1. Swedish defence firm SAAB announced to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon in India
Tags: National Defence National News
Swedish defence firm Saab on 28 September announced its plan to set up a manufacturing facility in India for the Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system under the NDA government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative to bolster indigenous defence manufacturing.
Important facts
Production at the new facility is expected to begin in 2024, with the name of the production site yet to be disclosed.
Manufacturing will be carried out by Saab FFV India Pvt Ltd, a new subsidiary wholly owned by SAAB.
This will be the company's first manufacturing facility for the Carl-Gustaf M4 outside Sweden.
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was manufacturing the Carl-Gustaf M3 with a range of up to 1,200 metres under a tie-up with Saab.
Saab will continue its partnership with Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) for the manufacture of Carl-Gustaf arms and its ammunition.
About Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon systems
Carl-Gustaf M4 is a shoulder-fired weapon system with a range of 1,500 metre.
It weighs less than seven kilos and is under one metre in length.
It helps soldiers with a multitude of missions they may have to accomplish on the battlefield.
This weapon system has been in service with the Indian Army since 1976, and its earlier M2 and M3 variants have been produced in India.
2. All women, married or unmarried, have right to legal and safe abortion : Supreme Court
Tags: National National News
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on September 29, held that all women have the right to a safe and legitimate abortion and it is unconstitutional to distinguish between married and unmarried women in the matter.
Important facts
The Supreme Court said that even unmarried women have the right to abort a fetus between 20 and 24 weeks of age arising out of consensual relations.
The court held that depriving married or unmarried women the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies is a violation of fundamental rights.
A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud was hearing an appeal by a woman who wanted to abort a 24-week-old foetus after her relationship with a man failed and her partner abandoned her.
The bench also ruled that the definition of rape under the Medical Abortion Act should include marital rape.
A division bench of the Delhi High Court had refused to grant any interim relief to the woman.
About Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971
Abortion in India has been a legal right under various circumstances since the introduction of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in 1971.
The Act was amended in 2003 to enable safe and legal abortion of women.
The Act was also amended in the year 2021.
Major Provisions of MTP Amendment Act, 2021
Under this Amendment Act, abortion can be done in the following circumstances -
If there is any danger to the life or mental health of the mother by continuing the pregnancy
If there are any serious abnormalities in the fetus
If pregnancy occurred as a result of failure of contraception (but this is applicable only for married women)
If the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or rape
A pregnancy up to 24 weeks can be terminated in different circumstances after taking the opinion of two registered medical practitioners.
3. CBI launches Operation GARUDA
Tags: National National News
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 29 September launched a multi-phase 'Operation GARUDA' to dismantle drug networks with international linkages.
Important facts
The CBI has initiated this to coordinate enforcement operations in International Courts of Justice through Interpol and the Narcotics Control Bureau, with a special focus on the Indian Ocean region.
About Operation GARUDA
The goal of the Garud campaign is to take action against drug dealers, their production areas and those who help in this work on the basis of international intelligence.
During the operation, searches, seizures and arrests have been made in several states and union territories of the country.
Apart from this, the police of Union Territories including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Manipur have also taken action.
Around 6,600 people were screened and 127 new cases were registered during this special drive.
During the operation 5 kg heroin, 33 kg ganja, more than 3 kg charas and several intoxicants have been recovered.
Around 175 people have been arrested.
4. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to launch Clean India 2.0 Programme on 1st October
Tags: National National News
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur will launch Clean India 2.0 Programme on 1st October 2022.
Important facts
This one month long nationwide program will be started mainly to collect single use plastic waste and create awareness among the people.
The program is being organized in all villages across the country through a network of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), affiliated youth clubs and National Service Scheme affiliated institutions.
Following the success of last year's Clean India Drive, 10 million kilograms of waste (plastic, e-waste and other waste) will be collected and disposed of this year with the support and voluntary participation of citizens.
Hotspots for waste collection will be tourist places, educational institutions, bus stands/ railway stations, national highways, historical and heritage buildings, religious places, hospitals and water resources etc.
Through this campaign, the mantra of "Clean Kaal: Amrit Kaal" will be given and through public participation, this program will be made a mass movement.
5. Cabinet approves redevelopment of three railway stations
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet on 28 September approved the redevelopment of three railway stations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad.
Important facts
The total cost of this redevelopment project is Rs 10,000 crore.
New Delhi Railway Station will integrate train services with buses, auto and metro rail services.
The redesign of Ahmedabad Railway Station is inspired by the Sun Temple of Modera.
The heritage building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will not be changed, the buildings around it will be redeveloped.
The redevelopment of these three stations is part of an overall redevelopment plan for 199 stations with a total cost of Rs 60,000 crore.
The projects will be implemented on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis instead of Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
6. NASSCOM Foundation, DXC Tech to offer digital-skilling to over 1 million people
Tags: National Economy/Finance National News
NASSCOM Foundation on September 28 announced its partnership with DXC Technology to open resource centres for imparting digital skills to rural communities in 20 aspirational districts.
Important facts
It will focus on skilling Indian youth as part of an eight-month project that is expected to collectively benefit 1 million people.
It will address the digital divide, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities where there are access barriers to technology.
20 resource centers for digital literacy and e-governance will be set up in aspirational districts of seven states namely Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
These centres will help in providing need-based information, e-resources and digital services that will impact citizens’ lives in alignment with the United Nation's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Resource centers will be equipped with digital resources such as computers and printers, online resources such as subscription channels, and physical resources such as books, magazines and newspapers to make digital tools accessible to the entire community.
Communities will also be linked to appropriate government schemes and e-governance services apart from receiving training in digital skills.
Through this initiative, youth in India will receive advanced technical training that will improve their employability skills to meet the market demands and 60% of the beneficiaries will get placement facilities after completing the course.
National Association of Software and Services Companies- NASSCOM
It is a not-for-profit industrial association which is the apex body for the IT industry in India.
It was established in 1988.
Due to its significant efforts, India's IT (Information Technology) and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry is getting a lot of support.
NASSCOM has made unprecedented contributions to India's GDP, exports, employment, infrastructure and global visibility.
7. Union Cabinet approves sharing of Kushiyara River between India and Bangladesh
Tags: National International News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on 28 September 2022 , has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Republic of Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each by India and Bangladesh from common border river Kushiyara.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 6th September, 2022 between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh during the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
This MoU will enable Government of Assam to withdraw upto 153 cusecs of water from the common stretch of Kushiyara river during dry season (1st November to 31st May) for their consumptive water requirement.
A Joint Monitoring Team shall be set up by both the countries to monitor the withdrawal of water by each side during the dry season.
India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers including Ganges, Teesta, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Kushiyara and others.
Kushiyara River
- It is a branch of the Barak River. The Barak River rises in Manipur Hill in Manipur and after flowing through Mizoram it enters Assam.
- The river next splits into two branches, the Surma (north) and the Kushiyara (south), which enter Bangladesh and turn southwest.
- The Kushiyara River forms the boundary between Assam and Sylhet district of Bangladesh.
8. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appointed as the Prime Minister
Tags: Person in news International News
The Saudi King Salman has appointed the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the Prime Minister of the country, according to a royal decree published on 27 September 2022.
Prince Mohammed is already de facto ruler of the world’s largest oil exporter, and the appointment formalises his role as leader of the kingdom’s government.
The crown prince, known by his initials MBS, previously served as deputy prime minister as well as defence minister. He is being replaced as defence minister by his younger brother, Khalid bin Salman, who was deputy defence minister.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia is a West Asian kingdom founded by Ibn Saud in 1923. The country is known for its oil and Islam.
- According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020, Saudi Arabia has the world’s 2nd largest oil reserves in the world after Venezuela.
- At present it is the world's largest exporter of crude oil.
- It has two of the holiest shrine of Islam, Mecca and Medina mosque
- The world's largest mosque Al-Haram or forbidden mosques is in Mecca.
- The world's second largest mosque, Mosque of the Prophet, or Masjid al-Nabawi is in Medina.
- The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) headquarters is also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The world’s largest sand area, the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) which is spread around 647,500 square km, is also in Saudi Arabia.
Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi Riyal
King of Saudi Arabia: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
9. Bangladesh launches interactive gaming portal to mark Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday
Tags: International News
Bangladesh launched its first interactive gaming platform named ‘Hasina and Friends’ to mark the 75th birth anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 28.
Important facts
Unveiling this platform, Minister of State for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak said that it is the first learning platform built in Bangladesh.
The Minister announced that from now on every year Hasina and Friends Festival will be organized in which children will also be rewarded.
About interactive gaming platform ‘Hasina and Friends’
It is designed to educate children about the environment, education and digital connectivity.
Children will be able to learn many life skills through this gaming platform.
It has been designed to foster creativity among children, make them smart and inculcate in them progressive and liberal values.
This will give a boost to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Vision 2041 to make Bangladesh a developed country.
Through this platform, children will be taught the lessons of the history, culture and development of Bangladesh.
About Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth term as prime minister after winning the 2018 general election.
Hasina has become the longest-serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh since independence.
10. NDMA 18th Foundation Day
Tags: National Important Days National News
28 September, 2022 is NDMA's 18th Foundation Day. Addressing the 18th Foundation Day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in New Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah said that India has significantly reduced the damage caused by disasters in recent years.
Important facts
Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai said, since 2014 the government has taken practical steps in disaster response.
He said that Aapda Mitra Scheme is being implemented which has helped in involving the local people in disaster management.
India has achieved great success in the direction of overall strengthening of disaster management and several schemes are being implemented in this direction.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and was constituted in Dec 2006.
The aim of the National Disaster Management Authority is to build a safer and disaster-resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management.
Organisational Structure
The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of the NDMA.
The Cabinet Minister is the Vice-Chairman.
The NDMA Secretariat, headed by a Secretary, is responsible for providing secretarial support and continuity.
Along with this, NDMA has 8 Ministers of State as its Members.
Steps taken by indian government in Disaster Management
India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
India is working closely with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).
India has formulated the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).
NDMA has taken an initiative on Earthquake Disaster Risk Indexing (EDRI) for 50 important cities and 1 district in seismic zone IV and V zones.
30 most flood affected districts of 25 states have been included in NDMA's Aapdamitra scheme.
The government has constituted a National Crisis Management Committee and a Crisis Management Group.
