India to Host World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025

• The Indian government will host the first-ever World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) from February 5 to 9, 2025, as announced on September 21, 2024.
• This summit aims to boost India’s media and entertainment industry and enhance its global presence.
•  It will cover the entire spectrum of media and entertainment, encouraging dialogue, innovation, and trade partnerships among industry leaders.
• Key discussions will address trends, challenges, and opportunities, particularly in light of new technologies transforming the sector.
•  Special attention will be given to the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sectors, which are rapidly gaining global recognition.
•  To promote creativity and preserve classical traditions, several competitions, including Prasar Bharati’s “Battle of the Bands” and “Symphony of India,” will engage creators across the country before the summit.

National Achievement Survey 2024

• The National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024 is set for December 4, 2024, to evaluate the learning outcomes of school students in India, as announced on September 21, 2024.
• This year, the survey will assess approximately five million students from Classes 3, 6, and 9, an increase from 3.7 million in the 2021 survey.
•  It will cover 792 districts across 36 States and Union Territories. The survey will be conducted in 26 languages, including six new ones alongside the 20 previously used

1. Kashmiri
2. Sanskrit
3. Sindhi
4. Santhali
5. Maithili
6. Dogri

• Initiated in 2001 by the NCERT, NAS is conducted every three years, evaluating student performance in subjects like math, science, and language while also considering social and economic factors affecting education.
• It is one of India’s largest educational surveys, including both urban and rural students.

White Revolution 2.0 Introduced

• Union Minister Amit Shah on September 21, 2024 announced “White Revolution 2.0” to enhance India's dairy sector, building on the success of Operation Flood.
• Initiated in 1970, which transformed the industry through cooperative societies and made India a leading milk producer.
• The main objective of White Revolution 2.0 is to increase milk collection by 50% over the next five years.
• It aims to raise daily procurement from 660 lakh kg to 1007 lakh kg by 2028-29.
• This initiative will improve market access for dairy farmers by expanding the cooperative network, which currently consists of around 1.7 lakh societies covering 30% of villages and handling 10% of national milk production.

Quad Initiatives Announced

• Quad leaders announced various initiatives to address the development needs of the Indo-Pacific and the global community on September 21, 2024.
• Among these initiatives is the "Quad Cancer Moonshot," aimed at fighting cervical cancer, and the "Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific" (MAITRI), designed to enhance maritime domain awareness.
• They also introduced the inaugural "Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission" for improved maritime safety and the "Quad Ports of the Future Partnership" for sustainable port infrastructure development.
• Additionally, they unveiled the "Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure" and a memorandum to strengthen semiconductor supply chains.
• India proposed a space-based web portal for Mauritius and a new Quad STEM Fellowship sub-category for Indo-Pacific students pursuing engineering degrees.

100 Days Target on Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (Environment and Ecology)

• The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change met its 100-day target for the integrated development of wildlife habitats on September 21, 2024.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Wildlife Habitat Development Scheme, with a budget exceeding ₹2600 crore.
•  This scheme encompasses key initiatives like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and the overall development of wildlife habitats.
• It is expected to generate over 50 lakh mandays of livelihood through direct involvement.
• The scheme will benefit 55 tiger reserves, 33 elephant reserves, and 718 protected areas and their zones.
•  The government's commitment to conserving tigers and wildlife is reinforced through this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, promoting the harmonious growth of both economy and ecology.

Exercise Eastern Bridge-7 Concluded (Defence)

• The Indian Air Force successfully concluded Exercise Eastern Bridge-7 with the Royal Air Force of Oman in Masirah, Oman on September 21, 2024.
• The exercise involved various training missions, with MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft from India, and F-16 and Hawk jets from Oman taking part.
• The Defence Ministry highlighted that the exercise reflects India and Oman’s commitment to regional peace and security.
•  It also demonstrated the capability of both air forces to operate jointly in different scenarios, improving their readiness to address emerging security challenges.

Nazira Banoo

• Nazira Banoo won a gold medal in the individual Poomsae under-30 category at the 1st Khelo India Women’s Taekwondo League Phase 1, in Vadodara, Gujarat, on September 21, 2024.
• The event was organized by the Taekwondo Federation of India in partnership with Khelo India and saw participants from various states and union territories.
• Nazira Banoo’s outstanding performance secured her a spot in the Khelo India Women’s League Nationals Phase-III, which will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Gulzar Hussain Munshi, president of the Ladakh Taekwondo Association, praised her success and expressed pride in her achievement at the national level.

Nikhat Zareen

• Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen officially took charge as Deputy Superintendent of Police after submitting her joining report to Director General of Police Jitender on September 21, 2024.
• Nikhat’s career highlights include winning a gold medal at the 2022 Women's Boxing World Championships in Istanbul.
• She also won another gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham during her debut at the event.
•  She also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, marking her first appearance at the continental competition.

Amar Preet Singh

• Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, currently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff on September 21, 2024.
• He will be succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on September 30, 2024.
• Commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1984, Amar Preet Singh has had a distinguished career of nearly 40 years.
• An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, he is also a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, with over 5,000 flying hours on both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

Jasprit Bumrah

• In a significant milestone for Indian cricket, Jasprit Bumrah has become the 10th Indian bowler to take 400 international wickets as of September 21, 2024.
• He achieved this landmark during the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai, reinforcing his reputation as one of India's top fast bowlers.
• Jasprit Bumrah's overall career statistics include 196 matches played, with a total of 401 wickets taken, and an impressive bowling average of 21.01.
• His best bowling figures stand at 6 wickets for 19 runs, showcasing his effectiveness and skill on the field.

Dhruvi Patel

• Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information System student from the USA, was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2024 on September 21, 2024.
• This beauty pageant attracts participants from India as well as members of the Indian diaspora living abroad.
• The event is organized by the India Festival Committee (IFC), which was established and is led by Dharmatma Saran in New York City.
•  In this year’s competition, Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname earned the title of first runner-up, while Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands was named the second runner-up.
•  The pageant showcases the talent and beauty of individuals representing Indian culture from around the world, fostering a sense of community among the diaspora.

FIDE 100 Awards to Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar

• Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar were honoured with the best male and female player awards at the FIDE 100 Awards ceremony in Hungary on September 21, 2024.
• This event marked the centenary of the International Chess Federation, celebrating individuals and organizations that have greatly contributed to chess.
•  Judit Polgar, regarded as the strongest female chess player ever, became a Grandmaster at 15, breaking Bobby Fischer’s record, and was the youngest to enter the FIDE top 100 at age 12.
• Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian chess grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion, holds the highest-ever rating of 2882 and has been ranked No. 1 in the world since 2011.

First Place in State Food Safety Index to Kerala

•  Kerala has once again achieved the top position in the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024, marking its second consecutive year at the forefront as of September 21, 2024.
• The announcement was made during the inaugural session of the FSSAI Global Food Regulators Summit 2024.
•  The SFSI is an annual evaluation conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), initiated in 2018-19 to foster a competitive and positive shift in the country's food safety landscape.
•  The index aims to ensure that citizens have access to safe and nutritious food, contributing to the overall improvement of food safety standards in India.

19th Divya Kala Mela in Visakhapatnam

• The 19th Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated in Visakhapatnam on September 21, 2024, featuring products from 100 Divyang artisans representing 20 states.
• This event aims to promote financial independence and inclusion for Divyang entrepreneurs through concessional loans and CSR-supported assistive devices.
•  A total of ₹40 lakh in concessional loans was provided to 10 beneficiaries under NDFDC schemes, along with the distribution of assistive devices backed by CSR partners such as HPCL, GAIL India, and IOCL.
• The fair highlighted vibrant offerings, including handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery, and packaged foods, supporting the “Vocal for Local” initiative.

Clean the Beach Campaign Launched in Mumbai

• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav in celebration of International Coastal Clean-up Day, participating in a beach cleanup event at Juhu, Mumbai on September 21, 2024.
• The Clean the Beach Campaign was initiated by the Ministry on June 5, 2018, during World Environment Day.
• Its primary goal is to motivate citizens to remove man-made debris, such as plastic bottles, cigarette butts, and glass from coastal areas, while raising awareness about the importance of preserving oceans and waterways.
• This initiative encourages individuals to engage in beach cleanups, highlights the significance of protecting marine environments, and seeks to tackle the growing problem of marine litter.