Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 12 Sep 2023

Acharya Vinoba Bhave

Recently, the Prime Minister of India paid homage to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary.

  • Vinayak Narahari Bhave was born on September 11, 1895, in Gagode, Bombay Presidency (Maharashtra).
  • Vinoba Bhave was a prominent nonviolence activist, freedom fighter, social reformer, and spiritual teacher who followed Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence and equality.
  • He was the inaugural recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1958 and posthumously received the Bharat Ratna in 1983.
  • He actively participated in the non-cooperation movement and encouraged the use of Khadi.
  • Vinoba worked to eradicate social inequalities and championed the cause of Harijans (Dalits). He initiated the Sarvodaya movement, which included the Bhoodan (Gift of the Land) Movement.

Read more: Acharya Vinoba Bhave

India to Enable Cross-Border Bill Payments for UK NRIs

  • India's Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) is extending its reach to the UK after successful operations in Middle Eastern countries like Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain.
    • Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the UK will benefit from this system, enabling them to pay bills conveniently through multiple payment methods.
  • BBPS serves as an interoperable and accessible one-stop ecosystem for various bill payments, including electricity, water, gas, telephone, DTH, and insurance.
  • The BBPS is a Reserve Bank of India conceptualised system driven by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
  • India is showcasing its digital payment infrastructure(DPI) to attract international delegates' attention.

Read more: India's Digital Public Infrastructure

BIS Promoting Indian Standards at Village Level

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched an initiative aimed at promoting adherence to Indian standards at the grassroots level.

  • Through this initiative, BIS has reached out to 2.4 lakh Gram Panchayats and embarked on a mission to sensitize Gram Panchayat Presidents and Secretaries across the country.
  • Furthermore, BIS has developed the BIS Care App to empower consumers with information on Indian Standards and product certification.
  • BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Read more: Bureau of Indian Standards

Novak Djokovic Wins 24th Grand Slam Title at US Open 2023

Novak Djokovic of Serbia wins his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023, defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Djokovic moved ahead of Serena Williams to claim the record for the most major singles titles won in the Open era.

  • Grand Slam tournaments, also called majors, are the four most important annual tennis events.
  • The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid-January, the French Open from around late May to early June, Wimbledon in June–July, and the US Open in August–September.
  • The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay, and Wimbledon on grass.


Read more: Roland-Garros(French Open)