National News

India's Innovative Disaster Hospital: Arogya Maitri Cube

• India has introduced the world's first portable disaster hospital, an extraordinary facility comprising 72 cubes that can be airlifted.
• This groundbreaking initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious "Project BHISHM" (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri), unveiled in February 2022.
• The official inauguration took place during the MedTech Expo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.At the core of this innovative hospital are 72 cubes, each equipped with essential medical supplies and equipment, including an operating theatre, a mini-ICU, ventilators, X-ray machines, and more.
• These cubes are ingeniously designed to provide critical medical care and humanitarian aid during natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
• To enhance its efficiency, a tablet-based application has been developed to seamlessly operate all 72 cubes, and the hospital features a portable generator with both traditional and solar panel-based options for reliable power supply, promoting sustainability in disaster relief operations.

International News

Sato Kilman Elected as Vanuatu's Prime Minister

• Vanuatu's parliament has chosen Sato Kilman as the nation's new prime minister following a vote of no-confidence in his predecessor, who had sought closer ties with US allies amid China-US rivalry in the Pacific Islands.
• Kilman, a former prime minister and leader of the People's Progressive Party, secured his position through a secret ballot by lawmakers.
• Vanuatu is an archipelago consisting of 83 islands, 16 of which are inhabited. The largest islands include Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, and more.

Banking News

Malaviya Mission: Transforming Teacher Training in India

• Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, introduced the Malaviya Mission – Teacher Training Program in New Delhi as a significant step in improving education quality in India.
• Spearheaded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the mission aims to transform faculty capacity building and teacher preparation programs in higher education institutions across the country.
• It plans to establish 111 centers to cater to educators' needs in various regions, with the goal of enhancing the capacities of 15 lakh teachers in higher educational institutions.

G20 TechSprint 2023 Winners Announced by BIS and RBI

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have recently revealed the winners of the G20 TechSprint 2023 challenge.
• Launched under India's G20 presidency, this initiative aimed to foster innovative solutions for cross-border payments. The winners include Team Secretarium Ltd.
• (UK) for Combating Financial Crimes, Team Millicent Labs (UK) for Enhancing Liquidity in Cross-Border Payments, and Team Knox Networks (US) for Developing Multilateral CBDC Platforms.

SBI's Digital Leap: CBDC Interoperability with UPI

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has achieved a significant milestone in the world of digital currency by enabling Unified Payments Interface (UPI) interoperability with its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as the Digital Rupee.
• Accessible through the 'eRupee by SBI' application, this feature allows SBI CBDC users to easily scan any merchant UPI QR code, streamlining and expediting transactions.
• This integration aims to bridge the gap between CBDC and the widely adopted UPI platform, enhancing the convenience and efficiency of digital payments.

RBI's Expansion of UPI System: Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expanded the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) System, allowing users to conduct transactions using pre-sanctioned credit lines issued by banks.
• This significant development aims to provide users with greater financial flexibility and convenience when conducting digital transactions.
• The RBI's circular provides essential guidelines for this expansion, emphasizing the need for customer consent and allowing banks to stipulate terms and conditions for the use of these credit lines.

Defence News

IAF's Trishul Exercise: Enhancing Operational Readiness

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has commenced its annual mega training exercise, Trishul, aimed at bolstering its operational readiness and capabilities.
• Organized by the Western Air Command (WAC), this extensive exercise covers a vast geographical area, from Leh in Kashmir to Nal in Rajasthan.
• Scheduled from September 4th to 14th, Trishul rigorously assesses the operational preparedness of the Western Air Command, featuring the deployment of frontline assets like Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Su-30MKIs, showcasing the IAF's formidable combat capabilities.

Important Days News

Krishna Janmashtami 2023: Celebrating Lord Krishna's Birth

• Krishna Janmashtami, a significant Hindu festival, celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, marking the 5250th birth anniversary of Vasudeva Krishna.
• This global festival is observed with great religious significance among devotees worldwide.
• Lord Krishna was born on Ashtami Tithi (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (Waning Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. In 2023, Janmashtami falls on September 6th or September 7th.

International Day of Police Cooperation 2023: Promoting Global Security

• The International Day of Police Cooperation is observed annually on September 7th to commemorate the founding of Interpol and emphasize the role of law enforcement agencies worldwide in maintaining peace, security, and justice.
• It highlights the need for international cooperation among law enforcement agencies, dating back to the Police Union of German States established in 1851.

Literacy Week 2023: ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram

• The Government of India has organized a literacy week from September 1st to 8th, 2023, to celebrate International Literacy Day and promote the ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
• This program, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to enhance literacy, numeracy, life skills, basic education, vocational skills, and continuing education.
• It encourages mass participation and awareness among citizens to achieve complete literacy in India.

Schemes News

Jal Jeevan Mission: 13 Crore Rural Households Connected

• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has achieved a remarkable milestone by providing tap water connections to 13 crore rural households since its launch on India's 73rd Independence Day in August 2019.
• This mission focuses on rapid expansion to ensure access to clean water in rural areas, with several states and union territories achieving 100% tap water coverage.

Summits and Conferences News

'Green Hydrogen Pilots in India' Conference: Driving Sustainability

• Ahead of the highly anticipated G20 Summit, a significant conference centered around "green hydrogen pilots in India" was held in New Delhi on September 5th.
• Hosted by NTPC Limited, this event showcased green hydrogen initiatives, fostering collaboration between public and private sector entities.
• The conference aimed to facilitate information sharing and open dialogue among industry pioneers.

10th Meeting of Ministers of Law and Justice of SCO Countries

• The 10th meeting of the Ministers of Law and Justice of SCO countries took place via video conferencing.
• Indian Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized India's commitment to the SCO charter's principles and highlighted efforts to modernize legal and judicial systems, replacing colonial-era laws.

Agreements News

MoU Between Centre and Adobe to Promote Digital Literacy

• The Union Ministry of Education has partnered with software giant Adobe to promote creative expression and digital literacy among students and educators through the use of Adobe Express.
• Adobe will provide free access to Adobe Express Premium for schools nationwide, along with professional development opportunities for 500,000 educators to enhance digital learning content creation.

Appointments News

Lokesh Suji Elected to IESF Membership Committee

• Lokesh Suji, director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and vice-president of the Asian Esports Federation, has been elected to the membership committee of the International Esports Federation (IESF) for a three-year term.
• This marks the first time an Indian has joined the membership committee of IESF, contributing to the future of esports within the organization.

Shyam Sunder Gupta Takes Charge as Central Railway's Principal Chief Operations Manager

• Shyam Sunder Gupta has assumed the role of Principal Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway, following the retirement of Mukul Jain.
• Gupta, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, brings extensive experience and accolades from various positions within the Indian Railways.

Sports News

Nattaya Boochatham: 1st Bowler from an Associate Nation to Take 100 Wickets in T20s

• Nattaya Boochatham of the Thailand women's cricket team made history by taking three wickets against Kuwait, becoming the first cricketer from an associate nation to reach 100 wickets in T20Is.
• Her remarkable feat includes 101 wickets in 73 ODI matches, boasting an impressive average of 9.96, setting a unique record in international cricket.

Amul: Official Sponsor of Indian Contingent at Hangzhou Asian Games

• Amul has been named the official sponsor of the Indian Contingent for the 19th Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China.
• Amul will use the integrated logo in its communications to support and celebrate the efforts of Indian sportspersons.

IndusInd Bank's Multi-Year Sponsorship Deal with ICC

• IndusInd Bank has entered into a significant multi-year sponsorship agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• The partnership will commence with the Men's Cricket World Cup, reinforcing the bank's commitment to supporting cricket globally.
• Additionally, Mastercard has become a top-tier sponsor for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.