‘One Nation, One Election’ Recommendations Accepted

• The Union Cabinet on September 19, 2024 accepted the recommendations on Simultaneous Elections (One Nation, One Election – ONOE), chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
• This proposal aims to synchronize state and Lok Sabha elections, allowing voters to cast their votes for both on the same day.
• The committee, formed in September 2023, submitted its report in March 2024. Simultaneous elections were practiced between 1951 and 1967.
• Previous reports, such as the Law Commission's 170th (1999) and the Parliamentary Committee's 79th (2015), explored similar ideas.
• Ram Nath Kovind-led panel consulted political parties and experts, finding broad support for the concept of simultaneous elections in the country.

Bio-Ride Scheme Approved

• The Union Cabinet approved the ₹9197 crore Bio-RIDE scheme on September 19, 2024, merging biotechnology R&D and entrepreneurship programs.
• The scheme aims to drive innovation, support bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India's global position in biotechnology.
•  It combines Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED) with a new element called ‘Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry.’
• The initiative will fund research, product development, and the transition of academic research to industrial applications, aligning with national and global priorities in healthcare, agriculture, clean energy, and sustainability.

8th India Water Week

• The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) hosted the International WASH Conference during the 8th India Water Week in New Delhi from September 17-19, 2024.
• The conference, themed ‘Sustaining Rural Water Supply,’ aimed to share knowledge and innovations to address global WASH challenges.
• The conference emphasized on water disinfection and community involvement. It also covered digital infrastructure for water management.
• The conference also focused on achieving universal rural drinking water access through community participation and behavior change communication.

World Food India 2024

• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries hosted the third edition of World Food India 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from September 19 to 22, 2024.
• This event aim to be the largest gathering for the food processing and related sectors in India.
• The inaugural World Food India took place in 2017, intended to showcase India’s rich culinary heritage and attract investments in its diverse food processing industry.
• The Ministry has focused on directing investments into various sub-segments, including research and development, cold chain solutions, and start-ups, positioning India as a global food hub.
• Key themes include food irradiation for safety, innovations in plant-based proteins, minimizing waste, sustainable packaging, and ensuring food safety from farm to table.

Nadi Utsav 2024

• Nadi Utsav 2024 was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi on September 19, 2024, celebrating the importance of India’s rivers.
• The festival's fifth edition is themed ‘Rivers in Reverse: Making of a Lifeline,’ highlighting the elements of a river and its surrounding culture.
• The first day featured various activities, including a photo exhibition on the Kangsabati River, a unique boat display, and student-created paintings, all centered on river themes.
•  Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, IGNCA Member Secretary, emphasized that Nadi Utsav aims to foster emotions, enthusiasm, reverence, values, and faith toward rivers.

Reusable Low-Cost Vehicle for Bharat

• The Union Cabinet approved the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) on September 19, 2024.
•  It marked a significant advancement towards establishing the Bharatiya Antriksh Station and achieving Indian Crewed Landings on the Moon by 2040.
• The NGLV aims to enhance India's standing in the global space industry by reducing launch costs through the reuse of recovered components and increasing the capacity for heavier payloads.
• It is designed to have three times the current payload capability while costing 1.5 times less than the LVM3.
• The NGLV will feature reusability for economical access to space and modular green propulsion systems, with a maximum payload capacity of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit and a reusable first stage, promoting sustainable space exploration.

Chandrayaan-4 Mission Approved (Space)

• The Union Cabinet approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission on September 19, 2024.
• This mission is aimed at developing and demonstrating technologies for returning safely to Earth after a successful lunar landing.
• This mission will focus on collecting lunar samples for analysis back on Earth, laying the groundwork for future Indian moon landings, which are planned for 2040.
• Key technologies necessary for docking and undocking, safe landing, and the collection and analysis of lunar samples will be tested during this mission.
• The Indian government has set forth an ambitious vision for its space program during the Amrit Kaal, which includes establishing an Indian Space Station (Bhartiya Antriksh Station) by 2035 and achieving an Indian moon landing by 2040.

Chang’e-6 Mission of China Returned with Unique Lunar Soil (Space)

• China's Chang’e-6 mission successfully collected soil samples from the far side of the moon on September 19, 2024.
• It marks a significant advancement in lunar exploration as it is the first time material has been gathered from this less-studied region.
• This mission represents a major technological achievement for China and contributes valuable insights to global lunar research.
• Initial analyses revealed that the samples contain more plagioclase and less olivine than those from the Chang’e-5 mission, indicating a distinct surface composition and geological history for the far side.
• The samples included various rock types, such as basalt and breccia, reflecting diverse volcanic and impact events.
• Unique chemical elements like thorium, uranium, and potassium were also found, differing from previous missions, which may enhance understanding of the moon's formation.
• Chang’e-6 returned nearly 2 kilograms of lunar soil, paving the way for future studies.

200 Elephants to be Culled in Zimbabwe Amid Drought (Environment and Ecology)

• In response to a severe drought, Zimbabwe has decided to cull 200 elephants to help alleviate food shortages as of September 19, 2024.
• This difficult choice arises from the fact that the country's elephant population exceeds what the environment can sustain, creating urgent food needs for its people.
• Zimbabwe is home to over 84,000 elephants, while the land can support only about 45,000.
• The overpopulation causes resource depletion, leading to survival challenges for both wildlife and humans.
• Consequently, elephants frequently venture outside their protected areas, increasing conflicts with people.
•  Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni emphasized in parliament that the overpopulation issue is critical.
• The government is exploring solutions, including those implemented by Namibia, which has also begun culling animals to address similar food shortages.

Exercise ‘AIKYA’ Organized

• Exercise AIKYA was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Army Southern Command in Chennai on September 19, 2024.
• The event aimed to enhance coordination and preparedness among various agencies for disaster response.
• It included simulation exercises and discussions on utilizing technology for disaster management.
• The symposium focuses on disaster prevention and management of tsunamis, landslides, floods, forest fires, cyclones, and other recent disasters.

Jordan become First Leprosy free-nation (Health and Nutrition)

• The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Jordan as the first country globally to eliminate leprosy, marking a crucial achievement in public health on September 19, 2024.
• Jordan has not reported any local cases of leprosy in over 20 years, leading to this declaration following an independent assessment.
• Despite this success, leprosy still affects more than 120 countries, with over 200000 new cases reported annually, underscoring the continued need for global efforts to combat the disease.

Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2024

• Hockey Punjab claimed victory in the 14th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2024 by defeating Uttar Pradesh Hockey in a penalty shootout 4-3 on September 19, 2024.
•  The final, held at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, ended in a 3-3 tie before Punjab won in the penalty shootout.
•  In the third-place match, Hockey Haryana triumphed over Hockey Karnataka 5-0.
• Earlier, Hockey Uttar Pradesh had beaten Karnataka 3-1 to reach the final, while Punjab overcame Haryana in a 7-6 penalty shootout to secure their spot.
• A total of 29 teams competed, divided into eight groups. Group winners progressed to the quarter-finals, with the semi-final winners advancing to the final.

₹5000 Crore for MSME Sector Approved by Andhra Pradesh

• The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on September 19, 2024approved a ₹5000 crore fund, to assist small businesses with the goal of creating 2 million jobs over the next five years.
• This fund aims to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), facilitating their growth and reducing reliance on traditional bank loans.
• The funding will be disbursed through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), making financial assistance more accessible for small businesses.
•  The state government intends to integrate state and central programs to maximize benefits for local industries, promoting economic growth more efficiently.
• Additional Cabinet proposals include renaming Bhogapuram International Airport after freedom fighter Alluri Sitharama Raju.
• Implementing student health tracking via an ‘APAAR ID,’ and establishing a corporation for ex-servicemen with an initial ₹10 crore fund.

Highest Voter Turnout in 35 years for Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir achieved its highest voter turnout in 35 years, with over 61 % participation in the first phase of assembly polls on September 18, 2024.
• District Kishtwar led with a turnout of 80.14 %, followed by Doda at 71.34 %, Ramban at 70.55 %, and Kulgam at 62.46 %.
• Other districts saw lower turnouts, including Anantnag (57.84 %), Shopian (55.96 %), and Pulwama (46.65 %).
•  The Election Commission highlighted strong participation from youth and women, reflecting a commitment to democracy in the region.
• Special measures included webcasting, 32 Central Observers, and 24 Special Polling Stations for Kashmiri migrants, along with home-voting options for the first time.