Today's Current Affairs 4th September 2023

INTERNATIONAL

US State Georgia officially declares October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'

• In a significant move, Governor Brian Kemp of the U.S. state of Georgia has officially declared that the month of October will be celebrated as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’ within the state. This proclamation aligns Georgia with several other states across the United States that have taken similar steps to honor and commemorate Hindu heritage, culture, values, and traditions.
• Georgia joins a growing list of states that have recognized the importance of Hindu heritage and culture. These states include Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, and others. The declaration of ‘Hindu Heritage Month’ serves as a way to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and significance of Hinduism in American society.
• The choice of October for this celebration holds special meaning. It is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi, an iconic figure known for his principles of peace, non-violence, and civil rights. Additionally, October is a time when major Hindu festivals, such as Navratri and Diwali, are celebrated, making it an ideal month to honor Hindu heritage.

Sultan AlNeyadi sets historic milestone as he completes longest space mission in Arab history

• Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi succeeded in achieving qualitative and historical achievements, which consolidated the UAE’s regional and global position as the first Arab country to complete the longest space mission in the history of the Arabs, which lasted for six months on the International Space Station (ISS), and included conducting pioneering scientific experiments that contribute to serving humanity and the scientific community.
• AlNeyadi became the first Arab astronaut to complete a spacewalk mission outside the ISS, as part of the 69th mission last April, which lasted about 7 hours, to carry out several basic tasks such as maintenance, in addition to completing the preparatory series for installing a number of solar panels on the station.
• This success consolidated the UAE’s global leadership in the space sector, as the country ranked 10th globally in spacewalking missions outside the ISS, which reflects the efforts of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) to continue space exploration. This historic achievement is also added to the record of the Arab world’s contributions to outer space exploration.
• After AlNeyadi completed about 4,000 hours of work in space, the Emirati astronaut contributed to the development of scientific and technological advancement in the UAE, by conducting about 200 scientific experiments in various fields that took about 585 hours.

NATIONAL

NCERT gets Deemed-to-be-University status, says Education Minister

• In a significant development in the realm of education, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on September 1 that The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been conferred with the status of a deemed university. This momentous announcement was made during an event commemorating the 63rd foundation day of NCERT in the national capital.
• The decision to grant NCERT the esteemed status of a deemed university marks a watershed moment in the evolution of educational institutions in India.
• This move recognizes the exceptional contributions of NCERT to the field of education and underscores its commitment to excellence.
• In addition to the prestigious status conferred upon NCERT, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called for the integration of Bal Bhavans and Bal Vatika with NCERT.
• This visionary step aims to provide a holistic and comprehensive educational experience to children, fostering their overall development.

Gujarat Declaration focuses on global commitments towards indigenous knowledges & traditional medicine

• World Health Organization (WHO) has released the outcome document of first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in form of “Gujarat Declaration”.
• It is worth noting that first global summit on Traditional Medicine was organised by the WHO and co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush, from August 17-18, 2023, at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The action points are based on the evidence, discussions and outcomes presented at the Summit. Deliberation were done on varied topics like Health and well-being of people and the planet, research and evidence, universal health coverage, primary health care and health systems, Data & routine information systems, digital health frontiers, biodiversity and sustainability, human rights, equity and ethics.

 OBITURY

Piloo Reporter, the first among neutral umpires in Tests, dies at 84

• Piloo Reporter, a former international umpire, passed away on September 3 at a Thane hospital, Mumbai. He was 84 years old and had been dealing with cerebral contusions, leading to an extended period of bedridden illness.
• In his long and illustrious career spanning 28 years, Piloo Reporter known for his jovial nature and vigorous style of signaling boundaries, stood in 14 Tests and 22 ODIs. His unique way of signaling boundaries earned him the affectionate nickname “PD” in the cricketing fraternity.
• Reporter’s remarkable skills as an umpire came into the spotlight when he stood in seven matches during the 1992 Cricket World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. His contributions to the game were celebrated not only in India but on the international stage as well.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Lokesh Suji Elected To International Esports Federation Membership Committee For 3-Year Term

• The General Body of the International Esports Federation (IESF) has elected Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and Vice-President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), to its esteemed Membership Committee on a three-year term. This election marks the first time that an Indian has become a part of the membership committee of the International Esports Federation. The IESF is a global Esports organization working towards promoting Esports as a true sport beyond language, race, and culture barriers.
• Its Membership Committee is instrumental in upholding consistency, fairness, and excellence among its members. They enforce the federation's rules, promote integrity, and nurture unity within the Esports community. The committee also carefully assesses new member applications to maintain high standards and advance the global Esports mission.

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

G20 Summit 2023 in Delhi

• The G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023 is an important international event that brings together leaders from member nations and guest nations to discuss various global issues.
• The G20 Summit 2023 is scheduled to take place on September 9th and 10th, spanning two days.
• The summit will be held at the prestigious ‘Bharat Mandappam,’ which is located within the ITPO Convention Centre in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.
• The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries and the European Union. The member countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries collectively represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.

Second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference, 2023 to begin in New Delhi

• The second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference, 2023 will begin today in New Delhi. The conference is the apex-level biannual event facilitating interaction between the Naval Commanders for deliberation and formulation of important policy decisions. During the three-day Conference, being conducted in a Hybrid format, the senior leadership of the Indian Navy will review major operational, materiel, logistics, training, and administrative activities undertaken during the previous six months.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Bajaj Auto's Subsidiary Gains RBI Approval To Operate As An NBFC

• Bajaj Auto’s subsidiary, Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance, has received regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to commence its non-banking financial institution (NBFC) operations. This significant development allows the company to expand its financial services without accepting public deposits.The certificate of
• registration from RBI, permitting Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance to operate as an NBFC, was issued on August 31, 2023, and marked a pivotal moment for the company.
• Bajaj Auto made the formal application to the Reserve Bank of India for an NBFC license on July 9 of the same year, seeking the regulatory green light to diversify its financial operations.

Paytm launches Card Soundbox that enables card payments

• One97 Communications, the parent company of fintech company Paytm, announced on Monday, September 4, the launch of Card Soundbox. "With this, the company empowers merchants to accept both mobile and card payments across all Visa, Mastercard, American Express and RuPay networks through its iconic Soundbox with ‘tap and pay’ that will help merchants scale their business," the company said in its press release.
• Post-announcement, the stock of One97 Communications ended 0.05 per cent lower at Rs 856.80 on the BSE.