Daily Current Affairs - September 2023

• India's Roshibina Devi Naorem won a silver medal in the women's 60 kg category in Wushu at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
• Naorem Roshibina Devi won a silver medal in the women's Wushu final (60 kg category), India's first silver medal in Wushu.
• PV Sindhu, ranked 17th globally, won the badminton match against Mongolia's Mygmartseren Ganbaatar with a score of 21-2, 21-3.
• In shooting, Arjun Singh Cheema is in 14th position with a score of 9.650, Sarabjot Singh is in 30th position with 9.500 and Shiv Narwal is in 37th position with 9.400.

• Uttar Pradesh has been honored with two awards for its excellent performance in the Centre's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-J) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• Uttar Pradesh has achieved the highest number of health accounts under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• The state has created over 4.7 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), surpassing Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with 4.19 crore and 4.10 crore accounts respectively.
• Additionally, more than 2.73 crore health records in Uttar Pradesh are linked to ABHA.

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has organized the ‘India Smart Cities Conclave 2023’ in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The conclave aims to showcase the excellent work done under the Smart Cities Mission and shape the future of urban transformation in India.
• The event brought together all 100 smart cities that are leading urban innovation and changing the city development process.
• President Draupadi Murmu honored the winners of the India Smart Cities Awards Competition (ISAC) 2022, which has been organized by the ministry since 2018.

• On 28 September 2023, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan launched 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD', a new online, life skills learning module to empower youth and promote gender equality through cricket.
• The objective of the program is to promote gender equality among children and youth.
• 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' was launched at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in collaboration with ICC, UNICEF and BCCI.
• The launch event was attended by various dignitaries and more than 1000 children.

• India has retained its 40th position among 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023.
• The ranking reflects India's continued progress in the GII, improving from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023.
• India's improved GII ranking can be attributed to factors such as its rich knowledge capital, vibrant startup ecosystem and notable contributions from both public and private research organizations.
• Various government departments including the Department of Science and Technology, Biotechnology, Space and Atomic Energy have played an important role in enhancing the national innovation ecosystem.
• Initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission have been helpful in expanding this ecosystem.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Mumbai-based “The Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited.
• The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full; and public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.
• On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) subject to the provisions of DICGC Act, 1961.
• As per the data submitted by the bank, 96.09 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

• On 28 September 2023, famous farmer and 'Father of India's Green Revolution' M.S. Swaminathan died at the age of 98.
• M. S. Swaminathan's agricultural journey began in 1949 when he began researching crop genetics, which included important crops like potato, wheat, rice, and jute.
• Swaminathan received several prestigious awards, including the first World Food Prize in 1987 for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India.
• He established the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai.
• He was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986.
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• Banmali Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
• He will replace Vijay Singh, who has retired.
• He also serves as a senior advisor to Tata Sons and holds the position of Chairman at Tata Electronics.
• This leadership change is part of the Tata Group's commitment to strengthen its presence in the aerospace and defense sector.

• Chhattisgarh state has received three national awards for its outstanding execution of the Ayushman Bharat scheme under the ‘big states’ category, achieving 100 percent utilization of allocated funds and ensuring 90 percent of families possess an Ayushman card.
• Chhattisgarh has introduced several innovative schemes to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services in the past five years and the initiatives gained national acclaim.
• One such initiative is the Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic Yojana, which extends free healthcare services to residents in remote forest areas of the state. This scheme has benefited over 1.4 crore people by providing free medicines, health check-ups, and treatment.

• The Indian Dressage Team made history by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, marking the first time in 41 years that India has achieved this feat.
• The team, consisting of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, and Anush Agarwalla, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the coveted gold medal, and achieved this victory with a stellar score of 209.205.
• This triumph comes after a 41-year-long wait for India, as the country had previously won gold in horse riding during its debut appearance at the Asian Games in 1982.

• Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won a bronze medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ongoing Asian Games 2023. This was India’s fourth medal in shooting.
• Tomar was also part of India’s Men’s team that won gold and broke the world record in the 10m Air Rifle team event.
• Tomar finished behind China’s Sheng Lihao and Hajun Park of South Korea. Sheng Lihao broke the world record with an effort of 253.3 points and won the gold medal, while Hajun Park won silver with 251.3 points.

• On September 26, 2023, legendary Indian tennis player and multiple Grand Slam champion Leander Paes received a historic nomination for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
• Leander Paes (India) - Leander Paes is the first male player from Asia to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Potentially the first Indian tennis player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• Leander Paes, 50, is one of the six players who have received nominations for the year 2024.
• There are a total of six tennis players who have been nominated. Apart from Leander Paes, five other contenders are vying for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

• Sift Kaur Samra won gold in the women's 50m rifle 3-P individual event, giving India its fifth gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
• The Indian team of Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan and Isha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol shooting event.
• Isha Singh earned a silver medal in the women's individual 25m pistol event by finishing second behind China's Rui Liu.
• Anant Jeet Singh Naruka won the silver medal in the men's skeet final with an impressive score of 58 out of 60 shots.

• Haryana government has announced that all hookah bars in the state will be shut.
• The ban includes serving hookah to customers in hotels, restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments across the state.
• However, this will not apply to traditional hookahs used in rural areas.
• He announced during a state-level ‘Cyclothon’, organized as part of a drug de-addiction campaign in Karnal.

• He stressed that India is committed to living behind a healthy and safe plant for the next generation.
• In the inauguration session of the summit, Ambassador of Kindom of Belgium Didier Vanderhasselt and Germany Ambassador Dr Philipp Ackermann along with senior dignitaries were also present.

• Marwar International Center was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Jodhpur.
• It aims to deliver on the government's commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of every region of the state and promoting intellectual exchange.
• As part of this effort, town halls are being constructed in many districts across Rajasthan.
• Notable establishments in Jaipur include the Rajasthan International Center and the Constitution Club.
• Inspired by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Social Sciences has also been established.

• On September 25, 2023, Dehradun Cantt Board in Uttarakhand launched the first three polythene waste banks in the country.
• These polythene waste banks are strategically placed, two of which are in Garhi and one in Premnagar.
• The inauguration of Garhi Kuda Bank was presided over by State Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal.
• The primary objective of these garbage banks is twofold: waste management and income generation.
• Various polythene waste items including bags, chips wrappers, packing bags, plastic cutters and bread wrappers will be collected.
• Contributors will be compensated at the rate of Rs 3 per kg for the polythene waste brought by them.
• The collected polythene waste will be processed to make decorative items like tiles, boards and utensils.

• World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on 27 September to raise global awareness about the important role of tourism in the world economy.
• According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the economic impact of tourism is equal to or even greater than that of industries such as oil exports.
• The theme of World Tourism Day in 2023 is "Tourism and Green Investment".
• To mark World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO is hosting a two-day conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• Former bureaucrat Amit Khare has been given extension as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension in Khare’s tenure beyond 12 October 2023, for a period co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister.
• He was appointed to the post for two years in October 2021. Khare, a 1985-batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on 30th September 2021.
• He also served as the higher education secretary.
• In another order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the extension in tenure of Rajesh S Gokhale as secretary, Department of Biotechnology, for a period of two years, with effect from 1st November 2023.

• Italian motorcycle racer Marco Bezzecchi, representing the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, took victory in the inaugural Indian MotoGP event held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on September 23, 2023.
• Marco Bezzecchi completed the race in an impressive time of 36 minutes, 59 seconds and 15 microseconds.
• Second place in the race was taken by Spain's Jorge Martin, representing Prime Pramac Racing, while third place was taken by France's Fabio Quartararo, representing Monster Energy Yamaha.
• The coveted winner's trophy was presented to Marco Bezzecchi by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

• On the third day of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, India won a historic gold medal in the Equestrian Dressage Team event, returning to the top position after 41 years by defeating China.
• The Indian team of Hriday Chheda, Anush Aggarwal, Divyakriti Singh, and Sudipti Hajela achieved this victory on September 26, 2023.
• India's performance on the third day resulted in a total of one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
• 17. year-old Neha Thakur won a silver medal in the girls' dinghy - ILCA4 event.
• Ibad Ali won the bronze medal in the Men's Windsurfer – RS:X event.
• India's first gold medal at the 19th Asian Games came from the men's 10m air rifle shooting team, comprising Divyansh Panwar, Rudranksh Patil and Aishwarya Pratap.

• On September 24, 2023, Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated its first Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center affiliated with Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center (TMC) Mumbai in the newly constructed block of Government Medical College (GMC) in Kathua.
• The establishment of the Tata Satellite Cancer Care facility in Kathua addresses the increasing incidence of cancer in the region, which is attributed to factors such as aging, lifestyle changes and environmental impacts.
• This healthcare facility in Kathua aims to serve not only Jammu and Kashmir but also the neighboring areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, which lack facilities like the Tata Memorial Center (TMC).

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declared Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as the 7th Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
• The primary objective is to ensure better conservation efforts for the wildlife of the area.
• There are now a total of 55 designated tiger reserves in India.
• Earlier the 54th Tiger Reserve was Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
• Madhya Pradesh was already home to six tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India organized the 'India Smart Cities Conclave 2023' in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on September 26, 2023.
• The event brought together all 100 smart cities that are leading urban innovation and changing the city development process.
• The conclave aims to showcase the excellent work done under the Smart Cities Mission and shape the future of urban transformation in India.
• President Draupadi Murmu on September 27, 2023, honored the winners of the India Smart Cities Awards Competition (ISAC) 2022, which has been organized by the ministry since 2018.

• On September 25, 2023, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus on the 'Kartavya Path' in Delhi.
• India's ambition is to become a global hub of hydrogen production and export.
• Environmental benefits of fuel cell buses: Zero harmful emissions and quick charging.
• The higher energy density of hydrogen than conventional fuels.
• Collaboration between Indian Oil and Tata Motors for indigenous fuel cell technology and infrastructure.

• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021 to actress Waheeda Rehman.
• The award will be presented during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.
• In a career spanning over five decades, Waheeda Rehman has been praised for her extraordinary performances in films like "Pyaasa," "Kaagaz Ke Phool," "Chaudhvi Ka Chand," "Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam," "Guide," and "Khamoshi." Earned.
• She received several awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award for "Guide" and "Neel Kamal" and the National Award for Best Actress for "Reshma Aur Shera".
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy participated in the 25th International Sea Power Symposium (ISS) in the United States of America.
• The event was organized by the US Navy and was held at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island from September 19 to 22, 2023.
• CNS R Hari Kumar participated in bilateral talks with naval counterparts from several countries including the United States, Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UK.

• Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Amit Khare was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a second service extension.
• The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order saying that the Cabinet Appointments Committee approved the extension of Amit Khare's service beyond October 12, 2023.
• Amit Khare, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, was initially appointed for a two-year tenure in October 2021.
• During his career, Amit Khare has held key positions at the central government level such as Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Education as well as in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar.
• Amit Khare, while serving as Education Secretary, played a key role in shaping India's National Education Policy 2020, bringing significant changes in the country's education system.

• The world's largest Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, USA.
• The temple will be the largest in the United States and the second largest globally after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey was built with the help of more than 12,500 volunteers from different parts of the US.
• Construction lasted for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.

• Sue Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class cricket match in England and Wales.
• Redfern, who played 21 times for England from 1995-99, has been appointed for the County Championship fixture between Glamorgan and Derbyshire.
• Two years ago, she was the first woman to officiate at a home England men’s match — as the fourth official for the T20 international against Sri Lanka.
• She was the first woman to umpire a T20 Blast game when Gloucestershire played Middlesex in Bristol this season.
• Redfern was the first woman to be awarded a full-time contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board last year.

• The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, with matches taking place in major cities like Dallas, Florida, and New York.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed as many as 10 venues in the West Indies and the USA between June 4 and 30.
• The West Indies will have 7 venues while the USA will have 3 for the showpiece T20 international tournament.
• The ICC confirmed Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent & The Grenadines as the seven Caribbean venues that will host matches during the T20 World Cup 2024 from 4 to 20 June.

• Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party member Pramila Malik became the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Assembly.
• The election of Pramila Malik as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly took place on September 22, 2023, and she was elected unopposed.
• The post became vacant due to the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha in May 2023.
• Pramila Malik has been a six-time MLA from the Binjharpur assembly seat in Jajpur district of Odisha. This seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste community.
• She initially became an MLA in 1990 as a member of the Janata Dal and later joined the BJD party led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
• Before his role as Speaker, he held the post of Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management in the BJD government.

• Archaeologists have discovered what is thought to be the world’s oldest known wooden structure near the border of Zambia and Tanzania.
• Found along a riverbank in Zambia, the simple structure consists of two interlocking logs of a large-fruited willow tree. One log lies on top of the other and is held in place by a notch in its underside.
• Marks on the wooden structure show that the logs were carved, chopped, and shaped with sharp stone tools. The structure predates modern humans and probably served as a walkway for human ancestors who lived along the Kalambo River nearly half a million years ago.

• Senco Gold & Diamonds has launched India’s “first virtual jewellery showroom” on the metaverse, christened ‘Sencoverse’.
• The initiative offers a new and immersive way for customers to shop for jewellery from the comfort of their homes, the company said.
• Metaverse is a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and with each other.
• The showroom provides 360-degree views of jewellery items in stunning 3D detail, along with interactive features for zooming in on details and learning more about the products.
• The virtual space features a collection of over 100 jewellery products.

• Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.
• These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.
• Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.
• Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off nine new Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, taking the total number of semi-high-speed trains to 34.
• The prime minister said the Vande Bharat Express trains being launched will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India.
• The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states — Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
• The new trains that were flagged off by Prime Minister Modi are Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express, Hyderabad –Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express, Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express, Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express, Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express, Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express.

• The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has included two frontier districts of Uttarakhand, Champawat, and Pithoragarh, in the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. 
• The objective of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme is to promote tourism activities and develop these areas from a tourism point of view, providing basic facilities to visitors.
• As part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Gunji, a place in Pithoragarh district, is set to take up development work in the tourism sector, with an allocated budget of Rs 75 crore.

• The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its approval to the indigenous short-range air-to-surface missile Dhruvastra.
• The Dhruvastra missile is designed to enhance India's combat capabilities against enemy tanks and armored vehicles and will be deployed on DHRUV MK-IV helicopters.
• DAC's approval of the Dhruvastra missile represents a significant enhancement to India's military capabilities.
• Developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), it is a valuable addition to India's military assets.

• Singapore has dethroned Hong Kong to become the world’s freest economy in 2023, according to a report released by Canadian think tank Fraser Institute.
• Singapore is now the world’s freest economy, displacing Hong Kong after 53 years.
• For the first time since the Economic Freedom of the World Index started in 1970, Hong Kong slipped to second place from the number one spot — and its score is about to drop even further.
• Switzerland, New Zealand, and the U.S. occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
• Other notable mentions include the United Kingdom coming in ninth, while Japan and Germany claimed 20th and 23rd place respectively.

• Young Indian wrestler Antim Panghal won a bronze medal in the women's 53 kg category at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Panghal's victory also secured a quota for India in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• In the bronze medal match, Panghal defeated two-time European champion Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren by a score of 16-6, India's first medal in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.
• This achievement added India's total medal tally at the World Championships to 23, which includes one gold, five silver, and 17 bronze medals.

• International Sign Language Day is designated by the United Nations General Assembly and is celebrated on 23 September each year.
• The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the important role of sign language in maintaining the human rights of deaf persons.
• It provides an opportunity to promote and preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Deaf community.
• The theme for 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
• This theme underlines the unifying power of sign languages and emphasizes their importance to Deaf communities, governments, and civil society organizations.

• A 32-year-old Indian banker has successfully scaled Mt Manaslu in Nepal, achieving the feat of being the first Indian climber to summit the world’s eighth-highest mountain peak in this season.
• Sunil Kumar, who hails from Haryana, reached the peak of Mt Manaslu which stands at 8,163 metres above sea level along with another Nepalese climber and two mountain guides.
• Kumar climbed the mountain situated on the northern side of central Nepal in Gorkha district.

• “Chacha Chaudhary aur Chunavi Dangal” comic book has been launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) & Pran Comics to inspire youth to enroll and participate in the festival of democracy.
• Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, Dhamaka Singh, Billoo & other comic characters will now create awareness amongst children about elections
• The characters brought to life by the renowned Cartoonist late Pran Kumar Sharma.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched an AI chatbot — the first of its kind to be integrated with a major flagship scheme of the central government — for the PM-KISAN scheme.
• The AI chatbot was launched by Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in presence of Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Additional Agriculture Secretary Pramod Meherda.
• The AI Chatbot introduced with the PM-KISAN scheme serves as a comprehensive guide for beneficiaries, offering timely and accurate responses to their inquiries related to the scheme.
• This marks the first instance of an AI Chatbot integration with a major flagship scheme of the Union Government. Developed and enhanced with the support of EK step Foundation and Bhashini, the Chatbot aims to empower farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.

• Parliament successfully passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which provides for the reservation of one-third of the total seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislatures, and the Delhi Assembly.
• The Women's Reservation Bill called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, got approval in the Rajya Sabha with an overwhelming majority on September 21, 2023, as 214 members voted in favor of it, while none opposed it.
• The Lok Sabha already passed the Women's Reservation Bill with overwhelming support as 454 MPs voted in favor, while only two MPs opposed it. Speaker Om Birla had formally announced the passage of the bill in the lower house.

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) in India achieved a remarkable 10-year WFME accreditation status.
• This recognition reflects NMC's strong commitment to maintaining high standards in medical education and accreditation.
• All 706 existing medical colleges in India will get WFME recognition.
• New medical colleges established within the next 10 years will automatically receive WFME recognition.
• It aims to enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning it with global best practices.

• In a significant leadership transition, the board of ICICI Lombard General Insurance has appointed Sanjeev Mantri as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of the company. 
• This move follows the resignation of Bhargav Dasgupta, the outgoing MD & CEO, who stepped down ahead of completing his 15-year tenure due to recent regulatory changes.
• Bhargav Dasgupta, who had served as the MD & CEO of ICICI Lombard for nearly 15 years, decided to step down from his role. 
• His resignation was prompted by the new regulations governing the tenure of CEOs, which now limit their term to a maximum of 15 years.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day International Lawyers Conference in New Delhi.
• The theme of the Conference is Emerging Challenges in the Justice Delivery System.
• This Conference is being organized for the first time by the Bar Council of India.
• The objective of the Conference is to act as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics of national and international importance.
• It also aims to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences and strengthen international cooperation and understanding of legal issues.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recognised Mithun, a semi-domesticated bovine animal as a food animal.
• Found in altitudes ranging between 300 to 3,000 meters, mithuns have traditionally been part of the culture of various tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

• The Madhya Pradesh Government recently announced the establishment of the "Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve”; marking the seventh tiger reserve in the state and the 54th in the country.
• Until now, MP was home to six tiger reserves – Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.
• MP retained the "tiger state" status in the 2022 census with the number of big cats in the state rising to 785 from 526 in 2018.
• The new tiger reserve, spread across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts.

• The World Day of the Deaf is observed on every last Sunday of September. This year, the World Day of the Deaf is observed on September 24, 2023.
• The day is dedicated to the deaf community worldwide.
• The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiated the World Day of the Deaf in 1958.
• The theme for the World Deaf Day 2023 is "Ear and Hearing Care for All".

• India’s First Lighthouse Festival opens in Goa; spotlight on 75 historical sites to be developed as major Tourist Destinations
• Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav aims to transform Historic Lighthouses into Tourist Hotspots with PPP route.
•  Shri Sarbananda SonowalUnion Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Indian lighthouse festival at the iconic Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa.

• Biswanath Ghat has been selected as the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism, from amongst 791 applications from 31 States and UTs.
• Biswanath Ghat, often referred to as "Gupta Kashi," is named after Biswanath mandir in the village.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.
• The project is expected to cost approximately Rs 450 crores and will be able to accommodate 30,000 spectators.
• The thematic architecture of this stadium draws inspiration from Lord Shiva.

• According to Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 75% of India's villages, approximately 4.4 lakh, have achieved the "ODF Plus" status.
• This means they have sustained their Open Defecation Free (ODF) status while implementing solid or liquid waste management systems.

• Axis Bank has recently launched NEO for Business, a mobile-first business banking platform catering to the needs of MSMEs.
• This path-breaking digital banking platform seamlessly integrates Axis Bank’s complete suite of transaction banking products and domain expertise around your business.
• MSMEs are the backbone of the Indian economy, accounting for more than 30% of Indian GDP.

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) inked an agreement with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost the country's fintech sector.
• The MoU aims for collaborations with SIDBI to develop standard protocols to expedite the adoption of digital lending partnerships including alliances between banks and Lending Service Providers (LSPs).

• ICICI Lombard General Insurance said its Managing Director and CEO Bhargav Dasgupta has resigned after serving the company for 14 years.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) appointed Bhargav Dasgupta as Vice-President (market solutions) for a period of three years.
• Having joined ICICI Lombard in May 2009 as Managing Director and CEO, Dasgupta served the general insurance company for over 14 years.
• Dasgupta replaces Ashok Lavasa, former Finance Secretary and Election Commissioner of India.

• FIH withdraws Olympic qualifiers hosting rights from Pakistan.
• IndiGo becomes official airline for Indian football team.
• Ferrari's Carlos Sainz wins 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
• Cricket star Deepak Chahar launches 'DNINE Sports.'
• Elavenil Valarivan wins gold medal at ISSF World Cup 2023.

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved 23 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode.
• Indian government approves defense acquisitions worth Rs 45,000 crore from domestic vendors.
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 'Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana' in the state.
• PM Modi to launch PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Vishwakarma Jayanti in New Delhi.
• Uttarakhand govt approved state’s first service sector policy.
• Patna Municipal Corporation starts a Cash for Waste scheme.
• Assam Governor unveils ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ mobile app.
• India's historic Santiniketan received World Heritage status by UNESCO.
• Cabinet approves signing of an MoU between India and Armenia.
• Gujarat passes bill reserving 27% local body seats for OBCs.
• Madhya Pradesh government unveils 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar.
• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.
• Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur railway station officially named 'Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station.'
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister announces 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana.'
• ICAR-CIBA launches Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme with Chief Guest Parshottam Rupala.
• Last diesel-run double-decker bus of Mumbai retires.
• The Prime Minister will inaugurate 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas in Uttar Pradesh.
• Union Minister launches 'Skills on Wheels' initiative.
• Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launches Grih Aadhaar Scheme and Chavath-e-Bazaar.
• Dr. RML Hospital opens India’s first dedicated OPD for Transgenders.
• President inaugurates first Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.

Fashion designer Rahul Mishra honored with France's "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" award.

Indian Coast Guard conducts coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag'.

Apurva Chandra unveils 'People's G20' eBook on India's G20 Presidency.

Writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passes away at the age of 80.

• Ireland seamer Arlene Kelly has won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for August 2023 for her excellent recent form.
• Kelly beat Netherlands youngster Iris Zwilling and Malaysia all-rounder Ainna Hamizah Hashim for the coveted monthly award, following impressive individual efforts with the ball during the month.
• The right-arm was at her brilliant best during Ireland’s three-match T20I series against the Netherlands as she collected 10 wickets at a miserly average of just 4.30 to help her side claim an emphatic 3-0 series sweep.
• This is the fourth-best bowling average in a bilateral series where a bowler has taken 10 or more wickets and was also just the second time in women’s T20Is that a bowler had taken 10 or more scalps in a bilateral series of three or fewer games.

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced SBI Life as one of the official partners for the BCCI Domestic and International Season 2023-2026.
• SBI Life has signed a 3-year deal with the BCCI and their partnership will begin with the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting September 22.
• The partnership is expected to enhance the cricketing experience for fans and players alike.

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently released 'Dil Jashan Bole', the official anthem for the upcoming Men's Cricket World Cup, which will begin on the 5th of next month.
• It features popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as well as many famous social media influencers.
• The ICC made the announcement via a tweet on its official social media accounts, inviting fans to experience the anthem on "Platform 2023" and join in the excitement of the One Day Express, marking the upcoming event as the biggest cricket event in the world. It was said that it was a celebration.
• The music of this anthem is composed by Pritam, and the vocals are performed by talented artists including Pritam, Nakash Aziz, Shriram Chandra, Amit Mishra, Jonita Gandhi, Akasa, and Charan.

• Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for August 2023 for his exceptional showing in ODIs against Afghanistan and Nepal.
• Babar won the honour for the 3rd time in his career as the World No. 1 batter continued to dominate the 50-over format of the game.
• Babar Azam was part of the 3-man shortlist for the award along with his teammate Shadab Khan and West Indies big-hitter Nicholas Pooran and he beat them both for the award.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for an upcoming international cricket stadium in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The spiritual city is set to become a cricketing powerhouse with a state-of-the-art stadium, equipped with cutting-edge facilities.
• An approximate sum of ₹350 crore will be spent on the construction of the stadium which will be built on a wide campus of about 31 acres and will have seven pitches. The venue is expected to accommodate 30,000 spectators at a time.
• The infrastructure of the facility will depict the city’s devotion to Lord Shiva. The entire stadium will have a crescent-shaped roof – that crowns the Indian God, and the floodlights designed like a trident.
• The entrance and the lounge will resemble Lord Shiva’s damru while the exterior of the arena will feature huge motifs of wood apple leaves in metallic frames.

• World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on September 21 every year to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.
• This day is dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and various forms of dementia. A key objective of this day is to eliminate the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
• Theme 2023 –Never too early, never too late
• Alzheimer’s disease, a neurological disorder, occurs when abnormal proteins called beta-amyloid build up in the brain cells, causing them to shrink and eventually die.
• World Alzheimer’s Day was established on September 21, 1994, in Edinburgh, to mark the tenth anniversary of Alzheimer’s disease International (ADI).
• ADI, formed in 1984, is an organization dedicated to helping and providing guidance to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

• World Rhino Day is celebrated every year on 22 September.
• It is a global initiative whose primary goal is to raise awareness of the significant challenges facing the rhinoceros species around the world.
• The day also serves as a platform to advocate for the protection and conservation of rhinos.
• World Rhino Day highlights the serious threats and hardships that rhinoceros species face in their natural habitats.

• Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme is a government initiative launched by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
• Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme aims to provide employment opportunities and financial assistance to the unemployed youth of the state.
• Its primary goal is to connect 2 lakh eligible individuals in two years, with a focus on assisting 1 lakh people in the financial year 2023-2024 and another 1 lakh people in the financial year 2024-2025.
• The eligibility standards and other restrictions will be made public on September 23, 2023, when the scheme officially launches.
• The scheme will have an online registration portal launched on September 23, 2023.

• Odia scientist Swati Nayak selected as the recipient of the Borlaug Field Award 2023.
• Swati Nayak is currently working as a Scientist and South Asia Head for Seed System and Product Management at the Philippines-based CGIAR-International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
• Swati Nayak received the award for her innovative approach to engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems, testing, deploying, and promoting access and adoption of climate-resilient and nutritious rice varieties.
• The award was presented to him by the prestigious selection jury of the World Food Prize, highlighting his significant contributions to global food production and combating hunger and malnutrition.

• Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum and Mohammed Al Sharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit signed the MoU to set up the Emerging Economies Programme.
• The event will bring together government officials, business leaders, economists, and experts.
• It will facilitate discussion on sustainable economic development, geo-economic perspective, and innovative solutions.
• The objective of this partnership is to promote thought leadership in the region.
• Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the Global South will be researched.
• The program will also improve field data for the benefit of future governments.

• The Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as HDFC Bank MD & CEO for a period of three years.
• The re-appointment is for a period of three years with effect from 27 October 2023 to 26 October 2026.
• Jagdishan joined the country’s largest private sector bank in 1996 as a manager in the finance department and became business head – finance in 1999 and was later appointed as chief financial officer in 2008.
• Prior to his appointment as the CEO, Jagdishan was the group head of HDFC Bank, in addition to overseeing the functions of finance, human resources, legal and secretarial, administration, infrastructure, corporate communications, and corporate social responsibility.

• Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• In the final round, Elavenil Valarivan displayed exceptional skill by scoring 252.2 points in 24 shots and defeating Osianne Muller of France by a narrow margin.
• A total of eight shooters among the competitors were successful in qualifying for the final competition.
• The win gave Elavenil Valarivan his second individual ISSF World Cup medal, demonstrating his consistent excellence in the sport.
• During the qualification round, Valarivan finished 9th with 630.5 points.
• The ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro is the last rifle and pistol event of the year, with the finals scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar from 18 to 27 November.
• India was well represented at the event, sending a contingent of 16 athletes to participate in the ISSF World Cup.

• Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the Griha Aadhaar scheme and Chavath-e-Bazaar to empower housewives in Goa by providing them with financial assistance.
•  The objective of the Griha Aadhaar scheme is to promote the financial independence and well-being of housewives, recognize their contribution and improve their socio-economic status.
• The Griha Aadhaar initiative led by the Directorate of Women and Child Development is an important step towards women's empowerment.
• Chavath-e-Bazaar provides a platform to local artisans and entrepreneurs to showcase their products to a wide audience.

• The International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed every year on 21 September.
• The IDP was established by the United Nations (UN) to emphasize the global commitment to peace, non-violence, and conflict resolution.
• The theme of the 2023 IDP is "Action for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals".
• This theme emphasizes both individual and collective responsibilities in promoting peace.
• To ensure the success of these goals, it calls for the participation of various actors, including the world's 1.2 billion youth.

• The Centre-run Dr RML Hospital has inaugurated India’s first dedicated OPD for the transgender community on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
• The initiative was started to alleviate the difficulties encountered by members of the transgender community in accessing healthcare services, largely due to discomfort and the fear of discrimination, and social apathy.
• This dedicated OPD service will be available to transgenders every Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm and there will be a separate registration counter for them.
• The hospital also organized a blood donation camp to mark Prime Minister Modi’s 73rd birthday.
• At India’s first dedicated OPD for transgenders, they will be provided with an endocrinology facility with hormone analysis and free hormonal treatment, a psychiatry facility with clinical-psychological assessment, and plastic surgery.
• Also, dermatology, urology, and paediatrics services and all related blood investigations will be made available at the OPD, he said, adding that it will have gender-neutral/transgender washroom facilities.

• Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla launched the 'Skills on Wheels' initiative with National Skill Development Corporation and IndusInd Bank.
• The 'Skills on Wheels' initiative aims to empower 60,000 rural youth with a focus on women over five years.
• Its primary objective is to provide digital skills to rural youth to make them job- and future-ready.
• This mobile unit, known as 'Skills on Wheels', will serve as a vehicle to take the 'Skill India Mission' to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.

• President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the first Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida on September 21, 2023.
• Prominent personalities including Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Industries Minister Nand Gopal Nandi attended the inauguration ceremony.
• The trade show will run from September 21 to 25 and will include over 2000 exhibitors from various sectors such as automobile, handicrafts, healthcare, food processing, pharmaceuticals, dairy, electronics and e-commerce.
• State government departments, institutions, and Mumbai Dabbawala Services will organize informative sessions on business activities.
• The event will showcase 108 new startups.
• It is expected to attract more than five lakh visitors, including international attendees.

• 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas in Uttar Pradesh will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.
• Built at a cost of over Rs 1,100 crore, these schools aim to provide quality education to laborers, children of construction workers, and orphans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Each school is spread over 10 to 15 acres and has classrooms, sports facilities, recreational areas, a mini auditorium, hostels, mess halls, and staff accommodation.
• The ultimate goal of each of these Awasiya Vidyalayas is to accommodate 1,000 students.

• ACKO, a leading insurance company, has introduced a new health insurance product known as “ACKO Platinum Health Plan”.
• “ACKO Platinum Health Plan” offers several notable features including:
• 100% Bill Payment: It guarantees payment of the entire medical bill, reducing the financial burden during a health crisis.
• No limit on room rent: There is no restriction on room rent, giving greater flexibility to policyholders.
• Zero waiting period: Policyholders get instant coverage without any waiting period.

• Coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag' was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard off the west coast.
• Operation Sajag aims to re-validate the coastal security mechanism and raise awareness among fishermen living at sea.
• During the drill, comprehensive checking and verification of documents and crew passes of all fishing boats, barges, and crafts at sea was carried out.
• A total of 118 ships took part in the drill. These included customs, maritime police, ports, and Indian Navy ships.
• As part of security measures, biometric card readers have been provided to security agencies.
• Various measures have been implemented to strengthen coastal security.

• The Nuakhai festival was celebrated on September 20, 2023.
• Nuakhai festival is traditionally celebrated on the next day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
• Nuakhai is celebrated throughout the state of Odisha.
• This festival holds special significance in western Odisha and neighboring areas like Simdega of Jharkhand.

• Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar forayed into the sports equipment industry with the launch of DNINE Sports.
• Deepak Chahar has invested ₹2.5 crore in DNINE Sports.
• DNINE Sports aims to revolutionize athletic gear, offering a wide range of products to suit the needs of athletes, including professional cricketers.
• DNINE Sports was established under the entity LCDC Athletics Pvt. Ltd.
• Deepak Chahar and his father Lokendra Singh Chahar are the co-founders of the company.

• Mumbai bids farewell to the last diesel-run double-decker bus of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)
• Mumbai’s iconic red double-decker buses have been an integral part of the city’s public transport system for more than 80 years.
• New battery-operated double-deckers have replaced the old red diesel-run buses in Mumbai.
• A total of 900 air-conditioned double-decker bus services will be provided to the people of Mumbai by the end of July 2024.
• The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937. The era of red diesel-run double-deckers, introduced on the city streets 86 years ago, thus came to an end. New, shiny red-and-black battery-operated (EV) double-deckers have already begun to ply since February this year.
• The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937, a decade after BEST launched its bus service in the growing city.

• Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) has awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to 'Atreyapuram Putharekula', a sweet made from rice and jaggery originating from Atreyapuram village in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Atreyapuram Putharekula' sweets GI registration comes under the 'Food Ingredients' category.
• The official GI certificate handover ceremony took place at Damodaram Sanjeevayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam.
• The event coincides with the National Workshop on “Geographical Indications and GI Certificate Handover Ceremony for Atreyapuram Putharekula”.

• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' during an event in Itanagar.
• The objective of 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' is to benefit the labor force within the state.
• Under this scheme, benefits for workers registered with the Arunachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board have been restructured.

• International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is celebrated across the world on the third Saturday of September each year.
• International Red Panda Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of red panda conservation and encourage people to take action to protect them.
• IRPD 2022 took place on September 17, 2022, while IRPD 2024 will be celebrated on September 21, 2024.
• Red pandas are found mainly in the mountainous forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.
• Red Panda Network (RPN) was founded in 2007 and was founded by Brian Williams.
• RPN is headquartered in Oregon, United States of America (USA).

• ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) organized the 2nd edition of Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 at Navsari Agricultural University campus in Navsari, Gujarat.
• This initiative has a budget of Rs 20,050 crore and aims to promote sustainable development in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
• Union Minister Rupala officially launched the Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme, which has been developed through collaboration between the Agricultural Insurance Company of India (AIC) and ICAR-CIBA. 
• This scheme provides insurance coverage for shrimp farming, thereby increasing the security of shrimp farmers.

• The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir formally renamed Udhampur railway station after local hero martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan.
• The naming ceremony took place at Udhampur railway station, in which Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh participated.
• This station is now officially known as "Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station".
• Parents of martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, local dignitaries, army officers, and BJP members were present at the event.
• Captain Tushar Mahajan, a native of Udhampur, served in 9 PARA, a Special Forces unit of the Indian Army. He sacrificed his life while protecting the country during the terrorist attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute building in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir in February 2016.

• The Women's Reservation Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 128th Amendment Bill, 2023 to achieve 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
• Arjun Ram Meghwal, while introducing the bill, said that if it is passed, the number of seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha will increase from 82 to 181.
• Additionally, the old Parliament House in the Lok Sabha was renamed the Samvidhan Sadan.

• IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency) and the Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) entered into a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the renewable energy sector.
• The primary goal is to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for various renewable energy projects across India.
• The initiative supports India's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy sources.
• The MoU was formally signed by Bharat Singh Rajput, General Manager of Technical Services), IREDA, and Rajesh Singh, General Manager (Retail and MSME Credit), Bank of Maharashtra, at IREDA's Business Center in New Delhi.

• Apurva Chandra, serving as Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, presented the eBook titled "People's G20" in New Delhi on September 18, 2023.
• The eBook launch event was attended by Manish Desai, Principal Director General, of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), and several senior officials of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and PIB.
• The "People's G20" eBook is a comprehensive resource highlighting India's G20 Presidency.

• Nihar Malviya named permanent CEO of Penguin Random House after nine-month interim tenure.
• Nihar Malviya replaces former CEO Marcus Dohle, who stepped down following a federal judge's decision to reject Penguin Random House's merger with Simon & Schuster.
• Malviya started his journey at Bertelsmann in 2001 and has held various roles in the company.
• Prior to his appointment as CEO, Malviya served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of Penguin Random House in the United States.

• Ferrari's Carlos Sainz ended Max Verstappen's 10-win streak and prevented Red Bull from remaining unbeaten at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
• Lando Norris of McLaren took second place in the race.
• Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton took third place on the podium.
• It was the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix in November last year that Red Bull failed to achieve a podium finish.
• The 2023 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix attracted 264,108 spectators over the race weekend, exceeding expectations. However, it fell short of last year's record attendance of 302,000 and the 2019 edition's figure of 268,000. The Singapore Grand Prix was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• On September 18, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a massive 108-feet-tall statue of eighth-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in Mandhata town (also known as Omkareshwar) in Khandwa district, about 80 km from Indore.
• This event has been named 'Ekatmata Ki Pratima' or 'Statue of Oneness'.
• This statue is located on Mandhata Mountain near the holy Omkareshwar temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
• The statue is a tribute to Adi Shankaracharya, an eminent philosopher who visited Omkareshwar at the age of 12 to attain enlightenment on Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

• On September 18, the temples of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka, India were officially added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, marking India's 42nd addition to the prestigious heritage list.
• This decision was taken during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Several countries, including Japan, Nigeria, Oman, Greece, Italy, Russia, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Qatar, Mali, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belgium, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, supported India's bid for UNESCO recognition. 
• These temples received UNESCO World Heritage status on September 18, a day after Shantiniketan in West Bengal received the same recognition on September 17.

• Indian Bank launched a new initiative called 'IB Saathi' (Sustainable Access and Aligned Technology for Holistic Inclusion) with an aim to strengthen its efforts towards financial inclusion.
• As part of this initiative, Indian Bank is committed to providing basic banking services for at least four hours every day through fixed outlets at all its centres.
• The move aims to ensure wider access to banking services.
• Apart from the fixed outlets, the Bank's Business Correspondent (BC) agents will also provide their services directly at the doorstep of customers.

• Famous writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passed away at the age of 80.
• Geeta Mehta wrote several acclaimed books, including"Karma Cola," "Snakes and Ladders," "A River Sutra," "Raj," and "Eternal Ganesha."
• His literary works have been translated into 21 languages and achieved bestseller status in Europe, America and India.
• Mehta made significant contributions to the world of television documentaries, producing and directing at least 14 documentaries for UK, European and American networks.
• His notable documentary, "Dateline Bangladesh" featured the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and was screened internationally, including in India.

• With a 150-year legacy of developing and applying next-generation technologies to meet the world’s growing energy needs, Exxon Mobil has signed actor Hrithik Roshan as the new brand ambassador for its lubrication brand Mobil.
• Mobil offers a range of expertly formulated industrial lubricants to cater to diverse market needs.
• Mobil products are engineered to help consumers get outstanding engine performance and protection for their cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

• India has been ranked first in grassroots crypto adoption, even amid a tough regulatory environment, according to Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index.
• The country ranked first in four parameters including centralized service value received, retail centralized service value received, DeFi value received and Retail DeFi value received. Last year India stood fourth.
• Nigeria ranked second in the index, followed by Vietnam, United States and Ukraine.
• 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.

• Leading credit card company Mastercard has appointed Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), as the Chairman of Mastercard India.
• Kumar brings nearly 4 decades of experience in India’s largest bank to his new role at Mastercard.
• Mastercard aims to expand its domestic footprint and forge strategic partnerships across the payments ecosystem.
• The US-based card company has faced a regulatory curb by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which barred Mastercard in 2021 from issuing debit and credit cards to new domestic customers over compliance issues regarding storage of payment system data. The ban was lifted in June 2022.

• Dhananjay Joshi was appointed as the Chairman of the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA).
• Dhananjay Joshi currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Summit Digital, a leading Indian telecommunications company.
• He succeeds Akhil Gupta, who has served as Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Chairman of DIPA since 2011.
• Sandeep Girotra, CEO of American Tower India, was appointed as the new Vice President of DIPA.

• Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Rahul Navin has taken over as director-in-charge of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He replaced outgoing director Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
• This leadership change is a significant development for the Enforcement Directorate, which plays a key role in enforcing economic laws and regulations in India.
• Rahul Navin currently holds the post of Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate.
• As per the official order, Rahul Navin, a distinguished IRS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as Director-in-charge.
• He will continue in this post until the appointment of a regular director or until further orders are issued.

• RK Swamy Hansa Group Executive Chairman Srinivasan K Swamy was elected as the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2023-2024.
• Srinivasan K Swamy is currently the Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations.
• He held leadership roles in various organizations including the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
• He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).
• HormuzdMasani held the position of Secretary General in the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

• IndiGo has become the global partner and official airline for the Indian football team.
• As the official airline for the Indian football team, IndiGo’s network is meticulously designed to cater to the diverse travel requirements of players, officials, and support staff.
• The partnership with the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) is for one year.

• Amazon’s cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to support space technology with its cloud products.
• This will help space startups and research institutes tap cloud technologies and develop talent. Also, it means startups can develop space-tech solutions and improve their research and development using AWS.
• Cloud computing-led innovations enable the space industry to make faster decisions and help startups identify use cases and accelerate solution development.
• AWS hopes to grow in the Indian market with space-tech associations as India opens up its space sector to private players creating a successful startup ecosystem.

• The Gujarat Assembly has passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Law (Amendment) Bill 2023 by a majority vote to raise reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) communities in local self-government bodies to 27 percent from the current 10 percent.
• The Bill provides for a 27 percent quota for over 160 communities listed under OBC in Gujarat, in municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayats, making Gujarat the fourth state in the country to provide for such reservation.
• The new law will lead to amendments in the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, governing the eight municipal corporations, besides the Gujarat Municipalities Act and the Gujarat Panchayat Act.
• Currently, the quota reserved for SC is 7 percent and for ST it is 14 percent in the local self-government bodies.
• The population of OBCs in the state is estimated to be 52 percent in rural areas and 46.43 percent in urban areas, with an average population of 49 percent in the entire state.

• S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP has been appointed as the new statutory auditor of Paytm for 5 years.
• Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP has completed its term as the statutory auditor of the company at the conclusion of the AGM.
• Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP on August 7 announced its resignation as auditor of Paytm Payments Services Limited with immediate effect.
• PwC had cited the change of auditors at the holding company level and Paytm’s practice to align the auditor of the holding company and subsidiaries to bring in synergies in the audit process.

• Santiniketan, located in West Bengal, India, has achieved the prestigious status of being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• This significant achievement was officially confirmed during the 45th World Heritage Committee meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking Santiniketan as the 41st World Heritage Property in India.
• Shantiniketan was founded as an ashram by Rabindranath Tagore in 1863.
• In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore converted it into a school and art centre, following the traditional Gurukul system of education.

• Cross-border payments’ fintech company BriskPe and Yes Bank have partnered to introduce BriskPe A2A, a suite of solutions designed to empower exporters and importers.
• This strategic partnership enables BriskPe’s customers to collect payments in over 36 foreign currencies, spanning over more than 180 countries.
• 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.
• This collaboration represents a significant leap in the realm of cross-border payments, benefiting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing and services sectors.

• Famous Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra was awarded the prestigious "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the Government of France. 
• This prestigious award was given to Rahul Mishra for his outstanding achievements in the field of art and design, especially his dedication to promoting Indian craftsmanship and expertise on a global scale.
• Additionally, the award serves as a tribute to his significant contribution to promoting cultural relations and cooperation between France and India.
• The presentation of the award took place on September 12, 2023, at the French residence in New Delhi with Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, conducting the ceremony.

• The Government has approved the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at the Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
• The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences and digital technologies-based solutions in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the country.
• It envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT. The MoU will remain in force for a period of three years.
• In another decision of the Cabinet Meeting, the Centre also approved the signing of similar MoUs with Antigua and Barbuda and Sierra Leone on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at the Population Scale for Digital Transformation.

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has withdrawn the hosting rights of the Olympic Qualifiers from Pakistan, slated to be held in January 2024.
• The FIH decision came as a result of the infighting between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and the state-owned Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
• The decision has come as a big blow to Pakistan hockey, which had got the rights to host an international event after more than a decade
• Pakistan failed to qualify for the last two editions.

• Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria unveiled ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’, a mobile application app of the Quality Council of India (QCI) in Raj Bhavan.
• QCI launched the Sarpanch Samvaad is an initiative aimed at connecting approximately 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs across India, which serves as a holistic platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration.
• Through this initiative, Sarpanchs can spotlight developmental activities in their villages, learn about best practices, and foster connections nationwide.
• The Sarpanch Samvaad initiative will also propel the villages of India to the forefront of its growth trajectory and realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making India, a developed nation by 2047.

• Working on the theme of waste to wealth, the Patna Municipal Corporation has started a Cash for Waste scheme for common people at the recently established Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• People are being paid for their dry waste under a prescribed price list for each item.
• The state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of processing 2 tonne of dry garbage and 1.5 tonne of wet waste per day. It has been named Pink MRF as it is run by women workers.
• The MRF has been set up by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) with the help of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, German institution GIZ, and other organizations.

• The Uttarakhand government has approved the formulation of a policy offering land and subsidies to investors to give a push to sectors such as healthcare, traditional medicine, education, films, and media in the state.
• The state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami approved the promulgation of Uttarakhand Service Sector Policy-2023 offering land and capital subsidy to investors.
• The promulgation of the policy will give a boost to the service sectors such as healthcare, wellness, traditional medicine, education, film, media, sports, and skill education facilities like never before and its economy (barring tourism) will grow by USD 27 billion by 2030.

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the 'Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana' to promote nutrition.
• The primary objective of the program is to meet the nutritional needs of mothers, adolescent girls, and children in Odisha.
• Specific provisions of the scheme include supplementary nutrition for adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years, additional dry food for pregnant women, and complete meals for severely malnourished children. Moderately malnourished children will get vitamin-rich Chhatua (roasted gram flour) and eggs.
• Odisha is the first state in India to make a dedicated nutrition budget for the financial year 2020-21.

• World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed annually on 16 September.
• The ozone layer is composed primarily of trioxygen molecules (O3) and acts as a protective shield against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.
• The theme of World Ozone Day 2023 is "Montreal Protocol: Recovering the ozone layer and mitigating climate change".
• This theme underlines the important role of the Montreal Protocol not only in protecting the ozone layer but also in addressing and mitigating climate change.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the "PM Vishwakarma" scheme at the India International Convention and Expo Center in Dwarka, New Delhi on September 17, 2023.
• “PM Vishwakarma” scheme aims to support traditional artisans and craftsmen.
• The Central Government will fully fund it with an allocation of Rs 13,000 crore.
• Artisans (Vishwakarma) can register free of cost through Common Service Centres.
• They will be given identity through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
• The scheme also includes a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 along with offering skill upgradation, and primary and advanced training.
• Artisans will get access to collateral-free credit assistance with concessional interest rates.
• Incentives will be provided for digital transactions and marketing assistance.
• Eighteen traditional crafts like carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, and tailoring will be covered.

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the creation of an additional 23 new Sainik Schools under the partnership mode.
• The Government of India approved the establishment of 100 new Sainik Schools starting from Class 6 in partnership with NGOs, private schools, and state governments.
• Sainik School Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with 19 new proposed Sainik Schools located across the country.
• Further evaluation of the applications has led to the approval of 23 additional new Sainik Schools under the partnership mode, taking the total number of such schools to 42, in addition to the existing 33 Sainik Schools operating under the previous model.

• Uber has partnered with the Indian Navy to become its exclusive mobility partner to offer transportation solutions for official travel and commute of naval officers, staff, and families across the country.
• This partnership will deliver reliable, convenient, and safe mobility solutions to the esteemed Indian Navy officers, staff, and their families.
• Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will seamlessly integrate Uber’s advanced ride-sharing technology via a seamless platform – Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem.
• The partnership will help streamline the travel experiences of the Naval workforce, making their travel smoother and the process more efficient. As part of this collaboration, Uber aims to drive effective change management for both official travel and commuting and also bring curated enterprise benefits for the Indian Navy.

• The Government of India gave a significant boost to the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative by approving defense acquisitions worth Rs 45 thousand crore from domestic vendors.
• The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Approval of Requirement (AoN) for nine capital acquisition proposals.
• These acquisitions will exclusively involve Indian vendors, which will significantly contribute to the growth of the Indian defense industry and align with the objective of achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

• Joshit Ranjan Sikidar has taken over as the Director (Finance) of the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
• Before this appointment, Sikidar was working as Group General Manager (Finance) and the Company Secretary of RITES Ltd.
• Sikidar is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Cost Accountant and holds an MBA in Finance.
• The SECI is a Miniratna company.
• Sikidar has also worked with RITES for more than four years, over 16 years in NSPCL — a joint venture of NTPC & SAIL– and more than nine years in SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant.

• Sindhu Gangadharan, currently Senior Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director at SAP Labs India, was named Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).
• As the first woman to lead SAP Labs India, which is SAP's largest R&D center globally, Gangadharan is responsible for overseeing product development and innovation across all five centers located in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
• Earlier this year, Gangadharan was appointed as the Chairman of the NASSCOM GCC Council for the period 2023-2025.
• She also holds positions on the boards of organizations such as Siemens India and Titan Company Limited.
• Gangadharan is a member of the steering committee of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, an industry association promoting bilateral trade and discussion between India and Germany.

• DBS Bank has unveiled its metaverse concept for DBS Better World, a gamified adventure for metaverse use cases.
• Through DBS Better World, we aim to drive awareness about issues such as food waste and create engagement opportunities.
• This intends to align with the DBS Foundation’s focus on championing social enterprises that bridge gaps within food and agricultural value chains.

• The Odisha government has approved nine industrial projects involving a cumulative investment of Rs 1,01,804 crore.
• The projects are expected to create employment for over 28,000 people.
• The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the investment projects during its meeting.
• These projects will be set up in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Paradeep, Bhadrak, Ganjam, and Koraput districts.
• The projects include a 5-integrated steel plant by JSW Stee, a pellet plant by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, a cement grinding unit by Shree Cement Ltd, and others.

• Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has represented India at the eighth Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
• The objective of the meeting is to maintain strong ties and foster strategic, trade, and logistical cooperation across various sectors.
• Sonowal expressed confidence that his visit will catalyze the efforts to develop an alternative trade route between Vladivostok and Chennai.
• The Eastern Maritime Corridor is aimed at reducing cargo transit times between the two nations.

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the International Conference on Dam Safety at Jaipur in Rajasthan.
• Professionals from across the nation and about fifteen countries are expected to participate in the conference.
• There are over six thousand dams in India and it is ranked third globally in terms of large dams. Approximately 80 percent of these dams are over 25 years of age.
• The conference aims to provide a major platform for experts to come together and debate cutting-edge topics in dam safety and management.
• Dams have been essential to civilization’s development, and have played a multifaceted role in meeting the increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and flood protection.

• Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) India has launched ‘ONDC in a Box’, a one-stop-shop proposition for corporates towards seamless enablement on ONDC.
• With this launch, HSBC India became the first foreign bank in India to offer an ONDC-enabled proposition.
• The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to build an open, interoperable network on which buyers and sellers can transact without needing to be present on the same platform.
• ONDC aims at fostering an inclusive, competitive, and open network, amplifying its impact across the business spectrum.

• Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Limited has received the 'Safety Innovation Award 2023' in the 'Construction' category.
• The award was given for the implementation of 'Innovative Safety Management System' in RITES operations.
• The award was presented by The Institution of Engineers (India) during the 20th Safety Conference at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi.
• RITES is a multi-sector company that consistently prioritizes safety at its workplaces.

• India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of energy.
• The MoU is expected to result in enhanced ties between India and Saudi Arabia in renewable energy, energy efficiency, hydrogen, electricity and grid interconnections, petroleum, natural gas, strategic petroleum reserves, and energy security.
• It also seeks to encourage bilateral investment in the fields of renewable energy, electricity, hydrogen and storage and oil & gas, as well as create an enabling environment for circular economy and technologies to reduce the effects of climate change through carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

• The United States and Vietnam have signed a deal on semiconductor supply chains to expand the capacity of the semiconductor ecosystem in Hanoi, in support of the US industry.
• The newly-signed Memorandum of Cooperation on Semiconductor Supply Chains, Workforce and Ecosystem Development will formalize this bilateral partnership to expand the capacity of the semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam, in support of US industry.
• The US and Vietnam also launched of comprehensive workforce development initiatives in Vietnam that jointly develop hands-on teaching labs and training courses for semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging.
• The US government will provide initial seed funding of 2 million US Dollars to launch the initiatives, in conjunction with future support from the Government of Vietnam and the private sector.

• Haryana government has appointed renowned film actress Mita Vashisth as the chairperson of the governing council tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy.
• This appointment follows the untimely demise of the beloved actor, director, and producer Satish Kaushik, who previously held the position. 
• Mita Vashisth’s extensive experience in the world of entertainment and her dedication to the craft make her a fitting choice for this prestigious role.

• Tata Steel Limited shareholders have approved the reappointment of TV Narendran as the global Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the next five years.
• Narendran got 99.47% of the total shareholders’ votes in his favor during the meeting to approve the decision to re-appoint him for the next five years.
• Narendran will also continue holding the positions of Chairman at Tata Steel Europe, the Supervisory Board of Tata Steel Nederland BV, Tata Steel Long Products Limited, and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited.

• Virat Kohli has become the fastest to complete 13000 ODI runs during the Asia Cup Super-4 contest against Pakistan.
• Kohli achieved the monumental feat when he completed his 47th ODI century — overall 77th — propelling.
• Kohli became the second Indian to achieve this after Sachin Tendulkar.
• Kohli became the fifth player to complete 13,000 ODI runs as he reached the milestone in 267 innings.
• While Tendulkar reached the 13000-run landmark in 321 innings.
• Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene are the others before him to reach the milestone. He became the quickest batter to reach this milestone, Ponting (341) and Sangakkara (363) took over 300 innings too while Jayasuriya reached the mark in 416 innings.

• Germany won their first-ever men’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 title by beating Serbia in Manila.
• The 19th edition of FIBA’s flagship event, co-hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.
• Germany became the first team to win a FIBA World Cup crown in their final debut since Spain in 2006.
• Serbia absorbed another heartbreak after losing to the United States 129-92 in the 2014 final in Madrid, Spain, though they finished better than their quarterfinal exit in 2019.
• Earlier, Canada bagged their first World Cup 2022 podium finish at the expense of the short-handed United States.

• Indian archer Prathamesh Jawkar won silver in the Archery World Cup Final 2023 in Hermosillo, Mexico.
• World No. 14 Jawkar was facing a major challenge against the 10th-ranked Mathias Fullerton of Denmark in the gold medal clash.
• Sara Lopez of Colombia won her eighth world title in the women’s compound event.
• Dafne Quintero of the host nation clinched the bronze medal by defeating Cho Su A of the Republic of Korea.

• Renowned ophthalmologist Brig Sanjay Kumar Mishra of Indian Army’s Research and Referral Hospital was conferred with the prestigious “Dr. AM Gokhale Award” in Pune.
• Dr. AM Gokhale was a renowned teacher of Ophthalmology and his students progressed to become the doyens of Ophthalmology in the country.
• Brig Mishra is one of the highest decorated officers of Indian Armed Forces Medical Services.
• Sanjay Kumar Mishra has performed surgeries on two serving Presidents of India.

• Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Vice Chancellor, Professor Najma Akhtar was presented ‘The Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia.
• The award was presented to her by Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar (Padma Vibhushan) at the Grand Conference and award function titled “Making India Employable” was organized by TeamLease EdTech.
• Akhtar was selected for the award by a jury panel comprising of educationists and industry experts. She has been awarded for her “great efforts to connect education to employment”.

• Indian Coast Guard participated in the 19th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Istanbul, Turkiye.
• A four-member ICG delegation led by DG Rakesh Pal, Director General of Indian Coast Guard took part in the annual event of the independent forum with 23 members of Coast Guard Agencies and 02 associate members in the form of ReCAAP and UNODC.
• During the three-day High-Level Meeting, in which heads of Coast Guards of all member nations participated, a series of vital issues including maritime law enforcement, safety and security of life at sea, marine environment protection, illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans at sea etc. were discussed, and avenues for further cooperation were explored through the framing of agenda.
• The last edition of the HACGAM was held in New Delhi in 2022.

• Mayor Craig Greenberg has declared September 3 as Sanatana Dharma Day in Louisville, Kentucky in the United States emphasizing the significance of fostering peace, tolerance, and understanding within diverse communities.
• Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg recently attended a re-consecration ceremony or ‘Mahakumbh Abhishekam’ at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky, where the official proclamation on September 3 was read by his deputy, Barbara Sexton Smith.
• Previously, July 20 was declared as ‘Encyclopedia of Hinduism’ day in Kentucky by former Louisville mayor Greg Fisher.

• The G20 leadership summit has declared it will work towards having in place a fully functional dispute settlement system at WTO by 2024.
• It has been almost four years since the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, which is the dispute-settlement arm of the WTO, became defunct, thus affecting developing countries adversely.
• There are two main ways to settle a dispute once a complaint has been filed in the WTO
• First – The countries find a mutually agreed solution, particularly during the phase of bilateral consultations
• Second -Through adjudication which includes ruling by a panel and if not satisfied, challenging that ruling at the appellate body.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of ICICI Bank.
• The RBI approval, received through an exchange filing on September 11, has extended the tenure of Sandeep Bakshi as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank from October 4, 2023, to October 3, 2026.
• Sandeep Bakshi has been leading ICICI Bank since October 15, 2018, and before that, he served as a full-time director and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Bakshi has a tenure of 36 years in ICICI Group and has held various important positions.

• Maharashtra clinched the title of champions in the 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 by securing a convincing victory over Karnataka, concluding with a final score of 31-10. 
• This championship, which took place at Balewadi in Pune from September 10 to September 11, 2023, was marked by intense competition and served as a testament to the impressive development of wheelchair rugby in India.
• The 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 was organized by The Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India), the governing body for rugby in India.

• England all-rounder Moeen Ali has completed 100 wickets in ODI cricket, becoming the only third spinner from the country to do so.
• Moeen reached this milestone during England’s second ODI against New Zealand at Southampton. During the match, the spinner bowled well, taking 2/30 in five overs at a decent economy rate of 6.00.
• He joined Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid as the only England spinners with more than 100 ODI wickets.

• The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) has taken decisive action against two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep, handing her a four-year ban from professional tennis due to violations of the sport’s anti-doping program. 
• This move follows Halep’s positive test for Roxadustat at the US Open last year, which led to her provisional suspension.
• With her four-year ban, Simona Halep is ineligible to compete in professional tennis until October 2026, assuming the ruling remains unchallenged. However, there is still a glimmer of hope for Halep. 
• She has the option to appeal the decision and plans to take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

• The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, India’s oldest national inter-school football competition, is set to make history in its 62nd edition. 
• Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has been added to the list of host cities for this prestigious event. 
• Previously held in Delhi and Gurugram, the tournament is scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 23, 2023, across three venues.
• The 62nd Subroto Cup will see participation from 109 teams hailing from 27 states and Union Territories in India. Adding an international flavor to the event, teams from Bangladesh and Nepal will also take part.

• Tamil Nadu government will provide monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to more than 1 crore female family heads through Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam.
• Chief Minister MK Stalin officially announced the scheme, with the launch date set for September 15.
• The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 per month to 1.06 crore eligible women who are heads of families.
• Beneficiaries will receive financial assistance through direct bank transfers and will be provided with ATM cards for easy access.
• The government emphasizes on effective implementation and will use SMS notifications to communicate with beneficiaries.
• Out of 1.63 crore applications received, 1.06 crore have been accepted, highlighting the substantial impact of the scheme.

• President Draupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Ayushman Bhava campaign on September 13, 2023, for universal healthcare access.
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced the initiative at a media briefing in New Delhi.
• The Ayushman Bhava campaign aims to provide comprehensive health services by ensuring coverage for every village and town across India.
• Its objective is to ensure that no person is deprived of access to health services.
• The campaign is a collaborative effort led by Gram Panchayats in coordination with the Health Department, other government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas.

• Renowned political cartoonist Ajit Ninan passed away at the age of 68.
• Ajit Ninan was widely recognized for his contributions, including the famous "CentreStage" series in India Today magazine and "Ninan's World" in The Times of India.
• In addition to his political cartoons, Ninan was known for his work in children's literature.
• One of his favorite creations of the 1980s was Detective Moochwala and his dog Pooch, which appeared in the youth magazine Target.
• Ajit Ninan's political cartoons are known for their bold and humorous stances on various subjects, including satire on both the ruling government and the opposition.
• He also used his artistic talents to address environmental issues and create memorable caricatures.

• The Ministry of Culture has launched a portal for the mega exhibition—‘Bharat: The Mother of Democracy’—to be held at Bharat Mandapam for global leaders attending the conference.
• The content on the history of democracy in India showcasing 7,000 years of democratic ethos starting from the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization to 2019 is available in 16 languages including German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, and Russian besides English and Hindi.
• The portal is divided into five sections and 22 sub-sections starting from Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation (6000-2000BCE), Mahajanapada and Gantantra (7-8 BCE), Vijaynagar Empire (14-16 century), and Mughal emperor Akbar reign (1556-1605) to Constitution of India (1947) and Elections in Modern India (1952 onwards). Each section has a brief with images.

• Switzerland has once again claimed the title of the world’s best country, according to the latest S. News & World Report’s annual Best Countries rankings.
• This marks Switzerland’s second consecutive year at the pinnacle and its sixth time overall as the No. 1 nation on the list.
• Switzerland is followed by Canada at No. 2, Sweden at No. 3, Australia at No. 4, and the United States at No. 5. The United States has slipped one spot compared to its 2022 ranking.
• In the 2023 rankings, European countries dominate the top tier, securing 16 of the top 25 spots.

• On September 12, 2023, in Ahmedabad, Union Minister Harsh Shanghvi provided citizenship to 108 migrants from Pakistan.
• The right to grant Indian citizenship to minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan came through gazette notifications issued in 2016 and 2018.
• The district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Kutch in Gujarat are empowered to follow the process under the Citizenship Act for granting Indian citizenship.
• Ahmedabad District Collectorate has already granted Indian citizenship to about 1,149 Pakistani Hindu immigrants.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of ICICI Bank.
• The RBI approval, received through an exchange filing on September 11, has extended the tenure of Sandeep Bakshi as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank from October 4, 2023, to October 3, 2026.
• Sandeep Bakshi has been leading ICICI Bank since October 15, 2018, and before that, he served as a full-time director and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Bakshi has a tenure of 36 years in ICICI Group and has held various important positions.
• ICICI Bank Limited is an Indian multinational bank and financial services company.

• Young Indian shuttler Kiran George won the Indonesia Masters Super 100 men’s singles title defeating Japan’s Koo Takahashi in two straight sets.
• Ranked No. 50, the Indian shuttler defeated Takahashi, ranked 82, with a scoreline of 21-19, 22-20. Earlier, Kiran also won the Odisha Open in 2022 for his maiden Super 100 title.
• In the semifinals, Kiran upset Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, establishing himself as a big-stage performer on the BWF World Tour.
• Earlier this year, Kiran defeated Chinese star Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang at the Thailand Open.

• Indian compound archer Prathamesh Jawkar won a silver medal in his first appearance at the 2023 Archery World Cup Final in Hermosillo, Mexico.
• Jawkar defeated world number one Mike Schloesser for the second time in four months.
• In the final, Javkar faced Denmark's Mathias Fullerton, resulting in a 148–148 tie. Fullerton won the gold medal by the slimmest of margins.
• Another Indian archer Abhishek Verma lost to Mike Schloesser in the match (150-149).

• Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of any person killed in a mob lynching incident.
• There will be a provision of compensation of Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 lakh for the injured.
• This will also include all those incidents of mob lynching that occur due to religion, caste, language or any other reason. Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved.
• Besides the MP Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023, the cabinet also approved a housing scheme for homeless families and doubled the honorarium being given to guest faculty.

• On September 10, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 'Bangus Adventure Festival' in North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
• The 'Bangus Adventure Festival' aims to promote tribal culture and act as a platform for local artisans to display their traditional arts and crafts.
• Bangus is famous for its captivating natural beauty and has immense potential for eco-tourism.
• The main valley is known as Boud-Bangus, while a smaller valley is known as Lakut-Bangus.

• Dennis Austin, one of the co-creators of Microsoft PowerPoint, has died at the age of 76.
• Dennis Austin, along with Robert Gaskins, developed PowerPoint and introduced it in 1987.
• Austin and Gaskins were both part of the software company Forethought, which was later acquired by Microsoft for $14 million shortly after the launch of PowerPoint, which was originally named Presenter.
• Initially, PowerPoint was available exclusively for the Macintosh platform.
• Dennis R. Austin was the lead software developer of PowerPoint from 1985 to 1996, focusing on versions for Apple Macintosh computers.

• Vanuatu Parliament elects Sato Kilman as Prime Minister amid political change.
• The decision came after a court upheld a no-confidence motion against Kilman's predecessor.
• Former Prime Minister and People's Progressive Party leader Sato Kilman took the position with 27 votes in favor.
• In the secret ballot, his rival Kalsakau got 23 votes.
• Kilman, 65, held the post of deputy prime minister in Kalasakau's government before he was ousted in May.

• Paleontologists led by Eric Gorscak of Midwestern University recently discovered Igai Semkhu, a new genus and titanosaurian dinosaur species in Egypt.
• This dinosaur species, Igai Semkhu, lived during the Campanian era of the Late Cretaceous era, about 75 million years ago.
• Igai Semkhu belongs to the titanosaurian group, a diverse category of herbivorous dinosaurs that are known for their large body size, extended neck, and wide stance.
• The titanosaurian group includes a wide range of species, from the largest terrestrial vertebrates ever known, to 'dwarf' species no larger than elephants.
• Igai Semkhu is one of the most informative dinosaurs yet recovered from the latest Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia.

• Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai launches the Mashaal for the 37th National Games.
• The launch took place at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Donapaula, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
• The 'Mashal' will travel through Goa and other states for four days, especially in rural areas to encourage enthusiasm and participation.

• Novak Djokovic achieved a historic feat in tennis by winning his 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
• Serbian tennis star Djokovic defeated Russia's Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the men's singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• With this win, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam tennis titles in history, with 24 titles to her name.
• Djokovic's achievement also marked him as the oldest singles champion in the pro era of the US Open, adding to his status as the oldest French Open singles champion.
• In the women's doubles event, the 16th-seeded pair of Erin Routliff of New Zealand and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the title.

• World Cup runner-up R Praggnanandhaa finished third at the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Open Blitz tournament, as world champion Alexander Grischuk clinched the title.
• World Champion Alexander Grischuk clinched the Open Blitz title of Tata Steel Chess India 2023 in Kolkata on 9 September 2023.
• Praggnanandha initially led the competition by remaining unbeaten in four games.
• He suffered significant defeats against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (13th round), Alexander Grishuk (15th round), and Vidit Gujrathi (16th round).

• World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September.
• Suicide is a significant public health concern with wide-ranging social, emotional, and economic impacts.
• The triennial theme of World Suicide Prevention Day, running from 2021 to 2023, is "Creating Hope through Action".
• The theme serves as a compelling call to action and emphasizes that alternatives to suicide exist.
• World Suicide Prevention Day was founded in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

• The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is building the world's highest combat airfield at Nyoma in Ladakh.
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will lay the foundation stone of this project at Devak Bridge in Jammu on September 12, 2023.
• Nyoma, a major village in southern Ladakh, already hosts an Indian Air Force base and an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), established in 1962.
• The altitude of Nyoma reaches an impressive 4,180 meters (13,710 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest altitudes in the region.

• The country's top annual science award, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, was announced after a gap of two years. This year, 12 scientists were selected for the award in seven different scientific categories.
• Director General of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Dr. N. Kalaiselvi officially announced the awards for the year 2022.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award are awarded in seven scientific disciplines, including physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences. They are named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR.

• The second phase of the 21st edition of the India-France bilateral naval exercise 'Varuna' concluded successfully in the Arabian Sea.
• Exercise 'Varuna' involved the participation of guided missile frigates, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, and integral helicopters from both the Indian and French navies.
• This phase of the exercise lasted for three days and included joint operations, underway replenishment, and various tactical maneuvers.
• The primary objectives were to enhance and refine war-fighting skills, improve interoperability, and demonstrate the ability to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.

• Radhika Iyengar wrote the book "Fire on the Ganges: Life among the Dead in Banaras", published by Harper Collins.
• The book highlights the city of Banaras, also known as Varanasi, in India, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between death and the afterlife.
• "Fire on the Ganges" represents the first attempt to document the daily experiences of Doms in Banaras.
• It provides an insight into the historical background of Banaras by taking a look at some of the resilient individuals of the Dom community.

• In a significant milestone under India's G20 presidency, the African Union on Saturday, September 9, 2023 became a new permanent member of the grouping of the largest economies of the world. 
• It is the first expansion of the influential bloc since its inception in 1999. 
• All member countries of the G20 accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to bring the key bloc of the Global South to the high table of the world's top economies.
• The African Union is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent.

• The Jharkhand cabinet led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren approved the inclusion of the transgender community in the state's universal pension scheme.
• Transgender persons will now be eligible to receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 1000 under the 'Chief Minister's State Social Security Pension Scheme'.
• Eligibility for this scheme is determined on the basis of age, persons of 18 years and above who have voter ID cards are eligible.
• The objective of this decision is to ensure that transgender persons can avail the benefits of reservation in government job opportunities.
• Notably, transgender persons who do not fall under any of the existing caste-based reservation categories will be classified as OBCs at position number 46 in the OBC list.

• The Maharashtra state government has decided to establish a mango board in the Konkan region to support large-scale Hapus cultivation.
• The board will provide support in areas such as insurance, production enhancement, pest control, and research.
• Mango farmers have been demanding the establishment of a board for almost a decade.
• Almost a decade after demands were first made by mango growers in Konkan, the state government has decided to establish a mango board in the region to support large-scale Hapus cultivation, especially in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

• Koraput district of Odisha has successfully achieved the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) status for its famous rice variety 'Koraput Kalajeera Rice', often called the 'Prince of Rice'.
• This aromatic rice variety has been cultivated by tribal farmers of Koraput district for generations and is prized for its nutritional value.
• Koraput Kalajeera rice is distinguished by its black colour, exceptional aroma, pleasing taste and pleasing texture. Its appearance is often compared to coriander seeds.
• Apart from its culinary appeal, this rice is associated with various health benefits, including memory enhancement, diabetes control, increasing hemoglobin levels, and improved metabolism, as suggested in ancient texts.
• This fragrant rice is known for its medicinal properties, which include antispasmodic, carminative, carminative, antibacterial, astringent, and sedative.

• Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, also known as SagoServe, recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Salem Sago.
• District Collector S Karmegam presented the GI certificate to Sagoserv Administrator Lalithaditya Neelam at an official program.
• Salem district of Tamil Nadu has previously received the GI tag for raw silk and Malgoa mango, thereby contributing to the recognition of the region.
• Other notable products from different regions, such as Tirupati Laddu and Palani Panchamirtham have also received the GI tag.
• This recognition of Salem sago with a GI tag is expected to boost business opportunities for sago farmers and traders in the region.

• The West Bengal assembly has passed a resolution to observe Bengali New Year’s Day, also known as Polia Baisakh, as the state’s foundation day on April 15.
• This comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that the day will be observed regardless of the approval of the state’s governor.
• The resolution – under Rule 169 proposing to observe Poila Baisakh as ‘Bangla Diwas’ and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Banglar Mat, Banglar Jol’ (Bengal’s soil, Bengal’s Water) as the state song – was passed with 167 members voting in favour of it in a House of 294 members.
• On the other hand, 62 BJP MLAs – who want to observe the state’s foundation day on June 20 – voted against the resolution. Notably, on June 20, 1947, MLAs from West Bengal voted for partition, which was celebrated as Bengal Day.
• People of Bengal don’t support June 20, which is synonymous with violence and bloodshed which marked partition as the state foundation day.

• World Physiotherapy Day is celebrated every year on 8 September.
• The theme of World Physiotherapy Day 2023 is "Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis".
• This theme emphasizes the role of physiotherapists in preventing and managing osteoarthritis and highlights two types of inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.
• World Physical Therapy Day was established in 1996 by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
• 8 September was specifically chosen to celebrate this day because of its historical significance. On this day in 1951, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy was born.
• The name of the organization changed and is now called World Physiotherapy.

• At the ASEAN-India summit, the prime minister announced the decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.
• PM Modi announced the decision while co-chairing the annual ASEAN-India summit in this Indonesian capital.
• The decision is a reflection of the importance India attaches to ASEAN and its relations with Timor Leste.
• Timor Leste joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022 as an Observer, before becoming its full member.

• Global Fintech Awards (GFA) 2023 is held annually as part of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, India.
• This year, the coveted global award for ‘Leading Fintech Personality of the Year’ from the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) region was awarded to Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Financial Holdings.
• A visionary entrepreneur in the financial services world, Adeeb has been instrumental in revolutionizing cross-border payments between the GCC and India.
• His company operates a network of 300+ customer engagement centres and digital payment solutions in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia Pacific and GCC regions.