20th September, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
India’s 1st lithium-ion cell factory inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh

The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has launched the pre-production run of India’s first lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
This state-of-the-art facility has been set up by Chennai-based Munoth Industries Limited with an outlay of Rs 165 crores.
The report mentioned that at present, battery cells and lithium-ion batteries attract 18 per cent GST, unlike EVs as a whole which attracts only 5 per cent GST. After a draft proposal was sent by NITI Aayog, the Union government is considering lowering the GST slab on EV batteries to 5 per cent and is likely to implement the move very soon. This means that even the vast majority of the existing EV makers will be able to sell their EVs at a considerably lower cost.
Currently, India imports complete requirements of lithium-ion cells primarily from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

Varanasi nominated as first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-2023

Varanasi city has been nominated as the first cultural and tourism capital during 2022-2023 at the 22nd meeting of the SCO council in Samarkand. The 22nd meeting of the SCO council in Samarkand was also attended by Prime Minister NarendraModi.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization 2022 was the first in-person meeting of the regional group after the Covid-19 pandemic which was attended by Prime Minister NarendraModi.
Varanasi is also known as Banaras or Kashi. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city is known for Hindu mythology and history. The city is linked with spiritualism, yoga, Hindu mythology, culture, and the Sanskrit language.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands become India’s first SwachhSujal Pradesh

Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s first SwachhSujal Pradesh. With this accomplishment, all villages on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have received the HarGharJal certification and have been verified as ODF plus open defecation free. Safe and secure drinking water supply and its management is a crucial aspect of the Sujal and Swachh.
There are namely three important components of Sujal and Swachh state:

(i) safe and secure drinking water supply and management;
(ii) ODF Plus: ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) and
(iii) cross-cutting interventions like convergence, IEC, action planning, etc

>> Download Current Affairs PDFs Here

Download Sakshi Education Mobile APP

INTERNATIONAL
India takes over SCO rotating presidency and to host SCO summit 2023

The rotational presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been handed over to India in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Delhi will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023. And next year, India will host the SCO summit.
In the declaration, it is stated that the presidency of the SCO for the forthcoming period passes to India. The next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in 2023 in India.
Launched in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has eight full members, including its six founding members, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations.
Iran has been admitted as a permanent member of the SCO at the Samarkand summit.

USAID and UNICEF launch series titled ‘Door Se Namaste’

The US Agency for International Development and UNICEF launched the Doordarshan and YouTube series titled “Door Se Namaste” at a function held in New Delhi.
A theatrical film on Duur Se Namaste was screened at the event, taking the audience through the main story, and showing how the messages of vaccine promotion and COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) have been interwoven in the entertainment education series.

ECONOMY
FinMin Urges World Bank To Raise Lending To India

The World Bank approved a USD 1 billion loan to support India’s efforts for providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households, severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program” will support the government’s efforts towards a more consolidated delivery platform accessible to both rural and urban populations across state boundaries.
The total commitment from the World Bank towards emergency COVID-19 response in India to USD 2 billion. A USD 1 billion support was announced last month towards immediate support to India’s health sector.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
China and UAE to join hands on moon rover missions

China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to join hands to help further the latter’s space ambitions.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the UAE and the China National Space Agency (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on the UAE’s moon missions. The agreement marks the first joint space project between the two countries.
The UAE has been pushing to become an important space player. Its collaboration with China involves the “landing of an MBRSC rover aboard a CNSA lander.” Under the project, the UAE will develop a rover dubbed Rashid-2; China will help it with the landing, data transmission, observation, and control. MBRSC director-general Salem Humaid Al Marri and CNSA deputy director Wu Yanhua signed the MoU.

SPORTS
Sunil Chhetri-led Bengaluru FC win maiden Durand Cup title

Sunil Chhetri-led Bengaluru FC beat Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the final of the 131st edition of Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan in Kolkata.
Goals from Siva Sakthi in the 10th minute and Alan Costa’s 61st-minute strike were enough to help Bengaluru lift the crown. Apuia got the lone goal for the Mumbai side in an entertaining match.

AWARDS
Swati Piramal conferred with top French civilian honour

Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group has been conferred the Chevalier de la Légiond’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
The highest French civilian award comes in recognition of Piramal’s outstanding achievements and contribution in the fields of business and industry, science, medicine, art and culture, both nationally and internationally.
The award was presented to her by H.E. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron.

ENVIRONMENT
PM NarendraModi launched world’s first Cheetah Rehabilitation Project

Prime Minister NarendraModi has released wild Cheetahs in Kuno National Park and launched the world’s first Cheetah Rehabilitation Project. Cheetahs which have been brought from Namibia are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. The release of wild Cheetahs by the Prime Minister is part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India’s wildlife and its habitat.
The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952. The Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India.

Scary Typhoon Nanmadol in Japan

Typhoon Nanmadol has recorded furious winds and rainfall in several parts of Japan. Typhoon Nanmadol is one of the biggest storms to hit Japan in years.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has delayed his departure to New York, where he is due to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), has advised people to be highly vigilant and prepared for heavy rains, high waves, gales, and storm surges.

Published date : 20 Sep 2022 06:44PM