Current Affairs 21 September 2023

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 21 September 2023, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2023 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates ‘Udaan Bhawan’ and ‘E-wallet’ Facility in DelhiOn 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.

iii.The new building, emphasising its alignment with the Prime Minister’s call for ‘Sankalp se siddhi.’
iv.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.

Central Govt launches Kisan Rin Portal, WINDS Manual and Door to Door KCC CampaignOn 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.

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
>> Read Full News

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.

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.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

World Bank & UNICEF Report: Every second extreme poor in the world is a childAccording 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
Headquarters – New York, United States of America(USA)
Established – 1943

BANKING & FINANCE

IREDA Signs MoU With BoM to Finance Renewable Energy ProjectsIndian 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
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1987
About Bank of Maharashtra(BoM):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – A S Rajeev
Headquarters- Pune,Maharashtra
Established in- 1935
Tagline – Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Launches New Mid-Cap Scheme Emerging Equity FundBharti 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
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in  – 2006

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.

About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
Headquarters – Mumbai
Tagline – The Banker to Every Indian
Establishment – 1955

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Approved Re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as MD & CEO of HDFC BankReserve 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
Established in – 1994
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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

‘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.

SPORTS

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:

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:

• Number of Laps – 62
• 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
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1904

OBITUARY

Renowned Flautist & Padma Shri Awardee ‘Sikkil’ Neela from Passes AwayRenowned 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.

IMPORTANT DAYS

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.
About EarthEcho International (EarthEcho):
Executive Director– Mia DeMezza
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., USA
Founded in– 2005
>> Read Full News

International Week of Deaf People 2023- September 18 to 24International 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!”.

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.
About World Federation of the Deaf (WFD):
President– Dr Joseph J. Murray
Headquarters– Helsinki, Finland
Founded on– 23 September 1951
WFD is an international non-governmental organization representing Deaf people worldwide. It is a federation of deaf organisations from 135 nations
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

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

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