1. Britain's Queen Elizabeth dies at the age of 96
Tags: Person in news International News
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, died on 8 September at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her age was about 96 years.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Queen Elizabeth ruled for 70 years, former Prince Charles will now be Britain's new monarch.
The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 and she witnessed a great social change.
During her reign there were 15 prime ministers, including Ms Truss, starting with Winston Churchill.
Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926 in Mayfair, London.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth became the longest-serving British monarch In 2015, surpassing her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
In June 2022, she overtook Thailand's King to become the world's second-longest reigning monarch.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand ruled for 70 years and 126 days between 1927 and 2016.
Louis XIV of France is the longest reigning monarch in the world with 72 years and 110 days.
- In honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the Government of India has decided that on September 11, there will be a one-day state mourning across the country.
2. 95 out of 131 cities show improvement in air quality : Govt data
Tags: National National News
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change the air quality of 95 cities out of 131 cities have improved under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Varanasi recorded the highest drop of 53% in the concentration of PM10 in 2021-22 as compared to the 2017 baseline.
The annual PM10 concentration of Varanasi in 2017 was 244 micrograms per cubic metre, according to ministry data.
By 2021-22, the air pollutant in Varanasi has come down to 144 micrograms per cubic metre.
Delhi's PM10 annual average concentration was 241 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017, it declined to 196 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021-22, showing a decline of 18.6%.
Data from the ministry shows that all metropolitan cities - Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad - have shown significant improvement in air quality in 2021-22 as compared to 2017.
Deterioration in air quality in 27 cities :
According to the report, 27 cities have seen a decline in air quality, with Chhattisgarh's Korba district having the worst air quality.
Among the states, Madhya Pradesh is the worst performer, as the air quality of six out of seven cities in the state has deteriorated.
Howrah and Durgapur in West Bengal, Aurangabad and Thane in Maharashtra, Gaya in Bihar, Rajkot and Vadodara in Gujarat, Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Patiala (Punjab) and Jammu also witnessed deterioration in air quality.
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change - Bhupender Yadav
3. Union Agriculture Minister inaugurates National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign-2022
Tags: National National News
Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2022-23 on 7 September at NASC, Pusa, New Delhi.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Addressing the conference, the Agriculture Minister said that according to the 4th Advance Estimates (2021-22), the production of food grains in the country is expected to be 3157 lakh tonnes, which is 50 lakh tonnes more than the production of food grains for the year 2020-21.
The total pulses and oilseeds production during the year 2021-22 is estimated to be a record 277 and 377 lakh tonnes respectively.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Rs 1.22 lakh crore has been given to farmers as compensation for the loss of their crops.
Objective of the Conference :
To review and evaluate crop yields during the preceding cropping seasons.
To fix crop-wise targets for the Rabi season in consultation with the State Governments.
To facilitate adoption of innovative technologies with a view to increase production and productivity of crops along with ensuring supply of critical inputs.
Rabi Crops :
Wheat, barley, gram, peas, and lentils
Rabi crops constitute a significant part of the total food grain production in India.
These crops are planted in winter and harvested in spring.
India is the second largest producer of wheat in the world after China.
Rabi crops are a staple food item in major parts of the country, especially in the entire north and north-western parts of India.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
National targets for food grain production :
The national target of total foodgrain production for the year 2022-23 has been fixed at 3280 lakh tonnes, of which the contribution of the Rabi season will be 1648 lakh tonnes.
4. Second India-Japan 2plus2 Ministerial Dialogue begins in Tokyo
Tags: International Relations International News
The 2nd India-Japan 2022 Ministerial Dialogue began in Tokyo on 8 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the second India-Japan 2+2 ministerial dialogue along with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo on 8 September.
Rajnath Singh said, there has been significant progress in Indo-Japan bilateral relations in recent times.
India and Japan are set to complete 70 years of diplomatic ties in December this year and the two countries will hold an event to mark the occasion in New Delhi in December.
The meeting reflects the commitment of both the countries towards strengthening bilateral security and defence cooperation.
It also demonstrates the strength of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
During the talks, the two sides will review bilateral cooperation in various fields and decide the way forward.
India's '2+2' format of dialogue :
It is a format of the meeting of the Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
India has 2+2 dialogues with four major strategic partners - the US, Australia, Japan and Russia.
Apart from Russia, three other countries are also India's partners in the Quad.
The '2+2' dialogue with Japan was launched in 2019 to further deepen bilateral security and defence cooperation.
The first Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue with Japan was held in New Delhi in December 2019.
5. US President Joe Biden nominates Indian-American attorney Arun Subramanian to US District Judge in New York
Tags: Person in news International News
US President Joe Biden on September 6 nominated Indian-American attorney Arun Subramaniam to be the US District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Subramaniam was the first South Asian judge to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York after being confirmed by the Senate.
Subramaniam did his Juris Doctor (JD) from Columbia Law School in 2004 and a BA from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.
Currently he is a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York where he has worked since 2007.
Subramaniam also served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2007.
The Indian-origin attorney has expertise in matters relating to the False Claims Act, public entities, trafficking in child pornography, consumers and persons injured by unfair means.
6. Sheikh Hasina confers scholarships on descendants of Indian soldiers killed in Bangladesh Liberation War
Tags: International Relations International News
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship at a function in New Delhi on 7 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This scholarship was awarded for the first time to the descendants of soldiers, officers of the Armed Forces of India who were martyred or grievously injured during the historic liberation war of 1971.
This scholarship was awarded to 100 - 100 students of class 10 and 12 which is a tribute to the Indian heroes who made supreme sacrifice for the country.
The award is named after Hasina's father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A total of 200 family members of Indian Army personnel have received scholarships.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Liberation War of 1971 :
In the 1950s, Pakistan was ruled by a military-bureaucratic rule that ruled the entire country (East and West Pakistan) in an undemocratic manner.
The Bengalites had no political representation in this system of governance.
This dominance of West Pakistan was challenged by the Bengalis during the general elections of 1970.
In the general election of 1970, the Awami League of East Pakistan's Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got a clear majority.
West Pakistan was not ready for any leader of East Pakistan to rule the country.
On March 26, 1971, West Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight in East Pakistan.
As a result, lakhs of Bangladeshis had to take refuge in India.
The Pakistani army had to face defeat due to the bravery of the 'Muktiwahini Sena' and Indian soldiers who fought for the independence of Bangladesh.
On 6 December 1971, a new nation Bangladesh was born out of 13 days war with the intervention of India.
7. Piyush Goyal launches India US Startup SETU - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling programme in San Francisco
Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes International News
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goel launched the India US Startup SETU - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling programme in San Francisco, United States on 6 September 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Aim of the Startup:
- Piyush Goyal said it will act as a bridge between Indian and American companies and will support entrepreneurs in transforming, upskilling and leveraging on the success stories of the Indian Diaspora in the US.
- The minister observed that some good ideas of startups don't take off for lack of mentorship, guidance, funds.
- The initiative would connect start-ups in India to US-based investors and start-up ecosystem leaders with mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialization.
- The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative MAARG, or the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth program, which is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.
What is MAARG ?
- It is a portal which has been launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the startups India initiative.
- The portal has been developed with the idea that a mentor shall be accessible to the startups, anywhere in the country.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Points to remember :
- January 16 is observed as Startup day as on this day in 2016 the government of India launched its flagship Startup India initiative. The first Startup day was observed in 2022.
- India has become the third-largest Startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China.
- Bengaluru based Neobank Open is the 100th Unicorn Startup in India.
8. India donates 5000 tonnes of rice to Madagascar
Tags: International News
Indian Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar presented 5000 tonnes of rice to President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar at a donation ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Earlier, India donated 15 thousand bicycles to Madagascar on the occasion of World Bicycle Day. World Bicycle day is observed on 3 June every year.
- President Rajoelina thanked the Government and people of India for the generous donation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Madagascar :
- It is an island country off the South-East coast of Africa.
- It is the fourth largest island in the world after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.
- Capital: Antananarivo
- Currency: Ariary
- President: Andry Rajoelina
9. Union cabinet approves launch of centrally sponsored scheme of PM SHRI Schools
Tags: National Government Schemes National News
The Union cabinet on 7 September approved the launch of a new centrally sponsored scheme of setting up PM Schools for Rising India, PM - SHRI Schools.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Under this scheme, more than 14,000 schools including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas as well as schools run by State Governments and local bodies will be strengthened to emerge as PM-Shri Schools.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this scheme for the up-gradation and modernization of existing schools managed by the central and state governments as well as local bodies on Teachers' Day on 5 September.
The total project cost for five years would be Rs 27,360 crore, of which the Centre's share would be Rs 18,128 crore.
187 lakh students will be benefited under this scheme.
10. Signing of MoU between India and UAE on Cooperation in the field of Education approved
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Government of India and the Ministry of Education, Government of the United Arab Emirates, on cooperation in the field of education.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- An MoU was signed with UAE in 2015 in the field of education which expired in 2018.
In 2019, at a meeting between the education ministers of the two countries, the UAE side proposed the signing of a new MoU.
The new 2022 MoU covers the changes brought in by the National Education Policy 2020 in India's education ecosystem.
The MoU will be valid for a period of five years from the date of signing and will be automatically renewable with the consent of both countries.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Objective of MoU :
To further strengthen the ongoing educational cooperation between India and UAE and widen the scope of mutual engagement.
Promote Exchange of Information Education,
Capacity Development of Technical and vocational Education and Training (TVET) teaching staff,
Facilitation of academic collaboration between Higher Education Institutions in both the countries for offering Twinning,
Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes
