Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 September 2021

Topic: Indian Economy

1. Piyush Goyal launched National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses.

• Union Minister has launched National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses.
• National Single Window System will act as a one-stop-solution for approvals & clearances. It will bring transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the ecosystem.
• National Single Window System will provide strength to other schemes such as Make in India, Startup India, PLI scheme, etc.
• At present, this single window portal is hosting approvals across 18 Central Departments & 9 States. Another 14 Central departments and 5 States will be added to this portal by December 2021.
• An applicant Dashboard in the portal will track & respond to queries.

Topic: Personality in News

2. R N Ravi resigns as Centre’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks.

• R N Ravi has resigned as the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks. He negotiated for several years with key insurgent groups for the signing of the Naga Peace Accord.
• Recently, R N Ravi has been appointed as governor of Tamil Nadu.
• Akshay Mishra is likely to be appointed as the new peace talks interlocutor. He is serving in the Intelligence Bureau.
• In recent years, the Naga peace process has derailed due to the deteriorating relationship between NSCN (I-M) with the Centre, and Ravi.
• The Nagaland Peace Accord framework was signed on 3 August 2015 by the Government of India, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
• Greater Nagaland covering the area of its neighbouring states and Myanmar is the main demand of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Government e Marketplace (GeM) wins CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021 (CIPS Awards).

• Government e Marketplace (GeM) has won CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021 (CIPS Awards) in "Best Use of Digital Technology" category.
• GeM won the award after competing with biggest and best names in procurement across the public and private sector globally, including GEP, Jaguar Land Rover, Royal Dutch Shell, Vendigital and Shell.
• GeM was shortlisted as a finalist in 'Public Procurement Project of the Year' category and 'Best Initiative to Build a Diverse Supply Base' category.
• Shri Rohit Vadhwana, First Secretary (Economic), High Commission of India, in the UK received award on behalf of GeM at a ceremony held in London.
• The CIPS Awards are conducted under the aegis of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), London.
• CIPS is a global not-for profit organization dedicated to promoting good practices in procurement and supply management.

Topic: National News

4. Ministry of Coal signs agreement with successful bidders of eight coal mines in the ongoing auction.

• Ministry of Coal has signed agreement with successful bidders of eight coal mines in the ongoing auction tranche.
• Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi announced that the next tranche of commercial mines auction would be launched in October/ November 2021.
• SBI Capital Markets Limited was Transaction Advisor to Ministry of Coal for the Commercial coal mine auction.
• The Successful Bidders include Sunflag Iron and Steel Company Limited, South West Pinnacle Exploration Limited, Prakash Industries Limited, CG Natural Resources Private Limited, Adani Power Maharashtra Limited and Shreesatya Mines Private Limited.
• The names of mines and their states are provided in the next table.

Topic: Defense News

5. Government to procure 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for Army.

• Ministry of Defense will procure 118 Main Battle Tanks, MBTs Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army. Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi located in Chennai will supply these tanks.
• It will support the Make in India initiative in the defense sector and it will help in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• The Main Battle Tank Mk-1A is a new variant of the Arjun Tank. It has been designed to enhance firepower, mobility, and survivability. Arjun Tank has been part of the Indian Army from the last 15 years.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. President to present National Service Scheme Awards for 2019-20.

• President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the National Service Scheme Awards for 2019-20.
• the National Service Scheme Awards for 2019-20 will be given to 42 people in three different categories. The categories are given below:
  • University/ +2 Council
  • NSS Units and their Programme Officers
  • NSS Volunteers
• National Service Scheme Awards is conferred every year by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize outstanding contributions towards made by the Universities, Colleges, +2 Councils, Senior Secondary, NSS Units or Programme Officers, and NSS Volunteers.
• NSS is a Centrally Sector Scheme launched in the year 1969. Its main objective is to develop the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service.
• NSS volunteers work in different fields including literacy and education, health, family welfare and nutrition, environment conservation, etc.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Ministry of Electronics and IT organized a workshop on making India one of the world’s largest connected countries.

• Ministry of Electronics and IT has organized a workshop titled “Connecting all Indians”. The objective of the workshop is to make India one of the largest connected countries in the world.
• Both public and private stakeholders including the largest internet service providers in the country participated in this workshop.
• The stakeholders discussed the ways to provide internet access to underserved and uncovered villages and towns.
• BharatNet project has been also reviewed during the workshop. The workshop was chaired by the Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the government is committed to connect all Indians with safe and trusted and accountable internet.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. WHO revised air quality guidelines for the first time after more than 15 years.

• The World Health Organization has revised air quality guidelines for the first time since 2005.
• Under the new guidelines, WHO has lowered acceptable thresholds for several pollutants, including PM 2.5. Now, PM 2.5 concentrations must remain below 15µg/m³.
• According to the new limits, average annual PM2.5 concentrations should not be higher than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
• India continues to remain one of the most polluted countries in the world. Air pollution has become the main threat to health in many countries.
• The average concentration of PM2.5 in 2020 in New Delhi was 17 times higher than the recommended levels. The pollution level is also higher than the recommended levels in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
• Air pollution kills at least 7 million people prematurely each year. The revised guidelines encourage countries to slash fossil fuel emissions.
• These guidelines are not legally binding on countries. The reduced level of air pollution will improve the health of people.

Topic: Books and Authors

9. Chetan Bhagat released the trailer of his new book ‘400 Days’.

• Chetan Bhagat released the trailer of his upcoming book “400 Days”. It will be released on 8 October.
• It will be published by Westland. It is the third story from the Keshav-Saurabh series.
• The story in this book revolved around a kidnapping and a forbidden love story.
• The story of the book is full of suspense, human relationships, love, and friendship.

Topic: New Developments

10. CSIR-CMERI developed a Solar DC Cooking System to promote green & pollution free India.

• The CSIR-CMERI has developed a Solar DC Cooking System to promote green & pollution-free India.
• CSIR-CMERI handed over the newly developed Solar DC Cooking System to the Asansol Braille Academy of West Bengal.
• This Solar DC Cooking Technology has been transferred to Asansol Solar & LED House, and Meeco Solar & Infrastructure Associates, Durgapur.
• This Solar DC Cooking Technology is a solar energy-based cooking system. It is equipped with a solar PV panel, charge controller, battery bank, and cooking oven.
• It has 20-25% high efficiency and is more cost-effective. It will help in reducing Household air pollution. It would cost between Rs 65,000 and Rs 70,000.
• CSIR is India’s largest research and development organization and an autonomous body. CMERI is a laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

11. Govt of Tamil Nadu signed MoU with Walmart and Flipkart.

• Walmart and Flipkart have signed an MoU with the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) of Tamil Nadu.
• Under Walmart’s Vriddhi Supplier Development Programme, the MSMEs and small businesses will be connected to the supply chains of Walmart, Flipkart, and other companies. 
• A workshop will be also organized for further growth and the development of the small and medium businesses in the State.
• MSMEs are the backbones of the economy of Tamil Nadu. Programmes like Walmart Vriddhi and Flipkart Samarth are empowering MSMEs of Tamil Nadu and providing them the ecosystem support to grow.