1. Army Day parade to be held in different parts of India
The Indian Army has announced that the annual Army Day Parade will be held in different parts of India as per the Prime Minister's vision to move significant events and festivities out of the national capital.
Army Day is observed every year on 15 January.
Till date the Army day parade was held in New Delhi. In the next year it will be held in the Southern Command area.
The Indian Air Force had also recently moved out its annual fly-past and parade from the Hindon Air Base (Uttar Pradesh) near Delhi to Chandigarh this year.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Indian Army Day :
- It was on this day that for the first time an Indian took over the command of the Indian Army from the Britishers.
- On 15 January, 1949 Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa (K. M. Cariappa), took over as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from General Francis Robert Roy Bucher.
2. Judgment delivered by larger bench to prevail irrespective of number of judges in majority: Supreme Court
Tags: National
A 5 member Supreme Court Constitution Bench on 19 September 2022 held that “a judgment delivered by a larger bench would prevail irrespective of the number of judges that are constituting a majority”. The Court, giving an example, said that the judgment of a 7-judge bench delivered with a 4:3 majority will prevail over a unanimous 5-judge bench.
As per the Bench, under Article 145(5), the concurrence of the majority of judges is viewed as the court’s judgment.
The bench of Justices Indira Banerjee, Hemant Gupta, MM Sundresh, Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia passed this ruling while answering the second issue in Trimurthi Fragrances Pvt Ltd versus the Government of NCT of Delhi.
What was the issue ?
- In 2017 a division bench of Justices RF Nariman and SK Kaul referred the matter to the constitutional bench.
- The question was “if a unanimous five Bench is overruled by a seven-judge Bench where in four judges are speaking for the majority and where three judges are speaking for the minority, then can it be said that a five-judge Bench has been overruled.”
IMPORTANT FACTS -
What is a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ?
- Article 145(3) of the constitution provides for setting up a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. The constitutional bench is set up by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Members of the Constitutional Bench :
- A constitution bench consists of at least five or more judges of the court
When is the constitutional Bench setup ?
- It can be set up in the following cases;
- (i) When two or three-judge benches of the Supreme Court have delivered conflicting judgments on the same point of law.
- (ii) When the President of India has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on a question of fact or law under Article 143 of the Constitution.
- (iii) When a case involves a substantial question of law pertaining to the interpretation of the Constitution Article 145(3).
What is a division Bench of the Supreme Court ?
- It normally consists of 2 or 3 Judges which hear most of the cases in the Supreme Court.
Total number of Judges in the Supreme Court :
- At present the maximum number of judges in the Supreme Court is 34 including the Chief Justice of India.
- Chief Justice of India: Justice U U Lalit.
3. Nanmadol Typhoon wreaks havoc in Japan, high alert issued
Tags: International News
Due to the Nanmadol typhoon in Japan, people living in the southwest have been warned to move to safer places.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Due to the storm, there has been heavy rain with strong winds throughout the night of 19 September and landslides have also occurred at many places.
One person was killed and fifty others were injured as the storm passed through the island of Kyushu.
Government sources have said that Prime Minister Fomyo Kishida was to attend the UN General Assembly but has stopped to take stock of the damage caused by the storm and will now go a day later.
Nanmadol is the 14th Pacific hurricane of the season, and the largest to hit Japan.
4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands declared India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh
Tags: National State News National News
The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India's first Swachh Sujal Pradesh, by handing over the certificate to the Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- All villages of Andaman and Nicobar Island have been certified as Har Ghar Jal and also verified as open defecation free - ODF plus.
In order to be certified as a Swachh Sujal Pradesh, the State or the Union Territory has to be certified Har Ghar Jal as well shall be open defecation free.
Certified Har Ghar Jal means that the Gram sabha of every village in the state or the Union Territory has to pass a resolution certifying that all households in the villages have access to safe drinking water through taps.
The villages also have to confirm through a resolution of the Gram Sabha, that every household is getting regular supply of water of prescribed quality and not a single household is left out.
They have to also confirm that all schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions are also getting tap water.
Open Defecation Free (ODF) :
'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that are using toilets instead of open defecation.
A village that maintains Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean is called "ODF Plus Village".
Toilet facilities should be ensured in all households, primary schools, panchayat houses and Anganwadi centres in these villages.
At least 80% of households should manage their solid and liquid waste effectively and have minimum litter and minimum stagnant water.
ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories -Aspiring, Rising and Model.
Note :
Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh is the first certified Har Ghar Jal District in India.
Goa is the first state to be certified as Har Ghar Jal state.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are the first Har Ghar Jal certified Union Territory(UT) in the country.
5. Andaman and Nicobar Islands declared India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh
Tags: National State News National News
The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India's first Swachh Sujal Pradesh, by handing over the certificate to the Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- All villages of Andaman and Nicobar Island have been certified as Har Ghar Jal and also verified as open defecation free - ODF plus.
In order to be certified as a Swachh Sujal Pradesh, the State or the Union Territory has to be certified Har Ghar Jal as well shall be open defecation free.
Certified Har Ghar Jal means that the Gram sabha of every village in the state or the Union Territory has to pass a resolution certifying that all households in the villages have access to safe drinking water through taps.
The villages also have to confirm through a resolution of the Gram Sabha, that every household is getting regular supply of water of prescribed quality and not a single household is left out.
They have to also confirm that all schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions are also getting tap water.
Open Defecation Free (ODF) :
'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that are using toilets instead of open defecation.
A village that maintains Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean is called "ODF Plus Village".
Toilet facilities should be ensured in all households, primary schools, panchayat houses and Anganwadi centres in these villages.
At least 80% of households should manage their solid and liquid waste effectively and have minimum litter and minimum stagnant water.
ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories -Aspiring, Rising and Model.
Note :
Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh is the first certified Har Ghar Jal District in India.
Goa is the first state to be certified as Har Ghar Jal state.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are the first Har Ghar Jal certified Union Territory(UT) in the country.
6. India Overtakes China To Become Sri Lanka's Largest Lender
Tags: International Relations International News
According to a media report, India has emerged as the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka, overtaking China in the process, with a total loan of USD 968 million in the four months of 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- In the last five years from 2017-2021, China has been the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been the largest multilateral lender in the past five years and disbursed funds amounting to 610 million dollars in year 2021.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj had said that India has provided food and financial assistance of about $ 4 billion to Sri Lanka.
On 22 August, India provided 21,000 tonnes of fertilizers to the beleaguered Sri Lanka.
India has been at the forefront of providing financial assistance to Sri Lanka as per requirements of this country and is one of the countries which has provided maximum assistance in times of need.
Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka has been grappling with an economic crisis.
7. India Overtakes China To Become Sri Lanka's Largest Lender
Tags: International Relations International News
According to a media report, India has emerged as the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka, overtaking China in the process, with a total loan of USD 968 million in the four months of 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- In the last five years from 2017-2021, China has been the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been the largest multilateral lender in the past five years and disbursed funds amounting to 610 million dollars in year 2021.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj had said that India has provided food and financial assistance of about $ 4 billion to Sri Lanka.
On 22 August, India provided 21,000 tonnes of fertilizers to the beleaguered Sri Lanka.
India has been at the forefront of providing financial assistance to Sri Lanka as per requirements of this country and is one of the countries which has provided maximum assistance in times of need.
Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka has been grappling with an economic crisis.
8. Defence Minister reaches Cairo on two-day official visit to Egypt
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached Cairo on 19 September on a two-day official visit to Egypt.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with the Minister of Defence and Defence Production, General Mohammad Zaki.
Rajnath Singh's visit aims to further strengthen defence cooperation and friendship between India and Egypt.
The two ministers will review bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military ties and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.
An MoU will also be signed to promote defence cooperation between India and Egypt.
Singh will also meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
India - Egypt Relations :
Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India with the current Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion.
Indian companies are working on several projects in Egypt.
To strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries, an Indian Air Force team arrived in Egypt on 22 June to participate in a bilateral 'Strategic Leadership Program' with the Egyptian Air Force.
Earlier in November last year, Chief of Air Staff Chief Marshal VR Chowdhury had gone to Egypt for his five-day visit to attend the Air Power Symposium and Defence Exhibition (EDEX) in Cairo.
The year 2022 has special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Egypt :
Capital - Cairo
President - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
Currency - Egyptian pound
9. Defence Minister reaches Cairo on two-day official visit to Egypt
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached Cairo on 19 September on a two-day official visit to Egypt.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with the Minister of Defence and Defence Production, General Mohammad Zaki.
Rajnath Singh's visit aims to further strengthen defence cooperation and friendship between India and Egypt.
The two ministers will review bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military ties and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.
An MoU will also be signed to promote defence cooperation between India and Egypt.
Singh will also meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
India - Egypt Relations :
Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India with the current Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion.
Indian companies are working on several projects in Egypt.
To strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries, an Indian Air Force team arrived in Egypt on 22 June to participate in a bilateral 'Strategic Leadership Program' with the Egyptian Air Force.
Earlier in November last year, Chief of Air Staff Chief Marshal VR Chowdhury had gone to Egypt for his five-day visit to attend the Air Power Symposium and Defence Exhibition (EDEX) in Cairo.
The year 2022 has special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Egypt :
Capital - Cairo
President - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
Currency - Egyptian pound
10. MAS and IFSCA sign agreement to advance cross-border fintech innovations
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) on 18 September signed a FinTech Co-operation Agreement (CA) to facilitate regulatory collaboration and partnership in FinTech.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This formal treaty is called the Fintech Cooperation Agreement (CA).
Sopanedu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer, MAS and Joseph Joshi, Chief Technology Officer, IFSCA were present at the signing of the agreement.
Objectives of agreement :
Through the CA, the two collaborating bodies aim to overlook sandbox collaboration and promote objectives such as the dissemination of information.
MAS and IFSCA will maximise the use of existing sandboxes in their respective jurisdictions.
This is to support the use of technological innovations.
What steps will be taken to achieve this ?
Both bodies will refer and connect companies to each others’ sandboxes.
They will innovatie cross-border experimentation in both jurisdictions.
This agreement will allow IFSCA and MAS to determine suitable use cases which could benefit from these kinds of cross-border experiments.
Inviting relevant jurisdictions to participate in this global regulation would be another initiative taken under this agreement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
What is Financial Technology (Fintech) ?
Fintech refers to the integration of technology by financial services companies to improve their use and delivery to consumers.
Fintech is used to help companies, business owners and consumers to better manage their financial operations and processes etc.
Examples of fintech applications are - robo advisors, payments apps, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending apps, investment apps, and crypto apps etc.
