1. 30 startups identified through 'Swachhata Startup Challenge'
Tags: National Economy/Finance National News
On 19 September, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organized a Startup Conclave at the Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) will felicitate 30 startups identified through the Swachhta Startup Challenge to help strengthen the sanitation and waste management sector.
The day-long conclave will provide a platform to startups to gain experience, knowledge and learning that will help them find their way into the sector to successfully scale up their solutions.
Some Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will engage in a 'reverse pitch' to highlight specific grassroots challenges, to motivate startups to work towards finding innovative solutions to the challenges.
Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban, implemented by MoHUA, focuses on innovation and encouragement for startups to adopt locally innovative, implementable solutions and business models and promote waste management.
About Swachhta Start-up Challenge ?
It was launched to increase innovation in waste management.
It was launched by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT.
The AFD is a French public financial institution that implements the policies of the French government.
The objective of this challenge is to harness the entrepreneurial potential of the waste management sector in India and promote an enabling environment for enterprise development.
The top ten winners of this challenge will be given a prize money of Rs 25 lakh.
Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) - Hardeep Singh Puri
2. Rajnath Singh signs MoU with Egypt on Defence Cooperation
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Egypt, met the Egyptian Defence Minister, General Mohamed Zaki in Cairo on 20 September and signed a MoU on Defence Cooperation to further expand the bilateral defence ties between the two countries.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- During the meeting, both sides discussed steps to strengthen defense ties and a consensus was reached for joint military exercises and training, especially in the area of counter-terrorism.
In addition, they also exchanged views on regional security and acknowledged the contribution of India and Egypt to peace and stability in the world.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation and security aspects.
Singh has also invited his Egyptian counterpart to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and the IOR Defence Ministers' Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Gujarat from October 18-22 this year as part of the 12th DefExpo.
Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India in the region with an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion.
India - Egypt defence cooperation :
To boost 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.
The year 2022 has special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
There was close cooperation between the Air Forces of both countries, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s.
Indian Air Force pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984.
In recent times, since 2015, there have been a number of high-level exchanges of visits by defense delegations.
3. Rajnath Singh signs MoU with Egypt on Defence Cooperation
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Egypt, met the Egyptian Defence Minister, General Mohamed Zaki in Cairo on 20 September and signed a MoU on Defence Cooperation to further expand the bilateral defence ties between the two countries.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- During the meeting, both sides discussed steps to strengthen defense ties and a consensus was reached for joint military exercises and training, especially in the area of counter-terrorism.
In addition, they also exchanged views on regional security and acknowledged the contribution of India and Egypt to peace and stability in the world.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation and security aspects.
Singh has also invited his Egyptian counterpart to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and the IOR Defence Ministers' Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Gujarat from October 18-22 this year as part of the 12th DefExpo.
Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India in the region with an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion.
India - Egypt defence cooperation :
To boost 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.
The year 2022 has special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
There was close cooperation between the Air Forces of both countries, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s.
Indian Air Force pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984.
In recent times, since 2015, there have been a number of high-level exchanges of visits by defense delegations.
4. Lumpy skin disease virus different from 2019 version
Tags: National Science and Technology National News
The Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) virus that has killed nearly 50,000 cattle in India this year may be structurally different from the version of the virus prevalent in India in 2019.
A new vaccine is being developed to protect cattle from this disease.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
What is Lumpy Skin Disease ?
It is caused by infection of cattle or buffalo with the poxvirus Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV).
The virus is one of three closely related species of the genus Capripoxavirus.
The other two species are Sheeppox virus and Goatpox virus.
Due to its infectious nature and its impact on the economy, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOIE) has declared it a notable disease.
Symptoms of disease :
The main symptoms are fever in animals, discharge from eyes and nose, saliva from the mouth, lump-like soft blisters all over the body, decreased milk production, difficulty in eating, which sometimes leads to the death of the cattles.
Transmission of disease :
The virus is easily transmitted through blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes, flies and ticks, and through saliva and contaminated water and food.
The virus was first reported in Asia and the Pacific region in 2019 in north west China, Bangladesh and India.
There is no treatment available for the disease.
Vaccine for disease :
The vaccine Lumpi-ProVacInd, jointly developed by ICAR’s National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
Experimental trials with the vaccine on animals afflicted by the ongoing 2022 outbreak have yielded encouraging results.
5. Lumpy skin disease virus different from 2019 version
Tags: National Science and Technology National News
The Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) virus that has killed nearly 50,000 cattle in India this year may be structurally different from the version of the virus prevalent in India in 2019.
A new vaccine is being developed to protect cattle from this disease.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
What is Lumpy Skin Disease ?
It is caused by infection of cattle or buffalo with the poxvirus Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV).
The virus is one of three closely related species of the genus Capripoxavirus.
The other two species are Sheeppox virus and Goatpox virus.
Due to its infectious nature and its impact on the economy, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOIE) has declared it a notable disease.
Symptoms of disease :
The main symptoms are fever in animals, discharge from eyes and nose, saliva from the mouth, lump-like soft blisters all over the body, decreased milk production, difficulty in eating, which sometimes leads to the death of the cattles.
Transmission of disease :
The virus is easily transmitted through blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes, flies and ticks, and through saliva and contaminated water and food.
The virus was first reported in Asia and the Pacific region in 2019 in north west China, Bangladesh and India.
There is no treatment available for the disease.
Vaccine for disease :
The vaccine Lumpi-ProVacInd, jointly developed by ICAR’s National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
Experimental trials with the vaccine on animals afflicted by the ongoing 2022 outbreak have yielded encouraging results.
6. To curb use of chemical fertilizers, Govt to give nod to PM PRANAM Scheme
Tags: National National News
The central government is preparing to launch a scheme called PM PRANAM to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by encouraging the states.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This new scheme will not have a separate budget and will be funded through savings of existing fertilizer subsidies under schemes run by the Department of Fertilizers.
50 percent of subsidy savings will be passed on as a grant to the state that saves the money.
The remaining 30 per cent grant money can be used to reward and encourage farmers, Panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations and Self Help Groups who are involved in fertilizer use reduction and creating awareness in society.
What is in the proposed PM PRANAM scheme ?
The full name of PM PRANAM is Promotion of Alternative Nutrients for Agriculture Management Scheme.
Aim of the Scheme :
to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers
Reducing the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers, which is projected to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23 - 39 per cent more than last year's figure of Rs 1.62 lakh crore.
70 percent of the grant provided under the scheme can be used for asset creation related to technology adoption of alternative fertilizers and alternative fertilizer production units at village, block and district level.
Fertilizer Manufacturing Sectors :
Fertilizer Manufacturing Companies (PSUs) - National Fertilizers Limited, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited
Fertilizer Manufacturing Cooperatives - IFFCO, KRIBHCO
Decision Making Body - Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt of India
Position of india in the World - Third in terms of production and second in terms of consumption
7. To curb use of chemical fertilizers, Govt to give nod to PM PRANAM Scheme
Tags: National National News
The central government is preparing to launch a scheme called PM PRANAM to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by encouraging the states.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This new scheme will not have a separate budget and will be funded through savings of existing fertilizer subsidies under schemes run by the Department of Fertilizers.
50 percent of subsidy savings will be passed on as a grant to the state that saves the money.
The remaining 30 per cent grant money can be used to reward and encourage farmers, Panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations and Self Help Groups who are involved in fertilizer use reduction and creating awareness in society.
What is in the proposed PM PRANAM scheme ?
The full name of PM PRANAM is Promotion of Alternative Nutrients for Agriculture Management Scheme.
Aim of the Scheme :
to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers
Reducing the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers, which is projected to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23 - 39 per cent more than last year's figure of Rs 1.62 lakh crore.
70 percent of the grant provided under the scheme can be used for asset creation related to technology adoption of alternative fertilizers and alternative fertilizer production units at village, block and district level.
Fertilizer Manufacturing Sectors :
Fertilizer Manufacturing Companies (PSUs) - National Fertilizers Limited, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited
Fertilizer Manufacturing Cooperatives - IFFCO, KRIBHCO
Decision Making Body - Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt of India
Position of india in the World - Third in terms of production and second in terms of consumption
8. Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong meets the Prime Minister Modi
Tags: National Person in news
The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 19 September 2022. He was accompanied by Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Mr. Gan Kim Yong and the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The leaders discussed ways to boost bilateral ties between India and Singapore, especially in emerging sectors like digital connectivity, green hydrogen, and Fintech.
Mr Lawrence is on his first visit to India from 17 -21 September 2022.
During his India visit he also participated in the first India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held on 17 September in New Delhi with Nirmala Sitharaman. The ISMR is a new mechanism between the two countries to boost economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister Wong also visited Gujarat during his India visit.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Singapore :
- It is a city state located in SouthEast Asia.
- It was a British colony which joined Federation of Malaysia on its formation in 1963 but later seceded to become an independent state on August 9, 1965.
- Singapore‘s Changi airport is considered as one of the best airports in the world.
- Capital: Singapore
- Currency: Singapore Dollar
- Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
9. 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.
10. 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.
