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MANTHAN
A General Awareness Weekly
2nd September to 8th September, 2024
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A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

PREFACE
Dear Students,
The ‘Current Affairs’ section is an integral part of any examination. This edition of Manthan has been developed by our
team to help you cover all the important events of the Week. This comprehensive bulletin will help you prepare the
section in a vivid manner. We hope that our sincere efforts will serve you in a better way to fulfill aspirations.
Happy Reading
Team CL
Page : 2 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
National
India’s first Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district
· Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched India’s first Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) at Tarin, Ziro
in Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh. This pioneering project aims to boost tourism and fisheries
production in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated 218 fisheries projects virtually. The
IAP, built at a cost of Rs. 43.59 crore, aims to enhance aquaculture, provide new income opportunities for
farmers, and boost livelihoods in the region.
· Chief Minister Pema Khandu participated in the inauguration from his office, while fisheries minister
Gabriel D Wangsu, Ziro MLA Hage Appa, and other officials attended the event at the project site in Tarin.
The Maharashtra government has approved a Rs. 190-crore aqua tourism project for Ujani Dam in Solapur
district, focusing on water sports and bird safaris.
Arunachal Pradesh (“land of dawn-lit mountains”) is a state in Northeast India. It borders the states of Assam
and Nagaland to the south. It shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east, and a
disputed border with China in the north at the McMahon Line. The McMahon Line is the boundary between
Tibet and British India as agreed in the maps and notes exchanged by the respective plenipotentiaries on 24–25
March 1914 at Delhi, as part of the 1914 Simla Convention. The Indian part of the Line currently serves as the de
facto boundary between China and India, although its legal status is disputed by the People’s Republic of China.
Itanagar is the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Lieutenant General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik is the current
Governor.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurates Sports University at Rajgir, Bihar

· Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the state-of-the-art sports academy, sports complex, and
Sports University on the occasion of National Sports Day at Rajgir. The sports complex is also equipped with
a 24-bed hospital with modern treatment facilities for sports injuries.
· It will be the first kind of sports destination in the country that has a sports complex and sports university
in one place. Rajgir Sports Complex has facilities to host 24 types of indoor and outdoor games. To promote new
talents, three centres of excellence have been set up for wrestling, weightlifting, and athletics at the premises. It
will have a large sports library, which will be the biggest after the National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the third largest state by population, the 12th largest by area, and the 14th
largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West
Bengal to the east, and Jharkhand to the south. The Bihar plain is split by the river Ganges, which flows from
west to east. On 15 November 2000, southern Bihar was ceded to form the new state of Jharkhand. Nitish Kumar is
serving as current Chief Minister of Bihar since 22 February 2015, having previous held the office from 2005 to
2014 and for a short period in 2000. Rajendra Arlekar is the current Governor of Bihar. As per the 2011 census,
among states, Bihar has the lowest literacy rate of 47% and highest in Kerala (male: 96.1%, female 92.1%).

Supreme Court’s new flag and insignia unveiled by President Murmu
· President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court at the two-day
National Conference of District Judiciary in New Delhi. The newly unveiled flag features symbols central to
India’s legal and cultural heritage: the Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and the Constitution of
India.
· The new Supreme Court flag is blue in colour. The insignia has ‘Supreme Court of India’ and ‘Yato Dharmastato
Jayah’ (in Devanagari script) inscribed on it. The phrase “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” is a Sanskrit expression
that translates to “Where there is Dharma, there is victory” or “Victory lies where Dharma (righteousness)
prevails.”
The Supreme Court of India came into being on 28 January 1950. It replaced both the Federal Court of India
and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council which were then at the apex of the Indian court system. The
first Chief Justice of India was Sir H J Kania. Originally, the Constitution of India envisaged a supreme court
with a chief justice and seven judges; leaving it to parliament to increase this number. At present, SC is
consisting of the Chief Justice of India and 33 sanctioned other judges. The motto of the Supreme Court is
‘Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ’, means “whence law (dharma), thence victory”. It is also referred to – as the wheel of
righteousness, encompassing truth, goodness and equity. Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud is an Indian
jurist, who is the 50th and current chief justice of India serving since November 2022. He is ex-officio Patron-in-
Chief of the National Legal Services Authority and the de facto Chancellor of the National Law School of India
University. The only child of India’s longest-serving chief justice, Y. V. Chandrachud who served as the 16th
Chief Justice of India, serving from 22 February 1978 until 11 July 1985.
Ashwini Vaishnaw launches India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset

· Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper
trainset at BEML’s Bangalore rail complex. The trainset has been indigenously designed and manufactured
by BEML, India’s leading rail and metro manufacturer. The Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset, designed by BEML,
represents a significant advancement in India’s rail capabilities, combining aesthetic appeal with functionality.
Constructed from austenitic stainless steel and equipped with advanced safety features, including crashworthy
buffers and couplers, the trainset meets stringent fire safety standards.
The Vande Bharat Express, previously known as Train 18, is a semi-high-speed, electric multiple unit train
operated by Indian Railways. It was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. The
first train was manufactured in 18 months at the cost of Rs. 97 crore. The service was named ‘Vande Bharat
Express’ on 27 January 2019. The train was launched on 15 February 2019. The first Vande Bharat Express
train, between New Delhi and Varanasi, was flagged off on February 15, 2019. Sudhanshu Mani is the architect
and designer of the India’s first modern semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to launch AgriSURE Fund & Krishi Nivesh Portal
and confer Greenathon AIF Excellence Awards at New Delhi
· Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
launched AgriSURE Fund & Krishi Nivesh Portal at PUSA, New Delhi. Along with the launch of Krishi
Nivesh portal, Shri Shivraj Singh conferred AIF Excellence Awards to the top-performing Banks and States under
various categories in recognition and appreciation of their efforts.
· Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched in 2020 for creation of Post-harvest
Management infrastructure and Community farming assets. Special campaigns are conducted to promote AIF
scheme and in recognition of the efforts of various Banks and States in successfully implementing AIF scheme,
Excellence awards are presented to them for fostering collective achievements, promoting excellence and
inspiring future performance under AIF.
· Chouhan credited the idea of AgriSURE to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that under the central
leadership, this idea was born during covid and helped save the Indian economy during the covid-induced
lockdown.

The ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE) is a new initiative designed to boost
innovation and sustainability in India’s agriculture sector. The fund will be established as a Rs. 750 crore
Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), offering both equity and debt support. It aims to target high-
risk, high-impact activities across the agriculture value chain. The fund will be launched with an initial corpus
of ₹750 Crore. Contributions include ₹250 Crores each from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and
₹250 Crores from other institutions. The fund will focus on supporting start-ups and agripreneurs, enhancing farm
produce value chains, creating rural infrastructure, and supporting Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). The fund
would help foster innovation in agriculture, enhance the value chain of farm produce, create and improve rural
infrastructure generate employment opportunities and support and develop IT-based solutions and machinery rental
services for farmers.
Union Cabinet approves 309-km rail line between Mumbai, Indore

· The Union Cabinet has approved a 309-km rail line project between Mumbai and Indore at a total cost of
₹18,036 crore. The project is expected to be completed by 2028-29. Indian Railways said the project, apart from
connecting commercial hubs Mumbai and Indore through the shortest rail route, would connect the unconnected
areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh passing through two districts of Maharashtra and four Districts of
Madhya Pradesh.
· Under the project, 30 new stations would be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to Barwani, an
aspirational district. The project would provide connectivity to approximately 1,000 villages and about 30 lakh
populations. The project would provide direct connectivity to Pithampur Auto Cluster (housing 90 large
units and 700 small and medium industries) from gateway port of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and
other State ports. “The project will also provide direct connectivity to millet producing districts of Madhya
Pradesh and onion producing districts of Maharashtra which further facilitates in the distribution of the same to
northern and southern parts of the country,”.
Indian Railways (IR) is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by size. There are a total of 18 Railway
zones. South Coast Railway Zone is the newest and 18th railway zone, headquartered at Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh. Ashwini Vaishnaw is currently serving as the Minister of Railways and Minister of
Information and Broadcasting and 2nd Minister of Electronics and Information Technology since 2024 in the
Government of India. In June 2019, he became a member of the Parliament of India representing Odisha State in
the Rajya Sabha. The practice of a separate Railway Budget was started by the British in 1924 under the
recommendation of a 10-member Acworth Committee headed by British economist William Mitchell Acworth
in 1920-21. On 21 September 2016, Government of India approved the merger of the Railway Budget with the
Union budget of India, and thus came to end — a 92-year-old practice of separate rail and general budgets.
Indian Navy’s P8I on its first-ever deployment in Europe to take part in ‘Exercise Varuna’
· “A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy has reached France to participate in ‘Exercise Varuna’ with the French
Navy”. “The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’, scheduled from September 2 to
4 in the Mediterranean Sea, will include advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and
interoperability between the two navies,”.
· “The Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft touched down at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube, France, marking its first-
ever deployment in Europe,”. This deployment comes 63 years after the Indian Navy’s Alize aircraft,
operating from the erstwhile INS Vikrant, last flew at Hyeres Airbase. INS Tabar, which had earlier arrived in
Toulon will also be participating in the exercise. The Indian and French Navy bilateral naval exercise was
initiated in 1993. It was later christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and has since become a hallmark of the robust
India-France strategic bilateral relationship, the Ministry of Defence said in an earlier press release.
France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris. Emmanuel Macron is serving as
President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017. The euro is the official currency of
France. The euro is the second largest reserve currency as well as the second most traded currency in the world
after the United States dollar.

PM Narendra Modi arrives in Brunei, becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the nation
· Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brunei on the first leg of his two-nation trip that will also
include Singapore. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit. While
embarking on the trip, Modi had expressed confidence in “advancing India’s historical ties with Brunei
Darussalam and deepening its strategic partnership with Singapore”. Both countries are important partners in our
Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was the first
Indian Prime Minister to visit Brunei in 2013, during the ASEAN-India summit. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Brunei for a bilateral meeting.
· PM Modi landed in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam, on September 3 for his
official visit to the country. The first Indian PM to visit the Southeast Asian nation, his trip also marks 40
years since India and Brunei officially established diplomatic ties. The official diplomatic relations between
India and Brunei Darussalam were established in 1984. Before that, Indian representation was through the
Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Brunei Darussalam opened its High Commission in India
in 1992. In 1993, India’s High Commission was set up in Brunei.
· PM Modi inaugurated a new Chancery of the High Commission of India and visited the Omar Ali
Saifuddien Mosque. The mosque has a fusion of architecture from the Mughal era and the Italian Renaissance
period. The new Chancery will highly enhance the diplomatic relations between the two countries. This chancery
design shows Indian motifs, which embody the cultural spirit in Indian buildings and help establish Indianness in
Brunei.
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the
island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian
state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Bandar Seri Begawan is the
capital and largest city of Brunei. Hassanal Bolkiah is Sultan of Brunei since 1967, and prime minister of Brunei
since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. Al-Muhtadee Billah is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, and is first in the line of
succession to the Bruneian throne. The Brunei dollar is the currency of the Sultanate of Brunei since 1967.
UN, Odisha govt launch India’s first ‘grain ATM’ to boost food security
· The Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), will
set up 24-hour grain dispensing machines, known as ‘Annapurti’ across the state in a bid to boost food
security. The first such ‘grain ATM’ was inaugurated in Bhubaneshwar. It was launched by Odisha Minister
Krushna Chandra Patra, with Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director for WFP in India, also in attendance.
Under NFSA, the Centre has made provisions to provide free food grains to 813.5 million beneficiaries. The
scheme focuses on the most vulnerable 67 per cent of India’s population.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides
food assistance worldwide. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school
meals. Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries. WFP is an executive
member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, a consortium of UN entities that aims to fulfil the 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a priority on achieving SDG 2 for “zero hunger” by 2030. The
World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to provide food assistance in
areas of conflict, and to prevent the use of food as a weapon of war and conflict.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir, Maharashtra

· President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara’ in Udgir in Latur,
Maharashtra. She installed a statue of Gautama Buddha inside the vihara and paid tribute to Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar by offering flowers at his statue. The event featured a traditional Buddha worship ceremony. The
President also participated in the ‘Mahila Anand Melava’ at the Udayagiri College grounds.
· The vihara is a replica of the Buddha Vihara in Kalburgi, Karnataka, spread over 15 hectares. It has a
meditation center for 1,200 followers, and its main entrance is inspired by the Sanchi Stupa. Its entry gate is
based on the design of the entry gate of Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh.

Buddhism started in India over 2,600 years ago as a way life that had a potential of transforming a person. It is
one of the important religions of South and South-Eastern Asian countries. The religion is based upon the
teachings, life experiences of its founder Siddhartha Gautam, born in circa 563 BCE. He was born into royal
family of Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu, in Lumbini which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border. At
the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism, or
extreme self-discipline. After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a
pipal tree at Bodhgaya, a village in Bihar. Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city
of Benares in Uttar Pradesh. This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in Uttar Pradesh. The event is known
as Mahaparinibban. The main teachings of Buddhism are encapsulated in the basic concept of four noble
truths or ariya-sachchani and eightfold path or astangika marg. Four noble truths: 1. Suffering (dukkha) is the
essence of the world. 2. Every suffering has a cause – Samudya. 3. Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha.
4. It can be achieved by following the Atthanga Magga (Eight Fold Path). The essence of Buddhism is the
attainment of enlightenment. It points to a way of life that avoids self-indulgence and self-denial. There is no
supreme god or deity in Buddhism.
CAG signs pact with General Court of Audit of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has signed a pact with the General Court of Audit,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation and exchange of expertise between the two nations in the
field of public sector auditing. The area of cooperation encompasses conducting joint training programmes on topics
related to financial, performance and compliance audits and exchange of audit manuals and audit methodologies.
· The CAG stated that the support and cooperation between the two SAIs will energise their capacity
development initiatives and encourage the exchange of knowledge and information between the two SAIs.
Hussam Abdulmohsen Alangari, President, General Court of Audit, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighted the
importance of the agreement in enhancing the cooperation in areas of competence of two SAIs to enhance and
improve their respective external audit practices.
The Constitution of India (Article 148) provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor
General of India (CAG). He is the head of the Indian audit & account department and chief Guardian of Public
purse. It is the institution through which the accountability of the government and other public authorities (all those
who spend public funds) to Parliament and State Legislatures and through them to the people is ensured. CAG is
appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and provided with tenure of 6 years or 65 years
of age, whichever is earlier. CAG can be removed by the President only in accordance with the procedure
mentioned in the Constitution that is the manner same as removal of a Supreme Court Judge. He is ineligible to
hold any office, either under the Government of India or of any state, once he retires/resigns as a CAG. The
current Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is Girish Chandra Murmu, who took office on
August 8, 2020. He was re-elected as the External Auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a four-
year term from 2024 to 2027.
Govt sets up 23rd Law Commission for legal reforms

· The Union Government set up the 23rd Law Commission for a period of three years to identify laws that
have become obsolete and can be repealed, carry out audits of laws that affect the poor and give its views on
any law that the Law and Justice Ministry conveys to it. The Law and Justice Ministry announced the setting up
of the Law Commission from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.
· The commission would include a full-time chairperson, four four-time members, the Secretaries of the
Legal Affairs and Legislative departments as ex-officio members and up to five part-time members. The
government was yet to appoint the members. Similar to the terms of reference of the 22nd Law Commission that
was created in 2020, the new panel has been tasked with examining “the existing laws in the light of Directive
Principles of State Policy and to suggest ways of improvement and reform and also to suggest such legislations as
might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of
the Constitution.”

· The Commission has also been asked to “examine the impact of globalization on food security,
unemployment and recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalized”, which
was also in the terms of reference of the previous Commission. The terms of reference include reviewing the
system of judicial administration to make it more responsive to the demands of the time. The panel’s goals
include eliminating delays, simplification of rules of High Courts for sake of uniformity and ease of
understanding, and implementation of a framework for cash flow management.
The Law Commission of India is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India. The
commission’s function is to research and advise the government on legal reform, and is composed of legal
experts, and headed by a retired judge. The commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an
advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The first Law Commission was established during colonial
rule in India by the East India Company under the Charter Act of 1833 and was presided over by Lord
Macaulay. After that, three more commissions were established in British India. The first Law Commission of
independent India was established in 1955 for a three-year term. The first chairman of the Law Commission of
Independent India was M. C. Setalvad, who was also the first Attorney General of India.
Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN

· The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN. The project involves the establishment of
reception and facilitation centres, enabled through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the Indian Army’s Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (Adjutant General’s Branch), Common Service
Centre (CSC) e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited signed last year in September 2023.
· These Common Service Centres (CSCs) are dedicated to Army Veterans, Pensioners, War Widows, and
NOKs, offering SPARSH-enabled pension services, Government to Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to
Consumer (B2C) services, all at a single, convenient location. In the first phase of Project NAMAN, 14 CSCs
have been established at key locations across India, including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow,
Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
· The project is set to expand significantly, with plans to establish approximately 200 centres nationwide
over the next 2-3 years. The banking partner, HDFC Bank, has provided the necessary IT infrastructure for
operationalising the CSCs, while local military stations have contributed essential physical infrastructure and
facilities. Project NAMAN was conceived after careful deliberation and feedback from the Defence community,
reflecting the Indian Army’s commitment to fostering camaraderie among serving and retired Armed Forces
personnel. This initiative not only delivers essential care and support to esteemed veterans but also extends
services to the entire resident population of military stations and surrounding localities.
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The
President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of
Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field
marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. Sam Manekshaw was the first field
marshal of India, and was conferred the rank on 1 January 1973. The second was Kodandera M. Cariappa,
who was conferred the rank on 15 January 1986. The Indian Army was formed in 1895 alongside the long
established presidency armies of the East India Company, which too were absorbed into it in 1903. General
Upendra Dwivedi is a serving four star general officer of the Indian Army. He is the current and 30th Chief of
the Army Staff. He took over as the 30th COAS succeeding General Manoj Pande on 30 June 2024.
Jaipur’s UNESCO heritage status to be strengthened with Rs.100 crore expenditure

· The heritage conservation and development of the Walled City of Jaipur, which was declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 2019, will be taken up with a budgetary expenditure of Rs. 100 crore. The city’s
infrastructure will be strengthened with an emphasis on protecting its architectural legacy and vibrant culture.
Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, who holds the tourism portfolio, visited various places in the Walled City
and gave instructions for launching the conservation works. Ms. Kumari said the 400-year-old Man Sagar Lake
would also be redeveloped with the boating facilities.

Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is also known as
the Pink City due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings in old city. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai
Jai Singh II, the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named. Ahmedabad is the first city in
India to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ahmedabad is located on the eastern bank of the
Sabarmati river in Gujarat.
Telangana CM inaugurated Global Artificial Intelligence Summit 2024 in Hyderabad

· Hyderabad hosted a two-day Global Artificial Intelligence Summit-2024-themed “Making AI Work for
Everyone”. The summit was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Hyderabad
International Convention Centre. The role of Technology and Innovation are significant to bring a
transformation in the society. We should not expect a change without technological development.
· Aimed at fostering discussions on various aspects of AI, the summit is expected to amplify the state’s
ambition to become a global innovation hub. The summit featured a series of parallel tracks, including a central
plenary and specialised sessions that delve into AI advancements, practical applications, and future opportunities.
The event is expected to draw over two thousand delegates from across the world. Several global AI experts will
provide insights into the impact of AI across sectors like governance, technology, finance, and manufacturing.
· The summit also hosted hackathons, lighting demonstrations, and startup showcases, featuring innovative
projects and emerging technologies. Telangana AI Mission – T-AIM in partnership with NASSCOM will
assist the government in implementing the AI framework in the Telangana State. The government will move
forward to develop innovations in AI in coordination with industry experts. This Global AI Summit is a testimony
that the city of Hyderabad will become an AI Hub soon. Welcoming everyone to the City of the Future. We are
inviting all to join us in making the Future City a prominent AI hub in the world.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of humans
or animals. It is a field of study in computer science that develops and studies intelligent machines. “AI” may also
refer to the machines themselves. AI technology is widely used throughout industry, government and science.
Some high-profile applications are: advanced web search engines (e.g., Google Search), recommendation
systems (used by YouTube, Amazon, and Netflix), understanding human speech (such as Siri and Alexa), self-
driving cars (e.g., Waymo), generative or creative tools (ChatGPT and AI art), and competing at the highest level
in strategy games (such as chess and Go). AI founder John McCarthy agreed, writing that “Artificial intelligence
is not, by definition, simulation of human intelligence”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Virtually Addresses First International Solar Festival
· India’s solar energy capacity has increased 32-fold in the last 10 years, and this speed and scale will help the
country achieve 500 gigaatt non-fossil capacity by 2030. This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
while addressing the two-day first International Solar Festival through video conferencing held in New Delhi.
· Mr Modi said India has taken many massive strides in green energy in the past few years, and it is the first G20
nation to achieve the Paris commitments in renewable energy. The Prime Minister said the International
Solar Alliance (ISA), established in 2015, is growing into a giant tree inspiring policy and action, and within a
short time, its membership has reached a milestone of 100 countries.
· He added that 19 more countries are ratifying the framework agreement for attaining full membership in
the ISA, highlighting that the growth of this organisation is important for the vision of one world, one sun. Mr
Modi said one of the most popular mantras of the Vedas is about the sun, millions of Indians chant it daily.
· Prime Minister highlighted that the International Solar Festival brings the whole world together to celebrate
the sun’s impact and will help build a better planet. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad
Joshi emphasised uniting efforts to move towards a solar-powered future. The International Solar Festival is
intended to celebrate the transformative impact of solar energy on communities in the ISA member
countries. The festival aims at highlighting and celebrating the transformative power of solar energy and its role
in powering new opportunities across the globe, leading the way to universal energy access, and advancing the
Sustainable Development Goals. This festival will convene youth, women, communities, policymakers, and the
private sector in a vibrant celebration of solar energy and its transformative power.

The International Solar Alliance is a common platform for cooperation among sun-rich countries lying fully or
partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join
the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights. This initiative was first
proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech in November 2015 at Wembley Stadium (London HA9
0WS, United Kingdom), in which he referred to sunshine countries as Suryaputra (“Sons of the Sun”). The initiative
was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris at the end of 2015 by the then, President of
France and the Prime Minister of India. In January 2016, Narendra Modi, and the then, French President
François Hollande jointly laid the foundation stone of the International Solar Alliance headquarters and
inaugurated the interim Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwalpahari,
Gurugram, India. Ajay Mathuri is the current Director General of ISA.
“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas”: A Mock Drill on Pandemic Preparedness conducted under National
One Health Mission
· 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 of Rajasthan state, from August 27
to August 31, 2024 to assess pandemic preparedness. This exercise aimed to evaluate the readiness and
response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) composed of experts from human
health, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors. A mock zoonotic disease outbreak scenario was created to
simulate a real-world outbreak. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri J P Nadda appreciated this
first-of-its kind exercise, highlighting the role of One Health Mission by fostering collaborations to address
health of humans, animals and plants and environment holistically and in a sustainable manner.
· The drill was structured around two key 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. Independent observers monitored the response. The response of the district and state
teams, directed by NJORT was found to be mostly prompt and appropriate. The exercise also identified some
areas requiring further improvement. The Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas was a successful exercise that provided
valuable insights to inform future strategies to enhance India’s preparedness and response to zoonotic
disease outbreaks, fostering a coordinated and efficient approach across all relevant sectors.
The National One Health Mission was approved by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation
Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in 2022. The mission aims to coordinate across ministries in achieving overall
pandemic preparedness and integrated disease control against priority diseases of both human and animal
sectors. The mission will help in institutionalising the ‘One Health’ approach. One Health is an approach that
recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.
West Bengal becomes first in India to amend Central laws on rape and sexual assault
· West Bengal became the first state to introduce amendments to Central laws dealing with offences of rape,
gang-rape, and sexual assault after the Assembly, unanimously passed an anti-rape ‘Aparajita’ bill. Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the bill ‘historic’ and ‘model’, calling it a tribute to the 31-year-old trainee
doctor who was raped and murdered at the government-run RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital last month. The
bill, titled the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024,
provides for the death penalty for rape and sexual offences.
· The Bill proposes capital punishment for individuals convicted of rape if the act results in the victim’s
death or leaves her in a vegetative state. Under BNS Laws, the penalties for rape are as follows: a fine and a
minimum of 10 years imprisonment for rape; a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for gang rape, which may
extend to life imprisonment; and a minimum of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape resulting in the
victim’s death or a vegetative state, with the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
· Time-Bound Investigations and Trials: Investigations into rape cases are mandated to be completed within
21 days of the initial report and trial to be completed within 30 days. Extensions are permissible only with
written justification from a senior police officer. Under BNSS laws, the time limit for investigation and trial is 2
months from the date of FIR.

West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India along the Bay of Bengal. Part of the Bengal region of the
Indian subcontinent, it borders Bangladesh in the east, and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. The state capital is
Kolkata. Under the East India Company rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of
British-held territories in India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with
growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. Mamata Banerjee is serving as the
current Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011, the first woman to hold the office. Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose is
serving as the current Governor of West Bengal.
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh top ease of doing business reformers’ ranking

· Kerala, followed by Andhra Pradesh, were ranked as the top performers by the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) for promoting ease of doing business in their
respective states.
· According to the achievers’ numbers, Kerala was the top performer, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Puducherry were
ranked the worst performers, the ranking showed.
· During the ‘Udyog Samagam,’ Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that states have shared their best
practices and emphasised that healthy competition and collaboration are key to the nation’s progress.
“Odisha has reformed its mining sector, UP has begun promoting investment, Maharashtra is attracting Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) by improving infrastructure, and Sikkim is adding value to organic farming,”.
India, Maldives hold defence dialogue focusing on Indian Ocean
· India and the Maldives held a fresh round of “productive” defence dialogue with a focus on the situation in
the Indian Ocean and ways to expedite implementation of ongoing defence projects. The defence dialogue in
Delhi took place nearly a month after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a three-day visit to the
Maldives, in the first high-level trip from New Delhi after the island nation’s pro-China president Mohamed
Muizzu assumed office. “The entire range of talks were productive which will advance shared interests of both the
nations in near future and bring stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region,” the defence ministry said on
the defence dialogue.
Maldives is a South Asian country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. Male is the capital
and most populated city, traditionally called the “King’s Island” for its central location. Maldivian rufiyaa is the
currency of the Maldives. Mohamed Muizzu is the President of the Maldives. The Maldives rejoined the
Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular
support.
India Singapore Sign 4 MoUs to Deepen Economic Ties

· India and Singapore have exchanged four Memorandums of Understanding for cooperation in the fields of
health and medicine, education and skill development, digital technologies, and the India-Singapore
Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership.
· The two countries also agreed to elevate their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which would
give a major boost to India’s Act East Policy. This was decided after delegation-level talks between Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong. During the talks in Singapore,
both leaders reviewed the progress of bilateral relations. Taking stock of the robust progress in economic ties, the
two sides called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries.
· Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Singapore, with an investment of around 160 billion US dollars in the
Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd
India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore last month. Their discussion also covered the
celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025.
· Mr. Modi said that the 350,000 people of Indian origin living in Singapore are a strong foundation of the
relationship between the two countries. He also announced that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
would be opened in Singapore.

Prime Minister Modi visited Singapore during the second leg of a two-nation trip to South-East Asia, having
travelled to Brunei Darussalam in the first leg. Singapore is India’s largest trade partner in ASEAN. It is the
leading source of FDI, among the largest sources of External Commercial Borrowings and Foreign Portfolio
Investment. Sir Stamford Raffles, in 1819, established a trading station in Singapore on the route of the Straits
of Malacca which later became a crown colony and was governed from Kolkata till 1867.
Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. Singapore dollar is the official currency
of Singapore. Lawrence Wong is the current Prime Minister of Singapore. Halimah binti Yacob served as the
first female President in the country’s history. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been serving as the current
President of Singapore since 2023.
Delhi launched ‘Abhishikt’ program for high-IQ students

· The Delhi government introduced specialised classrooms for gifted students in 15 of its schools following
the mid-term exams. Known as ‘Abhishikt’, these classrooms will serve students in classes VI and IX, focusing
on nurturing those identified as exceptionally intelligent through a thorough screening process.
· The Abhishikt programme, according to officials at the Inclusive Education Branch under the Directorate
of Education, involves a multi-stage selection process. Those selected will attend the specialised classrooms in
15 public schools while continuing to follow the NCERT curriculum. They will receive additional learning
opportunities that will allow them to engage with more advanced materials.
Delhi officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India
containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank,
Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining
directions. Delhi’s urban agglomeration, which includes the satellite cities Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and
Noida in an area known as the National Capital Region (NCR), has an estimated population of over 28 million,
making it the largest metropolitan area in India and the second-largest in the world (after Tokyo). In 1911, New
Delhi, a southern region within Delhi, became the capital of the British Indian Empire. Vinai Kumar Saxena is
the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi since 26 May 2022. Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, former
bureaucrat and activist who is serving as the 7th and current Chief Minister of Delhi since 2015.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)

· The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) is the project
proponent for the NITI Aayog-promoted Rs. 72,000 crore mega infrastructure projects in Great Nicobar,
the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
· The project entails the construction of a trans-shipment port, a greenfield airport, a tourism and township
project and a solar and gas based power plant in Great Nicobar. ANIIDCO was incorporated on June 28,
1988 under the Companies Act. ANIIDCO which has been granted permission for the mega project is a little
known quasi-government agency based in Port Blair. Its objective is “to develop and commercially exploit
natural resources for the balanced and environment friendly development of the territory.” Its main
activities, according to its website, include trading of petroleum products, Indian made foreign liquor and milk,
managing tourism resorts and infrastructure development for tourism and fisheries.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India consisting of 572 islands, of which 37 are
inhabited, at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman
Islands (partly) and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 150 km (100 mile) wide Ten Degree Channel (on the
10°N parallel), with the Andaman islands to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobar islands to the south. The
island chains are thought to be a submerged extension of the Arakan Mountains. In December 2018, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, renamed three of the
islands as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose. Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Island; Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep Island; and Havelock Island as Swaraj Island.
------------

International
Oil-rich UAE completes Arab world’s first nuclear plant

· The United Arab Emirates has successfully completed the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant, the
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). According to
ENEC, the four-reactor plant will provide 25 percent of the electricity required by the hot, desert Gulf state, where
air-conditioning is widespread—approximately equivalent to New Zealand’s annual electricity consumption.
· It will also power major industries such as oil production, steel manufacturing, and aluminum production. The
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated in Al Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the Arabian
Gulf, about 53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais. Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan hailed the completion as a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions. The Barakah plant is
part of the UAE’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and ensure energy security. It is also a major step
towards achieving the country’s goal of covering half of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2050.
Abu Dhab is the capital and the second most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (the most populous
being Dubai), and also capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the UAE’s seven emirates. United
Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal sovereign absolute monarchy in Western Asia. Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is Prime
Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. United Arab Emirates
dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west and south and
by Oman to the east and northeast. The land border with Qatar in the Khawr al Udayd area is a source of
ongoing dispute.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Inaugurates IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi Campus

· Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has officially inaugurated
the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus. The event marked a historic moment for
international engineering education, bringing the prestigious IIT brand to the UAE. The inaugural batch has 52
students in undergraduate (UG) courses in Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering.
· Students for the UG programs were rigorously selected through the JEE Advanced exam and the newly
introduced Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET) designed specifically for international students.
The establishment of the campus fulfills a key aspect of the Vision Document launched by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi had previously
launched its first Masters of Technology (M.Tech) programme in Energy Transition and Sustainability.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Al Nahyan arrives in Delhi
· Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived to a warm
welcome as he kick-started a two-day maiden visit to India to further boost bilateral ties in a range of areas,
including energy and connectivity, amid escalating tensions in West Asia. Commerce and Industry Minister
Piyush Goyal received the Crown Prince at the airport following which he was accorded a ceremonial welcome,
in reflection of the importance India has attached to the visit.
· Both countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022 and a
Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System in July 2023 to promote the use of Indian Rupee and AED
(United Arab Emirates Dirham) for cross-border transactions. The two countries are among each other’s top

trading partners with a bilateral trade of about USD 85 billion in 2022-23, according to official data. The UAE is
also among the top four investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23. About 3.5 million
strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE. The UAE was invited as a
special invitee for G20 during India’s Presidency of the grouping.
Nuclear energy race: Japan to launch world’s first steady-state fusion reactor
· A startup is aiming to transform power generation with a cleaner method that could offer limitless energy.
Helical Fusion plans to launch a steady-state fusion reactor that would be the first of its kind worldwide.
The Tokyo-based company intends to initially develop a pilot reactor based on the helical method, a magnetic
confinement technique. The reactor is projected to have an initial power generation capacity of 50-100 megawatts.
The reactor could be a kind of stellarator called a heliotron, composed of two continuous helical coils, similar to
the Large Helical Device, and could operate without plasma current.
Nuclear energy is the fifth-largest source of electricity in India, contributing about 2% of the country’s total
electricity generation. India currently has over 22 nuclear reactors in 7 power plants across the country, which
together produce 6,780 MW of nuclear power. Of these reactors, 18 are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
(PHWRs) and 4 are Light Water Reactors (LWRs). In January 2021, the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project
(KAPP-3), India’s first 700 MWe unit and the biggest indigenously developed variant of the PHWR, was
connected to the grid. The government is promoting the expansion of nuclear installations to other parts of the
country. For example, an upcoming nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur town in Haryana will become operational in
the near future. India is also working on an entirely indigenous thorium-based nuclear plant, “Bhavni,” which
will be the first of its kind using Uranium-233. The experimental thorium plant “Kamini” already exists in
Kalpakkam.
India provided more climate finance in 2022 than many rich nations
· India contributed USD 1.28 billion in climate finance through multilateral development banks (MDBs) in
2022, surpassing the contributions of many developed countries, according to a new analysis. The analysis,
conducted by the UK-based think tank ODI and the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, comes amid a renewed
push by some developed countries to broaden the donor base for climate finance to include developing countries
like China and Saudi Arabia.
· The report reveals that only 12 developed countries provided their fair share of international climate
finance in 2022. These countries are — Norway, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Sweden, Denmark,
Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and Finland.
· Researchers noted that the significant gap in climate finance is largely due to the United States failing to
contribute its fair share. Australia, Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom also performed relatively poorly in
this regard. The analysis has identified the top 30 non-Annex II countries that provided substantial climate finance
to developing countries in 2022 through multilateral contributions to development banks and climate funds.
PM Narendra Modi visits iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei
· Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brunei at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah. In the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei, Modi was accorded a ceremonial
welcome. He was received by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei as
part of his visit to Southeast Asian nations. Prime Minister Modi was received by Brunei’s minister of religious
affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin. Brunei’s minister of health Dato Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham
was also in attendance. Members of the Indian community were also present to greet the Prime Minister Modi.
· The mosque is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei (father of the current Sultan,
who also initiated its construction) and was completed in 1958. Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the
new building for the Indian high commission in Brunei. On the occasion, he lit a lamp and unveiled a plaque.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India
in Brunei. The chancery complex embodies a profound sense of Indianness, masterfully integrating traditional
motifs and lush tree plantations, said the PMO in a release.

Bolivia declares national emergency due to forest fires
· Bolivia declared a national emergency due to raging forest fires, the country’s defense ministry announced.
Bolivia has seen the largest number of wildfires since 2010 with at least 3 million hectares (7.5 million acres)
burned this year. Brazil has also seen major blazes in cities and the Amazon rainforest is off to the worst start in
two decades after a record drought.
Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east,
Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Sucre is the de jure
capital city of it. The boliviano is the currency of it. Luis Arce is serving as the current President of Bolivia.
EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier named new French Prime Minister
· French President Emmanuel Macron named EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as the new
Prime Minister, two months after an inconclusive snap election in early July. Barnier, led the European
Union’s talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc from 2016-2021. Prior to that, the conservative politician
held roles in various French governments and was also EU Commissioner. Barnier is a staunch pro-European and
a career, moderate, politician, but he toughened his discourse considerably during his failed 2021 bid to get his
conservative party’s ticket for the presidential election, saying immigration was out of control - something the far-
right National Rally (RN) agrees with.
US, Britain, EU sign world’s first AI treaty
· The United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom have taken a landmark step by signing the
first legally binding international treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) during a Council of Europe conference
held in Vilnius, Lithuania. This ground-breaking agreement, known as the Council of Europe Framework
Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, marks a significant
milestone in global efforts to regulate AI technologies, underlining the need to balance innovation with the
protection of human rights and democratic values.
· This AI convention is the result of years of negotiations between 57 countries, including key AI developers
like the US, UK, and EU, along with other participants such as Japan, Canada, Israel, Australia, and several
others. The treaty focuses on addressing potential risks posed by AI technologies while promoting
responsible innovation. The Council of Europe, a Strasbourg-based international organisation established
in 1949, spearheaded the initiative to ensure that AI systems align with fundamental human rights,
democracy, and the rule of law.
Malta Joined EU Member States to Help Africa Reduce Spread Of Mpox
· Malta has joined other European Union (EU) member states to help Africa reduce the further spread of
Mpox. Malta’s Health Ministry said that Malta joined the European Commission’s Team Europe initiative to
donate vaccines and mobilise resources to help address the public health emergency, adding that together
European countries will be donating half a million vaccines. The first case was identified as a less severe strain of
the virus known as Clade II. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Mpox a public health
emergency of international concern on the in view of its prevalence and spread across many parts of Africa.
Turkiye seeks to join the BRICS bloc of emerging economies
· NATO member Turkiye has applied for membership in the BRICS bloc of developing economies, as Russia
and China seek to counter the West’s global influence.
Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkiye is a transcontinental country located mainly on Anatolia in Western
Asia, with a portion on the Balkans in Southeast Europe. It shares borders with the Black Sea to the north; Georgia
to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq to the southeast; Syria and the Mediterranean Sea to
the south; the Aegean Sea to the west; and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest. Cyprus is located off the south coast.
Ankara is Turkey’s capital. The Turkish lira is the official currency of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan is serving as the current President of Turkey since 2014.
--------------

ECONOMY AND FINANCE
Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) attains Navratna Status

· Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been granted the Navratna status on 30th August 2024 by the
Ministry of Finance. Completing its 13 years of incorporation, SECI is a leading CPSE dedicated to the
development and expansion of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity in India with a cumulative generation awarded
capacity of 69.25 GW and an annual power trading volume upwards of 42 Billion Units. SECI is the foremost
Renewable Energy Implementing Agency (REIA) of India which is continuously working towards fulfilling
climate goals and striving for sustainable development.
Navratna status is a recognition given by the Indian government to select public sector enterprises (PSEs) that
have financial and operational autonomy. The grant of Navratna status to RVNL provides it with more operational
freedom, financial autonomy, and enhanced delegation of powers. This status enables PSEs to invest up to Rs. 1000
crore without any approval from the central government, giving them more flexibility in decision making,
personnel management, and joint ventures. The CPSEs which are Miniratna I, Schedule ‘A’ and have obtained
‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ MOU rating in three of the last five years and having composite score of 60 or above in
following six selected performance indicators are eligible to be considered for grant of Navratna status.
Indian city overtakes Beijing to become Asia’s billionaire capital

· India’s financial capital Mumbai emerged as the “billionaire capital of Asia” with more billionaires than
China’s capital Beijing, as per the 2024 Hurun India Rich List. Mumbai saw an increase of 58 billionaire
individuals, taking its total to 386 on the list.
· The Hurun list noted, “Home to 25% of the list - Mumbai is not only the billionaire capital of Asia,
overtaking Beijing but also the preferred city for Hurun India Rich Listers, followed by New Delhi and
Hyderabad. Among top cities, Mumbai is followed by Delhi, which has added 18 new billionaires, taking its
rich list entries to 217.
· Hyderabad surpassed Bengaluru for the first time to take the third position in the number of wealthy
residents. Surge of 17 new billionaires took the total number in Hyderabad to 104 which is followed by
Bengaluru at the fourth position with 100 wealthy individuals. Now, Mumbai is in third position globally in
terms of billionaires after New York (119) and London (97).
Singapore Airlines gets FDI nod from Indian govt for Vistara-Air India merger
· In a move that will create one of the world’s largest airline groups, Singapore Airlines has received approval
from the Indian government for the foreign direct investment as part of the proposed merger of Vistara
with Air India. With the clearance in place, the merger that will see Singapore Airlines acquiring a 25.1 per
cent stake in Air India is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The proposed merger was
announced in November 2022. Air India is owned by Tata Group and Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture
between Tatas and Singapore Airlines. In a regulatory filing, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it has received
approval from the Government of India for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the enlarged Air India as part of
the proposed merger.

MK Stalin signs pact with Google, Microsoft to boost AI, manufacturing in Tamil Nadu
· As part of his visit to the United States, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin visited the offices of tech giants
Google and Microsoft and signed various pacts towards skilling initiatives in AI. The pacts also aim to
improve Tamil Nadu’s capability to manufacture semiconductors and smartphones. The Tamil Nadu
government also signed a pact with Google to skill two million youngsters in the state in AI under the state
government’s skill development programme “Naan Mudhalvan”. The initiative will help to collaborate with
startups, MSMEs, and the rural economy besides making the youth a future-ready force.
Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian subcontinent and is bordered by the union territory of
Puducherry and the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Its capital and largest city
is Chennai. Its official language is Tamil, which is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world.
Ravindra Narayana Ravi is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu. M.K. Stalin is the current Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari (also known as Cape Comorin) is a town in Kanyakumari District in the state of
Tamil Nadu in India. Cape Comorin is the southern tip of Indian subcontinent. The southernmost town in
mainland India, it is sometimes referred to as ‘The Land’s End’.
Swedish startup bets big on zinc-ion batteries with world’s first megaplant
· Swedish startup Enerpoly has opened the world’s first zinc-ion battery mega factory. Its vision is to scale a
better alternative to lithium-ion for storing renewable energy over longer periods of time. The Enerpoly
Production Innovation Center (EPIC) facility is located north of Stockholm. Commissioning has already begun
and the plant is expected to make the first zinc-ion batteries next year. The company aims to reach a maximum
production capacity of 100 MWh by 2026 — enough energy to power around 20,000 homes.
World Bank hikes India’s economic growth projection to 7% for FY 2024-25
· The World Bank has forecast a growth of 7% for the Indian economy for the current fiscal year, upping its
earlier estimate of 6.6%. In its report, India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing
Global Context, released New Delhi the World Bank said India’s growth continued to be strong despite a
challenging global environment. The World Bank growth projection is in line with those of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Both the institutions have raised their forecast to 7%
for the financial year ending March 2025.
India Achieves 40th Rank in 2023 Edition of Global Innovation Index
· India has achieved 40th rank among 132 economies globally in the 2023 edition of the Global Innovation
Index (GII) published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). NITI Aayog said, India is
part of the group of countries that has climbed the GII rankings fastest over the last decade.
· India’s journey in the Global Innovation Index has been nothing short of remarkable. From a modest rank
of 81 in 2015, the country has made significant strides, climbing steadily up the rankings to reach 40th place in
2023. This progress develops from the country’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to
innovation, supported by strong government policies, a vibrant start-up ecosystem, and a robust research and
development framework.
· As per the report, India has also been making the most headway in innovation over the last decade. India has
emerged as a Regional GII leader as it performed above expectations on innovation relative to the level of
economic development. It continues to adhere to the record of being innovation over-performers for the 13th
consecutive year. The Global Innovation Index 2023 captures the innovation ecosystem performance of 132
economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends.
Reliance wins bid for govt incentives to make EV batteries
· Reliance Industries has won a bid under an incentives program which supports EV battery production.
Earlier this year, seven companies submitted bids to set up local manufacturing units for the production of
advanced chemistry cells, or ACCs, under the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
Reliance can make upto 10 gigawatts of ACCs. ACCs are used as EV cells, critical to the development of
electric vehicles in the world’s third largest car market.

Motilal Oswal launches India’s first 500 Momentum 50 Index fund
· Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund (MOMF) has launched its new fund offer (NFO), the Motilal Oswal Nifty 500
Momentum 50 Index Fund. This open-ended index fund aims to capture the performance of high-
momentum stocks within the Nifty 500 index. This would be India’s first 500 Momentum 50 Index fund. The
new fund by MOAMC will track the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Total Return Index. The fund will offer exposure
to stocks that are in the highest momentum across the large, mid, and small-cap segments of the Nifty 500 index.
Ashwini Vaishnaw to Anil Kapoor: Indians in the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024
List
· India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw secured a coveted spot on
TIME magazine’s “Most Influential People in AI 2024.” India—the world’s fifth largest economy—is trying to
become a major player in the world of AI.
· While the country has yet to create binding AI laws, for the past year, it has chaired the Global Partnership on
Artificial Intelligence—an international initiative to support states in governing AI, it says. The Indian
government has also allocated over $1.2 billion to support its nascent AI sector. Most of the country’s AI
efforts have been funneled through its “IndiaAI” initiative, managed by Vaishnaw’s ministry.
· The ministry aims to secure over 10,000 Graphic Processing Units, the chips that power most AI technology,
to increase the country’s computing capacity; provide finance for local startups; increase access to high-quality
datasets; expand access to AI educational opportunities for Indians. Notable names on the list include Sundar
Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Key Indian figures include Railways
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Nandan Nilekani, and actor Anil Kapoor.
Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh launches India’s first fashion forecasting initiative
‘VisioNxt’
· Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), a bilingual web portal and the India-specific Fashion
Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24x25’.
· In this era of fast fashion, VisioNxt initiative will foster healthy global competition and elevate Indian culture
and design to new heights on the global stage. He noted that the fashion industry will benefit from Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) based trend insights offered by VisioNxt. This service will
establish India as a leader in the global fashion sector.
Odisha to set up India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility
· The groundbreaking ceremony for India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility to be set up by RIR
Power Electronics Limited, a leader in India’s semiconductor power electronics technology, was held at the
Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Park. “The establishment of this facility is another notable step to
make Odisha a leading semiconductor hub in India.
· This new facility will not only create state-of-the-art products but also open up a wealth of opportunities
for our talented youth, providing them with avenues to work at the cutting edge of technology right in
Odisha. The facility will attract skilled professionals, foster local innovation, drive economic growth, and further
solidify Odisha’s position as one of India’s most promising destinations for electronics and semiconductor
manufacturing.
The modern state of Odisha was established on 1 April 1936, as a province in British India. The ancient
kingdom of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE resulting in the Kalinga
War, coincides with the borders of modern-day Odisha. Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE sun temple at
Konark about 35 kilometres northeast from Puri on the coastline of Odisha, India. The temple is attributed to
king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE. Raghubar Das is serving as the current
Governor of Odisha. Mohan Charan Majhi is currently serving as the 15th Chief Minister of Odisha.
-------------

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventions/Discoveries
NASA adjusts SpaceX crew to rescue Boeing’s stranded astronauts
· NASA cut the number of astronauts in the next crew to make space on the return trip for the two
astronauts – Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are currently stranded on the International Space
Station. NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the ISS
in September aboard a SpaceX rocket. They will return to Earth in February, bringing with them astronauts
Williams and Wilmore, who have been on the ISS since June.
· This decision was necessitated by the technical issues marred the Boeing Starliner capsule, which was
originally intended to transport Williams and Wilmore back to Earth. As a result of this adjustment, NASA
astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who were initially scheduled to join the upcoming SpaceX
mission, have been removed from the crew.
· NASA has assured that they will be assigned to future missions. It will undock from the ISS and land in New
Mexico about six hours later. NASA decided not to use the Starliner for the return trip because of safety
concerns, specifically problems with its propulsion system.
Sunita Williams is an American astronaut, retired U.S. Navy officer, and former record holder for most
spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time for a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes). Williams was
assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and Expedition 15. In 2012, she served as a
flight engineer on Expedition 32 and then commander of Expedition 33. In 2024, she returned to the ISS on the
Boeing Crew Flight Test, the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner; her return to Earth has been delayed
until February 2025. As such, from August 2024 until February 2025, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch
Wilmore are pivoting ahead to undertake various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the
International Space Station. Butch Wilmore is a NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot. He has had
three spaceflights, the first of which was an 11-day Space Shuttle mission in November 2009, to the
International Space Station. Wilmore was designated as pilot with five other crew members on Space Shuttle
Atlantis for the mission STS-129. He served as part of Expedition 41 to the International Space Station, and in 2024
returned to the ISS on the Boeing Crew Flight Test, the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner. He is currently in
space and is set to return to Earth in 2025.
Chinese scientists unveil world’s first AI model for lunar exploration

· The world’s first professional multimodal large language model (LLM) for lunar science has been released
in China. This model is designed to significantly accelerate the processing speed of massive amounts of
lunar data. The new tool was unveiled at the China International Big Data Industry Expo in Guiyang, the capital
of Guizhou Province in southwest China, by the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
and the Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group. The Institute of Geochemistry has built a comprehensive “digital
moon” platform with the world’s most complete bank of data related to the exploration of the moon. There are
more than 1 million lunar craters with a diameter of over 1 kilometer, and countless smaller ones, according to
Liu Jianzhong, a researcher at the Institute of Geochemistry. Identifying all these craters manually would be
impossible.

BRICS adopts comprehensive framework on climate action and sustainable development
· BRICS countries have reached a significant milestone with the adoption of a comprehensive framework
focusing on climate action and sustainable development, announced by the Russian Economic Development
Ministry. This new framework encompasses critical aspects such as mitigation, adaptation, carbon markets,
finance, science, and business involvement. It is designed to promote a just transition and facilitate collaborative
projects among member nations. All BRICS countries oppose unilateral green protectionist measures by
developed nations, as these harm the economies and supply chains of developing countries. This framework aims
to address and counteract measures that disadvantage developing economies, ensuring a more equitable approach
to global environmental policies.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran,
Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Originally identified to highlight investment opportunities, the
grouping evolved into an actual geopolitical bloc, with their governments meeting annually at formal summits
and coordinating multilateral policies since 2009. Bilateral relations among BRICS are conducted mainly based on
non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit. The founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held
the first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining the bloc a year later. Iran, Egypt,
Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organisation on 1 January 2024. Saudi Arabia is yet to
officially join, but participates in the organisation’s activities as an invited nation.
Stranded in space along with Sunita Williams, Nasa astronaut Barry Wilmore reports ‘strange
noise’ from Boeing’s Starliner
· Just days after Nasa officially confirmed that Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return to Earth
using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule in 2025, more issues about Boeing’s Starliner have started to appear. This
further supports Nasa’s decision to use the tried-and-tested Crew Dragon capsule instead of Starliner to
bring the astronauts back to Earth safely.
· According to a report by Ars Technica, astronaut Butch Wilmore has sent the following message to Mission
Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston: “I’ve got a question about Starliner. There’s a strange noise coming
through the speaker … I don’t know what’s making it.” Wilmore noticed this strange noise from the speaker
when he was apparently floating in the Starliner, which, according to the mission control centre, “was kind of
like a pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping”. It is quite common for astronauts to notice and report such
anomalies, and most of these might not significantly impact the spacecraft’s functionalities.
Covid scientist warns the world of deadly virus found in two animals in China
· Dozens of viruses have been detected mixing in animals at fur farms in China, some of which are new and
have the potential to spill over into humans, researchers said on, September 4, 2024. Since the Covid-19
pandemic, scientists have been warning that farming mammals such as minks for their fur could make it easier for
new viruses to cross over from the wild and spark fresh outbreaks. A recent study published has shed light on
the potential dangers posed by animals farmed for fur, food, or traditional medicine. Species such as
raccoon dogs, mink, and muskrats, which are commonly farmed for their fur, have been found to harbor numerous
viruses, some of which could pose significant risks to human health.
· The study’s findings suggest that these animals could serve as reservoirs for emerging pathogens,
potentially sparking new pandemics. Researchers collected samples from 461 individual animals found dead
due to disease on fur farms across China between 2021 and 2024. These animals included minks, raccoon dogs,
foxes, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The team examined tissues from the lungs, intestines, and other organs of these
animals, searching for viral pathogens. Their investigation revealed a startling 125 different viruses, 36 of which
were novel.
· Even more concerning was that 39 of these viruses were classified as high-risk, meaning they had the
potential for cross-species transmission, including to humans. Among the viruses detected, several types of
influenza A virus were found in guinea pigs, minks, and muskrats, including H1N2, H5N6, and H6N2.
Additionally, multiple coronaviruses were identified, expanding the known host range of these viruses. Seven
different species of coronaviruses were detected though none were closely related to SARS-CoV-2, which causes
Covid.

NASA discovers Earth’s third energy field called ‘Polar wind’ after 60 years of search
· Earth’s third energy field known as ‘Polar Wind’, which only existed in theory so far, has now been
discovered by Nasa after a search that has lasted 60 years. Glyn Collinson, principal investigator of Endurance
at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, said that this field is fundamental to understanding the way
our planet works.
· According to Collinson, the field has been there since the beginning alongside the other two energy fields –
gravity and magnetic. The scientists said that although the field is weak, it is significant to Earth as it counters
gravity and lifts the skies up. According to the team of scientists, Polar winds have crucial answers about how
Earth’s atmosphere evaporates rapidly above the north and south poles. They feel that this field of energy may
have played a critical role in the evolution of our atmosphere’s upper-most layer.
· In the 1960s, several spacecrafts that flew over the Earth’s poles had witnessed a stream of particles from
the atmosphere flowing into space at supersonic speeds. Scientists were aware that sunlight caused particles to
leak into space. Regardless, the detected particles did not show any signs that they were heated. Collinson said
that there had to be something that was drawing these particles out of the atmosphere. However, back then, the
technology that was needed to detect an energy field, which can only be sensed over hundreds of miles, was not
available.
Alaska Triangle, where 20,000+ people have disappeared and never been found
· The Alaska Triangle, a mysterious area located around Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik, has been the
site of over 20,000 disappearances since the 1970s. The Alaska Triangle continues to be a source of intrigue and
speculation. While some believe that this vast and wild region may never reveal its secrets, the stories of those
who disappeared remain a poignant reminder of the area’s enigmatic nature. For now, the Alaska Triangle
remains an area of unsolved mysteries, with its blend of natural dangers and unexplained phenomena capturing
the curiosity of many.
India emerges as the largest plastic polluter globally
· A new study by the University of Leeds revealed India as the biggest contributor to plastic pollution. Annually
a staggering amount of 57 million tons of plastic pollution are generated which infilter every space of the planet-
from the deepest trenches, and mountaintops to the human brain.
· The researchers drew an analogy to explain the enormous scale of plastic waste production. The annual,
global plastic waste is enough to fill New York City’s Central Park and pile up as high as 157 Empire State
Building. Almost two-thirds of this pollution originates from the uncollected and ill-disposed waste. This is
because almost 15% of the world lacks access to proper waste collection services. This prompts a haphazard
disposal of the waste that continues to build up.
Ancient Hindu text Rig Veda mentions solar eclipse that took place 6,000 years ago
· Astronomers recently stumbled across what might be the oldest mention of a solar eclipse. In the ancient
Hindu text Rig Veda, they discovered mention of an eclipse that occurred approximately 6,000 years ago.
Researchers say this is the oldest known reference to an eclipse in history.
· Compiled around 1500 B.C, the Rig Veda is a collection of sayings and hymns spanning various religious
and philosophical schools along with records of historical events. While most of these events are from when
the text was written, some of them date back even further. With the Earth spinning on its axis, the relative position
of these important astronomical events change as well. Currently, the vernal equinox is in Pisces, but it was on
Orion somewhere around 4500 B.C and the Pleiades around 2230 B.C. This makes it possible for astronomers
to find the time period when the event occurred.
· The Rig Veda was compiled around 1500 BC and is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text. It contains hymns
and philosophical anecdotes, along with several historical events. Most of these events are from the time the text
was compiled, but some also date back to previous years.
---------------

SPORTS
Sports Personalities in News

Durand Cup 2024: North East United FC Defeats Mohan Bagan Super Giant 4-3 on Penalties
· NorthEast United FC completed a brilliant comeback victory after being two goals down to overcome
defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant on penalties and clinch the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup
in a thrilling final played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in West Bengal. This is the Highlanders
maiden Durand Cup title and their first ever silverware in Indian football.
Paralympic Games: Badminton player Nitesh Kumar wins maiden gold
· India’s Nitesh Kumar clinched his maiden gold medal at the Paralympics, defeating Great Britain’s Daniel
Bethell in a gripping men’s singles SL3 badminton final in Paris. The player from Haryana showcased
incredible resilience and tactical brilliance, overcoming Tokyo silver medallist Bethell in a nail-biting contest that
lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
15 Year Old International Master Mayank Chakraborty Wins His 2nd Grand Master Norm In
Greece
· 15-year-old Chess International Master Mayank Chakraborty from Assam has won his second Grand
Master Norm in a GM Norm Tournament being conducted in Greece. IM Mayank requires one last norm and
to touch the FIDE Rating Point 2500 once to be a Grand Master, in fact the first Grand Master from entire North
East India. He had become International Master this year in April only, and right now he is the player with the
highest number of Grand Master Norms and highest rating from the entire North East India. IM Sahil Dey, aged
17 years, is the second player from North East who is still in the race to be the first Grand Master from North
East with one norm and 2375 FIDE rating at the moment.
Former India wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra appointed BCCI selector
· The BCCI appointed former India wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra as a selector of the men’s cricket team,
replacing Salil Ankola in the five-man panel. As per convention, all five selectors represent different zones and
Ratra will represent the North Zone in the committee headed by Ajit Agarkar.
· After Agarkar was appointed chief selector last year, the selection panel ended up having two selectors from
West Zone with Ankola already a part of the committee.
Sumit Antil, Nitesh Kumar Win Gold At Paris Paralympics 2024
· At the Paris Paralympics 2024, India’s Sumit Antil defended his Javelin gold medal, creating a new record to
clinch the top podium. Antil recorded a highest throw of 70.59 meter in his second attempt. India’s next Gold
medal came from Badminton, where Nitesh Kumar won the Men’s Singles SL3 event.
· Suhas Yathiraj won a Silver in the men’s singles SL4 event, after he lost to the defending champion Lucas
Mazur in the final. In Women’s singles-SU5, Shuttler Thulasimathi Murugesan claimed silver after losing to
China’s Qiu Xia Yang in the final match. In the same category, Manisha Ramadass bagged Bronze. Nithya Sre
Sivan secured a Bronze medal in the women’s singles SH6 category.

Harvinder Singh scripts history, becomes first Indian archer to win Paralympic gold
· Tokyo Games -winner Harvinder Singh became the first Indian Paralympian archer to clinch gold after
beating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland 6-0 in the Men’s Individual Recurve Open final at the Paris Paralympics.
Lord’s to host ICC World Test Championship final for first time, dates revealed
· The iconic Lord’s stadium in London will be hosting the ICC World Test Championship final from June 11
onwards next year. It will be the first time that Lord’s has been used for the World Test Championship
final, with Southhampton as the venue for the first edition (2021) and The Oval as the venue for the second
edition (2023), that were won by New Zealand and Australia respectively.
· The match will be played between the top two sides on the standings at the completion of the current cycle,
with Rohit Sharma’s India currently sitting in pole position ahead of reigning champions Australia. Men in Blue
have featured in both the WTC finals so far but are yet to capture the prestigious mace. There are still plenty of
points available for teams though, with New Zealand (third), England (fourth), Sri Lanka (fifth), South Africa
(sixth) and Bangladesh (seventh) still well in contention for a place in the one-off decider.
India’s Sachin Sarjerao Khilari wins silver medal in men’s shot put (F46) event
· India’s Sachin Sarjerao Khilari wins silver medal in men’s shot put (F46) event with Asian record throw of
16.32m in Paris Paralympics.
Nida, first Indian woman to compete at FEI Endurance World Championship
· Nida Anjum Chelat, a equestrian from Tirur, Kerala, is set to make history as the first Indian woman to
compete in the prestigious FEI Endurance World Championship for Seniors. This milestone comes on the
heels of her historic participation in last year’s FEI Junior Championship, where she became the first Indian to
complete the event, further cementing her legacy on the global equestrian stage.
Kapil Parmar scripts history, wins India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in judo
· Indian judoka Kapil Parmar made history by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in judo at the
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He secured a bronze in the men’s -60 kg J1 category after defeating Brazil’s
Elielton de Oliveira in just 33 seconds with an impressive Ippon. Kapil has overcome many obstacles and has
created history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the judo event at the Paralympics.
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to score 900 career goals
· Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to score 900 career goals. The Al-Nassr forward recorded
this feat against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. Riding on Ronaldo’s goal Portugal defeated Croatia in the
UEFA Nations League.
--------------

MISCELLANEOUS
International Conference on Spectrum of Literacy Held in New Delhi
· Ahead of the International Literacy day, School Education and Literacy Secretary, Sanjay Kumar chaired an
international conference on Spectrum of Literacy in New Delhi. The conference aimed at bringing together
global and national experts, educators, policymakers, and literacy advocates to explore the diverse and evolving
dimensions of literacy in world.
· While addressing the conference, Mr. Kumar said that the ‘Understanding Lifelong Learning for All Society’
initiative is a framework to bring down the literacy gap between the urban and rural population and
between male and females. Highlighting this year’s theme of Promoting Literacy through multilingualism, he
added that one of the central pillars of National Education Policy 2020 is multilingualism.
Prez Murmu Addresses Beneficiaries Of Maha Govt’s ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ & ‘Mukhyamantri
Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojna’ Schemes
· President Droupadi Murmu said that the ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin
Yojna’ are important steps toward building an inclusive and prosperous society and the country. These
schemes of the Government of Maharashtra in Udgir, she expressed her happiness at seeing women in
Maharashtra becoming self-reliant through various schemes of the central and state governments.
· The President commended the Maharashtra government for promoting financial literacy, skill development, and
livelihood opportunities for women, as well as for its efforts in ensuring transparent and accountable governance
by delivering basic services directly to citizens, thus minimising their need to visit government offices. The
President also acknowledged the success of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, which has enabled around one
crore women across the country to become “Lakhpati Didis,” thereby boosting their self-confidence,
awareness, and a renewed sense of empowerment.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw holds meeting with President of JETRO Susumu Kataoka
· Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said that he had a
productive meeting with President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Susumu Kataoka in
Tokyo. Mr Vaishnaw said that the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral trade, investment and economic ties.
Assam government to celebrate August 20 as Sootea Day
· Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Sootea Police Station in Biswanath District, paying tribute to
martyrs of the 1942 Quit India Movement. He announced that August 20 will be celebrated as Sootea Day
and unveiled plans for a heritage monument at the site, allocating Rs. 5 crores for the project.
· Sootea has important contribution to the freedom movement of the country. In response to a resolution of
hoisting national flag in every police station across the nation on 20 September, people of Sootea and its
adjoining places mobilised themselves by the call of the nation and under the leadership of late Biman Chandra
Bora hoisted the national flag at Sootea police station on 20 August 1942.
Shah Rukh Khan tops celebrity taxpayer list at Rs. 92 cr
· Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has emerged as the top celebrity taxpayer for the fiscal year 2023-
24, with an advance tax payment of Rs. 92 crore. This information is sourced from Fortune India’s latest
compilation of celebrity tax payments.
· Thalapathy Vijay and Others Follow Tamil actor ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay ranks second on the list with an
advance tax payment of Rs. 80 crore. He surpasses other prominent figures such as Salman Khan, who is in third
place with Rs. 75 crore, and Amitabh Bachchan, who ranks fourth with Rs. 71 crore.
· In the cricketing world, Virat Kohli stands out as the highest taxpayer among cricketers, having paid Rs. 66
crore in advance tax. Other notable cricketers include M S Dhoni, who paid Rs. 38 crore, and Sachin Tendulkar
and Sourav Ganguly, who contributed Rs. 28 crore and Rs. 23 crore, respectively.
---------------

PERSONS IN NEWS
Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed Finance Secretary
· The Centre named 1987 batch IAS officer from the Orissa cadre Tuhin Kanta Pandey as the new Finance
Secretary, after the incumbent T.V. Somanathan was appointed the Cabinet Secretary by the Cabinet’s apex
appointment panel.
· Mr. Pandey is currently serving in the Finance Ministry as the Secretary in charge of two key domains —
the Departments of Public Enterprises (DPE), and Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). DIPAM
is entrusted with the mandate of maximising the value of central government firms and disinvestment of select
firms as per the government’s policy for public sector enterprises.
Bengal’s open water swimmer, Sayani Das became the first Indian woman to cross the Channel
· Bengal’s open water swimmer, Sayani Das became the first Indian woman to cross the North Channel. She
dived into the North Channel from Donaghadee town in Northern Ireland. She covered 38 km to finally reach her
finish point at Portpatrickin Scotland. This was the fifth open water channel swim that Sayani - who aims at
completing the Oceans Seven challenge - had conquered so far.
---------------

AWARDS
2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees
· In a global announcement, the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF)
declared that this year, four individuals from Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam, and one movement
from Thailand, will receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
· Karma Phuntsho (Bhutan) is being honoured for bridging Bhutan’s rich heritage with modern challenges,
inspiring young Bhutanese to embrace their past while confidently moving forward.
· Miyazaki Hayao (Japan), co-founder of Studio Ghibli, is being honoured for using animation to illustrate
the human condition, especially inspiring children as torchbearers of imagination. He won the 2024 Ramon
Magsaysay Award, recognized for his contributions to animated films that resonate across ages. His work is
distinguished by its gentle, hand-drawn visuals and deep themes, including pacifism, environmentalism, and
strong female characters. Miyazaki’s films, such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, reflect his concerns
about modern society, war, and the destruction of nature.
· Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand) is being recognized for improving public health and empowering
rural citizens, ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s progress.
· Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (Vietnam) is being honoured for her research on Agent Orange’s/Dioxin’s
impact and her dedication to supporting its victims, highlighting the long-term consequences of war.
· Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia) is being recognized for her emergent leadership in protecting endangered
natural resources, promoting social justice, and advocating for responsible stewardship of nature.
· Often called Asia’s Nobel Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award was instituted in 1957 in the memory of the
late Ramon Magsaysay, the former President of Philippines who died in March that year in a plane crash Mr.
Magsaysay was known for leading the charge against the communist Hukbahalap or Huk movement and
was popular among his people.
· The first awards were given out in 1958, in five categories. Winning the first award for Community
Leadership was Indian freedom fighter Acharya Vinoba Bhave, who led the Bhoodan movement. Dr. Mary
Rutnam, who worked for the people of Sri Lanka and introduced women’s institutes known as the Lanka Mahila
Samiti, received the inaugural Ramon Magsaysay award for Public Service. Filipino Organisation Operation
Brotherhood which provided medical treatment to refugees in Vietnam, received the award for Peace and
International Understanding.
North Maha Governor Honours Seshampatti Sri T. Sivalingam With Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan
Lifetime Achievement Award
· Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan honoured veteran Nadaswaram exponent Seshampatti Sri T.
Sivalingam with the Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nadaswara Thiruvizha
programme in Mumbai. The programme was organised by the Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha
Sabha.
· Mr. Radhakrishnan also presented the fellowship grant of one lakh rupees each to 50 young Nadaswaram
musicians during the programme. The Sabha gives Sri Shanmukhananda Nadaswara Chakravarthi T. N. Raja
Rathinam Pillai Fellowship in Nadaswaram to 50 young and promising Nadaswarm musicians with a view to
preserve the musical instrument and support its musicians. The fellowship of one lakh rupees is given for three
years.
---------------

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for People of African Descent 31 August
· Nations across the globe unite on August 31 on the United Nations International Day for People of African
Descent to celebrate their collective ancestry, varied traditions, and significant impact on the world and the
worldwide African diaspora. This day also acts as a chance to increase worldwide consciousness about the
obstacles of entrenched racism, prejudice, and marginalisation that people of African descent around the globe
encounter. As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of
African descent: recognition, justice and development.”
World Skyscraper Day
· World Skyscraper Day, celebrated every year on September 3, is a tribute to the breathtaking structures that
have transformed the cities. These structures are testaments to human creativity, engineering prowess and an
unwavering drive to reach for the skies.
International Day of Charity 5 September
· The International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitizing and mobilizing people,
NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.
The date of 5 September was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the
struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.
Teachers’ Day 2024
· The annual celebrations of Teachers’ Day take place on September 5 in India. On the other hand, World
Teachers’ Day is celebrated after a month on October 5. Teachers’ Day marks the birth anniversary of Dr
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - the first Vice-President and the second President of India. In India, the
birthday of the second president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, 5 September, is celebrated as Teachers’ Day
since 1962. He was a great philosopher and scholar. He was awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian
award in India, in 1954 and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. He served as the
second president of India from 1962 to 1967. He previously served as the first vice president of India from 1952
to 1962.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, 7 September
· The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is designated by the United Nations General Assembly on
7 September to strengthen international cooperation in improving air quality and reducing air pollution.
The resolution was adopted without a vote, generally indicating all countries recognized the importance of the
subject, were united on the issue, and no obvious divisions were present. The theme for the 2024 International
Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is “Invest in #CleanAirNow”.
--------------

QUESTIONS
1. Every year on _________, the world comes together through the UN International Day for People of African
Descent to honor the shared heritage, diverse culture, and profound influence of Africans.
(a) August 26 (b) August 29
(c) August 31 (d) September 4
2. Recently, India’s first Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) inaugurated in _________.

(a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Nagaland (c) Sikkim (d) West Bengal
3. Which of the following countries recently launched world’s first steady-state fusion reactor?
(a) Japan (b) India (c) South Korea (d) Canada
4. Which of the following teams recently clinched the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup?
(a) Northeast United (b) Mohun Bagan (c) Downtown Heroes (d) Indian Air Force
5. What central symbols are featured on the newly unveiled flag of the Supreme Court of India?
(a) Ashoka Chakra, the Parliament building, and the National Flag
(b) Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and the Constitution of India
(c) Ashoka Chakra, the India Gate, and the Supreme Court building
(d) Ashoka Chakra, the National Flag, and the Parliament building
6. What status was recently granted to the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI)?
(a) Mini Ratna (b) Navratna (c) Maharatna (d) Mini Ratna II
7. Recently, Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at BEML
Complex in _________.
(a) Bengaluru (b) New Delhi (c) Bhopal (d) Guwahati
8. According to the 2024 Hurun India Rich List, which of the following cities has emerged as the “billionaire capital
of Asia”?
(a) Beijing (b) Tokyo (c) Mumbai (d) Singapore
9. Recently, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the state-of-the-art sports academy, sports complex, and
Sports University on the occasion of National Sports Day at _________.
(a) Rajgir (b) Vaishali (c) Darbhanga (d) Buxar
10. Recently, the world’s first professional multimodal large language model (LLM) for lunar science has been
released in _________.
(a) China (b) USA (c) France (d) Germany
11. World Skyscraper Day, celebrated every year on _________, is a tribute to the breathtaking structures that have
transformed the cities.
(a) August 29 (b) August 31 (c) September 3 (d) September 7
12. Recently, India’s Nitesh Kumar clinched his maiden gold medal at the Paralympics, defeating Great Britain’s
Daniel Bethell in a gripping men’s singles SL3 _________ in Paris.
(a) Table Tennis Final (b) Badminton Final
(c) Lawn Tennis Final (d) Chess Final
13. Recently, Renowned film director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki of _________ has been
awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2024.
(a) South Korea (b) Thailand (c) Vietnam (d) Japan

14. Which of the following companies is a joint venture partner in Vistara along with Tata Group?
(a) Emirates (b) Qatar Airways (c) Singapore Airlines (d) Lufthansa
15. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a _________ rail line project between Mumbai and Indore at a total cost
of ₹18,036 crore.
(a) 233-km (b) 267-km (c) 309-km (d) 365-km
16. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched in year _________ for creation of Post-harvest
Management infrastructure and Community farming assets.
(a) 2014 (b) 2017 (c) 2019 (d) 2020
17. The 2024 bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ takes place between _________.
(a) India and Germany (b) India and France (c) India and USA (d) India and Canada
18. Where is the Enerpoly Production Innovation Center (EPIC) facility, the world’s first zinc-ion battery mega
factory, located?
(a) Germany (b) Sweden (c) Canada (d) South Korea
19. Which of the following states recently signed a pact with Google to skill two million youngsters in the state in AI
under the state government’s skill development programme “Naan Mudhalvan”?
(a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Karnataka (d) Kerala
20. Which of the following space agencies recently cut the number of astronauts in the next crew to make space on the
return trip for the two astronauts – Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore?
(a) NASA (b) ESA (c) JAXA (d) ISRO
21. What is India’s rank in the 2023 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) published by the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO)?
(a) 50th (b) 30th (c) 40th (d) 60th
22. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to _________.
(a) New Zealand (b) Brunei (c) Panama (d) Suriname
23. Recently, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has officially
inaugurated the _________ Abu Dhabi campus.
(a) Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (b) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
(c) Indian Institute of Technology Madras (d) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
24. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in _________.
(a) Maharashtra (b) Gujarat (c) Karnataka (d) Andhra Pradesh
25. What is the revised growth forecast for the Indian economy by the World Bank for the current fiscal year?
(a) 6.6% (b) 6.8% (c) 7.0% (d) 7.2%
26. Which of the following states recently announced that August 20 will be celebrated as Sootea Day?
(a) Assam (b) Tripura (c) Meghalaya (d) Uttar Pradesh
27. Which of the following states in India, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP),
has introduced 24-hour grain dispensing machines called ‘Annapurti’ to boost food security?
(a) Maharashtra (b) Odisha (c) Karnataka (d) Gujarat
28. Who among the following defended his gold medal in the Javelin event at the Paris Paralympics 2024 with a new
record throw of 70.59 meters?
(a) Nitesh Kumar (b) Suhas Yathiraj (c) Sumit Antil (d) Lucas Mazur

29. During his visit to Brunei, which significant landmark did Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit?
(a) Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
(b) Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
(c) Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge
(d) Sultan Mohammad Bin Salman Brunei Museum
30. Which of the following countries have reached a significant milestone with the adoption of a comprehensive
framework focusing on climate action and sustainable development?
(a) ASEAN (b) BRICS (c) G20 (d) SAARC
31. Recently, the Union Government set up the _________ Law Commission for a period of three years to identify
laws that have become obsolete and can be repealed.
(a) 21st (b) 23rd (c) 25th (d) 27th
32. Recently, Indian Army launched the first phase of Project _________.
(a) PAHUCH (b) PRAMAAN (c) NAMAN (d) PRANAM
33. Which of the following NATO members has recently applied for membership in the BRICS bloc of developing
economies in 2024?
(a) France (b) Turkiye (c) Canada (d) Italy
34. Which of the following companies recently won a bid under the Indian government’s incentives program for
supporting EV battery production?
(a) Amara Raja Energy and Mobility (b) JSW Energy
(c) Tata Motors (d) Reliance Industries
35. Which of the following companies recently launched India’s first 500 Momentum 50 Index fund?
(a) Motilal Oswal (b) Suzlon Energy (c) Adani Industries (d) Reliance Industries Limited
36. The International Day of Charity is an international day observed annually on _________.
(a) 1 September (b) 3 September (c) 5 September (d) 8 September
37. What is the significance of the recently discovered ‘Polar Wind’ energy field according to NASA?
(a) It pulls Earth’s atmosphere towards space.
(b) It plays a role in countering gravity and lifting the skies up.
(c) It strengthens the Earth’s magnetic field.
(d) It reduces the impact of solar radiation on Earth’s surface.
38. Which of the following signed a pact with the General Court of Audit of Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation in
public sector auditing?
(a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (b) Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
(c) Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) (d) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
39. Which of the following cities of Rajasthan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, will now be
taken up for redevelopment with a budgetary expenditure of Rs.100 crore?
(a) Ajmer (b) Jaipur (c) Udaipur (d) Alwar
40. Which of the following developed countries did NOT contribute their fair share of international climate finance in
2022?
(a) Norway (b) Germany (c) United States (d) Japan
41. Which of the following states became the first in India to introduce amendments to Central laws, ‘Aparajita’ bill in
2024 dealing with offences of rape, gang-rape, and sexual assault?
(a) Maharashtra (b) West Bengal (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Uttar Pradesh

42. Who among the following has French President Emmanuel Macron recently appointed as the new Prime Minister
after an inconclusive snap election in early July?
(a) Jean-Luc Mélenchon (b) Michel Barnier (c) Marine Le Pen (d) Édouard Philippe
43. Recently, Indian President addressed beneficiaries of _________ Govt’s ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ & ‘Mukhyamantri
Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojna’ Schemes.
(a) Maharashtra (b) Gujarat (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Karnataka
44. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the two-day first International Solar Festival through
video conferencing, being held in _________.
(a) Pune (b) New Delhi (c) Bharuch (d) Panaji
45. Who among the following emerged as the top celebrity taxpayer for the fiscal year 2023-24 according to Fortune
India’s latest compilation of celebrity tax payments?
(a) Amitabh Bachchan (b) Salman Khan (c) Shah Rukh Khan (d) Thalapathy Vijay
46. Name India’s Union Minister who recently secured a coveted spot on TIME magazine’s “Most Influential People in
AI 2024”.
(a) Ashwini Vaishnaw (b) Nirmala Sitharaman
(c) Amit Shah (d) Jagat Prakash Nadda
47. World Teachers’ Day is an international day held annually on _________ to celebrate the work of teachers.
(a) 25 September (b) 29 September (c) 2 October (d) 5 October
48. Who among the following won the silver medal in the men’s shot put (F46) event at the Paris Paralympics with an
Asian record throw of 16.32m?
(a) Devendra Jhajharia (b) Mariyappan Thangavelu
(c) Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (d) Varun Bhati
49. Which of the following Indian cities hosted a two-day Global Artificial Intelligence Summit-2024-themed “Making
AI Work for Everyone”?
(a) Bengaluru (b) Hyderabad (c) Mumbai (d) Gandhinagar
50. Recently, Under the aegis of National One Health Mission (NOHM), a comprehensive national mock drill,
“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” (Virus War Exercise), was conducted in _________ to assess pandemic preparedness.
(a) Udaipur (b) Darjeeling (c) Ajmer (d) Varanasi
51. The _________ is a mysterious area located around Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik, has been the site of over
20,000 disappearances since the 1970s.
(a) Bermuda Triangle (b) Pacific Triangle
(c) Alaska Triangle (d) Unique Triangle
52. The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is designated by the United Nations General Assembly on
_________ to strengthen international cooperation in improving air quality and reducing air pollution.
(a) 2 September (b) 5 September (c) 7 September (d) 10 September
53. Where is India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility being set up by RIR Power Electronics Limited?
(a) Karnataka (b) Maharashtra (c) Odisha (d) Gujarat
54. Recently, Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), a bilingual web portal and the India-specific Fashion Trend Book
_________.
(a) ‘Bharat 24x25’ (b) ‘Paridhi 24x25’ (c) ‘Kaustubh 24x25’ (d) ‘Nidhi 24x25’

55. Where is the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant located?
(a) Dubai, UAE (b) Abu Dhabi, UAE (c) Sharjah, UAE (d) Fujairah, UAE
56. Which of the following international organisations spearheaded the development of the first legally binding AI
treaty?
(a) United Nations (b) European Union (c) Council of Europe (d) NATO
57. What significant development did Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced regarding India’s cultural
presence in Singapore?
(a) Establishment of a university
(b) Opening of the first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
(c) Launch of a new trade corridor
(d) Creation of a digital knowledge hub
58. Recently, India and the _________ held a fresh round of “productive” defence dialogue with a focus on the
situation in the Indian Ocean and ways to expedite implementation of ongoing defence projects.
(a) Maldives (b) Mauritius (c) Sri Lanka (d) Seychelles
59. Which of the following states was ranked the top performer under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) by
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for promoting ease of doing business?
(a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Gujarat (c) Kerala (d) Rajasthan
60. Which European Union (EU) initiative did Malta join to help reduce the spread of Mpox in Africa?
(a) European Vaccination Program (b) Team Europe
(c) Africa-Europe Health Coalition (d) EU Public Health Alliance
61. Which of the following states / union territories is likely to introduce specialised classrooms Known as ‘Abhishikt’
for students in 15 of its schools following the mid-term exams?
(a) Delhi (b) Puducherry
(c) Goa (d) Madhya Pradesh
62. Who among the following has been named as the new Finance Secretary of India, succeeding T.V. Somanathan?
(a) Vipul R Gupta (b) Tuhin Kanta Pandey
(c) Sanjeev C Subramaniam (d) Ajay Bhushan Pandey
63. Who among the following recently became the first footballer to score 900 career goals?
(a) Lionel Messi (b) Neymar Jr
(c) Cristiano Ronaldo (d) Kylian Mbappé
64. Which of the following planets is known as the “Red Planet”?

(a) Venus (b) Mars (c) Jupiter (d) Saturn
65. Which of the following agreements was signed between India and the UAE in July 2023 to promote cross-border
transactions using local currencies?
(a) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
(b) Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
(c) Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System
(d) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Agreement
66. What is the purpose of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)?
(a) To manage petroleum and liquor trading in Andaman and Nicobar
(b) To commercially exploit natural resources for balanced and environment-friendly development
(c) To promote tourism exclusively in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(d) To develop only fisheries infrastructure in the Andaman Islands

67. Which of the following constellations marked the vernal equinox around 4500 B.C., according to astronomers
analyzing the Rig Veda’s records of astronomical events?
(a) Pisces (b) Orion (c) Pleiades (d) Taurus
68. Who of the following became the first Indian judo player to win a Paralympic medal in judo at the Paris 2024
Paralympic Games?
(a) Sushil Kumar (b) Kapil Parmar (c) Vikas Kumar (d) Deepak Kalra
69. The Hangul is a subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to _________.
(a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Assam (c) Jammu and Kashmir (d) Sikkim
70. According to a new study by the University of Leeds, _________ is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution in
world.
(a) India (b) China (c) USA (d) Brazil

ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATION
1. c Nations across the globe unite on August 31 on the United Nations International Day for People of African Descent
to celebrate their collective ancestry, varied traditions, and significant impact on the world and the worldwide
African diaspora.
2. a PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 218 fisheries projects virtually, including India’s first Integrated Aqua Park (IAP)
in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district.
3. a Nuclear energy race: Japan to launch world’s first steady-state fusion reactor.
4. a NorthEast United FC completed a brilliant comeback victory after being two goals down to overcome defending
champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant on penalties and clinch the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup in a thrilling final
played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in West Bengal.
5. b The newly unveiled flag of the Supreme Court of India features symbols central to India’s legal and cultural
heritage: the Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and the Constitution of India. This design highlights the
significance of these elements in representing the values and functions of the Supreme Court.
6. b SECI was granted the Navratna status by the Ministry of Finance. This status is awarded to Central Public Sector
Enterprises (CPSEs) to enhance their financial and operational autonomy.
7. a Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at BEML Complex in
Bengaluru.
8. c The 2024 Hurun India Rich List highlighted Mumbai as the “billionaire capital of Asia” due to its higher number of
billionaires compared to Beijing. Mumbai had a total of 386 billionaires, surpassing Beijing.
9. a Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the state-of-the-art sports academy, sports complex, and Sports
University on the occasion of National Sports Day at Rajgir.
10. a The world’s first professional multimodal large language model (LLM) for lunar science has been released in
China.
11. c World Skyscraper Day, celebrated every year on September 3, is a tribute to the breathtaking structures that have
transformed the cities.
12. b India’s Nitesh Kumar clinched his maiden gold medal at the Paralympics, defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell
in a gripping men’s singles SL3 badminton final in Paris.
13. d The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced five recipients from five countries of its annual prize:
Farwiza from Indonesia, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong from Vietnam, Miyazaki Hayao from Japan, Karma Phuntsho
from Bhutan, and the Rural Doctors Movement (RDM) from Thailand. Renowned film director and co-founder of
Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, has been awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2024. Often
referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize, the award recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to
society.
14. c Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. As part of the proposed merger with
Air India, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1% stake in the enlarged Air India.
15. c The Union Cabinet has approved a 309-km rail line project between Mumbai and Indore at a total cost of ₹18,036
crore.
16. d Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched in 2020 for creation of Post-harvest Management
infrastructure and Community farming assets.

17. b “The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’, scheduled from September 2 to 4 in the
Mediterranean Sea, included advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability
between the two navies,”.
18. b The Enerpoly Production Innovation Center (EPIC) facility, recognized as the world’s first zinc-ion battery mega
factory, is situated north of Stockholm, Sweden. This location has been chosen for its strategic importance in
Enerpoly’s vision to scale zinc-ion batteries as a better alternative for long-term energy storage compared to
lithium-ion batteries.
19. b The Tamil Nadu government also signed a pact with Google to skill two million youngsters in the state in AI under
the state government’s skill development programme “Naan Mudhalvan”.
20. a NASA cut the number of astronauts in the next crew to make space on the return trip for the two astronauts –
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are currently stranded on the International Space Station.
21. c In the 2023 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), India achieved the 40th rank among 132 economies
globally. This ranking reflects India’s growing innovation capacity and progress over the past decade.
22. b Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brunei on the first leg of his two-nation trip that will also include
Singapore. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit.
23. b Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has officially inaugurated the
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus.
24. a President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir in Latur, Maharashtra.
25. c The World Bank has revised its growth forecast for the Indian economy to 7% for the current fiscal year, up from
its earlier estimate of 6.6%. This adjustment reflects the strong performance of India’s economy despite global
challenges.
26. a Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Sootea Police Station in Biswanath District and announced that
August 20 will be celebrated as Sootea Day and unveiled plans for a heritage monument at the site, allocating Rs. 5
crores for the project.
27. b The Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has
introduced 24-hour grain dispensing machines known as ‘Annapurti’ across the state. This initiative aims to
enhance food security in the region.
28. c Sumit Antil successfully defended his gold medal in the Javelin event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. He set a new
record with a throw of 70.59 meters in his second attempt, securing the top podium position.
29. b Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, as part of
his visit to Southeast Asian nations. This mosque is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei,
and was completed in 1958.
30. b BRICS countries have reached a significant milestone with the adoption of a comprehensive framework focusing
on climate action and sustainable development, announced by the Russian Economic Development Ministry.
31. b The Union Government set up the 23rd Law Commission for a period of three years to identify laws that have
become obsolete and can be repealed, carry out audits of laws that affect the poor and give its views on any law that
the Law and Justice Ministry conveys to it.
32. c The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN.

33. b In 2024, NATO member Türkiye applied for membership in the BRICS bloc, which consists of developing
economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This move is seen as a strategic effort by Türkiye to
strengthen ties with emerging markets and participate in counterbalancing Western global influence.
35. d Reliance Industries won a bid under the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, which aims to
boost the production of advanced chemistry cells (ACCs) used in EV batteries. The company outperformed six
other competitors, including Amara Raja Energy and JSW Energy.
35. a Motilal Oswal launches India’s first 500 Momentum 50 Index fund.
36. c The International Day of Charity is an international day observed annually on 5 September. It was declared by the
United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
37. b The ‘Polar Wind’ is described as an energy field that counteracts gravity, helping to lift the skies up. This discovery
is fundamental to understanding how Earth’s atmosphere functions, especially around the poles. It complements the
existing gravity and magnetic fields, influencing the behavior of the atmosphere.
38. c The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has signed an agreement with the General Court of Audit of
Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise in public sector auditing. The collaboration
includes conducting joint training programs and sharing audit methodologies.
39. b The heritage conservation and development of the Walled City of Jaipur, which was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2019, will be taken up with a budgetary expenditure of ₹100 crore.
40. c The report identified that the United States failed to contribute its fair share of international climate finance in
2022. While countries like Norway, Germany, and Japan met or exceeded their obligations, the U.S., along with
countries such as Australia, Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom, performed poorly in this regard.
41. b West Bengal became the first state in India to introduce amendments to Central laws regarding rape, gang-rape, and
sexual assault after the Assembly unanimously passed the anti-rape ‘Aparajita’ bill in 2024. This bill provides
stricter punishments, including the death penalty for such heinous offences.
42. b Michel Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, was appointed as the new Prime Minister by President Macron
after the snap election in early July. Barnier is a seasoned politician who led the Brexit talks for the EU and has
held various political roles both in French governments and in the EU.
43. a Prez Murmu Addresses Beneficiaries Of Maha Govt’s ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ & ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin
Yojna’ Schemes.
44. b Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the two-day first International Solar Festival through video
conferencing, being held in New Delhi.
45. c Shah Rukh Khan was reported to have paid the highest amount of advance tax, contributing Rs. 92 crore for the
fiscal year 2023-24, making him the top celebrity taxpayer according to Fortune India’s compilation.
46. a India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw secured a coveted spot on TIME
magazine’s “Most Influential People in AI 2024.”
47. d World Teachers’ Day is celebrated after a month on October 5.
48. c Sachin Sarjerao Khilari won the silver medal in the men’s shot put (F46) event at the Paris Paralympics. His throw
of 16.32 meters set a new Asian record, highlighting his exceptional performance in the competition.
49. b Hyderabad hosted a two-day Global Artificial Intelligence Summit-2024-themed “Making AI Work for Everyone”.

50. c 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 of Rajasthan state, from August 27 to August 31,
2024 to assess pandemic preparedness.
51. c The Alaska Triangle, a mysterious area located around Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik, has been the site of over
20,000 disappearances since the 1970s.
52. c The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is designated by the United Nations General Assembly on 7
September to strengthen international cooperation in improving air quality and reducing air pollution.
53. c The groundbreaking ceremony for India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility by RIR Power Electronics
Limited took place at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Park in Odisha. This facility aims to make
Odisha a leading semiconductor hub in India.
54. b Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of National
Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), a bilingual web portal and the India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi
24x25’.
55. b The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated in the Al Dhafra region within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, about
53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais, on the Arabian Gulf. It plays a crucial role in the UAE’s energy
diversification efforts.
56. c The Council of Europe, founded in 1949 and based in Strasbourg, led the initiative to create the AI convention,
focusing on aligning AI technologies with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
57. b Prime Minister Modi announced that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would be opened in Singapore.
This move highlights the cultural ties and strong connection shared by the two countries, particularly with the large
Indian-origin population in Singapore.
58. a India and the Maldives held a fresh round of “productive” defence dialogue with a focus on the situation in the
Indian Ocean and ways to expedite implementation of ongoing defence projects.
59. c According to the ranking by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kerala was the top performer in promoting
ease of doing business, followed by Andhra Pradesh and other states.
60. b Malta joined the European Commission’s Team Europe initiative to donate vaccines and mobilize resources to
combat the spread of Mpox in Africa. This collective effort aims to address the public health emergency by
contributing half a million vaccines.
61. a The Delhi government is likely to introduce specialised classrooms for gifted students in 15 of its schools following
the mid-term exams. Known as ‘Abhishikt’, these classrooms will serve students in classes VI and IX, focusing on
nurturing those identified as exceptionally intelligent through a thorough screening process.
62. b Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987 batch IAS officer from the Orissa cadre, has been appointed as the new Finance
Secretary. He succeeds T.V. Somanathan, who has been appointed as the Cabinet Secretary.
63. c Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first footballer to score 900 career goals, further cementing his
legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
64. b Mars is often called the “Red Planet” due to its reddish appearance, which is caused by iron oxide (rust) on its
surface. This distinctive color makes it easy to identify in the night sky. Mars has been a subject of interest for
space exploration due to the possibility of past or present life.
65. c In July 2023, India and the UAE signed the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System, promoting the use of the
Indian Rupee and UAE Dirham for cross-border transactions, thus boosting financial cooperation between the two
nations.

66. b ANIIDCO was incorporated with the aim of developing and commercially exploiting natural resources in a way
that balances growth with environmental sustainability. This includes activities beyond just managing tourism,
fisheries, or trading petroleum products. While it is involved in various sectors, its primary mandate is to drive
development that is both balanced and environmentally conscious.
67. b The position of astronomical events like the vernal equinox changes over time due to the Earth’s axial precession.
Around 4500 B.C., the vernal equinox was in the constellation Orion, which helps astronomers estimate the time
period of historical celestial events mentioned in texts like the Rig Veda.
68. b Kapil Parmar made history as the first Indian judoka to win a Paralympic medal in judo by securing a bronze at the
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the men’s -60 kg J1 category.
69. c The Kashmir stag also called hangul is a subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding
areas. It is found in dense riverine forests in the valleys and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern
Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it is found primarily in the Dachigam National Park and in Tral Wildlife Sanctuary
where it receives protection, and elsewhere it is more at risk.
70. a A new study by the University of Leeds revealed India as the biggest contributor to plastic pollution.

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· ___1()

2nd September to 8th September, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

Page : 2 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurates Sports University at Rajgir, Bihar

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 3

Ashwini Vaishnaw launches India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset

Page : 4 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Union Cabinet approves 309-km rail line between Mumbai, Indore

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 5

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir, Maharashtra

Page : 6 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Govt sets up 23rd Law Commission for legal reforms

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 7

Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN

Jaipur’s UNESCO heritage status to be strengthened with Rs.100 crore expenditure

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Telangana CM inaugurated Global Artificial Intelligence Summit 2024 in Hyderabad

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Kerala, Andhra Pradesh top ease of doing business reformers’ ranking

India Singapore Sign 4 MoUs to Deepen Economic Ties

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Delhi launched ‘Abhishikt’ program for high-IQ students

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)

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Oil-rich UAE completes Arab world’s first nuclear plant

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Inaugurates IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi Campus

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Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) attains Navratna Status

Indian city overtakes Beijing to become Asia’s billionaire capital

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Chinese scientists unveil world’s first AI model for lunar exploration

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Sports Personalities in News

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2. Recently, India’s first Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) inaugurated in _________.

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64. Which of the following planets is known as the “Red Planet”?

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47. d World Teachers’ Day is celebrated after a month on October 5.

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