Unique IAS Academy September Current Affairs 2016 English 5 September: National Teachers Day 05-Sep-16 Every year 5th September is being observed as National Teachers Day in India. Significance of Day: Observance of this day commemorates the birthday of India’s first Vice President and second President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan since 1962. Urjit Patel assumes charge as 24th RBI Governor 05-Sep-16 Eminent economist, consultant and banker Dr. Urjit Patel has assumed charge as the 24th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Dr. Patel succeeds Raghuram Rajan who completed his tenure after serving a three-year term. He will have tenure of three years. WHO declares Sri Lanka malaria-free 06-Sep-16 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared Sri Lanka a malaria-free, after certifying that the life-threatening disease had been completely eliminated in the island. Union Health Ministry launches campaign to eradicate leprosy 06-Sep-16 The Union Health Ministry has recently launched the “Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC)” to eradicate leprosy from the country. 2016 G-20 Summit held in Hangzhou, China 06-Sep-16 The 2016 Group of Twenty (G20) Summit was held in Hangzhou, China from 4th to 5th September 2016 to discuss efforts to reform global economic governance. It was the eleventh meeting of the G20. It was the first ever G20 summit to be hosted in China and the second Asian country after 2010 G20 Seoul summit was hosted in South Korea GRSE hands over fast attack craft Tihayu to Indian Navy 07-Sep-16 The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) has handed over Tihayu, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) to the Indian Navy. The warship was handed over to the Indian Navy’s Commanding Officer Cdr Ajay Kashov by Rear Admiral (Retd) AK Verma, CMD of GRSE. Union Government launches #Gas4India campaign to promote use natural gas in the country 07- Sep-16 The Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has launched #Gas4India campaign, aimed at promoting the use of natural gas in the country. It was launched by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi. He also launched the website, Twitter handle, facebook page and Theme song of the campaign. India, Kazakhstan Joint Exercise PRABAL DOSTYK-16 begins 07-Sep-16 India, Kazakhstan joint bilateral military exercise PRABAL DOSTYK-16 began in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan. The fourteen day (till 17 September 2016) will be a significant step towards fostering military as well as diplomatic ties between both countries. ‘Prabal Dostyk’ means ‘Robust Friendship’ President gives assent to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014 08-Sep-16 President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. 9884267599, 042204204182 Page 1 Unique IAS Academy September Current Affairs 2016 English 2014 as per Article 111 of the Constitution. With the assent, bill becomes law and opens road to roll out a new indirect tax regime and gives way for the concept of one nation, one tax. What is GST? The GST is a single indirect tax throughout country. It subsumes most of the Central and State indirect taxes such as the Value Added Tax (VAT), excise duty, service tax, central sales tax, additional customs duty and special additional duty of customs 2016 ASEAN Summit held in Vientiane, Laos 09-Sep-16 The 28th and 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit was held in Vientiane, Laos from 6th to 8th September 2016. Prime Minister of the Lao PDR H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith was Chairperson of the summit. The theme of the summit was “Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community”. The summit was attended by the leaders of all 10-member nations of ASEAN viz. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR (host), , Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. About Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ASEAN is a group of 10 South Asian nations which came into existence on August 8, 1967 after ASEAN declaration (also known as Bangkok declaration) Haryana wins Best Horticulture State award 10-Sep-16 Haryana has won ‘Best Horticulture State’ award of the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA). The award was bestowed upon the state for its concerted efforts made to increase the income of the farmers in horticulture. The award was received by Haryana Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar at two-day 9th Agricultural Leadership Summit 2016 that organized by ICFA in New Delhi Mariyappan Thangavelu wins India’s first Gold medal at 2016 Rio Paralympic Games 10-Sep-16 Mariyappan Thangavelu has won India’s first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. He won the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump T-42 event with jump of 1.89 metres. With this, Thangavelu became the first Indian high-jumper to win gold at the Paralympics. This was India’s overall third gold at the Paralympics and the first after 12 years. In addition, India’s Varun Singh Bhati won the bronze medal in same event with the jump of 1.86 metres to finish third. Sam Grewe of United States won the silver medal. India had won its first ever Paralympics Gold medal in the 1972 Heidelberg Games. It was won by Swimmer Murlikant Petkar. Mandi, Sindhudurg emerge cleanest Districts in India: Gramin Swachh Survekshan 10-Sep-16 Mandi in Himachal Pradesh and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra have emerged the cleanest districts in India according Gramin Swachh Survekshan. Sindhudurg was judged as the cleanest in the ‘Plains’ category and Mandi in the cleanest district in ‘Hills’ category. The Gramin Swachh Survekshan report was released by the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. 9884267599, 042204204182 Page 2 Unique IAS Academy September Current Affairs 2016 English Indian Coast Guard commissions offshore patrolling vessel Sarathi 10-Sep-16 The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned well-equipped offshore patrolling (OPV) vessel named ‘Sarathi’. It was commissioned by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) shipyard at Vasco in south Goa. World’s first daily driverless bus service launched in Lyon, France 10-Sep-16 The world’s first daily driverless bus service has started in Lyon, France which will run in the city’s Confluence area. The driverless bus service includes two electric shuttles that will transport passengers on a tenminute route hosting five stops. Stan Wawrinka wins 2016 US Open Men’s Singles title 12-Sep-16 Stan Wawrinka (World no 3) from Switzerland has won the 2016 US Open men’s singles title. This is Wawrinka’s maiden US Open title and his third major title. In the final match, he defeated Novak Djokovic (World number One) from Serbia by 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 and 6-3 score. He has won three Grand Slam singles titles viz. 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open. Army Green wins 2016 Durand Cup Football Title 14-Sep-16 Army Green has won the 2016 Durand Cup Football Title by defeating Neroca FC. It was the 128th edition of the Durand Cup. 3rd BRICS Urbanisation Forum Meet begins in Vishakhapatnam 14-Sep-16 The third edition of BRICS Urbanisation Forum Meet has started in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The three days conference was be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the presence of Union Minister of Urban Development, M. Venkaiah Naidu. Devendra Jhajharia wins gold medal in javelin throw at 2016 Rio Paralympics 14-Sep-16 India’s Devendra Jhajharia (36) has won gold medal in the men’s javelin throw, F46 event held at the 2016 Rio Paralympics Subramanian Swamy awarded Tamil Ratna award 15-Sep-16 Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has been honoured with Tamil Ratna award by America Tamil Sangam (ATS) in 15 September: International Democracy Day 15-Sep-16 The International Democracy Day is being observed every year on 15 September to raise public awareness about the democratic system. The observance of the day provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. It focuses on essential elements of democracy i.e. values of freedom, respect for human rights and principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage. 2016 Theme: “Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development“New York Meeting of BRICS Representatives in charge of security held in New Delhi 16-Sep-16 The meeting of BRICS Representatives in charge of security was held in New Delhi, India. It was hosted Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. 9884267599, 042204204182 Page 3 Unique IAS Academy September Current Affairs 2016 English National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. The meeting was attended by representatives in charge of security of BRICS nations viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to make final observations of Saturn 16-Sep-16 NASA’s Cassini spacecraft after studying Saturn, its rings and moons for more than 12 years, has entered in the final year of its epic voyage. In its epic voyage, the Cassini spacecraft will make the closest-ever observations of the planet. Beginning November 30, 2016 Cassini will make the closest-ever observations of Saturn 16 September: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 16-Sep-16 The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed every year on September 16 for the preservation of the Ozone Layer. Significance of the Day: The day is commemoration of the date in 1987 on which the Montreal Protocol was signed on substances that deplete the ozone layer.