developers –
CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India) (GIHED CREDAI), the real estate and
infrastructure sector of Gujarat, in 150 Anganwadis of Gandhinagar.
• He also took part in the tree plantation drive organized by GIHED-CREDAI in 450 societies.
iii.He inaugurated and dedicated the newly constructed garden by Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority
(GUDA) to the public, which provides all facilities for children as well as elderly people.
iv.He also inaugurated the Sub Registrar office in Mansa, built at a cost of Rs 2 crore.
Amit Shah laid Foundation Stone of IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) Plant at Gandhidham, Gujarat
On 12th August 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah, laid the foundation stone of Indian Farmers Fertilizer
Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)’s Nano DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) (Liquid), Plant in Gandhidham, Gujarat.
• The new plant has the potential to produce more than the existing IFFCO plants’, which produce 3
million tonnes of DAP, and the liquid fertilizer is going to give multi-dimensional benefits to India’s
economy and agriculture sector.
Key People:
Several dignitaries including Dileep Sanghani, Chairman, IFFCO, were also present.
Nano DAP (Liquid):
i.Nano DAP (Liquid), developed by IFFCO, is a nanotechnology-based agri-input, which provides nitrogen and
phosphorous to plants.
ii.IFFCO Nano DAP(liquid), launched in April 2023, is the world’s 1st liquid Nano DAP.
iii.It has the unique characteristic of remaining on the crop surface, thereby preserving the land, which not only
ensures the crop’s access to DAP’s advantages but also safeguards the environment.
About the upcoming Plant in Gandhidham:
i.The forthcoming plant in Gandhidham is entirely funded by IFFCO’s equity, representing the equity of 4 crore
farmers.
• IFFCO’s money goes back to the farmer through the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) and
the rest through cooperative societies.
ii.From this plant 2 lakh nano urea bottles of 500 ml each would be sent across the country and the world,
which would reduce the import of 60 million bags of urea.
iii.It would also save fertilizer subsidy of about Rs.10,000 crore, which would come back to the farmers, it will
also save foreign exchange of about Rs. 3,500 crore.
iv.This plant has a significant environmental benefit due to the zero liquid discharge, which will protect the
environment and reduce the cost of fertilizers.
3 Multi-state Cooperative Societies:
The Union Minister elaborated on the Ministry of Cooperation’s formation of three multi-state cooperative
societies to realize GoI’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samridhi”(Prosperity through Cooperation):
• The first society will enhance seed quality, yield, and preservation;
• The second society will aid in purchasing and exporting agricultural products;
• The third Multi-State Cooperative Society has been formed for exports.
Note: This multi-state cooperative society will become an export platform to take the products of even the
smallest farmer to the world market and the profit from this will not remain with the society but will go
directly to the bank account of the farmers.
Key Highlights:
i.He also introduced a storage scheme for food grains under PACS, which promises cost-saving benefits in the
transportation and storage of food grains.

ii.This initiative aligns with the GoI’s mission to establish 3 lakhs new PACS over the next 5 years,
strengthening agricultural finance and produce distribution.
Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Regional Hub of NSG
On 13th August 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah on his 2-day visit to Gujarat, laid the foundation stone of
the Regional Hub of National Security Guard (NSG) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• He also unveiled a memorial plaque under the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi’s
“MeriMatiMeraDesh” campaign, to pay respect to the persons who laid down their lives for the
motherland.
Key People:
Several dignitaries including MA Ganapathy, Director General, NSG were also present.
Points to note:
i.NSG has 4 regional centers in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Hyderabad (Telangana), and
Kolkata (West Bengal) and with this foundation in Gujarat, it will become 5.
ii.NSG is a Federal Contingency World Class Zero Error Force to deal with terrorism effectively. It is a force
specially equipped and trained to deal with the specific situation and is therefore, to be used only in exceptional
circumstances to thwart serious acts of terrorism.
iii.Since its inception on 22nd September 1986, the NSG has carried out more than 100 special operations by
eliminating hundreds of terrorists and saving the public.
• GoI has sanctioned Rs.400 crore for the regional center which will be built on 60 acres of land in
Lekawada (Gujarat) and this center will be completed in 30 months.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav:
i.It is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the
glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements, which is concluded on 15th August 2023 and the
Amrit Kaal of Independence is beginning from 15 August 2023 to 15 August 2047.
ii.In 2023 Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the PM instilled a sense of respect and tribute towards the freedom
fighters who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in the country’s freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947.
• The current government has made India the fifth-largest economy in the world and aims to make it
the third-largest before 2027.
Key Highlights:
i.3 ponds namely, Malav, Malan, and Chandranu will be developed and arrangements have also been made to
fill all the 9 ponds around Mansa with rainwater.
ii.A four-lane road from Mansa to Gandhinagar will also be built and after the completion of this road, people
would be able to reach Gandhinagar in 15 minutes and Ahmedabad in 30 minutes.
On July 17-18, 2023, the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) 2023 meeting under
the Indian Presidency was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It was jointly chaired by Union Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
Airport– Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and Dholera International Airport
President Droupadi Murmu visit WB; Inaugurated INS Vindhyagiri & ‘My Bengal, Addiction-
Free Bengal’ campaign
On 17th August 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, visited West Bengal(WB). This mark’s her 2nd
visit to West Bengal as President of India.
• During her 1-day visit to Kolkata, WB, she launched the ‘My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal’
Campaign and INS (Indian Naval Ship) ‘Vindhyagiri‘(Y – 3024), a Project 17A Frigate (Shivalik
Class).

Note: Previously, she visited the state in March 2023, her maiden visit to WB as President.
Launch of Advanced Naval stealth frigate ‘Vindhyagiri‘ in Kolkata
President Droupadi Murmu launched the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vindhyagiri, the sixth ship of project 17A of
Indian Navy (IN) at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers (GRSE) Limited facility on the banks of Hooghly river
in Kolkata, WB.
• This marks a step forward in enhancing India’s maritime capabilities.
About INS Vindhyagiri:
Named after the mountain range in Karnataka, it is the sixth of seven ships being built under Project 17A
(Alpha) Frigates. These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved
stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
Therefore, INS Vindhyagiri is a technologically advanced version of its predecessor, the erstwhile INS
Vindhyagiri, the Leander Class ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Frigate. The old Vindhyagiri served nearly 31
years of service from July 8, 1981 to June 11, 2012.
What is Project 17A program?
Under the Project 17A program, four ships by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three ships
by GRSE are under construction for IN. The first five ships of the project were launched by MDL & GRSE
• The P17A ships, classified as guided missile frigates, have been designed in-house by IN’s Warship
Design Bureau, an organisation for all warship design activities.
• INS Vindhyagiri is also the third and last stealth frigate that GRSE was contracted to build for the
Navy under the project.
Key Points:
i.Indigenous firms, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), account for 75% of the orders
placed for equipment and systems of P17A ships.
ii.P17A ships have a length of 149 meters, a displacement around 6,670 tonnes, and a speed of 28 knots. These
vessels have the capability to counter threats across all three dimensions of air, surface and sub-surface.
Launch of ‘My Bengal, Addiction-Free Bengal’ campaign in Kolkata
The President launched ‘My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal’ Campaign under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan‘,
organized by Brahma Kumaris at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata.
• It aims to address the drug abuse issue in society and India.
• It will raise awareness and promote efforts to combat addiction, especially among the youth.
i.On 8th June 2023, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation(WBIDC), Amazon Global Selling and
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI) have jointly organised an e-Export Haat at Silpa
Sadan, Kolkata, WB to help small businesses and entrepreneurs from WB expand their businesses globally
through e-commerce exports.
ii.On June 9th, 2023, The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 148 million loan to
support WB, India, in improving irrigation practices in rural areas. The loan will help the region
harness (utilize) the surface and groundwater resources more effectively for agricultural purposes.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers (GRSE) Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director– Cmde PR Hari
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Defence
Philippine Coast Guard’s official visit to India: 20-24 August 2023

A 5 member delegation of the Philippine Coast Guard(PCG) led by Admiral Artemio Manalo
Abu, Commandant of PCG was on an official tour to India from 20th to 24th August 2023.

PCG delegation visits Goa:
On 21st August 2023, the delegates visited Goa and witnessed the operation capabilities of the Indian Coastal
Guard (ICG) Ships and aircraft under “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
• They toured several ICG facilities including the frontline offshore patrol vessel- Indian Coast Guard
Ship(ICGS) Sujeet.
• The aerospace industry capabilities were also showcased along with a customer demonstration flight
(CDF) on the Indian Coast Guard Advance Light Helicopter MK-III (ALH MK 3 helicopter) by Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• They also visited the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), one of the leading shipbuilding companies in India.
ICG & PCG held 1st bilateral meet & signed MoU on enhanced maritime cooperation
ICG and PCG held their first-ever bilateral meeting on a range of maritime issues in Goa. This meeting
signifies the dedication to strengthening professional bonds by sharing best practices, conducting joint
exercises and enhancing training collaborations.
MoU on maritime cooperation:
On 22nd August 2023, The Indian Coastal Guard (ICG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
PCG on enhanced maritime cooperation.
• The MoU was signed by Rakesh Pal, Director General (DG) of the ICG and Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu,
Commandant of PCG at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU aims to enhance the professional linkage between ICG and PCG in the domain of Maritime Law
Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR).
• This MoU will enhance the bilateral maritime cooperation between India and the Philippines to ensure
safe, secure and clean seas in the region.
CNS India & Commandant of PCG signed an SOP for White Shipping Information Exchange
On 23rd August 2023, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff(CNS), Indian Navy, and
Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu, Commandant of PCG signed the Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) for the
exchange of White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and PCG, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU was signed as a part of the visit of the PCG Commandant to India.
Key Points:
The MoU would enable the operationalisation of information exchange on merchant shipping traffic and will
also contribute to enhanced maritime safety and security in the region.
On June 19, 2023, the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India and the
Department of Finance (DOF), Government of Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on
Financial Technology (fintech) cooperation.
About the Philippines:
The Philippines is officially known as the Republic of the Philippines.
President– Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Capital– Manila
Currency– Philippine peso
FOREIGN VISITS
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi visit to SA for 15th BRICS Summit; BRICS officially expands
from 5 to 11 members
The Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi visited Johannesburg, South Africa (SA) from August 22-24,
2023 to attend the 3 day annual 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit 2023 at the
invitation of Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of SA.
• It should be noted that, the SA President Cyril Ramaphosa is the Chair of 15th BRICS Summit.

The BRICS Story:
i.On August 22, 2023, the BRICS Business Forum Leaders’
Dialogue was held in Johannesburg, SA where leaders were
briefed on the deliberations of the BRICS Business Forum.
• Here Indian side highlighted the it’s various reforms to
improve the ease of doing business, including
technology-based solutions to address the social and
economic challenges.
ii.The Indian PM also participated in the BRICS Leaders Retreat at
the Summer Place in Johannesburg on August 22, 2023 which was
held in a closed format.
• Here leaders discussed global developments and ways to utilize BRICS platform to find solutions to
global challenges.
iii.15th BRICS Summit 2023:
On August 23, 2023, PM Narendra Modi attended the 15th BRICS Summit held under SA’s chairship, in Sandton
in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
The theme of 15th BRICS summit was ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth,
Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism’.
• This was the first in-person BRICS Summit since 2019.
• The event reviewed the ongoing initiatives and the identification of future prospects.
• The leaders engaged in fruitful discussions covering global economic recovery, collaborations with
Africa and the Global South, and an assessment of BRICS agenda progress to date.
About Theme:
This theme highlights SA’s five priorities for 2023:
i.Partnering for a fair climate transition and risk management.
ii.Innovating education for future skills.
iii.Utilizing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
iv.Enhancing post-pandemic recovery and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
v.Empowering women in peace processes and global governance reform.
Participants:
India– PM Narendra Modi
Brazil- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Russia– Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov; President Vladimir Putin participated virtually
China– President Xi Jinping
SA– President- Cyril Ramaphosa (Host)
Invitations were also extended to 67 leaders across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean
Note:
By mutual agreement, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, did not attended the Summit.
• In March 2023, The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for
alleged war crimes. South Africa, would be required to arrest Putin if he attended the summit.
Highlights by Indian Side:
i.The Indian side called for a strengthened BRICS that will be:
• B – Breaking barriers
• R – Revitalising economies
• I – Inspiring Innovation
• C – Creating opportunities
• S – Shaping the future
ii.The Indian PM emphasized the following points:
• Emphasized the need for clear timelines for UNSC (United Nations Security Council) reforms.

• Advocated the reform of Multilateral Financial Institutions.
• Urged for the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Encouraged BRICS to find consensus on its expansion.
• Stressed the importance of conveying global unity rather than polarization.
• Suggested the formation of a BRICS Space Exploration Consortium.
• Extended the offer of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (Indian stack) to BRICS nations.
• Put forward the idea of collaborative skill mapping, skilling, and mobility promotion within BRICS
countries.
• Proposed collective efforts by BRICS countries to protect Big Cats through the International Big Cat
Alliance.
• Recommended the establishment of a repository for traditional medicine within BRICS nations.
• Called on BRICS partners to back the African Union(AU)’s permanent membership in the G20 (Group
of Twenty).
NDB & TCTA signed Loan Agreement for Lesotho Highlands Water Project
During the summit, a loan agreement was inked between the New Development Bank(NDB), formerly the
BRICS Development Bank, and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) for the implementation of phase
II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), the largest bi-national infrastructure project
between Lesotho and South Africa
• As per it, NDB will provide a project loan of 3.2 billion South African Rand (USD 173 million) to
TCTA under the sovereign guarantee of SA.
About Project:
The LHWP is a multi-phased project to provide water to the Gauteng region of SA from Lesotho’s Orange River,
facilitating electricity generation through dam construction; and to generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho. The
Project will be co-financed by NDB, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other financiers. This is the first
project financed by NDB outside of BRICS countries.
• The project will also benefit North-West, Mpumalanga, and Free State provinces, by enhancing
water supply.
Signatories:
It was signed by Vladimir Kazbekov, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NDB and Percy Sechemane,
Chief Executive Officer of TCTA.
About Agreement:
TCTA will use the funds to construct the Polihali Dam and reservoir, a 38-kilometre-long water transfer tunnel,
roads and bridges, telecommunications infrastructure, and will extend electricity and other development
infrastructure to Lesotho.
Key Points:
i.Lesotho, is a small landlocked country bordered on all sides by SA, aims to foster sustainable livelihoods and
economic growth for Gauteng province, a major urban center and contributor to South Africa’s GDP.
ii.TCTA, a South African state-owned entity, manages bulk water infrastructure projects.
iii.NDB, formed by BRICS nations and South Africa, mobilizes resources for sustainable development.
• NDB expanded in 2021, welcoming Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and
Uruguay.
BRICS officially expands from 5 to 11 members
SA President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the expansion of BRICS with the inclusion of 6 new members’
viz. Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as its full time
members.
• The membership will come into force from January 1, 2024.
About BRICS:
The grouping was formed in September 2006 and it originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC).
It was renamed as BRICS after South Africa was accepted as a full member in September 2010.

• At present, the BRICS represents 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of
the global trade.
• Now, the 11 countries have a combined population of 3.7 billion.
BRICS supports use of national currencies in international, bilateral trade
BRICS members agreed to stand for the use of national currencies in international trade, as well as financial
settlements within the association. This decision will strengthen supply chains and payment systems between
its members.
BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue
The Indian PM participate in a special event ‘BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue’ which was
organized after the BRICS Summit. Te meeting saw participation from the guest countries of Africa, Asia and
Latin America, along with the leaders of the BRICS countries.
Highlights from Indian Side:
i.Stressed reform of global institutions for representation and relevance.
ii.Urged cooperation in counter-terrorism, climate action, cybersecurity, food & health security and resilient
supply chains.
iii.Invited participation in international initiatives like International Solar Alliance One Sun One World One
Grid, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, One Earth One Health, Big Cat Alliance and Global Centre
for Traditional Medicine.
iv.Offered sharing of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Stack.
Other meetings of PM Narendra in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit:
i.On August 23, 2023, the Indian PM had a meeting with the President of SA. The leaders discussed
advancements in bilateral relations, particularly in defense, agriculture, trade, investment, health, conservation,
and people-to-people connections.
• They also addressed ongoing collaboration in international organizations and mutual concerns.
ii.On August 24, 2023, the Indian PM also had a meeting with Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, PM of the Republic
of Ethiopia.
• Productive discussions were held covering development partnership, trade, defense, ICT
(Information and Communication Technology), agriculture, youth skilling, and people-to-people
connections. They also discussed significant regional and global matters.
iii.The PM also met Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, on 24 August 2023 in Johannesburg
where they held discussions on ways to deepen their bilateral partnership across various sectors.
iv.The PM met Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to discuss ways to
strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields including trade and investment, connectivity, energy and
counter-terrorism. Both sides agreed to fast track infrastructure cooperation, including the Chabahar project.
v.He met Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique where they held productive
discussions to further the bilateral ties, including in the areas of parliamentary contacts, defence, counter
terrorism, energy, mining, health, trade & investment, capacity building, maritime cooperation and people to
people relations.
vi.He met Dr. Himla Soodyall, noted geneticist & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Academy of Science of
SA in Johannesburg.
• They discussed human genetic lines and disease screening, and the PM invited Dr. Soodyall to
partner with Indian institutes in genetics.
vii.The PM met Siyabulela Xuza, noted rocket scientist and Founder and Managing Director (MD) of Galactic
Energy Ventures.
• The discussions covered matters related to the future of energy and finding sustainable solutions.
viii.PM Narendra Modi has a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping where both sides agreed to expedite the
border troops disengagement and de-escalation in western sector of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC).

• Indian side highlighted concerns at the unresolved issues along the LAC in western sector of the
India -China border.
PM gifted pair of ‘surahi‘ to President Cyril Ramaphosa
The Indian PM gifted a pair of ‘surahi‘ from Telangana to SA President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a Nagaland
shawl to his wife and first lady of SA. The ‘bidri vase’ is a purely Indian innovation exclusive to Bidar, a
Karnataka city. It is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals.
• On the other hand, Naga shawls are an exquisite form of textile art that has been woven for centuries
by the tribes in Nagaland in the northeastern part of India.
• These shawls are known for their vibrant colours, intricate designs, and the use of traditional
weaving techniques. Each Naga shawl tells a unique story, reflecting the tribe’s history, beliefs and
way of life.
• He also gifted also carried silver ‘nakkashi‘, whose patterns are first drawn on paper and then
transferred on silver sheets.
The PM gifted a Gond painting from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
i.President of India, Droupadi Murmu, paid a visit to Suriname and Serbia from 4th to 9th June 2023. She visited
Paramaribo, Suriname at the invitation of Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname and
Serbia at the invitation of Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia.
ii.PM Narendra Modi made a 5-day visit to the United States of America from 20th to 24th June 2023, at the
invitation of President of USA Joseph Robinette Biden Jr (Joe Biden) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. So far, PM
Modi has visited the USA 6 times(2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021) in his capacity as the PM of India.
However, the June 2023 visit marks his first ever ‘state visit’ to the USA, which, as per diplomatic protocol, is
the highest-ranked visit.
About South Africa:
President– Cyril Ramaphosa
Currency– South African Rand
Capital– Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial)
Overview of PM Modi Visit to Greece: Modi Honoured with Grecee’s Grand Cross of the Order of
Honour
Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi embarked on a one-day visit to Greece on 25th August 2023 at the
invitation of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister (PM) of Greece.PM
Modi’s visit to Greece marks the first visit of an Indian Prime
Minister to Greece in 40 years.
Note: Indira Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit
Greece. She travelled to Greece in September 1983.
Overview:
i.Modi arrived at Athens, the Capital of Greece, on 25th August 2023
and he was received by Greek foreign minister George Gerapetritis.
ii.He paid tributes at the ‘Tomb of Unknown Soldier’, a war
memorial dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during various wars, in Athens, Greece.
iii.PM Modi and Katerina Sakellaroupoulou, President of Greece discussed various issues including ways to
strengthen the India-Greece friendship and to increase sustainable development.
The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour:
Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of Greece honoured PM Narendra Modi with The Grand Cross of the
Order of Honour. He became the first Indian PM to receive the honours.
• He is also the 1st foreign head of government to be awarded the honour since 2017.
• The Order of Honour, established in 1975, is the second-highest civilian honour in Greece.

• The citation of the honour says “In the person of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an honour is
bestowed upon the friendly people of India.”
About the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour:
i.The front side of the Star features the head of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft,
with the inscription “ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED”.
ii.The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is conferred by the President of Greece to PMs and eminent
personalities who by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of
Greece.
Target to Double Bilateral Trade between India and Greece by 2030:
During his visit to Greece, PM Modi highlighted India and Greece’s plan to double the bilateral trade between
India and Greece by 2030 and announced an agreement in the field of agricultural production.
• The bilateral trade stood at nearly USD 2 billion in 2022-23.
Points to be noted:
i.India’s top exports to Greece include aluminium, organic chemicals, fish and crustaceans and iron and steel
while major exports of Greece to India include minerals fuels, mineral oils and products, sulphur and
aluminium foil.
ii.Both India and Greece have also signed a migration and mobility agreement to improve the flow of people
and talent between the two countries.
India & Greece Bilateral ties to “Strategic Partnership:
India and Greece have decided to strengthen their bilateral relations into a strategic partnership for the benefit
of the people of India and Greece.
• PM Modi met with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, PM of Greece and discussed various dimensions of the
bilateral partnership, including trade and investment, defence and security, technology,
infrastructure, digital payments, shipping, pharma, agriculture, migration and mobility, tourism, skill
development, culture, education and people to people ties.
• Both Prime Ministers highlighted the significance of broadening and strengthening bilateral
relations in key sectors like cyberspace and agriculture.
• They acknowledged the signing of an MOU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture, which involves
the creation of a Hellenic-Indian Joint Sub-committee on Agriculture. This sub-committee aims
to facilitate sectoral collaboration for the mutual benefit of both parties.
PM Modi’s special gifts for Greek leaders:
i.PM Modi presented the offered Meghalaya shawls and Dokra art, crafted by artisans from Chattisgarh, to
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
• Meghalaya shawls were initially woven for the Khasi and Jaintia royalty, who considered them a
symbol of their power and status.
• Dhokra is one of India’s prehistoric art forms. The dancing girl found in Mohenjo-Daro and
Harappan excavations was one of the earliest expressions of the artefact.
ii.PM Modi presented the Bidri surahi (Bidri work Vase) Pair to the President of Greece, Katerina N
Sakellaropoulou.
• Bidri vase is an Indian innovation of a 500-year-old Persian exclusive to Karnataka’s Bidar.
• It is cast with an alloy of Zink, Copper and other non-ferrous metals.
About Greece:
Prime Minister– Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President– Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou.
Capital– Athens
Currency– Euro

BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of RBI’s 3rd Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY24; India’s real GDP to grow at 6.5% in
FY24
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on August 8-10, 2023, and released
the ‘Monetary Policy Statement, 2023-24 Resolution of the MPC‘ which kept India’s real Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth retained at 6.5% in FY24 (2023-24) with FY24’s Q1 at 8%, Q2 at 6.5%, Q3 at 6%, and
Q4 at 5.7%. This is attributed to the growth in rural and urban areas, a rise in investment activity, and the
government’s intention to increase capital expenditure.
• This marks the 3rd MPC meeting in FY24, following the bi-
monthly policy reviews held in April 2023 and June 2023.
• Real GDP growth for Q1FY25 (April-June, 2024-25) is
projected at 6.6%.
• The focus of the MPC’s 3rd FY24 meeting is to prioritize
withdrawal of accommodation to guide inflation towards
the target gradually, while simultaneously supporting
growth.
RBI’s Policy Rates:
The MPC kept the policy rates unchanged in August 2023.
Category Rate
Policy Repo Rate 6.50%
Fixed Reverse Repo

3.35%
Rate
Standing Deposit
6.25%
Facility (SDF) Rate
Marginal Standing
6.75%
Facility (MSF) Rate
Bank Rate 6.75%
Cash Reserve
4.50%
Ratio (CRR)
Statutory Liquidity
18%
Ratio (SLR)
Inflation:
i.Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation or retail inflation is projected at 5.4% for FY24 from the 5.1% forecast
in June 2023.The projections for specific quarters of FY24 are Q2 at 6.2%, Q3 at 5.7%, and Q4 at 5.2%.
• This forecast is on the assumption of normal monsoon.
ii.CPI inflation for Q1FY25 is projected at 5.2%.

iii.RBI set an objective of achieving the medium-term target for CPI inflation of 4% within a band of +/-
2%, while supporting growth.
iv.CPI headline inflation increased to 4.8% in June 2023 from 4.3% in May 2023 amid higher prices of
vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, cereals, pulses and spices.
v.Core CPI (i.e., CPI excluding food and fuel) was steady in June 2023.
vi.Fuel inflation softened during May-June 2023, primarily reflecting the fall in kerosene prices.
Domestic Economy:
i.As on August 4, 2023, the total area sown under kharif crops was 0.4% higher than in August 2022.
ii.The index of industrial production (IIP) expanded by 5.2% in May 2023 while core industries output rose by
8.2% in June 2023.
iii.The composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to a 13-year high in July 2023.
iv.The daily absorption of liquidity under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) averaged Rs 1.8 lakh crore
during June-July 2023 as compared with Rs 1.7 lakh crore in April-May 2023.
v.Money supply (M3) expanded by 10.6% y-o-y as on July 28, 2023 as against 10.1% on May 19, 2023.
vi.Bank credit grew by 14.7% y-o-y as on July 28, 2023 as compared with 15.4% on May 19, 2023.
vii.India’s foreign exchange reserves stood at US$ 601.5 billion as on August 4, 2023.
Cement production and steel consumption recorded robust growth.
Global Economy:
In mid-July 2023, the US dollar dropped to a 15-month low due to predictions of an early end to the monetary
tightening cycle. While it partially recovered afterwards, certain emerging market economies face growth risks
due to factors like low external demand, high debt, and limited external funding. The worldwide economy is
slowing down, with growth differing across regions.
• India is contributing approx 15% to global growth.
Banks to maintain 10% incremental CRR from August 12, 2023
RBI mandates banks to hold an Incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (ICRR) of 10% on increase in deposits
between May 19 and July 28, 2023 with effect from the fortnight starting Aug. 12, 2023.
• This measure intends to absorb liquidity added to the banking system due to a return of 2000-rupee
denomination notes. Rs 3.14 lakh crore worth of Rs 2,000 banknotes, or 88% in circulation, had
returned to the banking system by July 31, 2023.
• ICRR is a temporary measure to overcome a sudden increase in deposits by draining off the liquidity.
RBI; raises payment limit via UPI lite to Rs 500 from Rs 200
In order to encourage wider adoption of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) Lite, RBI has increased the
transaction limit to Rs 500 from Rs 200. This will eliminate the need for multiple transactions for users.
• However, overall limit is retained at Rs 2000 to contain the risks associated with relaxation of two-
factor authentication.
• UPI Lite is an ‘on-device wallet’ feature that will allow users to make real-time small-value payments
without using a UPI PIN. It was launched in September 2022.
Objective:
To harnesse the new technologies for enhancing digital payments experience for users
Background:
The RBI has set a cap of Rs 200 per transaction and a total limit of Rs 2000 for each payment method for small-
value offline digital payments, such as National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and UPI Lite. This eliminates
the requirement for two-factor authentication in these cases, making them faster, reliable, and contactless
options for routine small payments and transit fares. However, there have been requests for these limits to be
increased. Therefore, the above change has been made.
RBI allows offline payment of UPI by using Near-Field Communication
RBI proposed to introduce Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to facilitate offline payments. This
move aims to support digital payments when internet connectivity is weak or not available, ensuring swift
transactions with fewer declines.

Conversational payments in UPI
RBI plans to introduce ‘conversational payments’ on UPI, allowing users to securely initiate and finalize
transactions through AI-powered conversations. This feature will be accessible on both smartphone and
feature phone UPI platforms, aiding the expansion of digital adoption across India. Initially in Hindi and English,
it will later be available in additional Indian languages.
Development of Digital Public Tech Platform
Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is developing a digital Public Tech Platform to facilitate easy lending by
providing necessary digital data to lenders. It will have an open architecture, allowing financial players to
connect seamlessly using open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in a ‘plug and play’ model.
• This initiative will be introduced gradually as a pilot project, focusing on information access and use
cases. Its aim is to enhance lending efficiency by cutting costs, expediting disbursements, and
enabling scalability.
RBI proposes framework for allowing borrowers to switch to fixed interest rate regime
RBI unveils framework allowing borrowers to switch to fixed interest rate from floating interest rate, providing
relief to home, auto loan borrowers.
• The framework envisages that lenders should clearly communicate with the borrowers for
resetting the tenor and/or Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) , provide options of switching to
fixed rate loans or foreclosure of loans, transparent disclosure of various charges incidental to the
exercise of these options, and proper communication of key information to the borrowers.
Review of NBFC Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF-NBFC)
In pursuit of bolstering Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs) for a larger role in infrastructure financing and
aligning regulations for different types of NBFCs, a review for IDFs has been conducted in collaboration with
the government by RBI.
• The updated framework eliminates the need for a sponsor for IDFs, allows them to directly
finance Toll Operate Transfer projects (ToT), grants access to External Commercial
Borrowings (ECBs), and makes tripartite agreements optional for Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
projects.
• The IDF was created as a separate category of NBFCs in 2011.
Members of MPC:
Dr. Shashanka Bhide; Dr. Ashima Goyal; Prof. Jayanth R. Varma; Dr. Rajiv Ranjan; Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra;
and headed by Shaktikanta Das (RBI Governor).
• The minutes of the MPC’s meeting will be published on August 24, 2023.
• The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled during October 4-6, 2023.
i.As per the article State of the Economy authored by RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra and other
RBI officials, inflation is slowing down personal consumption expenditure. On the other hand, it is moderating
corporate sales and holding back private investment in capacity creation.
ii.On 20th June 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of
Swaminathan Janakiraman, Managing Director (MD) (Corporate Banking and Subsidiaries) of the State Bank of
India (SBI) to the post of Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He succeeded Mahesh
Kumar Jain.

Non-Food Bank Credit grew to 16.3% in June 2023, for Aviation its 93.4% Hike: RBI Data
On July 31, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report ‘Sectoral Deployment of Bank Credit – June
2023‘ showcasing a Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth of non-food bank credit to 16.3% in June 2023 as compared
with 15% in June 2022.
• This rise is due to the strong demand for credit from sectors such as services, retail and agriculture,
and allied activities.
• On the other hand, the food bank credit shows a decline of -25.4% in June 2023 as compared to a
decline of -55% in June 2022.
• The Total Bank Credit (Food Credit + Non-food Credit) grew at 16.2% in June 2023 from 14.5% in
June 2022.
Basis of Assessment:
Data on sectoral deployment of bank credit for the month of June 2023 collected from 40 select Scheduled
Commercial Banks (SCBs), accounting for about 93% of the total non-food credit deployed by all SCBs
Highlights:
The following highlight shows the non-food bank credit in different sectors in June 2023 as compared to June
2022:
i.The credit growth in the agriculture and allied activities sector showed significant improvement, increasing to
19.7% (y-o-y) in June 2023 from 12.9% in June 2022.
ii.In June 2023, the credit growth to the industry sector registered a positive trend, growing by 8.1% (y-o-y)),
although slightly lower than the 9.5% recorded in June 2022.
• Size-wise, credit to large industry rose by 6.4% from 3.2%.
• Credit to medium industries grew by 13.2% from 47.8%
• Credit to and micro and small industries by 13% from 29.2%.
iii.The credit growth to the services sector accelerated to 26.7% y-o-y in June 2023 from 12.8% in 2022 amid
improved credit offtake to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and trade.
iv.Personal loans registered a growth of 20.9% (y-o-y) in June 2023 as compared to 18.1% in June 2022
supported by the increasing demand for housing and vehicle loans.
v.Among major industries, credit growth (y-o-y) to the ‘basic metal & metal products’ and ‘textiles’ sectors
showed acceleration in June 2023.
vi.On the other hand, credit growth to the ‘chemicals & chemical products’, ‘food processing’, and
‘infrastructure’ sectors decelerated in June 2023.
The Story of Bank Credit to Aviation:
According to the report, the gross credit deployment in the aviation sector by 40 Indian SCBs witnessed a
remarkable 93.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) surge in June 2023, reaching Rs 42,033 crore from Rs 21,733 crore in
June 2022.
• This surge represents the highest monthly credit outstanding in the aviation sector since FY22.
• This also marks a month-on-month (May versus June) increase of 32%.
Key Points:
i.Investments within the aviation sector have experienced a healthy rebound in response to increased air
traffic.
However, the rise in investments also reflects the necessity for additional funds due to the growth and
inflationary pressures in the sector.
ii.Another reason for the increase in to overcome ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices which surged by over
100% per barrel after the Russia-Ukraine war and remain elevated, along with COVID-19 pandemic hit.
iii.The financing support through the Finance Ministry-backed ECGLS (Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Scheme) has also contributed to the increased credit deployment in the aviation sector.
iv.The RBI considers credit deployment within the aviation sector as part of the services sector.
v.ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) has maintained
a ‘stable’ outlook for the Indian aviation industry for 2023 and expects it to remain stable in 2023-24.

vi.Domestic air traffic in June 2023 has risen 4% from pre-Covid levels, to approximately 1.25 crore
passengers,.
• Crisil also reaffirmed Air India’s rating at ‘Crisil AAA / Stable / Crisil A1+’, whereas ICRA upgraded
IndiGo’s rating to [ICRA]A+(Stable)/[ICRA]A1+.
About Bank Credit in India:
Bank credit is categorized into two main segments: food credit and non-food credit.
i.Food credit: This represents the lending provided by banks to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), primarily
to support the procurement of foodgrains. Food credit constitutes a relatively small proportion of the overall
bank credit.
ii.Non-food credit: The significant portion of bank credit falls under non-food credit, which encompasses loans
extended to various sectors of the economy, including Agriculture, Industry, and Services. It also includes
personal loans provided by banks.
i.According to the second advance estimates (SAE) of national income released by the National Statistical Office
(NSO) the Indian economy is expected to have recorded a 7.0% growth in real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in
FY23 from 9.1% in FY22.
ii.During the June 2023 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the six-member MPC left the repo rate
unchanged at 6.5% for the second time.
RBI approves Amalgamation of Navanirman Co-op Urban Bank with Rajadhani Co-op Urban
Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of The Navanirman Co-operative
Urban Bank Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana with Rajadhani Co-op. Urban Bank Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana. The
Scheme of Amalgamation is with effect from August 3rd, 2023.
• The Navanirman Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd branch (Hyderabad, Telangana) will function as a
branch of the Rajadhani Co-op. Urban Bank Ltd (Hyderabad, Telangana) with effect from August 03,
2023.
• The Scheme has been sanctioned in the exercise of the powers conferred under Sub-Section (4) of
Section 44A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Key Points:
i.Banking Regulation Act, 1949 an Act that provides a framework for regulating the banks of India.
ii.The Act was originally passed as the Banking Companies Act 1949 and came into force on 16th March 1949.
iii.This Act gives RBI the power to control the banks in India. It did not apply to Jammu and Kashmir until
1956.
iv.The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on June 26, 2020. The Ordinance
seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Deputy Governors – J. Swaminathan, T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Dr. M.D. Patra
Established in– 1st April 1935

Retail Inflation Hiked to 7.44% Crossing RBI’s Inflation Target
As per the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by National Statistical Office (NSO) under the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India’s retail inflation rate hiked to 7.44% in
July, 2023 surpassing the upper limit of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 2-6% tolerance range.The inflation
rate recorded 4.87 % in June 2023.
• This is due to a surge in prices of vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices and milk.
• This is the third instance of retail inflation crossing the threshold(after 15 months),with the
previous instances being 7% in September 2022 and 7.79% in April 2022.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased its inflation forecast for the current FY2024 to 5.4%
from the earlier estimate of 5.1%.
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI):
The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) experienced an inflation rate of 11.51% in July 2023 against 4.55% in
June 2023 and 6.69% in July 2022.
Core inflation:
Core inflation, which pertains to the non-food and non-fuel components, decreased to a 21-month low of 5.1%
in July 2023, as estimated by ICRA Limited, formerly known as the “Investment Information and Credit Rating
Agency of India Limited.
With Respect to States:
Rajasthan registered the highest inflation rate at 9.66%, followed by Jharkhand at 9.16%, Tamil Nadu at 8.95%,
Odisha at 8.67%, and Uttarakhand at 8.58%.
Wholesale Inflation Stays In Negative for Fourth Month
In July 2023, wholesale prices continued to display deflationary trends for the fourth consecutive month. This
notable increase in food and primary article prices led to a substantial reduction in the overall price decline,
narrowing it to (-)1.36%.
The inflation rate based on the wholesale price index (WPI) has remained negative since April 2023 and was
recorded at (-)4.12% in June 2023. In comparison, the same period in 2022 saw a considerably higher rate of
14.07% in July.
RBI selects McKinsey and Accenture to use AI & ML To Improve Regulatory Supervision
Reserve Bank of India(RBI) awarded the contract worth Rs. 91 Crores to McKinsey and Company India LLP
(Limited Liable Partnership) and Accenture Solutions Private Limited India for the use of advanced
analytics, artificial intelligence(AI) and machine learning(ML) to analyse its huge database and improve
regulatory supervision over banks and Non Banking Financial Services(NBFCs).
• AI and ML technologies are used for real-time data reporting, effective data management and
dissemination.
Background:
In September 2022, Expressions of Interest (EoI) were sought by the RBI with regards to the engagement of
consultants specialising in advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
• RBI has shortlisted seven applicants for participation in the Request For Proposal (RFP). Out of
which only two firms were selected.
Department of Supervision:
• The Department of Supervision in RBI is developing and using linear and a few machine-learnt
models for supervisory examinations.
• It carries out the responsibility of overseeing all scheduled commercial banks (excluding Regional
Rural Banks), Local Area Banks, Payments Banks, Small Finance Banks, Credit Information
Companies, Primary Urban Cooperative Banks, NBFCs, Asset Reconstruction Companies, Factoring
companies, and All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs).

Additional Info:
Globally, regulatory and supervisory bodies are employing machine learning methods (often
termed ‘suptech‘ and ‘regtech‘) to aid in their supervisory and regulatory tasks.
RBI Launches Pilot ‘Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit; Unveils 'UDGAM' Portal for
Unclaimed Deposits
On August 17, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) commenced its digital lending pilot project for Public
Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit which is developed by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly
owned subsidiary of RBI.
Note: RBI announced the development of the public tech platform as a part of the Statement on Developmental
and Regulatory Policies released on August 10, 2023.
Purpose of the Public Tech Platform for frictionless credit:
The Public Tech Platform aims to streamline the credit provision process by effortlessly transmitting crucial
digital data to lenders. It features an open architecture with open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
and standards, enabling seamless connectivity for all financial sector participants in a ‘plug and play’ model.
• It enhances lending efficiency through cost reduction, quicker disbursement, and scalability.
How does the Public Tech Platform facilitate loan processing and disbursement?
Lenders usually require diverse data sets for credit approval, sourced from entities like governments, banks,
and credit bureaus. This process causes delays in rule-based lending. To address this, RBI has introduced this
public tech platform enabling lenders to easily access digital data, ensuring smoother credit facilitation and
reducing the time it takes to process loans.
The Pilot Phase:
i.During the pilot phase, the platform concentrates on products including Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans up
to Rs 1.6 lakh per borrower, Dairy Loans, unsecured MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) loans,
Personal loans, and Home loans.
ii.It integrates services like Aadhaar e-KYC (Know Your Customer), land records from onboarded State
Governments (Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra), satellite data, PAN
validation, etc.
iii.Axis Bank announced its participation, offering KCC and unsecured MSME loans through this platform, with
plans to expand based on lessons learned from the pilot.
• As a pilot, bank will offer KCC in MP and will be available to customers for upto Rs. 1.6 lakh to start
with. MSME loans will be available India and will offer loans upto Rs. 10 lakh to customers.
RBI launches centralised web portal ‘UDGAM’ for Unclaimed Deposits
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das introduced a centralized web portal
called “उद्गम UDGAM” (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation) to simplify the process for the
public to locate their unclaimed deposits in various banks through a single platform.
• Through this portal, users can retrieve unclaimed deposit amounts or make their deposit accounts
operative with their respective banks.
Note: This centralised web portal was announced as a part of the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory
Policies dated April 06, 2023.
Developers:
Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT), Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS)
and participating banks have collaborated to develop this portal.
Key Points:
i.Currently, users will access the details of their unclaimed deposits in respect of seven banks presently
available on the portal viz. State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Central Bank of India (CBI),
Dhanlaxmi Bank Ltd., South Indian Bank Ltd., DBS Bank India Ltd., Citibank N.A.
ii.The search facility for remaining banks on the portal will be made available in a phased manner by October
15, 2023.

i.As per the article State of the Economy authored by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Michael
Debabrata Patra and other RBI officials, inflation is slowing down personal consumption expenditure. On the
other hand, it is moderating corporate sales and holding back private investment in capacity creation.
ii.In June 2023, RBI Governor launched a financial inclusion dashboard named ‘Antardrishti (Insight)’ whic will
provide the necessary insight to assess and track the development of financial inclusion by recording relevant
data.
The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934.
Deputy Governors– Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Bank credit growth to MSMEs decelerates in Q1FY24: RBI issues new Guidelines for Fair
Lending Practices
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, Bank credit growth to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) has decelerated on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis in the first three months (April-June) of the FY24 i.e.
Q1FY24.
• Banks’ cautious attitude towards risk makes them hesitant to provide loans to small units, leading to
a deceleration in bank credit growth.
Key Points:
i.Credit to medium industries grew by 13.2% in June (compared to 47.8% in June 2022).
ii.Micro and small industries experienced a 13% credit growth in June (compared to 29.2% in June 2022).
iii.Gross bank credit outstanding to medium industries at Q1FY24 end was Rs 2,63,440 crore (up from Rs
2,32,776 crore in June 2022).
iv.Credit outstanding for micro and small industries in June was Rs 6,25,625 crore (compared to Rs 5,53,675
crore in June 2022).
v.May 2023 saw credit growth of 18.9% for medium industries (compared to 42.9% in May 2022 ) and 9.5% for
micro and small industries (versus 32.7% in May 2022).
April’s loan growth for medium industries was 19.1% (compared to 53.7% last year).
vi.Growth for micro and small industries was 9.7% in April 2023 (down from 29.8% in April 2022).
The Expert Committee on MSME, constituted by RBI in December 2018, has estimated the overall credit gap in
the MSME sector to be in the range of Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh crore.
RBI issues new guidelines for Fair Lending Practices
RBI has issued comprehensive guidelines to the Regulated Entities (REs) regarding penal charges in loan
accounts to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the lending practices of financial institutions.
These will come into effect from January 1, 2024.
• RBI issued these instructions under sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act,
1949, sections 45JA, 45L and 45M of the RBI Act, 1934, and section 30A of the National Housing
Bank (NHB) Act, 1987
Applicability of Guidelines:
These guidelines are applicable across various financial entities, including commercial banks (including Small
Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, and Regional Rural Banks), Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and All India Financial Institutions.
• These will not apply to Credit Cards, External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credits and Structured
Obligations which are covered under product specific directions.
Motivation behind the Initiative:
This action is part of RBI’s ongoing commitment to ensuring fair treatment of borrowers and addressing
customer complaints regarding the imposition of penal charges.

Key Guidelines:
i.Penalties for loan contract non-compliance termed ‘penal charges‘ not ‘penal interest.’
This means that such charges should not be incorporated into the interest rate, and no additional interest
should accrue on these charges.
ii.Penalties linked to non-compliance should be fair and proportional. The charges should be clearly disclosed
in loan terms and Key Fact Statement (KFS).
iii.Financial institutions need a board-approved policy for loan penalties outlining charges rationale, criteria,
and their application across various loans.
iv.Individual borrower penalties (excluding business loans) must not exceed penalties for non-individuals in
similar non-compliance cases.
i.The RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launched the Reserve Bank’s next generation data warehouse, viz., the
Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) during the 17th Annual Statistics Day Conference on June
30, 2023.
ii.In June 2023, RBI conducted the Rs 75,000 crore 4-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction to address the
expected stress on liquidity ahead of goods and service tax outflows. The RBI received bids worth Rs 75,695
crore but accepted only Rs 75,004 crore at a 6.51 percent cut-off rate.
RBI releases guidelines for IDF-NBFC; ResetsFloating Interest Rate on EMI based Personal
Loans
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in consultation with the Government of India (GoI), has reviewed guidelines
for Infrastructure Debt Fund-Non-Banking Financial Companies (IDF-NBFCs) to enhance their role in
infrastructure financing and align regulations across NBFCs in this sector.
• The updated regulations for IDF-NBFCs will be effective from August 18, 2023.
What is IDF?
An IDF can be established either as a trust or a company. If structured as a trust, it is designated as an IDF-
Mutual Fund (IDF-MF) and is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). If established as a
company, it’s labeled as an IDF-NBFC and is subject to regulation by RBI.
An IDF-NBFC means a non-deposit taking NBFC which is authorized to the following:
i.Refinance post Commencement Operations Date (COD) infrastructure projects that have completed at least
one year of satisfactory commercial operations
ii.Finance toll operate transfer (TOT) projects as the direct lender.
Revised IDF-NBFC Regulations: Key Points
i.Capital Requirements:
IDF-NBFCs must maintain a Net Owned Fund (NOF) of at least Rs 300 crore.
• Minimum Capital-to-Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 15%, with Tier 1 capital of at least 10%.
ii.Fundraising:
IDF-NBFCs can issue rupee or dollar-denominated bonds with a minimum maturity of five years.
• They can also raise funds through shorter tenor bonds and commercial papers (CPs) up to 10% of
total borrowings for better asset-liability management.
• Fundraising allowed through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) with a minimum tenor of five
years, avoiding sourcing from foreign branches of Indian banks. For ECBs, adherence needed to
RBI’s Foreign Exchange Department guidelines.

iii.Exposure Limits:
• Single borrower/party exposure limited to 30% of Tier 1 capital.
• Single group of borrowers/parties exposure limited to 50% of Tier 1 capital.
iv.Risk Weighting:
For calculating CRAR, IDF-NBFCs assets shall be risk-weighted as per risk-weights applicable to NBFC-
Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICCs).
v.Sponsorship and Tripartite Agreements:
• Sponsor requirement removed; IDF-NBFC shareholders face scrutiny like other NBFCs, including
NBFC-IFCs. Under the earlier guidelines, an IDF-NBFC was required to be sponsored by a bank or an
NBFC-IFC.
• A tripartite agreement for PPP (Public Private Partnership) infrastructure investments made
optional. Under the earlier arrangement, IDF-NBFCs were required to enter into a tripartite
agreement with the concessionaire and the project authority for investments in the PPP
infrastructure projects having a project authority.
vi.Regulatory Alignment:
Income recognition, asset classification, and provisioning norms align with those applicable to NBFC-ICCs.
vii.Sponsorship of IDF-MFs by NBFCs:
All NBFCs can sponsor IDF-MFs with RBI approval. Besides SEBI’s conditions, the following apply based on
audited financials:
• Minimum NOF of Rs 300 crore and CRAR of 15%.
• Net NPAs (Non-Performing Assests) below 3% of net advances.
• Operational for at least 5 years.
Click Here for Official Guidelines
RBI Reset Floating Interest Rate on EMI based Personal Loans
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked all regulated entities (REs), including banks and NBFCs, to give personal
loan borrowers an option to switch over from a floating rate to a fixed rate at the time of resetting interest
rates. The RE must ensure that the new norms were extended to the existing as well as new loans by December
31, 2023.
• These rules will enhance transparency by necessitating the disclosure of principal and interest
recovered to date, remaining EMIs, EMI amounts, and the annualized rate of interest/Annual
Percentage Rate (APR) for the entire loan duration to the borrowers at the end of each quarter.
• RBI issued these instructions under sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act,
1949, sections 45JA, 45L and 45M of the RBI Act, 1934, and sections 30A and 32 of the National
Housing Bank (NHB) Act, 1987.
Note: Personal loan interest rates are offered on both fixed and floating rate basis. The interest rate will remain
the same throughout the tenure on a fixed rate loan. Whereas, the interest rates will vary as per the market
movement in a floating rate loan.
Reason behind Reset of Floating Interest Rate on EMI based Personal Loans:
During the approval of EMI-based floating rate personal loans, lenders must consider borrowers’ repayment
capabilities to maintain room for potential tenor extension or EMI increase if external benchmark rates rise.
However, concerns have arisen due to rising interest rates, as some borrowers experience elongation of loan
tenor or higher EMIs without proper communication or consent, leading to consumer grievances. To overcome
this, the regulated entities (REs) advised to put in place an appropriate policy framework.
Key Norms:
i.At the time of loan sanction, REs shall clearly communicate to the borrowers about the possible impact of
change in benchmark interest rate on the loan leading to changes in EMI and/or tenor or both. Loan sanction
letters should mention the costs associated with transitioning from a floating to a fixed interest rate in the
future.

ii.At the time of reset of interest rates, REs shall provide the option to the borrowers to switch over to a fixed
rate as per their Board approved policy. The policy may also specify the number of times a borrower will be
allowed to switch during the tenor of the loan.
i.According to the RBI provisional data on July 4, 2023, India’s services exports in May
2023 increased by 7.7% compared to May 2022, reaching USD ($)27.06 billion while imports rose 2% to USD
15.5 billion.
ii.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.
i.It was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta(now Kolkata, West Bengal) but
was permanently moved to Mumbai, Maharashtra in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the
institution.
RBI approves the Voluntary amalgamation of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank with Kranti Co-
operative Urban Bank
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) sanctioned the Scheme of Voluntary Amalgamation of Hyderabad (Telangana)
based Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Limited with Hyderabad (Telangana) based Kranti Co-
operative Urban Bank Limited.
• RBI has the authority to approve the voluntary amalgamation of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) based
on its discretion.
• This authority is granted under Sub-Section (4) of Section 44A read with Section 56 of the Banking
• These sections were modified through an amendment introduced by the Banking Regulation
(Amendment) Act 2020 (Act No. 39 of 2020).
After Amalgamation:
i.The Scheme of Amalgamation came into force from 23rd August, 2023.
ii.The branch of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank will function as a branch of Kranti Co-operative Urban
Bank.
About Amalgamation guidelines:
i.The Amalgamation was based on comprehensive framework notification of RBI released in 2021,
named Master Direction – Amalgamation of Urban Cooperative Banks, Directions, 2020.
ii.As per the framework in 2021, RBI may consider proposals for merger or amalgamation of urban cooperative
banks (UCBs) under three circumstances.
Three Circumstances for amalgamation:
i.Positive net worth of amalgamated bank; amalgamating bank assures to protect entire deposits of the
amalgamated bank.
ii.Negative net worth of amalgamated bank; the amalgamating bank on its own assures to protect deposits of all
the depositors of the amalgamated bank.
iii.Negative net worth of amalgamated bank; amalgamating bank ensures deposit protection with state
government’s upfront financial support in merger process.
Points to be noted:-
The Banking Regulation Amendment Bill, 2020 will not apply to:
a) Primary agricultural credit societies.

b) Cooperative societies whose primary focus is long-term financing for agricultural development.
Furthermore, these two types of societies must not:
a) Use the terms ‘bank,’ ‘banker,’ or ‘banking’ in their name or business.
b) Function as entities that clear cheques.
RBI raises Small Value Payment Transaction Limit in Offline Mode to Rs 500
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the upper limit for offline transactions to Rs 500 from Rs 200 w.e.f.
August 24, 2023, following its announcement during the bi-monthly policy review on August 10, 2023.
• However, overall limit is retained at Rs 2000 to contain the risks associated with relaxation of two-
factor authentication.
• The information for the same was provided by RBI under Section 10 (2) read with Section 18 of the
Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007)/PSS Act.
About Offline digital payments:
Offline digital payments are Internet-free transactions, often for small amounts, by using means like National
Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) Lite. The offline mode transactions can
be facilitated through cards, wallets, and mobile devices, applicable to Authorized Payment System Operators
(PSOs)/Payment System Participants (PSPs), including acquirers and issuers like banks and non-banks.
Reason behind this increase:
This decision to increase the transaction limit to Rs 500 from Rs 200 has been taken to encourage wider
adoption of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) Lite. This will eliminate the need for multiple transactions for
users. It also harnesses the new technologies for enhancing digital payments experience for users.
• UPI Lite is an ‘on-device wallet’ feature that will allow users to make real-time small-value payments
without using a UPI PIN. It was launched in September 2022.
Background:
The RBI has set a cap of Rs 200 per transaction and a total limit of Rs 2000 for each payment method for small-
value offline digital payments. This eliminates the requirement for two-factor authentication in these cases,
making them faster, reliable, and contactless options for routine small payments and transit fares. However,
there have been requests for these limits to be increased. Therefore, the above change has been made.
Who are PSOs/PSPs?
PSOs/PSPs are entities authorized by the RBI to operate payment systems enabling transactions between
payers and beneficiaries.
• As per the PSS Act, a payment system is a mechanism facilitating transactions between payers and
beneficiaries, encompassing clearing, payment, and settlement services, excluding stock
exchanges. It covers various operations like credit/debit card, smart card, and money transfers.
i.It has issued a ‘Draft Circular – Arrangements with Card Networks for issue of

RBI approves the amalgamation of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank Limited with
Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank Limited
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) sanctioned the Scheme of Voluntary Amalgamation of Akola (Maharashtra)
based Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank Limited with Jalgaon (Maharashtra) based The Jalgaon Peoples
Co-operative Bank Limited. Both of the banks are Urban Co.operative Banks(UCB).
• The authority is granted under Sub-Section (4) of Section 44A read with Section 56 of the Banking
After Amalgamation:
i.The Scheme of Amalgamation will come into force with effect from 28th August, 2023.
ii.Following the amalgamation, the branches of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank Ltd., will function as
branches of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank Ltd.
About Amalgamation guidelines:
i.RBI has the authority to approve the voluntary amalgamation of Co.operative banks based on its discretion.
ii.The Amalgamation was based on a comprehensive framework notification of RBI released in 2021,
named Master Direction – Amalgamation of Urban Cooperative Banks, Directions, 2020.
RBI may consider proposals for merger or amalgamation of urban cooperative banks (UCBs) under three
circumstances.
i.Positive net worth of amalgamated bank; amalgamating bank assures full deposit protection.
ii.Negative net worth of amalgamated bank; amalgamating bank assures deposit protection.
iii.Negative net worth of amalgamated bank; amalgamating bank ensures deposit protection with state
government’s upfront financial support in merger process.
About Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rohit Pandurang Bhujbal
Headquarters – Jalgaon, Maharashtra
RBI Authorises Bandhan Bank for Disbursing Civil Pension

Bandhan Bank Ltd has been appointed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to act as an authorized bank
for pension disbursement for civil pensioners on behalf of the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), an
entity under the Ministry of Finance.
• Bandhan Bank will soon be integrating with the office of the CPAO to operationalise the
disbursement process.
Beneficiary Categories:
i.Bank authorization is primarily aimed at disbursing pensions to the following groups:
• The Central Government employees in Civil Ministries and Departments (other than Railways, Posts,
and Defence)
• The National Capital Territory of Delhi
• Union Territory Administrations without legislatures,
• Retired Judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court, and
• All India Service Officers.
ii.This scheme also covers the payment of pensions to former Members of Parliament (MPs) and the payment
of pensions and other amenities to former Presidents/Vice Presidents of India.
About Bandhan Bank:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer– Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
Established In– 2015
Tagline– Aapka Bhala Sabki Bhilai

SEBI
Sebi asks MIIs to develop Common Online Dispute Resolution Portal
On 31st July 2023, Security market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) released a circular
stating Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) such as stock exchanges, depositories and clearing
corporations should set up a common Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) portal to resolve disputes involving
investors, listed companies, designated intermediaries and regulated entities.
• Market participants such as all listed companies, specified intermediaries and regulated entities
should enrol in the portal.
• Essential features and functionalities will be integrated into the ODR Portal to facilitate the
registration of investors and market participants, the submission of complaints, and the uploading
of relevant documents or papers related to the dispute.
• The portal will include a status update facility that retrieves information from the ODR Institution
concerning the progress of the complaint.
Two Phases:
Phase 1(From 1st August 2023 to 16th August 2023):
i.Development of the ODR Portal, empanelment of ODR Institutions by the MIIs and empanelment of
conciliators and arbitrators by those ODR Institutions by August 1, 2023.
ii.Registration of trading members and depository participants on the ODR Portal will be accomplished by
August 15, 2023.
iii.From August 16, 2023 onwards, the registration of complaints against brokers and depository participants,
as well as their resolution, will commence.
Phase 2:
i.It is proposed that registration of all other market participants on the ODR Portal will be completed by
September 15,2023.
ii.The registering of complaints against all other market participants and their resolution will begin from
September 16,2023.
Dispute resolution process:
To initiate the dispute resolution process, SEBI has outlined the following steps:
i.In the first instance, the investor must raise their grievance directly with the market participant by lodging a
complaint.
ii.If the grievance is not resolved satisfactorily, the investor can escalate it through the SCORES(SEBI
Complaints Redress System) portal.
iii.After exhausting all available resolution options, if the investor remains dissatisfied, they can initiate dispute
resolution through the ODR Portal.
iv.Alternatively, the investor may directly opt for the ODR Portal if the grievance lodged with the market
participant was not resolved to their satisfaction, or at any subsequent escalation stage.
Note: The concerned market participant has the option to initiate dispute resolution through the ODR Portal.
However, before doing so, they must provide the investor with a notice period of at least 15 calendar days to
attempt resolution, which should have remained unsatisfactorily resolved between them.
Chairperson – Madhabi Puri Buch
SIDBI collaborates with IIM Ahmedabad’s CIIE.CO to Establish Accelerator Fund

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), partnered with the Centre for Innovation, Incubation
and Entrepreneurship (CIIE.CO), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, Gujarat (IIM-A)’s startup
incubator and investor, to set up a SIDBI Accelerator Fund, at IIMA’s CIIE.CO.

• The objective of establishing the Accelerator Fund is to provide support and extend seed investment
to early-stage enterprises, especially for deep technologies start-ups in India.
• This collaboration is a part of SIDBI’s “India of Tomorrow” initiative, which intends to strengthen
India’s developmental and funding ecosystem for early-stage start-ups.
Key People:
S Ramann, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SIDBI; Prof. Chitra Singla, and Prof. Ankur Sinha from IIM
Ahmedabad; S P Singh, Chief General Manager (CGM) of SIDBI, and Kunal Upadhyay, co-founder of CIIE.CO,
among others were attended the event.
Funding:
i.SIDBI and IIMA’s CIIE.CO jointly established the fund with a total corpus of Rs.40 crore.
ii.SIDBI is contributing Rs.20 crore to the fund and CIIE.CO is contributing the remaining Rs.20 crore.
Key Points:
i.Through this collaboartion, SIDBI aims to enable seed funding to start-ups in exchange for equity and promote
deep technologies and science-led innovation.
ii.The primary focus is to support start-ups with new and meritorious ideas, and technologies needed for
India’s 2047 goal of becoming Self-reliant (Atmanirbhar Bharat) as well as a dominant player in high-
quality/high-entry barrier products/ services.
iii.CIIE.CO’s investments span a broad range of sectors, with a key focus on three thematic areas: deep tech,
digitisation, and climate tech.
• CIIE.CO has been recognised as a Center of Excellence by the Department of Science and Technology
under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (GoI).
SIDBI Anchors Vivriti’s Rs 700 crore AIF fund for Micro-Enterprises with BBB and Lower Ratings
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has participated as an anchor investor in the Promising
Lenders Fund (PLF) managed by Vivriti Asset Management Private Limited (VAM), a part of Chennai (Tamil
Nadu)-based Vivriti Group, with an aggregate target corpus of Rs. 700 crore in two tranches.
• The fund was co-conceptualised by SIDBI and Vivriti to provide debt capital to microenterprises and
build bond markets for issuers rated BBB and lower categories.
• The PLF is predicted to benefit over 8,000 micro-enterprises and 80,000 women entrepreneurs.
Note: BBB is a moderate level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or
monetary union.
Phases of the fund:
Phase 1:
• In March 2022, the first phase of the fund (PLF-I) was launched with a fund size of Rs.300 crore. The
fund reached its full investment capacity by October 2022.
• The fund has made 18 investments in 16 Microfinance institutions (MFIs)/Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFC)s and Fintechs rated in BBB and lower categories.
• As of June 2023, contributors have already received approximately over 25% of their initial capital.
Note: It provided crucial capital to 8,500 microenterprises and supported over 43,000 women entrepreneurs.
Phase 2:
• The second phase of the fund (PLF-II) launched in March 2023, with a target fund size of Rs.400
crore.
• It is expected to announce a final close by December 2023.
• PLF-II aims to make 20–25 investments in (MFIs) /NBFCs and Fintechs rated in below BBB or lower
category.
• This will enable the fund to extend financial support to an estimated 4,000 microenterprises and
empower 40,000 women entrepreneurs.
Note: Presently, the initiative benefits lower-rated MIFs/NBFCs and Fintechs and provides them opportunities
to tap debt funds under Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) route.

SIDBI set up on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of the Indian Parliament.It is under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Finance, GoI.It is the Principal Financial Institution for the Promotion, Financing, and Development
of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME)
CMD– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
SEBI, APMI jointly set Standards for Performance Audit of PMS Players
On August 2, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Association of Portfolio Managers in
India (APMI) collaboratively established performance audit standards for portfolio management services
(PMS) providers, effective from October 1, 2023.
• This information by SEBI is provided in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the
SEBI Act, 1992, read with the provisions of Regulation 43 of SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations,
2020, to protect the interest of investors in securities and to promote the development of the
securities market.
Standard Terms of Reference by APMI:
i.APMI, in consultation with Sebi, will set standardized Terms of Reference (ToR) for auditing firm-level
performance data. It will mandate portfolio managers to include all client portfolios in the audit process.
ii.According to the new standards, Portfolio Managers need to submit two reports to SEBI related to the firm-
level performance data within 60 days after each financial year ends.
• The first report is a “confirmation of compliance” with the requirement of an annual audit of the
firm-level performance data. Portfolio Managers need to ensure that they have conducted the
necessary audit as per the specified standard and submit this confirmation to SEBI within sixty days
from the end of each financial year.
• The second report is required to submit the actual “audit report” on firm-level performance
data to SEBI within 60 days from the end of each financial year.The report contains the findings and
results of the audit conducted on the firm-level performance data which includes detailed
information about the assessment and evaluation of the portfolio manager’s performance data
during the financial year.
iii.The performance of advisory clients may be excluded from the audit if it has not been published in any
marketing material or website.
SEBI Allows OFS for Units of Private Listed InvITs via Stock Exchange
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed Offer For Sale (OFS) for units of private
listed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvlTs) through a stock exchange mechanism. This information by
SEBI is provided in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992.
• Offer For Sale (OFS) mechanism is allowed for the sale of units of both Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) by their respective sponsors or sponsor
group entities. Additionally, other unit holders of listed REITs can also use the OFS mechanism to
sell their units.
• Now,it has been decided to modify the framework to allow OFS for units of private listed InvITs.
• In the case of OFS for listed InvITs, the trading lot will be the same as the trading lot prescribed for
such InvITs in the secondary market under SEBI’s Infrastructure Investment Trusts rules.

What is Offer for Sale (OFS) Mechanism: OFS is a method that allows existing investors (promoters,
shareholders, etc.) of a company or trust to sell their securities (shares or units) to the public through the stock
exchange platform.
About Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs):
InvITs are investment vehicles that pool money from investors to invest in income-generating infrastructure
projects such as roads, highways, power plants, etc. These trusts are listed on stock exchanges, and their units
can be bought and sold like shares.
InvITs Units
i.There are two types of InvITs based on their issuance: privately placed and publicly offered.
• Privately placed InvITs have the flexibility to invest in a mix of under-construction assets, which are
still being developed, and completed and revenue-generating assets that are generating income.
• Publicly offered InvITs, on the other hand, mainly focus on investing in completed and revenue-
generating assets, providing stable cash flows to investors from the outset.
What is Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): REITs are similar to InvITs but invest in income-generating
real estate assets like commercial properties, office spaces, shopping malls, etc. REITs are also listed on stock
exchanges, allowing investors to trade their units.
SEBI Mandates FPIs to carry 10% of Corp.Bonds Trades ; Shortens AIFs/VCFs Overseas
Investment to 4 Months
On August 7, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated Foreign Portfolio Investors
(FPIs) to place at least 10% of their trades in corporate bonds through the Request For Quote (RFQ) platform
of stock exchanges w.e.f. from October 1, 2023.
• This information by SEBI is provided in exercise of its power conferred
under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act 1992, read with the provisions of
Regulation 20(5) and Regulation 44 of SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations,
2019 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to
regulate the securities markets.
Aim:
i.To boost liquidity on the RFQ platform
ii.To enhance the transparency and disclosures pertaining to investments in corporate bonds to encourage
investment by FPIs in the corporate bond segment
Reason behind this Mandate:
This mandate followed a consultation paper by SEBI in July 2023. According to the paper, FPIs’ corporate bond
investment is generally low, and their trades on the RFQ platform are even lower. In FY2022-23, FPIs
conducted only 4.5% of their total corporate bond trades through the RFQ platform, and their share of total
trades executed by various entities on the RFQ platform was merely 0.78%. So, to overcome this, the above
mandate is made.
What is RFQ?
Request For Quote (RFQ) , launched on BSE (earlier Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock
Exchange of India) in February 2020, is an electronic platform that facilitates multi-lateral negotiations for
debt securities on a centralized online trading platform. It enables straight-through processing of clearing and
settlement, and offers a diverse range of debt securities for trading.
• It operates as a participant-based model, allowing registered regulated entities, listed corporate
bodies, institutional investors, and Indian financial institutions to access and transact quotes.
SEBI Reduces Overseas Investment Timeline for AIFs and VCFs to 4 Months
SEBI has decreased the validity period of approval for Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Venture Capital
Funds (VCFs) to make overseas investments to four months from six months.

• If these funds do not utilize their investment limits within this timeframe, SEBI has the authority to
allocate the unutilized limits to other applicant AIFs and VCs.
• This information by SEBI is provided in exercise of its power conferred under Section 11(1) of the
SEBI Act 1992.
Key Points:
i.The decision has been taken following the recommendation of the Alternative Investments Policy Advisory
Committee.
ii.This decision will apply to the overseas investment approvals granted by SEBI.
iii.In August 2022, SEBI issued guidelines permitting Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Venture Capital
Funds (VCFs) to invest in foreign companies without requiring any connection to India. Prior to this, their
investments were limited to companies that had at least one office in India.
• AIFs/VCFs can invest in an overseas investee company, which is incorporated in a country whose
securities market regulator is a signatory to the International Organization of Securities
Commission’s Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix A Signatories) or a
signatory to the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with SEBI.
• This step opens up investment opportunities for AIFs and VCFs in overseas companies within a
regulated framework.
i.SEBI has introduced ASBA (Application supported by Blocked Amount)-like process for trading supported by
Blocked Amount in the secondary market w.e.f. January 1, 2024. This move is aimed to safeguard investors’
cash collateral.
ii.SEBI has made the manager and key management personnel of the AIF responsible for appointing an
‘independent valuer’ of assets and ascertaining true and fair valuation of the investments of AIF schemes.
SEBI Reduces IPO Listing Timeline to 3 days

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reduced the timeline for listing securities after the
closing of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to 3 days (T+3) from the present requirement of 6 working days
(T+6).
• This will be an option for IPOs opening on or after September 1, 2023, and will be mandatory for
public issues opening after December 1, 2023.
• According to SEBI, the reduction in timelines for listing and trading of shares will benefit both
issuers and investors.
• Under the new guidelines, companies will have to finalise allotment before 6 pm on T+1 day. The
transfer of funds will be made to unsuccessful applicants on T+2 day.
Benefits:
i.Swift access to raised capital allows issuers to promptly deploy funds for business expansion and other
operational enhancements.
ii.Early access to credit ensures investors have more flexibility in allocating funds for other investment
opportunities.
PAN verification:
i.Third-party verification will be carried out by the Registrar, to ensure the accuracy of the data provided by the
applicant.
ii.The Registrar matches the Permanent Account Number (PAN) available in the applicant’s demat account. The
PAN available in the applicant’s bank account is also cross-referenced.

Helios Capital Gets SEBI Approval to Launch MF business
Singapore-based Helios Capital Management PTE Ltd, which offers Portfolio Management Services (PMS) has
been granted approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch a Mutual Fund (MF)
business.
• Once launched, Helios Mutual Fund will become the 46th entity to enter into the MF industry with
an Asset Under Management (AUM) of Rs.46-lakh crore.
Background:
i.In February 2021, Helios Capital applied for a mutual fund license with the SEBI.
ii.In September 2022, Helios Capital received Sebi’s in-principle approval to float the MF business and another
firm, which received the approval along with Helios Capital was Zeordha Broking Ltd.
Key Points:
i.Zerodha Broking Ltd and Old Bridge Capital Management Pvt Ltd are the 2 entities awaiting SEBI’s final nod
for a MF license.
ii.Another three entities waiting for SEBI approval to enter the MF industry is Unifi Capital, Alpha Alternatives
Fund Advisors and Wizemarkets Analytics.
iii.In June 2023, Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund became the 43rd asset management company to enter into the MF
space.
Zerodha AMC Launched After Receiving Approval From SEBI

Zerodha Broking Limited(Zerodha) has received final approval from Securities and Exchange Board of
India(SEBI) to launch an Asset Management Company (AMC) – Zerodha Asset Management Private Limited
called as “Zerodha Fund House”.
• Zerodha Fund House is the joint venture (JV) of Zerodha with Smallcase Technologies Private
Limited(smallcase), a fintech platform.
• Vishal Jain has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Zerodha Fund House.
Previously, He headed the Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) division of Nippon Life India Asset
Management Ltd.
Background:
i.Zerodha applied for the AMC licence in February 2020 and received an in-principle approval in September
2021.
ii.Prior to the final approval (in April 2023), Zerodha announced its decision to form a JV with smallcase to start
the AMC
Zerodha’s motivation to start Mutual Funds:
i.Despite substantial growth in the past three years, the count of unique equity investors remains around 60-80
million.
ii.The need for the market to have simple products(like mutual funds) to facilitate the swift entry of the next 10
million investors.
SEBI Sets New Exit Option Timeline for MF Unitholders for AMC Control Change
SEBI new timeline for the exit option window period given to the mutual fund unitholders in the event of a
change in the control of an AMC.
• Under the new guidelines, the change in control of the AMC will require the unitholders of the MF to
be granted the choice of exiting at the prevailing Net Asset Value (NAV), devoid of any exit load,
within a span of 15 calendar days from the date of communication(earlier it was 30 days).
Key Points:
i.This move aims to enhance investor protection and streamline the process of such transitions within the
mutual fund landscape.
ii.With improved communication technology, has enabled faster dissemination of information to unitholders,
SEBI received a request from the mutual fund industry to reconsider the exit option timeline.

In case of merger:
If the change of control is because of consolidation or merger of schemes, unitholders will have the opportunity
to exit at the prevailing NAV without incurring any exit load, but the window for this choice will extend to a
minimum of 30 calendar days from the date of communication.
Requirements for change in control:
i.Trustees and SEBI’s prior approval.
ii.A written communication about the proposed change to each unitholder.
iii.Advertisement in the newspaper concerning the proposed alterations.
ASCI Mandates Finfluencers To Registered With SEBI

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) announced that it is mandatory to all finfluencers or
finance influencers working in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector offering investment
advice to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• The new guidelines are to safeguard consumers from the consequences of advice from non-experts.
New Guidelines:
i.Finfluencers who have certifications from recognized institutions need to openly share their certified expert
status and their credentials.
ii.They should display their registration number along with name and qualifications.
iii.For other financial advice, suitable credentials like a licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI), being a chartered accountant (CA) or holding a company secretaryship are
required.
Other Requirements:
i.All the advertisements they post are labeled with a disclosure that clearly indicates they are advertisements.
ii.They should provide clear and appropriate information about their qualifications and registration particulars
on all forms of promotional content.These disclosures need to be visibly displayed on visuals in a noticeable
and upfront manner.
• Video content – they should be displayed clearly on the screen or spoken as the initial statement.
• Blogs or text– they should be put at the beginning, so people see them before reading.
• Podcasts or audio posts – mentioned right at the start of the content.
Who are Finfluencers?
Finfluencers are people with public social media platforms offering advice and sharing personal experiences
about money and investment in stocks.
Existing Provision:
The SEBI Act, 1993 and the SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities
Market) Regulations, 2003 forbid certain unfair acts.
Additional Info:
The guidelines of ASCI have been updated for influencers who promote products with health and nutrition
claims as well.
Influencers endorsing such products should possess appropriate qualifications like medical degrees or
certifications in nursing, nutrition, dietetics, physiotherapy or psychology.
SEBI Issues Disclosure Norms for FPIs Holding High Indian Equity AUM
On August 24, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated additional disclosures from
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) that have concentrated holding in a single company or a group firm
w.e.f. November 1, 2023.
• Such FPIs will be required to identify all entities with any ownership, economic interest and control
rights.
Key Points:
i.FPIs with over 50% of Indian equity Assets Under Management (AUM) in a single corporate group get 10 days

to reduce holdings, followed by further ownership disclosures.
ii.FPIs with equity AUM exceeding Rs 25,000 crore have 90 days to reduce holdings.
• Accounts of all such FPIs will be blocked for further equity purchases until the holding is brought below
Rs 25,000 crore.
iii.If investment remains high after deadlines, 30 days for disclosures, then FPI registration invalid.
iv.Invalid registration leads to securities liquidation and market exit within 180 days from invalidation.
This information by SEBI was provided in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulations3(2), 22(1), 22 (6), 22 (7)and 44 of
SEBI(FPI) Regulations,2019,and Sub-rule 14 (i) of Rule 9 of the Prevention of Money-laundering
(Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005.

ADB & GoI Signed USD 200 Million Loan Agreement for Expanding Urban Services in Rajasthan
On 28th July 2023, The Government of India (GoI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 200
million loan agreement as additional financing for the ongoing Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development
Sector Project as additional financing, to expand water supply and sanitation systems and enhance urban
resilience and heritage living in selected towns.
• The additional financing will assist the Government of Rajasthan in reducing the basic infrastructure
gaps in its secondary towns by expanding water supply and sanitation services and improving
livability in selected urban local bodies.
• This initiative includes the reconstruction of water structures with heritage value, integrating
nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience for expanding basic urban services.
Key Signatories:
The loan agreement was signed by Mr. Vumlunmang Vualnam, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India (GoI) and Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB’s India
Resident Mission, ADB.
Key Points:
i.The project incorporates nature-based solutions to improve heritage structures besides operating public-
private partnerships in the water and sanitation sector of Rajasthan to deepen private sector engagement.
ii.The project in progress, approved in September 2020 has so far laid approximately 1,451 kilometres (Kms)
of water supply pipes, 1,110 kms of sewer pipes, and connected 68,098 households in selected secondary
towns across Rajasthan.
iii.The additional financing aimed at improving water supply systems in at least 7 towns by converting all
groundwater sources to surface water, replacing about 700 km of leaking water pipes, installing 1,400 km of
new water supply pipelines, and providing 77,000 households connections with water metres.
• It will also establish 3 new water treatment plants.

Axis Bank Partners With Kiwi to Bolster ‘Credit on UPI’ on RuPay Credit Cards
On 2nd August 2023, Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector bank in collaboration with National
Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), partnered for the first time with Kiwi, the revolutionary credit on Unified
Payment Interface (UPI) platform to launch the Axis KWIK virtual credit card that offers credit card rewards
along with the convenience of UPI’s fast and secure payment for seamless online and offline transactions.
• This functionality enables users to conduct merchant payments within the Kiwi app utilising
their credit cards through UPI, resulting in a virtualized payment encounter that eliminates the
necessity for physical cards.
• The partnership offers a complete “Credit on UPI” platform on the RuPay network.
Axis KWIK virtual credit card
i.The virtual credit card extends the advantage of receiving two edge rewards for every Rs. 200 spent.
ii.The Users are entitled to a 1% cashback on scan and pay transactions (when utilising the credit card on UPI),
along with the benefit of having the usual 1% fuel surcharge at petrol pumps waived for card payments.
Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s proposal:
• In the month of June 2023, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a significant proposal to link
credit cards with UPI platforms, with an initial focus on Rupay cards.
• The fusion of UPI with credit cards could potentially ignite a significant surge in credit card
utilisation in India.
About Axis Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
About Gokiwi Tech Private Limited
Co-founders – Siddharth Mehta, Mohit Bedi and Anup Agrawal
IndusInd Bank and Tiger Fintech partnered to launch a co-branded credit card Powered by
Visa
On 3rd August 2023, IndusInd Bank Ltd. and Tiger Fintech Private Limited, a Bajaj Capital Group company,
announced the launch of the ‘IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card’, a co-branded credit card powered by Visa Inc
(Visa), the global digital payments technology company, to give the best-in-class credit card access to the
customers, to meet their lifestyle requirements.
Benefits of the card:
i.The card offers a ‘Magnificent Rewards Program’, where customers earn up to 6X accelerated rewards.
ii.Cardholders will also be able to convert their rewards points to air miles (by redeeming the reward points for
flight tickets) and enjoy discounted foreign currency markup of 1.5%, which can lead to considerable savings
on their international expenses.
iii.It also offers access to complimentary benefits like a 24×7 concierge facility (customers can have access to a
team of personal assistants to perform various tasks), domestic and international lounge access at the airports,
games/lessons of golf, assured movie tickets, and many other entertainment benefits.
iv.The benefits also include discounted fees for international transactions, with Visa’s commitment to a safe,
secure, and seamless payment experience, cardholders can make secure transactions.
About IndusInd Bank Ltd:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Sumant Kathpalia
Tagline– We Make You Feel Richer

Swiss impact investor signs agreement with Electronica Finance
Swiss impact investor responsAbility Investments AG signed a USD 15 million funding deal with Non-Banking
Financial Company (NBFC) Electronica Finance to promote green financing in India in line with its
sustainability goal.
• Electronica Finance is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, and is a part of the SRP Electronica
group.
• It is supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
Key Points:
i.Electronica Finance will use the funding for financing energy efficient machines and promoting rooftop solar
installation.
ii.It has already received USD 7.5 million from responsAbility in July 2023 will get remaining part in later 2023.
The fund was raised at 11.4%.
Bajaj Finance has Partnered with ICICI Lombard General Insurance to Provide Insurance Plans
Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL) has partnered with ICICI Lombard General Insurance along with other partners to
provide car and two-wheeler insurance plans on the platform Bajaj Finance Insurance Mall.
Key points:
i.The ICICI Lombard Car and Two-wheeler Insurance policies offer comprehensive damage coverage, (including
own and third-party damage), personal accident cover, No Claim Bonus (NCB) to vehicle owners and vehicles.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Complete protection for insured vehicle and safeguard against third-
party liabilities.
• Own Damage Cover: Receive coverage for damages caused to vehicle due to accidents, theft,
natural disasters, and fire incidents.
• Third-Party Cover: Secure financial support for third-party liabilities, compensating for property
damage and injury expenses caused by the policyholder’s fault.
• Personal Accident Cover: Receive financial aid in case of accidents resulting in injuries or fatality of
the owner/driver, with a personal accident cover up to Rs. 15 lakhs.
• No Claim Bonus (NCB): Policyholders will receive a No Claim Bonus when they haven’t made any
claims in the previous policy year. This bonus earns you a discount on your renewal premium, which
grows as you accumulate more bonus points.
ii.ICICI Lombard also offers a range of add-on covers to help customers enhance their vehicle insurance such as
NCB protector cover, 24×7 roadside assistance cover, Zero depreciation add-on cover, Engine protection add-
on cover.
• These covers provide additional financial backup, ensuring the customers stay fully covered in case
of any emergency.
iii.The policies can be brought through a seamless digital process.
About Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL):
BFL a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd. is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D).
Chairman- Sanjiv Bajaj
Headquarters- Pune, Maharashtra
Established- 1987
Star Health Partners With SCB To Sell Health Insurance Products

Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd.,(Star Health) India’s leading private Health Insurance company has
entered into a strategic corporate bancassurance tie-up with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) , a reputed
international bank to enhance the accessibility of health insurance products through the bank’s extensive
distribution network.

• The SCB, with 100 branches spread across 42 cities, will function as a convenient single point of
access for customers seeking health insurance.
• The agreement also provides top-tier services that align with the distinct needs of India’s affluent
clientele.
Why Health Insurance?
i.Health and protection are key needs today for clients. The rising healthcare expenses in India have led to an
unparalleled increase in the desire for health insurance.
ii.Customers are now in need of all-inclusive policies that address their medical needs, including features like
OPD Care, Hospi Cash, and Critical Illness coverage.
iii.The focus on health and fitness is growing, fostering a heightened interest in tailor-made wellness programs.
Note: According to the Wealth Expectancy Report, 2022 by Standard Chartered, more than 54 percent of
respondents in India have placed a higher priority on health and wellness in the aftermath of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Bancassurance:
Bancassurance constitutes an insurance distribution framework wherein insurance firms collaborate with
banks for the sale of insurance policies. This association yields advantages for both entities involved.
• The bank secures a commission from the insurance company, while the insurer capitalises on the
expansive distribution network of the bank.
About Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anand Roy
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamilnadu
About Standard Chartered Bank(SCB) India:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Zarin Daruwala
PayU and CSC Academy to offer Financial Education to Underprivileged People

PayU India and CSC Academy collaborated to provide digital and financial literacy to the weak and
underprivileged segments of society from July 1 2023 to June 30, 2024.
• Under this Mobile vans will be stationed in and around three districts
in Delhi/Gurugram (Haryana), Mumbai (Maharashtra), and Bengaluru (Karnataka) to provide
financial and digital literacy instructions as well as other civic services for people between the ages
of 15 and 60.
• Underprivileged segments of society include SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), BPL
(Below Poverty Line), and Women.
Note: PayU India is a leading online payment service provider in India, and CSC Academy is a SPV (Special
Purpose Vehicle) of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
Key Points:
i.The main objective of this campaign is to improve the standard of living for an expanding number of people by
including them in the Government of India’s Digital India plan.
• This campaign would encourage common people to save and invest money while also promoting
secure digital financial transactions
ii.This drive seeks to motivate ordinary citizens to save, invest, and engage in secure digital financial
transactions, fostering both financial and digital literacy.
iii.By utilizing the advantages of Information & Communications Technology (ICT), this initiative aims to
seamlessly integrate technology into rural dwellers’ daily routines, particularly enhancing healthcare, income
opportunities, and education.

iv.Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) from CSC will play a pivotal role in administering this campaign,
aiming to train approximately 50,000 individuals per year through each van.
Bandhan Bank & Odisha Govt Partnered to facilitate OTDC payment solutions
On 7th August 2023, Kolkata (West Bengal) based-Bandhan Bank Limited, partnered with the Government
of Odisha, to support the payment solutions for the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Ltd.
• The Bank has introduced Point of Sale (PoS) machines, which offers a seamless card payment
experience and are placed in prime locations across popular tourist destinations in Odisha including
Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Chilka, and Gopalpur.
• Bandhan Bank will be providing the machines to OTDC and these PoS machines provide easy and
quick payment solutions to tourists, thus bringing convenience, both for the tourists and OTDC
officials.
• The Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines will also help prevent revenue loss for OTDC, due to
the lack of cash carried by the tourists. This initiative is also aligned with India’s vision of a ‘Cashless
Economy’.
Note:
• Bandhan Bank Limited, incorporated on 23rd December 2014, is an associate of Bandhan Financial
Holdings Limited (BFHL) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bandhan Financial Services Limited
(BFSL).
In 2015, It became the first-ever microfinance institution to become a universal bank in India.
Kotak Life partners with ESAF Bank to offer Life Insurance to customers
On 9th August 2023, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd (Kotak Life) announced its corporate
agency tie-up with ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF Bank) to offer life insurance to ESAF Bank customers.
The tie-up plans to benefit 68 lakh customers of ESAF Bank through life insurance products provided by Kotak
Life, including protection, savings, investment and retirement through ESAF Bank’s 700 banking outlets spread
across 21 States and 2 Union Territories(UTs)
PNB & Amul Signs MoU To provide Finance Through MUDRA

Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Cooperative Milk
Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL) also known as Amul, to finance Amul’s retailers, wholesale dealers/area
milk distributors and exclusive Amul preferred outlets-milk parlours.
• The financing is made through small ticket financing under Micro Units Development & Refinance
Agency (MUDRA).
• By the association, both the partners extend assistance to over 11 lakh retailers, wholesale dealers,
and numerous other stakeholders.
Other Services:
Additional offerings encompass the seamless incorporation of diverse digital mediums such as QR codes, point
of sale (POS) systems, Unified Payment Interface (UPI), along with digital supply chain finance and electronic
collection of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) and facilitation of working capital limits.
Axis Bank Partners with RBIH To Launch KCC & MSME loans Powered By PTPFC
Axis Bank Limited has launched two new financial products, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and unsecured Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) loans powered by Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit (PTPFC),
an initiate of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of
India(RBI).
Features:
i.On Pilot basis, the Kisan Credit Cards(KCC) will be introduced in Madhya Pradesh(MP).

Customers can access these cards for amounts up to Rs. 1.6 lakhs.
ii.MSME loans will be made available across India, and this will offer loans up to Rs 10 lakh to customers.
iii.Both the products will be of fully digital process and require no paper works.
About PTPFC:
i.PTPFC can be used to obtain the necessary data for evaluating loans from trusted sources, all while ensuring
complete customer consent and security.
ii.This platform will increase the efficiency of the lending process by reduction of costs, quicker disbursement,
and scalability.
PTPFC & Axis Bank:
During the trial phase, Axis Bank will use the PTPFC to securely access customer data.
• This will involve activities like confirming Permanent Account Number (PAN) details, using Aadhaar
electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC), gathering data from Account Aggregators, checking land
records, and using the penny drop service to verify bank accounts.
About Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rajesh Bansal
SBI Partners With IIT–B to Strengthen its Data Analytics, AI Capabilities

State Bank of India (SBI) is contributing Rs 22.5 crore through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
arm, SBI Foundation, to set up a Banking Data and Analytics Hub at the Indian Institute of Technology,
Bombay (IIT-B), Mumbai, Maharashtra, to tackle the distinct challenges facing by the Indian banking and
financial services industry. The collaboration will boost SBI’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) capabilities and
promote the exchange of innovative concepts through cooperation between the banking industry and
academia.
• The partnership’s positive impact will extend to the entire Banking, Financial Services, and
Insurance sector (BFSI) sector, facilitating the incorporation of emerging technologies such as
ChatGPT.
• The hub is designed to encompass a laboratory area of 10,000 square feet. Its primary focus will be
on supporting research and skill enhancement in the fields of data analytics and AI.
SBI, founded through a parliamentary Act on July 1st, 1955.Recently, it celebrated its 68th Bank Day. Dinesh
Kumar Khara is the Chairperson of SBI.
ICC & Mastercard signed global partnership for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has signed a global partnership with Mastercard, a global payment-
processing corporation, for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which is scheduled to be held in India from
5th October 2023 to 19th November 2023.
• The tie-up aims to connect cardholders and cricket enthusiasts to priceless experiences throughout
the tournament.
Benefits to Mastercard holders:
Exclusive 24-hour pre-sale window, chance to meet cricket players, getting up close to the Men’s Cricket World
Cup trophy and a chance for the children of cardholders (aged between 12-18 years) to be a part of the
flagbearer programme.

About ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023:
i.ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the most prestigious One-Day International(ODI) cricket tournament, will
be the biggest world cup ever featuring 10 teams across 10 different venues.
• The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat will be the venue for the first match and the last
match of the tournament.
ii.The other nine venues are Bengaluru(Karnataka), Chennai(Tamilnadu), Delhi, Dharamsala(Himachal
Pradesh), Hyderabad(Telangana), Kolkata(West Bengal), Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh), Mumbai(Maharashtra) and
Pune(Maharashtra).
Note:
i.Defending champions England will be playing against New Zealand in the first tournament in Ahmedabad on
5th October 2023.
ii.India will be playing against (five-time winners) Australia in Chennai(Tamil Nadu) on 8 October 2023 and
against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on 15th October 2023.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chief Executive – Geoff Allardice
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates(UAE)
About Mastercard
President – Ari Sarker( Asia Pacific)
Headquarters – NewYork, United States of America(USA)
IIT Bombay Partners with HSBC to Support Innovation-led Green Hydrogen Initiatives
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, (Mumbai) Maharashtra has partnered with HSBC to pursue
technological advancements towards making green hydrogen production more efficient, cost-effective, and
scalable.
• This partnership will help boost the Indian government’s National Green Hydrogen
Mission (NGHM) focused on providing policy support towards achieving global leadership in green
hydrogen transition.
This partnership was unveiled by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance at Delhi on August
24, 2023.
Key People:
Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, IIT Bombay, Group Chairman, HSBC, Mark Tucker; CEO, HSBC India, Hitendra Dave;
Global Head of Philanthropy & Head of Sustainability, HSBC India, Aloka Majumdar among others were present
during the event.
About Partnership:
i.The IIT Bombay and HSBC partnership will boost IIT researchers and students to create innovative solutions
to address challenges in green hydrogen technology. The initiative involves project proposals from IIT Bombay,
assessed by a steering committee including HSBC India representatives and professors, potentially leading to
incubation for the top submissions.
ii.India’s MGHM targets 5 MMT (Million Metric Tons) annual green hydrogen production by 2030, contributing
125 GW (Giga Watt) renewable energy capacity and aiding the country’s net-zero emissions goal.
IIT Bombay has received a donation of USD 18.6 million for Green Energy and Sustainability Research
Hub
IIT Bombay has received an USD 18.6 million donation from an alumnus to establish a Green Energy and
Sustainability Research Hub, which will redefine the institute’s role in tackling the global climate crisis.
The hub will be located within a state-of-the-art academic building on the IIT Bombay campus in
suburban Powai.

Focus Areas:
It will focus on vital aspects such as assessing climate risks, devising mitigation strategies, climate adaptation,
and environmental monitoring. It also aims to promote renewable energy adoption, efficient technologies, and
research in key domains like battery tech, solar energy, biofuels, clean air, flood forecasting, and carbon
capture. The center will provide tailored industry education and foster collaborations with global universities
and corporations.
DBS Bank Partners with Maptrasco to Complete First eBL Transaction Between India &
Singapore
DBS Bank Ltd (formerly known as Development Bank of Singapore Limited) in collaboration
with Maptrasco (Khaitan International Private Limited – KIPL), a Singapore-based commodities trader, has
completed the first “live” transaction of electronic Bills of Lading (eBL) for shipments between Singapore and
India.
• The transaction was implemented under the TradeTrust framework, an initiative by the Infocomm
Media Development Authority (IMDA) and supported by Enterprise Singapore.
• This was announced by Gan Kim Yong Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore during the G20
Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Partnerships:
i.This project was implemented in close partnership between government agencies (Ministry of Trade and
Industry (MTI), Singapore), the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog (India), Enterprise
Singapore, and IMDA (Singapore).
ii.Industry partners of the project includes DBS (Singapore), ICICI Bank (India), Maptrasco (Singapore), Jindal
Stainless (India), and A.P. Moller-Maersk (APMM), Singapore.
TradeTrust Framework:
TradeTrust aims to streamline the process of document handling, reduce the reliance on physical paperwork,
and enhance transparency and security in cross-border transactions.
i.The framework can be used for the transmission of any digital trade document including Certificates of Origin,
Preferential Certificates, and transfer of Electronic Transferrable Records (ETRs) like eBLs.
ii.TradeTrust meets United Nations Commission On International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on
Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) requirements. Incorporated into Singapore legislation in 2021.
iii.It utilises blockchain-powered technology to ensure the singularity and provenance of transactions,
enhancing trust, security, and accuracy.
Details of First Shipment Using TradeTrust Framework:
i.Maptrasco shipped a container of scrap metal from Miami, Florida, the United States of America (USA) to
Gujarat, India.
ii.Maersk issued an eBL using the TradeTrust portal, a reference implementation of the TradeTrust framework,
to Maptrasco.
iii.Jindal Stainless applied for a Letter of Credit (L/C) from ICICI Bank as the Issuing Bank of the LC.Jindal
Stainless is the first Indian company in a partnership between India and Singapore.
iv.Maptrasco utilised DBS as the Presenting Bank and transferred the title ownership of the eBL via the
TradeTrust portal.
v.DBS checks and confirms the supporting documents as per the terms of the L/C, including the
TradeTrust eBL. DBS uses the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) platform to transfer the title
ownership of the eBL to ICICI Bank.
vi.ICICI Bank receives the eBL and uses its own advanced platform, TradeChain, powered by EdgeVerve which
is TradeTrust-enabled by GUUD to transfer the title ownership of the eBL to Jindal Stainless.
vii.Jindal Stainless as ICICI Bank’s customer, utilises the TradeChain platform to Surrender the eBL to Maersk
and complete the shipment.

viii.Maersk then issues an electronic Delivery Order (DO) for Jindal Stainless to collect the cargo at the port of
discharge.
Bills of Lading:
i.Bills of Lading(BL/BoL) are essential documents in shipping and logistics and serve as legal proof of
ownership for goods during transit, as well as receipt of goods.
• A bill of lading is issued by the carrier (typically a shipping company or a freight forwarder) to the
shipper (exporter) as a confirmation that the goods have been received and will be transported to
their destination.
ii.However, only about 1.2% of bills of lading globally are issued electronically due to limitations in platforms
that are not interoperable or use variations in rulebooks and standards, which makes scalability challenging.
iii.eBLs are expected to improve the speed, efficiency, and accuracy of information required for trade financing.
Key Points:
• The project supports MLETR and aims to drive cross-border document and title exchanges.
• The successful transaction paves the way for more efficient, interoperable digital bills of lading, and
is a key milestone in the digital transformation of trade financing.
• The project demonstrates the real-world applicability of the Group of 20 (G20) HighLevel Principles
on Digitalisation of Trade Documents, particularly Interoperability, Scalability, Data Privacy, and
Voluntary Sharing of Data.
DBS Bank India launched an investment solution ‘digiPortfolio’ on its digibank platform, to create a set of
investment options curated by Morningstar that match the risk preferences of different investors.
About DBS Bank Ltd:
Chief Executive Officer– Piyush Gupta
Headquarters– Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore
Tagline – Live more, Bank less
Yes Bank Partnered with Zaggle to Launch Corporate Credit Card

Yes Bank Ltd launched a co-branded Corporate Credit Card named ‘YES BANK Zaggle Corporate Credit
Card’ in partnership with Zaggle, a spend management platform, to empower businesses to redefine their
corporate payments, expenditure management, and cash flow optimisation.
• The card provides a solution by granting businesses direct authority over company expenses. This
includes setting individual spending limits, applying merchant category restrictions, and
implementing diverse controls.
• The card will facilitate businesses to bring in greater cost efficiencies by facilitating integration with
Zaggle’s ZatiX, a spend management and analytics platform, allowing corporates to optimise cash
outflows.
• Yes Bank’s partnership with Zaggle allows businesses to enhance their operational efficiency by
consolidating banking transactions, managing business expenses, and offering a centralized solution
for tracking all business-related overheads.
• The Co-branded cards are a compelling proposition for businesses, offering a dual benefit of upfront
savings on spending and the privilege of earning rewards on both spending and repayments across a
large range of business expense categories.
Note: Zaggle collaborated with Yes Bank for prepaid cards in 2016, before the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-
initiated restructuring in 2019.

LIC tied up with Saraswat Cooperative Bank to sell LIC Products under Bancassurance
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) tied up with a Mumbai
(Maharashtra) headquartered Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd., India’s largest urban cooperative bank, to
increase the distribution of life insurance products through the Bancassurance channel.
• Citizens and Customers of Saraswat Bank can now purchase LIC insurance products directly through
Saraswat Bank.
• LIC, being the premier insurer of India, has insurance products for all segments of society, from
annuity, Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP), and term insurance to savings plans.
• Saraswat Bank Bank has a vast network of 294 Branches (as of March 31, 2023) spread over 6 states
and is serving over 2 million customers.
Note: Bancassurance refers to the partnership or relationship between a Bank and an insurance company
whereby the insurance company leverages the Bank’s sales channel in order to sell insurance products.
ADB Signs Agreement with Fourth Partner to Set up Solar Power Plant in Tamil Nadu
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement of worth Rs 1.2 billion (about USD 14.7 million)
with Fourth Partner Energy (4PEL) Private Limited (Fourth Partner), an Independent Power
Producer(IPP) to build and operate a solar photovoltaic power plant in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
• The 25 Megawatt(MW) power plant will produce electricity of about 50.7 GigaWatt-
hours(GWh) annually.
Note: ADB for the first time provides direct financing for a renewable energy plant.
Aim:
• The solar photovoltaic power plant aims to provide clean and affordable energy to commercial
and industrial users.
• The plant will prevent the emission of nearly 41,700 tons of carbon dioxide(CO2) per year.
About Open access energy procurement:
i.Open Access enables heavy users with a connected load exceeding 1 MW to purchase affordable
electricity from the open market.
ii.India’s open access renewable energy policy allows businesses to buy electricity directly from IPP.
• This can help them to reduce their carbon emissions and achieve net zero emission target.
Additional Info:
Other projects of Fourth Partner: Construction of solar and wind parks across Ottapidaram, Tuticorin and
Nandikundu, Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu.
Members – 68 member countries
Fourth Partner Energy (4PEL) Private Limited (Fourth Partner)
Fourth Partner Energy, a premier Renewable Energy firm dedicated to the advancement of solar, wind,
hybrid, battery storage, and e-mobility projects/solutions. Catering to the diverse needs of commercial,
industrial, and institutional entities, the company has positioned itself as a beacon of innovation and
progress.

OTHER BANK NEWS
ADB Supports ECD & Maternal Mental Health in Meghalaya
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 40.5 million loan for an integrated project focussing
on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Maternal Mental Health in Meghalaya. The Government of
Meghalaya is contributing USD 15.27 million to the project.
• This initiative focuses on enhancing Day care centers or Anganwadi centers (AWC) to provide
nurturing care, including maternal mental health support and inclusive group-based parenting
programs involving fathers.
• The project is initiated to strengthen home-based childcare for children aged 0–1.5 years and
center-based childcare for those aged 1.5–6 years.
Background:
Meghalaya launched the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM) on June 8, 2022, to
improve ECD indicators and enable every child to reach their full potential.
About the Project:
i.ADB project upgrades 1,800 AWCs and builds 600 new ones in challenging areas with climate-resilient
designs.
ii.AWCs serve as daycare centers, now with added ECD educators extending services to 1.5–3 and 3-6-year-
olds.
iii.ADB is set to conduct a first-of-its-kind evaluation to assess the potential to revolutionise ECD interventions
in Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) , shaping national and global childcare policies.
Funding Assistance:
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) will grant USD 2 million in technical
assistance to help develop guidelines and training curricula for AWC staff and ECD educators.
Key Points:
• ADB to support nutrient enhancement by introducing egg in dietary plan for pregnant, lactating
women, and 0.5–6-year-old children.
• Climate-resilient efforts to establish nutrition gardens at AWCs for improved diet diversity and
security.
• Focus on vital first 1,000 days for optimal child development and nurturing care.
• ADB strengthens India’s early childhood development (ECD) initiatives, aligning with Meghalaya
Government’s cause.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.
Fino Payments Banks’ Board Approves Transition to SFB licence

On 28th July 2023, the board of Fino Payments Bank Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Fino Paytech Ltd
approved the proposal for the transition of the Bank into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) licence. The board has
also formed a committee to explore the possibility of group corporate restructuring and evaluate the
implications and other considerations.
• The bank received a letter from holding company Fino PayTech Ltd, regarding a group corporate
restructuring proposal, following which the board formed a committee.
The Bank continued its thrust on acquiring new customers and had registered growth 85% year-on-year (YOY)
in the net profit of Rs. 19 crore and its revenue in the June quarter of FY24 increased 21% YoY to Rs 348 crore.

Karnataka Bank Hosts Fintech Growth Program in Bengaluru
On 28th July 2023, Karnataka Bank Limited, a leading ‘A’ Class Scheduled Commercial Bank in India, hosted the
first edition of ‘KBL – FinOne’, “A Fintech Growth Program” in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The objective is to forge collaborations to develop innovative business models, providing seamless
banking experience & offering a complete product suite.
• Srikrishnan H is the Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the bank.
The first edition of ‘KBL – FinOne’ featured over 30 speakers from various fintechs, on topics such as emerging
lending models, neo-banks, platformization, including no code – low code, embedded finance, cards
infrastructure, payment innovations, etc.
Note: The event is hosted in association with “The Fintech Meetup”.
NABARD sanctions Rs 1974 cr to Rajasthan under RIDF for 2023-24

National Bank for Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 1,974.07 crore to
the Government of Rajasthan under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2023-24. A
budget of Rs.930.44 crore has been sanctioned for 3 rural drinking water supply projects in the districts of
Rajasthan namely Ajmer, Jalore, and Kota.
• Further, Rs.926.48 crore was sanctioned for the construction of 676 rural roads in the desert and
tribal areas of Rajasthan. Earlier, Rs.117.15 was allocated for the establishment of 104 veterinary
hospitals and 431 sub-centres in all the districts of Rajasthan.
• The drinking water supply projects are expected to provide clean and potable water to 2.87 lakh
households in 2,500 villages, whereas rural road projects will improve connectivity in 1,229 villages
across 12 districts.
• NABARD is also supporting the Rajasthan government to bring 4.28 lakh hectares under micro-
irrigation with support of Rs.740 crore from the Micro Irrigation Fund.
Note:
• NABARD’s Infrastructure Development Assistance has allocated Rs.623.38 crore for the construction
of earthen canal linings covering 450 kilometers in the Kota and Bundi districts.
• NABARD is India’s apex development bank, established in 1982 under an Act of Parliament to
promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development.
Airtel Payments Bank Launches India’s 1st Eco-Friendly Debit Card

On 8th August 2023, India’s first payment bank, Airtel Payment Bank also became the first Indian Bank to
launch an eco-friendly debit card for its new and existing customers with a savings bank account.
• The debit cards will be crafted from recycle- Poly Vinyl Chloride (r-PVC) material, a certified eco-
friendly material, against normal PVC cards.
• The introduction coincides with the Bank’s dedication to sustainability and its drive to advocate for
environmentally conscious practices within the financial industry.
Environmental Impact:
i.Each production batch of 50,000 cards will result in a reduction of 350 kgs of carbon emissions compared
to the traditional PVC cards commonly used in the market.
ii.The production of r-PVC cards will lead to a 43% reduction in hydrocarbon consumption, playing a role in
curbing petroleum usage during the manufacturing process.
iii.With each batch of r-PVC cards contributing to the conservation of an 6.6 million litres of water.
About new Debit cards:
Airtel Payments Bank debit card comes in two variants(under Classic variant)
i.Personalised Classic Card – Availed through the Airtel Thanks mobile application.
ii.Insta Classic Card – Availed at selected neighbourhood banking points (by the close of the current quarter).
Note: The cards also offer the rewards with e-commerce benefits of up to INR 10,000, as well as complimentary
One Dines experiences in major cities across India.

About Airtel Payments Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anubrata Biswas
Exim Bank of India launches Factoring Subsidiary ‘Exim Finserve’ in GIFT City, Gujarat
On August 8, 2023, the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank of India) launched its
subsidiary- India Exim Finserve IFSC Private Limited (Exim Finserve) at the Gujarat International Financial
Tec (GIFT) City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• It was inaugurated by Dr. Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry
of Finance.
• This subsidiary is set to provide a suite of trade finance solutions to Indian exporters, with a primary
emphasis on export factoring.
• Exim Finserve is the first finance company in GIFT City for export factoring.
Note: The subsidiary of Exim Bank was announced in the Union Budget 2023 by Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman.
Services to be provided by Exim Finserve to Exporters:
The subsidiary aims to empower exporters with a trio of services:
1. Receivables financing,
2. Risk mitigation against non-payment
3. Efficient accounts receivable management
Key Points:
i.The services by Exim Finserve will improve cash flow and reduced payment risk for exporters.
• It will enhance the export competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as
they can provide attractive credit terms to buyers without facing associated risks.
ii.During the launch event, Exim Bank also released a study titled “Strengthening Collaborations to Bridge
the Trade Finance Gap: Insights for G20 Countries”. The study notes that the trade finance gap expanded to
US$ 2 trillion in 2021/22.
About Exim Bank of India:
Managing Director– Harsha Bangari
IBA forms Sectoral Committee for 26 Banks in GIFT City

The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) constituted a sectoral committee to frame the unique regulatory landscape
and address challenges faced by 26 member banks operating within the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City
(GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The committee is intended to function as a bridge connecting the banking sector and regulatory
bodies, ensuring effective communication and resolution of concerns and perspectives.
Why the committee?
i.Due to the differential regulatory guidelines between banks operating within GIFT City and those outside,
there is a need for a dedicated committee to focus on resolving the challenges encountered by International
Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Banking Units (IBUs) .
ii.The committee will represent the collective interests of the banks operating within GIFT City.
iii. In the past, banks used to independently raise the issues they were experiencing with the International
Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA).
About Indian Banks’ Association (IBA):
Chief Executive – Sunil Mehta

About Gujarat International Finance Tec-city co. ltd. (GIFT-City)
Managing Director & Group Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Tapan Ray
Headquarters – Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Axis Bank to raise stake in Max Life to 16.22% via Rs 1,612 crore Investment
On August 9, 2023, Axis Bank Limited announce to raise its stake in Max Life Insurance Company Limited to
16.22% from 9.99% by infusing Rs 1,612 crore (USD 194.6 million) through a preferential allotment of shares.
• The proposal for the same was approved by the acquisitions, divestment and merger committee of
Bank’s board.
• This capital infusion will help Max Life to support its growth ambitions, augment capital position
and improve solvency margins.
Background:
Axis Bank, along with its entities (Axis Securities and Axis Capital), had acquired a 12.99% stake in Max Life in
2021, and through this new investment they will own 19.02% in the Max Life.
Key points:
i.The increase in the stake by the bank will be done through a share subscription agreement with Max Life
through subscription to the preferential issue of 14,25,79,161 fully paid-up equity shares of face value of Rs 10
each at a fair market value of Rs 113.06 per share.
ii.Currently, Max Financial holds an 87% in Max Life. On completion of the proposed capital infusion, Max
Financials’ shareholding will reduced to 80.98%.
iii.After the investment, Five nominee directors of Axis entities and three nominee directors of Max Financial
will be there on the board of Max Life.
About Axis Bank:
MD & CEO– Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline– Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
Chakr Innovation Secures Rs 18 Crore Funding from EXIM Bank’s USP for Sustainable
Environment
Chakr Innovation Pvt Ltd, a Gurugram (Haryana)- based technology start-up focused on environmental
sustainability and pollution reduction solutions, secured substantial funding of Rs.18 crores from the Export-
Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) under its Ubharte Sitare Programme (USP), for developing the
environmental sustainability and technology sector in India.
• The funds were sanctioned under EXIM Bank’s USP, reflecting the institution’s commitment to
promoting domestic growth and addressing international demands.
Note:
• Chakr Innovation has developed the world’s first retrofit emission control device for diesel
generators, and their technology can reduce ~70% of particulate matter emissions from the exhaust
of diesel generators.
• EXIM bank is the premier export finance institution, established by the Government of India, under
the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981. It commenced its operations in March 1982 and is
operating under the Ministry of Finance.
Canara Bank Launched Canara Jeevan Dhara for Pensioners

Canara Bank launched Canara Jeevan Dhara, a unique savings bank account designed for pensioners and
those who are planning for retirement, including all the employees who retired on a voluntary basis or

standard retirement procedures.
Variants:
Under this scheme, the bank provides two variants based on the amount of pension credit.
• Diamonds account is designed for pension credits of up to Rs 50,000.
• Platinum account caters to pension credits exceeding Rs 50,000.
Facilities:
Loan against Deposit: This account presents an opportunity for senior citizens as the bank extends an offer of
0.75% above the deposit rate.
Top-Up Facility: Customers holding this account will find added convenience, as the bank provides them with
a top-up facility on pension loans.
Concession on Medical Expenses: Canara Bank Jeevan Dhaara customers are entitled to a concession of up to
25% on medical expenses, easing their financial burdens.
Canara Bank Fixed Deposit(FD) Interest Rates: FDs offered by Canara Bank, maturing over durations
spanning 7 days to 10 years, yield interest rates ranging from 4% to 7.25% for the general public, and 4% to
7.75% for senior citizens.
Interest rates:
The bank provides different interest rates, ranging from 2.90% to 4% based on the balance in the savings
accounts. Click here for Interest rate details
About Canara Bank:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – K. Satyanarayana Raju
Established in – 1906 (as Canara Hindu Permanent Fund Ltd. and renamed as Canara Bank Limited in 1910)
Tagline – Together we can
Bank of Maharashtra Tops List of PSU lenders chart in Q1 in Loan, Deposit Growth
Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), an Indian Public Sector Bank(PSB), has emerged as the top performer among
public sector lenders in terms of loan and deposit growth in percentage during the first Quarter (Q1) of the
current financial year (FY24).
• Its deposit and advances recorded around 25% rise, the highest by any PSB, during the April-June
quarter.
• According to the recently published quarterly data of PSBs, BoM’s gross domestic advances surged
by 24.98%, reaching a total of Rs. 1,75,676 crore at the end of June 2023.
Top 5:
i.BoM was followed by UCO Bank with a growth rate of 20.70% in the 2nd spot.
ii.Bank of Baroda (BoB) with 16.80% and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) with 16.21% growth rates are at 3rd
and 4th spots, respectively.
iii.India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) stood at the 5th spot with a 15.08% rise in domestic
advances growth.
Key Points:
i.SBI’s total loans were about 16 times higher at Rs. 28,20,433 crore, as compared to Rs. 1,75,676 crore of BoM
in absolute terms.
ii.In terms of Retail-Agriculture-MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) loans (RAM loans), BoM has
the highest growth of 25.44% followed by Punjab & Sind Bank with 19.64% and Punjab National Bank (PNB) at
19.41% on Year-on-Year basis.
Highlights:
i.In the domain of deposit growth, BoM has marked a significant growth of 24.73% and mobilised Rs. 2,44,365
crore at the end of June 2023.
• BoB holds the 2nd place with a 15.50% growth in deposits (Rs. 10,50,306 crore), while PNB
recorded a 13.66% rise at Rs. 12,67,002 crore.

ii.With regard to low-cost Current Account and Savings Account (CASA) deposits, BoM retained the top position
with 50.97% followed by the Central Bank of India (CBI) at 49.56%.
iii.BoM’s total business also recorded the highest growth of 24.84% at Rs. 420,041 crores, followed by BoB at
16.10% at Rs. 18,62,932 crore at the end of June 2023.
About Bank of Maharashtra (BoM):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– A S Rajeev
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra
Established on– 16 September 1935
Tagline– Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)
IndusInd Bank Launches Visa Multi-Branded Credit Card with Qatar Airways & British Airways
IndusInd Bank Limited launched first-of-its-kind Visa multi-branded credit card “IndusInd Bank Avios Visa
Infinite Credit Card” in partnership with British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
• This card aims to offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to customers, across travel, wellness and
lifestyle experiences.
• Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
which can be used for travel rewards, including hotels and car hire.
About IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card:
i.The IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card is an ultra-premium metal card with an innovative, sleek
design.
ii.The chip-based contactless credit card will enable swift, convenient, and secure transactions for your daily
purchases.
Benefits:
i.The card offers flexibility to choose your preferred airline loyalty programme partner (Qatar or British
Airways) and select preferred international destination to maximise benefits.
ii.Complimentary Gold membership tier awarded by Qatar Airways.
iii.Airport Meet & Greet Immigration Services at leading international airports.
Other benefits:
The cardholders are also entitled for other benefits such as dedicated concierge, elderly care assist,
international travel health insurance and discounted foreign currency markup at preferred international
destinations.
Additional Info:
The British Airways is a member of oneworld Alliance, a premier airline alliance which aims to deliver a
superior, seamless travel experience, with special privileges and rewards for frequent flyers.
About IndusInd Bank Limited(Ltd):
ADB Approves Rs.3.32 crore for Safe Public Transport Projects in Hyderabad
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted Rs.3.32 crore to a team of technology experts from Birla
Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Hyderabad (Telangana), Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Bombay (Maharashtra), and IIT Kharagpur (West Bengal) to develop, test, and implement
passenger safety projects in the public transport systems of Hyderabad.
• The experts’ team led by Prof. Prasanta Sahu, was working on developing technology solutions to
improve last-mile security for metro rail and public transit passengers under the guidance of NVS
Reddy, Managing Director (MD) Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL).

A maiden inception workshop of Technologies for Urban Transit to Enhance Mobility & Safe
Accessibility (TUTEM) was organised at BITS, Hyderabad campus, where DGP Anjani Kumar as the Chief Guest
promised full support from the Police department to ensure success and boost commuter confidence in safe
travel.
Indian Bank Starts Specialised Startup Cells in 10 Cities across India

Indian Bank, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) bank headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has
established 10 start-up cells across various cities in the country to mark its 117th foundation day (15 August
1907). These cells aim to cater to specialized banking needs and promote the growth of the startup ecosystem
in India.
• The start-up cells have been set up in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Bengaluru in Karnataka, Coimbatore
& Chennai in Tamil Nadu, New Delhi in Delhi, Gurgaon in Haryana, Guwahati in
Assam, Hyderabad in Telangana , Kanpur in UttarPradesh, and Mumbai in Maharashtra.
• As part of the initiative, the bank has developed a range of tailor-made(customized) banking
products and services specifically designed for startups, taking into consideration their distinct and
specialized banking needs.
• It includes offering payment gateways, corporate credit cards, and credit facilities apart from the
existing products of the bank.
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Indian bank is Shanti Lal Jain.
HDFC Bank Along With Marriott International Launched India’s First Co-Branded Hotel Credit
Card
Marriott International, one of the world’s largest hotel chains, in collaboration with HDFC Bank launched
India’s first co-branded hotel credit card in the name Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card.
• The card aims to enhance the travel experiences of cardholders by offering exclusive benefits,
rewards, and seamless access to Marriott International’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy .
• The co-branded credit card will run on Diners Club, part of the Discover Global Network.
Eligibility:
Salaried Indian National:
i.Must be an Indian national.
ii.Must be between the ages of 21 to 60 years.
Must have a gross monthly income of more than Rs. 1 lakh.
Self Employed Indian National:
i.Must be between the ages of 21 and 65 years.
ii.Must have an Income Tax Return (ITR) of more than Rs. 15 lakhs.
Bonvoy points:
i.The reward points earned by using the credit card are called Marriott Bonvoy points.
ii.These points can be redeemed at participating hotels across the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Cardholders can
also transfer their points to 40 different airlines around the world.
Travel benefits:
i.12 complimentary access to domestic lounges and 12 complimentary access to international lounges.
ii.Insurance facility by HDFC Bank against loss or delayed baggage, loss of passport, ticket and missed
connection along with complimentary personal air accident insurance cover.
Additional info:
HDFC bank has over 100 million customers, and about 18 million of them use credit cards. The bank wants to
reach more of its existing customers with this premium product, and it also wants to reach the 180 million
plus customers who are part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

About HDFC Bank Ltd:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Indian Bank Becomes 1st PSB to Extend Online Locker Agreement Through DDE Platform of
NeSL
Indian Bank became the First Public Sector Bank (PSB) to extend facility of execution of on-line locker
agreement through Digital Document Execution (DDE) Platform of National E-Governance Services Limited
(NeSL), India’s first Information Utility under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
• Online locker agreements are available 24/7, improving customer convenience and reduces agreement
execution time.
i.DDE is a fully automated contract execution platform with paperless e-stamp and electronic signature (e-
Sign) facility. The facility of e-Sign includes Aadhar based (OTP/Biometric) and dongle-based digital
signature…Click here for the workflow and benefit of DDE
ii.The platform provides the option for both individual and multiple signatories to execute documents
sequentially. This feature enables joint account holders to easily execute locker agreements. Additionally,
customers can monitor transaction status and instantly download the Electronic Evidence (65B) certificate.
• The 65B Certificate is prescribed under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act,1872. A 65B Certificate is
a certificate submitted to a court in India for the purpose of producing Electronic or Digital Evidence in
certain cases.
iii.The end-to-end digital process eliminates the need for physical stamp papers and signatures, making it
faster and more efficient.
About Indian Bank
MD & CEO – Shanti Lal Jain
Frontier Markets Joined with Airtel Payments Bank and Mastercard Partner, Launched ‘She
Leads Bharat: Udyam’
Frontier Markets, a Social Commerce Platform, in collaboration with Airtel Payments Bank and the Mastercard
Center for Inclusive Growth launched an initiative ‘She Leads Bharat: Udyam’ . The announcement was made
at the 1st edition of Asia Inclusive Growth Forum.
• The initiative aims to elevate 1,00,000 women-owned small businesses in Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh.
• This is a first-of-its-kind initiative that brings together the private sector,social enterprise, and
philanthropy in the banking, financial services, and insurance sector.
• This initiative focuses on showcasing a digital-first approach to empower women-owned small
businesses, enabling them to enhance their earnings.
Role of Frontier Markets’:
Frontier Markets will implement the program and utilize its team of Saral Jeevan Sahelis, who are women
entrepreneurs. Their role involves identifying and enrolling women-owned small businesses onto the Meri-
Saheli platform.
i.In the first phase, the initiative will enable 1,00,000 women-owned small businesses to learn and earn via
Frontier Markets’ proprietary, flexible Meri-Saheli platform.
ii.Frontier Markets aims to reach 1 million women and 100 million rural households by 2025.

• Saral Jeevan Sahelis – Frontier Markets, has a network of 32,000+ rural women entrepreneurs
called “Saral Jeevan Sahelis”.
• Meri-Saheli tech platform, the first of its kind vernacular, Artificial intelligent (AI)-voice enabled
tech platform designed by Sahelis to support rural markets.
Role of Airtel Payment Bank:
i.Selective 10,000 women business owners will be made as Business Correspondence (BCs) by Airtel Payments
Bank.
ii.This initiative is in alignment with the Airtel Payment Bank’s vision of ‘Empowering India with Accessible
and Inclusive Banking.’
Role of Mastercard:
i.Mastercard through its Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth program will provide capital and global
expertise.
ii.The funding of the project will be provided by Mastercard Impact Fund.
About Frontier Markets:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ajaita Shah
About Airtel Payment Bank:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Anubrata Biswas
‘Infinity Savings Account’ , First-Of-Its-Kind Fixed Fee-Based Savings Account Launched by Axis
Bank
Axis Bank Limited launched ‘Infinity Savings Account’, a first-of-its-kind fully Digital fixed fee-
based savings account with no paperwork or branch visits.We can able to open completely in digital
through the Video Know Your Customer (KYC) process.
• This account is designed for customer who are comfortable using digital services and often sign
up for subscription-based services.
Eligibility:
Any Resident Indian who is 18 years and above with Initial Funding of Rs 5,000.
Benefits:
i.Customers need to pay a fixed amount of fee at a predefined interval of time.
• There are no service charges or no Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement
ii.No charges on any domestic transactional fees.
iii.Free Debit Card with unlimited Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals.
iv.No charges on cheque book usage or transactions/withdrawals above limits.
Plans offered:
i.Monthly plan: The customers need to pay Rs 150 every month.The plan should be in active for a
minimum of 6 months.
ii.Annual plan: The annual plan is charged at Rs.1650 (inclusive of GST) and offers Infinity benefits for
360 days.

FINANCE NEWS
IFC invests USD 100 million in IIFL HFL to Boost LIG’s Access to Affordable Housing Finance in
India
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has invested up to USD 100
million in IIFL Home Finance Ltd (IIFL HFL),a housing finance company in India to increase access to housing
finance among economically weaker sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG), including women
borrowers in India.
• The investment also aims to induce India’s affordable housing space, promote green construction,
and support India’s climate goals.
• Through this partnership with IFC, IIFL HFL aims to bring sustainable living in self-constructed
houses.
• IIFL HFL is a subsidiary of IIFL Finance Limited, formerly known as IIFL Holdings Limited, doing
business as India Infoline Finance Limited(IIFL).It is registered under National Housing Bank(NHB)
in India.
Features of the Partnership:
i.Under the partnership, 50% of funding will be dedicated to promoting housing finance for women borrowers,
with the remaining 50% dedicated to financing green housing for buyers in this underserved segment.
ii.As part of this collaboration, IFC will offer a performance-based incentive from the United Kingdom(UK)-IFC
Market Accelerator for Green Construction Program (MAGC).
• The incentive aims to accelerate the execution of IIFL HFL’s green building strategy and stimulate
the adoption of affordable housing units certified as green.
Note: In 2018, IFC and the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ, then
operating as BEIS), collaborated to address climate change in developing nations. The Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises Advisory and Guarantee Facility (MAGC) represents the first UK-IFC partnership in this
endeavor.
• IIFL will also leverage IFC’s expertise in capacity building for diversity and inclusion to increase the
proportion of women borrowers in its portfolio.
Key Points:
i.India’s rapid urbanisation has intensified the need for affordable housing, with an estimated requirement of
38 million housing units by 2030. EWS and LIG segments represent over 96% of these needs.
• LIGs, particularly women, often lack the financial resources and credit history required to secure
mortgages, making adequate housing.
ii.As per IFC estimates, India’s green buildings market accounts for only 6% of residential buildings, despite
representing a USD 1.25 trillion opportunity between now and 2030.
About International Finance Corporation (IFC):
IFC is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing
countries.
Managing Director– Makhtar Diop
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., The United States of America
Paytm Launches 2 New Devices: Pocket Soundbox & Music Soundbox To Empower On-The-Go
Merchants
On July 31, 2023, Paytm, owned by One97 Communications Ltd (OCL), introduced two new cutting-edge
payment devices, the Paytm Pocket Soundbox and Paytm Music Soundbox. Both devices are equipped with
4G capabilities, providing enhanced convenience for on-the-go merchants.
About Paytm Pocket Soundbox:
It is a first-of-its-kind ‘Made in India’ portable device as small as debit card to empower on-the-go merchants
with instant audio payment alerts. This easy-to-carry device has all the features of Paytm Soundbox.

• It provides 5-day battery life, 4G connectivity and a torch to keep going even in low-light conditions.
• The merchants on the go include cab and auto drivers, electricians, delivery agents, parking fee
collectors and cart vendors.
About Paytm Music Soundbox:
It is a unique device that allows merchants to play music from their mobile phones via Bluetooth while
managing payment transactions. It serves both as a speaker for payment notifications and a Bluetooth music
player.
• It has 10-day battery life, 4G connectivity and a powerful 4W speaker.
• An additional feature called “voice overlay” enables merchants to hear payment notifications while
music is playing.
About Paytm:
Founder & CEO– Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Headquarters– Noida, Uttar Pardesh (UP)
SBI Life Insurance becomes the first Indian private life insurer to launch ’24X7 inbound contact
centre
State Bank of India (SBI) Life Insurance became the first private life insurance company in India to provide
24X7 inbound contact centre via toll-free number 18002679090 to address before and after purchase queries
with the aim to offer real time solutions to queries related to policies and insurance solutions.
• The contact centre is available to both existing and new consumers, throughout the year.
• This is aligned with the goal of ‘Insurance for all by 2047’ set by Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
• This initiative aims to address both pre and post-purchase inquiries, offering real-time solutions for
policy and insurance-related queries.
Current Capacity:
The current capacity of the customer care support enables it to manage approximately 13 lakhs calls annually.
Additionally, the company operates an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) featuring 13 self-service
options.
Insurance for all by 2047-IRDAI:
i.IRDAI committed to enable ‘Insurance for all by 2047’ with an aim to provide every citizen with life, health
and property insurance cover and every enterprise with appropriate insurance solutions.
ii.The three pillars of the entire insurance ecosystem are insurance customers (policyholders), insurance
providers (insurers) and insurance distributors (intermediaries).
CRED launched RuPay credit card-based UPI payments

CRED, a Bengaluru (Karnataka) based fintech company, in collaboration with the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI), introduced RuPay credit card-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments
for CRED members.
i.Members of CRED can now use their RuPay credit cards to make payments to merchants via UPI.
ii.This integration enables members to complete transactions quickly and securely with a simple scan using
their linked RuPay credit card.
iii.It also eliminates the requirement to carry physical cards, enabling seamless payments using saved cards
and the benefit of tracking and clearing bills right on the CRED app.
iv.It can enable customers to earn more rewards on their UPI transactions through their credit cards on CRED.
Key Points:
i.Multiple payment options for UPI will be now available for the CRED members such as linking their Rupay
Credit Card, Peer-to-Peer (P2P), Scan and Pay, and paying on online merchants.
ii.CRED supports RuPay credit cards issued by banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, BOB

Financial Solutions, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Union Bank.
Note: Currently, the CRED app is the 4th most preferred UPI app.
About CRED:
Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Kunal Shah
IndiaFirst Life Insurance launches ‘Guarantee of Life Dreams(G.O.L.D)’ Plan

On 31st July 2023, IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life), launched a new
plan “IndiaFirst Life Guarantee of Life Dreams (G.O.L.D.)” a non-linked, non-participating, individual life
insurance plan is designed to provide policyholders with a regular long-term income option.
• The highlight of this product is that one can plan to receive future income from the end of the first
month itself.
Premium and Tenure:
The plan offers Premium Paying Terms (PPT), with options of 6 years, 8 years, and 10 years for a policy tenure
of 30 years or 40 years. Receive a regular income from the end of the 10th year of the policy with the benefit of
life cover
• Pay premiums for a fixed period – 6, 8 or 10 years.
• Receive a regular income in yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, or monthly frequency till the end of the
chosen policy term, i.e., for 30 or 40 years.
What is Premium Paying Terms (PPT)?
Premium Paying Term (PPT) refers to the duration during which a policyholder needs to pay premiums for an
insurance policy. It is the period within which the regular premium payments are made to keep the insurance
policy in force.
• Once the PPT is over, the policy remains active until the end of the policy term or maturity,
depending on the terms of the insurance contract.
About Guarantee of Life Dreams (G.O.L.D.):
The IndiaFirst Life Guarantee of Life Dreams Plan extends three distinct choices for generating income:
i.Immediate Income Option: This option introduces a consistent and progressively increasing income stream,
commencing as early as the conclusion of the first policy month. The income is disbursed monthly, ensuring a
regular inflow of funds.
ii.Intermediate Income Option: With this option, policyholders enjoy regular increasing income starting from
the end of the 5th policy year.
iii.Deferred Income Option: The Deferred Income Option provides a reliable and progressively increasing
income source, commencing from the end of the 10th policy year. In addition, the plan incorporates two lump-
sum cash back instalments, each amounting to 50 percent of the Annualised Premium. These installments are
allocated at the conclusion of the 3rd policy year and the termination of the Premium Paying Term (PPT).
i.Age at Entry:
• Minimum 90 days
• Maximum for Premium Payment Term is 6, 8 & 10 years
• Maximum for Immediate income is 50 years and 55 years
• Maximum for Intermediate income is 50 years and 55 years
• Maximum for Deferred income is 50 years and 60 years
ii.Age at Maturity:
• Minimum 30 years
• Maximum 90 years
iii.Premium Payment Frequency – Yearly,Half Yearly,Quarterly, Monthly options are available.The minimum
premium is Rs.4176 and is no limit on maximum premium.

Additional Info
The plan offers Waiver of Premium (WOP) Rider in which future premiums are waived off in case the
policyholder/ life assured suffers from death, accidental total permanent disability, or critical illnesses.
About IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life)
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- Vishakha RM
Mastercard Introduces CVC Free Online Transactions for Its Customers

On 7th August 2023, Mastercard introduced Card Verification Code (CVC)-free online transactions for
customers who have tokenized their debit and credit cards on merchant platforms.
• The move aims to reduce the checkout time and make CVC-free payment to enhance the payment
security.
Mastercard’s token-based transactions leverage 3 key factors that ensure a high degree of safety and security
which includes
i.Enhanced Security Features
ii.Authenticated User Identity Check
iii.Domain Control
Tokenization of Card & CVC:
As per the Reserve Bank of India’s tokenization guidelines, merchants who implement tokenized payments will
collect the CVC only once, during the initial tokenization of the card. For future transactions, cardholders select
the tokenized card, verify One-time password(OTP), and complete the payment without re-entering CVC,
streamlining the process while ensuring security.
Note: CVC is the 3-digit number printed on the back of debit and credit cards.
AU SFB Launched India’s first 24×7 Video Banking Service

On 08th August 2023, AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s Largest Small Finance Bank, became the first
bank in India to offer 24X7 for 365 days video banking facility to all the customers(including account holders
under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY) ) for free of cost.
• Video Banking provides customers with a branch-like experience, enabling them to engage in face-
to-face interactions with AU Video Banking relationship managers over a video call.
• The customer needs to be at least 18 years of age and located within India while making the video
call.
Services offered:
i.Opening of Savings Account & Booking for Fixed Deposit(FD).
ii.Initiating financial transactions like Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), National Electronic Funds Transfer
(NEFT) and Internal Fund Transfer.
iii.Other services like mobile number updation, address change, dormant account activation, registration of net
banking without debit card.
Timeframe:
• The Video Banking service for initiating account openings is accessible every day, including Sundays
and Bank Holidays, only from 8 am to 9 pm.
• The Video Servicing feature, catering to inquiries and service requests, is operational only from 8
am to 8 pm.
Mode of connection: Via AU 0101 Mobile Application or by NetBanking.
Security Measures:
• Verification of mobile numbers via One-Time-Password (OTP).
• Facial recognition powered by Artificial Intelligence(AI).
• Customised security queries.

• Recording of calls.
• Strict due diligence on all financial transactions and service requests.
Required Documents:
i.For Account Opening- Original PAN Card.
ii.For Video Banking (Servicing)- Any Officially Valid Document (OVD) apart from Aadhaar.
Note: Video Know Your Customer (KYC) is a part of Video Banking which offers 400+ services.
About AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB):
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sanjay Agarwal
Tagline – Badlaav Humse Hai
PFRDA integrates NPS Statement of Transaction (SoT) with CAS

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority(PFRDA) in coordination with the Securities and
Exchange Board of India(SEBI) has integrated the National Pension System (NPS) Statement of Transaction
(SoT) with the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS).
• Now, PFRDA has enabled Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) to integrate with depositories,
registered with SEBI to provide NPS Subscribers with the option to include NPS transactions in CAS.
• The facility to include NPS SoT in CAS will be available to NPS subscribers on consent basis.
About CAS:
i.The CAS provided by National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Ltd
(CDSL) offers a consolidated view of the personal investments in the securities market with updated mark-to-
market values.
ii.It encompasses holdings of Demat accounts and mutual fund holdings of the investors.
Note: CAS is issued to investors in accordance with Regulation 36(4) of SEBI
(Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
Present scenario:
At present, the NPS SoT is shared annually, either in physical form or via email, and is also accessible for online
viewing through CRA login.
Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) Advantages:
i.Simplified Record-Keeping: CAS summarizes the statements for different investments into one
comprehensive statement, reducing paperwork and offering a consolidated view of all investments in one
place.
ii.Enhanced Security: CAS ensures the safety of information related to contributions/investments. Monthly
updates help Subscribers spot unauthorized transactions.
iii.Timely Information: CAS provides monthly updates on transactions and holdings, enabling Subscribers to
track performance, stay informed, and make informed choices.
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority(PFRDA):
Chairperson – Deepak Mohanty
HDFC Group launched Life Insurance & Asset Management Services from Gujarat’s GIFT City
HDFC Group launched new life insurance and asset management services at International Financial Services
Centre (IFSC) situated in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City, Gujarat.This initiative offer services to
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the global Indian diaspora.
• HDFC Life unveils HDFC International Life and Re, and HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd by HDFC
Asset Management Company to cater to the financial needs of the worldwide Indian community.

HDFC International Life and Re:
HDFC Life created HDFC International Life and Re to provide specialized insurance solutions.
i.This is offering life and health insurance plans in United States (US) dollars(USD) which aims to make world-
class foreign currency denominated insurance solutions available for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and global
Indians.
ii.The first product – US Dollar Global Education Plan– to eliminate any future mismatch between the
currency of investment and the currency of expenses.
• The plan is designed to help parents with a US dollar-denominated corpus to meet future expenses for
their child’s overseas education.
HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Limited(Ltd):
i.HDFC Asset Management Company(AMC) established HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd to offer fund
management and advisory solutions as part of its offshore hub operations.
• Indian investment solutions available to global investors and global investment solutions available to
resident investors.
ii.The first product – plan to launch six funds – to contribute to various HDFC Mutual Fund schemes,
encompassing strategies related to equity and hybrid investments.
About HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited
Managing Director(MD) & Chief executive Officers (CEO) – Vibha Padalkar
About HDFC Asset Management Company Limited:
HDFC AMC was established in 2000 and firm registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Joint Venture Formation: In 2001, a strategic joint venture was established between HDFC Limited and abrdn
Investment Management Limited (formerly Standard Life Investments Limited).
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Director – Navneet Munot
CBDT Notifies New Rules for Tax Exemption of Life Insurance Premiums Exceeding 5 Lakh
Central Board for Direct Tax (CBDT) under Department of Revenue in Ministry of Finance issued notification
(No. 61/2023) regarding the Income Tax Amendment (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2023 is a set of rules
introduced as part of the Finance Act, 2023. The new guidelines for tax exemptions under the amended
section 10 (10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, state that the maturity sum received from life insurance
policies will be subject to taxation if the annual premium exceeds Rs.5 lakh.
• The insertion of a new clause (xiii) in sub-section (2) of section 56 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is
related to the amendment mentioned in the Income Tax Amendment (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules,
2023.
• This new clause (xiii) introduces a specific provision that addresses the tax treatment of sums
received under a life insurance policy.The tax treatment of life insurance policies refers to how
the proceeds or benefits received from these policies are treated for taxation purposes
• Rule 11UACA provides the methodology for computing the income chargeable to tax under clause
(xiii) of sub-section (2) of section 56 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Note – The Finance Act is an annual legislation in India that outlines the amendments, modifications, and
changes to various tax laws, including the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The key changes introduced through the amendment are as follows:
Under the previous rules specified in section 10 (10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the maturity sum of a
life insurance policy, along with any bonuses, was not subject to taxation.
• However, the amendment to Clause (10D) of section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, stipulated
that the maturity sum received from life insurance policies issued on April 1, 2023, or after, will be
taxable if the yearly premium exceeds Rs 5 lakh.

The new provisions specify that starting from the FY 2023-24 (Assessment Year 2024-25):
i.Premium Limit for Exemption: Sums received from life insurance policies (except Unit Linked Insurance
Policies(ULIP)) issued on or after April 1, 2023, will not be eligible for exemption under Clause (10D) if the
aggregate premium payable for any previous year during the policy term exceeds Rs.5 Lakhs(Rs.5,00,000).
ii.Multiple Policies Aggregate Limit: If you have multiple life insurance policies (excluding unit linked
policies) issued after April 1, 2023, the tax exemption will only apply to policies where the total premium paid
in any previous year doesn’t exceed Rs. 5 lakhs for the entire duration of those policies.
iii.Exception for Death Claims: These conditions won’t apply to sums received on a person’s death. In case of
claims received due to the demise of an insured person, the new provisions will not be applicable.
Note: The Union Budget 2023-24 introduced a change in the tax treatment of life insurance policies, with the
exception of Unit Linked Insurance Policies (ULIPs).
• Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs): ULIPs combine life insurance coverage with investment.
The tax treatment varies based on whether the policy is primarily an insurance product or an
investment product. The premium paid for insurance coverage is eligible for deduction, and the tax
treatment of investment gains depends on the holding period and other factors.
The New Rules-11UACA:
Rule 11UACA” is a reference to a specific rule introduced as part of the Income Tax Amendment
(Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2023.
• Rule 11UACA has been established to regulate the determination of income associated with the
maturity proceeds of life insurance policies issued after 1 April 2023, when the premiums paid
exceeds Rs. 5 lakh.
• The rule makes distinctions in the calculation methodology based on whether the sum is received
for the first time or in subsequent years under the life insurance policy.
A new clause (xiii) has been introduced in sub-section (2) of section 56
• It states that if any sum, including bonuses, is received during a previous year under a life insurance
policy (excluding unit linked policies), which isn’t excluded from total income under clause (10D) of
Section 10, the portion exceeding the aggregate premiums paid during the policy term (and not
claimed as a deduction elsewhere in the Act) will be taxed under the head “Income from other
sources.”
A new sub-clause (xviid) is added to clause (24) of Section 2, specifying that income includes any sum
mentioned in clause (xiii) of sub-section (2) of section 56.
Max Life Insurance Introduces Max Life NIFTY Smallcap Quality Index Fund
Max Life Insurance Company Limited(Max Life) launched “NIFTY Smallcap Quality Index Fund” in the Unit
Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) segment to provide an opportunity to capitalise on the growth potential of
smallcap companies, aiming for long term index linked returns.
• This marks the first smallcap index fund of the life insurance sector.
• Max Life Nifty Smallcap Quality Index Fund is similar to Nifty Smallcap 250 Quality 50 Index which
offers 22% Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for 10 years.
• This fund is designed to provide investors with an opportunity to leverage the growth potential of
Small-Cap companies, with a focus on achieving long-term index-linked returns.
Additional Points about NIFTY Smallcap Quality Index Fund:
i.The fund will be available with leading products like Online Savings Plan, which carries no allocation and
administrative charges, and the Platinum Wealth Plan, available with guaranteed wealth boosters and additions
during the New Fund Offer (NFO) period.It will also be available with other ULIP products.
• During the NFO period, the Fund will be offered through both the Online Savings Plan and the
Platinum Wealth Plan.
ii.The lower Fund Management Charges (FMC) makes this Index Fund a valuable investment avenue for
millennial investors.

iii.This fund is anticipated to generate returns in line with the benchmark performance of the NIFTY Smallcap
250 Quality 50 Index, following to the investment guidelines set by the Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI).
About Max Life Insurance Company Limited(Ltd):
Max Life Insurance Company Limited(Ltd) is a joint venture between Max Financial Service Limited(70%) and
Axis Bank Limited(30%).
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Prashant Tripathy
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
Muthoot Fincorp Launches “Muthoot FinCorp ONE”, an All-In-One Financial Platform

Muthoot Fincorp Limited(MFL), a leading Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) based in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, launched “Muthoot FinCorp ONE”, an innovative all-in-one digital financial
platform.
• The platform will provide a range of services including Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and
Gold loans along with investment products like Digital Gold and Non-Convertible Debentures(NCDs).
• The platform introduced its gold loans in May 2023 and aims to add insurance, personal loans, two-
wheeler loans, housing loans, and money transfer services within the next 6 months.
Muthoot Fincorp is a flagship company of Muthoot Pappachan Group (also known as Muthoot Blue). Chief
Executive Officer of MFL- Shaji Varghese.
IRDAI Approves Amendments to Reinsurance Regulations

On August 24, 2023, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), during its 123rd
Authority Meeting, approved amendments to Reinsurance Regulations to enhance the business environment,
and to attract more reinsurers to set up operations in India.
• These amendments streamline the existing regulations for all insurance market
participants including Indian insurers, Indian reinsurers, Foreign Reinsurance Branches (FRBs),
and International Financial Services Centre(IFSC) Insurance Offices (IIOs).
• This will also position India as a key global reinsurance center.
Key Amendments:
i.The amendments include a reduction of the minimum capital requirement for FRBs from Rs 100 Crore to Rs
50 Crore, with the provision to repatriate any excess assigned capital.
• The decrease in the capital requirement for overseas reinsurers will increase the number of
reinsurers operating within India.
ii.The order of preference for various categories has also been simplified from six to four levels. These levels
are as follows:
• Category 1: This includes Indian Reinsurers, with the sole Indian reinsurer being GIC Re.
• Category 2: IIOs, which invest 100% of retained premiums within India’s domestic market, as well
as FRBs.
• Category 3: Encompasses other International Insurers and Intermediaries.
• Category 4: It includes other Indian insurers and Cross Border Reinsurers (CBRs) for per-risk
facultative placements within the registered insurer’s business segment.
iii.The format for reinsurance programmes has been simplified, and regulatory reporting requirements have
been rationalised for increased clarity and effectiveness.
iv.The regulatory framework for IIOs has been aligned with International Financial Services Centres Authority
(IFSCA) regulations to remove dual compliance.
Focus Areas of Amendments:
i.To expand reinsurance sector capacity to meet rising demand and handle bigger risks.
ii.To boost industry expertise to encourage excellence and innovation.
iii.To ease compliance obligations for sector entities, enhancing regulatory navigation efficiency.

About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
It is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament, i.e., Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority Act, 1999 (IRDAI Act 1999) .It is a public authority as defined in the Right to Information Act, 2005
Chairman– Debasish Panda

India’s Q1 FY24 Fiscal Deficit at Rs 4.51 Trillion, 25% of Annual Target
Based on the data released by Controller General of Accounts(CGA) under Department of Expenditure,
Ministry of Finance on 31st July 2023, the fiscal deficit for first quarter(Q1 – April 2023 to June 2023) stood
at Rs 4.51 trillion(USD 54.86 billion) as against the full year estimate of Rs 17.86 trillion, accounting
for 25.3% of annual estimates for the financial year 2023-2024(FY2024).
• It was lower at Rs 3.5 trillion or 21.2% of the Budget estimate in the corresponding period in FY
2022-2023 (FY23).
• The rise in fiscal deficit is attributed to increased capital expenditure and accelerated tax devolution
to state governments, which offset the sharp increase in non-tax revenues.
Key Points:
i.Capital Expenditure (Capex) Surge:
• Capex increased significantly to Rs 2.78 trillion in June 2023 quarter.
• This marked a substantial rise from Rs 1.75 trillion in the same period the previous year.
ii.Non-tax revenues:
Total non-tax revenue for Q1 in FY2024 was Rs 1,54,968 crore or 51.4 % of the budget estimates against 23.1%
for the same period last year. Dividends and profits made up 105% of the non-tax revenue, adding up to Rs
91,000 crore.
Other Observation:
i.Receipts and Tax Revenues:
• Total receipts for April-June reached Rs 5.99 trillion, constituting 22.1% of annual estimates.
• Tax receipts contributed Rs 4.3 trillion, equivalent to 18.6% of annual estimates.
ii.Total Expenditure Increase:
• Total expenditure grew notably to Rs 10.5 trillion in June 2023 quarter.
• This represents 23.3% of annual estimates, a significant rise from Rs 5.86 trillion in the previous
year’s period.
iii.Fiscal Deficit Target:
• Government’s aim: Reduce fiscal deficit to 5.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY 2023-24
against 6.4% last year.
iv.Non-Tax Revenue Surge:
• Net tax revenues contracted by 14%.
• Non-tax revenues surged by 149%, driven by factor like RBI dividend transfer of Rs 87,416 crore in
May 2023 for FY2023
v.Expenditure Composition: Within total revenue expenditure of Rs 7.72 trillion at June quarter-end:
• Interest payments accounted for Rs 2.44 trillion and Rs 87,035.14 crore directed toward subsidies.
About Fiscal Deficit:
• It is the excess of total spending from the Consolidated Fund of India(excluding repayment of the
debt) over total receipts into the fund (excluding the debt receipts) during a financial year.
• Formula: Fiscal Deficit = Total expenditure of the government (capital and revenue expenditure) –
Total income of the Government (Revenue Receipt + Recovery of loans + Other receipts).

Air India unveils new logo ‘The Vista’ at rebranding event
On 10th August 2023, Air India, Tata Group-owned airline unveiled its new logo, branding, and plane livery at
the rebranding event held in New Delhi, Delhi. The new logo called ‘The Vista’ was inspired by the peak of the
gold window frame that signifies the limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and Air India’s bold, confident
outlook for the future.
• The Vista replaces old logo “Wheel of Konark”, a red swan adorned with the distinctive orange
Konark Chakra.
• Air India’s new aircraft livery and design features a palette of deep red, aubergine,
and gold highlights and a chakra-inspired pattern.
• The rebranding of Air India gained momentum following its acquisition by the Tata Group. Tata
Sons, via its fully owned subsidiary, Talace Private Limited (“Talace”), acquired a 100% stake in Air
India on 27th January 2022.
• Air India underwent a 15-month transformation, and through advancements in technology, fleet,
maintenance, ground handling, and operations, Air India succeeded in elevating itself to world-class
standards in safety, customer service, and overall passenger experience.
Note:
• Livery refers to the collection of symbols, insignia, colours, and distinctive identifiers that are
associated with an airline’s brand.
• In December 2022, the Tata Group took a step towards the rebranding of Air India by enlisting the
services of Futurebrands, a brand and design consultancy based in London, the United Kingdom
(UK).
Quinag Exits Manappuram Finance; Sold Entire Stake For Rs 1,177 Cr

Quinag Acquisition (FPI) Ltd, a foreign fund house, has offloaded its entire stake, 8,37,85,880 shares
amounting to a 9.90% stake, in Manappuram Finance Limited, a Kerala based Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC), for Rs 1,177 crore through an open market transaction.
• The shares were offloaded at an average price of Rs 140.50 apiece.
Bofa Securities Europe SA(“BofASE”),a subsidiary of Bank of America has acquired 62.60 lakh shares and
Chartered Finance Management Limited (CFM) and Leasi NG has acquired 50 lakh shares of Manappuram
Finance.
India to grow at average 6.7% per year from FY24 to FY31: S&P Global
As per the United States based corporation S&P Global’s report titled ‘Look Forward: India’s Moment’, India
will grow at an average 6.7% per year from financial year 2023-24 (FY24) to FY31. This will increase the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of India to USD($)6.7 trillion by FY31 from $3.4 trillion in FY23 and The Per capita
GDP will rise to about $4,500.
• For FY24, India will be the fastest growing economy in the G20 (Group of Twenty) and will grow by
6% amid global slowdown and policy rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• India shows a GDP growth of 7.2% in FY23.
• The report projected India’s economic growth from FY24 to FY31.
Key Points:
i.The Indian private sector will drive India’s economic growth with projected capital contribution of around
53% of the projected 6.7% average GDP growth until 2030.
ii.Increasing the participation of women in the labor force will be crucial for future growth since only 24%
were participating in 2022.
iii.India has an opportunity to boost its share of global manufacturing exports, and the government aims to
raise manufacturing’s contribution to GDP from 17.7% to 25% by 2025.

iv.The development of digital infrastructure is also a potential growth driver of Indian economy.
v.India’s total energy demand to double by 2050.
Crisil projects Indian economy to grow at 6% in FY24

On August 16, 2023, Crisil, a global analytics company, has estimated that the Indian economy will experience a
growth rate of 6% during FY24, a decline from the 7.2% growth achieved in FY23.
Key Points:
i.The report stated that the global economic slowdown is expected as a result of rising interest rates and the
exports may continue to be a drag on industrial output.
ii.It also stated that the monsoon will have a significant impact on industrial prospects through effects on
inflation and rural demand.
• Crisil also noted that the monsoon has weakened, with all India rainfall turning deficient at 5%
below long period average (LPA) as on 15th August 2023.
• This also highlighted that El Nino which will determine the rainfall pattern has set in as expected.
Key Highlights:
i.Retail inflation in India escalated to 7.44% in July of the current year, surpassing the upper tolerance level set
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) i.e. 2-6%.
ii.The notable surge in food inflation to 11.5% in July, up from 4.5% in June and 3% in May, can be attributed to
accelerating inflation rates in vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, and milk.
• This marks the highest food inflation rate since April 2020.
Marketing Freedom regime: ONGC signed 1st-ever term contract with BPCL for sale of crude oil
from Mumbai region
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under
the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), has entered into a term contract with Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna PSU under MoPNG, for the sale of crude oil from
the Mumbai region in Maharashtra. This agreement represents the first-ever term contract under the
Marketing Freedom system of government.
• The contract comes after the Government of India’s (GoI) decision to grant marketing and pricing
freedom for domestic crude oil replacing the previous allocation mechanism.
Note: ONGC has adapted to the new regime and successfully conducted the first-ever e-auction of Mumbai
(Maharashtra) Offshore crude oil.
Key Signatories:
The contract was signed by Sanjay Kumar, ONGC Executive Director (ED)- Chief Marketing, and Manoj Heda,
BPCL ED (Information Technology (IT)) at ONGC NBP Green Heights, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key Points:
i.BPCL and ONGC have been in collaboration since 1976. BPCL processes ONGC’s crude oil at the Mumbai
refinery.
ii.The refinery’s strategic location is connected by pipeline, facilitating seamless logistical operations for ONGC.
iii.The energy market is constantly changing, ONGC stands strong, driving innovation and achieving excellence
in India’s oil and gas sector. As a key player, ONGC plays a vital role in shaping India’s energy future.
About Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC):
Chairman & CEO– Arun Kumar Singh
Established in– 14th August 1956

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL):
Incorporated in 1952 as a private limited company with the name Burmah Shell Refineries Ltd and renamed
BPCL on August 1, 1977.
Chairman & MD (CMD) – G Krishnakumar
L&T, partners to invest $4B in Green Hydrogen Projects ; To Acquire NPCIL stake in Arm
Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and its green hydrogen joint venture (JV) partners viz. Indian Oil Corporation
Limited (IOCL) and ReNew Power, will invest upto USD 4 billion (Rs 32,000 crore) in their green hydrogen
businesses over next three to five years.
• This is a part of the L&T’s plans to invest around USD 12 billion over the next five years.
Focus:
The focus of this collaboration is to harness the potential of green hydrogen, a clean and sustainable alternative
to traditional fossil fuels.
Key Points:
i.L&T has approached some coastal states in India to acquire 500-1,000 acres of land for hydrogen facilities.
ii.The venture into hydrogen production will commence with the manufacturing of electrolyzers, scheduled to
begin operations in December 2023.
iii.These electrolyzers will utilize renewable energy from ReNew Power Private Ltd. to produce green
hydrogen at the IOCL refinery in Panipat, Haryana.
iv.The project will subsequently be expanded to other IOCL refineries and L&T customers.
Note:
The clean energy strategy will be led by L&T Energy Green Tech, a subsidiary of L&T.
Additional info:
i.The key part of this investment involves allocating approximately Rs 500 crore towards the development of
electrolysers.
• Electrolysers are components in the production of green hydrogen, as they facilitate the separation
of hydrogen from water using renewable electricity sources, thus ensuring a more eco-friendly
energy creation process.
ii.L&T has set up a hydrogen plant in Hazira, Gujarat in 2022 and has partnered with IOCL to manufacture
electrolysers.
iii.In 2023, L&T signed an agreement with Norway-based H2Carrier to develop floating green ammonia
projects for industrial-scale applications.
• L&T also entered into a manufacturing agreement with France-based McPhy Energy for the
production of electrolysers using McPhy’s technology.
L&T to buy out NPCIL stake in L&T Special Steel and Heavy Forging
L&T is also looking to procure 26% stake that Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) currently holds in
L&T Special Steel and Heavy Forging. In pursuit of this acquisition, L&T is prepared to invest
approximately Rs 150 crore.
• L&T Special Steels and Heavy Forgings is a Joint Venture of L&T and Nuclear Power Corporation of
India Limited.
Reason behind this move:
L&T has a forge shop that plays a critical role in the production of nuclear and defense-oriented items.
However, the presence of NPCI’s stake has posed challenges, hindering L&T’s efforts to broaden its horizons.
The nuclear plant connected to the JV accumulated loss of nearly Rs 3,000 crore. Recognizing the need for a
shift, L&T has initiated discussions with NPCI regarding the potential sale of the shareholdings.
i.To strengthen defence ties with India, the government of the USA has signed a formal framework
agreement on naval ship repair with Larsen & Toubro, the Indian defense shipbuilder.

ii.L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) to provide private 5G (Fifth-generation) network solutions for global enterprises providing
faster connection speed and lower latency.
About Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T):
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director– Sekharipuram Narayanan Subrahmanyan
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
ICRA Estimates GDP Growth at 8.5% in Q1FY24; Maintains FY24 Forecast at 6%

ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) projected that
India’s economic growth will accelerate to 8.5% during the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24 (Q1FY24)
in the period from April 2023 to June 2023. This is a notable increase from the 6.1% growth rate recorded in
the fourth quarter of the financial year 2022-23 (Q4FY23), spanning January 2023 to March 2023.
• ICAR forecasts India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to remain at 6% for the financial
year 2023-24 (FY24), a figure lower than the RBI’s projected estimate of 6.5%.
Highlights:
i.India’s Q1FY24 GDP increase is supported by a strong Q1FY23 base, improved profit margins, and service
sector revival.
ii.This 8.5% estimate for Q1FY24 is higher than the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) forecast of 8.1%.
iii.Q1FY24 Gross Value Added (GVA) growth is projected at 8.1%, compared to 6.5% in Q4FY23.
iv.Unpredictable rainfall, narrowing year-on-year commodity price differences, and a potential slowdown in
Government capex momentum due to the upcoming parliamentary elections will hamper GDP growth in
FY2024.
Key Points:
i.Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) expansion in Q1 FY24 to be in double digits, based on the robust year on
year growth performance of a majority of the investment-related indicators.
ii.The aggregate capital outlay and net lending of 23 state governments (except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa,
Manipur and Meghalaya), and Indian Government’s gross capital expenditure surged by 76% (Rs 1.2 lakh
crore) and 59.1% (Rs 2.8 lakh crore) respectively in Q1FY24.
iii.Capex-related External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) for modernization, new projects, and capital goods
imports reached USD 13.0 billion in Q1FY24, surpassing FY23’s full-year levels of USD 9.6 billion.
iv.Services’ gross value added growth to have risen to 9.7% in Q1FY24 from 6.9% in Q4 FY23
v.Electricity generation growth dropped to an 11-quarter low of 1.3% in Q1 FY24 due to an unfavorable base
and excessive rainfall in the first half of the quarter.
vi.Industrial GVA growth estimated to have risen to 7.3% in Q1 FY24 from 6.3% in Q4 FY23, driven by the
manufacturing sector with an expected growth of 8% in Q1 FY24.
vii.Agricultural growth projected at 4.0% in Q1 FY24, relatively lower compared to the 5.5% in Q4FY23.
Click Here for Official Release
India’s Per Capita Income to rise 7.5-times by FY47: SBI Research

According to SBI Ecowrap, research division of the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s per capita income will rise
7.5 times by 2047, reaching Rs14.9 lakh (USD 12,400) annually from the present Rs 2 lakh (USD 2,500) in FY23.
• This aligns with the government’s target of transforming India into a developed economy by 2047.
Key Points:
i.The mean income of tax-filing individuals is projected to increase to Rs 49.9 lakh by FY47 from Rs 13 lakh in
FY22, driven by economic shifts, tax trends, and initiatives like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the
UDYAM Portal.
ii.State Contributions: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and West Bengal contribute
significantly to total tax returns, accounting for nearly half by FY22.

iii.Tax filers increased from 2.1 million in FY13 to 85 million in FY23, projected to reach 482 million by FY47,
with the working population subject to taxation rising from 22.4% in FY23 to 85.3% in FY47.
iv.An approx. 25% decrease expected in zero-tax filers by FY47 as many shift to higher income brackets.
v.Notably, 13.6% between FY11 and FY22 moved from lowest income category, with 8.1% reaching Rs 5-10
lakh and 3.8% entering Rs 10-20 lakh range between FY11 and FY22.
vi.Migrating individuals contributed 0.5-2.5% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in specific states.
Antler Launched India’s First ONDC-Centric Venture Platform Antler ONDC for Indian Start-up
Founders
Antler India, a Venture Capital (VC) firm launched India’s first Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)-
focussed venture platform, Antler ONDC, to provide resources, an expert network, community, and capital to
start-up founders building on ONDC. The platform aims to increase talent density and enable opportunities on
ONDC and is also set to democratise e-commerce in India. It will also support pre-team and pre-idea founders
to build on ONDC.
• The platform has been created in partnership with Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of
the Infosys Board; Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE) (Beckn Protocol),
and ONDC.
• The new programme offers USD 300,000 pre-seed capital and a potential extra investment of up to
USD 200,000 from Antler network partners, including unicorn founders, for prepared teams with
ideas,
The Antler India offers a unique solution, helping aspiring entrepreneurs find cofounders and raise funding in a
span of 3 months, will also support founders building on ONDC to scale up.

India’s eGov Foundation, UNDP Indonesia sign MoU to improve Medical Waste Management in
Indonesia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia and India’s eGov Foundation have signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tackle the critical challenge of infectious medical waste
management in Indonesia.
Aim:
To utilize eGov Foundation’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – DIGIT (Digital Infrastructure for
Governance, Impact & Transformation) to implement a cohesive solution at speed and scale
Need behind this MoU:
The need for this collaboration is highlighted by recent data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and
Forestry Affairs (MOEF), which reported a 30% increase in daily medical waste to 382 tons after the COVID-19
Pandemic, as compared to approximately 293 tons of pre-pandemic levels.
Key Points:
i.This MoU will bring visibility and accountability in the management of infectious medical waste in Indonesia’s
13,000 health facilities.
ii.Through the partnership, Indonesia will use eGov Foundation’s DIGIT Sanitation platform to handle various
waste types.
• It should be noted that DIGIT is used in 6 countries with 16 governments and 100+ partners serving
250 million citizens, using flexible micro services architecture for large-scale deployment.
iii.Notably, UNDP Indonesia through the ME-SMILE is collaborating and utilizing the expertise of regional and
global partners. ME-SMILE has started managing medical waste in 32 hospitals and 1 health center.

• Now, by teaming up with eGov’s DIGIT platform, they aim to expand waste traceability beyond
medical waste.
About Indonesia:
Indonesia is moving its capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara, the island of Borneo. Currency– Indonesian
Rupiah
President– Joko Widodo
India & Moldova Agreed to Sign MoU for Cooperation in Agriculture

On July 31st 2023, India and eastern European country Moldova agreed to sign a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the agriculture sector during a meeting between Shobha Karandlaje,
Minister of State(MoS) for Agriculture, and Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture
& Food Industries of Moldova at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• During the meeting, the Ministers emphasized the potential for increasing bilateral trade in
agricultural commodities and for strengthening of bilateral agricultural cooperation through the
exchange of knowledge and technology.
• Vladimir Bolea expressed Moldova’s interest in exporting vegetable oils to India and importing
fertilizers and pesticides from India .
• He also highlighted the Moldovan culture of producing wine and apples as a way of life and
expressed interest in exporting these products to India.
About Moldova:
Prime Minister(PM)- Dorin Recean
President- Maia Sandu
Currency- Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Capital- Chisinau
India, New Zealand sign MoU for Open Sky Policy; Boost cooperation in Civil Aviation
On August 29, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Government of
India and the Government of New Zealand for an Open Sky Policy, allowing more flights between various cities
in the two countries.
• This will further boost the bilateral between both nations in civil aviation by scheduling of new
routes, code share services, traffic rights and capacity entitlement.
Signatories:
It was signed by Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), India; and David Pine, the New
Zealand High Commissioner in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, MoCA, and Damien O’
Connor, Minister for Trade and Export Growth of New Zealand.
What is in the MoU?
i.Under this, New Zealand’s designated airline(s) can operate unrestricted services with any type of aircraft,
holding third and fourth freedom traffic rights to/from six Indian cities: New
Delhi (Delhi), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil
Nadu), Hyderabad (Telangana), and Kolkata (West Bengal). This is set to amplify bilateral civil aviation
relations.
ii.Similarly, India’s designated airline(s) can operate unrestricted services with any aircraft type, having third
and fourth freedom traffic rights to/from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and three other New Zealand
points to be designated by the Indian Government.
iii.Both parties’ airlines can operate unlimited all-cargo services using any aircraft type, enjoying third, fourth,
and fifth freedom traffic rights between any points in each other’s territories, including via intermediate and
beyond points beyond those in the Route Schedule.

Key Points:
i.Both sides reviewed the existing arrangements relating to air service between the two countrie.
• An Air Services Agreement was signed between New Zealand and India at Auckland, New Zealand on
1st May 2016.
ii.Third freedom right involves carrying passengers/cargo from home country to another while fourth freedom
is the opposite i.e. transporting to home country from another.
• These rights are typically granted together in bilateral agreements.
iii.The Fifth freedom right means that the aircraft of country A, from a service originating in country A, is
allowed to embark passengers and cargo in country B and disembark them in country C.
About New Zealand:
Capital– Wellington
Currency– New Zealand Dollar
Prime Minister– Chris Hipkins
UNESCO & Telangana Govt Signed LoI to Implement UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Information
Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department, Government of Telangana, signed a Letter
of Intent (LoI) to collaborate and make efforts in order to implement the UNESCO Recommendation on the
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• The partnership is focused on raising awareness of ethical AI development and use, creating
capacity, and making contributions to the UNESCO Global Observatory on AI Ethics.
Note: UNESCO produced the first-ever global standard on AI ethics, the ‘Recommendation on the
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence’ in November 2021.
Key People:
The LoI was signed in the presence of Vakati Karuna, Principal Secretary of the Education Department
of Telangana, Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Director of AI and Chief of Executive Office, Social and
Human Sciences at UNESCO; and Rama Devi Lanka, Director of Emerging Technologies, Telangana.
i.The combined effort signifies a shared commitment to an AI-powered future that prioritises
inclusive, sustainable, and equitable development.
ii.The collaboration is set to shape the landscape of the ethical development of and use of AI.
iii.The collaboration gains further significance with the ITE&C Department’s role in shaping the
technological environment of Telangana and its commitment to advancing ethical values.
iv.The ultimate goal of this transformative collaboration is to ensure that AI technologies are
harnessed for the betterment of society,
v.Recognizing the risks associated with AI, the collaboration will also focus on effective risk mitigation
strategies to ensure the responsible use of AI.
About Telangana:
Airports– Ramagundam Airport; Warangal Airport

UP signed MoU with Mexican State Nuevo Leon for Investment in tourism, infra & Pharma
sectors
On 5th August 2023, the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the Government of Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investment in several sectors, including tourism,
infrastructure, pharmaceutical and medical sectors.
• Through this mutual cooperation, Nuevo Leon of Mexico and UP will have to increase trade with
each other.
Key People:
The MoU was exchanged between Manoj Kumar, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner
(IIDC), Govt of UP, and Ivan Rivas Rodriguez, Minister of Economics, Nuevo Leon, Mexico in the presence of
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister(CM) of UP, and Samuel Garcia Cefalveda, Governor of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Key Points:
i.With this MoU, strong industrial relations are being established between UP and Nuevo Leon.
ii.UP, a significant state in India holds immense importance in both the agriculture and tourism sectors.
iii.The region offers modern infrastructure, a well-developed network of expressways, excellent interstate and
air connectivity, a strong rail network, access to eastern ports through inland waterways, and a dedicated
freight corridor junction.
iv.This has transformed UP into a logistics and transport hub. AND UP has also introduced 25 sectoral policies
aimed at attracting industrial investments, providing investors with exceptional facilities for their ventures in
UP.
v.Nuevo Leon is an Industrial region of Mexico, similarly UP, is the largest state in India in terms of ease of
doing business, and currently investments are being made on a larger scale in UP.
Stadium– Eklavya Sports Stadium (outdoor) and Late Mohan Choubey Pahalvan Sports Stadium (outdoor)
About Mexico:
Capital- Mexico City
President- Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Currency- Mexican Peso
TRAI and C-DoT Sign MoU to Establish Mechanism of Technical and Institutional Cooperation in
Telecommunications
On 25th July 2023, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Centre for Development of
Telematics (C-DoT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the mechanism of technical
and institutional cooperation in telecommunications, at TRAI headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU has been signed by Anil Kumar Bhardwaj, DG (TRAI CSR) and Rajeev Kumar, Registrar, C-
DoT.
Outcome of the MoU:
i.Through the MOU, TRAI Centre of Studies and Research (TRAI CSR) and C-DoT have collaborated to explore
the potential of emerging technologies.
ii.The MoU steps towards policy research, regulatory studies, and knowledge dissemination of upcoming
technologies in the telecom and broadcasting sectors.
iii.The partnership aims to promote cooperation for research on regulatory practices and bridge gaps in
understanding.
iv.The partnership will conduct technical sessions, seminars and conferences to share knowledge and for
capacity building and will help India achieve policy-driven innovation.

About TRAI CSR:
i.The TRAI CSR was established as an entity within TRAI to conceptualize, coordinate, and enable technological
studies in the telecom and broadcasting sectors.
ii.Its task is to enable technology-driven growth in India by combining the energies of different industries and
sectors.
C-DOT Signs Consortium Agreement with industry partners for ‘Collaborative Development of
Disaggregated 5G RAN Solution’
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom Research and Development (R&D)
Centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a consortium agreement with leading
industry partners for ‘Collaborative Development of Disaggregated 5G Radio
Access Network (RAN) Solution’ to bolster India’s telecom R&D capabilities.
• The industry partners include Lekha Wireless Solutions Private Ltd, Signaltron Systems Private Ltd,
Sooktha Consulting Private Ltd, and Resonous Technologies Private Ltd.
• The collaboration aims to create an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN)compliant disaggregated
5G RAN solution that can effectively operate in the FR1 and FR2 (Frequency Range) frequency
bands, catering to both public and private 5G networks.
Key points:
i.The consortium partners are companies engaged in the development of Radio communication products,
specialising in providing radio access network solutions for 5G, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), etc.
ii.This agreement marks the second initiative under the ‘C-DOT Collaborative Research Program 2022 (CCRP-
2022)’, aimed at promoting innovation and fostering cost-effective indigenous telecom products and solutions.
Note: The maiden agreement under CCRP-2022 was signed with VVDN Technologies Private Ltd and WiSig
Networks Private Ltd to pursue the development of a 5G Open RAN.
C-DOT’s Role in the Partnership:
i.C-DOT will act as a business incubator and facilitator and provides funding and infrastructure support for
testing, interoperability assessment, field trials, and Proof of Concept (POC).
ii.This approach is envisioned to accelerate the availability of domestic 5G RAN products, offering a competitive
edge to the Indian telecommunications industry.
Recent Related News:-
On 7th February 2023, K Rajaraman, Chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) & Secretary of the
Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications (MOC), launched the ‘IEEE C-DOT Certified
Telecom Expert Program (ICCTEP)’ to bring learning in the areas of Telecom including 5G, Cyber Security and
Quantum Communication to bridge the skill gap. The first program launched on the platform is on 5G and
beyond.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)- Rajkumar Upadhyay
Established- 1984
DGT Partners With Amazon Web Services to Enhance Students in Emerging Technologies
The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE) is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) India to enhance students’ capabilities and
employability in emerging technologies like cloud computing, data annotation, artificial intelligence (AI), and
machine learning (ML).
• The pact aims to provide students enrolled in DGT institutions with valuable self-paced online
learning programs at no cost.
Key points:
i.Under this partnership, AWS India will offer cutting-edge learning content through DGT’s Bharat
Skills platform.

ii.This platform serves as a central repository of updated curriculum, course content, question banks, and
learning videos for all courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and Crafts Instructor Training
Scheme (CITS) offered by approximately 15,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 33 National Skill
Training Institutes (NSTIs) across India.
iii.According to the “Asia Pacific Digital Skills Study,” 92% of the 769 employers surveyed in India believe that
one emerging technology, such as AI, edge and quantum computing, blockchain, or cryptocurrency, will become
a standard part of their future business operations.
RIL & Brookfield Asset Management signed MoU to Manufacture RE & Decarbonisation
Equipment in Australia
Brookfield Asset Management signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Industries Limited
(RIL) to explore opportunities to manufacture renewable energy and decarbonization equipment in
Australia. The MoU with RIL is a part of Brookfield’s efforts to bring global manufacturing technology and
expertise to Australia.
• The MoU aims to accelerate and de-risk Australia’s energy transition by enabling it to locally
produce clean energy equipment such as photovoltaic (PV) modules, long-duration battery storage,
and components for wind energy which will help Australia transition to a net zero future
• Under the MoU, Brookfield will work with RIL to explore direct capital investment and development
of skills, knowledge and expertise in the renewable energy sector of Australia to facilitate the
nation’s transition to a net zero future.
• The two companies will evaluate the operations in Australia to make/or assemble equipment used
in the construction of renewable energy projects supplying equipment.
• Brookfield will utilize RIL’s expertise in solar panel technology and long-duration battery storage
technology.
Note: In March 2023, Brookfield signed a binding agreement with EIG Consortium to acquire Origin Energy. As
a part of the acquisition, Brookfield and its partners are set out a plan to invest between AUD 20 billion and
AUD 30 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate its energy transition.
ISLRTC and NIOS Signed an MoU to Promote ISL

On 29th July 2023, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) signed a Memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to promote Indian Sign Language (ISL)
and collaborate on standardization and development of quality learning resources during the 3rd year of
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 celebrations and 2nd Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sangam at India Trade
Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• Under the MoU, ISLRTC and NIOS have planned to work on designing and developing a process of
review of learning content in ISL, and developing a smooth strategy for examination and evaluation
of deaf and hard of hearing.
The expertise and resources of ISLRTC will be deployed for the standardization process of ISL in selected areas.
Note: NIOS introduced ISL as a language subject at the secondary level in 2021. ISLRTC has contributed by
developing the processes for the examination and evaluation of children with hearing impairment.
NHPC and ALIMCO Signed MoU for Providing Aids & Assistive Devices to Divyangjans
On 1st August 2023, the National Hydroelectric Power Commission (NHPC) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) functioning
under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment(MSJE) to provide aids and assistive devices to 1000 Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities) in
close proximity to NHPC projects in states in the north and north east.

• The MoU was signed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the NHPC at the
NHPC Corporate Office, Faridabad, Haryana.
The agreement was signed by the NHPC Deputy General Manager (HR), CSR & SD, NHPC, and the General
Manager-Marketing, ALIMCO.
AIIMS Signed MoU with IREDA for Solarization in AIIMS New Delhi Campus
On 1st August 2023, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (Delhi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to initiate the
technical assessment for the solarisation of the AIIMS, New Delhi campus.
• The MoU was signed by Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), IREDA, and Dr. M
Srinivas, Director of AIIMS at the AIIMS New Delhi Campus.
The partnership helps AIIMS institute to reduce its electricity expenditure while minimizing its carbon
footprint with the help of IREDA.
Key points:
i.AIIMS has installed a 9 Kilowatt Rooftop Solar plant at its New Delhi campus.
ii.Under the MoU, IREDA will undertake a techno-commercial assessment of the AIIMS campus which includes
creating financial models, conducting pre-feasibility studies, preparing a detailed project report (DPR),
assisting in the analysis of technical and commercial aspects related to project development, finalizing
commercial and contracting arrangements, and defining performance indicators, etc.
Karnataka Govt & IBC Signed MoU To Set Up Recyclable Lithium-Ion Battery Unit
On 1st August 2023, the Karnataka government and the United States (US)-based International Battery
Company (IBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a recyclable Lithium-ion battery
manufacturing unit with an investment of Rs 8,000 crores (USD 1 Billion) in Karnataka.
• The MoU was signed and exchanged by Venkatesh Valluri IBC President, IBC India Pvt. Ltd., and
Dr Selvakumar, Principal Secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industries.
This will be 2nd Lithium-ion manufacturing facility in Karnataka. it is expected to be established on a 100-acre
land at the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) at Devanahalli in the Bengaluru Rural district.
IUCN SSC & WTI Sign MoU for India’s First Species Survival Center
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to set up the first-ever
regional Center for Species Survival (CSS) in India.
• The MoU aims to enhance conservation efforts by wildlife experts and specialist groups and
safeguard the rich biodiversity of India.
• This will be the 10th CSS in the world and the first of its kind in South Asia.
• The MoU was signed by Prof. Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of IUCN SSC and Vivek Menon, Executive
Director and CEO, WTI.
Vision and purpose
i.CSS will act as a platform for conservation practitioners to share best practices, collaborate on species
conservation efforts, and contribute to species status assessments using the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species.
ii.It will also bridge the gap between national and international efforts to preserve and protect species
iii.The Center will study the impact of environmental changes on species survival, providing vital insights for
conservation efforts.
iv.The center will address gaps in species assessments for species Red Lists and ensure the assessments are
aligned between national and Global IUCN Red Lists.
v.The collaboration between IUCN and WTI will enable IUCN SSC members to coordinate their efforts for

species conservation, amplifying the impact of species recovery initiatives.
Note:
i.CSS are partnerships between the SSC Chair’s Office and leading species conservation organisations.
ii.The IUCN SSC is a commission made up of over 8,300 conservationists worldwide.
iii.WTI is a conservation organization established in 1998 with a mission to conserve nature, especially
endangered species and threatened habitats, in partnership with communities and governments.
PNGRB & World Bank Partners to develop roadmap for Hydrogen transmission in Gas
pipelines
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), a regulator of natural gas distribution network,
collaborated with the World Bank to develop a roadmap for for Hydrogen transmission in Natural Gas (NG)
pipelines and City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks.
PNGRB-World Bank Study:
The PNGRB-World Bank study, which is expected to be completed within 16 weeks analyses the following:
• Mapping demand and supply of hydrogen
• Technical assessment for the compatibility of the existing pipeline network
• Commercial assessment of the pipeline sector
• Recognizing any hindrances in the policy and regulatory framework
• Framing roadmap milestones till 2040 for the expedited implementation of hydrogen blending in
India.
Key Points:
i.On 4th August 2023, a significant presentation took place at the PNGRB Office in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.During the presentation, the PNGRB Board emphasized the need for swift action in implementing Hydrogen
Blending and optimising the use of existing energy infrastructure to achieve the National Energy Goal.
iii.The transportation of Hydrogen is best achieved through natural gas pipelines. The study aimed at
developing the Technical and Commercial viability of hydrogen blending into NG pipelines authorised by the
PNGRB Board
iv.Regulatory Frameworks are set to undergo important amendments to achieve the national target to reach 5
Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) per annum of hydrogen consumption by 2030.
v.PNGRB has also permitted 3 City Gas Distributors (CGD) to undertake hydrogen blending in NG in their
respective licensed areas and Hydrogen injection of up to 5% volume in NG has been achieved in low-pressure
Medium density polyethylene (MDPE) network.
• This move is aimed at integrating hydrogen into the existing NG infrastructure and gradually
transitioning towards a greener and more sustainable energy solution.
About Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB):
PNGRB was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
Chairperson– Dr. Anil Kumar Jain
India & Nepal Signed An MoU to Undertake 4 HICDPs in Nepal

On 4th August 2023, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General
Administration of Nepal signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for undertaking 4 High Impact
Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal under the grant assistance of the Government of India.
• A total of 170 million Nepalese rupees (NPR) are expected to be spent on the four projects, three of
which will be in the education sector and one in the water supply and sanitation sector.
The project will provide better education facilities, water supply and sanitation facilities for the local
community in Nepal.
Projects in the Education sector:
Construction of the School Building of

• Shree Galainath Secondary School, Shailashikhar Municipality; Darchula district, Sudurpashchim
Province of Nepal
• Shree Himalaya Secondary School, Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula District, Sudurpashchim
Province of Nepal
• Diding Primary School, Chichila Rural Municipality in
Sankhuwasabha District, Koshi Province of Nepal.
Water Supply and Sanitation Project:
i.India will also help Nepal with a Water Supply and Sanitation
project through the construction of the Shreepur Water Supply and
Sanitation Project, Triyuga Municipality in Udayapur District of
Nepal
ii.The project will be implemented through the local authorities of
Shailashikhar Municipality, Byas Rural Municipality (Darchula
District of Sudurpashchim Province), Chichila Rural Municipality, and Triyuga Municipality.
i.Since 2003, India has taken up 546 HICDPs costing around 1220 crore Nepalese rupee in the areas of health,
education, drinking water, connectivity, sanitation and creation of other public utilities across all 7 provinces of
Nepal.
ii.Of these, 483 projects have been completed and the remaining 63 projects are under implementation.
iii.The total cost of all the projects is around NPR. 1220 Cr (INR. 762 Cr.) which are mostly implemented
through local authorities of the Nepali Government.
About Nepal:
President- Ramchandra Paudel
Prime Minister- Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’
Currency- Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Capital- Kathmandu
IRISET& IIT Madras signed MoU to Establish 5G testbed at IRISET, Secunderabad

Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), under the Ministry of
Railways (Indian Railways) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
(TN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India 5G testbed at
IRISET in Secunderabad (the twin city of Hyderabad), Telangana for testing and development of 5G use
cases for Indian Railways.
Aim: To accelerate the indigenization efforts of Indian Railways in the field of communications and create a
testing facility for it.
Key Point:
The indigenous 5G solution and testbed has been developed jointly by IIT-Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP); Society
for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) under MeitY; IIT-Bombay; Centre of
Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT), a society of IIT-Madras; and IIT-Madras, as part of the indigenous
5G testbed project funded by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to a consortium of eight institutes.
IISc Bengaluru & GSL Signed MoU to Develop AI for Shipbuilding & Defence
On 4th August 2023, the Indian Institute of Science,(IISc) Bengaluru & Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for the shipbuilding
and defense sectors.
• IISc Bengaluru’s Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) will assist GSL to
streamline shipbuilding processes, shorten construction timelines and boost overall productivity.
The partnership aims to enhance productivity, safety, and defense readiness while also strengthening
indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities.

BIS signs MoU with 35 institutions for collaboration in Standardization and Conformity
Assessment
On August 5, 2023, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with
35 institutions across India for collaboration in standardization and conformity assessment.
• The institutions included prominent NITs (National Institutes of Technology), Government and
Private Engineering colleges from different states across India.
Note: BIS is the National Standards Body of India under Department of Consumer affairs, Ministry of Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. It operates various schemes like Product Certification (ISI-Indian
Standards Institution mark), Management Systems Certification, Hall Marking of Gold and Silver
Jewellery/Artefacts and Laboratory Services for the benefit of the industry..
Key Points:
i.Through this MoU, the participating institution will associate with the technical committees of BIS at the
national and international level, get infrastructure support for relevant R&D (Reaserach & Development)
Projects, jointly organize events on Standardization and Conformity Assessment, exchanging publications,
introducing standardization curricula in academics, exploring a Centre of Excellence for Standardization,
testing, and Conformity Assessment, and sharing laboratory facilities.
ii.The MoU will enhance the standards formulation activities.
iii.BIS will also explore setting up of Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Standardization in partnership with these
institutions.
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Director General– Pramod Kumar Tiwari
MoU’s Signed Between USI, CSC & PCTI to Promote Military Heritage Tourism
The United Services Institution of India (USI), the country’s oldest and prestigious National Security and
Defence Services think tank, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Power Conversion
Technologies (PCTI) for the inaugural Military Heritage Guided Tour at Hussainiwala in Firozpur district,
Punjab on August 12, 2023.
• An additional MoU was signed between PCTI and Common Service Centres (CSC) – e-Governance
India Limited for the local support and accessibility for these heritage sites and it will be facilitated
through CSC – special purpose vehicle (SPV).
The tour provides the tourists to view the important places related to military achievements.
Key points:
i.USI will identify potential tourist destinations and document them.
ii.PCTI will oversee the organization of the tours.
Apraava Energy signed MoUs with REC, and PFC to get Rs 9,120 cr Finance for its Various
Projects
Apraava Energy Private Ltd, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based integrated energy solution provider, signed a
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with REC Ltd (Formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) and
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), to get finance of Rs 9,120 crore for funding its wind, transmission, and
advanced metering projects in India.
• REC Ltd is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of Power and PFC is a
Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power.
• This collaboration strengthens the strategic roadmap of Apraava Energy for sustainable and
integrated growth in the future.

• The signing of MoUs occurred during the Green Finance Summit hosted by REC. This event was held
on 21st July 2023, in Goa, coinciding with the Green Business Summit Clean Energy Ministerial
(CEM) and Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) Ministerial and aligning with India’s G20
Presidency.
• Apraava has gradually diversified into newer areas of the energy value chain such as transmission
and advanced metering that will support the acceleration of the transition to a greener economy in
India.
Note: Apraava Energy is jointly owned by the CLP Group one of the largest investor-owned power businesses
in Asia-Pacific and Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec (CDPQ) a global investment group.
Amazon India Signs MoU with EDII, Gujarat Govt. to Boost E-commerce Exports
Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Entrepreneurship Development
Institute of India (EDII) and the Cottage and Rural Industries Department, Government of Gujarat, to help boost
e-commerce exports from Gujarat.
Key points:
i.Amazon will focus on bringing weavers, artisans and other micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
from Gujarat on Amazon Global Selling, the e-commerce exports program.
ii.Through its Hastkala Setu Yojana program, the Cottage and Rural Industries Department will identify
about 1,000 artisans in handloom and handicrafts
iii.Amazon and EDII will conduct hybrid (in-person and online) training sessions and workshops
on B2C (business-to-consumer) e-commerce exports, educating the artisans on registering and listing their
products to sell on more than 18 Amazon Global Marketplaces and tools for making exports easier.
IIITD-IC & YES Bank Signed MoU to Scale up Indian Startups

IIITD Innovation and Incubation Centre (IIITD-IC), a section 8 company promoted by the Indraprastha
Institute of Information Technology-Delhi (IIITD), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
YES Bank Limited (YES Bank) to support and scale up the growth of startup ecosystem in India.
Aim:
• To enable enterprise banking, personal banking and beyond banking solutions required by the
Startups.
• To bridge the gap between startups and corporates with the right and in-time mentorship.
Features of the partnership:
Under this MoU, IIITD-IC will strengthen the mentoring initiatives for startups, get access to experts across the
industry and find new investment and funding opportunities to support startups.
With this partnership, YES Bank will offer banking facilities to Startups which are in the developmental phase
at IIITD-IC through YES Bank’s YES HeadStartup programme.
• YES HeadStartup programme is a dedicated banking solution for startups which provides end-to-
end solutions for the banking and digital service requirements of the startup.
• The banking facilities include, A salary account proposition for startups with only 5 employees; A
fungible limit for credit cards for business and personal use and an API(Application Programming
Interface) Sandbox facility.
Note:
YES Bank is one of the first banks in India to adopt the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) which
supports developing startups to scale up.
About YES Bank Limited:
YES Bank was incorporated in November 2003 & Commenced operations in 2004.
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Prashant Kumar

Tagline– Experience our expertise
Chatbot– YES ROBOT
Protean & PayNearby Partner for Credit Marketplace on ONDC

Protean eGov Technologies(Protean) has partnered with PayNearby, a fintech platform owned by Nearby
Technologies Private Limited to provide credit services on the ONDC (Open Network for Digital
Commerce) network for last-mile borrowers and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Under this partnership, Protean will be an ONDC technology service provider through PayNearby’s
Distribution as a Service (DaaS) network through over 12 lahks active PayNearby outlets.
• Protean will also aggregate Loan Service Providers (LSPs) onto a single platform.
Note:
Previously, PayNearby & Protean have partnered for paperless PAN(Permanent Account Number) Card
services at nearby stores across India.
TDB-DST partnered with M/s Noccarc Robotics to Commercialise Advanced ICU Ventilator
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), has entered into an
agreement with M/s Noccarc Robotics Private Ltd., Maharashtra (Mumbai), a company dedicated to the
commercialisation of digitally enabled advanced universal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators. The entire
technology has been indigenously developed by Noccarc, with several patents filed for each component of the
ventilator.
• TDB, as a statutory body to promote the development and commercialization of indigenous
technology and the adaptation of imported technology for wider application, has promised to
support Rs 3.94 crore out of the total project cost of Rs 7.89 crore.
• Established in the Startup Incubation and Innovation Center of the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, M/s Noccarc embodies the spirit of innovation with its indigenously
developed technology.
• The V310, Noccarc’s entry-level ventilator, emerged as a lifeline during the COVID-19 crisis. Building
on this success, Noccarc introduces the V730i, a smart ventilator designed to redefine critical care. It
offers seamless cloud connectivity through Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Wi-Fi,
and Local Area Networks (LAN).
• This initiative is aligned with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat
(self-reliant India) and Make in India initiatives in the medical devices sector.
• Healthcare professionals can remotely track and manage patient data through Noccarc’s advanced
digital platform, which will also enable hospitals to digitize their ICU data and workflows.
AIM Partnered with ISRO & Navars Edutech to Launch National Space Innovation Challenge
2023
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the flagship initiative of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming
India), partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Navars Edutech Private Limited to
launch the National Space Innovation Challenge 2023 (NSIC 2023).
• NSIC 2023 is a national-level campaign designed to bridge the gap in the Indian space economy
and the future space workforce and encourage future space entrepreneurs.
• NSIC 2023 will be open from 11th August 2023 to 20th September 2023.
Note: Navars Edutech is a leading space education company based in Hyderabad, Telangana.
National Space Innovation Challenge 2023:
Aim:
To enable innovation among young school students to create awareness of and opportunities to participate in
the space sector.

Key Points:
i.NSIC 2023 is open for all school students (class 5 to class 12) across India.
NSIC is a platform that offers integrated content from Industry mentor videos, resources and challenges for
Junior Scientists (Grades 5-8) and Senior Scientists (Grades 9-12).
ii.The students from Atal Tinkering Labs(ATL) and Non-ATL schools can submit their entries on the automated
technology platform implemented by Navars Edutech.
Topics:
• For Category 1 (Grade 5-8) – Space Junk collection robot design and Reusable Rockets design
• For Category 2 (Grade 9-12) – Satellite design for Global warming studies and Indian Spaceship
design for Planet Mars
About Atal Innovation Mission:
AIM is a flagship initiative of the Indian government to create and promote a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship across India.It is supported by Mission High-Level Committee (MHLC), which is led by the
respected Dr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Education and Skills Development.
Mission Director– Dr Chintan Vaishnav
NHPC Signed MoU With Universal Health Foundation to set up Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras
NHPC Ltd. (formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.) the largest hydropower
development organization in India, signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universal Health
Foundation under its Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) initiative.
• The MoU aims to provide basic infrastructure facilities to Universal Health Foundation for setting up
of Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras by NHPC Ltd in government schools located in nine villages of
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) & one village of Nagore (Rajasthan).
Additionally, The Reading Room cum Online Coaching Center facility for poor students from educationally
backward villages of Rajasthan will be made available to access modern learning tools as well as to provide
coaching for higher studies and competitive examinations.
India Signs MoU with Trinidad and Tobago for Sharing ‘India Stack’
On 17th August 2023, India and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
on sharing of ‘India Stack‘, a collection of open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and Digital Public
Goods(DPGs) that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
• Under this MoU, Both India and T&T have agreed to collaborate in the areas of digital
transformation by means of capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices,
exchange of public officials and experts, and development of pilot or demo solutions, among others.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), the National E-Governance Division, MeitY, and also from the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).
Background:
The MoU was signed following a meeting between Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State (MoS) MeitY &
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE), and Hassel Bacchus, a Senator and Minister of
Public Administration and Digital Transformation, T&T.
Purpose of APIs:
The collection of APIs in the India Stack serves as the foundation upon which external entities can construct
software that taps into government identification, payment networks, and data repositories.
Key Points:
i.In the meeting, they explored opportunities for collaborative efforts in areas like IT, emerging technologies,
and the India stack.

ii.Since June 2023, India have signed MoUs with countries like Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua &
Barbuda to facilitate the sharing of India Stack.
• Countries like Mauritius and Saudi Arabia have also expressed interest and are at the advanced
stages of finalising cooperation on India Stack. A similar MoU was signed with Papua New Guinea in
July 2023.
iii.The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which is an integral part of the India Stack, has gained recognition
beyond India’s borders and has been accepted by countries including France, United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Singapore, and Sri Lanka, further solidifying the global acceptance and relevance of India’s digital innovations.
About Trinidad and Tobago (T&T):
Capital– Port of Spain
Prime Minister– Keith Christopher Rowley
Currency– Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TTD)
NEHHDC & Tide Signed MoU to Digitise Handloom and Handicraft Sector in Northeast India
Tide Platform Limited (Tide), a London, United Kingdom(UK)-based Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME)
focused financial platform, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North Eastern Handicrafts and
Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) to empower digitisation of the handloom and handicraft
sector in northeast India.
• This year-long partnership aims to strengthen financial inclusion for nearly 2.1 million handloom
weavers and 3.5 million handicraft artisans across 800 clusters in Northeast India and provide them
with greater market access.
• This will enable the handloom sector to use digital tools based on Artificial Intelligence(AI), the
Internet of Things (IoT), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation, for inventory
tracking and mapping, among others.
• The MoU will provide entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to
effectively plan and manage their finances.
• As part of the MoU, Tide will also help in the financial and digital inclusion of weavers and artisans
from the region and provide masterclasses on topics like leadership, marketing, capital investment,
hiring and payroll, taxation, and legal, among others.
Note:
• NEHHDC works under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) to develop
and promote the indigenous crafts of the region by connecting craftsmen to prospective markets
and consumers.
Northeast contributes 65% of India’s total handloom production and have the highest concentration of
handloom weavers across India with around 88% of women participation.
IREDA signed MoU with MNRE; Sets FY24 Revenue Target at Rs 4350 Cr
On 21st August 2023, The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), a Mini
Ratna(Category I) Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE), signed a performance-based Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MNRE, Government of
India(GoI) outlining the strategic targets of IREDA for the FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25.
• GoI has set a target of achieving Rs 4,350 crores revenue from operations during FY 2023-24 and
Rs.5,220 crores during FY2024-25.
• The MoU is in line with the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under
the Ministry of Finance.
Note: IREDA achieved a Revenue from Operations of Rs 3,482 crores in the preceding fiscal year (2022-23),
against a target of Rs 3,361 crores.
Key People:
The MoU was signed by Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE; Pradip Kumar Das, Chairperson & Managing

Director (CMD), IREDA at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Performance Indicators:
The government has also specified other key performance parameters in the MoU, including Return on Net
Worth, Return on Capital Employed, Non-Performing Asset (NPA) to Total Loans Ratio, Asset Turnover Ratio,
and Earnings per Share.
IREDA’s Financial Performance:
i.In the first quarter of FY 2023-24, IREDA witnessed a record 272% increase in loan disbursements compared
to the same period in FY 2022-23.
ii.IREDA also recorded a remarkable 30% growth in Profit After Tax (PAT) during the first quarter of FY
2023-24, compared to the corresponding period in FY 2022-23.
iii.IREDA’s financial management is evident in its reduction of Net Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). In Q1 of FY
2023-24, IREDA successfully lowered its NPA figure to 1.61%, a substantial improvement from 2.92% in Q1 of
FY 2022-23.
Key Points:
i.IREDA’s consistent excellence is supported by an ‘Excellent’ rating and a remarkable score of over 96 marks
for the MoU in the past 3 FY.
ii.As of August 21, 2023, IREDA has financed 3,137 Renewable Energy projects with a cumulative loan sanction
of Rs 1,55,694 crores and loan disbursement of Rs 1,05,245 crores and has supported Renewable Energy
capacity addition of 22,061 Megawatts (MW) in India.
About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA):
IREDA was established on 11th March 1987 as a Public limited Government Company under the Companies
Act, 1956
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Pradip Kumar Das
UNDP and MDoNER Signed MoU to Accelerate Sustainable Development in Northeast India
On 22nd August 2023, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the UN’s Global Development Network, entered a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) to enhance and accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in northeastern
regions of India.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of B.L.Verma, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of DoNER and
Ministry of Cooperation; and Ms Ulrika Modéer, United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General & Director of
UNDP Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA).
Key areas:
Under this MoU, UNDP would provide MDoNER with several technical support including:
i.Fast-tracking progress on the SDGs;
ii.Monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building;
iii.Support Aspirational districts and blocks;
iv.Support in the deployment of emerging technologies in governance and in scaling up good practices.
Key Points:
i.The Ministry of DoNER has taken steps across critical sectors such as infrastructure, connectivity, health,
education, climate change, and economic growth to transform the lives of the people in the northeast region.
ii.In this collaboration, UNDP has been the key partner for the Ministry in promoting data-driven decision-
making, especially through the North East Region (NER) District SDG Index.
iii.NER District SDG Index helped in forming the flagship Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North
Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
iv.UNDP is committed to supporting national and sub-national efforts to speed up the progress on the goals, by
providing technical support on SDG localisation and improved capacities towards implementation and

monitoring of programmes.
Note: PM-DevINE scheme announced in the 2022-23 Union Budget, provides infrastructure and social
development funding to boost livelihood opportunities in the region, especially for women and youth. Union
Cabinet approved the scheme on October 2022.
UNDP is based on the merging of the United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance, created in
1949, and the United Nations Special Fund, established in 1958.
NHPC Signs Pact with RITES to Construct Railway Siding For 2,880 MW Dibang
NHPC Limited has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES Ltd, previously known as
Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited to construct a railway siding at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh,
in support of NHPC’s 2,880 megawatts (MW), Dibang Multi-Purpose Project development.
• NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) is a prestigious Miniratna
(Category–I) Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the Ministry of Power while RITES is
a distinguished Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry
of Railways.
• NHPC’s total installed capacity is 7,097.2 MW of renewable power including Wind & Solar, through
its 25 power stations including 1,520 MW through subsidiaries.
• The strategic partnership between NHPC and RITES enhances the capabilities of both organizations.
• RITES, as a Project Management Consultant, will provide comprehensive and efficient solutions for
developing rail infrastructure facilities for NHPC Dibang and other upcoming projects in Arunachal
Pradesh.
The Dibang Multipurpose Project is a significant hydropower project undertaken by NHPC Limited in the
Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It aims to harness the potential of the Dibang River to
generate electricity and provide various benefits like irrigation, flood control, and water supply. The project’s
proposed capacity is 2,880 megawatts (MW), making it one of the largest hydropower projects in the country.
NRL and IWAI signs MoU for export of Petroleum Cargo via NW 2 & IBPR
On August 25, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Inland Waterways
Authority of India (IWAI) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Guwahati, Assam to use National
Waterways (NW)-2 (Brahmaputra) and Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) for export of petroleum
products to Bangladesh and other south East Asian countries.
• The petroleum products will be transported through the IWAI’s upgraded jetty in Jogighopa in lower
Assam.
Note:
NRL is a Category-I Miniratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas(MoPNG) based in Assam.
Signatories:
The signing of the MoU was conducted by A Selva Kumar, Director of IWAI, and Subrata Das, Chief General
Manager (Marketing) of NRL in the presense of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports,
Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, Managing Director, NRL, and Sanjay Bandopadhyaya,
Chairman of IWAI.

What is in the MoU?
The NRL Part:
i.Under this, NRL will export approximately 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) of petroleum and petrochemical
products per month through NW – 2 and IBPR from IWAI jetty at the Assam’s Jogighopa Multi-Modal terminal
(MMT) Park.
• NRL is the biggest refinery of North East.
ii.NRL will provide 40 acres of land with a provision of getting connected to nearest Railway station at
Jogighopa, and also erect the loading and unloading facility.
iii.NRL will establish a POL (Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants) Oil Terminal at Jogighopa Logistics Park, which
will be linked by rail.
The IWAI Part:
i.IWAI will provide its terminal for cargo movement.
ii.It will also provide technical support, land to lay down petroleum pipeline, bunkering facilities to be operated
at various places en-route IBPR, provide assistance through its vessels, technical assistance in making available
vessels like Tugs, Work Boards, Survey vessels and other vessels as and when required.
Key Points:
i.This partnership supports the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ by improving inland waterways
transportation through NW2 and IBPR, which will led to the advancement in EXIM (Export Import) trade for
the Northeast.
ii.It is also on the lines with the PM (Prime Minister) Gati Shakti National Master Plan, and PM’s Act East policy.
iii.NRL is expanding its refinery through ‘Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP)’ from 3.0 to 9.0
MMTPA (Million Metric Tons Per Annum), costing over Rs 28,026 crore, with completion expected by early
2025. Additionally, Rs 7,231 crore petrochemical plant project is underway.
• After these projects are completed, NRL aims to export 200 TMT (Thousand Metric Tons) of various
products annually to Bangladesh through the IWAI jetty in Jogighopa. These products will include diesel,
petrol, solvent, and polypropylene.
iv.Cargo handled on NWs during 2013-14 was 6.89 MMT (Million Metric Ton) whereas in 2022-23 it increased
to 126.15 MMT, showing 1734% growth.
v.NWs for Cruise Tourism rose from 3 in 2013-14 to 10 in 2022-23 marking an increase of over 233%.
vi.The investment in waterways also showed a growth of 198% to Rs 544.31 crores in 2022-23 from 2013-14.
vii.In the Northeast, 20 NWs and various projects of more than Rs 800 crores are being implemented for
development of NWs in the region.
i.On 9th June 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW),
launched “Sagar Samriddhi – Waste to Wealth”, an online dredging monitoring system as part of the ‘Waste to
Wealth’ initiative of the MoPSW.
ii.On 27th June 2023, The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayyog’ the new
guidelines of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by the MoPSW.
About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
IWAI is the statutory authority in charge of the waterways in India.
Chairman– Sanjay Bandopadhyaya
Headquarters– Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)
GRSE Signs MoU with DEMPO Group For Building Commercial Ships
The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with V.S.Dempo Holdings Private Limited (Dempo Group) for building commercial
vessels.

• The vessels will be built at the 3 shipyards of the Dempo Group, including two in Goa and one in
Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
• It marks the GRSE’s first attempt to build commercial vessels.
Note:
Dempo Shipbuilding & Engineering Pvt. Ltd wholly-owned subsidiary of V.S.Dempo Holdings Private Limited, is
responsible for ship building and ship repair.
Dempo Group has two shipyards in Goa, one at Mandovi in Bainguinim, Old Goa, and the other at Undir,
Bandora, on the banks of the Zuari River in Goa.
i.The partnership will create a very helpful ecosystem that will draw advantages from one another’s knowledge
and use resources to secure more domestic and international shipbuilding orders.
ii.This is GRSE’s first attempt to significantly broaden its commercial shipbuilding operations in order to
capture a significant market share in the building of both domestic and foreign commercial vessels.
Indian Shipbuilding Market:
i.According to a recent study, the Indian shipbuilding market is worth USD 7.1 billion in 2023 and is predicted
to grow to USD 8.76 billion by 2028.
ii.Globally, the shipbuilding market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.45%
from USD 170 billion to USD 230 billion by 2028.
• It also indicates India currently contributes less than 1% to the global commercial shipbuilding
sector.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd:
GRSE is a Category 1 Mini Ratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Company under the Ministry of
Defence(MoD).
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Commodore (Retd) P R Hari
Incorporated in 1934
NITI Aayog and UNDP India Signed MoU On Fast Tracking SDGs
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) India have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to speed up the efforts to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
Aim:
The agreement aims to make a clear plan of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-
driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks programme, and SDG financing.
Outcome:
i.The MoU was signed for a period of five years.
ii.UNDP will also provide support for NITI Aayog’s work on women’s livelihoods, innovation, and Mission LiFE.
iii.UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the United
Nation system.
Representatives:
Yogesh Suri, Senior Adviser (SDGs) from NITI Aayog, and Ms. Shoko Noda, Resident Representative of UNDP
India, signed the MoU in the presence of B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog.
SDG and India:
i.India’s achievement in reducing multidimensional poverty to 50 percent between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021
showcases that moving towards SDG is possible irrespective of complex challenges.
ii.India’s leadership is essential for ensuring that SDGs become a reality.
About Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs):
i.The Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), officially known as ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development’ is a set of 17 Global Goals to be achieved within 2030 by 193 Member States.

ii.The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
iii.The SDGs come after and build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from 2000 to 2015.
About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
NITI Aayog is the country’s premier policy-making which aims to construct a strong state to create a dynamic
and strong nation. The NITI Aayog’s creation has two hubs called “Team India Hub” and “Knowledge and
Innovation Hub”.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B. V. R. Subrahmanyam
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Headquarters – New York City, United States of America(USA)
Goa Shipyard & Kenya Shipyard Ltd Signed MoU for Collaboration in Shipbuilding
The Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Kenya Shipyard
Limited(KSL) for capacity building and collaboration in ship design and building.
• The MoU was signed during the bilateral Defence Ministers meeting between Union Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Bare Duale in New Delhi,
Delhi on August 29, 2023.
Note:
i.GSL is a Miniratna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), under the Ministry of Defence(MoD).
ii.Kenya Shipyards Limited(KSL) is a state-owned company under the Kenyan Defence Ministry. It was
established in 2020 with the objective to address the operational requirements of the Kenya Navy and for the
construction, repair and maintenance of ships and provision of other maritime services.
About the bilateral meeting:
i.During the meet, India and Kenya discussed on capacity building and cooperation in defence industry and
equipment. They also discussed on the other regional security issues of mutual interest.
ii.Defece Minister Rajnath Singh presented 15 pairs of parachutes (main and reserve) manufactured by
Gliders India Limited to Aden Bare Duale for Kenyan forces as a mark of friendship.
• India also offered assistance in the setting up of an advanced CT scan facility in Kenya.
iii.India and Kenya have agreed to expand their collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR)’s marine
security, counter-insurgency training, and UN peacekeeping domains.
Key people:
Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane were present
during the bilateral meeting.
Additional info:
Aden Bare Duale, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defence, is on a 3 day visit to India. This marks his 1st visit
of Duale to India and the highest level stand-alone political visit from Kenya since the new government
assumed office in September 2022.
• He will be visiting the shipyards and defence industries in Goa and Bengaluru(Karnataka).
About Goa Shipyard Limited(GSL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) – Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay
Headquarters– Vasco Da Gama, Goa

Maharashtra signs MoU with Germany’s DFL to Develop Indian Football
The Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DFL Deutsche Fußball
Liga GmbH(DFL) to develop the football ecosystem in India. The agreement focuses on advancing football
expertise and professionalising structures within the state of Maharashtra.
• DFL operates Bundesliga, a professional association football league in Germany.
The MoU was signed by Commissioner of Sports and Youth Services Dr. Suhas Diwase as part of the
prestigious Shree Shiv Chhatarapati Awards ceremony in Pune, India.
• A delegation representing the Bundesliga attended the ceremony and winessed the signing.
• The MoU outlines 3 fundamental components to develop football in Maharashtra: improving the
technical and sporting expertise at all levels within clubs, associations, colleges and schools;
strengthening football structures across the Indian subcontinent; and specifically supporting the
progression of football within the Maharashtra.
Established in 1970, the Directorate of Sports & Youth Services is an autonomous body under the Government
of Maharashtra, focused on the instillation and promotion of sports, youth welfare, and physical education
within the mainstream education sector.

UGC Constituted An Expert Committee To Review Anti-Discrimination in HEIs
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha(the upper house of Parliament), Minister of State(MoS) for
Education, Subhas Sarkar announced that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has
constituted an expert committee on 21st July 2023, to review its regulations and guidelines concerning anti-
discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for Scheduled Castes(SC), Scheduled Tribes(ST), Other
Backward Classes(OBC), Persons with Disabilities(PwD), and other minority groups.
• The primary objective of the expert panel is to undertake a comprehensive review of existing anti-
discriminatory policies and to make campuses free of caste discrimination.
• The committee formed as per the direction given by the Supreme Court of India on 6th July, 2023.
Why the Expert Committee?
The emergence of multiple suicides in the last six months, affecting students hailing from marginalized
communities, within the campuses of Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) such as IIT-Madras(Chennai,
Tamilnadu), IIT-Bombay(Mumbai, Maharashtra), and IIT-Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi)., has led to the formation of
the Expert Committee.
Supreme Court’s July 6th direction:
During a Supreme Court hearing on 06 July 2023, the cases presented by the mothers of Rohith Vemula( a PhD
scholar at the University of Hyderabad in Hyderabad , Telangana) and Payal Tadavi(a post graduate student in
T N Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, Maharashtra), both students who committed suicide due to
casteism.
• The court subsequently directed the UGC to provide a comprehensive account of the measures it has
undertaken to combat caste-based discrimination within educational institutions.
Existing University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations:
i.In 2012, the UGC released the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutes) Regulations, 2012
which encompassed various manifestations of discrimination.
ii.They established the role of liaison officers to monitor the fulfillment of reservation quotas and outlined the
requirement for robust grievance redressal cells dedicated to resolving discrimination-related issues.
iii.Nevertheless, these directives have encountered incomplete adoption across numerous higher educational
institutions, including a significant portion of the Indian Institutes of Technology(IIT).

DGCA forms a 4-Member Committee to Ensure Gender Equality in Civil Aviation Sector
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a Civil aviation regulator has set up a 4-member
committee namely, R P Kashyap, Director (Training); Survita Saxena, Director (Operations); Pavan Malviya,
Deputy Director (Administration); and Kavita Singh, Deputy Director (Aircraft Engineering Directorate), to
provide suggestions for achieving gender equality in the aviation sector in India.
• The committee is expected to formulate norms and submit them to DGCA, which the civil aviation
regulator will further circulate among aviation stakeholders to adopt and bring into practice for
gender equality.
• The deadline for the committee to submit its report/recommendation is six months from the date of
its constitution.
Objective:
The initiative aligns with the commitment of International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO), to promote the
participation of women and achieve an aspirational goal, for a balanced ratio of 50-50 (women to men) by 2030
at all professional and higher levels of employment in the global aviation sector.
Key Points:
i.India stands out with 15% of women pilots globally. This achievement is noteworthy but emphasises the need
for more progress, true gender equality in the pilot community remains an aspiration.
ii.Achieving gender equality, involves various stakeholders, including airlines, airports, ground handlers,
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, as well as support services.
iii.The scope of this initiative should also encompass immigration processes, the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security (BCAS), customs, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) departments, where women’s representation remains
notably low.
Analysis:
i.A report titled ‘Gender Diversity and Corporate Performance in Aviation‘ by CAPA Centre for Aviation,
consulting & research firm in May 2022, revealed that the share of women on boards in India’s aviation sector
stood at 19%.
• Among the 15 countries assessed, France stands out with the highest gender diversity of 49%
representation of women on boards.
Note: CAPA, Centre for Aviation, established in 1990 is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market
intelligence for the aviation and travel industry.
MoD Sets Up a 9-Member Committee to Review and Re-define DRDO

Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has set up a 9-member committee of experts to
maintain the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The committee will be headed by Prof
K Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India (GoI).
• The 9-member committee has been tasked with the mission to review and redefine the role of
various departments within DRDO and submit a report within 3 months.
• Members: Lt Gen (Retd) Subrata Saha; Vice Admiral S N Ghormade;Air Marshal B R Krishna,;Sujan R
Chinoy,;Manindra Agarwal;P. Shukla;J D Patil ;Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Scientist; and
Ms Rasika Chaube.
About the 9 member Committee:
Background:
i.The formation of the 9-member committee was initiated under the direction of Prime Minister(PM) Narendra
Modi.
ii.This development followed the Government of India’s corporatization of the former Ordnance Factory Boards
(OFBs) in 2021, which were previously operating under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry
of Defence (MoD).
iii.Corporatisation needed the merger of 41 ordnance factories and other non-production units into 7 new

defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs).
iv.This provided greater autonomy and flexibility to the newly created DPSUs.
Terms of Reference:
• Restructuring and Redefining the roles of the Department of Defence (Research & Development
(R&D)) and the DRDO, in addition to their relationships with each other and with academia, and
industry.
• Enhance academia, Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME), and startup involvement in advanced
technology development.
• Establish project-based manpower system with performance accountability.
• Utilize NRI/foreign consultants and inter-country collaborations for tech advancement.
• Modernize administrative, personnel, and financial systems.
• Implement effective performance evaluation and laboratory structure rationalization..
Key Points:
i.This initiative to review and maintain the functioning of the DRDO holds immense significance, as it addresses
concerns over lack of accountability and delayed research within the organisation.
ii.DRDO typically works like a government Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), overseeing defence processes from
research to development to production.
Highlights of 4th G20 DEWG & G20 DIA Summit held in Bengaluru
The 4th and the Final meeting of the G20 (Group of Twenty) Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG),
organized by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as a part of the India’s G20
Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from August 16-17, 2023.
• It was formally opened by the Chair of G20 DEWG Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY, and
was addressed by co-chair of G20 DEWG Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY.
Highlights:
i.Detailed deliberations on the draft “G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Declaration” were held regarding the
priority areas: Digital Public Infrastructure, Security in the Digital Economy, and Digital Skilling.
ii.The declaration for the consideration and acceptance in the Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting (DEMM)
was undertaken.
iii.Various issues relating to digital information, service delivery to citizens and growth of the digital economy
were discussed..
iv.A joint statement on the outcome summarizing the agreement on the challenges and opportunities of digital
economies were issued.
• Click Here for Official Outcome Document
Background:
i.The first, second and third meetings of the DEWG were organised at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Hyderabad
(Telangana) and Pune (Maharashtra) in February 2023, April 2023, and June 2023 respectively.
ii.India is hosting the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023 on the theme
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth One Family One Future’.
Priority Areas:
G20 DEWG has identified three priority areas
• Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Security in the Digital Economy.
• Digital Skilling.
Participants:
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, Ministry of Railways and the Union Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev
Chandrasekhar, MeitY; Over 100 delegates from G20 members, nine invited countries, and five international
organizations: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International

Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) attended the meeting.
G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) Summit
MeitY and the MeitY Start-up Hub have organized the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) Summit at the
Bangalore Palace in Bengaluru (Karnataka) from August 17th to 19th, 2023.
• The summit was inaugurated by the MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MeitY.
The focal theme of the event is ‘Driving Digital Innovation for World Economies’.
• The theme highlights the importance of harnessing the power of Digital Innovation to propel
economic growth, foster sustainable development and address global challenges.
Key Points:
i.The summit had an exhibition, comprising of Startups, Incubators, Accelerators, Corporates, State
Governments, etc.
ii.More than 110 startups from 24 countries participated in the summit including policymakers, business
leaders, technocrats, young innovators, and investors.
iii.The G20 DIA showcases innovative solutions in the digital innovation space and foster collaboration. Its
objective is to support start-ups developing innovative digital solutions that bridge the digital divide and propel
global economic growth.
i.On 26th July 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated a futuristic International Exhibition-cum-
Convention Centre (IECC), the revamped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex also known
as Pragati Maidan Complex, and also unveiled the G20(Group of 20) coin and stamp at Pragati Maidan in New
Delhi, Delhi.
ii.On July 20, 2023, Avaada Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with REC Limited (formerly
Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) under which the latter will invest Rs 20,000 crore in Avaada Group
over the next five years. This MoU was inked on the sidelines of the 4th meeting of the G20 Energy
Transition Working Group (ETWG) in Goa.
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha, Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS) – Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha, Karnataka)
20th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Meeting Held in Semarang, Indonesia

On August 21, 2023, the 20th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Economic Ministers’
meeting held in Semarang, Indonesia which was co-chaired by the Indian representative Rajesh Agrawal,
Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Dr. Zulkifli Hasan,
Minister of Trade, Indonesia.
• Before the Economic Ministers’ meeting, an AITIGA
Joint Committee meeting took place. This committee
discussed the roadmap for the review, outlining the
Terms of Reference and the Work Plan for AITIGA
Review Negotiations.
Agenda of Meeting:
The agenda of the meeting was the timely review of ASEAN-
India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) which was signed
in 2009 amid Indian businesses’ long-standing request in order
to enhance trade facilitation and mutual benefits.
i.India and ASEAN have mutually decided to finalize the review of their current free-trade agreement
(FTA) concerning goods by the year 2025.
ii.The Ministers agreed to follow a quarterly schedule of negotiations and conclude the review in 2025.
iii.The review is anticipated to diversify and enhance trade, while addressing existing imbalances in bilateral

trade.
iv.Upcoming Summit – Decision on review will be discussed at upcoming India-ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in
September 2023.
Highlights:
• Ministers discussed and fortified trade and investment ties between ASEAN and India.
• Emphasized commitment to bolster and advance the economic partnership.
• Focused on mutual gains through the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Interacted with ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC), acknowledging 2023 initiatives,
including 5th ASEAN-India Business Summit on March 6, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Recognized business concerns about Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).
• Prioritized collaboration in resilient supply chains, food and energy security, health, and financial
stability.
Participants:
The Economic Ministers or their representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the meeting.
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste also joined the Meeting as an observer.
Key Notes:
i.India and ASEAN registered a bilateral trade of USD 131.5 billion in 2022-23.
ii.The trade with ASEAN accounted for 11.3% of India’s global trade in 2022-23.
About Indonesia:
Capital– Jakarta
Currency– Indonesian Rupiah
President– Joko Widodo
G20 TIMM adopted G20 Trade and Investment Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary
The Group of Twenty (G20) Trade and Investment Minister’s Meeting (TIMM) was held under the India’s G20
Presidency at the Pink City of India i.e. Jaipur in Rajasthan.
• The meeting was led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
• The meeting concluded with the finalisation and
adoption of G20 Trade and Investment Outcome
Document and Chair’s Summary.
Key Points from Document:
The meet consensus on the following five deliverables which have
been adopted in the Outcome Document of Trade Ministerial
Meeting:
i.First deliverable involves High-Level Principles for digitalizing
trade documents, encompassing 10 principles guiding effective transition to paperless trade with emphasis on
security, interoperability, and inclusivity.
ii.A Jaipur Call for Action was issued to improve MSMEs’ (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) information
access, with plans for the International Trade Center (ITC), Geneva, Switzerland to upgrade its Global Trade
Helpdesk, addressing MSMEs’ information gaps with the consultation from United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) and World Trade Organization (WTO).
iii.Endorsement of G20 Generic Mapping Framework for Global Value Chains (GVCs), including data,
analysis, and representation building blocks, along with principles to enhance GVC resilience and collaboration.
iv.Sharing of best practices on Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for professional services.
v.Recognition of the need for mutual dialogues to reduce regulatory differences and trade frictions, along with
plans for a 2023 G20 Standards Dialogue to discuss regulatory practices and standards.
Note:

G20 comprises 19 countries viz. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom (UK),
and the United States of America(USA) — and the European Union (EU).
The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds
of the world population.
Highlights of RIL’s 46th AGM 2023; Jio AirFiber Launched

On August 27, 2023, the 46th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was held
through video-conferencing where Managing Director (MD) and Chairman Mukesh Ambani of RIL made
key announcements.
• RIL’s consolidated revenues stood at Rs 9,74,864
crore, while Earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for FY23 was
Rs 1,53,920 crore. The net profit was Rs 73,670 crore.
Launch of Jio AirFiber
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (Jio) is all set to
launch ‘Jio AirFiber’, a new Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
internet service for homes and offices, on September 19,
2023 i.e. on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. It will utilize 5G
technology for high-speed connectivity enabling users to use apps at low latency and high bandwidth for
applications like video streaming, gaming, and video conferencing.
• It aims to provide up to 1.5 Gbps (Gigabytes per second) speed.
• The speed will be offered over the air without using any wires or cables.
Features:
i.Speeds comparable to Jio fiber-optic connections which has up to 1 Gbps.
ii.Simple setup: plug in and turn on for a personal Wi-Fi hotspot.
• It has app-based installation and management.
iii.Coverage of up to 1,000 sq. ft. on the same floor, and supports simultaneous connection of multiple
devices.
iv.Parental controls, Wi-Fi 6 support, and integration with Jio set-top box.
v.Customizable network control, including website and device blocking.
vi.Expected pricing around Rs 6,000, 20% lower than similar devices.
Overall Goal:
i.Jio AirFiber aims for rapid internet expansion, targeting 150,000 connections daily.
ii.Aims to connect over 200 million users through advanced wireless tech
Jio Financial Services applies for General Insurance Licence
The new and the demerged financial services company of RIL, Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), will
foray into insurance segment including life, general and health, using predictive data analytics to co-create
contextual products. It will initiate its services with non-life or general insurance, as JFSL has applied for
the same with the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
• It should be noted that JFSL has been capitalized with a net worth of Rs 1.2 lakh crore (Rs
1,20,000 crore) to create one of the world’s highest capitalised financial services platforms at
inception.
JFSL Subsidiaries:
It will have a total of six subsidiaries: Jio Payments Bank, Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings,
Reliance Retail Finance, Reliance Payment Solutions, Jio Information Aggregator Services, and Reliance
Retail Insurance Broking.

• JFSL has allocated the capital of Rs 1,000 crore for each of the business units.
Key Points:
i.JFSL will explore path-breaking features such as blockchain-based platforms and central bank digital
currency (CBDC).
ii.It will use predictive analytics for unique customer products, and drives digital adoption in payments.
iii.JFSL already partners with BlackRock for asset management industry.
iv.Currently, India has 31 non-life and 26 life insurance companies.
Ambani Children to join RIL board
Isha Ambani (31), Akash Ambani (31), and Anant Ambani (28), the children of Mukesh and Nita Ambani,
were appointed as the Non-Executive Directors on the board of RIL.
• Nita Ambani stepped down from the Board of Directors of RIL. she will continue as the
Chairperson of Reliance Foundation and attend the RIL Board meetings as a permanent invitee
to the Board.
• Mukesh Ambani will continue as chairperson-MD for 5 more years i.e. till 2028, and mentor the
next generation leaders.
RIL to set up 100 Compressed Biogas Plants
RIL will set up 100 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants to convert agri-waste into gas. It already has set up
two demo units for CBG at Jamnagar while it has commissioned the first commercial scale CBG plant at
Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Reliance has become India’s largest Bio-energy producer.
Key Points:
i.RIL aims to use 5.5 million tonnes of agro-residue, reducing 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions and
generating 2.5 million tonnes of organic manure annually.
ii.It will boost gas production to 30 million standard cubic meters per day, 30% of India’s production, and
15% of current demand.
iii.This gas will save up to USD 7 billion in annual imports for India.
Others:
i.RIL’s telecom unit, Jio, will be rolling out one million 5G cells by December, 2023.
ii.Reliance Jio is also will develop India-specific artificial intelligence (AI) models aimed at the country’s
government, businesses and consumers, while also building up 2,000 MW of AI-ready computing capacity.
iii.JioCinema, over-the-top (OTT) media streaming service by Reliance became India’s largest digital
entertainment destination.
• It created a global record with 45 crore viewers tuning in to the platform during IPL (Indian
Premier League).
iv.Reliance Jio has introduced Jio Smart Home Services that will allow users to control home appliances
seamlessly.
v.RIL will be establishing its Battery Gigafactory in India by 2026. It will manufacture battery chemicals,
cells and packs, and will include a battery recycling facility.
vi.On the other hand, RIL’s solar Giga Factory, Dhirubhai Green Energy Giga Complex at Jamnagar, Gujarat,
will be on-streamed in a phased manner by the end 2025.
• It will manufacture PV Modules, cells, wafers and ingots, polysilicon, and glass.
vii.Reliance will switch to 100% green energy for captive consumption to cut energy costs, and upgrade
the output of its refineries into value added chemicals.
viii.RIL is also accelerating the installation of at least 100 GW of renewable energy generation by 2030.
ix.It targets to achieve Net Carbon Zero by 2035.

i.On 13th June, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) climbed eight spots to the
45th rank, the highest for an Indian company in the 2023 edition of the Global 2000 list of
public companies published by Forbes’.
ii.According to the “2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500: a Six Month Update” released on 20th June
2023, RIL topped as India’s most valuable company with a value of Rs 16.37 lakh crore followed by Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS) with Rs 11.76 lakh crore and HDFC Bank with Rs 9.41 lakh crore.
About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):
CMD– Mukesh D. Ambani

First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit under G20 Summit Held In Gujarat
The First World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit held between August 17
and 18 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat alongside the Group 20(G20) health ministerial meeting which concluded on
August 19, 2023.India holds the G20 presidency in 2023.
• The summit also witnessed the 1st Joint Finance and
Health Ministerial meeting under the Indian
Presidency.
Note – India took over the leadership of the G20 on December 1,
2022, and is currently a member of the G20 Troika, which
includes Indonesia, India, and Brazil.The Troika is made up of the
current presidency, the previous presidency, and the upcoming
presidency.
First World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional
Medicine Global Summit
The First World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit,a significant international
event focused on traditional medicine and its role in global healthcare, was launched by Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat alongside the G20 health ministerial
meeting.
• The summit was hosted together by WHO and the Ministry of Ayush,Government of India.
• Theme of Summit: “Towards Health and Well-being for All”.
Note: WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine headquartered in Jamnagar, Gujarat, accelerates
advancements in Traditional Medicine globally.
Aim of the summit – It aims to bring together experts, policymakers, healthcare practitioners, researchers, and
stakeholders from around the world to discuss and deliberate on various aspects of traditional medicine.
• This summit helps to identify potential areas for collaboration, and innovation in traditional
medicines, and help harness traditional medicine in achieving Universal Health Coverage goals.
• This initiative is in line with the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ which highlights our
unity and collective responsibility for a better global future.
Attended delegates:
• The event was attended by Mansukh Mandaviya( Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare),
Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister of Ayush) Bhupendrabhai Patel (Chief Minister of Gujarat), Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Director General of the World Trade Organization),

• Foreign Ministers such as Lonpo Dasho Dechen Wangmo(Bhutan Health Minister) Budi G Sadikin
(Minister of Health for the Republic of Indonesia), Dr. Ernst Kuipers (Minister of Netherlands) also
attended the summit.
2023 G20 Health Minister’s Meeting
The 2023 G20 Health Ministers’ meeting took place as part of the G20 India Presidency from 17th to 19th
August,2023 in Gandhinagar,Gujarat.The meeting was focused on the 3 Health Priorities set under India’s G20
Presidency.
Launched events and programs:
In addition to the G20 Deputies Meeting on August 17, 2023, and the G20 Health Minister’s Meeting scheduled
for August 18th to 19th, 2023, there were accompanying side events:
• One Earth One Health Advantage Health Care – India 2023,
• India MedTech Expo 2023; and the ‘Sustain, Accelerate and Innovate to End TB in South-East Asia
Region’ Conference.
• Furthermore, a Joint Finance – Health Ministers’ Meeting will take place on August 19, 2023, serving
as a focal point within the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting.
Report
The World Bank launched a report titled “Digital-in-Health: Unlocking the Value for Everyone.” which
introduced a shift in perspective, moving beyond the mere digitization of health data and emphasizing the
complete integration of digital technology into health systems.
• The report directed its attention towards incorporating digital technologies into health financing,
service delivery, diagnostics, medical education, pandemic preparedness, climate and health
initiatives, nutrition, and ageing.
Scheme
“Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector” with a cost of Rs 700 crore for five
years which would help National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) to become
world class research institutes by establishing Centres of Excellence.
Other launches:
i.The Framework for Economic Vulnerabilities and Risks (FEVR) was created by the World Health Organization,
World Bank, IMF, and European Investment Bank together .
ii.The Report on Mapping Pandemic Response Financing Options and Gaps developed by the WHO and the
World Bank.
iii.The Report on Best Practices on Finance Health Institutional Arrangements during Covid-19.
iv.India’s first medical technology expo called India Medtech Expo 2023 was launched
Govt launches Global Initiative on Digital Health-WHO Managed Network
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘Global Initiative on Digital
Health’ (GIDH), a World Health Organization-managed network was launched at Mahatma Mandir convention
centre,Gujarat.
• The new GIDH initiative will operate as a WHO-managed network and platform to support the
implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025.
• This framework aims to consolidate all digital health initiatives, pooling efforts and investments
within the digital health domain to create a comprehensive digital health ecosystem.
Cross-regional External Advisory Group for WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
With an aim to provide strategic and technical advice to WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, WHO
constituted 11 expert members in traditional medicine, public health and policy to its External Advisory Group.
Responsibilities:
i.Providing guidance on technical review criteria and ensuring thematic consistency throughout the Summit.
This guidance is founded on factors such as the robustness of evidence and data, research approaches,
worldwide significance, potential outcomes, and related factors.
ii.Offering counsel on the creation of scientific publications that delve into topics discussed during the Summit.

iii.Formulating a comprehensive report for the WHO, outlining crucial insights and priority measures derived
from the outcomes of the Summit.
The first Joint Finance and Health Ministerial:
The first Joint Finance and Health Ministerial G20 meeting was chaired by Ms.Nirmala Sitharaman the Union
Finance Minister and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
• Dr. Mandaviya announced the First Call for proposals by the Pandemic Fund during the meeting.
i.Under the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF) steps initiated to strengthen the global health
architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) through enhanced collaboration
between Finance and Health Ministries.
ii.These reports serve to enhance participants’ comprehension of the potential economic repercussions of
future pandemics, while also highlighting shortcomings in current institutional and funding setups designed to
address such crises.
About Gujarat:
Wildlife sanctuary – Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Pania Wildlife Sanctuary
Zoological Park- Sayaji Baug Zoo
PM Narendra Modi addresses B20 Summit India 2023 held in New Delhi
From August 25-27, 2023, the Business 20 (B20) Summit India 2023, an official G20 (Group of Twenty)
dialogue forum with the global business community, was held in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi,
addressed the summit on 27th August 2023.
• The theme of B20 India 2023 was ‘R.A.I.S.E’, an
acronym for ‘Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative,
Sustainable, Equitable‘.
• The B20 India 2023 Communique includes 54
recommendations and 172 policy actions for
submission to G20.
B20 India:
i.Throughout India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, the B20 India Secretariat, represented by the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII), led the B20’s activities.
• The Secretariat was responsible for overseeing the development and execution of the B20
process.
ii.The chair of B20 India is Mr N Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman, Tata Sons.
iii.At the culmination of the summit, N Chandrasekaran, Chair of B20 India handed over the B20
Presidency to Brazil.
Note: India officially assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022 after taking over from Indonesia.
Key Points:
i.It was attended by over 1500 policymakers, business leaders and experts.
ii.B20, during India’s Presidency, led the process of galvanizing global business leaders for their views on
issues of global economic and trade governance.
iii.The Summit saw the culmination of the year-long outcomes of all the B20 India Taskforces and Action
Councils.

Govt of Canada Hosted 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility from August 22-26,
2023 in Vancouver, Canada
The Government of Canada hosted the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in
Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 22-26 August 2023. The assembly
gathered environmental leaders from 185 countries.
• Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development of Canada, was the chair and co-host of the
7th Assembly of GEF.
• The GEF Assembly coordinated financing for international efforts to address the recent diplomatic
achievements in areas such as biodiversity conservation, toxic chemical management, and ocean
health.
• It underscored the importance of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), which include ending pollution and nature loss, combatting climate
change, and promoting inclusive, locally-led conservation efforts.
Note: The 6th GEF Assembly was held in 2018 in Da Nang, Viet Nam. The 7th GEF Assembly was delayed by 1
year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Points:
i.The Assembly brought together Ministers, government officials, business leaders, environmentalists, leaders
of international agencies and environmental conventions, and so on.
ii.The assembly discussed environmental solutions under the overarching theme of “Healthy Planet, Healthy
People“, which signifies the need to work together in new ways, within and across countries and across
sectors, to heal the planet.
iii.The assembly included the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, a new source of funding for
protecting species and ecosystems globally.
iv.The Assembly’s agenda also included high-level roundtables, a Partnership Forum, side events, and
opportunities to visit environmental activities.
About GEF Assembly:
i.The GEF Assembly is the highest governing body of the GEF, composed of 185 member countries.
ii.Every 4 years, the GEF Assembly meets at the ministerial level to review: general policies; and evaluate GEF’s
operations based on reports submitted to the Council; the membership of the Facility; and consider, for
approval by consensus, amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global
Environment Facility on the basis of recommendation by the Council.
About GEF:
i.GEF is a family of funds supporting developing nations’ action on interrelated environmental challenges,
including biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health.
ii.It is a unique partnership of 18 agencies, including UN agencies, multilateral development banks, national
entities, and international Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
iii.It is a financial mechanism for 5 major international environmental conventions: the Minamata Convention
on Mercury; the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); the UN’s Convention on
Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN’s Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Note: Canada is a founding member of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). GEF is Canada’s primary
mechanism for assisting developing nations in tackling environmental issues.
GEF launched New Global Biodiversity Framework Fund
On 24th August 2023, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the new Global Biodiversity Framework
Fund (GBFF) designed to mobilize and accelerate investment for the conservation and sustainability of wild
species and ecosystems globally.
• Representatives from 185 countries ratified and launched the fund during the 7th Assembly of
the GEF held from 22nd to 26th August 2023 in Vancouver, Canada.

• The new fund for biodiversity will attract funding from governments, philanthropy, and the private
sector.
Points to note:
i.This fund is intended to support the implementation of the goals outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework, which was adopted during the Conference of the Parties(COP) to the CBD held in
December 2022 in Canada.
ii.This will support the action to halt and reverse the biodiversity loss by 2030 and put nature on a recovery
path by 2050.
Background:
i.The GEF was selected to manage the new fund and the decision was made during the 2022 UN Biodiversity
Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) summit in December
2022 in Montreal, Canada.
ii.This fund’s establishment was formally approved by the GEF’s governing Council in June 2023, during a
meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil.
Initial contribution:
i.The initial contributions for the GBFF are set at USD 200 million from at least 3 donors by December 2023.
ii.Canada has contributed CAD(Canadian dollars) 200 million and the United Kingdom(UK) has contributed 10
million pounds.
Key Points:
i.More than a third of the fund’s resources will be used to support the Small Island Developing States and Least
Developed Countries.
ii.Around 20% of the resources will be used to support the Indigenous-led initiatives to protect and conserve
biodiversity.
iii.With a focus on the sustainability of biodiversity and the ecosystem, the fund will mobilise and disburse new
and additional resources from public, private and philanthropic sources.
Funding:
i.At COP15, Canada made a substantial financial commitment to support the GEF’s eighth replenishment. Over
the span of 4 years, from 2022 to 2026, Canada announced to provide USD 219 million.
• This financial support is aimed at empowering developing nations to address global environmental
challenges and enables them to fulfill their commitments under international environmental
conventions.
ii.Canada also committed USD 350 million in new and additional funding to support developing countries in
conserving biodiversity and to support the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Winners of Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program announced
On 23rd August 2023, GEF selected 23 civil society organizations as winners of its Inclusive GEF Assembly
Challenge Program, and the winning projects were announced during the 7th GEF Assembly held at the
Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada.
• Each awardee received a grant of up to USD 100,000 and gained access to networking, training, and
knowledge exchange opportunities through the GEF.
Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program:
i.It is a novel initiative reflecting a commitment to support and elevate community-driven climate and nature
projects and the unique contributions of Indigenous Peoples, women, girls, and young people across the GEF
partnership.
ii.It is funded by the Global Environment Facility’s 2 climate change adaptation funds, the Least Developed
Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
Award Ceremony:
i.The GEF recognised the winning organisations during its Partnership Forum.
ii.The winning organisations showcased their experiences and insights through engaging panels and sessions.

iii.The event underscored the GEF’s commitment to fostering environmental progress via a comprehensive
“whole of society” strategy.
Selection Panel:
23 winners were chosen from nearly 600 applications, and the selection was made by a diverse panel
consisting of the following:
• GEF’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Network; Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel;
Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Group; Gender Partnership; and youth representatives associated
with international environmental conventions.
• They span 26 countries.
Complete Winners’ List of the Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program 2023
About Global Environment Facility (GEF):
Chief Executive Officer & Chairperson– Carlos Manuel Rodriguez
Headquarters– Washington, District of Columbia (DC), United States of America (USA)
Established in 1991 and started operations on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 held in New Delhi: Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
delivered Valedictory address
On 30th July 2023, the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2023, an educational event was concluded
with a resolution collectively made by the education leaders to transform India into an equitable and vibrant
knowledge society. The event’s valedictory address was delivered by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan,
Ministry of Education (MoE).
• Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed that capacity building of teachers is a priority and
around 300 institutions including 100 from school education, 100 from higher education, and 100
from skill will be developed as centres of excellence during this academic year.
Key People:
Ministers of State (MoS) Annpurna Devi; Dr. Subhas Sarkar, and Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, MoE; K Sanjay
Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education
and Literacy, Ministry of Education and Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MoSDE).
Inauguration:
i.On 29th July 2023, Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi inaugurated the ABSS (‘Shiksha Mahakumbh’, a 2-
days event), jointly organized by the MoE and the MoSDE at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The PM also released the 1st installment of funds under the (PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI)
Scheme.
• He also released education and skill curriculum books translated into 12 Indian languages.
Note: This was the first event at the Bharat Mandapam after its formal inauguration.
Significance of ABSS 2023:
This event coincided with the 3rd anniversary of the National Education Policy, (NEP) 2020, which was
implemented on 29th July 2020.
• As per NEP 2020, students should be taught in their mother tongue or regional language until Class
5.
About PM SHRI Scheme:
Under the scheme, there is the provision of setting up more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools by strengthening the
existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Government/local bodies.
• 6207 schools received the 1st installment with a total amounting to Rs.630 crore.
Highlights of ABSS:
i.The Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on the 2nd day of the event, urged the education fraternity to
convert this education Mahakumbh into an All India Institution and strengthen the school ecosystem.

ii.The event was an initiative to emphasise the importance of capacity building for teachers will be developed
this academic year, to develop 300 institutions as centers of excellence.
• Those institutions will be divided into 100 each for school education, higher education, and skill
development.
ii.He also stressed all the educational and skilled institutions convert National Curriculum Framework (NCF)
guidelines into textbooks.
• NCF is a document that prescribes the broad policy framework and objectives for education in India.
ABSS 2023:
Sessions: The two-day event also witnessed the participation of academicians in the 16 thematic sessions on
various themes of School Education, Higher Education, and Skill Education including:
• Access to Quality Education and Governance (Higher Education);
• Equitable and Inclusive Education: Issues of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs);
• National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF);
• Internationalisation of Education, among others.
Objective:
• To encourage brainstorming sessions to identify various approaches and methodologies to
implement NEP 2020;
• To effectively articulate the roadmap and implementation strategies, fostering knowledge exchange,
discussing challenges;
• To provide a common platform for all stakeholders to come together and network for effective,
smooth, and timely implementation of the NEP 2020; and
• To deliberate, and share best practices for the implementation of NEP, 2020.
v.The Union Minister also released some books on the 10 major projects of the Central Institute for Classical
Tamil (CICT), which included Definitive Editions of Ancient Tamil Works, Translation of Ancient Tamil Works,
and Historical Grammar of Tamil.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Mobile App ‘ULLAS’
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, introduced the logo, slogan – “Jan Jan Sakshar“, and mobile
application of the Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS): Nav Bharat
Saksharta Karyakram during the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023.
• The new logo and slogan, “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram,” reflect the enthusiasm and
vigour of the campaign.
• It symbolises the light of knowledge spreading across every corner of the country, empowering
citizens with the power of education, and igniting the flame of curiosity and learning in every
individual making Jan Jan Sakshar.
Key Features of the Mobile App:
i.The ULLAS mobile application marks a significant milestone in utitlising the potential of technology to
facilitate widespread access to basic literacy.
ii.This user-friendly and interactive app is accessible on both the Android and iPhone Operating Systems (ios).
iii.It will act as a digital portal to connect learners to a variety of educational resources through the Digital
Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) portal of the National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT).
iv.The learners and volunteers can register in the app, on their own, or through surveyors.
v.It will focus on promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, and many important life skills like financial
literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy, and empowerment of citizens to involve in the nation-building of India.
vi.It also fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge-sharing in communities across India.
vii.It primarily targets citizens aged 15 and above who missed the opportunity to attend formal schooling. It
operates through volunteerism, encouraging volunteers to participate as DUTY or Kartavya Bodh towards
nation-building.

Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023: 106 MoUs signed during the event
On 30th July 2023, the MoE and the MoSDE, signed 106 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various
organizations and institutions on the occasion of the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2023.
• The objective is to foster innovation, research, and knowledge exchange across multiple domains,
strengthening collaboration between education and industry.
Key People:
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE and MoSDE; and 3 MoS of
MoE Subhas Sarkar, Annapurna Devi, and Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.
MoU’s in School Education:
i.Under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), 15 MoUs were signed with Institutes and sector skill
providers to focus on skill development and education, promoting skill assessment and capacity building.
ii.These MoUs were signed in association with the Atal Innovation Mission, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and various
sector skill councils.
iii.The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) signed 3 MoUs:
• The first MoU is with the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) in New Delhi,
Delhi, to promote Indian Sign Language and collaborate on standardisation and development of
quality learning resources.
• The second MoU is with the Common Service Centres (CSC), Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology, to facilitate the admission of Out of School Children (OoSC) in NIOS, increase enrolment,
and provide e-services.
• The third MoU is with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), Delhi for academic
advancements.
iv.Additionally, an MoU has been signed between Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and IBM to accelerate the
activities conducted for effective implementation of Vigyan Jyoti Program in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
(JNVs).
v.Under the eVidya initiative, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has signed 20
MoUs with Departments of School Education from various states.
• These MoUs aim to develop high-quality e-Content and distribute it through PM e-VIDYA DTH TV
channels in different languages, serving to various stakeholders in the education sector.
MoUs in Higher Education:
i.6 MoUs were established to promote the Indian Knowledge System.
ii.14 MoUs under the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) were also signed in partnership with: SkillDzire Technologies Pvt Limited, MathWorks India
Private Limited, TimesPro, Google India, and various other institutions.
iii.2 SAMARTH MoUs with different states were also inked, alongside an MoU with SAMARTH DU and
Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL).
iv.6 MoUs have been signed between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras Zanzibar campus
(Tanzania), IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), and others to offer training courses on ‘Digital Manufacturing and
Automation for Foundry Industry’.
v.The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) initiative also resulted in 15 MoUs with various
states.
viFurthermore, The University Grants Commission (UGC) entered into 5 MoUs involving educational
institutions across the globe, including the partnerships between the University of Mumbai and the University
of Illinois in the United States of America (USA), and so on.
vii.The University of Lucknow also inked a MoU with Universidade Federal do Ceara in Brazil, paving the way
for international academic cooperation and exchange.
viii.Another 14 MoUs were signed to equip the youth with cutting-edge skills and knowledge, fostering
innovation, and nurturing academic excellence in India including the MoUs of Directorate General of Training
(DGT) with AWS India Pvt Ltd. and so on.

On 11th April 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education and Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) unveiled the digital version of the Employability Skills Curriculum (ES) for students
enrolled in India’s Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at the Future Skills Forum in New Delhi, Delhi.
About the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE):
Minister of State (MoS)– Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha, Karnataka)
Overview of SemiconIndia Conference 2023 held from 28th-30th July 2023 in Gujarat
On 28th July 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd Edition of the Annual Global
Summit, ‘SemiconIndia Conference 2023′ in Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• SemiconIndia 2023, the 3-day program held from July 28 to 30, 2023, was organised by India
Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry and industry associations.
• The event showcases the semiconductor strategy and policy of India which envisions making India a
global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing, and technology development.
The theme of SemiconIndia 2023 is ‘Catalysing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem’.
Aim:
• To make India a global hub for Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing, and Technology development,
which will help drive the vision of India Semiconductor Mission.
• To bring together global leaders from industry, academia, and research institutions.
Note: The inaugural ‘SemiconIndia 2022’ was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from 29th April to 1st May 2022.
Key People:
Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister(CM) of Gujarat; Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY); Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State (MoS), MeitY; Anirudh Devgan, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Cadence; Young Liu, Chairman of Foxconn; Anil Aggarwal, Chairman of Vedanta;
Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron; Mark Papaermaster, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc. (AMD); Prabhu Raja, President of Semiconductor Products Group Applied Materials (AMAT), were
present on the occasion.
Some plans of Major Companies in the Summit:
i.The conference witnessed the participation of representatives of major companies such as Micron
Technology, Applied Materials, Foxconn, Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI),
Cadence, and AMD among others.
ii.Mark Papermaster, the Executive Vice President (EVP) and CTO of AMD announced the plan to invest UDS
400 million in India in the next 5 years to increase AMD’s Research & Development (R&D) capabilities.
iii.Sanjay Mehrotra, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Micron Technology, plans to set up a
semiconductor assembly and test facility for memory in Gujarat to create nearly 5,000 jobs and 15,000
additional jobs within the community.
India’s Growth in Various Sectors in a Decade:
i.India’s share in global electronic manufacturing has increased a lot, and currently it has crossed USD 100
billion, while in 2014 it was less than USD 30 billion.
ii.The export of electronics and mobile devices has doubled in the last 2 years.
iii.Currently, the number of mobile manufacturing units in India has gone beyond 200, compared to only 2
before 2014.
iv.The number of broadband users in India increased from Rs 6 crores to Rs 80 crores, while at present the
number of internet connections rose from Rs 25 crores to more than Rs 85 crores.
v.India’s solar power installed capacity has increased more than 20 times in the last decade, and a new target of
500 gigawatts (GW) of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity has been set to be achieved by the end of this decade.

Highlights:
i.The PM emphasised the Industry 4.0 revolution, a significant transformation in the manufacturing sector,
marked by the integration of digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI),
big data analytics, and robotics, into manufacturing processes.
ii.He discussed the growth of a neo-middle class in India, which has become the powerhouse of Indian
aspirations.
iii.By understanding its global responsibilities, India is building a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem with the
approval of the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50–
1000 physical qubits in 8 years on various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
iv.The National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 is going to be introduced in Parliament.
• NRF Bill 2023 seeks to replace the publicly funded mechanism of research support for the
scientific community through the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) Act, 2008.
v.In India, there are more than 300 colleges where courses on semiconductors will be available.
vi.The policy reforms taking place in India will have a positive impact on the construction of the semiconductor
ecosystem.
Tax Exemptions:
i.The PM highlighted several tax exemptions that have come into effect for the new manufacturing industry, the
lowest corporate tax rate in India, faceless and seamless taxation process, abolition of archaic laws,
compliances to increase ease of doing business, and special incentives for the semiconductor industry.
ii.He elaborated on giving 50% financial assistance to the technology firms to establish semiconductor
manufacturing facilities in India under the SemiconIndia Program.
SemiconIndia future DESIGN DLI: MeitY adds two new Semiconductor Design MSMEs
On 29th July 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) included 2 more
semiconductor design startups/ o, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) namely Aheesa Digital Innovations
and Calligo Technologies under its SemiconIndia future DESIGN Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme at the
SemiconIndia 2023 conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• With this inclusion, a total of 7 MSMEs/startups are under the DLI scheme.
Background:
i.Earlier in 2023, MeitY had already approved the names of 5 other startups/MSMEs under the DLI scheme
during the 2nd and 3rd DLI Roadshows in February 2023 in Bengaluru (Karnataka) and in May 2023, in Delhi.
ii.The 7 beneficiaries will be working on making chip and IP cores for the automotive, mobility, and computing
sectors
DLI Scheme and its Objective:
i.The DLI Scheme is implemented by the Center for Development and Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
ii.Under the DLI Scheme, the ChipIN centre has been set up at C-DAC as a one-stop centre to provide chip
design & fabrication services to supported companies.
iii.The DLI scheme offers financial incentives and design infrastructure support for the development and
deployment of semiconductor designs for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems &
Intellectual Property (IP) Cores, and semiconductor linked design(s) over a period of 5 years.
Aheesa Digital Innovations:
i.The Chennai(Tamil Nadu)-based Aheesa Digital Innovations Private Limited (Aheesa) is a fabless
semiconductor company that focuses on Telecom, Networking, and Cyber Security domains.
ii.Under the scheme, Aheesa plans to develop its own Aheesa Vihaan series of Networking SoCs, an integrated
circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system.
iii.The first version of Aheesa Vihaan is based on the soft IP-form C-DAC’s VEGA Processor Core, developed
under Digital India RISC-V Processor (DIR-V).
iv.Aheesa would be releasing the Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON)/Ethernet Passive Optical
Networking (EPON) Optical Network Terminal (ONT) reference platform (Aheesa Seshnag) based on Aheesa

Vihaan with Operating System (OS), drivers, toolchains and applications for Indian Network and Telecom
product manufacturers.
Calligo Technologies:
i.Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Calligo Technologies is also a fabless semiconductor start-up that works in the
areas of High-Performance Computing (HPC), Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/machine learning.
ii.The company works to improve computing performance by means of software and hardware acceleration.
iii.Under the scheme, Calligo will develop an accelerator product capable of doing computations, using a new
number system- POSITs, which will be integrated into Digital India’s RISC-V Processor (DIR-V) with this co-
processor.
iv.It would be creating a highly power-efficient and computationally more accurate Central Processing Unit
(CPU) – TUNGA (Technology for Unum – based Next Generation Arithmetic) Silicon.
• This Silicon will power a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based Accelerator
Card, UTTUNGA. This solution does not require any source-level modifications to run the HPC/AI
Application.
AMD Announces Plan to Invest Approx USD 400 Million in India to Expand Design Center Operations
On 28th July 2023, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), a California (United States of America-USA)-based
computing, graphics, and visualization technologies company, committed to investing approximately USD 400
million in India over the next 5 years.
• Mark Papermaster, Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of AMD,
announced the investment plans during the second edition of SemiconIndia 2023 in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat.
• The planned investment includes a new AMD campus in Bengaluru(Karnataka) that will serve as the
company’s largest design center and is expected to create approximately 3,000 new engineering
jobs by the end of 2028.
Key Points:
i.The new AMD campus, which will span 500,000 square feet (46,500 sq m), is expected to open before the end
of 2023.
ii.It will feature extensive lab space, state-of-the-art collaboration tools, and seating configurations designed to
promote teamwork.
iii.It will also provide tremendous opportunities for a large pool of highly skilled semiconductor engineers and
researchers.
iv.The investment is supported by various policy initiatives of the Government of India focused on the
semiconductor industry.
Establishment of AMD in India:
AMD has been an active part of the semiconductor ecosystem in India since 2001, when the company
established its first site in India at New Delhi, Delhi.
15th Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue: India & Japan Explore Collaboration in
Semiconductors in Delhi
On 27th July 2023, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India, held the 15th India-
Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in New
Delhi, Delhi. They explored potential areas of collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, including
semiconductors; resilient supply chains; and digital public infrastructure, among others.
• This is a part of the plans to reach a target of USD 35.9 billion Japanese investment in India by 2027.
• The Ministers also discussed ways to deepen Defense Equipment and Technology Cooperation.
Key Highlights:
i.The ministers’ emphasized the crucial role of a strong partnership between India and Japan in ensuring a Free
and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
ii.They also highlighted the significance of achieving the investment target of 5 trillion yen (Japanese Yen) in
public-private investment and loans to India over the next 5 years (2022–27).

• This goal was set by both India and Japan during Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio’s visit to India in
March 2022.
iii.Minister Hayashi requested cooperation to improve the investment environment and for the early
establishment of a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
iv.The two ministers affirmed continuing to make steady progress on the high-speed rail project, a flagship
project of Japan and India.
v.In order to strengthen medium- to long-term Japan-India relations through people-to-people exchanges, they
agreed on expanding human exchanges between the 2 countries, such as tourism and international students.
• India and Japan are celebrating 2023 as the ‘Year of India-Japan Tourism Exchanges’ with the theme
of ‘Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji’
vi.They also discussed cooperation in the international arena, such as in the Quad countries and Security
Council reform.
On 9th May 2023, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Purdue University, Indiana, United States of America (USA) in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MoE&IT), for capacity building, research and
development (R&D), and industry participation.
About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):
It is a specialized and independent Business Division within the Digital India Corporation.
Under the oversight of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), the ISM was introduced in 2021.
Chairman– Alkesh Kumar Sharma
Chief Executive Officer– Amitesh Kumar Sinha
INDEX
RANKING
Fortune Global 500 list of 2023: Walmart tops the list followed by Saudi Aramco and State Grid
On 2nd August 2023, Fortune, a global media organisation released the 69th edition of Fortune Global 500
list of 2023, an annual ranking of the largest 500 corporations across the world as measured by total revenue
for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2022-23). Walmart tops the list for the 10th consecutive year, followed by Saudi
Aramco and State Grid in the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
• Walmart, an American (United States of America (US)) Retail and Wholesale company with USD
611.3 billion in revenue;
• Saudi Aramco, a Saudi Arabian (United Arab Emirates (UAE)) Mining and Crude-Oil Production
company with USD 603 billion; and
• State Grid, a Beijing (China)-based power company owned by the Government of China with USD
530 billion in the 3rd position.
Note:
• Saudi Aramco earned the highest annual total ever for a Fortune Global 500 company with USD 159
billion.
Key Points:
i.The companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years ended on or before March 31,
2023.
ii.The list was released on the basis of the parameters such as Revenues, Profits, Balance sheet, Employees,
Medians, and Credits.

iii.Companies on the 2023 list employ 70.1 million people across the world and are based in 232 cities and 33
countries/territories and regions around the world.
iv.The Fortune Global 500 list generated record-high aggregate revenues of USD 41 trillion, which is more than
one-third of the world’s Gross domestic product (GDP).
2023 Fortune Global 500 Rankings by Geography
i.China tops the 2023 list with a total of 142 companies in the geographical regions in mainland China including
Hongkong and Taiwan.
ii.2023 Ranking featured 142 Chinese companies, 136 US companies, 41 Japanese companies, 30 German
companies.
• The US company with the highest profits in 2023 was Apple with USD 100 billion.
Categories:
The list includes the following categories: Newcomer to the Global 500; World’s Most Admired Companies;
Fastest Growing Companies; Dropped in Rank; Female Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Fortune 500; Gained in
Rank; Growth in Jobs; Best Companies; Profiatble; Change the World; Non US Companies.
• The number of women CEOs of Fortune Global 500 companies rose to 29 in 2023, it was 24 in the
2022 edition.
• There were 39 newcomers in 2023, including 23 companies making their debut, such as Warner
Bros. Discovery (449), first-time Chinese companies, Contemporary Amperex Technology (292), and
Meituan (467).
8 Indian Companies Featured in the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list with Reliance Industries Ranked High
at 88
Reliance Industries, led by Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, featured in the Fortune Global 500 list of 2023.Reliance
Industries climbed 16 places and now holds a rank at number 88 in the Fortune Global 500 list of 2023.The
company has gained 67 places in the last 2 years from number 155 in 2021.
• Among the 8 Indian Companies on the list, Reliance Industries maintained its highest ranking.
• The other Indian companies on the list are: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Indian Oil
Corporation (IOL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd,
State Bank of India (SBI), Tata Motors, and Rajesh Exports.
• Reliance Industries in the 2022 list held the rank at number 104. The rank at number 88 is the best-
ever achievement of Reliance Industries in the Fortune Global 500 list.
Ranking of Other Indian Firms:
• LIC was first featured in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2022. In 2023, it slipped 9 places to 107 from
98 in 2022.
• IOC jumped 48 places to rank at number 94, it was 142 in 2022.
• ONGC was ranked number 158, it was 190 in 2022.
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd at number 233, was 295 in 2022.
• SBI was placed at number 235 on the list, it was 236 in 2022.
• Tata Motors climbed 33 positions at number 337, it was 370 in 2022
• Rajesh Motors climbed 84 places to number 353, 437 in 2022.
Saudi Aramco Emerged as Most Profitable Company in the Fortune Global 500 list of 2023, Ranked 2nd
in the List by Revenue
Saudi Aramco (also known as Saudi Arabian Oil Company), is one of the largest integrated energy and
chemicals companies in the world in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked 2nd in the
annual list of Fortune Global 500 list of 2023 and it has emerged as the most profitable company ever on the
list, earning USD 159 billion in the fiscal year 2022.
• It jumped up 4 places, from number 6 in 2022 to no.2 in 2023 list.
• Walmart tops the list with USD 611.3 billion in revenue, which was up by 6.7% compared to 2022
followed by Saudi Aramco (603 billion); State Grid, a China-based power company owned with USD
530 billion in the 2nd and 3rd places in revenue respectively.

Key Points:
i.Saudi Aramco reported a net profit of USD 161.1 billion for 2022, up from USD 110 billion in 2021, and a
record net earnings result for the company.
ii.With the most profitable business in the world, Saudi Aramco has about USD 3.2 trillion to invest by 2030.
iii.Aramco’s vast oil profits play a vital role in generating investments by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in
the sports industry. Saudi pro soccer league signed a nine-figure contract with some of the European soccer
players.
Table of Top 10 Companies in the Fortune Global 500 list of 2023:
Rank Company Name Country Revenue (in USD)
1 Walmart USA 611.3 billion
2 Saudi Aramco UAE 603.7 billion
3 State Grid China 530 billion
4 Amazon USA 514 billion
5 China National Petroleum China 483.1 billion
6 Sinopec Group China 471.2 billion
7 ExxonMobil USA 413. 7 billion
8 Apple USA 394.3 billion
9 Shell United Kingdom 386.2 billion
10 UnitedHealth Group USA 324.2 billion
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been included in the 25th edition of FORTUNE magazine’s list of the
“World’s Most Admired Companies” for 2023.
About Fortune 500
• Fortune 500 companies are ranked by total revenue for their respective fiscal years. The list is
compiled and published annually by Fortune magazine.
The concept of the Fortune 500 was created by Edgar P. Smith, a Fortune editor, and the first list was published
in 1955
WTO’s WTSR 2023 Report: India Ranked 18th Among Merchandise Exports
According to the World Trade Statistical Review 2023, (WTSR 2023) the annual flagship publication of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) featuring key data on global trade in merchandise and commercial services,
India is ranked 18th among the Leading exporters in world merchandise trade (2022).
• India is ranked 9th among the merchandise importers.
• China, the United States of America(USA), and Germany are the top 3 exporters in world
merchandise trade 2022.
• USA, China and Germany are the top 3 importers in World Merchandise Trade 2022.
Note: WTSR replaces International Trade Statistics, the WTO’s former annual statistical publication.
Points to note:
i.India is ranked globally 7th among exporters and 9th among importers in world in commercial services 2022.
ii.Commercial services exports of India registered a very strong
206% increase.
Exporters in world merchandise trade, 2022
Value
Rank Exporters ( in USD Billion) Share (%)
1 China 3594 14.4

2 USA 2065 8.3
3 Germany 1655 6.6
18 India 453 1.8
50 Iran 73 0.3
Importers in world merchandise trade, 2022
Value
Rank Importers ( in USD Billion) Share (%)
1 USA 3376 13.2
2 China 2716 10.6
3 Germany 1571 6.1
9 India 723 2.8
50 Colombia 77 0.3
Exporters in world trade in commercial services, 2022
Value
Rank Exporters ( in USD Billion) Share (%)
1 USA 900 12.8
2 United Kingdom(UK) 492 7
3 China 422 6
7 India 309 4.4
40 Saudi Arabia 31 0.4
Importers in world trade in commercial services, 2022
Value
Rank Importers ( in USD Billion) Share (%)
1 USA 671 10.3
2 China 461 7.1
3 Germany 458 7
9 India 246 3.8
40 Kuwait 26 0.4
Highlights of the report:
Trade in goods and services:
Trade in goods and services amounted to US$ 31.0 trillion in 2022, a 13% rise year-on-year.
Leading merchandise trader:
China remained the top merchandise exporter in 2022 but its share in world exports declined to 14% (from
15% in 2021).
Manufactured goods:
The share of manufactured goods in world merchandise exports fell to 63% in 2022 (versus 68% in 2018)
mainly due to high energy prices limiting demand.
Transport services:
Trade in transport services continued to grow in 2022 at a slower pace than in 2021 as shipping rates returned
to pre-pandemic levels.

Intra-regional merchandise trade:
i.Intra-regional merchandise trade represented 65% of Europe’s world trade in 2022, the highest amongst the
major world regions.
ii.The lowest was for Africa (14% in 2022, down from 16% in 2018).
Related information:
According to the latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer issued on March 1, 2023, World merchandise trade
growth is likely to have lost momentum in the fourth quarter(Q4) of 2022 and it is
likely to remain weak in the first quarter(Q1) of 2023.
• The overall barometer index has declined to 92.2 (Index value December 2022), down from 96.2 in
the previous release(November 2022).
About WTSR 2023:
i.The WTSR 2023 presents recent trends in international trade, technological challenges affecting the global
economy and supply chains.
ii.Along with data on economic developments like Gross domestic product (GDP) growth, commodity prices,
and exchange rate fluctuations, the data cover trade in goods and services broken down by geographical origin,
main product groups and sectors.
iii.Analytical chapters highlighting trade trends in 2022 are complemented by statistical tables providing
further details on merchandise trade and trade in commercial services.
Director-General- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Established- 1st January 1995
REPORTS
Status of Tigers: Co-Predators & Prey in India-2022 Report: Tiger population in India estimates
to be 3,925
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC), released the detailed report of All India Tiger Estimation – 2022 titled “Status of Tigers: Co-
Predators & Prey in India-2022” during the event orgnised as a part of the Global Tiger Day (29th July 2023) at
Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand.
• According to the report by National Tiger
Conservation Authority (NTCA), Tiger Population in
India is estimated to be 3,925 with an annual growth
rate of 6.1% per annum.
• India currently retains almost 75% of the world’s
wild tiger population.
Background:
i.On 9th April 2022, during the celebration of 50 years of the
Project Tiger at Mysusru, Karnataka, Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi declared the minimum tiger population of 3167,
population estimate from the camera-trapped area.
ii.According to the further analysis of data by the Wildlife Institute of India, from both camera-trapped and
non-camera-trapped tiger presence areas ,the upper limit of the tiger population is estimated to be 3925 and
the average number is 3682 tigers.
Key Points:
i.Currently, more than 3/4th of the tiger population in India is concentrated within protected areas.
ii.Madhya Pradesh has the largest tiger population with 785 tigers, followed by Karnataka with 563,
Uttarakhand with 560, and Maharashtra with 444.

iii.Nearly a 1/4th of the tigers were reportedly outside protected areas.
iv.Tigers in India are largely concentrated in 53 dedicated tiger reserves spread across 75,796 square km,
spanning about 2.3% of India’s total land area.
v.The tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserve is highest in Corbett (260), followed by Bandipur (150),
Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh (135), Dudhwa (135), Mudumalai(114), Kanha (105), Kaziranga (104),
Sundarbans (100), Tadoba (97), Sathyamangalam (85), and Pench-MP (77).
vi.Central India and the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains witnessed a notable increases in tiger population,
particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.
vii.Certain regions, like the Western Ghats, experienced localized declines, necessitating targeted monitoring
and conservation efforts.
Some states, including Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, have
reported disquieting trends with small tiger populations.
WHO Report on Global Tobacco Epidemic 2023: 5.6 Billion People Protected by at Least One
Tobacco Control Measure
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the “’WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023:
Protect people from tobacco smoke“, the 9th report in the series that tracks the status of the tobacco epidemic
and interventions to combat it. The report monitors countries’ progress in tobacco control since 2008 and also
marks 15 years since the introduction of MPOWER,WHO’s technical package which is designed to assist
countries in implementing demand-reduction measures of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (WHO FCTC).
• The report state that around 5.6 billion people (71% of the world’s population or 7 in 10 people
globally) are protected with at least one best practice of tobacco control measure, a 5 times increase
from 2007.
• The report showed that 2 new countries, Mauritius and the Netherlands, have achieved best-
practice level in all MPOWER measures. Until now, this was achieved by only Brazil and Türkiye.
• Mauritius has become the first African country to fully implement the entire MPOWER
Measures. It has recorded a 25% decline in the prevalence of smoking among adults between 1992
and 2021.
What is WHO’s MPOWER Package?
WHO introduced the MPOWER measures in 2008.MPOWER are a set of six cost-effective and high impact
measures that help countries reduce demand for tobacco. These measures include:
• M- Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
• P- Protect people from tobacco smoke
• O- Offer help to quit tobacco use
• W- Warn about the dangers of tobacco
• E-Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
• R- Raise taxes on tobacco
About the Report:
It focuses on the ‘P’ in the MPOWER measures i.e. protecting the public from second-hand smoke.It also
highlights that almost 40% of countries now have completely smoke-free indoor public places.
Note: The Global Tobacco Epidemic Report initiated in 2008, is a biennial report by WHO.
Highlights from the Report:
Global Tobacco Control:
i.2.1 billion people in 74 countries are covered by complete smoke-free indoor public places, workplaces, and
public transport, a seven-fold increase since 2007.
ii.Global smoking prevalence decreased from 22.8% in 2007 to 17% in 2021, preventing 300 million additional
smokers.
iii.151 countries have adopted one or more WHO MPOWER measures, a significant rise since 2007.

iv.Eight countries only need one more MPOWER policy to join tobacco control leaders.
• These 8 nations are Ethiopia, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Madagascar, Mexico, New Zealand, and Spain.
Global Tobacco Control: Challenges and Progress
• Second-hand smoke kills 1.3 million non-smokers yearly, exposing them to various health risks.
• 8.7 million people die annually from tobacco-related diseases.
• 44 countries lack any WHO MPOWER measures, and 53 countries lack complete smoking bans in
healthcare facilities.
• Banning Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) saw significant progress in
2022, covering 2 billion people in 66 countries.However, it is still under-adopted.
• 74 countries have no regulations addressing tobacco-related products.
• 88 countries, covering 2.3 billion people, have no minimum age for buying e-cigarettes.
Indian Scenario:
i.India has banned e-cigarettes, nicotine products, and tobacco advertising, but tobacco company messaging
and e-cigarette branding are still seen during F1 (Formula 1) events and races.
• India, home to an estimated 31 million F1 fans.
ii.The Indian state of Bengaluru in Karnataka has made significant progress in complying with state and
national smoke-free laws i.e. Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA).
• This resulted in a 27% reduction of smoking in public places from a rate of 18% in 2017 to 13% in
2021.
iii.Bengaluru received an international award for its efforts to reduce smoking in public places and aims to
become 100% smoke-free by 2025.
iv.India is one of the 32 countries with comprehensive cessation services.
v.India is part of the Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement (TERM), a real-time digital monitoring
system to detect online tobacco marketing.It was launched by Vital Strategies
vi.India is also among the 121 countries globally that have adopted measures to address electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS).
i.According to the ‘Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, June to November
2023 Outlook’ report released on May 29, 2023, by the United Nation (UN) agencies of Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), globally Hunger is set to worsen in 18
‘hotspots’ comprising a total of 22 countries including the regions in India’s neighbours countries of Pakistan,
Afghanistan and Myanmar.
ii.According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s 11th edition ‘World of Work’, the global
unemployment is projected to fall below pre pandemic levels to 191 million, corresponding to
an unemployment rate of 5.3% in 2023.
FICCI-EY Report:India Loses 1.5 Million lives in Road Crashes

According to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) -EY a report titled ‘Road
Safety in India – Navigating through nuances‘, Road accidents claim around 1.5 million lives in India every
year. India accounts for 11% of all road crash deaths and tops the world in road crash deaths and injuries.
• The report was released by Tukuni Sahu, Minister for Transport, Water Resources & Commerce,
government of Odisha during the FICCI’s Conference on Role of Corporates in Road Safety and
Awards 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi on 18th July 2023.
Major finding of the report:
i.It states that in every 24 seconds, at least one person is lost due to a traffic accident worldwide.

• It also compares the lost lives of Indians with the size of the Estonian population.
ii.The report highlighted the World Health Organisation (WHO) finding, road crashes are the 8th leading cause
of death with more than 1.3 million deaths and 50 million serious injuries. It is the leading cause of death
amongst youth and kids aged 5 to 29 years.
iii.It suggested a 5 pillar approach to reduce road accidents – Road Safety Management, Safer Vehicles, Safer
Road Users, Post-Crash Response & Safer Driving Environment.
Brasilia Declaration:
i.India has signed the Brasilia Declaration in 2015, which seeks to reduce global road traffic fatalities and
injuries by half by 2030.
• This target was set under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ii.The declaration was finalised at the Second Global High Level Conference on Road Safety, which took place in
Brazil on November 18th and 19th, 2015.
iii.It recommends the establishment and enforcement of regulations and measures that actively protect and
promote pedestrian safety and cycling mobility, such as sidewalks, bike paths and bike lanes, adequate lighting,
radars with cameras, signalling and road marking.
About EY:
EY, (formerly known as Ernst & Young) founded in 1989, is a multinational firm of professional services. It
provides audit, consulting, tax, business risk, technology and security risk services, and human capital services
worldwide.
Head Quarters – London, United Kingdom.
Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Carmine Di Sibio
About Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI):
President – Subhrakant Panda
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan releases ‘State of School Education in Rural India’ report
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education released India’s first “State of School
(Elementary) Education in Rural India” report during the Transforming Rural India (TRI)’s India Rural
Colloquy 2023 (IRC) held in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The report revealed that a total of 78% of parents of girls and 82% of parents of boys wanted to
educate their children to graduation and above.
• The report aims to provide data along with the right analytics and insights to stimulate the
development of rural India.
About the Report:
i.The report is based on an analysis of survey of 6229 parents across 21 States/Union territories (UTs) of India.
The study focused on children in rural communities between the age group of 6-to-16-year-old.
• Out of the 6,229 rural households surveyed, 6,135 had school-going students, 56 had students who
dropped out of school, and 38 had children who had never enrolled in school.
ii.The pan-India survey was spearheaded by the Development Intelligence Unit (DIU) in collaboration with
the Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRI) and Sambodhi Research and Communications Pvt. Ltd.,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
iii.The report examines various aspects of learning environments and parental engagements and also
illuminates the evolving parental attitudes toward girls’ education in rural India.
Report Analysis:
i.School Drop-out Rate: The data reveals that one-fourth of male children dropped out of school during
primary schooling and the female primary school dropout rates were higher, with around 35%.
• Around 75% boys and 65% girls dropped out of school after completing primary school education.

• One of the main reason for dropout can be non-availability of schools with higher classes within the
village or nearby villages.
ii.Smart Phone Usage: The survey indicated that 49.3% of children aged between 6 to 16 years have access to
smartphones in rural India.
• Out of these, only 34% use it for study downloads and 18% of students access online learning via
tutorials.
• 58.32% of students belonging to Class 8 or above have access to smartphones and 42.1% between
classes 1 and 3 have access to it.
iii.Parents‘ Engagement: Among parents who never went to school, 28.7% regularly inquire about school
education, while 25.1% rarely or never do so.
• In contrast, 46.3% of parents with education above higher secondary actively follow up on their
child’s education regularly, with only 4% rarely engaging in their child’s education.
Key Points:
i.The report stated, 63% of the households have a designated place for study and 83% of households provide
uninterrupted study time at home.
ii.Only 40% of parents have conversations with their kids every day about learning in school while 32% have
these conversations a few days in a week.
iii.A total of 55.7% of respondents felt that higher education is affordable while 31.3% believed otherwise.
Ministry of Jal Shakti Releases Report on 6th Census on Minor Irrigation Schemes
On 26th August 2023, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Department of Water Resources (WR), River
Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) released the All India (volume-I) and State-wise
(Volume-II) report on 6th census on Minor Irrigation (MI) schemes.
• This report will be useful for planners, researcher scholars, agricultural and groundwater scientists,
and all concerned with the development of irrigation and the agricultural economy of India.
Key Points:
i.As per the report, 23.14 million MI schemes have been reported in India, out of which 21.93 million are
Ground Water (GW) and 1.21 million are Surface Water (SW) schemes.
ii.The report reveals that, for the first time, information regarding the gender of individual owners of MI
schemes has been systematically collected. Among individually owned MI schemes, 18.1% are owned by
women.
iii.Uttar Pradesh holds the largest number of MI schemes in India followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
and Tamil Nadu.
Ground and Surface Water Schemes:
i.Leading States in GW schemes are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
• GW schemes comprise dugwells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells, and deep tube wells.
ii.In SW schemes Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, and Jharkhand have the highest share.
• The SW schemes comprise surface flow and surface lift schemes.
iii.There has been increase of about 1.42 million in MI schemes during 6th MI census as compared to 5th
Census. At National level, Both GW and SW schemes have increased by 6.9% and 1.2%, respectively.
iv.Dug wells have the highest share in MI schemes followed by shallow tube wells, medium tube wells, and
deep tube wells.
• Maharashtra is the leading State in dug wells, surface flow, and surface lift schemes.
• Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab are the leading States in shallow tube wells, medium tube
wells, and deep tube wells, respectively.
v.In GW schemes, the share of private entities in the ownership is 98.3% whereas in SW schemes the respective
share is 64.2%.

Category-wise Analysis:
i.Out of all MI schemes, 97.0% are ‘in use’, 2.1% are ‘temporarily not in use’ and 0.9% are ‘permanently not in
use’.
ii.Shallow tube wells and medium tube wells lead in the category of ‘in use’ schemes. A majority of MI schemes
(96.6%) are under private ownership.
Source of Finance:
i.Around 60.2% of schemes have a single source of finance whereas 39.8% of schemes have more than one
source of finance.
ii.In a single source of finance, the majority of schemes (79.5%) are being financed by own savings of individual
farmers.
About the Census of MI Schemes:
i.A reliable database for MI schemes is essential for effective planning and policy-making in the MI sector.
ii.With this objective, the Government of India (GoI) has been conducting a census of MI schemes.
iii.So far, 5 censuses have been conducted with the reference year 1986-87, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2006-07 and
2013-14 respectively.
iv.The 6th minor irrigation census with reference year 2017-18 was completed in 32 States/ Union Territories
(UTs), and the 6th MI census work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parameters of the Census:
i.The census was conducted under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census”, a parent component
of Rationalisation of Minor Irrigation Statistics (RMIS) scheme.
• The scope of the “Irrigation Census” scheme has been enlarged by the launch of the First Census of
Water Bodies in convergence with the 6th minor irrigation Census with the objective of developing a
national database for all water bodies.
ii.Detailed information on various critical parameters like irrigation sources such as dug wells, shallow tube
wells, medium tube wells, deep tube wells, surface flow, and surface lift schemes was gathered.
iii.Other parameters like irrigation potential created (IPC), potential utilized, ownership, holding size of land by
owner, devices used for lifting water, sources of energy, energy conserving devices such as sprinkler and drip
irrigation, use of non-conventional energy sources such as solar pumps, windmills, etc were also collected.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, launched the Unified Registration Portal for Biogas/
Compressed Bio Gas (CBG)/ Bio CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) plants under Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro
Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme.
Union Minister- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency- Jodhpur, Rajasthan)
Ministers of State (MoS)- Prahlad Singh Patel (Constituency- Damoh, Madhya Pradesh); Bishweswar Tudu
(Constituency- Mayurbhanj, Odisha)

PFC Becomes First Member From India To Join Japan’s ATFSG
Power Finance Corporation Limited(PFC), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the
Ministry of Power & a leading Non-Banking Financial Corporation(NBFC) in India, became the first member
from India to join the Asia Transition Finance Study Group(ATFSG), an initiative by Japanese Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for promoting sustainable transition finance for Asian Countries.
• This was announced during the Bilateral Ministerial Meeting between Raj Kumar Singh, Union
Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy and Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy,
Trade and Industry, Government of Japan on the side lines of G20(Group of 20) summit held at Goa.

Key Points:
i.As a member of ATFSG, PLC will play a major role in representing India’s interests and point of view while
contributing to the development of the policy considerations for effective energy transition financing.
ii.Joining ATFSG, Asian countires will promote financing for energy transition and net zero targets.
About Asia Transition Finance Study Group(ATFSG)
i.Founded in 2021, the ATFSG was established with the understanding that transition finance will be a critical
factor in enabling Asian economies to achieve carbon neutrality.
ii.This consortium brings together numerous global financial institutions under its banner, aiming to develop
guidelines to assist companies considering transition finance.
iii.Additionally, the group provides supplementary advice that complements the existing global frameworks for
sustainable finance.
iv.The members and observers of the ATFSG include Japanese banks, major Asian and global financial
institutions, development banks, export credit agencies, and government agencies.
v.Mizuho Financial Group(MUFG) is a core member of the ATFSG.
About Power Finance Corporation Ltd(PFC):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)- Parminder Chopra (additional charge)
Incorporated on 16th July 1986
2022/2023 NSTF-South32 Awards : Mohamed Reza Mia, Indian-origin South

African Won Innovation Award for Aircraft Project
Team of Johannesburg(South Africa) based Pegasus Universal Aerospace (PUA) Company, led by its
Chairman Mohamed Reza Mia, an Indian-origin South African, won the 2022/2023 National Science and
Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards under the category “Innovation Award: Small, Medium and
Micro Enterprise (SMME)” for outstanding contributions to Science, Engineering, Technology (SET) and
innovation in South Africa.
• The Innovation Award was won by the Pegasus Universal
Aerospace team, recognised for the design and
development of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
aircraft.
• The design and development of VTOL aircraft is expected
to create between 7 000 and 11 000 new jobs.
About Mohamed Reza Mia:
i.He is a healthcare practitioner, specialising as a General
Practitioner, (GP), in Johannesburg,founded the Pegasus Universal
Aerospace (PUA) company in 2012 to make a small private jet with (VTOL) capability.
ii.By combining the best features of a helicopter and a business jet, that could be used for tricky rescue airlifts
and emergency air transportation.
About the Pegasus Aircraft:
i.The ‘Pegasus’ aircraft, a compact jet, excels in speed, range, payload, and passenger capacity, outperforming
traditional business jets without needing a runway.
ii.PUA, primarily self-funded is currently testing quarter-scale models that have a wing-span of 4 metres. PUA
also partnered with an automation and robotics company to further reach greater heights.
Note: The Pegasus Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) prototype was featured in the Hollywood movie “The Lost City”
released by Paramount Pictures in 2022.
Another Innovation Category Award:
i.LignOrganics, a bio-manufacturing company in SA also won the award for the category, Innovation Award:
SMME.

ii.LignOrganics is the first on the African continent to produce sulphur-free lignin and the first in the world to
achieve ‘total biomass valorisation’.
About NSTF Awards 2023:
25th edition of 2023 NSTF Awards held on 13th July 2023 and took place simultaneously in Cape Town and
Johannesburg, SA .It was sponsored by the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) under
the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of SA.
• The NSTF’s theme for 2023 is “Ocean Science for sustainable development”.
• This theme was selected in response to the United Nations (UN) proclamation of the decadal theme
of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for 2021-2030.
In 2023, NSTF introduced a “Special Annual Theme Award” for exceptional contributions to Ocean Science
for Sustainable Development through SET research and innovation.
Winners of India Smart Cities Awards Contest 2022

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced the winners of the India Smart Cities
Award Contest (ISAC) organised under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), MoHUA.
• Indore topped the National Smart City Award,
followed by Surat and Agra in second and third
place respectively.
• Madhya Pradesh topped the state award, followed
by Tamil Nadu in second place, and Rajasthan and
Uttar Pradesh in third place.
• Chandigarh has awarded best Union Territory
award.
Note: President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will felicitate the
winners of ISAC 2022 awards on 27th September 2023 in
Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Key Points:
i.In the Project Awards category, Coimbatore took the top spot for built environment, Ahmedabad for the
culture and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) themes, Jabalpur for economy, Chandigarh for
governance and mobility, Indore for sanitation, water and urban environment, Vadodara for social aspects.
ii.Hubbali Dharwad for the innovative idea theme and Surat for Covid innovation theme.
About ISAC Awards:
i.The 4th edition of the ISAC was launched in April 2022 during the ‘Smart Cities-Smart Urbanization’
event in Surat, Gujarat.
• Previous ISAC editions were held in 2018, 2019, and 2020, with the exception of the 2021
edition, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
ii.The ISAC recognizes and reward the cities, projects and innovative ideas that are promoting sustainable
development across the 100 smart cities, as well as stimulating inclusive, equitable, safe, healthy and
collaborative cities, thus enhancing quality of life for all.
Selection Procedure:
i.The ISAC 2022 award had a two-stage submission process consisting of ‘Qualifying Stage’, which involved
overall assessment of the city’s performance, and the ‘Proposal Stage’
• A total of 64 awards were given in six categories including National and Zonal City Awards,
State Awards, UT Award, Partners Awards(3 different themes), Innovation Award(2 different
themes) and Project Awards(10 different themes).
ii.ISAC 2022 were received 845 nominations from 80 qualifying smart cities.These nominations were
evaluated in 5 stages.

iii.During the five stages of the evaluation, the top 12 proposals from each award category were identified
by a jury of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• The final top 3 proposals have been identified for each award category by the Apex Committee
of the Smart Cities Mission from the top 6 proposals.
List of ISAC 2022 Award Winners:
Category 1st 2nd 3rd
National
Indore Surat Agra
Smart City
(Madhya Pradesh) (Gujarat) (Uttar Pradesh)
Award
Rajasthan
State Award Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
UT Award Chandigarh
Zonal Smart City Award
Eastern
Ranchi(Jharkhand), Bhubaneswar(Odisha)
Zone
Northeast Kohima(Nagaland),Namchi(Sikkim), Varanasi(Uttar

Zone Pradesh),Udaipur (Rajasthan)
Southern
Coimbatore(Tamil Nadu), Belagavi(Karnataka)
Zone
Western
Ahmedabad(Gujarat),Solapur(Maharashtra)
Zone
Partner Awards
Industry
Larsen & Toubro LC Infra Projects
(Infrastruct Enviro Control Private
(L&T) Pvt. Ltd.
ure)
Honeywell
Industry L&T Construction- Nippon Electric Company
Automation India
(MSI) Smart World Division (NEC) India
Limited
Partner
Recognition: PwC India
PMC
Innovation Awards

Hubbali- Dharwad(Kar Raipur(Chhattisg
Surat(Gujarat): Self
nataka): Open Space arh):
Innovative Sustaining of Public
Upgradation 2 – Nalla NalandaParisar
Idea Award gardening Canal Pathway
Renovation and Green (Oxy Reading
(Corridor)
Corridor Zone Library)
Agra(UttarPrades
Indore(Madhya h): Covid 19
Covid Surat(Gujarat) Covid 19
Pradesh): Covid 19 Response
Innovation Response Category –
Response Category – Category –
Award Multiple Initiatives
Multiple Initiatives Multiple
Initiatives
Project Awards
New
Town Kolkata(W
est Bengal):
Landscape
Redevelopment of
Indore(Madhya NeemBanani Park
Coimbatore(Tamil
Built Pradesh): Riverfront and other Green
Nadu): Model Roads,
Environmen Development (Stretch 1 Open Spaces
Restoration and
t from Rambagh bridge to
Rejuvenation of Lakes
KrishnapuraChhatri) Kanpur(UttarPra
desh):
Modernisation
and Development
of Palika Sports
Stadium
Ahmedabad(Gujarat): Bhopal(Madhya
Thanjavur(Tamil
Revamping and up keep Pradesh): Restoration of
Nadu):
of heritage structure heritage buildings near
Culture Conservation of
and development of the SadarManzil precinct
Ponds –
heritage tourism using under Heritage Walk
Ayyankulam
technology Project
Jabalpur(Madhya Indore(Madhya
Lucknow: Rojgar
Economy Pradesh): Incubation Pradesh): Value Capture
Training Centre
Centre Financing (VCF)
Chandigarh: E- PimpriChinchwad(Maha Udaipur(Rajasth

Governance Governance Services for rashtra): Smart Sarathi an): Smart City
Chandigarh Smart City app Application

Agra(Uttar
Pradesh):
Revenue
generation
through ICCC and
ICCC Ahmedabad(Gujarat): Surat(Gujarat): Revenue Carbon emission
Business Traffic Management Generation from different reduction
Model through ICCC sources through ICCC
Gwalior(Madhya
Pradesh):
Intelligent traffic
management
system
Sagar(Madhya
Pradesh):
Chandigarh: Public New Town Kolkata(West
Intelligent Traffic
Mobility Bike Sharing (PPP) Bengal): Promoting Non-
Management
along with cycle tracks Motorized Transpor
System improving
road safety
Ahmedabad(Guj
arat): Door-to-
door waste
collection
Indore(Madhya Kakinada(Andhra monitoring
Sanitation Pradesh): Gobardhan Pradesh): Solid Waste
Bio-CNG Plant Management System Chandigarh:
Provision of
SCADA for Solid
Waste
Management
Raipur(Chhattisg
arh): B.P Pujari
School –
Vadodara(Gujarat): Upgradation of
Agra(UttarPradesh):
Implementation of Hindi Medium
Social Smart Health Centers
Hospital Management Schools to School
Aspects (PPP) and Upgradation of
Information System of Excellence in
municipal schools
(HMIS) English Medium
Thoothukudi(Ta
mil Nadu): Smart

Classroom and E-
Monitoring
Indore(Madhya
Shivamogga(Karnatka):
Urban Pradesh): Air quality Jammu(Jammu
Development of
Environmen improvement and and Kashmir): E-
Conservancies in
t Ahilya Van along with auto for old city
Package-2
Vertical Garden
Indore(Madhya
Pradesh): Saraswati and
Kahn Lifeline Project Agra(UttarPradesh):
(SANKALP), Rainwater Proving 24/7 water Rajkot(Gujarat):
Water Harvesting – “WATER supply to ABD area along Rejuvenation of
PLUS TO WATER with smart water meters Atal Sarovar
SURPLUS” and and SCADA systems
Rejuvenation of Lakes,
Wells and Stepwells
About Smart Cities Mission(SCM):
i.The Smart Cities Mission was launched on June 25, 2015, aims to provide basic infrastructure, a clean and
sustainable environment, and a good quality of life to their residents through the use of’smart solutions’.
ii.The 100 Smart Cities have taken up projects across diverse sectors including mobility, energy, water,
sanitation, solid waste management, vibrant public spaces, social infrastructure, smart governance.
• Under the SCM, the Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) is operating in all 100
Smart Cities.
iii.6,041(76%) of the total proposed projects under SCM have been completed, and the remaining 1,894
projects worth 60,095 crore will be finished by 30 June 2024.
In June 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Field Assessment for the
8th edition Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2023 – Mera Shehar, Meri Pehchan.
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA):
Union Minister– Hardeep Singh Puri(Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Kaushal Kishore (Constituency- Mohanlalganj, Uttar Pradesh)
Sashidhar Jagdishan of HDFC Bank Becomes Highest-Paid Bank CEO in FY23

HDFC Bank’s Sashidhar Jagdishan emerged as the highest-paid bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the
financial year 2022-2023(FY23) with over Rs 10.55 crore in total pay.
i.Kaizad Bharucha, deputy managing director, HDFC Bank, drew Rs 10 crore for FY23 and is likely to be the
second-highest-grossing banker in India
ii.Among bank CEOs, Amitabh Chaudhry, the CEO of Axis Bank, received a payout of Rs 9.75 crore in FY23
making it the second-highest in terms of overall pay among bank chief executives.
iii.Sandeep Bakhshi ,CEO of ICICI Bank got paid Rs 9.60 crore for the fiscal year.
Note: The details were made public in disclosures made in annual reports.

Myra Grover honoured with ‘Empowered Women Icon Award’ by House of Lords, UK
Parliament
Myra Grover, a distinguished author and Secretary of the New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA) has
been awarded the Prestigious ‘Women Icon Award‘, an international recognition and award from the House of
Lords, the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament, for her contributions to the society in the domain of Mental
Wellness.
• Dr. Gaurav Grover, Chairman of NDSWA, a Delhi
based Non-Profit Organisation(NGO) has been honored
with the Bharat Gaurav Samman by the House of Lords,
UK Parliament.
• The ‘Women Icon Award’ by the House of Lords, UK’s
upper house, honors exceptional women for impactful
contributions in their fields, inspiring communities
globally.
About Myra Grover:
i.She is one of the youngest members of NDSWA, as well as the
India Luxury Foundation.
ii.She has actively campaigned for the growth of sustainable practices in fashion and the environment as well as
for the elimination of single-use plastic.
iii.In 2022, she launched the cover of her book, ‘The Evolving Mindset – A Psychological Lens into 21st-
Century Youth Culture’ at the biggest wellness event in New Delhi, Delhi.
Award Ceremony:
i.The award ceremony took place at an event, Bharat Mahotsav – Festival of One India in the UK at the House
of Lords, the second chamber of the UK Parliament.
ii.Confluence NGO has been organising the event, which is renowned for its efforts in promoting Indian Craft &
Culture and facilitating Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings to felicitate people with excellence in their
respective fields.
• The event was supported by Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs,
and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (GoI), as the Chief Guest.
iii.Confluence NGO, celebrated the theme of ‘Amrit Kaal’ – Transforming India to New India. Through various
events, the organisation commemorated 75 years of Indian Independence.
Note: The Confluence NGO was established on August 21, 2017 as a ‘Make In India’ Entrepreneur is in-line
with the GoI’s vision of promoting Khadi and the Handloom Industry to Empower Women from rural villages.
About United Kingdom:
Capital– London
Prime Minister– Rishi Sunak
Currency– Pound sterling (GBP)
“Champaran Mutton”: 1st Indian Movie to enter semifinals of Oscar’s Student Academy Awards
Indian film “Champaran Mutton” directed by Ranjan Kumar(Bihar), from the Film and Television Institute of
India(FTII) in Pune, Maharashtra, has made it to the semifinals of the Oscar’s Student Academy Awards (SAA)
2023, 49th edition of SAA, an international student film competition.
• The film is being judged in the Narrative category of the Student Academy Awards 2023.
• This is the first Indian film to enter the semifinals of the SAA, which was established in 1972.
• The film beautifully embodies the unyielding spirit of Bihar’s people. Bajjika dialect,’ primarily
spoken in regions encompassing Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai, serves as the linguistic
foundation for ‘Champaran Mutton’.
Categories of SAA: Animation, Documentary, Live Action Narrative and Alternative/Experimental.

Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation, 2023
On 12th August 2023, the “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation, 2023” has been
awarded to 140 Police Personnel, in recognition of their outstanding service in the investigation.
• Among the 140 personnel, 15 are from the Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 12 are from the National
Investigation Agency (NIA), and 2 are from Narcotics
Control Bureau (NCB), and so on.
• This medal was constituted in 2018, with the objective
to promote high professional standards of investigation
of crime and recognize such Excellence in Investigation.
About Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in
Investigation:
i.It is an annual medal, instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs
(Government of India) to the members of Central Investigating Agencies and State/UT Police Investigating
Agencies for excellence in investigation.
ii.The objective of the medal is to, promote high professional standards of investigation of crime in the state
police and Central investigating agencies in India, and to recognise such excellence in an investigation by
investigating officers of police organisations.
iii.It has been announced on the 12th of August every year.
Key Highlights:
i.The officers chosen for the coveted medal are the Superintendent of Police (SP), Assistant Superintendent of
Police (ASP), Deputy Superintendent of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Inspector, Sub-Inspector, and so
on.
ii.Among them, 10 are from Uttar Pradesh, 09 each from Kerala & Rajasthan, 08 from Tamil Nadu, 07 from
Madhya Pradesh and 06 are from Gujarat, and the remaining are from other States/Union Territories
(UTs)/Organizations
iii.These also include 22 Women Police Officers.
NAFIS of NCRB gets DARPG’s Gold Award for Excellence in Category-1

The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) team of the National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB) won the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process Reengineering for Digital
Transformation Category-1 of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG),
Ministry of Personnel, Public grievances and Pensions. The award recognised the dedication of the NAFIS team
in creating a fool-proof fingerprint identification system.
• MoHA provided NAFIS devices to all Districts, Police Commissionerates, Central and State
Fingerprint Bureaus, and Central agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• According to the MoHA, NAFIS, which was developed by the NCRB, is a centralised database of
criminal fingerprints, that would help in the quick and easy disposal of cases and the database is a
collaborative effort, granting access to authorized personnel from all States, Union Territories, and
Central Agencies.
Note:
• Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the NAFIS on August 17, 2022, at the 2-day National
Securities Strategies (NSS) Conference held in Delhi.
• In April 2022, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to identify a deceased person through
NAFIS.

1st Maharashtra Industry Awards 2023: Padma Awardee Ratan Tata honoured with first-ever
‘Udyog Ratna‘ Award
Padma Awardee and former Chairman of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata was honoured with the first-
ever ‘Udyog Ratna Award’ for his outstanding contribution to Maharashtra’s industrial development. The
Udyog Ratna Award is one of the category awards presented in the 1st Maharashtra Industry Awards 2023,
instituted by the Maharashtra government.
• The award was presented to Ratan Tata by
Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, and
Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Deputy CMs at
Ratan Tata’s home in Colaba in south
Mumbai,Maharashtra.
• During the award ceremony, on behalf of Ratan Tata,
the Chairman of Tata Sons N. Chandrasekharan was
presented with a memento of the Udyog Ratna award
by the Governor.
• The honour comprised a shawl, a citation, and a
commemorative memento along with a cheque of Rs. 25 lakhs from the Maharashtra Industrial
Development Corporation (MIDC).
Note: The contribution of Tata Group in all sectors, from salt to steel, operates in over 100 countries across 6
continents. In the fiscal year 2021-22, the combined revenue of Tata Companies amounted to USD 128 billion.
Other Awards:
Apart from Udyog Ratna Award, there were other 3 awards presented in the ceremony namely
• Udyog Mitra Award (Young Entrepreneur Award) – Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of
India was honoured with the Udyog Mitra Award
• Udyogini Award (Best Women Entrepreneur) – Gauri Kirloskar of Kirloskar Group was honoured
with this award
• Utkrusht Marathi Udyojak Award (Outstanding Marathi Entrepreneur) -Vilas Shinde, Chairman
and MD (CMD) of Sahyadri Farms was honoured with this award
Maharashtra Industry Awards 2023:
i.It is an annual award instituted by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) of the
Government of Maharashtra in 2023 to to acknowledgethe entrepreneurs who have contributed substantially
to the industrial sector of Maharashtra on the lines of Maharashtra Bhushan from 2023.
ii.The Maharashtra government has decided to start the awards Maharashtra Bhushan Award instituted in
1995 is the highest award given by the Maharashtra government to people who have contributed to the social
life of Maharashtra in the disciplines of literature, art, sport, science, public administration, journalism, social
work, and healthcare.
iii.The ‘Udyog Rozgar Mitra’ (U R Mitra) initiative was also launched on the occasion.
About Ratan Tata:
i.Ratan N Tata was the chairman of major Tata companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy
Services, Tata Power and so on.
ii.He is also associated with various organisations both inside and outside India and he is on the international
advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation and JP Morgan Chase.
iii.The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008 for
Trade and Industry.
About Maharashtra:
Zoological Parks– Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park and Rajiv Gandhi Zoological
Park (Peshwa Park)

Swachh Vayu Survekshan– 2023; 2 cities of Madhya Pradesh Among Top 5
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan- 2023’, an initiative by the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to rank cities on the basis of air quality.
• The Information Technology (IT) hub of Indore, Madhya Pradesh stood first among 47 cities in
Category 1 cities.
• This recognition is a part of the National Mission for
Clean Air and takes place annually on the 7th of
September, observed as the “International Day of
Clean Air for Blue Skies.”
Criteria for Ranking
The Criteria for Ranking of cities is based on population of 2011
census. 131 cities are divided into 3 categories mentioned below:
• Category 1- covers 47 cities with a population of above
10 Lakh.
• Category 2- covers 44 cities with a population between
3 to 10 lakh.
• Category 3- covers 40 cities with a population of below 3 Lakh.
Rank City State
1 Indore Madhya Pradesh
2 Agra Uttar Pradesh
3 Thane Maharashtra
4 Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir
5 Bhopal Madhya Pradesh
• In Category 2, Sagar in Madhya Pradesh stands at 10th place in the country.
• In Category 3, Dewas in Madhya Pradesh has secured 6th position in the country.
Note: The two of the top five positions have been secured by Madhya Pradesh.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan:
i.The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced “Swachh Vayu
Survekshan,” a novel initiative aimed to rank cities on the basis of air quality and also on implementation of
activities approved under city action plan in 131 non-attainment cities.
• Non-attainment cities are areas where air quality does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) set by regulatory authorities.
ii.One of the objectives of Swachh Vayu Survekshan is to achieve the goal of National Clean Air Programme
(NCAP)’s “Clean air for all”.NCAP aims to reduce air pollution up to 40% by 2025-26.
• National Clean Air Programme was launched in 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 131 cities
(non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/Union Territories.
iii.The guidelines for ranking of cities under NCAP will be for four years from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26.
iv.Cities also conduct self-assessment for pollution control through the online portal ” PRANA” – Portal for
Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities, a portal for monitoring of implementation of National
Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Highlights of 69th National Film Award

On 24th August 2023, the winners of the 69th National Film Awards (2023) were announced by the jury
panel during the event held at the National Media Centre, New Delhi, Delhi. Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister
for Information and Broadcasting, was presented with the list of the winners.
• 69th National Film Awards honoured the best films of 2021 in Indian cinema.

• The National Film Awards are organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals(DFF), under Ministry for
Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• The awards are categorised into five categories. They are Dadasaheb Phalke Award(Lifetime
Achievement Award), Feature films, Non Features films, Best writing on cinema and Most film friendly
state.
Note – The Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) was set up under
this Ministry in 1973 with the objective of promotion of Indian films
and cultural exchange through organization of various events in the
country and participation in various International film festivals in
abroad.
Who announced the award?
The awards were announced by Ketan Mehta (Chairperson of the
Feature Films Jury), Vasanth S Sai (Chairperson of the Non-Feature
Films Jury) and Yatindra Mishra (Chairperson of the Best Writing on
Cinema Jury).
• The awards were announced in the presence of Ms. Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary of the Ministry
of Information and Broadcasting.
Note: Currently the award is announced only for three categories ie., Feature films, Non Features films, Best
writing on cinema.
Highlights:
i.RRR(Rise Roar Revolt), a Telugu film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, has won the most number of
awards i.e. 6 at the 69th National Film Awards.
• The Hindi movie ‘Gangubai’ Kathiawadi and Sardar Udham received five awards each.
ii.Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, directed by R Madhavan won the Best Feature Film award.
• Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is a biographical drama based on the life story of Indian Space Research
Organization(ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was accused in the ISRO espionage case and later
exonerated.
iii.Ek Tha Gaon directed by Srishti Lakhera won the Best Non-Feature Film award.
• Ek Tha Gaon is a documentary film on a Ghost Village made in Garhwali and Hindi language.
iv.The Kashmir Files directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on
National Integration.
Best Actor and Actress:
i.Telugu Actor Allu Arjun won the Best Actor award for the film Pushpa (The Rise Part I). With this, he
became the first Telugu actor to win the National Award under Best Actor category.
ii.The Best Actress award was shared by Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Kriti Sanon for Mimi.

Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) Award:
All the awardees under this section will be awarded with a certificate and a cash prize.
Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus)Award for Feature Film
Category Film Language Awardee Cash Prize
Producer:
Rocketry
Entertainment
LLP
Best Feature Rocketry: The Director: R Rs. 2,50,000
Film Nambi Effect Hindi Madhavan (each)
Producer: Unni
Indira Gandhi Mukundan Films
Award for Best Meppadiyan Private Ltd.
Debut Film of a (Person above Director: Vishnu Rs.1,25,000
Director mentioned) Malayalam Mohan (each)
Award for Best Producer: DVV
Popular Film Entertainments
Providing LLP
Wholesome Director: S S Rs.2,00,000/-
Entertainment RRR Telugu Rajamouli (each)
Producer: MD
Media Corp
Best Children’s Director: Manish Rs.1,50,000/-
Film Gandhi&Co. Gujarati Saini (each)
Godavari (The Director: Nikhil Rs.
Best Direction Holy Water) Marathi Mahajan 2,50,000/-
Swarna Kamal Award for Non-Feature Film
Producer & Rs.
Best Non- Director: Srishti 1,50,000/-
Feature Film Ek Tha Gaon Hindi Lakhera each
Director: Bakul Rs.
Best Direction Smile Please Marathi Matiyani 1,50,000/-
Swarna Kamal Award for Best Writing on Cinema
Category Book Language Author Publisher Cash prize
Music by
Laxmikant
Pyarelal: The
Incredibly Rupa
Award for Best Melodious Rajiv Publications
Book on Cinema Journey English Vijayakar India Pvt. Ltd. Rs.75,000/-
Note: Purushothama Charyulu, Telugu Film also received the Swarna Kamal Award for Best Film Critic with an
entitled cash prize of Rs.75,000/-

Rajat Kamal(Silver Lotus):
The best Film on Social Issues award of Rajat Kamal was received by Anunaad-The Resonance (Assamese)
under the Feature Film Category.
Rajat Kamal(Silver Lotus) for feature films
Producer:Zee
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Studios Limited Rs.
Feature Film on National The Kashmir Director: Vivek 1,50,000/-
Integration Files Hindi Ranjan Agnihotri (each)
Producer: Krishand
Films
Rs.
Best Film on Environment 1,50,000/-
Conservation/Preservation Aavasavyuham Malayalam Director: Krishand (each)
Pushpa (The Lead Actor: Allu Rs.
Best Actor Rise Part I) Telugu Arjun 50,000/-
Gangubai Lead Actress: Alia
Kathiawadi Hindi Bhatt
Lead Actress: Kriti Rs.
Best Actress Mimi (Hindi) Hindi Sanon 50,000/-
Supporting Actor: Rs.
Best Supporting Actor Mimi Hindi Pankaj Tripathi 50,000/-
The Kashmir Supporting Actress: Rs.
Best Supporting Actress Files Hindi Pallavi Joshi 50,000/-
Last Film Show Child Artist : Bhavin Rs.
Best Child Artist (Chhello Show) Gujarati Rabari 50,000/-
Singer : Kaala
Bhairava
(Song : Komuram Rs.

Best Male Playback Singer RRR Telugu Bheemudo) 50,000/-
Singer : Shreya
Ghoshal
Iravin Nizhal
(Shadow of the (Song : Maayava Rs.
Best Female Playback Singer Night) Tamil Chaayavaa) 50,000/-
Cameraman: Avik Rs.
Best Cinematography Sardar Udham Hindi Mukhopadhayay 50,000/-
Screenplay writer
Nayattu (The (original): Shahi
Hunt) Malayalam Kabir
Screenplay Rs.
Gangubai writer(Adapted): 50,000/-
Best Screenplay Kathiawadi Hindi (each)

Sanjay Leela
Bhansali &
Utkarshini
Vashishtha
Dialogue Writer:
Utkarshini
Gangubai Vashishtha &
Kathiawadi Hindi Prakash Kapadia
Best Production
Sound Recordist
(Location / sync
sound) :
Arun Asok & Sonu K
Chavittu Malayalam P
Sound Designer:
Jhilli (Discards) Bengali Aneesh Basu
Re- Recording (Final Rs.
Mixing): Sinoy 50,000/-
Best Audiography Sardar Udham Hindi Joseph (each)
Gangubai Editor: Sanjay Leela Rs.
Best Editing Kathiawadi Hindi Bhansali 50,000/-
Production
Designer: Dmitrii Rs.
Malich & Mansi 50,000/-
Best Production Design Sardar Udham Hindi Dhruv Mehta (Shared)
Costume Designer: 50,000/-
Best Costume Designer Sardar Udham Hindi Veera Kapur Ee (Shared)
Rajat
Make-up Artist: Kamal and
Gangubai Preetisheel Singh Rs.
Best Make-up Artist Kathiawadi Hindi D’souza 50,000/-
Music Director
(Songs):
Pushpa (The
Rise Part I) Telugu Devi Sri Prasad
Music Director
(Background Score) :
Rs.
50,000/-
Best Music Direction RRR Telugu M.M. Keeravaani (each)
Lyricist:
Chandrabose
(Song: Dham Dham Rs.

Best Lyrics Konda Polam Telugu Dham) 50,000/-

Director: Vishnu Rs.
Special Jury Award Shershaah Hindi Varadhan 2,00,000/-
Special Effects
Creator: V Srinivas Rs.
Best Special Effects RRR Telugu Mohan 50,000/-
Choreographer: Rs.
Best Choreography RRR Telugu Prem Rakshith 50,000/-
Stunt
Best Action Direction Award Choreographer: King Rs.
(Stunt Choreography) RRR Telugu Soloman 50,000/-
Rajat Kamal Award for Non–Feature Film
Producer: Shreya
Kapadiya Rs.
Best Debut Non-Feature Film Director: Ankit 75,000/-
of a Director Paanchika Gujarathi Kothari each
Producer: Risen
North East. Non
Govt. Organization Rs.
Tiwa Director: Pranab 50,000/-
Best Anthropological Film Fire on Edge Language Jyoti Deka each
Rukhu Matir Producer & Director:
Dukhu Majhi Bengali Somnath Mondal
Best Biographical Producer: Luwang Rs.
Film/Historical Apokpa Mamikon 50,000/-
Reconstruction/Compilation Director: Saikhom each
Film Beyond Blast Manipuri Ratan (Shared)
T.N. Krishnan Producer: NFDC Rs.

Bow Strings to Director: V. 50,000/-
Best Arts Film Divine English Packirisamy each
Producer: Sri Ganesh
(English- Productions Rs.
Best Science & Technology Ethos of Hindi- Director: Avijit 50,000/-
Film Darkness Bengali) Banerjee each
Endangered Producer: Baba
Best Promotional Film (To Heritage Cinemas Rs.
Cover Tourism, Exports, Crafts, Director: Hemant 50,000/-
Industry, etc.) ‘Warli Art’ English Verma each
Producer: Sree
Gokulam Movies Rs.
Best Environment Film Director: R S 50,000/-
Including Agriculture Munnam Valavu Malayalam Pradeep each
Producer & Director: Rs.
Best Film on Social Issues Mithu Di Hindi Asim Kumar Sinha 50,000/-

Producer: FTII each
Director: Himanshu (Shared)
Three Two One Hindi Prajapati
Producer: KKV Rs.
Sirpigalin Media Venture 50,000/-
Best Educational Film Sirpangal Tamil Director: B Lenin each
Producer: Mathew
Varghese, Dinesh
Rajkumar N, Naveen
Francis Rs.
Best Exploration / Adventure English, Director: Jacob 50,000/-
Film (To Include Sports) Ayushman Kannada Varghese each
Producer: IGNCA Rs.
Looking For 50,000/-
Best Investigative Film Challan English Director: Bappa Ray each
Producer: Studio
Eeksaurus
Productions Pvt.Ltd Rs.
Director: Adithi 50,000/-
Best Animation Film Kandittundu Malayalam Krishnadas each
Rs.
Marathi Director: Shekhar 1,00,000/-
Special Jury Award Rekha Film Bapu Rankhambe each
Producer: Nemil Rs.
Shah 50,000/-
Best Short Fiction Film Dal Bhat Gujarati Director: Nemil Shah each
Producer:
Chandrakant
Kulkarni Rs.
Director: Pratima 50,000/-
Best Film on Family Values Chand Saanse Hindi Joshi each
Rs.
Cinematographer: 50,000/-
Best Cinematography Pataal – Tee Bhotiya Bittu Rawat each
Best Audiography (Re- Re-recordist (final
recordist of the Final Mixed (Garhwali mixed track): Unni Rs.
Track) Ek Tha Gaon & Hindi) krishnan 50,000/-
Best Production Sound Production sound
Recordist (Location/Sync recordist: Suruchi Rs.
Sound) Meen Raag Rajasthani Sharma 50,000/-
If Memory Editor: Abhro Rs.
Best Editing Serves Me Right English Banerjee 50,000/-

Hindi,
English, Music Director: Rs.
Best Music Direction Succelent Marathi Ishaan Divecha 50,000/-
(English Voice Over: Kulada
Partly Kumar Rs.
Best Narration/Voice Over Hathibondhu Assamese) Bhattacharjee 50,000/-
Best Feature Film in each of the language specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution:
All the awards below are given under Rajat Kamal category.
Category of Medal
Title Of The Film Awardee
Award & Cash Prize
Best Assamese Anur (Eyes on the Producer: Gopendra Mohan Das Rs. 1,00,000/-
Film Sunshine) Director: Monjul Baruah (each)
Producer: Aurora Film

Best Bengali Kalkokkho – House of Corporation Pvt.Ltd Rs. 1,00,000/-
Film Time Director: Rajdeep Paul & (each)
Sarmistha Maiti
Sardar Udham Producer: Kino works LLP Rs. 1,00,000/-

Best Hindi Film
(Hindi) Director: Sujit Sircar (each)
Best Gujarati Last Film Show Producer: Jugaad Motion Pictures Rs. 1,00,000/-
Film (Chhello Show) Director: Pan Nalin (each)
Producer: Parmvah Studios

Best Kannada Rs. 1,00,000/-
777 Charlie Pvt.Ltd
Film (each)
Director: Kiranraj K
Best Maithili Samanantar (The Producer : Anirati Films Rs. 1,00,000/-

Film Parallel) Director: Niraj Kumar Mishra (each)
Producer : Gajavadana Showbox

Best Marathi LLP Rs. 1,00,000/-
Ekda Kay Zala
Film Director: Saleel Shrinivas (each)
Kulkarni
Producer: Friday Film House

Best Malayalam Rs. 1,00,000/-
Home Pvt.Ltd.
Film (each)
Director: Rojin.P.Thomas
Producer: Chingsubam Sheetal

Best Meiteilon Eikhoigi Yum Rs. 1,00,000/-
Director: Mayanglambam Romi
Film (Our Home) (each)
Meitei
Producer: Amiya Patnaik

Pratikshya Rs. 1,00,000/-
Best Odia Film Procutions
(The Wait) (each)
Director: Anupam Patnaik

Kadaisi Vivasayi Producer : Tribal Arts Rs. 1,00,000/-
Best Tamil Film
(The Last Farmer) Director: M. Manikandan (each)
Producer: Mythri Movie Makers Rs. 1,00,000/-

Best Telugu Film Uppena (Wave)
Director: Sana Buchibabu (each)
Best Feature Film in each of the languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Best Mishing Film: Boomba Ride (Assamese) .This movie Producer is Quarter Moon and productions Director
is Biswajit Bora.
• It received Rajat Kamal award with Rs. 1,00,000/- (each).
Special Jury Mention Award – Feature Film:
All the awardee under this section will be awarded only with a certificate.
Film Language Awardee
Kadaisi Vivasayi (The Last Farmer) Tamil Actor: Late shri Nallandi
Jhilli (Discards) Bengali Actors: Aranya Gupta & Bithan Biswas
Home Malayalam Actor: Indrans
Anur – Eyes on the Sunshine Assamese Actress: Jahanara Begum

Special Mention – Non-Feature Film:
Film Language Awardee
Baale Bangara Kannada Actor: Aniruddha Jatkar
Karuvarai Tamil Music Director: Srikanth Deva
The Healing Touch English Sweta Kumar Das
Ek Duaa Hindi Filmmaker: Ram Kamal Mukherjee

Note: ‘Special Mention – Critic’ award under ‘Best Writing on Cinema’ category is given to Subramanya
Badoor(Kannada language). He will be provided only with a certificate.
About National Film Award:
Established in 1954. Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar are the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress (then
called Urvashi) and Best Actor (then called Bharat) respectively.
• These awards encourage the production of films of aesthetic & technical excellence and social relevance
contributing to the understanding of cultures of different regions in cinematic form.
The juries are appointed by The Directorate of Film Festivals in India under the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting.

Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi Elected as BoD and Constituency Director of BRICS’ NDB
BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) has elected Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi, Director of International
Financial Relations and Organisations Department at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Finance, as a
member of its Board of Directors and a Constituency Director.
• Alhashmi will become the first Emirati and Arab woman to assume a Director’s position at the NDB
bank, established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in July 2015 to support
infrastructure projects in BRICS countries and other emerging economies
• She was appointed following an internal voting process during NDB’s 8th annual meeting held in
Shanghai, China.
Alhashmi was involved in managing the UAE’s relationship with international financial organizations, including
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD), NDB, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for
International Development, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the G20 (Group of Twenty) Finance
Track
BSNL’s Shivendra Nath Appointed as CMD of EPI

On 27th July 2023, the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) panel selected Shivendra Nath for the post of
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Engineering Projects (India) Ltd (EPI), a Public Sector Undertaking
(PSU) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
• He is currently serving as the Senior General Manager of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a
PSU under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
• He will replace Dhirendra Singh Rana, the incumbent CMD of EPI, who took charge in 2019 and is
scheduled to retire on September 30, 2023.
• As CMD of EPI, Shivendra Nath will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company and will be
accountable to its board and directors.
About Shivendra Nath:
i.Shivendra Nath, a distinguished 1994-batch Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officer, started his
engineering career in 1994 as the Engineering Project Manager of the Personnel & Training (P&T) Department,
Indian Engineering Services through UPSC.
ii.He served as the Chief Engineer at BSNL till September 2020.
iii.He assumed the role of Superintending Engineer at Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) until
January 2021.
About Engineering Projects (India) Ltd (EPI):
EPI was incorporated in April 1970 as the Indian Consortium for Industrial Projects Ltd. consortium of 7
PSUs.
It was renamed Engineering Projects (India) Ltd. in December 1970.
CMD– Dhirendra Singh Rana
MFIN Elects Udaya Kumar Hebbar as Its Chairperson

On 31st July 2023, Microfinance Industry Network (MFIN) elected Udaya Kumar Hebbar as Chairperson
and Manoj Kumar Nambiar as the Vice Chairperson in its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Delhi.
Udaya Kumar Hebbar
i.Udaya Kumar Hebbar assumed the position from Devesh Sachdev, MD & CEO of Fusion Micro Finance Ltd. on

completion of his respective term.
ii.Hebbar is the Managing Director (MD)of CreditAccess Grameen
Ltd.
Manoj Kumar Nambiar
i.Manoj Kumar Nambiar assumed the position from Vivek Tiwari, MD
& CEO of Satya MicroCapital Ltd. on completion of his respective
term.
• Previously Manoj Kumar Nambiar was elected as a
Chairperson of MFIN in 2019 and was re-elected in 2020.
ii.Nambiar is the MD of Arohan Financial Services Ltd.(an Aavishkaar
Group company).
About Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN):
i.MFIN was established in 2009 as an Industry Association for Non-Banking Financial Companies –
Microfinance Institutions (NBFC-MFI).
ii.In 2014, MFIN was recognized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as India’s first Self-Regulatory Organization
(SRO) for the NBFC-MFIs.
Chairman- Udaya Kumar Hebbar
Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana
Established- 2009
Prof Ganesan Kannabiran takes over as new NAAC Director

On 28th July 2023, Professor Ganesan Kannabiran, a former Dean of Research & Consultancy and Director in
charge of the National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Trichy (Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu) assumed charge as
the new Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and
his tenure will be for 5 years.
• He replaced Prof. S. C. Sharma, who served as the Director of NAAC from May 2018 to May 2023.
About Ganesan Kannabiran:
i.He established the Center for Subject Matter Expert (SME) Research Development and led the institutional-
level ‘Strategic Planning Group’ assisting in a major goal-oriented transformation at NIT-Tiruchirappalli.
ii.He also served as Director in charge of NIT Puducherry (Karaikal, Puducherry).
iii.He was the founding Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Sri City, Chittoor,
Andhra Pradesh (An Institute of National Importance) and led the institution from 2018 to 2023.
iv.He founded 2 Section 8 Companies (Center for Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation (CEDI) at NIT
Trichy and Gyan Circle Ventures at IIIT Sri City, Andhra Pradesh).
v.He serves as a member of the Academic Advisory Committee of Project Management Institute India.
vi.He is also a member of the Computer Society of India and the Indian Society for Training and Development.
About National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):
It is an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Established in 1994.
It conducts assessment and accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
Chairman of Executive Committee– Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe
Director– Prof. Ganesan Kannabiran
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba Granted 1-Year Extension

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a one-year extension to Cabinet
Secretary Rajiv Gauba, by making him the longest-serving cabinet secretary in India’s history. This marks his
third extension in the position.

• The extension for a further period of one year goes beyond August 30th, 2023 in relaxation of All
India Services (AIS) (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits or DCRB) Rules, 1958 and Rule 56 (d) of the
Fundamental Rules.
About Rajiv Gauba:
i.Rajiv Gauba, born on 15th August 1959 in Punjab, India, is a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
officer of the Jharkhand cadre.
ii.He was appointed as India’s cabinet secretary in 2019 for a two-year term. Subsequently, he received one-
year extensions in 2021 and in August 2022.
Note:
i.Prior to Gauba, B D Pande held the record for being the longest-serving cabinet secretary, serving from
November 2, 1972, to March 31, 1977.
ii.The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the
Civil Services Board.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla Gets 1-year Extension Up To 22 August 2024

On 4th August 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved a further one-year extension
for Ajay Kumar Bhalla as Union Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs beyond August 22, 2023, up
to August 22, 2024. This is his 4th extension in the post.
• This has been done in relaxation of FR 56(d) and Rule
16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement
Benefits) Rules, 19.
About Ajay Kumar Bhalla:
i.Bhalla born on 26th November 1960, a 1984-batch Indian
Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre,
was first appointed as the Home Secretary on August 22nd 2019,
succeeding Rajiv Gauba for a fixed two-year tenure till August 2021.
ii.Subsequently, his term was extended for one year each in 2021 and
in 2022.
iii.Prior to joining Home Ministry, Bhalla held secretarial positions in the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal,
Department of Commerce, and Department of Shipping (ports) and also handled various assignments in the
cadre in Assam and Meghalaya.
Roles & Responsibilities of Home Secretary:
Home Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and is the principal adviser to the
Home Minister on all matters of policy and administration within the Home Ministry.All Central Forces
including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), CISF (Central
Industrial Security Force), and BSF (Border Security Force) is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Home Secretary serves as the sole and highest administrative authority in the Ministry of
Home Affairs.The responsibility in this regard is complete and undivided.
• The Home Secretary acts as the primary adviser to the Home Minister on all aspects of policy and
administrative affairs.
• The Home Secretary represents the Ministry of Home Affairs in front of the Public Accounts
Committee of the Parliament of India.
• Among the secretaries in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Home Secretary holds the highest
position and is considered the foremost in terms of authority and influence.
GoI appointed Sanjay Kumar Agarwal as CBIC Chairman & Surjit Bhujabal as CBIC Member
On 5th August 2023, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Sanjay Kumar Agarwal as the Chairman of the
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), an apex policy-making body for indirect taxes under the
Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.

• He succeeds Vivek Johri, who superannuated on 31st July 2023.
• Prior to this appointment, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal was
serving as the CBIC Member (Compliance Management)
from March 1, 2022, to August 4, 2023.
Note: Sanjay Kumar Agarwal is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
Custom and Indirect Taxes (C&IT) Officer of the 1988 batch.
Other appointmnet:
Surjit Bhujbal has been appointed as the Member (Compliance
Management) of CBIC board succeeding Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.
• Surjit Bhujbal is an IRS (C&IT) officer of the 1989 batch.
• Prior to his appointment, Surjit Bhujbal was serving as the Principal Director General of the
Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), an apex intelligence organization functioning under
CBIC.
Board of CBIC:
i.The CBIC board is headed by a chairman who is assisted by 6 members who look into Tax Policy, Customs,
Information technology (IT) & Taxpayer Services, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Compliance management, and
Vigilance.
ii.The present 6 members are:
Rajiv Talwar; Alok Shukla; V. Rama Mathew; Shashank Priya; Vivek Ranjan and Surjit Bhujbal.
About Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):
It is formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), is one of the
Boards constituted under the statute the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963.
Chairman– Sanjay Kumar Agarwal
Scientist and Defense Expert Vijay Kumar Saraswat Appointed As The Chairman of QETCI
Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI) has announced the appointment of scientist and
defense expert Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat as Chairman of the Governing Board.
About Vijay Kumar Saraswat:
i.Saraswat who was born on 25th May 1949, at Gwalior, Madhya
Pradesh was formerly the Secretary of the Defence Research &
Development Organization (DRDO) and the Chief Scientific Advisor
to the Indian Minister of Defence.
ii.His areas of specialization include defense research in both basic
and applied sciences as well as national supercomputing systems.
iii.He has been credited with the development of Liquid Propulsion
Rocket Engines and missiles namely PRITHVI, DHANUSH, and
PRAHAAR.
iv.He is a member of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and Co-Chair for the Prime
Minister’s Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Committee (PMSTIAC).
v.He played a key role in setting up the Photonics Valley Corporation at Telangana and initiated a program for
the development of Silicon-Photonics Technology.
Awards
He has been conferred with many prestigious awards including the highest civilian awards like the Padma
Shri (1998) and Padma Bhushan (2013) in the field of Science and Engineering.
Note: QETCI a not-for-profit-Section 8 company. It is a think tank and an ecosystem entity dedicated to
enabling and accelerating the Quantum Ecosystem in India. It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Cambodian king appoints Hun Manet as new PM of Cambodia
On 7th August 2023, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree appointing Hun Manet as the
new Prime Minister (PM) of Cambodia for a 5 year-term. Hun Manet is the son of Hun Sen, the former PM of
Cambodia and one of Asia’s longest-serving PMs. Hun Manet will succeed Hun Sen, who has ruled for about 38
years.
• Hun Manet has been appointed as the new PM of the
Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th mandate of the
parliament, through a royal decree, with effective from
the day of signature.
• The designated PM of the Kingdom of Cambodia has
duties to prepare the members of the government for
seeking confidence adoption from the National
Assembly.
Note: A member of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)’s
Standing Committee, Lieutenant General Hun Manet is currently
serving as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and Commander of
Royal Cambodian.
General Election:
i.Hun Sen’s party, CPP won the Cambodian general elections held in July 2023, gaining 120 out of 125 seats in
the National Assembly.
ii.Following the elections results, former PM Hun Sen announced that he will be stepping down as the PM, and
hand over the power to Hun Manet.
iii.To officially become the new PM of Cambodia, Hun Manet and his new cabinet must win a confidence vote in
parliament set for August 22, 2023. He is expected to be sworn in on the same day.
iv.After stepping down, Hun Sen will become president of the Senate early next year and acting head of state
when the king is overseas.
About Hun Manet:
i.He is the eldest of Hun Sen’s 5 children and was born on October 20, 1977. He grew up in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, and joined the Cambodian military in 1995.
ii.He was the first Cambodian to graduate from the United States of America (US) Military Academy at West
Point, New York in 1999.
iii.Hun Manet has served the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces at various capacities,
• Deputy of Hun Sen’s (his father’s) bodyguards;
• Appointed as the commander of counter-terrorism;
• Took on the role of commander of the army;
• Appointment as the deputy commander-in-chief.
iv.He also became head of the youth wing of the ruling CPP.
About Cambodia:
King of Cambodia– Norodom Sihamoni
Capital– Phnom Penh
Currency– Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Indian Oil Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya Gets 1 Year Post-Retirement Extension
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas (MoP&NG) and extended the tenure of Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd (IOCL), for a period of 1 year beyond the date of his superannuation i.e with effect from
September 1, 2023, till August 31, 2024, or till the time of appointment of the regular incumbent to the post on
contract basis.

• Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, who took charge as chairman of IOC on July 1, 2020, turned 60 on 7th
August 2023, and as per the rules, he was to
superannuate from service on August 31, 2023.
• It’s rare for anyone on the board of a Publis Sector
Undertaking (PSU) to get an extension, post-retirement.
Note: IOCL ranked 94 in the Fortune Global 500 list of 2023.
About Shrikant Madhav Vaidya:
i.He was appointed as the President of the World LPG Association
(WLPGA) during the World LPG Forum in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) in 2021.
ii.He also serves as the Non-Executive Chairman on the Boards of:
• Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (a subsidiary of IndianOil),
• Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPCL) (a Joint Venture of IndianOil).
• Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council under MoP&NG,
• Non-Executive Director on the Board of JV company Petronet LNG Ltd. (PLL)
• President of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB)
• Chairman, Governing Council- Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and so on.
iii.In March 2023, he was named as the top Indian Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and ranked no. 81 globally in
the CEOWORLD Magazine’s list of Most Influential global CEOs.
About Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL):
Chairman– Srikant Madhav Vaidya
Established in 1959 as Indian Oil Company Ltd. IOCL is formed in 1964 by the merger of Indian Oil Company
Limited with Indian Refineries Limited
Indian Ecologist Raman Sukumar Elected as Vice-Chair of Working Group II of IPCC

Indian Ecologist, Scientist and Asian elephant expert Raman Sukumar has been elected as Vice Chair of
Working Group II (WGII) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) bureau for
the 7th Assessment Report (AR7) cycle.
• The elections for the new IPCC Bureau were held during the 59th Session of the IPCC held at the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 25th-28th
July 2023.
• The panel elected the new IPCC Bureau comprising 34
members, including the new IPCC Chair James
Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea of the United Kingdom(UK) and 3
Vice-Chairs.
• The panel also elected the 12 members of the Task Force
Bureau on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI).
About IPCC WGII:
i.The IPCC WGII assesses the impacts of climate change, from a
world-wide to a regional view of ecosystems and biodiversity, and
of humans and their diverse societies, cultures and settlements.
ii.WGII is led by two Co-Chairs and eight Vice-Chairs which form the WGII Bureau.
iii.WGII is supported by a Technical Support Unit (TSU) located in Bremen, Germany, and Durban, South Africa.
About Raman Sukumar:
i.Raman Sukumar, hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is best known for his work on the behavior of Asian
elephants and how their presence has affected both human and natural environments.
ii.In 1993, he became a member of the Project Elephant Steering Committee, which provided technical
support and advice on matters of elephant conservation to the Indian government.

iii.Sukumar chaired the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union from 1997 to
2004.
iv.He also served as director of the Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre, a special division of
the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, an independent organization that he had helped to establish in
1997.
Publications: Elephant Days and Nights: Ten Years with the Indian Elephant (1994), The Living Elephants:
Evolutionary Ecology, Behavior and Conservation (2003), and The Story of Asia’s Elephants (2011).
Awards: Presidential Award of the Chicago Zoological Society in 1989, the Order of the Golden Ark in 1997, the
Whitley Gold Award in 2003 and the International Cosmos Prize in 2006.
Sukumar & IPCC:
He has also contributed since the early 1990s to the work of IPCC in various capacities including Coordinating
Lead Author (IPCC special report on Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)), Lead Author (AR2, AR6
and special report on land and climate) and Review editor (AR4).
IPCC:
i.The IPCC is the United Nations(UN) body for assessing the science related to climate change.
ii.It was established by the UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
3 working groups:
• Working Group I, deals with the physical science basis of climate change;
• Working Group II, deals with impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and
• Working Group III, deals with the mitigation of climate change.
It also has a TFI that develops methodologies for measuring emissions and removals.
About Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC):
Chairman- Jim Skea
Established- 1988
Members- 195 member states
Niger Military Junta Appoints Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as Transitional PM of Niger
On 7th August 2023, the Military Junta of the Republic of Niger appointed Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, an
economist and former Minister of finance of Niger Republic, as a transitional Prime Minister (PM) of Niger,
according to a decree by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who is the self-declared Head of State of the
Transitional Government of Niger.
• The appointment comes nearly 2 weeks after the
military coup dismissed President Mohamed Bazoum,
who was democratically elected in 2021.
• Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine is the current Country
Manager of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in
Chad (Africa).
Note:
• Abdourahmane Tchiani, who also assumed head of the
National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland
(CNSP) in Niger.
• He is the former Commander of Niger’s presidential guard, who dismissed President Mohamed
Bazoum and suspended the constitution on July 26, 2023.
About Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine:
i.From 2001 to 2010, he served as Cabinet Director and Finance Minister in the cabinet of President
Mamadou Tandja, who led the country from 1999 to 2010 and was overthrown in 2010 by Major Salou Djibo.
ii.He also served as the AfDB’s Country Manager in Côte d’Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast) and Gabon of
Africa.

Other Appointments:
i.The junta also appointed Amadou Didilli as the head of Niger’s High Authority for Peace Consolidation (HACP).
ii.Abou Tague Mahamadou appointed as the inspector-general of the army and the national gendarmerie.
iii.Ibro Amadou Bachirou was appointed as the private chief of staff of the junta leader.
iv.Lieutenant-Colonel Habibou Assoumane was named the Commander of the Presidential Guard.
• These appointments follow closely after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
issued an ultimatum to the ruling military, demanding the reinstatement of President Mohamed
Bazoum.
About Niger:
Capital– Niamey
Prime Minister (interim)- Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine
Currency– West African CFA franc, XOF
Supreme Court Forms All Women Team led by former J&K CJ Gita Mittal to Oversee Relief in
Manipur
Supreme Court of India(SC) is set to constitute an all-women committee of 3 former High Court judges led by
former Chief Justice(CJ) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) High Court (HC) Gita Mittal to oversee the relief
rehabilitation and rebuilding measures in Manipur.
• The other members of the team include
Justices Shalini Shashank Phansalkar Joshi, former
Judge of Bombay HC and Justice Asha Menon, former
Judge of Delhi HC.
• The committee was constituted by the SC bench
comprising Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Chief
Justice of India(CJI); Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala
and Justice Manoj Misra.
Note: Gita Mittal was the 1st woman CJ of the J&K and Ladakh
High court (2018-2020).
Responsibilities of the All women’s team:
This will be a broad-based committee that will supervise, intervene and monitor relief and rehabilitation,
restoration of homesteads, religious places of worship, better relief work, and others.
Other Appointment:
The Supreme Court has also appointed Dattatray Padsalgikar, retired IPS officer of Maharashtra Cadre & former
Director General of Police(DGP) of Maharashtra, to monitor the overall investigation of criminal
cases(excluding 12 cases referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)) from 42 state police Special
Investigation Teams (SITs).
Key Points:
i.The supreme court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) from 6 different states to nominate 6
officers of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank to supervise the SITs formed for these cases.
ii.They will be deputed to the CBI and carry out the investigation under the supervision of the joint Director of
the CBI.
iii.This aims to enforce multiple layers of monitoring to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.
Note:
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the government of Manipur, stated that 11 cases related to sexual
violence against women, including the Thoubal sexual violence incident were transferred to CBI.
Violence in Manipur:
i.On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence erupted in Manipur between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the
Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribal community from the surrounding hills.

ii.According to a recent status report by Manipur Government, more than 150 have died between May and June
2023.
iii.Around 252 people were arrested and another 12,740 were arrested as preventive measures.
IRDAI Approved Appointment of Amit Jhingran as MD & CEO of SBI Life

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has approved the appointment of Amit
Jhingran as the Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Life Insurance Company Limited
(SBI Life).
• Amit Jhingran is set to succeed Mahesh Kumar Sharma,
the incumbent MD & CEO of SBI Life.
• Amit Jhingran is currently serving as the Chief General
Manager(CGM), in State Bank of India (SBI), Hyderabad
Circle, Telangana.
About Amit Jhingran:
i.Amit Jhingran joined SBI as a probationary officer in 1991 in
Lucknow Circle, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.He has also served as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of SBI,
Chicago (Illinois), United States Of America(USA).
iii.During his career spanning over 3 decades he has held various assignments across international banking,
retail banking, and branch management.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
Chairman- Debasish Panda
Established under – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act(IRDAI), 1999
About SBI Life Insurance Company limited(SBI Life):
SBI life was started as a joint venture (JV) between State Bank of India (SBI) and French financial institution
BNP Paribas Cardif.
Incorporated in – 2000
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Appointed as Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan

On 14th August 2023, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar(52 year-old) became the 8th Caretaker Prime Minister(PM) of
Pakistan following the dissolvement of Former PM Shehbaz Sharif
government.
• He was administered oath of the office by President
Arif Alvi in a ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr (the
President House) in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• He will lead the Pakistan government until the formation
of the next elected government.
About Anwarul Haq Kakar:
i.Kakar was Born in 1971 from an ethnic Pushtun community in the
Muslim Bagh, Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan, Pakistan.
ii.He was elected as a senator for the first time in 2018 from the Balochistan province.
iii.Upon his election as PM, he resigned his current post of senator and from a member of Balochistan Awami
Party (BAP).
Background:
i.Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed the government after the last general election for the
pakistan parliament was held in 2018.

• In April 2022, Imran Khan was removed from PM after he lost a no-confidence motion in
parliament.
ii.Following Imran Khan removal,Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
became the 23rd PM.
• Shehbaz Sharif dissolved the parliament on 8th August before the end of the present tenure of the
parliament on 12th August 2023.
iii.According to the Pakistan Constitution, the general election for the parliament will be conducted within 90
days after the dissolvement of the parliament.
About Pakistan:
Caretaker Prime Minister(PM) – Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
Capital – Islamabad
Currency – Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
R Doraiswamy Executive Director of LIC appointed as MD of LIC

The Government of India(GoI) have appointed R Doraiswamy as Managing Director (MD) of the Life Insurance
Corporation of India (LIC) with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the office on or after September
1, 2023, and upto the date of his superannuation (August 31, 2026) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• R Doraiswamy is currently the Executive Director (Information Technology (IT)/Software
Development (SD)), at the LIC central office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• He will replace Mini Ipe, one of the current MDs of LIC, who is set to retire at the end of August
2023.
• The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), in June 2023, recommended the name of
Doraiswamy as MD of LIC.
• Currently, LIC has 4 MDs namely, Mini Ipe, M Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, and Sat Pal Bhanoo.
Note: FSIB has been constituted effective from July 01, 2022, by Central Government for the purpose of
recommending persons for appointment as whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons on the
Boards of financial services institutions. It is headed by Bhanu Pratap Sharma, former Secretary, Department of
Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai was Given Additional Charge as CEO of NRAA

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT),Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has
issued an order appointing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rainfed
Area Authority (NRAA) on an additional charge basis. This appointment is effective for a period of 9 months
starting from June 5, 2023, until the appointment of a new CEO or until further orders.
• He is currently serving as the Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare(DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW).
• Faiz Ahmed Kidwai succeeds Dr. Ashok Dalwai, who was serving as CEO of NRAA since July 2017.
Note: The additional charge for Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, 1996-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was
approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC) headed by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi.
About National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA):
• NRAA was established as an attached office of the then Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
(now DA&FW) on 3rd November 2006.
• NRAA is an expert body that offers the much-needed information inputs about the systematic
management and improvement of the India’s dryland and rainfed agriculture.
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi.
Anuradha Thakur was Given Additional Charge as Director of SFIO
Anuradha Thakur has been given additional charge as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office

(SFIO), a statutory corporate fraud investigating agency in India, for a period of 6 months with effect from 31st
July 2023, till the appointment of regular incumbent or until further orders.
• Anuradha Thakur is a 1994 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh Cadre.
About Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO):
SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organization under Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA).
It includes experts from the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, law, information technology, investigation,
company law, capital market and taxation for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution
white-collar crimes/frauds.
• SFIO was established through the Government of India vide Notification dated 21st July 2015.
• Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi.
Mahmood Ahmed was given Additional Charge as MD of NHIDCL
Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways(MoRTH), has been given
additional charge as the Managing Director(MD) of National Highways and Infrastructure Development
Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) under the MoRTH.
• Mahmood Ahmed is a 1993 batch Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service
(IP&T AFS) officer.
• He will hold the post till the appointment of the regular incumbent or until further orders.
• The post has been vacant since Chanchal Kumar, MD of NHIDCL, was moved to the Ministry of Civil
Aviation(MCA) as Officer On Special Duty(OSD).
About National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL):
Established in 2014
Parminder Chopra Becomes Full-Time CMD of Power Finance Corp. Ltd

With the approval of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the Power Finance Corporation
Limited (PFC) has appointed Parminder Chopra as its first woman full-time Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD) with effective from (w.e.f) 14th August, 2023. The Ministry of Power has approved Chopra’s
appointment “till the date of her superannuation (April 30, 2027) or until further orders.
• Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) is the India’s largest non-banking financial company
(NBFC) and a Maharatna, Central Public Sector Undertaking(CPSU) under the Ministry of Power.
Responsiblities of Parminder Chopra:
i.Previously, she was holding the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of PFC,
w.e.f 01.06.2023 and was Director (Finance), PFC since 01.07.2020.
ii.She succeeded Ravinder Singh Dhillon as CMD(additional charge) of PFC, who retired on 31st May 2023.
iii. As Director of Finance, she led the Finance Division, achieving record-high Net Profit, Net Worth. This
exceptional financial performance played a key role in PFC attaining “Maharatna” status.
iv.She had done major role in the successful execution of INR 1.12 trillion Liquidity Infusion Scheme (LIS) for
the power distribution sector. This initiative was a crucial component of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign
launched by the Government of India.
v.She will remain actively involved in supporting the implementation of important power sector initiatives by
the Government of India, including the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the Late
Payment Surcharge (LPS) rules.
vi.She had a previous experience including service in prominent power sector majors like NHPC
Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation), and Power Grid Corporation of India
Limited(POWERGRID), a Schedule ‘A’, ‘Maharatna’ Public Sector Enterprise of Govt. of India.
Awards –
• In the year 2023, Smt. Parminder Chopra has been honored with the esteemed ‘Icon of the Year’
award by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

She has also been conferred with the “Finance Leader of the Year” Award for her outstanding contributions to
the finance industry.
RBI Approves P R Seshadri as Next MD & CEO of South Indian Bank

On 17th August 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of P R Seshadri as the
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South Indian Bank for a period of 3 years with
effect from 1st October 2023.
• He is currently mentoring businesses both at an operating level as well as at the board level at various
companies.
• He will replace Murali Ramakrishnan, whose tenure as MD & CEO of South Indian Bank is set to end
by 30th September 2023. He has been serving in the post since 2020.
About P R Seshadri:
i.He started his banking career with Citibank in early 1992 and
served in various capacities including MD of CitiFinancial Consumer
Finance India Ltd (CCFIL) and Citi Financial Retail Services India Ltd
till 2005.
ii.In 2005, he served as the MDr and regional head of Citibank’s retail
banking and lending businesses for the Asia Pacific region in
Singapore.
iii.He also held the post of CEO of BFC Bank Limited, London, the
iv.From 2017 to 2020, he served as MD and CEO of Karur Vysya Bank (KVB).
About South Indian Bank:
MD & CEO– Murali Ramakrishnan
Headquarters– Thrissur, Kerala
Established on– 25 January 1929
Tagline– Experience Next Generation Banking
SBI Appoints Four Directors To The Board

The State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed four directors namely Ketan Shivji Vikamsey, Mrugank Madhukar
Paranjape, Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat to the central board of the bank.
• They were appointed for a period of 3 years with effect from 26th June 2023 to 25th June 2026.
i.Ketan Shivji Vikamsey and Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape have been reappointed as the director (elected
under Section 19(c) of SBI Act 1955) at SBI’s Central board.
• They have been holding this position since June 2020.
ii.Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat have been appointed as the Directors (elected
under section 19 (c) of the SBI Act, 1955) at SBI’s Central Board.
Note:
• Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat have replaced B Venugopal and Ganesh
Natarajan, whose tenure as Director ended on 25th June 2023.
About Ketan Shivji Vikamsey:
i.He is a is a senior partner at KKC & Associates LLP (formerly Khimji Kunverji & Co LLP), Chartered
Accountants, established in 1936.
ii.He is registered as an Independent Director with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs(IICA) under the
Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA).
About Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape:
He is currently the Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEEO) of NCDEX e-Markets Limited.
Previously, he has served as the MD & CEO of Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited.

About Rajesh Kumar Dubey:
He is presently holding the charge of Executive Director (Personnel) at Life Insurance Corporation of
India(LIC). He joined LIC of India as a Direct Recruit Officer in the year 1988.
About Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat:
i.Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat is a main Partner of M/s. D. S. Shekhawat & Associates, Chartered Accountants
since September 2002 and is also the Chairman of the Th. Jaswant Singh Memorial Trust.
ii.He has served as an Independent Director on the Board of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and was
also the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of IOCL.
About State Bank of India(SBI):
BPCL Announces Rahul Dravid as its Brand Ambassador

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG), has named Rahul Dravid, Former Indian Cricketer and the current
Head Coach of Indian Cricket Team, as its new brand ambassador.
• Rahul Dravid will represent BPCL’s ‘Pure for
Sure’ initiative and its range of MAK lubricants, and his
association with BPCL will serve to emphasise BPCL’s
promise of quality and dependability to consumers
across India.
• The introduction of Rahul Dravid as the face of BPCL
reflects its commitment to quality, excellence, integrity,
reliability, and authenticity.
MAK Lubricants:
i.MAK Lubricants from BPCL has been established as a trusted brand in lubricants and greases both in India
and international markets.
ii.In 2003, BPCL re-strategised all its three brands (MAK, GLIDE, AUTOMOL) and unified them into one
umbrella brand called ‘MAK’.
About Rahul Dravid:
i.Rahul Dravid, popularly referred as “The Wall”, represented Indian from 1996 to 2012. He has played 500
games and scored more than 24,000 runs with nearly 50 centuries across all formats.
• He is the 4th highest run scorer in Test cricket with 13,288 runs. The list is topped by Sachin
Tendulkar (India) follwed by Ricky Ponting (Australia) and Jacques Kallis (South Africa).
ii.He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan in 2013 in Sports field.
iii.He was honoured with Arjuna Award in 1998 (Cricket)
About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):
It is India’s second-largest oil and gas company and also one of the world’s biggest corporations. BPCL ranks
number 233 in the Fortune Global 500 ranking list of 2023.
Chairman & MD (CMD) – G Krishnakumar
Founded in– 1952
Bernardo Arevalo Wins Guatemala’s Presidential Election

César Bernardo Arévalo de León, an anti-corruption candidate, won Guatemala’s presidential election. He
secured 58% of votes against his opponent, the former first lady (2008 to 2011) Sandra Torres, of the National
Unity of Hope who secured 37%.

• Arevalo will succeed the current President Alejandro Giammattei, a leader of the right-wing party
Vamos.
• He will be sworn in on 14th January 2024.
About Bernardo Arevalo:
i.Bernardo Arevalo is the son of Juan José Arévalo, the country’s
first democratically elected President(1945–51).
ii.He is the leader of the social
democratic Movimiento Semilla Party.
• Movimiento Semilla – a political party that emerged in
response to demonstrations against widespread
corruption uncovered by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
iii. Bernardo was appointed as the Director of the Regional Office for Latin America, moving to Geneva in 2005
to become the Director of the Joint Programme Unit for United Nations/Interpeace Initiatives (JPU) – a unique
partnership Interpeace has with the UN.
Additional Info:
Guatemala ranked 150th out of 180 in Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International
in 2022.
About Guatemala:
Guatemala is a Central American country, south of Mexico.
Capital – Guatemala City
Currency – Guatemalan Quetzal
Neelkanth Mishra Appointed as Part-time Chairman of UIDAI

Neelkanth Mishra has been appointed the Part-time Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI). He has been serving as the Chief Economist at Axis Bank Limited and Head of Global Research at Axis
Capital Limited since May 2023.
• The Chairman post was vacant for almost 4 years. Previously, J. Satyanarayana served as the part-
time Chairman of UIDAI from July 12, 2016, to April 15, 2019.
• He will be the second non-bureaucrat after Nandan Nilekani (2009 to 2014) to chair UIDAI.
Other Appointments:
Nilesh Shah, Managing Director (MD), Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company (AMC) Limited, and
Prof Mausam, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi,
were appointed as part-time members of UIDAI.
Note: The appointments of the Chairperson and the Members are for a period of 3 years or up to the age of 65
years whichever is earlier, from the date on which they assume office.
About Neelkanth Mishra:
i.Prior to joining Axis bank, Neelkanth Mishra served as the co-head of Asia-Pacific (APAC) Strategy, India
Equity Strategy Head, and Head of Research, in India at the Zürich (Switzerland)-based Credit Suisse, a
financial services company.
ii.Prior to joining Credit Suisse, he was a Senior Technical Architect with Infosys Technologies. He has also
worked with Hindustan Lever Limited and has been an entrepreneur.
iv.He is also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (PM-EAC).
v.He is part of the Advisory Council to the 15th Finance Commission and has been an advisor to committees
appointed by the Government of India (GoI) such as the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) Committee on Goods and
Services Tax (GST) and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee.
vi.He is also one of the members of the advisory committee of the India Semiconductor Mission (Semicon
India).
Organisational Structure of UIDAI:
i.UIDAI board structure encompasses a Chairperson, 2 part-time Members, and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

who is also the Member-Secretary within the Authority.
ii.In June 2023, Amit Agrawal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), has been appointed as the CEO of UIDAI
About Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):
UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016 by the Government of
India under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
It was created to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as “Aadhaar”, to all residents of India.
Chairman (Part time)– Neelkanth Mishra
Srettha Thavisin Elected as 30th PM of Thailand

On 22nd August 2023, Srettha Thavisin (61 years old) of Pheu Thai Party (PTP) was elected as the 30th
Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand after winning the joint vote of the bicameral parliament.
• He has also received the approval from the Thai King
Maha Vajiralongkorn to assume the office as PM of
Thailand.
• He succeeds Prayut Chan-o-cha, the 29th PM of Thailand
(2014 to 2023), who announced retirement from politics
in July 2023.
Overview of 2023 Elections:
i.General elections were held in Thailand on 14 May 2023 to elect
500 members of the House of Representatives.
• National Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand is a
bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The assembly has a
total of 750 members of which 500 (members in the lower house) are elected through general
elections.
ii.Move Forward Party (MFP) won the May 2023 election with 151 constituency seats, while PTP secured the
2nd place with 141 seats.
iii.Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat fell short by more than 50 votes to win a majority in both the elected
house and the 250 member Senate.
iv.Srettha Thavisin of PTP was elected as the PM with 482 votes for, 165 votes against, with 81 abstentions.
About Srettha Thavisin:
i.He’s a former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and President of Sansiri Public Company Limited, one of Thailand’s
largest property developers.
ii.Before joining Sansiri, he worked for Procter & Gamble (PG.N) and also served as a distributor of Fast-Moving
Consumer Products (FMCG).
iii.He joined the Pheu Thai Party in November 2022 and has been long associated with Thaksin Shinawatra,
former PM and founder of the populist Pheu Thai Party, who left Thailand 15 years ago, following a 2006 coup,
only to be imprisoned.
About Thailand:
Prime Minister– Srettha Thavisin
Capital– Bangkok
Currency– Thai baht (THB)
Sachin Tendulkar Named as ‘National Icon’ for Election Commission of India

Former Indian cricketer and Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was named as the ‘National
Icon’ for voter awareness and education for the Election Commission of India(ECI).

• Sachin and ECI entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of 3 years at the
event held in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of the
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar, and
Election Commissioners Shri Anup Chandra Pandey and
Shri Arun Goel.
About this Partnership:
i.The EC intends to bridge the gap between citizens, particularly
youth and urban populations, and the electoral process through
this collaboration, thereby addressing the concerns of urban and
youth unawareness.
ii.This partnership will be a key step towards utilising Tendulkar’s exceptional influence with the youth in
order to increase voter participation in upcoming elections, particularly the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections.
iii.To encourage voters to participate in the festival of democracy, ECI collaborates with eminent Indians from
many disciplines and identifies them as ECI’s national icons.
• Actor Pankaj Tripathi was named as the National Icon in 2022.
• Singer Jasbir Jassi and diversity and inclusion consultant Dr. Niru Kumar were named as the
National Icons in 2020.
• During the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom were the
ECI National Icons.
About Sachin Tendulkar:
i.He represented India for 24 years, scoring 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 runs in one-day
internationals(ODI).He holds the record for most runs in international cricket with 34357 runs.
ii.He is the recipient of Bharat Ratna(2014), Padma Vibhushan(2008), Padma Shri(1999) for his
achievement in sports. He has also received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna(1997) and Arjuna Award(1994) for
cricket.
iii.‘Playing it my Way’ co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Sachin is the official autobiography of Sachin.
Shubman Gill Becomes the brand ambassador of Tata Capital
Indian cricketer Shubman Gill was named as the brand ambassador of Tata Capital Limited, a subsidiary
financial services company of Tata Sons Private Limited.
• He will feature in the multi-media campaign of Tata Capital Limited.
• According to the Tata Capital, Shubman style of play, which combines the qualities of determination,
reliability, and trustworthiness, aligns seamlessly with Tata Capital’s brand promise ‘Count on Us’.
• The other brands endorsed by Shubman Gill are BeatXP, Wings, ITC Engage,Fiama Men,
MuscleBlaze.
About Shubman Gill:
Indian batsman Shubman Gill made his international debut in December 2020 against Australia in a Test match.
• He also plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League(IPL) and Punjab in domestic cricket.
As of August 2023, he scored 2707 runs across all three formats(One Day International (ODI),
Twenty20 International(T20I) and Tests).
About Tata Capital Limited:
Tata Capital Limited (TCL) is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a Systemically Important Non-
Deposit Accepting Core Investment Company (CIC).
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajiv Sabharwal

Justice Prakash Shrivastava Appointed as the NGT Chairperson
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC), headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has appointed
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Former Chief Justice(CJ) of Calcutta High Court(HC) as chairperson of the
National Green Tribunal(NGT).
• He took charge as chairperson of NGT on 23rd August
2023, succeeding Justice Sheo Kumar Singh-I, acting
chairperson of NGT(July 2023- August 2023).
Note:
i.NGT is a statutory body for the disposal of disputes relating to
environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
ii.The last full-time chairperson of NGT was Justice Adarsh Kumar
Goel(July 2018- July 2023), who retired on July 3, 2023.
About Justice Prakash Shrivastava:
i.He enrolled as an advocate in 1987 and practiced in tax, civil,
and constitutional law at the Supreme Court of India at New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in January 2008 and he became a
permanent judge in January 2010.
iii.He served as the Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta from October 2021 to March 2023.
About National Green Tribunal(NGT):
i.Purpose: The National Green Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010)
in 2010 as a specialised judicial body with expertise primarily for the purpose of mediating environmental
cases.
ii.Functions:The Tribunal is responsible for providing an effective and timely remedy in situations involving
environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, and enforcement of any
environmental legal right.
iii.Jurisdiction:The Tribunal’s orders are Court binding, and it has the authority to offer affected persons relief
in the form of compensation and damages.
• The Tribunal has powers to review its own decisions and its decision can be challenged before the
Supreme Court within 90 days.
Note:
The right to life is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution and it includes the right to the
enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for life.
About National Green Tribunal (NGT):
ChairPerson – Prakash Shrivastava
Emmerson Mnangagwa Re-Elected As President As The Second Term

Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, re-elected to the post for the second term of 5 years(ie., 2023-
28) and final term. He belongs to the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–
PF) political party.
• He secured 52.6 percent of the vote against his opponent Nelson Chamisa of political party Citizens’
Coalition for Change (CCC) who secured 44 percent votes.
• He is known as ‘The Crocodile’ for his ruthlessness.
About the election:
i.This election occurs after six years (last in 2017) after the overthrow of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in a
military coup.

ii.In the election ZANU-PF obtained 136 out of the available 210 seats through a first-past-the-post mechanism;
CCC secure 73 seats.
Additional info:
• The country is struggling with high unemployment and
poverty.
• Nearly 3.8 million individuals are projected to experience
food insecurity within the current year(2023-24).
About Zimbabwe:
Capital – Harare
Currency – Zimbabwe Dollar
Infosys Ropes in Tennis Icon Rafael Nadal as Brand Ambassador for Digital Innovation
Infosys Limited, an Indian multinational information technology (IT) company, has signed a 3 years
partnership with Spanish Tennis Icon Rafael Nadal appointing him as the ambassador for its brand and Infosys’
Digital Innovation.
• Infosys and Rafael Nadal entered into a three-year
partnership.
• This marks Nadal‘s first-ever collaboration with a digital
services company.
Infosys’s association with Tennis:
i.Infosys is the digital innovation partner for the ATP (Association of
Tennis Professionals) Tour, Roland-Garros, Australian Open, and The
International Tennis Hall of Fame.
• It helped to reimagine the tennis ecosystem for a billion fans
globally leveraging AI, cloud, data analytics and digital experiences.
ii.Infosys introduced video and statistics analysis tools for players and coaches to modernise training, and it
enhanced match analysis with Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted journalism platforms for broadcasters to
broadcast interesting content.
iii.Infosys innovations for the tennis ecosystem include explorations in the digital universe including mixed
reality, social virtual reality (VR) and 3 3-dimensional art museums to expand the history, and heritage of
tennis to fans globally.
iv.It recently launched the first-of-its-kind sustainable technology tool ‘Carbon Tracker’, which allows ATP
players to track and reduce their emissions while on tour.
v.To mark this partnership, Infosys and Nadal’s coaching team are developing an AI-powered match analysis
tool.
• This personalized tool helps Nadal’s coaching team to simultaneously track insights from his live
matches, along with historical data from his earlier matches.
About Rafael Nadal:
i.He has won 22 Grand Slams in his career, the second most in the world after Novak Djokovic (23 Grand
Slams).
• The 22 titles includes 14 French Open titles 4 US open 2 Wimbledon, 2 Australian Open
ii.He won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a gold medal in doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Infosys Signs Women’s Tennis World No. 1 Iga Świątek as Brand Ambassador
Infosys Limited also signed a multi-year partnership with women’s tennis World No. 1 Iga Świątek of Poland,
appointing her as the ambassador to promote digital innovation and inspire women worldwide.
i.Under this collaboration, Infosys will work closely with Świątek team to build an advanced data analytics and
video dashboard.

• It will improve her training by using AI tools, focusing on her strengths and devising match strategies.
ii.Infosys and Świątek will also work together to develop programmes that would empower young women all
across the world by assisting them in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM).
About Iga Świątek:
The 22-year-old Iga Świątek, a four-time Grand Slam Champion, has been ranked World No. 1 in the Women’s
Tennis Association(WTA ranking) since April 2022, holding the position for a record 70 consecutive weeks.
• She won the French Open in 2020, 2022, and 2023 and the US Open in 2022.
About Infosys:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer: Salil Parekh
Shriram Finance’s EVC Umesh Revankar Appointed as FIDC Chairman

Umesh Revankar was appointed as the chairman of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) for
a period of 2 years with effect form 23rd August 2023. He is currently serving as the Executive Vice
Chairman (EVC) of Shriram Finance Limited.
• FIDC is a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) cum Representative Body of Asset and Loan
Financing of the Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC) registered with the Reserve Bank
of India(RBI).
Other Appointments:
Kamlesh Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of MAS Financial Services Limited, and K. V.
Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Profectus Capital Pvt Limited, will act as co-chairmen of FIDC.
About Umesh Revankar:
i.Umesh Revankar joined as an executive trainee with Shriram Group in 1987, and he has risen through the
ranks, assuming various responsibilities and key leadership roles in business operations.
ii.Revankar also serves as a director for several companies within the Shriram Group, including Shriram
Automall India, Shriram General Insurance company, and Shriram Life Insurance company.
About Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC):
Chairman– Umesh Revankar
Established -2004
Geetika Srivastava Appointed as 1st woman Charge d’Affaires in Pakistan

Geetika Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer was appointed as the first woman
Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Pakistan. She is currently serving as
the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and looks after the Indo-Pacific division.
• She will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar, who will be returning to New Delhi.
• She has served in the Indian embassy in China from 2007-09, and also served as Director in the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Division of the MEA as well as a Regional Passport Officer in Kolkata,
West Bengal.
Note: Pakistan has appointed Saad Ahmad Warraich as its new CAD in High Commission of Pakistan in New
Delhi, Delhi.
• At present there are no high commissioners in the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Pakistan.
CDA is a joint secretary rank equivalent officer.
• The Indian and Pakistani high commissions in Islamabad and Delhi are being headed by their
respective CDA after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties after India’s decision to abolish Article
370, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019.

LIC MF Completes Merger of IDBI MF Schemes
On 29th July 2023, Life Insurance Corporation of India(LIC) Mutual Fund completed the acquisition of
Industrial Development Bank of India(IDBI) mutual fund from IDBI Asset Management Limited following the
approval of Competition Commission of India (CCI) in March 2023.
• A Scheme Transfer Agreement was entered into between LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management
Limited (“LIC AMC”), the asset management company, and LIC Mutual Fund Trustee Private Limited
(“LIC Trustee”), the trustee company of LIC MF, with IDBI Asset Management Limited (“IDBI AMC”),
the asset management company, and IDBI MF Trustee Company Limited (“IDBI Trustee”), the
trustee company of IDBI Mutual Fund (“IDBI MF”).
• With this merger, LIC aims to enhance and broaden its product range, extend its presence and
increase its assets under management (AUM).
About Merger:
i.Out of the 20 schemes of IDBI Mutual Fund, 10 schemes would undergo a merger with corresponding schemes
of LIC Mutual Fund.
• The remaining 10 schemes would be directly taken over by LIC Mutual Fund as standalone offerings.
ii.This will expand the total product offering of LIC Mutual Fund from 28 schemes to 38 schemes.
Aim of the Merger:
i.The merger aims to offer schemes in the mid-cap, small-cap, gold fund and passive fund segments.
ii.Access to LIC mutual fund’s diverse range of product offerings, encompassing equity, debt, hybrid, solution-
oriented themes, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Index funds will be made available to investors who have
invested in IDBI mutual fund schemes.
Additional Info:
i.As of June 2023, LIC Mutual Fund had an AUM of Rs 18,400 crore, while IDBI Mutual Fund had Rs 3,650 crore.
ii.LIC mutual fund operates as an Asset Management Company (AMC) with Life Insurance Corporation of India
(LIC) serving as its sponsor. Other stakeholders include LIC Housing Finance Ltd, GIC(Government Insurance
Company) Housing Finance Ltd, and Union Bank of India.
iii.IDBI mutual fund has IDBI Bank as its sponsor, and IDBI AMC fulfils the role of the asset management
company for IDBI mutual fund. IDBI Trustee Company serves as the trustee company for IDBI mutual fund.
About Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) Mutual Fund:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – T. S. Ramakrishnan
About Industrial Development Bank of India(IDBI) Mutual Fund
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Raj Kishore Singh
Societe Generale Bought Bandhan Bank Ltd. Shares For Rs 382 Cr

On 31st July 2023, Europe-based financial services group Societe Generale bought shares of Kolkata-
based Bandhan Bank Ltd. for Rs 382 crore through open market transactions.
• According to the bulk deal data available with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock
Exchange (NSE), Societe Generale has acquired a total of 1.74 crore equity shares or 1.08 percent
stake in Bandhan Bank of which 89.23 lakh shares were bought on the NSE and 85.52 lakh shares on
the BSE.

The average buying price for the above shares was Rs 218.6 per share, and the stake buy amounted to Rs
382.01 crore.
Ambuja Cements acquires 56.74% stake in Sanghi Industries

On 3rd August 2023, Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cements Ltd (ACL), acquired a 56.74 % stake in Gujarat-
based Sanghi Industries(SIL) at an enterprise value of around Rs 5,000 crore.The acquisition will be fully
funded through internal accruals.
i.The deal will boost Ambuja Cements’ capacity to 73.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and help it reach its
goal of 140 MTPA by 2028 .
ii.The deal marks the first major acquisition for the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate for 2023.
iii.The deal will help Ambuja Cement close the gap with market leader UltraTech Cement.
Paytm Founder & CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma buys 10.3% stake from Antfin; Paytm share price
surges ~12%
On 7th August 2023, Shares of One 97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Paytm, jumped
over 11.6%(~12%) to Rs. 887.55 on BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) during intra-day trade,
after Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paytm entered into an agreement to
buy 10.3% worth USD 628 Million from Ant Financial (Antfin) Netherlands Holding BV, a Chinese fintech via
Resilient Asset Management BV (Resilient), a 100% owned overseas entity of Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
• As a result of this transaction, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s shareholding in Paytm (direct and indirect)
will increase to 19.42%, whereas Antfin’s shareholding will reduce to 13.5%.
• As per the agreement, Antfin will receive Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCDs) by Resilient
Asset Management B.V. in exchange for transferring ownership and voting rights. This will allow
Antfin to retain the economic value of its 10.30% stake in Paytm.
• The Paytm-Antfin deal is likely to India’s biggest buy now, pay later deal. It involves a cash outgo,
but only later.
• As a result of this acquisition, there will be no change in the management or control of Paytm. Vijay
Shekhar Sharma will continue to serve as the Managing Director and CEO of the company. However,
there will be no nominee of Antfin on the board of Paytm
CCI approves merger of TCCL and TCFSL into TCL; Clears proposed acquisition of
HDFC Credila Financial Services
On August 8, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves merger of Tata Cleantech Capital
Limited (TCCL) and Tata Capital Financial Services Limited (TCFSL) into Tata Capital Limited (TCL).
Key Points:
i.TCL, registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is a Core Investment Company (CIC). Its main focus is on
investing in its subsidiary companies operating in the financial services sector
ii.TCFSL, fully owned by TCL, is an important Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under RBI’s supervision.
Its core operations include lending and providing financial services within the financial sector.
iii.TCCL, another subsidiary of TCL, is also an RBI-registered NBFC. It specializes in offering cash flow-based
finance and advisory services for projects centered around renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste and
water management, and other infrastructure ventures.
CCI clears proposed acquisition of HDFC Credila Financial Services
CCI also approved the combination involving the acquisition of 90% of the shareholding of HDFC Credila
Financial Services Limited(HDFC Credila) by Kopvoorn B.V., Moss Investments Limited, Infinity Partners and
Defati Investments Holding B.V.

• In June 2023, HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank, and HDFC Credila declared their proposal to sell a substantial
stake in HDFC Credila to a consortium of private equity firms including BPEA, EQT, and ChrysCapital
at a transaction value of Rs 9,060 crore.
Key Points:
i.Kopvoorn B.V., owned by BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII managed by EQT AB, is the Netherlands
incorporated company, part of the global EQT investment group.
ii.Moss Investments Limited (Moss), Infinity Partners (Infinity), and Defati Investments Holding B.V. (Defati)
are collectively known as ChrysCapital Acquirers, are private equity investors.
iii.HDFC Credila, a subsidiary of Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) Ltd., is an
Indian public limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and registered with RBI. It is
focused on providing education loans for higher studies in India and abroad.
i.CCI cleared the proposed deal involving Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Limited (MHEPL) and Manipal
Education and Medical Group India Pvt Limited (MEMG India).
ii.CCI approved the acquisition of an additional 4.04% shareholding of Acko Technology and Services Private
Limited (Acko Tech) by General Atlantic Singapore ACK Pte. Ltd. (GASACK).
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairperson– Ravneet Kaur
CCI Approves Acquisition of Certain Stake of IBS Software Pte Limited by Pelipper HoldCo SARL
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of ~ 30% of the issued share capital
on a fully diluted basis of IBS Software Pte Limited by Pelipper HoldCo SARL from Techware Singapore
Holdings Pte. Ltd., a portfolio company of Blackstone Inc.
• Pelipper HoldCo SARL is a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) indirectly wholly owned by investment
funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (AP).
Target– IBS Software Pte Limited
Acquirer– Pelipper HoldCo SARL
Seller – Blackstone Inc.
Background:
i.In May 2023, IBS Software, a global travel and logistics Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company announced,
Apax Partners LLP (AP) Funds have made an investment of USD 450 million to acquire a minority stake in IBS
Software.
ii.Post the latest transaction, V K Mathews, IBS Software’s Founder and Executive Chairman will remain the
majority shareholder.
Key Points:
i.AP is a limited liability partnership incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom (UK) and the parent of
a number of entities, which provide investment advisory services to private equity funds investing in a range of
industry sectors.
ii.IBS Software Pte Limited is the parent company of the IBS group of companies (Target Group), which is
mainly active as a software vendor, predominantly for the aviation industry and the travel industry.
• It also provides Information Technology (IT) services to its own existing customers, mainly aviation,
tour & cruise, hospitality, and energy resources industries.
iii.Target Group is primarily active as a provider of software solutions to the travel industry globally, managing
mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality, and energy resources
industries.

LIC Acquires 6.66% Shareholding in Jio Financial Service
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), an Indian multinational public sector life insurance company, has
acquired 6.66% shareholding in Jio Financial Services Ltd. (JFSL).Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL),
previously named Reliance Strategic Investments Limited, the demerged financial subsidiary of Reliance
Industries Limited(RIL).
• LIC holds a 6.49% stake in RIL as of June 30, 2023.
• The acquisition of the shareholding in Jio Financial Services by LIC occurred as a part of the process
in which Jio Financial Services was separated from its parent company.
• The cost of acquiring this shareholding represents 4.68% of the value of RIL before the separation
or demerger occurred.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 Scripts History, Becoming The First Country to Soft Land successfully
Near Moon’s South Pole
August 23, 2023 will always be remembered for the successful soft landing near moon’s South Pole by the
Vikram(Valour) Lander Module (LM) of ‘Chandrayaan-3 (Moon Craft)’, making India the first country to land
spacecraft near Moon’s South Pole at 70 degrees latitude.
• It was Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO)
third lunar mission which resulted in unprecedented
milestone in space exploration. Chandrayaan 1 was
launched in 2008, and Chandrayaan 2 in 2019.
• With this successful landing, India became the 4th
country to soft land on the moon after the United
States (US) with its Surveyor 1 in 1966; Soviet
Union/Russia’s Luna 9 in 1966, and China with Chang’s
3 in 2013.
Landing challenges on the Moon:
A notable challenge in the mission was reducing the lander’s velocity from a height of 30 km to the final landing
and reorienting the spacecraft from a horizontal to vertical direction. Also, landing at the Moon’s South Pole
was challenging due to its boulder-strewn terrain, lacking the flat expanses of the equatorial regions
• However, ISRO achieved it by managing to navigate this terrain by briefly hovering Chandrayaan-3
at 850 m (2,800 ft.) above the surface, searching for a suitable landing spot.
Notes:

i.Developed by ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 consists of indigenous LM Vikram, Propulsion Module (PM) and Rover
named Pragyaan (Wisdom).
• As Vikram settles on the moon, Pragyaan rover comes out from the LM and rolls onto the lunar
surface to start analyzing lunar soil and rocks.
ii.The mission life of LM & Rover is One lunar day (~14 Earth days), and their Landing Site (Prime) is 4 km x
2.4 km 69.367621 S, 32.348126 E.Mission Overview and Launch:
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, via the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM 3 ) rocket from SDSC SHAR
(Satish Dhawan Space Centre- Sriharikota Range) in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• Click Here to Read about Chandrayaan 3
Namakkal’s Contribution to Lunar Exploration:
Namakkal, a district in Tamil Nadu (TN), played a pivotal role in this achievement. Its unique soil, similar to the
Southern Pole of lunar surface’s ‘Anorthosite‘ (a type of intrusive igneous rock) type, was supplied to ISRO for
testing purposes. Since 2012, Namakkal has collaborated with ISRO, aiding in testing and refining lunar mission
capabilities.
Why is Moon’s Southern Region chosen for landing?
The moon’s South Pole region has been chosen because of a possibility of presence of water/ice molecules in
the deep craters in this region. This was indicated by the Chandrayaan-1 mission.
• There had been speculation that permanently shadowed craters in the South Pole might be frozen
lakes.
• The presence of water ice that could support a future space station.
• Also, the conditions on this region of the Moon could hold clues about the early solar system and the
history of Earth.
What’s next?
Now, ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission, namely ‘LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration’ in
collaboration with Japanese space agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for 2024-25. It involves
the development of a Rover by JAXA and a Lander by ISRO.
• The rover will carry the instruments of ISRO, JAXA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA).
Aim:
To explore the lunar polar region’s potential for sustainable bases, study lunar water-ice resources, and
showcase surface exploration tech like vehicular transport and overnight survival.
Key Point:
The Ahmedabad, Gujarat-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), a unit of the Department of Space, has
proposed several instruments for the LUPEX mission to conduct surface and subsurface measurements in the
Moon’s permanently shadowed polar region. These include the following:
i.Permittivity and Thermo-physical investigation for Moon’s Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA) – It seeks to
detect and quantify water-ice in lunar soil using a rover/lander platform.
ii.Lunar Electrostatic Dust EXperiment (LEDEX): It aims to identify charged dust particles, confirm dust
levitation processes, and to estimate approximate dust size and flux of charged, levitated dust particles.
i.On 20th July 2023, Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, Hyderabad (Telangana) -based space startup,
successfully tested its Raman-II engine at the Liquid Thruster Test Facility (LTTF) of ISRO Propulsion Complex
(IPRC) at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu(TN). The testing was enabled by Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
ii.On July 12, 2023, a group of vital facilities essential for the enhancement of solid motor realization were
inaugurated from SDSC- SHAR, Sriharikota, AP. SDSC-SHAR aims to set up 29 primary and 16 auxiliary facilities
to enhance its capabilities in solid propellant processing.

About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO):
Chairman– Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
Establishment –1969
Luna-25 crashed into the Moon; Russia’s 1st Moon mission in 47 years Failed
Russia’s first lunar mission in 47 years, Luna-25, failed as the space craft spun out of control and crashed into
the moon after a problem preparing for pre-landing orbit(orbital maneuver).
Reason behind the Crash:
Roscosmos, State Space Corporation of Russian Federation,
announced that the initial analysis of the moon lander indicates that
a difference between the planned and actual propulsion maneuver
caused the spacecraft to move into an unintended orbit.
Background:
Luna-Glob-Lander (Luna-Glob-1), also known as Luna-25, was
launched on 10th August 2023 atop a Soyuz-2.1b rocket(Soyuz-2
Fregat) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
• It was anticipated to land near the lunar south pole on
21st August 2023.
About Luna-25:
i.The objective of Luna-25 is to Explore the composition of the polar regolith and to Investigate the plasma and
dust components of the lunar polar exosphere for one year.
ii.The main landing site was north of Boguslavsky crater and the reserve landing site was to the southwest of
Manzini crater in Moon.
Note:
• Luna 25 was launched as a precursor for more advanced lunar endeavors, paving the way for the
upcoming Luna-26 and Luna-27 missions.
• Luna 25 was named in continuation of robotic probe programme of Soviet Union – Luna 24
mission which brought back moon rock back to earth in 1976.
About Russia:
President – Vladimir Putin
Capital – Moscow
Currency – Russian Ruble
PSLV-C56/DS-SAR Mission: ISRO successfully launched 7 Singapore satellites including DS-SAR

into Space
On 30th July 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C56/DS-SAR
Mission, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV–C56) carrying 7
Singapore Satellites – DS-SAR as primary satellite along with 6
co-passengers, from the First Launch Pad (FLP) Satish Dhawan
Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• This is a Dedicated Commercial Mission conducted by
ISRO under a contract with NewSpace India Limited
(NSIL) for ST Engineering, Singapore.
• This marks’s the 58th flight of PSLV and 17th flight of
PSLV in core alone configuration.
• This was the 431st foreign satellite launch from India
by ISRO and the 4th dedicated PSLV mission for Singapore government.

Highlights:
i.The launcher placed all 7 satellites from Singapore into a circular Near-equatorial Orbit (NEO) at an altitude of
535 km with 5 degree orbital inclination.
ii.ISRO attempted a unique De-Orbiting Experiment using the PS4, the 4th stage of the PSLV-C56 rocket.
iii.PS4 de-orbited to Low Earth circular orbit in a 295×300 km, using left out propellants to reduce orbital life
of spent PS4 stage. PS4 will re-enters atmosphere in less than 2 months.
Payloads of PSLV-C56/DS-SAR Mission:
Separating
Satellite Agency(country) Mass(kilogram)
Defence Science and Technology Agency
DS-SAR (primary payload) (DSTA) – ST Engineering (Singapore) 352
VELOX-AM 24
ARCADE Atmospheric Coupling and
Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE) Nanyang Technological University (NTU) 23
SCOOB-II (Singapore) 4
ALIENA Private Limited
NuLIoN (Singapore) 13
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Galassia-2 (Singapore) 3.5
NuSpace Private Limited
ORB-12 STRIDER (Singapore) 3
About DS-SAR Satellite:
The DS-SAR satellite, weighing 352 kg, is a Radar Imaging Earth Observation Satellite.
• It was developed in partnership with the Government of Singapore’s Defence Science and
Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Electronics, a part of major regional defence and engineering
group ST Engineering, Singapore.
• DS-SAR carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI) based in Lod, Israel.
• Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) is a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images or
three-dimensional reconstructions of objects.
Key Points:
i.It will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of
Singapore.
ii.This will enables the Singapore government to assess natural disaster damage, monitor land use, track
deforestation, and support security and defense operations.
iii.ST Engineering will use it for multi-modal and higher responsiveness imagery and geospatial services for
their commercial customers.
iv.The commercial customers can utilize the satellite for oil and gas exploration, agricultural monitoring, and
infrastructure assessment.
v.DS-SAR also offers all-weather day and night coverage and is capable of capturing images at 1m-resolution
with full polarimetry.
Co-passenger of DS-SAR:
The following six satellites weigh a total of 70.5kg.
VELOX-AM:
VELOX-AM is a 23 kg microsatellite developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
• Its primary purpose is to demonstrate Additive Manufacturing (AM) payloads technology.

ARCADE (Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer):
Weighing 24 Kg, ARCADE is a 27U microsatellite jointly designed and constructed by NTU, Singapore, and
the INSPIRE (International Satellite Program in Research and Technology) consortium.
• It is equipped with an iodine-based solid propellant propulsion module, and employs a Hall effect
thruster for orbit maintenance during its low altitude mission.
SCOOB-II:
Weighing 4 Kg, SCOOB–II is a CubeSat designed and developed by students at the Satellite Research Centre
(SaRC), NTU in Singapore.
• It is designed for a 6-month mission and uses a three-axis controlled reaction wheel assembly for
attitude control.
NuLIoN:
Weighing 3Kg, NuLIoN is an advanced 3U nanosatellite developed by NuSpace Private Limited, Singapore. Its
purpose is to provide seamless Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity in urban and remote locations.
• It serves as a seed satellite for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) equatorial constellation, offering continuous
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) IoT services.
Galassia-2:
Weighing 3.5 Kg, Galassia-2 is a 3U nanosatellite developed by the National University of Singapore (NUS).
• The main mission of GALASSIA-2 is to perform an inter-satellite link (ISL) with TeLEOS-1,
Singapore’s 1st commercial Earth observation satellite launched in 2015.
• It aims to demonstrate the use of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) multispectral imagery for space
applications.
ORB-12 STRIDER:
ORB-12 STRIDER, Weighing 13 Kg, was developed under an international
collaboration, coordinated by Singapore-based ALIENA Private Limited, including Orbital Astronautics as bus
providers, and Aurora Propulsion Technologies as subsystem co-developers.
• It demonstrates next-generation propulsion systems tailored for small satellite constellations.
• It also carries world’s first Multi-modal all-Electric Propulsion Engine (MEPE), showcasing
ALIENA’s Multi-Stage Ignition Compact (MUSIC) Hall thruster and Aurora’s ARM resistojets.
Click Here for Official Data
Key Points:
i.ISRO is set to launch four more missions in 2023 which included another PSLV mission in August or early
September 2023, the Gaganyaan test vehicle, third development mission of Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
rocket launcher to deploy small satellites in LEO, and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) mission
for launching INSAT (Indian National Satellite System)-3DS.
ii.It should be noted that the launch of customer satellites by ISRO not only generates revenue but also
contributes to India’s space economy’s growth.
• In October 2022, a report by industry body Indian Space Association (ISpA) and consultancy firm EY
India projected India to become a $13 billion space economy by 2025, of which satellite launch
services and applications will account for 36% or over $4.5 billion.
iii.PSLV is an 4 Stage Rocket, It’s First & Third Stage Works on Solid Propulsion know as Hydroxyl-terminated
polybutadiene (HTPB) and Second & Fourth Stage Works on Liquid Hypergolic Fuel.
i.The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved
the Indian Space Policy 2023 that will enable the private sector to participate in various space activities, such as
constructing satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, as well as collecting and sharing data.
ii.ISRO has successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) at the
Aeronautical Test Range(ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. The mission was performed in collaboration with the
Defence Space Research Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Chairman – Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Intelsat’s G-37/H-4 Telecommunications satellite to Geostationary

Orbit
On 3rd August 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched the Intelsat Galaxy
37/Horizons-4 (G-37/H-4), satellite to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) to provide advanced television
broadcasting services over North America. The satellite was launched aboard Falcon 9 rocket from Space
Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America
(USA).
• The Satellite was manufactured by Maxar Technologies
Inc., a Space technology Company in the US.
• It was the 52nd Orbital launch for SpaceX in 2023 and
the 6th launch for this particular Falcon 9 first-stage
booster, which landed successfully on the ‘Just Read the
Instructions’ drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Note: It previously launched SpaceX’s Crew-5 astronauts, the US
Space Force’s Global Positioning System (GPS)III-6 Satellite,
Inmarsat I6-F2, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-28 mission to the
International Space Station (ISS), and one Starlink mission.
Testing Phase:
i.The satellite’s initial testing phase will occur over Hawaii (USA) at approximately 148 degrees west, after
which it will reposition itself to 127 degrees west, situating it west of Seattle (USA).
ii.The testing process aims to ensure the reliability and performance of the satellite before it enters service,
which is expected to be in early October 2023.
• After about 3 weeks of testing and maneuvers into a Geostationary orbit at about 35,500 kilometres
above the equator.
Key Points:
i.The payload inside the rocket is the G-37/(H-4) communications satellite that will be jointly operated by
Intelsat and JSAT International.
Note:
• Intelsat, S.A., is a leading provider of communication satellite services in the USA.
• JSAT International inc., a wholly-owned US subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, the largest
Japanese satellite operator with more than 17 satellites.
ii.The G-37/(H-4), destined for GTO is part of Intelsat’s “comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan”, to bolster
the C-band and Ku-band frequencies, respectively.
iii.The G-37/(H-4) satellite, weighing 5 metric tonnes, is equipped with 4 deployable antenna reflectors for C-
band and Ku-band transmissions.
iv.The G-37 C-band payload will provide North American capacity for television media and telecommunication
network customers.
v.The H-4 Ku-band payload will provide continuity for our mobility, network, and US government customers
and is jointly owned by Intelsat and JSAT International.
• It also helps free up the path of the airwaves for 5G wireless communications service.
vi.The Falcon 9 upper stage placed the G-37 Satellite into a supersynchronous transfer, conserving the
satellite’s onboard fuel which will be used to circularise and lower the orbit.
vii.The second stage exhausted its remaining propellant supplies to reach the best possible orbit before

releasing the satellite about 32 minutes after launch.
Note: The Satellite is projected to remain operational for at least 18 years.
Bharat Dynamics Limited Hands Over 1st ‘Radio Frequency Seeker of Akash’ to DRDO
On 2nd August 2023, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of
the Akash Next Generation(Akash-NG) Missile to the Defence Research and Development Organization
(DRDO).
• The 1st RF Seeker was handed over by Commodore A Madhavarao (Retired), Chairman and
Managing Director of BDL to Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research &
Development and Chairman DRDO.
About Seeker:
i.Seeker is a crucial and technologically advanced subsystem used in the terminal phase of Surface-to-Air
Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking.
ii.The RF Seeker has been designed by DRDO’s Research Centre
Imarat,Vigyanakancha,Hyderabad, Telangana and produced by BDL at its state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre
set up at BDL, Kanchanbagh Unit,Hyderabad.
iii.This achievement marks a significant advancement in India’s defence capabilities and underlines the
country’s determination to becoming “Atma Nirbhar” in critical Defence Technologies.
About Akash Next Generation(Akash-NG) Missile:
i.Akash-NG Missile is the short-range mobile surface-to-air missile system (SRSAM) developed by DRDO.
ii.It has an Operation range of 4.5 km to 25 kmand can travel up to 2.5 times the speed of sound (2.5 Mach)
About Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL):
BDL is a miniratna I Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of
India to be the manufacturing base for guided missile systems and allied equipment for the Indian Armed
Forces.
Chairman and Managing Director – Retired Commodore A Madhavarao
Godrej Security Solutions Won A Project Of SDSC-SHAR

Godrej Security Solutions a division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd and the flagship company of the Godrej
Group has won a project to provide a comprehensive Key Management System to Satish Dhawan Space
Centre-Sriharikota Range (SDSC-SHAR), the Spaceport of India.
i.The project undertaken by Godrej Security Solutions entails the implementation of sophisticated encryption
protocols and the safeguarding of critical keys and the bolstering of the overall institutional security framework
of SDSC-SHAR.
ii.The system will assist in compliance management by establishing a robust framework for key generation and
distribution, ensuring adherence to the highest security standards.
Note: SDSC SHAR is one of the lead centres of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space
(DOS), Government of India,located at Sriharikota in Andhrapradesh.It became operational on October 9, 1971
with the flight of ‘Rohini-125’, a small sounding rocket.
ISRO Transfers IMS-1 Satellite Bus Technology to ADTL

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) announced that it’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
transferred the Indian Mini-Satellite 1 (IMS-1, a low-cost microsatellite imaging mission of ISRO) Bus
Technology to Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Alpha Design Technologies Private Limited(ADTL).

• The Technology Transfer Documents had been formally handed over by Shri. D Radhakrishnan,
Chairman and Managing Director of NSIL, to Col. H. S.
Shankar (Retd.) VSM, Chairman and Managing Director of
ADTL.
• ADTL is one of the two private players identified to
receive the transfer of this technology through Interest
Exploratory Note (IEN).
Aim of Transfer:
The BUS technology is being transferred to the private sector with
the aim of bolstering India’s industrial growth in the space sector
and fostering technological self-reliance.
About Indian Mini-Satellite(IMS)-1 Bus:
i.i.The IMS-1 satellite bus, previously referred to as TWSat (Third World Satellite) was developed by the U R
Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). The URSV is a versatile and efficient small satellite platform designed for low-cost
access to space.
ii.It serves as a dedicated vehicle for various payloads, enabling:
• Earth imaging
• Ocean and atmospheric studies
• Microwave remote sensing
• Space science missions
iii.It offers 3-axis stabilization with four reaction wheels and a 1 N thruster providing +/- 0.1 degree pointing
accuracy.
iv.Specifications:
• Weight: approximately100 kg
• Payload capacity:30 kg.
• Power generation: 330 Watt power(Solar arrays) with a raw bus voltage of 30-42 Volt.
v.With a quick turnaround time for satellite launches, IMS-1 bus is a forerunner for IMS-2 bus technology,
which has improved features.
About Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ADTL):
Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ADTL) is a leading aerospace and defense company.
• With expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and system integration, ADTL has been a key player
in various projects related to defense, space, and homeland security, contributing significantly to
India’s technological progress in these domains.
Additional Info:
Indian Mini-Satellite(IMS)-1 bus has been utilized in previous ISRO missions like IMS-1, Youthsat, and Microsat-
2D.
NASA & Axiom Space Have Signed a Mission Order for Ax-4
NASA and Axiom Space have signed a mission order for the 4th private astronaut mission to the International
Space Station (ISS), named Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) scheduled to launch in 2024 on Falcon 9 rockets from
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of
America (USA).
• Ax-4 is part of Nasa’s broader strategy to transition low Earth orbit activities.
• The Ax-4 mission will involve a team of four crew members.
i.The mission helps in laying the groundwork for the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station.
ii.Axiom Space is obtaining Nasa services through both a mission-specific order and a reimbursable Space Act
Agreement.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched 22 starlink satellites to LEO; sets new Launchpad Turnaround
Record
On 6th August 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched a Falcon 9 rocket
carrying 22 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in
Florida, the United States of America (USA), to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). This launch have set the new record for
the swiftest turnaround ever achieved from a single launchpad. It was 3 days 21 hours and 41 minutes since the
launch of Intelsat’s Galaxy 37 mission from pad 40.
• Notably, the previous record of 4 days, 3 hours, and 11 minutes was set just 2 weeks ago between
Starlink missions 6-6 (on July 23, 2023) and 6-7 (on July 28, 2023).
• Following the separation from the second stage, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage returned to
SpaceX’s drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• This was the 4th launch and landing for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which previously launched
Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and one Starlink 4-4 mission.
Note: It was the 9th launch of “V2 Mini” internet satellites, which are larger and have four times the bandwidth
of the previous models.
GRSE launched Neerakshi, India’s first Indigenous AUV to Detect Mines

On 28th July 2023, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
under the Ministry of Defence(MoD) launched “Neerakshi”(Eyes in the Water), India’s first of its
kind indigenous Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to detect mines in Kolkata, West Bengal(WB).
• It is developed through a collaboration between Kolkata-based warship maker GRSE Ltd and Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) entity Aerospace Engineering Private Ltd (AEPL).
• AUV Neerakshi was unveiled by Samir V Kamat Secretary Department of Defence Research and
Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
About AUV Neerakshi:
i.The orange-colored prototype of the cylindrical unmanned
vehicle is 2.1 meter long, about a foot (0.30 meter) in diameter and
weighs around 45 kilograms.
ii.It has a endurance of 4 hours and can go up to 300 meters deep.
iii.It can be deployed across the coastal waters for ensuring safety
of the coast.
iv.Currently, Neerakshi is equipped with mine detection
capabilities, though the objective is to also facilitate mine disposals
in the future.
v.Neerakshi can perform various tasks, including mine detection, mine disposal, and underwater surveying.
Note:
The commercial launch is likely to be within 6 months to a year after trials by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and
Army.
TLMAL delivers 200th C-130J Super Hercules Empennage

Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems
Limited (TASL) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, delivered its 200th Empennage (the tail structure located
at the rear of an aircraft for stabilisation) of C-130J (world’s workhorse) Super Hercules under Make in India
initiative .
• TLMAL is the sole worldwide provider of C-130J empennage assemblies, which are integrated into
all new Super Hercules aircraft manufactured in Marietta, Georgia, United States of America (USA).
About Empennage:
i.Every empennage manufactured by TLMAL significantly contributes to enabling the powerful Super Hercules

to embark on missions of paramount importance, influencing lives and creating historical significance.
ii.Constructing and assembling an empennage involves
numerous intricate components.
iii.The empennages made by TLMAL are included in C-130Js
operated by seven countries, including India.
iv.The empennages of C-130J Super Hercules were delivered
from TLMAL’s manufacturing facility located in Hyderabad, India.
Empennage Components:
• Aircraft’s horizontal and vertical stabilisers.
• Leading edges and tip assemblies.
About C-130J Super Hercules:
i.The C-130J-30 is a stretch version of the C-130J, a proven, highly reliable and affordable airlifter.
ii.It is the airlifter of choice for 22 nations and 26 operators around the world.
iii.The C-130Js support critical worldwide search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol,
special operations, aerial refuelling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response
missions.
Additional info:
i.In March 2023, Lockheed Martin and Tata Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to begin the
implementation of fighter wing production.
ii.TLMAL empennages are also included in the LM-100J ─ the commercial variant of the Super Hercules.
About Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL):
About Lockheed Martin Aeronautics:
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officers(CEO) – James D. Taiclet
Headquarters – Maryland, United States of America(USA)
About Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officers(CEO) – Sukaran Singh
Russia launches Luna-25 Mission to Moon, its 1st Lunar Probe in 47 years
On 11th August 2023,Russia successfully launched Luna-25 Mission onboard the Soyuz 2.1b Fregat rocket to
the Moon from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia (Russian Far East).
• This is Russia’s first moon mission since 1976
• Luna-25 is also the first domestically produced moon
probe in modern Russian history.
Note: A moon probe is a crewless (unmanned) spacecraft used to
investigate the Moon.
Aim:
With the Luna-25 mission, Russia aims to achieve the distinction
of being the first country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar
south pole, a region believed to hold valuable reservoirs of water
ice.
• The lander is expected to touch down on the moon on August 21, 2023. Once down safe, Luna-25
will work on the moon’s south pole for at least one Earth year.
Note: Both Luna-25 and India’s Chandrayaan 3 probe are expected to achieve their respective landings around
the same time and in the same general area.

Features of Luna-25:
i.The Luna-25 lander, also known as the Luna-Glob Lander, has a robotic arm to collect surface samples from
the moon. It will study the composition of the moon’s polar soil and the plasma and dust contained in the very
thin lunar exosphere.
ii.Luna-25 has a mass of 1.8 tons and carries 31 kilograms of scientific equipment. It will land near the lunar
south pole at the Boguslavsky crater..
iii.Luna-25 is designed, built, and tested by Russian aerospace company NPO Lavochkin, and consists of 2 main
parts:
• One is a landing platform outfitted with a propulsion system and landing gear, including a Doppler
velocity and range meter.
• The other is an unpressurized instrument container loaded with scientific equipment, radiators,
electronics, solar panels, a radioisotope heat and power source, antennas, and television cameras.
iv.The Soyuz-2 Fregat rocket carrying the Luna 25 craft is a smaller launch vehicle than those used in previous
unsuccessful missions.
Instruments carried by Luna-25:
Luna-25 carries the following instruments:
• Service television system (STS-L)
• Lunar manipulator complex (LMK) with a soil intake device
• Neutron and gamma detector (ADRON-LR) to remotely look for water ice
• Infrared spectrometer (LIS-TV-RPM)
• Laser mass spectrometer (LAZMA-LR)
• Ion energy-mass analyzer (ARIES-L)
• Dust Monitor (PmL)
• Scientific information control unit (BUNI)
Functioning of Luna 25:
i.Luna-25 will use a scoop to take rock samples from a depth of up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) to test for the
presence of frozen water.
ii.LMK is capable of excavating lunar regolith and delivering it directly to a LAZMA-LR. An infrared
spectrometer (LIS-TV-RPM) installed on this hardware can inspect the material, assessing the prospect of
finding water ice.
iii.Scientific instruments, including a range of spectrometers and imaging systems, as well as communications
equipment are used to beam data back to Earth.
Key Points:
i.The south pole of the moon, is one of the least-explored areas of the moon where no spacecraft has landed. So
far, the then Soviet Union, China, and the United States America (USA) have managed to land probes on the
moon.
ii.As seen from the data from orbit, there are signs of ice in the soil of the Luna-25 landing area. Rough terrains
make landing difficult.
iii.Luna-25 will spend 5-7 days in lunar orbit before descending near Boguslawsky Crater, which was selected
as the primary landing site for the Russian Luna-Glob mission.
• 2 backup landing sites have also been identified: one to the southwest of Manzini Crater and the
other to the south of Pentland A Crater.
iv.Once landed successfully, the craft will study the upper layer of the lunar regolith, appraise the ultra-thin
lunar atmosphere and search for signs of water ice in the south pole region.
1976 Luna Mission of Russia:
i.The last successful Luna mission of Russia was in 1976 when the Soviet Union launched the Luna 24 probe,
which successfully delivered about 6.2 ounces (170 grams) of moon samples to Earth.
ii.The Luna 24 craft landed in the Mare Crisium lunar plain and returned geographical samples that showed the
presence of water on the moon.

On 3rd April 2023, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
announced the 4 astronauts crew for the Artemis II Lunar mission which includes 3 United States of America
(USA) nationals and one Canadian astronaut.
About Russia:
Capital– Moscow
Prime Minister– Mikhail Mishustin
Currency– Russian Ruble
Defence Ministry to Replace Microsoft Windows with Indigenous Maya OS

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all the computers
with internet connectivity with the new indigenously developed OS “Maya” based on open-source Ubuntu, by
the end of 2023.
• Maya OS offers several features such as cloud storage integration, full disk encryption, digital signature,
biometric authentication, and a feature named “Chakravyuh.”
• Chakravyuh, a security feature of Maya, is an end-point detection and protection system. It creates a
virtual layer between the user and the internet, thus, preventing cyber criminals and cyber attackers
from accessing sensitive data.
• The development of the Maya OS began in 2021 and is developed collaboratively by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-
DAC), National Informatics Centre (NIC), along with Indian software companies and academic
institutions within 6 months.
ISRO Conducts Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests for Gaganyaan Mission

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC) in collaboration with Aerial Delivery Research and Development
Establishment (ADRDE) successfully conducted a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests to qualify
the drogue parachutes, affirming their preparedness for integration into the Test Vehicle Demonstration (TV-
D1) under the Gaganyaan mission
• The tests were held at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics
Research Laboratory of DRDO, Chandigarh.
• VSSC (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala ) is a major space
research centre of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO); ADRDE(Agra, Uttar Pradesh) is a pioneer Research
& Development lab of Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO).
Drogue Parachute:
The Gaganyaan mission entails the safe transportation of astronauts
to space and back. At the heart of this endeavour lies the deployment
of drogue parachutes, pivotal in stabilizing the crew module and
curbing its re-entry velocity to a secure level.
• Distinguished by their conical ribbon-style configuration with diameter of 5.8 metres, these drogue
parachutes find their place within pyro-based devices called mortars.
• Ingeniously engineered, these devices are designed to precisely expel the parachutes into the
atmosphere upon receiving the command.
Deployment Tests:
Throughout the series of three comprehensive tests at the RTRS facility, a diverse set of real-world scenarios
was replicated to assess the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes.

• First test – simulation replicated the max reefed load, introducing reefing in a mortar-deployed
parachute within India.
• Second test – imitated maximum disreefed load challenges.
• Third test – mirrored Crew Module’s mission conditions, including max angle of attack, underlining
thorough assessment.
Working mechanism:
i.Through a single-stage reefing mechanism, these parachutes adeptly minimize canopy size while adeptly
counteracting the shock of opening, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent.
ii.The intricate parachute sequence in the Gaganyaan module has ten parachutes.
• It starts with two Apex cover separation parachutes, followed by stabilizing with two drogue
parachutes. After the drogue parachutes are released, the mission enters the extraction phase.
• Three Pilot chutes then extract three main parachutes, crucial for reducing the Crew Module’s speed
for a safe landing.
Additional Info:
In March 2023, RTRS tests for the Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes were carried out, further
underscoring the advancement of the Gaganyaan mission’s parachute system development.
Scientists at IIA Bengaluru Discovered a Unique CEMP Star “HE 1005-1439”

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics(IIA) in Bengaluru, Karnataka have discovered a unique star
named “HE 1005-1439”. This star defies the conventional classification of stars and stands out as a carbon-
enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star, a rare class of chemically peculiar stars.
CEMP Star:
CEMP stars have [C/Fe] (Carbon/Iron) > +1, compared to the Sun
CEMP stars have carbon enhanced at least 10 times more than iron,
and [Fe/H] (Iron/Hydrogen) < -1, meaning that iron is less than a
10th that in the Sun.
Discovery of HE 1005-1439:
i.The discovery of the new star challenges the previous
understanding of star formation processes.
ii.For the first time, scientists have discovered an object that shows
signs of having been formed through a combination of 2
different neutron capture processes such as slow (s-) and intermediate (i-).
• slow (s-) – occurs in low-mass stars during a particular phase called asymptotic giant branch (AGB).
• intermediate (i-) – the proposed site of i- process is low-metallicity low-mass AGB stars.
Note:
The s- and i-process occur in different astrophysical environments, and hence, the surface chemical
composition of HE 1005-1439 being influenced by both processes seems unique.
Key Points:
i.The IIA scientists led by Partha Pratim Goswami and supervised by Prof. Aruna Goswami, used high-
resolution spectroscopic data acquired using High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS) attached to SUBARU
telescope (Japan) to analyze the star’s surface chemical composition.
ii.They found that the iron content of the star is 1000 times less than that of the sun and it is heavily enriched
with neutron-capture elements.
Neutron capture processes:
Elements beyond iron are formed through the neutron capture processes. The processes of neutron
capture may be distinguished as slow (s-), Rapid(r-) and intermediate (i-).
• rapid (r-) process is believed to occur in Supernovae and Neutron star mergers.

About Indian Institute of Astrophysics(IIA):
IIA is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
Director– Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam
Established in 1971
Location– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Agnikul Cosmos Begins Integration Process of its First Launch Vehicle ‘Agnibaan SOrTeD’
from Sriharikota
On 15th August 2023, Agnikul Cosmos Private Ltd, a space-tech start-up, commenced the process of
integration of its first state-of-the-art launch vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-
Orbital Technological Demonstrator), with its exclusive private launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC) SHAR (formerly Sriharikota Range) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
• The integration process is the significant step taken by the Agnikul Cosmos, toward its first
controlled sub-orbital flight, which brings Agnikul closer to fulfilling its vision of delivering reliable
and affordable access to space.
Note: In December 2020, Agnikul became the 1st Indian company to sign an agreement with Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) to get access to ISRO’s expertise and facilities to build Agnibaan and its
launchpad.
Agnibaan SOrTeD:
i.Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by
Agnikul’s patented Agnilet engine, a fully 3D-printed, single-piece, 6
kilonewton (kN) semi-cryogenic engine.
ii.Diverging from conventional sounding rockets launched from
guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will initiate vertical liftoff and follow a
predefined trajectory while executing precisely arranged maneuvers
during its flight.
iii.The rocket is equipped to haul payloads of up to 100 kilos to a 700
kilometers distance in Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) and has been praised for its ‘plug-and-play’ design, which allows
for accurate mission configuration.
iv.Agnikul’s flight events have been designated to validate key technologies integral to the success of its
upcoming orbital flights as Agnikul is on its path toward its inaugural controlled flight in the upcoming weeks.
Note: On 25th November 2022, Agnikul inaugurated India’s first private launchpad, Agnikul Launchpad (ALP),
and Mission Control Center (Agnikul Mission Control Center (AMCC)) at SDSC. This facility serves as the base
for Agnikul’s future suborbital and orbital missions.
Key Points:
i.This suborbital mission serves as a validation of Agnikul’s proprietary autopilot, navigation, and guidance
algorithms. It also serves as a crucial trial for gauging the launchpad’s preparedness for more ambitious
undertakings.
ii.AgniKul, assisted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe, the promotion and
regulation body has ideated and built the launchpad.
iii.The launchpad and the mission control center are separated by 4 kilometers, and equipped with state-of-
the-art technology to ensure independent and uninterrupted operations during the mission countdown.
iv.A successful launch would make AgniKul the 2nd Indian space tech start-up to send its launch vehicle into
space after Skyroot Aerospace, which launched its rocket Vikram-Sarabhai (Vikram-S) in 2022.
About AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited:
AgniKul Cosmos is an Indian aerospace manufacturer based in National Center for Combustion Research &
Development (R&D) (NCRD) of Indian Institute of Technology Madras(IIT Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-founder– Srinath Ravichandran
India’s 1st Long-Range Side Swing Revolver ‘Prabal’ Launched

On 18th August 2023, India’s first long-range side swing revolver ‘Prabal’ with “twice the range of other
revolvers”, manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd. (AW&EIL), was launched at the
Small Arms Factory (SFA) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh for civilians and arms dealers.
• AW&EIL, a Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) based fully government-owned enterprise ultimate weapon system
provider
Features:
i.Prabal revolver is a lightweight .32 caliber ‘side swing’ revolve.
• Weight: 675 grams (without cartridges).
• Accuracy: Can hit targets up to 50 meters, double the range of other civilian handguns.
• Features: Chrome-platted barrel of 76 millimeters length.
• Dimensions: Overall length of 187.7 millimeters.
ii.The Prabal revolver uses an innovative side-swing mechanism
for loading/unloading bullets, replacing the traditional tilting or
frame-breaking methods. This side-swing cylinder opening is also
lighter by 25 to 50 grams compared to other revolvers.
• This innovative design element eliminates the need to fold
the firearm for cartridge insertion, simplifying the reloading
process and enhancing user convenience.
iv.Prabal was tested in temperatures ranging from -30 degrees to
55 degrees and has been launched in the market after 600 rounds
of testing.
About Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd. (AW&EIL):
It is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It
is incorporated under the Companies Act 2013 on 14th August 2021.
Chairman and Managing Director– Rajesh Choudhary
Headquarters– Ordnance Factory Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Commenced business on– 1st October 2021
Secong MCA Barge Yard 76 (LSAM 8) Launched at Andhra Pradesh

Commodore G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated the
second Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, known as Yard 76 (LSAM 8).
• The launch took place at Guttenedevi, East Godavari, Andhra
Pradesh, at the manufacturing site of M/s SECON
Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, a Micro-Small-Medium
enterprise (MSME) specializing in manufacturing.
• The contract for constructing 8 MCA Barges was signed with
M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, aligned with the
“Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India) initiatives of the
Note: The first MCA Barge, Yard 75 (LSAM 7) was launched by Rear
Admiral Sandeep Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition (ACWP&A) on 24th
February 2023 at Guttenedevi, Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points:
i.This Barge is the proud flag bearer of the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Ministry of Defence, GoI, with all
major and auxiliary equipment/systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers.
ii.The Barge is designed with a service life of 30 years. The availability of these MCA Barges addresses the
evolving operational needs of the Indian Navy (IN).
iii.Its impact on facilitating transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of essential articles and
ammunition to IN Ships both at jetties and outer harbours.
Indian Army Inducts Swathi Mark II Mountain Variant WLR

Indian Army inducted the first Swathi Mark II Mountain variant Weapon Locating Radar(WLR), a lighter and
compact version WLR for mountains & high-altitude areas.
• The WLR was flagged off by Lieutenant General JB
Chaudhari, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (CD&S) in Agra,
Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• Swathi Mk II was developed by Bharat Electronics
Limited(BEL), a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise(PSE)
under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
• The SWATHI WLR mountain version is the result of a
collaborative effort between Radar House Electronics and
Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO), along with BEL.
• This is a state-of-the-art system that caters to the unique challenges posed by the mountain and
high-altitude terrains.
Note: In 2022, BEL received an order for the six units of the Swathi Mark II WLR mountain version from the
Indian Army.
About Swathi WLR:
i.Swathi WLR is a mobile 3D electronically scanned phased-array radar that can autonomously locate hostile
soldiers’ artillery, mortars, and rocket launchers and destroy them by enabling counter-bombardment.
ii.Each Swathi WLR unit is mounted in two vehicles: a radar vehicle with electronics and an antenna shelter,
and a power source-cum-built-in test equipment (BITE) vehicle with two diesel generator sets and a radar
target simulator.
iii.The Swathi radar comes in two versions: the Swathi Plains (WLR) and the Swathi Mountains (WLR-M).
• The Swathi Mark I variant(Swathi Plains) is set up into two 8×8 wheeled Tatra trucks weighing
approximately 30 and 28 tonnes, subsequently, the Swathi Mark II variant (Swathi Mountain) is
integrated into two 6×6 wheeled Tatra trucks weighing around 18 tonnes each.
• The Swathi WLR Mark I variation is suited for plains operations, and the only difference between the
two models is weight.
About Swathi Mark II:
i.Swathi Mountains is capable of detecting mortar shells and rockets and tracking projectiles.
ii.It classifies projectile and non-projectile targets, rejecting unwanted signals like birds, clutter, and aircraft. It
also offers trajectory estimation and launch/impact point extrapolation, automatically correcting for height to
enhance accuracy.
iii.The radar system is equipped to store and display trajectory data and maintain communication with higher
echelons for better coordination.
Note:
i.India had exported four Swathi Weapons Locating Radars to Armenia valued at USD 40 million, in March
2020.

ii.The Indian Army already inducted 30 units of Swathi Mark-I and they are deployed across the Line of Control
(LoC).
India’s First Hydrogen Bus Hits the Public Roads in Leh, Ladakh
NTPC Limited(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation), a Maharatna Public Sector
Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of Power (MoP), has begun the trial of India’s 1st hydrogen bus in Leh,
Union Territory (UT) Ladakh. This marks India’s 1st-ever use of hydrogen buses on public roads. The first
hydrogen bus arrived in Leh, marking the initiation of a 3-month process involving field trials, roadworthiness
tests, and necessary regulatory steps.
• NTPC is working towards achieving carbon-neutral Ladakh by establishing a hydrogen fuelling
station, a solar plant, and introducing five fuel cell buses for local transport within the city of
Leh. This is part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability in the region.
• The first of its kind Green Hydrogen Mobility Project at 11,562 ft is co-located with dedicated
Solar plant of 1.7 MW for providing renewable power. The fuel cell buses are designed for
operation in sub-zero temperature in rarefied atmosphere, typical to such altitude locations which is
a unique feature of this project.
• NTPC aims to achieve 60 GW of Renewable Energy capacity by 2032 and play a significant role in
Green Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage.The company is taking up several initiatives
towards decarbonization such as Hydrogen blending, Carbon Capture, EV buses, Smart NTPC
Townships etc.
China Launches New Satellite for Earth Observation

China has launched a new Earth observation satellite,named Gaofen-12 04, atop a Long March-4C carrier
rocket, into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.
The satellite has been positioned in the designated orbit around the Earth as originally intended for its mission.
• This launch represents the 484th flight mission of the Long March series carrier rockets.
• The satellite’s capabilities will be utilized in diverse applications such as land surveys, urban
planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, and disaster relief efforts.
Dr Jitendra Singh Launches Indigenous E-Tractor, CSIR Prima ET11

Union Minister of State(MoS) Dr.Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology, launched CSIR Prima ET11,
India’s 1st indigenous e-Tractor. It was developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) -
Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, West Bengal.
• He also released a book by CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and a
compendium on 75 technologies developed by CSIR.
i.This event highlights the introduction of advanced technology in the form of electric tractors to promote
sustainability and innovation in the agricultural sector.
ii.Minister highlighted the importance of the 5 S’s mantra – Showcasing, Stakeholders, Startups,
Synergizing, and Strategizing Industry linkage to ensure the success of Research and Development
(R&D)endeavours carried out in government-run scientific laboratories.
iii.He also notified that prominent startups are emerging within the agriculture sector, especially in specialized
technologies such as e-Tractor, garbage recycling, drip irrigation, and genome-sequenced farming (like Mango
and Lotus).
Iran Unveils “Mohajer-10” New domestically Built Attack Drone

The Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics unveiled Mohajer-10, the new domestically build
attack drone (unmanned combat aerial vehicle – UCAV) with enhanced capabilities.

• The drone was unveiled in the presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at an exhibition
celebrating Defense Industry Day.
• Mohajer-10 is the upgraded version of the “Mohajer-
6” and resembles the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the
United States of America(USA).
Note:
The word “Mohajer,” originating from Farsi, translates to
“immigrant.” This has been the label for the drones series
produced by Iran since 1985.
Features:
i.Mohajer-10 can stay in the air for up to 24 hours at an altitude
of 7,000 meters.
ii.It has an operational radius of 2,000 kilometres and the maximum fuel capacity of the drone is 450 litres.
iii.The drone can fly at the speed of 210 kilometres per hour(kph) and is equipped with enhanced electronic
and intelligence systems.
iv.The drone can carry a maximum payload of 300 kilograms which is double the capacity of the “Mohajer-6”
drone.
Additional info:
The “Mohajer-6” possessed the ability to carry payloads weighing up to 150 kilograms, maintain flight for a
duration of 12 hours, and reach a maximum altitude of 5,400 metres.
About Iran(officially the Islamic Republic of Iran)
President – Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi
Capital – Tehran
Currency – Iranian Rial
NASA & SpaceX Launched International Crew-7 Astronaut Mission to ISS

On 26th August 2023, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the international Crew-7 astronaut mission to the
International Space Station (ISS).The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotation
mission for NASA.
• The 4 astronauts of the Crew-7 mission lifted off atop
a brand-new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, the United
• The Crew-7 team will ride on the SpaceX Crew
Dragon capsule, Endurance, which is a trained
spaceflight, that previously completed missions as
part of SpaceX’s Crew-3 and Crew-5 missions to the
ISS.
• The journey from Earth to the ISS is estimated to take
nearly 30 hours.
The Crew:
A crew of 4 astronauts from 4 different (countries’) space agencies is a rare occurrence in the history of
spaceflight and is the most international crew to fly with SpaceX to date and are:
i.Commanding Crew -7 is NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli, who is making her first spaceflight, and is now the 2nd
Iranian-American to fly to space, after Anousheh Ansari;
ii.European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, from Denmark,serves as Crew-7’s pilot, and
he’s the first ESA astronaut to hold that title as part of a Dragon crew.

iii.Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov, of the
Russian space agency Roscosmos, are flying as Crew-7 mission specialists.
• Crew-7 will join the space station’s Expedition 69 crew of NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody
Hoburg, and Frank Rubio, as well as UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin, and Andrey Fedyaev. For a short time, the
number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 until Crew-6 members Bowen, Hoburg,
Alneyadi, and Fedyaev return to Earth a few days later.
Key Points:
i.The Falcon 9’s first stage shut down and separated from the upper stage approximately 2 minutes and 40
seconds into the launch.
ii.The booster then performed a boost-back engine burn for a return to Earth, which was also achieved.
iii.The Falcon 9’s first stage touched down at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in the USA. It was the first
launch and landing for this particular booster.
President and Chief Operating Officer– Gwynne Shotwell
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder– Elon Musk
Headquarters– Hawthorne, California, the USA
Founded in– 2002
BHEL Manufactures First Set of Indigenous SCR Catalysts to limit NOx emission
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has manufactured India’s first set of Indigenous Catalysts
for Selective Catalyst Reactors (SCR) for limiting oxides of nitrogen (NOx).This production is in line
with the government’s “Make in India” Initiative.
• Ms. Renuka Gera, Director (Industrial Systems & Products), BHEL flagged off the first set of
indigenously manufactured SCR catalysts for the 5×800 Mega Watt(MW) Yadadri Thermal
Power Station in Telangana, from the company’s Solar Business Division (SBD) unit in
Bengaluru,Karnataka.
• Combustion of coal converts the nitrogen bound in coal to form various products such as nitric
oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O).These products are collectively
called oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which are significant major pollutant.
Note – Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is an Indian Maharatna central public sector Enterprise
(CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Established in 1956, BHEL is
based in New Delhi
i.As per the recent environment protection notification of Ministry of Environment and Forest,Telangana
State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO) had placed an order for SCRs for 5×800 MW
Yadadri thermal power station,Telangana.
ii.Further, Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) for 1×660 MW Bhusawal thermal
power station in Maharashtra, West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) for
1×660 MW Sagardighi thermal power station in West Bengal and National Aluminium Company
Limited (NALCO) is a Navratna CPSE under Ministry of Mines for 1×18.5 MW Damanjodi thermal power
station in Odisha

DEFENCE
EXERCISE
Zayed Talwar 2023, a Bilateral Naval Exercise Between India & UAE held in Dubai
“Zayed Talwar 2023”, a bilateral naval maritime partnership exercise was held between the Indian Navy (IN),
India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy from 8th to 11th August 2023 in Dubai, UAE.
• From India, INS (Indian Navy Ship) Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand participated. The delegation of
IN was commanded by Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
(FOCWF).
• INS Visakhapatnam is an indigenously developed destroyer, and is commanded by Captain Ashok
Rao, whereas INS Trikand, an advanced stealth frigate, is commanded
by Captain Pramod G Thomas.
Aim:
To enhance the interoperability and synergy between the IN and
UAE Navy by cross-training on tactics, techniques and procedures
while also developing stronger professional bonds
Key Points:
i.Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty and UAE’s Brigadier Abdullah Farj
Al Mehairbi met at Abu Dhabi Naval Command to enhance naval
cooperation.
ii.They agreed to boost interactions between their navies and
tackle challenges like piracy and maritime security.
iii.Discussions also included joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
iv.Rear Admiral McCarty also paid a visit to the Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, and informed him
about the exercise and naval partnership roadmap under the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Capital– Abu Dhabi
Currency– UAE Dirham
Crown Prince– Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
INS Chennai Participates in PASSEX with Royal Saudi Naval Ship HMS Al Jubail
On 5th August 2023, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Chennai participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with
Royal Saudi Naval Ship HMS Al Jubail.
• The exercise was conducted off the coast (Red Sea) of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which included tactical
manoeuvres, seamanship evolutions and communication drills that contributed to reinforcing
mutual trust, cementing operational understanding, and enhancing interoperability between the
Indian and Saudi navies.
About Indian Naval Ship (INS) Chennai:
INS Chennai, a P-15A Guided Missile Destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 2016. It
was constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra
IAF To Host Mega Multilateral Air Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ in Mid-2024

The Indian Air Force (IAF), the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces, is set to host a mega multilateral military
exercise in mid of 2024. It was initially scheduled for October-November 2023.
• The exercise, named Tarang Shakti, is scheduled to be the largest air exercise ever conducted in
India and will be its 1st edition.

i.The exercise is anticipated to involve approximately 12 air forces, with a primary emphasis on enhancing
military cooperation and interoperability.
ii.Participating air forces from countries including France, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, the United
States(US), and Japan are expected to take part.
iii.Additionally, six other nations have been invited to observe the exercise.
iv.In April- May 2023, India participated in notable international air exercises.
• Indian Air Force dispatched four Rafale planes, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refuelers
to France’s Mont-de-Marsan military base for a nearly three-week international air exercise
‘Orion’.
• The sixth edition of Cope India-2023, a joint Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and
the United States Air Force (USAF).The exercise took place at Air Force Stations
Kalaikunda,Panagarh of West Bengal, and Agra,Uttar Pradesh.
India, Japan, US, Australia hold 27th Malabar Naval Exercise off Australian Coast
The 27th edition of naval Exercise MALABAR 2023 was held at East Coast of Australia off Sydney, between the
Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal
Australian Navy (RAN) from August 11-21, 2023.
• The exercise was hosted by RAN and held in Australia for
the first time.
Aim:
To enhance interoperability, share maritime security best
practices.
Representatives from India:
i.Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sahyadri– It is the third vessel of the
indigenous Project-17 class frigates, commanded by Capt
Rajan Kapoor.
ii.INS Kolkata– It is the first in the Project-15A class destroyers,
under the command of Capt Sharad Sinsunwal.
• Both ships, built at Mumbai, Maharashtra’s Mazagon Dock Ltd, are armed with advanced weaponry and
sensors for comprehensive threat detection and response.
iii.P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft – It was manufactured by Boeing specially for the Indian Navy.
Representatives from other Nations:
Participating units include RAN ships Her or His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Choules and HMAS Brisbane,
United States Ship (USS) Raphael Peralta, Japanese Ship (JS) Shiranui, Australian F-35 fighter jets, as well as P-8
surveillance aircraft, fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and shipborne helicopters along with submarines.
Key Points:
i.MALABAR 2023 was conducted in two phases Harbour and Sea. The harbor phase took place from 11-15
August 2023, followed by the sea phase from 16-21 August 2023.
• The Harbour Phase involved ross-deck visits, exchanges, sports, planning.
• The Sea Phase includes various complex and high intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare,
encompassing surface, air and under sea domains including live weapon firing drills.
ii.In 2022, it was hosted by Japan off Yokosuka island near the East China Sea.
iii.Commencing in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in the Indian Ocean, Malabar
exercise annual event saw Japan’s inclusion as a permanent participant in 2015. In 2020, Australia’s
participation made it a four Quad coalition.
Note: Concurrently, from August 22-24, 2023, 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX Maritime Exercise held
between the navies of India and Australia off the coast of Sydney.

INS Vagir Achieves Longest Scorpene Submarine Deployment, Travels 7,000 Km to Australia for
Exercises
Indian Navy’s INS Vagir, the 5th Kalvari class submarine, sets a new record for the longest deployment of a
scorpene-class submarine, covering 7,000 km to reach Australia for joint military exercises.
Key Points:
i.The submarine, commissioned in January 2023, arrived in Fremantle, Australia on August 20, 2023, to engage
in exercises alongside RAN units.
ii.The deployment includes basic to advanced Anti-Submarine exercises, involving RAN submarines and Indian
Naval P8i aircraft, enhancing collaboration between Indian Navy and RAN.
i.The 6th edition of the annual Naval Exercise ‘Ekatha’ between India and Maldives was scheduled to be
conducted from 4th June to 3rd July 2023, in Maldives to enhance interoperability in diving and special
operations.
ii.The First edition of the India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Trilateral Maritime Partnership
Exercise was held in the Gulf of Oman from 7th to 8th June 2023.
About Australia:
Capital– Canberra
Currency– Australian Dollar
Prime Minister– Anthony Albanese
Ex BRIGHT STAR-23: Maiden Multilateral Exercise of IAF Held in Egypt from August 27 to
September 16, 2023
Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23, a biennial multilateral
tri-service exercise scheduled to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt, from August 27 to September 16,
2023, towards encouraging global defense cooperation with Egypt. This is the first time that IAF is
participating in Ex Bright Star-23.
• The participation of IAF showcases India’s
commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships
and enhancing joint operational capabilities. IAF
contingents engaging in flying exercises abroad make
them true Diplomats in Flight Suits.
Aim of Ex Bright Star-23:
The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and
execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of
bonding across borders, these exercises allow nations to plan
and execute complex operations together.
Indian Participants:
i.The IAF contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft.
ii.Personnel from the IAF’s Garud Special Forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78, and 81
Squadrons, will be participating in the exercise.
iii.The IAF transport aircraft will also provide airlift to approximately 150 personnel from the Indian Army.
Other Participants:
Ex BRIGHT STAR-23 will also see the participation of contingents from the United States of America (USA),
Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar.
Key Points:
In the 1960s, India and Egypt fostered a remarkable relationship and deep cooperation that encompassed the
development of aero engines and aircraft, along with extensive pilot training.

About Egypt:
Prime Minister– Mostafa Madbouly
Capital– Cairo
Currency– Egyptian Pound (EGP)
TESTING
LCA Tejas Test-Fires Indigenous ASTRA Air-to-Air Missile off Goa Coast
On 23rd August 2023, India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 aircraft successfully test fired
the ASTRA indigenous state–of-the-art Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air missile (AAM) off the coast
of Goa.
• The missile release was carried out by Tejas at an
altitude of about 20,000 feet(ft).
• It was a flawless text book launch and all test objectives
were met.
• This will significantly enhance the combat skills of
Tejas and reduce their dependency on imported
weapons.
Key Officials to Monitor the Launch:
The test launch was monitored by the Test Director and scientists
of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with officials from Centre
for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality
Assurance (DG-AQA).
The aircraft was also monitored by a Chase Tejas twin-seater aircraft.
Features of ASTRA:
i.ASTRA is designed to be mounted on a fighter aircraft and engages and destroys highly manoeuvring
supersonic aerial targets.
ii.It is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre
Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO.
iii.It is built to function across weather conditions, and during both day and night, the system is being
developed to meet specific requirements.
iv.The indigenous Astra BVR firing from homegrown Tejas fighters is a major step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar
Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
Additional info:
The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being inducted into the Indian Air Force
(IAF).
Key Points:
i.Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft, with the capability to operate in high-threat air
environments.
• It is designed by the ADA in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of HAL
for the IAF and Indian Navy.
ii.The indigenously-developed fighter jet has been developed to undertake air defence, maritime exploration
and strike operations.
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Air Force receives Israel’s Spike Non Line of Sight Missiles
Indian Air Force (IAF) received air-launched Spike Non Line of Sight (NLOS) Anti-Tank Guided Missiles(ATGM)
from Israel which can hit targets upto 50 km from a helicopter and 32 km from the ground.

• The NLOS missiles will be integrated with the fleet of Russian-origin Mi-17V5
helicopters, manufactured by Kazan Helicopters
Key features of Spike Non Line of Sight (NLOS)missiles:
i.It was designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems.
ii.It is available in various configurations, including man-portable,
vehicle-launched, and helicopter-launched variants.
iii.Utilizes a fire-and-forget system with lock-on before launch
and automatic self-guidance features.
iv.The long and extended range versions of the Spike introduce
the “Fire, Observe and Update” operating mode.
v.Air-launched SPIKE NLOS ATGMs are capable of executing precise strikes against ground targets from
standoff distances.
vi.Demonstrates the ability to inflict significant damage to enemy tank regiments and effectively halt their
advances.
vii.It has the highest level of survivability due to stand-off range and passive guidance.
viii. It enables the handling of Anti-access/area denial (A2AD) targets
Increased production of missiles through “Make-in-India”:
• A limited quantity of Spike NLOS ATGMs has been placed on order.
• There is intent to produce a more substantial amount of these missiles through the “Make-in-
India” approach.
About Israel:
Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu
President – Isaac Herzog
Currency – New Israeli Shekel (NIS)
India’s indigenous Nag ATGM and Helina Dhruvastra Missiles Set to Join Indian Armed Forces
India’s indigenous Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) and the variant of HELINA (Helicopter-launched
NAG) Weapon System called ‘Dhruvastra’ are set to be inducted into the Indian army and Indian Air Force
(IAF) after clearing all the trials.
• Both the Nag ATGM and Helina (Dhruvastra) missiles
are developed by Defence Research and Development
Organisation(DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat
Dynamics Limited(BDL).
• Nag is the surface-to-air missile and Dhruvastra is the
air-to-surface missile.
About Nag ATGM:
i.NAG also known as Prospina, is a third generation Anti-Tank
Guided Missile with Fire and Forget top attack capability.
• Nag ATGM developed under the integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP), which
also includes four other missiles—Agni, Akash, Trishul and Prithvi.
ii.The Nag has an operational range of up to 4 km and is armed with a tandem High-Explosive Anti-Tank
(HEAT) warhead.
iii.Nag ATGM measures approximately 1.834 meters in length, has a diameter of 0.158 meters, and weighs
around 44 kilograms.
About Helina (Dhruvastra):
i.Helina is an Air to Surface Missile system launched from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).ALH is fitted with
two Twin launchers, one on each side, each carrying eight missiles.

ii.It has the operational range up to 7km and length of 1.946m, and a diameter of 0.150m.
iii.It has a High Resolution Imaging Infrared Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch(LOBL) mode
and capable of automatic target detection and tracking in adverse weather conditions.
Note:
In 2022, DRDO has successfully flight tested at high-altitude ranges as part of user validation trials.
Indian Army secures patent for AI-driven Accident Prevention System

The Indian Army (IA) has secured a patent for an ‘Accident Prevention System based on Artificial
Intelligence (AI)’ which is poised to enhance road safety and mitigate accidents.
• It is developed within the Army’s research and
development (R&D) division, and Colonel Kuldeep
Yadav has been credited as the inventor of this
prevention system.
• This system saves lives by alerting drivers from falling
asleep & reduces accidents caused by drowsiness.
Key Points:
i.The patent will remain valid for a duration of 20 years from 2nd
February 2021(date of filing), in accordance with the provisions
of Patents Act 1970.
• The patent was officially granted on July 11.
ii.Before securing the patent, the AI-based accident prevention device was subjected to rigorous testing in the
buses of two state transport corporations – Andhra Pradesh(AP) and Telangana.
iii.The device proved suitable for use in trucks as well, signifying its potential to contribute significantly to road
safety beyond military applications.
LCA Navy Prototype NP5 Trainer Aircraft Completes Successful Maiden Flight
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Naval Trainer Prototype ‘NP5‘ successfully completed its maiden flight in
Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• LCA Navy is designed and developed jointly by
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL.
• Captain Amit Kawade of the Indian Navy and Wing
Commander Siddarth Singh (Retired) piloted the
aircraft, which was flying for 57 minutes and
displayed normal parameters during the mission.
Features of LCA Navy NP5:
i.The LCA Navy NP5 is equipped with cutting-edge technology
such as a fly-by-wire flight control system, a glass cockpit, and
modern mechanical systems.
ii.It features modern hands-free ski jump take-off and landing flight control modes.
• It can operate with Air-to-Air weapons for combat missions and also capable of operating both
during the day and night.
iii. NP5 is a production-ready version of the LCA aircraft including all the improvements identified during the
testing of NP1 and NP2.
iv.The flight testing activities of NP5 aircraft will provide designers vital inputs towards the design and
development of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF).
About Previous Prototypes:
i.The first trainer prototype NP1 was flown on 27 April 2012 and the fighter prototype NP2 was flown on
February 7, 2015.

• Both Naval Prototypes (NP1 and NP2) have achieved major landmark milestones like ski jump take-
off and arrested landing demonstrations on Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Dabolim Airport,
Goa.
LCA Navy in Aircraft Carrier:
i.LCA Navy demonstrated 18 arrested landings and ski-jump takeoffs from Indian Navy Ship (INS)
Vikramaditya in 2020, including hot refuelling capability.
ii.It also performed 10 ski-jump take-offs and arrested landings from INS Vikrant on 2023.
• LCA Navy is the first indigenous fighter aircraft landing on the indigenous aircraft carrier, INS
Vikrant.
Note:
ski jump is an upward-curved ramp that allows the aircraft to take off from a runway that is shorter than the
aircraft’s required take-off roll.
About Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA):
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is a department of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and the nodal agency for the design & development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
Director General – Girish S. Deodhare
Indian Navy Successfully Undertook the Maiden Test Drop of SARK

The Indian Navy successfully undertook the maiden test drop of the Search and Rescue Kit (SARK) from the
Boeing P-8I long-range patrol aircraft on 15th August 2023(77th Independence Day of India). The Test flight
was conducted by the Indian Navy’s INS(Indian Navy Ship) Hansa-based Indian Naval Air Squadrons (INAS)
316 squadron.
• SARK is an indigenous (Made in India) kit that can be dropped from aircraft with the help of parachutes
to carry out rescue missions in the deep sea.
• It was developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment(ADRDE), a unit of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
• This will enable the Indian Navy to undertake search and rescue operations from long ranges off the
coast and strengthen India’s position as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR).
SPORTS
Japan Open 2023: Viktor Axelsen and An Se Young Wins Men’s & Women’s Singles Title
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and South Korea’s An Se Young won the men’s singles and Women’s singles titles
respectively of Daihatsu Japan Open 2023 Badminton Championships.
• The 40th edition of Daihatsu Japan Open 2023
Badminton Championships held from 25th-30th July
2023 at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium,
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
• India’s Lakshya Sen was defeated by Jonatan Christie of
Indonesia in the semifinals of men’s singles.
Highlights:
i.Men’s Singles : Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen(World rank 1) won the
men’s singles title defeating Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the
finals.
• This marks his third Badminton World Federation (BWF) title in 2023 including Malaysia open,
Indonesia open. He also won the gold medal in European Games 2023.

• This also marks his second title in the Japan open, previously he won the Japan open 2017.
ii.Women’s singles: An Se Young of South Korea became ranked 1 in the world by winning the women’s
singles title against He Bing Jiao of China in the finals.
• This marks her seventh title of 2023 including the Korea open,Singapore open, Thailand open, All
England open, Indonesia Masters, India open.
• This also marks her 11th women’s singles finals out of 12 tournaments in 2023.
iii.Men’s Doubles: Lee Yang and Wang Chi Lin of Chinese Taipei(Taiwan) won the men’s doubles title by
defeating Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.
• This marks their first title won after the gold medal 2020Tokyo olympics and also the first Chinese
Taipei pair won the men’s doubles in Japan open.
iv.Women’s Doubles: Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee yong of South Korea won the women’s doubles title by
defeating China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan.
• This marks their second Japan open including Japan open 2019.
v.Mixed doubles: Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino won the mixed doubles finals against
Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand.
• This marks the first Japanese mixed doubles pair to win the Japan Open.
Winners of Japan open 2023:
Viktor Axelsen Jonatan Christie
Men’s Singles (Denmark) (Indonesia)
An Se Young He Bing Jiao
Women’s Singles (South Korea) (China)
Lee Yang and Takuro Hoki and
Wang Chi Lin Yugo Kobayashi
Men’s Doubles (Chinese Taipei) (Japan)
Kim So Yeong and Chen Qing Chen and
Kong Hee Yong Jia Yi Fan
Women’s Doubles (South Korea) (China)
Yuta Watanabe and Dechapol Puavaranukroh and
Arisa Higashino Sapsiree Taerattanachai
Mixed Doubles (Japan) (Thailand)
About Japan Open 2023:
i.The BWF Super 750 event Japan Open 2023 was the eighteenth tournament of the 2023 BWF World Tour.
• Prize Money – USD 850,000
ii.The points earned by players will be counted for the Paris Olympic 2024 qualification.
iii.It was organised by Japan’s official Nippon Badminton Association (NBA) in association with Badminton
World Federation (BWF).
About Badminton World Federation(BWF):
F1: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Wins 3rd 2023 Belgian Grand Prix
On 30th July 2023, Redbull’s racing driver Max Verstappen (Dutch-Belgium) won the Formula 1(F1) MSC
Cruises Belgian Grand Prix 2023 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot,Belgium.
• Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (Mexican) finished 2nd and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monacan) finished 3rd.
• This marks his 8th straight win and 10th win of the season 2023.

Record by Max Verstappen:
i.This marks Red Bull’s record of 13th straight wins.
ii.This is Verstappen’s 3rd consecutive Belgian Grand Prix win
including its 2021 and 2022 edition.
iii.This marks Verstappen’s 45th win in F1.
iv.In 2023, Max won the Spanish GP, Monaco GP, Miami GP,
Australian GP, Bahrain GP, Canadian GP, Austrian GP, British GP,
Hungarian GP and Belgian GP.
F1 2023 Belgian GP Results:
Position Driver Team Points Earned
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 25
2 Sergio Perez Red Bull 18
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 15
About Belgian Grand Prix:
i.The 7,004-metre-long Spa-Francorchamps circuit is the longest on the F1 calendar.
• First grand prix – 1950
• Number of laps – 44
• Race distance – 308.052km
Torneo del Centenario 2023 : Indian Women’s Hockey Team Wins Title , Indian Men’s Team
won Bronze
On 29th July 2023, the Indian women’s hockey team defeated the host Spain at the three-nation Torneo del
Centenario 2023 (100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – International Tournament) by winning the
title in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
• This was the Indian women’s team’s first win at the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation
International Tournament 2023.
• Indian women’s team was led by the goal keeper Savita Punia.
Notable players:
i.Goals from Vandana Katariya, Monika, and Udita helped the Indian Women’s Team remain unbeaten in the
tournament.
ii.Lalremsiami scored a hat-trick for India.
Note: In the women’s tournament India, Spain, and England teams played each other over two legs and India
after all matches won the trophy in the finals.
About Torneo del Centenario:
The Torneo del Centenario is being played to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Real Federacion
Espanola de Hockey – the Spanish hockey federation.
Indian Men’s Hockey team Defeats Netherlands by Securing 3rd Place
On 30th July 2023, the Indian men’s hockey team defeated the Netherlands by securing third place and the
bronze medal in the four-nation Torneo del Centenario 2023 in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
• Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh scored notable goals(all goals came from penalty
corners) in India’s victory.
In the men’s event, the India, England, Netherlands,and Spain teams faced each other in a single-legged round-
robin format and the top two teams (England & Spain) faced each other in the final.
Note:
Based on the Elo rating system, in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings, the Indian women’s
hockey team is currently ranked 8th while the men’s team is placed 4th.

England Bowler Stuart Broad Retires From all Forms of Cricket
The 37 year old England Cricketer Stuart Christopher John Broad announced his retirement from all forms of
Cricket on 29th July 2023 during the midway of England vs Australia’s 5th Ashes Test at The Oval stadium,
London, United Kingdom (UK).
Achievement of Stuart Broad:
i.He made his One Day International(ODI) and Twenty20
International (T20I) debuts against Pakistan in August 2006 and Test
debut in December 2007 against Sri Lanka.
ii.Played for England national team in 167 test matches with 604
wickets.
• He also played 121 ODI with 178 wickets and 56 T20I
matches with 65 wickets.
iii.He was honoured with Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE) in 2016 for his services to cricket.
iv.As of now(July 2023), he is the Fifth highest wicket taker in Test history with 602 runs in 167 matches.
Moeen Ali confirms his Retirement from Test Cricket after Ashes 2023
England all-rounder Moeen Ali confirms his test cricket retirement after the end of the Ashes series and he
will play in other formats of cricket.
Backdrop:
• On the request of England Test captain BenStokes, he played the Ashes series.But he retired from
test cricket in September 2021.
About Moeen Ali:
i.He played for England in 68 test matches taking 204 wickets and scored 3094 runs.
ii.He was awarded the Order of the British Empire(OBE) in June 2023 for his services to cricket.
Australia Retains Ashes 2023
Australia cricket team retained the 5 match test series ‘Ashes 2023’ after the 2-2 draw against England.It was
held from 16th June to 31st July in the United Kingdom(UK).
• This marks Australia’s 4th consecutive win in the series.
• So far in the Ashes series, Australia won 34 Ashes and England won 33 Ashes, 5 series were drawn.
Summary of 5 test matches:
1st test: Australia Won by 2 wickets at the Edgbaston, Birmingham.
2nd test: Australia Won by 43 runs at the Lord’s, London.
3rd test: England Won by 3 wickets at the Headingley, Leeds.
4th test: Match drawn due to rain and it was held in Old Trafford, Manchester.
5th test: England won by 49 runs at the Oval, London.
Award Winner:
i.England Player of the Series – Chris Woakes
ii.Australia Player of the Series- MItchell Starc
iii.England’s Men’s Player of the Summer: Joe Root
Italy’s World Cup Winning Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon Retires from Football
On 2nd August 2023, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon(45 years old) announced his retirement from
football. He was part of the Federation Internationale de Football Association(FIFA) World Cup winning Italian
team in 2006 in Germany (against France).
• He retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World
Cup in Russia.
About Gianluigi Buffon:
i.He was born on 28th January 1978 in Carrara, Italy.

ii.He made his professional debut with Serie B club Parma Calcio 1913(Serie B is the second highest division
of Football in Italy) at the age of 17 in 1995.
• He won Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup and Italian Supercoppa
with Parma.
iii.In 2001, he joined Italy’s Juventus Football club and won the 10
‘Serie A’ titles and a Serie B title.
iv.He moved to Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain F.C in 2018 and
won his only Ligue 1 title.
v.He holds the record of most caps for Italy with 176 appearances in
international matches.
Achievements:
i.He was awarded the FIFA’s best men’s Goalkeeper award in 2017.He earned nicknames including
‘superman’ and ‘Gigi’.
ii.He was also the first ever goalkeeper to win the Golden Foot Award in 2016.
iii.He was part of the FIFPro World11 three times(2006,2007,2017).
• The FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 is comprised of the best 11 men’s players from around the globe.
• FIFPRO is the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs
Professionnels(International Federation of Professional Footballers).
SMSES Signed An MoU With AIFF To Promote Football

On 2nd August 2023, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) to promote and elevate youth football in India
at a formal function in Air Force Station in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The MoU was signed by Air Vice Marshal Alok Sharma, VM VSM, ACAS (Org & Cer) as a member,
SMSES and Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, Secretary General, AIFF.
• The Air Force Sports Control Board conducts the tournament from 1994, priorly it was done by
Durand football tournament committee
Note: The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament is an inter-school football tournament held annually
in New Delhi, India from 1960.
Key points:
i.Under the MoU, SMSES will field a Subroto XI team in the AIFF’s youth competitions, comprising players from
various age categories of the Subroto Cup.
ii.The selected players will gain direct entry into the AIFF Youth Leagues for both boys and girls from the 2023-
24 season onwards and a one-time cash scholarship of Rs 25,000/- will be awarded to each of the 25 identified
players in the U-17 Boys and Girls categories, while the Sub-Junior (U-14) category players will receive Rs
15,000/- each.
iii.These players will also be assessed using an IT-assisted Talent Development Scheme and may have the
opportunity to attend National Team training camps in their respective age categories.
iv.The AIFF will encourage Indian Super League(ISL), I-League, and Indian Women’s League (IWL) clubs to
send their scouts to the Subroto Cup matches. It will assist SMSES in the age detection of players using the TW3
method.
England’s T20 World Cup 2022 Winner Alex Hales Retires From International Cricket
England’s Twenty20 International(T20I) World Cup 2022 winner Alexander Daniel Hales (Right-Handed
Batsman) announced his retirement from international cricket on 4th August 2023. However he continues to
play in domestic and franchise cricket.
• Hales scored an unbeaten 86 runs, which lead England to win over India in the T20I World Cup2022
semi-finals in Australia.

About Alex Hales:
i.The right hand batter was born on 3rd January 1989 at Hillingdon,
ii.Debut:He made his debut in a T20I match against India in
Manchester(UK) in August 2011.
• He made his ODI debut against India in 2014, also played
his last ODI against West Indies in 2019.
• Also made his test debut against South Africa in 2015 and
played last test in 2016 against Pakistan.
iii.Career:Hales represented England for 156 matches across all
formats (T20I, ODI & Tests) and scored 5066 Runs.
• He played 75 T20Is and scored 2074 runs with a century and 12 half-centuries.
• He also played 70 One Day Internationals(ODI), and scored 2419 runs with 6 centuries and 14 half-
centuries.
• He scored 573 runs in 11 test matches with 5 half-centuries.
iv.Records:He was the second highest individual ODI scorer for England by scoring 171 runs against Pakistan
at Nottingham, UK in 2016.
World Archery Championships 2023: India won Gold for the 1st time & Topped Medal Tally
with 4 medals
India topped the medal tally with 4 medals(3 gold and 1 bronze) at the 52nd edition of the Hyundai World
Archery Championships 2023, held in the Berlin Olympic Park in Berlin, Germany from 31st July to 6th
August 2023.
• India won the gold medal for the first time since its 1st
edition that held in 1931.
• South Korea secured 2nd position in the medal tally with
3 medals(2 gold and 1 bronze) followed by
Germany,Poland and Türkiye in 3rd position each with 2
medals (1 gold and 1 silver).
• This event marks the first major qualifier event in
archery for the 2024 Paris Olympic.
Archer Event Medal
Aditi Gopichand Swami women’s individual compound Gold
Ojas Pravin Deotale men’s individual compound Gold
Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur and Aditi Gopichand Swami women’s compound team Gold
Jyothi Surekha Vennam women’s individual compound Bronze
India’s first-ever gold medal in World Archery Championships:
i.The Indian women’s compound team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami and Parneet Kaur won the gold
medal beating Mexico in the final.
• This marks India’s first-ever gold medal in the World Archery Championships.
ii.Jyothi Surekha Vennam also won the bronze medal at the women’s individual compound event defeating Ipek
Tomruk of Türkiye.
Aditi Gopichand Swami -Youngest world champion:
i.Aditi Gopichand Swami(aged 17) became the world champion by winning the gold medal in the women’s
compound event defeating Andrea Becerra of Mexico.
ii.She also became the youngest archer to win an individual event at the senior world championships.

iii.Previously She won the Under-18 compound world title at the Youth World Championships in Limerick,
Ireland in July 2023.
Ojas Pravin Deotale – World champion in men’s compound:
i.Ojas Pravin Deotale(aged 21)won the gold medal(world champion) in the men’s individual compound event
defeating Lukasz Przybylski of Poland.
In the semi-finals,Ojas(world rank 9 in compound men) defeated Mike Schloesser(World rank 1) of the
Netherlands.
ii.He became the first Indian male archer to win a gold medal at the world championships.
Note:
Previously,India won a total of 3 silver medals at the World Archery Championships 2021 in Yankton, South
Dakota, The United States of America(USA).
Medal Tally:
1 India 3 0 1 4
2 Republic of Korea(South Korea) 2 0 1 3
Germany
Poland
3 Türkiye 1 1 0 2
About World Archery championship:
i.The World Archery Championships are a series of competitions in Archery organised by the World Archery
Federation (WA).
ii.The biennial event was organized for the first time in the year 1931.
iii.India made its debut in the World Archery Championship in 1981, Italy.
• Upto 2021 edition, India had won a total of 11 medals(9 silver and 2 bronze)
About World Archery Federation:
President– Ugur Erdener
Australian Badminton Open 2023: HS Prannoy Wins Silver Medal in Men’s Singles Finals
India’s Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar settled to silver medal in the men’s singles after losing the finals
against China’s Weng Hong Yang at the Sathio Group Australian Open 2023(Australian Open 2023) held at the
state sports centre in Sydney, Australia from 1st to 6th August 2023.
• HSBC Badminton World Federation(BWF) Australian Open
2023 is the World Tour Super 500 tournament.
Highlights:
i.Men’s Singles: China’s Weng Hong Yang won the men’s singles title
defeating India’s HS Prannoy.
• HS Prannoy defeated Priyanshu Rajawat (India) in semi-
finals to enter 2023 Australian Open finals .
• Previously, Prannoy defeated Weng Hong Yang in the finals
of Malaysia Masters Super 500 in May 2023 to win his first
BWF World Tour title.
i.Women’s singles:Chinese born American Beiwen Zhang won the women’s singles title by defeating Kim Ga
Eun of South Korea.
• She won her previous BWF title at the 2018 India Open against PV Sindhu.

ii.Men’s Doubles:South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae won the men’s doubles by defeating
Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.
• This marks their second BWF title in 2023 after the Malaysia masters.
iii.Women’s Doubles:South Korea’s Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong won the women’s doubles title by
defeating Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China.
• This was their 4th title in 2023 including All England Open, Thailand Open, Japan Open, Australian
open.
iv.Mixed Doubles:China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping won the mixed doubles by defeating Hiroki
Midorikawa and Natsu Saito of Japan.
• This marks their 5th title in 2023 including Indonesian Masters, Thailand Masters, German Open,
Korea Open, and Australian Open.
Winners of Australian Badminton Open 2023:
Weng Hong Yang HS Prannoy
Men’s Singles (China) (India)
Beiwen Zhang Kim Ga Eun
Women’s Singles (United States of America) (South Korea)
Kang Min Hyuk and Takuro Hoki and
Seo Seung Jae Yugo Kobayashi
Men’s Doubles (South Korea) (Japan)
Kim So Yeong and Liu Sheng Shu and
Kong Hee Yong Tan Ning
Women’s Doubles (South Korea) (China)
Feng Yan Zhe and Hiroki Midorikawa and
Huang Dong Ping Natsu Saito
Mixed Doubles (China) (Japan)
About Australian Open 2023:
i.The 33rd edition 2023 Australian Open was the 19th tournament in the 2023 BWF World Tour calendar and
the 6th Super 500 event of the season.
• Prize Money – USD 420,000
ii.The event was organised by Badminton Australia with sanctions from BWF.
About Badminton World Federation(BWF):
Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023: India Wins 42 Medals; 15 in Junior
and 27 in youth Events
The Indian Weightlifting contingent won 42 medals(15 in Junior events and 27 in youth events) in the Asian
Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 held from 28th July to 5th August 2023 in the Gautam
Buddha University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• In the Asian Youth(Boys & Girls) and Junior (Men & Women) competition, medals were given out for
the snatch, clean & jerk, and overall categories and India won 14 medals in the clean & jerk; 13
medals in the snatch;15 in the overall category.
• The Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 is held in India for the first time.

Highlights:
i.The 220 athletes from 18 Asian nations participated in both
Youth and junior categories of the 2023 Asian Youth and
Junior Weightlifting Championships.
ii.Sabar Jyoshna from Uttar Pradesh won the first medal for India
for this tournament, She won 3 bronze medals in the women’s
youth 40kg category(overall, snatch, clean and jerk).
iii.Siddhanta Gogoi won India’s first gold medal in this tournament
in the men’s junior 61 kg category including 3 gold medals in
Overall, Snatch, clean and jerk.
Awards:
• Best Lifter Youth Girls – Rustamova Anamjan from Turkmenistan with 904.4261 Points
• Best Lifter Youth Boys – Delos Santos Prince Keil from Philippines with 844.0010 Points
• Best Lifter Junior Women – Chen Guan- Ling from Chinese Taipei with 603.6453 Points
• Best Lifter Junior Men – Do Tu Tung from Vietnam with 664.8068 Points
• Best Team Youth Girls – India
• Runner up Team Youth Girls – Uzbekistan
• Best Team Youth Boys – Islamic Republic of Iran
• Runner up Team Youth Boys – Uzbekistan
• Best Team Junior Women – Uzbekistan
• Runner up Team Junior Women – India
• Best Team Junior Men – Uzbekistan
• Runner up Team Junior Men – Islamic Republic of Iran
Indian medal winners – Junior Category:
Weightlifter Category Medal Event
Silver Overall
Silver Snatch
Mukund Santosh Aher
(3 medals) men’s 55kg Bronze Clean And Jerk
Silver Overall
Silver Snatch
Gyaneshwari Yadav
(3 medals) women’s 49kg Silver Clean And Jerk
Gold Overall
Gold Snatch
Siddhanta Gogoi
(3 medals) men’s 61kg Gold Clean And Jerk
Sankar Lapung men’s 61kg Bronze Overall
Silver Overall
Gold Snatch
Sanapathi Pallav
Sanjana women’s 76kg Silver Clean And Jerk
Anjana Sreejith women’s 108kg Bronze Clean And Jerk
Indian Medal Winners- Youth Category:
Weightlifter Event Medal Category
women’s 40kg Bronze Overall

Sabar Jyoshna Bronze Snatch
(3 medals) Bronze Clean And Jerk
Sanapathi Guru Naidu Silver Overall

(2 medals) men’s 55kg Silver Snatch
Bronze Overall
M Tomchou Meetei
Bronze Snatch
(3 medals) men’s 55kg Bronze Clean And Jerk
Silver Overall
Koyel Bar Silver Snatch

Gold Overall
Gold Snatch
Bedabrate Bharali
(3 medals) men’s 67kg Silver Clean And Jerk
Bronze Overall
Bellana Harika
(2 medals) women’s 59kg Gold Clean And Jerk
Overall
Silver Snatch
Krishna Venkata Silver Snatch

(3 medals) men’s 73kg Silver Clean And Jerk
Silver Overall
Sanjana Silver Snatch

(3 medals) women’s 76kg Gold Clean And Jerk
Kapil Sonowal Bronze Overall

(2 medals) men’s 102kg Bronze Snatch
Silver Overall
M Martina Devi Silver Snatch

About Asian Weightlifting Federation(AWF):
President – Mohamed Yousef Al Mana
Headquarters – Doha, Qatar
FISU World University Games 2023: India finishes with 26 Medals

India finished 7th with 26 medals (11 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze) at 31st edition of the Fédération
Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games 2023 held in Chengdu, Sichuan
province, China, from 28th July to 8th August 2023.
• China finished 1st in the medal tally with 178 medals(103 gold, 40silver and 35bronze).
• FISU World University Games, formerly known as ‘Universiade’ was organised by International
University Sports Federation.

FISU World University Games 2023 medals tally :
1 China 103 40 35 178
2 Japan 21 29 43 93
3 Republic of Korea 17 18 23 58
7 India 11 5 10 26
Highlights:
i.Rifle shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won 4
medals including gold medals in Men’s 10m air rifle, Men’s 50m
rifle 3P, and Men’s 10m air rifle team along with Arjun Babuta and
Divyansh Singh Panwar.
• He also won a bronze medal in Men’s 50m rifle 3P team
along with Sartaj Singh Tiwana and Surya Pratap Singh.
ii.The 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion Manu Bhaker won
two gold medals in the Women’s 10m air pistol and in the
Women’s 10m air pistol team along with Abhidnya Ashok Patil and
Yashaswini Singh Deswal.
iii.Aman Saini and Pragati won the gold medal in the Archery mixed compound team event.
• Aman Saini also won the bronze in the men’s compound and Men’s compound team along with
Rishab Yadav and Sangampreet Singh Bisla.
iv.National Record: Jyothi Yarraji won the bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles and set a new
national record with a timing of 12.78 seconds in the women’s-only 100m hurdles.
v.Yamini Mourya won the bronze medal in Judo in women’s 57kg.
• This marks India’s first-ever judo medal at the World University Games.
Athlete Sport Event Medal

Men’s 50m rifle 3P Gold
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar Shooting Men’s 10m air rifle Gold
Manu Bhaker Shooting Women’s 10m air pistol Gold
Sift Kaur Samra Shooting Women’s 50m rifle 3P Gold
Elavenil Valarivan Shooting Women’s 10m air rifle Gold
Manu Bhaker, Abhidnya Ashok Patil and Yashaswini Singh Women’s 10m air pistol
Deswal Shooting team Gold

Arjun Babuta, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Divyansh
Singh Panwar Shooting Men’s 10m air rifle team Gold
Ashi Chouksey, Manini Kaushik and Sift Kaur Samra Shooting Women’s 50m rifle 3P team Gold
Aman Saini and Pragati Archery Mixed compound team Gold
Avneet Kaur Archery Women’s compound Gold
Sangampreet Singh Bisla Archery Men’s compound Gold
Avneet Kaur, Purvasha and Pragati Archery Women’s compound team Silver
Men’s 25m pistol rapid-fire
Vijayveer Sidhu, Udhayveer Sidhu and Adarsh Singh Shooting team Silver
Divyansh Singh Panwar Shooting Men’s 10m air rifle Silver
Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar Shooting Mixed 10m air rifle team Silver
Ashi Chouksey Shooting Women’s 50m rifle 3P Silver
Aman Saini , Rishab Yadav and Sangampreet Singh Bisla Archery Men’s compound team Bronze
Reeta Sawaiyan, Sangeeta and Tanisha Verma Archery Women’s recurve team Bronze
Aman Saini Archery Men’s compound Bronze
Sartaj Singh Tiwana, Surya Pratap Singh and Aishwary Pratap
Singh Tomar Shooting Men’s 50m rifle 3P team Bronze
Varun Tomar, Arjun Singh Cheema and Anmol Jain Shooting Men’s 10m air pistol team Bronze
Yamini Mourya Judo Women’s 57kg Bronze
Bhavani Yadav Athletics Women’s long jump Bronze
Jyothi Yarraji Athletics Women’s 100m hurdles Bronze
Amlan Borgohain Athletics Men’s 200m Bronze
Priyanka Goswami, Mansi Negi, Nikita Lamba and Pooja Women’s 20km race walk
Kumawat Athletics team Bronze
About FISU World University Games 2023:
i.The FISU World University Games 2023 featured a total of 269 medal events across 18 different sports.
ii.Around 230 Indian athletes participated and competed in 11 sports – archery, athletics, badminton, fencing,
judo, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.
• The Wushu team was also expected to compete but was withdrawn later due to the stapled visas
issued by the Chinese authorities to the players from India’s Arunachal Pradesh.
Note:
The 2023 edition of the Games was originally scheduled to take place from August 16 to 27, 2021. Due to Covid-
19 and the clash of dates with the Tokyo Olympics, it was postponed to 2022 and further to 2023 due to the
pandemic.
The Chengdu 2021 Games has replaced the 2023 Games that was to place in Yekaterinburg(Russia), who were
stripped of the hosting rights after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Next Edition:
i.The 32nd FISU World University Games 2025 is set to be held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany from 16th July to 27th
July 2025.
ii.The 2025 FISU World University Games winter is set to be held in Torino, Italy from 13th to 23rd January
2025.
• The 2023 FISU World University Games Winter held in Lake Placid, New York, United States of
America(USA) from 12th to 22nd January 2023.

India’s Previous Performance in FISU:
The 2023 Chengdu FISU World University Games is the best performance for India so far.
i.FISU World University Games is a biennial multi-sport event and India has been participating since the
inaugural edition at Turin, Italy in 1959.
ii.Previously, India gave its best in Gwangju,South Korea in 2015, where Indian athletes won 5 medals – 1 gold,
1 silver, and 3 bronze.
iii.India won 4 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze) at the 30th edition held in Naples, Italy.
About Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire(FISU):
Acting President – Leonz Eder
Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023: Indian Men’s Hockey Team won by Defeating Malaysia
The 7th edition of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 held from 3rd to 12th August 2023 in the Mayor
Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.The Indian Men’s hockey team clinched the Hero Asian
Champions Trophy 2023 Title by defeating Malaysia (4-3) in the finals held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Malaysia
secured the Silver Medal in the tournament.
• This victory marks India’s 4th win in the tournament
including 2011,2016,2018,2023 and becomes the
Successful team in the tournament surpassing
Pakistan(2012,2013,2018).
• Japan’s men’s hockey team defeated South Korea to
secure the Bronze Medal (3rd place).
Note: India and Pakistan shared the 2018 Title due to rain
affecting the final.
Awards of the Final Match:
• HERO of the Match- Hardik Singh (India)
• young player of the match – Selvam Karthi (India)
Points Table:
Position Team
1 India(Gold)
2 Malaysia(Silver)
3 Japan(Bronze)
4 South Korea
5 Pakistan
6 China
Awards of the Tournament:
• Hero of the Tournament: Mandeep Singh (India)
• Hero Top Scorer: Harmanpreet Singh (India)- (9 Goals)
• Dafa News Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Kim Jaehyeon (South Korea)
• Best Rising Goalkeeper Award: Takumi Kitagawa (Japan)
• Emerging Player Award: Abdul Shahid (Pakistan)

• Maximum Team Goals Award: Team India(29 Goals)
• Fan Choice Award for Best Goal: Selvam Karthi(India)
About Asian Champions Trophy 2023:
i.India hosted the event for the first time since its first edition held in 2011 in Ordos China.
• It was hosted and organised by Hockey India with an allocation of the Asian Hockey
Federation(AHF).
ii.The event witnessed the participation of six teams including India, Malaysia,Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and
China.
iii.The Indian men’s hockey team moved to 3rd position from 4th in Fédération Internationale de Hockey(FIH)
ranking following the title winner of the tournament.
• India followed the Netherlands in 1st place and Belgium in 2nd place in the FIH ranking.
Mascot: The Elephant named “Bomman” was inspired by the Oscar-winning documentary film ‘The Elephant
Whisperers, which shows how the mahout Bomman, along with his wife Bellie, took care of the orphaned baby
elephant Raghu.
Winners of previous edition Asian Champions Trophy:
Edition/Year Host Winner Runner
1st/2011 China(Ordos) India Pakistan
2nd/2012 Qatar(Doha) Pakistan India
3rd/2013 Japan(Kakamigahara) Pakistan Japan
4th/2016 Malaysia(Kuantan) India Pakistan
India &
5th/2018 Oman(Muscat)
Pakistan
South
6th/2021 Bangladesh(Dhaka) Japan
Korea
7th/2023 India(Chennai) India Malaysia

About Asian Hockey Federation(AHF):
President – Fumio Ogura
Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Established -1958
Pakistan Fast Bowler Wahab Riaz Retires From International Cricket

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz announced his retirement from international cricket across all formats. He
continues to play in franchise cricket.
• He has been serving as the caretaker Sports Minister of the Punjab province in Pakistan since
January 2023.
Career:
i.Wahab Riaz made his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2008.
• He also made his T20I debut against Bangladesh at Karachi, Pakistan in 2008.
• In 2010, he made his Test debut at the Oval, London in the United Kingdom.
ii.He has 83 wickets in 27 tests, 120 wickets in 91 one-day internationals (ODIs)and 34 wickets in 36 Twenty20
Internationals (T20Is).

• He played his last international match against New Zealand
in 2020 in a T20I at Hamilton, New Zealand.
iii.He was part of the Pakistan team in the International Cricket Council
(ICC) Men’s World Cup (ODI) in 2011, 2015 and 2019.
• He was also the leading wicket taker for Pakistan in 2015
World Cup with 17 wickets.
iv.At present, he is playing Caribbean Premier League (CPL),
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Lanka Premier League (LPL), and
County cricket in England.
Highlights:India Tour of West Indies and United States of America

Indian Men’s Cricket team toured West Indies and United States of America for 2-Test matches, 3-One-Day
Internationals(ODI) and 5-Twenty 20 Internationals(T20I) against the West Indies cricket team from 12th July
to 13th August 2023.
• Two T20I matches were played in Central Broward
Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill in Florida, United States
of America(USA).
India Won the Test series 1-0
i.India won the two-match Test series against West Indies 1-0 after
the rain drew the second Test at the Queen Park Oval, Port of Spain in
Trinidad.
• India won the first test by an innings and 141 runs held in
Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.
ii.This was India’s ninth consecutive Test series win against the West Indies.
• India went unbeaten against the West Indies for the 25th consecutive match with a draw in the
second Test .
• The last time, the West Indies won the test series against India in 2002 in the West Indies.
iii.India (Positioned 2nd) bagged 12 points in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle from this
test series.
India Won ODI series 2-1 against West Indies
i.India won the 1st ODI by 5 wickets against West Indies held on 27th July inthe Kensington Oval in Bridgetown,
Barbados.
ii.West Indies won the 2nd ODI by 6 wickets against India held on 29th July 2023 in the Kensington Oval in
Bridgetown, Barbados.
iii.India won the 3rd ODI by 200 runs held on 1st August 2023 in Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.
• Player of the Series(ODI) – Ishan Kishan (India)
West Indies Won T20I series 3-2 against India
i.West Indies defeated India by 8 wickets in the 5th and final T20I held on 13th August in Lauderhill in Florida,

ii.India won by 9 wickets in the 4th T20I against West Indies held on 12th August 2023 in Lauderhill in Florida,
iii.India won the 3rd T20I by 7 wickets held on 8th August 2023 in Providence Stadium, Guyana
iv.West Indies won the 2nd T20I by 2 wickets held on 6th August in Providence Stadium, Guyana
v.West Indies won the 1st T20I by 4 runs held on 3rd August 2023 in Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
• This loss marked the end of a six-year streak where India had not lost a T20I series to the West
Indies, since 2017.
• Player of the series: Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
Achievements by Indian Players:
Ravichandran Ashwin becomes the 1st Indian bowler to dismiss father and son in Tests:
i.On 1st July 2023, Indian Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin achieved the feat of becoming the 1st Indian
bowler to dismiss father and son in Tests when took the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of former great
batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
• He first dismissed Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his test debut in 2011 in New Delhi.
iii.He was also the 5th bowler to dismiss a father-son duo in international cricket.
iv.The other four bowlers were Mitchell Starc(Australia), Ian Botham(England), Wasim Akram(Pakistan)
and Simon Harmer(South Africa).
Ravichandran Ashwin becomes 3rd Indian to secure 700 Wickets
Ashwin becomes 3rd Indian to secure 700 Wickets in the international matches after Anil Kumble (956) and
Harbhajan Singh (711).
• He achieved this milestone when he took the wicket of Alzarri Joseph in the first test against West
Indies.
Virat Kohli surpassed Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-leading scorer in International cricket
Virat Kohli surpassed South Africa’s Jacques Kallis( 25,534 runs in 519 matches)to become the fifth-leading
scorer in International cricket during the 2nd test match against West Indies.
• Kohli scored 25,548 runs in 500 matches across formats at an average of 53.67, with 75 centuries
and 132 half-centuries.
• Virat Kohli became only the 10th cricketer to make 500 international appearances during second
and final Test match against West Indies.
• Virat is only behind Sachin Tendulkar (34357 runs), Kumar Sangakkara (28016 runs), Ricky Ponting
(27483 runs), and Mahela Jayawardene (25957 runs).
India becomes the fastest team to score 100 in test history:During the 2nd test match against West Indies,
India reached 100 runs in 12.2 overs with the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal,
which is the fastest ever 100runs a team has ever taken in a test match.
• They beat Sri Lanka’s 22 year old record (13.2 overs) set in 2001 against Bangladesh.
Ravindra Jadeja:
Ravindra Jadeja equals Courtney Walsh’s record to become Joint-Highest Wicket-Taker in India-West Indies
ODIs.
• Jadeja took 44 wickets in 30 matches, while Courtney Walsh took 44 wickets in 38 matches.
Debutant Indian Player in this series:
i.Yashasvi Jaiswal made his international test debut for india against West Indies and also won the player of
the match.
• He became the 17th Indian Test debutant to score a century in the test debut.
• He also made his T20I debut in the 3rd match against West Indies.
ii.Mukesh Kumar made his debut in all three formats including test, ODI, T20I in the West Indies tour.
• Bowler Mukesh Kumar from West Bengal becomes the 2nd Indian after T Natarajan to make
international debut in all the three formats on the same tour.
iii.Tilak Varma made his international debut in the T20I in the West Indies series.
• He played all 5 T20I matches.

iv.Ishan Kishan also made his test debut in the 1st test match against West Indies.
About the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI):
President – Roger Binny
Head Quarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Spain Defeated England to win their 1st Women’s World Cup
Spain Women’s football team (nicknamed La Roja) won the Fédération Internationale de football
Association(FIFA) Women’s World Cup 2023 by defeating England 1-0 in the finals at Stadium Australia in
Sydney, Australia on 20th August 2023.
• This marks Spain’s 1st title at the senior level and they won 1st Under-20 FIFA World Cup in 2022
and two U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2018 & 2022.
Medal Winners of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup:
Country Medal
Spain Gold
England Silver
Sweden Bronze
Bronze Medal Match:
Sweden won their 4th bronze medal by defeating Australia 2-0 for
the 3rd place match held in Brisbane, Australia.
• Previously, they won the bronze medal by defeating
Germany in 1991, France in 2011, and England in 2019,
and they were also runners-up (silver) in 2003.
Highlights:
i.England’s Mary Earps was awarded the Golden Glove following
her incredible campaign, including key saves in the final against
Spain.
ii.Hinata Miyazawa (Japan) was awarded the Golden Boot award
with a total of five goals.
• The last time a Japanese player won the Golden Boot award was at the 2011 Women’s World Cup
when Sawa Homare managed five goals.
iii.The 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo picked up the Young Player of the Tournament award after her
incredible debut campaign with Spain.
iv.Spain and Germany become the only two countries to win both men’s and women’s World Cup titles.
• Spain’s men won the title at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• Germany’s men are four-time World Cup champions, winning in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
Germany’s women’s team won in 2003 and 2007.
FIFA Women’s World Cup awards:
• adidas Golden Ball Award – Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
• adidas Silver Ball Award – Jennifer Hermoso (Spain)
• adidas Bronze Ball Award – Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden)
• adidas Golden Boot Award – Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)
• adidas Silver Boot Award – Kadidiatou Diani (France)
• adidas Bronze Boot Award – Alexandra Popp (Germany)
• adidas Golden Glove Award – Mary Earps (England)

• FIFA Best Young Player Award – Salma Paralluelo (Spain)
• FIFA Fair Play Award presented by McDonald’s – Japan
• Visa Player of the Match (Finals) : Olga Carmona (Spain)
About FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023:
i.The 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was co-hosted for the first time by Australia and New
Zealand from 20th July to 20th August 2023.
• 32 teams participated in this edition.
ii.Mascot: ‘Tazuni’, a fun football-loving penguin named as the mascot of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• The name Tazuni™ is a fusion of her home – the Tasman Sea – and ‘unity’, a key value of the event to
be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
iii.Spain becomes the fifth nation to win the Women’s World Cup after the United States of America(USA),
Germany, Norway and Japan.
• The first edition of the quadrennial tournament was held in 1991 in China.
iv.Prize Money:
• Total Prize Money of the tournament – USD 110million
• Winner – USD 4,290,000
• Runners-up – USD 3,015,000
• Third place – USD 2,610,000
List of FIFA Women’s World Cup Winners:
Winner Runner Year
United States of America(USA) Norway 1991
Norway Germany 1995
United States of America(USA) China 1999
Germany Sweden 2003
Germany Brazil 2007
Japan United States of America(USA) 2011
United States of America(USA) Japan 2015
United States of America(USA) The Netherlands 2019
Spain England 2023

About Fédération Internationale de Football Association(FIFA):
President – Gianni Vincenzo Infantino
Headquarters– Zürich, Switzerland
India Wins 14 medals in World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023

India wrestlers won a total of 14 medals(4 golds, 3 silver and 7 bronze) in the World Under-20 Wrestling
Championships 2023 held in Amman, Jordan from 14th to 20th August 2023 .
• India also claimed its first women’s team title at the World Under-20 Wrestling Championships
2023 with seven medals(3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze).

Highlights:
i.The 19-year-old Antim Panghal from Haryana won the gold in
Women’s 53kg event defeating Mariia Yefremova of Ukraine .
• She is the first Indian woman to become an Under-
20 (U-20) wrestling world champion in Sofia, Bulgaria
in 2022.
• She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win
two U-20 world championships.
ii.Priya Malik won the gold in women’s 76kg category by
defeating Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany.
• She became the second Indian woman to win the U-20
world championship.
iii.Mohit Kumar became the U-20 world champion in the 61kg freestyle category (Men’s) by defeating Eldar
Akhmadudinov of Russia
ii.Savita Dalal won the gold in the Women’s 62kg category against Venezuela’s Astrid Paola Montero Chirinos.
• She had also won the under-17 World crown in Istanbul, Turkey in 2023.
v.Indian Men’s team ranked 3rd in Freestyle category, Iran stood 1st.
Note:
India bagged 16 medals(1 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze) in the previous edition held in 2022.
Wrestler Category Medal
Mohit Kumar Men’s freestyle 61kg Gold
Priya Malik Women’s 76kg Gold
Antim Panghal Women’s 53kg Gold
Savita Dalal Women’s 62kg Gold
Sagar Jaglan Men’s freestyle 79kg Silver
Antim Women’s 65kg Silver
Sumit Men’s Greco Roman 60kg Silver
Jaideep Men’s freestyle 74kg Bronze
Deepak Chahal Men’s freestyle 97kg Bronze
Rajat Ruhal Men’s freestyle 125kg Bronze
Arju Women’s 68kg Bronze
Reena Women’s 57kg Bronze
Harshita Mor Women’s 72kg Bronze
Deepak Punia Men’s Greco Roman 77kg Bronze
About World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023:
i.The 46th edition of the junior wrestling championships witnessed the participation of 30 Indian westlers in
the Men’s freestyle, Women’s freestyle and Men’s Greco-Roman.
ii.A Total of 57 countries participated in this competition.
About United World Wrestling (UWW):
President – Nenad Lalović

FIDE World Chess Cup 2023: Magnus Carlsen Wins First Chess World Cup Title
Defeating Praggnanandhaa
Norwegian Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen won his first International Chess
Federation (FIDE) World Cup title by defeating India’s GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the FIDE Chess
World Cup 2023 finals.
• The 10th edition of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 was held from 29th July to 24th August 2023
in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Fabiano Caruana of the United States of America(USA) defeated Nijat Asabov of Azerbaijan to secure
the 3rd place.
Highlights:
i.Carlsen defeated Praggnanandhaa in the tie-breaker after the two
classical games ended in a stalemate.
ii.Praggnanandhaa becomes the first Indian since Viswanathan
Anand to reach the Chess World Cup final in 2002.
iii.Praggnanandhaa’s performance in the World Cup earned him a
spot in the 2024 FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto,
Canada.
• Praggnanandhaa (18-year-old) is the third-youngest player
to qualify for this event after Carlsen and GM Bobby Fischer.
iv.This was the first time four Indians qualified for the quarterfinals including Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Santosh
Gujrathi, D. Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi.
Medal Winners:
Player Medal
Magnus Carlsen(Norway) Gold medal and Trophy
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa(India) Silver medal
Fabiano Caruana(USA) Bronze medal

Prize Money:
• Winner – USD 110,000
• Runner – USD 80,000
• Third Place – USD 60,000
About Praggnanandhaa:
i.He was born on 10th August 2005 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
ii.Praggnanandhaa became the youngest (10 years, 10 months, and 19
days) international master(IM) in 2016.
iii.R Praggnanandhaa Created History by becoming the 2nd youngest
chess GrandMaster at 12 Years 10 months and 13 days in 2018 Gredine
Open in Ortisei, Italy.
iv.He was the youngest player to defeat then-world champion Magnus
Carlsen in a rapid game at the Airthings Masters Rapid Chess
Tournament in February 2022.
• He won the Asian Continental Chess Championship in 2022.

Winners of previous editions:
Edition Player
2021 Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland)
2019 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)
2017 Levon Aronian (USA/Armenia)
2015 Sergey Karjakin(Russia)
2013 Vladimir Kramnik(Russia)
2011 Peter Svidler (Russia)
2009 Boris Gelfand (Israel)
2007 Gata Kamsky (USA)
2005 Levon Aronian (USA/Armenia)

FIDE Women’s World Cup 2023:
Alongside FIDE World Cup 2023, the 2nd edition of the Women’s only version of the Women’s World Cup
2023 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 29th July to 22nd August 2023.
i.Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia won the 2023 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup title by
defeating Nurgyul Salimova of Bulgaria in the finals.
• Aleksandra Goryachkina was also the runner-up in the 2021 FIDE World Cup.
ii.Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine won the Bronze by defeating former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi of
China in the third-place match.
Prize Money- Women’s World Cup:
Winner – USD 50,000
Runner – USD 35,000
Third Place – USD 25,000
FIDE Ban transgender players to participate in the women’s events
i.FIDE banned transgender women from competing in its official women’s competitions while it performs a
“thorough analysis” of the situation, which could take up to two years.
• The ban came into effect from 21st August 2023.
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
United World Wrestling suspends WFI’s membership

United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling,
has indefinitely suspended the membership of the Wrestling Federation of India(WFI), the governing body
of wrestling in India with immediate effect due to lack of elections in the organisation.
• The elections of WFI were supposed to be held in May 2023 but they were postponed due to a series of
protests by Indian wrestlers and legal petitions from various state units.

• Following this, Indian wrestlers will not be competing in the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in
Belgrade, Serbia under the Indian flag but instead, they will have to participate as ‘neutral athletes’. If
an Indian athlete makes it to the winner’s podium, the national anthem will not be played.
• The Indian athletes will compete in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China under the Indian flag
since the entries were sent by the Indian Olympic Association(IOA).
Note: Previously, UWW had announced that the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023, which were scheduled
to be held in New Delhi(Delhi) were relocated to Astana, Kazakhstan.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn Wins Men’s Singles Title at the BWF World Championships 2023
Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand and An Se-young of South Korea won the men’s singles and Women’s singles
titles respectively in the Badminton World Federation(BWF) World Championships 2023.
• The TotalEnergies Badminton World Federation(BWF) World Championships 2023 held in Royal
Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark from 21st to 27th August 2023.
• India’s HS Prannoy won the bronze medal in the men’s singles at the BWF World Championships
2023.
Highlights:
i.Men’s Singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand won the men’s singles title by defeating Naraoka Kodai of
Japan.
• It marks Thailand’s first men’s singles title at the BWF World Championships.
• The final match lasted about 109 minutes marking the the second-longest World Championship
men’s singles final after the 124-minute match between China’s Sun Jun and Denmark’s Peter
Rasmussen in the inaugural World Championships in 1977.
ii.Women’s Singles: An Se-young of South Korea won the women’s
singles title by defeating the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Carolina
Marin of Spain.
• It marks South Korea’s first women’s singles title at the
BWF World Championships.
iii.Men’s Doubles: South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung
Jae won the men’s doubles title by defeating Kim Astrup and Anders
Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark.
iv.Women’s Doubles: China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan won
the women’s doubles title by defeating Apriyani Rahayu and Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia.
• This marks their fourth BWF World Championships women’s doubles title
including 2017,2021,2022 and 2023.
v.Mixed Doubles: Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung of South Korea won the mixed doubles title by defeating
Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong of China.
• Seo Seung Jae won two titles in the 2023 BWF World Championships including men’s doubles along
with Kang Min Hyuk.
HS Prannoy wins bronze medal:
i.Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar (HS Prannoy) settled for a bronze medal after losing to Kunlavut Vitidsarn in
the semifinals.
• This marks India’s 14th medal at the World Championships including 1 gold, 4 silver and 9 bronze.
ii.He was also the 5th Indian men’s player to win the BWF World Championships after Prakash Padukone, Sai
Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen.
• PV Sindhu was the only Indian to win a gold at the BWF championship in Basel, Switzerland in 2019,
which makes her total medal count to 5 in BWF championship.
iii.Prannoy won his first BWF world tour title at the Malaysia Masters in May 2023.
• He also clinched the silver medal in men’s singles at the Australian Open in August 2023.

Winners of BWF World Championships 2023:
Kunlavut Vitidsarn Kodai Naraoka
Men’s Singles (Thailand) (Japan)
An Se Young Carolina Marin
Women’s Singles (South Korea) (Spain)
Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
Men’s Doubles (South Korea) (Denmark)
Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan Apriyani Rahayu and Silva Ramadhanti
Women’s Doubles (China) (Indonesia)
Seo Seung Jae and
Chae Yu Jung Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong
Mixed Doubles (South Korea) (China)
About BWF World Championships 2023:
i.The 28th edition of the BWF World Championships was held in Copenhagen, Denmark for the 5th time.
• Around 365 players from 56 countries participated in the event.
ii.It was held every three years up to 1983 since the first edition was held in Malmö, Sweden in 1977. From
1983 – 2005 it was a biennial event, later it became an annual event from 2005.
About the Badminton World Federation (BWF):
Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold Medal in the World Athletics Championships 2023
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has won the gold medal in the men’s javelin with an
88.17 meter (m) throw in the World Athletics Championships 2023.
• The 19th edition of the World Athletics Championships
(2023) was held in (Venue – The National Athletics
Centre) Budapest, Hungary from 19th to 27th August
2023.
Neeraj Chopra – Gold Medal:
i.Neeraj Chopra finished first followed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem
(87.82m) in the second and Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) of the Czech
Republic in the third.
• Other Indian athletes Kishore Jena (84.77m) and DP
Manu (84.14m) finished fifth and sixth respectively in the finals.
• This marks India’s third medal at the World Athletics Championships after Anju Bobby George’s long
jump bronze at Paris 2003 and Neeraj’s silver at Oregon 2022.
ii.He became the first Indian to win gold at the World Athletics Championships.
Note:
National Javelin Day is annually celebrated across India on 7th August to commemorate the day on which
Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Indian men’s 4x400m relay team finishes fifth in the finals:
i.Indian men’s 4x400m relay team comprising Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amob Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and
Rajesh Ramesh finished fifth in the finals.
• The United States of America(USA) finished first followed by France and the United Kingdom in
second and third place respectively in the finals of men’s 4x400m.

• They also became the first Indian men’s 4x400m relay team to reach a World Championship finals.
• They set an Asian record in the men’s 4x400m relay event in the qualifying round by taking 2:59.05
seconds and surpassed Japan(2:59.51 seconds).
1 United States of America(USA) 12 8 9 29
2 Canada 4 2 0 6
3 Spain 4 1 0 5
18 India 1 0 0 1
Note:
India shared the 18th position with five other countries including Bahrain, Dominican
republic,Serbia,venezuela and Burkino Faso.
Highlights:
i.The biennial multi-nation competition witnessed the participation of 2100 athletes from 195 countries for the
49 medal events across track and field and road races.
• Around 27 Indian athletes participated in 15 medal events including 11 for men and four for
women.
ii.India’s Parul Chaudhary finished 11th in the finals of the Women’s 3000m steeplechase.
• She has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after setting a national record-breaking run of 9:15:31
in the finals.
iii.India’s Jeswin Aldrin finished 11th in the Men’s long jump finals with a 7.77 m Jump.
• He became the second Indian male long jumper to qualify for the finals after M Sreeshankar in 2022.
• He set the national record with an 8.42m jump in March 2023.
Note:
The 20th edition World Athletics Championships is set to held in Tokyo, Japan in 2025.
About World Athletics(Formerly The International Amateur Athletic Federation):
President– Sebastian Coe
Headquarters– Monaco, Europe
F1 Dutch GP: Max Verstappen Wins 11th Title of 2023 Season

Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver (Dutch-Belgian) won the title at the Formula 1 (FI) Heineken
Dutch Grand Prix(GP) held at Circuit Zandvoort, Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 25th to 27th August
2023.
• Spain’s Fernando Alonso(Aston Martin ) won second
place and France’s Pierre Gasly finished in third place
for the first time with Alpine.
• This also marks Verstappen’s 11th victory of the 2023
season out of 13 and 46th of his career.
Max Verstappen Records:
i.This marks his 9th consecutive F1 win of the 2023 season
equals German racing driver Sebastian Vettel’s record in 2013
with Red Bull.
ii.In 2023, Max won 11 GP including the Spanish GP, Monaco GP, Miami GP, Australian GP, Bahrain GP,
Canadian GP, Austrian GP, British GP, Hungarian GP, Belgian GP and Dutch GP.
• The other 2 titles of 2023 were won by Mexican racing driver Sergio Perez (Red Bull) in Saudi
Arabia GP and Azerbaijan GP.

iii.This was Verstappen’s third consecutive Dutch GP including 2021, 2022 and 2023.
iv.It was Red Bull’s 14th consecutive win starting from Max Verstappen win at the final race of November
2022 in Abu Dhabi and 13th win of the season.
F1 2023 Dutch GP Results:
2 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
3 Pierre Gasly Alpine
About Dutch Grand Prix:
i.The first edition of the F1 Dutch Grand Prix was held in 1952 and it happened until 1985.
• After the time gap, Dutch GP returned in 2021.
ii.About the circuit Zandvoort:
Race Distance – 306.587 km
WR Chess Team Wins FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2023

WR Chess team won the 1st edition of World Chess Federation (FIDE) World Rapid Team Championship 2023
held in Dusseldorf, Germany from 25th to 28th August 2023.
• Team Freedom finished second, while the Indian
squad of MGD1 was third.
Highlights:
i.The team Columbus Energy Kings Of Chess from
Kraków(Poland) won 12,500 Euros as the best-performing team
with a rating below 2400.
ii.The special prize ‘Rainer Niermann Cup’ for the best game by a
youngster was won by 12-year-old Christian Glöckler of
Germany for his victory over South African Grand Master(GM)
Kenny Solomon.
• He is also ranked fifth in the world in his age group.
iii.Total prize money – 250,000 Euros
• Winner – 100,000 Euros
• Second place – 60,000 Euros
• Third Place – 40,000 Euros
Note:
WR Chess stands for German entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein. He is the creator of this new event, which he
sponsored with his company WR Logistics and participated in himself.
Winners of FIDE World Rapid Team 2023:
Position Team(Medals) Games Match points
1 WR Chess (Gold) 12 22
2 Team Freedom (Silver) 12 20
3 MGD1 (Bronze) 12 18
Indians in the tournament:
i.R Praggnanandhaa in the title-winning WR Chess team and Viswanathan Anand and Vidit Gujrathi in Team
Freedom.
ii.MGD1 team has Aditya Mittal, GM Srinath Narayanan, GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Raunak

Sadhwani, GM Nihal Sarin, GM Harika Dronavalli and Peter Anand A.
About FIDE World Rapid Team 2023:
i.FIDE World Rapid Team 2023 is organized by FIDE in partnership with WR Logistics GmbH.
ii.It witnessed the participation of 36 teams and 300 players from different countries.
• Each team has at least six and not more than nine players, including at least one female player and
one recreational player.
• The event consists of 12 rounds played under the Swiss System.
iii.Apart from medals and rewards to top teams, individual medals were awarded for the board prizes.
• Indians Pentala Harikrishna (Bronze), Vidit Gujrathi (Silver), Raunak Sadhwani (Silver), Pranesh M
(Bronze), Harika Dronavalli (Silver) and Peter Anand A (Silver) are the individual medal winners for
their respective boards.
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Indian Women’s Hockey Team wins inaugural Women’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup; defeats Thailand
7-2 in Final
On 28th August 2023, The Indian Women‘s Hockey Team won the inaugural Women’s Hockey5s Asia Cup by
defeating Thailand (7-2) in the final match. Women’s Hockey5s Asia Cup 2023, held in Salalah, Oman from
25th to 28th August 2023, was the qualifying tournament FIH(Fédération Internationale de Hockey) Women
Hockey 5s World Cup 2024.
• With this victory, India qualifies for the FIH Women Hockey 5s World Cup 2024, the inaugural
edition of FIH Hockey5s World Cup, which is to be held in Muscat, Oman from 24th to 27th January
2024.
• Mariana Kujur (2nd, 8th minutes) and Jyoti (10th, 27th) scored a brace for India, while Monika
Dipi Toppo (7th), skipper Navjot Kaur (23rd) and Mahima Choudhary (29th) were the other goal
scorers. For Thailand, Kunjira Inpa (5th) and Sanpoung Kornkanok (5th) were on target.
• Hockey India has announced a Rs. 2 lakh reward to each player of the team, while Rs. 1 lakh each for
the support staff.
Player of the Tournament was Aunjai Natthakarn (Thailand) and Goalkeeper of the Tournament was Rumbiak
Iryani (Indonesia).
OBITUARY
Vakkom Purushothaman, Congress Leader and Former Governor passed away
On 31st July 2023, Vakkom Purushothaman, Senior Congress leader and former Speaker of Kerala, who also
served as Governor of Mizoram, Tripura and Andaman & Nicobar Island passed away at the age of 95 in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• He was born in Vakkom, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) on
April 12, 1928.He was a member of the All India Congress
Committee (AICC) for over 25 years.
About Vakkom Purushothaman:
i.Vakkom Purushothaman, an advocate by profession started his
political life as a worker of the Students Congress in 1946. He became
a Member of Vakkom Panchayath in 1953.
ii.He was elected to the Kerala Assembly 5 times from the Attingal

Assembly constituency and became a Minister in the Kerala government thrice from 1971-1977, 1980 to 1981,
and 2004 to 2006.
iii.He was the longest-served Speaker of the Kerala assembly, from 1982 to 1984 and again from 2001 to 2004.
iv.He was also elected to the Lok Sabha twice, from the Alappuzha constituency, and served from 1984-1989
and 1989-1991.
v.He served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 1993 to 1996, and
Governor of Tripura (Additional Charge) for two months in 2014.
Marathi Poet & Lyricist Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor Passed Away

On 3rd August 2023, Marathi poet and lyricist Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor, popularly known as Na
Dho Mahanor, passed away at the age of 81 in Pune, Maharashtra.
• He was born on 16th September 1942, in Palaskheda village,
Aurangabad (now called Sambahajinagar), Maharashtra.
Apart from writing, he had a passion in agriculture.
• Mahanor was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council
(MLC) in 1978.
Notable works:
i.Jagala Prem Arpave, Ganga Wahu De Nirmal, Divelaganichi Vel,
Ranatalya Kavita, Wahi, and Pavsali Kavita were just some of the
popular poems and songs he composed.
ii.He prose includes short stories like Gapsap and Village Stories in addition to novels like Gandhari.
iii.He also wrote songs for Marathi movies like Ek Hota Vidushak, Jait Re Jait, Sarja and also published a
collection of folk songs, Songs of Palasroad.
Awards & Honors:
i.He was honored with the Padma Shri award, the fourth-highest civilian honor of India, in 1991 for his
contribution in the field of literature.
ii.He was also given the Sahitya Akademi Award for his contribution to Marathi poetry in 2000.
iii.He received the Krishi Bhushan in 1985, World Film Festival Lyricist Jeevan Gaurav Award in 2015,
the Vanashree for his work in the watershed environment, and the Krishiratna Gold Medal for Meritorious
Achievement in Agriculture.
iv.The government of Maharashtra recognized Mahanor’s literary contributions, honoring him with
the Gadima Prize.
Padma Bhushan Awardee N Vittal Passed Away

On 3rd August 2023, Nagarajan Vittal, a Padma Bhushan awardee and a former Civil Servant passed away.
About Nagarajan Vittal:
Vittal, who was born on 31st January 1938 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is a 1960 batch Indian
Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Gujarat Cadre.
He has held the appointments of,
• Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Gujarat;
• Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India; Secretary, Department of
Electronics, Government of India;
• Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Government of
India;
• Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board and before retirement, his last appointment was as
Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Achievements during his career:
Revival of the Kandla Free Trade Zone, Opening of the Dahej Port in Gujarat, Emergence of the Gujarat Narmada
Valley Fertiliser Company (GNFC) and setting up of educational institutions and government organizations.

Books authored:
He has written more than 400 articles on various subjects and his published works include:
• India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994),
• The Viscious Cycle of Vittal’s Law (1994),
• The Red Tape Guerrilla(1995),
• Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000), and Information Technology: India’s
Tomorrow (2000).
He has edited Export Processing Zones in Asia -Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organization
(1977).
Awards & honors:
• Dataquest IT Man of the Year 1993
• The Great Son of the Soil Award 1998 by All India Conference of Intellectuals
• H H Sri Paramacharya Man of the Year Award (2000), awarded by the Centenarian Trust, Chennai.
(April 2001)
• He received Padma Bhushan in the discipline of Civil Service by the Government of India in 2012.
• He is the Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers
(IETE).
He is included in the list of “Fifty men and women who shaped the economy” in the fifty years after India’s
independence by the Business Today magazine (August 1997).
Oscar Winning American Director William Friedkin Passed Away

On 7th August 2023, William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning American director of films like The
Exorcist and The French Connection passed away in Los Angeles(LA), California, United States of America
(USA) at the age of 87.
• Friedkin was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA on 29 August
1935.
About William Friedkin:
i.William Friedkin began his career in documentaries in the early 1960s
and made his feature directorial debut with the film “Good Times” in
1967.
ii.His 1971 film “The French Connection”, a crime thriller, won 5 Oscars
including Best Picture, and Best Director for Friedki at the 44th
Oscars(1972).
iii.His 1973 film “The Exorcist”, a horror film based on William Peter Blatty’s novel had won the award for
Writing (Screenplay–Based On Material From Another Medium) and for Sound at the 46th Oscars (1974).
• The Exorcist became the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscar award.
iv.His last film, “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,” is set to premiere at the the 80th Venice International Film
Festival,Venice, Italy in September 2023.
Other Noted works:
• Sorcerer(1977); Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Bug (2006), and Killer Joe(2011)
• He also directed episodes for TV shows as The Twilight Zone, Rebel Highway and CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation.
P Jayarama Bhat Former MD&CEO of Karnataka Bank Passes Away

On 09th August 2023, Polali Jayarama Bhat, the former Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive
Officers(CEO) of Karnataka Bank passed away. He was born on 14th November 1951, in Polali, a small town
near Mangalore, Karnataka.
• He served the Bank for over 48 years from April 1973 to November 2021.

Timeline:
i.Jayarama Bhat joined the services of Karnataka Bank as a
Probationary Officer in January 1973.
ii.On July 14, 2009 he was appointed as the Managing Director (MD)
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karnataka Bank.
iii.In April 2017, Jayarama Bhat chose to step down from his role as
MD and CEO.
• Subsequently, he was appointed by the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) as the Part- time Non-executive Chairman of
Karnataka Bank in the same month. He held this position
until his retirement on November 13, 2021.
Awards and Recognition:
• Outstanding Manager Award from Mangalore Management Association.
• CEO with HR(Human Resource) Orientation by Asia Pacific Human Resource Management (HRM)
Congress.
• A. Shama Rao Memorial Outstanding Achievement Award by A. Shama Rao Foundation.
• New Year Award-2015 jointly by Manipal University, Academy of General Education, and Syndicate
Bank.
• T. A. Pai Memorial Shrestha Banker Award from Delhi Kannadiga.
Roles and Appointments:
i.He served on the board of Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd, a joint venture involving
Karnataka Bank, where he held the position of Nominee Director.
ii.From August 2010 to August 2014, he served as a member of the Management Committee of the Indian
Banks’ Association (IBA).
• During this timeframe, he concurrently held the position of Chairman for the “IBA Committee on
Member Private Sector Banks.”
iii.He was also the chairman of the Governing Board of Southern India Banks‟ Staff Training College (SIBSTC),
Bengaluru.
Additional Info:
Following his successful completion of the Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB)
examination in 1986, he taught at Government Junior College, Mulki(Mangalore, Karnataka) for three months in
1972.
Padma Bhushan Awardee & Nuclear Physicist Bikash Sinha Passed away at 78
Padma Awardee and renowned nuclear physicist Bikash Chandra Sinha (aged 78) passed away in Kolkata due
to age related ailments. He was born in Kandi, Murshidabad, West Bengal in 1945.
About Bikash Chandra Sinha:
i.He joined Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC), Mumbai,
Maharashtra in 1976.
ii.He served as the chairman of the board of governors, National
Institute of Technology(NIT) Durgapur, West Bengal(WB).
iii.He has also served as the director of Saha Institute of Nuclear
Physics (SINP), Kolkata, WB from 1992 to 2009 and Variable Energy
Cyclotron Centre(VECC), Kolkata, WB, from 1987 to 2009.
iv.He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Prime
Minister of India from 2005 to 2009 and also nominated to the council again in 2009.
v.He has also served as the President of the Indian Physics Association from 2007 to 2010.

Specialization Areas:
Nuclear Physics, High Energy Physics, Quark Gluon Plasma, Nuclear Medicine Precursory Signals of
Earthquakes, Helium from Thermal Spring and Early Universe Cosmology.
Awards:
i.He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2010 in the Science & Engineering
field.
ii.He was the recipient of the S.N. Bose Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress Association in
1994.
iii.He is also the recipient of West Bengal highest state award ‘Bangabibhushan’ (2022). He also received the
‘Rabindra Smriti Puraskar’ in 2022.
iv.He also won Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany and Prof.
Meghnad Saha Memorial Lecture Award from The National Academy of Sciences, India.
Books:
He has authored a book titled ‘Sristi O Krishti Bandhanhin Granthi’ in Bengali, published by Ananda
Publishers in 2012.
Padma Shri Recipient and Former President of JNCASR MRS Rao Passed Away
Former President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)(Bengaluru,
Karnataka) and Padma Shri award recipient Professor Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao,
popularly known as MRS Rao passed away. He was born in 1948 in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• He served as JNCASR president from 2003 to 2013. Before 2003, he was the Chairman in
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science(IISC),Bengaluru.
Awards & Recognitions:
i.He received Padma Shri Award in 2010 for Science and Engineering.
ii.Goyal Prize by Kurukshetra University to honour eminent scientist in 2012-13.
iii.Year of Science(YoS) Chair Professor award for 2019-24 by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB),
a premier funding agency to support basic research in frontier areas of Science and Engineering.
iv.Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI) Award 2004-05 for the significant work in
the category of Research & Development in Life Sciences.
Professional Activities:
i.MRS Rao was the Chairman of Research Council, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB), Hyderabad
from 2001 to 2003.
ii.He was also Chairman of Task Force on Human Genetics and Genome Analysis, Dept of Biotechnology from
2003 to 2009.
iii.He also served as Chairman of Ramalingaswamy Fellowship selection committee,Dept of Biotechnology from
2017 to 2020.

Padma Bhushan Awardee Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh International, Passed
Away
On 15th August 2023, Padma Bhushan Awardee, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, a renowned Social activist and
the Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi,
Delhi. He was born on 2nd April 1943, in Rampur Baghel village in the Vaishali district of Bihar.
• He is a pioneer of Public toilets in India who is known as
the “Toilet Man of India”.
• He dedicated his life to eradicating manual scavenging
and advancing sanitation and promoting human rights,
environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of
energy, and waste management through education.
Note: Sulabh International is a Non-governmental Organisation
(NGO), in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN).
About Bindeshwar Pathak:
i.In 1968, he joined the Bhangi-Mukti (scavengers’ liberation) Cell of the Bihar Gandhi Centenary Celebrations
Committee, which was mainly involved in spreading the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi in Patna, Bihar.
ii.He established the Sulabh Svachchh Shauchalaya Sansthaan (the clean toilet institute), a non-profit
organisation in 1970, combining technical innovation with humanitarian principles.
iii.In 1980, the non-profit organisation became Sulabh International, which has carried out extensive work on
the conversion of dry latrines into modern toilets in over 17,00 towns and has helped build over 160,835
toilets.
Note: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), recognises Sulabh technologies in its Human
Development Report twice (2003 & 2006).
Awards/Honours:
i.In 1991, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished social service.
ii.In 2003, he was honoured with the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour 2003 Award and also received the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Scroll of Honour Award.
iii.In 2009, he won the Stockholm Water Prize, conferred by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
iv.In 2016, he received the World Health Organisation (WHO) Public Health Champion Award.
Books:
His notable works include: The Making of Legend: Narendra Damodar Das Modi (2017); New Princesses of
Alwar Shame To Pride (2009); Road to Freedom (2000) and so on.
Mohammed Habib, Indian Football Legend Passed Away

Mohammed Habib, the legendary Indian football player and Former Indian captain, passed away at the age of
74 in Hyderabad, Telangana. He was born in Hyderabad in undivided Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) on July
17, 1949.
• He was affectionately referred to as the ‘Bade Miya’ of
Kolkata football, and he played international football till
1975.
• Dedicated to football, he refused all the job offers that
came his way and became India’s 1st “True Professional
Footballer”.
About Mohammed Habib:
i.He has represented India in around 35 International matches from
his debut in 1967 till his retirement in 1975.
ii.Mohammed Habib made his debut for India against Thailand in the Merdeka Cup held at Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia in 1967.
iii.He was a part of the bronze-medal winning team at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. He was also
a part of the team that jointly won the 1971 Pesta Sukan Cup with South Vietnam(the Republic of Vietnam) in
Singapore.
Club Career:
i.For 18 seasons between the 1960s and 1970s, He played for Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan
Sporting.
ii.In the 1969 Santosh Trophy final held in Bangalore (Karnataka), he scored 5 goals in Bengal’s 6-1 win over
Services, which is still a record.
iii.In 1977, he played an exhibition match for Mohun Bagan against Brazil legend Pele’s New York Cosmos Club.
iv.After his retirement from club football in 1982, he decided to become a coach and joined the coach at Tata
Football Academy (TFA) in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand and he coached Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting,
too.
v.He also served as a chief coach of the Indian Football Association academy in Haldia, West Bengal.
Achievements:
i.He had the rare distinction of scoring the winning goals in 3 Durand Cup finals in the span of 7 seasons for
East Bengal.
ii.He was one of the few players to win the Triple Crown (winning the Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield,
Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup in the same season) for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in 1972 and 1977,
respectively.
iii.He won the Santosh Trophy on 5 occasions, 1965 (with Andhra Pradesh), 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1975 (with
Bengal).
Awards/Honours:
i.He was conferred with the Arjuna Award 1980-81 for football.
ii.He was also conferred with the East Bengal Bharat Gaurav Award in 2016.
iii.In 2018, the West Bengal Government instituted him the title Banga Bibhushan in the field Footballer.
Padma Awardee VSR Arunachalam, Former DG of DRDO, Passed Away

Padma Awardee Dr Vallampadugai Srinivasa Raghavan Arunachalam (V S R Arunachalam), an Indian
Scientist and the former Director General (DG) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),
passed away at the age of 87 in California, the United States of America (USA). He hails from Karnataka and was
born on 10th November 1935.
About V S R Arunachalam:
i.He served as the DG of DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence
Research and Development (DDRD) and Scientific Adviser (SA) to the
Defence Ministry from 1982 to 1992.
• He became the 1st DRDO scientist to head the DRDO.
ii.He has also worked at institutions such as Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre (BARC), National Aeronautical Laboratory (later renamed as
National Aerospace Laboratories), and Defence Metallurgical
Research Laboratory (DMRL).
iii.He was the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Academy of
Engineering, the United Kingdom (UK) and held the position of Distinguished Service Professor (Engineering
and Public Policy) at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.
iv.He also served as a member of the advisory and editorial boards of several universities and foundations,
including the Materials Research Society (MRS) Bulletin in Pennsylvania, USA.
v.He was the founder and Chairman of the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), one of
India’s leading Think Tanks based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. CSTEP was established in 2005.
vi.He launched 3 major programmes namely, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (TEJAS) under the Aeronautical

Development Agency (ADA), an autonomous body of DRDO; Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Programme;
and IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme) to develop a family of strategic and tactical
guided missiles.
Awards:
i.In 1986, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan for Civil Service and in 1990, he was awarded the Padma
Vibhushan for Science and Engineering.
ii.He was awarded DRDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for his outstanding contribution to the field
of scientific research and technology.
Book:
His notable work includes: From Temples to Turbines: An Adventure in Two Worlds (2019).
Australian Olympic Swimming Gold Medallist John Devitt Passed Away

Australian Olympic Swimming Gold Medallist John Thomas Devitt(Aged 86) passed away in
Sydney,Australia.He was born in Granville, Australia on February 4, 1937
Medals:
i.John Thomas Devitt totally won two gold, a silver, and a
bronze medals in Olympic competition.
ii.He won the gold medal in 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the 100-
meter freestyle and a silver medal in the 100 freestyle swimming
event.
iii.In The 1960 Rome Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 4-x-
200 freestyle relay team event and a bronze medal in the 4-x-200
relay team event.
• He was the captain of the Australian swimming team in both the Olympics.
iv.Devitt also won three gold medals at the 1958 Cardiff British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Wales.
Key Points:
i.He has served as an executive on the Australian Olympic Committee and helped Sydney win the bid for the
2000 Olympics.
ii.Devitt was also the Australian chef de mission for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Awards:
i.Devitt was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986 and Appointed as a Member of Order of
Australia (AM).
ii.He was also bestowed with the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee(IOC).
iii.He was awarded Federation Internationale de Natation(FINA’s) highest award – the FINA (World Aquatics)
Prize in 1994.
Emmy-Winning American Actor Ron Cephas Jones Passed Away

Ron Cephas Jones, a renowned American actor who won Emmy Award twice, has passed away. He was born on
January 8, 1957, in Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America(USA).
• He won widespread recognition for his performance in the hit television series “This Is Us.” He
portrayed the character, William Hill.
• Ron Cephas Jones won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role in the drama
series “This Is Us” in both 2018 and 2020.
• In 2020, Ron Cephas Jones’ daughter, Jasmine Cephas Jones, earned her first Emmy Award. This
achievement made them the first-ever father-daughter winners in Emmy history. Jasmine won
the Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role in
“#FreeRayshawn.”

• He earned a nomination for a Tony Award and achieved victory by winning a Drama Desk Award in
2022.
Ron Cephas Jones was involved in various films, including “Half Nelson,” “Glass Chin,” “Dogfight,” and “He Got
Game.”He also lent his voice to animated projects like “The Croods” and its sequel “The Croods: A New Age.”
Renowned Indian-American Statistician CR Rao Passed Away

Renowned Indian-American Statistician and mathematician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (CR Rao) passed
away at the age of 102 in Buffalo, New York, the United States of America(USA).
• C.R. Rao was born on 10 September 1920 in
Huvanna Hadagali, Bellary district, Karnataka.
• He was awarded the 2023 International Prize in
Statistics which is equivalent of the Nobel Prize in
statistics in April 2023.
About CR Rao:
i.He worked in India at the Indian Statistical Institute(ISI) for 40
years (1941-1979).He authored several books in diverse fields
including estimation theory, multivariate analysis, and matrix
algebra.
ii.He pioneered several fundamental statistical concepts such as the Cramer–Rao inequality and Rao–
Blackwellization, concepts that appear in undergraduate textbooks on statistics and econometrics.
iii.He was the founder of CR Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences (CR Rao
AIMCS) at the University of Hyderabad, Telangana.
iv.He served as chairman of the Committee on Statistics (1962-69), and chairman of the Demographic and
Communication for Population Control (1968-69).
v.The main road between the International Institute of Information Technology(IIIT)Hyderabad and the
Central University of Hyderabad has been named after Prof. CR Rao Road.
Awards:
i.He was honoured with Padma Bhushan(1968 ) and Padma Vibhushan (2001) in the field of science and
Engineering.
ii.He was also awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1963) and the India Science Award (2009).
iii.He was awarded the National Medal of Science (2002) by then President George Bush in the USA.
Eminent Indian English Poet Jayanta Mahapatra Passed Away

Jayanta Mahapatra, an Eminent Indian English poet and Litterateur, who was the first recipient of Sahitya
Akademi award for English poetry(1981), passed away in Cuttack, Odisha. He was born on 22nd October 1928
in Cuttack, Odisha.
About Jayanta Mahapatra:
i.Jayanta Mahapatra has served as the professor of Physics at
various government colleges in Odisha from 1949 to 1986(retired).
ii.He published his 1st book of poems “Svayamvara and Other
Poems” in 1971.
iii.He has authored around 27 books which also includes 7 written
in Odia and the remainder in English.
iv.He is will known for his poems like “Indian Summer” and
“Hunger,” which are considered classic in modern Indian English
literature.
Other Noted works:
Poetry: Bare Face, Shadow Space
Prose: Green Gardener(an Anthology of short stories); Door of paper: Essays and Memoirs.

Awards:
i.He received the Sahitya Akademi Awards in 1981 for Relationship(poetry), the first Akademi Awad for
English poetry.
ii.Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2009 for Literature and Education.But he returned
the award in 2015 to protest against “rising intolerance in India”.
iii.He won the prestigious SAARC(South Asian Association Regional Cooperation) literary Award for the year
2009.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

Union Minister Amit Shah unveils Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die book at
Rameswaram
On 29th July 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the book ‘Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Memories Never
Die‘, an English translation of the Tamil book ‘Abdul Kalam: Ninaivugalukku Maranamillai‘, which was co-
authored by Dr. APJM Nasima Maraikayar (niece of Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)
and Dr. Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan (Y. S. Rajan), a scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The book is a tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the late former President (11th
President served between 2002 and 2007).
• The book was released in an event organised at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu(TN), during Home
Minister’s 2-day visit to Ramanathapuram district of TN.
L Murugan, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Annamalai, BJP President of
Tamil Nadu were also graced the event.
Rishi Raj’s New Book “Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani”, a True Tribute to Martyrs of Kargil War
Released
On 23rd July 2023, Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Defence (MoD), released the book and
illustrations titled “Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani” (Hindi Edition) authored by Rishi Raj at the Constitution Club
of India, New Delhi, Delhi. The book which pays tribute to the Martyrs of Kargil War was published by Prabhat
Prakashan.
• The book portrays the lives of all the 527 soldiers, who laid down their lives for our nation in the
Kargil War.
• The book highlights the importance of the Kargil Vijay Diwas and giving rich tributes to the brave
soldiers.
Rishi Raj has authored as many as 21 books, out of which four bagged the Rahul Sankrityayan Award from the
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (GoI).
• The event was graced by Subedar Major (Then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar, who was awarded Param
Vir Chakra in the Kargil War.
Note: Kargil War also refered as “Operation Vijay” was fought between India and Pakistan from May to 26th
July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K). July 26th has been observed as ‘Kargil Vijay
Diwas’, which annually commemorates the sacrifices made by soldiers in this war.
Poet-Diplomat Abhay K Launches his New Book ‘Monsoon’

On 1st August 2023, Indian-poet-diplomat Abhay Kumar (Abhay K), Deputy Director General of Indian Council
of Cultural Relations (ICCR), launched his new book titled “Monsoon: A Poem of Love and Longing”, a book-
length poem running across 150 four-line stanzas, at Kathika Culture Centre in Old Delhi, Delhi.
• The book was published by Sahitya Akademi on the occasion of its 68th anniversary (13th March
2022).

• The book is a poem that follows the monsoon which originates from Madagascar and travels to the
Srinagar in the Himalayas and back to Madagascar.
Forthcoming works of Abhay K:
i.His upcoming book titled ‘Celestial’ (Mapin India) is a poem in 100 rhyming couplets, that details the journey
to all the 88-star constellations visible from Earth. It is illustrated with the drawings of star constellations of the
10th-century Persian astronomer Al Rahman Al Sufi.
ii.Penguin Random House is set to publish his translation of the first Magahi novel ‘Phool Bahadur’ by Jayanath
Pati in January 2024.
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Nirmala Sitharaman Launched Kuwi and Desia books in
Odisha
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education(MoE) and Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship(MSDE), and Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Corporate
Affairs(MCA) launched 2 books namely “Kuwi Primer” and “Desia Primer” in Kuwi and Desia languages at an
event held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to simplify primary education for tribal children in Odisha.
• The event also witnessed the special postal cover release on behalf of the Department of Posts, Ministry
of Communications, Government of India (GoI).
• The event marks a collaborative effort with the Central University of Odisha, Koraput, the Department of
Posts, and the National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT).
Key Highlights:
i.With more than 62 tribes constituting 23% of Odisha’s population,
supporting local culture in education is essential.
ii.In this regard, NCERT, for the first time, in collaboration with the
Central University of Odisha, has prepared the 2 books for those
children, who are speaking Kuwi and Desia tribal languages in the
undivided Koraput district of Odisha.
iii.The step to introduce primers in local languages and dialects is a generational one and will also further
enrich the GoI’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat‘ (EBSB).
iv.The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a progressive and flexible policy is a result of collective efforts,
and extensive consultations, which empowers states to adapt and evolve according to their distinct educational
requirements.
Events on Meri Maati Mera Desh:
The Ministers also attended a series of events under the nationwide “Meri Maati Mera Desh” campaign, a
tribute to the heroes who have made supreme sacrifices for the country.
i.The Union Ministers visited Sand Art on “Meri Maati Mera Desh” by Padmashri Awardee Sudarshan Patnaik, a
Sand Artist at Puri Beach in Odisha.
ii.Under the ‘Dedication of Shilaphalakam’ (memorial plaques) and ‘Vasudha Vandan’ initiative of Meri
Maati Mera Desh.
• Vasudha Vandan is to develop the ‘Amrit Vatika‘ by planting 75 saplings of indigenous species.
iii.They also collected soil and rice in ‘Amrit Kalash’ from house to house in Biraharekrushnapur village of Puri
district and visited the birthplace of noted Freedom Fighter Saheed Jayee Rajguru to create an Amrit Vatika in
Delhi.
PS Sreedharan Pillai Released Three New Books on Nature, Trees, and Geopolitics
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai launched his recently authored three new books namely ‘Heritage Trees of
Goa’, ‘When Parallel Lines Meet’, and ‘Ente Priya Kavithakal‘ (‘My Dear Poems’ a collection of poems). Goa
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the event in Panaji, Goa. Sreedharan Pillai has written over 200
books.

• West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose unveiled the book ‘Heritage Trees of Goa’. Additionally, Goa
State Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte and the 2021 Jnanpith winner and Konkani Novelist
Damodar Mauzo released the other two books ‘When Parallel Lines Meet’ and ‘Ente Priya
Kavithakal’ (a collection of poems).
i.‘Heritage Trees of Goa’ is a book that reveals the importance of ancient heritage trees, some over 100 years
old, found in Goan villages and places of worship,adding to the experience of ‘Goa Sampurna Yatra’.
ii.‘When Parallel Lines Meet’ is a contemporary geopolitical book and ‘Ente Priya Kavitakal’ (a collection of
poems) represents one of the best depictions of nature, art and literature.
iii.Pillai was the first Governor to undertake and complete the Goa Sampurna Yatra, encompassing over 400
villages across 40 assembly constituencies.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 – July 30
The United Nations (UN)’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is annually observed annually on 30th
July to raise awareness about the situation of human trafficking victims and to promote and protect their
rights.
• The 2023 campaign theme of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is: “Reach every victim
of trafficking, leave no one behind“.
• The 2023 campaign theme aims to raise awareness of disturbing developments and trends
identified by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and calls on governments, law
enforcement, public services, and civil society to evaluate and increase their efforts to strengthen
prevention, identify and support victims, and end immunity.
Background:
i.On 18th December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/68/192
and proclaimed the 30th of July of every year as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
ii.The first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on 30th July 2014.
What is Human Trafficking?
i.Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people through force,
abduction, fraud, or deception for exploitation.
ii.Traffickers often use violence, blackmail, emotional manipulation, removal of official documents, fraudulent
employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons:
i.The 2022 edition of the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, is UNODC’s 7th report mandated by
the UNGA through the 2010 UN’s Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
ii.This edition of the report covers 141 countries and provides an overview of the response to the trafficking of
persons at global, regional, and national levels, by analysing trafficking cases detected between 2017 and 2021.
iii.The UNODC has been actively collecting data on trafficking in persons since 2009. As a result, they now
acquire the most extensive dataset on this issue, encompassing data from 2003 to 2021.
iv.This data consists of records on over 450,000 victims and approximately 300,000 (suspected) offenders
detected across the globe.
Key Points:
i.The number of victims detected globally reduced by 11% in 2020 from 2019, driven by fewer detections in
low- and medium-income countries (LMIC).
ii.The number of convictions for trafficking offences fell by 27% in 2020 from 2019 globally.
iii.Detection of trafficking for forced labour (38.8%) in 2020 was equal to that of trafficking for sexual
exploitation (38.7%), at just under 40% each.
iv.Male victims are the only profile that has increased by about +3% from 2019.

Blue Heart Campaign:
i.The Blue Heart Campaign is an impactful initiative that aims to fight against human trafficking and support the
victims, particularly women and children.
ii.It plays a crucial role in raising awareness and generating funds to aid those affected by this terrible crime.
iii.This global effort is led by the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons
(UNVTF), which is a part of the UNODC and the fund is managed by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights.
iv.The Blue Heart symbol represents solidarity with the victims and the cold-heartedness of those who buy and
sell their fellow human beings.
Human Trafficking and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
i.The 2023 campaign theme represents the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its SDGs.
ii.As we reach the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, it becomes vital to refocus the efforts on combating trafficking
in persons, a global challenge that impacts millions of lives.
iii.The upcoming SDG Summit in 2023 presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness and renew global
commitments towards eliminating trafficking in persons, specifically mentioned in SDG 5 (Gender
Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Promote Peace, Justice, and Strong
Institutions).
Note: The 2023 SDG Summit will take place on 18-19 September 2023 in New York, the United States of
America (USA)
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director– Ghada Fathi Waly
World Ranger Day 2023 – 31st July

World Ranger Day is celebrated annually across the globe on 31st July to commemorate Rangers killed or
injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and
cultural heritage.
About Rangers:
i.World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) uses the term ‘ranger’ to refer to any professional involved in the
protection and management of national parks and natural areas.
ii.Rangers, also known as Park Rangers, park wardens, forest rangers or forest guards are the unsung heroes of
the conservation world.
World Ranger Day 2023 Theme
i.The 2023 World Ranger Day theme is ’30 by 30‘ based on the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity (UNCBD), 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), where a Global Biodiversity Framework was
agreed upon by world leaders and decision-makers.
ii.Target 3 aims to effectively conserve and manage at least 30 percent of the planet’s areas by 2030 (also
known as the ’30 by 30′ target).
iii.It highlights the urgent need for increased conservation efforts to safeguard ecosystems and protect the
planet’s biodiversity.
Background:
i.World Ranger Day is an initiative of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) promoted with its official
charity, The Thin Green Line Foundation.
ii.IRF was established on 31 July 1992, in Peak National Park, United Kingdom (UK), to raise awareness of the
contribution of rangers to conservation and support ranger organizations worldwide.

iii.The organisation IRF was the result of an agreement between the Countryside Management Association
(CMA), the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) and the United States(US) Association of National
Park Rangers (ANPR) that resulted in its formation.
iv.The day was first observed in 31st July 2007, in memory of eight rangers who tragically lost their lives while
on duty in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Cong (DRC), and also to
celebrate the 15th anniversary of the founding of the IRF.
International Ranger Awards:
i.The International Ranger Award aims to recognize all types of rangers including Indigenous, community, and
volunteer rangers as well as those employed in protected and conserved areas.
ii.The award is hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the IUCN World
Commission on Protected Areas(WCPA), in collaboration with the IRF, Re:wild, Conservation Allies, Universal
Ranger Support Alliance, and WWF Tigers Alive Initiative.
The 3rd International Ranger Awards 2023:
i.During the virtual award ceremony in 2023, a total of 9 awards were presented by the 2023 IUCN World
Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) International Ranger Awards to recognize the outstanding
contributions of 5 individual rangers and 4 ranger teams.
ii.The winners come across from Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa
and Ukraine.
iii.Each winner or winning team receives USD $10,000 to support the protected and conserved areas where
they work, and a custom uniform patch to signify their achievement.
Click here for the list of winners of the 3rd International Ranger Awards
About International Ranger Federation (IRF):
President- Chris Galliers
Founded- 31st July 1992
Aviation Security Culture Week 2023 – 31st July – 5th August

India’s aviation security regulator, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), under the Ministry of Civil
Aviation (MoCA), inaugurated ‘Aviation Security Culture Week’ at its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi from
July 31st to August 5th 2023, for the first time in the India.
• The theme of the ‘Aviation Security Culture Week’ is “See it, Say it, Secure it” which will be
celebrated across all the major and non-major airports of India.
The main objective of the week is to inculcate security consciousness amongst members of the aviation
community setup as well as passengers and also to make passengers aware of prohibited things they should not
carry while traveling.
Key people:
i.Capt. Devi Sharan, senior aviator and instructor in Air India, (famously known as the Captain of the flight IC-
814, hijacked to Kandahar in 1999), was the chief guest in the event. Anil Sharma, head of the cabin team and
chief purser of IC-814, was the guest of honor at the event.
ii.All the aviation stakeholders like the Airports Authority of India, airlines, Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) and passengers will take part in security awareness week.
During ‘Aviation Security Week’, BCAS has planned to undertake various activities in civil aviation
including:
i.Setting up of information booths, kiosks in the forecourt area, terminal buildings.
ii.Announcement in aircraft
iii.Placing cards mentioning security awareness contents in the airport environment.
iv.Insertion of the tagline in the ticket-related SMS/mails/WhatsApp from the aircraft operators and online
travel agency (OTA).
v.Short films for displaying at the departure hall.
vi.Pop-up regarding aviation security culture week on BCAS websites.

vii.Organizing quiz & signature boards for signing for passengers
viii.Dog Squad shows by CISF on a daily basis during the week.
About Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS):
Director General- Zulfiquar Hasan
Headquarters-New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1978
World Breast Feeding Week 2023 – 1st to 7th August

The United Nations (UN) World Breast Feeding (WBW) week is annually celebrated worldwide during the first
week of August, from 1st to 7th to raise awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits.
• Its main aim is to support and encourage breastfeeding as a vital aspect of health and well-being for
both mother and child.
• WBW was 1st observed in 1992.
WBW 2023: Theme
i.According to WHO, theme for 2023 is “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work”.
• The theme will focus on breastfeeding and work, to advocate maternity rights, maternity leave for a
minimum of 18 weeks and workplace accommodations.
ii.The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) has set a theme for WBW 2023 – “Enabling
breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents.”
Note -The theme is aligned with thematic area 4 of the WBW-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030
campaign.
Background:
As per WABA, WBW was started in 1992 to mark the anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration in August 1990
in Florence, Italy.
Innocenti Declaration
The Declaration was produced and adopted by participants at the WHO/UNICEF policymakers’ meeting
on “Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative”, co-sponsored by the United States Agency for
International Development (A.I.D.) and the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), held at the
Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy, on 30 July- 1 August 1990.
ii.In 2016, the week aligned its mission with the UN SDG and began promoting various strategies to encourage
breastfeeding naming it WBW-SDGs Campaign
iii.In 2018, the WHO adopted a resolution and endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion
strategy.
WABA objectives for World Breastfeeding Week 2023:
i.Inform people about working parents’ perspectives on breastfeeding and parenting
ii.Anchor optimal paid leave and workplace support as important tools to enable breastfeeding
iii.Engage with individuals and organizations to enhance collaboration and support for breastfeeding at work
iv.Galvanize action on improving working conditions and relevant support for breastfeeding
According to WHO:
i.More than half a billion working women are not given essential maternity protections in national laws
ii.Just 20% of countries require employers to provide employees with paid breaks and facilities for
breastfeeding or expressing milk
iii.Fewer than half of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.
About World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA):
WABA is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to the protection, promotion and support
of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for nurturing the Future and the
World Health Organization (WHO)/ United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) global
strategy for infant and young child feeding.

Chairperson- Felicity Savage
Established- 1991
Headquarters- Penang, Malaysia
World Lung Cancer Day 2023 – August 1

World Lung Cancer Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st August to create awareness about the
causes and treatment of lung cancer and to educate people about the habits and factors that can cause lung
cancer.
• The day also aims to focus more on lung cancer research and arrange financial and moral support
for it.
Symbol: Pearl or White-coloured Ribbon represents Lung Cancer Awareness.
Background:
i.The campaign for World lung cancer Day was first organized in 2012 by the Forum of International
Respiratory Societies (FIRS) in collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
(IASLC) and the American College of Chest Physicians.
ii.The IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the only global organization, solely dedicated to the
study of lung cancer-related problems.
• It educates people about the major risk factors of lung cancer such as Tobacco smoking, Radon,
Asbestos, etc.
Lung Cancer :
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way in the lungs and
may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body, such as the brain. Cancer from other organs also may
spread to the lungs
Types:
The most common types of lung cancer include lung nodules, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Small Cell
Lung Cancer (SCLC) and mesothelioma.
Key Points:
i.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths
worldwide, accounting for the highest mortality rates among both men and women.
• Lung cancer is responsible for nearly one in 5 cancer deaths. While lung cancer and breast cancer
are diagnosed at the same rate (11.6% percent), lung cancer kills more people yearly than breast,
colon, and prostate cancers combined.
• Lung cancer mortality is projected to reach 2.45 million by 2030, a 39% increase in just over a
decade.
• Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 85% of all cases.
ii.Air pollution, particularly Particulate Matter (PM)2.5, is a significant factor associated with lung cancer and
has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC since 2013.
• According to WHO, 99% of the world’s population breathes unhealthy air.
Related Observance:
i.World Cancer Day is annually observed across the globe on February 4, to promote awareness of cancer as a
public health issue.
ii.This global initiative is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
IASLC 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC):
i.The conference is organized by the International Conference Services Ltd. (ICS), International Association for
the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and will be held from September 9 – 12, 2023 at Suntec Singapore Convention
& Exhibition Centre, Suntec City, Singapore, Singapore.
ii.WCLC 2023 is a global, multi-disciplinary meeting designed for physicians, nurses, clinicians, researchers,
scientists, survivors, and advocates.

About the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC):
President– Dr. Heather Wakelee (the United States of America (USA))
Headquarters– – Denver, Colorado, USA
Founded in– 1974
World FinTech Day 2023 – 1st August

World FinTech Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st August to celebrate and recognize financial
technology and its transformative impact on the global financial industry.
Fintech:
i.Financial technology, or Fintech, refers to the use of technology in delivering financial services which ranges
from mobile banking and cryptocurrency to investment services and online lending.
ii.Fintech has democratized access to financial services, enabling more people to participate in the global
economy.
iii.Fintech has revolutionized the banking sector by introducing faster, more efficient, and customer-centric
services
Why August 1?
i.August 1st marks the death anniversary of Cosimo de’ Medici in 1464.
ii.Medici was a 15th-century Italian politician and banker who established the Medici Bank and influenced the
present-day banking system.
Recent Fintech innovations:
• Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
• Robo-advisors
• Mobile Payments and Digital Wallets
• Peer-to-Peer Lending
Additional Info:
• The global blockchain in banking and financial services market is reported to have experienced
significant growth, increasing from USD($)1.89 billion (roughly Rs. 15,552 crore) in 2022 to USD
3.07 billion (roughly Rs. 25,262 crore) in 2023.
• This growth reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 62.1 percent during this period.
Muslim Women Rights Day 2023 – 1st August

The Muslim Women’s Rights Day is annually celebrated across India on 1st August to commemorate the
enactment of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which prohibits the practice of
triple talaq in India.
• 1st August 2023 marks the observance of the 4th Muslim Women’s Rights Day.
• The legislation declared that triple talaq is a cognizable and non-bailable offense and shall also
sentence any such perpetrator to three years of imprisonment.
• The 1st ever Muslim Women Rights Day was observed on 1st August 2020.
Triple talaq:
i.The term ‘Talaq’ derives from Arabic verse which means ‘freeing or undoing the knot‘ that refers to a
divorce or dissolution of marriage.
ii.It is the practice prevalent in the Muslim community that allows a husband to instantly divorce his wife by
uttering ‘talaq’ three times.
iii.Under Muslim law, Triple talaq means liberty from the relationship of marriage, eventually or immediately.
iv.This instant divorce is called Triple Talaq, also known as Talaq-e-biddat.
Background:
In August 2017, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had declared the practice of talaq-e-biddat (a heretical
form of divorce based on a husband pronouncing divorce thrice in quick succession) as unconstitutional.The
bill faced opposition in the Rajya Sabha, leading to its initial stall, but it was reintroduced and successfully

passed by both Houses of Parliament in July 2019.
i.The Triple talaq bill also known as the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, was
passed by the Indian Parliament on 30th July 2019, to make instant Triple talaq in any form such as spoken,
written, or by electronic means void and a criminal offense.
ii.Then President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill on 1st August 2019 and criminalized triple talaq
in India.
iii.In 2020,Ministry of Minority Affairs was initiated to commemorate the ‘Muslim Mahila Adhikar Diwas’
(Muslim Women’s Rights Day) on August 1.
Triple talaq in other nations:
• Egypt was the first most Muslim populated country abolished Triple Talaq in 1929. Sudan in 1929,
Pakistan in 1956, Bangladesh in 1972, Iraq in 1959, Syria in 1953 and Malaysia in 1969 abolished
the practice of Triple Talaq.
• Cyprus, Jordan, Algeria, Iran, Brunei, Morocco, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) also had declared
the Triple Talaq as unconstitutional many years ago.
About Ministry of Minority Affairs:
Union Minister- Smriti Zubin Irani (Constituency-Amethi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)- John Barla
World Wide Web Day 2023- 1st August

World Wide Web Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st August to commemorate the introduction of
the World Wide Web (WWW) and its impact on the world.
What is WWW?
i.WWW, also known as Web, is a collection of websites or web pages stored in web servers and connected to
local computers through the internet.
ii.These websites contain text pages, digital images, audios, videos, etc.
iii.Users can access the content of these sites from any part of the world over the internet
Background:
i.Tim Berners-Lee a British computer scientist, developed the WWW on 1 August 1989, which marked the
beginning of the Internet, at the CERN center (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) located in
Geneva, Switzerland, as a way for him to interact with co-workers via hyperlinks.
ii.The world’s first website went live on 6th August 1991 which was hosted on Berners-Lee’s NeXT computer.
Earth Overshoot Day 2023- 2nd August

Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a
given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.
• Earth Overshoot Day 2023 falls on 2nd August. This means that humanity currently uses 75% more
than what the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate.
i.Earth Overshoot Day 2022 was observed on 28th July.
ii.The first Earth Overshoot Day was calculated on 25th December 1971.
Note: The date is getting earlier every year as we are over-utilizing the resources every year.
Overshoot: When the combined deficit exceeds what the planet can provide, human society is considered to be
in overshoot.
History
The concept of Earth Overshoot Day was first conceived by Andrew Simms of the United Kingdom(UK) think
tank New Economics Foundation, which partnered with Global Footprint Network in 2006 to launch the first
global Earth Overshoot Day campaign.
• Simms started the idea behind Earth Overshoot Day to understand the rate at which we are
consuming our natural resources and how long we can sustain them.

World Wide Fund(WWF), the world’s largest conservation organization, has participated in Earth Overshoot
Day since 2007.
Calculation of Earth Overshoot Day:
i.Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research
organization that uses United Nations(UN) data to calculate the supply and demand for ecological categories.
ii.Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources
Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and
multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year:
Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint x 365 = Earth Overshoot Day.
Click here for Research report on estimation of Earth Overshoot Day 2023.
Click here for the data published by Global Footprint Network
Country Overshoot Days
A country’s overshoot day is the date on which Earth Overshoot Day would fall if all of humanity consumed the
resource like the people of a particular country.
• Countries’ overshoot dates are calculated with Global Footprint Network’s National Footprint and
Biocapacity Accounts, which are updated annually.
Click here to view the Country Overshoot Days 2023
2023- Earth Overshoot Day:
Earth Overshoot Day 2023 will be marked together with the Republic of Slovenia.
• Slovenia adopted an Ecological Footprint reduction target and collaborates with organizations like
Global Footprint Network to achieve the overshoot which is a threat to Slovenia’s long-term success.
Measures to push Earth Overshoot Day back:
i.Increasing global low-carbon electricity sources from 39% to 75% would move it by 26 days
ii.Halving food waste would gain 13 days
iii.Tree intercropping would earn an extra 2.1 days
iv.Policies like 15-minute cities, a four-day work week will gain 11 days
v.Using public and green transport will earn 13 days.
About Global Footprint Network:
Chief executive officer (CEO)- Steven Tebbe
Headquarters- California, US
Established- 2003
National Bone & Joint Day 2023 – August 4

National Bone and Joint Day is observed annually on August 4 across India to increase awareness about the
importance of bone and joint health and to educate people about preventive measures and early detection of
various musculoskeletal disorders and conditions.
• The Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) had launched the 2023 campaign under the theme ‘Each
One Train One Save One’.
Background:
i.The Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) has been celebrating the National Bone & Joint Day across India
since 2012.
The first-ever National bone and joint day was observed on 4th August 2012..
ii.IOA was formed in 1955 and is one of the largest professional organizations which has more than 10000
active life members.
iv.The Founders day of the Indian Orthopaedic Association, 4th August shall be called the “Bone & Joint Day”,
and the preceding week culminating with the 4th August, shall be called the “ Bone & Joint week”.
Significance:
i.Bones serve as the foundation and protection for all organs in the body.
ii.During the growth period, children require sufficient vitamins and minerals to support their high metabolic

activity.
iii.Peak bone mass is a crucial aspect of skeletal health achieved during adolescence, playing a significant role
in preventing osteoporosis later in life.
Conditions affecting Bone & Joint Health:
Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are 2 distinct yet interrelated conditions that adversely affect bone and joint
health, leading to pain and disability.
1.Osteoporosis:
i.It is a progressive bone disease characterized by low bone density and deterioration of bone tissue, making
bones fragile and susceptible to fractures.
ii.It primarily affects older adults, particularly women after menopause, but can also occur in men and younger
individuals with specific risk factors.
2.Osteoarthritis:
i.It is a degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage, leading to joint pain and stiffness.
ii.It most commonly affects weight-bearing joints like knees, hips, and spine and often develops with age or due
to joint injury.
Source for healthy bones:
i.Vitamin D and Calcium are two crucial nutrients for bone health.
• Vitamin D is produced by the body upon exposure to sunlight, so outdoor activities are
recommended daily.
• Consuming dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fish, soybeans, and almonds, are excellent sources
of calcium.
ii.Engaging in physical activities like walking, jogging, and running can benefit overall bone and muscle health
in all age groups.
Women are more prone to poor bone health, especially once they reach menopause age. Some preventive
actions required to maintain healthy bones are,
• Balanced diet; Regular exercise; Maintaining a healthy weight; Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol
intake; Staying hydrated and so on.
Programs organised by Indian Orthopaedic Association:
i.On 4th August 2023, on the occasion of National Bone and Joint Day, IOA organised a Basic Life Support
Training with the theme “Each ONE Train ONE Save ONE” to save the lives of victims of traffic accidents by
spreading awareness about Strong Bone’s Stronger Nation.
ii.IOA also observed the Bone and Joint Week from 1st August to 6th August 2023.
Hiroshima Day 2023- 6th August

Hiroshima Day is annually observed across the globe on the 6th of August in accordance with the
remembrance of the victims of the world’s 1st nuclear attack on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945, during World War
II (WW2) (1939-1945).
• 6th August 2023 marks the 78th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombings.
• The Hiroshima Peace Festival Association organized a Peace Festival on August 6, 1947 for
promoting a lasting peace.
Background:
i.On 6th August 1945, the United States (US) Boeing-29(B-29) bomber aircraft dropped the powerful “Little
Boy”, the first atomic bomb, over Hiroshima in Japan, killing over 140,000 people.
• The bombing of Hiroshima resulted in the loss of 39% of the city’s civilian population.
ii.The Little Boy is a gun-type (uranium-235), which weighed 9,700 pounds, with a Diameter of 28 inches and
10ft length, and had a force of 15,000 tons of TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
iii.US Army Air Force Colonel Paul Tibbets was the pilot of the plane B-29 Enola Gay from which the Little Boy
was dropped.

iv.3 days later, on 9th August 1945, a second B-29 dropped another atomic bomb (plutonium-239) ‘The Fat
Man,’ on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people.
v.On 15th August 1945, Japan surrendered and signed the declaration of surrender on 2nd September in Tokyo
Bay, Japan.
vi.The cause for the attack was the allied forces in WW2 which includes Britain, the US, the Soviet Union and
China.
vii.The effects of radiation killed and affected many people in the following years.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park:
Every year on August 6th, the Hiroshima Day Memorial Service is held at the Peace Memorial Park, The
Genbaku Dome (the only structure left behind after the bomb blast) to commemorate the victims of the atomic
bombing of Hiroshima.
• The Genbaku Dome was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1996.
About Japan:
Prime Minister (PM)- Kishida Fumio
Capital- Tokyo
Currency- Japanese Yen
9th National Handloom Day – August 7 2023

National Handloom Day is annually observed on the 7th of August across India to promote handloom and to
recognise and honour the efforts and skills of the handloom weaving community engaged in the sector and the
contribution it has made to India’s socioeconomic development.
• This day is also celebrated to commemorate the Swadeshi movement which was initiated in 1905.
• August 7, 2023, marks the 9th National Handloom Day.
• The theme of 9th National Handloom Day is “Handloom for Sustainable Fashion”.
Note: Annually, the events to commemorate the National Handloom Day are organised by the Ministry of
Textiles (MoT).
Background:
i.In 2015, the Government of India (GoI) decided to designate the 7th of August every year, as the National
Handloom Day.
ii.The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7th August 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
at the Centenary hall of Madras University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Note: India Handloom Brand (IHB) was also launched on the same day for branding high-quality handloom
products. IHB aims to provide a bridge between the weaver and the consumer.
Why August 7?
i.The date August 7 has been chosen because it was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in
1905.
ii.The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7, 1905, in the Calcutta (now
Kolkata, West Bengal) Town Hall.
iii.The Swadeshi Movement was initiated to encourage the use of India-made goods which prominently
involved handlooms. The movement involved the revival of domestic products and production processes.
iv.This movement also played a major role in the Independence of India during British Rule. To honour the
significance of the Swadeshi Movement and the contribution of handloom weavers, GoI has declared August 7
as National Handloom Day every year.
Note:
• When Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, announced the partition of Bengal in July 1905, Indian
National Congress (INC), initiated the Swadeshi movement in Bengal.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai were the key people in the Swadeshi
movement.

Significance:
i.Handloom weaving plays a significant role in India’s cultural heritage and economy. Handloom textiles are
also sustainable and ethically made.
ii.It provides employment to millions of people, especially women over with a share of 70% of the total
handloom workers.
iii.It has an eco-friendly production process with low capital and power requirements, as well as the ability to
adapt to evolving fashion trends and consumer preferences.
iv.GoI has devised various schemes such as Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS), Handloom
Weavers Welfare Scheme, National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Raw Material Supply Scheme
(RMSS) and etc for the growth of the sector.
v.The MoT has been annually conferring various awards like Sant Kabir Handloom Award and National
Handloom Award for excellence in weaving, design development, and marketing efforts.
Development Commissioner for Handlooms:
i.Development Commissioner for Handlooms was set up as an attached non-participating office on 20th
November 1975 under the Ministry of Commerce. Currently, it is functioning under the MoT.
ii.Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) (O/o DC(Handlooms)) also oversees the implementation
of the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 through its Enforcement Wing, with
regional offices at Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
• O/o DC(Handlooms) is headed by an officer of the Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary level and
O/o DC(Handlooms) is under the MoT.
National Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NHDC):
i.It was set up in February 1983 by the GoI as a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the MoT to achieve the
objectives of faster more inclusive and sustainable growth of the Handloom sector and so on.
ii.The Office of the NHDC is functioning under the Chairmanship of the Development Commissioner
(Handlooms) basically to provide input support through the procurement and distribution of yarn, dyes,
chemicals, and marketing of handloom fabrics.
2023 Events of National Handloom Day:
i.The MoT to commemorate the 9th anniversary of National Handloom Day organised a program named “Share
your Entrepreneurship Development Story” to encourage & motivate the Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs /agencies
of the handloom sector.
• Willing Handloom entities were requested to share their story in textual format along with relevant
photographs
ii.O/o DC(Handlooms) organised a selfie contest and a competition named “Create a Reel and Show Your Love
For Handloom” on MyGov platform.
• Citizens were also encouraged to sign a National Pledge to Use Indian Handloom on the MyGov
Platform.
iii.The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat organised a panel discussion
with a set of panelists on “Handloom as an Indigenous Industry: Challenges and a way forward” on the occasion
of National Handloom Day.
iv.NIFT also organised events like:
• Exhibition cum demonstration of Handloom techniques and textiles; Quiz competition on Handloom
textiles of India; Static display/installation Competition by students’ teams on Handloom textiles of
India; BestDressedHandloom– Selfie Competition.
On April 11, 2023, the MoT launched 2 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 items which marked the first
technical regulation from India for the Technical Textiles industry.
About Ministry of Textiles (MoT):
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS)– Darshana Vikram Jardosh (Constituency- Surat, Gujarat)

Quit India Movement Day 2023- 8th August
The Quit India Movement Day is annually observed across India on 8th August to commemorate the launch of
the Quit India Movement on 8th August 1942. The day pays tribute to the martyrs and freedom fighters of the
Independence movement.
• 8th August 2023 marks the 81st anniversary of the Quit India movement.
Quit India Movement:
i.The Quit India Movement, also referred to as the August Movement, August Kranti, and Bharat Chhdo
Andolan, was a mass civil disobedience campaign demanding India’s independence from British rule.
ii.One of the key factors contributing to the Quit India Movement was the result of the failure of the Cripps
Mission in April 1942.
iii.It was officially launched by the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Mahatma Gandhi on 9th August 1942,
at the Bombay (now Mumbai) session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) during World War II (WW2)
demanding an end to British rule in India.
iv.Gandhiji gave the slogan “Do or Die” (Karo ya maro) in his speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan, now
popularly known as August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai.
v.Aruna Asaf Ali, also referred to as the“Heroine of 1942 Quit India Movement”,“Queen of the August
revolution”, ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the Independence Movement, raised the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank
Maidan.
• It was the first time that the Indian Tricolour was hoisted in public.
v.The phrase ‘Quit India’ was authored by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who served as Mayor
of Mumbai. (He also coined the slogan “Simon Go Back”)
vi.By 1944, almost all demonstrations as part of the movement had been suppressed.
About Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi:
Born- 2nd October 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat
Died- Assassinated on 30th January 1948.
Autobiography– The Story of My Experiments with Truth
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2023 – August 9

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) is annually
observed on 9th August across the world to promote and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous
population and to raise awareness of the need to improve the economic, social, and cultural situation of the
indigenous people.
This day is also known as World Tribal Day or World Indigenous Peoples Day.
The 2023 theme of IDWIP is “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination” with the sub-
themes: Climate Action and the Green Transition; Mobilizing for Justice and Intergenerational Connections.
Note: The 2023 theme indicates that Indigenous Peoples have an equal right to govern themselves, equal to all
other Peoples.
Objective:
The 2023 theme aims to highlight the pivotal role played by young Indigenous individuals in decision-making
while recognizing their dedicated efforts in:
• Climate Action and Green Transition;
• Search for justice for their people, and
• The creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture, traditions, and
contributions alive.
Background:
i.In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution resolution 49/214 titled
International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1994-2004) and proclaimed the 9th August of every
year during the decade as International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
ii.The first-ever International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was observed on 9th August 1995.

Why 9th August?
The date 9th August marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous
Populations under the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, held in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People:
In 2005, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/59/174 and proclaimed the decade commenced on 1 January
2005 and concluded in December 2014 as the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
Note: Since 1994, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People has been an annual observance of the
UN.
Special Events Related to Indigenous Peoples:
i.In 1990, UNGA proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by the resolutions
(A/RES/45/164 A/RES/47/75).
ii.UN declared, 2019 “The International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL2019)” to raise awareness about
the significant contributions the languages make to the rich cultural diversity of the World.
iii.The year 2022 marked the beginning of a new decade for the Indigenous community: the celebration of the
Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032.
Key Points:
i.According to the UN, there are approximately 476 million indigenous individuals spread across 90 countries
globally. They constitute less than 5% of the global population, however, representing 15% of the world’s
poorest.
• They speak 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 distinct cultures.
ii.According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the only tripartite UN agency:
• Globally 47% of employed indigenous individuals lack formal education, compared to 17% of their
non-indigenous counterparts.
• The educational gap among indigenous employees widens further when considering gender,
especially women.
• More than 86% of indigenous peoples globally work in the informal economy, compared to 66% of
their non-indigenous counterparts
• Indigenous Peoples are nearly 3 times as likely to be living in extreme poverty compared to their
non-indigenous counterparts.
2023 Events of IDWIP:
i.The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) organised a virtual commemoration of the
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9th August 2023 to discuss the 2023 theme
“Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination”
ii.On 9th August 2023, a Webinar was co-organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
International Fund for Agricultural Development of the UN (IFAD) to commemorate the IDWIP.
• It was organised in keeping with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and World
Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 76.16 on “The Health of Indigenous Peoples”.
Upcoming Event:
2023 II Session of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum, a Biannual UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum
hosted by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and organized by the Global Indigenous Youth will
take place from 16-20 October 2023 in Rome, Italy, to provide a space of dialogue between Indigenous Youth
and Countries, UN Agencies, Universities, Research centres and other stakeholders.
14th Equator Prize: UNDP announced 10 winners from 10 Countries
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its partners announced the winners of the 14th
Equator Prize, on the occasion of the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, recognizing 10 Indigenous
peoples and local communities from 10 Countries namely Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Ecuador, Guatemala,
Greenland, Liberia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Zambia.

• The winning organisations demonstrate the potential of innovative, nature-based solutions, which
not only empower communities to realize their local development objectives but also promote
resilience even in a time of economic, environmental, political, and public health disruptions.
Award Ceremony:
i.The Equator Prize winners will be awarded at a ceremony in November 2023, during UNDP’s Nature for Life
Hub event.
ii.The winners will receive USD 15,000, and the opportunity to take part in a series of special virtual events
associated with the:
• UN General Assembly (UNGA);
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Summit;
• UN Climate Ambition Summit;
• UNDP Nature for Life Hub, and
• 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Key Highlights:
i.The 2023 winners were hailed from over 500 nominations from a total of 108 countries and the awardees join
a network of 275 communities who have been recognized since 2002 for their exceptional contributions to
adapt to and mitigate climate change and reduce poverty.
ii.The 2023 winners also highlight the 2023 theme of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:
“Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.”
iii.Among the awardees, 4 winners are initiatives led by youth namely The Young Emerging Farmers Initiative
(YEFI), Zambia; Perfect Village Communities Burundi (PVC Burundi), Burundi; Instituto Zág, Brazil; Uru Uru
Team, Bolivia.
Equator Prize:
It is a biannual award to recognise outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity organized by the Equator Initiative within the UNDP.
i.The initiative must have been in existence for at least 3 years.
ii.The initiative taken must be nature-based and must deliver benefits related to two or more SDGS.
iii.The nominee must be either a local community-based group, operating in a rural area, based in a country
receiving support from the UNDP; or an indigenous peoples’ community in any country, operating in a rural
area.
Nagasaki Day 2023- 9th August

Nagasaki Day is annually observed across the globe on the 9th of August to create awareness about the
hazards of nuclear weapons and to promote peace among nations.
• The day is also observed to remember the victims of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, a city on the
island of Kyushu in Japan.
• 9th August 2023 marks the 78th anniversary of Nagasaki Day.
Background:
i.On 9th August 1945, the American USAAF B-29 airplane named “Bockscar”, piloted by United States
(US) Army Air Force Major Charles W. Sweeney, dropped the plutonium implosion-type bomb, code name “Fat
Man” the 2nd atom bomb on Japan’s Nagasaki.
• The bomb was dropped 3 days after the 1st uranium bomb ‘Little Boy’ on Japan’s Hiroshima.
ii.It was about 3.25 meters (10 feet 8 inches) in length and weighed approximately 4,670 kilograms (10,800
pounds).

iii.Initially, the city of Kokura Arsenal was the primary target, but due to visibility issues caused by smoke and
cloud cover, the bomber was diverted to its secondary target, Nagasaki.
• Nagasaki was an industrial center and major port on the western coast of Kyushu.
iv.It is estimated that by the end of 1945, 40,000 to 75,000 people were killed as a result of the blast.
v.Those who survived the immediate blast faced horrific injuries, radiation sickness, and long-term health
issues.
• Survivors of the bombing, known as “Hibakusha“
vi.Following the bombings, Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945.
Note: The Manhattan Project produced two different types of atomic bombs, in the ‘Trinity Test’, on July 16,
1945.
About Japan:
Prime Minister (PM)- Kishida Fumio
Capital- Tokyo
Currency- Japanese Yen
National Javelin Day 2023 – 7th August

National Javelin Day is annually celebrated across India on 7th August to commemorate the day on which
Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and became the first Asian athlete to
win an Olympic gold medal in men’s javelin throw.
The day also aims to promote javelin throw across India and to attract more youth to the sport.
• 7th August 2023 marks the observance of the 2nd National Javelin Day.
The annual observance of the National Javelin Day is led by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), apex body
for athletics in India.
Background:
On 11th August 2021, the The Athletics Federation of India(AFI) declared the 7th August of every year, starting
from 2022, as the National Javelin Day.
The first ever National Javelin Day was observed on 7th August 2022.
Tokyo Olympics 2021
i.On 7th August 2021, Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of
87.58m and became the 1st Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in men’s javelin throw.
ii.He is the 2nd individual Olympic gold medalist from India after Abhinav Bindra (Shooter), who won gold at
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
About Neeraj Chopra:
Neeraj Chopra was born on 24th December 1997 in Panipat, Haryana. He joined the Indian Army as a Junior
Commissioned Officer (JCO) and Naib Subedar in 2016 under 4 Rajputana Rifles, one of the Army’s oldest rifle
regiments. He has been promoted to Subedar-Major following his olympic medal.
Neeraj Chopra’s achievements:
i.In 2014, he won the first-ever international medal (silver) in the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok,
Thailand.
ii.In 2015, he received his first medal in a national senior championship during the Inter-State event in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) with a throw of 77.33 meters.
iii.In 2016, he won a gold medal at the South Asian Games in Guwahati, Assam and gold at the World U20
Championships in Poland.
iv.In 2017, he won gold at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.
v.In 2018, he won the gold medal in Commonwealth Games in Australia and the gold at the Asian Games in
Indonesia.
vi.In July 2022, he also won the won silver at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland and gold at the
Kuortane Games in Finland.

vii.Recently in 2022, Chopra registered his personal best throw to date and a new national record at the
Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden with an 89.94m.
Awards:
Arjuna Award (Athletics) – 2018
Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) – 2020
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Athletics) – 2021
Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) – 2022
Padma Shri (Sports) – 2022
About Athletics Federation of India (AFI):
President- Adille J. Sumariwalla
Established- 1946
World Bio-Fuel Day 2023 – August 10

World Bio-Fuel Day is observed annually on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-
fossil fuels or bio-fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels for the energy sector.
• The day also honours Rudolf Diesel, a French-German Inventor, who invented the Diesel Engine in
1892.
• The day also tries to highlight the various efforts taken by the Government to promote the use of
biofuel for the sustainable development of the planet.
Background:
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG) initiated the observance of World Biofuel Day in India in
2015.
Why August 10?
10th August marks the day on which German inventor and mechanical engineer Sir Rudolf Christian Karl
Diesel for the first time successfully ran the Diesel engine with peanut oil in 1893.
What are Biofuels?
i.Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called “biofuels”
ii.Bio-fuels are environment-friendly fuels that can be produced using biological materials like agricultural
waste, trees, crops, algae, or even grass.
iii.They are cost-effective and can be stored in either liquid or gaseous form.
iv.Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable in nature.
v.These renewable fuels reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%, establishing them as an essential component
towards a journey of a greener world.
Types of Biofuels:
At present, 2 most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.
1.Ethanol:
i.Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is a renewable fuel that can be made from various plant materials, collectively known as
“biomass.”
ii.Most of the fuel ethanol produced around the world is made by fermenting the sugar in the starches of grains
such as corn, sorghum, and barley, and the sugar in sugar cane and sugar beets.
2.Bio-Diesel:
i.It is a liquid fuel produced from renewable sources, such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats, or
recycled cooking grease.
ii.It is a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel and is nontoxic and biodegradable.
Bio-Fuel in India:
India is the third-largest primary energy consumer in the world after China and the United States of America
(USA).

• India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas published its “National Policy on Biofuels” in 2018,
and further amended it in June 2022. It replaced the previous “National Policy on
Biofuels” promulgated in 2009 through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• An accelerated national E-20 (20% bioethanol blending) mandate from 2030 to 2025, aims to
increase the capacity of ethanol production in India from 7 billion liters (BL) in 2021 to 15 BL in
2025.
Supportive Programs:
i.In addition to natural gas, an initiative called “Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable
Transportation” (SATAT) has been taken up to extract economic value from bio-mass waste in the form of
Compressed BioGas (CBG) and bio-manure.
ii.Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana for providing Viability Gap Funding (VGF), financial support to Integrated
Second Generation (2G) Bioethanol Projects in 2 phases. Phase-I (2018-19 to 2022-23) and Phase-II (2020-21
to 2023-24).
According to the data released by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), the MoPNG increased the
Administered Price Mechanism (APM) domestic natural gas price for May 2023 to more than 4% MoM (month-
over-month) to US$8.27 per mBtu (million British Thermal Units) on Gross Calorific Value (GCV) basis from
US$7.92 per mBtu in April 2023.
World Lion Day 2023 – August 10

World Lion Day is annually observed on 10th August across the globe to raise awareness about Lions, the
‘Majestic King of the Jungle‘ and highlight the threats faced by the lion population across the world.
• The day also aims to promote efforts for the conservation and protection of the Lion, the second-
largest Big Cat Species in the World.
• The Lions (Panthera Leo) roamed freely across the jungles of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle
East some 3 million years ago.
Background:
i.In 2013, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, the co-founders of Big Cat Initiative (BCI) and National Geographic began
a partnership to establish World Lion Day.
ii.The first World Lion Day was observed in 2013.
iii.In 2009, the National Geographic Society, in partnership with Dereck and Beverly Joubert, founded the BCI to
halt the decline of big cats in the wild.
Types of Lion Species:
There are 2 formally recognised lion subspecies.
• The African lion (Panthera leo leo) is found in Africa, south of the Sahara desert.
• The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) exists in one small population around Gir Forest National
Park in western India.
Significance:
i.As per the ‘Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Lions
are categorised as “Vulnerable”.
ii.They are now found only in fragments of sub-Saharan Africa, along with a critically endangered
subpopulation in West Africa and a small population of Asiatic lions in India’s Gir National Park, in Gujarat.
• 3 of the 5 largest lion populations can be found in Tanzania.
iii.Lions live in groups called ‘Pride’.
Lion Population:
i.The IUCN estimates that between 23,000 to 39,000 lions remain in the wild. However, the number may be
closer to 20,000, as three-quarters of their population is in decline.

ii.Now, the population of lions in the wild is estimated to be around 20,000 individuals in Africa, with a
population of around 600 individuals remaining in Asia, all of them in Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
in Gujarat.
iii.The African lion has disappeared from 94% of its historic range and can only be found today in parts of sub-
Saharan Africa.
Note: The Barbary Lion, Cape Lion, Eurasian Cave Lion, and American Cave Lion are all extinct lions.
Threats faced by Lions:
• Targeted poaching of lions for body parts
• Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Human-Wildlife Conflict
• Prey Depletion
• Climate Change
• Lack of Legal Protection
Note: As a result, the lion population has declined by approximately 43% over the past two decades.
Lion Population in India:
i.Gujarat state in India is the only place apart from Africa where it is possible to witness lions in their natural
habitat.
ii.The Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat is not just a habitat; it’s a sanctuary for the Asiatic lions.
iii.The IUCN categorised Asiatic lions as ‘Endangered’, because of their limited population and constrained
habitat.
iv.According to a recent Guardian report, there are now about 400 lions living in the Gir National Park and
another 300 in other locations throughout Gujarat, which represents a considerable rise in the population of
these threatened species.
Lion Census in India:
i.The first Lion Census was conducted by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1936; since 1965, the Forest Department
has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.
ii.The Forest Department of Gujarat announced the population of Asiatic Lions in 2020, and it was 674, which
was up from 523 in the 2015 Lion Census.
Project Lion:
i.The Government of Gujarat proposed plans for a second home for Asiatic lions in Barda wildlife sanctuary,
Gujarat.
ii.As per the report by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and
Climate Change, the Government has planned to translocate 40 adult and sub-adult lions to the Barda Wildlife
Sanctuary.
First-Ever UN’s World Steelpan Day 2023 – August 11

The United Nations (UN)’s first-ever World Steelpan Day was observed on 11th August 2023, to recognise
the cultural and historical significance of the Steelpan, the National Musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago,
and its correlation to cultural, social, and economic development.
• Steelpan or steel drums orginiated in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), one of the
wealthiest countries in the Caribbean, during the 1930s.
• The day also recognises the potential of the steelpan in advancing the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), through their use in sectors such as tourism, culture, education, and even the domains
of STEM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
Note: ‘Steelpan’ was declared as the National Musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago in August 1992.
Pan Month:
POS (T&T) base Pan Trinbago Inc is a cultural organisation recognised as the parent body for steelbands. It has
been celebrating ‘Pan Month‘ in the month of August every year since 1992, to commemorate the official
declaration of the Steelpan as the national instrument of T&T.

Background:
i.On 24th July 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/77/316 and
proclaimed the 11th of August every year as World Steelpan Day.
• 11th August 2023 marks the first observance of World Steelpan Day.
ii.The UN annual observance of World Steelpan Day is a global acknowledgment of the renowned traditional
musical instrument. The draft resolution for World Steelpan Day secured co-sponsorship from 84 member
states of the UNGA.
iii.In 2019, Port of Spain (POS), the capital city of T&T, was designated as a United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City of Music for its creativity through the Steelpan, as a
strategic component for sustainable urban development.
• Other Creative Cities of Music in the Caribbean are Havana, Kingston, and Santo Domingo.
iv.In 2022, the Government of T&T formally requested UNESCO to proclaim August 11 as World Steelpan Day
from 2023, and annually, thereafter.
Note: Randall Mitchell, T&T’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts brought the resolution for World
Steelpan Day to the UNGA and shared key details about the Steelpan.
What is Steelpan?
i.It is a definite percussion instrument in the idiophone class.
i.The steelpan is also known as a pan, steel drum, or even as part of a steel band or steel orchestra.
ii.Rubber-tipped straight sticks are used to play the pan, the tip’s material and size vary with the pan’s class.
iii.The steel pan’s origin can be traced back to T&T’s early 20th-century Carnival. The Carnival percussion
groups contributed to the development of the modern steel pan band.
Key Points:
i.‘Trinidad All-Steelpan Percussion Orchestra’ (TASPO) was the first Steelpan band, performed at the Festival of
Britain, the United Kingdom (UK) in 1951, and was the first group to take the steelpan worldwide.
ii.The first national steelpan competition debuted in T&T in 1963.
About Trinidad & Tobago:
Capital– Port of Spain
Prime Minister– Keith Christopher Rowley
Currency– Trinidad & Tobago Dollar
International Youth Day 2023 – August 12

United Nations (UN’s) International Youth Day is annually observed on 12th August across the globe to
celebrate the potential and contributions of young individuals to society and to create awareness about the
problems faced by them globally. The day also aimed to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues
surrounding youth.
• The Theme of International Youth Day 2023 observed on 12th August 2023 is “Green Skills for
Youth: Towards a Sustainable World“.
Background:
i.The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by young people who gathered in Vienna, Austria,
for the first session of the UN’s World Youth Forum.
• The Forum in partnership with youth organizations, recommended declaring International Youth
Day, especially for fund-raising, to support the UN’s Youth Fund.
ii.In 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as International Youth Day was adopted by the first session of
the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation
with the UN in Lisbon from August 8-12, 1998.
iii.On 17th December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), endorsed the proclamation in its
resolution A/RES/54/120 entitled “Policies and programmes involving youth”.
iv.The first International Youth Day was observed on 12th August 2000.

Green Skills for Youth:
i.Green skills are Transversal and Technical skills composed of knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes
needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
ii.Youth will endure severe climate events longer.
• 7 out of 10 young people want to be actively engaged in the green transition.
iii.Youth will experience significant changes in economic opportunities.
• Climate change threatens 40% of all jobs, that are heavily reliant on a healthy environment.
• By 2030, 8.4 million jobs will be created for young people by the green transition.
• Green jobs lead to more jobs. For each green job, 1.4 more jobs are created.
iv.Skills demand is exceeding supply.
• In 2030, 60% of young people will lack the skills necessary to thrive in the green economy.
v.There are disparities that must be addressed:
• To the Technology divide, 67% of youth do not have digital skills due to the lack of basic resources.
Be Seen Be Heard campaign:
i.The Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and the Body Shop International, England(United
Kingdom) based global beauty brand support the “Be Seen Be Heard campaign“, launched in 2022 to increase
the participation of youth in political arenas in all 75+ countries, where the Body Shop operates.
ii.The following report is based on the findings of the ‘Be Seen Be Heard Global Youth Survey conducted in
December 2021:
• Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach 57% by the end of
2030.
• 67% of people believe in a better future, with 15 to 17-year-olds being the most optimistic about
this.
• Globally, only 2.6% of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, and less than 1% of these young MPs
are women.
• Some 267 million young people are not in education, employment, or training, among them, two-
thirds are young women.
World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY):
i.The UNs’ youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY).
ii.World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, an international strategy adopted
by UNGA in 1995, provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international
support to improve the situation of young people around the world.
iii.The WPAY covers 15 youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas.
Youth2030, the UN Youth Strategy:
The World Youth Report on “Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, prepared by the
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in 2018, provides insight into the role of young
people in sustainable development in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and related frameworks
• According to the report, by 2030, the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that
make up the 2030 Agenda, the number of youth is projected to have grown by 7%, to nearly 1.3
billion.
Youth 2030 Progress Report 2023:
i.Youth 2030 Progress Report 2023, represents a significant milestone, marking 5 years since the launch of
Youth2030, the UN Youth Strategy.
ii.The current report offers a comprehensive overview of the progress in the implementation of Youth2030. By
comparing baseline data from the United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) (2020) and UN entities (2021) with
the latest reported data in 2022.

2023 Event:
For the official commemoration of International Youth Day 2023, DESA organised a global webinar on 11th
August 2023 based on green skills for youth, in collaboration with the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for
Youth and Generation Unlimited.
World Elephant Day 2023 – August 12

World Elephant Day is annually celebrated on 12th August 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.
The theme of World Elephant Day 2023 observed on 12th August 2023 is “Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade“.
• The 2023 theme emphasises the significance of stopping the illegal trade in elephants and other
animal products.
Background:
i.The idea of observing World Elephant Day was given by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark
of Canazwest Pictures and Sivaporn Dardarananda, Secretary–General of the Elephant Reintroduction
Foundation in Thailand.
ii.The first World Elephant Day was officially founded, supported, and launched by Patricia Sims and the
Elephant Reintroduction Foundation on 12 August 2012.
• Since 2012, Patricia Sims continues to lead, support, and direct World Elephant Day, which is now
recognised and celebrated by over 100 wildlife organisations in countries across the globe.
Species of Elephant:
There are 3 species of elephants namely, African Bush Elephants, also known as African Savanna elephants
(Loxodonta africana), African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
Red List of IUCN:
i.According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the ‘African forest elephant‘ is now listed as ‘Critically
Endangered‘, and the ‘African savanna elephant‘ as Endangered.
ii.The Asian elephant has been listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List since 1986.
Key Facts:
i.As per IUCN assessments 2021, the African forest elephant numbers have fallen by more than 86% over a
period of 31 years and the population of African savanna elephants decreased by at least 60% over the last 50
years.
ii.As per the IUCN Asian Elephant Red List Assessment 2020 (Assessed in 2019), the population estimation as
of 2018, collectively across all range countries, suggests a global Asian Elephant abundance of 48,323–51,680
individuals in the wild.
Elephant population in India:
i.India is home to 60% of the Global population of Asian Elephants.
ii.The current population estimates indicate that there are about 50,000-60,000 Asian elephants in the world
and there are nearly 30,000 elephants in India.
iii.According to IUCN 2020 Assessment, there were around 29,964 numbers in India.
Project Elephant:
i.It was launched in 1992, intended to preserve habitat and establish elephant corridors, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) provides technical and financial support for elephant
conservation and welfare and the support.
ii.It is to develop a comprehensive database of all captive elephants and will help control the illegal trade of
wild elephants.
• Elephant reserves are the fundamental management unit under Project Elephant. As on April 2023,
there are 33 elephant reserves spread over 80,778 sq kilometers across India.

Note: On April 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Gaj Utsav 2023’ at the Kaziranga National
Park (World Heritage Site (1985)) in Assam to mark 30 years of Project Elephant
Few Efforts of the Government of India for Elephants:
i.The Indian Government declared the elephant a National Heritage Animal of India, notedly Indian elephant
is accorded the highest degree of protection under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
• The Act bans the trade of all elephant ivory, and all ivory trade markets and carvings have been
closed in India since 1990.
ii.The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, protects elephant habitats from loss and degradation.
iii.The Government is using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology for elephant corridors, to provide
food and water to the animals in the forests in order to reduce the human-animal conflict.
iv.The Gaj Yatra campaign is a nationwide awareness initiative that highlights the importance of securing
elephant corridors.
2023 Events in India:
On 12th August 2023, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) addressed a gathering on the occasion of World Elephants Day in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and
emphasised mainstreaming biodiversity in India’s economic development to ensure ecological wellbeing and
sustainability.
Report on Elephant Corridors:
i.On the occasion, the Union Minister released the report on the Elephant Corridors of India prepared by
Project Elephant.
ii.The report is an outcome of field validation of all the identified elephant corridors in India in collaboration
with the State Forest Departments from elephant range states and spans nearly two years of concerted efforts.
iii.It encompasses 150 elephant corridors across India with corresponding maps and is intended to serve as an
important reference manual for the elephant corridors of India.
iv.It would help the State Governments in taking proactive measures for the preservation of these corridors, by
ensuring the unhindered elephants’ movement to avoid negative human-wildlife interactions.
Gaj Gaurav Awards 2023:
During the occasion, he conferred the Gaj Gaurav Awards 2023 to the awardees for their exemplary
contributions to the field of elephant conservation and management. The awards were conferred to:
• Alefnagar Joint Forest Management Committee, West Bengal;
• (Late) Bishwarrajan Panigrahi, (ex) protection squad in the Dhenkanal range of Odisha for his
exemplary services;
• Pitambara Gouda, watcher, elephant squad of Rayagada Forest Division in Koraput circle of Odisha;
• Deepak Sharma, Forest Guard, Assistant Gaj Yatra Team, Mahasamund Forest Division, Chhattisgarh;
• Dr Mirza Vaseem, veterinary officer, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka.
Highlights:
i.As part of the efforts of the MoEFCC and the Ministry of Railways, the State Forest Departments, and National
Institutions like the Wildlife Institute of India, about 110 critical stretches across the Railway network in India
that pass through elephant habitats have been identified.
• In these critical stretches, multipronged strategies are planned to minimize Railway-related
elephant collisions.
• The Ministry of Railways is examining, to replicate the technology-based intrusion detection system
along the tracks in Odisha and other States in India.
ii.For the first time ever, the MoEFCC has commenced carrying out management effectiveness and evaluation of
the Elephant Reserves across India. 4 elephant reserves across the four elephant-bearing regions of India have
been identified for piloting the process.
iii.In India, the Elephant Reserve network increased from 76,508 square kilometers to 80,777 square
kilometers, comprising of 33 Elephant Reserves during the last two years.

iv.The Union Minister also released the second edition of the Atlas of Elephant Reserves of India, which is
intended to provide basic information on all 33 Elephant Reserves of India.
v.He also Chaired the 19th Steering Committee meeting of Project Elephant in Odisha, and emphasised on
the need to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.
World Organ Donation Day 2023 – August 13

World Organ Donation Day is annually observed on the 13th August across the globe to spread awareness
about the importance of organ donation to save more lives and to make people aware of the misconceptions
about organ donation.
• This day also aims to spread awareness and increase the number of people volunteering to donate
their organs after death and to thank organ donors for their life-saving contributions.
The theme of World Organ Donation Day 2023 observed on 13th August 2023 is “Step up to volunteer; we
need more organ donors to fill the lacunae”.
• The theme focuses on demanding urgent attention from the local public to emphasises the
significance of pledging for organ donation, with the aim of alleviating the ever-growing demand for
organs.
Background:
i.The world’s first-ever successful living donor organ (Kidney) transplant was performed in 1954 in the United
• A man named, Ronald Lee Herrick donated his kidney to his twin brother, Richard Lee Herrick.
ii.The doctor who performed this surgery was named Dr. Joseph Murray. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology
and Medicine in 1990 for bringing advances in organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human
disease.
iii.Dr. Joseph Murray shared with E. Donnall Thomas, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his development of
bone marrow transplantation, which could cure patients with advanced leukemia.
Types of Organ Donation:
There are 2 forms of organ donation: Living donation (donor is alive), and cadaver donation (donor donates
after death).
Note: A donation from a deceased organ donor can save up to 8 lives, and enhance over 75 more.
Organ Donation Day in India:
i.Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) is being observed on the 27th of November every year in India since 2010,
to promote the act of organ donation.
ii.IODD was started under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Organization (NOTTO) until 2022.
iii.From 2023, the day is being celebrated on August 3 to commemorate the first successful deceased donor
organ transplant in India on 3rd August 1994, which was also the first Heart transplant, after the promulgation
of “The Transplantation of Human Organ Act” on 8th July 1994.
iv.In India, a group of 20 surgeons led by Dr. P. Venugopal successfully performed India’s first heart transplant
at AIIMS, Delhi on August 3, 1994. Devi Ram, a 40-year-old was the recipient and the donor was a 35-year-old
woman. Devi Ram lived on for another 15 years.
Donate Organ Save Lives Campaign:
i.In 2023, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, an awareness campaign for organ donation “Angdaan Mahotsav”
has been started on 1st July 2023.
• As part of the campaign, 3rd August 2023 will be celebrated as IODD.
ii.The month of July 2023 was celebrated as Organ Donation Month, during which various awareness activities
will be organised.
• NOTTO in collaboration with the MyGov platform has organised a Poster Making Competition on
organ donation from August 3, 2023, to August 31, 2023.

Efforts of Government of India for Organ Donation:
i.On 8 July 1994, the Indian parliament passed a law called the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA)
that made deceased donor organ transplantation a reality in India by accepting brainstem death as a form of
death.
• The act also establishes the NOTTO and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTO)
to oversee organ donation and transplantation activities.
ii.National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) was launched in 2014 to create a national registry of organ
donors and recipients, establish more organ transplant centers, and raise awareness about organ donation.
iii.National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry was established in 2015, to maintain records of organ
donations and transplantation.
World Humanitarian Day 2023 – August 19

The United Nations (UN)’s World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed annually on 19th August across the
globe to pay tribute to humanitarian people around the world, who have committed their lives in order to
support or help others, particularly in times of crisis and conflict.
• The day is also dedicated to recognise humanitarian people and those who lost their lives working for
humanitarian causes.
WHD is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
2023 Campaign of WHD:
i.In 2023, the WHD campaign brings together the global humanitarian community to mark the 20th
anniversary of the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.
ii.The 2023 WHD Campaign tagline is #NoMatterWhat.
iii.It represents that, Humanitarians have no other purpose than to save and protect lives and deliver the basic
necessities of life, they stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities they serve and bring hope, no matter
who, no matter where, and #NoMatterWhat.
Background:
i.On 11th December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/63/139 and
proclaimed 19th August of every year as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
ii.The first World Humanitarian Day was observed on 19th August 2009.
Why August 19?
i.The day commemorates the tragic bombing of the UN headquarters on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq in
2003, which claimed the lives of 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
ii.Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian UN diplomat, who served as the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights.
• He also served in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Bangladesh, Sudan, Cyprus,
Mozambique, and Peru.
Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD):
i.It records major incidents of violence against aid workers, with incident reports from 1997 through the
present.
ii.AWSD initiated in 2005, is a global compilation of reports on major security incidents involving deliberate
acts of violence affecting aid workers.
Key Points:
i.According to the Statistics from Humanitarian Outcomes:
• In 2022, 444 aid workers were attacked: 116 were killed, 143 wounded and 185 kidnapped. Of the aid
workers who died, 96% were national staff and 4% were international (expatriate) staff, more than half
(47%) were staff of national Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
• AWSD 2023 Data shows that South Sudan has been the most dangerous place for aid workers for several
consecutive years.

ii.As per the UN OCHA’s Global Humanitarian Overview 2023, 1 in 23 people globally needs humanitarian
assistance and protection.
About United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
Under-Secretary-General– Martin Griffiths
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland, and New York, the United States of America
Founded on– 1991
World Photography Day 2023 – August 19

World Photography Day is annually observed on 19th August across the globe to celebrate the art, craft,
science, and history of photography. The day also promotes communication between people from different
cultures and countries, helping to enrich a sense of global community.
• World Photography Day commemorates the announcement of the Daguerreotype process of photography
by the French government as a ‘free gift to the world’.
The 2023 Theme of World Photography Day is “Landscapes“.
This day also represents the significant contribution of skilled photographers and encourages and inspires the
next generation of photographers.
World Photography Week:
It was introduced in 2022. It is a 2-week worldwide celebration of Photography, beginning a week before
World Photography Day, on 12th August, and running a week after, through 26th August.
On each day of World Photography Week, interested individuals can share a photo on their favourite social
media platforms, using the hashtag: #WorldPhotographyWeek.
Background:
i.In 1837, the first ever photographic process, the ‘Daguerreotype’ was developed by Louis-Jacques-Mandé
Daguerre, a French artist and photographer.
• He was the business partner of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a French inventor, whose heliography method
is the forebear of the photographic process.
ii.The French Academy of Sciences officially announced the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839 to the
public.
iii.On August 19, 1839, the government of France purchased the patent for the invention and gave it as a gift,
“free to the world.” Later on, the day began to be marked as World Photography Day annually.
iv.The first official World Photography Day was observed on 19th August 2010. It was on this date that nearly
270 photographers shared their pictures in a global online gallery.
Daguerreotype Process:
i.The daguerreotype is a direct-positive process, creating a highly detailed image recorded on a copper plate
coated with silver iodide without the use of a negative.
ii.Latent images produced in-camera were developed by exposure to mercury vapor and were then fixed with a
strong salt solution.
iii.It became the first technique for making a camera image permanent.
Key Facts:
i.The first durable colour photograph was taken in the year 1861.
ii.The first digital photograph was taken in 1957 by Russell Kirsch, an American Computer Scientist,
• The photo was a digital scan of a shot initially taken on film.
iii.The first actual digital still camera was developed by Eastman Kodak engineer Steven Sasson in 1975.
Sadbahavana Diwas or Harmony Day 2023 – August 20

Sadbahavana Diwas, also known as Harmony Day, is annually celebrated on 20th August across India to
celebrate the birth anniversary of India’s 6th Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi.
• Sadbahavana Diwas aims to encourage peace, national integration, and communal harmony among
all religions.

• The day offers a platform for the people to take the pledge to establish peace and harmony around
them.
The Sadbahavana Diwas 2023 marks the 79th birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was born
on 20 August 1944.
Note: ‘Sadbhavana‘ means ‘Goodwill’ in English.
Background:
i.In memory of Rajiv Gandhi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) of the Indian National Congress (INC)
started the Sadbhavana Diwas and instituted the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1992.
ii.The first Sadbhavana Diwas was observed in 1992, a year after Rajiv Gandhi was assasinated by a suicide
bombing in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu on 21st May 1991.
• 21st May, the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi was declared National Anti-Terrorism Day.
iii.Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award recognises people who have dedicated their lives to promoting
social harmony.
About Rajiv Gandhi:
i.Rajiv Gandhi was born on 20th August 1944, in Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra). He was the grandson of
the first PM of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and son of Indira Gandhi, India’s first female PM.
ii.He became PM of India after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi in 1984.
iii.At the age of 40, he became the youngest PM of India, perhaps even one of the youngest elected heads of
Government in the world, and served from 31st October 1984 to 2nd December 1989.
iv.The Indian Government honoured him with the Bharat Ratna (posthumously) in 1991 for his public service.
Reforms during Rajiv Gandhi’s Period as PM:
i.In 1986, he suggested a National Education Policy (NEP) to upgrade and expand higher education in India.
ii.He launched a federal government-based institution, the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), to increase rural
society by offering free residential education from Class 6th to Class 12th in 1986.
iii.Rajiv Gandhi’s initiatives resulted in the establishment of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) in 1986 to
support the distribution of the telephone network.
• Rajiv Gandhi, the architect of digital India, is hailed as the ‘Father of Information Technology (IT)
and Telecom Revolution of India’.
iv.Under the Rajiv Gandhi government, the Parliament passed the Constitution (61st Constitutional
Amendment) Act, 1988 in Lok Sabha which lowered the voting age for elections to Lok Sabha from 21 years to
18 years by amending Article 326 of the Indian Constitution.
Observance of 2023 Sadbhavana Diwas:
Since the Sadbahavana Diwas 2023 (20th August 2023) falls on sunday, the annual Sadbhavana Pledge taking
event was orgnaised on 18th August 2023 in all Government Offices.
• The officials of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in the Ministry
of Social Justice & Empowerment facilitates led by Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal took the ‘Sadbhavana
Pledge’ in the Conference Room of Antyoday Bhawan, CGO Complex, Delhi.
• The Sadbhavana Pledge was taken in all government offices, to avoid violence and to support
goodwill among the people.
Akshay Urja Diwas:
i.The Akshay Urja Day or Akshay Urja Diwas is celebrated annually on 20th August. It is a significant
awareness campaign launched in 2004 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, to raise awareness about
the advantages of renewable energy and how to use energy resources efficiently in India.
ii.The initiative focuses on the adoption of various kinds of renewable energy forms, including solar, wind, and
biofuels through technological innovation and decentralised power production.
It also serves as a tribute to the former PM, Rajiv Gandhi, as it coincides with his birthday.

World Mosquito Day 2023 – August 20
World Mosquito Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th August to commemorate Sir Ronald Ross
a British doctor who discovered the relationship between mosquitoes and the transmission of malaria
between humans in 1897.
• The day aims to create awareness about the cause and prevention of Malaria.
• The observance also recognises the efforts of the health care officials and others who are combating
the diseases caused by Mosquitoes.
Ross’s Discovery & Nobel Prize:
i.On August 20, 1897, Ronald Ross discovered the malaria parasite while dissecting the stomach tissue of an
Female Anopheles mosquito. Later, he confirmed the growth of the parasite in the mosquito.
• Note: The discovery was made in Secunderabad (now in Telangana, India).
ii.His work showed how the parasite enters the organism and laid the foundation for the research on
malaria and methods of combating it.
iii.He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for this work.
• He was the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
About Ronald Ross:
i.Ronald Ross was born on 13th May 1857 in Almora, India (now in Almora, Uttarakhand, India).
ii.He has also developed mathematical models for the study of Malaria’s epidemiology.
iii.He was given the Honorary Membership of learned societies of most countries of Europe
iv.He served as Director in Chief of the Ross Institute and Hospital of Tropical Diseases and Hygiene,
established by the admirers of his work, and he remained in this position until his death(16th September
1932).
V.Ross wrote extensively on malaria including his book The Prevention of Malaria in 1911.
Significance:
Since 1930s, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a public research university in Bloomsbury,
London, the United Kingdom(UK), has been annually organising a commemorative event on 20th August to pay
tribute to Sir Ronald Ross.
About Malaria:
Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the
bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
5 species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium(P.) and P. vivax – pose
the greatest threat.
WHO & Malaria:
Annually, World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Malaria Day on the 15th of April to raise
awareness of the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria.
• The theme of World Malaria Day 2023 (15th April 2023) was “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest,
innovate, implement”.
• WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) coordinates WHO’s global efforts to control and eliminate
malaria.
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2023 – August 21
United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is
annually observed across the world on the 21st August to honour and support the victims and survivors of
terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• The day also aims to pay tribute to all the victims of the global curse of terrorism, at home and
worldwide.
21st August 2023 marks the 6th commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to
the Victims of Terrorism

The 2023 theme of the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is: “Legacy:
Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future.”
Background:
i.The Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/17/8 of 16th June 2011, proposed the “Proclamation of 19
August of every year as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism”.
ii.On 19the December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/72/165 and proclaimed the 21st of August of every year as the International Day of Remembrance of
and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
iii.The first International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was observed
on 21st August 2018.
Significance:
i.The day aims to encourage the UN Member States to have the primary responsibility to support victims of
terrorism and support their rights.
ii.It aslo provides technical assistance and capacity-building to Member States and victims’ associations in
better addressing the needs of victims of terrorism.
8th Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy:
i.On 22nd June 2023, the Member States undertook the 8th biennial review of the strategy, and UNGA adopted
it without a vote resolution (A/RES/77/298).
ii.It underlined the importance of the protection of terrorism victims’ rights, in particular of women, children
and those affected by sexual and gender-based violence committed by terrorists.
Note: The 9th review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2026 will then coincide with the 20th
anniversary of the adoption of the Strategy.
Pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy:
• Measures to address the conditions helpful to the spread of terrorism.
• Measures to prevent and fighting terrorism.
• Measures to build States’ capacity to prevent and fight terrorism, and to strengthen the role of the
UN system in that regard.
• Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all, and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of
the fight against terrorism.
2023 Event: Legacy: Finding Hope and Building a Better Future:
i.A high-level event entitled ‘Legacy: Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future’ was broadcasted on 21st
August 2023 on UN Web TV, to mark the 6th commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and
Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
• The UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the event, which featured opening remarks
by Mr Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism
(UNOCT).
• The pre-recorded event also featured testimonies of victims/survivors of terrorism from India,
Uganda, the United States of America (USA), and the United Nations, who shared their experiences.
ii.The “Memories” exhibition is on display in the Visitor’s Lobby of UN Headquarters in New York, USA from
20th July 2023 to 1st September 2023 to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to
the Victims of Terrorism.
• The exhibition is part of the activities organised by the Global Victims of Terrorism Programme, a
flagship programme of UNOCT and its Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT).
About United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT):
Under-Secretary-General– Vladimir Voronkov
Established on– 15 June 2017

World Senior Citizen’s Day 2023 – August 21
World Senior Citizen’s Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 21st August to honour the efforts,
contributions, and achievements made by elderly people to society, families, and communities. The day also
recognises the issues that an elderly individual faces in old age.
• The day also aims to recognise and appreciate their participation in society in order to promote
their skills and knowledge.
Background:
i.The observance of World Senior Citizen’s Day was started in 1988, when Ronald Reagan, the 40th President
of the United States of America (USA) signed the Proclamation of 5847 on August 19, 1988, and declared the
21st of August every year as the “National Senior Citizens Day”.
ii.The Proclamation of 5847, which was signed on 19th August 1988 initially appeared as National Day of the
Third Age on 21st August.
• On 14th December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution
declaring 1st October as the International Day of Older Persons.
Who are Senior Citizens?
Senior citizens are generally people who have attained the age of 60 or people who have retired from their job.
Significance:
i.The day serves as a global opportunity to honour and appreciate the elderly people, recognising their
remarkable accomplishments, dedication, and invaluable wisdom.
ii.The day promotes intergenerational connections and advocates for better lives of senior citizens as they help
preserve the values and heritage of our society.
Initiatives of Government of India for Senior Citizens:
Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY):
i.Atal VayoAbhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), formerly National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC), was
revamped, renamed and subsumed in April 2021.
ii.The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is
the nodal department of the scheme, aimed at empowering senior citizens in India.
ii.This Plan takes care of the top 4 needs of the senior citizens namely financial security, food, health care, and
human interaction /life of dignity.
Sub Schemes/Components:
1.Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) and State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC),
for Shelter and Health for Senior Citizens.
2.Health and nutrition support for indigent elders: Government of India has launched ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ for
the Elderly, to provide nutrition support to the indigent elders, who are not staying in the Old Age Homes and
are victims of severe malnutrition
3.Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for
Senior citizens belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
4.Livelihood and Skilling for Senior Citizens (Self HelpGroups (SHGs)): To provide the senior citizens ways
and means for achieving right to happy, healthy and dignified ageing through financial independence.
5.National Helpline, Awareness, Training and Capacity Building: Elder Line 14567 is a National Helpline
for Senior Citizens (NHSC) (toll-free number) launched on 1st October 2021 to provide free information, and
guidance to the senior citizens.
• It was set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E).
6.Promoting Silver Economy: To promote innovative solutions for the commonly faced problems, innovative
start-ups will be identified and encouraged for developing products, processes and services for the welfare of
the elderly under this initiative.
7.Channelization of CSR Funds for eldely Care: To channelise the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
funds in an appropriate manner for elderly care projects.

National Award For Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman):
i.Every year, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment confers the “National Award for Senior
Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman)” to eminent and outstanding senior citizens and institutions/organizations
on 1st October on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.
ii.Iconic Mother Award: For women senior citizens who ignored all odds to raise accomplished children in
their chosen field.
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
2023 – August 22
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on
Religion or Belief is annually observed across the globe on 22nd August to condemn the violence and acts of
terrorism against individuals of religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
• 22nd August 2023 marks the observance of the 5th International Day Commemorating the Victims
of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Background:
On 28th May 2019, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/296 and
proclaimed the 22nd of August of every year as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of
Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
• The first-ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion
or Belief was observed on 22nd August 2019.
Significance:
i.The day highlights the importance to protect the fundamental right of all citizens to exercise their religion and
beliefs as well as the freedom to express their religious aspirations and views.
ii.The observance also aims to boost the protection given by state governments to strengthen the implement
the provisions to condone discrimination and intolerance based on religious and cultural differences.
iii.This day follows the annual observance of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of
Terrorism on 21st August.
Note:
• 2023 also marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders.
• 10 December 2023 also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR).
Human Rights & Freedom of religion and belief:
i.Freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, and rights to freedom of assembly without
violence all depend on one another and reinforce one another.
• These are enshrined in Articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
ii.Upholding these rights will play a major role towards combating all forms of intolerance and discrimination
based on religion or belief.
Secretary General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established in 1945
World Water Week – 20 to 24 August 2023

World Water Week is annually observed across the globe during the last week of August with an aim to
examine the pivotal role of water in addressing several pressing global challenges such as water crisis, global
warming, biodiversity loss, and so on.
World Water Week 2023 takes place from 20-24 August 2023.

World Water Week 2022 was observed from 23 August – 1 September 2022
World Water Week 2021 was observed from 23-27 August 2021
• World Water Week is annually organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The Theme of World Water Week 2023 is “Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise
World”
• The theme aims to encourage people to rethink the ideas and innovations needed to manage water
and explore solutions to water-related challenges globally.
Background:
i.World Water Week was initially started as the Stockholm Water Symposium in 1991 in Stockholm, Sweden.
ii.In 2001, the Stockholm Water Symposium was officially renamed the World Water Week in Stockholm.
Significance:
i.World Water Week is also an important meeting place for policymakers and institutions to accelerate
progress in international processes related to water, development, and climate.
ii.The World Water Week programme is co-created with leading international organizations to give access to
the latest trends and insights from many different fields such as:
• Sessions on topics ranging from agriculture to city planning, and wastewater treatment.
• SIWI Scientific Seminars arranged by World Water Week’s Scientific Programme Committee on
advancing both scientific and practical knowledge.
• Accelerators, which is a capacity-building programme run together with partner organizations
• Prize ceremonies.
2023 Events:
On World Water Week 2023, programmes full of sessions on topics like innovation, behavioural change,
technology, and governance will be available both on-site in Stockholm or online.
1.SIWI High-Level Panel:
The High-Level Panel is a platform that will discuss the interlinkages between environmental degradation,
climate change and peace. 2 annual stocktaking events gather world-leading experts on international policy
and security.
i.High-Level Panel to Follow up on the UN 2023 Water Conference:
As a part of the World Water Week 2023, SIWI and the Government of the Netherlands organised a High-Level
Panel on 22nd August 2023. This foscused on UN 2023 Water Conference and the recent High-level Political
Forum on Sustainable Development.
Awards:
During World Water Week, the SIWI honours outstanding water achievements and encourages innovative
water-wise action by awarding prizes such as the Stockholm Water Prize to long-time water heroes and
the Stockholm Junior Water Prize to young water champions of tomorrow.
Stockholm Water Prize 2023:
Professor Andrea Rinaldo, the world-renowned hydrologist from Venezia (Venice), Italy is awarded
the Stockholm Water Prize 2023 for his research on river networks, demonstrating their significance in the
spread of solutes, aquatic species, and diseases.
About Stockholm Water Prize:
i.It is the world’s most prestigious water award often described as the Nobel Prize of water. It has been
awarded to people and organisations for extraordinary water-related achievements since 1991.
ii.It is awarded by SIWI in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and presented by H.M King
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is the official patron of the Prize.
• The winner of the Stockholm Water Prize is announced every year usually in March in conjunction
with World Water Day.
• A royal prize ceremony is held as part of World Water Week in August, where the Laureate plays an
important role.

About Stockholm Junior Water Prize:
i.It is a competition for students aged 15 to 20 who have developed research projects that can help solve major
water challenges.
ii.As a part of World Water Week, it has been held annually since 1997. The participants in the final round are
winners from nationally-held competitions.
• The prize is awarded to the winning student or group of students by The Prize’s patron HRH Crown
Princess Victoria of Sweden.
• Since 2020, SIWI invite the public to vote for the People’s Choice Award each year, recognising the
project they find the most inspiring.
Note: The winner of Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2023 is yet to be announced.
Related Observance:
The UN World Water Day coordinated by UN-Water is annually celebrated on 22nd March across the globe to
support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and Sanitation for all by 2030, as
part of the 2030 Agenda.
About Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI):
Acting Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer– Karin Gardes
Headquarters– Stockholm, Sweden
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 2023- August 23
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is
annually observed on 23rd August, to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade during
colonial rule and to raise awareness about the abolition of slave trading and related practices.
• This date also pays tribute to those who worked hard to abolish the slave trade and slavery
throughout the world.
The annual observance of the day is led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
Background:
i.In 1997, the UNESCO executive board on its 29th session of the General Conference adopted the resolution 29
C/40 and proclaimed the 23rd of August every year as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave
Trade and its Abolition.
ii.In 1998, a circular from the Director-General of UNESCO was sent to invite the Ministers of Culture of all
Member States to organise events every year on this day.
iii.The day was first observed in Haiti on 23rd August 1998 and Gorée Island in Senegal on 23rd August 1999.
Why August 23?
It was on that day, the self-liberated enslaved people on the island of Saint Domingue (today Haiti and the
Dominican Republic) rose up against French colonial rule, and played a crucial role in the abolition of the
transatlantic slave trade.
What is slave Trading?
i.The slave trade refers to the transatlantic trading patterns which were established as early as the mid-17th
century.
ii.The transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation of enslaved African people by slave traders, mainly
to the Americas.
iii.Trading ships would set sail from Europe with a cargo of manufactured goods to the west coast of Africa.
There, these goods would be traded, over weeks and months, for captured people provided by African traders.
Note: On 25th March 1807, the British government passed an Act of Parliament abolishing the transatlantic
slave trade, banning trading enslaved people throughout the British Empire.

Haitian Revolution:
i.Haitian Revolution, was a series of conflicts between 1791 and 1804 between Haitian slaves, colonists, the
armies of the British and French colonisers, and a number of other parties.
ii.The revolt commenced on the night of 22 to 23 August 1791 in Saint Domingue, which witnessed the
beginning of the revolution that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It
ended in 1804.
iii.The rebel forces continued to fight for their freedom and on 1st January 1804, Haiti was declared an
independent republic.
iv.The Haitian Revolution created Haiti, the 2nd independent country in the Americas after the United States of
America (USA), which became independent in 1783.
v.The Haitian Revolution is the only successful slave revolt in history, and resulted in the establishment of Haiti,
the first independent black state in the World.
The Slave Route:
i.“Routes of Enslaved Peoples: Resistance, Liberty, and Heritage” Project was launched by UNESCO in 1994
in Ouidah, Benin to examine the foundations, forms of operation, and consequences of the slave trade and
slavery in different regions of the world.
ii.It is a flagship programme of UNESCO and the International Scientific Committee (ISC). The main function of
the ISC is to advise UNESCO on the implementation of the programme.
iii.The ISC of the project consists of 20 members appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO.
Note: In 2024, the Routes of Enslaved Peoples project will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
2023 events:
On 23rd August each year, the National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich, London, the United Kingdom (UK)
commemorates International Slavery Remembrance Day and the long struggle for liberation throughout the
world.
• The Museum has organised various events from talk shows to tours to commemorate the day.
Related Observance:
i.The UN International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave
Trade is annually observed on 25th March across the globe to honour and remember the victims, who
suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the Outreach Programme on the transatlantic
slave trade and slavery in 2007. The 2023 Theme of the Remembrance programme was “Fighting slavery’s
legacy of racism through transformative education”.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Director General– Audrey Azoulay
Founded on– 6 November 1945
PM Modi Declared August 23 as “National Space Day” to marks Chandrayaan-3’s success

On 26th August 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared that 23rd August of every year will be
observed as “National Space Day” in India to commemorate the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon.
• The announcement was made while addressing the team of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) Scientists at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network Mission Control Complex
(ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
National Space Day:
The day will celebrate the spirit of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and inspire younger generations to get
involved in the field of science, technology, and space.
Key Highlights:
i.The PM praised the ISRO scientists for taking the ‘Make in India’ initiative to the moon.
ii.The PM also gave credit to the women scientists of ISRO for the success of India’s mission to the moon.

iii.The success of the mission has generated significant interest and potential for increased investments in
private space launches and satellite-based businesses.
Achievements:
The successful 3rd lunar mission has made India the 1st nation to reach near the Moon’s South Pole and
the 4th to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface.
• The other 3 nations were the United States of America (USA), Russia (formerly the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics), and China.
Note: The PM virtually witnessed the moment of the Vikram lander’s lunar landing from Johannesburg, South
Africa, where he was participating in the 15th Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Summit
from August 22-24 2023.
PM Modi Names Chandrayaan-3 Landing Site as ‘Shiv Shakti’ & Chandrayaan-2 Crash Site as ‘Tiranga’
PM Narendra Modi also announced that the spot, where, the moon lander of Chandrayaan-3, landed on the
lunar surface will be known as ‘Shivshakti’ Point. He also announced that the point on the Moon
where Chandrayaan-2 crash landed in 2019 will be called as ‘Tiranga Point‘.
Note: The name “ShivShakti” is a reference to the Hindu deity Shiva, which is associated with power and
strength. The name “Tiranga” refers to the Indian flag, which is a symbol of national pride.
Key Points:
i.The PM suggested that this ‘Shivkshakti’ point will motivate future generations to utilise science to improve
the well-being of humanity.
ii.The ‘Shakti’ in the name ‘Shiv Shakti’ comes from the hard work, inspiration, and empowerment of the
women scientists in the mission.
iii.The name of the crash landing site of Chandrayaan-2, which left its footprint on the lunar surface, is ‘Tiranga
Point’, which was India’s first contact with the surface of the Moon.
On May 29, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F12/NVS-01
mission and placed a second-generation Navigation Satellite, NVS-01, into geosynchronous transfer orbit
(GTO).
Formed on– August 15, 1969
National Sports Day 2023 – August 29

The National Sports Day, also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas, is annually celebrated across India
on 29th August to mark the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary Indian field hockey
player, who is regarded as the greatest field hockey player in history.
• He was popularly known as “The Wizard” or “The Magician of hockey” for his skill in ball
control. He was born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad, British India (Present day Prayagraj,
Uttar Pradesh).
29th August 2023 marks the celebration of the 12th National Sports Day(Rashtriya Khel Divas).
Significance:
• The day aims to create awareness on the significance of sports towards a healthy life and
honour and recognise the sportspersons of India.
• The day also offers a platform to sporting legends who brought glory to India on the
International stage.

Background:
The government of India(GoI) declared that 29th August of every year will be observed as National Sports
Day, starting from 2012, to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
• The first National Sports Day was celebrated on August 29, 2012.
About Major Dhyan Chand:
Career:
Dhyan Chand exclusively played army hockey tournaments and regimental games between 1922 and 1926
and later he was selected to play for the Indian Army team which toured New Zealand in 1926.
He played a major role in India’s 3 Olympic gold medals, in 1928(Amsterdam, Netherlands), 1932(Los
Angeles, California, the United States of America-USA) and 1936(Berlin, Germany).
• In 1934, He was made the captain of the Indian hockey team and subsequently captained the
gold-winning team at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
From 1926 to 1949 he played internationally and scored around 570 goals in 185 matches.
Books: He published his autobiography titled “Goal” (Sport & Pastime, Madras) in 1952.
Awards: The government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan(for Sports), India’s third highest
civilian honour, in 1956.
Honours:
In 2021, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced the renaming of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna,
India’s highest sporting honour, as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
In 2002, Dhyan Chand Award For Lifetime Achievement In Sports And Games was instituted to
honour those sportspersons who have contributed to sports.
• The award is given only to the disciplines included in the events like Olympic Games,
Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and World Cup
along with Cricket, Indigenous Games, and Parasports.
In 1980, GoI issued a commemorative postage stamp and a First Day Cover in honour of Dhyan Chand.
He remains the only Indian hockey player to have a stamp in his honour.
International Day against Nuclear Tests 2023 – August 29

The United Nations (UN) International Day against Nuclear Tests is annually observed across the globe
on 29th August to create awareness about the harmful effects of nuclear weapon tests or other nuclear
explosions.
• The day also promotes the cessation of nuclear tests as one of the vital parts of achieving the
goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/64/35 on 2
December 2009 and proclaimed the 29th August of every year as the International Day against Nuclear
Tests.
ii.The resolution was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan along with several sponsors and
cosponsors.
iii.The first-ever International Day against Nuclear Tests was observed on 29th August 2010.
Why August 29?
The observance of International Day against Nuclear Tests commemorates the closure of
the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site in Kazakhstan on 29 August 1991.
Nuclear Test:
Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the performance, yield, and effects of
nuclear weapons.

The long-term environmental effects of nuclear testing are contamination of surface soil and groundwater,
land disturbances in the form of craters or partially collapsed mountains and the addition of radionuclides
to sediments in seabeds.
Since 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have affected people, poisoned the air and destroyed
landscapes around the world.
1st Nuclear Test:
The world’s 1st nuclear explosion occurred on 16th July 1945. A plutonium implosion device was tested at
a site in Los Alamos, New Mexico, on the plains of the Alamogordo Bombing Range, known as the Jornada
del Muerto.
The test was code-named as “Trinity”.
• The test was conducted by the United States Army, following which, the United States of
America bombed Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
India’s 1st Nuclear Test:
Operation Smiling Buddha, also known as Pokhran-I was the first successful nuclear weapons test of India.
The test was conducted on 18th May 1974 in the Indian Army’s Test Range in Pokhran, Rajasthan.
This marked the emergence of India as a nuclear power.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT):
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is one of the main mechanisms for eradicating nuclear
weapons testing, adopted by the UNGA on 10th September 1996.
At present, 186 countries across the globe have signed the treaty and 178 have ratified it.
All the states with significant nuclear capabilities should ratify the treaty for it to enter into force.
Note: India has decided not to sign the CTBT, since it views nuclear weapons as a protective barrier
against security threats from neighbouring countries (Pakistan & China).
Related observances:
The UN observes 26th September of every year as the “International Day for the Total Elimination of
Nuclear Weapons”, to promote the total elimination of nuclear weapons, through the mobilization of
international efforts.
About the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) :
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is one of the six principal organs of the UN
• Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago elected 78th UNGA president
77th UNGA President– Csaba Korosi
Headquarters– New York, United States of America(USA)
National Small Industry Day 2023 – August 30

National Small Industry Day is annually observed across India on 30th August to celebrate the invaluable
contributions made by the small-scale industry(SSI) towards the development and growth of India. .
• This day also aimed to promote small businesses nationwide and offer job opportunities to the
unemployed for the betterment of their lives.
Background:
i.On 30th August 2000, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister of India, announced a comprehensive policy
package for the Small Scale Industries(SSI) sector during the first-ever National Conference on SSI organised by
the Ministry of SSI and the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries (ARI).
• The policy helped small businesses with the development of infrastructure and technology.
ii.Since then the Government of India (GoI) has formally celebrated 30th August as National Small Industry
Day.

Role of Small-Scale Industries in India:
i.Small-scale Industries contribute to income generation both at the individual and national levels by providing
opportunities in the form of both self-employment and entrepreneurship.
ii.India’s MSME sector had a contribution of nearly 30 per cent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP) in FY22
and a 43.6 per cent share in exports in FY23.
iii.Small Industries play an important role in promoting exports. They produce a wide range of products and
services that may be imported into other countries, which helps in generating foreign cash, and growing
business relationships abroad.
Note: Hence the SSI sector is a significant part of the Indian economy and constitutes ~95% of industrial units,
40% of manufacturing output, employment for over 17 million people, and 35% of all exports, and contributes
over 30% of GDP.
Related International Observance:
The United Nations (UN)’s Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is annually observed across the
world on 27th June to raise awareness about MSMEs contribution in achieving the 2030 Agenda of UN
About Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (M/o MSMEs):
Union Minister – Narayan Tatu Rane (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)
Minister of State – Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (Constituency – Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh)
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2023 – August 30

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is annually
observed on 30th August across the world, to commemorate and pay respect to those who have undergone
enforced disappearances.
• This day also aims to provide effective access to justice for victims of enforced disappearance.
Background:
i.On 21st December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/65/209
and proclaimed the 30th of August of every year as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced
Disappearances.
ii.By the same resolution, the UNGA also adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance (ICPED).
iii.The first-ever International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances was observed on the 30th of
August 2001.
Enforced Disappearances:
i.It involves actions by state agents or authorized individuals that result in the arrest, detention, abduction, or
any form of liberty deprivation. This heinous act violates human rights and international law.
ii.The definition is as defined in the ICPED and the Preamble of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance.
Note: Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people have vanished during conflicts or periods of
repression in at least 85 countries.
Human Rights that are Regularly Violated by Enforced Disappearances:
• The right to recognition as a person before the law;
• The right to liberty and security of the person;
• The right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment;
• The right to an identity;
• The right to an effective remedy, including reparation and compensation;
• The right to know the truth regarding the circumstances of a disappearance.
Cumulative elements:
Enforced Disappearances are characterised by 3 cumulative elements (defined in A/HRC/16/48/ADD.3):

i.Deprivation of liberty against the will of the person;
ii.Involvement of government officials, at least by acquiescence;
iii.Refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the
disappeared person.
International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP):
i.It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation that seeks to ensure the cooperation of governments on
missing person cases from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, and other causes, and to assist them in
doing so.
ii.It is the only international organization exclusively mandated to address the issue of missing persons and
also supports the work of other organisations in their efforts.
iii.It also encourages public involvement in its activities and contributes to the development of appropriate
expressions of commemoration and tribute to the missing.
2023 Events:
i.On 30th August 2023, ICMP’s Western Balkans program organised a global campaign to light 12,000 virtual
candles representing the remaining missing persons in the Western Balkans.
• Western Balkans is a term used in the European Union (EU) to refer to 6 countries in Southern and
Eastern Europe that are covered by EU enlargement policy.
• The 6 countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and
Serbia.
ii.In an effort to address the issue of missing migrants, the ICMP is collaborating with the International
Organization on Migration (IOM) and other relevant agencies.
• This initiative aims to comprehensively assess the scope of missing migrants and implement
effective measures to locate and identify them.
About International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP):
Director-General– Kathryne Bomberger
Headquarters– The Hague, The Netherlands
APPS & WEB PORTAL

Jharkhand CM Launches Mobile App to Track Elephant Movement
On 28th July 2023, Jharkhand Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren launched Jharkhand elephant Tracker, a
mobile application-based elephant movement tracking system on the occasion of the 74th Van Mahotsav in
Ranchi to reduce human-elephant conflicts in Ranchi, Jharkhand .
• The mobile app will help villagers and the forest department of Jharkhand to track elephant
movements so that precautionary measures could be taken in advance.
Key points:
i.2 applications have been developed by the forest department, one for use by common citizens, and the other
for department officials.
ii.Using the app, villagers can view the precise location of an elephant or a herd which will be fed by the forest
department field staff using their internal database.
iii.The elephant movement information will also be spread out through FM (Frequency Modulation)channels.
iv.The app is developed by Bravishmah Infotech Private Limited.
Assam CM Launched Amrit Brikshya Andolan app & Theme Song, Wood-Based Industries
Registration Portal
On 2nd August 2023, Assam Chief Minister(CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched
the Amrit Brikshya Andolan web portal/mobile application, the theme song for the Amrit Brikshya Andolan and

the Wood-based Industry (WBI) registration web portal at the event held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati,
Assam.
Amrit Brikshya Andolan:
i.It is a massive tree plantation drive that aims to plant one crore commercial saplings across Assam on 17th
September 2023 which provides a major boost to Assam’s green economy and will help against climate change
and also increase the income of Assam’s farmers.
• The Government of Assam aims to plant 3 crore commercially-viable saplings in 2024 and increase
the target to 5 crore saplings in 2025.
ii.During the plantation drive, 40 lakh members of women Small Help Groups(SHG) from Assam will plant two
saplings each, totaling 80 lakh and the rest, over 20 lakh, will be planted by Anganwadi workers, tea garden
workers, government officials, police, forest battalions, and the public.
iii.By registering on the “Amrit Brikshya Andolan” app or portal, individuals can collect saplings from
distribution stations, planting them and uploading geo-tagged pictures. A reward of Rs 100 will be credited to
their bank accounts, with an additional Rs 200 given if the sapling survives for three years after being planted
on 17th September 2023.
iv.The initiative strategically emphasizes agroforestry and Tree Outside Forest (ToF), fostering sustainable
land use and economic diversification.
v.Plantation includes 23 valuable species like Teak, Boga Chandan, Agaru, Gamari, Hollock, Tita Sopa, and Bogi
Poma. These offer economic potential and opportunities for local communities to enhance their livelihoods.
Website for registration of the Wood-based Industry (WBI):
i.A website for registration of the WBI was also launched for ease of doing business in the sector.
ii.The portal was launched for the implementation of the Assam WBI (Promotion and Development) Rules
2022.
iii.It helps to streamline the functioning of the WBI in Assam and increase employment opportunities.
iv.The Assam Wood-based Industries (Promotion & Development) Rules 2022, replacing the earlier Assam
Wood-based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Rules of 2000, aim to foster the growth of indigenous
wood-based industries.
About Assam:
Chief Minister- Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor- Gulab Chand Kataria
Airport- Silchar Airport, Tezpur Airport
Festival- Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches Digital Portal of CRCS office in Pune
On August 6, 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation,
launched a digital portal of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office in Pune,
Maharashtra.
This launch is on the lines with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se
Samriddhi”, strengthening cooperative movement in India, deepening its reach to the grassroots and to
enhance the performance, productivity and profitability of cooperative societies.
• The CRCS office, under the Ministry of Cooperation, is responsible for administering the Multi-State
Co-operative Societies (MSCS) Act 2002. This portal will ease the functioning of over 1550 MSCS in
India and promote a digital ecosystem for new registrations.
Objectives of Portal:
i.Promote ease of doing business in the cooperative sector and streamline processes
ii.Implementing completely paperless applications
iii.Enabling digital communication
iv.Improving analytics and management information system

Key Points:
i.This portal will aid in the registration of new MSCS, simplifying their operations and creating a more efficient
and transparent digital ecosystem.
ii.It will also incorporate recent amendments to the MSCS Act, 2002, ensuring automatic compliance with the
updated rules.
iii.Using the portal, applications and service requests will be processed quickly through an electronic workflow.
It will have security features like OTP-based user registration and validation checks to ensure compliance with
the MSCS Act and Rules.
• Hearings will be conducted through video conferencing, and registration certificates will be issued
electronically.
iv.The portal will have various modules for different tasks like registration, amendment of bye-laws, filing
annual returns, handling appeals, conducting audits, inspections, inquiries, arbitrations, winding up,
liquidation, ombudsman services, and elections.”
Note: For the development of this portal, a ‘Hackathon’ competition was organized to invite youth participation
and ideas, while feedback was gathered from National and MSCS.
Participants:
It was attended by Chief Minister(CM) of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde and Union Minister of State (MoS) B L
Verma, Ministry of Cooperation, among others.
i.On 8th June 2023, the Government of India has taken 5 important decisions revolving around Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), a basic unit and the smallest cooperative credit institution in India that
works on the grassroots level (gram panchayat and village level).
ii.The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prepared the “Model Prisons Act 2023” which will replace
“The Prisons Act, of 1894”, a 130-year-old British-era law, to overhaul the prison administration that will focus
on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.
Union Minister– Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State– B L Verma (Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh)
MoHFW Launched e-CARe Portal To Avoid Delays in Transporting Human Remains

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, launched e-CARe (e-Clearance for Afterlife
Remains) portal for conducting dead body/human remains clearance procedures electronically which is
expected to transform the government functioning to a more efficient mode.
• The portal will bring together all stakeholders into a single interface. Moreover, a dedicated Nodal
Officer will be present round-the-clock within the facility.
• Indira Gandhi International Airport(New Delhi, Delhi), will serve as the nodal centre for all
international airports in the country.
• It is developed as a standard reusable product amenable to replication across the governments.
About e–CARe (e-Clearance for Afterlife Remains):
Ensuring uniformity throughout the process will remove any subjectivity that could arise from individual
Airport Health Organizations (APHOs).
• The airport Health Officer will perform clearance through email in collaboration with the
transporting airlines.
Background:
i.Public health clearance of dead body/human remains clearance brought from abroad is necessary as
per Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules 1954 and International Health Regulations, 2005.
ii.The delay is commonly due to the need for document clarifications, involving email scrutiny by multiple
stakeholders, as well as discrepancies arising from varying international time zones.

Documents required:
For the purpose of obtaining public health clearance for all human remains arriving at Indian airports, the
following documents must be provided:
i.Certificate of Embalming
ii.Death Certificate
iii.No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Embassy
iv.Cancelled Passport Copy
v.Certificate of Human Remains Packaging in accordance with World Health Organisation(WHO) guidelines
Optional documents:
• Certificate or endorsement from the consignee
• Additional Supporting Documents (such as Medical History or other documents as requested)
Additional info:
i.The initial 48 hours, updates would be shared with the relevant officials every 12 hours during the first 36
hours. Subsequently, escalation would occur every four hours for the following 12 hours, aiming to prevent
clearance delays.
ii.The details regarding any entry would be communicated through email, SMS, and WhatsApp to the Central
International Health Division, the Nodal Officer, APHOs, consignees, and the airlines.
Gujarat CM launched ‘Sinh Suchna’ Web App On World Lion Day

Gujarat Chief Minister(CM) Bhupendra Patel launched the Sinh Suchna Web application on the occasion of
World Lion day celebrated on 10th August 2023.
• The purpose of the mobile app is to help the state forest department track the movement of lions to
prevent incidents of human-animal conflict.
Other Launches:
• Bhupendra Patel launched the ‘Lion Anthem Film’ which is produced by Ekta Janmay Chokshi and
directed by Rohan Trivedi. The music has been composed by Nishit Mehta, sung by Brijraj Gadhvi
while Parth Tarpara is the lyricist.
• He also launched two books namely ‘The King of Jungle – Asiatic Lions of Gir’, written by Indian
Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sakkira Begum and ‘Hu Gir no Savaj’ by Shri Arvind Goswami.
Events organised:
The main event was organised in Sasan, the headquarters of Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
(GNPWLS) in Junagadh district of Gujarat.
About Asiatic lion:
i.The Asiatic lions are found only in Gujarat.
• The Asiatic lions comprise the world’s second most population of wild lions after African lions.
ii.India’s National Emblem is adapted from the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.
iii.Lion was chosen as the emblem for Make in India initiative (2014).
Conservation of Lion:
Project Lion:
In recognition of endangered status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)’s Red List of
threatened species, the Union government has allocated Rs 2,900 crore under Project Lion for the
conservation of Asiatic lions.
• As part of the project, plans are underway to establish a lion breeding centre, an isolation facility,
installation of CCTV cameras, procurement of radio collars, acquisition of drones and additional
resources to ensure prompt medical care for the lions.
• Project Lion proposes Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat as second home for Asiatic lions
Note: The effort by the Govt of Gujarat also led to an increase in the lion population from 411 in 2010 to 674 in
2020. Furthermore, the lion territory expanded from Gir forest, now encompassing an area of 30,000 sq km.

Additional Info:
i.The Chief Minister additionally disclosed plans for the establishment of a lion safari park near Una town
within the Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. This initiative aims to alleviate the pressure on the Gir National Park
located in Sasan-Gir.
ii.On the occasion, Prime Minister also launched “Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrutkal” to secure & restore lions’
habitats.
CJI Announces Launch of ‘Suswagatam’ Portal for E-passes to Enter SC

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud launched ‘SuSwagatam’, a web-based and
mobile-friendly application which enables advocates, visitors, interns and others to register themselves online
and get e-passes to enter the Supreme Court of India(SC).
• This will enable a user to avoid long queues, and obtain a paperless entry pass (e-pass) for access
to the Supreme Court of India.
• This was launched under the guidance of CJI DY Chandrachud to promote citizen-friendly access to
justice delivery systems.
The portal was tested as a pilot project since 25th July 2023 and has received positive feedback from the users.
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2023 – August 14

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day or ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas‘ is annually observed across India
on 14th August to remember of the struggles and sacrifices during the partition of India into India and
Pakistan in 1947.
The day also remembers the lives lost during the partition and those who were forcibly displaced from their
ancestral homes.
• 14th August 2023 marks the 3rd observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.
Background:
On 14th August 2021, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced that 14th August of every year will be
observed as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” to inspire us to eliminate discrimination, animosity and ill-
will and to promote strengthen unity, social harmony and human sensibilities.
The first ever Partition Horrors Remembrance Day was observed on 14th August 2021.
History of the Partition:
The Partition was the division of British India into two independent Dominions: Hindu-majority India and
Muslim-majority Pakistan. This resulted in extensive migration, with Muslims heading to Pakistan and Hindus
and Sikhs moving to India. This migration was marked by violence, loss of life, and appalling conditions.
Women experienced abductions, sexual assaults, and trafficking. People endured hunger, disease, and walked
without basic necessities like shelter, food, and water.
• The Partition of India was rooted in the demand for a separate country for Muslims, led
by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League.
• In 40 days, the British judge Cyril Radcliffe drew revised boundaries on either side of the Indian
subcontinent.
• The Partition of India was announced by Lord Louis Mountbatten on June 3, 1947 who assumed
the role of the last viceroy of India on 24 March 1947.
Key Points:
i.The partition caused one of the largest migrations in human history, affecting about 20 million people.
Millions of families had to abandon their ancestral villages/towns/cities and were forced to start anew as
refugees
ii.The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has also mandated its affiliate schools to observe August
14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day and organise an exhibition to mark the occasion.

Key Points:
i.The two states have since gone through further reorganization: the Dominion of India is today the Republic of
India (since 1950); while the Dominion of Pakistan was composed of Islamic Republic of Pakistan (since 1956)
and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (since 1971).
ii.As per Central Government data, about 6 million non-Muslims moved out from West Pakistan and 6.5 million
Muslims moved out from the Indian part of Punjab, Delhi and other regions, into West Pakistan.
iii.The estimate of those killed has varied from 500,000 to over 1,000,000. The generally accepted figures are
around 500,000.
About Pakistan:
Capital– Islamabad
Currency– Pakistani Rupee
Prime Minister– Shehbaz Sharif
Kerala Govt Launches ‘Athidhi Portal’ to Register Migrant Workers

Kerala government has launched a user-friendly web portal named ‘Athidhi Portal’, for the registration of
migrant workers in Kerala. The portal will establish a unique identification system to streamline the
registration process.
• The portal will allow the government to address the grievances against sexual crimes allegedly
committed by migrant workers.
Features:
• Contractors and Employers,who bring in temporary workers can register temporary workers on the
portal.
• Guest employees can also independently register to ensure inclusion.
• Enrolling officer verifies the details entered in portal and assigns a unique ID.
• Setting up Help desks at railway stations for guest worker registration.
Benefits:
i.The portal will serve as a centralised platform to collect and manage information about workers, ensuring
they have access to essential social security benefits.
ii.The portal will gather data regarding the employees and make sure they get social security.
• Currently migrant workers are regulated according to the provisions of the Inter-State Migrant
Workers Act of 1979.
Ration Right Card:
i.The Kerala government is utilising the Ration Right Card of the ‘One Country One Ration Card‘ initiative to
enumerate guest (migrant) workers in the state.
ii.The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Government of Kerala, introduced the Ration
Right Card, which serves as a channel for guest workers, who face challenges in obtaining ration products in
their own state.
• The Aadhaar-linked ration distribution will also contribute to the count of guest workers.
About Kerala:
Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammed Khan
Stadium– EMS Stadium (Outdoor), Jimmy George Indoor Stadium
CWC Chairman Kushvinder Vohra launches FloodWatch App for Real-Time Flood Forecasts
Kushvinder Vohra, Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC), launched FloodWatch, a mobile
application to provide real-time flood information and forecasts for up to 7 days to the general public by using
mobile phones.
• This initiative is an innovative solution to enhance flood information dissemination and
preparedness.

• FloodWatch, developed by the CWC, is a user-friendly app which offers both readable and audio
broadcast.
• It presents information in 2 languages: English and Hindi.
Features:
i.A key feature of the app includes real-time flood monitoring where users can stay updated about the current
flood situations throughout India.
ii.The app utilizes data about near real-time river flow that is updated almost in real-time from various sources.
iii.It also provides flood forecasts for the nearest location to the users. By visiting the Home Page, users can
easily access flood advisories for the station closest to them.
iv.Other features include the Interactive Map, which allows users to check either the CWC Flood Forecast (up to
24 hours) or the Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) by directly selecting a station on the map.
• In an alternate way, users can search for the name of a specific station using the search box. Once a
station is chosen from the dropdown menu, the map zooms in on its location.
v.The app also provides State-wise and Basin-wise Flood Forecasts (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisories (up to
7 days). This information can be accessed by selecting specific stations, states, or basins from the dropdown
menu.
Indications:
i.The app has a map of India with coloured circles at water stations across India and the current risk of
flooding.
ii.A ‘Green’ circle indicates ‘Normal’; Yellow, Above Normal; Orange, ‘Severe’ and Red, ‘Extreme’.
iii.Clicking on a circle provides the current water level at the station, the display includes the highest water
level ever recorded at the station and clearly depicts the danger level, and the warning level.
About Central Water Commission(CWC):
CWC, formerly known as Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission (CWINC), is an attached
office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, under the Department of Water Resources, River Development (RD), and
Ganga Rejuvenation (GR).
Chairman– Kushvinder Vohra
Established in 1945
YES BANK Introduces Mobile App ‘iris by YES BANK’

Yes Bank Limited(Ltd) launched ‘iris by YES BANK’ , a state-of-the-art mobile banking application which was
developed in collaboration with customer feedback.
• It is the bank’s first Direct to Consumer platform,allowing new and existing customers to access more
than 100 features and services.
• The app demonstrates the bank’s commitment to fostering a digitally empowered ecosystem and
showcases its dedication to delivering top-notch digital solutions.
Key Features:
The unique collaborative mobile app comprises a sleek and intuitive user interface with features such as
opening a savings account,
ii.applying for a Credit Card,
iii.availing instant personal, business and auto loans,
iv.booking recurring and fixed deposits,
v.Customised investment(in mutual fund) & insurance options.
Security Features: The app incorporates security features like Biometric Authentication, Sim-Binding and 2-
factor Verification

About YES Bank Limited(Ltd):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief executive Officers (CEO) – Prashant Kumar
Tagline –Experience Our Expertise
Canara Bank launches UPI interoperable Digital Rupee Mobile App

Canara Bank launched its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application,
called the “Canara Digital Rupee app”, as a part of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Central Bank Digital
Currency (CBDC) pilot project.
• Canara Bank is now the first among the public and commercial sector bank to provide this feature in
its CBDC mobile app, Canara Digital Rupee app.
• The app has been created in accordance with RBI guidelines and is powered by advanced blockchain
technology to ensure great security and efficiency.
Features:
i.Customers will be able to scan merchant UPI Quick Response (QR) codes using the Canara Digital Rupee app
and make digital currency payments with the release of this unique feature.
ii.It enables merchants to accept digital currency payments in addition to UPI-based payments, utilising their
existing UPI QR codes without the need for a separate onboarding process for CBDC.
iii.The app features multi-factor authentication and encryption to safeguard transactions and protect user data.
iv.The app will allow customers to experience the benefits of rapid and secure transactions using RBI’s digital
money.
v.Customers may now simply deal in digital currency with the Canara Bank Digital Rupee mobile application,
which is currently available for both Android and iOS users.
• According to RBI regulations, digital currency is legal tender, therefore the launch of this app is a big
step towards the use of digital currency in India.
Accessibility of the Application:
i.The facility is now being given on a trial basis to bank customers and merchants in 26 locations across India.
All whitelisted clients in these 26 cities can access the Canara Bank Digital Rupee app.
ii.If a customer is not whitelisted, they will be prompted to request for whitelisting during app installation.
iii.Within 24 hours, the customer will receive a message from the bank for whitelisting, after which they will be
able to install the app.
About Canara Bank Limited :
Canara Bank was established as Canara Hindu Permanent Fund Ltd. in 1906 and was renamed as Canara Bank
Limited in 1910.
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- K.Satyanarayana Raju
Nationalised in 1969
Tagline– Together we can
UP Launches Manav Sampada Portal to Bring Transparency to Employee Activities

The government of Uttar Pradesh(UP) launched the Manav Sampada portal to ensure transparency in the
work of all the officers and employees of all 74 departments in the UP government.
• Section 5, a new division will be established within the Personnel department to oversee the
operations and manage the portal.
• National Informatics Centre (NIC) will oversee the security of the portal to ensure cyber safety.
Manav Sampada Portal:
i.By 1st October 2023, the service details of the personnel will be updated on the portal.

• The service details include appointment, joining, dismissal, leave management, merit-based online
transfer system, annual appraisal report management, salary withdrawal and service book management.
ii.The details of the complete posting profiles of the personnel like disability, husband and wife being in
government service and serious illness etc. will also be provided on the portal.
iii.Salaries for every officer and employee will also be released on the basis of consolidated and certified data
gathered from the Manav Sampada portal and the DDO(Drawing & Disbursing Officer) portal.
iv.The portal will also provide a platform to conduct the annual assessment of all the employees and this will
also facilitate merit-based online transfers.
v.All categories of leave will exclusively be approved through the portal and information regarding personnel
training will also be accessible through this portal.
Key Points:
The UP government has also instructed the officials to declare their movable and immovable assets on the
portal before December 2023.
• Failing to comply with this instruction, the officers will face consequences such as denial of promotion.
• The officers and employees should update the details of their property once every 5 years.
About Uttar Pradesh(UP):
Bird Sanctuary– Vijay Sagar Bird Sanctuary; Hathinala, Renukut (Sonbhadra)
Stadium– Eklavya Sports Stadium; Late Mohan Choubey Pahalvan Sports Stadium
Delhi Govt Launches Portal to Empower Citizens to Protect Forests, Wildlife

Delhi Environment and Forest Minister Gopal Rai launched a portal (evanlekh.eforest.delhi.gov.in) to
boost the awareness about the protection of forest and wildlife sanctuary areas in Delhi.
i.Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, it helps to visualize data effectively, and also,
users can generate KML (Keyhole Markup Language) files on the portal.
• KML files are a type of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file format used to display
geographic data in an Earth browser, such as Google Earth or Google Maps.
i.It currently provides information on various aspects, including protected forest areas, reserve forest
areas, morphological details, wildlife sanctuaries, buffer areas of wildlife sanctuaries, and administrative
boundaries of the Department of Forest and Wildlife.
ii.The portal’s future enhancements will include unclassified forest areas, areas with tree felling
permissions, areas targeted for compensatory plantation and afforestation, plantation sites by greening
agencies, locations requiring approvals for non-forestry activities, soil moisture conservation details, and
Indian State of Forest Report-based green cover information.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur Launches National Sports Federations Portal on National
Sports Day
On the occasion of National Sports Day 2023 (29th August 2023), Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur,
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) launched the National Sports Federations(NSFs) portal during
the event organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The portal is in line with the Government of India’s vision for Digital India which will ensure ease of
business and good governance.
About the portal:
i.It is a unified online portal and a single window system for the NSFs for processing of annual renewal of
recognition of NSFs, elections of NSFs etc.
ii.It will replace the existing system of physical mode of submission of documents by NSFs and ensure better
coordination among the Department of Sports and the NSFs.

Highlights of the event:
i.Union Minister Anurag Thakur also launched the 3rd edition of Fit India Quiz and other initiatives during the
event.
ii.He also launched the Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India
Scheme.
• The book highlights the sports infrastructure that has been developed and is in the pipeline in
various States and Union Territories(UTs) of India.
iii.He also felicitated the Indian men’s 4x400m relay team, who finished 5th in the 2023 World Athletics
Championships held at Budapest, Hungary.
• The team finished 5th clocking in at 2:59:92s, creating a new Asian and National Record.
iv.An online application submission and processing portal was launched which will be utilized for handling all
the application for creation and upgradation of sports infrastructures and demand for sports equipment under
the Khelo India Scheme.
• This portal will be available for grantees, States, UTs for submission of their proposals of financial
support from September 1, 2023.
Attendees:
The event was attended by almost 500 school children from various schools in New Delhi as well as several
elite athletes and officials from the MYAS, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Sports Federations
(NSFs).
ENVIRONMENT
108th Foundation Day of ZSI: 3- days Programme held with Special Focus on ‘Mission Life’
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) inaugurated
a 3-day celebration programme of the 108th Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Day with Special Focus on
‘Mission LiFE‘ (Lifestyle for Environment) at Nicco Park in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Inauguration of Animal Taxonomy Summit (ATS) 2023,
its a first of its kind in our country, was organised by ZSI
as part of the programme , where 400 delegates across
India and abroad including the Natural History Museum,
London, the United Kingdom (UK) were participated.
Key People:
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State (MoS), MoEFCC; Chandra
Prakash Goyal, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary; Dr
Dhriti Banerjee, Director ZSI; Dr Ashiho Asosii Mao, Director,
Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
Mission LiFE:
i.It is an India-led global mass movement introduced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at the 26th United
Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, The United Kingdom (UK) in
November 2021.
ii.In 2022, the PM launched the Mission LiFE for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle at the Statue of Unity in
Gujarat.
Three Phases of Mission LiFE:
Each phase requires a fundamental shift in the approach towards sustainability.
• Phase I – Change in Demand
• Phase II- Change in Supply
• Phase III- Change in Policy

Book Release:
As a part of the event, 6 books were released:
• Animal Discoveries: New Species and New Records 2022; Plant Discoveries 2022; Faunal Diversity
of 75 Ramsar Wetlands of India; Records of Zoological Survey of India-Special Issue of ATS 2023; 75
Endemic Birds of India and Fauna of India-108 DNA Sequences.
Signing MoUs:
ZSI signed 3 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for research and academic collaboration as follows:
i.MoU was signed with the Royal Government of Bhutan to conduct a population assessment of the Red Panda,
through a non-invasive method.
ii.MoUs were signed with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur in Rajasthan and the University of
Burdwan, West Bengal for research collaborations and student exchange programmes.
Key Highlights:
i.The efforts of ZSI for establishing globally well-known protected areas such as Silent Valley National Park
(Kerala), Namdapha Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh), Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu) and Great
Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and many others were appreciated.
ii.The Union Minister also mentioned ZSI’s significant role in providing technical inputs for amending the
Wildlife Protection Act.
iii.The MoS emphasised ZSI to focus on the research and conservation of important wetlands of Gangetic plains
of India as ‘Sarovar Mitra’, by initiating a programme for citizen scientists for better data dissemination and
conservation awareness.
‘75 Endemic Birds of India’, a Publication from ZSI: 78 species of birds are found only in India
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on commemorating its 108th Foundation Day, released
a publication titled ‘75 Endemic Birds of India‘ during the 3 days programme held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
As per the publication, 78 (about 5%) of birds found in India are Endemic and are not reported in other parts
of the world.
• There is a rich diversity of 10,906 bird species in the world, and of them, India is home to 1,353,
which represents approximately 12.40% of global bird diversity.
Key Points:
i.According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorisation in its Red List of
Threatened Species, 25 of the 78 bird species, which are found only in India, are classified as
‘Threatened’; 3 species are listed as ‘Critically Endangered’; 5 are categorised as ‘Endangered’, and 17 as
‘Vulnerable’, while 11 are categorised as ‘Near Threatened’.
ii.Of the 78 species, 3 species have not been recorded in the last few decades. They are:
• Manipur Bush Quail (Perdicula manipurensis); Himalayan
Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa),and Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus).
iii.28 bird species, the highest number of endemic species have been recorded in the Western Ghats, 25 species
are endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 4 species to the Eastern Himalayas and one each to the Southern
Deccan plateau and Central Indian Forest.
iv.Some of the interesting species recorded in India’s bio-geographic hotspot are the Malabar Grey
Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus); Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides) from Western Ghats; Nicobar
Serpent Eagle (Spilornis klossi), Andaman Barn Owl (Tyto Deroepstorffi) from the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
Researchers of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered 2 new species of jumping spiders from
southern India, namely, Phintella dhritiae from Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in
Karnataka and Phintella platnicki from Salem district of Tamil Nadu (TN).
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
Director– Dhriti Banerjee

It was established on 1st July 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement
in our knowledge of various aspects of an exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile ´British Indian Empire´.
Delhi LG Launches Blockchain Technology for Integration into DFSL E-Forensic App
Vinai Kumar Saxena,Delhi Lieutenant Governor(LG) launched Blockchain Technology in the Inter-Operable
Criminal Justice System (ICJS) for electronic-forensic application(e-forensic app) of the Delhi Forensic Science
Laboratory (DFSL) and Delhi Police at Raj Niwas, official residence of the LG in Delhi.
• With this, Delhi FSL will be the first institution of its kind in India to utilize blockchain technology
“for transparent and tamper-proof (protected against unauthorized changes) digital evidence
recording.”
• Access will be restricted to authorized individuals in four analysis stages, maintaining data integrity,
ensuring transparency, accountability, and enhanced security by preventing any tampering.
• Integrating Blockchain Technology into DFSL’s e-forensic app guarantees that all physical evidence
submitted from the crime scene to the DFSL will remain free of human interaction and tampering.
• Additionally, this integration will automate the complete forensic workflow, commencing from the
police to the FSL.The data entered by the Investigating Officer at the police station level will be
transmitted to the FSL disclosing the details such as FIR, name of parties, etc.
• This technology has the potential to store various documents like land records, birth and death
certificates, caste and income certificates in individual digital lockers. It offers limitless capacity and no
time constraints on storage duration.
State of India’s Birds 2023: 60% of bird species in India declined over 30 yrs
According to the report titled “State of India’s Birds 2023: Range, Trends and Conservation Status”, out of
the 338 bird species studied in India, 60% of bird species have declined over the past 30 years.
• The 2023 report is the 2nd iteration of the State of India’s
Birds report.
• The report was produced as a partnership between 13
organisations which includes the Bombay Natural History
Society(BNHS), the Wildlife Institute of India(WII), and the
Zoological Survey of India(ZSI).
About State of India’s Birds 2023:
The report was created to assess the conservation status of the
migratory species that regularly occur in India.
Note: “State of India’s Birds 2020” was the 1st attempt to assess
the conservation status of the majority of India’s bird species.
Method: The primary data of the report is based on the 30 million observations uploaded by Indian
birdwatchers to eBird, an online birding notebook
Assessment: The assessments rely on 3 indices:
i.2 indices are related to the change in abundance,
• long-term trend (change over 30 years)
• current annual trend (change over the past 7 years)
ii.The 3rd index is a measure of distribution range size within India.
Highlights:
i.The 2023 report has assessed a total of 942 species of Indian birds and long-term trends could be determined
for 338 species.
ii.The current annual trends could be determined for 359 species, of which 142 have declined (64 rapidly), 189
are stable, and 28 have increased.
• Around 40% (142) of the 359 species evaluated for change over the last 7 years have declined.

iii.In terms of habitat, birds of grasslands and other open habitats, wetlands, and woodlands are declining
rapidly.
iv.In terms of diet, compared to omnivores or fruit-and-nectar eaters, the carnivores, insectivores, and
granivores are declining more rapidly.
migratory species, particularly the species endemic to the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka region are declining more
rapidly than the non-migrant species.
v.Threats: Factors such as land-use change, urbanisation, ecosystem degradation, monocultures, disease,
infrastructure development, pet trade, hunting, pollution, and climate change are some of the major factors
affecting the birds in India.
Key Points:
i.According to the report, the past decades have witnessed around 150% increase in the abundance of peafowl
across India.
ii.178 species, including Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, Greater Flamingo,
Sarus Crane, Indian Courser and Andaman Serpent Eagle were classified as “high conservation priority” and
require immediate attention.
iii.14 species, including Indian Roller, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler and Common Sandpiper, have
declined by 30% or more and have been recommended for the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List reassessment.
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