Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 September 2021

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. 75 Divyangjans felicitated with Hunarbaaz Awards.

• Ministry of Rural Development and National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) felicitated 75 Divyangjans with Hunarbaaz Awards from 15 states.
• DDU-GKY and RSETI ka Hunarbaaz Awards have been instituted by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad.
• It is given to people who were trained through Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) schemes.
• CEOs of SRLMs and Directors of RSETIs gave the awards at the respective states to the specially-abled achievers.
• According to the 2011 census, about 69% of the differently-abled persons are in rural areas. Studies prove that the productivity of differently-abled workers is 15 percent higher than others.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

2. IGNCA to begin cultural mapping in 75 villages.

• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has decided to begin cultural mapping in 75 villages.
• The work of creating a database for folk arts and mapping of the heritage of villages will be completed in five years.
• IGNCA aimed to complete mapping in 5,000 villages by the end of the financial year 2021-2022.
• Volunteers from the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan, the National Service Scheme, and students of sociology and social work would visit villages for the project.

Topic: Defence

3. Akash Prime, a new version of Akash Missile successfully flight tested.

• Akash Prime, a new version of Akash Missile has been successfully flight tested from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.
• Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency seeker for improved accuracy.
• Akash Prime also has other improvements, which ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environments at higher altitudes.
• Modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon system was used for the flight test.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

4. PM Modi to dedicate to the nation newly built campus of National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance Management Raipur.

• PM Modi will dedicate to the nation tomorrow newly built campus of National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance Management Raipur.
• He will also dedicate 35 crop varieties to the Nation tomorrow at 11 AM through video conferencing in a pan India programme.
• This pan India programme would be organised at all ICAR Institutes, State and Central Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
• PM will also distribute Green Campus Award to Agricultural Universities. The Green Campus Awards were started to motivate the State and Central Agricultural Universities to adopt practices that will make their campuses more green and clean.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed crop varieties with special traits to address the twin challenge of climate change and malnutrition.
• National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance Management, Raipur has been set up to take up research in biotic stresses, develop human resources and provide policy support.

Topic: Appointments

5. Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh appointed as new Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC).

• Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh has been appointed as the 34th Director-General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
• He was the Company Commander in counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and the Siachen Glacier.
• He had commanded a Special Forces Battalion in Kashmir and also the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
• He was commissioned into the PARACHUTE REGIMENT in 1987. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.
• Recently, the government has formed a 15-member committee to carry out a comprehensive review of the NCC and suggest ways to improve its overall functioning.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. MOFPI launches Seed Capital Module on DAY-NULM MIS Portal.

• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched the Seed Capital Module on Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) MIS Portal in association with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The Seed Capital Module has been launched under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
• The seed capital portal can be accessed by the Self Help Groups to avail the seed capital assistance of Rs 40,000 per member under the PMFME Scheme.
• Urban SHG members involved in Food Processing Industries will be promoted to avail the benefits of seed capital for purchasing small tools.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. IGL inked an MoU with SDMC for establishing waste to energy Plant.

• Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) signed an MoU with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for establishing waste to energy plant in Delhi.
• The plant will convert Municipal Solid Waste into Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), which will be used for running vehicles.
• The agreement has been signed as part of the SATAT initiative of the government. Under the SATAT initiative, 5000 CBG plants will be set up by 2023-24 with a production target of 15 MMTPA.
• Under this MoU, SDMC will provide the designated area for setting up the Biogas plant and CBG Station.
• Around 4000kg Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) will be produced every day. The residual Bio-manure will be also sold in the market.
• The production of CBG from various waste and biomass sources will reduce the import of natural gas, reduce GHG emission, reduce the burning of agricultural residue and increase the income of farmers.
• This initiative is in line with the goals of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Swach Bharat Mission.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Rajasthan

8. Sojat Mehndi of Rajasthan gets GI tag.

• Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan has received the geographical indication (GI) tag.
• Sojat Mehndi originates from the mehndi leaves grown in Sojat. It is cultivated by using rainwater.
• The geological structure, topography, drainage system, climate and soil of Sojat tehsil is suitable for this mehndi crop. Fragrant oil can be also extracted by drying mehndi leaves.
• GI tag of this crop will help growers of this product in getting the fair price. It is a win-win situation for farmers, artisans, and consumers.
• The GI tag will give protection to the producer of genuine products. It will contribute to the growth and employment of Rajasthan.
• GI tag is used for an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product originated from a definite geographical territory. The GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

Topic: State News/ Assam

9. Assam’s Judima rice wine becomes Northeast India’s first Beverage to get GI tag.

• Assam’s traditional Judima wine has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is the first beverage from the Northeast to get the GI tag.
• Dimasa tribals prepare this beverage from sticky rice and certain herbs. It has sweet flavour and is prepared in one week. It can be stored for several years.
• This is the second product from the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao to get the GI tag. Earlier, Karbi Anglong was awarded the GI tag in 2007.
• GI tag would curb the misuse of the beverage by those whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.
• Assam Agriculture University worked as a facilitator in Judima's GI tag process.
• Recently, Manipur’s Tamenglong orange and Hathei chilli have received the GI tag. 

Topic: State News/ Haryana

10. Haryana government launched 'Samarpan Portal' for people to offer voluntary service.

• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the 'Samarpan Portal' to offer voluntary service in the fields of education, skill development, sports, and agriculture.
• The 'Samarpan Portal' will provide a platform for people who wants to do something for society.
• Voluntary services provided through the portal will be linked with various programmes and initiatives of the government.
• This portal has been launched on the 105th birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay. The birth anniversary of Upadhyaya was celebrated as 'Samarpan Divas' across the country.
• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also launched the official website of the Foreign Cooperation Department (FCD).
• He also launched Naukri Aur Rozgar app. It has been developed by Haryana Skill Development Mission.
• The Haryana Skill Development Mission will give training to people for self-employment and setting up an enterprise through this app.

Topic: Important Days

11. World Rabies Day: 28 September

• World Rabies Day is celebrated each year on 28 September and 28th September 2021 is the 15th World Rabies Day.
• World Rabies Day is celebrated to raise awareness about Rabies prevention and highlight the progress in defeating disease.
• The theme for World Rabies Day 2021 is “Rabies: Facts, not Fear”. 
• The day marks death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, who developed first efficacious rabies vaccine.
• Rabies is a viral disease. It spreads from animals to humans. It causes inflammation of the brain in humans.

Topic: International News

12. Social Democratic Party of Germany wins largest share of the vote in federal election.

• Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany has won largest share of the vote in federal election.
• No party has received majority in new Parliament. Social Democratic Party is in the leading position to form Germany’s next coalition government.
• Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their affiliated Bavarian Christian Social Union has shown their worst performance in general federal election.
• SPD is Germany’s oldest party. Provisional results showed that SPD won 25.7% of the vote, up five percentage points from the 2017 federal election. 
• Olaf Scholz is present candidate for Chancellor of Germany of the Social Democratic Party.
• Angela Merkel will leave her position as Germany’s chancellor once a new coalition deal is agreed and her replacement is confirmed.
• In Germany, newly elected Parliament must hold its inaugural session within 30 days after the elections. The elections were held on 26th of this month.
• Chancellor Angela Merkel was elected for her fourth term on March 14, 2018.  German federal parliament is known as Bundestag or Reichstag.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

13. Swachh Survekshan 2022 launched by Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.

• Swachh Survekshan 2022 has been launched by Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Hardeep Singh Puri.
• Swachh Survekshan 2022 is seventh consecutive edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS), the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey.
• This year district rankings have been introduced for the first time in Swachh Survekshan 2022.  This year’s Survekshan will create level playing field for smaller cities by introducing two population categories under 15,000 and between 15,000-25,000.
• The survey has now been expanded to include 100 per cent of the wards for the sample, up from 40 per cent in previous years.
• Mr. Puri said that Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 will be launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 1st of October.
• The number of assessors deployed for the on-field assessment in Swachh Survekshan 2022 will be more than double that of last year.
• Swachh Survekshan was introduced by MoHUA in 2016 to rank cities on cleanliness parameters in 73 cities.  It has become the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey covering over 4,000 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Topic: International News

14. India elected as External Auditor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

• India has been elected as External Auditor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for six years from 2022 to 2027.
• India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) GC Murmu has been selected as the external auditor of IAEA. His candidature received majority support of the IAEA general conference.
• He assumed charge as external auditor of IAEA. He is Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India from August 8, 2020. Before that, he was the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The 65th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference was held in Vienna from September 20 to 24.
• In the 1st round of voting for IAEA external auditor, Germany received 36 votes and India received 30 votes. In the second round, India managed to beat Germany.
• India was the IAEA external auditor from 2012 to 2015.