Daily Current Affairs and GK | 22 September 2023

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. 'Nadi Utsav' begins at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi.

• The fourth 'Nadi Utsav' is being organized by the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) of IGNCA and the Janapada Sampada Division from 22 to 24 September.
• ‘Nadi Utsav' is being hosted in Delhi on the banks of River Yamuna.
• Hon’ble Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, will be the chief guest of the event.
• A variety of events, including scholarly discussions with environmentalists and scholars on various subjects, screening of films, presentations by eminent artists, puppet shows, and discussions on various books will held during the three-day event.
• For the last few years, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture has been organizing the 'Nadi Utsav' on a grand scale.
• The first 'Nadi Utsav' was held in 2018 in Nashik (Maharashtra) on the bank of Godavari River.
• The second 'Nadi Utsav' took place in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) city situated on the banks of river Krishna, and the third in Munger (Bihar) city situated on the banks of river Ganga.
• This initiative was started by Dr Sachchidanand Joshi to create awareness and sensitize people about their ecology and environment.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

2. RBI has issued 'Draft Master Direction on Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters'.

• Comments have been invited on Master Direction till October 31.
• RBI proposed tighter norms for the treatment of wilful defaulters.
• Under these norms, all accounts with an outstanding balance of Rs. 25 lakh or more must be examined by banks and other lenders to see whether the borrower is deliberately not repaying the loan.
• The draft Master Direction broadens the definition of willful default.
• The draft Master Direction expands the scope for regulated entities that can classify borrowers as wilful defaulters.
• It also mandates finalization on willful default aspects within six months of an account being classified as a non-performing asset.
• As per the draft, the provisions regarding large defaulters would apply to all entities regulated by RBI. This would be irrespective of whether they fall within the definition of 'lender'.
• It is proposed new rules would be applicable to all regulated entities, including banks, non-bank lenders including housing finance companies, Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks, and All India Financial Institution (AIFI).
• It also addresses the treatment of wilful default loans sold to Assets Reconstruction Companies. It also addresses their status under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

3. ICMR has permitted Kerala to do TrueNat tests for detecting Nipah.

• Kerala's health minister, Veena George, announced that the spread of Nipah has been controlled in the state.
• As of now, 994 people are on the contact list of positive cases. Four patients are being treated. Their condition is improving.
• No new cases have been reported in the past four days.
• Efforts to collect samples from bats and other animals are being carried out for source identification.
• The government can now conduct tests in state labs. Viruses detected using TrueNat tests will be sent for further testing in virology labs.
• Samples have been collected from bats, wild boars, dogs, and cats.
• The samples will be sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases at Bhopal for testing.

Topic: Important Days

4. World Rhino Day: 22 September

• Every year 22 September is celebrated as World Rhino Day.
• It was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010.
• In 2011, Lisa Jane Campbell wrote a mail to Rhishja (a rhino lover) to see at least five species of rhinos alive in the world.
• Rhinoceros are negatively affected by poaching and deforestation.
• One-horned Rhinos are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Rhinoceroses have an herbivorous diet. They have one or two horns and a thick, protective skin formed from layers of collagen.
• Rhinoceroses are killed by poachers for their horns. Rhino horns are made of keratin.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Mobile app & web portal for General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES) launched in New Delhi.

• On 21 September, a Mobile app & web portal was launched by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Manoj Ahuja.
• This transformative web portal and mobile application has been developed with the aim of bringing about a paradigm shift in agricultural practices across the country.
• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has developed the web portal and mobile application of GCES.
• It has been launched with the objective of leveraging technology to enhance the reach, scope, and outcome of government functions in the course of development.
• Both of these have been planned on an experimental basis in 12 states and will be implemented by the third week of October 2023.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. AI Chatbot for PM-Kisan Scheme launched in New Delhi.

• On 21 September, the AI Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme was launched by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary.
• The launch of an AI Chatbot is an important step towards increasing the efficiency and reach of the PM-KISAN scheme and providing farmers with quick, clear, and accurate answers to their queries.
• The AI chatbot will help in providing scheme information as well as resolving grievances.
• Shri Kailash Choudhary said that today the effect of the use of technology in agriculture is that farmers are doing farming through drones, due to which the youth are also getting attracted to agriculture.
• Due to this, new start-ups are being started in the field of agriculture in the country.
• It is the first AI chatbot integrated with a major flagship scheme of the Central Government.
• This chatbot is being developed and improved in collaboration with EKstep Foundation and Bhashini.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):
  • It is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to assist the financial needs of land-holding farmers in India.
  • The scheme provides an annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000 in three equal installments to eligible farmer families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
  • Rs 2.61 lakh crore has been distributed to more than 11 crore farmers since its inception, making it one of the largest DBT schemes globally.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

7. Antim Panghal won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

• Antim Panghal is a young Indian wrestler. Antim Panghal won the bronze medal in the women’s 53 kg category. 
• Antim Panghal also secured the Paris Olympics 2024 quota for India.
• Antim Panghal defeated two-time European Champion Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren.
• This is India's first medal at the ongoing edition of the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Antim has won India's 23rd medal in the World Championships to date. They include one gold, five silver and 17 bronze medals.
• The 2023 World Wrestling Championships is being held from 16 to 24 September 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointments

8. Suresh Gopi has been nominated as the president of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI).

• He has also been nominated chairman of the governing council of SRFTI.
• He has been nominated for a period of three years. He is a former Rajya Sabha MP.
• Suresh Gopi is a Malayalam actor-politician. He is known for films such as “Kaliyattam”, "Commissioner", and "Paappan".
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute is a film and television institute located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Topic: Indian Polity

9. Parliament passed the Women's Reservation Bill.

• The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 which seeks to reserve one-third of the total number of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Delhi Assembly has been passed by both houses of Parliament.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed by Rajya Sabha on 21st September 2023.
• A total of 132 members of both houses of Parliament took part in the discussion on the Women's Reservation Bill.
• Currently, Lok Sabha has a total of 542 members, out of which 78 (14.39 per cent) are female members.
• In state legislative assemblies, women on average constitute 9% of the total members.
• Reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities is provided under the articles 243D and 243T of the constitution.
• Feature of the Bill:
  • It will reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies.
  • One-third of the total number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be reserved for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
  • Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise.
  • After the commencement of this Amendment Act, the reservation for women will be for 15 years. However, it shall continue till such date as determined by a law made by Parliament.
• When the reservation will be implemented?
  • The reservation will come into effect only after the completion of the census and delimitation exercise.
  • The freeze on delimitation is likely to be removed in 2026.
  • The Women's Reservation Bill is likely to be implemented only after 2029.
• How it is different from the 2008 Bill for Women’s Reservation?

Topic: Sports

10. Harmanpreet Singh and Lovlina Borgohain to be flag-bearers of India at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games.

• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced that Indian Hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Olympic medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be the flag-bearers from India at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games.
• Asian Games opening ceremony will held in Hangzhou on September 23.
• This year, a total of 655 Indian athletes are participating in the Asian Games. It is the largest contingent ever.
• India will compete in 39 sports.
• Lovlina had won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 69kg category.
• Harmanpreet Singh was part of the Hockey team that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
• In the last edition of the Asian Games, India had won 70 medals.
• Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China will be organized from September 23 to October 8.

Topic: International News

11. US President Joe Biden invited by PM Modi to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2024.

• Modi had extended the invitation to the US President during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Delhi on September 8.
• If Biden accepts the invitation, he will be the second US President to be the chief guest at the event after Barack Obama, who graced the occasion in 2015.
• In the 2023 Republic Day celebrations, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief guest.
• Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.
• In 2021 and 2022, there was no chief guest on Republic Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

12. 108-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya unveiled in Omkareshwar.

• On 21 September, CM Shivraj Singh unveiled the 'Ekatmata Ki Pratima' or 'Statue of Oneness' of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh.
• In 2022, the state cabinet had approved the project to celebrate the life and philosophy of the 8th-century Hindu philosopher and saint.
• This 108-foot-high statue is located on Mandhata mountain in Omkareshwar.
• Omkareshwar, situated on the picturesque banks of River Narmada, is about 80 km from Indore city.
• This statue is the third major statue built by the government in India.
• Previously, the Statue of Equality was inaugurated in Hyderabad to commemorate the 11th-century Bhakti saint Sri Ramanujacharya on his 1,000th birth anniversary.
• In 2018, the Statue of Unity was inaugurated in Gujarat's Kevadia in memory of former deputy PM Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Adi Shankaracharya:
  • He was born at Kalady in Kerala in 788 CE.
  • Adi Shankaracharya was one of the earliest social reformers in India to fight caste discrimination.
  • It is said to have arrived at Omkareshwar as a young monk, where he met his guru, Govinda Bhagavadpada, resided in the holy city for four years and received his education.
  • He is considered the founder of the Advaita Vedanta School of Philosophy. It emphasises the unity of the individual soul and the supreme soul.
  • He established four major mathas in four directions. These mathas are located in Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Sringeri.
  • He died at the age of 33 years.
  • Shankarabhasya, Anandalahari, Soundaryalahari, and Shivanandalahari were written by Adi Shankaracharya.

Topic: Indian Economy

13. As per RBI data, household savings fall to decades low.

• According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Net financial savings of households reached the lowest level in decades.
• Household savings reached 5.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Financial Year 2023 (FY23) while it was 7.2 per cent in FY22.
• Annual financial liabilities of households rose by 5.8 per cent of GDP in FY23, compared with 3.8 per cent in FY22.
• In FY21, the Net assets of households were Rs 22.8 trillion but it has declined to Rs 16.96 trillion in FY22 and further declined to Rs 13.76 trillion in FY23.
• As per the RBI data, the rate of increase in financial liabilities in FY22 was the second highest since Independence.
• The main cause of decreasing savings and increased borrowing is the combination of stagnant or declining household incomes and increasing inflation.
• However, the Finance Ministry declined reports of any distress regarding household savings & overall effect on the economy.
• The Finance Ministry said that overall household savings has grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 9.2 per cent between 2013-14 and 2021-22.
• It also said that the Households added net financial assets by a lesser magnitude in Financial Year (FY) 23 than in the previous years because they have now started taking loans to buy real assets including homes.
• Since April last year, Vehicle loans have also grown at double digits.

Topic: International News

14. UK PM Rishi Sunak delays petrol and diesel car ban to 2035 to achieve Net Zero target.

• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a delay of five years on the ban of petrol and diesel cars to 2035.
• He said that the UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions and will achieve its Net Zero target by 2050.
• He said that it is only a shift towards a more “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic path” due to a cost-of-living crisis.
• 'Net zero emissions' refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) production and greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.
• Rishi Sunak said that the modified approach is necessary to reduce the financial burden on already struggling families.
• He also announced a delay on the ban on installing oil and LPG boilers and new coal heating for off-gas-grid homes till 2035. Earlier, it was set to phase them out by 2026.