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By admin: Sept. 24, 2022

India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant chairs inter-ministerial meeting to review G20 preparations

Tags: Summits Person in news

India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on 24 September 2022 chaired an inter-ministerial meeting with the chairpersons of all Working Groups under India’s upcoming G20 Presidency and discussed substantive and logistical aspects of the preparations for it.

This year, the G20 Summit will be hosted by Indonesia in Bali in the month of November. India will assume the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30 November 2023.

G 20 Sherpa and its work 

The Government of India appointed former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant as the Sherpa of G-20 in July this year.  He will be responsible for conducting and coordinating the Sherpa track meetings of the forthcoming G-20 Summit to be hosted by India.

With the G-20 presidency coming to India in November 2022, India will set the agenda of G-20 for the year, identify the themes and focus areas, conduct discussions and work out outcome documents.  To prepare for this the G20 process has been divided into the Sherpa track and the Finance track. 

Sherpa Track 

Under the Sherpa track, about 100 official meetings are expected to be organized in the areas of employment, health, digital economy, trade, investment & industry, environment & climate, energy, anti-corruption, agriculture, tourism, culture, and socio-economic development, education, and women empowerment.

Finance Track 

Under the Finance track, about 40 meetings are expected to be organized including those in the areas of international financial architecture, financial inclusion and sustainable finance, financing for infrastructure, climate finance and tax matters.

G-20 is a group of 19 countries and the European Union.

Fast Bowler Jhulan Gowswami retires from international cricket with a win

Tags: Sports Person in news

Legendary Indian women cricket’s fast bowler Jhulan Gowswami ended her international career on 24 September 2022, as India won the One Day International(ODI) match against England by 16 runs at Lords, London ,England. It was her last International cricket match.

With this win India has won the ODI series against England 3-0.

Jhulan Gowswami started her International career against England in 2002 as a fast bowler. At one time she was the fastest bowler in international women cricket.

The 39-year-old Jhulan has played 12 Tests, 203 ODIs and 68 T20Is for India, and has picked up 353 wickets across formats. Of those, 253 wickets have come in ODIs where she is the highest wicket-taker in women's cricket. 

She is at present the only women cricketer who has more than 200 wickets in ODI.

The Cricket Association of Bengal has announced that it plans to name a stand of the Eden Garden Stadium, Kolkata in her name. Jhulan Gowswami is from Bengal.

Union Environment Ministry to launch Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan

Tags: Science and Technology

The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change is going to launch Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan  that will  rank 131 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for reducing air pollution upto 40% by 2025-26.

This was announced during the two day National Conference of Ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 23-24th September, 2022

Classification of cities for Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 

According to the Ministry, 131 cities will be categorized into three groups based on population. 

•  47 cities are in the first group having a population more than 10 lakh. 
• 44 cities are in the second group having a population between 3 to 10 lakh. 
• Third group consists of 40 cities having a population less than 3 lakh.

How the cities will be assessed 

Cities are required to do the self-assessment as per the framework provided on PRANA online portal. This assessment is carried out annually. Cities have to report implementation of activities and measures taken in respect of solid waste management, road dust management, management of construction and demolition waste, control of vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.

Aim of the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 

 The aim of the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is to promote constructive competition amongst the states in the spirit of competitive federalism and to take measures to improve air quality. 

This Sarvekshan provides a tool to cities to plan their actions in order to improve the air quality.

 3 best performing states in each group will be given cash awards by the Union ministry.

Commerce Ministry expects India to attract $100 billion FDI in current fiscal year

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry expects India to attract $100 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2022-23. The Commerce Ministry on 24 September 2022 said that continuing economic reform and Ease of Doing business in the country will help India in achieving this target.

According to the ministry, FDI in India was $ 45.15 billion in 2014-2015 and it reached a record highest ever" foreign inflows of $83.6 billion in 2021-22. This FDI has come from 101 countries, and invested across 31 UTs and States and 57 sectors in the country.

According to the Commerce ministry, the government has put in place a liberal and transparent policy wherein most sectors are open to FDI under the automatic route to attract global investment.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Goel 

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Foreign Exchange Management act 1999(FEMA) which deals with Foreign exchange has defined Foreign Direct Investment.

 Foreign Direct Investment is an investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India in ;

 (a)  an unlisted Indian company; or 

(b) in 10 percent or more of the paid-up equity capital of a listed Indian company.

• Unlisted Company means that the Capital instrument of the company is not listed on any stock exchange and it cannot be bought and sold in the market.
• Listed Company means that the Capital instrument of the company is listed on any stock exchange and it can be bought and sold in the market.
• Capital Instrument means an instrument issued by a company to raise capital (money) from the market for business/investment purposes.  It includes both Shares (equity) or debenture or bonds. 

Routes through which FDI gets in india 

There are two routes under which FDI is allowed in India. One is the automatic route and the other is the approval route. Government puts certain sectors in the Automatic list and Approval route.

Automatic route 

The foreign investor needs no prior approval from the government of India or Reserve bank of India.  For example Thermal power plants, electronic systems etc.

Approval route 

The foreign investor needs permission from the government of India before they can invest in these sectors. For eg public sector banks, print media etc.

Sectors where FDI is prohibited in india 

• Atomic Energy Generation
• Any Gambling or Betting businesses
• Lotteries (online, private, government, etc.)
• Investment in Chit Funds
• Nidhi Company
• Agricultural or Plantation Activities (although there are many exceptions like horticulture, fisheries, tea plantations, , animal husbandry, etc.)
• Housing and Real Estate (except townships, commercial projects, etc.)
• Trading in Transferable Development Rights(TDR’s)
• Cigars, Cigarettes, or any related tobacco industry.

K Raja Prasad Reddy elected President of Indian Newspaper Society

Tags: Person in news

K Raja Prasad Reddy of Telugu media group Sakshiwas elected as the President of the Indian Newspaper Society on 23 September 2022.

Rakesh Sharma from Aaj Samaj, a Hindi language newspaper, was elected as the INS deputy president and Mathrubhumi Arogya Masika’s M V Shreyams Kumar the society’s vice president.

They were elected at the 83rd annual general meeting of the Indian Newspaper Society held virtually.

The INS is an apex body of the newspapers, magazines and periodicals published in the country.

CBI launches a nationwide crackdown against online child sexual abuse, code named Operation Megh-Chakra

Tags: National

In a major crackdown on circulation and sharing of child sexual abuse material online, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 24 September 2022, launched a major operation code named “Operation Megh-Chakra.” 

Acting on a tip off from Interpol Singapore, which was alerted by the Interpol New Zealand ,CBI raided 56 locations in around 20 states and Union Territory .

A similar operation “Operation Carbon” was carried out by CBI in November 2021 when raids were conducted at 76 locations across the country against 83 persons and several persons were arrested.

64 countries including India are member of International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) image and video database, of the Interpol, which allows investigators from member countries to share data on cases of child sexual abuse.

Interpol 

The International Criminal Police organisation or Interpol is an inter- governmental association of 195 countries which shares and access data on crimes and criminals amongst the member countries' police force. 

India is represented by the CBI in the Interpol. 

Interpol was set up in 1914 and its Headquarters is at Lyons, France.

World Maritime Day

Tags: Important Days

Every year, on 24 September, World Maritime Day is observed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international organizations.

Important facts

• World Maritime Day was first observed in March 1978. At that time it was celebrated to mark the IMO Convention.

• The IMO Convention was adopted in 1948 at the International Conference held in Geneva.

• Earlier the IMO was called the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization.

Significance of the day

• About 80 percent of the world's trade takes place through the sea.

• It provides low-cost transportation of goods and is thus vital for promoting sustainable maritime development.

• India celebrates its Maritime Day on 5th April. It was celebrated for the first time in 1964.

• The Indo-Pacific Initiative is India's current maritime initiative. The initiative is supported by Australia, Japan and Thailand.

Dr Rajeev Behl appointed as Director General of ICMR

Tags: Science and Technology Person in news

Dr Rajiv Bahl on 23 September was appointed as the new director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-cum-secretary of the department of health Research for a period of three years.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• Bahl is currently the Head of Research on Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health Co-Newborn Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.

• Prior to Behl, Dr. Balram Bhargava's extended tenure as Director General of ICMR and Secretary, Department of Health Research ended in July.

• Bhargava was appointed to the post on 16 April 2018 for a period of four years.

ICMR :

• ICMR, New Delhi, promotes and supports internal and external research activities in the field of communicable and non-communicable diseases and basic medical sciences.

• It has 27 institutes located in different parts of India.

India exports first consignment of vegetable based meat products to US

Tags: National National News

India has exported the first consignment of plant-based meat products from Nadiad in Kheda district of Gujarat to California.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The first shipments exported to the US from Nadiad include vegetarian food products like momos, mini samosas, patties, nuggets, spring rolls, burgers.

• Due to the rich fiber and low cholesterol content, vegan food products are becoming alternative food products around the world.

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Authority (APEDA) said that they are working towards promoting plant-based meat products without interfering in the traditional animal-based meat export market.

• APEDA plans to promote a variety of vegetarian food products, including pancakes, snacks and cheese, to Australia, Israel, New Zealand and other countries in the coming months.

About “APEDA” :

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in December 1985.

• This authority functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• Headquarters- New Delhi

• Chairman- Dr. M. Angamuthu

President Draupadi Murmu confers NSS Awards 2020-21 at Rashtrapati Bhawan

Tags: Awards National News

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2020-21 on September 24 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• A total of forty-two Awards were given. Two Universities, ten NSS Units, their Programme Officers, and 30 NSS Volunteers received the awards.

• Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Nishith Pramanik and Youth Affairs Secretary Sanjay Kumar were present on the occasion.

About National Service Scheme (NSS) Award :

• The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, awards the National Service Scheme every year.

• These Awards were instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1993-94 on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Year of National Service Scheme.

• The awards are given to recognize and reward the outstanding contribution for voluntary community service made by Universities and Colleges, 2 Councils, Senior Secondary, NSS Units and Program Officers and NSS Volunteers for promotion of NSS in the country.

About National Service Scheme (NSS) :

• It is a Centrally Sector Scheme that was launched in 1969.

• Its primary objective is to develop the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service.

• The ideological orientation of the NSS is inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

• The motto of NSS is “NOT ME, BUT YOU ‘स्वयं से पहले आप’.

NIA nationwide raid on Popular Front of India was code named “Operation Octopus”

Tags: National

The nationwide crackdown on the premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI) carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate on 22 September was code named ‘Operation Octopus” by NIA.

The raid in 11 states led to the arrest of more than 100 PFI members and leaders across the country.

The NIA has claimed that the accused were organising camps for imparting training to commit violent and terrorist acts with the objective of promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

Popular front of India :

• It was formed in 2006. It describes itself “as a non-governmental social organisation whose stated objective is to work for the poor and disadvantaged people in the country and to oppose oppression and exploitation".
• At present, the PFI, which has a strong presence in Kerala and Karnataka, is active in more than 20 Indian states.
• The Government of India accuses the group of being an Islamic radical group which is engaged in terror activates.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) :

• It was set up by the government of India in 2009 under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008. It was set up after the terrorist attack in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. 
• It is the premier counter - terrorist agency in India.
• It comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs 
• The NIA has powers to take suo moto cognisance of terror activities in any part of India and register a case, to enter any state without permission from the state government, and to investigate and arrest people.
• Director General: Dinkar Gupta

The first Director General of NIA was Radha Vinod Raju 

Former Indian Hockey captain ‘Dilip Tirkey’ elected new Hockey India President

Tags: Sports Person in news

Former Indian men’s Hockey team captain Dilip Tirkey was elected as the new Hockey India (HI) president unopposed on 23 September 2022.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has also approved Dilip Tirkey and his team's appointments.

The 44 year old Dilip Tirkey of Odisha, represented India at three Olympic Games and was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and silver at the 2012 edition. He was also part of the team which won gold medals in the 2003 and 2007 editions of the Asia Cup.

Earlier the Delhi High court in a ruling on 26 May 2022 had dismissed the Hockey India President Narinder Batra and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) headed by former Supreme Court Judge A.S Dave  to run the day-to-day affairs of Hockey India and conduct the elections in Hockey India .

IMPORTANT FACTS -

Hockey India :

• It was set up in 2009 by the Indian Olympic Association to replace the Indian Hockey Federation.
• It is the main body which conducts all the male and female hockey in India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi 

20th Meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO Member States takes place in Kazakhstan

Tags: International Relations International News

The 20th Meeting of Prosecutors General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States was held in Astana, Kazakhstan on September 23.

The next (21st) meeting of the Prosecutor Generals of the SCO member states will be held in China in 2023.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• From India's side, learned Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Additional Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs Dr. Anju Rathi Rana participated in the meeting.

• Mehta highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India to address international economic offences at the international level by ratification of two United Nations Conventions.

• These two UN Conventions are - the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC) and its three protocols and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). 

• He said, in order to curb the threat of international economic crimes at the national level, India has implemented a number of legislative measures to prevent, detect and punish money laundering by special legislation.

• A Protocol incorporating the deliberations of the 20th meeting of the Prosecutor General of the SCO Member States was signed and adopted by the SCO Member States.

Salient features of the Protocol :

• Strengthening cooperation in relation to recovery of proceeds made through money laundering.

• Cooperation on issues relating to dealing with economic offences such as money laundering, search, confiscation and recovery of proceeds of crime from the States.

• Using the forums of bilateral and multilateral gatherings to discuss ways to strengthen the system to deal with economic offences.

• Continuing to exchange information on domestic laws governing the recovery of proceeds of each seizure and offence.

• To develop cooperation between the General Offices of Prosecutors of the SCO Member States in the field of advanced training of prosecutors.

• To conduct and participate in bilateral and multilateral programs to combat economic crimes.

Haifa Day

Tags: Important Days

Every year 23 September is celebrated as Haifa Day by the Indian Army. September 23 2022 marks the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Haifa.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The Indian Army celebrates 23 September every year as Haifa Day to pay respect to the three Indian Cavalry Regiments - Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers.

• Its main purpose is to show respect to the Indian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Haifa.

• The Battle of Haifa took place on 23 September 1918.

• In the war, soldiers from Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad, (part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade) participated in the First World War on behalf of the Allies and liberated the Israeli city of Haifa, occupied by Germany and Turkey.

• The Teen Murti Memorial in Delhi was renamed as Teen Murti Haifa Memorial by the Government of India to honour the soldiers who fought in this war.

• Teen Murti Memorial was built in 1922 in memory of Indian soldiers from the three princely states of Jodhpur, Hyderabad and Mysore.

Rohit Sharma creates a world record of most sixes in international T 20

Tags: Sports Person in news

Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma  created a new world record of maximum sixes in international T20 cricket during his unbeaten knock of 46 against Australia at Nagpur on 23 September 2022.

He hit 4 sixes in his innings, taking his tally to 176 sixes. Martin Guptill of New Zealand is now at the second place with 172 sixes and Chris Gayle of West Indies at the third spot with 126 sixes.

Virat Kohli with 104 sixes in the format is the only other Indian batsmen with more than 100 T20I sixes. 

India won the 2nd T20 against Australia by 5 wickets and the level the 3 match series 1-1. The third match of the series will be played at Hyderabad on 25 September 2022. 

Rohit Sharma currently holds the record of scoring maximum runs in International T 20. He has scored 3677 runs in 138 matches.

Piyush Goel attends G 20 ministers WTO Dispute Settlement reforms meeting in Bali

Tags: place in news Summits International News

The Indian Commerce minister Piyush Goel in a tweet said that he participated in a discussion on WTO’s Dispute Settlement Reform that was convened by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Bali, Indonesia on 21 September 2022.

The 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference held in Geneva, Switzerland from 12-17 June 2022,   had promised to revive the dispute settlement body in the next two years.

WTO Dispute Settlement System 

WTO is a global body which was set up in 1995 to promote rule based trading systems in the world and it also settles trade related disputes between the member countries. 

A member country can complain against another member country to the WTO if it believes that the country is not following WTO rules regarding trade. 

The Dispute Settlement Mechanism is a two tier process in the WTO.

First, the member countries are encouraged to settle their dispute through consultation.

If this fails then the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body appoints a panel to look into the dispute.

The countries have the right to appeal against the ruling of the panel to an Appellate Body set up by the Dispute Settlement Body. The ruling of the Appellate body is binding on the countries of WTO.

Objection of the United States to the Dispute Settlement System

The United States government has blocked the appointment of members to the Appellate Body since 2019. The Appellate body structure is at present not working but the panel system is still functioning.

The United States wants to abolish the Appellate system of the WTO as it believes that it has become synonymous with litigation and has become prolonged, complicated and expensive.

However the developing countries are of the view that a two tier dispute settlement system is essential for the functioning of the WTO dispute settlement system.  

World Trade Organisation (WTO) 

• It was set up on 1^st January 1995 replacing the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT).
• Its main purpose is to promote rule based trading systems in the world and it also settles trade related disputes between the member countries. 
•  The headquarters of WTO is in Geneva, Switzerland.
• There are 164 member countries.
• Director General of WTO : Dr Ngozi -Okonjo-Iweala of of Nigeria
• Report released by WTO : World Trade Report 

Booker Prize winner British author Hilary Mantel dies at 70

Tags: Person in news International News

Hilary Mantle, the first woman to be awarded the Booker Prize twice and author of the popular novel 'Wolf Hall', died in London on September 22, 2022, at the age of 70.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• Mantle was awarded the Booker Prize in 2009 for the first novel in the Thomas Cromwell series, Wolf Hall, and in 2012 for the novel Bring Up the Bodies.

• The third novel of the series 'The Mirror and the Light' was published in the year 2020 which was well received by the readers and was listed for the Booker Prize,2020 for a long time.

• The Wolf Hall has sold over five million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

• Its TV adaptation became a hit West End show and won a Golden Globe.

• She was born on July 6, 1952 in Glossop, Derbyshire, England.

• She graduated in law from the University of Sheffield.

• In 1973, she married Gerald McEwen, a geologist.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -

About International Booker Prize :

• The International Booker Prize is awarded annually to a translation of a novel published in the UK or Ireland.

• The Booker Prize was established in 1969 by the Booker Mcconnell Company of England.

• Under this, the amount of 50 thousand pounds i.e. 44 lakh rupees received is divided between the translator and the writer.

• French novelist David Diop was awarded the 'International Booker Prize 2021'.

• In May 2022 renowned Indian author Geetanjali Shree was awarded the International Booker Prize for her novel 'Tomb of Sand'.

Coal India Ltd to ink MoU with Three PSUs for Coal to Chemical Products

Tags: National Economics/Business National News

Coal India Limited (CIL) will sign MoU with three major public sector undertakings – Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and GAIL (India) on 27 September for setting up four Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) projects.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• These public sector undertakings will join hands to set up coal-to-chemical projects through the Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) route.

• Through the SCG route, coal is converted into syngas which can then be processed for downstream production of value-added chemicals. They are produced through imported natural gas or crude oil currently.

• The envisaged end products are di-methyl ether, synthetic natural gas and ammonium nitrate.

• The proposed projects will reduce foreign exchange expenditure and create more than 23,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

• A target of achieving 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030 has been set by the Ministry of Coal.

What is Syngas ?

• It is an abbreviation for synthesis gas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

• This is produced by gasification of a carbon containing fuel to a gaseous product that has some heating value. 

Amit Shah inaugurates building of four BOPs at SSB Camp Kishanganj in Bihar

Tags: State News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 24 September inaugurated the building of four BOPs in SSB camp Kishanganj, Bihar and asserted that the boundary of the country is fully secured.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• He inaugurated the building of four Border Observation Posts (BOPs) at Fatehpur, Pektola, Beria, Aamgachi, and Raniganj at the SSB camp in Kishanganj.

• The Union Home Minister asked the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel to remain vigilant along the border to prevent infiltration and smuggling of humans and animals from Nepal and Bangladesh.

• He said the SSB should adopt the latest technology including Drone and CCTV  to ensure perfect security along bordering areas. 

• He said SSB jawans are not only protecting bordering areas but also performing a commendable job to eliminate the Naxal menace in Bihar and Jharkhand.

• A meeting on border security is going on between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Director Generals of BSF, SSB and ITBP at the BSF camp in Kishanganj.

About Sashastra Seema Bal :

• Sashastra Seema Bal was established on 20 December 1963 after the Indo-China war.

• The Sashastra Seema Bal guards the country's borders with Nepal (1,751 km) and Bhutan (699 km).

• On 13 April 2014, the Union Home Ministry for the first time approved the induction of young women into the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as Combat Officers.

• Headquarters- New Delhi