1 PM E-Drive Scheme approved by Cabinet
The PM E-DRIVE scheme has been approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi on 11 September . Under this scheme, the government will spend Rs 10,900 crore to promote electric mobility in the country. The PM E-Drive scheme will support 24.79 lakh e-two-wheelers, 3.16 lakh e-three-wheelers and 14,028 e-buses. The Union Cabinet has approved the PM E-Drive scheme for battery-operated two-wheelers, ambulances, trucks and three-wheelers with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a period of two years. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the scheme aims to promote electric mobility. This investment is different from the PLI scheme for the auto and auto component sector. Under PM E-Drive, 100% support will be given for charging infrastructure at 88,500 sites. Under the PM E-Drive Scheme, Rs 500 crore has been allocated for e-ambulances. Rs 4391 crore has been allocated for procurement of e-buses by State Public Transport Undertakings. This demand will be met by CESL in 9 cities with a population of more than 40 lakhs which include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad. A provision of Rs 500 crore has been made to promote e-trucks.
2 Cabinet approves assistance of Rs 12,461 crore for hydropower projects of 31,350 MW
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power to amend the Scheme of Budgetary Support for the Cost of Enabling Infrastructure Related to Hydro Electric Projects with a total outlay of Rs 12461 crore . The scheme with a cumulative generation capacity of about 31350 MW has a total outlay of Rs 12,461 crore, which will be implemented from the financial year 2024-25 to the financial year 2031-32. This revised scheme will help in the rapid development of hydro electric projects, improve infrastructure in remote and hilly project sites. Along with this, it will provide direct employment to a large number of local people along with indirect employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through transportation, tourism, small-scale business. This scheme will encourage new investments in the hydro power sector and motivate the timely completion of new projects.
3 America will sell high altitude anti-submarine system-Sonobuoy to India
The US has decided to sell India a high altitude anti-submarine system – Sonobuoy worth $52.8 million. This will enhance India’s ability to conduct anti-submarine operations through MH-60R helicopters and will also strengthen India-US strategic and defense relations. The US Department of Defense has informed the US Congress about this deal, but it has not yet been approved by the US Congress . The US Congress notification states that India has requested to buy this anti-submarine system from the US. Sonobuoys are air-launched, expendable, electro-mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to a remote processor.
4 short-range surface-to-air missiles successfully tested
India successfully test fired Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Missile Test Range off Odisha coast . The indigenously developed short range surface to air missile was test fired from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district off Odisha coast . The test was jointly conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy . The test met all required performance parameters. VL-SRSAM is a warship mounted weapon system and is designed to neutralise various aerial threats at close range including maritime targets. The Vertical Launch-Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) is yet to be named but is planned to be deployed in warships to replace Barak-1 .
5 Indian Army contingent leaves Oman for military exercise ‘Al Najah’
The Indian Army contingent left on Thursday for the fifth edition of India-Oman joint military exercise ‘ Al Najah ‘. The exercise will be held from September 13 to 26 at Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman. Exercise ‘Al Najah’ is conducted every two years on a rotation basis between India and Oman since 2015. The last edition of the exercise was held at Mahajan Firing Range in Rajasthan. This joint exercise will strengthen defence cooperation and further enhance bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.
6 Teal Carbon Study in Keoladeo National Park
Recently, India’s first study on ‘ teal carbon ‘ was conducted in Keoladeo National Park (KNP) in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan . The research found an increase in methane emissions , which led to the recommendation to use special biochar to reduce emission levels. It highlighted the importance of wetland conservation in addressing the challenges of climate adaptation and resilience. This pilot project aims to develop nature-based solutions to address climate change challenges. Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in freshwater (non-tidal) wetlands , including vegetation, microbial biomass and dissolved particulate organic matter. Teal carbon is classified based on its role and location in the ecosystem, which differentiates it from black carbon and brown carbon. Unlike black and brown carbon, which are formed from incomplete combustion of organic matter and contribute to climate change, teal carbon focuses on carbon sequestration in wetland ecosystems.
7 Odisha Cabinet approves 10% reservation for former Agniveers in state military services
The Odisha Cabinet on September 12 approved 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in the state military services . Agniveers will get 10% benefit in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts during direct recruitment in the state military services. This reservation will be applicable after they retire. However, former Agniveers will have to fulfill the minimum qualifications prescribed for the posts under the respective recruitment rules. Apart from exemption from physical efficiency test , former Agniveers will get three years relaxation in the upper age limit prescribed for Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts in direct recruitment. Under this, it is proposed to provide adequate opportunities to former Agniveers to get jobs in police, forest, excise, fire brigade or any service. This reservation will be in addition to the reservation applicable to ex-servicemen.
8 RS Sharma appointed non-executive chairman of ONDC
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on September 11 announced the appointment of RS Sharma as the non-executive chairman of ONDC . ONDC or Open Network for Digital Commerce is an initiative launched by the Government of India to improve online shopping in the country. Its aim is to make the digital commerce experience more fair, more convenient and innovative. Sharma has previously been the Director General and Mission Director of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Apart from this, he has served as the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and CEO of the National Health Authority. Now ONDC will be taken to the next stage of development and innovation. Sharma has also been the Chief Secretary in the Jharkhand government.
9 India will participate in the European Hydrogen Week-2024, the event will be held in the month of November
India will participate in the European Hydrogen Week 2024. The event will be held in November this year . This was officially announced on the second day of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen held in New Delhi. The Secretary of the Ministry of Energy has said that India will address the EU’s green rules to boost exports.
10 IBM and Larsen & Toubro Semiconductor Technology sign MoU to jointly develop advanced processors
IBM and Larsen & Toubro Semiconductor Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop advanced processors for edge devices, hybrid cloud systems for sectors such as mobility, industrial, energy and servers .
11 Jodhpur Indian Air Force is conducting one of its biggest war exercises Tarang Shakti-24
The Indian Air Force is conducting one of its largest multi-nation exercise Tarang Shakti-24 in Jodhpur . Along with this, the Air Force is also organizing India Defence Aviation Exhibition IDAX-24 which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh . The exhibition, to be held from 12th to 14th September, will witness the participation of the defence industry with various products and technologies. It will provide an opportunity to friendly foreign countries and Indian visitors to meet and interact with the participants from the Indian aviation industry including Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Defence Research and Development Organisation, a range of private industries and new ventures.
12 The book ‘Treasures of the Gupta Empire’ casts a new light on the history of the Gupta period: Dr. Sanjeev Kumar
A very important book ‘ Treasures of the Gupta Empire ‘ written by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar was launched and a discussion was organized at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts . The program was organized by the Kalanidhi Department Division of IGNCA. During the program, a unique exhibition of rare coins of the Gupta Empire was also organized, which presented the glorious past of that period with liveliness. During the discussion on the book, author Sanjeev Kumar said that this book has been written after four decades of continuous and in-depth research and it will provide an opportunity to see the history of the Gupta Empire from a new perspective.
13 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
The American Association for Cancer Research , the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to cancer research , has recognized the month of September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month . The month is dedicated to raising awareness about this deadly gynecological cancer. Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor that forms in the tissue of the ovary. The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands that produce eggs and female hormones. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow uncontrollably and form tumors.
14 CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury passes away
Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury died on August 12 at the age of 72. He was admitted to AIIMS Delhi on August 19 after suffering from high fever. Sitaram Yechury was born on August 12, 1952 in Chennai. Yechury joined the Students Federation of India (SFI) in 1974. A year later he joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist). After the Emergency, he was elected president of the JNU Students Union thrice during a year (1977-78) . He was the first president of the SFI who was not from Kerala or Bengal. Yechury was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M) in 1984. He left the SFI in 1986. He was then elected to the Politburo at the Fourteenth Congress in 1992. Yechury was elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal in July 2005. He was elected the fifth general secretary of the CPI(M) on 19 April 2015. He was re-elected as the general secretary of the CPI(M) in April 2018. In April 2022, Yechury took over as the general secretary of the CPI(M) for the third time.