Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently participated virtually in the 21^st Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Government launched the Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture Project (MeghEA) to improve governance and service delivery at grassroots level.

• With this, Meghalaya became the first state to implement India Enterprise Architecture (IndEA) Framework.

Leaders of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) met for a summit in the Tajik capital. The meeting held a day later by a gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The government recently approved extending a guarantee of Rs 30,600 crore to the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) to help clear the banking sector’s stressed assets of around Rs 2 lakh crore in a time-bound manner.

Recently, while addressing the G-33 Virtual Informal Ministerial Meeting, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister pointed out the imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• G-33 is a forum of 47 developing and least developed countries formed during the Cancun ministerial conference of the WTO, to protect the interest of the developing countries in agricultural trade negotiations.

The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released the latest survey on All India Debt & Investment Survey conducted as a part of 77^thround of National Sample Survey (NSS).

In a latest development, the Union Cabinet approved a number of structural and process reforms in the Telecom sector.

• The objective behind these reforms is to protect and generate employment opportunities, promote healthy competition, protect interests of consumers, infuse liquidity, encourage investment and reduce regulatory burden on Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recently released its flagship Trade and Development Report, 2021.

The 6^th edition of Exercise Peaceful Mission was recently hosted by Russia in the Orenburg Region of South West Russia.

University of California, Riverside scientists are studying whether they can turn edible plants like lettuce into mRNA vaccine factories. If this new project is successful, plant-based mRNA vaccines, which can be eaten, would enable the vaccines to be stored at room temperature.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) recently handed over a commitment letter to Government of Assam of Rs. 350 crores under Cluster Development Fund.

The Reserve Bank of India has recently issued Master Directions on Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 18 read with Section 10(2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.

Recently, NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and RMI India have launched the Shoonya Campaign.

Recently, scientists have unraveled the mystery behind Odisha’s ‘Black Tigers’ in Similipal Tiger Reserve.

The team has found that the entire distinctive coloration in the black tigers is due to one mutation in the gene called Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q or Taqpep.

Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development recently inaugurated a national meet on SVAMITVA Scheme: A Stepping-Stone towards Upliftment of Rural Economy at SCOPE Convention Centre, SCOPE Complex, New Delhi. He also launched the dashboard for monitoring the implementation of the scheme.

The World Bank recently released its updated Groundswell Report.

• The updated report includes projections and analysis for three regions: East Asia and the Pacific, North Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It builds on the novel and pioneering modeling approach of the previous World Bank Groundswell report from 2018, which covered Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

Hindi Diwas (14th September) was recently celebrated across the country to commemorate the adoption of Hindi as the official language of the country.

With countries around the world scrambling to reduce emissions, rising global lithium demand and surging prices have drawn increased interest in the so-called ‘lithium triangle’ that spans parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

The National Financial Reporting Authority recently said that companies will be chosen for audit quality and financial reporting quality review based on the impact the entity has on the economy.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has recently decided to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which will elevate the socio-economic status of a sizeable section of the 14 lakh population of tribals and nomadic communities, including Gujjar-Bakerwals and Gaddi-Sippis in the Union Territory.

The Union Government has recently exempted 165 District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Trusts from Income Tax Payment as well as interest incurred by these DMFs.

• The decision would result in more fund availability with the trust and ensure better implementation and outcome-oriented activities for the welfare of mining affected people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), which will enhance India's capabilities to fight terror and crime through technology.

Terming the bio-decomposer technique (PUSA Decomposer) a success at curbing stubble burning in the Capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently appealed to the Centre to ask the neighboring States to use the same to prevent pollution.

The Government of Assam in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has recently declared the entire State of Assam as "Disturbed Area" up to six months without mentioning any reason for its extension.

The latest IPCC report has recently warned that increasing global warming will result in reductions in Arctic permafrost and the thawing of the ground is expected to release greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.