DAILY GK 19-21 SEPT 2024

 DAILY GK 19-21 SEPT 2024

1.       INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION INVESTS USD 70 MILLION IN INDIA

·         The United States (US) International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has announced an investment of USD 70 million in India’s private sector to strengthen key priorities of both governments.

·         This investments focus is on enhancing health systems, increasing access to affordable housing, and supporting small businesses.

·         It was announced by Nisha Biswal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of DFC, during his visit to India in September

·         She attended the USIBC’s India Ideas Summit 2024 in New Delhi. 

·         The theme of the summit is “Partnership and Prosperity in the Era of AI and Critical Technologies”

 

2.       RBI IMPOSES PENALTY ON AXIS BANK & HDFC BANK

·         Axis Bank has been fined Rs 1.91 crore for violating certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, as well as failing to comply with certain directions on Interest Rate on Deposits, Know Your Customer (KYC), and Credit Flow to Agriculture-Collateral-free agricultural loans.

·         HDFC Bank has been fined Rs 1 crore for failing to comply with certain directions on Interest rates on deposits, recovery agents engaged by banks, and customer service in banks.

·         The fines imposed are related to regulatory and compliance issues and will not impact the legitimacy of any transactions or agreements between the banks and their customers.

 

3.       SEBI FAST-TRACKS CREDIT, TRADING OF BONUS SHARES TO T+2 DAYS    

·         The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to shorten the time taken for credit of bonus shares and their subsequent trading to two days from the record date.

·         This new rule will apply to all bonus issues announced from October 1.

·         Timeline Details: Credit of Bonus Shares: Bonus shares will be credited to investor accounts one working day after the record date (T+1).

·         Trading of Bonus Shares: Shares will be available for trading on the second working day after the record date (T+2).

·         Record Date (T Day):The record date is the cutoff date used to determine which shareholders are eligible for bonus shares.

·         In Sep 2024, SEBI established a 22-member advisory committee, chaired by R Gandhi, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to streamline listing obligations and disclosure rules.

 

4.       PF WITHDRAWAL LIMIT TO RAISED TO RS 1 LAKH

·         Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced significant updates regarding the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), a government-managed retirement savings fund, introducing enhanced flexibility for subscribers and changes to withdrawal limits and eligibility criteria.

·         Subscribers can now withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh from their EPFO accounts for personal financial needs.

·         Previous Limit: The withdrawal limit was Rs 50,000, but it was deemed insufficient due to rising living and consumption costs.

 

5.       54TH GST COUNCIL MEETING

·         The 54th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting chaired by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) was held on 9th September, 2024 in New Delhi

·         GST Council reduce of the GST rate on cancer drugs Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from 12% to 5%.

·         The GST Council has decided to reduce the GST rate of extruded or expanded products, savoury or salted food products falling under HS 1905 9030 from 18% to 12% at par with namkeens, bhujia, chabena (pre-packaged and labelled)

·         GST Council is a constitutional body introduced through 101st Amendment Act, 2016 in the constitution.

·         It was constituted under Article 279-A of the constitution.

·         Chairperson- Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister (Rajya Sabha member- Karnataka)

 

6.       1^st FOUNDATION DAY OF I4C

·         Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) addressed the event organised to mark the 1st Foundation Day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as the Chief Guest at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi

·         He launched 4 key initiatives – Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), Samanvay platform, Cyber Commandos programme and Suspect Registry– for prevention of cyber crime.

·         I4C is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with cyber crime in India.

·         The I4C was dedicated to the Nation on 10th January 2020.

·         Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rajesh Kumar

·         Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi

 

7.       WORLD FIRST AID DAY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 14

·         World First Aid Day 2024 was observed on 14 September 2024.

·         The 2024 theme of World First Aid Day is, “First Aid and Sports”.

·         In 2000, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) declared the 2nd Saturday of September as World First Aid Day.

·         IFRC Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

·         Founded– 1919

 

8.       INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 15

·         The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Democracy (IDD) is annually observed across the globe on 15 September to promote and uphold the principles of democracy worldwide

·         The 2024 theme of IDD is, ‘Ensuring Effective Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at all Levels.’

·         IDD was established at the request of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of national parliaments.

·         Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President – Dr. Tulia Ackson

·         Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

·         Founded– 1889

·         Slogan– For democracy. For everyone.

 

9.       NATIONAL ENGINEER’S DAY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 15

·         National Engineer’s Day is annually observed across India on September 15 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayaan, who is known as the first engineer of India for his vital contribution to the field of engineering and education.

·         The Government of India (GoI) declared the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya as National Engineers’ Day in 1968.

 

10.    INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE OZONE LAYER – SEPTEMBER 16

·         The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer or World Ozone Day (WOD) is annually observed across the globe on 16 September to spread awareness about the importance of the ozone layer and its depletion that leads to global warming and climate change worldwide.

·         The theme of International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2024 is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions”.

·         On 19 December 1994, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/49/114, proclaiming the 16 September of every year as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

 

11.    UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SCIENCE, TECH, AND INNOVATION FOR THE SOUTH – SEPTEMBER 16

·         The first-ever United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South was observed on 16th September 2024 to emphasise the important role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in supporting economic growth and sustainable development, particularly in the Global South.

 

12.    INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 16

·         The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for Interventional Cardiology is annually observed across the globe on 16th September to raise public awareness about Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), and interventional cardiology procedures.

·         16 September commemorates the first coronary angioplasty performed by Dr. Andreas Roland Grüntzig, a German physician-scientist, in 1977, at the University Hospital Zürich (USZ) in Zürich, Switzerland.

 

13.    WORLD BAMBOO DAY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 18

·         In 2009, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress (WBC) in Bangkok, Thailand, the WBO, with support from the Royal Forest Department (RFD) of Thailand formally recognized 18 September as World Bamboo Day.

·         The observance was initiated by Kamesh Salam from Assam,  who served as the President of the WBO from 2007-2009.

·         World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) was initially established as the International Bamboo Association (IBA) in 1992 at the 3rd International Bamboo Congress in Japan.

·         The IBA was renamed as the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) in 2005.

·         Headquarters– Boston, Massachusetts, USA