1.International Astronomical Union (IAU)

Why in News?

• The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named an asteroid, discovered in 2006, after Indian classical singer Pandit Jasraj.
• The asteroid, or more formally known as a minor planet, is located between Mars and Jupiter, and was discovered on November 11, 2006, by the Catalina Sky Survey, whose telescopes are based in Arizona in the United States. The privilege of naming a planet is first given to discoverers, who have 10 years to propose a name.

About IAU:

• The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is a collection of professional astronomers, at the PhD level and beyond, active in professional education and research in astronomy.
• IAU was founded in 1919 and is headquartered inParis, France
• Objective
  • Promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation.
  • It is an internationally recognized authority for assigning designations (names) to celestial bodies (stars, planets, asteroids, etc.) and any surface features on them

About Pandit Jasraj:

• He is an exponent of Indian classical vocal music. He is the recipient of numerous awards, honours, and titles, including the prestigious Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

2.International Day Of Older Persons

Context:

• The International Day of Older Persons is observed on October 1 each year.

About:

• On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. First such day was observed in 1991.
• It is observed to raise awareness about the problems faced by the elder persons and to promote the development of a society for all ages.
• 2019 Theme: “The Journey to Age Equality”

3.Saraswati Samman

Why in News?

• Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu presents the 28th Saraswati Samman to Dr. K. Siva Reddy.

About Saraswati Samman:

• The Saraswati Samman is an annual award for outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any of the 22 languages of India listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India.
• The Saraswati Samman was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation. It consists of Rs 15 lakh, a citation and a plaque.
• Candidates are selected from literary works published in the previous ten years by a panel that included scholars and former award winners.

4.Bathukamma Festival

Why in News:

• Telangana’s floral festival Bathukamma off to a colourful start

About the Festival:

• Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated predominantly by the Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh . Every year this festival is celebrated as per Shathavahana calendar for nine days starting Bhadrapada Pournami (also known as Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitru Amavasya) till Durgashtami, usually in September–October of Gregorian calendar.
• Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri.
• It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya and the 9-day festivities will culminate on “Saddula Bathukamma” or “Pedda Bathukamma” festival on Ashwayuja Navami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra.
• Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival. Boddemma festival that marks the ending of Varsha Ruthu whereas Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.
• Ever since the formation of Telangana state in 2014, Bathukamma is being celebrated as the state festival.

5.Pathamadai Mat

Why in News:

• IIT-M gifts GI tagged Pathamadai Gandhi mat to PM Modi

About the Mat:

• Pattamaadai mats are silk mats also called Pattu paai that originated in a small village in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
• The art and craft of weaving and blending intricate designs of Pattamadai mats are considered unique to this region.
• Made of a special kind of grass called “Korai/Gorai“- it is also called is also called Korai or Gorai paai.
• Pattamadai paais are made specially for wedding ceremonies. It is a token for making the occasion memorable and has the bride and the groom’s names as well as the wedding date woven in it. The traditional colours used are red, green and black and the weaves range from medium colour to 140 counts in the silk or pattu mat.
• The Geographical Indications Registry has granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Pathamadai Silk Mat

6.INS Vikramaditya

Why in News:

• Rajnath Singh witnesses fire power of Western Fleet on-board INS Vikramaditya

About INS Vikramaditya :

• INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Indian Navy, which entered into service in 2013. It has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary emperor of India.

7.Current Account Deficit

Why in News:

• Current account deficit shrinks

About Current Account Deficit Trend:

• The country’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) narrowed to 2% of GDP, or $14.3 billion, in the first quarter of the current financial year from 2.3% of GDP, or $15.8 billion, reported during the same period of the previous year, data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed

About Current Account Deficit:

• Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).A current account deficit indicates that a country is importing more than it is exporting.
• Emerging economies often run surpluses, and developed countries tend to run deficits.
• A current account deficit is not always detrimental to a nation’s economy—external debt may be used to finance lucrative

8.Fit India Plog Run

Why in news?

• The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju will flag off the Fit India Plog Runon the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Highlights:

• The Fit India Plog Run will be held on October 2.
• Plogging involves picking up plastic and other waste from the surroundings while jogging.
• This event has generated a lot of interest and is expected to bring together athletes, school and college students, actors, corporates, industry chambers, etc
• Plogging is a combination of jogging with picking up litter.
• It started in Sweden in 2016 and spread to other countries.
• Plogger Ripu Daman Behlvi started the concept in New Delhi, which then spread to the rest of the country.

9.Starship

Why in News?

• SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveiled a prototype design of its next-generation Starship spacecraft that will take people or cargo to the moon, Mars or other destinations in space or around Earth.

About Starship:

• The SpaceX Starship is a fully reusable second stage and space vehicle being privately developed by SpaceX.
• It is being designed to be a long-duration cargo- and passenger-carrying spacecraft.
• The Starship is 164 feet (50 meters) tall and has a diameter of nine meters. Starship will be launched into space with the help of its Super Heavy booster.
• It will be capable of carrying up to 100 people on long-duration interplanetary flights and deliver as much as around 100 tons of payload for building bases on Moon and Mars cities.
• Musk’s ultimate goal is to colonise Mars over the next 100 years and he has been quite vocal of his idea in the past.