1.International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Context: Every year September 16 is marked as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. On December 19, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated the day in remembrance of the date in 1987 when nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

About:

• In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
• The closure of the hole in the ozone layer was observed 30 years after the protocol was signed. Due to the nature of the gases responsible for ozone depletion their chemical effects are expected to continue for between 50 to 100 years.
• Educators usually set aside this day to teach their students about the Ozone layer and many schools organize special events and activities to raise awareness.
• The theme of World Ozone Day 2019 is ’32 years and Healing’.

Ozone Layer:

• The Ozone Layer is fragile shield of gas which protects Earth from Harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation of Sun and thus helping preserve Life on the Planet. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere. Stratospheric Ozone is not harmful, but its presence on land it is harmful. Substances like Chlorofluorocarbons, halcons, Carbon tetrachloride are responsible for ozone layer depletion.

2.Rajasaurus Narmadensis

Why in News:

• A 30-ft replica of Rajasaurus narmadensis dinosaur, which was being put up at Kevadia Colony near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, collapsed on September 8. The structure was to be part of a dinosaur park to be inaugurated on October 31.

About:

• Rajasaurus narmadensis was a dinosaur species which probably inhabited the Narmada River Valley region around 65 million years ago.
• About 170 km from Kevadia is Raiyoli in Mahisagar district, known to be the world’s third largest fossil site and second largest dinosaur hatchery, from where thousands of dinosaur eggs were recovered. Rajasaurus has become a tourist attraction for the state of Gujarat.

3.Vulture culture

Context: How Vulture was saved from extinction in India .

About Vulture Care Centre:

• Late 1990s, when the population of the vultures in the country had begun to decline sharply.
• One White-backed vulture was rescued from Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, where vultures were dying at an alarming rate.
• To study the cause of deaths of vultures, a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at Pinjore, Haryana.
• At present there are nine Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

4.Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

Why in News:

• At present there are nine Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

About BNHS:

• It is a a pan-India wildlife research organization, has been promoting the cause of nature conservation since 1883.It’s a non-governmental organisations engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.Its headquarter is in Mumbai and has one regional centre at Wetland Research and Training Centre, near Chilika Lake, Odisha.

5.Mevo’ot Yeriho

Why in News:

• The Israeli Cabinet agreed to turn the wildcat settlement of Mevoot Yericho in the Jordan Valley into an official settlement.

About Mevoot Yericho :

• Mevo’ot Yericho founded in 1999, is an Israeli settlement and a community settlement located in the West Bank’s southern Jordan Valley .
• All settlements are viewed as illegal under international law, but Israel distinguishes between those it has approved and those it has not.

6.National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)

Why in News:

• NCMC reviews flood situation in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, directs immediate help.

About the Committee:

• A National Crisis Management Committee is a committee set up by the Government of India in the wake of a natural calamity for effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations. It is headed by Cabinet Secretary.

7.T wallet

Why in News:

• T-Wallet, the official digital wallet of Telangana government, is to be used extensively by the Welfare Department for transferring scholarships to students throughout the State.

About the Wallet:

• Launched in June 2017, it will be the first mobile wallet to offer “Any Time Any Where digital payment option for Everyone” service and is also purported to be the only digital wallet initiated by any State government across the country. It was recently given permission by Reserve Bank of India to facilitate such cash withdrawals.

8.National Film Archive of India (NFAI)

Why in News:

• Restored Jayakar Bungalow comes back to life on NFAI premises

About NFAI:

• National Film Archive of India (NFAI) was set up in February, 1964 as a media unit of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India with the primary objective of acquiring and preserving Indian cinematic heritage.
• This includes preservation of film and non-film material including but not limited to celluloid, stills, glass slides, posters, lobby cards, scripts and song booklets.

9.Engineers’ Day 2019:

• September 15 is celebrated in India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania as the National Engineers’ Day in memory of the engineering pioneer of India Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

About M Visvesvaraya:

• Born on September 15, 1861 in the Muddenahalli village, Karnataka, M Visvesvaraya completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Madras and pursued civil engineering at College of Science in Pune. While serving as the Diwan of Mysore, he was awarded the title of ‘Knight’ in 1915 as commander of the British Indian Empire by King George V. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and became a member of the London Institution of Civil Engineers.