1 In Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as the ninth President
In Sri Lanka , Anura Kumara Disanayaka was sworn in as the ninth president . The cabinet of the new government is likely to be sworn in tomorrow. The cabinet is likely to include Harini Amarasuriya, Vijitha Herath and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene has resigned after the defeat of Ranil Wickremesinghe . This was Sri Lanka’s first election after Sri Lanka’s economy deteriorated due to a severe shortage of foreign currency in the year 2022.
2 ‘Missing Ladies’ included in Oscar’s Foreign Film category
The film ‘ Lapata Ladies ‘ has got official entry from India in the Foreign Film category of the 97th Oscar Awards-2025 . Made under the banner of Aamir Khan ‘s production house, this film is directed by Kiran Rao . Ravi Kishan, Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goyal have played lead roles in the film. This film was released in theaters on March 1 this year. 29 films were in the race in the Foreign Film category. Among them were Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Sam Bahadur’, Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’ and Kartik Aryan’s ‘Chandu Champion’. A jury of 13 members selected ‘Lapata Ladies’. Films from many countries will reach the Oscars in the Foreign Film category. Out of these, the Oscar jury will nominate selected films. Nominations will be announced on January 17 next year. The Oscar Award Ceremony will be held on March 2 and the winners will be announced in it. Till now, 3 films Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan were nominated in the Foreign Film category, but none of them got the award.
3 Riya Singha won the title of Miss Universe India 2024
Riya Singha won the title of Miss Universe India 2024. This competition was organized on Sunday, 22 September in Jaipur , the capital of Rajasthan . In this competition held this year, Urvashi Rautela , who was Miss Universe India in 2015 , participated as a judge and she decorated this crown on Riya Singha’s head with her own hands. Riya Singha is a resident of Ahmedabad , Gujarat and is just 19 years old. Her parents’ names are Rita Singha and Brijesh Singha. Currently, Riya is pursuing her studies from SL University of Gujarat. This year the Miss Universe competition will be held in Mexico , in which Riya will represent India. India last won the Miss Universe title in the year 2021 , when Harnaaz Sandhu won this competition.
4 Watching or downloading child pornography is a crime
The Supreme Court on Monday, September 23 said that downloading and watching child pornography is a crime under POCSO and IT Act. A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud , Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra gave the verdict, overruling the decision of the Madras High Court . The Madras High Court had said that if someone downloads and watches such content, it is not a crime, unless the intention is to disseminate it. The Supreme Court said that the court has made a serious mistake in its decision. We dismiss it and send the case back to the Sessions Court. The Sessions Court will look into it afresh. The Supreme Court has given two directions –
- We suggest to the Parliament to amend the POCSO Act and replace the word pornography with Child Sexually Abusive and Exploitative Material. An ordinance can also be brought for this.
- The bench said, we gave this decision on the basis of incidents of harassment and abuse of children. We also kept in mind the role of society in complaining about such cases.
- Earlier, the Kerala High Court had said on September 13, 2023 that if a person is watching obscene photo or video then it is not a crime, but if he is showing it to others then it would be illegal.
- On the basis of this decision, the Madras High Court acquitted an accused on January 11, 2023.
5 Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the Computer Security Incident Response Team – POWER (CSIRT-POWER) facility
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the Computer Security Incident Response Team – POWER (CSIRT-POWER) Facility at Northern Regional Power Committee , Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said that the CSIRT POWER Facility is a significant step in the mission to protect one of the most critical components of our national infrastructure – our power infrastructure . The digital infrastructure of the power sector is facing increasing threats from nation/state sponsored adversaries who have advanced capabilities. The existing sub-regional Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) lack the legal authority, resources and skilled professionals required to effectively deal with cyber security incidents. The ongoing digital transformation of the sector has expanded the attack surface, leading to increased vulnerabilities. Further, the establishment of regional CERTs is required to comply with the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013, which emphasizes the need for central coordination to strengthen cyber security efforts and specialized responses that support decision making.
6 Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh formally inaugurated Sainik School in Jaipur
In line with the Government’s vision to open 100 new Sainik Schools on partnership basis across India, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh formally inaugurated Sainik School, Jaipur , Rajasthan on 23 September 2024. The Ministry of Defence has approved 45 out of these 100 schools in collaboration with State Governments, NGOs and private schools. Out of these, forty (40) schools have already started functioning and Sainik School, Jaipur is one of them. The 100 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode are in addition to the existing 33 Sainik Schools already running under the erstwhile pattern. These new schools will function under the aegis of Sainik School Society and follow its rules and regulations, apart from being affiliated to the respective Board of Education. These new schools will impart Academic Plus curriculum to the students of Sainik School pattern in addition to their regular affiliated board curriculum. In September 2023, Sainik Schools Society, Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shri Bhawani Niketan Education Committee to open a new Sainik School at Shri Bhawani Niketan Public School, Jaipur.
7 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Conference begins in New Delhi
The 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Conference began in New Delhi . The two-day conference is being chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla . Mr Birla is also the President of the organisation. Presiding officers, Speakers, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the legislatures of states and union territories are participating in the conference. The theme of the conference is “ Role of Legislative Bodies in Achieving Sustainable and Inclusive Development ”. The organisation was formed in the year 2004. Currently, it has 31 member branches. These include the Parliament of India and the legislatures of 30 states and union territories. This conference is being held in India for the second time.
8 Chiranjeevi’s name entered in Guinness Book
On 22 September, Megastar Chiranjeevi ‘s name was included in the Guinness World Record . He received this honor for performing 24 thousand dance moves in 537 songs of 156 films in a career of 45 years . Chiranjeevi started his film career in 1979 with the film Pundahirallu . However, the film Mana Voori Pandavulu directed by Bapu was his first release . He started playing lead roles with a hit film like ‘ Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya ‘ released in 1982. The film Khaidi released in 1983 made Chiranjeevi a big superstar overnight. Since then, Chiranjeevi got the tag of Megastar Chiranjeevi. Chiranjeevi started a political party Praja Rajyam Party in Andhra Pradesh in 2008. On 6 February 2011, Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party merged with the Indian National Congress. After this merger, on 28 October 2012, he took oath as Rajya Sabha member and was made Tourism Minister.
9 Ecological Task Force of 128 Infantry Battalion of Rajputana Rifles created a world record by planting more than 5 lakh saplings
The Ecological Task Force of 128 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) of Rajputana Rifles planted more than 5,19,130 saplings on 22 September under the “ Special Plantation Campaign ” in Jaisalmer under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s campaign “ Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam ” and the Territorial Army’s outreach program “ Participation and Responsibility ” . The agency World Book of Records verified the plantation campaign by being present in the field and certified this great achievement. After planting the saplings, the Ecological Task Force also received an award from the World Book of Records.
10 First case of Clade 1B variant of monkeypox reported in India
The first case of the Clade 1B variant of monkeypox has been reported in the country . According to the Health Ministry, a case of this variant was found in a young man who arrived in Kerala from the United Arab Emirates last week . The ministry said that the patient’s condition is stable and is under observation. Monkeypox infection is usually a minor infection, lasting between 2 to 4 weeks. Patients usually recover with better management and care.
11 ‘Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan-Arogya Yojana’ completes six years
On September 23, 2018 , Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the transformational Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Ranchi , Jharkhand . The scheme has democratised access to healthcare, opening the doors of top-class medical facilities to the most underprivileged in the country. The success of Ayushman Bharat is evident not just in numbers but in stories of resilience and recovery from every corner of the country. Be it a farmer in rural Bihar to a patient undergoing life-saving surgery in a top-class hospital in Delhi . Moreover, the government’s recent decision to extend the benefit to all senior citizens above the age of 70 is a commendable step towards addressing the healthcare needs of India’s aging population.
12 Haifa Day
The Indian Army celebrates Haifa Day on September 23 every year to pay tribute to the brave Indian cavalry regiments that helped liberate Haifa in World War I. During World War I 1914-18, the Israeli city of Haifa was captured by Turkish and German forces . The city was liberated by the platoon of Major Dalpat Singh of Jodhpur Lancers with the help of swords and spears. Due to this, the Major has been named Haifa Hero. Haifa Hero Day is also celebrated on September 23 in Israel.