Celebrated on September 18.

• Aim : to raise awareness about bamboo and its many uses. Bamboo is a versatile, strong, and eco-friendly plant that can help reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
• The World Bamboo Organization (WBO) is dedicated to promoting the use of bamboo and bamboo products for the sake of the environment and economy.

Current Context : India’s first active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) fermentation unit at Plassra in Nalagarh of Solan district  has commenced large-scale production.

• Set up under the centrally-sponsored production linked incentive (PLI) scheme,
• Objective: To boost domestic API production and reduce dependence on imports.

PRODUCTION:

• Initial Yield: Achieved up to 6.5% yield in the initial months of operation.
• Annual Production Capacity: Planned to produce 400 tonnes of potassium clavulanate API annually.
• Supply: The unit is supplying APIs to states such as Gujarat and Uttarakhand.

ABOUT ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENT (API)

• API is the biologically active component of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that produces the intended effects on the body to treat a condition.
• APIs are produced by processing chemical compounds.

Current Context : On 14th September 2024, during the Hindi Diwas Celebrations Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) was awarded the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar by the Hon’ble Home Minister and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah.

• This award has been given for the best performance in Official Language Hindi, to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, in the category of Ministries / Departments with less than 300 personnel.

ABOUT RAJBHASHA KIRTI AWARD

• It is a prestigious award in India recognizing excellence in the use of Hindi in official communications and administrative work.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar award scheme to encourage the implementation of the official language policy among ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, nationalised banks, among others.

HINDI ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• There is a joint Hindi Advisory Committee of DARPG, DoPT and DoP&PW to monitor the implementation of Official Language Policy in the Ministry.

Current Context : The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 (SHS 2024) campaign’ will be observed from 17th September to 2nd October.

• Theme : ‘Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata’.
• Swachh Bharat Diwas will be celebrated on 2nd October, 2024.
• The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign will be conducted this year by three key pillars emphasizing a ‘whole of society’ approach:
• Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) – Shramdaan Activities: Focused on time-bound transformation of specific target units and overall cleanliness.
• Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari – Public Participation, Awareness & Advocacy: Engaging citizens in cleanliness efforts through various participatory activities.
• Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs : Providing preventive health check-ups and social security coverage for sanitation workers.

Current Context : India Participated in G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Cuiabá, Brazil

• The G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting was held from 12-13 September.
• The discussions focused on multiple critical areas, such as climate-smart agriculture, food processing, trade barriers, and technological collaboration.

ABOUT

• The G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting is a significant event within the G20 framework that focuses on addressing key issues related to agriculture.
• Purpose: The meeting gathers agriculture ministers from G20 member countries to discuss and coordinate policies on agriculture, food security, and rural development.
• Members : G20 comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union.

Current Context : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launch the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) initiative.

• Goal : to build the world’s largest digital registry for stakeholders within the startup ecosystem.
• The platform will offer several key features such as networking and collaboration. providing centralised access to resources, creating personalised identification, enhancing discoverability, and supporting India’s global brand.
• It will serve as a central hub where startups, investors, service providers, and government bodies can come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and accelerate growth.
• Through this initiative, every stakeholder will be assigned a unique BHASKAR ID, ensuring personalised interactions and tailored experiences across the platform.

Current Context : Two Indian Navy women officers Lt Commander Roopa A and Lt Commander Dilna K would be embarking on an arduous blue-water voyage around the world soon.

• The duo will be undertaking the expedition of circumnavigating the globe on board Indian naval sailing vessel (INSV) Tarini.
• Commander Dilna, who hails from Kozhikode of Kerala, was commissioned into the Navy in June 2014.
• Commander Roopa, a native of Pondicherry, joined the Navy in June 2017.
• The two officers have been preparing for the Sagar Parikrama expedition for the last three years
• “Sagar Parikrama would be a gruelling voyage requiring extreme skills, physical fitness and mental alertness.

Observed annually on 17 September

• Aim : to raise global awareness about patient safety and call for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to reduce patient harm.
• Theme : “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”

Current Context : Recently, Kerala government constituted the 7th State Finance Commission, with a two-year tenure.

• The Commission, chaired by former Planning Board member K N Harilal, will comprise the Principal Secretary of Local Self-Government Department and the Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department as members.

ABOUT STATE FINANCE COMMISSION (SFC)

• Article 243Iwas introduced by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
• It empowers the Governorof a state to constitute a Finance Commission every five years.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• It reviews the financial position of the Panchayats and recommends principles for governing.
• Distribution between state and panchayats of net proceeds of state taxes.
• Determination of taxes, duties, tolls and fees which may be assigned to Panchayats Grants-in-aid to Panchayats from State Consolidated Fund.
• Similar provisions are made under Article 243Yfor Municipalities.
• Ensures that a Finance Commission also assesses and recommends financial principles for municipalities.

Current Context : The National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched a series of YouTube channels.

• Objective : to provide high-quality training videos to millions of learners across India’s Industrial Training Institute (ITI) skill ecosystem.
• NIMI’s initiative aligns with India’s National Skill Development Mission and the goals of the New Education Policy (NEP).

ABOUT NATIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA INSTITUTE (NIMI)

• Established in December 1986 by Government of India as a Subordinate Office.
• Registered as a society under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1975.
• Renamed as NIMI in 2003.
• Functioning: Autonomous institution under government of India, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Directorate General of Training (DGT), New Delhi
• Aim : to develop Instructional Materials, e-content, Question Banks, Train media developers and trainers.
  • Enable translation of books into Hindi and other regional languages .