Daily Current Affairs and GK | 14 September 2024

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. On 13 September, a web portal launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to monitor progress of Special Swachhata Campaign 4.0 Progress.

• This dedicated online web portal (https://scdpm.nic.in/specialcampaign4/) has been launched to monitor the progress of Special Campaign 4.0.
• This was announced during a virtual meeting with Nodal Officers of Special Campaign 4.0, Nodal Officers of Public Grievances, and Appellate Authorities from all 84 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
• It has been decided by the government to run a special campaign from 2nd October to 31st October every year to institutionalize cleanliness and reduce pendency of cases.
• The initial phase will be run from 16 September to 30 September 2024 before Special Campaign 4.0.
• The aim of this special campaign is to institutionalize cleanliness in all the offices of the Government of India with a vision of totality.
• A total of 4,04,776 Swachhata Abhiyan sites were covered in the three special campaigns of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
• Under this, 355 lakh sq. ft. space was freed for proper utilisation and revenue of Rs 1,162 crore was earned from waste disposal.
• During the initial phase, Ministries and Departments will identify pending works in selected categories, mobilise workers at the ground level, finalise campaign sites, review records as well as prepare site management plan and dispose of waste.
• The best practices will be presented during Good Governance Week 2024 from December 19 to 24, 2024.

Topic: Important Days

2. Hindi Diwas 2024: 14 September

• Every year, Hindi Diwas is observed on 14 September.
• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of Indian union (Article 343).
• Since 1953, it was announced to celebrate 14 September every year as Hindi Diwas throughout the country.
• The day also marks the birthday of Beohar Rajendra Simha. He was born on 14 September 1900.
• He played a crucial role in getting Hindi in the Devanagari script approved as an official language of India.
• Hindi is one of the most spoken languages and is spoken by 600 million people globally.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

3. Algeria became a new member of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).

• Algeria’s membership to the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has been approved.
• This was announced by the NDB chief Dilma Roussef at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Algeria has taken an important step towards integrating into the global financial system.
• Algeria is a leading exporter of natural gas in the African continent.
• BRICS New Development Bank (NDB):
  • It was formed in 2015 to mobilise resources for projects in emerging markets and developing countries.
  • Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are the founding members of the BRICS New Development Bank.
  • Its main aim is to offer an alternative to international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

Topic: Banking System

4. NaBFID has been notified by the Centre as a ‘Public Financial Institution’.

• National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has been notified by Corporate Affairs Ministry as a ‘Public Financial Institution’ under Company law.
• With PFI status, NaBFID would gat various benefits under the Company Law, Income Tax law, SARFAESI law etc.
• Under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act 2023, NaBFID was established as a Development Finance Institution (DFI).
• With effect from December 29, 2022, NaBFID had started its commercial operations.
• It was established to aid in the growth of India's long-term non-recourse infrastructure finance.(Source: News on AIR)