SEPTEMBER

2024

CURRENT
AFFAIRS
MAGAZINE
For Defence Exams

UPSC/CDSE/CAPF/
AFCAT/NDA/NA &
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 SEPTEMBER 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS

CONTENT

1. Important days………………………………………………..1
2. Sports & games………………………………………………10
3. Personalities, awards & events………………………..14
4. Reports & indices…………………………………………....22
5. Science & technology……………………………………..27
6. Defence and military exercises………………………..39
7. Environment…………………………………………………….41
8. Economy…………………………………………………………..47
9. Schemes, portal, apps & initiatives………………….51
10. International relations……………………………….55
11. Miscellaneous……………………………………………56

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
1. National Nutrition Week 2024 - September 3. National Teachers Day 2024 - September 05
01 to 07

• It is dedicated to raising awareness among • It aims to honour educators and recognise

people about the significance of nutrition and Teachers significant contributions in
cultivating healthy eating habits. empowering and educating society.
• It aims to improve dietary practices and • This date also marks the birth anniversary of
support a healthier future among individuals Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
of all ages. • He was the second President of India and a
• The theme for National Nutrition Week 2024 renowned scholar and philosopher.
is ‘Nutritious Diets for Everyone’. • The first Teachers’ Day was observed on his
77th birthday in 1962.
2. World Coconut Day 2024 -September 02 • President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred
the National Teachers’ Award 2024 to 82
selected awardees in New Delhi.

4. International Day of Charity 2024 -

September 05

• It was first celebrated on September 2nd,

2009, by the Asian and Pacific Coconut
Community (APCC).
• This day highlights the many benefits of
coconuts, from their use in cooking to their
role in various industries.
• It aims to raise awareness about the
nutritional value and economic significance of • This International Day is marked in the
coconuts. memory of Mother Teresa.
• This year's theme is "Coconut for a Circular • It aims to raise awareness among individuals,
Economy: Building Partnership for NGOs and stakeholders about the importance
Maximum Value." of participating in charitable activities.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• It serves as a valuable opportunity to unite • It aims to continue to increase the
people in support of charity events and awareness of disease that has impacted an
contribute to the welfare of the most estimated 300,000 patients worldwide.
vulnerable members of society. • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a rare
• Mother Teresa, renowned Nobel Peace Prize disorder that causes muscles to become
winner, passed away on September 5, 1997. weaker over time until it affects the whole
5. International Vulture Awareness Day 2024 - body.
September 07 • Approximately one in every 5.000 boys is
born with the disease.
• It is caused by a mutation on the X-
chromosome, that is why mainly males are
affected.
• Theme for 2024 is ‘Raise your voice for
Duchenne’.
7. International Day of Police Cooperation
2024 - September 07

• Every year, on the first Saturday of

September, the world commemorates the
International Vulture Awareness Day.
• It aimed at raising awareness about the
importance of vultures and the challenges
they face. • The United Nations marked the
• Of the 23 vulture species worldwide, more International Day of Police Cooperation for
than half are listed on the IUCN Red List of the first time in 2023.
Threatened Species. • It emphasises a sustained and long-term
• Vultures Population increased from 246 in effort to establish a comprehensive
February 2023 to 308 in December 2023. framework for police oversight and
• The Mudumalai-Sathyamangalam- accountability.
Bandipur-Wayanad complex accounts for • The International Criminal Police
over 82% of the vultures recorded. Commission (ICPC) was created on
6. World Duchenne Awareness Day 2024 - September 7, 1923.
September 07 8. International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
2024 - September 07

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• This day is emphasizing the need to make 10. World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 -
efforts to improve air quality, including September 10
reducing air pollution, to protect human
health.
• The huge costs of air pollution to public
health, economies and the environment
are clear, with global health damages
totalling $8.1 trillion annually.
• Only a per cent of international
development funding currently goes
towards the clean air projects. • This day was first established in 2003.
• The potential for every dollar invested in • It aims to spread awareness about suicide
clean air initiatives is to return up to $ 30 prevention, reduce stigma and help
in economic benefits. people.
• In countries like India, air pollution costs • The International Association for Suicide
industry an estimated $95 billion per year, Prevention (IASP) organised this day along
or three per cent of the country’s GDP. with WHO.
09. International Literacy Day 2024 - • The theme for 2024-2026 is “Changing the
September 08 Narrative on Suicide”.
• Over 7,00,000 people commit suicide
every year across the world.
• It is the third leading cause of death
among 15-29-year-olds globally.
11. National Forest Martyrs Day 2024 -
September 11

• This day aims to raise the awareness about

the significance of literacy as a
fundamental human right and a matter of
dignity.
• The theme for 2024 is ‘Promoting
multilingual education: Literacy for mutual
understanding and peace’. • The day is dedicated to honour the brave
• International Literacy Day was established souls who sacrificed their lives for
by UNESCO on October 26, 1966, during protecting the country's forests, wildlife,
its 14th General Conference. and biodiversity.
• The first celebration took place in 1967. • It was established to commemorate the
Khejarli massacre 1730.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• During this event, Amrita Devi Bishnoi and • Among his most notable achievements are
over 350 members of the Bishnoi the construction of the Krishna Raja
community laid down their lives to protect Sagara Dam in Mysore.
the Khejri trees. • He received the Bharat Ratna in the year
• They opposed the orders of Maharaja 1955 and was also conferred the British
Abhay Singh, who had instructed to cut knighthood.
down trees to construct his palace. • He served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912
12. Hindi Diwas 2024 - September 14 to 1918.
• In 1968, the Government of India declared
this day.
• In addition to India, Engineer’s Day is also
observed in Sri Lanka and Tanzania on
September 15.
14. International Day of Democracy 2024 -
September 15

• On September 14, 1949, Hindi was given

the status of an official language of the
country.
• It aims to promote the use of Hindi
language and make people aware of its
importance. • This special day was established by the UN
• About 60.88 million people all over the General Assembly in 2007 to promote and
world use Hindi language as the native strengthen democratic values.
language. • In 1997, the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU) adopted the Universal Declaration on
13. National Engineer Day 2024 - September 15. Democracy.
• This year's theme is ‘Artificial Intelligence
as a tool for good governance’.

15. World Ozone Day 2024 - September 16

• This day commemorates the birth

anniversary of Mokshagundam
Visvesvaraya.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• On September 16, 2009, the Vienna • It is a global social program aimed at
Convention and the Montreal Protocol tackling the problems associated with
became the first treaties in United Nations marine debris and waste management.
history to be universally ratified. • It will be uniting 157 countries across the
• Ozone (O3) is a reactive gas, consisting of world for a cleaner planet.
three oxygen atoms. • On 8 December 2023, the United Nations
• It can be natural or man-made and found General Assembly declared this day.
in the Earth’s high atmosphere • The theme for 2024 is 'Arctic Cities and
(stratosphere). Marine Litter’.
• The theme for this year is “Montreal 18. International Day of Peace 2024 -
Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions”. September 21
• The Montreal Protocol was adopted on
September 16, 1987.
• It is the multilateral environmental
agreement that regulates the production
and consumption of man-made chemicals
referred to as ozone-depleting substances
(ODS).
• The stratospheric ozone layer is damaged
by these ODS.
16. 8th India Water Week 2024 • It serves as a global reminder of the need
to foster a culture of peace.
• In 1981, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) had passed a resolution
declaring this day.
• This year’s theme is 'Cultivating a Culture
of Peace'.
19. World Alzheimer’s Day 2024 - September 21

• It was first organized in 2012 and has since

been held biannually.
• It is a 4 days conference and exhibition.
• The theme for this year’s is “Partnerships
and Cooperation for Inclusive Water
Development and Management.”
• Seven editions of events have been
organized in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017,
2019 and 2022. • It aims to raise the awareness about
17. World Cleanup Day 2024 - September 20 Alzheimer's disease and dementia,
promote understanding, and combat the
stigma surrounding these conditions.
• This day was first launched in 1994 by
Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) to
mark the 10th anniversary of the
organisation.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• The theme for 2024 is "Time to act on 22. World River Day 2024 - September 22
dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer's."
• Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to
shrink and brain cells to eventually die.
20. International Red Panda Day 2024 -
September 21

• This day is annually observed on the

fourth Sunday of September.
• This day is celebrated on the third • This day provides a platform for reflecting
Saturday in September. on the essential role rivers play in
• It aims to spread awareness regarding yet sustaining life on Earth.
another species that is near extinction. • It was first celebrated in 2005, initiated by
• The red panda is a tiny tree-dwelling the International River Network.
mammal located in the woodlands of • The theme for 2024 is "Waterways of Life."
India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the northern 23. International Sign Language Day 2024 -
mountains of Myanmar and southern September 23
China.
• The red panda or Ailurus fulgens as it is
known to science, was first described by
Cuvier in 1825.
21. World Rhino Day 2024 - September 22

• The day is marked to raise awareness

about the rights of the deaf community
and other sign language users.
• According to the United Nations (UN),
they are fully-fledged natural languages,
distinct from spoken languages.
• It aims to raise the awareness about the • It commemorates the establishment of the
rhinoceros and the urgent need for their World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in
conservation. 1951.
• There are five rhino species such as Javan, • The day was first celebrated in 2018 as
Sumatran, Black, Greater One-Horned, and part of the International Week of the Deaf.
White rhinos. • The theme for the 2024 is ‘Sign up for Sign
• Theme for 2024 is ‘Keep the Five Alive’. Language Rights’.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
24. World Gorilla Day 2024 - September 24
26. Antyodaya Diwas 2024 - September 25

• It aims to celebrate these amazing animals

and to take actions to protect them.
• The word ‘gorilla’ was first used in 1847 by
two people—Thomas Staughton Savage, a
doctor, and Jeffries Wyman, a naturalist. • It is commemorating the birth anniversary
• Exactly 1,063 mountain gorillas are known of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
to remain in the wild today. • He was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on
• Mountain gorillas live in east-central Africa September 25, 1916.
in just two isolated groups – one in the • He was the co-founder of the Bharatiya
Virunga Volcanoes and one in Bwindi Jana Sangh (BJS).
Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. • This day focuses on uplifting the most
• Males between 8-12 years are called disadvantaged people in society,
'blackbacks'. promoting social justice and inclusive
• Then from 12 years old, they develop a growth.
silver section of hair over their back and 27. World Maritime Day 2024 - September 26
hips, earning them the name 'silverback'.
25. NSS day 2024 - September 24

• This day is observed on the last Thursday

of September every year.
• It aims to provide an opportunity to draw
people's attention to the importance of
shipping and other maritime activities
across the globe.
• The theme for 2024 is “Navigating the
Future: safety first!”.
28. International Day for the Total Elimination
• The idea of the National Service Scheme of Nuclear Weapons 2024 - September 26
(NSS) was proposed by Major General
Jagannath Rao Bhonsle.
• On September 24, 1969, the NSS was
launched by Dr V.K. R.V. Rao, the father of
NSS and then Education Minister of India.
• The motto of the NSS is “Not Me but You”.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• It aims to raise awareness about the threat • The Theme for 2024 is "Tourism and
of nuclear weapons and to promote their Peace".
elimination. 31. International Day for Universal Access to
• It was declared by the UN General Information 2024 - September 28
Assembly (UNGA) in 2013.
• The Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear
weapons (TPNW), or the Ban Treaty came
into force in 2021.
• As of July 2024, the TPNW had 70 states
parties.
• Another 27 had signed but not yet ratified • It highlights the advantage of having
it. constitutional, statutory, or policies that
29. World Environmental Health Day 2024 - guarantee the public to access information
September 26 for saving lives and building trust.
• UNESCO declared this day on 17
November 2015.
• This day emphasizes the pivotal role of
information accessibility in achieving
sustainable development, transparency
and accountable governance.
32. World Rabies Day 2024 - September 28

• This day highlights the essential

connection between a healthy
environment and human well-being.
• It was initiated by the International
Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH)
in 2011.
• It aims to raise awareness about rabies
• It draws attention to the urgent need for
prevention and to highlight progress in
environmental protection to ensure a
defeating this horrifying disease.
healthier future for all.
• This date marks the anniversary of Louis
• For 2024, the theme is 'Our land Our
Pasteur's death, the French chemist and
future'.
microbiologist, who developed the first
30. World Tourism Day 2024 - September 27
rabies vaccine.
• This year’s theme is “Breaking Rabies
Boundaries”.
33. World Heart Day 2024 - September 29

• This day commemorates the adoption of

the UNWTO's statutes in 1970.
• This day serves as a reminder of tourism's
vital role in promoting understanding and
peace among cultures.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (IMPORTANT DAYS)
• It aims to raise awareness about the heart
disease and its preventive measures to
manage the cardiovascular diseases.
• The cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is one
of the leading reason for mortality
worldwide.
• Every year, over 20 million people die due
to cardiovascular disease, accounting
approx. 31% of all global mortality.
• The World Heart Federation has launched
a new three-year World Heart Day
campaign from 2024 to 2026 with the
theme “Use Heart for Action.”
34. International Translation Day 2024 -
September 30

• It recognizes the invaluable contributions

of translators and interpreters in bridging
linguistic and cultural divides.
• This day celebrates the feast of St. Jerome,
the Bible translator, who is considered the
patron saint of translators.
• He is known for his endeavour of
translating most of the Bible into Latin
from the Greek manuscripts of the New
Testament.

****

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SPORTS & GAMES)
SPORTS & GAMES

Paralympics 2024 • Nitesh Kumar of Haryana clinched the gold

medal in the Men's Singles SL3 badminton
event.
• India’s Yogesh Kathuniya of Haryana won
second successive silver medal in Men’s Discus
Throw F56 at the Paralympics.
• Nishad Kumar of Himachal Pradesh won the
silver medal in men’s high jump T47 final.
• Preethi Pal (Uttar Pradesh) won a bronze
medal in the women’s 100m T35 this is India’s
• Harvinder Singh (Haryana) scripted history by
first medal in a track event at the Para Games.
becoming the first Indian archer to clinch a
• Manish Narwal (Haryana) clinched a silver
gold at the Paralympics.
medal in the men's 10m Air Pistol SH1.
• World champion shot-putter Sachin Sarjerao
• Avani Lekhara (Rajasthan) and Mona Agarwal
Khilari (Maharashtra) has won the silver medal
(Rajasthan) opened India’s medal tally after
at the Paralympics.
winning gold and bronze respectively in
• Sumit Antil (Haryana) becomes the first Indian
women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
man and second from the country to
• Judoka Kapil Parmar (Madhya Pradesh)
successfully defend a Paralympic title by
created history by winning India's first-ever
winning gold.
medal in judo at a Paralympic Games.
• Deepthi Jeevanji (Telangana) has bagged
• Praveen Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) wins gold in
bronze in the women's 400m T20 final.
the men's high jump T64 final with a record-
• The Indian para-shuttlers, Thulasimathi
breaking jump of 2.08m.
Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass, both from
• Indian athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema
Tamilnadu, secured silver and bronze medals
(Nagaland) has won the bronze medal in the
respectively in the women's singles SU5
men's shot put F57 class.
category.
Paris Paralympics 2024 medal tally
• Thulasi became the first Indian woman to win
• China (220), Great Britain (124), USA (105),
a medal in badminton.
Brazil and Ukraine finishing as the top 5
• Indian para-shuttler Suhas Yathiraj of Uttar
nations by total no of medals.
Pradesh won his second successive Paralympic
Indian in Paralympics 2024 medal tally
silver.
• India's medals tally at the Paris Paralympics
• Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, both from
has ended at 29 - seven golds, nine silvers and
Jammu and Kashmir, won bronze in the mixed
13 bronze this was making it the most
compound archery event at the Paris
rewarded campaign for the country.
Paralympics 2024.
• Track-and-field has contributed 17 medals to
this tally, four of them gold.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SPORTS & GAMES)
• Mariyappan Thangavelu (Tamilnadu) became • Abinaya Rajarajan won gold in Women’s 100m
the first Indian to win the medals at the three event. V Sudheeksha won silver in the same
consecutive Paralympics. He won the gold event.
medal at Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2020. • Siddharth Choudhary won gold in Women’s
• India stood at the 18th position in the points Men’s shot-put event.
table. Pakistan ended the campaign at the • Neeru Pathak won the ninth gold for the
78/79th position, with just a solitary bronze. Indian team in the women’s 400m.
US Tennis open 2024 • Pooja won gold in Women’s high jump event.
• Anisha won gold medal in women’s discus
throw. Vinod Kumar won silver in Men’s 800m
event. Mruthyam Rajaram won bronze in
Men’s 100m event.
Equal prize money
• Italy’s Jannik Sinner won his second Grand
Slam title of 2024 by defeating Taylor Fritz
(Germany) in the US Open Men’s final.
• Sinner made history by becoming the first
Italian man in the Open Era to win the US
Open men’s singles title.
• Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus has got past
Jessica Pegula (USA) to win her first
championship and third Grand Slam title of • The International Cricket Council has
her career. announced equal prize money for men and
• She previously won the Australian Open women in World Cups.
women’s singles title in both 2023 and 2024. • It will be starting with the women’s T20
4th South Asian Junior Athletics showpiece in the UAE next month.
Championships 2024. • The winners of the Women’s T20 World Cup
will be rewarded with $2.34 million.
• It is a 134% increase on the $1 million
awarded to Australian women when they
clinched the title in South Africa in 2023.
• India, who won the men’s T20 World Cup
earlier this year, received $2.45 million in cash
prize.
• The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be
the first ICC event where women will receive
• India hosts the 4th South Asian Junior the same prize money as their male
Athletics Championships 2024 at the counterparts.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SPORTS & GAMES)
Chess Olympiad 2024 • Teenager Anuya Prasad from Jaipur won the
gold medal in the women's air pistol event at
the World Deaf Shooting Championship in
Hannover. With a final shot of 10.3, she
narrowly beat Ukraine's Sofia Olenych by 0.1
point, finishing with 232.2 points.
RESET Programme

• India has won a double gold medal at 45th

Chess Olympiad 2024, Hungary. • Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and
Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh
• GMs Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and
Mandaviya launched “Retired Sportsperson
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu all won as the
Empowerment Training” (RESET) Programme
Indian men wrapped up gold.
• India trumped Azerbaijan in the final round to on the occasion of National Sports Day in

claim a first-ever gold medal in the women’s New Delhi.

Khel Utsav 2024
section.
• India also retained the Gaprindashvili Trophy,
awarded to the team with the best overall
performance across the open and women’s
sections.
• D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and Divya Deshmukh
also won individual gold medals.
• The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess
tournament in which teams representing
nations of the world compete.
Anuya Prasad wins air pistol gold in World
Deaf Championship

• Ministry of Information And Broadcasting

organizes "Khel Utsav 2024" to
commemorate birth anniversary of Hockey
Legend Major Dhyan Chand.
• In the run up to birth anniversary of Major
Dhyan Chand and in pursuance of Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports’ National Sports Day
2024 celebrations, Ministry of Information and
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SPORTS & GAMES)
Broadcasting organized “Khel Utsav 2024”
from 27th August, 2024 to 30th August, 2024
at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium and Jawaharlal
Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

Anmol Kharb Clinches Belgian International

Title

• India’s rising badminton star Anmol Kharb

secured her first senior international title by
winning the women’s singles event at the
Belgian International 2024 in Leuven. In a
remarkable display of skill and determination,
the 17-year-old, overcame Denmark’s Amalie
Schulz 24-22, 12-21, 21-10 in the final.

****

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
PERSONALITIES, AWARDS & EVENTS
National Geoscience Awards – 2023 • This prestigious event was organized by
All-India Minority and Weaker Sections
Council in Dubai.
• Notable recipients included the late João
Bernardo Vieira II, from Guinea-Bissau,
Sidharth Srivastava and Namit Bajoria from
the industry sector, and Mohammed
Mahtabur Rahman, Chairman of NRB Bank
Limited.
• The arts were represented by Irka
Bochenko, while education saw MP
• The National Geoscience Awards (NGA) Rozario honored, among others.
are prestigious awards instituted by the • Social work awards went to Murli Panjabi
Ministry of Mines. and Sureandar Singh Khandari from the
• It aims to recognize and celebrate UAE.
extraordinary achievements and National Teachers’ Award 2024
contributions in the field of geosciences.
• The awards for 2023 presented to 21
Geoscientists by the President of India.
• It consists of 12 awards which include 9
individual awards and 3 team awards.
• The National Geoscience Award for
Lifetime Achievement 2023 was bestowed • President Droupadi Murmu will honour 50
upon Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee. educators with the National Teachers
• National Young Geoscientist Award 2023 Award 2024.
was presented to Dr. Ashutosh Pandey. • It aims to recognise and celebrate the
24th International Mother Teresa Awards remarkable contributions of educators
who have made significant impacts on
their students' lives and the broader
educational landscape in India.
• R.S. Muralidharan, a private school teacher
from Madurai, was selected as one of the
recipients for the National Teachers’
Award.
• R. Gopinathan from Gudiyatham is the
other recipient from Tamil Nadu.

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
New Zealand’s Māori King • The 7th Awards Ceremony has highest-ever
representation of women awardees at 33%,
reflecting their growing role in governance.
• The awards, comprising 5 Anubhav Awards
and 10 Jury Certificates, recognised
outstanding contributions across various
categories.
TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024

• New Zealand’s Maori King Kiingi Tuheitia

Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has died recently.
• The Kiingitanga – Maori King movement – was
founded in 1858 with the aim of uniting New
Zealand’s Indigenous Maori under a single
sovereign.
• TIME Magazine unveiled its 'TIME100 Most
• The position has significant political and
Influential People in AI 2024' list.
symbolic weight, but no legal status.
• This list includes many Indians like Google
• Tuheitia succeeded his mother in 2006 to
and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and
become the seventh Kiingitanga monarch.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
• The position is not necessarily hereditary.
• Other Key Indian figures include Ashwini
7th Anubhav Awards 2024
Vaishnaw, Nandan Nilekani and actor Anil
Kapoor.
• In 2023, a New Delhi court ruled infavor of
Anil Kapoor, curbing entities from
misusing his image.
• Kapoor emphasized protecting personality
rights against AI misuse for commercial
purposes.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024

• The ‘Anubhav’ portal was launched in March

2015 as a platform to highlight and recognise
the tireless contributions of retiring
government officials.
• This innovative project encourages the retiring
civil servants to document their experiences
and insights gained during their years of
service.
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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
It was presented to the best performing National 76th Primetime Emmy Awards held in Los
Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) cities in three Angeles, California.
categories based on population. Jeremy Allen White claimed the title of Best Actor
The winning cities are: in a Leading Role (Comedy) for his portrayal in
1. Category-1 (population over 10 Lakhs): The Bear.
Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra. His co-star, Liza Colon, also made a mark by
2. Category-2 (population between 3-10 winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi. (Comedy) for the same show.
3. Category-3(population under 3 Lakhs): “Shogun” set a single season record for most
Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh. wins with 18.
National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 “Baby Reindeer" and "The Bear'' won four
awards apiece.
Other Winners are:
• Best Reality Competition Program: The
Traitors (Peacock)
• Best Talk Series: The Daily Show (Comedy
Central)
• Outstanding Drama Series: Shogun
• Outstanding Comedy Series: Hacks.
• The president Droupadi Murmu gave the
WorldSkills 2024 competition
National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 to
the 15 nursing professionals
• This award was instituted by the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of
India in the year 1973.
• It aims to mark of recognition for the
meritorious services rendered by the nurses
and nursing professionals to the society.
• The award is given to outstanding nursing
personnel employed in central, states and
Union territories and voluntary organisations.
76th Primetime Emmy Awards 2024
• The 47th edition of the competition held from
September 10 to 15 in Lyon, France.
• India secured a bronze medal in hotel
reception; a bronze medal in patisserie and
confectionery; and a medallion of excellence
in cookery.
• Overall, India won four bronze medals and 12
Medallions of Excellence across skill sets.
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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
• This Competition is the world's largest • Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand one each
vocational education and skills excellence under overall hydro power capacity achievers
event. category.
• It was drawing participants from almost 70 Indian Women Dubai Awards 2024
participating countries to compete in various
trades and professions.
RE-INVEST Expo 2024

• It is honoring the achievements of Indian

women who have contributed in various
fields of excellence across the UAE.
• More than 30 awards were presented,
• The 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s recognizing women for their achievements in
Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) was held in areas such as technology, entrepreneurship,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat. healthcare, and the arts.
• This is the first time the meet was organised • Indian Women in Dubai is a vibrant
outside Delhi. community platform created by Reema
• Banks, Manufacturers and financial institutions Mahajan to connect and empower Indian
committed close to $386 billion or around Rs women in the UAE.
32.45 trillion to the development of RE India’s First Astronaut to ISS
projects by 2030.
• Gujarat won the maximum number of awards
during the event.
• Gujarat ranked on top under overall
renewable energy capacity achieved and
overall wind power capacity achieved
categories.
• It was ranked second under overall solar
power capacity achieved as Rajasthan pipped
Gujarat to be at the top.
• Other top ranked states under these • Indian astronaut group captain
categories were Rajasthan (bagged two Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history
awards), Tamil Nadu (two) and Karnataka as the pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
(two).

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
• This will mark India's first human presence Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed the
on the International Space Station (ISS). appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
• This will be the 2nd travel after Wing of Central Air Command on 01 September 2024.
Commander Rakesh Sharma's 1984
mission with the Soviet Union. SHARATH KAMAL NAMED FIRST INDIAN
• The Axiom-4 mission is a result of a AMBASSADOR OF ITTF FOUNDATION
bilateral initiative between India and US.

Jackson Hole Symposium 2024

Ace paddler Sharath Kamal was announced as

• The Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium the first Indian ambassador of the International
is an important event for the global economy Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) foundation at the
was held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA. Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
• This annual gathering has become a key
platform where the central bankers, RANDHIR SINGH ELECTED AS OLYMPIC
economists, and policymakers from around COUNCIL OF ASIA PRESIDENT
the world come together to discuss the most
pressing issues in global economics.
• It is known for its exclusive nature, with only
about 120 participants, including Federal
Reserve officials.

AIR MARSHAL ASHUTOSH DIXIT TAKES OVER

AS AOC-IN-C CENTRAL AIR COMMAND
Randhir Singh, a five-time Olympian and sports
administrator, became the first Indian to become
president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on
Saturday at the 44th OCA general assembly in
New Delhi.

AMRIT MOHAN PRASAD APPOINTED

SASHASTRA SEEMA BAL CHIEF

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
AAP leader Atishi took oath on September 21,
2024 as Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister and
became the youngest of all three to hold the top
office in the National Capital.

R. Ravindra appointed as India's next

Ambassador to Iceland

Senior IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad was

appointed as the Director General, Sashastra
Seema Bal (SSB)

WORLD CHAMPION BOXER NIKHAT ZAREEN

JOINS TELANGANA POLICE FORCE AS DSP

R. Ravindra was appointed as India’s next

Ambassador to Iceland, transitioning from Deputy
Permanent Representative at the UN.

ARUN GOEL APPOINTED INDIA’S NEXT

AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA

Boxer Nikhat Zareen joined the Telangana Police

as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Special
Police).

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday

ATISHI BECOMES 17TH WOMAN CHIEF
appointed former Election Commissioner Arun
MINISTER IN INDIA’S HISTORY
Goel as India’s Ambassador to Croatia, six months
after he abruptly resigned from the Election
Commission.

TUHIN KANTA PANDEY APPOINTED AS

FINANCE SECRETARY

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
year’s prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often
referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize.

ODISHA SWIMMER PRATYASA RAY TO GET

EKALABYA PURASKAR

The government has appointed Indian

Administrative Service (IAS) officer Tuhin Kanta
Pandey as Finance Secretary.

L’OREAL NAMES ALIA BHATT AS GLOBAL

BRAND AMBASSADOR
• Pratyasa Ray, an upcoming star of
Odisha’s swimming arena, has been
elected for the distinguished Ekalabya
Puraskar Award 2024.
• She secured six medals— four gold, one
silver and a bronze— in the Khelo India
University Games in Guwahati in February
this year.

Alia Bhatt became the global ambassador for

RHEA SINGHA WINS MISS UNIVERSE INDIA
L’Oréal Paris and will represent the brand in its
2024
global campaigns.

HAYAO MIYAZAKI HONORED WITH

PRESTIGIOUS RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD,
ALSO KNOWN AS ASIA’S NOBEL PRIZE.

Rhea Singha, a 19-year-old model from Gujarat,

has been crowned Miss Universe India 2024

Film director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli,

Hayao Miyazaki, has been honoured with this

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PERSONALITIES, AWARDS AND EVENTS)
SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2024 DAME MAGGIE SMITH, A LEGENDARY
ACTRESS PASSES AT 89

The 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize will be

Maggie Smith, the two-time Oscar-winning actor
awarded to Alexander Dunn of the Georgia
best known for playing the stern Professor
Institute of Technology, U.S.
McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise
and the tart-tongued Dowager Countess on
International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2024
“Downton Abbey” died.

POET KEKI N. DARUWALLA DIES AT 87

Following were the winners at the award show:

1. Best Film - Animal by Sandeep Reddy Vanga
2. Best Actor - Shah Rukh Khan, Jawan
3. Best Actress - Rani Mukerji, Mrs Chatterjee • Renowned poet and former IPS officer Keki N
4. Best Director - Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail Daruwalla, an inspiration to countless young
5. Best Supporting Actor - Anil Kapoor, Animal writers and poets who looked at him as a
6. Best Supporting Actress - Shabana Azmi, mentor, died at a Delhi hospital after a
Rocky Rani prolonged illness.
7. Best Actor in Negative Role - Bobby Deol,
Animal ****
8. Best Story - Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (REPORTS AND INDICES)
REPORTS & INDICES
Global Property Price Index 2024 Hurun India Rich List 2024

• Mumbai is ranked second in the Knight Frank’s

Prime Global Cities Index.
• The city recorded an annual increase in its real
estate prices at 13%.
• Mumbai and New Delhi (3rd) have recorded
an annual increase in their real estate prices at
13% and 10.6% respectively. • Mumbai is now the billionaire capital of Asia
• Bengaluru has witnessed a modest 3.7% rise. surpassing China's capital Beijing.
• Globally, the capital of Philippines, Manila has • Mumbai is also the top city for India's wealthy,
topped in the Index with an increase of 26%. followed by New Delhi and Hyderabad.
• In terms of state distribution, Maharashtra
Central Banker Report Cards 2024 leads with 470 entrants, while Delhi has 213.
• Gujarat ranks third with 129 entrants, with
Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka
occupying the next three positions.

2024 State of Global Air Report

• The Global Finance magazine released the

Central Banker Report Cards 2024.
• It announced the names of central bank
governors from 100 countries.
• It ranked “A+” to “F” scale for success in areas
• The State of Global Air 2024 report
such as inflation control, economic growth
published by the US-based Health Effects
goals, currency stability, and interest rate
Institute (HEI).
management.
• Air pollution accounted for 8.1 million
deaths globally in 2021.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (REPORTS AND INDICES)
• It is becoming second leading risk factor for HCL Tech has been named as the no.1 India-
•
death, including for children under five years. headquartered company in TIME magazine's
• China (2.3 million deaths) and India (2.1 World's Best Companies 2024 list.
million deaths) shared 55% of the world’s • HCL Tech is ranked at 112th positions,
fatalities from air pollution in 2021. followed by Infosys at the 119th position,
• Every day, 464 children under the age of five and Wipro at 134 positions.
die because of air pollution in India. • Mahindra Group, Axis Bank, SBI, ICICI Bank,
• 99% of the world’s population lives in places L&T, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC Limited,
with unhealthy levels of PM2.5 pollution. Reliance Industries, and Adani Group are the
• PM2.5 particles are tiny bits of pollution that top Indian firms featured to this list.
can be found in the air. • US-based tech giant Apple has topped the
• More than 90% of deaths related to air list globally.
pollution are linked to these PM2.5 particles. • It is followed by Ireland-based tech major
Accenture.
Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024 • Microsoft, BMW Group, and Amazon
featured next in line.
Global Cyber Security Index 2024

• United Nations’ World Meteorological

Organization (WMO) recently released its 4th
annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin.
• India has jumped to Tier 1 in the Global
• Europe and China show lower PM2.5
Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, released by
pollution.
the International Telecommunication Union
• North America and India see increased
(ITU).
emissions from anthropogenic activities.
• The report placed 46 countries in Tier 1, the
• Global Particulate Matter hotspots include
highest of the five tiers.
agricultural areas in Central Africa, Pakistan,
• This is reserved for “role modelling" countries
India, China and South-East Asia.
that demonstrate a strong commitment in all
• PM Reduces crop yields by 15% as it reduces
five cybersecurity pillars.
sunlight reaching leaf surfaces.
• Most countries are either “establishing" (Tier
3) or “evolving" (Tier 4) in terms of
TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2024
cybersecurity.
• India has strong legal measures in place, like
the Information Technology Act (2000) and
the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (2022).

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (REPORTS AND INDICES)
Unlocking the power of healthy Longevity • The Greater One-Horned Rhino population
has steadily grown from fewer than 100
animals a century ago to around 4,014 today.
• It increased by 20% over the last decade.
• They are found in the Indo-Nepal Terai,
northern West Bengal, and Assam.
• In India, the Greater One-Horned Rhino
population stood at 3,262 at the end of 2021.
• Over 90% of them are in Kaziranga National
Park.
• Rhino’s poaching in Africa increased by 4%
• The World Bank released a new report from 2022 to 2023.
titled "Unlocking the Power of Healthy • At least 586 African rhinos poached in 2023-
Longevity: Demographic Change, Non- one every 15 hours.
communicable Diseases and Human Asia Power Index 2024
Capital".
• It highlights the potential for bold action
in promoting healthy longevity to save 150
million lives and extend millions more by
2050.
• It addresses the rapid demographic
changes, as one in three people will be
over 60 by mid-century, with a focus on
low- and middle-income countries.
• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) • India ranks third in the annual Asia Power
already account for over 70% of deaths in Index, released by an Australian think tank.
these regions. • It surpasses Japan on the back of strong
• The World Bank has set a target to provide post-COVID 19 economic growths.
better health services to 1.5 billion people • China's power appeared to plateau just
by 2030. below the United States.
• U.S ranked at the top of the Index,
State of Rhino Report 2024 followed by China, India, Japan, Australia
and Russia.
World Talent Ranking 2024

• The 2024 State of Rhino Report was recently

released by the International Rhino
Foundation.
• Currently, fewer than 28,000 rhinos remain
worldwide across all five species.
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (REPORTS AND INDICES)
• India’s ranking at the IMD’s World Talent
Ranking 2024 has come down to 58 from
56 last year.
• In 2022, India was at the 52nd rank.
• Switzerland came first, Singapore second,
and Luxembourg third out of 67
economies in the eleventh edition.
• Singapore’s steady rise to the top – for the
first time since the inception of the
ranking in 2014.

Global Innovation Index 2024

Switzerland crowned as best country in the

world.

In a new survey which is called “Best

India has achieved a significant milestone in the countries for 2024” it is found that Switzerland
Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, securing the was crowned as the best country in the world.
39th position among 133 global economies. Switzerland achieved this fate in the third year
successively. This survey has included 89 countries
for the results.
Categories included in Survey
• Adventure, Agility, Heritage, Entrepreneurship,
Quality of life, Cultural purpose
Top 10 countries in Survey
1. Switzerland
2. Japan
3. United states of America
4. Canada
5. Australia
6. Sweden
7. Germany
8. United Kingdom
9. New Zealand
10. Denmark

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (REPORTS AND INDICES)
Asia Power Index 2024 • FATF lauds India’s efforts to implement
measures to tackle illicit finance including
money laundering and terror funding
• Places India in “regular follow-up” which
is the highest rating category by FATF.

KERALA TOPS THE FOOD SAFETY INDEX 2024

FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Kerala secured the first position in the State Food

Safety Index (SFSI) 2024 for the second
consecutive
year, highlighting its commitment to food safety.
India becomes 3rd Most Powerful
SFSI Overview: The SFSI is an annual assessment
Nation in Asia, Surpasses Japan.
by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
• India has become the third most powerful
India (FSSAI), initiated in 2018-19, aimed at
nation in Asia, surpassing Japan in the Asia
improving the food safety ecosystem in India
Power Index.
through various performance parameters
• The Asia Power Index report for 2024
indicated that strong post-COVID economic
MP TOPS THE LIST OF HAVING AYUSH
growth has led India to increase its economic
DOCTORS IN PHCS IN INDIA
capability by 4.2 points.
• The report also highlights that India
performed well across all other resource
measures, especially in future resources, where
its score rose by 8.2 points.
• This growth suggests that India’s youthful
population may deliver a demographic
dividend in the decades to come, unlike many
other countries in Asia. In the Latest GoI (Government of India) Report on
Health Dynamics of India reveals data that
FATF lauds India’s Madhya Pradesh topped overall for having AYUSH
doctors (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani,
Siddha, Sowa rigpa and Homeopathy) facility in
the Primary health care centers (PHCs) in all over
India.

****

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
Underground Ocean on Ariel • The team has created a material capable of
detecting the toxic cyanide at low
concentration.
• It will enhance the safety of drinking water
and food products.
• Cyanide, a potent toxin, is present in
various plants, fruits, and microorganisms.
• WHO is limiting the cyanide
concentrations to below 0.19 mg/L due to
its lethal effects on humans and aquatic
• Scientists discovered carbon dioxide ice on
life.
Ariel, one of Uranus' moons.
• Cyanide exposure can occur through
• It suggests that the presence of a liquid
consumption of certain foods like cassava
ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust.
(tapioca) and even common items like
• Underground ocean could be undergoing
apple and apricot seeds, sprouting
chemical reactions, releasing carbon
potatoes, and almonds.
dioxide that then escapes to the surface
Miniature CRISPR Tool
through ice fissures.
• Alternatively, it was suggested that Uranus’
magnetic field might be breaking down
molecules to produce carbon dioxide ice.
• In addition to carbon dioxide, the
scientists also detected carbon monoxide
and traces of carbonates on Ariel.
• These minerals typically form when water
interacts with rocks.
• Ariel is one of the 27 moons orbiting
Uranus, the third largest planet in our solar
system.
New Cyanide Sensor • Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR,
scientists can precisely edit genomes to
introduce desirable genetic traits or
remove undesirable ones.
• However, there has been a critical obstacle:
a commonly used form of the CRISPR
system is too big for plant genomes.
• This system uses one of two proteins, Cas9
or Cas12, to target specific parts of the
DNA.
• But they are too bulky for plant cells to
• Researchers from Kerala has achieved a
accommodate.
new chemical sensing by developing a
• Researchers recently presented an
highly sensitive and selective cyanide
alternative that could solve this major
sensor.
problem in plant genome editing.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• They developed a plant genome editor • SpaceX launched its Polaris Dawn mission
consisting of a protein called ISDra2TnpB, with US billionaire Jared Isaacman and
derived from bacteria called Deinococcus three others into space.
radiodurans. • The mission aims to reach an
• ISDra2TnpB is less than half the size of unprecedented orbital altitude for a
Cas9 and Cas12. commercial flight, potentially ascending
mRNA Lung Cancer vaccine 1,400 kilometers above Earth's surface.
• This would surpass the record set by the
Gemini 11 mission and mark the highest
Earth orbit flown by humans since the
Apollo program.
• The mission faces unique challenges like,
lack of an airlock on the Crew Dragon
capsule.
• This is the company’s attempt at the
• The phase 1 trial for BNT116 is underway world’s first private spacewalk.
at 34 sites across seven countries, • The 20-minute spacewalk, scheduled for
including the UK, US, and Germany. the third day of the mission.
• This is the world first mRNA-based lung • It will take place 434 miles (700 km) above
cancer vaccine, developed by BioNTech. Earth.
• BNT116 aims to enable the immune Elemental Abundance Measurements of Lunar
system to target NSCLC tumour markers, Soil
attacking cancer cells while sparing
healthy ones.
• Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer
deaths worldwide, accounting for around
1.8 million deaths annually.
• mRNA (messenger RNA) is a molecule that
contains the instructions or recipe that • Chandrayaan-3 mission has provided the
directs the cells to make a protein using its first in-situ elemental abundance
natural machinery. measurements of lunar soil in the South
Polar Region of the Moon.
Polaris Dawn Mission 2024 • Data of the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS) on the Pragyan Rover
used for this.
• These measurements support the Lunar
Magma Ocean (LMO) hypothesis.
• This hypothesis suggests that the Moon’s
primordial crust formed as lighter minerals
floated to the surface.
• The findings endorsed the theory that
magma formed the Moon's surface around
4.5 billion years ago.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• APXS also detected the higher levels of • The rover will go up 1,000 feet (305
magnesium-rich minerals, indicating metres) to the rim of Jezero Crater to dig
contributions from deeper lunar layers. up rock samples.
• Scientists also found evidence of a huge • Perseverance has collected 22 rock core
meteorite crash in the region four billion samples from the floor of the crater, which
years ago. was once filled with water.
• The crash is thought to have made the
South Pole–Aitken basin, one of the largest Oropouche Virus
craters in the solar system, measuring
2,500 km across.

New Alzheimer’s blood test

• Researchers have developed a new blood

test to detect Alzheimer’s disease. • South America reported more than 8,000
• It helps diagnose the disease even at the cases by an insect-borne virus since
early stage of mild cognitive impairment. August 1.
• The new blood test was named as • It is similar to dengue and is spread
PrecivityAD2. primarily by the bite of infected biting
• It is about 90% accurate in identifying AD midges, a kind of fly.
in people experiencing cognitive • It was detected for the first time in 1955
symptoms. and was found in Trinidad and Tobago.
• One in five women and one in 10 men
develop dementia due to Alzheimer’s Humanoid Vyomitra in 2025
disease.

Jezero Crater Rim

• NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has • Before launching astronauts on the

started off on its most ambitious ascent to Gaganyaan mission next year, ISRO will
the rim of Jezero Crater. send a humanoid robot, Vyommitra, into
space to test spacecraft safety.
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• The humanoid’s skull was designed at • NASA has launched satellite known as
ISRO’s Thiruvananthapuram unit. Tanager-1a by using SpaceX Falcon 9
• India’s first attempt at sending humans rocket.
into space is scheduled for next year. • The satellite can detect major emitters of
• But before that two uncrewed preparatory carbon dioxide and methane.
missions, Gaganyaan-1 (G1) and • The satellite will use imaging spectrometer
Gaganyaan-2 (G2), would be flown, the technology to track methane and carbon
first one later this year. dioxide emissions.
• The G2 mission will carry Vyommitra inside • Methane is an invisible but strong
the human-rated pressurised crew greenhouse gas, and the second largest
module. contributor to global warming after
carbon dioxide.
J0529-4351 • According to a 2022 report, exposure to
ground-level ozone could be contributing
to one million premature deaths every
year.

NEOWISE Telescope

• Astronomers discovered J0529-4351, the

most powerful quasar.
• It has brightness 500 trillion times greater
than that of the sun.
• The light from the quasar requires 12 • Nasa’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field
billion years to travel to Earth. Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) has
• Quasars are incredibly luminous cores of concluded its mission.
distant galaxies, fuelled by the super • It was launched in 2009, to explore the
massive black holes at their centres. universe’s farthest reaches, observing
distant galaxies, supermassive black holes,
Tanager 1 and more.
• Over the decades, it catalogued more than
44,000 solar system objects, including the
first known Earth Trojan asteroid.
• Previously orbiting at 310 miles above
Earth, it now resides at just 217 miles.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
Europa Clipper Mission • But the nuclear clock focuses just on the
nucleus.
• Atom is 100,000 times bigger than its
nucleus.
• The nuclear clock’s energy level is closely
coupled to strong forces in the nucleus.
• The atomic clocks mainly depend on
electromagnetic forces.

Agni-4 Ballistic Missile Test 2024

• Nasa is all set to launch the Europa Clipper

mission next month to explore Jupiter's
moon Europa
• The Europa Clipper mission is costing $5
billion.
• It aims to determine whether the ocean
believed to exist beneath Europa’s icy
surface could support life.
• India has completed a successful test-fire
World’s First Nuclear Clock of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile.
• The range was increased even further with
Agni-4, which can hit as far as 4,000
kilometres.
• The 20-metre-long missile can carry a
payload of 1,000 kg and can be fired from
a road-mobile launcher.
• The Agni-4 missile was earlier called Agni-
2 Prime.

Solar paraboloid technology

• The scientists develop the first prototype

of the nuclear clock, which is much more
advanced than the atomic clocks we
currently rely on.
• Current atomic clocks measures time with
exceptional precision, losing only seconds
across billions of years.
• Atomic clocks measure time based on
electrons jumping between energy levels
in atoms.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• Solar paraboloid technology is the Zombie fungus
advanced approach to harnessing solar
power.
• This technology uses parabolic dish-
shaped reflectors to concentrate sunlight
onto a small receiver, significantly
improving energy efficiency.
• The core of solar paraboloid technology
lies in its ability to focus a large amount of
solar energy onto a single point.
• This concentrated solar power (CSP)
• Researcher discovered a tarantula infected
method allows for higher temperatures
by a zombie fungus.
and more efficient electricity generation
• This marking the first recorded instance of
compared to traditional solar panels.
• The technology can produce energy even this fungus infecting a tarantula, as it
in low-light conditions, making it a typically targets ants.
versatile solution for diverse environments. • The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is
commonly referred to as "cordyceps."
IISER’s CsPbBr3 • This parasitic fungus is known for infecting
insects, particularly ants.
• The zombie fungus is notable for its ability
to control the behaviour of its host.
• It is specifically forcing ants to seek out
environments that optimize the survival
and spread of the fungus.
• Despite its name, it does not infect
humans.
• The fungus is predominantly found in
tropical forest ecosystems.
Saturn’s rings
• Indian Institute of Science Education and
Research in Pune, has shown a new way to
grow special crystals.
• Along with collaborators, its team has
reported a new way to grow special
crystals called CsPbBr 3 nanoplatelets.
• The superior properties of these crystals
make them promising candidates for use
in photodetectors and electronic devices.
• CsPbBr 3 is a type of material that has
good optoelectronic properties. This
means it can interact with light in ways
that are very useful for devices like solar • In March 2025, Saturn's rings will no
cells, LEDs, and detectors. longer be visible from Earth due to the

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
planet’s axis tilt, which will align the rings • Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace
from the Earth’s perspective. launched the country's first indigenously
• This rare occurrence is expected to built combat unmanned aerial vehicle
significantly change how Saturn is viewed (UAV), the FWD 200B.
from our planet. • This marks a significant milestone, as India
• Saturn has an axis tilted similarly to Earth’s. joins the ranks of nations equipped with
During one half of its year (1 Saturn year advanced unmanned combat aircraft.
equals 29.4 Earth years), the planet tilts in • The bomber FWD 200B is classified as a
the Sun’s direction. Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)
• That’s why the upper part of its ring unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
shines. • It has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
• They temporarily disappear every 29.5 of 102 kg and can carry a payload of 30
years as the planet completes its orbit kg.
around the Sun. • The UAV operates at a cruising altitude of
• After March 2025, they'll become visible 12,000 feet and can reach up to 15,000
again due to Saturn's axial tilt. feet.
• But it will disappear again in November of Operation Bhediya – Uttar Pradesh
the same year.
• Its rings will come back into full view by
2032.
• Saturn's ring system is not a single, solid
entity but rather a collection of distinct
sections.
• It includes the prominent A, B, and C rings,
accompanied by the fainter D, E, F, and G
rings.
• These sections are separated by gaps, such
as the notable Cassini Division, which
stretches approximately 4,800 Km wide.

FWD 200B
• The Uttar Pradesh state government has
given the nod to shoot the man-eating
wolf/wolves at sight in Bahraich.
• The state government has also declared it
a 'Wildlife Disaster' affected area.
• The state government has launched
'Operation Bhediya' to address the issue
comprehensively.
• Under this operation, drone cameras and
thermal drone mapping techniques are
being used by the Forest Department to
catch the wolves.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• The Chief Wildlife Warden can allow • It used a satellite-based sensor that is 475
hunting of a Schedule I wild animal if it km above the earth.
poses a danger to humans by issuing a • This novel method is known as GNSS-
written order explaining the reasons. Reflectometry (GNSS-R).
• An instrument capable of performing this
New laser weapon – China role was mounted on ISRO's EOS-08
satellite that was launched recently.

1,700 ancient and unknown virus species

• China have equipped one of its

amphibious assault ships with a laser-
directed energy weapon.
• They installed laser weapon on a People's
Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 071
amphibious transport dock.
• The laser weapon installed on the US ship,
officially known as the Laser Weapon
System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mk 2 Mod 0. • Researchers have discovered over 1,700
• It can be used as a dazzler to blind optical virus remnants buried deep within a
sensors and seekers on an adversary's glacier in western China.
platforms or weapons. • Many of these viruses being previously
unknown to science.
GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) • The oldest of this date back more than
• ISRO, has successfully demonstrated a 40,000 years.
satellite technique to capture data on soil • They were extracted from a 1,000-foot ice
moisture, surface inundation, and ocean core from the expansive Guliya Glacier on
surface wind and wave measurements. the Tibetan Plateau.

Mercury’s south pole

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• Recently the BepiColombo probe made its 4th • Magnetic field is the shield that protects
flyby near Mercury. planet Earth from the solar wind, the
• The satellite has approached the planet’s stream of charged particles released by
surface at a record low distance of 165 the sun.
kilometers. • Ambipolar field is counteracts gravity and
• During the visit, the probe has taken the first ejects particles into space.
ever images of Mercury’s south pole.
• The historic photograph was taken when the Black Hole Finder App
probe was about 3,500 Km from Mercury’s
surface.
• The BepiColombo was Launched in October
2018.
This probe consists of 2 spacecraft:
1. Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the European
Space Agency and
2. Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter of the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
• The Dutch Black Hole Consortium recently
Earth’s third energy field - Polar Wind unveiled a new app called Black Hole
Finder.
• This will aid astronomers identify new
black holes.
• The app is free-to-use and is available on
Android and iOS and can also be accessed
from a web browser.
• The app description states that users who
identify 1000 transients will be granted the
“Super User” status.

• Earth’s third energy field, ambipolar known Next Generation Launch Vehicle
as ‘Polar Wind’, is only existed in theory so
far.
• It has now been discovered by Nasa after
a search of 60 years.
• Polar winds have crucial answers about
how Earth’s atmosphere evaporates
rapidly above the north and south poles.
• The ambipolar field acts like a conveyor
belt which lifts the atmospheric particles
into space.
• Gravitational field is responsible for
maintaining our atmosphere and if there
were not enough gravity it would go into
space.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• The NGLV is designed to enhance payload • The ISS is operational since 2000 and was
capacity threefold compared to the current a collaborative effort between NASA,
LVM3. Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
• Its cost will be only 1.5 times more. • China’s Tiangong, meaning "Heavenly
• The vehicle will incorporate reusability Palace," began its operations in June 2022.
features, ensuring more affordable access • Russia plans to build its own station, the
to space and the integration of modular Russian Orbital Station (ROS).
green propulsion systems.
• The NGLV is engineered to support a Organ-on-Chip Technology
maximum payload of 30 tonnes to Low
Earth Orbit (LEO) and will include a
reusable first stage.
• Currently, India has achieved self-reliance
in launching satellites up to 10 tonnes to
LEO and 4 tonnes to Geo-Synchronous
Transfer Orbit (GTO) through operational
vehicles like PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV.

Bharatiya Anthariksh Station

• The Government of India announced the
‘BioE3’ policy to drive innovation in the
biotechnology sector.
• For this, it has established
biomanufacturing facilities, bio-AI hubs,
and bio-foundries.
• The policy also aims to boost the
development of biologics such as gene
therapy and cell therapy.
• The global organ-on-chip market is
expected to be worth around $1.4 billion
by 2032.
• An organ-on-chip is a small device
• The union cabinet has approved the
designed to recreate the dynamic
building of first unit of the Bharatiya
functions of some human organ in a
Anatriksh Station by extending the scope
controlled microenvironment.
of Gaganyaan program.
• They are expected to be better than the
• India planned to create an operational
cell cultures and animal models, that
Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and
researchers currently use at testing the
Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040.
effects of a drug.
• The first module of the country’s space
• India amended the New Drugs and Clinical
station is to be called Bharatiya Antariksh
Trials Rules 2019 to permit the use of
Station (BAS-1).
human organs-on-chips.
• This is set to debut with its inaugural
module in 2028.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
Temporary ‘Mini-Moon’ 2024 Partial lunar Eclipse 2024

•The partial lunar eclipse coincided with the

September full moon, known as the
Harvest Moon.
• An asteroid that cannot escape Earth’s • This full moon was also a supermoon,
gravitation is called a mini-moon. appearing slightly larger and brighter than
• Earth is going to witness a new mini-moon usual due to its closer proximity to Earth.
for a short period, starting from • The eclipse was observed from western
September 29 until November 25. Asia, North and South America, Europe,
• That asteroid, named 2024 PT5, is just 33 Africa, and parts of Antarctica.
feet long and is travelling in cosmic space. • The next total lunar eclipse visible from
• It will soon be captured by Earth’s gravity India will occur on September 7, 2025,
for a singular orbit. followed by a partial lunar eclipse on
• This 2024 PT5 is not a mini-moon March 3, 2026.
technically, as it will not complete one full Image of the Red Spider Nebula
revolution around Earth.
• It will remain in the planet’s orbit for over
56 days only.
• It will follow paths known as "horseshoe
orbiters" due to their shape around Earth
and the Sun.
• The 2024 PT5 asteroid was first discovered
by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last
Alert System in August.
• Earlier in 2006, an asteroid orbited Earth
• The Hubble Telescope clicked a few pictures
for nearly a year, and another did so for
of the stunning Red Spider Nebula.
several years before leaving in 2020.
• It is located approximately 3,000 light-years
away in the constellation Sagittarius.
• This planetary nebula is home to one of the
most scorching stars in the universe.
• Its surface temperatures are reaching as high
as 250,000°C (450,000°F).

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Science and Technology)
• Hubble is a joint project of the NASA and the The European Space Agency's (ESA) Jupiter Icy
European Space Agency (ESA). Moons Explorer (JUICE) has successfully
• The telescope was launched on April 24, completed a world-first lunar-Earth flyby, using
1990. the gravity of Earth to send it Venus-bound, on a
• It has made more than 1.4 million shortcut to Jupiter through the inner Solar
observations of nearly 47,000 celestial System. This was the first time a spacecraft had
objects. performed such a maneuver.

PARAM Rudra Supercomputers ****

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India virtually

launched three Param Rudra Super
Computing Systems and a High-Performance
Computing (HPC) system for weather and
climate research.
• It is designed to tackle complex
computational challenges across various
scientific and engineering domains.
• Three Param Rudra supercomputers have
been developed at Rs 130 crores,
indigenously under the National
Supercomputing Mission.
• They have been deployed at three key
locations: Delhi, Pune and Kolkata.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Defence & Military Exercises)
EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS- 2024

• Malpe and Mulki, fourth and fifth ships of the

Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water
Craft project, being built by M/s Cochin
Shipyard Ltd, for the Indian Navy, were
launched on 09 Sep 24 at CSL, Kochi.

• The 20th edition of India-US Joint Military NAVY COMMISSIONS VINETRA AT INS
Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 commenced at SATAVAHANA
Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing
Ranges, Rajasthan.
• Exercise YUDH ABHYAS has been held
annually since 2004, alternating between
India and the USA.

EXERCISE AL NAJAH V

• The Kalvari Submarine Escape Training

Facility, named ‘Vinetra’, was officially
commissioned on September 13, 2024, by
Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer
Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval
Command, at INS Satavahana, Visakhapatnam.
• Built by L&T Defence as a turnkey project, the
• The Indian Army contingent departed for the facility features a five-meter escape tower
5th edition of India-Oman Joint Military integrated with a diving basin.
Exercise AL NAJAH. • ‘Vinetra’, meaning “Trainer” in Sanskrit,
• It has been held biennially since 2015, represents a crucial step in ensuring the safety
alternating between India and Oman. The and operational readiness.
exercise was scheduled to be conducted
from 13th to 26th September 2024 at NAVIKA SAGAR PARIKRAMA II
Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman. The Indian Navy embarked on the extraordinary
mission of circumnavigating the globe with the
INDIAN NAVY LAUNCHED ANTI-SUBMARINE second edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama
WARFARE VESSELS MALPE AND MULKI AT expedition.
COCHIN SHIPYARD

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (Defence & Military Exercises)
Defence Research & Development Organisation
(DRDO), along with researchers of Indian Institute
of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed Light
Weight Bullet Proof Jackets named ABHED
(Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat).

Parvat Prahaar

The historic voyage will be flagged off from Naval

Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi, Goa.

SWIMMING EXPEDITION TO ISLANDS NAMED

AFTER PARAM VIR CHAKRA AWARDEES The Indian Army has conducted a strategic
FLAGGED-IN military exercise, 'Parvat Prahaar', in Ladakh,
focusing on high-altitude warfare and operations.
The Mountain Strike Corps of the Northern
Command, which is responsible for operations in
this sensitive region along the Line of Actual
Control (LAC), is involved in the exercise.

Exercise Udara Shakti 2024

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday

flagged-in a first-of-its-kind Open Water
Swimming Expedition to the 21 Islands of the
Andaman & Nicobar archipelagos named after
the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Awardees, in New
Delhi. It was a joint air exercise between the Indian Air
Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force
DRDO, IIT DELHI DEVELOPED LIGHTWEIGHT (RMAF) that took place at Kuantan, Malaysia. The
BULLET PROOF JACKETS IAF participated with Su-30MKI fighter jets. The
Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, twin-engine,
multirole fighter jet. It is jointly developed by the
Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

*****

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40
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
Study on Glacial Lakes 2024 • These moths are typically found at 500-3,000
feet above sea level in tropical dry forests.
• They rest during the day and remain active at
night.
Antarctic dragonfish

• The National Glacial Lake Outburst Floods Risk

Mitigation Programme (NGRMP) was
approved by the Centre.
• There are nearly 7,500 glacial lakes in the • Researchers in the Antarctic Peninsula
Himalayan Mountain ranges located in India have discovered a new species of Antarctic
and some of them are being monitored via dragonfish.
remote sensing. • The dragonfish is called the Banded
• The National Disaster Management Authority Dragonfish or Akarotaxis gouldae.
(NDMA) has finalised a list of 189 “high-risk” • The fish was named in honor of a recently
glacial lakes for mitigation measures to reduce retired Antarctic research and supply
the risk. vessel called the Laurence M. Gould and
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) in an its crew.
October 2023 report stated that 902 glacial Elusive Madras Hedgehog
lakes and water bodies are being monitored
via satellite.
Atlas moth

• The elusive Madras Hedgehog

(Paraechinus nudiventris) is a nocturnal
and believed to occupy only a restricted
• The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is considered geographical range encompassing parts of
endemic to South East Asia and to be one of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
the largest moths in the world. • The population of the species and the
• It was spotted by a birdwatcher in Kalvarayan state of its habitats remain little
Hills in the Eastern Ghats recently.
understood.
• This is the first sighting of the species in • The IUCN classified it as the “least
Kalvarayan Hills in Kallakurichi district. concern”.
• This is one of the largest moths found in India. • The most suitable climate for the species
was in western and southern Tamil Nadu.
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
• Additionally, the Korangaadu grasslands, • This cooling event sparked predictions of an
semi-arid pasture lands, and dryland are “Atlantic Niña,” a climate pattern similar to the
predicted as suitable habitats in Tamil Pacific Ocean’s La Niña.
Nadu. • An Atlantic Niña could bring more rainfall to
Poba Reserve Forest western Africa while causing less rainfall in
northeastern Brazil and the Gulf of Guinea.
• The last time this pattern was observed was in
2013.
Arnoux’s Beaked Whales

• Assam govt is to notify Poba Reserve Forest as

wildlife sanctuary.
• The Poba Reserve Forest, a rainforest located • The Researchers found several rare
in the northeastern part of Assam. Arnoux’s beaked whales in the coast of
• The proposed Wildlife Sanctuary will be Antarctica.
including the Poba Reserve Forest, Kabu • These whales hadn’t been seen for
Chapri Proposed Reserve Forest and the decades.
surrounding riverine areas. • They are known for their brilliant diving
• The forest is also a habitat for about 45 abilities and can measure up to around 30
species of birds and reptiles, and the feet long.
confluence of Siang and Lohit rivers supports • In the 11 expeditions conducted in the
a diverse range of fish species. area between 1988 and 2018, scientists
Temperature Drop in Atlantic Ocean had never spotted the whales.
• They were discovered in 1851 and are
elusive marine animals mostly found in the
Southern Hemisphere.

Northern bald ibis

• The stretch of the central Atlantic was falling

in temperatures up to 86°F near the equator.
• Then, almost overnight, the mercury plunged
to 72°F.
• This is the warmest since 1982.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
• The northern bald ibis, also known as the Dire State of Global Fish Stocks 2024
Waldrapp, is used to be common across
North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and
much of Europe.
• However, it became extinct in central
Europe for over 300 years due to hunting
and habitat destruction.
• By 2011, the first bird migrated back to
Bavaria (Germany) from Tuscany (Italy)
without human help.
• Now scientists guide 36 of these birds on
their ancient migration route from Austria • Researchers have found that significantly
to Spain using an ultralight aircraft. more fish stocks are overfished or have
• This is the first use of an ultralight aircraft already collapsed compared to previous
for reintroducing a migratory species. estimates.
• It is inspired by the 1996 film Fly Away • Fishing pressure exceeds what fish
Home and naturalist Bill Lishman’s 1988 populations can naturally replenish.
work with Canadian geese. • When catches fall below 10 per cent of the
Earth's highest ever heat index original biomass, the stock is considered
collapsed.
• Nearly a third of fish stocks classified by
the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) as “maximally sustainably fished” are
actually overfished.
• Within the overfished category, 85 per
cent more stocks have likely collapsed
(below 10 per cent original biomass) than
previously estimated.
White Rhinos status 2024

• A village in southern Iran has recorded the

earth's highest ever heat index at 82.2°C
(180°F) with a dew point of 97°F (36.1°C).
• The extreme figures were generated
through a combination of an air
temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) and 85%
relative humidity.
• The weather station in Dhahran, Saudi • The white rhino is also known as the Square-
Arabia has recorded a dew point as high lipped rhino due to the shape of its mouth
as 93°F (33.9°C) in recent days. compared with its African cousin, the black
• It currently holds the world record dew rhino.
point of 95°F (35°C). • There are two subspecies of white rhino:

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43
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
• Southern white rhinos: Ceratotherium simum • The Pollachi division of the Anamalai Tiger
simum Reserve (ATR).
• Northern white rhinos: Ceratotherium simum • The survey has identified 20 species of
cottoni reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.
• The Southern white rhino is one of the more • The survey team recorded 11 reptile
prevalent species, with a population of species and 12 amphibian species in Grass
approximately 17,000 individuals. Hills National Park.
• The Northern white rhino is Critically • This park is spread over 3,122 hectares in
Endangered with only two individuals left, the Valparai forest range.
living at Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. • A total of nine reptiles and 22 amphibians
were recorded in Karian Shola National
Rare Dung Beetle Species Park, which is situated at Top Slip in
Ulandy forest range.
• The survey team had recorded the
critically endangered Anaimalai flying frog
(Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus) and the
Deccan night frog (Nyctibatrachus
deccanensis).

Ozone Pollution and Tropical Forest Growth

• Entomologists have discovered a new species

of dung beetle, Onitis visthara.
• Onitis is a relatively rare genus of dung
beetles found in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and
Palaearctic regions.
• Before the discovery of the three new species, • The ground-level ozone is significantly
only 176 species of Onitis had been reported hampering the growth of tropical forests.
globally. • It is resulting in an estimated 290 million
• All species of this genus are tunnellers, tonnes of carbon dioxide remaining
meaning they bury large quantities of cattle uncaptured annually.
dung beneath the dung pat to provide food • This low-lying ozone interferes with plants'
for their larvae. ability to absorb carbon dioxide and poses
Herpetofauna Survey health risks to humans.
• The research indicates that the ground-
level ozone reduces new yearly growth in
tropical forests by an average of 5.1%.
• The effect is even more pronounced in
certain regions, with Asian tropical forests
experiencing a staggering 10.9% loss in
new growth.

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44
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
India’s second largest butterfly species and location rather than its physical
properties.
• As opposed to teal carbon, black and
brown carbon are primarily produced by
incomplete combustion of organic matter
from sources such as wild fires, fossil fuel
combustion, and industrial activities.
Elongated Tortoise

• India’s second largest butterfly species,

Southern Birdwing, has been found in
Madurai district.
• India’s largest butterfly species, the Golden
Birdwing is widely found in the Himalayan
region.
• The Southern Birdwing can be seen in • A critically endangered species, the
Western and Eastern Ghats regions. elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata),
• These species are found in abundance in was spotted in Haryana.
Sirumalai hills near Dindigul. • The tortoise is found in the Sal deciduous
and hilly evergreen forests.
India’s first study on ‘teal carbon’ • It is distributed across Southeast Asia from
northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and all of
Indochina.
• It also inhabits lowlands and foothills of up
to 1,000 m above sea level.

Air Quality Management Exchange Platform

• India’s first study on ‘teal carbon’ was

undertaken at the Keoladeo National Park
(KNP) in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district.
• The pilot project had sought to develop
holistic nature-based solutions to address
climate change.
• Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in the
non-tidal freshwater wetlands,
encompassing carbon sequestered in
vegetation, microbial biomass, and the
dissolved and particulate organic matter.
• ‘Teal carbon’ being a colour-based
terminology reflects the classification of
the organic carbon based on its functions

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45
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENVIRONMENT)
• Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
launched an Air Quality Management
Exchange Platform (AQMx) following
UNEA-6 resolution.
• It aims to increase the regional
cooperation and action on improving air
quality globally.
• The platform will guide city and national
air quality managers on how to meet
WHO Air Quality Guidelines and interim
targets.
• Air pollution causes more than 8 million
premature deaths annually and particularly
affects poorer places and more vulnerable
populations.

Myristica Swamp Forest

• The Researchers have discovered a sacred

grove — a Myristica swamp forest in
Kumbral, which is protected by the local
community.
• Myristica magnifica is a species of plant
native to Karnataka and Kerala, and is
classified as endangered.
• Earlier researchers discovered the same in
Hewale - Bambarde in Sindhudurg district.
• This new finding makes Kumbral, the
second village in Maharashtra to have
such a unique forest patch.

****

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46
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ECONOMY)
UPI Circle • It enables consumers availing credit lines from
their banks to seamlessly link them to UPI on
PhonePe for merchant payments.
• It provides the flexibility of short-term credit
that helps them manage their monthly
expenses better.

Unified Lending Interface

• NCPI recently introduced a new feature called

“UPI Circle.”
• It allows users to add their family and friends • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working in
to pay using their account. launch of the Unified Lending Interface (ULI).
• The new function will help those who depend • Similar to the Unified Payment Interface (UPI),
on others to manage their finances, eventually this ULI will transform the lending landscape.
increasing the number of people making • ULI platform will facilitate a seamless and
digital payments across India. consent-based flow of the digital information,
• The system consists of the primary user who is including land records of various states, from
the account holder and controls the multiple data service providers to lenders.
secondary user. • It will cut down the time taken for credit
• Also, there are two types of delegation – full appraisal, especially for smaller and rural
and partial. borrowers.
• For full delegation, the monthly limit is set at
Rs 15,000 per delegation and secondary users Top investment destination in 2023-24
are limited to a transaction limit of Rs 5,000.

Credit Line On UPI

• PhonePe launched Credit Line on UPI on its

platform.

[Link] | +91 91509 81461 | +91 91509 81462

47
 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ECONOMY)
• Gujarat replaced Uttar Pradesh in attracting MSCI EM Index
bank funds for projects in the state in 2023-
24.
• Gujarat got funds for 154 projects accounting
for 14.7 percent of the Rs 3.9 lakh crore
financed by banks and financial institutions
• This marked an increase from the previous
year’s 14% share.
• UP received funds for 69 projects, with its
share dropping to 7.6% from 16.2% in the
previous year.
• Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh were the other
states in the top destination.

Floor Price on Basmati Rice

• India has surpassed China to become the
top weight nation in the MSCI Emerging
Market (EM) Investable Market Index (IMI)
for the first time.
• Indian equities together carry a weighting
of 22.27 per cent in the index, edging
ahead of Chinese stocks.
• Their combined weight now has fallen to
21.58 per cent.
• China’s market capitalisation of $8.14
trillion being over 60 per cent greater than
India’s $5.03 trillion.
• The MSCI Emerging Markets Investable
• The Government of India has now decided Market Index (EM IMI) is a comprehensive
to completely remove the floor price on index that includes large, mid, and small-
Basmati Rice exports. cap stocks from 24 emerging market
• The government on August 27, 2023, countries.
decided not to allow exports of basmati UPI - World Leading Digital Payment platform
rice below USD 1,200 per tonne.
• In October last year, the government has
reduced the floor price for basmati rice
exports to USD 950 per tonne from USD
1,200 per tonne.
• India’s total exports of basmati rice stood
at USD 4.8 billion in 2022-23 in terms of
price, while in volume terms it was at 45.6
lakh tonne.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ECONOMY)
• The Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, has • The Gold reserves during the week
processed nearly Rs 81 lakh crore increased by $862 million, bringing the
transactions in the April-July period this total to $61.859 billion.
year.
• This surpasses the world’s leading digital RBI’s Five Strategic Priorities
payments platforms.
• This transaction number converts to a 37%
increase on a year-over-year (YoY) basis.
• As per global payments hub Paysecure,
UPI processed 3,729.1 transactions per
second.
• It is a 58% surge over the 2,348
transactions every second registered in • The 5th edition of Global Fintech Festival 2024
2022. was held in in Mumbai.
• With this data, UPI has surpassed China’s • Theme of the event is “Blueprint for the
Alipay, Paypal and Brazil’s PIX in the Next Decade of Finance: Responsible AI |
number of transactions processed. Inclusive | Resilient”.
• UPI processed 117.6 billion transactions in • During the event, RBI Governor outlined five
2023 – the highest in the world. strategic priorities that are essential for
• Some report forecasts a threefold increase shaping the future of India's financial
in UPI transactions from 131 billion in landscape.
2023-24 to 439 billion by 2028-29. 1. Financial Inclusion
• It is representing 91% of all retail digital 2. Enhancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
transactions. 3. Strengthening Cybersecurity
4. Promoting Sustainable Finance
New record of Forex 2024 5. Reinforcing Financial Infrastructure.

India’s Gold Consumption Forecast 2024

• India's foreign exchange reserves rose $2.3

billion in the week ending August 30 to a
new record high of $683.99 billion.
• This is the third consecutive weekly rise of • The World Gold Council (WGC) has raised
forex reserves backed by healthy dollar its projection for India's gold consumption
inflows. in 2024 to 850 tonnes from 750 tonnes.
• In the past three weeks, reserves rose by • In the July-September quarter, the gold
13.9 billion. demand in India is expected to be 230
• In 2024 alone, they have risen by over $60 tonnes, up 10% year-on-year.
billion cumulatively.
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (ECONOMY)
• The Gold demand in the April-June • It will potentially touch Rs 15 trillion by
quarter fell 5% year-on-year to 158.1 March 2027.
tonnes owing to high import duty. • The gold loan segment has expanded at a
• With the government reducing the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
importing duty on gold to 6% from 15% in 25 per cent between FY20 and FY24.
the Union budget on July 23, demand saw • Among the NBFCs, the gold loan book is
a quick uptick. concentrated with the top four players
accounting for 83 per cent in March 2024.
Scrap of windfall tax 2024 Navratna Status

• The government scrapped the windfall tax

on domestically produced crude oil.
• The tax, imposed as a Special Additional
Excise Duty (SAED), was reduced from Rs. The Indian government accords the Navratna
1850 per tonne to nil. Status to top-tier public sector undertakings
• This is the second time since the tax was (PSUs).
introduced in July 2022 that it has been
reduced to nil. • RailTel Corporation of India has become
• Windfall tax is levied by governments the 22nd 'Navratna,' followed by Solar
when an industry unexpectedly earns large Energy Corporation of India as the 23rd,
profits, mainly due to an unprecedented NHPC as the 24th, and Satluj Jal Vidyut
event. Nigam as the 25th 'Navratna' in India.
Organized gold loans • About Navratna status: It allows the
organisations to undertake substantial
investments of up to ₹1,000 crore
without needing approval from the
Centre. These companies have the liberty
to invest up to 30% of their net worth
within a year, as long as it stays below
₹1,000 crore. They can also engage in joint
ventures, form alliances, and establish
subsidiaries abroad.
• For a company to be accorded navratna
status, it should already hold the miniratna
• Cumulatively, organised gold loans offered category I status and be listed under
by banks and non-banking finance Schedule A of CPSEs
companies (NBFCs) are set to top Rs 10
trillion in the current financial year (FY25). ****

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SCHEMES/PORTAL/INITIATIVES/APP)
GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES

The National Skill Development The Government implements a scheme of

Corporation (NSDC) has launched a ‘Women Cyber Crime Prevention against Women
Entrepreneurship Program’ in partnership and Children (CCPWC) under Nirbhaya
with Britannia Industries Limited to help Fund. A National Cybercrime Reporting
women entrepreneurs in India. The program Portal (NCRP) [Link] has
aims to address challenges women face when been launched under CCPWC to report all
starting and growing businesses by providing types of cybercrimes with special focus on
them with skills, knowledge, and resources. cyber-crimes against women & children. A
toll-free Helpline No. 1930 is also operational
in all States/ UTs. Under the CCPWC Scheme,
the Ministry of Home Affairs has provided
financial assistance of Rs. 131.60 Crore to the
States/UTs.

Cultural Property Agreement: The

Government of India and the Government of
the United States of America signed the first
ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' to prevent
and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities
from India to the USA, on the sidelines of the
46th World Heritage Committee, at Bharat NATS Portal 2.0: Union Minister for
Mandapam, New Delhi. The Cultural Property Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in New
Agreement (CPA) is aligned with the 1970 Delhi launched the National Apprenticeship
UNESCO Convention on the Means of and Training Scheme 2.0 Portal and disbursed
Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, ₹100 crore stipends to apprentices through
Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) mode.
Property, to which both countries are States These apprentices are undergoing training in
party. various sectors such as IT/ITes, manufacturing,
automobile, etc. This initiative aligns with the
Government's focus on skilling and
employability of youth. The scheme is
facilitated by NATS 2.0 portal which has been
developed in-house by the Ministry of
Education with the support of AICTE and
BoATs/BoPT.
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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SCHEMES/PORTAL/INITIATIVES/APP)

Nivahika portal: The National Institute of The Union Government is working on the
Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) has launched inclusion of an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga &
‘Nivahika’, a cutting-edge web portal designed Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
to revolutionise the Institute's data Homeopathy) package under the Ayushman
management and reporting processes. Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB
PM-JAY). Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri -
Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) aims to
provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family
per year for secondary and tertiary car
hospitalization to approximately 55 Cr
beneficiaries corresponding to 12.34 Crore
families constituting the bottom 40% of India’s
population.

cNARMADA: Indian Institute of Technology

Gandhinagar (IITGN) has set up the Centre
for Narmada River Basin Ma nagement
(cNARMADA) at its campus to conduct the
Condition Assessment and Management Plan
(CAMP) of the Narmada River basin. IITGN
has joined hands with Indian Institute of
Technology, Indore (IITI) for the assessment
undertaken by the Ministry of Jalshakti. It will India and Israel have joined hands for the
assess and identify existing conditions establishment of a new water technology
affecting the river ecosystem. It will also centre at IIT Madras, which is expected to
prepare a road map for comprehensive serve as a "key contributor" to India's efforts
rejuvenation and conservation of the riverine to achieve sustainable water supply for all.
ecosystems in their entirety.

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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SCHEMES/PORTAL/INITIATIVES/APP)
Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR):
The Green Strategic Partnership between
the Governments of India and Denmark has
fostered significant collaboration leading to
the establishment of the Smart Laboratory
on Clean Rivers (SLCR) in Varanasi. The
alliance is a unique tripartite initiative between
Government of India (Department of Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga
Krishi-DSS portal: The Centre government Rejuvenation), the Indian Institute of
unveiled the Krishi-Decision Support System Technology - Banaras Hindu University (IIT-
(K-DSS) portal, a satellite-based geospatial BHU), and Government of Denmark, to bring
platform that will provide farmers with excellence in small river rejuvenation and
information on the weather, groundwater management.
levels, soil health, reservoir storage levels etc
and include data like satellite images.
Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State
for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, launched
the portal developed by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Krishi-
DSS was launched during the National
Conference on Space Driven Solutions for
Agriculture Transformation in India organised
by the agriculture ministry. The one-day
conference is part of the events planned by
the government in the run-up to the first
National Space Day 2024, the first
anniversary of India’s landing on the moon.

The Cabinet approves 12 Industrial

nodes/cities under National Industrial
Corridor Development Programme. These
industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in
Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi
in, Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and
Prayagraj in UP, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in
Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in AP and
Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.
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SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (SCHEMES/PORTAL/INITIATIVES/APP)
Pradesh, with loan assistance of US $ 500
million.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the The National Commission for Women has
foundation stone for Vadhvan Port. Located inaugurated the Digital Shakti Center to
in Palghar, Maharashtra, Vadhvan Port is set combat cybercrimes against women in New
to become the country’s largest deep-water
Delhi.
port, with an estimated investment of ₹76,220
Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways
crore. It will improve connectivity with Central Nitin Gadkari launched solar powered
Asia and Russia, further facilitating trade tricycles, designed and manufactured by the
through the International North-South Visakhapatnam-based Andhra Pradesh
Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the India MedTech Zone (AMTZ) to empower
Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The individuals with disabilities.
port is expected to alleviate some of the The Union Minister of Power and Minister for
burden on Jawaharlal Nehru Port, currently Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal,
India’s largest container-handling port. launched Portal for Online monitoring of
Projects – Thermal (PROMPT) in New Delhi.
The portal offers real-time tracking and
analysis, enabling project managers and
stakeholders to make informed decisions
swiftly.

****

The Government of India and the World Bank

have signed an agreement for the
construction of Green National Highway
Corridors Project (GNHCP) in an aggregate
length of 781 km for the states of Himachal
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra
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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (INTERNATIONAL NEWS)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
30th round of border talks: India and China The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
held the 30th meeting of the Working (AAIP): It is a provincial initiative designed to
Mechanism for Consultation and nominate individuals for permanent
Coordination on India-China Border Affairs residency in Alberta, targeting those with
(WMCC) in New Delhi during which the skills to address labor shortages or who
discussion was “in-depth, constructive and intend to establish or purchase a business in
forward-looking”, and both sides agreed to the province. The program is administered
maintain the momentum through jointly by the Alberta government and the
established diplomatic and military channels. federal government of Canada.

KIIT Deemed to be University has been Archaeologists have discovered the world's
granted the distinguished Special oldest calendar. It is believed to be a 13,000-
Consultative Status by the United Nations year-old lunisolar calendar carved into a
Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). stone pillar at the Göbekli Tepe
archaeological site in southern Turkey. The
Asian Development Bank and the pillar, which dates back nearly 13,000 years,
Government of India recently signed a $ 200 is etched with 365 V-shaped symbols.
million (about Rs 1,700 crore) loan to Researchers interpret each "V" as
improve solid waste management and representing a single day, making this
sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in ancient calendar a sophisticated system that
the country. includes 12 lunar months plus an additional
11 days.
Legionnaires' disease: Australia's Victoria has
recorded 71 confirmed cases of legionnaires' Croatia will reintroduce a two-month
disease. It is caused by the Legionella compulsory military service starting January
bacteria, which can only be found in natural 1 next year. The move comes amid
bodies of water such as lakes and hot heightened tensions in Europe following the
springs. It is a severe form of pneumonia. Russian aggression against Ukraine as well
as an apparent arms race and military
A village in southern Iran has reportedly buildup in the Balkans which went through a
recorded the earth's highest ever heat index bloody war in the 1990s. Sweden, Denmark
at 82.2°C with a dew point of 36.1°C. and Norway are among the other nations
that have a form of national service. Last
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was year, Latvia reinstated military conscription in
sworn in as the chief adviser of Bangladesh's response to the threat posed by Russia’s full-
interim government. Yunus, who won the scale invasion of Ukraine.
Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering
work on microlending, was designated head
of the interim government after President ****
Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved
parliament after Hasina resigned as Prime
Minister.

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 SEPTEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS (MISCELLANEOUS)
MISCELLANEOUS

• “India@100: Envisioning Tomorrow’s Economic Powerhouse”, authored by Prof. K V Subramanian.

• ‘The Scientist Entrepreneur: Empowering Millions of Women’: autobiography of Dr. Kalpana Sankar.
• “Modi’s Governance Triumph: Reshaping India’s Path to Prosperity “, authored by Tarun Chugh
• India has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council which is one of the three bodies
set up by the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) bloc. USA has been appointed
as chair Supply Chain Council. India and 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) partner
shave established three supply chain bodies under the landmark Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement relating to Supply Chain Resilience. The inaugural virtual meetings
of the Supply Chain Council (SCC), Crisis Response Network (CRN), and Labor Rights Advisory Board
(LRAB) marked a major step forward for cooperation among partner countries for strengthening
supply chain resilience in the region.
• The Madras High Court declared Section 77-A of the Registration Act, 1908 as unconstitutional, on
the ground that it conferred excessive quasi-judicial power on the District Registrars to cancel
documents related to any immovable property in the State if they were found to have been
registered through fraud or on submission of forged revenue records.
• Grain ATMs: The Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP), will set up India's first 'grain ATM', a 24-hour grain dispensing machines,
known as 'Annapurti' across the state in a bid to boost food security. The first such 'grain ATM' was
inaugurated in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

****

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