Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2023

Notes:
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched the Dutch Grand Prix title for the third year in a row. He was followed by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen secured his ninth consecutive victory in Formula One, matching Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record.

Notes:
The Gujarat government has increased the reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state’s panchayats and urban local bodies from 10% to 27%.
This decision was made based on recommendations of the K.S. Jhaveri Commission, which was formed based on a 2022 Supreme Court order on deciding the level of OBC quotas in Gujarat.

Notes:
The French government announced its decision to ban children from wearing the abaya, the loose-fitting, full- length robes worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools.
France has enforced a ban on religious symbols in state schools since 2004, to uphold its strict brand of secularism, known as laicite.

Notes:
NITI Aayog and UNDP India have signed, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.
The MoU was signed for a period of five years. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system.

Notes:
Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah throughout September 2023.
Several activities are organised across the country with themes like ‘Improving Nutrition through Mission LiFE & ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding & Complimentary Feeding’.

Notes:
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been conferred with the prestigious National Award for e-Governance 2023 (Gold) for Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services.
It was granted at the 26th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India in Indore.

Notes:
The first Su-34 bomber crew to launch a Kinzhal missile in Ukraine received state awards. The Kh-47M2, known as “Kinzhal” (Dagger), is a Russian air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads with a 480 kg payload, including a 10-50 kt thermonuclear option. It achieves speeds up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/hr) and has a range of 1,500-2,000 km. With an 8 m length, 1 m body diameter, and 4,300 kg launch weight, it’s launched from MiG-31 jets at 18 km altitude, maneuvering throughout its flight to evade air defense.

Notes:
Meghalaya government has adopted AI-enabled robotic technology to safeguard Umiam Lake, a prominent tourist attraction. Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is located 15 km north of Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, surrounded by lush East Khasi hills. Formed in 1965 for hydroelectric power generation, it resulted from the Umiam Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project. The lake primarily draws water from the confluence of Umkhrah and Umshvrpi streams, forming the Wah Ro-ro stream. With a catchment area spanning 220 square km, including Shillong, it offers water sports and adventure activities, making it a favored destination in Meghalaya.

Notes:
The Zhen Hua 15, a project cargo vessel flying the Hong Kong flag, has commenced its maiden voyage from the East China Sea to the coast of Kerala.
This vessel carries one quay crane and two-yard cranes is destined for the Vizhinjam international seaport in Kerala. Port authorities in Kerala ordered eight quay cranes and 24-yard cranes from Zhenhua Port Machinery Company in Shanghai, China.

Notes:
Hitachi Payment Services, a subsidiary of Japan-based Hitachi, introduced India’s first UPI-ATM in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) during the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.
This UPI-ATM allows customers to withdraw cash without the need for a debit or credit card. The United Payments Interface (UPI) is a mobile payment method operated by NPCI that enables instant and free fund transfers between bank accounts.