Conference on Spectrum of Literacy

• The Ministry of Education hosted the virtual "Spectrum of Literacy" conference from CIET, NCERT, New Delhi, chaired by Sanjay Kumar on September 7, 2024.
• Sanjay Kumar highlighted how literacy now includes foundational skills like digital, financial, and legal literacy, essential for navigating life.
• He emphasized the ULLAS framework to bridge literacy gaps between rural-urban areas and genders.
• The theme, "Promoting Literacy Through Multilingualism," aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which stresses mother-tongue education.
• The event featured sessions on Indian literacy perspectives, chaired by Amarendra P. Behera, and global literacy perspectives.

India’s Forex Reserve Hit Record High

• India’s foreign exchange reserves hit a record high of $683.987 billion, marking an increase of $2.299 billion within a week as of September 7, 2024.
• This follows a previous record of $681.688 billion. In 2024, reserves will surge by over $60 billion, a significant improvement compared to a $71 billion decline in 2022.
• The reserves grew by approximately $58 billion in 2023. They include foreign currency assets (FCA), now at $599.037 billion after rising by $1.485 billion, and gold reserves, which increased by $862 million to $61.859 billion.
• These reserves provide a crucial buffer against global financial instability and are adequate to cover about one year of India’s projected imports.

First Bio-Hydrogen Project of India (Environment and Ecology)

• ‘Gensol Engineering’ and ‘Matrix Gas & Renewables’ were awarded a ₹164 crore contract to develop India’s first bio-hydrogen project on September 7, 2024.
• Aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the project will convert 25 tonnes of bio-waste daily into 1 tonne of green hydrogen using advanced gasification technology (GH2-PREGS) over 18 months.
• Bio-hydrogen, derived from organic materials like agricultural waste, is a cleaner alternative to traditional hydrogen made from fossil fuels.
•  India, with 380 million tonnes of annual agricultural waste, has great potential for bio-hydrogen production, which can reduce emissions in industries like steel and cement.
• Methods such as biophotolysis and dark fermentation are used to produce bio-hydrogen.

New Jumping Spider Species (Environment and Ecology)

• A new species of jumping spider, Carrhotus piperus, was discovered in the lower Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu, on September 7, 2024.
•  This find brings the total number of Carrhotus species in India to 10, out of 37 worldwide.
• The spider, found on black pepper (Piper nigrum) plants during a 2016 survey in Dindigul, shows a close relationship with the plant, living two m above the ground.
•  Researchers John Caleb T.D. and M. Sampathkumar described the spider’s unique traits, including a prolateral bump and a beak-shaped embolus, linking it to the Carrhotus genus.
• The discovery, published in the Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics, highlights India’s rich biodiversity.

One of the Italian Cities Completely Banned Cricket

• The Italian town of Monfalcone implemented a ban on playing cricket within its limits and imposed fines of up to €100 for violators on September 7, 2024.
• This measure is part of an anti-immigrant initiative by the town’s mayor, Anna Maria Cisint, who deems cricket, and the Bangladeshi immigrants who play it as foreign and incompatible with local culture.
• With a population of about 30000, one-third of whom are foreigners, Monfalcone's culture has been influenced by Bangladeshi Muslims who came in the late 1990s to work at a shipyard.
• Mayor Anna Maria Cisint has criticized these immigrants, claiming they contribute nothing to the community and should play cricket elsewhere.
• She is facing death threats and is under 24-hour police protection due to her controversial views.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema

• Hokato Hotozhe Sema from India won the bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on September 7, 2024.
• At 40 years old and making his Paralympic debut, Hokato Hotozhe Sema achieved this with a personal best throw of 14.65 m on his fourth attempt.
• This accomplishment highlights his dedication and years of training. The F57 class is for para-athletes with limited leg movement who perform seated throws.
• Sema's progress in para-athletics has been notable: he finished seventh in his World Championships debut in 2023 and fourth in 2024, and he won a bronze at the Asian Para Games last year with a throw of 13.94 m.

Nikita

• Nikita won the silver medal in the women’s 62 kg freestyle category at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on September 6, 2024.
• Nikita had previously earned a gold medal at the U20 Asian Championships last year.
• Neha secured the bronze medal in the women’s 57 kg freestyle division, defeating Hungarian wrestler Gerda Terek 10-8. Neha also won gold in the U17 World Championships last month.
• Additionally, Jyoti Berwal achieved gold in the women’s 76 kg event. Overall, India has won 5 medals at the U20 World Wrestling Championships 2024, including 1 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey

• Tuhin Kanta Pandey was appointed as India’s new Finance Secretary, succeeding TV Somanathan, who was promoted to Cabinet Secretary on September 7, 2024.
• Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987-batch officer, previously served as Secretary of DIPAM, where he played a key role in managing major disinvestment projects, including the privatization of Air India.
• His extensive experience in public asset management and disinvestment strategies will be valuable in his new position.

Arun Goel

• Arun Goel was appointed as India’s new Ambassador to Croatia, succeeding Raj Kumar Srivastava on September 7, 2024.
• Arun Goel, known for his extensive contributions to various government sectors, took voluntary retirement prior to this role and previously served as Election Commissioner.
• His academic background includes a Postgraduate degree in Development Economics from Churchill College, University of Cambridge, and an M.Sc. in Mathematics.

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award

• The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas) was celebrated in Jaipur, organized by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board on September 7, 2024.
• The event showcased improvements in air quality across 131 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
• Thanks to targeted efforts, 95 cities experienced reduced pollution levels, with 51 cities achieving over a 20% decrease in PM10 levels from the 2017-18 baseline, and 21 cities reaching a 40% reduction.
• The Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards honored the top-performing NCAP cities in 3 categories:

1. Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra (Category-1);
2. Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi (Category-2);
3. Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh (Category-3).

• Municipal Commissioners received cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.

India’s First Silicon Carbide Facility Launched in Odisha

• Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi initiated the construction of India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar, with a ₹620 crore investment on September 7, 2024.
• This facility will position Odisha as a key player in the global power electronics market and aims to establish the state as a semiconductor hub.
• The project will generate over 500 jobs, especially in R&D and factory operations, benefiting local youth by enhancing their technical skills.
• RIR Power Electronics is partnering with IIT Bhubaneswar for research and technical support.
• This facility supports India’s goal of self-reliance in semiconductor production, serving sectors like defense, energy, and transportation globally.

Cyber Security Policy 2.0 of Tamil Nadu Unveiled

• The Tamil Nadu Government launched Cyber Security Policy 2.0, updating the previous 2020 policy on September 7, 2024.
• The new policy sets guidelines to safeguard the government's digital infrastructure, ensuring protection against cyber threats and smooth operation of IT systems.
•  It applies to all state departments and public sector units, as well as third-party organizations working with the government.
•  Key security measures include using digital signatures, securing emails and passwords, creating data backup and recovery plans, and implementing a social media policy.
•  Regular security audits will be conducted to identify vulnerabilities.
• Departments must appoint officials to collaborate with the Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and provide annual cyber incident management training to staff.

2 Super Speciality Hospitals Inaugurated in Bihar

• Union Health Minister JP Nadda inaugurated 2 super-speciality government hospitals in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur, Bihar, each costing ₹350 crore with 210 beds on September 7, 2024.
• JP Nadda highlighted advancements in healthcare, emphasizing improvements in technology, infrastructure, and medical institutions.
• He noted an 88% increase in undergraduate medical seats under the NDA government and the growth in medical colleges, now at 731 from 287.
• He praised Bihar's progress towards becoming a medical hub under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leadership.
• Bihar now has 35 medical colleges, with districts like Siwan, Samastipur, and Purnea getting new institutions.
• He also reviewed the ongoing development of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and visited the AIIMS Darbhanga site, urging faster construction.

Health Insurance of ₹5 Lakh for Lawyers Approved by Jharkhand

• The Jharkhand government on September 7, 2024 announced a medical insurance scheme of ₹5 lakh for lawyers in the state, benefiting approximately 30000 legal professionals.
• Additionally, the Cabinet approved a proposal to raise the monthly pension for advocates aged 65 and above from ₹7000 to ₹14000.
•  It also sanctioned a stipend of ₹5000 per month for newly enrolled advocates.
• Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan highlighted that Jharkhand is pioneering this initiative, setting a precedent for advocate welfare in India.