Current Affairs

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff. He will take over from Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on the 30 September 2024.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1984, Mr. Singh has served for nearly 40 years in various roles. He is a graduate 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 hours of flying experience on different aircraft.

Anurag Garg, IPS has become the new Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), taking over from Anish Dayal Singh, who held the position temporarily after S N Pradhan’s retirement in August. Garg is a 1993 batch IPS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre.

He previously served as Additional Director General in the Border Security Force (BSF) and was promoted to DGP in Himachal Pradesh police. Garg, originally from Uttar Pradesh, holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi and a PG Diploma in Public Policy. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a three-day visit to the United States on 21 September. He will attend the 4th annual Quad leaders’ Summit in Delaware, where discussions will cover topics like climate change and emerging technologies. Modi will also hold a meeting with US President Joe Biden to strengthen India-US relations.

On 22 September, Modi will visit New York, meet with the Indian community, and hold talks with business leaders about collaboration in areas like Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.

On the final day, he will address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN, focusing on global cooperation for a better future.

The 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 2024’ conducted from 9 to 22 September 2024, at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. Women soldiers from both India and the US played pivotal roles in every phase of the exercise in Yudh Abhyas 2024.

600 Indian Army personnel from the RAJPUT Regiment and a similar-sized U.S. contingent from the 1-24 Battalion of the 11th Airborne Division, Alaska, were participated.

The main goal is to improve joint military capabilities, focusing on counterterrorism operations in semi-desert environments. This year’s exercise has expanded in terms of personnel and advanced equipment, reflecting growing operational complexity. It strengthens military ties between India and the USA, aligning with India’s strategy of multi-alignment while maintaining autonomy.

World Food India 2024, a four-day global event, began on September 19, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event, organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), brings together over 90 countries, 26 Indian states and Union Territories, and 18 Central Ministries. It focuses on innovation, technology, and sustainability in the food processing sector.

Key features include exhibitions, knowledge sessions, and networking opportunities (G2B and B2B meetings). Special events like the Global Food Regulators Summit and a CEO roundtable are part of the agenda. Japan is the partner country, while Vietnam and Iran are focus countries.

The 8th India Water Week is being held from September 17 to 20, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the event on September 17, 2024.

Organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the event focuses on the theme “Partnership and cooperation for inclusive water development and management.” The event includes seminars, exhibitions, and thematic sessions to promote best practices in water management across India.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a partner, showcasing successful water management practices from high-performing Panchayats. The platform facilitates discussions on strategies for conservation, preservation, and optimal use of water resources.

Exercise AIKYA is an integrated disaster management symposium and table-top exercise organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian Army, in Chennai from September 18, 2024. The primary objective is to bring together senior officers from the Central government, six southern states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry), and various disaster management stakeholders to discuss contemporary disaster issues and simulate emergency scenarios.

Key topics include:

• Tsunamis, landslides, floods, forest fires, and cyclones.
• Lessons from the 2023-24 disaster relief operations.
• The role of technology in disaster management.
• Economic costs of disasters and vulnerabilities in southern states.

Participants also include officials from relevant Central Ministries and disaster management agencies like the India Meteorological Department and National Remote Sensing Centre.

The government has authorized the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to conduct Aadhaar authentication voluntarily for candidates’ identity verification during various stages of the examination process.

The Department of Personnel and Training has approved SSC to perform Aadhaar authentication at the time of candidates’ registration on the One Time Registration portal and during different stages of the recruitment process.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel mandates that SSC must follow all relevant provisions, rules, and regulations set by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

This step has been taken in response to several cases of fraud, malpractices, and unfair means employed by candidates to clear competitive exams.

India’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, also known as the Vande Metro, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 16, 2024. This service connects Ahmedabad and Bhuj, covering a distance of 360 kilometers in approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes. The train operates at a top speed of 110 km/h and stops at nine stations along the route.

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is designed to offer a comfortable and efficient travel experience. It features 12 air-conditioned coaches with cushioned seating, phone charging stations, CCTV, automatic sliding doors, and panoramic windows. The train can accommodate up to 2,058 standing passengers and 1,150 seated passengers.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed preliminary trials of the Indian Light Tank, Zorawar, which demonstrated excellent performance in high-altitude and desert terrain.

The tank’s firing accuracy was also tested and met all objectives. Developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Zorawar’s creation involved contributions from several Indian industries, including MSMEs, highlighting India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.

Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on 13 September that the name symbolises victory in the freedom struggle. The decision was made to remove colonial influences.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a significant place in India’s freedom struggle and history. The islands were once the naval base of the Chola Empire and are now crucial for strategic development.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first unfurled the Indian flag (Tiranga) here. The islands also house the cellular jail where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters were imprisoned.