Sreedhar’s CCE SEPTEMBER 2024 PART - 2

CU
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RGET WEEK L Y
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SEPTEMBER 2024 PART - 2

Algeria is the newest member of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)
• Algeria has been approved as the newest member of the BRICS New Development Bank.
• About New Development Bank

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• Establishment - Year 2015
• Headquarters - Shanghai (China)
• Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are the founding members of the
New Development Bank.
• Its main objective is to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects
in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries.
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NDB members – 9 (Algeria, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh,
United Arab Emirates and Egypt).
During the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement
establishing the New Development Bank (NDB).
• 15th BRICS Summit – South Africa
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16th BRICS Summit - Russia
17th BRICS Members - Brazil
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PM-KMY
• Recently, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY), launched on
12th September 2019, has completed five successful years.
• Eligibility: The scheme has been started to provide social security to all
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landholding Small and Marginal Farmers (farmers whose land holdings are upto
two hectares of land in the country).
• As of August 2024, 23.38 lakh farmers have enrolled, with Bihar and Jharkhand
leading in registrations.
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• Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha have over 2.5 lakh, 2 lakh, and 1.5 lakh
farmer registrations, respectively.
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SBI Foundation Launches 3rd Edition of Asha Scholarship Program

• SBI Foundation is the CSR arm of State Bank Group.
• The SBI Foundation has launched the 3rd edition of its Asha Scholarship Program,
supporting 10,000 meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds.
• Scholarships ranging from 15 thousand to 2 lakh rupees are available for students
from Class 6 to postgraduate level.
• The program includes categories for those in IITs, and IIMs, and a special ‘Study
Abroad’ category for SC and ST students.
India will host the General Assembly of the International Co-operative Alliance
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in November
• India will host the first-ever General Assembly of the International Co-operative
Alliance as well as a global conference in November 2024, aimed at strengthening
the cooperative movement in the country in Delhi.
• It will be attended by around 1,500 distinguished guests from over 100 countries.
• International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was founded in 1895.
• It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
• ICA is not a United Nations Organization. However, the ICA enjoys General Consultative
Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC).
India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas-2024 begins in Rajasthan
• The 20th edition of the India-US joint military training ‘Yudh Abhyas-2024’ began
today at the Foreign Training Centre at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
• The exercise has been held alternately between India and the United States
every year since 2004.
• This edition significantly enlarges the scope of joint exercises between the Indian
and US armies, involving 600 Indian troops and troops from 1-24 Battalion of the
US Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division.
• The main aim of this exercise is to enhance the joint military capability of the two
sides under Chapter VII of the UN Charter for Counter-Terrorism Operations.

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Sreedhar’s CCE SEPTEMBER 2024 PART - 2
Nepal Becomes 101st Member of International Solar Alliance
• Nepal becomes the 101st full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by
handing over its Instrument of Ratification in New Delhi.
• 99th member – Spain
• 100th member - Paraguay
• About ISA
• Initially conceived as a joint effort by India and France, ISA was conceptualized
during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in 2015.
• Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
• Director General – Dr Ajay Mathur
Union Bank of India Becomes First major Indian Bank to Join the Partnership
for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)

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• Union Bank of India became the first major Indian bank to join the Partnership
for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) on September 9, 2024, reflecting its
commitment to manage and reduce its indirect emissions.
• PCAF is a global initiative that aims to provide standardised assessment and
disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions related to financial activities, including
loans and investments and is in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s draft
guidelines on climate risk disclosure.
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Cabinet approves PM E-DRIVE Scheme for electric vehicles
The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative
Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme’ with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore
over two years, aimed at promoting electric mobility by providing subsidies and
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incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, trucks, and buses.
The scheme includes a substantial allocation of Rs 3,679 crore specifically for
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electric two-wheelers (E2Ws), three-wheelers (E3Ws), and emerging EVs, and
aims to support the adoption of 24.79 lakh E2Ws, 3.16 lakh E3Ws, and 14,028
electric buses, along with rolling out e-vouchers for additional customer incentives.
Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh Launches ‘Rangeen Machhli’ App
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• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan
Singh Alias Lalan Singh, today launched the “Rangeen Machhli” mobile app at
ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar.
• Developed by the ICAR-CIFA in collaboration with Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
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(PMMSY), the app is designed to cater to the growing needs of the ornamental fisheries sector.
• The “Rangeen Machhli” app provides multilingual information on popular ornamental
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fish species in eight Indian languages, making it accessible to a wide audience.

• Whether hobbyists are seeking guidance on fish care or farmers looking to diversify
their breeds, the app offers comprehensive details on care, breeding, and
maintenance practices.
Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas
• Inaugural Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas, a mock drill on pandemic preparedness, was
conducted in Ajmer district, Rajasthan under the National One Health Mission to
assess India’s readiness for zoonotic disease outbreaks.
• Objective: Evaluated the preparedness and response of the National Joint Outbreak
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Response Team (NJORT), which consists of experts from human health, animal
husbandry, and wildlife sectors.
Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan
• Launched and led by the Ministry of Ayush and the National Commission for
Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
• Objective: To promote natural health practices and enhance public interest in
Ayurveda, contributing to the overall economic growth.
• Aim: to set five Guinness World Records.
• Aligns with Prime Minister’s vision of “Jan-Jan Tak Ayurveda” and “Har-Ghar Ayurveda.”
Prime Minister’s Visits to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
• Recently, Prime Minister of India’s visits to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore have
marked significant advancements in India’s diplomatic and strategic engagements
in Southeast Asia.
• The PM visited the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, a
symbol of Brunei’s Islamic heritage and is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei.
• India appreciated Brunei’s support in hosting ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and
Telecommand (TTC) Station, with discussions on furthering cooperation under
the renewed MoU.

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Sreedhar’s CCE SEPTEMBER 2024 PART - 2
Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024
• Recently, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and
Chief Minister of Rajasthan presented the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024,
on the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh
Vayu Diwas) at Jaipur.
• Every year, the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is celebrated
on7th September to raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality.
• It was declared so by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019.
• The Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024, was presented to the best
performing National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) cities in three categories based
on population. The winning cities are
• Category-1 (population over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra.

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• Category-2 (population between 3-10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi.
• Category-3(population under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh.
• The Municipal Commissioners of the winning cities were awarded with cash prizes,
trophies, and certificates.
• Recently, a 2,492-carat diamond, the second-largest in the world, was discovered at the
Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. The largest diamond ever found remains the Cullinan
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diamond, weighing 3,106 carats, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905.
Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive 2024
• Recently, Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive 2024 was conducted under the National
Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). Under this over 17 lakh oil palm saplings

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were planted across 15 states in India benefitting over 10,000 farmers.
Loss and Damage Fund
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• In the aftermath of the catastrophic landslides that recently impacted Kerala’s
Wayanad district, a critical discourse has arisen regarding the eligibility of
subnational entities to claim compensation through the Loss and Damage Fund
(LDF) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
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(UNFCCC).
• The landslides in Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages killed at least 144 people
and injured 197, after the district received over 140 mm of rain in 24 hours,
• Establishment and Goal: The Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) was established at
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the 27th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP27) held in 2022 in Egypt to provide
financial support to regions suffering both economic and non-economic losses
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caused by climate change.

NaBFID
• Recently, the Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) has notified the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development
(NaBFID) as a “public financial institution” under the Companies Act, 2013 aiming
to boost infrastructure financing in the country.
• NaBFID, established in 2021 by the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure
and Development Act (2021).
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• As of February 2024, NaBFID as a specialised Development Finance Institution
(DFI) has sanctioned over Rs 86,804 crore for infrastructure projects across the
country, with 50% of the sanctions having long tenures of 20 to 50 years. NaBFID
plans to sanction over Rs 3 lakh crore by March 2026.
Global Bio India 2024
• The Global Bio India 2024 conference held recently in New Delhi showcased India’s
expanding bio economy and launched the India Bio Economy Report (IBER)
2024, along with unveiling 30 groundbreaking start-ups.
• Global Bio-India 2024 is an annual event organised by the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking under
the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• IBER 2024 released by DBT and BIRAC, details the impressive progress of India’s
biotech industry.
• Key Highlights: India’s bio-economy has grown from USD 10 billion in 2014 to
USD 151 billion by 2023, and is expected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030, driven
by increasing demand for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, now accounting
for 4.25% of India’s GDP of USD 3.55 trillion in 2023.

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Sreedhar’s CCE SEPTEMBER 2024 PART - 2
Official Airline Guide (OAG)’s report
• According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG)’s report, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi
International Airport (IGIA) secured 24th position (among the top 50 most
internationally connected airports worldwide).
• According to the report, the first position was secured by London’s Heathrow Airport
(LHR), followed by Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in Malaysia.
• IGI Airport has been awarded as the first NetZero Carbon Emission Compliant
airport in India. It is the only airport in the country with four runways.
• India has emerged as the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world,
after the USA and China.
TAPI Pipeline
• Afghanistan is set to begin work on the long-awaited Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-

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Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, a landmark USD 10 billion project that promises to
enhance regional energy connectivity and drive economic development.
• About: The TAPI pipeline is a major infrastructure project designed to
transport natural gas from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan through
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
• The pipeline will span approximately 1,814-kilometres and is expected to deliver
around 33 billion cubic metres (BCM) of natural gas annually.
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The pipeline is also known as the ‘Peace Pipeline.
The project’s origins trace back to the 1990s, with significant progress made in 2003,
supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). India joined the initiative in 2008.
• The TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL), is responsible for the construction

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and operation of the pipeline. The company is a joint venture of Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, each holding shares in the project.
PM-SHRI Scheme
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• Punjab, the Delhi government has decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the central government to implement the Pradhan Mantri Schools for
Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme.
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• The Education Ministry had stopped funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), to Delhi,
Punjab and West Bengal because of their reluctance to participate in the PM-SHRI scheme.
• The PM SHRI Scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative, launched in 2022, by
the Government of India aimed at establishing over 14,500 PM SHRI
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Schools by enhancing existing schools to showcase the implementation of
the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an integrated scheme for school education
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extending from pre-school to class XII to ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education at all levels of school education.
• It subsumes the 3 Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• Recently, the World Bank has raised India’s growth forecast for FY25 to 7% from 6.6%.
• This aligns with forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian
Development Bank (ADB)
Exercise VARUNA
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• Recently, the 22nd edition of the India-France bilateral naval exercise
VARUNA took place in the Mediterranean Sea
• INS Tabar, a frontline stealth frigate, ship borne Helicopter and LRMR Aircraft
P8I participated from the Indian side, while French side was represented by FS
Provence, Submarine Suffren, Aircraft F20; Atlantique2, fighters MB339 and NH90
Dauphin helicopters.
• Indo-French Joint Exercises:
• Desert Knight-21 and Garuda (Air exercise)
• Shakti (Army exercise)
Global plastic pollution
• A recent study published in the journal Nature has revealed that India is
the highest contributor to global plastic pollution.
• India accounts for approximately one-fifth of the total plastic waste generated worldwide.
• Plastic Waste Generation: India generates approximately 9.3 million tonnes of
plastic pollution annually. Out of this, 5.8 million tonnes (mt) are incinerated,
while 3.5 million tonnes are released into the environment as debris.
• This figure is significantly higher than Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and
China (2.8 mt).
• India’s waste generation rate is approximately 0.12?kilograms per capita per day.
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