1) International Equal Pay Day celebrates on 18 September
•International Equal Pay Day, celebrated on 18 September, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. The symbolic day aims at highlighting issues related to the gender pay gap and raising worldwide awareness. The main aim of the event is to end the history of gender discrimination that women are generally subjected to by getting paid less than their male counterparts.
2) World Bamboo Day 2022 observed on 18th September
•World Bamboo Day 2022 is observed on September 18 in order to raise awareness about the conservation of this extremely useful plant. Conceptualised by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO), this day also promotes the bamboo industry by highlighting its concerns. Bamboo wood has long been used for various purposes in countries around the globe, especially in the east and southeast Asia. Bamboo grows on its and doesn’t require to be replanted, making it easily available.
3) Andaman and Nicobar Islands become India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh
•Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh. With this accomplishment, all villages on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have received the Har Ghar Jal certification and have been verified as ODF plus open defecation free. Safe and secure drinking water supply and its management is a crucial aspect of the Sujal and Swachh.
There are namely three important components of Sujal and Swachh state:
(i) safe and secure drinking water supply and management;
(ii) ODF Plus: ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) and
(iii) cross-cutting interventions like convergence, IEC, action planning, etc
4) India-Russia Relations: From History To Contemporary Times
•India has remained a reliable strategic partner of Russia traditionally and remembers the help Moscow extended to India in its toughest times in the past. The development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Indo-Russian ties enjoy enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationships including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture.
5) Vinod Aggarwal elected as new President of SIAM
•Auto industry body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has elected Vinod Aggarwal as its new president for 2022-23. Aggarwal, the MD and CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, succeeds Kenichi Ayukawa, the executive vice-chairman of Maruti Suzuki India. The SIAM also elected Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles managing director Shailesh Chandra as the vice-president, Satyakam Arya; and CEO & MD of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles was elected as the treasurer.
6) India’s CAD Likely to Remain Within 3% of GDP
•A weak rupee and elevated fuel prices will keep India’s current account deficit (CAD) under pressure with analysts seeing it at about 3% of GDP in FY23 compared to 1.2% in FY22 even as these will exert pressure on government finances. Subsidy expenditure is seen to rise to levels significantly higher than projected. Higher oil import bill on account of weak rupee will straddle several sectors, including fertilisers and metals, and also result in lower dividend receipts from state-run fuel retailers whose margins will be hit. Rupee hit a record low of 80 against US dollar for the first time in intra-day trade, before closing at 79.95.
7) A book titled “Ambedkar and Modi” released by former President Ram Nath Kovind
•Former President Ram Nath Kovind has launched a book titled ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas Performer’s Implementation’. The book, compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, explores the life and works of Dr BR Ambedkar while drawing a parallel with the initiatives and reforms taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement the ideals of the social reformer.
•The book features a foreword by music composer and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja. It presents a convergence between the ideals of Dr Ambedkar and New India’s development journey. Focus has been laid on infrastructure, education, socio-economic mobility, gender equality, and self-reliance in the twelve chapters of the book.
8) BSF’s first female camel riding squad to be deployed along the India- Pak border
•Border Security Force (BSF) first female camel riding squad will be deployed along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan & Gujarat. The squad will participate for the first time in the BSF Raising Day Parade on 1st December. This Squad will be the first of its kind in the world. Giving this information, DIG BSF Bikaner, Pushpendra Singh Rathore said that Intensive training was given to this squad at the Bikaner Regional Headquarters of BSF under the supervision of skilled trainers.
