Welcome to our daily current affairs blog! Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current affairs of 1 September 2023. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest happenings from around the world.
National Affairs
- J&K’s Bhaderwah Rajmash & Sulai Honey and Assam’s Chokuwa rice gets GI Tag: The Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been awarded to Bhaderwah Rajmash and Sulai Honey from Jammu & Kashmir, and Chokuwa rice from Assam. This tag is a sign that identifies a product as originating from a particular location and possessing qualities, reputation, or characteristics inherent to that location.
- MoSJE & NSKFDC Signed MoU to Enhance Socio-Economic Uplift of Safai Karamcharis: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis. This initiative aims to improve the living standards and working conditions of sanitation workers.
- Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched Tele-Law 2.0 for Legal Advice: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched Tele-Law 2.0, an initiative to provide legal advice and consultation to the needy through video conferencing. This initiative aims to make legal services more accessible to people living in rural and remote areas.
International Affairs
- UN Issues New Guidance Affirming Children’s Right to Clean, Healthy Environment: The United Nations has issued new guidance affirming that children have the right to a clean and healthy environment. This guidance emphasizes the importance of ensuring a healthy environment for children to grow up in and highlights the need for governments to take necessary actions to protect the environment.
- India and US Launches RETAP Under Strategic Clean Energy Partnership: India and the United States have launched the Renewable Energy Transition and Access Program (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. This program aims to support India's transition to a clean energy economy and increase access to renewable energy in rural and urban areas.
Banking and Finance
- Savart Launches India’s 1st AI-Driven Mutual Fund 'The Ad Astra Fund' Savart, a fintech startup, has launched India's first AI-driven mutual fund, 'The Ad Astra Fund'. The fund aims to make investment decisions using Advanced Process Automation & Research Technology (APART). Savart aims to achieve an AUM of Rs 350 crores by the end of FY24.
- Punjab National Bank Launches 'PNB GST Sahay App' Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched the 'PNB GST Sahay App' to facilitate digital credit flow to MSMEs using GST invoices. The app will help MSMEs to avail of credit facilities against their GST invoices.
- NPCI Launches 'Falcon' The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched 'Falcon', an open-source Hyperledger Fabric Deployment Helper. Falcon aims to streamline the deployment and management of Hyperledger Fabric-based blockchain networks.
Acquisitions and Mergers
CCI Approves Acquisition of Brillio Holdings, Inc. by Orogen-Brunson L.P. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a certain shareholding in Brillio Holdings, Inc. by Orogen-Brunson L.P. Brillio Holdings, Inc. is a global technology consulting and services company.
Science and Technology
- Amit Shah Launches E-Resource Web Portal of Inter-State Council Secretariat Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the e-resource web portal of the Inter-State Council Secretariat. The portal aims to enable the functions of the zonal councils and the Inter-State Council.
- Kolkata Metro to Replace Steel Third Rail with Composite Aluminium Third Rail The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) has decided to replace the steel third rail with a composite aluminium third rail. The move aims to reduce maintenance and life cycle cost.
- US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) Launched The US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) has been launched. RETAP aims to promote renewable energy and facilitate collaboration between Indian and US companies.
- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Issues Guidelines on Climate Change The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued guidelines to protect children's rights against the increasing climate crisis. The guidelines aim to ensure that children's rights are considered in climate actions and policies.
Books and Authors
Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Comic Book “Let’s Move Forward” Developed by NCERT & UNESCO Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education, launched an innovative comic book titled “Let’s Move Forward” at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi. The book aims to promote the health and well-being of school-going children across India. It was jointly developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) New Delhi. The book is available in both print and digital formats in multiple languages and is designed to be an interactive and educational tool to complement the implementation of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) under the Ayushman Bharat Campaign.
Important Days
- International Day for People of African Descent – August 31 The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for People of African Descent is observed annually on 31st August to promote the extraordinary contributions of African descent people worldwide. It also aims to promote and protect the human rights of people descended from African victims of enslavement. The day marks the 3rd observance of the International Day for People of African Descent. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on 16 December 2020, proclaiming 31st August as the International Day for People of African Descent.
- World Sanskrit Day – August 31 World Sanskrit Day, also known as ‘Vishva-Samskrita-Dinam’, is observed annually across India on the Poornima Tithi (Full Moon day) of Shravana month in the Hindu calendar, to honor Sanskrit, the world’s oldest known language and the mother of all languages, originated in India around 3500 years ago. World Sanskrit Day 2023 was celebrated on 31st August 2023. The Ministry of Education, Government of India, announced in 1969 that Sanskrit Day would be celebrated every year at the Central and state levels all over India.
State News
Rajasthan CM Launches Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food Packet Scheme Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, launched the Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food Packet Scheme (MNAFP) on the occasion of Independence Day (15th August 2023). The scheme is one of the major welfare schemes of the Rajasthan government, which seeks to distribute free food packets to more than 10.4 million families for free every month. The scheme would benefit up to 50 million individuals.
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