GENERAL AWARENESS

The Month of September 2024

Important days

September 5 – International Day of Charity (declared by the UN in 2012 as a

homage to Mother Teresa on her death anniversary).
September 5 – National Teacher’s Day.
September 7 – National Song Day [the centenary of Vandemataram fell on
this day in 2009]
September 8 – International Literacy Day.
September 15 – International Day of Democracy.
September 16 – World Ozone Day. 2024 theme: "Montreal Protocol:
Advancing Climate Action".
September 21 – World Peace Day . 2024 theme: "Cultivating a Culture of
Peace".
September 26 - International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear
Weapons

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National
Events

India reported its first case of Mpox in September, 2024. Mpox, formerly known as
monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus.
The new mpox strain (clade 1b) was first detected in September 2023 in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak quickly spread beyond DRC's
borders, reaching neighboring
Due to its rapid spread and potential for further international transmission, the World
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Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of

International Concern (PHEIC) signaling the need for a coordinated global response
to contain the virus.

The World Health Organization recently approved the first-ever vaccine to be used
against mpox in adults. This is a major step forward, especially in Africa, where
mpox outbreaks have been particularly severe.
The WHO’s approval allows large organizations like GAVI and UNICEF to purchase
the vaccine from Bavarian Nordic, the only company that currently makes it.

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 Singapore Airlines received approval from the Indian government for foreign direct
investment as part of the proposed merger of Vistara with Air India. This merger is
expected to create one of the world's largest airline group.
Singapore Airlines will acquire a 25.1% stake in the enlarged Air India Group. Tata
Group, which currently owns Air India, will hold the remaining 74.9% stake.
Singapore Airlines is set to invest up to S$880 million ($675.42 million) after the
merger is completed.

President Droupadi Murmu approved the creation of the 23rd Law Commission of
India. This new commission will be active from September 1, 2024, to August 31,
2027. The decision comes as the 22nd Law Commission’s term ends, and there were
delays in pending reports due to the lack of a chairperson.

The West Bengal Assembly passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West
Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024. This new law is designed to
provide stronger protections for women and children, particularly in response to the
rising concerns about sexual crimes. The bill received unanimous support, including
from the Opposition
People convicted of rape will face life imprisonment with no chance of parole,
meaning they will stay in prison for the rest of their lives. Additionally, they will
have to pay a financial penalty.
The Bill introduces the death penalty for offenders whose crimes lead to the victim’s
death or leave the victim in a permanent, severely disabled state.
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The Bill includes strict changes to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) Act, which is a law that protects children from sexual abuse. These changes
aim to further strengthen the safety and rights of minors.

Leading women actors, producers, and directors of Telugu films are pushing the
Telangana government to release a two-year-old report on sexual harassment in the
industry, as the first step toward creating a safe working environment. The Voice of
Women (VoW), a support group for women in the Telugu film industry, issued a
statement drawing parallels to the Hema Committee’s revelations of sexual
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exploitation in Malayalam cinema.

The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granted the GI tag to eight

products from Assam, including traditional food items and several unique varieties of
rice beer.

India conducted its first comprehensive national mock drill called “Vishanu Yuddh
Abhyas” (Virus War Exercise) to assess India’s pandemic preparedness, specifically
to address the growing threat of zoonotic diseases.

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The exercise was conducted under the aegis of the National One Health Mission.
The drill simulated a zoonotic disease outbreak scenario to mimic a real-world
situation.

The Government of Rajasthan, led by the BJP, made a significant decision to reserve
33% of jobs in the police force for women. This decision was part of the BJP’s
promise made during the 2023 election campaign to increase the number of women in
important state jobs.

Ladakh's MP Mohmad Haneefa was detained in Delhi , following the detention of

over 100 Ladakh protesters, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, at the
Delhi-Haryana border. The detainees, including Wangchuk, began an indefinite
hunger strike in Delhi, while Ladakh saw widespread protests and a shutdown in
response to the "illegal and unconstitutional" detention of the delegation.
The group had been marching from Leh since to demand constitutional safeguards for
Ladakh, planning to end their march at Rajghat .
Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convener of the Leh Apex Body, expressed shock at the
treatment of peaceful protesters, including elderly participants who had been walking
for weeks through challenging terrain.

Port Blair, the capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram

Shankh Air is set to become India's newest airline and the first scheduled airline to
launch from the state of Uttar Pradesh.
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India has become the largest plastic polluter in the world.

The Union Cabinet approved a major expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This expansion now includes all Indians
aged 70 and older, regardless of their income. The AB PM-JAY launched in 2018, is
a cashless health insurance scheme. It provides ₹5 lakh per family per year for
healthcare.
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The Indian government, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade is introducing BHASKAR, a new digital platform to boost India’s
startup community. BHASKAR stands for Bharat Startup Knowledge Access
Registry. It is a digital platform that collects important information and resources for
startups, investors, mentors, and service providers, making it easier for them to grow
and work together.

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 India issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a review of the Indus Waters Treaty, a pact
that governs the water-sharing of six rivers in the Indus system between the two
countries.
India cited "fundamental and unforeseen" changes in circumstances which allows
modifications through a ratified treaty between both nations.
The dispute largely revolves around India's construction of the Kishanganga and
Ratle Hydroelectric Projects on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers, respectively.
Pakistan had raised objections to these projects, initiating the Treaty’s dispute
resolution mechanisms on multiple occasions.

The Union Cabinet approved several important steps in India’s space exploration
plans. These include building the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), launching the
Chandrayaan-4 mission to collect moon samples, and preparing for India’s first
mission to Venus.
India plans to launch the first part of the space station, called BAS-1, by 2028, with a
full space station ready by 2035.

The PM Vishwakarma Yojana is a government program aimed at improving the

productivity and success of people involved in traditional occupations like
handicrafts and small-scale industries.

For the second year in a row, Kerala secured the top spot in the 2024 State Food
Safety Index . This achievement reinforces Kerala’s commitment to maintaining high
standards in food safety across India. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of
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India (FSSAI) released the rankings during the Global Food Regulators Summit
2024.

The Karnataka government decided to reject the Kasturirangan committee report,

which was created to protect important ecological areas.
The Kasturirangan Committee was set up in 2012 to help create a National Wildlife
Action Plan. Its main focus was to identify ecologically sensitive areas in the Western
Ghats and suggest ways to protect biodiversity. The committee stressed the
importance of involving local communities in environmental management, seeking a
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balance between development and conservation.

Many politicians and local representatives strongly oppose the report asserting that
it could harm the livelihoods of people living in these areas. Local communities
worry that the restrictions could limit their ability to carry out activities like farming
or building, which are essential for their daily lives.

India moved up to 39th place out of 133 countries in the Global Innovation Index
(GII) 2024. Four Indian cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai—are
recognized among the World’s Top 100 Science & Technology clusters.

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The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks countries by how well they can innovate. It
was started in 2007 by WIPO, INSEAD, and Cornell University and looks at 81
different factors.
Switzerland has taken the top slot several times because it invests a lot in research
and development.

Kerala earned the top spot in the Urban Governance Index by the Praja Foundation,
because of its strengths in managing finances and planning at the local level. The
UGI is a study that looks at how well cities are governed in India.

NPS Vatsalya is a new pension scheme launched by the Government of India, aimed
at securing the financial future of minors. Announced in the Union Budget 2024-25
and officially launched on September 18, 2024, the scheme allows parents and
guardians to invest in a pension account for their children with a minimum annual
contribution of ₹1,000 and no upper limit. It is regulated by the Pension Fund
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

In a growing movement to make justice accessible, lawyers and experts are

increasingly advocating for the use of regional languages in High Court proceedings,
where English remains the official language.

The World Bank has forecast a growth of 7% for the Indian economy for the current
fiscal year, upping its earlier estimate of 6.6%.
In its report, ‘India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing
Global Context’, the World Bank said India’s growth continued to be strong despite a
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challenging global environment.

The Netflix series "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack" sparked controversy due to its
portrayal of the 1999 Indian Airlines hijacking incident. The series used Hindu-
sounding code names for the hijackers, such as "Bhola" and "Shankar", which drew
criticism as the real hijackers were known to be Pakistanis. The controversy
highlights the challenges of dramatizing sensitive historical events and the
responsibilities of content creators in balancing artistic interpretation with factual
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accuracy, especially when dealing with traumatic national incidents.

Netflix India later agreed to update the opening disclaimer of IC 814 to include the
real names of the hijackers, belonging to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen

Madhya Pradesh pioneered India's first paperless voting system. The Madhya
Pradesh State Election Commission successfully conducted paperless voting as a
pilot project. Voters' signatures and thumb impressions were recorded electronically
for identity verification and voting records.

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 The system used electronic signatures and biometric authentication to ensure only
registered voters could cast their votes

Kiran Rao's "Laapataa Ladies" was selected as India's official entry for the 2025
Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category

The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark ruling that engaging in any activity
related to child pornography—including viewing, downloading, storing, possessing,
distributing, or displaying—constitutes a criminal offense under the Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act.
This decision arose from an appeal by the NGO - Just Right for Children Alliance -
against a previous ruling by the Madras High Court, which had determined that mere
possession or storage of pornographic material involving children was not an offense
under the Act.
The court urged Parliament to consider amending the POCSO Act to replace the term
“child pornography” with “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material
(CSEAM),” stating that the current term fails to capture the full gravity of the
offense. The ruling highlighted Section 67B of the IT Act, which penalizes not only
the use and publication of obscene materials but also the mere act of browsing or
collecting such content.

Union Home Minister launched ‘White Revolution 2.0’, aimed at empowering

women through dairy cooperatives and fighting malnutrition by increasing milk
procurement. The plan aims to boost milk procurement by cooperatives from 660
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lakh litres to 1,000 lakh litres per day, strengthening the cooperative dairy network
and increasing milk availability nationwide.

The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) emphasized that G20 nations, responsible for
80% of global emissions and holding 85% of global GDP, must lead climate finance
efforts and make the shift away from fossil fuels.
The UNFCCC estimates that between USD 5-7 trillion will be required by 2030 for
developing nations to meet their Paris Agreement goals.
India has called for at least USD 1 trillion annually from developed countries,
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emphasizing that this support should come in the form of grants and concessional
finance rather than loans.
The HAC is an informal group of countries working within the UNFCCC to advance
ambitious proposals on climate action. This coalition was founded by the Republic of
the Marshall Islands in 2014 and played a significant role in shaping the ambitious
provisions of the Paris Agreement

Prime Minister Modi launched Odisha’s Subhadra Yojana , which provides

Rs 50,000 over five years to eligible women aged 21-60, distributed as Rs 10,000

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annually in two installments.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change announced that it has
successfully planted over 80 crore seedlings across India as part of the Ek Ped Maa
Ke Naam (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign.
The ambitious target of planting 80 crore saplings was achieved on September 25,
five days ahead of the planned deadline. The campaign, launched on June 5, World
Environment Day, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focuses on afforestation efforts
across the nation.
Uttar Pradesh contributed significantly, leading the campaign by planting
approximately 26 crore saplings.

India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster

relief (HADR) to Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam that have been hit by severe flooding
caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Typhoon Yagi became the strongest storm of the year in Asia, , an extremely
powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that impacted multiple countries in
Southeast Asia in September 2024. Vietnam was the country most severely affected
by Typhoon Yagi,

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, opened the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi Abu Dhabi campus. This is the second
international campus of an IIT, with the first being IIT Madras's campus in Zanzibar,
Tanzania.
On his visit to India, India and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding for
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civil nuclear cooperation between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company -led Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.
This cooperation is part of a broader trilateral initiative involving India, the UAE, and
France, which focuses on energy sectors, including solar and nuclear energy.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the first nuclear power facility in the Arab
world.

India and Bhutan held the first Bhutan-India Joint Working Group meeting,
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reviewing ongoing space cooperation and planning the future roadmap under the
Joint Plan of Action on Space Cooperation. India and Bhutan jointly developed the
‘INDIA-BHUTAN SAT,’ launched in 2022 by ISRO.

Kerala has emerged as a national leader in both business and citizen-centric reforms,
according to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry's rankings. The state
topped two business-centric categories and seven citizen-centric reform areas,
including streamlined permit processes, improved public services, and enhanced
business support systems. These achievements highlight Kerala's significant progress

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 in creating a favorable ecosystem for businesses and improving its 'Ease of Doing
Business' environment.

The Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee,

headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, that had proposed simultaneous
elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as the first step, and municipal and
panchayat polls within 100 days of the general election in the next phase.
The Committee had factored scenarios such as a hung House, or a no-confidence
motion, and recommended amendments to Article 83 (duration of Houses of
Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of State legislatures) of the Constitution.
It recommended a common electoral roll, which would need coordination between
the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SECs).
The ECI is responsible for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, while the local body
elections for municipalities and panchayats are managed by the SECs. The proposed
changes regarding the single electoral roll and single voter ID card would need
ratification by at least half of the States.
In all, the Kovind panel has recommended 18 constitutional amendments, most of
which will not need ratification by State Assemblies.
However, any Constitutional amendment Bill needs to be passed by a two-third
majority in each house of Parliament.

The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) meetings between India and Pakistan are on
hold until both governments discuss renegotiating the 64-year-old Indus Water
Treaty. The last meeting occurred in Delhi in May 2022, and since January 2023,
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India has repeatedly requested talks on revising the treaty without a satisfactory
response from Pakistan. The PIC, established by the 1960 treaty to manage water
sharing of six Himalayan rivers, has been a consistent platform for resolving disputes,
even amid conflicts.
India insists that treaty renegotiation should occur at the governmental level rather
than through commissioners. India's primary focus is addressing the treaty's dispute
resolution mechanism.

Shashi Tharoor is to head the Standing Committee on External Affairs, Charanjit

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Singh Channi will lead the parliamentary panel on Agriculture, Saptagiri Sankar
Ulaka will head the panel on Rural Development and Rajya Sabha member Digvijay
Singh will head the Standing Committee on Education.

The practice of having opposition members head certain Parliamentary Standing

Committees in India is not stipulated in the Constitution but is a matter of convention
and tradition. This arrangement is typically the result of negotiations between the
ruling party and opposition parties. For example, the chairmanship of the Public
Accounts Committee is traditionally given to an opposition member.

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The Mankidia community in Odisha was granted habitat rights, making them the
sixth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) to receive this recognition under
the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This important legal recognition allows the Mankidia to
access and manage their traditional forest areas, which were previously limited due to
their PVTG status.

India, along with 42 other nations, abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution
urging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within 12 months.
The resolution was adopted with 124 nations in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions,
including India. The resolution demanded Israel’s immediate withdrawal from
Palestinian territories and holds Israel accountable for violations of international law.
Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom were
among the nations that abstained.
Israel and the US voted against the resolution. The resolution called for legal
consequences for Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Union Cabinet, approved “Mission Mausam” to enhance India’s ability to predict

extreme weather events and respond to climate change impacts.
With a budget of Rs 2,000 crore over two years, “Mission Mausam” will be
implemented by key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences

The Nagaland state government approved the implementation of the Inner Line
Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur districts.
Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the Government of
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India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited
period.
It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for
entering into the protected state.
The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas
located near the international border of India.

Paralympics, Paris
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The Paralympic Torch for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was lit in Stoke
Mandeville, England, which is recognized as the birthplace of the Paralympic
movement. The lighting ceremony took place on August 24, 2024.

The motto for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is "Games Wide Open."
The mascot for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is the Paralympic Phryge. This
mascot, along with its Olympic counterpart, embodies the spirit of French values and
inclusivity

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 The emblem of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is the same as that for the Olympic
Games, marking a historic first where both events share a single emblem. This
emblem combines three symbolic elements:
The Medal: Representing victory and achievement.
The Flame: Symbolizing the Olympic and Paralympic spirit.
Marianne: A personification of the French Republic, reflecting liberty and equality.

India's participation at the Paris 2024 Paralympics included a record contingent of 84

athletes competing across 12 sports.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, India delivered its best performance in history,
securing a total of 29 medals, comprising seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. This
achievement marked a significant improvement over their previous record at the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where they won 19 medals.

India was represented by Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav as the flag bearers
during the opening ceremony.
Gold medal-winning archer Harvinder Singh and sprinter Preeti Pal, who became the
first-ever Indian woman to win two medals at the Paralympics, will be the country’s
flag bearers during the closing ceremony .

Persons
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Arvind Kejriwal stepped down from his role as the Chief Minister of Delhi, making
way for Atishi Marlena to take over as the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. He is the
third women to become the CM of Delhi.

Several Indians were recognized in TIME Magazine's 'TIME100 Most Influential

People in AI 2024' list: Prominent among them were:
Sundar Pichai - CEO of Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella - CEO of Microsoft
Ashwini Vaishnaw - Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology
Nandan Nilekani - Co-founder of Infosys and EkStep
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Anil Kapoor – Actor. Included for winning a landmark legal victory in September
2023. The Delhi High Court prohibited unauthorized use of his name, voice, image,
or other personal characteristics for commercial purposes

Mohana Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to operate India’s indigenously
developed Light Combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets.

Olympic Medal winner Manu Bhaker was appointed as brand ambassador of the
Ministry of Ports , Shipping and Waterways.

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Election Commission of India named Para-archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar
of J & K as national icons for persons with disabilities for voter awareness

Sitaram Yechury , General Secretary of the Communist Party of India passed away.

Awards

India achieved a historic double by winning gold medals in both the men's (Open)
and women's sections of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary.
The Indian men's team won the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
The Indian women's team won the Vera Menchik Cup.
This marks the first time since China in 2018 that a country has won gold in both the
Open and women's sections of the Chess Olympiad

International
Events

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is a groundbreaking five-day private spaceflight that

aims to push the boundaries of human space exploration. Led by billionaire Jared
Isaacman, the mission will follow an elliptical orbit, venturing farther from Earth
than any human has since NASA's Apollo program ended in the 1970s. The crew will
attempt the first-ever private spacewalk, testing new slim spacesuits and a spacecraft
cabin without a traditional airlock. This high-risk mission represents a significant
milestone for Elon Musk's SpaceX, as it seeks to advance private space exploration
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capabilities and pave the way for future commercial space activities.

Lay's was named the Official Sponsor for both the FIFA World Cup 26 and FIFA
Women's World Cup 2027

The United Nations allocated $100 million from its Central Emergency Response
Fund (CERF) to help address urgent humanitarian needs in ten countries facing
severe crises.. This initiative aims to address the growing gap between humanitarian
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needs and available donor funding, which remains a pressing concern for the global
humanitarian community

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently expressed his disagreement with

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's characterization of the Quad and similar
alliances as potentially evolving into an "Asian NATO" aimed at deterring China's
military actions. Jaishankar articulated India's foreign policy stance as one of "multi-
alignment," contrasting it with the previous non-alignment policy.

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 The United States, European Union, and United Kingdom are preparing to sign a new
and important treaty called the Council of Europe Framework Convention on
Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law. This
treaty will be the first international agreement that sets legal rules for how AI
technology should be developed and used, making sure that AI systems respect
human rights and democratic values.

AI tokens are a new form of digital currency specifically designed for artificial
intelligence projects, combining elements of cryptocurrency and AI technology.
Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, these tokens are used exclusively
within AI-related platforms or protocols, often built on blockchain systems like
Ethereum or Cardano.
The concept has recently gained significant attention, particularly after reports of
major tech companies like Apple and Nvidia considering investments in AI firms
such as OpenAI, and Thrive Capital.

Apple recently lost a legal battle with the European Union . Because of this loss,
Apple now has to pay 13 billion euros (about $14 billion) in back taxes to Ireland.
This decision is part of the EU’s larger plan to stop unfair tax deals, often called
“sweetheart deals,” that some countries make with big companies.
Ireland became a popular place for big tech companies like Apple to set up their
European headquarters because of its favorable tax laws. One of the main reasons
was a tax strategy known as the ‘Double Irish’ scheme.
Double Irish Scheme worked in the following manner:
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The first Irish company would earn revenue (money from sales) but wouldn’t have to
pay much tax on it. This money would then be sent to the second Irish company,
which was connected to a country with very low taxes, such as Bermuda.
By moving the money this way, Apple could avoid paying higher taxes in other EU
countries where it made sales.

OpenAI launched a new AI model called o1 under a secret initiative called ‘Project
Strawberry.’ This model is designed to handle more complex reasoning in areas like
science, coding, and mathematics. It’s part of a series of models aimed at making AI
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think more deeply and tackle tougher problems.

Turkey has officially applied to join BRICS, a group of emerging economies that
originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a nationwide education emergency on

September 8, 2024, which coincided with International Literacy Day. The primary
goal is to address the issue of approximately 26 million out-of-school children in
Pakistan. Sharif urged the private sector and civil society organizations to join hands

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with the government in this effort, stating that effective partnerships can link
education with employment and self-employment opportunities

The Taliban announced a new law on the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of
Vice” which imposes its interpretation of sharia or Islamic law on the people of
Afghanistan. It silences women’s voices apart from reiterating bans on bare faces.
The morality police, called Muhtasib, are authorised to mete out discretionary
punishment, including up to three days in prison.
In Afghanistan, girls have faced severe restrictions on their education since the
Taliban regained power in August 2021. Despite these challenges, many have found
ways to circumvent Taliban surveillance and continue their studies
Pashtana Dorani, now in exile, founded a non-profit called LEARN Afghanistan,
which runs five underground schools within Afghanistan, where 661 girls study
clandestinely, in shifts, changing locations when they learn of Taliban surveillance.

Angkor Wat was named the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia
by Times Travel.

Nearly 3,000 people were injured, and eight people were killed in Lebanon due to a
series of explosions involving pagers operated by Hezbollah.
The investigation showed that these pagers, which Hezbollah used for secure
communication, exploded at the same time across Lebanon. Before exploding, they
were programmed to beep, warning users. The explosion caused injuries mainly to
those using or near the pagers.
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According to the working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the PM
(EAC-PM) titled “Relative Economic Performance of Indian States : 1960-61 to
2023-24”, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Haryana have
made the larges gains in increasing their shares in the national GDP since the
liberalization reforms of 1990s
Chairperson of EAC-PM : Dr Bibek Debroy

Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 after Victoria, Australia,
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withdrew due to rising costs. Glasgow, last hosted the Games in 2014.

A new COVID-19 variant, called XEC, has recently been discovered and is spreading
rapidly. It was first found in Germany in August 2024, and scientists believe it may
soon become the dominant variant worldwide. XEC is a recombinant variant - created
from two different strains of the virus.

Jordan became the first country globally to eliminate leprosy, with the World Health
Organisation confirming this milestone.

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 The “ Pact for the Future” is a landmark agreement adopted by the United Nations
during the “Summit of the Future” held in September 2024, in New York.
This document is an important agreement aimed at promoting global peace,
sustainability, and inclusivity for future generations. The Pact includes two main
parts:
- Global Digital Compact: This framework aims to make the digital world more
accessible, secure, and fair for everyone. It recognizes that as technology
becomes more integrated into our lives, it is crucial to ensure that all people
can benefit from it equally.
- Declaration on Future Generations: This document focuses on making
commitments to protect the rights and opportunities of future generations. It
stresses the importance of taking action now to ensure that children and
grandchildren can have a better life and access to resources.
In the “Pact of the Future”, world leaders agreed to redress the historical injustice
against Africa as a priority and, while treating Africa as a special case, improve the
representation of the under-represented and unrepresented regions and groups
including Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The United Nations General Assembly officially declared July 6 as "World Rural
Development Day" during its 78th session. This decision was made in September ,
2024, when the General Assembly adopted the resolution without a vote, highlighting
the critical importance of rural development for achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals
The resolution was proposed by Bangladesh and co-sponsored by 42 other countries,
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including Pakistan

Nepal became the 101st member of the International Solar Alliance in September,
2024

The Choose Truth Campaign was launched in September, 2024, organized by the
World Editors Forum (WAN-IFRA) and the Canadian Journalism Foundation. The
campaign aims to emphasize the importance of fact-based journalism and combat
misinformation in the lead-up to World News Day, which is observed on September
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28. More than 100 countries, along with numerous news organizations and media
associations, have joined this global movement to support trusted news outlets and
uphold journalistic integrity.

Afghanistan began work on a $10 billion TAPI gas pipeline traversing South Asia.
The announcement follows the completion of the Turkmenistan section of the
pipeline.
The TAPI gas pipeline will transport gas produced from the Galkynysh gas field in
Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

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 The project is financed by the Asian Development Bank, which is also acting as the
transaction advisor.
The pipeline is anticipated to deliver natural gas cheaper than liquefied natural gas,
ensuring a consistent supply for the recipient countries.
The project is expected to benefit the economies of the participating countries and the
broader region.

The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is an annual international forum held in

Vladivostok, Russia to encourage foreign investment in the Russian Far East. Key
participants include Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India and other Asia-Pacific
countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum named
India as one of three countries, along with China and Brazil, that are actively engaged
in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Hurricane Helene, a devastating tropical cyclone made landfall as a Category 4

hurricane caused widespread destruction across the Southeastern United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red carpet welcome in Mongolia as the
country ignored calls to arrest him on an international warrant for alleged war crimes
stemming from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The trip was Mr. Putin’s first to a
member nation of the International Criminal Court since it issued the warrant in
March 2023.

Mafalda Duarte, chief of the Green Climate Fund , is focused on assisting vulnerable
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nations that have not yet received funding from this major climate finance source.
The GCF, a United Nations initiative, was established to support developing
countries most affected by climate change despite their minimal contribution to
carbon emissions. The fund aims to help these nations reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and adapt to climate impacts like storms, droughts, heatwaves, and rising
sea levels.
Over the past decade, the GCF has identified 19 climate-vulnerable countries with
little to no funding. Duarte is prioritizing these nations, which include Algeria, the
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Central African Republic, Chad, Iraq, Lebanon, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea,
and South Sudan.

Zelenskyy discussed his "Victory Plan" with U.S. President Joe Biden during a visit
to the White House, urging quick U.S. support before January's potential leadership
change.
The proposal includes military, political, diplomatic, and economic elements aimed at
pressuring Russia into negotiations. It seeks Western assurances of Ukraine's future
in the EU and NATO, enhanced air defenses, and increased sanctions on Russia.

heritage, VNA-20, Doctor’s Lane, Vidya Nagar, Kochi – 20; Ph: 04842315115; www.heritageclasses.com
 Described as a "bridge to the Peace Summit," the plan aims to secure lasting peace
while rejecting temporary ceasefire proposals from China and Brazil.

Persons

Anura Kumara Dissanayake became the President of Sri Lanka.

His victory marks a break from the traditional political leadership in the country,
reflecting the frustration many Sri Lankans feel towards the established political elite,
especially during a time of economic hardship.

Harini Amarasuriya became the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Shigeru Ishiba was chosen as the new leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP), replacing Fumio Kishida, who resigned due to corruption scandals and
economic problems. The election was unusual, with nine candidates competing.

Air Maeshal Amar Preet Singh took over as the new Chief of the Air Staff.

Harini Amarasuriya is a prominent Sri Lankan politician who recently became the
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike . The
airstrike targeted a heavily fortified underground bunker in Beirut, where Nasrallah
and other senior Hezbollah officials were gathered. The operation involved the use of
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"bunker-busting" bombs capable of penetrating deep underground.

Awards

Japanese filmmaker and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki were honored
with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the
world of animation and storytelling.
Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, is among the five recipients of this
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year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize.

The award citation highlighted Miyazaki’s use of art to help children understand
complex issues, including environmental protection and the promotion of peace,
through his films.

Summits and Conferences

heritage, VNA-20, Doctor’s Lane, Vidya Nagar, Kochi – 20; Ph: 04842315115; www.heritageclasses.com
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly brought together
representatives from 193 countries to discuss important global issues. The theme for
the session was “Leaving no one behind’.
Philemon Yang from Cameroon was chosen as the President of this session of the
UNGA.
The L69 and C-10 groups held their first-ever joint ministerial meeting during the
79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting
focused on advocating for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council to
make it more representative and accountable.
At the session, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged global leaders to
support Ukraine and reject imposed peace deals, emphasizing the need for a just
peace and the withdrawal of Russian forces.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the leaders of the U.S. and France in
backing India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC to make it a more
representative body.
A significant event during the 79th session of the UNGA was the Summit of the
Future, which took place at the United Nations in New York. This summit aimed to
address pressing global challenges and enhance multilateral cooperation. A central
outcome of the summit was the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which includes 56
actions aimed at reforming global governance and accelerating progress on the
Sustainable Development Goals.

The Indian government will host the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit
(WAVES) in February 2025, to elevate the country’s media and entertainment
industry on a global stage.
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WAVES 2025 will be the first global summit to cover the entire spectrum of the
media and entertainment industry, focusing on its growth and international impact.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted more than two dozen African leaders in Beijing
- the city’s biggest summit in years with promises of cooperation in infrastructure,
energy and education.
China, the world’s number two economy, is Africa’s largest trading partner and has
sought to tap the continent’s vast troves of natural resources including copper, gold,
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lithium and rare earth minerals. It has also furnished African countries with billions
in loans.

The 2024 Quad Leaders' Summit was held in Wilmington, Delaware, after India and
the United States “swapped” hosting the Quad Summit to allow U.S. President
Joseph Biden to hold the summit in his home State of Delaware.
Several new initiatives were launched – important being :
Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative - Aims to reduce cancer in the Indo-Pacific region,
initially focusing on cervical cancer through increased HPV vaccinations, screenings,
and expanded treatment options.

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 Maritime Initiative for Training in Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) - Enhances regional
maritime security capabilities and monitoring.

Military Exercises

India-USA Joint Military Exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2024, was held in Rajasthan.

The Indian Army participated in the India-Oman Joint Military Exercise AL

NAJAH, which was held in Oman.

Exercise AIKYA is a two-day national event organized by the National Disaster

Management Authority (NDMA) and the Army Southern Command in Chennai. The
main goal is to improve how different organizations work together and prepare for
disasters.

Exercise Eastern Bridge was a joint military exercise between the Indian Air Force
(IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO). This was held in Oman.

Russia and China started a large-scale naval exercise called “Ocean-24” in the Sea of
Japan. This military collaboration is a clear sign of closer ties between the two
nations and could indicate shifts in global power and alliances.
Russia and China also held "Northern United-2024" exercises in the Sea of Japan and
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the Sea of Okhotsk. The exercises are designed to enhance strategic coordination and
improve joint response to security threats.

Exercise Kakadu , a major multinational naval exercise hosted by the Royal

Australian Navy was held in Darwin, Australia.
It is Australia's largest international maritime warfare exercise.

The INDUS-X Summit is a significant event focused on strengthening the defence

innovation partnership between India and the United States was held in the Silicon
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Valley, California

The 2024 Indo-French bilateral naval Exercise Varuna, was held in the
Mediterranean Sea.

heritage, VNA-20, Doctor’s Lane, Vidya Nagar, Kochi – 20; Ph: 04842315115; www.heritageclasses.com