Daily Current Affairs 26 September 2023, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

Read the most important current affairs of 26 September 2023. Today Current Affairs covers the headlines on India’s first green hydrogen bus, Nepal-China Agreements, S&P Global Report, ‘Khamree Mo Sikkim’ outreach programme, RBI Imposes Monetary Penalty, AI Startup Anthropic, World Tourism Day 2023.

Top 20 Current Affairs and News Headlines of 26 September 2023

National News

1.India Gets Its First Green Hydrogen-Run Bus That Emits Just Water

• The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) achieved a significant milestone in India’s transition to clean energy by unveiling the nation’s first green hydrogen-powered bus. This groundbreaking initiative marks a crucial step towards reducing the nation’s dependency on fossil fuels while promoting eco-friendly transportation alternatives.
• IOC is leading the charge in harnessing the power of green hydrogen, produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources. This green hydrogen will be utilized to fuel two buses, which are slated for trial runs in the national capital region.
• Hydrogen is hailed as the fuel of the future and holds immense potential in aiding India’s decarbonization efforts. Globally, the demand for hydrogen is expected to surge, with estimates ranging from four to seven times current levels, reaching 500-800 tonnes by 2050. Domestically, India’s demand for hydrogen is projected to quadruple, from the current 6 tonnes to 25-28 tonnes by 2050.

2.Monsoon’s Late Retreat in India: 13th Consecutive Delay

• In a continuation of a concerning trend, the monsoon in India has once again exhibited a delayed withdrawal for the 13th consecutive year. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the southwest monsoon began its retreat on Monday, 25 September, a full eight days behind the usual withdrawal date of September 17.
• Traditionally, the southwest monsoon enters Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It usually starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and completes its withdrawal by October 15. The monsoon season officially concludes on September 30.
• The delayed monsoon retreat holds significant implications for India’s agricultural sector, particularly in northwest India. The monsoon’s withdrawal from this region typically marks the start of the Rabi crop season. Any delay in the retreat extends the rainy season, which can impact crop planning and agricultural production.

3.Maruti Suzuki Partners With Indian Navy For Northeast Outreach Programme

• Maruti Suzuki India, the leading automobile manufacturer in the country, has teamed up with the Indian Navy to create awareness about career opportunities among the youth of Northeastern India through the ‘Khamree Mo Sikkim‘ outreach programme.
• This partnership embodies a collaborative effort aimed at advancing progress and enhancing the well-being of Northeast India. The main goal is to educate and inspire young individuals about the diverse opportunities within the Navy, while also fostering and reinforcing connections with the local communities in the region.
• On the 24th of September 2023, a remarkable expedition was launched from the Indian Navy base in Lonavala. Covering a staggering distance of 6,500 kilometers, this journey is set to span several weeks and involve the participation of 45 Navy officials.

International News

4.Concerns Raised Over Chinese Research Vessel’s Visit to Sri Lanka

• Following India’s lead, the United States has expressed concerns regarding the planned visit of a Chinese research vessel to Sri Lanka in October. The Chinese vessel, named Shi Yan 6, is set to undertake scientific research projects during an 80-day operation in the Indian Ocean, with 13 research teams on board.
• This planned visit follows a series of notable events involving Chinese vessels in Sri Lanka. Last year, a Chinese warship docked at Colombo port, causing tensions between India and Sri Lanka. In August of the same year, Chinese military ship Yuan Wang 5 arrived at Hambantota port, despite strong reservations expressed by India and the U.S. China has consistently maintained that such concerns are unfounded.
• The Chinese research vessel, Shi Yan 6, is part of a geophysical scientific research expedition organized by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will operate in the eastern Indian Ocean for 80 days, conducting 28 scientific research projects spanning more than 12,000 nautical miles.

5.Nepal-China Sign 12 Agreements: A Closer Look at the Visit’s Outcome

• Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, recently concluded his week-long visit to China, which was expected to address critical issues such as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, cross-border energy trade, and past agreements. However, the agreements signed during this visit did not cover these key areas. Instead, they focused on various other aspects of bilateral cooperation.
• The agreements were the result of delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Dahal and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. While some of the expectations and commitments made by the Nepali Prime Minister were not included in the agreements, they may find their way into a joint communiqué.
• The discussions comprehensively reviewed the state of bilateral relations, expressing satisfaction with the close ties between the two nations. The emphasis was on strengthening economic, trade, and people-to-people cooperation.

6.India Allows Export Of 75,000 Tons Of Non-Basmati White Rice To The UAE

• The Government of India has recently made a significant decision to permit the export of 75,000 tons of non-basmati white rice to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This move comes at a time when India had imposed restrictions on the export of non-basmati white rice. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) made this announcement on Monday, signaling a shift in India’s export policies.
• The export of non-basmati white rice to the UAE will be facilitated through the National Cooperatives Exports Limited (NCEL). NCEL plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of India’s export initiatives, and its involvement in this endeavor underscores the government’s commitment to balancing domestic and international demands for essential food commodities.
• While India has temporarily halted non-basmati white rice exports for domestic reasons, it continues to prioritize its commitments to food security in vulnerable countries and neighboring nations. The Indian government remains dedicated to providing the necessary quantity of rice or wheat when requested by food-insecure countries.

Defence News

7.India’s First C-295 Aircraft Formally Introduced Into IAF

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inducted the first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft into the IAF’s arsenal. This landmark event took place in the presence of Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other top military officials in Ghaziabad. The C-295 aircraft represents a significant upgrade for the IAF, offering versatility and modern capabilities for a wide range of missions.
• The new generation C-295, manufactured by Airbus, is a highly versatile tactical transport aircraft designed to meet the evolving needs of modern military operations. This aircraft is tailored for a variety of missions, including troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, signals intelligence, and medical evacuation. Its flexibility and adaptability make it a valuable asset for the Indian Air Force.
• The C-295 aircraft boasts impressive payload capacity, capable of carrying up to nine tonnes of cargo or accommodating as many as 71 troops. This remarkable capacity ensures that the IAF can efficiently transport both personnel and equipment to various locations, enhancing its operational capabilities significantly. Furthermore, the aircraft can cruise at a maximum speed of 260 knots, ensuring rapid response in critical situations.

Economy News

8.S&P Global Ratings Retains India’s Growth Forecast at 6% for Current Fiscal

• S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal year at 6 percent, citing several factors affecting the economic landscape. This announcement comes amid a backdrop of global economic challenges, concerns over subnormal monsoons, and the delayed effects of interest rate hikes.
• Concerns about subnormal monsoons, which can adversely affect agriculture, a critical sector in India, have played a role in the assessment. India’s economy posted robust growth of 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2023, bolstered by strong demand in the services sector and sustained capital expenditure by the government.
• S&P Global Ratings maintains a positive outlook, projecting India’s economy to grow at 6.9 percent in both the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. This demonstrates confidence in India’s economic prospects despite the global headwinds.

Banking News

9.Indian Banks Attracting Increasing Global Investment: S&P Global Report

• S&P Global Market Intelligence has released a report indicating that Indian banks are becoming more appealing to global investors seeking higher returns. Factors such as robust credit growth, improved margins, and stable asset quality have enhanced the outlook for these financial institutions.
• According to S&P Global, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been increasingly investing in Indian banks, with their total holdings reaching ₹8.36 trillion as of June 30, up from ₹7.71 trillion the previous year. This marks a significant growth from ₹6.73 trillion in June 2020.
• Among the preferred choices for FIIs, the top three investees are ICICI Bank Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., and Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. These banks have been particularly appealing to foreign investors, contributing to the growth in FII holdings.

10.RBI Imposes Monetary Penalty On State Bank Of India, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on three prominent state-owned banks, State Bank of India (SBI), Indian Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank, for their non-compliance with various regulatory norms. These penalties serve as a stern reminder of the importance of adherence to banking regulations and directives issued by the RBI.
• The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.30 Crore on the State Bank of India (SBI) for its failure to comply with certain directives issued by the RBI. Specifically, the bank was found to be in violation of the guidelines pertaining to ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions‘ and ‘Guidelines on Management of Intra-Group Transactions and Exposures.’
• Punjab & Sind Bank faced a penalty of ₹1.00 Crore for non-compliance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Indian Bank faced a substantial penalty of ₹1.62 Crore for its non-compliance with various RBI directives, including those related to ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions,’ ‘Reserve Bank of India [Know Your Customer (KYC)] Directions, 2016,’ and ‘Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016.’

Business News

11.Amazon To Invest Up To $4 Billion In AI Startup Anthropic

• E-commerce giant Amazon.com has announced a strategic investment of up to $4 billion in Anthropic, an AI startup, marking a significant move to enhance its presence in generative artificial intelligence.
• In addition to the financial investment, this partnership will have a significant impact on Amazon’s in-house chipmaking efforts. With the collaboration, Anthropic will leverage AWS chips to build and train foundational models for future AI applications. This marks a synergistic approach to advancing both companies’ AI capabilities.
• Anthropic, founded by veterans from OpenAI, aims to create chatbots and AI applications that prioritize safety and reliability while performing tasks such as summarization, search, question-answering, and coding. Notably, Google, a major player in the tech industry, previously invested nearly $400 million in Anthropic, demonstrating the widespread interest in the company’s vision for AI safety.

Important Days News

12.World Tourism Day 2023

• World Tourism Day 2023 is observed on 27 September globally. This day is celebrated every year to focus on promoting tourism in various parts of the world. It was initiated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
• This day is celebrated to promote tourism and understand its importance. World Tourism Day aims to make people understand the joy of exploring the world. The first World Tourism Day was held in 1980.
• This World Tourism Day 2023, the UNWTO, under the theme “Tourism and green investment” highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030.

13.World Environmental Health Day 2023

• Every year on September 26, World Environmental Health Day is celebrated to highlight the intricate relationship between humans and their environment. This annual observance emphasizes the profound impact of our surroundings on our well-being and aims to promote healthier and safer communities worldwide.
• This day has 2 main objectives – Fostering Healthy Communities: Environmental Health endeavors to create communities that are not only safe but also conducive to promoting overall human and environmental well-being. Promoting Human Health: By addressing environmental factors, it contributes significantly to improving human health and ensuring a better quality of life for all.
• The theme for this year’s World Environmental Health Day is “Global Environmental Public Health: Standing up to protect everyone’s Health each and every day” underscores the collective responsibility to safeguard the health of every individual by addressing global environmental challenges consistently.

Ranks and Reports News

14.Moody’s Concerns About India’s Aadhaar Biometric System

• Moody’s Investors Service, a global rating agency based in New York, recently issued a report on “Decentralized Finance and Digital Assets” on September 23, in which it raised concerns about the security and privacy vulnerabilities associated with biometric technologies, particularly India’s Aadhaar program.
• Moody’s expressed doubts regarding the reliability of biometric technologies, specifically in humid climates, citing concerns about the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) administered Aadhaar system. They noted that the Aadhaar system often leads to service denials, particularly for manual laborers operating in hot and humid conditions, which raises questions about the effectiveness of biometric authentication.
• The report also raised concerns about the potential misuse or exploitation of certain categories of digital ID systems, especially those under central or federated control. Moody’s emphasized that these concerns become more critical when sensitive biometric data, such as fingerprints or facial recognition information, is involved.

Appointments News

15.Katrina Kaif named as Uniqlo India’s brand ambassador

• Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has announced its partnership with Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, marking her as the brand’s first ambassador in India. This collaboration is part of Uniqlo’s strategy to expand its presence in the Indian market and promote its Fall-Winter 2023 campaign.
• Katrina Kaif, a prominent figure in the Indian film industry will feature in campaign films, showcasing Uniqlo’s fashion offerings across various media channels, including digital and offline platforms. Katrina Kaif joins the ranks of other global brand ambassadors for Uniqlo, such as tennis legend Roger Federer, who has been representing the brand since 2018. This diverse selection of ambassadors aligns with Uniqlo’s commitment to global appeal.
• The collaboration between Uniqlo and Katrina Kaif is set to last for one year, focusing on promoting the brand’s Fall-Winter 2023 collection. This campaign will span multiple mediums, including print, digital, outdoor advertising, and in-store promotions.

Awards News

16.Waheeda Rehman to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award

• Today on  September 26, 2023, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, announced that the seasoned and accomplished actor, Waheeda Rehman, will be honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award, India’s highest recognition in the world of cinema.
• Waheeda Rehman’s journey in cinema spans over five glorious decades. She has portrayed her roles with finesse and dedication, earning critical acclaim for her exceptional performances. Notably, she was honored with a National Film Award for her portrayal of a clanswoman in “Reshma and Shera.” Additionally, she holds the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, further underscoring her exceptional contributions to Indian culture and cinema.
• As India celebrates her accomplishments, the timing of this award is significant. Parliament’s recent passage of the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam underscores the achievements of women in various fields. Waheeda Rehman’s recognition is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema. Her dedication to philanthropy and the betterment of society after her retirement from films reflects her commitment to the greater good.

Sports News

17.India Women’s Cricket Team Wins Gold Medal By Defeating Sri Lanka

• India emerged victorious against the formidable Sri Lankan team, securing the gold medal with a 19-run victory in a remarkable debut appearance in the Asian Games 2023. This triumph marks a significant milestone for India, who had chosen not to participate in the two previous editions of the continental Games that included cricket as a sport.
• India’s path to gold began with their impressive batting performance. After winning the toss, they chose to bat first and managed to reach a total of 116-7 in their allotted 20 overs. The key partnership of Smriti Mandhana, who contributed with 46 runs, and Jemimah Rodrigues, who added 42, played a pivotal role in setting up a competitive target for Sri Lanka.
• In the bronze medal match, Bangladesh emerged victorious by restricting Pakistan to a meager total of 64-9. They then successfully chased down their target of 65 runs in 18.2 overs, securing the bronze medal. Pakistan, who had previously won gold in the Asian Games cricket competition, returned home empty-handed, pointing to their inability to set challenging scores as a significant contributor to their disappointing showing.

18.Asian Games 2023, India wins gold after 41 years in Horse Riding

• India clinched the gold medal in dressage at the Asian Games 2023, marking a historic moment for the nation. The Indian equestrian team, consisting of Anush Agarwal, Hriday Vipul Kheda, Sudipati Hazel, and Divyakriti Singh, achieved this victory with a stellar score of 209.205. This triumph comes after a 41-year-long wait for India, as the country had previously won gold in horse riding during its debut appearance at the Asian Games in 1982.
• Since their remarkable debut, India has steadily made its presence felt in equestrian events at the Asian Games. The country has accumulated a total of 15 medals over the years, comprising four golds, four silvers, and seven bronzes.
• In the previous edition of the Asian Games held in Jakarta, the Indian equestrian team, featuring Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, Jitender Singh, and Fouaad Mirza, secured a silver medal in the team event. Fouaad Mirza, an exceptional equestrian talent, also claimed a silver medal in the individual event, further cementing India’s position among the equestrian elites in Asia.

Science & Technology News

19.Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram, Rover Pragyan gives No Signals

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has faced a setback in its Chandrayaan-3 mission as they strive to re-establish communication with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover on the lunar surface.
• Chandrayaan-3 was designed to operate for one lunar daylight period, which comprises approximately 14 Earth days. During this time, the lander, rover and payloads were set to conduct a series of experiments and studies on the Moon’s south pole. This region holds great scientific significance and ISRO had high hopes for the mission’s success.
• The lunar night poses extreme challenges for the lander and rover. The temperature on the lunar surface plummets to as low as 200 degrees Celsius when the sun sets, subjecting the equipment to frigid conditions. These harsh temperatures can be detrimental to the systems onboard.

20.The Next Pandemic: Disease X Looms as a Potential Global Threat

• Health experts from around the world are sounding the alarm about a potential global pandemic referred to as “Disease X,” which could surpass the lethality of COVID-19 and claim over 50 million lives. They warn that COVID-19 might be just a precursor to more devastating pandemics in the future.
• Dame Kate Bingham, who chaired the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, issued a grim warning about the severity of Disease X. She emphasized that the world has been fortunate that COVID-19 was not more lethal and cautioned that the next pandemic could be exponentially more deadly.
• In response to the threat of Disease X, UK scientists have initiated vaccine development efforts targeting this unidentified but potentially deadly pathogen. More than 200 scientists are involved in this research, conducted at the high-security Porton Down laboratory complex in Wiltshire.

Important Current Affairs of 26 September 2023

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