September 2021 Monthly Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

• China has recently submitted a “zero draft” of the ‘Kunming Declaration’ to the United Nations. The declaration includes the key Chinese Communist Party concept of “ecological civilisation”. The document also calls on parties to focus biodiversity protection in decision–making and recognise the importance of conservation in protecting human health. The COP 15 biodiversity talks are due to take place in October 2021.

Explanation

• Anamalai Tiger Reserve located at Pollachi near Coimbatore, one of the largest landscapes in the south of Palghat Gap with 4000 sq km of protected area, and the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris, a bio–diversity hotspot of the Western Ghats has now earned a global elite tag in tiger conservation. They are located in Tamil Nadu. It is the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CATS) status, a conservation tool for best practices and standards to manage tigers.
• Only 14 reserves made the cut including Parambikulam in Kerala, Bandipur in Karnataka, and Manas, Kaziranga and Orang in Assam, for the accreditation exercise by India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority under CATS. Well–known reserves like Corbett, Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh did not get the tag.

Explanation

• The union minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar launched the National Food and Nutrition Campaign for the farmers. The Campaign is organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Budget for Agriculture has been increased to ₹1.23 lakh crore, this year. 2023 will be celebrated as the International Year of Millets under the leadership of India.

Explanation

• United States is commemorating the 101st year of Women’s Equality Day. On August 26, the day is largely commemorated in the United States to honour American women gaining the constitutional right to vote. The United States Congress established August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day” in 1971, and it was approved in 1973.
• Women’s Equality Day draws attention to women’s ongoing struggles towards gaining full equality.

Explanation

• The naval forces of India, USA, Japan and Australia (QUAD) would be participating in the Malabar 21 naval exercises. These four countries have been a part of the Malabar exercise since 2020. This year’s Malabar exercise is held at Pacific Island Guam. This year’s exercise aims to enhance the interoperability amongst navies and develop common understanding and SOPs in maritime security.

Explanation

• The state–owned PSU and oil major IOCL is set to build the country’s first green hydrogen plant at Mathura. Due to the proximity of Mathura to Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), the place has been selected for this purpose. This project is set to introduce Green Hydrogen in the oil and gas sector in the country.

Explanation

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a body of the United Nations, headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland. The 6th Assessment Report (AR6) on climate change has been released by the IPCC under the title “AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis”. The report gives upto date findings on climate systems and climate change. The assessment states that global temperature would exceed 1.5 degrees in the next 2 decades.

Explanation

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal announced the setting up of a Skill Institute on Marine Studies at Guwahati in Assam under Indian Maritime University, Chennai. An MoU was earlier signed between Inland Water Authority of India & Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd. for setting up a new ‘Ship Repair Facility’ at Pandu in Guwahati.
• The technical support is to be provided by IIT Madras and is expected to be completed by August 2023. The facility, known as Slipway, is to be developed on a land of 3.67 acres provided by Government of Assam

Explanation

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the ‘My Pad My Right’ (MPMR) project in Tripura. The project is an initiative of NABARD and NAB Foundation, to provide better livelihood and menstrual hygiene to women in rural areas through grants–in–aid, wage support and equipment. Under the initiative, one sanitary pad making machine, raw materials for two months, wages for 50 days, packaging material with accessories and a five–day training in three phases are provided. The project aims to help rural women improve menstrual hygiene.

Explanation

• Iraq has recently hosted a middle east regional conference, which is aimed to ease the tension in the region. Iraq, Saudi Arabia have been invited in the meeting, which is co–organized by France. During the meeting, regional water crisis, war in Yemen and economic conditions of Lebanon are discussed. This meeting has assumed significance since Iraq has been playing a neutral mediating role in the region.

Explanation

• The government–owned Miniratna PSU Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has announced to launch a skill development project amounting Rs. 3.5 crore. It is a subsidiary of the Coal India Limited (CIL) and the company is headquartered at Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
• The aim of the programme is to impart training to 500 youth living in and around the company’s areas of operation.  Under this programme, youth would be trained in the field of Plastic engineering trade, at a cost of Rs 70,000 per trainee.

Explanation

• Noted Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha, who authored several popular books including Madhukari, recently passed away. The writer passed away at the age of 85. He had won several awards including the Ananda Purashkar and Sharat Puraskar.
• He is also the creator of two popular fictional characters in Bengali literature named ‘Rivu and Rijuda’.

Explanation

• National Small Industry Day is an annual celebration to recognises the value of small industries in our society. Every year on August 30, the country celebrates National Small Industry Day. On August 30, 2000, a comprehensive policy package for the SSI sector was launched in India, to provide support to small firms in India. The UN General Assembly has declared June 27 as the MSME Day to enhance public awareness of the contribution of MSMEs in the global economy

Explanation

• Indian paralympic shooter Avani Lekhara won country’s first gold medal in shooting at the Tokyo Paralympics in the women’s 10m air rifle. The 19–year–old became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic or an Olympic gold medal in the country’s history.
• India’s discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched silver medal. Devendra Jhajharia and Sundar Singh won the silver and bronze medals in javelin throw event

Explanation

• The Reserve Bank releases a quarterly house price index (HPI) based on transaction–level data received from housing registration authorities in ten major cities. The cities are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai. 
• According to RBI data, the growth in all–India House Price Index (HPI) slowed to 2 per cent in the first quarter this fiscal against 2.8 per cent in the last year. The HPI growth ranged from an expansion of 8.8 per cent (Ahmedabad) to a contraction of (–) 5.1 percent (Chennai).

Explanation

• The Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the twin towers that had come up in violation of building bye–laws in Supertech’s Emerald Court housing project in Noida. The Court also ordered that the towers be razed within three months for violation of building norms in agreement with district officials.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for an inquiry and strict action against guilty officers in Noida in the illegal twin tower case. The Chief Minister also directed officers to register a criminal case against guilty persons.

Explanation

• Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the high jump event in the Tokyo Paralympics. Mariyappan Thangavelu had also won a gold medal at the Rio Paralympics. India had won a total of 12 medals from the 1968 edition until 2016.

Explanation

• The island nation of Sri Lanka has declared food emergency and an economic emergency, under an ordinance. The declaration of this, empowers authorities to impose restrictions on stocking and pricing of food articles. The country was affected with a foreign exchange crisis, due to which it had undertaken a steep devaluation of its currency, resulting in inflation.

Explanation

• Nine new judges, including three women, were administered oath of office as judges of the Supreme Court. This appointment has taken its strength to 33, including the Chief Justice of India, out of the sanctioned strength of 34. This is the first time in the history of the Supreme Court that nine judges took oath of office, all at the same time. Justice Nagarathna, one among the nine judges, is in line to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in September 2027.

Explanation

• Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu appointed Dr. Parasaram Pattabhi Kesava Ramacharyulu as the new Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha. Ramacharyulu has been working as Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat since 2018. He succeeds Desh Dipak Verma, who demitted office after serving for four years in the post. As per the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Ramacharyulu is the first ever Upper House employee to have reached the Secretary General’s post.

Explanation

• A start–up company of IIT Ropar has claimed that it has developed the world’s first ‘Plant based’ smart air–purifier. Named the “Ubreathe Life”, has been developed by Urban Air Laboratory. The living–plant–based air purifier amplifies the air purification process in indoor spaces. The technology used in this product is ‘Urban Munnar Effect’. Phytoremediation is a process by which plants effectively remove pollutants from the air.

Explanation

• The Telangana government has recently launched a drone–based afforestation project, named ‘Hara Bhara’. The state has partnered with Marut Drones, a Hyderabad–based drone technology start–up, to launch the project.
• Under the initiative, the state government will plant 50 lakh trees across 12,000 hectares of land in forests in all the 33 districts of Telangana. Named the ‘Seedcopter’, it involves the preparation of the seed balls by the local women and welfare communities, which are dispersed via drones in the targeted areas.

Explanation

• Senior bureaucrat J B Mohapatra has been appointed the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Mohapatra, is a 1985–batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer, is currently the member in the board that frames the policy for the Income Tax department. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of J B Mohapatra, as the Chairman of CBDT.

Explanation

• ‘Eat Right Station’ certification is awarded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to Railway Stations. FSSAI empanelled third–party audit agency concludes the certification, with ratings from 1 to 5. The 5–star rating indicates excellent efforts by stations to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers. Chandigarh Railway Station was awarded a 5– star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high–quality, nutritious food to passengers. The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement of FSSAI.

Explanation

• India’s Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of External Affairs is organising BRICS Film Technologies Symposium on 1–2 September. The symposium has been conducted in collaboration with FICCI in virtual format.
• India is organising the first ever BRICS Film Technology Symposium as a part of the special event planned before BRICS summit to be held in India. The focus of the BRICS Film Tech symposium is to acknowledge the service sector and technicians working for the film industry.

Explanation

• King of Malaysia has appointed Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the prime minister of the country on August 20, 2021. Ismail Sabri Yaakob replaced Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister.
• Yassin stepped down as he lost the majority in parliament as he failed to effectively manage public health system. Ismail Sabri was earlier Muhyiddin’s deputy. Ismail Sabri secured majority support of 114 out of 222 members in Parliament.

Explanation

• The State Government of Chhattisgarh has implemented the scheme named ‘Patrakar Kalyan Kosh’. Under this scheme, the families of journalists who lost their lives in COVID, would be provided with financial assistance. Further, under this scheme, a sum of Rs 2 lakh would be given to journalists for treatment of COVID disease.
• The state has also decided to increase the monthly pension to senior journalist from Rs.5000 to Rs.10,000, under the Senior Journalist Samman Nidhi scheme.

Explanation

• Philanippon 2021 is the World Stamp Exhibition, held recently in Tokyo, Japan. This event is held every 10 years in Japan since 1971, to mark the founding of Postal service in Japan. This year marked the 150th year anniversary of Japan’s postal service.

Explanation

• The Department of School Education & Literacy has decided to celebrate Shikshak Parv–2021 from 5th September till 17th September 2021. President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the awards to 44 Awardees, on 5th September, 2021 through virtual mode. The National Awards to Teachers were first instituted in 1958 to recognize excellence and commitment of teachers working in elementary and secondary schools.

Explanation

• At the 11th India–UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak met virtually. They signed a USD 1.2–billion package of public and private investment in green projects and renewable energy.

Explanation

• Indian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Savitri arrived Chattogram harbour, Bangladesh, carrying two 960 LPM (Litres Per Minute) Medical Oxygen Plants (MOP) to support the ongoing efforts of the Bangladesh in tackling Covid–19. The MOPs were developed and manufactured by DRDO in India. The ship is also scheduled to participate in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with BN ship on departure from the Chattogram port.

Explanation

• Suhas L Yathiraj, Noida District Magistrate, created history as the first–ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics. He defeated Fredy Setiawan of Indonesia in his men’s singles SL4–Group A.
• In 2016, he participated in the Asian Championship in Beijing and became the first non–ranked player to win the gold medal. He has earlier won many medals at BWF Turkish championship in 2017 and 2019. He also won a gold medal in Brazil in 2020.

Explanation

• The Government of Gujarat has launched a scheme named ‘Vatan Prem Yojana’, under which NRI Gujaratis who are willing to donate for development of their native village, would get financial support from the state government. Under this scheme, the government encourages donations for development of social infrastructure like schools, drainage, sports complex etc in rural areas.

Explanation

• The Tamil Nadu government has decided to celebrate every year the birth anniversary of reformist leader E. V. Ramasamy Periyar on September 17 as Social Justice Day.
• Periyar (September 17, 1879–December 24, 1973) was instrumental in the enactment of the first Constitutional Amendment Act (that safeguarded reservation for backward classes).

Explanation

• Writer Namita Gokhale has been awarded the 7th Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award. She was conferred upon the honour recently in a virtual ceremony.
• Organised by a collective of women professionals from the year 2015, the annual award honours Yamin Hazarika, the first woman from Northeast India to be selected for DANIPS, a federal police service that administered Delhi and the Union Territories in 1977.

Explanation

• Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction.
• The award has been bestowed by several global bodies involved in turtle conservation such as Turtle Survival Alliance, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Conservancy, and the Turtle Conservation Fund.

Explanation

• India and Nepal have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding), under which India would help Nepal in reconstruction of 14 cultural heritage and 103 health sector projects which were damaged during the 2015 earthquake. The total cost of these reconstruction is 420 crore Nepalese Rupees.
• This is a part of India’s post–earthquake reconstruction package, under which India has committed a total grant of USD 250 million to Nepal.

Explanation

• At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Indian contingent finished with a total of 19 medals which includes 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals. Out of the total 162 countries, India was ranked at 24th position and 20th in terms of number of medals.
• This year, India had sent the largest contingent of 54 para–athletes, who participated in 9 sporting disciplines.

Explanation

• The National Level Exhibition and Project Competition for INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) has commended, under the aegis of Dept. of Science and Technology – Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK scheme has been launched to motivate students in the age group of 10–15 years of class 6 to 10th standards, to become future innovators. 

Explanation

• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has virtually inaugurated the first functional smog tower in India at Anand Vihar, Delhi.
• A smog tower is a structure designed as large/medium scale air purifiers to reduce air pollution, usually by forcing the air through filters. The tower has been built by Tata Projects Limited with NBCC (India) Ltd. as the project management consultant. 

Explanation

• Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, launched the ‘Business Blasters’ programme on September 7, 2021. This programme aims at developing young entrepreneurs at the school–level by providing students seed money to start a business.
• The programme will be implemented in all Delhi government schools under the “Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC)”. Under the programme, class 11 and 12 students will be provided seed money of Rs 2,000 to start their business.

Explanation

• Max Verstappen won the F1 Dutch Grand Prix for Red Bull on September 5, 2021 at Zandvoort, Netherlands followed by Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in second and third places respectively.

Explanation

• 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is being held in Vienna on Sept 7th and 8th. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reached Vienna to attend the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament by the Austrian Parliament, Inter–Parliamentary Union and the United Nations.
• The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is held regularly every five years with the goal to reinforce the Parliamentary dimension of global governance.

Explanation

• Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $112 million loan in order to develop water supply infrastructure in the state of Jharkhand.
• The loan will also strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) in order to improve service delivery in four towns of Jharkhand. It will ensure continuous, treated piped water supply in Ranchi and other three towns namely Jhumri Telaiya, Hussainabad, and Medininagar. These towns are located in economically and socially backward areas.

Explanation

• Tamil Nadu and Denmark have planned to create an energy island in Gulf of Mannar that lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and south–eastern tip of India. This plan was made as Tamil Nadu is looking to expand its footprint in the green energy sector.
• To achieve this target, Denmark is likely to invest $5–10 billion in the renewable energy sector in the state. It also includes investment for an energy island in the Gulf of Mannar. With this investment, island would be able to produce 4–10 GW of energy.

Explanation

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga organised Himalayan Diwas in association with Naula Foundation on September 9, 2021. This year’s theme is ‘Contribution of Himalayas and our responsibilities’. Himalaya Diwas is celebrated every year on 9th September in the state of Uttarakhand. It is celebrated with the aim to conserve Himalayan ecosystem and region. It was officially declared as Himalaya Day in 2015 by the then Chief Minister.

Explanation

• Minister of State of Jal Shakti Ministry, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, launched the “Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021” under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase–II.
• It was launched at an event organized by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) on September 9, 2021. Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021 will be undertaken by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) across the country.

Explanation

• World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on September 10. The theme this year is “Creating hope through action.” World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. World Suicide Prevention Day is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Explanation

• International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed globally on 9th September. The first ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack was observed on 9th Sept 2020. This day is also observed to spread awareness about the difficulties faced by those children living in countries which are affected by military conflicts.

Explanation

• Coal India Ltd. (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal has signed a MoU with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Assam for strengthening the health infrastructure at the Silchar Medical College & Hospital, Silchar, Assam. In this new CSR initiative, CIL will contribute Rs 5 crores towards setting up of an ICU facility and medical gas pipeline in the Silchar Medical College & Hospital.

Explanation

• The fourth Conference of the Protectors of Emigrants was held on Sept 10, coinciding with the date of enactment of the Emigration Act, 1983. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan delivered the keynote address and observed that Protectors of Emigrants have an important role to play in informing youth and workers about new destinations and opportunities.

Explanation

• President Ram Nath Govind has appointed Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit as the new Governor of Punjab.

Explanation

• Shivani Meena, an IIT Jodhpur alumna, has become the first woman excavation engineer to work in an open cast mine at Coal India arm CCL (Central Coalfields Ltd). She will be posted at CCL’s Rajrappa project, one of the important enterprises of the coal mining behemoth.
• Until now the position belonged to men. The feat follows another milestone when Akanksha Kumari became Coal India’s first woman mining engineer to work in an underground mine at CCL’s Churi facility in North Karanpura area in Jharkhand.

Explanation

• The release of three dreaded terrorists in exchange of hijacked Indian Airlines passengers in Afghanistan’s Kandahar in 1999 is the “worst capitulation” to terrorists in India’s modern history, says BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.
• He has come out with a book ‘Human Rights and Terrorism in India’ which traces how the combating of terrorism can be harmonised with human and fundamental rights within reasonable restrictions that is permitted by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Explanation

• The government has constituted an eight–member panel for framing a new law for drugs, cosmetics and medical devices.
• The panel is being headed by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr V G Somani. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. This Act is amended from time to time. The last amendment in the Act was made in 2008.

Explanation

• The government has appointed Harsha Bhupendra Bangari as the managing director of Export–Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank). Bangari, who is presently the deputy managing director at EXIM Bank, would be at the helm for a period of three years or until further orders of the government.

Explanation

• Australian Daniel Ricciardo has won the Italian Grand Prix with Lando Norris coming second at Monza while Formula One title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton took each other out of the race. Valtteri Bottas finished third.

Explanation

• India and Japan held their sixth Maritime Affairs Dialogue in a virtual format on September 9, 2021. The consultations involved exchanges on developments in the maritime security environment, regional cooperation activities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the Indo–Pacific region.

Explanation

• Fourteen districts of Chhattisgarh have signed MoUs with the Hyderabad–based Indian Institute of Millets Research to boost production of millets in their respective areas.
• These millets will be procured through Van Dhan societies of the Chhattisgarh Minor Forest Produce Co–operative Federation, and after processing, will be used in mid–day meal schemes, public distribution system and nutrition programmes.

Explanation

• Arun Kumar Singh appointed new Chairman and MD of BPCL Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a ‘Maharatna’ and a Fortune Global 500 Company has announced the appointment of Arun Kumar Singh as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company and consequently he has taken charge on September.7, 2021.

Explanation

• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry have launched Climate Action and Finance Mobilisation Dialogue under India–US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership. This partnership will provide both countries an opportunity to renew collaborations on climate change while addressing the financing aspects.

Explanation

• World Ozone Day or ‘International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer’ is observed on September.16 all over the world. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted and signed by 28 countries, on 22 March 1985. The theme of this year is “Montreal Protocol – Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool”. 

Explanation

• Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which leads to memory loss. The condition worsens with time and makes it difficult to perform day to day functions. Since 1994, each year 21st September is observed as the World Alzheimer’s Day. September is the month which is observed each year as the World Alzheimer’s Month in order to enable national and local Alzheimer associations worldwide to extend their reach of awareness programmes over a longer period of time.

Explanation

• India’s first indigenously designed high ash coal gasification–based Methanol Production Plant has been inaugurated at BHEL R&D Centre, Hyderabad. The plant was funded by Department of Science and Technology at the initiative of NITI Aayog, PMO–India and Ministry of Coal.

Explanation

• Engineers Day 2021 was observed on September 15, to mark the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. This day marks the contributions of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya in the field of engineering and education. He played a significant role in constructing dams, reservoirs and hydro–power projects across India.

Explanation

• Indian Navy and Sudanese Navy carried out a bilateral maritime exercise in the Red Sea off the Sudanese. INS Tabar and two Sudanese Navy ships– Almazz and Nimer– participated in this maiden exercise with the Indian Navy.

Explanation

• Tamil Nadu assembly has passed a bill seeking a permanent exemption to the state from NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). With the passing of this bill, students would get admissions to UG Medical degree courses based on the qualifying HSC or class 12 marks, just like it used to happen before NEET was implemented.

Explanation

• India has handed over Dornier Aircraft to Mauritius as part of Vision SAGAR for enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. Through this India seeks to enhance security and economic cooperation with its maritime neighbours.

Explanation

• National Forest Martyrs Day is marked on September 11. The day as the name suggests is observed to pay tributes to those who laid down their lives in order to protect the jungles, forests and wildlife across India. 
• The day officially came into existence in 2013 after the Ministry of Environment and Forest made the declaration. The date of September 11 was chosen as on this date in 1730, the infamous Khejarli massacre took place. During this tragic incident, people started cutting Khejarli trees on the orders of the then king Maharaja Abhay Singh of Rajasthan. These trees were considered sacred by the people that belonged to the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan’s Khejarli village.  

Explanation

• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare has signed five MOUs with private companies for taking forward Digital Agriculture. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the MOUs aimed at increasing farmer’s income and protecting their produce.
• The MoUs were signed for pilot projects with CISCO, Ninjacart, Jio Platforms Limited, ITC Limited and NCDEX e–Markets Limited. Based on these pilot projects farmers will be able to take informed decisions on what crop to grow, what variety of seed to use and what best practises to adopt to maximise the yield.

Explanation

• China has launched the 24th Gaofen–series Earth–observation satellite in a bid to monitor environmental protection efforts and boost its natural resources surveillance.
• The satellite was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province on a Long March 4C carrier rocket. China has mounted seven imagers and sensors on that spacecraft that are capable of obtaining spatial, spectral and radioactive data.

Explanation

• On September 16, 2021, at the Cochin Port Trust Swachhata Pakhwada 2021 was launched and the Swachhata pledge was administered in all departments. On this occasion, shramdaan cleaning activities were started in the Port areas.
• During the Pakhwada activities that were proposed comprised of cleaning of work places, office premises and crafts & public spaces within the Port area. Swachhata Pakhwada is an environment awareness campaign which was launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Explanation

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working to develop the technology which is required to reuse GSLV MkIII launch vehicle.
• This new technology will help ISRO to vertically land its GSLV MkIII launch vehicle. This technology will be similar to what SpaceX is doing. The development of the reusable GSLV MkIII transmitter will help ISRO save money.

Explanation

• A Pan–India Special Campaign called “Ek Pahal Drive” for Justice Delivery at doorstep was launched by the Ministry of Law and Justice. This campaign was launched in a bid to encourage mass registration under Tele–Law. Department of Justice and NALSA launched this campaign.

Explanation

• As part of the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana initiated by the Minister of Railway Ashwini Vaishnaw on September 17, 2021, the railway will train 50,000 young people aged 18 to 35 in the next three years in industry–related skills in various Railway Training Institutes. 

Explanation

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched a unique Scheme called Strengthening the Potential of India (SPIN) and has also set up a pottery cluster under the SFURTI Scheme in Varanasi with the aim to empower over 1100 persons belonging to the marginalized potters. 780 electric potter wheels were also sanctioned to SPIN Scheme participants.

Explanation

• World Patient Safety Day was observed around the world on September 17 to raise global patient safety awareness and encourage individuals to demonstrate their commitment to safer healthcare. WHO and its international partners celebrate this day. Theme for World Patient Safety Day 2021 is “Safe maternity and newborn care.”

Explanation

• At the 60th National Open Atheltics Championships at the Nehru Stadium in Warangal, B Aishwarya of the railway won the women’s long jump gold medal with a personal best of 6.52 meters.
• Railways’ Parul Chaudhary won the gold medal in women’s 3000m steeplechase with a personal best time of 9:51.01. In the women’s 1500m, Harmilan Kaur Bains won gold in a time of 4:05.39s breaking 19–year–old national record of Sunita Rani’s made in the year 2002.

Explanation

• Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister and Skill Development Minister, has virtually presented the Kaushalacharya Award 2021 to 41 qualified trainers in recognition of their exemplary contributions to the skill ecosystem. These 41 trainers are from various initiatives and training programs of Skill India Directorate General of Training, Apprenticeship, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthan and Entrepreneurship.

Explanation

• Recently, “Together for a Shared Future” was revealed as the official motto of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics by the organizing team. The Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, China from February 4 to 20, 2022.

Explanation

• Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Digital Hub with a capacity to support 200 start–ups via video conferencing recently. The product development centre, one of the largest in South Asia, at the Technology Innovation Zone (TIZ) in Kalamassery, Kochi. The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) leads the implementation of the project.

Explanation

• Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn–in as the 16th chief minister of Punjab and he became the first individual from the Dalit community in Punjab to hold this post. He was sworn in by Banwarilal Purohit, the governor of Punjab.

Explanation

• Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s third state food safety index (SFSI) to measure the performance of states in five food safety parameters. In this year, Gujarat was the highest ranked state among the larger states, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Among the smaller states, Goa appeared first, followed by Meghalaya and Manipur. In UT, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and New Delhi topped the list. 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans (Food Safety on Wheels) were also flagged off by the minister to supplement the national food safety ecosystem, bringing the total number of these mobile inspection vehicles to 109.

Explanation

• During 20–26 September 2021, the Ministry of Commerce is organizing special programmes and events named ‘Vanijya Saptah’, as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebration.
• National Single Window System and Industrial Park Rating System platforms will be launched by The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) during this event period.  

Explanation

• UK–based financial publication Euromoney in its Global Awards for Excellence 2021, has honoured DBS with the ‘World’s Best Bank 2021’ title. This is the second time DBS bank has won this title in three years. DBS Bank was also named as ‘World’s Best Digital Bank 2021’, thus making it the 1st bank in the world to hold both the titles at the same time.

Explanation

• With an aim to provide world class internet / tele–connectivity for the marginalised and to simplify the KYC processes, the Department of Telecommunications – Ministry of Communications, Government of India has initiated reforms in the telecom sector.
• These include “Aadhaar based e–KYC”, “Self–KYC” for getting SIM cards delivered at doorstep and “OTP based conversion of mobile connection” from prepaid to postpaid.

Explanation

• The present Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force Shri. VR Chaudhari, has been appointed by the Government of India as the next Chief Marshal of the Air Force. He would succeed Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, who would retire from the service on 30th September.
• VR Chaudhari was commissioned into the IAF in December 1982 has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on a wide spectrum of aircrafts.

Explanation

• The US Space agency NASA has announced the deployment of VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), which is a mobile robot to the Moon. This would be sent as a part of the Artemis programme in the year 2023, and is aimed to search ice and other resources on and below the lunar surface.
• The Moon’s South Pole is one of the coldest areas in our solar system. No prior missions to the Moon’s surface have explored it yet.

Explanation

• India’s Pankaj Advani successfully lifted the Asian Snooker Championship, held in Doha, Qatar, outplaying Amir Sarkhosh of Iran 6–3. He won the title in 2019 but he was the runner–up in 2017. In 2019, Pankaj also became the only player in the world who won the titles in all forms of billiards, snooker, 6Reds, and 10Reds competitions.

Explanation

• The forest department of Odisha has proposed to fit radio collars on 7 Elephants of the state, to track their movement and prevent them from entering the human settlements.
• It aims to eliminate animal – human conflict. Three elephants of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary and four elephants of the Similipal Tiger Reserve have been selected for this purpose. The device is fitted with a GPS device and the location can be tracked real time.

Explanation

• The Foundation for Environment Education – Denmark is an environment organisation with presently 77 member countries. This organisation awards the Blue Flag certification, which is an eco–label for sustainable beaches across the globe.
• Recently, the foundation has awarded Blue Flag certification to 2 more beaches in India – Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry. With this, the number of Blue Flag certified beaches in India has gone up to 10.

Explanation

• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation which aims to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It is headquartered at Paris, France and has 36 member countries.
• Recently, the President of the United States has nominated veteran Indian–American diplomat Manisha Singh as America’s next envoy to OECD. The diplomat had previously served in several significant positions which includes her present role as the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs.

Explanation

• The annual “Freedom on the Net” report was released by the US think–tank Freedom House. As per the report of this year’s edition, Iceland topped the ranking, followed by Estonia and Costa Rica, the world’s first country to declare internet access a human right.
• Internet shutdowns in Myanmar and Belarus show that online rights declined globally for the 11th year in a row.

Explanation

• Ukraine began joint military exercises with the United States and other NATO forces on September 20, 2021. This military exercise is being conducted at that time during which neighbouring countries Russia and Belarus were conducting large–scale exercises, which aroused the vigilance of the West. The Rapid Trident 2021 exercise will continue until October 1.

Explanation

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is India’s 3rd largest trading partner in terms of value in 2019 and 2020 and the trade value is presently valued close to USD 59 billion. It is also India’s 2nd largest export destination after the USA.
• Recently, India and UAE have formally launched negotiation on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is expected to increase the bilateral trade between the two countries to USD 100 billion in 5 years.

Explanation

• The Government of India has recently launched the “National single–window system for investors and businesses”. This portal is designed to act as a single point of contact for obtaining all approval and clearance for business enterprises and investors.
• This would enhance Ease of Doing Business, transparency, and accountability. Presently, approvals across 18 central departments and nine states have been onboarded to the portal and another 14 departments would be onboarded by December 2021.

Explanation

• India’s leading private sector Bank – Axis Bank, has committed a sum of Rs.30,000 crore for lending to sustainable financing till the financial year 2025–26, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. 
• This commitment is intended to assist India to reach the SDG targets by 2030. The Bank intends to make wholesale lending to Sustainable Development projects which would have positive social and environmental impact.

Explanation

• The Intergovernmental Group of 24 on International Monetary Affairs and Development, or the Group of 24 was established in 1971 at Lima, Peru. It is headquartered at Washington D.C.
• It is a chapter of G–77, to coordinate developing countries on monetary and development finance issues. India, along with other Group of 24 (G24) member countries, has objected to the withdrawal of measures like the Equalisation levy (EL). India is worried that the proposed global digital tax deal covering only top 100 companies may not lead to sufficient revenue for developing countries.

Explanation

• The Asian Development Bank slashed India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 10% for FY21, down from 11% projected in April. The reason for the rate cut is the disruptions due to the second Covid wave. Growth projection for FY22 is raised to 7.5% from 7% forecast earlier.
• The Second wave disruptions have adversely impacted services, domestic consumption, and the urban informal sector. The economy is projected to rebound in the last three quarters of FY2021.

Explanation

• The Government of India’s Government e Marketplace (GeM) initiative has been adjudged as the winner of CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021, under the “Best Use of Digital Technology” category. The award ceremony was held in London, UK. GeM is a dedicated online marketplace for procurement of goods and services by Govt. Government Organisations, Departments and PSUs.