Current Affairs - September 13, 2024 Current Affairs

T.G. English School from Manipur secured the 63rd Subroto Cup Junior Boys title, marking a significant achievement for the state as it was their first win in 44 years. The victory came after a thrilling match that ended in a 1-1 draw during regulation time, with Manipur defeating Meghalaya’s Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School 4-3 in a sudden-death tiebreaker. The Subroto Cup is a prestigious school football tournament, and this victory highlighted Manipur's growing prominence in youth football.

R. Ravindra, currently serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN in New York, has been appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to Iceland. The Ministry of External Affairs announced his appointment on September 10, 2024. He belongs to the 1999 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers and is expected to take up his new role shortly.

Bahrain secured $16.65M in investments from three Indian firms during visits to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The investments include Chemco's third expansion in Bahrain to enhance rigid packaging production with fully automated lines at Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP). Additionally, Bhageria is planning an 11.40 MW solar project, and an ICT firm will establish its regional headquarters in Bahrain, strengthening the country's technology sector. These developments highlight Bahrain's growing appeal as a hub for diverse industries and investments from India.

India has been announced as the exclusive partner for the European Hydrogen Week 2024, scheduled to take place in November. This partnership aims to enhance India's export potential in the green hydrogen sector by aligning with EU green regulations. The announcement was made during the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024) in New Delhi, highlighting India's commitment to global decarbonization efforts and its role in the emerging green hydrogen economy.

The "Rangeen Machhli" app, launched by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, aims to support the ornamental fisheries sector by providing multilingual information, a directory of aquarium shops, and educational modules for fish care and breeding. This initiative seeks to boost the ornamental fisheries industry, promoting employment and economic growth in this sector.

The Home Minister of India, Shri Amit Shah, has announced that Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. This decision aims to remove colonial imprints and honour the significant role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India’s freedom struggle. The new name symbolizes the victory achieved during the freedom struggle and acknowledges the islands' historical importance, including the first unfurling of the Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the presence of the cellular jail where freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, were imprisoned.

The International Day of South-South Cooperation is observed annually on September 12 to highlight the importance of solidarity among Global South nations in achieving development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This day reaffirms the role of cooperation in achieving these goals and is celebrated with a theme, this year being "A Better Tomorrow through South-South Cooperation."

Sitaram Yechury was a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), a left-wing political party in India. Yechury played a significant role in Indian politics, serving as General Secretary of the CPI(M) from 2015. He was also a two-term member of the Rajya Sabha, representing West Bengal from 2005 to 2017. His career began with his election as President of the JNU Students Union, demonstrating his long-standing involvement in political activism, which eventually led to his leadership within CPI(M).

India’s first teal carbon study, which focuses on the role of wetlands in climate adaptation and resilience, was conducted at Keoladeo National Park. Wetlands play a critical role in mitigating climate change by storing organic carbon, known as teal carbon, in non-tidal freshwater systems. Keoladeo National Park, a well-known wetland, was chosen for this study to highlight its importance in managing methane emissions and enhancing climate benefits through conservation efforts. Conservation of such wetlands is vital for maximizing their role in combating climate change.

The VL-SRSAM, or Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile, is a defensive weapon system designed to counter close-range aerial threats. India recently successfully tested it off the Odisha coast, demonstrating its capabilities. The test was conducted by DRDO in collaboration with the Indian Navy, and it met all performance expectations. Surface-to-air missiles like the VL-SRSAM play a crucial role in air defence by intercepting and neutralizing incoming aerial targets and enhancing the security of military installations and naval assets.

Union Bank of India has become the first major Indian bank to join the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), a global initiative focused on assessing and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions linked to financial institutions' loans and investments. This move aligns with the Reserve Bank of India's new draft guidelines on climate-related financial risk disclosures, issued in February 2024. By joining PCAF, the Union Bank of India is taking a proactive step in managing financed emissions and enhancing its climate risk strategy.