1.      I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) Sherpas met on the side-lines of UN General Assembly in New York on 20^th September 2022. India was represented by Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs. The group expressed its commitment to deepening the economic partnership among the four countries. They took stock of the projects identified under I2U2: (i) setting up of food parks in India and (ii) hybrid renewable energy/battery storage project in Dwarka, Gujarat. The group agreed to continue to work closely in line with the outcome of the Leaders’ Summit in July 2022. I2U2 is a new grouping made up of Israel, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Known as the I2U2, the countries’ foreign ministers formed the bloc in 2021 to deepen technological and private sector collaboration in the region and tackle transnational challenges in six focus areas: water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The Group announced food security initiative and a hybrid renewable generation facility for India. The first leaders’ summit of the I2U2, took place in Jerusalem, Israel on July 14, 2022. Each of I2U2’s leaders stressed the group’s desire to mobilize private sector capital and technologies to solve practical, shared challenges. Trade and transit infrastructure, clean energy, waste treatment and critical and emerging technologies were all identified as priorities. Largely missing, however, was any overarching, principled vision of what unites these four states in partnership. The omission is noteworthy in part because the I2U2 often draws comparisons with the Indo-Pacific’s “Quad,” whose members — Japan, the United States, Australia, and India — often stress the unifying force of their democratic practices.

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2.      The Moon is the closest heavenly body to Earth, and so it sometimes passes in front of others, as seen from our perspective. When it passes in front of the Sun, we call it a solar eclipse, but when some other object is briefly blocked, it is known as an occultation. This year is a big one for occulting planet Uranus. The planet Uranus vanished completely for three hours during the lunar occultation that occurred on 14^th September 2022.

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3.      For the first time ever, a wild arctic wolf was successfully cloned by a China-based gene firm. The firm, Sinogene Biotechnology, released a video of Maya, the world’s first cloned wild arctic wolf, 100 days after her birth in a Beijing lab. Maya, the first ever cloned wild arctic wolf, is 100 days old and is now in good health. Maya’s donor cell came from the skin sample of a wild female arctic wolf. Its oocyte was from a female dog and its surrogate mother was a beagle.

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4.      India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong, a marine animal that has been enlisted vulnerable to extinction on a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The reserve will spread over an area of 500 km in Palk Bay on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a maximum water depth of 13 meters. Located between India and Sri Lanka along the Tamil Nadu coast, the dugong is a flagship species in the region. Dugong or the sea cow is the state animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This endangered marine species survives on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation found in the area. It is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine and is the only extant species in the family Dugongidae. Dugongs are usually about three-meter long and weigh about 400 kg. Dugongs have an expanded head and trunk-like upper lip. Elephants are considered to.be their closest relatives. However, unlike dolphins and other cetaceans, sea cows have two nostrils and no dorsal fin. Distributed in shallow tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific region, in India, they are found in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

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5.      After flying 10 months in space, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) – the world’s first planetary defence technology demonstration – successfully impacted its asteroid target on 27^th September 2022, the agency’s first attempt to move an asteroid in space. Mission control at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, announced the successful impact. As a part of NASA’s overall planetary defence strategy, DART’s impact with the asteroid Dimorphos demonstrates a viable mitigation technique for protecting the planet from an Earth-bound asteroid or comet, if one were discovered. “At its core, DART represents an unprecedented success for planetary defence, but it is also a mission of unity with a real benefit for all humanity,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “As NASA studies the cosmos and our home planet, we’re also working to protect that home, and this international collaboration turned science fiction into science fact, demonstrating one way to protect Earth.” DART targeted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, a small body just 530 feet (160 meters) in diameter. It orbits a larger, 2,560-foot (780-meter) asteroid called Didymos. Neither asteroid poses a threat to Earth. The mission’s one-way trip confirmed NASA can successfully navigate a spacecraft to intentionally collide with an asteroid to deflect it, a technique known as kinetic impact.

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6.      On 22^nd September 2022, the Foreign Ministers of G4 countries – Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan - met on the margins of the opening of the 77^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, to exchange views on reform of the UN Security Council. Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India, participated in the meeting, representing India. The G4 Ministers assessed that today’s conflicts around the globe as well as increasingly complex and interconnected global challenges have brought to the forefront the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies. The G4 Ministers reiterated that expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership is essential to make the body more representative, legitimate, and effective. The G4 (Group 4) is formed to influence the expansion of the UNSC. The group is aspiring to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In the meeting, the group reiterated their commitment for early reforms of the UNSC and their bids to become permanent members of the UNSC. The United Nations Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. The Council is composed of 15 Members (five permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States – and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly).

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7.      The International Equal Pay Day, to be commemorated on 18^th September annually, was established in 2019 by the UN General Assembly, which voiced deep concern over the slow progress in women’s economic empowerment, the undervaluing of work traditionally held by women, and the difficulties in tackling pay inequality. The General Assembly urged action to reach the goal of equal pay for work of equal value for all and encouraged all stakeholders to continue to support the goal of equal pay for work of equal value. Globally, despite decades of activism, and dozens of laws on equal pay, women still earn less than 80 cents for every dollar men do. For women with children, women of colour, women refugees and migrants, and women with disabilities, that figure is even lower. According to UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, in spite of significant progress in women’s education and higher female labour market participation rates in many countries, closing the gender pay gap has been too slow. At the current pace, it could take 257 years to achieve economic gender parity. Women workers’ average pay is generally lower than men’s in all countries, across all sectors, for all levels of education, and age groups. While gender pay gap estimates can vary substantially across regions and even within countries, higher income countries tend to have lower levels of wage inequality compared to low and middle-income countries.

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8.      The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But around the world, there are governments and those wielding power who find many ways to obstruct it. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” The International Day of Democracy is celebrated around the world on 15^th September each year. It was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.

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9.      World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27^th September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. World Tourism Day was designated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in September 1979, with the commemoration to commence in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27^th September 1970. Positive transformation for both people and planet was the central message of World Tourism Day 2022. Held around the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism’, the Global Day of Observation emphasized the sector’s unique potential to drive recovery and deliver positive change for people everywhere. Hosted by the Republic of Indonesia, in the popular destination of Bali, the official celebrations brought together leaders from across the public and private sector, including the largest and most diverse number of Ministers of Tourism in the history of World Tourism Day. They were joined by tourism stakeholders around the world celebrating in their own countries, united around the timely theme of rethinking and transforming the sector. Opening the celebrations, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed the unique opportunity presented to tourism to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. He said: “The restart of tourism everywhere brings hope. It is the ultimate cross-cutting and people-to-people sector. It touches on almost everything we do – and everything we care about. Tourism’s potential is now recognized more widely than ever. It’s up to us to deliver on this potential.”

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10.    World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events: (i) October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration, and (ii) October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. World Space Week is coordinated by the United Nations with the support of the World Space Week Association (WSWA). The WSWA leads a global team of National Coordinators, who promote the celebration of World Space Week within their own countries.

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11.    Bathukamma Festival is an annual celebration in Telangana that goes on for nine days and overlaps with the festival of Navratri. The festival is celebrated with colourful exotic flowers of the region and symbolises the collective spirit of the people of Telangana. This year Bathukamma celebrations are taking place from the 25th of September till the 3^rd of October. This festival is to pray to the Goddess for the health and achievements of each family. Young women of the Hindu household get to pray to the Goddess for a life partner of their choice. Bathukamma means “The Mother Goddess comes to life”. It represents the culture and identity of the people of Telangana and involves the worship of Maha Gauri - “Life Giver” in the form of Gauri Devi (patron goddess of womanhood). The festival involves young women arranging flowers in stacks and making rangoli to start the celebrations. The men also help celebrate this festival, by aiding in the preparations like by collecting different flowers such as marigold, lotus, senna. Some of the women dip a few flowers in vibrant colours and then arrange them in a wide plate and stack them in a pile. The rituals of this festival are performed by the Hindu women, especially young girls, who gather around in large numbers in their local areas during the evening time. Forming a circle, they then perform the ritual which involves them singing a folk song and revolving around the Bathukamma, all the while clapping their hands and walking in synchronised steps. This entire performance is to invoke the blessings of the goddess for good health and prosperity for their families.

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12.    The Ninth Session of the Governing Body (GB9) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) was held during 19-24 September 2022 in New Delhi. The six-day GB9 session of ITPGRFA was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi on September 19, 2022. More than 400 eminent scientists and resource persons from 150 member-countries participated in the deliberation during the 9^th session of GB. Dr Sunil Archak, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, India, was appointed as Co-Chair, along with Dr Michael Ryan, Department of Agriculture, Canberra, Australia, on the Working Group on ‘Enhancement of the Multilateral System (MLS)’. A fully functional user-friendly and simple MLS is crucial for the success of the ITPGFRA. Elements of enhancement would include measures for increased benefit sharing mechanism, expansion of crops and accessions available through the MLS, while also taking into cognisance changes in scientific, technical and policy environment globally. During the GB9 meeting a resolution on implementation of Farmers Rights under Article 9 was finally agreed upon ensuring equilibrium and justice. The Co-chairs acknowledged the contributions of the experts, stakeholders and delegates of the GB9 to arrive at the resolution which was difficult, but achieved, nonetheless. The GB called upon the Contracting Parties to update the inventory of national measures, best practices and lessons learnt for national implementation of Farmers’ Rights under the Treaty, as per the national legislation. The International Treaty is the major international agreement between member countries to conserve, use and manage plant genetic resources for food and agriculture around the world for the benefit of people everywhere. The Treaty ensures that farmers and plant breeders access, easily, the raw genetic material needed to develop new crop varieties, including those with higher yields and those that are resilient to climate change. As of 01^st September 2022, the International Treaty has 149 Contracting Parties (members), including the European Union. The newest member is the Dominican Republic.

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13.    Make in India, the flagship program of the Government of India that aspires to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure, completes 8 years of path-breaking reforms on 25^th September 2022. Launched in 2014, ‘Make in India’ is transforming the country into a leading global manufacturing and investment destination. The initiative is an open invitation to potential investors and partners across the globe to participate in the growth story of ‘New India’. Make In India has substantial accomplishments across 27 sectors. These include strategic sectors of manufacturing and services as well. To strengthen Make in India initiative, several other measures have been taken by the Government of India. The reform measures include amendments to laws, liberalization of guidelines and regulations, in order to reduce unnecessary compliance burden, bring down cost and enhance the ease of doing business in India. Burdensome compliances to rules and regulations have been reduced through simplification, rationalisation, decriminalisation, and digitisation, making it easier to do business in India. Additionally, Labour reforms have brought flexibility in hiring and retrenchment. Quality control orders have been introduced to ensure quality in local manufacturing. Steps to promote manufacturing and investments also include reduction in corporate taxes, public procurement orders and phased manufacturing programmes. To attract foreign investments, the Government of India has put in place a liberal and transparent policy wherein most sectors are open to FDI under the automatic route. FDI inflows in India stood at US $ 45.15 billion in 2014-2015 and have since consecutively reached record FDI inflows for eight years. The year 2021-22 recorded the highest ever FDI at $83.6 billion. This FDI has come from 101 countries, and invested across 31 UTs and States and 57 sectors in the country. On the back of economic reforms and Ease of Doing Business in recent years, India is on track to attract US$ 100 Bn FDI in the current FY.

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14.    A two-day National Conference of Ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 23-24 September 2022. The conference was inaugurated virtually by the Prime Minister. During a parallel session on Control and Prevention of Pollution, the States were informed regarding guidelines on ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ released under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is going to launch Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan that promotes ranking of 131 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for reducing air pollution up to 40% by 2025-26. 131 cities are categorized into three groups based on population. 47 cities are in the first group having population more than 10 lakh. 44 cities are in the second group having population between 3 to 10 lakhs. Third group consists of 40 cities having population less than 3 lakh. Cities are required to do self-assessment as per the framework provided on PRANA online portal. This assessment is carried out annually. Cities have to report implementation of activities and measures taken in respect of solid waste management, road dust management, management of construction and demolition waste, control of vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.

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15.    On September 21-23, 2022, in Pittsburgh, the U.S. hosted the first ever Global Clean Energy Action Forum, a joint convening of the 13^th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 7^th Mission Innovation Ministerial — along with partners in the private sector, academia, innovators, civil society, youth, and communities everywhere. The three-day event featured a high-level plenary, topical roundtables with energy and science ministers from 31 countries, CEOs and experts, side events, technology demonstrations, and other activities. India’s Science and Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh who led India’s high-level Joint Ministerial Delegation to the Forum said that decarbonizing of cities and buildings should be the highest priority for the public and private sectors and it needs to be done at scale, pace, and by using an integrated and digitalized approach to bring systemic efficiency. Addressing the Forum, the minister said that sustainable biofuels play a key role to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector. Minister India is among the few countries in the world to design a Cooling Action Plan (CAP) with a long-term vision (spanning a 20-year period from 2017-18 to 2037-38) that addresses cooling requirements across sectors. India being one of the founding members of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) will be hosting CEM-14 in 2023 in Bengaluru along with its Presidency of G-20 in the same year. He said, in fact, this will mean hosting the CEM meeting during the first year in the new third phase (July 2022 to June 2026) to push major acceleration in clean energy deployment, consistent with achieving the clean energy goals of its members and putting the world on track to achieve clean, affordable, reliable energy for all.

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17.    Apex edible oil industry associations from five major palm oil importing countries from Asia including India have joined hands to form an alliance known as ‘Asian Palm Oil Association’. These major importing countries include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. “The APOA is established with the commitment of working worldwide to increase awareness that palm is a high-quality, economical, and healthy vegetable oil and to change the negative image of palm oil”, a statement by India’s edible oil industry body The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India.

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18.    UCO Bank, Kolkata-based public sector bank is the first bank in the country to receive RBI’s approval to engage in trade settlements in Indian Rupees. RBI has decided, in July, to allow Indian banks to settle trade in Indian currency. Accordingly, UCO Bank has opened a special vostro account with Gazprom bank of Russia for trade settlement in Indian rupees. This initiative will facilitate India to import gas from Gazprom, one of the largest gas exporters in the world. This enterprise is based in Russian Federation. “They have come out with a circular regarding the special vostro account. It will work in cases where the balance of trade is even with the country. It is a good mechanism, which has been introduced by the RBI where a certain amount of trade can take place in rupee,” MD & CEO of UCO Bank, Soma Sankara Prasad had said. “In order to promote growth of global trade with emphasis on exports from India and to support the increasing interest of global trading community in INR, it has been decided to put in place an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment, and settlement of exports / imports in INR. Before putting in place this mechanism, AD banks shall require prior approval from the Foreign Exchange Department of the Reserve Bank of India, Central Office at Mumbai. Indian importers undertaking imports through this mechanism shall make payment in INR which shall be credited into the Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country, against the invoices for the supply of goods or services from the overseas seller /supplier”, RBI said in its circular permitting Special Vostro Accounts.

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19.    According to the Reserve Bank of India’s ‘Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy’ released on 15^th September 2022, the state of Sikkim has recorded the highest per capita Net State Domestic Product at current prices in 2021-22 among all the States/UTs at ₹4,72,543, followed by Delhi at ₹4,01,982. “GDP measures the monetary value of final goods and services—that is, those that are bought by the final user—produced in a country in a given period of time (say a quarter or a year). It counts all of the output generated within the borders of a country. GDP is composed of goods and services produced for sale in the market and also includes some nonmarket production, such as defense or education services provided by the government”, IMF.

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20.    ‘Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy’ released by the Reserve Bank of India on 15 September 2022 shows that Household sector is the major contributor to Domestic Savings (At Current Prices) 2020-21 (₹ Crore). The details are as follows: 1. Total Household sector savings 4390584, 1.1. Gross financial saving 3108997, 1.2 Less financial liabilities 805289, 1.3 Saving in physical assets 2048432, 1.4 Saving in the form of gold and silver ornaments 38444.

Gross Savings: 5592446

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21.    As per the data contained in ‘Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy’ released on 15 September 2022, the Area under cultivation – Foodgrains and major commercial crops (Lakh hectares) - in Year 2021-22 is as follows:

Rice – 464, Wheat – 305, Coarse cereals – 227, Pulses -         310

Oilseeds – 291.7, Sugarcane – 51.5, Cotton(lint) – 119.10

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22.    According to the information furnished in RBI’s ‘Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy’ released on 15^th September 2022, the details of ‘Sectoral Deployment of Non-Food Gross Bank Credit 2021-22 are as follows: (₹ Lakh crore)

1.      Agriculture and Allied Activities: 14.61

2.      Industry (Micro and Small, Medium and Large): 31.52

3.      Services: 30.17

4.      Personal Loans: 33.85

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23.    REC, a public sector enterprise has been accorded the status of a ‘Maharatna’. This status gives REC greater operational and financial autonomy. An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance. Incorporated in 1969, REC is an NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India. The grant of ‘Maharatna’ status to REC will impart enhanced powers to the company’s Board while taking financial decisions. The Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad, subject to a ceiling of 15% of the net worth of the concerned CPSE, limited to ₹5,000 crores in one project. The Board can also structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and Human Resource Management and Training. With this, REC can also enter into technology joint ventures or other strategic alliances among others. Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan, CMD, REC said that REC achieved this feat owing to its adaptability, resilience, and consistent performance even during the global covid-19 pandemic. In FY22, REC made its highest ever net profit of ₹10,046 crores and reached a net worth of ₹50,986 crores, owing to its cost-effective resource management and strong financial policies. REC has played a key role in the success of the flagship schemes of the Government of India such as DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA and has contributed towards achieving village and household electrification in the country. REC is currently playing the role of nodal agency for Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), for revamping the distribution sector to alleviate the financial & operational issues.

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24.    India’s Presidency of the prestigious Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) has been extended for one more year. This was unanimously decided by the AIBD member countries at the two-day General Conference of the Institute. Currently, Sh. Mayank Kumar Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati and Director General, Doordarshan is the President of AIBD. The conference was inaugurated by Sh. Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports. The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, is a unique regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development. The AIBD is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development. The AIBD currently has 26 countries as full members represented by 43 organizations, and 52 affiliate members. The 47^th AIBD Annual Gathering / 20^th AIBD General Conference and Associated Meetings held in New Delhi on 19-20 September 2022 witnessed a range of discussions, presentations and idea exchange sessions especially focusing on the topic of “Building a Stronger Future of Broadcasting in post pandemic era”. A five-year plan for co-operative activities and exchange programmes was also finalised. All the participating countries and member broadcasters pledged to work together for a sustainable broadcasting environment, latest technology know-how, finest content creation, and various co-operative activities.

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25.    Central Asian country Kazakhstan has changed the name of its capital from Nur-sultan back to Astana. The capital was renamed from Astana to Nur-sultan in 2019 in honour of outgoing president Nursultan Nazarbayev. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the change. The Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the five central Asian countries and bounded by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Aral Sea, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. It is largest land-locked country in the world. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan proclaimed Independence in December 1991. Currency: Tenge.

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26.    MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Meta, on 13 September 2022 announced the launch of an accelerator programme to support and accelerate XR technology startups across India. This collaboration is part of the Government’s efforts for skilling in emerging and future technologies. India is uniquely placed to play a pivotal role in the metaverse with a large talent pool of creators, developers and a vibrant technology ecosystem. The world looks to it to supply technology, innovation, and talent to cater to the greater demand for digital products. The MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of MeitY, is a national platform focused on promoting technology innovation, start-ups, and the creation of intellectual properties. Today, it has around 3000+ tech startups supported, with a vision to ramp it up to more than ten thousand startups, in the next three to five years. This initiative, XR Startup Program focuses on skilling and building technological capabilities for the metaverse, and will help shape the ecosystem for these emerging technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the country. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said, “It is an important day in terms of achieving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s vision of making the next 10 years as India’s Techade - full of opportunities for young Indians. It is also an important milestone in the area of Metaverse which is an important part of emerging future of the internet. I look forward to the collaboration with Meta and I hope it provides the necessary impetus towards fuelling the growth of investments in future technologies in line with the government vision for making India a trillion-dollar economy by 2025.” Sharing his views on the collaboration, Mr. Joel Kaplan, Vice President, Global Policy, Meta, said, “India will play a pivotal role in defining future technologies. Decisions and investments made here in India now shape global discussions on how technology can deliver more economic opportunity and better outcomes for people. It is critical that we help to create an ecosystem that will enable India's tech startups and innovators to build the foundations of the metaverse.”

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27.    NITI Aayog held a day-long forum on 14^th September 2022 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Shoonya, India’s zero pollution e-mobility campaign. Shoonya is a consumer awareness campaign to reduce air pollution by promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) for ride-hailing and deliveries. The campaign has 130 industry partners, including ride-hailing, delivery and EV companies. Underscoring the important role of green mobility in achieving India’s decarbonization goals, NITI Aayog CEO Param Iyer said, “The Shoonya campaign has the potential to galvanize participation from all sectors towards the goal of green mobility.” This forum provided opportunities for partners to share knowledge and learnings and initiate collaborative engagements. During the focused discussions, corporates shared their challenges in scaling EVs and solicited feedback on driving impact through the campaign. On 15 September 2022, NITI Aayog, with RMI and RMI India's support, launched Shoonya-an initiative to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry. The campaign aims to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about the benefits of zero-pollution delivery. Rapid global urbanization and e-commerce sales are driving significant growth in urban freight and mobility demand. In India, these sectors are expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% through 2030. If this demand is met by internal combustion vehicles (ICE), it would significantly increase local air pollution, carbon emissions, and lead to adverse public health effects. EVs offer an opportunity to address these challenges. Compared to ICE vehicles, EVs do not emit PM or NOx emissions at the tailpipe; they release 60% less CO2 and have 75% lower operating costs. Shoonya supplements existing national and sub-national EV policies as well as corporate efforts in India by creating consumer awareness and demand for zero pollution rides and deliveries in Indian cities.

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29.    The 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had participated in the Summit. The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023. The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member Countries. It also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with Member States of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics. The Summit was held under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired the Meeting. The SCO hosted the leaders of Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and SCO observer states Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia. Dialogue partners like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey, alongside a few candidates for dialogue partner status, also attended. The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, was the personal guest of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan. SCO is the world’s largest regional organisation, which covers 40 per cent of the world’s population and more than 30 per cent of global GDP. India joined SCO in 2017 at SCO Summit 2017 Astana. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15^th June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Since its inception in 2001, the SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, its fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism. To date, the SCO’s priorities also include regional development. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan.

Choice (4)

 

30.    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022 organised at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, on 12^th September 2022. “India produced 146 million tonnes of milk in 2014. It has now increased production to 210 million tonnes. That is an increase of about 44 per cent”, the Prime Minister informed. He also mentioned that as compared to the 2 per cent production growth at the global level, India is clocking milk production growth rate at more than 6 per cent. The IDF World Dairy Summit (September 12 - September 15) organised by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) provided a forum for industry experts to share knowledge and ideas on how the sector can contribute to nourishing the world with safe and sustainable dairying. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal who participated in the Summit asked International Dairy Federation (IDF) to direct focused efforts towards finding relevant, contemporary, practical and cost-effective solutions to make small dairy farms in developing nations more productive, sustainable, eco-friendly, quality oriented and profitable. Addressing the World Dairy Summit 2022 (WDS 2022) the Minister also urged IDF to explore the possibility of stationing a small team of experts in India to carry out research at the farm level, study India’s varied climatic conditions and come up with solutions that will help us align ourselves with global standards and global emission norms. ‘I can assure you that India wants to be a part of the solution and not the problem’, he said.

Choice (2)

 

32.    The 26^th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held on 15^th September 2022 in Mumbai was chaired by the Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The Council, inter alia, deliberated on the Early Warning Indicators for the economy and our preparedness to deal with them, improving the efficiency of the existing Financial/Credit Information Systems, issues of governance and management in Systemically Important Financial Institutions including Financial Market Infrastructures, strengthening cyber security framework in financial sector, common KYC for all financial services and related matters, update on Account Aggregator and next steps, issues relating to financing of power sector, strategic role of GIFT IFSC in New Aatmanirbhar Bharat, inter-regulatory Issues of GIFT-IFSC, and the need for utilisation of the services of Registered Valuers by all government departments. It was noted that there is a need to monitor financial sector risks, financial conditions and market developments on a continuous basis by the government and regulators so that appropriate and timely action can be taken to mitigate any vulnerability and strengthen financial stability. The Council also took note of the preparation with respect to financial sector issues to be taken up during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. The meeting was attended by Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, MoS (Finance); Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, MoS (Finance); Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India; Dr. T. V. Somanathan, Finance Secretary and Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance; Shri Ajay Seth, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance; Shri Tarun Bajaj, Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance; Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance; Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance; Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson, Securities and Exchange Board of India; Shri Debasish Panda, Chairperson, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India; Shri Supratim Bandyopadhyay, Chairperson, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; Shri Ravi Mittal, Chairperson, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, Shri Injeti Srinivas, Chairperson, International Financial Services Centres Authority, and the Secretary of the FSDC, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

Choice (5)

 

33.    The currency of Hong Kong is Hong Kong dollar. The currency Yuan is legal tender in China.

Choice (3)

 

34.    A three-day international conference ANGAN 2022 (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat), second edition, titled “Making the Zero-Carbon Transition in Buildings” began on 14^th September 2022. Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Power inaugurated the conference. ANGAN 2.0, is being organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) under the Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP). The objective of this conference is to promote a healthy ecosystem which was mentioned at COP 26 in Glasgow by Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi on LiFE (Lifestyle and Environment) and Panchamrit, aiming to make India Net Zero by 2070. This conference also hosts an exhibition of various low carbon products, technologies, and innovations applicable to the building sector. The conference witnessed deliberation on critical issues like “Unlocking Finance for Low-Carbon Buildings” and “Thermal Comfort and Climate Resilience in Residential buildings”. The Conference had special sessions on “Women in the Resource Efficiency Conversation”. Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) is a collaborative project between the Government of India and the Government of Switzerland. Over this period, BEEP has provided technical support to BEE in the formulation of Eco-Niwas Samhita (energy conservation building code for residential buildings), design of around 50 buildings and trained more than 5000 building sector professionals.

Choice (5)

 

35.    The 22^nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had participated in the Summit. The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023. The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member Countries. It also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with Member States of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics. The Summit was held under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired the Meeting. The SCO hosted the leaders of Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and SCO observer states Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia. Dialogue partners like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey, alongside a few candidates for dialogue partner status, also attended. The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, was the personal guest of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan. SCO is the world’s largest regional organisation, which covers 40 per cent of the world’s population and more than 30 per cent of global GDP. India joined SCO in 2017 at SCO Summit 2017 Astana. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15^th June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Since its inception in 2001, the SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, its fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism. To date, the SCO’s priorities also include regional development. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan.

Choice (3)

 

36.    Smt. Anupriya Patel, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry along with H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Kingdom of Cambodia co-chaired the 19^th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting held on 16^th September 2022 in Siem Reap City, Cambodia. The Economic Ministers or their representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the meeting. The Ministers noted that trade and economic relations between ASEAN and India are starting to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the two-way trade between ASEAN and India reached USD 91.5 billion in 2021 increasing by 39.2 per cent year-on-year. The Ministers also took note of the recommendations made by ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC) to enhance the ASEAN India economic partnership and the activities undertaken by AIBC in 2022. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and work towards a sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery. The Ministers welcomed ASEAN and India to forge collective actions in securing a robust supply chain connectivity to maintain the flow of essential goods and services through the launching of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), upgrade Negotiations, mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination, vaccines production, public health surveillance, and medical technologies in moving forward with the post-pandemic recovery responses and facing future health crises. In a significant development, the ministers endorsed the scope of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple, and trade facilitative for businesses, as well as responsive to the current global and regional challenges including supply chain disruptions. The Ministers also activated the AITIGA Joint Committee to undertake the review of AITIGA expeditiously. Smt. Anupriya Patel reiterated India’s commitment to supporting a strong, unified, and prosperous ASEAN and also to equitable and sustainable trade which balances the aspirations of both the partners. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8^th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). The intergovernmental organisation was established with the purpose of accelerating the economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and promoting regional peace and stability among member countries and other countries. Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.

Choice (1)

 

37.    The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has exhorted the banking sector to play a lead role in realising the dream of a developed India by 2047, addressing the 75^th Annual General Meeting of Indian Banks' Association in Mumbai on September 16th, 2022. The Minister said that banks are the biggest catalysts to growth. “Professionalise your decision-making boards, there is no way banks can any longer run with a crony background, our government has ensured that there are no instructions given or interference made in the functioning of the banks. We need to take professionalism at a faster pace. We are conscious of the need to let the banks be, and let them be run by professionals, with a purely banking perspective in mind.” During the function, the Union Minister felicitated the winners of PSB Reforms EASE Agenda 4.0. Bank of Baroda received the first prize among PSBs for the best overall performance on PSB Reforms EASE Agenda 4.0. State Bank of India and Canara Bank were ranked second and third respectively and were also felicitated by the finance minister. Indian Bank emerged as the ‘Top Improver’ across all PSBs. During the ceremony, the Minister unveiled the annual report for EASE 4.0, marking the conclusion of the fourth edition of EASE, which was focused on ‘technology-enabled simplified and collaborative banking.’ EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) is a common reform agenda for Public Sector Banks aimed at institutionalizing clean and smart banking. Its first edition, EASE 1.0 was launched in January 2018.

Choice (2)

 

38.    The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India observes ‘Patient Safety Day’ on 17^th September every year. This year, the theme of the Patient Safety Day is ‘Medication without Harm’. At the national level, in a function held on 16^th September 2022, Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary released a self-assessment tool, ‘SaQushal- Patient Safety Self-Assessment Tool’ under the existing National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and administered the Patient Safety Pledge. The tools have been developed by the QPS Division, NHSRC in collaboration with the subject matter experts. The tools would enable the health facilities for self-assessment in matrix of safety and help them to reduce errors. World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety. The Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policymakers to show their commitment to patient safety. The resolution WHA 72.6 ‘Global action on patient safety’ recognizes patient safety as a global health priority and endorses the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be observed annually on 17^th September.

Choice (1)

 

39.    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today released wild cheetahs - which had become extinct from India - in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Cheetahs - brought from Namibia - are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. Out of the eight cheetahs, there are five female and three male cheetahs. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952. The introduction of the cheetah in India is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation, benefiting society at large. This effort, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation, will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities. The historic reintroduction of cheetahs in India is part of a long series of measures for ensuring sustainability and environment protection in the last eight years which has resulted in significant achievements in the area of environment protection and sustainability. The coverage of protected areas, which was 4.90% of the country's geographical area in 2014, has now increased to 5.03%. This includes an increase in protected areas in the country from 740 with an area of 1,61,081.62 sq.kms. in 2014, to the present 981 with an area of 1,71,921 sq.kms. Forest and tree cover has increased by 16,000 square kms in the last four years. India is among the few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing.

Choice (2)

 

40.    Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is organising the National Conference of State Tourism Ministers from 18^th to 20^th September 2022 in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh under the Chairmanship of Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, to discuss issues related to the development of tourism in the country. The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Ministers will be attended by Central Ministers, Tourism Ministers from States and Union Territories, Governors, Administrators and Seniors Officials of the Central Government, State Governments, and Heads of the Tourism and Hospitality Associations. The Conference shall focus on the various policies and programmes of the Ministry of Tourism including the development of Tourism Infrastructure, Cultural, Spiritual and Heritage tourism, Tourism in the Himalayan states, Responsible and sustainable tourism, Role of digital technology for the marketing and promotion of tourism destinations, emerging importance of home stays in the Indian hospitality sector, Ayurveda, Wellness, Medical Value travel and promotion of domestic tourism. Other issues such as Wildlife Tourism, Responsible Tourism, tourism related aspects of G-20 will also be discussed along with the review on the implementation of various projects implemented by the Ministry of Tourism.

Choice (2)

 

41.    The 2022 World Wrestling Championships took place in Belgrade, Serbia between 10-18^th September 2022. With 15 medals, the United States occupies the top position in the medal table, followed by Japan, Turkey, Serbia, and Iran. India with two medals along with Canada and Romania occupied the 24^th position in the Medal Table. Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia won bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships.

Choice (4)

 

42.    In a significant milestone, India has achieved a landmark achievement in further reduction of child mortality rates. As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020, released on 22nd September 2022 by the Registrar General of India (RGI), the country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in IMR, U5MR and NMR since 2014 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030. Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) for the country has shown a significant decline of 3 points (Annual Decline Rate: 8.6%) from 2019 (32 per 1000 live births in 2020 against 35 per 1000 live births in 2019). It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has also registered a 2-point decline to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 from 30 per 1000 live births in 2019 (Annual Decline Rate:6.7%). The Rural-Urban difference has narrowed to 12 points (Urban 19, Rural-31). Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has also declined by 2 points from 22 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 20 per 1000 live births in 2020 (Annual Decline Rate:9.1%). It ranges from 12 in urban areas to 23 in rural areas. Six (6) States/ UT have already attained SDG target of NMR (<=12 by 2030): Kerala (4), Delhi (9), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), Jammu & Kashmir (12) and Punjab (12). Eleven (11) States/UT have already attained SDGs target of U5MR (<=25 by 2030):Kerala (8), Tamil Nadu (13), Delhi (14), Maharashtra (18), J&K (17), Karnataka (21), Punjab (22), West Bengal (22), Telangana (23), Gujarat (24), and Himachal Pradesh (24).     

Choice (1)

 

43.    The 20th Meeting of Prosecutors General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States was held on 23^rd September, 2022 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Indian delegation attended the meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan under the leadership of Shri Tushar Mehta, the Learned Solicitor General of India, Department of Legal Affairs. A Protocol incorporating the deliberations of the 20th meeting of Prosecutors General of the SCO member states was signed and adopted by the SCO member states. Addressing the eminent gathering of Prosecutors General from SCO Member States, Shri Tushar Mehta, the Learned Solicitor General of India highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India to address transnational economic crimes internationally by the ratification of two UN Conventions; the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC) and its three protocols and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). At the national level in order to stop the threat of transnational economic crimes, India has implemented a number of legislative measures over the years to prevent, detect, and penalise money laundering by specialised legislation namely Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) and the Companies Act, 2013. India has signed Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements to request assistance in investigating crimes. India has signed Extradition Treaties/Agreements with 47 and 11 countries respectively and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties/Agreements with 42 nations to seek assistance in the investigation of such instances. The next (21^st) meeting of the Prosecutors General of the SCO member states will be held in the People’s Republic of China in 2023.

Choice (2)

 

44.    Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), launched under the Startup India initiative in 2016, by the Prime Minister has committed ₹7,385 crores to 88 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as of 24^th September 2022. These AIFs in turn have invested ₹11,206 crores in 720 startups. FFS has been playing a monumental role in mobilizing domestic capital in the Indian startup ecosystem. FFS was announced with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore. The corpus is to be built up over 14th and 15th Finance Commission Cycles (FY 2016-2020 and FY 2021-2025) through budgetary support by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Under FFS, support is extended to SEBI registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which in turn invest in startups. FFS has not only made capital available for startups at early stage, seed stage and growth stage but also played a catalytic role in terms of facilitating raising of domestic capital, reducing dependence on foreign capital and encouraging home grown and new venture capital funds. Collectively, the AIFs supported by FFS have a target corpus of over ₹48,000 crore. Among the prominent AIFs of leading startup investment firms supported under FFS are Chiratae Ventures, India Quotient, Blume Ventures, IvyCap, Waterbridge, Omnivore, Aavishkaar, JM Financial, Fireside Ventures, and more. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) which is responsible for operationalising the Scheme has undertaken a series of reforms recently to expedite the drawdowns to enable AIFs assisted under FFS to avail accelerated drawdowns. This has created a positive impact and has resulted in year on year (Q1 FY 2021-22 vis-à-vis Q1 FY 2022-23) surge of 100% in the amount of drawdowns. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) set up on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of Indian Parliament, acts as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for co-ordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.

Choice (3)

 

45.    The government has received requests from Export Promotion Councils and leading exporters that we should continue with current Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20), which had been extended from time to time. In recent days, exporters and industry bodies have strongly urged the government that in view of the prevailing the volatile global economic and geo-political situation, it would be advisable to extend the current policy for some time and undertake more consultations before coming out with the new policy. The government has always involved all stakeholders in formulating policy. In view of this, it has been decided to extend the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, valid till Sept 30th, 2022 for a further period of six months, w.e.f. October 1st, 2022. The Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 was unveiled by Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (Independent Charge), Government of India on April 1st, 2015. FTP 2015-20 provides a framework for increasing exports of goods and services as well as generation of employment and increasing value addition in the country, in line with the ‘Make in India’ programme.        

Choice (1)

 

46.    In one of the first initiatives to promote eco-alternatives to banned single use plastics and innovation and startup ecosystem in the country, the National Expo on alternatives to banned single use plastics items and Conference of Startups -2022, was inaugurated on 26^th September 2022 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. The Expo and Startup Conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, and Government of Tamil Nadu. More than 150 manufacturers of eco-alternatives from across the country are participating in the Expo. The Eco-alternatives included items made from natural fibers such as coir, bagasse, rice and wheat bran, plant and agricultural residue, banana and areca leaves, jute, and cloth. The National Expo is open to the public, school and college students, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers of eco alternatives to banned single use plastic items. The Expo and Conference of Startups will spread mass awareness on the availability of eco-alternatives and provide a platform for startups for scaling up their solutions. Representatives from State Governments, State Pollution Control Boards, concerned central ministries, financial institutions and banks are participating in the Expo. Along with the Expo, a Conference of Startups working in the area of alternatives to single use plastics and air quality management was also organized along with the Expo. The Conference of Startups will provide a platform for exchange views amongst innovators and institutions, and Government Departments supporting startup ecosystems in the country. Thematic sessions on marine plastic litter – issues, challenges, and way forward and manufacturing of eco-alternatives have also been organized. India took a defining step in addressing the challenge by banning identified single use plastic items, which had high littering potential and low utility, from 1^st July 2022. Awareness of the alternatives to banned single use plastic items and their availability is the key to the success of the ban.

Choice (3)

 

47.    On 27^th September 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida. The Prime Minister conveyed his deepest condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Prime Minister noted the contributions of late Prime Minister Abe in strengthening India-Japan partnership as well as in conceptualizing the vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders had a productive exchange of views on further deepening bilateral relations. They also discussed several regional and global issues. The leaders renewed their commitment towards further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, and in working together in the region and in various international groupings and institutions.

Choice (1)

 

48.    A P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian Navy participated in the Multinational Maritime Exercise Kakadu 2022, hosted by the Royal Australian Navy in Darwin from the 12^th to 25^th Sep 22, along with INS Satpura. The exercise had the participation of 34 aircraft from over 20 nations. The maiden participation of the P8I provided an enhanced exposure to the aircrew, augmenting the understanding of the varied nuances of collaborative anti-Submarine and anti-Surface warfare operations in a complex multi-threat scenario. The seamless operations conducted by P8I, in consonance with the exercise theme ‘Partnership, Leadership, Friendship’ along with USN and RAAF P8s enabled refining joint SOPs and enhancing interoperability and reaffirming the Indian Navy’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific. “Exercise Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy’s most significant international engagement activity and is vital for building relationships between participating countries. I thank our international partners for their contribution to this maritime activity, which helps to reinforce the importance of peace, stability, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific,” Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, Commander of the Australian Fleet. Kakadu 2022 was one of the biggest iterations yet, having grown in scale and complexity over the past 30 years. This year’s exercise involved 15 warships – including a submarine – and 34 aircraft from 22 different nations, along with more than 3000 sailors and officers.

Choice (3)

 

49.    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has, on 27^th September 2022, announced that the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 will be accorded to legendary actress Ms Asha Parekh. The award will be presented at the National Film Award ceremony in New Delhi. The 68^th National Film Awards will be held on 30^th September 2022 and will be presided over by the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu. Ms Asha Parekh is a renowned film actress, director and producer and an accomplished Indian classical dancer. Starting her career as a child actor she made her debut as the lead heroine in Dil Deke Dekho and has gone on to act in over 95 movies. She has acted in celebrated films like Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Love in Tokyo, Aya Saawan Jhoom Ke, Aan Milo Sajna, Mera Gaon Mera Desh. Ms Asha Parekh was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1992. She also served as the head of the Central Board for Film Certification from 1998-2001. The jury for the selection of the 52^nd Dadasaheb Phalke award consisted of five members from the film industry: (1) Ms Asha Bhosle, (2) Ms Hema Malini, (3) Ms Poonam Dhillon, (4) Shri T. S. Nagabharana, (5) Shri Udit Narayan.

Choice (1)

 

50.    Shri Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment, released a report on the fourth round (January-March 2022) of Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) as a part of the All India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES). The AQEES has been taken up by the Labour Bureau to provide quarterly estimates about the employment and related variables of establishments in both organized and unorganized segments of the nine selected sectors which account for a majority of the total employment in the non-farm establishments. The nine selected sectors are Manufacturing, Construction, Trade, Transport, Education, Health, Accommodation & Restaurant, IT / BPO and Financial Services. All India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES) has two components - first, the “Quarterly Employment Survey (QES)”and the second “Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES)”. The former relates to the establishments employing 10 or more workers, whereas the latter relates to the establishments employing 9 or less workers. The QES as a part of the AQEES was launched in April 2021 to capture important information in terms of employment and related variables in the organized sector of the economy. In each quarter, information is being collected from about 12,000 establishments. The first such report, for the period April- June, 2021 was released in the month of September, 2021. The estimated employment has increased from 3.14 crore of the third quarter (September-December 2021) to 3.18 crore of 4^th Quarter (January-March 2022). The total employment in these 9 selected sectors taken collectively was reported as 2.37 crore in the sixth Economic Census (2013-14). An estimated total of 3.18 crore workers was engaged in 5.31 lakh establishments during the 4^th round, compared to a total of 3.14 crores in the third quarter. The manufacturing sector accounts for the largest percentage (38.5%) of the total number of workers, followed by the Education sector with 21.7%, IT/BPO sector with 12% and Health sector 10.6%. Female workers’ participation reported a marginal increase from 31.6% in the third quarter to 31.8% in the 4^thquarter report. However, female workers constituted about 52 % of the workforce in the Health sector, the corresponding percentages in Education, Financial Services and IT/ BPO sector stood at 44%, 41% and 36% respectively. It is noteworthy that in Financial Services, females far outnumber males among self-employed persons.

Choice (4)

 

Solutions for questions 51 to 54:

 

Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar presented National Tourism Awards for the year 2018-19 on 27^th September 2022. Addressing a gathering, the Vice President termed tourism a key driver of economic growth and employment generation in the country. On this occasion, the Vice President also released ‘India Tourism Statistics 2022’ and launched an e-book GoBeyond:75 Experiences of North India. The National Tourism Awards have, over the years, emerged as a prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. These awards are an important medium to motivate these sectors. Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors, creating exports and prosperity around the world. Bharat is, as a matter of fact, a heaven for tourism. A total of 81 awards were given away this year highlighting the achievements of the industry in 2018-19. Some of the awardees: (1) Best Heritage City: Ahmedabad, (2) Best State/Union Territory: Comprehensive development of tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame: Andhra Pradesh, (3) Best State/Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) First Prize (Hall of Fame): Uttarakhand, (4) Best Tourist-friendly Railway Station: Secunderabad, (5) Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in India (Category-A): Indore, Madhya Pradesh. India Tourism Statistics 2022 revealed that the state of Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2021, while the state of Tamil Nadu is in the forefront with the most domestic tourists in 2021. The number of foreign tourist arrivals, due to Covid pandemic, reduced to 1.52 million. The domestic tourist movement increased to 677.63 million in 2021. Other highlights of the report: (1) Taj Mahal, Red Fort and the Qutub Minar are the top three most visited sites. (2) Taj Mahal which is a centrally-protected ticketed monument accounts for the most domestic visits in 2021-22, while the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu was visited by most number of foreign visitors during the period. (3) India ranks 54 in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2021. (4) In 2021, the country earned USD8.797 in the form of foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism, registering a growth of 26.4 per cent, (5) In 2021, the top 5 source markets for Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India were the U. S., Bangladesh, the U. K., Canada, Nepal.

 

51.    Choice (1)

 

52.    Choice (2),

 

53.    Choice (2)

 

54.    Choice (3)

 

55.    In a ceremony held on the side-lines of the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal on 26^th September 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between International Solar Alliance (ISA) and ICAO in the presence of Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation of India, H.E. Monsieur Clement Beaunne, Minister of Transport of France and Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council. The MoU was signed by Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General, ICAO and Mr. Joshua Wycliffe, Chief of Operations, ISA. With this signing of MoU, ICAO has become a member of the ISA. The ISA is an alliance of 121 signatory countries and 32 partner organizations including many UN organizations. ISA works for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. ISA strives to devise cost effective and transformational solutions for using renewable energy to member countries with a particular focus in delivering an impact in LDCs and SlDCs. India has pledged for Net Zero Carbon goal in 2070 in COP 26. Its approach continues to be human-centric, based on respect and national ownership principles, with commitment to one and all. India has pledged a target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy of which 100 GW will be solar energy by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030, to let solar energy reach the most unconnected villages and communities. Cochin International Airport in India became the world’s first fully Solar powered airport in the world in 2015. ICAO is committed towards reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector through its numerous initiatives and goals. The headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization is based in Montreal, Canada.

Choice (3)

 

56.    The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said that India had come a long way in the Global Innovation Index (GII) from the 81st spot in 2015 to the 40th spot in 2022. ‘We were 46 last time the ranking was done. We have also maintained the1st rank in ICT services exports over the years’ he added. Shri Goyal was delivering a virtual message to mark the launch of the Global Innovation Index, 2022 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Minister outlined several areas in which digital technologies are employed from mapping capital assets using GIS technology to revolutionizing payments through UPI. In fact, 40% of global real-time digital transactions happened in India last year, he underscored. “To further strengthen innovation, we have introduced the National Education Policy, which promotes the spirit of enquiry by setting up incubation & technology development centres. With over 9000 Atal Tinkering Labs, we encourage youth to develop solutions to society’s problems”, he added. Switzerland, the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are the world’s most-innovative economies, according to WIPO’s 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII), with China on the threshold of the top 10. Other emerging economies are also showing consistently strong performance, including India and Türkiye, both of which enter the top 40 for the first time. The 2022 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) tracks the most recent global innovation trends against the background of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, slowing productivity growth and other evolving challenges. It reveals the most innovative economies in the world, ranking the innovation performance of around 132 economies while highlighting innovation strengths and weaknesses. In 2022, Tokyo–Yokohama is the top science and tech hub in the world, followed by Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou (China and Hong Kong, China), Beijing (China), Seoul (Republic of Korea) and San Jose–San Francisco (United States). WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information, and cooperation. It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Choice (1)

 

57.    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi declared the 36^th National Games open at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 29^th September 2022. During the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the world-class “Swarnim Gujarat Sports University” in Desar. The Prime Minister also addressed the athletes from across the country who are taking part in the National Games. Highlighting the progress made in the field of sports, the Prime Minister said that 8 years ago, players from India used to participate in less than a hundred international events. On the contrary, the number of international events that players from India participate in has gone up to 300 now. “8 years ago, the players of India used to go to play 20-25 games. Now players from India go to participate in about 40 different sports. Number of medals as well as India’s aura are increasing today”, the Prime Minister added. National Games are being held in the state of Gujarat for the very first time. It will be organised from 29^th September to 12^th October 2022. Nearly 15,000 sportspersons, coaches, and officials from across the country will be participating in 36 sports disciplines, making it the biggest National Games ever. The sporting events will be organised in six cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar.

Choice (3)

 

58.    The Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 vide Gazette Notification No. 20 dated 2^nd January 2018. As per the provisions of the Scheme, Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person (as defined in item No. 2 (d) of Gazette Notification), who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds. The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank. State Bank of India (SBI), in the XXII Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 authorized branches (as per list enclosed) w.e.f. 01.10.2022 to 10.10.2022. The Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

Choice (4)

 

59.    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves the acquisition of Assets of Essar Group by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited. The proposed combination involves the acquisition of certain assets (a) Power Assets (Essar Power Hazira Limited (EPHL), Gandhar Hazira Transmission Limited (GHTL)); (b) Port Assets (Hazira Cargo Terminals Limited (HCTL), Ibrox Aviation & Trading Private Limited (IATPL), Essar Bulk Terminal Limited (EBTL), Essar Bulk Terminal Paradip Limited (EBTPL), Essar Vizag Terminals Limited (EVTL)); (c) Other Assets (Snow White Agencies Private Limited (SWAPL), Bhagwat Steel Limited (BSL)) from the Essar Group (EG/ Target) by ArcerlorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AMNS/ Acquirer). All these target assets belong to the Essar Group. AMNS is a joint venture between ArcelorMittal S.A. (AM) and its affiliates and Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan (NSC). The Competition Act, 2002 was passed by the Parliament in the year 2002, to which the President accorded assent in January 2003. It was subsequently amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established. The Competition Commission of India is now fully functional with a chairperson and six members. The provisions of the Competition Act relating to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position were notified on May 20th, 2009. It is the statutory duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers, and ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants, in markets in India as provided in the Preamble as well as Section 18 of the Act. The Commission is also mandated to give its opinion on competition issues to government or statutory authority and to undertake competition advocacy for creating awareness of competition law. Ashok Kumar Gupta is the present chairperson of CCI.

Choice (1)

 

60.    The Uttar Pradesh government on September 27, 2022 approved the establishment of the State’s fourth tiger reserve. It will come up in Chitrakoot district’s Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS). The new reserve is known as Ranipur Tiger Reserve. The other tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh includes Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Amangarh (buffer of Corbett Tiger Reserve). Founded in 1977, the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary is home to dry deciduous forest of Bamboo, Palash, Khair, Mahua, Dhau, Saal, Tendu, etc. Among animals, Blackduck, Chinkara, Sambar, Cheetal, Bear, Leopard, Wolf, Wild dog, Blue bull, etc, can be found in the sanctuary. The Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary will be the 54 tiger reserve in India. The sanctuary when established will contribute towards the protection and conservation of tigers in the region. According to a press release on August 10, India is home to 52 tiger reserves covering approximately 75,000 Sq km area in 18 States with approximately 75% population of the wild tiger at a global level. India achieved the goal of doubling the tiger numbers in 2018 itself, four years in advance from the targeted year 2022. Also, so far 17 tiger reserves in the country have got CA|TS international accreditation and two tiger reserves have got international Tx2 Award.

Choice (2)

 

62.    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a multi-phase Operation GARUDA to dismantle drug networks with international linkages. The CBI is doing this in close coordination with enforcement actions across international jurisdictions through INTERPOL and Narcotics Control Bureau with special focus on the Indian Ocean Region. Operation GARUDA seeks to target drug networks with international footprints for action against handlers, operatives, production zones and support elements. During the operation, searches, seizures, and arrests were carried out across multiple states and UTs in the country. Apart from CBI and NCB, eight states and UT Police including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Manipur have also participated in this operation. It is reported that during this special operation, around 6,600 persons were checked and 127 new cases have been registered. Around 175 persons including six absconders and proclaimed offenders were arrested. Illicit drugs and psychotropic substances including approximately 5 Kilo gram of Heroin, 33 Kilo gram of Ganja, over 3 Kg of Charas, Mephedrone, Smack, Alpazolam and Tramadol Tablets, injections, syringes of Buprenorphine and 30-kilo gram of Poppy Husk were recovered.

Choice (3)

 

63.    LinkedIn Top Startups India list — a data-backed ranking of 25 companies gaining attention and attracting top talent. The list highlights companies continuing to innovate and rise to the challenges of the moment. There are companies addressing the increased demand for financial services (such as Groww and Ditto Insurance), helping people access quality education online (upGrad and GrowthSchool) and working on path-breaking space technology and research (Skyroot Aerospace and AgniKul Cosmos). LinkedIn's new study shows the up-and-coming start-ups in India, with e-commerce, fintech and edtech start-ups dominating its list of 25 "Top Start-ups 2022." LinkedIn said the rankings serve as a resource for employees who want to grow in their skills and are “excited by the opportunity to innovate.” Top five startups: (1) CRED - Industry: Financial services, Headquarters: Bengaluru, (2) upGrad - Industry: E-learning, Headquarters: Mumbai, (3) Groww - Industry: Financial services, Headquarters: Bengaluru, (4) Zepto - Industry: Internet, Headquarters: Mumbai, (5) Skyroot Aerospace - Industry: Space research and technology, Headquarters: Hyderabad.

Choice (1)

 

65.    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that after the completion of the ambitious DREAM city project, Surat city will emerge as one of the safest and most convenient diamond trading hubs in the world. The Government of Gujarat has initiated a planning process for the realisation of Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City at Surat. The PM addressed a gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for multiple developmental works worth more than 3,400 crore rupees in Surat, Gujarat on 29^th September 2022. He said Surat’s textile and diamond industries provide livelihood to people across the country. He said finished textile products of Surat have a big market in Kashi and Eastern UP.

Choice (2)

 

66.    President Droupadi Murmu has said that the continuous efforts of central and state governments and all citizens in the last eight years are behind the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Presenting the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2022 at a function in New Delhi on 1st October 2022, Ms Murmu said that Swachh Survey is promoting healthy competition among States and cities for cleanliness. She noted that over nine crore people in more than four thousand cities participated in this year's survey. The President said that the Safai Mitras have played the most important role in achieving this success. She said that they worked continuously for maintaining cleanliness even during the COVID pandemic. Ms Murmu said that the Government is ensuring that no Safai Mitra loses his life due to unsafe cleaning process. She expressed happiness that over 500 cities have become Safai Mitra-friendly cities. The President said that the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 was launched on the 1st of October last year with the aim to make all cities garbage-free by 2026. She said a campaign is being launched in cities to make all citizens aware of segregating wet and dry waste at home for better waste management. She urged everyone, especially the youth, to participate in this campaign and increase awareness about cleanliness in society. Madhya Pradesh got the first position among States, followed by Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Indore was adjudged the cleanest city for the sixth time in a row, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai with populations of above one lakh. Panchgani in Maharashtra, Patan in Chhattisgarh, and Karad in Maharashtra bagged the top three awards in the cleanest cities category with a population of below one lakh. Haridwar is the cleanest Ganga town in the category with more than one lakh population, followed by Varanasi and Rishikesh. Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh got the award for the Best City in 'Safai Mitra Suraksha’. Deolali in Maharashtra was adjudged the country's 'cleanest Cantonment Board'. Tripura got the award in the small State category. Karnataka's Shivamogga won the 'Fastest Mover City' Award.

Choice (1)

 

Solutions for questions 67 and 68:

 

The thirty eighth Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), constituted under section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, was held between September 28th-30th, 2022. 2. The meeting was attended by all the members – Dr Shashanka Bhide, Honorary Senior Advisor, National Council of Applied Economic Research, Delhi; Dr Ashima Goyal, Emeritus Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai; Prof. Jayanth R. Varma, Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, Executive Director (the officer of the Reserve Bank nominated by the Central Board under Section 45ZB(2)(c) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934); Dr Michael Debabrata Patra, Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy – and was chaired by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor of RBI. The MPC reviewed the surveys conducted by the Reserve Bank to gauge consumer confidence, households’ inflation expectations, corporate sector performance, credit conditions, the outlook for the industrial, services and infrastructure sectors, and the projections of professional forecasters. The MPC also reviewed in detail the staff’s macroeconomic projections, and alternative scenarios around various risks to the outlook. Drawing on the above and after extensive discussions on the stance of monetary policy, the MPC adopted the resolution. Resolution: “On the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its meeting today (September 30th, 2022) decided to: Increase the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 50 basis points to 5.90 per cent with immediate effect”.

Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 5.65 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 6.15 per cent. The MPC also decided to remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation remains within the target going forward, while supporting growth. These decisions are in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4 per cent within a band of +/- 2 per cent, while supporting growth.

 

67.    Choice (2)

 

68.    Choice (4)

 

69.    Ushering in a new technological era, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched 5G services in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on 1st October 2022. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the sixth edition of the India Mobile Congress and also witnessed the IMC Exhibition that was put on the occasion. Industry leaders – Mr Mukesh Ambani, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, Kumar Mangalam Birla - expressed their views on this historic occasion. 5G technology will provide seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency, and highly reliable communications. It will increase energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency and network efficiency. The IMC 2022 is scheduled to be held from 1st to 4^th October with the theme of “New digital Universe”. It brings together leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and government officials to discuss and showcase unique opportunities emerging from the rapid adoption and spread of digital technology.

Choice (5)

 

70.    The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has kickstarted a campaign under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The Pension Regulator observes 1^st October as the National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas) to promote pension and retirement planning among the citizens of India and enjoy financial independence post retirement. PFRDA is promoting this campaign on its social media platforms. The pension regulator aims to encourage every citizen (working professionals and self-employed professionals) to plan towards creating a pension corpus to ensure for oneself a financially sound future after retirement. NPS subscribers will enjoy the benefits of tax deduction on contribution, power of compounding and reap the benefits of regular income after retirement. PFRDA Chairperson Shri Supratim Bandyopadhyay said, “We are happy to continue our celebration of October 1^st as “NPS Diwas – A Day for Pension Planning”. Through this campaign, we reiterate our commitment towards creating awareness about pension planning among the public. As a regulatory body, our foremost aim is to cover all eligible citizens under a pension scheme to fulfil the vision of a pensioned society for India.” As on 24^th September 2022, the total number of subscribers under NPS is 571.86 lakhs (5.72 crore) and total Assets Under Management (AUM) is 7,99,467 crore (7.99 trillion). Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India for overall supervision and regulation of pension in India. The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Act was passed on 19^th September 2013 and the same was notified on 1st February 2014. PFRDA is regulating NPS, subscribed by employees of Govt. of India, State Governments and by employees of private institutions/organizations & unorganized sectors. The PFRDA is ensuring the orderly growth and development of the pension market. National Pension Scheme (NPS), now called National Pension System (NPS) was launched in 2004 for government employees. In 2009, the scheme was opened to all sections. National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary, defined contribution retirement savings scheme designed to enable the subscribers to make optimum decisions regarding their future through systematic savings during their working life. NPS seeks to inculcate the habit of saving for retirement amongst the citizens. It is an attempt towards finding a sustainable solution to the problem of providing adequate retirement income to every citizen of India.

Choice (4)

 

71.    The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu on 30th September 2022, conferred the National Film Awards for the year 2020 under various categories at the 68th edition of the ceremony in New Delhi. The prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award was also conferred on the occasion. Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting (I&B) was present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee Ms Asha Parekh for her special contribution to the world of cinema and said that this award to her is a recognition of women empowerment. Films have the widest impact among all the art forms, the President remarked, and added that films are not just an industry but also a medium for an artistic expression of our value system. Cinema is an effective tool for nation building as well. Madhya Pradesh won the most Film Friendly State award while Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh got Special Mention. Best Female Playback Singer was won by Nanchamma for AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum; Rahul Deshpande won the Best Male Playback Singer award. Sachidanandan KR won the Best Director award for the Malayalam movie AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Best Feature Film award was bagged by the Tamil movie ‘Soorarai Pottru’ directed by Sudha Kongara. ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ grabbed the award for Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment. The Best Actor award for 2020 was shared between Suriya for ‘Soorarai Pottru’ and Ajay Devgn for the Hindi movie ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’. Aparrna Balamurali won the Best Actress award. Manoj Muntashir won the award for the Best Lyrics for the Hindi movie ‘Saina’.

Choice (1)

 

72.    The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the establishment of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) for providing credit guarantees to loans extended by Scheduled Commercial Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).CGSS is aimed at providing credit guarantee up to a specified limit against loans extended by Member Institutions (MIs) to finance eligible borrowers viz. Startups as defined in the Gazette Notification issued by DPIIT and amended from time to time. The credit guarantee cover under the Scheme would be transaction based and umbrella based. The exposure to individual cases would be capped at ₹10 crore per case or the actual outstanding credit amount, whichever is less. Along with institutional mechanisms for operationalizing the Scheme, DPIIT will be constituting a Management Committee (MC) and a Risk Evaluation Committee (REC) for reviewing, supervising and operational oversight of the Scheme. The National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) will be operating the Scheme. With the objective of mobilising domestic capital for Indian startups, CGSS will complement the existing Schemes under the Startup India initiative viz. Fund of Funds for Startups and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.      

Choice (4)

 

73.    India’s merchandise exports in April -September 2022-23 was USD 229.05 billion with an increase of 15.54% over USD 198.25 billion in April -September 2021-22. India’s merchandise imports in April -September 2022-23 was USD 378.53 billion with an increase of 37.89% over USD 274.5 billion in April -September 2021-22. Top five major export commodity groups: (1) Engineering goods, (2) Petroleum products, (3) Gems and jewellery, (4) Organic and inorganic chemicals, (5) Drugs and pharmaceuticals. Top five major import commodity groups: (1) Petroleum, Crude & products, (2) Electronic goods, (3) Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc., (4) Machinery, electrical & non-electrical, (5) Gold.

Choice (1)

 

74.    In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”. Nairobi was the host city for the observance that year. In 2022, World Habitat Day (WHD 2022) celebrated on 3rd October 2022 under the theme "Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind" looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements. World Habitat Day 2022 seeks to draw attention to the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple ‘C’ crises —COVID-19, climate, and conflict. “Cities and local governments play a front-line role in responding to crises and emergencies, as well as in planning for an inclusive, resilient, and green future. To prepare urban areas for future catastrophes, we need to start with cities. Thus, local action and local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is more important than ever.”

Choice (1)

 

75.    The 2022 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Women’s Championship (6^th edition) took place between 6-19 September 2022. The tournament for the championship is hosted by Nepal. Seven teams (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan) have participated in the tournament. Bangladesh is the winner of the Championship, while Nepal secured the Runners-up position.

Choice (2)

 

76.    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the PM CARES Fund on 20.09.2022. A presentation was made on the various initiatives undertaken with the help of PM CARES Fund, including the PM CARES for Children scheme which is supporting 4345 children. Trustees appreciated the role played by the fund at a crucial time for the country. PM Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the people of the country for contributing wholeheartedly to PM CARES Fund. It was discussed that PM CARES has a larger vision on effectively responding to emergency and distress situations, not only through relief assistance, but also by taking mitigation measures and capacity building. The meeting was attended by Trustees of the PM CARES Fund, i.e., Union Home Minister and Union Finance Minister as also, the newly nominated trustees of the PM CARES Fund: Justice K.T. Thomas, former Judge, Supreme Court, Shri Kariya Munda, Former Deputy Speaker, and Shri Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons. The Trust further decided to nominate the following eminent persons for constitution of Advisory Board to the PM CARES Fund:

Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Smt. Sudha Murthy, Former Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Shri Anand Shah, Co-founder of Teach for India and Former CEO of Indicorps and Piramal Foundation. The Prime Minister said that participation of new Trustees and Advisors will provide wider perspectives to the functioning of the PM CARES Fund. Their vast experience of public life would impart further vigour in making the fund more responsive to various public needs. Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like the one posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of ‘Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)’ has been set up. PM CARES Fund has been registered as a Public Charitable Trust. The trust deed of the PM CARES Fund has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908 at New Delhi on 27^th March, 2020.

Choice (1)

 

77.    The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution states that India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and world’s 2^nd largest exporter of sugar. In Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22, a record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of sugarcane was produced in the country out of which about 3574 LMT of sugarcane was crushed by sugar mills to produce about 394 LMT of sugar (Sucrose). Out of this, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT sugar was produced by sugar mills. With this, India has emerged as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar as well as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar. The season has proven to be a watershed season for the Indian Sugar Sector. All records of sugarcane production, sugar production, sugar exports, cane procured, cane dues paid, and ethanol production were made during the season. Another shining highlight of the season is the highest exports of about 109.8 LMT that too with no financial assistance which was being extended up to 2020-21. Supportive international prices and Indian Government Policy led to this feat of Indian Sugar Industry. These exports earned foreign currency of about ₹40,000 crores for the country.

Choice (4)

 

78.    Nobel Prize is presented for a ground-breaking contribution and outstanding work by an individual or organisation in the fields of physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry, economic science, literature and peace work. The prize for physics was shared by three men, Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger, for their work in quantum technology. Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and K. Barry Sharpless shared the award for chemistry for the development of click chemistry and bio-orthogonal chemistry. The Nobel prize for literature was awarded to the French novelist Annie Ernaux. Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ales Bialiatski, a human rights advocate from Belarus, who shared this year’s prize with Memorial, a Russian human rights organization, and the Center for Civil Liberties, a Ukrainian organization. Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the prize for economic sciences. Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond, and Philip H. Dybvig shared the prize. Svante Paabo is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2022. Between 1901 and 2022, the Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded 615 times to 989 people and organisations. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and based on the fortune of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor and entrepreneur. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma, and a cash award. A person or organisation awarded the Nobel Prize is called Nobel Prize laureate. The word “laureate” refers to being signified by the laurel wreath. In ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were awarded to victors as a sign of honour. On 27th November 1895, Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace – the Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.

Choice (1)

 

79.    Nobel Prize is presented for a ground-breaking contribution and outstanding work by an individual or organisation in the fields of physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry, economic science, literature and peace work. The prize for physics was shared by three men, Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger, for their work in quantum technology. Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and K. Barry Sharpless shared the award for chemistry for the development of click chemistry and bio-orthogonal chemistry. The Nobel prize for literature was awarded to the French novelist Annie Ernaux. Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Ales Bialiatski, a human rights advocate from Belarus, shared this year’s prize with Memorial, a Russian human rights organization, and the Center for Civil Liberties, a Ukrainian organization. Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the prize for economic sciences. Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond, and Philip H. Dybvig shared the prize. Svante Paabo is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2022. Between 1901 and 2022, the Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded 615 times to 989 people and organisations. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and based on the fortune of Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and entrepreneur. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma, and a cash award. A person or organisation awarded the Nobel Prize is called Nobel Prize laureate. The word “laureate” refers to being signified by the laurel wreath. In ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were awarded to victors as a sign of honour. On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace – the Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.

Choice (2)

 

80.    National Games 2022 was organised from 29^th September to 12^th October 2022 across six cities, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar, in Gujarat. Almost 7,000 athletes from 28 Indian States, eight Union Territories and Services, the sports team of the Indian Armed Forces, competed for medals in 36 different sports. These included traditional Olympic disciplines as well as indigenous sports like mallakhamb, kho kho and kabaddi, amongst others. The complete list of sports which were competed at the National Games 2022 in Gujarat are: aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing & kayaking, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, golf, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn bowls, mallakhamb, netball, roller skating, rowing, rugby 7s, shooting, softball, soft tennis, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu and yogasana. National Games 2022 Medal Tally-Top five teams:

1.      Services            61      35     32     128 (gold, silver, bronze, total)

2.      Maharashtra       39     38     63     140

3.      Haryana           38       38     40     116

4.      Karnataka         27       23     38     88

5.      Tamil Nadu       25     22     27     74

Choice (3)

 

81.    National Games 2022: Gujarat’s Pragnya Mohan won the gold medal in triathlon in women’s category at the National Games 2022. The South Asian Games gold medallist clocked 1:07:32 to beat second-placed Mansi Mohite of Maharashtra by a gap of over five minutes. A triathlon is a multi-sport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Pragnya Mohan was third in swimming at 11 minutes 29 seconds but clocked the fastest times of 33:34 and 20:12 in cycling and running, respectively. Adarsh Muralidharan Sinimol (services) bagged gold in the men’s triathlon in 1:01:13 (swimming 9:59, cycle 31:12 and running 18:02).

Choice (2)

 

82.    The National Games 2023 will be held in Goa next October. This will be the first time that Goa will be hosting the National Games. The dates for the 37th edition of the National Games will be finalised later to avoid clashing with major international events. “The date of the 37th National Games will be decided keeping in view the dates of the 19th Asian Games, which will be held from September 23rd to October 8th next year in Hangzhou, China,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta informed. The 35th edition of the National Games was held in Kerala in 2015 while Goa was awarded the hosting rights for the 36th edition, initially scheduled for 2016. However, after multiple postponements and further delays due to COVID-19, the marquee event was moved to Gujarat. The National Games is India’s homespun Olympic-style multi-sport event where athletes from various states and Union Territories of India compete for medals. The objective of the National Games is to identify sporting talent who could represent the country at the Olympics. Several prominent Indian athletes like Neeraj Chopra, PT Usha, Dipa Karmakar, and Sajan Prakash have participated in the National Games over the years. The National Games were first held in Lahore, undivided India, in 1924.

Choice (4)

 

83.    Jyothi Yarraji clocked 12.79s to win the gold medal in the 100m hurdles in the women’s category at the National Games 2022. However, it will not be a national record as she had wind assistance of 2.5m/s. The Indian sprinter made history in the women’s 100m hurdles as she became the first Indian woman to run a sub-13s time to win the gold medal at the National Games 2022. Jyothi Yarraji, representing Andhra Pradesh, broke her own national record by running the final in 12.79s. However, it will not be recognised as a new record because she had wind assistance of 2.5m/s. Only times set with wind assistance of below 2m/s are eligible to be considered for records. Jyothi Yarraji had earlier won the women’s 100m gold, beating established sprinters Dutee Chand and Hima Das to the line.

Choice (1)

 

84.    Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, led an official and business delegation to Washington DC and Houston, USA, from 6th-11th October 2022. In Washington DC, the Hon’ble Minister co-chaired the Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP), held on 7th October 2022 with HE Ms. Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, USA. Two sides underscored the critical importance of bilateral clean energy engagement to strengthen energy security and to accelerate clean, secure, and just energy transition. Amidst volatility in global energy markets, continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasingly frequent climate-related challenges, the United States and India reiterated their commitment to accelerating a just and sustainable energy transition. As climate and clean energy leaders, the United States and India share a common vision to deploy clean energy at scale during this critical decade to reduce emissions and achieve climate change mitigation goals, taking into account different national circumstances. Through regular consultations on global energy markets, efforts to strengthen collective energy security, and deepening technical engagement to support economy-wide decarbonization, the two countries are proactively addressing the multiple crises that the world faces through the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. During the engagements, the two Ministers reviewed progress across the entire spectrum of the energy sector partnership. They noted with appreciation the tremendous increase in bilateral energy trade achieved over the last few years. They also welcomed the increased clean energy collaboration between stakeholders of both countries which is facilitating expanded clean energy investment, including in emerging technologies. The Ministers welcomed expanded efforts under the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership to support a just energy transition to meet today’s unprecedented energy security and climate and energy challenges.

Choice (1)

 

85.    First Advance Estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2022-23 have been released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that foodgrain production of 149.92 million tonnes is estimated in the kharif season. As per First Advance Estimates, the estimated production of major kharif crops for 2022-23 is as under: Foodgrains – 149.92 million tonnes, Rice – 104.99 million tonnes, Nutri / Coarse Cereals – 36.56 million tonnes, Maize – 23.10 million tonnes. (record), Pulses – 8.37 million tonnes, Tur – 3.89 million tonnes, Oilseeds – 23.57 million tonnes, Groundnut – 8.37 million tonnes, Soyabean – 12.89 million tonnes, Cotton –34.19 million bales (of 170 kg each), Jute & Mesta –10.09 million bales (of 180 kg each), Sugarcane – 465.05 million tonnes (record).

Choice (4)