Nation observes Antyodaya Divas on 25 September
In India, the Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on September 25, to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Antyodaya means “uplifting the poorest of the poor” or “rise of the last person”. The day was declared by the Modi Government on September 25, 2014, and officially celebrated since 2015.
About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:
- Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, born in Mathura in 1916 was one of the key leaders of Bharatiya Jana Sangh from which the BJP later emerged. He was the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1953 to 1968.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya was a humanist, economist, journalist, philosopher and abled statesman.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by his classmate named Baluji Mahashabde
- Deendayal Upadhyaya cleared the civil services examination. He, however, didn’t join the service and became a volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
- In the 1940s, Deendayal Upadhyaya launched ‘Rashtra Dharma’, a monthly journal, from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow for spreading the ideology of Hindutva nationalism. Later, he started ‘Panchjanya’, a weekly magazine, and a daily, ‘Swadesh’.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophical idea of ‘Integral Humanism’ was adopted in 1965 as the official doctrine of the Jan Sangh and later the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya advocated ‘Samyanit Upabhog’ (sustainable consumption). He did not favour the exploitation of Mother Nature practised by the capitalist societies of the West.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya was found dead under mysterious circumstances near the Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar Pradesh in the wee hours of February 11, 1968. Later, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found that he was killed by robbers.
World’s Highest EV Charging Station inaugurated in Himachal Pradesh
The world’s highest electric vehicle charging station has been inaugurated in Kaza village of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh. The electric vehicle charging station is set up at a height of 500 ft. The aim of this initiative is to check vehicular pollution and promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment in the region. India is gaining good momentum in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.
There is a good response for battery-operated small electric vehicles like e-scooter, electric three-wheelers, e-rickshaws, e-carts, and e-bikes in the country. Both battery electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle technologies are complementary to each other and are all set to overtake fossil-run automotive by 2050 in the country.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Himachal Pradesh Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar;
- Himachal Pradesh CM: Jai Ram Thakur.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak launches space start-up Privateer
Apple’s co-creator Steve Wozniak has launched a new space start-up called Privateer Space, bringing potential competition to a field dominated by billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Privateer will be represented at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, scheduled to run from September 14-17 in Hawaii.
The global space economy, which has attracted many top companies such as Tesla and Amazon, involves various activities such as research and development, space tourism and the utilisation of space. Bank of America predicts the space economy will have more than tripled in size by 2030, with a $1.4 trillion market value.
About the Steve Wozniak:
- Mr Wozniak co-founded Apple Computers in 1976 with fellow college dropout Steve Jobs and businessman Ronald Wayne.
- Jobs and Mr Wozniak left Apple in 1985 though they remained shareholders and Jobs later returned to the company.
- In 2002, Mr Wozniak co-founded another company called Wheels of Zeus (WoZ) with Mr Fielding. WoZ worked on global positioning system smart tags and was disbanded in 2006.
Gordon Brown appointed WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing
The WHO announced the appointment of The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing. He is widely credited with preventing a second Great Depression through his stewardship of the 2009 London G20 summit. He mobilized world leaders to commit an additional $1.1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs.
Mr Brown has tirelessly called on wealthy nations as well as the private sector to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, advocating for a concerted global effort — rooted in science and sound economics – to save lives, end the pandemic and restore livelihoods the world over.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- President of the World Health Organisation: Tedros Adhanom.
- Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland.
- WHO founded: 7 April 1948.
The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India by Vijay Gokhale
A book titled “The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India” authored by Vijay Gokhale. In this new book, former foreign secretary of India, Vijay Gokhale, unpacks the dynamics of India-China relations through the prism of six historical and recent events.
The book gives a practitioner’s insight into strategies, tactics, and tools that China uses for diplomatic negotiations. His 1st book is “Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest” was published earlier this month.
A book title “The Fractured Himalaya” authored by Nirupama Rao
A book titled “The Fractured Himalaya: How the Past Shadows the Present in India-China Relations”, authored by Nirupama Rao. The book traces how the origins of the dispute between India and China form part of a living history that shapes their fractious relationship today. Understanding this complex panorama yields lessons for all of us who seek a wider perspective on China and its profile in the Indo-Pacific. Nirupama Rao is a former Foreign Secretary.
India Army to organise ‘Bijoya Sanskritik Mahotsav’ in Kolkata
Indian Army will organize “Bijoya Sanskritik Mahotsav” from 26 to 29 September in Kolkata. This Mahotsav will be observed to mark the golden jubilee of the India-Pak war 1971. The event will be inaugurated by Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, Army Commander, Eastern Command. Various cultural programs including a film screening, theatre plays, musical concerts, and band performances will be conducted during this event. It will be organized as part of the Swarnim Vijay Varsha celebrations to commemorate the golden jubilee of the India-Pak war.
About the India- Pak war 1971:
- The war started on 3 December 1971 and ended on 16 December 1971. It was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan for the Independence of Bangladesh.
- The war started when Pakistan launched airstrikes on 11 Indian airbases. It was perhaps the first time in which India’s all three forces fought in unison.
- The war ended after the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the joint forces of the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini.
- On August 2, 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Shimla Agreement under which the former agreed to release all the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war.
WHO revises air quality norms for first time since 2005
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a tight revision in its air quality guidelines (AQG). This is the first revision in the global air quality by WHO since 2005. In the new guidelines, WHO has lowered the acceptable exposure levels to key pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (PM).
Under the new guidelines:
- WHO has lowered acceptable thresholds for several pollutants, including PM 2.5. Now, PM 2.5 concentrations must remain below 15µg/m³.
- According to the new limits, average annual PM2.5 concentrations should not be higher than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Air pollution kills at least 7 million people prematurely each year. The revised guidelines encourage countries to slash fossil fuel emissions.
- These guidelines are not legally binding on countries. The reduced level of air pollution will improve the health of people.
India Scenario:
- India continues to remain one of the most polluted countries in the world. Air pollution has become the main threat to health in many countries.
- The average concentration of PM2.5 in 2020 in New Delhi was 17 times higher than the recommended levels.
- The pollution level is also higher than the recommended levels in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
Defence ministry places order for 118 Arjun Mk-1A tanks
Ministry of Defence will procure 118 Main Battle Tanks, MBTs Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army. The order was worth Rs 7,523 crore with Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi to sharpen the army’s combat edge. It will support the Make in India initiative in the defence sector and it will help in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
About the Arjun Mk-1A Tank:
- The Main Battle Tank Mk-1A is a new variant of the Arjun Tank. It has been designed to enhance firepower, mobility, and survivability.
- Arjun Tank has been part of the Indian Army for the last 15 years. It has been designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE).
- It will be manufactured at the government’s Heavy Vehicles Factory in Chennai. It can work during day and night conditions and can hit the target in both static and dynamic modes.
