Current Affairs September 24th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Union Finance Minister has launched an e-learning platform, Bharat Vidya:

• Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launched an e-learning platform, Bharat Vidya.
• Bharat Vidya is an e-learning platform for Oriental and South Asian studies.
• This e-learning platform has been designed and developed by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI).
• It is the first-of-its-kind online platform to provide free and paid courses covering various aspects of Indology related to art, architecture, philosophy, language, and science.

Six courses:

• Veda Vidya, Bharatiya Darshanshashtra, Sanskrit learning, 18 Parvas of Mahabharata, Fundamentals of Archaeology, and Kalidasa and Bhasha will be provided through this platform.
• The courses have been designed as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

About Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI):

• It was founded on 6 July 1917.
• It is famous for its collection of old Sanskrit and Prakrit manuscripts. It is located in Pune, Maharashtra.

Cabinet approved modifications in the Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India:

• Cabinet approved modifications in the “Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India”.
• The government will provide financial support of 50% of the Project Cost under the modified program to establish Semiconductor Fabs.
• Under the modified program, fiscal support of 50% of Capital Expenditure will be provided for setting up compound semiconductors/ sensors / Discrete semiconductors fabs and ATMP/OSAT.
• An Advisory Committee was formed for the development of the semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• The India Semiconductor Mission acts as the nodal agency for the efficient and smooth implementation of the schemes in the Semiconductors and Display ecosystem.

Three applicants

• A Vedanta-Foxconn joint venture, international consortium ISMC, and Singapore-based IGSS Ventures — have been approved for setting up semiconductor fabs.
• The Vedanta-Foxconn joint venture recently signed an agreement with the Gujarat government for setting up a USD 20 billion semiconductor and display manufacturing plant in the state.
• ISMC, backed by Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor, and Singapore-based IGSS Ventures are setting up in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
• Vedanta and Elest have submitted applications for setting up display manufacturing.

PM to inaugurate the National Conference of Environment Ministers, Gujarat:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
• The main aim of the Conference is to create further synergy between the Central and State Governments to implement policies for the elimination of plastic pollution and climate change.
• The conference will promote cooperative federalism for resolving environment-related challenges.
• The two-day Conference will be organized on September 23-24.
• India’s per capita plastic consumption is 11 kg while the global average of plastic per capita consumption is 28 kg.
• It will have six thematic sessions based on different topics, the topics given below:
• Combating Climate Change
• PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances)
• Forestry Management
• Prevention and Control of Pollution
• Wildlife Management
• Plastics and Waste Management
• LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the third edition of the Lok Manthan program:

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the third edition of the Lok Manthan program at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
• The theme for this year’s program is Lokparampara (Lok traditions).
• This will emphasize how Lok traditions have kept our cultural consciousness intact and strengthened our feeling of National Selfhood.
• Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan will be the Chief Guest at its concluding session on 24 September 2022.
• Lokmanthan is an occasion where artists, intellectuals, and academicians from different parts of the country brainstorm on the questions that face society.

Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched a Joint Convergence Portal:

• The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched a Joint Convergence Portal for its various schemes.
• The portal has been launched between Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The convergence portal was launched in the presence of Union Minister, of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister, of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Kailash Choudhary; along with the senior officials of both the Ministries
• The objective of the joint portal is that all the government ministries and departments together serve the country’s people according to their capacity.
• This is a step towards realizing the Prime Minister’s dream of a self-reliant India and will also promote the concept of ‘Vocal for Local’.

About Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing AIF for the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets.
• It is a medium to long-term credit financing facility launched on July 08, 2020.

About the PMFME scheme:

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries launched a centrally sponsored PPMFME scheme to enhance the competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment & promote the formalization of this sector.
• It was launched on June 29, 2020, as a part of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.”

About PMKSY:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• It is envisaged as a comprehensive package and helps in the creation of a modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management, from farms to retail outlets.

Ministry of Tourism and Culture has announced a special tourist train to cover the “Ambedkar Circuit”:

• Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture has announced a special tourist train to cover the “Ambedkar Circuit”.
• The modalities — such as the date of the journey, ticket price, and the number of passengers —are still in the works.
• The government first proposed the Ambedkar Circuit, or Panchteerth, in 2016.
• The journey will include meals, ground transportation, and entry to the sites.
• The government had identified 15 tourist circuits under the Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15.
• In terms of train collaboration, the Ramayana, Buddhist, and North East Circuits are already active, while Ambedkar will be fourth.
• The Panchteerth would include Janma Bhoomi, Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow; Shiksha Bhoomi, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK; Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism; Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi or the place of his demise in Delhi; and Chaitya Bhoomi, the place of his cremation, in Mumbai.
• The idea is to attract tourists beyond the Dalit community, who mostly visit these places as a pilgrimage.

The second phase of the ambitious dairy development project is set to kick off in April 2023:

• The second phase of the ambitious dairy development project, the National Dairy Plan (NDP-II), with the support of the World Bank is set to kick off in April next year, with a targeted focus on the unexplored dairy-potential areas in the country.
• This comes about three years after the first phase of NDP-I ended with the financial closure in March 2020.

About The NDP-II:

• The outlay for the second phase of the dairy plan will remain the same.
• It will be focused on forming dairy cooperatives (in new areas), enabling testing equipment, etc.
• NDDB is the implementing agency for the NDP that was first started in 2012 with World Bank support to increase the productivity of milch animals and improve market access of milk producers in project areas.
• The phase-I outlay was ₹2,242 crore, while the second phase is expected to be about ₹1,500 crore.
• The productivity enhancement programs continued parallelly irrespective of the NDP but with the Central support under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM).
• Milk production per animal increased from a baseline of 5.03 liters per day in 2012 to 6.09 litres per day in 2019
• Share of milk sold to the organized sector up from 45 percent in 2012 to 75 percent in 2019.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

West Bengal govt to give LoI to Adani Group on Tajpur deep sea port development 

• West Bengal (WB) approved a proposal for issuing a letter of intent (LoI) to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the development of a greenfield deep sea port at Tajpur, West Bengal.
• The estimated cost of the project is Rs 25,000 crore.
• The port would entail an investment of Rs 15,000 crore.
• The related port-led infrastructure development would involve another Rs 10,000 crore.
• The West Bengal Maritime Board (WBMB) will issue the LoI to the Adani group, which was the highest bidder for the mega project.

Key Highlights :

• The Project would create around 25,000 jobs directly and more than one lakh jobs indirectly.
• The Greenfield port will provide quick access to the world markets to Bengal-based industries. 

Features of the proposed port :

• The port will be set up 5 km from National Highway (NH)-116B and around 170 km from Kolkata. 
• The nearest Railway station is Rajnagar at a distance of nearly 8 km. 
• Deep Draft of 12.1m with an 18-km channel and with tidal support of 3.9m leading to a net 16m draft facility enabling large capesize vessels of one lakh DWT.

About WB :

• Governor: La. Ganesan
• Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
• Capital: Kolkata

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund launches first Auto Index Fund

• ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched India’s first open-ended auto index scheme, ICICI Prudential Nifty Auto Index Fund, focusing on the blue-chip auto and auto ancillary sector. 
• The Fund will try to replicate the Nifty Auto Index which has grown at over 14% annually since August 2012.
• The new fund offer (NFO) opens on September 22, 2022, and closes on October 06, 2022.
• The index comprises 15 listed companies and also represents auto-related sectors such as auto ancillaries and tyres.

About ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund :

• Founded: 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO: Mr. Nimesh Shah

Govt signs MoU with Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank to expand the reach of SPARSH initiative

• The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) and HDFC Bank, to onboard them as Common Service Centres (CSC) under the System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH) initiative, across more than 14,000 branches throughout India.
• The MoU will onboard more than 7900 branches of BoB and 6300 branches of HDFC Bank as Service Centres to provide last-mile connectivity to pensioners, especially those who live in remote areas of India.

Objective :

• To bring 17 lakh pensioners out of the total 32 lakh defense pensioners on SPARSH by the end of September 2022

Key Highlights :

• The total number of pensioners onboard SPARSH has crossed over the one million mark with 11 lakh beneficiaries, which is about 33% of total defense pensioners in India.
• More than 4.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) will also assist Defence Pensioners, as part of the Common Service Centres (CSC) network.
• Access to these service centers would be provided free of cost to the pensioners, with nominal service charges being borne by the Department.

About SPARSH :

• SPARSH is a web-based system for processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defense pensioners without any external intermediary.
• This system is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• It caters to all three Services and allied organizations.

About DAD :

• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
• Controller Basic of Protection Accounts (CGDA): Avinash Dixit

Japan’s MUFG Bank injects ₹3,000 crores in India biz

• Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Bank has boosted the capital of its branches within India by ₹3,000 crores to expand its India business.
• As a result of this capital injection, the total capital of MUFG Bank in India will rise to ₹5,207 crores.
• With the help of the funds, MUFG Bank will strengthen its financial base in India and better respond to the diverse financing needs of its clients.
• In March 2022 MUFG Ganesha Fund was established which is a $300-million fund to invest exclusively in seeding Indian start-ups and in September the fund marked its first investment.
• MUFG has also expanded its presence by opening a branch at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

Federal Bank Partners with BBPS for Utility Bill Payment Services for NRI

• One of India’s leading private sector banks, Federal Bank, has associated with Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) & Lulu Financial Group to facilitate utility bill payment services for non-resident Indian Diaspora.
• This arrangement enables overseas remittance partners (Exchange Houses and Banks) to pay Indian utility bills of over 20,000 billers in more than 20 categories in a cost-effective and convenient option.

Note :

• CEO of NPCI Bharat Bill Payments Ltd: Noopur Chaturvedi

Recent News :

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), permitted foreign inward remittances to be received under the rupee drawing arrangement (RDA) through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).

About Federal Bank :

• Founded: 23 April 1931
• Headquarters: Aluva, Kochi, Kerala, India
• MD & CEO: Shyam Srinivasan

NPCI Launches UPI payments via Rupay Credit Cards

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced a feature enabling the linkage of RuPay credit cards to the unified payments interface (UPI).
• Till now, only debit cards were allowed to be linked to the UPI IDs.

Key Highlights :

• The RuPay credit card will be linked to a virtual payment address, also known as the UPI ID, and will directly enable secure payment transactions.
• The customers of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Union Bank of India (UBI), and Indian Bank will be the first to be able to use RuPay Credit Card on UPI with Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) App.
• Also, another important feature launched by the NPCI is the UPI Lite, which will provide users with faster low-value transactions.
• The NPCI also launched the ‘UPI 123Pay’ facility for feature phones, which will be seeing traction in some early use cases.

About UPI Lite :

• At present, 50% of UPI payments are below Rs 200.
• It is expected to reduce the debt load on the core banking system, thereby improving the success rate of transactions further, and enhancing the user experience.
• The upper limit of the UPI Lite payment transaction will be ₹200 while the total limit of UPI Lite balance for an on-device wallet will be ₹2,000 at any point in time.
• 8 banks are live with the feature including Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.

About NPCI :

• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Dilip Asbe

HDFC Bank signs multi-year data and technology agreement with Refinitiv

• HDFC Bank signed a multi-year data and technology agreement with Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group business, as the Mumbai-based lender looks to reach more customers and cut costs.
• HDFC Bank will also enable its users with Refinitiv Workspace, which will offer access to tools including real-time market data, news, and fundamentals data.
• Thomson Reuters, which owns Reuters News, has a minority shareholding in LSEG.

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded: August 1994
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan

About Refinitiv :

• Founded: 2018
• Headquarters: New York City, United States
• CEO: David Craig
• Refinitiv is an American-British global provider of financial market data and

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

India has won a UN award for its “India Hypertension Control Initiative”:

• India has won a UN award for its “India Hypertension Control Initiative”, IHCI which is an important achievement and recognition of the nation’s efforts to fight hypertension.
• IHCI is a large-scale initiative under the National Health Mission.
• The IHCI has been honored for its outstanding contributions to India’s primary healthcare system.
• The IHCI has been awarded the ‘2022 UN Interagency Task Force and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award’ at a side event of the UN General Assembly held in New York, USA.
• The award has been given for India’s exceptional efforts to prevent and control Non-Communicable Diseases.
• In 2017, this initiative was launched in a phased manner to cover over 130 districts across 23 states.
• Under this initiative, more than 34 lakh hypertensive patients are being treated in government health facilities including Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centres.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Defence Ministry has signed an MoU with Bank of Baroda, and HDFC Bank under SPARSH- an initiative to cover 17 lakh, defense pensioners.

• Defence Ministry has signed an MoU with the Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank.
• This MoU has been signed under SPARSH- System for Pension Administration initiative to cover seventeen lakh, defense pensioners.
• According to Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, 17 lakh pensioners out of the total 32 lakh defense pensioners will be added to SPARSH by the end of this month.
• The remaining pensioners will be brought under SPARSH at the earliest.
• The Ministry said MoU will onboard over 14,000 bank branches as Service Centres to provide an effective medium for pensioners to perform profile update requests, register grievances, and seek redressal.

About SPARSH:

• SPARSH is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence.
• It aims to provide a comprehensive solution to pension administration for the Defence pensioners.

Hero MotoCorp tie-up with HPCL to set up EV charging infrastructure:

• Hero MotoCorp has partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd to establish charging infrastructure throughout the country for electric two-wheelers.
• The two firms will first develop charging infrastructure at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation’s (HPCL) existing network of stations as part of the effort, with the possibility of later widening the relationship for more business prospects.
• The charging stations will be set up in select cities, which will then be expanded to other key markets to establish a high-density of EV charging station network across the country.

About Hero MotoCorp

• Founded: 19 January 1984
• Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• CEO: Pawan Munjal

NCC and UNEP sign an agreement in presence of the defense minister:

• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in front of defense minister Rajnath Singh.
• To battle plastic pollution and attain the goal of clean water bodies, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to combine the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge initiative and the Puneet Sagar Abhiyan.
• It seeks to organize activities that encourage young people to support clean water bodies.
• The Resident Representative of the UN World Food Programme, Bishow Parajuli, and Director General of the NCC, Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

About Puneet Sagar Abhiyan:

• The NCC launched the Puneet Sagar Abhiyan on December 1st, 2017.
• The campaign’s goals are to clean up plastic and other waste from seashores and to make people aware of how vital cleanliness is.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Max Life Insurance Appoints Cricketer Rohit Sharma & Ritika Sajdeh As Brand Ambassadors

• Max Life Insurance Company announced sports icon and the captain of the men’s Indian cricket team Rohit Sharma & his wife Ritika Sajdeh, as its brand ambassadors.
• Max Life has signed a two-year partnership with Rohit Sharma & Ritika Sajdeh who are making their debut on-screen together.

Aim :

• To promote the Max Life brand ethos of valuing the ‘self’ to determine the right financial value to protect themselves and their family.
• The mantra is to prepare ahead mentally, physically, and financially for unforeseen challenges.

About Max Life Insurance :

• Founded: 2001
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• MD & CEO: Prashant Tripathy
• Max Life Insurance Company Limited is a life insurance company in India with a joint venture (JV) between Max India Ltd and Axis Bank

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI approves merger of Jio Cinema OTT platform with Viacom18

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the amalgamation of the over-the-top platforms Jio Cinema with Viacom 18 Media.
• This nod by the national competition regulator follows an investment by BTS Investment 1 Pte. Ltd. (BTS1) and Reliance Projects and Property Management Services Limited (RPPMSL).
• BTS1 is a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore.
• This approval comes after Reliance Industries and Viacom18 announced their strategic partnership in April with Bodhi Tree Systems (BTS) to form one of the largest TV and digital streaming companies in India.
• BTS, along with a host of investors, announced that it will invest Rs 13,500 crore in Viacom18 to launch the entertainment platform and lead the transformation of the media landscape to a ‘streaming first’  approach.

About RPPMSL :

• RPPMSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries.
• It is engaged in the provision of IT support services, business and infrastructure support services, manpower support services, and the erection and commissioning of telecom facilities.
• Bodhi Tree Systems, a newly formed platform between Lupa Systems Founder and CEO James Murdoch and Uday Shankar.

About CCI :

• Established: 14 October 2003
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman: Ashok Kumar Gupta
• Secretary : P K Singh
• The CCI is the chief national competition regulator in
• It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Coast Guard Inducts ‘Samarth’

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted ‘Samarth’ in its fleet, to strengthen the coastal security mechanism. 
• The ship has been based at Kochi from Goa under the operational command of Coast Guard District Headquarters-4 (Kerala & Mahe), Kochi

About ICGS Samarth :

• ICGS Samarth is a 105-meter-long ship and can attain a maximum speed of 23 knots (approx 43 Kmph).
• The ship will enhance the Coast Guard maritime domain operational efficacy in the area including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Lakshadweep/ Minicoy Islands
• The ship is equipped with an integrated bridge management system (IBMS), integrated platform management system (IPMS), power management system (PMS), and a high-power external fire fighting (EFF) system.
• The ship is designed to carry a twin-engine helicopter and 4 high-speed boats, including two inflatable boats for boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime patrol.
• It has a modern surveillance system and has the power to contain oil spills in the sea.

Note :

• Recently a new capital ship Saksham joined the Coast Guard fleet in

About ICG :

• Established: 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Director General: Virender Singh Pathania
• The ICG is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India.
• It operates under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Indian Navy launches 2 indigenous Diving Support Vessels in Visakhapatnam

• The Indian Navy has launched first-of-its-kind two indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) – Nistar and Nipun in Visakhapatnam.
• The two vessels have been manufactured by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).
• The vessels were launched by Kala Hari Kumar, in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, who presided over the ceremony as chief guest
• Kala Hari Kumar, president of the Navy Wellness and Welfare Association (NWWA), performed the traditional honour and named these ships.

About DSVs Nistar and Nipun:

• The vessels are 4-m-long, and 22.8 m at the broadest point and will have a displacement of 9,350 tonnes.
• These ships would be deployed for deep-sea diving operations
• With the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) embarked, the DSVs are designed to undertake submarine rescue operations, in case a requirement exists.
• These ships will be capable of sustained patrolling, conducting search and rescue operations, and carrying out helicopter operations on the high seas.

About Indian Navy :

• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral R. Hari Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO successfully tests hybrid motor to strengthen new propulsion system for rockets

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a 30kN hybrid motor at ISRO Propulsion Complex(IPRC) at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu (TN) supported by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre(LPSC).

Aim :

• To discover a new propulsion system for the upcoming launch vehicles.
• The test was conducted by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

Key Highlights :

• The motor used liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer and Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as fuel.
• A 30 kN hybrid motor with HTPB fuel & LOX demonstrated ignition & sustained combustion for the intended 15 seconds
• The use of liquids facilitates throttling, and the control over the flow rate of LOX enables the re-start capability.
• While both HTPB and LOX are green, LOX is safer to handle.

About ISRO :

• Established: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
• Chairman: Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
• ISRO is the national space agency of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova won Chennai Open 2022 title:

• Linda Fruhvirtova, a 17-year-old tennis player from the Czech Republic, made an outstanding comeback to win the Chennai Open 2022 WTA 250 tennis singles.
• In the final, the adolescent defeated Poland’s third-seeded Magda Linette.
• She is the WTA Tour’s youngest season champion to date at the age of 17 years, 141 days.
• She is the tour’s youngest singles champion since Coco Gauff, who was 17 years, and 70 days old when she won Parma last year.
• The top-seeded doubles team of Brazil’s Luisa Stefani and Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski won the lopsided final by a score of 6-2, 6-1 over Georgia’s Natela Dzalamidze and Anna Blinkova of the Russian Tennis Federation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Former Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker Sedapatti Muthiah Passes away

• Former Union Minister and Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Sedapatti R Muthiah passed away at the age of 77.

About Sedapatti R Muthiah :

• Sedapatti R. Muthiah was an Indian politician of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
• He was popularly known by the name Sedapattiar.
• He was one of the leaders of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from its creation and was second in command in AIADMK until 1998.
• He became the Speaker of the Assembly in 1991 and continued in office till 1996, during the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s period.
• He was TN Assembly Speaker from 1991 to 1996 when the AIADMK was in power.
• He secured consecutive victories from the Sedapatti segment four times in 1977, 1980, 1984, and 1991, which earned him the moniker Sedapattiyar.
• He became an MP from the Lok Sabha constituency of Periyakulam in Theni twice, in 1989 and
• He also became a Union Minister for Surface Transport in the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• He kept away from politics for some time, but later joined the DMK in 2008 and went on to become a member of the party’s electoral wing.

Daily CA on September 24:

• Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launched an e-learning platform, Bharat Vidya.
• Cabinet approved modifications in the “Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India”.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the third edition of the Lok Manthan program at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
• The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched a Joint Convergence Portal for its various schemes.
• Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture has announced a special tourist train to cover the “Ambedkar Circuit”.
• The second phase of the ambitious dairy development project, the National Dairy Plan (NDP-II), with the support of the World Bank is set to kick off in April next year, with a targeted focus on the unexplored dairy-potential areas in the country.
• India has won a UN award for its “India Hypertension Control Initiative”, IHCI which is an important achievement and recognition of the nation’s efforts to fight hypertension.
• Defence Ministry has signed an MoU with the Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank.
• Hero MotoCorp has partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd to establish charging infrastructure throughout the country for electric two-wheelers.
• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in front of defense minister Rajnath Singh.
• Linda Fruhvirtova, a 17-year-old tennis player from the Czech Republic, made an outstanding comeback to win the Chennai Open 2022 WTA 250 tennis singles.