National News

CHS India Conclave

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) inaugurated the Climate and Health Solutions (CHS) India Conclave in Delhi, to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and public health.

Major Health Related Initiatives

National Conference on PESA Act, 1996

• Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, inaugurated the National Conference on the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi.

About PESA 1996

WiSLP

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched the Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) in collaboration with the British Council, as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).

Initiatives related to Women

Platinum Jubilee of the Central Silk Board

• Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, unveiled a commemorative coin celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of the Central Silk Board (CSB) in Mysuru.

CSB

Eri Sericulture Promotional Project

• Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurates Eri sericulture promotional project in Gujarat.

Sericulture

Paridhi 24x25

• Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched India-specific fashion trend book, “Paridhi 24x25” a bilingual web portal of VisioNxt and the AI Taxonomy ebook.

21st National Book Fair

• The 21st National Book Fair in Lucknow will be held from September 27 to October 6, 2024, at Balrampur Gardens.

India's first paperless voting process in Bhopal

• Madhya Pradesh's state election commission conducted India's first paperless voting process in Bhopal during a panchayat by-election.

Elections in India

System of affiliated colleges will be phased out by 2035

• Under the new education policy 2020, the system of affiliated colleges will be phased out by 2035, leaving only autonomous and constituent colleges in operation.

International News

7th Global Aerospace Summit

• The 7th edition of the Global Aerospace Summit, a key forum for the aerospace supply chain, was held in Abu Dhabi.

About UAE

Chile Supported India’s UNSC Permanent Membership

• Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font has expressed support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

About UNSC

Environment and Biodiversity

BBNJ Agreement

• India has signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas. Signed by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar at the UN in New York, the agreement under the Law of the Seas Treaty focuses on conserving and sustainably using marine life beyond national waters, extending up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from shore.

About BBNJ

Eco Sensitive Zone

• The Union Government has declared 1.84 lakh hectares area surrounding the Gir Protected Area as an Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

New Species of Ghost Shark

• Researchers from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) have identified a new species of ghost shark, the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish (Harriotta avia), found in deep ocean waters near Australia and New Zealand.

Economy

National Health Account estimates for 2020-21 and 2021-22

• The Union Health Ministry released the National Health Account estimates for 2020-21 and 2021-22, also noting an increase in government health expenditure's share of GDP from 1.13% to 1.84%.
• Out-of-pocket health expenditure has dropped from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 39.4% in 2021-22.

What is Out-of-pocket health expenditure?

India's food grain production for 2023-24

• India's food grain production for 2023-24 is estimated at a record 3,322 lakh metric tonnes, 26 lakh metric tonnes higher than 2022-23, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare's final estimates of production of major agricultural crops for the year 2023-24.

Cropping Pattern in India

Periodic Labour Force Survey

• The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey by the Ministry of Statistics shows a significant drop in the national unemployment rate to 3.2% in 2023-24, down from 5.1% in 2022-23.
• Madhya Pradesh stands out as the only state where unemployment is below 1%, with a rate of 0.9%.

GDP Growth Prediction by ADB

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected India’s economic growth at 7% for the financial year 2024 and 7.2% for FY2025.

Other Agencies GDP Growth Predictions

FICCI's 10th MASCRADE  2024

• Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh Bittu, addressed FICCI's 10th MASCRADE (Movement Against Smuggled and Counterfeit Trade) 2024 in New Delhi.
• FICCI's ‘Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy’ (CASCADE) committee was set up to raise awareness about the harmful impact of smuggled and counterfeit products on the economy and consumers.

About FICCI

Defence

AL-NAJAH 5: 2024

• The India-Oman joint military exercise, AL-NAJAH 5 – 2024, took place at the Rabkoot Training Area in Oman.

Defence Exercises between India and Oman

Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed an MoU with IIT Delhi to develop lightweight bulletproof jackets called Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat.

About DRDO

Sports

IBSF World 6-Red Title

• In snooker, Indian veteran Kamal Chawla won his maiden IBSF World 6-Red title, defeating Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal 6-2 in the final held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation

Awards and Honours

ICC Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023

• Deepak Nitrite Chairman & Managing Director, Deepak C Mehta, honoured with Indian Chemical Council (ICC) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.

Indian Chemical Council

Global Prestige Award

• Bollywood producer Vinod Bachchan received the Global Prestige Award at the House of Lords for his contributions to the Indian film industry.

Miscellaneous

2024 Asia Power Index Report

• According to the 2024 Asia Power Index report, India has become the third most powerful nation in Asia, surpassing Japan.

Top Countries and their Scores

QS Global MBA and Business Master’s Rankings 2025

• The QS Global MBA and Business Master’s Rankings 2025 assess institutions based on full-time MBA programs and five key business subjects: Marketing, Management, Finance, Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management.
• In the Global MBA category, Stanford Graduate School of Business ranks first, followed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in second, Harvard Business School in third, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management in fourth.

Bloomberg's Billionaires Index 2024

• According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index 2024, Elon Musk remains the richest person with a net worth of $265 billion, while Jeff Bezos follows closely with $216 billion.

Appointments

Air Marshal SP Dharkar

• Air Marshal SP Dharkar has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff.

About Indian Air Force

Person in News

Madhura Jasraj

• Madhura Jasraj, a renowned filmmaker and writer, and daughter of legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram, passed away at her home in Mumbai on September 25, 2024, at the age of 86.

Important Days

World Contraception Day

• World Contraception Day is celebrated on 26th September of every year, and aims to raise awareness around contraceptives and their significance.