Celebrated on September 22

• Objective : to raising awareness and promoting the conservation of rhinoceros species.
• Initiated by WWF South Africa in 2010.

Current Context : Jangi Thopan Powari Hydro power project of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) will now be executed by state government-owned HP Power Corporation Ltd.

• The project was allotted to SJVNL on November 24, 2018, and the MoU was signed on September 25, 2019.

ABOUT JANGI THOPAN POWARI HYDRO POWER PROJECT

• Location : Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Planned on the Sutlej River
• Capacity: 780 MW
• Electricity Generation: It is expected to generate around 3,524.7 GWh of electricity annually.

Current Context : The Union cabinet approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).

• Aim : to provide top-notch education and training programs in animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics.
• Location: Mumbai
• Partnership: A collaborative project between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and IIT Bombay.
• Courses: The center will offer a range of courses, from long-term degree programs to short-term certification, aimed at skilling individuals in animation, gaming, and VFX.

Current Context : Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

• Total Financial Outlay: 35,000 crore during 15th Finance Commission Cycle upto 2025-26.

ABOUT PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM-AASHA)

• It is an umbrella scheme introduced by the Government of India to ensure that farmers receive a remunerative price for their produce.
• Launched in 2018 
• Aim : to provide price support to farmers, especially for pulses, oilseeds, and copra, and supplement the existing procurement mechanism.
• Implementation: The central nodal agencies like NAFEDand FCI (Food Corporation of India) are responsible for procuring under the PSS.

PM-AASHA includes components :

• Price Support Scheme (PSS)
• Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF)
• Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS)
• Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)

Current Context :  Bengaluru-based space startup Bellatrix Aerospace unveiled Project 200.

• Project 200 is a technology demonstration mission to qualify a new unconventional satellite powered by an innovative propulsion system at around 200 km.
• Developed by Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based startup.
• Aim : to deploy satellites into Ultra-Low Earth Orbits (180-250 km), much lower than typical satellite orbits.
• Focuses on high-resolution Earth observation, telecommunications, and scientific missions.

Current Context :  National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Southern Command of the Indian Army, is organising a two-day national symposium, ‘Exercise AIKYA’, on disaster management.

• Objective: Enhance disaster management preparedness and coordination across southern India.
• Organized by: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with Indian Army Southern Command.
• Location: Held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Focus: Preparedness for disasters such as tsunamis, floods, landslides, and cyclones.

Current Context : Ministry of Jal Shakti organised the 8th India Water Week 2024 (IWW-2024) from 17-21 September 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

• Organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, it focuses on “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management.”
• Aim : to bring together experts, government officials, and stakeholders to discuss sustainable water management solutions through cooperation across sectors.
• Themes & Focus: Focus on water security, climate resilience, integrated water resources management, and groundwater sustainability.
• First organised in
• Seven editions of events have been organized in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Current Context : Ministry Of Ports, Shipping & Waterways appoints Olympic Medals Winner Manu Bhaker As Their New Brand Ambassador.

ABOUT MANU BHAKER

• Birth: February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, India.
• Sport: Sport shooting (10m air pistol and 25m pistol).

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 2 Bronze medal in the 10m air pistol at Paris Olympics 2024.
• Gold medals at the 2018 ISSF World Cup.
• Gold at the 2022 Asian Games.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released India’s mutual evaluation report on combating terror financing and anti-money laundering regime, and placed the country in “regular follow-up” category.

• It gave top rating to India, lauding national efforts to tackle illicit finances.

ABOUT

• FATF is an intergovernmental organisation.
• Founded in 1989
• Objective : to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
• It sets international standards and promotes measures to ensure effective implementation of these standards by member countries.
• Membership: 39 members, including major economies and international organizations like the IMF and the World Bank.
• Headquarter : Paris, France

Current Context : Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled ‘White Revolution 2.0’, a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering women farmers and creating job opportunities.

ABOUT WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0 

Focus Areas:

• Empowering women farmers through increased participation in the dairy sector.
• Enhancing local milk production by improving cattle breeds and dairy practices.
• Strengthening dairy infrastructure by setting up new and upgrading existing district cooperative societies and PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies).
• Boosting dairy exports by improving the quality and quantity of milk and dairy products.

MILK PROCUREMENT GOAL:

• Aims to increase milk procurement by 50% over the next five years, primarily through dairy cooperative societies.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT:

• The plan involves establishing and strengthening 100,000 district cooperative societies and multi-purpose cooperative societies across India.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

• Interest-free cash credit will be provided to dairy farmers using RuPay-Kisan Credit Cards, with micro-ATMs distributed to dairy cooperative societies, enabling easier access to banking services at the farmers’ doorstep.

IMP. FACT 

• First White Revolution or Operation Flood, launched in the 1970s by Dr. Verghese Kurien, which made India the world’s largest milk producer.