Today's Current Affairs 28th September 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Global South gains from India-UN Capacity Building Initiative

• In a groundbreaking move, India and the United Nations have jointly introduced a significant capacity-building initiative known as the “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative.” This initiative is designed to facilitate the sharing of India’s development experiences, best practices, and expertise with partner countries in the Global South.
• The announcement of this initiative took place during the “India-UN for the Global South-Delivering for Development” event on September 23 in New York. The event was attended by prominent figures, including India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly.

 NATIONAL

‘Jhaadu Daan’ initiative: Principal of UPSRTC driving institute earns place in India Book of Records

• SP Singh, the principal of the UPSRTC Model Driving Training and Research Institute, has earned a remarkable distinction by securing a place in the prestigious India Book of Records. This recognition is a testament to his exceptional contributions, particularly through his innovative ‘Jhaadu Daan’ (broom donation) initiative, which aligns with the nationwide Swachh Bharat Campaign.
• SP Singh initiated the ‘Jhaadu Daan’ initiative in 2014, coinciding with the launch of the Swachh Bharat campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide essential tools for maintaining cleanliness in various surroundings.

Arogya Manthan 2023 to mark 5 years of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and 2 years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

• The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), is set to host a two-day event known as ‘Arogya Manthan’ in New Delhi. This event is being organized to commemorate two significant milestones in India’s healthcare sector: the 5th anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the 2nd anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• Arogya Manthan 2023, taking place on September 25th and 26th, promises to be an engaging forum filled with insightful discussions and deliberations on various aspects of these two transformative healthcare schemes.

Arogya Manthan 2023 aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. Discussion of Challenges:
2. Trends Analysis:
3. Best Practices Sharing:

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Mars' Own Tesla! NASA's Perseverance Rover Sets Record For The Longest Autopilot Drive On Red Planet

• NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has accomplished an impressive feat by traversing a massive boulder field at a record speed, taking only a third of the time it would have taken its predecessor, Curiosity. The rover’s journey through the challenging terrain of Snowdrift Peak in the Jezero Crater is a testament to its advanced autonomous navigation capabilities and highlights its commitment to maximizing scientific exploration time.
• Perseverance entered the Jezero Crater on June 26, 2023, and embarked on its challenging mission to explore Snowdrift Peak, a rocky region within the crater. The terrain proved to be more rugged and densely populated with large rocks than any the rover had previously encountered.

IAF enhances fleet with new Dornier Do-228 aircraft from HAL

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently celebrated the arrival of the first of six state-of-the-art Dornier Do-228 aircraft, exclusively manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The foundation for this crucial development was laid in March when the Ministry of Defence inked a deal with HAL for the procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft, allocating a budget of Rs 667 crore. This deal represents a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to modernize and upgrade the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
• The Dornier-228 aircraft has a rich history within the IAF, having been employed for Route Transport Role and communication tasks.

 OBITURY

MS Swaminathan, driver of India’s transformatory Green Revolution, passes away

• Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, fondly known as M.S. Swaminathan, was a legendary figure in the field of agriculture and a true humanitarian, passed away at the age of 98. Born on August 7, 1925, in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district, he dedicated his life to improving the lives of India’s low-income farmers and revolutionizing the nation’s agricultural landscape.
• Swaminathan’s journey in agriculture began in 1949 when he embarked on research into the genetics of important crops like potato, wheat, rice, and jute. Little did he know that his work would later become a lifeline for India.

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

PM addresses programme marking 20 years celebration of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, graced the occasion commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. This prestigious event took place at Science City in Ahmedabad, a city that has witnessed the remarkable transformation of Vibrant Gujarat over the past two decades.
• The inception of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit occurred two decades ago, precisely on September 28, 2003, under the forward-thinking guidance of the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi. B K Goenka, Chairman of Welspun lauded the summit as a global event that serves as a role model for other states. Mr. Goenka recalled Shri Modi’s advice during the first Vibrant Gujarat, which led to successful expansion in the Kutch region. Today, Kutch is poised to become a hub of green hydrogen production.

 RANKING

Green-certified Office Space In India Jumps 36% Since 2019

• In a significant development for India’s real estate sector, Bengaluru has emerged as the city with the highest green-certified office space. This achievement is part of a broader trend showcased in the ‘Indian Real Estate: Taking Giant Strides – 2023 Mid-Year Outlook’ report jointly released by real estate consultant CBRE and industry body CII during the CII Realty conference.
• The report highlights a remarkable 36% growth in green-certified office space across six major Indian cities over the past three and a half years. In 2019, the total green-certified office stock stood at 251 million square feet, but it has now surged to an impressive 342 million square feet.

1. Bengaluru’s Leading Role:.
2. Report Launch: .
3. Green-Certified Office Stock:
4. Sustainable Business Practices:

India retains 40th rank in the Global Innovation Index 2023

• India retains 40th rank out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023 rankings published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. India has been on a rising trajectory, over the past several years in the Global Innovation Index (GII), from a rank of 81 in 2015 to 40 in 2023.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also been collaborating in India’s journey towards an innovation-driven economy. This year, the NITI Aayog, in partnership with the CII and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), is hosting, virtually, the India Launch of the GII 2023 on 29th September 2023.
• For the 13th year in a row, Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2023 followed by Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Discover how other economies are performing in the Global Innovation Index 2023 rankings.