Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 September 2024

Topic: State News/Himachal Pradesh

1. Himachal Vidhan Sabha introduced Zero Hour in the monsoon session.

• Himachal Vidhan Sabha has decided to introduce Zero Hour. It will be used exclusively for matters of urgent public importance.

• The issues which need immediate attention will be raised at this time.
• This provision will enable important issues to be discussed without the constraints of time typically imposed under other rules.
• “Zero hour” begins right after the end of the “question hour” in the parliament. It starts at 12 noon.
• Zero Hour was introduced in Indian parliamentary affairs in 1962. It is an innovation of Indian parliamentary procedures.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Government has launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack.
• It will offer blockchain-as-a-Service with a geographically distributed infrastructure designed to support various permission Blockchain-based applications.
• MeitY also unveiled the NBFLite-Lightweight Blockchain Platform, Praamaanik.
• It is an innovative blockchain-enabled solution for verifying mobile app origin and the National Blockchain Portal.
• To create trusted digital platforms, the National Blockchain Framework was formed to promote research and application development.
• NBFLite is a blockchain sandbox platform. It is developed for startups/academia for rapid prototyping of applications and carrying out research and capacity building.

Topic: Important Days

3. Teachers’ Day 2024: 5 September

• Every year on 05 September, Teachers’ Day or Shikshak Divas is celebrated in India.
• It is celebrated on the birthday of educationist and former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President of India (1952–1962). He became the second President of India (1962-1967). He was born on 05 September 1888.
• President of India Draupadi Murmu presented the National Teachers Awards 2024 to 82 selected awardees on 5 September 2024 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The purpose of the National Awards to Teachers is to recognize and reward the dedication and hard work of those educators who have made a significant impact on the lives of their students.
• Each award carries a merit certificate, a cash prize of Rs 50,000, and a silver medallion.

Topic: Sports

4. History created by Harvinder Singh by becoming the first Indian archer to win a Paralympic gold medal.

• Harvinder Singh created history by winning gold in the men's archery individual recurve open final at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• He became the first and only Indian archer to win a gold medal at either the Paralympics or the Olympics.
• On 4 September, in the men's club throw F51 final, Dharambir broke the Asian record with a throw of 34.92m to win the gold medal.
• While, at the same event, Pranav Soorma won the silver with a throw of 34.59m.
• In addition, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari won the silver medal in the men's shot put F46 category with an Asian record of 16.32 metres.
• At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, India's Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu won silver and bronze medals respectively in the men's high jump T63 category.
• Moreover, Ajeet Singh won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, while Sundar Singh Gurjar won the bronze medal.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

5. EPS pensioners will get pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere in India from 1st January 2025.

• The proposal for Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) for Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 has been approved by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Chairman, Central Board of Trustees, EPF.
• The establishment of the national level centralized system CPPS marks a major change.
• It will make it possible to receive pension through any bank, any branch throughout India.
• The centralised pension payment system is expected to benefit over 78 lakh EPS pensioners of EPFO.
• Using advanced IT and banking technologies, it will provide a more efficient, seamless and user-friendly experience for pensioners.
• CPPS will ensure disbursement of pension all over India without the need to transfer the Pension Payment Order (PPO) from one office to another even if the pensioner changes his location or his bank or branch.
• This will be a big relief for those pensioners who move to their hometown after retirement.
• This facility will be launched from January 1, 2025 as part of EPFO's ongoing IT modernisation project Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01).
• In the next phase, CPPS will make a smooth transition to Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS).

Topic: State News/Punjab

6. A bill passed by the Punjab Assembly to control the proliferation of illegal colonies.

• On September 3, the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024 was passed by the Punjab state assembly to control the proliferation of illegal colonies in the state.
• The aim of the amendment is to ensure control over illegal colonies besides providing relief to small plot holders.
• This will be a big relief for the common man as the aim of this amendment is to remove the problems faced by the public in registering their plots and to stop the development of unauthorized colonies.
• The bill aims to end the practice of obtaining no-objection certificate (NOC) for registration of plots up to 500 square yards in unauthorised colonies in the state.
• As per the amendment, the owners of these properties, who have legally signed an agreement to sell the property or have transacted the value of the property till July 31, 2024, are eligible to get their properties registered, for which they no longer require an NOC as before.
• According to government estimates, there are 14,000 unauthorised colonies in the state, but the exact number of residential units and their size is not known.
• According to the bill, if any person registered under this Act or a promoter or his agent fails to comply with the relevant provision of the law, he will be punished with a minimum imprisonment of five years, which can be extended to 10 years.
• Under this, the minimum penalty will be ₹25 lakh, which can be extended to ₹5 crore.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

7. The Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in Udgir Latur district, Maharashtra.

• President also installed a statue of Gautama Buddha inside the vihara.
• The Buddha Vihara in Udgir is a replica of the Buddha Vihara in Kalburgi, Karnataka.
• It is situated on a 15-hectare site. It features a meditation centre.
• The meditation centre can accommodate 1,200 followers.
• The main entrance to the vihara is inspired by the Sanchi Stupa in Bihar.
• It has been designed as an impressive entryway to the premises.

Topic: National News

8. The Global Textiles Expo—Bharat Tex 2025 will take place from February 14th to 17th 2025.

• It will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
• More than 5,000 exhibitors and over 6,000 international buyers will take part in the Expo.
• The Expo is a collaboration between the government and industry.
• The Expo focusses on the vision of 5F (Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign).
• Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh said India’s textile industry expected to grow to US$350 bn by 2030.
• Bharat Tex 2025 will be organised by a consortium of Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs). It will be supported by the Ministry of Textiles.
• Bharat Tex 2025 aims to build on the success of the last edition held in February 2024.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan registered the highest growth in real gross state domestic product (GSDP).

• In FY24, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are the leading states among the 10 largest States in terms of growth in real gross state domestic product.
• Telangana’s economy registered a growth of 9.2 per cent to reach a real GSDP of ₹7.9 lakh crore in FY24. It is faster than the national GDP growth of 8.2 per cent.
• Tamil Nadu’s economy grew 8.2 per cent to reach ₹15.7 lakh crore in size while Rajasthan’s economy grew 8 per cent.
• The services sector is the main contributor to the economic growth of all large states.
• Tamil Nadu’s services sector grew by 9 percent, while Telangana’s services sector grew by 11%.
• Maharashtra, with ₹24.1 lakh crore real GDP, continues to be the largest economy in India.
• UP and Karnataka are at the fourth and fifth spots in terms of economy size.

Topic: International News

10. India and Singapore upgraded their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

• PM Modi arrived in Singapore at Lawrence Wong's invitation.
• He visited Singapore ahead of the 10th anniversary of the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership established in 2015.
• Both leaders reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship, covering areas of advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and sustainability.
• They agreed to elevate the India-Singapore ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• India and Singapore signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of digital technologies, semiconductors, health cooperation, and skill development.
• India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information signed an agreement to cooperate in digital technologies.
• It will help facilitate close cooperation between both countries in the areas of digital technologies, such as DPI, cyber-security, 5G, and emerging technologies.

Topic: Sports

11. For the first time, Lord's will host the ICC World Test Championship final.

• The third edition of the World Test Championship final will take place at London's iconic Lord's Stadium starting on June 11 of next year.
• The one-off Test match will be played at the iconic London venue from June 11 to 15, 2025, with June 16 available as a reserve day, if required.
• Southampton was the venue for the first edition (2021), and The Oval was the venue for the second edition (2023), won by New Zealand and Australia, respectively.
• The match will be played between the top two teams in the table at the completion of the current cycle, with India at the top spot ahead of reigning champions Australia.
• The Men in Blue have featured in both the WTC finals so far but are yet to capture the coveted mace.
• New Zealand (third), England (fourth), Sri Lanka (fifth), South Africa (sixth) and Bangladesh (seventh) are still in the race to make it to the finals.

Topic: Defence

12. Under National One Health Mission, “Virus Yudh Abhyas”: A mock drill on pandemic preparedness conducted.

• Under the aegis of National One Health Mission (NOHM), a comprehensive National Mock Drill, "Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas" (Virus War Exercise) was conducted in Ajmer District, Rajasthan during 27th August to 31st August, 2024 to assess pandemic preparedness.
• The aim of the exercise was to evaluate the preparedness and response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), comprising experts from human health, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors.
• A simulated zoonotic disease outbreak scenario was created to simulate a real-world outbreak.
• Union Minister Shri J.P. Nadda lauded this first of its kind exercise, which highlights the role of One Health Mission by fostering collaboration to care for the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment in a holistic and sustainable way.
• Various stakeholders including National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), etc. were involved in the drill.
• The drill was organised around two major components: a) Investigation and identification of the virus responsible for the mock outbreak; and b) Actions initiated to control the spread of illness across human and animal populations.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

13. UP government to build Vedic-3D Museum in Varanasi.

• Uttar Pradesh government will construct a Vedic-3D museum at the main building of the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
• The art museum will be dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature.
• It will showcase the evolution of Vedic literature, highlighting the 16 Sanskars, 64 arts, and 18 Vidya Sthans.
• It will serve as contributions of Indian sages and as a platform to revive the tradition of ‘Shastrartha'(spiritual discourse).
• The rare manuscripts preserved in the historic Saraswati Bhawan, including the “Raas Panchadhyayi,” Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, and Durgasaptashati.
• The conservation work is being carried out in the university by the National Manuscript Mission.

Topic: Personality in News

14. Siddhartha Agarwal became the oldest Indian to swim solo across the English Channel.

• Siddhartha Agarwal, a 49-year-old swimmer from Bengaluru, became the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel.
• He successfully navigated the 42-km stretch between England and France on August 29.
• He took 15 hours and six minutes to complete the distance of 42 km.
• The English Channel is a narrow arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separate the southern coast of England from the northern coast of France.
• The English Channel is a funnel-shaped shallow shelf sea between France and England.

(Source: DD News)