Daily Current Affairs September 10 & 11 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

AU Small Finance Bank and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance enter into strategic partnership

• AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance have announced a strategic partnership to provide a wide range of life insurance products to AU Small Finance Bank’s diverse customer base, addressing their financial security needs.
• The agreement was signed by Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director of AU Small Finance Bank, and Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.
• AU Small Finance Bank aims to leverage technology-based solutions to enhance the customer experience by offering a variety of life insurance products from Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.

Key Highlights :

• Through this partnership, new and existing customers of AU Small Finance Bank can now choose from Bajaj Allianz Life’s retail products, which include term insurance, savings plans, retirement solutions, and investment products.
• The life insurer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, will collaborate closely with the bank to provide seamless service options to customers.
• This includes utilising platforms like WhatsApp and ChatBot on AU digital platforms for addressing customer queries.
• Additionally, well-trained bank staff will be managing the life insurance business to ensure a smooth customer experience.

About AU Small Finance Bank :

• Headquarters : Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
• MD & CEO: Sanjay Agarwal

Bajaj Allianz Life Introduces New Savings Plan – Bajaj Allianz Life ACE

• Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited has launched a new savings plan called “Bajaj Allianz Life ACE.”

About Bajaj Allianz Life ACE :

• Bajaj Allianz Life ACE is a non-linked, participating early-income life insurance plan.
• It offers customers increased flexibility in customizing cash flows to align with their unique financial needs and goals.

Key Features :

• Dynamic Income Options: Customers have the flexibility to choose their preferred income amount, income start year, income period, and even adjust maturity benefits to suit their specific financial objectives.
• This feature ensures that the plan can cater to a wide range of financial requirements.
• Early or Deferred Income Option: Policyholders can decide to begin receiving income right from the beginning of the policy or defer it for up to 5 years.
• This flexibility allows them to tailor the plan based on their financial circumstances and needs.
• Income Tenure: The plan offers flexibility in selecting the income tenure, ranging from a minimum of 10 years up to the age of 100 years.
• Goal Protection Benefit: This option assures that the policyholder’s family will continue to receive income throughout the policy term, even in the unfortunate event of the policyholder’s demise.
• Additional Benefits for Women: Bajaj Allianz Life ACE provides an additional income benefit exclusively designed for women.
• This feature empowers women to plan for their life goals with enhanced financial security and flexibility.

About bajaj allianz life insurance company limited :

• Established : 2001
• Headquarters : Pune, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Tarun Chugh
• Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd., one of India’s leading private life insurers, is a joint venture (JV) between Bajaj Finserv Limited, one of the most diversified non-banking financial institutions in India, and Allianz SE, one of the world’s leading global insurer and asset manager.

IDEMIA, Airtel Payments Bank, and HMD Global Collaborate to Enable Digital Rupee on Feature Phones

• IDEMIA, a global identity technologies and biometric solutions provider, has formed a partnership with Airtel Payments Bank (a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel) and HMD Global (the manufacturer of Nokia Phones) to introduce an offline system for enabling digital rupee payments on feature phones.

What is the Digital rupee?

• Digital rupee is a tokenized digital representation of the Indian fiat currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
• This initiative marks the first attempt to make the CBDC issued by the RBI available on feature phones through an application interface.

Key Highlights of the Partnership :

• The three organisations will collaborate in the coming months to develop an advanced offline payment system that allows feature phone users to use the digital Rupee (CBDC issued by the RBI), a first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry.
• Impact on Nokia Feature Phone Users : Once commercially launched in the near future, this initiative will enable users of Nokia feature phones in India to access the digital Rupee.
• This collaboration aims to provide Nokia feature phone users with the latest technology and aligns with the government’s vision of creating an inclusive digital economy for all.

About IDEMIA :

• Headquarters : Courbevoie, France
• CEO : Pierre Barrial

About Airtel Payments Bank :

• Founded : January 2017.
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• MD & CEO : Anubrata Biswas.

About HMD Global :

• Founded : 1 December 2016
• Headquarters : Espoo, Finland
• Executive Chairman & CEO : Jean-Francois Baril

PhonePe SmartSpeakers Introduces Celebrity Voice Feature with Amitabh Bachchan

• PhonePe has launched a first-of-its-kind celebrity voice feature on its SmartSpeakers in collaboration with the iconic Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan.
• This innovative feature enables PhonePe SmartSpeakers across India to validate customer payments using Amitabh Bachchan’s distinctive voice.
• This industry-first celebrity voice feature is currently available in Hindi and English, with plans to roll this out for other languages in the future.

Key Highlights :

• These SmartSpeakers made their debut a year ago and have since gained significant traction.
• Currently, there are 4 million devices in use by merchant partners spanning across 19,000 postal codes, covering over 90% of the nation.
• The addition of a celebrity voice, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, will enhance the payment experience for both merchants and customers, making it more interactive than ever before.

About PhonePe :

• Founded : 2015
• Headquarters : Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
• CEO : Sameer Nigam

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

NTPC Limited to Inaugurate India’s 1st Green Hydrogen Fueling Station in One Month   

• NTPC Limited, a state-owned power producer, is set to commission India’s 1st inaugural Green Hydrogen fueling station in Ladakh within the coming month.
• Green Hydrogen Production and Usage : The project is designed to generate 80 kilograms per day of exceptionally pure Hydrogen, measuring at 99.97% purity.
• This Hydrogen will undergo compression, storage, and dispensation for various applications, including fueling.
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Ladakh : NTPC intends to introduce 5 Hydrogen fuel cell buses in the Ladakh region.
• An existing NTPC Hydrogen bus will also transition to utilizing hydrogen fuel, transforming it into a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
• The Green Hydrogen production process will rely on solar power infrastructure established in Leh itself, highlighting the use of renewable energy sources.
• NTPC is undertaking another ambitious Hydrogen pilot project in Vindhyachal, aiming to produce 10 tonnes of green methanol per day.
• This project is already in an advanced stage of commissioning and is expected to be fully operational by December 31,2023.

About  NTPC Limited :

• Founded : 7 November 1975
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman & MD : Gurdeep Singh
• NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation, is an Indian central Public Sector Undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Power and the Government of India, who is engaged in the generation of electricity and other activities.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Maharashtra Cabinet Grants Approval for Rs. 837 Crores Cybersecurity Initiative to Combat Escalating Cybercrimes  

• The Maharashtra cabinet has decided to implement a cyber-security project worth Rs 837 crore due to increasing cases of cybercrime in Maharashtra.
• The project features a 24-hour call centre dedicated to citizens, providing them with a convenient avenue to report cybercrimes promptly.

Key Highlights :

• Citizens have multiple options for filing complaints, including through a dedicated mobile app or an online portal, making it more accessible and
• Post-implementation, citizens will have the added convenience of lodging complaints via phone calls, ensuring ease of access for victims.
• The project emphasises the use of advanced cyber technology to thoroughly investigate all reported complaints, enhancing the state’s ability to identify and apprehend cybercriminals.
• The project’s implementation and oversight will be carried out by the Special Inspector General of Police (Cyber), ensuring a focused and efficient approach to tackling cybercrimes.
• The project encompasses critical components like a Command and Control Centre, Technology Assisted Investigation capabilities, a Center of Excellence, a Cloud-Based Data Centre, and a Security Operation Centre, collectively enhancing the state’s cybersecurity capabilities.
• A central objective of this initiative is to create a state-of-the-art citizen-centric platform that streamlines the coordination between complainants and technology, enhancing the reporting and support process.
• The project includes the integration of all cyber police stations located within police commissioner and superintendent offices across Maharashtra.

About Maharashtra :

• Governor: Ramesh Bais
• Chief Minister: Eknath Shinde
• Capital: Mumbai
• National Park: Tadoba National Park, Navegaon National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
• UNESCO Heritage Sites: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, Ajanta Caves, Elephanta Caves, Ellora Caves

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sudarshan Venu Sworn In as Member-Trustee of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams             

• Sudarshan Venu, the Managing Director of Chennai-based TVS Motor Company, has taken the oath as a member-trustee of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board.
• Naga Satyam & Chevireddy Mohith Reddy also took oath.
• The oath was administered to Sudarshan Venu by TTD Joint Executive Officer Veerabrahmam.
• The ceremony took place at Bangaru Vakili, which is located inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Venkateswara temple.
• Sudarshan Venu’s appointment as a member-trustee of the TTD board is noteworthy because he is considered one of the youngest individuals to hold this position in recent decades.

Swaraj Tractors Names MS Dhoni as Brand Ambassador           

• Swaraj Tractors, an Indian indigenous tractor manufacturer, has selected the former Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as its new brand ambassador.
• The official announcement of this partnership took place during the launch event of Swaraj’s latest offering, the “Swaraj Target,” a compact and lightweight tractor model.
• Swaraj Tractors aims to strengthen its commitment to providing innovative and dependable mechanisation solutions to farmers across India through this collaboration with MS Dhoni.

Role of MS Dhoni :

• Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play a central role in a new advertising campaign for Swaraj tractors.
• The campaign will highlight Swaraj tractors’ exceptional features and advantages, which are designed to enhance farmers’ productivity and efficiency.

About Swaraj Tractors :

• Swaraj Tractors is a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Chaired by Mr Anand Mahindra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : MOU & AGREEMENTS

NVIDIA Collaborates with Reliance and Tata Group to Develop AI Infrastructure in India

• United States (US)-based chipmaker NVIDIA has formed strategic partnerships with two of India’s largest conglomerates, Reliance Industries and Tata Group, to establish artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in India and enhance the skill set of the country’s workforce.
• In collaboration with Reliance, NVIDIA will develop India’s own foundational large language model, specifically trained on the country’s diverse languages, catering to generative AI applications for India’s vast population.
• NVIDIA will provide AI supercomputing services and technologies as part of this initiative.

Key Highlights :

• Reliance plans to leverage this AI infrastructure to create AI applications and services for its 450 million Jio customers.
• Additionally, Reliance will offer energy-efficient AI infrastructure to scientists, developers, and startups across India.
• The AI infrastructure will be hosted in AI-ready computing data centers, which will ultimately scale up to 2,000 MW.
• The execution and implementation of this infrastructure will be overseen by Jio.
• In partnership with the Tata Group, NVIDIA aims to establish AI infrastructure to support the local economy and foster AI innovation in India.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), with its workforce of over 6 lakh people, will undergo reskilling in AI.
• Rather than focusing solely on backroom business operations applications, TCS will now develop AI applications for front-office functions.
• NVIDIA will also collaborate with Tata Motors to integrate AI in visualization, encompassing design, styling, engineering, and autonomous vehicle capabilities.

About Nvidia :

• Established : April 5, 1993
• Headquarters : Santa Clara, California, United States
• President & CEO : Jensen Huang

Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus Inks an MoU for Aerospace Teaching and Research

• Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus have entered into a collaboration to strengthen the Indian aviation sector through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• An MoU was signed at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi between Rémi Maillard (President and Managing Director, AIRBUS India and South Asia) and Prof. Manoj Choudhary (Vice-Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya).
• The MoU signing ceremony took place in New Delhi at Rail Bhawan and was attended by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and IT, who also serves as the First Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
• Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board, along with senior officials of the Railway Board, were also present on this occasion.

Purpose of the Partnership :

• This partnership aims to enhance the Indian aviation sector through various means, including:
• Co-development and co-delivery of skilling courses and programs relevant to the aerospace industry for students and working professionals.
• Joint research initiatives.
• Providing industry experiences for faculty.
• Offering internships and placements for students.
• Establishing scholarship programs.

About Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara :

• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara was established through an Act of Parliament in 2022, for creating best in class manpower and talent for the entire transportation and logistics sectors.
• It is a Central University sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, with Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and IT, serving as its First Chancellor.
• GSV is a “first of its kind” university aiming to fulfil the mandate of the National Developmental Plans (PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and National Logistics Policy 2022) across railways, shipping, ports, highways , roads, waterways, and aviation etc.

About Airbus :

• Airbus is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft and is a significant producer of helicopters, defense, and space equipment.
• Also, Airbus and Tata have announced a partnership to design, innovate, manufacture, and develop the C295 aircraft in India, with a facility located in Vadodara, Gujarat.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCE

India Presents PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at Asian Development Bank’s 2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference in Georgia  

• India showcased PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at the ‘2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration through Economic Corridor Development (ECD)’, organised by Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Tbilisi, Georgia.
• The conference took place from September 5th to 7th, 2023.

Participants :

• More than 30 member countries participated, including senior officials from ADB’s Developing Member Countries, representatives from development partner agencies, and regional cooperation organisations.

Indian Delegation Leader :

• The Indian delegation was led by Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary (Logistics) from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Conference Objectives :

• The primary objectives of the conference were twofold :

1. To explore ways to integrate spatial transformation and an area-centric approach with Economic Corridor Development (ECD) & to strengthen regional cooperation through a broader approach.
2. Knowledge sharing on application of the Economic Corridor Development (ECD) framework and operational guidelines, onto investable projects.

Digital Initiatives in Logistics :

• During discussions, the Special Secretary (Logistics) highlighted India’s digital initiatives in the logistics sector.
• These initiatives include the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and Logistics Data Bank (LDB).
• ULIP offers functionalities such as cargo tracking and tracing, authentication of service providers, and digital document generation and exchange.
• These digital measures aim to facilitate trade and improve logistics efficiency.

What is PM GatiShakti ?

• PM GatiShakti was launched in October 2021.
• The Gati Shakti scheme subsumed 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline launched in 2019.
• PM Gatishakti National Master Plan is a Geographic Information System (GIS) data-based digital platform with over 1400 data layers and 50+ tools.
• It provides visual representation of trunk and utility infrastructure, land use, existing structures, soil quality, habitation, tourism sites, forest sensitive areas etc.

About ADB : 

• Established : 1966
• Headquarters : Manila, Philippines
• President : Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership : 68 members, including 49 regional members (countries in Asia and the Pacific) and 19 non-regional members (countries outside the region)

About Ministry of Commerce & Industry :

• Cabinet Minister : Piyush Goyal
• Minister of State : Anupriya Patel, Som Parkash

REC Limited Conducts 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM)           

• REC Limited conducted its 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) via video conferencing.
• The meeting was chaired by Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman & Managing Director, and was attended by all Directors on the Company’s Board.
• Many shareholders also participated in the meeting through video conferencing

Key Highlights :

• Green Project Loan Portfolio Expansion : REC is committed to increase its present loan portfolio of Green Projects to the extent of more than ten times by the year 2030 amounting to ₹ 3 lakh crore.
• In August 2023, REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, successfully raised USD 1.15 billion.
• These funds were raised for a 5-year tenor and are benchmarked to the Overnight SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate), which is the benchmark rate for USD-denominated loans.
• Loan Arrangements : The funds were raised in two tranches from a consortium of 6 banks acting as the Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (MLABs).
• Tranche 1 of USD 505 million was secured from Bank of Baroda, Gujarat International Fintech-City (GIFT City) IFSC Banking Unit (IBU), Axis Bank, GIFT City IBU, and State Bank of India, London Branch on August 3, 2023.
• Tranche 2 of USD 645 million was raised from State Bank of India, London Branch; Bank of India, GIFT City IBU; Bank of India, London Branch; and HSBC, GIFT City IBU on August 31, 2023.
• The commitment from GIFT City IBUs (Gujarat International Fin Tec-City IFSC Banking Units) in August 2023 marked a record, surpassing the previous largest commitment of USD 345 million in December 2021.
• Foreign Currency Term Loan Agreement : REC Limited, the Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, has signed a Foreign Currency Term Loan Agreement for USD 100 Million, with Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank).
• These funds are part of REC’s Market Borrowing Programme of 1.20 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2023-24.
• This is the first term loan being extended by EXIM Bank to REC.
• The loan has been tied up for a 5-year tenor and is benchmarked to SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate), which is the benchmark rate for the loans denominated in USD.

About REC Limited :

• Established : 1969
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman & Managing Director : Vivek Kumar Dewangan
• REC Limited, formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, of which Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) is holding company, which in turn is under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, the Government of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Air Force & Drone Federation of India to co-host Bharat Drone Shakti 2023

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is collaborating with the Drone Federation of India to host ‘Bharat Drone Shakti 2023.’
• The event is scheduled for September 25th and 26th, 2023, and it will take place at the IAF’s airbase in Hindon, located in Ghaziabad where the Indian drone industry shall give live aerial demonstrations.
• ‘Bharat Drone Shakti 2023’ aims to showcase the potential of the Indian drone industry.

About Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 :

• ‘Bharat Drone Shakti 2023’ will present the full potential of the Indian drone industry with an impressive lineup of over 50 live aerial demonstrations.
• The demonstrations will cover a wide range of drone applications, including survey drones, agriculture drones, fire suppression drones, tactical surveillance drones, drone swarms, and counter-drone solutions.

Participation :

• The event will see participation from over 75 drone start-ups and corporate entities from India.
• This indicates a strong interest and involvement of both emerging and established players in the Indian drone industry.

IAF’s Support for Indigenous Drone Development :

• The IAF’s collaboration with the Drone Federation of India demonstrates its support for the indigenous design and development of drones in the country.
• Initiatives like the Meher Baba Swarm Drone competition reflect the IAF’s efforts to tap into India’s homegrown drone capabilities.

About Ministry of Defence :

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ministry of Defence
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

About IAF : 

• Established : 1932
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Air Staff :  Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari

CURRENT AFFAIRS : PERSON IN NEWS

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Becomes the First Recipient of an Indonesian Golden Visa                                           

• OpenAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Altman is the first person to get an Indonesian golden visa as Southeast Asia’s largest economy seeks to draw foreign investors.
• Golden visas are offered in various categories, including those based on capital investment.
• Another category is the “golden visa” for individuals with international renown who can bring benefits to Indonesia.
• Sam Altman’s Golden Visa is valid for a period of 10 years.

Key Highlights :

Benefits of the Golden Visa :

• Holders of the Golden Visa, like Sam Altman, enjoy several privileges, including priority screening at airports across Indonesia.
• The visa provides for longer periods of stay and streamlined entry and exit procedures.

Sam Altman’s Visit to Indonesia :

• Altman, who is known for co-founding OpenAI with Elon Musk, visited Indonesia earlier in the year as part of an extensive tour that also included major cities in Asia such as Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, and

About OpenAI :

• Founded : December 10, 2015
• Headquarters : San Francisco, California, United States
• Chairman & President : Greg Brockman

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Japan Successfully Launches Rocket Carrying Lunar Lander and X-ray Telescope to Investigate Universe’s Origins

• Japan launched a rocket carrying a lunar lander and an X-ray telescope as part of a mission known as “Moon Sniper.”
• The Moon Sniper mission is Japan’s 3rd Moon mission & the budget of the entire mission is $100 million.
• The rocket, named HII-A, was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
• The launch was broadcast live by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Payloads :

• The rocket placed the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) into Earth’s orbit.
• XRISM will measure the composition and speed of intergalactic matter.
• Additionally, there is a lunar lander called the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) onboard.
• XRISM and SLIM are expected to reach the Moon by February 2024.
• JAXA is developing “pinpoint landing technology” to prepare for future lunar probes and landing on other planets.
• Japan’s first lunar exploration mission, Hiten, was launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science on January 24, 1990.
• Japan’s 2nd lunar exploration was Kaguya (Selene), which was launched on September 14, 2007, from the Tanegashima Space Center.
• The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM ,will attempt a soft landing on the Moon.
• If SLIM succeeds in softly landing on the Moon, Japan will become the 5th country to achieve a lunar soft landing, India, which became the 4th country to successfully soft land a spacecraft on the Moon with Chandrayaan-3’s landing on the lunar south pole.

About SLIM :         

• SLIM is a small-scale exploration lander that has not only been designed for pinpoint landings on the lunar surface, but also to demonstrate reductions in the size and the weight of equipment used in Moon landings.
• The objectives of SLIM are the demonstration of accurate landing techniques by a small explorer, investigation of the Moon’s origins, acceleration of the study of the Moon.

Key Highlights :

• JAXA developed XRISM in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and
• Since the ESA has provided the hardware for XRISM and will also give JAXA scientific advice, the space agency will be allocated 8% of the telescope’s available observing time.
• XRISM will observe the most energetic events and objects in the universe, in order to unravel mysteries such as the evolution of the universe and the structure of spacetime.
• The move comes at a time when the world is again turning to the challenge of going to the moon.
• Only 4 nations have successfully landed on the moon, the US, Russia, China and India.
• In Aug 2023, India landed a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole.
• That came just days after Russia failed in its attempt to return to the moon for the first time in nearly a half century.
• A Japanese private company, called ispace, crashed a lander while trying to land on the moon in April, 2023.
• The last NASA human mission to the moon was in 1972, and the focus on sending humans to the moon appeared to wane, with missions being relegated to robots.

About Japan :

• Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida
• Capital: Tokyo
• Currency: Japanese yen

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

DD SPORTS Rebrands as DD SPORTS HD

• Prasar Bharati, the country’s public broadcaster, has rebranded DD Sports as DD Sports HD.
• This addition marks the inclusion of another High-Definition channel in its broadcasting lineup.
• DD Sports HD made its debut by telecasting ongoing Asia Cup cricket matches.
• DD Sports HD is expected to become the preferred choice for sports lovers due to its high-definition content and to enhance the viewing experience for sports enthusiasts.
• DD Sports has formed partnerships with leading sports organizations like the NBA (National Basketball Association) and PGTA (Professional Golf Tour of India) to bring fresh and exciting content to the channel.
• These collaborations enhance the diversity of sports content available.
• With the decision to launch DD Sports HD now, the channel will become a one stop destination for major international sporting events and grass-root transformative events like Khelo India Games, winter games and games for divyang amongst others.

History of DD Sports :

• DD Sports was originally launched on March 18, 1998.
• Initially, it aired sports programs for 6 hours a day, which was later extended to 12 hours in 1999.
• From June 1, 2000, DD Sports became a round-the-clock satellite channel.

About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting :

• Cabinet Minister : Anurag Thakur
• Minister of State : Murugan

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING & INDEX

Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani top the Fortune India Rich List for 2023

• Mukesh Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries (RIL), tops the Fortune India Rich List with a wealth of $99.7 billion.
• Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, secures the 2nd position on the list with a wealth of $63.71 billion.
• The Mistry family of Shapoorji Pallonji Group holds the 3rd position, with a wealth of $34.6 billion.
• The Poonawalla family, owners of Serum Institute, stands 4th with a wealth of $32.9 billion.
• Radhakishan Damani, the stockbroker and founder of D-Mart-branded grocery stores, claims the 5th spot with a wealth of $23.4 billion.
• The Who’s Who of India Inc, including the Shiv Nadar family, Azim Premji, Godrejs, Bajajs, and Kumar Mangalam Birla, have made it to the top 10 rich list.

Wealth Estimation Methodology :

• The magazine states that the wealth estimate of Indian billionaires is based on stock prices as of July 14, 2023, and shareholding as of December 2022.
• The rupee-dollar exchange rate considered is Rs 82.17 to a dollar as of July 14, 2023.
• The Fortune India Rich List ranks entrepreneurs from both listed and unlisted companies based on their wealth.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Renowned cartoonist Ajit Ninan Passed away                                      

• Political cartoonist Ajit Ninan, known globally for his outstanding caricatures, passed away at the age of 68.

About Ajit Ninan :

• Ajit Ninan born in 1955 at Hyderabad, Telangana.
• He was an Indian political cartoonist, best known for drawing the Centrestage series of cartoons in ‘India Today’ magazine and Ninan’s World in ‘The Times of India.’
• He was also known for his celebrated comic strip, ‘Detective Moochhwala’, which featured the eponymous detective and his pet dog, in India Today’s Target magazine in the 1980s.

Awards & Honors :

• Indian Institute of Cartoonists felicitated Mr Ninan with the Barton Life-time achievement award at Indian Cartoon Gallery in Bengaluru in August 2022.

Daily CA on Sep 10 & 11 :

• AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance have announced a strategic partnership to provide a wide range of life insurance products to AU Small Finance Banks diverse customer base, addressing their financial security needs.
• Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited has launched a new savings plan called “Bajaj Allianz Life ACE.”
• IDEMIA, a global identity technologies and biometric solutions provider, has formed a partnership with Airtel Payments Bank (a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel) and HMD Global (the manufacturer of Nokia Phones) to introduce an offline system for enabling digital rupee payments on feature phones.
• PhonePe has launched a first-of-its-kind celebrity voice feature on its SmartSpeakers in collaboration with the iconic Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan.
• NTPC Limited, a state-owned power producer, is set to commission India’s 1st inaugural Green Hydrogen fueling station in Ladakh within the coming month.
• The Maharashtra cabinet has decided to implement a cyber-security project worth Rs 837 crore due to increasing cases of cybercrime in Maharashtra.
• Sudarshan Venu, the Managing Director of Chennai-based TVS Motor Company, has taken the oath as a member-trustee of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board.
• Swaraj Tractors, an Indian indigenous tractor manufacturer, has selected the former Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as its new brand ambassador.
• United States (US)-based chipmaker NVIDIA has formed strategic partnerships with two of India’s largest conglomerates, Reliance Industries and Tata Group, to establish artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in India and enhance the skill set of the country’s workforce.
• Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus have entered into a collaboration to strengthen the Indian aviation sector through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• India showcased PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at the ‘2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration through Economic Corridor Development (ECD)’, organised by Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Tbilisi, Georgia.
• REC Limited conducted its 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) via video conferencing.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is collaborating with the Drone Federation of India to host ‘Bharat Drone Shakti 2023.’
• OpenAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Altman is the first person to get an Indonesian golden visa as Southeast Asia’s largest economy seeks to draw foreign investors.
• Japan launched a rocket carrying a lunar lander and an X-ray telescope as part of a mission known as “Moon Sniper.”
• Prasar Bharati, the country’s public broadcaster, has rebranded DD Sports as DD Sports HD.
• Mukesh Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries (RIL), tops the Fortune India Rich List with a wealth of $99.7 billion.
• Political cartoonist Ajit Ninan, known globally for his outstanding caricatures, passed away at the age of 68.