IMPORTANT DAYS
National Engineer's Day celebrated on September 15
• National Engineer's Day is celebrated on September 15th to honor Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya's legacy.
• Visvesvaraya, a prominent engineer, scholar, and statesman, is renowned as the 'Father of Indian Engineering.'
• He served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore and was pivotal in modern India's infrastructure development.
• The day marks the anniversary of Visvesvaraya's contributions to engineering and development.
• In recognition of his achievements, Visvesvaraya was awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.
• The first National Engineers Day was observed in 1968.
• Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya played a crucial role in shaping modern India through his innovative projects.
• His vision and work continue to inspire the engineering community across the nation.
STATE NEWS
The most auspicious day of Onam, Thiruonam was celebrated by Keralites on September 15.
• Thiruonam, celebrated on September 15, is the most significant day of the Onam festival.
• Onam, Kerala's major harvest festival, occurs during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August to September).
• The festival commemorates the homecoming of King Mahabali, a revered ruler from the kingdom's golden age.
• Onam is marked by vibrant customs, traditions, and a rich array of cuisine, including the famous Onasadya.
• Celebrated with enthusiasm by Keralites worldwide, Onam transcends religious boundaries.
• The festival features traditional activities such as Onakodi, Ujjayattam, Pulikalli, and Vallamkalli.
• King Mahabali's annual visit to his people is the highlight of the Onam festivities.
• Thiruonam, the 10th day of Onam, holds the highest reverence among the festival's days.
Medical education in Hindi medium started by the Rajasthan Government.
• The Rajasthan Government has introduced medical education in Hindi for state medical colleges.
• This initiative was announced by the Medical Education Department on Hindi Diwas, September 14.
• Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, and Barmer Medical College will offer this new Hindi medium option.
• Students enrolling in these colleges for the 2024–25 academic session can choose between English or Hindi medium.
• The move addresses challenges faced by students from rural areas or those who studied in Hindi medium.
• This step was included in the budget to improve accessibility for Hindi-speaking students.
• The Hindi medium option will be expanded to other medical colleges in the near future.
• The aim is to provide better educational support for students who find English medium challenging.
NATIONAL NEWS
Operation Sadbhav launched by India
• India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to countries affected by Typhoon Yagi.
• The operation focuses on supporting Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, which are facing severe flooding after the storm.
• An urgent relief shipment of 10 tonnes, including dry rations, clothes, and medicines, was sent to Myanmar via the Indian Naval ship INS Satpura.
• A military transport aircraft from the Indian Air Force is delivering 35 tons of relief supplies to Vietnam and an additional 10 tons to Laos.
• The relief materials include gensets, water purification equipment, hygiene products, mosquito nets, blankets, and sleeping bags.
• Operation Sadbhav is part of India's broader commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) in the ASEAN region.
• This initiative aligns with India's 'Act East Policy,' emphasizing regional cooperation and support.
• The operation reflects India's proactive approach to addressing humanitarian crises in neighboring countries.
RANKING AND INDEX
Switzerland topped in the ‘Best Countries Ranking 2024
• Switzerland has claimed the top spot in the Best Countries Ranking 2024 for the third consecutive year.
• This ranking evaluates 89 countries across ten weighted sub-rankings, including quality of life, adventure, and entrepreneurship.
• A total of 73 different attributes contribute to these sub-rankings.
• India ranks 33rd in the Best Countries Ranking 2024, falling three places from the previous year.
• India's strongest performance was in the 'movers' category, where it ranked 7th, and it also placed 10th in heritage.
• Switzerland excels in quality of life and business openness, although its lowest ranking is in heritage.
• Following Switzerland are Japan, the United States, Canada, and Australia in the rankings.
• Only two Middle Eastern nations, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, made it into the top 25.
• The Best Countries Ranking 2024 was released by US News & World Report.
India has reached Tier 1 in the Global Cyber Security Index 2024.
• India has achieved Tier 1 status in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• This recognition highlights India's exemplary role in cybersecurity commitments and impacts.
• The GCI 2024 introduced a new five-level analysis to better assess each country's cybersecurity progress.
• Tier 1 includes 46 nations recognized as "role modeling" for their strong commitment across five cybersecurity pillars.
• India excelled in areas such as legal frameworks, technical measures, capacity development, and international cooperation.
• Organizational measures were identified as potential areas for further development.
• ITU's cybersecurity projects are bolstering national efforts to effectively manage cyber threats.
• This advancement underscores India's commitment to enhancing its cybersecurity landscape.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India and Argentina hold the 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Buenos Aires.
• The seventh round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) between India and Argentina took place in Buenos Aires.
• The Indian delegation was led by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Argentina was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Leopoldo Francisco Sahores.
• Discussions centered on enhancing political, trade, and economic relations between the two countries.
• Delegations also explored key areas of cooperation, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, defense, and railways.
• Bilateral trade between India and Argentina has surged to USD 6.4 billion from 2019 to 2022.
• In 2021 and 2022, India became Argentina's fourth-largest trading partner.
• In 2021 and 2022, India became Argentina's fourth-largest trading partner.
AWARDS
RINL received the prestigious CII-GBC National Energy Leader Award for the Sixth Consecutive time.
• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has won the CII-GBC National Energy Leader Award for the sixth consecutive time.
• The award was presented to RINL by Sri Milind Deora, with Sri K Sudhakaron accepting on behalf of the company.
• RINL also received the “Excellent Energy Efficient Unit Award” for an impressive eighth consecutive year.
• The company has implemented consistent energy conservation initiatives, including waste heat recovery systems and Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) in blast furnaces.
• RINL emphasizes waste recycling and energy benchmarking as part of its energy efficiency strategy.
• The organization is committed to enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints through innovative technologies.
• RINL operates the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and is recognized as a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).
• These achievements reflect RINL's dedication to sustainable growth and environmental responsibility.
