1. Iran's IRGC successfully launches Nour 3 Military Imaging Satellite into Orbit
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched its third military imaging satellite, Nour 3, from Iran's Shahroud Spaceport.
An Overview of the News
The satellite was sent into orbit using a three-stage cassette carrier, which was developed by the IRGC.
In Persian,"nour" (or "noor") translates to "light", while "Qased" means "messenger".
Noor 3 was placed in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 450 km (280 mi) above the Earth's surface.
The primary purpose of the Nour-3 satellite is to collect data and images for intelligence purposes by the IRGC.
Previous versions of the Noor satellite include:
Nour 1 - It was the first military reconnaissance satellite launched by Iran in April 2020. It orbited at an altitude of 425 km (265 mi) above the Earth.
Nour 2 - It launched in March 2022, and operated in a low orbit at an altitude of 500 km (310 mi).
Other satellites of Iran
In August 2022, Iran's high-resolution, remote-sensing Khayyam satellite was launched using Russia's Soyuz-2.1B rocket. The launch took place from the Russian-controlled Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
About Iran
President - Ibrahim Raisi
Capital - Tehran
Currency - Iranian Rial
2. FSSAI introduces 'special category' provision to promote gender equality in food industry
Tags: National News
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced a new provision called 'Special Category' in the FOSCOS portal.
An Overview of the News
This provision aims to promote gender equality and equal opportunities for women and transgender entrepreneurs in the food business sector.
Under this provision, licensing and registration authorities will give priority to 'special category' applications.
Priority will be maintained in such a way that a one-to-one ratio is maintained between 'Special Category' applications and regular applications, unless there are no pending applications in any category.
Persons belonging to 'Special Category' will be identified through Aadhaar/PAN (Permanent Account Number) authentication during the application submission process.
About FOSCOS (Food Safety Compliance System):
FOSCOS was introduced by FSSAI in 2020 as an upgraded version of the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS), which was initially launched in 2012.
It serves the purpose of issuing all India FSSAI licenses and registrations.
FOSCOS is a cloud-based online platform designed to provide various services to food business operators (FBOs), including licensing, registration and regulatory compliance.
About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, established in the year 2008 under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
The current Chairman of FSSAI is Sudhansh Pant.
It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The headquarters of FSSAI is located in New Delhi, Delhi.
3. India and UN launch “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative”
Tags: International News
India and the United Nations jointly launched the "India-United Nations Capacity Building Initiative".
An Overview of the News
The India-UN Capacity Building Initiative aims to share India's development expertise with countries in the Global South.
The initiative was officially announced during the “India-UN for the Global South – Delivering for Development” event held in New York on September 23, 2023.
India's Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and eminent personalities Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly, attended the event.
This initiative builds on India's established bilateral cooperation in development and capacity building with partner countries.
India's United Nations Development Partnership Fund has launched 75 development projects in 61 countries in the last six years, highlighting India's commitment to international development.
Strategic Partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Under this initiative, a strategic partnership has been formed between the UN India team and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The partnership aims to utilize India's technical and economic cooperation platform to share India's development experiences and best practices with a global audience.
A Joint Declaration of Intent has been exchanged to formalize this cooperation.
India's G20 Presidency aligns with goals:
The “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” aligns with the goals of India's G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan.
These objectives include accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting technological transformation, and establishing digital public infrastructure, among other key priorities.
4. Taiwan unveils first domestic submarine 'Haikun'
Tags: International News
Taiwan recently unveiled its first domestically built submarine "Haikun".
An Overview of the News
It aims to enhance its defense capabilities amid the constant threat of a possible Chinese attack.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony in Kaohsiung.
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a democratic island nation that China considers a rebel province.
The enduring dispute over Taiwan's status has been a long-term source of regional tension, with China stressing its intention to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, even by force if necessary.
Importance of Taiwan's domestically built submarine
The $1.54 billion Haikun submarine is a diesel-electric powered ship that marks a substantial advance in Taiwan's defense capabilities.
Taiwan aims to establish a fleet of 10 submarines, including two older Dutch-built submarines, all equipped with missiles.
The purpose of this fleet expansion is to deter possible Chinese encirclement, invasion attempts, or naval blockade and act as a buffer until support from American and Japanese forces could be received.
5. MSME Ministry to lead Swachhta Hi Seva campaign on October 1, 2023
Tags: National News
The MSME Ministry will actively participate in the “One Date One Hour Ek Saath” initiative as part of the Swachhta Hi Seva campaign on October 1, 2023.
An Overview of the News
The ministry has planned more than 200 programs for the “One Date, One Hour, Together” activity, which will be conducted by its subordinate organizations.
Organizations such as the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Khadi and Village Industries (KVI), COIR Board, MGIRI-Wardha, NIMSME-Hyderabad, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises- Development Facilitation Offices (MSME-DFOs) will actively participate in this campaign.
A Joint Secretary level nodal officer has been appointed to oversee the preparation and implementation of the entire campaign and its activities to be held on October 1, 2023 across India.
The theme of Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan in 2023 is “Garbage Free India”.
The Ministry is also actively pursuing the Special Drive for Disposal of Pending Cases (SCDPM) 3.0 and Swachhta Hi Seva Abhiyaan, which will run from September 15 to October 2, 2023.
6. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' modules
Tags: National News
On 28 September 2023, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan launched 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD', a new online, life skills learning module to empower youth and promote gender equality through cricket.
An Overview of the News
The objective of the program is to promote gender equality among children and youth.
'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' was launched at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in collaboration with ICC, UNICEF and BCCI.
The launch event was attended by various dignitaries and more than 1000 children.
Empowerment through cricket
'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' offers engaging and interactive learning modules.
Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana presented the first module to school children at the stadium.
The program encourages the adoption of important life skills and promotes gender equality.
'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' module
'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' consists of eight cricket-based animation films.
These films address topics such as leadership, problem-solving, self-confidence, and teamwork.
They use examples from cricket to illustrate these life skills.
The program is free and available in English, Hindi and Gujarati.
Realism and local relevance
The films are made relevant by incorporating extensive research into local nuances.
This initiative is in line with the National Education Policy's emphasis on gender equality and equal opportunities.
'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' represents an important step towards empowering girls and promoting gender equality through cricket-based education.
7. The world's largest Hindu temple will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, America.
Tags: International News
The world's largest Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, USA.
An Overview of the News
The temple will be the largest in the United States and the second largest globally after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey was built with the help of more than 12,500 volunteers from different parts of the US.
Construction lasted for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.
Temple Dimensions and Design:
The New Jersey branch of Akshardham is spread over 183 acres and measures 255 feet x 345 feet x 191 feet.
It was designed according to ancient Hindu scriptures and incorporates elements of Indian culture, including 10,000 statues, sculptures and carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms.
Unique Temple Features:
The temple design consists of a main temple, 12 sub-temples, nine shikharas (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal pinnacles.
Akshardham boasts the largest elliptical dome in traditional stone architecture, designed to last for a millennium.
Four types of stone - limestone, pink sandstone, marble, and granite - were chosen for their ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Approximately two million cubic feet of stone was used, which was obtained from various locations around the world, including Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, India, and China.
Brahma Kund:
The temple's Brahma Kund, a traditional Indian stepwell, contains water from over 300 reservoirs around the world, including sacred rivers of India and all 50 states of the US.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham incorporates sustainable practices such as solar panel farms, use of fly ash concrete mix and the planting of over two million trees globally in recent decades.
8. Jammu and Kashmir's first Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center inaugurated in Kathua
Tags: State News National News
On September 24, 2023, Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated its first Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center affiliated with Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center (TMC) Mumbai in the newly constructed block of Government Medical College (GMC) in Kathua.
An Overview of the News
The establishment of the Tata Satellite Cancer Care facility in Kathua addresses the increasing incidence of cancer in the region, which is attributed to factors such as aging, lifestyle changes and environmental impacts.
This healthcare facility in Kathua aims to serve not only Jammu and Kashmir but also the neighboring areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, which lack facilities like the Tata Memorial Center (TMC).
The introduction of the day-care chemotherapy unit at GMC Kathua makes cancer treatment more accessible and affordable for the local population, eliminating the inconvenience and high cost associated with travel to TMC Mumbai.
India's Healthcare Vision
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is expanding its healthcare infrastructure, including the establishment of medical colleges, AIIMS institutes and biotech parks. 'Kathua-Udhampur-Doda' parliamentary constituency is moving towards becoming the future 'health circuit' of India.
India's Vision for Bio-economy
India aims to achieve a $150 billion bioeconomy by 2025, with a significant focus on biotechnology and its contribution to vaccine development and cancer treatment.
Leading Cancer Hospital in India
Tata Memorial Hospital is located in Mumbai.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is located in New Delhi.
Cancer Institute, located in Chennai.
Apollo Specialty Hospital is located in Chennai.
Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute is located in Ahmedabad.
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre is located in Delhi.
Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology is located in Bengaluru.
Regional Cancer Centre, located in Thiruvananthapuram.
HCG (Healthcare Global Enterprises), based in Bengaluru.
Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research is located in Chandigarh.
9. Prime Minister inaugurates nine new Vande Bharat trains
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off nine new Vande Bharat trains, enhancing India's rail connectivity and passenger experience, through video conferencing on September 24, 2023.
An Overview of the News
These trains are part of the government's efforts to improve connectivity across India and provide world-class facilities to rail passengers.
With these nine new trains, the total number of Vande Bharat trains in operation across India has reached 34. This includes 25 trains that were already serving in various states and union territories.
List of New Vande Bharat Trains:
Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express
Tirunelveli-Madurai-Chennai Vande Bharat Express
Hyderabad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
Vijayawada-Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express
Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat Express
Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express
Rourkela-Bhubaneswar-Puri Vande Bharat Express
Ranchi-Howrah Vande Bharat Express
Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express
Important facts about Vande Bharat trains:
These nine trains will increase connectivity in 11 states: Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
Vande Bharat trains will run at the fastest speed on its routes, reducing travel time compared to existing trains.
They will facilitate connectivity to important religious pilgrimage sites.
Equipped with world-class amenities and advanced safety features, these trains aim to provide modern, fast and comfortable travel options for a wide range of passengers including professionals, businessmen, students and tourists.
10. 1,000-year-old alien corpse unveiled in Mexican Congress
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.
An Overview of the News
These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.
Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.
Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.
Unusual Features:
The bodies were human-like in shape but displayed distinctive features such as three-fingered hands and feet.
They had retractable necks and long skulls that resembled bird-like features.
The bones of these creatures were strong, light, and lacked teeth.
Implantation and Embryo:
Eggs with embryos were found in one of these bodies.
Implants made of the metals cadmium and osmium were discovered.
Previous claims by Maussan:
In 2015, Jaime Maussan presented another alleged "alien" body, found near the Nazca Lines in Peru, famous for its giant and mysterious geoglyphs.
