National News

PM Attends 20th Anniversary Celebration Of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit Event:

• The 20th anniversary of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was graced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Science City in Ahmedabad.
• Over the past two decades, Ahmedabad has witnessed the remarkable transformation of Vibrant Gujarat.
• In 2003, under the visionary leadership of the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was initiated.
• It has evolved into an internationally recognized event, showcasing Gujarat’s decision-making prowess and the nation’s potential across various sectors.
• With participation growing from a few hundred in 2003 to over 40,000 from 135 countries in recent editions, the summit uplifts the state’s spirits and engages with the global community.

International News

Sri Lanka’s IMF Bailout Faces Delay Amidst Ongoing Debt Restructuring:

• Sri Lanka faces delays in receiving the second tranche of its $2.9 billion IMF bailout package due to unresolved issues in external debt restructuring.
• This crisis comes amid the nation's worst economic downturn, marked by dwindling foreign exchange reserves and public protests over shortages.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) granted Sri Lanka a 48-month extended arrangement in March to bolster economic policies and promote reforms.
• The completion of financing assurances reviews is crucial to gaining confidence in debt restructuring progress as part of the program.

State News

Manipur Government Extends AFSPA In Hill Districts For 6 Months:

• The Manipur government extends the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for six months across the entire state, excluding specific areas within the Imphal Valley.
• AFSPA, a controversial law granting extensive powers to armed forces in disturbed areas, includes the authority to use force, arrest without a warrant, and legal immunity.
• The disturbed area status continues in Manipur's hill districts, gradually lifted from the valley districts due to improved security.

Defence News

IAF Receives First Dornier Do-228 Aircraft From HAL:

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrates the arrival of the first Dornier Do-228 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• This advanced aircraft, part of a procurement deal worth Rs 667 crore, signifies a significant milestone in modernizing the Indian defense forces.
• Equipped with new engines, composite propellers, advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit, these upgraded Dornier-228 aircraft enhance operational capabilities.

Important Days News

World Heart Day 2023:

• Celebrated on September 29th globally, World Heart Day aims to raise awareness about heart disease and promote preventive measures against cardiovascular diseases.
• In 2023, the theme “Use Heart, Know Heart” emphasizes the use of emojis to convey the day's significance.
• Antoni Baie de Luna introduced the concept, and World Heart Day was officially established in 1999 in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Ganesha Visarjan 2023:

• Ganesh Chaturthi culminates in Ganesh Visarjan on September 28th, 2023, as devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha.
• This spiritually significant event sees the immersion of Ganesha idols in various water bodies, symbolizing the deity's return to his heavenly abode after ten days of festivities.
• Ganesh Visarjan, also known as Vinayaka Nimajjanam in Telugu-speaking regions, holds immense spiritual significance.
• It is believed that on this day, Lord Ganesha returns to his heavenly abode after ten days of festivities and worship. Thousands of Ganesha idols are immersed in rivers, lakes, seas and even home tubs or buckets to mark the occasion.

International Day Of Awareness Of Food Loss And Waste 2023:

• On September 29th, the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction is observed to raise awareness and promote actions to reduce food loss and waste.
• According to the FAO, about one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted annually. The 2023 theme is “Reducing food loss and waste: Taking Action to Transform Food Systems,” emphasizing shared responsibility.

Ranks and Reports News

India Slips Four Spots To 56th Position In 2023 World Talent Ranking:

• The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released the 2023 World Talent Ranking, indicating India's slip to the 56th position.
• The IMD World Talent Ranking considers various factors, including the quality of life, statutory minimum wage, and primary and secondary education.
• India performs reasonably well in terms of future readiness, ranking 29th globally. 
• Despite improvements in infrastructure, concerns arise as the educational system ranks 63rd globally. Switzerland tops the ranking, followed by Luxembourg, Iceland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

India Ranks 40th In Global Innovation Index 2023:

• India retains the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index 2023, showcasing a rising trajectory over the years.
• India has been on a rising trajectory, over the past several years in the Global Innovation Index (GII), from a rank of 81 in 2015 to 40 in 2023.
• The NITI Aayog, in partnership with CII and WIPO, hosts the virtual launch of the GII 2023. Switzerland continues its reign as the most innovative economy, followed by Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

Bengaluru Leads In Green Office Space As India Witnesses A 36% Increase Since 2019:

• Bengaluru has emerged as the city with the highest green-certified office space. This achievement is part of a broader trend showcased in the ‘Indian Real Estate: Taking Giant Strides – 2023 Mid-Year Outlook’ report jointly released by real estate consultant CBRE and industry body CII during the CII Realty conference.
• The report highlights a remarkable 36% growth in green-certified office space across six major Indian cities over the past three and a half years.
• In 2019, the total green-certified office stock stood at 251 million square feet, but it has now surged to an impressive 342 million square feet.

Sports News

Asian Games 2023, India Team Takes Gold In 10m Air Pistol Men’s Team Event:

• Indian shooters secure their 6th gold medal in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol Team event at the Asian Games 2023.
• Sarabjot Singh, Shiva Narwal, and Arjun Singh Cheema exhibit exceptional prowess, clinching victory by a single point over the home Chinese team.
• The Indian trio of Sarabjot Singh, Shiva Narwal, and Arjun Singh Cheema showcased their shooting excellence by registering a combined score of 1734.Their remarkable performance allowed India to outclass the Chinese team and seize the gold medal. The narrow one-point victory demonstrated their precision and determination on the shooting range

India’s World Cup Squad Announced:

• India unveils its 15-member squad for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, led by Rohit Sharma.
• The squad combines experience with youth, featuring top players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and promising talents such as Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.

Science and Technology News

Google Introduces Earthquake Alerts System For Android Users In India:

• Google introduces the Earthquake Alerts System for Android users in India, developed in collaboration with NDMA and NSC.
• Utilizing smartphone accelerometers, the system provides early warnings of seismic activities and will be fully operational within the next week.

NASA’s Psyche Mission:

• NASA's Psyche mission aims to explore a metallic asteroid named Psyche, believed to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an ancient planet.
• This provides a unique opportunity to study planetary formation history through collisions and accretion.
• The mission, spearheaded by Arizona State University, features Maxar's solar-electric propulsion system.

Obituaries News

Father Of India’s ‘Green Revolution,’ MS Swaminathan Passes Away At 98:

• S. Swaminathan, the legendary figure in agriculture and a humanitarian, passes away at 98. Known as the Father of India’s ‘Green Revolution,’ his efforts in developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice transformed India's agricultural landscape.
• In 1987, he was honored with the first-ever World Food Prizefor his role in introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties to India.
• His dedication also led him to establish the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai. Additionally, he was the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986.

Miscellaneous News

‘Jhaadu Daan’ Initiative Earns Place In India Book Of Records:

• SP Singh, the principal of the UPSRTC Model Driving Training and Research Institute, secures a place in the India Book of Records for the innovative ‘Jhaadu Daan’ (broom donation)
• Over 1 lakh brooms have been distributed, contributing to the Swachh Bharat Campaign by promoting cleanliness in various communities.